CHAPTER XVI
A DELICATE DISCOVERY
It was very near Christmas, and events were crowding about The Cedars.Dorothy, as usual, had assumed more than her share of responsibility, forTavia somehow acted queerly. She spent much time running back and forth tothe post-office, and it was evident to all that she and Nat were not thefriends they had been previously. Besides this, Ned had spoken to Dorothy,and had actually asked her not to "flirt" with those college boys!
This was unlike Ned, and a positive shock to Dorothy. To be sure, he chosethe word "flirt" indifferently, but to Dorothy it had an ugly sound, andthat night, after all her worries at the rehearsal, she went to bed with apair of very red eyes.
Perhaps it was the rush and excitement that caused every one to be soirritable and to so misunderstand things. Certainly Tavia had some worry,and Ned did not act like himself, while Nat looked miserable. It would bea queer holiday unless things mended promptly.
It was a pleasant morning, and Dorothy, feeling that a run in the open airwould do her nerves good, seized upon some excuse to go to the village.
She wanted to be alone--to think about what Ned had said, to look overeverything carefully, and see if he had any excuse for such a remark. Hadshe acted foolishly? Could her innocent freedom with Tom Jennings bemisunderstood? Was it not possible for a girl to act naturally after shehad passed the age of fifteen years?
Her head filled with such thoughts as these, in all the power that theymay assume when first encountered by a young girl, Dorothy hurried along.She would simply tell Ned all about it, she decided. He surely wouldunderstand that she never dreamed of "flirting."
From the main highway she was obliged to turn into a branch of the roadfrom Ferndale to reach the post-office, that little building beingsituated at the junction of both thoroughfares.
In her excitement she had scarcely glanced before her, but now, as sheturned into the Ferndale road, she observed a woman coming along the samepath. It was Miss Brooks.
Somehow Dorothy was glad to meet her. After all, it was not pleasant tothink too seriously.
"Good-morning," said Dorothy with all the vivacity she could summon."Looking for Christmas mail too?"
"Yes," replied Miss Brooks, with something of a sigh. "There are manykinds of Christmas mail, I suppose."
The reply confused Dorothy. She did not want to bring sad reflections tothe "little woman in black."
"I guess we will have pleasant weather," Dorothy hurried to say vaguely."I hope so, at any rate, for we must depend considerably upon the weatherfor the success of our hospital entertainment. You know, we are to haveone."
"Yes, I've seen the tickets," said Miss Brooks, walking along withDorothy. Then both paused. Both had evidently exhausted the commonplace.
Miss Brooks looked keenly at Dorothy. The latter could feel her searchinggaze, and wondered secretly what it could mean. Presently Miss Brookssaid:
"I believe you are a prudent girl, Miss Dale, and I wonder if I mighttrust you with a delicate--matter?"
"If I can help you--yes," answered Dorothy promptly.
"It is not to help me," said the other, "but to help your friend, MissTravers."
Dorothy felt instantly that she referred to Tavia's troubles--thosetroubles which Tavia herself had refused to confide in her. Should shehear them from another?
In her direct way, without mincing words or risking any misunderstanding,Dorothy said decidedly:
"If you are sure I can help my friend I will be glad to do so, but I haveno wish to interfere in any personal affair of hers."
Miss Brooks did not weaken. Dorothy's honesty in speaking as she did onlyseemed the more to convince her that Dorothy Dale could and ought to helpTavia Travers.
"I know," she went on, "that Miss Travers is greatly worried over a matterof money. I advised her how she could be relieved of that worry, but inspite of my advice I have reason to think that she has only made mattersworse by writing to her folks at home and asking them for more money."
"Writing home for money!" gasped Dorothy.
"Yes; I am sorry to seem a meddler, but I feel that she will greatlycomplicate matters unless you are clever enough to step in and interfere.It is the old story of the tangled web; Miss Travers had no idea of doinganything--irregular. She simply did as thousands of others do, though Imust say boys are usually the victims. A girl rarely takes such chances."
Dorothy was too surprised to speak. They were near the post-office, andboth stood in the road to finish the conversation.
"How can I help her?" asked Dorothy simply.
"Well, I must confess it may be difficult, but I see no other way to gether out of her troubles, for she is surely multiplying them. The latestphase of her difficulty I may tell you of without any risk of betrayingprofessional confidence," and Miss Brooks smiled faintly. "She has latelywritten to her father and to her mother for money--urging some triflingexcuse. Letters intended for her have fallen into her father's hands. Heis a lawyer, or in some way connected with legal affairs, is he not?"
"A squire."
"Oh, yes, that's it. Well, he has put two and two together, and has sentthe last letter she wrote him out to a firm in Chicago, asking them tostate clearly, and at once, what their business has been with hisdaughter, as he has reason to believe that it is because of this businessthat his daughter is worried about money and is trying to get it for somesecret purpose. You see, he has inferred that she is trying to get themoney on account of her dealings with this firm. The letters written toher show that."
Dorothy tried to understand, but it was all very strange. What sort ofbusiness dealings could be so dishonorable?
"And how can I help her?" she repeated.
"In one of two ways. Either get ten dollars for her in some way that shemay return the money to her parents if they have already sent it, orinduce her to write at once to her father, telling him frankly all aboutthe matter and stating that she does not now require the ten dollars. Sheevidently wants that amount to pay some one who has lost on her account."
Dorothy was amazed. She could scarcely believe that Tavia would havegotten into any complex affair. And that some one should lose money on heraccount!
"Could it be Nat?" was the thought flashed through her brain. She hadoverheard some part of a conversation between Nat and Tavia, and now Taviashowed some ill-feeling toward Nat.
"Well, I must get along," said Miss Brooks finally. "I am glad I met you,and hope I have not given you too great a task. Good-morning."
Dorothy smiled and bowed, but her anxiety had promptly written the linesof care on her fair young face, and even the aged postmaster did not failto ask her if anything was wrong at The Cedars when he handed her themail.
Among the many letters was one for Tavia, and it bore the Daltonpostmark.