CHAPTER XXVII
ALL IS WELL
"No, I'm not a bit excited," pleaded Miss Dearing when the nurse cautionedher to keep quiet. "I'm only happy. I was dying long before I came here,and now I can rest in a bed, and perhaps I will have the courage to getwell again."
"Of course you will," insisted Dorothy, delighted that she had beeninstrumental in actually saving a life. "And perhaps Christmas will bringyou peace and courage."
"No, but you have brought it. When I look at your fair face-- Don't youknow, that was why I put the ring in your bag?" she asked suddenly. "Iknew your face would clear you before any accuser in the world."
Dorothy put her finger to her lips. She did not want Miss Dearing todiscuss the painful subject. But the sick woman was persistent.
"And from that moment some evil genius followed me. I did it because otherdetectives had been praised for making arrests, and I had made none. Icould not afford to lose my place, for my mother--was dying. She died,thank God, before she knew her daughter had lied for her, had herselfactually been accused of stealing--stealing to earn a dollar!"
"Now, please," begged Dorothy, "do not talk any more about it. When youget well I will come in and see you. My aunt will want a great deal ofsewing done. Perhaps you may be able to come to her."
It was actually noon-time, and Dorothy had to hurry back to The Cedars.Miss Pumfret and the captain were still talking about old family affairs,and seemed supremely happy as she left them. The captain, explained thenurse, was suffering more from neglect than any specific ailment, and hehad already responded remarkably to treatment.
"Isn't it a queer holiday?" Dorothy asked herself once more in the train,getting back to The Cedars. "And now for Tavia's troubles."
Nat met her at the station, all smiles, but otherwise provokinglyuncommunicative.
He simply would not tell her a word of what might have occurred in herabsence, and she finally gave up asking him to do so.
"All right," she assured him. "If Tavia's gone I'll blame you, that'sall."
Roger met her at the door.
"Some one's waiting for you in the parlor, Doro," he said, without waitingto "digest" his sister's greeting.
Dorothy opened the parlor door. There sat Miss Brooks and little MaryMahon.
"We came in to wish you a merry Christmas," said Miss Brooks, with her armabout Mary. "This is my niece, my sister's only child. And I found herthrough your hospital play."
In a few words Miss Brooks made it all clear to Dorothy, and repeated thestory told Tavia some time before.
"She is not very strong, and I am going to take her south at once," wenton Miss Brooks, while Mary fairly beamed with delight. She was so splendidin her new fur coat; and to think she really had a relative!
"Aunt Stella," she ventured, "you never would have found me if Dorothy hadnot given me that piece. It was because I acted--like mamma."
"And there is something else," said Miss Brooks, "The matter--about MissTravers. I received a letter this morning from the firm, refunding hermoney. Of course, I had urged them to do so. I would not even addressenvelopes for a house that would deliberately rob young girls."
Miss Brooks offered the slip of paper to Dorothy.
"Wouldn't you rather give it to Miss Travers?" asked Dorothy.
"Oh, yes," replied the other, remembering that Dorothy had refused tolisten to the explanation of Tavia's difficulties.
Tavia was in the hall, and Dorothy called her. Her eyes showed she hadbeen weeping. At the sight of Miss Brooks she turned as if to leave theroom. Dorothy put a detaining hand on her arm.
"She has good news for you. I am going to leave you alone to hear it."
"No," insisted Tavia, now conscious that there was good news in the air."Stay and listen, Doro. I did not tell you--because I was a--"
"Now stop!" insisted Dorothy. "No calling of names."
"You take too serious a view of it," interrupted Miss Brooks. "She simplydid what hundreds do every day--risked five dollars to make ten--"
"It is nothing in the world but gambling!" declared Tavia almost fiercely.
"I agree with you," answered Miss Brooks, "but you did not go into it withthat understanding. Neither did I offer to address their envelopes with athorough understanding of their methods. I simply was trying to find anaddress, and I made use of every means I considered legitimate. Here isyour money--and your friend's. The address I was looking for came inperson," and once more she folded her arms about Mary.
"The money!" exclaimed Tavia, looking at the check in a dazed sort of way,"This is your money, Dorothy," she said, reading the check--"yours andNat's. I gambled mother's, and spent yours, then I bought Christmaspresents."
The check called for fifteen dollars and was made out to bearer. Taviaoffered it to Dorothy, who did not take it.
Miss Brooks insisted upon going. She felt she had finished her business atThe Cedars.
Tavia drew Dorothy into the library as the door closed upon the visitors.Her eyes were blazing, although her hands seemed cold as they touchedDorothy's arm.
"You know I gambled," she stammered. "I deliberately bought a ticket in alottery."
"I know you made a mistake," insisted Dorothy. "I could never call thatgambling."
"Then take the check, if you are not afraid of it," went on Tavia. "Partof it belongs to Nat--the other five is what I borrowed from you."
"Borrowed from me? Why, I gave you that--outright. It was my Christmas inadvance. Just jump into your things, and come down to send a telegramhome. Send them five dollars by wire--they will get it in the morning.There is no present like the one that comes on Christmas morning, youknow."
"Dorothy!" exclaimed Tavia, "I can't oppose you this time. I know thatfive dollars will make my father and my mother know that I--but it wouldbe deceiving them," she broke off. "I am not fit to even send the gift."
"Hurry! hurry!" begged Dorothy. "I want to send some Christmas greetingsby wire, and they will be too busy to take our messages if you waitlater."
Tavia threw her arms about Dorothy.
"You dear old nuisance!" she exclaimed. "I wonder you could not leave somelittle thing for the angels to do to-morrow."
"Oh, I expect them to give me their undivided attention," declaredDorothy. "I have had such a queer holiday up to this time that I havesimply asked for a great big lump of 'peace' in my stocking."
"You deserve it, Doro, dear," and Tavia, to hide the tears that would comeinto her eyes, placed her arms about Dorothy and hid her face on hershoulder.
Dorothy did get peace, and great happiness, too. Yet there were manyhappenings still in store for her, and what some of them were will be toldin another book, to be called "Dorothy Dale's Camping Days." It was anever-to-be-forgotten outing and one that produced some astonishingresults.
"And to-morrow is Christmas," said Dorothy softly. "I feel just like thecarol singers, when they used to chant: 'God rest you, merrygentlemen--'"
"Only you're not a--" began Tavia, looking up.
"No, I'm not a gentleman, but I'm merry--quite happy now, and I certainlyneed a rest. I guess you do, too."
"I certainly do," agreed Tavia. "Come on, let's hurry to the telegraphoffice."
And here we will say good-by to Dorothy Dale for a while, leaving her andher friends at The Cedars to enjoy their Christmas in their own delightfulway. For, after all, and in spite of the many queer happenings connectedwith them, the holidays were most happy ones.
THE END
The Dorothy Dale Series
By Margaret Penrose
Cloth. 12 mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid
DOROTHY DALE: A GIRL OF TO-DAY
Dorothy is the daughter of an old Civil War veteran who is running aweekly newspaper in a small Eastern town. When her father falls sick, andthe newspaper property is in danger of going to pieces, the girl showswhat she can do to support the family.
DOROTHY DALE AT GLENWOOD SCHOOL
More prosperous
times have come to the Dale family, and Major Daleresolves to send Dorothy to a boarding school to complete her education.At Glenwood School the girl makes a host of friends and has many goodtimes. But some girls are jealous of Dorothy's popularity, and they seekto get her into trouble in more ways than one.
DOROTHY DALE'S GREAT SECRET
A splendid story of one girl's devotion to another. Dorothy's chum ranaway to join a theatrical company. What Dorothy did, and how she kept thesecret, makes a tale no girl will care to miss.
DOROTHY DALE AND HER CHUMS
A story of school life, and of strange adventures among the gypsies.Dorothy befriends a little French girl and also a gypsy waif, in a mannersure to touch the hearts of all readers.
DOROTHY DALE'S QUEER HOLIDAYS
Relates the details of a mystery that surrounded Tanglewood Park. There isa great snowstorm, and the young folks become snowbound, much to theirdismay.
Cupples & Leon Co., Publishers, New York
The Motor Girls Series
By Margaret Penrose
Author of the highly successful Dorothy Dale Series
Cloth. 12mo. Handsomely illustrated and beautifully bound in decoratedcover, stamped in several colors. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid
* * * * *
THE MOTOR GIRLS
_Or, A Mystery of the Road_
The Motor Girls]
When Cora Kinball got her touring car she did not imagine so manyadventures were in store for her. During a trip from one city to another arich young man lost a pocketbook containing valuable stocks and much cash.Later, to the surprise of everybody, the empty pocketbook was found in thetool box of Cora's automobile. A fine tale that all wide-awake girls willappreciate.
* * * * *
THE MOTOR GIRLS ON A TOUR
_Or, Keeping a Strange Promise_
A great many things happen in this volume, starting with the running overof a hamper of good things lying in the road. A precious heirloom ismissing, and how it was traced up is told with absorbing interest. Mrs.Penrose's books are as safe as they are interesting and should be on thebookshelf of every girl in the land.
* * * * *
Cupples & Leon Co., Publishers, New York
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