Toy automobiles and steam engines were soon forgotten, for Dorothy andTavia were anxious to free themselves from the jostling throng of eagershoppers, and from the risk of the deliberate elbowing of the little womanin black.
"Oh, dear!" sighed Dorothy, "I did intend to go right on with our list.And now we have to stop and wait. What can she mean by always keeping inour tracks? Perhaps she is weak and has not the strength to make her ownway through the crowds."
"Then she should have stayed at home," replied the practical Tavia. "I seeno reason why we should be inconvenienced by her infirmities."
"But she may have babies. Come, we will go to the jewelry counter. I mustget a pretty comb for Mrs. Pangborn."
"Comb?" repeated Tavia indifferently. "I thought Mrs. Pangborn had a headfull of combs."
"I know she wears them, which shows she is fond of them," repliedDorothy, "and I do think in her kind of lovely white hair pretty combs areso attractive. I want one with a band of enameled forget-me-nots."
With some remorse in her heart for the mother who had made such sacrificesto give her daughter "her own Christmas money," Tavila looked for thelittle neck pin for Mrs. Travers. It must be carefully selected, with aview to economy as well as with the purpose of obtaining the best possiblevalue for the money.
It took some time to accomplish this, as the clerks were too busy toattend to customers, save as they might be able to note them by turns.
Finally Tavia had decided upon a pin. Dorothy was pleased with it--theenameled clover-leaf was simple yet effective.
"I do wish people would not crush so," complained Tavia, as some onecrowded her against the glass showcase.
"Hush!" whispered Dorothy, "It is not well to let people see ill nature.We will get along better if we just take things as they come."
Tavia felt the rebuke--she had spoken loud enough to attract attention,and people did stare. At the same time it was not comfortable to becarried with the tide and be unable to direct one's own movements.
"Is that the little woman in black?" she asked as a dark figure glidedpast.
"Looks like her," replied Dorothy, smiling, anxious to have Tavia recoverher good humor. "Seems as if we cannot lose her."
"I think it was she who pushed me that time," Tavia explained, "and itmade me angry."
"I did not see her then," said Dorothy, somewhat surprised.
"No, she was directly back of you, and had your purse been in that openbag I fancy she might have--made a mistake in judging to whom the bagbelonged."
"Nonsense," protested Dorothy. "She would not do anything like that. Shesimply happened to be interested in the same line of goods we wereseeking."
"Well, I never saw such greedy eyes," insisted Tavia. "If she could getour cash with them I am quite sure we might walk home, for all of her. Amuff is a great thing in a crowd."
"Suppose we go to the rest room and look over the list," suggestedDorothy. "I feel we have not begun to shop yet, although we have been inthis store almost an hour. It will straighten us out to start fresh."
Dorothy turned, and Tavia was directly back of her. Both noticed that theclerks seemed excited--one was talking over the desk telephone, whileothers looked excitedly into trays and boxes.
Presently it seemed that all eyes were directed toward Dorothy. She feltthe implied charge instantly, and her face crimsoned.
"What are they gawking at?" asked Tavia aloud, with her usual recklessnessunder excitement.
But before Dorothy could reply she was tapped lightly on the shoulder,and, turning, she beheld a young woman, tall, dark and mostimportant-looking.
"You must step into the office," she said authoritatively, at the sametime taking Dorothy's arm.
"Shoplifting!" exclaimed some one. Tavia clutched Dorothy's arm.
"Tell her she is mistaken!" exclaimed Tavia, holding Dorothy back.
"You had better come along quietly," the tall woman directed, urging thegirl to accompany her. "There is no use or sense in making a scene."
Dorothy turned deathly pale.
"Arrested!" she heard people saying. Then she faced them and somehowwalked with the woman detective toward the business office.