CHAPTER XIX
_The Return_
Until the second of July, Linda's aunt, Miss Emily Carlton, hadmanaged, with Mrs. Crowley's help, to keep hoping that the girls werestill alive. Then her brother's long-distance call from Jacksonville,informing her that he was going to sea in a yacht in search of Lindaand Dot confirmed all the fears she was secretly cherishing. That nightshe collapsed and went to bed a nervous wreck.
After once mentioning the fact that Linda was still reported missingin the newspapers, Miss Carlton's housekeeper learned not to speak ofthe girl again. It seemed as if the older woman could not bear to talkabout her niece; in the few days since her disappearance she had agedrapidly. She lay listlessly on her bed, not seeing anyone, not even herdear friend Mrs. Crowley.
It was about noon on the fourth of July that the telephone operatorinformed the housekeeper that Havana was calling Miss Carlton. The goodwoman replied that her mistress was sick in bed, and that she wouldtake the message for her. Her hands trembled as she awaited what shebelieved would be the announcement of Linda's death.
Faint and far off came the astounding words: "Aunt Emily, this isLinda."
"Wait!" cried the woman, shaking as if she had heard a ghost. "I'll getyour aunt, Miss Linda."
Rushing to the bed-room, she handed Miss Carlton the bed-side telephone.
"It's Miss Linda," she whispered.
Doubting her senses, the patient sat up and took the instrument.
"Hello," she said, doubtfully.
"Darling Aunt Emily! It's Linda!" was the almost unbelievable reply atthe other end of the wire.
Miss Carlton sobbed; she could not say a word.
"Aunt Emily? Are you there?" demanded the girl.
"Yes, yes--dear! Oh, are you all right? Not hurt?"
"Not a bit. Dot and I are both fine--she's talking to her mother now.We're--in Cuba."
"Cuba!" repeated the startled woman. "I thought it was the OkefenokeeSwamp, or the Atlantic Ocean! Your father and Mr. Crowley are lookingfor you."
"Yes, I know. Ted and Louise are here, and Ted's broadcasting the newsof our safe arrival now.... Probably Daddy has heard by this time."
"When will you be home, dear?" inquired Miss Carlton.
"Soon, I hope.... But we have to stop in Jacksonville first.... AuntEmily, couldn't you and Mrs. Crowley come to Jacksonville? We're justdying to see you!"
Miss Carlton considered; she hated to tell Linda that she was sick inbed. But wait--was she? Wasn't it only nerves after all? Why, this goodnews made her feel like a different person!
"All right, dear," she agreed. "If Mrs. Crowley will, I'll try toarrange it. Shall I send a wire?"
"Yes," replied Linda. "To Captain Magee, at the City Hall,Jacksonville. I'll be there in a day or so.... Now good-by, dearAuntie!"
While Linda waited for Dot to come back from her call, which thelatter had put in from another instrument, she opened the bag and tookout their few possessions that were covering the money. They mustbe very careful not to let anything happen to all that wealth, shethought--they must never go out of the room and leave it, if only for aminute. How dreadful it would be if it were stolen now, after they hadsuccessfully brought it through all their dangerous adventures!
Dot returned in a couple of minutes, and the girls got ready to enjoythe luxury of a real bath, in a real tub. How good the warm water felt,how wonderful the big, soft bath towels! They spent an hour bathing andwashing their hair, and trying to make their nails presentable withLouise's manicure set.
They had scarcely finished when the latter returned, followed by aporter carrying innumerable boxes and packages in his arms.
"I've bought everything for you from the skin out," she announcedgayly, as she put the load on the floor. "Even hats and shoes, thoughI knew I was taking a chance at them. But I remembered that you and Ioften wore each other's things at school, Linda, and I judged that Dotwould wear a size smaller. I do hope you can wear them, just till youget to your trunks at Jacksonville."
"You're an angel, Lou!" cried Linda, excited at the prospect of lookingclean and respectable again.
"See if you like them," urged Louise. "I got a blue dress for you,Linda, to match your eyes--and a pink one for Dot."
"To match my eyes?" teased the latter.
All three girls began immediately to untie the packages, and drewout the purchases one after another with exclamations of admiration.Dot said that she was so used to seeing dirty knickers that she hadpositively forgotten what dainty clothing looked like.
"Well, hurry up and dress!" urged Louise. "We want to eat lunch inabout ten minutes. Ted means to take off at two o'clock, if you girlsthink you can be ready by then."
"We surely can!" cried Linda, joyfully. She couldn't wait to get back.
"You'll burn your old stuff, won't you?" asked Louise. "This bag's asight, too--why not stuff your old clothing into it, and ask the porterto take it away!"
Linda and Dot let out a wild cry of protest at the same moment, and theother girl frowned.
"Why not?" she inquired.
"Sh!" whispered Linda. "That bag has thousands of dollars in it.Belonging to the Jacksonville bank."
"Oh! You really have that money? And kept it all this time?"
"Yes. But don't say a word about it out loud. We'll take it with usinto the dining-room, and wear our new hats, so nobody will think itqueer."
They found Ted in the lobby of the hotel as they got out of theelevator, and they went into the dining-room to order the meal thatLinda and Dot had been longing for on the island. It tasted good tothem, but not so good, they had to admit, as the sausages and stalebread and hot tea which Captain Smallweed provided, when they werealmost starved.
It was during the meal that they pieced the story together. Lindabegan by telling of the finding of the money in the bags and thediscovery of the last member of the gang on the island.
"But why he ran away without shooting us is a mystery to us," put inDot.
"He thought that you had armed policemen with you," explained Louise."We learned that later from Susie. She was captured a couple of daysago--in Panama."
"Where is she now?" demanded Linda, excitedly.
"In jail, of course."
"And the man they called the 'Doc'?"
"No," replied Ted. "Unfortunately he got away--fled the country. Luckyyou girls got hold of the money, or the bank would never have seen itagain.... And by the way, there's a big reward--ten thousand dollars, Ibelieve."
"Ten thousand dollars!" repeated Dot, in amazement. "What do you thinkof that, Linda?"
"Wonderful!" cried the latter, joyously. "Five thousand apiece. Well,I'm glad you're going to get something out of this dreadful experience,Dot--that I selfishly dragged you into. And my part will go towards anew autogiro."
"A new autogiro!" exclaimed Louise, in surprise. "You don't need one,Linda. The Ladybug's safe and sound--at the Jacksonville airport."
"What? You mean that?" Linda seized the other girl's hand in almostincredulous rapture. "How did it get there?"
"The police found it that day it stormed so. And a pilot flew it backto Jacksonville."
Linda and Dot gazed at each other in full realization at last of themysterious disappearance of the plane which they had mourned as lostforever.
If Linda was eager to get back to Jacksonville before, she was doublyso now. She could hardly contain her excitement during that flightacross the Gulf of Mexico and over the state of Florida to the northernpart. She kept urging Ted to put on more speed, to let the motor out toits limit, but the young man, realizing the load he was carrying, wasnot to be tempted beyond his better judgment.
They arrived at Jacksonville just as it was growing dusk, and flewover the city, now so familiar to them all, to the airport on itsoutskirts. Gracefully the skillful pilot swooped down the field to hislanding.
The usual number of employees came out to greet them, but hardly hadthe girls climbed out of the plane when a resounding shout went
up overthe field. Linda Carlton and Dorothy Crowley had been recognized!
A crowd collected immediately, a crowd that had been prepared by Ted'sradio message that afternoon, to welcome the two popular girls back tocivilization. It was all that Linda and Dot could do to wave and shoutgreetings in return.
"I just want one look at my Ladybug," said Linda. "If you good peoplewill let me get through----"
At this request, an accommodating official picked her right up on hisshoulder, and carried her, amid the laughter of the crowd, triumphantlyto the hangar where the autogiro was housed.
"Oh, you dear Ladybug!" whispered Linda, not wanting anyone to thinkshe was silly, but so overcome with joy that she had to say something.No one but a pilot could understand the genuine affection which shefelt for her autogiro.
"I'll be over to fly you tomorrow," she added, under her breath. Then,turning to the man who had conducted her across the field, she askedhim whether he could as easily take her to the waiting taxi-cab.
They were off at last, waving and smiling to the enthusiastic crowd.
"Be sure to stay in Jacksonville till Saturday," the people beggedthem. "We're going to celebrate for you then!"
The girls nodded, and the taxi driver sped away with orders to gostraight to the City Hall.
Captain Magee, who had received a call from the airport, was ready andwaiting for them. Ted carried the shabby, worn bag into his office, andLinda put it into the Captain's hands herself.
"The bank's money," she explained. "And the two revolvers. We never hadto use them at all."
"But we'd have died without them," added Dot. "Of fright--if nothingelse."
In vain Captain Magee tried to tell the girls how wonderfully brave hethought they had been, but he was so overcome by feeling that he gropedfor words and stammered--ending by pressing both Linda's and Dot'shands in silence.
"Two young girls like you--" he finally managed to say--"succeedingwhere the police and everybody else failed! Capturing a hundredthousand dollars by a clever trick----"
"Is there really that much?" inquired Dot. "Of course we never countedit."
The officer smiled at their unconcern. In spite of all their ability,they still seemed like children to him.
"By the way, Miss Carlton," he said, "I had a wire from youraunt this afternoon. She will arrive in Jacksonville Saturdaymorning--accompanied by Mrs. Crowley."
This final piece of good news was just what the girls needed tocomplete their perfect day. Their eyes lighted up with happiness, andthey squeezed each other's hands in joy.
"And your fathers ought to be back tomorrow. I'll send them straight tothe hotel," he added. "So don't go away."
"Wild horses couldn't drag us!" returned Linda. "We're just dying tosee them.... Now, good-by, Captain Magee.... We must go and get somedinner."
So, back in the hotel in Jacksonville, Dot Crowley and Linda Carltonspent their first enjoyable evening for a week--celebrating their safereturn with their dear friends, the Mackays.
CHAPTER XX
_Conclusion_
The girls' first visitor the following day was not, as they had hoped,the party from the yacht, but a woman.
"Who can it be?" demanded Dot, for the clerk at the desk had not sentup a name with the message.
"A reporter, probably," yawned Linda. "They'll be hot on our trail now,Dot. That was one good thing about the island--we didn't have to readnewspapers or give interviews."
"You're not wishing you were back again?"
"Never!" affirmed Linda, surveying the breakfast tray which she and Dothad been luxuriously enjoying. "I don't care for cold tea and crackersas a steady diet."
"But what shall we do about this visitor?" persisted her companion."The clerk's still waiting for our reply."
"Oh, tell him to send her up, I suppose. After all, the poor girls haveto earn a living."
As Dot gave the message over the telephone, Linda surveyed the roomwith a frown of distaste.
"It's not so neat, Dot--to receive a caller," she remarked. "Maybe weought to have gone downstairs."
"Think I better try to call him back?"
"No, I guess it's too late now--the girl's probably on the elevatorby this time. Anyhow, it really doesn't matter. Newspaper women areusually awfully good sports."
To their amazement and chagrin, it was not a reporter to whom, a momentlater, Dot opened the door. A beautifully dressed woman stood beforethem, smiling nervously. It was Mrs. Carter--Jackson Carter's mother!
"How do you do, Mrs. Carter!" exclaimed Dot. "Do come in--if you canpardon the appearance of this room."
The older woman seemed scarcely to notice the unmade beds or the opentrunks. She nodded to Linda as she entered, but she appeared like aperson with something serious on her mind.
"How did you know where to find us?" inquired Dot, after she hadcleared a chair for their visitor.
"It's in all the papers," the latter replied. "Haven't you read aboutyourselves? Why, everybody in town thinks you two girls are simplymarvelous! Rescuing that money was a miracle in itself--an act ofcourage that Jacksonville will always be grateful to you for."
"It's awfully nice of you to say so," murmured Dot, for Linda remainedsilent. Somehow the latter could never feel at home with this woman.
"Our city is planning a parade and celebration in your honor," shecontinued. "And the Daughters of the Confederacy would like to inviteyou to a dinner and reception afterwards. That is one of the reasonswhy I came to see you--to extend the invitation in person."
"It's extremely kind of you," assented Dot. "We'll be delighted toaccept, won't we, Linda?"
"Why, yes--of course--only--" Linda paused, hoping that she was notappearing rude.
"Except what, my dear!" asked Mrs. Carter.
"Well, it's marvelous of you to do it for us, but you see our fathersare coming--and Dot's mother--and my Aunt Emily----"
"But they are included, of course! There will be both men and women atthe banquet, and my brother-in-law, the president of the bank that wasrobbed, hopes to present you girls with the reward."
"Oh, it's going to be great fun, Linda!" exclaimed Dot, excitedly."We've just got to be there!"
"Yes, it will be charming," agreed the other girl. "We'll be delightedto come--if we may bring our friends."
There seemed nothing more to say, yet Mrs. Carter made no move towardsgoing. To fill an awkward pause, Dot inquired how Jackson was.
"Jackson has been away since the first of July," replied the olderwoman. "I haven't heard anything from him, and I am quite anxious,though he warned me he couldn't write. He and his chum, Hal Perry, wentinto the Okefenokee Swamp to search for you girls."
"The Okefenokee Swamp!" repeated Linda. It seemed ages since she hadbeen lost in that desolate expanse.
"Yes. And I wondered, Miss Carlton, whether you would be willing tofly up to the northern end, up towards Camp Cordelia, and look forthem. Oh, I don't mean go into the swamp again--that would be toodreadful--but just fly around it."
"Yes, of course," agreed Linda, not knowing what else to say. "If youwill let me wait until my Daddy comes, so I can take him with me."
"Naturally!"
Mrs. Carter rose at last, but she still appeared to be embarrassed.
"There is something else I want to say to you, Miss Carlton. Anapology, this time. I know now that you are the same girl my sonrescued in the swamp and brought home to our house. The girl to whom Iwas so rude.... I--I want to beg your pardon."
It was a great deal from a woman of Mrs. Carter's dignity andimportance, and Linda was deeply touched.
"This is very sweet of you, Mrs. Carter," she said. "And of course Iunderstand how you felt at the time. I'm only too glad to forget allabout it.... And," she added, holding out her hand, "I'll go to yourson's rescue, as he has twice gone to mine--as soon as my Daddy comes."
Still the visitor hesitated, even after she had shaken hands with boththe girls, and had reached the doorway.
"Would y
ou girls consider bringing your families out to our home, tospend the weekend with us?" she asked, more as one seeking than as onebestowing a favor.
Dot did not answer this time; she looked inquiringly at Linda.
"It would be lovely," replied the latter, with genuine enthusiasm. "ButI am afraid there are too many of us. You see there are two friendswith us now--Mr. and Mrs. Mackay, who picked us up in Havana--and thereare two more with our fathers on the yacht. With my aunt and Dot'smother, it will make ten in all. And that is too big a crowd for anyplace but a hotel!"
"Not at all!" protested Mrs. Carter. "I should love it. We have plentyof room, and plenty of servants--and we enjoy house-parties. How Ishall look forward to seeing your mother, Dorothy!... You will come,won't you, girls--as soon as the whole party is together?"
With such a pressing invitation as this, they could not do otherwisethan graciously accept, and, satisfied at last, Mrs. Carter bade themgood-by.
There was no opportunity to discuss this unexpected visit, for nosooner had this caller departed than others began to arrive. Louisedashed into the room on her return from breakfasting with Ted in thedining-room, and before Dot and Linda could repeat the invitation toher, news came that the yachting party had arrived.
The reunion of the two girls with their fathers was touching to see.For some minutes they clung to one another in the lobby of the hotel,regardless of the strangers about. Ralph Clavering and Jim Valier stoodin the background, unnoticed.
About three o'clock that afternoon Linda suddenly remembered herpromise to Mrs. Carter in regard to flying over the Okefenokee Swamp insearch of Jackson, and she suggested to her father that they go to theairport immediately.
Mr. Carlton shook his head decidedly.
"No, daughter," he said. "You will never have my consent again to flywithin fifty miles of that dismal swamp!"
"But we must be within fifty miles of it now," returned Linda. "Shallwe leave Jacksonville?"
"Now, Linda! You know what I mean."
"But how shall I tell Mrs. Carter? I promised, you know."
"You can leave that to me," he replied. "I'll explain."
But it was not necessary to do this, for the woman telephoned herselfalmost immediately to say that the boys had arrived by automobile halfan hour ago. She concluded by reminding Linda that she was expectingthe whole party the following day for luncheon.
Saturday dawned clear and bright, and the parade was scheduled for theearly morning, before the sun's rays became blistering. Linda and Dotoccupied seats of honor on the canopied grandstand, beside the Mayor,and they bowed and smiled to everyone that passed by.
Miss Carlton and Mrs. Crowley arrived just in time to witness thedemonstration, in honor of their two brave girls.
Transcriber's notes:
- Table of contents inserted at beginning of book.
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