CHAPTER X
FLOSSIE
When Iris failed to respond to the summons for dinner, Miss Darrelwaited a few moments and then took her own place at the table.
"Go and find Miss Clyde," she said to Agnes; "I do wish people would beprompt at meals, especially when they're guests."
Lucille never allowed any one of her household to forget that she wasnow mistress of Pellbrook, and she longed for the time when the mysterywould be cleared up and she might be left to the possession of her newhome.
Being Sunday, it was a case of midday dinner, and, as Iris was usuallyprompt, Lucille was surprised at the length of time Agnes remained outof the room. At last she returned with the word that she could not findMiss Clyde anywhere in the house. "But," she added, "maybe she went awayin the little car that was here a while ago."
"What little car?" demanded Lucille.
"I don't know whose it was, and I don't know that Miss Iris was in it,but I just caught sight of it as it whizzed through the gate."
"When?"
"About an hour ago. I didn't think much about it. I saw a man drivingit, and I think there was a lady on the back seat----"
"Agnes, you're crazy! Miss Clyde wouldn't go out anywhere on Sundaymorning without telling me. She didn't go to church?"
"Oh, no, ma'am, it was much too late for that."
"Well, that was some stranger's car. You didn't see Iris in it?"
"No, ma'am, I didn't."
However, as there was no Iris on the premises, Lucille Darrel concludedshe had gone off on some sudden and unexpected errand--perhaps to seeWinston Bannard.
So Miss Darrel ate her dinner alone, with no feeling of alarm, but aslight annoyance at the episode.
She thought over the story Iris had told her of the intruder of thenight before, and slowly a vague suggestion of something wrong shapeditself in her brain. She realized that if Iris had gone on an errand, orhad gone for a ride with Roger Downing, or any other friend or caller,she would certainly have told Lucille she was going. For Iris waspunctilious in her courtesy, and the two women really got along verywell together. She called old Polly in and asked her what she thoughtabout it.
"I don't know," and the cook shook her head. "I'd just been talking toher about that pin Mrs. Pell left to her----"
"Good heavens! Polly! That pin again? Why--what _is_ there about thatpin? What do _you_ know of it?"
"Well," and the old face was very serious, "I've been acquainted withthat pin for years."
"Is it a special pin?"
"Very special."
"Why? What's its value?"
"That I don't know, ma'am, 'cept I'm thinking it's a lucky pin."
"Oh, how ridiculous! Why, you're not even sure the pin is inexistence--I mean, that anybody knows of."
"Oh, yes, ma'am, I just gave that pin to Miss Iris this morning."
"_You_ did! Where did you get it?"
"Well, I hooked it offen Agnes."
"What does this all mean? Why did you take it from Agnes? And where didshe get it?"
"Well, Miss Darrel, ma'am, it's all mighty queer. I don't say's there'sany such thing as luck, and then, I don't say as there isn't. Anyway,Mrs. Pell guarded that pin like everything while she was alive, and sheleft it to Miss Iris when she died. Don't that look like it was a Luck?"
"Oh, that bequest business was a joke. Surely you know that."
"Not altogether it wasn't. The dime part was, maybe, but that pin--why,I _know_ that pin, I tell you!"
"Do you mean you'd know that pin apart from a lot of other common pins?"
"No'm--I don't know as I can say that--but, well, maybe I could tellit."
"Polly, you're out of your head! But never mind all that now, tell mewhat you think of Miss Iris' absence? You know her. Would she run offanywhere just before dinner on Sunday, without telling anyone?"
"That she would not! Miss Iris is most considerate and thoughtful. She'dnever go away without seeing you first."
"That's what I think. Then where is she?"
"I don't know, ma'am, but--but I'm--I'm awful scared!"
And flinging her apron over her face, as she burst into sobs, Polly ranout of the room.
Thoroughly alarmed, Lucille spoke again to Agnes.
"You're not _sure_ you saw Miss Clyde in that car?"
"Oh, no, ma'am. I didn't see her at all. Only I didn't know the car, andI thought she might be in it. I know Mr. Downing's car, and Mr.Chapin's, and----"
"I think I'll telephone Mr. Chapin. What with murderings and maraudingsthis house is a frightful place! I almost wish it wasn't mine!"
She called Mr. Chapin on the telephone, and he came over as quickly ashe could.
Then she told him of the intruder of the night before, and of the otherefforts that had been made to get the pin.
The lawyer smiled. "Nonsense!" he said, "they're not after that pin!They're after something else."
"What?"
"I don't know, but probably the jewels, or memoranda or information asto where the jewels are."
"Where can they be?"
"I've not the slightest idea. I wish now I'd insisted more strongly onhaving Mrs. Pell's confidence. But she told me that her whole fortunewas left to Iris and Win Bannard, and that it was all disclosed in thewill's directions. She gave me to understand that the box for Iris andthe pocket-book for Win held directions for the possessing of herfortune."
"Was her money all in the jewels?"
"All but a few shares of stock, and a little real estate. Those,however, will help along, for they belong to Iris and young Bannard asher immediate heirs, aside from her will."
"Well, I should think you would have insisted on knowing a little moreabout things than that!"
"Why should I? I drew her will, I attended to such matters as she askedme to, and it was not my affair where she chose to conceal her wealth,especially as she had given me a sealed box to hand over to her heiressat her death. And, too, Miss Darrel, you didn't know my late client aswell as I did. Indeed, I doubt if many people knew her as I did! Alawyer often has queer clients, but I'm sure she set a record foreccentricities! I suppose I drew up a score of wills for her, and Lordknows how many codicils were added! Then, too, I never knew when shewould perpetrate one of her silly jokes on me. I've been called overhere late at night, to take her dying testamentary directions, only toarrive and find her perfectly well, and laughing at me! I've been givenan extra fee for some trifling service, only to find that payment hadbeen stopped at the bank before I could present the check."
"And you stood for such treatment?"
"What could I do? She was an old and valued client; she paid well, andthe checks were always honored later, after she had had her fun out ofme. And, of course, her tricks were merely tricks. She never didanything dishonest or dishonorable. Then, too, I liked the old lady.Aside from her one foolish fad, she was intelligent and interesting. Oh,Ursula Pell was all right, except for that one bee in her bonnet. Now, Iam perfectly certain her hoard of jewels is safely secreted and Ithink--I hope, she has left directions telling where they are. But ifshe hasn't, if, dying so unexpectedly, she has neglected to leave thesecret, then I fear Iris will never get her inheritance. Why, they maybe within a few feet of us, even now, and yet be so slyly hidden as tobe irrecoverable."
"I think that's what the man was after last night."
"I daresay. But who was the man?"
"Not an ordinary burglar, for Iris declared he was a gentleman----"
"Gentlemen don't conduct themselves as----"
"You know what I mean! She said he was educated and cultured of speechand manner. Of course, he was a thief. He pretended he wanted the pin,but that was a blind. He was hunting the jewels."
"Well, _we'd_ better hunt Iris. I don't like her unexplaineddisappearance. Suppose we telephone to all the people we can think of,at whose homes she might be."
But this procedure, though including the Bowens and many other of Iris'intimate acquaintances, brought forth
positively no results. Nobody hadseen or heard from Iris that day.
At last they telephoned to Hughes, and the detective said he would cometo Pellbrook at once.
* * * * *
When Iris realized that she had been actually kidnapped, her feelingswere of anger, rather than of fright. The indignity of the thing loomedabove her sense of danger or fear of personal injury. The little car, alandaulet, ran smoothly and rapidly, and as soon as they were well awayfrom Pellbrook the stifling cloth was partially removed from her head,and Iris discovered that beside her was a young woman, whose face,though determined, was not at all awe-inspiring. She even smiled atIris' furious expression, and said, "Now, now, what's the use? You mayas well take it quietly."
"Take kidnapping quietly!" blazed Iris. "Would _you_?"
"If I couldn't help myself any more than you can, yes."
"Keep still! Too much chattering back there!" came a voice from thedriver's seat, and a scowling face turned round for a moment.
"All right," retorted Iris' cheerful companion, "you mind your business,and I'll mind mine."
Then, she took the covering entirely off Iris' head, but at the sametime she drew down the silk shades to the windows of the car.
"Sorry," she said, blithely, "but it must be did!"
"Where am I? Where am I going?" and Iris frowned at her.
"You dunno where you're going, but you're on your way," sang the strangegirl, for she was little more than a girl. "Now, don'tee fight--justtake it pleasant-like, and it will be lots better for you."
"I don't care for your advice, thank you; I ask you what it means that Iam forcibly carried off in this way?"
"It means we wanted you, see? Now, Miss Clyde--or, may I call you Iris?"
"You may not!"
"Oh, very well--ve-ry well! But you call me Flossie, won't you?"
"I've no desire to call you anything----"
"Fie, fie! What a temper! Or doesn't your common sense tell you that itwould be better for you to make friends with me than not?"
"I reserve the privilege of choosing my own friends."
"Oho! Of course you do, usually. But this is an unusual incident. Anout-of-the-way occurrence, if I may say so."
Iris preserved a stony silence.
"All right, Miss Clyde. Here's your last chance. Be a little morefriendly with me, and I assure you you'll get off much more easily.Continue to rebuff me with these crool, _crool_ glances, and--take theconsequences!"
The last three words were said in such a menacing tone that Iris jumped.It seemed this laughing young woman could turn decidedly threatening.
Iris capitulated. "In view of what you imply, I'll be as friendly as Ican, but I confess I don't feel really sisterly toward you!"
"That's better! That line o' talk is most certainly better. Now, maybewe can hit it off. What do you want to know?"
"Why I was carried off in this manner! Who did it? Where am I beingtaken? Why?"
"The questions put by thee, dear heart, Are as a string of pearls to me----"
The lilting voice was true, and the soft tones very sweet. Iris wasattracted, in spite of herself, to this strange person.
"I'll answer separately--every one apart----" she twittered on. "First,you were--ahem--accumulated, for a good and wise purpose. The principalactor, who could be said to answer your question of who did it, is notin our midst at present. You are being taken to a house. Why? Ah, if Itell you, you will know, won't you?"
Flossie looked provoking, but good-natured, and Iris deemed it wiser notto rouse her ire again.
"You haven't really answered, but I suppose you won't. Well, when can Igo back home?"
"If you're goody-girl, you can return in, say, a couple of hours. Ifnot--ah, if not!"
Suddenly a light broke upon Iris.
It was that pin! These strange people were after the pin!
And it was sticking in her shirtwaist frill, just where she had put itwhen Polly gave it to her. They must not get it! Now, if ever, she mustuse her wits. For, if anybody wanted that pin so desperately, it was, it_must be_ valuable. Also, if Ursula Pell had cherished that pin as oldPolly described, it surely was valuable.
Iris thought quickly. This sharp-eyed girl would be difficult tohoodwink, yet it must be done. Had she seen the pin? A furtive glanceat the full ruffle of lawn and lace showed Iris that the pin was notprominently visible, though she could see it. Why did they want it? Butthat didn't matter now--now she must hide it. Would she be searched, shewondered. Surely she would not be submitted to such an insult. Yet, itmight be. At any rate, it must be hidden. This was the real pin, theothers had not been, and these people who were after it knew that. Whatthe pin meant, or why they wanted it, must be left undecided, but thepin must be made safe.
Iris thought of dropping it out of the window, which was open, thoughthe shade was down, but concluded that her ever finding it again wouldbe too doubtful. She thought of concealing it in her abundant hair--butsuppose she were made to take down her hair! A sort of intuition toldher that she would be searched, and she must be ready.
At last she thought of a hiding-place, and as a start she drew Flossie'sattention to a slightly loose shade tassel, while, with a gesture as ofstraightening a tiny velvet bow at her throat, she drew her hand downthe frill, and brought the pin with it.
Concealed in her left hand, and stealthily watching her companion'seyes, she waited her chance, and then, unnoticed, she thrust it, headend first, into the hem of her white serge skirt. The loose weave ofthe material made this possible, and the pin disappeared into the inchwide hem. It might be safe there and it might not. Iris thought itwould, and at any rate she could think of no better place to conceal it.
Also, getting another pin from her belt she placed it where the"valuable" pin had been, for further precaution.
Nor did she accomplish her work much too soon, for very shortly theydrove in at a gate and stopped at the door of a small house.
There was no attempt at hiding now, and Iris was handed out of the carby the man who had driven them. With no appearance of stealth, Flossieushered her into the house, which proved to be an ordinary, middle-classdwelling of country people.
The sitting room they went into had a table with a red cover, some booksof no interest, and an old-fashioned lamp on a wool-work mat. The patentrocker and a few other worn chairs betokened family furnishings boughtin the eighties, and not renewed since.
Flossie closed the door, and spoke to Iris, in a new and very decidedtone.
"Miss Clyde," she said, with respect and politeness, "I'm truly sorry,but you are here and I am here, in order that I may take from you apin, which you have somewhere in your clothing. I deeply regret thenecessity, but it is imperative that I make sure of getting every pinthat is on your person. Please do not make it harder for me--for both ofus--than is necessary. For, I assure you, I shall do my duty."
"A pin?" said Iris, innocently, "here is one."
She took one from her belt, in which there chanced to be several, andthanked her lucky stars that she had hidden the real one. It might befound, for this girl was surely energetic, but Iris trusted much to herown dramatic ability now.
"Not one, but all," said Flossie, gravely. "I'm afraid you don'tunderstand----"
"I'm sure I don't!" interrupted Iris. "What about a pin?"
"I won't waste words with you, if you please. I am here to take from youevery pin you have in your clothing. You will please undress slowly,that I may get them all. Here is a paper of new ones to replace them.Will you please take off your shirtwaist, or shall I?"
Iris looked aghast. Then she concluded it would be best to submit.
"Will you lock the door?" she said, haughtily.
"It is locked. We are quite safe from intrusion or interruption. Pleaseproceed."
Iris proceeded. But as she removed her shirtwaist, she furtively, yetcareful that Flossie should see her, glanced at the pin in its frill.She laid the garment on a chair, an
d went on to disrobe, with the colddignity of a queen on the scaffold.
Flossie was kind and delicately courteous.
"Not your underclothing, of course," she said. "I have reason to thinkyou secreted the pin I want in your clothes, a few moments beforeyou--before you left home, and I think it must be in your frock orpetticoats. Or, perhaps, in your camisole."
She examined the dainty lingerie with scrutinizing care, and extractedevery pin--of which she found several. Each one she carefully laidaside, and gravely offered Iris a new pin in its place.
Pretty sure, now, that her pin would not be found, Iris let herself beamused at the whole performance.
"Do you do this as a profession," she asked, "or are you an amateur?"
"Both," was the unsmiling answer. "Will you give me your word there areno more pins on you?"
"I will give you my word there is only this one, and you are welcome toit." Iris took a pin from a loop of ribbon that adorned her petticoatruffle, "but I must ask for one to replace it. I'm a shockinglycareless mortal, and I fully meant to sew that bow on, but I didn't."
Flossie stared at her hard, but Iris didn't quiver an eyelash of fear orapprehension, and the other allowed her to dress herself again.
"That is all," Flossie said, shortly, as once more Iris was in fullcostume. "We will go now."
They re-entered the car, which was still at the door, and started backthe way they had come.