Читать книгу Linda Carlton's Perilous Summer - Lavell Edith - Страница 5

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“Who is this Cinderella you brought home, Linda?” asked Ralph, as the young couple started for the party. “You sure fixed her up some since this afternoon.”

“She’s a girl we picked up in the road,” Linda explained. “Didn’t Aunt Emily tell you why we were staying over in Milwaukee?”

“No; only that some friend was in the hospital. I didn’t get the details. All that I was interested in was when you’d be back.”

Briefly, Linda told him the story of the accident and of the girl’s loss of memory, adding that “Amy” was a fictitious name which they had given her, until she should recall her own.

“I mean to find her family if I have to search the whole United States!” she concluded.

“And if you have to give up your own summer vacation in the bargain,” muttered Ralph, sulkily. “You would, Linda!”

“But it’s exciting! Like reading a mystery story, you know.”

“You’ll get into trouble, I warn you.”

“If I do, I’ll get out again,” she returned, lightly. “I have a charmed life.”

“I wouldn’t count on that too much if I were you.”

“Tell me who will be here to-night,” urged Linda, seeing that Ralph was getting irritable over her newest adventure.

“Only half a dozen couples, I believe. Mostly the old crowd—you and Dot and Sue Emery and Sarah Wheeler—and those two married girls Kit is so thick with—Madge Keen and Babs Macy.”

“Why don’t you tell me which boys?” teased Linda, with a twinkle in her eye. “Don’t you think I’m interested?”

“I hoped you weren’t. Now that your friend Jackson Carter has gone back South where he belongs, with that fascinating drawl of his, I rather hoped I’d have you to myself.”

“Well, I’m going to the party with you!”

“Yes, but that doesn’t say it’ll be more than two minutes before some fellow cuts in. Why in the name of peace and enjoyment they always invite more fellows than girls to a party is something to make me wonder.”

“It’s to make us happy—to make us seem popular,” explained Linda.

“Nobody has to make you seem popular!” he returned, morosely.

“Tell me the boys, Ralph!” she repeated.

“Men, my child—not boys! Why, three of ’em are married. And the rest of us would like to be,” he muttered, under his breath.

But he refused to tell her; she’d find out soon enough for herself. Her first discovery, when Ralph stopped his car at his sister’s, proved to be one of her oldest friends, Harriman Smith, a young man whom she had not seen for several months. He dashed down the steps to greet her.

“Harry!” she cried, in delight, pressing his hand in genuine pleasure. It was he who had stood by her, believed in her, when nobody else but her chum, Louise Haydock, had thought she could fly the Atlantic Ocean.

“Linda! It’s heaven to see you again!” he exclaimed. “Hello, Ralph,” he added, shaking hands with her escort. “How’s tricks with you?”

“O.K., Harry. When’d you get here?”

“Half an hour ago. By plane.”

“You have a plane?” demanded Linda.

“No—be yourself, Linda! I’m a poor working man. No, I came with Kit’s husband—Tom Hulbert. I have a couple of weeks’ vacation, and decided I’d like to spend them with the old crowd. I’m staying with the Hulberts.”

Linking arms, all three entered the bungalow together, which was much larger and more luxurious than most of the cottages at Green Falls, for Kit’s wealthy father, Mr. Clavering, had presented the young couple with it soon after their marriage. A small orchestra of three pieces had been hired for the dancing, to take the place of the usual radio music, and the large living room was easily able to accommodate twice the number of couples Kit had invited.

As Ralph had surmised, although there were only seven girls, five extra young men had been asked to the party.

Tiny Kit Hulbert, dressed in a fairy-like dance costume of pale-green chiffon, floated over to greet the newcomers.

“I hear you’ve had another adventure, Linda,” she said. So timid herself that she had given up learning to fly after a few feeble attempts, she nevertheless had a great admiration for the other girl’s skill and courage.

“It isn’t finished yet,” replied Linda. “We’re in the middle of a mystery. I’ll tell you all about it, Kit, when Ralph isn’t around. He’s rather fed up.”

“I’ll say I am. How soon can we dance, Sis?” asked the young man, impatiently.

“Right away,” agreed Kit, nodding to the violinist in the corner to start the music.

The supper, served informally on the big porch that evening, was early; for the Hulberts had an exciting piece of news for their guests, and they could hardly wait for the opportunity to tell it. As soon as everybody was seated, Tom Hulbert, who was a lieutenant in the U. S. Flying Corps, and an excellent pilot, called for attention.

“Our next party is going to be a wow!” he began.

“They always are,” interrupted Sue Emery, enthusiastically.

Tom bowed. “Thank you, Miss Emery,” he said, formally. “But this is absolutely different—entirely new! Kit’s father is giving us a treasure hunt. By airplanes!”

“Airplanes!” gasped everybody at once.

Linda’s eyes shone with excitement. What a novel idea!

“But most of us can’t go!” whined Sue Emery. “We’re not pilots!”

“Sure you can. Mr. Clavering’s going to rent a lot of planes, so anybody with a pilot’s license to fly can enter, and take a passenger. And there’s a bully prize—Oh, I’m not going to tell what it is! And a dinner at the end of the hunt—maybe a week-end party!”

“Here’s where we girls with licenses score!” cried Dot, triumphantly. “We can do the inviting, for once!”

“As if you didn’t always do the picking and choosing!” muttered Ralph. He would have his autogiro by that time, but, of course, Linda Carlton wouldn’t go with him. Not an independent young lady like her!

“I’m not worried,” drawled Jim Valier, Dot’s devoted boy friend, as he reached for his sixth chicken-salad sandwich, although so far he had only eaten one. “Dot’s got to take me—and I won’t have to do any work. Just share the glory!”

Dot’s chin went up in the air.

“I believe I’ll ask a girl—they’re more reliable,” she retorted. “Sue, will you go with me?”

Sue whimpered; she would rather go with a man, but an invitation was an invitation, and she didn’t want to be left out.

“I’d hate to be so mean to Jim,” she replied. “You better let him go.”

“You come with me, Miss Emery,” urged Frank Lawlor, the young man who was seated at her right, and who was an experienced flyer.

“Thank you—I’d love to, Mr. Lawlor,” she murmured, gratefully.

“When is this exciting event to take place?” asked Harriman Smith, wondering whether he would be there to enjoy it.

“Next Saturday,” replied Tom Hulbert. “Entries must be in by Wednesday.”

Linda was silent; suppose she were too busy looking up Amy’s parents to take part! Oh, but that wouldn’t be fair! She simply couldn’t miss this. Surely her Aunt Emily would look after Amy.

As if reading her thoughts, Kit asked her whether she would be able to go into it.

“You better stay home, Linda,” advised Jim Valier. “So we get a chance at the prize!”

“Don’t be silly,” she replied. “You’ll all probably have speedier planes than my ‘Ladybug.’”

The plan was so fascinating that nobody wanted to start dancing again. Instead they sat and talked and talked, until long past midnight. It was after one o’clock when Linda finally reached home—a late hour for an informal party at Green Falls.

Her aunt was waiting up for her, but she did not seem to be at all worried. As long as the autogiro was in the hangar, Miss Carlton felt safe about Linda.

Ralph left her at the door, and the girl made no mention of the treasure hunt. Instead she inquired about Amy, and asked that she herself be allowed to sleep late the following day.

Remembering the request, Miss Carlton did not call her to the telephone although it rang four times the next morning for Linda, before she was awake. Two impatient young men—Harriman Smith and Ralph Clavering—each called twice to no avail.

Finally, about ten o’clock, Linda put in her appearance at the breakfast table. Miss Carlton and Amy had long since finished theirs, and the little girl was reading a story in the hammock on the porch. Miss Carlton, however, came and sat with her niece as she ate, and gave her the news.

“Which boy are you going to call back, dear?” she asked.

“Neither,” laughed Linda, as she complacently ate her cantaloupe. “I haven’t time for young men to-day, Aunt Emily.”

“You aren’t going anywhere in that autogiro, are you?” Try as she did, the older woman could never keep the note of fear from her voice when an airplane was mentioned.

“No, no, Auntie. It’s about Amy. I want to do things for her. And I want your help.”

Miss Carlton heaved a sigh of relief. This was a different matter.

“First we must get her some decent clothing. And then don’t you think we ought to get her picture to the newspapers, and her description to the radio, so that her people can come and get her?”

“Of course! My, but it is sad, for a child like her to lose her memory. It’s bad enough for an older person, but it just seems pitiful for anyone her age.”

“Oh, I haven’t a doubt but that it will come back,” said Linda, hopefully. “The doctor at the hospital said it was probably only temporary, from that blow on her head. Sometimes another blow will restore it, he told me, but, of course, that wouldn’t be safe on account of her cut. Publicity is the thing we need now.”

“What will you do? Run in to town?”

“No, I don’t think that tiny newspaper office would do any good. So I thought if you’d take her and superintend getting the clothing, I’d take my roadster and go on to Grand Rapids.”

“Yes, that will suit me perfectly. Only why don’t you take Harry or Ralph with you? I’d feel safer, for that’s quite a distance.”

“All right, Aunt Emily. If either of them comes over in time.”

“Either of whom?” demanded a masculine voice from the living room, as the screen door banged.

“Speaking of angels!” returned Linda, turning about to greet Ralph Clavering.

“It’s about time you got up, Lazy Betsy!” he teased. “Did your aunt tell you I phoned twice?”

“Yes. Sit down and have some coffee, Ralph. You must have rushed through your breakfast!”

“Rushed! I’ve been up since eight o’clock!”

“Virtuous soul— But what’s on your mind now?”

“The treasure hunt. Dad wants you to help Tom Hulbert and me with the arrangements. It’s going to be ticklish business.”

“What treasure hunt?” inquired Miss Carlton. She was usually more delighted over Linda’s social affairs than the girl herself.

“By airplanes!” replied Ralph, excitedly. “Isn’t that a whiz of an idea?”

“Oh, no! No!” gasped Miss Carlton, in terror. “No, Ralph! That is worse than foolhardy! Oh, my boy, you’d all be killed!”

“Not if we plan the thing thoroughly. Start at different places—good fields to land——”

“I beg you not to do it!” she wailed, prophetically. “Think of the tragedy it may bring about! Whose idea was it, Ralph?”

“Dad’s—and Kit’s.”

Miss Carlton shook her head mournfully. “I thought your father had more sense, Ralph. But does your mother approve?”

“Mother’s away for a couple of weeks. Went to Bar Harbor to visit Aunt Kate—her sister, you know. So naturally she won’t be consulted.”

“I can never give my consent to it,” stated Miss Carlton, nervously.

“Wait till we get our plans ready. You may change your mind—Now, Linda, can you help me?”

“I’m afraid not to-day, Ralph. I have to do things for Amy. Maybe to-morrow.”

“Too late,” he said, almost gruffly, as he rose and went to the door. “I might have known you would have your own affairs. Never mind, I’ll get Dot!”

Linda went towards him and patted his arm.

“Don’t be cross, Ralph. Think of the child’s parents. How frantic they must be! I’ve just got to do something.”

“Oh, I suppose you’re right. And noble. You always are!”

“I don’t see why you bother with anybody you think so holy and righteous,” remarked Linda, pulling down the corners of her mouth.

“Now children, don’t quarrel,” put in Miss Carlton. “You can blame it on me, Ralph. I refuse to let Linda have any part in this absurd treasure hunt.”

“Then what’s the use of having it?” demanded Ralph.

“Very sensible conclusion,” agreed Miss Carlton. “Give it up, and plan a nice picnic instead.”

“A nice, old-fashioned one! And take our bicycles?”

“You run along, Ralph,” said Linda, “and get Dot and Jim to help you. I really must get ready to go to Grand Rapids!”

So, putting the treasure hunt temporarily from her mind, she ran out to the porch to tell Amy about her plans for the day.