Leaving the monoplane to the care of an attendant, the two young men escorted the girls to a taxicab and took seats beside them.
“You know, I was thinking perhaps we could get up a picnic one of these days,” Dave suggested as they drove toward the mansion. “Marshmallow has been hinting that he wants to be included.”
“I think a picnic would be lots of fun,” Doris declared, “and by all means let’s have Marshmallow. He always brings the best things to eat! Of course that isn’t my reason for wanting him,” she added hastily, as the others began to laugh.
During the flight Dave had chanced to remark that Don Everts had formerly piloted an air mail plane and had a flying acquaintance with nearly every town and city in the east. Doris had been longing to ask him if he had ever passed over Cloudy Cove and now she broached the subject.
“My cousin comes from there,” she explained.
“Cloudy Cove?” the pilot repeated thoughtfully. “Sure, I remember the place. It’s in Massachusetts. City of about thirty or forty thousand, I’d say.”
The taxicab drew up at the rear gate of the old mansion, and the four alighted. Doris noticed that Ronald Trent’s red roadster was still parked nearby.
“Won’t you come in?” she asked the two young men. “It isn’t late yet.”
They accepted with alacrity and the girls led the way to the house.
“I hope Cousin Ronald doesn’t try any more of his foolishness,” Doris said in an undertone to Kitty.
Entering the house they found the Gates twins and Ronald in close conference. Doris thought Azalea and Iris looked somewhat relieved as the group came into the living room and wondered what her cousin had been saying to disturb them.
The twins were delighted that the girls had brought their friends into the house, and at once made them feel at ease, but Ronald frowned as though he considered it an intrusion. He spoke agreeably enough to Dave when introduced, but it was apparent to the girls that they took an instant dislike to each other.
While the Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with Doris and her friends, Ronald fidgeted in his chair and kept glancing at his watch. After a few minutes he abruptly arose and, with only a few words spoken quietly to Azalea and Iris, departed.
After that, Doris sang a number of songs which met with enthusiastic approval. Azalea rang for the tea things and, as the hour grew late, Dave and his friend regretfully took their departure.
“Don’t forget the picnic,” the girls were reminded by Dave as he said goodbye. “We can decide upon the date and the place later on.”
“We will watch for your message,” assured Kitty.
“A summer without a picnic wouldn’t be a summer at all,” sang Doris, as the two girls waved goodbye and opened the back gate.
CHAPTER XVII
A DOG’S DISCOVERY
Doris and Kitty did not spend a comfortable night. Since the ruby ring had been given into their keeping, they found themselves unable to sleep as soundly as before and the slightest noise caused them uneasiness.
Retiring early as was their custom since coming to Locked Gates, they dropped off almost at once, but some time after midnight they were suddenly awakened by a wild cry. To the frightened girls it sounded strangely like some one in distress.
“This house gets more creepy all the time,” Kitty whispered shakily. “That couldn’t have been the wind.”
“No,” Doris agreed, “it sounded like a human voice to me. I wish we weren’t alone in this wing.”
After that they lay awake for several hours, but the cry was not repeated. Finally they fell asleep again, and when they opened their eyes the morning sun was shining brightly in at the windows.
Somewhat ashamed of their fears, now that it was broad daylight, the girls did not mention the subject at the breakfast table. Azalea and Iris appeared more cheerful than on the previous day and Doris was glad to see that they were both wearing blue dresses, a sign that they had partially forgotten their disagreement.
Before breakfast had been finished, Ronald Trent put in his appearance. The girls were surprised at such an early call, but apparently Iris and Azalea knew what brought him, for they exchanged rather embarrassed glances. For once the man did not flatter and palaver with the ladies but turned his attention to Doris.
“Well, cousin,” he began in his blustering way, “I hear you’ve promised to come across with five hundred dollars.”
“I promised the Misses Gates that amount,” she returned, placing stress upon the name.
“Well, it all amounts to the same thing,” Ronald said easily. “Naturally, they’ll turn the money over to me, so I can attend to the—the attorney’s fees. It will save a lot of trouble if you will have the bank draft made out in my name. I’ll tell you just how to do it.”
“I have secured drafts before,” Doris informed him.
“Smart little business woman, eh? How soon will you be able to get to the bank?”
“I suppose I could go today,” Doris said quietly.
“Fine! Don’t forget to have the draft made out in my name.”
While they had been talking, Henry Sully had entered the dining room to ask the Misses Gates a question concerning the gardening work to be done that day, and now as Ronald turned around he gave the man a sly wink. Doris, who was by chance looking directly into the buffet mirror, saw the wink and immediately her suspicions were aroused.
“On second thought,” she remarked, eying Ronald closely, “I don’t believe I’ll be able to get to the bank today.”
The man wheeled and regarded her sharply.
“Why not?”
“Oh, I have some practising to do and I must study my French,” Doris returned.
“I’ll take you in my car.”
“Thanks, but I really won’t be able to make it today.”
There was a ring of finality to her voice, but Ronald did not give up. Instead, he changed his tactics.
“A delay may mean the loss of the entire inheritance, Doris,” he began in a soft, wheedling voice. “You don’t realize how lucky you are to get into the good graces of the Misses Gates.”
“They have been more than kind,” Doris murmured, feeling very uncomfortable.
“Listen, cousin, you stick with me in this deal and you’ll come out on top of the heap. Why, before you get through, you’ll be rich. You’ll sing in Grand Opera!”
“I’ll try to get to the bank some time this week,” she told him.
“But why not go today?”
“Really, Ronald, I don’t think you should urge her,” Iris interposed in her gentle voice. “I can’t quite see the need for such haste. Surely the lawyers will wait a few days for their money.”
“A lot you all know about business!” the man blurted out, and then caught himself and spoke more quietly. “I suppose we shall have to await the whim of this kid, but if we lose the entire fortune, don’t blame me.”
With that he strode out of the house, banging the door behind him. Henry, who had stood listening to the entire conversation, followed him without waiting for his orders.
“Ronald is so impetuous,” Iris said apologetically to the girls. “You mustn’t take him seriously. He really doesn’t mean anything the way it sounds.”
Doris and Kitty had their own idea as to that, but they permitted the matter to pass without stating their views. Breakfast finished, the Misses Gates went out into the garden and Kitty went to her room, taking Wags with her. Doris was left to practise her music, but for some time she sat idle at the piano.
“I wonder if I should have gone to the bank this morning?” she thought uncomfortably. “I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize the fortune, and yet, try as I may, I simply can’t trust that man!”
The conversation which she had overheard between Ronald and Henry Sully on the first night of her arrival came back to her. She remembered that Ronald had called the other man “Hank” and that they had appeared to be on unusually friendly terms. Perhaps in her desire to aid the Misses Gates she was overlooking a number of important facts. Was it not an unwise step to lend her money without first consulting her uncle?
At length she began to practise, but she could not concentrate, and after three-quarters of an hour decided to give it up.
She started up the stairs to find Kitty, but before she had gone very far down the hall leading to the right wing, she met her chum and Wags coming toward her. She saw at a glance that the girl was greatly excited.
“What’s the matter?” she asked in surprise.
“Oh, Doris,” Kitty whispered tensely. “I was just on my way to find you! I think I’ve discovered the source of those strange sounds that have been disturbing us at night!”
“What?”
“Wags is really responsible, because he led the way. He ran off and I had to go after him. Quite by accident I stumbled upon this room.”
“What are you talking about, Kitty?”
“Come, I’ll show you. Follow me and don’t make any noise.”
CHAPTER XVIII
THE FLOOR ABOVE
Wondering what it was her chum had discovered, Doris followed her down the hall. Kitty paused at the door of their own bedroom.
“We’d better leave Wags here until we come back,” she whispered. “He might take it into his head to bark at the wrong moment and give us away.”
Leaving the dog in the bedroom, they listened to make certain that the coast was clear and then stole softly down the long dark hallway until they came to a flight of stairs leading to the attic floor.
“This is as far as I came when I chased Wags,” Kitty whispered, “but I distinctly could hear the strangest sounds coming from that room at the top of the stairs. I was afraid to go on alone.”
“Why, this must be part of the quarters occupied by the Sullys,” Doris told her. “I’ve seen them go up the back stairs any number of times. Do you think we should go up when they aren’t here? Cora is working in the kitchen and Henry is out in the garden.”
“But just listen,” Kitty commanded. “Some one is up there.”
The girls listened intently and to their startled ears there came a low moan, not unlike the sound they had heard during the night.
“You don’t suppose Henry could be up there?” Kitty whispered. “Perhaps he’s drunk.”
Doris shook her head.
“No, I saw him in the yard just before I came up to find you. It can’t be either Cora or Henry.”
“Then who can it be?”
“We’ll find out.”
Noiselessly, they crept up the stairs which creaked alarmingly underfoot. At the top of the landing they hesitated, a little afraid to open the door leading into the Sully suite. At last, summoning all of her courage, Doris turned the knob and pushed the door back a tiny way.
Peeping through the crack, the girls saw only an empty and very untidy sitting room. Becoming bolder, Doris opened the door wider and they stepped inside.
“There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong here,” she murmured in perplexity.
Just at that moment there came another, moan, louder than before. Kitty clutched her chum nervously by the arm and would have retreated from the room had not Doris held her back.
“It’s coming from that bedroom,” she whispered, indicating a closed door.
“Let’s go back,” Kitty begged.
“No, I intend to find out what that noise is.”
“But some one may come up the stairs.”
They listened, but heard nothing behind them.
“Do you think it could be an animal?” questioned Kitty, wide-eyed with fear, as another moan came from the room beyond.
“Hush!” warned Doris.
They took a step forward.
Another groan.
“I’m getting frightened,” whispered Kitty in a voice full of distress.
“Oh, Kitty, I think—”
“What can it be, Doris?”
“Look down the stairs again!”
Kitty obeyed, stepping noiselessly backward.
“It seems all right down there,” Kitty said, motioning with her hand in the direction of the floor below.
“Come!” said Doris.
Doris tiptoed across the sitting room and after a brief hesitation stooped down and peeped through the keyhole. Through the tiny aperture she looked into a barren and dismal bedroom. The curtains were drawn and at first she could distinguish little.
The weird sounds had begun again, but Doris could not decide where they came from. Kitty was tugging at her hand, trying to induce her to retreat.
“Just a minute,” Doris whispered. “I can—”
With a start she broke off as she beheld a strange sight. She made out a figure stretched out on the sagging bed and her first thought was that it must be Cora and that she was in severe pain. Yet she knew this could not be, for the housekeeper was in the kitchen.
“Oh, what is it?” Kitty demanded as she heard another loud moan.
This time Doris knew that the sound had fallen from the lips of the woman lying on the bed. But was it a woman? As the figure turned slightly on the bed, Doris saw that she had been mistaken. It was a girl not more than eighteen or twenty years of age. Her face was childish, almost baby-like, but tortured with pain and suffering.
Then Doris’s eyes traveled farther and she beheld the twisted body and misshapen limbs. The child was a cripple!
“Who can she be?” Doris asked herself. “And why is she hidden here?”
Instantly the answer flashed through her mind. Undoubtedly this child was the daughter of Henry and Cora Sully whom the world did not know existed. But why did they keep her secreted? Was it because they were ashamed of her or merely indifferent?
“What are you looking at?” Kitty whispered nervously. “Let me see!”
Doris moved aside to permit her chum to peep through the keyhole. One glance was sufficient for Kitty.
“Oh, how dreadful!” she whispered. “Who can she be?”
“I thought she might be a daughter of the Sullys.”
“There is a marked facial resemblance,” Kitty agreed. “Do you suppose the Misses Gates know she is here?”
“Why, they must. They come up here nearly every day ostensibly to read their Bibles. They probably come to see this crippled child.”
“Poor thing,” Kitty murmured, “I feel so sorry for her. Dare we go in?”
“I don’t see why we shouldn’t. She’s likely dying of lonesomeness.”
Doris took hold of the door-knob but she did not turn it, for just at that moment the girls heard the sound of footsteps on the floor below. The door at the bottom of the stairs closed. The girls exchanged frightened glances. Some one was coming and they were trapped! How could they explain their presence in the suite?
Doris cast a frantic glance over the sitting room and noticed a closet.
“Quick, we must hide!” she whispered to Kitty. They tiptoed across the room and entered the closet, softly closing the door behind them. They were not an instant too soon, for whoever was coming had reached the top of the stairway.
Daringly Doris peeped out through a crack to see who it was. To her surprise she beheld Azalea Gates. Bible in hand, the old lady entered the living room, crossed directly to the bedroom and without a glance in the direction of the closet went in and closed the door behind her.
The girls waited a few minutes to make certain that she would not return. When they heard a droning voice begin one of the Psalms, they knew they were safe.
“Now is our chance,” Doris whispered.
They slipped quietly out of the closet, and stole to the door. The stairs creaked alarmingly as they went down and they were afraid they would be heard. To their relief they reached the second floor in safety. Somewhat guiltily they rushed down the hall and entered their own bedroom.
There they snatched up Wags who had grown impatient waiting for them, and fled from the house. It was a relief to reach the warm sunshine, for the sight they had just witnessed had thrown a pall over them.
“Wasn’t it awful, Dory, to see a helpless cripple like that? I wonder if a doctor ever comes here,” mused Kitty sadly, “to give the poor thing relief.”
“We might have gone up before if the twins had only told us we could and tried to entertain the child,” suggested Doris generously. “Perhaps my singing might have eased her pain for a while, at least.”
“You are a dear, Dory, always wanting to cheer up everybody with your lovely voice. But why,” Kitty continued thoughtfully, “do you suppose this is kept a secret? We cannot help if the Misses Gates do not wish us to intrude on their private affairs. They may think we are dreadfully bold and presumptuous.”
“We probably shouldn’t have gone up there,” Doris declared.
“But how did we know who was there?” Kitty returned. “We didn’t know but that some one was in trouble. When we started out, we thought we were after a ghost.”
“I feel as though I had seen one now,” Doris said with a nervous laugh. “I do hope we don’t discover any more weird things about this place.
“My! but this bright sunlight feels good and warms one up after that musty, drab third floor, with its queer noises and moanings coming from the most unexpected places. What would Mrs. Marshall say to this clutter of old furniture and bedding? I’ll bet she wouldn’t care to keep house for the Misses Gates,” and Doris laughed as she adjusted her beret over her reddish-brown curls.
“I’m glad I’m only a visitor here,” said Kitty, “and not a life inmate.” She chuckled at the thought.
Down the steps came the two girls. They glanced back to see who might be listening to this conversation between them. They did not wish to be overheard by any one within the rambling old structure.
CHAPTER XIX
UNDER THE WINDOW
“This mansion surely is queer, that’s all I can say,” Kitty declared feelingly as she and Doris, followed by Wags, walked slowly down toward the front entrance. “One minute I want to rush right away and then again I like to be here just to see what will turn up next.”
“I feel the same way,” Doris agreed, gazing thoughtfully down at her chum, “but I don’t feel like paying five hundred dollars to see the show.”
“That is a lot of money, but think what you will get eventually.”
“Yes, it is a tempting proposition and I have absolute confidence in the Misses Gates.”
“Then what is troubling you, Dory?”
“Oh, it seems to me Ronald Trent isn’t honest and I can’t understand why he is on such friendly terms with Henry Sully. Ugh! The more I see of the whole outfit the less I like them!”
“Same here! But you’ve practically given Ronald the money, haven’t you?”
“He hasn’t it yet, Kit, and the more I think about it, the more I’m inclined to change my mind.”
“But it may mean losing your inheritance.”
“I think I’ve a plan, Kit.”
“What is it?”
“Well, I’ll not get a bank draft at all, as Ronald suggested I do. Instead, I’ll write a letter to Jake and ask him to go to the Chilton bank and get the cash for me. I’ll have him bring it here to the mansion himself! Ronald can’t very well protest at that, and in the meantime perhaps we can learn more about him. How does that strike you?”
“Brilliant!” Kitty approved in admiration, “but why have Jake come with the money?”
“Oh, I thought he’d like it up here, as he used to work at Rumson. And for another thing, he might be able to help us. You never can tell what may turn up.”
“I agree with you!”
“Jake is a regular whiz at detecting schemes, Kit, and if anything is wrong here, he’s apt to find it out in a jiffy.”
“You always did have brains,” Kitty said admiringly. “How do you think of things like that?”
“Well, it took me several days,” Doris admitted with a laugh.
The morning passed rather slowly for the girls. They knew that Azalea was with the crippled child and Iris had gone to her room. They played several games of croquet, but it was dull sport when they were accustomed to tennis and golf. Wags seemed less entertaining than usual and presently wandered off toward the rear of the estate.
“Where did that dog go?” Kitty asked when they had finished their game.
“Back of the house somewhere. I’ll bet he’s into some mischief!”
“We’d better go after him,” Kitty suggested.
Dropping their croquet mallets, they leisurely made their way toward the rear of the mansion. Passing beneath the kitchen window they sniffed the appetizing odor of the cooking dinner and wished that it were time to eat. Though they disliked Cora Sully most heartily, they agreed that she was an excellent cook.
The girls had no intention of lingering by the kitchen window, but as they passed they were startled to hear a voice which they recognized as that of Henry. They would have paid no heed, but one sentence forced itself upon them.
“If only we could git rid of her!”
Involuntarily, Doris and Kitty halted and listened. They were not given to eavesdropping or to interfering in affairs which did not concern them, but the implied threat of violence assured them a sinister plot was in the brewing and they did not know but that they were destined to be the victims. What they heard next set them at rest on this score.
“If Etta was out of the way, then we could travel on some of that money Trent promised us from the oil land,” Henry muttered.
Kitty and Doris exchanged puzzled glances. Who was Etta? The question was answered for them as Cora began to talk.
“A cripple!” she complained. “What can you do tied to such a child? She’s nothing but a burden, anyway. It’s better if she’s put out of the way.”
“We’ll have to be careful,” Henry warned in a low voice. “Won’t do to git the old ladies suspicious. And we daren’t do anything rash till we git our hands on that paper.”
Doris and Kitty, now convinced that the two in the kitchen were disclosing important information, crept nearer the window.
“I don’t see where they keep it hid,” Cora returned sullenly. “I’ve looked the house over from top to bottom but I can’t find the paper anywhere. I know it’s here somewhere, probably in one of their desks, but they keep ’em locked and I haven’t been able to get the keys.”
The girls heard no more, for just then Henry, evidently fearing that some one might overhear the conversation, crossed over to the window and slammed it shut. Kitty and Doris pressed their bodies up close to the house, but they were in no danger of being discovered, for the man did not glance out.
Frightened at what they had learned, the girls moved swiftly away from the window.
“What next?” Kitty murmured when they were some distance away. “Why, they’re nothing but criminals! They mean to do away with that poor little crippled girl!”
“Not if we can prevent it!” Doris said grimly.
“What can we do?”
“We’ll keep close watch on them. There’s one thing certain. They won’t attempt to harm Etta until they get that paper they spoke of.”
“What do you think it can be?”
“Some kind of stock or deed, I imagine. We’ll speak to the Misses Gates about it at the first opportunity. And in the meantime, we mustn’t let on that we suspect anything!”
CHAPTER XX
A PICNIC
Doris did not have an opportunity that day to speak to the Misses Gates concerning the mysterious paper which Cora and Henry Sully had mentioned, for an old friend of the ladies called at the mansion and the subject could not be brought up in her presence. The next day she fully intended to speak of the matter, but it seemed that she was never alone with the twins for ten minutes at a time. Either Cora or Henry remained within listening distance and the girls wondered if they could be suspicious.
The afternoon mail brought a note from Dave Chamberlin, and for the time being Doris and Kitty forgot the problems which troubled them.
“Dear Doris,” the note read, “Marshmallow and I think tomorrow would be a great day for that picnic we planned. How about it? If we don’t hear from you to the contrary, we’ll be at your doorstep tomorrow morning. Don’t worry about grub. We’ll bring enough for an army. Dave.”
“What a relief it will be to get away for a day,” Kitty declared. “There’s nothing to prevent our going, is there?”
“No, I heard Azalea say that Ronald was coming tomorrow but that’s all the more reason for me to be away. He’ll plague me about that loan and I’m not ready to give him the money yet.”
“We’ll not have to bother about fixing a lot of things, either,” Kitty went on. “That will make the picnic more enjoyable.”
“Yes, I don’t mind getting things ready when I’m at home, but when you’re visiting, it’s different. Cora is so cross and she doesn’t like to have any one step into her kitchen, let alone use it.”
“Wonder where we’ll go?”
“Oh, Dave probably knows some nice place. Let’s go tell the Misses Gates now that we are going, and then if they should have any objection, we could let Dave know.”
Azalea had gone to her room but they found Iris in the kitchen making out the market list. Upon being told of the plan she at once approved of it.
“I have never met this young man you call Marshmallow,” she smiled, “but if he is at all like your friend David I am sure I would approve of him. By all means have your picnic, and Cora will make you something nice to take with you.”
“We don’t like to trouble you,” Doris murmured.
“It will be no trouble at all,” Iris assured her. “I wouldn’t think of letting you go without a well-filled basket. Cora, you might make one of your pineapple cakes.”
“We’re out of eggs,” the housekeeper said crossly without glancing up from the pan of potatoes which she was peeling.
“Then I’ll add two dozen to the market list,” Iris said. “What else will you want? Pickles and olives, of course. And sandwiches. When I was young, a picnic just wasn’t a picnic without plenty to eat.”
“I’m sure we’ll have enough,” Doris laughed. “Marshmallow’s mother is a wonderful cook and he always brings enough for six.”
True to their word, Dave and Marshmallow drove up to the mansion gate the next morning shortly after ten o’clock.
“We’d have been here sooner but Marshmallow had so much food to pack, you know,” Dave told the girls as he helped them into the car.
It was an ideal day for a picnic, bright but not too warm. Doris and Kitty were relieved that the sky was clear, for the memory of the storm which had nearly overtaken them on their last picnic was still vivid.
“Where are we going?” Doris asked.
“Oh, there’s a place not far from here called Eagle’s Point. I though we might try that.”
“Sounds interesting,” Kitty declared.
A short drive west of the town brought them to a winding and heavily wooded road. Following this they climbed a steep hill and came to a halt at the brow of a cliff. Parking the car they climbed out and walked over to the edge of the precipice and looked down upon a lake, crystal clear and as blue as the sky it reflected. Only a short distance from the road a stone fireplace had been built and picnic tables had been provided. A spring provided clear, cold water.
The girls were delighted at the spot and announced they would look no farther for a picnic place. Dave and Marshmallow locked the car and carried the heavy lunch hampers to the tables. Marshmallow began to unpack the dishes but Doris and Kitty stopped him.
“You don’t want to eat yet,” they protested.
“Why not?” he drawled goodnaturedly. “That’s what we came for, wasn’t it?”
“But we want to explore first,” Doris declared. “There’s lovely scenery, and then we must work up an appetite for luncheon.”
“Mine is already working,” Marshmallow grinned.
However, he placed the dishes back in the hamper and started out with the others, managing to pair himself with Kitty, which was not difficult, as Doris and Dave were absorbed in each other.
A steep path led down to the lake, and this the party decided to explore. Slipping and sliding, they finally reached the bottom of the decline without mishap. There, finding a boat tied to an old log, they decided it would be good sport to go for a ride on the lake.
“There aren’t any oars,” Doris observed in disappointment.
“We don’t need ’em,” Marshmallow declared, picking up a board. “This will do almost as well.”
By hunting around they found another board nearly the same size, and with Dave and Marshmallow each wielding one of the improvised oars, they courageously set out in the little boat. The paddles were not very effective and the young men worked like Trojans to propel the craft a few yards. For the most part they were content to drift with the wind.
Tiring of this sport, they brought the boat to shore and left it tied to the log.
The party was about to climb the hill again when Doris noticed a path leading around the lake. She proposed that they continue their trip of exploration, and the suggestion was greeted with enthusiasm.
The four were forced to proceed single file, for the path was narrow and branches of low-hanging trees formed an archway above their heads. Presently, Doris who was in the lead stopped short and gave an exclamation of surprise.
“What’s the matter?” Kitty demanded.
“We’ve come to the jumping off place! And just see what I’ve discovered. A cave!”
Kitty thought her chum was only joking, but as she came up behind her she saw for herself the tiny opening in the side of the cliff. Dave and Marshmallow crowded up, the latter becoming greatly excited.
“Jumping snakes!” he exclaimed. “I never heard about this cave. I wonder what’s inside?”
He thrust his head in at the opening but could see nothing, as his eyes were unaccustomed to the darkness.
“If we only had a flashlight!” he declared. “It would be fun to explore it.”
“Maybe it’s inhabited by bears,” Kitty suggested nervously.
“Never heard of any around here,” Marshmallow insisted. “Say, we can’t go home without seeing the inside.”
“I think there’s a flashlight in the car,” Dave told him. “I’ll see.”
The girls and Marshmallow waited impatiently for Dave to return. Presently, he came back with the flashlight.
“Wouldn’t it be grand if we’d find buried treasure?” Doris laughed. “I could use some money all right, and I don’t know of any more delightful way to obtain it.”
She did not really hope that any such adventure would befall them, but Kitty’s eyes grew round at the mere mention of treasure.
“Who’s to go first?” Doris asked.
“Let me,” Marshmallow begged.
Dave handed him the flashlight, and after an instant’s hesitation he again thrust his head and shoulders through the opening. It was only a small aperture, and Marshmallow grunted as he squeezed through.
“You’re too fat,” Doris called after him. “You may never get out again.”
There was no response from the inside of the cave and Kitty, suddenly becoming alarmed, called anxiously:
“Marshmallow! Marshmallow!”
“I’m right here,” came a muffled voice. “Come on in.”
“What do you see?” Doris demanded.
“It looks like a cracking big cave.”
Somewhat reassured, the girls wormed their way through the opening and Dave brought up the rear. It was pitch dark inside, but the beam of Marshmallow’s light furnished a faint illumination.
“Follow me,” Marshmallow commanded.
He led the way deeper into the cavern. The cave consisted of two chambers, and as the four friends entered the second room Marshmallow flashed his light over the ceiling. They saw strange formations resembling icicles hanging from above.
“Stalactites!” Doris exclaimed.
“Aren’t they odd?” Kitty cried. “What causes them anyway?”
“I’ve read that stalactites are caused by the dripping of water which contains carbonate of lime,” Doris explained.
“Folks, I guess we’ve seen all the sights,” Marshmallow, who had gone on a short way ahead, announced. “It isn’t as large a cave as I thought.”
“No buried treasure, either,” Kitty murmured in disappointment. “Still, the stalactites are interesting. Imagine living this close and not knowing anything about them.”
It was cold inside the cave and, being without wraps, the girls began to shiver.
“Let’s go,” Doris proposed.
Once outside the warm sunshine seemed more welcome than before. During the excursion into the cave, Dave had appeared less interested than the others, and now, observing the smile on his face, Doris’s suspicions were aroused.
“Dave Chamberlin!” she accused. “You knew about that cave all the time!”
“Well, maybe I had heard about it,” he grinned, “but I didn’t want to spoil the fun.”
“We were all so excited and silly,” Doris laughed. “There’s a path leading right up here! And we didn’t think a thing about it. Of course other folks know about the cave.”
“Oh, well, it was fun anyway,” Marshmallow said. “So much exertion made me hungry, though. When do we eat?”
“You would ask that,” Doris bantered. “I’m willing if the rest of you are.”
The climb back up the steep hill was not easy, and by the time Doris and Kitty reached the top they were nearly out of breath. While they were resting under a shade tree, Dave and Marshmallow brought water from the spring and started a fire.
“What are we cooking?” Doris asked with interest.
“Steak,” Marshmallow told her, smacking his lips. “And boy, do I know how to cook it!”
“Your mother must have been giving you lessons,” Doris smiled.
“Say, don’t you think I ever went camping? I can cook a lot of things.” He opened a hamper and began to lift out various covered dishes. “Just look at all this stuff Ma sent.”
While the steak was sizzling over the red hot fire, the girls spread the table cloth and unwrapped the various packages. They were appalled at the outlay of food. “Enough for an army!” Doris groaned. Always an excellent cook, Mrs. Mallow had quite outdone herself on this occasion. Salads crisp and inviting in nests of lettuce, pie, gigantic cream puffs with Marshmallow’s favorite chocolate filling, baked beans, deviled eggs and lemonade were but a suggestion of all the good things with which the cloth was loaded.
“We’ll never be able to eat all of this,” Doris declared in dismay.
“Sure we will,” Marshmallow grinned. “Just give me a chance.”
The others were forced to admit that he did do remarkably well, for long after they had finished eating he continued to blissfully gorge sandwiches, cake and cream puffs with an apparently unappeased appetite. At last, however, the plump lad was forced to acknowledge his Waterloo.
“I’m afraid I can’t finish it,” he said regretfully. “What a shame to lug so much back with us.”
“Maybe you’ll feel up to it after you’ve rested a bit,” Dave suggested.
“That’s an idea!”
With a contented groan he stretched himself out under a shade tree and closed his eyes. Dave helped the girls clean up the picnic things.
After that, they sat around and talked. Doris was induced to sing and they all joined in, even Marshmallow, whose voice was gruff and seldom on the right key.
“It’s that last sandwich pressing against my larynx,” he apologized.
“Doris, you have a wonderful voice,” Dave praised soberly. “I suppose you’ve been told that by every one.”
“Not by every one,” Doris laughed. “It will probably take years before my voice develops to its fullest capacity. That’s what my teacher says.”
“You’re dead set upon a career, aren’t you?” Dave asked, a strange light shining in his eyes as he gazed thoughtfully at her curly head.
“Oh, yes. I want to sing in Grand Opera some day. Perhaps my ambitions are greater than my ability!”
“No, you’ll make it, and if that’s what you want, more power to you!”
Doris glanced quickly at her friend, and as quickly turned away as she saw the expression on his face. She was further embarrassed as she realized that Marshmallow and Kitty were aware of what had been passing through Dave’s mind.
Hastily she arose.
“Don’t you think we’d better be starting back? Dave and Marshmallow have a long drive ahead of them and it’s getting late.”
“We haven’t eaten all of the sandwiches yet,” Marshmallow protested.
“Then hurry and we’ll wait for you.”
“But I can’t now. Oh, well, I suppose we can cart them home. Maybe Dave and I can eat them on the way back to Chilton.”
“You mean you can,” Dave corrected.