“It’s to make us happy—to make us seem popular,” explained Linda.
“Nobody has to makeyouseem 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.
“Big doings to-day, Amy!” announced Linda, cheerfully, as Ralph Clavering departed. “Come on—get ready!”
“What?” demanded the girl, excitedly. “You haven’t heard from anybody who—wants—me?”
Her eagerness was pathetic, and Linda stooped over and kissed her.
“No, there is no news as yet. But we are going to try to make some. I’m going to take your picture and give it to the newspapers.”
“Oh, I see!” Plainly, Amy was disappointed. “Do you really think it’s any use, Linda? If there were anybody to claim me, wouldn’t they have come three days ago?”
“I don’t know—not necessarily. Suppose they didn’t read the newspapers?”
“If they didn’t then, why should they now?” asked Amy, with keen logic.
“Well, their friends might tell them. Besides, only our pictures—Dot’s and mine—were in before, and now we’re putting in yours. And we’re having it announced over the radio.”
“What is a radio?” inquired Amy.
“Come inside and I’ll show you. But wait, first let me get these snapshots of you. Stand over there, and look pretty!”
The girl smiled and did as she was told. To her knowledge she had never seen a picture taken before.
“It’s funny,” remarked Linda, as she took out her roll of films from the camera, “that you remember how to read. You didn’t have any trouble understanding that story, did you?”
“Some,” confessed the girl. “There were lots of things I hadn’t heard of. But I don’t think it’s my memory, Linda—I think I just never did hear of those things.”
“You must have lived in the country,” concluded the other. “Somewhere around where we picked you up. I think maybe the best idea of all would be to try to fly back to that spot, and hunt for a house. We’ll do that next week, if Aunt Emily is willing.”
“Next week! Linda, I feel as if I had no right to stay on and on here——”
“Of course, you have. And you’re going to have a wonderful time to-day. Aunt Emily is taking you into town to buy you some clothes.”
“But I can’t pay for them!”
“You’re not supposed to. They’re presents. Like Christmas presents. You’ve heard of them, I suppose?”
“Yes! Yes!” cried Amy, excitedly. “You hang up your stocking—and—and—sometimes there are cookies——”
Linda’s eyes shone.
“You have a memory, Amy! You have! Think some more!”
“I can’t,” sighed the girl. “That’s all.”
“But something did come back! Run along and get ready now, for Aunt Emily’s waiting—and I must answer that telephone.”
The caller proved to be Harriman Smith, and Linda immediately told him of her plans for the day, inviting him to go with her to Grand Rapids.
Harry replied that he could be at the bungalow in five minutes, and he was punctual to the dot. He did not tell Linda that the Hulberts’ cars were both out, and that he had run the whole distance.
“I sure am a lucky guy,” he said to Linda, as he got into the roadster beside her; “to get ahead of Ralph Clavering like this.”
“Oh, Ralph’s busy planning the treasure hunt,” she replied. “And that reminds me, Harry, if I am allowed to take part in it, will you go as my passenger?”
“I’d be thrilled!” he cried enthusiastically. “But why do you say ‘if,’ Linda? Surely after you flew the Atlantic Ocean alone, your Aunt Emily couldn’t object to a trifle like a treasure hunt?”
“I know; it doesn’t seem logical. But don’t forget that I flew to Paris before I had all those disasters in the Okefenokee. She’s more timid than ever now. And besides, I guess she doesn’t like the idea of the hunt—all those planes going to the same place, with the danger of collisions. And some of the flyers are only beginners.”
“Who are planning to enter?”
“I haven’t heard definitely. But, of course, Ralph and Dot and I will all enter. And there are Tom Hulbert, and Madge Keen’s husband, and Frank Lawlor. That’s six, at least. I don’t know whether there’ll be any strangers or not. It’s just a Green Falls affair, but I suppose anybody that Mr. Clavering knew could get in all right. I’m going to be dreadfully disappointed if I can’t enter.”
“You don’t really think there’s much chance?”
“I’ll tell you what I’m counting on, Harry; that Daddy will come home, and he’ll tell Aunt Emily to let me go. You know he’s the best sport that ever was; he isn’t afraid of taking a few risks.”
“And he has a lot of confidence in your flying,” added Harry. “That is the trouble with your aunt, I believe. If she had ever gone up with you, and had seen for herself what a marvelous pilot you are, she’d feel differently.”
“Thanks, Harry,” said Linda, pleased at the compliment, for when Harriman Smith said anything, he meant it. He was not given to idle praise. “I do so wish I could get her to go.”
There were so many things to talk about—Linda’s summer adventure and her new autogiro; Harry’s college course and the job he was holding on the side, that they reached Grand Rapids before they knew it. Harry insisted that they have the pictures developed while they ate their lunch, and wait until afterwards to visit the newspapers.
It was with great difficulty that Linda convinced the city editors that they should publish Amy’s pictures instead of her own. But at last she succeeded, and added a description of the man who had been the cause of the accident. Harry visited a broadcasting station at the same time, that the news might be given out over the radio. By three o’clock they were ready to start back to Green Falls.
Not satisfied with merely the day with Linda, Harry tried to date her for the evening.
“Will you go to the tennis matches with me after dinner?” he asked. “At the Club, I mean. You’re not in them by any chance?”
“Oh, no, I’m not nearly good enough. I was beaten early in the tournament. But Dot Crowley’s in the finals, and so is Jim Valier.”
“They always were good. Well, how about it, Linda? I’ll get a taxi, if Tom doesn’t offer me his car. They’ll probably go over in Kit’s.”
“Thank you, Harry, but I think I better not make any plans until I see what Aunt Emily and Amy are doing. I left them last night—and I want to be with them to-night. So you go with Tom and Kit, and if I can, I’ll see you there.”
“And promise me at least two dances?”
“Oh, certainly,” she agreed.
Fifteen minutes later she parked her car in the garage behind the bungalow, and ran in to see what success Amy and her aunt had had. The girl was dressed in everything new from head to foot; her hair, too, had been cut and waved becomingly. She was dancing around the living room in excited happiness. All her cares were forgotten for the time being, in the joy her new clothing afforded her.
“Don’t I look wonderful, Linda?” she cried. “Like a different girl? Miss Carlton has been a real fairy godmother!”
“You certainly do, Amy! Oh, Aunt Emily always knows just the right things to buy!”
The young girl’s eyes suddenly grew wistful, and she frowned. “I think, Linda, that I must have been very poor, because I am sure I never had clothes like this before.”
“Your clothes were different, dear,” Linda admitted. “But you may not have been poor. Perhaps it was only because you lived far out in the country—away from the stores. And maybe your mother didn’t know how to sew, or was an invalid——”
“I don’t believe I have a mother,” replied Amy. “You couldn’t forget a mother—like—like your Aunt Emily. No, I feel sure my mother is dead.”
“Well, we’ll soon solve it all,” Linda reassured her, and proceeded to recount to her what she and Harry had accomplished that afternoon.
“Would you like to go to the Club to the tennis matches after dinner, Amy?” she asked.
“What kind of matches?” The girl looked inquiringly at an ash tray on the table.
“Not that kind of matches!” laughed Linda, following her gaze. “You know what tennis is, don’t you?”
Amy shook her head, and Linda explained as best she could.
But though the girl knew nothing about the game, she was eager to go to the Club, so that she could display her new clothing. Miss Carlton arranged for an early dinner, and they all decided to drive over in Linda’s roadster.
Green Falls was a small resort, and Linda and her aunt knew practically everyone there. As they seated themselves on the wide veranda which overlooked the tournament court, they nodded and smiled to the other spectators on all sides. Dot Crowley came out of the Clubhouse, and stopped to ask Linda to wish her luck, for she was playing against Sarah Wheeler in the girls’ finals.
As she left them to take her place on the court, Lt. Hulbert came over to the Carltons, bringing a stranger with him. The visitor was an exceedingly attractive man of perhaps thirty-five, perfectly dressed, obviously a person of wealth and distinction. Linda thought he might be an ambassador, or perhaps a doctor or lawyer.
“Linda,” said Tom Hulbert, “I want to present a gentleman who is very anxious to meet you, who has heard of your wonderful exploits, and who is something of a flyer himself. Miss Carlton, let me introduce Lord Dudley, of England.”
Linda blushingly held out her hand, and Tom proceeded to introduce the titled foreigner to Miss Carlton. Not knowing Amy, he did not include her, but he noticed that the man was looking at her.
“I hear your praises sung wherever I go, Miss Carlton,” Lord Dudley said, with an engaging smile. “Not only in your own country, but in England, France,—even Germany. You are a very famous person.”
“It is very kind of you to say that,” replied Linda, embarrassed as usual at the praise. “But tell me about your own flying. Have you your plane here?”
“No, it’s being repaired—I left it in England. I drove up here in a hired motor.”
“It’s too bad you haven’t your plane,” said Linda. “For we are to have a treasure hunt by airplane on Saturday.” She glanced shyly at her aunt, who was frowning. “But you can use one of Mr. Clavering’s——”
The tennis matches were to begin immediately, for Dot and Sarah were shaking hands with formality, and the umpire was mounting his stand. So Tom drew his friend away to the seats which Kitty was saving for them.
“I’ve seen that man before!” cried Amy, excitedly.
“Where? When?” demanded Linda, hopefully. Was another memory coming back?
“I don’t know.”
“But if he had known you, he would have said something,” remarked Miss Carlton. “I was going to introduce you, dear, but I didn’t get a chance.”
“Oh, that’s all right!”
“He looks like Ronald Colman,” remarked Linda, after some thought. “Yes, that’s it. You’ve seen him in the movies, Amy.”
“What are movies?” asked the girl, to Linda’s and Miss Carlton’s amazement.
There was no time to explain, for the tennis match had begun, and Linda was anxious not to miss a single play. But all the while she was thinking of the titled Englishman whom she had just met; later in the evening, when the dancing began, she unconsciously searched the room for him. But he had evidently left early, for she did not see him again.
At seven o’clock the following morning, just as the cook was putting on her apron, the door bell of the Carltons’ bungalow rang sharply.
“Beggar probably wants his breakfast,” the woman muttered, as she slowly went to the door. But there were few beggars at Green Falls, and they always came to the back door.
A blond, freckle-faced young man, without any hat, stood on the porch, grinning shyly. At the gate was the most dilapidated-looking Ford she had ever seen.
“Good morning,” he said, briskly, and the cook would never have suspected from his bright, cheery tone that he had been driving all night. “I’m a reporter from the Grand RapidsStar, and I want to see Miss Linda Carlton just as soon as possible.”
“Miss Linda ain’t seein’ no more reporters,” replied the woman, flatly. “She seen enough a couple of weeks ago to last her the rest of her life.”
“But I want to help her,” insisted the young man. “Help her find the lost child’s parents.”
“Oh! That’s different. Come along in, and give me your card.”
Smiling happily at his success, the young man entered the living room.
“Had your breakfast?”
“Why—er—I had some coffee in a thermos bottle.”
“You could eat some?”
“I’ll say I could!”
“All right. Set down there and read the paper while I fix some. I don’t want to wake Miss Linda jest yet.”
The cook kept him waiting an hour, but she rewarded him with such a breakfast as he could not have bought at the best hotel. The choicest honeydew melon, griddle cakes, home-cooked ham, coffee, and even fried potatoes. It made the young man think of the meals his mother cooked on the farm.
Just as he was finishing his second cup of coffee, Miss Carlton appeared, followed immediately by Linda and Amy.
The boy stood up and flushed a vivid red in a vain effort to murmur apologies and explanations. It was plain to be seen that he was from the country, and that this was his first newspaper job.
“My name’s Michael O’Malley,” he finally said, producing a card from his pocket. “And the paper is going to give me a tryout on this story; I can stay as long as I like, provided I get something interesting.” He was talking very fast now, almost as if he were afraid to stop, lest Miss Carlton put him out. “You see, I’m crazy about detective stories, and this seems like a chance to do some real sleuthin’. If we can only find the young lady’s family, and run down that guy that ran her down!”
Linda smiled. She couldn’t help liking the boy; he was so sincere, so earnest, so eager to please.
“Sit down again, Mr. O’Malley,” she said; “while we eat our breakfast, we’ll talk it over.”
“Thank you, Miss Carlton,” he breathed, reverently. He treated Linda as if she were some sort of goddess.
“And have some more griddle cakes,” urged Miss Carlton, hospitably. She, too, liked the boy.
He grinned.
“You know, they taste exactly like my mother’s!” he exclaimed. “I never found anybody who could make ’em like this except her. We lived on a farm, you see—and there were five boys. And maybe my mother couldn’t cook!”
“Now,” continued Linda, after her aunt had seen to the boy’s wants, “there really isn’t a whole lot to do. I’m sure we’ll get a phone call from Amy’s parents to-day, for they’ll be crazy to get her back, and must be watching the papers. The only ‘detective’ part of the story is to find that man. After all, it probably was only an accident, but still, he ought to be punished.”
“What did he look like?”
“Well, you see we were up in the air, and couldn’t get a very good look at him. But he wore no hat, and he had an immense amount of gray hair—and, I think, whiskers. I know it seems funny that a man his age should be driving so fast.”
“What kind of car was it?” demanded the reporter.
“Gray—and open. But I couldn’t tell you the make, or anything more in description. It all happened so quickly, and it shot away before we could really see it.”
“You didn’t even get the state or the license number?”
“No, of course not.”
Mr. O’Malley sighed.
“Looks pretty hopeless. But do you mind if I stick around here to-day till Miss Amy’s parents show up? I’d like to be on tap with that much of the story.”
“We’ll be glad to have you,” replied Miss Carlton, hospitably. “Stay until to-morrow if you like, Mr. O’Malley, as our guest.”
“Oh, thank you, Miss Carlton!” he answered gratefully. “It—you—make me feel so at home, and I’ve been kinda homesick in Grand Rapids. And—would you call me ‘Mike,’ please?”
“Certainly, Mike,” agreed his hostess.
“And I’ll see that you get the story of our treasure hunt for your paper,” added Linda, generously. “A treasure hunt by airplane.”
“Gee Whitakers!” cried the boy, enthusiastically. “That is something new!”
Miss Carlton frowned, but said nothing. Amy, too, was silent. She could not be hopeful like the others of hearing from her parents, for she felt sure that there were no parents to hear from.
The telephone rang, and Linda jumped up eagerly, hoping that it meant good news for Amy. To her amazement she heard the fascinating voice of Lord Dudley at the other end of the wire.
“Good morning, Great Aviatrix!” he said. “This is one of your many admirers—Claude Dudley.”
Linda flushed; this was going to be more exciting than news of Amy’s family.
“Good morning, Lord Dudley,” she replied.
“I am going to ask you a big favor, Miss Carlton,” he said. “I have to get back to Chicago to-day, and I was wondering whether you would take me across Lake Michigan in your autogiro. We could lunch at the Lakeside Inn—a place that I know to be particularly charming.”
Linda’s heart beat rapidly; no young man had ever been able to thrill her like this before. How flattered she was to have him call upon her!
“I’d love to, Lord Dudley,” she replied, slowly. “But you must wait until I ask my aunt’s permission.”
“Well! Well!” he exclaimed, in amazement. “I didn’t know modern girls did that any more!”
Linda laughed.
“This girl does. Will you hold the wire, Lord Dudley?”
“Certainly, Miss Carlton. Your favor is well worth waiting for.”
Linda put down the telephone and turned to her aunt, repeating the conversation.
“We don’t know anything about him,” remarked the older woman. “But he seemed like a gentleman. And Tom Hulbert introduced him, so I guess he is all right. If your autogiro is in perfect condition, I suppose I am willing.”
Linda turned to her young guest.
“Do you mind if I go off, Amy?” she inquired.
“Not a bit, Linda. I want you to have a good time.”
So Linda returned to the telephone and promised to be ready at half-past eleven.
She would not admit to herself how thrilled she was, but she selected her prettiest dress, and was ready for Lord Dudley some minutes before his taxi arrived. She ran out on the porch to meet him.
“We must keep the cab,” she said, as she shook hands with him, and noticed that he was even better looking than she had thought, “in order to get to the airport.”
“Right,” he agreed, giving the necessary directions to the driver.
“Now you must tell me all about yourself, Miss Carlton,” he said, as he seated himself beside her in the cab. “I mean the things that haven’t been in the papers.”
“There really isn’t anything to tell,” replied Linda, modestly. “I’m just an ordinary girl, with a high-school education and a year at a ground school, where I earned my transport pilot’s license. The only thrilling thing about me is my ‘Ladybug’—that’s the name of my autogiro.”
“I know something more thrilling than any of those things,” he said, with his engaging smile. “Something the newspapers have never been able to describe— Your flawless beauty!”
Linda flushed to the lobes of her ears at the compliment; it didn’t seem possible that a young man like this, who had been everywhere and met thousands of beautiful girls, could find her so attractive. Yet there was a note of sincerity in his low, deep voice that prevented any doubt.
“I wish you would tell me about yourself, instead,” she urged, anxious to change the subject. “About your family in England, and how you happened to come to America.”
“There isn’t much to tell about that, either,” he replied. “There is an old castle at home, but I’m afraid it wouldn’t interest you. It’s so run down. It needs lots of money spent on it. My father is an old man, and it has been the dream of his life to see the castle in good order again, with the gardens well kept, as they were in years gone by. So I have come to America to try to make some money.”
The smile which was usually on Lord Dudley’s lips had vanished, and his eyes grew wistful. What a wonderful man he was, Linda thought, to put his father’s wishes above everything else!
“Here is the airport, Lord Dudley,” she announced. “We’ll have to postpone our conversation until we get to the tea room. You can’t talk in an autogiro.”
“No; I realize that. But how interesting it will be. I have heard of Cierva, the inventor, in England, and I even saw him once on one of my trips to Spain, but I have never flown in an autogiro.”
“You’ll get the thrill of your life!” Linda promised.
“I got the thrill of my life last night,” he said, and Linda could not help knowing that he was referring to his meeting her.
She gave the “Ladybug” a hasty inspection, although the head mechanic at the airport assured her that it was in perfect condition. Lord Dudley shouted his admiration of its quick take-off into the air, and settled himself comfortably for the beautiful flight over the lake. Linda, too, found the trip delightful; in the dreamy mood that she was experiencing, she was almost glad that they could not talk. Was it possible, she wondered, that at last she had fallen in love?
As Lord Dudley had promised, the Inn was charming, and the luncheon excellent. Linda was sorry when it was over, for it meant parting from her fascinating companion.
“I can never thank you enough, Miss Carlton,” he said in a low tone, as he took her hand into both of his for a moment. “And—may I come back again?”
“Oh, yes, indeed!” she answered, with eagerness.
“When I do come back, I—I—will just have to ask you something—Linda, my dear. I know I shouldn’t—I am a poor man—but—” He hesitated, and leaning over, pressed a kiss on her hand. Then, without another word, he put her into her autogiro.
Her heart in a turmoil, Linda mechanically started her motor and flew away. Lord Dudley’s meaning was clear, but what was the answer? Could she possibly decide so quickly whether she loved him or not, whether she was ready to give up everyone else for his sake, even her own country, to cast her lot with his? It was too much to think about; she was thankful when she reached home to be able to put the question aside in favor of Amy’s problems.
She ran up the steps hopefully, wondering whether there was any news, and she found Amy and Mike in their bathing suits and rain coats, all ready for a swim.
“Haven’t you heard anything?” she demanded eagerly. “No phone calls?”
“Only from other reporters,” sighed Mike, and Amy suddenly burst out crying.
“I must be an orphan,” she sobbed. “That is why you and Miss Emily seem so wonderful to me, Linda. I am sure that I never knew anybody like you in my past life.”
“Don’t give up yet, dear. If you had been in an orphan asylum, the authorities would have claimed you long ago. Maybe your family is poor, and can’t get the money immediately. Please don’t cry—you don’t have to make a pool of tears like Alice in Wonderland to swim in. There’s a marvelous lake this side of the falls!”
“Alice in Wonderland!” repeated Amy, slowly. “I’ve heard of her.”
“Of course you have. I’ll hunt up a copy of the book, and see what it recalls to you. Now if you wait five minutes for me, I’ll get into my bathing suit and go along with you!”
Fifteen minutes later the three young people parked the roadster at the shore of the lake, and joined the others in bathing. Linda introduced both Mike and Amy to everybody, so that the strangers felt quite at home.
Ralph Clavering immediately took possession of Linda.
“Where were you to-day?” he demanded. “I expected you to play tennis with me.”
“I thought you were angry at me, Ralph,” she returned, demurely.
“I was, but the worst part of it all is, I can never stay angry. Are you going to enter the treasure hunt?”
“I sort of hope so. Aunt Emily hasn’t said anything against it lately, and I was flying to-day.”
“Flying! Where?”
“Across Lake Michigan.”
“Alone?” This jealous young man always felt that he had a right to know of all Linda’s engagements.
“No; I took Lord Dudley across.” She tried to keep her tone matter-of-fact.
“How you girls fall for titles!” he almost sneered. “I don’t like the man.”
“Men never do admire handsome men,” Linda answered, slyly.
“If you call him handsome!— Well, you have to give us to-morrow. Kit’s expecting you to lunch.”
“O.K.,” agreed the girl, disappearing with a swan dive into the lake.
“I hear you have made a new conquest, Linda!”
Tiny Kitty Hulbert, Ralph Clavering’s married sister, sat on the edge of the diving board the following morning and talked to Linda, who was watching the newspaper reporter, Mike O’Malley, trying to teach Amy to swim. But the young girl was terribly frightened, and was not making progress.
Linda blushed and smiled.
“I wouldn’t say that, exactly——”
“But it’s true,” said Kitty. “I never saw anybody more thrilled than Lord Dudley. He thinks you’re just about perfect.”
“When did you see him?” asked Linda, trying to keep her voice calm. This was Wednesday, the day after her flight across the lake, and incidentally the last day for the contestants to register for the treasure hunt.