BOB MAKES HIMSELF USEFUL AT THE PICNIC
BOB MAKES HIMSELF USEFUL AT THE PICNIC
When Eddie and Bob returned the girls said nothing about forgetting the matches, but waited to see the fun.
But Bob fooled them. He brought forth some matches from his pocket and lighted the fire in the approved way.
"Did you have them all the time?" asked Letty, somewhat crestfallen.
"Why, of course," answered Bob as if he could never forget so important a thing, when, as a matter of fact, he had only recalled that he would need matches at the last moment.
As soon as the big flat stone Eddie found had been cleaned and heated in the fire, the chops were well seasoned and placed upon it.
The meat smelled and looked so appetizing that the girls stopped their own preparations to watch it cook.
Bob turned the chops with a would-be fork which he had made from a small branch, and soon the first supply was ready.
"Isn't Bob clever, to be able to do this?" said Mary Lee as she ate her chop.
"Aren't they delicious?" commented Letty, while Ruth nodded in assent.
The boys were even more enthusiastic and everyone took a second helping. It made Bob very happy to have his experiment turn out so successfully. In addition to the chops there were delightful sandwiches, and Mrs. Quinn had furnished some delicious fruit and fresh cake.
After lunch was over, the girls sat about anxious to have a talk. Bob, Eddie and Tom thought they would like to investigate the source of the brook and so they were off.
"Aren't you excited about Aunt Madge being married, Mary Lee?" asked Letty.
"Yes," added Ruth, "and I know who are to be the bridesmaids."
If Ruth expected that this information would cause a commotion, she was not a bit disappointed.
"You do?" queried Letty.
"Can you tell us?" asked Mary Lee.
Ruth pretended she did not hear them, havingfound something on one of the trees which interested her.
Letty and Mary Lee laughingly and excitedly surrounded her, urging her to give them the information.
"Won't you tell us?" repeated Mary Lee coaxingly.
"Oh, it isn't a secret," answered Ruth, "and I can tell you."
"Well," said Letty decidedly, "I know that you and Mary Lee will be two of the bridesmaids."
"There are some things you do know, Letty," said Ruth teasingly. "Then there are other things you do not know."
"I know I am not to be one of them," remarked Mary Lee. She meant it, too. There were so many nice girls who would naturally be chosen before her. "But I am sure that Letty will be one. I just feel sure of that," she added.
"Well, there are some things you also know, but there are many things you do not," answered Ruth trying hard to be evasive.
Mary Lee and Letty sprang up to encircle Ruth and compel her to give them the news, but the latter was just as quick in escaping them. Mary Lee, however, soon caught her and held her so that she could not move.
"Now, will you tell?" asked Letty.
"I was dying to tell all the time," replied Ruth laughingly.
"The bridesmaids will be—" and she paused. "I think I have forgotten." Mischief was still in her eyes.
Letty pretended to be very threatening, while Mary Lee took a firmer hold.
"Oh, yes," continued Ruth, "now I remember. They are to be Edith—and, of course, you sillies, we are the other three."
The conversation then changed to what they would wear, for to all of them the coming occasion was one of the most important of their lives.
"What will you wear?" asked Mary Lee. She was excited over what the two friends intended to wear even though she knew that she herself would have to wear her party dresswhich was a simple little white organdie with a pink sash. She was thankful though she had a leghorn hat with pink streamers. Her white canvas slippers with lisle stockings would have to do.
"What do you girls think of my wearing my pink crepe-de-chine dress and my new pink hat with those pretty rosebuds and foliage encircling the crown, and pink slippers and stockings?" asked Letty.
"I know I am not going to be anywhere up to you, Letty. I can only wear my white dress over pink China silk and a white hat with a very pale pink bow, and white buckskin slippers with white silk stockings," said Ruth.
"Well, no matter what we may wear," said Letty, "Mary Lee will be the prettiest of us all. Tell us your plans, Mary Lee," she added.
"Mine are very simple, for it isn't hard to decide when you haven't many things to pick from," was the unembarrassed answer. "I haven't much else than my white organdie party dress."
After discussing what they would wear at the wedding the girls next talked over their plans for school the coming fall.
"The nicest part of it all is that you are to stay with me," said Letty to Mary Lee.
Just then there was a shout from the boys who were on the other side of the brook, so the girls hurried forward to meet them.
It was now after five o'clock and time to go home. Bob and Mary Lee managed to walk along together.
"Well, Bob," asked the girl, "what are you going to do this fall?"
"I'm to go to the academy, father says. He wants me to mingle with other boys. I shall be glad to do so, too."
"You and your father are great friends now, aren't you?" questioned Mary Lee.
"We certainly are. Dad's great and he teaches me many things," the boy replied. "I tell you, it's wonderful to be like other boys and be able to do what they do. It seems to me I will never cease marveling at it. Do you know, Mary Lee," the boy continued, "both mother and father think just everything of you? Father often says that your coming seemed to bring rays of sunshine into our house which have always stayed."
The girl blushed. "How kind they are to say such delightful things," she exclaimed. "It is glorious to have such friends," she continued gratefully.
Letty and Ruth joined them at this moment. The house was now but a little way down the road. Both Bob and Mary Lee were glad to have had this talk, short though it was.
Aunt Madge and Dr. Anderson were to come out two days later. There was so much to do in these two days, however, that the time flew quickly. Mary Lee did not neglect her duties but with the help of her friends she was able to get through early so that most of the day was free. The first picnic lunch had been so successful that they had unanimously planned for another. There were, however, so many other things to do that it was put off for the arrival of the newcomers.
Dr. Anderson brought his car and almost in the first moment of his arrival had made plans for a long ride, but Mary Lee reminded him of her plan to visit the Sanitarium.
"Well, Mary Lee," he agreed good humoredly. "Of course, it will be talking shopfor me to take you youngsters through, but if that is what you wish, I will gladly do so."
"Suppose we take our ride later," suggested Bob, who felt more at liberty to suggest than the others because Aunt Madge was his aunt and Dr. Anderson would soon be his uncle. "We could stay out late and you could return to town in the morning."
Aunt Madge laughed. "It's not so easily planned as all that, but even then I think we can manage."
Dr. Anderson telephoned the hospital as soon as they reached the house. He obtained permission almost at once to go through with his party. His business with Mr. Quinn was transacted in half an hour and so it was still quite early in the morning when they reached the hospital. It was a large institution which made a specialty of certain kinds of cases, but it also had an emergency ward.
The doctor explained so thoroughly, yet so simply, to his listeners as they went through the operating rooms, etc., that they could not help having a good conception of the necessary treatment of the sick.
In the midst of an explanation he saw Mary Lee's attention centered on a nurse who was taking the temperature of a patient.
"Yes, Mary Lee, that is what you will be doing some day. You have made a splendid choice of profession. It will take many years—there is much you must learn. I know," he continued, jestingly, "folks will be glad to get sick just so that they can have Dr. Anderson treat them and Nurse Mary Lee take care of them."
"It isn't going to take as many years as you think," loyally replied Bob, taking up the cudgels, "for Mary Lee has already begun." And he told Aunt Madge and the doctor of Tom Marshall. To Bob, because he was a boy, the part that had to do with the silver mine in Mexico was important and so he dwelt upon it.
"Tom Marshall told Mary Lee that he has a partner who is an Indian and who is a whiter and squarer man than many white men," concluded the boy.
For one moment, Dr. Anderson wondered at this last remark the boy had made.
"An Indian for a partner, eh?" he remarked. Then he laughed at the foolishness of his thought. Of course, there could be no connection between Jim Lee, the Indian who had been a servant to Mary Lee's mother out West, and this Indian Bob had spoken about.
"You didn't say what the Indian's name was, did you?" he asked.
Mary Lee answered, "No, I never thought to ask."
"Well, let's be on," Dr. Anderson said, casting away all thoughts and conjectures as to the possibilities along this line. "That was a good home remedy you applied to the man, Mary Lee," he continued, changing the subject by referring to the mustard the girl had applied for the sunstroke.
It was long past the time for lunch when they left the hospital. Probably Mary Lee learned more than any one of the others from this visit, for everything had been of such vital interest to her. She remembered much of what the doctor had told them.
Immediately after the late lunch which Mrs. Quinn had prepared for them they startedout. The girls noticed with astonishment that Aunt Madge was driving the auto.
"Oh, yes," she replied in answer to their exclamations, "Dr. Anderson taught me. I find it easy to drive here in comparison with the city. It isn't hard," she added with all the certainty of one who has already learned.
"Tell you what, Madge, dear, I'll teach one or two of these youngsters. Shall I?"
"What a fine idea," Aunt Madge replied, giving up her seat.
Neither Letty nor Ruth would attempt it, however. Bob already knew, but Mary Lee welcomed the opportunity of learning.
Dr. Anderson found her an apt pupil and after the first hour he let her drive the car alone, taking the precaution, of course, of keeping his foot on the emergency clutch. At the end of another half hour, the doctor replaced her and put on extra speed.
The car whizzed along now. At four o'clock he found a suitable place and stopped. The whole party got out and made themselves comfortable.
Aunt Madge broke the news of the girls' appointment as bridesmaids.
"Too bad, Bob, you are not quite old enough, or I would make you my best man," said the doctor.
"At any rate, I'll be there," the boy replied. But the girls were not listening. They were eagerly discussing their plans with Aunt Madge. The doctor and Bob looked at them with much amusement and then walked down past the car and on.
It was soon time to return, however. Long after seven the party reached the house. Neither Aunt Madge nor Dr. Anderson could stay over and they began their long trip home.
The girls and Bob were a tired, happy lot and retired almost at once.
At last September came. Mary Lee reached the city ready for school and her duties as bridesmaid. She had left the Quinn home with mixed feeling; sadness at parting from such good friends and joy at the thought of entering new experiences; it was exhilarating to come to a turning point in life.
For the Quinns, however, Mary Lee's departure had brought only sorrow. They tried hard to be unselfish, to be glad for her sake. But they felt intuitively that she had gone for good, that she would never return, and their attempt to appear glad, if the truth must be told, was a sorry failure.
Mrs. Cameron had taken it for granted that when Mary Lee came to the city, she would make her home with them, and Ruth had hopesof having her stay at her house. Letty, however, had insistently claimed that Mary Lee should stay with her. In fact, Mary Lee had been Letty's guest the very first night. Considerable debate came up the second day over this question, when Mary Lee and Letty had called for Ruth and the three had made a call on Mrs. Cameron. Dr. Anderson had been a luncheon guest and was still there when the girls arrived as, of course, was Aunt Madge.
The argument as to where Mary Lee should stay became quite heated although it was carried on with good nature. Each one was insistent about carrying her point. The prospective guest, and Aunt Madge as well as the doctor had found the discussion amusing and the latter, in particular, man like, poked fun at all of them.
"Well, Mary Lee," he remarked, "no one would class you as an undesirable. Nor could you be considered in the light of a poor relation."
"From the way you folks talk," added Aunt Madge, "one would never infer that the victim had any rights in the matter nor that there might be a possibility that she wouldhave a preference as to where she would like to stay."
Nothing could have flustered Mary Lee more than this. She showed such distress and embarrassment at any likelihood of having to decide the argument, that Aunt Madge took instant pity upon her. She regretted her interference and came quickly to the relief of the girl.
"No," she interposed. "On second thought, we shouldn't let her decide. I'm certain that it would be pleasant for Mary Lee at any of your homes."
"Yes," said Dr. Anderson, "we must keep her out of this important discussion, slave that she is," he added with mock ferocity.
Everyone laughed but Letty. She was so anxious to have the question decided in her favor that she did not even hear what Dr. Anderson had just said. She had listened with some dismay and misgiving to the first suggestion that Mary Lee be allowed to choose her own home. The new Letty dared not hope that she would be chosen in preference to Ruth and Mrs. Cameron.
"I know what we will do," Dr. Anderson said. "We two, I mean," and he nodded his head toward Aunt Madge to avoid calling her name. One of the delightful things about him was that he could not overcome the habit, try as he would, of blushing when mentioning his fiancee by name. Worst of all, their friends were acquainted with this characteristic. He was annoyed with himself for not being able to overcome it, and, wisely so he thought he had decided to avoid the amused watchfulness of these friends by failing to mention her by name. This time, he was fairly caught.
"Which two do you mean?" Mary Lee asked innocently even as Aunt Madge, Mrs. Cameron and the girls watched him with laughing eyes. "Which two?" the girl repeated.
Dr. Anderson scowled.
"Why, Madge and myself," he replied and then could feel himself turning brick red even though he made every effort to appear unconcerned. And while they all laughed, he continued as if he did not hear them:
"Madge and I will be the judges as to where Mary Lee is to stay. You are all to proveprior rights as they do in all claims upon valuable property."
Neither Mrs. Cameron nor Ruth, however, could bring forth any such proof except that the former had never considered that there could be any question about it. As for Ruth, she had just hoped that Mary Lee would naturally want to stay with her.
"Well, then," triumphantly declared Letty, "Mary Lee was invited by me long, long ago, when she first moved out to the farm. Weren't you, Mary Lee?" she asked as she pointed an excited finger straight at the girl. She was so much in earnest that it raised another laugh.
"I was," answered Mary Lee, and in her heart there was a great warmth and affection for all these dear friends who were so earnest in their desire to have her stay with them and in particular for this warm-hearted, impetuous Letty.
"The jury will now retire," said Dr. Anderson.
Aunt Madge and he went into a far corner and were in earnest discussion for several minutes. Finally they returned.
"We, the jury, decided that Mary Lee is to stay with Letty. But—" and the doctor paused impressively—"she is to make long visits to the other claimants at reasonable times, and in view of the valuable services of the jury she is to make equally long visits to the jury after a certain very happy event takes place."
There was more laughter and general satisfaction on the part of all.
Before the girls left Mrs. Cameron called Mary Lee aside for a moment.
"My dear," she said, "I have ordered a party gown for you to wear at the wedding. Can't you stay here until tomorrow and try it on?"
Mary Lee was greatly distressed. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mrs. Cameron, but I can't accept your wonderful gift. You are so kind and it is so very tempting." She paused.
"You see," she continued, "I have my pretty white organdie dress which is almost new. I do not wish to become further indebted to any of you; you have all been so kind and I already owe you so much. I just hoped that my simple dress would do. Dear Mrs. Cameron, I hopeso to earn enough to pay my way while in the city in order that I can be self-reliant."
Mrs. Cameron thought for a moment. It was a little hard to overcome her disappointment. She had set her heart upon this gift.
"You know," continued Mary Lee, and there were tears in her eyes at the disappointment she was causing, "I appreciate your kindness so much. But I do hope you can see my side of it," she concluded.
"You shall have your way, my dear," answered Mrs. Cameron bravely and wholeheartedly, as she took the girl in her arms and gave her a good, motherly hug.
The week of the wedding arrived. It proved a feverish time for them all. The days flew swiftly. The two preceding weeks had been a mad rush, so they all thought, and they now decided that these last days fittingly capped the climax. For the girls, this last week brought the important—but up to now, neglected—event of school opening strongly to their attention. It was to take place three days after the wedding. There was need to plan and prepare for that as well.
It was Mary Lee who found time to be of help to everyone. The excitement left her untouched. There were things she also had to plan and do, yet she proved a blessing to the harrassed and distracted bride who preferred her help to that of anyone else. The girl also was able to help Mrs. Cameron whose responsibilitiesas matron and hostess were great. Ruth, too, usually independent, welcomed her help. As for Letty, full of the excitement of these days, it required all of Mary Lee's strength of mind to counteract the desire of the former to stay up night after night to discuss the coming events. Mary Lee was the necessary balance for such a nature as Letty's.
With all this, Mary Lee set to work to carry out certain other plans that had nothing to do with either of the two important events. And, strangely, too, she was able to enlist the services of Dr. Anderson at this time.
That poor man, with each day's nearer approach to the event found himself of less and less importance. There was little opportunity to see his fiancee who was enmeshed in numberless engagements with dressmakers and, so it seemed to him, with everybody in town but himself.
Mary Lee found him in this frame of mind on the morning she called at his office, only three days before the wedding. She had been surprised to find that he would be glad to see her at any time, when she called him on the telephone.
"I didn't dare expect that I could see you so soon," she apologized after greetings had been exchanged. "All I could do was to hope for it."
The doctor, however, gave no sign of being very busy. On the contrary, he seemed to indicate that he had prepared for a long and pleasant visit with her.
"I haven't a thing to do," he remarked. "I turned over my practice for the next two months to Dr. Stewart on the presumption that I could be fairly useful toherand because, so I thought, of the opportunities I would have to seeher. Then, too, I had a large number of things that required attention.
"And," he added with a wry face, "I have found plenty of time to attend to the things that required attention, for, lo and behold, I findherwithout any time for me and the kind of help I can giveher, she doesn't need. So you see, Mary Lee, I have lots of time on my hands and am glad of the chance to see any friends who have time for me."
"Dr. Anderson," the girl came directly to the subject nearest her heart, "I wondered if you would not know someone who perhapswould be in need of the services of a girl like myself for after school hours."
The doctor whistled in amazement.
"Honestly, young lady, you are a creature of surprises. What made you think of that, when there are so many of your friends who would make you more than welcome?"
"I know they would," the girl replied, "but I shall never feel content to live on their bounty and I shall only be happy when I am as independent as is possible."
"You are right, Mary Lee," he agreed in hearty approval. "It is the only normal thing to do. Well," and he paused in deep thought. He knew that Mary Lee would be mortified if he should suggest that he employ her, for that would make it seem as if she were bidding for a position in his office in an indirect way. He knew her well enough to be quite certain that it would be best to place her elsewhere.
"I shall see some of my friends who are likely to need an able assistant part time. Of course, with the training you desire you naturally would prefer a doctor's office."
Mary Lee nodded in assent. After a fewinquiries as to the hours the girl would be able to give to the new duties and a friendly warning, which the doctor decided was almost unnecessary as to the demands of employers, the subject was changed and the conversation changed to Aunt Madge. The girl tried hard to give the doctor an idea of how busy his fiancee was, the many things that needed attention and the tremendous amount of preparations necessary for it. Even though he had but a small conception of it all, she felt that she had made him understand a little more closely.
At the end of a half hour, she departed after thanking him warmly for his interest.
The doctor was prompt in making inquiries. One of his friends, Dr. Payson, could use Mary Lee's services after school hours and Saturday mornings. But he would also need her at ten o'clock for one hour on two mornings of each week.
Dr. Anderson immediately called her up with the good news.
"Of course, it does not pay much, but Payson will probably find you useful and give you every opportunity to learn. It will be good experienceand of great help to you later, when you enter training school. The money it pays is as much as three dollars every week," the doctor added laughingly and apologetically.
But if that sum did not seem big to him, it did to Mary Lee and she told him so. It had been more than she had expected. The only hitch was the question of being free at ten on two school mornings.
She consulted Letty in reference to this and received the welcome assurance from her that study hours were often arranged so that free time could be obtained.
She called on Dr. Payson with Dr. Anderson. He proved to be a kindly, middle aged man and from all appearances seemed satisfied as to her possible usefulness to him. Mary Lee did not know that Dr. Anderson had given a full account of her sense of responsibility and likable qualities and that it was his enthusiastic recommendation that had persuaded his friend to try Mary Lee instead of employing an older assistant for full time.
"Well, Mary," he started to say, but Dr. Anderson interrupted him.
"Not Mary, Payson, not Mary. This young lady's name is Mary Lee. Be sure to remember the Lee. We sometimes think that her mother did not name her Lee after a loyal Indian, as she would have us believe, but because she wanted her little girl's name to sound as if it were Mer-ri-ly. That name fits her."
As Mary Lee blushed, Dr. Payson remarked laughingly, "I am sure I shall find her very pleasant and agreeable. I shall also be sure to remember that it is Mary Lee I am to call her, in the future."
Aunt Madge had always been a firm believer in simplicity and she made that the predominating tone of the ceremony. She had a fair share of worldly riches and yet she had not, as our readers who have grown to know her must readily realize, ever made use of her wealth for garish display. There was a fine dignity and charm about the ceremony of the marriage that came through the gifted touch of true womanhood.
It was at an old church, beautiful, stately and with that atmosphere that brings of itself devoutness, religious fervor and conviction. A wonderful organ played, as down the aisle came Ruth and Edith, followed by Letty and Mary Lee. The four girls were as fair as the flowers they carried and made a charming picture that brought forth a murmur of admiration.About them, too, as if to fit in with the entire impressiveness, was a sense of quiet and repose that to those who knew them measured the significance and importance of the event for them.
Mrs. Cameron as matron of honor followed, and Dr. Payson escorted the bride. The bridegroom? He had been waiting with Dr. Payson, his best man, at the altar throughout the entire ordeal. But we shall speak of him a little later, for our eyes are upon the bride as she goes, slowly and yet in perfect time of music, down the broad aisle to the altar.
All brides are beautiful. And yet, Margaret Cameron made a picture that was to stay in the minds of those present for many a day. One stores away memories and impressions of that kind.
We are so built that everything must be symbolized. For as one thinks of green woods, there is sure to come the picture of one certain spot, one certain nook to symbolize it; so, for many of those present, there would, in the same way, come a picture of MargaretCameron as she appeared that day, whenever thereafter weddings and brides were spoken about. The fineness of her! She carried a shower bouquet of white roses and lilies of the valley. Her head-dress was very becoming—a bridal veil prettily arranged—and her gown was a simple creation of white satin draped gracefully, trimmed with some rare old lace which belonged to her mother, and which had adorned her bridal gown.
We wish we could defy the conventional and the expected and say for the groom that he was fully at ease, self-contained, in full command of the situation. Poor man, we wish we could say it and remain truthful. We could not do both. Never was any man more in need of help. Dr. Payson had a busy time of it. His whispered instructions fell on deaf ears, the owner of which was too scared to even hear. At the proper time, too, he was almost dragged to the proper place.
He did, however, manage to answer, "I will" distinctly. And as if that had been the goal, once he did that, some of his composure came back to him.
Dr. Payson always insisted thereafter thathis friend had primed himself for the "I will" and was unequal to anything else.
"Why, I actually felt sorry for him," he said. "His knees were trembling and knocking against each other. I couldn't make out the thing he was mumbling but I feel certain he was only rehearsing to himself 'I will, I will, I will.'"
There was the usual rush of friends after the Reverend Dr. Arthur had tied the knot, and the shower of congratulations. It was the plan of the married couple to leave at once. To the new benedict, it seemed, however, that the number of their friends was unlimited and the time they took to offer their good wishes hours and hours. But all things have an end and so the Andersons were off at last. Mrs. Anderson had found the opportunity for an affectionate leave-taking from her girls and also from Bob Cameron. She had promised to write to them, too.
Some of the tenseness of the last few days seemed to go with the couple. Mrs. Cameron sighed with relief—relief over the fact that there had been no hitch and that the eventhad gone through so smoothly. Belief, too, that the worry and bustle were over.
For the girls there came a moment of reaction. Just what would take the place of the excitement and planning of the last few weeks? School seemed tame in comparison. Even the fact that Mary Lee had procured a position for some of her spare time had not created the furore that it would have under ordinary circumstances.
"It certainly seems strange to think of Aunt Madge as Mrs. Anderson, doesn't it?" asked Ruth as the party started for the door.
"And I suppose that's what we'll have to call her, too, instead of Aunt Madge," added Letty ruefully.
"And precious little we shall see of her from now on, I suppose," was Edith's contribution.
"I declare when I grow up I just won't marry and desert my friends, I just won't." The sense of injury was growing stronger and it was so voiced by Letty.
The rest of the girls laughed at her.
"You'll be the very first one, Letty dear," Mary Lee answered her, as she gave the impetuous Letty an affectionate hug. "Come, girls, let's plan for school," she added.
Dr. Payson was just entering his car as they came to the street.
"Don't forget, Mary Lee," he called to her. "Be sure to report on time."
"I certainly will," answered Mary Lee.
Ten days later school was already in full swing. Mary Lee had been placed in a grade lower than her friends because she had lost so much time while at the orphanage and at the Quinns. She had been able to arrange for the necessary spare time and so was able to become Dr. Payson's "assistant," as he jokingly called her.
Each of the girls had received a card from the Andersons who were now in the Adirondacks and who were to remain there for several weeks. Mary Lee had also received a letter from Tom Marshall, forwarded to her by Mrs. Quinn. He was on his way to Mexico and he told her that his mother had died, but so peacefully that it had left him no bitterness. His sorrow held only the regret that hehad not been more with his mother during the last few years. He thanked Mary Lee again for her help and voiced the hope that he would see her again some day.
Pleasant days followed each other. The girl enjoyed her work at Dr. Payson's office as much as she did school. What time she did not devote to her studies and to the office was spent agreeably with the other girls.
It had been decided to hold the Campfire meetings on Friday nights and the girls were doing fairly well in the absence of their leader, Aunt Madge. Following Mary Lee's example, they were desirous of being Red Cross girls.
Ruth, who was secretary, was instructed to write to the Red Cross Committee volunteering the services of the seven girls.
"What can we do?" Alice Brown, one of the girls, pessimistically asked.
"Why, we can make bandages, after a few lessons," replied Mary Lee.
"And some of us can sew and knit," added Letty.
"Oh," said Alice, as if a light had struck her. "Why of course."
Before they could get a reply to their letter, the President and Congress had declared war against Germany. This made them doubly eager for their answer and with the idea of preparing ahead of time, at Mary Lee's suggestion, they immediately invited Miss Walker, a friend of Mrs. Anderson, who was a trained nurse, to teach them how to make such bandages as might be needed. Miss Walker readily consented to give one evening a week to teaching them.
The war came somewhat close to Mary Lee when Dr. Payson told her that he intended to answer the first call for physicians.
"Would you like to come along?" he asked her jestingly.
The girl took his question seriously and for a moment was not sure. She pictured the wounded and dying with her ready imagination and felt as if she would not be equal to it.
Then a new and clearer thought came.
"If I'm to be a nurse," she said determinedlyto herself, "I mustn't think of such things. I mustn't think of myself at all."
But Dr. Payson, who had watched the serious minded girl with considerable amusement, added:
"There isn't any need for sudden decision on your part. I'm afraid you couldn't come even if you would. You are somewhat young, for one thing, and I hope there won't ever come a time when they will need anybody so young," he concluded as a serious look came into his eyes.
Then he changed the subject and went into a detailed explanation of what was to be done with a case that was to come in a little later that day, and how he would expect Mary Lee to assist him. She listened carefully as she was anxious to get practical experience.
"I wish I could have you here all the time," Dr. Payson remarked a little later. "You are such a help. I tell you this because I feel sure it won't turn your head."
The girl flushed with gratification and vowed to herself that she would give her very best to her work always. And although Dr.Payson did not add it, he had noticed with considerable satisfaction how neat the girl was and how strong a point she made of keeping things in order.
In the midst of a number of questions one afternoon, a sudden thought struck her and she stopped short.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Payson, I should not be bothering you with my many questions," she remarked contritely. "I didn't realize before, how many I ask."
"You are not bothering me," he answered with decision. "I want you to ask questions; in that way I shall be able to get your best help, so be sure you always do."
After that Mary Lee, taking him at his word, never hesitated. In this way she was learning much and daily growing more efficient.
Letty, for one, was keenly interested in Mary Lee's position and at such time when she was free she begged to be allowed to go with her to Dr. Payson's office. But excepting Saturday mornings when Dr. Payson did not come to the office, Mary Lee, much asshe would have liked to have Letty with her, had to reluctantly refuse permission. She felt that the situation was not play and even on the Saturday mornings that Letty did come she made her help in getting things in order.
School events were now in full swing. Mary Lee became a member of the Basket Ball Team because of her quickness and strength. At the same time Letty was made a substitute.
At one of the Campfire meetings Mary Lee suggested to the other girls that they start a large Junior Red Cross Group at High School.
The idea took like wildfire at school and over forty girls made application at the first meeting.
The idea had the enthusiastic backing of Miss James who was a teacher in English at the school and who had been made the director of the group by the faculty.
"Suppose," said Miss James, "we form a Committee on Plans. There will be so much to do and so many in the school who will be anxious to join that we should have plans formed."
The girls all agreed. Besides Miss James seven girls were appointed, and Mary Lee, Letty and Ruth were three of them.
As if to help the Committee on Plans the answer from the Red Cross Committee came to Ruth the next morning.
Ruth read the letter through breathlessly, and then hurried over to meet Letty and Mary Lee before their departure for school.
The two girls were just leaving the house as Ruth turned the corner.
"Mary Lee, Letty!" she called to them excitedly and waved the letter.
Passers-by stopped and smiled at the girl and her excitement but she was heedless of the stir she was causing.
Mary Lee and Letty turned at the call and hurried to meet her.
"I've got the letter! I've got the letter!" she exclaimed.
"Will they let us do anything? What do they say? Let's sit down and read it," Letty responded with great eagerness.
Mary Lee, not a bit less excited, turned to see where they could sit down.
"Let's sit down here," she directed and the three girls seated themselves on the steps of Letty's house. Mary Lee then immediately turned to the letter.
It was of considerable length. It told the girls that the help they could give at the time was threefold. While some of it might not at first thought be the Red Cross work, as they probably had associated their idea of it, it was, as they would realize after a little thought, the best kind of Red Cross help. The letter closed very nicely, after outlining the things they could do, with an appreciation of their offer which was so opportune and the assurance that their help was greatly needed.
"My," said Mary Lee, "it's like ready made plans for our committee. Let's hurry and show it to Miss James. We'll be late if we stop and talk it over, there is so much to consider."
So the girls hurried to school with a consciousness that the opportunity for service was straight ahead of them and in definite, concrete form.
After the first period, the three girls werefree and they immediately hastened to see Miss James.
"It is perfectly splendid, isn't it?" was her comment after reading the letter through. "I wonder how many of the rest of the committee can be excused so that we can go over this letter at once."
Two of the other girls could come and they did. Miss James then read the letter aloud.
"You see, girls, they want us to plan along three different lines. First, and this is the plan that we all had—we should turn to making useful things which would be used by our soldiers and our allies. You see, they want us to be very practical about this.
"Second, they want every member of this group to help in the planting of some vegetable garden. That is a splendid practical idea, not hard to follow and it should prove of great benefit inasmuch as the food supply of the country would be materially increased.
"Third, they want us to form a division whose work will be to call attention of households to the great need of eliminating luxuries, and being economical and frugal. That, too, is possible for us to do.
"Of course, young ladies, we by ourselves can do our share. But it helps to know that there are to be other groups like our own formed throughout the country—for that means we shall be a part of a very big thing."
"Isn't it fine?" Mary Lee added with great enthusiasm. "President Wilson said the other day that help, such as this, is just as necessary and useful as the service the soldier gives."
"We'll call a meeting of the group tomorrow afternoon, shall we?" asked Miss James. "This afternoon we can get a report into definite shape."
"But, Miss James," interrupted Letty. "If we have our meeting this afternoon, Mary Lee cannot be present. She is at Dr. Payson's; nor can she come tomorrow afternoon, or any afternoon."
Miss James turned to Mary Lee who nodded her head in confirmation.
"You see," she remarked apologetically, "I work afternoons and Saturday mornings at Dr. Payson's office. But please," the girl added, "you have your meeting and I'll help as I can."
"Well, there's one thing we know—we want Mary Lee with us, don't we girls?" asked Miss James.
The girls agreed with decisive unanimity.
"So we will have our meetings at seven tonight and tomorrow, if all of you can arrange to have an early dinner. I hope that this is satisfactory. And in the meantime, girls, think about this and about any ideas that are practical and feasible. Above everything else, let us prove that we are a very practical, useful group."
It was almost time for the next period and so the girls made their way to their classrooms.
With the reader's permission we shall turn our attention to Tom Marshall who was returning to Mexico at the time we last heard of him. He had left his Indian partner prospecting there, for both of them had hopes in the possibilities of the mine despite its apparent fruitlessness.
There was a warm friendship between the two men who had grown to know each other in their solitude. It was the Indian who had urged Tom to make his trip home and who had insisted that the latter take most of their small capital on hand for his expenses.
His return was at best a weary trip. He had left the train at El Paso, then had made his way westward and at a lonely point had crossed over into Mexico. Despite the outlawbands everywhere he had no trouble on the way, although he had been on the road for over two weeks.
He had now quickened his pace for he was on the last lap. His weariness fell from him like a discarded mantle. In his heart was a great eagerness to see his friend and still a hope that he had proved successful. A rather vague hope—for the man's optimism which had always been strong, in the last few years had received some severe jolts.
At last he could see their hut. He could make out the figure of the Indian carrying water toward it. He hastened his step.
The keen ear of the Indian must have heard him, for he suddenly stood erect and with his eyes shaded by his left hand he searched the road. Then he saw Marshall approaching. He watched him for a moment, motionless, without any semblance of feeling. Then suddenly he answered the waving, shouting greeting of his partner with a whoop and no less swiftly and eagerly hurried forward to meet him.
"Hello, Tom, I'm glad to see you."
"No less than I am, old man. It's good to get back and I certainly missed you."
The Indian smiled his pleasure. He had associated so long with the white people that he spoke, except at rare moments, after the manner of his white brothers. Even his habits, thoughts and manners were no different and to the ordinary observer it would have been impossible to recognize him as an Indian, except for his copper-hued complexion.
"I'm sorry about your mother, Tom, but it was a blessed thing for you to have been home before she passed away."
"That is was, partner. But I had some time getting there." And he went into the story of how he made his way, and how sickness had overcome him.
"I don't know what I would have done without the help of a little angel of mercy who took me to the hospital, wrote home for me and then saw to it that I got enough money to get home."
The Indian listened interestedly.
"Now tell me what has happened here," Tom added.
"Well, I've had some proof that there is silver here. Not much proof, but some. Ihave been waiting for you to come back so that we could rig up another block and tackle and bore and go to it at a certain point that may show results. I think there is some chance of its proving 'pay dirt.'"
"I shall be ready at any time," replied Tom. "It would be splendid if we could make a strike, wouldn't it?"
The Indian nodded his head; then as something came to his mind, he added:
"Barton is coming this way tomorrow and we can get him to bring us some things we need from the States. He'll be back next week."
"Good," replied Marshall. "I will also give him a few letters I want mailed."
Tom turned to the writing of his letters. One was to his cousin. He wrote a short note to Mary Lee thanking her for her letter which he received at El Paso. He spoke of his partner and of the bare possibility of finding silver in plenty at the mine.
The Indian smoked his pipe while his partner was writing, watching him with a feeling of contentment. He had been very lonesomefor him. He was of the type that become strongly attached to people and the acquaintance of this man now so busily writing was the second of his great friendships. Now his mind wandered a little back to the time, more than twelve years before, when he had had other friends.
He was brought back to the present with a start.
"Here is that little girl that did so much for me," Marshall, unaware of the flow of his friend's thoughts, interrupted, as he handed the envelope and letter to him.
The man looked at the envelope with passing interest. But even as he looked, a strange thrill came over him. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Were his eyes playing tricks with his wandering thoughts? He rubbed them again. Then he turned to his partner who was watching him curiously.
What was this miracle that brought the past back to him? Surely it was naught but a trick, a coincidence!
To Tom Marshall, watching him with increasing interest, the Indian turned questioningly,and even as he turned there suddenly came to the white man similarity of names, for his partner was named Jim Lee. Yet, surely the girl was not Indian.
Jim Lee's emotion brought his words back to the beauty of Indian phrasing.
"The Great Spirit gives strange proof of his greatness. My partner, who is very dear to me, will listen while I tell him the story of what has been.
"Fifteen years ago and even more, I was up in Alaska. A man, a stranger to me, risked his life and saved mine. More than that, he shared the little he had with me, through the long winter, even though he went hungry often. That was brave and it was good. So I, who had no call of bloodfolk, found my call there. Stewart and I, we did things, but it brought no returns in white man's gold. Then this man returned to where his family was waiting and he was sorrowful that he could bring no wealth. I went with him. Could I do more?
"A fine man was he. The Great Spirit called him about three years later and he answered. And even as he passed on to the GreatBeyond, he turned to me and wished that I would do what I could for his loved ones.
"It was little enough I could do, but that little I did. Gentle and kind was Mrs. Stewart; and little Mary, but two years old, was a great playmate. The days were cheerful and even comfortable. Mrs. Stewart named Mary—Mary Lee—for two reasons: For me, and because it sounded as if it were Merri-ly. And a merry spirit she was.
"The little girl was eight years old when the Great Spirit called again and this time Mrs. Stewart made answer. A sorry time it was; but sorrier days were to come, for they who plan things decided that Jim Lee, because he was an Indian, was not the proper person to take care of one who was dearer than all life to him.
"They took the little girl away even as she cried and would not go. She went East and they would not tell me where. And then I decided that perhaps it was better so. She was young and would forget. Perhaps she would be happier.
"And now you come and bring back—from out of the past—news of a very dear one. Soblame me not, if I am moved. I shall leave you, my brother, for an hour or so, for I would be alone."
The Indian walked out of the hut. For more than three hours Tom Marshall was alone. Then Lee returned, but he offered no comment and the white man respected his wish for silence.
"Shall I write and tell Mary Lee that you are here?" Tom Marshall inquired the next morning. "Or, perhaps you would like to write to her yourself?"
Lee made no answer for a moment and seemed to be debating the question.
"No, thank you, I think not. We will wait," he finally decided.
Barton came the next morning and took the mail and also promised to do the necessary shopping for them.
The two men turned to the work in hand. It was not long before they were ready for further drilling and before the month was up they were fairly assured of prospective success. If the vein did not "peter out" their fortune was certain.
But they made no mention of their probable success to the one or two stray Mexicans who passed. They would not be in possession very long if the news were made public.
Jim Lee had by now received all the information that Marshall could give him of Mary Lee. Moreover he had made Tom repeat it to him a dozen times at least.
On the day when their success was no longer in doubt, Tom was painting in glowing colors his plans and what he would do with his share of the mine. The Indian, however, gave no inkling of his intentions. Tom noticed the fact.
"What are you going to do with your share, Jim?" he asked.
"My share is for Mary Lee. It could not be otherwise."
Tom nodded understandingly. He already realized how much the Indian's loyalty and faith were wrapped up in the girl. It was because of the debt his partner owed to Stewart and because of his added devotion to the girl.
"Tom," the Indian added, "now that thesubject is up, I might as well tell you my wishes. If anything happens to me, you will see that my share is turned over to her, will you?"
"Of course," was the answer. "But nothing is going to happen to you, and if there is going to be any turning over, it will be done by you."
The days that followed were eager, eventful days. Jim Lee was able to make a safe trip over the border and make a deposit of a large supply of the silver without anyone's being the wiser. He informed the president of the bank of the need of secrecy and that gentleman saw to it that no inkling of the source of the silver leaked out. Then a week or so later Tom came over with another supply which had been stored.
In two months there was over fifty thousand dollars to their credit at the bank.
Then rumors and actual proofs of the approach of the revolutionists came to them. One morning Tom spoke of this and wondered how long it would be safe for them to continue carrying the silver across the border without being discovered.
"It seems to me," he added thoughtfully, "it might pay us to play safe. What do you think of destroying all evidence of the fact that this mine exists and leaving here for a year or so? Things might be safer for us then and we would always have the mine. In the meantime we have this money on deposit to help us along."
"I've thought of that," replied Jim Lee. "We might even be able to sell the mine to people who would be ready to take the risk or who would wait for the safe and settled times."
"I hadn't thought of that," was Tom's comment. "We probably could sell—it is only a question of whether we wish to."
Once they had come to a decision they immediately set to work to destroy all clues and made it appear as if the location had been forsaken as worthless. They made good work of it. After they were through they felt that there was small probability of anyone's making any investigation.
A few days later they returned to the States. They drew out what money they needed.
"We'll go North for a while. First we'llstop at my house, then we'll go to the city and visit Mary Lee. Is that satisfactory, Jim?"
Jim agreed. They reached Tom Marshall's home, but stayed for a few days only. Tom could see how eager his friend was to see the girl and so he hastened their departure.
It was not very long before the Red Cross Group at the High School was busily at work, following the outline suggested by the Red Cross Committee. The group was made up of thirty girls, each of whom gave five hours a week to sewing, knitting and in a smaller measure preparing bandages.
Another group of about the same number had already prepared gardens for the growth of vegetables and berries. Letty and Mary Lee had planned for a garden of string beans. It was Letty's suggestion that each girl specialize in one thing and that all the vegetables were to be brought to the school and sold when ready. With a few slight changes this plan was adopted. Ruth had set to work to grow potatoes and corn.
Miss James had made them all understandthat while their gardens would need constant attention, the returns would be rather slow in coming and that only by constant watching would their work prove successful.
The third group had set to work to canvass a district which had been assigned to the High School and in twos and threes were already earnestly bringing to the attention of both the thoughtful and thoughtless the need of economizing.
"It isn't so much that we ourselves will need it. The President has told us how much the other warring countries wasted at the beginning and that they were now suffering in consequence. It is our duty to help our allies as much as we can and this way will be your share and my share."
This was Mary Lee's best argument and it usually brought promises to do what was possible and also offers of help.
On Saturday afternoon all the girls were reporting what they had done.
When they had finished, Mary Lee asked Miss James if there was anything she wished to tell the girls.
"Only this," was the response, "What the girls are doing in the way of getting stockings, mittens and shirts is of great value. Thanks to the co-operation of all groups such as this, our soldiers will be fairly well supplied. But I really believe that the girls who are visiting families and making them think of economy are doing just as effective and valuable work. And the gardeners are going to get a lot of satisfaction from their work."
"Before we adjourn, I have one or two suggestions which you may think it worth while to follow," said Mary Lee.
"Our Red Cross Group might suggest to the Mayor that the parks be made, at least such parts as could be used for such purposes, into small gardens to grow cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, squash and other vegetables. Furthermore, a little further out in the suburbs, we might get the consent of the railroad companies to let families use the land that they call their right of way, for planting of vegetables. This would be in line with the work planned for us."
"What capital ideas," said Miss James while the girls applauded.
"I move," said one of the girls, "that Miss James and Mary Lee be appointed a committee to take up both these questions and that we all offer our help should they need it."
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
When Mary Lee reported for work the following Monday, Dr. Payson was waiting for her.
"Didn't Dr. Anderson tell me that you have had some experience in the handling of babies?" he inquired.
"I have had," was the girl's answer. "At the orphanage they arranged it so that the older girls attended to the babies and at Mrs. Quinn's, because she was not well, I had to take almost complete care of the child."
"Good," was the doctor's answer. "I will have to go to the Richardsons' home about five-thirty. I have been there once already this afternoon, but will need some help when I go there again. I know it is past your hour but I hope you can come with me. Miss Doyle, who is the nurse I called for, is on another case, so I cannot get her."
"I shall be glad to go," replied Mary Lee.
"I thought you would," Dr. Payson remarked.
At five-thirty the doctor and Mary Lee drove off. It was about fifteen minutes' ride to the Richardson home.
"The child is ailing," the doctor informed her. "It isn't teething and it isn't the ordinary children's ailments. I wanted them to get a specialist in children's diseases, but they insist on having me. It isn't very serious, but you will have to help me and possibly hold the child's attention while I do a little prying."
The anxious mother was waiting for them.
"Is the child any better?" the doctor asked.
"He hasn't seemed to be in pain but he has a high temperature," answered Mrs. Richardson.
"Well, it isn't anything serious or it would have been apparent by now. So we needn't worry. Mary Lee will give the child this laxative and if he isn't normal in two hours, please let me know. You needn't send for the specialist now. If you had sent for him earlier, youwould have saved some worry, for he probably would have realized that it wasn't serious where I simply made sure."
"Well, I'd much rather have you make sure than have anyone make a quick guess," answered Mrs. Richardson, much relieved.
In the meantime, thanks to Mary Lee's soothing and practiced touch, the child had perceptibly calmed and the doctor found his temperature already nearer normal.
Mrs. Richardson thanked Mary Lee for her help as they left.
"Of course," said Dr. Payson, as he took the girl to her home in his car, "every mother should worry; but a child of poor parents would hardly get so much attention."
And then Dr. Payson changed the subject and questioned Mary Lee as to the Red Cross work her group was doing.