Part 22 (1/2)
”You are a great success, Jeremiah.” Ronny continued to laugh as Jerry performed an infantile solo with a white celluloid rattle. ”Where is Marjorie? I asked you once but you didn't answer.”
”Read that. Marjorie said I was to show it to the Lookouts.” Jerry picked up the letter from the chiffonier and handed it to Ronny.
”How unfortunate!” was Ronny's exclamation as she hastily read the note.
”When did she leave here? I am glad she put on her costume before she went. She can go straight to the gym, provided she isn't detained over there.”
”She left here at five minutes past seven,” Jerry answered. ”I felt cross about it, too. It seems as though Marjorie is always picked-out to do something for someone just about the time she has planned to have a good time herself.”
”What do you suppose has happened to Miss Towne? She was your fres.h.i.+e catch. It's a wonder she didn't ask you to go to her instead of Marjorie.”
”Well, she didn't. I have tried to behave like a father to her but she doesn't seem to notice it,” Jerry returned humorously. ”You see they all gravitate straight to Marjorie. There's something about her that inspires confidence in the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of timid fres.h.i.+es.”
”She is the dearest girl on earth.” Ronny spoke with sudden tenderness.
”Are you going out on the campus to parade? I am not particularly anxious to go.”
”Then we won't go, for I don't care about it, either.” A double rapping on the door sent Jerry scurrying to it. Katherine and Lucy walked in, arms twined about each other's waists. They were a pretty pair of school girls in their short bright gingham dresses, ruffled white ap.r.o.ns and white stockings and tennis shoes. Hair in two braids, broad-brimmed flower-wreathed hats and school knapsacks swinging from the shoulder completed their simple but effective costumes.
They came in for a lively share of approbation from Jerry and Ronny, of whom they were equally admiring in turn. Inquiring for Marjorie, they were shown the note and Jerry again went over the information she had given Ronny.
”That note doesn't sound a bit like Anna Towne,” Lucy said in her close-lipped manner as she laid it down. ”I know her quite well, for she takes biology and has come to me several times for help. She is awfully proud and tries never to put one to any trouble.”
”This may be something that has come upon her so suddenly she hasn't known what to do except to send for Marjorie,” hazarded Katherine. ”I agree with you, Lucy. It does not sound like her.”
Another series of knocks at the door broke in upon the conversation.
”Wonder if that's Muriel.” Jerry turned to the door. ”She may have changed her mind about not letting us know what she was going to mask as.”
The door opened. Jerry gave an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n of undiluted surprise. The girl who stood on the threshold was Anna Towne.
”Come in, Miss Towne.” Jerry stepped aside for her unexpected caller to enter. ”Have you seen Marjorie?”
”Why, no. I haven't seen anyone except the maid who answered the door. I came over to see if I could go to the masquerade with you girls. Phyllis and a crowd of Silvertons went out to parade. I didn't care about it, so I thought I would come over here.”
”Wha-a-t!” Jerry was almost shouting. Ronny, Katherine and Lucy were the picture of blank amazement.
”What's the matter?” Anna Towne flushed deeply. She did not understand the meaning of Jerry's loud exclamation. Perhaps she had presumed in thus breaking in upon the chums.
”Matter! I don't know what's the matter, but I am going to find out.
Read this note. You didn't write that, now did you?” Jerry thrust the note into Anna's hands.
The room grew very still as she fastened her attention upon the communication, supposedly from herself.
”Of course I never wrote it.” Anna looked up wonderingly. Almost instantly her expression changed to one of alarm. ”There is no one living at 852 on our street,” she a.s.serted. ”My landlady has not moved.
I still live at 856. I haven't had any trouble. I came here dressed for the masquerade. I'm wearing a Kate Greenaway costume. See. She took the silk scarf from her head disclosing a Kate Greenaway cap.
”No one living there!” came in a breath of horror from Ronny. It was echoed by the other three Lookouts. ”Then _who_ wrote that note and _what_ has happened to Marjorie?”
”I am going to find out pretty suddenly.” Jerry sprang to her dress closet for her fur coat and overshoes. ”Go and get ready to go over to that house, girls. One, two, three, four--We are five strong. Get your wraps and meet me downstairs. I am going to see if I can't find Leila and Vera. You had better wait for me here, Miss Towne. I'll be back directly.”
Ten minutes later a bevy of white-faced girls met in the lower hall.