Part 26 (1/2)
Leslie felt a pa.s.sing wish that she might dump her undesired cargo in that lake and fly away from them.
”I think you will have to get out at the next crossroads,” she said with more dignity. ”I have to go home now.”
”Why, Leslie Cloud! You don't any such thing!” broke in Myrtle. ”You told me you could be out till quarter of six. It's only half-past four! I thought you were a good sport.”
”I've changed my mind,” said Leslie coldly, bringing the car to a standstill. ”I'm going back right now. Do you and your friend want to get out here, Mr. Hicks?”
Fred Hicks lolled back in the car, and leered at Leslie.
”Why, no, I can't say I'm particularly anxious to get out, but I think I'd like to change around a little. If you'll just step over here, I'll run the car for you, my dear. I don't think Myrtle is ready to go back yet. How 'bout it, Myrt?” He turned and deliberately winked at Myrtle, who leaned over with a light laugh, and patted Leslie on the shoulder.
”There, there, Leslie, don't get up in the air,” she soothed, ”I'll explain all about it if you'll just turn around and go up that road back there. It won't take you much longer, and we'll be back in plenty of time. The fact is, I had a little plan in the back of my head when I came out this afternoon; and I want you to help me out. Now be a good girl and let Fred run the car a little while. He won't do it any harm, and your brother will never know a thing about it.”
Leslie's eyes were flas.h.i.+ng, and her head was held haughtily; but she kept her hands firmly on the wheel.
”Your friends will have to get out, Myrtle,” she said coldly. ”I can't help you out in any scheme I don't understand. You'll have to go to some one else for that kind of help.”
Myrtle pouted.
”I must say I don't think you're very nice, Leslie Cloud, speaking in that way before my friends; but of course you don't understand; I'll have to tell you. Bart Laws and I are engaged, and we're going to a town down in the next State to get married. Bart has the license and the minister, and it's all arranged nicely. His aunt will be there for a chaperon. If you behave yourself and do as we tell you, the whole thing will go off quietly and no one will know the difference. You and I will go back home before dark, and everything will be lovely. You see, dear, I've been engaged all this time; only I couldn't tell you, because my guardians don't approve of my getting married until I'm through college. You didn't understand why I had so much to do with Rich Price, but he was just a go-between for Bart and me. Now, do you understand why I wanted you to go this afternoon?”
Myrtle's voice was very soft and insinuating. She had tears always near the surface for ready use. ”You never have been in love, Leslie; you don't know what it is to be separated from the one who is all the world to you. Come, now, Leslie; I'll do anything in the world for you if you'll only help me out now.”
”And if I won't?” asked Leslie calmly, deliberately, as if she were really weighing the question.
”Well, if you won't,” put in the person called Fred Hicks, ”why, Bart and I will just fix you up perfectly harmlessly in the back seat there, where you can't do any damage”--and he put his hand in his pocket, and brought out the end of an ugly-looking rope--”and then we'll take charge of this expedition and go on our way. You can take it or leave it as you please. Shut up there, Myrt; we haven't any more time to waste. We're behind schedule now.”
Leslie's mouth shut in a pretty little tight line, and her eyes got like two blue sparks, but her voice was cool and steady.
”Well, I _won't_!” she said tensely; and with a sudden motion she grabbed the switch-key and, springing to her feet, flung it far out across the road, across a little scuttled canoe that lay at the bank, and plunk into the water, before the other occupants of the car could realize what she was doing.
Fred Hicks saw just an instant too late, and sprang for her arm to stop it, then arose in his seat with curses on his lips, watching the exact location of the splash and calling to his mate to go out and fish for it.
Leslie sank back in her seat, tense and white, and both young men sprang out and rushed to the sh.o.r.e of the little lake, leaving a stream of unspeakable language behind them. Myrtle began to berate her friend.
”You little _fool_!” she said. ”You think you've stopped us, don't you? But you'll suffer for this! If you make us late, I'll see that you don't get back to your blessed home for a whole week; and, when you do, you won't have such a pretty reputation to go on as you have now! It won't do a bit of good, either, for those two men can find that switch-key; or, if they can't, Fred knows how to start a car without one. You've only made a lot of trouble for yourself, and that's all the good it will do you. You thought you were smart, but you're nothing but an ignorant little kid!”
But the ignorant little kid was not listening. With trembling fingers she was pulling off the wrappings from a small package, and suddenly a warning whir cut short Myrtle's harangue. She lurched forward, and tried to pull Leslie's hands away from the wheel.
”Bart! Come quick! She's got another! Hurry, boys!”
CHAPTER XXII
The two young men had shoved the old canoe up on the bank, turned it over, emptied it, and put it back in the water. Fred Hicks was holding it at arm's length now in the water; and the would-be bridegroom had crawled out to the extreme end, and with rolled-up sleeves was pawing about in the water, which did not appear to be very deep. At the cry they turned; and Fred Hicks, forgetting the other man's plight, let go the boat, and dashed back to the road. Young Laws, arising too hastily, rolled into the water completely, and came splas.h.i.+ng up the bank in a frothy state of mind. But suddenly, as they came, while Myrtle's best efforts were put forth to hinder Leslie's movements, something cold and gleaming flashed in her face that sent her crouching back in the corner of her seat and screaming. Leslie had slipped her hand into the little secret pocket of the car door and brought out her revolver, hoping fervently that it was still loaded, and that Allison had not chosen to shoot at a mark or anything with it the last time he was out.
”You'd better sit down and keep quiet,” she said coolly. ”I'm a good shot.”
Then she put her foot on the clutch, and the car started just as Fred Hicks lit on the running-board.
Leslie's little revolver came promptly around to meet him, and he dropped away with a gasp of surprise as suddenly as he had lit.