Part 24 (1/2)
The girls closed the dressing-room door.
”I must be wrong, Bab, yet I don't believe I am. I saw to-night the same eyes that glared at us from behind a black mask the time of that horrible burglary at New Haven, when, for a little while, I thought you were killed. I have never said much about it. I wanted to forget and I wanted everyone else to forget it, but those eyes have followed me everywhere since. To-night--”
Bab took Ruth's hand.
”Oh, Bab,” groaned Ruth, ”what does it mean? I saw those eyes again to-night and they were Harry Townsend's. I wanted to scream right out: 'Burglar! robber!' But I could not make a scene. I came upstairs, hardly knowing how I reached here.”
One of the maids knocked at the door. ”Do the young ladies wish anything? Mrs. Cartwright sent me up to inquire,” she said.
”Nothing at all. Tell her we are all right, and will be down in a few minutes.”
”Ruth,” said Barbara, ”I want to tell you something. If I do, can you pretend that nothing has happened, and be perfectly composed for the rest of the evening? Now don't say 'yes' unless you feel sure.”
Ruth looked straight at Barbara, ”Yes; tell me what it is,” she urged.
”I am beginning to guess.”
”The eyes you saw to-night were Harry Townsend's, and he is a burglar and a thief. I did not know he was the robber at New Haven; I have only suspected it. Now I feel sure, and you recognized him to-night. He is a more dangerous character than I had thought, and he must not know that you suspect him.”
”He shall know nothing from me,” said Ruth, coolly. Her color had come back, now that she knew the truth. ”It was only the shock that unnerved me. Why haven't you told me before, Bab?”
”I was afraid you'd ask me that, Ruth, dear, and I want to explain. You see, I have believed Harry Townsend a thief ever since I saw him, with my own eyes, take the necklace from Mrs. Post's neck at Mrs. Erwin's ball; but you were positive I was wrong, and asked me not to talk about it. So I didn't know what to do. I have only watched and waited.
To-night I told Ralph what I knew.”
Barbara then explained to Ruth the whole story, and the part the detectives had asked her to play in Townsend's apprehension. ”What shall I do, Ruth?” she ended.
”Come on downstairs, Bab,” said Ruth. ”Some one may suspect us if we don't. Do, Bab. We are going on to play the game, just as you have been playing it by yourself. We will say nothing, but we will do some hard thinking; and, when the time comes, we shall act! To tell you the truth, if you will never betray me to Aunt Sallie, I think playing detective beats nearly any fun I know.”
”Eyeology” was no longer amusing the guests when the two girls came downstairs; indeed, the company had scattered and was talking in separate groups. Ruth and Bab joined Mollie and Grace, who were standing near Mrs. Post and their new acquaintance, the Countess Bertouche.
”Girls,” asked Mrs. Post, ”would you like to join the Countess Bertouche and myself Sat.u.r.day afternoon? We are going to explore old Newport; the old town is well worth seeing. The countess tells me this is her first visit to Newport, so, before she goes back to Paris, I want her to see that we have a little of the dignity that age gives.
”Why,” and Mrs. Post turned smilingly to the little group, ”Newport boasts even a haunted house! It is not occupied, and I have the privilege of showing you over it. A story has been written about the old mansion. Here a young woman lived who loved an officer in Rochambeau's fleet, when the gallant French sailor came over to these sh.o.r.es. But the sailor loved and sailed away, never to return. So the lady pined and died; but her presence still haunts the old house. You can feel her approaching you by a sudden perfume of mignonette. After we see all the sights of the town, we shall go to the old house at about dusk, so that we may have a better chance to discover the 'spirit lady.'”
Mollie and Grace accepted Mrs. Post's invitation with enthusiasm.
Barbara and Ruth had to decline regretfully.
”You see, Mrs. Post,” Barbara explained, ”Ruth and Hugh have to practice their tennis, every hour they can manage, until the tournament on Monday. Ruth has become a little out of practice since her accident, and must work hard at her game for the next few days. Ralph and I have promised to help by furnis.h.i.+ng the opposition.”
”You'll excuse Mollie and me from playing audience, won't you, Ruth?”
asked Grace. ”We are going home so soon after the tournament is over that we can't resist Mrs. Post's invitation.”
”Barbara,” said Ruth, coming into Bab's room, just as that young woman was about to step into bed, ”can you imagine anyone whom Harry Townsend can be using as a confederate?”
”Sh-s.h.!.+” warned Bab. ”Here comes Mollie. Don't say anything. I haven't the faintest idea.”
CHAPTER XXI-THE CAPTURE OF THE b.u.t.tERFLY
Harry Townsend was not aware of the chain of suspicion that was tightening around him; but he was too clever not to use every precaution. Once or twice he had come across the small, dark detective who was making investigations in Mrs. Erwin's house-the large, blond man, named Burton, had kept in the background-but knowing that the servants had been under suspicion, he supposed that the search was being made on their account. He knew of no act of his own that could possibly implicate him in the robberies. He came and went among Mrs. Erwin's guests, and was on a friendly footing with their most fas.h.i.+onable friends at Newport. He had seen no one else during his visit, as the whole world was privileged to know.