“Judith Stearns is not here,” snapped
the South American. “And what’s more
I don’t know nor care where she is. I can’t
spend my time with wild college girls who try to run
down poor messenger boys.”
“Very well,” said Jane, deciding no more
time could be wasted in argument. “But
I warn you if our friend has been placed in any compromising
position, or has been misrepresented to that hateful
officer, we shall hold you responsible, for our girls
saw her come here.”
Jane and Dozia turned to the door. The maid was
evidently well pleased with the move, for she showed
glittering teeth in an inopportune smile. Dolorez
had gained a very high natural color that cut in streaks
through her make-up. She was breathing hard, and
Dozia, usually fearless, thought it best not to anger
her further. She followed Jane without even throwing
out a look of defiance or challenge, and when the
door closed on their heels both Jane and Dozia felt
and really looked pale.
The situation was growing more complicated every moment,
and now the girls from the side porch pounced upon
the others with frivolous inquiries about that beauty
shop.
“Hush,” ordered Jane. “Do you
realize Judith may have been taken to that horrible
old station house? You three go back to college
and make sure she has not returned. We, Dozia,
Janet and I, will go into the town hall. You
can phone us there in twenty minutes. Now hurry
and be prudent. Don’t spread any sensational
stories.”
Jane acted like a senior now, but the emergency was
sufficiently exacting to demand such forceful means.
Where was Judith Stearns and what was the meaning
of Dolorez Vincez’ sinister statement, about
running down poor messenger boys? Also who could
have been sobbing in the room back of the parlors?
“Look!” exclaimed Jane as they left the
tanbark walk. “Who is that running from
the back driveway?”
“Little Sarah Howland,” replied Dozia
in amazement. “Whatever can that innocent
little thing be doing around here?”
“I—wonder,” sighed Jane as
they hurried off to the old town hall.
“Jane,” murmured Dozia, halting her companion
for a moment as a sudden calling was heard through
the fields, “do you think that baby can be implicated
with those unscrupulous shop keepers?”
“She was in there, and we saw her run,”
replied Jane. “I would like to doubt my
own eyes—”
Dozia grasped her arm and again they hurried on.
“Find Judith!” That was their slogan.
WHAT HAPPENED TO JUDITH
In that mysterious way peculiar to girls, the students
knew, without the facts being apparent, that something
strange and perhaps even desperate had happened to
Judith.
They had not been told any of the details, but when
the party walking in from the village was suddenly
broken up, first by the incident of the messenger
boys’ quarrel and then by Judith’s disappearance
into Dol Vin’s beauty shop, with officer Sandy
twirling his club and “gum-shoeing” after
her, the whole situation was as clear as if the pieces
had been patched together on a movie screen.
