The Camp Fire Girls at Onoway House Part 15

The next morning Mrs. Gardiner sent Mr. Landsdowne to interview the police force of the towns.h.i.+p in which the Centerville Road belonged, and he brought the whole force back with him. He had to bring the whole force if he brought any for it embraced only one man and he was well along in years, but he had a uniform and a helmet and a club and a gun, and presented an imposing appearance as he strutted up and down the yard, before which an evil doer might be moved to pause. The three girls from town had departed and Nakwisi had left her spy gla.s.s behind in the excitement, and this was a source of great entertainment to the rural gendarme. He spent a great deal of time sliding the lens back and forth to fit his eye and peering up the road into the distance, or looking up into the air, as if he expected to see the burglar approaching in an airs.h.i.+p. He was very talkative and fond of recounting the captures he had made single handed, and declared solemnly that the man in this case was as good as caught already, for no one had ever escaped yet when Dave Beeman had started out to get him.

Nyoda, who was fond of seeing her theories worked out, still held to the idea that the mysterious visitor was someone who wanted the job of caretaker, and inquired closely of Farmer Landsdowne who the men were who had applied for the position. When it came down to fact there was only one who had really wanted the job very badly, although several others had mentioned the fact that they wouldn't mind doing it, and that man had found a similar situation immediately afterward and left the neighborhood. So her theory did not seem to be inclined to hold water.

She had another idea, however, and wrote to Mr. Mitch.e.l.l, asking if he had ever heard strange noises in the attic while he lived there. Mr.

Mitch.e.l.l answered and said that not only had he heard strange noises in the attic, but also in the cellar and in the barn, and that pieces of furniture had apparently moved themselves in the middle of the night; and it was on this account that he had left the place, as it made his wife so nervous she became ill. This fact put a new face on the matter.

The hostility, then, was not directed against themselves personally, but against the tenants of the house, no matter who they were. But this idea left them more in the dark than ever, and they lost a good deal of sleep over it without reaching any solution.

After a few days of zealous watching, during which time nothing happened, the police force of Centerville towns.h.i.+p gave it up as a bad job and relaxed its vigilance, declaring that the firebug must have gotten out of the country, for that was the only way he could hope to escape his eagle eye. "If he was still in the country, I'd a' had him by this time", Dave Beeman a.s.serted confidently. "So as long as he's gone that far you don't need to worry any more." And he took himself off, eager to get back to the quiet game of pinochle in Gus Wurlitzer's grocery store, which Farmer Landsdowne had interrupted several days ago.

It was just about this time that Migwan had her biggest order for canned tomatoes-from a fas.h.i.+onable private sanitarium a few miles distant, and the rush of canning gradually took their minds off the mysterious intruder. Migwan, picking her finest and ripest tomatoes to fill this order, noticed that a number of the vines were drooping and turning yellow. The half ripe tomatoes were falling to the ground and rotting.

One whole end of the bed seemed to be affected. She looked carefully for insects and found none. Some of the leaves seemed worse shrivelled than others. In perplexity she called Mr. Landsdowne over to look at them. He looked closely at the plants and also seemed puzzled as to the cause of the mysterious blight. "It isn't rot," he said, "because the bed is high and dry and the plants have never stood in water." Upon looking closely he discovered that the affected plants were covered with a fine white coating. He gave a smothered exclamation. "Do you know what that is?" he asked. "It's lime! Somebody has sprayed your plants with a solution of lime. Are you sure you didn't do it yourself?" he asked, quizzically.

Migwan shook her head. "I haven't sprayed those plants with anything for a month," she a.s.serted, "and neither has anyone else in the house."

"Somebody outside of the house has done it, then," said Mr. Landsdowne.

The work of the mysterious visitor again! It struck dismay into the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the whole household. They never knew when and where that hand was going to strike next. And so silently, so mysteriously, without ever leaving a trace behind!

There was nothing left to do but dig up the dead plants and throw them away. Migwan almost stopped breathing when she thought that the rest of the bed might be treated in the same way, and the source of her revenue cut off. But why was all this happening? What could anyone possibly have against the peaceful dwellers at Onoway House?

A guard was set over the tomato bed both day and night for a week and the big order for the sanitarium was filled as fast as the tomatoes ripened. Nothing at all happened during this time and the vigilance was relaxed. A large dog was turned loose in the garden at night and they felt secure in his protection. This dog belonged to Calvin Smalley. When he had left his uncle's house he had to leave Pointer behind, as he did not know what else to do with him, but now that the Gardiners were willing to have him he went over and got him when he knew his uncle was away from the house, so he would not have to meet him. Pointer was overjoyed at seeing his young master again and attached himself to the household at once, and never made the slightest effort to go back to his old home. He had a deep, heavy bark which could not fail to rouse the house at once. With the coming of Pointer the girls breathed easily again.

One day when Migwan had gone over to see the Landsdownes, Mr. Landsdowne had given her a treasure for her garden. This was a plant of a rare species called t.i.tania Gloria, which a friend had brought from Bermuda.

It was a first year growth and so would not bloom until the following summer. Migwan planted it along the fence beside the mint bed and treasured it like gold, for the blossom of the t.i.tania Gloria was a wonderful shade of blue and was considered a prize by fanciers, who paid high prices for cuttings of the plant. In the excitement over the tepee and the tomato plants, however, she forgot to tell the other girls about it, so she was the only one who knew what a precious thing that little bed of leaves was.

The weather was so fine that week that Migwan decided to have a garden party and invite a number of friends from town. Gladys promised to dance and the boys cleared a circle for her in the gra.s.s under the trees, picking up every stick that lay on the ground. Mrs. Landsdowne, hearing about the party, offered to make ice cream for them in her freezer. Just before the guests arrived Migwan and Calvin went over after it. They took the raft, because they thought that would be the easiest way of transporting the heavy tub. Migwan rode on the raft and supported the tub and Calvin walked along the bank and pulled the tow line. His eagerness to help with the festivity was somewhat pathetic. Never, to his knowledge, had there been a party at the Smalley House. The way these girls planned a party out of a clear sky and carried out their plans without delay was nothing short of marvelous to him. They were always at their ease with company, while it was a fearful ordeal for him to meet strangers. He liked to be a part of such doings; but was at a loss how to act. Migwan, with her fine understanding of things beneath the surface, saw that this boy was lonesome in the crowd, not knowing how to mix in and have a glorious time on his own account, and she always saw to it that his part was mapped out for him in all their doings. Therefore she chose him to help her bring the ice cream over.

Calvin, happy at being useful, towed the raft carefully and turned his head whenever Migwan spoke, so as to give strict attention to her words.

Doing this, he fell over the branch of a tree in the path and jerked the rope violently. The raft tipped up and both Migwan and the tub of ice cream went into the river. Migwan climbed out on the bank before Calvin was up from the ground. He was aghast at what he had done. He had been so eager to help with the party and now he had spoiled it! That he would be instantly expelled from Onoway House he was sure, and he felt that he deserved it. Migwan, at least, would never speak to him again.

Speechless, he turned piteous eyes to where she sat on the bank dripping. To his surprise she was doubled up with laughter. "What are you laughing at?" he asked, startled.

"Because you upset the raft and the ice cream fell into the river!"

giggled Migwan. Calvin gasped. The very thing that was nearly killing him with chagrin was the cause of her mirth! It was the first time he had ever seen anyone make light of a calamity. Her mirth was so contagious that he began to laugh himself. Still laughing, he brought the tub out of the river and set it on the bank. The water had washed away the packing of ice, but the lid on the inner can was providentially tight and the ice cream was unharmed. That little incident crystallized the friends.h.i.+p between the two. After that he was Migwan's slave. A girl who could be thrown into the river without getting vexed was a friend worth having. Dripping, they returned to the house, where the preparations for the party were at their height, to be laughed at immoderately and christened the "Water Babies."

To Hinpoha the Artistic had been entrusted the setting of the tables.

Her decorations were water lilies from the river, and when she had finished it looked as if a feast had been spread for the river nymphs.

Around the edges of the platter she put bunches of bright mint leaves.

Her artistic efforts called out so much praise from the guests that she was in a continual state of blus.h.i.+ng as she waited on the table.

"What's the matter with your hand?" asked Migwan, noticing that she was pa.s.sing things around left handedly.

"Nothing," said Hinpoha, "nothing much. I slipped when I was getting the lilies and fell on my wrist and it feels lame, that's all."

"Is it sprained?" asked Migwan.

"Oh, no," said Hinpoha, "I don't think so."

"It's all swelled up," said Migwan, holding up the injured wrist. "Let me paint it with iodine and tie it up for you."

Hinpoha maintained that it was nothing serious, but Migwan insisted.

"Where is the iodine, mother?" she asked.

"On the pantry shelf," answered Mrs. Gardiner. Migwan got the bottle and painted Hinpoha's wrist before the party could proceed. Hinpoha surveyed the brown stripe around her arm rather disgustedly. It was for this very reason that she had said nothing about the wrist before. She did not want it painted up for the party. It offended her artistic eye and she would rather suffer in silence.

While the guests were sitting at the tables Gladys danced on the lawn for their entertainment. The merry laughter was hushed in surprise and delight at her fairylike movements. In the silence which reigned at this time the thing which happened was distinctly heard by everyone.

Apparently from the depths of the earth there came a m.u.f.fled thud, thud, as of a pick striking against hard ground. It kept up for a few minutes and then ceased, to be renewed again after a short interval. The dwellers at Onoway House looked at each other. Into each mind there sprang the story of the Deacon's well, and the words of Farmer Landsdowne, "_Superst.i.tious folks say you can still hear the buried well digger striking with his pick against the ground that covers him._" It was the most mysterious sound, far away and faint, yet seemingly right under their very feet. Gladys heard it and paused in her dancing.

Pointer and Mr. Bob both heard it and began to bark. In a little while the thudding noise ceased and was heard no more, and the company were all left wondering if they could have been the victims of imagination.

"Maybe it's somebody down cellar," said Calvin, and taking Pointer with him, went down. Tom followed him. But there was no sign of anyone down there. Pointer ran around with his nose to the ground as if he were smelling for footsteps, but his tail kept wagging all the while. They were all familiar footsteps he scented. Nothing was out of place in the cellar except that a basket of potatoes was thrown over and the potatoes had rolled out on the cement floor. The boys noticed this without thinking anything of it. The mystery of the well digger's ghost remained unsolved.

In the cool of the early evening after her guests had departed, Migwan wandered down into the garden to look at her various plants and flowers.

It occurred to her that she had not paid her t.i.tania Gloria a visit for several days. But what a sight met her eyes when she reached the spot where the precious thing had been planted! Not a single bit was left.

The clean cut stalks showed where they had been clipped off close to the ground. Migwan started up with a cry of dismay which brought the other girls running to her side. "My t.i.tania Gloria!" gasped Migwan. "Look!

The mysterious visitor has been at work again!" And she told them about the valuable cuttings that had disappeared so uncannily.

"We never hear that ghost but what something happens after it!" said Gladys, in an awestruck tone. The girls peered apprehensively into the shadows of the tall trees surrounding the garden.

"What's up?" asked Hinpoha, joining the group. Migwan pointed to the devastated bed. "What's the matter with it?" asked Hinpoha.

"My t.i.tania Gloria!" said Migwan. "It's been clipped off at the roots."

"Your what?" asked Hinpoha. Migwan explained about the rare plant Farmer Landsdowne had given her. Hinpoha gave a sudden start and exclamation.

"What did you say it was?" she asked.

"A t.i.tania Gloria," answered Migwan.

"Well, girls, I'm the guilty one, then," said Hinpoha, "for I cut those plants off thinking they were mint. That was what I decorated the platters with this afternoon. Do anything you like with me, Migwan, beat me, hang me to a tree, put my feet in stocks, or anything, and I'll make no resistance." She was absolutely frozen to the spot when she realized what she had done.

Migwan, grieved as she was over the loss of her cherished t.i.tania, yet had to laugh at the depths of Hinpoha's mortification. "You old goose!"

she said, putting her arms around her, "don't take it so to heart! It's my fault, not yours at all, because I didn't tell anyone what that plant was. And the leaves do look just like mint." Thus she comforted the discomfited Hinpoha.

"Migwan," said her mother, when they had returned to the house, "where did you get that iodine with which you painted Hinpoha's wrist this afternoon?"

"On the pantry shelf, just where you told me," answered Migwan.

"Well," said her mother, "I told you wrong. The iodine is up on my wash-stand."

"Then what was in the brown bottle on the pantry shelf?" asked Migwan.

The bottle was produced.

"Why," said Mrs. Gardiner, "that's walnut stain, guaranteed not to wear off!"

Then there was a laugh at Migwan's expense!

"Old Migwan Hubbard She went to the cupboard, To get iodine in a phial, But she couldn't read plain, And brought walnut stain, And now her poor patient looks vile!"

chanted Sahwah.