Books: The Outdoor Girls at Rainbow Lake
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Laura Lee Hope >> The Outdoor Girls at Rainbow Lake
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"Grandmother will be surprised to see me," thought Grace, as she rode
on. "But I'm glad I can do as well as Will in business matters. I hope
papa won't be too severe with Will for not attending to this himself."
She passed a drinking trough-- a great log hollowed out, into which
poured a stream of limpid water coming from a distant hill through a
rude wooden pipe. It dripped over the mossy green sides of the trough,
and Prince stretched his muzzle eagerly toward it.
"Of course you shall have a drink!" exclaimed Grace, as she let him
have his head. Then she felt thirsty herself, and looked about for
something that would serve as a mounting block, in case she got down.
She saw nothing near; but a ragged, barefooted, freckled-faced and
snub-nosed urchin, coming along just then, divined her desire.
"Want a drink, lady?" he asked, smiling.
"Yes," answered Grace, "but I have no cup."
"I kin make ye one."
Straightway he fashioned a natural flagon from a leaf of the wild
grape vine that grew nearby, piercing the leaf with its own stem so
that it formed a cup out of which a Druid might have quaffed ambrosia.
"There's a cup," he said. "I allers makes 'em that way when I wants a
drink." He filled it from the running water and held it up. Grace
drank thirstily, and asked for more.
"And here is something for you," she said with a smile, as she passed
down some chocolates she had slipped into a small pocket of her riding
habit.
"Say, is it Christmas, or Fourth of July?" gasped the urchin as he
accepted them. "Thanks, lady."
Grace again smiled down at him, and Prince, having dipped his muzzle
into the cool water again, for very pleasure in having all he wanted,
swung about and trotted on.
The distance was not long now, and Grace, noting the gathering clouds,
was glad of it.
"I'm sure I don't want to be caught in a storm," she said. "This stuff
shrinks so," and she glanced down at her velvet skirt. "I wouldn't
have it made up again. I hope the storm doesn't spoil Will's ball
game,"
She urged Prince to a faster pace, and, cantering along a quiet
stretch of road, was soon at the house of Mr. Ford's mother.
"Why Grace!" exclaimed the elderly lady, "I expected Will to come
over. Your father said---- "
"I know, grandma, but Will-- well, he is wild about baseball, and I
said I'd come for him."
"That was good of you."
"Oh, no it wasn't. I don't deserve any praise. Chocolates and Prince--
a big bribe, grandma."
"Oh, you young folks! Well, come in. Thomas will see to Prince."
"I can't stay long."
"No, I suppose not. Your father wanted these papers in a hurry. He
would have come himself, but he had some matters to attend to. And,
its being rather a family affair, he did not want to send one of his
law clerks. Those young men tattle so."
"I wonder if they are any worse than girls, grandma?"
"Oh, much-- much! But come in, and I will have Ellen make you a cup of
tea. It is refreshing on a hot day. Then I will get you the papers. It
is very warm."
"Yes, I think we will have a shower."
"Then I must not keep you. Is everyone well?"
"Yes. How have you been?"
"Oh, well enough for an old lady."
"Old, grandma? I only hope I look as nice as you when I get---- "
"Now, my dear, no flattery. I had my share of that when I was younger,
though I must say your grandfather knew how to turn a compliment to
perfection. Ah, my dear, there are not many like him now-a-days. Not
many!" and she sighed.
Tea was served in the quaint old dining room, for Mrs. Ford, though
keeping up many old customs, had adopted some modern ones, and her
house was perfection itself.
"I suppose your brother told you these papers were rather valuable;
did he not?" asked Mrs. Ford a little later, as she brought Grace a
rather bulky package.
"Yes, grandma."
"And if they should happen to fall into other hands it might make
trouble-- at least for a time."
"Yes. I will take good care of them."
"How can you carry them?"
"In the saddle. Will had pockets, made especially for his needs. They
will fit nicety. I looked before starting out."
"Very good. Then I won't keep you. Trot along. It does look as though
we would have a storm. I hope you get back before it breaks. I would
ask you to stay, but I know your father is waiting for those papers."
"Yes, Will said he wanted them quickly. Oh, well, I think I can
out-race the storm," and Grace laughed.
She found that she really would have to race when, a little later, out
on the main road, the distant rumble of thunder was heard.
"Come, Prince!" she called. "We must see what we can do. Your best
foot foremost, old fellow!" The horse whinnied in answer, and swung
into an easy gallop that covered the ground well.
The clouds gathered thicker and faster. Now and then their black
masses would be split by jagged flashes of lightning, that presaged
the rumbling report of heaven's artillery which seemed drawing nearer
to engage in the battle of the sky.
"Prince, we are going to get wet, I'm very much afraid," Grace
exclaimed. "And yet-- well, we'll try a little faster pace!"
She touched the animal lightly with the crop, and he fairly leaped
into greater speed. But it was only too evident that they could not
escape the storm. The clouds were more lowering now, and the bursts of
thunder followed more quickly on the heels of the lightning flashes.
Then came a few angry dashes of rain, as though to give sample of what
was to follow.
"Come, Prince!" cried Grace.
Suddenly from behind there came another sound. It was the deep
staccato of the exhaust of an automobile, with opened muffler. It was
tearing along the road.
Grace glanced back and saw a low, dust-covered racing car, rakish and
low-hung, swinging along. It was evident that the occupants-- two
young men-- were putting on speed to get to some shelter before the
storm broke in all its fury.
Prince jumped nervously and shied to one side at the sound of the
on-coming car.
"Quiet, old fellow," said Grace, soothingly.
The car shot past her, and at the same moment Prince waltzed to one
side, or else the car swerved, so that only by the narrowest margin
was a terrible accident averted. Grace heard the men shout, and there
was a wilder burst of the opened muffler. Then she felt a shock, and
she knew that the machine had struck and grazed Prince.
She glanced down and saw a red streak on his off fore shoulder. He had
been cut by some part of the car.
The next moment, as the racing auto swung out of sight around a bend
in the road, Prince took the bit in his teeth and bolted. With all her
strength Grace reined him in, but he was wildly frightened. She felt
herself slipping from the saddle.
"Prince! Prince!" she cried, bracing herself in the stirrups, and
gripping the reins with all her might. "Prince! Quiet, old fellow!"
But Prince was now beyond the reasoning power of any human voice. The
thunder rumbled and crashed overhead. Grace, above it, could hear the
whining decrease of the exhaust of the big car that had caused her
steed to run away.
"Prince! Prince!" she pleaded.
He did not heed. Farther and farther she slipped from the saddle as
his wild plunges threw her out of it. Then there came a crash that
seemed to mark the height of the storm. A great light shone in front
of Grace. Myriads of stars danced before her eyes.
She flashed towards a house. From it ran two little tots, and, even in
that terror she recognized them as Dodo and Paul, the two Billette
twins. They were visiting a relative who lived on this road, she dimly
recalled hearing Mollie say. Evidently the children had run out in the
storm. A nursemaid caught Paul, but Dodo eluded the girl, and ran
straight for the road along which Grace was plunging.
"Go back! Go back!" screamed Grace. "Go back, Dodo!"
But Dodo came on. The next moment the child seemed to be beneath the
feet of the maddened horse, which, a second later, slipped and fell,
throwing Grace heavily. Her senses left her. All was black, and the
rain pelted down while the lightning flashed and the thunder rumbled
and roared.
CHAPTER IV
THE MISSING DOCUMENTS
"How do you feel now? Do you think you can drink a little of this?"
Faintly Grace heard these words, as though some one, miles away, was
repeating them through a heavy fog. Myriads of bells seemed ringing in
her ears, and her whole body felt as though made of lead. Then she
became conscious of shooting pains. Her head ached, there was a
roaring in it. This was followed by a delicious drowsiness.
"Try and take a little of this. The doctor does not think you are
badly hurt. Fortunately the horse did not fall on you."
Again it seemed as though the voice came from the distant clouds.
Grace tried to think-- to reason out where she was, and discover what
had happened; but when she did, that same ringing of bells sounded in
her ears, her head ached and she felt she was losing that much-to-be
desired drowsiness.
"Try and take it."
She felt some one raise her head, supporting her shoulders. She
struggled with herself, resolving not to give way to that lethargy.
She opened her eyes with an effort, and looked about her in wonder.
She was in a strange room, and a strange woman was bending over her,
holding a glass of some pleasant-scented liquid.
"There, you have roused up, my dear, try to take this," said the
woman, with a smile. "The doctor will be back to see you in a little
while."
"The doctor," stammered Grace. "Am I hurt? What happened? Oh, I
remember, Prince was frightened by the auto, and ran away. Where is
he?" she asked in sudden terror, as a thought came to her.
"He got up and ran off after he fell with you," said the woman, as she
held the glass for Grace to drink. "We had no time to try and catch
him, for there were others to attend to."
"Oh, but Prince must be caught!" cried Grace, trying to rise from the
couch on which she was lying, but finding it too much of an effort.
"He will be, my dear," said the woman. "Don't fret about the horse. He
did not seem to be hurt."
Oh, it isn't so much Prince himself, though Will would feel very badly
if anything happened to him. It is---- "
Then Grace recalled that to mention the papers in the saddle bag might
not be wise, so she stopped.
"There now, don't worry, my dear," spoke the woman, soothingly. "Some
one will catch the horse,"
"Oh, he must be caught!" cried Grace. "You say the doctor was here to
see me?"
"Yes, we sent for one soon after a passing farmer carried you in here
when you fell and fainted. You were lying out in the rain--
insensible. We managed to get off your wet dress, and I just slipped
this dressing gown of mine on you."
"You were very kind. I can't seem to think very clearly," and poor
Grace put her hand to her head.
"Then don't try, my dear: You'll be all right in a little while. Just
rest. I'll see if the doctor can come to you now."
"Why is he here-- in the house-- is some one else ill?" asked Grace,
quickly.
"Yes, my dear. Poor little Dodo was knocked down by the horse, and we
fear is badly hurt."
"Dodo?" and the voice of Grace fairly rang at the name.
"Yes, little Dora Billette. This is her aunt's house. She and her
brother Paul are visiting here."
"Yes, yes! I know. They live near me in Deepdale. Their sister Mollie
is one of my best friends. I am Grace Ford."
"Oh yes, I know you now. I thought I recognized your face. I have seen
you at Mollie's house. I am a distant relative. But rest yourself now,
and the doctor will come to you as soon as he can. He has to attend to
Dodo first, the little dear!"
"Oh! Dodo, Dodo!" cried Grace, much affected. "You poor little
darling, and to think that it was my fault! I must go to her. Mollie
will never forgive me!"
She tried to rise.
"Lie still," commanded the woman, but gently. "It was not your fault.
I saw it all. The twins persisted in running out in the storm. The
girl could not stop them. Dodo got away and ran directly for the
horse."
"Yes, I saw that. I thought she would be terribly hurt. Oh, to think
it had to be I and Prince who did it!"
"It was not at all your fault. If anyone is to blame it is those
autoists for going so fast, and passing you so closely. There was no
excuse for that. The road was plenty wide enough and they scarcely
stopped a moment after you went down, but hurried right on. They
should be arrested!"
"Oh, but poor Dodo! poor Dodo!" murmured Grace. "Is she much hurt?"
"The doctor is not sure. He is afraid of internal injuries, and there
seems to be something the matter with one of her legs. But we are
hoping for the best. Here, take some more of this; the doctor left it
for you."
Grace was feeling easier now. Gradually it all came back to her; how
she had raced to get home before the storm broke-- the pursuing auto,
the injured horse and then the heavy fall. She had no recollection of
the passing farmer carrying her into the house.
The doctor came into the room.
"Well, how are we coming on?" he asked, cheerfully. "Ah, we have
roused up I see," he went on, as he noted Grace sitting up. "I guess
it is nothing serious after all. Just a bump on the head; eh?" and he
smiled genially, as he took her hand.
"Yes, I feel pretty well, except that my head aches," said Grace,
rather wanly.
"I don't blame it. With that fall they say you got it is a wonder you
have any head left," and he put out his hand to feel her pulse,
nodding in a satisfied sort of way.
"How-- how is little Dodo?" faltered Grace.
Dr. Morrison did not answer at once. He seemed to be studying Grace.
"How is she-- much hurt?" Grace asked again.
"Well, we will hope for the best," he answered as cheerfully as he
could. "I can't say for sure, but her left leg isn't in the shape I'd
like to see it. I am afraid the horse stepped on it. But there, don't
worry. We will hope for the best."
"Little Dodo's sister is my best chum," explained Grace, the tears
coming into her eyes. "Oh, when I saw her running toward Prince I
thought I would faint! Poor little dear! I called to her, but she
would not mind."
"That was the trouble," explained Mrs. Watson, who had been
ministering to Grace, "she seemed just wild to get out in the rain."
"Well, it may yet come out all right," said Dr. Morrison, "but it is
not going to be easy. I don't believe you need me any more-- er---- "
He paused suggestively.
"Miss Ford is my name," Grace supplied.
"Ah, yes, I am glad to know you. Now I must go back to the little
one."
"Could I see her?" asked Grace, impulsively.
"I had rather not-- now."
Grace caught her breath convulsively. It was worse than she had
feared-- not to even see Dodo!
"But you can talk to Paul," went on the physician. "Probably it will
do him good to meet a friend. He is rather upset. His aunt, Mrs. Carr,
with whom the children were staying for a few days, has telephoned to
Mrs. Billette about the accident. Word came back that Nellie-- is that
the name-- the larger sister---- "
"Mollie," said Grace.
"Well, then, Mollie is to come to take Paul home. We cannot move Dodo
yet."
"Oh, is Mollie coming here?"
"Yes. You can arrange to go home with her if you like. I believe Mrs.
Carr asked for a closed carriage."
"Then, I will go home with Mollie and Paul. Oh, will they ever forgive
me?"
"It was not your fault at all!" insisted Mrs. Watson." I saw the whole
thing. Please don't worry."
"No, you must not," said the physician. "Well, I will go back to my
little patient," and he sighed, for even he was affected by Dodo's
suffering.
Grace sought out Paul, who was with his aunt, whom Grace knew
slightly. Mrs. Carr greeted her warmly, and put her arms about her in
sympathy. Paul looked up at the familiar face and asked:
"Oo dot any tandy?"
"No, dear," said Grace, gently, "but I'll get you some soon. Mollie
will bring some, perhaps."
With this promise Paul was content, and Mrs. Carr left him with Grace.
Poor Grace! With all the whirl that her head was in, feeling as
wretched as she did, one thought was uppermost in her mind-- the
papers in the saddlebag. So much might happen to the valuable
documents that were needed now-- this very instant, perhaps-- by her
father. She almost wanted to go out in the storm and search for
Prince.
"But perhaps he ran straight home to the stable," she reasoned. "In
that case it will be all right, if only they think to go out and get
them from the saddle, and take them to papa. Oh, if only Will were
home from that ball game. What can I do? The telephone! They will be
worried when they see Prince come home, cut, and will think I am badly
hurt. I must let them know at once."
Mrs. Carr took her unexpected guest to the telephone, and Grace was
soon talking to her mother.
"Don't worry, Momsey," she said. "Prince ran away with me-- an auto
hit him-- now don't faint, I am all right. I'm at Mollie's Aunt
Kittie's. Poor Dodo is hurt, I'll tell you about that later. But,
listen. Go out to the stable-- I suppose Prince ran there: Get those
papers from the saddle, and send them to papa at once. Grandma's
papers. They are very important. What? Prince has not come home? Oh,
what can have become of him? Those missing papers! Oh, telephone to
papa at once! He must do something," and Grace let the receiver fall
from her nerveless hand as she looked out into the storm. The rain,
after a long dry spell, was coming down furiously.
CHAPTER V
THE GEM
Grace and Mollie were riding home in the carriage that had been sent
to bring Mrs. Billette to the home of her relative, for the anxious
mother, on hearing that Dodo could not be moved, had come to look
after the injured child. Paul went home with his sister. He was
munching contentedly on some candy, and all thought of the recent
accident and scare had vanished in the present small and sweet
happiness.
"Oh, it must have been perfectly dreadful, Grace," said Mollie,
sympathetically. "Perfectly terrible!"
"It was! And are you sure you don't feel resentful toward me?"
"The idea! Certainly not. It was poor Dodo's fault, in a way; but I
blame those motorists more than anyone else. They should be found."
"They certainly made a lot of trouble," admitted Grace. "But I would
rather find Prince than them. I wonder where he could have run to?"
"Oh, probably not far, after he got over being frightened. Doubtless
you'll hear of his being found, and then you can send for him, and
recover the papers."
"If only the saddle doesn't come off, and get lost," said Grace. "That
would be dreadful, for there would be no telling where to look for
it."
"Most likely it would be along some road. Prince would probably keep
to the highways, and if the girth should break and the saddle come off
it would be seen. Then, by the papers in the pockets, persons could
tell to whom it belonged."
"That is just it. Papa doesn't want anyone to see those papers. Some
of them have to be kept secret. Oh, I know he will feel dreadful about
the loss, and so will Grandma! It was partly her property that was
involved in the transaction."
"But they can't blame you."
"I hope not. I'll never be forgiven by Will for letting Prince throw
me and run away, though. He'll never let me take him again."
"It was partly Will's fault for not doing the errand himself,"
declared Mollie, with energy. "Then this might not have happened. Of
course I don't mean," she added hastily, "that I blame him in the
least for what happened to Dodo. But I mean the papers might not have
been lost, for he would likely have carried them in his coat pocket,
and not in the saddle."
"That is what I should have done, I suppose," spoke Grace with a sigh.
"But my riding habit had no pocket large enough. Oh, dear! I'm afraid
it will be spoiled by the mud and rain," for she had left it at Mrs.
Carr's and had borrowed a dress to wear home in the carriage, a dress
that was rather incongruous in conjunction with her riding boots and
derby hat.
"It can be cleaned," consoled Mollie. "No, Paul, not another bit of
candy. Don't give him any, Grace. He'll be ill, and as I'll have to
look after him when mamma is away I don't want to have it any harder
than necessary."
"Me ikes tandy," remarked Paul. "Dodo ikes tandy too. Why not Dodo
come wif us?" His big eyes looked appealing at his sister, and her own
filled with tears, while those of Grace were not dry.
"Poor little Dodo," said Mollie. Then with a smile, and brushing away
her tears, she spoke more brightly, "but we must not be gloomy. I just
know she will be all right."
"I shall never cease praying that she will," spoke Grace, softly.
They were splashing home through the mud. The rain was still coming
down, but not so hard. The long, dry spell had broken, and it seemed
that a continued wet one had set in.
Grace was left at her house, where she found Amy and Betty ready to
sympathize with her. Her father was there also, and Will. Both looked
grave.
Seeing that family matters awaited discussion, Amy and Betty soon took
their leave, after being assured that Grace was all right, except for
a stiffness and a few cuts caused by the fall. A carriage took the two
girls to their homes. Mollie had gone on with Paul.
"What will happen if we can't find the papers?" asked Grace of her
father, when she had explained everything.
"Well, there will be a lot of trouble," he said, "and of course the
whole matter will have to be held up. In the meanwhile, even if the
other interests do not get the documents, they may make it unpleasant
for us. I wish, Will, that you had done this errand yourself-- not
that I blame you Grace," he said quickly, "but Will knew how very
important it was."
"I'm very sorry, Dad. I'll never cut business for a ball game again,
and I'll do all I can to help out. I'm sure Prince will soon come
home, though, and it will be all right. I'll go out to the stable now,
and if he isn't there I'll saddle Toto and go hunting. I'll start from
where the accident happened, and trace Prince. Lucky he's pure white,
he'll show up well, even in the dark."
"No, I don't want you to do that," objected Mr. Ford. "You may go to
the stable, if you like, but don't start any search until morning. In
the meanwhile we may hear something, or he may come back. It's too bad
a night to go out. But let this be a lesson to you, Will."
"I will; yes, sir. Poor little Sis, I can't tell you how sorry I am.
Are you much hurt?" and Will laid his hand tenderly on her head. She
winced, for he had touched a bruised place.
"Don't worry," she said, as brightly as she could. "I am all right,
and the papers may be found. It is poor little Dodo I feel so badly
about. She-- she may be a cripple, the doctor says."
"No!" exclaimed Will, aghast.
"It seems terrible, but that is his opinion."
"Oh, they can do such wonderful things in surgery now a-days," said
Mrs. Ford, "that I'm sure, in such a young child, there are many
chances in her favor. Don't worry, daughter dear. Now you must go to
bed, or you will be ill over this. Those motorists ought to be
punished, if any one is."
"Yes," agreed Mr. Ford. "Now I must see what I can do to offset this
loss. You don't suppose, do you Grace, that those men could have had
any object in getting those papers away from you?"
"What do you mean?" asked Grace, in wonderment.
"I mean, did they seem to follow you-- as if they had knowledge that
the papers would be transferred to-day, and were determined to get
them?"
"I don't think so, Daddy. I'm sure they didn't follow me. They just
seemed to come out of the storm-- trying to get away from it-- as I
was doing. I'm sure it was all an accident-- just carelessness.
"Very likely. I was foolish to suggest it, but so much depends on
those papers that I don't know just what to think. But there, Grace,"
as he kissed her, "you must rest yourself. I will think of a way out,
I'm sure. Will, come with me. I may need you to make some memoranda
while I telephone," and he and his son went to the library.
Morning did not see Prince in the stable, and all that day Will
searched without result. Many had seen the white horse flying wildly
past, but that was all. Some said the saddle was still on, others that
it had come off. Mr. Ford was much exercised over the loss of the
papers.
He did what he could to hold back the business, but there was a
prospect of loss and considerable trouble if the documents were not
eventually found. The opposing interests learned of the halt, and
tried to take advantage of it. They were, however, only partly
successful.
In the meanwhile, after several days had passed, Dodo grew well enough
to be brought home. The chief injury was to her leg, and there was
grave danger of it being permanently lame. As soon as she was in
better condition it was decided to have a noted specialist treat her.
Prince remained missing, nor was there any report of the saddle being
located, though Mr. Ford offered a liberal reward for that, or the
return of the horse.
Betty had telephoned for her three friends. Her voice held in it the
hint of pleasure and mystery both, but to all inquiries of what was
wanted she returned only the answer:
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