Dorothy

  CHAPTER VIII

  TENANTS FOR NO. 77

  "Oh! do get out of the way, Ma'am Puss! What possesses you to be alwaysunder foot? If you're looking for your little mistress she's not here,She's gone away down town on business," cried Mrs. Chester to the cat,as she stumbled over the creature for the third time in about as manyminutes.

  The animal's behavior annoyed her. For some time it had kept up anintermittent and most doleful mewing and, as if seeking some preciousthing no longer to be found, it had wandered in and out of corners in anerve-distracting way.

  The house mistress herself was almost as uneasy as the cat, and she hadendured about all the mental strain she could without collapse; or, atleast, venting her overtaxed patience upon somebody. Ma'am Puss happenedto be the "somebody" most convenient, and with a fresh sinking of herspirits, Martha Chester recalled the many frolics her husband, as wellas daughter, had had with their pet. Would anything in her life ever beagain as it had been!

  Sitting down in the nearest chair, for a moment, the lonely woman tookthe sleek maltese into her arms and held it close, stroking its furaffectionately, and in a manner to surprise the recipient of this mostunusual attention. For Martha didn't like cats; and the only reasonMa'am Puss was tolerated on her premises was because she liked rats andmice still less. But now she not only petted but confided to the purringfeline the fact:

  "Dorothy has been gone four hours, and I'm dreadfully worried. At thelongest she shouldn't have been gone more'n two, even if there was ahold-up on the car line. Besides, she wouldn't have waited for such athing, anyway. She'd have started home on her own feet, first, for she'sa loving child and knows I need her help. That money-letter! I'm afraidsomebody's waylaid her and took it away. It wasn't so much--to somepeople--but ten dollars? Why, Puss, a man was murdered out Towson wayfor less than that, not so long ago! I wish she'd come. Oh! How I wishshe'd come!"

  But Dorothy did not come. There was no sign of her on the street, nomatter how many times the anxious watcher ran to the door and lookedout; and the four hours were fast lengthening into five when the firstchange came to divert Mrs. Chester's thoughts, for the time being, fromher terrible forebodings. As she gazed in one direction for the sight ofa blue gingham frock a cheerful voice called to her from another:

  "Howdy, Mis' Chester? Now ain't I brought you the greatest luck? Here'smy sister-in-law, without chick nor child to upset things, and only ahusband that's night watchman--is going to be--come right here toBaltimore an' is looking for a house. Firm he's worked for is putting upa new factory, right over in them open lots beyond an' nothin' to do buthe must take care of 'em. This is my sister-in-law, Mis' Jones, Mis'Chester. I was a Jones myself. Well, they're ready to rent or buy,reasonable, either one; and I reckon it's a chance you won't get in ahurry--no children, too! What you say?"

  For a moment Martha could say nothing, except to bid her callers enterthe house and to place them comfortably in the cool parlor; and even herfirst remark bore little on the subject Mrs. Bruce had presented.Handing fans all round she ejaculated:

  "It's so terrible hot! I'm all beat out--picking up and--and worrying."

  "Well, to get your house off your hands so sudden'll be one worry less,"comforted Mrs. Bruce, fanning herself vigorously and looking as if sucha thing as anxiety had never entered her own contented mind.

  "I--I just stepped 'round to the drug-store, a spell ago, and telephonedto three real-estate men to come up an' look things over. I--Why, it'sonly Monday morning, and I've got a whole week yet. I mean--It seems sosudden. I've got to see John--No, I haven't. It seems dreadful to takesuch steps, do business without him, which I never have, but thedoctors--How much rent'd you be willing to pay, Mis' Jones?"

  Poor Mrs. Chester was strangely distraught. Her neighbor, the plumber'swife, had never seen her like this, but she understood some part of whatthe other was suffering, though, as yet, she was ignorant of Dorothy'sprolonged absence; and she again tried to console:

  "I know just how you feel. Havin' slaved so long to pay for the house,out of a postman's salary, an' him an' you bein' such a happy contentedcouple--Don't doubt I'm feelin' for you an' wantin' to lend a hand, ifso be I can. As to rent, there ain't never no houses on this one-hunderdblock of Brown Street _to_ rent. We both know that, 'cause it's thenicest kept one, with the prettiest back yard anywhere's near. No negrohouses in the alleys, neither. So, course, this is a splendid chance forBill and Jane; but I asked Mr. Bruce an' he said twenty dollars a monthwas fair and the goin' rates."

  Mrs. Chester listened with still greater dismay. At the utmost she hadexpected the watchman would offer no more than fifteen dollars, buttwenty! The highest rate she had looked to receive from anybody. Ofcourse she wanted to rent--she had now fully decided not to sell--but tosucceed so promptly, was almost like having the ground taken frombeneath her feet.

  At last she forced herself to say:

  "I know it's a good chance. I'm not unmindful it's a neighborly thing inyou, Mrs. Bruce, or that Mrs. Jones'd make a good tenant. I'm--Well,I'll try to give you your answer some time to-night. Will that do?"

  Mrs. Bruce rose and there was some asperity in her tone as she returned:

  "I s'pose it'll have to do, since you're the one to pass the word. Butwe'll look round, other houses, anyway. My folks have left their oldplace an' this week's the only idle one Bill'll have. He wants to helpJane settle--she ain't overly strong--and they'd like to move ina-Wednesday, or Thursday mornin' at the latest."

  "So--soon!" gasped the mistress of No. 77. Despite her will a tearstole down her cheek and her warm-hearted neighbor was instantly movedto greater sympathy. Laying her fat hand on Mrs. Chester's bowed headshe urged:

  "Keep up your spirit, Martha. If you just rent, why you know you cancome back any time. A month's notice, give an' take, that's all. I'mhopin' John'll get well right away, an' you'll all come flyin' back toBaltimore. By the way, where's Dorothy? Mabel said she wasn't goin' toschool no more."

  "Oh, Mrs. Bruce, I don't know! I don't know!" and the anxious motherpoured out her perplexities in the ear of this other mother, whopromptly said:

  "Well, if I was you, Martha Chester, I'd put on my hat and go straightdown to that post-office an' find out what had become of her. If 'twasMabel, I should."

  "Oh! that's what I've been longing to do! But I thought the real-estatemen might come, and I dared not leave. I'm getting so nervous I can'tkeep still, and as for going on with my packing, it's no use. I must goto see John, this afternoon, too, and----"

  "Martha Chester, have you had a bite to eat?" demanded Mrs. Bruce, in anaccusing tone.

  Martha smiled, and reluctantly answered:

  "I don't believe I have. I didn't think, but--course, it's past lunchtime."

  "Lunch! Hear her, Jane. She's one o' the fashionable women 't cooks herdinner at sundown!" cried the plumber's wife, with an attempt atraillery, but in her mind already deciding that hunger was half thematter with her neighbor's nerves. "Now, look here, the pair of you. Mean' him is more sensibler. We have our dinner at dinner time, and youknow that was as nice a vegetable soup we had this noon, Jane Jones, asever was made, an' you needn't deny it. You just stay here a minute an'Martha'll show you round the house, an' the garden--That garden'lltickle Bill 'most to death, he's that set on posies!--while I skip homeand fetch a pail of it. 'Twon't take a minute to do it, an' it can behet up on the gas stove, even if the range fire's out. By that timeDorothy C. 'll have got back: an' me an' Jane'll help her keep housewhile you step across to Johns Hopkins. I reckon that's good plannin',so you begin while I skip."

  The idea of corpulent Mrs. Bruce "skipping" brought a smile to both thelisteners' faces, but Martha was already greatly comforted and nowrealized that she was, indeed, faint from want of food. She had takenbut little breakfast, being "too busy to eat," as she explained; but shenow set out on a tour of the little house with much pride in it, and inthe fact that taken unaware, even, it would be found in spotless order.Her washing was already d
rying in the sunny garden among the roses andMrs. Jones's delight over that part of the premises was most flattering.

  Indeed, there was a dainty simplicity about the little country-womanwhich now quite won Mrs. Chester's heart, and after they had examinedeach of the rooms, and each had found Mrs. Jones more and moreenthusiastic, the impulsive housemistress exclaimed:

  "Maybe you'll think I'm queer, but I believe the Lord just sent you!That you're the very one will love our home for us while we're away."

  "Oh! I'm glad to hear you say that. It's the way I feel about things. Iain't so glib a talker as _his_ folks is, but I think a good deal. I'vealways hankered to live in a city, where if _I_ wanted a bucket ofwater, all I'd have to do would be to turn a spigot, 'stead of tuggingit up a hill from a spring or hauling it out a well. An' Bill, he'stidy. I've trained him. I begun right off, soon's we was married. TheJoneses they--well, they ain't none of 'em too partic'lar, thoughwarmer-hearted folks never lived. But, my man? Why, bless you, now he'dno more think o' comin' in from outdoors without takin' off his bootsan' puttin' on his slippers 'an he'd think o' flyin'. I didn't have toscold him into it, neither. 'Twas just himself seein' me get down an'scrub up the mud he'd tracked in, without even wipin' his feet. But, my!I said I wasn't no talker, an' here I'm makin' myself out astory-teller. But, if so be you an' him come to a right agreement, Ipromise you one thing: I'll take just as good care, or better, of yourprop'ty as if it was my own. Nobody couldn't do more than that, couldthey?"

  "No, indeed: and I'm glad I can have such good news to tell John when Igo to him. After all, Mrs. Jones, property troubles don't compare withtroubles of your heart. I feel so different, all in these few minutes,so glad you came. I reckon there won't be no difficulty about theagreement: and--look! There comes Mrs. Bruce already and a colored girlwith her."

  The plumber's wife entered, panting from her efforts to carry a big pailof soup at sufficient distance from her fat sides to keep it fromspilling, and announcing that the basket the little colored maid had inhand contained "a few other things I picked up, might come in nice."

  "An' I collared 'Mandy, here, on the street. She's the girl does myfront, an' I thought she might do yours, to-day. She does it for anickel and don't you pay her no more. Hear, 'Mandy? If you leave a speckon this lady's steps, I won't give you that baker's cake I promised.Where's your cleanin' things, Mis' Chester?"

  These were quickly produced and then the housemistress sat down to hermeal, her guests declining to join her in it, though more than willingto sit beside her and talk while she ate. Moreover, Mrs. Bruce wasextremely proud to show this other notable housekeeper a specimen of herown cooking, knowing that she was usually considered a failure in thatline, but had succeeded well this time.

  Then said Mrs. Jones:

  "I've been thinkin' things over a mite, whilst you two talked. Bill'sand my goods are to the depot here, ready packed an' waitin', and I'venot a hand's turn to do, till I get a place to unpack them in. If you'lllet me I'd admire to come help you get your stuff ready for movin'.Havin' just done mine I've sort of got my hand in, so to speak, an' cantake hold capable. I'll look after the house, too, and learn the ways ofit, while you're off on your errands or seeing your husband, or thelike. What say, sister, to that notion?"

  "I call it first-rate: an' I'll be able to help some, 'tween times. Now,Martha Chester, if you've finished your dinner, be off with you. Janean' me'll do everything all right, an' I'm getting as wild to haveDorothy back as you are. Don't suppose she's one to run away an' playwith some the school children, do you?" said Mrs. Bruce.

  "No, I don't. I wish I did think she might, but Dorothy never ran away,not in all her life, except when she was a mite of a thing and followedher father on his route. Well, you can tell the real-estate men, if theycome, 't the thing is settled already. I say it 'tis, but I reckonthey'll be some put out, comin' up here for nothing. Good-bye. Do wishme good luck! and I'll hurry back."

  Late though she felt that she was for her hospital visit, Mrs. Chesterhurried first to the post-office, her anxiety increasing all the way,and reached it just as Mr. Lathrop was leaving it for his last delivery.To her anxious inquiry he returned a discouraging:

  "No. I haven't seen Dorothy since early this morning, when I helped hera bit in getting her money-letter. But I'll ask if anybody else knowswhat became of her. Doubtless she'll turn up all right and with asimple explanation of her absence. She's a bright little girl, you'llfind her all safe. I'll go back with you now."

  Thus for the second time that day, the busy postman delayed his own workto do kindness to a comrade's family, nor could he quite understand whyhis faith in his own words was less than he wished hers to be. It wasrare to hear of a child being lost in that safe city, and it would be abitter blow to the already afflicted John Chester if harm befell hisadopted daughter. When no good news could be obtained here, he advisedMartha to go on to the hospital but to say nothing to her husband ofDorothy. He would notify the police, and if she had met with anyaccident, or by some rare mischance lost her way, she would speedily betraced.

  Because she could do no better, Mrs. Chester followed his advice,boarded a car for the hospital, and was soon at her husband's side. Butalas! She was to find no comfort in this interview. With a naturalreaction from his first elation over the possibility of recovery he wasnow greatly depressed. Having lived so long on will-power, and havingonce given up, he had developed a great weakness of body, and, in adegree, of mind. Before his wife was admitted to his presence she waswarned that nothing but the pleasantest topics must be discussed, andwas told that the doctors now desired him to be removed to the countryright away.

  "This terrible heat has injured him, as it has others. Get him out oftown at once, Mrs. Chester, if you would save his life."

  So when he asked for Dorothy she ignored his question, but talked gliblyof the fine chance that they had of letting the house: yet to heramazement he showed no interest in this matter.

  "Do whatever you think best, little woman. I don't care. I don't believeI'll ever care about anything in the world again."

  "Oh, John! Don't say that. You'll be better soon. But, good-bye tillto-morrow:" and hastily bidding him expect her then, with some homeflowers and "lots of good news," she hurried away.

  "No news?" she asked, as her own door opened to receive her, and thegentle little country-woman welcomed her.

  "Oh! no. Not yet. Ain't hardly time!" cheerfully responded Jane Jones,just as if she were imparting other tidings. "Mustn't look for miracles,nowadays. That child's off visitin', somewheres, you may depend. And youmustn't be hard on her when she comes back," advised this new friend.

  "Hard on her? Me? Why, I'd give ten years of my life to know she wassafe, this minute! _Hard on her!_ All I ask is to hold her fast in myarms once more. But, course, you don't know Dorothy C. The little childthat was _sent_, and that's made John an' me so happy all her life.Look. Here's her picture. We thought it was extravagant, but somehow wefelt we had to have it. 'Twas taken this very spring, on the same day wefound her on the steps."

  From a little secretary in the dining room Mrs. Chester produced thephotograph, still carefully wrapped in its waxed paper covering, anddisplayed to her admiring guest the picture of a very lovely child. Theshapely head was crowned by short brown curls, the big brown eyes lookedeagerly forth, and the pretty red lips were curved in a half-smile thatwas altogether bewitching.

  "Why! She's a beauty! A regular beauty! She looks as if she belonged tohigh-up folks; I declare she does," commented Mrs. Jones.

  Mother Martha was touched by this sincere admiration, and lifting thepicture to her lips lightly pressed a kiss upon it. Then she carefullyput it away again, saying with a sigh:

  "We'd laid out to get it framed, soon, and hang it in the parlor. That'swhy we had but one taken. John thought one big one was better worthwhile than a dozen small ones. My! Hark! What's that? Such a ring--myheart's in my mouth--you open the door--please--I can't!" and soimploring, Mrs. Chester san
k upon the lounge and covered her face withher hands.

  Even Mrs. Jones was all a-tremble and her hands fumbled so with theunfamiliar latch that the housemistress sprang to her feet and openedthe door herself with the glad cry:

  "Dorothy! Dorothy, have you come?"

  "Not Dorothy, Mrs. Chester; just Lathrop, you know, with a detective,come to get some points."