CHAPTER XVI DOROTHY IN BUFFALO
"And now," remarked Ned after they had skimmed along for awhile, "Isuppose, Dorothy, you can't deny me the long-looked for opportunity ofmeeting the sweetest girl in Glenwood (according to you)Cologne--Rose-Mary Markin, to be exact."
"Oh, I know you will like her, Ned. She certainly is a very sweet girl,"replied Dorothy.
"The very thing for me. I have been looking for that brand for some time.And now, O Edward, prepare thyself!"
"Mind your wheel!" cried Nat, for Ned had raised his right hand in theair to give emphasis to his dramatic utterance and came close to a largestone. "Save that for later."
Dorothy was as bright and animated as possible during the trip andchatted with the boys about the Glenwood girls, giving a full share ofpraise to Cologne. After all, Dorothy reflected, Ned was a young man,handsome, and, in many ways, desirable, and it would be nice if he wereto take the two girls around Buffalo. But this thought was overshadowedby another--If Tavia were only with them. What good times they mighthave! Tavia and Nat always got along so well together. Each seemed to bean inspiration of mirth to the other.
But Tavia!
Nat seemed quiet, and even serious as they speeded along the lonelycountry roads. His brother was not slow to notice the unusual look ofconcern and attempted to "jolly" it away.
"Cheer up, Nat," he said. "The worst is yet to come," and he made a wryface. "You know we expect to find your little friend somewhere out thisway. I really wouldn't want a corner on happiness. I do feel, somehow,that Cologne will be my fate, but that is no reason why you and Doroshouldn't hitch on to the band wagon. Let me see, Doro, you say she hasbrown eyes and blue hair--"
"Ned! You must not make fun of Cologne--"
"Fun of her! As soon bite my own tongue. I said it sideways by mistake.It should have read blue eyes and brown hair. Wasn't that it?"
"Yes, that's more like it," admitted Dorothy. "And she has the mostadorable little mouth--"
"Oh, here, Nat! Get hold of this wheel. I really must have a chance tothink that over. Say it again, Dorothy, please," and the lad went througha series of queer antics, that seem so very funny when the right boyattempts to be funny, but so very flat when one tries to either describethem or imitate the original.
"And isn't there a brother in this visit to Buffalo?" asked Nat drolly.
In spite of herself the color flew to Dorothy's cheeks. Of courseRose-Mary had a brother, two years older than herself. But Dorothy hadnever met him, although Rose-Mary talked so much at school of Jack, thatDorothy almost felt acquainted with the youth. But now she wouldcertainly meet the family for they were all together at the Buffalohotel.
"Oh, yes," chimed in Ned. "Isn't there a brother?"
"Yes," answered Dorothy. "I believe there is."
"Now I call that real jolly," went on Ned. "Just one apiece--if Nat findsTavia, of course."
A few hours later the Fire Bird swung up to the portico of a leadingBuffalo hotel, and, scarcely had the puffing machine come to a stop thana girl in lavender, with blue eyes and brown hair, had Dorothy in herarms.
"Oh, you dear, old sweetheart!" exclaimed Rose-Mary, as she embracedDorothy with that effusion of delight peculiar to schoolgirls and babies,as Nat remarked in a whisper to Ned.
"And you were so good to think of me," Dorothy tried to say, from themidst of the embrace.
"Think of you! As if I ever forgot you for one single moment!" ThenRose-Mary turned to the two boys in the auto and paused.
"These are my cousins," began Dorothy. "This is Mr. Edward White and theother one,"--with a little laugh,--"is his brother Nathaniel."
The boys bowed and made what were probably intended for complimentaryacknowledgments of the introduction, but which were mere murmurs.Rose-Mary, however with the usual advantage of girls over boys in suchmatters, showed no embarrassment.
"There is one real nice thing about Dorothy," spoke Nat when he had, in ameasure recovered his composure. "She always makes Ned my brother. Thatcounts."
The girls laughed merrily and then a tall young man, the "very image ofRose-Mary only taller," according to Dorothy, stepped down to the curb.
"Jack!" called Rose-Mary. "Come here instanter and get acquainted withDorothy."
Jack looked at the group. His eyes plainly said "only with Dorothy?"
"Oh, help yourself! Help yourself!" cried Ned, laughing at the confusionCologne's speech had caused. "We will be 'among those present' if youlike."
"Now you know very well what I mean!" and Rose-Mary shot a challenginglook at Ned. "I want you all to be the very best of friends--"
"Thanks, thanks!" exclaimed Nat, as he and his brother bowed in mockdeference. "We promise, I assure. We'll do our best."
"Oh, boys are all just alike," stammered Dorothy's host. "A pack ofteases! Come along Dorothy. Mother is waiting to welcome you. Jack,perhaps you will tell Dorothy's cousins what to do with their machine. Iguess you know how to get acquainted with them without any moreintroductions."
This last was said with a defiant look at Ned, who returned it with justthe suspicion of a smile. In effect his look said:
"Miss Lavender, you have met a boy who may be like other boys, but he isparticularly himself--Ned White--and he just loves to tease girls--likeyou!"
Rose-Mary was leading Dorothy up the broad steps to the hotel entrance.She turned to see what the boys were doing.
"Well I declare!" she exclaimed. "There they've all gone for a ride! I'msure they'll have a jolly time. What nice boys your cousins are. Oh, I'mso glad you could come!"
The hotel veranda was thronged with persons enjoying the approach oftwilight, for the auto party had not made a hurried trip, having stoppedfor lunch on the way. It seemed to Dorothy that the chairs were mostlyfilled with stout ladies with blond hair. She had never before seen somany blonds in one group.
Rose-Mary led the way into the parlor and escorted Dorothy up to asmiling, pretty woman, with such beautiful white hair--the kind that goeswith brown eyes and seems to add to their sparkle.
"Mother, dear, this is Dorothy," said Rose-Mary. "She must be tired afterher long, dusty ride. Shall we go upstairs?"
"I'm so glad to meet you, my dear," declared Mrs. Markin, warmly."Daughter talks so much about you. Yes, Rosie, do take Dorothy upstairsand let her refresh herself. It must be a very long ride from NorthBirchland."
"But I'm not the least tired," protested the visitor. "So don't goupstairs, if you were enjoying the air."
"Air indeed!" echoed Rose-Mary, slipping her arm through Dorothy's."Mother, will you come?"
"No, dear," replied Mrs. Markin. "I'll let you have Dorothy all toyourself for awhile. I just know how many things you will want to talkabout. Later, after dinner, I'll claim you both. But I'm going to improvethis time to write a few belated letters. The desk is clear so I can dothem down here."
Rose-Mary left Dorothy while she made a place for her mother at thelittle private desk in the ladies' sitting room, then the two girls tookthe elevator, in the broad hall, and soon Dorothy found herself in a cozyroom, with a dainty white bed, and pretty flouncings--Rose-Mary'sapartment of course, which she had surrendered to her guest for thevisit, while Cologne would share her mother's room.
"Now make yourself comfortable," began Rose-Mary, assisting Dorothy tolay aside her auto wraps. "Perhaps you want to wash. Here are thethings," and she pulled open a little door, disclosing a bathroom.
"Isn't it charming here," Dorothy said as she at once began to makeherself presentable for dinner. "I have a blue dress in my bag,"indicating one the porter had brought up.
"Drag it out," commanded her companion. "You must wear blue. I have toldJack how heavenly you look in blue."
"And I have whispered to Ned how angelic you look in--lavender,"interrupted Dorothy, not to be outdone in bestowing compliments. "Isn'tNed a lovely--boy!"
"Very saucy, I should say," and Cologne laughed mischievously. "B
ut I'lltry to be nice to him on your account."
"And I hope I'll not say anything to hurt Jack's feelings," spokeDorothy, still keeping in with her friend's humor.
"Couldn't! He hasn't any," declared Rose-Mary. "He drives me frantic whenI really want to make him mad."
"But you do look lovely in that lavender gown," insisted Dorothy, withunmistakable admiration. "I believe you have grown prettier--"
"Comparative degrees, eh?" and she made a queer little face. "Now, Dorodear, you must say I've grown positively handsome. I will never becontent with the little, insignificant comparative degree in a suite ofrooms like these. Aren't they really scrumptious? You know dad couldn'tcome, and he was so anxious that we would be comfortable, that the dearold darling just wired for good rooms, and that's how we got these.They're good, aren't they?"
Dorothy looked out of the broad window, down at the big city stretchedbefore her view. She could not help thinking of Tavia, although shethought it best not to speak of her to Rose-Mary--just yet at least.Cologne was busy hanging up the things she had pulled out of Dorothy'sbag.
"How long can you stay?" she asked, shaking out Dorothy's light bluelinen frock.
"Well, it was the queerest thing! Aunt Winnie got it into her head that Ineeded some of the girls, and she proposed a little trip for me, just asyour letter came. It seemed providential."
"Providential? That's what I call dead lucky, girlie. You can't expect areal proper providence to get mixed up in all our little scrapes. And, tobe honest, I'm just dying for a real genuine scrape. The kind Tavia usedto 'hand out' to us at Glenwood."
Dorothy smiled but did not reply. Somehow the idea of Tavia still beingkept busy "handing out scrapes" struck her as somewhat significant.
Presently the boys returned, which fact was made known by a shrillwhistle over the private telephone in the apartment, and Jack's voicefollowing with a command for "Rosie" to come down.
The girls found the three boys and Mrs. Markin waiting for them, Ned andNat having declined Jack's invitation to take dinner with him at thehotel. They said they had to be off to meet the youths with whom they hadarranged to stop while in Buffalo.
Dorothy wanted so much to ask Nat to take her to look for Tavia. She feltshe would not sleep until she found the house of Tavia's friend, GraceBarnum, but she was too uncertain of Tavia's whereabouts to say openlythat she wanted to go to the address that Nat had brought her from Mrs.Travers.
The Fire Bird had been left in quarters provided by the boys of the "GetThere" club, members of which were to be Ned's and Nat's guests, and thetwo Birchland youths were thus free to walk about the big city thatevening. Perhaps Dorothy might also go for a walk, with Rose-Mary andJack.
But, Dorothy, as she reflected on this possibility, realized that itwould not afford her an opportunity of getting to Grace Barnum's. Itwould not do for the entire party to go there, Dorothy felt, as she couldnever allow any one to suspect her anxiety concerning Tavia. Only Nat wasin the secret so far, and even he was not made fully aware of all itinvolved and of its depth--he did not know why Dorothy was so anxious--orthat she had any other than a foolish schoolgirl whim urging her on.
So, in spite of all the surroundings and excitement, incident to life ina big hotel with its many strange phases, Dorothy kept turning thequestion over and over in her mind. How should she go about her searchfor Tavia? Just as she expected the party planned to go out that firstevening of her visit to "look over the town." All were going except Mrs.Markin, and she consented to let the young folks enjoy themselves withouther chaperonage, on account of the circumstances and the number who weregoing.
Ned and Nat both essayed to look after Rose-Mary, and this added to themerry-making, since, when one lad would attempt some courtesy the otherwould immediately undertake to outdo him. Dorothy found Jack Markinsplendid company, and this, she told herself, could not be otherwise,since he was brother to Cologne.
At a pretty palm-festooned ice-cream parlor they met a friend of theMarkin family, Alma Mason, who was also a visitor in Buffalo. She wasbright and interesting, chatting pleasantly on many subjects, until, toDorothy's surprise, she asked abruptly:
"Do you happen to know a Grace Barnum?"
"No," Dorothy answered, as she felt her face burning with excitement. "Ido not know her personally, but she is a friend of a chum of mine."
"The pretty girl, with the golden-brown hair? Oh, I have met her," Almawent on, taking Dorothy's look to signify the correctness of the guessthat the "pretty girl with the brown hair" was Dorothy's friend. "Isn'tshe splendid? Grace was just wild over her--she was so jolly and funny."
That Miss Mason used the past tense Dorothy instantly noticed. Nat wasalso listening with interest, and he observed the same thing.
"Is she not with Miss Barnum now?" Dorothy found courage to inquirefinally.
"No, I think not. I think Grace said she had gone to Rochester. She has,I believe, a friend in that city."
Dorothy was startled at the news that Tavia had left Buffalo. Her heartsank, but she tried to conceal her feelings. Tavia in Rochester! The girlin Rochester was she who had once written Tavia concerning the stage andits attractions. And Tavia possibly was with her, after she had promisedto have no further correspondence with that press agent!
The remainder of the evening was like a blank page to Dorothy. She heardand saw what was going on around her, but her heart and her attention wasnot with the merry little party from the hotel. Jack Markin would haveaccused her of being dull had he not determined to meet more than halfway his sister's estimate of Dorothy Dale. Then too, he reasoned as anexcuse for her obvious low spirits, she must be tired after the long,dusty auto run.
The evening passed quickly (to all but Dorothy) amid a variety ofentertainments, and when the boys from North Birchland said good-night inthe hotel office and Rose-Mary had taken Dorothy to her room, it wasquite late.
It was a relief, however, Dorothy had to admit to herself at least, andin her heart she was grateful to Mrs. Markin when that lady cautioned thetwo girls against further talking, and urged Dorothy to go to bed. ForDorothy wanted to be alone and think. She wanted to plan. How should sheproceed now? If Tavia was not with Grace Barnum--
But of this she must first make certain, and to do so she would ask Natto take her to Miss Barnum's house the first thing next morning.