Chapter V
ON SECRET SERVICE
To say that Dorothy enjoyed her afternoon's shopping would be putting itmildly. Give any girl plenty of money and tell her to go out and buy anentire trousseau for herself--or even for somebody else--and watch herjump at the chance!
Howard trailed along in more or less of a daze. This sudden change inhis outlook; being drawn from the depths of despondency to the hope of afuture with the girl he loved, and all in the space of a couple ofhours, was a little too much for him to realize at once. Ever after, hehad but a hazy recollection of that shopping tour. The afternoon seemedbut a whirling maze of lingerie, stockings, street dresses, partyfrocks, coats, hats, shoes and accessories, upon which his advice wasinvariably asked, and never taken.
They were bowling hotelwards in a taxi, jammed with cardboard boxes andpackages of various shapes and sizes, before he returned to normal.
"Whew!" he looked at Dorothy. "I should think you'd be dead!"
She shook her head and laughed. "No girl ever gets tired of shopping,"she told him gaily. "Wait till you're married--you'll find out."
"But what's the idea of bringing all these things back with us? Ithought Mr. Sanborn said to have them sent."
"He did--but I have a better idea. This is part of it. I'll tell you allabout it when we get to the hotel. Keep still now--I want to go over thelists and see if I've forgotten anything!"
Howard sighed in resignation.
At the hotel desk they learned that Ashton Sanborn had not returned asyet, but had left word that they should go to his rooms. With theassistance of three bellboys, they piled themselves and their packagesinto the elevator.
"Gee! This looks like the night before Christmas!" Howard dropped hishat and overcoat and stared at the boxes and bundles piled along thewall of the sitting room. "Janet certainly will be surprised when shesees all those things!"
Dorothy pulled off her close-fitting little hat, and tossed it with herpurse and coat onto the table. Then she sank into an easy-chair. "Well,I only hope she'll approve. My, this was a strenuous afternoon. You'dbetter sit down."
Howard followed her advice. "You said it. But I know Janet--she'll becrazy about the things you've bought."
"Oh, you boys are all alike." Dorothy yawned unashamedly.
"I don't get you."
"What I mean is that as soon as a fellow goes round with a girl for awhile, he invariably says 'Oh yes, she'll like this,' or, 'she won'tlike that'."
"And--?"
"Ninety-nine times out of a hundred you guess wrong."
"Why?"
"I think it's because girls like to do their own choosing. Especiallywhen it comes to buying clothes. Well, anyway, I think the things aredarling, and they'll be becoming, too. At least they look well on me."
"Don't worry--those clothes will make her look like a million dollars."
"I know they will. I'm tired, I guess." Dorothy yawned again and closedher eyes.
Howard started to say something, thought better of it, yawned, and lethis head pillow itself on the soft upholstery.
Three quarters of an hour later, Ashton Sanborn and Bill Bolton marchedinto the room to find the two shoppers sound asleep in their respectivechairs. The detective coughed discreetly and both the young peopleawoke.
"I see that you've brought your spoils back with you," he smiled,pointing to the boxes and bundles. Dorothy stared at him, only halfawake, then sat upright in her chair as she realized where she was.
"Looks to me," said Bill, getting out of his overcoat, "as if shethought Janet was going to start a shop of her own. Why did you cart allthe stuff back here instead of having it sent?"
"Because, Mr. Inquisitive--well, just because. You and Howard run alongnow and prepare your handsome selves for dinner. The principles of thispiece are going into conference now."
"My _word_--" began Bill, but at a shake of the head from Sanborn, hetook the still drowsy Howard by the arm and together they disappearedinto the bedroom.
"Pretty tough time you've had, I expect?" Mr. Sanborn's eyes twinkled,though his tone was grave.
"Oh, but it was lots of fun," cried Dorothy. "Thanks to Uncle Sam, andUncle Sanborn! And look here, I've got a great idea."
"Which has to do with your bringing back the packages yourself?"
"Quite right, it has. Do you think those boys can hear what we'resaying?"
"I doubt it, Dorothy--but Bill, as you probably guessed at the end ofthe affair of the Winged Cartwheels, is a full-fledged member of myorganization and--"
"Oh, I don't mind Bill," she interrupted in a low tone. "But Howardmustn't get wind of it. He might make a fuss."
She rose from her chair and going over to the detective, began towhisper in his ear.
"But that's impossible, Dorothy!" he protested, although he allowed asmile to come to his eyes. "And what's more, my dear, I'm afraid itwould be illegal."
"Oh, no, it wouldn't! Not if you--" And again she brought her lips closeto his ear.
"You're a young scamp!" he laughed as she ended. "But--well--you'redoing a great deal for me, so--"
"So you'll go downstairs and start telephoning right away!" she promptedeagerly.
Ashton Sanborn held up his hands in mock despair. "Nieces," he declared,"should not badger hard-working old uncles. But since this niece hasbeen a good girl today, Uncle will do as he's asked."
"I shall never call you anything else but Uncle Sanborn, now," Dorothycried delightedly.
"Thanks, my child, and I'll do my best for you."
"Angel uncles can do no more," she laughed.
"Right-o. I'll be on my way, then. Come along in about fifteen minuteswith Bill and Howard. I'll arrange for a table for dinner and meet youthree in Peacock Alley." The detective caught up his hat and hurried outof the room.
* * * * *
Although Mr. Sanborn was a perfect host, and did all he could to makethat dinner entertaining, he confessed later that he would alwaysconsider it one of the few failures of an otherwise unblemished career.
Notwithstanding the delicious food, the charm and beauty of the hugeroom with its lights and music and scores of well-dressed men andbeautifully gowned women, the dinner was not a success. All three of theyoung people were too excited by thoughts of what would happen later todo justice to the meal. Dorothy, moreover, had the added annoyance offeeling that her tailored frock, smart enough for luncheon or shopping,was definitely not the thing to wear at dinner in a fashionable hotel.Each endeavored to be sprightly and at ease. But since they knew thatthe one thing they wanted to talk about was forbidden in public,conversation flagged. Upstairs at last in Mr. Sanborn's sitting room, hecame directly to the point.
"Now I know you're just rearing to go," he said. "And perhaps the soonerwe get under way, the better." He turned to Bill. "You go ahead withHoward," he ordered. "Dorothy and I will follow you in about tenminutes. Go straight to the apartment. We'll meet you there."
"O and likewise K, boss," Bill returned. "Get into your rubbers, Howard.And don't look so gloomy. You're on your way to meet your best girl,remember."
When they had gone, Dorothy turned at once to the detective. "How aboutit, Uncle Sanborn?" she asked eagerly.
"To quote Bill, 'O and likewise K,' niece."
"Gee, you _are_ a dear!" Dorothy clapped her hands. "And now that thatis that--I don't care what happens."
"But I do, Dorothy." Ashton Sanborn was serious. "Listen to me, younglady. From now on you're working for the U. S. government, under me, andI must have my orders obeyed to the letter."
"Yes, sir, I understand." Dorothy's tone was crisp and business-like.
"Good. I let those chaps go ahead of us as there is no need of having usall arrive at that apartment house at the same time. This afternoon,Bill and I made all arrangements, so that you can change places withyour cousin shortly after you arrive."
Dorothy felt secret
ly proud that this keen-eyed secret service man tookher at her word, and did not ask her again if she were really willing togo through with it. "May I ask you a question?"
"Certainly."
"Well, suppose that after you manage to get me into Janet's room, sherefuses to leave it. Do you want me to force her?"
"Heavens, no." Sanborn laughed. "That has all been taken care of,Dorothy. I talked to your cousin by means of Howard's headphone setshortly after dark this afternoon. I explained the whole thing to herand when she understood that her father would be brought into no extradanger because of our plan, and that I had drafted you into becoming asecret service operative, she consented."
"I'm glad of that," said Dorothy fervently. "She could easily havemisunderstood and spoiled everything."
"Well, we'll have a lot to do to put it over, even though Janet iswilling. I persuaded her that by doing exactly what you told her, onceyou arrived, she would be serving her country like a loyal American.You, of course, will use your own judgment, when you see her. Theprincipal thing is to change clothes and get her out the way you camejust as soon as possible."
"But how am I to get into the Jordans' apartment?"
"Good soldiers, Dorothy, do not ask questions. There's no secret aboutit, but I've other things to tell you now. Lawson will probably come foryou--or for Janet, as he will believe you to be. He is a tall, slenderman, about thirty, rather good-looking, dark curly hair and a smallmustache. Your Uncle Michael, if you should run into him, is heavy setand rather short. He has reddish hair, turning grey, and is cleanshaven. Janet has never met either Doctor Winn, or Mrs. Lawson. Now justa word about the lady. She is a very beautiful and a very clever woman.Be on your guard with her, continually. I believe that the principalreason that you, or rather, Janet Jordan, will be taken to Ridgefield,is so that you may be studied at first hand by this woman. There is noneed for me to tell you to keep up the Janet personality day and night.Incidentally, you will have only a very short time to study your cousin,so make the most of it. Well," he concluded, "I guess that's about all.You will receive further orders within the next day or two. In themeantime, simply carry on as Janet Jordan. I am taking a greatresponsibility in letting you go, my dear. For I won't hide the factthat you'd probably be safer in a den of rattlesnakes than in the samehouse with Mr. and Mrs. Lawson."
"I'm not afraid, you know," said Dorothy simply and smiled up at him.
"I know you're not. But it would really be better if you were. For thenyou'd be much more careful, and you must watch your step every minuteuntil I get you out of it. Here's your coat. Slip into it and we'll getgoing. The sooner I get you safely into Janet's room, and that younglady out of it, the easier will your Uncle Sanborn feel."