CHAPTER XIX
GRACE MEETS WITH A REBUFF
During the journey to Oakdale, Anne and the Southards formed the chieftopic of conversation. It was jointly agreed that Anne had beenfortunate indeed in winning the friendship of the great actor and hischarming sister.
"They treat her as though she were their own sister," remarked EvaAllen. "They will miss her sadly when she leaves them."
"Every one misses Anne," said Miriam Nesbit. "She is so sweet andlovable that she simply draws one's affection to her. I am frightfullyjealous of Grace."
"Yes, Grace is Anne's favorite," said Jessica. "Anne would give her lifefor Grace if it were necessary."
"And Mabel Allison feels the same way toward you, Jessica," interposedGrace.
"How I wish Mabel had been with us," sighed Jessica.
"I received a letter from Mrs. Allison, just before leaving Oakdale,"said Mrs. Gibson. "She expects to come east in June. Mabel has set herheart upon being here for commencement week. I shall invite theSouthards, too, and perhaps your people will lend you to me for the weekfollowing graduation."
"We should love to go," said Grace, and her friends echoed her answer.
Before their journey ended night closed in around them. They had dinnerin the dining car, and after dinner the girls began to feel a trifletired and sleepy.
James Gardiner had discovered a boy friend on the train and had beengraciously granted permission by the Phi Sigma Tau to go over andcultivate his society.
"You have been an angel, James," said Nora, "and have proved yourselfworthy of a little recreation. Don't forget to be on hand when the trainstops, however. I never saw your equal as a luggage carrier."
One by one the five girls leaned against the comfortable backs of theirseats and closed their eyes. Mrs. Gibson became absorbed in the pages ofa new book.
Grace dozed for a brief space and then opening her eyes gazed idly abouther. The seat on which she sat had been reversed in order that she andNora might face Mrs. Gibson and Miriam. Their seats being near to themiddle of the car, she could obtain a good view of a number of the otherpassengers. She noticed that the car was very full, every seat beingoccupied.
Her eye rested for a second upon a portly, well-dressed old gentleman inthe last seat of the car, who was leaning back with closed eyes, thentraveled on to the man who shared the seat.
"What a remarkable face that man has," she thought. "He looks like acombination of a snake and a fox. I never before saw such tricky eyes.He is rather good looking, but there is something about him thatfrightens one."
Grace found herself watching, with a kind of fascination, every movethat the stranger made. Once her eyes met his and she shudderedslightly, there was a world of refined cruelty in their depths. Shelooked out of the window as the train rushed on through the darkness,then almost against her will turned her eyes again in the direction ofthe repellent stranger.
But what she saw this time caused her to stare in amazement. Thestranger under cover of a newspaper was bent on extracting the handsomewatch and chain that the elderly gentleman's open coat displayed.Although the paper hid the movement of his hands, Grace divined by theexpression of the man's face what was taking place behind the paperscreen.
Like a flash she was out of her seat and down the aisle. But quick ashad been her movement, the thief was quicker. He straightened up, coollyturned to his paper, looking up at her with an air of bored inquiry asshe paused before him.
Ignoring him completely, she touched the old man on the shoulder andsaid in a low tone, "Please pardon me, but if you value your watch youhad better look to it. I just saw this man attempting to steal it."
The old gentleman bounded up like a rubber ball, saying excitedly, "Whatdo you mean, young woman?"
"Just what I say," replied Grace.
The thief gave Grace a contemptuous look, then without stirring, saidlazily, "The young lady is entirely mistaken. She must have beendreaming."
"I repeat my accusation," said Grace firmly. "I have been watching youfor some time, and I saw you attempt it."
The old gentleman put his hand to his vest and drew out a particularlyfine old-fashioned gold watch.
"My watch is safe enough," he growled testily, "and so is my chain. Anyone who steals from me will have to be pretty smart. I guess if this manhad laid hands on my watch I'd have known it. Can't fool me."
"Certainly not," responded the tricky stranger. "If I were a thief youwould be the last person I should attempt to practice upon."
"I should say so," grumbled the old gentleman. "Young woman, you havelet your imagination run away with you. Be careful in the future or youmay get yourself into serious trouble. This gentleman has taken yournonsense very good-naturedly."
As the two men were occupying the seat nearest the door, save for theold gentleman's first bounce, the little scene had been so quietlyenacted that the other passengers were paying little attention to thetrio.
"You had better go back to your friends," said the man whom Grace hadaccused, looking at her with cold hatred in his eyes. "That is, unlessyou wish to make yourself ridiculous."
Grace turned away without speaking. There were tears of mortification inher eyes. She had attempted to render a service and had been rudelyrebuffed. She slipped into her place beside Nora, who was dozing, andhad not missed her. Mrs. Gibson, too, had not marked her absence.
"Where were you, Grace?" said Miriam curiously. "I opened my eyes andyou were gone. What's the matter? You look ready to cry."
"I am," replied Grace. "I could cry with sheer vexation." Then shebriefly recounted what had occurred.
"What a crusty old man," sympathized Miriam. "It would serve him rightif he did lose his old watch. Where are they sitting?"
"Down the aisle on the other side at the end," directed Grace.
Miriam turned around in her seat. "He looks capable of most anything,"she remarked after a prolonged stare at the stranger, who was apparentlyabsorbed in his paper. "Are you sure, however, that you were notmistaken, Grace? You can't always judge a man by his looks."
"You can this man," asserted Grace. "He is a polite villain of thedeepest dye, and I know it."
It was after eleven o'clock when the train pulled into Oakdale. Mrs.Gibson's chauffeur awaited them with the big touring car, in which therewas ample room for all of them.
"Keep a sharp lookout for that man," whispered Grace to Miriam. "I wantto see if Oakdale is his destination."
The two girls lagged behind the others, eagerly scanning the platform.
"I think he must have gone on," said Miriam. "I don't see him. Don'tworry any more about him, Grace."
Then she walked on ahead.
But Grace lingered. "That looks like him now," she thought. "He is justleaving the train. He seems to be waiting for some one."
She stood in the shadow of the station watching the man. Then she sawanother man rapidly approaching. The newcomer walked straight up to thestranger and shook hands with him. Then the two men turned and sheobtained a full-face view of them both.
Grace gave a little gasp of surprise, for the newcomer who had shakenthe hand of the crook was Henry Hammond.