Then, because her watch warned her that this was the hour when she would likely find the dean of her college in his office, she put in a long-distance call for him, and had a five-minute talk with him, telling him in brief phrases what had befallen her and asking his advice. This talk greatly heartened her, for the dean gave her his promise to do all that was possible to help her that she might graduate with her class. He suggested certain preparations she might make in her home, and a possibility of a delayed examination in case her sister was too ill for her to leave at once or she could find no one suitable to stay with her. He promised also to hold her job for her for a few days until she could let him know just what she could arrange to do, and to use his influence to get her job that was to come after her graduation, transferred to the city near her home in case she had to stay there. He told her to write him more definitely in a day or two, or better still to come on for a short time, or anyway telephone him again. His words and tone were so kind and considerate that they brought tears of relief to her tired eyes. At least she had one friend who was sorry for her distress and would do all in his power to help her. Though more and more she became certain that she had to remain for a while at least, and see Elaine and her children safely settled somewhere, somehow.
Then with firmly set lips and determined eyes she started out on her final quest, in search of an old acquaintance who used to live not far from them in the days when her mother was alive. One Lucinda Forbes, a practical nurse, a staid, elderly woman with a homely face and somewhat crude ways, but with a heart of kindness, who would perhaps be willing to undertake even a thankless job as one attending Elaine would be sure to find it. Lucinda Forbes had loved her mother because of numerous little kindnesses that she had done for the lonely woman, and just because she had loved Mrs. Kendall, Lexie hoped she might be willing to look out for Elaine and her family, at least for a little time until she could finish her course and come back.
Of course Elaine wouldn’t like it. She had always despised the woman, who was much too plainspoken for her ease of mind. And neither would Lucinda like it, because she knew Elaine of old, and had little patience with her selfish ways. But at least she might help out in this emergency for a time.
There was, too, the possibility that she might be sick, or moved away, or gone into war work, or even dead. Lucinda might be rather old for such a job, too, but at least she would try for her because she knew of no other one she could get at present. So she took a bus to the place where she remembered Lucinda had moved the last time she heard of her.
It was rather a long bus ride, and Lexie was tired and discouraged before she got there, but when she reached the house she found Lucinda was no longer there. She had gone to a single room in a dreary little house in a back street, and when Lexie finally reached her she was just about to leave that and go out to hunt still another abiding place.
“I can’t afford this room any longer,” she told Lexie with a tired look and a stray tear wandering down her cheek. “You know, I’m not able to do so much nursing now. They want younger women, and I can’t seem to get in anywhere.”
Lexie’s hope rose.
“Oh Lucinda! I’m so sorry for you! But—are you free now? That would be wonderful for us. Would you be willing to come to us for a little while anyway, until you get something better?”
“You! Oh Miss Lexie! Would I be willing? But I thought you were away at college! You’re not married, are you?”
“No,” laughed Lexie, “not married, nor likely to be. And I am in college. Or, that is, I was, until yesterday afternoon, and still am if I can manage it. You see, I’ve only till spring till I graduate. But yesterday I got a telegram from Elaine. You know, she’s married, but her husband has gone off to war, and she’s sick. She has come home with her three children! I just didn’t know what to do. I can’t bear to give up my college when I’m so nearly done, and a splendid job waiting for me when and if I graduate. But Elaine is sick! And I don’t know what I ought to do. I was wondering if it would be possible for you to come and stay with us—at least with Elaine and the children—while I go back to college and try to finish up?”
“Oh Elaine!” said Lucinda with a dismal look settling on her grim old countenance. “I’d come for you of course, but—Elaine—she’s another proposition. She and I never did get on, you know. She was always too snooty and treated me like the dust of the earth.”
“Yes, I know,” said Lexie sadly. “I remembered that of course, and I wasn’t sure you would be willing. I know you two never did agree. Of course Elaine is rather hard to please. But—she’s my sister! I have to do something about it. And you were the only one I could think of who might possibly help me out until I can get through this hard place.”
“Well, of course,” said Lucinda relenting, “when you put it that way—and your mommy was always so good to me!”
“But there’s another thing I should tell you, Cinda,” said Lexie. “We couldn’t pay you much. Not now, anyway. After I’m through college I hope to be able to earn enough to pay something, but for the present it wouldn’t be much but your board and room.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t stop for the money, Miss Lexie,” said Lucinda airily. “Of course a room and a few bites to eat is all I need for a while now, anyway, seein’ I’ve got to move out of this room, poor as it is. And I oughtta be thankful to get a place to lay me head, and a crust now and then. The only thing—that Elaine. I never did favor her. But of course, as you say, she’s your sister, and you can’t help that! Well, when do you want me to come?”
“Oh Cinda, I’m so glad you will consider it! You don’t know what it means to me. And I’d like you to come as soon as you can. Now, right away, today. Can you come back with me?”
“Well, no, not just to say back, for I’ve got to wait till me man comes to get me trunk. But he said he’d be here in about an hour or so, and I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll get him to let me ride along with him and bring me trunk and all, and start in living.”
“That will be wonderful, Lucinda! It’s like a great burden rolled away. I know there are going to be hard things about it, Cinda, but I hope they won’t be too hard. If you find things getting unbearable, please try to remember that we are having a war, and things are all mixed up anyway, and we’ve got to win this war. And the way to do it is for everybody to win in their own hearts, and try to keep calm, and not mind when other people are unpleasant.”
“I know, Miss Lexie, and I guess I can stand as much as the next one. But when it comes to Miss Elaine, I just know I’ll speak me mind too often, and she won’t like it!”
“Well, try not to, Cinda, and perhaps it won’t be as bad as you fear.”
“Well, maybe not. But I’ll not bank on that much. I’ll just think it’s something I’ve got to weather, for your sake, and your sweet mommy’s. Good-bye and thank ye kindly for remembering me. So long. I’ll be seein’ you within the day.” Greatly relieved, Lexie went on her way back to the house, stopping only to buy a few necessities at the store, and when she came in sight of the little white house, there was that great shining limousine parked before the door. Inside the house, awaiting her return, its obnoxious owner, ready with his little pig-eyes to look her over, and attempt to startle her into admissions that would help him to win this case he was so eager to undertake.
Chapter 5
With quickened heartbeats Lexie hurried on, wondering whose car that could be and what had happened since she left the house. Was something wrong, some accident perhaps to one of the children, and some of the neighbors had sent for a doctor? But that car did not look like one belonging to any local doctor. Surely Elaine hadn’t gone to the length of sending for some city doctor!
She hurried in and there sat Bettinger Thomas, and there on the couch reclined Elaine, laughing and talking with the man Lexie felt was nothing short of a moral leper.
Lexie paused in the doorway for an instant, looking from her sister to the caller in amazement, and suddenly be
came aware that the obnoxious visitor was studying herself with open, fulsome admiration in his little pig-eyes.
“Why, it’s little Lexie, isn’t it?” he said in honeyed tones. “And how you’ve grown! You’re really pretty, aren’t you? And I used to think you were awfully plain beside your lovely sister. But you certainly have blossomed out. You’re a very handsome girl, Lexie.”
Lexie flashed a fiery glance at him, utter contempt in her expression, and turned toward the kitchen with her bundles, vouchsafing no reply. But Elaine stormed out at her.
“You’re being rude, Lexie. This is Mr. Thomas. You used to know him in your school days. He has come to talk over our finances with us, and help us to get to a better understanding. Sit down, won’t you? Mr. Thomas is in rather a hurry, and we mustn’t hinder him.”
“You’ll have to excuse me, Elaine,” said Lexie coolly. “I have some things to do, and there is nothing I care to discuss with Mr. Thomas.”
Lexie turned and went into the kitchen, shutting the door firmly. She walked into the pantry, shutting that door to keep out the sound of her sister’s angry voice calling her.
“Lexie! Lexie! You ridiculous child! How rude you are! Lexie, come here this minute. I’ve got to explain this to you!”
Lexie stood for a moment with her back to the pantry door, her bundles still in her arms, one hand on her heart, struggling to keep her tears back. The kitchen was very still, and Elaine’s complaint was plainly heard, but she did not intend to answer it. She could not go into the living room and hear Elaine making complaints of her own dear mother. If Elaine wanted to do that she would have to do it without her as an audience. It was dreadful that Elaine would do a thing like that! Actually charge her mother with being dishonest! And before that great lump of iniquity, Bett Thomas!
Then she heard steps coming toward the kitchen. She heard the door open, and heard a man’s voice calling her. “Lexie! Oh Lexie! Where are you, you little rascal?”
Well, she certainly wouldn’t answer him. She stood perfectly still, suddenly aware that her bundle-laden arms were aching. But she would not move to reveal her presence. Not until she heard the man coming toward the pantry, heard his prying hand on the knob of the pantry door. The impudent fellow! But Elaine had probably told him where to find her.
Quietly she swayed forward to the shelf and deposited her groceries. Then she turned and faced the man who had dared to come after her.
“Here, you little monkey you, come out of hiding!” he said jocosely. “We haven’t any time to waste being coy! I came up here in the midst of a busy morning to discuss business matters, and you’ll have to come in here and answer some questions. I can’t be played with, even if you are a pretty girl!”
“I beg your pardon,” said Lexie coldly, tip-tilting her chin haughtily. “I really have nothing to discuss, and you’ll please take your hand off my arm. I don’t like it! Let me pass, please. I’m busy in the kitchen.”
Lexie made a sudden, unexpected dash, slipping by him into the kitchen. She went over to the sink, where she turned on the water and began noisily to wash some potatoes, and to fill the kettle with water.
“But you don’t understand,” said the very much annoyed and determined man, “this is an important matter, and I haven’t time to waste waiting for you any longer. You’ll understand when you are brought up in court how important it is that you should attend to the matter now and perhaps save yourself from an extended trial, where I warn you you will have no friends to save you from trouble.”
“Really?” said Lexie. “Just why should I be brought to trial? I’m not aware of having done anything that the law would be interested in.”
“Very well, then, you better come into the other room and let me tell you why you will surely be brought to trial unless you can answer my questions in a satisfactory way.”
“Questions?” said Lexie airily, although she was inwardly quaking. “What questions are there that you could possibly have a right to ask?”
“Well, you see, I am your sister’s lawyer, and she is suing you for the money her father left in trust with your mother for his elder daughter.”
“Oh,” said Lexie, suddenly thoughtful, “is that what she is doing? And just why should she think I know anything about it?”
“Of course you would know, and were probably in collusion with your mother in secreting the money, and diverting it all to your own uses. And now, if you will come into the other room and sit down where we can talk, I will explain to you how you can make the whole matter very simple by just being willing to cooperate with us. It will be a great deal easier and better if you will put aside your animosity and cooperate with us. It will be cheaper and better for you in the end if you will come at once and tell all you know about this.”
Lexie studied her pompous antagonist for a minute, and though she was boiling inside she realized that she would get nowhere by angry resistance.
“Very well,” she said suddenly, in a quiet tone, as she began to roll down her sleeves and preceded the man into the living room, infuriated by his fulsome flattery.
“That’s the good girl!” he commended loudly. “I knew you were too pretty a girl to put up a fight. Now, we shall see how quickly we can get this matter under way. Suppose you sit here,” and he indicated a chair close to the one where he had been sitting.
Lexie sat down in a straight chair across the room from the one suggested.
“Now, just what did you want to ask me?” she said in a cold haughty tone, a tone that made her appear so much older and wiser than she really was that Elaine stared at her young sister in amazement.
“That’s better!” said the big man with a kind of rumbling satisfaction in his voice. “Now we can get somewhere. First, Lexie, let me ask you to think back to your childhood and tell me carefully what you remember of financial discussions between your father and mother. Way back as far as you can remember. You can remember a time, can’t you, perhaps when you were playing about in the room and you heard your father tell your mother that he had left quite a large sum of money in trust for his elder daughter, Elaine, money that had been her own mother’s, and that someday he hoped it all went well to leave something for you his younger daughter? You remember that, do you not?”
“No,” said Lexie calmly, “I do not remember any such thing.”
“Well, suppose you repeat what you do remember on that subject.”
“I do not remember my father and mother discussing money in any way,” said Lexie quietly.
“Think back. Think hard. Tell us what you do recall.”
Lexie did not reply, and the lawyer was annoyed.
“Let us put it in another way,” said Thomas. “You may not remember such a conversation, but you knew, did you not, that there was such a sum of money put away in trust for your sister?”
“No,” said Lexie promptly. “I did not. Because there was not any such sum put away. My father may have intended to do something like that, but I am sure it was never done.”
“And what makes you so sure, Miss Positive?” asked the fat man impudently.
“I am sure because my mother worked hard after my father’s death to pay his funeral expenses, and afterward to get money enough to send us both to college. She often came home too weary to eat her supper, but she wouldn’t give up her work. She said she had promised my father that we should both have a good education, and she was saving every cent from her own needs to make it possible. I was a witness to all this, and so was my sister.”
A cunning look came over the fat face of the man.
“Yes? And what became of that money? Did your sister get her share of it? Did she get her education?”
“No, she got married instead of going to college. But Mother gave her her half of the money as a wedding gift. I saw her do it. And then when she got her divorce and was in terrible straits, she gave her my share, too. I suggested it, and was glad to give it to help her out. But Mother got evening work in addition to her day
job, and started in to try and save money for my college course. That was what killed her. She only lived another year, and when her funeral expenses were paid, I had fifty dollars in the bank because mother earned it for me. But if Elaine wants that, she can have it. It’s all I have. And that’s all I have to tell you. Now, I’ll be excused, if you please. I have a train to catch and a lot to do before I go.”
Lexie rose quickly and flashed out of the room before the two astonished listeners could stop her, but before she had closed the door behind her she heard the lawyer say: “Well, that’s a very unlikely story! We’ll have to put the screws on that girl and tighten them till she opens up and gives us the truth. You could see she knows where all your money is all righty, or she never would have offered to give up that fifty. You better get at her in earnest and find out just what she knows. Of course I can’t do a thing without evidence. And when she finds she has to produce evidence for all that pretty story she told, she may come across.”
Lexie hurried upstairs to her own room and locked her door. She would not be haled into another questioning.
With swift fingers she put the room to rights, packed her few belongings that she had used during the night, and then came softly out and went upstairs to the one attic room, where Lucinda would have to sleep, for Lucinda would soon be here and there must be a place to receive her or she would vanish into thin air.
Lexie worked rapidly, pulling out bedding, making up the single bed that had stood sheathed in an old bedspread, unused, for four long years. A bright tear or two fell on the sheets as she smoothed them over the old mattress, thinking of her dear mother, who was gone away from her forever. What would her mother do if she were here and knew all that she was going through?
But she must not cry like this. Lucinda would be coming, and if she saw her crying it would in all probability bring on a tirade that would wreck all her plans for hoping to keep Lucinda with Elaine, even for a short time.