CHAPTER XX. A FAILURE THAT WAS SUCCESS
The day following that on which Gwen had been found, Detective Bobs hadgone early in the morning to report at the Fourth Avenue Branch of theBurns Agency.
"Mr. Jewett," she began at once, "as a detective I certainly am afailure."
The young man laughed. "I'll agree with you that in one way, youcertainly are, but nevertheless you accomplished your mission."
Bobs' expression of blank surprise seemed to delight her employer. "But,Mr. Jewett, what can you mean? It was my sister whom I found. I did notfind Miss Winston-Waring."
"Yes you did, and you talked with her, or to her, rather."
"Well, I'll be flabbergasted!" Then Bobs apologized. "Pardon my lingo,Mr. Jewett. Our gardener's boy used to say that when he was greatlyastonished, and I certainly never was more so. When, in the name ofmystery, did I talk to that young lady, and where?"
"It was at the first theater that you visited. Miss Winifred said thatyou came into the dressing room and that after two of the girls, calledPink and Bee, had talked with you awhile, you turned to her, for hermirror was nearest you, and asked her directly if she liked the life of achorus girl. She did not know how to reply, for the truth was that herthree days' experience on the stage had greatly disillusioned her. Shehad found the rough ways of the girls repellent to her refined, sensitivenature, and she was afraid of the stage manager, whose criticisms weresarcastic and even unkind.
"While she was hesitating, Bee, it seems, had replied for her, and thenit was that you had explained your mission. She, of course, had not givenher real name, and so no one suspected that she was Miss WinifredWaring-Winston.
"Her pride alone kept her from following you and confessing her identity.She had declared to her mother that she would live her own life in herown way, and she could not bear to acknowledge her defeat. Too, there wasone bright spot in her new profession, which was that the star, MissMerryheart, had singled her out and was very kind to her.
"That same afternoon, it seems, after the matinee," Mr. Jewett continued,"Miss Merryheart sent for her to come to her dressing room. The otherswere jealous and said things that were so unkind and untrue that thesensitive girl was almost in tears when she reached the room of the star.
"When the door had been closed and they were alone, Miss Merryheartplaced kindly hands on her shoulders and looked deep into thetear-brimmed eyes. 'Dear little girl,' she said, 'why didn't you tell ourvisitor that you are Winifred Waring-Winston?'"
Of course the girl was amazed and greatly puzzled, for she had told MissMerryheart nothing at all concerning her past or her identity, and so sheasked her how she had known.
"The star replied: 'I have been long on the stage and I know when a girlhas been brought up in an environment different from the others. Too, Isaw last night that you were greatly disillusioned, and I realized by thefrightened, anxious glances that you cast about the audience that youfeared someone might be there who would recognize you in spite of yourdisguise, and when our visitor today told me that in this city there wasa home made desolate, a mother heart breaking because a little girl hadrun away to go on the stage, why shouldn't I guess that you are the one?'
"Then she added: 'Tell me your telephone number, dear.'
"And that," Mr. Jewett concluded, "is how it chanced that an hour laterWinifred was restored to the arms of her mother, who at once canceled herpassage for Europe, as a year abroad would not be needed to disillusionthe little would-be actress."
"That wonderful Miss Merryheart!" Bobs said irrelevantly, "I love her andI want to know her better."
Mr. Jewett smiled, "Miss Vandergrift, as you say, you are not exactly asuccessful detective, and yet, in both of the cases on which you havebeen engaged you have accomplished what might be called indirect success.For, even though you did help him to escape, you discovered the thief ofthe rare old book, and you have been instrumental in restoring a lostgirl to her mother. Now, I have another case and one quite different foryou. Do you wish to take it?"
Bobs laughed. "Mr. Jewett," she said, "like Winnie, I fear that I, too,am disillusioned. I find that a detective is not allowed to havesympathy. Honestly, if my life had depended upon it, I couldn't haveturned that old man over to justice; but what is the new case?"
Roberta could not believe that she was hearing aright when he told her.
"Mr. Jewett," she exclaimed, "will you kindly say that over again?"
The young man was finding his new assistant refreshingly different.
"I merely stated that I would like you to help us find the heir to thePensinger Mansion, who--" he paused and snapped his fingers. "I declare,"he ejaculated, "I had quite forgotten for the moment that is your presenthome. All the better, for there may be some important evidence right onthe premises. Come into my office and I will read all the data that wehave filed up to the present."
Very much interested, Roberta followed the young man, wondering what shewas to hear.
When they were seated, Mr. Jewett said: "Perhaps you know something ofthe story of the Pensinger family?"
Roberta replied that she did; that a neighbor, Miss Selenski, had toldabout the lost daughter, Marilyn, and about her father's strange will.
"There is little more known by anyone," Mr. Jewett said. "JudgeCaldwaller-Cory, whose father was Mr. Pensinger's legal advisor and closefriend, is very eager to find the heir before it is too late. Not manyyears remain before the property, according to the will, is to be sold,the money to be devoted to charity. Judge Cory declares that it hauntshim, sometimes, as the old house is supposed to be haunted. He feels surethat Marilyn is not living, but she might have children, somewhere, whoare in need. The judge never accepted the theory which some held, thatthe beautiful girl leaped into the East River on the night that her shawlwas found on the bank. He believes that she was secretly married andthat, with her lover-husband, she departed for his home country,Hungary." Roberta nodded. "O, I do hope so!" she exclaimed so eagerlythat Mr. Jewett smiled. But what he said was: "And so now, once again,the case is to be reopened, and, as the judge himself is very busy, hehas turned the matter over to his son, who has recently become juniormember of his father's firm. Ralph Caldwaller-Cory is young and filledwith fresh enthusiasms, and it is _his_ wish that we put on the case agirl of about the age that Marilyn was at the time, if we have one in ouremploy. Since you had not notified me that you had ceased to be one ofus, I told him that I would procure just the type of person whom Ibelieved best fitted to assist us. Are you willing to undertake thiscase, Miss Vandergrift?"
Bobs smiled when she heard the name. "Gladly," she said, rising, "and_this time_ I hope I will not _do little_."