Bobs, a Girl Detective

  CHAPTER VI. A LOST SISTER

  Two weeks later many changes had taken place. Mr. Tenowitz had agreed tohave one of the two large back rooms transformed into a modern kitchen atone end, and the other end arranged so that it might be used as adining-room. In that room the early morning sun found its way, and whenLena May had filled the windows with boxes containing the floweringplants brought from the home gardens, it assumed a cheerfulness thatdelighted the heart of the little housekeeper.

  Too, the huge chandeliers in the salon had been wired with electricity,and great was the joy in the heart of Bobs on the night when they werefirst lighted. The rich furnishings from their own drawing-room were inplace and the effect was far more homelike than Gloria had supposedpossible.

  The two large rooms on the other side of the wide dividing hall had beenfitted up as bed chambers and the furniture that they did not need hadbeen stored in the large room over the kitchen.

  How Lena May had dreaded that first night they had spent in the oldhouse, not because she believed it to be haunted. Gloria had convincedher that that could not possibly be so, but because of the unusualnoises, she knew that she would not be able to sleep a wink. Nor was she,for each time that she fell into a light slumber, a shriek from somepassing tug awakened her, and a dozen times at least she seized herroommate, exclaiming, "Glow, what was that?" Sometimes it was a band ofhoodlums passing, or again an early milk wagon, or some of the manynoises which accompanied the night activities of the factory that wastheir next-door neighbor.

  It was a very pale, sleepy-eyed Lena May who set about getting breakfastthe next morning, with Gloria helping, but Bobs looked as refreshed asthough she had spent the night in her own room on Long Island, where thewhippoorwill was the only disturber of the peace.

  "You'll get used to it soon," that beaming maiden told Lena May, andthen, when the youngest girl had gone with a small watering pot to attendto the needs of her flower gardens at the front of the house, Bobs addedsoftly: "Glow, how have you planned things? It never would do to leaveLena May all alone in the house, would it? And yet you and I must go outand earn our daily bread."

  "I shall take Lena May with me wherever I go; that is, I will at first,until we have things adjusted," the older sister replied. Then sheinquired: "What do you intend to do, Bobsie, or is it a secret as yet?"

  "It sure is," was the laughing reply, "a secret from myself, as well asfrom everyone else, but I'm going to start out all alone into the greatcity of New York this morning and give it the once over."

  "Roberta Vandergrift, didn't you promise me that you would talk like aJohnsonian if we would rent this house?" Gloria reprimanded.

  The irrepressible younger girl's eyes twinkled. "My revered sister," shesaid, solemnly, "my plans for the day are as yet veiled in mystery, but,with your kind permission, I will endeavor to discover in this vastmetropolis some refined occupation, the doing of which will provesufficiently remunerative to enable me to at least assist in therecuperation of our fallen fortunes." Then rising and making a deep bow,her right hand on her heart, that mischievous girl inquired: "MissVandergrift, shall I continue conversing in that way during our sojournin this ancient mansion, or shall I be--just natural?"

  Lena May, who had returned, joined in the laughter, and begged, "Do benatural, Bobs, please, but not too natural."

  "Thank you, mademoiselles, for your kind permission, and now I believe Iwill don my outdoor apparel and go in search of a profession."

  Gloria looked anxiously at the young girl before her, who was of such asplendid athletic physique, whose cheeks were ruddy with health, andwhose eyes were glowing with enthusiasm. Ought she to permit Bobs to goalone into the great surging mass of humanity so unprotected?

  "Roberta," she began, "do not be too trusting, dear. Remember that thecity is full of dangers that lurk in out-of-the-way places."

  The younger girl put both hands on the shoulders of the oldest sisterand, looking steadily into her eyes, she said seriously: "Glow, dear, youhave taught us that the greatest thing a parent can do for her daughteris to teach her to be self-reliant that she may stand alone as, sooner orlater, she will have to do. I shall be careful, as I do not wish to causemy sisters needless worry or anxiety, but I _must_ begin to live my ownlife. You really wish me to do this, do you not, Gloria?"

  "Yes, dear," was the reply, "and I am sure the love of our mother willguide and guard you. Good-bye and good luck."

  When Bobs was gone, Lena May slipped up to the older sister, who hadremained seated, and, putting a loving arm over the strong shoulders, shesaid tenderly: "Glow, there are tears in your eyes. Why? Do you mindBobs' going alone out into the world?"

  "I was thinking of Mother, dear, and wishing I could better take herplace to you younger girls, and too, I am worried, just a little, becauseGwendolyn does not write. It was a great sorrow to me, Pet, to find thatshe had left without saying good-bye, and I can't help but fear that Iwas hasty when I told her that she must plan her life apart from us ifshe could not be more harmonious."

  Then, rising, she added: "Ah, well, things will surely turn out for thebest, little girl. Come now, let us do our bit of tidying and then goover to the Settlement House and find out what my hours are to be."

  But all that day, try as she might to be cheerful, the mothering heart ofGloria was filled with anxiety concerning her two charges. Would all bewell with the venturous Bobs, and why didn't Gwen write?