Page 26 of Aunt Jane's Nieces


  CHAPTER XXVI.

  A BUNCH OF KEYS.

  Uncle John did not sleep well. Perhaps he had a guilty conscience.Anyway, he tossed about a good deal on the sofa-bed in theliving-room, and wore himself out to such an extent that when Patsygot up at eight o'clock her uncle had fallen into his first soundsleep.

  She never disturbed him until she had made the fire and cooked thecoffee and boiled the three white eggs. By this time the Major wasdressed and shaved, and he aroused Uncle John and bade him hurry intothe closet and make his toilet, "so that Patsy could put the house torights."

  Uncle John obeyed eagerly, and was ready as soon as the Major hadbrought the smoking rolls from the bakery. Ah, but it was a merrybreakfast; and a delicious one into the bargain. Uncle John seemedhungry, and looked at the empty egg-shells regretfully.

  "Next time, Patsy," he said, "you must buy six eggs."

  "Look at his recklessness!" cried Patsy, laughing. "You're just as badas the Major, every bit. If you men hadn't me for a guardian you'd bein the poorhouse in a month."

  "But we have you, my dear," said Uncle John, smiling into her dancingeyes; "so we won't complain at one egg instead of two."

  Just then someone pounded on the door, and the girl ran to open it.There was a messenger boy outside, looking smart and neat in hisblue-and-gold uniform, and he touched his cap politely to the girl.

  "Miss Patricia Doyle?"

  "That's me."

  "A parcel for you. Sign here, please."

  Patsy signed, bothering her head the while to know what the littlepackage contained and who could have sent it. Then the boy was gone,and she came back slowly to the breakfast table, with the thing in herhand.

  "What is it, Patsy?" asked the Major, curiously.

  "I'm dying to know, myself," said the girl.

  Uncle John finished his coffee, looking unconcerned.

  "A good way is to open it," remarked the Major.

  It was a very neat package, wrapped in fine paper and sealed with redwax. Patsy turned it over once or twice, and then broke the wax anduntied the cord.

  A bunch of keys fell out first--seven of them, strung on a purpleribbon--and then a flat, impressive looking letter was discovered.

  The Major stared open-mouthed. Uncle John leaned back in his chair andwatched the girl's face.

  "There's a mistake," said Patsy, quite bewildered. Then she read hername upon the wrapper, quite plainly written, and shook her head."It's for me, all right. But what does it mean?"

  "Why not read the letter?" suggested the Major.

  So she opened the big envelope and unfolded the stiff paper and readas follows:

  "Miss Patricia Doyle, Becker's Flats, Duggan Street, New York. DearMiss Doyle: An esteemed client of our house, who desires to remainunknown, has placed at your disposal the furnished apartments 'D,'at 3708 Willing Square, for the period of three years, or as longthereafter as you may care to retain them. Our client begs you toconsider everything the apartments contain as your own, and to useit freely as it may please you. All rentals and rates are paid inadvance, and you are expected to take possession at once. Moreover,our firm is commanded to serve you in any and every way you mayrequire, and it will be our greatest pleasure to be of use to you. Thekeys to the apartments are enclosed herewith.

  "Most respectfully,

  "Isham, Marvin & Co."

  Having read this to the end, in a weak voice and with many pauses,Miss Patricia Doyle sat down in her chair with strange abruptness andstared blankly at her father. The Major stared back. So did UncleJohn, when her eyes roved toward his face.

  Patricia turned the keys over, and jingled them. Then she referred tothe letter again.

  "Apartments D, at 3708 Willing Square. Where's that?"

  The Major shook his head. So did Uncle John.

  "Might look in a directory" suggested the latter, uncertainly.

  "Of course," added the Major.

  "But what does it all mean?" demanded Patsy, with sudden fierceness."Is it a joke? Isham, Marvin & Co., the great bankers! What do I knowof them, or they of me?"

  "That isn't the point," observed the Major, reflectively. "Who's theirunknown and mysterious client? That's the question."

  "To be sure," said Uncle John. "They're only the agents. You must havea fairy godmother, Patsy."

  She laughed at the idea, and shook her head.

  "They don't exist in these days, Uncle John. But the whole thing mustbe a joke, and nothing more."

  "We'll discover that," asserted the Major, shrewdly scrutinizingthe letter, which he had taken from Patsy's hands. "It surely looksgenuine enough, on the face of it. I've seen the bank letter-headbefore, and this is no forgery, you can take my word. Get your thingson, Patsy. Instead of walking in the park we'll hunt up WillingSquare, and we'll take the keys with us."

  "A very good idea," said Uncle John. "I'd like to go with you, if Imay."

  "Of course you may," answered the girl. "You're one of the family now,Uncle John, and you must help us to unravel the mystery."

  The Major took off his carpet slippers and pulled on his boots, whilePatricia was getting ready for the walk. Uncle John wandered aroundthe room aimlessly for a time, and then took off his black tie and puton the white one.

  Patsy noticed this, when she came out of her closet, and laughedmerrily.

  "You mustn't be getting excited, Uncle John, until we see how thiswonderful adventure turns out." she said. "But I really must wash andiron that necktie for you, if you're going to wear it on Sundays."

  "Not a bad idea," said the Major. "But come, are we all ready?"

  They walked down the rickety steps very gravely and sedately, Patsyjingling the keys as they went, and made their way to the corner drugstore, where the Major searched in the directory for Willing Square.

  To his surprise it proved to be only a few blocks away.

  "But it's in the dead swell neighborhood," he explained, "where I haveno occasion to visit. We can walk it in five minutes."

  Patsy hesitated.

  "Really, it's no use going, Dad," she protested. "It isn't in reasonthat I'd have a place presented me in a dead swell neighborhood. Now,is it?"

  "We'll have to go, just the same," said Uncle John. "I couldn't sleepa wink tonight if we didn't find out what this all means."

  "True enough," agreed the Major. "Come along, Patsy; it's this way."

  Willing Square was not very big, but it was beautiful with flowers andwell tended and 3708 proved to be a handsome building with a whitemarble front, situated directly on a corner. The Major examined itcritically from the sidewalk, and decided it contained six suites ofapartments, three on each side.

  "D must be the second floor to the right." he said, "and that's a finelocation, sure enough."

  A porter appeared at the front door, which stood open, and examinedthe group upon the sidewalk with evident curiosity.

  Patsy walked up to him, and ignoring the big gold figures over theentrance she enquired:

  "Is this 3708 Willing Square?"

  "Yes, Miss," answered the porter; "are you Miss Doyle?"

  "I am," she answered, surprised.

  "One flight up, Miss, and turn to the right," he continued, promptly;and then he winked over the girl's head at Uncle John, who frowned soterribly that the man drew aside and disappeared abruptly. The Majorand Patsy were staring at one another, however, and did not see thisby-play.

  "Let's go up," said the Major, in a husky voice, and proceeded tomount the stairs.

  Patsy followed close behind, and then came Uncle John. One flight upthey paused at a door marked "D", upon the panel of which was a rackbearing a card printed with the word "Doyle."

  "Well, well!" gasped the Major. "Who'd have thought it, at all atall!"

  Patsy, with trembling fingers, put a key in the lock, and after one ortwo efforts opened the door.

  The sun was shining brilliantly into a tiny reception hall, furnishedmost luxuriously.

  The Major placed hi
s hat on the rack, and Uncle John followed suit.

  No one spoke a word as they marched in humble procession into theliving-room, their feet pressing without sound into the thick rugs.Everything here was fresh and new, but selected with excellent tasteand careful attention to detail. Not a thing; was lacking, from thepretty upright piano to the enameled clock ticking upon the mantel.The dining-room was a picture, indeed, with stained-glass windowscasting their soft lights through the draperies and the side-boardshining with silver and glass. There was a cellarette in one corner,the Major noticed, and it was well stocked.

  Beyond was a pantry with well filled shelves and then thekitchen--this last filled with every article that could possiblybe needed. In a store-room were enough provisions to stock agrocery-store and Patsy noted with amazement that there was ice in therefrigerator, with cream and milk and butter cooling beside it.

  They felt now as if they were intruding in some fairy domain. It wasall exquisite, though rather tiny; but such luxury was as far removedfrom the dingy rooms they had occupied as could well be imagined. TheMajor coughed and ahemmed continually; Patsy ah'd and oh'd and seemedhalf frightened; Uncle John walked after them silently, but with apleased smile that was almost childish upon his round and rugged face.

  Across the hall were three chambers, each with a separate bath, whileone had a pretty dressing-room added.

  "This will be Patsy's room," said the Major, with a vast amount ofdignity.

  "Of course," said Uncle John. "The pins on the cushion spell'Patricia,' don't they?"

  "So they do!" cried Patsy, greatly delighted.

  "And this room," continued the Major, passing into the next, "will bemine. There are fine battle-scenes on the wall; and I declare, there'sjust the place for the colonel's photograph over the dresser!"

  "Cigars, too," said Patsy, opening a little cabinet; "but 'twill be ashame to smoke in this palace."

  "Then I won't live here!" declared the Major, stoutly, but no oneheeded him.

  "Here is Uncle John's room," exclaimed the girl, entering the thirdchamber.

  "Mine?" enquired Uncle John in mild surprise.

  "Sure, sir; you're one of the family, and I'm glad it's as good as theMajor's, every bit."

  Uncle John's eyes twinkled.

  "I hope the bed is soft," he remarked, pressing it critically.

  "It's as good as the old sofa, any day," said Patsy, indignantly.

  Just then a bell tinkled, and after looking at one another in silentconsternation for a moment, the Major tiptoed stealthily to the frontdoor, followed by the others.

  "What'll we do?" asked Patsy, in distress.

  "Better open it," suggested Uncle John, calmly.

  The Major did so, and there was a little maid bowing and smilingoutside. She entered at once, closing the door behind her, and bowedagain.

  "This is my new mistress, I suppose," she said, looking at Patsy. "Iam your servant, Miss Patricia."

  Patsy gasped and stared at her. The maid was not much older than shewas, but she looked pleasant and intelligent and in keeping with therooms. She wore a gray dress with white collar and white apron andcap, and seemed so dainty and sweet that the Major and Uncle Johnapproved her at once.

  Patsy sat down, from sheer lack of strength to stand up.

  "Who hired you, then?" she asked.

  "A gentleman from the bank," was the reply. "I'm Mary, if you please,Miss. And my wages are all arranged for in advance, so there will benothing for you to pay," said the little maid.

  "Can you cook?" asked Patsy, curiously.

  "Yes, Miss," with a smile. "The dinner will be ready at one o'clock."

  "Oh; you've been here before, then?"

  "Two days, Miss, getting ready for you."

  "And where will you sleep?"

  "I've a little room beyond the kitchen. Didn't you see it, MissPatricia?"

  "No, Mary."

  "Anything more at present, Miss Patricia?"

  "No, Mary."

  The maid bowed again, and disappeared toward the kitchen, leaving anawe-struck group behind her.

  The Major whistled softly. Uncle John seemed quite unconcerned. Patsytook out her handkerchief. The tears _would_ come in spite of herefforts.

  "I--I--I'm going to have a good cry," she sobbed, and rushed into theliving-room to throw herself flat upon the divan.

  "It's all right," said the Major, answering Uncle John's startledlook; "the cry will do her good. I've half a mind to join her myself."

  But he didn't. He followed Uncle John into the tatter's room andsmoked one of the newly-discovered cigars while the elder man lay backin an easy chair and silently puffed his pipe.

  By and bye Patsy joined them, no longer crying but radiant with glee.

  "Tell me, Daddy," said she, perching on the arm of the Major's chair,"who gave me all this, do you think?"

  "Not me," answered the Major, positively. "I couldn't do it on twelvea week, anyhow at all."

  "And you robbed me of all my money when I came to town," said UncleJohn.

  "Stop joking," said the girl. "There's no doubt this place is intendedfor us, is there?"

  "None at all," declared the Major. "It's ours for three years, and nota penny to pay."

  "Well, then, do you think it's Kenneth?"

  The Major shook his head.

  "I don't know the lad." he said, "and he might be equal to it,although I doubt it. But he can't touch his money till he comesof age, and it isn't likely his lawyer guardian would allow suchextravagances."

  "Then who can it be?"

  "I can't imagine."

  "It doesn't seem to matter," remarked Uncle John, lighting a freshpipe. "You're not supposed to ask questions, I take it, but to enjoyyour new home as much as you can."

  "Ex--actly!" agreed the Major.

  "I've been thinking," continued Uncle John, "that I'm not exactly fitfor all this style, Patsy. I'll have to get a new suit of clothes tomatch my new quarters. Will you give me back ten dollars of that moneyto buy 'em with?"

  "I suppose I'll have to," she answered, thoughtfully.

  "We'll have to go back to Becker's flats to pack up our traps," saidthe Major, "so we might as well go now."

  "I hate to leave here for a single moment," replied the girl.

  "Why?"

  "I'm afraid it will all disappear again."

  "Nonsense!" said Uncle John. "For my part, I haven't any traps, soI'll stay here and guard the treasure till you return."

  "Dinner is served, Miss Patricia," said the small maid, appearing inthe doorway.

  "Then let's dine!" cried Patsy, clapping her hands gleefully; "andafterward the Major and I will make our last visit to Becker's flats."