CHAPTER IX
THE RESCUE PARTY
It was with mingled feelings of excitement and trepidation that GraceHarlowe and Jessica Bright hurried toward the office of the latter'sfather the following afternoon. Now that they were fairly started ontheir mission of rescue, they were not quite so confident as to theresult. To be sure they had unlimited faith in Jessica's father, but itwas so much easier to talk about taking Mabel away from Miss Brant thanto do it.
"I'm terribly afraid of facing her," confided Jessica to Grace. "She isthe terror of Oakdale, you know."
"She can't hurt us," said Grace. "Your father will do all the talking.All we need to do is to take charge of Mabel, after Miss Brant gives herup."
"Well, young ladies," said Mr. Bright, as the two girls entered hisoffice, "I see you are prompt in keeping your appointment. Let us go atonce, for I must be back here at five o'clock."
"What are you going to say to that terrible woman, papa?" shudderedJessica as they neared the Brant home. "I'm afraid she'll scratch youreyes out."
"Am I really in such serious danger?" asked Mr. Bright in mock alarm."I am glad I brought you girls along to protect me."
"You haven't any idea what a crank she is, Mr. Bright," laughed Grace."She fairly snarled at us the other day, when we were coming fromschool, because she said we were taking up the whole sidewalk. Poorlittle Mabel, no wonder she has a scared look in her eyes all the time."
"Well, here we are," responded Mr. Bright, as he rang the bell. "Now forthe tug of war."
As he spoke the door was opened by Mabel, who positively shook in hershoes when she saw her visitors. "Don't be frightened," whispered Grace,taking her hand. "We have come for you."
"May I speak with Miss Brant?" asked Mr. Bright courteously, as theystepped into the narrow hall.
Before Mabel had time to answer, a tall, raw-boned woman, with a hard,forbidding face, shoved her aside and confronted them. It was Miss Brantherself.
"Well, what do you want?" she said rudely.
"Good afternoon," said Mr. Bright courteously. "Am I speaking to MissBrant?"
"I guess likely you are," responded the woman, "and you better stateyour business now, for I've no time to fool away on strangers."
"You have a young girl with you by the name of Mabel Allison, have younot?" asked Mr. Bright.
"Yes, I have. What's the matter with her? Has she been gettin' intomischief? If she has, I'll tan her hide," said Miss Brant, with athreatening gesture.
"On the contrary," replied Mr. Bright, "I hear very good reports of her.Has she lived with you long?"
"That's none of your business," snapped Miss Brant. "If you've come hereto quiz me and pry around about her, you can get right out, for I'm notanswering any fool questions."
"I will not trouble you with further questions," replied Mr. Bright,"but will proceed at once to business. I have come to take Miss Mabelaway with me. She has found friends who are willing to help her untilshe finishes her education, and she wishes to go to them."
"Oh, she does, does she?" sneered the woman mockingly. "Well, you justtake her, if you dare."
"Have you legally adopted her?" asked Mr. Bright quietly.
"That's none of your business, either. You get out of my house or I'llthrow you out and these two snips of girls with you," almost screamedMiss Brant.
"That will do," said Mr. Bright sternly. "We will go, but we shall takeMiss Mabel with us. I am a lawyer, Miss Brant, and I have positive proofthat this child is not bound to you in any way. You took her from theorphanage on trial, exactly as you might hire a servant. You did noteven take the trouble to have yourself appointed her guardian. Youagreed to pay her for her work, but blows and harsh words are the onlypayment she has ever received at your hands. She wishes to leave youbecause she can no longer endure life with you. You haven't theslightest claim upon her, and she is perfectly free to do as shechooses. She is not of age yet, but as you are not her guardian, you hadno right to take money that she has earned from her, and she can callyou to account for it if she chooses. However, you have imposed upon herfor the last time, for she shall not spend another hour under yourroof."
"You touch her if you dare. She shan't leave this house," said the womanin a furious tone.
"Mabel," said Mr. Bright to the young girl, who was cowering at one endof the hall, "get your things and come at once. We will wait for you.As for you," turning to Miss Brant, "if you try to stop her, you willsoon find yourself in a most unpleasant position. I am certain that ifyou think back for an instant you will realize that you have forfeitedall right to object."
For a moment Miss Brant stood speechless with anger, then in her wrathshe poured forth such a flood of abuse that the rescue party stared inamazement. Never had they seen such an exhibition of temper. When Mabelappeared, her shabby hat in her hand, Miss Brant reached forward andtore the hat from her.
"Don't you dare leave my house with any of my property, you baggage,"she hissed. "I paid for that hat and for the clothes you're wearing, andyou'll send every stitch you've on back to me, or I'll have you arrestedfor stealing."
"Don't You Dare Leave This House With My Property."]
"Come on, Mabel," said Grace, putting her arm around the shrinkinglittle figure. "Don't pay any attention to her. She isn't worthbothering over. You can send her back her ridiculous things. You aregoing to be happy now, and forget all about this cruel, terrible woman."
"You brazen imp, you," screamed the woman, and rushed at Grace, whostood perfectly still, looking the angry woman in the face with suchopen scorn in her gray eyes that Miss Brant drew back and stood scowlingat her, her hands working convulsively.
"Come, girls," said Mr. Bright. "We have no more time to waste. If youhave anything to say to me, Miss Brant, you can always find me at myoffice on East Main Street. The clothing now worn by Miss Mabel will bereturned to you in due season. Good afternoon."
Mr. Bright, bowing politely, motioned to the three young girls toprecede him, and the party went quietly down the walk, leaving MissBrant in the open door, shaking her fist and uttering dire threats.
As for Mabel, she collapsed utterly, crying as though her heart wouldbreak. Grace and Jessica exerted every effort to quiet her sobs, andafter a little she looked up, and, smiling through her tears, saidbrokenly: "I can't believe that it's all true--that I shall never haveto go back there again. I'm afraid that it's all a dream and that I'llwake up and find her standing over me. Can she get me again?" she said,turning piteously to Mr. Bright.
"My dear little girl," he said, taking her hand, "she can't touch you.I'll adopt you myself before I'll let you go back to her. Now run alongwith Jessica and forget all about what has passed. Good-bye, Grace. Yousee, your rescue party proved a success. Good-bye, daughter. Take goodcare of Mabel. I'll have to hurry now, or miss my appointment."
Mr. Bright beamed on the three girls, raised his hat and hurried downthe street, leaving them to proceed slowly toward Jessica's home.Passersby glanced curiously at the hatless, shabby young girl, as shewalked between Grace and Jessica, clinging to their hands as thoughexpecting every minute to be snatched from them.
"Well, girls," said Grace, "here is my street. I must leave you now. Begood children, and----"
She was interrupted by an exultant shriek, and a second later five girlsappeared as by magic and gleefully surrounded the rescue party. The PhiSigma Tau was out in full force.
"Hurrah!" shrieked Nora, waving her school bag. "'We have met the enemyand they are ours.' Tell us about it quickly. Why didn't you let me goalong? I was dying to cross swords with that old stone face."
Then everyone talked at once, surrounding Mabel and asking her questionsuntil Grace said, laughing: "Stop it, girls; let her get used to yougradually. Don't come down on her like an avalanche."
Mabel, however, was equal to the occasion. She answered their questionswithout embarrassment, and seemed quietly pleased at theirdemonstrations.
"You are the child of the sorority now, Ma
bel," said Miriam Nesbit, "andwe are your adopted mothers. You will have your hands full trying toplease all of us."
"Stop teasing her," said Anne, "or she'll run away before she is fairlyadopted."
"It is very uncertain as to whether she will ever go further than myhouse," said Jessica calmly. "I need Mabel more than do the rest of you,but perhaps if you're good I'll loan her to you occasionally. Come on,Mabel, let's go home before they spoil you completely."
"Considering the fact that the Bright family did two thirds of therescuing, I suppose we shall have to respect your claim," said Nora,"but remember, Jessica, that generosity is a beautiful virtue tocultivate."
Grace Harlowe's Junior Year at High School Page 9