CHAPTER XV
BAB REFUSES TO GRANT A FAVOR
The dinner party was delightful. The "Automobile Girls" had not had sucha good time since their arrival in Washington. Mrs. Wilson was a charminghostess. She was particularly gracious to Bab, and the young girl decidedto forget the disquieting suspicions she had harbored against thisfascinating woman and enjoy herself.
It was almost ten o'clock. Mr. Hamlin had not yet arrived at Mrs.Wilson's. Bab was sitting in one corner of the drawing-room talking gaylywith a young Annapolis graduate, who was telling her all about his firstcruise, when Elmer Wilson interrupted them.
"I am terribly sorry to break into your conversation like this, MissThurston," he apologized. "But Mother wishes to have a little talk withyou in the library before you leave here. I am sure I don't know what shewishes to see you about; she told me to give you her message and ask noquestions. May I show you the way to her!"
Bab's gay laughter died on her lips. She rose at once and signified herwillingness to accompany Elmer to the library, but both young mennoticed that her face had grown grave and she seemed almost embarrassed.
Elmer Wilson wondered why Miss Thurston had taken his mother's simplemessage so seriously. He was almost as embarrassed as Bab appeared to be.
When Barbara entered the room where she had received the envelopefrom Peter Dillon the room was but dimly lighted. Two rose-coloredshades covered the low lamps, and great bunches of pink rosesornamented the mantel.
Mrs. Wilson wore a black and white chiffon gown over white silk and had alittle band of black velvet about her throat from which hung a smalldiamond star. Her beautiful white hair looked like a silver crown on herhead. She was leaning back in her chair with closed eyes when Bab enteredthe room, and she did not open them at once. She let the young girl standand look at her, expecting her unusual beauty to influence Bab, as it hadmany other older people. Mrs. Wilson looked tired and in a softened mood.Her head rested against a pile of dark silken cushions. Her hands werefolded, in her lap.
She opened her dark eyes finally and smiled at Barbara. "Come here,Barbara," she commanded, pointing to a chair opposite her.
Bab looked at her beautiful hostess timidly, but her brown eyes werehonest and clear. "You sent for me?" Bab queried, sitting down very stiffand straight among the soft cushions.
"Of course I did," Mrs. Wilson smiled. "And I should have done sobefore, only you and I have both been too busy. I am so glad you came tomy tea to-day." Mrs. Wilson reached out her slender white hand and tookhold of Barbara's firm brown one. "I want to make you a very humbleapology," she continued. "I am very sorry that I was obliged to be awaythe other day when you called. I left the envelope with Mr. Dillon. Ireceived your note yesterday, so I know that it was delivered into yourhands. I did not return until after seven o'clock the other night, so itwas just as well you didn't wait for me. I knew I could trust Mr. Dillonto give it to you."
The girl made no reply. She did not dare raise her eyes to the otherwoman's face for fear Mrs. Wilson would divine from their expression thatBab knew she had lied. At the same time a thrill of consternation sweptover her. What had been Mrs. Wilson's object in lending her the money?Bab was now sure that the loan had not been made disinterestedly. Butwhat had Peter Dillon to do with it? It looked very much as though Mrs.Wilson and the attache were playing a game, and were seeking to draw herinto it. She resolved at that moment that she would write to her motherfor the money, or ask Ruth for it. She would do anything rather thanremain in Mrs. Wilson's debt. There was something about the intent way inwhich her hostess looked at her that aroused fresh suspicion in her mind.Bab braced herself to hear what she knew instinctively was to follow.
"I am so glad I was able to help you," Mrs. Wilson purred, continuing towatch the young girl intently. "I know that you meant what you said whenyou declared that you hoped to some day be able to do some favor for me.I did not think then that I should ever wish to take you at your word,but strange as it may seem, you are the very person I have been lookingfor to help me with a joke that I wish to play upon Mr. Hamlin. You know,Mr. Hamlin is a very methodical man. Well, I wagered him a dozen pairs ofgloves, the other day, that he would misplace one of his beloved papers.And I hope to win the wager. What I wish you to do is to secure a certainpaper from his desk and give it to me. He will never know how I obtainedit. Of course I shall return it to him in a day or so, after heacknowledges his defeat and pays his wager."
Barbara shook her head. "I don't think I can take any part in any suchjoke, Mrs. Wilson," she said, looking appealingly at her hostess. "Youdon't really mean that you wish me to take one of Mr. Hamlin's paperswithout his knowledge, and then give the paper to you?"
"Certainly, child, I do mean just that thing," Mrs. Wilson said, laughinglightly. "You need not take my request so seriously. Mr. Hamlin willappreciate the joke more than any one else when I have explained it tohim. Won't you keep your word and grant me this favor?"
"I can't do what you ask, Mrs. Wilson," Bab said slowly. "I'm awfullysorry, but it wouldn't be honorable."
Mrs. Wilson turned away her head, so that Barbara could not see theexpression of her face. "Very well, Miss Thurston," she said sharply."Don't trouble about it, if you think you will be committing one of thecardinal sins in doing me this favor. But don't you think you are ratherungrateful? You were perfectly willing to accept my offer the other daywhen you were in need of money to pay your sister's debt, but now you arein no hurry to cancel your obligation. I consider you an extremelydisobliging young woman."
Barbara sat silent and ashamed. Yet she made no effort to propitiate herangry hostess.
The butler came to the library door to announce the arrival ofMr. Hamlin.
Barbara rose quickly. "I am so sorry not to be able to do you the favoryou asked of me, Mrs. Wilson," she said in a low tone.
Mrs. Wilson did not reply. Then in a flash Barbara Thurston rememberedsomething! It was the promise Marjorie Moore had asked of her, and whichRuth Stuart had insisted upon her making. Without recalling that promiseat the time, Bab had still kept her word. She had been asked to do someone a favor--and she had refused. But of course Marjorie Moore must havehad some other thing in mind when she made her curious demand. Now thatBarbara thought again of her vow, she determined to be wary for the restof the evening and to keep as far away from Peter Dillon as possible.
"I am going to play chaperon at your house in the near future, Harriet,"Mrs. Wilson announced, as her guests were saying good night. "Your fathersays he is to be out of town on business and that I may look after you."
"We shall be delighted to have you, Mrs. Wilson," Harriet returnedpolitely, though she wondered why her father had suddenly requested Mrs.Wilson to act as chaperon. Harriet had often stayed at home alone withonly their faithful old servants to look after her, when her father wentaway for a short time. And now that she had the four "Automobile Girls"as her guests, she did not feel in need of a chaperon.
Peter Dillon had not spoken to Bab again during the evening, but hadstudiously avoided her, and Bab was exceedingly glad that he had kept hisdistance. But as she put on her coat to go home, she heard the rustle ofa small piece of paper.
Barbara glanced down at it, of course, and found that some one had pinneda folded square of paper to the inner lining of her coat.
She blushed furiously, for fear one of the other guests would discoverwhat had happened. Bab hated sentimentality and secrecy more thananything in the world. Inside the folded square of paper she found thetiny faded rose-bud, Peter Dillon had placed in his pocket that day whenhe had picked the two buds in the old Washington garden at Mt. Vernon.
On the way downstairs, Barbara still kept the flower in her hand. Butwhen she found Peter's eyes were upon her she deliberately crushed thelittle rose-bud, then defiantly tossed it away.
Automobile Girls at Washington; Or, Checkmating the Plots of Foreign Spies Page 15