CHAPTER X--ENTER GLADYS AND MR. TOWNSEND
"Why, Gladys Le Baron, this is a surprise!" gayly said Grace Carter nextafternoon, when the two parties of girls and men had left theirautomobiles and had come aboard Governor Post's yacht, the "Penguin,"that lay just outside the New London harbor.
Grace was awaiting her turn to be introduced to her host and hostess,when she spied Gladys, in a pale blue flannel suit and a cream felt hat,strolling down the deck, looking very much at home.
"How ever did _you_ get here?" queried Grace, smiling.
Gladys gave Grace's cheek an affected peck with her lips.
"I have a better right to ask that question of you," Gladys pouted,"only I am not surprised. Harry Townsend came over from New London,yesterday, and told me you had arrived the night before. He went overwith Hugh for the dance, but I didn't feel like going, so he came backearly yesterday morning. I am amazed Hugh did not speak of it to you."
"Oh, Mr. Post didn't know we had ever heard of Harry Townsend, or youeither. We met most unexpectedly, and we had plenty of excitement of ourown. I must tell you about it."
At this moment, Hugh came over for Grace to introduce her to his mother.
"This is Miss Carter, mother," he said. "Will you introduce her to Mrs.Erwin and father? She seems to know Gladys already."
Harry Townsend had seen the newcomers, and came forward to speak to themwith his most charming manner.
"Say, Townsend," challenged Hugh, "what made you run away from us? Wethought, of course, you'd stay over for the dance. Thought that was yourplan in going over to New Haven."
Harry turned to Miss Stuart. "I heard of your arrival in New Haven, theother evening," he said. "The fellows told me of your experiences; but Igot away from the hotel too early next morning to pay my respects."
"Then you didn't hear of the burglar, did you?" queried Hugh.
In spite of Miss Sallie's protestations the whole story had to be goneover again.
Barbara was talking to Ralph Ewing and had not looked at Harry Townsendduring the conversation, until he came over to speak to her.
"I have half an idea, Miss Thurston," he said, "that you do not like me,and I am sorry. I was looking forward to our having good times togetherat Newport, as I am to be Mrs. Erwin's guest, with your cousin Miss LeBaron. Mrs. Post asked us on for the yacht trip a day or two sooner thanwe expected. We are all going up to Newport together."
"Mr. Townsend," said Barbara, her usually laughing, brown eyes nowsteadfast and serious, "I wonder why you think I do not like you?"
"Miss Stuart," begged Mrs. Post, after the governor had conducted theparty over his trim little craft, "you must stay and dine with us onboard the yacht to-night. I refuse to take no for an answer. I wish Icould keep you over until morning, but unfortunately the yacht is toosmall."
Miss Sallie protested. No; they couldn't think of it. They had comeaboard only for a call, and must get back to their hotel before night.But Hugh swept all her arguments aside. He was an adored only son, andaccustomed to having his own way. To tell the truth, Miss Sallie was notaverse to the idea of staying; it was pleasant to be meeting Newportersin advance. Miss Stuart was a woman who thought much of appearances, andof this world's goods, and their new acquaintances seemed to have plentyof both.
"It's an ill wind," she thought to herself, "and I must say, for myyoung niece, that she has a habit of falling on her feet."
But aloud Miss Sallie accepted the invitation with much decorum.
On the deck aft, where the young people had gathered, there was muchlaughter.
Gladys was really pleased to see Ruth. As for her cousins, they were abore, but she had no idea of being openly rude to them. She simply meantto ignore them.
It was not easy to disregard two such popular girls. Barbara and Mollieseemed to be well able to get on without her patronage. Barbara wasalready smiling and chattering with Governor Post, while the boysdescribed her mad ride of two days before.
"Father," said Hugh, "I forgot to introduce you to Miss Thurston by herproper title, 'Miss Paul Revere.'"
"Harry," asked Gladys, as they stood on the outside of the circle,"don't you think it is disgusting the way that forward cousin of minealways manages to put herself before the public?"
"Well," said Mr. Townsend--was there a little admiration in histone?--"she seems to have plenty of grit."
It was really Mollie, not Barbara, who saw through Gladys's treatment ofthem. Barbara was too open-hearted and boyish to notice a slight, unlessit was very marked.
Gladys had asked Ruth and Grace to her stateroom, and Mrs. Post had putthe other two girls into her unoccupied guest chamber. It was a littlegem of a stateroom, upholstered in pale green to relieve the glare fromthe water.
"Bab," Mollie chuckled, rubbing her cheeks until they were pink, "do youremember the story of 'The Water Baby'?"
"Yes," Bab answered absently; "I do, after a fashion. But why do youask? You haven't turned into a water baby, have you, just because youare on board a yacht for the first time in your life?"
"No," laughed Mollie. "I was thinking of the story in it of the salmonand the trout. Have you forgotten it?"
"Of course I have," admitted Barbara.
Mollie chuckled gleefully. "Our high and mighty cousin, Gladys, remindsme very much of the salmon, who thought the trout a very common fish,and disliked him all the more because he was a relation. Feel like atrout, Bab?"
"Not at all, Mollie; but do hurry and go out on deck. That youngfreshman, who came down in the automobile with us to amuse you, iswandering around outside, looking frightened to death. You must go andtalk to him."
As Barbara stepped into the big salon, which was fitted up like alibrary, she saw one of the young men disappear quickly through the opendoor. Bab went over to their wraps, which they had dropped in a heap ona couch when they boarded the yacht, and selected her own jacket. Ruth'spocketbook was in full view among their belongings, and Bab covered itover before she went on deck.
Before dinner ended the moon had risen, the pale crescent hanging like aslender jewel in the sky.
Barbara was standing alone, for a second, when Mrs. Erwin approachedher.
"Pardon me, dear," she said, "but did you or your sister see a small pinon the dressing table of the guest room, when you went in there beforedinner? I have misplaced a ruby and diamond circle of no great value. Iwent into the guest chamber this morning, while the maid was cleaning myroom, and I thought perhaps I had laid it down in there."
"No," said Bab, frowning. It did seem curious how losses were followingthem! "I didn't look, although it was probably there. I am mostunobservant. I will ask my sister."
"No, no," said Mrs. Erwin, hastily; "please don't. I shall probably findit again. I don't want Mrs. Post to hear."
The next morning, when Grace and Ruth were donning their best motorveils and coats, Ruth suddenly looked surprised and began to searchhurriedly through her pocketbook.
"Grace," she said, "I can't find fifty dollars. I am sure I had ityesterday, because I looked carefully after that wretched burglar hadgone, though I knew all my money was safe in my trunk. Now it's gone!"
Ruth turned her pocketbook upside down. "Don't tell Aunt Sallie,please," she begged. "I don't know what she would say to have this itemadded to our adventures."
Miss Sallie's voice was heard calling from the next room.
"Girls, are we or are we not, going to Newport to-day? I, for my part,wish to spend no more time on the way!"
Automobile Girls at Newport; Or, Watching the Summer Parade Page 10