CHAPTER XVIII--A WORD TO THE WISE
Barbara's suspicion was now a certainty. Another person might not havebeen much wiser from Harry Townsend's behavior during the telling of hisfortune. But Barbara's eyes were keen. The thief the detectives wereseeking, the "Raffles" who was bowing and smiling his way throughNewport society was none other than "Harry Townsend." How to prove it?That was another matter.
"Bab," said the other girls, appearing on her side of the tent, "what astring of nonsense you did put off on poor Harry Townsend. What on earthmade you tell him about a butterfly and a snake? I suppose you hadbutterfly on the brain, since we had just told you of the robbery."
"That is true," assented Bab.
"Ruth!" Barbara turned to her quickly. "I am tired of my job. I want toquit this fortune-telling business at once. Let's desert and go up toMrs. Cartwright's room and change our clothes. Do hurry!" she urged, alittle impatiently.
"Oh, all right, Bab," Ruth agreed. She stared at Barbara curiously. Whathad come over her friend? Harry Townsend always seemed to have such astrange effect upon her.
Barbara was thinking. How could she find the detectives, to tell them ofher suspicions, while Harry Townsend still had in his pocket the jewelhe had stolen?
"I want to ask you something, Mollie," Bab announced, as the girlsstarted for the house. "You'll excuse a family secret, won't you?" sheasked of Grace and Ruth. "Mollie," Bab whispered, "don't speak out loud.Do you think you can discover who the two detectives are, and let meknow as soon as I come downstairs? Don't ask questions, please; only, Imust know."
Mollie shut her lips close together. "Yes, I'll find out for you," shepromised.
Half an hour later, as the guests were being served with supper underthe trees, Ruth and Barbara made their appearance.
"We just couldn't keep away any longer," they explained to theirfriends. "Oh, yes, we are feeling perfectly well again."
Barbara called Mrs. Cartwright aside for a minute. "Is it true," sheasked, "that your diamond butterfly has disappeared?"
Mrs. Cartwright's face clouded. "Yes," she replied. "It has gone withinthe last hour or so. I had it fastened here on my dress with a long pin.If it was stolen by a guest, which I am coming to believe, then it wasnot such a difficult theft. I have been leaning over, laughing andtalking, and any light-fingered--woman--or man--could easily have taken itout of my dress."
Mrs. Cartwright shivered and turned pale, as she looked at the gayparties of people out on her lawn. "Isn't it dreadful," she said,plaintively, "to think that there may be a thief right over there amongall my friends! But run along, now, child, and enjoy yourself. You andRuth were the success of the afternoon. Everyone has asked me where Ifound my clever gypsies."
Barbara wandered off alone. Before she had gone more than a few steps,Ralph Ewing joined her. "Please don't come with me, Ralph," she begged."I want to find Mollie."
"Well, why should that prevent my coming along, too?" Ralph asked. "I'dlike to find Mollie myself. She hasn't paid the slightest attention tome all afternoon."
"I don't want to be horrid, Ralph," Barbara protested, nervously, "butplease let me find her by myself."
"Oh, certainly," assented Ralph, walking quickly away.
Over by one of the lemonade stands that had been deserted at supper timeBab found Mollie.
"Bab," she said, pulling her sister to one side, "do you see that tall,blond man, with the little, curly mustache? He is one of the detectives.I can't find out where the other one is."
A little later Ralph Ewing, who was still strolling around by himself,felt his face flush, partly with wounded pride, partly with anger.Barbara was not talking to Mollie. She was standing some distance offfrom the other guests, having an earnest conversation with a man whomRalph knew to be a stranger in Newport.
Ralph was too proud to linger near them, since Bab had said so plainlyshe wanted none of his society. If he could have heard what she wassaying he would have been even more horrified.
"Yes," Barbara promised, "if you will come somewhere near us, when weare all together, this evening, I will give you a signal to show you theman I mean. His name is Townsend. He looks very young, is slender and isof medium height. Suppose, when you see us, I bow my head slowly in thedirection of the man I mean? If you understand me, you can return mybow. Can you search him before he leaves the grounds?"
"No, miss." The detective shook his head. "It would be impossible. Hehasn't the jewel on him now. If he's the man we think he is, he is toosmooth for that. He must have a confederate. If we search him here, andfind no proof of his guilt, he will know all about us and oursuspicions. Can't you see, then, he would just clear out and leave ushere to whistle for our pains?"
"Yes, I see," said Bab.
"Thank you, miss, for telling us," the detective continued. "I must saythat emerald story sounds like the real thing. You've only guessed aboutthe butterfly theft; but I think you've guessed right. Now we must goeasy. If there is a Raffles, here in Newport, he is out for moreplunder. He'll make another bold attempt, and that will be our chance."
"Well, I must go on back now to my friends," murmured Barbara, uneasily.It seemed strange to be taken into confidence by the detective, asthough she were in the same line of business. "I suppose you and theother detective can manage, now, to secure the thief. I would rather nothave anything more to do with the matter." Barbara gave a little shiverof repulsion.
"Oh, now, young lady," protested the detective, "you mustn't go back onus, just as the game commences. To catch a society thief we must havehelp from the inside. The best detective in the service can't get onwithout it."
"Where have you been, Bab?" inquired Miss Sallie, anxiously, whenBarbara joined her friends a few minutes later. "I was beginning to getuneasy about you. Mrs. Cartwright wants us to come into the house for aninformal dance. Do you feel well enough to go? I don't think you lookvery well, child."
Harry Townsend and Gladys came up at this minute. Harry had promised totake Miss Stuart indoors to watch the dancing. There was a curious,restless look in the man's eyes, but his manners were as charming asever.
This was Barbara's chance. She lagged behind the others, and bowed herhead slowly in the direction of Miss Sallie's escort. A strange, blondman, with a curly light mustache, standing some distance off, returnedher bow.
All evening Ralph did not come near Barbara. He devoted himself toGrace, who was wise enough to guess that Bab and Ralph must have had aquarrel. But Barbara did not understand. Not having realized that Ralphhad felt snubbed when she dismissed him a little while before, shesupposed he had grown tired of her.
To tell the truth, Barbara was dull. All the merry, sparkling fun hadgone out of her for this one evening. Whether she danced, or talked orrested quietly, she saw Harry Townsend's face as it had looked at herfor a single minute in the gypsy tent. "I am not a coward," thoughtBarbara, "but I shall have to be careful if he discovers I was the gypsywho told his fortune this afternoon."
Barbara was right.
Harry Townsend knew there was just one person in Newport who suspectedhim of being a thief; this person must be put out of the way. The fineRaffles preferred not to use violence, but at any cost he must win.
Harry Townsend had not recognized Bab in the gypsy tent, which served,for the time, to avert his suspicions from her. He believed she had onlyarrived, when he met her with Miss Stuart late in the evening. Then whowas the gypsy? Either Barbara had seen her, some time in the afternoon,and told her the story of the necklace, or there was some one else whobelieved he had had a part in the robberies. He must find out.
"Gladys," Harry Townsend said, "don't let us dance all evening. I havenot had any kind of chance to talk to you alone. Come out on the verandawith me, won't you?"
Gladys and Harry seated themselves on the front porch, whence they couldlook through an open window at the dancers.
"Do you know Mrs. Cartwright very intimately, Gladys?" inquired Mr.Townsend.
"Oh, no," returned G
ladys, pettishly. If Harry Townsend had brought herout on the veranda to talk about Mrs. Cartwright, then she might as wellhave stayed indoors. "Why do you ask?"
Harry Townsend frowned, then put his hands before his eyes. Gladys wasso silly. She had served to introduce him to her friends at Newport.Now, if he could only make her useful in other ways!
"Are you angry?" Gladys asked after a moment, "What is it that you wantto know about Mrs. Cartwright?"
"Oh, I don't want to know anything about Mrs. Cartwright at all, Gladys.I am sorry I spoke of it, if the subject offends you. But I did feel alittle curious to know where she got hold of the gypsies she had in thetent this afternoon. I thought you would be interested."
"I am interested, Harry," declared Gladys. She was only a spoiled child,and could not help showing it. "But I am not a favorite of Mrs.Cartwright's. It's my delightful cousins that she adores--Mollie and Bab.I can ask one of them to inquire."
"Oh, no," drawled Harry, "it is not of enough importance for that."
For the next half hour Harry devoted himself to the whims of Gladys. Hecould see Barbara through the window, looking pale and tired. This gaveall the more reason for believing that she had not recovered from theshock of her experience on the cliffs.
The cleverest man will sometimes make a false move. Harry Townsend wastired of Gladys, weary of her whims and foolishness. Besides, she hadserved his purpose; he was almost through with her.
"Shall we take a walk, Gladys?" he asked.
As they walked down the path toward the cliff, this up-to-date Raffles,whose fingers were more agile than a magician's, pressed Gladys's handfor a moment. At the same instant, he slipped her jeweled bracelet intohis pocket. "I don't want the bauble," he said to himself, "but shemight as well be punished for not doing what I ask her."
At the same moment a blond man stepped out from among the bushes andasked Harry for a light for his cigarette.
Miss Stuart and her girls were saying good-night to Mrs. Cartwright.Hugh Post and Ralph were to escort them home. As Barbara came down thesteps with her wraps on, some one touched her on the arm.
"Miss," the detective whispered, "I know the man you pointed out to me;but I have got to see you again. Tell me how we can manage it."
"Oh," said Barbara, hopelessly, "I don't know. Miss Sallie will be soangry!"
"You can't quit us now," the detective urged. "Why not come out in themorning, before any of your folks are up."
"Yes," agreed Barbara, quickly. She didn't have time to refuse. MissSallie was coming toward her, and looked in surprise at Barbara'sstrange companion. "Come on, child," she said, "it is time you and Ruthwere both in bed."
"Down the street, two turnings to the right," Barbara heard a voicebehind her whisper, as she turned away.
Gladys was crying, as she made her way to Miss Stuart for comfort. "MissStuart," she said, "I have lost my pearl bracelet. Mother told me it wastoo handsome for me to wear. Now she'll be angry with me. I didn't thinkit mattered if I wore it this one time. It was large, I suppose, and itslipped off my hand somewhere."
"Never mind, Gladys," advised Harry Townsend, coming up to her. "If itis stolen, the thief is sure to be caught."
"Why do you stare at us so, Barbara?" demanded Gladys, angrily. "I amsure you look all eyes."
"I beg your pardon," murmured Barbara.
Automobile Girls at Newport; Or, Watching the Summer Parade Page 18