“They can’t be all right,” said Rodney. “Take her at once, and don’t let her out of your sight. I’ll call Major Haverly.”
He went to the telephone. “Major Haverly,” he said in a low voice when the door was closed again, after the frightened girl and her escort, “I have just sent a young woman down to you under guard. I found her in my office standing in front of the safe, taking out papers. Please see that she is thoroughly searched and pay no attention to any of her claims. She is not my secretary and never has been, and you cannot always believe what she says. This is important. I haven’t had opportunity to see what is missing from the safe. I will check the list at once.”
“Yes, Commander Graeme. I will attend to your order. She has just arrived. Reporting later.”
Jessica was stiff with fright, yet she knew she must somehow brazen this out. If she only could get that terrible paper out of her bag. No matter what became of it, it wouldn’t be in her possession.
But when she tried to fumble with the clasp of her bag the sharp-eyed keepers watched her every move, and there presently arrived a woman to search her, who seemed to miss nothing. The officers were at a distance, but she knew she could make no move without their notice. Now if only that woman would only pass by that paper and not notice it!
But no! She opened the bag at last and found the paper the first thing. A gimlet-eyed woman who knew every sign of official paper and knew what was important and what was not.
“Officer!” she called, and handed over the paper, also the handbag.
Jessica began to cry. “But I need that bag,” she said, “and I need all those papers. Some of them aren’t mine.”
“That’s right, they’re not,” said the officer coldly. “You took some of these out of the safe.”
“No,” she said. “No, I didn’t. I only took out what I was told to take out. I’m a secretary, you know. I was sent to get them.”
“Who sent you?” The sharp eyes of three officers were instantly upon her. They saw her flinch. They knew her guilt. The head one spoke a single word, and the others put handcuffs on her slender wrists and marched her away to a small room that was like a prison cell. More orders were given in low tones, and then she was left there with two women police, and one orderly at the door.
She cried a lot and begged them to send for her friends. She said she had many friends both in the army and the navy who would help her. At last she asked them to send for her husband, and she was frightened afterward when she saw a knowing look pass between the men who were guarding her. Also she remembered Carver had told her never to speak his name or he would be in trouble. But surely he didn’t expect her to get arrested, did he? It was time he did something about this himself. He had no right to let her suffer. Even the blue diamond wasn’t enough to pay her for going through a thing like this.
By night Jessica was taken to a place of safekeeping. She was fed and made comfortable, but she was definitely a prisoner, and from remarks she overheard now and then she gathered that there were a lot more suspects in this also. Oh, what was she in for?
At last she wrote a most piteous note to Rodney, telling him what trouble she was in and asking him to come to her at once, but though they took the note, they did not give it to Rodney. He was having trouble enough rounding up others of this gang and going over a mass of important papers that had been tampered with. Of course this was something that had been going on before Jessica had arrived on the scene, but she was definitely linked up with it, and he suspected that the honorable old De Groot was at the bottom of the whole matter, which probably originated out of the country.
So that night Rodney did not get home to the delightful dinner that had been prepared. Instead he telephoned that there was trouble at the plant and he must stay till things were straightened out.
Jeremy came later for him in response to his phone call, and they felt that the real work of their new labors had begun in earnest.
Jeremy frowned when he heard that Jessica was connected with the trouble, and he blamed himself. “I knew something was going on,” he said, “but I didn’t suspect it was as serious as this. There’ll be a trial of course?”
“Sure,” said Rodney.
“She’ll try to get you to help her out,” said Jeremy.
“No way,” said Rodney. “They wouldn’t allow it, even if I would, and I don’t see getting into this. If she’s guilty, she’s guilty, and they’ll soon find it out. And even if she didn’t know any better, she has to learn her lesson. These people that play fast and loose with their country’s honor are just as bad as our enemies and need punishment every bit as much.”
“Certainly,” said Jeremy. “But what do you think will happen to them? Will they be shot?”
“Some of them, perhaps, but most of them will be put in jail well guarded. Better off than some of the war prisoners, of course, but they’ll not be able to carry on any of their machinations. They’ll be out of circulation till they learn how to be decent. Some of them will be out of circulation for life. But that’s the only way to make the world safe for the coming generation. Of course we can’t make the world perfect, and it won’t be, till the Lord Jesus comes, but it will help to have right living possible for everybody. They won’t all want it, nor take it, but those who want it ought to be able to get it and not be under the domination of cruel fools.”
So they talked it over, these two, who were sorely heavy-hearted over the world and the way that Satan had deceived the multitudes. But they went on, living near to God and trying not to bring their daily worries into their dear homes that were so precious to them.
A little later came the trial, for they had rounded up Jessica’s husband and his gang and were sifting the whole matter down to facts, and later the names all came out in the paper. They had all been sent away to a safe place, Jessica with the rest, and poor Louella read about it in the paper and cried a great deal. She went off to a lonely little hotel in a far part of California and disguised herself, fearing that she, too might be rounded up with the criminals because of her close association with Jessica.
But the dear young people about whom all this trouble had circulated and tried to harm, went strongly on in the power of their Lord and were glad that they had found each other and found a Lord who could sustain them.
Saturday was on its way, and Rodney was very glad that he need not worry anymore about Jessica, nor have to deal with her in any way. He knew she was in the hands of right and just men who would find out the truth if anybody could and deal with her as she should be dealt with in order to teach her righteousness of a sort, and make her see that she could not play with sin and treachery and not take the punishment when a law of the land was broken.
Chapter 22
On Saturday, up in New York, Diana and Rodney walked into the Winters’ apartment just half an hour after the arrival of the father and mother.
They found Diana’s mother frantically trying to telephone her daughter back in Riverton.
It must be said that Mrs. Winters was at once impressed by Rodney’s uniform, not to mention the stripes and other decorations, all of which she took in thoroughly, at a glance, even while she was standing by the telephone, receiver in hand, insisting that the operator ring Riverton again.
Then when she saw Diana, who rushed to embrace her at once, she hung up the receiver and turned to face her and the young lieutenant commander with such notable decorations and such a handsome face.
It certainly was incredible, she thought, the way Diana always managed to attract the good-looking men, and high officers. This young man was almost better looking than Bates Hibberd. Where did she find him? Not surely in that little backwoods town of Riverton! Then she smilingly held out a welcoming hand and was introduced. Diana with pride gave Rodney all his titles, even the newly acquired one that he had only worn a day or two, and she had the great pleasure of seeing her mother look him over with eyes of approval.
Then she heard her father coming dow
nstairs, and she called, “Daddy, come here! I want you to meet somebody I’ve brought home,” and there followed another introduction.
I knew Dad would like him, I knew, I knew, she whispered to her heart as she saw the hearty grip he gave Rodney, and his smiling, interested glance.
Suddenly, as they all sat down and the mother was prepared to ask a few routine questions about their journey and so on, Diana burst in with her news. “Mother and Dad, this is a very special person I’ve brought home with me, because I am going to marry him just as soon as we can arrange it. We love each other, and we think that’s all that matters. He has a good government job, so I won’t starve, and I hope you’ll approve. This is Rodney’s place to say all this first, I know, but I wanted you to know where I stand before he begins, so there won’t be anything said that you’ll be sorry for afterward, because this is the man I’m going to marry!”
Then Rodney came to the front. “I didn’t know she was going to do this, first, but I hope you’ll excuse me for being slow. I came up here to ask your permission to marry your daughter. I’ve brought all my credentials with me, which you can examine at your leisure, but I sure hope you’ll approve, for I love her a lot, and I’m going to make it my chief business to make her happy as long as I live.”
Then Father Winters fell in line gallantly. “Well, young man, I don’t know you, of course, but I like your looks, and I’m willing to take you on faith until I can know you better.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Rodney warmly, grasping the offered hand of the man whom he had been afraid was going to be just another enemy to be conquered, as he had conquered the enemies across the water. But suddenly he knew that the eyes into which he was looking seemed definitely to be friendly eyes, and his heart grew warm and happy. Then he turned to meet the mother whom he had been led to understand would be the hard one to please.
But amazingly Mrs. Winters was smiling, looking almost shy as she held out a lovely hand. “Well, I guess what Papa has approved, I will have to approve, too,” she said in her most gracious manner. “But we love our girl a great deal, you know, and you’ll have to measure up to the requirements if you’re going to please us.”
The mother gave him a scrutinizing look. Good heavens! Was he religious? Or was this just put on for the occasion? But Rodney was smiling and drawing Diana close to his side with her fingers squeezed tightly in his own, and he suddenly turned and gave her a kiss, so tender and genuine that the mother was won entirely over.
“And now,” said Rodney, standing there with Diana’s hand still in his, “we’d like, if you don’t mind, to go right to the authorities and get a marriage license, for I have to go on duty at my new job on Monday, and I’d like to take my wife down with me just as soon as possible. Could we possibly have it the next Saturday?”
“But—but—but!” said Mrs. Winters. “We couldn’t possibly arrange a wedding that soon. There are clothes to be bought, a whole trousseau, a wedding dress. It takes time to get clothes together to be married, my dears. Make it six months at least. Clothes take a lot of time!”
“Clothes!” sniffed Diana cheerfully. “What are clothes? I’ve got plenty for the time being, and even if you insist on a new one for the wedding, I can get that in an hour, I’m sure.”
“But, my dear! You couldn’t possibly get the invitations out in that time. A week! It’s preposterous!”
“But why have invitations? We can call up the few people we like best and just have it a quick war wedding. I don’t want a lot of stuff to put away in a trunk in the attic for the rest of my life the way you did with your wedding dress. I have it, Mother! I’ll wear your wedding dress if you’ll let me.”
“Why, of course,” said the father. “That would be great. It will fit her, I’m sure. You were as slim as she is when you were married, my dear.”
But Mother Winters drew her fine proportions up and lifted her chin haughtily and said, “Now, Edward, I haven’t changed so much.”
“Why no, of course not, my dear. You’re just as charming as when I first fell in love with you.”
So great joy descended upon the two young people, and even the dazed parents began to think that life was pretty nice.
It helped a lot, too, when there came a telephone message from the other would-be bridegroom, saying he was to be sent overseas at once and wouldn’t be able to come back to see Diana at present. But nobody was thinking anything about him, only Diana who wrote a nice little note of farewell and good wishes, and called that part of her life a closed incident.
They had a lot of fun and were very busy that week.
Of course Rodney had to get back to the plant early Monday morning, but as soon as the marriage license was arranged for, he had gotten in touch with his family at home and told them the good news so they could rejoice with him as soon as he returned. They were overjoyed at the news, and they all promised to come up to New York for the wedding, just for the day, of course. So Mrs. Winters had plenty to do finding rooms for them all and getting ready for a real house party, a thing she adored doing.
Diana tried on her mother’s dress and found it needed very little alteration, and they simply eliminated all shopping for the time being.
It was a trial for the mother to give up all this delightful shopping, for the present, but she surrendered gracefully, with a resigned smile.
“I’ll get you a lot of lovely things afterward,” she said, “when we have more time to find what we want.”
It was a goodly trainload of guests who came up the morning of the wedding day to see Diana and Rodney married.
Margaret Graeme wondered on the way whether Louella would ever forgive them that she should have started away only the day before the knowledge of the wedding came to the Graeme family. But Louella hadn’t left an address where they could have reached her, and of course they were all just as well pleased not to have to have her.
And so it was going to be only the real families, Graemes, Sandersons, and a few very intimate friends and relatives of the Winters family. Though all their New York friends understood that they might come to the church if they cared to, as it was to be quite an informal affair.
The wedding was to be in the great stone church that the Winters family had attended for generations, and Mother Winters was having her own way about the decorations, costly, refined, and beautiful as any dream. Lilies and roses and palms and great lacy ferns and masses of white azaleas. But then the decorations were only a matter of an order to the best florist of New York, so everything was fitting and beautiful, and everybody satisfied.
The reception was supposed to be private, for the families and very intimates, but that, too, was only the matter of an order to the best caterer in the city. Mrs. Winters had nothing to weary her naturally sweet temper. There were no hitches nor mistakes, nothing to show the difference between the quiet station of one family and the smarter station of the other, with the sensible, lovely Sandersons in between.
Jeremy of course was best man, and Beryl maid of honor.
The flowers were wonderful, and Diana’s bouquet was as lovely as if she were marrying a millionaire. It was Rodney’s one chance to show what he liked best for his dear bride. White roses, many of them, with maidenhair ferns, and smiling mistily in between, giving lightness to the whole spray, little waxen lilies of the valley. He enjoyed getting that armful of flowers for his dear girl. He had had so little opportunity as yet to show her how he loved her.
And even his new mother-in-law said it was exquisite!
The wedding was in the early evening, and they were going away soon after the ceremony so they might have one whole beautiful day to themselves before they had to go back into the world and begin to live. Rodney regretted so that they might not have a regular honeymoon and go away somewhere together, but Diana only smiled and said that was the way most servicemen were having to do now while the war still lasted. And they were going to be together now in their own little home, a cottage at the upper end of t
he Graeme farm for the present, so it didn’t matter.
Thank God Rodney didn’t have to leave the next day and go back overseas, as so many war men had to do and leave their brides alone with an ocean and peril between them.
Besides, Diana was in a hurry to get home and get her house ready for her parents’ first visit, when the Winters would really get acquainted with her dear Graemes.
And now, let’s go to the wedding, all of us.
The organ was playing sweet hymns.
“But hymns! Darling! Not hymns for a wedding,” protested Diana’s mother. “Just hymns! I have never heard of such a thing! You don’t want to be outlandish. You couldn’t really have such an innovation. It would scarcely be, well, respectable! Just hymns and no other music! I thought you were talking about that wonderful singer. Aren’t you going to have him sing something? Yes, I thought so! And the “ ‘Wedding March,’ ” you know. It wouldn’t seem right without that, of course. But hymns are not at all fitting at such a time of rejoicing. Hymns are so somber and gloomy.”
But Diana was firm. “It’s my wedding, isn’t it, Mother? Well, that’s the way I want it. That’s the way we both want it. It’s to be a kind of declaration of our faith!”
“What nonsense!” said her mother with a worried frown.
But the organ was playing sweet old hymns that meant very much to the bridal party. Softly, tenderly, the organ spoke, like a prayer breathed for the lives of those two who were to be joined in marriage. Some were lovely like the evening, some cheerful like the morning, and some triumphant, as when the words that belonged to their harmonies spoke of the coming of the Lord to those who understood.
Diana had compromised on having the “Wedding March” played just as she stood at the door ready to enter, for her mother had been so aggrieved and felt its absence so keenly that she could not seem to be comforted to have it left out.
So the great organist somehow was made to understand about these two with shining eyes who went to explain it to him, and so he made the “Wedding March” sound very far away at first, then drawing nearer, and nearer, till when the bride stood at the very door it melted into a triumphant note or two and went gloriously into another great sounding hymn.
Girl to Come Home To Page 23