Dorothy Dale: A Girl of To-Day
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CHAPTER IV
A CLEW
As the druggist had anticipated, a citizens' committee was formed torun down the assailant of Dorothy and Tavia. The hat bore the mark of aRochester house, so that was something of a clew. A hatless man oughtto be easy enough to identify, but of course, he had managed to get ahead covering somewhere; stole it, perhaps, from an open hallway.
But, after an exhaustive search, and much questioning of persons whomight have seen the man, no news of importance was turned in at thecommittee meeting.
Mr. Travers had what he considered a tangible clew. Miles Burlock hadtold him that a man from Rochester had been hounding him for weeks, andthat he pretended to know something of Burlock's business.
"Burlock, it seems," Mr. Travers said at the meeting, "was, in someway, connected with the Douglass family. There is money in the affair,however it may concern Burlock and Mrs. Douglass, and this stranger isafter the cash."
"But what in the world has these children to do with that?" asked thechairman.
Ralph Willoby stood up.
"It seems, Mr. Chairman," he said, "that the first time the man gave ustrouble was when we sent to learn something about Mrs. Douglass' death.He secured the notes to prevent us from publishing anything about thelady. Then he threatened to blow up the Bugle office if we did print anobituary. This did not intimidate us, and when the paper was out hewaited for the little boys, sons of Major Dale, to harm them possibly.It was then that one of the girls saw and recognized him, and he, beingsure of this, made off. A few minutes later he intercepted both girlson the stairs, tried to frighten them with some drug, took the papersfrom Miss Dorothy Dale, and again made his escape."
This was by far the most intelligent account of the affair yet given,and after its recital many of the men thought they could see a solutionof the mystery.
"But how do you associate all this with Miles Burlock?" Ralph wasquestioned by the chairman: "I know Mrs. Douglass had a specialinterest in that man," went on Ralph. "I have known her to give himmoney to buy respectable clothes with, and,--well there is no need tomake public our brother's misfortunes. At any rate, it seems plain tome that this stranger was trying to keep the news of Mrs. Douglass'death away from Burlock."
"Has any one seen Burlock lately?" was next asked.
No one had; in fact his absence had been noticed by many present. Hewas not a common drunkard, and that was probably why such an interestwas manifested in his possible entire reformation.
This was all of importance that occurred at the meeting, and thecommittee adjourned with instructions to continue their work.
It was a beautiful spring evening. The air was soft with blossoms, anda perfumed dew made all of Dalton like a rose garden.
Major Dale was improving rapidly, in fact he had recovered so quicklythat this evening he insisted upon sitting out of doors for a fewminutes. The doctor had discontinued calling, and said the attack wasmore of overfatigue from the march on Memorial Day than anything else.Both Dorothy and Tavia had been absent from school the past week butthis was Sunday evening, and they would both go back to-morrow.
Dorothy went over to talk about it with her friend.
"Well, it will be something to have another chance at Lady Sarah," saidTavia, when Dorothy had finished telling her to be sure and have herfather write an excuse to hand to Miss Ellis. "I don't mind school somuch when there is something else to think of in between. And the girlswill be tickled too, for they all love a good fight."
"Now, Tavia, you must stop that kind of talk if you are going to be afriend of mine," counseled Dorothy. "I cannot be considered your friendif you will not be--ladylike--"
"Like Lady Sarah," Tavia finished, laughing. "Well, all right, Dorodear," and she gave her chum a bear-like hug, "I'll be as good aspie,--lemon meringue at that,--so don't worry any more."
"Have you heard anything about the man?" Dorothy asked cautiously, forit was almost dark, and the girls were walking back to the Dalehomestead.
"Not a word," answered Tavia, "except that father thinks he has goneout of Dalton altogether."
"And I have not seen Miles Burlock all week," commented Dorothy, "Youknow I had been trying to get him to reform."
"Everybody seems to be trying to do that."
"Well, Ralph told me he had seen Burlock crying like a baby one daybecause a little girl asked him for a penny. And Ralph thinks perhapsthere was some little girl in Miles' story,--a daughter maybe--and hesuggested that I try my influence with Miles."
"Did he cry like a baby over you?" teased Tavia, with poor appreciationof her friend's efforts to help along the Liquor Crusade.
"Now please, Tavia, don't be absurd. There is something wonderfullywinning about Mr. Burlock."
"Of course there is. Wicked people are always winners."
"I won't tell you one thing more!"
"Now Doro! Doro! You know I love to hear you talk that way. And if itwere not so dark I could see your eyes show how deep they are, justlike the Jacks-in-the-Pulpit I gathered in the woods yesterday. You arenothing like a wild flower, more like a beautiful pink and whitehyacinth, that grows in the Douglass garden; but sometimes, when youpretend to be angry, you make me think of the wood flowers. They havesuch a way of blooming best when some other growing thing tries to stopthem. Jacks-in-the-Pulpit grow right up through stones, and bloom intangles of poison ivy."
"I am sure I have no right to compare myself with flowers," answeredthe other pleasantly, for she always admired her friend's poetic ideas,although other people might laugh at them.
"Shows she is thoughtful, anyway," Dorothy would tell herself, "andthat is what Ralph meant when he said she could not make seriousmistakes when she followed the advice of her kind heart."
The Dale house could be seen through the trees now. Voices were heardoutside; perhaps the boys playing some games.
"I'll leave you here," said Tavia, "you are not afraid of bugaboos areyou?"
"Not a bit," answered Dorothy, laughing. "Be sure to be on time atschool to-morrow. No use adding coals to the fire."
"It depends on whether you intend to wash, bake, or iron. Now I amgoing to do all three at school to-morrow, so I may as well keep up agood, warm fire;" and giving her chum a hearty hug Tavia started off.
Dorothy stopped as she neared the piazza.
Surely that was a strange voice. A man was talking very earnestly toher father.
It was Miles Burlock!