Doris Force at Locked Gates; Or, Saving a Mysterious Fortune

by Julia K. Duncan

  CHAPTER VI LOCKED GATES

  Kitty Norris had always been popular at school, for she had a charmingway of fitting into things. Before she had been in Chilton an hour shefelt perfectly acquainted with Wardell Force, Mrs. Mallow, Marshmallowand even Jake. Marshmallow in particular took an immediate liking to herand tried to monopolize her time.

  "You know," Kitty admitted that night, after the girls had gone to theirroom, "I sort of like Marshall. He's so jolly."

  "I thought you were quite taken by him," Doris laughed. "It's plain tosee Marshmallow has taken a distinct liking to you."

  "Doris Force!"

  "Well, he has. Too bad he's so fat."

  "He is a little stout," Kitty admitted.

  "Stout!" Doris teased. "How you have fallen!"

  "Well, then I guess we're even," Kitty retorted. "You and Dave--"

  "We'd better be tumbling into bed," Doris interposed hastily, "or wewon't be rested for our trip tomorrow to Locked Gates."

  Shortly after eleven o'clock the following morning, David Chamberlincalled for the girls. Wardell Force had of necessity taken an early trainout of the city, so there were only Jake, Marshmallow and his mother tosee them off.

  "Wish I were going," the plump youth murmured enviously. "Still, I have asneaking notion it won't be as jolly as you think down there at LockedGates."

  "Then we'll liven the place up," Doris declared lightly.

  Dave drove rather slowly, for neither he nor the girls were eager toreach Rumson before the middle of the afternoon. Doris and Kitty had goneto great pains to prepare and pack a dainty lunch and the three plannedto stop some place along the road for a picnic.

  The day was unpleasantly warm and sultry. As they took the main highwayleading to Rumson, Doris glanced anxiously at the scattered clouds whichwere to be seen overhead.

  "I hope it doesn't rain and spoil our picnic," she said.

  "Oh, I don't think it will," Dave replied. "The sky is almost clear."

  It was true that the sun was shining brightly, but the sky had a dullappearance which Doris did not like. However, as they motored alongenjoying the scenery, she forgot the matter completely.

  "I'm beginning to get hungry," Dave announced as it approached noon. "Wemay as well begin to look for a good place to stop."

  Presently, Doris caught sight of an attractive grove of trees ahead.

  "That's just the spot!" she declared. "Cool and shady and not too closeto the road."

  Dave parked the roadster just off the highway and they took the hamperover to the grove.

  "This is a dandy place," Kitty approved. "I believe there's a spring backthere among the rocks."

  Dave had been gazing thoughtfully toward a sign.

  "I'm not sure that we should have stopped here," he said.

  "Why not?" Doris demanded quickly.

  "We seem to have camped pretty close to the entrance to the GlenvilleRoadhouse. However, we're not on their property."

  "What difference does it make?" Kitty asked innocently.

  "Well--" Dave hesitated. "This roadhouse doesn't have much of areputation, so I've been told."

  "Perhaps we had better leave," Doris suggested.

  "We have everything all spread out," Kitty complained, "and this is thenicest grove we've passed. We're not even within sight of the roadhouse."

  "I don't believe it will do any harm to stay here," Dave agreed. "We'llsoon be on our way again."

  They sat down and began to eat luncheon. There were thin sandwiches,ice-cold lemonade, salad, pickles, and some of Mrs. Mallow's deliciouscookies and cake. Long before they had finished, they realized that theirimaginations had been more ambitious than their appetites.

  "I can't eat another thing," Kitty groaned.

  "It's a shame to let these sandwiches go to waste," Dave excused himself,selecting one made of chicken.

  "Bet you can't take it all in one bite," Doris dared him on.

  "A little thing like that? Just watch me! Why you're not looking!"

  It was true that Doris was no longer interested. A red roadster hadturned into the lane leading to the roadhouse, and she had caught aglimpse of the driver's face.

  "It's that same man we saw at the aviation meet!" she exclaimed."Evidently, he intends to have luncheon at the roadhouse."

  "Must not care much for his reputation," Dave returned.

  "You know, I don't like this place," Doris said quietly. "Now that we'vefinished eating, let's be on our way."

  "Right-o!" Dave sprang up and began to pack the dishes into the hamper.

  As he placed the basket into the rear of the roadster he surveyed the skyand frowned slightly.

  "It's beginning to look more like rain than it did," he admitted. "I'mafraid we'd better make full steam ahead or we may get caught in astorm."

  Kitty and Doris did not hear, for their attention had been attracted to alittle brown dog which stood in the roadway regarding them with wistful,friendly eyes.

  "Oh, isn't he cute!" Doris exclaimed. "Here, doggie! Come here!"

  The little animal first backed timidly away and then, as the girlscontinued to coax, hesitated, and finally came a few steps toward them,wagging his tail in a friendly way. As Doris stooped to pat him on thehead he gave a pleased bark, and raising up on his hind legs, eagerlyoffered her his right paw.

  "He knows tricks," Doris declared. "Oh, I wonder who owns him?"

  "Looks to me like a stray dog," Dave told her. "He hasn't any collar orlicense. The dog catcher will likely get him before long."

  "Not if I can help it!" Doris declared. "If he doesn't belong to anyone,we can take him with us."

  "What will the Misses Gates say when you come dragging him in?" Daveasked with a smile.

  "Oh, they won't care. He's such a darling!"

  "What shall we name him?" Kitty questioned.

  "Let's call him Wags," Doris exclaimed impulsively. "The name seemsappropriate."

  Wags had no objection to entering the car and snuggled down comfortablybetween the two girls. With an anxious glance at the sky, Dave startedthe engine.

  "Looks like a big storm is rolling up," he said.

  The girls had been so interested in Wags that they had paid scantattention to the clouds, but now as Doris looked about, she was alarmed.The air was oppressive and not a breath of wind was stirring. Heavy blackclouds had loomed up in the west and rapidly were spreading over theentire sky.

  "I think I can get you to Locked Gates before it strikes us," Dave saidgrimly, as he shifted gears and stepped heavily on the gas pedal. "Holdtight!"

  The roadster fairly shot down the road. As the figures crept upwards onthe tape of the speedometer, Doris and Kitty clung to each other. Notuntil the car began to rock and weave on the road, did Dave reduce hisspeed and then only slightly. However, he held the roadster steady andhandled the wheel with such a sure hand, that the girls had confidence inhis driving.

  It was the appearance of the sky which frightened them. The sun had beenentirely blotted from sight, and though it was mid-afternoon, it seemednearly as dark as night. Dave snapped on the headlights.

  "I'll get you to Locked Gates before the storm breaks," he announced inrelief as they rounded a sharp curve and came within sight of Rumson."Fortunately, the place is right at the edge of town."

  A few minutes later, he brought the car to a groaning halt in front ofthe old Gates estate. In the gathering darkness the girls caught but aglimpse of the large, rambling house which was set back some distancefrom the road, but that was sufficient to assure them that it was gloomyand forbidding.

  "Here you are," Dave said briskly. "Nice place for a murder!"

  "Ugh!" Doris murmured. "You make my hair stand on end!"

  "I almost wish we hadn't come," Kitty said nervously.

  "Oh, everything's all right. I was only joking." Dave sprang from the carand went over to try the double gates which barred the entrance. "Just asI thought! Locked!
"

  "Then how are we to get in?" Doris questioned.

  "There's an entrance at the rear. Guess these gates are always keptlocked. We'll try the other gate."

  Driving the roadster down a side street, he found the back entrance andhelped the girls to alight. As he picked up their suitcases to take themto the door, Doris glanced again at the storm clouds. A streak oflightning flashed across the sky, and she knew that unless Dave startedback at once, he would be caught in the rain.

  "Don't bother to take us to the door," she commanded. "Start for Chiltonthis minute!"

  "I don't like to leave you here until I know everything is O. K.," heprotested.

  "It's only a step to the door, Dave. Be a good boy and don't wait."

  "Well, since you insist, I will start, because it looks like a storm andthe roads may get slippery."

  Hastily the three said goodbye and Dave sprang into the roadster. Heslammed the door shut and was gone before the girls had managed tounfasten the gate.

  "It does look spooky," Kitty quavered.

  Doris laughed uncertainly. She managed to open the gate and it swung backon creaking hinges. A sudden breath of wind struck her face and wentwhistling through the trees.

  The house, half-hidden by shrubbery, was shrouded in deepest gloom, andno light glimmered from the windows. Doris hesitated as she picked up hersuitcase. Kitty held back, and even Wags seemed reluctant to venture downthe path.

  "Come on, Kitty," Doris admonished, "Everything is all right."

  As she spoke, a gust of wind whined through the trees, and to the girlsit sounded strangely like the wailing of a human being in distress.

  "Oh, I don't like it here," Kitty murmured timidly. "I'm afraid."

  "There's nothing to be afraid of, Kit. Just follow me."

  Carrying their heavy suitcases, the girls groped their way down the path.It was so dark now that they could not see where they were going andfrequently brushed against shrubbery. Wags had disappeared.

  Suddenly, Kitty gave a frightened cry as she stumbled over the root of atree. Catching Doris's arm to save herself from a bad fall, she permittedher pocketbook to slip from her hand. It opened as it struck the ground,and the contents spilled in every direction.

  "Look what I've done now!" Kitty wailed.

  Doris set her suitcase down and helped her chum search for the things shehad lost. They found a pencil, a compact and a number of bills, whenanother flash of lightning momentarily illumined the path.

  "Never mind the rest," Kitty said nervously. "I've found everythingexcept a quarter, and I'll look for that tomorrow."

  They continued on up the path and came to the old mansion. The placeappeared dark and deserted and Kitty would have retreated, had not Dorisgripped her firmly by the arm. Bravely, she lifted the old-fashionedknocker.

  Huddled together on the veranda, the girls waited. When no one came toadmit them, Doris again knocked. Just as she was beginning to think thatit was no use, they heard a heavy step. Then the door opened and a man,bearing an oil light, peered out at them.

  Before either Doris or Kitty could explain their mission, there came anunexpected yelp. To their horror, Wags, suddenly appearing from beneath alilac bush, rushed past them straight at the man in the doorway, strikinghim with such force that he toppled him over.

  A heavy peal of thunder resounded as the man slumped to the floor in aqueer sort of kneeling position which, at any other time, would have beenprovokingly funny to Doris Force and her chum. But this was seriousbusiness and such a dilemma!

  "Wags!" shouted Doris, "Come here, come here!"

  The dog bounded into the kitchen, around a table, sniffed at some cakeplaced dangerously near the table edge, madly rushed to a basket ofpotatoes throwing the potatoes in all directions over the smooth floor,and then at the call from Doris headed again towards the doorway with adish towel playfully dragging between his teeth.

  "Here, puppy, here!" commanded Kitty, catching her breath and settingdown her suitcase, while Doris tried to catch a corner of the linen asthe dog jumped over the bewildered man, pulling the cloth over the man'shead.

  "Help, oh, ouch, help!" shouted the man. "Call your mutt off! Help! Letme get up!"

  "Wags, doggie, doggie, come here!" pleaded Doris, as she realized the manwas now in no mood to be trifled with.

  She and Kitty decided that they now must command their new pet'sattention.