Doris Force at Locked Gates; Or, Saving a Mysterious Fortune
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CHAPTER XXIV FACE TO FACE
"I speak the truth," Doris insisted indignantly, "and furthermore, RonaldTrent, I am convinced that you are nothing but an impostor. You areplotting with Henry and Cora Sully to swindle these people--out ofeverything!"
"Doris!" Iris remonstrated.
"She's lost her mind!" Cora exclaimed.
Thoroughly aroused at the false accusations made against herself and herchum, Doris could not have remained quiet had she wished. However, sheforced herself to speak calmly.
"You shall not have a cent of my money when Jake arrives with it," shetold Ronald.
"We shall see," he returned, glaring back at her. "You have already lentthe money to the Misses Gates and they have promised it to me. Haven'tyou?"
Azalea and Iris, pale with excitement, nodded their heads miserably.
"We've given you nearly every cent we have of our own," Iris admitted,"and we did promise you Doris's money. We trusted you--and now thesedreadful accusations."
"What can you expect when you bring strangers into the house?"
"But we needed Doris's help so much, Ronald," Azalea protested, "and sheisn't the same as a stranger."
"You are willing to accept her word against mine?"
"Oh, Ronald, please don't take that attitude," Iris pleaded. "We want tobelieve you both, but surely something is wrong."
Ronald laughed shortly.
"I told you once I'd straighten out everything. Just send these intruderson their way."
Azalea and Iris exchanged uneasy glances. They did not know what to do.For the sake of John Trent, the man they loved, they felt they could notbe disloyal to his son, and yet they were reluctant to ask Doris andKitty to leave, particularly as they had been given a special invitationto visit their home. The girls had told a very straightforward story, buton the other hand Cora and Henry were old servants.
"I don't know what to do," Iris murmured.
"There's only one thing to do and that's to send these girls packing,"Ronald told her firmly. "Let me handle this for you."
"But we want those important papers back," Azalea protested. "Tell uswhere they are."
"How should I know?" Ronald demanded harshly. "These girls have probablyhid them somewhere!"
"You know that isn't true!" Doris snapped. "We've told you where you'llfind the papers, but apparently you're afraid to look!"
Ronald scowled. He had been trying to induce the Misses Gates to sendDoris and Kitty away before they thought of bringing up again the subjectof the lost property. He realized that the girls had it in their power toplace him in an extremely awkward position. He hoped to bluff his waythrough by appealing to the sympathies of the two ladies.
Cora and Henry paled as Doris reminded Azalea and Iris of the suitcase.The housekeeper trembled and clung to her husband for support.
"Just look at them," Ronald declared. "They're crushed at the accusationagainst their good names. Here they have served long and faithfully andnow these girls try to brand them as thieves!"
"Oh, Ronald, we aren't branding any one," Iris said at the point oftears. "We only want to get at the truth."
Doris and Kitty were at their wits' end. In every manner possible theyhad tried to convince the Misses Gates of their innocence, but theyrealized that no matter how strong was the case against Ronald Trent, theladies would give him the benefit of the doubt. Only positive proof wouldshake their faith in him, for in their minds they had built up a dreamman. It was difficult for them to see Ronald in his true colors.
Realizing this, it seemed to Doris that the best thing the girls could dowould be to leave the mansion at once. Perhaps later, the Misses Gateswould realize their error.
"We have caused you enough worry and pain," she said quietly. "Kitty andI will pack our things and leave at once."
"But our lost papers!" Iris half sobbed.
"We can only tell you what we've said before," Doris declared. "You'llfind them in Henry's suitcase!"
"I don't see why we shouldn't look, at any rate," Azalea murmured."Ronald, don't you think it would be the best way to clear up thisfrightful muddle?"
"I wouldn't give that much credit to the trumped-up story," he returnedcondescendingly. "My dear ladies, don't take this matter so seriously."
Azalea eyed him with the first glimmer of distrust.
"After all, it happens to be _our_ papers that are missing," she told himtartly. "I think we shall have a look inside that suitcase!"
Cora and Henry, now thoroughly frightened, began to back toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Azalea asked sharply.
"We are leaving," Cora told her sullenly. "We won't remain in this houseto be insulted!"
"You'll not leave until we have examined your suitcase," Azalea retorted,displaying more spirit than the girls had known she possessed.
"You'll not find any papers there!" Henry cried. "Not unless these girlsframed us!"
"That's probably just what they did do!" Cora chimed in, catching at thestraw. "I'll bet they put them in our suitcase, so as to throw suspicionon us."
"We'll soon know if the papers are there or not," Azalea declared.
Realizing that they could no longer bluff, Henry and Cora of one accordstarted for the door, hoping to escape. They were abruptly halted by asteel-like voice.
"Stand where you are!"
Doris and Kitty wheeled, to see Jake barring the door. And directlybehind him stood Marshmallow and Dave!