IN THE METROPOLIS
New York!
A magic word to Dorothy Calvert, and as she stepped from the train in
the great Pennsylvania railway station, curiosity and interest were
expressed in her glance. Not since her trip to California with Aunt
Betty and Ephraim had the girl been in Gay Gotham, which, to her, had
always been a place of great enchantment.
The noise of the trains, the clangor of trucks, as they were whirled
up and down the station platform by the baggagemen; the noise of the
subway and surface cars, mingled with countless other sounds, were
sufficient to distract any girl's attention, and Dorothy came out of
her reverie and turned, only when Aunt Betty cried out from the car
steps:
"Dorothy Calvert, wherever are you going?"
"Oh, I--"
"Are you going to leave me behind?"
"I--I--why, auntie--I--"
"One would think you had never been in a great city before. Wait for
me! Remember, I am going everywhere you go. You did not bring me this
far from Bellvieu to leave me in the lurch, young lady."
"Goodness knows, I had no idea of doing anything of the sort,
auntie."
"Well, you just wait! I'm not as spry as I used to be."
Jim Barlow carefully helped Aunt Betty to the platform, while Ephraim
followed with a load of suit cases. Then came Herr and Frau
Deichenberg, each with a little hand satchel, the professor guarding
jealously his beloved violin. No heavy luggage for the Deichenbergs,
the Frau had told Aunt Betty on the journey up from Baltimore.
"Ve shan't be here for long; de concert occurs to-morrow night, und
ve shall go straight back home vhen ve are t'rough," was the way she
put it.
The Herr was attired in his customary black. He had maintained his
usual phlegmatic manner all through the journey, and apparently had
no intention of departing from it now. Having spent many years in New
York after his arrival in America, the city's fascination for the
average mortal seemed to make no appeal to him.
Once off the train, Jim began to search diligently in the crowd
for a familiar face. For a moment a blank look expressed his
disappointment. Then his features lighted up and he waved his hand at
a tall, spectacled gentleman who came eagerly forward to meet him.
"Jim, I am glad to see you," greeted this individual.
"And I to see you, Dr. Sterling."
A hearty hand-clasp followed.
"Why it _is_ Dr. Sterling!" cried Aunt Betty, adjusting her glasses
that she might better see him. "How good it seems to find you here in
New York. How did you leave things up the Hudson, and especially at
Deerhurst?"
"Same as of yore," he replied. "Hans and Griselda, faithful souls,
are keeping the place in spick and span condition." His face lighted
suddenly. "And here is Miss Dorothy, grown into a tall young lady
since last I saw her."
"Don't accuse me of being too tall, Dr. Sterling," said Dorothy, in a
tone of mild reproof. "That is getting to be a sore subject with me.
I have no intention of being either a toothpick or a beanstalk,
though if what my friends tell me is true, I am in a fair way to be
either, or both."
Dr. Sterling laughed.
"You mustn't mind a bit of a joke, you know. You are at an
age where nothing can stop your growth. Your height seems to you
exaggerated--that's all--and your friends merely perpetuate the
belief with the idea of teasing you."
"I'll take your word for that, doctor. And now, let me present my
music teacher, Herr Deichenberg, and Mrs. Deichenberg," Dorothy then
said.
The introductions were duly acknowledged, after which the party went
into the station, and thence to the street beyond.
"Where are you going to stop?" Dr. Sterling wanted to know, as he
turned an inquisitive glance on Aunt Betty.
"I've forgotten the name of the place," replied the mistress of
Bellvieu, "but Herr Deichenberg can enlighten you. He wired ahead for
the rooms."
"It iss de Arlington," the music master vouchsafed. "De proprietor
iss a personal friend of mine, und de accommodations vill be of de
very best."
"Then I shall immediately change my quarters," said the genial
doctor. "I am farther down town, but as we are to be in the city but
a couple of days, it is well for us to be together as much as
possible."
This programme was followed to the letter, and before noon Dorothy
and Aunt Betty had washed, and changed their attire for fresh, clean
linen suits, after which they announced themselves in readiness for
any events that might be on the programme.
Dr. Sterling, who had been holding a conference with Jim, proposed a
boat trip down the bay.
"Oh, that will be delightful," Dorothy said. "How can it be
arranged?"
"I have a friend in New York, a Mr. Ronald, who owns a very handsome
private yacht. This he has placed at my disposal on all occasions. I
shall immediately call him up by 'phone and find if the boat is
available for this afternoon."
This the doctor did, and returned a few moments later with the good
news that Mr. Ronald would personally see that the party viewed all
the sights of the bay and river front.
While at lunch one of the surprises of the day revealed itself in the
shape of Judge Breckenridge and Molly, who walked in on the
astonished Calverts totally unannounced.
"Molly!"
"Dorothy!"
These exclamations were followed by a bear-like hug as the girls flew
into each other's arms. Many of the diners became interested and
stopped eating long enough to watch the lingering embrace to the end.
The Judge shook hands all around, then places were made for him and
Molly at the table occupied by Aunt Betty, Dorothy and Jim.
Dorothy quickly won their promise to go down the bay in the yacht,
and lunch over, the party immediately made preparations to start.
Herr Deichenberg and his wife were sure the trip would prove rather
trying for them, as neither was fond of the water, so decided to
remain at the hotel and receive Mr. Ludlow, who was due at four
o'clock.
Upon Dorothy's insisting that perhaps she had better stay and meet
the manager, also, the Herr shook his head.
"No, no; dat iss entirely unnecessary."
"Then give him my regards, and say that I shall see him to-night or
in the morning," cried the girl.
"I vill do dat. In de meantime enjoy yourself. Forget there iss such
a t'ing as a concert. To-morrow night, vhen you stand before de great
audience in de theater, iss time enough to t'ink of dat."
Aunt Betty at first thought she, too, would remain behind, but after
lunch she was feeling in such unusually good spirits that she
announced her intention of going, if only to have an old-time chat
with the Judge.
"Auntie, you are getting younger every day," cried Dorothy, pleased
that her relative was so spry at her advanced age.
"And I intend to continue to grow younger as long as I may, dear. It
is a privilege not given many women, and I shall make the most of it.
If I have the opportunity I may even set my cap for a beau."
"Oh, Aunt Betty, how can you say such a thing!"
"'Such a thing,' as you call it, would be perfectly proper. Would it
not, Judge Breckenridge?"
"Quite proper, madame--quite proper," responded the judge
gallantly--"in fact, judging by the evidence of my eyes, I see no
other solution of the matter."
"What a gallant speech," laughed Molly. "You may be a semi-invalid,
papa, but you will never, never lose your courtly ways."
"An example which all young men should emulate," said Aunt Betty,
looking pointedly at Jim, who grinned broadly.
It was a merry party that boarded the trim gasoline yacht _Nautilus_
at one of the wharves an hour later. Aunt Betty, assisted by the
Judge and Jim, was the first aboard. Doctor Sterling, with Dorothy
and Molly followed.
The owner of the yacht was introduced by Dr. Sterling, and when all
were comfortably seated in the deck chairs forward, Mr. Ronald
signaled the man in the wheelhouse, who in turn signaled the
engine-room to go ahead.
"Ah, this is my style of boating," sighed the Judge, as, with a deep
sigh of satisfaction he dropped into one of the comfortable chairs on
the forward deck. "When a boy I used to sail a little sloop, but
after all, it is better to have something to push you besides the
wind."
The steamer whistle screeched hoarsely.
"We're off!" cried Dr. Sterling.
Though a strong breeze, in which there was a tinge of dampness, came
in from the ocean as the yacht went spinning down the bay, no one
chose to retire to the cabin, even Aunt Betty protesting that the
fresh air was doing her good.
A heavy swell was running, but the _Nautilus_ weathered the waves in
true ocean style, only a slight rocking movement being perceptible.
When they were well started down the bay, Mr. Ronald came to ask if
they cared to visit the Statue of Liberty.
"I think that's an excellent idea," said Dr. Sterling. "Judge
Breckenridge and Mrs. Calvert cannot, of course, climb the spiral
stairs leading up into the statue, but we younger people can, and
will, if you say the word."
"Oh, I think it will be jolly," cried Dorothy, who had seen the
Statue of Liberty from the Brooklyn bridge and wondered what was
inside it.
Molly and Jim fell promptly in with the plan, so the yacht was moored
to the little island, after which Dr. Sterling guided the girls and
Jim up to the dizzy height represented by the statue's hand. Quite a
climb it was, too, but one which amply rewarded them, for they were
able to gaze out over city and bay to such an advantage that they
were loath to descend.
Back to the yacht they finally went, however, and the _Nautilus_
again turned her nose down the upper bay.
On one side lay Brooklyn, on the other Jersey City, while about them
craft of all shapes and sizes puffed and snorted as they performed
their daily tasks.
On down into the lower bay the yacht went skimming, breasting the
heavy swells of the Atlantic, and causing exclamations of delight
from both Molly and Dorothy, neither of whom had ever been this far
at sea.
Down between the upper quarantine and the Staten Island shore they
went at a speed of twelve knots, then, rounding the lower quarantine,
stood straight for Rockaway Beach.
It was too early in the season for any of the resorts to be open,
hence the girls were unable to view the scenes of activity that make
these famous places the mecca of the bathers in the warm season.
"I imagine I should like to spend a summer here," said Dorothy.
"And perhaps some of these days you will have the opportunity--who
knows?" remarked Aunt Betty.
"Well, when she comes I must be included in the party or there will
be big trouble," Molly put in.
"Lots of trouble you'd make your best chum, young lady," replied Aunt
Betty, chucking the Judge's daughter playfully under the chin.
After a run of some twenty minutes, the yacht again turned, this time
nosing its way back along the coast toward the lower bay.
"In a few moments, I will show you Brighton and Manhattan Beaches,"
said Dr. Sterling--"also the famous Coney Island of which you have
heard so much."
"I should dearly love to visit Coney," said Dorothy.
"I have been there twice," said Molly, proudly, "and it is a
veritable city of wonders. I have never been able to understand how a
brain can conceive all those funny things which amuse you."
"Great brains are capable of many things in these days," Jim said.
"Oh, are they now, my noble philosopher?"
"Yes, Miss Saucy, they are!"
"What's that stretch of water east of us, with all the little islands
in it?" asked Dorothy, suddenly.
"That is Jamaica Bay," replied Mr. Ronald. "It lies across the
peninsula from Rockaway Beach."
"I thought Jamaica was in the West Indies, or some other forsaken
spot," said Molly.
"Come, come," chided Dr. Sterling. "Remember your geography."
"You certainly ought to know where the ginger comes from," said Jim,
in the same bantering spirit.
"Well, I guess I do, if anybody asks you, Mr. Barlow," she returned,
saucily. "But that's no sign I knew there was a Jamaica Bay in New
York State. My geography didn't teach me that."
"Of course it did," taunted the boy, "but you did not take the
trouble to remember it."
Further discussion of this unimportant subject was cut short by a
crash from the engine-room of the yacht, followed by a hissing noise
as of escaping steam, and the propeller, which was being driven at
many thousands of revolutions per minute, began suddenly to slow up.
A shriek from Aunt Betty drew Dorothy quickly to her side, while Mr.
Ronald cried out:
"Something has happened to the engine!"
Then he made a dash below decks, followed by Dr. Sterling, and, a few
seconds later, by Jim, who saw in the yacht's misfortune another
opportunity to satisfy his mechanical curiosity.
The boy reached the engine-room directly on the heels of Mr. Ronald
and Dr. Sterling, and saw the engineer and his assistant flat on
their backs trying to locate the trouble.
"Something apparently broke inside her, sir," the engineer was
saying, in response to a question from Mr. Ronald. "I can't say how
serious it is till we find it, sir."
"Then of course you do not know how long we shall be delayed?"
"No; I couldn't say, sir. Can't even promise that we can run in on
one pair of cylinders, sir, for they all seem to be affected alike."
At this a shadow overspread the owner's face and he turned to Dr.
Sterling.
"Sorry, Doc," he said. "What did you tell me about getting to town
before dark?"
"I merely mentioned the fact that Miss Calvert should be early to
bed, because she appears at a concert to-morrow evening, and it is
necessary that she feel as well as possible."
"It is after four now," said Mr. Ronald, looking at his watch,
"and I don't know what to tell you until Sharley--that's my
engineer--locates the trouble."
"Then perhaps we had better withhold from those on deck the fact that
there may be an indefinite delay, merely making the general statement
that the trouble is being rectified as rapidly as possible."
"Very well; will you tell them, and make my excuses? I shall want to
stay pretty close here till this trouble is found."
"I'll tell them," said the doctor, and motioning Jim to follow went
on deck. So the news which, poorly told, might have brought
consternation to Dorothy and her aunt, merely aroused their
curiosity. Soon they were laughing and talking with all thoughts of
the accident gone from their minds.
Meanwhile, below, Mr. Ronald, Sharley and the assistant engineer,
were going over every inch of the gasoline motors, hoping to find
what had been the cause of their sudden refusal to do their work.
Screws were tightened and several other minor matters remedied. Then
Sharley signaled the pilot house that he was going to try her again.
Having tested his batteries with the buzzer, and adjusted the timer,
he turned on the gasoline and slowly opened the throttle.
There was no response.
Sharley repeated the operation several times without getting the
desired explosion. Then he retested the batteries with the buzzer and
adjusted the carburetor, discovering that the gasoline had not been
turned on at that point--or, at least, had been turned off after the
trouble started. More cranking followed, but without success.
The _Nautilus_ was now drifting in toward the shore, and a peep
through a porthole told Sharley that he would be upon the sands of
Rockaway if something were not done soon.
"Told you she ought to have a sail equipment for emergencies," he
said to Mr. Ronald.
"Yes; you told me--that's not your fault. The question now is, what
are we going to do?"
"Nothing that I can see but throw out our anchor. Ain't more than
twenty feet of water here, and she's growing less all the time."
"But I can't throw out the anchor without alarming the ladies."
"Have to alarm 'em, then, I guess. That's better than going aground
and paying somebody salvage to get you off, eh, Mr. Ronald?" and the
engineer laughed.
Mr. Ronald admitted the force of the statement, then went on deck to
break the news to his guests.