_Suspicions_
Someone from the crowd handed Ralph a cup filled with water, and before
they had gone half a dozen steps, Linda had recovered consciousness.
She dropped down to the ground and stared questioningly about her.
"What was it, my dear?" asked Ralph gently, as he held the water to her
lips. "Was the man hurt so horribly?"
"No--it wasn't that," replied Linda slowly, remembering all that had
happened. "It was just--oh, Ralph! I hate to tell you!"
"Please tell me, Linda," he begged.
She looked about her for a moment. The ambulance had gone, and the
crowd, seeing that the girl was all right, began to withdraw, some to
examine the shattered plane, others to go back to their cars parked
along the roadside. There was nobody listening now, so she decided to
answer Ralph's question.
"It wasn't our thief at all," she said. "It was--Ted Mackay."
"Ted Mackay?" he repeated, as if he could not believe his ears.
"Yes."
"Then how do you explain it? That couldn't have been Mackay we met on
that field--Mackay disguised, or anything?"
"No. He wasn't tall enough. And he had black hair. Oh, Ralph, I'm sure
of that!"
"Then how do you explain it?"
"I don't explain it," she said weakly.
He said nothing more, but he knew that she was not only terribly
disappointed in not being able to trace the necklace, but that she was
entertaining grave doubts about Mackay's part in the whole miserable
affair. Were he and this thief in partnership, playing a wicked game,
and had Ted hired the man because he would not let them know his part
in the robbery?
But there was no use talking about that now, for Ralph realized that
Linda was almost ready to collapse. Drawing her arm through his, he
led her silently back to the Pursuit, and put her into the cockpit,
indicating that he would pilot them back to Green Falls. Not a word did
she utter during the entire flight homeward; she drooped listlessly
back in her seat, with an expression of disappointment and despair on
her face. How she wished that she had not come!
No one was waiting for them at the airport, so they took a taxi to Miss
Carlton's bungalow. They found the latter on the porch, with only Kitty
and Maurice beside her.
"Any news?" demanded the girl, jumping out of the hammock, and rushing
down the steps before the taxi had been stopped.
"Some news, yes," replied Linda, while Ralph paid the driver. "But I'm
afraid it doesn't mean much. Ralph will tell you all about it."
But the young man was not willing to tell his story until he had asked
Miss Carlton to take care of Linda.
"She fainted at the field," he explained. "The hot sun and the crowd, I
expect." He did not want to speak of Ted Mackay before her, while she
felt so ill. "So if you'll take Linda up to her room, Miss Carlton,
I'll tell Kitty what I know--and tell you later."
The words aroused Linda's aunt immediately, and she lost interest in
the necklace temporarily. What were a few pearls, anyway, in comparison
to her precious girl? She hurried her off to bed, and Ralph turned to
Kitty and Maurice.
"You see it was this way," he began, and Kitty stamped her foot in
exasperation.
"Don't be so slow, Ralph!" she commanded.
"Why, here comes Linda's father!" interrupted Maurice, as another taxi
stopped at the bungalow. "What do you think of that?"
Kitty looked vexed. Another interruption! But Ralph was already on his
feet, greeting him, and explaining the absence of Linda and her aunt.
"And I was just going to tell Kitty about our pursuit of the thief," he
added, "so if you care to hear the story, Mr. Carlton, perhaps you will
sit here with us?"
The older man was glad to comply with the request. Naturally, anything
that was connected with Linda's first flights was of paramount interest
to him.
So, in spite of Kitty's impatience, her brother began the story with
the day that he and Linda received their licenses, and ended it with
the latter's identification of Ted Mackay, unconscious on the stretcher
in the ambulance.
"Mackay!" repeated Mr. Carlton, shaking his head knowingly. "So he was
the brains of the crime!"
"I'm afraid so, sir. And I'm afraid that's what made Linda faint."
"Of course it is! She believed in that fellow. But I warned her not to
trust him. You see his father worked for me out in Texas and he's an
unprincipled fellow. Stole from everybody--not only myself, but even
the rest of the help. And got into a mix-up with some Mexicans, and
turned them against me.... Yes, it must run in the family. The father
may even be in on this necklace robbery. I don't know where he is now."
"That explains a good deal," mused Ralph, who had been listening
thoughtfully. "I never did like Ted Mackay." He would not admit even to
himself that jealousy was the main reason for this dislike. "Besides,
Linda probably told him about the Midsummer Ball, and our carrying
Kit's necklace to Green Falls. I thought it was funny if that other
chap caught on so quickly."
"Did Linda see much of Mackay while she was at the school?" her father
asked, sharply.
"I can't say that, although I wasn't always with her. Towards the end
of our time we did so much solo flying, that when I was up in the
air I didn't know where she was, although she was usually up too--in
another plane. But one time I did find her in a pretty intimate
conversation--and that was right before we left. She probably told him
then."
"Too bad! Too bad!" muttered Mr. Carlton, regretfully. He was wishing
now that he had sent Linda to some other flying school.
At this moment, Miss Carlton, having left Linda asleep in her room,
came out on the porch to see her young guests. She showed no surprise
at finding her brother; for fifteen years she had been accustomed to
having him drop in when least expected, without a moment's notice.
"Well, Tom," was all that she said, as she presented her cheek for his
brotherly kiss. "I suppose these children have told you the news."
"Yes, and if you don't mind, Emily, I think I'll drive over with them
to see Mr. Clavering," he added, for the young people had all risen,
and were showing signs of departure. "I'd like to have a talk with
him--at least if you'll excuse me."
"Certainly," replied his sister. "And will you be back in time for
dinner?"
"I'll come home in half an hour," stated her brother, laughing, for he
always teased her about her insistence upon his promptness.
It was natural that he should want to meet Kitty's parents, that he
might at least offer to do his part in trying to recover or make good
the girl's loss.
But Mr. Clavering seemed to take the matter almost lightly.
"Of course it's too bad," he said, "but as long as it is only a theft,
and not an injury to one of the children, I think it's foolish to
worry. And, after all, we may get insurance."
"_May_ get insurance?" repeated Mr. Carlton, frowning. "Why shouldn't
you get it? I thought that was what insurance was for!"
"I'm afraid ordinary insurance will not cover travel by air," explained
the other man.
At these words his daughter burst into tears. Her last hope was gone!
"I never thought of that," said Mr. Carlton, gravely. "That makes a
difference.... Well, Mr. Clavering, in that case, I guess we had better
divide the obligation. I'll raise my twenty-five thousand--the necklace
was worth fifty, I understand--as soon as I can."
"You'll do nothing of the sort!" protested the other, firmly. "Your
daughter was not the least bit at fault. It was natural for her to try
her stunts--she wouldn't be human if she didn't! I put the whole blame
upon Ralph."
"No! No----"
"Yes, yes! I won't hear anything else. But we'll wait and give the
detectives time. If we have caught the leader, as you and Ralph think,
it ought to be an easy matter to locate the accomplice. At least,
provided Mackay doesn't die."
"That's true!" exclaimed Ralph. "I never thought of that. We better get
over to the hospital to see him as soon as possible."
"How about tomorrow morning?" suggested Mr. Carlton. "I'd like to go
with you, my boy--I've had some experience in dealing with criminals,
ever since the episode with Mackay's father."
"I'll be delighted to have you," replied Ralph. "And in the meantime,
I'll call my detective and put him on the other man's trail."
So while Linda slept peacefully at home, her father and her best boy
friend made plans to verify their suspicions against Ted Mackay, lying
helpless in the hospital, twenty-five miles from Green Falls.