During the week that followed Mignon's fiery outburst against Veronica
at the club meeting Muriel Harding received no welcome letter from the
former announcing her resignation from the Lookouts. To all appearances
such was not her intention. When the next Thursday evening rolled round,
the Lookouts, including their latest addition, Veronica Browning, met at
Gray Gables. To the secret disappointment of the majority Mignon was not
among those present. With the exception of Irma, Marjorie and Constance,
the others were impatient to see how the French girl would behave toward
Veronica. The latter had been privately warned by Marjorie as to what
might possibly occur and had agreed to meet Mignon's probable
discourtesy with silence.
It was not until the meeting had reached the point of "unfinished
business" that the question relating to the absent rebel came up for
discussion.
"Girls," began Muriel, "you all know what comes under this head. Let me
hear from you informally."
"It looks as though we'd have to wait another week and see what
happens," observed Susan Atwell. With a faint giggle she added: "When is
a test not a test?"
A ripple of ready laughter followed this suggestive question.
"Perhaps it is all for the best," remarked Irma philosophically. "We may
find after all that----"
A reverberating peal of the door bell cut short her discourse. Every
pair of bright eyes became questioningly directed toward the sound. Was
it their graceless treasurer who now demanded admittance? Followed a
moment of expectant waiting, then a maid appeared in the curtained
doorway of the library in which the Lookouts were gathered.
"Here's a note for you, Miss Muriel," she announced as she stepped into
the room. Delivering it into Muriel's hand she promptly disappeared.
"Humph!" ejaculated Muriel as she stared at the tiny, pale gray
envelope. "By your leave, Lookouts," she added with a nod to her
friends. Tearing open an end of the envelope she drew forth its
contents. A frown of displeasure knitted her brows as she scanned the
unexpected message. Raising her eyes from it she said: "This note is
from Mignon La Salle. I will read it to you. She writes:
"'Miss Harding:
"'I have decided not to attend the further meetings of the club. I
shall still hold my office as treasurer. If you wish to consult me on
business matters or desire to draw upon the treasury for checks with
which to meet the various current expenses, kindly write me at my
home. From time to time, I shall send you my official report.
"'Yours truly,
"'Mignon La Salle.'"
"This is the last straw," declared Muriel grimly. "It seems to me that
our duty is plain."
"I am of the same mind." Marjorie Dean's decided tones sent a little
thrill over her listeners. It was evident to all that her limit of
endurance had been reached. "I move," she continued with calm finality,
"that Irma write Mignon La Salle stating that we accept her note as a
resignation from the Lookouts and request her to turn over the club's
books, now in her possession, to our president Muriel Harding."
Constance Stevens instantly seconded the motion. It was voted upon and
carried with an alacrity that bespoke the intense approval of those
assembled.
Again Marjorie was heard. "I nominate Susan Atwell to fill the now
vacant office of treasurer."
It is needless to say that this motion was also promptly seconded, voted
upon and carried. The unbelievable had come to pass. Marjorie Dean had
at last renounced the difficult responsibility she had shouldered so
long. As a result of this revelation the dignity of the meeting
collapsed into a babble of excited opinions. Muriel made no effort to
restore order but drew her chair into the circle and entered willingly
into the spirited discussion that centered around Mignon La Salle.
"I'm glad you've come to your senses, Marjorie Dean," stoutly asserted
Daisy Griggs. "I must say I was surprised when you made that first
motion."
"I have just one thing to say." Marjorie's brown eyes were filled with
purposeful light. "Then I wish to drop the subject of Mignon. She has
defied the club and so forfeited her right to membership. When the books
of the club have been placed in Muriel's hands, I shall go to Mr. La
Salle and insist on being released from my promise. That's all."
Rising, she walked to a window, half ready to cry. It had been very hard
for her to contemplate the idea of seeking kindly Mr. La Salle with such
unpleasant information. She felt keenly the humiliation of being obliged
to admit to him her failure. Yet as Muriel had said it was, indeed, "the
last straw." As she stood looking out at the white, moonlit night she
was driven to believe that Mignon La Salle's better self would ever
remain a minus quantity.
Mignon's astounding stand having been sufficiently discussed, the
Lookouts devoted the rest of the evening strictly to enjoyment.
Constance sang, Veronica danced, the others also contributing various
entertaining stunts. A most delectable little supper was disposed of to
the accompaniment of sprightly conversation and merry laughter, thereby
proving that the loss of a faithless treasurer was small loss indeed.
It had been a simple matter to accept Mignon's note as a resignation and
elect a new treasurer. It had been equally easy to inform Mignon to that
effect by letter. When, at the end of the week, however, Muriel received
neither the books of the club, nor any response whatever from Mignon, it
was decided that Muriel and Irma should introduce Susan to the
Vice-President of the First National Bank of Sanford and request that
the Lookouts' account be transferred to her guardianship. She would then
receive a check and bankbook and thus be fitly equipped to perform her
new duties.
Irma Linton had made a habit of incorporating into the minutes of the
meetings the treasury reports which Mignon had read out to the club from
time to time. This data would now prove invaluable to Susan in opening a
new book, should Mignon obstinately delay the return of the one in her
possession. Believing that she might do this, Muriel and Susan quietly
agreed to take steps to attain complete independence of her.
Not desiring to act too hastily, they waited with commendable patience
until it lacked but a day until the next meeting of the Lookouts.
Although they daily saw Mignon at school, it was as though they had
never known her. She haughtily ignored the Lookouts and they made no
effort to change the state of marked hostility she had willed. Having
notified her of their wishes through the proper channels of the club,
they now maintained a dignified silence, refusing to act other than
impersonally.
At the close of the Wednesday morning session, Susan and Irma set out
for the First National Bank to put their mutual agreement into effect.
Ushered into the vice-president's office, they were coldly received by
that august person. His very manner was such as to indicate personal
injury to him on their part. Rather timidly Muriel introduced Susan and
stated her request.
His air of distant courtesy relaxing he said in a mollified tone: "Ah,
yes, I understand. It is your intention to re-deposit the funds of your
club in this bank. We supposed them to have been permanently removed. It
was unnecessary in your retiring treasurer, Miss La Salle, to draw them
out. I shall be pleased to adjust matters." Privately he was thinking
the whole affair quite characteristic of a bevy of heedless school
girls.
A united gasp of astonishment welled up from two throats.
"Draw them _out_?" Muriel's voice rose on the last word. "But we
didn't----!"
"Why--what----" stammered Susan.
Muriel drew a long breath. "When did Miss La Salle draw out this money,
Mr. Wendell?" she asked, striving to speak casually.
"On Tuesday, I believe. Just a moment. I will ascertain positively if I
am correct in my statement." Rising, he bowed courteously to his young
visitors and left the office.
"Mignon has _taken_ the Lookouts' money," burst forth Susan, the instant
the two were left to themselves. "What are we to do about it? We'd
better explain everything to Mr. Wendell and ask his advice."
Muriel stared at Susan, but made no reply. The enormity of Mignon's
latest misdeed fairly stunned her. Despite the shock, there now rose
within her a curious impulse to protect rather than expose this lawless
girl.
"I think we had better not explain things to him now," she said slowly.
"It's like this. Mignon has drawn our money from the bank on purpose to
spite us. She doesn't want it for herself. What she intends to do is to
hold it until her term is up as treasurer. She knows that we shall need
a part of it to meet the monthly expenses of the day nursery, but she
wants to make us send to her for it. She intended to do this money stunt
when she wrote that letter. We can't decide what we ought to do about
her until we talk to the others."
Mr. Wendell's entrance into the office prevented further confidential
talk between the two.
"I find my statement correct," he announced. "The entire account,
amounting to seven hundred and forty-six dollars, sixty-seven cents, was
turned over to Miss La Salle on Monday. Since you wish to redeposit this
sum of money in Miss Atwell's name, I would advise that she and Miss La
Salle come here together with it at their convenience. Then we can
handle the matter satisfactorily, I assure you."
"Thank you, Mr. Wendell." Muriel rose, with as much dignity as she could
master. "As there has evidently been a mistake made about our account we
will be obliged first to take it up with the club before redepositing
the money. You will hear from me in regard to it within two or three
days. We have no wish to place our funds in another bank."
With a brief farewell to the nonplussed bank official, Muriel and Susan
made their escape into the street, where they could unburden themselves
undisturbed. Before school closed that afternoon Marjorie, Constance and
Irma had been put in possession of the full news. That evening at the
Deans', five girls met in solemn conclave. Long and earnestly they
discussed the unpleasant situation. The fruit of that discussion took
shape in a letter to Mignon requesting the immediate turning over of the
Lookouts' bank account to Susan Atwell. Under the circumstances it was
an exceedingly mild letter. It was mailed special delivery in the hope
that the wrongdoer would receive it in time to repair her error before
the club met on the following evening.
Mignon, however, had no intention of thus yielding so easily. Her letter
to Rowena Farnham had brought her an immediate reply from the latter
which pleased her immensely. Acting upon Rowena's unscrupulous advice
she had boldly marched to the bank, and withdrawn in actual cash the
club's entire capital. Furthermore, she had locked it away in a secret
drawer of her writing desk and vowed to leave it there until the
expiration of her term as treasurer.