AN EXCITING CHASE
Farnsworth had left Patty about two o'clock, and it was only a few
moments later that her telephone rang.
Her response was answered by a tearful, wailing voice, that said, "Oh,
Miss Patty, oh, _can't_ you come here at once? Come right away!"
"Come where? Who are you?" said Patty, bewildered, for she did not
recognise the voice, and it sounded like some one in deep distress.
"Oh, don't wait a _minute_! Every moment is precious! Just come _at
once_!"
"But how can I come, if I don't know who you are? I can help you
better, if you'll control yourself and tell me something about
yourself and your trouble. First of all, who are you?"
"I'm Anne, Miss Galbraith's maid. You know me, Miss Patty. Oh, come
quick; Miss Mona has gone!"
"Gone! Where? Now, listen to me, Anne! Stop your crying, and tell me
what you mean, and then I will go to you at once. Where are you? And
where has Miss Mona gone?"
"I'm in her apartment, and I don't like to tell you over the telephone
where she's gone. But,--Miss Patty,--I think,--Oh, I fear,--she has
eloped with Mr. Lansing!"
The last sentence came in an explosive burst, as if the girl could
keep her secret no longer.
"What!" exclaimed Patty. And then, suddenly realising that it was a
desperate situation, she said, "Don't say another word, Anne! I will
go right straight to you. Stay there till I come."
She knew the excitable character of the girl, and feared she might get
hysterical if she talked further over the telephone. Patty hung up the
receiver, and sat still for a moment, thinking deeply.
"I won't tell Mrs. Allen," she finally decided, "but I must have some
one to help me,--to go with me. I believe I'll call up Roger."
But she couldn't bear to do that. It seemed too dreadful to tell Roger
what had happened. She thought next of Kenneth, who was a standby as a
loyal friend, but he was far downtown in his office, and might be busy
with an important case.
"Philip, of course," she said to herself; but even with her hand on
the receiver, another thought flashed through her mind. "No one could
help me to save Mona like Big Bill!" she thought, and on a sudden
impulse she called up his hotel.
"Bill,--it's Patty," she said, her voice trembling.
"Yes, dear; what is it? What is the matter?"
The kind, quiet voice, with its deep tones of sympathy and capability,
made Patty realise that she had appealed to the right one. "Oh, Bill,"
she went on, "there's awful trouble, and you must help me."
"Of course I will, Little Girl! Steady now; tell me what it's all
about. Do you want me to come there?"
"But you're just starting for the West," cried Patty, as she
remembered this for the first time.
"That doesn't matter, if _you_ want me. I'll be right over."
"And wait a minute; tell me what you think we ought to do. I've heard
from Anne that Mona is eloping with that awful Lansing man!"
"Then there's no time to be lost! Take your little car, and go to The
Plaza as fast as you can spin! I'll meet you there, in the Galbraiths'
apartment."
Bill hung up the receiver, without even a good-bye, and Patty gave a
little sigh of relief, for it seemed as if he had taken the
responsibility from her shoulders, and would manage the matter
himself. She ordered her car, flung on her hat and coat, and with a
hasty word to Mrs. Allen that she was going out, she drove her little
electric herself down to the hotel.
When she entered the Galbraiths' apartment, she found Farnsworth
already there.
"It's true," he said, looking at her with a grave face. "That is, I
think it must be. Mona went away half an hour ago, and took a suit
case with her. She went in a motor with Mr. Lansing. Anne is worried,
because this morning she overheard the two telephoning."
"I wasn't listening, Miss Patty," said the tearful maid. "That is, I
didn't mean to, but Miss Mona was excited like, and her voice was so
loud I couldn't help hearing."
"I'm glad you did, Anne," said Patty, "it may help us to save Miss
Mona yet. What else can you tell us?"
"Nothing, except that Miss Mona left a note on her father's desk, and
I thought maybe it might be to tell him she had gone."
Big Bill strode over to the desk, and there, under a paperweight, lay
a note, addressed to Mr. Galbraith. He picked it up, and looked at it,
thoughtfully.
"Patty," he said, "this isn't sealed. Considering all things, I think
it is our duty to read it, but you know more about such matters than I
do. What do you think?"
Patty hesitated. She had always thought it little less than a crime to
read a note addressed to another, but the circumstances made this case
seem an exception. "We might telephone to Mr. Galbraith and ask his
permission," she suggested.
But Big Bill seemed suddenly to have made up his mind.
"No!" he declared, "_I'll_ take the responsibility of this thing. To
telephone would frighten Mr. Galbraith, and would delay matters too
much, beside. I shall read this note, and if I can't square my action
with Mr. Galbraith afterward, I'll accept the consequences."
The impressive manner of the big man, his stern, set face, and honest,
determined blue eyes convinced Patty that he was right, and together
they read the note.
In it, as they had feared, Mona told her father that she was going
away to marry Mr. Lansing, because her father would not allow her to
marry him otherwise. She expressed regret at the sorrow she knew this
would bring to her father, but she said she was old enough to decide
for herself whom she wished to marry, and she felt sure that after it
was over he would forgive her, and call his two children back to him.
"Mona never wrote that note of her own accord," exclaimed Patty,
indignantly. "That man made her do it!"
"Of course he did!" agreed Bill, in a stern voice. "I know
Lansing,--and, Patty, the man is a scoundrel."
"You know him? I didn't know you did."
"Yes, I do! And I ought to have warned Mona more against him. I did
tell her what his real nature is, but she wouldn't listen, and I never
dreamed she was so deeply infatuated with him. But we mustn't blame
her, Patty. She was simply under the influence of that man, and he
persuaded her to go with him against her better judgment. But we must
go after them and bring them back."
"But you're going West to-night."
"Not unless we rescue Mona first! Why, Patty, she _mustn't_ be allowed
to marry that man! I tell you he's a scoundrel, and I never say _that_
about a man unless I _know_ it to be true. But this is no time to
discuss Lansing. We must simply fly after them."
"But how do you know where they've gone?"
"I don't know! But we must find out, somehow. Perhaps the men at the
door can tell us. Perhaps Anne can."
"I only know this, sir," said Anne, who was wringing her hands and
weeping; "when Miss Mona was telephoning, she said something about
Greenwich."
"Of course!" cried Bill. "That's exactly where they'd go! But wait,
they would have to go for a license first."
"Telephone the license man," said Patty, inspired by Bill's manner and
tones.
"Right-O!" and after some rather troublesome telephoning, Bill
announced, "They did! they got a license, and they started in a motor
for Greenwich about half an hour ago! Come on, Patty! Anne, you stay
right here, in case we telephone. If Mr. Galbraith comes home, don't
tell him a word about it. Leave it to me. I'll be responsible for this
note." Bill put the note in his pocket, and almost pushing Patty out
of the door, he had her in the elevator and downstairs almost before
she knew it.
"Shall we take my little car?" she asked, as Bill strode through the
lobby, and Patty hurried to keep up with him.
"Good Heavens, no! We want a racer. I'll drive it myself."
By the power of sheer determination, the big Western man procured a
fast car in an incredibly short time, and in a few moments he and
Patty were flying up Broadway.
"Now if you want to talk you may," said Bill, and his voice was quiet
and composed, though he was alertly threading his swift way through
the traffic. "I had to be a little short with you while we were
hurrying off, because I didn't want to lose a minute. But now, all I
have to do is to keep just inside the speed limit while we're in the
city, and then I rather guess there'll be one big chase!"
"Oh, Bill, you are just splendid!" exclaimed Patty, with shining eyes,
unable to repress her admiration of his capability and strength.
"But we haven't accomplished anything yet, Patty; we're only starting
out to try. You know, it's a hundred to one shot that we miss
them,--for we've very little idea where they've gone."
"But it's a straight road to Greenwich."
"Yes, but they may have turned off anywhere. They may change their
minds a dozen times about their destination."
"No, they won't," said Patty, positively; "not unless they think
they're pursued, and of course they've no idea of that. Speed her up,
Bill; the way is clear now! I don't believe they're going at this
pace."
"Patty, you're a good pal! I don't believe any other girl would be as
plucky as you are in such a case."
"Why, I haven't done anything," and Patty opened her eyes wide, in
surprise. "You've done it all--Little Billee."
"You've helped me more than you know. With you by my side, I'm bound
to succeed." Big Bill bent to his wheel, and the swift machine flew
along so fast that conversation became impossible.
As they neared Greenwich, Patty's sharp eyes descried a dark red car
ahead of them.
"That's it!" she cried. "That's Mona's car! Chase 'em, Bill!"
"The nerve of him, to elope in her own car!" growled Bill, through his
clenched teeth. "I told you he was a scoundrel, Patty!"
They were rapidly gaining on the red car, when, as it turned the
corner, one of its occupants saw their pursuers, and Patty heard a
shriek.
"That's Mona's yell," she cried, in dismay. "They've seen us, Bill,
and now they'll get away from us!"
Sure enough, the pursuing car was swift, but the big Galbraith car was
a speed wonder, and the elopers darted ahead with renewed determination
to escape capture.
"Oh, what a shame!" wailed Patty. "They recognised us, and now they'll
get away."
"Not if I know it!" and Farnsworth set his teeth hard. "Sit tight,
Patty; we're going to go faster!"
It didn't seem as if they could go any faster, but they did, and if it
had been anybody driving except Farnsworth, Patty would have felt
frightened. But she knew his skill, and too, she knew that he never
let excitement or enthusiasm run away with his judgment. So she sat as
still as she could, striving to catch her breath in the face of the
wind; and refraining from speech, lest she distract Bill's attention
even for a second.
At last, when they had a long, clear view ahead, and they saw the red
car ever increasing the distance between them, Bill gave up.
"It's no use, Patty; we can't catch them! I've done all I can, but
that car they're in is a world-beater! They went through Greenwich
like a streak. They would have been arrested, but no one could stop
them. Oh, I say, My Little Girl,--I have an idea!"
"Is your idea faster than their car, Little Billee?"
"You bet it is! Just you wait and see; Patty, we've _got_ 'em!"
Farnsworth turned around and drove rapidly back to Greenwich, which
they had just passed through.
At a hotel there, he jumped out, told Patty to wait, and rushed into
the office.
It was nearly ten minutes before he returned, and Patty could scarcely
believe that whatever plan he had could be of any use after such
delay.
He jumped in beside her, turned around, and in a minute they were
again whizzing along, following the direction of the other car.
"I'll tell you what I did, Patty," he said, chuckling. "I telephoned
to the Stamford Chief of Police, and asked him to arrest those people
for speeding as they crossed the city limit!"
"Will they be speeding?"
"_Will_ they be speeding? You _bet_ they will! And even if they
aren't, they'll be arrested, all the same, and held without bail until
we get there! Oh, Patty, if the situation were not so serious, I could
laugh at this joke on Lansing!"
On they went, at their highest speed, and reached Stamford not very
much later than the red car they were following.
At the city line, they found this car standing, with two or three
policemen forbidding its further progress.
Horace Lansing was in a violent fit of temper, and was alternating
bribes with threats of vengeance, but the policemen were imperturbable,
having been told the facts of the case by Farnsworth over the
telephone.
Mona was weeping bitterly, and though Patty went to her with
affectionate words, she stormed back, "Go away, Patty Fairfield! You
have no right to interfere in my affairs! It was your prying that
found this out. Go away; I won't speak to you!"
"By what right have you followed us, Miss Fairfield?" began Mr.
Lansing, looking at Patty, angrily.
But Farnsworth strode over to the speaker, and spoke to him, sternly
but quietly. "Lansing," he said, "it's all up, and you know it! Now, I
don't want to have a scene here and now, so you have my permission to
go away wherever you like, on condition that you never enter the
presence again, of Miss Galbraith or Miss Fairfield."
"Ho!" said Lansing, with an attempt at bravado. "You give me your
permission, do you? Let me tell you that Miss Galbraith is my promised
wife. We have the license, and we're about to be married. It will take
more than you to stop us!"
"Indeed," said Farnsworth, and putting his hands in his pockets, he
gave Lansing a contemptuous glance. "Well, then, I shall have to
request assistance. If I tell this constable a good reason why he
should detain you long enough to prevent your marriage to Miss
Galbraith, would such an argument have any weight with you?"
There was an instantaneous change in Horace Lansing's demeanour. From
a blustering braggart, he became a pale and cringing coward. But with
a desperate attempt to bluff it out, he exclaimed, "What do you mean?"
but even as he spoke, he shivered and staggered backward, as if
dreading a blow.
"Since you ask me," said Farnsworth, looking at him, sternly, "I'll
answer frankly, that unless you consent to go away and never again
enter the presence of these ladies, I shall inform these policemen of
a certain little bank trouble that happened in Chicago----"
It was unnecessary to go on. Lansing was abject, and begged in
pleading tones that Farnsworth would say no more. "I am going,"
Lansing stammered, and without a word of farewell to Mona or even a
glance at Patty, he walked rapidly away.
"Let him go," said Farnsworth. "I can't tell you girls about it, but
I'll explain to Mr. Galbraith. Mona, that man is not fit for you to
know! He is guilty of forgery and robbery."
"I don't believe it!" declared Mona, angrily.
"You _do_ believe it," and Farnsworth looked at her steadily, "because
you know I would not tell you so unless I knew it to be true."
Mona was silent at this, for she did know it. She knew Bill Farnsworth
well enough to know that if he made an accusation of that sort, he
knew it to be the truth.
"But I love him so," she said, sobbing.
"No, Mona, you don't love him." Bill spoke very gently, and as he laid
his hand on Mona's shoulder, she raised her eyes to look into his
kind, serious face. "You were not much to blame, Mona; the man
fascinated you, and you thought the foolish infatuation you felt for
him was love. But it wasn't, and you'll soon forget him. You don't
want to remember a man who was a wrong-doer, I'm sure; nor do you want
to remember a man who goes away and deserts you because he has been
found out. Mona, is not his going away as he did, enough proof of his
guilt?"
But Mona was sobbing so that she could not speak. Not angry sobs now,
but pathetic, repentant sorrow.
"Now, it's up to you, Patty," said Farnsworth, cheerily. "You and Mona
get into the tonneau of this Galbraith car, and I'll drive you home.
You chirk her up, Patty, and tell her there's no harm done, and that
all her friends love her just the same. And tell her if she'll stop
her crying and calm herself before she gets home, nobody need ever
know a thing about this whole affair."
Mona looked up at this, and said, eagerly, "Not father?"
"No, Mona dear," said Patty. "Sit here by me and I'll tell you all
about it. How we read the note and kept it, and everything. And, Mona,
we won't even let Roger know anything about all this, because it would
hurt him very much."
"But Anne," said Mona, doubtfully. "You say she told you where I
went."
"I'll attend to Anne," said Farnsworth, decidedly. "Can't you go home
to dinner with Patty, Mona? I think that would do you good."
"Yes, do," said Patty. "And stay over night with me. We'll telephone
your father where you are, and then, to-morrow, you can go home as if
nothing had ever happened."
"It's a justifiable deception, Mona," said Bill, "for I know how it
would grieve the poor man if he knew about your foolish little
escapade,--which is all over now. It's past history, and the incident
is closed forever. Don't you be afraid Lansing will ever appear
against you. He's too thoroughly frightened ever to be seen in these
parts again."
"You come to dinner, too, Bill," said Patty, as they took their
places; "though I fear we'll all be rather late."
Farnsworth hesitated a moment, then he said, decidedly, "No, Patty, I
can't do it. I was to take the seven o'clock train to-night, but
though I'll miss that, I can take the nine o'clock, and I _must_ go."
"But, Little Billee, I want to thank you for helping me as you did. I
want to thank you, not only for Mona's sake, but my own."
"That would be worth staying for, Little Girl, but it is a case of
duty, you see. Won't you write me your thanks,--Apple Blossom?"
"Yes," said Patty, softly, "I will."