MR. ALEXANDER’S RUSE
The following morning Algy failed to appear in time to join the
tourists. Mr. Dalken and Mr. Alexander wished them all a good time,
and then hurried away to the business meeting. Mrs. Alexander had
ordered her breakfast served in her room, but she sent word to Jack
that she would be down in time to start with the others on the auto
trip.
Finally, having waited half an hour longer than the time appointed
for starting, Jack sent a bell-boy up to the room occupied by Algy,
and Dodo went to telephone her mother to hurry, if she wished to
accompany them.
Dodo came back to her friends with an impatient expression upon her
face.
“Ma says she will be down in just _one_ little moment. That means
another half-hour to wait! May as well sit down and take life easy,
Jack,” remarked she.
“It does seem a shame that we have to lose a whole hour of this
wonderful day, and then have to rush over the sight-seeing after we
are there,” declared Eleanor, angrily.
At this moment the bell-hop returned to the waiting group with his
astounding information. Word was brought Jack that Mr. A. A.
Alveston had checked out that morning, leaving no word of
explanation. Then he turned and went away again.
“Why! Of all things!” exclaimed Polly, astonished at what she heard.
“There must be some mistake. I can’t picture Algy having enough
gumption to do such a thing without some one to coach him in it.” So
saying, Jack hurried to the clerk to find out if the message was
correct.
“Yes, Mr. Baxter,” replied the clerk, politely. “I was just coming
on for my morning duty when the young man paid his bill and left
orders with the porter for the forwarding of the trunks.”
“Trunks! He only had one, I thought,” gasped Jack.
“I’ll call the porter and you can speak to him,” said the man.
The head porter was called and Jack learned from him that four
trunks were removed and expressed to Williams. Jack felt perplexed,
but he concluded that it was a fortunate day for his friends when
silly A. A. A. had sense enough to realize that he was not a very
welcome addition to the Dalken party. Then he hurried back to tell
his companions of the strange move made by Algy.
“Don’t let’s waste time wondering why he did it, but let us enjoy
the respite he is giving us. It will be dreadful to find him
awaiting us at Williams as he is sure to do, because he hasn’t pep
enough to plan any journey for himself. I will wager anything that
Ma is the cause of this sudden move of his, and she can explain how
he managed to get away so early without saying good-morning to us,”
said Dodo.
At this moment Mrs. Alexander was seen approaching the group. She
was smiling too genially for one who had nothing to hide, and long
before she joined the watching circle of friends, she began to
apologize for her tardiness.
“You see, it is so difficult to dress without the help of a maid. I
am unaccustomed to doing my hair and hooking my gown. And, of
course, Dodo _never_ thinks of me, in these little acts of
kindness.”
“Don’t spoil the day’s outing by explanations,” retorted Dodo,
impatiently. “It’s bad enough for you to have held up the entire
crowd for an hour.”
Jack started for the door, and the others now followed him, but it
was plainly seen that Mrs. Alexander’s coming had failed to add joy
or peace to the party.
Mrs. Courtney now spoke to the lady. “We heard, to our amazement,
that Mr. Alveston has gone. He evidently plans to remain at Williams
for some time, since he had his trunks sent there.”
“Is that so! Well, we need not weep over that,” returned Mrs.
Alexander, pleasantly. “Algy is a dear boy, but he _does_ get on
one’s nerves at times, doesn’t he?”
“I really cannot judge, since I paid so little attention to him, you
know,” replied Mrs. Courtney, just as sweetly as her companion had
spoken. “He seemed to be always attending you, and I was engaged in
attending the girls, you see.”
“Yes, that’s so! Algy must have felt himself out of the group of
young folks. He was quite important a personage at the Springs,
however, and Dodo was the envied one of all the girls there. How
different it must have seemed to him—to be secondary in your
party,” said Mrs. Alexander.
Mrs. Courtney remained silent after this, because she detested
hypocrisy and preferred silence to such empty conversation. So the
two ladies took their seats in the car without further explanations.
While Jack was advising the driver about the trip, Dodo turned to
her mother and spoke.
“What under the sun made you send A. A. A. on with the trunks?”
“My _dear_! As if I was responsible for his leaving you!” the lady
sighed, as though the accusation was too much for her to bear.
“Well, never mind, Ma! We’re all thankful you did it, because it
would have been too distressing to have him slide down one of the
high cliffs we will visit, or get mixed up in an Indian brawl, or
lose himself as usual, when we go to inspect queer caves and ancient
canyons,” laughed Dodo.
Mrs. Alexander seemed mollified at this, and subsided with a fixed
smile upon her lips. A smile that seemed to say sorrowfully: “I’ll
be pleasant no matter what you do or say to me, since I am a martyr,
anyway.”
The young people soon forgot Algy, and Mrs. Alexander exerted
herself to be agreeable to Jack, hence the trip proved to be very
enjoyable to all.
The week passed quickly with so much sightseeing, and the genial
company that agreed pleasantly upon every suggestion Jack made for
them. Then Mr. Dalken and Mr. Alexander concluded their conferences
at Gallup, and, in company with Mr. Fuzzier, informed Jack that they
were ready to leave. Jack then arranged with a man who owned several
fine cars to drive the entire party to Adamana, which was the
nearest stop to the Painted Desert, just north of the town, and the
Petrified Forest to the south of it. It had been decided to visit
the Painted Desert first, and then drive through the Petrified
Forest the next day, and come out near Holbrook, where the entire
party could spend the night. In the morning the three business men
would continue to Ash Fork where they were to remain for a week, to
consult privately with several prominent men. The party under Jack’s
supervision would motor to the Hopi Indian Reservation, where the
wonderful Keams Canyon and the remarkable Hopi Mesas were to be
found. Going southerly from Polacca, he wished his friends to visit
the Giant’s Chain, and then follow the autoroad from Oraibi to the
Painted Desert of the Little Colorado. Thence he would turn off this
road and follow the one which led to Canyon Diablo. Here they would
stop long enough to see all the points of interest, and then motor
on to Flagstaff.
This route was followed, and a week later the two cars ran into
Flagstaff. The passengers and their luggage were soon waiting in the
hotel while Jack paid off the drivers of the automobiles and sent
them back to Gallup. To the delight of the three girls, Mr. Dalken
and his two companions met them as they entered the hotel. This
meant that Dalky would be with them when they visited the Cliff
Dwellings just south of Cliffs, a wonder-spot which they had seen in
the distance when motoring past.
Soon after the party had gone to their individual rooms to brush
away the dust and dirt of touring in a wind which carried the desert
dust upon its wings, Jack’s room-telephone rang. He answered it at
once, and heard his guardian’s voice.
“Jacky, old boy, what do you plan to do the rest of the day?”
“I paid off the chauffeurs and sent them back to Gallup, because I
learned how much cheaper are the cars in Flagstaff. But I have not
hired any; I wanted to hear from you first,” returned Jack.
“Can you come down—or shall I come up?” asked Mr. Dalken.
“I’ll run down—I was about to leave my room, anyway,” said Jack;
then he hung up the receiver and left the room.
A few minutes later he met Mr. Dalken, and sat down beside him to
plan for the week.
“I suppose you all expect me to go about with you to visit the
side-shows of Flagstaff, eh, Jack?” asked Mr. Dalken.
“Why, yes,” returned Jack. “The girls were awfully glad to find that
you were here and would be at liberty to stick to the bunch.”
“Well, that is what I had planned to do, my boy, but we—that is,
Alex., Fuzzy and myself—find we can drive with you as far as
Montezumas Castle, but we will have to leave you there, while we go
on to inspect a stretch of land now for sale. It is not generally
known to be for sale and Alex. says we must get an option on it
before the United Copper Company gets wind of the thing. We just
heard of this last night—Fuzz got a code wire from Chicago, and you
understand that we have to work fast, eh?”
Mr. Dalken seemed anxious, as he confided this news to Jack, and the
young man understood how important it was that his guardian should
be excused from joining the tourists.
“Why, Dalky, every one of us will give up our outings if, by doing
so, we might help you in this work you are developing. Just you go
on exactly as though you were here alone with Fuzzy and Mr. Alex.,
and never waste a thought upon us. In fact, I have done nobly, thus
far, with A. A. A. out of the way. Ask Mrs. Courtney if you doubt
that I made a fine guide.”
“Oh, that reminds me!” exclaimed Mr. Dalken, laughingly. “I saw
Algy—but I will wait and tell the crowd about it later.”
Mr. Fuzzier strolled up at this moment, and Jack got up to shake
hands with him. Then the newcomer spoke to Mr. Dalken.
“I’ve been doing a little private detective work, Dalken, and I find
that a stranger who reminds me of one of the directors of the Copper
Company is staying at this hotel for a few days. Now, how in the
name of conscience are we to get away without their suspecting our
intentions? Lucky we took Alex.’s advice and registered under
assumed names.”
Mr. Dalken turned to Jack and said: “You know what I told you just
now? Well, the girls—and Mrs. Alexander particularly—must be
warned not to greet me as a returned wanderer from Ash Forks. If any
one lurking about finds out how Fuzzy, Alex. and I have been
scouting around the country in quest of capitalists to subscribe for
our new company’s stock, the whole plan of opening the tract
Alexander discovered may go up the flue. On the other hand, it seems
providential that we all arrived about the same time, since it will
seem plausible that we are on a tour of the Grand Canyon and nearby
points of interest. I will leave it to you, Jack, to tell every one
in our party that secrecy about my movements, since I left New York,
is imperative if they wish to help me succeed. This afternoon
at—say—two, we will get in the cars and start to visit Montezumas
Castle, you returning here to-night. But, silence, Jack, upon the
confidential plan I told you—about our going on from the Castle,
and sending you and the ladies back alone—understand?”
“Sure! I’ll skidoo upstairs now, Dalky, and warn the three girls and
Mrs. Courtney about it.”
“Exactly! And I’ll send Alex. up to his wife to put her on guard
about giving things away to strangers—her usual failing,” added Mr.
Dalken.
Then before another word was said, Jack hurried away, and the two
men hastened to the smoking-room to tell their third partner to go
find his wife, and impress upon her the necessity of keeping mum
about the actions and business meetings of her husband and his
partners.
Mr. Alexander smiled cynically as he listened to his friends’
advice; then he replied: “Like-es not, Maggie’ll fly off the handle
and shout all she knows from the housetops, just to badger me into
agreein’ to let that perky dude marry Dodo!”
“Oh, good gracious!” exclaimed Mr. Dalken. “The whole continent of
South America isn’t worth that dreadful mistake.”
“Don’t you worry, friends,” explained the little man, smiling as an
idea entered his tremendous brain. “I’ll fix things so’s Maggie will
be feeding out of my hand for a few days, and by that time there
won’t be no risks of losin’ that property.”
As it was none of Mr. Dalken’s business what his friend said or did
in his private family circle, he did not ask Mr. Alexander how he
planned to keep his wife from publishing the news of her husband’s
close association with a man who added prestige to her social
position. As this news would tell others that three financiers were
affiliated in a way that might bode ill to competitive financiers,
it would be as well to suppress the publisher before she could
broadcast her tidings.
Mr. Alexander hurried away to reach his wife’s room before she could
confide in the chambermaid, or come down to the lounge to see if
she might find any one of importance to whom she might introduce
herself, as was her usual custom when left alone.
In the sanctity (?) of their private room, Mr. Alexander began to
approach his subject in a round-about manner.
“Well, Marguerite, glad to see you lookin’ so good. This bracin’ air
sure does agree with your complexion and tone. A few more weeks of
the same tonic will take twenty years more off your face.”
Mrs. Alexander had just been examining her face and color in the
mirror, and she felt worried over a small wrinkle which she thought
she detected at the corner of her eyes. In spite of all the wrinkle
plasters she used nightly, this fine line crept in unawares, it
seems. But her husband’s surprising compliment—so unusual from
him—pleased her mightily.
“Do you really think so, Ebeneezer? I was just thinking how worn and
aged I had grown since I started on this tiresome tour.”
“Not a bit! Not a bit, Marguerite! I’m the only one that looks worn
and aged. If we-all didn’t know better, you and Dodo could pass for
sisters, all right. I wonder you never thought of lettin’ her go
visitin’ for a season, or so, just to see if folks at home would
credit you with havin’ such a grown-up gal,” continued the wily
little man.
“It does seem too bad, doesn’t it, that Dodo really advertises my
age to the public. I know I look very young to have such a big girl,
but I try to have society people understand that she _looks_ much
older than she is. Still, I don’t know but you are right.” Mrs.
Alexander mused silently over her husband’s remark, after she had
had her say. Mr. Alexander watched quietly and waited for her to
make the next move in this game.
“I’ll have to try your plan out, when we get back to some
fashionable place in the East, Ebeneezer,” finally said Mrs.
Alexander. “Every one in your party knows me here, and even Algy
would laugh if he heard I was trying to play a joke on the public by
passing as Dodo’s sister instead of her mother.”
“I’ll tell you what you might do, Marguerite,—just to try and get
your hand into the game before we-all reach Grand Canyon, which is a
fearful high-toned place, you know. That El Tovar Hotel is one of
the swellest houses in the country, and folks dress to beat the
band. Now, I’ll strike a bargain with you, dearie, if you want to
have some fun by posing as a young lady, heartfree and ready for a
beau, eh?”
Mr. Alexander’s interested smile and his good-natured offer would
have hoodwinked a wiser person than his wife. Being so willing a
victim to blandishments, Mrs. Alexander was ready for the
proposition instantly.
“What bargain do you want to make? I’ll agree to anything that
doesn’t annoy me,” returned she, eagerly.
“Why, it’s this. That you don’t let on Dodo and me are your husband
and daughter until after we leave Arizony. I’ll make believe that
Dodo’s and my name is Ammerman—see. You hang on to Alexander, and
pose as a flapper, if you like, with Dodo and the other gals your
chums. Then I’ll put Dalken wise, to play up as amateur sweetheart,
and Fuzzy must be your steady company. That makes a fine little
comedy, I say, and we’ll see if folks swallow the bait. I’m sure
Dalken and Fuzzier will enjoy the joke as much as you will. The
girls are always out for a lark, and that leaves Jack and Mrs.
Courtney to fix. But, then, Jack will see the fun to be had out of
the play, and Mrs. Courtney doesn’t count any in this plan.”
“Oh, Ebeneezer!” cried Mrs. Alexander delightedly clapping her
beringed hands. “It would be too funny for anything! I can just see
myself with two admiring lovers following around after me. If you
think the others will see what a joke it will be, I’ll play the star
part until we leave Grand Canyon. What a lot of romantic
tête-à-têtes we can have in that lovely resort!”
Her husband grunted silently to himself. But he could not afford to
lose, now that he had won thus far, so he hid his disgust at his
wife’s social aspirations and her yearning for a vanished youth, and
he now made known what she must do for him to clinch the bargain.
“You must act the part of a modest, retiring young lady,
Mag—Marguerite, and keep close to Mrs. Courtney, since she is the
chaperon, you see. Don’t flirt with other men, but make believe you
have your hands full of trouble with keeping off the two elderly
beaux. I’ll put Dalken wise to the play, but Fuzzier is half in love
with you already, I see. He’s not any too particular about loving
another man’s wife, I fear, so he’ll be glad of a chance to make up
to you. Now, then, for my promise to keep Dodo and myself out of
your way, and let you make believe you are Miss Alexander, of New
York, or London, or some other big town: you’ve got to keep secret
that you ever knew a miner by your name; or that Dalken is a
widower, once removed, with his chum, Fuzzier, out here on business.
To play the game right, Dalken and Fuzzier ought to take new names,
too. Fine fix it would be, if some one, knowing of Dalken’s fame as
a New York millionaire, read his name in the hotel register, and
then reported to all the newspapers how he was mad over you! The
same about Fuzzier—only he’s famous in Chicago. Now, I won’t stand
for any such newspaper notoriety, understand? If you want to try out
your hand at acting a part, it’s got to be done proper, and then
I’ll stake my money on you, old gal!”
“Oh! If that is all,” laughed his wife, in relief, “I can promise
that at once. It doesn’t make a bit of difference whether the two
men change their names, or what they do, as long as we go on with
the fun. Then we shall see whether folks really think me as young as
my friends tell me I look.”
“Better begin right here, Mag—Marguerite! I’ll go and coach your
beaux how you are _Miss_ Alexander, and we ain’t no family of yours.
Then I’ll see the girls and teach ’em their parts, too. You dress
the part, and when we start off for Montezumas Castle, you’ll have
things your own way, see?”
“Yes, yes! Hurry away and do as you say. I’ve got to find a youngish
dress in my baggage. What a pity I shipped my trunks on to Williams.
I had lots of Dodo’s fine clothes in them, and they’re just what I
need for this joke.”
“Why not have Dodo loan you one of her suits for to-day? I will send
her here to find out what you want. A few days from now, and you
will have your trunks sent on to Grand Canyon, you know,” advised
her husband, pleasantly.
“That’s a good idea. Run on, and tell Dodo to come to me at once.
But don’t you go and ruin all the fun by calling me by my first
name, as though you knew me intimately!” warned his wife.
“No danger!” laughed Mr. Alexander, as he skipped out of the door
and closed it carefully behind him. Then he shook with mirth as he
remembered how he had slandered the Chicago bachelor, Fuzzier, and
how scandalized Dalken would be to find he was Mrs. Alexander’s
lover.
The little plotter hurried to Dodo’s room to tell her the news, and
she laughed with her father at his description of Mr. Fuzzier being
a flirt, and having intentions to fall in love with Mrs. Alexander.
But Dodo became serious, when she understood the reason for keeping
her mother so interested in Mr. Dalken and Mr. Fuzzier.
“You’d better run and prepare Dalky and his friend, Daddy, or
they’ll escape. Don’t shock them suddenly, but do it by degrees, if
you want them to survive,” laughed Dodo.