_Susie Disappears_
When Linda entered her hotel bed-room after the conversation with
her Aunt Emily over the long-distance wire, she found two pleasant
surprises awaiting her. The first of these that she saw was her trunk,
sent on from Atlanta. The second was a telegram from the Pitcairn
Autogiro Company.
Her new roommate, who was bending over her own suit-case, looked up
expectantly.
"Good news, Linda?" she inquired.
"Splendid!" replied the other girl. "The parts for my 'Ladybug' have
been shipped from Miami, where the company has some autogiros on
exhibition. They'll be at the Jacksonville Airport tomorrow."
"Then your Ladybug is damaged?" asked Dot, who had heard nothing of the
story as yet, beyond the bare facts that had been in the newspapers.
All that she had read was that Linda Carlton, famous aviatrix, who had
been lost in the Okefenokee Swamp for several days, had turned up in
Jacksonville, Florida.
"Yes, quite a smash-up," answered Linda. "But I wasn't in it. Another
girl was flying----" She stopped abruptly. "Wait till Lou and Ted are
with us, Dot, so I can tell the story all at once. I'm rather fed up
with it myself. I'd loads rather hear what you've been doing at Spring
City."
"O.K.," agreed her companion, cheerfully, and proceeded to report to
Linda all the news that she could remember.
"What I can't understand," remarked Linda, a few minutes later, as she
unpacked her trunk and took a flowered chiffon which she decided to
wear, "is how everyone finds me at this hotel. I didn't know where I'd
be staying when I sent those telegrams yesterday."
"I can answer that," replied Dot, immediately. "It's your friends at
the City Hall. The Chief of Police there directed us. It was Ted's idea
to go to him, for I never would have thought of it."
"Ted knows that Lou and I have a failing for police stations and Court
Houses," laughed Linda, recalling their experience in Canada the
previous winter.
Five minutes later the girls joined the young Mackays on a cool upper
porch of the hotel, where they were able to be by themselves. It was
then that Linda told her story, first extracting a promise from the
group never to mention the kidnapping episode to anyone else, lest the
news get back to her Aunt Emily. The other girls listened in amazement,
now and then interrupting with exclamations of horror at the outrage of
it all. Ted sat grimly silent, more angry than anyone.
"And if you hadn't escaped, we probably shouldn't have gotten there in
time," observed Louise. "To rescue you, I mean. Because of course they
meant to kill you in the end."
"Did you realize that at the time?" asked Dot.
"Not exactly," replied Linda. "Though I really feared something much
worse. I thought they would imprison me on that island in the ocean,
and let me die of starvation. And I was horribly afraid of those men. I
tried to keep with Susie until they went away."
"It was that bank robbery that saved your life," remarked Louise. "And
spelled ruin for them. If they hadn't been so greedy----"
"Exactly!" exclaimed Linda. "That's one reason why I feel it's my
solemn duty to try to catch the fourth man, and get that money back.
I'm really the only person who could identify him--except Susie."
"Do you honestly think she'll reform?" asked Dot.
"I hope so. If those new parts for the autogiro really come tomorrow,
we'll fly over and get her, Dot."
"I'm crazy to see her," returned the latter. "And I'd enjoy going to
the jail to see those two prisoners, and gloat over their punishment!"
"Dot's as vindictive as I am!" joked Louise. "Remember all the dark
futures I used to wish for Bess Hulbert?"
"Poor Bess!" sighed Linda. "She certainly got hers----"
Thinking that the girls had heard enough of Linda's unpleasant
experiences, Ted interrupted them by suggesting that they all go
somewhere and have something to eat.
"If it's cool, I'm for it," agreed Louise, jumping up and putting her
hand through her husband's arm.
"You're not too tired, are you, Linda?" she inquired.
"Not a bit!" protested the girl. "I feel like a new person since you
three arrived.... There's a lovely screened tea-garden across the
street that looks awfully attractive. Shall we go there?"
Linda was right in her impression; the place was charming. Instead of
the customary artificial flowers or tiny bouquets so often seen in
restaurants, real rose-bushes showered their profusion of fragrance
all about the edges of the screen garden. Surprisingly, every one was
hungry; the three visitors because they had eaten only a light picnic
supper, Linda because she had been too homesick to eat much alone. The
food proved as delightful as the surroundings, and they all enjoyed it
immensely.
While Dot was, eating her ice, she noticed some people that she seemed
to remember--sitting at a table in back of Linda. But she could not
place them.
"Linda," she said softly, "see that young man over there at that table
back of you--to the right--with an older woman? Don't turn around
now, he's staring at us.... He looks sort of familiar to me, and I'm
positive I've seen that woman before. Do you know them, or are they
people I have met at Palm Beach sometime, one of those winters when we
went to Florida?"
Linda waited a moment, and then casually turned her head in the
direction which Dot had indicated. The boy was Jackson Carter!
In relating her story of the rescue by the two boys in the canoe, Linda
had not even mentioned their names, and had omitted entirely her visit
to the Carter home. After her telephone conversation with Jackson this
evening, she had decided to forget all about him.
She noticed that Dot was smiling and nodding.
"I remember her now," she explained. "A Mrs. Carter--she chummed a lot
with mother at Palm Beach. And that's her son--he wasn't more than
fourteen the last time I saw him.... I think I'll go over and speak to
them." Linda flushed and tried to hide her embarrassment by talking to
Louise and Ted about their flight. But Dot came back in a moment.
"I've got an invitation for us, Linda!" she announced. "Finish your
lemon ice, and come over and meet the Carters. All of you!"
Linda hesitated. She did not know what to say. Evidently Jackson had
not recognized her, or else was deliberately concealing the fact that
he knew her.
"All right," agreed Louise, rising and pulling Ted by the hand, for her
youthful husband was still shy about meeting the people whom he termed
the "four hundred." But his manners were as good as anyone's, and
Louise was always proud of him.
They stepped over to the table, Linda reluctantly following them.
"Mrs. Carter, I want you to meet Mrs. Mackay--our chaperon." Dot winked
slyly at Louise. "And Miss Linda Carlton, the famous aviatrix! And Mr.
Mackay.... And this is Mr. Carter."
The young people bowed in recognition of the introduction, but Jackson
gave no sign that he had ever seen Linda before.
"Mrs. Carter says that so long as our chaperon is leaving tomorrow,
we must come over and stay at her house, Linda," Dot said. "You see,
Mrs. Carter," she continued, turning to the older woman, "we're not
so strict in the North about chaperons as you are here--but Linda's
aunt would like to be. It really worries her to have her niece batting
around alone in an airplane."
Horribly embarrassed, her eyelids fluttering so that she could not
see anybody distinctly, Linda tried to summon words to decline the
invitation. It would be impossible for her to accept.
"We'd love to have you, girls," Mrs. Carter assured them. "For as long
as you can stay.... How I would enjoy seeing your mother, Dorothy! You
must tell me all about her."
"I'm awfully sorry," stammered Linda, still avoiding Jackson's
eyes, "but I'm afraid we can't possibly make it. The fact is, I am
expecting to get my autogiro tomorrow, and that will take us away from
Jacksonville."
"Bring it out to our place!" urged the young man, with the deepest
pleading in his tone. It was the first time that he had spoken, and
everybody was surprised at his eagerness. That is, everybody except
Linda--who had heard the same pleading over the telephone a few hours
before.
His mother smiled approvingly. She was glad to see that her son was
interested in Dorothy Crowley, for the Crowleys were wealthy people, of
unquestionable social position.
But, had she known it, Jackson did not even see Dot. He was lost in
admiration of Linda--or Ann, as he thought of her. In her pale chiffon
dress she looked absolutely ravishing. How could he ever have doubted
that she was of good family?
"No, thank you ever so much, but we can't possibly," Linda repeated.
"We--or rather I--have work to do. Of course if Dot wants to go----"
She looked at the other girl fearfully. How she would hate to lose her!
Dot's reply, however, was reassuring.
"No, Mrs. Carter, I must stick with Linda. It isn't often that my
mother gives in and lets me go off like this, and I mean to take
advantage of it Besides, there's adventure ahead!"
Mrs. Carter sighed; these modern girls were beyond her comprehension.
She was thankful that her only child was a boy.
While Dot was saying good-by, explaining that the Mackays had to be up
early in the morning, Jackson managed a whisper to Linda.
"When can I see you, Ann? I just _must_!"
Linda smiled; she was in command of herself again. She had won in a
difficult situation.
"Some time when we both winter at Palm Beach or Miami," she replied,
lightly, as she nodded good-by to his mother.
The young man's interest in Linda had not escaped Dot's notice. When
they had left the restaurant, she remarked, teasingly:
"You certainly made a hit, my dear. But I'm just as glad you turned
down their invitation. The Carters have a marvelous home, I believe,
but they're about 1890 vintage. They don't know that there was a War."
"Well, we really haven't any time to lose," was her companion's reply.
"I'm almost afraid now that Susie will be gone when we get to that
island. And I'm in a hurry to help the police trace that other thief
with the money."
"Adventure is right!" laughed Dot, as the girls said good-by to Ted and
Louise, and went to their room.
The Mackays left soon after dawn the following morning, but Linda and
Dot had decided to have a good sleep. They did not waken until after
ten o'clock, when they heard the telephone ringing in their ears.
It was Dot who answered it.
"Oh, hello, Jackson!" she said, with a wink at Linda. "I used to
call you by your first name, so I suppose I might as well now. How's
everything?"
"Just fine," replied the young man. "And Dot--may I speak to Miss
Carlton?"
"O.K.," answered the girl, holding the telephone towards Linda.
"Not awake yet!" yawned Linda, burying her head in the pillow.
"She says she's not awake yet," explained Dot, laughingly. "Better call
later, Jackson--after we get some breakfast."
Replacing the telephone, she turned to her roommate.
"That big boy certainly fell for you, Linda!" she exclaimed, still
unaware of the fact that Jackson had not met her for just the first
time.
"Well, I didn't fall for him," the other stated, firmly. "And Dot,
please, from now on I'm not at home when he calls."
Dot was surprised at this announcement; it was unlike Linda not to be
friendly to everybody. Why had she taken such a dislike to a young man
as handsome as Jackson Carter?
"May I ask you a personal question, Linda?" she inquired.
"Why certainly, Dot!"
"Are you engaged to Ralph Clavering--and is that why you're turning
other men away?"
Linda laughed at the idea.
"No, Dot--I'm not engaged to anybody. And I don't want to be. I want to
be free for a while. But not from my girl-friends!" she added hastily,
reaching over and giving Dot a hug. "Oh, Dot, if I could ever tell you
what it meant to me to have you three breeze in last night! Honestly, I
was awfully low."
"It was Lou's idea," explained Dot. "I guess she thought you would
be--so far away from everybody--even if you hadn't been in any
difficulty."
"Lou's a peach," observed Linda.
They ordered a tray sent up to their room, and lingered lazily over
their breakfast. Before they had finished the telephone rang again.
This time it was the Jacksonville Airport, informing Linda that the
new parts for her autogiro had arrived.
"I'll have to hurry!" she said to Dot. "I don't want to lose a minute
now."
"Just what are your plans, Linda?" asked the other girl, as she, too,
started to dress.
"Go to the airport and have the parts for the Ladybug put into a plane.
Then fly to Soldiers' Camp Island, taking another mechanic along. I'll
help this man fix the autogiro--collect Susie--and fly back here."
"You really believe you can fix it in one day?"
"Yes, of course. Why not!"
"Well," said Dot slowly, "I think if you don't mind, I'll stay here.
You'll need all the space you can get in your plane to carry those
parts to the wreck. And I'd be fearfully bored standing around while
you work."
"I guess you're right," agreed Linda. "It would be better for me to
take two men--a pilot and a mechanic. Because I can't fly this hired
plane back again--I'll have to pilot the Ladybug."
"And you have to bring Susie too," Dot reminded her.
Linda lost no time in getting ready, and she was pleased to have left
the hotel before Jackson Carter had a chance to telephone again. She
found a "repair" plane waiting for her at the airport, and she made
note of the new parts for the autogiro that were already packed into
it. Two men were prepared to go with her--one a pilot, the other a
mechanic. For once in her life Linda was to ride as a passenger.
The day was hot and dry, but over the swamp the air seemed cooler and
fresher. The rainy season was late, everybody said; by this time of
year the swamp was usually flooded.
As the plane flew over the desolate expanse, Linda smiled to herself at
the familiarity of the landscape. She was getting to be an authority
on the Okefenokee Swamp; she never need fear again being lost in its
southern part, at least. Although the pilot had a reliable map, he
found Linda's directions helpful, and before noon they came down on
Soldiers' Camp Island.
The first thing that struck their notice was the autogiro, still
leaning over on its side, looking pathetically helpless in its plight.
But Susie was not in sight.
While the men unloaded their tools and the new parts for the damaged
plane, Linda went in search of the girl she had left there two days
before. It was queer, she thought, that Susie had not come out to meet
them at the sound of their motor. Was it possible that she was sick--or
only asleep?
The island was a comparatively large one, several miles in length,
and Linda decided immediately to explore it. Susie might be waiting
somewhere within its depths, helpless or hurt, if she had fallen on her
injured ankle. It would be necessary to make a thorough search.
Linda ran back to the autogiro to inquire whether the men needed her
help, and explained what she was about to do.
"We don't need you yet, Miss," replied the mechanic. "Later on, when
she's almost finished, you can help me look her over, and take her up
for a test."
"By the way, Miss Carlton," put in the pilot, "did you think to bring
any food for lunch? I only brought water."
Linda shook her head regretfully. How could she have been so stupid?
Had her excitement over regaining her autogiro destroyed all her common
sense?
"I'm awfully sorry," she said. "I just plain forgot! And I usually have
some in the autogiro, but those thieves took it out.... Wait, though!
There may be some on the island. We left a half a dozen cans with this
girl."
A search of the little "houses" farther in on the island revealed what
she had been hoping for--the remainder of the supplies the boys had
left with Susie, consisting of two cans of baked beans, tea, coffee,
sugar and canned milk. This ought to be enough for their lunch, and she
ran back immediately to the men with the good news.
For the next two hours Linda searched the island diligently, calling
Susie by name at frequent intervals. But no answer came in reply, and
she found no trace of the girl. Susie had completely vanished.
Weary and hungry she returned to the shore of the island where the men
were working, and was delighted at the progress they had made. The job
was almost finished.
"I can't find the girl," she told them. "But I've collected enough
fire-wood to cook our coffee and beans. We'll have our lunch in a
little while."
Two hours later the autogiro was finished, ready for its flight back
to Jacksonville. The engine was running smoothly; Linda climbed into
the cock-pit and took it up in the air for a test flight. She found
everything satisfactory; dipping low, she gave the others the signal to
leave. With her Ladybug in the lead, the two planes made record time
back to Jacksonville.
"She's as good as new," she told the mechanic joyfully, after both
planes had landed, and she was paying her bill. "I wish I could fly her
right over to my hotel."
"I believe you almost could," remarked the man, admiringly. "Land her
at the front entrance, like a taxi-cab!"
"I'm afraid I'll have to take an ordinary cab," sighed Linda, spotting
one out near the gate. "Thanks a lot--and good-by! I'm in a hurry to be
back."
It was after six when Linda ascended the steps of her hotel, and found
Dot waiting for her on the porch, trying in vain to keep cool.
"Where's Susie?" she demanded, immediately.
"Gone!" replied Linda. "I searched the whole island carefully--but not
a sign of her!"
"Where could she go?" demanded Dot. "Do you 'spose some canoe picked
her up--maybe those same boys that rescued you?"
Linda shook her head. Not those boys, any way! "What I'm afraid of
is that the fourth man of the gang--the only one who escaped, you
know--picked her up in his boat."
"Not so good--not so good," muttered her companion.
"No, it isn't. Just when I thought Susie had reformed, too--and cut
free from those criminals!" Linda uttered a deep sigh.
"Well, let's forget her," suggested the other girl, cheerfully. "I've
been waiting all afternoon to take you for a swim--so let's go, and
have our dinner later. I understand there's a marvelous pool a couple
of blocks away."
Linda's face brightened. What could possibly be better on such a hot
day!
"Let's go!" she exclaimed. "Lead me to it."
After her disappointment at losing Susie, and her strenuous day in
the heat, the relaxation of swimming in the lovely out-door pool was
exactly what Linda needed. The water was cool and refreshing, and the
surroundings charming.
For half an hour Linda swam lazily about, resting now and then on her
back, occasionally mounting the board for a dive. At last she felt
that she had had enough, and seated herself on the edge of the pool,
dangling her feet in the water, and watching Dot perform all sorts of
fancy dives, for the other girl was a real champion.
"What a marvelous girl Dot is," Linda was thinking, when she was
suddenly startled by the sound of a masculine voice, almost in her very
ear.
"Ann! Think of finding you here!"
Linda squirmed a little, thinking that the man must have made a mistake
in thinking she was some other girl. For the time being, she forgot all
about her middle name.
"Miss Carlton," insisted the voice.
Turning about, she saw Jackson behind her,
"How do you do?" she said, coolly.
The young man became embarrassed at her manner. He did not know what to
say.
"Miss Crowley is a marvelous diver," he muttered, though it wasn't that
that he wanted to talk about.
"Yes, I think so," agreed Linda.
There was a silence. The girl made no effort to be entertaining.
"You really are the girl who flew across the ocean alone, and won that
big prize?" he persisted.
"Yes." Linda made a half-hearted gesture to repress a yawn. Jackson
Carter needn't think he could buy her favor by flattery!
"But why didn't you tell Hal and me that, when we found you in the
swamp?"
"It had no particular bearing on the subject, that I could see."
"If my mother had known that----"
"If your mother didn't wish to receive me at her home," interrupted
Linda, "there was no reason in the world why she should. Everyone has a
right to her own opinion!"
"But now that we've been formally introduced, it's different," he
urged. "Please tell me how long you'll be in Jacksonville."
"We're leaving tomorrow," she said, rising. "And will you please excuse
me--as I see Dot going to the dressing-room?"