WILL'S LETTER
Amy's announcement--unexpected as it was--had two effects. It dispelled,
for a time, the gloom that had come with the news of Will Ford's
disappearance, and it gave the girls something to talk about, to
speculate over and to plan for.
"I must confess," admitted Betty, "that our strenuous life this Fall and
Summer, living in the outdoors, has unfitted us for the hum-drum sort of
existence that used to satisfy us. We seem to want some excitement all
the while now."
"That's so," agreed Mollie. "But outdoor life is a little too chilling
these days."
There had been a series of storms and cold weather in Deepdale, ever
since the girls had returned from the logging camp.
"But it must be perfectly lovely in Florida now," spoke Grace, who found
that by joining in the conversation she did not think so much about her
missing brother. "The weather there in our winter season is delightful.
Where is Mr. Stonington's orange grove, Amy--near Palm Beach?"
"No, it is somewhere in the Indian River section, I believe. I don't
know just where."
"And do you really mean to say you can take us there?" asked Betty. "Oh,
you're a dear!"
"Uncle Stonington said he would be glad if I could take you girls," said
Amy. "He got the grove through some sort of a business deal. He doesn't
know anything about raising oranges, but there are men in charge who do.
There is quite a big sort of place--a ranch I believe they call it."
"Oh, no!" exclaimed Betty. "Ranches are only in the West. They are
inhabited by--cow-punchers," and she seemed very proud of her knowledge.
"Why do they have to punch the cows?" asked Mollie. "Westerners use such
funny words."
"Oh, they don't really punch them," said Grace. "I've heard Will and the
boys talk about it. It's just a name. But there are no ranches in
Florida."
"Well, then it's just a plain orange grove," said Amy. "There is a large
house, some bungalows and other buildings. And there is a river and a
lake----"
"My motor boat!" cried Betty.
"What's the matter with it?" demanded Mollie. "Do you see it?"
"No, but I wonder if we could take it along?"
"I'll ask Uncle Stonington," said Amy. "I'm sure you can. Oh, I do hope
you girls can go! Do you think you can?"
"I'm going--if I have to walk!" declared Betty. "I can send my boat by
freight, and we can have the most delightful times ever! Oh, Amy!" and
she hugged her chum again.
"I'm not sure I can go," observed Grace, slowly. "If poor Will is in
trouble----"
"We'll get him out!" cried Mollie. "Of course you'll go. And I'll go,
too! We'll all go. We'll be outdoor girls down where there's no winter!"
"It sounds--enticing," murmured Grace, who did not like the cold
weather. "Think of orange blossoms----"
"And brides!" completed Betty. "Oh, girls!"
"Silly!" chimed in Mollie.
"Is Mrs. Stonington very ill?" asked Betty. "You said something about
her going down there."
"She is not at all well," spoke Amy. "Uncle Stonington is quite worried
about her. I think when it came to getting the orange grove he took it
as much on her account as on his own. The doctor said the air down there
would do her good."
"Is it as bad as that?" asked Mollie, in a low voice.
"Well, she is not at all well," Amy replied. "But we all have hopes that
a change will benefit her. I do hope you girls will come with me. I'll
be so lonesome without you."
"Oh, we'll come," said Mollie, with much confidence.
They talked of the Florida possibilities at some length, and Betty was a
bit anxious as to how she could get her motor boat down to the Land of
the Everglades.
"You'll have to consult that sea-going uncle of yours," suggested
Mollie.
"Perhaps I shall," Betty agreed, with a smile.
"Papa and Uncle Isaac are rather long," complained Grace. "I wonder what
they are going to do?"
"If your father has to go South I'm sure Uncle Stonington would be glad
to have him stop at the orange grove," said Amy.
"I don't know that he'd have time," remarked Grace. "If he has to search
for poor Will----"
She was interrupted by the footsteps of her father and uncle as they
came from the private library. Mr. Ford--as I shall indicate Grace's
father--was speaking.
"Well, I don't see anything to do but to take a trip down there," he
said. "When I'm on the ground I can decide what course to take. Writing
is only nervous work. And yet I don't see how I can spare the time now."
"Perhaps I could manage for you," said Uncle Isaac. "If I find Will I
can bring him back to the mill, and make him work harder than ever. Hard
work----"
"No, no!" exclaimed Mr. Ford, quickly. "I think Will has been punished
enough. I want to get him home, and then we'll map out a course of
procedure. Perhaps I gave him too heavy a sentence," and, almost
unconsciously, he glanced at his brother.
Certainly Mr. Ford, Sr., looked like an inexorable judge who would exact
the last farthing of a debt, or the final round of punishment. Will had
evidently had no easy time.
"Well, I must think about this Southern trip," went on Will's father.
"Why, you girls look as though you had been talking secrets!" he
exclaimed, not wanting to inflict too much of his family troubles on the
visitors.
"We have!" cried Betty. "You are not the only one going South, Mr.
Ford. We may go too."
"Go South? What do you mean?" he asked.
"Mr. Stonington has purchased an orange grove in Florida," Betty went
on, "and Amy has asked us all down there. Do, please, say that Grace can
go!" and she blew him a kiss, for the four chums shared their parents
and friends as they did their--well, let us say--chocolates.
"Florida," spoke Mr. Ford, musingly. "I wonder if, by any chance, Will
could have gone there? Many young men go down South in the winter to
work as waiters in the big hotels. But I hardly think he would be so
foolish. Well, of course if Grace wants to go----"
"I do want to, Daddy, but poor Will----"
"Oh, I'll find him. He has just gone off on some little trip, perhaps.
Very likely he has written to us and the letter has miscarried. Or he
may be carrying it around in his pocket, thinking he has mailed it. Yes,
I think you may go, Grace, if the others do. Don't worry about your
brother. We'll have trace of him soon."
"I'm sure we all hope so," said Mollie, impulsively. "We are thinking of
taking Betty's boat down with us."
"A good idea. I wish I could go. And it is fortunate that, on account of
a change in the school system, you will not miss a term." For following
a shift in the educational work of Deepdale, had come a reconstruction
of the system. The outdoor girls were sufficiently advanced to permit of
their taking several months' vacation, and still remain up to the
standard required by the State regents.
"And to think of going to Florida!" cried Betty, as she walked about the
room. "I know we shall just love it there."
"Young folks waste a lot more time than I did when I was young," said
Mr. Ford, Sr., with a sniff.
"Perhaps we should have been better off if we had 'wasted' a little more
time, as you call it," remarked his brother, as he thought of his
missing son.
"Humph!" snorted Uncle Isaac.
"Well, let's get down to my office," suggested Will's father, after a
pause. "I'm going to have my hands full. To trace a missing boy--though
really I don't imagine that will be serious--and have a daughter go to
Florida is 'going some,' as the boys say. But I guess I can manage it.
Now, Isaac, if you're ready----"
He was interrupted by a ring at the bell, and the shrill call of the
postman's whistle.
"I'll go," Grace exclaimed, intercepting the maid. She brought back
several letters, and at the sight of the handwriting on the envelope of
one she exclaimed:
"It's from Will! It's from my brother. Oh, Daddy, here's a letter from
Will!"