Chapter XIX
The Return
Until the second of July, Linda's aunt, Miss Emily Carlton, had managed, with Mrs. Crowley's help, to keep hoping that the girls were still alive. Then her brother's long-distance call from Jacksonville, informing her that he was going to sea in a yacht in search of Linda and Dot confirmed all the fears she was secretly cherishing. That night she collapsed and went to bed a nervous wreck.
After once mentioning the fact that Linda was still reported missing in the newspapers, Miss Carlton's housekeeper learned not to speak of the girl again. It seemed as if the older woman could not bear to talk about her niece; in the few days since her disappearance she had aged rapidly. She lay listlessly on her bed, not seeing anyone, not even her dear friend Mrs. Crowley.
It was about noon on the fourth of July that the telephone operator informed the housekeeper that Havana was calling Miss Carlton. The good woman replied that her mistress was sick in bed, and that she would take the message for her. Her hands trembled as she awaited what she believed would be the announcement of Linda's death.
Faint and far off came the astounding words: "Aunt Emily, this is Linda."
"Wait!" cried the woman, shaking as if she had heard a ghost. "I'll get your aunt, Miss Linda."
Rushing to the bed-room, she handed Miss Carlton the bed-side telephone.
"It's Miss Linda," she whispered.
Doubting her senses, the patient sat up and took the instrument.
"Hello," she said, doubtfully.
"Darling Aunt Emily! It's Linda!" was the almost unbelievable reply at the other end of the wire.
Miss Carlton sobbed; she could not say a word.
"Aunt Emily? Are you there?" demanded the girl.
"Yes, yes – dear! Oh, are you all right? Not hurt?"
"Not a bit. Dot and I are both fine – she's talking to her mother now. We're – in Cuba."
"Cuba!" repeated the startled woman. "I thought it was the Okefenokee Swamp, or the Atlantic Ocean! Your father and Mr. Crowley are looking for you."
"Yes, I know. Ted and Louise are here, and Ted's broadcasting the news of our safe arrival now… Probably Daddy has heard by this time."
"When will you be home, dear?" inquired Miss Carlton.
"Soon, I hope… But we have to stop in Jacksonville first… Aunt Emily, couldn't you and Mrs. Crowley come to Jacksonville? We're just dying to see you!"
Miss Carlton considered; she hated to tell Linda that she was sick in bed. But wait – was she? Wasn't it only nerves after all? Why, this good news made her feel like a different person!
"All right, dear," she agreed. "If Mrs. Crowley will, I'll try to arrange it. Shall I send a wire?"
"Yes," replied Linda. "To Captain Magee, at the City Hall, Jacksonville. I'll be there in a day or so… Now good-by, dear Auntie!"
While Linda waited for Dot to come back from her call, which the latter had put in from another instrument, she opened the bag and took out their few possessions that were covering the money. They must be very careful not to let anything happen to all that wealth, she thought – they must never go out of the room and leave it, if only for a minute. How dreadful it would be if it were stolen now, after they had successfully brought it through all their dangerous adventures!
Dot returned in a couple of minutes, and the girls got ready to enjoy the luxury of a real bath, in a real tub. How good the warm water felt, how wonderful the big, soft bath towels! They spent an hour bathing and washing their hair, and trying to make their nails presentable with Louise's manicure set.
They had scarcely finished when the latter returned, followed by a porter carrying innumerable boxes and packages in his arms.
"I've bought everything for you from the skin out," she announced gayly, as she put the load on the floor. "Even hats and shoes, though I knew I was taking a chance at them. But I remembered that you and I often wore each other's things at school, Linda, and I judged that Dot would wear a size smaller. I do hope you can wear them, just till you get to your trunks at Jacksonville."
"You're an angel, Lou!" cried Linda, excited at the prospect of looking clean and respectable again.
"See if you like them," urged Louise. "I got a blue dress for you, Linda, to match your eyes – and a pink one for Dot."
"To match my eyes?" teased the latter.
All three girls began immediately to untie the packages, and drew out the purchases one after another with exclamations of admiration. Dot said that she was so used to seeing dirty knickers that she had positively forgotten what dainty clothing looked like.
"Well, hurry up and dress!" urged Louise. "We want to eat lunch in about ten minutes. Ted means to take off at two o'clock, if you girls think you can be ready by then."
"We surely can!" cried Linda, joyfully. She couldn't wait to get back.
"You'll burn your old stuff, won't you?" asked Louise. "This bag's a sight, too – why not stuff your old clothing into it, and ask the porter to take it away!"
Linda and Dot let out a wild cry of protest at the same moment, and the other girl frowned.
"Why not?" she inquired.
"Sh!" whispered Linda. "That bag has thousands of dollars in it. Belonging to the Jacksonville bank."
"Oh! You really have that money? And kept it all this time?"
"Yes. But don't say a word about it out loud. We'll take it with us into the dining-room, and wear our new hats, so nobody will think it queer."
They found Ted in the lobby of the hotel as they got out of the elevator, and they went into the dining-room to order the meal that Linda and Dot had been longing for on the island. It tasted good to them, but not so good, they had to admit, as the sausages and stale bread and hot tea which Captain Smallweed provided, when they were almost starved.
It was during the meal that they pieced the story together. Linda began by telling of the finding of the money in the bags and the discovery of the last member of the gang on the island.
"But why he ran away without shooting us is a mystery to us," put in Dot.
"He thought that you had armed policemen with you," explained Louise. "We learned that later from Susie. She was captured a couple of days ago – in Panama."
"Where is she now?" demanded Linda, excitedly.
"In jail, of course."
"And the man they called the 'Doc'?"
"No," replied Ted. "Unfortunately he got away – fled the country. Lucky you girls got hold of the money, or the bank would never have seen it again… And by the way, there's a big reward – ten thousand dollars, I believe."
"Ten thousand dollars!" repeated Dot, in amazement. "What do you think of that, Linda?"
"Wonderful!" cried the latter, joyously. "Five thousand apiece. Well, I'm glad you're going to get something out of this dreadful experience, Dot – that I selfishly dragged you into. And my part will go towards a new autogiro."
"A new autogiro!" exclaimed Louise, in surprise. "You don't need one, Linda. The Ladybug's safe and sound – at the Jacksonville airport."
"What? You mean that?" Linda seized the other girl's hand in almost incredulous rapture. "How did it get there?"
"The police found it that day it stormed so. And a pilot flew it back to Jacksonville."
Linda and Dot gazed at each other in full realization at last of the mysterious disappearance of the plane which they had mourned as lost forever.
If Linda was eager to get back to Jacksonville before, she was doubly so now. She could hardly contain her excitement during that flight across the Gulf of Mexico and over the state of Florida to the northern part. She kept urging Ted to put on more speed, to let the motor out to its limit, but the young man, realizing the load he was carrying, was not to be tempted beyond his better judgment.
They arrived at Jacksonville just as it was growing dusk, and flew over the city, now so familiar to them all, to the airport on its outskirts. Gracefully the skillful pilot swooped down the field to his landing.
The usual number of employees came out to greet them, but hardly had the girls climbed out of the plane when a resounding shout went up over the field. Linda Carlton and Dorothy Crowley had been recognized!
A crowd collected immediately, a crowd that had been prepared by Ted's radio message that afternoon, to welcome the two popular girls back to civilization. It was all that Linda and Dot could do to wave and shout greetings in return.
"I just want one look at my Ladybug," said Linda. "If you good people will let me get through – "
At this request, an accommodating official picked her right up on his shoulder, and carried her, amid the laughter of the crowd, triumphantly to the hangar where the autogiro was housed.
"Oh, you dear Ladybug!" whispered Linda, not wanting anyone to think she was silly, but so overcome with joy that she had to say something. No one but a pilot could understand the genuine affection which she felt for her autogiro.
"I'll be over to fly you tomorrow," she added, under her breath. Then, turning to the man who had conducted her across the field, she asked him whether he could as easily take her to the waiting taxi-cab.
They were off at last, waving and smiling to the enthusiastic crowd.
"Be sure to stay in Jacksonville till Saturday," the people begged them. "We're going to celebrate for you then!"
The girls nodded, and the taxi driver sped away with orders to go straight to the City Hall.
Captain Magee, who had received a call from the airport, was ready and waiting for them. Ted carried the shabby, worn bag into his office, and Linda put it into the Captain's hands herself.
"The bank's money," she explained. "And the two revolvers. We never had to use them at all."
"But we'd have died without them," added Dot. "Of fright – if nothing else."
In vain Captain Magee tried to tell the girls how wonderfully brave he thought they had been, but he was so overcome by feeling that he groped for words and stammered – ending by pressing both Linda's and Dot's hands in silence.
"Two young girls like you – " he finally managed to say – "succeeding where the police and everybody else failed! Capturing a hundred thousand dollars by a clever trick – "
"Is there really that much?" inquired Dot. "Of course we never counted it."
The officer smiled at their unconcern. In spite of all their ability, they still seemed like children to him.
"By the way, Miss Carlton," he said, "I had a wire from your aunt this afternoon. She will arrive in Jacksonville Saturday morning – accompanied by Mrs. Crowley."
This final piece of good news was just what the girls needed to complete their perfect day. Their eyes lighted up with happiness, and they squeezed each other's hands in joy.
"And your fathers ought to be back tomorrow. I'll send them straight to the hotel," he added. "So don't go away."
"Wild horses couldn't drag us!" returned Linda. "We're just dying to see them… Now, good-by, Captain Magee… We must go and get some dinner."
So, back in the hotel in Jacksonville, Dot Crowley and Linda Carlton spent their first enjoyable evening for a week – celebrating their safe return with their dear friends, the Mackays.
Chapter XX
Conclusion
The girls' first visitor the following day was not, as they had hoped, the party from the yacht, but a woman.
"Who can it be?" demanded Dot, for the clerk at the desk had not sent up a name with the message.
"A reporter, probably," yawned Linda. "They'll be hot on our trail now, Dot. That was one good thing about the island – we didn't have to read newspapers or give interviews."
"You're not wishing you were back again?"
"Never!" affirmed Linda, surveying the breakfast tray which she and Dot had been luxuriously enjoying. "I don't care for cold tea and crackers as a steady diet."
"But what shall we do about this visitor?" persisted her companion. "The clerk's still waiting for our reply."
"Oh, tell him to send her up, I suppose. After all, the poor girls have to earn a living."
As Dot gave the message over the telephone, Linda surveyed the room with a frown of distaste.
"It's not so neat, Dot – to receive a caller," she remarked. "Maybe we ought to have gone downstairs."
"Think I better try to call him back?"
"No, I guess it's too late now – the girl's probably on the elevator by this time. Anyhow, it really doesn't matter. Newspaper women are usually awfully good sports."
To their amazement and chagrin, it was not a reporter to whom, a moment later, Dot opened the door. A beautifully dressed woman stood before them, smiling nervously. It was Mrs. Carter – Jackson Carter's mother!
"How do you do, Mrs. Carter!" exclaimed Dot. "Do come in – if you can pardon the appearance of this room."
The older woman seemed scarcely to notice the unmade beds or the open trunks. She nodded to Linda as she entered, but she appeared like a person with something serious on her mind.
"How did you know where to find us?" inquired Dot, after she had cleared a chair for their visitor.
"It's in all the papers," the latter replied. "Haven't you read about yourselves? Why, everybody in town thinks you two girls are simply marvelous! Rescuing that money was a miracle in itself – an act of courage that Jacksonville will always be grateful to you for."
"It's awfully nice of you to say so," murmured Dot, for Linda remained silent. Somehow the latter could never feel at home with this woman.
"Our city is planning a parade and celebration in your honor," she continued. "And the Daughters of the Confederacy would like to invite you to a dinner and reception afterwards. That is one of the reasons why I came to see you – to extend the invitation in person."
"It's extremely kind of you," assented Dot. "We'll be delighted to accept, won't we, Linda?"
"Why, yes – of course – only – " Linda paused, hoping that she was not appearing rude.
"Except what, my dear!" asked Mrs. Carter.
"Well, it's marvelous of you to do it for us, but you see our fathers are coming – and Dot's mother – and my Aunt Emily – "
"But they are included, of course! There will be both men and women at the banquet, and my brother-in-law, the president of the bank that was robbed, hopes to present you girls with the reward."
"Oh, it's going to be great fun, Linda!" exclaimed Dot, excitedly. "We've just got to be there!"
"Yes, it will be charming," agreed the other girl. "We'll be delighted to come – if we may bring our friends."
There seemed nothing more to say, yet Mrs. Carter made no move towards going. To fill an awkward pause, Dot inquired how Jackson was.
"Jackson has been away since the first of July," replied the older woman. "I haven't heard anything from him, and I am quite anxious, though he warned me he couldn't write. He and his chum, Hal Perry, went into the Okefenokee Swamp to search for you girls."
"The Okefenokee Swamp!" repeated Linda. It seemed ages since she had been lost in that desolate expanse.
"Yes. And I wondered, Miss Carlton, whether you would be willing to fly up to the northern end, up towards Camp Cordelia, and look for them. Oh, I don't mean go into the swamp again – that would be too dreadful – but just fly around it."
"Yes, of course," agreed Linda, not knowing what else to say. "If you will let me wait until my Daddy comes, so I can take him with me."
"Naturally!"
Mrs. Carter rose at last, but she still appeared to be embarrassed.
"There is something else I want to say to you, Miss Carlton. An apology, this time. I know now that you are the same girl my son rescued in the swamp and brought home to our house. The girl to whom I was so rude… I – I want to beg your pardon."
It was a great deal from a woman of Mrs. Carter's dignity and importance, and Linda was deeply touched.
"This is very sweet of you, Mrs. Carter," she said. "And of course I understand how you felt at the time. I'm only too glad to forget all about it… And," she added, holding out her hand, "I'll go to your son's rescue, as he has twice gone to mine – as soon as my Daddy comes."
Still the visitor hesitated, even after she had shaken hands with both the girls, and had reached the doorway.
"Would you girls consider bringing your families out to our home, to spend the weekend with us?" she asked, more as one seeking than as one bestowing a favor.
Dot did not answer this time; she looked inquiringly at Linda.
"It would be lovely," replied the latter, with genuine enthusiasm. "But I am afraid there are too many of us. You see there are two friends with us now – Mr. and Mrs. Mackay, who picked us up in Havana – and there are two more with our fathers on the yacht. With my aunt and Dot's mother, it will make ten in all. And that is too big a crowd for any place but a hotel!"
"Not at all!" protested Mrs. Carter. "I should love it. We have plenty of room, and plenty of servants – and we enjoy house-parties. How I shall look forward to seeing your mother, Dorothy!.. You will come, won't you, girls – as soon as the whole party is together?"
With such a pressing invitation as this, they could not do otherwise than graciously accept, and, satisfied at last, Mrs. Carter bade them good-by.
There was no opportunity to discuss this unexpected visit, for no sooner had this caller departed than others began to arrive. Louise dashed into the room on her return from breakfasting with Ted in the dining-room, and before Dot and Linda could repeat the invitation to her, news came that the yachting party had arrived.
The reunion of the two girls with their fathers was touching to see. For some minutes they clung to one another in the lobby of the hotel, regardless of the strangers about. Ralph Clavering and Jim Valier stood in the background, unnoticed.
About three o'clock that afternoon Linda suddenly remembered her promise to Mrs. Carter in regard to flying over the Okefenokee Swamp in search of Jackson, and she suggested to her father that they go to the airport immediately.
Mr. Carlton shook his head decidedly.
"No, daughter," he said. "You will never have my consent again to fly within fifty miles of that dismal swamp!"
"But we must be within fifty miles of it now," returned Linda. "Shall we leave Jacksonville?"
"Now, Linda! You know what I mean."
"But how shall I tell Mrs. Carter? I promised, you know."
"You can leave that to me," he replied. "I'll explain."
But it was not necessary to do this, for the woman telephoned herself almost immediately to say that the boys had arrived by automobile half an hour ago. She concluded by reminding Linda that she was expecting the whole party the following day for luncheon.
Saturday dawned clear and bright, and the parade was scheduled for the early morning, before the sun's rays became blistering. Linda and Dot occupied seats of honor on the canopied grandstand, beside the Mayor, and they bowed and smiled to everyone that passed by.
Miss Carlton and Mrs. Crowley arrived just in time to witness the demonstration, in honor of their two brave girls.