The Seven Sleuths' Club

by Carol Norton

  CHAPTER XXVII. HOME, SWEET HOME

  Geraldine, supposing that they were about to leave for the city, couldnot understand why her friends had not called to say good-bye.

  "Perhaps they will be waiting at the station," she said to Alfred whenthey were all in the big car, with Danny O'Neil at the wheel.

  "Like as not," the unsuspecting lad replied.

  The Colonel glanced at his watch. "Morrison," he said, "it's a whole hourbefore train time. Would you mind if we went farther out on theWillowbend Road? I have a little business there that I would like toattend to."

  "It's all right with me," the other man replied, and Alfred, happening tolook at his father, was sure that he had turned away to hide a smile.

  Ten minutes later the car turned into the circling drive and stopped infront of the pillared porch of an old colonial home.

  "What a pleasant place this is," Geraldine said. "Who lives here, ColonelWainright?"

  "Some good friends of mine," that gentleman replied as he prepared toleave the car. Then, as though it were a sudden afterthought, he added:"I wish you would all come in for one moment. We'll have plenty of timeto get the train."

  It seemed odd to the girl that they should call upon strangers justbefore leaving town, but she was too fond of the Colonel not to willinglydo whatever he suggested, and so, leaning upon his proffered arm, sheslowly climbed the wide steps.

  To Geraldine's surprise, the door was opened by Susan, and when theyentered the wide hall she saw Matilda, who was beaming upon them. Whatcould it mean? Glancing into the attractive room on either side, the girlwas amazed to see the furniture which had been in their city home. Thensuddenly she understood and, turning a radiant face toward her father,she exclaimed: "Oh, Dad, we aren't going to Dorchester, are we? I'm soglad! But do tell me, how did you happen to find this wonderful place? Ijust adore old-fashioned colonial houses."

  "It's where I was born," her father replied. "Your grandmother and I havebeen planning it all to surprise you and Alfred."

  "Well, it sure is a surprise to me," the lad declared, "and I'm bullyglad that we're going to stay in the country."

  "Do the girls know about it?" Geraldine asked, but before anyone couldreply there sounded in the driveway the ringing of a cowbell, the tootingof horns and the gay laughter of young people.

  Doris was the first to enter the hall of the Morrison home when the dooropened, but a troop of laughing boys and girls followed closely.

  "Oh, Geraldine," Doris exclaimed, "isn't this a grand and glorioussurprise. We didn't know a thing about it until this morning. We hadsupposed that you were going to Dorchester, and we planned being at thestation to say good-bye when someone phoned Jack for us to come hereinstead."

  "We are all so glad that you are to stay in Sunnyside," Merry declared.Tears gathered in the lovely eyes of the girl, who was still not strong,and Jack, noticing this, held out his arm.

  "Princess Geraldine," he said, "permit me to lead you to your throne,where you may receive the homage of your rejoicing subjects."

  A moment later, when the happy girl was seated near the fireplace, withJack standing at her side, Doris, looking about the group, exclaimed:"Where is Danny O'Neil? Why isn't he here with us?"

  "I think he went to the garage," Alfred said. "I'll bring him in." Thetwo lads soon entered the house together and Alfred's arm was thrown overthe other boy's shoulder to assure him that he considered him a friendand an equal. Doris walked up to them and, holding a long envelope beforethe Irish boy, she exclaimed: "Mister Danny O'Neil, if you can guess whatthis envelope contains, you may have it."

  "Why, Doris, how should I know?" the mystified lad replied. "I never hada letter written to me by anyone."

  "Well, you certainly have one now," Doris declared, "but I'm going toread it out to the entire company, so please lend me your ears." Then,opening the important looking envelope, she read:

  "Dorchester Art Institute, March the first.

  "Mr. Danny O'Neil: We are glad to inform you that the carving which yousubmitted in our recent contest has been awarded first place, and as aresult you will receive a scholarship in our institution for one yearfrom this date, all of your expenses to be paid. We advise you to come atonce as new classes will be formed on Monday, March the fifth."

  The expression on the face of the Irish lad was first puzzled and thenradiant. "Doris," he said, "you entered that carving in the contest and Ididn't know a thing about it."

  "Oh, Danny," Merry exclaimed as she held out her hand, "I congratulateyou for all of us."

  A little later Doris found the lad standing alone by a window gazing outat the trees that were showing a haze of silvery green.

  He looked up with a welcoming smile. "Doris," he said, "I'm thinking howpleased my mother would be." Then he added: "I'm going to try hard tosucceed, Good Angel. I want you to be proud of me."

  When the others were gone, Jack remained to spend the evening withAlfred, so he said, but during the long twilight he and Geraldine satbefore the fireplace and the girl listened to the lad's dreams of hisfuture on a cattle ranch, and her heart was made happy when Jack saidearnestly, "You'd love it, Geraldine. From now on I am going to hope thatyou will be there with me."

  THE END.

  Transcriber's Notes

  --Copyright notice provided as in the original printed text--this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.

  --Added a Table of Contents.

  --Silently corrected palpable typos and inconsistent proper names; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.