The Camp Fire Girls by the Blue Lagoon

by Margaret Vandercook

  *CHAPTER XIII*

  *THE FOLLOWING DAY*

  Not in several years could Sally Ashton recall so trying a day as thepresent one, not since those fateful days in France when she had nursedan unknown soldier in a ruined chateau.

  In the first place, she was worried about Gill. Characteristic of Gillto insist that the night outdoors in the fog and cold probably had beengood for her; Sally was not under a similar impression. Devotedly andfaithfully she had nursed and watched the other girl during the pastwinter, to discover that Gill possessed a boyish carelessness and lackof judgment concerning her own health.

  So in and out of Gill's room, Sally spent a portion of her morning,carrying in the breakfast tray, insisting that Gill, in spite of herprotests, use a hot water bag prevent her taking cold.

  At eleven o'clock again she tiptoed softly back, and finding Gill awakedeparted to bring a glass of milk, in case she should prefer to sleep onthrough luncheon.

  "I may not be able to come in to see you during the afternoon, Gill;Bettina suggests that, as she is your hostess, I might permit her tohave a little of the care of you, so I agreed. There is something elseI may have to attend to and you seem all right."

  With a harrassed, even troubled air, unlike her usual serenity, Sallystood frowning, looking not at Gill, but out the open window.

  Gill stretched forth her hand.

  "Sally, dear, what is the matter? You are not worrying about me, thatis too absurd! You are a perfect dear and I am everlastingly grateful,but I have not even taken cold. There is something else on your mind.If you don't wish to confide in me, why not tell some one, Mrs. Grahamor Mrs. Burton."

  Sally failed to lift her eyes.

  "No, not at present. I had thought of speaking to Aunt Betty and thendecided I had best wait. Tante is absolutely out of the question. Bythe way, she was much upset when she heard what had happened to you andAllan Drain, but after a talk with Allan is in a happier frame of mind.I was to tell you that she would see you when you were more rested."

  Sally waited, as if trying to reach a decision before stirring from herpresent position.

  "Gill, if there was something you believe you ought to do, would you goahead, even if it made some one you cared for angry?" she unexpectedlydemanded.

  Gill studied her closely.

  "I don't know what to answer, as would depend partly upon circumstancesBut, Sally, dear, please don't get yourself into any difficulty. Youhave been through a trying winter with me and are here by the bluelagoon for a holiday."

  Sally shook her head.

  "I'll do my best to avoid it."

  A few moments before lunch Sally discovered Dan Webster alone on thefront porch and went toward him in her sweetest and most friendlyfashion.

  "It is nice to find you by yourself, Dan. You said last night that I hadbeen avoiding you, which was not exactly true. I have had something onmy mind and it is hard, as you know, at a house party, to slip away fromthe others."

  Dan laughed.

  "Yes, Sally, but it is the very fact of your slipping away from theothers that I did object to. Had you gone with me I might have feltdifferently."

  Sally put out her hand, catching at her companion's coat sleeve.

  "Promise me, Dan, that if I do something you don't like, you won't beangry? You might have a little faith in me!"

  Dan shook his head.

  "Faith or no faith, Sally, I won't have you trudging over this islandalone on any kind of fool's errand. If you do what I asked you not, Ishall find it hard to forgive you. Let's not talk of this; why not comefor a walk with me this afternoon? We have not had a walk in ages!"

  "No, Dan, I can't, I am sorry, but I am tired from waiting on Gill allmorning and from the dance last night and mean to have a nap."

  Then to Sally's relief, Mrs. Graham appeared on the veranda and luncheonwas announced.

  In the afternoon from her bedroom window Sally saw most of the houseparty disappear. They were crossing over to the mainland to watch adrill at the fort. She had declined to go, but was happy to observethat Dan was with them and walking with Vera Lagerloff, whom he hadknown since they were children.

  A short time after, making a pretence of keeping her word, Sally laydown on her bed for five minutes. Then she arose, put on a sweater anda small, close-fitting hat and unobserved went downstairs. Instead ofgoing out at once, however, she slipped into the drawing-room and satdown by a window where she was almost completely concealed by thecurtain.

  She sat there about a half hour. At the end of that time another memberof the house-party appeared from a side door, glanced about her, as ifwondering whether she was observed, and then started alone, presumablyfor a walk.

  Not at once, but within two or three moments, Sally arose and followedher. By walking rapidly she might be able to join her; by loitering shemight keep her in view.

  As the girl walked quickly and as Sally was not fond of strenuousexercise, she was forced to hurry in order not to lose sight of her.

  After an hour and a quarter of fast walking the girl in advance reachedthe small fisherman's hut which Allan Drain had discovered the nightbefore.

  She remained waiting in the open doorway until a small boat landed onthe beach and a young man jumped out. Then she ran forward to meet him.

  From her place of concealment behind a clump of trees Sally was neithersurprised nor shocked. There was no question with regard to thelikeness between Juliet Temple and her companion, plainly they weresister and brother. Then why did Juliet Temple not bring her brother tothe "House by the Blue Lagoon"? The question puzzled and troubledSally.

  After all, she was making a mistake. If another girl chose to havesecret meetings with her own brother, it was not her affair.

  Had she not always distrusted Juliet Temple and believed she intendedsome wrong purpose, never would she have pursued her present course.

  Dan must never learn what she had been doing, or he might be not onlyangry but disdainful.

  Sally turned and started home, sitting down now and then to rest.Having finally made up her mind to cease playing detective, she was in amore comfortable frame of mind.

  Should Juliet Temple by any chance overtake her, Sally determined toconfess.