If Irene resented this decree, she never allowed anyone to suspect it, and her glad disposition warded off the words of sympathy that might have pained her.
While unable to sally forth in the Liberty Bond drive, Irene was none the less an important member of the band of Liberty Girls. “She’s our inspiration,” said Mary Louise with simple conviction. Teeming with patriotism and never doubting her ability to do something helpful in defeating her country’s foes, Irene had many valuable suggestions to make to her companions and one of these she broached a few days after the bond sale ended so triumphantly. On this occasion the Liberty Girls had met with Irene at Peter Conant’s cosy home, next door to the residence of Colonel Hathaway, for consultation as to their future endeavors.
“Everyone is knitting for the soldiers and sailors,” said Irene, “and while that is a noble work, I believe that we ought to do something different from the others. Such an important organization ought to render unusual and individual service on behalf of our beloved country. Is it not so?”
“It’s all very well, Irene, to back our beloved country,” remarked Laura, “but the whole nation is doing that and I really hanker to help our soldier boys.”
“So do I,” spoke up Lucile. “The government is equal to the country’s needs, I’m sure, but the government has never taken any too good care of its soldiers and they’ll lack a lot of things besides knitted goods when they get to the front.”
“Exactly,” agreed Mary Louise. “Seems to me it’s the girls’ chief duty to look after the boys, and a lot of the drafted ones are marching away from Dorfield each day, looking pretty glum, even if loyally submitting to the inevitable. I tell you, girls, these young and green soldiers need encouraging, so they’ll become enthusiastic and make the best sort of fighters, and we ought to bend our efforts to cheering them up.”
Irene laughed merrily.
“Good!” she cried; “you’re like a flock of sheep: all you need is a hint to trail away in the very direction I wanted to lead you. There are a lot of things we can do to add to our soldiers’ comfort. They need chocolate — sweets are good for them — and ‘comfort-kits’ of the real sort, not those useless, dowdy ones so many well-intentioned women are wasting time and money to send them; and they’ll be grateful for lots and lots of cigarettes, and — ”
“Oh, Irene! Do you think that would be right?” from Edna Barlow.
“Of course it would. The government approves cigarettes and the French girls are supplying our boys across the pond with them even now. Surely we can do as much for our own brave laddies who are still learning the art of war. Not all smoke, of course, and some prefer pipes and tobacco, which we can also send them. Another thing, nearly every soldier needs a good pocket knife, and a razor, and they need games of all sorts, such as dominoes and checkers and cribbage-boards; and good honest trench mirrors, and — ”
“Goodness me, Irene,” interrupted Jane Donovan, “how do you think we could supply all those things? To equip a regiment with the articles you mention would cost a mint of money, and where’s the money coming from, and how are we to get it?”
“There you go again, helping me out!” smiled Irene. “In your question, my dear, lies the crux of my suggestion. We Liberty Girls must raise the money.”
“How, Irene?”
“I object to begging.”
“The people are tired of subscribing to all sorts of schemes.”
“We certainly are not female Croesuses!”
“Perhaps you expect us to turn bandits and sandbag the good citizens on dark nights.”
Irene’s smile did not fade; she simply glowed with glee at these characteristic protestations.
“I can’t blame you, girls, for you haven’t thought the thing out, and I have,” she stated. “My scheme isn’t entirely original, for I read the other day of a similar plan being tried in another city, with good success. A plan similar, in some ways, but quite different in others. Yet it gave me the idea.”
“Shoot us the idea, then,” said Jane, who was inclined to favor slang.
“In order to raise money,” said Irene, slowly and more seriously than she had before spoken, “it is necessary for us to go into business. The other day, when I was riding with Alora, I noticed that the store between the post-office and the Citizens’ Bank is vacant, and a sign in the window said ‘Apply to Peter Conant, Agent.’ Peter Conant being my uncle, I applied to him that evening after dinner, on behalf of the Liberty Girls. It’s one of the best locations in town and right in the heart of the business district. The store has commanded a big rental, but in these times it is not in demand and it has been vacant for the last six months, with no prospect of its being rented. Girls, Peter Conant will allow us to use this store room without charge until someone is willing to pay the proper rent for it, and so the first big problem is solved. Three cheers for Uncle Peter!”
They stared at her rather suspiciously, not yet understanding her idea.
“So far, so good, my dear,” said Mary Louise. “We can trust dear old Peter Conant to be generous and patriotic. But what good is a store without stock, and how are we going to get a stock to sell — and sell it at a profit that will allow us to do all the things we long to do for the soldiers?”
“Explain that, and I’m with you,” announced Alora.
“Explain that, and we’re all with you!” declared Lucile Neal.
“All I need is the opportunity,” protested Irene. “You’re such chatterboxes that you won’t let me talk! Now — listen. I’m not much of an executioner, girls, but I can plan and you can execute, and in that way I get my finger in the pie. Now, I believe I’ve a practical idea that will work out beautifully. Dorfield is an ancient city and has been inhabited for generations. Almost every house contains a lot of articles that are not in use — are put aside and forgotten — or are not in any way necessary to the comfort and happiness of the owners, yet would be highly prized by some other family which does not possess such articles. For instance, a baby-carriage or crib, stored away in some attic, could be sold at a bargain to some young woman needing such an article; or some old brass candlesticks, considered valueless by their owner, would be eagerly bought by someone who did not possess such things and had a love for antiques.
“My proposition is simply this: that you visit all the substantial homes in Dorfield and ask to be given whatever the folks care to dispense with, such items to be sold at ‘The Liberty Girls’ Shop’ and the money applied to our War Fund to help the soldier boys. Lucile’s brother, Joe Neal, will furnish us a truck to cart all the things from the houses to our store, and I’m sure we can get a whole lot of goods that will sell readily. The people will be glad to give all that they don’t want to so good a cause, and what one doesn’t want, another is sure to want. Whatever money we take in will be all to the good, and with it we can supply the boys with many genuine comforts. Now, then, how does my idea strike you?”
Approval — even the dawn of enthusiasm — was written on every countenance. They canvassed all the pros and cons of the proposition at length, and the more they considered it the more practical it seemed.
“The only doubtful thing,” said Mary Louise, finally, “is whether the people will donate the goods they don’t need or care for, but that can be easily determined by asking them. We ought to pair off, and each couple take a residence street and make a careful canvass, taking time to explain our plan. One day will show us whether we’re to be successful or not, and the whole idea hinges on the success of our appeal.”
“Not entirely,” objected Alora. “We may secure the goods, but be unable to sell them.”
“Nonsense,” said little Laura Hilton; “nothing in the world sells so readily as second-hand truck. Just think how the people flock to auctions and the like. And we girls should prove good ‘salesladies,’ too, for we can do a lot of coaxing and get better prices than an auctioneer. All we need do is appeal to the patriotism of the prospective buyers.”
�
��Anyhow,” asserted Edna, “it seems worth a trial, and we must admit the idea is attractive and unique — at least a novelty in Dorfield.”
So they planned their method of canvassing and agreed to put in the next day soliciting articles to sell at the Liberty Girls’ Shop.
CHAPTER VII
THE LIBERTY SHOP
Mary Louise said to her grandfather that night, after explaining Irene’s novel scheme to raise money: “We haven’t been housekeeping many years in Dorfield and I’m not sure I can find among our household possessions anything to give the Liberty Shop. But I’ve some jewelry and knickknacks that I never wear and, if you don’t mind, Gran’pa Jim, I’ll donate that to our shop.”
The Colonel was really enthusiastic over the plan and not only approved his granddaughter’s proposition to give her surplus jewelry but went over the house with her and selected quite an imposing lot of odds and ends which were not in use and could readily be spared. Eager to assist the girls, the old colonel next morning went to town and ordered a big sign painted, to be placed over the store entrance, and he also induced the editors of the two newspapers to give the Liberty Girls’ latest venture publicity in their columns, inviting the coöperation of the public.
Peter Conant turned over the keys of the big store to the girls and the first load of goods to be delivered was that from the Hathaway residence.
The Liberty Girls were astonished at the success of their solicitations. From almost every house they visited they secured donations of more or less value. It may have seemed “rubbish” to some of the donors, but the variety of goods that soon accumulated in the store room presented an interesting collection and the girls arranged their wares enticingly and polished up the brass and copper ornaments and utensils until they seemed of considerable value.
They did not open their doors to the public for ten days, and Joe Neal began to grumble because one of his trucks was kept constantly running from house to house, gathering up the articles contributed to the Liberty Girls’ Shop. But the girls induced other trucks to help Joe and the enthusiasm kept growing. Curiosity was spurred by the big sign over the closed doors, and every woman who donated was anxious to know what others had given to the shop. It was evident there would be a crowd at the formal “opening,” for much was expected from the unique enterprise.
Meantime, the girls were busily occupied. Each day one group solicited donations while another stayed at the store to arrange the goods. Many articles of furniture, more or less decrepit, were received, and a man was hired to varnish and patch and put the chairs, stands, tables, desks and whatnots into the best condition possible. Alora Jones thought the stock needed “brightening,” so she induced her father to make purchases of several new articles, which she presented the girls as her share of the donations. And Peter Conant, finding many small pieces of jewelry, silverware and bric-a-brac among the accumulation, rented a big showcase for the girls, in which such wares were properly displayed.
During these ten days of unflagging zeal the Liberty Girls were annoyed to discover that another traitorous circular had been issued. A large contingent of the selective draft boys had just been ordered away to the cantonment and the day before they left all their parents received a circular saying that the draft was unconstitutional and that their sons were being sacrificed by autocratic methods to further the political schemes of the administration. “Mr. Wilson,” it ended, “is trying to make for himself a place in history, at the expense of the flesh and blood of his countrymen.”
This vile and despicable screed was printed from the same queer type as the former circulars denouncing the Liberty Bond sale and evidently emanated from the same source. Mary Louise was the first to secure one of the papers and its envelope, mailed through the local post-office, and her indignation was only equalled by her desire to punish the offender. She realized, however, her limitations, and that she had neither the time nor the talent to unmask the traitor. She could only hope that the proper authorities would investigate the matter.
That afternoon, with the circular still in her handbag, she visited the clothing store of Jacob Kasker and asked the proprietor if he had any goods he would contribute to the Liberty Girls’ Shop.
Kasker was a stolid, florid-faced man, born in America of naturalized German parents, and therefore his citizenship could not be assailed. He had been quite successful as a merchant and was reputed to be the wealthiest clothing dealer in Dorfield.
“No,” said Kasker, shortly, in answer to the request. Mary Louise was annoyed by the tone.
“You mean that you won’t help us, I suppose?” she said impatiently.
He turned from his desk and regarded her with a slight frown. Usually his expression was stupidly genial.
“Why should I give something for nothing?” he asked. “It isn’t my war; I didn’t make it, and I don’t like it. Say, I got a boy — one son. Do you know they’ve drafted him — took him from his work without his consent, or mine, and marched him off to a war that there’s no good excuse for?”
“Well,” returned Mary Louise, “your boy is one of those we’re trying to help.”
“You won’t help make him a free American again; you’ll just help give him knickknacks so he won’t rebel against his slavery.”
The girl’s eyes flashed.
“Mr. Kasker,” she said sternly, “I consider that speech disloyal and traitorous. Men are being jailed every day for less!”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“I believe that is true, and it proves what a free country this is — does it not? Mr. Wilson’s democracy is the kind that won’t allow people to express their opinions, unless they agree with him. If I say I will stand by the American constitution, they will put me in jail.”
Mary Louise fairly gasped. She devoutly wished she had never approached this dreadful man. She felt ashamed to breathe the same air with him. But she hated to retreat without a definite display of her disgust at his perfidious utterances. Drawing the circular from her bag she spread it before him on his desk and said:
“Read that!”
He just glanced at it, proving he knew well its wording. Mary Louise was watching him closely.
“Well, what about it?” he asked brusquely.
“It expresses your sentiments, I believe.”
He turned upon her suspiciously.
“You think I wrote it?” he demanded.
“My thoughts are my own,” retorted Mary Louise.
Kasker’s frown deepened.
“Your thoughts may get you into trouble, my girl,” he said slowly. “Let me tell you this: However much I hate this war, I’m not fighting it publicly. To you I have spoken in private — just a private conversation. The trouble with me is, I talk too much; I don’t know enough to keep my mouth shut. I guess I’ll never learn that. I ain’t a hypocrite, and I ain’t a pacifist. I say the United States must win this war because it has started the job, and right or wrong, must finish it. I guess we could beat the whole world, if we had to. But I ain’t fool enough to say that all they do down at Washington is right, ‘cause I know it ain’t. But I’m standing by the flag. My boy is standing by the flag, and he’ll fight as well as any in the whole army to keep the flag flying over this great republic. By and by we’ll get better congressmen; the ones we got now are accidents. But in spite of all accidents — and they’re mostly our own fault — I’m for America first, last and all the time. That’s Jake Kasker. I don’t like the Germans and I don’t like the English, for Jake Kasker is a George Washington American. What are you doing, girl?” he suddenly asked with a change of tone.
“I’m putting down that speech in shorthand in my notebook,” said Mary Louise, “and I think I’ve got every word of it.” She slipped the book in her bag and picked up the circular. “Good afternoon, Mr. Kasker!”
The German seemed bewildered; he ran his fingers through his bushy hair as if trying to remember what he had said.
“Wait!” he cried, as she turned awa
y. “I’ve changed my mind about those goods; I’ll send some over to your shop to be sold.”
“Don’t do it,” she replied, “for we won’t accept them. Only those whose patriotism rings true are allowed to help us.”
Then she marched out of the big store, the proprietor at the desk staring at her fixedly until she had disappeared.
“That’s it, Jake,” he said to himself, turning to his papers; “you talk too much. If a man prints a thing, and nobody knows who printed it, he’s safe.”
CHAPTER VIII
THE DETECTIVE’S DAUGHTER
“I’m pretty sure, Gran’pa Jim,” said Mary Louise that evening, “that I’ve trailed the traitor to his lair, and he’s none other than — Jake Kasker!”
This was the first time she had mentioned her suspicion of Kasker to him, and her statement was received by the colonel with moderate surprise, followed by a doubtful smile.
“I know Jake,” he remarked, “and while he is uneducated and his mind is unformed concerning most things outside the clothing business, I should hesitate to accuse him of downright disloyalty.”
“He’s a German, and sympathizes with the Kaiser,” asserted Mary Louise.
“Did he say that?”
“Well, not in so many words.”
“A German-American is not usually pro-German,” the colonel declared, “for Germans who come to America come to escape the militarism and paternalism of the Junkers, which is proof in itself that they disapprove of what we term kaiserism. I know that Kasker talks foolishly against the war and resents the drafting of his son, but I think he is a good American at heart. He has bought Liberty Bonds more liberally than some who proclaim their patriotism from the housetops. I don’t fear these outspoken objectors, my dear, as much as those who work slyly in the dark — such as the writers of those disgraceful circulars.”
Complete Works of L. Frank Baum Page 615
