Dorothy Dale: A Girl of To-Day

by Margaret Penrose

  CHAPTER XXVI

  DOROTHY'S COURAGE

  "Dorothy," said the major, when all the news from Aunt Winnie's hadbeen told and retold to Joe and Roger, "I want you to come to my studyafter tea. I have something to say to you."

  The major was seated in his favorite chair at the open window. Dorothythought he looked handsomer every day, as his hair became whiter, andnow as she came to him for the business talk, she wondered who in allthe world could have so loving and so noble a father.

  "I had expected to go to Rochester in the morning," he began, asDorothy dropped to the stool at his feet, "but that dear old meddlingdoctor says no. I feel well enough--"

  "But you are not, daddy dear," interrupted Dorothy. "You have beenworking too hard, I should not have left you."

  "Tut, tut, child, it is you who have been working too hard. I did notrealize it until I picked up the loose ends. But we must not play potand kettle. We must talk business."

  Major Dale went across the room and opened his desk. The letter hewanted was at his hand and he glanced at it hurriedly.

  "Yes, it is to-morrow morning," he said. "I was to appear in court toidentify Anderson."

  "They have him then?" Dorothy could not refrain from asking.

  "Yes, your man--Squire Travers--refunded him up, so you see he hasreturned your compliment, he has captured your enemy."

  "But how could you identify Anderson? You have never seen him."

  "Yes, I had that pleasure once. I saw him with Burlock and I couldidentify him. Travers did some fine work on the case, walked right overthe detectives, and he deserves credit. He will get it too, in the wayof a second term as squire, for he has completely broken up thefactions--it seems like one party now."

  "I am so glad," said Dorothy. "They did have such a hard time of it."

  "Yes, but about to-morrow. Do you think Ralph could identify Anderson?Ralph is out of town and I have wired him to be back to-night."

  "I don't think he ever saw the man," Dorothy answered thoughtfully."But I saw him very distinctly. Wouldn't I do?"

  "You? Why, child, could you go into a big police court and say: 'There,that's the man;' without fainting from fright?"

  "Indeed, I could," declared the girl. "I could do more than that tofind Nellie Burlock."

  "If I really thought so--"

  "But you must know it," said Dorothy, quick to take advantage of themajor's hesitation. "If you just give me instructions I will carry themout to the letter. And oh! if we can only give that money to itsrightful owner at last."

  "Yes, if we only could, I think I would feel like a new man. It hasweighed heavily upon me, particularly since that rascal attacked you atthe falls."

  "I have it!" and Dorothy's eyes flashed in unison with her brain."Telegraph to Mr. Travers to meet us, and let Tavia and me go. Taviahas an aunt in Rochester, you know, and she will take care of us whenwe have finished with the other business. Indeed, I can hardly wait."

  "I cannot seem to think that you should go," objected the major. "It isa big city, and suppose Travers should fail to meet you?"

  "Then I'll meet him," promptly answered Dorothy. "Just give me all thedirections and I will find any police station in Rochester. Besides,I'll have Tavia, and she has been there--through the city--often."

  "Well, it does seem the only way, for if we fail to identify Andersonhe may be released, and I fancy he would never walk into our handsagain."

  "Now, not another thought, but how we are to go?" and Dorothy drew herchair up to his desk. "Tell me all about it now, so I can have it allsettled in my mind to-night. Then to-morrow, all we will have to do isdepart. My! we are becoming famous travelers!"

  Very late that night Major Dale still sat at his desk. It was a seriousmatter for him to allow his only daughter to go into a strange city andthen to a police court to identify a criminal. But how else could hecarry out his sacred obligation to Burlock? How else could he fulfillhis duty to the lost child?

  And Dorothy too, was troubled that night. Would she really have courageto undertake the trip to a big city and then--?

  But she, too, had made a promise, and she, too, felt the voice of thedead father and the voice or the neglected child crying for justice.

  Dorothy Dale did not hesitate--she would go.

  Next morning Tavia bounced around like a toy balloon. To think of goingto Rochester, and into a police court--what could be more delightfullysensational? And perhaps they would have their names in the papers,their pictures, she ventured to suggest. "The two girls from Dalton!""A striking scene in the police court!" These and other "strikingthings" she outlined to serious Dorothy, who now in the early morningsat so close to the car window, and seemed to hear nothing of thefoolish prattle, as the train rattled on.

  "Don't be a funeral, Doro," objected Tavia. "It's the best fun I everdreamed of. Wait till they call on me to testify! Ahem! Won't I make astir!"

  "But we are not going to testify at all--"

  "Same thing. We are to go before a lot of handsome officers, and theywill be so careful of our feelings, of course. I hope I blush! It'salways so nice to blush in print!"

  Whether her nonsense was all frivolity, or somewhat calculated todistract the over serious Dorothy, would have taken an expert in humannature to decide, and there were many other things about Tavia quite asbewildering; but Dorothy was patient, she knew Tavia would notdisappoint her when the test came.