The Second Girl Detective Megapack: 23 Classic Mystery Novels for Girls

by Julia K. Duncan

  However, Doris and Kitty had not realized the aggressiveness of their new acquaintance. Scarcely had they picked up their magazines when the magician came through the car, carrying his suitcases. The girls did not glance up, hoping that he would pass them by. Instead, he swung the case containing the snakes under a seat directly behind them and then bowed with a pleased smile.

  “Ah, I see we are to be neighbors.”

  Mrs. Mallow looked up sharply.

  “Young man,” she said somewhat sternly, “if you have snakes in that suitcase, I feel it my duty to report you to the conductor. I can’t bear the thought of—”

  She broke off abruptly, as she caught sight of the conductor coming down the aisle, for in spite of her threat she hesitated to report the young man. However, the railroad official already had been informed of the situation and bore angrily down upon the magician.

  “I hear you’re carrying a menagerie! There’s a strict rule against bringing animals in the cars, you know. You’ll have to open up the suitcase.” Ollie Weiser looked the picture of innocence, as he reached down to drag forth one of the bags. It seemed to the girls that he took a long time at it, but presently he slapped the suitcase down upon the seat.

  “Someone must have given you the wrong dope,” he remarked easily, “but take a look for yourself and then maybe you’ll be satisfied.”

  The conductor somewhat nervously unfastened the straps and threw back the cover. The suitcase was empty! Ollie Weiser smiled triumphantly and winked at Doris and Kitty.

  “There, you see!” he said.

  “I’m very sorry, sir,” the conductor apologized. “I only took the word of one of the passengers. It’s my duty to investigate.”

  “Sure, that’s all right. No hard feelings.”

  After the conductor had left the car, Doris, who was watching closely, saw the magician slip three snakes from his coat pocket back into the suitcase. In spite of the feeling of distaste which she felt for the man, she could not help but smile.

  Ollie Weiser turned to Mrs. Mallow and said gravely:

  “The snakes are quite harmless, Madam, but I assure you they will be kept securely locked up. You’ll not report me, will you?”

  The stern lines of Mrs. Mallow’s face relaxed. “I’m afraid it would do no good,” she replied with a faint smile. “However, I trust you will keep your promise. Come, girls, we must go to the diner, or we’ll miss our luncheon. I heard the second call some time ago.”

  Without another glance at the magician she arose and walked toward the front of the train, Kitty and Doris following her. As they took seats in the diner, they saw Mr. Baker at a table at the far end of the car. He bowed in recognition and the three returned the greeting.

  “He’s a nice looking old man, isn’t he?” whispered Doris. “And nice to talk with, too.”

  “Maybe,” offered Kitty. “Certainly two different kinds of people we’ve talked with on the train. One can’t remember anything, and the other wants to tell you everything.”

  “I can’t say I like that magician,” Mrs. Mallow commented, as she gave the waiter her order. “I consider him entirely too presumptuous and impertinent.”

  “I think he means all right, but it’s just his bold way,” Doris returned with a smile. “However, I don’t like him myself.”

  “I’m glad to hear you say that,” Mrs. Mallow observed, obviously relieved. “I wanted to warn you girls about talking too much with him.”

  “He does all the talking,” Kitty interposed. “We just listen.”

  “I hope you don’t consider me dictatorial,” Mrs. Mallow said apologetically. “I mean only to be helpful.” She lowered her voice. “You see, we’re on a mysterious errand and so must be a trifle wary of strangers.”

  Doris nodded soberly.

  “I understand. Kitty and I haven’t mentioned our business to anyone. We did ask Mr. Baker a few questions but took care not to tell him why we are going to Cloudy Cove.”

  “Until everything is settled, we can’t be too careful, Doris. I knew I could trust you to be discreet.”

  The waiter appeared with a tray of steaming food, and conversation ceased. Yet Ollie Weiser was not to be dismissed lightly, for, as Mrs. Mallow and the girls soon learned, his ways were most aggressive.

  CHAPTER VI

  More About Snakes

  Ollie Weiser did not allow himself the luxury of luncheon in the diner. When Mrs. Mallow and the girls returned to their own cat, they observed that he had spread out a meal of sandwiches and fruit which he had brought with him. He merely glanced up as they passed, and the three were hopeful that he would no longer annoy them with his attentions.

  To pass away the time Mrs. Mallow brought out a deck of cards, but scarcely had the three started their game, when the magician, having cleared away his lunch, arose and sauntered over to their section.

  “Need a fourth?” he inquired, and then, before Mrs. Mallow could reply, he sat down. “I’ll show you a few tricks.”

  The three travelers were amazed at the speed with which the magician shuffled the deck. His long, thin fingers were exceedingly deft. Under his manipulation the cards behaved in an uncanny fashion, disappearing and reappearing in strange places.

  Though Ollie Weiser was much too bold and sure of himself, he was a master hand at entertainment, and before many minutes had elapsed, Mrs. Mallow was smiling. If he had been wise, he would have ended his demonstration while that lady was more favorably disposed toward him, but instead he launched into a lengthy tale of his varied stage experiences. After all hour of it Mrs. Mallow took the girls and went back to the observation car, leaving the magician in possession of the section.

  “What a pest that man is!” she exclaimed. “I do hope we lose him when we change at the junction.”

  When the three ventured to return to their car later in the afternoon, they were relieved to find Ollie Weiser gone. Perhaps he realized that he had been snubbed; for, when he reappeared near dinner time, he did not press his attentions upon them.

  That evening in the diner Mrs. Mallow and the girls were seated, quite by chance, at a table occupied by Silas Baker. He made himself very agreeable and told them a great deal concerning the history and development of Cloudy Cove. The girls learned that it was a delightful summer resort town, situated some two miles from the Bay of Thor.

  “You will find it very pleasant there at this season of the year,” the old gentleman assured them. “Late in the fall the district is subject to violent storms and thick fogs. I suppose that’s why they gave it the name of Cloudy Cove.”

  During the course of the conversation Mr. Baker repeated a great deal of what he had told the girls earlier in the day. However, realizing that he was forgetful, they listened politely. He finished his dinner before the others were through and arose to leave without paying his bill. Mrs. Mallow became a trifle dismayed. Fortunately, the head-waiter halted him at the door and presented the slip. Stammering apologies, Mr. Baker paid his account, added a generous tip, and with a sheepish expression hurried away.

  “Oh, dear, that man is hopeless!” Kitty laughed. “It wouldn’t have been so fupny, though, if we’d had to pay the bill.”

  By nine o’clock the berths were made up, and, since the girls knew they must be awake early the next morning in order to change trains at Benton Junction, they decided to retire immediately. Mrs. Mallow was to occupy the lower berth and Kitty and Doris the upper. They felt very adventurous indeed as they mounted the ladder to their “crowsnest.”

  “What if Ollie Weiser’s snakes should get loose tonight!” Kitty giggled. “Wouldn’t it be a scream?”

  “Not if they came up here.”

  “Snakes can’t climb, can they?”

  “I’ll bet Ollie Weiser’s can do almost anything.”

  “Oh, well,” Kitty murmured philosophically, as she snuggled down beneath the blankets, “if they come this way, they’ll get Mrs. Mallow first.” With that the girls fell asleep. It was still da
rk when they were rudely awakened by the sound of a voice.

  “Girls,” Mrs. Mallow whispered, trying not to disturb others in the car, “we’ll soon be at Benton Junction. You must hurry and dress.”

  “What a heathenish hour to get up!” Doris protested. “I was having the most beautiful dream.”

  “If we are carried past the junction, it won’t be a dream,” Mrs. Mallow assured her. “You have less than twenty minutes.”

  Doris and Kitty emerged from the dressing room just as the train began to slow down for the junction. They drew their wraps closer about them as they stepped down upon the platform, for the early morning air was brisk and cool.

  Silas Baker followed Mrs. Mallow from the car, but Doris and Kitty did not see the magician and rather hoped he had overslept. However, as the train began to move slowly, he swung from the steps, the suitcases in his hands. His tie was crooked, and he had not taken time to shave. “Almost forgot to get up,” he grinned.

  The train had stopped some distance from the station, and Mrs. Mallow and the girls looked about uncertainly, wondering which way to go. As they appeared to hesitate, the magician pushed forward.

  “This way, ladies,” he directed, picking up Doris’s hat bag. “Just follow your Uncle Dudley. I hit this burg so often I can feel my way around in the dark.”

  Without giving Mrs. Mallow an opportunity to rebuke him, he started off toward the station and there was nothing for the others to do but to follow. In a gentlemanly manner, Silas Baker offered to help Mrs. Mallow with her heavy suitcase. She graciously thanked him. As she walked behind the magician, she frowned, for his bold way displeased her. She felt that he was trying to become too friendly with her young charges.

  The station was dark and uninviting. A sleepy-eyed clerk was on duty at the window and Mrs. Mallow at once presented herself to purchase tickets for Cloudy Cove.

  “Afraid you have a long wait ahead, ma’am,” the agent informed her, as he stamped the tickets. “Number 10 is an hour late.”

  “Just our luck,” Kitty yawned. “Wish we could have spent that hour sleeping.”

  Ollie Weiser was the only member of the party who did not appear greatly disappointed that the train was not on time. He sat down beside the girls and tried to entertain them with what he considered amusing stories. At first they endeavored to listen politely, but, becoming bored beyond endurance, discouraged his attempts at conversation.

  “You say you’re staying at Cloudy Cove a couple of weeks?” he questioned Doris, ignoring the hints. “I’ll be there about that long myself, so we should paint the town red, eh?”

  “The color of the town doesn’t interest me in the slightest,” Doris retorted coldly. “I expect to be very busy all the time I am there.” She turned to her chum. “Come, Kitty, let’s go outside and see if the train is coming.”

  The two girls arose and left the station, closing the door behind them. The magician started to follow, but, observing that Mrs. Mallow’s stern eye was upon him, slumped back into his seat and relapsed into moody silence.

  “Isn’t he the limit?” Kitty demanded, when the girls were alone. “I wish he’d stop trying to make a hit with us.”

  “He’s getting worse all the time,” Doris declared. “I suppose he’ll annoy us all the way to Cloudy Cove and perhaps after we get there. Thank goodness, he doesn’t know the name of our hotel.”

  “He’ll find it, though. He’s that sort. Don’t you wish he’d miss his train?”

  “No chance of that,” Doris sighed. “He’ll sit right there in the station until it comes in. The train is about due now.”

  She turned to gaze down the track and observed a block signal move into the quarter position.

  “I guess that must be our train coming now,” she said dismally.

  “Oh, I wish something would happen to keep that man here! He’ll make life miserable for us all the rest of the way.”

  “I suppose we’ll just have to grin and bear it.” As she spoke, Doris cast a baleful glance toward the magician’s two suitcases, which he had left outside the station. Suddenly a strange expression flashed over her face and she gripped her chum by the arm.

  “Kitty! I just thought of something!”

  “What?”

  “It would be a mean sort of trick, though.”

  “Oh, what is it? Quick! Before the train gets here! Anything will be better than listening to that man the rest of the day!”

  “I know a way to keep him here. We can open the suitcase and let out his snakes! He’d have to capture them before he could leave!”

  “Doris! What a brilliant idea!”

  “But do you think we should do it? If he should lose his snakes—”

  “He won’t lose them. It will just make him miss his train.”

  Doris glanced quickly toward the station and then down the track. She could see the train rounding the bend less than a quarter of a mile away.

  “Come on,” she cried mischievously. “We’ll just have time to do it! Take care as you pass the station window. If he sees us, we’ll be caught!”

  CHAPTER VII

  A Distasteful Introduction

  With a cautious glance in all directions to make sure that their actions would not be observed, Doris and Kitty slipped over to the large black suitcase which they knew contained the magician’s pet shakes.

  “It may be locked,” Kitty whispered anxiously.

  Nervously Doris fumbled with the fastening. The case was not locked, but she hesitated to open the lid, shivering at the thought of what was inside.

  “Go on, scared cat!” Kitty dared.

  Doris opened the lid a crack, and then both girls, frightened at their bravado, fell back, their eyes riveted on the case.

  “The snakes aren’t coming out,” Kitty murmured apprehensively. “Give the suitcase a prod with your foot!”

  “I should say not! You do it!”

  Just at that moment the girls were relieved to see the first snake wriggle through the aperture. Another followed.

  “Stay here and watch where they go!” Doris whispered in excitement. “I’ll break the news to our friend Ollie.”

  She darted to the station, and flinging open the door, burst in upon the astonished travelers.

  “Mr. Weiser, your snakes are getting away!” she cried. “Come quickly or they’ll escape!”

  The magician sprang to the door, thrusting Doris aside in his great anxiety to reach his pets. Mrs. Mallow and Silas Baker followed, gathering up their baggage as they heard the rumble of the approaching train.

  Ollie Weiser took one look at the empty suitcase and groaned.

  “Figi! Figi!” he shouted wildly.

  He caught sight of one of the snakes and made a dive for it, just as the train came to a standstill.

  “All aboard!” the conductor called.

  Mrs. Mallow, Mr. Baker and a strange man who had just driven up in an automobile boarded the train, but the girls were reluctant to leave. Not Until the conductor signalled to the engineer, did they scramble aboard.

  The magician had found all but one of his snakes and was still calling wildly for Figi, who remained in hiding. He cast a despairing glance toward the conductor as that worthy swung aboard the moving train.

  “Wait! Wait!” he shouted.

  Doris leaned out of a window and called back to him:

  “I saw one of your snakes crawl under that packing box!”

  The girls were unable to control their laughter, as they went to join Mrs. Mallow and Silas Baker.

  “You needn’t explain,” Mrs. Mallow smiled. “It’s quite obvious how those snakes managed to escape just at train time!”

  “It served him quite right,” Mr. Baker chuckled. “There’s another train late this afternoon. He can catch that.”

  “I hope he doesn’t lose Figi,” Doris said with a smile, “but at least he’ll have the remainder of the day to look for it.”

  Before Mrs. Mallow or the girls could take seats, t
he stranger, who had boarded the train at the junction, came down the aisle and spoke to Mr. Baker. The latter politely acknowledged the greeting and turned to introduce him as Frank McDermott, an attorney from Cloudy Cove.

  The man was very well dressed and apparently conscious of this fact. He carried a cane and wore a white gardenia in the lapel of his coat.

  “Well! Well!” he observed in a loud voice, as he was presented to the girls, “so you young ladies let the snakes out of the box! That’s one way to get rid of a troublesome admirer. Good joke! Ha, ha!”

  As his loud laughter rang through the car, a number of the passengers turned to stare at him.

  Doris and Kitty flushed and looked embarrassed. Mr. Baker frowned, obviously displeased at the lawyer’s noisy manner.

  “There’s a seat toward the front of the car,” he suggested, and the two moved on together.

  “Thank goodness Mr. Baker steered him away,” Doris murmured.

  Of necessity the party had boarded a local for Cloudy Cove. The train stopped at every station, but, as it was only a short journey from the junction to their destination, the girls did not have time to become weary. In less than an hour the conductor called “Cloudy Cove,” and they began to gather their belongings together with eager haste.

  Mr. Baker came over to their seat as the train switched in on a side track.

  “Almost there now,” he said with a smile, and then in an undertone, “I wouldn’t have introduced that man, but I couldn’t very well get out of it.”

  “You say he is a lawyer from Cloudy Cove?” Mrs. Mallow inquired.

  “Yes, but I’m sorry to say he doesn’t enjoy a good reputation. He’s very shrewd and crafty. Mind you, he was never caught in a dishonest deal, but he’s been under suspicion more than once. Better not have business dealings with him”

  “No danger of that,” Doris laughed.

  At that moment she little dreamed of the vital part which the lawyer was to play in her affairs and those of the late John Trent.

  Although Doris did not expect to see McDermott again, she studied his face rather curiously. It was a hard face, she decided. His jovial manner was but a mask for his inner self. Inwardly he was no, doubt cruel and ruthless.