CHAPTER XX A PICNIC
Doris did not have an opportunity that day to speak to the Misses Gatesconcerning the mysterious paper which Cora and Henry Sully had mentioned,for an old friend of the ladies called at the mansion and the subjectcould not be brought up in her presence. The next day she fully intendedto speak of the matter, but it seemed that she was never alone with thetwins for ten minutes at a time. Either Cora or Henry remained withinlistening distance and the girls wondered if they could be suspicious.
The afternoon mail brought a note from Dave Chamberlin, and for the timebeing Doris and Kitty forgot the problems which troubled them.
"Dear Doris," the note read, "Marshmallow and I think tomorrow would be agreat day for that picnic we planned. How about it? If we don't hear fromyou to the contrary, we'll be at your doorstep tomorrow morning. Don'tworry about grub. We'll bring enough for an army. Dave."
"What a relief it will be to get away for a day," Kitty declared."There's nothing to prevent our going, is there?"
"No, I heard Azalea say that Ronald was coming tomorrow but that's allthe more reason for me to be away. He'll plague me about that loan andI'm not ready to give him the money yet."
"We'll not have to bother about fixing a lot of things, either," Kittywent on. "That will make the picnic more enjoyable."
"Yes, I don't mind getting things ready when I'm at home, but when you'revisiting, it's different. Cora is so cross and she doesn't like to haveany one step into her kitchen, let alone use it."
"Wonder where we'll go?"
"Oh, Dave probably knows some nice place. Let's go tell the Misses Gatesnow that we are going, and then if they should have any objection, wecould let Dave know."
Azalea had gone to her room but they found Iris in the kitchen making outthe market list. Upon being told of the plan she at once approved of it.
"I have never met this young man you call Marshmallow," she smiled, "butif he is at all like your friend David I am sure I would approve of him.By all means have your picnic, and Cora will make you something nice totake with you."
"We don't like to trouble you," Doris murmured.
"It will be no trouble at all," Iris assured her. "I wouldn't think ofletting you go without a well-filled basket. Cora, you might make one ofyour pineapple cakes."
"We're out of eggs," the housekeeper said crossly without glancing upfrom the pan of potatoes which she was peeling.
"Then I'll add two dozen to the market list," Iris said. "What else willyou want? Pickles and olives, of course. And sandwiches. When I wasyoung, a picnic just wasn't a picnic without plenty to eat."
"I'm sure we'll have enough," Doris laughed. "Marshmallow's mother is awonderful cook and he always brings enough for six."
True to their word, Dave and Marshmallow drove up to the mansion gate thenext morning shortly after ten o'clock.
"We'd have been here sooner but Marshmallow had so much food to pack, youknow," Dave told the girls as he helped them into the car.
It was an ideal day for a picnic, bright but not too warm. Doris andKitty were relieved that the sky was clear, for the memory of the stormwhich had nearly overtaken them on their last picnic was still vivid.
"Where are we going?" Doris asked.
"Oh, there's a place not far from here called Eagle's Point. I though wemight try that."
"Sounds interesting," Kitty declared.
A short drive west of the town brought them to a winding and heavilywooded road. Following this they climbed a steep hill and came to a haltat the brow of a cliff. Parking the car they climbed out and walked overto the edge of the precipice and looked down upon a lake, crystal clearand as blue as the sky it reflected. Only a short distance from the roada stone fireplace had been built and picnic tables had been provided. Aspring provided clear, cold water.
The girls were delighted at the spot and announced they would look nofarther for a picnic place. Dave and Marshmallow locked the car andcarried the heavy lunch hampers to the tables. Marshmallow began tounpack the dishes but Doris and Kitty stopped him.
"You don't want to eat yet," they protested.
"Why not?" he drawled goodnaturedly. "That's what we came for, wasn'tit?"
"But we want to explore first," Doris declared. "There's lovely scenery,and then we must work up an appetite for luncheon."
"Mine is already working," Marshmallow grinned.
However, he placed the dishes back in the hamper and started out with theothers, managing to pair himself with Kitty, which was not difficult, asDoris and Dave were absorbed in each other.
A steep path led down to the lake, and this the party decided to explore.Slipping and sliding, they finally reached the bottom of the declinewithout mishap. There, finding a boat tied to an old log, they decided itwould be good sport to go for a ride on the lake.
"There aren't any oars," Doris observed in disappointment.
"We don't need 'em," Marshmallow declared, picking up a board. "This willdo almost as well."
By hunting around they found another board nearly the same size, and withDave and Marshmallow each wielding one of the improvised oars, theycourageously set out in the little boat. The paddles were not veryeffective and the young men worked like Trojans to propel the craft a fewyards. For the most part they were content to drift with the wind.
Tiring of this sport, they brought the boat to shore and left it tied tothe log.
The party was about to climb the hill again when Doris noticed a pathleading around the lake. She proposed that they continue their trip ofexploration, and the suggestion was greeted with enthusiasm.
The four were forced to proceed single file, for the path was narrow andbranches of low-hanging trees formed an archway above their heads.Presently, Doris who was in the lead stopped short and gave anexclamation of surprise.
"What's the matter?" Kitty demanded.
"We've come to the jumping off place! And just see what I've discovered.A cave!"
Kitty thought her chum was only joking, but as she came up behind her shesaw for herself the tiny opening in the side of the cliff. Dave andMarshmallow crowded up, the latter becoming greatly excited.
"Jumping snakes!" he exclaimed. "I never heard about this cave. I wonderwhat's inside?"
He thrust his head in at the opening but could see nothing, as his eyeswere unaccustomed to the darkness.
"If we only had a flashlight!" he declared. "It would be fun to exploreit."
"Maybe it's inhabited by bears," Kitty suggested nervously.
"Never heard of any around here," Marshmallow insisted. "Say, we can't gohome without seeing the inside."
"I think there's a flashlight in the car," Dave told him. "I'll see."
The girls and Marshmallow waited impatiently for Dave to return.Presently, he came back with the flashlight.
"Wouldn't it be grand if we'd find buried treasure?" Doris laughed. "Icould use some money all right, and I don't know of any more delightfulway to obtain it."
She did not really hope that any such adventure would befall them, butKitty's eyes grew round at the mere mention of treasure.
"Who's to go first?" Doris asked.
"Let me," Marshmallow begged.
Dave handed him the flashlight, and after an instant's hesitation heagain thrust his head and shoulders through the opening. It was only asmall aperture, and Marshmallow grunted as he squeezed through.
"You're too fat," Doris called after him. "You may never get out again."
There was no response from the inside of the cave and Kitty, suddenlybecoming alarmed, called anxiously:
"Marshmallow! Marshmallow!"
"I'm right here," came a muffled voice. "Come on in."
"What do you see?" Doris demanded.
"It looks like a cracking big cave."
Somewhat reassured, the girls wormed their way through the opening andDave brought up the rear. It was pitch dark inside, but the beam ofMarshmallow's light furn
ished a faint illumination.
"Follow me," Marshmallow commanded.
He led the way deeper into the cavern. The cave consisted of twochambers, and as the four friends entered the second room Marshmallowflashed his light over the ceiling. They saw strange formationsresembling icicles hanging from above.
"Stalactites!" Doris exclaimed.
"Aren't they odd?" Kitty cried. "What causes them anyway?"
"I've read that stalactites are caused by the dripping of water whichcontains carbonate of lime," Doris explained.
"Folks, I guess we've seen all the sights," Marshmallow, who had gone ona short way ahead, announced. "It isn't as large a cave as I thought."
"No buried treasure, either," Kitty murmured in disappointment. "Still,the stalactites are interesting. Imagine living this close and notknowing anything about them."
It was cold inside the cave and, being without wraps, the girls began toshiver.
"Let's go," Doris proposed.
Once outside the warm sunshine seemed more welcome than before. Duringthe excursion into the cave, Dave had appeared less interested than theothers, and now, observing the smile on his face, Doris's suspicions werearoused.
"Dave Chamberlin!" she accused. "You knew about that cave all the time!"
"Well, maybe I had heard about it," he grinned, "but I didn't want tospoil the fun."
"We were all so excited and silly," Doris laughed. "There's a pathleading right up here! And we didn't think a thing about it. Of courseother folks know about the cave."
"Oh, well, it was fun anyway," Marshmallow said. "So much exertion mademe hungry, though. When do we eat?"
"You would ask _that_," Doris bantered. "I'm willing if the rest of youare."
The climb back up the steep hill was not easy, and by the time Doris andKitty reached the top they were nearly out of breath. While they wereresting under a shade tree, Dave and Marshmallow brought water from thespring and started a fire.
"What are we cooking?" Doris asked with interest.
"Steak," Marshmallow told her, smacking his lips. "And boy, do I know howto cook it!"
"Your mother must have been giving you lessons," Doris smiled.
"Say, don't you think I ever went camping? I can cook a lot of things."He opened a hamper and began to lift out various covered dishes. "Justlook at all this stuff Ma sent."
While the steak was sizzling over the red hot fire, the girls spread thetable cloth and unwrapped the various packages. They were appalled at theoutlay of food. "Enough for an army!" Doris groaned. Always an excellentcook, Mrs. Mallow had quite outdone herself on this occasion. Saladscrisp and inviting in nests of lettuce, pie, gigantic cream puffs withMarshmallow's favorite chocolate filling, baked beans, deviled eggs andlemonade were but a suggestion of all the good things with which thecloth was loaded.
"We'll never be able to eat all of this," Doris declared in dismay.
"Sure we will," Marshmallow grinned. "Just give me a chance."
The others were forced to admit that he did do remarkably well, for longafter they had finished eating he continued to blissfully gorgesandwiches, cake and cream puffs with an apparently unappeased appetite.At last, however, the plump lad was forced to acknowledge his Waterloo.
"I'm afraid I can't finish it," he said regretfully. "What a shame to lugso much back with us."
"Maybe you'll feel up to it after you've rested a bit," Dave suggested.
"That's an idea!"
With a contented groan he stretched himself out under a shade tree andclosed his eyes. Dave helped the girls clean up the picnic things.
After that, they sat around and talked. Doris was induced to sing andthey all joined in, even Marshmallow, whose voice was gruff and seldom onthe right key.
"It's that last sandwich pressing against my larynx," he apologized.
"Doris, you have a wonderful voice," Dave praised soberly. "I supposeyou've been told that by every one."
"Not by every one," Doris laughed. "It will probably take years before myvoice develops to its fullest capacity. That's what my teacher says."
"You're dead set upon a career, aren't you?" Dave asked, a strange lightshining in his eyes as he gazed thoughtfully at her curly head.
"Oh, yes. I want to sing in Grand Opera some day. Perhaps my ambitionsare greater than my ability!"
"No, you'll make it, and if that's what you want, more power to you!"
Doris glanced quickly at her friend, and as quickly turned away as shesaw the expression on his face. She was further embarrassed as sherealized that Marshmallow and Kitty were aware of what had been passingthrough Dave's mind.
Hastily she arose.
"Don't you think we'd better be starting back? Dave and Marshmallow havea long drive ahead of them and it's getting late."
"We haven't eaten all of the sandwiches yet," Marshmallow protested.
"Then hurry and we'll wait for you."
"But I can't now. Oh, well, I suppose we can cart them home. Maybe Daveand I can eat them on the way back to Chilton."
"You mean _you_ can," Dave corrected.
As they were driving slowly back toward the mansion, Doris thought ofRonald Trent, and frowned. For the last few hours she had been having somuch fun that she had not once considered the problem which troubled her,but now she decided to mention the matter to Dave. Perhaps he could offerhelpful advice. Accordingly, she told him of the proposition which theMisses Gates had made.
Dave listened quietly until she had finished.
"It may be all right," he said, "but it sounds sort of queer to me. Idon't like that fellow Trent."
"He's my cousin, Dave."
"Better not own him!"
"Well, I haven't exactly," Doris admitted. "It's hard to believe hereally is a relative of mine."
"I suppose he'll be at the mansion when we get back," Kitty sighed.
"And he'll want his answer about the loan. Oh, dear, I don't know what todo. I think I'll have Jake bring it to the mansion."
"Not a bad idea," Dave approved.
"And I'll come along to chaperone him," Marshmallow interposed. "Hewouldn't know what to do with so many ladies. He'll need me to help himhandle the situation masterfully."
"Do come," Doris urged.
"Just leave it to me," ejaculated Marshmallow, throwing out his chestmanfully, and displaying the cords of muscles in his upper arm, rollingup his sleeve playfully. "How's that?"
"Say, Marshmallow, you've got a good opinion of yourself, haven't you?Especially after eating all those sandwiches. My, but wouldn't I hate toget into a fight with you!" and Dave jokingly jostled him as though totest his skill as a fighter.
"Lay off me, Dave! Who do you think I am, Jack Dempsey?" So saying,Marshmallow pretended to be very much frightened.
"Only a friendly fight, old boy. But anyway, girls, you see you have twochampions who will stand by you to the death, to the bitter end, if needbe, ''til death us do part.'" And with that closing bit of assurance theystruck an attitude of utter devotion, entwining their arms about eachother.
"You silly boys," giggled Kitty, "perhaps we will need you, so keep infighting trim until such a time might arise."
"At your service, fair ladies," said Marshmallow solemnly, taking off hishat, and making a sweeping bow before them.
"Jake can be your second," suggested Doris.
And so it was arranged in regard to bringing the much-desired loan.
Dave and Marshmallow left the girls at the mansion gate, but as it wasgrowing late declined an invitation to go inside. Doris and Kitty watchedthem drive away and then reluctantly walked up the path toward the house.
"Ronald's car isn't here," Doris observed in relief, "so if he cametoday, he must have left before we returned. At least I won't be botheredabout that loan until tomorrow, and I can give him a definite answerthen."
Kitty agreed with her friend that there was no further need of troublingtheir minds about Ronald Trent and the loan, at least not tonight, sothey slowly sa
untered up the pathway toward the old mansion.
Doris Force at Locked Gates; Or, Saving a Mysterious Fortune Page 20
