The Outdoor Girls in Florida; Or, Wintering in the Sunny South by Laura Lee Hope

CHAPTER VI

  AN APPEAL FOR HELP

  For one of the very few times in her life when confronted by anemergency the "Little Captain" did not know quite what to do. Graceclung to Betty, murmuring over and over again:

  "What shall I say? What shall I do?"

  Amy and Mollie stared uncomprehendingly at one another. Grace still heldthe telegram that had brought more bad news.

  Then Betty got her senses in working order.

  "In the first place," she said, "you mustn't let your mother know aboutthis, Grace. You must keep it from her. In the second place your fathermust be told at once. Now you go in and act as if nothing had happened.I'll go see your father."

  "But I can't act as if nothing had happened," protested Grace, with awailing tone in her voice. "I'd be sure to act so strangely that mammawould suspect at once, and begin to question me."

  "Then Mollie or Amy must go in with you, and help to keep upappearances. Amy, you go in and talk--play--sing--dance--do anything tokeep Grace from feeling bad, and giving away the secret. As soon as Mr.Ford comes he can decide whether or not to tell his wife. Mollie, youand I will go down to his office. This is the night he gets home late;isn't it, Grace?"

  "Yes. Oh, how I wish he were here now! Poor Will!"

  "Well, we'll soon have him home," declared Betty. "Now you two do as Itell you. Talk about Florida--anything but what has happened. Mr. Fordwill know what to do when he comes. Now, Mollie, let's hurry. Gracious!I believe it's going to snow. Well, we won't have any of that inFlorida, that's a blessing for you, Grace," and Betty smiled bravely.

  "We may never go now--if Will isn't found."

  "Oh, he'll be all right," declared Betty, with more confidence than shefelt. "Come along, Mollie."

  The two set off through the gathering storm, while Grace and Amy turnedinto the former's house. They were under a strain, and afterward theyhardly remembered what they did. But Grace did not betray the secret, atany rate. The two girls talked of many things, and when Mrs. Fordreferred to the home-coming of her son Amy changed the subject as soonas she could.

  Then, fortunately, Mrs. Ford went upstairs to lie down until dinner wasready, and Grace, with a sigh of relief, threw herself on a couch.

  "There!" she sighed. "We can act naturally now. Poor little mother--Iwonder how she will take it?"

  "Oh, she is brave," said Amy. "Besides, nothing very dreadful can havehappened. Will may be all right. Even if he has gone off with a laborcontractor, who has a bad reputation, your brother is able to look afterhimself. He can appeal to the police, if necessary."

  "Perhaps. Anyhow, you can look on the bright side, Amy. I wish papawould hurry."

  "Oh, he will, as soon as Betty tells him."

  Meanwhile Betty and Mollie were hurrying on through the storm to Mr.Ford's office. They found him working over a complicated law case, andhe seemed startled when he saw the two girls.

  "Where is Grace--what has happened?" he asked, quickly.

  "This telegram--it came for you to the house--Grace opened it,"explained Mollie, briefly.

  Mr. Ford seemed to comprehend it at a glance.

  "I was afraid of this!" he exclaimed. "Some of those rascally laborcontractors will do anything to get help. I will have to go down there,I think. Does Mrs. Ford know?"

  "No, I told Grace to keep it from her until you came home."

  "That was right. I must make light of this. Then I'll leave forJacksonville at once. Thank you very much, Betty."

  He closed his desk and went out with the girls, calling a carriage forthem and himself, as the snow was now falling heavily.

  In some way Mr. Ford managed to impart some of the details of the newemergency to his wife without unduly arousing her. He also spoke of thenecessity of going to Florida.

  "Oh, do you really have to go?" his wife asked, in alarm.

  "I think it will be better. Will may do something rash, thinking he isputting through a fine business deal. I don't want him to getinto--legal difficulties. It would not look well for my professionalreputation," and Mr. Ford forced a laugh to reassure his wife.

  Arrangements for going to Jacksonville were soon made, as he was toleave on the midnight train. In the meanwhile he communicated with thetelegraph authorities in the South, telling them of his plans, andasking for any additional information.

  All that he could learn was that Will had gone to the address given inhis first letter--a private boarding house. He had been there a fewdays, making friends with the landlady, and finally had gone off with aman who bore a shady reputation in the city. Will had said he was goingfarther into the interior, and the woman thought she heard somethingabout a lumber camp, or a place where turpentine and other pine-tarproducts, were obtained.

  "Well, do the best you can, Grace, until I come back," said Mr. Ford."And look after your mother. Perhaps this will be all right after all."

  There were three weary days of waiting, relieved only by brief messagesfrom Mr. Ford, saying that he was doing all he could to find Will. Mrs.Ford was not told the whole story, save that her son had gone into theinterior.

  "Oh, I'm sure something must have happened!" exclaimed Grace, when onthe fourth day there came a message saying Mr. Ford was on his way back."He hasn't Will with him, or he would have said so. Oh, isn't itperfectly terrible!"

  "Now, don't worry," advised Betty. "I know that is easy to say, Grace,and hard to do. But try. Even if your father hasn't found Will, perhapshe has some trace of him. He would hardly come back without goodreason."

  "I suppose not. Oh, aren't boys--terrible!"

  "But Will didn't mean to cause all this trouble," spoke Mollie.

  "I know. But he has, just the same."

  Grace was too miserable even to think of chocolates.

  Mr. Ford looked pale and tired when he came home, and his eyes showedloss of sleep.

  "Well," he said to Grace, who was surrounded by her three chums, "Ididn't find Will. He seems to have made a mess of it."

  "How?" asked his sister.

  "Well, by getting in with this developing concern. It seems that hesigned some sort of contract, agreeing to work for them. He supposed itwas clerical or secretary's work, but it turns out that he was deceived.What he signed was a contract to work in one of the many camps in thewilds of the interior. He may be getting out cypress, or turpentine."

  "Couldn't you locate him, Daddy?" asked Grace.

  "No, for the firm he signed with operates many camps. I could get verylittle satisfaction from them. I may have to appeal to theauthorities."

  "But Will is not of age--they can't hold him even if he did sign acontract to work, especially when they deceived him," declared Grace.

  "I know it, my dear," replied her father. "But they have him in theirclutches, and possession, as you know, is nine points of the law, andpart of the tenth. Where Will is I don't know. Just as the message said,he went off with that smooth talker, and he seems to have disappeared."

  "How--how can you find him?" asked Grace.

  "I'm going to have your Uncle Isaac trace him. He knows the South betterthan I, and can work to better advantage. That is why I came back. UncleIsaac is in New York City now. I am going to telegraph him to come onhere and I'll give him the particulars. Then he can hunt for Will. Poorboy! I guess he wishes now that he'd stayed in the mill."

  The news was broken to Mrs. Ford as gently as could be, but it nearlyprostrated her. Then Uncle Isaac came, and to his credit be it said thathe was kinder than his wont. He seemed really sympathetic and did notonce say, "I told you so!"

  He readily agreed to search for his nephew, and left for the South assoon as he could finish his business.

  "I guess our Florida trip is all off," said Grace with a sigh, oneevening.

  "Not at all," said her father. "I want you girls to go. It may be thatyou might hear some word of Will."

  "Then we will go!" his sister cried. "Oh! I do hope we can find him."

  The preparations for the Florida trip went on. Meanwhile
nothing washeard from the missing youth, and Uncle Isaac had no success.

  Then, most unexpectedly, there came word from the boy himself--indirectword--but news just the same.

  It was in the shape of a letter from a Southern planter, who said one ofhis hands had picked up the enclosed note in a cotton field near arailroad track. It had probably been tossed from a train window, and hadlaid some time in the field, being rain-soaked. It bore Mr. Ford'saddress, and so the planter forwarded it. The note was as follows:

  "DEAR DAD: I certainly am in trouble. That development business was a fake, and I have literally been kidnapped, with a lot of other young fellows--some colored. They're taking us away to a turpentine swamp to work. I've tried to escape, but it's no use. I appealed for help to the crowd, as did some of the others, but the contractors declared we were a lot of criminals farmed out by the State. And, as a lot of their workers really are convicts, I had no show. I don't know what to do--help me if you can. I don't know where they're taking us, but if I get a chance I'll send word. I'm scribbling this under my hat in the train, and I'm going to toss it out the window. I hope you get it.

  "WILL."

  CHAPTER VII

  OFF FOR FLORIDA

  Grace was in tears when her father finished reading Will's patheticletter. Nor were the eyes of her chums altogether dry, for they allliked Will, who seemed as much a brother to them as he did to his ownsister.

  "We--we mustn't let mamma know this," announced Grace, when she hadregained control of herself. "It would prostrate her."

  "Yes, we must keep it from her if we can," agreed Mr. Ford.

  "To think of poor Will being in with--with criminals," went on hissister. "It will be a terrible experience for him."

  "Perhaps they are not desperate criminals," suggested Amy, as a sort ofray of hope.

  "No, I do not believe they are," said Mr. Ford, frankly. "The Statewould not let contractors hire them if they were. I suppose they aremostly young men who have been guilty of slight violations of the law,and hard work is the best punishment for them. But I certainly am sorryfor Will.

  "I had no idea that when, to punish him for what was morethoughtlessness than anything else, I sent him South, it would turn outthis way. I regret it very much."

  "But it wasn't your fault, Daddy," declared Grace. "It just couldn't behelped. But Will is brave--his letter shows that. Oh, can you help him?"

  "I certainly shall, daughter," and Mr. Ford put his hand on Grace'shead, now bowed in grief. "I will write to Uncle Isaac at once, and havehim get in touch with the authorities. They should be able to tell wherethe different gangs of prisoners have been sent, and by investigatingeach one we can, by elimination, find Will. Then it will be an easymatter to get him home. And I think he will be very glad to see Deepdaleagain, in spite of the fact that he wanted to start out for himself to'make good.' I hope the lesson will not be too hard for him."

  "If we could only do something!" exclaimed Betty.

  "Yes, girls always seem so--so helpless at a time like this," murmuredMollie. "Oh, I wish I were a--man!"

  "Tut--tut!" exclaimed Mr. Ford, with a laugh, something he had seldomindulged in of late. "We couldn't get along without our girls. You canoffer sympathy, if nothing else, and often that is something as real asactual service. But I don't agree that you girls are helpless. You haveproved in the past that you outdoor lassies can do things, and I wouldnot be surprised in the future if you gave further evidence of it."

  Though he spoke rather lightly, Mr. Ford little realized how soon thetime was to come when the outdoor girls were to prove their sterlingworth in a peculiar manner.

  "Well, things are certainly taking a queer turn," said Grace as shelooked at the scribbled letter of her brother, so strangely forwarded tothem. "There is no telling how long ago this was written. Poor Will isprobably having a hard time this very minute."

  "He probably is if he's at work in a turpentine camp," said Mr. Ford."It is no easy work, and it is no wonder the contractors have to takecriminals, and fairly kidnap their helpers. Then they have to literallymount guard over them to force them to remain. But I must start thingsmoving to aid Will."

  Letters were written to Uncle Isaac, to the planter who had so kindlyforwarded the letter, and to various authorities.

  "But you girls must not let this interfere with your trip, nor with theenjoyment of it," said Mr. Ford, who had told his wife something of thetruth, but not enough to cause her to worry. He said they had word fromWill, and hoped soon to have him home. And Mrs. Ford, who leaned much onher husband and daughter, was more content than she had been. "Getready, Grace," said her father, "and enjoy your winter in the South."

  "I certainly don't enjoy a winter in the North," she replied. "Girls,did you see my chocolates?"

  "Hopeless! Hopeless!" murmured Mollie, with a smile, as she found theconfections on the mantel.

  Preparations for the Florida trip went on apace. The girls were so busysorting out what clothes they were going to take, and having new gownsmade that, for a time, they almost forgot about Will.

  Though Mr. Ford had set in motion various forces, no definite word hadyet been received. But they were hoping that every day would bring somemessage. Uncle Isaac wrote that he was doing all he could.

  Frank Haley, Will's school chum, and Allen Washburn, the young lawyer,were very anxious to start off and make a search for their friend. ButMr. Ford, though deeply grateful to them, thought it might complicatematters. So, much against their desire, the two young men were forced toremain in Deepdale.

  "Though we may take a run down and see you," said Allen to Betty a fewdays before the one set for the departure. "Would you mind?"

  "We shall be very glad to see you," she answered, rathernon-committally.

  "We?" he asked, pointedly.

  "Oh, of course I meant that I would, too," and she blushed as sheglanced at him.

  "That's better!" he laughed.

  The next day Mollie telephoned for all of her chums to gather at herhouse for a sort of farewell tea some of the friends of the girls wishedto tender to them. It was a cold, snowy, blustery day, and as Grace,wrapped in her furs, walked shiveringly along with Amy and Betty sheremarked:

  "I can almost envy Will now--down where it is nice and warm."

  "Oh, we'll soon be there," answered Betty.

  They found Mollie in the midst of showing some of her new gowns to herfriends, and the three chums joined in the admiration. For Mollie, withthe characteristics of a French girl, loved pretty clothes, and ratherinclined to a pronounced style not indulged in by her chums. But shealways dressed becomingly.

  "It is lovely!" exclaimed Hattie Reynolds. "But isn't it awfully light,Mollie?"

  "Not for where we are going," was the answer. "You forget that we aregoing to a summer land. Oh, Dodo--stop that!" she cried, for from theroom where stood Mollie's half-packed trunk came the twin, trailing agarment. "That's my best petticoat!" wailed Mollie. "You'll ruin it. AndPaul! What are you doing with that shirtwaist--it's my very finestlawn!"

  "Us 'ookin' for tandy!" calmly announced Dodo. "Has oo dot any in oopockets?"

  "Pockets! We never have pockets!" cried Betty. "Oh, aren't they toofunny for anything!"

  "You wouldn't say so, if they did this--or something like it--to youthree or four times a day," exclaimed Mollie, half-crossly, as sheadvanced to rescue her garments. But the twins backed away, stepping onthe skirt.

  "Paul--Dodo--give those to sister at once!" commanded Mollie.

  "Us will--for tandy!" stipulated Paul, craftily.

  "Oh, if I only had some!" exclaimed Mollie.

  "Allow me," volunteered Grace, producing a bag. "Here, children."

  "Not while they have my things!" cried Mollie. "Chocolate on my whitewaist--never! Put the things down. Paul--Dodo, and Grace will give youcandy."

  "Oo dot tandy
?" asked Dodo, looking doubtfully at Grace.

  "Yes," and she opened the bag to show them. This was evidence enough,and the garments were placed where they belonged, Mollie hastening in tolay them straight again.

  The little tea was a success, in spite of the invasion of the twins. Thegirls were bidden farewell by their friends--rather envious friends, tobe frank--for who would not envy one a trip to sunny Florida with itsflowers in the midst of winter?

  The motor boat had been crated and shipped. Mr. Stonington had arrangedhis business for a long stay in the South, and all was in readiness forthe trip. The girls had decided on a hundred and one things to take withthem, and had rejected as many, only to make new selections. But finallyeven their exacting tastes were gratified, and satisfied, and theirtrunks were ready to go.

  "But oh, I do wish Aunty Stonington was better," sighed Amy, the daybefore that set for their departure.

  "Why, is she worse?" asked Betty.

  "She seems very weak. Uncle is quite worried about her, though thedoctor says the change will benefit her as soon as we get there. But Iam afraid about the trip, though we are to go in a compartment car, andwon't have to change."

  "That will be lovely," said Grace. "We'll look after your aunt for you,Amy."

  "That's sweet of you girls. Perhaps it will not be as bad as I fear. Butshe seems failing rapidly. The winter has been unusually severe forher."

  "And poor mamma is not herself," murmured Grace. "Lack of news from Willseems to prey on her mind. But there! don't let's talk any more aboutour troubles. Let's look on the bright side of the clouds. I'm sure weought to just hug Amy to pieces for giving us this nice trip."