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CHAPTER XV
DOLLY'S RIDE
It was Tuesday morning that Lewis Fenn came to Dolly and asked her to give him a few moments' chat.
A little bewildered, Dolly followed Fenn into the reception room, and they sat down, Fenn closing the door after them.
"It's this way, Miss Fayre," he began. "I know you took the gold earring. It's useless for you to deny it. It speaks for itself. You are the only one ofyou girls especially interested in antiques, and moreover, you are the one who handled the jewel last. Now, I don't for a moment hold you guilty of stealing. I know that you thought the thing of no very great intrinsic value, and as Mr. Forbes has so many such things in his possession you thought one more or less couldn't matter to him. So, overcome by your desire to keep it as a souvenir, andbecause of its antique interest you involuntarily took it away with you. Of course, searching your boxes is useless, for you have concealed it some place in the house where no one would think of looking. Now, I come to you as a friend, and advise you to own up. I assure you, Mr. Forbes will forgive you and he will do so much more readily if you go to him at once and confess."
Dolly sat rigidly,through this long citation, her face growing whiter, her eyes more and more frightened, as she listened. When Fenn paused, she struggled to speak but couldn't utter a sound. She was speechless with mingled emotions. She was angry, primarily, but other thoughts rushed through her brain and she hesitated what attitude to assume.
The secretary looked at her curiously.
"Well?" he said, and there was athreatening tone in his voice.
Dolly looked at him, looked straight into his accusing eyes, began to speak, and then, in a burst of tears, she cried out, "Oh, how I HATE you!"
Dotty flung open the door and walked in.
"I've been listening," she announced, "listening at the keyhole, to hear what you said to my friend! I heard, and I will answer you. Dolly Fayre no more took that earring, than youdid, Mr. Fenn, and I'm inclined to think from your manner, that you stole it yourself!"
"What!" shouted Fenn, surprised out of his usual calm. "What do you mean, you little minx?"
"Just what I say," repeated Dotty, but Dolly had already fled from the room. She went in search of Mrs. Berry, and found her in her own bedroom.
"Please, Mrs. Berry," said Dolly, controlling her sob-shaken voice, "Iwant to go out, all by myself, a little while. May I?"
"Goodness, child, what do you mean? Where? I'll go with you."
"No; I want to go alone. I have to think something out all by myself. Nobody can help me, and if I'm here, all the girls will butt in and bother me."
"Where are you going? For a walk?"
"No, please. I want to ride on the top of a Fifth Avenue stage. I want to go alone, and then,sitting up there, with the fresh air blowing around me, I can think something out. I may go, mayn't I, Mrs. Berry? I know all about the stages."
"Why, yes, child, of course, you can go, if you really want to. You can't come to any harm just riding on top of a bus. Run along. But I'd rather you'd let me help you. Or go with you."
"No, please; I must be alone. I don't want even Dotty. I havesomething very serious to decide. No one can help me. My mother could, but she isn't here."
"I wish you'd try me," and the kind lady smiled endearingly.
"I would if I could, and you're a dear to ask me. But this is a special matter, and it troubles me awfully. So, I'll go off by myself for an hour or so, and when I come back, I'll be all decided about it."
Dolly got her hat and coat, without seeingthe other girls at all. She went out at the front door of the big Fifth Avenue house, and walked a few blocks before she stopped to wait for a stage.
"I don't care which way I go," she thought to herself, "I'll take the first bus that comes along."
The first one chanced to be going down-town, and signalling the conductor, Dolly climbed the little winding stairs to the top.
There were only...