Grace Harlowe's Problem Read online

  CHAPTER V

  THE LOCKED DOOR

  When Evelyn and Jean Brent reached the street it was to find the otheryoung women grouped together in conversation, and not at all alarmed atEvelyn's non-appearance.

  "We weren't worried," Emma Dean assured her. "We've all been known tolag and loiter."

  "I lagged and loitered to some purpose," defended Evelyn. "Miss Harlowe,this is Miss Brent, my roommate." She introduced the stranger to theothers.

  Grace's hand was extended in surprised welcome. "We have been lookingfor you since Monday," she said. "You are the girl who sat at the endtable at Vinton's. If I had known you were Miss Brent I would have askedyou to join us. I am so glad Miss Ward broke the ice. How did ithappen?"

  "I had lost my purse," returned the girl, rather shyly, in spite of herair of self-possession. Then reassured by Grace's charming manner, shetold her story.

  "You must come with us to Harlowe House at once. It is such a pity thatyou met with misfortune." Grace's gray eyes were full of sympathy."Have you much luggage?"

  "Four trunks," was the rueful answer. "You see I have so many clothesthat--" She stopped abruptly, a deep flush dying her fair skin, "I hadno place--I did not like to leave them, so I had to bring them with me,"she finished, rather lamely.

  Grace did not ask further questions. She noted that the girl was ill atease. "I received Miss Lipton's letter regarding you a week ago," shehastened to say. "I wrote her, as you know, that we could place you. Sheanswered saying we might expect you at almost any time. After you havehad a chance to rest and make yourself comfortable I will tell you ofHarlowe House and the girls who live there."

  One after the other the girls spoke friendly, encouraging words to theunfortunate freshman. Kathleen and Patience possessed themselves of herheavy bag, carrying it between them. Grace walked with the newcomer,pointing out the various interesting features of the little collegetown, in an attempt to put the stranger entirely at her ease after herdisquieting experience. So far she had had slight opportunity to observethis latest freshman arrival. She had a vague idea that Jean Brent wasan unusually attractive girl, but the side view she obtained of her, asthey walked along, was far from satisfactory. The newcomer said little,and only once during the short walk to Harlowe House did she turn a pairof very blue eyes directly upon Grace.

  It fell to Evelyn Ward to show her to her room, as she was to beEvelyn's roommate. The girl had exclaimed a little, after the manner ofgirls, at the attractiveness of Harlowe House, but in spite of her briefflare of enthusiasm over the house and grounds, the tasteful living roomand the daintiness of the room she and Evelyn occupied, she encasedherself in a curious, impenetrable shell of mystery that Evelyn'snatural curiosity could find no excuse to penetrate. She listenedgravely and attentively to all that Evelyn told her of Harlowe House andits lucky household, but she volunteered no information concerningherself except a reluctant, "I came from the West," in answer to herroommate's question as to where she lived.

  The more Evelyn observed her the more attractive she appeared. She wasof medium height, and, although plump, could not be called stout. Herface was rather round, with no suggestion of fatness, while her featureswere small and regular. Her eyes were not large, but their intenseblueness made them a significant feature of her face. Her hair was lightbrown and had a burnished look in the sun. It grew thickly upon herwell-shaped head, and she wore it in a graceful knot at the back of herhead. When she smiled, which had been but once since Evelyn firstencountered her, she displayed unusually white, even teeth. It dawnedupon Evelyn as she watched her unpacking her bag that Jean Brent had notonly her share of good looks but a curious power of attraction as wellthat would carry her far toward college popularity if she chose to exertit. She wondered if she and Jean would get along well together. Althoughthe new Evelyn had made great progress in ruling her own spirit she waswell aware of her failings. She was quite sure, in her own mind, thatnever again would the love of beautiful clothes tempt her to dishonesty,but of herself, in other respects, she was not so positive. Still shehad resolved to live up to the traditions of Overton College, to emulatethe splendid example Grace Harlowe had already set.

  She glanced speculatively at her roommate, but the latter's calm,impassive expression told her nothing. Suddenly, as though impelled byEvelyn's gaze, the other girl glanced up and met Evelyn's eyes squarely."Well, what do you think of me?" she inquired. "I think _you_ are theprettiest girl I ever saw."

  Evelyn flushed at both the question and the compliment. Jean Brent wasnothing if not frank. "I know I'm going to like you. I was justwondering if we would fit into each other's lives."

  "I have a frightful temper," admitted Jean Brent somberly. "SometimesI'm glad of it. If I hadn't--" She paused.

  Evelyn waited for her to continue, but she gave a quick sigh, and,springing to her feet, walked to the window. From there she could lookout at the campus, still green and velvety. For at least five minutesshe stood staring out. Then, with the air of one who casts aside adisagreeable memory, she turned from the window, saying: "I'm going toforget everything except the fact that I'm actually an Overton girl."

  "Were you anxious to come to Overton?" asked Evelyn.

  "No. I came here because of the advantages Harlowe House offers. I heardof it through a friend. I wanted to go to Smith, but--oh, well, here Iam at Overton. Let's talk about you. I know you are interesting. Youlook just like the picture of a girl I saw in a magazine I was readingon the train. She is an actress. I didn't stop to read her name, but Iloved her picture. I think I brought the magazine along. Oh, yes, thereit is." She reached for the magazine, which lay on the table, and turnedthe leaves energetically. "Here is the picture," she declared. Evelynfound herself gazing at her own likeness. She began to laugh.

  "What's the matter?" demanded Jean. Her color rose in instant resentmentof Evelyn's laughter.

  Evelyn pointed to the printed name under the picture. "I am Evelyn Ward,you know."

  "But not the _actress_?" Jean's blue eyes were wide with amazement.

  Evelyn nodded laughingly. "That's my way of earning my tuition money andmy clothes," she explained. "I was never on the stage until lastsummer." She went on to tell the astonished Jean of her meeting with theSouthards and her final stage debut.

  "How interesting!" exclaimed Jean. "I suppose all the Harlowe Housegirls earn their college fees. I wonder how I can earn mine. I had quitea sum toward them when I left--" again came the abrupt stop. "Oh, dear,"she sighed the next moment, "I wish I'd been more careful of my money. Ihad no business to lay my bag down. What's the use of regretting? I'llhave to think of some way to raise that money. If I can't find it anyother way I can sell my clothes. I have perfectly _beautiful_ things.Four trunks full. Lots more than I can wear. It is lucky for me that--"She checked herself guiltily.

  "That what?" asked Evelyn. She was beginning to feel a vague impatienceat the strange way in which Jean Brent chopped off her sentences. Andhow recklessly she talked about selling her clothes.

  "That I have you for a roommate," smiled the mysterious freshman. "Iwonder how much the expressman will charge to bring my trunks from thestation. Then, too, I wonder where I can put them. I wouldn't think ofspoiling the looks of our room with them."

  "You can put one of them over in that corner," planned Evelyn, "and wecould get one into the closet. It's large and quite light. The other twoMiss Harlowe will allow you to leave in the trunk room."

  "I suppose it will cost a small fortune to have them delivered,"demurred Jean. "I can't have the sale, either, until I know some of thegirls who would be interested in my wares. I'll have to telegraph myfriend to send me some money. Will you go with me to the telegraphoffice. I don't know the way. I'll ask Miss Harlowe to pay theexpressman. Then I'll pay her when my money comes. Frenzied finance,isn't it? But if you knew--" Again that maddening break.

  "I'll pay the expressman," volunteered Evelyn. "If I were you I'd talkthings
over with Miss Harlowe. She knows that you lost your purse. Verylikely she has already thought of something you can do. I don't thinkshe would like to have you sell your clothes."

  "I don't see why she should object," declared Jean, with quickimpatience. "However, I'll do my hair over again, and wash my face andhands, then I'll go down stairs and have a talk with her. She said she'dbe in her office."

  "Run down and talk with her now, then we'll go to the telegraph office,"said Evelyn.

  Twenty minutes later Jean entered the little office where Grace satengaged in the work she had been doing when interrupted by her friendsearlier in the afternoon. Like Evelyn, she was keenly alive to herlatest charge's good looks. "How attractive she is," was her thought asshe invited Jean to take the chair opposite hers.

  "I suppose you would like to know something of our household, MissBrent," began Grace. "We are not only a household, but we are members ofa social club as well. You are the thirty-fourth girl. Last year MissThirty-four never materialized, so Miss Ward roomed alone. There isn'tso so much to tell you regarding the rules and regulations of HarloweHouse. The club takes care of most of them with its constitution andby-laws." Opening a drawer of her desk, Grace took out a paper-coveredbooklet and handed it to the freshman. "This will give you nearly allthe necessary information," she said. "If I were in your place I wouldgo to the registrar's office reasonably early to-morrow morning. You canthen learn whether you will be obliged to take the entranceexaminations. Having been graduated from a preparatory school you may beexempt. When did Miss Lipton's school close?"

  "Last June," returned Jean briefly.

  "But you have seen her since then, have you not? Her letter gave me theimpression that you had been with her recently. Do you live in Grafton,or were you visiting Miss Lipton?"

  The fair face opposite her own was suddenly flooded with red."I--I--was--on--a visit recently to Miss Lipton," she answered, withreluctance. She did not volunteer the name of her home town.

  For the first time Grace became aware of the curious reticence that hadvaguely annoyed Evelyn. "Where do you live, Miss Brent!" she asked withthe sudden directness so characteristic of her.

  For a moment the girl did not reply, then her color receded, leavingher face very white. "My home is in Chicago," she said slowly. "Myfather and mother are dead. I have always lived with"--shehesitated--"friends. Miss Lipton was a friend of my mother's. Surely herword will not be questioned by the faculty." She glanced at Grace with ahalf challenging air.

  Something in her tone brought the color to Grace's cheeks. Why could notthis girl be perfectly frank in her replies? Now that Evelyn Ward hadturned out so beautifully, Grace had been looking forward to a year ofopen comradeship with her girls, yet here she was face to face with whatpromised to be one of those baffling natures that required especiallytactful handling to bring out the best that lay within it.

  "I have no doubt that Miss Sheldon will place the utmost dependence inMiss Lipton's word," returned Grace gravely.

  "If she doesn't, I--oh, well, to-morrow will tell the tale. I wish youwould tell me more of Harlowe House. It is a wonderful place. I wantedto go to Smith, but I believe this will be nicer after all. OnlyI--shall--have to earn my college fees. Miss Ward said perhaps you wouldhelp me think of a way to earn money. I have nothing in the world exceptclothes, clothes, clothes. After I've been here for awhile I'd like tohave a sale of them. I have loads of lovely things. If I could only sellenough of them to pay my fees."

  "But you will need your clothing for your own use, will you not?" JeanBrent was momently growing more inexplicable.

  Jean shook her head energetically. "I don't care for clothes," she saideagerly. "I could live in a coat suit and plenty of blouses all year. I_do_ care for college, though. If I hadn't cared, I would never--" Shesuddenly checked herself. "Do you think the girls would buy my things?"she asked in the next instant. "They are nearly all new and fresh."

  "I am sure they would be interested," was Grace's honest reply, "but Icannot allow you to hold a sale of your wardrobe. I think such aproceeding would be unwise. Why----"

  "Please don't ask me why, Miss Harlowe, for I can't tell you." Jean hadrisen to her feet, two pleading eyes fixed on Grace. "I can only saythat if I had not lost my money everything would be different. There arestrong reasons why I can't explain to you about my being without money,yet having so many clothes, but I assure you that I have done nothingwrong or dishonorable. If you are not satisfied with my explanation andwish to send me away, of course I can only go, but if you are willingto trust me and let me stay I'll try to do my best for you and HarloweHouse. I'm sorry you disapprove of my having a sale of my things."

  Grace looked long at the earnest young face. Mystifying as were herstatements, Jean Brent had the appearance of honesty. Taking one of thegirl's hands in both her own, she said, "I don't in the least understandyou, Miss Brent, but I will respect your secret."

  "Thank you so much for your kindness to me, Miss Harlowe." With analmost distant nod the prospective freshman rose and left the officewith almost rude abruptness.

  "What a strange girl," mused Grace.

  Her musing was interrupted by the breezy entrance of Emma Dean. "Hello,Gracious," she hailed. "Why so pensive?"

  "I'm not pensive. I'm puzzled, and a little worried," returned Grace."Our latest arrival is a most complex study."

  "I suspected it," was Emma's cheerful rejoinder. "One of the 'There wasthe Door to which I found no Key' variety, so to speak."

  "I'm going to tell you all about it," decided Grace, "for I need youradvice." She related her interview with Jean Brent.

  "Miss Lipton, the head of the Lipton Preparatory School, at Grafton,writes beautifully of Miss Brent," went on Grace. "I know the facultywould consider her word sufficient to enroll this girl, but I feel thatI ought to be doubly careful to keep my household irreproachable. Idon't like mysteries when it comes to admitting a new girl to the fold.Still, Miss Brent impresses me as being honest and sincere. Besides,I've promised to help her."

  "Don't worry, Gracious," advised Emma, "you may be harboring a princessunawares. The Riddle may turn out to be the Shahess of Persia, or theGrand Vizieress of Bagdad or some other royal person. She may be themoving feature of a real Graustark plot."

  "Stop being ridiculous, Emma, and tell me what I ought to do." Grace'ssmooth forehead puckered in a frown which her laughing lips denied.

  Emma was instantly serious. "We do not know just how much college maymean to her," was her quick response. "If she chooses to shroud herselfin mystery, I believe it is because of something which concerns herselfalone."

  There was a brief silence, then Grace said: "You are right. To be anOverton girl may mean more to Jean Brent than we can possibly know. I'mgoing to take her on faith. Perhaps she'll find college the key thatwill unlock the door to perfect understanding."