The Orchard Secret Page 11

  CHAPTER XI Sim

  Miles away from Cedar Ridge, Sim Westover idly turned the pages of amovie magazine. She was quite pleased with herself as she sat in acommuters' train, speeding toward Larchmont. It was dark now, and as Simlooked from the window her face was reflected in the glass as in a dullmirror. Just a hint of a shiny nose, but it was enough to cause her toopen her envelope bag and search for her compact.

  But what were those white envelopes?

  Surely she hadn't forgotten to leave that carefully composed note for thedean--and the one to Arden and Terry!

  Yes, she had forgotten!

  "My word! They'll be worried to death!" Sim whispered in a gasp ofdismay. "What a stupid thing to do! Write notes explaining everything andthen take them with me!"

  Sim settled herself deeper into the soft green plush of the seat andlooked helplessly at the envelopes bearing the imposing red and gold sealof the Chancellor Hotel. She could imagine Terry and Arden dashing madlyabout asking everywhere for her. And she had intended to leave the noteright where they would see it--on the bed near her packed bag.

  "Oh," mused Sim, "if only they don't do anything rash, such as notifyingthe police or phoning to my folks!"

  The adventure she had planned to be such a fine thing was fast losing itssavor.

  Suppose her father was not in Larchmont, after all? But he must be. Inhis last letter to Sim he had mentioned, casually, this trip which was areason why he couldn't be in New York to greet her at the tea dance. Hewould be in Larchmont.

  It had seemed such a fine idea, when Sim learned the sophomores had notmade the amount of money necessary even to start the repairs on theswimming pool, just to go to her father and ask him for it. It would besuch a fine thing for the college, and Sim really must do some swimming.She felt that she was entitled to it after coming to Cedar Ridge, havingseen the pictures of the pool in the prospectus.

  The others were dancing as Sim's grand idea was engendered within her,and it seemed too bad to interrupt them. Besides, Arden would, veryprobably, try to stop her. The simplest thing would be just to write thenotes, explaining, and go ahead.

  The desk clerk at the hotel told her, when she asked, that she hadfifteen minutes to get a train for Larchmont from the Grand CentralStation. Sim was so glad she had remembered her father had written he wasto be there for the week-end at the Newman home--planning another largebranch store for business expansion.

  "Oh, dear! What a fix to be in! I suppose I'll be expelled! Mother willfeel terribly bad, and Dad----Oh, dear!" Sim sighed aloud.

  But there was nothing she could do now. There were the forgotten letterswhich would have made everything all right. She had hurried up to theroom, slipping away from the dance, had written the notes, put them inher bag, and changed her dress. She intended leaving them just beforegoing out of the room. But a glance at the electric clock showed herthere was little time to catch a taxi for the Grand Central in time tomake the train, and in her haste----

  The train ran along smoothly. The clickety-click of the wheels over therail joints mocked Sim with their ever recurring:

  "Forgot! Forgot! Forgot!"

  She grew more upset and worried. She pulled back her coat sleeve andglanced at her wrist watch.

  Nine o'clock!

  By this time the girls would be taking the train for Morrisville. Whathad they done about her disappearance? Sim hated to think about it. Thiswas, indeed, the deepest hole she had ever been in.

  The conductor opened the door and shouted:

  "Larch-_mont_! _Larch_-mont! All out for LARCH-MONT!"

  Sim gathered her things together and prepared to leave.

  As she alighted from the train, the thought came to her that she must atonce go in the station and telephone Arden. But another glance at herwatch caused her to hesitate. Arden and Sim might not be in Cedar Ridgeyet. So she decided to wait until she reached the house of her father'sfriend and to telephone from there.

  She approached a taxi and gave the address to the driver. The ride wasnot long, and soon was on the steps waiting to be admitted at the Newmanhouse.

  It was Mr. Newman himself who opened the door.

  "Why, Sim Westover!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here? We thoughtyou were safely in bed at Cedar Ridge. But come in! Take off yourthings!"

  "Good-evening, Mr. Newman," Sim said quickly. "I should be at CedarRidge, but something very important came up, and I decided, in a hurry,to come up here to see Dad. I was in New York at a dance. Dad is here,isn't he?"

  "Why, no, Sim, he isn't. He telephoned me, late this afternoon, that hecouldn't make it after all. Is anything the matter?"

  Sim's face was a study in many expressions as she faintly replied:

  "Yes, I guess there is--now. Everything would have been all right if Ihadn't been so forgetful!" Sim was close to tears, and the sight of hermother's dear college friend (both ladies had graduated at Cedar Ridge)caused Sim almost to break down.

  "Come in, Sim!" greeted Mrs. Newman, sensing, as she hastened into thehall, that something was wrong. "Have you had anything to eat? I thoughtnot. Come into the dining room. Marie can get you some tea andsandwiches, at least. Then you can tell us all about it while you eat,and you'll feel better. It isn't serious, is it?" This last prompted by alook at Sim's face.

  "Well, it isn't going to be very pleasant, I'm afraid." On the way to andin the dining room, while a hasty lunch was made ready, Sim blurted outthe whole story.

  "And so you see," she finished, "I must get word to Arden or Terry asquickly as possible, and it must be managed so that I'm not found out asmissing or I shall probably be expelled. I'm away without leave. I mustget back tonight."

  "Go back tonight? Impossible, my dear! Can't you stay with us untilmorning?"

  "I think not. If I can slip back all may yet be well. But if I have toexplain to the dean----No, it couldn't be done. There must be a trainback tonight, isn't there?"

  She turned questioning eyes on Mr. Newman.

  He looked at some time-tables, of which he had several in his smokingroom, and announced:

  "You'd never get back until late--very late--by train. But if you feelyou must be back in college before morning----"

  "I do. Oh, yes, I do, Mr. Newman!"

  "Then the only thing is for me to drive you there. We can make good timeat night. I know the roads."

  "Oh, Mr. Newman! I couldn't dream of----"

  "Tut, tut, Sim! It's the only way. I don't mind. It will be a littlediversion for me. I'll have the chauffeur get the car out now. He can dothe driving. I'll sit and talk to you, and the way won't seem so long."

  "Oh, Mr. Newman, you're wonderful! Now I must phone Arden at once to bewatching for me. Luckily our room is on the front of the dorm. How longdo you think it will take?" Sim, getting up from the table, at thesession of which she had much improved in spirits, was planning rapidlynow. Perhaps all would yet be well.

  "About three hours, I should say," Mr. Newman answered. "It will be slowgoing from here until we get into New Jersey, and then we can make time.You ought to be back _at_ college around midnight, though whether you canget _in_----"

  "That's why I must phone Arden or Terry. Oh, what a lot of trouble I'mcausing!" Sim's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back.

  "There, now, my dear, never mind!" soothed Mrs. Newman. "We'll help youall we can."

  "That's the kind of people they are," Sim told Arden, later. "Theyhaven't forgotten what it is to be young."

  It took some little time to get a telephone connection through to CedarRidge, and Sim lived years in moments, she thought, while waiting forArden to come to the phone. Finally the voice came to her.

  "Hello, Arden? Yes, I'm all right. I'm up at Larchmont with friends ofDad's. Did they find out about me? No? Good! Listen! Here's my plan. I'lltell you all how it happened later. Someone might hear us if I talked toolong now. I'm driving back--yes, driving. I'll get there about midnig
ht.Don't fall asleep. When we get to the entrance--the outside gate, Imean--we'll toot the horn three times. You and Terry slip down and let mein. Do you understand? Fine! I'm leaving right away. Good-bye, darling!I'll explain everything later. I'm quite all right, and nothing hashappened. Good-bye!"

  She hung up and turned to her friends, murmuring:

  "That's over, thank goodness!"

  "Well, let's get going, Sim!" Mr. Newman was now almost as much excitedas was Sim herself.

  "Try to sleep on the way out, Sim dear," advised Mrs. Newman. "I'm havingrobes and a soft cushion put in the car. You can snuggle up in a cornerof the sedan."

  "I thought she was going to talk to me!" chuckled Mr. Newman.

  "Of course I will--if I can find anything to talk about."

  "No, you mustn't," decided his wife. "Sim must try to get some sleep. Youwill, won't you, my dear?"

  "Yes, I will. Luckily tomorrow will be Sunday, and I can sleep late in myroom--if I get there. Thank you both--so much! I'll never forgetthis--never!"

  Sim put her arms about Mrs. Newman's neck and kissed her affectionately.

  "Oh, my poor dear! I know just how you feel. You meant it all for thebest, and there is really no harm done."

  "Not yet," said Sim a trifle grimly as she followed Mr. Newman out to thebig sedan that was waiting, with the chauffeur at the door, on the drive.