The others were forced to admit that he did do remarkably well, for long after they had finished eating he continued to blissfully gorge sandwiches, 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 lug so 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 and closed his eyes. Dave helped the girls clean up the picnic things.
After that, they sat around and talked. Doris was induced to sing and they all joined in, even Marshmallow, whose voice was gruff and seldom on the right key.
“It’s that last sandwich pressing against my larynx,” he apologized.
“Doris, you have a wonderful voice,” Dave praised soberly. “I suppose you’ve been told that by every one.”
“Not by every one,” Doris laughed. “It will probably take years before my voice 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 light shining in his eyes as he gazed thoughtfully at her curly head.
“Oh, yes. I want to sing in Grand Opera some day. Perhaps my ambitions are 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 she saw the expression on his face. She was further embarrassed as she realized that Marshmallow and Kitty were aware of what had been passing through Dave’s mind.
Hastily she arose.
“Don’t you think we’d better be starting back? Dave and Marshmallow have a 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 Dave and 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 of Ronald Trent, and frowned. For the last few hours she had been having so much 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 offer helpful advice. Accordingly, she told him of the proposition which the Misses 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. I don’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 he really 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 to do. 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. “He wouldn’t know what to do with so many ladies. He’ll need me to help him handle the situation masterfully.”
“Do come,” Doris urged.
“Just leave it to me,” ejaculated Marshmallow, throwing out his chest manfully, and displaying the cords of muscles in his upper arm, rolling up 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 to get into a fight with you!” and Dave jokingly jostled him as though to test 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 two champions who will stand by you to the death, to the bitter end, if need be, ‘’til death us do part.’” And with that closing bit of assurance they struck an attitude of utter devotion, entwining their arms about each other.
“You silly boys,” giggled Kitty, “perhaps we will need you, so keep in fighting trim until such a time might arise.”
“At your service, fair ladies,” said Marshmallow solemnly, taking off his hat, 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 was growing late declined an invitation to go inside. Doris and Kitty watched them 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 came today, he must have left before we returned. At least I won’t be bothered about that loan until tomorrow, and I can give him a definite answer then.”
Kitty agreed with her friend that there was no further need of troubling their minds about Ronald Trent and the loan, at least not tonight, so they slowly sauntered up the pathway toward the old mansion.
CHAPTER XXI
An Unusual Procedure
“I don’t like to speak of it, but Ronald will be here directly after breakfast and I am afraid he expects a definite answer about the loan. We dislike to rush you but the dear boy is so impatient and—”
Azalea allowed her words to trail off and smiled apologetically at Doris, who sat opposite her at the breakfast table. Iris looked down at her plate to hide her embarrassment. Both ladies were very proud and found it difficult to bring up the subject of money.
“If only we had something of our own that we could sell, we wouldn’t think of asking you for this favor,” Iris murmured.
Doris had been awaiting an opportunity to bring up the subject of the paper which Cora and Henry Sully had mentioned. The housekeeper had returned to the kitchen and she decided to risk being overheard.
“Of course you don’t want to mortgage your house,” she declared. “What a pity you haven’t any land or stock of any kind.”
Azalea laughed.
“As it happens, we have some oil company bonds but they aren’t worth anything. Iris and I were very gullible to buy them. Millions have been lost in the oil fields but we didn’t realize it until too late.”
“Oil bonds, did you say?” Doris demanded eagerly.
Iris nodded.
“Yes, we lost several thousand dollars.”
“And you still have the certificates?”
Iris did not reply, for just at that moment Cora Sully appeared to remove the dishes and the Misses Gates made it a point never to discuss personal affairs or business before their servants. Upon leaving the dining room Doris started to bring up the subject again but before she could do so, Ronald Trent was announced.
He appeared less affable than usual and lost no time in bringing up the matter of the loan. The Misses Gates looked doubtfully at Doris.
“I