Chapter XI: A False Scent

I think the visit of Mr. Mudge was much dreaded by all of us, even though we longed to have the mystery cleared up. I know that Winnie, at least, trembled for the result, and she turned quite pale the next morning when she received a message from Madame to meet Mr. Mudge in her office. It was only a few moments before she returned.

"Mr. Mudge wishes to see us all," she said. "Where are the other girls? He's coming to this room in five minutes."

"Milly is in the studio, Adelaide in the music-room. Cynthia, I don't know where."

"Please summon Adelaide and Milly, I will wait for you here--I feel almost faint."

"What is the matter, Winnie?" I asked anxiously.

"Mr. Mudge says that he now knows to a certainty who the thief is, and that he will announce the name to us this morning. I am afraid, Tib, that he suspects Milly. He put me on oath this morning and made me confess something which I did not mean he should know."

"Never mind, Winnie," I replied, as reassuringly as I could, "we both know that Milly is perfectly innocent, and, as Madame said, the truth will come out at last."

Winnie shaded her face with her hands but did not reply. I brought Adelaide and Milly to the Corner, and chancing to find Cynthia, summoned her also. Mr. Mudge was in the little study parlor when I returned. He greeted me cheerfully as he stood by the cabinet polishing his glasses with a large silk handkerchief. Then he stepped across the room and examined the door leading into the studio.

"So," he said. "You have had a little bolt put on this door. It is an old proverb that people always lock the stable after the horse has been stolen. But it is just as well, just as well. I agree with you that the thief came from that quarter, and having been so successful he may come again."

"He!" Winnie gasped.

"Yes; much as it may pain you to learn the fact, I must inform you that all indications now make it a certainty that the thief can be no other than your Professor of Art, Carrington Waite."

Milly gave a little cry and fainted dead away. The others all sprang to her assistance, but as I was quite a distance from her I did not move, and I heard Mr. Mudge give a suppressed chuckle, and remark below his breath: "Ah! my little lady, I thought that would make you show your hand."

Milly speedily recovered; and with her first breath exclaimed, "Oh, no, no! You are mistaken; it cannot be so."

"Why not?" Mr. Mudge asked. "Was not Professor Waite in the studio at the time that the robbery was committed? Did I not find the lock of this door in his tool chest? Is it not a well-known fact that he is a poor man, and yet a few days after the robbery did he not deposit in the savings bank just one hundred dollars more than his quarter's salary? What stronger proof do we require?"

"I can explain all these circumstances." Milly replied eagerly, and she told the story of the broken lock, which amused Mr. Mudge greatly.

"That disposes of one bit of circumstantial evidence," he admitted; "but the other items?"

"As to the money," Milly continued, with a slight flush, "papa bought one of Mr. Waite's small pictures, and sent him a check for a hundred dollars just at the time you speak of. I think if you inquire more particularly at the bank you will find that it was papa's check which he deposited; and I can testify that he was not in the studio at the time the robbery was committed. I was lying awake and I heard him come up the stairs. He was earlier than usual. It was some time before twelve. He hardly remained a moment, merely left his canvases and paint-box, and went right away."

"That is all very well under the supposition that the robbery was committed between the time that Miss Winnie looked into the cabinet and Miss Cynthia's discovery. But Miss Winnie has just admitted to me that the money was gone when she opened the cabinet, so the theft must have occurred before that time." Winnie threw a piteous glance at Milly, which Milly did not notice.

"But still, after Professor Waite went away," Milly insisted.

"Why are you so sure of this?" asked Mr. Mudge.

"Because, when I went to the cabinet fully five minutes after he had gone it was all there."

Mr. Mudge's gray eyes gave a snap which reminded me of the springing of a trap. "Indeed!" he said. "How many more of you young ladies investigated the cabinet during that eventful night? Will you kindly inform me, Miss Roseveldt, for what purpose you opened the cabinet, and why we are only informed of the fact in this inadvertent way."

Winnie crossed the room and deliberately placed her arm around Milly. "Milly, dear," she said, "the truth is always the best way, though it may seem the hardest way; and, whatever you may have to confess, I for one shall love you just the same."

"Perhaps it is just as well," Milly replied cheerfully, "though Adelaide and I did not intend that Tib should know it. You remember that it was the eve of Tib's birthday; Adelaide and I each wanted to give her fifty dollars toward her European fund. So after we were sure that she must be asleep, I slipped out into the parlor and took the money from Adelaide's pigeon-hole and from my purse, and laid it on Tib's shelf, where we intended she should find it in the morning. Professor Waite had gone when I did this, so he could not have taken it. Adelaide told me to put hers with mine, for she didn't see the use of both of us going into the parlor. We were afraid we might wake the other girls."

"You did waken me, Milly dear," Winnie said. "I heard you, and standing just behind my door I saw you go to the cabinet as you have said, and take out Adelaide's money and count out fifty dollars, and then take the gold pieces from your own little purse. Then I went back to bed and did not see any more until you went away, when I stepped out and examined the cabinet, and the money was gone."

Milly did not then comprehend the terrible suspicion which had been in Winnie's mind, and she was very much pleased to find her testimony corroborated. "Adelaide saw me, too," she said. "You were watching me all the time, weren't you, Adelaide?"

"Yes," Adelaide replied. "Tell about the note, too, Milly."

"Oh! that isn't of any consequence. After I had put the money in Tib's compartment, I thought it would be a good idea to write her a note with it, and I pulled out the shelf in the cabinet that serves as a writing desk, but I didn't write anything for I heard a noise in Tib's room. It must have been Winnie going back to bed. So I shoved the shelf in and scooted back to my own room. We didn't say anything about it in the morning because Adelaide and I didn't feel like boasting of the presents we had given Tib, especially as she never received them."

There was a great light in Winnie's eyes. It was evident that the suspicion which had poisoned her life ever since the robbery had vanished. To Winnie's satisfaction, at least, Milly had cleared herself.

Mr. Mudge, too, had certainly shared this suspicion. His announcement that Professor Waite was the culprit had been only a clever trick to make Milly criminate herself, for he had guessed her attachment to the Professor, and felt sure that, rather than let the blame rest with him, she would confess her crime. His next question showed that he was not yet fully satisfied.

"Miss Roseveldt," he asked, "will you tell me where you obtained the money with which you paid Madame Celeste's bill for Miss Cynthia's costume the day after the robbery?"

"I would rather not tell that," Milly replied.

"I must insist upon it."

"Papa called the day before, and I confessed all about the bill to him, and he forgave me, and gave me the money."

"We know that he gave you the gold pieces which you placed in your purse, but these were stolen, and you were apparently penniless on the morning after the robbery."

"Papa drew a check for Celeste for the amount of the bill, and that was in my pocket. I did not put it in the cabinet at all. Then he said that it was a very sad, disgraceful affair, but he knew that I would never do so again, and he was glad I told him, and he forgave me freely, and now it was all over we would bury it in the Dead Sea and never let mortal man or woman know a word about it, and that is why I could not tell Winnie how I had paid the debt. Papa said too--what was not true--that it was partly his own fault, for keeping me so short in pocket money and leaving me free to run up large bills. And then he said that he would change his tactics and give me an allowance in cash every month, and I am not to have anything charged any more, but manage my expenses as Adelaide does. And with that he gave me the gold pieces, and I told him that I wanted to give them to Tib, and he said, 'Very well, do what you please, but you will have nothing more for a fortnight, when I will give you your allowance for the coming month.'"

We each of us drew a long breath. It all seemed so simple now that Milly explained it that I wondered how we could ever have mistrusted her. Winnie clasped her more tightly. There was a look of remorse in her eyes, which told how she reproached herself for having wronged her darling.

Mr. Mudge tapped the table with his pencil thoughtfully.

"I must acknowledge, Miss Roseveldt," he said, "that you have completely cleared Professor Waite. It is perfectly evident that he could not have taken the money; but the question still remains, Who did? How long an interval was there, Miss De Witt, between the time that Miss Roseveldt returned to her bedroom, and your examination of the cabinet?"

"I do not know exactly. I waited only until I fancied Milly might be asleep, then I slipped out softly, closed the doors opening into all the bedrooms, lighted my candle, and examined the cabinet."

"And when Miss Roseveldt left the room the money was there, and when you looked----"

"It was gone."

"It seems to me," said Cynthia maliciously, "that Winnie is placed in a very disagreeable position by these revelations. Her testimony has been very contradictory and her manner from the first, to say the least, peculiar. She acknowledges that she was awake during the time that intervened between Milly's visit to the safe and her own. If a thief came in it is very strange that she did not hear him."

"It is strange," Winnie acknowledged. "I can hardly believe it possible, but these are the facts in the case. I certainly did not take the money, as Cynthia implies."

"Tut, tut," Mr. Mudge remarked sharply. "I am convinced that the thief is not a member of the Amen Corner. I have in turn taken up the supposition that the robbery might have been committed by each of you young ladies, beginning with Miss Cynthia and ending just now with Miss Milly, and I have proved to my own satisfaction that you are all innocent. Miss Winnie may have fallen asleep, and during her brief nap some one may have slipped in from the studio. Professor Waite had gone, but he may have left the turret door unlocked."

"I heard no one mount the stairs," said Milly.

"True, but a sneak thief might steal up so softly as to disturb no one. A man bent on such an errand does not usually whistle opera tunes, and then again the rogue may have been in the studio during Professor Waite's hasty call. You told me, Miss Armstrong, that the Professor was the only one who had a key to the turret door."

"I did," Adelaide replied, "but I was mistaken; Polo has a duplicate key."

"And who is this lawn tennis girl?"

"Polo, Mr. Mudge, not tennis. Her name is Polo, a contraction for Pauline," said Adelaide.

"Very extraordinary name. Lawn tennis is a much more suitable game for a young lady. Who is she, anyway?"

"She is a model, and a very good girl. Polo is above suspicion," Winnie remarked authoritatively.

"Hum--of course," replied Mr. Mudge. "Let me see, this Base-ball must be the young lady of whom Miss Noakes spoke to Madame as having conducted herself in a rather peculiar manner night before last, the evening of the subterranean entertainment."

We all looked up in surprise, and Mr. Mudge continued:

"Madame has confided to me the fact that you young ladies were unpleasantly intruded upon by certain unknown persons, who may, or may not, have been connected with one of our well known schools. Madame felt that they could not have effected their entrance and disguise without the connivance of some member of this household. This individual need not necessarily have been one of the young ladies; it may have been a servant. I have known it to be a fact that the chamber-maids at Vassar have carried on flirtations with young gentlemen who supposed themselves to be in correspondence with Vassar girls. Now it is quite possible that your chambermaid may have heard of this frolic and have mentioned it to her admirers."

"Oh, no," we all exclaimed; while Adelaide continued: "We never mentioned it in her presence; besides, she is as stupid and honest as she is old and homely. I would as soon suspect Miss Noakes."

"But this Lawn Tennis, I beg pardon, Base-ball, of whom we were just speaking, is neither stupid, nor old, nor ugly, and we know very little in regard to her honesty----"

"That is so," Cynthia assented, and we all turned and scowled upon her.

"You tell me that she possesses a key to the turret door, and now Miss Noakes's testimony fits in like the pieces in a Chinese puzzle. On the afternoon of your entertainment Miss Noakes says that a request was preferred from you to allow Lawn Tennis--no, Croquet--to share Miss Vaughn's bedroom for the night. Miss Noakes says she felt a strange hesitancy about granting this request----"

"Not at all strange," Winnie interrupted. "It is a hesitancy which is quite habitual in her case."

Mr. Mudge waved his hand in a deprecatory manner and continued. "Miss Noakes further testifies that in the early evening, as she was sitting at her open window, the night being especially balmy for the season, she was startled by a long whistle, which was not that of the postman. As there was no light in her own room she could look out without being observed. The gas was lighted in Miss Vaughn's room, and though from its oblique position she could not see what passed within she could recognize any one leaning from it." [See plan of Amen Corner.]

Cynthia straightened herself up, and as it seemed to me turned a trifle pale, while Mr. Mudge went on.

"Miss Noakes says that the first whistle did not appear to be noticed, and stepping on to her balcony she saw two young men, or boys, standing at the foot of the tower, looking up at Miss Vaughn's windows. She instantly retreated into her own room and awaited further developments. A second whistle, and some one in Miss Vaughn's room turned down the gas, and coming to the window gave an answering whistle. Miss Noakes says she could hardly credit her senses, for she has looked upon Miss Vaughn as a model of propriety; an instant later she observed that the girl now leaning out of the window and talking with the boys wore a dark blue Tam O'Shanter cap, and she comprehended that it was not Miss Vaughn, but Lawn Tennis, or Cricket, or whatever her name is, who had been given permission to pass the night in Miss Vaughn's room. She could not hear the entire conversation, her desire to remain undiscovered keeping her well within her own room, but she distinctly heard one of the young men say, 'Throw it out--I'll catch it.' The girl replied, 'Here it is,' and said something about the sheets and things being on the upper landing. She added quite distinctly, 'Don't come into the studio until I give the signal.'

"Miss Noakes says she was too horrified to act promptly, as she should have done; but that a few moments later she visited the Amen Corner and found it deserted by all the young ladies with the exception of Miss Vaughn, who was studying quietly in the parlor. She asked where the others were, and was told that they were in the studio, where the procession was to form. On asking Miss Vaughn why she had not joined them, she replied that she intended to do so in a short time, but had been improving every moment for study. Miss Noakes asked for Lawn Tennis and was told that she had been appointed door-keeper for the evening. On intimating that she had seen her in Miss Vaughn's room, Miss Vaughn had replied that this was very possible as she had just left the room."

During this relation of Mr. Mudge's, Cynthia had turned different colors, from livid purple to greenish pallor. And had several times been on the point of replying, but the lawyer-detective had continued his narrative in a sing-song, monotonous way, as though reading it from a written deposition, and had left her no opportunity for interrupting. He now turned to her and remarked:

"I repeat all this here, Miss Vaughn, in order to hear your side of the story."

"I have nothing to say," Cynthia replied sullenly.

"Then Miss Noakes's statement is substantially correct?"

"I don't understand what you are driving at." Cynthia flashed out passionately. "If you mean to insinuate that I threw the key out to some of the cadets, and helped disguise them, and gave them the signal when to join in the procession--why then all I have to say is that it is a very pretty story, but you will find it very hard to prove it."

"Not so hasty, not so hasty," replied Mr. Mudge. "My dear young lady, if you will reflect a moment, you will perceive that nothing of this kind has been charged against you. The question does not concern you at all, but this athletic young lady--Lawn Tennis."

Mr. Mudge had become so firmly convinced in his own mind that Polo's name was Lawn Tennis that we saw the futility of correcting him and gave up the attempt.

"Mr. Mudge," Winnie exclaimed, "we protest! Cynthia, I call upon you to own up. It wasn't such a very bad frolic. You meant no particular harm. We will all sign a petition to Madame asking her to let you off. Don't let Polo be unjustly suspected. You know you did it; own up to it like a man."

But Cynthia was in no mood to own up to anything like a man, or like a decent girl. She simply turned her nose several degrees higher and remained silent.

"Your cowardly silence will not shield you," Adelaide exclaimed scornfully. "I have some letters from my brother which make me very positive that this is one of your scrapes, and I will show them to Mr. Mudge unless you confess instantly."

"I have nothing to confess," Cynthia replied in a low voice, but the words seemed to stick in her throat.

Mr. Mudge next asked us, in a thoughtful manner, whether "Lawn Tennis" was connected with the institution at the time of the robbery. I replied that she was, but that I could not see any relation between that crime and the present escapade.

"Perhaps not," Mr. Mudge replied; "and then again we never can tell what apparently trifling circumstance may lead up to the great discovery. As I have previously remarked, it is more than probable that the thief having been once successful will try the same game again. Then, too, if your thief happens to be a kleptomaniac, she could not refrain from pilfering. Have you lost anything since that eventful night?"

"Nothing whatever."

"And you have used the cabinet since as a depository for your funds?"

"Certainly," I replied. "We consider that we have used sufficient precaution in having the bolt put upon the door. The result seems to justify our confidence. To be sure, until night before last we have had no important sums to deposit."

"How about night before last?" Mr. Mudge asked.

"I had charge of the ticket money for the Home that we gained by the Catacomb Party," I replied, "and I placed it in my division of the cabinet. There is just sixty dollars of it, and it is there now."

"And was there during the night that Lawn Tennis slept in this apartment? And she knew it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then that is very good evidence that she was not the thief on the previous occasion."

So confident was I in our security and in Polo's honesty that I unlocked the cabinet to give Mr. Mudge convincing proof. What was our astonishment to find my compartment again empty. The floor of the cabinet was as clean as though swept by a brush. The sixty dollars which we held in trust for the Home were gone!