Dorothy Dale's Camping Days Part 26

said Miss Bell, showing more and more that she did not believe Dorothy to be the person wanted in the sanitarium. "I must ask--did no one here know you--or her? Must we wait for that one doctor?"

"At any rate," said Dorothy, "I was almost ill, and you have saved me from those dreadful people. My folks will never blame you."

"If there is a mistake--I'll run away. I could never stand the disgrace," and the nurse buried her face in her hands.

"It seems to me a perfectly plain case of mistaken ident.i.ty, and as you knew neither me nor the girl wanted, I do not see how you could have done otherwise than to take me. I am sure I must have looked and acted--demented."

"I am perfectly positive that you are not now," declared Miss Bell.

"And no time should be lost in searching for Mary Harriwell."

"Then I could send a message to camp? Let them know I am safe?" and Dorothy sprang up with more emotion than she wished to show, for her every move was being watched.

"Well, the doctor will be here in the morning, and it is night now.

There would be no way of straightening this out until you are positively identified."

"What a dreadfully lonely place Maine is! If I were near home--or near any place where people would know me----" Dorothy was saying.

"Miss Bell, you are wanted at the 'phone," interrupted an attendant, appearing at the door. "I'll stay until you get back."

Miss Bell left the room, and Dorothy did not look at the young woman who had taken her place. There was something so humiliating about being suspected of insanity!

"How do you like it here?" asked the newcomer.

"Very well," replied Dorothy, hurt by the sarcasm apparent in the voice.

"Then why did you run away? Didn't we treat you all right?"

Dorothy made no reply. The nurse came over, and glanced at her keenly.

"You look pretty fine. Guess the tramp did you good. They have sent for your mother. She will be here to-morrow. I sent the message, and I told her your mind had cleared up. I hope I made no mistake."

"I hope not," replied Dorothy, feeling that it was useless to try to explain. "I shall be glad--when she comes."

"I'm the night attendant. I will be here in an hour to give you your bath," said the young woman.

"I am perfectly capable of taking my own bath," replied Dorothy, with indignation.

"Perhaps; but we don't trust patients in the water alone. I hope you won't give me any trouble. I'm tired to death to-night."

"I will try not to," said Dorothy.

Soon Miss Bell returned. Her face was flushed and she appeared greatly excited.

"That _man_ Morrison has been seen," she said to the other nurse. "And two more Mary Harriwells have also been seen. Strange thing how many girls can get demented when _one_ is looked for. But the man--they say he is not safe."

"Oh, he's the greatest case we ever had here. He kept us all busy as his audience. He's stage-struck, you know," said the other.

"Have you heard anything of a girl named Tavia Travers?" asked Dorothy timidly. "It was searching for her that brought about all this trouble, and I wonder have they found her yet."

"Tavia Travers," repeated Miss Bell. "A girl who says she is Tavia Travers was seen going along the road with the supposed Mary Harriwell, and of course if she is helping her hide, she may be arrested. Is she a friend of yours?"

"Yes," sighed Dorothy. Then she fell to thinking how terrible it all was.

"It began the day we had the hay wagon accident," she decided. "The moment that man crossed our path he--left his shadow, as dear father would say. Well, to-morrow I must be set free again."

The nurses were talking quietly together. A shuffling in the hall disturbed them.

"A new patient?" asked Dorothy.

"No, likely an old one returned," was all the information she got.

CHAPTER XXII

THE CLEW

"I cannot go another step," sighed the girl with Tavia, just as Morrison pa.s.sed.

"Hus.h.!.+" cautioned Tavia. "I would rather die than have him see us! I simply cannot stand the thoughts of it all, and on _his_ account."

They had succeeded in getting behind a huge tree at the side of the path. The man sauntered along and stopped within five feet of them.

The sick girl was cringing with pain. The injured foot became more painful every moment.

"What is he looking for?" whispered Tavia. "If he only----"

"There's some one else coming," said Molly. "I hear voices."

"Yes. A crowd of men! They must not see us," declared Tavia. "Oh, they are in uniform! They are after some one!"

"Me!" moaned Molly. "Oh, don't let them take me! I must stay with you.

I can get help----"

They crouched down in the deep gra.s.s. The man out on the path was still there, beating a tree with his stick. He did not seem to notice the approaching crowd.

The strangers were up to him now.

"That's him!" the girls heard them say. "That's Morrison."

"Who are you?" demanded the queer man.

"Well, we are just friends," said a tall man with a gold-trimmed cap.

"We have been looking for you. Won't you come over to the hotel and stay for the night?"

"Not much," replied Morrison. "I never go into hotels--I only go on the legitimate stage. I was never a cheap actor."