The Orchard Secret Part 5

"What?" asked Sim. "Has the orchard noise of last night materialized?"

"No. But they didn't collect our letters for the mail," said Terry.

"Something must be wrong with the system," spoke Sim. "Though it isn't to be wondered at, in the confusion of opening night. But can't we take them ourselves and drop them into the post office after breakfast? The office is just off the college grounds across the railroad tracks. Can't we do that?"

"I don't see why not," reasoned Arden.

Breakfast was rather a cold and grim meal compared to the excitement of the supper the night before. It was finally eaten, however, and then, it being too early for any cla.s.ses yet and no orders having been issued about chapel attendance, the three from room 513 started for the little post office outside the college grounds.

Arden looked completely happy. Surroundings were so important to her.

Wearing a light wool dress, dull blue in color and with most comfortable walking shoes on, she urged her chums forward. All of the girls were simply dressed. In keeping with the traditions at Cedar Ridge, hats gave place to mortar-boards and, even in freezing weather, they would be donned with a gay defiance of winter winds.

"Come on, girls!" Arden was excited. "I must be at Bordmust Hall at nine.

My adviser is going to help me arrange my schedule of cla.s.ses. I hope we can get together at least on a few."

"We all have to be there," said Terry, adding with a sigh: "I suppose I'll have an eight-thirty cla.s.s every day, worse luck!" Morning sleep was so good.

"Oh, swimming pool!" chanted Sim as they pa.s.sed the building now turned to so base a use as that of a vegetable cellar. "When first I saw thee----"

"Have patience!" interrupted Arden. "Look who's coming this way!"

A white-haired old gentleman, clad somberly in black, was slowly approaching along the path that led from the front campus down to the railroad tracks and across to the post office. His hands were clasped behind his back and, with head bent down, he seemed to observe only the ground at his feet.

"Who is he?" whispered Sim.

"He must be Rev. Henry Bordmust, the resident chaplain here. Shall we speak--or just bow respectfully?" Terry looked to Arden for advice.

"I don't believe he even sees us. He looks as though he were thinking deeply. Let's wait and see if he speaks to us." After this advice, Arden stepped a little in advance of her two chums to invite the clergyman's attention.

The daydreaming chaplain had met and was pa.s.sing the girls now; still without a sign of recognition. But he was saying something--muttering to himself as old men often do. The girls overheard a few words.

"Dear, dear! The orchard! The old orchard!" he murmured. Mentally he seemed to be wringing his hands in real distress. "Why doesn't he come out of it?"

Rev. Henry Bordmust sighed and pa.s.sed the freshmen, his eyes still on the path at his feet, as oblivious of the trio as if it did not exist.

"Did you hear that?" mumbled Terry as they walked on.

"He was talking about the orchard--where we heard the noise last night,"

spoke Sim. "What can he mean?"

"I heard one of the seniors talking about him," volunteered Arden. "He is said to be--queer--says things no one can understand. And he often gives the girls awful scoldings over nothing--and sometimes asks you in to have tea with him, most unexpectedly."

"Well, I wish he'd invite us in to tea this afternoon," murmured Sim with new energy. "And I wish he'd explain what he means about someone coming out of the orchard. I hope that weird noise doesn't play any tricks tonight."

"Oh, perhaps we misunderstood him," suggested Terry. "The chaplain can't know anything about a mysterious noise in our college apple orchard."

"Hardly," agreed Sim. "Well, he certainly never saw us. I don't believe I'd like to have tea with him."

"Oh, I think he looks sweet," declared Arden.

"Then you won't need sugar in your tea," laughed Terry. "But let's hurry and mail these letters. It would never do to be late for our first cla.s.s."

They had reached the tracks of the Delawanna Railroad, the line that ran from New York to Morrisville, the small city nearest the college. From force of habit the girls stopped and looked up and down the rails for the possible approach of a train. Soon they would know when each one was expected. It was a tradition that by the time one was a senior at Cedar Ridge no watch was necessary, so familiar did the students become with the pa.s.sage of the trains.

The post office was a small one-roomed building with a stove in the center. Two windows, one for the sale of stamps and the other for the mailing of parcels, broke the stretch of tiers of gla.s.s-fronted boxes behind which the business was carried on. For the post office served the town as well as the college.

The side walls were literally papered with police posters offering rewards for the arrest, or information leading to the arrest or apprehension, of various persons--criminals--men and women. The posters were from the police departments of several cities, New York among them.

Many of the placards were adorned with profiles and front views of the oddest faces the girls had ever seen.

"Oh, for the love of stamps!" gasped Arden when they had dropped their letters in the slot and were looking at the posters. "What nightmares!"

"Aren't they awful!" agreed Terry.

"Not a good-looking man among them," was Sim's opinion. "I've heard about these posters. They've been here, some of them, for I don't know how long. It's a sort of a game among the girls to see who can find the funniest face."

"Let's try it," suggested Arden, laughing. Suddenly she ceased her mirth and stood as if fascinated in front of a poster showing the full-face picture of a young man. He was rather good-looking and quite an exception to the other portraits so publicly displayed. His face, like most of the others, was smooth, unadorned by beard or mustache.

"Terry!" impulsively exclaimed Arden. "Look! Haven't you seen that face before?"

Terry considered carefully before slowly answering:

"No, I don't believe I have. It isn't a bad face, though."

"Rather interesting," agreed Sim. "What's he wanted for, murder or bank robbery?"

"Neither," answered Arden. "Listen." She read from the poster:

"One thousand dollars reward for information as to the whereabouts of Harry Pangborn." Then followed a general description, the age being given as twenty-three, and there was added the statement that the young man had suddenly disappeared from his home on the estate of his grandfather, Remington Pangborn, on Long Island.

Part of the poster consisted of a statement from the attorneys of Remington Pangborn--the _late_ Mr. Pangborn, it was made plain.

"Harry Pangborn," the statement read, "is not wanted on any criminal charge whatever. He disappeared from his friends and his usual haunts merely, it is surmised, because he was expected to a.s.sume the duties and responsibilities of the large estate he was about to inherit from his grandfather. It is understood that he stated he did not want the inheritance just yet. Of a high-strung and nervous temperament, Mr.

Pangborn is believed to have gone away because the responsibilities of wealth are distasteful to him and also, perhaps, because he seeks adventure, of which he is very fond. If this meets his eye or if anyone can convey to him the information that he will be permitted to a.s.sume as much or as little of the estate as he wishes, a great service will have been done. All that is desired is that Harry Pangborn will return to his friends and relatives as soon as possible. His hasty action will be overlooked. It is rumored that Mr. Pangborn may be in the vicinity of Morrisville, though he may have gone abroad, as he was fond of foreign travel.

"Information and claims for the above reward may be sent to Riker & Tabcorn, Attorneys, New York City, or to the local police department in the munic.i.p.ality where this poster is displayed."

The girls, crowding about Arden, read the poster with her. Then Sim said:

"Maybe it was in the movies that you saw someone who reminds you of him, Arden. Harry Pangborn isn't bad looking, compared to all the others."

With a sweeping gesture she indicated the various poster exhibits.

"Why, he's positively handsome when you put him alongside of Dead-eye d.i.c.k, here," laughed Terry. "As for Two-gun Bobbie----"

"I'm serious, girls," interrupted Arden. "I'm sure I've seen this young man somewhere before. Now, if we could only locate him or tell the lawyers where to look for him and get this reward money, wouldn't it be just wonderful?"

"Grand!" agreed Terry. "But wake up, my dear. You're dreaming!"

"And I've just thought of something else!" went on Arden, oblivious of the banter.