Mary Louise and the Liberty Girls | Page 8

with grim
deliberation wrote a check and handed it to Mary Louise.
"You've won, young lady," he admitted. "I'm too good an American to
approve what has been done down at Washington, but I'll help keep our
flag waving, as the Professor suggests. When we've won our war--and
of course we shall win--there will be a day of reckoning for every
official who is judged by our citizens to have been disloyal, however
high his station. Good afternoon!"
The first impulse of Mary Louise was to crumple up the check and
throw it in the man's face, to show her resentment of his base
insinuations. But as she glanced at the check she saw it was for ten
thousand dollars, and that meant sinews of war--help for our soldiers
and our allies. She couldn't thank the man, but she bowed coldly and

left the private office. Professor Dyer accompanied her and at the outer
door he said to the girl:
"Silas Herring's heart is in the right place, as you see by his generous
check. Of course, he might have bought more bonds than that, as he is
very wealthy, but he is an obstinate man and it is a triumph for our
sacred cause that he was induced to buy at all. You are doing a noble
work, my child, and I admire you for having undertaken the task. If I
can be of service to you, pray command me."
"Urge everyone you meet to buy bonds," suggested Mary Louise. She
did not care to discuss Silas Herring.
"I'll do that, indeed," promised the school superintendent. But as he
watched her depart, there was a queer expression on his lean face that it
was well Mary Louise did not see.
CHAPTER IV
THE TRAITOR
When the Liberty Girls met that evening at the home of Alora Jones, it
was found that Mary Louise had sold more bonds than any of the others,
although Laura Hilton had secured one subscription of fifty thousand
dollars from the Dorfield National Steel Works, the manager of which
industry, Mr. Colton, was a relative of the girl. Altogether, the day's
work had netted them two hundred and fourteen thousand dollars, and
as soon as she could escape Mary Louise rushed home to report their
success to her grandfather.
"In one day, Gran'pa Jim!" she cried exultantly, and the old colonel's
eyes sparkled as he replied:
"That makes our great mass-meeting look pretty small; doesn't it, my
dear? I consider it wonderful! With four more such days our quota
would be over-subscribed."
"That's what we shall try for," she declared, and then told him who the

biggest bond buyers had been--mostly those who had refused to listen
to the regular Committee or had not been influenced by their carefully
prepared arguments.
"It's just because we are girls, and they are ashamed to refuse us," she
acknowledged. "It seems like taking an unfair advantage of them, I
know, but those who need urging and shaming, to induce them to
respond loyally to the nation's needs, deserve no consideration. We're
not robbing them, either," she added, "but just inducing them to make a
safe investment. Isn't that true, Gran'pa Jim?"
"What surprises me most," he responded, "is how you ever managed to
load your little head with so much mature wisdom. I'd no idea, Mary
Louise, you were so interested in the war and our national propaganda
for waging it successfully."
"Why, I read the newspapers, you know, and I've listened to you spout
patriotism, and ever since we joined the Allies against Germany, my
girl chums and I have been secretly organized as a band of Liberty
Girls, determined to do our bit in winning the war. This is the first
chance, though, that we've ever had to show what we can do, and we
are very proud and happy to-night to realize that we're backing Uncle
Sam to some purpose."
"This war," remarked the old soldier, thoughtfully, "is bringing the
women of all nations into marked prominence, for it is undeniable that
their fervid patriotism outranks that of the men. But you are mere girls,
and I marvel at your sagacity and devotion, heretofore unsuspected. If
you can follow to-day's success until Saturday, and secure our quota of
subscriptions to the bonds, not only Dorfield but all the nation will be
proud of your achievement."
"We shall do our best," replied the girl, simply, although her cheeks
glowed pink under such praise. "There are enough slackers still to be
interviewed to bring the quota up to the required amount and with
to-day's success to hearten us, I am sure we shall end the week
triumphantly."

Next morning the Liberty Girls sallied forth early, all six aglow with
enthusiasm. Mary Louise consulted her carefully prepared list and
found that