The Danger Mark | Page 8

at him for a moment, speechless with consternation.
Then:
"Where are they, Scott?"
"In the--the hedge."
"Out there?"
"Yes."
"Who are they?"
"Their names are Duane Mallett and Naïda Mallett. We got them to run
away from their nurse. Duane's such a bully fellow." A sob choked
him.
"Come with me at once," said Kathleen.

Behind the rhododendrons smiling peace was extending its pinions;
Duane had produced a pocketful of jack-stones, and the three children
were now seated on the grass, Naïda manipulating the jacks with soiled
but deft fingers.
Duane was saying to Geraldine:
"It's funny that you didn't know you were rich. Everybody says so, and
all the nurses in the Park talk about it every time you and Scott walk
past."
"If I'm rich," said Geraldine, "why don't I have more money?"
"Don't they let you have as much as you want?"
"No--only twenty-five cents every month.... It's my turn, Naïda! Oh,
bother! I missed. Go on, Duane----"
And, glancing up, her tongue clove to the roof of her mouth as
Kathleen Severn, in her mourning veil and gown, came straight up to
where they sat.
"Geraldine, dear, the grass is too damp to sit on," said Mrs. Severn
quietly. She turned to the youthful guests, who had hastily risen.
"You are Naïda Mallett, it seems; and you are Duane? Please come in
now and wash and dress properly, because I am going to telephone to
your mother and ask her if you may remain to luncheon and play in the
nursery afterward."
Dazed, the children silently followed her; one of her arms lay loosely
about the shoulders of her own charges; one encircled Naïda's neck.
Duane walked cautiously beside his sister.
In the house the nurses took charge; Geraldine, turning on the stairs,
looked back at Kathleen Severn.
"Are you really going to let them stay?"

"Yes, I am, darling."
"And--and may we play together all alone in the nursery?"
"I think so.... I think so, dear."
She ran back down the stairs and impetuously flung herself into
Kathleen's arms; then danced away to join the others in the blessed
regions above.
Mrs. Severn moved slowly to the telephone, and first called up and
reassured Mrs. Mallett, who, however, knew nothing about the affair,
as the nurse was still scouring the Park for her charges.
Then Mrs. Severn called up the Half Moon Trust Company and
presently was put into communication with Colonel Mallett, the
president. To him she told the entire story, and added:
"It was inevitable that the gossip of servants should enlighten the
children sooner or later. The irony of it all is that this gossip filtered in
here through your son, Duane. That is how the case stands, Colonel
Mallett; and I have used my judgment and permitted the children this
large liberty which they have long needed, believe me, long, long
needed. I hope that your trust officer, Mr. Tappan, will approve."
"Good Lord!" said Colonel Mallett over the wire. "Tappan won't stand
for it! You know that he won't, Mrs. Severn. I suppose, if he consults us,
we can call a directors' meeting and consider this new phase of the
case."
"You ought to; the time is already here when the children should no
longer suffer such utter isolation. They must make acquaintances, they
must have friends, they should go to parties like other children--they
ought to be given outside schooling sooner or later. All of which
questions must be taken up by your directors as soon as possible,
because my children are fast getting out of hand--fast getting away
from me; and before I know it I shall have a young man and a young
girl to account for--and to account to, colonel----"

"I'll sift out the whole matter with Mr. Tappan; I'll speak to Mr.
Grandcourt and Mr. Beekman to-night. Until you hear from us, no
more visitors for the children. By the way, is that matter--the one we
talked over last month--definitely settled?"
"Yes. I can't help being worried by the inclination she displays. It
frightens me in such a child."
"Scott doesn't show it?"
"No. He hates anything like that."
"Do the servants thoroughly understand your orders?"
"I'm a little troubled. I have given orders that no more brandied peaches
are to be made or kept in the house. The child was perfectly truthful
about it. She admitted filling her cologne bottle with the syrup and
sipping it after she was supposed to be asleep."
"Have you found out about the sherry she stole from the kitchen?"
"Yes. She told me that for weeks she had kept it hidden and soaked a
lump of sugar in it every night.... She is absolutely truthful, colonel.
I've tried to make her understand the danger."
"All right. Good-bye." Kathleen Severn hung up