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 ^It;.^-
 
 THE YA-CHT CLTJB SERIES. 
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB 
 
 OR, 
 
 OUR aiRLS A.FLOA.T, 
 
 PY 
 
 OLIVER OPTIC, 
 
 ATJTHOB or "YOUNG AMF.EIOA AHKOAD," "TRE ARMY A>'I) NAVY SERIES," 
 
 "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," *'THK STAKUY KLAO SERIES," "THE 
 
 BOAT CLUU 8T0KIES,". " THE LAKE SHORE SERIES," 
 
 "THE UI'WABI) AND ONAVAUI) SERIES," 
 
 ETC., ETC. 
 
 WITH THIRTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 LEE, SHEPAKD AND DILLINGHAM.
 
 P2 
 1 
 
 -Do-C 
 
 Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1874, 
 
 By WILLIAM T. ADAMS, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
 
 Electrotyped by C C. Morse & Son, Haverhill. Mass.
 
 TO 
 
 MISS EDITH H. STEPHENS, 
 
 OF RATI WAT, N. J. 
 
 -whose honored father, Henry L. Stephens, the artist, I 
 have so often been indebted for making things 
 plainer with his pencil than I could iviti 
 my pen, in many of my stories,
 
 1. LITTLE BOBTAIL ; or, The Wreck of the Penobscot. 
 
 2. THE YACHT CLUB ; or, The Young Boat Builder. 
 
 3. MONHY-MAKER ; ou, The Victory of the Basilisk. 
 
 4. THE CUMING WAVE ; or. The Hidden Treasure of 
 
 High Rock. 
 
 5. THE DORCAS CLUB ; or, Our Girls Afloat. 
 
 6. OCEAN BORN ; or, The Cruise of the Clubs. 
 
 4
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The Dorcas Club is the fifth volume of the Yacht Club Series , 
 and like its fellows in the same box, is an independent story, 
 having its own hero, and, in this instance, several heroines, with 
 no necessary connection with any other volume of the series, 
 though some of the characters whose acquaintance the reader 
 has already made are again introduced. The Dorcas Society, as 
 the name would indicate, was an association of young ladies, 
 banded together for benevolent purposes, which did a great deal 
 of good in a humble and quiet way. The members of this Soci- 
 ety formed the Dorcas Club, to engage in the healthy and agree- 
 able exercise of rowing. Not many years ago the skilful use of 
 an oar would have been considered an unfeminine accomplishment; 
 but happily the fashions change in matters of custom as well as 
 garments, and now even prim maidens of uncertain age are not 
 startled when they see young ladles at the oar. It is a pleasant 
 and health-giving exercise for girls, and the author hopes to en- 
 courage its use. 
 
 Like the other stories of the series, the interest does not depend 
 entirely upon the aquatic experience of the young ladies and 
 tlieir friends. Prince Willingood, who is the proper hero of the 
 
 5
 
 6 PREFACE. 
 
 volume, is a young mm of high aims and noLle purposes who 
 always tries to do right, though he does " strike out a course in- 
 dependent of his guardian," — in this case a wicked and miserly 
 uncle, whom it was a sin to obey, and a virtue to resist. The 
 young reader who cherishes the same high aims and noble pur- 
 ]>oses, will become a good man or a good woman, though never 
 called upon to act a part in events so exciting as those in the 
 career of the hero. 
 
 TOWERHOUSE, 
 
 October 21, 1874.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Private and Confidential, . . . • H 
 
 CHAPTERII. 
 Dinner for One, ..... 30 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 The Battle Fought and Won, ... 49 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 The Fire at Fox Bushwell's House, . . 69 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 After the Fire, 90 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Opening the Envelopes, . . . . 110 
 
 7
 
 8 CONTENTS. 
 
 C II A P T E K VI I. 
 
 The First Lessun in Rowing, . . . 131 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 The Cashier's Family, 151 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 What the Dorcas Society did, . . . 171 
 
 CHAPTER X, 
 The Undine Club, 190 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The New Professor of Rowing, . . . 209 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 The Soutary Oarsman, .... 228 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Mother and Daughter, .... 248 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 In the Gloom of the Night, . . . 268 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 The Hole in the Chimney, .... 288 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 The President's Letter, . . . . 308
 
 CONTENTS. 9 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The Clubs Pull to Northport, , . . 328 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 The Truth wn.L come out, . . . 348
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB: 
 
 OR, 
 
 OUR GIRLS AFLOAT 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL. 
 
 fc 6 "TIT THAT'S the matter, Minnie Darling? 
 V? You look so pale!" said Eva Doane, 
 the secretary, as the young lady, president of 
 " The Dorcas Society," entered the drawing- 
 room of Captain Patterdale's elegant mansion, 
 where the meeting for that week was held. 
 
 " I don't know ; I haven't felt very well for 
 a month," repHed the president, languidly, as 
 she seated herself on the sofa. " I should not 
 have come to the meeting this afternoon, if I 
 
 had not felt that I must." 
 
 11
 
 12 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 4 
 
 "I heard you were not well," added Nellie 
 Patterdale, taking Minnie's white hand. " Is 
 it the slow fever that prevails so much just 
 now?" 
 
 " No ; I have no fever ; I am simply tired out, 
 and have lost my appetite. The doctor says I 
 don't take exercise enough." 
 
 "Well, why don't you take more?" asked 
 Eva. 
 
 " I can't. How stupid it is to walk, for 
 instance, when you have nowhere to go, or to 
 do anything just for the sake of exercise ! " 
 replied Minnie, rather pettishly, as though she 
 had tried and failed in experiments of this kind. 
 " As soon as the warm weather comes, when 
 we can play croquet, and stay out doors, I shall 
 be well enough. Even then I shall envy the 
 boys with their Yacht Club ; they have such 
 exciting and health-giving sports." 
 
 " Why can't we have something of the kind ? " 
 suggested Ruth Hapgood, the vice-president. 
 
 "What, sail boats?" exclaimed Eva. 
 
 " No, not exactly sail them, but row them." 
 
 " There isn't much fun or excitement in merely 
 paddling about in the water," added Minnie.
 
 THE PORCAS CLUB. 13 
 
 " We may have a boat club, as the lords of 
 creation have a yacht club. Why not ? " said 
 Nellie Patterdale. 
 
 " Wouldn't it be splendid ! " added Mollie 
 Longimore, one of the prettiest and sweetest of 
 the young ladies in the room, though any one 
 skilled in judging of feminine habiliments would 
 have observed that she was not so richly dressed 
 as her companions, and that she wore no costly 
 jewelry. 
 
 By this time the attention of all the young 
 ladies, varying in age from fourteen to twenty, 
 was engaged in the new and exciting topic. 
 They were mostly pupils of the high school in 
 the city, and had formed the association for 
 benevolent purposes. One day a poor Irish girl, 
 who was struggling against many obstacles to 
 obtain an education, was missed from her accus- 
 tomed place in school. One of the scholars gave 
 the information that the poor girl's mother had 
 been burned out the night before, and nearly all 
 the clothing of her three children had been 
 destroyed. The master suggested that his pupils 
 should do something for the family, in this emer- 
 gency, by bringing some of their cast-off cloth-
 
 14 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 iiig for the sufferers. In a few hours more gar- 
 ments were supplied than the poor woman had 
 ever possessed in all her lifetime. The girls 
 seemed to be inspired by this deed of charity, 
 which resulted in the formation of the Dorcas 
 Society. It met one afternoon of each week, 
 and the girls — many of them the daughters of 
 the richest citizens of the place — made gar- 
 ments, and collected cast-off clothing, which they 
 distributed to the poor, without distinction of 
 sect, nation, or color. When money was needed, 
 they raised it by carrying subscription papers to 
 the wealthy. 
 
 Everybody who knew anything about the mat- 
 ter, declared that the Dorcas Society did a great 
 deal of good, not only to the poor, but to its 
 members, for charity is "twice blessed." In the 
 cutting and making of garments, they were 
 cheerfully assisted by their mothers and their 
 maiden aunts, and being deeply interested in 
 their employment, they made great proficiency 
 in the arts of sewing and dress-making. Doul)t- 
 less some of the wealthier ones obtained a knowl- 
 edge of what they would not have been required 
 to learn at home.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 15 
 
 As it was a sewing society, and as the meet- 
 ings were held in the afternoon, the boys of the 
 school were very sorry to find that they could 
 take no part in the good work ; for the mothers 
 of the girls insisted, for obvions reasons, that 
 the young men should not be admitted to the 
 society. 
 
 The young "lords of creation" wished to con- 
 tribute money, if nothing more, to the enter- 
 prise ; but even this aid was resolutely declined. 
 Yet the attendance of one boy was reqnested at 
 each meeting, by the society, who was graciously 
 permitted to run of errands for the members, to 
 purchase thread and needles, deliver bundles, or 
 even, if not otherwise employed, to hold a skein 
 of thread or yarn for winding. The mothers and 
 maiden aunts were fully assured that there was no 
 " flirting" in the society, which now consisted of 
 twenty-five members. 
 
 " We could form a boat club as well as the 
 boys," said Nellie Patterdale. 
 
 " And buy a boat," added Ruth Hapgood, 
 " so that we could have it all to ourselves." 
 
 " How much would it cost ? " asked MoUie 
 Longimore, whose enthusiasm seemed to be sud- 
 denly checked.
 
 16 THE DORCAS CLUB, 
 
 " That would depend upon the size and finish 
 of it, I suppose," replied Nellie, " My father 
 has always said that rowing was a good exercise 
 for girls ; and he has seen young ladies row as 
 well or better than any boys." 
 
 " Mercury," said Minnie, calling to Prince 
 Willingood, who was the errand boy of the after- 
 noon ; and whoever held the office, he was always 
 addressed by the name of the messenger of the 
 gods, as, being the messenger of the goddesses, 
 it was quite appropriate that he should be. 
 
 "Miss President," replied Prince, a good- 
 looking fellow of seventeen, though not very 
 well dressed. 
 
 The young man bowed low, as he stood before 
 the chief officer of the association. His eye 
 twinkled, and it was evident that he was just a 
 little inclined to burlesque the forms of the 
 society. 
 
 *' Do you know anything about row-boats, 
 Mercury?" inquired the president. 
 
 "Do I know anything about row-boats, Min- 
 nie, darling?" he replied. 
 
 " My name is Minnie Darling," said the chief 
 officer, blushing deeply ; and the girls began to
 
 1) 
 bo 
 
 55 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 w 
 a 
 
 o 
 a
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 17 
 
 titter, as girls 'sometimes will, though not often 
 i/ on such solemn occasions as the present. 
 ^ "I beg your pardon, Miss President ; but I 
 said Minnie, darling," added Prince, bowing low 
 again. 
 
 " You will oblige me by putting your words 
 a little more closely together, for you speak my 
 name as you would read it if some blunderincj 
 writer had put a comma betAveen the Christian 
 and surname." 
 
 " Pardon me ; I will try to do better. Min- 
 nie darling — how is that?" 
 
 Though he made no pause between the two 
 words, he emphasized the first so that the effect 
 was the same as before. 
 
 "That will not do, sir!" exclaimed the presi- 
 dent, sharply. "I shall punish you for contempt 
 of court — " 
 
 " Pardon me ; I have no contempt of court ; 
 for I think courting must be one of the nicest 
 things in the world, though I don't know any- 
 thing about in myself. 
 
 " I shall banish }'ou from the Dorcas Society 
 forever." 
 
 " Don't do that ! " pleaded Prince, dropping 
 2
 
 18 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 upon his knees, and extending his arms, as one 
 might do in a play. 
 
 " As the president of this association, I will 
 not permit such language," said Minnie Darling, 
 severely. 
 
 "I will never do it again! I solemnly prom- 
 ise, I vow on the honor of a knight — " 
 
 "Silence, sir!" 
 
 "I am dumb." 
 
 " Shall this culprit be banished from our pres- 
 ence. Sisters of Dorcas?" continued the presi- 
 dent, turning to the young ladies, whose mirth 
 did not permit them to work. " Those in favor 
 of it will say, ' Ay.' " 
 
 Not one A'oted. 
 
 " Those opposed will say — exercitationibusque.''^ 
 
 " Uxereifationihisque, exclaimed several who 
 studied Latin, and knew the word. 
 
 " By the grace of these sisters of Dorcas you 
 are saved from banishment. Mercury ; but, like 
 General Jackson, I will take the responsibility, 
 and drive you from this Eden, if you ever 
 address me by any other than my official title." 
 
 "I never v.ill, Min — Miss President — thanks 
 for your elt-meney," anb.wered Prince, bowing 
 low again.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 19 
 
 " I a'oked you, Mercury, if you know anything 
 about row-boats? I repeat the question." 
 
 '' I do, Miss President." 
 
 "What do 3-ou know?" 
 
 " That they are UL'.ed mostly in the water, 
 Miss President." 
 
 " Indeed, Mercury ! " 
 
 "They are not of much use where there is no 
 water, Miss President." 
 
 " I see that you understand tlie whole sub- 
 ject. How much do row-boats cost?" 
 
 " From two dollars and fifty cents^ up to a 
 thousand dollars, Miss President." 
 
 "That is very definite." 
 
 " Row-boats are very definite, and include 
 everything from a calked sugar-box up to the 
 launch of a ship-of-the-line, Miss President." 
 - " Do you know of a light boat, in which young 
 ladies might practise the art of rowing, Mer- 
 cury?" 
 
 "I do." 
 
 "Is it for sale?" 
 
 "Alas! I know not." 
 
 "Could you ascertain?" 
 
 "I could." 
 
 "Go and do so."
 
 20 THE Dor.cAs club. 
 
 "I fl}' on tlio wings of — J. Prince Willin- 
 good." 
 
 "Where is the boat, Mercury?" 
 
 " In the shop of Don John, the renowned 
 ooat-l)nildei', otherwise Ramsey & Son, who built 
 it witli liis own skilful hands during the winter 
 which has just passed away." 
 
 " If for sale, ascertain the price, and whether 
 it is suitable for young ladies." 
 
 "I am gone, Miss President;" and in another 
 instant he was gone. 
 
 Prince Willingood hastened to the shop of 
 Don John, the builder of the Sea Foam, Maud, 
 Alice, and other celebrated yachts of the fleet. 
 The young builder was hard at work painting a 
 beautiful four-oar race-boat which he had just 
 completed. 
 
 "How you was, Don John?" said Prince. 
 
 "First rate; how are you, Prince?" 
 
 " Salubrious. What are you going to do with 
 that boat, Don John?" said the messenger of 
 the goddesses, proceeding to business. 
 
 " That depends. Work was slack with me 
 this last winter, and I built her more for the 
 fun of it, and to see what I could do in this 
 line, than for any other reason."
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 21 
 
 "Well, she is as handsome as the prettiest 
 girl ill the High School. But what are j^ou 
 going to do with her?" 
 
 " Sell her, I suppose, if anybody wants her." 
 
 "Then she is for sale?" 
 
 " She is, thougli 1 don't care any great about 
 selling her. I have an idea in my head, though 
 I may sell her." 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 "I think I won't say anything about it now," 
 lausfhed Don John. 
 
 "What's the price of her?" 
 
 "Two hundred dollars." 
 
 " Lowest price ? " 
 
 " The very lowest. I will keep her for my 
 idea rather than let her go for less." 
 
 "Is she fit for girls — for young ladies — you 
 know! " 
 
 "For young ladies!" exclaimed Don John. 
 
 "That's what I said." 
 
 "But why do you ask such a question?" 
 
 " That's my idea, and I think I won't say 
 any thing about it," replied Prince, demurely. 
 , " She is just the thing for young ladies. She 
 is very light and very strong."
 
 22 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " Right ; that's all ; good by, Don John ; " anc7 
 Prince turned on his heel and left the shop, 
 each of the young men wondering what the 
 other's idea was. 
 
 Mercury returned to the elegant mansion of 
 Captain Patterdale, and was in the presence of 
 the goddesses again. 
 
 "Miss President." 
 
 " Mercury." 
 
 " The row-boat is for sale." 
 
 "The price?" 
 
 "Two hundred dollars." 
 
 "Is it suitable for young ladies ? " 
 
 " Most suitable, Miss President, for the re- 
 nowned boat-builder a sures me she is very hght 
 and very strong." 
 
 " How large is she, Mercury ? " 
 
 "I have not her length; but she must be 
 thirty-five or forty feet long. She pulls four 
 oars, and has room in the stern-sheets for two 
 at least, besides the one who holds the tiller- 
 ropes." 
 
 "It is well, Mercury. Did you say aught to 
 the boat-builder that the Sisters of Dorcas sent 
 you?"
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 23 
 
 " I said nought to him that the goddesses had 
 made me their winged messenger, Miss Presi- 
 dent." 
 
 " You were wise and discreet. Now, good 
 Mercury, carry that bundle to Mrs. McFinnigan, 
 in the rear of Miller's store." 
 
 Prince departed upon tlie errand, and the 
 members discussed with enthusiasm the purchase 
 of the new boat in the shop of Don John. If 
 twenty of them contributed ten dollars apiece, 
 the boat could be bou2:ht at once. Poor Mollie 
 Loiigimore did not say a word, and all her 
 enthusiasm had suddenly subsided. Her father 
 was not a millionaire, like Mr. Montague, nor a 
 half -millionaire, like Captain Patterdale. His 
 salary as the cashier of one of the banks was 
 not large, and there had been much sickness in 
 the family during the winter. All the children 
 but herself had had the scarlet fever, and the 
 doctor's bills and other expenses had been very 
 large. She knew that her father had been much 
 troubled about money matters, and she could 
 not think of asking him for ten dollars to pay 
 her share of the cost of the boat. Only the 
 daughters of the rich men ought to expect to 
 pay so much for such a luxury.
 
 24 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 ''We will cull il Uiu Doroas Club," said Nellie 
 Patterdale. " I like tliat name ever so much," 
 
 " So do I. 'I'luiL's spleudid ! I was goiug to 
 suggest the Heijcvoleut Boat Club," added Ruth; 
 "but I hke the old uaine better," 
 
 " Will the boat clul) and the sewing society 
 be the same thing?" asked MolUe Longimore, 
 with a troubled expression. 
 
 "Yes; have it the same thing," suggested Eva. 
 
 "Very well; change the name from 'society' 
 to ' club,' " added Minnie. " Then we shall be 
 an association Cor rowing and doing good to the 
 poor." 
 
 " liut we can't all engage in the boating part 
 
 of the society's business," said MoUie. 
 
 > 
 
 " Why not? " asked Nellie, with no little aston- 
 ishment. 
 
 " We are not all of us daughters of the nabobs 
 of the city," rephed Mollie, with a blush; for 
 thougli she liad courage enough to acknowledge 
 the fact, it was no mor(; than hinnan for her to 
 feel the distinction between the rich and the 
 poor of society. 
 
 Indeed, it is generally the poor who feel it 
 more than the rich.
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 25 
 
 " What has that to do with it ? " asked Nellie, 
 with a merry laugh. 
 
 "Some of us cannot afford to paj ten dollars 
 towards the boat," said Mollie. 
 
 "We don't ask anybody to do so," added 
 Mhmie. " The purchase of the boiit shall be by 
 voluntary contribution. Certainly we shall not 
 compel any one to pay anything." 
 
 •' But those who do not pay anything will 
 not feel like taking places in the boat," argued 
 MoHie. 
 
 " But they must be made to feel like it," per- 
 sisted Nellie, warmly. "It is no virtue on the 
 part of any member that her father ha];)pens to 
 be rich ; and I am sure the Dorcas Society has 
 always been as democratic as anything could be. 
 I don't think any one of us. ever thought whether 
 a girl's father was rich or poor. Perhaps our 
 fathers and mothers will not approve of our get^ 
 ting the boat." 
 
 " O, I know they will ! " exclaimed Eva. 
 
 " We can ascertain before the next meeting^'* 
 said Minnie. 
 
 " But Mollie has almost frightened me out of 
 the idea of having a boat," continued Nellie,
 
 26 THE DOUCAS CLUB. 
 
 seriously. " I wouldn't have anything like an 
 aristocrac}^ in the club, or any feeling that one 
 is better or richer than another. If we have a 
 boat, she must be as much for one as for another. 
 I wish some one would make us a present of 
 the boat, so as to save us from this difficulty." 
 " Perhaps some one would, if people knew 
 that we wanted a boat," suggested Ruth. 
 
 " We don't care to beg, or hint our wishes," 
 added Minnie. " But it can be managed in some 
 way. Do you suppose girls can keep a secret? " 
 " I know they can," laughed Eva. " I am 
 more afraid of Mercury than I am of the girls." 
 " Miss President, I will never open my mouth, 
 except to eat, outside of the lodge," protested 
 Prince, who had returned. 
 
 " Lodge ! " exclaimed the girls. 
 "If you are going to have a secret society, it 
 will be a lodge," added the messenger. 
 
 " But we only want to keep the secret from 
 each other. We don't want it to be known who 
 contributes for the boat," explained Minnie. 
 
 " I can manage that nicely," said Nellie, going 
 to the book-case in the room and taking there- 
 from a package of plain white envelopes, and 
 giving them out, one to each member.
 
 THE DOKOAS CLUB. 27 
 
 " What's that for ? " asked Minnie. 
 
 '' I will tell you," ans^yered Nellie, seating 
 herself again. " Each girl shall give the envel- 
 ope to lier father, explaining to him that we 
 desire to purchase the boat without any of our 
 members knowing who pays for it. She shall 
 tell her father that no one must contribute a 
 dollar unless lie feels able to do so, and no one 
 is to know whether he gives anything or not ; 
 and he must be pledged not to tell of it him- 
 self. Whatever he is willing to contribute, ho 
 must put into the envelope, seal it up, and give 
 it to his daughter, who shall hand it to the 
 treasurer at the next meeting." 
 
 " I beg your pardon, Miss President ; but may 
 I be permitted to offer a suggestion?" inter- 
 posed Prince, who was quite as much interested 
 in the plan as the young ladies. 
 
 "Certainly; go on, Mercury," replied Minnie. 
 
 "Any girl can see whether the envelope con- 
 tains a bill or not by holding it up to the light. 
 Besides, all the girls won't tell the story in the 
 same way ; and if any one forgets part of the 
 explanation, tlie plan would fail. Joe Guilford 
 has a printing press and plenty of type. He
 
 28 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 publishes the High School Amateur, you know, 
 and does job-work besides. Suppose you write 
 a circular, explaining the whole plan, print it, 
 and put it into the envelope, asking the father 
 to return the circular, with his money folded 
 into it, in the envelope." 
 
 "Very good, indeed. Mercury!" replied Min- 
 nie ; and the plan was adopted. 
 
 Nelhe proceeded to write the circular, which 
 was read and amended till it was adopted by 
 vote. Prince was appointed to procure the print- 
 ing of it. Three days later, the work was done, 
 the copies enclosed in white envelopes, and given 
 to the members. 
 
 The document was headed " Private and con- 
 fidential," and Joe Guilford was not allowed 
 even to keep a copy in his printing ofl&ce. It 
 was very clearly written, and appealed to the 
 fathers to whom it was addressed to keep the 
 secret for the good of all concerned. Those who 
 did not favor the enterprise, and those who were 
 unable or unwilhng to give to the object, had 
 the assurance that no one but themselves would 
 know how much they contributed, or if they 
 contributed at all, if they concealed the fact 
 themselves, as they were requested to do.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 29 
 
 MolliG Longimore received her envelope, with 
 the other members, but she took it with some 
 embarrasment. 
 
 "I don't feel just right about it, Minnie,'' she 
 said. "Must I give it to my father?" 
 
 '" There is nothing to compel you to do so," 
 replied tlic president. 
 
 " My father is not able to give even a dollar ; 
 b,ut he is proud, and he would feel obliged to 
 do so, if i gave him the circular," added Molhe, 
 blushing. 
 
 " Do as you think best, and I will take the 
 responsibility, MolUe ; only return the envelope 
 at the next meeting, sealed like the others. 
 
 And MoUie decided that she would not even 
 tempt her troubled father to contribute a single 
 dollar to the boat. As she walked towards 
 home, Prince Willingood overtook her.
 
 so THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 DIKNEK POU ONE. 
 
 "OLLIE LONGIMORE was a good girl, 
 And if she knew tliat she was pretty, 
 she did not seem to know it. She lived in the 
 same street with Prince Willingood, and so it 
 happened that they often walked to and from 
 school together. It is not certain that they did 
 not sometimes walk together by the connivance of 
 Prince, thongh never by that of MoUie. For 
 tliis and some other reasons they were better 
 acqnainted and more intimate with each other 
 than the most of their schoolmates. 
 
 Whether Mollie knew that she was pretty or 
 not, Prince had a decided opinion in favor of 
 the affirmative of this proposition ; and this may 
 be one reason why they so often chanced to get 
 home from school at about the same time. Pro- 
 bably the young man had no very definite ideas
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. CI 
 
 of love, in relation to the young lady, and had 
 not yet made up his mind that he would die 
 for Mollie, or even live for her; but he had a 
 very high respect, and a very deep regard, for 
 her. 
 
 " I suppose you have your envelope, Mollie ? " 
 said he, placing himself by her side, though at 
 a bashful distance from her. 
 
 "Yes, I have it; but I am not going to give 
 it to my lather," replied she, decidedly. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "I don't think it would be right to do so; 
 and Minnie told me to do as I thought best. 
 We have had some one sick in the family all 
 winter, and father feels very poor." 
 
 " What are you going to do with the circu- 
 lar ? " asked Prince. 
 
 " I shall return it at the meeting next Tues- 
 day. I wish you would keep it for me till that 
 time, Prince. I don't like to carry it home, for 
 fear mother or father might see it. The child- 
 ren are ahvays poking over my books and 
 papers." 
 
 " I will keep it, and give it to you when you 
 go to the meeting, fur I am not Mercury next
 
 o2 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 time, 3'ou know," replied Prince, as he took the 
 envelope and placed it in one of his books. 
 
 " Thank yon. Prince. I wouldn't have father 
 see it for anything, for I am almost sure lie 
 would feel obliged to give something if he read 
 the circular. He has pride enough for a man 
 who is worth a hundred thousand dollars. ]\Iother 
 told me the otlier day that I must not ask him 
 for any new dress tliis spring, because he is so 
 terribly worried about money matters. But don't 
 you tell anybody what I say, for all the world, 
 Prince.'' 
 
 "Certiiinly not, MoUie." 
 
 " I wouldn't have said anything, but I have 
 felt so badly about this circular ever since the 
 plan was mentioned. I think I must withdraw 
 from the Dorcas Society, for I ought not even 
 to pay the dollar a year for my membership. 
 Father has grown so pale and thin, worrying 
 about the bills he cannot pay, that I am afraid 
 he will be sick. Your uncle knows all about his 
 affairs, and I suppose you do." 
 
 " My luicle ! " repeated Prince, and his lips 
 seemed to be involuntarily compressed* as he 
 uttered the words. "• He don't tell me about his
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB, 33 
 
 business ; but I think 3'our father would be less 
 miserable if he had some other man for his prin- 
 cipal creditor." 
 
 " 1 never heard father saj anything against 
 your uncle." 
 
 " Your father is not one of the sort to do 
 so." 
 
 " He is very patient and uncomplaining, but 
 he suffers terribly." 
 
 At this point of the conversation, they reached 
 the house of the cashier, and Mollie parted from 
 her friend. Prince crossed the street, and opened 
 the broken-down gate of a dilapidated dwelling. 
 It looked like the home of poverty ; but it was 
 not. It was the smallest and meanest house on 
 the street. Prince entered it at the street door, 
 and passed into the front apartment, which was 
 the sitting-room. Its ragged carpet, its painted 
 chairs, scarred by long use, its broken rocking- 
 chair, its cheap, rude secretary, the dented, 
 smoking stove, were in keeping with the exte- 
 rior of the house, and ever3rthing within and 
 without indicated the meanness of the owner 
 and occupant, Mr. Fox Bushwell, the uncle and 
 guardian of the young man. 
 3
 
 34 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 Prince tossed his books upon a lhree-lee;ge<l 
 table and passed out into the kitchen. It was 
 half past two in the afternoon, and, like all 
 other school-boys he was hungry , He was a 
 growing boy of seventeen, and he was blessed 
 with an appetite. Mr. Fox Bushwell did not so 
 regard that appetite ; to him it was a curse. 
 Even Mrs. Pining, the melancholy housekeeper 
 of the establishment, did not view it with favor, 
 for it certainly increased the amount, though 
 not the variety, of her culinary toils. 
 
 The dinner table standing against the wall, 
 with one leaf raised, was waiting the late-comer 
 from school. Her employer insisted upon having 
 his meal at twelve o'clock, and Mrs. Pining 
 groaned at the necessity of keeping Prince's din- 
 ner for him till the middle of the afternoon, as she 
 expressed it ; but as she never bestowed any 
 extra labor on the hungry boy, he was the prin- 
 cipal sufferer under the arrangement. The house- 
 keeper placed the dinner on the table, and 
 Prince stood in the middle of the room looking 
 at the woman and at the food. He did not say 
 anything for some time, but it was plain enough 
 to Mrs. Pining that thought and feehng were
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 35 
 
 boilino: in his mind and heart. Not that he was 
 a grnmbler or an unreasonable young man ; not 
 that lie was given to " turning up his nose at 
 his victuals," for Prince was easily satisfied, and 
 entirely reasonable in his desires. 
 
 We confess that Ave have some doubts about 
 recording the scenes which transpired that after- 
 noon in the kitchen and sitting-room of Fox 
 Bushwell's house, lest we should again be charged 
 with picturing a hero who rebels against his guar- 
 dian, and therefore commits forgery and theft. A 
 boy who is bad enough to insist upon his own 
 clear right to decent food, when it is paid for out 
 of his own inheritance, — even, when driven to 
 desparation, to " strike out for his rights," — 
 ought to be wicked enough to forge a note or steal 
 his friend's money. Of course boys have no rights 
 which a cruel and selfish guardian is bound to 
 respect. Of course boys are not capable of 
 judging whether they are misused or not; and 
 those who are well treated are sure to imitate 
 the example of tho;>c wlio are ill treated, if they 
 " strike for their rights." Even a bright boy 
 does not know the difference between right and 
 wrong. If he is well clothed, lodged, and fed,
 
 36 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 he Avill so confuse and confound things as to 
 imagine that he is de^.n'ived of tlie simple com- 
 forts of hfe ! 
 
 Truly it is an awful responsibility which one 
 assumes in telling the story of a boy, who under 
 any possible circumstances, rebels against his 
 guardian ; and before we do so, we must sol- 
 emnly appeal to all our boy-readers iiot to con- 
 found their own situation with that of the hero. 
 If you dine upon roast beef, roast turkey, chicken 
 pie, and similar luxuries every day in the week, 
 do not consider yourself starved, and commit 
 forgery — we beg of you, boys, don't do it. If 
 you are decently and comfortably clothed, do 
 not imagine that you are naked, and break into 
 a bank. If you have a nice room at home, with 
 a hair mattress to sleep upon, do not allow 
 yourself to believe that you have to sleep on 
 the hay in the barn, and pick somebody's pocket. 
 If you have kind parents, or even maiden aunts, 
 who love you, watch over you, and care for 
 you in sickness and in health, though they faith- 
 fully rebuke your faults, do not imagine that 
 5'ou are tyranized over by cruel guardians, and 
 get up a riot in the High School.
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 37 
 
 Of course boys from tlie age of twelve to 
 twenty are utterly incapable of making distinc- 
 tions, and must believe, in tlieir own cases, that 
 they are treated with the utmost severity, if 
 their mothers tell them not to stay out after 
 midnight. They can not tell tlie difference 
 between their own happy lot and that of the 
 boy Avho is kicked and cuffed, starved and ill 
 treated in any manner, in the story, even if the 
 writer of it uses his utmost ingenuity to make 
 out as bad a case as possible for his hero. Of 
 course the brighter the boy who lives out his 
 real life on Murray Hill, the more likely he is 
 to imagine himself the victim of a cruel tyrant. 
 We hope the boys will all heed this solemn 
 warning : do not strike for liberty until you are 
 reasonably sure that you are a slave, or in prison, 
 or -are abused and down-trodden. Feeling con- 
 fident that not a single one of our readers — 
 after this admonition — will commit forgery be- 
 cause Prince Wilhngood was ill treated, we will 
 go on with the story. 
 
 Mrs. Pining had put the dinner on the table, 
 and the young man stood looking at it. Even 
 the housekeeper saw that he was dissatisfied,
 
 38 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 and that he had the manner of one who intended 
 mischief. It ought to be said that Prince had 
 been a patient sufferer, and up to this time 
 had made no trouble in the house. However 
 he had felt aggrieved at the diet provided for 
 him, he had hardly ever uttered a complaint. 
 
 The dinner set before him consisted of salt 
 fish, potatoes, and hard brown bread. The drawn 
 butter provided for the fish was very strong of 
 warm water, and very strong of butter — not on 
 account of the quantity of butter in it, but on 
 account of the inherent strength of the butter 
 itself. The potatoes, originally boiled, had lat- 
 terly been baked till they were of the color and 
 consistency of sole leather. Now, if this had 
 been an accidental or occasional dinner, on a 
 washing, house-cleaning, or other day of domes- 
 tic casualities, I am sure that Prince would not 
 have felt justified in turning uj^ his nose at the 
 fare set before him. 
 
 For our part, we cordially approve a " Cape 
 Cod turkey," or salt fish dinner, even as often 
 as once a week ; but we in; ist upon the boiled 
 beets, egg sauce, and pork scraps, which are as 
 much its constituent elements as the fish itself.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 39 
 
 Yet we could not stand it four times a week 
 any more than Prince Willingood could. The 
 staple articles of Fox Bushwell's hill of fare 
 were salt fish and haked heans, varied with fresh 
 fish — when Prince caught it himself Once in 
 a while the proprietor of the tumble-down house 
 bought some corned beef, or " salt h(n-se," at 
 the ship chandler's, when it was too poor for 
 sailors' use. 
 
 On this occasion Prince was unusually hungry, 
 even for a school-boy. He never carried a lunch- 
 eon, as most of his school-mates did, because 
 there was nothing in the house to carry but 
 brown bread ; and his pride would not permit 
 him to eat that in the presence of his school- 
 mates, who took sandwitches, pie, cake, and 
 doughnuts from their tin boxes. If his friends 
 — and he had plenty of them — had known how 
 it was with him, they would have insisted upon 
 his partaking of their lunches. 
 
 That morning the oak-leaf tea had been par- 
 ticularl}'- bad, even worse than the crust-coffee 
 which the housekeeper sometimes made, and the 
 herring had been so abominably strong and salt 
 that he had gone to school as hungry as when
 
 40 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 lie got up. At half past two in the afternoon 
 his appetite had not diminished. 
 
 Prince was hungry enough to eat salt fish and 
 strong butter ; and probably he would have done 
 so if he had not been considering the situation, 
 and come to the conclusion that it was not his 
 duty to submit to serai-starvation. He had made 
 up his mind that he could not stand it any 
 longer, even if the flesh was willing. He had 
 no chance to earn any money, with which to 
 improve his diet, or he would have done so. 
 More than this, he was laboring under the belief 
 that his uncle's treatment of him was a personal 
 outrage — for this young man of seventeen was 
 heir of over twenty thousand dollars, left him 
 by his father, which yielded an income of 
 at least twelve hundred a year. He had been 
 an only child, and his parents had both died 
 when he was quite young. They had lived in 
 another part of the state ; and though the boy's 
 mother was Fox Bushwell's sister, neither she 
 nor her husband seemed to have fathomed his 
 meanness, for Mr. Willingood had made him the 
 executor of his will, the trustee of his property, 
 and the guardian of the child. A more unfit
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 41 
 
 person could not possibly have been selected for 
 either of these charges. 
 
 In justice to Prince's father, it should be said 
 that Fox Bushwell had been growing- meaner, 
 more sordid, and more dishonest every day for 
 the last dozen years, or since the deatli of his 
 wife, who was a good woman, and exercised a 
 salutar}^ influence over him. For a couple of 
 years after Prince was brought to the house of 
 his uncle, the child had the kindly care of Mrs. 
 Bushwell ; but after ' her death he had really 
 been alone in the world, till he made friends for 
 himself outside of his cold and comfortless home. 
 By the terms of his father's will he was to 
 receive the best education the town and High 
 Schools could afford ; and this was doubtless the 
 only reason why he was permitted to attend 
 school up to the age of seventeen. 
 
 Prince looked at the dinner on the table, and 
 rebelled against it. Perhaps it were better to 
 eat salt fish for dinner for the fourth time that 
 week than to go hungry ; and if that had been 
 the alternative, he would have eaten it. As it 
 was, he would not. 
 
 " Have you anything else for my dinner, Mrs,
 
 42 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 Pining ? " Prince began, as gently as he could. 
 
 " Lud a massy ! What a world of trouble we 
 live in ! Ain't that enough for you ? " demanded 
 the amazed housekeeper. 
 
 " I'm tired of salt fish, especially when the 
 potatoes are all burned up, and the gravy is 
 nothing but water," replied Prince. 
 
 "What bn airth are we comin' to?" 
 
 " Coming to dinner, I hope. No more salt 
 fish for me — at least not more than once a 
 week." 
 
 " This is a world of sin and sorrow," groaned 
 the widow Pining. " We are all dyin', perishin' 
 mortals, and can't eat salt fish!" 
 
 " I can't eat any more of it," said Prince, as 
 he took a butcher-knife from the tray, and 
 passed out into the back room. 
 
 "What on airth's got into the boy?" moaned 
 Mrs. Pining. "Is he gohi' to kill hisself?" 
 
 She followed the desperate young, man. But 
 Prince had not the remotest idea of committing 
 suicide. He was too sensible a fellow to do 
 anything of the kind. Probably he would not 
 have thought of refusing to eat the salt fish, if 
 he had not known of something better to do.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 43 
 
 Late in tlie fall of the year before, Fox Bush- 
 well had killed a hog, which he had kept in 
 defiance of the public sentiment of this locality, 
 and of the public health. He had sold all tlie 
 best part of it, except the ham, which hini!^ i:i 
 the back room, smoked and read}- fur xmc. Why 
 he had kept it he could not have told if he IkuI 
 heen pressed for an answer. Certainly lie had 
 not meant to eat it himself, or to ])ernnt tlie 
 other members of his family to do so ; at least 
 he had not allowed any sucli extravagance so far, 
 and it was contrary to his nature to do it in 
 the future. 
 
 Prince jumped upon a wash-bench, and took 
 the ham from its roost on the nail. He laid it 
 upon the bench, and felt of the edge of the 
 knife. Doubtless his mouth watered as he 
 thouccht of making" his dinner from such a 
 savory dish as fried ham. He had no remem- 
 brance of ever having tasted such a luxury at 
 home, though he had several times cooked and 
 eaten it on board the yachts, when he had prac- 
 ticed the culinary art under the instruction of 
 Morris Hollinghead, the most celebrated cook in 
 the fleet.
 
 44 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " What on airth are you goin' to do, Prince 
 Willingood?" cried Mrs. Pining, amazed and 
 liorriiied at the actions of the young man. 
 
 " I'm going to liavc some dinner," replied he, 
 as coolly as lie could speak, at the same time 
 cutting off a slice of the luim. 
 
 "But, stop! World of sin and sorrer ! What 
 will your uncle say ? '' 
 
 " lie can say anything lie pleases. I'm going 
 to have some dinner for once in my life, if I 
 have to fight for it ; " and Prince cut off another 
 of the small slices. 
 
 " Heavens and airth ! Mv. Bushwell will kill 
 you, and kill me, too, if I don't stop this shame- 
 ful waste." 
 
 "Don't you meddle. I do it myself; and I 
 don't ask you even to look on. If you inter- 
 fere, I shall fight — that's all." 
 
 " Lud sakes alive ! I'm a poor creeter, in a 
 dyin', perishing world ! " 
 
 " That's so," added Prince ; and he continued 
 to cut off tlie small slices till he thou"ht he had 
 enough ; and most people would have thought 
 he was getting up a dinner for four. 
 
 Then lie proceeded to trim off the slices till
 
 ' THE DORCAS CLUB. 45 
 
 tliey were clean and nice, as he used to prepare 
 them on board of the yachts. 
 
 "It's wicked, Prince, in this sufferin', dyin' 
 world, to waste all that good bacon. AVhat do 
 you cut all that off for ? " asked the house- 
 keeper. 
 
 "That's the Avay to fix it." 
 
 " No, 'tain't. You waste more'n half on't." 
 
 " I can't help it. That dirty, black outside 
 i~in't fit to eat." 
 
 " In all my born days, I never seed nobody 
 so diffikilt. What's the world comin' to?" 
 
 " I don't know what it's coming to. I don't 
 know that I care." 
 
 " What will your uncle say? " 
 
 " You know what he will say, and so do I ; 
 but I'm ready to face the music," added Prince, 
 as he threw the slices into a spider that hung 
 in the back room. 
 
 Taking an armful of wood and the cooking 
 utensil, he returned to the kitchen. Starting up 
 the fire, he prepared for still more active oper- 
 ations, watched all the time by the housekeeper. 
 In a few moments the ham was hissing and siz- 
 zling in the spider, sending forth a rich odor,
 
 40 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 sncli as had not gladdened the interior of Fox 
 BushwelFs lionsc for many a year. 
 
 "We arc all goin' to perdition!" sighed the 
 v/idow Pininc:. 
 
 " If Ave are, I'm going on a fnll stomach," 
 replied Piince, as he turned the ham, which 
 caused it to redouble its music. 
 
 " You will be the ruin of us all, Prince. 
 This dyin', sufferin' world is no j)lace for such 
 folks as you be. Your appetite will be the 
 death of 3'ou." 
 
 " Fm afraid it will, if I don't do something 
 to satisfy it." 
 
 • Prince wanted to go to the closet and get 
 some cold potatoes to fry with the ham, for he 
 knew there must be some there for the fish-hash 
 the next morning, which as surely followed the 
 salt fish dinner as the rising follows the settingr 
 snn ; but he was afraid, if he left his dinner, 
 the housekeeper would carry it off. However, 
 to prevent such a catastrophe, he bore the 
 spider to the closet with him, and there sliced 
 into it three or four good-sized potatoes. 
 
 " Lud sakes," groaned Mrs. Pining; "there'll 
 be nothing for breakfast in the house, if you use 
 up all them potaters."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 47 
 
 " ' Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," 
 repHed Prince, as he dished up the ham, and 
 proceeded to cook the potatoes. 
 
 In a few moments they were done, and the 
 hungry young man sat down at the table, with 
 the savory dinner before him. The thought of 
 the consequences of his rash deed did not seem 
 to diminish his appetite, and he ate like one 
 who had not tasted food for twenty-four hours, 
 which was almost literally the case with him. 
 The widow Pining was too much excited to sit 
 down, and she stood by the table, her face the 
 very picture of horror and dismay, while Prince 
 devoured slice after slice of the ham, and half 
 after half of the potatoes. Doubtless he ate all 
 he could ; but he was not quite able to " pun- 
 ish " all he had cooked. 
 
 " I feel better," said he, rising from the table. 
 " I will finish what there is left in the morn- 
 ing." 
 
 "I shouldn't think you'd be able to go. Suf- 
 ferin' and dyin' world ! To think what a lot 
 of that nice bacon you've wasted ! I know your 
 uncle was goin' to sell it," added the house- 
 keeper. "Well, it's a wicked world we live in'
 
 48 THE DOTIGAS CLUB. 
 
 There ain't no siicli thing as gratitude in't. I 
 didn't think you'd do sech a thing as steal that 
 bacon, and waste sech a lot on't too ' " 
 
 " I saved my bacon ; that's the whole of it, 
 Mrs. Pining." 
 
 At that moment the front door opened, and 
 the step of Fox Bushwell was heard and recog- 
 nized. 
 
 "Now you'll ketch it, Prince Willingood ! " 
 said the housekeeper, in a low and impressive 
 tone. 
 
 " I'm ready," answered the young man, as he 
 strained up his nerves to meet the onslaught. 
 
 Fox Bushwell came into the kitchen at once. 
 He came snuffing with his peaked nose, as though 
 he smelt something. Perhaps he " smelt a rat," 
 as well as fried ham. 
 
 " What's this smell all over the house ? " he 
 demanded, in his whining, high treble voice. 
 
 At that moment his eyes rested on the rem- 
 nants of Prince's feast on the table, and his 
 thin, hatchety face contracted into an agglom- 
 eration of frowns, which were intended to anni- 
 hilate the woe-begone housekeeper, to whom his 
 glance was directed.
 
 THE DOBCAS CLUB. 49 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE BATTLE FOUGHT AND WON. 
 
 MR. FOX BUSHWELL was fifty-five years 
 old, but he was thin, gray, and wrinkled 
 enough to be seventy-five. From the force of 
 habit rather than in deference to the decencies of 
 life, he shaved his furrowed face twice a week, 
 leaving the wiry white beard under his chin and 
 beneath his jaws. His hair, of the same color, 
 was generally ver}^ long, because it cost money 
 to cut it, since the removal to distant parts of 
 a cousin, who used to do the job gratuitously, with 
 the sheep-shears. We do not like to say it, but 
 this man had formerly been a preacher. He had 
 picked up education enough to enable him to 
 obtain a license. He had been regularly settled 
 in a small place ; but a pastorate of two years 
 had convinced his people that the Rev. Fox 
 Bushwell had missed his calhng ; that his piety 
 4
 
 50 THE DORCAS CLUC. 
 
   
 
 was a pretence, and his life a mockery of his 
 preaching. 
 
 For a few years more he supphed vacant pul- 
 pits as occasion offered ; but then his father died, 
 and left him ten thousand dollars, a like sum 
 passing to his only sister. Prince's mother. He 
 already owned the small house in which he 
 lived, and the large lot of land on which it 
 stood. This territory he sold in small parcels, 
 as the growth of the city increased the value of 
 the lots. Events led him to become a money- 
 lender. He would sell a lot, and advance money 
 to the purchaser to build a house upon it, taking 
 a mortgage on the whole for security. He was 
 a hard man, and scrupled not to take advantage 
 of the needy, extorting extravagant interest, and 
 taking possession of mortgaged property upon 
 the slightest failure to comply wtih the condi- 
 tions. It cost him next to nothing to live, for 
 he believed that money spent upon the body was 
 wasted. 
 
 The patrimonj^ of his nephew enlarged his cap- 
 ital upon which to speculate on the wants of 
 the needy; and, though he made it pay eight, 
 ten, or twelve per cent., he returned only legaJ
 
 THE DOIICAS CLUB. 51 
 
 interest on his accounts. As a mean man becomes 
 meaner as he grows older, Fox Bushwell, when 
 1)6 was hfty, was a miser, a skinflint, an extor- 
 tionist, and a thief. This was simply describing 
 him as he was, and as we knew him — for he 
 is not a fancy sketch. He had sold some of the 
 houses in liis street two or three times, for non- 
 payment of interest or principal. . Of course he 
 was generally hated and despised by those who 
 had any dealings with him. 
 
 At the death of his wife, lie had procured the 
 services of ]\Irs. Pining as housekeeper. She 
 was not much more than half-witted, but she 
 had loaned a few hundred dollars to her em- 
 ployer, — her dowry from her late husband's 
 estate, — ^ the interest of which was her only 
 income, for Fox Bushwell paid her no wages. 
 The poor woman was as credulous as she was 
 simple, and had been kept in her place by 
 mingled hope and fear. She had somehow ob- 
 tained the notion that the money-lender intended 
 to marry her. Doubtless something to this effect 
 had been said by him ; at any rate, he was care- 
 ful to keep alive the delusion. This was her 
 hope ; and she feared if she left her situation
 
 52 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 her tyrant would cheat her out of her little for- 
 tune, thus leaving her a begger in " this suf- 
 fering dyin' world." This woman, with her 
 hopes and fears, had had the principal care of 
 Prince "VVillingood from his childhood. 
 
 The property of the young man was charged 
 five dollars a week for his board ; and this sum 
 more than paid the whole living expenses of the 
 famil}'. Fox Bush well purchased his clothing, 
 which was of the plainest and homeliest quality. 
 Altogether the young man's expenses were not 
 more than four hundred a year, leaving a sur- 
 plus of twice that amount from his income. Not 
 till just before his introduction to the reader had 
 Prince considered his financial relations to his 
 uncle. In fact he knew nothing about them till 
 by diligent inquiry he obtained the information, 
 with the assistance of friends, from the records 
 of the Probate Court. As has been stated before, 
 he had come to the conclusion that he was en- 
 titled to fare better than he did, and even to 
 have an occasional dollar for pocket money, 
 as other boj'S of his age had. 
 
 Fox Bushwell stood in the kitchen, gazing at 
 the remnants of his ward's dinner. The odor of
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 53 
 
 fried ham was as much unknown* in that house 
 as tliough its inmates had been true followers 
 of Mohammed, the prophet of Islam. The skin- 
 flint was amazed and horrified, and turned his 
 gaze to Mrs. Pining. 
 
 "What does this mean?" he demanded, in 
 the husky tones he might have used if a mur- 
 der had been committed in his house. 
 
 " 'Tain't none of my doin's," pleaded the 
 housekeeper. " Look here, Mr. Bushwell ; " and 
 she led the way to the l)ack room, where she 
 pointed with horror, and in significant silence, 
 at the leg of ham lying on the wash-bench, just 
 as Prince had left it, with the rind and parings 
 at its side. 
 
 "Who cut that ham?" growled the miser. 
 
 " Sufferin', dyin' world knows I hadn't nothin' 
 to do with it," groaned Mrs. Pining. 
 
 "Who did it, then?" 
 
 The widow Pining pointed silently in the 
 direction of the kitchen, whither Fox Bushwell 
 instantly returned. 
 
 " Did you cut that ham. Prince ? " he demanded, 
 with a scowl which only a mortal sin ought to 
 have conjured upon a human face.
 
 54 THE DORCAS Ci.UB. 
 
 "I did," replied Prince, squarely. 
 
 " You did?" 
 
 Prince nodded. 
 
 "What made you do it?" continued the 
 guardian, confounded by the coolness and self- 
 possession of the young man. 
 
 " I wanted some dinner." 
 
 " Dinner ! Didn't you have your dinner of 
 salt fish and potatoes, as I did?" 
 
 " Sufferin', dyin' world ! He had just the same 
 as the rest on us," added Mrs. Pining. " I kept 
 his dinner for him, as I allers does ; and it was 
 good strong victuals for anybody, and enough 
 on't." 
 
 " It was strong of bad butter, I grant," replied 
 Prince. " I am so tired of salt fish that I can't 
 eat any more of it. I have tried to eat it ; but 
 I can't stand it any longer." 
 
 "You can't?" gasped Fox Bush well. 
 
 " No, sir, I cannot. It is salt fish for break- 
 fast and salt fish for dinner more than half the 
 time ; and when it isn't salt fish, it is smoked 
 herring or baked beans. The poorest common 
 laborer in the city lives better than I do, and 
 better than you do, uncle Fox."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 55 
 
 "Don't you have enough to eat" 
 
 " I don't complain so much of the quantity as 
 I do of the quahty. It don't matter how much 
 there is on the table, when it is so poor that I 
 can't eat it." . 
 
 "Indeed! Has it come to this?" said the 
 uncle, severely. 
 
 " It has come to this. My dinner to-day was 
 salt fish, with potatoes cooked to a chip, with 
 drawn butter mostly water, but so strong at that 
 I could not bear the smell, much less the taste, 
 of it," continued Prince, calmly. " For break- 
 fast I had a thin smoked herring, so salt and 
 strong I could not eat it. I had hardly tasted 
 anything since dinner yesterday, when I came 
 into the house this afternoon." 
 
 ,"You are getting dainty," sneered Fox Bush- 
 well. 
 
 " I don't think I am. But whether I am or 
 not, I shall stand this tiling no longer.' 
 
 "You won't?" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 " We'U see." 
 
 " Both of us will see." 
 
 There was something in the tone and manner
 
 i6 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 c 
 
 of the 3'Oiing man which made an impression on 
 the miser. 
 
 " And yon cut that ham which I have been 
 savins;' all winter ? " he added. 
 
 "I did." 
 
 " Is that ham yours ? " 
 
 " While it is in the house where I board I 
 claim an interest in it." 
 
 " You've got to eat what's set before you ; and 
 you haven't any right to touch anything else. 
 That ham belongs to me, and when you took it 
 you stole it," said Fox Bushwell, warmly and 
 sternly. 
 
 " I should like to be taken up for stealing it, 
 I should like to tell the justice all about it, and 
 read to him our bill of fare for any week in 
 the year," replied Prince. " We might as well 
 have this matter understood now. You receive 
 five dollars a week for my board 
 
 "Who told you that?" demanded the guar- 
 dian, evidently startled by the statement. 
 
 " I got it from good authority." 
 
 " I can charge anything I please, and the 
 judge can allow it or not, just a he hkes." 
 
 " Five dollars a week is the price you said 
 you should charge. I can prove this.'
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 57 
 
 ' Well, it's cheap for taking care of a boy, 
 and looking after his washing and mending, his 
 manners and his morals. 
 
 " Never mind the manners or the morals. It 
 don't cost you much to attend to them. For 
 the sum I pay, I am entitled to as good board 
 as mechanics and laborers have at the same 
 price. If you will pay my board in a sailor's 
 boarding-house, I will be satisfied." 
 
 " I shall do nothing of the sort," protested 
 Fox Bush well. " I give you enough to eat, and 
 that which is good enough." 
 
 "I don't think so ; and something must be done 
 about it." 
 
 "You want to run away — do you?" 
 
 " No, sir, I do not. I have no intention of 
 running away." 
 
 Fox Bushwell wished he would run away, and 
 never return; it would simplify his accounts as 
 trustee of the boy's property. 
 
 " You live as Avell as I do ; and what's good 
 enough for me is good enough for you." 
 
 " I don't think so." 
 
 " I don't care what you think. But what I 
 have in the house hereafter, I shall keep under 
 lock and key."
 
 58 - THE DOPtCAS CLUB. 
 
 " My father left twenty thousand dollars to 
 me, in your care. By this time, taking out all 
 my expense, it ought to be at least thirty thou- 
 sand, at simple interest, six per cent. My income 
 to-day ought to be eighteen hundred dollars ; 
 and I have to live, week in and week out, year 
 in and year out, on salt fish, smoked herring, 
 baked beans, brown bread, and strong butter." 
 
 " The living is good enough for me, and so it 
 is for you," muttered the uncle, amazed to find 
 that his ward knew something about his own 
 finances. 
 
 " We differ ; and as the income of my prtip- 
 erty is eighteen hundred dollars a year, I insist 
 on something better, whether I have it in this 
 house, or some other. More than this, being 
 seventeen years old, I want a little money to 
 spend mj^self.' 
 
 " You do ! " exclaimed Fox Bushwell, aghast at 
 such unheard-of impudence. 
 
 " I do. As the matter stands now, I can't 
 buy a sheet of paper, a pencil, or a book." 
 " I have bought all those things for you." 
 "You refused to buy four books for me the 
 other day, wlien I asked for them.'
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 59 
 
 "You didn't need them." 
 
 " I wanted them, and I think I am able to 
 own those, and many more." 
 
 " I can't countenance no such extravagance. 
 It isn't necessary for you to own books of his- 
 tory." 
 
 '" We differ, and I may as well come to the 
 point. I am going to live decently — I mean as 
 well as laborers and sailors live. If my break- 
 fast to-morrow mornino- should be salt fish, or 
 herring, or baked beans, I shall get my meal at 
 the eating-house, and have it charged to you as 
 my guardian." 
 
 "I won't pay it!" protested Fox Bushwell. 
 
 " Perhaps you will in the end. At any rate, 
 Hoxley says he will take his chances of collect- 
 ing the bill." 
 
 "Have you been telling Hoxley that you 
 havn't lived well enough at home ? " demanded 
 the guardian, angrily. 
 
 " Sufferin', dyin' world I " ejaculated Mrs. Pin- 
 ing, moved deeply by this new aspect of the 
 case. 
 
 " It was not necessary to tell him or anybody 
 else that we live worse than the Irish laborers.
 
 60 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 Everybody knows it. In the second place, 1 
 want an allowance of ten dollars a month, for the 
 present, to purchase books and other things that 
 I need." 
 
 " Ten dollars a month! Are you crazy, 
 Prince?" cried Fox Bushwell. "Ten dollars a 
 month to a boy of your age ! I didn't think 
 you could be impudent enough to ask for more 
 than twent3'-five cents a month, at the out- 
 side." 
 
 " Ten dollars I ask for, and ten dollars I shall 
 have, besides decent board." 
 
 " The boy's insane ! " 
 
 " Sufferiu', dyin' world ! " groaned the widow. 
 
 " It's no use for you and me to argue the 
 point ; we can never agree." 
 
 " Never ! You won't get any ten dollars a 
 month out of me, nor ten dollars a year. That's 
 the way to spoil boys." 
 
 " And the board, as the allowance, is denied ? 
 Shall I be fed as well as common sailors ? " 
 
 " I'm not going to have any extravagance in 
 my house." 
 
 "Very well, uncle Fox; it is my next move," 
 replied Prince, rising from his chair.
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 61 
 
 " What are you going to do ? " asked the 
 guardian, evidently much troubled by the con- 
 duct of the boy. 
 
 " I don't know that it is necessary for me to 
 tell you ; but I'm going to do something imme- 
 diately." 
 
 "Humph! What can you do? I'm your 
 guardian." 
 
 " I know you are ; but you may not always 
 be." 
 
 " What ! " 
 
 " I don't believe that in this free country a 
 boy who has, or ought to have, an income of 
 eighteen hundred dollars a year, can be legally 
 starved, or half starved, and deprived of the 
 common comforts of life, uncle Fox ! I don't 
 believe it. I don't believe that I can even be 
 deprived of the luxury of books. I'm rich enough 
 to board at the best hotel in the city ; but I ask 
 only plain food." 
 
 Fox Bushwell drew a long breath, and perhaps 
 his thin face was a shade paler than usual, 
 though that was hardly j)ossible. 
 
 " I don't know what you mean to do," whined 
 he, alarmed at the prospect of any possible action 
 on the part of the boy or his friends.
 
 62 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " I haven't talked about this matter much out 
 of the house ; my pride would not let me do 
 that. I don't want to make any trouble now ; 
 but I won't stand this state of things much 
 longer. No, sir, I will not." 
 
 " Things have gone on just as the}^ always 
 did ; and I didn't know there was any trouble." 
 
 " Very well, uncle ; if you are disposed to do 
 the right thing by me, the matter need go no 
 farther," added Prince, gently. 
 
 "But ten dollars a month to spend!" gasped 
 the guardian. 
 
 " For books and other things I need. I don't 
 smoke, chew, drink rum, or play cards ; and 
 not a cent of the money will be improperly 
 used." 
 
 " It would spoil you." 
 
 "I don't think so. I am old enough to know 
 how to use a small sum of money." 
 
 " If you don't drink or smoke, it's because 
 you never had any money to pay for cigars and 
 rum." 
 
 " We won't argue the matter on such a basis. 
 If you have nothing else to say, I shall take the 
 next step."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 63 
 
 " What do you mean ? " demanded Fox Bush- 
 well, anxiously. 
 
 Prince considered a moment, and then took 
 from his pocket a paper, which he handed to 
 his guardian. 
 
 " Wliat's this ? " said the uncle. 
 
 " It will speak for itself." 
 
 Fox Bush well put on his spectacles, and pro- 
 ceeded to read the document. As he did so, his 
 lip quivered and his frame trembled. Probably 
 the paper was not in legal form, but it was a 
 petition to the judge of the probate court, set- 
 ting forth that the petitioner's guardian — Fox 
 Bush well — had become e^ddently unsuitable to 
 discharge the duties of the position, requesting 
 his removal, and the appointment of some proper 
 person in his place. The petitioner then pro- 
 ceeded to specify in detail that he was deprived 
 of the ordinary comforts of life ; that he was 
 compelled to subsist almost wholly upon salt 
 fish, baked beans, and smoked herrings ; that he 
 was clothed with the coarsest garments, much 
 inferior to those Avorn by persons of his income, 
 and he was denied the privilege of purchasing 
 any books or newspapers needed for the proper
 
 64 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 cultivation of his mind, while the property in 
 the hands of his guardian yielded, or ought to 
 yield, an income of eighteen hundred dollars a 
 year. 
 
 "You villain! What do you mean to do with 
 this paper?" gasped the guardian, trembling in 
 everv fibre of his frame. 
 
 " I intend to present it to the court," replied 
 Prince, quietly. 
 
 "You do?" 
 
 " I do, sir. I don't mean to strike for liberty 
 and decent living on my own hook. I am will- 
 ing to leave the whole matter to the judge. I 
 am willing to submit to him, and to the guar- 
 dian he appoints. If he says it is all right as 
 it is, I have nothing more to say." 
 
 "Do you mean to give this to the judge?"" 
 
 " Of course I do, if I can't have fair play 
 without doing so." 
 
 Fox Bushwell was furious for the moment, 
 and tearing the paper into a hundred pieces, he 
 threw them into the stove. 
 
 " We'll see if you will," gasped he. 
 
 " That was only a copy of the petition," added 
 Prince, mildly.
 
 
 
 -I 
 
 3 

 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. <db 
 
 The guardian cooled off again, realizing that 
 he was utterly helpless against the strong-minded 
 young man, who seemed to act with a conscious- 
 ness that boys have rights. 
 
 " Don't do anything rash, Prince," said he. 
 " I will think over what you have said." 
 
 " You may think over it till next Monday 
 morning. The court meets in the afternoon ; 
 and my paper goes in then, if at all," replied 
 Prince. 
 
 Fox Bushwell went into the front room, where 
 he paced the apartment for liours, thinking over 
 the situation. Prince spent the evening in the 
 kitchen, studying his lessons. When he got up, 
 rather later than usual, the next morning, the 
 grateful odor of fried ham saluted his senses, 
 and he was almost willing to believe that he 
 had won the battle. For his dinner that day, 
 he was rather surprised to see some fried mutton 
 set" before him. It was cheap and poor meat, it 
 is true ; but it was a luxury to him. 
 
 On Monday morning his uncle gave him a 
 
 ten-dollar bill ; but he did it with groanings and 
 
 reproaches. Prince took the bill, and enclosed 
 
 it in the white envelope which MolUe had in- 
 
 5 •
 
 66 THE. DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 tnisted to his keeping, and carefully sealed it. 
 At school that day, she handed it to the treas- 
 urer, without suspecting that there was any- 
 thing but the circular in it. She did not even 
 ask Prince why he had sealed it ; she did not 
 think enoutih about it to do so. 
 
 " But the. envelopes are to be handed in at the 
 meeting to-morrow," said Nellie Patterdale, the 
 treasurer. 
 
 " Please to take it now, for I may not be at 
 the meeting," replied MoUie. 
 
 " O, very well, if you desii'e it ; but I hope 
 you will be there." 
 
 "I shall try to be present." 
 
 But she was not. 
 
 Great events occurred on that particular Mon- 
 day, and on Tuesday Mollie did not even think 
 of the meeting. Poor girl! she had enough else 
 to think of. 
 
 Ir. the middle of the afternoon Mr. Longimore, 
 lie cashier, called upon Fox Bushwell. Even 
 ihe hard-visaged miser saw that he was in the 
 deepest distress. 
 
 " Mr. Bushwell, I am in trouble, and I must 
 raise some money before to-morrow morning, or 
 be ruined," said the cashier, with emotion.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 67 
 
 "Ruined! What's the matter?" asked the 
 money-lender, willing, as usual, to profit by 
 whatever misfortune had overtaken his neighbor. 
 
 " I am in the most abject misery to which -a 
 man was ever reduced," groaned Mr. Longimore. 
 
 "Eh? Been using the money of the bank?" 
 added the miser, looking over the top of his 
 glasses. 
 
 " I have overdrawn my account. I have not 
 stolen anything. I have not altered the books, 
 but have charged myself every dollar I have 
 taken. I must have five hundred and twenty 
 dollars to balance my account, or I shall lose my 
 situation. The directors make an examination 
 to-morrow." 
 
 "That's bad." 
 
 " You have the money in the bank, and you 
 will lend it to me ? " 
 
 "Without security?" 
 
 " Take my house, my furniture, everything, 
 if I can save my honor," pleaded Mr. Longi- 
 more. 
 
 " I've got all the mortgage on the house I 
 want ; and I've got to go away now." 
 
 " I will pay you any interest you want. Only
 
 68 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 lend it to me for a few days, and I will appeal 
 to my brother in Portland for help ; he will save 
 me from ruin, I know." 
 
 " I can't stop now to talk about it. I will 
 see you this evening," said Fox Bushwell, rising 
 from his chair. 
 
 "I will come here — " 
 
 " Well, no, I guess not," interposed the 
 money-lender. " My boy will be in the house 
 then ; and he is always sure to know what's go- 
 ing on." 
 
 " Come to the bank, then ; I will be there," 
 added Mr. Longimore, earnestly. 
 
 " I will be there about seven o'clock." 
 
 The cashier withdrew ; and at the hour ap- 
 pointed, Fox Bushwell entered the bank.
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 69 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE FIRE AT FOX BUSHWELL's HOUSE. 
 
 MR. LONGIMORE was a rather tall and 
 spare man. Though but five and forty 
 years old, he was quite gray, and his expression 
 at this time was very sad and troubled. He 
 had been struggling to support his family on a 
 small salary, and it was apparent to him now, 
 if never before, that he had signally failed. 
 Doubtless he had his faults and his weaknesses ; 
 but he had always been regarded by the com- 
 munity in which he resided as a strictly honest, 
 high-toned, and honorable man. He stood well 
 in the church, and well in society; and so far 
 as the possibilities of any disgraceful conduct 
 were concerned, he was considered as incapable 
 of it as any clergyman in the city. 
 
 Perhaps it was a misfortune for Mr. Longi- 
 more that his position in the bank brought him
 
 TO THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 into contact with the elite of the city ; with the 
 prosperous merchants, shipbuilders, and the 
 wealthy men who had retired from business. He 
 was respected and esteemed by all, and the cashier 
 and his family were, to some extent, drawn into 
 social relations Avith the wealthy and refined 
 class of society. Without intending to exceed 
 his income in his expenditures, Mr. Longimore 
 had unfortunately been led to do so, and much 
 sickness at home had increased his debt. He 
 had overdrawn his salary at the bank ; but then 
 he had faithfully charged himself with every dol- 
 lar he had taken, and there was no fraud, or 
 even concealment, on his part. Mr. Longimore 
 was a proud man, and he could not endure the 
 thought of seeing a frown upon the brows of 
 the directors when they examined his accounts and 
 looked over his securites. He could not bear to 
 be censured, even mildly, by the men with whom 
 he was on such friendly terms. He preferred 
 to throw himself into the power of the unscru- 
 pulous money-lender, rather than make a candid 
 but humihating statement to the directors, who 
 were really his friends. 
 
 Mr. Longimore had bought the house in which
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. *?! 
 
 he lived of Fox Bushwell, paying five hundred 
 dollars down, and giving a mortgage for twenty- 
 five hundred. But the property was supposed 
 to have increased in value, and the cashier hoped 
 to obtain the sum he needed by a second mort- 
 gage on the house, or on his personal effects, 
 if the money-lender would not advance him the 
 money he wanted for a short time without secu- 
 rity. He had often assisted the miser in the 
 management of his affairs, had examined his 
 bonds, mortgages, and other papers, to insure 
 their correctness, thus saving him the expense 
 of legal fees. He had filed all his papers for 
 him in the nice and convenient form in which 
 those of the bank were arranged, and he felt 
 that he had some claim to the consideration of 
 the hard man. 
 
 The cashier was in the bank when Fox Bush- 
 well arrived. He had been cutting off the cou- 
 pons of a package of bonds, and was tying up 
 the bundle with red tape when his visitor came 
 in. He looked more worried and disturbed than 
 the money-lender had ever seen him. 
 
 " What have you got there ? " asked Fox Bush- 
 well.
 
 72 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 " Bonds ; the interest is due to-morrow, and I 
 have cut oif the coupons, in order to send them 
 •for collection," replied ]Mr. Longimore, rather 
 vacantly. " Thought I would do it while I was 
 waiting for you, for I shall be very busy to- 
 morrow." 
 
 " How much is there in that pile ? " asked 
 the money-lender, as he seated himself at the 
 table opposite the cashier. 
 
 " Only forty thousand dollars." 
 
 "That's a good deal of money," added Fox 
 Bushwell as he picked up the package. 
 
 '•'• I should think it was if it only belonged tome," 
 replied Mr. Longimore, with a sigh. " I should 
 be a happy man if I had only a quarter of it. 
 I have already told you why I wish to see you, 
 Mr. Bushwell." 
 
 '^Well, you have, but I don't understand the 
 matter very well," added the miser, still toying 
 with the bundle of bonds. " I believe you said 
 you wanted to raise some money." 
 
 " I must have five hundred and twenty dol- 
 lars by to-morrow morning, or I am a ruined 
 man. I did not know how badly I stood with 
 the bank till I balanced my account this after- 
 
 noon.'*
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 73 
 
 *'I don't see how we can manage it," said 
 Fox Busbwell. " Of course I can't lend money 
 without security." 
 
 " I will give you a second mortgage on my 
 house. The equity in it is worth a thousand 
 dollars.*' 
 
 "I guess not," drawled the Shylock, with a 
 sickly smile. " I don't believe it would fetch 
 any more than the mortgage under the ham- 
 mer." 
 
 " I am sure it would. I have been offered 
 more than I gave for it." 
 
 " The place wouldn't fetch it now, and in a 
 year or two it might be worse than it is now. 
 I don't like to take too much on any property. 
 I'm a poor man, and I have to keep on the safe 
 side." 
 
 " Then I will give you a bill of sale of my 
 household furniture, including the piano, worth 
 in all, at least a thousand dollars,'* pleaded Mr. 
 Longimore, actually trembling with emotion. 
 
 "•I don't like that kind of security," replied 
 Fox Bushwell, shaking his head. 
 
 '' But I will write to my brother in Portland 
 immediately ; he is able and willing to help me
 
 74 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 out of this trouble ; and I will return the money 
 in a few days with an ample bonus. I will give 
 you fifty dollars for the use of the sum I want 
 one week." 
 
 "Yes; but the security? If you should die, 
 you know. We all mean t") be honest and serve 
 the Lord as well as we know how, but any of 
 us may die." 
 
 " The bill of sale of my furniture will cover 
 it, and save you from any possible loss. If I 
 should die, my wife would pay the debt out of 
 the proceeds of my life insurance," continued 
 Mr. Longimore, desperately, and with the agony 
 which an honest, honorable man feels in the face 
 of probable disgrace. 
 
 " All these things are very uncertain. I don't 
 like to lend money without knowing whether it 
 is coming back to me or not. I'm a poor man, 
 and the loss of five hundred and twenty dollars 
 would ruin me. I'm older than you are, and I 
 don't want to be a beggar at my time of life. 
 I'll let you have the money you want for one 
 week, and won't ask you any more than the 
 fifty dollars you offer for the use of it, though 
 it is cheap, considering the risk I run.'
 
 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 75 
 
 *' You will run no risk, Mr. Bushwell." 
 
 "Certainly 1 do run a great risk — too great 
 for a poor man like me to take. It makes me 
 shudder to think of being a beggar after I'm too 
 old to preach or to work. I can't lend money 
 on any such conditions; but I'll tell you what' I 
 wiU do." 
 
 " Well, what ? Anything I can do I will do," 
 said Mr. Longimore, catching at the hope thus 
 held out by the money-lender, who was still 
 holding the package of bonds in his hand. 
 
 " These are thousand dollar bonds, I suppose ? " 
 asked Fox Bushwell, craftily. 
 
 " They are." 
 
 " Give me your note for five hundred and 
 seventy dollars, payable in one week, and I'll 
 let you have my check for the amount you want 
 to get you out of this difficulty," 
 
 " I will do it ! " exclaimed the cashier, promptly. 
 
 "Stop a minute; I haven't got quite through. 
 You let me take one of these bonds for secu- 
 rity - " 
 
 "But the bonds are not mine," interposed the 
 cashier. 
 
 " I know that as well as you do. This is
 
 76 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 the easiest way I know of to manage the busi- 
 ness," pursued the money-lender. " You arn't 
 going to steal the bond, or anything of that 
 sort. When you pay the note, I give you back 
 the bond, and no harm done to any one. Don't 
 you see it?" 
 
 " No, I do not, Mr. Bushwell. I would not 
 do that on any account. I have no right to take 
 the property of the bank for my own use." 
 
 " Haven't you taken five hundred and twenty 
 dollars for your own use?" asked the money- 
 lender, with a sneer. 
 
 "No bond shall go out of the bank for any 
 such purpose. I would rather face the directors, 
 and tell them the whole truth, than do anything 
 of that kind." 
 
 "You are too particular for your own good, 
 and I must beheve you don't think you will be 
 able to pay the note when it becomes due." 
 
 " I am almost sure my brother in Portland 
 will assist me. If he will not, I can raise the 
 money in some other way. I have a great many 
 friends in this city." 
 
 " I don't think much of friends in money mat- 
 ters. If you want to let me take that bond, 
 you shall have the money."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 77 
 
 " I could not if I would. The directors will 
 make an examination to-morrow morning," 
 pleaded Mr. Longimore, 
 
 " They won't miss one bond ; or, if they do, 
 you can make it right with them somehow." 
 
 "Lie to them?" groaned the cashier, ashamed 
 and humiliated even to discuss such a question. 
 " Let me say, once for all, that I will not use 
 the bonds of the bank, or anything else belong- 
 ing to it, to save myself. I will lose my situa- 
 tion, and become a beggar to-morrow, rather 
 than become a defaulter for a thousand dollars, 
 or any other sum." 
 
 " It strikes me that 3-0U are a defaulter now 
 for over five hundred dollars. But you can take 
 your choice ; it is none of my business." 
 
 " But I did hope you would help me, Mr. Bush- 
 v/ell. I have assisted you a good deal in taking 
 care of your business," added the cashier re- 
 proachfully. 
 
 " I don't deny it ; but if I've got to pay five 
 hundred and twenty dollars for what you've 
 done, I had better paid a lawyer." 
 
 " I will give you a hundred dollars for the 
 use of the money one week," said Mr. Longi- 
 more, more desperately.
 
 78 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " And the security ? " 
 
 "A bill of sale on my furniture, dated ten 
 days ahead. It will be yours, if I don't pay you 
 by that time," added the cashier. 
 
 " It's rather risky." 
 
 ''Not at all." 
 
 " The note to be for six hundred and twenty 
 dollars ? " 
 
 -Yes." 
 
 "• I wouldn't take no such risk for any other 
 man. As you say, you have helped me a good 
 deal about my business, and filed my papers for 
 me. I want to help you if I can," mused Fox 
 Bushwell, snarling up his long gray hair by 
 combing it with his bony fingers. " I don't like 
 to do it ; but I guess I'll take the risk. Six 
 hundred and twenty dollars, you said — didn't 
 you?" 
 
 " Six hundred and twenty ; and I will give 
 you the note and bill of sale to-night, if you 
 will let me have the check." 
 
 "If I'm going to do it, I might as well do it 
 now as any other time. It's risky business; and 
 if I get sent to the poorhouse, you must try to 
 do something for me," replied Fox Bushwell,
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 79 
 
 laying the bundle of bonds upon the table, which 
 the cashier was careful to pick up on the instant, 
 and place in a tin case. 
 
 Mr. Longimore wrote the bill of sale^ specify- 
 ing all the principal articles, but including every- 
 thing in the house, and signed it. He passed 
 the paper to his hard creditor on the other 
 side of the table, and proceeded . to make the 
 note. When it was done, he tossed it over to 
 the miser, with a blank check for him to fill 
 out. Fox Bushwell had put on his spectacles, 
 and was carefully reading the bill of sale. 
 
 " But this document ought to have a witness 
 to the signature," suggested the creditor. 
 
 " Very well ; we can have it witnessed when 
 we go out, replied Mr. Longimore. 
 
 " Better have the note witnessed, too. I don't 
 want anybody to think I took advantage of you ; 
 and everything must be fair and above-board." 
 
 " I don't object. The same person can wit- 
 ness both papers." 
 
 Fox Bushwell filled out the blank check for 
 five hundred and twenty dollars, on which he 
 was to pay interest at the rate of six hundred 
 per cent.
 
 80 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " That makes it all right," said Mr. Longi- 
 more, as he proceeded to gather up the other 
 papers which belonged in the tin case, and which 
 were kept in the bank vault. 
 
 *' Just a moment before you go," interposed 
 the money-lender. " I want to ask you about a 
 raorto'iitre I have, that will be due next week." 
 
 The cashier seated himself again. Fox Bush- 
 well took from the breast pocket of his coat a 
 package of papers, consisting of deeds, mortgages, 
 notes, polices of insurance, and other documents. 
 The bundle looked precisely like the package of 
 bonds in the tin case, for they were both done up 
 by the cashier, with the same tape and covering, 
 the papers having been folded on the same tin. 
 The miser asked his question, which involved a 
 discussion of half an hour, and the church clocks 
 were striking nine when they finished it. 
 
 " Now, if you'll let me have half a dozen 
 blank checks, I'll go home," said Fox Bushwell, 
 rising from his chair, with the package of private 
 papers in his hand. 
 
 The cashier had to go to another part of the 
 
 bank for the blanks. While he was gone. Fox 
 
 -Bushwell took the bundle of bonds from the tin
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 81 
 
 case. He looked at it earnestly, and his eye 
 lighted up with a diabolical cunning. Instead 
 of restoring the bonds, he placed the package 
 of private documents in the tin case. 
 
 When the cashier returned, the money lender 
 stood by the table, with the i:)ackage in his hand. 
 Mr. Longimore looked at the contents of 
 the tin case ; he even lifted the bundle which 
 he supposed was the bonds. He did not even 
 suspect that it was not the bonds. Why should 
 he ? No one could have told one package from 
 the other except by reading the label upon it, 
 written in the large, clerkly hand of the bank 
 officer. 
 
 "It wouldn't 'do for me to lose these papers," 
 said Fox Bushwell, leering and smiling, as he 
 placed the bundle of bonds in his breast pocket. 
 
 " I should think it was hardly safe to keep 
 them in your house. They might be stolen, or 
 burned," answered the cashier, rather indiffer- 
 ently, as he locked the vault, in which he had 
 just placed the tin case. 
 
 " No danger ; I keep them in a safe place — 
 a good deal safer than that vault. A good many 
 banks have been broken into one time and 
 G
 
 82 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 another," said the money-lender. "And that 
 reminds me that I want to tell you where I 
 keep my papers, so that if anything should 
 happen to me, sombody would know where to 
 find them. I don't tell my boy, or Mrs. Pining ; 
 I can't trust them." 
 
 " But you want those papers witnessed, Mr. 
 Bushwell," suggested Mr. Longimore. 
 
 " We can do that at my house. Prince shall 
 witness them. Your folks like him," chuckled 
 the usurer ; " and if anything happens, they 
 won't believe he means to cheat them, if I do." 
 
 " Very well ; Prince shall witness the bill of 
 sale and the note." 
 
 Mr. Longimore carefully secured the doors and 
 windows of the bank building, and then walked 
 to the house of Fox Bushwell. Mrs. Pining had 
 gone to bed, but Prince was still studying his 
 lesson in his comfortless chamber over the front 
 entry. He was called down, the cashier ac- 
 knowledged his signature on both papers, and 
 the young man wrote his name as witness upon 
 each of them. He read enough of the docu- 
 ments to comprehend their nature, and only 
 regretted that the father of Mollie was obliged
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 83 
 
 by his needs to mortgage his furniture, as he 
 understood the transaction to mean. 
 
 " Now, go to bed, Prince ; and don't burn 
 the lamp till midnight," said the money-lender. 
 
 Prince returned to his chamber, and resumed 
 the Latin translation upon which he was engaged 
 when called. 
 
 "Now I will show you where I keep my 
 papers," said Fox Bushwell, when the young 
 man had left the front room. 
 
 " Of course I don't want to know, unless you 
 wish it," replied Mr. Longimore. 
 
 " I do wish it. I'm getting old, and may die 
 any day. I want you to know where my papers 
 are, so that they need not be lost or destroyed," 
 continued the money-lender, taking the lamp, 
 and leading the way to the cellar. 
 
 From a place near the top of the wall, over a 
 large pile of shavings, and under one of the 
 great cross-timbers of the frame of the house, 
 Fox Bushwell took a stone of considerable size. 
 It was all he could lift from such a height, and 
 its removal from the wall left a considerable 
 aperture. Reaching into the hole, he took out 
 a brass kettle, which contained a quantity of 
 papers.
 
 84 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 '■'That's my safe," said Fox Bushwell, exhib- 
 iting the kettle, which he held near the lamp, 
 on a barrel. " No thief would ever think of 
 looking behind that stone any more than any 
 other." 
 
 "But your house might be burned," added the 
 cashier. 
 
 "Well, the fire wouldn't touch those papers, 
 if it was." 
 
 " The fall of that large timber over the hole 
 would throw down the wall. But if you are 
 satisfied, I am." 
 
 " Of course you won't tell any one," added 
 the miser. 
 
 " Certainly not," replied Mr. Longimore, indif- 
 ferently. 
 
 Fox Bushwell put the bundle, which the 
 cashier supposed consisted only of his creditor's 
 private papers, into the kettle, restoring the lat- 
 ter to its place in the wall. Lifting the stone, 
 he adjusted it so that it seemed to be as it had 
 been since the house was built. He filled the 
 chinks with small stones, and then conducted 
 his visitor up stairs. 
 
 "If I should die, you will know just where
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 85 
 
 to look for my papers, Mr. Longimore," said the 
 usurer, as he opened the front door. 
 
 " Suppose you should die ; what am I to do 
 with your papers?" asked the cashier. "Have 
 you made a will ? " 
 
 "No, not yet," replied the miser, with some- 
 thing like a shudder, for men like him cannot 
 think of giving away their property, even' when 
 they have no further use for it. 
 
 " Such things ought not to be deferred too 
 long, you know, Mr. Bushwell." 
 
 " I know it ; and I'm going to attend to the 
 matter right off." 
 
 " I believe Prince is your heir. At least, I 
 never heard that you had any other near rela- 
 tion," added Mr. Longimore. 
 
 " Well, I haven't got much to leave, and it 
 don't make much difference," said the usurer, 
 to whom the subject appeared to be very disa- 
 greeable. " Good night, Mr. Longimore." 
 
 " Good night ; but I advise you to set your 
 house in order, Mr. Bushwell ; not only your 
 temporal but your spiritual house ; for death 
 comes like a thief in the night." 
 
 " I'll take care of it," said the money-lender,
 
 86 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 partly closing the door, to hasten the departure 
 of the no longer welcome guest. 
 
 The cashier hastened away to his home. He 
 had it in his mind to have a very serious talk 
 with his miserable neighbor, in regard to the 
 things beyond this life, for it seemed dreadful 
 to him that a man should continue to pile up 
 riches, with no thought of the hereafter. But 
 not much time did Mr. Longimore give to the 
 subject on that Monday night, for his own 
 troubles weighed heavily upon his mind. He 
 was safe from the censure of the bank directors ; 
 but he had to pay six hundred and twenty dol- 
 lars within ten days, or lose his furniture, lose 
 even the piano with which Mollie could earn 
 her bread by teaching music, if he should be 
 suddenly taken away. Before he went to bed, 
 he wrote a long letter to his brother in Port- 
 land, detailing very precisely the nature and 
 extent of his financial embarrassment, and asking 
 for an immediate loan, to enable him to pay his 
 note when it became due. He enclosed the 
 sheet in an envelope, directed it, and put a post- 
 age stamp upon it. He left it on the table, and 
 went to bed. He had not the courage to tell
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 87 
 
 liis wife what had happened ; and he permitted 
 her to sleep on, unconscious of the heavy burden 
 which he was bearing. He could not sleep, for the 
 future seemed full of trial, even under the most 
 hopeful view he could take of it. 
 
 Fox Bush well's room was the front chamber, 
 next to Prince's. He usually retired at nine 
 o'clock, to save burning the lamps ; but to-night 
 he did not come up to his chamber as usual, 
 and his nephew wondered where he was. The 
 young man had heard the door close when the 
 cashier left tlie house, and had also heard his 
 "good night." 
 
 Prince wondered why his uncle did yot go 
 to bed ; and at ten o'clock he went down for a 
 drink of water. Doubtless he went for the 
 water, but certainly he also \vished to ascertain 
 what the old man was doing. Fox Bushwell 
 was not in the front room, nor in the kitchen, 
 and Prince soon discovered that he was in the 
 cellar. There was nothing strange in his being 
 there, and the young man went to bed. Per- 
 haps the tea he had drank for supper had been 
 too strong — an impossible thing a few weeks 
 before; perhaps the Latin he had studied in the 
 evening had boggled up his brains ; at any rate,
 
 88 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 he could not sleep for a while. He was sure 
 his uncle had not come up stairs when he heard 
 the clock strike twelve ; but the young man did 
 hear him shortl}^ after that hour. His uncle was 
 certainly more considerate than usual, for he 
 seemed to be very careful about making any 
 noise which might have disturbed the other 
 inmates of the house. He had evidently taken 
 off his shoes down stairs, and come up in his 
 "stocking feet." If the door and the bedstead 
 had not creaked, Prince would not have known 
 that his uncle had retired. 
 
 " But the nephew was tired enough to sleep 
 by this time ; and he did sleep, but not for a 
 long time. He was awakened by a furious yel- 
 ling in front of the house. Prince leaped from 
 his bed, and was going to the window, when he 
 heard the startling cry of " Fire ! " 
 
 Then he smelt smoke ; then he was conscious 
 that there was smoke in the room where he was ; 
 then he heard the crackling and roaring of flames ; 
 then he heard the screams of Mrs. Pining. 
 Drawing on his trousers hastily, he opened the 
 door. The entry was full of smoke, and down 
 the stairway he could see the light of the flames.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 89 
 
 He rushed into his uncle's room. The old man 
 appeared to be still asleej). 
 
 "Fire! uncle Fox!" he shouted, almost drag- 
 ging his uncle from his bed. 
 
 Then he rushed to the assistance of Mrs. Pin- 
 ing ; but the housekeeper was already descend- 
 ing the stairs. 
 
 " The house is afire ! Sufferin', dyin' world, 
 the house is afire ! " she screamed. 
 
 Prince helped his uncle down stairs, for he 
 seemed to be half paralyzed, so that he could 
 not move alone; and they got out of the house 
 at the last moment it was possible to do so by 
 the stairs, which were now in flames.
 
 90 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 AFTER THE FIRE. 
 
 THE cry of '' Fire," in the middle of the 
 night is always an appalling sound, and 
 the fact is appalling when the flames burst from 
 a dwelling-house, where men, women, and chil- 
 dren may be sleeping, unconscious that the 
 devouring element is at work so near them. The 
 cry startled those who lived in the street 
 where the conflagration broke out, and in a few 
 moments a crowd had gathered near the doomed 
 dwelling. 
 
 Prince had assisted his uncle to put on a part 
 of his clothes, and, with the rest on his arm, 
 had actually dragged the half paralyzed money- 
 lender into the street, where he finished his 
 toilet. Fox Bushwell was trembling with anguish 
 at the loss of his house, or with some other 
 emotion unexplained. When he had put on his
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 91 
 
 coat, he felt in the pockets of it, as if to assure 
 himself of the safety of whatever papers might 
 be there. He seemed to be satisfied in this 
 respect. 
 
 " O, ray house, my house ! " he groaned, in 
 real or apparent anguish ; but no one seemed to 
 pity or care for him. 
 
 " Sufferin' and dyin' world ! " cried Mrs. 
 Pining. " The eend of the airtli is come, and 
 there ain't no peace for the wicked ! " 
 
 Crowds of men, and even of women and chil- 
 dren, came, hurried from their beds in the dead 
 of the night by the startling cry, or by the 
 glare of the flames. The engines came, but 
 before the line of hose could be laid and the 
 brakes manned, the roof of the house fell in, 
 with a crash, and a cloud of sparks and cinders 
 rose into the air. The building was nearly all 
 gone when the first stream of water was directed 
 upon the mass of fire. It was impossible to 
 save a timber, or even an article of furniture, 
 and the first water had been thrown upon the 
 adjacent houses, that the flying firebrands might 
 not carry destruction to them. Doubtless the 
 fire was well managed, because it was not
 
 92 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 permitted to extend to the wooden structures 
 around it. 
 
 In half an hour the fire had done its work 
 with remarkable thoroughness, and nothing but 
 a few timbers was left of Fox BushweU's house. 
 The engines continued to play upon the black- 
 ened embers till not a spark of fire remained 
 among them. The crowd went back to their 
 beds, and the engines returned to their stations. 
 Mrs. Pining had taken refuge in the house of 
 a neighbor, to which she had been invited, and 
 only a few lingered around the ruins. 
 
 Among the first who had come to the fire 
 was Mr. Longimore. His troubles banished 
 sleep from his eyelids. He heard the cry of 
 *'Fire!" and, looking out the window, he saw 
 the flames bursting from the side of the money- 
 lender's house. He reached the scene of the 
 excitement just as Prince was hurrying his uncle 
 out of the front door. With some of the more 
 active of the neighbors who had arrived, he 
 attempted to remove the furniture from the 
 front room. The old secretary and the dilap- 
 idated chairs were carried out ; but then the 
 flames drove the men from the house, and it was
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 08 
 
 not safe to enter again. The cashier thought 
 that the fire had broken out in or near the 
 heap of shavings which he had noticed in the 
 cellar, and he wondered if the brass kettle con- 
 taining the papers of his neighbor could with- 
 stand the heat. When nothing more could be 
 done, the cashier looked for Fox Bushwell in 
 the crowd. He found him sitting upon the 
 doorsteps of a neighboring house, bewailing his 
 misfortune in the presence of a knot of men 
 and women who had gathered around him. 
 
 "I am ruined, Mr. Longimore ! " exclaimed 
 he, recognizing the cashier by the bright light 
 of the fire. " My house is gone ! " 
 
 " You ought to be thankful that your life was 
 saved," replied his debtor. 
 
 " I am thankful for that. I should have 
 burned to death if Prince had .not waked me 
 up," groaned Fox Bushwell. " I was sound 
 asleep when it broke out. But I am ruined ! 
 I can't afford to loose so much." 
 
 " Had no insurance ? " 
 
 ''None to speak of — only a thousand dollars." 
 
 "Well, that will nearly cover the loss." 
 
 " O, no. I can't build another house for less
 
 94 THE DOIICAS CLUB. 
 
 than two thousand, and all my furniture is 
 gone ! " 
 
 The cashier did not believe the miser would 
 suffer much loss, if he had a thousand dolla^^ 
 of insurance. But he was astonished to learn 
 that his neighbor had any insurance ; and cer^ 
 tai ily no sane agent or company would have 
 taken any more upon the property. Whatever 
 risk he ran, the miser was not in the habit of 
 paying out any money which he was not com- 
 pelled to disburse, and had boasted that he never 
 insured any houses that he owned. 
 
 " How did your house take fire, Mr. Bush- 
 well ? " asked the cashier. 
 
 " I haven't the least idea," replied the money- 
 lender, blankly. 
 
 " When I looked out, the flames were break- 
 ing out at the window in the middle of the 
 house, near the place where we went down 
 cellar," added Mr. Longimore. 
 
 The usurer looked at his neighbor, as the 
 fire lighted up the thin, pale face of the latter, 
 and said nothing for a moment. 
 
 " I didn't know where it broke out. I didn't 
 know anything about it till Prince woke me
 
 THE DORCAS CLUE. 95 
 
 up," said he, with more energy than he had 
 before displayed. 
 
 " Can't you think how it happened to take fire?" 
 
 "I can't form any idea. I went to bed about 
 half past ten, and didn't hear anything till my 
 boy called me, and hurried me out of the 
 house," replied the miserable man. I am afraid 
 somebody set tlie house afire." 
 
 "Who should set it on fire?" 
 
 "I don't know. Perliaps somebody got mad 
 because I made them pay me what they owed ; 
 but I can't think of anybod}^ that would do 
 such a thing," whined Fox Bushwell. 
 
 " Did you go down cellar after 1 left you ? " 
 inquired Mr. Longimore. 
 
 " Yes, I went down to fix the kindlings for the 
 fire in the morning." 
 
 "What time was that?" 
 
 " About ten o'clock, I think." 
 
 " You had a lamp, of course." 
 
 " Yes ; I couldn't do anything in the dark. 
 I put the lamp on the barrel, just as I always 
 do, while I split up the kindlings." 
 
 " If anything took fire from your lamp, it 
 would have shown itself long before the flames 
 burst out."
 
 96 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 *' Certainly it would ; I don't believe it got 
 afire from my lamp. Somebody must have set 
 the fire." 
 
 "But it came from the inside," suggested the 
 cashier." 
 
 *■*■ I don't know whether it did or not." 
 
 '*! do, for I saw the flames breaking out 
 through that middle window on the lower 
 floor." 
 
 Fox Bushwell and the cashier talked till all 
 the listeners had left them and gone to their 
 beds again, till the fire was extinguished, and 
 the engines had left. 
 
 " Was the note I gave you burned ? " asked 
 the bank officer, in a low tone, when they were 
 alone. 
 
 "No; that was in my pocket-book," answered 
 the money-lender. " I only put my bonds and 
 mortgages into the brass kettle." 
 
 What do you think has become of that brass 
 kettle by this time ? " 
 
 "O, I think that's safe." 
 
 *'I don't believe it is. Even the large floor- 
 timbers were burned off, and fell into the cellar," 
 said Mr. Longimore, gently, as though he did 
 not wish to destroy the hopes of the usurer.
 
 THE DOIICAS C. VB. *j7 
 
 " You don't think my papers are burned up 
 -—do you, Mr. Longimore ? " groaned Fox Bush- 
 welL 
 
 "I'm afraid they are. You ought to have 
 kept them in tlie hank vaidt." 
 
 " I don't think the bank's a safe place. Rob- 
 bers are always breaking into banks," muttered 
 the usurer. 
 
 " But we can soon see whetlicr the papers 
 are burned or not. I will get a lantern, and 
 we will see if we can find the brass kettle." 
 
 The cashier went to his own house, and soon 
 returned with the lantern. They walked over 
 to the ruins of Fox Bushwell's house. There 
 was scarcely anything left of it — only a few 
 blackened timbers which had fallen into the 
 cellar. They had been drenched and soaked 
 with water by the engines, and great puddles, 
 which had not yet soaked into the earth, stood 
 beneath them. On the side where the brass 
 kettle had been concealed, the wall had fallen 
 over, as it had also in other places, making a 
 practicable causway into the cellar. 
 
 "You see now how it is," said Mr. Longi- 
 more, pointing to the fallen wall. 
 7
 
 98 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 "They cheated me when they laid those 
 
 ^Rbne," replied the money-lender. " They didn't 
 
 half lay the . wall, or it wouldn't have fallen 
 
 over." 
 
 " That may be ; but it wasn't a proper place 
 to keep valuable papers," said the cashier, 
 rather severely. " I have told you more than 
 once that I would keep your papers in the 
 bank vault. But it is no use to talk about it 
 
 now." 
 
 "You know as well as I do that a great many 
 folks have lost their bonds by keeping them in 
 bank safes, when they have been broken into by 
 robbers," Avhined the miser. " I never thought 
 it was safe." 
 
 " I hope your papers are safe, but I think it 
 is hardly possible," added the cashier, as he 
 be<^an to examine the ground where the wall 
 had stood. "The brass kettle must have been 
 carried over into the collar Avhen the wall went 
 down." 
 
 Mr. Loniximore, Avitli tlic lantern in his hand, 
 led the way into the cellar. He rolled over a 
 few of the smaller stones, and presently dis- 
 covered the brass kettle, bottom up, and crushed 
 in by the rocks which liad fallen upon it.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 99 
 
 "Here it is!" exclaimed the cashier, as he 
 drew the kettle from tlic rocks. 
 
 "Is there anything in it?" gasped the usurer, 
 as though his life or death depended upon the 
 answer. 
 
 "Nothing at all; it was upside down." 
 
 "Everything gone! I'm lost! ruined!" 
 groaned the usurer. " I might as well die now." 
 
 "It isn't quite so bad as that," added Mr. 
 Longimore, in soothing tones. "The mortgages 
 must be on record, and the notes will be dupli- 
 cated by the makers of them." 
 
 " I don't know about that. Even the policy 
 on the house was burnt," said Fox Bushwell, 
 in dismay. 
 
 " The company Avill pay the insurance all the 
 same," continued Mr. Longimore, poking over 
 the rubbish to sec if he could find anything 
 from the kettle that had escaped the flames. 
 
 Nothing combustible could have pa-sed through 
 that fiery furnace, and it was doar enough to 
 the cashier that all of his neighbor's valuabh^ 
 papers had been consumed. 
 
 " What on earth am I going to do ? " moaned 
 the usurer.
 
 100 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " I don't think you will loose much. Those 
 who owe you will give new notes, and your , 
 insurance will nearly rebuild your house. Come, 
 I think we had better get out of the night air. 
 Prince has gone to my house to sleep, and you 
 can share the bed with him." 
 
 "No; I guess I won't go there. I've got an 
 empty house down the street, and I am afraid 
 somebody will set that afire, if I don't look out 
 for it," replied Fox Bushwell. '*If you will 
 lend me that lantern till morning, I'll stay 
 there. ' 
 
 "But you have no bed to sleep in; the house 
 is not furnished," protested the cashier. 
 
 " It's almost morning now ; and I couldn't 
 sleep if I went to bed, I feel so bad. I shall 
 have to move into that house, and I want to 
 get it ready. I must go to work on it as soon 
 as it's daylight. I can't afford to board at a 
 hotel." 
 
 "Come to my house to breakfast, Mr. Bush- 
 well." 
 
 " Perhaps I will ; I'll see." 
 
 Fox Bushwell took the lantern, and walked 
 down the street towards the house from which
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 101 
 
 he liael I'ccently ejected the owner for non-pay- 
 ment of the mortcrage note. It was hke the 
 one which had just been burned ; l)ut, being 
 newer, it was in much better condition. lie 
 took the key from liis pocket, and entered the 
 house ; l)ut Avliat he did there for the next hour 
 does not yet appear. 
 
 Mr. Longimore walked to his own home, 
 where his family were again slumbering after 
 the excitement caused by the fire. He sat down 
 in the back parlor, on the table of which lay 
 the letter he had written in the evenino-. Ho 
 began to think over the events of the night. 
 He tried to set up some theory of the jiossible 
 or probable origin of the fire in Fox Bush well's 
 house. There were many ways that a fire miaht 
 b(i kindled, which could not be explained after 
 the premises were destroyed. The mice might 
 have got among the friction matches; the lamp 
 rags might have ignited by spontaneous com- 
 bustion ; a live coal in the ash barrel miffht 
 have lighted a shaving ; and some enemy of the 
 usurer — perhaps the man he had driven from 
 the vacant house — might have thrown alighted 
 match into that heap of shavings. It was possi-
 
 102 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 ble, too, that Fox Buslnvcll had set the ho\iEC 
 on fire, in order to ol^tain the insurance, thougli 
 he would not have been likel}^ to remain in his 
 bed, if lie luid done so until the flames had 
 oearly cut off hi;-; retreat. 
 
 It was a profitless consideration, and the 
 cashier went to sleep in the rocking-chair in 
 which he sat, for he did not care to awaken 
 his wife by going to bed. He slumbered only 
 an hour, and when he awoke, it Avas nearly 
 daylight. He had intended to go to the bank 
 before breakfast, in order to do some writing 
 which the visit of the usurer had prevented him 
 from finishing the evening before. On his arrival, 
 he opened the vault to obtain his books, for he 
 desired to balance his personal account before 
 the directors appeared ; and some of them gen- 
 erally came early in the morning, to read^ the 
 newspapers, which the porter brought at six 
 o'clock. He punched Fox BushwelFs check for 
 five hundred and twenty dollars, which he had 
 received the night before, and charged the 
 account of his hard creditor with tlie amount 
 for wliich it was draAvn. He also placed -the 
 sum to liis own credit, tlius balancing his per-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 103 
 
 sonal account, which lie ruled off, and fjlt 
 liappy that he coukl uot be censured even hy a 
 look of displeasure. He wrote the other two 
 entries necessary to make his own and the 
 usurer's standing correct with the bank. 
 
 He had Ijrought the tin case from the vault, 
 for he had [)laced the check in it for the night. 
 When he took it up to return i!. to the safe, 
 whether voluntarily or involuntarih', he raised 
 the package of bonds. As his eye glanced at 
 the label on the bundle, lie started back with 
 an emotion of horror ; his heart rose to Ids 
 throat, and the blood seemed to be frozen in 
 his veins and arteries. He staggered to the 
 table, and dropped upon it the case, retaining 
 the package in his hand. His gaze was fixed 
 upon the indorsment of the bundle, in his own 
 large and plain handwriting. His frame trembled 
 all over, and the cold sweat stood upon his 
 brow as he read the label, — 
 
 PnivATE Papers of Fox Bushwell. 
 
 The cashier sank back, exhausted by his 
 violent emotions,- into an arm-chair behind him. 
 He groaned in the heaviness of his spirit.
 
 104 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 The trival mortification which had menaced him 
 had been avoided to be succeeded by sliameful 
 disgrace and utter ruin. He trembled, he wept, 
 he uttered a despairing groan when he thought 
 of his wife and children, who, innocent as they 
 were, must share his disgrace and ruin to the 
 end of their days. Gathering courage from his 
 desperation, he sprang up, and proceeded to ex- 
 amine the tin case. 
 
 Perhaps the bonds were still there. Vain 
 hope ! they were not there. He opened the 
 package of "Fox Bushwell's private papers." 
 By some inexplicable magic they might be 
 changed into the bonds. Alas, they were only 
 the mortgages, the single policy, and the notes 
 of the miserable* usurer, which had thus been 
 saved from the fire. He even searched the vault 
 for the lost package, catching, at a straw, the 
 faint hope that he might have put it in another 
 place, and forgotten it. The bundle was not to 
 be found. He had seen his soulless creditor put 
 one package into his pocket. He had seen him 
 holding the bonds in liis liand, while he made 
 the Sliylock bargain with him. He liad seen 
 the two bundles Ivin^- on the table at the same
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. lOf) 
 
 time, and lie (li.^tinctiy rememljered that he had 
 put the bonds back into the case with liis own 
 hands. He had unwittingly made this awful 
 blunder? lie could not believe it. 
 
 If Fox Busliweli's private papers had been put 
 in the tin case, the bonds had gone into the 
 pocket of his contemptible visitor. If the wretch 
 had made tliis blunder, the bonds had jjeen 
 placed in the brass kettle, and burned to ashes. 
 Mr. Longimore was almost insane at the thought. 
 For a moment he dashed wildly up and down 
 the room, and then, as if decided what to do, 
 lie put the package of papers in his pocket, 
 restored the tin case and the books to the vault, 
 and locked the iron doors. Seizing" his hat, he 
 walked at a furious pace to the vacant house 
 Avhere Fox Rushwell had taken refuge from the 
 chill air of Lho night. He kicked and pounded 
 at the door without rousing the money-lender, 
 who, perhaps, did not care to see him. Then, 
 in his desperation, he thrust his naked fist 
 through a pane of glass, heedless of the blood 
 that followed the onslaught, with the intention 
 of unfa;itening the sash, so that he could obtain 
 admission by the window. l>ut the crash of the 
 glass brought Fox Uu hwell to the door.
 
 106 THE DORCAS C.-UB. 
 
 "What do you mean, Mr. Longimore, by 
 destroying my property in — " 
 
 " Silence, man ! " thundered the cashier, as 
 he seized the quaking money-lender by the 
 throat. " You have ruined me, after all I " 
 
 " Why, what do you mean, Mr. Longimore ? " 
 whined the usurer. " Don't hurt me. Aio 
 you crazy ? " 
 
 " I am crazy ! mad ! beside myself I If you 
 don't answer me, if you don't speak the truth, 
 I'll tear you in pieces, as a lion does a goat I " 
 roared the cashier. 
 
 " Let me alone ! Don't hurt me ! Lll do any- 
 thing. I'll answer you. I always speak the 
 truth." 
 
 "Where is the bundle of bonds?" shrieked 
 Mr. Longimore, shaking his clinched fist in the 
 pale face of the miser. 
 
 "What bonds ? I don't know Avhat you 
 
 mean." 
 
 "You do, you villain! What have 3'ou done 
 with them ? " 
 
 •' I haven't erot any bonds, and I don't know 
 what you mean. Don't be so savage : I'm afraid 
 of you."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 107 
 
 " You may well Lc afraid of me, if 3'ou don't 
 give up those bonds ! What have you done 
 with them ? " 
 
 "I haven't seen them. I don't understand 
 what you are talking about," whined the 
 tremblino- scoundrel. "Don't hurt me! I'm a 
 clergyman." 
 
 " You are a knave and a villain ; and if you 
 were ten times a clergyman, I would tear you 
 in pieces, if you don't give up the bonds," 
 said Mr. Longimore, more mildly, but still furi- 
 ousl}'. 
 
 "I can't understand you," pleaded Fox Bush- 
 well, livid with terror. 
 
 *'Do you see that?" demanded the cashier, 
 producing the miser's package of papers, which 
 he gave to the other. 
 
 " Why, Mr. Longimore ! these are my papers ! 
 My mortgages ! my policy ! my notes ! I thought 
 they were all burned. God bless you, Mr. 
 Longimore, for saving them from the fire! Lll 
 pray for 3-ou ! Lm a clergyman ; and I'll pray 
 for you always ! " cried the mone\'-lender, with 
 a ghastly smile on liis livid face. 
 
 It seemed to be real; and, quivering with
 
 108 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 emotion, the easliier gazed upon the wretch 
 before him. 
 
 , "You left this package in the bank, and took 
 the bvuidle of bonds — forty thousand doDars in 
 bonds ! " gasped Mr. Longimore. " What have 
 you done Avith them?" 
 
 ''I took the bonds?" said Fox Bushwell, 
 opening his eyes and his mouth to their widest 
 tension. 
 
 "You did." 
 
 " 1 didn't mean to take them, if I did. I 
 thought they were my private papers. You 
 know the two bundles were just alike. You 
 fixed them both, with the same wrapper and tlie 
 same red tape," whined the usurer. " I took 
 the bonds instead of my bundle — did I?" 
 
 " You did ! " groaned the easliier. 
 
 " I didn't know it. I didn't mean to take 
 the bonds. I'm a clergyman, and I can't tell a 
 lie." 
 
 "What have you done with them?" 
   "With what?" 
 
 "With the bonds." 
 
 " I put the bundle AAliich I thought was mine 
 into the brass kettle. If it was the package of
 
 TIIK DORUAS CLUB, 100 
 
 bonds — I — they — were — all — burned," said 
 Fox Busliwell, Avith a slindder. 
 
 " I am lost I I am utterly ruined ! O, my 
 wife, my children I " groaned JNIr. Longimoie, 
 beatinq; liis forehead with his hand. 
 
 Suddenly he turned and fled from the house. 
 Fox Bush well watched him till he disappeared 
 in the distance ; then he looked upon his bun- 
 dle of papers, and a hardly perceptible smile 
 played for an instant upon his lips.
 
 110 THE DOUCAS CLUB. 
 
 CHAPTER • VI. 
 
 OPENING a HE ENVELOPES. 
 
 6CT~^LEASE to come to order," said Miss 
 I Minnie Darling, the president of the 
 Dorcas Society, when the hour appointed for the 
 meeting arrived, on the Tuesday following the 
 events narrated in the hxst chapters. 
 
 It was early on the morning of that day that 
 Mr. Longin:(^re had rushed, in an agony border- 
 ing on distraction, from the vacant house where 
 Fox Bush well had taken refuge. The fair mem- 
 bers discontinued their chatter instantly, for they 
 were deeply interested in the coming proceed- 
 ings of the meeting. They ceased to talk all 
 together, as enthusiastic girls are apt to do ; in- 
 deed, they ceased to talk at all. The secretary 
 read the minutes of the last meeting, the regu- 
 lar routine business was transactecl, and several 
 applications for aid were presented by members
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. Ill 
 
 who had learned of poor people needing cloth- 
 ing or other necessaries since the last week. 
 Certainly everything Avas done " decently and 
 in order;" but it must be acknowledged that 
 there was far less interest than usual in the ordi- 
 nary proceedings. Doubtless the vision of a 
 swift-flying race-boat, propelled b}^ fairy rowers, 
 Avas flitting through the minds of most of 
 them. 
 
 The last clause of the minutes of the preced- 
 in'T^ meetincT was to the effect that " Donald John 
 Ramsay, otherwise ' Don John,' was appointed 
 Mercury for the next week." This was a matter 
 of so much importance that even a person gen- 
 erally so busy as the active representative of 
 the firm of Ramsay & Son, boat-builders, felt 
 that he could not decline it ; but it so happened 
 that business was just then at a stand-still 
 with him, and it was a positive pleasure to spend 
 the afternoon in the presence of so many charm- 
 ing young ladies, especially as Nellie Patterdale 
 was a prominent member of the association. At 
 tlie time when all the routine business of the 
 meeting had been done, however, Don John had 
 nut yet put in an appearance ; and no such
 
 112 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 thing as the non-amvul of the the young man 
 who was honored with the title of Mercury to 
 the croddesses had ever been known. He had 
 always been on hand when the members wei'e 
 called to order, and, besides feeling like a fly in 
 a honey-pot, he regarded himself as highly com- 
 plimented by the appointment. 
 
 "Where is our Mercury?" asked Eva Doane. 
 " There is no one to send with the garments 
 voted at the last meeting." 
 
 " He treats us with contempt in not making 
 his appearance," added the president. " Did you 
 notify him, ^Nliss Secretary ? " 
 
 " I did, in the usual form, and requested him 
 to inform me if he was unable to accept the 
 appointment," replied Eva. 
 
 " He incurs our displeasure by slighting our 
 expressed wishes," continued Minnie Darling. 
 
 " I am sure something unexpected has detained 
 him," said Nellie Patterdale ; and there was a 
 slight blush upon her face, as she realized, after 
 she had begun to speak, that she was apologiz- 
 ing for one Avhom she was supposed to regard 
 with more than ordinary favor. " Don John is 
 always at the post of duty, and always punctual,
 
 o 
 
 
 to 
 
 3 
 
 ^ H 
 
 a 
 w 
 z 
 a 
 
 •JO
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 113 
 
 unless he is sick, or detained by circumstances 
 absolutely beyond his own control." 
 
 " I suppose so," laughed Ruth Hapgood. 
 
 " We all know that Don John is a model 
 young man, and we are willing to believe th;it 
 tlie sky has fallen, or that some other equally 
 disastro\is event has prevented his attendance," 
 said the president. " Therefore it is our presi- 
 dential pleasure that he be heard before he is 
 condemned, reproved, or reproached. We are 
 ready to attend to the business of opening the 
 envelopes, whicli I intended should be done by 
 our Mercury, so that no mark, dot, scratch, or 
 indentation shall enable one of our own number 
 to identif}' tlie enclosure of her father or guar- 
 dian. We must find some other person to per- 
 form this duty. Who shall it be?" 
 
 " I will go for my brother," suggested Nellie 
 Patterdale. 
 
 " That in\;olves a delay," replied the presi- 
 dent. 
 
 " My cousin, Philip Jelley, from Bangor, is in 
 the house," said Ruth Hapgood, at whose resi- 
 dence the meeting was held. " He arrived to- 
 day noon ; and when I told him we were to have 
 8
 
 114 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 a meeting of over twenty young ladies this after- 
 noon, he declared that he was a lucky fellow, 
 and had tumbled into the sugar bowl. Wlien 
 I informed him that we allowed no orentleman 
 to attend our meeting, except Mercury, he 
 threatened to commit suicide by drowning him- 
 self in a wii:?h-bowl." 
 
 "He is in the liouse — is he?" asked the 
 president. 
 
 " lie is ; and, if he has not already committed 
 suicide, he is available for use." 
 
 " Bring in the .lelley," added ]\linnie Dar- 
 ling. ""We are all dying to know what is in 
 the envelopes. We appoint the Jelley Mercurj^ 
 JIT) tern.'''' 
 
 Ruth soon produced the young gentleman 
 from Bangor, who was formally presented to the 
 president. 
 
 "Minnie, darling, I am delighted — " he be- 
 gan. 
 
 " Stop, sir I " interposed the president, with 
 dignity. " Tliat is a stale joke, an unj^ardona- 
 l)ie offence. Whoever, of the lords of creation, 
 mtikes a pause between her first and her last 
 name, in addressing the president of this asso-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 11 
 
 O 
 
 elation, shall he instantly and forever banished 
 from our presence." 
 
 " I beg ten thousand pardons ; and, under the 
 circumstances, if I were drowning, I would nob 
 stop the millionth part of a second, for breath, 
 between your first and last name," protested 
 Philip Jelley. " I am ready to serve you with 
 my fortune, my life, and my sacred honor, and 
 to dispense Bangor chivalry like dew among the 
 rose-buds." 
 
 "It is well, Mr. Jelley. We accept your apol- 
 ogy and your promise to sin no more. We have 
 work for 3-ou to do." 
 
 " I would I were a Hercules instead of a 
 Mercury, then, that I might slay the Nemean 
 lion, demolish the Lernean hydra, overwhelm the 
 Erymanthian boar — " 
 
 " Stay ; you Avill become a bore yourself if 
 you intend to recite the exploits of Hercules, 
 for we know them by heart," interposed the 
 president. 
 
 " Forgive me. I am dumb till my task is given 
 out," replied the 3'oung man, amid the general 
 tittering of the girls, who saw tliat the presi- 
 dent was more than a matcli f )r the glib-speak- 
 ing gentleman from Bangor.
 
 113 THE DOHUAS CLUB. 
 
 " Our forgiveness flows as freely as water to 
 llij truly penitent. Play the role of Mercury, 
 and not of Hercules," continued Minnie. " You 
 will open those envelopes in the basket, pass 
 wliatever bank l)ills they contain to the treas- 
 urer, and announce the amount taken from such 
 enclosure. You will stand alone in the corner, 
 as you do so, and be particular to observe the 
 instructions I give you, Mr. Jelley." 
 
 '■'I will obey to the letter."' 
 
 " Obey in spirit, as well as to the letter." 
 
 Nellie had placed the basket containing the 
 envelopes in a chair in the corner of the room. 
 In another chair was a second basket for the 
 envelopes and circulars, when the money had 
 been taken from them. 
 
 " You will stand alone in the corner, with 
 your back to the audience — " 
 
 "With my back to the ladies?" gasped Mr. 
 Jelley. 
 
 " You will obe}^ me in letter and in spirit," 
 the president proceeded. " You will face the 
 corner while you open the envelopes and take 
 the money from them. You will be sure that 
 no young lady sees the one from which you take
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. IIT 
 
 a Lill. You will throw each enclosure and the 
 circular it contains into the waste basket on 
 your right. Then, with the money in your hand, 
 and nothing else, you will right about face, and 
 announce the amount, which will be recorded 
 by the secretary. You will next step forward, 
 and hand the amount to the secretary. Do you 
 understand me, Mr. Jelley?" 
 
 "Perfectly; and I will carry out your instruc- 
 tions in spirit, and to the very letter, protesting 
 against nothing but the penalty of being com- 
 pelled to turn my back to the ladies, even for 
 a single instant," replied Mr. Jelley, who, for a 
 3-oung man of eighteen, appeared to have an 
 astonishing _^ self-possession in the presence of such 
 a bevy of laughing girls, whom it is ten times 
 as difficult to face as it is twice as many full- 
 grown women. 
 
 " By our presidential command you do so ; and 
 therefore we pardon any seeming discourtesy in 
 the act." 
 
 " But I am the only sufferer," protested Mr. 
 Jelicy. 
 
 "• Then suffer in silence, or decline the charge 
 we have imposed upon you, and we Avill seek a 
 more willing INIercury.
 
 113 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 "None could l)e found in tliis luuiidrum a/^e, 
 or even in the classic days of 3'ore." 
 
 " You have the caduceus ; proceed with tlie 
 business, or vacate the premises." 
 
 '■'• I am as dumb as a mute, but as active as 
 a French dancing-master," answered Mr. Jclle}', 
 as he hopped into the part of the room wlicre 
 the baskets were awaiting him. Facing into the 
 corner, he took up one of the white envelopes, 
 broke it oj^en, and took therefrom the j)rinted 
 circular. From this he removed a greenback, 
 and having deposited the now useless papers in 
 the waste -basket, he faced about with military 
 precision. The members of the Dorcas Society 
 were breathless with interest and excitement, 
 and perhaps the graceful military salute which 
 the messenger made was entirely lost upon 
 them. 
 
 " Miss President." 
 
 " Mercury." 
 
 '' I have the honor to — " 
 
 " Announce the denomination of the bill, with- 
 out any flourishes whatever," interrujjted the 
 president, impatiently. " You wdll say, ' One 
 dollar,' ' Five dollars,' or ' Ten dollars ; ' ' only
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 119 
 
 this, and nothing more ; ' not another word, or 
 no longer shall you be Mercury." 
 
 "Imperial Juno, I — " 
 
 " The amount ! " 
 
 "Ten dollars." 
 
 "It is well. Advance, and give the bill to 
 the treasurer." ''' 
 
 Mr. Jellej^ obeyed, marched with military pre- 
 cision to the chair of Nellie Patterdale, wheeled 
 about and returned to the corner. 
 
 "Five dollars," said he, when he .had, in the 
 same manner as before, possessed himself of the 
 monetary contents of another envelope. 
 
 This small amount produced a slight reaction 
 in the miuds of the members, from hope to fear 
 that the aggregate would be insufficient for the 
 purchase of the boat. 
 
 " Ten dollars," said Mercury, next. 
 
 Hope revived again. 
 
 " Ten dollars," was the succeeding announce- 
 ment. 
 
 By this time Mr. Jelley seemed to have fully 
 learned his lesson, and he did not add a single 
 word beyond the requirement of the president. 
 When he had opened the next envelope, he
 
 120 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 faced about, and, hiving made the military 
 salute, he stood like a statue, and as dumb as 
 one. The president and the members v/aited 
 impatiently to know the amount of the bill in 
 his hand ; but he continued to maintain his 
 obstinate silence. 
 
 " Announce the denomination of the bill," said 
 Minnie Darling. 
 
 Mr. Jelley bowed, but opened not his lips. 
 
 " What ails you ? " 
 
 Mercury wrote upon a slip of paper with a 
 pencil, "May I speak?" which he presented to 
 the president Avith the utmost deference. 
 
 " I commard you to speak." 
 
 " I beg pardon ; but I cannot announce the 
 amount in the last envelope without exceeding 
 my instructions," rephed the messenger. " You 
 commanded me to say, ' One dollar,' ' Five dol- 
 lars,' or 'Ten dollars;' 'only this, and nothing- 
 more.' As this bill in my hand is neither of 
 these, and is something more, I dare not 
 speak." 
 
 "You go by the letter, and not by the spirit, 
 Mercury. The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth 
 life,"
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. Ill 
 
 " I think it Avill in this case, Miss President," 
 added the messeno-er. 
 
 " VV"e will amplify our instructions so far that 
 you may give the denomination of the bill, Avhat- 
 ever it may he ; but only this and nothiuj 
 more." 
 
 "■ Fifty dollars," said Mr. Jelley, bowing, and 
 advancing to the treasurer. 
 
 This' announcement was followed by a gencial 
 titter and a general clapping of hands ; but it 
 was succeeded by tAvo of only five dollars each, 
 wdiich depressed the tone somewhat. Then came 
 several tens and one twenty. For the twentieth 
 time the messenger faced about, and saluted the 
 president. He did not immediately speak, and 
 seemed to be laboring under the temptation to 
 make a speech, which, however, he was able to 
 resist, though he made his announcement with 
 extraordinaiy flourish. 
 
 " One hundred dollars ! " 
 
 ''Goody!" -Goody!" "Splendid!" "Capi- 
 tal!" "Elegant!" "Magnificent!" cried the 
 members from all parts of the room, as Mr. 
 Jelley advanced to deposit the large bill in the 
 hand of the treasurer. " We have more thai-
 
 122 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 enough now I" "It's a sure thino-!" "What 
 glorious times we shall have!" 
 
 The next announcement was of another fiftv, 
 and the last was a twenty. 
 
 " The business is completed, Mercury, and wc 
 present our thanks for the very acceptable man- 
 ner in wliich you have discharged your duty," 
 said the president. 
 
 " IMust I go now?" asked the gentleman from 
 Bangor, " I have opened twenty- five envelopes, 
 and I estimate that I have spent twenty-five 
 minutes with my back turned to the goddesses 
 of this assembly, which was, therefore, all lost 
 time to me. I implore you, Miss President, 
 compensate me for this sacrifice by permitting 
 me to remain for a space of time equivalent to 
 that of which I have been cheated by my implicit 
 obedieaee to your presidential commands." 
 
 " Not because you deserve any other reward 
 than our thanks, which have been presented to 
 you, but because we may have further need of 
 you, are you permitted to remain." 
 
 " Thanks, Miss President ! " And the messen- 
 ger seated himself at the side of Ruth Hap- 
 good.
 
 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 123 
 
 While tliis conversation was going on, Eva 
 Doane was adding the amounts recorded, and 
 Nellie Patterdale was counting the money. 
 
 "Well, Miss Secretary, what is the result?" 
 asked Minnie Darling. 
 
 " Let us see if my figures agree with Nellie's 
 count, first," said Eva, as she and the treasurer 
 compared notes. 
 
 " Stop a moment," interposed the president. 
 "I have forgotten one thing. — Mercury!" 
 
 '•Miss President," replied Mr. Jelley, spring- 
 ing to his feet, and saluting as before ; and it 
 was supposed he was, or had been, a member 
 of some military company. 
 
 "If any one or more of the envelopes you 
 opened contained no money, you are solemnly 
 enjoined not to mention the fact," added Min- 
 nie. 
 
 " But, Miss President, every one of them did 
 contain money," responded Mercury. 
 
 " Now, Mercury, you have spoiled the whole I " 
 exclaimed the president, with an expression of 
 deep chagrin. "Why did you say anything?" 
 
 " I implore your presidential pardon," said the 
 messenger, bowing low. " You told me if one
 
 1-4 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 or more of the envelopes contained no money, I 
 was not to mention the fact. As everv one of 
 them did contain mone}^ from five dollars to a 
 hundred, I respectful!}^ and reverentially submit, 
 there was no fact to conceal." 
 
 "I am sorry anything was said," added Min- 
 nie. 
 
 "But it can make no difference," interposed 
 the secretary, "for I have recorded and numbered 
 twenty-five donations ; and I am sure no one 
 can have the least idea who gave the five dol- 
 lars, and who the fifties, and the hundred." 
 
 " It is all right," protested several of the 
 girls. 
 
 "If it were not all right, it could not be 
 helped," said Minnie. " You will read the 
 amount. Miss Secretary." 
 
 " Four hundred and fifteen dollars," replied 
 Eva Doane, consulting her paper. 
 
 "Four hundred and fifteen dollars!" repeated 
 the president. 
 
 This announcement was followed by the clap- 
 ping of liands, and by all the ejaculations con- 
 tained in the young ladies' vocabulary. The 
 amount of the contributions was unexpectedly
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 125 
 
 large ; indeed, they were double the sum antici- 
 pated by the most sanguine. In the circular 
 the pvol)able cost of the boat had been stated, 
 and a majority of the donors had evidently com- 
 puted, and givtn wliat appeared to be their lair 
 share, with some allowance for the possible fail- 
 ure of a portion to contribute. On the other 
 hand, it was evident that the one who had en- 
 closv^d the hundred, and the others the twenties 
 and fifties, believed tluit a considerable number 
 of the members' fathers or guardians would give 
 notliing, and had been very generous in order 
 to prevent the defeat of the plan. But none of 
 the girls .had the remotest idea who had given 
 these larofe sums. At least a dozen of their 
 fathers were al)le to give the largest amount ; 
 and, of half that niunljcr, one Avas as likely to 
 liavo done it as anotlier. It was by no means 
 Cv^rtain, even, that the poorer parents had en- 
 clostd the five-dollar bills, since some of the 
 riciiest men in the city were the meanest and 
 most penurious. 
 
 It was with a feeling of real pain that Min- 
 nie Darling realized that Mollie Longimore, who 
 was not present at this meeting, had not done
 
 126 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 as she had said she intended to do. Her father 
 must have given at least five dollars, for every 
 envelope contained money, and this Avas the 
 tniallest amount in any. Perhaps something in 
 her manner had induced Mollie to change her 
 purpose, and the poor, harassed cashier had felt 
 oliliged to contribute. Minnie vi^as sorry she had 
 not spoken more decidedly to her friend, or that 
 Lhe had not given the envelope to her own 
 father, Avith an explanation, for he was more 
 able to give a thousand dollars than Mollie's 
 father was one. But she was determined to see 
 Mollie, when she could speak to her alone, and 
 have the money returned. She felt that it was 
 a shame and an outrage for one so burdened 
 with trials and troubles as she had heard Mr. 
 Longimore was, to be asked, or even permitted, 
 to give five or ten dollars for such a luxury as 
 a row-boat. 
 
 "We can buy Don John's boat at once," said 
 Nellie Patterdale. " If she is ready, we can take 
 our first lesson in rowing to-morrow." 
 
 "Who shall be our instructor?'" asked Eva. 
 
 " O that I might be the happy fellow ! " ex- 
 claimed Mercury, pro tern.
 
 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 127 
 
 "Do you understand rowing?" inquired Min- 
 nie. 
 
 " Alas, no ! I don't know an oar from a bot- 
 tle of Day & Martin's blacking ! " groaned the 
 r.icssenger. 
 
 " Commodore Montague, Don John, Ned Pat- 
 t'jrdale, and a dozen more, know all about it," 
 a.lded Ruth. "But we have members enough 
 U) fdl the boat five times." 
 
 "We can have another boat!" exclaimed 
 Eva, her eyes flashing at this rajoturous thought. 
 
 " Two boats ! " shouted some of the girls, wild 
 wiLh delight at the prospect which was thus pre- 
 sented to them, 
 
 " Certainly ; we can purchase a second l)oat 
 immediately," added Nellie. "But even two 
 are not enouo'li to enable us all to row at Iha 
 same time." 
 
 " Our girls afloat ! Why was I born that my 
 lot should be cast in Bangor, instead of here!" 
 sighed Mr. Jelley. 
 
 But the girls gave little heed to the rhapso- 
 dist from up the river. They Avere excited, and 
 they all talked to together, discussing j:)lans for 
 the future. It was all confusion ; but it was
 
 12 3 THE DORCAg CLUB. 
 
 sweet confusion, for there is nothing in the 
 ■svorld more delightful than five and twenty, cr 
 even half a dozen, girls full of life and anima- 
 tion, with from two to a dozen ringing out their 
 "silvery tones at the same instant, as though life 
 vrere alt too short to enable them to speak one 
 it a time. The president rapped with a pencil on 
 the table to bring order out of this confusion, 
 so as to propose a method by which all might 
 fairly use the boats. At this moment Don John 
 was announced. 
 
 The arrival of the boat-builder created a de- 
 cided .sensation. He was the man of boats, and 
 he could tell them whether or not the new boat 
 could be used the next afternoon, or even that 
 very evening, for the weather was warm and 
 pleasant for early May. He could tell them 
 when they could have the second boat ; and he 
 could tell them who was best qualified to instruct 
 tliem in the art of rowing. Don John was 
 doubly v/elcomc, therefore, and no one even 
 thought of hearing his excuses for not present- 
 ino- himself in season to discharge his duties as 
 messenger. 
 
 But there was something about Don John
 
 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 129 
 
 which seemed to embarrass them. Instead of 
 wearing" his best suit, as he was in the habit 
 of doing when he went into the presence of 
 young ladies, he wore his working clothes. More 
 than this, his garments were covered with mud 
 and dirt ; his face ^yas begrimed with grease and 
 tar, and streaked with lines where the perspira- 
 tion had run down from his brow. Besides, his 
 expression was full of trouble. 
 
 " I hope you will excuse me for being late, 
 Miss President," he began, with much emotion 
 and excitement, " I was so busy that I did not 
 think of this meeting till the minute I started 
 to come to it. Of course you have heard the 
 news? " 
 
 "What news?" asked Minnie. 
 
 " About Mr. Longimore." 
 
 " We have heard nothing." 
 
 " He has disappeared ; nothing can be found 
 of him," replied Don John. 
 
 "Mr. Longimore!" exclaimed several of the 
 girls. 
 
 " He has not been seen since the fire last 
 night, though it is certain he was at the bank 
 this morning," added the boat-builder. 
 9
 
 130 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " But what has become of him ? " asked 
 Nellie. 
 
 " No one knows. The bank directors did not 
 think much of it till they ascertained about 
 noon that a package of forty thousand dollars 
 in bonds was missing." 
 
 " How awful ! " exclaimed Eva. 
 
 " Mollie Longimore was not at school to-day," 
 said one of the girls. 
 
 " Do they think he has run away with the 
 money ? " inquired Ruth. 
 
 " The directors are afraid he used the bonds 
 some time ago. If he had intended to run away, 
 they think he would not have waited till this 
 morning. Mrs. Longimore and Mollie say he has 
 been much troubled lately. In a word, they 
 fear he has committed suicide." 
 
 "Poor Mollie!" sighed the president, bursting 
 into tears. 
 
 She was not the only one who wept as the 
 members thougiit of the agony poor Mollie must 
 be suffering at that moment.
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 131 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE FIRST LESSON IN EOWING. 
 
 " T T is SO dreadful ! ' ' exclaimed Eva Doane, 
 JL wiping the tears from her eyes. " To 
 think of Mr. Longimore doing anything wrong ! 
 It seems to me quite impossible." 
 
 "I suppose he was in debt, and the tempta- 
 tion was too much for him," added Ruth Hap- 
 good. 
 
 "I do hope he has not committed suicide," 
 continued Eva, with a shudder; " that is so 
 awful!" 
 
 "Of course no one knows that lie has done 
 so," said Don John; " onl}^ he can't be found. 
 The bank directors did not discover the loss 
 of the bonds till this afternoon. They were 
 looking over the books all the forenoon, but 
 were not able to fnid anything wrong. They 
 counted the money and then began to examine
 
 132 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 the securities. About a hundred men are look- 
 ins: for him now. I have been searching^ in the 
 mud and water, and I hope you will excuse me, 
 ladies, for coming before you in such a plight. 
 1 was so busy that I forgot all about the meet- 
 ing till just now, and then I could not spare the 
 time to go home and change my clothes." 
 
 " You are very excusable, Don John," replied 
 the president. " Have you seen MoUie Longi- 
 more ? " 
 
 " I have not ; but Prince Willingood told me 
 the family were almost beside themselves with 
 grief and terror." 
 
 " Poor Molhe ! How I pity her ! " added Min- 
 nie, Aviping away the tears that dimmed her 
 bright eyes. 
 
 "It's a terrible hard case for the family," said 
 Don John, with emphasis. 
 
 " But it is not certain yet that Mr. Longi- 
 more will not return," suggested Minnie. "He 
 may have gone somewhere to obtain assistance." 
 
 " And taken forty thousand dollars in bonds 
 with him ? That is quite impossible. The di- 
 rectors are certain that he has either run away 
 or committed suicide. I have not seen anybody
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 133 
 
 who Relieves anything else. Prince says Mrs. 
 Longiraore and MolUe have no hope of anything 
 better, for the cashier had been worried for some 
 time. He is either dead or gone away ; and his 
 family are left without a dollar." 
 
 " How awful I " exclaimed Eva. " Can't we 
 do iJomethinGf ? " 
 
 " Certainly we can," said Nellie Patterdale, 
 decidedly. "Every one of us loved poor Mollie 
 like a sister, and the family shall not suffer for 
 the want of anything." 
 
 This subject Avas discussed at considerable 
 length, and various plans were suggested for 
 assisting the family of the cashier in the most 
 delicate way possible, thougli the details were 
 not fnially arranged. The abundant symj^athy 
 of the girls for Mollie led them to believe that 
 they could furnish all the aid the stricken family 
 would need ; for they felt that if they could 
 raise over four liundred dollars for a boat, tliey 
 could obtain ten times that amount for so noble 
 and worthy a purpose as the care of the needy 
 ones. But they were young and enthusiastic, 
 with ])ut little knowledge of the wa}^ of the 
 world. It was rig] it to do such a deed, and it
 
 134 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 seemed easy enough to them to accomplish it. 
 This noble purpose begat a cheerfulness in the 
 society, which, at last, brought their minds back 
 to the boat. 
 
 " Don John, we were particularly desirous to 
 see you this afternoon," said the president. 
 " We wish to enquire about the boat which you 
 have been building. Is it finished ? " 
 
 "It is all done, and yesterday I had the name 
 painted upon the stern, and on each side of the 
 bow," replied the boat-builder. 
 
 "Indeed! What is the name?" inquired 
 Minnie. 
 
 "Dorcas." 
 
 " That was an odd name for you to give to 
 it." 
 
 " Not at all. I gave her the name of your 
 society, and considering the use to which I in- 
 tend to put her, it Avas the right thing to call 
 her." 
 
 " Then you have a use for her ? " asked Min- 
 nie, looking a little troubled. 
 
 "I have; and without any ceremony, allow 
 me to present the boat to the Dorcas Society," 
 said Don John.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 185 
 
 " You cannot mean that," added the presi- 
 dent, witli a smile. 
 
 "I certainl}^ do. I talked the matter over 
 fully with the other member of our firm, — that's 
 my mother, — and we agreed to present her to 
 the society." 
 
 "But, Don John, we are able to buy the 
 
 boat." 
 
 " Of course you are ; and, thanks to the good 
 people of this city, our firm is now abundantly 
 able to present her to this society, which has 
 done so mucli good to the poor," replied Don 
 John, modestly. 
 
 "It is too much for you to give." 
 
 " Not at all ; I built her wjiolly with my own 
 hands, when I had nothing else to do. The 
 stock did not cost much, and I hope you will 
 not refuse to accept her, for any reason. As 
 soon as I heard that the young ladies of this 
 society wanted a boat, I decided to present her 
 to you." 
 
 Certainly Don John desired to do this grace- 
 ful thing for the sole sake of doing it, however 
 the gift might serve him as a " business card." 
 The boat was accepted by vote, and the thauks 
 of the society presented to the donor.
 
 li)6 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " She will be ready for use by to-morrow^ for 
 the last coat of paint I put upon her is dry and 
 hard," said the boat-builder. 
 
 "But who is to teach us how to row?" 
 asked Eva. 
 
 " I move that Don John be invited to be our 
 instructor in the art of rowing," said Ruth 
 Hapgood ; "I am sure he knows as much, or 
 more, about it than anybody else." 
 
 This motion was carried with unanimity and 
 enthusiasm by the society, and Don John ac- 
 cepted the dehghtful position thus assigned to 
 him. 
 
 "Don John, what is the value of the Dor- 
 cas? " inquired Nellie. 
 
 "She has no value now; she is beyond price," 
 laughed Don John. 
 
 "But what was the price you fixed for her ? " 
 
 "When I had concluded to present her to the 
 Dorcas society, she rose in value five hundred 
 per cent, in my estimation. The pleasure of 
 presenting her was worth at least a thousand 
 dollars to me." 
 
 " But please answer my question. If you had 
 wished to sell her, iniite.id of giving her away,
 
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 D 
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 H 
 
 z; 
 3: 
 
 2;
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 137 
 
 what slioLilcl you have asked for her ? " persisted 
 Nellie. 
 
 "I coLild n)'; have sold her for any money, 
 after I laiew that this society intended to go 
 into boating." replied Don John, who svtspected 
 tha^ his fair friend wished, by some indirect 
 means, to pay for the Dorcas. 
 
 " Didn't you say, a week ago, that you asked 
 two hundi'ed dollar.> for her ? "' demanded 
 Nellie. 
 
 "That was before I knew you Avanted a boat ; 
 and—" 
 
 "Was that the price of her?" interposed his 
 questioner. 
 
 "It was ; but — " 
 
 " No ' buts,' if you please, Don John. I wish 
 to know for a special purpose, Avhich in no way 
 affects 3'OU." 
 
 "That was the price," replied the boat-builder, 
 wondering what Nellie was driving at. 
 
 "Miss President." 
 
 "Miss Patterdale." 
 
 " I move that the society go into secret ses- 
 sion,",,added Nellie. 
 
 " Is that a blow aimed at me ? " asked Mr. 
 Jelley.
 
 138 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 " No sir ; in consideration of the valuable 
 services you have rendered the society, as Mer- 
 cury, 2^'ro tern., you will be permitted to remain, 
 if you will pledge yourself not to reveal what 
 is said or done," said the president. 
 
 " I pledge my life, my fortune, and my sacred 
 honor, not to write, print, utter, say, reveal, 
 mention, hint, lisp, mark, dot, engrave, or indi- 
 cate a word of what is said or done." 
 
 "• It is well. Don John, as Mercury, you will 
 not disclose any of the private business of the 
 society," added Minnie. 
 
 " Certainly not." 
 
 The motion to go into secret session was 
 carried, and Nellie Patterdale had the floor. 
 
 "I move that two hundred dollars of the 
 money contributed for the boat be appropriated 
 to aid tlie family of Mr. Longimore," continued 
 she. 
 
 " Yes, yes, yes ! " cried the girls, though 
 some of them had already thought that the sum 
 collected would enable them to purchase two 
 more boats, making three in all. 
 
 The appropriation was made without a dis- 
 tjeuting vote. Minnie Darling was appointed a
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 139 
 
 committeo of one to disburse the money as she 
 thought best, but with instructions to do it pri- 
 vately, so as entirely to spare the feelings of 
 Mollie and her mother. Nellie desired to use 
 the rest uf the boat money for tlie same pur- 
 pose, but she thought it wise to defer any 
 action in this direction till a future time, having 
 some doubt whether or not it was proper to di- 
 vert the funds from the purpose for which they 
 were given. 
 
 " Now that we have one" boat for our twenty- 
 five members, we ought to arrange some plan by 
 vhieh we may all have an equal and fair use 
 of her," said the president. 
 
 "How many will the boat hold, j\Ir. Instruc- 
 tor in the art of rowing?" asked Eva. 
 
 "Five, without any passengers," replied Don 
 John. " I think you had better have only the 
 regular crew while you are learning to row. 
 Four at the oars, and one at the tiller lines, are 
 the proper complement for the Dorcas." 
 
 " Then I think we had Ijetter divide ourselves 
 into five clubs, each having its own name," 
 su2:o;ested Nellie. " Tlie first shall be the Dor- 
 cas Clul), v.^hioh shall al;;o be the general nauu 
 of the whol ; boating society."
 
 140 THE D ;RCAS CLUB. 
 
 The suggestion found favor with the girls, 
 and some time was spent in making the division. 
 The httle rings of intimate friends formed the 
 bases of the several clubs, and the arrangement 
 was made without much difficulty. MolUe Longi- 
 more was the only member absent, and it so 
 happened that four of the five clubs were made 
 up at once, while one remained with only four 
 members. Naturally enough, the officers of the 
 society, who were its executive committee, and 
 were, therefore, together a great deal, united as 
 one club, and found themselves unable to obtain 
 anotlier member. 
 
 " Mollie is absent," said Minnie. " Of course 
 she will not wish to row for some time, but we 
 will take her." 
 
 " O, yes," exclaimed Eva ; " I am glad to 
 have her in our club." 
 
 " Now each club must have a leader," inter- 
 posed Don John, when the division had been 
 made. " She will steer the boat, and be the 
 commander, the president of the club. Each 
 should elect its own leader." 
 
 The instructor in rowing thought this was 
 a better name for the chief than the one usually
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. lil 
 
 applied to the offije ; and the girb separated in 
 different parts of the room to ballot. In some 
 of them several hallots were taken, before a 
 choice waj made ; but in the officers' club, the 
 four votes cast, without any electioneering or 
 previous consultation, were for Mollie Longimorc. 
 The sympathy of the girls for their al)sent 
 friend- was so deep and earnest, that they could 
 not help manifesting it in all possible ways. 
 
 " Now, Ave have five clubs and only one boat," 
 said the president; "and Ave must fix the time 
 fur caeli of us to irie hor."' 
 
 " That will p'ivc one day in the Aveek for each 
 clul)," added Nellie; "and Ave haA'e to attend 
 the meeting of the society on Tuesdays, so that 
 Ave cannot go on that day." 
 
 " That makes an easy thing of it," replied 
 Ruth. " But suppose it should rain on any 
 day ? " 
 
 " The club for that clay must loose its chance, 
 I suppose," ansAvered Nellie. "It will be as fair 
 for one as for another, for it does not always 
 rain on the same days of the week." 
 
 This arrangement Avas agreed to, and Don 
 John suggested that the leaders of the clubs
 
 142 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 draw lots for the days, which Avas also assented 
 to. The instructor wrote the names of the days 
 of the week, except Sunday and Tuesday, on as 
 many slips of paper, which were to be drawn 
 from a book by the leaders. 
 
 "But we have no names yet," said Minnie. 
 "Which will be the Dorcas Club?" 
 
 " Yours," said several members ; and the offi- 
 cers' club, of which Mollic was the leader, was 
 designated as the one . to retain the general 
 name of "Dorcas." 
 
 "What shall you call your club, Kate Bil- 
 der?" asked the president. 
 
 "The Lily," replied the leader. 
 
 " Very good. Do you mean the tiger lily, the 
 lily of the valley, or the water lily ? " 
 
 " We talked about those, but we liked ' Lilj^,' 
 simply, better than 'Water Lily.'" 
 
 "Suit yourself, Kate. Now draw one of the 
 slips." 
 
 The leader of the Lily Club drew one of the 
 slips of paper from the book, upon which was 
 written the single word " Monday ; " and the 
 secretary recorded the Lily's day. 
 
 "Jenny Waite, what is the name of your 
 club ? "
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 143 
 
 "Fairy." 
 
 " Very well ; draw." 
 
 "Saturday." 
 
 "Your name, Susy Thaxter ? " 
 
 " Undine." 
 
 " Very appropriate ; draw, if you please," 
 continued the president. 
 
 "Wednesday." 
 
 " What shall Ave call your club, Carrie West?" 
 
 " Pysche." 
 
 "Draw." 
 
 "Friday." 
 
 " That's an unlucky day in the almanac of 
 the sailors, but I hope it will not prove so to the 
 Pysche Club," laughed Minnie, " As the leader 
 of the Dorcas Club, is not here, Eva will draw 
 the sli|) for her. It is Hobson's choice, and 
 Thursday is the only day not yet taken." 
 
 Of course Thursday was drawn for the Dorcas 
 Club. The business was hardly finished before 
 some one proposed to visit the boat-builder's 
 shop, to see the new boat, and in five minutes 
 more the party were on tlieir way. Of course 
 the Dorcas was "perfectly splendid," and the 
 exclamation points were as thick as hail-stones 
 in a summer shower.
 
 144 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 '' O, I sliould like to see her on the water ! " 
 cried Eva Doane. 
 
 "It is a very easy matter to put her into the 
 water," said Don John, prompt to take the hint. 
 "But I want a little help, for she must be 
 handled carefully. There comes Prince ; he will 
 assist me." 
 
 " You have bought the boat, I suppose," said 
 Prince, after he had bowed to the young ladies. 
 
 "We have not bought her, but she has been 
 presented to us," replied Minnie Darling. " Don 
 John is as generous as a lord." 
 
 " Anything new about Mr. Longimore, Prince?" 
 asked Don John willing to change the subject. 
 
 " His handkerchief was found on one of the 
 wharves, and a ymall row-boat is missing from 
 the same place," replied Prince gloomily. " They 
 have dragged the water all about the wharf, 
 but they can't find him." 
 
 " Whose boat was it?" 
 
 "I don't know; they have searched the whole 
 water front of the city, without finding it," 
 added Prince. " Some think he has gone off in 
 the boat." 
 
 " He could not go a great way in a row- 
 boat," said Don John.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 145 
 
 " He may have gone out to drop himself into 
 Iho deep Avater, and the boat drifted away. At 
 any rate, if they can find the boat, it may afford 
 soni> clew to him." 
 
 " Have you seen MoUie to-day, Prince ? " in- 
 quired Nellie. 
 
 " Yes ; after our house was burnt down last 
 ni;]'ht, I staid at Mr. Longimore's ; but I got up 
 at seven o'clock, and left the house. I went to 
 school as usual, and did not hear anything about 
 Mr. Longimore till half past two. I went to 
 hi;, house then. Mollie had fainted away half 
 a dozen times in the forenoon, but she was 
 better when I caw her, though she was as pale 
 as a (''host." 
 
 " Does she think her father is dead ? " asked 
 Minnie, the tears in her own eyes. 
 
 "She says she is almost sure of it; and if 
 her father took the bonds at all, he must have 
 been insane Avhen he did so," continued Prince, 
 sadly. "She says she is alone in the world now. 
 I think some of you girls ought to go and 
 sec her." 
 
 " Let us go," Nellie proposed ; but it was 
 arranged that only she and Minnie should visit 
 10
 
 146 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 her then ; and they departed upon their mission 
 of sympathy. 
 
 " I want to put this boat into the water, 
 Prince," said Don John. " Lend us a hand." 
 
 Thoutrh Prince did not feel much interest 
 juct then in the boat or the Dorcas Club, he 
 assisted to put the pretty barge in the water. 
 She sat upon the tide like a fairy, as she was. 
 The builder brought the oars, which were 
 "t;poons," made of pine, and very light. 
 
 ''If the Lily Club will take their places, we 
 will sec how she works," added Don John. 
 
 "Goody! goody!" cried the members of that 
 
 club. 
 
 "Steady!" shouted the instructor in rowing. 
 "You will upset the boat, and tumble your- 
 selves into the drink, if you board her in that 
 style. When you get into a boat, you should 
 do it as calmly as you would step on eggs. See 
 where you are going to put your foot, and then 
 put it there." 
 
 Don John helped the members of the Lily 
 Club to their seats, and getting in himself, 
 shoved the Dorcas far out from the shore. 
 
 "Before you do anything, young ladies, I
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 147 
 
 want to talk to you a moment," said he, smil- 
 ing at the novelty of his position. 
 
 "What am I to do?" asked Kate Bilder, im- 
 patiently. 
 
 " You are to keep cool, and do nothing. 
 When the girls can pull, you will steer," replied 
 Don John. "Now you will each take an oar, 
 if you please, and stand it up straight before 
 you." 
 
 "Why, the oars are as light as a feather," 
 said one of the crew. 
 
 " Well, I got them on purpose for you. They 
 are made of soft pine, but they are strong 
 enough, if you handle them carefully. Those 
 who pull the starboard oars — " 
 
 "Starboard?" queried one of the fair rowists. 
 
 " The starboard is the right, and the port the 
 left side of the boat, looking forward," explained 
 the instructor, very patiently. "You are all 
 sitting backward, so that the port oars are on 
 3^our right, and the starboard on your left. I 
 will give each of you a number. The after, or 
 stroke, oar is No. 1. That's you, Maggie 
 Bo wen." 
 
 " Two," said Ella Haven.
 
 148 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " Three," added Julia Gray. 
 
 " Four," continued Louise Winn. 
 
 " Four is the bow oar," explained Don John. 
 " The even numbers pull the starboard oars, 
 and the odd the port oars. The starboard 
 rowers Avill take the handle of the oar with the 
 right hand, and the loom by the left." 
 
 " What is the loom ? " asked Julia. 
 
 " An oar has three parts ; the handle is the 
 small j)art which you grasp in your hands ; the 
 blade is the flat part, and the loom is the por- 
 tion next to the handle, which is inboard when 
 you row. The port rowers will take the handle 
 in the left hand, and the loom with the right. 
 That's it. Now, Miss Bildcr, you are the leader, 
 and will give the orders. When she says, ' Boat 
 your oars ! ' you will all drop your oars together 
 into the boat, by the gunwale, or rail. Now!" 
 
 "Boat your oars!" said Kate. 
 
 Being the first time, of course it was done 
 very clumsily. 
 
 " You should all drop them together," said 
 Don John, " We will try that over again. 
 When the leader says, " Ready,' you will grasp 
 the oars, as I told you. At the command, ' Up 
 oars ! ' you will raise them all as one."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 149 
 
 " Ready ! Up oars ! " repeated Kate Bilder ; 
 and the oars went up very well. 
 
 The two evolutions Avere repeated several 
 tunes, till they were performed together. 
 
 " The next order will be, 'Let fall,' " continued 
 the instructor, while the fair rowists held the 
 oars up perpendicularly before them. "At the 
 command, you will let the blade of the oar fall 
 into the water, with the spoon, or curve at the 
 end of it, turned up. As you do so, raise the 
 handle, so that the oar shall not fall upon the 
 gunwale. Slip it into the rowlock, and you are 
 ready for business. Now try it." 
 
 " Let fall ! " said the leader, who was a very 
 apt scholar. 
 
 "Very well, indeed!" exclaimed Don John, 
 " To get the oars back again to a perpendicular, 
 the command is, ' Toss.' Try it again, if you 
 please." 
 
 " Toss ! " said Kate ; and up went the oars. 
 "Capital!" 
 
 "Let fall!" added Kate; and she practiced 
 the crew on all of the evolutions they had 
 learned, till they did very well for beginners. 
 " Now we will pull a little ; but I wish you
 
 I'O THE DORCAG CLUB. 
 
 tvo take but oiiG stroke in four moveraent^^. 
 Pkicc the oar so tliat the r[)ooii i,j just out of 
 the water. Push tlie liandle aAvay from von, 
 at arms' length ; this is one. Tvvo, raise the 
 handle just enough to sink the blade into (he 
 water, so as to cover the spoon. Three, pull. 
 Four, drop the handle till the blade is out of 
 the water." 
 
 Don John repeated his instructions several 
 times, and then required, each girl to do it 
 alone, till she had the movement. After this 
 they tried it all together, but the girls were so 
 much excited when the Dorcas began to move 
 through the water, that not much proficiency 
 could be attained. 
 
 " Here endeth the first lesson," said the instruc- 
 tor, as soon as the rowers were able to pull a 
 dozen strokes together. 
 
 The Lil}^ Clulj returned to the shore delighted 
 with this slight foretaste of the pleasures in 
 store for them. 
 
 "It's real fun!" said Kate Bilder to lier 
 companions, who had been watching the experi- 
 ment on the shore, as she joined them, and 
 they walked towards home together.
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 151 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE cashier's FAMH^Y. 
 
 PRINCE WILLINGOOD had lost all the 
 books he carried home in the fire, and if 
 lie had possessed any more clothes than those 
 into which he had so hastily put himself when 
 the alarm was given, he would have lost them. 
 Having little or nothing to lose, he lost little or 
 nothing by saving his uncle rather than his 
 l.'ooks, his two or three shirts, and a couple of 
 D.iirs of coarse socks. It had never struck him 
 so before, but douljtkss he was fortunate in 
 liaving so little to lose. Happy are they that 
 have nothing to lose, for they shall lose nothing, 
 and poverty has sometimes its compensating 
 advantages, though, on the whole, it is not con- 
 venient and comfortable to be poor. Certainly 
 no one would desire to be poor for the sake of 
 escaping loss by fire. Of the brass kettle and
 
 152 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 the valubles in the cellar, Prince knew nothing, 
 and therefore he had no regrets for them. 
 
 He waited till the fire had consumed tlie 
 house in which the greater part of his cheerless 
 life had been passed. There was nothing kit 
 of it but a few smouldering embers, which the 
 firemen were drenching with water, and which 
 were soon as black and cold as the night itself. 
 Several of the neighbors had offered him the 
 hospitality of their liouses, and he had accepted 
 that of the cashier, who showed him to tlic 
 spare chamber of liis unpretentious dwelling. He 
 heard Mr. Longimore go out again, as lie Avas 
 getting into bed, and presently distinguished liis 
 voice and that of his uncle, as they spoke to- 
 gether in the street. He could not tell what 
 they said, but he readily understood that the 
 miser was bitterly bemoaning his loss, and prob- 
 ably the cashier was trying to comfort him. But 
 Prince was tired, and he soon dropped asleep. 
 
 When he awoke in the morning, he heard the 
 clock strike seven. He had intended to get u}) 
 earlier, in order to ascertain, before he went to 
 school, what his uncle desired to do in regard 
 to his future residence, and to assist him, if he
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 153 
 
 could. When he went down stairs, lie was 
 kindly greeted by Mrs. Longimore and Mollic, 
 who had not before been aware of his presence 
 in the house. Breakfast was all ready, and the 
 family appeared to be waiting for the cashier. 
 Prince said he would go and see what had be- 
 come of his uncle. 
 
 " But don't go till after breakfast. Prince,'' 
 interposed Mrs. Longimore. " It is all ready, 
 and we are only waiting for father to come 
 in." 
 
 " I thank you, Mrs. Longimore ; but I think 
 I will not rentain," replied the young man. 
 "My uncle may want me." 
 
 " He must be at the house of one of the 
 neighbors, and he will stay there till after break- 
 fast." 
 
 "No; I heard him say he should stay at the 
 vacant house down the street." 
 
 " But that is not furnished; he could not stay 
 there." 
 
 " I only know what he said." 
 
 "But there will be no breakfast there for you," 
 persisted the good lady. 
 
 "Why can't you stay, Prince?" added Mol-
 
 134 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 lie. " We shall all be very glad to have 3-011 
 do so." 
 
 " And I will not keep you waiting-," con- 
 tinued Mrs. Longimorc, proceeding to place the 
 breakfast upon the table. "We Ivill sit down, 
 and father will be here in a few moments. He 
 sometimes goes over to the bank before break- 
 fast ; but he always comes home punctually at 
 teven o'clock. I can't think what keeps him. 
 Perhaps Mr. Bushwell wanted to see him about 
 the fire." 
 
 Prince yielded to these pressing invitations, 
 and partook of the meal ^\ith the family. When 
 it was finished, Mr. Longimore had not appeared ; 
 but neither his wife nor his daughter felt any 
 anxiety in regard to him. 
 
 " Our house is always open to you, Prince ; 
 and I hope you will stay with us till your uncle 
 gets settled again," said Mrs. Longimore. 
 
 " Thank you ; but I think the vacant hout:o 
 Avill be ready for us to sleep in by night, replied 
 Prince, as he left the hospitable home of his 
 friends. 
 
 He walked down the street to the dwelling 
 where Fox Bushwell had taken refuge from the
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 155 
 
 cold and the night. Mrs. Pining was ah-eadj" 
 there ; for as soon as she finished her breakfast, 
 she hastened, with fear and tremljhng, to ascer- 
 tain whether the money-lender was ruined or 
 not, or whether or not the few hundred dollars 
 which constituted all her worldh^ wealth was 
 hopelessly lost. She was as miserable then as 
 even Mrs. Pining could be, and her capacity for 
 being miserable was immense. The pine bureau 
 in the old house, which had contained her very 
 limited wardrobe, had been burned. Even the 
 note which Fox Bushwell had given her for the 
 money he owed her was destroyed. She had had 
 only time to save her own withered frame, Avhen 
 the alarm was given. 
 
 "Sufferin', djdn' world! " moaned she, as Fox 
 Bushwell admitted her to the vacant house. 
 " Everything's gone to ruin ; and there ain't no 
 hope o' nothing in this world." 
 
 " It isn't so bad as it might be, Mrs. Pining." 
 replied Fox Bushwell. " I had a thousand dol- 
 lars insurance on the house ; and that's a thing 
 I never had till about a month ago. But that 
 isn't anything to what I've lost. It won't begin 
 to cover the loss," he added as if troubled 
 by a suspicion that he had admitted too much.
 
 156 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " There ain't no peace for the wicked in this 
 world, goodness knows!" groaned Mrs. Pining, 
 not much comforted hj the words of the money- 
 lender. " INIy two lace caps is both gone ! I 
 never wore 'em only when I went visitin'; and 
 now I hain't got nothing to wear. My black 
 gown I wore to Ezra's funeral is gone to dust 
 and ashes, and I hain't got nothin' but the cal- 
 liker I got on, when the smoke eena'most 
 choked me. My stockin's, my flannel petticoat, 
 and my wallet, with two dollars o' money in it, 
 's all gone, and I shan't git no good on 'em ! 
 Sufferin', dyin' ! What are we comin' to?" 
 
 " I lost a good deal more than you have, Mrs. 
 Pinino-. I don't know but I'm ruined — I can't 
 tell yet. We must bear up in times of affliction, 
 and try to be resigned." 
 
 "■ I can't be resigned ; and tain't no use to 
 try. Dyin' world ! I hain't got nothin' left," 
 groaned the widow, wiping the tears from her 
 sunken eyes with the handkerchief found in the 
 pocket of the " calliker." " You owe me four 
 hundred dollars, Mr. Bushwell." 
 
 This last remark was hurled with energy at 
 the head of the money-lender, while the old lady
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 157 
 
 fixed a gaze of the most pitiful anxiety upon 
 liiiii. She did not say that the note had been 
 burned ; perhaps she knew her employer too 
 well to make such a damaging admission. 
 
 "It isn't worth while to say anything about 
 that just now," replied Fox BushwelL "We are 
 all in affliction. My house and all that I have 
 ar3 burned; but the Lord tempers the wind to 
 tlio shorn lamb." 
 
 " You ain't the shorn lamb, Mr. Bushwell ! 
 
 Tm that creetur ! " groaned Mrs. Pining. "I'm 
 
 shorn of all my wool — my woollen stockin's, 
 
 -my flannel petticoat, my bombazine gown 
 
 and — " 
 
 " We will not speak of those things noAV, 
 Mrs. Pining. Trust in the Lord, and he will 
 liclp you," replied the miser, evasively. 
 
 " I know that ; but you told me that the Lord 
 don't lielp nobody but those that helps them- 
 selves; and I want some o' that money you owe 
 me, to buy some things with right off. Suf- 
 ferin', dyin' I I hain't got nothing to wear!" 
 
 " I'm not ready to speak of such things yet. 
 I'm in affliction ; I'm suffering under a terrible 
 loss."
 
 158 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 "Don't you owe me four hundred dollars, 
 Mr. Bushwell?" demanded Mrs. Pining. 
 
 '' What if I do ? I'm in no condition to pay 
 it now." 
 
 At that moment Prince entered the room, and 
 heard his uncle's reply. 
 
 "• Did you hear that. Prince ? " she asked, turn- 
 ing sharply upon the young man. 
 
 "Hear what?" 
 
 " What your uncle said." 
 
 "I did." 
 
 " You heard him say he owed me four hun- 
 dred dollars — didn't you ? " 
 
 " I heard him say what amounted to that," 
 replied Prince, quietly. 
 
 " But I said I could not pay her now," pro- 
 tested Fox Bushwell. 
 
 " I don't want the whole on't now. I hain't 
 had nothin' for two year ; and I want the in- 
 terest on't how." 
 
 " Very well ; I will pay you the interest to- 
 day or to-morrow, or as soon as I   can get my 
 insurance," wlnned Fox Bushwell. 
 
 " You hear, Prince," gasped Mrs. Pining. 
 " Your uncle's note I had was hurnt up in the 
 fire ; and I wanted to know how I stood."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 159 
 
 "It was!" exclaimed the money-lender, Avith 
 the feeling that he had been very weak in 
 admitting the debt, though he had never given 
 llie housekeeper credit for the strategy she had 
 exercised, 
 
 "• Yes, it was ; and two dollars o' money 
 besides." 
 
 F'ox Bushwell had admitted that he owed the 
 nionoy in the presence of a witness. It was 
 too late to recede, and he did not attempt to 
 do so. 
 
 '' Uncle Bushwell, m};- books were burned, and 
 f^ome other things ; and I should like my ten 
 dollars for next month now," said Prince, when 
 ]\Irs. Piningf's case was settled. 
 
 "Ten dollars again!" gasped the guardian. 
 
 " For next month." 
 
 " This isn't the time to ask for money. I was 
 burned out last night, and lost nearly every- 
 thino: I have in the world." 
 
 " Not quite so bad as that. You have money 
 in the bank."- 
 
 " I can't let you have it now." 
 
 " Then I must borrow it, Avhich will compel 
 me to say that I could not get the money of
 
 IGO THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 you," added Prince, who knew very well that 
 his uncle's loss by the fire was trivial, compared 
 with his possessions. 
 
 Fox Bushwell groaned and parleyed for some 
 time, but at last he took the ten dollars from 
 his pocket and gave it to his ward. 
 
 *' What's going to be done, uncle Bushwell?" 
 asked Prince, as he put the money away. 
 
 " I don't know yet. We must live in this 
 house ; and I shall lose the rent of it, or the 
 chance to sell it, till I can build up the other. 
 I heard yesterday that Captain Seeboard was 
 e^oino- out west, and waoted to sell his furniture. 
 1 sludl try to buy it, if he will sell it cheap 
 enough," replied Fox Bushwell. " Everything's 
 going to ruin with me. I don't know where I'm 
 coming out." 
 
 " You liaveu't lost much, if the house was 
 insured," added Prince. 
 
 *■' More than you have any idea of. I Avas 
 poor before, and I'm poorer now." 
 
 "Were your papers burned, uncle?" 
 
 "■ Some of them were. I don't know yet what 
 I have lost." 
 
 Fox Bushwell was not inclined to talk on this
 
 TIIK I);>IiOAS CLUB. IGl 
 
 subject, and Prince left him, to go to school. 
 Oil the way, he bought uew books and station- 
 ciy, to rephice what had been destroyed. His 
 written exercises, prepared with so much care 
 on that Monday evening, were all burned; but 
 of course he was excused from the recitations, 
 and, in the course of the day, he re-wrote them. 
 At recess the talk among the scholars was in 
 regard to the fire, and Prince was obliged to 
 answer the same questions a hundred times. 
 MoUie Longimore was absent that day, and there 
 were many inquries in regard to her, to which 
 110 one was able to reply. After school, Prince, 
 concluding there would be no dinner in the new 
 house for him, went to a restaurant for the 
 meal. There, for the first time, he heard of the 
 disappearance of Mr. Longimore. No one had 
 seen him that day, and his keys of the bank 
 and the vault could not be found. The porter 
 bad opened the rooms as usual, but no cashier 
 had made his appearance. The president, who 
 had duplicate keys of the vault, had been away, 
 and did not return till noon, so that no business 
 could be done before his return. Those in the 
 saloon had not heard what transpired after the 
 arrival of the president. ^ (11)
 
 1G2 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 Piiiicc was thunderstruck at this intelligence, 
 and liardly, by his eating, indorsed the dinner 
 set before him. As soon as he had finished his 
 meal, though he did not "finish" the food he 
 had ordered, he hastened to the hank for fur- 
 ther information. The directors had just com- 
 pleted their examination of the affairs of the 
 institution. The books showed that the cashier's 
 personal account was balanced ; the cash was all 
 right ; but, on looking over the securities, it was 
 found that the package of bonds was missing. 
 This discovery seemed to explain the absence of 
 the cashier. 
 
 The directors were wealthy men, and they 
 were really more troubled l)y the fall of such a 
 man as they had ahvays believed the cashier to 
 be than by the loss of the property. No one 
 remembered to have seen the package for a 
 month, and they could form no idea as to when 
 it had been removed from the vault. No one 
 knew of any speculations in which the cashier 
 had ])een engaged, and no motive for his villany 
 could be assigned. 
 
 Mr. Longimore was gone, and the bonds were 
 t/ne. This was all that was known ; but it was
 
 THE DOKCAS CLUB. l^S 
 
 enough to satisfy the directors. In the mean 
 time a dihg'cnt search was in progress for the 
 missing cashier ; but without any other result 
 than has before been mentioned. 
 
 The first intimation of the stunning blow 
 which fell upon the un])a})py family of Mr. 
 Longimore was given when the porter went to 
 the house, at nine o'clock, to inquire Avhere 
 the cashier was. The poor wife and the terri- 
 fied daughter — the only ones in that sad home 
 who were old enough to understand and appre- 
 ciate the possible calamit}^ — were almost para- 
 lyzed when they learned that the father had not 
 been at the bank since seven in the morning. 
 Mrs. Lonoimore had not seen him since he went 
 out to the fire at midnight. He had not come 
 to his chamber after that event. She had seen 
 the letter on the table, stamped, and directed to 
 her husband's brother, which she had sent to 
 the post-office immediately after breakfast. She 
 had called in her neighbors for help, and her 
 kind and sympathising .friends had searched the 
 city over for the absent one. 
 
 As soon as Prince had obtained all the infor- 
 mation that was to be had at the Dank, he
 
 164 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 hastened to the home of the cashier, intent only 
 upon assisting and comforting his family, with 
 whom he had long been intimate. The fact that 
 forty thousand dollars in bonds was missing had 
 already been borne to Mrs. Longimore and her 
 daughter ; indeed, two of the directors had been 
 there to search the house for them. The suspi- 
 cion that the cashier had wrongfully appropri- 
 ated the property was infinitely more terrible 
 than the assurance of his death would have 
 been to those loving ones. Mollie had fainted 
 twice; but when Prince entered the house the 
 effect of the shock had passed away, though the 
 mother and daughter suffered hardly less, if their 
 demonstrations were not so violent. 
 
 " I am glad to see you, Prince. Perhaps jou. 
 can tell us something about him," said INIrs. 
 Lon''iraore. 
 
 "Indeed, I know nothing but what I have 
 just heard at the bank," rephed he gloomily. 
 "• I was never so shocked and astonished in my 
 
 life." 
 
 "When did 5^ou see Mr. Longimore last?" 
 " I saw him at the fire ; and he came up to 
 
 the house with me. He showed me up to the
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 165 
 
 room. That was the last I saw of him. He 
 had some business with my uncle in the evening, 
 and I signed my name as a witness to some 
 papers which passed between them." 
 
 " What papers were they ? " asked Mrs. Lon- 
 gimore, Avith interest. ^ 
 
 ''I don't know what they were; I didn't stop 
 to read them. 
 
 " Then your uncle knows." 
 
 " Of course he does." 
 
 "I must see Mr. Bush well at once," 
 
 "Can I do anything to help you?" inquired 
 Prince. " I am willing to do everything I can. ' 
 
 " I wish you wonld go with me to joixr 
 uncle," added the poor wife. , 
 
 " I will, and he shall tell you all about the 
 papers," replied Prince. 
 
 But before they left the house, Mr. Doane, 
 the president of the bank, came in. Mrs. Lon- 
 gimore told him what Prince had said ; and any- 
 thing which promised to throw light upon the 
 conduct of the cashier was full of interest. Mr. 
 Doane decided to accompany them to the new 
 home of the money-lender. They found Fox 
 BusliAvell and jMrs. Pining busily engaged in
 
 1G6 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 arranging a load of second-hand furniture, which 
 had just been delivered at the house. The miser 
 had bought out the contents of Captain See- 
 board's house for a mere song, so anxious was 
 the late owner of it to start for his new loca- 
 tiou in the west. The articles were very plain, 
 and most of them much worn ; in fact, they 
 were not much better than those which had 
 been destroyed in the fire of the night before. 
 
 "You seem to be very busy, Mr. Bushwell ; 
 but we must disturb you for a short time," said 
 INIr. Doane. 
 
 " I can't stop for anything now," replied Fox 
 Bushwell, furtively ; and it must be acknowledged 
 that the president of the bank was not a wel- 
 come visitor at the new home. 
 
 " We will not detain you long ; and I think 
 3'ou and Mrs. Pining need a little rest." 
 
 " Sufferin', dyin' ! Goodness knows I need 
 it I " added the housekeeper. 
 
 " I heard that 5^ou had some business with 
 Mr. Longimore last evening," continued Mr. 
 Doane. 
 
 "I don't know that it concerns anybody but 
 the cashier and me," whined Fox Bushwell. "
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 167 
 
 "I don't know that it does; but you will find 
 it for your interest, under present circumstances, 
 to tell what it was," added the president, rather 
 sharply, for he knew his man too well to stand 
 upon anj^ ceremony with him. " Some papers 
 passed between j^ou and him last evening." 
 
 "There wasn't anything wrong about that — 
 was there? " 
 
 " I don't know yet. What were those papers ? " 
 demanded Mr. Doanc. 
 
 " Well, you see, Mr. Longimore got into a 
 little difficulty." 
 
 Fox Bush well paused, as if doubtful whether 
 it was prudent for him to proceed. Mrs. Lon- 
 gimore actually trembled with emotion, and 
 wiped away the tears that blinded her eyes, for 
 the money-lender's statement, so far, seemed to 
 confirm her worst fears. 
 
 "What was the difficulty?" asked the presi- 
 dent, sharply. 
 
 " He said he hadn't stole anything from the 
 bank, or done anything wrong," mumbled Fox 
 Bush well. 
 
 "Did he say that?" exclaimed the poor wife. 
 
 " That's just what he said; and I don't believe 
 he ever did anything out of the way."
 
 168 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " But what were the papers that passed be- 
 tween you?" repeated Mr. Doane, impatiently. 
 
 " I was just going ,to tell you. Mr. Longi- 
 more got into a little difficulty." 
 
 " You said that before." 
 
 "He has had a good deal of sickness in his 
 family, and had to pay a good deal of money 
 for doctor's bills." 
 
 " How well I know it ! " sighed Mrs. Longi- 
 more. 
 
 " I don't believe in paying so much money to 
 doctors. They can't do much good; and we are 
 all in the Lord's hands." 
 
 " Will you tell me what the papers were, or 
 shall I take the next step?" interposed the 
 president. " You said Mr. Longimore got into 
 a little difficulty. Now, go on." 
 
 " The long and the short of it is, he had 
 overdrawn his wages. He owed the bank five 
 hundred and twenty dollars. Mr. Longimore 
 was honest; nobody can say he was not." 
 
 " I saw that his account had been balanced 
 by the payment of five hundred and twenty dol- 
 lars ; and I found your check for that amount." 
 
 " I let him have the mone}^ and he gave me
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB.' 1G9 
 
 his note," added Fox Bush well; he did not say 
 for how much. 
 
 "What was the other paper?*' demanded Mr. 
 Doane, as if ho had a right to know. 
 
 "• That was the security he gave me," replied 
 the money-lender, with a doubtful glance a.t the 
 cashier's wife. 
 
 "What was the security?'* 
 
 " I don't think that niakes any differenee." 
 
 Mr. Doane insisted upon knowing, and Fox 
 Bushwell said that it was a bill of sale of the 
 cashier's furniture and piano. Then the amount 
 of the note was wrung from him ; and the presi- 
 dent was utterly disgusted. 
 
 " When did you see Mr. Longimore last ? " 
 asked he. 
 
 "I saw him at the fire." 
 
 " Was that the last time?" 
 
 "Well, no, it was not," whined the miser. 
 
 " When was the li\st time ? '* 
 
 " He came here about daylight this morning, 
 to bring me a bundle of papers I left at the 
 bank," replied Fox Bushwell, taking the pack- 
 age from his pocket. 
 
 Mr. Doane examined the papers very cai-e-
 
 170 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 fully, and assured himself that not a single bond 
 was among them. 
 
 "What did he say to you?" 
 
 "Nothing at all. He gave me the papers, 
 and left right off." 
 
 " Did he say where he was going ? " 
 
 "Not a word; but I thought he loolvcd and 
 acted very wild," said the money-lender. 
 
 " Why did he bring you these papcni at sucli 
 a time ?" 
 
 " I don't know ; he said I might want them, 
 I think. Then he went off." 
 
 Fox Bushwell stuck to his text, and Iho presi- 
 dent left the house apparency satisfied. Mr-. 
 Longimore could obtain no further ini'orniatic-ii 
 from him, and she went home, with the knowl- 
 edge that the furniture and piano weie to 1 e 
 taken from her in ten days. Prince went down 
 to the boat-builder's, to assist him in searching 
 for the body of the cashier.
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 171 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 "WHAT THE DORCAS SOCIETY DID. 
 
 HOWEVER fascinated with l)oats the mem- 
 bers of tlie Dorcas Society liad become, 
 they had no thought of abandoning tlie original 
 object of the association, whieli was to do good 
 to the needy. Their hibors had not been con- 
 fined to the perishing chisse? ; to tliose who 
 may be pubhcly assisted with food and ck)tli- 
 ing ; but the society even had a precedent Cor 
 its action in the case of the Longimorcs. A 
 hidy, who had supported her invaHd mother by 
 teaching in one of the pubhc scliools, was obhged 
 to resign her situation on account of her own 
 ill health. She was too proud to ask for help 
 when her scanty means failed, but Nellie Pai- 
 terdale, who had once been her pupil, callrd 
 to see her, and discovered enough to satisfy lier 
 that her old teacher was actually suffering from
 
 172 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 want. She stated the case to the Dorcas Society, 
 and a sum of mouey for the poor invaUd was 
 raised among the nabobs as privately as ilio 
 boat money had been levied, and williout tlu 
 knowledge of the public, over a hundred dollars 
 Avas placed in the hands of the invalid. 
 
 While the Lily Club were taking their {^a^^t 
 lesson in rowing, Nellie Patterdale and Minnie 
 Darling called at the house of the cashier. Mrs. 
 Longiraore and Mollie were tolerably calm, 
 though they had learned that even the furniture 
 in the house was to be taken from them in a 
 few days. Their eyes Avere red with weei^ing, 
 but their tears had ceased to flow, and they 
 seemed to be waiting for the calamity to spend 
 itself upon them. Poor Mollie, without giving 
 them expression, had begun to think great 
 thoughts. While her mother was at Fox Bush- 
 well's, she was considering the plan of obtaining 
 young pupils on the piano, and she was sure 
 that her friends would help her to obtain them. 
 It was a relief to her to think that she could thus 
 save her mother and the children from positive 
 want. Her mother came back with the sad 
 intelligence that every article of furniture in the
 
 THE DOTtCAG CLLTB. 173 
 
 house was owned hy the money-lender, even to 
 the piano, upon Avhicli she depended for the 
 future. Though slic might give the lessons at 
 the homes of her pupils, she needed the instru- 
 ment for her own practiee. Under these cir- 
 cumstances, it was little that Nellie and jMiii- 
 nie could say to comfort Mollie and her mother. 
 
 " I cannot believe that my husband took 
 those bonds," said Mrs Longimore. "It is less 
 painful for me to believe that he is dead, than 
 that he lias done so great a wrong." 
 
 "I cannot believe it;, mother!" exclaimed 
 Mollie, trembling Avith emotion. " You do not 
 believe it, Nellie?" 
 
 "• I am not v/illing to believe it," replied Nel- 
 lie. ? " 
 
 " My father was always so good and so kind ! 
 I nm sure lie would not do anything wrong. I 
 know there is some terrible mistake. If the 
 bonds are gone, some one else took them." 
 
 The visitors could not say anything. Without 
 knowing much about the facts, they could not 
 help feeling that appearances were altogether 
 against the cashier. 
 
 " I can only hope for the best," added Mrs.
 
 174 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 Longimore. " It appears that my husband had 
 overdrawn his salary. He did not say anything 
 to me, but he was terribly worried. Our ex- 
 penses Avere very large during the winter, and 
 he Avas in debt before. But rather than wrong 
 the bank out of a single dollar, he borrowed 
 enough of jNIr. Bush well to make himself square 
 with the bank. I cannot think he would have 
 done this, if he intended to leave, and take 
 those bonds." 
 
 "It is very strange," said Nellie. 
 
 "No man Avas more devoted to his family 
 than Mr. Longimore ; but he gave a bill of sale 
 of all the furniture in the house, rather than 
 even seem to wrong the bank," pleaded the 
 poor Avife. " I cannot understand it." 
 
 "Did he sell your furniture?" asked Minnie 
 Darling. 
 
 " I don't exactly comprehend the matter, but 
 I believe that Mr. Bush well can take every- 
 thing Ave have in the house, if the note my 
 husband gave is not paid in ten days." 
 
 " That is aAvful ! " exclaimed Nellie, satisfied 
 that even the Dorcas Societv, with all its 
 resources, could not meet so grave a case as 
 this.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 175 
 
 " I haven't a single dollar in the house, and 
 our bills at the provision store and the gro- 
 cery are unpaid," added Mrs. Longimore, with 
 a shudder. 
 
 Nellie looked at Minnie, and the look was 
 interpreted to mean, " Now is your time io 
 act." 
 
 "We are very sorry," said Nellie, tenderly. 
 " We have done nothing but think of Mollie 
 since we heard what had happened." 
 
 " You are very kind, Minnie, to think of us. 
 I don't know what will become of us. Mr. 
 Bush well is a hard man, and of course he will 
 take all our things, if the money is not paid," 
 added the cashier's wife. "Even if he don't, I 
 have not the courage to send to the butcher and 
 the grocer for Avhat I know I have no raeany 
 of paying for. I have no friends who are able 
 to help me, but — " 
 
 The remark was cut short by the president 
 of the Dorcas Society, who stepped up to Mrs. 
 Longimore, and presented to her one of the 
 white envelopes, which contained one hundred 
 dollars. It was directed to the cashier's wife, 
 and had been prepared to be delivered to her
 
 176 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 in the best way (he circumstances would per- 
 mit. 
 
 " What is this ? " asked Mrs. Longiniore, 
 turning- the envelope over very curiously, as 
 tliouoii she feared it contained the news of au 
 additional calamity. 
 
 "It will speak for itself; and I hope you will 
 not be offended," added Nellie. " No one but 
 our society knows anything about this business." 
 
 The afflicted lady opened the envelope, and 
 took out the bills, and the note it contained, 
 which she read. The tears flowed afresh from 
 her eyes as she did so ; and Mollie, when she 
 saw the roll of bills, readily comprehended the 
 meaning of the note. Perhaps she blushed; 
 certainly she wept with her mother. 
 
 " I know not Avhat to say," stammered Mrs. 
 Longimore. " I was not prepared to ask for 
 assistance, even of my husband's relatives, some 
 of whom are in good circumstances." 
 
 "' You have not asked for it; but it has come 
 without asking," replied Minnie. " We are a 
 thousand times happier to offer -you this aid than 
 you can be to receive it." 
 
 " I <lo not foci willing to take this money," 
 said Mrs. Longimore.
 
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 THE DOUCAS CLUB. 177 
 
 "Do not, mother," added Mollie. 
 
 " You will grieve us very much if you do 
 not," persisted Minnie. , 
 
 Nellie related the whole story of the raisinf^ 
 of the money for the Ijoat, and of the vote 
 appropriating a portion of it for the Longi- 
 mores. 
 
 "You must take it," said Minnie, warml}-. 
 " We must do just what we are ordered by the 
 society, and we have no power to take it back. 
 We hope things will be brighter with you ; and 
 when you are able, you may return the money 
 to the society." 
 
 " I will take it as a loan," answered Mrs. 
 Longimore, when she thought again that, with- 
 out it, her children mu§t go to bed hungry. 
 
 "And you must not mention that -you received 
 it, for every one of our society is pledged to 
 secrecy." 
 
 " You have removed one heavy load from my 
 mind," replied the poor lady, wiping away her 
 tears. ' If my husband is alive, he will surely 
 return, and I shall consider this debt a sacred 
 one." 
 
 "Don't do that; don't think of paying it," 
 12
 
 178 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 added Minnie. " We have more for you as soon 
 as you need it." 
 
 "I am sure no one ever had such kind 
 friends," sobbed Mollie. 
 
 " You must be as kind as they are, then, and 
 permit them to do all they can for you. This 
 is really the greatest kindness jou can do them. 
 All the girls love you, Mollie, and they pity 
 you in your grief more than they can tell," 
 said Nelhe, taking the httle hand of the troubled 
 maiden. 
 
 "I did not think I should ever need your 
 help," added poor Molhe. 
 
 " As you have done for others, now let others 
 do for you," pleaded Nelhe, as she and Minnie 
 left the house. 
 
 In the street they met Prince, who was going 
 home after the unavaihng search for the body 
 of the cashier. They asked him about the bill 
 of sale ; but he knew no more than the Longi- 
 mores concerning the transaction. The cashier 
 had agreed to pay one hundred dollars for the 
 use of five hundred and twenty for ten days. 
 The bill of sale was dated ten days ahead, and, 
 without any further steps, the furniture would
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 179 
 
 belong to the money-lender at the expiration of 
 that time. 
 
 "Bat will your uncle take the furniture away 
 from the poor family in ten days?" asked 
 Minnie. 
 
 " I never knew him to let up on a debtor 
 yet," replied Prince. "He is a Shylock, and. 
 would take the pound of flesh, if it were his 
 due." 
 
 "It is awful to think of! Why, he will turn 
 them out of liousc and home ! " 
 
 "He is used to such things." 
 
 "But cannot something be done?" asked 
 Nellie. 
 
 "I don't know; we will see. If I can pre- 
 vent him from taking the things, you may be 
 sure I should do so," said Prince, decidedly. 
 " For m}^ part, I don't see what is to become 
 of the family. I liear that Mr. Longimore Avas 
 in debt besides Avhat he owed the bank ; and I 
 don't believe they have anything to live on." 
 
 Prince was really troubled about this matter. 
 He wished he was tAventy-one, and had his 
 property in his own hands ; lie could solve the 
 problem then without troubling any one. But
 
 180 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 he might as well tiy to squeeze milk out of a 
 paving-stone as to get money enough for the 
 occasion out of his guardian. Minnie looked at 
 Nellie, and smiled. 
 
 " Shall I ? " said she, mysteriously. 
 
 "Yes; he is our Mercury more than any 
 other boy," replied Nellie. 
 
 Under the j)romise of secrecy, the president 
 told him what the Dorcas Society had done. 
 Prince was rejoiced ; and, as he was a constant 
 visitor at the house of the Longimores, he 
 promised to look after them, and agreed to do 
 whatever work they might require. He would 
 have done all this without a suggestion from 
 any one ; but he was willing to give the Dorcas 
 Society the entire credit of taking care of the 
 sufferers. 
 
 It was quite dark when he reached the new 
 home of his uncle. So hard had Fox Bushwell 
 and the housekeeper worked during the after- 
 noon, that the house was in condition to be 
 occupied. The cooking-stove and the bedsteads 
 had been put up, and the rest of the furniture 
 placed. Supper was ready, and Prince partook 
 of the meal with them. Though it consisted of
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 181 
 
 tea, baker's bread and butter, it was better than 
 usual, for Mrs. Pining had had no opportunity 
 to spoil good "rye and Indian" by making 
 them into loaves. 
 
 " What's the news, Prince ? " asked Fox 
 Bushwell as they seated themselves at tlie table. 
 
 " There is nothing more," replied the young 
 man. "No trace of M)-. Longimore has been 
 found." 
 
 " Somebody said his handkerchief had been 
 found on a wharf, and that a boat was missing : 
 is that so ? " 
 
 " Yes ; and the boat was kept at the wliarf 
 where the handkerchief was found," added 
 Prince. 
 
 "I think there isn't much doubt that he has 
 drowned himself." 
 
 "Why should he drown himself?" 
 
 "Because he had taken the bonds, and was 
 afraid of exposure. I am inclined to tliink he 
 was insane. He looked as wild as a luiwk when 
 he came to me in the morning," said the money- 
 lender. 
 
 " If he drowned himself, do you suppose he 
 had the bonds with him when he did so ? " 
 asked Prince.
 
 182 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " I don't know ; I can't form any idea. It is 
 tlie strangest thing I ever heard of in all my 
 life." 
 
 "If he meant to run away, or commit suicide, 
 why did he borrow that money of you to square 
 his accounts with the bank ? " 
 
 "That's what puzzles me," added Fox Bush- 
 well. " I didn't want to lend him that money. 
 I didn't feel safe to do it. I wouldn't have 
 done it, if he hadn't helped me about my 
 business." 
 
 "And he was to pay you a hundred dollars 
 for the use of it for ten days? " queried Prince, 
 who did not quite comprehend his uncle's way 
 of doing a friend a favor. 
 
 " It was risky business, you see." 
 
 " When he gave you a bill of sale of his 
 furniture ? " 
 
 " That kind of security isn't worth much, 
 Prince. Why, I gave only a hundred and fifty 
 dollars for all I got of Captain Seeboard." 
 
 "Well, I should say that's all it's worth," 
 added the young man, glancing around at the 
 well-worn articles in the kitchen. 
 
 " I couldn't have bought it new for four
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 133 
 
 hundred. After I heard that Longimore had 
 gone off, I thought I would wait ten days, and 
 then his furniture will be mine, if the note 
 iou't paid ; and it won't be now, of course. 
 lUit I can't afford to have such things in my 
 house as the cashier had, though I don't believe 
 they'll bring five hundred dollars at auction, 
 with the piano in the lot." 
 
 " How much would you lose then ? " asked 
 Prince, quietly. 
 
 " The note is for six hundred and twenty." 
 
 " That is a hundred more than you lent him," 
 added Prince quietly. 
 
 " It was his own offer. I didn't want to 
 lend him the money at any rate. It was too 
 risky," replied Fox Bushwell, in his whining 
 tones. " He said his br )ther would let him have 
 the mone}^ to pay me." 
 
 " Suppose he does not ? " 
 
 "Then I suppose I must lose part of it." 
 
 "Shall you take the furniture?" 
 
 "Take it? Why not? I can't afford to lose 
 the debt." 
 
 " It would be to bad to take everything from 
 the house of the poor family."
 
 184 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " It would be too Lad for me to lose the 
 debt," retorted the money-lender. " I can't be 
 sentimental when I've lost my house by fire." 
 
 If the young man had any doubts before in 
 regard to the intentions of his uncle, he had 
 them no longer. The wretch was ready to 
 "clean out" the poor family as soon as the 
 time came. The only hope for the Longimores 
 was, that the cashier's friends in Portland would 
 pay the debt. If they failed to do so, Prince 
 was ready to do something to avert the catas- 
 trophe, though as yet he hardly knew how to 
 proceed. 
 
 Mrs. Pining was very weary after her hard 
 day's work, and she retired at a very early 
 hour. Prince studied his lessons till nine o'clock, 
 but he, too, was almost worn out by the loss 
 of sleep the night before, and by the exertions 
 of the day. Fox Bushwell did not seem to be 
 at all exhausted, though lie had slept less and 
 worked more than any other member of that 
 ill-assorted family. Two or three times he told 
 his ward he had better go to bed ; and ho 
 seemed to be very nervous and restless all the 
 evening. At last, when he had finished his
 
 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 185 
 
 O 
 
 exercises, tlie young man lighted his lamp, and 
 went np stairs. 
 
 The house, though more recently built, was 
 the counterpart of the one which had ])een 
 burned, and Prince's room was over the front 
 stairs, while that of his uncle was the "parlor 
 chamber." The young man retired ; but the bed 
 was even harder than the one which the firo 
 mercifully consumed, and the situation was 
 rather strange to him. He pondered the events 
 of the day, and he felt very sad indeed when 
 he thought of poor Mollie Longimore. Then he 
 wished again that he were of age, and in pos- 
 session of his own property. That furniture 
 would not be taken then, and no such thing as 
 want or privation should be known to the 
 cashier's family. Mollie should smile again, and 
 be happy as long as she lived, if money and his 
 friendship could make her so. 
 
 No doubt he l)uilt up some very pretty air 
 castles, as he lay wondering why he did not go 
 to sleep, when he had been so sleepy ; but what- 
 ever gilded fabric his fancy conjured up, the fair 
 Mollie was there to people it, and to be the 
 central figure of every picture.
 
 186 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 ' Prince could not sleep, perhap;; because he 
 had retired an hour earlier than usual. At lajt 
 the clock struck ten, when he thou3ht it nin. t 
 be midnight. He turned over, and addressed 
 himself again with renewed vigor to the ta;.k 
 of going to sleep. But there were no poppies 
 in his pillow\ 
 
 While he was thus wrestling with Somnus and 
 and Morpheus, he heard, or thought he heard, 
 a sound like that of a hammer striking: against 
 brick-work. He rose in the bed, and listened 
 The sound was repeated again and again, and it 
 was ceilainly in the house. He got out of bed, 
 and partially dressed himself. He feared that 
 some villains w^ere trying to break into the 
 house. Perhaps some wretches, suspecting that 
 Fox Bushwell had a large sum of money by him, 
 intended to rob him. He had not heard his 
 uncle go to bed ; and, lighting his lamp, he 
 entered the front chamber. The old man was 
 not there ; and still the noise of the hammer, or 
 whatever it was, came up from the lower part 
 of the house. Leaving the lamp in his room, 
 and closing the door, he carefully descended the 
 stairs in his stocking feet. He soon satisfied
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 187 
 
 himself that tho noise came from the cellar. He 
 crept softly int(3 the kitchen, after he had 
 assured himself that his uncle was not there. 
 Then he heard the sounds more plainly than 
 before. Some one v/as at work on the rear 
 chimney in the cellar — tlie one that passed up 
 throuoh the kitchen. 
 
 o 
 
 As his uncle was not in the sittino'-room, nor 
 in the kitchen, nor in his chamber, Prince con- 
 cluded that it must be he who was at work at 
 this unseemly hour ; doubly unseemly to one who 
 had been hard at work all day, and could hardly 
 have slept any the night before. 
 
 Probably Prince was not very different from 
 other boys of his age, and not very different 
 from mother Eve herself, for his curiosity was 
 excited. He wanted to know what his uncle 
 was doing at that time of night. He liad heard 
 it said that Fox Bushwell had partly learned 
 the mason's trade, when he was young, and ho 
 had himself even seen him lay bricks. While h3 
 was creeping towards the collar door, in order 
 to obtain a better view of the operations of his 
 uncle, he stumbled over a stick of wood, which 
 lay on the floor near the stove. The spell was
 
 138 THE DORCAS CLDB. 
 
 broken and he retreated to the sink, on the 
 other side of the room, just as the untimely 
 \vorkman rushed up stairs, and discovered liim 
 in the act of drinking from the tin dipper he 
 had taken from the water-pail ; not that he was 
 anj' more thirsty than a boy always is, for the 
 act was only a piece of strategy. 
 
 "• What are j^ou doing here. Prince ? " demanded 
 Fox Bushwell, evidently terrified by the sight 
 of his ward. 
 
 '' Getting a drink of water," replied Prince. 
 "What are you doing in the cellar?" 
 
 " This back chimney is out of order, and I 
 was fixing it. There's a hole in the flue down 
 cellar, which spoils the draft," answered the 
 money-lender. 
 
 "It's rather late to do such a job," suggested 
 Prince. 
 
 " I was too tired to do it before ; and I had 
 to do it to-night, or the house will be full of 
 smoke when the fire is made in the morning," 
 the old man explained. 
 
 Prince appeared to be satisfied, though he 
 could not help thinking that his uncle had not 
 seemed to be very tired, only nervous and rest-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 189 
 
 less during the evening. He went to bed, and 
 was soon asleep. When he came down the next 
 morning, his guardian had gone out to get some- 
 thing for breakfast, and Prince visited the cellar 
 in order to sc(3 Vvdiat had been done to the chim- 
 ney. The rear one — larger than the other — 
 was built on an nrch, which was now filled with 
 old lum1)er. He could find no place where a hole 
 had been stopped, though there were a pail of 
 mortar and some pieces of bricks on the floor. 
 He removed some of the lumber from the arch, 
 and, within a foot of the floor, he found that 
 two bricks had been recently laid, for the mor- 
 tar was soft and green. 
 
 He did not believe that a hole in that jilace 
 could have affected the draught of the flue ; he 
 was more inclined to believe that his uncle had 
 opened out a hiding place for some of his valu- 
 ables. But, whatever he had done, the matter 
 did not concern him; and after breakfast he 
 went to school as usual.
 
 190 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE UNDINE CLUB. 
 
 I 
 
 ^OX BUSHWELL appeared to be the last 
 person who had seen Mr. Longimore, 
 though a storekeeper thoaght he had ol^served a 
 man who looked like him going down the main 
 street about sunrise. A small steamer had been 
 sent to explore all the sliores of the bay in the 
 vicinity of the city, to discover, if possible, the 
 .missing boat, in which the cashier was supposed 
 to have left the wharf ; but it returned in the 
 evening without having obtained any clue what- 
 ever to it. On Wednesday the directors of the 
 bank sent for Fox Bushwell, and examined and 
 cross-questioned him to their satisfaction ; but he 
 still told his story just as he had related it to 
 ,the president. The cashier hid coin3 to the 
 house at dajdight in the morniug, and given him 
 the bundle of papers he had left at the bank.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 191 
 
 " What did he say when he brought them to 
 you ? " asked Mr. Doane ; and he liad put tlie 
 same question to him half a dozen times before. 
 
 "- He said I might want the papers," rcphed 
 Fox BushwelL " He looked and acted wild. 
 That's all I know about it, as I have said be- 
 f,.rc." 
 
 " But didn't you ask him any questions ? " 
 
 "• No, sir, I did not. I liadn't any time to 
 fiiy anything before he was gone." 
 
 " Didn't you think it was very strange that 
 hj ;;hould come to yoii so early in the morii- 
 i 13- ? ' ' inquired one of the directors. 
 
 '• Yes, I did ; I thought it was very strange. 
 And he looked and acted so wild that I was 
 roinfx to ask him what the matter was ; Imt he 
 Avent off before I could do so." 
 
 " AVhat did you think was the matter with 
 him, Mr. Bushwell ? " 
 
 " 1 hadn't time to think much about it, ho 
 was off so quick. I knew he was in trouble, 
 for 1 lent him the money the night before to 
 make his account good with the bank. He was 
 Avorried, and I didn't think so much about his 
 condact in the morning' as I should if I hadn't 
 seen him the night before."
 
 1.02 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " Could you think of aii}^ reason why he 
 brought you those papers at that early hour ? " 
 asked Mr. Doanc. 
 
 *' I couldn't then, but I can now," replied 
 the money-lender, warily. 
 
 *' Well, what reason do you assign for it? " 
 
 "He knew lie was going off, if I did not, 
 either to clear out or to make way with him- 
 self; and I suppose, after the fire, he thought I 
 might want the papers, for my insurance policy 
 was among them," replied Fox Bushwell ; and, 
 though he had begun with a more manly tone 
 llian he generally used, he had now come down 
 io the peculiar whine which seemed to be a part 
 of his miserly nature. 
 
 " Didn't he know you could get the papers 
 yourself when 3-ou wanted them ? " inquired a 
 director. 
 
 " He helped me about some of my business, 
 and I left the bundle of papers in his charge. 
 He made up the package just as he did the 
 papers belonging to the bank. Perhaps he 
 thought the directors would not let me have the 
 papers ; or, as they were left in his care, that 
 he ought to return them to me, before he went
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 193 
 
 ofp. I don't know what he thought ; I can only 
 guess at it; and you can guess for yourselves as 
 well as I can." 
 
 "Which way did Mr. Longimore go, when 
 he left your house?" 
 
 " He went up the street towards the bank." 
 "Were you awake when he came?" 
 "No; I was asleep in the front room — but 
 not very sound asleep. His step woke me ; and 
 when I heard him knock, I went to the door. 
 I thought it likely it might be my boy Prince. 
 As soon as I opened the door, he handed me 
 the papers, and said I might want them. Then 
 he turned round, and hurried down the stairs. 
 I Avas going to ask him what the matter was; 
 
 « 
 
 but he didn't give me time. I have told you 
 all this about a dozen times; but I'll keep on 
 telling it all day, if you say so." 
 
 Perhaps^ there was something in the manner 
 of the money-lender which excited the suspicions 
 of the president of the bank ; if there was, he 
 found nothing to verify them. Fox Bushwell's 
 story was very simple, and he did not vary it in 
 the sHghtest particular. He was one of those 
 prudent witnessess who believe it is better to 
 13
 
 194 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 know too little rather than too much. Mr. 
 Doane and his associates inquired into the busi- 
 ]:iess transaction of the preceding evening-, and the 
 money-lender told the whole truth without 
 reserve. He exhibited the note and the bill of 
 sale, and everything appeared to be regular. 
 The bank officials were unable to oljtain a single 
 fact which threw any additional light upon the 
 singular conduct of the cashier. He was gone, 
 and the bonds were gone. He was " rather wild" 
 when last seen, Avhich tended to strengthen the 
 belief that he had drowned himself in the bay. 
 
 " I am pretty well satisfied that he has made 
 way Avith himself," said Captain Hapgood. 
 
 " Where are the bonds, then ? " 
 
 " I can't tell. He may have used them up in 
 some stock speculation." 
 
 " But there would be something among his 
 papers to indicate it, if he had — some letter or 
 mem orandum . ' ' 
 
 "If he was shrewd enough to square liis 
 accounts with the bank, he was smart enough 
 to burn his letters and other papers. It is very 
 strange, I know ; but I can think of no other 
 explanation of his conduct," added the cap- 
 tain .
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 195 
 
 " If he had drowned himself, the boat Avould 
 have been found before this time," suggested a 
 director. 
 
 " I have a theory in regard to that, which 
 came to my mind last night while I was think- 
 ing of the affair," continued Captain Hapgood. 
 " Mr. Longimore, according to all accounts, was 
 fall of trouble, and rather wild. Crazy people 
 are always cimning. M}' theory is, that he 
 pulled over to one of the rocky shores, filled liis 
 boat with stones enough to sink her when the 
 water was let in, and then went out into deep 
 water again. I fancy that he tied himself down 
 to the boat, or crawled under the thwarts, and 
 then pulled the plug out of the bottom of the 
 boat. If he did this, of course neither the boat 
 nor his body will come up to tell what has 
 become of him." 
 
 " All that is only a supposition," said Mr. 
 Doane, with a smile at the ingenuity of the 
 explanation. 
 
 " It is only Avhat might have been, I know. 
 If he has run away, the boat would certainly 
 have been found," persisted Captain Hapgood. 
 
 Though this theory did not satisfy any person,
 
 196 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 no more plausible one could be suggested. Fox 
 Bushwell left the bank with a feeling that he 
 had conducted himself prudently, and that he 
 had succeeded in all he had undertaken. Day 
 after day passed away, and no intelHgence of 
 the absent cashier came. The police in all the 
 large cities were on the lookout for him, and 
 officers employed by the bank were searching tho 
 surrounding country. Mrs. Longimore gladly 
 accepted the theory that her husband's troubles 
 had made him insane, and that he had drowned 
 himself in the bay ; for it was better to believe this 
 tlian to think that, in his right mind, he had stolen 
 the property of the bank. She and her daughter 
 mourned him as dead, and theirs was a sad, sad 
 home. Two or three times a day Prince Willin- 
 good called upon them, and they allowed him, at 
 his own urgent request, to do the work about the 
 house which the absent father had done. They 
 spoke to him freely of the darkened future, which 
 had hardly a ray of hope for them. 
 
 On tlie third day after the disappearance of 
 the cashier, came a letter from his brother to 
 Mrs. Lonoimore. He had heard, of course, of 
 the " irregularity "' of her husband, and he had
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 197 
 
 iieceived the letter addressed to him, imploring 
 aid to save the cashier from disofrace and ruin. 
 He could do nothing ; he had just failed in busi- 
 ness, and enclosed in his letter a slip cut from 
 a daily paper, containing the legal proceedings 
 in his case. This hope was cut off. The mother and 
 her daughter wept afresh at this bad news. The 
 brother expressed his sympathy, and this was all 
 he could do. Prince read the letter, and listened 
 to the sobs of Mrs. Longimore and Mollie as he 
 did so. He tried to comfort them, but he was 
 powerless to do so. 
 
 " You shall not want for anything, Mrs. Lon- 
 gimore," said Prince, confidently. "• I know 
 what the girls have done ; and before the money 
 they loaned you is gone, some way will be pro- 
 vided for you to live. Mollie shall give lessons 
 on the piano, and — " 
 
 " But the piano is no longer ours." 
 
 " My uncle shall not take it," protested Prince, 
 warmly. " I can obtain the pupils, I know. 
 Do not weep; all shall be well in time. You 
 can take boarders, open a store, or keep a 
 school," suggested the young man. 
 
 "We might take boarders," roDlied Mrs. Lon- 
 gimore, thoughtfully, and with a gleam of hojie.
 
 198 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " But you need not do anything yet a while. 
 Do not be worried. I wish I was twenty-one ! " 
 added Prince, with an enthusiasm which had its 
 effect on the mother and dauixhter. 
 
 He went home ; but his presence and his 
 words had kindled a hope. He left the skies 
 less black behind him, though he was puzzled 
 to know what he could do, with all his worldly 
 goods locked up in the hands of his miserly 
 uncle. 
 
 After school on Wednesday, a special meeting 
 of the Dorcas Societ}^ had been called, and Don 
 John, the boat builder, had been invited to be 
 present. The enthusiasm for boating was at the 
 highest pitch. The experience of the Lily Club 
 had been so delightful that the other clubs could 
 hardly wait till their days came. The meeting 
 was called to order at three o'clock, for the 
 Undine Club were to have the boat at four. 
 
 " The princely generosity of Don John has 
 left us sufficient funds to procure another boat," 
 said Nellie Patterdale, when the society was 
 called to order. 
 
 " We need another," added Eva Doane. 
 
 *' Wouldn't it be nice if we could have five
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 190 
 
 boats, so tliat we could all go every day ! " 
 exclaimed Kate Bilder. 
 
 " Perhaps wc may have them by and by," 
 replied Nellie ; '• but I think a couple will do 
 very well for the present — at least till we have 
 all learned to row." 
 
 " I move that we buy another boat at once," 
 said Jennie Waite. 
 
 " Second the motion," added Kate Bilder. 
 
 " I offer an amendment, that Don John be 
 employed to build one like the Dorcas," inter- 
 posed Nellie. 
 
 "I accept the amendment," added Jennie. 
 "But how lonq; will it take to build one ? " 
 
 " Don John can answer that question," said 
 Minnie, turning to the boat-builder. 
 
 " I might do it in three weeks, if I employ 
 help enough ; perhaps in two," answered Don- 
 ald. 
 
 " We can't wait so long," protested Kate. 
 
 " There is a four-oar boat for sale in the city, 
 the one I used as a model for the Dorcas," 
 added Don John. "She was built last vear, 
 and the price is two hundred dollars." 
 
 "Let's buy her!" cried Jennie.
 
 200 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " I tliink we can wait two or three weeks,'* 
 said Nellie. 
 
 " I'm sure we can't." 
 
 " Yes, Jennie Waite," laughed Minnie. 
 
 "It would be such fun to have two boats!" 
 exclaimed Kate. " We could get up a race. 
 Let us buy her at once." 
 
 " I hope we shall not do so," continued Nel- 
 lie. " After such a magnificent present, I think 
 we can wait two or three weeks for Don John 
 to build the boat." 
 
 " O, yes, certainly we can. I didn't think," 
 added Jennie, blushing. 
 
 All of them saw that it would be very swin- 
 ish to purchase a boat, instead of giving an 
 order to Don John to build one, after his gen- 
 erous gift of the Dorcas ; and not another word 
 was said about buying the one that was for 
 sale. 
 
 " Question ! " shouted the members. 
 
 " The motion is to employ Don John to build 
 another boat," said the president. 
 
 "I beg permission to say a word," interposed 
 Donald. "If the members prefer to purchase 
 the boat, I hope they will do so, and not wait
 
 ' THE DOKCAS CI-.UB. 201 
 
 two or three weeks in order to give me the job. 
 It will not make any difference to me whether 
 I build her or not. I expect to lay the keel of 
 a large scbooncr-3'acht in the course of two or 
 three weeks ; and I shall have enough to do." 
 
 "■Question!" repeated the girls. 
 
 The motion was carried unanimously. 
 
 "Don John, you will build the new boat at 
 once," said the president. 
 
 " Of course I will do so, Miss President, if 
 such is your order, for I would swallow ray 
 own head rather than disobey you," replied 
 the representative of the firm of Ramsey & 
 Son. 
 
 " Such is om- order." 
 
 "Then T obey; but I shall be compelled to 
 resign my pleasant position as instructor in row- 
 ing to the Dorcas Club. 
 
 " Resign ? " 
 
 " I must employ one or two men to help me 
 build the boat; and I must work upon it my- 
 self, instead of sunning in the smiles of these 
 water nymphs." 
 
 "Very pretty!" 
 
 " This is a business matter ; and if I do not
 
 202 THE DORCAS CLUB* 
 
 attend to it, the boat may not be ready as soon 
 as I wish, and certainly not as soon as you 
 wish," added Don John. " Please to accept my 
 resignation, and I will try to have the boat in 
 the water in ten days, if I have to work nights 
 upon her." i 
 
 "But whom shall we get to teach n;; ?" asked 
 
 Nelhe. 
 
 '• There are plenty of roAvists v/ho understand 
 the business better than I do." 
 
 "Who?" 
 
 " Prince Willingood, for one." 
 
 "Prince!" "Prince!" shouted several of the 
 girls. 
 
 " I move that the resignation of Don John 
 be accepted," said Eva ; and tlie motion pre- 
 vailed. 
 
 Prince was then elected to this highly impor- 
 tant position, and Don John was requested Iv) 
 inform him of the will of the club. The busi- 
 ness of the meeting was completed, and the 
 Undine Club, who were entitled to the use of 
 the boat on that da}^, hastened to the shop of 
 the builder, where she Avas kept. Don Jolm, 
 who was to instruct them on this occasion, pro-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 203 
 
 ceeded aa lio had done the day before, until the 
 girls Averc able to pull a stroke together. The 
 Dorcas darted off, for it required very little 
 power to move her. Though the members of 
 the club flattered themselves that they could rov/ 
 as soon as the boat began to move, their stroke 
 was very awkward and uneven, and the fair 
 rov.^ists were likel}^ to exhaust their strength in 
 ] uliing a single mile. Already they puffed like 
 l;o many seals. 
 
 "Ready to lie on your oars!" said Susie 
 Thaxter, the leader, as instructed by Don John. 
 "Oars!" 
 
 At the last command, the girls leveled their 
 oars at the proper distance above the water. 
 
 "What is the matter?" asked one of the 
 rowers. 
 
 " Nothing," replied the instructor. 
 
 "What have we stopped for?" 
 
 "It is about time for you to begin to learn 
 lioAV to row," laughed Don John. 
 
 "I thought we were rowing." 
 
 " I didn't think so. You were sort of pad- 
 dling and beating the water with the oars ; but 
 the water can stand it a c'ood deal better than
 
 204 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 you can. You are all puffing like porpoises." 
 
 "But we went real fast." 
 
 " Too fast for beginners ; you will wear your- 
 selves out in half an hour, and at this rate the 
 exercise will do you more harm than good," said 
 the boat-builder, gravely. " I want you to under- 
 stand that I am duly and properly impressed 
 with the responsibility of ni}^ position as pro- 
 fessor of the art of rowinsr." 
 
 " Professor Ramsay!" laughed Susie. 
 
 " Thank you ; I accept the title as proper and 
 fitting, and regret that I am so soon to vacate 
 the chair," added Don John. " While I retain 
 it, I desire faithfully to discharge its duties. 
 Ladies should do everything gracefully ; therefore 
 you should row gracefully. But allow me to add 
 that you row like so man}- sand-crabs, sidling 
 about in search of their breakfast." 
 
 "By all means, let us row gracefully," said 
 Kitty Jones. 
 
 " Moreover, it becomes m}^ duty to insist 
 that you shall row easily," continued Professor 
 Ramsay. " You make harder work of it than 
 a hod-carrier, who has to shin up a ladder with 
 fifty bricks on his shoulder, and possibly one in
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 205 
 
 his hat. So miicli hard Avork will tire }'0U oat, 
 and impair your health. Pardon me for this 
 long speech ; but consider the heavy responsi- 
 bility resting upon me." 
 
 "We are all willing to learn, Don John, if 
 you will only tell us what to do," added Susie. 
 
 *'In the first place, then, you must sit up 
 straight, and throw your shoulders back, just as 
 you do in the calisthenic exercises. In the 
 second place, you must inflate the lungs when 
 you gather up for the stroke. In position, if 
 you please." 
 
 The giiis straighteued up, and threw their 
 slioulders back. They made the movements, 
 Avith the breathing exercise, a few times till 
 they got the idea, without dipping the oars. 
 
 " That will do very well. All of you dip the 
 blades too deep in the water, which very much 
 increases the labor. Now, oblige me, at the 
 word, by pulling a few strokes, only half cover- 
 ing the blade." 
 
 "Ready — give way together!" said the 
 leader, at the instructor's request. 
 
 " Dip lightly. Too deep. Only half cover 
 the blade of the oar — just bury the spoon, and
 
 206 THE DOUuAH OLCJB. 
 
 110 more. Very ^vell indeed. But you lift the 
 oars too high above tlie water when you gather 
 up ; that is, at movement No. 1. Just clear the 
 Avatcr, and no more. Slowly ; don't hurry. No, 
 no! that's too fast. — Stop them, Susie." 
 
 " Ready to lie on your oars ! Oars ! " called 
 the leader ; and they all ceased as one, and 
 came into the proper position. 
 
 " You must do it ver}' slowly. I will call the 
 movements by number — one, two, three, four; 
 one, two, three, four. No faster than that. Now, 
 try again. — Give the word, Susie." 
 
 After considerable practice, Don John taught 
 them to row very slowly and steadily. Taking 
 out a long led pencil, he beat the time, like 
 the conductor of an orchestra. The rowists 
 were so interested in the exercise, that they 
 made remarkable proficiency. 
 
 "NoAv I wish to make it still easier." Pro- 
 fessor Ramsay proceeded, when the club ceased 
 rowing again. 
 
 " I don't see how it can be any easier," said 
 Kitty. 
 
 "01 wish you to be able to pull a couple of 
 miles without being at all fatigued; and you
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 207 
 
 can, when you get used to it. Now I will give 
 the time in six beats, instead of four. Three will 
 come on the stroke, as before ; but on the fifth 
 and sixth beats you will lie on your oars. This 
 h the man-of-war stroke. Arc you all ready?" 
 
 " Ready." 
 
 ' ' One — two — three — four — fi ve — six. No ; 
 you are all in a snarl!" laughed Don t>onu. 
 " Rest on five and six. Now try again. One — 
 tAVo — three — four — five — six. That's better." 
 
 The exercise was repeated until the rowists 
 were accustomed to the movement, and they 
 made the rest after the stroke without breaking 
 the time. Of course the length of the stroke, 
 and the dip, were often corrected ; but even the 
 professor Avas astonished at their progress. 
 
 "I hope you are satisfied," said Kitty. 
 
 " Not quite. You must now learn to feather 
 the oar, and never pull a stroke Avithout doing 
 so," replied Don John. " On four, as you lift 
 the blade of the oar out of the Avater, turn it, 
 tio that it shall rest flatAvise, near the surface of 
 the brine." 
 
 The instructor took an oar, and shoAved how 
 it Avas done. Tlien each girl practiced till she
 
 208 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 could do it. In half iiii hour the Undine Club 
 returned to the shore, and astonished the other 
 clubs by the ease and grace with which they 
 pidled. As instructed, the bow oarswoman 
 shipped her oar, and stood by the boat-hook, 
 as the Dorcas approached the landing-place. 
 Everybody was satisfied, and Don John not the 
 least SO-
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 209 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE NEW PROEESSOR OF ROWING. 
 
 |() tlie members of tlie Dorcas Society, tlie 
 most favored place of resort, after dinner, 
 was the boat-shop of Ramsay & Son, where Don 
 John aiul Kennedy, his workman, were getting 
 out tlio frame of the Lily, as the new boat was 
 to be called. When they arrived, a new snr- 
 prioC awaited them ; for, by the side of the Dor- 
 cas lay the very counterpart of her, with the 
 name " Undine " painted upon the stern, and 
 each side of the stem. 
 
 '^ Whose boat is that, Don John ? " asked 
 Susie Thaxter, the leader of the Undine Club. 
 " Somebody has stolen our name, and I don't 
 think it's fair." 
 
 " It is wicked to steal," i^eplied Don John, 
 his eyes twinkling with mischief. 
 
 *' Somebody took tliat name just because we 
 14
 
 210 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 did," pouted Susie. " If it was any of the boys, 
 I never will speak to tliem again ! " 
 
 '"• It was very naughty," added Don John. 
 " The boat Avas sent here early this morning, 
 and I Avas directed to have the name ' Undine ' 
 painted npon her in three places, as on the Dor- 
 cas. You know that I can only obey orders, 
 even if I break owners. If I had beqn ordered 
 to paint 'Susie Thaxter ' — " 
 
 "Paint Susie Thaxter! Paint me J" laughed 
 the merry girl. 
 
 " I was going to ray something morf. I knoA^ 
 you don't paint ; your cheeks are ag red as a 
 ripe peach. If I had been ordered to paint 
 ' Susie Thaxter ' on that boat, I should have had 
 it done." 
 
 " Of course you would. That would have 
 been more sensible than stealing the name of 
 our club ; for I hope we shall have a boat somf 
 time." 
 
 " I hope you will ; and as I can build two 
 boats at the same time about as quick as I can 
 one, I shall get out a pair of them. I shall 
 have two men at woik for me to-morrow." 
 
 " But who owns that boat ? " asked Kitty 
 Jones.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 211 
 
 " I am sure I don't know wlio owns lier now. 
 It is the one I spoke to jou about, yesterday, 
 as being for sale. She was sent here this morn- 
 ing, with a note from General Jones — " 
 
 "My father!" exclaimed Kitty. 
 
 " From your father. I was ordered to paint 
 the name ' Undine ' upon her, and send the bill 
 to him," replied Don Jolm. " This afternoon a 
 letter was left in my care for the president of 
 the Dorcas Clul), which I was requested to 
 deliver Avhen the girls came down to row. Here 
 it is." 
 
 " Minnie Darling hasn't come yet, but she will 
 be here soon. The Undine is a very pretty 
 boat," added Kitty. 
 
 " I built the Dorcas after her model, as T told 
 you ; and the two are as nearly alike as two 
 peas. The Lily will be precisely like them," said 
 Don John. 
 
 " What are you going to do with the other 
 one 3^ou are building?" asked Susie. 
 
 " That's an open question. I have not decided 
 yet ; but from the interest taken in boating, I 
 am sure there will be a market for her, and 
 perhaps for half a dozjn more."
 
 £12 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " Here are Minnie and Nellie," said Kitty, 
 anxious to know the contents of the letter. 
 
 The boat-builder delivered the missive to the 
 president, who opened and read it. As she did 
 so, a smile lighted up her face, and her com- 
 panions were sure that it contained pleasant 
 intelligence. 
 
 " What is it, Minnie ? " demanded Susie, impa- 
 tiently. 
 
 " Listen, and I will read it," replied Minnie : 
 " ' Mr. Edward C. Jones presents his compli- 
 ments to the Dorcas Boat Club, and requests 
 the association to accept, as his gift, the four- 
 oar boat to which he has given the name of 
 Undine, with his best wishes for the health 
 and happiness of the members, and with the 
 hope that the boat will contribute something to 
 the enjoyment of tlie coming season.' " 
 
 " Goody ! goody ! " shouted several of the girls, 
 in their enthusiasm. 
 
 " You tell your father he is just the nicest 
 man on record, Kitty," said Susie. " How did 
 he happen to do this magnificent thing?" 
 
 " I'm sure I don't know. After tea last even- 
 ing, I was telling mother and the rest of the
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 21] 
 
 folk; what an elegant time we Lad had, and 
 what splendid rowists we had become, and how 
 nio3ly Don John instructed ns, so that it was 
 easier to row than it was to sit still, and how 
 hungry I was when I got home, and how wc 
 were to row gracefully as well as easily, and 
 what fun we should have all summer, and that 
 Don John was going to build another boat, and 
 how I wished we had boats enough for all the 
 girl;-" 
 
 " And by that time I suppose your father 
 was half crazy, because you talked so fast," 
 laughed Nellie Patterdale. 
 
 "No, he wasn't. He was reading his news- 
 paper, and he didn't seem to mind what T was 
 saying. I told the folks that some of the girls 
 wanted to buy the boat that Avas for sale, and 
 if I had money enough, I'd buy her myself. 
 Father didn't take a bit of notice of what 1 
 saidi" 
 
 " It seems that he did." 
 
 " Well he didn't ask me even a single ques- 
 tion," added Kitty. 
 
 " Evidently there was no need of any ques- 
 tions," ! aid Minnie ; " for you told all you knew 
 and all you felt Avithout being asked."
 
 214 THE DOHCAS CLUB. 
 
 " I don't care ! I never enjoyed myself htilf 
 so much before, as I did in the boat yesterday 
 afternoon. JNIother was afraid I shonkl hurt 
 mj^self rowing, and said it wan too hard Avork 
 for girls. Then I told her everything Don John 
 had said about making easy work of it, and 
 that I wasn't a bit tired after we learned to 
 row. Then to think that father heard all I said, 
 and went off this morning and bought this boat, 
 and gave it to the Dorcas Club ! Now each of 
 the clubs can go twice a week, instead of once, 
 and next week will be vacation." 
 
 "You can use her this afternoon, if you like, 
 only you must be careful not to rub the letters 
 that are painted on her," suggested Don John. 
 
 " That will be nice ! " exclaimed Kitty. " The 
 Psyche Club can have her." 
 
 "But we have not learned to row," caid 
 Carrie West, the leader of the club mentioned. 
 " We must be instructed before we can po out, 
 and the professor is to go with the Dorcas Club, 
 who have the boat to-day." 
 
 " Where is Prince ? " asked Minnie. 
 
 "He will be here very soon," replied Don 
 John. " It isn't four o'clock yet."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB, 215 
 
 " Can't 5'0ii go with the Psyche Club, Pro- 
 fessor Ramsa}-?" asked Kitty. 
 
 " I cannot ; if I do,^ Kennedy must stop work 
 as Avell as I, and we can't get these boats done 
 at the time stated. Please don't call me pro- 
 fessor any more ; I abdicate in favor of Prince 
 Willingood, who has been chosen as my successor. 
 Transfer the title to him ; he is worthy to bear 
 the laurel and bear the honor," laughed Don 
 John. " Besides there will be so many profes- 
 sors around, that we shall not know one from 
 another. The barber is a professor, and so are 
 the horse-doctor, the bumpologist, and the light- 
 niuGf-rod man." 
 
 "Here is the Simon Pure professor," said 
 Susie Thaxter, as Prince made his appearance. 
 
 "The what?" demanded the new instructor 
 in rowing. 
 
 " The professor, Prince ; yon are the professor 
 of the art of rowing." 
 
 "Am I, indeed?" chuckled Prince. "I'm a 
 greater man than I thought I was ; and I beg 
 to express my warmest thanks for the distin- 
 guished honor conferred npon me. I will 
 endeavor to discharge my arduous duties with
 
 216 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 fidelity and discretion, and thus to win the 
 favor of those Avho have placed me in this hon- 
 orable and useful position. Allow me to add 
 that Don John has fully instructed me in 
 regard to his system of rowing, and I shall 
 follow his method." 
 
 Both of the boats were put into the water, 
 and hauled up alongside the little i)ier which 
 Don John and his man had built in front of 
 the shop. 
 
 "But which club is groino- in the Undine?" 
 said Minnie, as she seated herself at the stroke 
 oar. 
 
 "The Psyche, of course," replied Kitty. "It 
 is their next turn." 
 
 " But we can't row," added Carrie West. 
 
 " And for that reason, I hope the Psyche Club 
 will not go out in the Undine, for they will 
 only contract bad habits," said Prince. 
 
 " Miss President, I move, as the sense of the 
 club, that the Undine Club, knowing how to 
 row, ought to use the second boat," continued 
 Nellie, at the bow oar of the Dorcas. 
 
 " Just my opinion, exactly," cried Prince. 
 *' Then the Dorcas Club can see just hoAv to
 
 ao 
 1—1 
 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 H 
 Zi 
 
 > 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 ,i,iillil4:illiilllllliiin;iii..«.J^lLlW:,:[j,a.i»Al^^
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 217 
 
 row, and their example will make our work all 
 the easier." 
 
 Minnie put the question to vote, and the 
 motion Avas carried. • 
 
 "I think it is real mean, there!" said Kittic, 
 impulsively. '' Neither the Psyche nor the Fairy 
 Club have been in the boat yet. I would rather 
 have them go than go myself." 
 
 " But we can't row," persisted Carrie West. 
 " I'm afraid we should tip over, or spoil the 
 boat." 
 
 "I don't want to go till Prince can go with- 
 us," added Jennie Waite, the leader of the Fairy 
 Club. 
 
 So said all the members of the two clul)s 
 which had not yet been in the boat. 
 
 " We had much rather see your club row, 
 Kitty," continued Carrie West. " I enjoyed 
 looking at you, yesterday afternoon, quite as 
 much as I should rowing myself. Your move- 
 ments were the very poetry of motion." 
 
 "That's so!" cried Prince. "I must have 
 the Undine Club as a model for the Dorcas." 
 
 Kitty, over-persuaded, gave up the point. As 
 her father had presented the boat to the club,
 
 218 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 she wanted the members to feel that she belonged 
 to all, and not to her particular club. The mem- 
 bers of the Undine Clulj took their pLaces, Susie 
 Thaxter being in the stern-sheets with the tiller- 
 ropes in her hands. 
 
 "Ready! Up oaro!" said she. "Shove off!" 
 
 The last order was properly addressed to the 
 bow and stroke oarswomen, whose duty it was 
 to shove the l)oat out from the pier ; and, hav- 
 ino- done so, to elevate their oars, in readiness 
 to "let fall" with the others; but Don John 
 did this part of the work for them, and pushed 
 the Undine far out from the shore. 
 
 " Let fall ! " said the leader ; and all the oars 
 dropped into the water as one, with the blades 
 athwartships. "Give way together!" 
 
 The Undines began to pull with a very slow 
 and measured stroke, making the long pause 
 when the oars were raised out of the water. 
 But slow as the stroke was, the boat went ahead 
 quite rapidly, for she was very sharp and very 
 light. A stout boy, without much expenditure 
 of force, could have rowed her even faster than 
 she was going, and this slight amount of muscle, 
 divided among four girls, made it very easy
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 219 
 
 indeed for them. Don John liad positively for- 
 bidden then> to row any faster than the time 
 he had given them, and Prince had repeated 
 tlic order as they started. 
 
 The fact was, that Dr. Darhng, Minnie's 
 father, who was a wealthy retired physician, had 
 heen to see Don John as soon as he learned 
 the latter had been chosen as instructor. He 
 had given the young professor some excellent 
 advice in regard to physical exercise for girls, 
 and had especially cautioned him not to alhnv 
 them to make hard work of it. The points of 
 this lesson had been duly handed over to 
 Prince. 
 
 The girls on the shore clapped their hands 
 when the Undine went off, so pretty and grace- 
 ful were the movements of the rowers ; and the 
 Dorcas Club watched them for some time. It 
 soon appeared that there were other spectators, 
 for quite a number of tlie friends of the girls 
 were coming down to the shore. Among them 
 was Dr. Darling, who commended Don John's 
 system of rowing in the highest terms. But the 
 Dorcas Club were not anxious to make their first 
 attempts in the presence of an audience, and
 
 220 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 Prince paddled the boat away from the shore, 
 and behind a wharf, before he commenced his 
 lesson. As his predecessor had done, he ex- 
 plained very fully what he wished to accom- 
 pKsh, and then tanght the club the movements. 
 The girls were apt scholars, and in an hour they 
 pulled a very pretty stroke, precisely like that 
 which Don John had given to the Undines. 
 
 "You are doing bravely," said Prince. "You 
 can row almost as well as Kitty's club now."' 
 
 " Then I tliink we may go in and show our- 
 selves," laughed Minnie. " My father is on the 
 wharf, and I suppose he wants to know whether 
 we are killing ourselves or not." 
 
 " Very well ; we will go as closely to the 
 shore as we can by Don John's wharf," replied 
 Prince. " Don't dip too deep, if you please." 
 
 "But we don't more than half cover the 
 blades," said Nellie, who knew something about 
 rowing herself. 
 
 " I don't wish you to dip any deeper at pres- 
 ent. I know the rule is to cover the blade, and 
 we shall do so by and by. We must begin very 
 gradually, for none of you are used to hard 
 work. As you arc strengthened by exercise, we 
 will di]) deeper."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 221 
 
 " Here comes tlie Undine," added Minnie. 
 " How prettily they row ! " 
 
 " You are doing about as well as the Undines ; 
 m.dy keep cool, and don't liurry. One — two — 
 tJu-ac — four — five — six. Not faster than that," 
 continued Prince. 
 
 The two boats came alongside of each other, 
 l;oth pulling the slow and measured stroke, 
 whl'jli made their speed exactly the same. The 
 instructor act^jd as leader, in the absence of 
 MoUie Longimore, and gave the order to "lie 
 on your oars." At his request Susie did the 
 same. 
 
 "Are you tired, girls?" asked Prince. 
 
 " Not one bit ! " protested Kitty, in the Un- 
 dine. 
 
 "We don't have to use any strength at all," 
 said another. 
 
 " Can't we have a race ? " asked Susie Thax- 
 tcr. 
 
 "No; not on any account," replied Prince, 
 decidedly. "By and by, when 3^ou have practised 
 a great deal, and your muscles are a little 
 hardened, we will do a little mild racing." 
 
 " There won't be any fun, if we can't race," 
 pouted Kitty.
 
 222 TBE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " I think there will be plenty of fun ; but we 
 shall have a race when you are in condition for 
 it. You might do yourself more harm in one 
 hour than you could recover from in a year, 
 if you exercise too violently. For the present, 
 you must pull no faster than the time I have 
 given you. Now we will show off what you 
 can do to the people on shore." 
 
 The rowers gave way again, and the Undine 
 was instructed to follow the Dorcas. Prince led 
 the way to a considerable distance below the 
 boat-builder's pier, and then took a course back, 
 which led the boats as- near the shore as the 
 depth of the water would permit. The girls, 
 feehng now that they were on exhibition, threw 
 back their shoulders, and did their best. The 
 instructor counted the time loud enough for both 
 crews to hear him, till the rowers in both boats 
 were puUing precisely the same stroke. Their 
 speed did not vary a particle, and the eight oars 
 all dipped at precisely the same instant. As 
 they passed close to the shore, and the pier 
 where the other members of the club and the 
 spectators were assembled, they were greeted 
 with hearty applause.
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 223 
 
 "Ready to toss — toss!" said. Prince, when 
 the boats were abreast of the pier. 
 
 The eight oars were elevated to a perpen- 
 dicular, as though they had all been })iirts of 
 the same machine, the boats still shooting 
 ahead under the impetus given them before. 
 This was the complimentary salute with which 
 a boat acknowleges a civility. 
 
 " Let fall ! Give way ! " continued Prince ; 
 and the rowing was resumed without a break 
 in the time, calling from the spectators a 
 renewed expression of approbation. 
 
 The boats circled around, and again passed 
 the spectators, tossing the oars as before, in 
 reply to the applause which greeted them. 
 Prince then stopped the Dorcas, and directed the 
 Undine to take a position abreast, and on the 
 starboard side of her. Side by side, they passed 
 the spectators, a third time, the ends of the oars 
 almost touching, so careful was the. steering. 
 Again the fair rowers tossed their oars, in reply 
 to the demonstrations on shore. 
 
 " Are you tired yet ? " asked Prince, when 
 they had been out an hour and a half. 
 
 No one was tired even in the slightest degree,
 
 221: THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 but the instructor deemed it prudent to return 
 to the sliore, where the two clubs were greeted 
 with the warmest expressions of delight and 
 admiration. Dr. Darling exjiressed the pleasure 
 he felt ill seeing the business conducted so well, 
 and declared that the girls would be vastly 
 beneiited by the exercise thus prudently managed. 
 The fresh air was good for them, and there was 
 BO danger at j)i"esent of over-exertion. 
 
 •' But such gentle rowing will soon become 
 very tame to them," added the doctor. 
 
 " I suppose so, sir. But when they have more 
 boats, tlicy can perform all sorts of manoeuvers, 
 wliich will give them plenty of variety," replied 
 Prince. 
 
 " You have two boats now, and one build- 
 ing ? " 
 
 " Yes sir. Don John is building one besides, 
 on his own account.. I suppose the girls will 
 not be satisfied till they have a boat for each 
 of the five clubs." 
 
 "I wish they had them, for I think they need 
 this exercise in the open air. Don't let them 
 overdo it, on any account." 
 
 "I will not — if I can help it; but I suppose
 
 THE DOUCAS CLUB. 226 
 
 my services will not be much longer required," 
 added Prince, as he walked into the shop with 
 the doctor. 
 
 ** You are building a boat on your own account, 
 Don John, I am told," said Dr. Darling. 
 
 "Yes, sir. I think there will be a demand 
 for row-boats this season," replied the builder. 
 
 " It certainly looks like it now," laughed the 
 doctor. " Do you intend to sell her ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir — of course." 
 
 " I will take her, at the price named for the 
 other, for the Dorcas Club. Let me see, Prince. 
 What are the names of the clubs that have no 
 boats ? " 
 
 " The Fairy and the Psyche." 
 
 "Call this one the Psyche." 
 
 " Very well, sir." 
 
 Prince reported what Dr. Darling had done 
 to the members of the club ; and certainly the 
 prospect was as bright as they could wish. 
 The next afternoon the Psyche Club received 
 its first lesson, the Lily Club using the Undine 
 at the same time. On Saturday the Fairy Club 
 took its turn ; and when the week ended, all 
 the clul)s were able to pull a boat, tljougli all 
 of them still had a great deal to learn.
 
 22'3 THE DORCAS CLUC 
 
 By this time Don John had the frames of the 
 two boats set up, and all hands worked early 
 and late upon them. Prince was quite as en- 
 thusiastic as any of the girls, and only regretted 
 that MoUie Longimore could not take part in 
 the sports; and his regret was shared by Minnie 
 and Nellie. He continued to do all he could 
 for the afflicted family, and called upon them 
 three times a day. After the rowing was fin- 
 ished on Saturday, he found Minnie and Nelhe 
 at the cashier's house. Mollic and her mother 
 had become in some degree reconciled to the 
 altered circumstances ; and, tliough they had not 
 ceased to mourn him whom they believed to be 
 no more, they Avere calm and composed. 
 
 " I am sorry you gave that white envelope to 
 your father, Mollie," said JMinnie, who had been 
 Avaiting for a fit time to open this subject, and 
 to return the money it had contained. 
 
 '' I did not give it to him," replied Mollie. 
 
 ■'You did not? " 
 
 -' I told 3^ou I could not ; and I did not. I 
 -.:n so glad now that I did not!" 
 
 " But you gave it back to me sealed," added 
 j'linnie, greatly astonished. 
 
 " I didn't mind whether it was sealed or not.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 227 
 
 But my father did not see it, or know anything 
 about it." 
 
 "But every envelope contained money — every 
 one of them." 
 
 " Mine had no money in it, I am sure," per- 
 sisted MoUie. " I didn't hke to carry the envel- 
 ope and circular into the liouse, for fear some 
 one might see them. I gave it for Prince to 
 keep for me — didn't I, Prince ? " 
 
 " You did," replied he, rather puzzled to deter- 
 mine how he sliould get out of the scrape. 
 
 "Did you seal it?" asked Minnie. 
 
 " Why should he seal it when there was 
 nothinn;: in it ? " 
 
 " But every envelope contained money." 
 
 "Then Prince put the money into mine," said 
 Mollie, blushing. 
 
 After some attempts to evade the issue, he 
 was obliged to confess that he had put a ten- 
 dollar bill into the envelope before he gave it 
 back to INIollie. Minnie and Nellie both insisted 
 upon returning it. IMollie would not take the 
 money ; and in the end Prince v/as forced to 
 accept it ; but when he put it into his pocket, 
 he mentally determined that every cent of it 
 should be spent for the benefit of the Longimores.
 
 228 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 CHAPTER Xn. 
 
 THE SOLITARY OARSMAN. 
 
 MONDAY, the first day of vacation, was a 
 busy day with "Professor" WiUingood, 
 for each of the clubs was to have the use of 
 one of the boats for two hours. The Dorcas 
 and the Lily Clubs were to have their turn in the 
 forenoon ; and Prince took his place in the for- 
 mer for the first hour ; but Carrie West, of the 
 Psyche, acted as leader in the Dorcas, in the 
 
 absence of Mollie Longimore. 
 
 " I told you the other day that there were sev- 
 eral things more for you to learn," said the pro- 
 fessor, when the boats were under way, and 
 some distance from the land. 
 
 "I thought we had learned out," laughed 
 Minnie. ''We can row, and make the boat go. 
 What more is there to do?" 
 
 " Do you see those two yachts, anchored close
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 229 
 
 togetlici'? " asked Prince, pointing to the Maud 
 and the Sea Foam, which were lying within ten 
 feet of each otlier. 
 
 "I see tliem." 
 
 "Suppose, in order to avoid being run down 
 by a steamer, it suddenly became necessary for 
 the Dorcas to pass between them." 
 
 "It would be simply impossible to row through 
 sucli a narrow place," replied Minnie. " We 
 should break our oars." 
 
 "Not at aU." 
 
 " We could toss oars," suggested Nellie Pat- 
 terdale. 
 
 " And if the wind were blowing pretty fresh, 
 the blades of the oars would act as so many 
 small sails, and might carr}^ the boat against one 
 of the yachts, or get you afoul of her rigging. 
 It might be done ; but it is not the best way. 
 Before we go any farther, we will pass through 
 that narrow place. When Carrie West gives 
 the order, 'Ready to trail — trail!' at the last 
 v/ord, you will each throw the loom of the oar 
 out of the rowlock, holding on at the handle. 
 It must be done, of course, when the boat is 
 under full .headv.'ay. The motion of the boat
 
 230 THE DOHCAS CLUB. 
 
 will bring all the blades of the oars alongside. 
 As soon as you are through the narrow place, 
 the order will be given, 'Ship your oars,' and 
 you will place the loom in the rowlock again. 
 Now we will try it. Give the word, Carrie, 
 ' Ready to trail.' " 
 
 "Ready to trail!" repeated the leader. 
 "Trail!" 
 
 The oars were permitted to come alongside, 
 and held in this position, though some boats 
 have trail-lines attached to the oars and the 
 gunwale, so that the whole may be released. 
 
 " Very well, young ladies," said the professor, 
 as they insisted upon calling him. " Now when 
 you ship your oars, you must be careful not to 
 catch a crab." 
 
 "I know what that is," said Eva Doane. 
 
 "I am glad you do ; but there is a difference 
 of opinion in regard to it," added Prince. 
 "Some say it is catching the oar in the water, 
 when gathering up for the stroke ; and others, 
 that it is missing the stroke, or ' rowing dry,' so 
 that the rower is pitched over backwards. Now 
 haul 3^our oars well in, and lift the blade out 
 of the water w])eu von throw it into the row-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 23 L 
 
 lock. Don't let it touch the water again till 
 the order comes to 'give way.' Now try it, 
 Carrie." 
 
 *' Ship your oars ! " 
 
 They were handled as in tossing ; and, being 
 proficient in this exercise, the new movement 
 came very easily. 
 
 "Give way!" added Carrie; and the rowing 
 was resumed as though there had been no break 
 in it. 
 
 The operation of trailing was repeated several 
 times before Prince would permit the boat to 
 pass between the two yachts, the crews of which 
 were on board, getting them ready for a cruise 
 down the bay. The yachtmen watched the 
 movements of the Dorcas and the Undine with 
 no little interest and admiration ; and when the 
 former passed between their ' yachts, all hands 
 gave three rousing cheers. 
 
 " Ready to toss ! Toss ! " said Carrie, prompted 
 by Prince ; and aU the oars went up, in response 
 to the command. 
 
 "Is there anything more to learn, Professor 
 Willingood ? " inquired Minnie. 
 
 "Plenty more. Miss President," answered
 
 232 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 Prince. " Suppose a steamer should shoot out 
 mto the path of the boat, so that, if you did 
 not stop the Dorcas, in going two or three 
 times her length you would smash the steamer, 
 or be smashed yourself, what would you do ? 
 That's the conundrum." 
 
 "Stop rowing and back water, of course," 
 said Eva Doane. 
 
 "Just so but, — 
 
 " 'In colleges and halls, in ancient times, 
 There dwelt a sage called Discipline.' 
 
 It is rather a startling thing to find yourself in 
 the path of a steamboat, for steamers have an 
 ugly habit of smashing small boats like pipe- 
 stems ; and without discipline some might back, 
 and others pull, and whirl the boat around, 
 instead of getting out of the way. We will 
 learn to do the thing properly, as they did it in 
 colleges and halls in ancient days. The word is, 
 ' Oars ! ' because no long speeches should be 
 made when the boat is in danger." 
 
 "But that is the same order as when you lie 
 upon the oars," Minnie oljjccted. 
 
 " Very true ; and that is precisely what you 
 will do — lie upon your oars. The second order
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 233 
 
 li, ' Hold water ; ' when 30L1 will drop the oars 
 into the brhic, just as in pulling the stroke. 
 You must hold the handles firmly for the resis- 
 tance ma.y be so great as to throw 3^00 off your 
 seats. Now go ahead again and we will try 
 it." 
 
 " Give way/' said the leader ; and the girls 
 pulled till the Dorcas was nndcr full headway. 
 
 "Now is your time, Carrie," added Prince. 
 
 "Oars!" shouted Carrie, sharply. 
 
 Instantly every rower was lying on her oars, 
 with the flat of the "blade just above the water. 
 
 "Hold water I " added the leader, an instant 
 later. 
 
 The girls turned the oai-s, and dropped them 
 into the water. In a few moments the progress 
 of the Dorcas was checked, and she lay motion- 
 less. 
 
 "Very well, indeed," said the instructor. 
 "But it is often necessary to do something 
 more than merely "hold water,' and the order, 
 ' Stern, all 1 ' is given, at which you must all 
 row backwards or back water." 
 
 "We can do that," added Minnie. 
 
 " I know you can ; but you need practice ;
 
 234 THE DOIICAS CLUB. 
 
 otherwise, an order quickly given may throw 
 you iuto confusion, at a time when you have 
 not a moment to spare. Now try it, Carrie. 
 Go ahead, hold water, and then hack her." 
 
 " Give way ! " said the leader ; and the Dor- 
 cas darted off. 
 
 "I want you to notice how quickly you can 
 check her headway," continued Prince. 
 
 " Oars ! " added the leader, at the right moment. 
   '-Hold water! Stern, all I " 
 
 It was a failure, for in backing* water the 
 rowers lost the stroke. Ruth was hit in the 
 back by the handle of Eva's oar, and all of 
 them were throAvn into confusion. 
 
 " I thought you said you could do that," 
 laughed Prince. 
 
 " Carrie gave the orders too rapidl}^" pleaded 
 Minnie. 
 
 " Not too rapidly," said the instructor. " Ii 
 there is danger ahead, you can't stop to dream 
 about it ; 3'ou must act. Now, you must keep 
 doing it till the movement will execute itself, 
 for it is the most important one I have given 
 you. You will often be required to do it in 
 emergencies. AVheu v,e have the four boats cut,
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 233 
 
 you will be in constant peril of running into 
 each other, if you don't know how to handle 
 your boats properly." 
 
 Carrie started the boat again, and repeated 
 the orders as before ; but the club again failed 
 to hit the back stroke together. The next time, 
 it was done more slowly and with better suc- 
 cess. The manoeuvre was executed a dozen 
 times before Prince was satisfied with it. As 
 the first hour had expired, the Dorcas headed 
 for the shore, in order to transfer the professor- 
 to the Undine, to whose crew he Avas to give 
 the same lessons. 
 
 " In bow ! " said Carrie, prompted by Prince, 
 as the boat approached the landing-place. 
 
 Nellie Patterdale, who pulled the bow oar, 
 unshipped it, and repaired to the four-sheets, 
 with the light boat-hook in her hand, in readi- 
 ness to fend off, or fasten to the pier. 
 
 " Way enough," added the leader ; whereat 
 the three remaining rowers tossed their oars,' and 
 then boated, or, in other words, deposited them 
 in the boat by the gunwale, where they be- 
 longed. 
 
 The Dorcas lost her headway just as the bow
 
 236 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 came up to the pier ; but Prince had indicated 
 to Carrie Avhen to give the order. 
 
 "• We hit it just right," said Nellie, as she 
 hooked into the pier, and drew the boat along- 
 yide it. 
 
 " You must bo very careful indeed, when you 
 make a landing, to estimate the distance cor- 
 rectly," added the professor. 
 
 " I know the distance now," replied Carrie ; 
 " and I am sure I can hit it right every time." 
 
 " Don't be too sure," laughed Prince, shaking 
 his head; "for it will hardly be twice the same. 
 If the Avind is blowing strong off shore, it will 
 be less ; if on shore, more. You must make the 
 proper allowance every time ; but you had better 
 make too great rather than too small an allov/- 
 ance. It is safer to fall short of the pier, than 
 to run into it, and smash your boat. Here 
 comes the Undine ; let us see how she does 
 it." 
 
 v. 
 
 She did it badly, for Kate Bilder made too 
 little allowance for the headway of the boat, and 
 if Prince had not caught the bow, she would 
 have driven her stem into the pier. The pro- 
 fessor took his place in the Undine, and went
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 23T 
 
 over the same ground as in the Dorcas. Before 
 uoon he had finished the lesson, and then both 
 chibs practiced in making the pier. While they 
 did so, Prince stood on the wharf, with a l)oat- 
 hook in his hand, to prevent any accident; hiit 
 the leaders were so careful that the boats 1\11 
 short eveiy time. This Avas a mi:;,take on the 
 safe side, and the instructor was satisfied to 
 leave the matter where it was. The lessons for 
 the forenoon were finished, the boats secured, 
 and all hands Avent home to dinner. At two 
 o'clock the rowing wa;; i'c;jumcd ])y the Undine 
 and Psyche Clul)S, and the professor repeated 
 his instructions till they had become rather 
 monotonous to him. At four o'clock, he went 
 over the old story with the Fairy Club, in the 
 Undine, the Dorcas Club using the other 
 boat. 
 
 "Hullo!" 
 
 The shcut came from a small boat, pulled by 
 one man, directly ahead of the Psyche. Carrie 
 West was putting her knowledge to a practical 
 test, steering the boat towards the craft before 
 her, intending to "hold Avater," and "back her," 
 in season to avoid a collision. The lonely oars-
 
 238 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 man seemed to fear a catastrophe, and had 
 thrown up a warning note ; but the intrepid 
 leader of the Psyche brought her to a dead 
 stand not more than half a boat's length from 
 him. 
 
 " Hrdlo ! " yelled the man, as the Psyche 
 stopped; "are you go'n to run into me?" 
 
 "I hadn't the least idea of doing so, sir," 
 replied Carrie. 
 
 " That's rather a close shave," added the soli- 
 tary rower, shaking his head. 
 
 " We can do it nineteen times more, without 
 touching you," laughed the leader. 
 
 •' I'd ruther you don't try it again. You'll 
 break the bow of that pretty boat all to flin- 
 ders, if you cut so clost," added the stranger. 
 
 " No danger, sir." 
 
 '• But it makes my nervns rather shakey. I've 
 got as many nerves as a lady." 
 
 " We Avill not go near you again, then," added 
 Carrie. 
 
 " I'm ruther glad you fetched up so clost, for 
 I want to see you." 
 
 " See me ! " exclaimed the leader, merrily. 
 
 " Well, no ; not exactly the gal, but the fel-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 239 
 
 ler with 3'ou. — Be you J. Prince Willingood ? " 
 
 " Tliat's my name." 
 
 " He's the professor," chuckled Carrie. 
 
 "I s'pose so," added the lonely rowist, who 
 did not indulge in a smile, much less a laugh, 
 hut looked as solemn as an owl. " I want to 
 see the professor. I Avant to talk with him." 
 
 " I'm engaged just now," replied Prince. 
 
 " Engaged to all them gals? " tj^ueried the man, 
 gloomily. 
 
 " We release you fi'om the engagerpfent," 
 laughed Carrie. 
 
 " I will be at Don John's boat-house in a 
 few minutes," added Prince. "I will see you 
 there." 
 
 " That's half a mile off, and J ain't so fond 
 of rowing as them gals. I want to see you very 
 bad." 
 
 " How bad ? " 
 
 " Bad enough to do almost anything." 
 
 "Who is he, Prince?" asked one of the 
 girls. 
 
 "It's Simon Potter, I think," replied Prince. 
 
 " That's my name ; and I live in the woods 
 down to Northport," added the man, whose
 
 240 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 hearing was excellent, though he seemed to be 
 someAvhat advanced in years. If you git into 
 my boat, I'll pull you up to the boat-shop while 
 we're talkin'." 
 
 *' We can return Avithout you, professor," said 
 Carrie, 
 
 " You won't break the wharf down when you 
 land — will you ? " 
 
 *' I will try not to do so," replied Carrie. 
 
 *' Because we shall want it this season, and 
 don't wish to have it s-mashed." 
 
 "I will be careful." 
 - "Very well. I will see what this worthy 
 gentleman desia-es. Pull, stiirboard ; back, port 
 oars." 
 
 The Undine swung around, so that Prince 
 could step into the boat of the solitary oarsman. 
 As he seated himself in the stern, the club gave 
 way again, and was soon out of hailing dis- 
 tance. 
 
 "■ You don't know me much, Prince," said 
 Simon Potter. 
 
 *'Not much." 
 
 The lonely rower had the reputation of being 
 a strange man, and his looks were fully up to
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 241 
 
 his reputation. He was short in stature, being 
 not more than five feet four in height. His hair 
 was always cut short, and what there was of 
 it was of a yellowish-white ; but his beard, of 
 the same color, reached neaily down to his 
 waist. He always wore coarse gra}^ pants, very 
 large and bagging, and a short blue frock, 
 reaching to his hips, over whatever other gar- 
 ments he had on. Winter and summer, his 
 fashion was always the same. His hat — when 
 he wore any — was an ordinary "stove-pipe," at 
 least so far as the brim was concerned ; but he 
 had cut away the crown, and rolled it up into the 
 shape of a cone. Certainly it was a " shocking 
 bad hat," and those who saw it upon his head 
 immediately concluded that Simon Potter was a 
 crazy man If he walked through the streets of 
 the city, every boy stopped and turned round 
 to look at him as a curiosity. 
 
 If the solitary rower was not crazy, he was 
 eccentric. The tradition in regard to him was 
 that he had graduated at Bowdoin College, 
 studied medicine, and established himself in 
 practice. He was married ; but being a singular 
 man, his wife could not live with him, and de- 
 IG
 
 242 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 serted him. This misfortune seemed to disgust 
 him with civilization and society. In order to 
 get away from everybody, he " camped out " for 
 a summer on the lonely Northport shore. Then 
 he bouGfht a considerable tract of land, and built 
 a small house and barn upon it, where he hved 
 entirely alone. He cultivated ground enough to 
 afford him all the vegetables he wanted, and to 
 enable liim to keep a cow. If anybody called 
 to see him, he was not at home, for he con- 
 cealed himself in the woods, when he saw visi- 
 tors approaching. Two or three times a year, 
 he Avent to the city to purchase supplies and 
 collect his interest, for he had money invested 
 
 there. 
 
 " Nobody knows me much," said Simon Pot- 
 ter. " I don't want to know folks much. I 
 keep out of the way." 
 
 " Why do you keep out of the way ? " asked 
 
 Prince. 
 
 "Because it suits me best. I don't like folks 
 any better'n folks like me. We don't agree ; 
 and I'm willin' to let them alone, if they'll let 
 
 me alone." 
 
 " I have heard it said that you were a doc- 
 tor."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 243 
 
 " I ain't no doctor now. I used to be, but 1 
 ain't now, and don't mean to be agin. I got 
 tired o' livin' when I wan't more'n thirty* years 
 ohl. I've been ready to die ever since ; I'm 
 only Avaitin' for my time to come. I don't trou- 
 ble nobody, and nobody troubles me — except 
 peddlers and lightnin'-rod men." 
 
 " You must be very lonely." 
 
 " No, I ain't. I don't want no company, and 
 never have none. How deep do you suppose 
 the water is down here? " said the strange man, 
 resting on his oars, and looking into the water. 
 
 " I don't know ; fifty feet, perhaps," replied 
 Prince. 
 
 "I s'pose you knew Mr. Longimore?" 
 
 "Very Avell, indeed." 
 
 " Do you s'pose he's down there ? " added 
 Simon Potter, pointing impressively into the 
 water. 
 
 "I'm afraid ho is." 
 
 " Drowned ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "He was a good man. He used to git my 
 interest for me, and give it to me without 
 laughin' at me, as other folks do. I'm sorry 
 he's dead."
 
 214 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " lie was a fine man." 
 
 " Yes lie was. He never bothered me with 
 questions I don't want to answer. He told me 
 once that you were a good boy." 
 "I try to be." 
 
 " I want yon to do some things for me. Will 
 you? I'll pay you for it.'V 
 
 "I shall be glad to do anything I can for 
 you," answered Prince, promptly. 
 
 " Now Mr. Longimore's gone, I want some- 
 body to collect ray interest for me, and bring 
 it to me, for I don't want to go to the city 
 any more. Folks stare at me, and laugh at me. 
 You can buy some things for me, when 1 want 
 'em. I'll pay you well for all you do." 
 
 "I will do anything of this kind you wish." 
 " Thank ye, Prince ; " and Simon Potter sud- 
 denly relapsed into a fit of deep musing, during 
 which he gazed intently into the water. 
 
 " When shall I collect your interest. Dr. 
 Potter ? " asked the young man, when he was 
 tired of the silence. 
 
 "Don't call me doctor. I'm no doctor now." 
 
 "Excuse me — Mr. Potter." 
 
 "Nor mister, nuther. Call mc Simon Potter.
 
 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 245 
 
 Do you suppose Mr. Longimore lia? gone to 
 heaven, Prince ? " 
 
 " He was a Christian man, and I liave no 
 doubt of it." 
 
 " If he ain't dead ? " 
 
 " Well, no ; not if he is alive." 
 
 "Folks thiidv he's gone to heaven, — don't 
 they ? " 
 
 "I don't knovv^ what they think. Probaljly 
 those who believe he stole the bonds dor^'t think 
 so." 
 
 "How old are you, Prince?" asked Simon 
 Potter, looking him earnestly in the face. 
 
 "Seventeen." 
 
 "Have you come to years of discretion 
 ,yet?" 
 
 "I think I have," laughed Prince. 
 
 "Some boys don't never come to years of 
 discretion, added the strange man, solemnly. 
 
 " Are you afraid to trust me with your in- 
 terest money, IMr. Potter ? " 
 
 " Simon Potter is my name. I shall soon be 
 in the Potter's Field." 
 
 Tlio words [■.oinided like a grim joke ; but the 
 speaker did not cniile. He never smiled. 
 
 "T hop<' not," added Prince.
 
 246 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " Don't wish me ill. I ain't afraid to trust 
 you "witli my interest money. It's due the first 
 day of Juty. The cashier used to have it ready 
 for me the next day. Do you s'pose Mr. Longi- 
 more is dead ? " 
 
 " His wife and daughter think so ; and I have 
 no reason to doubt it," answered Prince. 
 
 "His folks feel bad— don't they?" 
 
 "Very badly." 
 
 " I'm sorry for 'em, for Mr. Longimore was 
 a good man. I'm sorry they think he is dead, 
 I mean." 
 
 "Don't you think he was drowned?" asked 
 Prince, perplexed by the odd speech of his com- 
 panion. 
 
 " I love the cashier. He's the only man on 
 the airth I care for. He don't laugh at me." 
 
 "But isn't he drowned?" demanded Prince. 
 
 " The water's fifty feet deep here, you say. 
 If you tell anybody what I say. Prince, except 
 them I tell you to tell, those. who want to know 
 more about it will find my body at the bottom 
 of the bay, fifty feet down." 
 
 " What do you mean, sir ? " 
 
 " If you say one word more'n I tell you to, 
 you'll wrong me, and you'll wrong — "
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 247 
 
 "Whom?" asked Prince, wlieii the old man 
 paused. 
 
 "Mr. Longimore ! " 
 
 Prince was thoroughly excited now.
 
 248 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 MOTHER AND DAUGHTER. 
 
 "'T~\0 you really mean that Llr. Longimore 
 i 7 is alive ? " asked Prince of liis eccen- 
 tric companion. 
 
 "I hope I hain't made no mistake in tellin' 
 you," replied Simon Potter, doubtfully. 
 
 "■You have not made a mistake; that is — " 
 
 Prince stopped there, for it suddenl}'- occurred 
 to him that he could not be a joarty to the con- 
 cealment of one charged witli robbing the bank 
 of forty thousand dollars in bonds. 
 
 "That ij ! " repeated the strange man. "I 
 see! I ain't no doctor, but I can read your 
 thoughts, ]Mr. Longimore Avon't be sent io 
 jail; he'll die fust. I won't be the cause of 
 sendin' him to jail; I'll die fust. Now, Prince, 
 let me tell you jest how it'll all v/ork. You'll 
 go up to the city, tell tlie president of the bank,
 
 CO 
 
 CO 
 
 « 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 ■o 
 
 a 
 a
 
 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 249 
 
 or tlio doputy sheriff, or some one else, thnt Mr. 
 Lonjimoro i.i ulivc, and that Simon Potter knows 
 soraothinrr about lihn. The sheriff comes down 
 to Northport to look after me. He don't find me. 
 Where am I ? A cold body, fifty feet nndcr 
 water. I can't toll nothin' then — can I?" 
 
 " I should say not," replied Prince, breathless 
 with intore;it. 
 
 " He can't git even a hint out of me ; but 
 the slicriff will start from my place to look after 
 the cashier. Where is he ? A cold body, fifty 
 feet under water ! He won't do the bank officers 
 no f^ood then." 
 
 ''•Bat where is Mr. Lonnimore?" 
 
 O 
 
 " I hain't told you." 
 
 "You have as good as told me he is alive," 
 
 '•■Then his life and mine is in your hands," 
 replied Simon Potter. " He couldn't stand it 
 no longer ; and sumthin' had to be done. Ho 
 fixed on you to do it." 
 
 " What can I do ? I'm only a boy," pleaded 
 Prince, awed by the awful responsibility imposed 
 upon him. 
 
 " Only tell his v/ife and the oldest darter that 
 1x3 ain't dead. Nothin' more."
 
 250 THE DOBCAS CLUB. 
 
 "But how can I know anything about him, 
 and keep still, wlien lie is charged with robbing 
 the bank? " added Prince. 
 
 " He is as innocent as you are of stealing the 
 bonds," protested Simon Potter, so excited that 
 he dropped the illiterate style of speaking, which he 
 had adopted from the first, apparently to do away 
 wiih the impression that he might be a doctor. 
 
 "Innocent!" exclaimed the young man. 
 
 "lie is innocent; but he may never be able to 
 prove hi.; innocence." 
 
 " Y/hcre are the bonds, then?" 
 
 " I cannot answer you. Will you keep the 
 pocr nfan's secret ? Will you save him from 
 death? Answer me at once." 
 
 " Is it right for me to keep such a secret ? " 
 
 " Settle that for yourself. I am not the keeper 
 of your conscience. It is right for me to keep 
 it, for I know he is innocent." 
 
 " I am afraid to promise," replied Prince, sadly 
 bewildered by the diificnlty of the situation. 
 
 " I respect your scruples, Prince ; but Mr. 
 Longimore's life is in your hands. His hope is 
 in you. For more reasons than I am permitted 
 to name now, he has chosen you to help him.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 251 
 
 If you disappoint him, lie has nothing to hope 
 fjr in this world." 
 
 " But I cannot promise to conceal a crime. 
 I have no right to do it," protested Prince. 
 
 " I don't wish you to conceal a crime. There 
 has been no crime to conceal. I am not des- 
 pcratly wicked and given over to sin and in- 
 iquity, any more than yourself, young man," 
 added Simon Potter. " I would no more con- 
 ceal a crime than 3-ou would. That is not the 
 point." 
 
 " What is the point, then ? " asked Prince, 
 deeply interested. 
 
 " There comes them gals agin," said the 
 strange man, suddenly resuming his usual dialect, 
 and putting on the hat with the conic crown. 
 " Gals has ears." 
 
 But the Undine only shot past the solitary 
 rower, and was soon out of liearing. 
 
 " Them gals will want to know what my 
 business was with you," said Simon Potter, willi 
 a rather troubled expression, as he took off tlie 
 conic hat, and placed it on the thwart by his 
 side. 
 
 " You wished me to collect your interest for
 
 252 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 you. You do not object to my saying as much 
 as that to them if asked — do you?" 
 
 '' No, I don't." 
 
 " It will be no more than the truth." 
 
 "•It is only a small part of the truth ; and 
 half the truth is sometimes as much a lie as a 
 deliberate falsehood. You mean to be honest, 
 Prince ; but don't cheat yourself. Don't believe 
 3'ou are honest when you are not. Thieves, 
 swindlers, and cheats persuade themselves that 
 tliey arc honest. Instead of telling half the 
 truth, say to the girls that the matter does not 
 concern them. That's honest." 
 
 "•I don't think it is a lie to tell as much of 
 the truth as I think proper, when the truth does 
 not concern those asking the questions," replied 
 Prince, who had some very clear ideas of his 
 own on this subject, whether they were right or 
 Avrong. 
 
 '' You may judge for yourself on that point," 
 added Simon Potter. " Men and women are full 
 oi lies and deceit. They cheat and defraud each 
 other. But this is not the question now." 
 
 " You began to tell me what the point was." 
 
 " You are not asked to conceal a crime, or to
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 253 
 
 favor tlie escape of a criminal. Mr. Longimore 
 is not a thief or a robber, whatever the people of 
 the city may think. 
 
 " I am very glad to liear you say so." 
 
 "But you don't believe what I say." 
 
 " I certainly desire to believe it." 
 
 "That is all I ask. Now to the point. The 
 cashier is practically charged with a crime. If 
 he could be found, he would be arrested and 
 thrown into jail. This would break his heart, 
 Avhich would be the same thing as breaking his 
 neck. The bonds are gone ; the cashier is gone. 
 These two things would convict him, under the 
 circumstances. The story he has to tell would 
 not be believed, for the only witness he has 
 will lie, will perjure himself, will send him to 
 the penitentiary for life, in order to enable the 
 perjurer to make a hundred dollars." 
 
 " Who is the witness ? " 
 
 " I cannot tell you ; Ijut I have told you the 
 exact truth. I would not tell a lie to save my 
 neck from the gallows, or my body from a damp 
 grave fifty feet under the cold waters of the 
 bay. I ask of you only two things." 
 
 "What are they? "
 
 254 THE DOECAS CLUB, 
 
 " First, that jou will tell Mrs. Longimore her 
 husband is alive." 
 
 "I will do that with the greatest pleasure." 
 
 " But you must not mention my name." 
 
 "Will she believe me? 
 
 "She will; or, if she will not, she shall not 
 remain twenty-four hours in doubt." 
 
 " Where is Mr. Longimore ? " asked Prince, 
 shaking himself to make sure that he was not 
 dreaming. 
 
 "I will not tell you yet." 
 
 "Well, what is the other thing I am to 
 do ? " 
 
 " You are to see Mr. Longimore, and satisfy 
 yourself of the truth of what I said, before you 
 speak to any living soul, except the cashier's 
 wife and daughter." 
 
 " Certainly I will do that. But when may I 
 see him ? " 
 
 "This nighf." 
 
 " I promise, then, to keep the secret till I 
 have seen him." 
 
 " Very well ; but you must remember that 
 any treachery on your part will cost him his 
 life."
 
 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 255 
 
 " I am not capable of treachery, Simon Pot- 
 ter. I have tried to believe that Mr. Lon^i- 
 more was guilty of no crime ; and until I have 
 seen him — if I am indeed to see him — nothing 
 ijhall induce me to betray him. I could not do 
 that. Where is he ? " 
 
 " At my house in the woods. That is all I 
 can tell you now. You must come to-night ; 
 you must come alone. No one must see jon. 
 I will meet you at the mouth of Little River, 
 at any hour you say." 
 
 Prince actually trembled when he realized the 
 nature of the adventure he was to engage in ; 
 but he was a plucky boy ; and he believed the 
 strange inhabitant of the Northport wood was 
 honest and sincere, high-toned and high-minded. 
 He considered the situation for a moment before 
 ho made any reply. Whatever he did, he must 
 do without the knowledge of Fox Bushwell, or 
 any other person. 
 
 '• I will be at the mouth of Little River about 
 lialf past ten to-night," said he, "or as near 
 that time as I can. It may be half an hour 
 earlier, or half an hour later." 
 
 "It will not harm me to wait. I am used
 
 £5G THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 to tlic night and the darkness, the cold and 
 the storm," added Simon Potter. "As soon as 
 you can, tell the poor wife that her husband 
 lives." 
 
 " I will ; I only fear that she will not believe me, 
 because I cannot tell her any more," replied 
 Prince. 
 
 " She shall believe you." 
 
 Simon Potter drew in one of his oars, and, 
 raising his short blue frock, he took from one 
 of his pockets a dirty slip of paper, which he 
 handed to his companion. 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " It is a message in writing fi'om the husband 
 to his wife. I dared not speak of it before. If 
 it should be found, all will be lost. There is 
 death to the cashier in that note, if it should 
 be seen by any one but his wife and the oldest 
 daughter. Do you understand ? Beware, young 
 man ! " 
 
 Prince thought the solitar}'- oarsman was 
 becoming a little melodramatic, and he could not 
 help asking himself whether the business in 
 which he was engaged was not some trick, 
 some fancy of a disordered brain. As he was
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 257 
 
 thinking, he opened the unsealed note in his 
 hand. It was certainly the writing of the cash- 
 ier, with which the young man was quite 
 familiar. He read it, and then carefully placed 
 the paper in his wallet. The boat in which he 
 sat was still far from tlie shop of Don John 
 for Simon had hardly rowed at all during the 
 conversation. 
 
 "I guess it's all fixed now," said the strange 
 man, with the nearest appearance to a smile 
 which Prince had yet seen upon his face ; and 
 with this remark he resumed his old tone and 
 his usual dialect. 
 
 " If you wiU land me on the beach here, I 
 will not trouble you to pull up to the boat- 
 shop, added Prince, glancing at the shore, near 
 which Simon had kept his boat, to avoid meet- 
 ing other craft. 
 
 " That'll be a good deal better'n goin' up to 
 the shop, and givin' them that's there sumthin' 
 to talk about," added the oarsman, as, with a 
 few vigorous strokes, he drove his craft far up 
 on the beach. 
 
 "I can walk up in a few moments." 
 
 "Now, remember, young man, that the life 
 IT
 
 258 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 of one that never did notliin' wrong to no one 
 is in your hands," said Simon Potter, in a low 
 tone. 
 
 " Tell him he can trust me, and that I will 
 do all that a mortal can do to help him." 
 
 Prince shoved the old man's boat back into 
 the deep water, and then hastened up to the 
 boat-shop, Avhere he arrived at six o'clock, just 
 as the Dorcas and the Undine came in. He 
 assisted in housing the boats, and the girls were 
 so full of enthusiasm in regard to the excursion, 
 that he thought he should be asked no ques- 
 tions about his relations with the strange man 
 of the Northport woods, but he was mistaken. 
 
 " What in the world did that old man with 
 the conic section on his head want of you, Pro- 
 fessor Willingood?" asked Carrie West. 
 
 " He wanted me to do some business for him. 
 Strange as he is, that old man owns land and 
 has money invested in the city." 
 
 "What does he Avear that awful hat for?" 
 
 "Why do you wear such a funny hat?" 
 
 " Because it is the fashion." 
 
 " Well, that hat is Simon Potter's fashion. 
 He is a fashion unto himself. But I must go
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 259 
 
 home ; " and Prince ran away with more abrupt- 
 ness than he often dared to use with the girls. 
 
 He went home and ate his supper, which was 
 all ready when he arrived. It was not a bad 
 supper, for Fox Bushwell had provided much 
 better for the table since the scene with his 
 ward. But Prince, hungry as he v/as, thought 
 less of his supper than usual that evening. Half 
 a dozen times while he was eating, he put his 
 Band into his pocket to assure himself of the 
 safety of the wallet containing that little slip of 
 paper. What a sensation that note would make 
 if its contents were known to the ])coplc of the 
 cit}' ! If the editor of the newspaper could get 
 hold of it, he would doubtless issue an extra, to 
 inform his patrons of the astounding intelligence 
 it revealed. 
 
 Prince kept as calm as he could ; l)ut as soon 
 as his meal was finished, he hastened to the 
 house of the cashier. The time was opportune, 
 for the younger children had all been sent to 
 bed, and Mrs. Longimore and Mollie were alone 
 in the sitting-room. 
 
 " Anything for me to do, Mrs. Longimore ? " 
 asked Prince, with more cheerfulness than he
 
 260 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 had dared to exhibit since the departure of the 
 cashier. 
 
 " Nothing at all, Prince. You are very kind 
 to take so much care of us," replied Mrs. Lon- 
 gimore. 
 
 " I should be ashamed of myself if I did any 
 less. If you only knew how happy it makes 
 me to help you, you would let me do more. It 
 is vacation this week, and I have plenty of 
 time." 
 
 " I heard you were very busy teaching the 
 girls how to row." 
 
 '^ I have been; but they can all row pretty 
 Avell now, and, hke Othello, my occupation's 
 gone." 
 
 " Minnie and Nellie were here this afternoon," 
 continued Mrs. Longimore. " They let me have 
 another hundred dollars, though I do not need 
 it. I have used but little of the first money 
 they gave me. I protested against taking it ; 
 but they said I must. They want Mollie to go 
 back to school next Monday." 
 
 " I hope she will do so. She will graduate 
 next year, and it will be a pity for her not to 
 havG her diploma."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 261 
 
 " I cannot go and leave mother to do all the 
 work," said Mollie. 
 
 " There is no more work than before," added 
 the mother, who evidently favored the idea. 
 
 " But I cannot go. I don't think I ought to 
 associate with the other girls now," replied Mol- 
 lie, a.j the tears started in her eyes. 
 
 " The girls don't think so," interposed Prince. 
 "You were chosen leader of the Dorcas Club." 
 
 " The girls are very kind. They have treated 
 me ever so much better than I deserve." 
 
 " I. am sure they have not," protested Prince, 
 earnestly. " They hope you Avill be in the boat 
 some time this Aveek, and learn your part as 
 leader." 
 
 '•' O, no ; I cannot do that." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "My poor father!" sobbed MolHe. 
 
 " She don't feel hke doing anything," added 
 Mrs. Longimore, Aviping away her own tears. 
 
 " While we are living on charity, 1 cannot 
 think of joining any boat club," said Mollie. 
 " I can't help thinking of poor father every 
 hour, and almost every minute of the day. If 
 he had died at home — "
 
 262 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " Perhaps lie is not dead," suggested Prince, 
 who hardly dared to tell his good news at once. 
 " Indeed, I believe he is not dead." 
 
 "If he is not dead, I am afraid he is worse 
 than dead," added the poor wife. "I would 
 rather he Avere buried in the deep waters of the 
 bay, than feel all my life that he is a felon." 
 
 " You look on the dark side of the case, Mrs. 
 Longimore. Perhaps he is neither dead nor a 
 felon." 
 
 " If he is alive I am afraid he took the bonds." 
 
 " Perhaps not." 
 
 " I will not believe poor father is guilty of a 
 crime," added MoUie, so grieved that Prince 
 dared not say what he had to say. 
 
 " Let us not talk about it. It is a terrible mys- 
 tery which we cannot fathom," interposed the 
 wife. 
 
 "But I am almost sure we shall learn some- 
 thing about the matter before long," continued 
 Prince, a little more decidedly, as he gradually 
 felt his way to the great revelation he had to 
 make. 
 
 " What do you mean, Prince ? " demanded 
 Mrs. Loncrimore.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 263 
 
 MoUie wiped away her tears, and gazed stead- 
 fastly at the young man. 
 
 " Of course I can't tell," added Prince. 
 
 " Have the bank people obtained any news, 
 or any clew ? " 
 
 " No," replied Prince, emphatically. " I would 
 not have any of them know what I have said 
 for all the world." 
 
 "What have you said?" 
 
 ' ' I only said I was almost sure we should 
 hear something from Mr. Longimore before 
 long." 
 
 " Why don't you explain what you mean ? " 
 demanded Mrs. Longimore with intense emotion. 
 
 " If you know that he is dead, Prince, do not 
 conceal it from us. We can bear anything 
 now," added Mollie. 
 
 "I don't believe he is dead, and I have reason 
 to think he is innocent of anything wrong." 
 
 " Tell us what you know. Prince. You don't 
 know what agony you are causing me," pleaded 
 the stricken wife. " You have something to tell 
 us — I know you have." 
 
 " I have ; but before I say a single word, I 
 must caution you not to repeat one word I say, 
 or even hint at it."
 
 264 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 " Then there is something wrong." 
 
 " I think not ; at least, I hope not." 
 
 " You hope not ? " 
 
 "I believe not ; but I don't know much about 
 it. You must keep still, at least for a day or 
 two, or until you or I know more about it." 
 
 " Certainly we can do nothing to injure poor 
 father, if he is still living," said MolUe, wrought 
 up to the highest pitch of anxiety. 
 
 " Mr. Longimore is still alive," added Prince. 
 
 " Where is he ? " gasped the wife. 
 
 " O, Prince ! " groaned MoUie. 
 
 " I don't know that I ought to tell even you 
 where he is ; but I shall see him to-night," 
 replied Prince in a whisper, as he glanced at 
 the windows. . 
 
 " Can it be true ? " 
 
 "You may depend upon it," added the mes- 
 senger of Simon Potter, as he took from his 
 wallet the dirty slip of paper. " Be calm, now ; 
 for if we make the slightest mistake, Mr. Longi- 
 more may not long be alive." 
 
 With a struggle the n.other and daughter, 
 awed by these fearful words, regained in some 
 degree their self-possession.
 
 o 
 
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 to 
 
 3 
 
 •J 
 
 Zi 
 
 CO 
 
 
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 ■■V .■;'.^//'/ //.-//;-■, ;■/,'/-//, v;^.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 265 
 
 "We must all be very prudent," continued 
 Prince. "• Are you calm enough to read a line 
 from him ? " 
 
 " O, yes ! Give it to me ! " 
 
 The brief note was given to Mrs. Longimore, 
 and panting ^Yith emotion, she read it to her- 
 self. 
 
 "What is it, mother? Read it!" cried 
 MoUie. 
 
 Mrs. Longimore, with faltering utterance, read 
 the note, as follows : — 
 
 "My dear Wife and Children: I am 
 still alive, but I am suffering- what no words can 
 tell. I am guilty of no crime, though every- 
 thing is against me. Help me, by your silence, 
 to prove my innocence. I could not live another 
 day without telling you I am not a felon. Send 
 Prince to me, for he may be able to sa.ve me» 
 
 R. L." 
 
 The mother and daughter wept together ; and 
 for some time Prince respected their silence, 
 hardly able to restrain his own tears. 
 
 " You are satisfied now — are you ? " he asked, 
 at last. 
 
 " I am. Prince ; it seems like a dream," 
 replied the poor wife.
 
 266 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " That's father's writing, certainly," added 
 Mollie, as she took tlie sHp of paper from her 
 mother. 
 
 " All that I have said is true to the letter," 
 said Prince. 
 
 "But where is he?" 
 
 " He is not three miles from here." 
 
 " And you are to see liini to-night ? " 
 
 " I am." 
 
 " Can't I see him ? May I not go with you?*' 
 
 " I must do just as I was told to do. I must 
 go alone. But you shall hear from him again 
 in the morning. I will not sleep till I tell yo'i 
 all I know," replied the young man, glancing 
 at the clock. 
 
 " If ho is innocent, why did he go away ? " 
 asked Mrs. Longimore. 
 
 " I don't know ; I cannot explain it. Perhaps 
 lie lost the bonds ; perhaps some one stole them. 
 Probably he went off on account of the loss of- 
 the bonds ; but he says he is innocent, and we 
 must take his word for it till we know to the 
 contrary. He may have made some mistake, 
 without meaning to do wrong, and was afraid 
 to meet the directors of the bank." 
 
 I
 
 THE DOECAS CLTJB. 2G7 
 
 " If lie is not guilty of a crime, I don't care 
 for anything else," added Mrs. Longimore. 
 
 "I a:n going now. If I get back before day- 
 light, shall I come here?" 
 
 " Yes. Ring the bell ; I shall hear it," rephed 
 the poor lady. 
 
 Prince went home.
 
 268 THE DORCAS CLUB, 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 IN THE GLOOM OF THE NIGHT. 
 
 POSSIBLY Prince Willingood's standard in 
 regard to deception was not so high as 
 that of Simon Potter, and he made a distinction 
 between telling all he knew and wilfully deceiv- 
 ing any one. He did not tell Fox Bushwell 
 what he had done that day, nor what he in- 
 tended to do that night; and the old man had no 
 suspicion that any unusual events were in pro- 
 gress. If Fox Bushwell got his eye on a dollar 
 which might possibly be raked into his coffers, 
 he paid but little heed to anything else. He 
 kept his gaze fixed on that dollar until it was 
 hidden in his own pocket. Since the fire he had 
 been very busy putting his new house in order, 
 and looking after the insurance upon the one 
 which was destroyed. The company was not 
 ready to pay him. The officers asked him a
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB 2(30 
 
 great many questions in regard to the origin of 
 the fire. They had inquired of Mrs. Pining and 
 Prince in regard to this matter. Then they 
 wanted to know something more in regard to 
 the value of the property destroyed. Fox Bush- 
 well had never insured any houses or furnituro 
 before, and he had taken out tliis policy only a 
 month before the fire. 
 
 The insurance company did not say that any- 
 thing was wrong, or even that they suspected 
 an3^thing was wrong. They only delayed pay- 
 ment, and asked questions — not very awkward 
 questions, but such as cau:;ed Fox Bushwell to 
 wonder what the}' were driving at. If they sus- 
 pected any irregularity, why didn't they say so, 
 and give him the opp u'tunity to defend himself, 
 and to shoAV conclusively that the origin of the 
 fire was a dense mystery, which no human be- 
 ino: could find out ? 
 
 He had gone to bed as usual that night, but 
 rather later than his ordinary time — at half past 
 ten, — had gone to sleep, and had been called 
 by Prince. That was all he knew about it. 
 Neither Mrs. Pining nor Prince contradicted his 
 statement in any important particular.
 
 270 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 
 
 Fox Buslnvell was interested in this business 
 matter, and he gave hut Uttle attention to any- 
 thing else for the time being. In fact, it troubled 
 him, though he did not say so. He had not 
 slept well nights since the inquiry began ; and 
 when his ward came into the house, after his 
 visit to the house of the Longimores, the old 
 man was considerably exhausted; in fact, ready 
 to sleep. At nine o'clock, Mrs. Pining retired ; 
 she always went to bed at that hour, whether 
 she was sleepy or not. Fox Bush well bolted the 
 front door, and retreated to his room a few 
 moments later. 
 
 Prince was wide awake, and, as may well bo 
 supposed, he was intensely excited in view of 
 the nio-ht's work before him. He waited till ho 
 was satisfied that his uncle was asleep, or till 
 he ought to have been asleep^ and then went 
 into the back-room. He did not like to go out, 
 to be absent so long, leaving a door unfastened 
 behind him, for he knew not what treasures 
 the money-lender might have in the house. 
 After looking over the ground, he decided to 
 get out at one of the windows, which was so 
 high that no one could easily get in at it from
 
 THE DOECAS CLUB. 271 
 
 the outside, if he left it unfastened, though he 
 knew how to get in himself, if he should happen 
 to return in season to do so. He got out the 
 window, and "hung off," dropping upon the 
 grass beneath. The sash came down with a 
 slam as he dropped, but it was so far from the 
 sleepers in the house that they were not likely 
 to hear it. 
 
 Walking on the grass, and stepping very care- 
 fully, he gained the street. The night was 
 cloudy and dark, thus favoring his expedition. 
 He hastened to the boat-shop of Don John, 
 where he could obtain a small boat, which the 
 owner allowed him to use whenever he wished. 
 On the way he could not help thinking what 
 he should say to his uncle in case his absence 
 was discovered ; but he did not worry himself 
 in regard to such a contingency, for his uncle 
 seldom questioned him as to where he had been, 
 or what he had been doing. In the vicinity of 
 the shop all was as still as a tomb. There was 
 no light in Mrs. Ramsey's cottage ; and the boat- 
 builder, who was an early riser, was doubtless 
 fast asleep, though it was only half past nine 
 o'clock. Prince found the oars under the shop,
 
 272 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 and siientiy embarked on his gloomy voyage. 
 
 Though not a member of the Yacht Club, he 
 was thoroughly experienced in the handling of 
 boats, and kne^v the bay and harbor quite as 
 well as the average of the boys of the city. On 
 the high ground of the city were two spires 
 whose outline could be seen on the sky, dark as 
 the nic!ht was : and Prince knew that these two 
 steeples, kept in range from the boat-shop, made 
 a course that would carry the navigator clear of 
 the trend of the coast projecting out into the 
 bay north of the mouth of Little River. 
 
 Pulling out from the pier, he "brought the 
 two spires into one," as nautical men express it. 
 He was sorry no sail-boat was available, for a 
 three-mile pull is not particularly pleasant, all 
 alone in a dark night, even when one knows 
 the course, and feel, quite at home in the boat. 
 But Prince kept thinking and kept rowing for 
 an hour. He passed the headland, and theii. 
 followed the shore towards the river. It could 
 not have been ten minutes either way from the 
 time he had appointed to be at the meeting- 
 place, when he lay upon his oars, to listen for 
 any sound which might indicate the presence of
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 273 
 
 Simon Potter, who, if there, could not have 
 failed to hear the stroke of his oars. 
 
 *' Hoo, hoo, hoo ! " were the first sounds 
 which saluted the waiting ears of the boatman. 
 
 It might be Simon Potter, or it might be a 
 cat-owl. 
 
 "Hoo, hoo, hoo!" replied Prince; and Simon 
 Potter might have thought it was the voice of 
 his expected visitor or a cat-owl. 
 
 " Prince ! " said a voice on the shore. 
 
 " Simon Potter ! " replied the young man ; 
 and, resuming his oars, he soon beached his 
 boat. 
 
 " You are on time," said the recluse of the 
 Northport woods, as the visitor leaped upon the 
 land. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; everything worked well for me. 
 My uncle went to bed earlier than he does 
 sometimes, so that the coast was clear." 
 
 " Mr. Longimore is waiting for you in an 
 agony of doubt. He feels that he has staked 
 everything upon your judgment and fidelity," 
 added Simon Potter. 
 
 " He has made no mistake. I only hope he will 
 be able to show that he h innocent of any crime," 
 18
 
 274 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 replied Prince, as he fastened the painter of the 
 boat to a tree. 
 
 " That is all that troubles him. The fact is, 
 he can't prove anything. But follow me. and 
 you shall see him very soon." 
 
 Simon Potter led the way through the woods, 
 and in a few moments he arrived at his little 
 cottage, which Avould have no more than satis- 
 fied the ambition of a thrifty day-laborer. Con- 
 nected with it was a small barn, in which he 
 kept his cow and pig. There was no light in 
 the house ; and Prince groped his way after his 
 conductor, who led him to a chair. 
 
 " Sit down, Prince. We have no lights here, 
 under the present circumstances. I will call 
 him ; and then I shall sfay outside, to guard 
 against any possible surprise." 
 
 "But where is Mr. " 
 
 "Don't speak his name," interposed Simon 
 Potter. "Prudence costs nothing, and a miser 
 can afford to be careful. You need not know 
 where he is concealed, for the sheriff might 
 come here a dozen times without suspecting his 
 hiding-place." 
 
 The strange man left the room ; and Prince
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 275 
 
 thought, from the sound of his footsteps, that 
 he went in the direction of the barn. It was 
 some time before the silence was ao^ain disturbed. 
 
 "Prince!" said a voice, trembhng with fear 
 or emotion. 
 
 " Here," rephed the young man, rising from 
 his chair ; and the next moment his liand was 
 grasped by one that seemed very cold and l)ony 
 to him. 
 
 "I am not a felon," gasped the casliier, for 
 of course it was he, though liis name was not 
 to be sj)oken, even in the solitude of the woods. 
 " Will you believe me ? " 
 
 The hand trembled, and the quiver of it 
 seemed to be conveyed through the frame of the 
 visitor. * 
 
 " I am willing to believe it," replied Prince. 
 
 "But how are they — my wife and children?" 
 whispered Mr. Longimore. 
 
 "They are well; but they have suffered moio 
 than I can tell." 
 
 " So have I, more than any one can tell. I 
 have seen the newspaper, and I know that seme 
 people think that i committed suicide. I was 
 tempted to do that. I intended to end the hfe
 
 276 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 which was overshadowed and broken down by 
 a calamity for which I am not resposible. Simon 
 Potter saved me. He bade me hve, at least 
 till I could learn whether my life was worth 
 saving;," groaned Mr. Longimore, as he led 
 Prince to the only window of the room, at 
 which tliey seated themselves. 
 
 Accustomed now to the darkness, the yoting 
 man could sec a dim outline of the cashier's 
 face. It was so white and so thin that the 
 visitor could easily have persuaded himself, if 
 lie liad 1)ccn superstitious, that he was in com- 
 munion M'ith one from another world. Mr. 
 Longimore took his hand again, as though the 
 warmth of the young blood carried heat to his 
 cold heart and his cold frame. 
 
 "Where is the boat in which you left the 
 city ? " asked Prince, intent upon solving some 
 of the dark questions in the case which had 
 perplexed the gossips as well as the officers of 
 police. 
 
 "I don't know. Prince. Simon Potter took 
 care of it, and I know not whether he has 
 hidden, burned, or sunk it. I had something 
 else to think of, and I did not care. He will
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 277 
 
 tell you. I came here early on that Tuesday 
 morning, a week ago, before even the sailors on 
 the vessels in the harbor were stirring, for I 
 kept close to the shore, where none could see 
 me. But I was seeking only a grave. I desired 
 only to send a message to my wife, that she and 
 my children might not carry it rankling in 
 their hearts, that I had died guilty of a crime. 
 Simon Potter loved me, and has saved me so 
 far." 
 
 " But if you had done nothing wrong, why 
 did you leave the city?" asked Prince. 
 
 " Perhaps I was a coward. Now I believe that 
 I was," sobbed the poor man. ••' The bonds 
 were gone, and I was not brave enough to tell 
 the directors that they were all destroyed." 
 
 "Destroyed?" 
 
 " Yes, destroyed ; burned to ashes," groaned 
 the cashier ; and his companion could feel the 
 tremor of his frame, as he clasped the hand he 
 held more closely. 
 
 "How could they be burned?" asked Prince 
 intensely excited. 
 
 "They were burned with your uncle's house." 
 
 " I don't understand it."
 
 278 THE DOHCAS CLUB. 
 
 " I will tell you the whole story. It was for 
 that I wished to see you," answered the cashier. 
 " Do you know why I wished to see you rather 
 than any one else ? " 
 
 " I hope it Avas because you thought you could 
 trust me." 
 
 " It was for that, certainly ; but for another 
 reason, also." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " Because you live in the house of Fox Bush- 
 well. He is your uncle, I know ; but he is a 
 hard man." 
 
 " I ought to know that as well as the next 
 person," added Piince, heartily. 
 
 " But I am afraid he is not an honest man. 
 God forgive me, if I wrong him ! I would not 
 speak ill of any one." 
 
 " I don't think you are very far from the 
 truth." 
 
 " Do you think he could be guilty of any 
 great crime ? " 
 
 " I don't know about that ; I shouldn't want 
 to say. I'm afraid he would do almost anything 
 for money. He loves it more than he loves his 
 own soul, in spite of his preaching."
 
 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 279 
 
 "I will tell you the whole story, Prince, and 
 I hoj)e 3-0U will be able to help me. My only 
 reliance is upon you." 
 
 The cashier related all the incidents whicli 
 liad occurred upon that eventful Monday nigld, 
 as they were detailed in a preceding chapter. 
 
 "My uncle took the wrong bundle of papers 
 when he left the bank," said Prince, musing. 
 '• They were burned in the fire. But wouldn't 
 the government replace the bonds, if it can be 
 proved that they were burned ? " 
 
 " Perhaps it would, if it could be proved 
 beyond a doubt. I want to know if it can be 
 proved." 
 
 "Certainly it can. Uncle Fox will help you." 
 
 "Will he? Do you know that he will?" 
 asked Mr, Longiniore, eagerly. 
 
 " I don't see how he can do anything else," 
 added Prince. 
 
 " Has he told anv one that the bonds were 
 destroyed? " 
 
 " I don't knov»r that he has," answered the 
 young man, perplexed by the situation. 
 
 If Fox Bush well knew that the bonds were 
 destroyed, why had he not told the directors the
 
 280 THE DOEGAS CLUB. 
 
 truth ? Assuredly he did know it, for he and 
 the cashier had searched for the papers after the 
 fire, finding nothing but the empty brass kettle. 
 
 " Prince, I have had seven dnjs to think of 
 this terrible matter. I have blamed myself for 
 not telling the whole truth that morning, instead 
 of running away like a felon ; but, after all, I 
 think I have been wise, as men of the world 
 are wise. I have consulted expediency rather 
 than absolute justice. I have trusted to myself, 
 rather than the simple truth, for safety. If I 
 had staid in the city, I should have been arrested 
 before dinner time. I should have been await- 
 ing my trial at this moment in a prison." 
 
 " I suppose you did what you thought was 
 best," added Prince. 
 
 "I was crazy with excitement when I found 
 the bonds were gone ; when I realized that they 
 had been burned in the flames of your uncle's 
 house, I could not think ; I was beside myself. 
 I demanded the bonds of Fox Bushwell in the 
 morning but he could only tell me they were 
 burned ; and I believed him then." 
 
 " Don't you believe him now ? " asked Prince. 
 
 *' God forgive me if I wrong him ! I don't
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 281 
 
 know whether or not they are destroyed. They 
 may be. Donl)tlcss they are. I know not. 
 Will Fox Bushwell say they are burned ? Will 
 he tell tlio whole truth?" 
 
 " Why not ? " 
 
 "Why has he not told it?" 
 
 " I don't knoAV ; I don't understand it," said 
 the bewildered young man. 
 
 "As I read it in the newspaper, Fox Bush- 
 well said I was rather wild in my manner; that 
 I gave him the bundle of papers he had left 
 at the bank, only saying I thought he mi;_^ht 
 want them. The — Your uncle says this was 
 all that passed between us," continued Mr. Lon- 
 gimore, gasping with emotion. 
 
 "Well, wasn't it all?" 
 
 " All ? No. I demanded the bonds of him ; 
 I was wild ; I thrust my fist through the glass 
 to gain admission to the house. I was crazy 
 with the agony of the discovery that the bonds 
 were not in the bank vault. I demanded them 
 as I would one of my children if he had kid- 
 napped it. I shook my clinched fist in his face ; 
 I grasped him by the throat ; I told him I was 
 ruined, that my wife and children were ruined.
 
 282 TEE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 He told me, trembling like an aspen beneath 
 my grasp, that the bonds were burned. Not one 
 word does he say of all this when Mr. Doaiic 
 and the directors asked him about the inter- 
 view ; only, that I gave him the papers, saying 
 that he might want them, and then fled in an 
 instant. If there had been a house very near, 
 its inmates might have heard all I said. I was 
 furious, for it was a matter of life or death to 
 mc ; of what is better than life, or worse than 
 death. Not one word did he say of what he 
 knev/ to be the truth." 
 
 " Perhaps he was afraid to say anything for 
 fear he might get into trouble himself," sug- 
 p-csted Prince. " He is a timid man." 
 
 "Perhaps fear sealed his lips — I don't know. 
 I would not wrong him. I have thought it all 
 over a thousand times in my solitude. Night 
 and day I have considered it. Through you, 
 Prince, I must seek the truth. You are a good, 
 brave boy; and you will help mc ? " 
 
 " 1 will, .with all the powers I have." 
 
 " Thank you. Prince. It is terrible to think 
 of beinof branded as a felon, as I am. It is ter- 
 rible to think of a cell in a prison; but it is
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 283 
 
 worse to tliink of my good name blighted, and 
 my poor family Aveeping over my living toml) ! ' ' 
 
 The cashier sobbed in bitterness of spirit, and 
 Prince sought to change the current of his 
 thought. 
 
 " Very likely my uncle was afraid to tell the 
 whole truth," said he. 
 
 " When was he questioned in regard to this 
 interview ?" 
 
 '•Not till late in the afternoon of the day you 
 left." 
 
 "Then he believed I could not come from my 
 watery grave in the bay to confront him," 
 added the cashier, who seemed to be filled with 
 grave suspicions, though he failed to give full 
 expression to them. 
 
 " I will do anything and everything you wish, 
 if you will only tell me what I am to do. I'm 
 not afraid of anybody or anything." 
 
 "For this business you need more of discre- 
 tion than courage. Through j-ou I desire to 
 approach Fox Bushwell. You know him as well 
 as I do. I want you to sound him, so as to 
 ascertain whether he will deny the truth in 
 regard to the destruction of the bonds. In one
 
 284 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 word, Prince, I mean to do now what I ought 
 to have done on the day I left the city, when, 
 maddened with the fear of dishonor, I fled hke 
 a thief. I don't blame my friends for thinking 
 I was a thief. I acted like one ; but I wept 
 over my own conduct before the sun went down 
 that day."' 
 
 "•I am to sound him," mused Prince. 
 
 " Do it in your own way; only be alone when 
 you talk with him," added Mr. Longimore. 
 
 "Shall I tell you how I would sound him?" 
 
 "Yes, tell mc." 
 
 " I would hurl the truth into his teeth, fairly 
 and squarely, without giving him a single second 
 to invent an explanation. He lied to Mr. Doane, 
 and he lied to all the directors." 
 
 " He certainly did ; but he is your uncle, 
 Prince, and — " 
 
 " He is none the better for that. He has 
 starved me and cheated me out of nearly all the 
 comforts of life. I wish liirn no harm ; but he 
 shall tell the truth. He shall go before the 
 directors of the bank, and inform them in what 
 manner the bonds were destroyed," added the 
 young man, vehemently,
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 285 
 
 " You are young and full of enthusiasm, 
 Prince. I am afraid he will not do what you 
 expect of him. I am afraid he will deny every- 
 thing, even if I should confront him again." 
 
 " He cannot." 
 
 " Perhaps he will not. If he does not, you 
 may tell the directors where I am ; or. Letter, 
 come and let me know, and I will go to them." 
 
 "Suppose my uncle refuses to speak the truth, 
 what then?" asked Prince. 
 
 " Nothing, then," said Mr. Longimore, with a 
 shudder. 
 
 "What do you mean, sir?" 
 
 " There will then be no hope for me. Can 
 I stand before the directors and tell them that 
 tlic bonds were destroyed, when Fox Bushwell 
 denies it? The government would not then 
 replace them ; and, under such circumstances, 
 the bank of&cers would be more inclined to 
 believe your uncle than to believe me." 
 
 "What will you do then?" 
 
 " Die then, as I would have done before, if 
 Simon Potter had not saved me ! " exclaimed 
 Mr. Longimore, bursting into tears, and sobbing 
 like a child.
 
 283 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " Not SO bad as that," added the pitying 
 Prince. 
 
 " Say no more, my friend, about that. Are 
 my family suffering?" 
 
 " O, no ; they have everything in plenty. Tlio 
 Dorcas Society gave your wife two hundred dol- 
 lars, which they had collected to buy a boat ; 
 or, rather, lent it to them, without the knowl- 
 edge of any one but the association. They shall 
 want for nothing." 
 
 " Give my wife this letter, which I have 
 written to-day. It is not signed ; but she will 
 know the writing. Don't lose it." 
 
 " I will not." 
 
 "Now, you will talk with your uncle to- 
 morrow, or as soon as you can. You must wait 
 your time, and do not be rash." 
 
 " I shall do the business as I told you, and 
 v.dien it is done you shall hear from me. I will 
 come to you at night ; but I may not be able 
 to settle the matter for several days." 
 
 "•I can wait a week, now that ni}' wife and 
 Mollie know that I am alive, and not a felon," 
 said the cashier, sadly. " I suppose your uncle 
 v/ill take the furniture ; or did my brother pay 
 the note?"
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 287 
 
 " He did not. He has failed in business, and 
 can do nothing. But my uncle shall not take 
 the furniture, if I can help it." 
 
 " Bless you, my brave boy ! '' added the fugi- 
 tive, pressing the warm hand he still held. 
 '• Go, now ; but let me see you again as soon 
 as you have good news for me. If you have it 
 not, do not come. I shall understand your 
 absence." 
 
 Prince left the house, and was immediately 
 joined by Simon Potter, who conducted him to 
 his boat, and bade him adieu as he pulled away 
 towards the city. When he landed at the boat- 
 shop, he heard the clock strike one. Half an 
 hour later he rang the door-bell at the home of 
 the cashier, and was admitted without delay to 
 the dining-room, for both mother and daughter 
 were too anxious to allow them to sleep, and 
 had not yet retired.
 
 233 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE HOLE IN THE CHIMNEY. 
 
 PRINCE soon told the story of his interview 
 with the cashier, and fully explained in 
 what manner the l>onds had been destroyed, 
 
 '* Wasn't it very .stran<^c that your uncle should 
 make such a mi.stake '? " asked Mrs. Longimore, 
 when the young man had related the substance 
 of the interview with her husband. 
 
 " Mr. Longimore did not think it was very 
 strange," replied Prince. " He had done up 
 both packages himself, in the same paper and 
 with the same tape, so that they looked exactly 
 alike." 
 
 " But how singular it was that, after your 
 uncle had taken the wrong package, his house 
 should be burned on that particular night." 
 
 Prince had not had his attention directed in 
 this way before; and he was forced to confess 
 that it was rather singular.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 283 
 
 "Couldn't Mr. Bushwell see that he had the 
 Avrong bundle before he put it into the bras:? 
 kettle ? " persisted Mrs. Longimore. 
 
 " It was down cellar, and in the evening. I 
 suppose it did not occur to hiai that there wa:j 
 any possibility of its being the wrong one," 
 replied Prince. " But I don't blame him for 
 any mistake he made. I want to give him fair 
 play; for, whatever mistake he made, Mr. Lon- 
 uimore must have made the same one when he 
 put the Avrong package into liis tin box, and 
 returned it to the vault." 
 
 " But I can't help thinking how very strange 
 it was that your uncle's house was burned on 
 that particular night, and after the mistake." 
 
 " I admit all 3^ou say ; but if the mistake had 
 been discovered before the fire, it would not 
 have been thought so very odd," answered 
 Prince, who was an earnest advocate of fairness, 
 and was unwilling that his uncle should be con- 
 victed of anything of which he was not guilty. 
 
 " Mr. Bushwell, I think, regarded the blunder 
 
 and the event which followed as rather out of 
 
 the common course, or he would not have told 
 
 such an abominable lie about his last meeting 
 
 19
 
 290 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 with my husband. Not a word about the burned 
 bonds." 
 
 "Uncle Fox is a timid man; and I have no 
 doubt he was afraid to tell the truth. But if 
 he will tell the truth now, all may yet be well." 
 
 " This business must be very unpleasant to 
 you, Prince. You have been very kind to us, 
 and I am sorry it falls into your liands," added 
 ]\Irs. Longimore. 
 
 " Of course I don't want to quarrel with my 
 uncle; but I am willing to do even that for the 
 sake of justice. I feel that Mr. Longimore is 
 entirely innocent ; and it would be a crime for 
 me to do nothing. But now you must wait, for 
 I may not have a chance to speak to my uncle 
 for several days. Mrs. Pining is almost alwaj'S 
 in the house, since her best gown was burned; 
 and I can't let her know anything about the 
 matter." 
 
 " We can wait, now that we know father has 
 done nothing wrong," said MoUie. "I'm sure, 
 I feel happy again." 
 
 " So do I," added her mother. " Of course 
 you must take your own time. Prince." 
 
 " If what you and I know were discovered,
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 291 
 
 your husband would be arrested and thrown 
 into prison, Mrs, Longimore. I am afraid that 
 un,cle Fox would never tell the truth under such 
 circumstances. But you may be sure I will not 
 delay the business a day or an hour longer than 
 is necessary." 
 
 Prince dehvered the letter, and bade them good 
 night, not thinking that the morning hours had 
 come, and walked towards home. He could not 
 help thinking of what the cashier's Avife had 
 said. Though she did not say so, in so many 
 words, she evidently suspected that Fox Bush- 
 well might be guilty of a greater wrong than 
 telling one or a dozen falsehoods. As she sug- 
 gested, it was certainly very strange that the 
 house had been destroyed by fire on that very 
 nio-ht the mistake in the bank had been made. 
 But then, as the packages were exactly alike in 
 appearance, the blunder was not so very unac- 
 countable. The two bundles lay on the table in 
 the directors' room, and Fox Bushwell might 
 easily have picked up the wrong one. What- 
 ever opinion Prince had of his uncle, it was not 
 pleasant to believe that he could be guilty of 
 any premeditated crime. The young man tried
 
 292 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 to con^-ince himself that his guardian was not a 
 thief: but the strangeness of the circumstances 
 troubled him. 
 
 These reflections "svere disturbed by his arrival 
 at the gate of his uncle's house. He entered 
 the yard with the utmost caution, and crept to 
 the rear of the lot. Placing a flour barrel, which 
 had been left behind the house, under it, he 
 prepared to get in at the window by which he 
 had made his egress nearly five hours before. 
 He recognized the danger of an accident, which 
 might alarm his uncle, and perhaps arouse the 
 whole neighborhood. He had no talent for lying 
 and deception, and he was not even willing to 
 invent a storv to satisfv his uncle, in the emer- 
 gency of being discovered. He was sure he 
 could silence liim bv alluding to the bonds ; but 
 he was not willing to do this under such unfa- 
 vorable circumstances. These considerations only 
 made him the more careful when he mounted 
 the flour-barrel and raised the window. At this 
 point he took the precaution to remove his 
 shoes. 
 
 Fortunately, Fox Bushwell and the house- 
 keeper slept soundly ; or, if they did not, Prince
 
 THE DO K CAS CLUB. 293 
 
 made so little noise that it would have been impos- 
 sible for them to hear him. Closing the window 
 behind him, he crept into the kitchen. The 
 difficult part of the enterprise was to ascend the 
 stairs, for the weight of a person caused them 
 to creak. To prevent this, Prince kept close to 
 the wall, wliere the string-piece was nailed to 
 the studs, thus avoiding the strain on the weaker 
 side. By taking a long time for the ascent, he 
 effected it in safety, and stealthily as a mouse 
 crawled into his chamber, the door of which he 
 had left open. He listened, and could hear the 
 snorinsr of the wearv monev-lender. In a few 
 moments he was in bed, but not yet to sleep. 
 The events of the night had been too exciting 
 to permit him to slumber for a time. 
 
 He thought over what had occurred in the 
 Northport woods ; and then his mind went back 
 to the nio-ht of the fire, when • the bonds had 
 been destroyed. He recalled all the events of 
 that evening. Naturally enough the startling 
 features of the affair came first to his mind — 
 the cry of fire which had roused him from his 
 deep sleep. He had waked his uncle, helped 
 dress him, and then luirried him out of the
 
 294 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 house. Certainly, the old man was fast asleep 
 when he called him ; lie had no doubt of that. 
 A man so timid as he could not lie in his bed 
 while the smoke and the flames were creeping up 
 to him. But all the events subsequent to the 
 breaking out of the conflagration were patent to 
 everybody in the neighborhood. The trembling 
 and groaning of the miser in the street had been 
 seen and heard by the neighbors in the light of 
 the fire. But what had happened before the 
 smoke had wakened him ? This was a more 
 important inquiry on the part of Prince. 
 
 " Let me see," said he to himself. " I went 
 to bed about ten. I was down stairs just before, 
 and uncle Fox was in the cellar. There was 
 ^nothing very odd about that, for he cuts up the 
 kindlings for the fire every evening before he 
 goes to bed. I went to bed ; but the tea, which 
 had become stronger, or the Latin that bothered 
 me, kept me awake. Why didn't 1 think of 
 this before? I heard the clock strike twelve 
 before uncle Fox went to his room, and then 
 he came up as still as a mouse. I thought he 
 was more considerate than usual, for I am sure 
 be came up stairs in his stocking feet. I dropped
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 203 
 
 asleep then ; but the iire must have broken out 
 
 in less than half an hour, for the whole concern 
 was burned down when the clock struck one. 
 
 Uncle Fox has told everybody he went to bud 
 about half past ten that night; but I know lie 
 didn't go till after twelve. Why should he lie 
 about it?" 
 
 Prince could not imagine why the old man, 
 who was a clergyman, too, should lie. There 
 seemed to be no occasion for a falsehood. Then 
 the wakeful young man recalled other incidents 
 since the fire, especially the hearing of the ham- 
 mer, on the night the family moved, in the 
 cellar. Prince had gone down stairs to ascer- 
 tain the cause of the noise, and found that his 
 uncle was at work in the cellar. He was iillinq; 
 up a hole in the chimney near its foundation at 
 the bottom of the cellar, which affected the 
 draught, causing the flue to smoke. That was 
 the explanation the old man gave of the nature 
 of his night job. Prince could not see how a 
 hole in the chimney four or five feet below tlio 
 stove fiue, could affect the draught ; but Fox 
 Bushwell had been a brick-mason once, and he 
 ought to know.
 
 296 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 Of course, if liis uncle said so, the draught 
 must have been affected ; and it was quite decent 
 and proper to fill up the hole which made the 
 mischief, especially as the old man had bricks 
 and mortar, and knew how to do it. Prince 
 was a boy, and had a boy's curiosity ; and, as 
 any boy would have done, he went down cellar to 
 see how and where the job had been done. He 
 had found the arch, on one side of which the 
 aperture had been closed, filled with old rubbish, 
 just as though Fox Bushwell did not care to 
 have his handiwork inspected, though he had 
 learned the mason's trade. It seemed just as 
 though the work had been covered up, so that 
 no one should see where the hole had been 
 stopped. Besides, Prince was of the opinion, 
 whether right or wrong, that a hole below the 
 stove-flue in the kitchen would not affect the 
 draught. The cook-stove had worked very well 
 the first day it was set up, so far as he could 
 remember. 
 
 "Uncle Fox, it seems from Mr. Longimore's 
 story, had a place in the cellar of the old house 
 where he kept his valuable papers," Prince 
 reasoned to himself. " He kept them in an old
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 297 
 
 brass kettle ; and when he brought the package 
 from the bank, he put it into this kettle, and 
 stowed it away in the wall. He laid up lii^ 
 treasure in tlie cellar. He }uit the bonds into 
 it, and tliey were burned. H he stopped to 
 look at tlie package, be must have seen tho 
 label on it. Perhaps he looked at it, and per- 
 haps he didn't. If he had a place in the old 
 cellar to keep his papers, why shouldn't he have 
 one in the new cellar? The question before the 
 house just now is, whether or not that place in 
 the foundation of the cliimney isn't the safe for 
 uncle Fox's papers. If he lied to the directors, 
 about the meeting with the cashier that morn- 
 ing ; if he lied to everybody about the time he 
 went to bed on the night of the fire, there must 
 be something worth lying for. I should rather 
 like to know what's in the hole in the chimney, 
 if anything. I will know, too. There are bricks 
 and mortar in the cellar, and if I can get those 
 two bricks out, I can put them in well enough, 
 especially if they are to be covered up Avith 
 rubbish. 
 
 " When ean I do it ? It won't be safe for 
 me to dig out the bricks when uncle Fox is in
 
 298 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 the house, for he will hear me. He is out of 
 the house a good part of the day; liut then Mrs. 
 Pinins: is in it. The more I think of it, the 
 better satisfied I am that I ought to know 
 what's in that hole before I say anything to my 
 precious guardian about the bonds. If he hap- 
 pened by any possible chance to save them from 
 the fire, and stowed them away in the hole in 
 in the chimney, he will remove them if I say 
 anything." 
 
 Thus thinking and thus talking to himself, 
 he went to sleep from sheer exhaustion, and 
 without any attempt to do so. He that talks to 
 himself generally talks to a fool ; but this is n;.t 
 always true. Prince's talk to himself rather 
 cheered him ; and he felt that he was talking lo 
 a pretty smart fellow on this occasion. He be- 
 lieved that he had got an idea. F(^x Bush well 
 would he any time for twenty-five cents, and of 
 course for forty thousand dollars he would tell 
 as many lies as twenty-five cents goes into forty 
 thousand, if his life lasted long enough for him 
 to do so. 
 
 Prince sle[)t and slept after- the excitement 
 and fati!]juc of the niidit. lie did not hear iiis
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 299 
 
 uncle call him, and he did not hear Mrs. Pining 
 call him. He did not awake till the clock 
 struck nine, when his nap seemed to end hy 
 limitation. He dressed himself rather mechani- 
 cally, going over all the reflections which had 
 occupied his mind before he went to sleep. As 
 people often find it, his views were not half so 
 firm and fixed in the dayUght as they had been 
 in the darkness, and much of the reasoning 
 v/hich was strong before, was weak now. Still 
 he was determined at the first opportunity to 
 explore that hole in tlic arch of the chimney. 
 He had a suspicion, and it seemed to be a duty 
 either to convict or acquit his uncle of the sup- 
 posed wrong. 
 
 " Sufferin,' dyin' world ! " groaned Mrs. Pining, 
 when he appeared in the kitchen, where his 
 breakfast was waiting for him. '^ I thought you 
 was goin' to lay abed all day ! " 
 
 " I was tired, and couldn't go to sleep when 
 I went to bed," pleaded Prince. "Where is 
 uncle Fox? " 
 
 " Gone to see the insurance folks," snapped 
 the housekeeper. " I want my money to buy 
 some thing's, and I can't iiit none on't till the
 
 300 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 insurance is paid. I hain't got nothin' to wear. 
 I can't go out o' the house ; and Sabba' day 
 comin', and I can't go to meetin', nor nothin'. 
 Folks kiy abed all day, so I can't get time to 
 do nothin', nuther. " 
 
 "I don't generally lie abed so late." 
 
 " Well, you needn't complain about 3'our 
 victuals ; it's been standin' two hours waitin' for 
 you. If I wanted to go out and buy some things, 
 I can't git no time to go." 
 
 " I will not find any fault when I lie abed as 
 , late as I did this morning," replied Prince, 
 seating himself at the table. 
 
 The young man ate his breakfast, and left the 
 house. During the day he attended to his duties 
 as instructor of the boat clubs. The next day 
 he was up betimes in the morning, so that the 
 housekeeper had no reason to complain of him. 
 When he went into the kitchen, Mrs. Pining 
 Avas reproaching her employer for not paying 
 her interest, and setting forth her need of " sun- 
 thin' to wear ; " Ijut the insurance folks had not 
 paid him, and he was not ready to meet the 
 demand. 
 
 "You can give me sunthin' — can't you?"
 
 TPIE DORCAS CLUB. 301 
 
 whined the Avidow. "Can't you let me have 
 fifteen dollars?" 
 
 " That's more money than I have in the 
 house, Mrs. Pining," repUed Fox Bushwcll. " I 
 expect to get my insurance by to-morrow, and 
 then I will pay you the forty-eight dollars. I 
 can't do it before. You mustn't be hard upon 
 me, after all I've lost." 
 
 " Dyin' world ! What's goin' to become on 
 me, if I don't go to meetin' ? I feel jest like a 
 heathen, now." 
 
 " Wait a few days, and 111 try to raise the 
 money for yon." 
 
 " Lud'.i Siikc I That's jest what you've been 
 sayin' ever sence the fire. Sufferin' and dyin' in 
 sin and iniquity I without notliin' to wear, and 
 no chance to go to meetin' ! " 
 
 " Prince, liave you seen Longimore's folks 
 lately ? " asked Fox Bush well, as his ward en- 
 tered the kitchen. 
 
 " I have seen them every day." 
 
 "How do they seem?" 
 
 " Better than they were." 
 
 " I'm glad to hear it. I don't like to do any- 
 thing hard ; but I don't see how I can help it," 
 whined the money lender.
 
 802 THE DOKCAS CLUB. 
 
 " What are you going to do, uncle Fox ? " 
 asked Prince, his heart rising into his throat, as 
 much Avith indignation as with fear. 
 
 " To-morrow it will be ten days since Longi- 
 niore went off; and all that furniture will belong 
 to me then." 
 
 " But you will not take it away from them — 
 will you ? " 
 
 " What on earth can I do ? I can't afford to 
 lose six hundred and twenty dollars. It would 
 ruin me." 
 
 " But you can afford to wait a few. days," 
 pleaded Prince. 
 
 " What's the use of waiting ? Longimore's 
 brother can't do anytliing for his folks. The 
 furniture will belong to mo to-morrow ; and I 
 think I know where I can sell it for enough to 
 make me whole. Currier is going to house- 
 keeping soon, and wanted to buy Captain Sea- 
 board's ; but when he saw it, he said it wasn't 
 good enough for him. I shall see him to-day; 
 and if you go to Longimore's house, I wish you 
 would just ask his wife if she has any objection 
 to my showing him the things ~ this afternoon. 
 If she has, I shall take him in to-morrow."
 
 THE DORCAS CLUiJ. tiS 
 
 " I think you had better keep quiet for a few 
 clays, uncle Fox," said Prince, choking down 
 his indignation. 
 
 " Keep quiet? " 
 
 " At least till you get your insurance. People 
 are sorry for Mrs. Longimore and her children, 
 whatever they think of lier husband ; and if you 
 should take her furniture away from her, it 
 would excite the indignation of people against 
 you." 
 
 "But I can't afford to lose my customer," said 
 Fox Bushwell, evidently alarmed. 
 
 " If you do anj'thing of this kind, the insur- 
 ance people won't pay you as long as they can 
 help doing' so." 
 
 "CuiTier has offered me seven hundred cash 
 for that furniture, without seeing it. That 
 includes the piano, of course. But I expect to 
 get eight hundred." 
 
 " And you mean to make nearly two hundred 
 dollars out of Mr. Longimore's misfortunes?" 
 added Prince, his eyes flashing. 
 
 "Of course I'm going to get as much as I 
 can for it." 
 
 " You won't sell it, uncle Fox," replied Prince, 
 unable to contain himself any longer.
 
 804 THE DOECAS GLUB. 
 
 "Do you think not, Prince?" 
 
 ** I know you won't. If no one else inter- 
 feres, I will. I can stop it, I know." 
 
 *' Do you want to ruin me, Prince ? " 
 
 " No air ; and I don't want you to ruin any 
 one else. Your bill of sale is good for nothing," 
 
 *'Good for nothing!" gasped the miser. 
 
 ** No ; at least, I believe it is not, and a cer- 
 tiiin lawyer says there is doubt enough about it 
 to hang a lawsuit on." 
 
 *' Good Heaven! What do you mean?" 
 groaned Fox Bushwell. 
 
 " Most people believe Mr. Longimore is dead, 
 and that he has been dead nine days. Your bill 
 of sale is dated to-morrow, and of course he 
 could not sign it ten days after -he was dead." 
 
 "Am I to lose my money?" whined the 
 miser, 
 
 " 1 don't know ; but the lawyers won't let 
 you take the furniture to- morrow. Mrs. Longi- 
 more has taken legal advice, and feels safe- for 
 a while," replied Prince, satisfied that he had 
 carried his point. 
 
 Fox Bushwell groaned in bitterness of spirit. 
 He did not like lawyers. They were an expen-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 305 
 
 sive luxury. He did not attempt to take the 
 furniture on the tenth day, but after breakfast 
 he did go to a legal gentleman with the note 
 and bill of sale. As soon as he had gone, Mrs. 
 Pining opened, as usual, in regard to her unpaid 
 interest, which she certainly needed. 
 
 " I will lend you fifteen dollars," said Prince, 
 who had about this amount left of his two 
 months' allowance. 
 
 " Sufferin', dyin' ! You, Prince ? " 
 
 He produced the money, and she promised 
 to repay it as soon as her interest was received. 
 She bustled about in great haste, and went to 
 one of the neighbors to borrow garments enough 
 in which to do her shopping. 
 
 " Lock the house, and put the key of the 
 back door under the step, if you go out, Prince," 
 said she, as she left the house. 
 
 Prince did lock the door, but he did not put 
 the key under the step. He locked all the doors 
 and fastened all the windows. Then he went 
 down cellar, and removed the rubbish from the 
 arch. The day before he had seen his nncle 
 take a note from the package which was so like 
 tlie bundle of bonds, and whicli had been put 
 20
 
 £06 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 in the old secretftry saved from the fire. That 
 bundle of papers was not concealed in the cel- 
 lar, at any rate. 
 
 The mortar of the two* bricks which Fox 
 Bnshwell had laid in the arch was not very 
 hard, because the cellar was quite damp. With 
 the trowel he succeeded in dify£;'insr it all out 
 of the interstices. With much labor, and no 
 little sldll, he removed the first brick, and then 
 the second. Afraid that his uncle might re - 
 turn, he thrust his arm into the aperture, and 
 felt about for any article the cavity might con- 
 tain. His hand touched something smooth and 
 soft He drew it forth. It was a package en- 
 veloped in thin rubber cloth. With eager, tremb- 
 ling hands he unfolded it, removing several 
 newspaper wrappers after the covering of rubber 
 cloth. At last he reached a package which was 
 the counterpart of the bundle of valuable papers 
 he had seen in the hands of his uncle. The 
 label indicated that it contained bonds; and a 
 fr.rther examination convinced him that this was 
 the package which Fox Bushwell had brought 
 from the bank — by mistake. 
 
 '' The precious old villain ! " muttered Prince,
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 807 
 
 as he rolled up the bundle again, just as he had 
 found it; but he did not restore it to the hole 
 in the chimney. 
 
 Softening the mortar in the tub, he relaid the 
 two bricks, and rubbed down the wall till it 
 looked as it had before. R '^storing the rubbish 
 as his uncle had placed it, he left the cellar 
 with the bonds in his pocket What should he 
 do with them ?
 
 308 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE president's LETTER. 
 
 TO say that Prince Willingood was almost 
 besicle himself with joy, on the one hand, 
 when he thought of the triumphant vindication 
 of Mollie's father, and with pity and detestation, 
 on the other, when he thought of his uncle, is 
 expressing his feelings only very mildly. He 
 had not believed that Fox Bash well was either 
 wicked or brave enough to commit a great crime. 
 The story of the brass kettle and the burning 
 of whatever it contained, were mere inventions ; 
 and now that the bonds were safe, he could not 
 help asking the hard question, how it was that 
 anything happened to be burned. If by one 
 remarkable chance the bonds were in tlie cellar, 
 and by another equally remarkable chance the 
 house was burned while they were there, it was 
 not likely that, when it appeared that the bonds
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 809 
 
 were not there, the burning of the house was the 
 simple result of a blind fate. 
 
 Prince had his doubts, and they troubled hira 
 sorely; for, whatever else Fox Bushwell might 
 be, he was the young man's uncle. Why had 
 the old man taken so much pains on that par- 
 ticular evening to show the cashier that he kept 
 his valuable papers in a brass kettle, concealed 
 in the cellar wall ? He could not resist the con- 
 clusion, much as he desired to do so, that the 
 house had been burned in order to cover the 
 loss of the bonds. Of course he could not 
 have anticipated the disappearance of the cashier 
 on the morning after the fire ; but the evidence 
 would have been just as convincing to the 
 directors as to Mr. Longimore. He took the 
 bonds by mistake, as the presence of his own 
 private papers at the bank would show ; he had 
 put them where he usually kept his own most 
 valuable documents ; and now they were de- 
 stroyed. Turn it over in whatever way he might. 
 Prince could not help believing that his uncle 
 had iutended to do a great wrong. 
 
 Boy as he was, he had right views in regard 
 to his duty. He had positively refused to take
 
 10 TliL; DOIiCAS CLUB. 
 
 part in the concealment of Air. Longimore's pos- 
 sible crime, and conld he d.) less in regard tn 
 that of Fox Bushwell? Badly a> his uncle hid 
 treated him,, until driven hy the fear of conse- 
 quences to do better, the nephew was actuated 
 by no spirit of revenge. He would gladly save 
 his uncle from exposure and punishment ; but it 
 must rest with the directors of the bank to pro- 
 ceed as they thought best. Some of them were 
 also stockholders and directors in the insurance 
 company which refused to settle the money- 
 lender's claim for his loss. 
 
 In the privacy of his chamber Prince removed 
 the wrappers from the bundle he had taken from 
 the hole in the chimney, and satisfied himself 
 that it contained the bonds. He even counted 
 the amount of them and found it corresponded 
 with that of the lost package. And then again 
 came the question, what should he do with 
 them. He could not keep them in the house, 
 and he dared not carry them down to the retreat 
 of the exiled cashier, lest they should be lost 
 by the upsetting of the boat, or some other 
 accident, which, under other circumstances, he 
 would not have regarded as even possible. The
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. ?ll 
 
 salvation of the cashier depended upon tlie 
 restoration of the package to the bank ; and he 
 could not risk a single chance of failure to do 
 his whole duty. But, whatever was done, Mrs. 
 Longimore and MoUie ought to liave the good 
 news at once — the good news which would 
 restore to them the husband and father without 
 the stain of crime. 
 
 Prince wrapped up the bonds again just as he 
 had found them in the hole in the chimnej^, and 
 went out of the houi^e at the back door. This 
 lime, when he had locked it, he put the key 
 nuder the step. The package of bonds was in 
 the breast pocket of his coat, and he kept one 
 hand upon it every moment of the time he was 
 in the street on his way to the cashier's home. 
 lie was promptly admitted, as he always was. 
 Mrs. Longiraoi-e and Millie were more cheerful 
 than tliey had been before for a fortnight, for 
 the cashier was not dead, and there was a chance 
 that his innocence might be proved. 
 
 Prince's eyes glowed when he entered the 
 house, for he was intensely excited ; as who 
 would not have been under such circumstances? 
 Mrs. Longimore at once concluded that he had 
 fouglit the great battle with his uncle,
 
 o 
 
 12 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 " You have done it, Prince, I see by your 
 looks," said Mrs. Longimore. 
 
 " Done what ? " asked he. 
 
 " Talked with your uncle. You have told 
 him what you said 3^ou should." 
 
 '' No, I have not. I have not said a word to 
 him, and I don't intend to do so now." 
 
 "You said you should tell him squarely that 
 he knew all about the bonds," added the lady, 
 perplexed and disappointed by his change of 
 front. " I am sure my husband has told jou 
 the truth." 
 
 " I know he has," replied Prince, warmly. 
 
 " And he depends upon you to help him provs 
 his innocence." 
 
 " Not in vain has he depended upon me. I 
 have done better than I could by talking with 
 my uncle," answered the young man, proudly. 
 
 "Why, what do you mean?" 
 
 " I have found the bonds." 
 
 " Found them ! " gasped Mrs. Longimore. 
 
 " You don't mean so, Prince ! " exclaimed 
 MoUie. 
 
 " But I do," he added, taking them from his 
 pocket, and tossing the bundle on the table.
 
 I :ill lip!!' 5i 
 
 I'l I I L: I 'il I r ■;" I ilN lull"' 
 
 .'iJl 
 
 «: 
 
 
 ''i('in ii'i   
 iiii;iiiiiii.,ilS,-.:I*jiiilll(!,ii 
 
 liiiiii
 
 THE DOECAS CLUC. 313 
 
 "There they are — every bond, just as they 
 came from the bank. Mr. Longimore can come 
 back now as soon as he pleases." 
 
 " Why, Prince ! " cried Mollie, clasping her 
 hands with delioht. 
 
 " My dear boy, you have aaved us all," added 
 the mother. 
 
 " I have done the best I could." 
 
 "Angels could no more," said Mollie. 
 
 " Did your uncle give you the package ? Has 
 he repented? Has he changed his mind?" asked 
 Mrs. Longimore. 
 
 " He did not give them to me, and he has 
 liad no cliance to repent or to change his mind. 
 He knows nothing at all of what 1 have done, 
 and doubtless believes the package is just where 
 he left it," replied Prince. " It all looks like 
 a plain case to you ; but I am sorely bothered. 
 I don't know what to do." 
 
 "It seems to me you have done everything 
 already," suggested Mrs. Longimore. 
 
 "But there are two sides to this question. 
 Your husband is one side, and my uncle is the 
 other. The burden has been sliifted from Mr. 
 Longimore to Fox Bushwell," Prince explained.
 
 311 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 "If I tlon't hand these bonds over to the ])i\\\\, 
 the directors will arrest your husltand wlien ho 
 comes back; if I do hand them ovei-, tliey v\ i:l 
 arrest my uncle. I brought them here, because 
 I want you to advise me what to do." 
 
 "I suppose there is onlj^ one way, and that 
 is, to do right," replied the cashier's wife. 
 
 " We don't always know what is right." 
 
 " You have not told me where you got tlie 
 bonds, Prince." 
 
 "I will tell you all about it. On the night 
 after the fire I heard a clicking noise down 
 stall's. I went into the kitchen, and found my 
 uncle was at work on the chimney in the cellar. 
 I thought nothing of it then ; but after I had 
 seen Mr. Longimore, I had some suspicions. 
 This morning, when uncle Fox and Mrs. 
 Pining were absent, I took out two bricks in 
 the chimney, and found the bonds. That's 
 the whole story. I put this and that together, 
 and found that two and two made four. That's 
 the reason I thought of seeing what ailed that 
 chimney." 
 
 " I wanted to ask you to search the house, 
 Prince, for I did not think the mistake in the
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 315 
 
 package, and the burning of the lionse, were 
 two tilings that were likely to happen in the 
 same night ; hut I did not like to ask you to 
 do so," added Mrs. Longimore. 
 
 "That was just my own thought. I am 
 afraid the fire was not an accident. I heard 
 uncle Fox tell, a year ago or more how a man 
 set his barn on fire, and was ten miles away 
 when the flames burst out. He fixed a candle 
 in the hay, in such a way that it would burn 
 two hours before the fire got down to the hay. 
 I shouldn't wonder if he set his own house on 
 fire in the same way, for he was fast asleep 
 when I called him." 
 "Perhaps he was." 
 " I had hard work to wake him." 
 "That was part of the play, it may be." 
 "I can easily believe it was. The insurance 
 -"-ompany have not paid the loss yet, and keep 
 ijuttiuff him off," added Prince. "I think the 
 officers suspect that something is wrong. But 
 what are we to do with these bonds ? That's 
 the question now." 
 
 "I can advise only one thing. Prince," said 
 Mrs. Longimore. " I should not be willing to 
 have them over night in this house."
 
 316 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " I should not in my uncle's ; and I don't 
 like to carry them down to Mr. Longimore, for 
 fear some accident might happen," added Prince. 
 
 "Why not carry them to the bank?" asked 
 I\Iollie, who could not see the necessity of doing 
 anything short of what was exactly right. 
 
 "I don't want to make it any worse for my 
 uncle than is necessary. If I had done what 1 
 felt, at first, that I ought to do, I should have 
 informed Mr. Doane of what Simon Potter had 
 told me. Then they Avould have arrested Mr. 
 Longimore, and the bonds might never have 
 been found. Of course the whole truth must 
 come out; but I wish to spare uncle Fox as 
 much as possible without doing anything wrong. 
 I will tell you what I will do : I will ask Mr. 
 Doane to come over here ; we will tell him the 
 whole story, and then do just as he says." 
 
 This proposition met with favor; and Mrs. 
 Longimore wrote a note to the president of the 
 bank, which Mollie carried to him. Mr. Doane 
 returned with her. 
 
 "I su];)pose all the people at the bank believe 
 that my husband took those bonds, Mr. Doane," 
 said Mrs. Longimore, when the president was 
 seated.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 317 
 
 •' We tried hard to believe that he did not. 
 To a know we ahvays held hini in the high- 
 est respect and regard, and we are only sorry 
 now that we had not raised his salary, and 
 thus removed, in part at least, any tempta- 
 tion for him to do anything wrong," replied 
 the president. "We never heard till since he 
 left he was in debt or in trouble. If he had 
 only asked for more salary, we should certainly 
 have granted it. As it is, we feel a little to 
 blame for not doing so." 
 
 "You are certainly very kind to make any 
 allowance for him ; but I wish to say that my 
 husband would not steal under any temptation," 
 added the wife. 
 
 "I hope not." 
 
 "1 am sure of it," continued Mrs. Longimore, 
 takincT the bundle of bonds from the table. 
 " Will 3^ou be kind enough to open that pack- 
 age ? " 
 
 Mr. Doane removed the several coverings, and 
 opened his eyes very wide when he came to the 
 familiar wrapper, red tape, and label of the lost 
 bonds. Though he did not say so, the sight of 
 the package convinced him tliat the cashier
 
 ri3 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 could steal, and had stolen, tliem, either with or 
 Avithout the temptation of a burden of private 
 debts. Finding them in the house of the absent 
 f:fficial seemed to be evidence that he had stolen 
 them. 
 
 " I am very glad indeed to recover these 
 b/onds," said he, " not only for the sake of the 
 bank, but for Mr. Longimore's sake. I assure 
 you the people of the bank have no ill will 
 towards your husband, madam ; and since the 
 property has been restored, I think I can guar- 
 antee that they will not prosecute him." 
 
 "• Mr. Longimore knows no more about those 
 bonds than you did ten minutes ago, Mr. Doane," 
 interposed Prince, warmly, for he did not like 
 the cool tone of the proceedings. " He did not 
 steal them, did not take them, did not hide 
 them, did not do anything with them. He is 
 as innocent as you are, sir." 
 
 " I'm sure I hope he is," protested the presi- 
 dent. 
 
 " I know he is ! " exclaimed the young man. 
 
 " I am glad 3'ou are so well informed, my 
 young friend," added Mr. Doane, with a smile 
 at the earnestness of the speaker. " If Mr. Lon-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 319 
 
 gimore had not — had not left, doubtless the 
 affair would have presented a different aspect. 
 Perhaps you had better, let Mrs. Longimore ex- 
 plain the circumstances under which the bonds 
 ciuno into her possession." 
 
 The president was a little dry, and rather 
 sarcastic, in his manner towards Prince, who 
 appeared to be meddling with what did not con- 
 cern him. 
 
 " Prince brought them here just before I sent 
 for you," said Mrs. Longimore, promptly. 
 
 " Ah ! indeed!" added Mr. Doane, feeling now 
 that the young man had a right to speak. 
 
 Prince did speak. He said that Mr. Longi- 
 more was alive, that he had told him just what 
 liad passed between himself and. Fox Bushwell, 
 and related in detail his own suspicions, 'and 
 the manner iu wliich he had taken the l)onds 
 from the hole in the chimney, within the hour 
 iu wliich he spoke.. Of course Mr. Doane was 
 interested. The story was plausible, and the 
 bundle of bonds in his hands fully confirmed 
 it. 
 
 "I am sorry for your, uncle," said the presi- 
 dent.
 
 C2) THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 *' So am I, sir ; but I have toid the whole 
 truth, without regard to him or any one else," 
 replied Prince. 
 
 " You are entitled to "a great deal of credit 
 for what you have done, and the directors will 
 not forget that these bonds have been recovered 
 through your agency. How guilty Mr. Bush- 
 well was I cannot say. If he really made a mis- 
 take, and took the wrong package from the bank 
 by accident, and then was tempted to keep them, 
 when the error was discovered, it is a little bet- 
 ter than if he purposely took the bonds from the 
 bank, as, I confess I am afraid he did. Either 
 was bad enough." 
 
 " I didn't think uncle Fox was villian enough 
 to do such a thing," added Prince. " I had 
 some trouble with him a while ago ; but that 
 grew out of his meanness only. Now I wish 
 you Avould tell me what to do, Mr. Doane." 
 
 " I think you need do nothing, Prince, You 
 have done enough. But this matter opens 
 another. I am one of the directors of the in- 
 surance company which took the risk on your 
 uncle's house. We generally settle losses at 
 once. But we had some doubts in Mr. Bush-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 821 
 
 well's case. We have not been able to get hold 
 of the facts, for his statements do not exactly 
 coincide with each other. I need not say that 
 your account of the bonds makes the matter ten 
 times worse for him." 
 
 " In a word, you believe that my uncle set 
 fire to his own house to get the insurance," added 
 Prince. 
 
 '• We have not said that we believed he did 
 so. That would place it a little too strong. If 
 the fire caught from his lamp, and he went to 
 bed at half past ten, it would have broken out 
 before midnight. We do not believe it was set 
 on fire, for no one could have thrown a match 
 into the heap of shavings, where the fire started, 
 on that side of the house, for there was no cel- 
 lar window there." 
 
 " My uncle did not go to bed that night till after 
 twelve," added Prince, explaining the events con- 
 nected with the fire. 
 
 " Then your uncle has not told us the truth, 
 though the truth would have served his purpose 
 better than a falsehood. If he had said the fire 
 had broken out fifteen or twenty minutes after 
 he left the cellar, we could have understood that 
 21
 
 822 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 he was careless with his lamp. He insured the 
 house only a short time before it was burned, 
 though he never paid a dollar for insurance be- 
 fore. There are other circumstances which make 
 the case doubtful." 
 
 " Since Prince told my husband's story, I have 
 felt sure that Mr. Bushwell set his house on fire 
 to make it appear that the bonds were burned," 
 added Mrs. Longimore. " At any rate, Mr. Lon- 
 gimore believed they were l)urned, and this be- 
 lief made him almost crazy." 
 
 "It was a terribly trying situation for him, 
 especially after he had pledged all his furniture 
 to enable him to pay the sum he had over- 
 drawn, which he need not have done. He 
 charged every dollar he took ; and if we had 
 known the circumstances, we should have raised 
 his salary, instead of censuring him. 
 
 " But I want to tell him that the bonds are 
 safe," said Prince. "• The poor man is in misery 
 now, and this news will rejoice him. What 
 shall I say to him from you ? " asked the young 
 man, anxiously, 
 
 " The directors will be in session this fore- 
 noon. Come to the liank in half an hour,
 
 THE DORCAS ' CLUB. 323 
 
 Prince, and I Avill tell you what to say to him. 
 I hope and believe it will be a message you will 
 deliirht to carry to him." 
 
 " And what is to be done with my uncle ? " 
 
 " I don't know yet. The insurance people 
 meet to-morrow, to settle your uncle's and other 
 losses. We intend to question Mr. Bushwell 
 again ; and after what you have said I can do 
 so more intelligently than before. On the whole, 
 I think we had better not mention anything that 
 has occurred. We will keep it all from the public, 
 at least till to-morrow. You will not say any- 
 thing to your uncle, Prince — not a word; but 
 some one will keep an eye on him hereafter." 
 
 Mr. Doane left the house, and hastened to 
 the bank, where lie arrived just in season to 
 preside at the meeting of the directors, at ten 
 o'clock. He was hardly gone before Minnie 
 Darling and Nellie Patterdale called. 
 
 " Is Prince Willingood here ? " asked Minnie, 
 when Mollie went to the door. 
 
 " He is," she replied. 
 
 " He is a pretty professor of the art of row- 
 ing," pouted Minnie. "It is after ten o'clock; 
 the two new boats — the Lily and the Psyche
 
 324 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 — are already in the water, and we want our 
 instructor," 
 
 "He has been very busy for us this morning. 
 He is exceedingly kind to us ; and if he is late, 
 I hope you will excuse him," pleaded Mollie ; 
 and there was a smile on her face, as sweet as 
 it was unwonted of late. 
 
 " Then he is certainly excused," added Nellie. 
 
 " But won't you go with us, MolUe ? " asked 
 Minnie. " You are the leader of our boat, you 
 know." 
 
 " Perhaps I will go ; but I don't know any- 
 thing about rowing, you are aware." 
 
 " Prince will show you all about it ; and I'm 
 sure he never did a pleasanter duty in his life," 
 added Minnie, encouraged by the smile of her 
 friend. ''I hope you will go." 
 
 " Come in, and I will ask mother." 
 
 " Ah, Professor Willingood, have you for- 
 gotten the duties of your office ? " asked Min- 
 nie, as they entered the room where Prince 
 was. 
 
 " I confess that I did forget them ; but I was 
 very busy about important business," pleaded 
 he.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 325 
 
 "You are forgiven, at Mollie's request." 
 
 " I'm afraid I can't be with you this fore- 
 noon, for I have to go to Northport." 
 
 " Indeed you must be with us, professor. We 
 have four boats alloat, and we need you. Can't 
 ycni take all the boats to Northport with you ? " 
 
 " Perhaps I can." 
 
 " And MoUie will go, too." 
 
 "Can I, mother?" asked she. 
 
 " Certainly you can. You need the air, for 
 yon have hardly been out of the house for a 
 fortnight." 
 
 " Then I shall go, by all means," laughed 
 Prince. 
 
 " I knew you would." 
 
 " You can bring a passenger back with you,'' 
 added the instructor of rowing, with a signifi- 
 cant glance at Mrs. Longimore and her daugh- 
 ter. 
 
 "Who? Not that wild man with the conic 
 section on his head ? " 
 
 "No; but if the passenger is ready to come, 
 you shall see who it is," replied Prince. " Now, 
 if you will, go down to the shop, and take 
 your places in the boats, I will be there in a
 
 S26 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 few moments ; or you can pull about till I get 
 there." 
 
 The girls hastened away to the shore, rejoiced 
 to have MoUie with them for the first time. 
 Prince went to the bank ten minutes earlier 
 than the time he had been requested to be 
 there ; but the action in regard to the cashier 
 had been taken, and Mr. Doane was writing a 
 letter to him, which he handed to the messen- 
 ger. 
 
 " Give this to Mr. Longimore, Prince," said 
 the president. "We have raised his salary five 
 hundred dollars a year, so as to cover the last 
 two years. We have invited him to return to 
 his place at once." 
 
 " That's handsome, sir," exclaimed Prince, 
 as much rejoiced as though the hundred dollars 
 of back pay was to go into his own pocket. 
 
 " More than this. Prince ; the bank has rec- 
 ognized your important services in recovering 
 the bonds by a grant of five thousand dollars." 
 
 "I object sir !" protested Prince. "You must 
 give the money to Mr. Longimore. I don't want 
 it ; I am rich ; 1 have an income of eighteen 
 hundred a year. If you will only give it to the
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 827 
 
 cashier to pay his debts, I shall be ten times as 
 much obliged to 3'ou." 
 
 "Do you hear what this young fellow says ? " 
 laughed the president, turning to the directors. 
 
 They did not hear ; but Mr. Doane explained. 
 Prince argued, when they protested ; andi by 
 sheer begging at last he induced them to 
 comply. 
 
 " Mr. Longimore can draw his back pay as 
 soon as he returns," added Mr. Doane. 
 
 " Suppose you put it all together in one 
 check, and enclose it in this letter ? " suggested 
 Prince. 
 
 The president complied ; and the letter, after 
 the addition of a postscript and the check, was 
 given to him. The messenger hastened with a 
 light heart to join the boat-clubs.
 
 828 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE CLUBS PULL TO NORTHPOET. 
 
 WHEN Prince reached the pier in front of 
 the boat-shop, four of the five clubs 
 were seated in the boat, pulhng about near the 
 shore. MoUie had her place in the Dorcas, and 
 had already made considerable progress in learn- 
 ing her duty as leader, under the direction of 
 Minnie, who was at the stroke oar. The two 
 new boats could not be distinguished from the 
 old ones, except by reading the name on the 
 stern or bows. The weather was mild and pleas- 
 ant, and there was hardly a ripple on the bay 
 between the city and Turk Head. 
 
 "Dorcas ahoy!" shouted Prince. 
 
 " Won't you go with us, Professor Willin- 
 good ? " asked Kitty Jones, mischievously, as the 
 Lily Club pulled by the })ier. 
 
 " No, I thank you ; I must go in the Dorcas," 
 replied the instructor.
 
 THE DOUCAS CLUB. 829 
 
 " Of course you must ! " laughed Kitt}-. 
 " Where Mollie Long-imore is, the professor 
 must be." 
 
 '' She hasn't learned to row yet," pleaded 
 Prince. 
 
 " She is the leader of the Dorcas Club, and 
 she need not learn," added Jennie Waite. " That^s 
 only an excuse." 
 
 *•' Well, it's a good excuse," replied Prince, 
 as the Dorcas approached, and he took his place 
 by the side of Mollie Longimore, in the stern- 
 sheets. 
 
 All the boats gathered together near the pier, 
 to obtain their instructions. Before Prince 
 could give them, each of the leaders in her boat 
 produced a flag-, and began to wave it vigor- 
 ously above her head. This demoiistration ap- 
 peared to be intended to surprise the instructor, 
 and of course he gallantly expressed his aston- 
 ishment at this sudden display of the colors. 
 Some of the girls thought that a boat without a 
 flag was like a man Avithout a country, and they 
 had supplied the deficiency without mentioning 
 the matter to Prince. The flags were very pretty, 
 certainl}'. The ground of each was white silk,
 
 330 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 crossed diagonally, like the Russian man-of-war 
 ensign, with another color, which in the Dorcas's 
 was red, in the Lilj^'s yellow, in the Undine's 
 blue, and in the Psyche's green. Don John had 
 placed a couple of small eye-bolts in the stern 
 of each boat for the flag-stuff. 
 
 " Professor AVillingood, we greet you," said 
 Carrie West, in the Psyche. 
 
 "Thank you. If this demonstration was in- 
 tended as a salute to me, I acknowledge the 
 compliment," replied Prince, removing his hat, 
 bowing as gracefully as the occasion seemed to 
 require. 
 
 " Of course we could not hoist the flag tiil 
 the commodore came on board," added ^Minnie. 
 
 " I shall not arrogate to myself so high-sound- 
 ing a title as that ; bnt I suggest that you will 
 need such a personage to regulate the move- 
 ments of the fleet," continued Prince. " It gives 
 me very great pleasure to be able to say that 
 you row exceedingly well, and that you handle 
 your boats verj^ skilfully. There is a great vari- 
 ety of movements which may be made bj' the 
 fleet. With four boats, you may row in a sin- 
 gle line, two abreast, or four abreast. This fore- 
 noon we will coDfiuc our attention to these
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 381 
 
 changes. If we had five boats we could do 
 better." 
 
 " I hope we sliall have another boat soon," 
 said Kitty Jones, nervously, for she was full of 
 excitement. 
 
 "As we have but four, we will make the best 
 of them," replied Prince. "Let us understand 
 how to make the changes before we start. We 
 will go off in a single line, in this order : Dor- 
 cas, Lily, Undine, Psyche. At the word, ' By 
 twos,' the first and third boats will cease row- 
 ing, the second boat will pull alongside the first, 
 and tlie fourth alongside the third. Then the 
 third and fourth will close up, and each boat 
 that stops rowing will commence again as soon 
 as the other boat is abreast of her." 
 
 " But we may not hear tlie order in the fourth 
 boat," suggested Carrie West. 
 
 " Then we will give the word by signal," re- 
 plied Prince, picking up the boat-hook, and 
 fastening his handkerchief to tlie end of it. "I 
 will raise the signal, and hold it upright till all 
 the leaders are sure to see it ; then I will drop 
 it twice to the left for the order of ' By twos.' " 
 
 "That will be nice!" said Kate Bildcr.
 
 C?2 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " All ready, then ; follow the Dorcas," added 
 Prince. 
 
 The Dorcas led the way, and the boats were 
 soon in a single line, headed towards the North- 
 port shore. The girls pulled with remarkable 
 precision, keeping the slow and measured stroke 
 required of them. After the fleet had gone a 
 little way. Prince elevated the signal, hcjlding it 
 up for a couple of minutes. It was seen, for all 
 the leaders were on the lookout for it ; but none 
 of the rowers could see it, of course, as they 
 sat back to it. Dropping it twice to the left, 
 the first and third boats lay upon their oars, and 
 the second and fourth pulled to the left, as di- 
 rected, till the four were in pairs, and all gave 
 way again. It was pretty well done, for the 
 first attempt. It was repeated several times, till 
 the instructor was satisfied, and then the four 
 clubs were called together for another " pow- 
 wow." 
 
 " We need some more signals," said Prince. 
 " When I wave this flag in a circle around my 
 head," — and he suited the action to the word, 
 — "you will all come together, as we are now. 
 When I drop it once to the left, it means ' sin-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. o03 
 
 gle line;' when I drop it four iiiues, alternately 
 to the left and right, it means 'by fours.' To 
 change from twos to fours, the Psyche will go 
 to the left of the Lily, and the Undine to the 
 risrht of the Dorcas, the two boats in the fro; it 
 line lying on their oars till the other two come 
 alongside." 
 
 The instructor repeated his explanation till all 
 the leaders understood it, and then the boats 
 went off in single line. The signal " by twos " 
 was then given, and the movement very well 
 executed. While in this order, the signal was 
 elevated and (lro|)ped four times. The leaders 
 of the Dor'jas and the Lily gave the order for 
 the rowers to lie on their oars, while those of 
 the LTndinc and the Psyche steered their boats 
 towards the positions assigned to them. Unfor- 
 tunately, the rear boats Avere too near the front 
 rank, and could not turn short enough to clear 
 the head boats. Prince gave the signal to come 
 together, upon this failure, and instructed the 
 rowers of the Dorcas and Lily not to stop, but 
 to pull slowly, while those in the Undine and 
 Psyche were to pull rapidly. The experiment 
 was repeated, and Avas a success. The girls Avere
 
 QQ 
 
 34 THE liOJlCAS CLUB. 
 
 deliglited with the result, which Avas improved 
 by practice. 
 
 To pass from "fours" to "twos," and from 
 " twos " to a single line, the orders were re- 
 versed. These manoeuvres were executed several 
 times, and the fair rowists were intensely inter- 
 ested in them, so much so that they gave their 
 whole attention, which is required in order to 
 do anything well. Mollie Longimore was an 
 apt scholar under the tuition of Prince, and 
 before the fleet reached the Northport shore slie 
 was able to give all the orders. As the boats 
 approached the mouth of Little River, the in- 
 structor gave the signal for "single line," and 
 the Dorcas led the way into the inlet. 
 
 "Way enough!" said Mollie, prompted by 
 Prince. 
 
 The oars were tossed and boated as required. 
 The rest of the fleet came into the little bay, 
 but kept well off the shore. 
 
 "Now, if you will excuse Mollie, and me for 
 half an hour, we will attend to the matter 
 which brought us here," said Prince, as he 
 swung the Dorcas around till her stern-sheet 
 were abreast a flat rock. " You can row till
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 335 
 
 we return ; and I will hail you when we are 
 ready to go back to the city." 
 
 " But we want Mollie to act as leader," replied 
 Minnie. 
 
 " You should learn to pull without any one 
 to steer," laughed Prince ; " and this will be a 
 good time for you to make a beginning. When 
 there is no coxswain in the boat, she is under 
 the command of the one at the stroke oar." 
 
 " We will try it," added Minnie, though she 
 could not help wondering why Prince wanted 
 Mollie to go on shore with him. 
 
 Prince assisted the leader to the rock, and 
 they walked away from the shore together. The 
 boats pulled out of the cove, and the crew of 
 the Dorcas proceeded to experiment in rowing 
 without tlie use of the rudder. Mollie was not 
 less astonished than her friends had been at the 
 invitation to land, though she surmised the 
 meaning of it. 
 
 "Where are we going, Prince?" she asked. 
 
 "To see your father," he replied, "and to 
 take him back to the city. He is the passenger 
 of whom I spoke." 
 
 " Are you sure it is safe for him to return ? " 
 added Mollie, with emotion.
 
 33S THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 "It is quite safe. He can take his place in 
 the bank again to-day, if he chooses." 
 
 Prince led the way to the house of Simon 
 Potter ; but that vigilant sentinel presented him- 
 self before them, to intercept their progress, 
 when they had accomplished but half the dis- 
 tance. 
 
 " It is all right, Simon Potter," said Prince. 
 " This is Mr. Longimore's daughter, and he 
 will be glad enough to see her." 
 
 "But — " 
 
 *'No butting is necessary. I want the cashier 
 to go back with me, and take his place in the 
 bank," interposed the enthusiastic messenger. 
 
 " This is some trick," suggested Simon Pot- 
 ter. 
 
 "No it isn't." 
 
 " You ain't nothin' but a boy, and 'taint very 
 difi&kilt to cheat one like you." 
 
 " In one word then, the bonds have come to 
 light, and I have a letter from the president of 
 the bank to Mr. Longimore. I know it's all 
 right." 
 
 "I'm glad out." 
 
 " Let us see the cashier as quick as you can."
 
 WD 
 CO 
 
 O 
 
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 'A 
 
 a 
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 A 
 
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 ■A 
 
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 A 
 
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 A 
 O
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 337 
 
 Simon Potter led the way to the httle barn 
 adjoining his house. It contained a cow-stablo, 
 and a mow, which had, perhaps a ton of liay 
 on it. But the cashier did not appear to bo 
 within the ])uikling. 
 
 " Mr. Longimore ! " said the strange man. 
 
 " Where is he ? " asked Prince, his curiosity 
 somewhat excited. 
 
 " He ain't fur off," replied Simon Potter, 
 repeating the cashier's name twice more. 
 
 When he had pronounced it the third time, 
 there was a movement in the hay in the mow, 
 and Mr. Longimore crawled out from the mass, 
 apparently from under the weight of the whole 
 of it. 
 
 "MoUie! my daughter!" exclaimed he, fold- 
 ing her in his arms, while the tears coursed 
 down his pale, sunken cheeks. 
 
 " O, father ! I'm so glad to see you again ! " 
 and she wept with him. 
 
 For some time they remained weeping and 
 sobbing in each other's embrace. The cashier 
 trembled with emotion, for he had not expected 
 to see his daughter so soon, and in that place. 
 
 *' I don't exactly see how he could live under
 
 338 THE DORCAS CLTJB. 
 
 all that liay," said Prince, leaving the father and 
 daughter to themselves for a time. 
 
 " You needn't tell nobody on't," replied 
 Simon Potter. " I made that place for myself ; 
 hut I never happened to want it for nothin'. 
 Folks don't bother me much." 
 
 The strange man took the fork and removed 
 a portion of the loose hay on the edge of the 
 mow, and a hole appeared. To satisfy himself. 
 Prince crawled into it and found quite an apart- 
 ment there. It had been made by laying the 
 hay on each side of it, and then placing some 
 rails across it, on AvLich more hay had been 
 piled up, till the sticks were entirely concealed. 
 Light and air could be obtained at the rear of 
 the den, at the pleasure of the occupant. Prince 
 thought it was a nice place. 
 
 It was said that when people called to see 
 Simon Potter, he could seldom be found, either 
 within his house or on his farm. Sometimes, if 
 the visitor called out his business aloud, the 
 strange man Avould m3^steriously make his ap- 
 pearance, thougli a moment before nothing could 
 be found of him. The young man concluded 
 that he often hid himself in this den to avoid
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 339 
 
 meeting visitors. And I wish to add that this 
 incident is not " made out of whole cloth," for 
 such a person actually existed not far from the 
 locality indicated. 
 
 " Why are you here, Mollie ? " asked Mr. 
 Lono-imore, choking with emotion, when Prince 
 crawled out of the den. 
 
 " I brought her here, sir ; and you need not 
 give yourself another moment of uneasiness." 
 
 " Hadn't you better go into the house ? " 
 suggested Simon Potter, leading the way. 
 
 "Does any one know that she came here —   
 any one but her mother ? " asked the cashier, 
 when they were seated. 
 
 "Yes; twenty girls know it; but it makes 
 no difference," answered Prince. " You are to 
 return to the city with Mollie, and take your 
 place in the bank again, at once." 
 
 " You cannot mean that. Prince ! " added Mr. 
 Longimore, with a rather vacant expression. 
 
 " Don't keep him in suspense a single moment, 
 Prince," pleaded Mollie. 
 
 "I will not. — The bonds were not burned, 
 and they are safe in the bank vault at this 
 moment, added Prince."
 
 340 THE DORCAS CLUC. 
 
 "Not burned! In the vault!" 
 
 " Precisely so, sir. I am sorry to say that my 
 uncle is a bigger villain tlian I ever supposed 
 him to be. To make a short story of it, though 
 nothing is to be said about it in public just yet, 
 uncle Fox must have taken the bonds from the 
 bank on purpose." 
 
 "I have thought of that," interposed the 
 cashier. " In my dungeon under the hay I could 
 do nothing but think ; and every incident of 
 that eventful night has passed through my mind 
 a hundred times. Why your uncle wished to 
 show me, on that particular evening, Avhere he 
 kept his valuable papers, has often been a 
 question with me. Mr. Bushwell has often been 
 in the bank with me, after it was closed to the 
 public, when he wished me to do some business 
 for him. I had the im])ression very strong on 
 my mind that I put the bonds back into the 
 tin case. When I left him to get the blank 
 checks he wanted, he must have changed the 
 packages." 
 
 "The bonds were* not burned. What you 
 said to me the other night gave me an idea, 
 which enabled me to look in the right place
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 341 
 
 for them," added Prince, proceeding to tell the 
 story of the hole in the chimney, in detail. 
 
 "• I am sorry for your uncle. He set his house 
 on fire to make it appear that the bonds were 
 burned. How weak I was to flee, when, if I 
 had remained, the truth might have been dis- 
 covered earlier! " 
 
 "Perhaps not: we don't know," said Prince. 
 " Uncle Fox, as it was, believed that no living 
 being but himself knew anything about the 
 bonds. If you had not left, and if people had 
 not thought you were dead, he might have 
 watched them better. But it's no use to talk 
 about it now. Not a word is to be said to any 
 one about the bonds." 
 
 " I shall not speak of them," replied the cash- 
 ier ; " though I shall be glad when the whole 
 truth is known to everybody." 
 
 " Here is a letter for you, Mr. Longimore," 
 added Prince, handing him the missive. " There 
 is no bad news in it, or anything else that is 
 bad." 
 
 With trembling hands the cashier tore open 
 the cnvelo[)e. The check dropped upon the floor 
 as he did so, and Mollie picked it up.
 
 3-42 THE D JRCAS CLUB. 
 
 " The directors are very kind to me ; more so 
 than I deserve," said the cashier, with tears in 
 his e3^es. " They invite me to retnrn to my 
 place withont any dehiy. Tliey have raised my 
 salary, and made me a present of fifteen hun- 
 dred dollars." 
 
 " We shall be happy again, father ! " sobbed 
 Mollie. " I knew you could not do anything 
 wrong." 
 
 " But I have done wrong, my child. It was 
 weak and cowardly for me to run away when 
 the shadow of peril darkened my path; but I 
 was beside myself; I lost m}^ wits. The bonds 
 were gone, and I was crazy." 
 
 " It is all right now, Mr. Longimore," inter- 
 posed Prince. " We will not think any more 
 about it. How did you get away without being 
 seen by any one ? " 
 
 " It was very early in the morning, and I saw 
 no one stirring," replied the cashier. " I had 
 no thought but of ending my life ; and I took a 
 boat at one of the wharves. I rowed out into 
 the bay, intending to find rest from my anguish 
 in a grave at the bottom of the deep waters of 
 the bay. I thought only of my wife and child-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. S43 
 
 ren. I could not bear to think of going hence 
 without a word to them. I wanted to tell them 
 I Avas innocent of any crime. I felt that I could 
 die in peace, if I could only tell them the truth. 
 1 pulled along the shore, and came to Simon 
 Potter's house. He was the good Samaritan to 
 me : he saved me." 
 
 The cashier grasped the hand of the strange 
 man, who looked as solemn as an owl all the 
 while, unwilling to admit, even by a smile, that 
 he had anything like feeling in his composition. 
 
 "But where is the boat?" asked Prince. 
 
 *' Taiu't fur off. I took care on't," answered 
 Simon Potter. 
 
 " 1 didn't mean to steal that boat, any more 
 than I did the bonds," said the cashier, 
 
 " The boat's out of sight, under water ; but 
 she shall be returned in good order," added the 
 recluse. I sunk her to keep her from tellin' 
 any tales out o'school. Pll git her up at low 
 tide to-day." 
 
 " Glad as I am to go home, Simon Potter, I 
 don't like to leave you here," continued Mr. 
 Longimore, taking the unwilling hand of his 
 host again. " You have been more than a 
 l)rof.h(n' to luc."
 
 344 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 "No, I hain't. When folks turned agin j-on, 
 and hunted you down, and every man's finger 
 was turned onto you, I had a feller-feelin' for 
 you. Besides you never laughed at me. 
 
 " I don't like to leave you here alone, Simon 
 Potter. Make my house your home. You shall 
 be cherished and cared for in sickness and 
 health," continued Mr. Longimore. 
 
 " No ; I shall stay here's long's as I stay any- 
 where. I don't want to see nobod}^ nor nothiu', 
 unless it's a feller critter cast out and trod 
 under foot of other men. Then I'm willin' to 
 do sumthin' fur him. Good by, Mr. Longi- 
 
 more," 
 
 Simon Potter shook hands with the cashier ; 
 but when Mollie, expressing her thanks, at- 
 tempted to do so, he dodged her; and the little 
 party withdrew. 
 
 "He has a good heart, and it's a pity he 
 should be so odd," said the cashier, as they 
 walked down to the mouth <^ the river. " But 
 I suppose he is happier hero all alone than he 
 would be any where else." 
 
 On the shore. Prince hailed the fleet, and, in 
 a single line, the boats came into the cove, 
 bringing their stems up to tlic flat rock.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 345 
 
 " Why, Mr. Longimore ! " exclaimed Minnie 
 DaiTmg, Avho was the first to recognize him. 
 
 " Mr. Longimore ! " cried a dozen others. 
 
 '' He is your passenger, Minnie ; for he Avill 
 Avish to go in the boat with Molhe," said 
 Prince. 
 
 "But where lias lie been?" demanded Nellie. 
 " We thonoht he was dead." 
 
 " He has been down here for a few days, 
 taking the country air," laughed Prince. " Ho 
 is not dead, and he will return to the bank at 
 once. I Avant to assure you that all the direc- 
 tors believe him to be an honest upright and 
 true man — as everybody will believe, when the 
 whole truth comes out. Back out, Dorcas, and 
 come about. MoUie, you can give the signals." 
 
 Mr. Longimore was already seated in the 
 Dorcas, and she was hauled out from the shore. 
 MoUie gave the orders, which set the rowers at 
 work, very much to the astonishment of her 
 father. 
 
 " I will take a seat in the Undine, if you 
 please," said Prince. 
 
 '' You are Avelcome, Professor Willingood," 
 ]''-i)lit'd Pnu.ie Thaxter.
 
 346 THE DORCAS CLUB, 
 
 In a few moments all tlie boats were in line, 
 the Dorcas leading the way. The rowing wa;^ 
 simply beautiful, the movements of the t\;ir 
 rowists being grace itself. Presentlj^ MoIHj 
 elevated the signal, and with two motions (o 
 the left, brought the boats into pairs ; and the 
 order was kept in the most perfect manner. 
 Again the signal "by fours" was given, and 
 the four boats moved on abreast of each other. 
 People ran to the shore to look at the pretty 
 sight ; and the praise bestowed upon the fair 
 rowists was as hearty as it was general. 
 
 As the ' fleet approached the landing place, 
 the signal "by twos" was given, and then "in 
 single line." One by one the boats came in, 
 and the members of the club all went on shore. 
 
 Attended by Mollie and Prince, Mr. Longi- 
 more hastened to his house, where the cashier 
 pressed his wife and little ones to his heart, the 
 great tears all the while streaming down liis 
 farrowed cheeks. From his house he went to 
 the bank, where he was cordially greeted by all 
 the directors, who had been waiting his arrival. 
 The bonds were in the vault, and he was treated 
 more like a general returning in triumph from
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 347 
 
 the conquest, than one who had fled in dismay 
 and terror from his post of duty. He told his 
 story over again, but it did not vary from that 
 rekted by Prince. He drew the check presented 
 to him by the directors ; and when tokl what 
 the Dorcas Society had done for his family, he 
 liastened to return the two hundred dollars, 
 loaned to his wife, to Nelhe Patterdale, the 
 treasurer. The result of this payment was, that 
 Don John at once received an order to build 
 another boat for the Dorcas Club, so that all 
 our girls could be afloat at the same time. 
 
 Mr. Longimore paid the note he had given 
 Fox Bushwell, a few days later, and Prince 
 returned him the bill of sale. Simon Potter 
 sent the boat in which the cashier had escaped 
 back to the city, to the great satisfaction of the 
 owner.
 
 348 THE DOBCAS CLUB. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE TEUTH WILL COME OUT. 
 
 N the day Mr. Longimore returned from 
 his exile in the Northport woods, Fox 
 Bushwell went to a town twelve miles from tlie 
 city, to look after a delinquent debtor, who had 
 failed to pay his interest. He cariied the note 
 and mortgage in his pocket, intending to take 
 possession of the property if the money was not 
 paid. The debtor had promised to pay the in- 
 terest in the city when it was due ; and it was 
 now a week after the time. Fox Bushwell was 
 an earnest advocate of the pleasures and bene- 
 fits of pedestrianism. No livery stable keeper, 
 no hack driver, no stage proprietor could draw 
 a dollar from his pocket for a ride — walking 
 v.'as more healthy and agreeable. It was de- 
 lightful, in the spring time, to tramp over the 
 country roads, inhaling the freshness of the pure
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 349 
 
 air, and gazing upon the beauties of Nature. It 
 cost nothing. 
 
 The money-lender went on foot to tlie town 
 twelve miles distant, and found his debtor sick 
 abed ; but he had the money in the house to 
 pay his interest, and he paid it. The creditor 
 made nothing by his journey but his dinner. 
 The debtor would have sent his son to drive 
 him back to the city, but the horse was lame. 
 
 Fox Bushwell was very tired when he reached 
 liis destination, and in no condition to expatiate 
 upon the delights of pedestrianism, especially in 
 its application to an elderly man who starved 
 himself on herring, salt fish, and baked beans. 
 He rested till the middle of the afternoon, and 
 then walked home. Twenty-four miles in one 
 day was too much for him ; and, besides the 
 Vv'eariness of the delightful tramp, he had taken 
 a severe cold, by overheating himself, and then 
 sitting down in a cold, damp place by the road- 
 side. He was utterly exhausted when he reached 
 Ills house, late in the evening. In the night he 
 was sick, and Mrs. Pining was kept up half the 
 ni;^ht with him. Prince wanted to call in a 
 doctor ; but this was a piece of extravagance to 
 which the mone3'-lender would not submit.
 
 S50 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " Doctors don't do no good in this sufferin', 
 dyin' world, and cost heaps of money," moaned 
 tliG widow. " I guess I can git him into a 
 sweat, and then he'll feel better." 
 
 Mrs. Pining did succeed in starting a perspir- 
 ation on the shrivelled skin of her patient, and 
 he went to sleep. In the morning he was bet- 
 ter, but in a very feeble condition. The insur- 
 ance business was to be settled that day ; and 
 Avhen the old man spoke of going to the office 
 of the company, the housekeeper protested. 
 
 " Sufferin' you be, and dyin' you want to be, 
 if you think of goin' out arter such a sweat as 
 I gin you last night," said Mrs. Pining. 
 
 '' I don't feel able to go, but I must. I want 
 to git that insurance, so I can pay you," whined 
 the money-lender. 
 
 The widow thought it was quite proper to 
 get the insurance, and pay her; so, having pro- 
 tested in due form, she offered no further oppo- 
 !-ition to the will of her employer. Fox Bush- 
 v\ell went to the insurance office ; he walked 
 with a slow step and painful, leaning heavily on 
 liis cane. When he arrived at his destination 
 he was very much astonished to see so many
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 351 
 
 people in the room, for his late return j^rom his 
 pedestrian tour had prevented him from hear- 
 ing any of the current news of the day. No- 
 body ever went to the miser's house except on 
 business ; and even Mrs. Pining had not heard 
 of the return of the cashier. Though Prince 
 knew all about it, he did not care to tell the 
 news at home ; and thus it fell out that Fox 
 Pjushwell, in giving himself up to the enjoyment 
 of his long walk, with the pure air and the 
 beauties of Nature, failed to be in possession of 
 a piece of intelligence which might have changed 
 liis Avhole course of action. In a word, he did 
 not know that Mr. Longimore had come back 
 and resumed his place in the bank ; if he had 
 known it, doubtless his answers to the questions 
 put to him by Mr. Doane would have been en- 
 tirely different, and, possibly, utterly inconsistent 
 with what he had before declared to be the 
 truth. 
 
 " I am sick this morning, Mr. Doane," moaned 
 the money-lender, as he entered the wcll-fdled 
 room. " I had a bad turn last night, and I'm 
 not fit to be here to-day. It is high time that 
 insurance money was paid.''
 
 C52 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " Take a chair, Mr. Bushwell. I have no 
 doubt we shall be able to settle the matter in 
 some way, this time," replied Mr. Doane. 
 
 " I suppose you mean to pay me the money 
 — don't you? I can't afford to lose it. I'm a 
 poor man, and the loss comes hard on me." 
 
 " I wish to ask you some questions, Mr. Bush- 
 well," added the president of the bank, who 
 held the same office in the insurance company. 
 
 " I think you have asked me about questions 
 enough," groaned Fox Bushwell. 
 
 "It does not look like a clear case yet," con- 
 tinued Mr. Doane. " Did you see Mr. Longi- 
 more on the evening before your house was 
 burned ? " 
 
 " I did. I told you that before. I've said so 
 twenty times," answered the money-lender, petu- 
 lantly. "I lent him some money, and — " 
 
 " Very well," interposed the president. "After 
 you had finished the business connected with 
 the loan, what occurred that eveniftg?" 
 
 "Nothing, that I know of." 
 
 "Did Mr. Longimore leave your house as 
 soon as the papers were signed and witnessed ? " 
 
 " Why yes ; of course he did. He didn't stay 
 there all night," whined the miser.
 
 THE DOllCAS CLUB. 353 
 
 " Did you go down cellar after the business 
 was finished ? " 
 
 " I did. I've said so twenty times." 
 
 " Did Mr. Longimore go down cellar with 
 you ? " 
 
 Fox Bushwell was startled, and the cold sweat 
 stood on his forehead. It might have been 
 weakness ; it might have been something else. 
 Why did Mr. Doane ask that question, which 
 he had not put before? 
 
 " Did Mr. Longimore go down cellar with 
 me ? " he repeated. 
 
 "That's the question I asked. Will 3^ou be 
 kind enough to answer it ? " 
 
 " What should he go down cellar with me 
 for ? " 
 
 " That does not answer my question." 
 
 " Of course he didn't go down cellar with 
 me," replied Fox Bushwell, desperately. 
 
 " He did not ? " 
 
 "I say he did not. What business — " 
 
 " Never mind the reasons, Mr. Bushwell. All 
 we want is the facts. Mr. Longimore did not 
 go into the cellar with you ? " 
 
 " No, he did not. You talk to me just as »f 
 23
 
 35J: THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 you thought I was lying. Let me remind you 
 that I'm a clergyman." 
 
 Fox Buuhwell tried to stand upon his dig- 
 nity ; but just then he had none to stand 
 upon. 
 
 "Where did you keep your valuable papers 
 when you lived in the house that was burned, 
 jNIr. Bushwell?" asked the president. 
 
 " In my secretary most of them," rephed the 
 old man, wondering why that question was 
 asked. 
 
 "Did you keep any of them in your cellar?" 
 said Mr. Doane, sharply. 
 
 "Well, yes; I kept some of them in the cel- 
 lar," stammered the money-lender. 
 
 "In a brass kettle, hidden in the wall — did 
 you not ? " 
 
 " Some of them," gasped Fox Bushwell ; and 
 it was plain enough to him, by this time, that 
 somebody had been prying into his affairs. 
 
 " Did you show Mr. Longimore where you 
 kept the papers ? " 
 
 " No, I didn't. I didn't show anybody where 
 I kept them." 
 
 "Very well, IMr. Bushwell; that will do on
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 3{;5 
 
 that point," added the president. " What time 
 did you go to bed on the night of the fire ? " 
 
 " About half past ten, as I told you." 
 
 " Wasn't it later than that ? " 
 
 "No; I don't think it was." 
 
 "Wasn't it twelve?" 
 
 "No ; nor eleven." 
 
 "Very well, Mr. Bushwell. Now, when you 
 saw Mr. Longimore that morning after the fire, 
 did he say anything about the bonds that were 
 lost?" 
 
 "What has that to do with my insurance?" 
 
 " I think a connection between tlie fire and 
 the bonds can be shoAvn. I will thank you to 
 answer the question." 
 
 " I've told you twenty times what passed 
 between Mr. Longimore and me. I haven't 
 anything different to say. I'm a clergyman, and 
 I think what I say ought to l)c believed," 
 moaned the money-lender. 
 
 "Do you say that Mr. Longimore did not 
 mention the bonds to you ? " 
 
 "I do say so. " 
 
 "I hope you will consider the matter well, 
 Mr. Bushwell," added the president. "You
 
 356 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 may be called upon to testify in court on this 
 subject." 
 
 " I'm a clergyman, and my word ought to be 
 as good as my oath." 
 
 " It ought to be ; but it is not. I know you 
 were a clergyman once ; but you are not an 
 honor to the cloth ; and it was well for the 
 profession that you left it," said Mr. Doane, 
 severely. 
 
 "I'm a poor sick man and I don't think it's 
 right for you to insult me." 
 
 " Though you do not speak the truth, Mr. 
 Bushwell, I ljurpose to do so. The insurance 
 company will formally refuse to pay your claim 
 for loss." 
 
 " Refuse to pay I " gasped Fox Bushwell ; and 
 to him this was certainly " the most unkindest 
 cut of all." " I didn't think that of you. I 
 paid the premium, and now you want to cheat 
 me out of my money." 
 
 "You cheated yourself out of it," replied Mr. 
 Doane. 
 
 "I'm a poor man, and I can't afford to beax 
 tliio loss." groaned Fox Bushwell, rising slowly 
 from his arm-chair, under the excitement of the 
 unexpected decision against him.
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 357 
 
 " Mr. Bushwcli, the directors are satisfied that 
 you set your house on fire yourself." 
 
 "I! Wh}-, j\Ir. Doanc I How could j'ou think 
 such a thing of me — of rac, a clergyman?" 
 
 "I will state the facts to you, as we under- 
 stand them ; and then, if you wish for the evi- 
 dence, you shall have it," continued the presi- 
 dent. " After Mr. Longimore had given you 
 your package of private papers in the bank, you 
 exchaniyed it for the bundle of l)onds. In the 
 cellar of your house, you took pains to show 
 the cashier Avhere you kept your valuable papers, 
 and placed the package, which lie su[)posed to 
 be your own pa[)ers, — but which you knew to 
 be the bonds, — in that brass kettle. After the 
 hre, you visited the cellar, and satisfied him that 
 your papers had all been burned. Very early 
 in the morning the cashier found your private 
 papers in the bank, and it appeared to him then 
 that the bonds had been destroyed, instead of 
 the bundle belonging to you. He went to you, 
 and demanded the bonds at daylight ; and you 
 satisfied him that they had been burned. In an 
 agony of grief and terror, Mr. Longimore fled. 
 Til is is the truth."
 
 358 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 " Not one word of it is ture ! " cried Fox 
 Busliwell, trembling in every fibre of his frame. 
 " I haven't seen the l)onds. I don't know any- 
 thing about them." 
 
 "You want the proof, and you shall have it," 
 repUed Mr. Doane. " Send for Mr. Longi- 
 more ! " 
 
 "Mr. Longimore!" gasped the money-lender, 
 sinking back into his chair. 
 
 But he realized that he was losing his own 
 case by his emotion, and he struggled to re- 
 cover his self-possession. 
 
 " The cashier stole the bonds ! He has made 
 up this story to clear himself," groaned the 
 wretch. 
 
 Fox Bushwell was utterly confounded, for the 
 moment, when he saw the cashier enter the 
 room. Mr. Longimore told his story precisely 
 as the president had related it. 
 
 "He stole the bonds himself!" howled the 
 money-lender. " He owes me money, and he 
 wants to ruin me. Didn't he run away ? Don't 
 that prove it? Will you take his word against 
 a clergyman's ? " 
 
 " Mr. Bushwell, if you put the bonds into
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 3C9 
 
 that brass kettle in your cellar, we are under 
 obligations to 3^ou for rem )ving them before you 
 set the house on fire," continued the president. 
 " By this act of forethought on your part they 
 were saved from the fire. Here thej^ are." 
 
 Mr. Doane tossed the package on the long- 
 table in front of the money-lender. If Fcx 
 Bush well was confounded before, he was over- 
 whelmed now. He was a pitiable spectacle as 
 he reclined in the arm-chair, shaking like one 
 affected with palsy, and groaning like one in 
 the agonies of a violent distemper. His malady 
 was Sin, finding him out ; but it was aggravated 
 by the illness under which he was suffering. No 
 one spoke for a long time ; and after a while 
 the sufferer recovered in a measure. 
 
 " This bundle of bonds was found in the house 
 where you are living now, concealed in the arch, 
 under the chimney, where you had walled them 
 into the brick-work. Tliis fact completes the 
 evidence. It is all that is necessary to prove 
 the case, though more can be produced," said 
 the president. 
 
 Fox Bushwell fainted away then, exhausted 
 by the excitement in his feeble condition. IIo
 
 o 
 
 60 THE DOECAS CLUB. 
 
 did not ask who had found the bonds, and the 
 president was considerate enough not to men- 
 tion the name of Prince. The money-lender 
 reahzed that the evidence was complete. There 
 was nothing on which he could hang a single 
 hope ; and with the conviction of the truth came 
 the loss of his senses. Dr. Darling, who was 
 one of the directors, hastened to his assistance ; 
 and when he was partially restored he was con- 
 veyed in a carriage to his home. 
 
 "Sufferin', dyin' world I" groaned Mrs. Pin- 
 ing, when the old man was brought into the 
 house. " I knowed jest how 'twould be ! I 
 warned him ; but he wouldn't hear to nothin' I 
 said. We are all lost creeturs ! " 
 
 Prince assisted at the bedside of his uncle, and 
 did all he could to assuage his moral and p\vsi- 
 cal sufferings ; but the patient grew worse every 
 hour. His sickness saved him from arrest as an 
 incendiary the next da}^ ; but Fox Bushwell was 
 in the wild delirium of a fever, and knew nothing 
 about the visit of the sheriff to his house. Dr. 
 Darling came to him twice or three times every 
 day. Prince and ]\Iis. Piuing divided the days 
 and nights between them, at his bedside.
 
 00 
 
 CO 
 
 03 
 
 to 
 
 c5 
 3h 
 
 I 
 
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 o 
 
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 Z!
 
 THE DOP.CAS CLUB. 061 
 
 In a week the end came, and the miser passed 
 away, bereft cf his reason, and unable to take 
 leave of tlie money-bags for wliich he had sold 
 his manhood, his honor, his own soul. Not many 
 followed him to tlie grave, for he had no rela- 
 tives, and his life had shnt him out from the 
 friendships of tliis world. 
 
 Prince was more shocked than grieved at the 
 death of his uncle. His cheerless home Avas 
 more gloomy than ever, ,for the memory of evil 
 deeds seemed to hang heavy about it. On the 
 evening after the funeral he called upon the 
 Longimores. They did not attempt to console 
 him, but they spoke not unkindly of the dead. 
 
 '-'• This event Avill make a great change in 
 your way of life, Prince," said the cashier. 
 ^ At your age, you can nominate your own 
 guardian, and if* he is a proper person, the 
 court will appoint him. I was thinking of the 
 matter, and I was going to suggest the name 
 of—" 
 
 " I am mucli obliged to you for thinking of 
 me, Mr. Longimore," interposed Prince ; " but 
 I have my mind abont n^sade up." 
 
 " O, you have ! AVell, of course I don't
 
 362 THE DORCAS c:uB. 
 
 wish to influence you ; bat I was sfoin'^ to 
 
 mention the name of ]Mr. Doane," added Vi'. 
 
 Longimore. 
 
 "I should like to live in the family of my 
 
 guardian, if he suits me ; and Mi'. D jane is a 
 
 rich man ; he would not want me as a hoarder." 
 " You can board where you })lease." 
 " If I can, I should prefer to board with 3'ou ; 
 
 and, to make the matter easier, I intend to 
 
 name 3'ou as my guardian." 
 
 " Indeed ! I'm sure I never thought of that," 
 replied Mr. Longimore. " I owe my very life 
 and reputation to you. Prince, as well as the 
 happiness of my family ; and 1 assure you [ 
 shall do all I can to serve you. I only desire 
 that you may grow up a true and useful man , 
 that your aims and impulses may alwaj's be as 
 high as they are now." 
 
 Nothing more was said about the matter at 
 that time ; but at the next session of the Pro- 
 bate Court, the cashier was nominated and 
 appointed the guardian of Prince. He was after- 
 wards appointed administrator of the estate of 
 Fox Bush well, of whie-h the nephew was the 
 S(/ie heir, so that it was not necessary to scpa-
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 363 
 
 rate the two estates, which it was found, would 
 have been a veiy diffieult job. 
 
 To the great astonishment of the cashier, he 
 found that he had the care of about a hundred 
 thousand doHars all of which was invested at 
 high rates of interest. 
 
 " Prince 3^ou can afford to live at the best 
 hotel in the city ; and I should feel justified in 
 paying your board there," said the guardian. 
 
 " If you will let me board in your family, I 
 shall be better satisfied," replied the ward. 
 
 " I shall be very glad to have you in my 
 f.imily." 
 
 This matter was settled, and the young man 
 was provided with a nice room. The liberality 
 of his new guardian enabled him to stock it 
 with all the books he wanted ; and Prince was 
 happier than he would have been at a first-class 
 hotel. Mollie Longimore went back to the High 
 School ; and those pleasant walks to and from 
 the temple of learning were resumed, apparently 
 as much to the satisfaction of the one as the 
 other. 
 
 Mrs. Pining staid at Fox Bushwell's house 
 till all these arrangements had been completed ;
 
 CGJ: THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 tlien the house was let and the furniture sold. 
 The old lady had been very much troubled by 
 her relations to the estate of her late employer. 
 
 " 1 hain't got no note nor nothin' in this 
 sufferin', dyin' world, to show that Fox Busli- 
 well owed me a cent ! " said she, on the day 
 after the administrator was appointed. 
 
 " You shall be paid, with interest, Mrs. Pining, 
 if I have to pay you myself after I am of age," 
 replied Prince. But I am sure Mr. Longimore 
 will do ever3'thing that is right." 
 
 '' It's no more'n right. I hain't had no in- 
 terest for two years ; and Mr. Bushwell owed 
 me fortj'-eight dollars." 
 
 " Did he pay your wages, Mrs. Pining ? " 
 asked Prince. 
 
 " Goodness knows he didn't do nothin' o' the 
 sort. Sufferin', dyin' ! I guess not ! I never 
 had nothin' but my board." 
 
 " If I were you, I should present a bill for 
 wages." 
 
 " Wages ! " exclaimed the bewildered relic. 
 " JNIr. Bushwell never paid me no wages." 
 
 " He ought to have done so ; and his admin- 
 istrator can do so now. The money will come
 
 THE DORCAS CLUD. 365 
 
 out of me ill the end, as I am the heir ; but I 
 shall not object." 
 
 "Wal, now, I declare!" gasped the Avidow. 
 " How fur back can I go ? " 
 
 "Six years. I don't think the administrator 
 can pay for a longer time." 
 
 " That's loner enough. I never was so struck 
 up in my life. Sufferin', dyin' I Six years I 
 How many weeks are they in that time. Prince ? 
 You're bettor' n I am at figgers." 
 
 " Three liundred and twelve." 
 
 " Airthquakes and applesass ! If I charge two 
 dollars a week will it be too much?" 
 
 " No, nou at all." 
 
 "How much will that make, Prince?" 
 
 " Six huudred and twenty-four dollars." 
 
 " We're all sufferin' creeturs ; and I never 
 knowed there was so much money in the world ! 
 Mr. Longiraore ncver'll pay no such wages." 
 
 " I think he will. Make out the bill, and 
 we will try it, at any rate." 
 
 " Sufferin', dyin' I I ain't much at readin 
 and writin'. " 
 
 "I will do it for you." 
 
 "You're a good boy, arter all, Prince" added
 
 366 THE DOIICAS CLUB. 
 
 Mrs. Pining, almost overwhelmed by this sudden 
 expectation of wealth. 
 
 She did not sav that her washes had been the 
 hope that Fox Bushwell would make her his 
 wife, and thus insure her a home to the end of 
 her days. Prince thought it no more than jus- 
 tice that she should be paid for her service, 
 whatever the bargain with her employer had 
 been. She received the full amount which Prince 
 suggested, and the principal and interest of the 
 debt. She found another place as housekeeper ; 
 but miserly and half-witted as she was, she was 
 filled with gratitude to Prince, though she feared 
 that the miser would rise from his grave to re- 
 proach her for taking wages for her labor. 
 
 Three weeks later, Don John completed the 
 Fairy, — the fifth boat belonging to the Dorcas 
 Club, — and it was a happy day, when for the 
 first time all " our girls " were afloat at the same 
 time. For this occasion a picnic down the bay 
 had been arranged, and as the day proved to be 
 mild and pleasant, the excursion was extended 
 over to Turtle Head, where the fleet of the 
 Yacht Club was at anchor. 
 
 As the little squadron approached Turtle Head,
 
 THE DORCAS CLUB. 3G7 
 
 two gims were fired l)y Commodore Montague's 
 sloop, and all the yachtmcn cheered till they 
 were hoarse. A collation was served to the fair 
 rowers, and everybody seemed to be at the high- 
 water of rejoicing. In the afternoon, the first 
 race of the season Avas organized, for the girls 
 were by this time competent to pull a rapid 
 stroke without injury. Prince would not permit 
 the race to extend beyond half a mile. 
 
 " One — two — three — go I " shouted Prince, 
 and every boat started at the same instant. 
 
 For some time they seemed to be rowing "by 
 fives ; " but pretty soon the Dorcas began to 
 forge ahead, — perhaps because the girls in it 
 were older and stronger. She held this advan- 
 tage to the end, and came in ahead. The Un- 
 dine was second, the Psyche third, the Lily 
 fourth, and the Fairy last. Then Commodore 
 Montagnc declared that it was a shame no prizes 
 had been provided, and in a gallant speech he 
 presented the leader of the winning boat a bou- 
 (p\et of sea-weeds, which made a deal of fun. 
 
 During the season, these excursions were often 
 repeated, and the enjoyment of them was all but 
 supreme. The physique of the girls was greatly
 
 368 THE DORCAS CLUB. 
 
 improved, and they were all as brown and ruddy 
 as the daughters of the farmers. But our story- 
 will be finished when we have said that Prince 
 was very happv in the family of the Longimores, 
 and tliat they — especially Mollie were equally 
 happy in having him as a member of their cir- 
 cle. Probably the cashier will never be any- 
 thing but a cashier ; but he is in very great 
 danger of having an excellent young man, worth 
 about one hundred thousand dollars, for a son- 
 in-law, — for Prince and Mollie, as they grow 
 older, seem to be of the same mind. 
 
 Simon Potter was found dead in his lonely cot- 
 tiigG one day, by a peddler who called to sell 
 him some tin ware. Among his papers was 
 found a will, which made Mr. Longimore and 
 his heirs his sole legatees. The estate yielded 
 only four thousand dollars, but the cashier paid 
 off the mortgage on his house with it, and was 
 happy to " owe no man anything." 
 
 The Dorcas Society continued to do its good 
 Avork among the poor of the city, blessing hun- 
 dreds by its labors and its charities, while the 
 members continued, season after season, to win 
 health and strcnc-th from the recreations of The 
 Dorcas Club. / . j '.- W
 
 «.
 
 3 1970 00907 5356 L 
 
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