Cherry Ames, Camp Nurse by Helen Wells

Author:Helen Wells
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company
Published: 2007-03-12T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER IX

Strange Story

AFTER THE DISCOVERY IN THE FOREST, SUE CONTINUED to worry about Mac Cook. Cherry hinted that Mac Cook—if the man were he—might or might not he worth worrying about. But Sue would not believe this, and reports from the hoys, at the next square dance, troubled her further. D. V. and his cabin mates had been on an overnight hike Friday and Saturday, immediately after the girls’ return. Though the boys had not gone to that particular shelter, they, too, had discovered traces of someone living in the wilderness.

At her first opportunity, Cherry talked to Reed Champion about the matter. He knew the land, the people, the habits around here. Reed had an idea.

“If we could find out that Mac did go to New York, it would set Sue’s mind at ease, right? Well,” said Reed in that level tone of his, “it’s more likely Mac would take the train than hitchhike, if he was in such a hurry. Why don’t we do this?—”

The head conductor on the one daily run between the nearest town and New York was Wilbur Hall. He was an old-time railroad man who knew affectionately every passenger, their children, grandchildren, and visitors, and their whole life histories; when he didn’t know a passenger, Mr. Hall got acquainted with him right away. If Mac Cook had taken the train, Mr. Hall would be sure to know, or at the very least would hear about the new passenger from one of his train crew.

“There aren’t many travelers on this local line, except camp people,” Reed said, “so Mac Cook would stick out like a sore thumb.”

Reed promised to inquire when he drove to town Monday on an errand. On Monday morning Cherry had occasion to walk to the village, and she asked at the drugstore, the waffle shop, the hardware store, the grocery store, the garage, for any news of Mac Cook. Not a soul had seen him nor heard of him in over a week.

When Cherry reported this much to her, Sue said:

“That means Mac, or whoever the man is, hasn’t come to the village for supplies. How long can he live on fish and wild berries?”

“Indefinitely, if he’s lucky,” said Cherry, “and if the good weather holds.”

It did not. The rains started again on Tuesday, in unseasonal downpours. The Clemences said that they and other local farmers were glad of the rain, for the wells had been very low and needed replenishing, but Fred Epler, bringing eggs to camp, looked glum when Cherry saw him Tuesday. That wasn’t like Fred; he was generally cheerful.

Before Tuesday was over, Cherry realized she had stirred up a tide of gossip with her questions in the village about Mac Cook. In a country place, gossip spread swiftly. It had reached the photographer, she found, who knocked at the door of the Blue Water infirmary. In his wide, shapeless raincoat she did not recognize him at first.

“Oh, it’s you, Mr. Purdy! Come in. Dr. and Mrs. Lowell are having supper down the hill,” Cherry explained.

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