Cherry Ames Boxed Set, Books 5 - 8 by Helen Wells

Cherry Ames Boxed Set, Books 5 - 8 by Helen Wells

Author:Helen Wells
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company


CHAPTER XIV

Troubles and Triumphs

A PARTY WAS IN FULL SWING IN THE DOWNSTAIRS LIVing rooms. Bébé with great gusto was playing Scott’s new waltz. The beautiful, dark Carmela stood beside Bébé at the first piano and sang it, gaily making up words as she went along. Dr. Pratt was here too this Sunday afternoon, giving out broad smiles and clouds of cigar smoke, as he talked to Miss Kitty. The pianist’s sister was a considerably chastened lady, since she had returned and learned all that had happened. But Scott himself was beaming and pouring out punch for the white-haired orchestra conductor, Dr. White, and Mrs. White. Jen beamed too, at Scott, and even the abstracted Lucien, stepping over the three poodles, with an armful of music scores, and Octave the cat on his shoulder, seemed happier though without knowing quite why. Perhaps the happiest person present was Cherry.

For this party—though the guests did not know it—was a celebration of the end of Scott Owens’s troubles. Carroll and his ring were under prosecution and would never again harm the musician. The police had kept Scott’s confidential papers confidential; they did not and would not expose his unhappy past. Scott was safe now. The entire affair was closed, for good.

Miss Kitty, sitting here on the divan large and capable-looking in her green dress, still wore a dazed expression. Scott had not minced words with her when she had returned home two days ago.

“This mess was your doing, Kit,” he had said bluntly, in Cherry’s presence. “If it hadn’t been for your weak-headed superstition, and your wagging tongue, this ugly business need never have happened.”

Miss Kitty had hung her reddish head. “It’s true, Scott. I’m sorry. I’m ashamed. For me, such a practical person, to—” Then she had brightened. “But you did get out of it all right.”

“Despite you! And because of little Cherry here. Kit, Kit, you still don’t see the enormity of your folly! I don’t suppose you ever will.”

Cherry had smiled and suggested mischievously, “Maybe you ought to try being a little less practical, Miss Kitty.”

The police had told the Owenses and Cherry a little of the background of the people who had been tormenting them. Gregory Carroll had a long criminal record. Starting as a poor boy, dishonest, cold, shallowly clever, he had always believed “only fools work.” He had never worked honestly for a living, but relied instead on get-rich-quick rackets. Caught and sent to jail over and over again, he therefore claimed “the whole world was against him” and so “had more reason than ever” to cheat people and seize for himself. He had changed his name and identity several times, but not for a decent reason like Scott’s.

Mr. Thatch was quite another story. He had come of a well-to-do family and had been educated in several universities, here and abroad. For many years he had been a professor, living alone. He had led a humdrum, solitary, and narrow life. In middle age he had done a surprising thing.



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