The old lady was looking much brighter this morning. She smiled pleasantly as her young friend entered.
“Mary Louise!” she exclaimed. “Any news?”
“Lots of news,” replied the girl, seating herself in the chair beside the bed. “Do you feel equal to hearing it?”
“I certainly do. Have you found my money?”
“I want to tell you the story straight from the beginning. But before I do that, I want to assure you that Elsie is innocent. We found the real thief, and we also found Elsie. She ran away because she was unhappy.”
Miss Grant’s eyes sparkled with eagerness. “Never mind about Elsie now. Tell me who stole my money.”
“One of the gypsies,” replied Mary Louise. “I can give it to you if you’ll promise to donate some of it for Elsie’s support. Mrs. Grace Grant wants her to live with them, but you know how poor she is now.”
“All right, all right, I’ll give you fifty dollars if you get it all back for me! Where is it?”
“I’ll tell you in a minute.” Mary Louise couldn’t help enjoying teasing the miserly woman in retaliation for the way she had treated Elsie. “But it isn’t a case of giving fifty dollars now. It’s rather that you pay Mrs. Grant something—say twenty dollars a month—as your share towards Elsie’s support.”
Miss Grant groaned.
“For how long?” she demanded.
“Till Elsie finishes high school.”
“That’s a lot of money.... Still, I wouldn’t have to have the child around. And she does irritate me.... Yes, I’ll agree. Where is my money?”
Mary Louise unwrapped her box and put it down upon the white bed. Miss Grant reached for it as a child might grab at his Christmas stocking. She opened it and immediately began to count the gold pieces.
“It’s all here!” she cried exultantly.
Mary Louise nodded. “Shall I tell you the story now—about the necklace?” she inquired.
“Yes, yes. I had forgotten the necklace. Where is it?”
“I’m afraid you won’t get that, Miss Grant, because it never really belonged to your father.” And Mary Louise went on to relate the gypsy’s story.
Still fingering the gold, the old lady listened intently.
“Yes, that sounds right to me,” she agreed, as the story ended. “I am thankful that the necklace is back with its rightful owner. That would please my mother. Maybe now Dark Cedars will be a more peaceful place to live.”
“I believe it will be,” concluded Mary Louise as she rose to go. “Here is your key, Miss Grant—and—good-bye!”
“Wait, Mary Louise! I want to give you forty dollars—in gold. You can give ten to Jane, as I promised her, but I think you deserve thirty. You’re a good, clever girl!”
Mary Louise shook her head.
“No, thank you, Miss Grant. What I did, I did because of my love and sympathy for Elsie. If you will treat her fairly, that is all the reward I want.”
The old lady gazed at the girl in amazement at her refusal. But she saw that she meant what she said; perhaps Mary Louise’s generosity put her to shame.
“I will, Mary Louise,” she promised solemnly. “I will indeed.”
So, well satisfied with the happy solution of the mystery at Dark Cedars, Mary Louise hurried back to tell Elsie Grant the good news about her new home and the four happy years at high school which were in store for her.