CHAPTER XXIV--A TREASURELESS TREASURER

During the week that followed Mignon's fiery outburst against Veronica at the club meeting Muriel Harding received no welcome letter from the former announcing her resignation from the Lookouts. To all appearances such was not her intention. When the next Thursday evening rolled round, the Lookouts, including their latest addition, Veronica Browning, met at Gray Gables. To the secret disappointment of the majority Mignon was not among those present. With the exception of Irma, Marjorie and Constance, the others were impatient to see how the French girl would behave toward Veronica. The latter had been privately warned by Marjorie as to what might possibly occur and had agreed to meet Mignon's probable discourtesy with silence.

It was not until the meeting had reached the point of "unfinished business" that the question relating to the absent rebel came up for discussion.

"Girls," began Muriel, "you all know what comes under this head. Let me hear from you informally."

"It looks as though we'd have to wait another week and see what happens," observed Susan Atwell. With a faint giggle she added: "When is a test not a test?"

A ripple of ready laughter followed this suggestive question.

"Perhaps it is all for the best," remarked Irma philosophically. "We may find after all that----"

A reverberating peal of the door bell cut short her discourse. Every pair of bright eyes became questioningly directed toward the sound. Was it their graceless treasurer who now demanded admittance? Followed a moment of expectant waiting, then a maid appeared in the curtained doorway of the library in which the Lookouts were gathered.

"Here's a note for you, Miss Muriel," she announced as she stepped into the room. Delivering it into Muriel's hand she promptly disappeared.

"Humph!" ejaculated Muriel as she stared at the tiny, pale gray envelope. "By your leave, Lookouts," she added with a nod to her friends. Tearing open an end of the envelope she drew forth its contents. A frown of displeasure knitted her brows as she scanned the unexpected message. Raising her eyes from it she said: "This note is from Mignon La Salle. I will read it to you. She writes:

"'Miss Harding:

"'I have decided not to attend the further meetings of the club. I shall still hold my office as treasurer. If you wish to consult me on business matters or desire to draw upon the treasury for checks with which to meet the various current expenses, kindly write me at my home. From time to time, I shall send you my official report.

"'Yours truly, "'Mignon La Salle.'"

"This is the last straw," declared Muriel grimly. "It seems to me that our duty is plain."

"I am of the same mind." Marjorie Dean's decided tones sent a little thrill over her listeners. It was evident to all that her limit of endurance had been reached. "I move," she continued with calm finality, "that Irma write Mignon La Salle stating that we accept her note as a resignation from the Lookouts and request her to turn over the club's books, now in her possession, to our president Muriel Harding."

Constance Stevens instantly seconded the motion. It was voted upon and carried with an alacrity that bespoke the intense approval of those assembled.

Again Marjorie was heard. "I nominate Susan Atwell to fill the now vacant office of treasurer."

It is needless to say that this motion was also promptly seconded, voted upon and carried. The unbelievable had come to pass. Marjorie Dean had at last renounced the difficult responsibility she had shouldered so long. As a result of this revelation the dignity of the meeting collapsed into a babble of excited opinions. Muriel made no effort to restore order but drew her chair into the circle and entered willingly into the spirited discussion that centered around Mignon La Salle.

"I'm glad you've come to your senses, Marjorie Dean," stoutly asserted Daisy Griggs. "I must say I was surprised when you made that first motion."

"I have just one thing to say." Marjorie's brown eyes were filled with purposeful light. "Then I wish to drop the subject of Mignon. She has defied the club and so forfeited her right to membership. When the books of the club have been placed in Muriel's hands, I shall go to Mr. La Salle and insist on being released from my promise. That's all."

Rising, she walked to a window, half ready to cry. It had been very hard for her to contemplate the idea of seeking kindly Mr. La Salle with such unpleasant information. She felt keenly the humiliation of being obliged to admit to him her failure. Yet as Muriel had said it was, indeed, "the last straw." As she stood looking out at the white, moonlit night she was driven to believe that Mignon La Salle's better self would ever remain a minus quantity.

Mignon's astounding stand having been sufficiently discussed, the Lookouts devoted the rest of the evening strictly to enjoyment. Constance sang, Veronica danced, the others also contributing various entertaining stunts. A most delectable little supper was disposed of to the accompaniment of sprightly conversation and merry laughter, thereby proving that the loss of a faithless treasurer was small loss indeed.

It had been a simple matter to accept Mignon's note as a resignation and elect a new treasurer. It had been equally easy to inform Mignon to that effect by letter. When, at the end of the week, however, Muriel received neither the books of the club, nor any response whatever from Mignon, it was decided that Muriel and Irma should introduce Susan to the Vice-President of the First National Bank of Sanford and request that the Lookouts' account be transferred to her guardianship. She would then receive a check and bankbook and thus be fitly equipped to perform her new duties.

Irma Linton had made a habit of incorporating into the minutes of the meetings the treasury reports which Mignon had read out to the club from time to time. This data would now prove invaluable to Susan in opening a new book, should Mignon obstinately delay the return of the one in her possession. Believing that she might do this, Muriel and Susan quietly agreed to take steps to attain complete independence of her.

Not desiring to act too hastily, they waited with commendable patience until it lacked but a day until the next meeting of the Lookouts. Although they daily saw Mignon at school, it was as though they had never known her. She haughtily ignored the Lookouts and they made no effort to change the state of marked hostility she had willed. Having notified her of their wishes through the proper channels of the club, they now maintained a dignified silence, refusing to act other than impersonally.

At the close of the Wednesday morning session, Susan and Irma set out for the First National Bank to put their mutual agreement into effect. Ushered into the vice-president's office, they were coldly received by that august person. His very manner was such as to indicate personal injury to him on their part. Rather timidly Muriel introduced Susan and stated her request.

His air of distant courtesy relaxing he said in a mollified tone: "Ah, yes, I understand. It is your intention to re-deposit the funds of your club in this bank. We supposed them to have been permanently removed. It was unnecessary in your retiring treasurer, Miss La Salle, to draw them out. I shall be pleased to adjust matters." Privately he was thinking the whole affair quite characteristic of a bevy of heedless school girls.

A united gasp of astonishment welled up from two throats.

"Draw them _out_?" Muriel's voice rose on the last word. "But we didn't----!"

"Why--what----" stammered Susan.

Muriel drew a long breath. "When did Miss La Salle draw out this money, Mr. Wendell?" she asked, striving to speak casually.

"On Tuesday, I believe. Just a moment. I will ascertain positively if I am correct in my statement." Rising, he bowed courteously to his young visitors and left the office.

"Mignon has _taken_ the Lookouts' money," burst forth Susan, the instant the two were left to themselves. "What are we to do about it? We'd better explain everything to Mr. Wendell and ask his advice."

Muriel stared at Susan, but made no reply. The enormity of Mignon's latest misdeed fairly stunned her. Despite the shock, there now rose within her a curious impulse to protect rather than expose this lawless girl.

"I think we had better not explain things to him now," she said slowly. "It's like this. Mignon has drawn our money from the bank on purpose to spite us. She doesn't want it for herself. What she intends to do is to hold it until her term is up as treasurer. She knows that we shall need a part of it to meet the monthly expenses of the day nursery, but she wants to make us send to her for it. She intended to do this money stunt when she wrote that letter. We can't decide what we ought to do about her until we talk to the others."

Mr. Wendell's entrance into the office prevented further confidential talk between the two.

"I find my statement correct," he announced. "The entire account, amounting to seven hundred and forty-six dollars, sixty-seven cents, was turned over to Miss La Salle on Monday. Since you wish to redeposit this sum of money in Miss Atwell's name, I would advise that she and Miss La Salle come here together with it at their convenience. Then we can handle the matter satisfactorily, I assure you."

"Thank you, Mr. Wendell." Muriel rose, with as much dignity as she could master. "As there has evidently been a mistake made about our account we will be obliged first to take it up with the club before redepositing the money. You will hear from me in regard to it within two or three days. We have no wish to place our funds in another bank."

With a brief farewell to the nonplussed bank official, Muriel and Susan made their escape into the street, where they could unburden themselves undisturbed. Before school closed that afternoon Marjorie, Constance and Irma had been put in possession of the full news. That evening at the Deans', five girls met in solemn conclave. Long and earnestly they discussed the unpleasant situation. The fruit of that discussion took shape in a letter to Mignon requesting the immediate turning over of the Lookouts' bank account to Susan Atwell. Under the circumstances it was an exceedingly mild letter. It was mailed special delivery in the hope that the wrongdoer would receive it in time to repair her error before the club met on the following evening.

Mignon, however, had no intention of thus yielding so easily. Her letter to Rowena Farnham had brought her an immediate reply from the latter which pleased her immensely. Acting upon Rowena's unscrupulous advice she had boldly marched to the bank, and withdrawn in actual cash the club's entire capital. Furthermore, she had locked it away in a secret drawer of her writing desk and vowed to leave it there until the expiration of her term as treasurer.