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.”