At the moment, however, that we find Dorothy and Tavia at the beginning of this chapter, neither girl is thinking much about Jennie Hapgood and her expected visit, or of anything else of minor importance.
The flashily dressed woman who had run after Tavia down the aisle, again screamed her accusation at the amazed and troubled girl:
“That’s my bag! It’s cram full of money, too.”
There was no great crowd in the store, for New York ladies do not as a rule shop much before luncheon. Nevertheless, besides salespeople, there were plenty to hear the woman’s unkind accusation and enough curious shoppers to ring in immediately the two troubled girls and the angry woman.
“Give me it!” exclaimed the latter, and snatched the bag out of Tavia’s hand. As this was done the catch slipped in some way and the handbag burst open.
It was “cram full” of money. Bills of large denomination were rolled carelessly into a ball, with a handkerchief, a purse for change, several keys, and a vanity box. Some of these things tumbled out upon the floor and a young boy stooped and recovered them for her.
“You’re a bad, bad girl!” declared the angry woman. “I hope they send you to jail.”
“Why—why, I didn’t know it was yours,” murmured Tavia, quite upset.
“Oh! you thought somebody had forgotten it and you could get away with it,” declared the other, coarsely enough.
“I beg your pardon, Madam,” Dorothy Dale here interposed. “It was a mistake on my friend’s part. And you are making another mistake, and a serious one.”