Adventure Magazine, March 1916 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

14 business, and it depended entirely upon the outcome there whether he should go to New York or Chicago. I have not yet heard from him, so I do not really know where he is at _ present. Perhaps you could leave a mes- sage with me?” - He bit his lip in perplexity. Any delay in starting an investigation would, if a crime had indeed been committed, give just so much more time for the guilty men to cover up their tracks. ~ “JT do not know—” he hesitated. “TI scarcely know what to do. The urgency of this case is most unusual, and I should really get in touch with Mr, Blaydon immedi- ately.” Again she mile a wonderful soft smile that was of the eyes rather than of the lips. “Uncle Stephen has always made a con- fidante of me in his business as well as his personal matters,’ she said. “I am sure that I might be able to help you in your difficulty if you would tell me what the business is.” Again Ward faltered. The conviction was - forcing itself upon him that, unpleasant as the task would be, he would have to tell this charming girl of the finding of the yacht and of the seeming certainty that her father had met with a tragic end. “Tt—it is not really business,” he said, striving desperately to find the words he wanted. ‘‘It—itis about your—yourjfather.” Instantly, the smile died in her eyes. She seemed to straighten up as though from an electric shock; for a moment he thought there was a flash of hatred in her gaze, and then, by a supreme effort, she regained her former ease. “Ves?”’ she asked in a level tone. ‘“Then T think you should certainly tell me. Father entrusted me with many of his affairs before he left for South America.” Ward stared at her in astonishment. “For South America?” he repeated. “How did he go—that is, I mean, by what line of steamers?” Again he thought he detected that flash of unfriendliness, but it was gone almost as soon as he sensed it. “He did not go by steamer,” she said. “He went in his yacht Caprice. He in- tended cruising down the West Indies and the Antilles, and so to the coast of South America.” “And did he get there—you have heard from him that he arrived safely?” Adventure Ward was floundering hopelessly under the level gaze from the brown eyes now. They were undoubtedly inimical, as if she resented his speaking of her family affairs. “Will you sit down?” she asked, in a tone that was a command rather than a polite invitation. “It seems to me that your ques- tions require some explanation. Why, may I ask, are you concerned with father’s ar- rival in South America?”’ He took the chair that she indicated, but his overwrought nerves fairly cried out for physical activity. He wanted to be per- mitted to walk up and down; he wanted most of all to be able to turn his back and rush out of the house, rather than say what he had to say. 3 “T am concerned,”’ he said, ““‘because I am afraid I am the bearer of news which will be a terrible shock to you. If you have heard from your father—if he has arrived safely —then it will not be so bad. But if you have not, you must be prepared——” She started to rise from her chair, but sat down again. Her eyes held him powerfully, but there was now no unfriendliness in them, and the calm, level look was gone. Terror was written there plainly. She moistened her lips, and seemed unable to speak fora moment. Then, once more with a supreme effort, she controlled herself. “T have not heard from father,”’ she said. “T should have heard some time ago, but no letter has arrived. Has something hap- pened to him?” “T am afraid so,” said Ward gently. “At present I can only surmise what it is, but you should get into communication with your Uncle Stephen at once, and have him take charge of everything.” He saw her intertwined fingers grip each other hard, until the blood was driven from them. — ‘Tell me what it is you surmise,” she said. ‘You need not spare me.” S rio KINDLY as he could, he told her. She sat through it all without a move of any kind, save for the continual tense gripping of her intertwined fingers. Nor did she longer gaze at him with that calm steadfastness that he had found so disconcerting at first. Instead, she kept her eyes upon the floor in front of her, the color coming and going in her cheeks, but her lids and the long dark JOO (ECO AME cS (E@)