Adventure Magazine, March 1916 — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

The Secret of Caprice He saw Carl leap to the ground and help ~ Nellie and her maid, and then, to his sur- prise, he saw Nellie speak a few words to John Drummond; the chauffeur touched his cap and nodded, turned the machine and started away again in the direction from which he had come. - Nellie looked up and saw Fenton as they turned toward the shore. She nodded with just the suggestion of a bright little smile, but her face looked wan and almost hag- gard, and the shadows under her eyes told ~ of her sleepless night. As he looked at her and saw the marks of her suffering, all of his bitterness left him. He forgot the accusations, forgot the evi- dence that pointed so straight and unmis- takably to her, forgot the very things that had made his trip in the moonlight last night so memorable. All that he remem- bered was the pity of it all, the pathos of this fine young woman, born and bred to the ease and happiness of an ideal life, plunged here into this mystery that seemed to wrap them all so closely about. His héart went out to her. He took off his hat and advanced with his hand out- stretched. She took it with limp and lifeless fingers. The droop to her eyelids was more than pathetic; it savored almost of the tragic. She did not look up at him as he pressed her hand, but kept her eyes averted, and he saw a flush creeping slowly into her wan cheeks. “You look. unwell,” he said sympathetic- ally. “I am afraid you had a bad night.” She started suddenly and flashed him a look of terror, but his eyes told her nothing, for he had himself well under control. “T am very tired,” she said. ‘You are right; I did have a bad night. I slept scarcely an hour; naturally, I am worryi over everything, even though I still do not believe the worst.” “You must keep early hours until the strain is over,” he said. ‘Sleep is the best strengthener.”’ “Yes,” she replied uneasily. ‘“I—I tried hard to sleep last night, but—but I could not.” “No bad news, I trust?” The flush became deeper. She fumbled in her hand-bag and drew out a telegram. “You may read it,’”’ she said, handing it to him. “It isnot really bad news, but it is —is unexpected.” 31 He opened | the yellow paper and read the message: Miss NELLIE BLAyDON, - Imperial Hotel, © Sea View. Stephen has told me bad news, but do not believe bad as he thinks. Keep up heart. Coming down to join you at once to help you in your bereave- ment. Arrive tomorrow 4:30, VIoLeET HERRIOT. Fenton iopkoad up questioningly when he had finished reading. He folded the tele- gram and handed it back to her. “Good!” he exclaimed. ‘You will have some one to cheer you up. Miss Herriot “Tt is a Mrs. Herriot,’ Nellie corrected. “‘And I am sorry to say that she is not like- ly to cheer me up in the least. Unjfortu- nately I—I have never been very friendly with her.” He looked puzzled. “No?” he asked, “Then I should say it is rather presumptuous of Mrs. Herriot but- ting in this way.” “JT shall have to explain it all to you,” the girl said, her words still halting and the deep flush still coloring her cheeks. “But first I should like to have you promise me that you will mention it to nobody until— until all this—” she waved a pathetic hand toward Caprice and the tents—‘“‘all this is over and forgotten. Will you promise?”’ “Certainly,” he assured her. “But you need not explain anything if it causes you pain. I am perfectly satisfied to remain in ignorance if you desire it.” She frowned in indecision: “T am afraid I shall have to explain,’ she said at length. “If I do not, Mrs. Herriot will; and I prefer to have you learn of it in —in any way rather than hers.”’ She looked toward the shade of the yacht’s after-deck. “Let us go up there,”’ “Tt will be more comfortable.” she said. He helped her up the ladder and they took their seats under the awning. “Mrs. Herriot,’ she said, resuming the conversation as if it had not been interrupt- ed, “was, in some way, engaged to be mar- ried to my father.” Ward smiled in spite of himself at the qualifying phrase “In some way? ’ he repeated question- ingly. “That sounds as though you meant by some hook or crook.” Gomichook (E(@)