"Of course he may have 'moved on'--by this time." She smiled back to him
whimsically from the door.
"If he has moved on, we will move--after him," said Medfield. "I suspect
he's the man I have been looking for--a good while!"
Aunt Jane closed the door softly and left him to his happiness. At the
far end of the corridor, as she looked down, she caught a glimpse of a
dark, stubby figure pursuing its way. It disappeared in Room 16.... Dr.
Carmon had a difficult case on this morning. He had told her there was
little chance for the man in Number 16. She felt the concentration in
the broad back as it disappeared from sight; and her thought left the
millionaire in his suite and followed the shabby, grim figure into a
darkened room.
XXXIII
"You look very well!" Medfield glanced at his son approvingly. "New
suit?"
"I got it in Vienna," said Julian modestly.
"Um-m-- Very good cut! Turn around."
The boy wheeled about.
"Yes--very good---- You have a nice day to go."
Medfield nodded toward the window.
"First-rate!" The young man's face was full of careless light. It seemed
to radiate about them.
His father looked at it half curiously. "Have them serve tea for you....
Give her a good time," he said absently. He was searching among the
papers beside him. "I ought to have some cards somewhere!"
"What is it, sir? Can I get something for you?"
"Over there in that desk-- That's it! Lower drawer-- Just see if there
are some of my cards there, will you?"
The boy took them out with an amused smile. "Going calling?" He brought
them across.
Medfield selected one and held his pencil thoughtfully poised for a
moment--and smiled as he jotted something down.
He slipped it into an envelope and pencilled the address and handed it
to his son.
"Give that to Munson, will you? Tell him to pick three dozen of the best
roses in the garden, and send them to-day.... Tell him the _best_ ones!"
he added exactly.
The young man glanced at the address carelessly. His face lighted up.
"Fine! I'll tell him to send her some corking ones--a big bunch of
them!"
"You can tell him what I said," said his father dryly. "And have them
sent to-day."
"All right, sir." He half turned away. "I'd like to pick some roses
myself--for Miss Canfield-- You won't object, I suppose?" His father's
roses were sacred.
But Herman Medfield waved it away. "Pick all you like." He was gracious
with it.
"But not the best ones," laughed the boy. He tucked the card in his
pocket and went out.
Aunt Jane, sitting at her desk in the office, looked up as he went by.
He nodded and smiled to her, thinking of the little card tucked away in
his pocket.
She got up and came across. "You going out home?" she asked.
He radiated happiness. "A ripping good day, isn't it!" He waved his hand
at all outdoors.
"You'll have a good time," said Aunt Jane. "And Miss Canfield's a nice
girl." She was surveying his new clothes kindly. "I'm glad you're going
to take her."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account