In the Dead of NightMcIntyre, John T. (John Thomas)
General
In the Dead of Night
McIntyre, John T. (John Thomas)
Mystery fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
There was a curious expression upon the face of Dallas. Kenyon wondered
when he had seen it before, and then suddenly remembered that it had
stolen across her countenance that night in Selden’s Square, when she
gazed at Anna at the old man’s bedside. And he now recognized it as a
species of doubt.
“But, surely,” cried Kenyon, “you do not think that this move of
Forrester’s is upon his own hook--that he is playing the Chinaman
false!”
“I do not know what to think,” she replied, slowly; and though he could
not see, because her head was turned from him, he felt sure that there
were tears in her eyes. “I have seen so much treachery of late that my
reason refuses to accept appearances. I have cause to thank Griscom
Forrester, as you know; but I also have cause to fear him. He may be my
friend, he may be a friend to Hong Yo, or he may be seeking to further
his own personal ends. I cannot tell.”
Shortly after this she went down into the cabin once more; and Kenyon
and Webster talked in low tones.
“It would seem,” remarked the young man from Chicago, “that she is not
any more sure about Forrester than you were some days, or nights, ago.
The fellow seems to be a puzzle.”
“It will not take a great while now to solve him,” answered Kenyon,
grimly. “We are coming into the East River, and once on the _Wizard’s_
deck, I’ll not waste words.”
“Yes; I don’t think a little straight talk will do any harm; the time
seems about ripe for it. But, I say, Ken, doesn’t she,” with a nod
toward the cabin, “do any talking of an enlightening nature?”
Kenyon frowned and looked down into the ghost-like billows which the
craft was throwing up upon either side. They frothed for a moment in
the lantern light and then disappeared in the darkness.
“To speak the plain truth,” said he slowly, “I doubt if she knows a
great deal more than I can guess.”
“But what little she might know,” persisted Webster, “she keeps pretty
closely to herself.”
“Yes,” reluctantly.
“I wonder why. You are upon her side; you are helping her to win out.”
“Yes. But how can she be sure of that. You heard what she just said
about Forrester? Yes? Well, consider and weigh it carefully. Do you
suppose that she referred to him only?”
Webster opened his eyes widely, and whistled.
“You mean to say that she does not altogether trust you. Why, I thought
you had become pals.”
“I’m inclined to think,” said Kenyon, “that she, personally, would
place confidence in me. But she has not, I know, herself, only, to
think of. She seems to fear for others.”
“But whom?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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