"You don't know Dad," she said, shaking her head mournfully. "Bojo, we
must get Doris back, she may do things for you that she won't do for any
one else-- Oh! yes, you don't know. Then I have something--a quarter of
a million. I want to turn it into cash. He won't take it from me if he
knew. But you might deposit it to his credit, make him believe some one
did it anonymously--couldn't that be done?"
He raised her hand with a sudden swelling in his throat and kissed it,
murmuring something incoherent.
"That is nothing to do, nothing," she said, shaking her head.
"I wish I could go to him," he said doubtfully.
"You can. You can. I know Dad believes you, trusts you. Oh! if you
would.
"Of course I will and at once," he said joyfully. He leaned out the
window and gave the order. "Heavens, child, we've forgotten all about
dinner. I shall have to invite myself." He took her hand, patting it as
though to calm her. "It may not be so bad as you imagine. We'll
telegraph Doris to-night, the Boskirks can do a lot. Of course they'll
help. Then there's your mother--she has money of her own, I know."
"That's what I'm afraid of--mother," she said in a whisper.
"What do you mean?"
She shook her head.
"Don't ask me. I shouldn't have said it. And yet--and yet--"
"We are almost there," he said hurriedly. He wanted to say something to
her, revolting at the discipline he had imposed on himself, something
from the heart and yet something at which she would not take offense. He
hesitated and stammered--"Thank you for coming to me. You know--you
understand, don't you?"
She turned, her glance rested on his a long moment, she started as
though to say something, stopped and turned hurriedly away, but brief as
the moment had been, a feeling of meltable content came over him. The
next moment they came to a stop. In the vestibule she bade him wait in
the little parlor and went in ahead to the library. He had picked up a
paper and paced up and down, scanning it anxiously, with brief glances
down the wide luxurious salons and at the liveried servants who seemed
to move nervously, all eyes and ears, scenting danger in the air. The
accent of fear was in the headlines even. He was staring at a caption
telling of rumored suspensions and prophecies of ill when Patsie came
tripping back.
[Illustration: "'He wants to see you now' she said"]
"It's all right. He wants to see you now," she said, happiness in her
eyes, holding out her hand to lead him.
CHAPTER XXV
DRAKE ADMITS HIS DANGER
Drake was before the fireplace, moving or rather switching back and
forth, and this unwonted nervousness seemed an evil augury to Bojo.
However, at the slight rustle of the portieres, Drake came forward with
energetic strides, his hand flung out--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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