the make-believe man-第3部分

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nine。〃

I　saw　that　to　the　beautiful　lady　my　explanation　carried　no　meaning
whatsoever；　but　before　I　could　explain；　the　young　man　with　whom　she
had　come　on　board　walked　toward　us。

Neither　did　he　appear　to　find　in　her　talking　to　a　stranger　anything
embarrassing。　　He　halted　and　smiled。　　His　smile　was　pleasant；　but
entirely　vague。　　In　the　few　minutes　I　was　with　him；　I　learned　that
it　was　no　sign　that　he　was　secretly　pleased。　　It　was　merely　his
expression。　　It　was　as　though　a　photographer　had　said：　〃Smile；
please；〃　and　he　had　smiled。

When　he　joined　us；　out　of　deference　to　the　young　lady　I　raised　my
hat；　but　the　youth　did　not　seem　to　think　that　outward　show　of
respect　was　necessary；　and　kept　his　hands　in　his　pockets。　　Neither
did　he　cease　smoking。　　His　first　remark　to　the　lovely　lady　somewhat
startled　me。

〃Have　you　got　a　brass　bed　in　your　room？〃　he　asked。　　The　beautiful
lady　said　she　had。

〃So've　I；〃　said　the　young　man。　　〃They　do　you　rather　well；　don't
they？　　And　it's　only　three　dollars。　　How　much　is　that？〃

〃Four　times　three　would　be　twelve；〃　said　the　lady。　　〃Twelve
shillings。〃

The　young　man　was　smoking　a　cigarette　in　a　long　amber　cigarette…
holder。　　I　never　had　seen　one　so　long。　　He　examined　the　end　of　his
cigarette…holder；　and；　apparently　surprised　and　relieved　at　finding
a　cigarette　there；　again　smiled　contentedly。

The　lovely　lady　pointed　at　the　marble　shaft　rising　above　Madison
Square。

〃That　is　the　tallest　sky…scraper；〃　she　said；　〃in　New　York。〃　　I　had
just　informed　her　of　that　fact。　　The　young　man　smiled　as　though　he
were　being　introduced　to　the　building；　but　exhibited　no　interest。

〃IS　it？〃　he　remarked。　　His　tone　seemed　to　show　that　had　she　said；
〃That　is　a　rabbit；〃　he　would　have　been　equally　gratified。

〃Some　day；〃　he　stated；　with　the　same　startling　abruptness　with
which　he　had　made　his　first　remark；　〃our　war…ships　will　lift　the
roofs　off　those　sky…scrapers。〃

The　remark　struck　me　in　the　wrong　place。　　It　was　unnecessary。
Already　I　resented　the　manner　of　the　young　man　toward　the　lovely
lady。　　It　seemed　to　me　lacking　in　courtesy。　　He　knew　her；　and　yet
treated　her　with　no　deference；　while　I；　a　stranger；　felt　so
grateful　to　her　for　being　what　I　knew　one　with　such　a　face　must　be；
that　I　could　have　knelt　at　her　feet。　　So　I　rather　resented　the
remark。

〃If　the　war…ships　you　send　over　here；〃　I　said　doubtfully；　〃aren't
more　successful　in　lifting　things　than　your　yachts；　you'd　better
keep　them　at　home　and　save　coal！〃

Seldom　have　I　made　so　long　a　speech　or　so　rude　a　speech；　and　as
soon　as　I　had　spoken；　on　account　of　the　lovely　lady；　I　was　sorry。

But　after　a　pause　of　half　a　second　she　laughed　delightedly。

〃I　see；〃　she　cried；　as　though　it　were　a　sort　of　a　game。　　〃He　means
Lipton！　　We　can't　lift　the　cup；　we　can't　lift　the　roofs。　　Don't　you
see；　Stumps！〃　she　urged。　　In　spite　of　my　rude　remark；　the　young　man
she　called　Stumps　had　continued　to　smile　happily。　　Now　his
expression　changed　to　one　of　discomfort　and　utter　gloom；　and　then
broke　out　into　a　radiant　smile。

〃I　say！〃　he　cried。　　〃That's　awfully　good：　'If　your　war…ships　aren't
any　better　at　lifting　things'　　Oh；　I　say；　really；〃　he　protested；
〃that's　awfully　good。〃　　He　seemed　to　be　afraid　I　would　not
appreciate　the　rare　excellence　of　my　speech。　　〃You　know；　really；〃
he　pleaded；　〃it　is　AWFULLY　good！〃

We　were　interrupted　by　the　sudden　appearance；　in　opposite
directions；　of　Kinney　and　the　young　man　with　the　real　hat…band。
Both　were　excited　and　disturbed。　　At　the　sight　of　the　young　man；
Stumps　turned　appealingly　to　the　golden…rod　girl。　　He　groaned
aloud；　and　his　expression　was　that　of　a　boy　who　had　been　caught
playing　truant。

〃Oh；　Lord！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃what's　he　huffy　about　now？　　He　TOLD　me　I
could　come　on　deck　as　soon　as　we　started。〃

The　girl　turned　upon　me　a　sweet　and　lovely　smile　and　nodded。　　Then；
with　Stumps　at　her　side；　she　moved　to　meet　the　young　man。　　When　he
saw　them　coming　he　halted；　and；　when　they　joined　him；　began　talking
earnestly；　almost　angrily。　　As　he　did　so；　much　to　my　bewilderment；
he　glared　at　me。　　At　the　same　moment　Kinney　grabbed　me　by　the　arm。

〃Come　below！〃　he　commanded。　　His　tone　was　hoarse　and　thrilling　with
excitement。

〃Our　adventures；〃　he　whispered；　〃have　begun！〃


II


I　felt；　for　me；　adventures　had　already　begun；　for　my　meeting　with
the　beautiful　lady　was　the　event　of　my　life；　and　though　Kinney　and
I　had　agreed　to　share　our　adventures；　of　this　one　I　knew　I　could
not　even　speak　to　him。　　I　wanted　to　be　alone；　where　I　could　delight
in　it；　where　I　could　go　over　what　she　had　said；　what　I　had　said。　　I
would　share　it　with　no　one。　　It　was　too　wonderful；　too　sacred。　　But
Kinney　would　not　be　denied。　　He　led　me　to　our　cabin　and　locked　the
door。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　he　began；　〃but　this　adventure　is　one　I　cannot　share
with　you。〃　　The　remark　was　so　in　keeping　with　my　own　thoughts　that
with　sudden　unhappy　doubt　I　wondered　if　Kinney；　too；　had　felt　the
charm　of　the　beautiful　lady。　　But　he　quickly　undeceived　me。

〃I　have　been　doing　a　little　detective　work；〃　he　said。　　His　voice
was　low　and　sepulchral。　　〃And　I　have　come　upon　a　real　adventure。
There　are　reasons　why　I　cannot　share　it　with　you；　but　as　it
develops　you　can　follow　it。　　About　half　an　hour　ago；〃　he　explained；
〃I　came　here　to　get　my　pipe。　　The　window　was　open。　　The　lattice　was
only　partly　closed。　　Outside　was　that　young　man　from　Harvard　who
tried　to　make　my　acquaintance；　and　the　young　Englishman　who　came　on
board　with　that　blonde。〃　　Kinney　suddenly　interrupted　himself。
〃You　were　talking　to　her　just　now；〃　he　said。　　I　hated　to　hear　him
speak　of　the　Irish　lady　as　〃that　blonde。〃　　I　hated　to　hear　him
speak　of　her　at　all。　　So；　to　shut　him　off；　I　answered　briefly：　〃She
asked　me　about　the　Singer　Building。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Kinney。　　〃Well；　these　two　men　were　just　outside　my
window；　and；　while　I　was　searching　for　my　pipe；　I　heard　the
American　speaking。　　He　was　very　excited　and　angry。　　'I　tell　you；'
he　said；　'every　boat　and　railroad　station　is　watched。　　You　won't　be
safe　till　we　get　away　from　New　York。　　You　must　go　to　your　cabin；
and　STAY　there。'　　And　the　other　one　answered：　'I　am　sick　of　hiding
and　dodging。'〃

Kinney　paused　dramatically　and　frowned。

〃Well；〃　I　asked；　〃what　of　it？〃

〃What　of　it？〃　he　cried。　　He　exclaimed　aloud　with　pity　and
impatience。

〃No　wonder；〃　he　cried；　〃you　never　have　adventures。　　Why；　it's　plain
as　print。　　They　are　criminals　escaping。　　The　Englishman　certainly
is　escaping。〃

I　was　concerned　only　for　the　lovely　lady；　but　I　asked：　〃You　mean
the　Irishman　called　Stumps？〃

〃Stumps！〃　exclaimed　Kinney。　　〃What　a　strange　name。　　Too　strange　to
be　true。　　It's　an　alias！〃　　I　was　incensed　that　Kinney　should　charge
the　friends　of　the　lovely　lady　with　being　criminals。　　Had　it　been
any　one　else　I　would　have　at　once　resented　it；　but　to　be　angry　with
Kinney　is　difficult。　　I　could　not　help　but　remember　that　he　is　the
slave　of　his　own　imagination。　　It　plays　tricks　and　runs　away　with
him。　　And　if　it　leads　him　to　believe　innocent　people　are　criminals；
it　also　leads　him　to　believe　that　every　woman　in　the　Subway　to　whom
he　gives　his　seat　is　a　great　lady；　a　leader　of　society　on　her　way
to　work　in　the　slums。

〃Joe！〃　I　protested。　　〃Those　men　aren't　criminals。　　I　talked　to　that
Irishman；　and　he　hasn't　sense　enough　to　be　a　criminal。〃

〃The　railroads　are　watched；〃　repeated　Kinney。　　〃Do　HONEST　men　care
a　darn　whether　the　railroad　is　watched　or　not？　　Do　you　care？　　Do　I
care？　　And　did　you　notice　how　angry　the　American　got　when　he　found
Stumps　talking　with　you？〃

I　had　noticed　it；　and　I　also　recalled　the　fact　that　Stumps　had　said
to　the　lovely　lady：　〃He　told　me　I　could　come　on　deck　as　soon　as　we
started。〃

The　words　seemed　to　bear　out　what　Kinney　claimed　he　had　overheard。
But　not　wishing　to　encourage　him；　of　what　I　had　heard　I　said
nothing。

〃He　may　be　dodging　a　summons；〃　I　suggested。　　〃He　is　wanted；
probably；　only　as　a　witness。　　It　might　be　a　civil　suit；　or　his
chauffeur　may　have　hit　somebody。〃

Kinney　shook　his　head　sadly。

〃Excuse　me；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　fear　you　lack　imagination。　　Those　men
are　rascals；　dangerous　rascals；　and　the　woman　is　their　accomplice。
What　they　have　done　I　don't　know；　but　I　have　already　learned　enough
to　arrest　them　as　suspicious　characters。　　Listen！　　Each　of　them　has
a　separate　state…room　forward。　　The　window　of　the　American's　room
was　open；　and　his　suit…case　was　on　the　bed。　　On　it　were　the
initials　H。　P。　A。　　The　stateroom　is　number　twenty…four；　but　when　I
examined　the　purser's　list；　pretending　I　wished　to　find　out　if　a
friend　of　mine　was　on　board；　I　found　that　the　man　in　twenty…four
had　given　his　name　as　James　Preston。　　Now；〃　he　demanded；　〃why
should　one　of　them　hide　under　an　alias　and　the　other　be　afraid　to
show　himself　until　we　leave　the　wharf？〃　　He　did　not　wait　for　my
answer。　　〃I　have　been　talking　to　Mr。　H。　P。　A。；　ALIAS　Preston；〃　he
continued。　　〃I　pretended　I　was　a　person　of　some　importance。　　I
hinted　I　was　rich。　　My　object；〃　Kinney　added　hastily；　〃was　to
encourage　him　to　try　some　of　his　tricks　on　ME；　to　try　to　rob　ME；　so
that　I　could　obtain　evidence。　　I　also；〃　he　went　on；　with　some
embarrassment；　〃told　him　that　you；　too；　were　wealthy　and　of　some
importance。〃

I　thought　of　the　lovely　lady；　and　I　felt　myself　blushing
indignantly。

〃You　did　very　wrong；〃　I　cried；　〃you　had　no　right！　　You　may　involve
us　both　most　unpleasantly。〃

〃You　are　not　involved　in　any　way；〃　protested　Kinney。　　〃As　soon　as
we　reach　New　Bedford　you　can　slip　on　shore　and　wait　for　me　at　the
hotel。　　When　I've　finished　with　these　gentlemen；　I'll　join　you。〃

〃Finished　with　them！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃What　do　you　mean　to　do　to
them？〃

〃Arrest　them！〃　cried　Kinney　sternly；　〃as　soon　as　they　step　upon　the
wharf！〃

〃You　can't　do　it！〃　I　gasped。

〃I　HAVE　done　it！〃　answered　Kinney。　　〃It's　good　as　done。　　I　have
notified　the　chief　of　police　at　New　Bedford；〃　he　declared　proudly；
〃to　meet　me　at　the　wharf。　　I　used　the　wireless。　　Here　is　my
message。〃

From　his　pocket　he　produced　a　paper　and；　with　great　importance；
read　aloud：　〃Meet　me　at　wharf　on　arrival　steamer　Patience。　　Two
well…known　criminals　on　board　escaping　New　York　police。　　Will
personally　lay　charges　against