Part 16 (1/2)

Underwood occupied the one immediately adjoining the general offices; the next, separated from the first by a narrow entrance way, had been appropriated by Mr. Walcott, while the third, communicating with the second and opening directly upon the street, was now fitted up for Darrell's occupancy. The carpets and much of the original furnis.h.i.+ng of the rooms still remained, but in the preparation of Darrell's room Kate Underwood and her aunt made numerous trips in their carriage between the offices and The Pines, with the result that when Darrell took possession many changes had been effected. Heavy curtains separated that portion of the room in which the laboratory work was to be done from that to be used as a study, and to the latter there had been added a rug or two, a bookcase in which Darrell could arrange his small library of scientific works, a cabinet of mineralogical specimens, and a pair of paintings intended to conceal some of Time's ravages on the once finely decorated walls, while palms and blooming plants transformed the large plate-gla.s.s windows into bowers of fragrance and beauty, at the same time forming a screen from the too inquisitive eyes of pa.s.sers-by.

Just as Darrell was completing the arrangement of his effects, Mr.

Underwood and his partner sauntered into the room from their apartments.

Within a few feet of the door Mr. Underwood came to a stop, his hands deep in his trousers pockets, his square chin thrust aggressively forward, while, with a face unreadable as granite, his keen eyes scanned every detail in the room. Mr. Walcott, on the contrary, made the entire circuit of the room, his hands carelessly clasped behind him, his head thrown well back, his every step characterized by a graceful, undulatory motion, like the movements of the feline tribe.

”H'm!” was Mr. Underwood's sole comment when he had finished his survey of the room.

Mr. Walcott turned towards his partner with a smile. ”Mr. Darrell is evidently a prime favorite with the ladies,” he remarked, pleasantly.

”Well, they don't want to try any of their prime favorite business on me,” retorted Mr. Underwood, as he slowly turned and left the room.

Both young men laughed, and Walcott, with an easy, nonchalant air, seated himself near Darrell.

”I find the old gentleman has a keen sense of humor,” he said, still smiling; ”but some of his jokes are inclined to be a little ponderous at times.”

”His humor generally lies along the lines of sarcasm,” Darrell replied.

”Ah, something of a cynic, is he?”

”No,” said Darrell; ”he has too kind a heart to be cynical, but he is very fond of concealing it by sarcasm and brusqueness.”

”He is quite original and unique in his way. I find him really a much more agreeable man than I antic.i.p.ated. You have very pleasant quarters here, Mr. Darrell. I should judge you intended this as a sort of study as well as an office.”

”I do intend it so. Probably for a while I shall do more studying than anything else, as it may be some time before I get any a.s.saying.”

”I think we can probably throw quite a bit of work your way, as we frequently have inquiries from some of our clients wanting something in that line.”

”Walcott,” said Mr. Underwood, re-entering suddenly, ”Chapman is out there; go and meet him. You can conduct negotiations with him on the terms we agreed upon, but I don't care to figure in the deal. If he asks for me, tell him I'm out.”

”I see; as the ladies say, you're 'not at home,'” said Walcott, smiling, as he sprang quickly to his feet. ”Well, Mr. Darrell,” he continued, ”I consider myself fortunate in having you for so near a neighbor, and I trust that we shall prove good friends and our relations mutually agreeable.”

Darrell's dark, penetrating eyes looked squarely into the half-closed, smiling ones, which met his glance for an instant, then wavered and dropped.

”I know of no reason why we should not be friends,” he replied, quietly, knowing he could say that much with all candor, yet feeling that friends.h.i.+p between them was an utter impossibility, and that of this Walcott was as conscious as was he himself.

”Well, my boy,” said Mr. Underwood, seating himself before Darrell's desk, ”I guess 'twas a good thing you took the old man's advice for once. I don't know where you would find better quarters than these.”

Darrell smiled. ”As to following your advice, Mr. Underwood, you didn't even give me a chance. You suggested my taking one of these rooms, and then gave orders on your own responsibility for my paraphernalia to be deposited here, and there was nothing left for me to do but to settle down. However,” he added, laying some money on the desk before Mr.

Underwood, ”I have no complaint to make. Just kindly receipt for that.”

”Receipt for this! What do you mean? What is it, anyway?” exclaimed Mr.

Underwood, in a bewildered tone.

”It is the month's rent in advance, according to your custom.”

”Rent!” Mr. Underwood e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, now thoroughly angry; ”what do I want of rent from you? Can't you let me be a friend to you? Time and time again I've tried to help you and you wouldn't have it. Now I'll give you warning, young man, that one of these days you'll go a little too far in this thing, and then you'll have to look somewhere else for friends, for when I'm done with a man, I'm done with him forever!”

”Mr. Underwood,” said Darrell, with dignity, ”you are yourself going too far at this moment. You know I do not refuse favors from you personally.