Part 33 (2/2)

”Even Mamie?” inquired Kirk.

It had been his intention to be mildly jocular, but Mrs. Porter's reply showed him that in jest he had spoken the truth.

”Certainly. Have you any idea, Kirk, of the number of germs there are on the surface of the human body? It runs into billions. You”--she fixed him with her steely eye--”you are at the present moment one ma.s.s of microbes.”

”I sneaked through quarantine all right.”

”To the adult there is not so much danger in these microbes, provided he or she maintains a reasonable degree of personal cleanliness. That is why adults may be permitted to mix with other adults without preliminary sterilization. But in the case of a growing child it is entirely different. No precaution is excessive. So----”

From below at this point there came the sound of the front-door bell.

Ruth went to the landing and looked over the banisters.

”That ought to be Bill and Mamie back from their drive,” she said.

The sound of a child's voice came to Kirk as he stood listening; and as he heard it all the old feeling of paternal pride and excitement, which had left him during his wanderings, swept over him like a wave. He reproached himself that, while the memory of Ruth had been with him during every waking moment of the past year, there had been occasions when that of William Bannister had become a little faded.

He ran down the stairs.

”h.e.l.lo, Mamie!” he said. ”How are you? You're looking well.”

Mamie greeted him with the shy smile which was wont to cause such havoc in Steve's heart.

”And who's this you've got with you? Mamie, you know you've no business going about with young men like this. Who is he?”

He stood looking at William Bannister, and William Bannister stood looking at him, Kirk smiling, William staring with the intense gravity of childhood and trying to place this bearded stranger among his circle of friends. He seemed to be thinking that the familiarity of the other's manner indicated a certain amount of previous acquaintances.h.i.+p.

”Watch that busy brain working,” said Kirk. ”He's trying to place me.

It's all right, Bill, old man; it's my fault. I had no right to spring myself on you with eight feet of beard. It isn't giving you a square deal. Never mind, it's coming off in a few minutes, never to return, and then, perhaps, you'll remember that you've a father.”

”Fa-a-a-ar!” shrieked William Bannister triumphantly, taking the cue with admirable swiftness.

He leaped at Kirk, and Kirk swung him up in the air. It was quite an effort, for William Bannister had grown astonis.h.i.+ngly in the past year.

”Pop,” said he firmly, as if resolved to prevent any possibility of mistake. ”Daddy,” he added, continuing to play upon the theme. He summed up. ”You're my pop.”

Then, satisfied that this was final and that there could now be no chance for Kirk to back out of the contract, he reached out a hand and gave a tug at the beard which had led to all the confusion.

”What's this?”

”You may well ask,” said Kirk. ”I got struck that way because I left you and mummy for a whole year. But now I'm back I'm going to be allowed to take it off and give it away. Whom shall I give it to?

Steve? Do you think Steve would like it? Yes, you can go on pulling it; it won't break. On the other hand, I should just like to mention that it's hurting something fierce, my son. It's fastened on at the other end, you know.”

”Why?”

”Don't ask me. That's the way it's built.”

William Bannister obligingly disentangled himself from the beard.

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