Part 18 (1/2)
”You know. The little, crooked-backed man. He's janitor of the school. His wife has two rooms I can have. Her brother has been staying with them; but he's lost his job and has gone up into the woods. It's a quiet place--and that's what I want. I can't stand the racket at the hotel any longer,” concluded the civil engineer.
But Janice thought he still looked strange and spoke differently from usual. His glance wandered about the store as he talked.
”What did you want to buy, Frank?” she asked. ”I'm keeping store to-night.” She knew that 'Rill would not want the young man to see her tears.
”Oh--ah--yes,” Bowman stammered. ”What did I want?”
At that Janice laughed outright. She thought highly of the young civil engineer, and she considered herself a close enough friend to ask, bluntly:
”What ever is the matter with you, Frank Bowman? You're acting ridiculously.”
He came nearer to her and whispered: ”Where's Mrs. Drugg?”
Janice motioned behind her, and her face paled. What had happened?
”I--I declare I don't know how to tell her,” murmured the young man, his hand actually trembling.
”Tell her what?” gasped Janice.
”Or even that I ought to tell her,” added Frank Bowman, shaking his head.
Janice seized him by the lapel of his coat and tried to shake him.
”What do you mean? What are you talking about?” she demanded.
”What is the matter, Janice?” called 'Rill's low voice from the back.
”Never mind! I can attend to _this_ customer,” Janice answered gaily.
”It's Frank Bowman.”
Then she turned swiftly to the civil engineer again and whispered: ”What is it about? Hopewell?”
”Yes,” he returned in the same low tone.
”What is the matter with him?” demanded the girl greatly worried.
”He's down at the Inn----”
”I know. He went there to play at a dance tonight. That's why I am here--to keep his wife company,” explained Janice.
”Well,” said Bowman. ”I went down to get some of my books I'd left there. They're having a high old time in that big back room, downstairs. You know?”
”Where they are going to have the a.s.sembly Ball?”
”Yes,” he agreed.
”But it's nothing more than a dance, is it?” whispered Janice.
”Hopewell was hired to play----”