Part 44 (1/2)

”No, Mr. Daney. Merely unusual.”

”Well, Donald, I think your father will raise the ante considerably in order to avoid that added disgrace and force you to listen to reason.”

”If he does, sir, please spare yourself the trouble of bearing his message. Neither Nan nor I is for sale, sir.”

”I told him you'd decline the bonds. However, Mr. Donald, there is no reason in life why you shouldn't get money from me whenever you want it. Thanks to your father I'm worth more than a hundred thousand myself, although you'd never guess it. Your credit is A-1 with me.”

”I shall be your debtor for life because of that speech, Mr. Daney.

Any news from my mother and the girls?”

”None.”

”Well, I'll stand by for results,” Donald a.s.sured him gravely.

”Do not expect any.”

”I don't.”

Mr. Daney fidgeted and finally said he guessed he'd better be trotting along, and Donald and Nan, realizing it would be no kindness to him to be polite and a.s.sure him there was no need of hurry, permitted him to depart forthwith.

”I think, sweetheart,” Donald announced with a pained little smile, as he returned from seeing Mr. Daney to the front gate, ”that it wouldn't be a half bad idea for you to sit in at that old piano and play and sing for me. I think I'd like something light and lilting. What's that Kipling thing that's been set to music?”

So we went strolling, Down by the rolling, down by the rolling sea.

You may keep your croak for other folk But you can't frighten me!

He lighted a cigarette and stretched himself out on the old divan.

She watched him blowing smoke rings at the ceiling--and there was no music in her soul.

In the afternoon the McKaye limousine drew up at the front gate and Nan's heart fluttered violently in contemplation of a visit from her husband's mother and sisters. She need not have worried, however. The interior of the car was unoccupied save for Donald's clothing and personal effects which some thoughtful person at The Dreamerie had sent down to him. He hazarded a guess that the cool and practical Elizabeth had realized his needs.

XLIII

Returning to the mill office, Mr. Daney sat at his desk and started to look over the mail. The Laird heard his desk buzzer sounding frequently and rightly conjecturing that his general manager was back on the job, he came into the latter's office and glared at him.

”I thought I fired you?” he growled.

”I know. You thought you did,” the rebel replied complacently. ”I see by your knuckles you've been fighting. Hope it did you good.”

”It did. Are you going to leave this office?”

”No, sir.”

”I didn't think you would. Well, well! Out with it.”

Mr. Daney drew a deal of pleasure from that invitation. ”The boy directs me to inform you, sir, that he will not accept the bonds nor any monies you may desire to give him. He says he doesn't need them because he isn't going to leave Port Agnew.”

”Nonsense, Andrew. He cannot remain in this town. He hasn't the courage to face his little world after marrying that girl. And he has to make a living for her.”