Part 32 (1/2)
Never suspecting that he had been regaled with a string of falsehoods, the farmer let go with his boathook, and yacht and flatboat speedily drifted apart.
It was with a big sigh of relief that Dan Baxter saw the flatboat recede in the distance.
”That was a narrow shave,” he muttered. ”If that fellow had insisted on talking to Dora there would have been a whole lot of trouble.”
In vain Dora waited for the man to come on board. He had said that he would do what he could for her. Surely he would not desert her!
But as the time slipped by her heart failed her and she gave herself up to another crying spell. This caused Mumps and Goss to withdraw, and she was left alone again with Mrs. Goss.
”Where are we now?” she asked at length.
”We are approaching New York,” was the answer.
”And that man, what of him?”
”Oh, he didn't come an board.”
It was night when the _Flyaway_ came to a landing near the upper portion of the metropolis. The boys and Bill Goss went ash.o.r.e, leaving Dora in Mrs. Goss' care.
”Be careful and don't let her escape,” cautioned Dan Baxter. ”We won't be gone very long.”
Baxter had left for a telegraph office, expecting to receive a message from Josiah Crabtree.
For half an hour Mrs. Goss sat in the cabin watching Dora, who was pacing the floor impatiently.
”Make yourself comfortable, miss,” said the woman. ”It won't do you any good to get all worked up over the matter.”
”You do not understand my situation, Mrs. Goss,” faltered Dora.
”If you did understand, I am sure you wouldn't keep me a prisoner in this fas.h.i.+on.”
”I am only obeying orders, miss. If I didn't my Bill would almost kill me.”
”Is he so harsh to you?”
”He is now. But he didn't used to be--when he didn't drink.”
”Then he drinks now?”
”Yes; twice over what is good for him.”
”Where have they gone?”
”To a telegraph office.”
”Didn't they say they would be back soon?”
”Yes.”
Dora said no more, but sank down on the couch. Then an idea came to her mind, and lying back she closed her eyes and pretended to go to sleep.
The woman watched her closely for a while; then, satisfied that the girl had really dropped off, gave a long sigh of relief.