Part 25 (1/2)

”Tom,” she introduced, when they had exchanged a few words, ”this is Mr.

Vane.” Turning to Vane she added: ”Mr. Drayton.”

Vane liked the man's face and manner. He shook hands with him, and then looked back at Kitty.

”What are you doing now; and how are little Elsie and her mother?”

Kitty's face clouded.

”Mrs. Marvin's dead. Elsie's with some friends at Spokane, and I think she's well looked after. I've given up the stage. Tom”--she explained shyly--”didn't like it. Now I'm with some people at a ranch near the Fraser, on the Westminster road. There are two or three children, and I'm very fond of them.”

”She won't be there long,” Drayton interposed. ”I've wanted to meet you for some time, Mr. Vane. They told me at the office that you were away.”

Vane smiled comprehendingly.

”I suppose my congratulations will not be out of place? Won't you ask me to the wedding?”

Kitty blushed.

”Will you come?”

”Try!”

”There's n.o.body we would rather see,” declared Drayton. ”I'm heavily in your debt, Mr. Vane.”

”Pshaw!” rejoined Vane. ”Come to see me any time--to-morrow, if you can manage it.”

Drayton said that he would do so, and shortly afterward he and Kitty moved away. Vane turned back across the lawn; but he was not aware that Jessy Horsfield had watched the meeting from the veranda and had recognized Kitty, whom she had once seen at the station. She had already ascertained that the girl had arrived in Vancouver in Vane's company, and, in view of the opinion she had formed of him, this somewhat puzzled her; but she decided that one must endeavor to be charitable. Besides, having closely watched the little group, she was inclined to believe from the way Vane shook hands with the man that there was no danger to be apprehended from Kitty.

CHAPTER XIII

A NEW PROJECT

Vane was sitting alone in the room set apart for the Clermont Company in Nairn's office when Drayton was shown in. He took the chair Vane indicated and lighted a cigar the latter gave him.

”Now,” he began with some diffidence, ”you cut me off short when I met you the other day, and one of my reasons for coming over was to get through with what I was saying then. It's just this--I owe you a good deal for taking care of Kitty; she's very grateful and thinks no end of you. I want to say I'll always feel that you have a claim on me.”

Vane smiled at him. It was evident that Kitty had taken her lover into her confidence with regard to her trip aboard the sloop, and that she had done so said a good deal for her. He thought one might have expected a certain amount of half-jealous resentment, or even faint suspicion, on the man's part; but there was no sign of this. Drayton believed in Kitty, and that was strongly in his favor.

”It didn't cost me any trouble,” Vane replied. ”We were coming to Vancouver, anyway.”

Drayton's embarra.s.sment became more obvious.

”It cost you some money--there were the tickets. Now I feel that I have to--”

”Nonsense! When you are married to Miss Blake, you can pay me back, if it will be a relief to you. When's the wedding to be?”

”In a couple of months,” answered Drayton. He saw that it would be useless to protest. ”I'm a clerk in the Winstanley mills, and as one of the staff is going, I'll get a move up then. We are to be married as soon as I do.”

He said a little more on the same subject, and then after a few moments'