Part 36 (1/2)
”I will,” she murmured, ”I will tell you all about the dreadful things that have happened to me; but not here,” she added, with an anxious glance around. ”Will you take me to some place where I shall be safe?”
she continued, appealingly. ”I have no place to go unless it is to some hotel, and I shrink from a public house.”
”My child, why are you trembling so?” the young man inquired, as he saw she was shaking from head to foot. ”I am very glad,” he added, ”that I was inspired to board the train at the crossing, and thus can give you my protection in the confusion of your arrival.”
”I am glad, too; it was very thoughtful of you,” said Edith, appreciatively; ”but--but I am also going to need your help again in a legal way.”
He started slightly at this; but replied, cheerfully:
”You shall have it; I am ready to throw myself heart and hand between you and any trouble of whatever nature. Now about a safe place for you to stay while you are in the city. I have a married cousin who lives on West Fortieth street; we are the best of friends and she will gladly entertain you at my request, until you can make other arrangements.”
”But to intrude upon an entire stranger--” began Edith, looking greatly disturbed.
”Nellie will not seem like a stranger to you, two minutes after you have been introduced to her,” the young man smilingly returned. ”She is the dearest, sweetest little cousin a man ever had, and she has an equal admiration for your humble servant. She will thank me for bringing you to her, and I am sure that you will be happy with her.
But why do you start so?--why are you so nervous?” he concluded, as she sprang from her seat, when the train stopped, and looked wildly about her.
”I am afraid,” she gasped.
”Afraid of what?” he urged, with gentle persistence.
”Of a man who has been persecuting me,” she panted, the look of anxious fear still in her eyes. ”I ran away from him to-day, and I have been afraid, all the way to New York, that he would telegraph ahead of the train, and have me stopped--that was why I sent the message to you.”
”I am very glad you did,” said the young man, gravely. ”But, Edith, pray do not look so terrified; you are sure to attract attention with that expression on your face. Calm yourself and trust me,” he concluded, as he took her hand and laid it upon his arm.
”I do--I will,” she said; but her fingers closed over his with a spasmodic clasp which told him how thoroughly wrought up she was.
”Have you a trunk?” he inquired, as they moved toward the door, the train having now entered the Grand Central Station.
”No; I left everything but a few necessary articles--I can send for it later by express,” she responded.
The young man a.s.sisted her from the train, then replacing her hand upon his arm, was about to signal for a carriage when they were suddenly confronted by a policeman and brought to a halt in the most summary manner.
”Sorry to trouble you, sir,” said the man, speaking in a business-like tone to Mr. Bryant, ”but I have orders to take this lady into custody.”
CHAPTER XXIV.
A SAD STORY DISCLOSED TO AN EAGER LISTENER.
Royal Bryant was not very much surprised by this abrupt information and interference with their movements.
What Edith had said to him, just before getting out of the train, had suggested the possibility of such an incident, consequently he was not thrown off his guard, as he might otherwise have been.
At the same time he flushed up hotly, and, confronting the officer with flas.h.i.+ng eyes, remarked, with freezing hauteur:
”I do not understand you, sir. I think you have made a mistake; this lady is under my protection.”
”But I have orders to intercept a person answering to this lady's description,” returned the policeman, but speaking with not quite his previous a.s.surance.
”By whose orders are you acting, if I may inquire?” demanded the young man.