Part 20 (2/2)

”Not at all,” said Armitage, and without further words he drew back a few feet and started swiftly for the fissure. Anne, who had not intended that the incident should thus get away from her, acted upon flas.h.i.+ng instinct, before the situation could formulate itself in her mind. She sprang at Armitage as he pa.s.sed her, her hands tightly clasping about his neck, and pulled him backward with all her strength.

Armitage half stumbling, stopped, and the girl, releasing her hands, stepped back with a sob of nervous anger.

”You--you--oh, you idiot!” she exclaimed. ”How dare you frighten me so! Now--go back to the car!”

”I did not mean to frighten you, Miss Wellington,” he replied, not altogether in the mild, impersonal tone of a servant. ”It was a perfectly easy jump. I thought you--”

”Go to your car, please,” interrupted the girl sternly.

As for Koltsoff, rankling with the knowledge that if he had taken her at her word and essayed to make the leap, she would have prevented him as she had her chauffeur, his mood was no enviable one. Lost opportunities of any sort are not conducive to mental equanimity. He maintained extreme taciturnity throughout the remainder of the drive and Miss Wellington, whose thoughts seemed also absorbing, made no attempt to restore his ardent spirits. When they entered the Wellington driveway, she glanced at Armitage's well-set back and shoulders and smiled.

”McCall,” she said, as she stood on the veranda, ”I want you to go to Mrs. Van Valkenberg's--where you were this morning--and bring her here.

You may have to wait.”

CHAPTER XIV

UNDERGROUND WIRES

Armitage was not obliged to wait, however. A tall, well-built young woman, heavily veiled, came down the winding path as he shut off power.

When he leaned around to open the door of the tonneau, she threw back her veil and he caught sight of a full, dark, handsome face and eyes filled with a curious light. He slammed the door and turned quickly to the wheel.

”What is your name, my man?” The deep alto voice contained a note of mirth.

”McCall,” replied Armitage gruffly, jerking his head a bit side-wise and then jerking it quickly back again.

”You are--not a very good driver,” came the voice. ”But I should like to employ you. . . . Would you consider leaving Miss Wellington?”

Armitage shook his head grouchily.

”For a consideration? Come, I won't use you as a chauffeur. I want you for a statue in my j.a.panese garden. I--”

Armitage suddenly pointed the car toward the ocean and stopped. Then he turned in his seat.

”Look here, Sara,” he said, ”if you don't let up, I 'll run you into the ocean.”

Mrs. Van Valkenberg was rocking with laughter.

”Oh, Jack! Jack!” she cried. ”This is too rich. What on earth are you up to?”

Armitage, who had not seen her since they had attended school together in Louisville, paid no attention to her question.

”I had no idea you were in Newport.”

”I suppose I should expect more of one of my very oldest and best friends,” she said.

”I was in the Philippines when you married; faint rumors of the event penetrated even there. I was too prostrated to write; besides, I didn't receive any cards.” He paused a moment. ”Van Valkenberg--that's so; I remember now. He--”

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