Part 30 (2/2)
Yeasky nodded, and the wagon rumbled away.
It was a very angry chief that Jack, sitting in the butler's hallway, got on the 'phone. But within a few minutes he was laughing and promising to obey Armitage's wishes in every respect.
The clock was striking four when Armitage arose from the telephone. He stood, stretching himself and yawning for a moment, and then stole to the stairs.
”I have spent eventful days before this,” he smiled, ”but this one breaks all records.” As he slipped past the door of Anne's suite, he stopped just an instant.
”Good-night, Anne,” he said.
CHAPTER XX
WITH REFERENCE TO THE DOT
Armitage gained next morning a very perfect idea of the regard which the Wellington household held for the head of it. Mr. Wellington had waited in New York for the _Mayfair_, and not only Anne, but Mrs.
Wellington and the boys took their post on the southeastern veranda soon after nine o'clock, while Ronald glued his eyes to the big telescope. After he had alternately picked up a white Lackawanna tug and a Maine-bound steams.h.i.+p as the _Mayfair_, Anne lost patience.
”Mother,” she said, ”why not send for McCall? He used to be a sailor, I believe, and will, no doubt, be able to pick up the yacht miles farther away than we can.”
Something resembling a smile crossed the mother's face.
”Very well, Anne; send for him.”
A footman was summoned and within a few minutes Armitage was the centre of an interested group. He swept the Narragansett sh.o.r.e for a few minutes and then turned to Mrs. Wellington.
”There 's a large white yacht with a yellow funnel, which has a silver band on top, this side of Point Judith,” he said. ”I can see the red glint of her house flag.”
”Why, that's the _Mayfair_!” cried Anne. ”Come on, mother, Sara.”
”She won't be up for three-quarters of an hour, Anne,” said her mother.
”I don't care. Come, Sara, we 'll raise the flags on the landing ourselves.”
As Sara and Anne and the two boys trouped down the path to the cleft in the cliffs, Mrs. Wellington nodded at Jack.
”Quinn reports that you captured a burglar last night, McCall.”
Jack smiled.
”Yes, Mrs. Wellington. I caught him in the hall on the second floor.
I had him before he could lift a hand and turned him over to the watchman.”
”I am indebted to you. What were you doing on the second floor at that hour?”
”I could n't sleep and was smoking in my room when I heard some one pa.s.s my door. I went out and saw him flas.h.i.+ng a dark lantern below.
My shoes were off and I had him before he heard me.”
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