Part 28 (1/2)
”No matter what happens, you'll always be to me Peter's Marjory,” she said. ”You'll always keep me proud.”
CHAPTER XVI
A WALK ON THE QUAY
Monte, stepping out of his room early after a restless night, saw a black-haired young man wearing a shade over his eyes fumbling about for the elevator b.u.t.ton. He had the thin, nervous mouth and the square jaw of an American.
Monte stepped up to him.
”May I help you?” he asked.
”Thank you,” answered Noyes; ”I thought I could make it alone, but there is n't much light here.”
Monte took his arm and a.s.sisted him to the elevator. The man appeared half blind. His heart went out to him at once. As they reached the first floor the stranger again hesitated. He smiled nervously.
”I wanted to get out in the air,” he explained. ”I thought I could find a valet to accompany me.”
Monte hesitated. He did not want to intrude, but there was something about this helpless American that appealed to him. Impulsively he said: ”Would you come with me? Covington is my name. I 'm just off for a walk along the quay.”
”Noyes is my name,” answered Peter. ”I'd like to come, but I don't want to trouble you to that extent.”
Monte took his arm.
”Come on,” he said. ”It's a bully morning.”
”The air smells good,” nodded Noyes. ”I should have waited for my sister, but I was a bit restless. Do you mind asking the clerk to let her know where I am when she comes down?”
Monte called Henri.
”Inform Miss Noyes we'll be on the quay,” he told him.
They walked in silence until they reached the boulevard bordering the ocean.
”We have the place to ourselves,” said Monte. ”If I walk too fast for you, let me know.”
”I 'm not very sure of my feet yet,” apologized Noyes. ”I suppose in time I'll get used to this.”
”Good Lord, you don't expect it to last?”
”No. They tell me I have a fighting chance.”
”How did it happen?”
”Used them a bit too much, I guess,” answered Noyes.
”That's tough.”
”A man has so darned much to do and such a little while to do it in,”