Part 44 (1/2)
Instead of obeying the hint to withdraw, Kenneth strode further into the house, the protesting and indignant butler at his heels.
”You must really go,” said the servant.
Kenneth turned around.
”Roberts--don't be a fool. Don't you know me? I know why you don't recognize me. You all think me dead, but I'm very much alive. I did not go down on the _Abyssinia_. I was picked up and taken to San Francisco and have been in a hospital there ever since. I have just come home. Where's my wife?”
The butler stared and stood motionless, as if not knowing what to make of it.
”But you came home long ago.”
”Who came home?”
”You did.”
”No, I didn't. I've been in San Francisco all the time. How could I be here if I was sick in a San Francisco hospital?”
”Then who is the other Mr. Traynor?”
Now it was Kenneth's turn to be surprised.
”The other Mr. Traynor?” he echoed stupefied.
”Yes--the gentleman who looks more like you than you do yourself. He arrived here a month ago. We all took him for you.”
For the first time a light broke in on the darkness. Who was the person who looked so like him that he could successfully impersonate him? Who could it be but the man who left him for dead on the _Abyssinia_ after murderously a.s.saulting him? Suddenly a horrible thought came to him. Grasping the butler's arm he exclaimed:
”My wife? Is she well?”
”Yes, sir. Mrs. Traynor's quite well.”
”And Dorothy?”
”Quite well, sir.”
”Thank G.o.d!”
The servant hesitated.
”That is--sir--Miss Dorothy----”
”Out with it, man. Out with it.”
”Mrs. Traynor's being greatly worried sir, lately. Miss Dorothy was at her aunt's in Philadelphia----”
”Yes, yes----”
”Someone's run away with Miss Dorothy. She's been kidnapped.”
”My G.o.d!”