Part 8 (1/2)

”It wasn't for myself I asked,” he hastened to add. ”I'll act my part till you dismiss me. I only thought if another man were to come upon the scene----”

The far-off sound of a ringing house-bell came indistinctly to his ears. Dorothy looked up in his face with a startled light in her great brown eyes that awoke a new interest within him.

”The bell,” she said. ”I heard it! Who could be coming here to-night?”

She slipped to the door, drew it open an inch, and listened there attentively.

Garrison was listening also. The door to the outside steps, in the hall below, was opened, then presently closed with a slam. The caretaker had admitted a caller.

”Good! I'd like to see him!” said the voice of a man. ”Upstairs?”

Dorothy turned to Garrison with her face as white as chalk.

”Oh, if you had only gone!” she said.

”What's the trouble?” he asked. ”Who's come?”

”Perhaps you can slip in my room!” she whispered. ”Please hurry!”

She hastened across the apartment to a door, with Garrison following.

The door was locked. She remembered she had locked it herself, from the farther side, since the advent of her uncle in the house.

She turned to lead him round, by the hall. But the door swung open abruptly, and a tall, handsome young man was at the threshold. His hat was on. He was dressed, despite the season, in an overcoat of extraordinary length, b.u.t.toned close round his neck. It concealed him from his chin to his heels.

”Why, h.e.l.lo, Dot!” he said familiarly, advancing within the room. ”You and your Jerold weren't trying to run away, I hope.”

Dorothy struggled against her confusion and alarm.

”Why, no,” she faltered. ”Cousin Ted, you've never met Mr. Fairfax.

Jerold, this is my cousin, Mr. Theodore Robinson.”

”How do you do?” said Garrison, nodding somewhat distantly, since none of the Robinson group had particularly appealed to his tastes.

”How are you?” responded Dorothy's cousin, with no attempt to conceal an unfriendly demeanor. Crossing to Dorothy with deliberate intent to make the most of his relations.h.i.+p, he caught her by the arms.

”How's everything with you, little sweetheart?” he added in his way of easy intimacy. ”What's the matter with my customary kiss?”

Dorothy, with every sign of fear or detestation upon her, seemed wholly unable to move. He put his arm roughly about her and kissed her twice.

Garrison, watching with feelings ill suppressed, beheld her shrink from the contact. She appeared to push her cousin off with small effort to disguise her loathing, and fled to Garrison as if certain of protection.

”What are you scared of?” said young Robinson, moving forward to catch her again, and laughing in an irritating way. ”You used not to----”

Garrison blocked him promptly, subconsciously wondering where he had heard that laugh before.

”Perhaps that day has pa.s.sed,” he said quietly.

The visitor, still with his hat on, looked Garrison over with anger.