Part 15 (1/2)
”Yes,” admitted Sam.
”What you need, my boy, is a wife,” went on Mr. Westlake. ”No man's business career is properly a.s.sured until he has a wife to steady him down.”
”I believe that,” agreed Sam. ”I've come to the same conclusion myself, and to tell you the truth of the matter I've been contemplating marriage very seriously since I've been down here.”
”Good!” approved Westlake. ”You're a fine boy, Sam. I may tell you right now that I approve of both you and your decision very heartily.
I rather thought there was something in the wind that way.”
”Yes,” confessed Sam hesitantly. ”I don't mind admitting that I have even gone so far as to pick out the girl, if she'll have me.”
Mr. Westlake smiled.
”I don't think there will be any trouble on that score,” said he. ”Of course, Sam, I'm not going to force your confidence, or anything of that sort, but--but I want to tell you that I think you're all right,”
and he very solemnly shook hands with Mr. Turner.
They had just reached the top of the hill when Westlake again returned to business.
”I'm glad to know you're going to settle down, Sam,” he said. ”It inspires me with more confidence in your affairs, and I may say that I stand ready to subscribe, in my daughter's name, for fifty thousand dollars' worth of the stock of your company.”
”Well,” said Sam, giving the matter careful weight. ”It will be a good investment for her.”
Before Mr. Westlake had any time to reply to this, the grays, having just pa.s.sed the summit of the hill, leaped forward in obedience to another swish of Sam's whip.
CHAPTER XII
ANOTHER MISSED APPOINTMENT
The trio from Meadow Brook, on their way to Sunset Rock galloped up to the Hollis Creek porch, and, finding Miss Stevens there, gaily demanded that she accompany them.
”I'm sorry,” said Miss Stevens, who was already in driving costume, ”but I have an engagement at ten o'clock,” and she looked back through the window into the office, where the clock then stood at two minutes of the appointed time; then she looked rather impatiently down the driveway, as she had been doing for the past five minutes.
”Well, at least you'll come back to the bar with us and have an ice-cream c.o.c.ktail,” insisted Princeman, reining up close to the porch and putting his hand upon the rail in front of her.
”I don't see how I can refuse that,” said Miss Stevens with a smile and another glance down at the driveway, ”although it's really a little early in the day to begin drinking,” and she waited for them to dismount, going back with them into the little ice-cream parlor and ”soft drink” and confectionery dispensary which had been facetiously dubbed ”the bar.” Here she was careful to secure a seat where she could look out of the window down toward the road, and also see the clock.
After a weary while, during which Miss Josephine had undergone a variety of emotions which she was very careful not to mention, the party rose from the discussion of their ice-cream soda and the bowling tournament and all the various other social interests of the two resorts, and made ready to depart, Miss Westlake twining her arm about the waist of her friend Miss Stevens as they emerged on the porch.
”Well, anyway, we've made you forget your engagement,” Miss Westlake gaily boasted, ”for you said it was to be at ten, and now it's ten-thirty.”
”Yes, I noticed the time,” admitted Miss Stevens, rather grudgingly.
”I'm sorry we dragged you away,” commiserated Miss Westlake with a swift change of tone. ”Probably the party of the second part didn't know where to find you.”
”No, it couldn't be anything like that,” decided Miss Josephine after a thoughtful pause. ”Did you see anything of Mr. Turner this morning?”
she asked with sudden resolve.
”Mr. Turner,” repeated Miss Westlake in well-feigned surprise. ”Why, yes, I know papa said early this morning that he was going to have a business talk with Mr. Turner, and as we left Meadow Brook papa was just going after his hat to take a drive with him.”