Part 8 (2/2)
”I hope this will cheer you, father.”
”It always does,” replied the admiral, as he took the second gla.s.s. ”I have asked Mr. Fitzgerald to spend a week with us.”
”Thank you, father. It was thoughtful of you. If you had not asked him, the pleasure of doing so would have been mine. Mrs. Coldfield pointed you out to me as a most ungrateful fellow, because you never called on your father's or mother's friends any more, but preferred to gallivant round the world. You will stay? We are very unconventional here.”
”It is all very good of you. I am rather a lonesome chap. The newspapers and magazines have spoiled me. There's never a moment so happy to me as when I am ordered to some strange country, thousands of miles away. It is in the blood. Thanks, very much; I shall be very happy to stay. My hand-bag, however, is at Swan's Hotel, and there's very little in it.”
”A trifling matter to send to New York for what you need,” said the admiral, mightily pleased to have a man to talk to who was not paid to reply. ”I'll have William bring the cart round and take you down.”
”No, no; I had much rather walk. I'll turn up some time in the morning, say luncheon, if that will be agreeable to you.”
”As you please. Only, I should like to save you an unpleasant walk in the dark.”
”I don't mind. A dark street in a country village this side of the Atlantic holds little or no danger.”
”I offered to build a first-cla.s.s lighting plant if the town would agree to pay the running expenses; but the council threw it over. They want me to build a library. Not much! Hold on,” as Fitzgerald was rising. ”You are not going right away. I shan't permit that. Just a little visit first.”
Fitzgerald resumed his chair.
”Have a cigar. Laura is used to it.”
”But does Miss Killigrew like it?” laughing.
”Cigars, and pipes, and cigarettes,” she returned. ”I am really fond of the aroma. I have tried to acquire the cigarette habit, but I have yet to learn what satisfaction you men get out of it.”
Conversation veered in various directions, and finally rested upon the subject of piracy; and here the admiral proved himself a rare scholar.
By some peculiar inadvertency, as he was in the middle of one of his own adventures, his finger touched the burglar alarm. Clang! Brrrr!
From top to bottom of the house came the shock of differently voiced bells. The two men gazed at each other dumfounded. But the girl laughed merrily.
”You touched the alarm, father.”
”I rather believe I did. And a few minutes before you came in with the toddies I tried it and it didn't work.”
It took some time to quiet the servants; and when that was done Fitzgerald determined to go down to the village.
”Good night, Mr. Fitzgerald,” said the girl. ”Better beware; this house is haunted.”
”We'll see if we can't lay that ghost, as they say,” he responded.
The admiral came to the door. ”What do you make of it?” he whispered.
”You possibly did not press the b.u.t.ton squarely the first time.” And that was Fitzgerald's genuine belief.
”By the way, will you take a note for me to Swan's? It will not take me a moment to scribble it.”
”Certainly.”
Finally the young man found himself in the park, heading quickly toward the gates. He searched the night keenly, but this time he neither heard nor saw any one. Then he permitted his fancy to take short flights. Interesting situation! To find himself a guest here, when he had come keyed up for something strenuous! Pirates and jolly-rogers and mysterious trespa.s.sers and silent bells, to say nothing of a beautiful young woman with a leaning toward adventure! But the most surprising turn was yet to come.
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