Show alie 11 by MARGARET TURNBULL illustrations by IRWIN MYERS CHAPTER VII 15 angust ang cant make you nearly aa comfortable I 1 can sir george answered tn confidently and proceeded to flo it never robert macbeth ad bad he been made so comfortable for table word you have gentle hands for a big fellow he exclaimed looking up with gratitude at the tall form that bent over him to straighten a pillow plenty of practice robert macbeth checked himself when he started to say where he remembered that this tall glim young man before him bad been through a during the great xi ar athy he asked after a moment as sir geprge moved to ring for the waiter hy do you so avold rich girls seriously that what you came here forto make a rich marriage 1 sir george drew himself erect and turned quickly and savagely then us though the sight of the other min s helplessness checked his natural re tenement tent ment stiffened that what you think too it true or at least partly true robert macbeth questioned taking advantage of his infirmity it help you put n order and yourself on your feet the young mans face darkened oh undoubtedly I 1 but im not going to put in order at that price nor am I 1 sure that it would not take me off my feet he paused it you will believe ce sir I 1 would like very much to have it finally understood that I 1 came cut here for a job and nothing else id like to put myself on my own feet he looked up again no matter what dear old aggy says the truth and be hesitated and id be obliged if you would bring yourself to believe it and to tell miss roberta that you ao 30 believe it why particularly roberta mac ceth aked dryly because the young mans face paled possibly it she was assured of this by you she might change her attitude which Is which Is one that I 1 have not been accustomed to sir george said sim ply and one which Is not pleasant plea sint for a self respecting man it it will help matters out he continued still with the same quiet simplicity you can assure atsa roberta that it she had the wealth of india belted around her waist I 1 wouldn t look the road ehe walked on much less want to marry her his tone was heated robertas father surveyed him with gathering rage set your mind at rest he declared grimly theres no danger of her ever looking your road I 1 have that from her own lips then if you will take the trouble to tell her I 1 never dreamed of lifting my eyes to her or to your pocketbook you may make it easier for her to treat me as a harmless young man her fathers diligent sec detary and no spy what do you mean by that demanded robert macbeth and ing no answer at once said even more anxiously what do you mean by spy that I 1 am not one yet miss macbeth treats me as though I 1 were continually spying upon her what reason has roberta to fear that her determined father asked again 1 I plead ignorance declared his secretary inwardly cursing himself for having even hinted at it 1 I dont know the reason for her suspicion I 1 only know that it is so and she makes roe feel it the waiter entered with the supper and arranged it on the library table macbeth settled himself on his pillows and as he picked up his soup spoon regarded the young man with amusement funny way to spend an hour at a party I 1 appreciate it of course but it makes me wonder there s no cause to wonder the younger mans tone was so weary 0 o disillusioned that it startled macbeth 1 I dont give for parties air haven t for years never really at home really enjoying my belt that s why I 1 would rather eat with you sir somehow he added despite the fact that you are older and my boss I 1 have always had a feeling that you like me for myself you are not tar off macbeth told him 1 I liked yon from the first in going to sit here day by day doing nothing and watching you bring home the bacon sir george stared at him in amazement 1 I mean watching you do the work that I 1 ought to do oh odd expression that I 1 I 1 thought it meant a little marketing en my part for the household and I 1 was just a trifle bothered I 1 never did market but of course no reason why 1 t begin atta boy reach me a cigarette bont you like the boys here mac letb asked as the younger man rose gt the cigarettes ob immensely I 1 only they deeni ry young to me said sir george be dico ered that aba matchet were not with the cigarettes hut on a stand near the window and moved to get them robert macbeth opened his lips to tell that ray browne and others had been in france during the war and were fully as old if not older than sir george when he remembered that the boys who went over from here though they fought and suffered as bravely as any there had at least come home to a land of settled and plenty which had not been sir georges case he was about to put something of this in words ahen to hia amazement the cigarettes were dashed on the desk and sir george with a quick low exclamation went plunging through the window and along the terrace in rapid pursuit of some one or something CHAPTER VIII some one had been listening at ohp aladow though he flung himself headlong into the pursuit that he was still carrying in his hand a box of matches and the single cigarette which he had taken out of the box for macbeth sir george was not in time to see ills round the corner lie has sir george been scaring you with his imaginary men behind window curtains flang the matches and cigarette from him and leaped over the edge of the terrace and wont toward the little landing place where he could see a man getting into one of the canoes had every reason to believe that in a moment he would have him in his grasp when roberta macbeth rose suddenly it seemed to him out of the earth though it was really only from behind the shrubbery near the landing place and blocked his way flung out his hand to keep from falling himself or knocking her down and grasped her shoulders he spun her out of the way disregarding her gasp of what s wrong but the delay had been sufficient there was no sign of the man he had been pursuing and when he reached the waters edge there was no one there mechanically he began search ing for some hiding place among the boats when roberta joined him bhe was alone and breathless and both facts made sir george suspicious what happened she asked him abruptly answered her with equal abruptness you have just presented my capturing some one who wag watching or listening under your fathers window she gave him a quick startled look and then raising her voice a little higher whether with intent or aston ashment he could not be quite sure what things ou imagine how could he have come tills way without my seeing him sir george did not answer went down to the waters edge and then started toward the bridge aich lay in shadow instantly this provoking giri was in front of him again 1 I asked you in the heat of his anger at her persistence he answered her as he W N V Str vic would not have done if he had stopped to think or a moment some friend of yours evidently since you are eo anxious to screen him she stepped back as though he had struck her do you mean she began i 1 I dont mean anything he an avoiding her 1 I would like to continue my search alone go back to your guests or go back to your father and explain to him why you blocked my way he had twisted from her now it she had wished to stop him she could not lie ran with the quick swiftness which his long legs made possible across the little bridge and up the road that led to the highway the road behind and before him as quite empty lie waited a moment his senses alert tor any movement in the brush but there was none not a sound so tar as he could hear he went slowly back to meet as he crossed the bridge various riotous greetings and ques alons as to where and when he had lost usi girl lie replied to them in the same jesting tone relieved that he had not been seen running along the terrace and eliat no one had been alarmed robert macbeth gave him a quick inquiring look he answered it with a little warning frown lady Sand lson went toward the door with some of roberts guests saying in a low voice to her stepson as she passed him dance with roberta laddie ashes missed you 1 I cant flatter myself so much to believe that aggy I 1 advise you as they say over here to lay off you cant drive us together dear me dear 1 said lady sandl son and hurried after her guests macbeth looked up at sir george a the others left the room well I 1 coulden couldn t catch him who the man who was listening at the window you re crazy 1 1 I chased him along the terrace and down to the waters edge and then well then I 1 lost him why because a girl got between us I 1 had to avoid knocking her down the fellow got away who was the girl nather not tell sir then you think she knew something I 1 could not say robert macbeth gazed at him puzzled what would he want under my window again I 1 don t know sir but there are a lot of your men here tonight they I 1 mean the gang after your payroll may have thought you would discuss some of your plans some one was there and he was listening robert macbeth leaned back to study the facts again while he did so the band played a riotous fox trot it you re worried about the payroll macbeth who had been smoking and thinking suddenly said aloud the spy went empty away nothing said to an one tonight about our plans good I 1 then well sleep on it I 1 have a scheme which I 1 would like to tell you about tomorrow A voice from the door made them look up tired dad roberta asked she glanced quickly at the two men has sir george been scaring you with his imaginary men behind window curtains ue s so determined to find us infested with wild men shooting pistols that he sees bandits everywhere better send him to mexico father and let his dreams come true who told you about it macbeth look from one to the other oh sir george of course roberta laughed 1 I met him when he was hot on bis wild goose chase macbeth stared did you tell me that what were you doing when you stopped him nothing said roberta and bit her lip what a fool she was 1 sir george would be certain to fasten all his silly suspicions upon jack I 1 how easy it would have been to have said she was looking at the water or waiting for her dance partner TO CONTINUED |