Show two keys to a cabin B Y L I 1 D A L A R R 0 MACRAE I 1 SMITH M CO 0 R SERVICE E SYNOPSIS charming wealthy Gabr icila gay fo for llort graham engaged to todd janeway returns to a cabin in the maine woods ac companies companied compan compa nied led by a friend kate oliver the th idea of a stay at the cabin occurred to her hei when she received a key to it following the th death of her godfather uncle john law rence the two girls notice I 1 immediately that someone has been and probably thai is living in the cabin kate suspects tha gay knows knos the identity of the mysterious occupant while the girls talk the mystery man returns CHAPTER F II 11 continued impetuous kate murmured he seems to be in a hurry he appeared almost before she had completed the thought a tall rangy young man in corduroys and a leather coat the brim of a dark felt hat pulled down over his eyes he halted abruptly in the doorway stood surveying the brightly lit room with an expression which changed as kate watched from brusque inquiry to blank amazement his face lean and brown with prominent cheekbones cheek bones and jaw line was vaguely familiar she had seen him somewhere in a quite different setting somewhere hello john gays voice sounded completely natural neither very cordial nor very aloof certainly not at all surprised kate heard her rise from the chair the young man in the doorway door way slowly removed his hat his hair was thick and dark and cut short to thwart kate suspected a tendency toward waves she doubted whether after the first quick glance he was aware of h her er presence in the room his eyes remained fixed upon gay gay he said slowly incredulously he had a beautiful mouth beautiful bea a word you used to describe a man kate told herself it was beautiful though generous sensitive expressive wondering recognition kindled in his dark eyes for an unguarded moment some strong emotion gave his dark rat rather h grave face a glancing brilli brilliance anc e kate found herself in that moment of silence almost holding her breath 1 I have the advantage john gay said 1 I knew it was you who was here the brilliance faded out of his face kate saw his mouth set a little grimly you usually have you he asked quietly not always the question seemed to have shaken gays composure she turned to kate kate she said miss oliver may I 1 present Is it doctor houghton now she asked turning again to the tall young man in the doorway doctor houghton he affirmed he smiled at kate a little diffidently ive met miss oliver he said certainly how do you copl do kate remembered now she had the answer this was dr lawrences laurences Lawren ces nephew john come with him to gays debutante party this was the young man with whom gay had stolen away from the party that night she kate had seen them returning she remembered now gays face soft and bright framed in the collar of a white fur coat upturned to the tall young man bending to speak to her in the dimly lit passage that led to a side door of the ballroom ball room she had the answer but it did not relieve her concern there was something between gay and this young man kate felt it vibrating in the air of the room though the words they spoke were casual this was the motive then whether shed known he was here or the meeting was a coincidence this he was why she had wanted to come kats kate gave a distracted thought to gays family to a blond young man with charming manners whom she liked very much heaven help us she said silently the shadow of events to come lying darkly across her mind and then because her rectory past would pop up now and then the of the congregation are requested she added of course youve met kate the singing vibration was in gays voice im sorry 1 I had forgotten 1 I he took a few steps forward into the roo room rn miss oliver rescued me on one occasion from a fate worse than death 1 I remember kate said gay glanced at her quickly kate was lighting a cigarette her eyes in the spurt of flame from the match were twinkling under the frown that knotted her brows you had she added speaking to john a tendency to bolt into empty rooms it was my first debutante party hi he said his diffident half smile widening into an engaging grin excluded gay that studied indifference enraged her now as it had when she was fifteen she had she discovered exactly the same sam e impulse to do something anything to attract and hold his attention you youre ire looking well she said youre looking well too his eyes regarding her steadily across the space which separated them held a faintly ironical expression which she remembered very well im relieved the engaging grin g rin slanted sidewise side wise your photographs have given me the impression that been skipping your vitamins and losing too much sleep my photographs gay questioned the press has been giving you considerable space recently he said in reply the press had they done something stupid at home gays eyes flew to meet kates startled glance kates expression was not reassuring she looked as though she was resigning herself to some inevitable disaster gay turned a gain again to john this time you have the advantage she said we seen the papers for two days she fancied for a moment that he as well as kate knew the thought which had flashed into her mind his expression was wholly ironical but 1 I was referring to the rotogravure sections he said I 1 and the fifty cent magazines he hesitated then may I 1 wish you happiness he asked why not 1 I do wish that for you he continued to regard her steadily but the slanting smile had vanished and his eyes were very grave thank you john his steady gaze presently altered he glanced around the room im a very poor host he said youve had to bring in your luggage and get your supper ive been talking politics up at the village store why you let me know you were coming the question had for gay only one implication resentment like a fresh breeze blowing through a room too warm and perfumed cleared the confusion from her mind did you think I 1 knew you were here she asked quietly but with warmth kindling in her voice he turned to look at her in surprise but if you why did you come resentment flamed into anger but anger was stupid she returned his glance directly her chin unconsciously ly lifting her eyes bright and scornful you become less fatuous have you she asked 1 I mean that the way it sounded he said quickly im not that fatuous I 1 meant how did you expect to get in unless someone was here here her level glance did not waver his momentary confusion gave her the advantage she pressed it resolutely still smarting from humiliated pride why should I 1 have had the faintest idea that you especially should be here she asked but who else would be his expression was frankly puzzled ive never rented it my kid sister had a house party here this summer otherwise it been occupied except when ive been here she pressed her advantage stubbornly incensed by the possessive tone in which he spoke of her property who gave you permission to use the cabin at any time she asked permission he stared at her in perplexity you know that uncle john left the cabin to me to you yes it was the granddaughter of david graham speaking the granddaughter of peter schuyler secure in her inherited assurance quite obviously taking pleasure in the routing of an intruder but impossible he said crisply his lawyer sent me a key three years ago nearly gay said just after uncle john died she watched him intently expecting some attempt at justification explanations an apology perhaps she did not expect the smile of somewhat incredulous amusement which crept slowly upward from his lips into his eyes does that impress you as being amusing she asked with dignity uncle john was my godfather god father theres no particular reason is there why he have left the cabin to me 1 I suppose there he said as though that point was of small importance the smile deepened 1 I was just wondering how many other people are likely to pop in here idith with keys you see he continued in reply to her questioning glance uncle johns clawy lawyer er sent one to me I 1 naturally assumed that the cabin was mine and have used it whenever ive had a chance she had not considered that possibility it was true of course it was the only logical explanation she felt for a moment in sympathy with john who as well as she was the victim of some sentimentality or eccentricity contrived by a member of an older generation but uncle john as she remembered him had been neither sentimental nor eccentric ecce atric the lawyer had made a mistake perhaps at any rate it johns fault any more than it was hers 1 I understand that she said because I 1 assumed that it belonged to me neither pride nor resentment was entirely proof against the humor humo r in the situation against the charm of his rare slow smile her eyes met johns in laughter and sym sympathy pathy then so you cant turn me out after all can you he asked no she said slowly considering but I 1 can ask you to go his smile faded a little are you planning to stay indefinitely ini tely he asked IN not ot longer than a week perhaps 1 I have another week she knew that he too was considering choos A 1 I must make my experiment here ing his words with deliberation trying to gauge their probable effect upon her its rather an important week he went on my last vacation probably for sometime this week is important for me too gay said with equal deliberation my last of she paused then added smiling of vacation probably for some som e time the slanting e smile more mocking than amused told her that he understood the implication of the pause and the smile 1 I should be a gentleman and clear out I 1 suppose he said slowly unfortunately it as simple as that im making an experiment he said diffidently its just getting well under way amateur photography kate asked from her position against the chimney probably of no greater importance he said with a deprecating laugh kate have gay thought feeling again that reluctant but compelling sympathy for john kate was getting back at her she deserved ite it perhaps but he 1 I suggested photography gay said 1 I thought possibly the m materials a in your laboratory were things uncle john had left im sorry its just that he ran his hand with an impatient ture across hair it probably wont amount to anything but I 1 want to see it through if I 1 leave here now all that ive done will be lost 10 1 I suppose I 1 should be a lady and leave you in peace gay said quietly quite steadily but with a silken thread of retaliation running through her voice unfortunately that so simple either im making an experiment and you must make it here yes she said after a moment 1 I came for that purpose I 1 must make my experiment here A pause followed not warm and intimate as the first had been this was a truce a break in active hostilities tili ties john walked to the table and picked up his pipe gay stood half leaning against the back of the chair watching the movements ot of his hands in the yellow cone of lamplight lamp light she remembered them brown and strong against a canoe paddle brown in lamplight as she saw them now moving chessmen chess men across a waxed apple wood board lean and brown but unsteady as they were now on the sleeve of a white fur coat hands had an identity of their own she would have recognized them anywhere strange and very disquieting her throat ached and suddenly humiliatingly she felt the hot sting of tears behind her eyelids kate broke the silence well certainly no one is leaving tonight she said practically its after ten now gay glanced at her in gratitude which held as well an element of surprise you can draw straws in the morning kate continued or perhaps one or the other of these experiments peri ments will be completed by then of course he said after only a slight hesitation there are unfortunately no hotel accommodations nearer than machias and that kate said cheerfully would I 1 think be carrying matters much too far 1 I agree with you he smiled appreciatively at kate theres a cot in the room I 1 work in you can have the larger room there I 1 see youve brought blankets and there is linen I 1 think he started toward the door ill get my things out of the way dont bother kate said starting with her tray toward the kitchen we can manage just for tonight they were ignoring her gay thought making plans in which she had no voice he was friendly enough with kate gay resented that friendliness from which she was excluded she felt again a compelling urge to attract and hold his attention john she said he stopped at the door turned stood waiting for her to continue kate at the kitchen door glanced back over her shoulder gay held herself very erect 1 I will not be leaving tomorrow S she he said conscious of and regretting the ar arrogance rolance in her voice she wo would uld have hav e liked to reach him through friendliness arrogance was too obvious and too petty an approach but whatever he felt for her it was not friendliness the glance he e exchanged X now with kate impelled her to add kate can do as she likes of course I 1 shall stay which means he asked that I 1 will appreciate it if remove your things from the room 11 he was silent for a moment then certainly he said civilly now gay kate began with some asperity paused rolled her eyes upward compressed her lips and went out into the kitchen john remained standing in the opposite doorway the slanting smile appeared as her eyes met his the long arm of coincidence he said it is incredible not too incredible you might have found me here any one of a number of times during the past three years TO BE CONTINUED |