The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-06
[USlTIME
- LOCK |
By CHARLES EDM0NDS WALK |
Author of 1.-The Silver Blade"
"The Paternoster Ruby" etc.
(copytishs 1912 By A. C. Mcaarz q Coz
CHAPTER v,
INTRODUCING MIR. Flint,


| happenings, he had no thought for the
hourly procession of strange men into
| Number 1913, nor for the yelled lady
! (as much as her appearance had agi-
tated him), nor yet for the murder
if murder there had been.
| His mind was flooded with dissolv-
ing images of fair girls face. He
saw her shrinking in dread before an
| unspeakable terror, from which he
could not shield her; he saw her sob
bling out her heart in bitter distress,
and it was not his privilege to comfort
her. And then, most vivid of all, were
the scorn and reproach of her hand
some dark eyes, against whose silent
accusation he could not defend him
SELF
| His fruitless mental effort was chat
ing and fretting him almost to dis
traction; his head ached and throbbed;
his nerves felt as if they stood stripped
In sleet storm. And beautiful face,
as luminous as dawn, foated elusively
before him, pleading, rebuking, teas
ing, coaxing, hating, but constantly
and always leaving him more and more
|
AS far advanced as the season was,
there still remained several weeks
which, earlier, he had planned to spend
with the Carterets. Fred Carteret
owned pleasant summer home on the
north shore of Long island, and a COM
Portable sailing-yacht which Tom Phin-
ney delighted to navigate up and down
the sound, while the other dined, made
merry or took advantage of the cool
breezes to sleep. He even regretted
that he must forego Tommy's cheerful
habit of every now and then poking
his head in at the cabin skylight and
shouting directions to the bridge play
ers below-who, as everyone knows,
always enjoy that sort of thing He
would invariably vanish before the
only available missiles could annihi-
late him, and become immersed in
some profundity of his self-impose,l
duties.
And then would have followed
Journey in his own trim steam-yacht
; TT. Phinney, master), down to the
chesapeake, to wait for the autumn
) hegira of ducks. His cousins pros
,
) tered all these pleasant arrangements.
Paige Carew had completed her mu-
; steal studies in July; some day she
would enchant the world-or at least
; that elect portion of it which she
would condescend to favor-with her
, violin; her career at the conservatory
, assured this prophecy. Was not that
; honor and glory enough for a girl not
. yet twenty?
Then why should she and Mrs. Dew
. ereauX 60 off to London for the sea-
.. son. instead of coming home to meet
. the people with whom she would have
. to mingle after they were married.
. and receive their laudations and con-
gratulations?
Van Vechten paused at this ref1ec.
ton.
. After they were married! Ever
. since he could remember, this contin.
: gency had been taken so for granted
. that he had never thought to question
: it. 1t was so much the proper thing
) for them to do, such a logical union
|: SO desirable from every point of view,
!. that he and Paige had always regarded
: it as a settled thing-an assured fact
!. awaiting only the ripe moment
True, neither of them seemed eager to
. hasten the time, but if that time was
ever to come it must now be near at
!: hand; they could not much longer be
: content with some time
]. He frowned with annoyance. Why
: couldn't such a sensible girl ccme
J. home at the proper time, when all ar
I: rangements had been made for her re
: ception and her family and friends hac
!: every reason to expect her? There
!. was one consolation in the absence O
: those friends from town; he was no.
: obliged to invent answers TO embar
: RAISING inquiries concerning his Gila
!. tory cousin. But this was small CEN
: pensation tor stewirg in New York b.
!. himself until Paige chose to notify hir,
!. Of her Whereabouts and intended move
!. ments. He gave one moment Of Sobe
: thought TO the circumstance that h
!. really did not know precisely whert
: she was; if some sudden emergenc,
!. should arise necessitating a cable h
: would not know where to reach heY
!. But he speedily dismissed this Dhas
!. for Paige to start of on a hG,ida
: jaunt without confding her propose
: itinerary to anybody, and now Mr.
|: Devereaux was with her.
:: Just the same he unused. IF
. knew where to catch her, would csr
!: her a cable that would set her {
: guessing for while"
: Unable longer to remain quiescca NJ
! he bounded from his chair and collid
: ed with Alexander, who was seeking
J. him IN his corner-an accident tina
!; did not affect the pages accustomed
!: compOsure in the least.
!: "Gentleman to see you, sir" Alex
!: ander announced
: Who is it?" Van Vechten snapped
i: irritably. 81 don't want to see any
hody-n