The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-05-11
CHAPTER III
Discussion Of a Shadow

Discussion Of Shadow
Alan, as he looked confusedly and
blankly at her, made no attempt to
answer the question she had asked,
or to explain. His silence and CON
fusion, he knew, must seem to Con
stance Sheriff. unwillingness to an
swer her; for she did not suspect that
he was unable to answer her.
"You would rather explain to father
than to me-" she decided
He hesitated. What he wanted now
was time to think, to learn who she
was and who her father was, and to
adjust himself to this strange reversal
of his expectations.
"Yes; would rather do that" he
said.
She caught up her fur collar and
muff from chair and spoke a word
to the servant. AS she went out on
to the porch, he followed her and
stopped to pick up his suitcase.
"Simmons will bring that" she said.
''unless you'd rather have 1t with you.
1t is only short walk"
They turned in at the entrance of a
house in the middle of the block and
went up the low. wide stone steps; /;
the door opened to them without ring
or knock a servant in the hall within
took Alan's hat and coat, and he fol-
lowed Constance past some great room
upon his right to smaller one farther
down the hall.
"Will you wait here, please?" she
asked.
He sat down, and she left him;
when her footsteps had died away, and
he could hear no other sounds except
the occasional soft tread of some
servant. he twisted himself about in
his chair and looked around. Who
were these Sherrills? Who was Cor
vet, and what was his relation to the
Sherrills? What, beyond all, was their
and COrvet's relation to Alan Conrad
to himself? The shock and confusion
he had felt ut the nature of his recep-
tion In Corvet's house, and the strange
ness of his transition from his little
Kansas town to place and people
such as this, had prevented him from
inquiring directly from Constance
Sheriff. a9 to that; and, oil her part,
she had assumed. plainly, that he
already knew and need not be told.
He Strengthened and looked about.
then got up, as Constance Sheriff.
came back into the room.
Father is not here just now" she
said. I'VE weren't sure from your
telegram exactly at what hour you
would arrive, and that was why
,A L. H.
wouldn't miss you. have telephoned
father, and he's coming home at once"
She hesitated an instant in the door
way, then turned to go out again.
"Miss Sheriff." he said.
She halted. "Yes."
"YOu told me you had been waiting
for me to come and explain my con-
nection with Mr.. Corvet. WE'LL
can't do that; that is what l came
here hoping to find out"
She came back toward him slowly.
"What do you mean7" she asked.
He fought down and controlled
resolutely the excitement in his voice,
as he told her rapidly the little he
knew about himself
He could not tell definitely how she
was affected by what he said. She
flushed slightly, following her first
start of surprise after he had begun
to speak; when he had finished, he
saw that she was a little pale.
"Then you don't know anything
about Mr.. Corvet at ALL" she said.
mo; until I got his letter sending
for me here, I'd never seen or heard
his name"
She was thoughtful for a moment.
"Thank you for telling me-" she said.
an tell my father when he comes"
"Your father is-f" he ventured.
She understood now that the name
of Sheriff. had meant nothing to him.
"Father is Mr.. Corvet's closest friend,
and his business partner as WE'LL" she
explained.
He thought she was going to tell
him something more about them; but
she seemed to decide to leave that for
her father to do. She crossed to the
big chair beside the crate and seated
herself. AS she sat looking at him,
hands clasped beneath her chin, and
her elbows resting on the arm of the
chair. there was speculation and in
terest In her gaze; but she did not
ask him anything more about himself.