The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-11
CHAPTER Nv


1t wabbled, then steadied against
the float. Kate dropped the paddle.
"Are you landing?" he asked.
sNo, thank you" Something had
disturbed her, he thought. Her plain
clever face, usually serene, looked
both irritated and concerned. She
glanced up at him as though he was
the cause of her concern and irrita-
ton. I'm going back in a min
ute," she said.
Then, why had she come? He
thought, he was sure, that Gay
would have answered his question if
they had remained undisturbed. He
liked Kate. He'd been glad, at first,
that she was here. Lately, though
this morning "Have you robbed
the mailman again?" he asked.
you'll land in Jail. All those pa
pers-"
New York papers?" Gay scram-
bled to the edge of the float. where
did you get them?"
''I sent for them," Kate said.
"Is there" Gay asked quickly.
Then, more deliberately. whats
the news?"
"Your father sailed three days
ago." Kate said in reply to Gays
question.
"But he wasn't to have returned
until"
Exactly" His eyes turned to
Kate. She sat with compressed lips
looking up at Gay through slightly
narrowed eyes. 'He missed the auc-
tion in London" she said.
"That's bad. That's really very
bad" Gay gave an exclamation,
half dismay, half exasperated rage.
"Aunt Flora probably cabled him,
she said.
"Your mother has not been idle,"
Kate reminded her grimly, mot to
mention a varied assortment of rel
atives."
They're such an articulate fam
ily."
eyes," Kate said dryly, "and, un-
fortunately, cable rates are no de-
terment."
"But why couldn't they have wait
ed?" The humor that had bright
ened her voice was gone. Though
he saw her only in profile, John
knew that her eyes were dark and
mutinous. "Why must they jump to
conclusions? Aunt Flora would, of
course. But / thought Mother had
more SenSe!"
"It's been five days." Kate point
ed out. "They probably think you've
been kidnapped. You can't wonder
that they're anxious" she added in
tone of increasing evaporation.
''I've been away longer than
that"
"But not at a time like this when
something has been arranged for
you practically every hour. Think of
the excuses, the questions, the eva
sions.'
"You think of them. I haven't
the strength"
"You haven't communicated with
-anyone?"
ssNo. Why should I? Todd-un-
derstood. I told both Mother and
Aunt Flora in the notes wrote them
that would return at the end of the
week."
"And will your"
She remembered him, then. John S
heart Ieapt as his eyes, for mo-
ment, met her shadowed glance. 1t
sank again as she replied with un-
conscious arrogance:
"I usually keep my promises,
don't II"
I'm that case" Kate said, and he
thought she sounded considerably
relieved, well be obliged to start
in the morning. And I think we
should both apologize to John. He
can't have enjoyed having this dis
cussed in his presence. And he
couldn't escape" she added, humor,
fostered by relief, breaking through
concern and irritation. Hes hold
ing me steady. Very generous OF
him not to have set me adIift."
s'Think of me as a landing-po /"
John said, IF that will make you
feel better"
Kate drew the rope into the canoe.
ssIt would-if I could" she said.
Her smile was family derisive but
the expression in her keen light
eyes was not unsympathetic. She
took up the paddle. I'm going to
get lunch" she said, speaking past
John to Gay who sat still ard aloof