The Mask: A Story of Love and Adventure, Page 3

  CHAPTER III

  When the valet had disappeared, Kenneth turned to his wife with achuckle.

  "Who was right? You made me scold him for nothing."

  Helen shook her head.

  "I detest the man. There is something crawly and repulsive about him.I can read evil in his face. Don't trust him, Kenneth. Remember, ifanything goes wrong, don't blame me. I warned you. My instinct seldomfails."

  Her husband laughed and, advancing, put his arm tenderly around hiswife.

  "I guess I'm able to take care of myself, dear. Don't let's discussFrancois any longer. Tell me about yourself. How are you going toamuse yourself while I'm away?"

  Her head drooped on his breast and once more her eyes filled withtears. With affected carelessness which cost her a great effort, shereplied:

  "Oh, the time won't hang so heavy on my hands. It never does when onehas resources within oneself. I'll read and ride and sew. I supposeI'll have plenty to do."

  "Mr. Parker said he would drop in and look after you."

  "Yes--tell him to come and see me very often. He's rather tiresomewith his prosy talk, but he's a dear old soul."

  With a mischievous twinkle in his eye her husband went on:

  "It's not unlikely that Keralio will call, also."

  "I hope not," she said quickly. "I'll soon show him he's not wanted."

  Kenneth laughed. It amused him to see how set she was against theItalian. He did not know the man any too well. He had met him in abusiness way and the fellow had been of service, but he had not theslightest idea of making a friend of him. He rather suspected he wasan adventurer although, a stranger in New York, no one knew anythingagainst him. Protestingly he said:

  "It's hardly fair to attack a man because he admires you."

  "He shows his admiration in a most offensive way. If you could see theway he looks at me sometimes you'd be the first to resent it."

  Kenneth laughed.

  "Oh, you mustn't mind that. It's a way all foreigners have. They oglewomen more from force of habit than any desire to effect a conquest.Besides, you won't be alone."

  "No, I shall have Ray. She is excellent company--far jollier thanI----"

  Kenneth protested.

  "No, she isn't by a long shot. Ray is all right as sisters-in-law go,but I'd never change you for her. I'm d----d if I would!"

  Quickly Helen put her white hand over his mouth. With mock severityshe exclaimed:

  "Kenneth! How can you be so profane? I hate to hear such languagefrom you. Ray is the sweetest thing on earth. It's a shame she nevergot married. Oh, don't be uneasy on that score. We'll have a goodtime. We'll go to the theater. We'll have teas and little dinnerparties. I'll invite some interesting men to meet her. I'd love tosee her married to some nice man. There's Mr. Steell, for instance.He's rich, young, has a brilliant future----"

  Kenneth made a grimace. Quickly he retorted:

  "It's you he admires, not Ray. He will accept your invitation--lesswith the idea of letting Ray hook him in the matrimonial net, than forthe opportunity it affords for a renewed flirtation with you. Oh,quite innocent, of course, but still a flirtation. Have I forgottenwhat close friends you used to be before I appeared on the scene?"

  "And carried me off, a new Lochinvar come out of the West!" shelaughed. "Oh, Kenneth, how can you be so foolish? It is absolutelyindecent of you. I like Mr. Steell, and I think he likes me, but ourfriendship is purely platonic. I never give him a thought, I assureyou."

  "I know you don't, but I'm not so sure about him. He's a man and menare only human----"

  "He's a gentleman," corrected Helen. "He never forgets that."

  Kenneth gave a grunt of incredulity. Sulkily he said:

  "All right--all right. Have a good time. Marry him to Ray. Perhapsit's safer that way. When he's my brother-in-law, he'll stop makingsheep's eyes at my wife."

  Helen laughed outright.

  "You silly goose. I never suspected you of having a jealous streak inyour nature. How could I prefer anyone to my handsome Kenneth?"

  As she stood before him, playfully patting his cheek, her glancealighted on the solitary lock of gray hair in the center of hisforehead. Toying with it, she went on:

  "Isn't it strange that your hair should be white just in that place. Irather like it. It gives an added note of distinction to your face. Iwonder what caused it."

  Kenneth laughed.

  "That's my trade mark. If ever I'm brought home on a stretcher you'llknow me by that white lock."

  Helen raised her hand in protest.

  "Don't talk that way. Never jest about accidents. Sometimes theyhappen."

  "Well--I said nothing. I only said that if you were ever in doubtabout my identity, you would know me by my white lock."

  She smiled, as she patted his cheek lovingly, and said:

  "That would not be necessary, Ken dear. No matter how changed youlooked, what disguise you wore, I should still know you."

  "And if it wasn't me," he laughed, "but only someone who looked likeme?"

  "I could never be mistaken. The ring in the voice, the expression inthe eyes--no woman who really loves could ever be deceived."

  She had drawn nearer to him, her mouth upturned and tempting, her facewith that gentle, wistful expression he was never able to resist.Throwing his arms impulsively about her, he clasped her passionately tohis breast.

  "Sweetheart," he whispered, "you don't know how dear you are to me!"

  "Nor can you," she replied, as he smothered her with kisses, "everrealize what you are to me!"

  Suddenly they were interrupted by a sound at the door behind them.Some one coughed discreetly. Quickly separating, Helen turned round.In some confusion she exclaimed:

  "Hello, Ray. I thought you were out. When did you come in?"

  "I was out. I have been shopping. I met Mr. Steell in the park and wehad a lovely walk." Slyly she added: "I am afraid I returned too soon.I see you're both busy."

  "Never too busy for you, Ray," smiled Helen trying to hide herconfusion, while Kenneth grinned broadly.

  The young girl laughed as she flung down on the sofa her muff and furneck-piece. Roguishly she said:

  "Lovemaking so early in the day. Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?"

  Kenneth liked to tease his sister-in-law, but the young girl was quitehis equal when it came to a battle of wits and it was not often thatshe gave him the opportunity.

  "What time do you do your love making?" he demanded.

  Her cheeks reddened a little as she retorted:

  "I'm never so foolish. I leave that to you married people. My purposein life is far more serious."

  "Oh, come now," protested her brother-in-law, "I've noticed you andSteell spooning often enough."

  Stylishly and tastefully dressed, her face beaming with animation, hereyes sparkling with intelligence, Kenneth's sister-in-law was a pretty,wholesome looking girl. She had beautiful blond hair like her sister,and fine, white teeth that told of good health and perfect digestion.Helen's junior only by three years, she was still unmarried and for thepresent at least seemed more inclined to remain single and partake oflife's pleasures than incur the risks and responsibilities ofmatrimony. Not that she had been without offers. A girl as attractiveand clever could hardly have failed to please the sterner sex. Allsorts and conditions of men had prostrated themselves at her tiny,well-shod feet, but, capricious and headstrong, she would have none ofthem. She was what might be called a singular girl. She liked men,not because of their sex, but because their point of view wasdifferent, their grasp of things stronger than her own. One day shemust marry. She knew that. It was, she insisted laughingly, anignoble state of slavery, a humiliating, degrading condition ofsubjection to the male which every woman must endure, necessaryperhaps, but an ordeal to be put off, something unpleasant to bepostponed as long as possible, like the taking of a dose of unsavoryphysic or having a tooth pulled at the dentist's
. Meantime, heartwhole and fancy free, she enjoyed life to the limit and kept heradmirers guessing.

  "Oh, I saw such lovely things in the stores," exclaimed the young girl."I wish I had the money to buy them all."

  "You will have when I get back from South Africa," he laughed.

  "Don't forget," she laughed. "I'll hold you to that promise. Helen iswitness."

  "I swear it!" he said with mock solemnity. "You shall have carteblanche in any Fifth Avenue shop to the amount of--$1.75."

  "Will you be ready in time?" she laughed, looking around with dismay atthe litter of open trunks.

  "I won't, if you stay here chattering like a magpie."

  "What time does the steamer sail?"

  "Eleven o'clock," said Helen.

  "We're all coming to see you off. Mr. Steell told me that he's coming,too."

  "Not exactly to see me, I'm afraid," smiled Kenneth.

  "Who else?" she retorted. "If you mean me, you're mistaken. Hedoesn't need to make the uncomfortable trip to Hoboken to see me."

  Her brother-in-law smiled, amused at her petulance.

  "My dear," he said, "you don't know what hardships a man will endurefor the girl he's sweet on." With mock seriousness he went on: "Saysis, Helen and I have been having an argument. Who does Steell comehere for--for you or for me?"

  Ray burst into merry laughter.

  "How silly you are, Ken. For me, of course. At least, I flattermyself that----" With a wink at her sister she added facetiously: "Ofcourse, one never knows when dealing with these handsome men. AndHelen is quite adorable. If I were a man, I should be crazy about her."

  Helen held up a protesting finger.

  "Don't talk like that, dear, or he'll believe you."

  Kenneth laughed.

  "Yes, I'm as jealous as Othello and quite as dangerous. Don't I lookit?"

  As he spoke, the front door-bell rang downstairs. Ray hastily took upher things.

  "Here's company!"

  "I hope not!" exclaimed Helen. "I'm in no mood to see anybody."

  "I'll see them," whispered Ray, "and say you're out. It won't be thefirst fib I've told."

  She ran lightly out of the room and upstairs, while Helen and herhusband went on with the work of packing. They were just stoopingtogether over a trunk when there came a rap on the door, and Francoisappeared.

  "A lady to see monsieur."

  Kenneth looked puzzled.

  "A lady? What lady?"

  Helen laughed merrily. Triumphantly, she exclaimed:

  "It's my turn now to be jealous."

  "Not exactly a lady, monsieur. An elderly person."

  "What's her name?"

  "Mrs. Mary O'Connor."

  Kenneth smiled broadly.

  "Mary O'Connor, my old nurse. Well, well, show her right in." Turningto his wife he added quickly: "Dear old soul--no doubt she's heard I'moff to Africa and wishes to say good-bye."

  An instant later an old woman bent with age and with a kindly faceframed with silvery white hair came in, hands outstretched. Withoutany air of condescension on his part, Kenneth went forward to greether. Through all the long stretch of years, from his boy days to hismanhood he had never forgotten how kind Mary had been to him when achild, taking the place of the mother he had lost in infancy. AChristmas was never allowed to pass without a fat turkey for the oldnurse and many a little present of money had accompanied the bird. Theold woman's lips quivered as she said tremulously:

  "It's a long way you're going, Mr. Kenneth."

  "Oh, I'll soon be back, Mary," he rejoined jovially.

  She shook her head.

  "It's a long way and I'm getting old."

  The promoter laughed boisterously. Leading her gently to a chair heexclaimed:

  "Old! Nonsense; You're just as young to me now as when I firstremember you."

  The old lady smiled. Nodding her head feebly, she replied:

  "When you used to play hide-and-seek with me. When I wanted to put youto bed you were nowhere to be found."

  Helen laughed while Kenneth protested:

  "Oh, come now, Mary, I wasn't so bad as that."

  "No. You weren't bad--just lively and natural as all healthy children.You were always a better boy than your brother."

  Helen looked up quickly.

  "Your brother, Kenneth? I never heard you speak of a brother."

  He looked at the old lady in amazement.

  "My brother? What brother?"

  The old lady smiled.

  "That's so--you never knew. You were too young to remember. Yes, youhad a brother--a twin brother. People hardly knew you apart. Therewas only one way in which your mother and I could tell."

  "What was that?" demanded the promoter eagerly.

  "He had a scar. He caught his hand in some machinery when a baby andit left a scar in the index finger of the left hand."

  Transfixed, Kenneth listened open-mouthed. At last breaking the spell,he exclaimed:

  "I never heard of him. You never spoke of him before."

  "How should you remember?" went on the old woman. "It's many yearsago. Your father and mother are dead. You have no relatives living.No one knows. But I know."

  "Did he die?" asked Kenneth, deeply interested.

  The old lady nodded affirmatively.

  "I shall never forgive myself. It was my fault. You were playingtogether in the garden. I didn't dream either of you could come toharm. I went into the house for a moment to get something. When Icame back your brother was gone--no trace of him anywhere. We neversaw him again. Your father, heart-broken, offered a fortune for newsof him. The police hunted high and low all over the country. Therewas no trace. Some gypsies had passed recently through the town. Ialways suspected them. That is thirty years ago and more."

  "So it's not even known if he's dead," interrupted Kenneth eagerly.

  The beldame shook her head sorrowfully, as she answered sagely:

  "Oh, he's dead all right. That's sure. There was money left to him byyour grandfather. For years the lawyers advertised for news of him.But it was no good. If he'd been alive, he'd have claimed his own."

  "He might still be alive, yet unaware of his identity," broke in Helen,who was a keenly interested listener. She had been so accustomed toregard her husband as the only son of parents, both of whom were dead,that the mere possibility of his having a brother awakened hercuriosity.

  Still under the spell of the old woman's unexpected revelation, Kennethhad relapsed into a thoughtful silence. The surprising news hadaffected him strangely. So--he had had a brother--a twin brother, andall these years he had been in ignorance of the fact. Yet who could benearer or dearer than a twin brother? Together they had lain under thesame mother's heart. Together they had first seen the light andlaughed in the sun. Ah, if he had only lived to be his comrade, hispartner! With a brother at his side, to second him in his hazardousenterprises, he felt he would indeed be invincible. He could haveconquered the world!

  The old nurse held out a withered hand, and her eyes were moist withtears as she said:

  "Good-bye, Mr. Kenneth. A safe journey to you. Keep out of danger.I'll be praying for the Lord to watch over you."

  Helen turned away so they might not see her emotion. Kenneth laughedlightly as he kissed the old woman's cheek, and then, slipping a banknote into her hand, he said carelessly:

  "All right, Mary, I'll be careful. I'll come back safe andsound,--never fear, and I'll bring you something nice,--perhaps a bigdiamond. Out in South Africa they pick 'em up like stones."

  The old woman's eyes opened incredulously.

  "Really, Mr. Kenneth?"

  "Yes, really. Diamonds as big as apples. They're found every day.When I come back I'll have all sorts of adventures to tell you about.Who knows? I might even run across this twin-brother of mine.Stranger things have happened."

  "Diamonds as big as apples," she echoed. "Do you mean that, Mr.Kenneth?"

&nb
sp; He laughed.

  "Indeed I do! Some of the gems are as big as cocoanuts. Didn't youhear of that wonderful diamond we found the other day? It's worth amillion dollars."

  The old woman opened her eyes and gaped with astonishment.

  "A million dollars, Mr. Kenneth!"

  "Yes, a million dollars. What's more, I'll soon be able to show it toyou, Mary. My trip out to South Africa is ostensibly for the purposeof negotiating for more land. The real purpose of my journey is tobring home this astonishing stone."

  "But how will you carry it, Mr. Kenneth? A stone worth a milliondollars must be big as a house."

  Kenneth laughed.

  "No--no, Mary. It can easily go in my waistcoat pocket. But forsafety's sake it won't. I don't mind letting you into my confidence.I'm to have a secret bottom made in----"

  Before he could complete the sentence, Helen quickly clapped her handover his mouth, and he had not yet recovered from his astonishment whenshe sprang to the door and opened it. The movement was so sudden andunexpected that a man who had been leaning against it, fell all hislength into the room. It was Francois, the French valet.

  "_Excusez_," he stammered, "I stumbled."

  Kenneth stared first at the servant, then at his wife. Slowly he beganto comprehend. Turning to the Frenchman he demanded angrily:

  "What were you doing behind that door?"

  "_Excusez_. I came back to ask monsieur how many shirts I pack."

  Thoroughly aroused, the promoter pointed to the door. Sternly he said:

  "Get out of here--you fool! If you don't know your business, I'll getsome one else who does."

  The Frenchman beat a rapid retreat. There was a malevolent look on hisface, but he murmured respectfully enough:

  "_Oui, monsieur_."

  Kenneth turned to his wife.

  "What did he come back for?" he demanded.

  "He was listening--behind the door," she replied calmly.