The Mask: A Story of Love and Adventure, Page 4

  CHAPTER IV

  The dirty, sullen waters of the harbor washed lazily against the black,precipitous sides of the giant liner which, under a full head of steam,vibrated with suppressed energy, straining at mighty cables as ifimpatient to start on her long and hazardous voyage across the tumblingseas. A raw, piercing northeaster, howling dismally above themonotonous creaking and puffing of the donkey-engine, swept through thecheerless, draughty dock, chilling the spectators to the marrow. Thesun, vainly trying to break through the banks of leaden-colored clouds,cast a grayish pall over land and sky. A day it was of sinisterportent, that could not fail to have a depressing effect on sailor andlandlubber alike.

  Yet unpropitious skies and chilly wind did not appear to keep people athome. The steamer was crowded, both with those who were sailing andthose who were not. The gangways, staterooms were overrun not only bypassengers, but by all sorts of visitors curious to get a glimpse ofthe luxurious liner. The first-class saloon, heaped high on all sideswith American Beauty roses and orchids, looked as gay and full of coloras a florist's shop.

  "Isn't it perfectly stunning? How I adore ships!" exclaimed Ray, eagerto see everything.

  Keeping close together, the two young women with difficulty elbowedtheir way through the excited throng. They were anxious to rejoinKenneth whom they had left in the stateroom giving instructions toFrancois, and they began to be afraid they might lose him in the crush.Delighted at everything she saw, Ray could not contain herself.

  "Oh, how I wish I were going! Why doesn't Ken take me?"

  Helen turned to her in mock despair.

  "If you went, what would I do? Who would take care of me?"

  "I would," said a masculine voice close by.

  The women turned quickly.

  A tall, fair man still in his thirties, had stopped and raised his hat.

  "Why, it's Mr. Steell!" exclaimed Ray, her pleasure at the meetingbetraying itself in the tone of her voice.

  "Do you doubt my ability to take care of you? Could any man wish for amore congenial task?"

  "Flatterer!" laughed Helen. Cordially she added: "I'm awfully glad tosee you. It was very good of you to come and see Ken off."

  "Nonsense," exclaimed the newcomer. "I wanted to come--if only to makesure he wouldn't change his mind. I'm as anxious to see those diamondsas you are."

  "Hush!" said Helen putting up her finger to her mouth while Ray'sattention was momentarily diverted elsewhere. "No one knows--not evenRay. It's a great secret."

  An anxious look passed over the young man's face. He hadn't approvedof this South African trip. It was wholly unnecessary. In his opinionhis old chum was taking a great risk.

  "That's right," he muttered. "You can't be too careful."

  In metropolitan legal circles Wilbur Steell was looked upon as thecoming man. His success in the courts had given him a wide reputationbefore he was five and thirty, and his gifts as a public speaker, hisstrong, aggressive personality made more than one political leaderanxious to secure his services. Already he was mentioned as districtattorney. Even the Governorship might have been his for the asking.But he showed no liking for politics. His sympathies leaned moretowards the literary, intellectual life. Having all the money heneeded, he preferred to keep out of the social and political maelstrom,leading a quiet life, following his own tastes and inclinations.Match-making mammas saw in him a prize, but so far he had shown nodisposition to marry. He cultivated few people, in fact, wasconsidered somewhat of a misanthrope. Kenneth he had known all hislife. They were boys together, and the Traynors were among the few onwhom he called frequently. He made no secret of his attraction forRay, and the young girl liked him as well as she chose to like anybody.He had qualities, not usually met with in successful men, that made astrong appeal to her--fine ideals, and a purpose in life. She likedhis seriousness, finding him different in this respect from any otherman she knew. She felt he admired her, but he did not make love to herand she was grateful to him for that. She liked his society and nevertired of discussing with him sociology and other subjects in which bothwere interested.

  "When does the steamer sail?" interrupted Ray anxiously, as if afraidthat they might go off with her on board.

  "In half an hour," said the lawyer. "They ring a warning bell. Thereis plenty of time. Where's Kenneth?"

  "Down below in his stateroom--wrestling with baggage," replied Helen."He said he would join us here."

  "Well, suppose we sit down a bit," he suggested.

  "Yes--that will be jolly," exclaimed Ray.

  The lawyer pulled up three steamer chairs and sitting down, theywatched the crowd which had already begun to thin out. The novelty ofthe scene held both women fascinated. The constant bustle andexcitement, the going and coming of well-groomed men and women, thelittle scraps of conversation overheard, interested them both beyondmeasure. Helen studied each individual couple, wondering who theywere, how long married, if they were happy, where they were going to.She wondered if that coarse, loudly dressed woman really cared for herhusband, or if this brutal looking man with insolent stare of thelibertine, illtreated his delicate little wife. She herself could notunderstand marriage without genuine affection on both sides. Any suchintimate relation as the marriage tie involved must surely be repellentand abhorrent to any self-respecting woman unless love were there tosanction and sanctify it.

  Ray glanced at her sister and laughed.

  "Why so serious, Helen? He hasn't gone yet."

  Helen sighed.

  "But he soon will be. I wish he were here instead of downstairs."

  Ray protested.

  "Please be nautically correct. Remember we are on a ship. You don'tsay 'downstairs'; you say 'below.'"

  Mr. Steell turned round with a smile.

  "I had no idea you were so well posted in sailor's parlance."

  The young girl laughed.

  "Oh, you don't know half my accomplishments. I'm cleverer than yougive me credit for."

  The young man leaned half over the chair as he whispered:

  "I wouldn't dare tell you how clever I think you."

  "Why?"

  "Because--of my own peace of mind."

  Helen broke in on the conversation. Addressing the lawyer, she said:

  "Now Kenneth is away, we shall expect you to come to the house veryoften."

  The lawyer bowed.

  "It's always a pleasure to call."

  "Be sure to come next Sunday evening. I expect some friends. We'llhave some music."

  "May I bring someone?"

  "Certainly. Any friend of yours is welcome."

  "Who is it?" asked Ray impertinently. "Male or female?"

  "I believe it's a male," smiled the lawyer. "It looks like a male andtalks like one." More seriously he went on: "His name is DickReynolds. He has just passed his bar examination and is practicingtemporarily in my office. His people live out West and being alonehere, he is glad enough to have somewhere to go."

  "Bring him by all means," exclaimed Ray. "Has he anyaccomplishments--apart from being a male?"

  "Yes--he plays the piano indifferently, and tennis admirably. He swimslike a fish, and can run like a hare. But his best accomplishment is agift that one seldom sees developed----"

  "What is that?" exclaimed both his listeners at once.

  "He is a born detective--a regular Sherlock Holmes in real life. Ihave tested him several times with extraordinary results. I have givenhim the most difficult cases to unravel. He has found the solution inevery one."

  Ray clapped her hands.

  "Oh, I love that," she said. "Don't forget to invite him. Only thetrouble is we have nothing to unravel."

  "I have a skein of silk," interrupted Helen facetiously.

  Suddenly the lawyer stopped speaking and quickly sitting up in hischair stared intently in the distance at a face in the crowd which hadcaught his eye.

  "Who is it?" demanded Ray, her woman's jealousy aroused.
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  "I may be mistaken," he replied, "but I thought I saw your friendSignor Keralio."

  Helen looked up quickly.

  "My friend?" she exclaimed. "He's no friend of mine. I wonder whathe's doing here. He can't be sailing."

  "He's up to no good, I wager that," growled the lawyer.

  "You don't like him either, do you?" smiled Ray.

  "Does anyone?" he answered. "I don't see how Kenneth can have anythingto do with such a cheap type of adventurer."

  Helen hastened to explain.

  "Ken doesn't care for him at all, only they are both interested in thesame business deal--a silver mine in Mexico. Ken bought stock andKeralio is the only man he knows connected with it. That's why."

  The lawyer gave vent to a grunt of disgust.

  "If Keralio has anything to do with it, good-bye to Ken's money. In myopinion the fellow's a crook."

  Suddenly Helen pointed to a spot away down at the other end of the deck.

  "Yes--you're right--there he is--behind that third lifeboat. He'stalking to some one."

  The lawyer looked in the direction indicated.

  "Yes--and do you see the secretive way in which they're talking--hidingbehind that boat, as if so that no one might see them. They'replotting some mischief, you may be sure of that. Who's the otherfellow?"

  Helen strained her eyes to see.

  "I can't see his face. Oh, yes I can--why--it's ourFrancois--Kenneth's valet. What can they be talking about? I don'ttrust that valet. Only the other day I caught him reading someletters. I warned Ken about him; but he insists he is faithful--Iwonder what they can have in common? He used to be in Signor Keralio'semploy."

  The lawyer shook his head ominously. Gravely he said:

  "That fellow Keralio will bear watching. I think I'll put my SherlockHolmes on his track."

  Ray laughed.

  "Oh, that would be exciting--a drama in real life. Please do----"

  "Good morning, ladies!" said a voice close at hand. "Good morning, Mr.Steell."

  All looked up. A tall, elderly man with white hair, distinguishedlooking and fashionably dressed, had stopped.

  "Why, it's Mr. Parker!" exclaimed Helen holding out her hand. "Youcame to see Kenneth off?"

  "Yes--where is he?"

  "In his stateroom--attending to his baggage. He'll be here directly."

  "I must see him at once."

  "Anything important?"

  "Very important, indeed," replied the newcomer.

  Helen jumped up, all flushed from excitement.

  "Please tell me what it is?" she exclaimed.

  The old gentleman drew a telegram from his pocket.

  "I've just received this from our agent in Cape Town. Another diamondof extraordinary size has been picked up. It weighs over 2,000 caratsand is calculated to be worth five hundred thousand dollars. That'sthe second stone of extraordinary size that we have found. Possiblythere is some exaggeration in the reports, but there is no doubtwhatever that we are on the verge of discoveries little short ofsensational. Meantime, the treasury of the Americo-African MiningCompany has been enriched by at least a million. When Kenneth returnsto New York with these wonderful gems in his possession, there islikely to be a boom in the company's shares."

  The old gentleman spoke glibly, even eloquently and it was obvious thathe was sincere and not talking for effect. It was, indeed, largely dueto his distinguished air, and fine oratorical powers that CorneliusWinthrop Parker had been elected president of the Americo-AfricanMining Company, with fine offices in New York and London andstockholders in every country under the sun. Trained for the ministryand enjoying a wide acquaintance but a slim income, he had found thebusiness of stock company promotion more profitable than preaching thegospel, and when Traynor had first gone to him with the suggestion thata company be formed to take up the large tract of Transvaal land whereprecious stones had actually been found he was not slow to grasp at theunusual opportunity. He managed cleverly the preliminary publicitycampaign. The company was promptly organized and successfully floated,the public snapping as eagerly at the shares as a fish at the bait. Itwas only logical to infer, therefore, that when Kenneth returned to NewYork with actual proof of the company's suddenly acquired wealth in hispossession, the stock would soar above par. With this pleasingprospect in view, it was not surprising that Mr. Parker wore to-day hismost engaging smile.

  Ray looked up in surprise.

  "What!" she exclaimed. "Kenneth to bring home the diamonds? This isthe first I heard of it. Helen never told me."

  "Hush!" said Mr. Parker, holding up his handy warningly. "Some onemight hear you." Continuing, he said blandly:

  "Of course not, my dear lady, of course not. Your sister is far toodiscreet and clever a woman to disclose her husband's plans to theworld. There are some things a man must keep secret fromeveryone--even from his wife. It would have been the height of follyto make any such announcement from the housetops. The highways arefull of rogues; even the walls have ears. Some crook might havelearned of our plans and acted accordingly. Kenneth might be followedto South Africa, shadowed till he has the gems in his possession andthen waylaid and murdered. Remember, he will have stones in hiswaistcoat pocket worth a million. Do you suppose desperate men willstop at anything to secure such a prize?"

  Ray turned to her sister.

  "Did you know?"

  Helen nodded.

  "Yes, and it has made me very unhappy. It is terrible that he istaking such risks." Turning to Mr. Parker she asked apprehensively:"Do you think he will run any danger?"

  The old gentleman shook his head.

  "Of course not, my dear lady. It is preposterous to even think of sucha thing. We have kept the matter too secret. Don't be uneasy. Hewill come to no harm." Raising his hat, he added: "Excuse me, ladies.I'll go and find Kenneth and bring him to you."

  The next instant he was swallowed up by the crowd.

  Helen, uneasy at her husband's prolonged absence, suggested that theygo below and join him.

  Suddenly a stentorian voice called out:

  "All ashore--all ashore!"

  Quickly, Helen jumped to her feet, only to bump into Kenneth, who atthat moment ran up, followed by Mr. Parker.

  "All ashore, dear," he said hastily, "you had better go."

  She made no reply, but averted her head so he might not see her redeyes.

  All about them the bustle and excitement was bewildering. Peoplepushed this way and that in their efforts to reach the gangway.

  The siren sounded its last deep toned blasts of warning; the finalgreetings were exchanged.

  Tall and handsome looking in his tourist knicker-bockers and closefitting steamer cap, Kenneth held both Helen's hands in his. Ray andMr. Parker, under the pretence of visiting the anchor weighed, haddiscreetly withdrawn. Francois, the valet, could be seen in thedistance, making signals to some one on shore. Husband and wife werestanding alone behind one of the big ventilators, Helen glad that noone saw them, ashamed that anyone should detect the big tears she wasunable to control. How she had dreaded this moment of actual parting,this ordeal of saying good-bye!

  "You'll write every day, won't you?" she asked in choking voice.

  Tenderly he drew her to him.

  "Every day, sweetheart."

  "And you'll come back safe to me?"

  "I'll come back safe to you."

  Bravely she forced back the tears that blinded her. Gently shemurmured:

  "I'll wait for you, Kenneth. I shall count the days, every moment,until you return. I never realized till now how much we are to eachother. I'll pray for you, Kenneth; I'll pray God that He watch overand protect you."

  He said nothing, but drew her toward him. Looking searchingly into hereyes, he said half in jest, half in earnest:

  "You'll be true, always true!"

  Gravely she answered:

  "Always--until death!"

  "You'll look at no other man."


  "How can you be so foolish, Ken dear? I see no one but you. I hear novoice but yours. You are my life, my soul. When you return you'llfind me here, at this same dock, arms outstretched, waiting, justwaiting."

  The bell rang.

  "All ashore! All ashore!"

  He bent low. His mouth met hers in one deep, lingering kiss.

  "God bless you, darling."

  "Good-bye, Ken, good-bye."

  The next thing she knew she was back on the dock among a crowd ofspectators waving hats and handkerchiefs--the women weeping, the menshouting and gesticulating.

  The passengers stood at the rail, waving frantic adieux in return. Thesiren sounded deep-toned blasts of warning to the smaller river craftto get out of the way. The huge vessel strained and trembled,vibrating more violently as she gradually began to glide into the open.Assisted by a fleet of energetic tugs she finally swung clear andpointed her nose eastward. Slowly, majestically, the leviathan movedout to sea.

  It was bad enough to see him go at all, but to have him sail on such agloomy day as this, with not a ray of sunshine to cheer him on the way,was more than Helen could bear. Blinded by tears she stood kissing herhand to the familiar figure now only faintly discernible on the fastreceding steamship, and she stood there long after every one else hadleft the dock watching until the _Mauretania_ was only a speck in thehorizon.