FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   >>  
t can have brought the other across the sea at this particular time? Is it connected with the facts he cherishes; the presence of this other one in Algiers? and if so, what does Duncan Craig mean to do; cut him off with a penny because he has dared allow the longing in his heart to have its way, and has endeavored to find the mother so long lost? When he steals another look at the elder Craig's face, he cannot see that there is anything like deep anger there, and yet John admits that he is not a good hand at analyzing motives. He dares not mention the matter himself, and is therefore bound to wait until his respected father speaks, if he does so at all. Craig, Sr., talks of his trip, declares he is delighted with the glimpse he has had of Algiers, and wonders how it would pay a good doctor to settle down there for the winter months; at which John declares it would just suit him. Then the other drops a gentle clew to his late movements by asking John which arm it was upon which he was recently vaccinated, which is a puzzler to the young fellow until the name of Malta is mentioned, when he cries: "Were you at Valetta, father?" "I reached there two days after you left. Bless me, the whole town was still talking over a brave deed that had recently saved a child's life." "Nonsense!" "Well, it pleased me when I heard the name of the young man who saved the child at the risk of his own life. I was proud to know I was his father." Still no mention of the real cause that has brought him so far from home. John is baffled. His recent happiness is dimmed a little, and he has an uneasy feeling as though the unknown were about to happen; a weight rests upon his heart. A strange thing occurs. Sir Lionel passes the door, and immediately Craig, Sr., is taken with a spasm of fury. He acts as if to start to rush out, then faces his son. John sees his father's face for the first time convulsed with fury. "Do you know that man?" he demands. "Certainly." "Is his name Blunt?" "Yes, sir." "I thought I could not be mistaken. There is something singular that brings him here at this time. John, is this Reginald Blunt a particular friend of yours?" "Why, no, sir, in fact, he was my rival for the hand of Ruth Stanhope. But you call him Reginald; this is Sir Lionel Blunt, a colonel from India and the south of Africa." "Then I made a mistake. It is his cousin. Yet I knew the face; I knew the face." Again
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   >>  



Top keywords:
father
 

declares

 

Reginald

 
mention
 

Lionel

 

recently

 

brought

 

Algiers

 

weight

 

happen


unknown

 
occurs
 

passes

 
immediately
 
strange
 

uneasy

 

cherishes

 

presence

 

connected

 

dimmed


happiness

 

recent

 

baffled

 

feeling

 

Stanhope

 
friend
 

colonel

 

cousin

 

mistake

 

Africa


convulsed

 

demands

 
Certainly
 

singular

 

brings

 

mistaken

 

thought

 

delighted

 

endeavored

 

mother


respected
 
speaks
 

glimpse

 

longing

 

winter

 
months
 

settle

 
doctor
 
wonders
 

admits