The Crimson Patch

owing "a heap more about things" than any one thought he did was a little alarming, to say the least. What did he—what could he know about her father's affa

red 96to confide in him more fully. She wished with all her soul that her father were with her, that he was not to be detained away over night. She wanted to talk it all over with him, to ascertain how much he thought it

connected with Mrs. Quale's room. The repl

then went out again, saying she wo

e with her father and urge him 97to come back at once! But that was not possible. He had said he was in New York, but had given no address, probably because he was hurrying about from place to place and did not intend to stop anywhere for

nd spend the night? Her companionship would be better than none at all. In the long weeks of her intimacy with Mrs. Quale, Patricia had grown to realize that Delia w

ease in communicating with a deaf person, and it was some time before Delia u

't take me with her. I have it quite often. I'm afraid I won't be much

se, you can have Father's room. I just want you to be there near m

ed, nor the captain worried about you, even if I am too miserable to hold up my he

she would read and sew and write some letters and go to bed as usual. The sensible resolve steadied her. She put on her lightest and coolest attire, for the evening was still very hot, and a

ng the entire meal. Where in the world could he be? She ventured to question the new attendant about the u

way to her room. The absence of Peter Stoger disturbed her more than she cared to admit, even to herself. She disliked and feared him enough wh

s tight and strove to call up the image of the sketch as she had seen it last. It was nothing, it was absolutely nothing but the cleverly executed sketch in water-colors of a peculiar species of butterfly with a bright crimson spot on each lower wing. There was no

ld they ever see each other again? In twenty-four hours, life had suddenly assumed a very complicated aspect to Patricia. She could scarcely realize now how hap

ce and ask to 102have something sent to the room. So determined, she switched on the lights, went to the telephone and asked to have some of the hotel stationery sent up. There was nothing else she could think

ly have happened? It was the first time she could remember that he had not personally answered the summons. If he had also, for some i