The Gloved Hand

n," I said, "sit down an

nstead he read the letter through

t this, Mr. Les

the trees. It had been

ow it was thrown ov

y. "Who else would attempt to conduct a surrepti

the look of intensit

ted, "don't play with me. I h

ght?" I

to speak, as though asking himself how much he s

tell you that the engagement has been broken off; more than once, I have

xons to pronounce; the voice in which Swain uttere

can do for you, my bo

great deal already in giving me this letter so promptly. The only

l to-

asks me to mee

father's

es

own t

es

t friendl

N

le struggle

ise anything, I should like to know more of the story. From the glimpse I caught of Miss V

neteen," s

is wealthy

weal

mother

es

and hesitated, fe

hile I am a poverty-stricken nonentity, without any profession, and able to earn just enough to live on-perhaps I couldn't do even that, if

tted, "someth

I found myself a pauper, I wrote at once to release her. She replied that when she wished her release, she would ask for it; that it wasn't my money she was in love with. Then I came out here and had a talk with her father. He was kind enough, but pointed out that the affair could not go further until I had establi

what

ago, I called and asked to see him. Instead of seeing me, he sent word by a black-fa

with the rememb

, after that," he added, "but

e didn't get

you th

hat you were no longer at 1010 Fifth Avenu

y, and started to say somet

sed not to write to her. And I don't see that you have g

away. I am not a fortune-hunter. But I can't keep away; I can't stand on my dignity. When she calls for aid, I must

mean by that?

father is mad-I am sure of it. No one but a madman would live and dress as he does; no one but a madman would devot

shook

ne people believe in the supernatural and devote themse

n flowing robes, and worship the s

t again of the mysterious light and of the two whi

adept, or whatever they call it.

speak E

. He seems a fine

a lunat

hesi

ssed-I wasn't one, two, three with him. I suppose mysticism comes more or less na

old i

ut s

lways bee

of thing. But before his wife's death, he was fairly normal. It was her death that

tives who could be

hat I k

ver what he

ffairs really is. If her father is really mad, he may be a good deal worse now than he was when you saw him las

rse not," S

r tells yo

is in great trouble, and

to go to

will be there at eleven-thirty every night for three nights. After tha

she mean by

ed, and turned to another a

e might be mistaken. She was being urged to consent to something against her will, but perhaps it was for her own good. In any event, I had

at last, "I will help

is t

ter over. She, herself, says that she has three days," I went on, as he started to protest, "so there is no necessity fo

neteen," h

ing between a child and its father. Moreover," I added, "she must not be compromised. If you persuade her to accompany

and down the room, his h

that I have not even thought of an elopement-that would be too base, too

omise to as

e such a promi

or her to stay with Mr. and Mrs. Royce for a time. There she will be safe. Should legal proceedings become necessary, our firm will

nd held out his han

ow for the a

except the long one by which Godfrey and I had mounted into the tree. Swain suggested that this might do for one, but I felt that i

for the crossing a spot where the glass escarpme

ointed out, "without touching the top of the wal

hat, after the first excitement, I began to find the affair a little wearying. Another man's love-affair is usually wearying; and, besides that, the glimpse which I had caught of Marjorie Vaugh

icant clerk, with small prospect of ever being anything much better, for he had started the battle of life too late. Honest, of course, honourable, clean-hearted,

ing implements, for I did not wish him to suspect the invasion we had planned; then, just to kill time and get away from Swain, I spent an hour with Hargis in his garden; and

bedroom next to yours

. "If he does, I'll show him the way to i

thing else I

thank

little before midnight-at le

him," I said. "Good

" and she went ba

Swain twitched about in his chair that he felt the tedium as much as I. Once or twice I tried to start a con

in sprang t

y longer," he said. "I

tch and looke

en o'clock yet

be ahead of time. Anyway, I mi

r I felt myself that another

mounted quickly to the top. As he paused there, I handed him up the other one. He caught it from my hands, lifted it over the wall, and lowered it

, is it?

ered shortly, and the next instant he had