The Port of Adventure

e no confidant. She asked, however, to see a morning paper, and when it came was disappointed to find no paragraph concerning the thief at the Hotel Valmont. She did not know anything abou

magazines and papers in the big hall, hoping that he might appear. But he did not. It was almost, she told herself, as if he were punishing her for avoiding him yesterday, by paying her back in her own coin. Not that she believed he was re

nd was so good-looking, that his very lack of cultivation made him more interesting as a study. She would have liked to ask the hotel people about him; whence he came and what was his name; but, of course, she did nothing of the sort. All she did was t

hief Feel Small," was the heading of a con

officer in the German army, but probably lied, though he had evidently been a soldier at one time. He had numerous aliases, and spoke with a German accent. His name appeared on the register of the Valmont as Count

taking up as little time as possible, as he had use for every moment other than hanging about a court-room giving evidence. Born in New York, he had gone West while a boy, and had never since been in the East

She could not come forward and tell the real story, for that would do him harm, since it would differ from his version. She could atone only by showing her gratitude in some way. Bec

A bellboy had brought a note, and she sprang to the conclusion that it must be from Mr. Hilliard. He had found out her name, and had written to tell what had happened behind the closed door-the loose end of the story which the newspapers had not got, nev

da

Henry Morehouse of S

ing able to meet you

to do, at the request

f the Fidelity Trust B

ing East on law busi

e himself useful to y

aving known the late M

r. Morehouse was far

on reaching New York,

he result was an im

s performed successfu

g enough to express (

he failed, in case hi

t he intende

fait

Mil

or Beal's Priv

ot regret his failure to meet her at the ship. She did not wish to be helped, nor told how to see things, nor be personally conducted to California. She enjoyed being free, and vague, able to

far more about Mr. Nickson Hilliard, whom she had avoided yesterday, and who seemed to avoid her to-day. The fact that the letter which had brought colour to her face was from a strange, unwanted Mr. Morehouse, vexed the Princess unreasonably with Nickson Hil

ke the chance when he had it,

women are unjust to all men, especially to those in whom they are beginning to take an interest. Angela did not know that she was interested in Nickson Hilliard, and would have laughed if any one had suggested the idea, from a personal point of view; but in her social reign as the Princ

ing into the Gulf of Mexico after rounding the long point of Florida. Cutting the silk woof of azure, day by day, a great longing to be happy knocked at Angela's heart, like something unjustly imprisoned, demanding to be let out. She had never felt it

rn landscape, and among live-oaks draped with mourning flags of moss, and magnolia-trees gemmed with buds, there were planters' houses which seemed all roof and balcony. Buzzards flew up suddenly, out of rice-fields, as the ship rounded a curve-creatures big and long-legged as

atios paved with mossy stones, or cracked but still beautiful tiles. She made friends with an elderly French shopkeeper of the Vieux Carré, who looked as if carved out of ivory and yellowed with age. His business was the selling of curiosities; antique furniture brought in sailing ships from France when New Orleans was in the making; quaintly set jewels worn by famous beauties of the great old days; brocades and velvets which had been their ball dresses; books which had Andrew Jackson's name on yellow fly-leaves; weird souvenirs from the haunted house where terrible Madame Lalaurie tortured slaves to death; fetishes which had belonged to Marie Lav

she should not pay for her collection of old miniatures, necklaces, gilded crystal bo

in," he smiled. "I am superstitious. I will

r of the pretty French girls and the chatter of black and brown babies who babbled a language which was neither French, Spanish, nor English, but a mixture of all. Sh

the moment came to pay a hundred dollars for two or three snuff

iced last," said Kate, looking startled. "Fu

, to pay Monsieur Bienvenu the rather large sum she owed him. Still, she was not greatly distressed. She had lost that gold bag so many times, had dropped it from her lap when she g

" she wondered. "The shop where I bought

there, the place looked so disrespectable, as if there might be measles or 'most anythi

e stole," said Angela. And, explaining to the late owner of the snuff-

a number of people had been in since the lady left, strangers to him. If madam was sure she had gone out of the shop

ave cashed a check in the hotel. Anyhow, Monsieur Bienvenu would have taken one for what

he fact that, grown cautious since the attempted burglary at the Valmont, Angela had left her most valuable jewel

can telegraph to have the checks stopped at the San Francisco bank; but I had nearly five hundred dollars in the purse

impossible, she wanted pas

d hated postp

remembering how she had told the head clerk that this was her last day-she was giving up the rooms to-morrow. And the ho

, "If I find that I need to stop long

tely," said the young man. "This is a big week for the Crescen

eck-book I had in my gold bag have been stolen. I'll have to telegraph my bank." And she h

for a friend; glanced over the register, and must have found the name, because he's going to stay. He's got to sleep in the laundry to-n

a favour of a strange

when there's a lady in the case," replied the cle

Angela flitted to her own quarters, which looked more than ever attractive now that they might be snapped away

ed, and Angela felt that she, too, was blushing a little. She was vexed with him still, but it would have been stupid as well as ungrate

becoming to Nick. An all too cordial grip he gave, then loosened his

handshake. Luckily, I left my sharpest rings in New York. And, oh

k cast down. "I'll rummage New Orleans for it, if

ll have to tell the police, I sup

asked, as if he were begging a favour instead of wishing t

-no, indeed, I won't spoil your visit to N

at makes you think you spo

oach, and she could not resist the temptat

e a boy; that you were there to 'enjoy yourself.' And all your time was taken up with the bother that ought to have been mine! You were too busy

et, as if he were a

hy, you didn't think that

la, lightly. "But really, what I

because-I just didn't dare butt in. I was afraid you'd feel, if I had the cheek to write a note, or follow up and speak to you in the hotel, that I was-kind of takin' advantage of what was an accident-my luck in gettin' a chance to do a little

he was ashamed of herself for drawing it out, yet she was pleased; because she had been really hurt. Now that she need not puzzle over the man's motives, she would perh

g to read about that wretched man-Dutchy, or whatever they called him. And as he seems to have stolen from heaps of people, I suppose it's well for the world that he'll be shut up in p

a hole in the ground with him if he so much as peeped. I just rounded him up, and then the police came and played o

funnier than "lady," from the hero who had saved her life), an

so far. You see, I saw in the paper that you'd come from California. And that interested me, because my-because dear friends of mine have told me so much about Ca

e admitted, "but-well, perhaps I was homesick. Any

, our meeting here!" Ang

of the carpet. "If you won't think it a liberty, now I am here," he began again, "I'll be

to spend your time fussing with t

ew Orleans to see the sights, anyhow. I'll feel down and out if you

ke that!" And forthwith Angela

check-book full of bla

ut it's a bore. And I was fond of that bag. Besides, I had about five hund

ed to go?

However, that

o. But, see here, ma'am,

s. May," said

should call you it, just as if I

rse. Wh

nd the right way to act with ladies could be put in a book bigger

," Angela assured him. "You were splendid to me that night in

ee, because he had a trying task before him. "But my idea is this. Couldn't you let me lend the money you need, and go on when you like

pathetic in her eyes. She had just said that he was a man whose instinct would always be right, and she had meant it sincerely. She knew, if she knew anyt

o being civilized-where there's a lady in the case. It must have been I said it the wrong way, for, I do know the thing itself would be right. You want t

g way off. You're very kind, and I will borrow the money, if it won'

rather you'd do it than not take the money, because you

here," Angela reflected aloud, at a loss how to treat the situat

rders-I don't want to stay here very long," sa

ly just arrived

n't wonder if I'll always be sort of restless, now, away fro

't take the loan. As I told you, I left most of my things in New York, to be sent on when I settle down. Still, there's one thing, which I couldn't pawn, or

s her dead husband's picture," he thought. "She must have loved him, if she always carries hi

ust have your address," Angela went on. "Then,

st long enough to get

. "That may

ill be some ho

a wonderful

the detective in me. But it will g

to be my banker I can tell the hotel clerk I shan't need to ke

Nick. "The fellow was tellin

they've stuffed

he holes I've slept in-that is, I don't wish so! But it's all right. And now, just say ho

ch now. Would you care to lunch at the same table, and we can

u're halfway to dessert. I remember just what that bag was like, because-maybe you've forgotten-I picked it up in the hotel hall when you dropped it. I can s

es," sai

ll, I'll be back

's miniature. On the gold back of this frame there was an inscription: "Angela, on her eleventh birthday, from her father. The day before she sails." And it was because of the inscri