The Port of Adventure

ag. He had pledged himself to "see the thing through," but he had reasons-immense

he police. All they could do was to get a description of the people who had called between the times of Mrs. May's going

bag alone, or a thousand with the contents intact. Then he went back and had lunch with Mrs. May, which was, without exception, the most exquisite experience of his life. Yet he did not

he inscription on Angela's miniature frame. He woul

ws of the missing bag. There wer

hen inquired at what time the shops closed. He was told; and consu

st jewellery store in this

me, and scribbling three or four names on hi

as if he had something to conceal. "Kind made of

ly which struck his fancy, and was off like

seemed the duplicate of Mrs. May's except that the stones al

he. "I'll come back to tell you whether I'll tak

at that bag," said the attendant. "If he

you make for h

seventy-five doll

in, and if I take it I'll pay eight hundred. If I don't,

s that way. But I guess I can promise to ke

thin ten minutes, though they were at some dista

es instead of emeralds," he announced, somewhat breathlessly, wiping

u want it?" as

ing by ten o'cl

impos

it out of the dictionary up my way. Offer your men what the

gold bag every day; and a point was stretched to gratify the

know the difference." And Nick began to rejoice that the old bag would never be found. It would be splendid to know that she was using

is the first real fun I've got out of my money. Mighty good thing money is-though I used not to know it mattered. Dollars, even if I'd a mil

. He might not have learned that exquisite detail if she had not given him the diamond frame to hold as security. And to be sure of his security he was keeping it in a pocket over his heart. He knew that this was sentimental, but he did not care a red cent! Indeed, he gloried in it. Soon all would be over, for she was of a world different from his, and presently she would vanish back to her own high place, wherever that mig

is luck should hold. She would probably be dining in her own sitting-room, or else she would have had enough of his company earlier in the day. But no, there she was in the restaurant, at the same table where they had lunched together; and after all everything arr

aps purposely, perhaps by accident-they said singularly little about their own affairs, their past lives, or future intentions.

like a schoolgirl. "Of course, on top of that, it's nothing at all that I should invite him to lunch and

there was something about him that inspired confidence. She felt that through him she might retrieve her bag; and, if, by chance, the money were intact she could pay him what she owed. He would then return the miniature frame, and it would not be

st ten precisely, a note was

d to him that he might), and informed her primly that the bag had arrived. Also it inq

er. She knew enough about him now to understand that it was shyness and ignorance of social customs; but earlier she might have th

me to my sitting-room,"

ed, his manner strained in a pa

aimed, as they shook hands. "I'm sure I have your

iantly. "The police of this

find it?" she

ooked

explained. "The thing required is that we don't ask questio

is eyes were not anxious, Nick took from his pocket a gold bag whose dia

superficial glance at the bag itself. "Wh

se, nor the check-book. I'm mighty sorry, but they're bo

didn't think I had quite so much! How queer the money should have come back without the purse it

Nick solemnly. "And I guess a lady can't always

e glanced again at the outside of the bag, and Nick's heart ju

iberty of having it cleaned up be

he sto

be put back in again," said Nick

ad taken out

d, anyhow-so

ions! It's the most myste

ases where 'the least said so

ho took the bag, a

make the best of a bad business. I

eful. Only-it's very strange. I s

ath of that, anyhow.

d cast my bread on the waters and it had returned-buttered. One good

this transaction, and it wa

leaving yourself e

dy I've written the bank to have money to meet me there, and it will be in

he drew the miniature frame out from an inside pocket of his coat. "I kept it there so as to be sure it was saf

fornia, she had no association with that part of the State, and it seemed improbable to Angela that she should ever meet the handsome forest creature again. As she had no home

, which would be hers all the way to Los Angeles. Kate, who was to have a berth in the same car, arranged her mistress's things, and beamed with excitement and joy.

as big as Mrs. May's cabin on the ship. A white silk dressing-gown hung from a hook. The gold-backed brushes

flowers come fr

e," said Kate. "Perhaps the railway p

uble in getting the lilies placed in the right room. And it was like him not to have come forward himself to bid her

of the South as it had been in old days. It was an interesting story and held her attention so closely that she was late in go