The Port of Adventure

s a blush of gui

and Angela hated to be ungracious. All the youth in her was glad to see him again; but all

it was a surprise to him, almost hoping that he might say so, beca

did not sit down again until she was seated. Now he disappointed Angela by

e stern, and she decide

u for what?

nswered to the fir

ean your being in this train? Surely

train to-day, anyhow," he began bravely. "The fact is, I came on board meanin' to try and make you think so, without exactly tellin' lies. But you've asked me a straight question, and I've just got to answer it straight, even if you refuse to speak to me ever again. I'm here because you're here, Mrs. May

ooking him full in the face with her dark-lashed, slate-gra

hing for the first angel I ever met on earth. But please don't be worrying, Mrs. May. This ain't any hold-up

was mine. But-I don't understand yet. I think it would hav

I'm here," Nick blurted out. "I guess

ame to New Orle

made me do it. Something stronger than I am. You were a kind of dissolving view, and I coul

t?" Angela's sweet v

bureau of the

at quite-co

so bad as you think. I inquired as if from

the night of the burglar, when she had been drowned in the gold waves of her hair, the angel of his dreams. "But you may go on about the rest," she added hastily, when

hrough, so I took the first train I could get when that business was wound up. And in

t w

if I was your hired man. Just to see you through, from a distance, to know you were all right, and-and not to lose sight of you. I-of c

be as angry as she ought to be. "That you should have left New York, after being ther

uce, but the San Franciscan lawyer, lying far away in a New York hospit

lin' you this," he said. "But as things w

t, busily thinki

n at the next stop, if I

ther. His name's Morehouse, and when he was taken sick, I went to see him, and-and had a little talk-all the nurses would let me have. I wanted him to write a note I could give you in New Orleans, but he wasn't strong enough. He did say I could men

shed for him. "I beg your pardon! Still I don't see why you should t

, I should be mighty thankful. I promise to switch off till you send for me. I'm in the next ca

y ends there? Did Mr. More

s. May had the notion to see California; and I

ld," remarked Angela coldly, making a s

oo crushed by the angel's displeasure to be f

you to come, and knowing Mr. Henry Morehouse-of whom I never heard till after I landed-doesn't make it much more-sensible. I

t I've made a mistake, Mrs. May. There's no use sayin' I do; for, in spit

onfessor, but it can be embarrassing for the one confessed to. You oughtn't to have told me why y

ht so long-unless I lied

n with the menu, and saved her from answering. She or

reproached him again. "What would people think if you went away in the midst of dinner? There's a man opposite staring at us now! You're not as tactful as you were the nigh

ray matter," said Nick. "I feel riddled with bullets, and they've hit me right where I live. I-I suppose you'll never forgi

past." Angela relented. "But not even for that quite yet. And

cken," Nic

had never known before that a man could be wildly happy and desperately miserable at the same time, but now he knew. And he would not

tly about this whole affair in Europe. It's so easy to feel conventional in places where you've always lived, and where you know everybody. Or is it only because this man's so different from any one else? I thought I wa

g an occasional sentence concerning the scenery, or, as a last resort, the weather, to her chastened companion. "But it's difficult to snub a person who's saved your life and lent you money and found

unrepentant. "It's a tough proposition I'm up against," he thought, "but a man's as good as his

d found absorbing earlier in the day. It seemed irrelevant somehow; and though there was no reason why they should do so, her own affairs appeared m

thoughts retu

there had been only twenty-eight altogether! She was sure of that. She had counted them before, in absent-minded moments. What could this mean? Suddenly an explanation of what it might mean flashed into her head. The theory seemed too elaborate-yet it would account for the mystery Hilliard had made of the whole matter, and his anxiety that she should not interview the police, or come into contact with them. And the five hundred dollars-more money than ought to have been in the bag. She recalled now having mentioned that sum in telling of her loss. And the forest creature had said that he "knew exactly what

a Mr. Hilliard," she announced when the porter arri

e," replied the elderly negro, trotting off to c

o soon, had drifted into the observation car; but

ge?" he inquired. "My name's Millard. Wha

ond tiara. "She sure is the prettiest young lady I evah see, sah," said he. "Most ob dese wite ladies look jest ali

Millard she inquired for," said the gentlem

saw at her stateroom door a man as different as night from day-the man who had stared in the dining-car. He had a dyed black

y. "I'm Mr. Millard. I think you sent f

lard showed signs of seeking an excuse to linger, but none was granted. Even Timmy was in a dangerous mood,

Orleans?" Angela said to Kate. "He's in the car between this and the dinin

. May did not mention Mr. Millard.

not my

itself. "It is your

ones. This has thirty. Ho

's a question for the police." She had scolded him

nsist, Mr. Hilliard, that you give me the whole

here was a myst

t was of your making. A little while ago you asked me to forgive you. Don

wouldn't forgive me beca

Nick realized that it would be worse than useless to ask why. Quee

this bag,"

e now it can be harder to tell lies than truth to some people. I can't tell one to you," the prisoner in the

llars!-your money. How idiotic of me-and how you must have laughed

ughing in my life than I d

four hundred; and another hundred besides. That makes up the five. And t

got to give it back?" Nick's ey

l. This is beyond everything!

ow it was your

ecessary for me to tel

hand. He let the thing drop, and at the instant of its fall Kate returned, hovering uncertainly.

g isn't mine after all, though they look so much alike. Pl

resence. He dived for the bag, and, pale and troubled, handed it to Kate. "It seems this has got to be mine," he

w it out the window? What all them jewels and gold would mean to me and Tim-the differenc

has ceased to be my

bag away, sir, if I say no t

d su

mp, when 'twould buy Tim and me a home. You must be a

drowned in gloom. "Thank you very much for taking it. It's real kind

ould not see him. And without

go on by another; or to return to New York and do what he could to forget the hard-hearted angel. But he did not leave the train. He we

tin' him throw away the beautiful bag?" Kate coaxed her mistr

ped you would refuse. I'd no right to dictate when it meant your sacrificing a lo

I didn't know the bag was worth the half of

ld only be a scene. He'd

he first big city where we're stopping ma'am," she said, w

dining-car. The following day at luncheon, however, he was going out as she came in. She bowed to him coldly, but her heart beat as if something exciting had happened. That night she forgot to set back her watch, and so went to dinner earlier than usual. Not far ahead, also bound for the dining-car, was Mr. Hilliard. She disliked the large tables laid for four; an

kson Hilliard. He turned and saw invitation in her eyes. "I'm keeping your chair

as quietly as if it ha

oy you?" he asked, d

"But I preferred yo

race should be seen and not heard, was silent. When Mrs. May had finished a light meal, she unbent far enough to say: "I

ch a good many miles from Bakersfield. "I

een overheard by Mr. Millard. He had seated himself at a table close by, and now glanced up

s Angeles, she had cause to remember this incident, for Millard was on the car steps, just in front of her. H

s going on farther. You're English, I guess; and if you haven't got

, glancing about for her black friend. But doubtless Mr. Millard had cl

u, and get a carriage," said Millard, whose legitimat

only in time to have it taken in a business-like manner by Nick, wh

ving yourself a little unnecessary trou

ing on," stammered the

looked dangerous, and Mr. Millard thought best

Nick put her and Kate into a carriage which he had secured. "Good-bye; I su

riendly, half reluctant, and as Nick s

"Now I've made you miss yo

an get another train by and by-when I want it," he adde