They sat alone in the half-light.
Stanfield's married sister had taken Christine off earlier in the
evening, to a concert. Mrs. Braddock, in a spirit of whimsicality,
forbore mentioning the appearance of David to the girl, planning to
surprise her when she returned from the concert. If David was
disappointed at not finding her, he went to considerable pains to hide
the fact from the mother. As a matter of fact he was secretly
relieved, strange as it may seem, after the first shock of
disappointment. Christine's absence was providential, after all. He
had ugly news for Mrs. Braddock; he could wait on the opportunity to
see Christine, but what he had to say to the mother could not be put
off for a moment.
He had gone at once to his room in the hotel after leaving Mrs.
Braddock at the ferry. He was startled almost out of his boots by the
discovery that Dick Cronk was there ahead of him, calmly occupying the
easiest chair and reading the evening paper. A skeleton key had
provided the means of admission to the room; a brave heart and cunning
brain did the rest.
Dick's news created great unrest in David's breast.
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