She looked very cool, very
fresh, very much the fine lady. All in all, she seemed a person
whose friendly interest might compensate for many woes.
"Well!" she remarked. "You do seem to be in trouble. What does it
mean?"
Kirk told her everything without reserve, then showed her the
newspapers in his hand. She scrutinized them with a quiet
seriousness that seemed to make his trouble her own. "After all,"
she said at last, "if worse comes to worst, you can prove your
innocence."
"I'm not so sure."
"Nonsense! Those boys can be found. What puzzles me is that Locke
person. Who is he? Why was he followed? What has become of him?"
"I wish I knew."
"I can have inquiries made, but it will take time. Meanwhile, it
seems you are safe, so the one important fact for the moment is
that you are cast off." Turning her bright eyes upon him, she
inquired, "How does it feel to be disinherited?"
"Blamed uncomfortable! I must tell Mr. Cortlandt at once."
"Let me," she offered, quickly. "I would not show any one that
letter, if I were you, nor advertise the fact that you are in
danger of arrest. It will be quite enough if I tell him that you
have quarrelled with your father--he is a peculiar man."
Kirk signified his agreement.
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