"You"ll leave when I get to the bottom of this thing! Now, Alma, what new craziness is all this?"
"I am not resenting the word you apply to it," she replied, facing him resolutely. "I did it--and I don"t know why I did it!"
"Did what?"
"I ran away. I did it because the girls dared me to do it. I promised a man I would marry him."
"This man, eh?"
"No. I have told you this is not the man."
"Well, who, then?" Incredulity was mingled with her father"s wrath.
"One of your trusted young gentlemen. Mr. Ralph Bradish."
"Where did you meet him?"
"At the dances."
"Not at our house?"
"I do not know how you are so sure of that, father," she returned, a touch of rather wistful reproach in her tones. "You have left me alone in that house ever since mother went away. But it was not at our house--it was in the public ball-rooms."
"h.e.l.l set to music!" he rasped. "I ought to have realized that you are still an infant!"
"No; I am a woman to-day. I lived a whole lifetime in one night on the ocean. I know you have reason to be ashamed of me. But I"ll never give you cause for shame again. Now what are you going to say to this man who saved my life--who did more than that? He saved me from myself!"
Marston narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Mayo. "I don"t understand this thing yet! The story doesn"t ring right." He turned on his daughter.
"How did this man save your life? Be quick and be short!"
He interrupted her in the middle of her eager recital. He had been scowling while she talked, staring into vacancy in meditation.
"A story-book tale!" he declared, impatiently, and yet there was a shade of insincerity in that impatience. "I would be bitterly ashamed of you, Alma, if you had run away as you are trying to make me believe. But--"
"Don"t you believe me?"
"Silence! But this trumped-up story is too transparent. You are still acting the fool in the matter of this person, here. Now see here, my man, you are here to-day on the _Montana_ affair. Isn"t that so?"
"It is, sir."
"I was sure of it. How did you dare to sneak into that job after I had discharged you from the _Olenia_?"
"There was no sneaking to it! I was hired by Mr. Fogg and I--"
"You may be sure that I did not know you were on board the _Montana_.
But I cannot attend to all the details of my business. You realize, don"t you, that you are a fugitive from justice?"
"I am a scapegoat for the dirty dogs who operate for you!"
"That"s enough! I am investigating this matter now? Sit down in that chair!"
Mayo obeyed, lulled by the a.s.surance.
"Alma, you go home!"
"I am going to stay here, father, until Captain Mayo--"
"I have listened to all the falsehoods I propose to hear!" This rejoinder astounded his two listeners. "I see into this matter clear to the bottom. I am amazed that you should think such a silly yarn would deceive me for a moment." He had pressed one of the b.u.t.tons. To the man who opened the door he said: "Tell Mr. Bradish that I want to see him here at once. He is in the office, isn"t he?"
"Yes, sir! I will inform him."
Mayo and the girl exchanged eloquent looks; they had been leaving Mr.
Bradish out of their calculations; they had discarded him from their thoughts; that he had had the effrontery to reappear in the Marston & Waller offices was news indeed.
Marston took the girl by the arm and led her toward a door. "I tell you to go home!" he cried, angrily, stopping her protests. "No, you are going by this side door. I do not believe one word you have told me.
It"s all a transparent attempt to continue your folly. I"ll know how to look after you from now on!" He closed the door behind her and locked it.
"I swear this is all true, sir," pleaded Mayo. "I"m not trying to deceive you through your daughter. I did not understand what she intended to say. I want my rights as a man who has been tricked, abused--"
Mr. Bradish appeared, bowing respectfully. He was once more part of the smooth machinery of the Marston & Waller offices. He was pale, calm, cool, subdued master of his emotions as the employees of Julius Marston were trained to be.
"Did you ever see this man before? Of course you never did!" prompted the financier.
"I never saw him before, sir."
"Certainly not! What have you to say to the ridiculous, nonsensical story that you attempted to elope with my daughter?"
Not by a flicker of the eyelids did the imperturbable maker of million-dollar checks show confusion.
"If such a lie needs denial from me I most firmly do deny it, sir."
"You cheap renegade!" roared the captain.
"That will do, Mr. Bradish!"
The clerk obeyed the wave of his master"s hand and retired quickly.
"Mr. Marston," raved Mayo, "I"m fighting for all that"s worth while to me in life. My reputation as a master mariner, my chance to make a living in my work. I was a fool on board your yacht! With all my soul I am penitent. I will-"
"Enough! Don"t you dare to discuss my own daughter with me!"
"I don"t intend to, sir. I"m going to believe that you don"t know what your understrappers have done to me. You only see results. But find out what is being done in your name, Mr. Marston. Some day it will be bad for you if you don"t stop "em."
"Is that a threat?"
"It"s only my appeal for justice. My G.o.d, sir--"
"There"s justice waiting for you."