The Cricket Part 42

Mr. Cartel looked back frequently.

When Isabelle came to a place wide enough to turn she retraced her steps. She went back to the inn determined to discover who Mr. Cartel's special companion was. The groom furnished it, for a price:

"Mrs. Andrews was with him, Miss. She mostly is."

Sat.u.r.day night was the weekly hop, the most festive occasion of the week. Max had given Isabelle orders that she could not sit up for dances, as she was still a schoolgirl. The girl made no protest.

"Hops don't interest me," she said, indifferently.

After dinner she took a few turns on the piazza with Wally before she went to bed. She wore an odd, white crepe frock, which hung very close.

Her hair was bound round her head like a cap.

"Let's sneak in and have the first dance together," said Wally; "Max has a beau."

"All right; then I'll skip," agreed Isabelle.

With the first strains of music they swung into a waltz. They danced well, and enjoyed it.

"Go to bed," ordered Max as she pa.s.sed them.

Isabelle saw Mr. Cartel idly glance in, then at sight of her he came to the door and watched them.

"Some dance, Miss Bryce. Much obliged. Sorry you have to leave us," said Wally as the dance was over.

Cartel strolled off down the hall, and a few seconds later she followed him. She saw him saunter into one of the many little rooms used for cards, or tea. She noticed it was not lighted and, on the impulse of the moment, she stepped in after him.

In a second she was caught and lifted in strong arms. She was kissed again and again, while he said laughingly:

"You little devil, you came after all."

"I wonder who you are," said Isabelle sweetly, "and who you think I am."

"Thunder!" said Mr. Cartel, holding her off, and trying to peer at her.

"There must be some mistake," Isabelle suggested. "I will ask you to stand just where you are, until I have time to get into the elevator.

That will save us both any embarra.s.sment."

"But I don't understand," he mumbled. "I do beg your pardon, I thought----"

"Give me three minutes; and I rely on you not to peep into the hall,"

she said, with a chuckle. And was gone, leaving the actor-manager more at a loss than such events usually found him.

Now whether Mr. Cartel peeped or not, the next day he recalled a previous meeting with Wally, and asked to be presented to his daughter.

"Haven't we met before, Miss Bryce?" he asked, giving her a very special look.

"No," she replied, with the faintest suspicion of a taunt in her tone.

"I was under the impression that we had."

"I'm sure I couldn't forget."

"Are you enjoying yourself here?"

"Not especially."

"What do you enjoy, Miss Bryce?"

"Excitement."

"Couldn't we find you some?"

"You might," with the slightest accent on the p.r.o.noun.

"Let's try," he countered.

From that moment he devoted himself to the "little Bryce girl." He rode with her, walked with her, talked with her, roared with amus.e.m.e.nt over her _diablerie_, until all tongues clacked about it. Mrs. Andrews left, in a huff.

"You've got to stop it, Wally," Max ordered. "Every one is talking."

"How can I stop it? You never should have brought her here."

"Well, I'm not going to leave because she makes a fool of herself, so you can just take a hand."

About this time a group of enthusiasts decided to get up an entertainment.

With fear and trembling they asked the great actor to take part.

"How would you like to act a play with me, Cricket?" he asked her, in the tone of a G.o.d condescending to mortal.

"It would amuse me," she replied.

He laughed.

"This to the great Cartel!" said he, modestly. "Do you know that the finest actresses in America esteem it a privilege to act with me?"

She grinned.

"There are women in this hotel who would give their eyes for the chance," he added.

"I need my eyes for seeing my way about," she drawled.

Well as she managed him she was greatly excited at the prospect of acting with him. She had a dreadful row with Max and Wally on the subject, but she won out, and the announcement was made that the great man would put on a Shaw playlet, a.s.sisted by the "little Bryce girl."

There followed days of rehearsal and preparation, during which Mr.

Cartel tried to impress his amateur leading lady, and succeeded not at all.

"That's not the way to do it!" he thundered at her repeatedly.