Officer 666 Part 17

He had taken possession of the whole hand now and pointed with a long, ominous forefinger to the centre of the palm.

"Which line?" inquired Sadie, eagerly, getting her head very close to his as she pried into the plump, practically lineless palm.

"That one," said Barnes, impressively.

"No."

"Don't you see that it starts almost at your wrist?"

"Now I see. Yes. What of it?"

"Why it runs 'way round the b.u.mp, or, that is--the b.u.mp of Venus."

"What does that mean?" asked Sadie innocently.

"Oh, a lot. You are very affectionate--and extremely shy."

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Sadie, amazed at the young man's stupendous skill.

"Now here's a cunning little line," he pursued. "That shows something too."

"Does it show how to stop the elopement?" asked Sadie, ingenuously, but making no effort to withdraw her hand.

"Yes, and it shows that you and your friend are"---- He paused to allow Sadie to fill the gap, and she did.

"Cousins--and we live with Auntie--and we've been in New York a month."

"And your cousin hasn't known Gladwin long?"

"Only two weeks." Sadie was really awed.

"That's right--two weeks; and she met him at the"----

He said to himself that here was a little game that beat any other known sport to flinders.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "NOW HERE'S A CUNNING LITTLE LINE", HE PURSUED. "THAT SHOWS SOMETHING TOO."]

"At a sale of old pictures and art objects," said Sadie, supremely confident that he was reading her mind.

"A sale of pictures, of course," Barnes led her on.

"Yes, she was bidding on a picture and he whispered to her that it was a copy--a fraud, and not to buy it. That was the way they got acquainted. But he wouldn't let her tell auntie anything about him."

"Just a moment," cried Barnes. "Here's a bit of good luck. I'd almost overlooked that line."

Sadie was on fire with curiosity and looked eagerly into his eyes.

"You meet a dark man--and he prevents the elopement."

"Perhaps that's you!" exclaimed the delighted girl, withdrawing her hand and jumping to her feet.

"I'm sure it is," said Barnes, nodding his head.

"Oh, I'm so glad."

"But wait," said Barnes, going very close to her. "Please pay attention to every word I say. _Do all you can to get your cousin to change her mind; then, if she won't, tell your aunt. But don't tell her until the last minute, and--but here's your cousin._"

CHAPTER XIX.

HELEN LEAVES AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.

Helen Burton and Travers Gladwin were almost at the door leading from the treasure room when the young man stopped and confronted the girl, whose eyes were still bright with the anger he had kindled in them. He smiled rather sheepishly as he said:

"Suppose I were to tell you that I am Travers Gladwin and that the other Travers Gladwin with whom you think you are in love is not Travers Gladwin at all?"

Her lip curled and she regarded him scornfully. But she said nothing.

He went on into the other room, holding back the portiere for her to follow.

"Why don't you answer my question?" he insisted as she pa.s.sed him.

"It is much too silly," she said sharply. Then in a different tone to her cousin, who still stood by Whitney Barnes, with her color coming and going by turns:

"Oh, Sadie, why didn't you come with us? Travers has the most wonderful things."

"Then you are not going to answer my question?" Travers Gladwin asked again.

"I said it was much too silly," the girl returned with increasing vehemence. Gladwin came forward and explained to Barnes and Sadie:

"I have been asking Miss--er--I've been asking how she'd take to the idea of my being Travers Gladwin."

Helen was now thoroughly aroused as she turned:

"Why do you persist in asking such a question?"

"I was wondering," he said quickly, "whether you were in love with the man or the name."

"Have I given you the impression"----she began, haughtily, scarcely able to control her anger.

"Yes, you have," he said warmly, and with all the dramatic emphasis he could command. "I am afraid you were thinking more of that rescue at Narragansett and your desire to be free of poor Mr. Hogg than you were of--of my poor friend."

This insult was more than she could endure. She turned her back to address Whitney Barnes.

"Shall you be here when Travers returns?" she said imperiously.