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Page 16
Murray stood looking at her admiringly as she deftly shoved the pins
into her hat. Then he held her coat, which brought them close
together.
"It will soon be time for the final scene," he remarked. His manner
was different as he looked down at her. "We must succeed,
Constance," he went on slowly. "Of course, after it is over, it will
be impossible for me to remain here with this company. I have been
looking around. I must--we must clear ourselves. I already have an
offer to go with another company, much better than this position in
every way--honest, square, with no dirty work, such as I have had
here."
It was a moment that Constance had foreseen, without planning what
she would do. She moved to the door as if to go.
"Take dinner with me to-night at the Riverside," he went on,
mentioning the name of a beautifully situated inn uptown overlooking
the lights of the Hudson and thronged by gay parties of pleasure
seekers.
Before she could say no, even though she would have said it, he had
linked his arm in hers, banged shut the door and they were being
whisked to the street in the elevator.
This time, as they were about to go out of the building, she noticed
Drummond standing in the shadow of a corner back of the cigar
counter on the first floor. She told Murray of the times she had
seen Drummond following her. Murray ground his teeth.
"He'll have to hustle this time," he muttered, handing her quickly
into a cab that was waiting for a fare.
Before he could give the order where to drive she had leaned out of
the window, "To the ferry," she cried.
Murray looked at her inquiringly. Then he understood. "Not to the
Riverside--yet," she whispered. "That man has just summoned a cab
that was passing."
In her eyes Murray saw the same fire that had blazed when she had
told him he was running away from a fight that had not yet begun. As
the cab whirled through the now nearly deserted downtown streets, he
reached over in sheer admiration and caressed her hand. She did not
withdraw it, but her averted eyes and quick breath told that a
thousand thoughts were hurrying through her mind, divided between
the man in the cab beside her and the man in the cab following
perhaps half a block behind.
At the ferry they halted and pretended to be examining a time table,
though they bought only ferry tickets. Drummond did the same, and
sauntered leisurely within easy distance of the gate. Nothing seemed
to escape him, and yet never did he seem to be watching them.
The gateman shouted "All aboard!"
The door began to close.
"Come," she tugged at his sleeve.
They dodged in just in time. Drummond followed. They started across
the wagonway to the opposite side of the slip. He kept on the near
side. Constance swerved back again to the near side. Drummond had
been opposite them and they had now fallen in behind him. He was now
ahead, but going slowly. Murray felt her pulling back on his arm.
With a little exclamation she dropped her purse, which contained a
few coins. She had contrived to open it, and the coins ran in every
possible direction. Drummond was now on the boat.
"All aboard," growled the guard surlily. "All aboard."
"Go ahead, go ahead," shouted Murray, trying to pick up the
scattered change and scattering it the more. At last he understood.
"Go ahead. We'll take the next boat. Can't you see the lady has
dropped her purse?"
The gates closed. The warning whistle blew, and the ferryboat,
departed, bearing off Drummond alone.
Another cab toot them to the Riverside. A new bond of experience had
been established between them. They dined quietly and as the lights
grew mellow she told him more of her story than she had ever
breathed to any other living soul.
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