NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS
Eleanor was not to be seen when a young man came in the room and was
joyously welcomed by everyone present. Tom Latimer had disappeared also,
a short time before this, and Polly was sitting in the wide seat built in
the window, staring out over the roofs of the buildings without seeing a
thing.
The delighted exclamations from those in the room, however, drew her
attention, and she was rejoiced to see Paul Stewart shaking hands with
those crowding about him. So Polly left her shadowy retreat and ran over
to welcome him, too.
Paul was saying: "Isn't it too jolly of John to send me East for the
Holidays, by making me power-of-attorney for the Stock-holders meeting
the first of January. That was the only way I could have come--by having
my fare paid!" Paul laughed because they all knew of his financial
problems, and how he was striving to win success that he might propose to
Eleanor.
Polly felt annoyed because she was sure Eleanor had led Tom to the den
that she might advise him further in his love-affairs. And it was this
interference by Eleanor, that roused much of Polly's indifference or
impatience towards Tom. Now she felt she had been given a good
opportunity to square accounts with her chum.
Paul and she were standing alone for a moment, when she saw him looking
about for someone. She gave the desired cue: "You'll find Nolla with Tom,
enjoying a tete-a-tete in Mr. Dalken's little den across the hallway,
Paul."
As she watched Paul hurriedly excuse himself, she experienced a new
sensation--that of gratified revenge on a friend. She walked about the
room, apparently looking at the pictures, but really to reach the hall
without attracting attention. Once she got out of the room, she made a
dash for a shadowy corner made by an old ormolu secretaire between the
two doors. She could see into the den and watch Paul's next action.
Two huge Turkish chairs were drawn up before the fire-place but the
electric lights were out and only the candles on the tables near the door
were lighted. The leaping flames of the logs burning in the fire-place
threw dancing shadows over the two occupants of the chairs, but anyone
standing near the door could not see who these occupants were.
Paul crept stealthily over to the chairs, planning to surprise his two
old friends--believing Tom to be one, and Eleanor the other. He lifted
his hands with the intention of clapping them over Eleanor's eyes to make
her guess who was there, when he heard words that rooted him to the spot.
Polly saw but could not hear, so she lost the best part of her
retaliation on Eleanor.
Just as Paul was about to bring down his palms over Eleanor's eyes, a
strange voice murmured intensely: "You know how I feel about it, Nolla.
This love is so absorbing that I cannot give my attention to studies, or
to any other important matter. If I am treated to second place, now that
another lover is at hand, I will clear out of New York and never be heard
from again. In fact, I am going to purposely throw myself in the way of
danger and end it all!"
Paul realized that another man had found his treasure and had been
encouraged, or why should he be saying "given second-place now that
another lover is at hand?" And it was evident that someone knew of his,
Paul's, proposed visit, as _this_ young man knew of his coming to see
Eleanor.
Such is the mortal's egotism! One never thinks of others in connection
with a selfish hope or idea, but believes that anything seen or heard
must appertain to that one thing. So Paul thought Eleanor was the love
this young man referred to, and that she had given him second-place
because of Paul's coming.
These thoughts flitted through his mind as young Baxter concluded, and
Eleanor waited a moment before answering. Then she said with a sigh:
"Dear Jack, a mild little flirtation never hurt any real case of love,
and I've told you many times, that a game of love like this would improve
or become fatal, because of such a flirtation. Like anti-toxin--it
_kills_ the germs or makes them wild so that no further doubt remains
about the patient. Let's use the hypodermic courageously and watch
results. If the love-germ dies, then go and throw yourself on the
railroad track and end your troubles. But should the opposite effect
result, you can always think of me as the specialist who advised the
heroic treatment!"
Paul was shocked to hear his "angel-girl" talk of her love in such a
dreadfully frank way, but the suitor's next sentence left no doubt in
Paul's mind that Eleanor was a horrid flirt.
"Well, Nolla, you must know best. Paul has been in love with you for a
long time, now, and you've had many young admirers since you came to New
York; so you understand and appreciate my present position and my right
to demand one thing or the other--either _I_ am the accepted one, or the
other man. Both of us cannot be kept dangling about, nor take turns in
loving when the other is absent from New York."
Paul was distressed at hearing this--that Eleanor could accept the
attentions of other men when he, Paul, was so hard at work out West,
trying to succeed in his profession that he might offer her a suitable
home! Now she was flirting with others, and this young man was
heart-broken over her short-comings, even as he, Paul, was.
Polly saw Paul wheel and rush from the room, and immediately after that,
Eleanor and Jack jumped up from the chairs and gazed at the door where
the intruder had disappeared. When Polly saw who Eleanor's companion was,
she gasped in astonishment, for she believed it was Tom sitting before
the fire.
Had Polly hurried after Paul, to explain matters to him, all would have
ended well that evening, but she went to the room where her wraps had
been left and sat down to think out the problem. Meantime, Paul found Mr.
Dalken and drew him aside to say:
"Don't ask questions, and don't try to stop me, but I am going away as
quick as I can. I'm through with girls for all time. They're not to be
trusted when a man's absent. I'm going to live for my mother, hereafter,
and make her life happy."
Mr. Dalken was taken by surprise, because he had no key to this new
puzzle, but he said: "Do wait, my boy, and have some refreshments with
us. I have so much to ask you about the mine."
"No--no! I can't stay. The mine isn't my affair anyway, and I was a fool
to coax John to give me power-of-attorney to come East for him. Now I'm
rushing back and he can send Tom Latimer the affidavit necessary for the
meeting in January."
"Now, now, Paul! You are a hot-headed young fellow and I feel sure
matters can be explained quickly, if you will but wait!"
Paul scowled and stiffened his spine as he replied: "Mr. Dalken, I heard
with my own ears, that Nolla is infatuated with another young man. She
said, _and I_ heard her say it: 'She was not certain which one of us she
preferred but the test would show if she used a good dose of anti-toxin
to help the germ! But I'm no 'second fiddle' even if that other fellow
is! If a girl can't tell whether she loves me without using hypodermics
to help her find out, then she's no wife for me! Maybe I'm a wild and
woolly westerner from Denver, but believe me! we westerners never stand
around waiting for a bit to be forced between our teeth."
Mr. Dalken could hardly restrain his sudden desire to laugh, but he
averted his head for a moment and covered his face with a handkerchief
until he composed his risibles, then he said: "Still, I am sure I can
mediate in this case, Paul. Only stay and let me inquire."
"I guess not! No one can mediate between me and a flirt! I am through, I
say, and I'm going home!"
So saying Paul thrust out his hand and Mr. Dalken had to take it.
"Good-by, and say good-by to the others for me. This much I want you to
do, as I will not see them again!"
Mr. Dalken went to the door with his excited guest and saw him go down on
the elevator, then he rushed madly back to the telephone and ordered the
man to detain the departing guest. Back to the den where he had seen
Eleanor standing with Jack, was his next act, and dragging both out of
the apartment and along the hall to the elevator, he pushed the button
furiously.
While the wondering attendant was coming up, Mr. Dalken said: "What in
the name of conscience did you two crazy creatures do or say to Paul
Stewart, to drive him frantic?"
Jack stared in ignorance of what his guardian meant, but Eleanor gazed as
if she thought Mr. Dalken had suddenly gone mad. The elevator stopped at
their floor, and the man opened the gate. Mr. Dalken pulled his two
companions on, and the man started down again.
All this time, Eleanor was speechless with doubt of Mr. Dalken's sanity
but the elevator man turned to him and said: "The young man I just took
down, refused to remain. He said he would arrest anyone who tried to
detain him against his will."
Mr. Dalken ran his hands through his hair and rolled his eyes upward.
Turning to Eleanor he hissed: "What _did_ you say to Paul to make him act
like a man in torment?"
"Paul! Are you crazy, Mr. Dalken?" asked Eleanor, fearfully.
"No, but _you_ must be to throw over such a sweetheart. You'll wait a
long time before you get another like him, even though I do like Jack
immensely, and will further his case when he meets the right girl. I'm
sure you are not the right one, and you ought to know it, from what you
told me yourself, yesterday. Can't you see that Jack thinks he loves
Polly, just because she won't have him?"
"Of course I understand!" retorted Eleanor, but annoyed that her plot to
bring Polly and Tom together again was exposed.
"Then why in the name of heavens did you send Paul away believing it was
_you_ that Jack wanted?"
Before an answer could be given, the elevator reached the ground floor
and the man quickly opened the doors. Out in the vestibule the
telephone-operator was button-holing a young man and using every
persuasion to detain him.
Jack Baxter had never seen Paul so he did not recognize him now. But
Eleanor did, and she stood stock-still in such surprise that Mr. Dalken
ran ahead without her.
"Paul, Paul! I knew you had made a mistake. Eleanor is here to explain
everything," said he, taking the place of the amazed servant.
"What can she explain that will change my opinion of her?" scorned Paul,
sending a cold look at poor Eleanor.
"Nolla, come here, Paul wants you to explain," begged Mr. Dalken, beside
himself.
Her first surprise at finding Paul Stewart in New York _and in the
house_, passed over and Eleanor forgot Jack and everything else, as she
rushed forward to welcome her old sweetheart.
"Paul--Oh Paul! When did _you_ come?" cried she.
But Paul's haughty stare stopped her when she was not ten inches from
him. He turned to Mr. Dalken and said: "Now that you've broken your word
with me, you had best explain."
"_I_ broken my word! I never gave my word to anything that is broken.
Remember, Paul, you may be a hot-headed impulsive youth, but you cannot
make such sweeping accusations without grounds for them. I am so sorry
for you in your disappointment that I will excuse you this time, however,
and explain for your benefit, that I caught hold of Jack and Nolla after
you left and dragged them down here without 'breaking my word' as you
claim, or any other unhonorable deed. Unless you consider getting at the
truth is unprincipled." Mr. Dalken was stern and dignified in his
self-justification, and Paul had the grace to flush uncomfortably.
Eleanor was standing, uncertain of what was best to do in this strange
meeting. She had felt over-joyed a moment before, to find Paul there, but
now she wondered why he was so angry, and why he had not waited to greet
her, as long as he had been up in the apartment. Baxter, not feeling at
home in this group, turned and asked the man to take him up again.
Mr. Dalken had not seen Jack leave again, so he turned to call him, but
found he had disappeared.
"Nolla, what did you say to Paul when he met you?" demanded the older
man.
"I? Why, Mr. Dalken, I never knew Paul was here. The first hint I had of
something unusual was when you rushed in to drag us downstairs."
Mr. Dalken was puzzled so he turned to Paul. "Then why did you say Nolla
was a flirt and had made a fool of you? I thought she met you and began
to tease, as she does everyone."
"There was no need of her saying anything to me, as I heard her tell,
when she was not aware of my standing behind her chair, that the young
man she was with might prove to be the accepted love after all." Then
Paul repeated the substance of the talk he had overheard between Jack and
Eleanor.
As he concluded, Eleanor laughed hysterically and held out her hands to
Mr. Dalken beseechingly. "Oh, dear Dalky! Can't you see how Paul
misunderstood everything! I was speaking of Jack's case with Polly, and
advising him in regard to Tom. I know Jack is not seriously in love with
Polly, but he fancies himself so, because Polly is so attractive and
indifferent to him. As Jack has always been flattered and made love to by
society girls, this unexpected attitude of Polly's piqued the boy. I did
my best tonight, to show all three of these silly young things where they
stood in this serious matter. And _to think_, I got myself in hot water
for trying to help my friends!" Eleanor unexpectedly broke out in sobs
and leaned her head against Mr. Dalken's shoulder.
Paul began to accuse himself for being a brute, and Mr. Dalken patted
Eleanor's head and said comfortingly: "Never mind, Nolla dear. You'll
learn by bitter experience that the more one interferes in these love
tangles for the sake of helping friends out of their troubles, the more
our friends detest us and we end in falling into snares ourselves."
"Um--don't I know it now!" wept Eleanor, in a muffled voice, because her
mouth was hard against her comforter's coat.
Paul stood uncertain of what to say or do. He shifted his weight from one
foot to the other, and glanced around, but always brought his wandering
eyes back to Eleanor's shaking form.
An interruption, in shape of the entrance of some merry tenants of
another apartment, suddenly caused Mr. Dalken to lift Eleanor's head and
hurry her, with Paul, into the reception room at one end of the main
hall. Here they sat down to have an understanding.
When the facts were fully revealed, Paul was as grateful to Mr. Dalken
for restraining him in his plans to run away, as Eleanor was for his
hasty removal of her from upstairs, to the hall downstairs. And poor Mr.
Dalken was _most_ grateful to find he had made peace between two
disturbed young hearts. He got up and said: "Let's hope you won't curse
me in the future, for this reconciliation. And for goodness' sake! Let me
get upstairs to my guests, and help Taki serve refreshments, or the
oysters will be ruined with stewing, while the wonderful French patties I
got from Del's, will be cold and clammy."
Eleanor laughed, and beckoned Paul to come up again. So the grinning
elevator man carried them up and very considerately accepted the tip Paul
slipped into his palm as he stepped from the lift.
The Japanese butler had not waited for Mr. Dalken, however, and was
passing the famous patties and sandwiches when the three absent members
of the party entered again, and tried to act as if nothing unusual had
happened.
Polly had witnessed Paul's flying departure, and thereafter saw Jack and
Eleanor astounded in the darkened library. When Mr. Dalken rushed in and
dragged them both away, Polly stood open-mouthed and stared after them.
The Jap wisely hurried forward and carefully closed the front door, then
went back to his duties without showing that he had seen the queer
performances of his master, or found Polly standing there, the single
witness of the scene.
Polly still stood in the hall deeply perplexed, when Tom sauntered from
Mr. Dalken's bedroom where he had been smoking a cigarette to steady his
nerves. Now he joined Polly and began a conventional phrase, but was
suddenly interrupted by her.
"What does all this silly behavior mean?" demanded she.
"Do you refer to my behavior?" asked Tom, blandly.
Polly's eyes snapped. "Of course not! Must you always think yourself
first and foremost?"
As this was an unexpected and undeserved slap for Tom, he was still
groping for a clue, when Polly's angry impatience with herself for having
made such a blunder in her calculations about Eleanor and the others,
made her exclaim:
"Well, I can plainly see that Nolla will never make any sort of a
business partner for me! Her foolish head is so turned by beaus, that she
will never settle down until Paul has either spurned her love, or she is
married and divorced again. _Then_ there may be hopes of her attending to
our work."
As Tom was not aware of Paul's sudden appearance and hasty departure, he
still pondered what was best to say to Polly, in her unusual pettish
mood. But she paid no heed to his silence and continued, like most women
will when they have been mistaken, and fear the consequences of an
ill-advised step.
"I declare! if Paul does come back and makes up with Nolla, I shall move
heaven and earth to see that they are safely engaged this time! And that
Jack Baxter, well, I'll make Dalky ship him off to some distant college
so there'll be no further wasting of valuable time with him!"
This last declaration so over-joyed Tom that he found courage to offer a
suggestion. But he was too unwise this time. "You're absolutely right,
Polly dear. That Baxter has nothing better to do than kill time. He never
did a stroke of work in his life, nor did his father before him. Those
young 'lady's men' who live on their ancestor's rewards of labor, never
amount to a row of beans."
Polly stared freezingly at Tom, but he was completely mesmerized with the
romantic picture he was presenting, and so he continued oblivious of his
companion's expression.
"We'll send Baxter flying, after this, and help poor Paul to hold his
place with Nolla. I'll wire Paul to fix it so he can come East for
Christmas, and surprise Nolla. Then we'll all announce a double
engagement, eh?" Tom turned to watch Polly's face as she surely must
second his plan, but he changed his mind when he saw her frown. "As
usual, Tom, you're much too late in your brilliant ideas. Others are
ahead of you. Paul has been here tonight and gone again, and Nolla will
never have any engagement to announce--if she waits for Paul's
declaration.
"As for _me_! My announcements are being engraved now."
Tom caught his breath in consternation at this news. "Your announcements,
Polly! _Oh_, and you jilted me, after all!"
Polly enjoyed turning the knife in the wound, because she felt so
wretched herself for having ruined Eleanor's happiness.
"I could not jilt anyone who never proposed, could I? I have maintained
for a long time, and everyone who knows me is aware of it, too--that I am
engaged to my profession and I have ordered my announcements to that
effect. I propose sending out my business cards the first week of
January!"
The relief to Tom was so great that he sighed aloud: "Oh, thank heavens
for that!"
"I knew you would be glad, Tom; so you see you are sensible after all,
and can thank heaven that you had no cause to be jilted!" laughed Polly,
maliciously, but she felt no satisfaction in this outcome of her
understanding with Tom.