Frank Durham entered the ladies' parlor of the hotel to see a stout,
dressy woman arise, joined by a girlish companion. He recognized both at
once. They were the persons he had taken aboard the launch from the
burning motor boat the afternoon before.
"This is Mr. Durham," spoke Miss Porter, and she smiled in a friendly
way at our hero, while her companion extended her bejeweled hand with a
decided show of welcome.
"I was so overcome by that explosion," said Mrs. Carrington, "that I
just got a glimpse of you. Then that ridiculous fainting away! I have
thanked Miss Porter a dozen times for having had the foresight to obtain
your name and that of your brave young comrades. Now then, Mr. Durham,
if you please, sit down and give an account of yourself."
"In what way, madam?" asked Frank, with an embarrassed smile, and
flushing at the compliment conveyed.
"Why have you not accepted our invitation to come up to the house, as I
requested?" demanded Mrs. Carrington, pretending to be very severe.
"I certainly appreciated your kindness in thinking of me," replied
Frank; "but I have been very much occupied with business and did not
know yesterday how long I would remain at Seaside Park. Then, too, some
friends arrived this afternoon."
"I am used to being obeyed, young man," Mrs. Carrington, with a playful
frown. "I have no doubt, though, that I sent a blundering messenger. Oh,
that Peter of mine! I never know how to place him. He came back
perfectly wild over going into the motion picture business with you. He
has been tormenting me all day long about it. I have told him decidedly
that I should not encourage him in any way.
"To tell you the truth, Mr. Durham, Peter is a sad failure at anything
that requires application and work. I would not do you the injustice of
having you hampered by a person who has no business training and does
not know the value of money. The fact is, Peter has been a great cross
to me of late, and I am now in correspondence with a military school,
with the idea of getting him where a year's discipline may do him some
good."
Frank had not for a moment seriously entertained the thought of taking
Peter Carrington into partnership. He felt immensely relieved, however,
to find that his visitor did not press that phase of the subject.
"I have come, first and foremost," went on the fussy but good-natured
lady, "to thank you for what you did for us. When I think of how near we
were to drowning or burning up it makes me shudder! My friends, who
happened to see your picture in this morning's paper----"
"My picture?" exclaimed Frank, in bewilderment. "What picture, Mrs.
Carrington?"
"Why," cried Mrs. Carrington, "he actually is so modest he hasn't
realized what a hero he has been! I refer to the splendid account of
your bravery in the _Brenton Daily News_."
Brenton was the nearest city, about twenty miles from Seaside Park.
Frank began to get a faint glimmering of the situation now. The reporter
who had snap-shotted him with his camera from the pier must have sent
his story to the paper Mrs. Carrington mentioned.
"I think I have the clipping about the rescue," observed Miss Porter,
groping in her hand bag while her merry eyes twinkled as she observed
the increasing embarrassment of Frank. "Yes, here it is."
Frank only glanced at the clipping that was held forward for his
inspection. He could not help but notice the glowing head line; "A
Signal Act of Bravery," and observe that a very fair picture of himself
in the launch was shown.
"You can have it, Mr. Durham," continued his mischievous tormentor with
a smile. "Your friends are named also in the paper and they may not
dislike honest praise, as you seem to do."
"Now then," broke in Mrs. Carrington, in her self-assertive way, "let me
say what I specially came down here to say. Oh, I was telling about my
friends. They have fairly overwhelmed me with congratulations over my
fortunate escape."
"Yes, and some of them who saw the newspaper account said--what was it,
Mrs. Carrington? You must tell Mr. Durham," declared the younger woman.
"About the handsome picture and what a sensible, thoughtful young man
our rescuer must be?"
"Oh, Mrs. Carrington," pleaded Frank. "I beg of you!--it is I who am
being overwhelmed now. You will make me so vain I will really begin to
think I did something of consequence. Why, there isn't a young fellow
anywhere who wouldn't hasten to help ladies in distress."
"Don't belittle what you did," said Mrs. Carrington, and her face and
tone grew very serious. "You did so much of consequence, Mr. Durham, and
you did it so manfully and nobly that I would not think of affronting
you with any offer of a reward. I fancy I read you deeper than you think
as to that feature. I will say this, however, and I came here especially
to say it, that I am your true friend and I am anxious to help you and
your young companions in a practical, useful way."
"You are very, very kind to say what you do," said Frank earnestly.
"Let me be really kind," suggested Mrs. Carrington, "and I shall be
satisfied. My nephew has told me enough about your business plans to
convince me that you are at a critical point in your career, where a
little capital may be everything to you. I am a wealthy woman, Mr.
Durham. I do not wish to offer you a gift. Simply as a business woman
who has confidence in you, let me know about your affairs and help you
in a business way."
Frank's head drooped. The boy who never flinched from pain or fear was
so deeply moved by the friendly interest of this kind-hearted woman,
that he could not keep back a long-drawn sigh of appreciation and
gratitude.
"You make me think of my own kind mother," said Frank quite brokenly.
"It is worth living to find such friends."
"You dear boy!" cried Mrs. Carrington, placing a hand on Frank's arm, "I
can imagine what a lovely mother you must have and for her sake you must
let me help you along in your business enterprise. Come, Mr. Durham,
explain your needs to me and let me co-operate with you."
The invitation was irresistible. Long since Frank had calculated all the
risks and chances of success in his new enterprise and had decided that
it could scarcely fail.
"Mrs. Carrington," he said in a straightforward way, "I would not allow
any person to invest money in a business where there was the remotest
risk of loss. We lack a few hundred dollars to start a photo playhouse
at Seaside Park in the right way. If you feel in a position to advance
it or become responsible for what we need, I wish to secure you so that
in case the venture goes wrong we will be the only losers."
"I not only feel willing to assist you," said Mrs. Carrington, "but I
insist upon it. It is very simple--how much capital do you require? Have
you my check book in your hand bag, Miss Porter?"
"No! no! no!" interrupted Frank urgently, "you must not think of doing
such a thing as that, Mrs. Carrington. It isn't business, you see. If
you have some agent or lawyer who will act for you, that will be the
best way."
The kind lady looked disappointed at the suggestion. In her free-hearted
way she wished to trust Frank without restriction. He saw that her
feelings were hurt and he hastened to say:
"My partners will feel ever so much better to have everything arranged
in a regular way and set down in black and white."
"Very well, have your own way, Mr. Durham," said the lady, "only promise
to come to me if you have any troubles or further lack of funds."
"Oh, we shall not," declared Frank, brightening with courage and
confidence as he saw all obstructions to the success of the new show
removed; and before he realized it, in his quick, vivid way he was
reciting his plans and prospects in detail. Frank told more than he had
started out to do, for the reason that every time he paused his auditors
plied him with new questions and urged him on with his story.
"How very, very interesting," commented Mrs. Carrington.
"It is simply delightful!" declared Miss Porter, with sparkling eyes.
"Oh, dear! it must be such a splendid thing to be a boy!"
"I must see your young friends," insisted Mrs. Carrington. "I owe them
sincere thanks for their part in the rescue, and wish to tell them so."
There was nothing for it but that Frank should go for his chums. Randy
was naturally bashful in the presence of strange ladies, but Pep was
"all there." Both Mrs. Carrington and Miss Porter were interested in the
lively lad whom they attracted from the start and made Pep feel
completely at home with his impetuous, original ways and remarks.
The boys promised to call upon Mrs. Carrington as soon as they got
settled at Seaside Park. Then all three escorted the visitors to an
automobile waiting at the curb. Beside the chauffeur they found Peter
Carrington seated. He nodded familiarly to the chums. Then he caught
Pep's eye.
With an air of great importance and a quick glance at his aunt and her
companion, as if making sure that they were not observing him, he placed
a finger to his lips.
"S-st!" he uttered, and winked in an altogether mysterious manner at Pep
Smith.
"'S-st!'" repeated Pep, as the machine started on its way--"now what in
the world does Peter Carrington mean by 'S-st?'"