Jacqueline of Golden River | Page 4

ill to play himself," she explained, "so I must find a
hotel near Mr. Daly's house, and then I shall play every night until our
fortune is made. Tonight I lost nearly two thousand dollars. But I was

nervous in that strange place. And the system expressly says that one
may lose at first. To-morrow I raise the stakes and we shall begin to
win. See?"
She pulled a little pad from her bag covered with a maze of figuring.
"But where do you come from?" I asked. "Where is your father?"
Again I saw that look of terror come into her eyes. She glanced quickly
about her, and I was sure she was thinking of escaping from me.
I hastened to reassure her.
"Forgive me," I said. "It is no business of mine. And now, if you will
trust me a little further I will try to find a hotel for you."
It would have disarmed the worst man to feel her little hand slipped
into his arm in that docile manner of hers. I took her to the Seward, the
Grand, the Cornhil, and the Merrimac--each in turn.
Vain hope! You know what the New York hotels are. When I asked for
a room for her the clerk would eye her furs dubiously, look over his
book in pretense, and then inform me that the hotel was full.
At the Merrimac I sat down in the lobby and sent her to the clerk's desk
alone, but that was equally useless. I realized pretty soon that no
reputable hotel in New York City would accommodate her at that hour.
We were standing presently in front of the Herald office. Her hand still
touched my arm, and I was conscious of an absurd desire to keep it
there as long as possible.
My curiosity had given place to deep anxiety on her account. What was
this child doing in New York alone, what sort of father had let her
come, if her story were true? What was she? A European? Too
unconventional for that. An Argentine? A runaway from some South
American convent?
Her skin was too fair for Spanish blood to flow beneath it. She looked

French and had something of the French frankness.
Canadian? I dared not ask her any more questions. There was only one
thing to do, and, though I shrank from the suggestion, it had to be
made.
"It is evident that you must go somewhere to-night," I said. "I have two
rooms on Tenth Street which I am vacating to-morrow. They are poorly
furnished, but there is clean linen; and if you will occupy them for the
night I can go elsewhere, and I will call for you at nine in the morning."
She smiled at me gratefully--she did not seem surprised at all.
"You have some baggage?" I asked.
"No, monsieur," she answered.
She was French, then--Canadian-French, I had no doubt. I was hardly
surprised at her answer. I had ceased to be surprised at anything she
told me.
"To-morrow I shall show you where to make some purchases, then," I
said. "And now, mademoiselle, suppose we take a taxicab."
As her hand tightened upon my arm I saw a man standing on the west
side of Broadway and staring intently at us.
He was of a singular appearance. He wore a fur coat with a collar of
Persian lamb, and on his head was a black lambskin cap such as is
worn in colder climates, but it seldom seen in New York. He looked
about thirty years of age, he had an aspect decidedly foreign, and I
imagined that he was scowling at us malignantly.
I was not sure that this surmise was not due to an over-active
imagination, but I was determined to get away from the man's scrutiny,
so I called a taxicab and gave the driver my address.
"Go through some side streets and go fast," I said.

The fellow nodded. He understood my motive, though I fear he may
have misinterpreted the circumstances. We entered, and the girl nestled
back against the comfortable cushions, and we drove at a furious speed,
dodging down side streets at a rate that should have defied pursuit.
During the drive I instructed my companion emphatically.
"Since you have no friends here, you must have confidence in me,
mademoiselle," I said.
"And you are my friend? Well, monsieur, be sure I trust you," she
answered.
"You must listen to me attentively, then," I continued. "You must not
admit anybody to the apartment until I ring to-morrow. I have the key,
and I shall arrive at nine and ring, and then unlock the door. But take
no notice of the bell. You understand?"
"Yes, monsieur," she answered wearily. Her eyelids drooped; I saw that
she was very