Jacqueline of Golden River | Page 5

sleepy.
When the taxicab deposited us in front of the house, I glanced hastily
up and down the road. There was another cab at the east end of the
street, but I could not discern if it were approaching me or stationary. I
opened the front door quickly and admitted my companion, then
preceded her up the uncarpeted stairs to my little apartment on the top
floor. I was the only tenant in the house, and therefore there would be
no cause for embarrassment.
As I opened the door of my apartment the dog pushed past me. Again I
had forgotten it; but it had not forgotten its mistress.
I looked inside my bare little rooms. It was hard to say good-by.
"Till to-morrow, mademoiselle," I said. "And won't you tell me your
name?"
She drew off her glove and put one hand in mine.

"Jacqueline," she answered. "And yours?"
"Paul," I said.
"Au revoir, Monsieur Paul, then, and take my gratitude with you for
your goodness."
I let her hand fall and hurried down the stairs, confused and choking,
for there was a wedding-ring upon her finger.
CHAPTER II
BACK IN THE ROOM
The situation had become more preposterous than ever. Two hours
before it would have been unimaginable; one hour ago I had merely
been offering aid to a young woman in distress; now she was
occupying my rooms and I was hurrying along Tenth Street, careless as
to my destination, and feeling as though the whole world was
crumbling about my head because she wore a wedding-ring.
Certainly I was not in love with her, so far as I could analyze my
emotions. I had been conscious only of a desire to help her, merging by
degrees into pity for her friendlessness.
But the wedding-ring--what hopes, then, had begun to spring up in my
heart? I could not fathom them; I only knew that my exaltation had
given place to profound dejection.
As I passed up the street the taxicab which I had seen at the east end
came rapidly toward me. It passed, and I stopped and looked after it. I
was certain that it slackened speed outside the door of the old building,
but again it went on quickly, until it was lost to view in the distance.
Had I given the pursuers a clue by my reappearance?
I watched for a few moments longer, but the vehicle did not return, and
I dismissed the idea as folly. In truth, there was no reason to suppose

that the man I had seen in Herald Square was connected with the two
others, or that any of the three had followed us. No doubt the third man
was but a street-loafer of the familiar type, attracted by Jacqueline's
unusual appearance.
And, after all, New York was a civilized city, and I could be sure of the
girl's safety behind the street door-lock and that of my apartment door.
So I refused to yield to the impulse to go back and assure myself that
she was all right. I must find a hotel and get a good night's sleep. In the
morning, undoubtedly, I would see the episode in a less romantic
fashion.
As I went on, new thoughts began to press on my imagination. Such an
event as this, told in any gathering of men, why, they would smile at
me and call me the victim of an adventuress. The tale about the father,
the assumed ignorance of the conventions--how much could be
believed?
Had she not probably left her husband in some Canadian city and come
to New York to enjoy her holiday in her own fashion? Could she
innocently have adventured to Daly's door and actually have succeeded
in gaining admission? Why, many a would-be gambler had had the
wicket of the grille slammed in his face by the old colored butler.
Perhaps she was worse than I was even now imagining!
I had turned up Fifth Avenue, and had reached Twelfth or Thirteenth
Street when I thought I heard the patter of the Eskimo dog's feet behind
me. I spun, around, startled, but there was only the long stretch of
pavement, wet from a slight recent shower, and the reflection of the
white arc-lights in it.
I had resumed my course when I was sure I heard the pattering again.
And again I saw nothing.
A moment later I was hurrying back toward the apartment-house. My
nerves had suddenly become unstrung. I felt sure now that some
imminent danger was threatening Jacqueline. I could not bear the

suspense of waiting till morning. I wanted to save her from something
that I felt intimately, but did not understand, and at which my reason
mocked in vain.
And as I ran I thought I heard the patter of the