The Case and The Girl | Page 8

to his
self-consciousness, that her remark was merely part of the play. More
and more her actions mystified and perplexed; he could not discover
the key to her hidden motive, or guess at her purpose in this
masquerade. Nothing remained but for him to go quietly forward,
playing the part assigned. He had pledged himself blindly to her, and
could only wait for the future to reveal the object of it all. Sometime he
would succeed in getting the girl alone once more, and then he would
compel a full confession.
But this was not destined to take place that evening. She coolly and
deliberately defeated every effort he made to get her alone, and yet this
was accomplished in a manner so as not to attract the attention of
others. Even Percival Coolidge, who, West felt, was watching them
both shrewdly, never suspected the quiet game of hide and seek being
played under his very eyes. Nevertheless, it was this growing suspicion
of the man which prevented West from indulging in more rigorous
methods. As the evening progressed he became almost convinced that
her principal object was to deceive this gentleman; that she really cared
nothing for what the others might think, or say. And she did her part to
perfection, being with West often, although never alone, speaking to
him intimately, and requesting of him little acts of service most natural
under the circumstances. He played opposite her in a fourhanded game
of bridge; he turned the leaves of her music when she sang, and her arm
rested within his as they all stood on the porch watching the moon rise.
It was all a masterpiece of acting, so exceedingly well done, as to
finally convince the young man that she was greatly in earnest as to its
success. She desired Percival Coolidge to have no lingering doubt of
her engagement. And, finding all opportunity of explanation denied
him, he yielded to the inevitable, and, for the evening at least, silently
accepted his fate.
Nor did circumstances favour him when the company finally broke up,
and retired for the night. He had thought this moment might be
propitious, but she calmly outgeneraled him again, suddenly bidding
the men remain and smoke as long as they pleased, and, disappearing
herself up the stairway with Miss Willis, without so much as a glance

backward, indicative of any lingering interest. West, convinced that her
retirement was final, and early wearying of the rather drowsy
conversation about him, soon sought his own room. It was eleven
o'clock of a bright, moonlight night, and, feeling in no degree sleepy,
West seated himself at the window to finish his cigar. He heard the
others pass along the hall on their way to the rooms assigned them, and
finally all became quiet, even the servants apparently having retired.
Outside was likewise noiseless, the moon revealing the scene almost as
clearly as though it was day, yet leaving weird shadows to confuse the
eye. Occasionally a belated motor car passed along the road, invisible
because of the trees. Again and again his mind reviewed the strange
events of the evening, unable to arrive at any definite conclusion. The
harder he sought to delve into the mystery, the more obscure it became.
The young woman herself thoroughly baffled him. If this was merely a
test, it was certainly a most unusual one, and he hoped he had met the
requirements to her entire satisfaction. He already frankly
acknowledged to himself, at least, that she had become of personal
interest to him. He fell a peculiar desire to be of service; but this desire
was now permeated with a firm determination to know the whole truth.
He would no longer remain ignorant of her object, for what purpose he
was being used. She must trust him, and tell him frankly, if he was to
continue to play a part. He would know whether this was tragedy or
comedy, first of all.
He had, indeed, reached some conclusions already. These might not be
correct, yet they were already implanted in his mind. The guests of the
night were mere puppets, having no real connection with the game
being played, utterly ignorant of what was going on behind the scenes.
The only one present having any real part was Percival Coolidge, and
West had taken an instinctive dislike to this man. Moreover, he had
some reason to believe this feeling was warmly reciprocated; that the
latter already suspected and watched him. Only one explanation flashed
into his mind to account for Miss Coolidge's unexpected announcement
of an engagement between them--this would excuse any future
intimacy; would enable them to meet alone freely without arousing
comment. She had deliberately chosen this course to disarm suspicion,
and had failed to warn him in