The Mystery of Mary | Page 3

get out of the carriage just here. Suppose you sit still until I
come out. I have a dinner engagement and must make a few changes in
my dress, but it will take me only a few minutes. You are in no danger,
and I will take you to some place of safety. I will try to think what to do
while I am gone. On no account get out of the carriage. It would make
the driver suspicious, you know. If you are really followed, he will let
no one disturb you in the carriage, of course. Don't distress yourself. I'll
hurry. Can you give me the address of any friend to whom I might
'phone or telegraph?"

She shook her head and there was a glitter of tears in her eyes as she
replied:
"No, I know of no one in the city who could help me."
"I will help you, then," he said with sudden resolve, and in a tone that
would be a comfort to any woman in distress.
His tone and the look of respectful kindliness he gave her kept the girl
in the carriage until his return, although in her fear and sudden distrust
of all the world, she thought more than once of attempting to slip away.
Yet without money, and in a costume which could but lay her open to
suspicion, what was she to do? Where was she to go?
As the young man let himself into his home with his latch-key, he
heard the butler's well trained voice answering the telephone. "Yes,
ma'am; this is Mrs. Dunham's residence.... No, ma'am, she is not at
home.... No, ma'am, Miss Dunham is out also.... Mr. Dunham? Just
wait a moment, please I think Mr. Dunham has just come in. Who shall
I say wishes to speak to him?... Mrs. Parker Bowman?... Yes, ma'am;
just wait a minute, please. I'll call Mr. Dunham."
The young man frowned. Another interruption! And Miss Bowman! It
was at her house that he was to dine. What could the woman want?
Surely it was not so late that she was looking him up. But perhaps
something had happened, and she was calling off her dinner. What luck
if she was! Then he would be free to attend the problem of the young
woman whom fate, or Providence, had suddenly thrust upon his care.
He took the receiver, resolved to get out of going to the dinner if it
were possible.
"Good evening, Mrs. Bowman."
"Oh, is that you, Mr. Dunham? How relieved I am! I am in a bit of
difficulty about my dinner, and called up to see if your sister couldn't
help me out. Miss Mayo has failed me. Her sister has had an accident,
and she cannot leave her. She has just 'phoned me, and I don't know

what to do. Isn't Cornelia at home? Couldn't you persuade her to come
and help me out? She would have been invited in Miss Mayo's place if
she had not told me that she expected to go to Boston this week. But
she changed her plans, didn't she? Isn't she where you could reach her
by 'phone and beg her to come and help me out? You see, it's a very
particular dinner, and I've made all my arrangements."
"Well, now, that's too bad, Mrs. Bowman," began the young man,
thinking he saw a way out of both their difficulties. "I'm sorry Cornelia
isn't here. I'm sure she would do anything in her power to help you. But
she and mother were to dine in Chestnut Hill to-night, and they must
have left the house half an hour ago. I'm afraid she's out of the question.
Suppose you leave me out? You won't have any trouble then except to
take two plates off the table"--he laughed pleasantly--"and you would
have even couples. You see," he hastened to add, as he heard Mrs.
Parker Bowman's preliminary dissent--"you see, Mrs. Bowman, I'm in
somewhat of a predicament myself. My train was late, and as I left the
station I happened to meet a young woman--a--a friend." (He reflected
rapidly on the old proverb, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." In that
sense she was a friend.) "She is temporarily separated from her friends,
and is a stranger in the city. In fact, I'm the only acquaintance or friend
she has, and I feel rather under obligation to see her to her hotel and
look up trains for her. She leaves the city to-night."
"Now, look here, Tryon Dunham, you're not going to leave me in the
lurch for any young woman. I don't care how old an acquaintance she is!
You simply bring her along. She'll make up my number and relieve me
wonderfully. No, don't you say