Part 16 (1/2)
”Well, you can't go. It's nonsense.”
”Why?”
”Yachts are dangerous. I don't want you drowned.”
”I'd be as safe on a yacht as I would be in this house,” she declared.
”Do you think I intend to take any chances with my life? Please remember that when I'm eighteen I shall have a fortune and be able to lead an independent life--a pleasant life--a life in sharp contrast to this one. Therefore, I'm going to live to enjoy my money.”
He gave her a shrewd look of approval. The argument seemed to appeal to him. It quieted, to an extent, his fears for her safety.
”Anyhow,” said Alora bluntly, ”I'm going, and I dare you to stop me.”
He was silent a while, considering the proposition. Just now he would be busy at the aviation field and in Colonel Hathaway's charge the girl was likely to be quite safe. He was inclined to relax his vigilance over his precious daughter, on this occasion.
”How long do the Hathaways expect to be away?” he inquired.
”Mary Louise says we will surely be home three weeks from the day we leave.”
”Surely?”
”Without fail.”
”H-m-m. It's a risk. Something might delay you. Do you know what would happen if you left me for sixty days or more?”
”Of course I do. That will of my mother's states that if at any time my devoted father develops any neglect of me, or lack of interest in his darling daughter, such as allowing me to become separated from him for longer than sixty days at one time, the court has the privilege, at its option, of deposing him as administrator of my estate and appointing another guardian. The other guardian, however, is to be paid a salary and the income, in that case, is to accrue to the benefit of my estate.”
”How did you learn all that?” he demanded.
”You left a copy of the will lying around, and I read it and made a copy of it for myself. I now know my mother's will by heart. She suggests that if we must live together, 'in loving companions.h.i.+p,' you will probably have me educated by tutors, at home, and her objection to girls' schools--I wonder why?--was the princ.i.p.al reason she inserted the clause that we must never be separated. It would prevent you from sending me away to school. But as for the tutors, I haven't yet made their acquaintance.”
”Tutors cost money,” he said in a surly tone.
”I realize that; and while there is an abundance of money, the will states that it is to be entirely in your control. But we've quarreled on that subject too many times already, without your loosening your grip on the dollars. To get back to our subject, I a.s.sure you I shall not be gone longer than twenty-one days, and the trip won't cost you a single penny.”
”When did you propose going?”
”We take the noon train on Monday for Chicago.”
He got his hat and left the house without another word, leaving Alora exultant. She hurried over to tell Mary Louise the good news.
”Did he really consent?” asked Mary Louise.
”Well, he didn't forbid it,” said the girl, ”and that's the same thing.”
CHAPTER XVII THE DISAPPEARANCE
The train was late getting into Chicago that Monday night. Colonel Hathaway took Mary Louise and Alora to the Blackington, but the hotel was so crowded that the girls could not get adjoining rooms. However, they secured rooms just across the hall from one another and the Colonel's room was but two doors removed from that of his granddaughter, so the three were not greatly separated.
”Never mind, dear,” said Mary Louise, as she kissed her friend good night; ”to-morrow we go aboard the yacht, and that will be our home for a long time.”