Part 6 (1/2)

”But you said, when you wired, you wanted the extra room to work in,” he objected, ”and you'll remember, Mr. Blair, that you were pretty emphatic about it, too, at the time. We went to all kinds of trouble to fix that up for you.”

”I can get along all right without it, though,” coolly observed his changeable guest, ”and I'd rather she'd have it. It's possible to split suites here, isn't it?” he persisted. ”They do at most hotels.”

”It's possible, of course.” Across the desk the eyes of the two men met squarely. ”That part of it's easy enough. But why? and who's going to pay for it?”

”I'm going to pay for it! What did you suppose?” exploded Blair. ”It's worth that and a lot more to me just now to keep her from getting away.

Oh, I'm in earnest all right. I mean it! Look here! Can't you see how that woman can be a perfect gold mine to me? You know enough about my work to understand that I'm really out here after Indians myself, and she--well, I'll wager a cool thousand there isn't a spot on this whole island that ever dreamed of seeing an Indian that she doesn't know all about!”

The clerk nodded. ”But--”

”But nothing!” Impatiently Blair brushed aside all objections. ”Why, I hadn't the remotest idea how I was going to get started. It's a rattling piece of good luck, and we'll fix it up right now!”

”Yes, but--” Still the other man hesitated. ”It sounds all right enough,--from your end of it especially, but you'd better see her first.

She's a proud little piece,--doesn't like obligations of any kind,--and a stranger,--a man--I'm sorry to discourage you, but I don't believe she'll have a thing to do with it.”

In Blair's eyes impatience threatened to become something more emphatic.

”It's a business proposition pure and simple,” he argued. ”She gives me all the information she's been able to get together, and I pay her expenses while she does it. That gives her a chance to finish her own work, don't you see? A mighty good proposition for her, too, I should say, and if she doesn't see it that way herself,--why,--well, she isn't as intelligent as she looks, that's all!”

”Providing you can persuade her it is just business. I'd advise you to talk with her first, just the same. And you'll have to be quick about it, too. She's planning to wait in the village tonight for the morning boat, and she'll be starting down about now.”

Outside was one of those radiant nights intended for dreams and the makers of dreams. Over an ocean white with light long breakers rolled crests gleaming with silver that fell in soft thunder on the beach. Miss Hastings, hurrying along the board-walk to the village, glanced at them and looked quickly away.

”Oh, I say!” came a voice out of the darkness behind her, ”if you don't mind, hold on there a minute, will you? Wait for me, please!” The voice was that of a man, pleasant, but exceedingly determined. Without so much as turning her head Miss Hastings quickened her steps.

But it was of no use. Whoever her pursuer might be, he was even then at her side.

”I beg your pardon,” breathlessly he began again, ”but I've been chasing you all the way down from the hotel. I want you to come right back there with me. I have a proposal to make to you.”

Even in the darkness he could see how the girl's eyes blazed.

”I never listen--” she began hotly, ”to proposals from people I don't know,” she had meant to add, but he gave her no time.

”It will mean the biggest chance for your pictures you've ever had,” he broke in. ”Now, listen!”

And, to her complete surprise, Miss Hastings suddenly found herself doing that very thing.

”There are a lot of things I've got to find out right away,” continued the astonis.h.i.+ng stranger, ”and the clerk up there tells me you're painting a series of Indian portraits.”

The little art teacher gazed at him fascinated. What manner of man could this be, she wondered.

”I don't see the connection--” Coldness struggled with curiosity in her voice.

”Listen!” With uplifted, peremptory hand again he stopped her. Nor is it safe to say that any book agent, watching the door slowly closing upon him, ever talked faster, or more rigidly to the point, than did Blair within the next few minutes.

”Perhaps you won't understand it all right off. I wouldn't expect that.

But it's this way. I'm representing Harper's, and Houghton and Mifflin, and Dodd and Mead, and--several other firms” (to satisfy his conscience Blair contended with himself that he might as well as not have been their representative--a mere oversight on their part ought not to be allowed to stand in his way), ”and I'm out here to find the best ill.u.s.trator I can lay hands on to do the pictures for some Indian stuff I'm getting into shape for one of 'em. I want to see your work. And, if I like it, I'll pay you well. And anyway, I'll pay every bit of the expense while you finish your series here if you'll tell me what you know about Wildenai!”

But, at the name, the girl beside him had given a low cry of utter amazement. She stopped short.

”Do you know it too, then?” she gasped. ”How did you hear about it?”