Part 39 (1/2)
”You'll have to catch me first,” I said, daringly, and turning, ran swiftly out toward the open sea. I am only a fair swimmer, but the sea was unusually calm, so that I went much farther than I otherwise would have dared.
When I found the water getting too deep for walking I started swimming. As I swam I looked over my shoulder. The two men were following me, both swimming easily. Dr. Pett.i.t was in the lead, but Harry Underwood, with powerful strokes, was not far behind him. I concluded that Dr. Pett.i.t had been the swifter runner, but that the other man was the better swimmer.
As I saw them coming toward me, I realized that I had given them a challenge which each in his own way would probably take up. I was dismayed. I felt that I could not bear the touch of either man's hand.
In another moment my punishment had come.
Dr. Pett.i.t overtook me, stretched out his hand, just touched me with a caressing, protecting little gesture, and said in a low tone, ”Don't be afraid, little girl: If you will accord me the privilege, I will see that your friend does not get a chance of fulfilling his threat.”
I knew that he intended his words for my ear alone, but he had not counted on Harry Underwood's quick ear. That gentleman swam lazily toward us, saying as he pa.s.sed us, with a malicious little grin:
”Better go slow upon that protecting-heroine-from-villain stunt. I see Friend Husband is getting a bit restless.”
He forged on into the surf, with long, powerful strokes that yet had the curious appearance of indolence which invests every action of his.
Startled at his words, I looked toward the place where I had last seen d.i.c.ky romping in the waves with Grace Draper.
The girl was swimming by herself. d.i.c.ky, with rapid strokes, was coming toward us.
”For the love of heaven, Madge!” he said, angrily, as he came up to us. ”Haven't you any more sense than to come away out here? This sea is calm, but it is treacherous, and you are farther out than you have ever gone before. Come back with me this minute.”
The sight of Grace Draper swimming by herself gave me an inspiration.
The game which Lillian had advised me to play was certainly succeeding. I would keep it up.
”Have you taken leave of your senses?” I demanded, a.s.suming an indignation I did not feel. ”Dr. Pett.i.t was saying nothing to me that could possibly interest you.” I felt a little twinge of conscience at the fib, but I had too much at stake to hesitate over a quibble. ”As for casting sheep's eyes, as you so elegantly express it, you've been doing so much of it yourself that I suppose it is natural for you to accuse other people of it.”
”Now what do you mean by that?” d.i.c.ky demanded, staring at me with such an innocent air that I could have laughed if I had not been thoroughly angry at his silly attempt to misunderstand me.
”Don't be silly, d.i.c.ky,” I said, pettishly; ”I can swim perfectly well out here and even if anything should happen, Dr. Pett.i.t and Mr.
Underwood are surely good swimmers enough to take care of me.” I could not resist putting that last little barbed arrow into my quiver, for d.i.c.ky, while a good swimmer, even I could see, was not as skillful as either Mr. Underwood or Dr. Pett.i.t.
d.i.c.ky waited a long moment before answering, then he spoke tensely, sternly:
”Madge, answer me, are you coming back with me now, or are you not?”
The tone in which he put the question was one which I could not brook, even at the risk of seriously offending d.i.c.ky. An angry refusal was upon my lips when Harry Underwood's voice saved me the necessity of a reply.
”There, there, d.i.c.ky-bird, keep your bathing suit on,” he admonished, roughly; ”of course, she'll go back, we'll all go back, a regular triumphal procession with beautiful heroine escorted by watchful husband, treacherous villain and faithful friend.” He grinned at Dr.
Pett.i.t, and we all swam back to shallower water, Dr. Pett.i.t and Mr.
Underwood gradually edging off some distance away from d.i.c.ky and me.
I could not help smiling at the ludicrous aspect we must have presented. d.i.c.ky must have been watching me narrowly, for he suddenly growled:
”To the devil with Grace Draper!” d.i.c.ky cried, and his voice was louder, carried farther than he realized. ”I'm not bothering about her. She's getting on my nerves anyway; but you happen to be my wife, and what you do is my concern, don't you forget that, my lady.”
XXVII