"I don't like it," Mrs. Harlan confided to Bob as they followed the others up the beach. "She's up to something, or I miss my guess. She's dangerous enough when she's in one of her tantrums, but when she's quiet, like she is now--look out. What do you suppose is the matter with her now?"
"I don't know," replied Bob thoughtfully, "unless she's hungry."
This could hardly have been the explanation, however, for she refused to go in to lunch with the others, and sat at the far end of the veranda, still seemingly in deep thought, until, hearing some one approaching, she looked up and saw Mr. Bradley.
Her smile, as she welcomed him, however, had no trace of anything but girlish pleasure, and shrewd as he was, he could not but be flattered by the soft blush on her cheek, and the gladness in her eyes, as she rose to meet him.
"Miss Barnhelm," he began quickly, "I am anxious to speak with you, in confidence, before your friends or my daughter come from the dining-room."
"I have a letter here." As he spoke he drew the letter from his pocket. "I have decided to let you read it, although, as you will see, it is a breach of confidence on my part to do so. It is from Cleveland, from Dick Fenway's father; it may perhaps offend you, but it may be a big help for you to know just how things stand. Here it is."
Lola took the letter calmly enough, and read it through without a word. It was dated from Cleveland two days before, and read as follows:
"My son Dick has wired me to address him at the Hotel where you and Alice are staying. I am worried about the boy and want you to do me a favor. He has always been a great trouble to me, as you know, but he is all I have, and I am fool enough to love him. Will you have a talk with him, and tell him for me that he has come to the end of his rope. He has a wife whom I am willing to buy off on one condition. He is to return to New York at once and go to work, and he is to convince you, as my agent, that from now on he gives up, absolutely and forever, any connection or acquaintance with a girl by the name of Lola Barnhelm, with whom he has been travelling for the last six weeks. Tell him that my information as to this young woman is complete. I have had them followed, and am in receipt of a daily report as to their movements. The efforts he has been making to secure a speedy divorce seem to point to an intention on his part to marry this person. If he does, please make it plain to him that he will support her himself, without help from me. Try to make him understand that I am not quite the fool he thinks me. I don't like what I have heard about this Barnhelm girl, and I am serious when I say that if he marries her he will not support her on the money I have earned by hard work. You may be able to make him see his real position. Thank you in advance, old friend, for the help I know you will not refuse me. Give my love to your daughter. What a happy man I would be if my boy had brains enough to love a girl like her, and character enough to be worthy of her love.