Beth Norvell, page 109 by Randall Parrish
<< Return to Title Details & Download110
tone was sympathetic. "Darned if I did n't hustle that outfit from pit to boxes, but nobody there seemed to sabe this yere Brown. Mercedes, she was there all right, 'bout ten minutes ago, but just naturally faded away before I hit the shebang. Doorkeeper piped it she had a guy with her when she broke loose, an' he reckoned she must have lit out fer home."
"For home?" a faint ray of light breaking from the word. "Where does the girl live? Do you know?"
"Sure; I 'm wise; she has a couple of dandy rooms over at the old fort, just across the creek; you know where that is, don't you?"
She nodded silently, her eyes brightening with resolution.
"It 's a blame tough bit of hiking to take alone on a dark night like this," he commented gravely. "You was n't plannin' to try any such trip as that, was you, Miss?"
"Oh, no; certainly not. I'm going upstairs to wait for daylight. But I thank you so much," and she cordially extended her hand. "You see, I--I could hardly go to the Gayety myself at such an hour."
The boy colored, still clasping the extended hand. Something in her low tone had served to recall to his mind those hasty words uttered in the office.
"Sure not, Miss Norvell; it's a bit tough, all right, for anybody like you down there at this time o' night."
She opened the door, the bright light from within shining about her slender figure, yet leaving her face still in shadow.
"Did--did you chance to notice if Mr. Farnham remained in the dance hall?"
"Biff Farnham?" in sudden, choking surprise. "Great guns, do you know him, too? No, he was n't there, but I can tell you where he is, all the same. He 's at the Palace Livery, saddling up, along with half a dozen other fellows. I saw 'em as I come trottin' along back, and wondered what the dickens was on tap at this time o' night."
The girl made no attempt to answer. She stood clutching the edge of the door for support, her lips tightly compressed, feeling as if her heart would rise up and choke h