The Mask: A Story of Love and Adventure

"If Keralio has anything to do with it, good-bye to Ken's money. In my opinion the fellow's a crook." Suddenly Helen pointed to a spot away down at the other end of the deck. "Yes--you're right--there he is--behind that third lifeboat. He's talking to some one." The lawyer looked in the direction indicated. "Yes--and do you see the secretive way in which they're talking--hiding behind that boat, as if so that no one might see them. They're plotting some mischief, you may be sure of that. Who's the other fellow?" Helen strained her eyes to see. "I can't see his face. Oh, yes I can--why--it's our Francois--Kenneth's valet. What can they be talking about? I don't trust that valet. Only the other day I caught him reading some letters. I warned Ken about him; but he insists he is faithful--I wonder what they can have in common? He used to be in Signor Keralio's employ." The lawyer shook his head ominously. Gravely he said: "That fellow Keralio will bear watching. I think I'll put my Sherlock Holmes on his track." Ray laughed. "Oh, that would be exciting--a drama in real life. Please do----" "Good morning, ladies!" said a voice close at hand. "Good morning, Mr. Steell." All looked up. A tall, elderly man with white hair, distinguished looking and fashionably dressed, had stopped. "Why, it's Mr. Parker!" exclaimed Helen holding out her hand. "You came to see Kenneth off?" "Yes--where is he?" "In his stateroom--attending to his baggage. He'll be here directly." "I must see him at once." "Anything important?" "Very important, indeed," replied the newcomer. Helen jumped up, all flushed from excitement. "Please tell me what it is?" she exclaimed. The old gentleman drew a telegram from his pocket. "I've just received this from our agent in Cape Town. Another diamond of extraordinary size has been picked up. It weighs over 2,000 carats and is calculated to be worth five hundred thousand dollars. That's the second stone of extraordinary size that we have found. Possibly there is some exaggeration in the reports, but there is no doubt whatever that we are on the verge of discoveries little short of sensational. Meantime, the treasury of the Americo-African Mining Company has been enriched by at least a million. When Kenneth returns to New York with these wonderful gems in his possession, there is likely to be a boom in the company's shares." The old gentleman spoke glibly, even eloquently and it was obvious that he was sincere and not talking for effect. It was, indeed, largely due to his distinguished air, and fine oratorical powers that Cornelius Winthrop Parker had been elected president of the Americo-African Mining Company, with fine offices in New York and London and stockholders in every country under the sun. Trained for the ministry and enjoying a wide acquaintance but a slim income, he had found the business of stock company promotion more profitable than preaching the gospel, and when Traynor had first gone to him with the suggestion that a company be formed to take up the large tract of Transvaal land where precious stones had actually been found he was not slow to grasp at the unusual opportunity. He managed cleverly the preliminary publicity campaign. The company was promptly organized and successfully floated, the public snapping as eagerly at the shares as a fish at the bait. It was only logical to infer, therefore, that when Kenneth returned to New York with actual proof of the company's suddenly acquired wealth in his possession, the stock would soar above par. With this pleasing prospect in view, it was not surprising that Mr. Parker wore to-day his most engaging smile. Ray looked up in surprise. "What!" she exclaimed. "Kenneth to bring home the diamonds? This is the first I heard of it. Helen never told me." "Hush!" said Mr. Parker, holding up his handy warningly. "Some one might hear you." Continuing, he said blandly: "Of course not, my dear lady, of course not. Your sister is far too discreet and clever a woman to disclose her husband's plans to the world. There are some things a man must keep secret from everyone--even from his wife. It would have been the height of folly to make any such announcement from the housetops. The highways are full of rogues; even the walls have ears. Some crook might have learned of our plans and acted accordingly. Kenneth might be followed to South Africa, shadowed till he has the gems in his possession and then waylaid and murdered. Remember, he will have stones in his waistcoat pocket worth a million. Do you suppose desperate men will stop at anything to secure such a prize?" Ray turned to her sister. "Did you know?" Helen nodded. "Yes, and it has made me very unhappy. It is terrible that he is taking such risks." Turning to Mr. Parker she asked apprehensively: "Do you think he will run any danger?" The old gentleman shook his head. "Of course not, my dear lady. It is preposterous to even think of such a thing. We have kept the matter too secret. Don't be uneasy. He will come to no harm." Raising his hat, he added: "Excuse me, ladies. I'll go and find Kenneth and bring him to you." The next instant he was swallowed up by the crowd. Helen, uneasy at her husband's prolonged absence, suggested that they go below and join him. Suddenly a stentorian voice called out: "All ashore--all ashore!" Quickly, Helen jumped to her feet, only to bump into Kenneth, who at that moment ran up, followed by Mr. Parker. "All ashore, dear," he said hastily, "you had better go." She made no reply, but averted her head so he might not see her red eyes. All about them the bustle and excitement was bewildering. People pushed this way and that in their efforts to reach the gangway. The siren sounded its last deep toned blasts of warning; the final greetings were exchanged. Tall and handsome looking in his tourist knicker-bockers and close fitting steamer cap, Kenneth held both Helen's hands in his. Ray and Mr. Parker, under the pretence of visiting the anchor weighed, had discreetly withdrawn. Francois, the valet, could be seen in the distance, making signals to some one on shore. Husband and wife were standing alone behind one of the big ventilators, Helen glad that no one saw them, ashamed that anyone should detect the big tears she was unable to control. How she had dreaded this moment of actual parting, this ordeal of saying good-bye! "You'll write every day, won't you?" she asked in choking voice. Tenderly he drew her to him. "Every day, sweetheart." "And you'll come back safe to me?" "I'll come back safe to you." Bravely she forced back the tears that blinded her. Gently she murmured: "I'll wait for you, Kenneth. I shall count the days, every moment, until you return. I never realized till now how much we are to each other. I'll pray for you, Kenneth; I'll pray God that He watch over and protect you." He said nothing, but drew her toward him. Looking searchingly into her eyes, he said half in jest, half in earnest: "You'll be true, always true!" Gravely she answered: "Always--until death!" "You'll look at no other man." "How can you be so foolish, Ken dear? I see no one but you. I hear no voice but yours. You are my life, my soul. When you return you'll find me here, at this same dock, arms outstretched, waiting, just waiting." The bell rang. "All ashore! All ashore!" He bent low. His mouth met hers in one deep, lingering kiss. "God bless you, darling." "Good-bye, Ken, good-bye." The next thing she knew she was back on the dock among a crowd of spectators waving hats and handkerchiefs--the women weeping, the men shouting and gesticulating. The passengers stood at the rail, waving frantic adieux in return. The siren sounded deep-toned blasts of warning to the smaller river craft to get out of the way. The huge vessel strained and trembled, vibrating more violently as she gradually began to glide into the open. Assisted by a fleet of energetic tugs she finally swung clear and pointed her nose eastward. Slowly, majestically, the leviathan moved out to sea. It was bad enough to see him go at all, but to have him sail on such a gloomy day as this, with not a ray of sunshine to cheer him on the way, was more than Helen could bear. Blinded by tears she stood kissing her hand to the familiar figure now only faintly discernible on the fast receding steamship, and she stood there long after every one else had left the dock watching until the _Mauretania_ was only a speck in the horizon. CHAPTER V Sunday evenings at Mrs. Traynor's were always enjoyable. No formal invitations were issued. Friends just dropped in as they felt inclined. There was good music, excellent tea _a la Russe_ and always a number of interesting people. To-night, the second Sunday since Kenneth went away, promised to be duller than usual. Mr. Steell was there, of course, and he had brought Dick Reynolds, a slightly built, shrewd looking young man with glasses, who kept everybody amused with exciting stories of the underworld. Yet, for all the animation, there was an atmosphere of gloom in the air, an indefinable sense of depression which all felt and could not explain. The lawyer, Dick, and Ray were in a corner carrying on an animated discussion. Helen, her mind preoccupied, her thoughts hundreds of miles away with the loved absent one, sat quietly at the piano, running her fingers lightly over the keys, her thoughts many leagues distant with the man who had carried her heart away with him. Her face was pale, her expression grave. Why had Kenneth's going away affected her like this? She had not had a moment's peace of mind since his departure. She could not sleep. Horrible dreams and thoughts haunted her all night. Some danger threatened, that she felt instinctively. Something dreadful was going to happen. What it was, she did not know. But it was something that threatened her happiness, perhaps her life or Kenneth's----. At the mere thought a shiver ran through her, and a convulsive sob rose in her throat, almost choking her. Not until this moment had she fully realized how much she loved him. A sudden burst of laughter at the other end of the room aroused her from her reverie. Looking up, she asked: "What are you all so amused about?" Ray smiled as she replied: "We're arguing about dual personalities. Mr. Steell insists that there is no such thing. Mr. Reynolds agrees with him. He is wrong of course. I know of several well-authenticated cases, and the medical records are there to back me up." "Exactly what do you mean by dual personality?" demanded the lawyer. Ray returned to the attack, while Helen, amused, rose from the piano and went over to listen to the argument. "I mean that a person we know well may suddenly cease being that person and assume a personality entirely different." Mr. Steell laughed derisively. "Does the patient change her or his skin?" "No, the change is wholly mental. Although in fact, the new mental attitude does result in certain physical modifications. For instance, a person who in his normal condition may be most punctilious and neat in his dress is likely to become unkempt and slovenly in the new character he unconsciously assumes." "Have you ever encountered any such dual personalities?" "Personally, no. But I have heard of them, and physicians often encounter them in their practice." The lawyer shrugged his shoulders as he turned to Helen. "What do you think about it?" he asked, with an incredulous smile. "About what?" "These so-called dual personalities."