Page:J Allan Dunn--The Girl of Ghost Mountain.djvu/238

220 and very eccentric and quite wealthy. I was named after her. She was my godmother. She gave me that cup for the christening gift, the one on the highboy. And then we quite lost sight of her. I never dreamed of such a thing."

"And now, you will go back?" Sheridan rose, tall above her, the little slimsy lady whom his heart desired.

"I may have to, I suppose. I—I don't know." She got up from her chair as her face flushed and she gave Sheridan one glance that puzzled him for many an hour. It almost seemed appealing. Then she called to Thora to come in and give them some music.

Thora entered with a swift, comprehensive look towards Mary that the other avoided. Thora seemed puzzled, heavy with the news that she had most evidently imparted to Red, for he entered the room with an appearance that was hangdog, that irresistibly suggested a great dog bidden to stay home while his mistress went on a journey. Thora's mood affected her music. It was all minors. For the last, she gave them something, new to them, playing it with her eyes boring at Mary's shaded face, screened by her hand. It was the lullaby with which she played her to sleep.

They left soon after that. Red was glum and mounted first after a perfunctory "Buenos noches." Thora went inside. Mary gave her hand to Sheridan.

"I am not going until after I know how you come out with your treasure trove," she said. And Sheridan groped for the meaning he thought