Page:The Black Cat November 1916.djvu/13

Rh clearly. While he did not suspect his son of having lied in the matter, he did harbor a suspicion that wily old John Derrington had worked a rather clever scheme on him, using him as a medium to bring two young people together, calculating on human nature to do the rest.

"Dammit! Dammit!" he sputtered. "I'll get even with that old file if it takes me twenty years and half my fortune."

His volcanic meditations were interrupted by Fanning's voice on the wire, his tones now visibly perturbed and politely hesitating. "Mr. Belford? Ah, yes sir. I believe Mr. Frederick is not expected home today, sir," he said. "Yes sir, he has been heard from to that effect himself, sir, I believe."

"I knew it, I knew it," stuttered Belford, exasperated almost to the point of another apoplectic shock. "Now then, Fanning, don't beat about the bush. He's married, isn't he, run off with some young hussy?"

"Well sir, I believe that is what it amounts to, sir, though the madame is out, sir, and my information comes solely from her maid." answered the butler.

Belford waited to hear no more. Dropping the instrument, he stormed wildly back and forth beside his desk, calling the direst extremes of vengeance upon the defenseless head of John Thomas Derrington. In the midst of this tirade, John Thomas Derrington himself was announced.

"Show him in, Danvers, show him in," barked Belford, his blue eyes snapping fire, while he spread ten gripping fingers, as if Derrington's throat were already within his grasp.

It is difficult to beat up a man who meets you with the sunniest of smiles; nay, more; it is impossible, no matter how hot your anger, as David Belford discovered the instant John Thomas entered, his thin, Punch-like features contorted into the most roguish of grins as he poked Belford between two heavily upholstered ribs with a lean finger.

"So you've opened it, have you?" he said. "Well, what did I tell you? Eh, what, eh? Here's my check for $20,000, Bel'; you may send the Venus over to my gallery right away."

Having found he could not deliberately strike this cheery old man, Belford attempted to engulf him in denunciation.

"Derrington, you conscienceless old rascal," he raved. "You very well know Frederick had no idea of marriage until you deliberately caused me to put the idea into his head. It was a low-down trick. If you were a younger man, I'd—I'd—"

"What, eh, what?" interrupted John Thomas in astonishment. "I thought you'd like the idea. The boy is much better off married. To be sure, an elopement isn't just the proper thing; but why not let the young folks have their fun? Eh, why not, eh?"

Belford could only sputter; words adequate to the occasion he could not find.

"Oh, well, Bel', you'll get used to it," continued John Thomas. "I didn't think you'd take the loss of the 'Venus' so hard, or I'd never made the wager. But a bet's a bet. Come, shake hands, we ought to be friends."