Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/53

Rh Mr. Dunneston; and you, Mr. Dunneston, must admit that I am recklessly regardless of a most promising haul."

"Brave?" the girl asked, puzzled, turning uncertainly from her countryman to the Briton. "And recklessly regardless? What do you mean?"

"I mean," the American replied, "that you have just come to me and told me that your mother is in the most susceptible position for an easy and profitable robbery."

"Yes?"

"And you have asked me to convince her that the definite, dangerous person, who operates against such susceptible Americans, does not exist; whereas—"

"Yes; whereas—?" the girl led on encouragingly.

"Just before you came, Mr. Dunneston was presenting me with a most formidable array of facts to convince me—at least he was suggesting to me," Preston substituted, "that I am the man!" 35