A CONVERSATION IN THE DARK


In my extreme surprise at the intimate cordiality expressed by her
words and manner I failed in utterance. Anticipating coldness,
indifference, possibly even resentment at my presuming to approach her,
I was instead greeted by an unstudied warmth of welcome that made my
heart beat fiercely.

"Surely I am not mistaken," she questioned, rendered doubtful by my
silence. "Is not this Captain Wayne?"

"There is no mistake," I hastened to assure her, "but I had anticipated
from our last meeting a far less cordial greeting."

"Oh," she exclaimed, with a light laugh, "and is that all? Yet surely,
if I was to believe my own eyes I was perfectly justified in my actions
then. However, Captain, I have been forced to realize the truth of that
situation, and am now disposed to make up to you in kindness for all my
unjust suspicions."

"I am more than delighted to learn that cloud is no longer to
overshadow us. Miss Minor has made a full explanation, then?"

"You have been completely exonerated, and restored to my good graces."

As she spoke, I became aware that she was busily engaged upon some
task, and when she ended I felt the steel of a gun-barrel touch my
hand.