I have n't sent
in a line of report to my employers."
"What convinced you of the fraud?"
"A conversation with Mrs. Henley."
"Oh, the woman, hey!" his tone again sarcastic. "Always the woman;
more to be valued than great riches, aye! even than fine gold. Good
Lord, Craig, don't be a wooden-headed fool. I tell you plainly Philip
Henley was never married, and I know. This girl is a mere adventuress
unworthy of any consideration."
"You claim still to be Henley?" I asked, stifling my indignation.
"Not only claim, but am. My identity is already firmly established in
court. Lawyers have the final papers ready to file."
"You do not in any way resemble the photograph shown me of the man."
"A fake picture; we have known something of Neale's plans from the
first."
The man was apparently so confident, that I began to doubt my own
conclusions, and yet I could not doubt her. Whatever other falsehoods
might compass me about, she was to be implicitly trusted.
"Is the woman on board?" I questioned.
He hesitated just an instant.
"Yes."
"Will you have her brought here?"
He walked across the cabin twice, turning the proposition over in his
mind. Apparently concluding that the ordeal might as well be over with
first as last, he opened the door, and gave an order to Peters.
Pages:
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192