“Now,” said Shirley, “go back to Clara’s and, under some pretext or other, wait on the porch for me after every one has gone to bed. I’ll not come until I am sure they have all retired.”
“All right,” Mabel agreed, “and, Shirley, be very careful.”
“I shall be, never fear,” was the reply, and the young girl bade her friend good-bye and started for the rendezvous.
It was fifteen minutes to six when Shirley reached the hotel. At the Vine Street entrance she hesitated a few moments, for now that the time for action was at hand, she grew nervous. It took her but an instant to shake off this uneasy feeling, however, and she entered the hotel boldly.
She took a seat in a far corner of the lobby, where she could see all who came and went without being too exposed, and then she waited. Six o’clock came, but there was no sign of Jones.
“I reckon he is a little late,” said Shirley to herself.
A quarter after six; half-past six and still no Jones.
“I guess he didn’t get my letter in time,” she said.
She made her way to the door. But just as she would have passed out a hurrying figure bumped into her. Shirley drew back to let the man pass, and cried out suddenly:
Jones, for it was indeed he, drew back sharply, and looked closely at Shirley. Then he smiled slightly.
Shirley followed the man back into the hotel. At the far side of the lobby was a door leading to the dining-room. Jones led the way inside, Shirley following close at his heels.
He selected a small table at the far end of the dining-room, and the two sat down.
“We can talk here undisturbed,” said Jones.
Their orders given, Jones leaned back in his chair.
“I wouldn’t have recognized you,” he said, looking at Shirley sharply.
“I was beginning to think you would not come,” said Shirley.
“My train was late,” Jones responded. “I had to hustle to get here as soon as I did.”
He was silent for some moments. Shirley said nothing, waiting for Jones to open the conversation.
“So,” said the man after the food had been set before them, “you have decided to accept my offer, eh?”
Shirley thought it good policy not to appear too anxious.
“It all depends upon what you want me to do,” she replied.
“Well,” he said at length, “I’ll tell you. You understand, of course, that it will not be healthy for you to repeat anything I may say?”