He had been warned to behave himself; but would he? Captain
Elisha paced up and down the marble floor before the elevator cage and
wondered whether his visiting the apartment would be a wise move or a
foolish one.
The elevator descended, the door of the cage opened, and Stephen himself
darted out. His face was red, he was scowling fiercely, and he strode
toward the street without looking in his guardian's direction.
The captain caught him as he passed.
"Here, boy!" he exclaimed; "where's the fire? Where are you bound?"
His nephew, brought thus unexpectedly to a halt, stared at him.
"Oh, it's you!" he exclaimed. "Humph! I'm bound--I don't know where I'm
bound!"
"You don't, hey? Well, you can cruise a long ways on a v'yage like that.
What do you mean?"
"Aw, let me alone! I'm going to the club, I guess, or somewhere. Anyhow,
I won't stay with her. I told her so. Silly little idiot! By gad, she
understands what I think of her conduct. I'll never speak to her again.
I told her so. She--"
"Here! Belay! Stop! Who are you talking about?"
"Caro, of course. She--"
"You've run off and left her alone--to-night? Where is she?"
"Upstairs--and crying, I suppose. She doesn't do anything else. It's all
she's good for. Selfish, romantic--"
He got no further, for Captain Elisha sent him reeling with a push and
ran to the elevator.
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