byRichardHardingDavis
I
IhadmadeupmymindthatwhenmyvacationcameIwouldspenditseekingadventures。Ihavealwayswishedforadventures，but，thoughIamoldenough——Iwastwenty—fivelastOctober——andhavealwaysgonehalf—waytomeetthem，adventuresavoidme。Kinneysaysitismyfault。Heholdsthatifyouwantadventuresyoumustgoafterthem。
KinneysitsnexttomeatJoyce&Carboy’s，thewoollenmanufacturers，whereIamastenographer，andKinneyisaclerk，andwebothhaveroomsatMrs。Shaw’sboarding—house。Kinneyisonlyayearolderthanmyself，butheisalwaysmeetingwithadventures。Atnight，whenIhavesatuplatereadinglaw，sothatImayfitmyselfforcourtreporting，andinthehopethatsomedayImaybecomeamemberofthebar，hewillknockatmydoorandtellmesomesurprisingthingthathasjusthappenedtohim。Sometimeshehasfollowedafire—engineandhelpedpeoplefromafire—escape，orhehaspulledtheshieldoffapoliceman，oratthebaroftheHotelKnickerbockerhasmadefriendswithastranger，whoturnsouttobenolessthananoblemanoranactor。Andwomen，especiallybeautifulwomen，arealwayspursuingKinneyintaxicabsandcallinguponhimforassistance。JusttolookatKinney，withoutknowinghowcleverheisatgettingpeopleoutoftheirdifficulties，hedoesnotappeartobeamantowhomyouwouldturnintimeoftrouble。Youwouldthinkwomenindistresswouldappealtosomeonebiggerandstronger；wouldsooneraskapoliceman。But，onthecontrary，itistoKinneythatwomenalwaysrun，especially，asI
havesaid，beautifulwomen。Nothingofthesorteverhappenstome。Isuppose，asKinneysays，itisbecausehewasbornandbroughtupinNewYorkCityandlooksandactslikeaNewYorkman，whileI，untilayearago，havealwayslivedatFairport。Fairportisaveryprettyharbor，butitdoesnottrainoneforadventures。
Wearrangedtotakeourvacationatthesametime，andtogether。
AtleastKinneysoarrangedit。Iseeagooddealofhim，andinlookingforwardtomyvacation，nottheleastpleasantfeatureofitwasthateverythingconnectedwithJoyce&CarboyandMrs。
Shaw’sboarding—housewouldbeleftbehindme。ButwhenKinneyproposedweshouldgotogether，Icouldnotseehow，withoutbeingrude，Icouldrefusehiscompany，andwhenhepointedoutthatforanexpeditioninsearchofadventureIcouldnotselectabetterguide，Ifeltthathewasright。
\"Sometimes，\"hesaid，\"Icanseeyoudon’tbelievethathalfthethingsItellyouhavehappenedtome，reallyhavehappened。Now，isn’tthatso？\"
TofindtheanswerthatwouldnothurthisfeelingsIhesitated，buthedidnotwaitformyanswer。Heseldomdoes。
\"Well，\"onthistrip，\"hewenton，\"youwillseeKinneyonthejob。
Youwon’thavetotakemywordforit。Youwillseeadventureswalkupandeatoutofmyhand。\"
OurvacationcameonthefirstofSeptember，butwebegantoplanforitinApril，anduptothenightbeforeweleftNewYorkweneverceasedplanning。OurdifficultywasthathavingbeenbroughtupatFairport，whichisontheSound，northofNewLondon，Iwashomesickforasmellofsaltmarshesandforthesightofwaterandships。Thoughtheywereonlyschoonerscarryingcement，Iwantedtositinthesunonthestring—pieceofawharfandwatchthem。I
wantedtobeatabouttheharborinacatboat，andfeelthetugandpullofthetiller。Kinneyprotestedthatthatwasnowaytospendavacationortoinviteadventure。HisfacewassetagainstFairport。Theconversationofclam—diggers，hesaid，didnotappealtohim；andhecomplainedthatatFairportouronlychanceofadventurewouldbemycapsizingthecatboatorrobbingalobster—pot。Heinsistedweshouldgotothemountains，wherewewouldmeetwhathealwayscalls\"ourbestpeople。\"InSeptember，heexplained，everybodygoestothemountainstorecuperateaftertheenervatingatmosphereofthesea—shore。TothisIobjectedthatthelittleseaairwehadinhaledatMrs。Shaw’sbasementdining—roomandinthesubwayneedcauseusnoanxiety。Andso，alongtheselines，throughoutthesleepless，sultrynightsofJune，July，andAugust，wefoughtitout。TherewasnotasummerresortwithinfivehundredmilesofNewYorkCitywedidnotconsider。
FromtheinformationbureausandpassengeragentsofeveryrailroadleavingNewYork，Kinneyprocuredalibraryoftimetables，maps，folders，andpamphlets，illustratedwiththemostattractivepicturesofsummerhotels，golflinks，tenniscourts，andboat—
houses。Fortwomonthshecarriedonacorrespondencewiththeproprietorsofthesehotels；andincomparingthedifferentpricestheyaskedhimforsuitesofroomsandsunparlorsderivedconstantsatisfaction。
\"TheOutlookHouse，\"hewouldannounce，\"wantstwenty—fourdollarsadayforbedroom，parlor，andprivatebath。WhileforthesameaccommodationstheCarteretArmsasksonlytwenty。ButtheCarterethasnotenniscourt；andthenagain，theOutlookhasnogarage，noraredogsallowedinthebedrooms。\"
AsKinneycouldnotplaylawntennis，andasneitherofusownedanautomobileoradog，ortwenty—fourdollars，thesedetailstomeseemedsuperfluous，buttherewasnohealthinpointingthatouttoKinney。Because，ashehimselfsays，hehassovividanimaginationthatwhathelackshecan\"makebelieve\"hehas，andthepleasureofpossessionishis。
Kinneygivesagreatdealofthoughttohisclothes，andthequestionofwhatheshouldwearonhisvacationwasuponhismind。
WhenIsaidIthoughtitwasnothingtoworryabout，hesnortedindignantly。\"YOUwouldn’t！\"hesaid。\"IfI’Dbeenbroughtupinacatboat，andhadatanlikearedIndian，andhairlikeaBroadwayblonde，Iwouldn’tworryeither。Mrs。ShawsaysyoulookexactlylikeaBritishpeerindisguise。\"IhadneverseenaBritishpeer，withorwithouthisdisguise，andIadmitIwasinterested。
\"Whyarethegirlsinthishouse，\"demandedKinney，\"alwaysrunningtoyourroomtoborrowmatches？BecausetheyadmireyourCLOTHES？
Ifthey’recrazyaboutclothes，whydon’ttheycometoMEformatches？\"
\"Youarealwaysoutatnight，\"Isaid。
\"Youknowthat’snottheanswer，\"heprotested。\"Whydothetype—
writergirlsattheofficealwaysgotoYOUtosharpentheirpencilsandtellthemhowtospellthehardwords？Whydothegirlsinthelunch—roomsserveyoufirst？Becausethey’rehypnotizedbyyourclothes？IsTHATit？\"
\"Dothey？\"Iasked；\"Ihadn’tnoticed。\"
Kinneysnortedandtosseduphisarms。\"Hehadn’tnoticed！\"hekeptrepeating。\"Hehadn’tnoticed！\"ForhisvacationKinneyboughtasecond—handsuit—case。ItwascoveredwithlabelsofhotelsinFranceandSwitzerland。
\"Joe，\"Isaid，\"ifyoucarrythatbagyouwillbeawalkingfalsehood。\"
Kinney’snameisJosephForbesKinney；hedroppedtheJosephbecausehesaiditdidnotappearoftenenoughintheSocialRegister，andcouldbefoundonlyintheOldTestament，andhehasaskedmetocallhimForbes。Havingfirstknownhimas\"Joe，\"I
occasionallyforget。
\"MynameisNOTJoe，\"hesaidsternly，\"andIhaveasmuchrighttocarryasecond—handbagasanewone。ThebagsaysIThasbeentoEurope。ItdoesnotsaythatIhavebeenthere。\"
\"But，youprobablywill，\"Ipointedout，\"andthensomeonewhohasreallyvisitedthoseplaces——\"
\"Listen！\"commandedKinney。\"Ifyouwantadventuresyoumustbesomebodyofimportance。NoonewillgosharesinanadventurewithJoeKinney，atwenty—dollar—a—weekclerk，thehumanaddingmachine，thehall—roomboy。ButForbesKinney，Esq。，withabagfromEurope，andaHarvardribbonroundhishat——\"
\"IsthataHarvardribbonroundyourhat？\"Iasked。
\"Itis！\"declaredKinney；\"andIhaveaYaleribbon，andaTurfClubribbon，too。Theycomeonhooks，andyouhook’emontomatchyourclothes，orthecompanyyoukeep。And，what’smore，\"hecontinued，withsomeheat，\"I’veborrowedatennisracketandagolfbagfullofsticks，andyoutakecareyoudon’tgivemeaway。\"
\"Isee，\"Ireturned，\"thatyouaregoingtogetusintoalotoftrouble。\"
\"Iwasthinking，\"saidKinney，lookingatmeratherdoubtfully，\"itmighthelpalotifforthefirstweekyouactedasmysecretary，andduringthesecondweekIwasyoursecretary。\"
Sometimes，whenMr。Joycegoesonabusinesstrip，hetakesmewithhimashisprivatestenographer，andthechangefromofficeworkisverypleasant；butIcouldnotseewhyIshouldspendoneweekofmyholidaywritinglettersforKinney。
\"Youwouldn’twriteanyletters，\"heexplained。\"ButifIcouldtellpeopleyouweremyprivatesecretary，itwouldnaturallygivemeacertainimportance。\"
\"Ifitwillmakeyouanyhappier，\"Isaid，\"youcantellpeopleI
amaBritishpeerindisguise。\"
\"Thereisnouseinbeingnastyaboutit，\"protestedKinney。\"Iamonlytryingtoshowyouawaythatwouldleadtoadventure。\"
\"Itsurelywould！\"Iassented。\"Itwouldleadustojail。\"
ThelastweekinAugustcame，and，astowhereweweretogowestillwereundecided，Isuggestedweleaveittochance。
\"Thefirstthing，\"Ipointedout，\"istogetawayfromthisawfulcity。Thesecondthingistogetawaycheaply。Letuswritedownthenamesofthesummerresortstowhichwecantravelbyrailorbyboatfortwodollarsandputtheminahat。ThenameoftheplacewedrawwillbetheoneforwhichwestartSaturdayafternoon。Theidea，\"Iurged，\"isinitselffullofadventure。\"
Kinneyagreed，butreluctantly。WhatchieflydisturbedhimwasthethoughtthattheplacesnearNewYorktowhichonecouldtravelforsolittlemoneywerenotlikelytobefashionable。
\"Ihaveaterriblefear，\"hedeclared，\"that，withthislimitofyours，wewillwakeupinAsburyPark。\"
Fridaynightcameandfounduspreparedfordeparture，andatmidnightweheldourlottery。Inapillow—caseweplacedtwentyslipsofpaper，oneachofwhichwaswrittenthenameofasummerresort。TenoftheseplaceswereselectedbyKinney，andtenbymyself。Kinneydramaticallyrolleduphissleeve，and，plunginghisbaredarmintoourgrab—bag，drewoutaslipofpaperandreadaloud：\"NewBedford，viaNewBedfordSteamboatLine。\"Thechoicewasoneofmine。
\"NewBedford！\"shoutedKinney。Histoneexpressedthekeenestdisappointment。\"It’samilltown！\"heexclaimed。\"It’sfullofcottonmills。\"
\"Thatmaybe，\"Iprotested。\"Butit’salsoamostpicturesqueoldseaport，oneoftheoldestinAmerica。Youcanseewhalingvesselsatthewharfsthere，andwoodenfigure—heads，andharpoons——\"
\"Isthisanexpeditiontodigupburiedcities，\"interruptedKinney，\"orapleasuretrip？Idon’tWANTtoseeharpoons！I
wouldn’tknowaharpoonifyoustuckoneintome。Iprefertoseehatpins。\"
ThePatiencedidnotsailuntilsixo’clock，butweweresoanxioustoputNewYorkbehindusthatatfivewewereonboard。Ourcabinwasanoutsideonewithtwoberths。Afterplacingoursuit—casesinit，wecollectedcamp—chairsandsettledourselvesinacoolplaceontheboatdeck。Kinneyhadboughtalltheafternoonpapers，and，aslaterIhadreasontoremember，wasgreatlyinterestedoverthefactthattheyoungEarlofIvyhadatlastarrivedinthiscountry。ForsomeweeksthepapershadbeengivingmorespacethanseemednecessarytothatyoungIrishmanandtotheyoungladyhewascomingovertomarry。Therehadbeenpicturesofhisdifferentcountryhouses，picturesofhimself；inuniform，intherobesheworeatthecoronation，onapolopony，asMasterofFox—hounds。AndtherehadbeenpicturesofMissAldrich，andofHERcountryplacesatNewportandontheHudson。FromtheafternoonpapersKinneylearnedthat，havingsailedunderhisfamilynameofMeehan，theyoungmanandLadyMoya，hissister，hadthatmorninglandedinNewYork，butbeforethereportershaddiscoveredthem，hadescapedfromthewharfanddisappeared。
\"’Inquiriesatthedifferenthotels，’\"readKinneyimpressively，\"’failedtoestablishthewhereaboutsofhislordshipandLadyMoya，anditisbelievedtheyatonceleftbytrainforNewport。’\"
WithaweKinneypointedattheredfunnelsoftheMauretania。
\"ThereistheboatthatbroughtthemtoAmerica，\"hesaid。\"I
see，\"headded，\"thatinthispictureofhimplayinggolfhewearsoneofthoseknitjacketstheEiselbaumhasjustmarkeddowntothreedollarsandseventy—fivecents。Iwish——\"headdedregretfully。
\"YoucangetoneatNewBedford，\"Isuggested。
\"Iwish，\"hecontinued，\"wehadgonetoNewport。AllofourBEST
peoplewillbethereforthewedding。Itisthemostimportantsocialeventoftheseason。Youmightalmostcallitanalliance。\"
Iwentforwardtowatchthemtakeonthefreight，andKinneystationedhimselfattherailabovethepassengersgangwaywherehecouldseetheotherpassengersarrive。Hehaddressedhimselfwithmuchcare，andwaswearinghisYalehat—band，butwhenaverysmart—lookingyouthcameupthegangplankwearingaHarvardribbon，Kinneyhastilyretiredtoourcabinandreturnedwithonelikeit。
AfewminuteslaterIfoundhimandtheyoungmanseatedincamp—
chairssidebysideengagedinaconversationinwhichKinneyseemedtobearthegreaterpart。Indeed，towhatKinneywassayingtheyoungmanpaidnottheslightestattention。Instead，hiseyeswerefastenedonthegangplankbelow，andwhenayoungmanofhisownage，accompaniedbyagirlinadressofroughtweed，appeareduponit，heleapedfromhisseat。ThenwithaconsciouslookatKinney，sankback。
Thegirlinthetweedsuitwassufficientlybeautifultocauseanymantoriseandtoremainstanding。ShewasthemostbeautifulgirlIhadeverseen。Shehadgrayeyesandhairlikegolden—rod，worninafashionwithwhichIwasnotfamiliar，andherfacewassolovelythatinmysurpriseatthesightofit，Ifeltasuddencatchatmythroat，andmyheartstoppedwithawe，andwonder，andgratitude。
AfterabriefmomenttheyoungmanintherealHarvardhat—bandroserestlesslyand，withanodtoKinney，wentbelow。Ialsoroseandfollowedhim。Ihadanuncontrollabledesiretoagainlookatthegirlwiththegolden—rodhair。Ididnotmeanthatsheshouldseeme。NeverbeforehadIdonesuchathing。ButneverbeforehadIseenanyonewhohadmovedmesostrangely。Seekingher，I
walkedthelengthofthemainsaloonandbackagain，butcouldnotfindher。Thedelaygavemetimetoseethatmyconductwasimpertinent。Theveryfactthatshewassolovelytolookuponshouldhavebeenherprotection。Itaffordedmenoexcusetofollowandspyuponher。Withthisthought，Ihastilyreturnedtotheupperdecktoburymyselfinmybook。Ifitdidnotservetokeepmymindfromtheyounglady，atleastIwouldpreventmyeyesfromcausingherannoyance。
IwasabouttotakethechairthattheyoungmanhadleftvacantwhenKinneyobjected。
\"Hewasverymuchinterestedinourconversation，\"Kinneysaid，\"andhemayreturn。\"
IhadnotnoticedanyeagernessonthepartoftheyoungmantotalktoKinneyortolistentohim，butIdidnotsitdown。
\"Ishouldnotbesurprisedabit，\"saidKinney，\"ifthatyoungmanisnoendofaswell。HeisaHarvardman，andhismannerwasmostpolite。That，\"explainedKinney，\"isonewayyoucanalwaystellarealswell。They’renothighandmightywithyou。Theirsocialpositionissosecurethattheycandoastheylike。Forinstance，didyounoticethathesmokedapipe？\"
IsaidIhadnotnoticedit。
ForhisholidayKinneyhadpurchasedaboxofcigarsofaqualitymoreexpensivethanthosehecanusuallyafford。Hewassmokingoneofthematthemoment，and，asitgrewless，hadbeencarefullymovingthegoldbandwithwhichitwasencircledfromthelightedend。Butashespokeheregardeditapparentlywithdistaste，andthendroppeditoverboard。
\"Keepmychair，\"hesaid，rising。\"Iamgoingtomycabintogetmypipe。\"Isatdownandfastenedmyeyesuponmybook；butneitherdidIunderstandwhatIwasreadingnorseetheprintedpage。Instead，beforemyeyes，confusingandblindingme，wasthelovely，radiantfaceofthebeautifullady。InperplexityIlookedup，andfoundherstandingnottwofeetfromme。Somethingpulledmeoutofmychair。Somethingmadememoveittowardher。I
liftedmyhatandbackedaway。Buttheeyesofthelovelyladyhaltedme。
Tomyperplexity，herfaceexpressedbothsurpriseandpleasure。
Itwasasthougheithershethoughtsheknewme，orthatIremindedherofsomemanshedidknow。Werethelatterthecase，hemusthavebeenafriend，forthewayinwhichshelookedatmewaskind。
Andtherewas，besides，theexpressionofsurpriseandasthoughsomethingshesawpleasedher。MaybeitwasthequicknesswithwhichIhadofferedmychair。Stilllookingatme，shepointedtooneofthesky—scrapers。
\"Couldyoutellme，\"sheasked，\"thenameofthatbuilding？\"Hadherquestionnotprovedit，hervoicewouldhavetoldmenotonlythatshewasastranger，butthatshewasIrish。Itwasparticularlysoft，low，andvibrant。Itmadethecommonplacequestionsheaskedsoundasthoughshehadsungit。Itoldherthenameofthebuilding，andthatfartheruptown，asshewouldseewhenwemovedintomidstream，therewasanotherstilltaller。Shelistened，regardingmebrightly，asthoughinterested；butbeforeherIwasembarrassed，and，fearingIintruded，Iagainmadeamovementtogoaway。Withanotherquestionshestoppedme。I
couldseenoreasonforherdoingso，butitwasalmostasthoughshehadaskedthequestiononlytodetainme。
\"Whatisthatoddboat，\"shesaid，\"pumpingwaterintotheriver？\"
Iexplainedthatitwasafire—boattestingherhose—lines，andthenaswemovedintothechannelIgainedcourage，andfoundmyselfpointingouttheStatueofLiberty，GovernorsIsland，andtheBrooklynBridge。Thefactthatitwasastrangerwhowastalkingdidnotseemtodisturbher。Icannottellhowsheconveyedtheidea，butIsoonfeltthatshefelt，nomatterwhatunconventionalthingshechosetodo，peoplewouldnotberude，ormisunderstand。
Iconsideredtellinghermyname。Atfirstitseemedthatthatwouldbemorepolite。ThenIsawtodosowouldbeforcingmyselfuponher，thatshewasinterestedinmeonlyasaguidetoNewYorkHarbor。
WhenwepassedtheBrooklynNavyYardItalkedsomuchandsoeagerlyofthebattle—shipsatanchortherethattheladymusthavethoughtIhadfollowedthesea，forsheasked：\"Areyouasailorman？\"
Itwasthefirstquestionthatwasinanywaypersonal。
\"Iusedtosailacatboat，\"Isaid。
Myanswerseemedtopuzzleher，andshefrowned。Thenshelaugheddelightedly，likeonehavingmadeadiscovery。
\"Youdon’tsay’sailorman，’\"shesaid。\"Whatdoyouask，overhere，whenyouwanttoknowifamanisinthenavy？\"
Shespokeasthoughweweretalkingadifferentlanguage。
\"Weaskifheisinthenavy，\"Ianswered。
Shelaughedagainatthat，quiteasthoughIhadsaidsomethingclever。
\"Andyouarenot？\"
\"No，\"Isaid，\"IaminJoyce&Carboy’soffice。Iamastenographer。\"
Againmyanswerseemedbothtopuzzleandtosurpriseher。Sheregardedmedoubtfully。Icouldseethatshethought，forsomereason，Iwasmisleadingher。
\"Inanoffice？\"sherepeated。Then，asthoughshehadcaughtme，shesaid：\"Howdoyoukeepsofit？\"Sheaskedthequestiondirectly，asamanwouldhaveaskedit，andasshespokeIwasconsciousthathereyesweremeasuringmeandmyshoulders，asthoughshewerewonderingtowhatweightIcouldstrip。
\"It’sonlylatelyI’veworkedinanoffice，\"Isaid。\"BeforethatIalwaysworkedout—of—doors；oysteringandclammingand，inthefall，scalloping。AndinthesummerIplayedballonahotelnine。\"
Isawthattothebeautifulladymyexplanationcarriednomeaningwhatsoever，butbeforeIcouldexplain，theyoungmanwithwhomshehadcomeonboardwalkedtowardus。
Neitherdidheappeartofindinhertalkingtoastrangeranythingembarrassing。Hehaltedandsmiled。Hissmilewaspleasant，butentirelyvague。InthefewminutesIwaswithhim，Ilearnedthatitwasnosignthathewassecretlypleased。Itwasmerelyhisexpression。Itwasasthoughaphotographerhadsaid：\"Smile，please，\"andhehadsmiled。
Whenhejoinedus，outofdeferencetotheyoungladyIraisedmyhat，buttheyouthdidnotseemtothinkthatoutwardshowofrespectwasnecessary，andkepthishandsinhispockets。Neitherdidheceasesmoking。Hisfirstremarktothelovelyladysomewhatstartledme。
\"Haveyougotabrassbedinyourroom？\"heasked。Thebeautifulladysaidshehad。
\"So’veI，\"saidtheyoungman。\"Theydoyouratherwell，don’tthey？Andit’sonlythreedollars。Howmuchisthat？\"
\"Fourtimesthreewouldbetwelve，\"saidthelady。\"Twelveshillings。\"
Theyoungmanwassmokingacigaretteinalongambercigarette—
holder。Ineverhadseenonesolong。Heexaminedtheendofhiscigarette—holder，and，apparentlysurprisedandrelievedatfindingacigarettethere，againsmiledcontentedly。
ThelovelyladypointedatthemarbleshaftrisingaboveMadisonSquare。
\"Thatisthetallestsky—scraper，\"shesaid，\"inNewYork。\"Ihadjustinformedherofthatfact。Theyoungmansmiledasthoughhewerebeingintroducedtothebuilding，butexhibitednointerest。
\"ISit？\"heremarked。Histoneseemedtoshowthathadshesaid，\"Thatisarabbit，\"hewouldhavebeenequallygratified。
\"Someday，\"hestated，withthesamestartlingabruptnesswithwhichhehadmadehisfirstremark，\"ourwar—shipswilllifttheroofsoffthosesky—scrapers。\"
Theremarkstruckmeinthewrongplace。Itwasunnecessary。
AlreadyIresentedthemanneroftheyoungmantowardthelovelylady。Itseemedtomelackingincourtesy。Heknewher，andyettreatedherwithnodeference，whileI，astranger，feltsogratefultoherforbeingwhatIknewonewithsuchafacemustbe，thatIcouldhavekneltatherfeet。SoIratherresentedtheremark。
\"Ifthewar—shipsyousendoverhere，\"Isaiddoubtfully，\"aren’tmoresuccessfulinliftingthingsthanyouryachts，you’dbetterkeepthemathomeandsavecoal！\"
SeldomhaveImadesolongaspeechorsorudeaspeech，andassoonasIhadspoken，onaccountofthelovelylady，Iwassorry。
Butafterapauseofhalfasecondshelaugheddelightedly。
\"Isee，\"shecried，asthoughitwereasortofagame。\"HemeansLipton！Wecan’tliftthecup，wecan’tlifttheroofs。Don’tyousee，Stumps！\"sheurged。Inspiteofmyruderemark，theyoungmanshecalledStumpshadcontinuedtosmilehappily。Nowhisexpressionchangedtooneofdiscomfortanduttergloom，andthenbrokeoutintoaradiantsmile。
\"Isay！\"hecried。\"That’sawfullygood：’Ifyourwar—shipsaren’tanybetteratliftingthings——’Oh，Isay，really，\"heprotested，\"that’sawfullygood。\"HeseemedtobeafraidIwouldnotappreciatetherareexcellenceofmyspeech。\"Youknow，really，\"
hepleaded，\"itisAWFULLYgood！\"
Wewereinterruptedbythesuddenappearance，inoppositedirections，ofKinneyandtheyoungmanwiththerealhat—band。
Bothwereexcitedanddisturbed。Atthesightoftheyoungman，Stumpsturnedappealinglytothegolden—rodgirl。Hegroanedaloud，andhisexpressionwasthatofaboywhohadbeencaughtplayingtruant。
\"Oh，Lord！\"heexclaimed，\"what’shehuffyaboutnow？HeTOLDmeI
couldcomeondeckassoonaswestarted。\"
Thegirlturneduponmeasweetandlovelysmileandnodded。Then，withStumpsatherside，shemovedtomeettheyoungman。Whenhesawthemcominghehalted，and，whentheyjoinedhim，begantalkingearnestly，almostangrily。Ashedidso，muchtomybewilderment，heglaredatme。AtthesamemomentKinneygrabbedmebythearm。
\"Comebelow！\"hecommanded。Histonewashoarseandthrillingwithexcitement。
\"Ouradventures，\"hewhispered，\"havebegun！\"
II
Ifelt，forme，adventureshadalreadybegun，formymeetingwiththebeautifulladywastheeventofmylife，andthoughKinneyandIhadagreedtoshareouradventures，ofthisoneIknewIcouldnotevenspeaktohim。Iwantedtobealone，whereIcoulddelightinit，whereIcouldgooverwhatshehadsaid；whatIhadsaid。I
wouldshareitwithnoone。Itwastoowonderful，toosacred。ButKinneywouldnotbedenied。Heledmetoourcabinandlockedthedoor。
\"Iamsorry，\"hebegan，\"butthisadventureisoneIcannotsharewithyou。\"TheremarkwassoinkeepingwithmyownthoughtsthatwithsuddenunhappydoubtIwonderedifKinney，too，hadfeltthecharmofthebeautifullady。Buthequicklyundeceivedme。
\"Ihavebeendoingalittledetectivework，\"hesaid。Hisvoicewaslowandsepulchral。\"AndIhavecomeuponarealadventure。
TherearereasonswhyIcannotshareitwithyou，butasitdevelopsyoucanfollowit。Abouthalfanhourago，\"heexplained，\"Icameheretogetmypipe。Thewindowwasopen。Thelatticewasonlypartlyclosed。OutsidewasthatyoungmanfromHarvardwhotriedtomakemyacquaintance，andtheyoungEnglishmanwhocameonboardwiththatblonde。\"Kinneysuddenlyinterruptedhimself。
\"Youweretalkingtoherjustnow，\"hesaid。IhatedtohearhimspeakoftheIrishladyas\"thatblonde。\"Ihatedtohearhimspeakofheratall。So，toshuthimoff，Iansweredbriefly：\"SheaskedmeabouttheSingerBuilding。\"
\"Isee，\"saidKinney。\"Well，thesetwomenwerejustoutsidemywindow，and，whileIwassearchingformypipe，IheardtheAmericanspeaking。Hewasveryexcitedandangry。’Itellyou，’
hesaid，’everyboatandrailroadstationiswatched。Youwon’tbesafetillwegetawayfromNewYork。Youmustgotoyourcabin，andSTAYthere。’Andtheotheroneanswered：’Iamsickofhidinganddodging。’\"
Kinneypauseddramaticallyandfrowned。
\"Well，\"Iasked，\"whatofit？\"
\"Whatofit？\"hecried。Heexclaimedaloudwithpityandimpatience。
\"Nowonder，\"hecried，\"youneverhaveadventures。Why，it’splainasprint。Theyarecriminalsescaping。TheEnglishmancertainlyisescaping。\"
Iwasconcernedonlyforthelovelylady，butIasked：\"YoumeantheIrishmancalledStumps？\"
\"Stumps！\"exclaimedKinney。\"Whatastrangename。Toostrangetobetrue。It’sanalias！\"IwasincensedthatKinneyshouldchargethefriendsofthelovelyladywithbeingcriminals。HaditbeenanyoneelseIwouldhaveatonceresentedit，buttobeangrywithKinneyisdifficult。Icouldnothelpbutrememberthatheistheslaveofhisownimagination。Itplaystricksandrunsawaywithhim。Andifitleadshimtobelieveinnocentpeoplearecriminals，italsoleadshimtobelievethateverywomanintheSubwaytowhomhegiveshisseatisagreatlady，aleaderofsocietyonherwaytoworkintheslums。
\"Joe！\"Iprotested。\"Thosemenaren’tcriminals。ItalkedtothatIrishman，andhehasn’tsenseenoughtobeacriminal。\"
\"Therailroadsarewatched，\"repeatedKinney。\"DoHONESTmencareadarnwhethertherailroadiswatchedornot？Doyoucare？DoI
care？AnddidyounoticehowangrytheAmericangotwhenhefoundStumpstalkingwithyou？\"
Ihadnoticedit；andIalsorecalledthefactthatStumpshadsaidtothelovelylady：\"HetoldmeIcouldcomeondeckassoonaswestarted。\"
ThewordsseemedtobearoutwhatKinneyclaimedhehadoverheard。
Butnotwishingtoencouragehim，ofwhatIhadheardIsaidnothing。
\"Hemaybedodgingasummons，\"Isuggested。\"Heiswanted，probably，onlyasawitness。Itmightbeacivilsuit，orhischauffeurmayhavehitsomebody。\"
Kinneyshookhisheadsadly。
\"Excuseme，\"hesaid，\"butIfearyoulackimagination。Thosemenarerascals，dangerousrascals，andthewomanistheiraccomplice。
WhattheyhavedoneIdon’tknow，butIhavealreadylearnedenoughtoarrestthemassuspiciouscharacters。Listen！Eachofthemhasaseparatestate—roomforward。ThewindowoftheAmerican’sroomwasopen，andhissuit—casewasonthebed。OnitweretheinitialsH。P。A。Thestateroomisnumbertwenty—four，butwhenI
examinedthepurser’slist，pretendingIwishedtofindoutifafriendofminewasonboard，Ifoundthatthemanintwenty—fourhadgivenhisnameasJamesPreston。Now，\"hedemanded，\"whyshouldoneofthemhideunderanaliasandtheotherbeafraidtoshowhimselfuntilweleavethewharf？\"Hedidnotwaitformyanswer。\"IhavebeentalkingtoMr。H。P。A。，ALIASPreston，\"hecontinued。\"IpretendedIwasapersonofsomeimportance。I
hintedIwasrich。Myobject，\"Kinneyaddedhastily，\"wastoencouragehimtotrysomeofhistricksonME；totrytorobME；sothatIcouldobtainevidence。Ialso，\"hewenton，withsomeembarrassment，\"toldhimthatyou，too，werewealthyandofsomeimportance。\"
Ithoughtofthelovelylady，andIfeltmyselfblushingindignantly。
\"Youdidverywrong，\"Icried；\"youhadnoright！Youmayinvolveusbothmostunpleasantly。\"
\"Youarenotinvolvedinanyway，\"protestedKinney。\"AssoonaswereachNewBedfordyoucansliponshoreandwaitformeatthehotel。WhenI’vefinishedwiththesegentlemen，I’lljoinyou。\"
\"Finishedwiththem！\"Iexclaimed。\"Whatdoyoumeantodotothem？\"
\"Arrestthem！\"criedKinneysternly，\"assoonastheystepuponthewharf！\"
\"Youcan’tdoit！\"Igasped。
\"IHAVEdoneit！\"answeredKinney。\"It’sgoodasdone。IhavenotifiedthechiefofpoliceatNewBedford，\"hedeclaredproudly，\"tomeetmeatthewharf。Iusedthewireless。Hereismymessage。\"
Fromhispocketheproducedapaperand，withgreatimportance，readaloud：\"MeetmeatwharfonarrivalsteamerPatience。Twowell—knowncriminalsonboardescapingNewYorkpolice。Willpersonallylaychargesagainstthem。——ForbesKinney。\"
AssoonasIcouldrecoverfrommysurprise，Imadeviolentprotest。IpointedouttoKinneythathisconductwasoutrageous，thatinmakingsuchseriouscharges，onsuchevidence，hewouldlayhimselfopentopunishment。