CHAPTER IX
THE DIAMOND NECKLACE
"Will they be much longer?" asked John, stepping into the room with atray of glasses in one hand and a silver cocktail shaker in the other.
"I am sure I don't know," replied Lola, turning from where she stillstood by the window, and moving slowly across the room to him. "I amgoing to try your cocktail, John."
"You? Why, you never drank one in your life."
"What of it? I am curious." She took one of the empty glasses from thetray and held it out to him coaxingly.
"Your father won't like it," he warned her.
"He won't know it."
"Now, Lola!"
"Don't be an old woman, John! Come!"
He rather reluctantly poured her out a very small drink, as he was farfrom sure whether or not the Doctor would approve. Lola, up to now,had always shown the most complete distaste for any sort of liquor, adistaste which she really felt; which any healthy young person wouldfeel were it not for the vague general impression that somewhere inthe drops of liquor is hidden some hint of romance, some glimpse ofmysterious knowledge; the desire of the unknown.
"How very generous," remarked Lola, looking at the few amber drops inthe bottom of her glass.
"Quite enough to begin with," replied John, and he watched hercuriously as she put the glass to her lips, and laughed heartily as hesaw her gasp and the tears come to her eyes.
"Well?" he questioned.
"I don't like it."
"Of course you don't."
"Do you? Does anyone?"
"I think not, Lola. Not at first, anyway. It is the physicalexcitement, the stimulation."
"I think I understand," she spoke dreamily, thoughtfully, for she hadoften wondered lately why so many people seemed to care so much for athing that had never meant anything at all to her, so little that upto that very moment she had not even been curious. "To change, if onlyfor a moment the deadly monotony of things. To have another emotion, anew sensation. You will have to make me cocktails when we are married,John."
"Well, I----"
"You must! I want to learn everything. I am tired of being just agirl. Isn't there anything else in life but to sit here with you andfather, and his friends? Are our hearts always going to beat on,one-two, one-two, like the ticking of a clock? You say you love me,but you are as cold as ice!"
She drew close and looked up at him queerly. Her eyes now were not theeyes he knew so well, calm and grave, or smiling; they were deeper, hethought; deeper, more beautiful, but--they seemed to fascinate him; hefelt himself grow dizzy; the blood leaped in his veins and pounded inhis heart. He put his arms about her and drew her close--close. Shesmiled now, with a smile he had never seen on her face before. It madeher look older, wiser. How beautiful she was. She was a woman, nolonger a girl, and all her beauty was his. His!
"You say you love me," she whispered quickly, with a note in her voicenew to him, but strangely thrilling. "If you want to keep my love youmust make me mad for you. Are you made of flesh and blood? Come! Kissme!"
He kissed her. Kissed her with a depth of passion such as he had neverdreamed of, and for a moment she returned his kiss, then relaxed andlay half fainting in his arms, then releasing herself with a low laughshe stepped away from him.
"There! That's different. I do love you, John, more than I thought Idid."
"Lola!" He tried to take her in his arms again, but she laughinglyavoided him, going around the table, her eyes still challenging him tofollow.
"You are a silly boy, John, but I like you very much to-night." Shebent over the table, tauntingly, alluring. "You are not quite as coldas you look, John. Wouldn't it be funny if I had to be afraid of you?"
He followed her; she laughed again, and started to run to the door,and as she did so a small, flat leather box fell out of the fancyshopping bag she still held in her hand, and which had comeunfastened, as she had drawn herself away from him.
As John stopped and stooped to pick the little box up, her wholemanner changed so suddenly that he was startled. The love, themischief, and the deeper feeling that had done so much to intoxicatehim, was wiped out, and in its place there was a look of fear andanger, and as she spoke her voice was harsh and cold.
"Give that to me."
"Why?" He hesitated, astounded.
"Give it to me."
"Why not?" He handed it to her, and as she took it from him her facechanged again, and she looked relieved and happy.
"What is it, Lola? It looks like a jeweller's box."
"Hush! We are not married yet, Mr. John Dorris. You must not pry intothe mysteries of a lady's toilet."
"Oh!" He laughed happily as she returned the little box to her bag,and made sure that it was fastened. "It is hardly fair for you toblame me for our not having married, Lola, is it? Come, dear; whyshould you keep putting me off? I have money enough to take care ofyou, and I'll be making more right along now. Come, Lola! Can't it besoon?"
"That is quite enough of such nonsense," she said airily, stillkeeping away from him. But he was serious now. He had been deeplystirred, and, like most men who, as a general thing, have theiremotions well under control, it was difficult for him to so suddenlyregain his composure. "I--I love you, Lola!"
The real earnestness in his tone stopped her. It was as thoughsomething deep in her heart answered to the yearning in his voice, andshe turned gently to him, a look on her face that he had not seen forweeks. The look of the gentle, timid girl who had learned to come tohim for comfort and protection.
"You must love me." She was pleading now. "I need your love, John. Youmust keep on loving me, with all your heart."
"I love you, Lola, with all my soul."
There was terror in her face now, an instinctive terror that sheunderstood as little as he did.
"Don't! You frighten me!" She trembled, pale and distressed. "I--Idon't know why, but I am afraid."
"Lola, what is it?"
She did not answer, but stood there, a queer, thoughtful, puzzledexpression on her face; and before he could ask her any more questionsthey heard Mrs. Mooney and Nellie as they passed down the hall, and amoment after Dr. Crossett and Dr. Barnhelm entered, smiling happily.
"She is going to be all right, that little Nellie," announced Dr.Crossett gleefully as a boy might have done. "Ah! Sometimes it is avery fine thing to be alive!"
"Doctor," said Maria, standing in the open door, "Jane says she'd liketo have a chance to wash up before breakfast."
"Come!" The Doctor, who had quite forgotten dinner in his joy over hisfriend's confidence in Nellie's recovery, looked at Mariaremorsefully.
"All right, Maria, we are quite ready."
"We will need more ice in these cocktails," said John. "Will you helpme, Maria?"
They left the room together and Dr. Crossett went to Lola and offeredher his arm.
"My arm, Mademoiselle."
"Please don't wait for me, Doctor. All I want is a little drop ofcoffee. I had tea with Mrs. Rupert. You run right along. I will bewith you in a few moments."
"I would wait," he returned politely, "but, oh, I am so hungry!"
"You poor man. Run!"
"I run!" And he left the room, half dragging Dr. Barnhelm with him.
Lola stood for a moment, until she heard the scraping of the chairs asthey seated themselves about the table in the next room, then, with aquick, furtive look over her shoulder, she took the small flat boxfrom her bag and, opening it, held up under the brilliant electriclights a flashing, sparkling chain of gorgeous diamonds. No one sawher, as she stood there, playing lovingly with them, dropping themover her dress, holding them about her throat, her eyes blazing withjoy and excitement. Had there been anyone to see, the thought wouldhave come to him that in her face there was a passion of greedscarcely human, and when, for a moment, she thought she heard a stepapproaching, a look came to her as she hid the jewels in her breastlike the look that comes to a wild beast of the jungle, when it isthreatened with being robbed of its p
rey.
After a moment, standing there, tense and watchful, she drew them outagain, and held them up, her face all smiles and happiness, her eyesflashing back the brilliancy of the jewels. At last she tired of themand dropped them carelessly on the table, and stood there thinking ofwhere she could conceal them. It would be nice to have them alwayswith her, to feel them about her neck, but she was afraid. Thepossession of a fortune in diamonds would be a difficult matter toexplain. She thought of the wall safe, and at once decided to put themthere, so she went to it quickly and worked the combination. As sheopened the safe the first thing she saw was the large roll of bills,left there by her father. She held them in her hand for a moment. Dr.Crossett had given her father more money. She was very glad of that.It was so tiresome to be always hearing him complain of poverty. Shethrew the bills back carelessly, and, taking out a small jewel box ofblack japaned wood, unlocked it with a tiny key from her bag and,putting her necklace back in its case, locked the box and the safe,turning away quickly as she heard the bell ring and Maria go to thedoor.
A moment later, as Maria returned down the hall with a card in herhand, Lola met her.
"What is it, Maria?"
"A lady to see your father."
"A patient?"
"She didn't say."
"Let me see that card." Maria gave it to her, and, after glancing atit, she said quietly, "Show her in here, Maria."
"She asked especially to see your father."
"Do as I tell you, Maria."
"Yes, Miss."
Maria went obediently to the hall, returning a moment later, followedby a dark, middle-aged woman, showily dressed, and evidently in a verybad temper. The woman bowed coldly, but Lola made no pretence ofreturning her bow.
"You need not wait, Maria."
Maria left the room, and Lola stepped to the door of the dining-room,and looked in, smiling at the three men who so eagerly rose to greether.
"Don't get up, please. I am not coming just yet, only please don'tdrink all the coffee."
She closed the door, and, turning suddenly on the woman, who stood inthe center of the room, she demanded angrily:
"How dare you come here?"
"I came to see your father," responded Madam Zelya curtly, a trace offoreign accent in her speech, and more than a trace of stubborn angerin her manner.
"I told you, over the telephone, that I would call, or send a check,in a day or two."
"I cannot wait a day or two! The bill is long past due. My landlord,he vill not vait a day or two. My girls they vill not vait a day ortwo for their wages. Ze money it must be paid to-night."
"My dear Madam Zelya! Won't you be seated?"
"No! I prefer to stand. I vait here until I ged my money. Ef I standperhaps I'd nod vait so long."
"Now, Madam, as a favor to me----"
"I trust you too much," broke in Madam angrily. "Meeses Harlan bringyou to me. I gif you credit, you do not pay. Meeses Harlan she halftold me that your fadder he 'es a great doctor. Well, ve shall see ifhe vill pay."
"I want you to go," Lola spoke imperiously. "Go! At once!"
"Six hundred and sefenty-fife dollars ef you please."
"Wait!" The thought had suddenly flashed into Lola's mind. There wasmoney there in the safe, a large sum. She had seen severalhundred-dollar bills. This woman would not go without money. Unlessshe went at once, before dinner was over, John and her father wouldlearn about the bill for six hundred and seventy-five dollars. Theywould not understand; they would make a fuss. Surely anything isbetter than a fuss.
She did not hesitate once she had made up her mind, but stepped to thesafe and turned the combination, opened the door and, taking out theroll of bills, calmly counted out the necessary sum.
"You have a receipted bill?"
"Yes, yes, Miss Barnhelm."
The woman was all smiles now, bowing respectfully and humbly.
"Take it." Lola held the money out with one hand, as she took thereceipted bill with the other.
"Thank you, Miss Barnhelm. I hope I haf nod offended you. I am a poorwoman, and I haf many expenses."
"I have paid you--now, go."
"I haf some beautiful new goods, just from Paris. If you willcall----"
"In future," said Lola coldly, "I shall make my purchases from betterestablished places of business. I am not used to being annoyed.Maria!" She stepped to the door and called.
"Ef you would led me try once more I would not trouble you about thebill, Miss Barnhelm. Et es nod from these people who haf money that wewant it, it es only from dose that haffen't it."
This piece of worldly philosophy, however, made no impression uponLola, who smiled calmly and haughtily, enjoying the poor woman'sservile repentance, until Maria came in answer to her call.
"The door, Maria." And Madam Zelya, unable to find any trace ofsoftening in Lola's face, was forced to follow Maria, her mind dividedbetween grief over the loss of a good customer, and joy over thecollection of a bill, that the instinct of her Hungarian Jew ancestorshad warned her was to be classed as doubtful.
As they left the room, Lola stepped to the safe, meaning to replacethe rest of the money, but as she saw it in her hand, and thought ofother little accounts that pressed for settlement, she hesitated. "Idon't see what difference it makes," she thought. "Dr. Crossett caneasily give father more, and they would probably make just as great arow over the loss of the six hundred and seventy-five, as they willnow about the whole amount."
So she put it in her bag, locked the safe and stepped into thedining-room, just as coffee was brought on. She had grown very fond ofcoffee of late, strong and black, with no cream or sugar. It seemed totone her up. She was perfectly well, but she had grown to depend uponthe pleasant exhilaration. She drank two cups with them. Dr. Crossettthought as he watched her that never in all his experience had he seena young woman in such splendid physical condition. Her father smiledon her proudly, as she met and routed the Doctor's affectionateteasing, and as for John, he was already so completely in love that hewas quite satisfied just to sit and watch her. She had changed greatlyof late, there could be no doubt of that. The girl was gone, but inher place was this brilliant, fascinating woman. John thought himselfa very lucky man.