J. J. Bell

“ Grant, at once. Do you know his address in New York?”
“No, Mother,” Lottie answered.
“Then I will send it to Elm House. If he is not there, Joan will forward it. Get me a blank.”
“Shall I write it for you?” the girl asked presently.
“No. Yes—I can't write yet. But you must promise to forget it as soon as it is sent; at least, you must never mention it again,” the woman said wearily. She then uttered the message which was to reach Douglas during lunch. “Now take it, quickly, to the office.”
“Mother,” cried Lottie, “it's cruel to keep me in the dark! Does this mean something dreadful?” ”

“ At that moment Grant could have forgiven the man much—all, indeed, except his treatment of Joan.
Without fuss Stormont took his partner's free arm and nodded to Grant.
“Come, Lottie,” he said kindly. “We had a trying affair in the office to-day, and I've been rather anxious about your father. Hope you left your mother well. You must get your father to join her at once. He ought to have a real rest from business now.” ”

“ In her service to him she had been subjected to villainous treatment, and he had appeared to side with the offenders, her enemies and his. That in itself was surely enough to chill any special regard Joan might have felt for him, but his case was made worse if, as he was forced to take into account, Joan suspected a secret understanding between Lottie Lismore and himself.
On arriving in town, Fairthorn suggested an hour at his club. There he picked up an afternoon paper and shortly afterward, with an exclamation, passed it to his companion. ”