Brandon of the Engineers

Dick dismissed the matter and remembered with half-jealous uneasiness

that Jake seemed to know a good deal about Kenwardine's household. The

lad, of course, had gone to make inquiries when he was ill, and had

probably been well received. He was very little younger than Clare, and

Fuller was known to be rich. It would suit Kenwardine if Jake fell in

love with the girl, and if not, his extravagance might be exploited. For

all that, Dick determined that his comrade should not be victimized.

When breakfast was over they left the hotel and presently met Clare, who

was followed by Lucille carrying a basket. She looked very fresh and cool

in her white dress. On the whole, Dick would sooner have avoided the

meeting, but Jake stopped and Clare included Dick in her smile of

greeting.

"I have been to the market with Lucille," she said. "The fruit and the

curious things they have upon the stalls are worth seeing. But you seem

to have been there, though I did not notice you."

"No," said Jake, indicating the flowers and fruit he carried. "I got

these at the hotel. The colors matched so well that I felt I couldn't let

them go, and then it struck me that you might like them. Dick warned me

that the things are not eatable in their present state, which is a pretty

good example of his utilitarian point of view."

Clare laughed as she thanked him, and he resumed: "Lucille has enough to

carry, and I'd better bring the basket along."

"Very well," said Clare. "My father was getting up when I left."

Dick said nothing, and stood a yard or two away. The girl had met him

without embarrassment, but it was Jake she had addressed. He felt that he

was, so to speak, being left out.

"Then I'll come and talk to him for a while," said Jake. "I don't know a

nicer place on a hot morning than your patio."

"But what about your work? Are you not needed at the dam?"

"My work can wait. I find from experience that it will keep for quite a

long time without shriveling away, though often it gets very stale.

Anyhow, after being engaged on the company's business for the most part

of last night, I'm entitled to a rest. My partner, of course, doesn't

look at things like that. He's going back as fast as he can."

Dick hid his annoyance at the hint. It was impossible to prevent the lad

from going to Kenwardine's when Clare was there to hear his objections,

and he had no doubt that Jake enjoyed his embarrassment. Turning away, he

tried to forget the matter by thinking about the coal. Since Kenwardine

was at home, it was improbable that he had been at Adexe during the

night. If Clare had a part in her father's plots, she might, of course,

have made the statement about his getting up with an object, but Dick

would not admit this. She had helped the man once, but this was an

exception, and she must have yielded to some very strong pressure. For

all that, Dick hoped his comrade would not tell Kenwardine much about

their trip in the launch.