“Of course,” he said, and looked toward Bob.
That young man’s face did not now express any trace of satisfaction or jovial feeling. He looked both puzzled and worried, and glanced apprehensively from time to time at the sentimental young thing. The monocle-man was telling her fortune now. With British persistence he had reverted to the subject upon again approaching the couple, which he did almost immediately after the hammer-thrower returned to Miss Gerald her ring.
“You missed your ring?” said the hammer-thrower after a pause.
“Yes. But I never imagined—”
“It would be returned in such an extraordinary manner? I don’t see where he—?” And the hammer-man paused again with downbent brows.
It was not hard for her to read the thought. He did not see just where Bob Bennett “came in.” That’s what he once more implied. He didn’t wish to be unjust to any one. His expression said that.
“I guess it must just have been a whim,” he conceded after a moment, handsomely. “After all, it’s proofs that count.” The sentence had a familiar sound to Miss Gerald who entertained a vague impression she had said something like it to Bob. They approached Dolly.
CHAPTER XXI—HEART OF STONE
“Did he tell you that I—?” began Miss Dolly at once, and snatching her arm from that tiresome monocle-man.
“Yes, my dear,” said Gwendoline. “And he seemed a little hurt at your sense of humor.”