Dorothy halted. "Reese! Surely you don't think—"
"There's nothing wrong, if that's what you mean; Jimmy is square and clean. But he's just the man to get hooked by some gold-digger. Well, I'll see about it later if the chance comes—there's the train!" Armstrong turned and kissed her quickly. "Take good care of yourself, now! If you need me, call the Wilmington office; Wren will be in charge there and can get me in a hurry. I'll call you up every day, at noon and evening, and let you know how things go."
"There's only one way for them to go. Good-by, dear, and luck!"
She stood waving after him until the train had gone, then returned to the car. Her mind was busy with Jimmy Wren, and in the days that followed she wondered more than once about him, until more tragically important affairs drove him from her thoughts.
Two days passed, and Reese Armstrong made uneventful reports to her from Wilmington. The meeting was going slowly. Nothing would be done until after the roll call of the stockholders was taken, which would be on the third or fourth day. So far everything was excellent, and the Protective Association apparently in decisive control.
Upon the morning of the third day, while Dorothy was dressing, Slosson arrived at Aircastle Point.
Dorothy had passed a bad night, and her nerves were quivering. In her dreams, the voice of her mother had again whispered that old doubt. She no longer had any great fear that any mental obsession would take hold of her, and this was a bad sign. Had Reese actually driven her father out of Food Products? She was wondering now, this morning, whether she should bring up the whole matter with Reese, as soon as his Wilmington battle was over; she felt that he must be absolutely cleared in the eyes of every one, Williams and the rest. This, at least, was her conscious thought.
She had no doubt that everything would be explained. She told herself that her love and faith in Reese were supreme, and she believed it. None the less, the mental reflex of her physical condition was a curious one—and one that she did not realize.
It was at this moment that Slosson arrived. Dorothy heard his name with astonishment.
"At this hour! What does he want?"