“Look there,” said Halley pointing out of the window “who’s that with him now?”
Ena looked and saw Fletcher and her brother walking slowly towards the Club deep in conversation.
Chapter IX.
The Mysterious Bungalow
When Jack Sefton got home that night, he found his sister waiting for him in a mood in which he had seldom seen her. It was late, and he would have slipped off to bed, but she stopped him.
“Jack, I want to know why you persistently try to avoid meeting Mr. Halley. He has been most kind, and it makes things very unpleasant for me when I keep on telling him that you will be in, and each time you are out. Then to-day, you were walking with Mr. Fletcher and must have known Mr. Halley was here, but you never took the trouble to come in.”
After the manner of men who know themselves in the wrong, he worked himself up into a temper.
“Why should I meet this fellow? You have scratched up a friendship with him, and you know nothing about him. I think you should have waited till I had seen him before you became so pally.”
She looked at him with her clear eyes. “What has come over you, Jack, lately? It is your duty to be at home sometimes. If you were working I would be only too pleased, but you are away all day, and I don’t know where you get to.” She laid a hand on his arm. “Please don’t think I want to inquire into your affairs, but I am so much alone, and so worried about the future.” There were tears in her voice.
“I am sorry, old girl, but give me a few weeks and I will explain everything. Don’t worry me now.”
“Very well, but there is one thing I must trouble you with; I am sorry but I have no money to carry on with. We cannot run up bills here, and you know I have always paid cash for everything.”