The Pagan Madonna - Page 44/141

Cleigh sat before a card table; he was playing Chinese Canfield. He looked

up, but he neither rose nor dropped the half-spent deck of cards he held

in his hand. The bronzed face, the hard agate blue of the eyes that met

his own, the utter absence of visible agitation, took the wind out of

Dennison's sails and left him all a-shiver, like a sloop coming about on a

fresh tack. He had made his entrance stormily enough, but now the hot

words stuffed his throat to choking.

Cleigh was thirty years older than his son; he was a finished master of

sentimental emotions; he could keep all his thoughts out of his

countenance when he so willed. But powerful as his will was, in this

instance it failed to reach down into his heart; and that thumped against

his ribs rather painfully. The boy!

Dennison, aware that he stood close to the ridiculous, broke the spell and

advanced.

"I have come for Miss Norman," he said.

Cleigh scrutinized the cards and shifted one.

"I found your note to her. I've a launch. I don't know what the game is,

but I'm going to take Miss Norman back with me if I have to break in every

door on board!"

Cleigh stood up. As he did so Dodge, the Texan appeared in the doorway to

the dining salon. Dennison saw the blue barrel of a revolver.

"A gunman, eh? All right. Let's see if he'll shoot," said the son, walking

deliberately toward Dodge.

"No, Dodge!" Cleigh called out as the Texan, raised the revolver. "You may

go."

Dodge, a good deal astonished, backed out. Once more father and son stared

at each other.

"Better call it off," advised the son. "You can't hold Miss Norman--and I

can make a serious charge. Bring her at once, or I'll go for her. And the

Lord help the woodwork if I start!"

But even as he uttered the threat Dennison heard a sound behind. He

turned, but not soon enough. In a second he was on the floor, three husky

seamen mauling him. They had their hands full for a while, but in the end

they conquered.

"What next, sir?" asked one of the sailors, breathing hard.

"Tie him up and lock him in Cabin Two."

The first order was executed. After Dennison's arms and ankles were bound

the men stood him up.

"Are you really my father?"

Cleigh returned to his cards and shuffled them for a new deal.

"Don't untie him. He might walk through the partition. He will have the

freedom of the deck when we are out of the delta."