A FRIEND IN NEED
Frank Durham entered the ladies?parlor of the hotel to see a stout, dressy woman arise, joined by a girlish companion. He recognized both at once. They were the persons he had taken aboard the launch from the burning motor boat the afternoon before.
揟his is Mr. Durham,?spoke Miss Porter, and she smiled in a friendly way at our hero, while her companion extended her bejeweled hand with a decided show of welcome.
揑 was so overcome by that explosion,?said Mrs. Carrington, 搕hat I just got a glimpse of you. Then that ridiculous fainting away! I have thanked Miss Porter a dozen times for having had the foresight to obtain your name and that of your brave young comrades. Now then, Mr. Durham, if you please, sit down and give an account of yourself.?
揑n what way, madam??asked Frank, with an embarrassed smile, and flushing at the compliment conveyed.
揥hy have you not accepted our invitation to come up to the house, as I requested??demanded Mrs. Carrington, pretending to be very severe.
揑 certainly appreciated your kindness in thinking of me,?replied Frank; 揵ut I have been very much occupied with business and did not know yesterday how long I would remain at Seaside Park. Then, too, some friends arrived this afternoon.?
揑 am used to being obeyed, young man,?Mrs. Carrington, with a playful frown. 揑 have no doubt, though, that I sent a blundering messenger. Oh, that Peter of mine! I never know how to place him. He came back perfectly wild over going into the motion picture business with you. He has been tormenting me all day long about it. I have told him decidedly that I should not encourage him in any way.
揟o tell you the truth, Mr. Durham, Peter is a sad failure at anything that requires application and work. I would not do you the injustice of having you hampered by a person who has no business training and does not know the value of money. The fact is, Peter has been a great cross to me of late, and I am now in correspondence with a military school, with the idea of getting him where a year抯 discipline may do him some good.?
Frank had not for a moment seriously entertained the thought of taking Peter Carrington into partnership. He felt immensely relieved, however, to find that his visitor did not press that phase of the subject.
揑 have come, first and foremost,?went on the fussy but good-natured lady, 搕o thank you for what you did for us. When I think of how near we were to drowning or burning up it makes me shudder! My friends, who happened to see your picture in this morning抯 paper棗?
揗y picture??exclaimed Frank, in bewilderment. 揥hat picture, Mrs. Carrington??
揥hy,?cried Mrs. Carrington, 揾e actually is so modest he hasn抰 realized what a hero he has been! I refer to the splendid account of your bravery in the Brenton Daily News.?
Brenton was the nearest city, about twenty miles from Seaside Park. Frank began to get a faint glimmering of the situation now. The reporter who had snap-shotted him with his camera from the pier must have sent his story to the paper Mrs. Carrington mentioned.
揑 think I have the clipping about the rescue,?observed Miss Porter, groping in her hand bag while her merry eyes twinkled as she observed the increasing embarrassment of Frank. 揧es, here it is.?
Frank only glanced at the clipping that was held forward for his inspection. He could not help but notice the glowing head line; 揂 Signal Act of Bravery,?and observe that a very fair picture of himself in the launch was shown.
揧ou can have it, Mr. Durham,?continued his mischievous tormentor with a smile. 揧our friends are named also in the paper and they may not dislike honest praise, as you seem to do.?
揘ow then,?broke in Mrs. Carrington, in her self-assertive way, 搇et me say what I specially came down here to say. Oh, I was telling about my friends. They have fairly overwhelmed me with congratulations over my fortunate escape.?
揧es, and some of them who saw the newspaper account said梬hat was it, Mrs. Carrington? You must tell Mr. Durham,?declared the younger woman.
揂bout the handsome picture and what a sensible, thoughtful young man our rescuer must be??
揙h, Mrs. Carrington,?pleaded Frank. 揑 beg of you!梚t is I who am being overwhelmed now. You will make me so vain I will really begin to think I did something of consequence. Why, there isn抰 a young fellow anywhere who wouldn抰 hasten to help ladies in distress.?
揇on抰 belittle what you did,?said Mrs. Carrington, and her face and tone grew very serious. 揧ou did so much of consequence, Mr. Durham, and you did it so manfully and nobly that I would not think of affronting you with any offer of a reward. I fancy I read you deeper than you think as to that feature. I will say this, however, and I came here especially to say it, that I am your true friend and I am anxious to help you and your young companions in a practical, useful way.?
揧ou are very, very kind to say what you do,?said Frank earnestly.
揕et me be really kind,?suggested Mrs. Carrington, 揳nd I shall be satisfied. My nephew has told me enough about your business plans to convince me that you are at a critical point in your career, where a little capital may be everything to you. I am a wealthy woman, Mr. Durham. I do not wish to offer you a gift. Simply as a business woman who has confidence in you, let me know about your affairs and help you in a business way.?
Frank抯 head drooped. The boy who never flinched from pain or fear was so deeply moved by the friendly interest of this kind-hearted woman, that he could not keep back a long-drawn sigh of appreciation and gratitude.
揧ou make me think of my own kind mother,?said Frank quite brokenly. 揑t is worth living to find such friends.?
揧ou dear boy!?cried Mrs. Carrington, placing a hand on Frank抯 arm, 揑 can imagine what a lovely mother you must have and for her sake you must let me help you along in your business enterprise. Come, Mr. Durham, explain your needs to me and let me co-operate with you.?
The invitation was irresistible. Long since Frank had calculated all the risks and chances of success in his new enterprise and had decided that it could scarcely fail.
揗rs. Carrington,?he said in a straightforward way, 揑 would not allow any person to invest money in a business where there was the remotest risk of loss. We lack a few hundred dollars to start a photo playhouse at Seaside Park in the right way. If you feel in a position to advance it or become responsible for what we need, I wish to secure you so that in case the venture goes wrong we will be the only losers.?
揑 not only feel willing to assist you,?said Mrs. Carrington, 揵ut I insist upon it. It is very simple梙ow much capital do you require? Have you my check book in your hand bag, Miss Porter??
揘o! no! no!?interrupted Frank urgently, 搚ou must not think of doing such a thing as that, Mrs. Carrington. It isn抰 business, you see. If you have some agent or lawyer who will act for you, that will be the best way.?
The kind lady looked disappointed at the suggestion. In her free-hearted way she wished to trust Frank without restriction. He saw that her feelings were hurt and he hastened to say:
揗y partners will feel ever so much better to have everything arranged in a regular way and set down in black and white.?
揤ery well, have your own way, Mr. Durham,?said the lady, 搊nly promise to come to me if you have any troubles or further lack of funds.?
揙h, we shall not,?declared Frank, brightening with courage and confidence as he saw all obstructions to the success of the new show removed; and before he realized it, in his quick, vivid way he was reciting his plans and prospects in detail. Frank told more than he had started out to do, for the reason that every time he paused his auditors plied him with new questions and urged him on with his story.
揌ow very, very interesting,?commented Mrs. Carrington.
揑t is simply delightful!?declared Miss Porter, with sparkling eyes. 揙h, dear! it must be such a splendid thing to be a boy!?
揑 must see your young friends,?insisted Mrs. Carrington. 揑 owe them sincere thanks for their part in the rescue, and wish to tell them so.?
There was nothing for it but that Frank should go for his chums. Randy was naturally bashful in the presence of strange ladies, but Pep was 揳ll there.?Both Mrs. Carrington and Miss Porter were interested in the lively lad whom they attracted from the start and made Pep feel completely at home with his impetuous, original ways and remarks.
The boys promised to call upon Mrs. Carrington as soon as they got settled at Seaside Park. Then all three escorted the visitors to an automobile waiting at the curb. Beside the chauffeur they found Peter Carrington seated. He nodded familiarly to the chums. Then he caught Pep抯 eye.
With an air of great importance and a quick glance at his aunt and her companion, as if making sure that they were not observing him, he placed a finger to his lips.
揝-st!?he uttered, and winked in an altogether mysterious manner at Pep Smith.
搼S-st!挃 repeated Pep, as the machine started on its way棑now what in the world does Peter Carrington mean by 慡-st?挃