Eden took her hand. “If I shouldn’t see you again, Doctor—I want you to know. Just meeting you has been a privilege.”
“I’ll remember that,” she answered. “Good night.”
The boy watched her back the car through the open gate. When he returned to the living-room, Madden and Gamble were together there. “Confounded old busybody,” Madden said.
“Wait a minute,” Eden said hotly. “That woman with just her two hands has done more good in the world than you with all your money. And don’t you forget it.”
“Does that give her a license to butt into my affairs?” demanded Madden.
Further warm words were on the tip of the boy’s tongue, but he restrained himself. However, he reflected that he was about fed up with this arrogant, callous millionaire.
He looked toward the clock. A quarter to nine, and still no sign of Thorn and Evelyn Madden. Was the girl’s train late? Hardly likely.
Though he did not feel particularly welcome in the room, he waited on. He would see this latest development through. At ten o’clock Mr. Gamble rose, and commenting favorably on the desert air, went to his room.
At five minutes past ten the roar of the big car in the yard broke the intense stillness. Bob Eden sat erect, his eager eyes straying from one door to another. Presently the glass doors leading to the patio opened. Martin Thorn came in alone.
Without a word to his chief, the secretary threw down his hat and dropped wearily into a chair. The silence became oppressive.
