"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 010 - Hands in the Dark" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

sallow in the dim light of the dining room. Two candles on the center of the table furnished the only
illumination.

"What's the matter?" demanded the man, as he noticed the girl's stare.

"Nothing, Bob," replied Betty. "It's justтАФwell, you look so different from what I expected you to be."

"Yeah?" Bob's voice seemed rather sour. "What's the matter with me? Don't you like my looks?"

"It's not that, Bob," said Betty hastily. "I like you, and I'll always like you, Bob. It's just that
you'reтАФwellтАФso different from the way I pictured you."

The man laughed good humoredly.

"You haven't seen me since we were kids," he said.

"I've seen your picture," reminded Betty. "The one you sent me two years agoтАФwith one of those
wonderful letters that you know how to write."
"That's so. I sent you my picture. But photographs sometimes fool you, Betty. Maybe I've changed a bit,
too. People say I've been changing in appearance."

"I guess that explains it, Bob. But when I heard your voice on the telephone last night, it was as if I could
see you while you were talking. But nowтАФwellтАФit all seems different."

"You didn't see me last night. That was just your imagination."

"I didn't imagine I heard your voice! That's different now, Bob! When I came in this afternoon, I was
amazed the moment that I heard you speak."

"A voice never sounds right over the telephone."

"That must be it, Bob," Betty consented, then went on.

"Don't think I'm disappointed. I'm just bewildered, that's all. I'm just trying to get used to you. You
understand, don't you?"

THE man arose and walked around the table. He patted the girl on the back. Somehow the action
annoyed Betty, although she made no sign.

"You've been worried, little girl," said Bob. "That's all. Poor old uncle dying. It's a hard blow for both of
us.

"Maybe you oughtn't to stay in this old house too much. Why don't you take a trip down to Bermuda, or
somewhere like that?"

"I don't have the money, Bob," said Betty frankly.

"You've got it coming to you from the estate, haven't you?"

"I'm afraid there isn't going to be much, Bob."