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Book, page 141 / 172 "I beg your pardon for the imposition which I am laying upon you," he said in a low, quiet voice. "I am Colonel McCloud. The lady with me is my daughter. And you, I believe, are a gentleman. If I were not sure of that, I should not have taken advantage of your friend's temporary absence. You heard my daughter cry out a few moments ago? You observed that she was--disturbed?" Philip nodded. "I could not help it. I was facing her. And since then I have thought that I--unconsciously--was the cause of her perturbation. I am Philip Curtis, Colonel McCloud, from Fort MacPherson, two thousand miles north of here, on the Mackenzie Kiver. So you see, if it is a case of mistaken identity--" "No--no--it is not that," interrupted the older man. "As we were passing your table we--my daughter--heard you speak a name. Perhaps she was mistaken. It was--Peter God." "Yes. I know Peter God. He is a friend of mine." Barrow was returning. The other saw him over Philip's shoulder, and his voice trembled with a sudden and subdued excitement as he said quickly: "Your friend is coming' back. No one but you must know that my daughter is interested in this man--Peter God. She trusts you. She sent me to you. It is important that she should see you to-night and talk with you alone. I will wait for you outside. I will have a taxicab ready to take you to our apartments. Will you come?" He had risen. Philip heard Barrow's footsteps behind him. "I will come," he said. A few minutes later Colonel McCloud and his daughter left the cafe. The half-hour after that passed with leaden slowness to Philip. The fortunate arrival of two or three friends of Barrow gave him an opportunity to excuse himself on the plea of an important engagement, and he bade the Mica King good-night. Colonel McCloud was waiting for him outside the
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