The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University

“You don’t understand, father dear,” said Billie desperately.
“I’ll explain the whole thing later, when ….”
“Father!” ejaculated Jno. Peters feebly. “Did you say
‘father?’”
“Of course I said ‘father!’”
“This is my daughter, Mr. Peters.”
“My daughter! I mean, your daughter! Are—are you
sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. Do you think I don’t know my
own daughter?”
“But she called me Mr. Peters!”
“Well, it’s your name, isn’t it?”
“But, if she—if this young lady is your daughter, how
did she know my name?”
<strong>The</strong> point seemed to strike Mr. Bennett. He turned
to Billie.
“That’s true. Tell me, Wilhelmina, when did you and
Mr. Peters meet?”
“Why, in—in Sir Mallaby Marlowe’s office, the morning
you came there and found me when I was talking
to Sam.”
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Girl</strong> on the Boat
154
Mr. Peters uttered a subdued gargling sound. He was
finding this scene oppressive to a not very robust intellect.
“He—Mr. Samuel—told me your name was Miss
Milliken,” he said dully.
Billie stared at him.
“Mr. Marlowe told you my name was Miss Milliken!”
she repeated.
“He told me that you were the sister of the Miss
Milliken who acts as stenographer for the guv’—for Sir
Mallaby, and sent me in to show you my revolver,
because he said you were interested and wanted to see
it.”
Billie uttered an exclamation. So did Mr. Bennett,
who hated mysteries.
“What revolver? Which revolver? What’s all this
about a revolver? Have you a revolver?”
“Why, yes, Mr. Bennett. It is packed now in my trunk,
but usually I carry it about with me everywhere in order
to take a little practice at the Rupert Street range. I
bought it when Sir Mallaby told me he was sending