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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16714-8.txt b/16714-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c61dece --- /dev/null +++ b/16714-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9967 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Under Sealed Orders, by H. A. Cody + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Under Sealed Orders + + +Author: H. A. Cody + + + +Release Date: September 17, 2005 [eBook #16714] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER SEALED ORDERS*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +UNDER SEALED ORDERS + +by + +H. A. CODY + +Author of +The Frontiersman, The Long Patrol, The Chief of the Ranges, etc. + +NEW YORK +GROSSET & DUNLAP +PUBLISHERS +GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY + +1917 + + + + + + + +To all "Spuds," successful or unsuccessful; to all "Fools," wise or +unwise; and to all of "The Devil's Poor," not forgetting authors, this +book is sympathetically dedicated. + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. THE LURE OF FALLING WATER + II. TO THE LOWEST BIDDER + III. ONE, AT LEAST, RINGS TRUE + IV. A LITTLE CABIN + V. UNMASKED + VI. OUT OF BONDAGE + VII. AT THE CLOSE OF A DAY + VIII. THE SHADOW OF MYSTERY + IX. UNITED FORCES + X. WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE + XI. CURIOSITY AND ANXIETY + XII. PYRAMID ROCK + XIII. THE DISTURBING LETTER + XIV. SUBTLE INFLUENCE + XV. THE "CUT OFF" + XVI. CHRISTMAS EVE + XVII. THE NIGHT SUMMONS + XVIII. THE WILD NOR'EASTER + XIX. DEVELOPMENTS + XX. BUSINESS DETAILS + XXI. HARNESSED POWER + XXII. IN THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION + XXIII. RESCUED + XXIV. GATHERING CLOUDS + XXV. MYSTERY + XXVI. UNDER SUSPICION + XXVII. IN THE TOILS + XXVIII. LIGHT BREAKS + XXIX. LOIS GOES TO THE CITY + XXX. A STRANGE COMMISSION + XXXI. PAPER NUMBER TWO + XXXII. THE TABLES TURNED + XXXIII. THE REAL HAVEN + + + + +UNDER SEALED ORDERS + + +CHAPTER I + +THE LURE OF FALLING WATER + +It was evening and a late April wind was whipping down the valley. It +swayed the tops of the tall pine and spruce trees as they shouldered up +from the swift brook below. It tossed into driving spray the water of +Break Neck Falls where it leaped one hundred feet below with a +thundering roar and swirl. It tossed as well the thin grey hair, long +beard, and thread-bare clothes of an old man standing upon a large rock +which towered high above the stream. + +The entire scene was wild and made weird by the approach of night. But +the old man did not seem to notice anything except the falling of the +waters. His eyes glowed with an intense light as he kept them fixed +upon the leaping and swirling columns below. His face was like the +face of a lover turned toward the object of his affection. + +For some time the man stood there drinking in the scene before him. +Then he took a step forward which brought him perilously near the edge +of the steep rock. His lips moved though no sound could be heard for +the tumult of the falls which was rending the air. What connection had +such a man with his surroundings? No boor or clown was he, for the +simple dignity of face and manner marked him as one of Nature's true +gentlemen. + +It was almost dark when he at last reluctantly left the rock and +entered the thick woods where a trail led away from the falls. Along +this he moved with the unerring instinct of one who had travelled it +often and was sure of his bearings. But ever and anon he paused to +listen to the sound of the falling waters which followed him like the +voice of a loved one urging him to return. + +"Yes, you want me," he at length cried, as he once more paused. "I +hear your voice calling, and I know its meaning. Others need you, too, +but they do not know it. You have been calling to them for years, but +they have not understood your language. It was left for me to listen +and take heed. They will some day, and then you will show your power. +I can see what you will do, beautiful falls, and the changes which will +come to this fair land when your luring voice is heeded." + +He stood for awhile as if entranced after uttering these mystic words. +Then he continued on his way and night wrapped more closely about him +her dark mantle. He had to walk very cautiously now for the trail was +rough, and there were sharp stones and roots ready to strike his feet +and trip him up. + +At length the trail ended and he reached the smooth surface of the +broad highway. Along this he sped with the quick elastic step of one +who has seen a vision. The fire of a great idea was burning fiercely +within him which caused him to take no heed to his surroundings. + +He had not gone far, however, ere some strong impulse caused him to +pause again and listen to that fascinating sound of falling waters far +off in the distance. It was on an elevation in the road where he +stopped, and here the shadows which enwrapped the forest were not so +heavy. The lingering light of departing day was still in the west and +touched this part of the highway with its faint glow. It brought out +into clear relief the silhouette of the old man as he stood there with +his right hand placed to his ear so as not to miss the least sound +drifting down the valley. + +So intent was he upon what he heard that he did not notice the sounds +of approaching footsteps, so when a man stopped a few yards away and +watched him curiously, he was completely unaware of his presence. +"Ring on, sweet waters," he cried. "Your voice follows me no matter +how far I go. I alone can understand your language, and know what you +are saying. All are deaf but me. They hear but do not know your +meaning." He ceased, and again listened for a few seconds. + +A strange half-mocking laugh startled him, and caused him to look +quickly around. Seeing that he was observed, he was about to hurry +away, when a man stepped forward. + +"Pardon me," he began. "I did not mean to offend you. But your words +seem so strange, that I could not help laughing." + +"And were you listening to the voice?" the old man eagerly asked. "Do +the falling waters speak to you as they do to me? Is that why you are +here?" + +"Yes, I hear them," was the reply. "But they do not bring any special +message to my mind." + +"And they do not tell you of power, of the wonderful things they are +ready and willing to do when men will heed what they are saying?" + +"No, I can't say that they do. They make a noise up there among the +trees, but I do not know what they are saying." + +"Strange, strange," and the old man placed his hand to his forehead. +"You are like all the rest, then. You hear but you do not understand." + +"What do you hear?" the newcomer asked, thinking that he was talking to +a weak-minded creature. + +"I hear great things, which will be for the welfare of the whole +community. The waters tell me what they will do. They will make life +worth living. They will give light and power to the people all along +the river and revolutionise their daily tasks. Instead of hard labour +by the sweat of the brow, the waters will do the work. People will be +happy, and have time for the beautiful things of life. Grinding toil +and sorrow will be banished forever." + +"Umph! So that is what you hear, eh? What is the good of hearing such +a voice, if you have no power to make it come true?" + +"But the people will hear and understand," the old man insisted. "I am +telling them about it." + +"Yes, I know you are, and they think you are a fool for your efforts. +They laugh at you, and call you crazy." + +"But they will come to see that I am right. They, too, will hear the +voice, and then they will not be able to resist its pleadings." + +"If you had the money they would listen to you, for that is the only +voice people will heed to-day. If you came here with an abundance of +gold, people would hear anything you asked them to in the falls up +yonder. But because you are poor, like myself, your ideas will have no +more weight with them than the lightest feather. Back your visions +with money and people will crowd around you, and you will be heeded. +But try to get along without money, and, bah! you are a fool." + +Scarcely had these words left his lips ere a raucous honk up the road +startled him. Then an auto with blazing lights leaped out of the +night. The old man was standing right in its way, unconscious of his +danger. Almost instinctively two strong hands clutched him and hurled +him into the ditch as the car swept past. Shouts of merriment sounded +forth upon the night air from the occupants of the car. The fright +they had given the two by the side of the road evidently gave them much +amusement. Their laughter caused the rescuer to straighten suddenly +up, and clutch the old man fiercely by the arm. + +"Did you hear them?" he asked, and his voice was filled with suppressed +emotion. + +"Yes," was the reply. "They are only thoughtless youths having a good +time, I suppose." + +"It's just what money does, though. I know who they are, for I caught +a glimpse of them as they sped past. It's money that talks with them; +that is the only voice they hear. They will ride over the less +fortunate, and crush them down as worms beneath their feet. They have +been doing it for ages, and look upon it as their right. What do they +care about the meaning of the falling waters when they are always +listening to the voice of money. Curse them. Why should they revel +and sport with ill-got gains, when honest men can hardly get enough to +keep breath in their bodies." + +The young man was standing erect now on the side of the road. His +companion shrank away somewhat fearful lest he should turn upon him and +smite him. + +"You seem to have suffered," he at length remarked. "You appear to be +annoyed at people who have money." + +"And why shouldn't I?" was the savage reply. "Haven't I suffered at +their hands, young as I am? Haven't I been scorned by them to the +limit of all endurance? Haven't they made a mock of me for years, +calling me names behind my back? And why? Just because I happen to be +poor, and have tried honestly to make my way in life. But there, +enough of this. What's the use of talking about such things? It will +do no more good than the voice of the waters which you are continually +hearing." + +Along the road the two walked in deep silence. The old man found it +hard to keep up with his companion, and he was at last forced to fall +behind. Soon he was alone, and then his thoughts went once more back +to the falls, and the glorious vision which was in his mind. + +It was only when he reached a small building by the side of the road +that he stopped. Pushing open the door, he entered. All was dark and +silent within. The strange loneliness of the place would have smitten +any one else with the feeling of dread. But the old man never seemed +to mind it. Fumbling in his vest pocket, he found a match. This he +struck and lighted a tallow dip which was stuck into a rude +candle-stick upon a bare wooden table. One glance at the room revealed +by the dim light showed its desolate bareness. Besides the table there +were two small benches and a wash-stand, containing a granite-iron +basin. A small broken-down stove stood at one end of the room, by the +side of which was a couch. Not a scrap of mat or rug adorned the +floor. There were no blinds or curtains to the cheerless, windows, and +not a picture adorned the walls. + +But the old man did not notice the desolation of the place. It was +quite evident that he was beyond the influence of earthly surroundings +for the moment. Going at once to the couch, he brought forth a roll of +paper hidden away beneath the pillow. Carrying this over to the table, +he sat down upon one of the benches and spread the paper out before +him. By the light of the candle it was easy for him to study the +carefully-made lines upon the large sheet. Eagerly he scanned the +drawings, and then placing the forefinger of his right hand upon one +central point, he moved it along one line extending farther than the +rest until it stopped at a small square in which was the word "City." +This action gave him much satisfaction and a pleased expression lighted +up his face. "Power, power," he murmured. "Ay, quicker than thought, +and bright as the sun shining in its strength. Great, wonderful! and +yet they do not realise it. But they shall know, and understand." + +Along the other lines he also ran his finger, pausing at the end of +each where was marked "Town," "Village," or "Settlement." He talked +continually as he did so, but it was all about "glory" and "power." +Over and over again he repeated these words, now in a soft low voice, +and again in a loud triumphant manner. + +At length he rose from the bench, crossed the room, opened the door, +and stepped outside. Not a star was to be seen, and the wind was +stronger than ever. It was keen, piercing. But the man heeded neither +the one nor the other. He was listening intently, and the faint sound +of Break Neck Falls drifting in from the distance was to him the +sweetest of music. + +And as he stood there a sudden change took place. His dead drooped, +and he leaned against the side of the building for support. A shiver +shook his body, and as he turned and entered the house his steps were +slow, and he half-stumbled across the threshold. He looked at the +wood-box behind the stove, but there was not a stick in it. He next +opened the door of the little cupboard near by, but not a scrap of food +was there. Almost mechanically he thrust his hand into his pocket and +brought forth a purse. This he opened, but there was nothing inside. +Half-dazed he stood there in the centre of the room. Then he glanced +toward the paper with the drawings lying upon the table, and as he did +so a peculiar light of comprehension shone in his eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +TO THE LOWEST BIDDER + +There was an unusually large number of people gathered in front of +Thomas Marshall's store one morning about the last of May. Women were +there as well as men, and all were talking and laughing in a most +pleasant way. The cause of this excitement was explained by a notice +tacked on the store door. + + +"The Board, Lodging, and Clothing of David Findley, Pauper, will be let +to the lowest bidder for a period of one year, on Wednesday, May 30th +inst., at Thomas Marshall's store, Chutes Corner, at 10 o'clock A. M. + + "Signed + + "J. B. FLETCHER + T. S. TITUS + O. R. MITCHELL + _Overseers of Poor_." + + +This notice had been posted there for about two weeks, and had +attracted the attention of all the people in the parish. It was out of +the ordinary for such a sale to take place at this season of the year. +Hitherto, it had occurred at the last of December. But this was an +exceptional case, and one in which all were keenly interested. + +"I hear he is stark crazy," Mrs. Munson was saying to a neighbour, +Peter McQueen, "and that he has a funny notion in his head." + +"Should say so," McQueen replied. "Any man who has lived as he has for +months must be pretty well off his base. Why, he didn't have a scrap +of food in the house when he was found by Jim Trask one morning the +last of April. Jim has been keeping him ever since." + +"Isn't he able to work?" Mrs. Munson inquired. + +"Seems not. I guess he's a scholar or something like that, and did +some book-keeping in the city until he drifted this way. He must have +had a little money to live as long as he has. He's always been a +mystery to me." + +"And to everybody else, I guess." + +"Yes, so it appears. But it's a great pity that we've got to be +burdened with the likes of him. Our taxes are heavy enough now without +having to take care of this strange pauper. We've got too many on our +hands already for our good." + +"But do you know anything about that queer notion of his, Pete?" Mrs. +Munson asked. + +"Ho, ho, I've heard about it, and I guess it's true all right. He's in +love with Break Neck Falls, and makes regular trips there every day, +and sometimes at night. Jim followed him once, and saw him standing +upon that high rock right by the falls. He kept waving his hands and +shouting to the water, though Jim could not make out what he was +saying. He has some writing on a piece of paper which he keeps very +close. He has told, though, that his plan will do wonderful things for +the city and the whole surrounding country. He once said that we don't +know what a valuable thing we have right in our midst. I guess we've +lived here longer than he has, and should know a thing or two. It is +not necessary for a half-cracked old man to come and tell us of our +possessions. But, say, here he is now, coming along in Jim Trask's +farm waggon." + +As the team drew near, all eyes were turned in its direction, for the +first glimpse of "Crazy David," as he was generally called. There was +no difficulty about seeing him for he was sitting by Jim's side on the +rough board seat. He looked much older and careworn than the night he +had awakened from his dream, and found his wood-box, cupboard, and +pocket-book empty. He had sat huddled on the seat for most of the way +up the road, but when near the store he lifted his eyes and fixed them +curiously upon the people before him. There was something pathetically +appealing in the expression upon his face. He seemed like a man trying +to recall something to his mind. He appeared strangely out of place in +that rough farm waggon. Even his almost ragged clothes could not hide +the dignity of his bearing as he straightened himself up and tried to +assume the appearance of a gentleman. The people saw this effort on +his part, and several wondered and spoke about it afterwards. + +At first the old man did not seem to realise the purpose of the +gathering. But when he saw the auctioneer mount a box alongside of him +and call for bids, the truth of the entire situation dawned upon him. +He was to be sold as a pauper to the lowest bidder, so he heard the +auctioneer say. For an instant a deep feeling of anger stirred within +his bosom, and he lifted his head as if to say something. But seeing +the eyes of all fixed upon him, he desisted. + +"What am I offered for the keep of this old man?" the auctioneer cried. +"The lowest bid gets him." + +"Two hundred dollars," came from a man not far off. + +"Two hundred dollars!" and the auctioneer turned fiercely upon him. +"You're out for a bargain, Joe Tippits. Why, he's worth that to any +man for a year's work. He'll be able to do many an odd job. Come, you +can do better than that." + +"One seventy-five," came from another. + +"Too much," the auctioneer cried. "The parish can't stand that." + +"One fifty, then." + +"That's better, Joe. Try again. You're a long way off yet." + +"I'll take the critter fer one hundred dollars, and not a cent less." + +At these emphatic words all turned and stared hard at the speaker. A +perceptible shiver passed through the bystanders, while several +muttered protests were heard. + +"Oh, I hope he won't get him, anyway," Mrs. Munson whispered to a +neighbour. "Jim Goban isn't a fit man to look after a snake, and if he +gets Crazy David in his clutches may God have mercy upon the poor old +man." + +"One hundred dollars I am offered," again the voice of the +auctioneer rang out. "Can any one do better than that? One +hundred dollars. Going at one hundred dollars. I shan't dwell. +One--hundred--dollars--and--sold to Jim Goban for one hundred dollars." + +This inhuman traffic did not seriously affect the people who had +gathered for the auction. When it was over, they quickly dispersed, to +discuss with one another about the life Jim Goban would lead Crazy +David. It was an incident of only a passing moment, and mattered +little more to them than if it had been a horse or a cow which had been +sold instead of a poor feeble old man. + +It was the custom which had been going on for years, and it was the +only way they could see out of the difficult problem of dealing with +paupers. + +When Jim Goban reached home with his purchase, dinner was ready. There +were five young Gobans who stared curiously upon David as he took his +seat at the table. Mrs. Goban was a thin-face, tired looking woman who +deferred to her husband in everything. There was nothing else for her +to do, as she had found out shortly after their marriage what a brute +he was. + +David was pleased at the presence of the children and he often turned +his eyes upon them. + +"Nice children," he at length remarked, speaking for the first time +since his arrival. + +"So ye think they're nice, do ye?" Jim queried, leaning over and +looking the old man in the eyes. + +"Why, yes," David replied, shrinking back somewhat from the coarse +face. "All children are nice to me, but yours are especially fine +ones. What nice hair they have, and such beautiful eyes. I suppose +the oldest go to school." + +"Naw. They never saw the inside of a school house." + +"You don't say so!" and David looked his astonishment. "Surely there +must be a school near here." + +"Oh, yes, there's a school all right, but they've never gone. I don't +set any store by eddication. What good is it to any one, I'd like to +know? Will it help a man to hoe a row of pertaters, or a woman to bake +bread? Now, look at me. I've no eddication, an' yit I've got a good +place here, an' a bank account. You've got eddication, so I +understand, an' what good is it to you? I'm one of the biggest +tax-payers in the parish, an' you, why yer nothing but a pauper, the +Devil's Poor." + +At this cruel reminder David shrank back as from a blow, and never +uttered another word during the rest of the meal. The iron was +entering into his soul, and he was beginning to understand something of +the ignominy he was to endure at this house. + +"Now look here," Jim began when they were through with dinner, "I've a +big pile of wood out there in the yard, an' I want ye to tote it into +the wood-house an' pile it up. I'll show ye where to put it. I'm +gittin' mighty little fer yer keep, an' I expect ye to git a hustle on +to help pay fer yer grub an' washin'." + +"Don't be too hard on him, Jim," Mrs. Goban remarked. "He doesn't look +very strong." + +"Don't ye worry, Kitty, I'll attend to that. I know a wrinkle or two." + +David was accordingly taken to the wood-house and Jim explained to him +how and where he was to pile the wood. "Ye needn't kill yerself," he +told him in conclusion. "But I want ye to keep busy, fer when that +job's through I've got something else on hand. Ye can sit down when ye +feel a little tired, but don't sit too long or too often, see?" + +For about half an hour David worked patiently at the wood, piling it as +neatly as possible. The work was not hard, and he was quite satisfied +with his task. He was alone, anyway, and could think about his beloved +falls. His hands, however, were soft, and ere long they were bruised +and bleeding from the rough sticks. At length a sharp splinter entered +his finger, and he sat down upon a stick to pull it out. In trying to +do this, it broke off leaving a portion deeply embedded in the flesh, +which caused him considerable pain. Not knowing what to do, he sat +looking upon the finger in a dejected manner. + +"What's the matter? You seem to be in trouble." + +At these words David looked quickly around, and saw a young girl +standing by his side. Though her dress was old and worn, her face was +bright, and her eyes sparkled with interest. + +"Here, let me take that splinter out," she ordered, as she sat down by +his side, and drawing forth a needle, began to probe into the flesh. +"There, I've got it!" she cried in triumph. "My! it's a monster. +You'll have to be more careful after this. You should have gloves." + +"Thank you very much," David replied. "To whom am I indebted for this +kindness?" + +"Oh, I'm Betty Bean, that's all." + +"And you live here?" + +"No. I'm just dying here." + +"Dying!" David exclaimed in surprise. "Why, you don't look like a +dying person." + +"Maybe I don't, but I am. I'm just staying here because I have to. My +mother's a widow, and I want to earn some money to help her, and as +this was the only place I could get I had to take it." + +"So you do not like it, then?" + +"Who would like any place where there is such a brute as Jim Goban? +My, I'm sorry for you. To think of any man getting into his clutches." + +"But surely I won't be any worse off than you are." + +"I'm not so sure about that. You see, I'm about boss here, and do and +say just what I like." + +"How's that?" + +"Well, I'm the only person Jim can get to work here. All the girls for +miles around know what kind of a creature he is, and they wouldn't come +for any amount of money. They're scared to death of him. But I'm not, +and I tell him right to his face what I think of him, and the way he +treats his poor wife. He would like to horsewhip me, but he knows that +if I leave no one else would come in my place. But I'm glad now that I +am here so I can look after you." + +"Look after me!" + +"Yes. I guess you'll need me all right. I know who you are, and I'm +sorry for you. I'm going to stand between you and Jim Goban. He's +scared to death of me, for I'm the only one who dares give him a +tongue-lashing, and I do it whenever it is necessary, which is quite +often." + +"You're a brave girl," and David looked with admiration upon the slight +form by his side. "How old are you?" + +"Fifteen last March. But one's age is nothing. I've done a woman's +work ever since I was ten. I stand up for my rights now, though. When +I first came here Jim was bound that I should work all the time. But +at last I told him that I was going to have every Saturday afternoon +off, especially in summer, so I could go home or out upon the river. +Can you row?" she suddenly asked. + +"A little," was the reply. + +"That's good. Now, look, I'm going to take you out in the boat next +Saturday, and you're going to meet somebody there you'll like." + +"Somebody I like," David repeated. "Who is it?" + +"It's a woman, that's who it is. But I'm not going to tell you her +name. She only came here last week, and she is so fond of the water, +and spends so much time upon it. Oh, you'll like her when you see her. +She's a beauty, with such lovely eyes and dark hair. And she's not a +bit stuck up, either. She just talks in a friendly way, and makes you +feel easy all over. There, now, I guess you'd better pile some more +wood. I have a bit of work to do, and when I'm through I'll come out +and give you a hand. I like to be with you. I know we're going to be +friends." + +The girl rose, and was about to leave. She paused, however, and looked +inquiringly into the old man's face. + +"Do you smoke?" she asked. + +Into David's eyes came an eager expression, which Betty was not slow to +see. + +"I know you do," she cried, "but you have no tobacco." + +"I have a pipe," and David fumbled into a pocket of his coat. "But I +haven't had a smoke for weeks, because----" + +"I know, I know," the girl hastily replied. "I'll get you some in a +jiffy." + +She was gone only a short time when she returned, and handed David half +a fig of tobacco. + +"There, take that," she said. "It's a piece Jim left on the kitchen +window-sill." + +"But is it right for me to take it?" David asked. + +"Sure it's right. Didn't Jim agree to feed and lodge you for one year? +You can't live without tobacco. It's a part of your food, see? If Jim +says anything about it, I'll soon settle him." + +"You are a good girl," David returned, as with trembling hands he +hastily whittled off a few slices of tobacco with an old knife, and +filled his pipe. "This will put new life into me. I can never repay +you for your kindness." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ONE, AT LEAST, RINGS TRUE + +With the small boat pulled well upon the beach, Lois Sinclair stood for +a few moments looking out over the water. Her eyes were fixed upon a +little boat in the distance containing two people, an old man and a +young girl. The wind, which was steadily increasing, tossed her wavy, +luxuriant hair over her brow, while several tresses fell across her +cheeks, flushed by the recent rowing. She knew that she should be +home, for supper would be waiting and her father would be impatient. +But she hesitated. Her thoughts were out there on the water where she +loved to be. The twang of the wind as it swept through the trees along +the shore, and the beat of the surf upon the gravelly beach were music +sweet to her ears. + +At length, with one more lingering glance out upon the river, she +turned and walked along a path leading from the shore. She moved +slowly, for she was not at all anxious to reach the house situated +about two hundred yards beyond. And yet it was an attractive house, +well-built, and cosy in appearance, designed both for summer and winter +use. A spacious verandah swept the front and ends, over which +clambered a luxuriant growth of wild grape vines. Large trees of ash, +elm, and maple spread their expansive branches over the well-kept lawn, +providing an excellent shade when the sun was hot. Altogether, it was +a most delightful spot to spend the summer months away from the smoke +and confusion of the city. + +The place, however, did not altogether appeal to Lois Sinclair. If she +had needed rest, the situation would have been ideal. But it was +activity she desired, and not luxurious ease such as so many crave, +especially two young men lolling on the verandah awaiting her coming. +Even though one was her brother, she could not restrain a feeling of +contempt as she looked upon their white faces, soft hands, and +immaculate clothes. Why should men, she asked herself, be so ready and +willing to give themselves completely up to effeminate habits when +their blood was hot within them, and the great Open was calling them +with such a strong insistent voice? + +The young woman's arrival brought one of the young men to his feet, +with the offer of a hammock. + +"Please do not trouble yourself," she told him. "I must hurry and get +ready for dinner. I know that father is very angry with me." + +"He is not the only one who is angry, I can assure you," Sammie Dingle +remarked. "We have been furious with you for leaving us this afternoon +when we needed your company so much in the car. I cannot understand +how you can enjoy yourself alone out on the river in that nasty boat." + +"No, I suppose you cannot," Lois replied, and so infatuated was Sammie +with the young woman that he did not notice the slightest sarcasm in +her words. + +"Hurry up, Lois," her brother ordered, "I'm almost starved. Dad's got +it in for you." + +"All right, Dick," was her reply. "I shall be down in a few minutes. +Why did you wait for me? You had better go to dinner at once, if you +are so hungry." + +It took Lois but a short time upstairs, and when she came down she +found the three men in the dining-room. Her father was in one of his +surly moods, and this she could tell at the first glance. He was a +short man, somewhat stout, and pompous both in appearance and manner. +Fortunate it was that his only daughter had inherited none of his +qualities, but was more like her mother, whose memory she cherished +with undying affection. Since her death home had been more of a prison +to her than anything else. Neither her father nor her only brother had +understood her, and she was forced to depend more and more upon her own +reliant self. + +"What kept you so late, Lois?" her father asked as soon as she had +taken her place at the table. "You know very well that I do not like +to wait for dinner." + +"I am very sorry, father," was the reply, "but I became so greatly +interested in an old man and a girl out on the river that I had no idea +how time was passing." + +"Who were they, Lois?" her brother enquired. + +"What new creatures have you picked up now? You haven't run out of +homeless cats and dogs, have you?" + +The colour mounted to Lois' temples at these words, for it was not the +first time she had been sneered at for her tenderness of heart for all +suffering creatures. With difficulty she restrained an angry reply, +and went on calmly with her dinner. + +"Come, Lois," Sammie urged, "never mind Dick. He must have his little +joke, don't you know. He was only in fun." + +"A joke with a sharp thorn in it isn't much fun," and Lois looked +Sammie full in the eyes. "One might do far worse than take an interest +in such people as I met this afternoon out upon the river. They +appealed to me very much and I am not ashamed to confess it. The man +is a perfect gentleman, while the girl is so pretty, and full of life +and fun." + +"What's her name?" Dick asked. "I'm getting quite excited over her." + +"She's Betty Bean, so she told me, and the old man is David Findley." + +"What, Crazy David, that miserable pauper?" Mr. Sinclair asked. "And +you call such a creature a gentleman?" + +"Certainly, and why not? His face is so beautiful, and his whole +manner shows that he has moved much in refined society." + +"Ho, ho, that's a good one," and Dick leaned back in his chair and +laughed aloud. "Crazy David a gentleman, with a beautiful face, and +refined manners! Think of that, dad." + +"Lois evidently doesn't know that Crazy David is a pauper, the Devil's +Poor, and was sold to Jim Goban to board and lodge for a year. He went +pretty low, so I understand." + +At these words an expression of surprise came into Lois' eyes, mingled +with indignation. She looked keenly into her father's face, thinking +that he must be merely joking. + +"I can hardly believe that what you say is true," she at length +remarked. "I did not know that such things were carried on in a +Christian community. Is it possible that an old man such as that was +sold like a cow or a horse to the lowest bidder!" + +"Well, what else could have been done with him, then?" + +"Wasn't there any one in the whole parish, willing to take care of him?" + +"H'm, I guess people have all they can do to look after themselves +without being burdened with a half-cracked creature such as that. It +was the best thing they could do. It would not be fair for one person +to have the entire expense of keeping him, so by this method all have a +share in his support." + +"But I call it degrading," Lois insisted, "not only to the old man +himself, but to the people living here. He seems such a gentleman, +that I was drawn to him this afternoon." + +"Going to take him under your wing, eh?" Dick bantered. "He'll be as +interesting as your other protégé, I assure you. By the way, I saw him +this afternoon, and he looked his part all right, ho, ho," and Dick +laughed as he gulped down his tea. + +"Who's that, Dick?" Mr. Sinclair inquired. + +"Oh, Lois knows," was the reply. "She can tell you all about 'Spuds' +as well as I can, and maybe better." + +"Why should I know?" his sister asked, somewhat sharply. "I only met +him once, and that was years ago." + +"But you always take his part, though, so he seems to be somewhat under +your care." + +"And why shouldn't I? He deserves great credit for what he has done, +and it is very unbecoming of you to make fun of him." + +"I wish you could have seen him this afternoon, though," and Dick +glanced across the table at Sammie. "We were speeding along in the car +when we saw him hoeing potatoes in a field by the road. His clothes +were all soiled, his sleeves rolled up, and he looked like a regular +bushman. I called out to him as we sped past, and you should have seen +the expression on his face when he saw us. It was like a thunder +cloud. I guess he felt pretty well cut up at being caught at such +work, ha, ha." + +"Whom are you talking about, anyway?" Mr. Sinclair demanded. "What's +all this about 'Spuds,' I'd like to know?" + +"Oh, it's only that country chap we met several years ago, don't you +remember?" Dick explained. "His real name, I believe, is Jasper +Randall, though we have always called him Spuds, because he was digging +potatoes when we first met him." + +"You don't mean that big overgrown boy who helped us to carry Lois home +the day she sprained her ankle at Daltan Creek?" + +"The very same, dad. And you remember what fun we had at the way he +sat and drank his tea out of the saucer?" + +"But I didn't." Lois spoke sharply, while a flush mantled her cheeks. + +"Oh, no, you didn't make fun," Dick laughed. "You were mad through and +through, and gave us a good solid lecture afterwards." + +Lois made no reply, so while the men talked, she let her mind dwell +upon that scene of years ago. She saw again the lank awkward lad who +was so concerned about her accident. While helping to carry her home, +he had been much at his ease, and his eyes glowed with a sympathetic +light. But when once in the house, his natural shyness had come upon +him, and he did not know what to do with himself in the presence of +strangers. One thing stood out above everything else, and that was his +look of indignant defiance when Dick laughed because he drank his tea +out of the saucer. She liked the way he had straightened himself +suddenly up, while his eyes flashed with a peculiar light. The next +that she heard of him was several years later when he entered college +in Dick's year. Then every time her brother had come home he had such +stories to tell her about Spuds. And so he was now living near working +on a farm. Why did he not go home? she asked herself. She wondered +also what he looked like now. Was he lank and awkward as when she saw +him? She longed to ask Dick several questions, but desisted, knowing +that it would be to little purpose. Her brother would only make fun of +him, and she would be sure to get angry. + +When supper was over, the men sauntered out upon the verandah for a +smoke. Lois went, too, but sat somewhat apart with a piece of +needlework in her hands. She preferred to be alone that she might +think. She thought first of old David, and his pitiable condition. +What could she do to help him? she asked herself. It was not right +that he should be kept as a pauper while there were several people in +the parish who could provide for him without the least trouble. Her +father was one of them, and she was determined to speak to him just as +soon as she could. + +From old David it was only natural that her mind should turn to Jasper +Randall. She recalled his animated face the day her ankle had been +sprained. He was but a big overgrown boy then, and she had just +graduated from school. She had never forgotten him, and had followed +his career while at college as well as she could from what her brother +told her. And so he was now working on a farm nearby. A longing came +upon her to see him, and to learn if he had changed much since that day +years ago. As she glanced toward her brother and Sammie, so effeminate +in their manner, and dressed with such scrupulous care, a feeling of +contempt smote her. They disdained honest toil, and would scorn to +soil their soft white hands with manual labor. But over there was a +young man toil-worn, and no doubt sunburnt, clad in rough clothes +earning his living by the sweat of his brow. Such a person appealed to +her. He would form an interesting study, if nothing else. There must +be some connection between that potato patch and the college, she told +herself, and she was determined to find out what it was. + +As she thus sat and worked, her thoughts keeping time to her fingers, +Sammie came and took a seat by her side. She glanced quickly up, with +a shade of annoyance on her face. They were alone on the verandah, for +her father and Dick were nowhere to be seen. + +"You are very quiet this evening, Lois," the young man began. "I have +been watching you for the last half hour, and you never looked our way +once, nor took any interest in what we were saying. You are not +offended, are you?" + +"Offended! At what?" Lois asked as she let her needlework fall upon +her lap. + +"At me. Have I done anything to annoy you?" + +"I wasn't thinking about you at all, Sammie," and Lois looked him full +in the eyes. "My mind was upon more important things." + +"And you don't consider me important?" the young man demanded, visibly +embarrassed. + +"Why should I? What have you done that you should be considered +important?" + +"But my father is rich, and we belong to a good old family. I am a +gentleman, and that should count for much." + +"So you seem to think," was the somewhat sarcastic reply. "I do not +for a moment deny that such things are valuable, but they count for +very little in my estimation of a true man. He must prove his worth in +the battle of life, and show to the world that he is something apart +from how much money his father may have or his family history. Now +what have you done that I should consider you important?" + +"Nothing at present, Lois, for I am not through college yet. But I am +going to do great things some day, and then you will change your +opinion of me." + +"I hope so," and Lois gave a sigh as she picked up her work. + +"You don't believe what I say?" and Sammie reddened. + +"Not until I see you settle down to something definite. You do not +know how to work, and how, then, can you expect to succeed?" + +"But you would not want to see me working like Spuds, for instance, +would you?" + +"And why not? He is not afraid to soil his hands at honest labor. Why +he is doing so I do not know, but there must be some good reason." + +"Oh, I know. He wants money to help him to finish his college course. +He left very suddenly, so I understand. Of course, he was not in our +set, and so I know very little about him. He studied hard, and kept +much to himself, so he has always been somewhat of a mystery. But say, +Lois, never mind talking about him. I want to ask you something, for I +am going away to-morrow." + +"What is it, Sammie?" and again Lois laid down her work. She had an +idea what he wanted to say, though it did not affect her in the least. + +"I--I want to s-say," the young man stammered, "that you are the +o-only----" + +Sammie was suddenly arrested in his protestation of love by Dick's +voice at the door. + +"Say, come inside," he called. "It's beginning to rain, and it's +spoiled my ride this evening. It's going to be confounded dull +to-night, so give us some music, Lois, to liven things up a bit." + +With an amused smile, his sister willingly obeyed. Sammie followed her +into the house, mentally cursing Dick for his untimely interruption. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A LITTLE CABIN + +Betty and old David had a great afternoon out upon the water in the +small row-boat. They were delighted with Lois, and after she had left +them they watched her until she disappeared within the house. + +"Isn't she wonderful!" Betty exclaimed, as she at length picked up the +oars which had been lying unused in the bottom of the boat. + +"Who is she, anyway?" her companion asked, for it was evident that he +was as much lost in admiration as was the girl. + +"Oh, she's Miss Sinclair, Lois, they call her, and her father is very +rich. He is president, or something like that, of the street railway +and the electric light company in the city. Ma knows all about him, +and she has told me a whole lot. He was very poor once, so she says. +He's awful mean and stuck up and won't have anything to do with the +people he knew when he was young. But his daughter isn't a bit like +him. She takes after her mother, so I understand, who was a very fine +woman." + +"Does Mr. Sinclair live here all the time?" David inquired. "I never +heard of him before." + +"Oh, no. He has a big house in the city. He only bought this place +last summer. Lois has never been here before. She came two weeks ago +and I think she is going to stay till fall. I hope she does, anyway. +Won't it be great to have her here, so we can meet her and talk to her +every Saturday afternoon?" + +"She seems to be a very fine young woman," David assented. + +"Indeed she is, and she's a nurse, too. She's been away training in +some hospital for several years, and has just got through." + +"Why should she want to be a nurse?" David asked. "If her father has +plenty of money why should his daughter want to earn her own living?" + +"It's because she's so independent, that's why. She believes every one +should earn her own living, and I guess she's right." + +A pained expression suddenly overspread the old man's face at these +words. But so engrossed was Betty with her own thoughts that she +noticed nothing amiss. + +"I am going to be a nurse some day," the girl continued. "Just as soon +as I am old enough I am going to enter a hospital. Then when I get +through I can earn so much money and be such a help at home. And I'm +going to help you, too," she added as an afterthought. + +"No, child, that will not be necessary then," David replied. "I shall +have plenty of money of my own by the time you are a nurse. I shall be +manager of the biggest company the country has ever known, for it +cannot be long now before people realise how wonderful is the scheme I +have worked out. They have been very slow to see, but I am sure that a +great change is soon to take place." + +"But you might be sick, though," the girl insisted, "and will need me +to nurse you. I won't charge you anything, for I shall gladly do it +for nothing because it will be you." + +"Oh, I wouldn't let you do it for nothing," was the reply. "I shall +pay you well and make up for all your kindness to me now when I am so +poor." + +In this manner the two sat and talked. Happy were they for the time, +thinking and planning of the future which looked so bright in their +eyes. Neither did they notice for a while where they had drifted, for +a stiff wind had risen and was drawing down the creek. It was Betty +who first realised their situation. + +"Oh, look where we are!" she cried, seizing the oars, and placing them +in the row-locks. "We can never get back against this wind, and the +water is getting rougher all the time. I believe it is going to rain." + +"Let me row," David suggested. "I should be stronger than you." + +"Did you ever row?" the girl asked. + +"Only once. But I think I could do it, though." + +"Well, I don't think you could. You're not nearly as strong as I am." + +With that she settled herself to the task of pulling back into the +creek against the wind which was dead ahead. For some time there was +silence as she toiled steadily at the oars. Gradually, however, her +strokes became weaker, and she was forced to rest. + +"I can't do it," she gasped. "The wind is too strong." + +"What are we to do, then?" David asked. + +"Land on that shore over there. I guess we can reach it all right." + +Again seizing the oars, she swung the boat partly around and pointed +for the shore. It was much easier now, and she made considerable +progress. The wind increased in strength, and at times the water +dashed over the side of the boat. To add to their discomfort the rain +began to fall, and by the time the shore was reached their clothes were +wet, and David felt cold. + +"Help me pull up the boat," Betty ordered. "We'll tie it to that tree, +and then we'll look around for some shelter. There's a raftsman's +cabin not far away, and maybe we can stay there." + +With the boat securely fastened, they made their way along the shore +until they came to a path leading up from the water. Following this +through the bushes, they soon reached an open space, and there before +them appeared a small building covered with tarred paper. + +"That's the place," Betty exclaimed, "and I know there is a stove there +for I was in it once. The raftsmen used it this last spring. We can +build a fire and dry our clothes before we go home." + +Betty was the first to reach the cabin, and as she pushed open the door +she gave a cry of surprise. + +"What's the matter?" David inquired, thinking that she had been +frightened. + +But Betty did not at once reply. She stood in the middle of the room, +looking around in a bewildered manner. + +"Well I never!" she at length declared. "Why the place is all fixed +up, and somebody must surely be living here. Who can it be, for I +never heard a word about it, and I thought that I knew everything that +was going on in this parish. Just look at that table now, with the +dishes all washed so clean. And there are books, too," she added, "and +pictures on the wall. I never knew a man could keep a room so neat." + +"How do you know that it is a man?" David asked. "Perhaps it is a +woman." + +"Why, that's easy enough," and Betty looked around the room. "Don't +you see a man's boots there, his clothes hanging up by the stove, and a +package of tobacco on the window-sill? I guess it's a man all right." + +"Perhaps you are right," David assented. "You know more about such +things than I do. Anyway, it's nice to be here out of the storm. But +do you think the man will mind when he comes back and finds us here? +He might be very angry with us." + +"Let him get angry, then," and Betty gave her head a slight toss. "I +don't care for angry men. If I can match Jim Goban, I guess I can +handle any man who comes here. Leave that to me, and don't you worry. +I'm going to do a little exploring, anyway. I want to see what's in +that other room. Ah, just what I thought," she continued, when she had +opened the door and entered. "It's the bed-room, and the bed is not +made. That shows all right that a man lives here. A woman would never +think of going away and leaving the bed like that. I'm going to open +the window and air the room. Men always keep the windows shut tight, +and the house gets so stuffy. There, that's better," she panted, as +after some difficulty she forced the window up. "I'm going to make up +that bed just as soon as I get the fire going." + +There was a box full of dry wood behind the stove, and soon she had a +fire burning brightly. She next partly filled a small kettle with +water and set it upon the stove. + +"You had better take off your wet coat," she suggested to David. +"You'll get your death of cold if you keep it on much longer." + +"Can't I help you?" the old man inquired, as he stood watching with +admiration the girl's light step and the skilful way she did +everything. There was a longing in his eyes as well, for he wanted to +be of some use but did not know how. + +"Yes, you can help me," and Betty smiled upon him, "by taking that coat +off and sitting down upon that nice cosy place near the stove. It was +certainly made for comfort, and the man who owns this building must +spend his evenings there. What a lot of books he has. He must read a +great deal." + +David was only too glad to obey, so after he had taken off his coat and +hung it up back of the stove to dry, he stretched himself at full +length upon the settle. + +"This does feel good," and he gave a sigh of relief. + +"You're tired, that's what's the trouble with you," Betty replied. +"You shouldn't have a bit of work to do. You're too old, and you +should have some one to look after you all the time." + +"How nice it would be if we could live in a place like this, and not go +back to Jim Goban's. Would you be willing to take care of me?" David +asked. + +"Sure, I would like nothing better. But, then, there are some things +in the way." + +"What are they?" + +"Well, you see, there's the question of money. We haven't any +ourselves, and I don't think any one is likely to drop it at our feet +in a hurry. And besides, Jim's got you for a year and he wouldn't want +to give you up; he's going to get a lot of work out of you, so he +plans." + +"I know that only too well, Betty. But when I get rich, I mean. If I +had a little place like this you would look after me, would you not? I +would pay you well, and we could be so happy." + +"Indeed we could. But you haven't the money yet and we must try to be +as happy as we can in the meantime. That's what ma says, and she +really does practise it. So I've got to look after you now when you +can't pay me. I'm going to see if I can't find something to eat. The +man who lives here surely doesn't live on air. He must have some food +in the house." + +It did not take Betty long to find the cupboard. This was nothing more +than a box nailed to the wall, on which a rude door had been fastened. +There were three shelves and on these were a loaf of bread, some cold +meat, potatoes, eggs and cheese. + +"Isn't this great!" she exclaimed, as she brought forth what she +needed. "I can warm up these potatoes, and we shall have a grand +supper." + +"I am worrying about the man who owns those things," David remarked. +"He might not mind our using his house, but when it comes to making +free with his provisions, it might be a different matter. Do you think +it is right for us to touch them?" + +"We won't take all," and Betty stood before the table eying the meat +and potatoes. "We can leave enough for him. If he is a kind man he +will not mind our taking some of his supper. How dark it is getting," +she added. "I shall light that lamp. Now, isn't that better," she +continued when this had been accomplished. "We shall have supper in a +short time." + +While Betty busied herself about the stove, David remained stretched +out upon the settle. Outside, the storm increased in fury, and the +rain heat against the window. Within, all was snug and warm. The girl +even hummed softly to herself as she went on with her work. + +When supper was ready, Betty spoke to David. As he made no reply, she +went to his side and, to her surprise, found that he was asleep. An +expression of tender compassion came into the girl's eyes as she +watched him. She knew how tired he was and she would not wake him. It +was better, so she thought, that he should sleep. Drawing up a chair, +she sat down by his side. A feeling came to her that it was her duty +to care for this old man who was so helpless. She could not do much, +but when Betty Bean had once made up her mind it was seldom that she +could be turned from her purpose. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +UNMASKED + +All the morning Jasper Randall was busy hoeing potatoes in the large +field near the main highway. He liked the work, for he was alone and +could give himself up to thought as he drove the hoe into the yielding +earth. His task suited him well, and as he tore out innumerable weeds, +slashing down a big one here and another there, he was in reality +overcoming and defeating opponents of the brain. They were all there +between the rows, and he could see them so plainly. The lesser ones he +could sweep away at one stroke, but that quitch grass was more +difficult to conquer. He could cut it off, but its roots would remain +firmly embedded in the ground and would spring forth again. It was a +nasty, persistent weed. Little wonder that he attacked it most +fiercely, for it reminded him of the weed of injustice with which he +had been contending for years. Other enemies, like the smaller weeds, +he could overcome, but injustice, that quitch grass of life, was what +stung him to fury. Little did Simon Squabbles, the tight old +skin-flint, realise that the lone man working in his potato field was +doing the work of two men that morning, and at the same time slaying a +whole battalion of bitter enemies. The contest was continued during +the afternoon. The quitch grass was thicker now, and the struggle +harder. With savage delight Jasper had just torn out a whole handful +and had shaken it free from its earth as a dog would shake a rat, when +the honk of an auto caused him to look toward the road. As he did so, +his face underwent a marvellous transformation. The car was only a few +seconds in passing, but it was sufficient for him to recognise the +occupants, see the amused expression upon their faces, and hear their +salutation of "Spuds," as they sped by. His strong, supple body +trembled as he leaned for a while upon his hoe and gazed down the road +after the rapidly disappearing car. He must have remained thus for +several minutes oblivious to everything else. Neither did he see his +hard taskmaster watching him in the distance. But when he again +resumed his hoeing he worked more fiercely than ever, and there was +danger at times lest the frail hoe should break beneath his tremendous +strokes. Up one row and down another he moved all the afternoon. He +seemed like a giant tearing up the earth, rather than a man performing +a prosaic task. When toward evening the sky darkened, the wind began +to blow and the rain to fall, he hardly noticed it at first. Only when +the earth became mucky and stuck constantly to his hoe, did he leave +his work and go across the field toward the barn. It was time, anyway, +to help with the chores. He was anxious to get through that he might +go home. He was glad that it was Saturday, for he would have the next +day free. + +It was dark by the time his tasks were done, and then he went to the +house for his week's pay. He had agreed to work for a dollar and a +half a day, and get his own breakfast and supper at home. Thus he had +nine dollars coming to him for his week's work. He was surprised, +therefore, when Simon Squabbles handed him out only eight dollars and +fifty cents. + +"There is some mistake here," Jasper remarked as he counted over the +money. "I want fifty cents more." + +"That's all you're goin' to get," Simon replied. "I saw ye loafin' +this afternoon when ye should have been workin', an' 'no work, no pay' +is my motto." + +"Loafing, do you say?" Jasper asked, thinking that he had not heard +aright. + +"Sure. Didn't I see ye leanin' on yer hoe watchin' that car which went +down the road? An' ye stood there a long time, too." + +Into Jasper's eyes leaped an angry fire. He understood now the man he +had to deal with. So he had been watching him, and he had taken no +account of the work he had done all day. + +"You were spying upon me, eh?" he retorted. "Didn't you see how I did +the work of two men to-day?" + +"All I know is that you were loafin' when I saw ye, an' that was +enough." + +"Look here, Simon Squabbles," and Jasper stepped close to his employer, +"if you were not as old as you are, I'd tie you into a bowknot in the +twinkling of an eye. You're not fit to be called a man, and not +another stroke of work do you get from me. Keep the fifty cents, if it +will do you any good. I am trying to make an honest living, but +creatures such as you are the ones who make it almost impossible." + +The blood surged through Jasper's veins as he plodded along the muddy +road towards his humble cabin. The rain beat upon him and soaked his +clothes, but he did not seem to heed it, so filled was his mind with +the contemptible meanness of old Squabbles. He was in no pleasant +mood, and his hands often clenched hard together as he moved through +the darkness. What he was to do in the future, he did not know. +Neither did he much care. A reckless spirit was upon him. The whole +world was seething with injustice, so he believed. He had tried to be +honest, to make his way, but he had been foiled at every step. Why +should he try any longer? Simon Squabbles prospered through injustice; +Dick Sinclair could ride along in his car, dressed in the height of +fashion, while he had to eke out a precarious living by hoeing +potatoes. Dick's father had made his money in an unscrupulous manner, +and was held up as a shrewd business man. Would it not be as well for +him to hurl himself into the game and win out, no matter how? + +Thinking thus, he came near his cabin, when a light arrested his +attention. He stopped short in his tracks and peered through the +darkness. At first he believed that he must be mistaken. But no, it +shone steadily before him, and he knew that some one was there. The +thought made him angry, and he hurried forward, determined to make an +example of the one who had dared to meddle with his property. + +Reaching the building, he peered cautiously through the uncurtained +window. As he did so, his anger suddenly ceased when he beheld the +pathetic scene within, of an old man lying asleep upon the couch and a +young girl patiently watching by his side. Why they were there he did +not know, though he felt certain that great necessity must have driven +them to take refuge in a strange cabin. He recognised old David as the +man he had met that night on the road listening to the voice of Break +Neck Falls. He knew that he had been sold to Jim Goban for one year, +and the transaction had rankled in his soul for days. The girl he did +not know, but she seemed to him like a ministering angel watching over +the slumber of the sleeping man. This thought caused him to study her +more intently, for notwithstanding his strength and independence of +mind, he could not forget the pictures he had seen and the stories he +had heard as a child of angels coming to earth on special deeds of +mercy. He banished this idea, however, in an instant, and even smiled +at his own foolishness as he turned away from the window and moved +around the corner of the cabin. + +He was about to push open the door and enter when a sudden notion came +into his mind which caused him to pause. He stood there with the rain +beating upon him as he thought over the idea. Then he stepped toward +the door and gave a gentle tap. In a few seconds Betty stood before +him, peering into the darkness. The sight of the large man standing +there caused her to start and draw somewhat back. + +"Excuse me," Jasper began, "but could you give me shelter? It is a +rough night and I am wet and hungry. I am sorry to disturb you, but I +saw the light from the road and knew that some one was living here." + +"Come in," the girl at once replied. "We have a good fire and supper +is all ready, such as it is," and she gave a little laugh as she moved +back into the room. "We are strangers, too, and I do not know what the +owner will say when he comes back and finds us here." + +"Oh, I shall take care of you," Jasper returned. "He won't make a fuss +when he sees me. If he does, we'll pitch him out of the door, eh?" + +"I guess you could do it all right," and Betty smiled as she looked at +him. "Mr. David will be so pleased to see you when he wakes. He likes +good company." + +"How do you know I am good company?" Jasper asked. "Maybe I'm as cross +as two sticks." + +"Well, then, you can't stay if you are." + +"You couldn't put me out, could you?" + +"Couldn't I, though? I guess you don't know me. Jim Goban once said +that I could beat the devil with my tongue alone, and I guess Jim ought +to know by this time what I'm like when I get my ginger up. But you're +not that kind of a man. I can tell by your eyes that you're all right. +If you're a little cranky now, it's because you're hungry. As soon as +you get something to eat you'll be as sweet as molasses candy. Most +men are that way." + +The sound of voices woke old David, and sitting suddenly up he looked +inquiringly around the room as if uncertain where he was. + +"Don't be afraid, Mr. David," Betty assured him. "Supper's all ready, +and we have a visitor as hard up as we are to share it with us. So +come at once and let us get through." + +Jasper was greatly amused at the way Betty took full possession of +everything in the place. There was nothing forward about her, for she +seemed more like a grown-up woman than a girl. He admired her +confident and buoyant manner, as well as the thoughtful and deferential +way she looked after the old man. The best on the table was for him +and he had to be served first. She treated him sometimes as a child, +but more often as a superior being. He noted the look of reverential +respect in her eyes as she turned them upon him, and he wondered. + +During the meal David acted the part of a perfect gentleman. His +manners could not have been better had he been at a royal banquet +instead of a most humble repast in a rude cabin. He asked Jasper no +questions but talked merely about his experience upon the river that +afternoon. He was somewhat anxious lest the owner of the cabin should +return and resent their intrusion. Jasper endeavoured to allay his +fears, reminding him that no one in his senses would be angry at people +seeking refuge on such a night. + +During the meal Betty had been observing Jasper quite closely, and once +the semblance of a twinkle might have been detected in her eyes. She +made no remark, however, as to what she was thinking, but while the men +smoked when supper was over, she busied herself washing up the few +dishes. + +Under the soothing influence of the tobacco David became talkative. He +was pleased to have so attentive a listener as Jasper, and unfolded to +him his wonderful secret. + +"Mr. David is going to be a very rich man some day," Betty remarked, as +she paused in wiping the dishes. + +"I am pleased to hear that," Jasper replied. "Money is the only thing +that counts these days." + +"Yes," the girl continued, "he is going to be very rich, and I am going +to look after him. We shall have such a nice little house and be so +very, very happy." + +While Betty was talking, the old man fumbled in an inside pocket and +brought forth several papers. + +"See," and he held one of them up so the light of the lamp would fall +upon it, "it is all here. You can understand my plan much better from +this. Here is Break Neck Falls, and just below it the plant will be +placed. From there power will radiate throughout the entire country. +The whole thing is so simple that it is a wonder to me that it has not +been thought of before." + +"Isn't it great!" Betty exclaimed, looking over the old man's shoulder. +"And to think that Mr. David worked it all out himself." + +As Jasper sat and watched the two animated faces before him, he had not +the heart to say a word that would in any way dampen their enthusiasm. +Nevertheless, it seemed to him so ridiculous that old David's scheme +could ever meet with any success. How was he to interest people who +had the means to carry his plan into effect? But if the thought of +doing great things would give him any happiness, he would be the last +one to remove such a hope. + +The storm raged outside and the wind beat against the window as the +three sat and talked. The room was warm and cosy, and Jasper was +pleased to have these two visitors on such a lonely night. Simon +Squabbles and his meanness he forgot for awhile as he listened to Betty +as she told him of her home life. It was just what he needed to take +him out of himself, and to make him think of others. But when the girl +spoke of Lois and how she had been with them that afternoon on the +river, he became doubly interested. + +"Oh, you must see her," Betty exclaimed. "She is the most wonderful +person I ever saw. Isn't it strange that you have never met her!" + +"Why, what chance have I had?" Jasper asked. "Anyway, she wouldn't +want anything to do with such a rough fellow as I am." + +"Indeed she would. She's not that kind; there's nothing stuckup about +her. Maybe you'll see her passing some day. She might call, too, for +she is so friendly." + +"Call! What do you mean? How could she call upon me if I am miles +away from this place?" + +"Oh, but you won't be. You'll be right here where you have been for +some time." + +Into Jasper's eyes came a look of surprise, and he felt his face flush +under the girl's keen scrutiny. + +"There, I knew I was right," she laughed in glee. + +"You thought you could deceive me, did you?" + +"Why, how in the world did you know that I live here?" Jasper asked. +"Did anybody tell you?" + +"No, certainly not. But the Lord didn't give Betty Bean eyes and a +mind for nothing. Who else would be poking around this place on a +night like this but the owner? And didn't you know where your dry coat +was when you came in? and your slippers? and your pipe and tobacco? +and----" + +"There, there, you have produced evidence enough, and I plead guilty," +Jasper laughed. He was greatly amused at the girl's quickness. "You +are not offended, are you, at the little joke I played upon you?" + +"Oh, no, not all. But next time you do anything like that try it upon +a man. A woman's eyes are pretty sharp, and it's hard to deceive her. +Mine are, anyway." + +David had listened to this conversation and slowly the truth dawned +upon him that the owner of the cabin was before him. + +"I wish to apologise, sir," he began, "for our rudeness in entering +your house. It was only necessity which compelled us to do so, I +assure you, and when I am in a position, I shall recompense you +handsomely for the entertainment to-night." + +"Please do not say a word about it," Jasper replied. "I am very +thankful that you have been able to make use of my humble abode. I +have enjoyed your company very much. But I think it is time for us to +retire, as you need rest. The girl can use that room there, while you +can sleep upon that cot." + +"But what about yourself?" David inquired. + +"Oh, I shall make a place for myself right by the stove. I shall be +very comfortable there." + +David at first refused to listen to such an arrangement, but Jasper was +determined and claimed a host's privilege of making his guests as +comfortable as possible. He sat for some time at the little table +after David and Betty had gone to sleep. He dwelt long and carefully +upon the rude plan the old man had shown him. The more he studied it, +the more convinced he became that there was a great deal in it after +all. But it would mean much money, and he sighed as he at length blew +out the light, stretched himself upon the floor, and drew a great coat +over his body. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +OUT OF BONDAGE + +During the night the storm broke, and the morning was fine and warm. +After breakfast Jasper and David sat on a log outside and smoked. +Betty was busy in the house, washing the dishes and tidying up the +rooms. She hummed softly to herself as she moved lightly across the +floor. She was anxious to get through as quickly as possible that she +might take David back to Jim Goban's. She felt a little uneasy for his +sake as she knew how angry his taskmaster would be with him. For +herself she did not care. If Jim said too much, she could leave him at +once. And yet she did not wish to go, for she felt that she must look +after this old man who was so helpless and depended so much upon her +for protection. + +When her work was finished, she joined the men outside. + +"It's time we were going, Mr. David," she began. "The river is calm +now, and it will not be hard rowing back." + +"I wish you could stay here all day," Jasper replied. "I shall feel +very lonely when you go." + +"But we shall come to see you again, sir. It has been so good of you +to keep us. But Jim Goban will be angry if we do not hurry home. I +know how he will rage as it is. The longer we stay the harder it will +be for him," and she pointed to David. + +Scarcely had she finished speaking ere a team was heard driving +furiously along the road. + +"Oh, it's Jim now!" the girl cried, "and I know he is mad by the way he +is driving. He's stopping at the gate, too!" + +Jim had seen them from the road, and having tied his horse to a tree, +he made his way swiftly along the little path leading to the cabin. He +was certainly in no pleasant frame of mind, and when he came near he +gave vent to his feelings in coarse, brutal language. + +David, rose and advanced to meet the angry man, hoping in some way to +appease his rage, but in this he was mistaken. + +"Ye old cuss," Jim shouted, "what do ye mean by runnin' away with that +girl? Ye look as meek as a lamb but I guess ye're about as near a +devil as they make 'em." + +"He didn't run away with me," Betty sharply replied. "I ran away with +him, that's the way it was, and you needn't get on your high horse, Jim +Goban. You, yourself, would be the first one to run away with a girl +if you could find one crazy enough to run with you." + +"Shet up, ye fool," Jim shouted. "I didn't ask you to speak." + +"I know you didn't," the girl calmly returned, "but that doesn't make +any difference. This is a free country, isn't it? We didn't ask you +to come here and make such a fuss, so you can go if you are not +satisfied with our company. We're quite happy where we are." + +"But I'm not goin' without that cuss," and Jim looked savagely at the +old man. "You kin stay if ye want to with the guy who owns this cabin. +There'll be a nice little story fer the gossips before long, ha, ha." + +At these words Jasper started, while his face went white and his hands +clenched together. He had listened in silence to Jim's tirade, and was +only waiting an opportunity to explain how the old man and the girl +happened to be at his place. But this pointed reference to him was +more than he could endure. + +"What do you mean by that statement?" he asked, taking a quick step +forward. "Please explain yourself." + +"There's nothin' to explain," and Jim gave a coarse laugh. "The +neighbours will do all the explainin' that is necessary." + +"No, that's not the thing. You made an insinuation, and it's up to you +to explain before you leave. I have nothing to do with the neighbours; +it's you I am dealing with now. Yon have insulted this feeble old man, +and uttered words in reference to me and this girl. I want to know +what you mean." + +"I don't have to explain anything," Jim retorted. "You mind yer own +business, and go to ----" + +The oath had hardly left his lips ere Jasper with one lightning blow +hit him squarely between the eyes. Jim reeled back, and then with a +frightful oath leaped forward. But he was powerless before Jasper's +superior training and soon he was sprawling upon the ground while his +opponent stood bending over him. + +"Had enough, eh?" Jasper asked. "If you want some more, get up. I +haven't had half enough yet." + +"Leave me alone," Jim mumbled. "You'll pay up for this. I'll fix ye." + +"What's that you say?" and Jasper stooped lower, "You're going to pay +me back? Well, then, I might as well fix you now, so you won't be able +to do anything in the future. I might as well have my satisfaction +when I can get it. So get up, or I'll knock the life out of your +measley carcass." + +Seeing that Jasper was in earnest, Jim scrambled to his feet and barely +dodged the blow rained at his head. + +"Fer God's sake, stop!" he yelled. "I won't do anything to ye. I +promise on me word of honour." + +"And, you'll be good to this old man?" Jasper demanded. + +"Yes, yes," and Jim trembled in every limb. "I'll be good to him if ye +don't hit me agin." + +For a few seconds Jasper looked contemptuously upon the creature +cowering before film. He felt that he was lying, and just as soon as +he was out of his sight he would treat old David in a shameful manner, +and he himself would be helpless to interfere. What could he do? he +asked himself. A sudden idea came into his mind. + +"What do you get for the keep of this old man?" he asked. + +"Only a hundred," was the surly reply. "Not half enough." + +"Well, look here, will you give him to me? I will take care of him for +nothing." + +Into Jim Goban's eyes came a look of surprise mingled with doubt. The +man must surely be making sport of him, he thought. Then his natural +cupidity overcame him. Here was a chance to get clear of the pauper +and at the same time receive money for his keep. But how would the +overseers of the poor regard such a transaction? + +"Will you let me have him?" Jasper again asked. + +"Give me twenty-five dollars and he is yours," Jim replied. + +"Twenty-five dollars! No, not a cent. You will make out of it as it +is; far more than you deserve." + +"I can't do it, then," and Jim made as though to go. "Come on," he +ordered David and Betty. "Let's git away from here." + +"Hold on," and Jasper stepped, up close to him; "if you do not let me +have the old man, I'll lay a charge against you for ill treating him, I +saw enough this morning to satisfy any one. Let me have him, and you +need have no more worry. Refuse, and you will regret it." + +"But what will the overseers say if I give him up?" Jim whined. + +"Oh, that can be easily settled. If they make a fuss, send them to me. +But I guess they won't bother their heads." + +Jim still hesitated. He longed to get more out of this bargain. + +"Hurry up," Jasper demanded. "What do you say?" + +"Oh, take the cuss, then. I wish ye joy of him. I'm off now. Come, +girl, let's git home." + +During the whole of this affair Betty had been a most interested and +excited witness. She was delighted at the thought of David's freedom, +and when Jim at last agreed to part with him she could hardly repress a +cry of joy. It took her but a second to make up her mind, and she was +ready when Jim spoke to her. + +"I'm not going with you," she told him. + +"Not goin'! Why, what d'ye mean?" and Jim looked his astonishment. + +"I'm going to stay with Mr. David. He needs me more than you do. I'm +going to take him to my own home. He will be happy there and treated +like a gentleman." + +"Ho, ho! so that's the game, eh? Treat him like a gentleman! Well, do +as ye like; it's nothin' to me, so I'm off." + +They watched him as he strode across the field, unhitched his horse and +drove away. + +"There, we're rid of him at last," and Jasper gave a sigh of relief. + +"Isn't it great!" Betty exclaimed turning to David. "To think that you +are going home with me!" + +But the old man was looking at Jasper and did not hear the girl's cry +of delight. In his eyes was an expression of gratitude. He tried to +speak but words failed him, and tears flowed down his cheeks. Jasper +was visibly moved, and turned suddenly to Betty. + +"You are willing to keep him for awhile?" he asked. + +"Yes. Mother will be so pleased to have him, and I will work hard to +help her." + +"Where will you work? At Jim Goban's?" + +"No, I am through there. But I will get work somewhere. I will talk +it over with mother. I think we had better be going now." + +Thrusting his hand into his pocket Jasper brought forth several bills. + +"Take these," he said, "they are all I can give you now, but you shall +have more later." + +"But you need the money yourself," the girl replied. + +"Not as much as you will need it. So say nothing more about it. +Good-bye. I hope to see you again." + +Jasper watched the two as they moved slowly across the field and then +disappeared down the road. He felt lonely when they were gone, and he +sat for some time in front of the cabin lost in thought. At times he +called himself a fool for what he had done. Why should he be burdened +with that old man when he could hardly make his own living? And +besides, he had no work to do, and had given away his last dollar. But +notwithstanding all this, a secret feeling of satisfaction stole into +his heart that he had helped old David and had taken him out of Jim +Goban's clutches. + +As he sat there the bell of the nearby church rang forth, and he +realised for the first time that it was Sunday morning. He did not +feel in a mood for attending service. He needed a long walk to think, +and shake off the spirit of depression that was stealing over him. + +Entering the cabin, he prepared a small lunch, and then closing the +door he struck out across the field in the direction of Break Neck +Falls. He wished to go there to view the scene where David planned to +erect his plant and do such wonderful things. He smiled grimly to +himself as he thought of the old man's delusion. Reaching the brow of +the hill just where the trail started from the main road, he paused and +looked down to his left. He could see clearly Peter Sinclair's house +with the tall trees surrounding it. Bitter feelings came into his +heart as he stood there. Over yonder lived a man who had the power to +do so much good in the world. He could help old David and give him a +comfortable home for the rest of his life. Why should some men have so +much of this world's goods and others so little? he asked himself. +Then he thought of Dick, and a contemptuous smile curled his lips. He +recalled his feelings the previous day when he had watched the car go +by and listened to the salutation of "Spuds." + +And standing there his feelings suddenly underwent a marvellous change, +for walking slowly across the field was Lois on her way to church. She +was some distance away so Jasper was sure that she could not see him. +As in the past so now he was forced to worship her afar off. It was +not for him, poor and unknown, to draw any closer. The trees along the +path she walked could bend above her and the bright flowers could smile +up into her face. But for him there could be no such favours. He was +half tempted to hasten back to church. There he could be quite near +and watch her. He banished this thought, however, as he glanced down +at his own rough clothes and coarse boots. + +Jasper watched Lois until she disappeared from view behind a clump of +birch trees. Then leaving the highway he walked slowly along the trail +leading to the falls. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +AT THE CLOSE OF A DAY + +High up on the bank of the brook which flows down from Break Neck Falls +Jasper sat leaning against the bole of a large tree. It was drawing +toward evening and long slanting shadows were falling athwart the +landscape. It was a hot afternoon and the shade of the old spruce was +refreshing. By his side was a rough birch fishing rod, and nearby +wrapped up in cool, moist leaves were several fair-sized trout. Jasper +had not been fishing for pleasure, but merely for food, as his scanty +supply was almost gone. The fish would serve him for supper and +breakfast. Beyond that he could not see, for he had not the least idea +what he was to do to earn a living, and at the same time assist old +David. + +Though the day was exceptionally fine, Jasper did not enjoy it as at +other times. His mind was too much occupied with other matters. All +things seemed to be against him in his struggle to advance. It had +been the same for years, and now the climax had been reached. What was +he to do? he had asked himself over and over again during the +afternoon. Should he give up in despair? What was the use of trying +any longer? He had seen young men succeeding in life who had not made +any efforts. Money and influence had pushed them along. Dick Sinclair +would soon join their ranks. He had lived, a life of indolence, and +yet it would be only a short time ere he would be looked upon as a +prominent citizen. The papers would speak of his ability and write +glowing articles about whatever he did. Where was the justice of it +all? he questioned. Did not real worth and effort amount to anything +in life's struggle? + +At length, tired with such thoughts, he drew forth from an inside +pocket a small book. It was well marked and showed constant usage. It +was a volume of Emerson's Essays, a number of which he knew almost by +heart. It was only natural that the book should open at the essay on +Self-reliance, for there the pages were most thumb-marked. His eyes +rested upon the words: "There is a time in every man's education when +he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance." He read on to +the beginning of the next paragraph, "Trust thyself: every heart +vibrates to that iron string." + +The book dropped from Jasper's hand and once more he gave himself up to +thought. He knew how true were those words. He realised that envy is +ignorance, and it was his duty to rise above it. Why should he spend +his strength in envying others? He would conquer and make them envy +him. Ah, that idea brought a flush to his face. He would trust +himself, as Emerson said, and some day the very ones who looked down +upon him and spurned him would come to him. How he was to accomplish +this Jasper had no idea. But there was comfort in thinking about it, +anyway, and he felt sure that a way would be opened whereby he could +succeed. + +He was aroused from his musing by the sound of voices. Looking quickly +down toward the brook, he saw three people walking along the bank. He +recognised them at once as Lois, Dick and Sammie. At first he was +tempted to withdraw farther back among the trees lest he should be +seen. He abandoned this idea, however, feeling quite certain that he +would not be noticed where he was. Lois and Sammie were walking +together, while Dick was a short distance ahead. What they were saying +he could not make out, neither did he care. He had eyes only for the +young woman, and he noted how beautiful she appeared as she walked with +such an upright graceful swing. Was she happy in Sammie's company? he +wondered. She was laughing now, and seemed to be greatly amused at +something her companion was saying. Jasper noted all this, and then +called himself a fool for imagining that she could ever think of him. +No doubt she had already given her heart to the young man by her side, +so he might as well banish her from his mind at once. He would go away +and never see her again. + +Acting upon this impulse, he was about to move softly among the trees +and disappear. He had placed his book in his pocket and had reached +for his fish when a cry of terror fell upon his ears. In an instant he +was on his feet, peering keenly down to see what was the matter. In a +twinkling he grasped the whole situation. Just across the brook a wall +of rough rocks shelved upwards to the height of about twenty feet. +Below, the water swirled and dashed over jagged boulders, receiving its +impetus from the falls farther up stream. The path led along the top, +and in some unaccountable manner Lois had slipped and fallen over the +edge, and had gone swiftly down toward the rushing current below. She +grasped frantically at everything on which she could lay her hands, and +was only able to arrest her downward descent when a few feet from the +water. And there she clung with the desperation of despair, while her +two companions stood above half-paralysed with fear, and unable to +assist her. + +When Jasper saw Lois go down to what seemed certain destruction, he +sprang forward and leaped down the bank as if shot from a catapult. +Into the brook he recklessly dashed and like a giant forced his way +across the current and around hidden boulders. At times it seemed as +if he could not keep his feet and that he must be swept away. But that +picture of the clinging woman nerved him to superhuman efforts, and +slowly but surely he edged his way toward her. When a few feet from +the base of the rock, he saw Lois relax and slip downward. Barely had +she touched the water ere Jasper with a mighty effort leaped forward +and caught her in his arms. Then in an instant they were both swept +away. Fortunately, Jasper was a strong swimmer, and as they shot +forward he was able to keep Lois' head above water, and work steadily +toward the shore. + +By this time Dick and Sammie had so far recovered from their fright +that they were able to hurry down stream, and stand on the edge of the +stream where the bank sloped gently to the water. Here they stood for +several fearful seconds watching Jasper as he struggled toward them. +They took special care not to wet their feet, but merely reached out +and helped to pull Lois ashore and lay her upon the dry ground. More +than that they were unable to do, and naturally turned toward Jasper +for help. + +"We must get her home at once," the latter remarked, kneeling by the +side of the prostrate woman. "I am afraid she has been injured by the +fall." + +Fortunately, at that instant Lois opened her eyes and fixed them upon +him in a dazed manner. Then she remembered what had happened, and sat +suddenly up and looked around. + +"My, I have given you a great fright," she said. "It was stupid of me +to trip over that root." + +"Are you hurt, Lois?" Dick inquired. + +"I am somewhat bruised, that is all. I think I must have fainted and +let go of the rock. How did I get here?" + +"Oh, Spuds got hold of you and brought you out," Dick explained. + +Lois at once turned her eyes upon Jasper who was now standing a few +feet away. She noticed his drenched clothes, and also that there was +blood upon his forehead. + +"You are hurt," she cried. "You have struck your head." + +"It's nothing, I assure you," and Jasper gave a slight laugh. "I must +have hit it against a rock when we went down, that was all. It will +soon get better. Never mind me, I am all right. But you must get home +at once." + +"Yes, come, Lois," and Sammie, speaking for the first time since the +accident, stepped forward. "We must get you home at once. Never mind +this fellow; he doesn't matter." + +"Indeed he does," Lois emphatically replied. "He saved my life, and I +can never thank him enough." + +"But I would have saved you, Lois. I was just coming to rescue you +when this fellow, who was spying upon us from the bushes, got to you +first." + +Lois never forgot the look on Jasper's face as the jealous Sammie +uttered this insinuation. He drew himself up to his full height, and +his eyes glowed with a sudden light of anger. She saw his lips move as +if about to utter words of protest. Instead, however, he quickly +turned, left them, and walking along the bank for a short distance +reached a fordable place in the brook. He plunged into the water and +after a brief struggle reached the opposite bank and disappeared among +the trees. + +Lois stood and watched him until he was out of sight. She was faint +and greatly annoyed at Sammie's words. She knew now what a cad and a +coward he really was, and was not even man enough to give credit to the +one who had rescued her. + +"Come, Dick," and she turned to her brother, "let's go home," was the +only remark she made, as she took his arm and walked slowly along the +path leading from the brook. She took no notice of the crestfallen +Sammie, who trudged along behind wondering what had come over the young +woman that she should act in such a strange manner. + +Jasper could not fully understand the strange feeling that had come +over him at Sammie's unjust insinuation. His first lightning thought +was to knock the fellow down. Then he wanted to explain, to say that +he had not been spying. But he knew that if he spoke he might get +excited. No, it was better for him to leave at once, and let Lois +think whatever she liked. He had saved her and that was all he cared +for. But as he moved along through the woods, the few words she had +said and the expression in her eyes acted as balm to his wounded +feelings. He made up his mind, however, not to be caught in such a way +again. He would take good care to keep away from the Sinclairs after +that. + +Going back to the place where he had left his fish, he picked them up +and started down along the brook. He wished to get back to his cabin +as quickly as possible that he might change his wet clothes. He was +hungry as well, and he longed for a couple of the trout he had caught. +He thought much of Lois, and wondered how she was getting along. He +hoped that she had not been seriously injured and that she would not +catch cold from her plunge into the water. He could not forget the +feeling that had come over him as he had sprung forward and caught her +as she was falling. He should remember that sensation for the rest of +his life, no matter what happened. + +Having reached the end of the trail, he moved swiftly along the main +highway. He was almost to his cabin when he saw an auto by the side of +the road. Something had evidently gone wrong, for two men were +anxiously examining it. Jasper was about to pass when one of the men +accosted him. + +"Excuse me," he began, "but could you tell me if there is a hotel or +any place where we can get supper? We have been stalled here for some +time, and my chauffeur can't find what is the matter with the car." + +"There is no hotel," Jasper replied, "and I know of no people who serve +meals. But I have a place right near, and you are welcome to such +accommodation as I have. It is very humble, and I warn you not to +expect much. I have merely bachelor's quarters, and so am my own +housekeeper." + +"Thank you kindly," the man returned, "I am very grateful to you, and +we shall be delighted to go with you, though we do not wish to trouble +you too much. The trout you have make my mouth water. You evidently +went in head-first after them," and he smiled as he observed the young +man's wet clothes. + +Jasper liked this man, and this impression was increased as they walked +toward the cabin. He was well spoken, and so gentlemanly in manner +that he found it quite easy to converse with him. Everything seemed to +interest and please him, especially the cabin. He called Jasper a +lucky fellow for having such a place where he could live so quietly +away from all bustle and stress of the great outside world. + +"It is quiet enough as a rule," Jasper remarked with a laugh, as he +lighted the fire in his little stove after he had changed his wet +clothes for dry ones. + +"Have you lived here long?" the stranger inquired, as he stretched +himself out upon the cot. + +"Since the middle of May," was the reply. "But I expect to leave +shortly. I'm out of a job now, and so must look elsewhere." + +"What have you been working at?" + +"Oh, anything that turns up." + +The stranger was quick to note the almost hopeless tone in Jasper's +voice as he uttered these words, and he studied the young man more +closely. + +"Where did you live before you came here?" he asked. + +"At college. I was almost through when reverses came, and so I had to +get out. I have been trying to earn enough to finish my course, but +everything seems to be against me. I understand farming and naturally +took to the land in preference to other work." + +"What were you studying at college?" the man asked. + +"Electrical engineering." + +"I see. But was there not something you could have obtained along that +line? Surely there must have been some opening." + +Jasper made no reply. There was a reason, but he did not feel inclined +to reveal his secret to a complete stranger, upon such a brief +acquaintance. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE SHADOW OF MYSTERY + +When supper was over, the stranger lighted a cigar and stretched +himself out upon the cot. + +"This is certainly comfort," he remarked, as he watched Jasper clear +away the dishes. "It is fortunate that we have found such hospitality. +You do not have many such visitors, I suppose. It must be rather +lonely for you here." + +"Not as a rule, though I have been much favoured lately," Jasper +replied with a laugh, and he told how his cabin had been taken +possession of the previous night. + +"Well, that was cool, I should say," and the stranger smiled. "Walked +right in, did they?" + +"But I didn't mind, for they were such a queer couple; a feeble old +man, and a bright, smart girl of about sixteen. It was nice for me to +have them here on such a stormy night. I would have been very lonely, +otherwise." + +"Where are they now?" + +"They left this morning. It is a sad story. But as they are strangers +to you, it would hardly interest you." + +"Indeed it would," was the emphatic reply. "I am somewhat new to this +country, and would like to find out all I can about the life of the +people, especially in the country districts." + +When Jasper had finished washing the dishes, he sat down upon a chair +by the side of the cot, and lighted the cigar his visitor had given +him. He then related the story of old David and Betty, taking care to +say as little as possible about his own part in the affair. + +"And so the old man is at the girl's home now, is he?" the stranger +asked. + +"Yes, for a time." + +"But what will become of him?" + +"I do not know for certain. I shall try to assist him all I can. But +he will not go back to Jim Goban's if I can help it. It is the height +of cruelty for such a refined man to live at a place like that. I do +not know what the people of this parish were thinking about to allow +him to be put there." + +"Has he any relatives?" + +"It seems not. He has been a puzzle to every one since the day he came +here. He has been the laughing-stock of all the people because of a +peculiar notion of his." + +"And what is that?" + +"He is in love with Break Neck Falls over there, and talks to it as if +it were a human being. He believes that the time will come when people +will obtain power and light from the falls, and the entire country will +be greatly benefited." + +"So that is why he is called crazy, eh?" + +"Yes." + +"Is there really a good reason for his idea? Is there a large +waterfall?" + +"Yes. I have been there several times, and consider it a good place +for a plant. The old man has curious drawings of his entire plans, +which I shall show you as he left them with me this morning. He must +have forgotten them in his excitement, as I understand he guards them +very carefully. People laugh at Crazy David for the jealous way he +protects his treasure." + +"Did you say his name is David?" the stranger asked. + +"Yes. David Findley, so I believe. But he is only known as 'Crazy +David' in this parish." + +As Jasper uttered these words, the man lying on the cot rose suddenly +to a sitting position, and looked keenly into the face of the young man +before him as if he would read his innermost thoughts. With an +apparent effort he checked himself, and with a slight laugh resumed his +former position. + +"I got worked up over the hard luck of that old man," he remarked. "It +is a downright shame that he should be called crazy, and misunderstood. +But, then, that has always been the way. Men who have done most for +their fellow men have been looked upon with suspicion, and termed fools +or madmen. May I see his drawings?" + +For some time the stranger studied the rude lines old David had made +upon the paper. Not the slightest mark escaped his notice, and he +plied Jasper with numerous questions most of which the latter was +unable to answer. + +"I am fond of studying human nature," the visitor at length +volunteered, as if to explain his remarkable interest in the old man, +"and I must say that this is one of the most interesting cases I have +ever come across. Here we have an old, poverty-stricken man, somewhat +weak-minded, who has the vision and the enthusiasm of youth, combined +with a child's simplicity. And he really believes that people of +capital will carry out his ideas, does he?" + +"Yes, he is sure of it." + +"And he has no doubts as to the final outcome?" + +"No." + +"This scheme gives him considerable pleasure, I suppose." + +"Yes, it is his very life. It cheers him and buoys him up, and makes +him treat all discomforts as of the present, which will vanish when +once he comes into his own." + +"So he expects to get very rich, does he?" + +"Oh, yes. He talks about what he will do when he has money. It +certainly would be a great pity to take such a hope from him. I +believe it would kill him at once." + +For a long time they talked, and it was late when they went to bed, the +stranger with the chauffeur in the adjoining room, and Jasper upon the +cot. The latter found it hard to get to sleep, as many thoughts kept +surging through his mind. He wondered why his visitor should take such +a keen interest in the welfare of old David. He recalled, too, his +sudden start when David's name was mentioned, and the excuse which had +been given did not altogether satisfy him. + +Jasper was awake early next morning, and had the frugal breakfast ready +by the time his two visitors came from their room. As soon as +breakfast was over, the chauffeur left to look after the car. The +stranger then pushed back his chair, lighted a cigar, and handed one to +Jasper. + +"Please do not trouble about the dishes now," he began in a tone which +somewhat surprised the young man. + +"I have been thinking over what you told me last night, and am greatly +impressed by the sad condition of that old man. You have no work in +view, so I understand?" + +"You are right," Jasper replied. + +"Well, then," the other continued, "I wish to make a definite +proposition to you on several conditions. I wish to employ you for one +month, and will give you one hundred and fifty dollars, if that will be +satisfactory." + +It was Jasper's turn now to start, and look with astonishment at the +man before him. Was he in earnest? he asked himself, or was he merely +joking? + +"Ah, I see you are astonished," and the stranger smiled, "but I assure +you that I mean what I say, and to prove it, I shall pay you in +advance." + +"But what are the conditions?" Jasper stammered. + +"They are three," the stranger replied after a slight pause. "First, +that you are to take special care of that old man. How you are to do +it I shall explain later. In the next place you are to ask no +questions as to why I am doing this. And last of all, you are not to +say who is doing this, neither to the old man nor, in fact, to any one." + +For a few seconds Jasper looked at the stranger in a quizzical manner. +He was wondering whether the man was really in his right mind. + +"Isn't that a strange proposition to put to one you know so little +about?" he asked. + +"In most cases it might be," was the quiet reply. "But I have good +reasons for what I am doing, and do not think that there will be any +mistake. Are you willing to enter my employment for a month?" + +"Now, that all depends. I need the money, God knows, but I must +understand more about what is expected of me in connection with the +care of the old man." + +"I can easily settle that. You are first of all to get a good place +for him to live, and, if possible, secure some dependable person to be +his companion who will take a special interest in his welfare. You are +to keep a detailed account of all expenses, and send the bill to me at +the end of the month. This address will find me," and he drew forth a +card and handed it to the young man. + +There was nothing on the card to reveal to Jasper the identity of the +man who was taking such a remarkable interest in old David. It simply +told that the stranger's name was Robert Westcote, of 22 Princess +Street, Woldun. + +"I think everything is satisfactory now," and Jasper lifted his eyes to +the stranger's face. "I am not likely to ask any questions, and as to +telling people who you are, there will be no trouble about that. In +fact, I am not intimate enough with any one here to wish to tell, even +if I desired to do so." + +"That is good," Mr. Westcote replied. "I could not have chosen a +better person for my purpose." + +"When do you want me to begin my work?" Jasper asked, + +"At once, that is, if you can see your way to do so. But first of all, +I should like to visit this old man. I am somewhat curious about him +now that he is under my protection. How far is he from here?" + +"About five miles, I should judge, though I have never been there +myself. He is at Mrs. Bean's, and she lives on a back road." + +"Very well, then, we shall go just as soon as the car is ready, and I +should like for you to go with me." + +It took the chauffeur some time to find out what was the matter with +the car, and when the damage was repaired, the three started down the +road at a fast rate. This was something new to Jasper, and he leaned +back in the comfortable seat and gave himself up to the enjoyment of +the moment. He need not worry any more for the present about his +living, as he had a cheque for one hundred and fifty dollars safely +stowed away in his pocket. As to the mystery connected with it all, he +did not feel inclined to bother his head. In fact, he was becoming +greatly interested, and was now quite anxious to see what the final +outcome would be, and why this stranger had taken such an unusual +interest in an old pauper. + +It did not take them long to reach Mrs. Bean's house, where they drew +up before the gate. It was a small, humble abode, but everything about +the place was scrupulously neat and clean. Flowers bloomed in front of +the house, while several large trees stood a short distance away. +Under one of these they saw old David sitting in a rocking-chair with +Betty by his side. She had been reading to him but had laid down her +book to look at the car, which was an unusual thing in that settlement. +Seeing Jasper, she sprang quickly to her feet with a cry of delight, +and hurried toward the road. Her face was aglow with excitement, and +Mr. Westcote thought that he had never beheld a more perfect picture of +radiant health and beauty. + +"This is the young woman I was speaking to you about," Jasper remarked, +as he stepped from the car. + +"I am delighted to meet you," and Mr. Westcote held out his hand. "I +have heard about you, and have been quite anxious to see you. How are +you making out with your new charge?" + +"Great," and a smile wreathed the girl's face. "He is so happy here, +and likes for me to read to him. But he is so funny at times, and +interrupts me to ask questions." + +"What about?" Mr. Westcote enquired. + +"Oh, about Break Neck Falls. He wants to know if I can hear the water +speaking, and, of course, I always do," she added with a slight laugh. +"He wanted me to go there this morning, but as mother and the boys are +away I could not leave, so I am trying to satisfy him by reading." + +"Would your mother be willing to keep him for a time, do you think?" +Jasper asked, "that is, if she were paid enough?" + +"I'm afraid not," and the girl's eyes roamed in a thoughtful manner +toward where David was sitting. "You see, our house is too small, and +there is hardly room enough as it is. And besides, we are too far away +from the Falls. Mr. David needs to be quite near so that he can visit +the place whenever he takes the notion, which is quite often. That is +the only thing which will make him happy." + +"Quite right," Mr. Westcote assented. "He should live as near as +possible. But may we see your charge?" he asked. + +"Certainly," and Betty at once led the way across the field to the big +shady tree. + +Old David, seeing them coming, rose to meet them. He stood very erect +and dignified as Jasper took his hand, and then introduced Mr. +Westcote. He was visibly embarrassed that he did not have chairs for +all, and offered his own to the stranger. + +"Please keep your seat," Mr. Westcote told him. "I prefer to sit on +the ground. What a delightful place you have here, sir," and he looked +around upon the scenery. + +"It is very beautiful," David assented, "and I can hear the Falls so +plainly, especially at night." + +An amused twinkle shone in Betty's eyes as she turned them upon +Jasper's face. She knew very well that it was impossible to hear the +sound of the falling waters, and that it was purely imagination on his +part. + +The stranger, however, did not smile. In fact, there was an expression +of sadness upon his face as he watched David. He said very little, +being content to let the others do the talking. But he observed the +old man very carefully without apparently doing so. What his thoughts +were he kept to himself, and when he arose to go, he took David's hand +in almost a reverent manner, and looked searchingly into his eyes as if +trying to find something there which he missed. He hardly spoke a word +on the way back but seemed lost in deep thought. As Jasper alighted +from the car in front of his cabin, Mr. Westcote laid his right hand +upon his shoulder. + +"Take good care of that old man," he said. "Let nothing interfere with +your watchfulness until you hear from me again. Get the best place you +can for him, no matter what it costs." + +That was all, but the expression upon the stranger's face, and the +impressive manner in which he uttered these words gave Jasper cause for +deep thought during the remainder of the morning. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +UNITED FORCES + +Jasper was now in a position to give up his entire time to old David's +interests. No longer need he worry about working on the farm, nor how +he was to obtain his daily food. He was provided for a month at least, +and he was most anxious now to enter upon the odd task which had been +assigned to him. Robert Westcote, the stranger, interested him +greatly, and he felt sure that he should hear more about him later. + +Having eaten his simple lunch, he started down the road. The village +of Creekdale was about two miles away, and there he hoped to find a +house suitable for David. The only man he knew in the place was the +storekeeper, and from him he believed that he could secure some +information, and at the same time get his cheque cashed. + +It was a beautiful afternoon, and his heart was lighter than it had +been for many a day. He walked along with the swing of a man who has a +definite purpose in life, and from whose heart all gloomy thoughts have +been banished. He did not try to account for this mood. It was +sufficient for him that in some way a load had been for a time lifted +from his mind. He would let the future look out for itself, and enjoy +the present as far as it was possible for him to do so. + +Reaching a clump of trees, he sat down by the side of the road to rest. +The shade was refreshing, for he was quite warm as he had been walking +fast. Birds sang in the branches above him, and fanned the air with +their light wings. Butterflies zigzagged past, and honey-laden bees +sped by like express trains. He watched them with much interest, and +mused upon their activity. Each had a special work to do, and was +performing it to the best of its ability. He was glad now that he was +alive, and had something definite in view. It was far better than +groping around in a haphazard way looking for work. Something seemed +to tell him that he was entering upon the trail of a mystery and he was +eager to follow the scent wherever it might lead. The spirit of +adventure was in his blood, mingled with the nectar of romance. It had +always been there, inherited from his ancestors. It was that same +spirit which had caused him to leave the farm and enter college several +years before. It had always been with him, and was stronger now than +ever. He would follow the quest to the end, and see what the outcome +would be. + +Jasper was about to rise and proceed on his way when, glancing along +the road, he saw Lois coming toward him. His heart beat fast when he +saw her, and his first impulse was to get away out of sight. Why +should he meet her? he asked himself. She had no use for him, and +would not consider it worth while to talk to one of whom her brother +and Sammie Dingle were always making fun. + +As he hesitated, Lois drew nearer. She was walking very slowly as if +in deep thought. She wore a simple white dress, and a light, +broad-rimmed hat which partly shaded her face. To Jasper she seemed +the very embodiment of grace and beauty as she moved toward him. In +her all the charm of the glorious day, of bird and flower seemed to be +combined. He was lifted out of himself, entranced, and by the time she +was opposite the clump of trees he was standing by the side of the +road, with hat in his hand, confused and abashed. + +His sudden appearance startled Lois for an instant. + +But when she saw who it was, she smiled, and held out her hand. + +"I didn't notice you," she began, "as I was lost in thought. But I +have wanted to see you to thank you for what you did for me yesterday. +I shudder to think of what would have been the result if you had not +been there. I hope you were not offended at Sammie's words." + +"And you feel none the worse for your fall and wetting?" Jasper +evasively replied. + +"Oh, no, I am all right now. It takes more than that to knock me out. +I was going over this morning to thank you, but----" + +She paused, and looked thoughtfully across the fields. + +"I know," Jasper hastened to explain. "You didn't like to come to my +shack. It is only natural. It would have given people something to +talk about." + +Lois looked at him for an instant and a sudden fire of resentment shone +in her eyes, while her face flushed. + +"Do you consider me such a weak person as that?" she demanded. "Do you +imagine that I care what people might say? I never let the frills and +shams of life interfere with me when I am in the way of duty." + +"Forgive me," Jasper apologised, "if I have offended you. I spoke +without due thought. But one hardly knows how to take people these +days, and I am sorry that I judged you wrongly. I am so glad that you +are not like others." + +"We will forget all about it," Lois replied, with a smile. "Yes, I was +going to see you this morning to thank you, no matter what people might +say, but I was sent for by Mrs. Peterson who lives just back there, and +I have been with her ever since. She is in great trouble, as her +husband is an invalid, and she has no way of making a living. She is +thinking of taking in summer boarders, and she wanted to talk to me +about it." + +"And what did you advise?" Jasper questioned. + +"Nothing," was the emphatic reply. "It is a difficult problem, and I +do not know what can be done. In the first place, the house is too +small for more than two or three boarders, and she could not expect to +have them for more than a few weeks at the most in the summer time. If +she could have them all the year around it would be different. And +besides, it would be very hard for Mrs. Peterson to look after them. +It takes most of her time caring for her husband, who is quite weak, +and not always very considerate, I am afraid." + +As Lois was thus talking, Jasper was doing some serious thinking. He +was greatly interested in what she told him, not so much about the +Petersons as others he had in mind. He believed that here was the very +place for old David. + +"Do you mind going back with me to see Mrs. Peterson?" he asked. + +"Why, no," Lois replied, turning her eyes to his, as if trying to +comprehend why he should wish to meet Mrs. Peterson. "It will be +better than standing here in the heat." + +As they walked slowly along the road Jasper told her about David, how +he and the girl had taken refuge in his cabin, where the old man was at +present, and that he was looking for a suitable place where he could +live. He said as little as possible about his own share in the matter, +excepting that he had rescued David from Jim Goban and was going to see +that he was well cared for. He did not say anything about Robert +Westcote, remembering his obligation of silence. + +Lois was much interested in what he told her, and her mind was very +busy as she walked along by his side wondering where he was to get the +money to carry out his plan. + +"It will cost considerable," she remarked when he was through. "Do you +think you can manage it?" + +"I am quite certain that there will be no trouble," he replied. "Just +why I am doing this I cannot explain now, but I assure you there will +be no difficulty. David is to be well provided for, as far as money is +concerned, and he is to have some one to look after him all the time." + +"What, at Mrs. Peterson's, if she will take him?" Lois asked in +surprise. + +"Yes, that is my idea. If that girl Betty will come, she will be just +the person." + +They had paused now and were standing at the entrance of the lane +leading up to the Peterson's house. It was a most beautiful spot, with +tall trees lining both sides of the drive-way. They were on a gentle +elevation with the village of Creekdale on their left but a few rods +away. It was an interesting collection of snug country-homes of +farmers, river boatmen, and several retired sea captains. All the +people in Creekdale knew one another's business, and the women could +see what their neighbours were doing, and some could easily talk from +door to door about the events of the day. + +It was only natural that Mrs. Raymond should leave her washing-tub long +enough to watch Lois and Jasper as they stood for a few moments by the +side of the road. She wondered what they were doing there, and her +curiosity was so much aroused when they at length walked up the +drive-way to the Peterson's house that she slipped over next door to +discuss it with Mrs. Markham. + +The people of Creekdale often talked about the Petersons, calling them +stuck-up because they mingled but little in the social life of the +place. "I have lived next door to them for nigh on to ten years," Mrs. +Raymond once confided to a neighbour, "and only once have they been in +my house. I guess Captain Peterson must have some money laid by, for +he does nothing but work in his garden and look after his hens, cow and +pig." + +When, however, the Captain was stricken with partial paralysis and was +unable to work, the belief became general that he certainly did have +considerable money laid away. + +The Petersons' house was as neat and cosy as hands could make it. A +spacious verandah swept the front and south end of the building. Over +this clambered a luxuriant growth of grape vines. Here Captain +Peterson was lying in a large invalid's chair, puffing away at a +short-stemmed corn-cob pipe. He was surprised to see Lois back so +soon, and he looked with curiosity upon Jasper, wondering where he had +come from. + +"Couldn't leave us, eh?" he questioned, as he gazed with admiration +upon the bright, animated face before him. + +"No, I had to come back," Lois laughingly replied. "Your company is so +attractive that I could not resist the temptation of bringing another +to enjoy it. This is Mr. Jasper Randall, Captain Peterson. He has +come to see you on special business." + +"Glad to see you, sir," and the captain reached out his hand. "Have a +chair; there's one right there. Do ye smoke?" + +"Oh, yes," and Jasper thrust his hand at once into his pocket. "Do you +mind?" he asked, turning toward Lois. + +"Not at all," was the reply. "But you two smoke to your hearts' +content while I have a chat with Mrs. Peterson. I suppose she's in the +house, Captain?" + +"Yes, in the kitchen. At least, I heard her there a short time ago." + +Lois was absent for about twenty minutes and when she returned the two +men were talking in the most friendly manner. + +"This is the first good chat I've had with a man for a long time," the +captain told her. "He has made me feel better already." + +"I hope he hasn't forgotten the object of his visit in listening to +your sea yarns," Lois laughingly replied. + +"Tut, tut, girl," and the captain blew a great cloud of smoke into the +air. "D'ye think that is all I talk about? We had something just as +interesting to discuss to-day, and so I forgot all about the yarns." + +"And so you are willing to take old David and Betty into your house, +are you?" + +"Sure. I'm satisfied if Julia is. She's in charge of the ship now +since I've lost my sea-legs." + +"Mrs. Peterson is delighted at the thought of having them," Lois +replied. "Here she comes now, and can speak for herself." + +Mrs. Peterson was a pleasant-faced little woman who appealed to Jasper +at once. He felt quite sure that she was just the person to look after +David. She appeared so motherly and sympathetic that it was easy for +him to talk to her as she showed him the rooms David and Betty could +have. + +"Why, you will give them half of the house," Jasper exclaimed. + +"Only three rooms." was the reply. "The old man can sleep downstairs, +and he can have this big room adjoining. The girl can have a +comfortable room right at the head of the stairs." + +Jasper and Lois were both greatly pleased, and as they walked away from +the house they discussed it like two animated children. + +"How delighted David will be with the place," Lois remarked. "He will +be so comfortable there, I feel sure, and Mrs. Peterson will take such +good care of him." + +"And he will be able to hear the falls so plainly," Jasper replied. +"He can sit on the verandah or at the window of his room and listen to +the waters as long as he likes. It is just the place for him." + +"How much does Mrs. Peterson want a week for their board?" Lois +enquired. + +"I never asked her," was the quiet reply. "I shall find that out +later, for it is a matter of minor importance." + +Lois glanced up quickly into her companion's face. She longed to know +where the money was to come from. Surely this man who was working +digging potatoes did not intend to pay the entire amount. But Jasper +volunteered not the slightest information. He continued to talk about +David, and his surprise when he learned of what was being done for him. + +"I am so grateful for your assistance this afternoon," Jasper told Lois +as they at last paused at the gate leading to the Sinclair house. "I +started forth uncertain what to do, and behold, everything has turned +out as if by magic." + +"I am thankful that I have been of some assistance," was the quiet +reply. "My mind is greatly relieved, too, for I was much worried about +the Petersons. Two heads are better than one after all, are they not?" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE + +"Isn't this lovely!" Betty exclaimed, as she stood in the middle of the +large room which had been assigned to David. + +It was the second day since their arrival at the Petersons' house, and +their delight at everything was not only amusing to Mrs. Peterson but +somewhat pathetic as well. She could not account for the girl's +remarkable care of the old man. She would allow nothing to interfere +with her attention upon him, and she arranged a cosy spot by the big +north window where he could sit and listen to the sound of his beloved +falls. + +"You will spoil him," Mrs. Peterson told her once when they were alone +in the kitchen. "You will make him as helpless as a child. It is not +good for men to be waited upon too much." + +"Are you not afraid of spoiling your husband, then, Mrs. Peterson?" +Betty replied. "You treat him just like a child." + +"Oh, but he is an invalid, and can't help himself. That is the reason +why I have to wait upon him." + +"But Mr. David is a wonder," Betty insisted, "and he must not be +neglected." + +There was such an expression of admiration in the girl's eyes that Mrs. +Peterson had not the heart to smile at her enthusiasm. + +"In what way is he a wonder?" was all she asked, as she went on with +her work. + +"Oh, he has a great thing in his head, which he is thinking about all +the time. It has to do with the falls, and he has told me a whole lot +about it. He will be very rich some day, and we are going to have such +a nice house of our own. You see, I am to be his housekeeper, and +nurse him when he is sick." + +It was a great pleasure for Captain Peterson to have David and Betty at +the house. No longer did he have to sit alone for hours upon the +verandah as he had an audience now to listen to his tales of the sea +and the places he had visited. David was a good listener and enjoyed +hearing the yarns, although he kept one ear open for the sound of the +falls. Nothing must interfere with his interest up there. + +One afternoon the captain was speaking about England, and mentioned +Liverpool. David became unusually interested, and even let his pipe go +out as he sat with his eyes fixed intently upon the captain's face. + +"You seem to know Liverpool pretty well," he at length remarked, as the +captain paused to re-light his pipe. + +"Should say so," was the reply. "Guess I know about everything there +worth knowing, especially along shipping lines." + +"There must be some big firms there, eh?" + +"Big! I should say so. Why, I could name a dozen right offhand, which +have ships sailing around the world. Now, there's the Dockett concern, +for instance. Holy smokes! but they're wealthy. If I told you the +business they do you wouldn't believe me." + +"No?" David laid his pipe upon the verandah railing. He had to do it +because his hand was trembling so violently that he could hold it no +longer. + +"Indeed you wouldn't," the captain continued, not noticing his +companion's agitation. "And you should see old Dockett himself, who +owns it all, so I understand." + +"What about him?" David asked in a voice scarcely above a whisper. For +once he had forgotten his beloved falls. + +"Ho, ho, I wish you could see him," and the captain leaned back and +laughed as he had not laughed for months. "He certainly is a queer +one." + +"In what way?" David questioned. + +"Well, it is hard to explain. He looks like a bear, and he acts like +one, too. My, I've heard him get his tongue on men lots of times, and +he is a holy terror. But he's a great business man, so I believe, and +has made heaps of money." + +"What does he do with it?" David asked. + +"Piles it up, I guess. He hasn't a chick to leave it to, so I +understand." + +"Hasn't he a wife?" + +"No, not when I last heard of him, which was five years ago. It isn't +likely he's married since then." + +David was unusually quiet the rest of the day. There was a far-away +look in his eyes and nothing interested him, not even the voice of his +falls. Betty was quite anxious, and confided her trouble to Mrs. +Peterson. + +"Do you think he is going to be sick?" she asked. "Suppose he should +die, what will become of that great thing he has in his head?" + +"Oh, I guess he is all right," Mrs. Peterson soothed. "Perhaps he is +thinking out something else, and will surprise us with some new idea." + +"Oh, do you think so?" and the girl's eyes grew big with wonder. +"Won't it be great if he does!" + +David was much brighter the next morning and sat for some time out upon +the verandah. Betty had gone to the office for the mail, as Mrs. +Peterson was too busy about the house. She did this nearly every day +now, and enjoyed the walk. The captain was always anxious to get his +daily paper, and sometimes there would be a letter from an old friend. + +It was almost noon when Betty arrived. Her cheeks were flushed more +than usual and she was greatly excited. + +"What's up now?" the captain enquired. "Haven't been scared, have ye?" + +"It's a letter for Mr. David!" she replied. "Just think of that!" + +"H'm," and the captain gave a grunt of disgust. "Is that all. I +thought maybe ye'd seen a ghost. Why should a letter so upset you?" + +"Oh, but he never got a letter before since I've known him, and it must +be very important." + +While the two were talking David rose from his chair and stepped toward +Betty. + +"A letter for me?" he asked, in a somewhat doubtful voice. + +"Yes, here it is. You had better open it at once." + +The old man took it in his hand and stood studying it for a few +seconds. Then he slowly opened the envelope, and drew forth the +letter. As he scanned the contents, his eyes grew suddenly wide with +astonishment and his hands trembled violently. + +"Oh, Mr. David, what's the matter?" Betty cried as she observed his +intense excitement. "Is it some bad news?" + +But the old man did not seem to notice her. He stood there, shaking in +every limb, staring upon the letter. + +"Tell me what it is," the girl again demanded. "I want to know at +once." + +This imperious order brought David to his senses, and without a word he +handed her the letter. Eagerly seizing it, she began to read. It took +her longer than the old man to make out its meaning, and when the truth +at last dawned upon her mind she gave a glad cry of joy, and her eyes +beamed with delight as she turned them upon his face. + +"Oh, isn't it great!" she exclaimed. "Five thousand dollars for that +thing in your head, Mr. David. Won't you be rich. Now we can have a +house of our very own, and I can be your housekeeper!" + +"But that isn't all, Betty," David replied. "I am to be Honorary +President of the company, just think of that. And they are to carry +out my plans and do just what I wish. Girl, my dreams are to come true +at last. I shall live to see my beautiful falls bringing a blessing to +the entire country. I wonder if people will laugh at me now, and call +me crazy." + +It was only natural that intense excitement should reign at the Haven +for the next few hours. The captain and his wife were greatly +impressed by the good fortune which had come so suddenly to old David. +They could hardly believe it possible, and they had the feeling that +there had been some mistake. But Betty would not hear of such a thing. +She was sure that it was all true, and it was due to the wonderful +thing that David had in his head. + +Dinner was late that day, and they had just finished when Jasper +arrived. Then out upon the verandah he heard the remarkable story. It +was Betty who told it, while David and the captain sat smoking near by. +He was shown the letter as well, the cause of all the excitement. +Jasper read it over several times, and then stepping over to David he +grasped his hand. + +"Allow me to congratulate you, sir," he began. "Such good luck does +not come to many in this country. I am so thankful that your plans are +to be carried out after all." + +"And they are to consult me, and carry out my every wish," David +replied. "It is so stated there," and he pointed to the letter. + +The enthusiasm of the old man was so intense and childlike that Jasper +had not the heart to say one word that would in any way dampen his joy. +To him, however, the whole thing was a great puzzle. Was it a joke, he +wondered, which some people were playing upon this simple-minded man? +A company was mentioned, but its name was not given. And further, why +should any company be willing to pay five thousand dollars for David's +idea, which was not new? It had been successfully carried out in other +localities. Surely a concern which was able to make such a liberal +offer must have full and accurate knowledge about hydro-electric plants +and what they had accomplished in the past. And why should David be +made Honorary President of the company? Was Robert Westcote, the +stranger, the cause of it all? He had not heard from him since the day +of their visit to Mrs. Bean's, and but for the cheque which he had +received he would have been inclined to consider the whole thing as a +hoax. + +Jasper kept his thoughts, however, to himself, and sat for some time on +the verandah taking but little part in the conversation. Betty and the +captain did most of the talking, while David sat near with a happy +expression upon his face. + +"When are you thinking of starting housekeeping on your own account?" +the captain enquired. "You'll be so mighty important now that you +won't want to stay with us any longer." + +"Don't you worry, Captain," Betty laughingly replied. "We're not going +to leave you just yet. You see, we haven't any house to go to, and it +will take the rest of the summer to make arrangements." + +When Jasper left the Haven he walked slowly down the road toward the +post office thinking over carefully all that he had just heard. Every +day he had been expecting news from Mr. Westcote, giving information as +to what was expected of him. Hitherto he had been disappointed. But +to-day he was rewarded when the postmaster, in addition to his daily +paper, handed him out a letter. Jasper felt that this was the one he +had been looking for, and he hurried out of the building and carted +homeward. Reaching a shady tree by the side of the road, he sat down +upon the ground and tore open the letter. A week of thought and +inactivity had made him anxious to know something more of what was +expected of him, and he was quite certain that now the veil was to be +lifted and the mystery partly solved. + +The letter was from Robert Westcote, and although it was somewhat brief +it brought him considerable satisfaction. His eyes kindled with +animation and his pulse quickened as he considered the message he had +just received and meditated upon the possibilities of the future. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +CURIOSITY AND ANXIETY + +Never in the memory of the oldest inhabitant had Creekdale been so +greatly excited. How the news first arrived no one could tell. But +everybody seemed to have heard the rumor at once, and immediately there +was much running to and fro among the villagers. The store was the +principal place where the men gathered to discuss the report and to +find out what was the latest bit of information. Men would find some +excuse for leaving their work in the fields in order to drop into the +store during the afternoon lest some choice morsel of news should be +missed. Every evening they would gather there such as they had never +done before in the summer months. It was always in the winter that +they made the store their headquarters when work was not so pressing. + +It was Andy Forbes, the storekeeper, who made it a point of keeping +abreast of the times. What he didn't know of the events of the parish +was not considered of any importance. He had a way of appearing to +know more than he really did. But concerning this affair at the falls +he was completely blocked. + +"The whole thing stumps me," he acknowledged one night, after an +animated discussion had taken place as to the purpose of it all. "I +can understand about the engineers making the surveys to find out how +much power can be obtained from the falls. That Light and Power +Company in the city has been playing the hog too long, and robbing the +people. It is something fierce what they charge. It is only natural +that an opposition company should be formed to force down the prices. +But the question is, Who is back of this new movement? and what has +Crazy David to do with it?" + +"And so you really think he knows something about at?" Ben Logan +enquired. + +"Sure. I could tell you a number of things but my position as +postmaster compels me to be silent." This was merely another of Andy's +methods, and it always impressed his hearers in a marked degree. + +"But what about that chap who was working for old Squabbles?" Billy +Dexter asked. "He seems to be mixed up somehow with the affair. He +spends most of his time now at the falls with the engineers. I +understand that he was the one who got the Petersons to take in Crazy +David and that girl, Betty Bean." + +"Oh, he's a queer one," Sandy Morton replied. "I met him the other day +on the road and asked him what was going on up at the falls and who +were the men back of the work? My, you should have seen the look he +gave me. It was 'Mind your own business,' as plain as if he had said +it in words. I ought to have knocked him down, for it was a dead +insult." + +"Better not try anything like that, Sandy," Ben Logan laughingly gibed. +"He'd wipe up the dust with you in no time, if I'm not much mistaken. +Anyway, he minds his own business, and that's something in his favour." + +"I believe he's working for the bunch," the store-keeper volunteered. +"I cashed a cheque of his some time ago, and---- But, there, I must +not let out secrets." + +While the people of Creekdale were consumed with curiosity at what was +taking place at the falls, Peter Sinclair was becoming filled with +anxiety, which increased as the days passed into weeks. Lois found it +harder than ever to get along with him, and she always dreaded his +home-coming every evening from the city. Occasionally he travelled on +the river steamer, but as a rule Dick drove him to the city in the +morning in the car and brought him back at night. This was to the +young man's liking, as he found it lonely in the country where he +missed his boon companions. Lois was glad that this was so as she +could have the days free to follow her own inclinations. But she was +always careful to have dinner ready when her father and brother +arrived, and to make their home-coming as bright and pleasant as +possible. + +Whether Mr. Sinclair appreciated this attention Lois did not know, as +he never made any comment. At times, he treated her as if she were +merely a housekeeper, and not his own daughter interested in his +welfare. He ate and slept in the house and spent his Sundays there. +But apart from paying the bills, which, were always light, he left +everything else to his daughter. + +The night when the men of Creekdale were talking so earnestly at the +store, Mr. Sinclair was late reaching, home. Dinner had been waiting +for over an hour, and Lois was reading on the verandah, for it was a +beautiful evening, with not a ripple on the surface of the river. She +longed to be out there in her little boat where of late she spent so +much of her time. + +To almost any one else this home-coming would have been a great +pleasure, especially if the day in the city had been trying. He would +have found the cool, quiet house with such a daughter waiting to +receive him most comforting. But with Mr. Sinclair it was altogether +different. He did not seem to notice the neatly-set dining-room table, +with its snow-white linen and the fragrant flowers so artistically +arranged in the centre. Neither did he pay any special attention to +Lois, who, clad in a simple white dress, sat at the head of the table. + +Lois intuitively realised that there was something out of the ordinary +worrying her father. He was more silent than ever, and took no part in +the conversation between his son and daughter. Dick related to Lois +his experience that afternoon with a party of his friends who had +motored over to the Sea Breeze Park, and had luncheon at the Sign of +the Maple. + +"It's a dandy place," Dick exclaimed, as he passed his plate for +another helping of roast lamb. "They certainly do serve things up in +style, and it is no wonder that so many city people go there. But you +could never guess who came in while we were eating." + +"Any one I know?" Lois asked. + +"Sure; a special friend of yours," and Dick gave a knowing grin. "He's +been under your care for years. I guess you know Spuds all right." + +Lois' face flushed at these words, but she looked calmly at her brother. + +"What is there remarkable about seeing Mr. Randall at such a place?" +she enquired. "Why shouldn't he go there as well as you or any one +else?" + +"Oh, nothing in that, only I thought maybe you'd be interested." + +"So I am in a way, as I thought that Mr. Randall was up at the falls. +He seldom goes to the city, so I understand, but attends strictly to +business." + +"I guess he was doing that all right at the Sign of the Maple. He +seemed to be so busy that he forgot to eat." + +"Was he alone?" + +"Oh, no. There was the prettiest girl I ever set eyes on. I tell you +Spuds is a lucky fellow to know such a beauty. He's gone up a peg in +my estimation since I saw him with her. You should have seen her eyes, +especially when she smiled at something her father was saying." + +"Her father, did you say?" Lois asked. It was somewhat of a relief for +her to know that there was a father present and that she was not alone +with Jasper. + +"Well, I suppose he was her father," Dick replied, "though I am not +positive. He was a fine looking man, anyway. I'd like to get +acquainted with him, for it's worth knowing such a chap who has a +daughter like that. I wonder how Spuds happened to meet him. By +jingo! I've got it," and Dick brought his fist down upon the table with +such a bang that the dishes rattled. "I'll bet you anything that he +has something to do with that Break Neck Falls affair, for old Tim +Parkin, the big lumber merchant, was along, too. He owns some fine +timber tracts up this way, and no doubt there was a deal on. That +confounded mysterious company will need a great amount of lumber, if +rumours are correct." + +As Dick uttered these words his father looked up. His interest had +been suddenly aroused, and for the first time he joined in the +conversation. + +"Did you say that Tim Parkin was at the Sign of the Maple?" he growled. + +"Yes, Dad," the young man replied. "He was looking bigger and more +prosperous than ever. He seemed mighty pleased over something." + +"Did you near what they were talking about?" + +"No, I couldn't make out anything as we were on the opposite side of +the room." + +"But you could see the girl, though. If your ears had been half as +good as your eyes you would have heard what was being said." + +"But any one can see much farther than he can hear," Dick protested. +"You surely don't expect the impossible from me, do you?" + +"I don't expect anything from you, sir," and Mr. Sinclair glared at his +son. "I have long since given up expecting. All you care for is to +have a good time riding around in the car, attending parties, and +looking for the prettiest girls. If you were as much interested in +business as you are in pleasure you would be of some use to me. But I +guess you'll have to get a hustle on mighty goon, though, from the look +of things. I won't be able to indulge you in your idleness much +longer." + +"Why, Dad, what do you mean?" Dick enquired. "You're not going to +throw me overboard, are you?" + +"Oh, no, I won't do it. But there are others who will, or I'm very +much mistaken." + +"Who--why?" the young man stammered. "I don't understand you, Dad." + +"I mean that new Light and Power Company which has been formed. That +is what will do it." + +"Oh, is that all?" and Dick breathed a sigh of relief. "You certainly +did give me a jolt. I thought you were speaking of something real. +But that company's all a hoax, isn't it? Tommy Flowers said it was +nothing but a scare to force you to cut your rates. The whole thing is +so mysterious, so people say, that they consider it a put up job to +force your hand. Why, the names of the men who form the company are +not even known." + +"H'm, that's all that people know about what is going on," Mr. Sinclair +retorted. "That company is no hoax, mark my word. It means business +of a most serious nature, and it is getting to work, too. Don't you +live in a fool's paradise, boy. If you do, there will be a rude +awakening, and sooner perhaps than you expect." + +"What, have you heard anything of late, Dad?" Dick asked. + +"Well, I have heard enough, and it is more than hear-say at that. A +strong company has been formed to utilise the water of Break Neck Falls +for light and power to supply not only the city but the entire country. +The scheme is a big one, almost gigantic, I should say. And there +seems to be plenty of money back of it, too. It is an English concern +which has recently opened an office in the city. + +"What is the purpose of such a company working here?" Dick questioned. +"One would naturally think that a city much larger than ours would +offer more inducements." + +Mr. Sinclair pushed back his chair from the table, and lighted a cigar. + +"That is one of the things which puzzles me," he at length replied. +"Why a company with large capital should build a big plant at the falls +to supply light and power in such a limited locality, is more than I +can understand. I cannot see how it will pay even if it gets full +control." + +"Who is in charge of the city office?" Dick asked. + +"A man by the name of Westcote. He is an Englishman, so I believe. He +seems to have full charge of everything. He must have been the man you +saw at the Sign of the Maple with Tim Parkin, for he has a daughter +with him, who recently came to the city." + +"But what has Spuds to do with the concern, and how did he come to meet +this man Westcote?" + +"He is evidently in his employ. But where he met him I do not know. +Perhaps Lois can tell us," and he glanced around upon his daughter. + +Lois suddenly started and looked keenly at her father as if she had not +heard aright. This was the first time that he had ever hinted at any +interest on her part in Jasper. A feeling of resentment welled up in +her heart. + +"Why should I know?" she enquired, "and what reason have you for asking +me such a question?" + +Mr. Sinclair, however, did not deign to make any explanation, but +puffed away at his cigar. Lois took this as a direct insult and +started to leave the table. She wished to get away by herself that she +might think it all over. + +"And where does old Crazy David come in?" her father asked. "What +interest has he in that concern?" + +"I have not the slightest idea," Lois impatiently replied. "Why do you +expect me to understand such things?" + +"But you should know. You see that old man every day, and are so +interested in his welfare. Surely he must have told you something, and +if he did not you should have tried to find out. Remember, you are my +daughter, and my interest should be your first concern. Both you and +Dick think that you have no responsibilities in life, and that I will +always provide for you. If we are not careful that new company will +put us out of business; so you two must do all you can to help me. +Something must be done to cheek that concern and I want you to assist +me. As it is, I am working in the dark and do not know what to expect +next, or who are the ones working against me. Is it old David who is +merely acting the part of a fool, or is it that young man who pretended +to be a hired hand, who worked awhile for Simon Squabbles? There is +something queer about the whole thing, and I am nearly crazy trying to +puzzle it all out." + +To these words Lois made no reply. She quietly left the table and made +her way out of the house and walked down to the shore. Here she felt +more at home, and the stillness which reigned over land and water +soothed her, bringing a restful peace to her heart and mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +PYRAMID ROCK + +A good home, plenty of well-cooked food, and proper attention did much +for old David. His strength, and health improved, and although he lost +nothing of his interest in the falls, he was quite content to listen +more to the sound drifting down the valley instead of visiting the +place as often as formerly. The spot he liked best of all was the cosy +corner on the verandah, just outside the window of his room. Here the +vines clambered up over the sides, forming a shelter from the burning +sun and a refuge from the wind when the days were cool. + +Jasper was a frequent visitor at the Haven, and he was not slow to +notice the change that had come over David. Hitherto the old man had +been content to listen to the voice of the falls and utter brief and +almost mystic words about what the water would do. But latterly he had +given greater vent to his thoughts and enlarged upon the plans he had +been revolving in his mind. + +It was a beautiful evening not long after Jasper had been at the Sign +of the Maple, that he was sitting with David and Betty in the +accustomed place. The captain had retired, and Mrs. Peterson was busy +in the kitchen. Jasper told of the progress that had been made at the +falls and how the engineers had finished their preliminary work, and +had declared the undertaking most feasible. The definite start of +building would not begin until the next spring, though in the meantime +necessary preparations would be made so that the work could be pushed +forward then as rapidly as possible. Logs would be needed for building +purposes, and many large poles suitable for carrying the wires to the +city and throughout the country. + +"I have been requested to undertake this work," Jasper told them, "and +so will be busy all the fall and winter. In a few weeks I hope to have +a number of men and teams at work in the woods. It will be a fine +thing for Creekdale as it will put so much money in circulation by +giving employment to all available men during the winter when as a rule +little is going on, so I understand." + +"Oh, won't that be nice," Betty exclaimed, while her eyes danced with +animation. "My brother will be able to earn money right at home. +Jimmy has been planning to go to the city next winter to earn some +money to help pay off the mortgage on our place. Mother doesn't want +him to go as he is only sixteen, but he thinks he should be earning +something." + +"You have some fine trees on your place, have you not?" Jasper asked in +reply. + +"Oh, yes, lots of them. You see, our farm is part of the old Dinsmore +Manor, and no logs have been cut on it for years as they have not been +worth much. My father said before he died that they would bring a lot +of money some day, and they would make us rich. That's why mother has +been holding on to the place and trying to pay off the mortgage. But +she finds it hard work. Jimmy works for the neighbours, but Steve and +Dora can't earn anything yet. I am helping all I can." + +"Those trees are very valuable now," Jasper remarked. + +"Have you seen them?" Betty asked, in surprise. + +"Yes, I have been all over the place, and there are acres of the finest +trees I have ever seen. We shall need many of them, that is, if your +mother will sell." + +"Won't that be great!" and the girl clapped her hands with delight. "I +know she will sell if she can get a fair price for them." + +"There should be no trouble about that, Betty. Logs are higher than +they have been for years, and those who own them are fortunate. The +company wants only the best and is willing to pay a good price, so I +believe. But there is something I would advise your mother to do." + +"What is that?" + +"Keep a sharp look-out upon those trees. The city Light and Power +Company, of which Mr. Sinclair is manager and principal owner, has land +right next to yours. Most of the best trees have been cut there for +poles, and it is only natural that envious eyes should be east upon +your mother's valuable property. Mr. Sinclair does quite a lumbering +business on his own account, so I understand." + +"Oh, do you think that Mr. Sinclair would do anything like that?" Betty +asked in surprise. + +"I trust not," was the reply. "Nevertheless, it is just as well to be +on guard in case something does happen. You might speak to your mother +about it when you see her." + +The next day David and Betty paid a visit to the falls. They had not +been there for over a week, which was a most unusual thing. It was a +beautiful afternoon, and a complete harmony seemed to reign everywhere. +David was in excellent spirits and he talked much about the wonderful +improvements which were to come to the country. He pointed out a +number of the stakes the engineers had driven into the ground, and +explained where the power house would be built. + +"A year from now," he told her, "there will be wires running to the +city and all through the country. The city people will have light for +their houses and power for their machinery at cheap rates. The farmers +will have electric lights right in their homes and barns; they will +have power to saw their wood, churn their butter, thresh and grind +their grain, besides doing so many other things. It will make a +wonderful change in the lives of all. Young people will not want to +leave the farms and go to the city. It will be a joy for them to +remain, and so much of the drudgery will be taken away." + +"Won't that be splendid!" Betty replied. "How did you ever think of +all those things? Why, the people didn't know you were thinking so +much about their welfare when you were living all alone, and when they +said you were crazy." + +"No, girl, they did not know," and the old man gazed thoughtfully off +into space. "They believed that I was a fool, and perhaps they had +reason for so thinking. You see, I was very poor and had no means of +carrying out my plans. It has always been the way, and why should I +have expected anything different from thousands of others who have +tried to help their fellow men? But now things have changed, and they +will soon learn that old David was not so crazy after all." + +They were seated upon the bank of the stream as they thus talked. On a +bough of a near-by tree a squirrel was scolding, and off in the +distance several crows were lifting up their raucous voices. Betty +picked up a stone and tossed it into the water below, and then watched +with interest as it fell with a splash. + +"I can throw farther than you, Mr. David," she bantered. "I can throw +a stone to that big rock over there." + +"I haven't thrown a stone in a long time, my child," was the reply. + +"Well, try it then," was the command. "Here is a nice smooth one." + +Rising to his feet, David took the stone and with a wide sweep of his +long arm hurled it far down the stream almost to the base of the rock. + +"You didn't do it," Betty shouted with delight. "I can beat that, see +if I can't." + +She half turned to pick up another stone when she suddenly paused as +her eyes rested upon a man coming toward them. It was Peter Sinclair, +and as he drew near and spoke to them, it seemed to Betty that the +atmosphere had changed, and the day was not as fine as it had been but +a few seconds before. She wanted to get away, for this man's presence +seemed to weigh upon her in an ominous manner. The reason why she +could not explain. + +"Having a nice time here, eh?" Mr. Sinclair remarked, as he sat down +upon the bank. "That walk has puffed me. Do you come up here often?" +he asked, turning toward Betty. + +"Whenever Mr. David takes the notion," was her reply. "I always come +with him, and we have such a pleasant time." + +"And do you always stop here and spend your time in throwing stones at +that rock? Are you not wasting your time?" + +"We might be doing worse, though," Betty replied, somewhat nettled at +the man's words. "We might be throwing stones at you or somebody else." + +"At me!" and Mr. Sinclair looked surprised. + +"Yes, at you. But perhaps it's safer to throw them at that rock over +there. It doesn't mind for it knows we're only in fun. It's a special +friend of mine, and that's why I like to be near it. You would never +believe that it saved half my father's farm several years ago." + +"What, that rock?" + +"It certainly did, and I shall never forget what it did for us." + +"Tell me about it," and Mr. Sinclair sat down upon the ground. The +mention of the Bean farm had suddenly aroused his interest, and made +him willing to listen to this country girl's story. + +"It was a long time ago," Betty began, "just after my father was +married. He had bought a piece of land off of the Dinsmore Manor, +about one hundred acres, I think it was. After he had paid for the +place there was some trouble about the line between him and the man who +had bought another piece of the manor next to him. They agreed to have +the line run over again. I don't understand all about it, but, anyway, +when the line was run it cut my father's place almost in two, and he +was afraid he was going to lose all that land where those fine logs are +now. It was a funny mistake, but it was soon settled." + +"What had that rock to do with it?" Mr. Sinclair enquired. + +"Oh," and the girl gave a slight laugh. "I forgot that part. You see, +the surveyor was to start running the line from the big pyramid rock on +this brook. It is called that because of its shape. Father happened +to be away from home the day the line was run and the surveyor started +from another rock farther down the brook, which looks something like +that one over there. Wasn't it funny? So you see that is why I am so +fond of that big rock and come here as often as I can to be near my +good friend." + +As Betty finished, a peculiar expression might have been detected in +Peter Sinclair's eyes, and for a few seconds he gazed steadily at the +rock before him. It seemed that the girl's story had greatly +interested him and started him off on a new line of thought. Just what +it was he kept to himself and with an apparent effort turned his +attention once more to Betty. + +"You will not come here as often, I suppose, when the company gets to +work," he remarked. "Things will be much changed along this brook, and +perhaps your old friend, the rock, may be disturbed." + +"You are right, sir," David replied, speaking for the first time. +"There will certainly be marvellous changes all over this country in a +year or two. You will hardly know the place then." + +"That is interesting. And can you tell me who will perform these +wonders of which you speak so confidently?" + +"The falls will do it," and David stretched out his right arm. "Light +and power will come from there to transform city and country. Living +will be made far more tolerable in both." + +"But who are the men back of all this?" Mr. Sinclair asked. He felt +sure now that he was on the verge of a new discovery. + +"I am the man," and David stood proudly erect. "It was my plan which +suggested the movement." + +"I know all that," and Mr. Sinclair rose impatiently to his feet. "But +where does the money come from? and, who are the men who form the +company? That is what I want to know." + +"That I cannot tell you, sir. And why should it matter? I am +concerned about the improvements and not where the money comes from." + +"H'm, that's a queer way to do business," was the disgusted reply. +"Well, I must be off up the brook. I've wasted too much time already. +Look out for your big rock, little girl, and see that no one disturbs +it." + +"Oh, I guess it'll stay there all right," Betty replied with a laugh. +"My friends never leave me." + +They stood and watched Mr. Sinclair until the tree hid him from view. + +"I don't like that man," and Betty stamped her small foot upon the +ground. "He makes me feel creepy all over just like I always do when I +see a snake or a rat. Let's go home." + +About an hour after they had left the place, Peter Sinclair drew near, +and stood looking at the big rock across the brook. Then he walked +along the bank until he came to the smaller rock of which Betty had +spoken. He next turned his eyes northward and pointed with the +forefinger of his right hand as if tracing an imaginary boundary line. +As he did so a smile of satisfaction lighted his face, and when he left +the brook and started homeward, his step was quicker and more elastic +than it had been for many a day. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE DISTURBING LETTER + +It took Jasper longer than he had expected to get everything ready for +his fall and winter lumbering operations. He found it hard to obtain +as many teams as he needed, and greater difficulty still to procure the +right kind of men. He offered good wages, but the choppers held out +for more. Although such matters had been left to Jasper, yet he did +not feel inclined to pay such wages as were demanded. At length, +however, he succeeded in rounding together a band of men upon whom he +felt he could depend, and he hoped in a few days to begin work upon the +building of the cabins for the men and the stables for the horses. + +Jasper often mused upon the peculiar situation in which he was placed. +Everything seemed to depend upon him. The engineers, having made their +surveys, had departed, leaving him in charge. The buying of the food +supplies devolved upon him, though the bills were sent to the city +office for payment. He had not seen Robert Westcote since the day he +had luncheon with him at the Sign of the Maple. He had merely received +specific information as to the various kinds of logs required, their +length and size, as well as the places where they were to be hauled +near the falls. + +During these busy days Jasper had seen nothing of Lois. He knew that +she visited the Haven regularly, and Betty always had a great deal to +tell him about her. But somehow he had missed meeting her, and every +time he left he felt disappointed, and made his way back to his lonely +cabin which seemed to become more lonely as the days passed. Sometimes +he would stand on the hill and look down upon the Sinclair house, +hoping that he might catch a glimpse of her who was so much in his +mind. He would scan the river, thinking he might see her out there. +At length a great longing came upon him to see her before he should go +into the woods. He knew that in a few weeks at the most she would be +leaving for the city with her father, and then all hope of meeting her +again for months would have to be abandoned. Somehow he could not bear +the thought of her going. As long as she was near he could work +better, and her presence in the place was like an inspiration. He felt +that she knew what he was doing, and took an interest in his welfare. +But in the city she would be far away, and taken up with so many +interests she would have no time to give any thought to him. + +All preparations had now been made for the lumbering operations and +work would begin on Monday morning. Saturday found Jasper with nothing +to do. He spent the forenoon in packing up his belongings to take with +him into the woods. They were very few, and one small grip would +contain his scanty library which he could not bear to leave behind. +The next time he went to the city he intended to purchase a number of +books upon which he had set his heart. He would have the long winter +evenings for reading in the little cabin he was to erect for his own +special use. + +About the middle of the afternoon he decided to pay a visit to the +Haven. He wished to see David and Betty before going away, and learn +how they were making out. But the hope that he might see Lois was the +real reason why he decided to go. Several times he had thought of +visiting her at her own home. But as he had never been there and had +received no invitation, he did not feel inclined to go where perhaps he +was not wanted, and where his presence might be looked upon as an +intrusion. He often upbraided himself for thinking about her at all. +What hope had he that she would ever deign to look upon him with +favour? What had he to offer her? He was poor, and he had no +guarantee that his employment with this mysterious company would be +permanent. In a few months he might again be seeking for work. + +But no matter what resolutions Jasper made he could not banish Lois +from his mind. It was she who several years before had unconsciously +inspired him to launch out into the world and make something of +himself. The thought of her had always urged him on when most +depressed and discouraged. In his darkest hours of gloom he had seen +her eyes filled with sympathy fixed upon him as on that day he had +first met her and had fled disgraced from her father's house. + +Such impressions were not easy to banish in an instant, and so as he +knocked at the door of the haven he fervently hoped that Lois might be +there. But as he entered David's room other interests engaged his +attention. Hitherto all had been peace there. The old man was +generally seated by the open window listening to the voice of his +beloved falls. But now there was a distinct atmosphere of excitement. +Mrs. Bean was there, and her face had a most worried expression. Betty +had been crying, but seeing Jasper she brushed away her tears and +sprang to her feet. + +"Oh, Mr. Jasper," she cried, "isn't it awful! Have you heard the news?" + +"What news?" Jasper asked in surprise, as he took a chair by David's +side. "I haven't heard anything of special importance." + +"It's about Mr. Sinclair, that's who it is. Just think, he wants to +take all of our logs!" + +"Take your logs!" + +"Yes, that's what he's going to do. Mother got a letter from him and +she has just read it to us. He says there is a mistake about the line +between his place and ours, and that all those fine logs belong to him. +He says he had a new line run last week and that the old line is wrong. +He warns mother not to touch or sell a log there, for if she does he +will sue her." + +Betty was excited, and her words rushed forth like a torrent. For a +few minutes Jasper could hardly believe that he had heard aright. + +"Do you mean to tell me," and he turned to Mrs. Bean, "that what your +daughter says is true? Surely there must be some serious mistake." + +"I'm afraid not," was the reply. "There is the letter, which you can +read for yourself." + +It took Jasper but a few seconds to scan the brief note, and when he +was through he sat staring at it as if he had not seen aright. Was it +possible, he asked himself, that Peter Sinclair was stooping to such a +contemptible piece of business? And to do it to a widow at that added +to his meanness. What justification did he have for doing such a +thing? he wondered. + +"Was there ever any dispute about the line?" Jasper asked. + +"None at all," Mrs. Bean replied. "A mistake was made years ago just +after we were married. The surveyor started from the wrong rock up the +brook, and the line then run cut off that part which Mr. Sinclair is +now claiming. But it was rectified just as soon as my husband came +home, and there has been no trouble since until now." + +"Did Mr. Sinclair notify you that he was going to have a new line run?" +Jasper enquired. + +"No, I knew nothing about what was taking place until I received that +letter." + +"I wonder what suggested such a thing to him?" Jasper mused as if to +himself. "There must have been something." + +"Why, I think I know." Betty exclaimed. "I do not believe he ever +thought about it until that day he was talking to Mr. David and me up +the brook. We were near Pyramid Rock, and I told him about the mistake +the surveyor had made years ago in running the line. He seemed to be +very much interested then. Maybe that was what started it. Just +think, it was all my fault. Oh, if I could only hold my tongue once in +a while how much good it would do." + +At that instant a knock sounded upon the door, and when Betty had +opened it Lois entered. She looked surprised when she saw the visitors +in the room, and at once noticed the worried expression upon Mrs. +Bean's face. + +"This must be your special afternoon for receiving company," she +remarked with a smile, as she took David's hand. "It isn't often you +have Mrs. Bean and Mr. Randall to see you on the same day, is it?" + +"Mr. Randall has been here before," was the reply, "but this is the +first time that Mrs. Bean has favoured me with a call. It was special +business which brought her here to-day." + +"You're not going to take Betty away from Mr. David, are you?" Lois +asked, turning to Mrs. Bean. + +"Oh, no; it is something far different from that. It is a very serious +matter, I assure you." + +"What, no one ill at home, I hope?" + +"No. The boys were well when I left." + +An awkward silence followed, and Lois felt that there was something of +a private nature which these people were discussing, and that she had +interrupted their conversation. + +Jasper, who had risen to his feet as Lois entered the room, divined the +thoughts which were passing through her mind, and came to her +assistance. + +"Let Miss Sinclair see the letter, Mrs. Bean," he suggested. "Perhaps +it will explain matters better than we can." + +Without a word Mrs. Bean complied with this request, and then leaned +back in her chair with a deep sigh. + +Much mystified, Lois ran her eyes over the letter, and as she did so +her face underwent a marvellous transformation. The sunny expression +departed and the colour faded from her cheeks, leaving them very white. +The words seemed to fascinate her, and for a while she stood staring +upon them. Then a tremor shook her body, and her right hand closed, +crushing the letter within it. With a strong effort she regained her +composure and turned toward the widow. + +"I cannot understand this," she began. "I had no idea that my father +would do such a thing. There must be some mistake. I shall go now and +think it all over. Will you come with me, Mr. Randall? I would like +to speak with you." + +Without another word the two left the house and walked slowly down the +lane leading to the road. Presently Lois stopped and turned to her +companion. + +"I am almost heartbroken over what my father has done," she began. "I +have stood by him, and have tried to shield him all I could, but what +is the use of doing so any longer?" + +"Could you not speak to him, and induce him to change his mind?" Jasper +asked. + +"I can do nothing. He has even turned against me. He believes that I +am his enemy, and that I know more about the affairs of the new company +than I am willing to tell him. He is becoming more unbearable every +day. Only last night he told me that I could leave him whenever I +wanted to as he could get along better without me. He said that he did +not want a traitor in his house. Oh, it is terrible! I cannot +understand what has come over him. He was always hard and +unsympathetic, but never like this." + +"And will you go?" Jasper enquired. + +"At first I thought I would. But after thinking it all over very +carefully I have decided to remain with him. He needs me now more than +ever. You have no idea what a helpless man he is. I shudder to think +what would become of him should I leave him at the present time." + +"But it might teach him a lesson if you should leave him for a while," +Jasper urged. "It is not right that your life should be made so +miserable." + +He was looking into her downcast face as he said this. Her hands were +clasped before her, and how he longed to seize them in his, and tell +her all that was in his heart; how he would look after her and bestow +upon her that love which her father denied her. + +"I must not forsake him," was her low reply. "He is my father, and I +must remain by his side. I promised my mother that I would. We shall +leave for the city next week, and I dread the thought of going." + +"But you will be able to forget much of your trouble there, will you +not? Your social life will be so different, and----" + +"Don't speak of such a thing," she interrupted. "You little realise +how I despise so many of the social gatherings held there. What do +they amount to? What good do they do? I enjoy amusements, but I think +people should not make them the sole object in life. But that seems to +me to be just what so many do. I want to be of some use in the world, +and I believe the best way to be happy is to help others." + +They were walking slowly along as Lois uttered these words. She spoke +deliberately as if she had considered them carefully, and was not +speaking under the influence of the moment. + +"You are right, Miss Sinclair," Jasper replied. "I, too, have come to +realise that he who thinks only of self finds unhappiness, while he who +forgets self in seeking to help and uplift others will find the +greatest joy." + +The tone of certainty in his voice caused Lois to glance up into his +face. She liked his words, especially as she felt they were real. + +"And you were not always like that?" Lois asked. + +"Oh, no. Only recently have I come to view things in a different +light." + +"What caused the change?" + +"It was old David." + +"Old David! I am surprised to hear you say that. I had no idea that +he was able to influence any one except Betty Bean." + +"He has influenced me as well, though it was all done unconsciously. I +have been watching him closely for some time, and ever since I have +known him he has been so happy. Even when he had not a cent and was +sold to the lowest bidder, he did not lose heart. And why? Because he +was thinking of others, and what his plans would do for the people both +in the city and in the country. He was willing to endure poverty and +taunts that those around him might be benefited. He was misunderstood, +but it made little or no difference to him. He was happy in the +thought that he was going to do good. To me he is a wonder, and I +believe I can do no better than endeavour to follow his example and +think less of myself. When I entered into the employ of this new +company I did it merely for the money I was to get out of it, and a +certain spirit of curiosity as to the outcome. Now, however, I am +working with a far higher motive. I begin to see what a benefit this +undertaking will be to the entire community and a blessing to so many, +even though at present they may not realise it." + +They had reached the gate leading to the Sinclair house by the time +Jasper had finished. The colour had returned to Lois' cheeks, and her +eyes were now filled with animation. + +"Oh, I am so glad to hear you speak as you do," she replied. "It +strengthens my own convictions to hear you express yourself that way, +and I feel that I shall bear my part more bravely in the city than +otherwise I would have done." + +Jasper's pulse beat quicker at these words. So she would think of him, +then, in the midst of her active city life. There was a great comfort +to him in the thought. + +"You will return next summer, I suppose," he remarked. "We shall miss +you very much in the meantime." + +"I hope to do so, and it will be something to look forward to. But you +will surely come to see us when you visit the city. I shall be so +anxious to hear all the news from Creekdale." + +"Nothing would give me greater pleasure," Jasper replied. "But I do +not expect to leave the woods before spring. Even if business should +take me to the city, I should not feel like making a social call. I +should frighten you and your friends who might happen to be with you by +my rough clothes and hard hands. Oh, no, it would not be proper, so I +had better stay away." + +Lois was not slow in detecting the note of bitterness an his voice as +he uttered these words. She was aggrieved that he should think that +his rough appearance would make any difference to her. And yet she +understood his feelings. His sensitiveness would make him most +unwilling to go to a place where he would be looked upon with ridicule, +and at the same time embarrass the ones he happened to visit. + +"You need not worry about your appearance when you visit me, Mr. +Randall," and her eyes met his as she spoke. "I shall think all the +more of you if your hands are rough and your face weather-beaten. I +shall never be ashamed of the marks of honest toil. I must go now, but +I shall expect to see you before spring." + +To Jasper that was one of the happiest times of his whole life. He +believed that she was interested in him, while the look in her eyes and +the words she uttered were to him an inspiration during the following +days and weeks of weary work in the woods. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SUBTLE INFLUENCE + +Although Lois preferred to remain in the country, yet she did not waste +her days in repining over her life in the city. She at once looked +about for opportunities of usefulness. These she found in St. +Saviour's, the church she attended. Her musical abilities made her a +welcomed member of the choir. But she was not satisfied with merely +singing. She wished to do more, and she soon found an outlet in +assisting the unfortunate ones in the parish. It was through "The +Helping Hand Society" that she found she could do the most effective +work, and she never tired of going from house to house where her +services were most needed. + +Dick often upbraided her for giving so much of her time to Church work, +and said that she should go with him to dances and whist parties. + +"I have no interest in such things," she told him over and over again. +"There is too much to be done around us in helping others, to spend all +of one's time upon such gaieties." + +"But think what people are saying," her brother protested. "They call +you unsociable and stuck-up, and it is hard for me to listen to such +things." + +Lois laughed at Dick's fears and told him not to worry. She said that +she was quite able to look after herself, and did not mind what people +were saying so long as she was doing what was right. + +When Christmas season came around Lois found herself more busy than +ever. There were so many baskets to be provided for the needy, and +this year they were going to send a number to poor families out in the +country districts. It was just when she was in the midst of this work +that Dick asked her to attend a dance with him on Thursday night. + +"If you don't go this time I shall never ask you again," he told her. +"It's to be at Mrs. Dingle's, and you know how cut up she will feel if +you refuse her. Sammie, too, is expecting you, and he will never visit +us again if you do not go." + +"But how am I to leave my work, Dick?" Lois questioned. "We are so +busy every night packing the boxes, which we must get off as soon as +possible. I am more interested in them than I am in what Mrs. Dingle +and Sammie might think. They surely know by this time that I do not +care for them." + +"Well, come for my sake, then," Dick pleaded. + +"That is a better reason why I should go," and Lois smiled upon her +brother. + +"And you will go?" Dick was all eagerness now. "There's to be a jolly +crowd there. Sammie told me that he has invited a crack-a-jack of an +artist he met at the club. He is an English chap and has been out here +only a short time. He puts out some great stuff in the way of +pictures, so I understand. Then, that Westcote girl is to be there. +My, I'm anxious to meet her. She is worth while if what I hear about +her is true." + +The mention of the Westcote girl gave Lois more interest in the dance +than she had hitherto taken. She did want to see her as well as Dick, +for she had often thought about her since she had heard that Jasper had +luncheon with her and her father at the Sign of the Maple. It was +unusual for her to take an interest in a stranger. But this was +different, and so she decided to accompany her brother. + +Mrs. Dingle was delighted to have Lois at her party, principally on her +son's account. She had chosen her for Sammie from all the eligible +girls she knew, and the idea that Lois might object to becoming Mrs. +Sammie Dingle never once entered her mind. There were financial +reasons as well, for was not Peter Sinclair manager and chief owner of +the City Light and Power Company? + +Lois had not been long in the room, ere she felt herself affected by +some unknown influence. She could not account for this feeling as she +had never experienced, anything like it before. Even when on the floor +in the midst of a dreamy waltz, a sense of dread almost overwhelmed +her. A weight seemed suddenly to press upon her heart, as if some +terrible disaster were near. Hers was not a mind to be easily +disturbed by such things, and she was not naturally of a superstitious +nature. She tried to shake off the feeling, but all in vain. What was +the cause of it? she asked herself over and over again. + +That waltz was the longest she had ever experienced; and most thankful +was she when Sammie at last led her off the floor. As she was about to +sit down she happened to glance to her right, and as she did so her +eyes met those of a man standing not far away. Intuitively she +realised that there was the source of her strange agitation. It was +only for an instant that their eyes met, but it was long enough for +Lois to realise that some subtle influence had come upon her which +would affect her whole life. + +With as much composure as possible she resumed her seat. She longed to +be alone that she might think it all over, and endeavour to cast off +the spell which was depressing her. She tried to reason it out, but +her thoughts were interrupted by Mrs. Dingle who stood suddenly before +her. + +"Lois, dear," she heard her say, "I want you to meet my famous guest, +Mr. Sydney Bramshaw, the noted English artist, who has favoured us with +his presence to-night. I have been waiting this opportunity ever since +you arrived, but could not get you and Sammie separated long enough to +do so until now." + +These closing words annoyed Lois and she longed more than ever to leave +the room, especially so when Bramshaw sat down by her side and began to +talk to her in a familiar manner. + +"I wanted to meet you as soon as I saw you enter the room," he told +her, "and I almost despaired of obtaining an opportunity." + +"Why should you be so anxious to meet me?" Lois replied. "I am sure +that I have done nothing to merit your special attention." + +"Oh, but you are so decidedly superior to the rest, don't you know. I +am somewhat gifted with a discerning mind, and am able at a glance to +tell the gold from the dross." + +If Bramshaw imagined that his companion was susceptible to such +flattery he was greatly mistaken. His words disgusted Lois, and yet +she must remember that he was Mrs. Dingle's guest and that she must be +agreeable as far as it was possible. + +"You are an artist, so I understand," she replied. + +"Yes, in a way. I am fond of observing the beautiful in the common +things of Nature, and placing them upon canvas. So many go through +life with their eyes shut. They have eyes but do not see. With me it +is different, and because of my ability to see and depict the real +things of life, I have received considerable recognition." + +"That must give you satisfaction," Lois murmured. + +She tried to seem interested, but it was a difficult undertaking. + +"It does in a way," and Bramshaw assumed an air of careless +indifference. He was a little man, and his effort made him seem +ridiculous. "But, it is so seldom that one meets with kindred spirits, +don't you know. There are so few who are able to discuss the finer +points of art. I would not mind in the least enlightening those around +me, but they, as a rule, are so unwilling to listen. With you, +however, it is different. You have a trained mind, and that makes such +a vast difference." + +Lois was about to make some half-hearted reply, when her eyes rested +upon the face of a girl on the opposite side of the room. It was the +most beautiful and perfect face she had ever seen, and she wondered who +she was and where she had come from. She tried to listen to what +Bramshaw was saying and at the same time watch the girl before her. +She was talking to Dick, and she noted the animated expression upon her +face as she smiled at something he was saying. It must have been about +her for she suddenly turned and their eyes met. For an instant only +the girl hesitated, and then with a graceful movement swept swiftly +across the room and stood before Lois. + +"Pardon me," she began, as she took Lois' hand, "I could not help +coming to you as soon as I saw you. Your brother was telling me what a +hard time he had to get you away from your Church work to come to the +party. When I heard that I wanted to meet you at once. I am Margaret +Westcote, and have been in this country but a short time, and +everything is so new and interesting to me." + +"Ducedly tame, I call it," Bramshaw interposed before Lois had time to +say a word. "I can't for the life of me see what you find congenial in +a land like this, Miss Westcote." + +"It all depends upon what you call tame, Mr. Bramshaw," was the +somewhat sarcastic reply. "If you spend your time thinking only about +yourself it is no wonder you are bored. I haven't heard of your doing +anything worth while since you came to this city." + +"Come, come, Miss Westcote," Bramshaw protested, as he stroked his +silky moustache with the soft white fingers of his right hand. +"Artists, you should realise, are generally misunderstood. You cannot +judge us according to ordinary standards. We are often most intensely +busy when we seem to be inactive. Our apparent idleness is the time +when valuable impressions are being imbibed to be produced later in +masterpieces for the benefit and admiration of the whole world. It is +utterly impossible for ordinary minds to grasp this, but it is true, +nevertheless." + +"I beg your pardon, Mr. Bramshaw," and the girl made him a slight +graceful bow, "I really forgot that you are an artist. Appearances are +so deceptive, you know. I shall leave you now to carry on your +imbibing process. Perhaps Miss Sinclair will come with me, so that you +can have the imbibing time all to yourself. It would be a pity to +spoil your great masterpiece." + +Lois was surprised at Miss Westcote's sarcasm, and, she fully expected +that Bramshaw would be angry. But he did not appear to mind in the +least. On the contrary, he smiled all the time she was speaking, as if +her words greatly amused him. Lois was glad of any excuse to leave +this man whose very presence depressed her in a remarkable manner. +When at last alone with Miss Westcote in an adjoining room, she sank +into a comfortable chair in a cosy corner. Her face was unusually +pale, and this her companion at once noted. + +"You are tired," she sympathetically remarked, taking a seat by her +side. "You seem to be greatly upset." + +"It is that man," Lois replied with considerable emphasis. "I never +had any one to affect me as he does. I cannot understand it. I am not +superstitious, and I have always prided myself upon my self-confidence, +but I cannot account for the feeling that has come over me to-night." + +"Oh, that man would upset almost any one," Miss Westcote replied. "I +can not endure him." + +"You do not evidently mind speaking plainly to him," Lois remarked. + +"Certainly not. When I take a dislike to any person I generally say +just what I think, especially to such a cad as that." + +"You know something about him, then?" + +"All I want to. He has been trying to get my father to give him the +position of looking after an old man up the river. Mr. Randall has +been doing it, and Bramshaw wants to have him discharged so he can get +the job. Just think of that." + +"Why should he wish to do that?" Lois asked in great surprise. "If he +is an artist why should he want to take care of old David?" + +"So you know the old man?" Miss Westcote enquired. + +"Oh, yes. And I know Mr. Randall, too. He is so good to old David." + +"I know he would be. I met him once at the Sign of the Maple with my +father, and he seemed to be so different from most men. He was so +manly and had such a strong face. I liked him as soon as I saw him." + +"He deserves great credit, Miss Westcote. He is a self-made man, and +his life has been a hard one. He has had to struggle against many +obstacles. But he will win and make a name for himself, I feel quite +sure." + +It was impossible for these two to be long alone in such a quiet spot. +Just when the conversation was becoming interesting, they were sought +for by their partners for the next dance, and reluctantly they were +forced to forego the many things they wished to say to each other. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE "CUT-OFF" + +The meeting with Margaret Westcote was a great event in Lois' life. +Hitherto, her lot had been somewhat of a lonely one, with no special +girl friend to share her confidences. Her interests had always been so +different from others that she was not looked upon by any as a boon +companion. She often reasoned with them and asked why they should make +selfish pleasure the principal motive of living when they could have +more enjoyment by putting self last and others first. + +With Margaret Westcote, however, it was different. She was after Lois' +own heart, and the two were as one in their interests. Each supplied +what the other lacked; one her vivaciousness, and the other her +calmness of mind. Their friendship was not a growth but a fusing at +the first meeting. They were now very much together, and Margaret took +a keen interest in the work of getting the Christmas supplies ready for +needy families. + +Dick was delighted that this beautiful girl was so much at the house, +and for the first time in his life he found Church work most +interesting. He was always ready to help, but was generally in the +way. It was quite evident that he was greatly in love with Margaret, +though she on her part treated him as a mere boy and not as a lover. +He could not seem to realise that she was an excellent judge of +character, and preferred men who did things instead of spending their +time in idleness. Lois understood the girl's feelings, and the truth +began to dawn upon her that Jasper Randall was Margaret's ideal type of +a man. One who could battle and overcome was the man who appealed to +her. Whenever Jasper's name was mentioned Margaret's eyes would +sparkle with animation, and she never tired of talking about him and +the struggle he had made in life. + +The week before Christmas Lois became more enthusiastic than ever with +the work of getting the boxes ready to be sent to the various families. +She longed to interest her father, and one morning before he left for +his office she asked him if he would not do something for the families +of the men who were working for him in the woods on the old Dinsmore +Manor. She had never spoken to him about the letter he had written to +Mrs. Bean, feeling sure that it would be of no avail. But she had +learned through a letter from Betty that the choppers had not yet +crossed the line, and for this Lois was thankful. Perhaps he did not +intend to take the logs, she reasoned, but had written the letter +during one of his cranky moods, with no intention of putting his threat +into practice. + +"Why should we send anything to country families?" her father asked +her. "They earn good money, and why should we help them?" + +"But there are some very poor families," Lois replied, "and I know they +can hardly make a living. There is Mrs. Bean, for instance. She +hasn't the bare necessities of life at times, and a present this +Christmas would be a blessing to her." + +"I can't help that," Mr. Sinclair angrily retorted. "It's none of my +business if she is poor. Where would we be, I'd like to know, if we +handed out to such people? Why, there are thousands of them." + +It was in no happy frame of mind that Mr. Sinclair left the house and +made his way down town. Reaching his office, he seated himself before +his desk and spread out a somewhat soiled piece of paper. Over this he +ran his finger until it stopped at a certain mark. "Camp Number One," +he muttered. "Ha, ha! good timber there, and close to the line, too. +Camp Number Two--much nearer the line," and his finger moved over the +paper to another mark. "Camp Number Three, and over the border into +the enemy's country, ha, ha! Good for five thousand. Pine timber, +straight and clean as masts, and thick as hair on a dog's back. How +they'll squirm, those country clogs, when they see their good logs +floating down the river. But they're mine. The new line is right, for +the best surveyor in the Province ran it. Fifty rods inside the old +one, ha, ha! I expect they'll make a fuss and put up a big kick. But +I'll fight them, and then we'll see what money will do." + +A knock sounded upon the door, and three men entered with hats in their +hands. + +"Mr. Sinclair, I believe," the spokesman began. + +"Yes, that's my name, and what can I do for you?" the lumberman replied. + +"Well, you see," continued the other, "we've come to the city on +purpose to have a talk with you about that line you had run between +your land and ours." + +"Well, and what about it?" snapped Sinclair. + +"We've been appointed a committee to inform you that your men are +cutting logs over the line, and are encroaching on the shore lots. +They began day before yesterday." + +"What, the men of Camp Number Three?" + +"Yes." + +"But that timber is mine," Sinclair replied. "I sent a surveyor there +last summer and he found that the old line was wrong. A new one was +run which gives me fifty rods off the rear of your shore lots." + +"There must be some mistake, Mr. Sinclair," the countryman calmly +returned. "Our forefathers received their lands as grants from the +Crown after the Revolutionary War. A line was then run which separated +the shore lots from that portion of land known as the 'Dinsmore Manor,' +and there has been no dispute over it until now." + +"Look here!" and Sinclair sprang to his feet. "I know my business and +attend to it. You attend to yours. The new line is right and, by +heavens, I'll stick to it!" + +"We are attending to our business," the countryman replied, "and we'll +show you, wealthy though you are, that you can't work any bluff game on +us. But," and here he lowered his voice, "Mr. Sinclair, we don't want +to quarrel. We came chiefly to tell you that your men in Camp Number +Three are cutting the logs on the farm of a poor widow with several +children. If you are a man of any heart you will see that the work is +stopped at once." + +"What, cease for a widow and her brood? Never! There is the Poor +House--let her go there; and the Orphanage is the place for the kids if +they are not old enough to work. Such people only injure a settlement, +and you should be glad to be rid of them. So, gentlemen, as I have +much business on hand, I wish to be alone." + +"And you will do nothing to help that poor woman?" the three men asked +as one. + +"No, nothing. Do your best. If you wish to lose your farms, go ahead. +Good day." + +Christmas came on Thursday, and on Tuesday morning Mr. Sinclair +informed Lois that he was going away and would not be back until the +end of the week. It was during breakfast that he told her this, and +Lois paused in the act of pouring his coffee. + +"And you'll not be here for Christmas?" she asked in surprise. + +"No. Christmas means nothing to me. I intend to visit my camps. I +should have gone before, as no doubt the men are loafing. I am going +to surprise them. They'll never expect to see me at this season of the +year. The men'll want to take three days off, and I can't allow it. +They always come back unfitted for work after their celebrations. +They'll do nothing of the kind this year if they expect to work for me." + +Lois knew only too well how useless it was to try to reason with her +father when he had once made up his mind. She had learned from bitter +experience in the past that the less she said the better it would be. +Nevertheless, her heart was very sad at the change that had come over +her father. Never before had he gone away fit Christmas time, and it +was the one day in the year when he was more pleasant than usual. What +would be the outcome of it all? she wondered. + +That very morning as soon as breakfast was over Mr. Sinclair left for +the scenes of his lumbering operations, about fifty miles from the +city. He travelled with a horse and sleigh, and on the second day he +reached Camp Number Two shortly after the men had finished their +mid-day meal and were starting back to their work. No sooner had +Sinclair entered the cabin than his eyes fell upon a man lying in one +of the bunks. + +"Hello, Stevens," he called to the foreman, "who is this taking life so +easy, when the rest of us are struggling for our daily bread?" + +"Oh, that is Robins, one of our best men," was the reply. "He took +sick this morning, and I would have sent him to the shore at once only +to-morrow will be Christmas Day and I thought he could wait until +to-night when the teams will be going out, and----" + +"Going out! Going out, are they?" Sinclair interrupted. "And who gave +orders to quit on Christmas Day, I'd like to know?" + +"We always quit on that day, sir," Stevens stammered. "It's been the +custom for years, and I took it for granted----" + +"Yes, that's just the trouble. You take too many things for granted. +But I tell you this, Christmas is all nonsense. It breaks up the work, +and the hauling season is none too long at the best. I'll have none of +it. You'll work or quit, and that's the end of it." + +"But what about Robins?" questioned the foreman, whose thoughts were +travelling away to a little group of bright faces anxiously awaiting +his home-coming for a jolly Christmas. + +"Isn't there any spare team?" Sinclair asked. + +"None to spare, sir. We've only the bob-sleds, and they're not much +for a sick man to ride on. But," he added after a pause, "we were +going to fix up something to-night, sir." + +"Confound it all!" Sinclair exclaimed. "What are we going to do? I +can't afford to let a double team go, and besides, it would mean a loss +of two days. Let me see. How far is it to Camp Number Three?" + +"Three miles if you go by way of the cut-off, but four if you go +around. The cut-off hasn't been used much by the teams this winter, +and it is little more than a foot-path." + +"How far is it to the cut-off?" Sinclair asked. + +"About two miles." + +"Well, look here, Stevens. You drive me to that cut-off, and then get +some one to take that sick fellow out with my rig. I'll walk the rest +of the way to the camp, and stay there till you come for me." + +When the cut-off had been reached, Sinclair started off on a brisk walk +in the keen frosty air. He even felt quite young and cheerful as he +moved forward. But the trail was rough, and his coat was very heavy, +so after walking for some time he began to feel weary. + +"This is a long trail," he muttered. "Confound that sick man! What +business had he getting laid up and causing all this trouble." + +Hardly had the words left his mouth before his foot struck the stump of +a small tree, and with a cry of pain he sank upon the snow. Recovering +himself he tried to walk, but so great was the agony when his right +foot touched the trail that he groaned aloud. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +CHRISTMAS EVE + +Peter Sinclair was now in a serious predicament. Fortune had favoured +him so long that to be thus blocked by a mean little stump was too much +for his excitable nature. He raged and railed against everything and +everybody in general. But the tall stately trees were silent witnesses +to his passionate outbursts, and poor sympathisers. When sober +thoughts at length came to him, he began to realise the seriousness of +his position. Out of hearing of the camp, on a trail seldom travelled; +a sprained ankle; the short December day closing down, and the unknown +terrors of the lone forest. The perspiration stood out in beads upon +his forehead as he viewed the situation. + +At last he started to limp along the trail, but at every step he +staggered into the snow and fell heavily forward. He tried to crawl, +but so slow was his progress and so weary did he become that this was +soon abandoned. And there he lay, thinking as he had never thought +before. His business was forgotten, and several times he remembered +the sick man lying in the bunk at Camp Number Two. And all this time +the sun sank lower to rest, and long shadows stole among the great +trees like fearful monsters creeping upon him. He became cold, too, +and his body shivered, while his teeth chattered incessantly. + +When it seemed to him that he had lain there on the snow for hours, he +heard a noise, and looking along the trail he saw a little red dog +bounding straight toward him. How often had he spurned just such a cur +with his foot, on the city streets, but never did any creature seem so +good to Sinclair as did that lean canine specimen before him. + +"Good doggie," he called. "Come here, doggie." + +But the animal remained at a safe distance, barking furiously, at the +same time casting glances back along the trail as if expecting some one +from that quarter. Soon a sturdy figure appeared in sight with a +rabbit over his shoulder. He stopped in amazement at the scene before +him, unable to comprehend its meaning. + +"Come here, sonny," Sinclair called out, fearing the boy would take +fright and disappear. + +But the lad stood perfectly still as if turned to stone. + +"For heaven's sake!" Sinclair continued, "come and help a poor stricken +man who can't walk." + +At this appeal the boy drew nearer, and seeing that it was only a man +lying in the snow, the startled expression faded from his face. + +"What's the matter, and watcher want?" he asked. + +"I've sprained my ankle and can't walk," was the reply. "Is there any +house near? Can't you bring some one to help me?" + +At this the lad became electrified into new life. His senses returned, +and he grasped the situation in an instant. + +"Gee whiz!" he exclaimed. "Mighty lucky I came to my rabbit snares +to-night instead of t'morrer. Y'see, that's Christmas Day, and we +don't do no work then." + +"Lucky for me you came to-night, my boy," Sinclair replied, and then he +remembered how he had denounced the day but a short time before. "But +I can't stay in this place all night. Can't you get somebody to help +me?" + +"Y'bet," the boy responded. "Buck and Bright'll help y'outer this fix. +Jes' wait a minute." + +At this he hurried away, and although he was gone not much over half an +hour it seemed to Sinclair like an age before "Haw, Buck! G'up, +Bright! Git up thar!" sounded upon his ears. + +Presently he beheld the forms of two panting steers, plunging and +wallowing through the snow, each crowding the other in an endeavour to +maintain the firm footing on the narrow trail. When they caught sight +of the dark object lying before them, they stopped, sniffed the air, +and bolted to the right. But the boy with considerable skill, the +result of long practice, wheeled them about, and after much shouting +and exertion headed them homeward. + +"Hi, thar!" he called to the prostrate man. "Kin ye manage t'git to +th' sled? These steers is mighty scart, and I must stan' by an' hold +'em." + +With a great effort Sinclair began to crawl slowly along the trail, and +when about exhausted reached the sled. + +"Hol' on now," the boy ordered, as he cracked his whip and the steers +started forward. It was a rough trip, over knolls, striking stumps +here and there, and squeezing between trees, when the sled had to be +freed by much twisting and manoeuvring; but Sinclair thought it the +best ride he had ever taken. + +"Mother's lookin' fer y'," remarked the lad, when they had finally +gained the good road. "She's got the best sofy out, an' was warmin' +things up when I left." + +Sinclair made no reply. He was cold, stiff, and too much exhausted to +enter into conversation. Not until he was stretched out on the big +cosy sofa in front of the cheerful fire, after his sprained ankle had +been bathed and well rubbed, did he become talkative. + +"My good woman," he began, "how can I ever repay you for your great +kindness?" + +"Oh, that's nothing," she returned with a cheerful smile. "I'm so glad +Stephen went to his snares to-night. It's Christmas Eve, you see, and +though I'm sorry you're hurt, yet it's nice to have some one with me +and the children. It's very lonely here sometimes, and," she added +after a pause, "he was here last Christmas. But," she quickly +continued, afraid she had said too much to a stranger, "I hope you feel +more comfortable now, sir." + +"Oh, yes," Sinclair replied. "My foot is quite easy: But would you +mind making me a cup of hot tea? I feel so chilly, and the tea will do +me a world of good. It always helps me." + +As he uttered these words a change passed over the woman's face, which +Sinclair was not slow to observe. + +"Never mind," he hastened to remark. "I don't wish to trouble you." + +"Dear me, sir, it's not that," the woman replied, somewhat confused, as +she sat down upon a splint-bottom chair, and plucked at her apron. +"It's not the trouble I mind; it's something else. You see, it's +this," she continued, while a flush passed over her care-worn face. +"He left us last February, after one month's illness, and what with the +doctor's bills and funeral expenses it was hard scraping. We tried our +best to get along, and ploughed and sowed last spring. But it was a +bad year for us. The frost destroyed our buckwheat and potatoes when +they were just in blossom; a fine cow died, and the foxes killed our +geese and turkeys. But we had our logs, and we always felt that we +could fall back on them if the worst came. Then just as we had made up +our minds to sell a strip to that new Light and Power Company another +blow fell." + +"What was that?" Sinclair quickly asked, as a new light dawned upon his +mind. + +"It was a letter, sir, that I received from Mr. Sinclair, the manager +of the city Light and Power Company, and who does a big lumbering +business besides. He told me that a new line had been run by a +surveyor between the shore lots and the old Dinsmore Manor, and that +all of those logs which I had hoped to sell belong to him. He warned +me not to sell or cut one, as he would prosecute me at once if I did. +His men have already begun work, and I am helpless to stop them. It is +no use for me to go to law as I have no money, and it takes money to +fight a man like that. Would you like to see the letter, sir?" + +"No, no," Sinclair hastily replied. "That man is a dev----. Excuse +me, madam, but I mean he is a hard man." + +"Well, you see," the woman continued, "things got so bad that we had to +give up every little luxury, and the few dollars we could make from +eggs and butter went for flour, clothing and taxes. Tea we found too +expensive, and it was given up. That is the reason why I can't give +you any to-night, sir. And the poor children are so disappointed. +Never before were they without presents at Christmas time. But this +year----" Here the woman stopped and put her apron to her face. It +was for only an instant, however, for quickly removing it she +continued: "But gracious me! here I've been bothering you with my long +tale of woe, when you, poor man, have troubles enough of your own. I +have some fresh bread, butter, milk and preserves, which you shall have +at once," and the little woman bustled away, leaving Sinclair alone +with his thoughts. + +"Isn't it about time the mailman was along?" the mother asked that +evening, after the chores had been done, and the children were sitting +quietly in the room for fear of waking the stranger who had fallen +asleep upon the sofa. + +"I believe I hear his bells now!" Stephen cried, as he rushed to the +door. Presently he came running back, his face aglow with excitement. +"A bundle, Mother!" he shouted. "A big bundle! Come and help me." + +The confusion thus made awakened Sinclair, who opened his eyes just in +time to see a good-sized bundle carried into the room, securely bound +with stout cords. + +"There must be some mistake," exclaimed the surprised woman to the +mailman who had entered. + +"No, mum," he replied. "It's yours all right. I found it at the shore +where a freightin' team left it. I don't generally carry such things. +But says I to myself, 'That's fer Widder Bean, and she's goin' to have +it to-night if Tim Harking knows anything.' So thar 'tis. I must be +off now. A merry Christmas to ye all," and with that the big-hearted +man hurried away. + +"Dear me!" cried Mrs. Bean. "What can it be, and who could have sent +it?" + +"Let's open it, mother," Steve suggested. "Mebbe we'll find out then." + +Together they all set to work, and after much tugging and labour the +knots were loosened and the bundle fell apart. + +Then what a sight met their eyes. Clothes of various sizes and quality +were neatly piled together; complete suits for the boys; dresses for +Betty and Dora, and another for their mother, besides a good supply of +underwear for the whole family. + +"Well, bless my heart!" Mrs. Bean exclaimed. "Who in the world has +done this? There must be some mis----" + +"A doll!" shrieked Dora. + +"A knife!" yelled Stephen, as he seized the precious treasure, felt its +keen edge and examined the handle. + +Then a paper fluttered out of the bundle and fell on the floor at Mrs. +Bean's feet. As she picked it up and read the contents, a light broke +over her puzzled face, and her hand trembled. + +"What's the matter, Mother?" Jimmy asked, noting her agitation. + +"Nothing, my boy," she replied. "Only I'm so overcome at the good Lord +giving us such kind friends on this Christmas Eve. This is such a +lovely letter from Miss Sinclair, and she says that all these things +are from the Helping Hand Society of St. Saviour's Church. Isn't it +good of them?" + +A groan from the sofa startled her. + +"Is your ankle worse, sir?" she enquired, going to the side of the +afflicted man. + +"Y-y-es," Sinclair replied; "but I feel better now. I didn't mean to +disturb you." + +"And look here!" Stephen cried, who had at length reached the bottom of +the bundle. "Well, I declare! Two packages of Red Rose tea! Hurrah! +Now we kin have some fer Christmas." + +"And you, poor man," she said turning to Sinclair, "shall have a good +strong cup just as soon as I can make it. It seems to me I must be +dreaming," and the excited woman bustled off to the kitchen. + +"Fool! fool!" Sinclair mused to himself as he sipped the delicious +beverage. "I thought such gifts went only to rogues and lazy rascals. +I was wrong. And yet, some of that tea has reached one of the biggest +fools and rogues in the whole country, and that is Peter Sinclair." + +"And now, children," said Mrs. Bean, when the excitement of the evening +had somewhat subsided, "it's getting late. Let's have a Christmas +hymn, and then Dora must go to bed. You don't mind, sir, I hope. We +always sing several hymns on Christmas eve, and last year he was here +to start them, for he had a good voice." + +"Oh, no," Sinclair replied. "I don't mind, so go ahead." + +The mother started and all joined in; and as the words of "Hark the +Herald Angels Sing" floated forth, old memories came drifting into the +mind of the silent listener on the sofa. He forgot for a time his +surroundings and saw only the little parish church, of his boyhood +days, decked with fresh bright evergreens, and heard the choir singing +the familiar carols. Several faces stood forth in clear relief; his +parents', honest and careworn; his rector's, transfigured with a holy +light; and one, fresh and fair, encircled by a wreath of light-brown +tresses. + +He came to himself with a start, thinking the choir was singing "Glory +to the New-Born King," when it was only the little group at his side +finishing their hymn. Tears were stealing down his cheeks, which he +quickly brushed away, lest his emotion should be observed. + +That night, when the house was quiet, Sinclair drew forth a small +note-book and wrote a few lines to the foreman of Camp Number Three. +"Send word to the other camps as quickly as possible, and tell the men +they need not come back till next Monday." He then brought forth a +thin book and made out a cheque for no small amount, payable to Mrs. +Bean on account. + +Little did Peter Sinclair realise that the letter written to the +foreman would never reach its destination, and that months would pass +before the cheque would be presented for payment. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE NIGHT SUMMONS + +All through the fall and winter Jasper had been very busy. The +planning of the work, the overseeing of the men and ordering the +supplies rested upon him alone. He felt the responsibility, and he was +determined that as far as he was concerned the company should not be +disappointed in the amount of logs cut and hauled to the large "brow" +near the falls. He left the woods only when it was absolutely +necessary for him to do so. Several times he was tempted to drive to +the city when new supplies were needed instead of ordering them over +the telephone from Creekdale. He longed to see Lois, even for a few +minutes. Such a visit, no matter how brief, would be an inspiration to +him in his arduous work. But he had always resisted the temptation, +however, and had remained firmly at his post. His desire to see her +and to listen to her voice was great. But he dreaded the idea of +presenting himself at her home when she might have company, and he +would feel so much out of place in their presence. It might embarrass +Lois as well, so he reasoned, and it would be better for him not to go. + +As Christmas drew near the men began to talk much about going home. +Jasper listened to them but took no part in the conversation. All of +the men had homes to go to. Most of them were married, and were +looking forward with eagerness to the holiday with their families. But +to Jasper the season brought little joy. No one was expecting him, and +no face would brighten at his home-coming. There was only one place +where he longed to go, and one person he desired to see. If he could +but feel that her eyes would sparkle and her heart beat with joy at his +presence, he would not have hesitated a moment. But he was not sure, +and so he decided to remain in camp and keep watch over the supplies +while the rest went home. If Christmas Day should be fine, he planned +to pay a visit to old David in the afternoon. He might hear something +about Lois from the Petersons, so he thought, and that would be some +comfort. + +Jasper lived in a small snug log cabin which he had built for his own +special use. He wished to be alone as much as possible each night that +he might think over the work for the next day, and also have quietness +for reading. He had supplied himself with a number of books, and these +were placed on a small shelf fastened to the wall. So long had he been +denied the privilege of good literature that he now came to the feast +like a starving man. Hitherto, his mind had craved only solid works of +the masters. But of late he had turned his attention more to books of +romance, for in them he could find more heart satisfaction than in the +others. How he revelled in the outstanding characters of Dickens, +Scott, Thackeray and Kingsley. But it remained for Charles Reed to +completely captivate him in "The Cloister and the Hearth." + +He was reading it this Christmas Eve as he lay stretched out upon his +cot. The lamp was at his head and the camp stove was sending out its +genial heat. It was a scene of peace and comfort. But Jasper thought +nothing of his surroundings as he lay there, for he was lost in the +tragic story of Gerard and Margaret. Nothing had ever moved him as +much as the sad tale of these two unfortunate lovers. His disengaged +right hand often clenched hard as he read of the contemptible ones who +plotted to separate them. But how Margaret appealed to him. What +strength of character was hers, and how true and unselfish was her love +through long, trying years. + +At length, laying aside the book, he began to meditate upon what he +would do under like circumstances, if Lois' love for him were as deep +as that of Margaret for Gerard. He blamed Gerard for what he +considered weakness on his part. Why did he not arouse himself and +throw off the shackles which bound him? What right had any Church to +separate two loving ones, and make their young lives so miserable? + +While thus musing Jasper fell asleep. He was awakened by a loud +rapping upon the door. With no idea what time it was he sprang to his +feet, hurried across the room and threw open the door. As he did so he +saw a young lad standing before him. His face was flushed and he was +panting heavily as if from a long run. + +"Hello! Who are you? And what do you want here at this time of the +night?" Jasper demanded. + +"I'm Steve Bean, Betty's brother," the boy replied as he stepped +briskly into the cabin. "My, that was a hard run!" he added. "I left +home jist a quarter to twelve an' I don't think I've been over twenty +minutes comin'." + +"Is it that late?" Jasper asked in surprise, as he drew forth his +watch. "Why, it's half-past twelve! I didn't think I was asleep that +long. But, say, boy, what do you want at this time of the night?" + +"I want ye to go fer the doctor as quick as ye can." + +"Go for the doctor!" Jasper gasped. "Who's sick? Your mother?" + +"Oh, no; she's all right. But there's a man at our place who is pretty +bad, I guess. I found him last night on that old cut-off when I was +visitin' my snares. He had a sprained ankle, an' couldn't walk. I got +the steers and toted him to our place. Guess he got a bad cold while +he was layin' there in the snow, fer he took awful sick in the night +with chills, an' ma's afraid he'll die. She kept Jimmy to help her an' +sent me to git you to fetch the doctor." + +"But why didn't you get one of your nearby neighbours to go?" Jasper +enquired. "You have lost valuable time already." + +"H'm, I guess you don't know our neighbours. They're kind enough an' +would do all they could. But their horses are about as slow as oxen. +So ma says, 'Steve, you jist hustle fer Mr. Jasper. He's got a horse +that goes like a streak of lightin'. He'll go all right when ye tell +him you're Betty's brother.' So I took the short-cut through the +woods, an' here I am. Will ye go?" + +"Sure," Jasper replied as he reached for his coat and hat. "But who is +that man? And where did he come from?" + +"I don't know; never saw him before. He's quite oldish, though." + +"Didn't your mother ask him what he was doing there alone in the woods?" + +"No; she didn't like to ask him. She thought maybe he was goin' to +Camp Number Three, which is not far from our house, an' on our land, +too." + +Jasper paused in the act of lighting the lantern and looked into +Steve's face. + +"Why, didn't you go there for help?" he asked. + +"What! go to them skunks fer help?" and the boy clenched his fists. +"Never! They're stealin' our logs an' we can't do nothin'. De'ye +think we'd ask old Pete Sinclair's men to do anything fer us? We'd die +first. Jimmy an' me's been waitin' fer some time fer old Pete to come +our way. An' when he does----" Steve's clenched right fist shooting +out straight before him supplied his lack of suitable words to express +the depth of his feelings. + +An idea suddenly flashed into Jasper's mind with a startling intensity. + +"What does that man look like?" he demanded in a voice which surprised +the boy. + +"Oh, he's somewhat oldish, as I told ye; rather thick-set; has a heavy +moustache, an' looks as if he has always had plenty of good things to +eat. I don't know as I can tell ye much more about him." + +Jasper had blown out the lamp and opened the door before Steve had +finished speaking. He was now very impatient to be away. There was +only one man, he felt quite sure, who would be prowling along that +lonely trail on a Christmas Eve, and that man would be Peter Sinclair. +It was of Lois he thought and not the sick man as he hurried to the +stable, harnessed Pedro, and made him fast to the sleigh. + +"You go back home, Steve," he ordered, "and tell your mother that I +have gone for the doctor." + +Pedro did not like the idea of being taken out of his warm stable at +such an hour of the night. But when once upon the firm road he gave +his noble head a toss and sped along at a fast clip. He had not been +driven much of late and was in excellent form. It was a clear +star-light night, with not a breath of wind astir. Jasper not only +enjoyed the ride in the bracing air behind such a fast horse, but the +feeling that he was doing it for Lois' sake filled him with +satisfaction. How he longed to speed straight to her with the message. +But, no, that would not do. Her father, he believed, was in need and +must be cared for first. + +It took him somewhat over an hour to reach the doctor's house and to +arouse him from sleep. The latter was in no enviable frame of mind +when he had admitted Jasper and learned the object of his visit. + +"Confound it all!" he growled. "What do people mean by getting sick in +the night! Why don't they take the day for it! But I don't see how I +can go now. My horse threw a shoe coming home last night, and I +wouldn't think of putting her on the road without being properly shod." + +"I'll drive you there," Jasper replied, "and bring you back as well. +But we must have you to-night, and at once. If he is the man I think +he is, you will not regret going." + +"Who is he? Any one I know?" the doctor queried, now somewhat +interested. + +"Yes, you know him. But I shall not mention his name until I am +certain. Will you come?" + +"Oh, yes, I suppose so," the doctor replied as he moved wearily away to +get ready for the journey. "I have had so many night calls of late +that I am tired out, and was hoping to have a good rest, especially on +Christmas Day." + +In less than half an hour Pedro was again bounding nimbly over the +road, this time headed straight for Mrs. Bean's ten miles off. Jasper +believed that the doctor slept most of the way for he never uttered a +word from the time they started until they drew up before Mrs. Bean's +house. + +The sound of the bells brought Jimmy to the door, and asking him to +stable Pedro and give him something to eat, Jasper accompanied the +doctor. He was anxious to find out as soon as possible whether his +surmise was correct about the sick man. If so, he had his mind all +made up what he would do, and there was no time to be lost. + +Mrs. Bean was waiting at the door to receive them, and led the way at +once into the little sitting room which was warm and cosy. + +"Where's that man?" the doctor asked as he threw off his coat. "You +might have waited until morning before sending for me. It's no joke to +come so far on a cold night like this." + +"But I was afraid he would die, sir," Mrs. Bean replied. "He is a very +sick man. He's in there," and she pointed to a door which led from the +sitting room. + +After warming himself for a few minutes before the stove, the doctor +entered the small bedroom closely followed by Jasper. A shaded lamp +with the wick turned down stood on a little table by the side of the +bed. Though the light was dim, it was enough for Jasper to recognise +the man lying upon the bed. + +"You know who it is," he remarked in a low voice as he turned to the +doctor. + +"Good heavens! it's Peter Sinclair!" was the astonished exclamation. +"What in thunder is he doing here?" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE WILD NOR'EASTER + +Jasper did not remain long in the bedroom. There was nothing there +that he could do and he would be only in the way. He found Mrs. Bean +in the kitchen putting some wood in the stove. + +"Do you know who that sick man is?" he asked. + +"No, I have not the least idea," was the reply. "He is a stranger to +me, but that makes no difference. The Bible bids us to entertain +strangers for they may be angels unawares. Isn't that so?" + +"But the Bible doesn't say that they will all be good angels, does it? +Suppose the stranger you entertain should turn out to be your enemy, +for instance?" + +"Why, what do you mean?" and the widow looked her surprise. "How could +an angel be one's enemy?" + +"Doesn't the Bible speak about evil angels? If people were troubled +with them in olden days I guess affairs haven't changed much since. +Now, suppose the stranger you have entertained should be your enemy +unawares instead of your friend, what would you do?" + +"It wouldn't make any difference in my care of him," Mrs. Bean +emphatically replied. "I should do just as the Scripture tells me, 'If +thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so +doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.' That is what I +should do." + +"Well, I guess you'll feel like heaping on the coals, all right, when +you learn the name of your stranger. You had better get a shovelful +ready, for I am going to tell you." + +Mrs. Bean was busy setting the table for she knew how the men would +appreciate a cup of hot tea and some of her fresh homemade bread after +their long cold drive. She paused with a plate in her hand and looked +keenly at Jasper as he stood with his back to the stove. When he had +mentioned evil angels she thought that he was joking. But now +something told her that he was in earnest. Suddenly there flashed into +her mind an idea which made her heart thump. + +"There is only one person in the world who is my enemy, as far as I +know," she remarked. + +"The man who is stealing your logs, eh?" Jasper queried. + +"Yes. But surely he's not in there!" + +"Get your coals ready, Mrs. Bean," Jasper bantered. "You can use them +right away if you want to." + +Mrs. Bean paid no attention to these words. Her worn face grew a shade +paler and her hand shook as she laid the plate upon the table. Just +then the doctor entered the kitchen. + +"We must have a trained nurse at once," he began. "That's a very sick +man in there, Mrs. Bean, and he must have the greatest of care." + +"I shall do the best I can, sir," was the quiet reply. "No one shall +ever say of me that I didn't do my duty. I have tried to do it in the +past and shall try to do it still." + +"I know you will do what you can, Mrs. Bean," and the doctor's voice +was more gentle than usual, "but you must have assistance. No one +could expect you to look after the house and take care of such a sick +man as that. We must send to the city for a nurse at once." + +"What about Miss Sinclair?" Jasper asked. "She should be told of her +father's illness. I was planning to phone to her when we get hack to +Creekdale. She could arrange for a nurse to come by train, and I could +meet her at the station. This is Christmas Day and I'm afraid it will +be difficult to get a nurse to come on go short a notice. She would +have to come on the suburban this evening, though, as that will be the +only train she would be able to get." + +"Do the best you can," the doctor replied. "I shall stay here to-day. +It would not do for me to leave now until some one comes to help Mrs. +Bean." + +The sun was just rising above the far-off horizon as Jasper rode into +Creekdale. Not a breath of wind was astir, and the only signs of life +were the long wreathes of smoke circling up from numerous chimneys. +The village nestled on the side of a hill and thus met the sun's early +smile while the surrounding valleys were still draped in shadows. To +Jasper it seemed as if fairyland had burst suddenly upon his view after +his drive through the sombre forest. The snow sparkled like countless +diamonds and the white-robed trees stood bathed in glistening glory. +It was Nature's silent symphony in honour of the birthday of the great +Prince of Peace. + +The telephone was at the store and it did not take Jasper long to +arouse Andy Forbes and acquaint him with the object of his early visit. +The storekeeper was greatly interested in the news of Peter Sinclair's +illness. He knew that in a short time various rumours would be +circulating throughout the parish. But he would have exact information +and would be able to impress all by his hints of superior and +first-hand knowledge. + +It took Andy some time to get "Central" in the city, and longer still +to make connection with the Sinclair home, the number of which he had +found in the Telephone Directory. But at length his efforts were +rewarded and he handed the receiver to Jasper. + +"Guess it's her, all right," was his comment. "Her voice seems mighty +shaky as if she's scared most out of her wits." + +How far away seemed Lois' voice and how anxious the tone as before +Jasper had even time to explain she asked about her father. Then, as +briefly as possible, Jasper told what had happened to him, his illness, +and where he was. + +"We need a nurse at once," he said, "and if you can get one, send her +out on the suburban. I will meet her at the station." + +"She will be there," was the emphatic reply. "I know of one who will +go without fail. I thank you very much, Mr. Randall, for all your +kindness to my father." + +Leaving the store Jasper made straight for the Haven where he received +a royal welcome. Early though it was they were all astir for a +wonderful Christmas tree had been prepared the day before, and there it +stood loaded with presents. + +"We had it for Betty," Mrs. Peterson explained, though it was quite +evident that she and the captain as well as David were as much pleased +as the girl. + +Besides the presents from one another there was something for each one +from Lois. As Jasper watched them unwrap their gifts and listened to +Betty's exclamations of delight, a slight feeling of jealousy stole +into his heart. He was the only one there beyond the orbit of Lois' +circle of remembrance. He was well aware that he had no reason to +expect anything, and yet how much any little token would have meant to +him, for it would have told him that she had not forgotten him. + +"Wasn't it kind of Miss Lois to send these lovely presents," Betty +exclaimed, after she had examined everything most carefully. "And +there's something for you, too, Mr. Jasper," she added. "I kept it +till the last," and a merry twinkle shone in her eyes as she handed him +a neatly-tied package. + +"Why, who sent me this?" Jasper asked in surprise. + +"Miss Lois, of course. She knew that you would be here to-day, and she +asked me to give it to you when you came. This tree is her idea, you +see. We would never have thought about it but for her. Isn't she +great!" + +Jasper took the package in his hands and held it there like a big +awkward school boy. He could not trust himself to speak lest he should +betray his feelings. He longed to be away in the quietness of his own +cabin that he might open his treasure and that no eyes but his might +look upon the gift. But Betty knew nothing of such thoughts. + +"Open it, Mr. Jasper," she ordered, "I know you'll be surprised." + +Slowly and carefully Jasper untied the red ribbon and opened out the +paper wrapping. As he did so there came forth a grey woollen +well-knitted muffler. + +"Isn't it lovely!" Betty exclaimed as Jasper stood holding it in his +hands staring hard upon it. "And I saw Miss Lois begin it herself just +before she left for the city. She asked me what I thought you would +like for a Christmas present, and I told her that you should have a +muffler to keep your throat warm on cold days. She thought maybe you +would rather have a book, but when I told her that you could buy books, +but not a muffler like she could make, she said that perhaps I was +right. Let me see what it looks like on you, for I must write and tell +her all about it." + +Before this torrent of words Jasper was as helpless as a child. He +allowed Betty to unfold the muffler and wrap it carefully about his +neck. + +"There, isn't that fine, Mrs. Peterson?" she asked. "Mr. Jasper won't +get cold now in his throat, will he?" + +"I have never worn such a thing in my life," Jasper managed to explain. +"What shall I do with it? I couldn't wear that in the woods." + +"Oh, but you might need it, Mr. Jasper," Betty insisted. "Anyway, if +you don't wear it Miss Lois will be so disappointed. She knit every +bit of it with her own fingers, for she told me so. You should wear it +because of that if for no other reason." + +Jasper made no reply, but taking off the muffler folded it up and laid +it upon the table. In fact, he hardly knew what he was doing so full +of happiness was his heart. It was fortunate that just then Mrs. +Peterson announced that breakfast was ready, for it changed the topic +of conversation and gave him time to think it all over. + +What a day that was at the Haven! There were so many things to talk +about and such a number of questions to be asked and answered that the +time sped by all too quickly. David was in excellent spirits, for he +learned of the progress the men were making in the woods. Jasper +heard, as well, about Lois, and Betty showed him several letters she +had received from her. In every one she told of her longing for the +spring that she might return to Creekdale. + +When Jasper left the Haven he noticed how the weather had changed. The +brightness of the day had passed and the sky was a mackerel grey. The +wind, drifting in from the northeast, hummed a weird prelude to the +coming storm upon the telephone wires stretched along the road. + +The journey to the station was a pleasant one, for Pedro, after his +rest, swung along at a swift clip. The wind was in their backs and the +snow had not begun to fall. Jasper realised that the storm would not +hold off much longer, and he wondered how the nurse would mind facing +it for fifteen miles to Mrs. Bean's. The muffler that Lois had given +him he was wearing. Betty had put it there before he left the Haven +with the strict instruction to wear it, because if he didn't Miss Lois +would feel badly. Never had he received any present which he valued +more highly than this. And to think that Lois made it herself, +especially for him, and that it had been so often in her hands. He was +almost like a man beside himself as he thought of this, and several +times his lips pressed the muffler in the fervency of his emotion. + +Reaching the station he had half an hour to spare before the train +would arrive. This gave him an opportunity to give Pedro a feed of +oats in a nearby stable, for he well knew that a severe battle was +ahead of him. Already the storm had set in, gentle at first but +increasing in intensity as the afternoon waned. It was snowing hard by +the time the train surged up to the station, and as Jasper waited for +the passengers to alight he wondered whether it would be advisable to +face the tempest on such a night and in the teeth of so furious a storm. + +As the passengers came forth what was his surprise to see not a +stranger as he had expected but Lois Sinclair. Scarcely had she +stepped upon the platform ere Jasper hurried forward. Her face +brightened when she saw him and she reached out her gloved hand. + +"How is my father?" was her first question. "I have been so uneasy +about him." + +As they walked along the platform Jasper told her all he could about +the sick man, and how the doctor was staying with him, to assist Mrs. +Bean until the nurse arrived. + +"I little expected to see you," he added, "I am afraid it will be a +terrible drive in the face of this storm. But if we wait until morning +the roads will be so blocked that we may not be able to get there for +several days." + +"Let us go to-night," Lois replied. "I can stand the storm, but it is +a great pity to give you so much trouble. How far is it?" + +"About fifteen miles. You get good and warm in the waiting-room while +I go for Pedro. Wrap yourself up well before we start." + +In about a quarter of an hour they had left the station and Pedro was +speeding up the road with long swinging strides. So far but little +snow had fallen to interfere with the travelling, and they made +excellent progress. But after they had been on the way for about an +hour Pedro was forced to slow down and walk most of the time. Drifts +were forming across the road and the snow was blinding. At times they +obtained considerable shelter from stretches of woods they passed +through. But out in the open the tempest struck them with full force, +blotting out everything from view. + +But notwithstanding the discomforts of the journey, Jasper was +supremely happy. For a few brief hours this beautiful woman by his +side was his, and he was her guide and protector. The unexpected had +happened and come what might he would always look back upon this drive +as one of the happiest times in his life. + +Lois, too, enjoyed the drive. She was content to sit there and to feel +Jasper's strength by her side, as he guided Pedro through the night. +Owing to the storm there was very little conversation. But it was not +necessary. They were happy in each other's presence and words were not +needed. + +The farther they went the heavier became the roads and the more violent +the storm. It was cold as well, and once a shiver shook Lois' body, +which Jasper was quick to notice. + +"Are you cold?" he asked. "I have an extra rug. Let me wrap it around +you." + +Carefully as if she had been a child, Jasper placed the rug about Lois' +shoulders and over her head. Then, taking off the precious muffler he +folded it about her body in such a way as to hold the rug in place and +thus form a complete shelter from the driving storm. This +accomplished, he reached over and drew the sleigh-robe around her body. +It was but natural that his arm should remain around her for a while +that the robe might be kept in place. Their heads, too, drew closer +together. Perhaps it was the storm which caused this movement, for it +was difficult to face the tempest. It was merely an incident in their +young lives, and yet it caused their hearts to beat faster and their +faces to flush, the memory of which they would ever cherish. How easy +then it would have been for Jasper to give voice to the promptings of +his heart. He felt that Lois cared for him and would respond to his +love. But just when he might have spoken Pedro plunged into the ditch, +and it took all of his master's attention to get him back on the road +without upsetting the sleigh. + +"We nearly went over that time," Jasper remarked. Then they both +laughed. Why they did so they alone knew. But from that moment they +understood each other better than ever before. + +It was a hard struggle Pedro put up that night as mile after mile he +crept onward. The froth flew from his champing mouth and the vapour +rose from his steaming body. The footing was uncertain, the snow deep, +and the driving storm almost blinded him. But never for an instant did +he hesitate or show the least sign of discouragement. He seemed to +realise how much depended upon his exertions this night, and he felt +bound to do his utmost. His master held the reins and in his judgment +he had perfect confidence, and for him he would have expended the last +ounce of his marvellous strength. Nevertheless, his eyes brightened +and his weary steps quickened when at length he saw the lights from +Mrs. Bean's house struggling faintly through the night. With a sudden +spurt he dashed through the gateway and surged proudly up to the door +like a hero who had fought a hard battle and had won. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +DEVELOPMENTS + +Lois was destined to remain at Mrs. Bean's during January and February. +She camped, as she called it, in the room next to the small one +occupied by her father, and thus she was always near to wait upon him +day or night. Mr. Sinclair's recovery was slow, and at first the +doctor almost despaired of his life. It was a bad case of pneumonia +brought on by his becoming over-heated while walking along the cut-out, +and then getting chilled to the bone lying on the snow. To Lois it was +a most anxious time, and during the first two weeks she seldom went out +of the house. When at last her father was able to be left alone for a +while she spent an hour or so out of doors with Dora and Stephen. + +It was a wonderful winter to the Bean family. Never before had Mrs. +Bean known what it was to be free from the oppressing spectre of want. +No longer was she forced to worry about household supplies; neither was +it necessary for Steve to go to the store each week with his basket of +eggs and a few rolls of butter. He carried, instead, an order from +Lois, and Andy Forbes was only too willing to deliver the goods in +person instead of letting Steve carry them as hitherto. Jimmy was +working in the woods with Jasper, and every Saturday night he brought +his wages home to his mother. Thus the Bean household was well +supplied with sufficient food and the widow's heart was made glad. + +To some city people the life in a country house, especially in the +winter time, would have been very lonely and trying. But with Lois it +was different. She thoroughly enjoyed the change, and as soon as she +was able to leave her father alone for a few hours she would spend the +time out of doors with Dora and Stephen. To them she was a marvellous +woman, and they fairly worshipped her. What fun they had coasting down +the big hill over the firm crust, and what snow-houses they made when +the snow could be packed and moulded into any shape. But to Lois the +best enjoyment of all was to accompany Steve on his rounds to his +rabbit snares. The forest was a revelation to her. She knew it well +in summer, but nothing about its winter moods, such as the weird +silence of a frosty morning, broken only at times by the pistol-like +report from a distant tree. It startled her at first, and she stood +spell-bound listening to its reverberation up and down the long woody +reaches. + +"The frost does that," Steve explained. "I've heard our house do the +same thing on a cold night. Ma says it's drawin' the nails." + +Lois liked the woods best when a stiff wind was abroad. She enjoyed +hearing it roaring overhead, bending and twisting the tops of the +pointed trees. The forest then seemed to be alive, and not so +inanimate as on a cold frosty morning. It was more companionable in +such a mood, and it seemed to her like a wonderful organ with all the +stops out under the control of some mighty unseen master. It was a +pleasure to her to stand and listen to the varying sounds. But Steve +and Dora knew nothing of such feelings and kept her constantly on the +move. The tracks of the rabbits or those of a fox thrilled them far +more than Nature's mysterious melodies. + +It was a Saturday afternoon such as this that Lois was with Steve and +Dora on their regular rounds. They led her this day farther than usual +to some new snares that Steve had set. At length they came out upon +the trail leading from Mrs. Bean's to the falls, travelled chiefly by +Jimmy. Lois was standing on the path with Dora by her side waiting +until Steve had set one more snare in a good place he had spied. She +presented a picture of perfect health and beauty as she stood there, +with the rich blood mantling her face. Jasper was sure that he had +never seen any one so lovely as he appeared suddenly in sight around a +bend in the trail. He was walking fast with an axe over his shoulder, +but he stopped in his tracks when he saw Lois before him. At first he +was half tempted to turn back, lest his presence might not be desired. +He did not wish to have the appearance of spying upon those before him. +But before he had time to decide, Dora saw him. + +"Oh, look," she cried, "there is Mr. Jasper." + +Startled more than was her wont, Lois quickly turned and her eyes +rested upon the young man who was now hastening forward. + +"Pardon me," Jasper began, "I am so sorry that I have frightened you." + +"Oh, it is not as bad as that," Lois replied with a smile. "I was not +frightened, only startled. Anyway, we are glad to see you, for you +have deserted us of late." + +"It was not my fault, I assure you," Jasper explained. "We have been +so busy that I have had no time to come, though I sent Jimmy often, to +enquire about your father. I have had to go to the city every Saturday +since I saw you last and never got back until late Sunday night. The +company is pushing us hard, and now that the portable saw-mill has +arrived there is no let-up. To-day I was cruising the woods for some +special trees the company wants, and as I came so near I made up my +mind to drop in and see for myself how you are all making out." + +"And you will come and have tea with us?" Lois asked. + +"Yes, if I shall not be in the way. It will be a great change for me." + +"We shall be delighted to have you, and I know my father will be +pleased to see you, for he gets so lonely at times. He is sitting up +now, and likes to have some one to talk to. He has changed a great +deal since his illness." + +By this time Steve had finished setting his snare, and then they all +started homeward. It was quite an event to have a visitor, so Dora and +Steve rushed on ahead to tell their mother to set an extra place "fer +company." Lois and Jasper had no inclination to hurry. Their hearts +were happy in each other's company, and they walked slowly along the +trail not talking about anything in particular, and laughing when there +was really nothing to laugh about. + +Mr. Sinclair was sitting in a big, cosy chair before the fire as Lois +and Jasper entered the room. Notwithstanding the change that had come +over him and his desire for conversation, he looked upon his visitor +with a reserved suspicion. + +"You belong to that new company, eh?" he questioned. + +"Only as an employee," Jasper replied. "I am merely working for wages." + +"H'm, is that so? I thought you had an interest in the concern." + +"In a way I have. I am interested in getting out as many logs and +poles as I can this winter. But apart from that I am nothing as far as +the company goes." + +"But you know all about their plans, I suppose, and what they intend to +do?" + +"Oh, yes, I naturally understand that they intend to supply light and +power to the city and the surrounding country, but further than that I +know nothing." + +"Don't you know who compose the company?" + +"No, I have not the least idea." + +"Well, that's queer," and Sinclair shifted uneasily in his chair. +"Perhaps you can tell me, though, where Crazy David comes in? He seems +to be somewhat connected with the whole affair." + +"He supplied the plans, so I believe. They paid him, and made him +Honorary President of the company." + +"And so that's all you know about it?" + +"Certainly. The whole affair is as much of a mystery to me as it is to +you." + +"Confound it all!" and Sinclair stamped his right foot upon the floor. +"I'd like to know what's coming over people, anyway. Things are +getting so mysterious these days that I'm about crazy trying to puzzle +matters out." + +"Don't try, father, dear," Lois soothed, placing her arms about his +neck. "You must not make yourself worse by worrying over such things +now. Supper is all ready, and Mrs. Bean is waiting for us, so let us +forget all about such matters for the present." + +Jasper stayed for a while that evening, and before leaving he made +arrangements with Lois to take her to church in the morning, and then +they would stop at the Haven for dinner. That was the beginning of a +most delightful time for Lois and Jasper. Every fine Sunday he called +for her, and pleasant were the drives they had together. + +When Mr. Sinclair was well enough he moved with his daughter into his +own house. Lois and Betty had spent several days getting it in order +and thoroughly warmed. It was really a comfort to be here, and for the +first time he expressed his pleasure to Lois. + +"This is a comfort," and he gave a sigh of relief as he sat in a big +chair before a bright open fire. "How large and roomy this house seems +after living for so long at Mrs. Bean's. But she was good to us and I +hope you sent her that money." + +"For the logs on her place?" Lois asked. + +"Yes. I made out a cheque the night I took ill, but she never got it. +This new one is larger and will somewhat pay her for the trouble we +have been to her as well as for the logs." + +"I mailed it to-day, father, and Mrs. Bean should get it to-morrow." + +"That is good. I feel more contented now. But, see here, Lois, you +will be very lonely now with only me to talk to. Isn't there any one +who could come and visit us for a while? It might brighten us both up." + +"I expect Margaret," Lois replied. "She said she would be delighted to +come as soon as we moved into our own house. Dick, you know, will +bring her in the car just as soon as the roads are settled. It will be +so nice to have her." + +"Do you think Mr. Randall will forsake us now?" Mr. Sinclair asked. + +"Why, what makes you think that he will?" Lois replied. + +"I was afraid he might, that's all. I like that young man. But he has +peculiar ideas, and will not go where he thinks he is not wanted." + +Lois did not reply to these words. She was sitting by her father's +side sewing, and she went on calmly with her work. But she was +thinking of the great change that had come over her father since his +illness. He was so gentle and considerate, and was more companionable +than she had ever known him to be. It caused her great joy of heart, +and she was so thankful now that she had not left him when he had made +life so miserable for her. She was thankful as well that he liked +Jasper and welcomed his visits to the house. She, too, had wondered if +he would come as often as he did to Mrs. Bean's. When Margaret arrived +he might think that he was not needed and would stay away. + +Jasper, however, did not stay away. He came as often as before, even +after Margaret arrived. He now believed that Lois cared for him and +looked forward with pleasure to his visits. Never before had the +Sundays seemed so far apart. She was his inspiration in all that he +did and she was ever in his mind throughout the week. How delightful +it was to listen to her playing upon the piano, and then when she and +Margaret sang, as they did so well together, it seemed to him as if +heaven had opened and poured upon him its greatest joys. His past +trials were all forgotten, and he did not worry about the future. + +One balmy spring Sunday evening they were all gathered around the piano +as usual singing several of their favourite hymns. Lois was playing, +and the soft light from the shaded lamp fell upon her face. Jasper +standing near thought he had never seen her look so beautiful. It +seemed to him that her face was almost radiant and her eyes glowed with +an intense light of holy fervour. Everything in that room spoke of +peace and harmony. The singers were happy in one another's company, +and no worry troubled them. + +As they sang, the shades of night deepened over the land and brighter +the light seemed to shine through the large window facing westward. A +man standing just outside watched all that was going on within the +room. He had approached cautiously and now stood back far enough from +the window that he might not be observed should any one happen to look +in his direction. To all outward appearance he might have been drawn +there out of mere curiosity or by the sound of the music. His lean, +smooth-shaven face betrayed nothing, and his steel-grey eyes which +rested alternately upon Jasper and the fair young player were +expressionless. Well it was for Lois' peace of mind that she did not +see that face out there in the night, for it was the same face which +had been haunting her for months. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +BUSINESS DETAILS + +As spring drew near David became anxious for more definite news about +the work at the falls. He knew what Jasper and his men were doing and +how the portable mill was busy sawing the logs which had been hauled +out. But he was impatient to see what he called "the real beginning." +It was, therefore, with considerable satisfaction when at last the +great start was made. As the weeks passed word reached him of what was +going on. He had not yet visited the falls as he did not feel equal to +the walk. But he listened eagerly to all that was told him. The +reports were truly marvellous of the large number of men engaged upon +the "Plant," of the activity at Creekdale and all up the brook. In a +few weeks the whole place had been converted into a hive of bustling +industry. It seemed as if a magic wand had been suddenly waved over +the place to produce such an astonishing change. + +In addition to this there were men working between the city and +Creekdale as well as along the road leading up-river, putting large +poles in place for the electric wires. These poles had been run down +the brook and then floated to various places along the river. In this +way the work was facilitated. Everything had been well planned, and it +seemed as if nothing had been overlooked. Though David could not visit +the falls, yet he and Betty often sat by the road and watched the +workmen as they dug the deep holes, erected the poles and strung the +wires. + +One beautiful morning as they came to the road, they saw a man not far +off busily sketching a clump of white birch trees a short distance +away. So intent was he upon his work that he did not appear to notice +the two who were watching him with undisguised curiosity. + +"Who is he?" David whispered, fearful lest he should disturb the man. + +"He must be that artist who came yesterday," Betty replied. "He has a +little tent over there," and she pointed to the right. "I saw him +fixing it up yesterday and it looks so cosy. He spoke to me as I came +by and seemed to be very friendly." + +"And you say that he is an artist?" David enquired. + +"Yes. Don't you see him painting now? He told me that he wants to get +some pictures of this beautiful place." + +"He must see the falls, girl," and David rose from his sitting +position. "There is nothing here to equal it, and how nice it would be +to have a picture before too great a change takes place up there." + +"Suppose we tell him about it," Betty suggested, now much interested in +the idea. "Come, I will introduce you." + +As the two approached, the artist rose to his feet and lifted his hat. + +"Why, it's my little visitor of yesterday," he pleasantly remarked. "I +didn't expect to meet you so soon again. Is this your grandfather?" + +"Oh, no," and Betty laughed heartily. "This is Mr. David, and I am +looking after him." + +"I am glad to meet you, sir," and the stranger held out his hand. "I +have only arrived lately and of course do not know any of the people +here, so you will pardon my mistake." + +"It doesn't matter, I assure you," David replied. "Betty is really a +daughter to me, so it was no mistake after all. But I hope we have not +interrupted you." + +"Not at all. I am not doing much this morning, just getting my +bearings, as it were. But you have a wonderful view from this hill. I +am hoping to get some excellent pictures. I wish I had known of this +beautiful spot before." + +"Wait until you see the falls," David eagerly replied. "You will find +something worth while there." + +"Is it far from here?" the artist enquired. + +"Oh, no. You can easily find it. There is a good road there now which +has been made by the new company." + +"Is that the place where the light and power are to come from, of which +I have heard so much?" + +"So you have heard of it then? I am very glad." There was a pleased +expression in David's eyes. It gave him much satisfaction to know that +the news of what was being done at the falls had extended beyond +Creekdale. + +"Oh, yes, every one has heard about the great undertaking which is +going on at Break Neck Falls," the artist replied. "I have read much +about it in the city papers, and only recently there was a long article +describing certain phases of the work and what would be accomplished. +I have the paper with me. Here it is, if you care to read it," and the +artist drew from his pocket a carefully-folded newspaper, and handed it +to the old man. + +With much eagerness David took it in his hands, unfolded it and ran his +eyes quickly over the article with the big headlines, "A Gigantic +Undertaking." Betty stepped close to his side and began to read as +well. Her animated face and sparkling eyes showed plainly the keen +interest she took in the whole affair, and several times she gave +expression to exclamations of delight. + +"Isn't it great!" she cried, when she had finished. "And what a lot +they tell about you, Mr. David, and how you had that thing in your head +for so long when you were very poor." + +"Yes, girl," David replied, "and did you notice what is said about the +benefit it will be to the city and the whole country?" + +In their intense excitement they had forgotten all about the artist. +But as they talked like two happy children he was watching them very +closely, especially the old man. In his eyes there was a peculiar +half-gloating expression, while a partly-suppressed sinister smile +lurked about the corners of his mouth. + +"May we show this paper to Miss Lois?" Betty asked, turning suddenly +toward the artist. As she did so, she started, for intuitively she saw +something in the man's face which frightened her. Whatever it was, it +instantly dispelled the happiness which possessed her. The artist +noticed this, and it annoyed him. He shrugged his shoulder and gave a +short laugh. + +"Yes, you may keep the paper," he said. "I am through with it. But I +must get on with my work now." + +They stood and watched him as he walked away carrying with him his +easel and camp-stool. + +"I am afraid of him," Betty whispered to her companion. Then she +shivered as if cold. + +"Why, what's the matter?" David asked in surprise. "What makes you +afraid of that man? He is only a harmless artist, and he was very kind +to us this morning. I feel most grateful for the paper he has given +us." + +"I know that, but I don't want to see him again," the girl replied. "I +saw something in his eyes which I don't like. I can't explain it, but +it makes me afraid of him. I hope he will go away soon." + +"Tut, girl, that is all nonsense," David chided. "It is just a notion +on your part. I like him well enough for a stranger. What harm can he +do us?" + +During the rest of the morning Betty could not get clear of the feeling +of fear which possessed her, and David worried much over her unusual +silence. She longed to see Lois that she might talk it all over with +her. In fact she had her mind made up to visit her that afternoon when +an unlooked-for excitement changed the entire current of her thoughts, +and put the artist out of her mind for the rest of the day. + +It was just after dinner when the captain and David were out upon the +verandah enjoying their pipes, when a big car lurched up and stopped in +front of the house. To David's surprise he saw Mr. Westcote alight and +come up the verandah steps. He at once rose to meet him. + +"I have come to give you a ride in my car," Mr. Westcote informed +David, after he had been introduced to the captain, and had handed him +a cigar. "It is a pity to take you from such a beautiful place as +this," and he cast his eyes over the sloping fields before him. "But, +I would like for you to come with me to the city to-day. It is a +matter of business, that is, some details which should have been +attended to before." + +"Has it anything to do with the falls?" David enquired. + +"Yes, everything centres there," and Mr. Westcote smiled. "This affair +is really important or I should not bother you to-day." + +"I can be ready in a short time," David replied. He was eager now to +be away, and the thought that he was needed and was in some way +necessary to the working out of the plans at the falls gave him great +pleasure. + +In little less than half an hour the car left the Haven and sped +rapidly down the road. David enjoyed the ride, and leaned back +comfortably in the soft springy seat. + +"You should have a car, sir," Mr. Westcote remarked as he noted how +David liked the drive. "It would do you so much good to have a spin +every day." + +"Why, I never thought of it," was the reply. "But I would not know how +to handle a car if I did have one. And besides, it would cost a great +deal." + +"Oh, you could easily overcome such difficulties. You are a rich man, +you know, and could afford to buy a good car and keep a chauffeur to +drive it for you. You have not spent all of that money you received, +have you?" + +"No, no; only a very small portion of it. You see, Betty and I live +very quietly, and spend but little. We are planning to build a +comfortable house of our own some day. We keep putting it off, though, +as we are so happy at the Haven with the captain and Mrs. Peterson." + +Nothing more was said about this subject during the rest of the ride, +and in about an hour and a half they reached the city and drew up +before a large building on one of the business streets. When once +inside David looked around with much interest upon the busy scenes +which met his eyes. + +"This is our main office," Mr. Westcote explained, "and we keep quite a +staff. As the work develops it will be necessary to have a building of +our own, for we have only the ground floor here. This is my private +office," and he motioned to a door on the right. "We will be more +quiet there." + +David was greatly delighted at all he saw, and he could not restrain +the feeling of pride that he was the cause of all this activity. Not +the slightest surprise entered his mind at what he observed. There was +not even the least shadow of mystery about it all. To him it was but +natural that things should be as they were. He doubted nothing; he +asked no questions. His plan was so great and reasonable that he +accepted everything as a matter of course. + +"You have perhaps wondered," Mr. Westcote began, after they were +seated, "why I have brought you here to-day. I told you that it is a +matter of business details, and so it is. You are Honorary President +of our company and, accordingly, you are a large share-holder. You +were not aware of that before, and I trust you do not mind our keeping +it a secret?" + +"No, no; not at all," David replied. "Everything is satisfactory to +me." + +"That is good," Mr. Westcote continued. "But as you have such a large +interest in the company, it is necessary that you should have your will +made to save complications in the future. Life is uncertain, you know, +and if anything should happen to you it would make it very difficult +for us if you did not have your business matters attended to." + +"Quite right, quite right," David assented. "I have thought about it +somewhat of late, and I am very glad that you have mentioned it. Could +we not have the business attended to at once? It will not take long, +will it?" + +"No, it can soon be done," was the reply. "But first of all it will be +necessary for you to state in whose favour you wish to make your will. +Then we can have the papers drawn up, and you can sign them before you, +leave the city." + +"Yes, that will be necessary," and David placed his right hand to his +forehead in a thoughtful manner. "I have been thinking that all over, +and know the ones to whom I wish to leave my principal share in the +falls. You see, I want to have people who will take a keen interest in +the undertaking, such as I have, and who will be able to continue the +work when I am gone." + +"You are quite right," Mr. Westcote replied, though it was evident that +he with difficulty repressed a smile of amusement at his companion's +words. + +"But I am somewhat worried about the others," David continued. "I wish +to leave something to my faithful girl, Betty Bean, to her mother, who +is a widow, and to Captain Peterson and his wife, for they have a hard +struggle to make a living. Now, they are the ones I wish to help as +far as I can, but I have no idea what I ought to leave them." + +"How much would you like for them to have?" Mr. Westcote enquired. + +"Well, it would be nice if they could have a thousand each. That would +make them so comfortable. But I am afraid such an amount is out of the +question." + +"Not at all," was the reply. "You name the amount, and we shall put it +in the will. You see," he added, as if it were an afterthought, "the +falls will be good for that, and perhaps more, even after you have +arranged for the others." + +"I am pleased to hear you express such confidence in the undertaking," +and David looked into his companion's face. "I little realised that it +would pay so well in such a short time. I am very grateful to you for +what you have done." + +"It will pay you regularly," Mr. Westcote replied. "I may as well tell +you that this is one of the most remarkable companies ever formed. +Will you now mention the names of the principal ones to whom you wish +to leave the rest of your interest?" + +"There are only two, but I have such unlimited confidence in them that +I feel I am making no mistake. You know them both for they are Jasper +Randall, the young foreman, and Miss Lois Sinclair." + +"Have you no relatives?" Mr. Westcote asked, concealing his surprise as +much as possible. "If you have, would it not be well to remember them +in your will?" + +"I desire that all I possess in this world should go to the ones I have +mentioned," David slowly replied. "We will not talk about relatives, +please." + +"Just as you say," Mr. Westcote assented, as he rose to his feet. "I +shall have the papers drawn up at once. In the meantime, you had +better come and stay with me. You will need a good rest after your +trip." + +It was late in the afternoon the next day before the work upon the will +was completed. It was quite an elaborate affair, so David thought, and +he had to study it carefully before signing it. When at last all was +finished, the car was waiting before the office to carry them back to +Creekdale. + +"I am going with you," Mr. Westcote remarked as he took his seat by +David's side. "I want to see that you get safely home. And besides," +he added, "I wish to learn how the work is getting along up there. I +have just been telephoning to Mr. Randall, and his report is most +encouraging." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +HARNESSED POWER + +It was dark by the time they drew near to Creekdale, and as the car +rounded a bend in the road David was astonished at the sight which met +his eyes. The entire way was brilliantly illuminated by hundreds of +electric lights strung along both sides of the road. + +David started, sat bolt upright, and clutched his companion by the arm. + +"What is this?" he demanded in a hoarse whisper. "Where are we, +anyway? I thought you were bringing me home." + +"So I am," Mr. Westcote laughingly replied. "We are at Creekdale now. +This is the work of your beloved falls. Are you satisfied?" + +"Oh!" It was all that the old man could say. He leaned back in his +seat and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. It was quite evident that +he was strongly moved by what he saw. + +Slowly the car moved up the great white way, and at last turned into +the gate leading to the Haven. Two large lights had been placed on the +gate post, and these shed forth their bright light upon all sides. It +was a marvellous transformation which had been made in such a short +time. David could not utter a word, so overcome was he. Even when he +saw the house ablaze with many lights and the verandah as bright as +day, and observed the people there waiting to welcome him home, he +seemed like one in a dream. It was only when Betty danced about him +and caught both of his hands in hers, that he aroused from his +stupefaction. + +"What's the matter, Mr. David?" she cried. "Why don't you speak to me, +and tell me how you like it all?" + +"It is wonderful!" and the old man placed his hand to his forehead, as +he always did when greatly affected or puzzled. "Who did all this?" + +"It was done for you, Mr. David," the girl explained. "My, we have had +a lively time here since you left!" + +"And was that the reason why I was taken to the city yesterday?" David +asked, while a new light of comprehension dawned upon his mind. "You +knew all about this, did you?" + +"Oh, no, I didn't know a thing," Betty protested. "But just as soon as +you got away Mr. Jasper and a whole crowd of men began to work, and +they have been just hustling ever since. Isn't it lovely! And to +think that it was in your brain all the time!" + +"This is very gratifying, sir," and David turned to Jasper, who was +standing by listening with great interest to the conversation between +the girl and the old man. "I can hardly believe what I see. I had no +idea that you had made such progress at the falls. It will be +necessary for me to go and see the works for myself." + +"We have a great deal more to do yet, I assure you," Jasper replied. +"We have merely begun. We planned this little surprise for your +special benefit. We wished that you should be the first one to be +honoured. But we have something more to show you, which, no doubt, +will surprise you. If you will come with me I will show you what it +is." + +Leading the way, he conducted them through the kitchen and into an +adjoining room used partly as a wood-house and also as a wash room. +Each place was brilliantly lighted by means of several electric lamps. +He stopped at last before a cream-separator which was new and recently +installed. Touching a switch, there was a sudden whirring sound, and +the machine began to revolve, slowly at first, but gaining rapidly in +speed until it was fairly spinning. After it had been running for a +few minutes Jasper turned off the current, and then stood watching the +separator until its movements ceased. + +He next moved across the room to where stood a churn. Again placing +his finger upon another switch the churn began to revolve. + +During all this time David's eyes were ablaze with joy as he watched +all that was taking place. + +"It is wonderful!" he remarked. "How have you managed to arrange +everything in such a short time? It seems almost magical." + +"Oh, we had everything all ready," Jasper laughingly replied. "And +just as soon as we got you away we merely had to put the machinery into +place. But here is something else," and he turned to the left. "This +is a wood-cutting machine, and all you have to do is to turn on the +current, so," and he touched a switch, "and behold, your saw is all +ready for use. Watch this," he added, picking up a stick, which in an +instant was severed in two. "That is the way the farmers will cut +their wood. You have thus seen some of the things your falls will do. +But there are others we cannot show here, which will revolutionise the +entire country." + +Scarcely had he ended when Lois entered and stood watching the +revolving saw. Jasper was the first to see her, and he noticed that +her face was paler than usual and that she seemed to be trembling. + +"I am sorry that I am late," she apologised. "I was planning to be +here to see these wonderful things, but I was delayed." + +"But you can see them all now, Miss Sinclair," David eagerly replied. +"Look at the lights along the road and in the house, and the way these +machines run. Isn't it wonderful? My visions have come true at last, +and my beautiful falls have done it." + +Jasper was anxious to know what was troubling Lois. Although she +talked and laughed and seemed to be the gayest one there, it was quite +evident to him that she was merely acting the part. When she had +stayed for about half an hour she spoke to Jasper privately and asked +him to accompany her home. + +"I wish to speak to you about something," she told him. + +Jasper was delighted, and after they had said good-night to the rest +they walked slowly down the lighted lane toward the main road. + +"This is like fairyland," Lois remarked. "I never expected to see +anything like this." + +"It was done for David's sake," Jasper replied. "And wasn't he +surprised and delighted? I think I was as much excited as he was." + +"Have you any idea why the company should do all this for his sake?" +Lois enquired. "Who is he, anyway?" + +"I have not the slightest idea," was the reply. "Everything has been a +profound mystery to me from the beginning. There is something most +interesting back of it all, mark my word. Mr. Westcote evidently +knows, but he has never enlightened me. Perhaps his daughter knows +something." + +"If she does she has never told me. Sometimes I think she knows, but +is not at liberty to speak. Oh, what's that?" and Lois gave a sudden +start. "I thought I heard something among the trees. But I guess it +was nothing, only my nerves," and she gave a slight laugh. + +"Perhaps it was merely some animal," Jasper suggested. "It may have +been a dog or a rabbit. Any slight noise sounds large at night." + +"Let us hurry on," Lois urged. "I am afraid that I am somewhat upset +to-night. I had such a start on my way to the Haven that I have not +got over it yet." + +"I saw that there was something wrong with you when you came into the +house," Jasper replied. + +"Did you? I was hoping that no one noticed it." + +"What was the matter?" + +"It was a man." + +"Oh, was that all? I thought that perhaps it was a bear." + +"But a man can be far worse than a bear, Mr. Randall. I would not mind +meeting a bear half as much as a brute in the form of a man." + +"What, did he frighten you, or try to harm you in any way?" Jasper +stopped short in his tracks and waited for an answer. He was beginning +to understand now that Lois' fright was something not to be treated +lightly. + +"Oh, no," Lois hastened to explain. "He didn't even speak to me. But +I saw him cross the brightly-lighted lane leading to the Haven. He +plunged among the trees and disappeared." + +"Did you know him?" Jasper asked, now much interested. + +"Yes. I met him once in the city at Mrs. Dingle's party. He is an +English artist, Sydney Bramshaw by name, and he affected me then like a +terrible night-mare. I could not get him out of my mind for weeks. I +have never been able to explain it, and never experienced anything like +it before." + +"Do you know anything about the man?" Jasper asked. + +"No, and that is the strange thing about it. I had a slight +conversation with him then and his words disgusted me. Apart from that +I know nothing." + +"It is strange," Jasper mused as if to himself. "We sometimes do get +queer impressions about people, do we not?" + +"But I never had anything like this before. It seemed to me when I +first saw that man that he was Satan in disguise. A queer idea, was it +not? I felt that in some unaccountable way he had crossed my path for +evil, and I have that same feeling now." + +They had reached the house by this time and were standing near the +verandah steps. It was a chilly night, and the sky was overcast with +not a star to be seen. A tremor shook Lois' form as she stood there. + +"You are cold," Jasper remarked, "and you should go in the house at +once." + +"Will you come in?" Lois asked. "It is not late and father will be +pleased to see you." + +"Not to-night, thank you," Jasper replied. "I was working nearly all +last night at the Haven, and so must get some rest. I am living in my +little old cabin now, and it is really good to be there again. It +seems more like home to me than up the brook. But, there, I must not +keep you any longer or you will catch cold. Do not worry too much +about that man. If he begins to trouble you, he will have to reckon +with me." + +Jasper walked slowly away from the house along a path leading to the +main road. He was thinking seriously of what Lois had told him about +Bramshaw. He could not understand her strange aversion for the man, +and he wondered if there were really anything in such a presentiment. +He made up his mind that he would be on the lookout and if the fellow +became the least objectionable he would deal with him then in no gentle +manner. + +As Jasper drew near to the main road a feeling suddenly possessed him +that he was being followed. He looked back but could see nothing. +Laughing at himself for what he considered his foolishness, he +continued on his way. But it was not so easy to banish the impression +he had received, and every once in a while he glanced around as if +expecting to see some one not far off. Once he thought he heard the +sound of foot-steps in the distance, and he stopped to listen but heard +nothing more. + +Reaching at last the path which led to his cabin, he was about to enter +upon this when an idea came into his mind. It was suggested by a thick +clump of hazel bushes by the side of the road. As quick as thought he +darted behind these and crouched low upon the ground. From this +position it was possible for him to watch the road without being +observed. He wished to find out whether any one was really following +him, or if it was merely imagination on his part. + +He had not been there long ere he heard faint footfalls upon the road, +which grew more distinct as he listened. He was now sure that his +surmises had been true, and it made him angry. He knew that it was not +an ordinary pedestrian, for why had he come after him along the path +leading from the Sinclair house? It must be some one stalking him, for +what purpose he could not imagine. + +Peering forth from his concealed position Jasper was ere long able to +see the dim form of a man slouching cautiously along, keeping well to +the side of the road where the trees and bushes were the thickest. He +even brushed the hazel bushes in passing and Jasper held his breath +lest he should be detected by his breathing. He was sure now that the +man had been following him with no good intentions, and his first +inclination was to rush forward and find out what was his business. He +resisted, however, thinking it better to remain where he was and see +what the night prowler would do next. + +Not long did he have to wait for the man, coming to the path leading +across the fields, stopped and looked carefully around. The dim form +of the little cabin could be seen in the distance, and for this he at +once started. There were no trees now to hide him, and he started on a +run across the open space. Jasper, seeing this, sprang from his hiding +place and hurried forward. By the time he reached the path the man was +nowhere to be seen. He had evidently reached the cabin, and was no +doubt at the door or listening at the window. Jasper knew that it was +now time for him to act and he at once bounded across the field +straight for his cabin. He had scarcely reached it when the prowler +came suddenly around the corner, and the two met. In an instant Jasper +reached out his hand and caught the man by the shoulder and demanded +what he was doing around his cabin at that time of the night. With an +angry oath, the other tried to free himself from the tightening grip, +and when he failed to do so he struck Jasper a blow right in the face +with the clenched fist of his right hand. + +"Take that, you damned fool," he growled, "and mind your own business." + +Jasper did not wait to argue. In a twinkling he threw himself full +upon the man. His blood surged madly through his veins, for the blow +stung him to fury. His opponent, though he tried to put up a fight, +was as a child in Jasper's hands, and soon he was sprawling upon the +ground with Jasper sitting upon his body. + +"Now, then," the victor calmly remarked, "as you would not answer my +question in a civil manner while standing on your feet, perhaps you +will do it here on the ground. And you will do it before you get up, +remember that, so you might as well speak first as last. Who are you, +and why were you following me up the road and prowling so suspiciously +around my cabin?" + +"I'm a stranger here," was the low reply, "and I was looking for a +place to spend the night. Will that satisfy you?" + +"No, it will not," Jasper emphatically replied. "I believe that you +are lying. What is your name?" + +"Jim Dobbins," was the somewhat hesitating answer. "I am seeking for +work with the Light and Power Company and got astray." + +"Now, look here," and Jasper rose to his feet, "it's no use for you to +string off such lies to me. Your name is Sydney Bramshaw, the artist. +I know who you are, but why you are acting this way I do not know. So +get up now, and clear out of this. If I catch you at any more such +pranks I'll break every bone in your body. You had better mind what +you do while in this place, and keep out of my sight after this." + +Without a word the prostrate man rose to his feet and stood for an +instant as if he would speak. He was trembling with rage, though in +the darkness Jasper could not see the ugly expression upon his face. +Presently he turned and glided away swiftly from the cabin, and was +soon lost to sight. + +Jasper stood for a while and peered through the night. He was almost +tempted to follow the man to be sure that he really departed and was +not hiding among the bushes but a short distance away. He called +himself a fool for letting him off so easily. He should have kept him +until morning to be sure that he would do no mischief under cover of +darkness. At length, however, he entered the cabin and threw himself +upon his cot. He wished to think it all over and keep awake lest the +man should return and wreak vengeance upon him in some under-handed +way. He felt sure now that Lois' opinion of the man was correct, and +that for some unaccountable reason he had a contemptible enemy to deal +with, who would stoop to almost anything to carry out his evil designs, +whatever they might be. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +IN THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION + +It was only natural that the people of Creekdale should have been +greatly excited over the progress made at the falls. They watched +everything with the keenest interest which reached its highest point on +the night of David's arrival home. To see the road so brilliantly +illuminated was both wonderful and puzzling. They all knew that it was +done for "Crazy David's sake," and they could not understand why such a +fuss should be made over his return to the place. + +"It beats me," Andy Forbes remarked to a number of men gathered before +the store. "I'm mighty glad to have the lights there for they make +things around here as bright as day. But why is it done? What has +Crazy David got to do with it? You would think he was a king coming +home instead of a half-cracked old man." + +"But he supplied the plans, didn't he?" one of the men asked in reply. + +"The plans be jiggered!" and Andy gave a contemptuous toss of his head. +"What value do you suppose were his plans? I don't believe the company +ever looked at them." + +"There must be something, though," Ned Travis replied. "David's living +in luxury now, and if the plans were not back of it, I'd like to know +what is. It isn't natural for a big company with unlimited means to +throw away money on an old man like that just for charity." + +"How's Jim Goban feeling these days?" Andy asked. "I haven't seen him +of late." + +"He's a very sick man," Billy Goban answered, at which they all +laughed. "He curses himself every minute day and night for letting +Crazy David out of his clutches. He believes that if he had kept him +he would have come in for a big share of David's good luck." + +"Serves him right," Andy mused as he gazed thoughtfully at the array of +lights before him. "He should be ashamed of himself, and so should we +for that matter for selling that old man to the lowest bidder. It'll +be the last time such a thing takes place in this parish if I can help +it, and I guess I can. It's most degrading, and should be stopped." + +While the people of Creekdale were intensely aroused over the +marvellous progress of the Light and Power Company, the world beyond +was becoming much interested in what was taking place. The day after +David's arrival home the city papers devoted considerable space to the +developments at the falls. They told about the mysterious company and +the old man who had supplied the plans. They gave a most vivid account +of the lighted way and the examples of the harnessed power at the +Haven. They, like the people of Creekdale, could not understand why +such a fuss should be made over David. They hinted that there was some +mystery back of it all, the solving of which would be watched with +considerable interest. + +But the papers had much more to say. They spoke of the great benefit +the city would receive from cheaper light and power, and how the new +company would lower the rates, and perhaps force the city company out +of business altogether. They deemed it a day of great things when +people would not be compelled to pay such prices as hitherto, and how +industries of all kinds would increase and flourish. A table of rates +was appended showing the difference between the rates of the old +company and the new. + +It was with much satisfaction that David read these accounts to the +captain as they sat out upon the verandah. He was a happy man that +day, and when he was through with his reading he leaned back in his +chair and remained silent for a long time. The captain watched him +somewhat curiously as he puffed away at his pipe. Presently he took +the pipe from his mouth and allowed it to go out, which was a most +unusual thing for him. He even stared at David as if he had never seen +him before. What his thoughts were he kept to himself, but he observed +the old man now more closely than ever and studied his face most +carefully. + +They had been sitting on the verandah for about half an hour, when +Sydney Bramshaw strolled up to the house, with his easel under his arm. +He looked none the worse for his experience with Jasper and was most +affable as he accosted David, who at once introduced him to the captain. + +"You have a beautiful place here, sir," he remarked to the invalid. "I +have been fascinated with the scenery and have done considerable work +since my arrival. May I have the privilege of sketching this +delightful cottage? It will make a fine picture, I am sure." + +"Sketch away all you like," the captain replied. "It is a beautiful +spot, if I do say it, and it can't be beat anywhere." + +From the moment the captain had set eyes upon the artist he was sure +that he had seen him before. Just where it was he could not at first +recall, but suddenly it flashed into his mind, and with it a train of +thoughts which excited him more than was his wont. He looked at David +and then at the artist, and for a moment he closed his eyes as memories +drifted upon him. What was this man doing here? he asked himself. He +longed to question Bramshaw, but desisted, determined to await future +developments. Nevertheless, he was very quiet during the rest of the +day, which made his wife and Betty think that he was not well. + +"You are not sick, are you?" Mrs. Peterson asked. + +"Not at all," was the reply. "I am only thinking." + +"Maybe he's got something in his head just like Mr. David," Betty +suggested. + +"Maybe I have, girl," the captain laughed. "But I'm afraid the thing +that I've got won't make as much money as his. Where is Mr. David now?" + +"He's with that artist over there, watching him sketch this house. He +likes the man, for he talks to him so much about the falls. I don't +like him; his face frightens me." + +The captain made no reply to these words but gazed meditatively out +over the fields long after Mrs. Peterson and Betty had left him. He +was trying to piece together a number of fragmentary incidents which +were revolving in his mind, and to ascertain how they were related. + +"I'm sure 'twas on that trip," he muttered, "But darn it all, why can't +I remember what he said. He was always talking and boasting about one +thing and another. Hello, by jingo, I've got it!" and the captain gave +such a whoop that both Mrs. Peterson and Betty came running from the +kitchen to see what was the matter. + +"It's nothing," the captain growled, disgusted with himself for +attracting attention when he wanted to be alone, "I was just thinking, +that's all. Can't a man whoop when he wants to without everybody +rushing around him like mad?" + +"It all depends on what kind of a whoop it is, Robert," his wife +replied. "We couldn't tell whether you had gone out of your mind or +had fallen off the verandah." + +"It's that thing in his brain which did it, Mrs. Peterson," Betty +explained. "Mr. David acted queer sometimes, though he never hollered +out. It must be something great, Captain," she added, "which made you +yelp like that." + +"It certainly was, girl," and the captain smiled. "I feel better now, +though, so you women needn't worry about me." + +The next morning David told Betty that he had made up his mind to visit +the falls. He said that he wished to see for himself the wonderful +changes which had been made there. Betty was delighted and at once set +to work to prepare the luncheon they were to take with them. + +"We'll find a nice cosy place along the brook and have a picnic there," +she told Mrs. Peterson. + +"I'm afraid there will not be many cosy places," was the reply. "You +must be prepared for great changes up the brook." + +David and Betty were like two children off for a holiday as they left +the Haven and walked gaily down the lane toward the main highway. It +was a perfect morning, and the perfume of clover from the expansive +meadows scented the air. Birds were darting here and there or +twittering from the branches of the trees. A short distance from the +road, and partly concealed, a white tent nestled among the trees, +though no sign of the artist was to be seen. Betty breathed a sigh of +relief when they were past. She did not wish to see Bramshaw, to whom +she had taken such a violent dislike. She wondered where he was at +that time of the morning. Perhaps he was still asleep, she thought, +for she knew that he prowled about late at night. + +The tent was a small one, such as is generally used by campers. It was +in a beautiful situation, and it was so placed that it commanded an +excellent view of the Haven and the lane leading to it. It was a +common occurrence for people from the city to camp along the river +during the summer months, and people did not wonder about this one +among the trees. They all knew that Bramshaw was an artist of some +note, and they felt rather pleased that he had come to Creekdale to +obtain some pictures. + +"I am glad we didn't meet that artist this morning," Petty remarked +after they had left the tent out of sight. + +"I cannot understand your dislike to the man," David replied. "He has +been so civil to us both, and he is very fond of hearing about the work +at the falls, and how the whole community will be benefited." + +"I can't help it, Mr. David," and Betty twirled the sunbonnet she was +carrying in her hand, as was often her custom. "He may be all right, +but I don't like him. I wish he would go away and never come back. +Isn't it strange how some people spoil everything? We are so happy +this morning because we are going to the falls together, and yet as +soon as I think of that man I shiver. I don't understand it at all." + +"You'll get over it in time, Betty," David replied. "But, see, what a +change they have made in our path. Why, it's a regular road now." + +"I don't like it one bit," Betty protested. "It isn't half as nice as +it was before. I hope they haven't touched my rock. If they have, +somebody's going to get a big scolding." + +Talking thus and passing remarks upon everything they saw, the two +moved slowly along the newly-made road. Several freighting teams +passed them and the drivers looked with interest upon the old man and +the bright-faced girl. + +"They all know you, Mr. David," Betty remarked. "Did you notice how +the men lifted their hats!" + +"They did it to you, girl," was the reply. "Why should they do such a +thing to me?" + +"Because you are great, that is why. They all know of the wonderful +thing you had in your head. Oh!" she suddenly exclaimed, stopping +short in her tracks. + +"What is the matter?" David asked. + +"They have taken away my rock! Look, there are only little pieces of +it left." + +"They needed it, no doubt, for the works up there, Betty. You must not +mind when it has been put to such good use." + +Betty, nevertheless, felt badly, and for a while she ceased her +chattering and walked along quietly by her companion's side. At length +they came to a place where the road left the path and swung to the +right. + +"Isn't this nice!" Betty exclaimed. "Some of our dear old path is +left, anyway, and we can follow it and forget that any changes have +been made." + +The path ran close to the brook and after they had followed this for +several hundred yards through a growth of young birches and maples, +they came to a clearing which had been made since they were last there. +Above them was the road, and on its lower side was a large pile of big +poles ready to be rolled into the brook. + +"I wonder what they left them there for?" David enquired. + +"Oh, I know," Betty replied. "Mr. Jasper told us, don't you remember, +that they left a lot of poles to be used along the brook. They must be +the ones." + +"So he did tell us that," the old man mused. "Your memory is better +than mine. Suppose we sit down here and rest a while. That walk has +tired me." + +"There's a nice place right in front of that big stump close to the +brook," and Betty pointed with her finger. "We can rest there and eat +a part of our lunch." + +When they had reached the place Betty began to unpack the basket. +First of all she spread down a white cloth, and then laid out the +sandwiches and cake. Then she paused, and a look of dismay overspread +her face. + +"We forgot to bring anything to drink!" she exclaimed. "I had the milk +all ready in the bottle and came away without it. What shall we do?" + +"Oh, never mind," David replied. "We can drink some of this brook +water, can we not?" + +"No, it's nasty. It's too warm. I know," and she reached for two tin +cups. "There's a nice cool spring just up the brook. I have often got +water there. You keep off the flies from the food. I won't be a +minute." + +Leaving David, Betty hurried up along the edge of the brook until she +reached the spring bubbling out of the bank. Filling the cups she made +her way back as carefully as possible so as not to spill any of the +water. She had just reached the edge of the clearing when a strange +sound fell upon her ears. It startled her, and looking up, her face +blanched with terror, for coming down the steep bank was one of the +large poles which had been separated from its companions. It was only +a few seconds in making the descent, but in that brief space of time a +world of thought crowded into Betty's excited brain. She saw David +sitting right in the track of death, unconscious of impending doom. +Betty tried to shout, to rush forward to rescue him, but no words came +from her lips, and her feet seemed glued to the ground. Rapidly the +pole sped down the bank, and then just when but a score of feet from +the helpless old man it struck the large stump in its onward sweep. +With a wild bound it leaped high and like a mighty catapult hurled +itself through the air over David's head and fell with a terrific crash +into the brook below. + +At first a wild scream of terror escaped Betty's lips, followed +instantly by a cry of joy as she rushed forward, seized the hand of the +bewildered old man and led him to a place of safety near the edge of +the forest. Then her strength deserted her, and she sank down upon the +ground and wept like a child. + +"Oh, Mr. David, Mr. David," she sobbed, "you were nearly killed. Oh, +oh, oh! Wasn't it awful!" + +"There, there, Betty, don't feel so badly," and David stroked her hair +in a gentle manner. "I'm all right now, so why should you cry?" + +"But I can't help it," the girl moaned. "I was sure you would be +killed, and I could do nothing to save you." + +"Strange," her companion mused, "what started that log just as I was +sitting there. It must have been loose and ready to start at the least +motion." + +"Let us go home," and Betty rose suddenly to her feet. "I don't want +to stay here any longer. The place is not like it used to be. I do +not feel safe. There seems to be danger everywhere." + +Hurrying as fast as possible across the open space and casting +apprehensive glances up the bank lest another pole should take a sudden +notion to come down, they soon reached the woods beyond. + +"There, I feel safer now," Betty panted. "Those poles can't touch us, +anyway." + +"I did want to see the falls," David replied, "and I am quite +disappointed. But I do not feel able to try the trip again as it tires +me too much." + +"Suppose we ask Mr. Jasper to drive you there," Betty suggested. "I +know he will be only too pleased to do it. Isn't it funny we didn't +think of that before?" + +"That is a good idea," David assented. "Maybe he will do it to-morrow. +But what's the matter, girl?" he demanded, looking with surprise upon +Betty, who had suddenly stopped and was staring down upon the brook +through an opening among the trees. + +"Look," she whispered, pointing with her finger, "there is that artist +sketching down below. He doesn't know we are here, so let us be as +quiet as possible." + +"Well, why should he startle you?" David enquired. "He is not +troubling us. I'm not afraid of him. In fact, I feel inclined to go +and have a talk with him." + +"Don't, please don't," and the girl laid her right hand imploringly on +his arm. "Let us go home at once, for I feel shaky all over." + +"Very well, then," David assented. "But I wish you would get over your +foolish notion about that man. He is merely a harmless artist who has +come to this place to get some good pictures. Why can't you be +sensible?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +RESCUED + +Jasper had charge of fixing the poles and stretching the wires for +light and power between the city and the falls, as well as throughout +the country wherever it was planned to extend them. Gangs of men were +at work along the lines, and Jasper was kept busy moving from place to +place giving instructions and supervising everything. The entire +responsibility rested upon him, and he wished to prove worthy of the +trust. + +The afternoon when David and Betty were up the brook, Jasper remained +closer than usual to Creekdale, where a number of men were working. +Opposite them a small island nestled out in the river, called "Emerald" +Island by reason of its rich covering of fir, pine and birch trees. As +a rule, Jasper paid strict attention to his duties, but to-day his mind +often wandered and he would stand gazing out over the water to the +island beyond. + +As the afternoon wore away he became quite restless and watched the +river most anxiously. A wind had sprung up, which, gentle at first, +increased steadily into a gale. The water soon became rough and great +white-caps rolled up-stream, especially heavy where the tide was +strongest. + +At length, leaving his men he went to the shore and stood close to the +watery edge. He looked more down the river than formerly, as if +expecting some one from that direction. But occasionally he cast his +eyes off toward the island and breathed more freely after each look. +He often consulted his watch as he now paced up and down the beach. + +"What can be keeping that fellow?" he muttered. "He should have been +here an hour ago. Surely he's not tied up on account of the wind. I +gave him strict instructions to come back as soon as possible. If he +does not----Hello, there he is now," and his face brightened as he gave +a sigh of relief. + +Coming up the river was a big boat used for rafting purposes containing +one man. Volumes of spray leaped high as she surged through the water +driven by a seven horse-power engine. This craft was used for towing +logs and poles, and for the carrying of supplies to the various camps. + +"You're late, Tom," Jasper remarked as the boat's bow touched the shore +where he was standing. "I expected you an hour ago." + +"It was the wind, sir," was the reply. "A number of logs broke loose +from the raft and I had a hard time to collect them. There's a heavy +sea runnin' below the Bar." + +"It's bad out there, too," and Jasper pointed off toward the island. + +"Sure thing," the man replied, turning partly around. "There's a boat +leavin' the island now. Surely it's not goin' to try to run over." + +"Where is it?" Jasper demanded. + +"Look," and Tom stretched out his long right arm, "ye kin just see it. +There, it's plainer now." + +The only answer Jasper made was to give the boat a vigorous push from +the shore, leap aboard, seize the wheel and order Tom to start the +engine. In a few seconds they were cutting their way rapidly through +the water straight for the big white-caps beyond. Tom asked no +questions, but attended to the engine. It was all in the day's work to +him, and this was much easier than towing logs. + +From the moment he had seized the wheel Jasper had not taken his eyes +off of the little boat away in the distance. He could see that it was +in the rough water and was pitching about in an alarming manner. It +seemed to be beyond control and was drifting rapidly toward the rougher +water of the main channel. + +"We are going very slow, Tom," he remarked. "Can't we do any better?" + +"She's runnin' full speed," was the reply. "I'd like to slow down a +bit, for we're gettin' soaked." + +"Never mind the water, Tom. I wish you could make her go as fast +again. Oh! did you see that?" + +"See what?" + +"The way that little boat pitched. I thought she had swamped." + +It did not really take them more than ten minutes to run across that +stretch of water, but to Jasper it seemed much longer. The boat +pounded and threshed her way forward, shipping water at every plunge, +keeping Tom busy with the small suction pump. At last, however, it was +easy for Jasper to see two women sitting in the drifting boat. That +they were helpless and had given up all attempt to reach the shore was +quite evident. One was seated astern, and the other was holding the +oars in her hands, but making no use of them. Jasper's heart beat +quicker as he watched her, for he well knew what a struggle she must +have made before giving up in despair. + +"They're women!" Tom exclaimed in astonishment. "What in the devil are +they doin' out here!" + +"Shut up, and attend to your engine," Jasper sternly ordered. + +They were quite close now, and the women saw them. As they approached +Jasper could see Lois' face turned toward him and it was very white. + +"Sit still," he shouted, and then he motioned to Tom to slow down. +"Stop her," he presently ordered, and soon they were drifting up close +to the little boat. + +It took Lois and Margaret but a few seconds to step on board of the +rafting boat, and then their own craft was taken in tow. There was no +time for words now, as Jasper had all he could do to handle his own +boat, for she was rolling heavily as he swung her around and headed for +the shore. Running almost broadside to the waves a great deal of water +was shipped, which kept Tom busy at the pump. + +Jasper had no time to pay any attention to the women, but he +intuitively knew that Lois was watching him. He was really happier +than he had been for days, and he was so pleased that he had been of +some service to the woman he loved. This was the second time he had +rescued her from the water, and his mind went back to the experience up +the brook below the falls. There was no Sammie Dingle present now to +mar his pleasure, for which he was most thankful. + +It did not take the boat long to run to the Sinclair shore, and here in +a snug place, safe from the wind, she was beached. + +"We can never thank you for what you have done for us to-day," Lois +remarked as she and Margaret walked with Jasper to the house. "You +have saved our lives." + +"Don't thank me," Jasper replied. "It was a pleasure for me to do what +I did." + +"But how did you know we were out there?" Margaret asked. + +"It was Tom who saw you first and pointed your boat out to me. He is +the one you should thank." + +"But why was Tom looking toward the island?" Lois enquired. "Your +explanation does not satisfy me." + +"Do you imagine that I was spying upon your little outing?" Jasper +questioned. + +"Not exactly spying. I don't like that word. But you must have known +that we were there." + +"Yes, I did. I saw you go over this afternoon, and when the wind +sprang up it was only natural to suppose you would have trouble in +getting home. That is all there is about it." + +"And so you kept watch, and then came to our assistance?" + +"Yes." + +Lois said no more just then, but walked quietly to the house. She was +doing considerable thinking, however, and when she and Margaret went +upstairs to change their wet clothes, she again referred to the matter. + +"It is just like him," Margaret remarked. "He knew that we were over +there and that our lives would be in danger on the water. Not many men +would have thought of such a thing." + +Lois made no reply, but there was a deep happiness in her heart. She +believed that Jasper had been thinking of her throughout the day and +that she was always much in his mind. Margaret somewhat divined her +thoughts and twined her arms around her neck. + +"I believe he thinks a great deal of you, dear," she said, "and I am so +glad. It is only natural, for who could resist you? You are as sweet +and loveable as can be. If I were a man I am sure I would fall in love +with you the first time I met you." + +"You did it, anyway, didn't you?" Lois asked, in order to hide her +embarrassment. "But there is the car," she added. "I wonder what +brings father home so early?" + +Going downstairs, they found Mr. Sinclair and Jasper seated upon the +verandah in a corner protected from the wind by heavy vines. + +"You are early to-day, Father," Lois remarked as she gave him the +customary kiss. "We generally have to wait dinner for you." + +"It is quite necessary that I should get back early, from what I have +heard about you young women," was the reply. "It is hardly safe to +leave you alone." + +"So you know all about our narrow escape, then," and Lois looked +enquiringly into his face. She believed that Jasper must have been +telling him, and it somehow disappointed her. She did not think that +he would be the first one to talk about the rescue he had made. + +"Oh, yes, I learned all about it before I got home," Mr. Sinclair +explained. "The men down the road saw it all, and then when Tom took +the boat back he gave them the full details. You must be very careful +after this, Lois, about going over to the island. You might not always +have a rescuer handy as you had to-day." + +Lois did not reply. She was glad that Jasper had not told, and she was +sorry that she had judged him wrongly. She might have known better, so +she mused. + +Mr. Sinclair was in excellent spirits. He had changed a great deal +since his illness and had become more like a father to her than he had +ever been before. He entered more into the life of his family, and his +old sternness passed away. Lois wondered what brought him back so +early from the city. She asked no questions, however, feeling sure +that he would explain the reason in due time. + +She did not in fact have long to wait, for after they were all seated +at dinner Mr. Sinclair looked quizzically into his daughter's face. + +"I know you are puzzling your brain why I came home so early," he +began. "Now, are you not?" + +"I certainly am," Lois laughingly replied. "Margaret and I have been +having all kinds of surmises." + +"I've done a great stroke of business to-day," Mr. Sinclair continued, +"and it has lifted a heavy burden from my mind. Can any of you guess +what it is?" + +"Bought a new tract of timber, Dad," Dick replied. "I can't think of +anything that would please you better than that." + +"No, it's not that." + +"Maybe you've found some work for Dick to do," Lois suggested. "That +would certainly be a great stroke of business." + +"Come, come, Lois," her brother remonstrated. "You seem to think that +I have nothing to do." + +"Haven't I good reason to think so?" + +"No, it's not that," Mr. Sinclair intervened. "You're a long way off." + +"Have you bought out the new Light and Power Company?" Jasper asked. + +"No, no," and Mr. Sinclair chuckled as he went on with his dinner. He +was enjoying immensely the little game. + +"I think I know what it is," and Margaret looked intently into his +face. "You have sold out to the Break Neck Light and Power Company." + +"How in the world did you know that?" Mr. Sinclair asked in surprise. +"Why, I thought it was a dead secret." + +"So it was in a way," Margaret smilingly replied. "But, you see, I am +supposed to know a little of what is going on." + +"And your father told you about it, did he?" + +"Yes. I have known for some time that he was hoping you would sell +out, and thus avoid trouble." + +"Is it possible, Father," Lois asked, "that you have sold out all your +interest in the City Light and Power Company?" + +"We've all sold out, and at such a figure that we are much satisfied." + +"Oh, I am so glad," and Margaret clasped her hands before her. "I was +afraid that there might be trouble between you and father, and I did +not want that." + +"There is no danger of that now," Mr. Sinclair replied, "though there +was at one time. I never believed that the matter could be so +satisfactorily arranged, for I had no idea that the new company would +be willing to come to our terms." + +Margaret said nothing more, and while the others talked she took no +part in the conversation. She very well knew why the matter had been +so amicably settled, and she smiled to herself as she thought of the +several long conversations she and her father had had together. But +for her interference nothing would have been done, she was well aware +of that. She remembered how stubborn her father had been when she +first suggested the idea to him. But after he had considered it most +carefully he realised what a good business proposition it would be. + +"I believe Margaret is getting home-sick," Dick remarked. + +"Why, what makes you think that?" she asked, somewhat startled by the +question. + +"Because you are so quiet. You haven't said a word for the last five +minutes." + +"She hasn't had much chance," Lois laughingly replied. "You have been +doing most of the talking, Dick." + +"Have I?" and the young man opened his eyes wide in apparent amazement. +"But I am going to be silent now and let Margaret tell my fortune. She +is a dandy at that," and he handed over his cup as he spoke. + +"Oh, I have told your fortune so often," was the reply, "that it is +getting to be an old story now." + +"Won't you tell me mine?" Jasper asked, passing his cup. "I should +like to know what's in store for me." + +Margaret took the cup in her hand and gazed at it thoughtfully for a +few seconds. + +"Do you really wish to know?" she asked. + +"Certainly." + +"Well, then, I see great trouble ahead of you." + +"Whew!" Dick whistled. "This is getting serious. You'd better be +careful, Spuds." + +"Yes," Margaret continued, "I see a big black cloud, and it entirely +surrounds you." + +"Does it pass away?" Lois questioned, now much interested. + +"I can not altogether tell." + +"He's going to have a nightmare," Dick bantered, at which they all +laughed. + +"I hope there's nothing in your prophecy," Jasper remarked. "If I were +at all superstitious I might worry a great deal over what you say." + +"Look here, Lois," and Dick turned to his sister, "is there a hole in +that tea-strainer? For pity sakes get a new one, and don't let so many +grounds get through in the future. We don't want any more clouds." + +When dinner was over they all went out on the verandah. It was a +beautiful evening, for the wind had subsided, and the river stretched +out before them like a huge mirror. + +"How I should like to be out there now," Lois remarked, as she gazed +pensively upon the water. "Suppose we go for a row?" + +"I should think you'd be sick and tired of the river after your +experience to-day," Dick replied. "I prefer the car to a boat any +time." + +"With all the enjoyment of dust, noise, and smell of gasoline thrown +in," his sister sarcastically retorted. + +"I guess you were most thankful to smell gasoline to-day, though, when +Spuds picked you up in that old tub of his. Now, weren't you?" + +Before Lois could reply Betty suddenly appeared before them. Her face +was flushed, and she was panting as if she had been running fast. + +"I have only a minute to spare," she explained, "for Mr. David doesn't +know I have left him. He wants to see you, Mr. Jasper, and so I have +come before it gets too late. I am afraid to come out after dark now." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +GATHERING CLOUDS + +Jasper did not like the idea of leaving such agreeable company and +going with Betty. It was so pleasant to be near Lois, and he was +hoping that they might have a quiet little conversation together. Why +could not David wait? There was surely nothing of great importance +that he wished to see him about. No doubt he wanted to ask him some +questions concerning the progress of the work at the falls. He could +call in on his way home and have a chat with him. + +These thoughts ran quickly through his mind as he sat there watching +Betty. But something in the girl's face told him that he had better go +at once, and so he rose from his chair. + +"Won't you come back again?" Lois asked. "It is go early that surely +Mr. David will not keep you all the evening." + +"I'm afraid not," was the reluctant reply. "I shall go over to my +cabin and get a good sleep. I was up late last night looking after +that raft of poles which we took down river to-day." + +Lois had the feeling that something was wrong, and she longed to go to +the Haven and find out what it was. She was almost tempted to leave +the rest and accompany Jasper and Betty. She banished this idea, +however, thinking that after all there was nothing over which she +should worry. But in a twinkling there flashed into her mind the words +Margaret had so lightly spoken over the tea-cup. "I see a big black +cloud, and it entirely surrounds you." Why did those words come to her +now? she asked herself, and why should she have that strange foreboding +of impending trouble? So strong was this impression that she was +inclined to hurry after Jasper and give him warning. She did nothing +of the kind, however, but during the remainder of the evening she was +quieter than usual and took little part in any conversation. + +Jasper walked by Betty's side along the road leading to the main +highway. + +"How did you know where I was?" he presently asked her. + +"We saw you this afternoon out on the river saving Miss Lois and Miss +Margaret." + +"Why, where were you?" + +"Mr. David and I were up on the hill. We had just come back from a +walk up the brook. Mr. David was tired after his excitement, and so we +sat down to rest. It was then that we saw you." + +"What made Mr. David excited?" Jasper enquired. "I suppose it was the +great change he saw at the falls, was it?" + +"Oh, no, not that. It was the rolling log which did it. You see, Mr. +David was nearly killed this afternoon." + +At these words Jasper stopped short and looked keenly into Betty's face. + +"Nearly killed! What do you mean?" he demanded. + +"Yes, that was it." Then in a few words the girl told him what had +happened up the brook that afternoon, and of old David's narrow escape. + +For a while Jasper walked slowly along the road after Betty had +finished. He was greatly puzzled, for he could not believe that any +log would become loosened at the exact moment when David was directly +in front of it unless there was something to start it on its downward +course. + +"Did you see any men working near the logs when you were there?" he at +length asked. + +"I didn't see any," was the reply. "But we met several teams on our +way up." + +"And you saw no one near the place at all?" + +"We didn't see any one near where we were going to have our lunch, but +as we were coming home we saw the artist down by our brook." + +"You did? And where was he?" + +"Not far from Pyramid Rock. I don't think he saw us, for we hurried by +as fast as we could." + +"Why did you do that?" + +"Because I'm afraid of him." + +"What, did he ever do anything to frighten you?" + +"No. But he makes me shiver all over. I can't understand why it is." + +Jasper found David crouched in his big easy chair near the open window +facing the falls. His eyes brightened as the young man entered and sat +down by his side. + +"It is good of you to come," David began, "for I have been anxious to +speak to you ever since we came back from up the brook. You may go," +and he motioned Betty to the door. "I wish to be alone for a while +with Mr. Randall." + +He waited until the door had closed behind the girl, and then turned +his eyes upon his visitor's face. Jasper noted the worry there, and at +once connected it with his experience up the brook that afternoon. + +"Has Betty told you?" and David laid his right hand gently upon +Jasper's arm. + +"About the rolling log, and your narrow escape this afternoon?" + +David nodded. + +"Yes, she told me about it on our way here. I am so thankful that you +were not hurt." + +"I might have been killed! It was nothing less than a miracle that I +escaped." + +"It has shaken you up a great deal, so I see. But you will be all +right after a good night's sleep. Your nerves are somewhat unstrung +now." + +"Perhaps so," the old man mused. "But I feel uneasy. It may be the +shock, as you suggest. But there is something in my heart that I +cannot explain. I never had such a feeling before, and I thought that +perhaps you could help me." + +"In what way?" Jasper asked, as David paused as if groping for the +right words. + +"It appears as if everything is about to slip away from me. I seem +to-night as if about to start on a long mysterious journey, and that I +shall never return. People call me crazy, and perhaps they have good +reason for doing so. You may think the same, and especially so now as +you listen to my words. But I cannot help this peculiar notion that +possesses me and almost overwhelms me with strange forebodings. It may +be the outcome of a mind diseased, who knows? My great concern, +though, is in connection with the work at the falls. I have the +feeling that in some way I am necessary to its welfare. I do not wish +it to stop, and I want you to promise me to-night that if anything +should happen to me that you will take my place, and be keenly +interested in it." + +"I do not see how I can take your place, for that is not in my power. +But take a deep interest in all that goes on up there I certainly +shall, and be as deeply interested in its progress as you have been." + +"Ah, you can never be interested in it as I am," and David's eyes +glowed with the intensity of his old-time devotion. "Can any one be as +much interested in the growth and progress of a child as its parents? +My child is up there," and he stretched out his arm toward the falls. +"For it I have longed and suffered. It is bone of my bone and flesh of +my flesh. My heart's blood is there." + +Jasper now felt certain that the old man's mind was really unbalanced. +He attributed it to the excitement of his narrow escape that afternoon. +A good sleep would refresh him, and he would be all right in the +morning. He rose to his feet and took David's hand in his. + +"I must go now," he said. "We both need sleep. I was up late last +night, and so must go home early to get a good rest. You had better do +the same." + + "I don't want to sleep," David emphatically replied. +"My mind is too much upset to rest. But if you must go let me walk a +short way with you. Perhaps the cool night air will refresh me. Wait +a moment until I put on my coat and hat. Betty will be angry if I go +without them." + +Then he suddenly paused and caught Jasper fiercely by the arm. + +"Do you hear them?" he asked. "Listen," and he held up his right hand. + +In the old man's eyes had come a peculiar light, and his manner +reminded Jasper of the first night he had met him on the road when he +had rescued him from the speeding auto. + +"Do you hear them?" David repeated. "My beautiful falls, my beautiful +falls. What sweeter music than the sound of your rushing water. +People have been deaf to your luring voice. I alone have listened and +understood. They called me a fool and said I was crazy, ha, ha! But +they know better now. They have seen what my beautiful falls can do. +Light and power! Light and power! The world transformed. Burdens +lifted from weary shoulders; homes transformed, and the hearts of all +made glad." + +He was standing in the middle of the room as he uttered these words, +and Jasper noted how the fire of excitement was increasing in intensity. + +"Come," and he laid his hand upon his companion's arm as he spoke, "let +us go for a walk." + +"Hush! Listen!" he cried, unheeding Jasper's words. "There it is +again! Do you hear it? It's coming from the valley; it has winged its +way across the sea. Ha, ha, he will hear it and tremble. But, wait, +he is not there; he is in hell. Yes, that's where he is--in hell! +Where else could he be?" + +David's voice had risen to a shriek as he uttered the last words. +Jasper stared at him in amazement. What did he mean by such strange +utterances? Surely the man was out of his mind. + +"Come," he again ordered, "let us leave the house and go for a walk. +You will feel better out in the cool air." + +Taking him by the arm Jasper led him out upon the verandah and down the +steps. The twilight was deepening fast, and a quiet peace had settled +over the land. Away to the right the trees on the high hills were +clearly silhouetted against the evening sky. At any other time Jasper +would have stood and revelled in the beauty of his surroundings. But +now he was too much concerned about the man at his side to think about +such things. From the time they left the house until they reached the +main highway David talked incessantly. He was greatly excited, and +gesticulated at almost every word. + +At length he stopped, placed his right hand to his forehead, and looked +around. + +"What have I been saying?" he asked in a calmer voice. "It seems to me +that I have been in a strange country seeing all kinds of things." + +"You are all right now," Jasper replied. "You certainly have been +raving at a great rate." + +"Have I?" the old man queried, and he lapsed into a momentary silence. +"Peculiar feelings come over me at times. The fresh air of night has +done me much good. I shall walk a short way with you along the road." + +David was now a pleasant companion, and Jasper enjoyed talking to him. +He enquired about the progress of the work at the falls and asked +numerous questions. Not once did he refer to the dark forebodings +which had possessed him at the Haven, and Jasper believed that he had +forgotten about them. + +"I think I shall return now," he said after they had walked some +distance. + +"Shall I go back with you?" Jasper asked. + +"Not at all. I shall enjoy the walk alone. You are tired and should +get home at once. So, good night. I hope to see you again soon." + +Jasper stood and watched him until the darkness swallowed him up. Then +he made his way along the road to his own lonely house. He was very +tired, but he found it difficult to get to sleep. The strange words +which David had uttered kept running constantly through his mind. When +he did at last fall into a fitful slumber, he was beset by a dreadful +monster, which was slowly crushing him to pieces while he was unable to +do anything to save himself. + +He was aroused from this nightmare by a loud pounding upon the door. +At first he imagined it was some one coming to his relief. Half dazed +he groped his way across the room, threw open the door and peered out +into the night. + +"Who's there?" he demanded. + +"It's only me," came a voice which he recognised at once as Betty's. +"Oh, Mr. Jasper, have you seen Mr. David?" she asked. + +"Seen Mr. David!" Jasper exclaimed in surprise. "I haven't seen him +since I left him last night on the road near the Haven. Didn't he go +home?" + +"No, he didn't, and that's the reason I'm here. I waited up for him +and when he didn't come back, I started out to find him." + +"You stay there a minute," Jasper ordered, as he closed the door and +turned back into the room. Lighting a lamp, he was astonished to find +that it was near midnight. It took him but a few moments to dress, and +then he again threw open the door and stepped out into the night. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +MYSTERY + +By the light streaming through the doorway Jasper could see that +Betty's face was very pale. She was greatly agitated as well, and her +teeth chattered as she spoke. + +"You have been running hard," Jasper remarked. "You had better come in +and rest awhile." + +"No, no," the girl protested. "Don't let us wait a minute. We must +find Mr. David!" + +"Are you sure he isn't home?" Jasper asked. + +"Yes, I am sure he isn't there." + +"But he may have slipped in and you didn't hear him." + +"No, no, he couldn't have done it. I was listening and watching every +minute for him to come back. I am certain I would have seen him." + +"Does Mrs. Peterson know where you are?" + +"No. She was asleep when I left. I only intended, to come a short +distance for I was sure that I would meet Mr. David coming back. But +when I didn't, I came all the way here. Oh, let us go at once." + +Jasper stepped back into the room, and put out the light. He was about +to close the door when he paused. + +"Wait a minute," he said, "until I get my lantern. We can't do +anything without a light. Mr. David may have fainted by the side of +the road. He is an old man, you know." + +It did not take Jasper long to get the lantern, and soon they were +speeding across the field toward the main highway. He noticed that +Betty kept very close to him, and as they drew near the Haven she +seemed to be trembling violently. She started often, and Jasper +wondered what was the matter with her. + +"Were you not frightened to come all the way alone?" he asked. + +"Not at first," was the reply. "But I was frightened after a while and +I ran hard." + +"What frightened you? Were you afraid of the dark?" + +"No--yes," Betty faltered. Jasper wondered at her answer, but made no +comment. + +All along the road they watched most carefully, thinking they might +find David. Especially careful was this search as they neared the +Haven but not a trace of him could they find. + +The Petersons were greatly concerned over the missing man. The captain +suggested that the neighbours should be notified and a search-party +should start out at once. As this seemed the only thing to do, Jasper +hurried to the village and aroused Andy Forbes from his slumbers. It +took the storekeeper several minutes to grasp the significance of the +affair, and Jasper had to do considerable explaining. + +"So you tell me that Crazy David is lost?" he at length queried. + +"Certainly. Isn't that what I have been trying to tell you? We must +get a search-party out after him at once. I fear that evil has +befallen the old man. He may be wandering off in the woods somewhere, +as his mind seems to be uncertain at times." + +"I'm afraid we can't do much to-night," and Andy scratched his head in +perplexity. "However, I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can get a bunch +of men together before morning." + +"That's good," Jasper encouraged. "You round up the men here, and I'll +go to the camp down the road. There are several men there and I'll get +one of them to hurry to the falls and bring in all the men. I feel +responsible for the welfare of David as I had strict instructions to +look after him. If anything has befallen him I shall never forgive +myself." + +It took Jasper over an hour to go to the camp and bring back a half +dozen men. In the meantime a dozen or more had left the village with +lanterns to begin the search. These he met up the road. They had +searched every nook and corner, but had found no trace of the missing +one. + +"It's no use hunting when it is so dark," Andy informed him. "We might +as well look for a needle in a hay-stack. I move that we wait until +morning." + +This suggestion was carried out, and while most of the men went back to +their homes in order to get something to eat, Jasper made his way to +the Haven. Mrs. Peterson met him at the door and her face bore a +worried expression. + +"Have you found him?" she enquired. "We have been so uneasy." + +"No," was the reply. "We must wait until morning. It is no use +groping about in the dark. Where is Betty?" + +"She's in Mr. David's room. I am so anxious about her. She has been +crying and wringing her hands ever since you left. I cannot tell what +has come over the girl." + +"She is fretting about David, no doubt." + +"Yes, that may account for some of her grief," and Mrs. Peterson's eyes +rested thoughtfully upon the floor. "But there's something else +troubling her, mark my word. She's been nearly frightened to death +over something, and the way she sits and shivers at times is hard for +me to stand." + +"But won't she tell you what's the matter?" Jasper asked. + +"I have asked her over and over again, but she always shakes her head, +and falls to sobbing and moaning worse than ever. Poor child, I feel +so sorry for her." + +"It is strange," Jasper mused. "May I see her? Perhaps it is only the +excitement that is troubling her." + +Betty's face brightened somewhat as Jasper entered the room. This was +for only an instant, however, and then she buried her face in her hands +and sobbed as if her heart would break. + +"Betty, Betty, what is the matter?" Jasper asked. "Tell me what is +worrying you?" + +"It's about Mr. David!" she moaned. "He's lost and I'm sure he's dead!" + +"But we hope to find him," Jasper soothed. "Just as soon as it is +light enough we are going to continue our search for him. He must have +wandered away into the woods, and no doubt we shall soon find him. +There is something else troubling you, is there not? Won't you tell me +what it is?" + +But the girl shook her head, and try as he might Jasper could not +induce her to talk. She was determined to remain obstinately silent. + +There was but one person to whom Jasper felt he could turn for +assistance, and that was Lois. He had thought of her before, and +wondered if she had heard the news of David's disappearance. He felt +that it was unlikely as no one would think of carrying the news there. +As he stood for a few minutes looking upon Betty who was sitting before +him the very embodiment of abject misery, he believed that Lois was the +only one who could comfort her, and perhaps induce her to reveal the +cause of her unusual state of agitation. Telling the girl to be brave, +and to keep up hope for David's safe return, he left the Haven and +hastened down the road toward the main highway, and then took a short +cut across the field toward the Sinclair house. Far off in the east +light was breaking above the horizon, and he knew that in a short time +the search would again begin for the missing man, and he must be there. + +Not a sign of life could he observe around the place, and he wondered +how he could awaken Lois and not disturb the whole household. As he +drew near the verandah he noticed that a light shone from one of the +upstairs windows. Whether it was Lois' room or not he could not tell, +but scarcely had he stepped upon the verandah and tapped gently upon +the door, ere it was opened and Lois stood before him, dressed in her +out-of-door clothes. + +"What's the matter?" she asked before Jasper had time to say a word. + +"Have you heard anything?" Jasper enquired, + +"No, nothing," was the reply. "But I saw the lights near the Haven and +along the road and felt sure that something was wrong." + +Jasper noted that Lois' face was very pale, and that she was trembling +as if cold. He did not know that she had been unable to sleep owing to +the strange presentiment which had come to her the previous evening. +So strong had this at last become that she had risen and looked out of +the window facing the Haven. It was then that she saw the moving +lights, and her worst tears were confirmed. + +"David is missing," Jasper told her, "and we are waiting for daylight +to have another search for him." + +"David is missing!" Lois slowly repeated, as if she had not heard +aright. "Have you any idea where he is?" + +"No. I left him last night on the road near the Haven. He may have +wandered off somewhere into the woods. But Betty is feeling very +badly, and I have come thinking that perhaps you might be able to +comfort her." + +"I shall go at once," Lois replied. "I am so glad you have come for +me, as I was almost frantic wondering what was going on." + +As they made their way toward the Haven Jasper told Lois more about +Betty and her state of agitation. + +"What is the cause of it, do you suppose?" Lois asked. "Do you think +it is in connection with Mr. David?" + +"Not altogether, I am quite certain. There is something else on her +mind. She might explain to you what it is when she would tell no one +else." + +They had just reached the gate leading to the Haven when Andy Forbes, +accompanied by several men, swung up the road. + +"I must leave you now," Jasper told Lois, "and assist in the search." + +"Please let us know as soon as you find any trace of Mr. David," Lois +replied. "I shall stay with Betty for a while." + +It was quite light now, and as the men walked along the road they +searched most carefully every nook and corner, but all in vain. + +"He is not anywhere here," Andy remarked. "But he may have wandered +into the woods along that old winter road. I suggest that we follow it +for a while. He may be wandering about in there. We can comb the +woods if he's not on the road." + +The men moved very quietly, keenly alert, each hoping to make the +discovery first. To Jasper there seemed something uncanny about the +way they moved so silently onward at that weird morning hour. A spirit +of depression came upon him, and his companions appeared like enemies. +He felt that in some unaccountable way they believed that he was to +blame for all the trouble, and that he should have taken more care of +the old man. + +After they had gone some distance along the old road and had found +nothing, they stopped and held a consultation as to what they should do. + +"Suppose we divide up and search through the woods," Jasper suggested. +"Andy, you and Dave come with me, and we'll work back on this side of +the road, while the rest of the men do the same on the other." + +Acting upon this suggestion, they at once plunged into the woods and +took up their positions several rods from one another. Jasper was +nearest the road. Next to him was Dave, while Andy was farthest off. +Walking abreast among the trees, they were thus enabled to examine +every portion of the ground. In a way it seemed almost a hopeless +task, but there was nothing else for them to do. They knew that other +men would be scouring up and down the main road, as well as through the +fields, and in fact every place where David might have strayed. + +They had been thus searching for some time and were not far from the +main highway, when they heard loud shouting from the men on the other +side of the old wood-road. Feeling sure that they were needed, the +three men hurried forward in the direction from whence the sounds came. +Jasper led, and his heart beat fast as he bounded through the woods, +unheeding scratches upon his face and hands from the rough branches +which brushed his body. + +It took him only a few minutes to accomplish this, and he suddenly came +upon the men grouped around something which was lying upon the ground. +When his eyes rested upon the form of David huddled there, he gave a +half-suppressed cry, and brushing the men aside, dropped upon his knees +by the old man's side. + +"Is he dead?" he asked in a hoarse whisper. + +"Dead as a door nail," Jim Goban replied. "Guess he's been dead fer +some time by the look of things. Mighty bad piece of business this, I +call it." + +"Do you suppose he was killed?" Jasper enquired. + +"Sure. There's no doubt about that from the mark on his head. He's +been knocked down like an ox." + +A shiver shook Jasper's body at these words, and he straightened +himself up. He did not notice that several of the men were watching +him closely and observing his every word and action. + +"Who could have done such a diabolical thing?" Jasper mused, as if to +himself. "Let us examine the ground very carefully to see if the man +who did this deed left any trace. He might have dropped something." + +"We have looked," Jim replied, "and we found this." + +Jasper's eyes had been searching the ground, but something in Jim's +voice caused him to turn suddenly, and as he did so his heart almost +stopped beating and his face turned ghastly pale, for there in the +man's out-stretched hand was an envelope with his own name upon it. + +"Where did you find that?" he gasped, as he reached out to take it. + +But Jim drew back, while an expression of exultation gleamed in his +eyes. + +"No, I guess I better keep it," he replied. "It might come in handy +later on. We found it right there," and he pointed to a spot near +where the dead man was lying. "Guess we all saw it at once." + +A sickening feeling suddenly overwhelmed Jasper, and he felt faint. He +looked keenly into the faces of the men standing near, but their eyes +were averted. Did they believe him to be guilty of such a foul deed? +he asked himself. Something told him that they did, and the less he +now said the better it would be. He wanted to get away from their +presence to think it all over. + +"You better carry the body to the Haven," he at length suggested in a +voice as calm as possible. "I'm afraid I can't be of any more service." + +With that, he turned and walked rapidly away, leaving the men staring +after him with suspicious, wondering eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +UNDER SUSPICION + +Never in the entire history of Creekdale had there been such intense +excitement as when word was received of the murder of old David. At +first people could not believe it was true, and thought there had been +some mistake. But when the men who had found David related the story +then all doubt was set aside. The store was crowded that afternoon +with excited men who had gathered to hear the smallest detail, and to +discuss with one another the whole affair. It was Sandy Miller who +described how he had made the discovery, and then shouted for his +companions. + +"Was the letter lying near?" Andy Forbes asked. + +"I didn't notice it at first," was the reply, "as I was so overcome by +the sight before me. It must have been lying there all the time, for +Jim Goban saw it at once." + +"Where is that letter now?" + +"Jim has it, I guess. It wasn't a letter, but merely an envelope with +'Jasper Randall' written plain on the outside. You should have seen +that fellow's face when Jim showed it to him." + +"But do you think that proves anything?" Andy enquired. + +"Wouldn't like to say. But you know as well as I do how suspicious the +thing looks, and how much the lawyers will make out of it." + +"Is the body at the Haven now?" one of the men asked. + +"We took it there," Andy replied. Then he paused and looked around +upon his audience. "I hope I shall never have to take part in such a +business again," he continued. "I can't get the face of that girl +Betty out of my mind, and her wild cry is still ringing in my ears. I +thought she would go crazy for sure when she heard what had happened." + +"She was very fond of the old man, so I understand," Ned Purvis +remarked. + +"She certainly was. They were just like father and daughter. But I +must say that Miss Sinclair was a regular brick. She took charge of +everything at once and seemed to know the right thing to do. But, my, +her face was pale, and you should have seen her eyes--when she turned +them upon Jim Goban." + +"What did she do that for?" Ned questioned. + +"Because Jim showed her the envelope and hinted that Randall was the +guilty one." + +"Did she say anything?" + +"Never a word. But her eyes said enough, and I saw Jim flinch as if he +had been struck in the face." + +"The women folks say that her and him are pretty thick," Steve Clemwell +drawled. "Maybe that's the reason why she's goin' to stick up fer him. +They've been seen drivin' together, and he's been often at her house." + +"But what reason would Randall have for murdering Crazy David?" Andy +asked. "They've always been the best of friends, and they've never had +a quarrel as far as I know." + +"But the old man had money, so it was reported," Ned replied. "Andy +here knows something about that." + +The storekeeper, however, shook his head. He was not anxious now to +appear to know more than he really did. He alone of all the men was +feeling keenly for Jasper. + +"Mark my word, men," and he looked around solemnly upon those before +him, "there's a deep mystery connected with this affair. You have +taken for granted that Randall is guilty because that envelope was +found near the body. But I think we had better keep our mouths shut, +for if we don't some of us may get into trouble. There's going to be a +big time over this, and it's best for us to wait and see what will be +the outcome. When the detectives get to work they won't leave a stone +unturned, and the smallest detail which bears upon the matter will be +put into evidence. + +"When will the detectives begin work?" Ned asked. + +"I don't know, and I don't suppose any of us will, for that matter. +They're not going to inform the public of their movements, and maybe +we'll never know they've been here. But they'll find out all there is +to know, or I'm much mistaken." + +"D'ye s'pose they'll arrest that chap on suspicion?" Steve enquired, as +he cut a slice from a plug of tobacco he was holding in his hand. +"I've heered they ginerally do that furst of all so as to make no +mistake." + +"Most likely they will," Andy replied. "I wonder where he is, anyway. +I haven't seen him since he left us in the woods." + +"Maybe he's cleared out," Ned suggested. + +Scarcely had he finished speaking ere Jasper entered the store. His +face was very pale, and he walked at once toward Andy. + +"I want to use the phone," he told him. + +"All right, go ahead," and the storekeeper motioned to a small +closet-like compartment in one corner of the room. Andy prided himself +upon this place which he had built with his own hands. As there were +generally people in the store he found it important that the ones using +the telephone should be as private as possible. It was for his own +protection as well as for others that he had built it. + +Jasper at once crossed the room, entered the place and closed the door +tightly after him. He well knew that the ears of all would be strained +to the utmost to hear what he was saying. It took him only a short +time to call up Central in the city and to get into communication with +Mr. Westcote. His message was very brief. + +"There is great trouble here, and you must come as soon and fast as you +possibly can. Come at once to my cabin, and bring the best lawyer in +the city. I will explain everything then." + +That was the message, and in reply Mr. Westcote told him that he would +leave immediately in his car, travel as fast as possible, and bring his +own lawyer with him. + +Jasper then crossed the room and paid the storekeeper the price of the +message. There was a dead silence while he did this, which Jasper was +not slow to notice. He spoke to none of the men gathered there, in +fact did not even look at them, but left the store as soon as possible. + +From the time the blow had fallen and he realised that he was a man +suspected of murder, he seemed to be dazed. + +He had gone to his own cabin and had tried to reason the whole thing +out. But the more he thought the more puzzled he became. There was no +doubt that David had been murdered, but who had done the deed, and for +what purpose? Only one person came to his mind, and he recalled what +Betty had told him about the old man's narrow escape from the rolling +log. Though he felt that Sydney Bramshaw had something to do with the +affair, he had no definite proof. He naturally connected him with the +murder. But what object would the man have for doing such a dastardly +deed? He wondered much about the envelope, and how it got there. He +had never been to that spot before, and he was quite certain that David +did not have it with him. Somebody, then, must have obtained +possession of the envelope and dropped it near the body in order to +cast suspicion upon him. But why should any one wish to involve him in +such a serious crime? + +Long and carefully Jasper considered the matter in an effort to solve +the problem. But the more he thought the greater was he puzzled. He +realised that he must have assistance as that envelope and the fact +that he was on the road with David the night of the murder would tell +strongly against him. He naturally turned to Robert Westcote as the +one man who could help him and would stand by him in his time of need. + +He felt very lonely and wretched as he left the store and walked slowly +up the road. He did not wish to go back to the silence of his own +cabin. If he could only speak to some one and feel that all were not +against him it would be some comfort. He thought of Lois, and wondered +if she were at the Haven. He was certain that she would not believe +him guilty of such a cowardly deed, but would stand by him to the last. +Yes, she was the very one, and he would go to her at once. His step +quickened as this impulse possessed him and he hurried rapidly along +the road, with swinging strides. + +"Hello, you seem to be in a great hurry." + +Jasper started at these words, stopped short and looked in the +direction from whence the voice came. As he did so his face darkened, +for there, sitting before his easel not far from the road, was Sydney +Bramshaw. + +His brush was poised in hand as if he had merely paused in his work of +sketching a bunch of birch trees a short distance away. + +"You seem to be in a great hurry," the artist repeated, evidently +enjoying the forbidding expression upon Jasper's face. + +"Well, what of it?" was the curt reply. "It's a free country, isn't +it?" + +"That all depends," and Bramshaw laid down his brush in a thoughtful +manner. "It might be free to one and not to another. You and I can do +about as we please to-day, and no one will try to interfere with us. +But it isn't the same with the one who put that poor old man out of +business last night. He isn't free in the sense we are." + +"So you've heard about it, have you?" Jasper questioned. + +"Oh, yes. The whole country is wild with the news. I have been +talking to a number of people and they are greatly worked up over the +cowardly deed. Poor old David! He certainly was an innocent cuss." + +"When did you first hear about it?" Jasper enquired. + +"Not until late this morning. I am a sound sleeper." + +"You surely must be. I don't see how any man could sleep with all the +noise the men made passing along the road last night. Were you up +late, eh?" + +"What do you mean?" and an angry light leaped into Bramshaw's eyes. "I +wish you to know that I went to sleep with the birds last night." + +"I am glad to hear of it. You didn't always keep such good hours, +especially one night when I caught you prowling about my place. +Perhaps a hint to the wise was sufficient, and you have changed your +manner of living." + +"D---- you!" Bramshaw cried, rising to his feet. "I was willing to be +friendly with you, but you insult me to my face." + +"That's much better than insulting you behind your back, isn't it? You +are sure who does it and you can act accordingly." + +"Is that a challenge to fight?" + +"Take it any way you like. I am anxious to get my hands on somebody +to-day, for I want a little exercise. I'm getting tired of doing +nothing." + +"But there's nothing to be gained by fighting," Bramshaw protested. +"What reason have we for fighting?" + +Jasper gave a sarcastic laugh, and looked the artist up and down. + +"You certainly wouldn't gain much by fighting, but I would. Sydney +Bramshaw, I believe you are a miserable sneak, ay, and worse, and it +would be a great satisfaction for me to get my hands on your measly +carcass just for two minutes." + +Under the impulse of the moment Jasper had left the road and approached +close to the artist. The latter shrank back and his face paled at the +action of his formidable opponent. + +"Bah! I wouldn't touch you," Jasper sneered. "I wouldn't spoil your +nice clothes and your soft delicate hands. Oh, no. Go on with your +work of painting the beautiful things in nature." + +For a few seconds Jasper stood and looked upon the man cowering before +him. He longed to pierce his very soul that he might learn whether his +suspicious were really true. He was tempted to startle him with a +question about that envelope. But, no, he felt that it would be better +to consult the lawyer before saying anything. + +Leaving the artist, Jasper regained the highway with a bound, and +hurried onward. It did not take him long now to reach the road leading +to the Haven, and his angry mood passed like a cloud from the face of +the sun when he saw Lois standing there beneath the shade of a large +tree. Her eyes brightened when she saw him, and without a word she +held out her hand. For a few heartbeats neither spoke, but their eyes +met, and Jasper knew by the look that Lois gave him that she at least +was true and believed in him. + +"You know all?" he stammered. + +"No, not all," was the quiet reply. "But I know enough to make me +certain that the people in this place are wrong in their suspicions." + +"Whom do they suspect?" Jasper eagerly asked, thinking that perhaps he +might learn something new. + +"Don't you know?" + +"Yes, I'm afraid I do," Jasper bitterly replied. "But I can endure it +if I know that you believe me to be innocent." + +"I certainly do, no matter what others think." + +"What proof have you?" + +"Your life; isn't that proof enough?" + +"It may be to you, but I'm afraid it will count but little at the +trial." + +"At the trial!" Lois repeated in amazement. "Surely you'll not be-----" + +"Arrested?" Jasper assisted, as Lois' voice faltered. + +"Yes, that's what I mean." + +"I'd like to know what's to prevent it. Wasn't I with David the night +he was murdered, and wasn't that envelope with my name on it found by +his body? Do you for one moment imagine that I can hope to escape a +severe grilling and perhaps conviction with such evidence against me?" + +"But it isn't right," and Lois stamped her foot impatiently. "It's +only circumstantial evidence, and that shouldn't count." + +"But it does. It has convicted many men before this. But tell me, did +you learn what is troubling Betty?" + +"It's about Mr. David, you know. She grieves very much over his death. +She loved the old man dearly, almost as if he were her own father." + +"I know she feels badly. But isn't there something else troubling her +as well? Didn't you notice it?" + +"I did, but Betty would tell me nothing. I believe she has been +frightened in some way, for at times she started up in terror, and her +whole body trembled. I wonder what it can be!" + +Before Jasper could reply, an auto swung up the road and stopped near +them. There were two men in the car and almost intuitively Jasper knew +that they were detectives. They looked keenly at the two standing +beneath the tree, and then asked the way to Captain Peterson's. Jasper +told them, and without another word they turned to the left and sped up +to the house. + +"Who are they, do you suppose?" Lois asked. + +"They must be detectives," Jasper slowly replied. + +"Oh!" It was all that Lois could say as she stood watching the car +until it drew up before the Haven. + +"I shall go back to my cabin now," Jasper remarked. "I expect Mr. +Westcote shortly, and so I must be there when he arrives." + +Slowly they walked along the road to the gate leading to the Sinclair +house. For a while neither spoke. Jasper realised that it would be a +long time ere he would again be with her who was so dear to him. +Perhaps never, for who could tell what the lap of the future might +contain? Lois was thinking of the same thing, and her heart was very +heavy. There came to her mind the words Margaret had so lightly spoken +over the tea-cup. Why had she not warned Jasper? she asked herself +over and over again. Never before had she fully comprehended what this +man really meant to her. He was the first one who had ever inspired +her with the spirit of courage and endurance. Not once had she heard +him whine or complain but, in her presence at least, he had always +appeared as master of his fate. Now he was going from her, and she +might never see him again. But no matter what happened she was sure +that he would bear himself manfully, and fight to the very last. + +Having reached the gate, they paused. Both knew that the moment for +parting had come and strange feelings stirred their hearts. Jasper +thought that Lois never looked so beautiful. Oh, if he were only +certain that she loved him. If he could only take her in his arms and +tell her of his love, and feel that his great love was returned; then +he could go down into the dark valley of trouble, and perhaps death, +with a braver heart. But, no, it would not do for him to tell of his +love now with such a shadow hanging over his head. There were many +things he longed to do, but all he did was to step forward, seize Lois' +right hand in his, and press it fervently to his lips. Instantly he +realised his boldness. + +"Forgive me," he cried, "but I could not help it." + +"There is nothing to forgive," Lois quietly replied, though her heart +was beating fast and her face was more flushed than usual. "You had +better go now, for Mr. Westcote may come at any moment. Good-bye, and +may God bless and keep you." + +That was the hardest parting Jasper had ever known. But as he walked +up the road a new spirit possessed his soul. He knew what it was to +fight, for he had fought all his life long. But now he had the vision +of a fair woman to sustain him, and for her sake, and to show her that +he was worthy of her trust he would still fight the fiercest battle of +all. What the outcome would be he could not tell, but he was +determined to bear himself in such a manner that Lois would never be +ashamed of him. He well knew that even a defeated man might be more of +a conquerer than those who triumphed over him. And even as he walked +there flashed suddenly into his mind a vision of the Man of Sorrows +bearing his cross. Why had he not thought of Him before? he asked +himself. There was his example to follow; there was the One who was +the victor even on the cross, and there was the One to whom he could +now turn for comfort in the hour of his great need. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +IN THE TOILS + +It was with a heavy heart that Lois made her way slowly toward the +house. She felt that many changes would take place before she would +again see Jasper. Not for an instant did she consider him guilty of +murdering old David. But she was well aware that others would think +differently, and would be only too ready to condemn Jasper upon the +slightest evidence. An idea suddenly flashed into her mind, which +caused her heart to beat quicker. Some one was guilty of the murder, +and that person must be found, whoever and wherever he was. Was there +not something that she could do? she asked herself. Jasper must be +saved, and who else would take such a real heart interest in the matter +as herself? She knew that a woman was not expected to undertake work +of such a nature. But Lois Sinclair had very little respect for social +customs if they stood in the way of duty. + +During the day she had thought much about the murder and had tried to +unravel the mystery connected with it. Who was there in the place +likely to commit such a cowardly deed, and what would be his motive? +Old David had not an enemy, as far as she knew, and he had injured no +one. It was necessary for her to probe deeper still, and as she neared +the house her mind brooded over this question. She chided herself that +she had not asked Jasper's opinion. Perhaps he had some suspicion, for +even upon the slightest clue important results might depend. + +Lois had reached the steps leading to the verandah when she happened to +stop and look down toward the river. As she did so, she started, for +there near the shore, with his easel before him, was Sydney Bramshaw. +Had she known of the stormy scene which had taken place between him and +Jasper about an hour before she would have been more surprised to see +him where he was. He was seated facing the house, and thus could +observe all that took place about the building. If he saw Lois he gave +no sign of recognition, but seemed to be entirely occupied with his +work. + +The sight of this man had a remarkable effect upon Lois. She had seen +him but little of late, and to behold him now when she was thinking so +much about the murder was most startling. She entered the house as if +nothing unusual were agitating her mind. But with the door closed +behind her, she hurried upstairs, where she found Margaret sitting in +her room engaged upon some fancy-work. It was a bright sunny room, and +the girl sitting there by the open window presented a beautiful picture +of peace and youthful charm. + +"What is the matter, dear?" she asked, pausing in her work, as she +noted the troubled expression upon Lois' face. + +"Look," and Lois pointed toward the river, "there he is near the shore." + +"Well, what of it?" Margaret enquired with a smile. "One would think +that you had never seen a man before." + +"But not such a man as that, Margaret," and Lois sat down by the girl's +side. "Something tells me that he had much to do with the murder of +poor old David." + +"Whatever put such a foolish notion as that into your head?" and +Margaret looked keenly into Lois' face. + +"Sydney Bramshaw is merely a harmless artist, and wouldn't hurt a fly." + +"So you have always said. You may be right, but my heart tells a +different story, and it is hard for me not to believe it. I am going +to find out, anyway, if there is any justification for my suspicion of +that man." + +"You!" and Margaret looked her astonishment. "Why, what can you do?" + +"Perhaps nothing. Anyway, I am going to try. Something must be done +at once if Mr. Randall is to be saved." Lois then told Margaret all +about the finding of David, of the envelope lying near the body, and +how the people were accusing Jasper of the murder. + +When Mr. Sinclair and Dick came home they brought with them a copy of +_The Evening News_, which contained a long account of the murder. +Lois' hand trembled as she took the paper and saw the big startling +headlines. She feared lest Jasper's name should be mentioned in +connection with the affair, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she +saw that it did not appear. The article merely said that a certain +person was suspected and that the detectives were working on the case. + +"I'm afraid Spuds is in hot water," Dick remarked, as they all sat down +to dinner. + +"What makes you think that?" Lois asked in a voice as calm as possible. + +"Oh, from what people are saying. It's known all over the country that +he was with Crazy David that night, and that they left the Haven and +walked along the road together. That in itself looks suspicious, for +Spuds was the last person seen with old David." + +"Who saw them together?" Lois enquired, "and how did that information +get abroad?" + +"The Petersons, I suppose, or that girl Betty told it." + +"But do you suppose some one else saw them together? Have you thought +of that?" + +"I don't catch the drift of your meaning," and Dick looked enquiringly +at his sister. + +"Suppose there was some one else near the road that night watching Mr. +Randall and David as they walked along? And suppose, further, that +when the old man was going back alone to the Haven some one had killed +him?" + +"Good heavens, Lois! you make my blood run cold. Why should you +suggest such a thing?" + +"But you don't believe that Mr. Randall killed David, do you?" + +"No, no! I couldn't for a moment think that Spuds would do such a +thing." + +"Well, then, some one must have done it in a way similar to what I have +said." + +"Sure, I never thought of that. But who do you suppose did it?" + +"That's for us to find out." + +"Us?" + +"Yes, why not? Isn't it right to stick by our friends in their time of +need?" + +"But what can we do?" + +"That remains to be seen." + +"But what about that envelope, Lois? How do you I suppose it got +there? That looks queer, doesn't it?" + +"That's another part of the mystery to be solved, that's all." + +The next day was an exciting one, for all kinds of rumours were afloat, +and at times Lois hardly knew what to believe. But there were several +things about which there was no doubt. She learned that an inquest had +been held over David's body, and that it had been decided that David +Findlay had met his death at the hands of some unknown person or +persons. There was nothing more left to be done but to give the body a +decent burial. + +The funeral was held that afternoon, and it seemed that the entire +parish turned out. It was a fine mild summer day, but notwithstanding +that the farmers left their fields and attended the funeral. Lois and +Betty walked together to the church, and as they passed Jasper's cabin +they looked across the field, thinking they might see some one there. +But not a sign of life could they behold. + +The service in the church was brief and solemn, and Betty found it very +difficult to control her feelings. At the grave side she broke down +completely, and Lois had to lead her away to a quiet spot. + +"Poor Mr. David!" the girl moaned. "I shall never see him again. He +was so good to me." + +"There, there, dear," Lois soothed. "If he were alive he would not +wish you to feel so badly. He is at rest, anyway." + +"I know that, but I miss him so much. Oh, why was he taken?" + +For some time they sat there, Betty sobbing out her grief, and Lois +trying to sooth her, at the same time wondering what had become of +Jasper. If he had not gone away it was strange that he was not at the +funeral. The people leaving the grave passed close to the spot where +they were sitting, and many were the curious glances cast in their +direction. Several women stopped to speak to them, among whom was Mrs. +Wadell, noted all over the parish for her fondness for gossip, as well +as for meddling in the affairs of others. + +"So ye feel bad, do ye?" and she fixed her piercing eyes upon Betty's +tear-stained face. "I wouldn't feel bad fer such as him," and she +jerked her thumb toward the grave. + +"But I do," Betty protested. "He was good to me, and now he is gone." + +"I guess ye'll like him better now that he's gone," Mrs. Wadell +remarked. "I know I should, anyway, if he'd done as handsome by me as +he's done by you." + +"Why, what do you mean?" Betty asked in surprise. + +"Why, about the money he's left ye. It's a snug sum, so I understand, +and I suppose it'll make ye put on mighty fine airs, so's ye won't +speak to common folks any more." + +Lois now became much interested in the words of this garrulous old +woman, and she was anxious to know more, and where she had obtained her +information. + +"How did you hear that?" she asked. + +"Land sakes, don't ask me sich a question as that, Miss," was the +evasive reply. "How could I begin to tell ye where I hear things, fer +the air is full of all kinds of stories to-day. But I guess it's true +all right." + +"I didn't know that Mr. David had made a will. That is a surprise to +me." + +"And indeed it is to everybody else, Miss. We didn't think that Crazy +David had anything to leave. Why he was sold as a pauper to Jim Goban +in this very parish about a year ago. But that isn't the only thing +that surprises me." + +"What, is there something more?" + +"There surely is, Miss. It's reported that he's left a hull lot to +that Randall feller. I guess he knew how to work his cards all right +with the old man. He didn't take an interest in him fer nuthin', oh, +no. People don't generally do sich things these days fer love." + +"Mr. Jasper hadn't anything to do with that will," Betty angrily +protested. "He didn't know anything about it, neither did I." + +"Oh, you wouldn't know," and the old woman gave a sarcastic chuckle. +"He wouldn't want people to know what he was doin'. He was cute enough +fer that. And then to think that he should kill Crazy David to git his +money. Why the poor old man couldn't have lived much longer, anyway." + +"You lie!" and Betty, trembling in every limb, sprang to her feet. +"Mr. Jasper didn't do it. I tell you he didn't, and you have no right +to say such things." + +"Come, Betty," Lois remarked, rising to her feet and taking the girl by +the arm, "let us go home." + +"Ye may not believe me," the old woman called after them as they walked +away, "but ye'll soon find out fer yerselves, and then maybe ye won't +talk so big and mighty." + +Betty was going to reply, but Lois checked her. + +"I wouldn't say anything more, dear," she advised. "We must expect +people to talk and imagine all sorts of things. Let us be brave and +hope for the best." + +"But I can't bear to hear them say such awful things about Mr. Jasper," +the girl sobbed. "I'm sure he didn't get Mr. David to make his will, +and then kill him to get the money." + +"So am I, Betty. But I'm afraid we'll be the only ones who think so. +We'll stand by him, anyway, and do all we can for him, won't we?" + +Lois suddenly stopped and her face went pale. They had now come in +sight of Jasper's cabin, and near it were several men. On the road +were most of the people who had been at the funeral. That they were +greatly excited was quite evident. In an instant Lois realised the +meaning of it all, and she clutched Betty by the arm in the intensity +of her emotion. + +"They are going to arrest him!" Her voice was hoarse, and she spoke +scarcely above a whisper. + +"Who?" Betty asked in surprise, not fully comprehending the meaning of +her words. + +"The constables are after Mr. Randall," Lois explained. "There they +are now!" she cried. "They are coming from the house, and he is +walking between them." + +"Are they going to put him in prison?" the girl asked. + +"Yes, I'm afraid so." + +With a wild cry, Betty sprang forward and rushed up the road. Lois +followed, wondering what the girl was going to do. She reached the +crowd just as Jasper and the constables approached, and stood there a +silent watcher. What could she do? she asked herself. Would he see +her, and know of her sympathy? + +Jasper was walking with a free easy motion, closely guarded by the two +constables, one of whom was Jim Goban. His face was pale and he looked +very careworn, but he held his head erect and kept his eyes straight +before him. Betty standing near, rushed suddenly forward and caught +him by the hand. + +"Oh, Mr. Jasper," she cried, "we know you didn't do at, and I want to +tell you so." + +Taken by surprise, Jasper paused and looked at the girl. + +"Thank you," he replied. "I am glad you believe in me." + +"And so does Miss Lois," Betty explained. "She's standing right +there," and she motioned to the right. + +Jasper turned, saw Lois, and their eyes met. Not a word did they say, +but in that fleeting glance the expression that he saw in the eyes of +the woman he loved gave him great comfort and courage. + +"Git out of the way, girl," Jim Goban brutally ordered. "What d'ye +mean by stoppin' us in our duty? We'll miss the boat if we don't +hurry." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +LIGHT BREAKS + +Lois stood and watched Jasper and the constables until a bend in the +road hid them from view. Then taking Betty by the hand, she moved away +from the crowd. She could not bear to listen to their animated +discussions as to what would happen to the prisoner, for she was well +aware that most of them believed him to be guilty. She walked quite +fast until the path across the field was reached. This led along the +edge of a grove of young maples and birches, and here was a restful +seclusion from all prying eyes. + +"You must come and have dinner with me, Betty," she said, speaking for +the first time since leaving the crowd. "You will be lonely at the +Haven now, and I would like to have you for company, as Miss Westcote +has gone to the city." + +"Oh, may I?" and the girl lifted her tear-dimmed eyes to her +companion's face. "How nice that will be, and we can talk together +about him, can't we? I must go home soon, for mother will be anxious +to see me. She hasn't been well lately and wasn't able to get to the +funeral. I must do what I can to help her." + +"You will not have to work out any more, I suppose," Lois remarked. + +"Why?" the girl asked. + +"Because of the money Mr. David has left you. You remember what Mrs. +Wadell said, don't you?" + +"Oh, yes," and Betty fixed her eyes thoughtfully upon the ground. "I +have been thinking about that. But do you think I should use that +money on myself?" + +"Why, certainly; what else should you do with it?" + +"But Mr. Jasper will need it, will he not?" + +"In what way?" + +"Won't he need a lawyer to help him? I know it costs so much to get a +lawyer for mother has told me so. We must do all we can to save him." + +A mistiness came into Lois' eyes as Betty uttered these words. She +suddenly stopped, put her arms lovingly around the girl, and tenderly +kissed her. + +"You precious dear," she cried. "How sweet it is of you to think of +him, and I am most grateful to you. But I do not think you need worry +about paying the lawyer. I am sure Mr. Westcote will look after that." + +"Oh, do you think he will?" and the girl breathed a sigh of relief. +Then her face clouded, and that worried expression again came into her +eyes. + +"What will they do with Mr. Jasper?" she enquired. + +"I can't say," was the low reply. + +"Will they keep him in prison a long time, or will they----?" + +"Don't say that word!" Lois cried, clutching Betty firmly by the arm. +"I know what you were going to say, and I can't bear to hear it." + +They were walking slowly now along the narrow path, bordered by waving +grass. Birds sang in the trees to their left and butterflies flitted +here and there over the broad fields. It was a scene of peace and +contentment. Nature was in her most attractive mood and seemed to care +nothing for the cares of struggling humanity. At any other time Lois +would have rejoiced in the beauty around her and would have revelled in +the glory of earth and sky. But now it was otherwise. How could she +be happy when her heart was so heavy? She knew the cause, and she was +not ashamed to confess it to herself. In fact, it brought a slight ray +of comfort to feel that she was suffering with him. + +They had almost reached the house when a boy was seen approaching. He +carried a note in his hand, which he gave at once to Lois. + +"It's from Mr. Forbes," he explained, "and he told me to hustle, and +take an answer back as quick as I can." + +Lois read the note, which simply stated that she was wanted at the +telephone. + +"Tell Mr. Forbes that I shall be there shortly," she told the boy, at +the same time handing him a coin for his trouble in carrying the +message. + +Hurrying into the house in order to leave word with the maid where she +was going in case any one should call, Lois started with Betty for the +store. There was no more loitering now as she was anxious to learn who +wanted her on the phone. It was rarely that any one called her up, and +she was hoping that it might be Margaret to tell her that she was +coming back that evening. + +On their way they came to the grove at the top of the hill not far from +the Haven. Here Betty stopped, and stood as if hesitating what to do. + +"I think I shall leave you, Miss Lois," she said. + +"What, are you not going with me to the store?" + +"No, I guess not. I will see you later. I want to go to my room now +to think something over." + +She was trembling as she said this, and Lois wondered what was the +matter with her. Then an idea flashed into her mind. Was she afraid +to go past the artist's tent? she asked herself. There could surely be +nothing else which would cause her to leave her and go to the +loneliness of her own room. She said nothing to Betty, however, of her +thoughts, but bade her good-bye and hurried on her way. + +Coming at length to the spot where Bramshaw had been living, she +glanced to the left as if expecting to see him. But no sign of him did +she see, and great was her surprise to find that his tent was gone. +She rubbed her eyes, thinking that she had not seen aright. But, no, +there was no mistake. Bramshaw had gone, and had taken all his +belongings with him. This was strange, and as she walked along she +began to muse as to where he had gone and the purpose of his hasty +departure. Had it anything to do with the murder of old David? she +wondered. + +Lois was thinking of these things as she reached the store, where she +met Andy Forbes. + +"Do you know what has become of the artist?" she enquired. + +"Isn't he up the road?" Andy asked in reply. + +"His tent has been removed, and so I suppose he has gone with it." + +"Gone!" he exclaimed in surprise. "Why, when did he go?" + +"I haven't the least idea." + +"Well, I guess there must be something in it after all," Andy mused as +if to himself. + +"In what?" Lois questioned, wondering what the man meant. + +"I'll tell you in a minute, Miss Sinclair, but you'd better read this +first," and the storekeeper handed her a piece of paper. "It's the +telephone message," he explained. + +Lois took the paper in her hand, and read. It was from Mr. Westcote, +containing a request that she should go to the city the next day if she +possibly could, as he wished to see her on important business. + +"Why didn't you send this with the boy?" Lois enquired, somewhat +annoyed. "It would have saved my coming here." + +But Andy did not notice her annoyance, for something seemed to be +troubling him. + +"Would you mind coming into the house?" he asked. "My wife will look +after the store for a few minutes. There is an important matter I wish +to speak to you about." + +Opening the door to the right, he ushered her at once into a small +sitting-room. It was a cosy place, and here she found Mrs. Forbes, a +bright-eyed little woman, seated at the window facing the road, doing +some sewing. Lois knew her very well as one of the quiet thoughtful +women, of Creekdale, and who was of such great assistance to her +husband. + +"It is too bad to disturb you," Lois apologised, when Andy had asked +her to look after the store for a short time. + +"Oh, I do not mind," she pleasantly replied. "I am so glad you have +come, for I have been most anxious for Andy to have a talk with you. +Sit down, please," and she motioned to a chair. + +Andy did not sit down but walked up and down the room, as was his +custom when greatly excited. Presently he paused and looked keenly +into Lois' expectant face. + +"It's something very serious I've got to tell you, Miss Sinclair," he +began. "In fact, it's so serious that I have been doubting for some +time whether I should tell anybody about it. But when I told my wife +this afternoon she advised me to tell you, and so that's the reason why +I asked you to come here." + +"Has it anything to do with the murder case?" Lois asked, now much +interested. + +"Yes, I believe it will have, and that is what makes me so worried, +because I don't want to get tangled up in that nasty affair." + +"Tell me what it is," Lois suggested, impatient to learn what it really +was. + +"Well, it has to do with that envelope." + +"Oh!" Lois was more interested than ever now. + +"Yes, that's what it is about. You see, Randall came to the office one +day last week, and there was a letter for him from his company. I know +that much about it for their name was on the top left hand corner. +Randall opened the letter right in the store and dropped the envelope +on the floor, and didn't pay any more heed to it. I've seen him do the +same thing several times and so I didn't pay any special attention to +it. Now, Randall hadn't been gone very long before that artist came +for his mail. There was nothing for him and he seemed very surly and +said a few cuss words about people not writing. As he was standing +there talking I saw him stoop and pick up the envelope Randall had +dropped. He didn't know that I saw him doing it, for I was busy with +the mail though I was watching him all the time out of the corner of my +eye, for I never liked the fellow. I saw him glance at me, and when he +felt sure that I didn't notice what he was doing he slipped that +envelope into an inside pocket of his coat." + +When Andy began his story Lois was sitting with her hands clasped +before her and her eyes fixed full upon his face. But before he had +finished she had risen to her feet greatly agitated. + +"Are you sure that is the same letter that was found by David's side?" +she asked in a hoarse whisper. + +"I couldn't swear that it was," Andy slowly replied. "Anyway, it looks +very much like it, and the name of the company is on the left-hand +corner, just as it was on the one which Randall dropped on the floor +and Bramshaw picked up." + +"It must have been the same one," Lois emphatically declared. "Oh, I +am so thankful that you have told me this. I am sure it will go a long +way toward saving Mr. Randall." + +"I can't swear though that it's the same envelope," Andy repeated. + +"But you will be willing to swear to what you have just told me, will +you not?" Lois asked. + +"Sure. I'd swear to that any time and anywhere." + +"Thank you," and Lois breathed a sigh of relief. "I feel quite certain +that it will be valuable evidence." + +"Now, I wonder what that chap wanted that envelope for?" Andy mused. + +"To leave it by old David's body, of course, and to throw the blame on +Mr. Randall." + +"Yes, that no doubt was his idea. But why did he want to do that? And +if he committed that deed, why did he do it? What object did he have +in murdering an innocent old man who never injured anybody, as far as I +know?" + +"That is the puzzling thing which must be solved," Lois replied. "But +I must go home now, Mr. Forbes, and I thank you very much for what you +have told me this afternoon." + +She left the store with a lighter heart than she had entered it, and +walked briskly up the road. She somehow felt that what Andy had told +her would be of great value in freeing Jasper and bringing home the +crime to the right person. But something more must be done, and she +knew that it would be quite necessary to find the motive which prompted +Bramshaw to pick up that letter and to commit the deed. + +As Lois came to the road leading to the Haven, she found Betty waiting +there for her. The girl seemed brighter than she had been since the +night of the murder, and Lois wondered what was the cause of it. Had +she heard some good news? she asked herself. + +"Oh, Miss Lois," Betty cried, "I have been waiting a long time for you +and I thought you would never come. May I go home with you?" + +"Certainly, I shall be delighted to have you. But you look brighter, +Betty, than you did when I left you. Have you heard anything new?" + +"Oh, yes, Miss Lois, I have," the girl replied. "The captain told me +that he has gone away." + +"Who?" Lois enquired. + +"The artist! Just think of that! He has cleared out, and taken +everything with him." + +"Why should that make you so happy, Betty?" + +"Because he can't hurt me now." + +"Why, did he ever try to hurt you?" + +"Oh, yes, he said he would kill me if I told on him." + +"Kill you!" Lois exclaimed, stopping short. "If you told on him! I do +not understand you." + +"Hush," and the girl raised a warning finger and looked apprehensively +around. "Don't speak too loud. I am really afraid yet. But I know he +can't hurt me because he has gone." + +"No, he won't hurt you, Betty. I will see that he doesn't. Tell me +when he said he would kill you." + +"The night I went to meet Mr. David." + +"Oh!" + +"Yes, I was hurrying along the road just up there when I heard some one +coming toward me. I was sure it was Mr. David, and so I rushed up to +him and called out his name. Instead of Mr. David it was the artist, +just think of that! My, he was surprised when he found who I was. He +was so excited that he caught me by the arm so hard that I cried out +with pain and fear." + +"He did?" + +"Yes; and he said he would kill me if I ever told that I had met him +there on the road that night. He said that nothing could save me from +him, and oh, how he did curse and swear what he would do. He made my +blood run cold." + +"And did you promise that you wouldn't tell?" Lois asked. + +"No, indeed I didn't! I jerked myself suddenly away from him and ran +home as hard as I could. He ran after me, but he didn't catch me. I +was so afraid to look for Mr. David after that. I stayed in the house +till near midnight before I went out again." + +"So that was what was troubling you so much, was it?" Lois asked. + +"Yes. I was afraid that he would kill me. I guess I'm a coward +anyway. But when I saw the constables take Mr. Jasper away this +afternoon I made up my mind to tell you all about it. I don't mind now +if the artist does kill me if I can save Mr. Jasper. Anyway, I am glad +that he has cleared out." + +"Don't be afraid, Betty, he will not hurt you at all," and Lois put her +arms lovingly around the girl. "I am so thankful that you have told me +this. Come, now, and let us go home." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +LOIS GOES TO THE CITY + +Betty's story filled Lois with still greater hope, and she was anxious +to see Jasper's lawyer that she might tell him what she had learned. +For most of the night she thought about the matter, and she tried to +find some reason why Bramshaw should commit the murder. She thought, +too, of Jasper, and wondered how he was bearing himself in his lonely +cell. She longed to speak to him and tell him of the discovery she had +made. She knew that his mental suffering must be great, and she did +want to help him to bear his trouble. + +Lois learned from her father and Dick upon their arrival from the city +what a strong feeling was abroad against Jasper. People condemned him +in no measured language, and denounced him as a dastardly villain who +deserved the severest punishment. Mr. Sinclair told of the +conversation he had with several people along the road, and how all +were loud in their severe denunciations. Even the city papers, +following the popular cry, had editorials about the murder. Though +they did not mention Jasper by name, yet their allusions were so +pointed that no one could mistake their meaning. All united in +condemning the criminal and declaring that the deed was all the more +abhorrent owing to the age of the murdered man and the friendly +relations which had existed between him and his suspected assailant. + +All this was very hard for Lois to endure. It annoyed her to think how +willing people were to condemn a man and judge him worthy of death +before he had received a fair trial. She had a secret satisfaction, +however, in the information Andy and Betty had imparted to her. It +buoyed her up with the hope that it would greatly assist in freeing +Jasper and clearing him entirely from all blame. It was only natural +that she should desire to see the ones who condemned him so severely +put to an ignominious silence. She smiled almost bitterly as she +thought how they would come about Jasper with their smooth, oily words +of congratulation when he again came into their midst. + +In the morning Lois went to the city with her father and Dick. She +enjoyed the ride in the fresh air and she was somewhat sorry when she +alighted from the car in front of her father's office. Dick wanted to +drive her around to Mr. Westcote's house as he was most anxious to see +Margaret. He had not met her for two days, and to him it seemed a very +long time. But as Lois had some shopping to do, she preferred to walk. + +"I'll be around this afternoon, though," Dick told her. + +"Oh, I know you will," was the laughing reply. "Shall I tell her?" + +"Yes, do, Lois. She's great, isn't she?" + +"She certainly is, Dick. But I must hurry away now," she added as she +saw that her brother was anxious to talk more about Margaret. + +It did not take Lois long to do her shopping, and she was just leaving +the store when she met Mrs. Dingle face to face. Had she seen her +sooner she would have made a desperate effort to escape her. But there +was nothing for her to do now but to submit with the best grace +possible. + +"Oh, isn't it lovely to see you, dear," Mrs. Dingle effusively cried, +as she gave her a peck-like kiss upon the right cheek. "We have been +talking so much about you lately. Sammie is fairly crazy to see you, +and you must be prepared for a visit from him as soon as he learns you +are in town. I am so thankful that I have such a dutiful son. He is +quite a comfort to me, and I am sure any woman would be proud to have +him for a husband. There are so many bad men these days that we +appreciate a good one when we find him. We knew that you would come +back to the city." + +"What made you think that?" Lois enquired as Mrs. Dingle paused an +instant for breath. + +"To get away from that horrid country place, of course, where that +terrible murder was committed. I hope they have that villain securely +locked up." + +"What villain?" Lois asked. + +"Why the one who killed that poor old man for his money." + +"No, he is not locked up yet." + +"But I heard that he is. Surely he hasn't escaped!" and Mrs. Dingle +held up her well-gloved hands. + +"No, he isn't in prison yet," Lois calmly replied. "But there is an +innocent man there, though, I am sorry to say." + +"Do you mean that uncouth fellow Sammie was telling me about?" + +"I am not referring to any uncouth fellow, Mrs. Dingle, but merely to +Mr. Jasper Randall, a gentleman and a friend of mine." + +"Oh, I didn't know that," and Mrs. Dingle looked her surprise as well +as her embarrassment. "All I know is what Sammie told me." + +"What did Sammie tell you?" Lois voice was sharp as she asked the +question. + +"I can't remember all. But he said that he was brought up on a farm, +had to work his way through college, and that sort of thing, you know. +As he is not of our set, of course I did not pay much attention to what +Sammie told me." + +Lois was both angry and disgusted at this woman. Oh, how she longed to +tell her something that she would not soon forget. How she was tempted +to place Jasper and Sammie side by side and compare them; the one an +insignificant, brainless, useless, overdressed nincompoop; the other a +strong, self-reliant, masterful man, fighting against fate with face to +the front and head erect. + +"Excuse me, Mrs. Dingle," she said, "I am in a great hurry this +morning. And I am afraid if I stay I may say something to hurt your +feelings. Mr. Randall is a friend of mine, and I have great respect +for him. I have always made it a point of being loyal to my friends, +and adversity is the test of friendship." + +Mrs. Dingle stared in amazement after Lois. She could not understand +what had come over the girl, and at luncheon she discussed the matter +with Sammie. + +"You must see her at once, dear," she told him. "It would not do to +lose her, for her father is very rich and she is his only daughter. I +am afraid she thinks a great deal of that uncouth fellow who has been +arrested." + +"Hm," her son grunted. "Don't you worry one bit. Spuds'll be fixed +all right. The noose is hanging over his head and just ready to drop, +I was talking to some of the fellows to-day and they say that he's a +goner, and that nothing can save him. Oh, by the way, Ma, I saw +Bramshaw to-day." + +"You did!" his mother replied in surprise. "Why I thought he had left +the city." + +"So he did; but he's back now all right." + +"Where did you meet him?" + +"Just as he was coming out of the C. P. R. ticket office. He was in a +great hurry and had no time to stop and talk." + +"You must find out where he is staying, Sammie, and invite him to come +and see us. He is a very distinguished young man, you know; an artist +of wide reputation, and it makes a favourable impression to have such a +man visit us. He is a gentleman, and not like that uncouth man who +committed that terrible crime at Creekdale." + +"But I don't believe he'll be here long, Ma," Sammie replied. + +"Why, what makes you think that?" + +"I guess he's leaving the city. He must have been at the office +getting his ticket when I met him. No doubt he is going on this +evening's train." + +"He is visiting some of the big cities, no doubt, Sammie. A man like +that could not be expected to remain in a small place like this. +People must be anxious to see the man who has painted such famous +pictures." + +"Have you seen any of them, Ma?" her son asked. + +"Oh, no. But he has told me about them, and they must be great from +what he said. He has sold a great many at large prices, but the most +valuable he keeps in his mansion in England, so he informed me. He +said that he regretted that he had not brought several with him, but +the risk was too great, and the pictures were so big that it was +difficult to transport them so far." + +"H'm," Sammie grunted, as he went on with his luncheon, and nothing +more was said then about the artist. + +Lois found Margaret at home and they had luncheon together. There was +only one topic of conversation, and Lois told of the information she +had received from Andy and Betty Bean. + +"Have you any idea what your father wishes to see me about?" she asked. +"I am quite curious to know." + +"I really don't know," and Margaret shook her head. "He generally +tells me his secret plans because he knows that I will not divulge +them." + +"You will go with me to his office this afternoon, will you not?" + +"Certainly, if you care to have me. Father generally gets his luncheon +out and is somewhat late getting back to his office. Wait a minute, +dear, while I phone and tell him you are here." + +Margaret was gone only a few minutes, and when she returned she resumed +her seat at the table. + +"Father will be back in his office at one-thirty," she began, "and he +says that I may go with you. Lois, I have something important to tell +you." Here she dropped her voice and looked apprehensively around the +room. "Since you told me about that letter and Betty's fright I have +been doing some serious thinking. You say that Sydney Bramshaw has +left Creekdale?" + +"Yes. He cleared out, tent and baggage." + +"Have you any idea where he is?" + +"No. But I am afraid he is far away by this time." + +"Well, he isn't. He's in the city now." + +"In the city!" Lois repeated in surprise. + +"Yes. I met Sammie Dingle on the street this morning, and he told me +that he met Bramshaw coming out of the C. P. R. ticket office." + +"Oh!" + +"Yes, that's what he told me. I did not think anything about it at the +time, but I see things in a different light now. He must be planning +to leave the city on the evening train, and if he once gets across the +Border it will be difficult to find him. You should tell father all +you know, and I am sure he will take action at once." + +"And will he have Bramshaw arrested?" Lois asked. + +"What else will there be to do? It would not do to let him escape with +such evidence against him. It will be necessary for him to explain +about that letter and his suspicious actions and threat to Betty. We +have really no time to lose. My, I am getting interested and excited." + +"For my part," Lois replied, "I believe he is the guilty man. But I +cannot understand the motive of his crime. If we knew that it might +lead to greater discoveries. You see, in reference to that envelope it +will be merely one man's word against another. Andy will swear that he +saw him pick up an envelope which Mr. Randall dropped on the floor, but +he cannot swear that it is the same one that was found by the side of +the murdered man. Bramshaw will also swear that he never met Betty +that night on the road. His lawyer will not overlook anything, mark my +word. It will be only circumstantial evidence after all, and it may +not have much effect." + +"Keep up courage, Lois," Margaret encouraged. "You have accomplished a +great deal in a short time, and I know that father's lawyer has not +been idle." + +"Has he found out anything yet?" Lois eagerly asked. + +"I am afraid not. There has not been much time, you see. But he is a +very able man and will leave no stone unturned. But, come, dear, it is +time for us to get ready. We must not keep father waiting as he is +very busy these days." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A STRANGE COMMISSION + +Robert Westcote did not go to his luncheon the day of Lois' visit to +the city. He intended to go but was unexpectedly detained. He had +been very busy all the morning in his office. His lawyer had been with +him for some time, and when he was at last alone he turned his +attention to a type-written manuscript lying on the desk before him. +This consisted of several sheets of legal paper, attached to which was +an official seal which had been recently broken. This was the third +time that Mr. Westcote had read it and when he was through he sat for a +while in deep thought. He paid no attention to the click of the +typewriters in the adjoining room, and so engrossed was he that he did +not at first hear a tap upon the office door. When it was repeated, he +started from his reverie and called to the visitor to enter, thinking +that perhaps it was one of the clerks. It was not his habit to be +caught off guard, for he prided himself upon his alertness and strict +attention to every business detail. + +The office door slowly opened, and instead of a clerk, there stood +before him a man dressed in rough working clothes. He recognised him +at once as one of the men employed at the falls, and whom he had met on +several occasions. It was Mr. Westcote's kindness and courtesy which +always won for him the hearty support of his employees. They knew that +they would receive justice and consideration at his hands and that he +did not look upon them with contempt and as inferior beings. Mr. +Westcote at once arose from his chair and held out his hand. + +"Why, Dobbins," he exclaimed, "this is a surprise. I did not know you +were in the city. How are things going on at the falls? Nothing +wrong, I hope? Sit down, please," and he motioned him to a chair. + +"The work is going on all right, sir," Dobbins replied, as he took the +offered seat. "But I have come to see you, sir, on very important +business. It has troubled me so much that I have not been able to +sleep ever since Randall was arrested." + +"Oh, I see, it has to do with that murder case, has it?" Mr. Westcote +asked, now greatly interested. + +"I wouldn't like to say that, sir," and Dobbins twirled his hat in his +hands. "But it might throw some light upon the matter. You see, +somebody killed old David. That's certain, isn't it?" + +Mr. Westcote nodded his assent. + +"Well, if you knew for sure that somebody had tried to but a short time +before, it would make you rather suspicious of that somebody, wouldn't +it?" + +"I should say so!" Mr. Westcote exclaimed. "But do you know of any one +who made the attempt, Dobbins?" + +"You can judge of that, sir, when you hear what I have to say. It was +this way. The day of the big wind I was sent to the shore to get a +piece of mill belting, which was to come from the city on the afternoon +boat. I had almost reached the brow of logs on the edge of the +clearing when I stopped to get a drink from that little spring by the +side of the road. I sat down for a minute or two under the shade of a +small thick fir tree to fill my pipe, when happening to glance to my +left I saw a man running up the road. I at once saw it was that artist +fellow, and curious to know what he was running for I moved back a +little behind the fir so's he couldn't see me. He stopped right by the +logs and peered down the bank. Then he looked cautiously around and, +picking up a stick, he pried loose one of the logs lying on top, and +which was almost ready to go anyway. As soon as he had done this, he +dropped the stick and ran like a streak of lightning down the road, and +that was the last I saw of him." + +"Well?" Mr. Westcote questioned as Dobbins paused and wiped the +perspiration from his forehead with a big red handkerchief. + +"This is the part, sir, which I am ashamed to tell," the man continued. +"I heard the crash of that log down the bank and the splash in the +water. Then there fell upon my ears a shriek of terror. I knew it was +a woman's voice and I leaped from my hiding place and peeked down the +bank. And there I saw old David and that girl Betty Bean standing +there frightened almost out of their senses. Say, I wasn't long +getting back under cover again, for I knew that if they saw me they +would say for sure that I had rolled that log down the bank on purpose. +I didn't dare to go to the shore on the road so I cut up through the +woods and came out another way. I didn't dare to say a word about it +for fear I might get into trouble. But when young Randall, who is a +chap we all think a lot of, was arrested for the murder of that old man +I couldn't sleep a wink. If that artist fellow tried to kill old David +once he would try again, and put the blame off on some one else. At +last I could stand it no longer and so made up my mind to tell you all +I know. You can judge now, sir, for yourself." + +Mr. Westcote was greatly excited at this story, though outwardly he +remained very calm. Twice during the narration he had glanced at the +manuscript lying upon the desk, and once he had reached out his hand as +if to pick it up. For a few seconds he remained silent when the story +was ended. Then he rose to his feet and reached out his hand. + +"Dobbins," he began, "I wish to thank you for what you have told me +to-day. You have done a good deed by thus unburdening your mind. Will +you be willing to swear to what you have just told me?" + +"Swear! Indeed I will. I'll swear on a dozen Bibles any time and +anywhere." + +"That's good," Mr. Westcote replied, as he bade him good-day. "We +shall need you before long, if I'm not much mistaken, so be ready." + +Dobbins had scarcely left the office when Lois and Margaret arrived. + +"My, how the morning has gone!" Mr. Westcote remarked as he greeted +Lois with a hearty shake of the hand. "I suppose we had better get +down to business at once, as no doubt you wish to go home this +afternoon. I hope you will pardon my sending for you and giving you +all this trouble." + +"I do not mind in the least," Lois replied, "for I am sure it has +something to do with the murder, and I am so anxious to learn whether +you have found out anything new." + +"Only something this morning, Miss Sinclair, which may be of +considerable value. I trust that we may unearth more in a few days." + +"Oh, don't wait for a few days, Mr. Westcote," Lois pleaded. "You must +act at once, this very afternoon, if the criminal is to be caught." + +"How can we, Miss Sinclair," was the reply, "when we are not sure who +the real criminal is?" + +"But I know, and I think you will agree with me when I tell you my +story. Listen." + +Lois then related what she had heard from Andy Forbes and Betty Bean. +She told her story well and Mr. Westcote was keenly interested not only +in what she told him, but in the animated look in her eyes and the +varying shades of expression which passed over her fair face. He +considered Jasper a lucky fellow in having such a beautiful woman +striving so hard for his release. + +When Lois had finished, Mr. Westcote turned to his desk and drew the +telephone toward him. + +"What you tell me, Miss Sinclair," he said, "is very valuable, and I +must see my lawyer at once. Excuse me a moment." + +After he had called up the lawyer and asked him to come at once to his +office, he hung up the receiver and sat for a few seconds lost in deep +thought. + +"Yes, we had better do it at once," he remarked as if to himself. "It +will not do to run any risk." + +"Do what, Father?" Margaret enquired. + +"Have that Bramshaw detained. I have received some additional +information to-day, and with what Miss Sinclair has just told me it +should be enough to arrest any man. Now, I must come to the question I +wish to speak to you about," and he turned to Lois. "You have told me +your story and in return I shall relate one perhaps of a more startling +nature." + +"In connection with this same affair?" Lois eagerly asked. + +"It has a direct bearing upon it. It has to do with the mystery which +has been surrounding the life of old David." + +"And does it clear it up?" + +"Wait, please, until I am through, and you can judge for yourself," Mr. +Westcote smilingly told her. + +"I shall be as patient as Job," Lois replied, as she settled herself in +her chair as comfortably as possible. + +"My story might seem strange to you," Mr. Westcote began. "In fact, it +has always seemed strange to me, and sometimes I think that I shall +wake up and find it nothing more than a dream. Well, without going +into details, which would not interest you, it is sufficient to say +that I came to this country over two years ago on one of the strangest +commissions ever given to man. I was handed two sealed papers numbered +1 and 2, with strict orders to break the seal of paper Number 1 only +upon my arrival in Canada, and then I should find my instructions in +reference to Number 2." + +"What were the instructions?" Lois eagerly asked, as Mr. Westcote +paused for a few seconds as if considering how to proceed. + +"That will come later," he replied. "I must tell you about Number 1 +first. You promised to be patient, you know." + +"Excuse me, I know I did," Lois smilingly confessed, as she glanced at +Margaret, whose eyes were twinkling with amusement. + +"I was naturally anxious to know what my orders were," Mr. Westcote +continued, "and shortly after my arrival here, I broke the seal of +Number 1. Then I learned that I was to search for an old man who was +living in this country under the name of David Findley. No effort or +expense was to be spared. Money would be provided without stint +through one of the city banks. When the old man was found he was to be +kept in complete ignorance of the fact that I had been searching for +him. The hard part was that I should undertake to assist him in such a +way that he should not have the slightest idea that anything was being +done on his behalf. There was not to be the least semblance of +charity, and whatever was done for him had to appear to be the natural +payment for value received. If the old man had any special hobby or +scheme, no matter how wild, so long as it was legitimate, I was to +undertake to see that it should be carried out, no matter what the +expense. If the scheme proved feasible, so much the better, and strict +business methods were to be used to make it pay. But if not, the old +man's every lawful wish was to be gratified. One of the strict +instructions was that he should be induced as soon as possible to make +his will. This was to be done in such a way as to arouse no suspicion, +but that he should consider it as a matter of business detail, so that +his fond scheme, or whatever it might be, would not suffer in case of +his death. + +"You can readily understand, Miss Sinclair, the magnitude of the +undertaking. At first I thought that I had been made the victim of a +madman, and was tempted to return to England at once, and have nothing +to do with the affair. But the amount of money placed at my disposal +in the bank settled all scruples and started me forth upon my strange +quest. I even began to enjoy the adventure of the whole thing, and the +mystery attached to it lured me on. I searched far and wide for David +Findley and at last, owing to an accident to my auto, located him at +Creekdale, living as a pauper. By the description given in paper +Number 1 I knew that he was the man for whom I had been searching. +After that, matters moved along very smoothly. He had a fond scheme, +too, which served my purpose splendidly. He was wrapped up in the idea +of converting the water of Break Neck Falls into light and power for +the benefit of the entire community. I consulted with the best +engineers, and they said the scheme was most feasible, and so we began +work. David was paid a sum of money for his plans, which satisfied +him, and he was made Honorary President of a company which has never +really existed. The money at my disposal made everything easy. You +know the rest, and why should I go further into details? It would be +unnecessary for me to tell you of the faithful and excellent work of +Mr. Randall. He has been of great assistance to me, and without his +aid my task would have been much harder than it has been." + +When Mr. Westcote paused Lois looked enquiringly into his face. + +"May I speak now?" she asked. "I have been very patient, have I not?" + +"Indeed you have, Miss Sinclair," and Mr. Westcote smiled. "You may +ask anything you like." + +"Surely you have not told me all. I thought you had merely begun when +you stopped. Who was David Findley, anyway, and what does paper Number +2 contain? I am most curious to know the end of this strange story." + +"Oh, I forgot to tell you a very important thing," and Mr. Westcote +laughed. "My instructions in paper Number 1 told me not to open Number +2 until after the old man's death. Then I should learn all about him +and the mystery of my strange commission would be solved." + +"Do you know yet?" Lois eagerly asked. "Have you broken the seal?" + +"Yes, I broke it this morning, and have read the contents of the paper +three times. I am going to read it to you now, for that will be better +than if I tell it to you in my own words." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +PAPER NUMBER TWO + +Mr. Westcote was about to begin the reading of the manuscript lying +before him, when his lawyer was announced. + +"Excuse me for a moment," he said, "I must speak to Dr. Turnsell at +once." + +"Suppose we go out for a while, Father," Margaret suggested. "You will +wish to see him privately, I suppose." + +"Remain just where you are," was the reply. "It is not necessary for +you to leave." + +When they were alone Lois and Margaret discussed what Mr. Westcote had +just told them. + +"Isn't it strange?" Margaret began. "Did you ever hear anything like +it before?" + +"No, I never did," was the reply. "But did you know about it?" + +"Oh, yes. Father told me, of course, but I had to promise that I +wouldn't say a word about it. And I didn't, did I, not even to you? I +longed to tell you all I knew, but that would not have been right." + +"I wonder what that paper contains," and Lois motioned to the desk. +"It, no doubt, will explain everything. I wish your father would hurry +back." + +"Here he is now," Margaret replied. "He wasn't long with Dr. Turnsell." + +"I am afraid that I shall have to leave you young ladies for a while," +Mr. Westcote informed them as soon as he had closed the door behind +him. "My lawyer wants me to go with him. It is too bad as I wished to +read that paper to you." + +"Why cannot we read it ourselves?" Margaret asked. "You surely will +not keep us in suspense any longer." + +"Why, certainly," was the reply. "That will do just as well. Strange +that I never thought of that. Suppose you read it, Miss Sinclair," and +he handed the manuscript to her. "I shall come back as soon as I can, +so you had better wait here until I return unless I am too late." + +"Hurry up, Lois," Margaret urged, when they were once more alone. "I +can't wait another minute." + +Lois was nothing loath, and in a clear, well-modulated voice she began: + + +"I, Simon Dockett, feeling keenly the weight of years, and knowing that +my days on earth are but few, desire to unburden my soul and make +amends as far as possible for a grievous wrong I have committed. That +wrong can never be fully rectified in this world. If money could do +it, then it would flow like water; if a troubled conscience and a +wearied and a burdened soul could atone for what I have done, then +surely I have made atonement enough. They greatly err who say that a +man can sin and yet have peace of mind. I tell you it is hell; yes, +hell here, and hell in the world to come. + +"I have heaped up riches in my life, enough to satisfy the most +avaricious. But at what cost have I acquired them, and of what comfort +are they to me now? I am old, lonely, and menials serve me because of +my money. How much better are my so-called friends? They fawn upon me +with their lips, but deceit is in their hearts. They laugh at me +behind my back, and joke about 'Old Dockett' and his money. In all the +world there is none who loves me, but many who hate me. One especially +there is who desires my death, thinking that he will get my money. +That is part of what my riches have cost me, though not all. + +"I have a brother, and when we were young our hearts were as one. He +was gentle and thoughtful, while I was rough and impetuous. My one +object was to make money for self, his, to assist others. Once I loved +him as my own soul. But gold got into my heart and changed everything. +I became a machine, nay, more, a brutal thinking machine, with gold as +the one object in life. + +"All natural affections died in me, and I think I would have betrayed +my parents for gold, but thank God they were beyond my power. My only +brother, Henry, however, was not, and him I betrayed, deceived and +ruined. All that he had became mine, and I considered it shrewd +business. He left England and I was glad that he was out of my sight. +I have never seen him since, but I have kept track of him. + +"Had my brother cursed me when I robbed him, it would have been easier +for me in after years. But he reproached me not, except with his eyes, +and the look that he gave me as we parted has haunted me ever since. I +tried to forget what I had done to him, and plunged deeply into +business. But all in vain. I could not banish the wrong I had +committed, and my brother's face with the reproachful eyes was ever +before me day and night. + +"At last I could endure it no longer, and so resolved to make what +amends I could. I found out where my brother was living, wrote to him, +and sent him a considerable sum of money. He returned it, and that +made me angry. But I knew that my brother was right, and I also +learned that he would starve rather than accept a penny from me or help +in any form. + +"For several years I made no further attempt to assist him. But the +remorse gnawing at my soul could not be silenced. I reasoned that I +had done what I could to rectify my wrong, but that gave me no peace. +Finally I resolved that I would help him in such a manner that he +should never know that I had anything to do with it. I knew that he +was living in Eastern Canada, but just where I was uncertain. + +"After weeks of careful consideration I made arrangements that all that +I possess should go to my brother Henry after my death. In the +meantime I planned with my solicitors that a man of exceptional ability +and unimpeachable character and integrity should be sent to Canada, +backed with sufficient money, to find my brother and to devise some +means of assisting him, and carrying out his every legitimate wish +without his ever knowing that I was behind the scheme. + +"I have also provided that he should be given two sealed papers, the +first setting forth his instructions, which he is not to open until his +arrival in Canada. He will then learn that this second which I am now +writing must not be opened until after my brother's death, should he +outlive me. If he should die first then this paper is to be returned +to me with the seal unbroken. The man chosen for this special +undertaking must not know anything about me, and he is not to have the +least idea who my brother really is. When I am dead, my solicitors +will notify the man so that he may break the seal of this paper +immediately after my brother's death. + +"My solicitors have full knowledge of my business affairs, and they +will continue to manage them after my death. In case of my brother +Henry dying without having made a will, they have full instructions as +to the disposal of my property. Only one other living relative I have, +and he is my sister's son, Melburne Telford. He cherishes the hope +that my money will go to him after my death. In this, however, he is +mistaken, for I have taken a great dislike to the young man. He is +absolutely worthless, and travels over the country as an artist. I +have given him considerable money at various times, for my dead +sister's sake. But he has been very ungrateful, and lives a most evil +life. He believes that my brother Henry is the only one who stands +between him and my money. But I have so arranged that he shall not +receive one penny of it, though he is not aware of the fact. + +"I have now done all in my power to make amends for past wrongs to my +only brother. I should like to see him again, and to hear from his own +lips words of forgiveness. But that can never be. People have called +me hard, and good reason have they had for such an opinion. But they +have not known all. When I am gone and this story is told, perhaps +they may think somewhat differently of me. But whether they do or not +will not affect me then. I have made my bed, and so I must lie in it. + + (Signed) "SIMON DOCKETT, + Liverpool, England." + + +When Lois had finished, she laid the paper upon the desk and remained +silent for a few seconds. The last part of the confession was what +interested her most of all. She felt sure that Melburne Telford was +none other than Sydney Bramshaw. But how was she to prove it? Where +could the person be found who could identify him? she asked herself. + +"What do you think of the story?" Margaret asked, as she studied Lois' +face in an effort to divine her thoughts. + +"It is most interesting," was the reply, "and it explains things I +could not understand before. But how are we to prove that Sydney +Bramshaw is really Simon Dockett's nephew?" + +"Perhaps father may know more about it than we do," Margaret suggested. +"He must have received notice of Simon Dockett's death." + +Lois was about to reply when a sudden thought flashed into her mind, +which caused her face to flush with excitement. + +"What is it, dear?" Margaret questioned, noticing her agitation. + +"Don't press me for an answer, please," and Lois rose to her feet. "I +shall explain everything to you later. I must get home at once. A new +idea has come into my mind, which makes me very restless." + +As she was standing there, Mr. Westcote entered. His face bore a +worried expression which Lois and Margaret were not slow to notice. + +"Have they caught him?" Lois eagerly asked. + +"No, not yet, but he will be taken no doubt at the station. You have +finished reading the paper, I see," and he glanced toward the desk. +"What do you think of it?" + +"We have found it most interesting, but some of it quite puzzling." + +"What part?" + +"Where it speaks about Simon Dockett's nephew. Who is Melburne +Telford, do you think?" + +"Ah, that is where the present trouble lies, Miss Sinclair. I firmly +believe that this Sydney Bramshaw is the man, but how are we to prove +it without bringing people all the way from England? I thought there +was a man in the city who could identify him, as he had done business +with the Dockett Concern, as it is commonly called in England. My +lawyer and I hunted him up this afternoon, but he told us that he never +knew before that Simon Dockett had a nephew. Now if we could only +unearth some one who knows that Sydney Bramshaw is in reality Melburne +Telford then our case is complete." + +"I believe I know the right man," Lois remarked in a low voice. "He is +living at Creekdale, and if you will take me there at once we can have +a talk with him. I know he will assist us all he can, and we can +depend upon what he says." + +"We shall go at once," Mr. Westcote replied. "I shall order the car +immediately. You had better come too, Margaret." + +Lois was now in a great whirl of excitement, and she could hardly wait +for the arrival of the car. Mr. Westcote told the chauffeur to make +good time, and though they travelled fast it seemed to Lois a long time +before the Haven appeared in sight. + +The captain and Mrs. Peterson were greatly surprised when the car swung +up to the Haven and the young women and Mr. Westcote alighted. The +captain was lying in his big chair upon the verandah with his wife +knitting by his side. + +"Well, this is a surprise," he exclaimed as he shook hands with his +visitors. "I thought you were all in the city, and had forgotten your +country friends." + +"Oh, we can never forget you, Captain," Lois smilingly replied. "We +have come on purpose to see you, and so you should feel very much +elated and be on your best behaviour." + +"Sure, sure, indeed I shall. But what do you want to see me about?" he +enquired. "Has it anything to do with that murder case? I am most +anxious to hear the latest news." + +"I have come to ask you to get your thinking-cap on," Lois replied. + +"My thinking-cap! Why, bless your heart, it's always on, day and +night." + +"That's good, Captain. But first I wish to ask you a few questions." + +"Drive ahead, then, I'm ready." + +"You have often sailed to Liverpool, have you not?" + +"Sure. Know the place well." + +"You knew also of the Dockett Concern there, didn't you? I have heard +you mention that name." + +"Yes, indeed I did. Knew old Simon Dockett himself, and saw him often. +My, he was a cranky cuss, if ever there was one. He had a whale of a +tongue, and knew how to use it." + +"Did you know anything about his family?" + +"Not much. He never married, as I guess no woman would have him. But +I know for sure that he has a nephew. He sailed once on my ship, and +that was the first time I met him. He was a gay one." + +"Do you remember his name?" Lois was much excited now. + +"Sure; it was Melburne Telford. I couldn't forget that for if he told +it to us once on that trip he told it a hundred times. He was always +boasting that he was the nephew of old Simon Dockett, and that he was +to fall heir to his wealth." + +"Have you ever seen him since, Captain?" + +"Not until he struck this place, travelling under the name of Sydney +Bramshaw. I knew him, though he didn't know me," and the captain +smiled as he ran his hand over his bearded face. "I didn't have this +then. At first I couldn't exactly make out where I had seen the fellow +before, but when I remembered I gave such a whoop that the women folk +thought I had gone out of my mind, and came running in to see what was +wrong." + +"So that was the matter with you that day, was it?" Mrs. Peterson asked +as she paused in her knitting. + +"Yes, that was it, and poor little Betty thought I had something in my +head like 'Mr. David,' ho, ho!" + +"But why didn't you tell us who Sydney Bramshaw really was?" Lois asked. + +"At first I thought I would. But then I decided to await developments, +and see what the fellow was doing around here, and why he was sailing +under another name. If I told what I knew it would have been gabbled +all over the place in no time, and the chap would have been looked upon +with suspicion. He seemed to be harmless enough, and so I thought I +might as well hold my tongue for a while anyway. But since he's gone +and you've asked me point blank about him, I can't see any harm in +telling what I know." + +"Would it surprise you, Captain, to learn that Melburne Telford, alias +Sydney Bramshaw, is David Findley's nephew?" Mr. Westcote asked. + +"His nephew!" the captain exclaimed. "Old David's nephew!" + +"Yes, that's who he is, and David and Simon Dockett were brothers." + +"Good heavens!" the captain ejaculated. "What's the meaning of it all, +I'd like to know?" + +"Let me tell you," Mr. Westcote replied. "It is only right that you +should know." + +As briefly as possible he related the story of the two sealed papers, +the captain and his wife listening with the keenest interest. He told +also of Bramshaw's suspicious actions. + +"And do you mean to tell me that old David was murdered by his nephew?" +the captain asked in amazement when the story was finished. + +"It looks very much like it, doesn't it?" + +"It certainly does. My, my, who'd have thought such a thing!" and the +captain leaned back overcome by what he had just heard. + +Before the visitors left, Mrs. Peterson spread a little table with a +spotless cloth, and brought forth some of her fresh bread, cake and +preserves. + +"It is no trouble, I assure you," she replied in answer to Lois' +remonstrance. "You must have a cup of tea before you leave, and I +thought it would be nice out here on the verandah." + +"That looks good to me," Mr. Westcote remarked as he drew his chair up +to the table. "I haven't eaten a bite since morning. I was all ready +to go to the restaurant when Dobbins came to see me, and then you girls +arrived. If this keeps up much longer I shall be a skeleton. But I +must not remain too long," he added, as he consulted his watch. "I +must be back in the city before the C. P. R. leaves." + +"May I stay with Lois?" Margaret asked. + +"Why yes, if you will not be in the way." + +"She must stay," Lois replied. "I could not get along without her now. +You will keep us informed, I hope, of how you make out." + +"Yes, I shall write to-night, and if anything of great importance turns +up I shall let you know at once." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +THE TABLES TURNED + +The agony of mind that Jasper suffered in leaving his cabin and meeting +the people of Creekdale on their return from old David's funeral was +only a part of the trial he endured on his journey to the county jail. +On the wharf, while waiting for the arrival of the steamer, he was +subjected to the pitiless stares and gibes of men, women and children. +News of the arrest had spread from house to house, and people had +flocked to the wharf to have a last look upon the suspected man. +Jasper stood with his face to the river watching the steamer off in the +distance, which was rapidly approaching. The actions of the crowd +disgusted him. There was not one friendly voice lifted up on his +behalf. Jim Goban strutted up and down keeping close watch upon his +prisoner, and gloating over his task. He was having his revenge now +for the blows he had received on the day of David's release. + +When once on the steamer Jasper believed that he would be free from all +curious eyes. In this, however, he was mistaken. There were many on +board and all soon learned that the "terrible murderer" was in their +midst. Jasper was kept down below near the engine room and it was +remarkable how most of the people on that boat found it necessary to +pass him quite often. He could hear some of their comments as they +moved away. + +"What a bad face he has," a woman remarked. + +"Yes," her companion replied, "he surely does look like a desperate +character. Wasn't it awful for him to kill that poor old man?" + +Jasper's face was really hard and stern; how could it have been +otherwise? Where was all their Christian charity? he asked himself. +Where was the spirit of justice? Those people knew that he had not yet +received a fair trial, and why were they so willing and eager to +believe him guilty? + +Old Simon Squabbles was on board, and though he said nothing to Jasper, +he expressed his views to several men a short distance away. + +"It's nothin' more than I expected," he boasted. "I knew he would soon +reach the end of his tether after the experience I had with him. I had +him workin' fer me, an' when I wouldn't pay him fer loafin' in the +potato patch, he got as mad as blazes an' said things I wouldn't like +to repeat." + +Jasper endured such remarks without a word. He did not feel like +making any reply. In fact, he realised how useless it would be, and +the less said the better. + +The limit of his bitterness was reached when a woman approached and +began to speak to him about his soul, and the danger of hell fire. She +dilated glibly upon the awfulness of sin, and even offered to pray for +him. + +"Keep your prayers for yourself," Jasper retorted, stung almost to fury +by her impudence. "You'll do more good if you pray for these +snivelling hypocrites," and he motioned to those standing around him. + +"Isn't it awful!" and the woman held up her hands in horror. "You +should be afraid to speak that way, and you in such danger. Read this, +poor man," and she held forth a tract she had been holding in her hand. + +Jasper glanced at it and read the heading, "Flee from Hell Fire." He +took it, and then crushing it in his hand, threw it from him. + +"I've had enough of this," he cried, "and I'll stand no more. Leave me +alone, is all I ask. Hell can be no worse than what you people are +dealing out to me now." + +Jasper's look and attitude caused those near him to shrink back, and +during the rest of the voyage he had peace from the clatter of tongues, +at least. + +It was a great relief to him when at last he was lodged in the cell of +the county jail. Here he was alone and free from all curious eyes, and +he had time and quietness for thought. His heart was nevertheless +heavy as he sat there in his solitude. He brooded over all that had +taken place, and the one and only ray of brightness which came to him +in his misery was the thought of Lois and the vision of her standing +where he last saw her with such deep sympathy expressed in her eyes. + +The following day Mr. Westcote's lawyer came to see him, and they had a +long talk together. Dr. Turnsell was greatly impressed by Jasper and +the straightforward manner in which he told about his visit to David +the night of the murder. + +"We shall do the best we can for you," the lawyer informed him as he +bade him good-bye. "We have tried to get you out on bail, but so far +have been unsuccessful." + +This visit somewhat encouraged Jasper. He knew that able men were +working for him and that Mr. Westcote would spare no money on his +behalf. As he sat there in his cell he thought over his past life and +of the many struggles he had made to succeed. He brooded over the +injustice he had received from so many simply because he was poor and +forced to fight his own battles against almost overwhelming odds. "And +is this the end?" he asked himself. "Will all my efforts amount to +nothing?" He thought of several of his college companions, sons of +rich men, who knew not what it was to fight in order to win their way, +and who were now occupying important positions in life. He knew what +they would say about him now. "Poor Spuds," would be their laconic +comment. "He was always an odd one, anyway." Yes, that was the way +they would talk, and then dismiss him from their minds. + +The afternoon slowly passed, and after a while he rose and paced up and +down his small room. He looked through the barred window and saw the +clouds sweeping across the "long savannahs of the blue." How precious +freedom seemed to him, and he longed to be once more in the open. He +thought of Lois, and wondered if she were thinking of him. Perhaps she +was out on the river in her little boat watching those same clouds. +There would be no one near now to rescue her should the water get rough. + +Jasper was interrupted in his reverie by the entrance of the jailor. +He carried a letter in his hand, which he gave to the prisoner, and +then retired and bolted the door. + +Jasper glanced at the writing and his heart gave a great bound as he at +once recognised Lois' handwriting. Quickly he tore open the envelope +and drew forth the letter. + + +"Dear Mr. Randall," it began, "I am sending you this little note to +remind you that all your friends have not forgotten you, and that we +are doing what we can on your behalf. Keep up courage. I am very +hopeful now and feel sure that everything will turn out right. I know +you are innocent, and am confident that you will soon be free. +Good-bye. + +"Yours in haste, + +"Lois Sinclair." + + +Next to Lois herself nothing could have been more welcome to Jasper +than that letter. He pressed it fervently to his lips, and read it +over and over again. It brought a great comfort to his burdened heart. +He was sure now that Lois was thinking of him and doing what she could +for his release. He wondered what she had discovered, and mused much +upon the words "I am very hopeful now." + +Jasper slept well that night and awoke in the morning greatly +refreshed. He wondered what the day would bring forth, and as he paced +up and down his room in order to get a little exercise, he squared back +his shoulders and held his head high. He felt fit and ready for battle +and longed for activity of some kind. As the morning hours wore slowly +away he became restless and impatient. The silence of his room was +affecting his nerves, and he thought with a shudder of men who were +condemned for life to solitary confinement. What more horrible +punishment could be meted out to any man? He was sure that he would go +mad in a few days. + +Jasper could eat but little of the meagre dinner the jailor brought +him. He was hoping that there would be a letter or some message for +him, and when there was none he felt sadly disappointed. How long +would it be before he had any word from the lawyer? he wondered. + +He was brooding at the table when the door again opened and to his +great joy and surprise Mr. Westcote entered. Jasper sprang to his feet +and seized the hand held out to him. + +"Are you quite repentant now?" Mr. Westcote smilingly asked. + +"Quite," was the reply. "I think this dose will do me all my life. I +am willing to do anything you ask me, even to blacking your boots." + +"That's good, so obey me at once and leave this confounded hole." + +"What, go with you?" + +"Certainly. What else would have brought me here but to take you away?" + +"To the court-room, I suppose," was the bitter rejoinder. + +"Not at all. But come now, and I will explain everything on our way to +the city. My car is just outside." + +How good Jasper felt to be once again out of doors, and he expanded his +chest and inhaled great draughts of the fresh air. + +"My, that's great!" he exclaimed. "It will take me a long time to get +the poison of that cell out of my lungs, and----" + +"The bitterness out of your soul, eh?" Mr. Westcote quietly asked, as +Jasper paused. + +"Yes, that's what I was going to say. But I'm afraid it will be a much +harder thing to do. I've been the sport of fools so long that the +bitterness of my soul has become a chronic disease." + +"Tut, tut, don't talk that way any more," Mr. Westcote chided. "Jump +on board now, and let us be off. I'll tell you something that will +sweeten your soul and make life worth living." + +To Jasper it seemed almost like a dream as he leaned back and listened +to what his companion told him about the net of evidence which had been +woven about Sydney Bramshaw. He did not mention Lois in connection +with the affair, but related the incidents of the letter, the threat to +Betty Bean, and old David's narrow escape from the falling log. He +told him also about the two sealed papers, and who David Findley and +Sydney Bramshaw really were. + +"This is certainly remarkable!" Jasper exclaimed, when Mr. Westcote +ceased speaking and took a cigar from his pocket. "But where is +Bramshaw now?" he asked. "Surely he has not been allowed to escape." + +"Indeed he hasn't. He's in the city jail, that's where he is." + +"Oh, I see." It was all Jasper could say. + +"Yes, he was arrested last night as he was about to board the C. P. R. +for New York. His grip was searched and letters of a most +incriminating nature were found. Why, the fellow must be a fool to +have kept them with him. Almost any man in his right mind would have +destroyed them at once." + +"How did he take his arrest?" Jasper enquired. + +"At first he put up a big bluff and threatened all sorts of things. +But after a night in the lock-up and a thorough grilling this morning, +he broke down and begged for mercy. He was confounded by the net which +had been woven about him, and the look of terror in his eyes was really +pathetic." + +"And has he confessed to murdering old David?" Jasper eagerly asked. + +"Not exactly. But he has come so near to it that not the shadow of a +doubt is left about his guilt. I believe that he will confess all +shortly in the hope that he may escape the death penalty by doing so." + +Jasper remained silent for a while apparently studying the scenery as +they sped on their way. But he saw nothing of tree, flower or rich +rolling meadows. His thoughts were elsewhere, and his next question +revealed the working of his mind. + +"To whom am I indebted for the collecting of all that valuable +evidence?" he questioned. "Some one must have been very busy." + +"You are indebted to several," was the reply. "But Miss Sinclair has +been the most active." + +"So I imagined," was all Jasper said and he once more lapsed into a +silence which he did not break until the car drew up before Mr. +Westcote's office. He knew now that Lois cared for him, and his heart +thrilled with joy as he thought of the efforts she had made on his +behalf. How he longed to see her and thank her for what she had done. + +The surprise which came to Jasper upon his speedy release and +vindication was nothing compared to the shock he received when Mr. +Westcote told him about old David's will. + +"Surely he has not left everything to me!" Jasper exclaimed. + +"No, not all; merely half after a few bequests have been disposed of. +Then you and Miss Sinclair are to share alike." + +"I don't seem to comprehend it all yet," and Jasper placed his hand to +his forehead in a bewildered manner. + +"It's only natural that you shouldn't. It will take you some time to +grasp the significance of the bequest which has been made to you. Your +responsibility will be very heavy, but from what I know of you I +believe that you will be equal to the undertaking." + +"I shall do the best I can," Jasper replied. "I am too much dazed at +present to think it carefully over. For a man to be freed from all +suspicion of a terrible crime, and then to find himself heir to a vast +fortune all in one day is enough to turn any one's brain." + +A knock sounded upon the office door, and Dr. Turnsell at once entered. +He shook hands with Jasper and heartily congratulated him. + +"I have come to tell you," he added, "that Bramshaw has made a full +confession of his crime. He is a nervous wreck, and this morning he +broke down completely." + +"I am very thankful that he has confessed," and Jasper gave a sigh of +relief. "Wasn't it lucky that he was caught before he got over the +Border?" + +"You have to thank Miss Sinclair for that," Mr. Westcote replied. "But +for her prompt action I am afraid we would be frantically searching for +Bramshaw now." + +"And I would be still in jail," Jasper mused. + +"Undoubtedly. Now, it seems to me that Miss Sinclair should be +informed of what has happened as soon as possible. Suppose we slip up +and tell her?" + +"That will be great," and Jasper sprang to his feet. "When can we +start?" + +"At once. The car is waiting outside. I knew that you would be +anxious to go, and so ordered the chauffeur to be ready." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +THE REAL HAVEN + +Lois rose early that morning and attended to numerous household +affairs. It was necessary for her to keep busy, as her mind was always +calmer when her hands were employed. She had the feeling that the day +would be an unusual one, and that much would happen before its close. +She could not rid her mind of this idea, and she mentioned it to +Margaret over the breakfast table. + +"Do you believe in premonitions?" she asked. + +"In a way I do," was the reply. "Strange things happen sometimes, you +know. I, too, have a peculiar feeling this morning that we are to hear +great news today. Everything is so still just now, with not a leaf nor +a blade of grass aquiver. See how the fog rests upon the river through +which the sun is trying to break. There will be a heavy wind this +afternoon, mark my word. I have often noticed it to be so. It is the +rule rather than the exception. And it may be the case with us. The +quietness of the morning may give place to excitement before night." + +"You are quite a philosopher," Lois laughingly remarked. + +"Not at all, dear. I am merely an observer, and I notice that what +happens in nature around us is often true in our own lives. The law +which governs the waves of the ocean affects in a similar manner the +ripples of a tiny pool. I am going to make a prophecy now." + +"Let it be a good one." + +"Certainly. I am going to predict that this afternoon will bring us +the excitement of joy, and that there will be a happy company seated at +this table for dinner. How is that for a prophecy?" + +"I hope it will come true," Lois replied with a smile. + +"Do you care for a walk this morning?" she asked. + +"No, I think not. I have some needle-work to finish, and I do so like +that shady corner of the verandah. But don't you stay in on my +account." + +"I'm afraid I couldn't content myself in any one place this morning," +and Lois gazed thoughtfully out of the window. "I am so restless that +I must be on the move. I shall visit the Haven first and then go for +the mail. We should hear something from your father." + +Lois enjoyed the walk up along the shaded lane, and when she was almost +to the main highway she sat down under a large tree and looked out upon +the river. The last trace of fog was slowly lifting and not a ripple +disturbed the surface of the water. She longed to be out there in her +boat and made up her mind to go for a row during the afternoon. She +thought of the day Jasper had rescued her and Margaret. What was he +doing now? she wondered. Perhaps he was sitting in his lonely cell +thinking of her. The thought brought a flush to her cheeks and a sweet +peace to her heart. No doubt he had received her letter, and that +would tell him that she had not forgotten him. + +She found the captain in his accustomed place upon the verandah. + +"You are early this morning," was his salutation as he took the pipe +from his mouth. + +"Why shouldn't I be?" she asked, as she sat down by his side. +"Wouldn't it be a pity to stay indoors a morning like this?" + +"Sure it would. But you are lucky to be able to walk about. Look at +me; nothing but a cripple who must stick to this one place with never a +chance of moving around." + +"But you don't need to, Captain. People come to see you, and you know +all that is going on. You held quite a reception yesterday afternoon." + +"Indeed I did. And I have been thinking very much about what I heard. +It is wonderful. I do hope they have caught that rascal." + +"Have you seen Betty lately?" Lois enquired. + +"We expect her to-night. She is coming to stay a few days with us. It +will be good to have her here again, for we miss her very much." + +"Have you any idea what she is going to do?" + +"Her mind is set upon being a nurse, so I understand. She'll make a +good one, mark my word. The way she took to old David and looked after +him was a marvel." + +Mrs. Peterson now came from the house and joined in the conversation. + +"You must excuse me, dear," she apologised, "but I haven't had time to +dress up this morning. Betty is coming to-night, and I want to get +some cakes and pies made." + +"You won't have to work so hard when you get your money," Lois replied. +"I suppose you have heard nothing more about it?" + +"Only that we're to get a thousand a year. Isn't it wonderful! It +seems that it must be all a dream. At first we couldn't understand +where so much money was to come from. But after what Mr. Westcote told +us it is all clear. Betty and her mother are to get the same amount +each, so I believe. Poor old David! We little realised what he would +do for us when we took him to board. I did hear that Mr. Jasper is to +come in for a large share. I hope he does, anyway, for he deserves it." + +"Have you heard who will get the balance of the money, property, or +whatever it is?" Lois asked. + +"Why, certainly. Don't you know?" Mrs. Peterson asked in astonishment. + +"No, I have not the least idea." + +"Well, isn't that strange! Why, the bulk of the property is to go to +you and Mr. Jasper." + +At these words Lois' eyes opened wide with amazement, and she felt that +she had not heard aright. + +"To me?" she gasped. + +"So I understand. We didn't mention it to you, thinking that you knew +all about it. But isn't it wonderful what strange things have happened +in such a short time?" + +Lois made no reply, for her mind was too much agitated. She wished to +be by herself that she might think over this remarkable piece of news. +Bidding the captain and his wife good-bye, she walked slowly down the +road toward the store. Surely there had been some mistake, she +reasoned. Why should anything have been left to her? What had she +done to merit it? She wished that David had not done such a thing. It +would mean a great responsibility, and she did not feel equal to the +task. + +Reaching the store, her attention was diverted for a time by the brief +note she received from Mr. Westcote telling of the arrest of Sydney +Bramshaw. This was very gratifying news, but she longed to hear some +word about Jasper, and whether he would be released. This and what +Mrs. Peterson had told her about the will occupied her mind all that +afternoon. She was unusually silent, and Margaret was afraid that she +was not well. She spent a couple of hours upon the river, but the +water becoming rough she was unable to remain out any longer. + +"Your prediction has come true, Margaret," she said when she had +reached the house. "It is very rough out there now. You were quite +right as regards the water, but I guess that is about as far as it +goes. It is almost dinner time and here we are just as quiet as we +were this morning." + +"There is plenty of time yet," and Margaret looked up from her work +with a smile. "I have had such a delightful day," she added. "See, I +have done all this," and she held up a piece of needle-work for +inspection. + +"I wish that I could settle down to something definite," Lois sighed. +"I have never been so restless in all my life as I have to-day. I have +the feeling that something wonderful is about to happen, and that a +great change is to take place in my life. If I were superstitious I +should be quite uneasy." + +"Is it a feeling of dread?" Margaret asked. + +"No, not at all. I cannot explain it, for I never experienced anything +like it before." + +This conversation was suddenly interrupted by a long succession of +raucous honks up the road, and in a few seconds a car swung around the +corner of the house and stopped before the verandah. + +Lois had risen and stepped forward. But she stopped short in amazement +when she saw Jasper in the car, seated by Mr. Westcote's side. Her +father and Dick were in the front seat, but she hardly noticed them. +Jasper was free! That was the one idea which filled her mind. It +seemed almost too good to be true. Just what happened next she was not +altogether certain. She welcomed them all and listened to their +voices, but she seemed to be living in a dream from which she would +suddenly awaken. She took her place as usual at the head of the table, +but made so many mistakes that Dick laughed at her. + +"What's the matter, Lois?" he enquired. "You're surely strong on hot +water. You've given me a cup of it instead of tea, and the rest you +poured into the milk pitcher." + +"Did I do that?" Lois asked in surprise. "Well, I guess I'm rattled, +anyway. You have told me so many things during the last half hour that +my brain is all in a whirl." + +Jasper was as much excited as Lois, though outwardly he remained calm. +He said very little, and let Mr. Westcote tell how their car had broken +down and but for the timely arrival of Mr. Sinclair and Dick they would +not have been able to reach their destination. He recalled his feeling +of dismay when they were stalled, and he feared that he would not be +able to see Lois that night. He did want to tell her how grateful he +was for what she had done for him. But now he was near her and yet he +had not told her. He had thought over the proper words he would say, +but when he had taken her hand as she met him at the verandah steps, he +did not utter them. + +After dinner they all went out upon the verandah, and what a delightful +time that was. It was a happy company, and for a while all cares were +banished. It was a balmy evening, the wind of the afternoon having +subsided, and all nature was hushed in repose as the shades of night +began to steal over the land. It was the hour of enchantment, and +while Mr. Sinclair and Mr. Westcote discussed matters relating to the +work at the falls, Dick and Margaret strolled slowly down to the river. + +Jasper and Lois thus found themselves sitting alone on the verandah +steps. + +"Suppose we pay a visit to the Haven," Jasper suggested. "It is a +perfect night for a walk, and I know the captain and his wife will be +glad to hear the news. Your father won't mind our leaving him, will +he?" + +"He won't realise that we have gone," Lois laughingly replied. "He is +very happy just now." + +Jasper and Lois were in no great hurry to reach the Haven. Their +hearts were happy, and as they walked slowly along Jasper told Lois all +that had happened to him since the day of his arrest. + +"I can never thank you enough for sending me that letter of +encouragement, and what you have done for me," he told her. + +"Don't try to do so," Lois replied. "It was a joy to me to be able to +do something." + +They were standing beneath a big maple tree, and Lois was plucking at a +wild flower she had just picked. Jasper suddenly reached out, caught +both her hands in his and held them tight. + +"Lois, Lois," he breathed, and his voice was intense with emotion, "I +want you for my very own. I cannot live without you." + +"Oh, look, you have crushed my flower," Lois remonstrated, while a +nervous little laugh escaped her lips. + +"That is too bad," and at once Jasper released her hands and placed his +arms around her. + +"Lois, I love you," he murmured. "I have loved you for years. Can you +love me in return?" + +In reply Lois lifted her flushed face to his and their lips met. The +seal of their betrothal was set, and their young hearts were as one. +Time to them was nothing now in the rapturous joy of their sweet pure +love. Their past doubts, cares and trials were all ended. They had +started forth to reach the Haven nestling on the hill and they found on +the way the real Haven which they had long been seeking--the enchanted +Haven of Love. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER SEALED ORDERS*** + + +******* This file should be named 16714-8.txt or 16714-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/7/1/16714 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Under Sealed Orders + + +Author: H. A. Cody + + + +Release Date: September 17, 2005 [eBook #16714] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER SEALED ORDERS*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +UNDER SEALED ORDERS + +by + +H. A. CODY + +Author of +The Frontiersman, The Long Patrol, The Chief of the Ranges, etc. + +NEW YORK +GROSSET & DUNLAP +PUBLISHERS +GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY + +1917 + + + + + + + +To all "Spuds," successful or unsuccessful; to all "Fools," wise or +unwise; and to all of "The Devil's Poor," not forgetting authors, this +book is sympathetically dedicated. + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. THE LURE OF FALLING WATER + II. TO THE LOWEST BIDDER + III. ONE, AT LEAST, RINGS TRUE + IV. A LITTLE CABIN + V. UNMASKED + VI. OUT OF BONDAGE + VII. AT THE CLOSE OF A DAY + VIII. THE SHADOW OF MYSTERY + IX. UNITED FORCES + X. WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE + XI. CURIOSITY AND ANXIETY + XII. PYRAMID ROCK + XIII. THE DISTURBING LETTER + XIV. SUBTLE INFLUENCE + XV. THE "CUT OFF" + XVI. CHRISTMAS EVE + XVII. THE NIGHT SUMMONS + XVIII. THE WILD NOR'EASTER + XIX. DEVELOPMENTS + XX. BUSINESS DETAILS + XXI. HARNESSED POWER + XXII. IN THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION + XXIII. RESCUED + XXIV. GATHERING CLOUDS + XXV. MYSTERY + XXVI. UNDER SUSPICION + XXVII. IN THE TOILS + XXVIII. LIGHT BREAKS + XXIX. LOIS GOES TO THE CITY + XXX. A STRANGE COMMISSION + XXXI. PAPER NUMBER TWO + XXXII. THE TABLES TURNED + XXXIII. THE REAL HAVEN + + + + +UNDER SEALED ORDERS + + +CHAPTER I + +THE LURE OF FALLING WATER + +It was evening and a late April wind was whipping down the valley. It +swayed the tops of the tall pine and spruce trees as they shouldered up +from the swift brook below. It tossed into driving spray the water of +Break Neck Falls where it leaped one hundred feet below with a +thundering roar and swirl. It tossed as well the thin grey hair, long +beard, and thread-bare clothes of an old man standing upon a large rock +which towered high above the stream. + +The entire scene was wild and made weird by the approach of night. But +the old man did not seem to notice anything except the falling of the +waters. His eyes glowed with an intense light as he kept them fixed +upon the leaping and swirling columns below. His face was like the +face of a lover turned toward the object of his affection. + +For some time the man stood there drinking in the scene before him. +Then he took a step forward which brought him perilously near the edge +of the steep rock. His lips moved though no sound could be heard for +the tumult of the falls which was rending the air. What connection had +such a man with his surroundings? No boor or clown was he, for the +simple dignity of face and manner marked him as one of Nature's true +gentlemen. + +It was almost dark when he at last reluctantly left the rock and +entered the thick woods where a trail led away from the falls. Along +this he moved with the unerring instinct of one who had travelled it +often and was sure of his bearings. But ever and anon he paused to +listen to the sound of the falling waters which followed him like the +voice of a loved one urging him to return. + +"Yes, you want me," he at length cried, as he once more paused. "I +hear your voice calling, and I know its meaning. Others need you, too, +but they do not know it. You have been calling to them for years, but +they have not understood your language. It was left for me to listen +and take heed. They will some day, and then you will show your power. +I can see what you will do, beautiful falls, and the changes which will +come to this fair land when your luring voice is heeded." + +He stood for awhile as if entranced after uttering these mystic words. +Then he continued on his way and night wrapped more closely about him +her dark mantle. He had to walk very cautiously now for the trail was +rough, and there were sharp stones and roots ready to strike his feet +and trip him up. + +At length the trail ended and he reached the smooth surface of the +broad highway. Along this he sped with the quick elastic step of one +who has seen a vision. The fire of a great idea was burning fiercely +within him which caused him to take no heed to his surroundings. + +He had not gone far, however, ere some strong impulse caused him to +pause again and listen to that fascinating sound of falling waters far +off in the distance. It was on an elevation in the road where he +stopped, and here the shadows which enwrapped the forest were not so +heavy. The lingering light of departing day was still in the west and +touched this part of the highway with its faint glow. It brought out +into clear relief the silhouette of the old man as he stood there with +his right hand placed to his ear so as not to miss the least sound +drifting down the valley. + +So intent was he upon what he heard that he did not notice the sounds +of approaching footsteps, so when a man stopped a few yards away and +watched him curiously, he was completely unaware of his presence. +"Ring on, sweet waters," he cried. "Your voice follows me no matter +how far I go. I alone can understand your language, and know what you +are saying. All are deaf but me. They hear but do not know your +meaning." He ceased, and again listened for a few seconds. + +A strange half-mocking laugh startled him, and caused him to look +quickly around. Seeing that he was observed, he was about to hurry +away, when a man stepped forward. + +"Pardon me," he began. "I did not mean to offend you. But your words +seem so strange, that I could not help laughing." + +"And were you listening to the voice?" the old man eagerly asked. "Do +the falling waters speak to you as they do to me? Is that why you are +here?" + +"Yes, I hear them," was the reply. "But they do not bring any special +message to my mind." + +"And they do not tell you of power, of the wonderful things they are +ready and willing to do when men will heed what they are saying?" + +"No, I can't say that they do. They make a noise up there among the +trees, but I do not know what they are saying." + +"Strange, strange," and the old man placed his hand to his forehead. +"You are like all the rest, then. You hear but you do not understand." + +"What do you hear?" the newcomer asked, thinking that he was talking to +a weak-minded creature. + +"I hear great things, which will be for the welfare of the whole +community. The waters tell me what they will do. They will make life +worth living. They will give light and power to the people all along +the river and revolutionise their daily tasks. Instead of hard labour +by the sweat of the brow, the waters will do the work. People will be +happy, and have time for the beautiful things of life. Grinding toil +and sorrow will be banished forever." + +"Umph! So that is what you hear, eh? What is the good of hearing such +a voice, if you have no power to make it come true?" + +"But the people will hear and understand," the old man insisted. "I am +telling them about it." + +"Yes, I know you are, and they think you are a fool for your efforts. +They laugh at you, and call you crazy." + +"But they will come to see that I am right. They, too, will hear the +voice, and then they will not be able to resist its pleadings." + +"If you had the money they would listen to you, for that is the only +voice people will heed to-day. If you came here with an abundance of +gold, people would hear anything you asked them to in the falls up +yonder. But because you are poor, like myself, your ideas will have no +more weight with them than the lightest feather. Back your visions +with money and people will crowd around you, and you will be heeded. +But try to get along without money, and, bah! you are a fool." + +Scarcely had these words left his lips ere a raucous honk up the road +startled him. Then an auto with blazing lights leaped out of the +night. The old man was standing right in its way, unconscious of his +danger. Almost instinctively two strong hands clutched him and hurled +him into the ditch as the car swept past. Shouts of merriment sounded +forth upon the night air from the occupants of the car. The fright +they had given the two by the side of the road evidently gave them much +amusement. Their laughter caused the rescuer to straighten suddenly +up, and clutch the old man fiercely by the arm. + +"Did you hear them?" he asked, and his voice was filled with suppressed +emotion. + +"Yes," was the reply. "They are only thoughtless youths having a good +time, I suppose." + +"It's just what money does, though. I know who they are, for I caught +a glimpse of them as they sped past. It's money that talks with them; +that is the only voice they hear. They will ride over the less +fortunate, and crush them down as worms beneath their feet. They have +been doing it for ages, and look upon it as their right. What do they +care about the meaning of the falling waters when they are always +listening to the voice of money. Curse them. Why should they revel +and sport with ill-got gains, when honest men can hardly get enough to +keep breath in their bodies." + +The young man was standing erect now on the side of the road. His +companion shrank away somewhat fearful lest he should turn upon him and +smite him. + +"You seem to have suffered," he at length remarked. "You appear to be +annoyed at people who have money." + +"And why shouldn't I?" was the savage reply. "Haven't I suffered at +their hands, young as I am? Haven't I been scorned by them to the +limit of all endurance? Haven't they made a mock of me for years, +calling me names behind my back? And why? Just because I happen to be +poor, and have tried honestly to make my way in life. But there, +enough of this. What's the use of talking about such things? It will +do no more good than the voice of the waters which you are continually +hearing." + +Along the road the two walked in deep silence. The old man found it +hard to keep up with his companion, and he was at last forced to fall +behind. Soon he was alone, and then his thoughts went once more back +to the falls, and the glorious vision which was in his mind. + +It was only when he reached a small building by the side of the road +that he stopped. Pushing open the door, he entered. All was dark and +silent within. The strange loneliness of the place would have smitten +any one else with the feeling of dread. But the old man never seemed +to mind it. Fumbling in his vest pocket, he found a match. This he +struck and lighted a tallow dip which was stuck into a rude +candle-stick upon a bare wooden table. One glance at the room revealed +by the dim light showed its desolate bareness. Besides the table there +were two small benches and a wash-stand, containing a granite-iron +basin. A small broken-down stove stood at one end of the room, by the +side of which was a couch. Not a scrap of mat or rug adorned the +floor. There were no blinds or curtains to the cheerless, windows, and +not a picture adorned the walls. + +But the old man did not notice the desolation of the place. It was +quite evident that he was beyond the influence of earthly surroundings +for the moment. Going at once to the couch, he brought forth a roll of +paper hidden away beneath the pillow. Carrying this over to the table, +he sat down upon one of the benches and spread the paper out before +him. By the light of the candle it was easy for him to study the +carefully-made lines upon the large sheet. Eagerly he scanned the +drawings, and then placing the forefinger of his right hand upon one +central point, he moved it along one line extending farther than the +rest until it stopped at a small square in which was the word "City." +This action gave him much satisfaction and a pleased expression lighted +up his face. "Power, power," he murmured. "Ay, quicker than thought, +and bright as the sun shining in its strength. Great, wonderful! and +yet they do not realise it. But they shall know, and understand." + +Along the other lines he also ran his finger, pausing at the end of +each where was marked "Town," "Village," or "Settlement." He talked +continually as he did so, but it was all about "glory" and "power." +Over and over again he repeated these words, now in a soft low voice, +and again in a loud triumphant manner. + +At length he rose from the bench, crossed the room, opened the door, +and stepped outside. Not a star was to be seen, and the wind was +stronger than ever. It was keen, piercing. But the man heeded neither +the one nor the other. He was listening intently, and the faint sound +of Break Neck Falls drifting in from the distance was to him the +sweetest of music. + +And as he stood there a sudden change took place. His dead drooped, +and he leaned against the side of the building for support. A shiver +shook his body, and as he turned and entered the house his steps were +slow, and he half-stumbled across the threshold. He looked at the +wood-box behind the stove, but there was not a stick in it. He next +opened the door of the little cupboard near by, but not a scrap of food +was there. Almost mechanically he thrust his hand into his pocket and +brought forth a purse. This he opened, but there was nothing inside. +Half-dazed he stood there in the centre of the room. Then he glanced +toward the paper with the drawings lying upon the table, and as he did +so a peculiar light of comprehension shone in his eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +TO THE LOWEST BIDDER + +There was an unusually large number of people gathered in front of +Thomas Marshall's store one morning about the last of May. Women were +there as well as men, and all were talking and laughing in a most +pleasant way. The cause of this excitement was explained by a notice +tacked on the store door. + + +"The Board, Lodging, and Clothing of David Findley, Pauper, will be let +to the lowest bidder for a period of one year, on Wednesday, May 30th +inst., at Thomas Marshall's store, Chutes Corner, at 10 o'clock A. M. + + "Signed + + "J. B. FLETCHER + T. S. TITUS + O. R. MITCHELL + _Overseers of Poor_." + + +This notice had been posted there for about two weeks, and had +attracted the attention of all the people in the parish. It was out of +the ordinary for such a sale to take place at this season of the year. +Hitherto, it had occurred at the last of December. But this was an +exceptional case, and one in which all were keenly interested. + +"I hear he is stark crazy," Mrs. Munson was saying to a neighbour, +Peter McQueen, "and that he has a funny notion in his head." + +"Should say so," McQueen replied. "Any man who has lived as he has for +months must be pretty well off his base. Why, he didn't have a scrap +of food in the house when he was found by Jim Trask one morning the +last of April. Jim has been keeping him ever since." + +"Isn't he able to work?" Mrs. Munson inquired. + +"Seems not. I guess he's a scholar or something like that, and did +some book-keeping in the city until he drifted this way. He must have +had a little money to live as long as he has. He's always been a +mystery to me." + +"And to everybody else, I guess." + +"Yes, so it appears. But it's a great pity that we've got to be +burdened with the likes of him. Our taxes are heavy enough now without +having to take care of this strange pauper. We've got too many on our +hands already for our good." + +"But do you know anything about that queer notion of his, Pete?" Mrs. +Munson asked. + +"Ho, ho, I've heard about it, and I guess it's true all right. He's in +love with Break Neck Falls, and makes regular trips there every day, +and sometimes at night. Jim followed him once, and saw him standing +upon that high rock right by the falls. He kept waving his hands and +shouting to the water, though Jim could not make out what he was +saying. He has some writing on a piece of paper which he keeps very +close. He has told, though, that his plan will do wonderful things for +the city and the whole surrounding country. He once said that we don't +know what a valuable thing we have right in our midst. I guess we've +lived here longer than he has, and should know a thing or two. It is +not necessary for a half-cracked old man to come and tell us of our +possessions. But, say, here he is now, coming along in Jim Trask's +farm waggon." + +As the team drew near, all eyes were turned in its direction, for the +first glimpse of "Crazy David," as he was generally called. There was +no difficulty about seeing him for he was sitting by Jim's side on the +rough board seat. He looked much older and careworn than the night he +had awakened from his dream, and found his wood-box, cupboard, and +pocket-book empty. He had sat huddled on the seat for most of the way +up the road, but when near the store he lifted his eyes and fixed them +curiously upon the people before him. There was something pathetically +appealing in the expression upon his face. He seemed like a man trying +to recall something to his mind. He appeared strangely out of place in +that rough farm waggon. Even his almost ragged clothes could not hide +the dignity of his bearing as he straightened himself up and tried to +assume the appearance of a gentleman. The people saw this effort on +his part, and several wondered and spoke about it afterwards. + +At first the old man did not seem to realise the purpose of the +gathering. But when he saw the auctioneer mount a box alongside of him +and call for bids, the truth of the entire situation dawned upon him. +He was to be sold as a pauper to the lowest bidder, so he heard the +auctioneer say. For an instant a deep feeling of anger stirred within +his bosom, and he lifted his head as if to say something. But seeing +the eyes of all fixed upon him, he desisted. + +"What am I offered for the keep of this old man?" the auctioneer cried. +"The lowest bid gets him." + +"Two hundred dollars," came from a man not far off. + +"Two hundred dollars!" and the auctioneer turned fiercely upon him. +"You're out for a bargain, Joe Tippits. Why, he's worth that to any +man for a year's work. He'll be able to do many an odd job. Come, you +can do better than that." + +"One seventy-five," came from another. + +"Too much," the auctioneer cried. "The parish can't stand that." + +"One fifty, then." + +"That's better, Joe. Try again. You're a long way off yet." + +"I'll take the critter fer one hundred dollars, and not a cent less." + +At these emphatic words all turned and stared hard at the speaker. A +perceptible shiver passed through the bystanders, while several +muttered protests were heard. + +"Oh, I hope he won't get him, anyway," Mrs. Munson whispered to a +neighbour. "Jim Goban isn't a fit man to look after a snake, and if he +gets Crazy David in his clutches may God have mercy upon the poor old +man." + +"One hundred dollars I am offered," again the voice of the +auctioneer rang out. "Can any one do better than that? One +hundred dollars. Going at one hundred dollars. I shan't dwell. +One--hundred--dollars--and--sold to Jim Goban for one hundred dollars." + +This inhuman traffic did not seriously affect the people who had +gathered for the auction. When it was over, they quickly dispersed, to +discuss with one another about the life Jim Goban would lead Crazy +David. It was an incident of only a passing moment, and mattered +little more to them than if it had been a horse or a cow which had been +sold instead of a poor feeble old man. + +It was the custom which had been going on for years, and it was the +only way they could see out of the difficult problem of dealing with +paupers. + +When Jim Goban reached home with his purchase, dinner was ready. There +were five young Gobans who stared curiously upon David as he took his +seat at the table. Mrs. Goban was a thin-face, tired looking woman who +deferred to her husband in everything. There was nothing else for her +to do, as she had found out shortly after their marriage what a brute +he was. + +David was pleased at the presence of the children and he often turned +his eyes upon them. + +"Nice children," he at length remarked, speaking for the first time +since his arrival. + +"So ye think they're nice, do ye?" Jim queried, leaning over and +looking the old man in the eyes. + +"Why, yes," David replied, shrinking back somewhat from the coarse +face. "All children are nice to me, but yours are especially fine +ones. What nice hair they have, and such beautiful eyes. I suppose +the oldest go to school." + +"Naw. They never saw the inside of a school house." + +"You don't say so!" and David looked his astonishment. "Surely there +must be a school near here." + +"Oh, yes, there's a school all right, but they've never gone. I don't +set any store by eddication. What good is it to any one, I'd like to +know? Will it help a man to hoe a row of pertaters, or a woman to bake +bread? Now, look at me. I've no eddication, an' yit I've got a good +place here, an' a bank account. You've got eddication, so I +understand, an' what good is it to you? I'm one of the biggest +tax-payers in the parish, an' you, why yer nothing but a pauper, the +Devil's Poor." + +At this cruel reminder David shrank back as from a blow, and never +uttered another word during the rest of the meal. The iron was +entering into his soul, and he was beginning to understand something of +the ignominy he was to endure at this house. + +"Now look here," Jim began when they were through with dinner, "I've a +big pile of wood out there in the yard, an' I want ye to tote it into +the wood-house an' pile it up. I'll show ye where to put it. I'm +gittin' mighty little fer yer keep, an' I expect ye to git a hustle on +to help pay fer yer grub an' washin'." + +"Don't be too hard on him, Jim," Mrs. Goban remarked. "He doesn't look +very strong." + +"Don't ye worry, Kitty, I'll attend to that. I know a wrinkle or two." + +David was accordingly taken to the wood-house and Jim explained to him +how and where he was to pile the wood. "Ye needn't kill yerself," he +told him in conclusion. "But I want ye to keep busy, fer when that +job's through I've got something else on hand. Ye can sit down when ye +feel a little tired, but don't sit too long or too often, see?" + +For about half an hour David worked patiently at the wood, piling it as +neatly as possible. The work was not hard, and he was quite satisfied +with his task. He was alone, anyway, and could think about his beloved +falls. His hands, however, were soft, and ere long they were bruised +and bleeding from the rough sticks. At length a sharp splinter entered +his finger, and he sat down upon a stick to pull it out. In trying to +do this, it broke off leaving a portion deeply embedded in the flesh, +which caused him considerable pain. Not knowing what to do, he sat +looking upon the finger in a dejected manner. + +"What's the matter? You seem to be in trouble." + +At these words David looked quickly around, and saw a young girl +standing by his side. Though her dress was old and worn, her face was +bright, and her eyes sparkled with interest. + +"Here, let me take that splinter out," she ordered, as she sat down by +his side, and drawing forth a needle, began to probe into the flesh. +"There, I've got it!" she cried in triumph. "My! it's a monster. +You'll have to be more careful after this. You should have gloves." + +"Thank you very much," David replied. "To whom am I indebted for this +kindness?" + +"Oh, I'm Betty Bean, that's all." + +"And you live here?" + +"No. I'm just dying here." + +"Dying!" David exclaimed in surprise. "Why, you don't look like a +dying person." + +"Maybe I don't, but I am. I'm just staying here because I have to. My +mother's a widow, and I want to earn some money to help her, and as +this was the only place I could get I had to take it." + +"So you do not like it, then?" + +"Who would like any place where there is such a brute as Jim Goban? +My, I'm sorry for you. To think of any man getting into his clutches." + +"But surely I won't be any worse off than you are." + +"I'm not so sure about that. You see, I'm about boss here, and do and +say just what I like." + +"How's that?" + +"Well, I'm the only person Jim can get to work here. All the girls for +miles around know what kind of a creature he is, and they wouldn't come +for any amount of money. They're scared to death of him. But I'm not, +and I tell him right to his face what I think of him, and the way he +treats his poor wife. He would like to horsewhip me, but he knows that +if I leave no one else would come in my place. But I'm glad now that I +am here so I can look after you." + +"Look after me!" + +"Yes. I guess you'll need me all right. I know who you are, and I'm +sorry for you. I'm going to stand between you and Jim Goban. He's +scared to death of me, for I'm the only one who dares give him a +tongue-lashing, and I do it whenever it is necessary, which is quite +often." + +"You're a brave girl," and David looked with admiration upon the slight +form by his side. "How old are you?" + +"Fifteen last March. But one's age is nothing. I've done a woman's +work ever since I was ten. I stand up for my rights now, though. When +I first came here Jim was bound that I should work all the time. But +at last I told him that I was going to have every Saturday afternoon +off, especially in summer, so I could go home or out upon the river. +Can you row?" she suddenly asked. + +"A little," was the reply. + +"That's good. Now, look, I'm going to take you out in the boat next +Saturday, and you're going to meet somebody there you'll like." + +"Somebody I like," David repeated. "Who is it?" + +"It's a woman, that's who it is. But I'm not going to tell you her +name. She only came here last week, and she is so fond of the water, +and spends so much time upon it. Oh, you'll like her when you see her. +She's a beauty, with such lovely eyes and dark hair. And she's not a +bit stuck up, either. She just talks in a friendly way, and makes you +feel easy all over. There, now, I guess you'd better pile some more +wood. I have a bit of work to do, and when I'm through I'll come out +and give you a hand. I like to be with you. I know we're going to be +friends." + +The girl rose, and was about to leave. She paused, however, and looked +inquiringly into the old man's face. + +"Do you smoke?" she asked. + +Into David's eyes came an eager expression, which Betty was not slow to +see. + +"I know you do," she cried, "but you have no tobacco." + +"I have a pipe," and David fumbled into a pocket of his coat. "But I +haven't had a smoke for weeks, because----" + +"I know, I know," the girl hastily replied. "I'll get you some in a +jiffy." + +She was gone only a short time when she returned, and handed David half +a fig of tobacco. + +"There, take that," she said. "It's a piece Jim left on the kitchen +window-sill." + +"But is it right for me to take it?" David asked. + +"Sure it's right. Didn't Jim agree to feed and lodge you for one year? +You can't live without tobacco. It's a part of your food, see? If Jim +says anything about it, I'll soon settle him." + +"You are a good girl," David returned, as with trembling hands he +hastily whittled off a few slices of tobacco with an old knife, and +filled his pipe. "This will put new life into me. I can never repay +you for your kindness." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ONE, AT LEAST, RINGS TRUE + +With the small boat pulled well upon the beach, Lois Sinclair stood for +a few moments looking out over the water. Her eyes were fixed upon a +little boat in the distance containing two people, an old man and a +young girl. The wind, which was steadily increasing, tossed her wavy, +luxuriant hair over her brow, while several tresses fell across her +cheeks, flushed by the recent rowing. She knew that she should be +home, for supper would be waiting and her father would be impatient. +But she hesitated. Her thoughts were out there on the water where she +loved to be. The twang of the wind as it swept through the trees along +the shore, and the beat of the surf upon the gravelly beach were music +sweet to her ears. + +At length, with one more lingering glance out upon the river, she +turned and walked along a path leading from the shore. She moved +slowly, for she was not at all anxious to reach the house situated +about two hundred yards beyond. And yet it was an attractive house, +well-built, and cosy in appearance, designed both for summer and winter +use. A spacious verandah swept the front and ends, over which +clambered a luxuriant growth of wild grape vines. Large trees of ash, +elm, and maple spread their expansive branches over the well-kept lawn, +providing an excellent shade when the sun was hot. Altogether, it was +a most delightful spot to spend the summer months away from the smoke +and confusion of the city. + +The place, however, did not altogether appeal to Lois Sinclair. If she +had needed rest, the situation would have been ideal. But it was +activity she desired, and not luxurious ease such as so many crave, +especially two young men lolling on the verandah awaiting her coming. +Even though one was her brother, she could not restrain a feeling of +contempt as she looked upon their white faces, soft hands, and +immaculate clothes. Why should men, she asked herself, be so ready and +willing to give themselves completely up to effeminate habits when +their blood was hot within them, and the great Open was calling them +with such a strong insistent voice? + +The young woman's arrival brought one of the young men to his feet, +with the offer of a hammock. + +"Please do not trouble yourself," she told him. "I must hurry and get +ready for dinner. I know that father is very angry with me." + +"He is not the only one who is angry, I can assure you," Sammie Dingle +remarked. "We have been furious with you for leaving us this afternoon +when we needed your company so much in the car. I cannot understand +how you can enjoy yourself alone out on the river in that nasty boat." + +"No, I suppose you cannot," Lois replied, and so infatuated was Sammie +with the young woman that he did not notice the slightest sarcasm in +her words. + +"Hurry up, Lois," her brother ordered, "I'm almost starved. Dad's got +it in for you." + +"All right, Dick," was her reply. "I shall be down in a few minutes. +Why did you wait for me? You had better go to dinner at once, if you +are so hungry." + +It took Lois but a short time upstairs, and when she came down she +found the three men in the dining-room. Her father was in one of his +surly moods, and this she could tell at the first glance. He was a +short man, somewhat stout, and pompous both in appearance and manner. +Fortunate it was that his only daughter had inherited none of his +qualities, but was more like her mother, whose memory she cherished +with undying affection. Since her death home had been more of a prison +to her than anything else. Neither her father nor her only brother had +understood her, and she was forced to depend more and more upon her own +reliant self. + +"What kept you so late, Lois?" her father asked as soon as she had +taken her place at the table. "You know very well that I do not like +to wait for dinner." + +"I am very sorry, father," was the reply, "but I became so greatly +interested in an old man and a girl out on the river that I had no idea +how time was passing." + +"Who were they, Lois?" her brother enquired. + +"What new creatures have you picked up now? You haven't run out of +homeless cats and dogs, have you?" + +The colour mounted to Lois' temples at these words, for it was not the +first time she had been sneered at for her tenderness of heart for all +suffering creatures. With difficulty she restrained an angry reply, +and went on calmly with her dinner. + +"Come, Lois," Sammie urged, "never mind Dick. He must have his little +joke, don't you know. He was only in fun." + +"A joke with a sharp thorn in it isn't much fun," and Lois looked +Sammie full in the eyes. "One might do far worse than take an interest +in such people as I met this afternoon out upon the river. They +appealed to me very much and I am not ashamed to confess it. The man +is a perfect gentleman, while the girl is so pretty, and full of life +and fun." + +"What's her name?" Dick asked. "I'm getting quite excited over her." + +"She's Betty Bean, so she told me, and the old man is David Findley." + +"What, Crazy David, that miserable pauper?" Mr. Sinclair asked. "And +you call such a creature a gentleman?" + +"Certainly, and why not? His face is so beautiful, and his whole +manner shows that he has moved much in refined society." + +"Ho, ho, that's a good one," and Dick leaned back in his chair and +laughed aloud. "Crazy David a gentleman, with a beautiful face, and +refined manners! Think of that, dad." + +"Lois evidently doesn't know that Crazy David is a pauper, the Devil's +Poor, and was sold to Jim Goban to board and lodge for a year. He went +pretty low, so I understand." + +At these words an expression of surprise came into Lois' eyes, mingled +with indignation. She looked keenly into her father's face, thinking +that he must be merely joking. + +"I can hardly believe that what you say is true," she at length +remarked. "I did not know that such things were carried on in a +Christian community. Is it possible that an old man such as that was +sold like a cow or a horse to the lowest bidder!" + +"Well, what else could have been done with him, then?" + +"Wasn't there any one in the whole parish, willing to take care of him?" + +"H'm, I guess people have all they can do to look after themselves +without being burdened with a half-cracked creature such as that. It +was the best thing they could do. It would not be fair for one person +to have the entire expense of keeping him, so by this method all have a +share in his support." + +"But I call it degrading," Lois insisted, "not only to the old man +himself, but to the people living here. He seems such a gentleman, +that I was drawn to him this afternoon." + +"Going to take him under your wing, eh?" Dick bantered. "He'll be as +interesting as your other protege, I assure you. By the way, I saw him +this afternoon, and he looked his part all right, ho, ho," and Dick +laughed as he gulped down his tea. + +"Who's that, Dick?" Mr. Sinclair inquired. + +"Oh, Lois knows," was the reply. "She can tell you all about 'Spuds' +as well as I can, and maybe better." + +"Why should I know?" his sister asked, somewhat sharply. "I only met +him once, and that was years ago." + +"But you always take his part, though, so he seems to be somewhat under +your care." + +"And why shouldn't I? He deserves great credit for what he has done, +and it is very unbecoming of you to make fun of him." + +"I wish you could have seen him this afternoon, though," and Dick +glanced across the table at Sammie. "We were speeding along in the car +when we saw him hoeing potatoes in a field by the road. His clothes +were all soiled, his sleeves rolled up, and he looked like a regular +bushman. I called out to him as we sped past, and you should have seen +the expression on his face when he saw us. It was like a thunder +cloud. I guess he felt pretty well cut up at being caught at such +work, ha, ha." + +"Whom are you talking about, anyway?" Mr. Sinclair demanded. "What's +all this about 'Spuds,' I'd like to know?" + +"Oh, it's only that country chap we met several years ago, don't you +remember?" Dick explained. "His real name, I believe, is Jasper +Randall, though we have always called him Spuds, because he was digging +potatoes when we first met him." + +"You don't mean that big overgrown boy who helped us to carry Lois home +the day she sprained her ankle at Daltan Creek?" + +"The very same, dad. And you remember what fun we had at the way he +sat and drank his tea out of the saucer?" + +"But I didn't." Lois spoke sharply, while a flush mantled her cheeks. + +"Oh, no, you didn't make fun," Dick laughed. "You were mad through and +through, and gave us a good solid lecture afterwards." + +Lois made no reply, so while the men talked, she let her mind dwell +upon that scene of years ago. She saw again the lank awkward lad who +was so concerned about her accident. While helping to carry her home, +he had been much at his ease, and his eyes glowed with a sympathetic +light. But when once in the house, his natural shyness had come upon +him, and he did not know what to do with himself in the presence of +strangers. One thing stood out above everything else, and that was his +look of indignant defiance when Dick laughed because he drank his tea +out of the saucer. She liked the way he had straightened himself +suddenly up, while his eyes flashed with a peculiar light. The next +that she heard of him was several years later when he entered college +in Dick's year. Then every time her brother had come home he had such +stories to tell her about Spuds. And so he was now living near working +on a farm. Why did he not go home? she asked herself. She wondered +also what he looked like now. Was he lank and awkward as when she saw +him? She longed to ask Dick several questions, but desisted, knowing +that it would be to little purpose. Her brother would only make fun of +him, and she would be sure to get angry. + +When supper was over, the men sauntered out upon the verandah for a +smoke. Lois went, too, but sat somewhat apart with a piece of +needlework in her hands. She preferred to be alone that she might +think. She thought first of old David, and his pitiable condition. +What could she do to help him? she asked herself. It was not right +that he should be kept as a pauper while there were several people in +the parish who could provide for him without the least trouble. Her +father was one of them, and she was determined to speak to him just as +soon as she could. + +From old David it was only natural that her mind should turn to Jasper +Randall. She recalled his animated face the day her ankle had been +sprained. He was but a big overgrown boy then, and she had just +graduated from school. She had never forgotten him, and had followed +his career while at college as well as she could from what her brother +told her. And so he was now working on a farm nearby. A longing came +upon her to see him, and to learn if he had changed much since that day +years ago. As she glanced toward her brother and Sammie, so effeminate +in their manner, and dressed with such scrupulous care, a feeling of +contempt smote her. They disdained honest toil, and would scorn to +soil their soft white hands with manual labor. But over there was a +young man toil-worn, and no doubt sunburnt, clad in rough clothes +earning his living by the sweat of his brow. Such a person appealed to +her. He would form an interesting study, if nothing else. There must +be some connection between that potato patch and the college, she told +herself, and she was determined to find out what it was. + +As she thus sat and worked, her thoughts keeping time to her fingers, +Sammie came and took a seat by her side. She glanced quickly up, with +a shade of annoyance on her face. They were alone on the verandah, for +her father and Dick were nowhere to be seen. + +"You are very quiet this evening, Lois," the young man began. "I have +been watching you for the last half hour, and you never looked our way +once, nor took any interest in what we were saying. You are not +offended, are you?" + +"Offended! At what?" Lois asked as she let her needlework fall upon +her lap. + +"At me. Have I done anything to annoy you?" + +"I wasn't thinking about you at all, Sammie," and Lois looked him full +in the eyes. "My mind was upon more important things." + +"And you don't consider me important?" the young man demanded, visibly +embarrassed. + +"Why should I? What have you done that you should be considered +important?" + +"But my father is rich, and we belong to a good old family. I am a +gentleman, and that should count for much." + +"So you seem to think," was the somewhat sarcastic reply. "I do not +for a moment deny that such things are valuable, but they count for +very little in my estimation of a true man. He must prove his worth in +the battle of life, and show to the world that he is something apart +from how much money his father may have or his family history. Now +what have you done that I should consider you important?" + +"Nothing at present, Lois, for I am not through college yet. But I am +going to do great things some day, and then you will change your +opinion of me." + +"I hope so," and Lois gave a sigh as she picked up her work. + +"You don't believe what I say?" and Sammie reddened. + +"Not until I see you settle down to something definite. You do not +know how to work, and how, then, can you expect to succeed?" + +"But you would not want to see me working like Spuds, for instance, +would you?" + +"And why not? He is not afraid to soil his hands at honest labor. Why +he is doing so I do not know, but there must be some good reason." + +"Oh, I know. He wants money to help him to finish his college course. +He left very suddenly, so I understand. Of course, he was not in our +set, and so I know very little about him. He studied hard, and kept +much to himself, so he has always been somewhat of a mystery. But say, +Lois, never mind talking about him. I want to ask you something, for I +am going away to-morrow." + +"What is it, Sammie?" and again Lois laid down her work. She had an +idea what he wanted to say, though it did not affect her in the least. + +"I--I want to s-say," the young man stammered, "that you are the +o-only----" + +Sammie was suddenly arrested in his protestation of love by Dick's +voice at the door. + +"Say, come inside," he called. "It's beginning to rain, and it's +spoiled my ride this evening. It's going to be confounded dull +to-night, so give us some music, Lois, to liven things up a bit." + +With an amused smile, his sister willingly obeyed. Sammie followed her +into the house, mentally cursing Dick for his untimely interruption. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A LITTLE CABIN + +Betty and old David had a great afternoon out upon the water in the +small row-boat. They were delighted with Lois, and after she had left +them they watched her until she disappeared within the house. + +"Isn't she wonderful!" Betty exclaimed, as she at length picked up the +oars which had been lying unused in the bottom of the boat. + +"Who is she, anyway?" her companion asked, for it was evident that he +was as much lost in admiration as was the girl. + +"Oh, she's Miss Sinclair, Lois, they call her, and her father is very +rich. He is president, or something like that, of the street railway +and the electric light company in the city. Ma knows all about him, +and she has told me a whole lot. He was very poor once, so she says. +He's awful mean and stuck up and won't have anything to do with the +people he knew when he was young. But his daughter isn't a bit like +him. She takes after her mother, so I understand, who was a very fine +woman." + +"Does Mr. Sinclair live here all the time?" David inquired. "I never +heard of him before." + +"Oh, no. He has a big house in the city. He only bought this place +last summer. Lois has never been here before. She came two weeks ago +and I think she is going to stay till fall. I hope she does, anyway. +Won't it be great to have her here, so we can meet her and talk to her +every Saturday afternoon?" + +"She seems to be a very fine young woman," David assented. + +"Indeed she is, and she's a nurse, too. She's been away training in +some hospital for several years, and has just got through." + +"Why should she want to be a nurse?" David asked. "If her father has +plenty of money why should his daughter want to earn her own living?" + +"It's because she's so independent, that's why. She believes every one +should earn her own living, and I guess she's right." + +A pained expression suddenly overspread the old man's face at these +words. But so engrossed was Betty with her own thoughts that she +noticed nothing amiss. + +"I am going to be a nurse some day," the girl continued. "Just as soon +as I am old enough I am going to enter a hospital. Then when I get +through I can earn so much money and be such a help at home. And I'm +going to help you, too," she added as an afterthought. + +"No, child, that will not be necessary then," David replied. "I shall +have plenty of money of my own by the time you are a nurse. I shall be +manager of the biggest company the country has ever known, for it +cannot be long now before people realise how wonderful is the scheme I +have worked out. They have been very slow to see, but I am sure that a +great change is soon to take place." + +"But you might be sick, though," the girl insisted, "and will need me +to nurse you. I won't charge you anything, for I shall gladly do it +for nothing because it will be you." + +"Oh, I wouldn't let you do it for nothing," was the reply. "I shall +pay you well and make up for all your kindness to me now when I am so +poor." + +In this manner the two sat and talked. Happy were they for the time, +thinking and planning of the future which looked so bright in their +eyes. Neither did they notice for a while where they had drifted, for +a stiff wind had risen and was drawing down the creek. It was Betty +who first realised their situation. + +"Oh, look where we are!" she cried, seizing the oars, and placing them +in the row-locks. "We can never get back against this wind, and the +water is getting rougher all the time. I believe it is going to rain." + +"Let me row," David suggested. "I should be stronger than you." + +"Did you ever row?" the girl asked. + +"Only once. But I think I could do it, though." + +"Well, I don't think you could. You're not nearly as strong as I am." + +With that she settled herself to the task of pulling back into the +creek against the wind which was dead ahead. For some time there was +silence as she toiled steadily at the oars. Gradually, however, her +strokes became weaker, and she was forced to rest. + +"I can't do it," she gasped. "The wind is too strong." + +"What are we to do, then?" David asked. + +"Land on that shore over there. I guess we can reach it all right." + +Again seizing the oars, she swung the boat partly around and pointed +for the shore. It was much easier now, and she made considerable +progress. The wind increased in strength, and at times the water +dashed over the side of the boat. To add to their discomfort the rain +began to fall, and by the time the shore was reached their clothes were +wet, and David felt cold. + +"Help me pull up the boat," Betty ordered. "We'll tie it to that tree, +and then we'll look around for some shelter. There's a raftsman's +cabin not far away, and maybe we can stay there." + +With the boat securely fastened, they made their way along the shore +until they came to a path leading up from the water. Following this +through the bushes, they soon reached an open space, and there before +them appeared a small building covered with tarred paper. + +"That's the place," Betty exclaimed, "and I know there is a stove there +for I was in it once. The raftsmen used it this last spring. We can +build a fire and dry our clothes before we go home." + +Betty was the first to reach the cabin, and as she pushed open the door +she gave a cry of surprise. + +"What's the matter?" David inquired, thinking that she had been +frightened. + +But Betty did not at once reply. She stood in the middle of the room, +looking around in a bewildered manner. + +"Well I never!" she at length declared. "Why the place is all fixed +up, and somebody must surely be living here. Who can it be, for I +never heard a word about it, and I thought that I knew everything that +was going on in this parish. Just look at that table now, with the +dishes all washed so clean. And there are books, too," she added, "and +pictures on the wall. I never knew a man could keep a room so neat." + +"How do you know that it is a man?" David asked. "Perhaps it is a +woman." + +"Why, that's easy enough," and Betty looked around the room. "Don't +you see a man's boots there, his clothes hanging up by the stove, and a +package of tobacco on the window-sill? I guess it's a man all right." + +"Perhaps you are right," David assented. "You know more about such +things than I do. Anyway, it's nice to be here out of the storm. But +do you think the man will mind when he comes back and finds us here? +He might be very angry with us." + +"Let him get angry, then," and Betty gave her head a slight toss. "I +don't care for angry men. If I can match Jim Goban, I guess I can +handle any man who comes here. Leave that to me, and don't you worry. +I'm going to do a little exploring, anyway. I want to see what's in +that other room. Ah, just what I thought," she continued, when she had +opened the door and entered. "It's the bed-room, and the bed is not +made. That shows all right that a man lives here. A woman would never +think of going away and leaving the bed like that. I'm going to open +the window and air the room. Men always keep the windows shut tight, +and the house gets so stuffy. There, that's better," she panted, as +after some difficulty she forced the window up. "I'm going to make up +that bed just as soon as I get the fire going." + +There was a box full of dry wood behind the stove, and soon she had a +fire burning brightly. She next partly filled a small kettle with +water and set it upon the stove. + +"You had better take off your wet coat," she suggested to David. +"You'll get your death of cold if you keep it on much longer." + +"Can't I help you?" the old man inquired, as he stood watching with +admiration the girl's light step and the skilful way she did +everything. There was a longing in his eyes as well, for he wanted to +be of some use but did not know how. + +"Yes, you can help me," and Betty smiled upon him, "by taking that coat +off and sitting down upon that nice cosy place near the stove. It was +certainly made for comfort, and the man who owns this building must +spend his evenings there. What a lot of books he has. He must read a +great deal." + +David was only too glad to obey, so after he had taken off his coat and +hung it up back of the stove to dry, he stretched himself at full +length upon the settle. + +"This does feel good," and he gave a sigh of relief. + +"You're tired, that's what's the trouble with you," Betty replied. +"You shouldn't have a bit of work to do. You're too old, and you +should have some one to look after you all the time." + +"How nice it would be if we could live in a place like this, and not go +back to Jim Goban's. Would you be willing to take care of me?" David +asked. + +"Sure, I would like nothing better. But, then, there are some things +in the way." + +"What are they?" + +"Well, you see, there's the question of money. We haven't any +ourselves, and I don't think any one is likely to drop it at our feet +in a hurry. And besides, Jim's got you for a year and he wouldn't want +to give you up; he's going to get a lot of work out of you, so he +plans." + +"I know that only too well, Betty. But when I get rich, I mean. If I +had a little place like this you would look after me, would you not? I +would pay you well, and we could be so happy." + +"Indeed we could. But you haven't the money yet and we must try to be +as happy as we can in the meantime. That's what ma says, and she +really does practise it. So I've got to look after you now when you +can't pay me. I'm going to see if I can't find something to eat. The +man who lives here surely doesn't live on air. He must have some food +in the house." + +It did not take Betty long to find the cupboard. This was nothing more +than a box nailed to the wall, on which a rude door had been fastened. +There were three shelves and on these were a loaf of bread, some cold +meat, potatoes, eggs and cheese. + +"Isn't this great!" she exclaimed, as she brought forth what she +needed. "I can warm up these potatoes, and we shall have a grand +supper." + +"I am worrying about the man who owns those things," David remarked. +"He might not mind our using his house, but when it comes to making +free with his provisions, it might be a different matter. Do you think +it is right for us to touch them?" + +"We won't take all," and Betty stood before the table eying the meat +and potatoes. "We can leave enough for him. If he is a kind man he +will not mind our taking some of his supper. How dark it is getting," +she added. "I shall light that lamp. Now, isn't that better," she +continued when this had been accomplished. "We shall have supper in a +short time." + +While Betty busied herself about the stove, David remained stretched +out upon the settle. Outside, the storm increased in fury, and the +rain heat against the window. Within, all was snug and warm. The girl +even hummed softly to herself as she went on with her work. + +When supper was ready, Betty spoke to David. As he made no reply, she +went to his side and, to her surprise, found that he was asleep. An +expression of tender compassion came into the girl's eyes as she +watched him. She knew how tired he was and she would not wake him. It +was better, so she thought, that he should sleep. Drawing up a chair, +she sat down by his side. A feeling came to her that it was her duty +to care for this old man who was so helpless. She could not do much, +but when Betty Bean had once made up her mind it was seldom that she +could be turned from her purpose. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +UNMASKED + +All the morning Jasper Randall was busy hoeing potatoes in the large +field near the main highway. He liked the work, for he was alone and +could give himself up to thought as he drove the hoe into the yielding +earth. His task suited him well, and as he tore out innumerable weeds, +slashing down a big one here and another there, he was in reality +overcoming and defeating opponents of the brain. They were all there +between the rows, and he could see them so plainly. The lesser ones he +could sweep away at one stroke, but that quitch grass was more +difficult to conquer. He could cut it off, but its roots would remain +firmly embedded in the ground and would spring forth again. It was a +nasty, persistent weed. Little wonder that he attacked it most +fiercely, for it reminded him of the weed of injustice with which he +had been contending for years. Other enemies, like the smaller weeds, +he could overcome, but injustice, that quitch grass of life, was what +stung him to fury. Little did Simon Squabbles, the tight old +skin-flint, realise that the lone man working in his potato field was +doing the work of two men that morning, and at the same time slaying a +whole battalion of bitter enemies. The contest was continued during +the afternoon. The quitch grass was thicker now, and the struggle +harder. With savage delight Jasper had just torn out a whole handful +and had shaken it free from its earth as a dog would shake a rat, when +the honk of an auto caused him to look toward the road. As he did so, +his face underwent a marvellous transformation. The car was only a few +seconds in passing, but it was sufficient for him to recognise the +occupants, see the amused expression upon their faces, and hear their +salutation of "Spuds," as they sped by. His strong, supple body +trembled as he leaned for a while upon his hoe and gazed down the road +after the rapidly disappearing car. He must have remained thus for +several minutes oblivious to everything else. Neither did he see his +hard taskmaster watching him in the distance. But when he again +resumed his hoeing he worked more fiercely than ever, and there was +danger at times lest the frail hoe should break beneath his tremendous +strokes. Up one row and down another he moved all the afternoon. He +seemed like a giant tearing up the earth, rather than a man performing +a prosaic task. When toward evening the sky darkened, the wind began +to blow and the rain to fall, he hardly noticed it at first. Only when +the earth became mucky and stuck constantly to his hoe, did he leave +his work and go across the field toward the barn. It was time, anyway, +to help with the chores. He was anxious to get through that he might +go home. He was glad that it was Saturday, for he would have the next +day free. + +It was dark by the time his tasks were done, and then he went to the +house for his week's pay. He had agreed to work for a dollar and a +half a day, and get his own breakfast and supper at home. Thus he had +nine dollars coming to him for his week's work. He was surprised, +therefore, when Simon Squabbles handed him out only eight dollars and +fifty cents. + +"There is some mistake here," Jasper remarked as he counted over the +money. "I want fifty cents more." + +"That's all you're goin' to get," Simon replied. "I saw ye loafin' +this afternoon when ye should have been workin', an' 'no work, no pay' +is my motto." + +"Loafing, do you say?" Jasper asked, thinking that he had not heard +aright. + +"Sure. Didn't I see ye leanin' on yer hoe watchin' that car which went +down the road? An' ye stood there a long time, too." + +Into Jasper's eyes leaped an angry fire. He understood now the man he +had to deal with. So he had been watching him, and he had taken no +account of the work he had done all day. + +"You were spying upon me, eh?" he retorted. "Didn't you see how I did +the work of two men to-day?" + +"All I know is that you were loafin' when I saw ye, an' that was +enough." + +"Look here, Simon Squabbles," and Jasper stepped close to his employer, +"if you were not as old as you are, I'd tie you into a bowknot in the +twinkling of an eye. You're not fit to be called a man, and not +another stroke of work do you get from me. Keep the fifty cents, if it +will do you any good. I am trying to make an honest living, but +creatures such as you are the ones who make it almost impossible." + +The blood surged through Jasper's veins as he plodded along the muddy +road towards his humble cabin. The rain beat upon him and soaked his +clothes, but he did not seem to heed it, so filled was his mind with +the contemptible meanness of old Squabbles. He was in no pleasant +mood, and his hands often clenched hard together as he moved through +the darkness. What he was to do in the future, he did not know. +Neither did he much care. A reckless spirit was upon him. The whole +world was seething with injustice, so he believed. He had tried to be +honest, to make his way, but he had been foiled at every step. Why +should he try any longer? Simon Squabbles prospered through injustice; +Dick Sinclair could ride along in his car, dressed in the height of +fashion, while he had to eke out a precarious living by hoeing +potatoes. Dick's father had made his money in an unscrupulous manner, +and was held up as a shrewd business man. Would it not be as well for +him to hurl himself into the game and win out, no matter how? + +Thinking thus, he came near his cabin, when a light arrested his +attention. He stopped short in his tracks and peered through the +darkness. At first he believed that he must be mistaken. But no, it +shone steadily before him, and he knew that some one was there. The +thought made him angry, and he hurried forward, determined to make an +example of the one who had dared to meddle with his property. + +Reaching the building, he peered cautiously through the uncurtained +window. As he did so, his anger suddenly ceased when he beheld the +pathetic scene within, of an old man lying asleep upon the couch and a +young girl patiently watching by his side. Why they were there he did +not know, though he felt certain that great necessity must have driven +them to take refuge in a strange cabin. He recognised old David as the +man he had met that night on the road listening to the voice of Break +Neck Falls. He knew that he had been sold to Jim Goban for one year, +and the transaction had rankled in his soul for days. The girl he did +not know, but she seemed to him like a ministering angel watching over +the slumber of the sleeping man. This thought caused him to study her +more intently, for notwithstanding his strength and independence of +mind, he could not forget the pictures he had seen and the stories he +had heard as a child of angels coming to earth on special deeds of +mercy. He banished this idea, however, in an instant, and even smiled +at his own foolishness as he turned away from the window and moved +around the corner of the cabin. + +He was about to push open the door and enter when a sudden notion came +into his mind which caused him to pause. He stood there with the rain +beating upon him as he thought over the idea. Then he stepped toward +the door and gave a gentle tap. In a few seconds Betty stood before +him, peering into the darkness. The sight of the large man standing +there caused her to start and draw somewhat back. + +"Excuse me," Jasper began, "but could you give me shelter? It is a +rough night and I am wet and hungry. I am sorry to disturb you, but I +saw the light from the road and knew that some one was living here." + +"Come in," the girl at once replied. "We have a good fire and supper +is all ready, such as it is," and she gave a little laugh as she moved +back into the room. "We are strangers, too, and I do not know what the +owner will say when he comes back and finds us here." + +"Oh, I shall take care of you," Jasper returned. "He won't make a fuss +when he sees me. If he does, we'll pitch him out of the door, eh?" + +"I guess you could do it all right," and Betty smiled as she looked at +him. "Mr. David will be so pleased to see you when he wakes. He likes +good company." + +"How do you know I am good company?" Jasper asked. "Maybe I'm as cross +as two sticks." + +"Well, then, you can't stay if you are." + +"You couldn't put me out, could you?" + +"Couldn't I, though? I guess you don't know me. Jim Goban once said +that I could beat the devil with my tongue alone, and I guess Jim ought +to know by this time what I'm like when I get my ginger up. But you're +not that kind of a man. I can tell by your eyes that you're all right. +If you're a little cranky now, it's because you're hungry. As soon as +you get something to eat you'll be as sweet as molasses candy. Most +men are that way." + +The sound of voices woke old David, and sitting suddenly up he looked +inquiringly around the room as if uncertain where he was. + +"Don't be afraid, Mr. David," Betty assured him. "Supper's all ready, +and we have a visitor as hard up as we are to share it with us. So +come at once and let us get through." + +Jasper was greatly amused at the way Betty took full possession of +everything in the place. There was nothing forward about her, for she +seemed more like a grown-up woman than a girl. He admired her +confident and buoyant manner, as well as the thoughtful and deferential +way she looked after the old man. The best on the table was for him +and he had to be served first. She treated him sometimes as a child, +but more often as a superior being. He noted the look of reverential +respect in her eyes as she turned them upon him, and he wondered. + +During the meal David acted the part of a perfect gentleman. His +manners could not have been better had he been at a royal banquet +instead of a most humble repast in a rude cabin. He asked Jasper no +questions but talked merely about his experience upon the river that +afternoon. He was somewhat anxious lest the owner of the cabin should +return and resent their intrusion. Jasper endeavoured to allay his +fears, reminding him that no one in his senses would be angry at people +seeking refuge on such a night. + +During the meal Betty had been observing Jasper quite closely, and once +the semblance of a twinkle might have been detected in her eyes. She +made no remark, however, as to what she was thinking, but while the men +smoked when supper was over, she busied herself washing up the few +dishes. + +Under the soothing influence of the tobacco David became talkative. He +was pleased to have so attentive a listener as Jasper, and unfolded to +him his wonderful secret. + +"Mr. David is going to be a very rich man some day," Betty remarked, as +she paused in wiping the dishes. + +"I am pleased to hear that," Jasper replied. "Money is the only thing +that counts these days." + +"Yes," the girl continued, "he is going to be very rich, and I am going +to look after him. We shall have such a nice little house and be so +very, very happy." + +While Betty was talking, the old man fumbled in an inside pocket and +brought forth several papers. + +"See," and he held one of them up so the light of the lamp would fall +upon it, "it is all here. You can understand my plan much better from +this. Here is Break Neck Falls, and just below it the plant will be +placed. From there power will radiate throughout the entire country. +The whole thing is so simple that it is a wonder to me that it has not +been thought of before." + +"Isn't it great!" Betty exclaimed, looking over the old man's shoulder. +"And to think that Mr. David worked it all out himself." + +As Jasper sat and watched the two animated faces before him, he had not +the heart to say a word that would in any way dampen their enthusiasm. +Nevertheless, it seemed to him so ridiculous that old David's scheme +could ever meet with any success. How was he to interest people who +had the means to carry his plan into effect? But if the thought of +doing great things would give him any happiness, he would be the last +one to remove such a hope. + +The storm raged outside and the wind beat against the window as the +three sat and talked. The room was warm and cosy, and Jasper was +pleased to have these two visitors on such a lonely night. Simon +Squabbles and his meanness he forgot for awhile as he listened to Betty +as she told him of her home life. It was just what he needed to take +him out of himself, and to make him think of others. But when the girl +spoke of Lois and how she had been with them that afternoon on the +river, he became doubly interested. + +"Oh, you must see her," Betty exclaimed. "She is the most wonderful +person I ever saw. Isn't it strange that you have never met her!" + +"Why, what chance have I had?" Jasper asked. "Anyway, she wouldn't +want anything to do with such a rough fellow as I am." + +"Indeed she would. She's not that kind; there's nothing stuckup about +her. Maybe you'll see her passing some day. She might call, too, for +she is so friendly." + +"Call! What do you mean? How could she call upon me if I am miles +away from this place?" + +"Oh, but you won't be. You'll be right here where you have been for +some time." + +Into Jasper's eyes came a look of surprise, and he felt his face flush +under the girl's keen scrutiny. + +"There, I knew I was right," she laughed in glee. + +"You thought you could deceive me, did you?" + +"Why, how in the world did you know that I live here?" Jasper asked. +"Did anybody tell you?" + +"No, certainly not. But the Lord didn't give Betty Bean eyes and a +mind for nothing. Who else would be poking around this place on a +night like this but the owner? And didn't you know where your dry coat +was when you came in? and your slippers? and your pipe and tobacco? +and----" + +"There, there, you have produced evidence enough, and I plead guilty," +Jasper laughed. He was greatly amused at the girl's quickness. "You +are not offended, are you, at the little joke I played upon you?" + +"Oh, no, not all. But next time you do anything like that try it upon +a man. A woman's eyes are pretty sharp, and it's hard to deceive her. +Mine are, anyway." + +David had listened to this conversation and slowly the truth dawned +upon him that the owner of the cabin was before him. + +"I wish to apologise, sir," he began, "for our rudeness in entering +your house. It was only necessity which compelled us to do so, I +assure you, and when I am in a position, I shall recompense you +handsomely for the entertainment to-night." + +"Please do not say a word about it," Jasper replied. "I am very +thankful that you have been able to make use of my humble abode. I +have enjoyed your company very much. But I think it is time for us to +retire, as you need rest. The girl can use that room there, while you +can sleep upon that cot." + +"But what about yourself?" David inquired. + +"Oh, I shall make a place for myself right by the stove. I shall be +very comfortable there." + +David at first refused to listen to such an arrangement, but Jasper was +determined and claimed a host's privilege of making his guests as +comfortable as possible. He sat for some time at the little table +after David and Betty had gone to sleep. He dwelt long and carefully +upon the rude plan the old man had shown him. The more he studied it, +the more convinced he became that there was a great deal in it after +all. But it would mean much money, and he sighed as he at length blew +out the light, stretched himself upon the floor, and drew a great coat +over his body. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +OUT OF BONDAGE + +During the night the storm broke, and the morning was fine and warm. +After breakfast Jasper and David sat on a log outside and smoked. +Betty was busy in the house, washing the dishes and tidying up the +rooms. She hummed softly to herself as she moved lightly across the +floor. She was anxious to get through as quickly as possible that she +might take David back to Jim Goban's. She felt a little uneasy for his +sake as she knew how angry his taskmaster would be with him. For +herself she did not care. If Jim said too much, she could leave him at +once. And yet she did not wish to go, for she felt that she must look +after this old man who was so helpless and depended so much upon her +for protection. + +When her work was finished, she joined the men outside. + +"It's time we were going, Mr. David," she began. "The river is calm +now, and it will not be hard rowing back." + +"I wish you could stay here all day," Jasper replied. "I shall feel +very lonely when you go." + +"But we shall come to see you again, sir. It has been so good of you +to keep us. But Jim Goban will be angry if we do not hurry home. I +know how he will rage as it is. The longer we stay the harder it will +be for him," and she pointed to David. + +Scarcely had she finished speaking ere a team was heard driving +furiously along the road. + +"Oh, it's Jim now!" the girl cried, "and I know he is mad by the way he +is driving. He's stopping at the gate, too!" + +Jim had seen them from the road, and having tied his horse to a tree, +he made his way swiftly along the little path leading to the cabin. He +was certainly in no pleasant frame of mind, and when he came near he +gave vent to his feelings in coarse, brutal language. + +David, rose and advanced to meet the angry man, hoping in some way to +appease his rage, but in this he was mistaken. + +"Ye old cuss," Jim shouted, "what do ye mean by runnin' away with that +girl? Ye look as meek as a lamb but I guess ye're about as near a +devil as they make 'em." + +"He didn't run away with me," Betty sharply replied. "I ran away with +him, that's the way it was, and you needn't get on your high horse, Jim +Goban. You, yourself, would be the first one to run away with a girl +if you could find one crazy enough to run with you." + +"Shet up, ye fool," Jim shouted. "I didn't ask you to speak." + +"I know you didn't," the girl calmly returned, "but that doesn't make +any difference. This is a free country, isn't it? We didn't ask you +to come here and make such a fuss, so you can go if you are not +satisfied with our company. We're quite happy where we are." + +"But I'm not goin' without that cuss," and Jim looked savagely at the +old man. "You kin stay if ye want to with the guy who owns this cabin. +There'll be a nice little story fer the gossips before long, ha, ha." + +At these words Jasper started, while his face went white and his hands +clenched together. He had listened in silence to Jim's tirade, and was +only waiting an opportunity to explain how the old man and the girl +happened to be at his place. But this pointed reference to him was +more than he could endure. + +"What do you mean by that statement?" he asked, taking a quick step +forward. "Please explain yourself." + +"There's nothin' to explain," and Jim gave a coarse laugh. "The +neighbours will do all the explainin' that is necessary." + +"No, that's not the thing. You made an insinuation, and it's up to you +to explain before you leave. I have nothing to do with the neighbours; +it's you I am dealing with now. Yon have insulted this feeble old man, +and uttered words in reference to me and this girl. I want to know +what you mean." + +"I don't have to explain anything," Jim retorted. "You mind yer own +business, and go to ----" + +The oath had hardly left his lips ere Jasper with one lightning blow +hit him squarely between the eyes. Jim reeled back, and then with a +frightful oath leaped forward. But he was powerless before Jasper's +superior training and soon he was sprawling upon the ground while his +opponent stood bending over him. + +"Had enough, eh?" Jasper asked. "If you want some more, get up. I +haven't had half enough yet." + +"Leave me alone," Jim mumbled. "You'll pay up for this. I'll fix ye." + +"What's that you say?" and Jasper stooped lower, "You're going to pay +me back? Well, then, I might as well fix you now, so you won't be able +to do anything in the future. I might as well have my satisfaction +when I can get it. So get up, or I'll knock the life out of your +measley carcass." + +Seeing that Jasper was in earnest, Jim scrambled to his feet and barely +dodged the blow rained at his head. + +"Fer God's sake, stop!" he yelled. "I won't do anything to ye. I +promise on me word of honour." + +"And, you'll be good to this old man?" Jasper demanded. + +"Yes, yes," and Jim trembled in every limb. "I'll be good to him if ye +don't hit me agin." + +For a few seconds Jasper looked contemptuously upon the creature +cowering before film. He felt that he was lying, and just as soon as +he was out of his sight he would treat old David in a shameful manner, +and he himself would be helpless to interfere. What could he do? he +asked himself. A sudden idea came into his mind. + +"What do you get for the keep of this old man?" he asked. + +"Only a hundred," was the surly reply. "Not half enough." + +"Well, look here, will you give him to me? I will take care of him for +nothing." + +Into Jim Goban's eyes came a look of surprise mingled with doubt. The +man must surely be making sport of him, he thought. Then his natural +cupidity overcame him. Here was a chance to get clear of the pauper +and at the same time receive money for his keep. But how would the +overseers of the poor regard such a transaction? + +"Will you let me have him?" Jasper again asked. + +"Give me twenty-five dollars and he is yours," Jim replied. + +"Twenty-five dollars! No, not a cent. You will make out of it as it +is; far more than you deserve." + +"I can't do it, then," and Jim made as though to go. "Come on," he +ordered David and Betty. "Let's git away from here." + +"Hold on," and Jasper stepped, up close to him; "if you do not let me +have the old man, I'll lay a charge against you for ill treating him, I +saw enough this morning to satisfy any one. Let me have him, and you +need have no more worry. Refuse, and you will regret it." + +"But what will the overseers say if I give him up?" Jim whined. + +"Oh, that can be easily settled. If they make a fuss, send them to me. +But I guess they won't bother their heads." + +Jim still hesitated. He longed to get more out of this bargain. + +"Hurry up," Jasper demanded. "What do you say?" + +"Oh, take the cuss, then. I wish ye joy of him. I'm off now. Come, +girl, let's git home." + +During the whole of this affair Betty had been a most interested and +excited witness. She was delighted at the thought of David's freedom, +and when Jim at last agreed to part with him she could hardly repress a +cry of joy. It took her but a second to make up her mind, and she was +ready when Jim spoke to her. + +"I'm not going with you," she told him. + +"Not goin'! Why, what d'ye mean?" and Jim looked his astonishment. + +"I'm going to stay with Mr. David. He needs me more than you do. I'm +going to take him to my own home. He will be happy there and treated +like a gentleman." + +"Ho, ho! so that's the game, eh? Treat him like a gentleman! Well, do +as ye like; it's nothin' to me, so I'm off." + +They watched him as he strode across the field, unhitched his horse and +drove away. + +"There, we're rid of him at last," and Jasper gave a sigh of relief. + +"Isn't it great!" Betty exclaimed turning to David. "To think that you +are going home with me!" + +But the old man was looking at Jasper and did not hear the girl's cry +of delight. In his eyes was an expression of gratitude. He tried to +speak but words failed him, and tears flowed down his cheeks. Jasper +was visibly moved, and turned suddenly to Betty. + +"You are willing to keep him for awhile?" he asked. + +"Yes. Mother will be so pleased to have him, and I will work hard to +help her." + +"Where will you work? At Jim Goban's?" + +"No, I am through there. But I will get work somewhere. I will talk +it over with mother. I think we had better be going now." + +Thrusting his hand into his pocket Jasper brought forth several bills. + +"Take these," he said, "they are all I can give you now, but you shall +have more later." + +"But you need the money yourself," the girl replied. + +"Not as much as you will need it. So say nothing more about it. +Good-bye. I hope to see you again." + +Jasper watched the two as they moved slowly across the field and then +disappeared down the road. He felt lonely when they were gone, and he +sat for some time in front of the cabin lost in thought. At times he +called himself a fool for what he had done. Why should he be burdened +with that old man when he could hardly make his own living? And +besides, he had no work to do, and had given away his last dollar. But +notwithstanding all this, a secret feeling of satisfaction stole into +his heart that he had helped old David and had taken him out of Jim +Goban's clutches. + +As he sat there the bell of the nearby church rang forth, and he +realised for the first time that it was Sunday morning. He did not +feel in a mood for attending service. He needed a long walk to think, +and shake off the spirit of depression that was stealing over him. + +Entering the cabin, he prepared a small lunch, and then closing the +door he struck out across the field in the direction of Break Neck +Falls. He wished to go there to view the scene where David planned to +erect his plant and do such wonderful things. He smiled grimly to +himself as he thought of the old man's delusion. Reaching the brow of +the hill just where the trail started from the main road, he paused and +looked down to his left. He could see clearly Peter Sinclair's house +with the tall trees surrounding it. Bitter feelings came into his +heart as he stood there. Over yonder lived a man who had the power to +do so much good in the world. He could help old David and give him a +comfortable home for the rest of his life. Why should some men have so +much of this world's goods and others so little? he asked himself. +Then he thought of Dick, and a contemptuous smile curled his lips. He +recalled his feelings the previous day when he had watched the car go +by and listened to the salutation of "Spuds." + +And standing there his feelings suddenly underwent a marvellous change, +for walking slowly across the field was Lois on her way to church. She +was some distance away so Jasper was sure that she could not see him. +As in the past so now he was forced to worship her afar off. It was +not for him, poor and unknown, to draw any closer. The trees along the +path she walked could bend above her and the bright flowers could smile +up into her face. But for him there could be no such favours. He was +half tempted to hasten back to church. There he could be quite near +and watch her. He banished this thought, however, as he glanced down +at his own rough clothes and coarse boots. + +Jasper watched Lois until she disappeared from view behind a clump of +birch trees. Then leaving the highway he walked slowly along the trail +leading to the falls. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +AT THE CLOSE OF A DAY + +High up on the bank of the brook which flows down from Break Neck Falls +Jasper sat leaning against the bole of a large tree. It was drawing +toward evening and long slanting shadows were falling athwart the +landscape. It was a hot afternoon and the shade of the old spruce was +refreshing. By his side was a rough birch fishing rod, and nearby +wrapped up in cool, moist leaves were several fair-sized trout. Jasper +had not been fishing for pleasure, but merely for food, as his scanty +supply was almost gone. The fish would serve him for supper and +breakfast. Beyond that he could not see, for he had not the least idea +what he was to do to earn a living, and at the same time assist old +David. + +Though the day was exceptionally fine, Jasper did not enjoy it as at +other times. His mind was too much occupied with other matters. All +things seemed to be against him in his struggle to advance. It had +been the same for years, and now the climax had been reached. What was +he to do? he had asked himself over and over again during the +afternoon. Should he give up in despair? What was the use of trying +any longer? He had seen young men succeeding in life who had not made +any efforts. Money and influence had pushed them along. Dick Sinclair +would soon join their ranks. He had lived, a life of indolence, and +yet it would be only a short time ere he would be looked upon as a +prominent citizen. The papers would speak of his ability and write +glowing articles about whatever he did. Where was the justice of it +all? he questioned. Did not real worth and effort amount to anything +in life's struggle? + +At length, tired with such thoughts, he drew forth from an inside +pocket a small book. It was well marked and showed constant usage. It +was a volume of Emerson's Essays, a number of which he knew almost by +heart. It was only natural that the book should open at the essay on +Self-reliance, for there the pages were most thumb-marked. His eyes +rested upon the words: "There is a time in every man's education when +he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance." He read on to +the beginning of the next paragraph, "Trust thyself: every heart +vibrates to that iron string." + +The book dropped from Jasper's hand and once more he gave himself up to +thought. He knew how true were those words. He realised that envy is +ignorance, and it was his duty to rise above it. Why should he spend +his strength in envying others? He would conquer and make them envy +him. Ah, that idea brought a flush to his face. He would trust +himself, as Emerson said, and some day the very ones who looked down +upon him and spurned him would come to him. How he was to accomplish +this Jasper had no idea. But there was comfort in thinking about it, +anyway, and he felt sure that a way would be opened whereby he could +succeed. + +He was aroused from his musing by the sound of voices. Looking quickly +down toward the brook, he saw three people walking along the bank. He +recognised them at once as Lois, Dick and Sammie. At first he was +tempted to withdraw farther back among the trees lest he should be +seen. He abandoned this idea, however, feeling quite certain that he +would not be noticed where he was. Lois and Sammie were walking +together, while Dick was a short distance ahead. What they were saying +he could not make out, neither did he care. He had eyes only for the +young woman, and he noted how beautiful she appeared as she walked with +such an upright graceful swing. Was she happy in Sammie's company? he +wondered. She was laughing now, and seemed to be greatly amused at +something her companion was saying. Jasper noted all this, and then +called himself a fool for imagining that she could ever think of him. +No doubt she had already given her heart to the young man by her side, +so he might as well banish her from his mind at once. He would go away +and never see her again. + +Acting upon this impulse, he was about to move softly among the trees +and disappear. He had placed his book in his pocket and had reached +for his fish when a cry of terror fell upon his ears. In an instant he +was on his feet, peering keenly down to see what was the matter. In a +twinkling he grasped the whole situation. Just across the brook a wall +of rough rocks shelved upwards to the height of about twenty feet. +Below, the water swirled and dashed over jagged boulders, receiving its +impetus from the falls farther up stream. The path led along the top, +and in some unaccountable manner Lois had slipped and fallen over the +edge, and had gone swiftly down toward the rushing current below. She +grasped frantically at everything on which she could lay her hands, and +was only able to arrest her downward descent when a few feet from the +water. And there she clung with the desperation of despair, while her +two companions stood above half-paralysed with fear, and unable to +assist her. + +When Jasper saw Lois go down to what seemed certain destruction, he +sprang forward and leaped down the bank as if shot from a catapult. +Into the brook he recklessly dashed and like a giant forced his way +across the current and around hidden boulders. At times it seemed as +if he could not keep his feet and that he must be swept away. But that +picture of the clinging woman nerved him to superhuman efforts, and +slowly but surely he edged his way toward her. When a few feet from +the base of the rock, he saw Lois relax and slip downward. Barely had +she touched the water ere Jasper with a mighty effort leaped forward +and caught her in his arms. Then in an instant they were both swept +away. Fortunately, Jasper was a strong swimmer, and as they shot +forward he was able to keep Lois' head above water, and work steadily +toward the shore. + +By this time Dick and Sammie had so far recovered from their fright +that they were able to hurry down stream, and stand on the edge of the +stream where the bank sloped gently to the water. Here they stood for +several fearful seconds watching Jasper as he struggled toward them. +They took special care not to wet their feet, but merely reached out +and helped to pull Lois ashore and lay her upon the dry ground. More +than that they were unable to do, and naturally turned toward Jasper +for help. + +"We must get her home at once," the latter remarked, kneeling by the +side of the prostrate woman. "I am afraid she has been injured by the +fall." + +Fortunately, at that instant Lois opened her eyes and fixed them upon +him in a dazed manner. Then she remembered what had happened, and sat +suddenly up and looked around. + +"My, I have given you a great fright," she said. "It was stupid of me +to trip over that root." + +"Are you hurt, Lois?" Dick inquired. + +"I am somewhat bruised, that is all. I think I must have fainted and +let go of the rock. How did I get here?" + +"Oh, Spuds got hold of you and brought you out," Dick explained. + +Lois at once turned her eyes upon Jasper who was now standing a few +feet away. She noticed his drenched clothes, and also that there was +blood upon his forehead. + +"You are hurt," she cried. "You have struck your head." + +"It's nothing, I assure you," and Jasper gave a slight laugh. "I must +have hit it against a rock when we went down, that was all. It will +soon get better. Never mind me, I am all right. But you must get home +at once." + +"Yes, come, Lois," and Sammie, speaking for the first time since the +accident, stepped forward. "We must get you home at once. Never mind +this fellow; he doesn't matter." + +"Indeed he does," Lois emphatically replied. "He saved my life, and I +can never thank him enough." + +"But I would have saved you, Lois. I was just coming to rescue you +when this fellow, who was spying upon us from the bushes, got to you +first." + +Lois never forgot the look on Jasper's face as the jealous Sammie +uttered this insinuation. He drew himself up to his full height, and +his eyes glowed with a sudden light of anger. She saw his lips move as +if about to utter words of protest. Instead, however, he quickly +turned, left them, and walking along the bank for a short distance +reached a fordable place in the brook. He plunged into the water and +after a brief struggle reached the opposite bank and disappeared among +the trees. + +Lois stood and watched him until he was out of sight. She was faint +and greatly annoyed at Sammie's words. She knew now what a cad and a +coward he really was, and was not even man enough to give credit to the +one who had rescued her. + +"Come, Dick," and she turned to her brother, "let's go home," was the +only remark she made, as she took his arm and walked slowly along the +path leading from the brook. She took no notice of the crestfallen +Sammie, who trudged along behind wondering what had come over the young +woman that she should act in such a strange manner. + +Jasper could not fully understand the strange feeling that had come +over him at Sammie's unjust insinuation. His first lightning thought +was to knock the fellow down. Then he wanted to explain, to say that +he had not been spying. But he knew that if he spoke he might get +excited. No, it was better for him to leave at once, and let Lois +think whatever she liked. He had saved her and that was all he cared +for. But as he moved along through the woods, the few words she had +said and the expression in her eyes acted as balm to his wounded +feelings. He made up his mind, however, not to be caught in such a way +again. He would take good care to keep away from the Sinclairs after +that. + +Going back to the place where he had left his fish, he picked them up +and started down along the brook. He wished to get back to his cabin +as quickly as possible that he might change his wet clothes. He was +hungry as well, and he longed for a couple of the trout he had caught. +He thought much of Lois, and wondered how she was getting along. He +hoped that she had not been seriously injured and that she would not +catch cold from her plunge into the water. He could not forget the +feeling that had come over him as he had sprung forward and caught her +as she was falling. He should remember that sensation for the rest of +his life, no matter what happened. + +Having reached the end of the trail, he moved swiftly along the main +highway. He was almost to his cabin when he saw an auto by the side of +the road. Something had evidently gone wrong, for two men were +anxiously examining it. Jasper was about to pass when one of the men +accosted him. + +"Excuse me," he began, "but could you tell me if there is a hotel or +any place where we can get supper? We have been stalled here for some +time, and my chauffeur can't find what is the matter with the car." + +"There is no hotel," Jasper replied, "and I know of no people who serve +meals. But I have a place right near, and you are welcome to such +accommodation as I have. It is very humble, and I warn you not to +expect much. I have merely bachelor's quarters, and so am my own +housekeeper." + +"Thank you kindly," the man returned, "I am very grateful to you, and +we shall be delighted to go with you, though we do not wish to trouble +you too much. The trout you have make my mouth water. You evidently +went in head-first after them," and he smiled as he observed the young +man's wet clothes. + +Jasper liked this man, and this impression was increased as they walked +toward the cabin. He was well spoken, and so gentlemanly in manner +that he found it quite easy to converse with him. Everything seemed to +interest and please him, especially the cabin. He called Jasper a +lucky fellow for having such a place where he could live so quietly +away from all bustle and stress of the great outside world. + +"It is quiet enough as a rule," Jasper remarked with a laugh, as he +lighted the fire in his little stove after he had changed his wet +clothes for dry ones. + +"Have you lived here long?" the stranger inquired, as he stretched +himself out upon the cot. + +"Since the middle of May," was the reply. "But I expect to leave +shortly. I'm out of a job now, and so must look elsewhere." + +"What have you been working at?" + +"Oh, anything that turns up." + +The stranger was quick to note the almost hopeless tone in Jasper's +voice as he uttered these words, and he studied the young man more +closely. + +"Where did you live before you came here?" he asked. + +"At college. I was almost through when reverses came, and so I had to +get out. I have been trying to earn enough to finish my course, but +everything seems to be against me. I understand farming and naturally +took to the land in preference to other work." + +"What were you studying at college?" the man asked. + +"Electrical engineering." + +"I see. But was there not something you could have obtained along that +line? Surely there must have been some opening." + +Jasper made no reply. There was a reason, but he did not feel inclined +to reveal his secret to a complete stranger, upon such a brief +acquaintance. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE SHADOW OF MYSTERY + +When supper was over, the stranger lighted a cigar and stretched +himself out upon the cot. + +"This is certainly comfort," he remarked, as he watched Jasper clear +away the dishes. "It is fortunate that we have found such hospitality. +You do not have many such visitors, I suppose. It must be rather +lonely for you here." + +"Not as a rule, though I have been much favoured lately," Jasper +replied with a laugh, and he told how his cabin had been taken +possession of the previous night. + +"Well, that was cool, I should say," and the stranger smiled. "Walked +right in, did they?" + +"But I didn't mind, for they were such a queer couple; a feeble old +man, and a bright, smart girl of about sixteen. It was nice for me to +have them here on such a stormy night. I would have been very lonely, +otherwise." + +"Where are they now?" + +"They left this morning. It is a sad story. But as they are strangers +to you, it would hardly interest you." + +"Indeed it would," was the emphatic reply. "I am somewhat new to this +country, and would like to find out all I can about the life of the +people, especially in the country districts." + +When Jasper had finished washing the dishes, he sat down upon a chair +by the side of the cot, and lighted the cigar his visitor had given +him. He then related the story of old David and Betty, taking care to +say as little as possible about his own part in the affair. + +"And so the old man is at the girl's home now, is he?" the stranger +asked. + +"Yes, for a time." + +"But what will become of him?" + +"I do not know for certain. I shall try to assist him all I can. But +he will not go back to Jim Goban's if I can help it. It is the height +of cruelty for such a refined man to live at a place like that. I do +not know what the people of this parish were thinking about to allow +him to be put there." + +"Has he any relatives?" + +"It seems not. He has been a puzzle to every one since the day he came +here. He has been the laughing-stock of all the people because of a +peculiar notion of his." + +"And what is that?" + +"He is in love with Break Neck Falls over there, and talks to it as if +it were a human being. He believes that the time will come when people +will obtain power and light from the falls, and the entire country will +be greatly benefited." + +"So that is why he is called crazy, eh?" + +"Yes." + +"Is there really a good reason for his idea? Is there a large +waterfall?" + +"Yes. I have been there several times, and consider it a good place +for a plant. The old man has curious drawings of his entire plans, +which I shall show you as he left them with me this morning. He must +have forgotten them in his excitement, as I understand he guards them +very carefully. People laugh at Crazy David for the jealous way he +protects his treasure." + +"Did you say his name is David?" the stranger asked. + +"Yes. David Findley, so I believe. But he is only known as 'Crazy +David' in this parish." + +As Jasper uttered these words, the man lying on the cot rose suddenly +to a sitting position, and looked keenly into the face of the young man +before him as if he would read his innermost thoughts. With an +apparent effort he checked himself, and with a slight laugh resumed his +former position. + +"I got worked up over the hard luck of that old man," he remarked. "It +is a downright shame that he should be called crazy, and misunderstood. +But, then, that has always been the way. Men who have done most for +their fellow men have been looked upon with suspicion, and termed fools +or madmen. May I see his drawings?" + +For some time the stranger studied the rude lines old David had made +upon the paper. Not the slightest mark escaped his notice, and he +plied Jasper with numerous questions most of which the latter was +unable to answer. + +"I am fond of studying human nature," the visitor at length +volunteered, as if to explain his remarkable interest in the old man, +"and I must say that this is one of the most interesting cases I have +ever come across. Here we have an old, poverty-stricken man, somewhat +weak-minded, who has the vision and the enthusiasm of youth, combined +with a child's simplicity. And he really believes that people of +capital will carry out his ideas, does he?" + +"Yes, he is sure of it." + +"And he has no doubts as to the final outcome?" + +"No." + +"This scheme gives him considerable pleasure, I suppose." + +"Yes, it is his very life. It cheers him and buoys him up, and makes +him treat all discomforts as of the present, which will vanish when +once he comes into his own." + +"So he expects to get very rich, does he?" + +"Oh, yes. He talks about what he will do when he has money. It +certainly would be a great pity to take such a hope from him. I +believe it would kill him at once." + +For a long time they talked, and it was late when they went to bed, the +stranger with the chauffeur in the adjoining room, and Jasper upon the +cot. The latter found it hard to get to sleep, as many thoughts kept +surging through his mind. He wondered why his visitor should take such +a keen interest in the welfare of old David. He recalled, too, his +sudden start when David's name was mentioned, and the excuse which had +been given did not altogether satisfy him. + +Jasper was awake early next morning, and had the frugal breakfast ready +by the time his two visitors came from their room. As soon as +breakfast was over, the chauffeur left to look after the car. The +stranger then pushed back his chair, lighted a cigar, and handed one to +Jasper. + +"Please do not trouble about the dishes now," he began in a tone which +somewhat surprised the young man. + +"I have been thinking over what you told me last night, and am greatly +impressed by the sad condition of that old man. You have no work in +view, so I understand?" + +"You are right," Jasper replied. + +"Well, then," the other continued, "I wish to make a definite +proposition to you on several conditions. I wish to employ you for one +month, and will give you one hundred and fifty dollars, if that will be +satisfactory." + +It was Jasper's turn now to start, and look with astonishment at the +man before him. Was he in earnest? he asked himself, or was he merely +joking? + +"Ah, I see you are astonished," and the stranger smiled, "but I assure +you that I mean what I say, and to prove it, I shall pay you in +advance." + +"But what are the conditions?" Jasper stammered. + +"They are three," the stranger replied after a slight pause. "First, +that you are to take special care of that old man. How you are to do +it I shall explain later. In the next place you are to ask no +questions as to why I am doing this. And last of all, you are not to +say who is doing this, neither to the old man nor, in fact, to any one." + +For a few seconds Jasper looked at the stranger in a quizzical manner. +He was wondering whether the man was really in his right mind. + +"Isn't that a strange proposition to put to one you know so little +about?" he asked. + +"In most cases it might be," was the quiet reply. "But I have good +reasons for what I am doing, and do not think that there will be any +mistake. Are you willing to enter my employment for a month?" + +"Now, that all depends. I need the money, God knows, but I must +understand more about what is expected of me in connection with the +care of the old man." + +"I can easily settle that. You are first of all to get a good place +for him to live, and, if possible, secure some dependable person to be +his companion who will take a special interest in his welfare. You are +to keep a detailed account of all expenses, and send the bill to me at +the end of the month. This address will find me," and he drew forth a +card and handed it to the young man. + +There was nothing on the card to reveal to Jasper the identity of the +man who was taking such a remarkable interest in old David. It simply +told that the stranger's name was Robert Westcote, of 22 Princess +Street, Woldun. + +"I think everything is satisfactory now," and Jasper lifted his eyes to +the stranger's face. "I am not likely to ask any questions, and as to +telling people who you are, there will be no trouble about that. In +fact, I am not intimate enough with any one here to wish to tell, even +if I desired to do so." + +"That is good," Mr. Westcote replied. "I could not have chosen a +better person for my purpose." + +"When do you want me to begin my work?" Jasper asked, + +"At once, that is, if you can see your way to do so. But first of all, +I should like to visit this old man. I am somewhat curious about him +now that he is under my protection. How far is he from here?" + +"About five miles, I should judge, though I have never been there +myself. He is at Mrs. Bean's, and she lives on a back road." + +"Very well, then, we shall go just as soon as the car is ready, and I +should like for you to go with me." + +It took the chauffeur some time to find out what was the matter with +the car, and when the damage was repaired, the three started down the +road at a fast rate. This was something new to Jasper, and he leaned +back in the comfortable seat and gave himself up to the enjoyment of +the moment. He need not worry any more for the present about his +living, as he had a cheque for one hundred and fifty dollars safely +stowed away in his pocket. As to the mystery connected with it all, he +did not feel inclined to bother his head. In fact, he was becoming +greatly interested, and was now quite anxious to see what the final +outcome would be, and why this stranger had taken such an unusual +interest in an old pauper. + +It did not take them long to reach Mrs. Bean's house, where they drew +up before the gate. It was a small, humble abode, but everything about +the place was scrupulously neat and clean. Flowers bloomed in front of +the house, while several large trees stood a short distance away. +Under one of these they saw old David sitting in a rocking-chair with +Betty by his side. She had been reading to him but had laid down her +book to look at the car, which was an unusual thing in that settlement. +Seeing Jasper, she sprang quickly to her feet with a cry of delight, +and hurried toward the road. Her face was aglow with excitement, and +Mr. Westcote thought that he had never beheld a more perfect picture of +radiant health and beauty. + +"This is the young woman I was speaking to you about," Jasper remarked, +as he stepped from the car. + +"I am delighted to meet you," and Mr. Westcote held out his hand. "I +have heard about you, and have been quite anxious to see you. How are +you making out with your new charge?" + +"Great," and a smile wreathed the girl's face. "He is so happy here, +and likes for me to read to him. But he is so funny at times, and +interrupts me to ask questions." + +"What about?" Mr. Westcote enquired. + +"Oh, about Break Neck Falls. He wants to know if I can hear the water +speaking, and, of course, I always do," she added with a slight laugh. +"He wanted me to go there this morning, but as mother and the boys are +away I could not leave, so I am trying to satisfy him by reading." + +"Would your mother be willing to keep him for a time, do you think?" +Jasper asked, "that is, if she were paid enough?" + +"I'm afraid not," and the girl's eyes roamed in a thoughtful manner +toward where David was sitting. "You see, our house is too small, and +there is hardly room enough as it is. And besides, we are too far away +from the Falls. Mr. David needs to be quite near so that he can visit +the place whenever he takes the notion, which is quite often. That is +the only thing which will make him happy." + +"Quite right," Mr. Westcote assented. "He should live as near as +possible. But may we see your charge?" he asked. + +"Certainly," and Betty at once led the way across the field to the big +shady tree. + +Old David, seeing them coming, rose to meet them. He stood very erect +and dignified as Jasper took his hand, and then introduced Mr. +Westcote. He was visibly embarrassed that he did not have chairs for +all, and offered his own to the stranger. + +"Please keep your seat," Mr. Westcote told him. "I prefer to sit on +the ground. What a delightful place you have here, sir," and he looked +around upon the scenery. + +"It is very beautiful," David assented, "and I can hear the Falls so +plainly, especially at night." + +An amused twinkle shone in Betty's eyes as she turned them upon +Jasper's face. She knew very well that it was impossible to hear the +sound of the falling waters, and that it was purely imagination on his +part. + +The stranger, however, did not smile. In fact, there was an expression +of sadness upon his face as he watched David. He said very little, +being content to let the others do the talking. But he observed the +old man very carefully without apparently doing so. What his thoughts +were he kept to himself, and when he arose to go, he took David's hand +in almost a reverent manner, and looked searchingly into his eyes as if +trying to find something there which he missed. He hardly spoke a word +on the way back but seemed lost in deep thought. As Jasper alighted +from the car in front of his cabin, Mr. Westcote laid his right hand +upon his shoulder. + +"Take good care of that old man," he said. "Let nothing interfere with +your watchfulness until you hear from me again. Get the best place you +can for him, no matter what it costs." + +That was all, but the expression upon the stranger's face, and the +impressive manner in which he uttered these words gave Jasper cause for +deep thought during the remainder of the morning. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +UNITED FORCES + +Jasper was now in a position to give up his entire time to old David's +interests. No longer need he worry about working on the farm, nor how +he was to obtain his daily food. He was provided for a month at least, +and he was most anxious now to enter upon the odd task which had been +assigned to him. Robert Westcote, the stranger, interested him +greatly, and he felt sure that he should hear more about him later. + +Having eaten his simple lunch, he started down the road. The village +of Creekdale was about two miles away, and there he hoped to find a +house suitable for David. The only man he knew in the place was the +storekeeper, and from him he believed that he could secure some +information, and at the same time get his cheque cashed. + +It was a beautiful afternoon, and his heart was lighter than it had +been for many a day. He walked along with the swing of a man who has a +definite purpose in life, and from whose heart all gloomy thoughts have +been banished. He did not try to account for this mood. It was +sufficient for him that in some way a load had been for a time lifted +from his mind. He would let the future look out for itself, and enjoy +the present as far as it was possible for him to do so. + +Reaching a clump of trees, he sat down by the side of the road to rest. +The shade was refreshing, for he was quite warm as he had been walking +fast. Birds sang in the branches above him, and fanned the air with +their light wings. Butterflies zigzagged past, and honey-laden bees +sped by like express trains. He watched them with much interest, and +mused upon their activity. Each had a special work to do, and was +performing it to the best of its ability. He was glad now that he was +alive, and had something definite in view. It was far better than +groping around in a haphazard way looking for work. Something seemed +to tell him that he was entering upon the trail of a mystery and he was +eager to follow the scent wherever it might lead. The spirit of +adventure was in his blood, mingled with the nectar of romance. It had +always been there, inherited from his ancestors. It was that same +spirit which had caused him to leave the farm and enter college several +years before. It had always been with him, and was stronger now than +ever. He would follow the quest to the end, and see what the outcome +would be. + +Jasper was about to rise and proceed on his way when, glancing along +the road, he saw Lois coming toward him. His heart beat fast when he +saw her, and his first impulse was to get away out of sight. Why +should he meet her? he asked himself. She had no use for him, and +would not consider it worth while to talk to one of whom her brother +and Sammie Dingle were always making fun. + +As he hesitated, Lois drew nearer. She was walking very slowly as if +in deep thought. She wore a simple white dress, and a light, +broad-rimmed hat which partly shaded her face. To Jasper she seemed +the very embodiment of grace and beauty as she moved toward him. In +her all the charm of the glorious day, of bird and flower seemed to be +combined. He was lifted out of himself, entranced, and by the time she +was opposite the clump of trees he was standing by the side of the +road, with hat in his hand, confused and abashed. + +His sudden appearance startled Lois for an instant. + +But when she saw who it was, she smiled, and held out her hand. + +"I didn't notice you," she began, "as I was lost in thought. But I +have wanted to see you to thank you for what you did for me yesterday. +I shudder to think of what would have been the result if you had not +been there. I hope you were not offended at Sammie's words." + +"And you feel none the worse for your fall and wetting?" Jasper +evasively replied. + +"Oh, no, I am all right now. It takes more than that to knock me out. +I was going over this morning to thank you, but----" + +She paused, and looked thoughtfully across the fields. + +"I know," Jasper hastened to explain. "You didn't like to come to my +shack. It is only natural. It would have given people something to +talk about." + +Lois looked at him for an instant and a sudden fire of resentment shone +in her eyes, while her face flushed. + +"Do you consider me such a weak person as that?" she demanded. "Do you +imagine that I care what people might say? I never let the frills and +shams of life interfere with me when I am in the way of duty." + +"Forgive me," Jasper apologised, "if I have offended you. I spoke +without due thought. But one hardly knows how to take people these +days, and I am sorry that I judged you wrongly. I am so glad that you +are not like others." + +"We will forget all about it," Lois replied, with a smile. "Yes, I was +going to see you this morning to thank you, no matter what people might +say, but I was sent for by Mrs. Peterson who lives just back there, and +I have been with her ever since. She is in great trouble, as her +husband is an invalid, and she has no way of making a living. She is +thinking of taking in summer boarders, and she wanted to talk to me +about it." + +"And what did you advise?" Jasper questioned. + +"Nothing," was the emphatic reply. "It is a difficult problem, and I +do not know what can be done. In the first place, the house is too +small for more than two or three boarders, and she could not expect to +have them for more than a few weeks at the most in the summer time. If +she could have them all the year around it would be different. And +besides, it would be very hard for Mrs. Peterson to look after them. +It takes most of her time caring for her husband, who is quite weak, +and not always very considerate, I am afraid." + +As Lois was thus talking, Jasper was doing some serious thinking. He +was greatly interested in what she told him, not so much about the +Petersons as others he had in mind. He believed that here was the very +place for old David. + +"Do you mind going back with me to see Mrs. Peterson?" he asked. + +"Why, no," Lois replied, turning her eyes to his, as if trying to +comprehend why he should wish to meet Mrs. Peterson. "It will be +better than standing here in the heat." + +As they walked slowly along the road Jasper told her about David, how +he and the girl had taken refuge in his cabin, where the old man was at +present, and that he was looking for a suitable place where he could +live. He said as little as possible about his own share in the matter, +excepting that he had rescued David from Jim Goban and was going to see +that he was well cared for. He did not say anything about Robert +Westcote, remembering his obligation of silence. + +Lois was much interested in what he told her, and her mind was very +busy as she walked along by his side wondering where he was to get the +money to carry out his plan. + +"It will cost considerable," she remarked when he was through. "Do you +think you can manage it?" + +"I am quite certain that there will be no trouble," he replied. "Just +why I am doing this I cannot explain now, but I assure you there will +be no difficulty. David is to be well provided for, as far as money is +concerned, and he is to have some one to look after him all the time." + +"What, at Mrs. Peterson's, if she will take him?" Lois asked in +surprise. + +"Yes, that is my idea. If that girl Betty will come, she will be just +the person." + +They had paused now and were standing at the entrance of the lane +leading up to the Peterson's house. It was a most beautiful spot, with +tall trees lining both sides of the drive-way. They were on a gentle +elevation with the village of Creekdale on their left but a few rods +away. It was an interesting collection of snug country-homes of +farmers, river boatmen, and several retired sea captains. All the +people in Creekdale knew one another's business, and the women could +see what their neighbours were doing, and some could easily talk from +door to door about the events of the day. + +It was only natural that Mrs. Raymond should leave her washing-tub long +enough to watch Lois and Jasper as they stood for a few moments by the +side of the road. She wondered what they were doing there, and her +curiosity was so much aroused when they at length walked up the +drive-way to the Peterson's house that she slipped over next door to +discuss it with Mrs. Markham. + +The people of Creekdale often talked about the Petersons, calling them +stuck-up because they mingled but little in the social life of the +place. "I have lived next door to them for nigh on to ten years," Mrs. +Raymond once confided to a neighbour, "and only once have they been in +my house. I guess Captain Peterson must have some money laid by, for +he does nothing but work in his garden and look after his hens, cow and +pig." + +When, however, the Captain was stricken with partial paralysis and was +unable to work, the belief became general that he certainly did have +considerable money laid away. + +The Petersons' house was as neat and cosy as hands could make it. A +spacious verandah swept the front and south end of the building. Over +this clambered a luxuriant growth of grape vines. Here Captain +Peterson was lying in a large invalid's chair, puffing away at a +short-stemmed corn-cob pipe. He was surprised to see Lois back so +soon, and he looked with curiosity upon Jasper, wondering where he had +come from. + +"Couldn't leave us, eh?" he questioned, as he gazed with admiration +upon the bright, animated face before him. + +"No, I had to come back," Lois laughingly replied. "Your company is so +attractive that I could not resist the temptation of bringing another +to enjoy it. This is Mr. Jasper Randall, Captain Peterson. He has +come to see you on special business." + +"Glad to see you, sir," and the captain reached out his hand. "Have a +chair; there's one right there. Do ye smoke?" + +"Oh, yes," and Jasper thrust his hand at once into his pocket. "Do you +mind?" he asked, turning toward Lois. + +"Not at all," was the reply. "But you two smoke to your hearts' +content while I have a chat with Mrs. Peterson. I suppose she's in the +house, Captain?" + +"Yes, in the kitchen. At least, I heard her there a short time ago." + +Lois was absent for about twenty minutes and when she returned the two +men were talking in the most friendly manner. + +"This is the first good chat I've had with a man for a long time," the +captain told her. "He has made me feel better already." + +"I hope he hasn't forgotten the object of his visit in listening to +your sea yarns," Lois laughingly replied. + +"Tut, tut, girl," and the captain blew a great cloud of smoke into the +air. "D'ye think that is all I talk about? We had something just as +interesting to discuss to-day, and so I forgot all about the yarns." + +"And so you are willing to take old David and Betty into your house, +are you?" + +"Sure. I'm satisfied if Julia is. She's in charge of the ship now +since I've lost my sea-legs." + +"Mrs. Peterson is delighted at the thought of having them," Lois +replied. "Here she comes now, and can speak for herself." + +Mrs. Peterson was a pleasant-faced little woman who appealed to Jasper +at once. He felt quite sure that she was just the person to look after +David. She appeared so motherly and sympathetic that it was easy for +him to talk to her as she showed him the rooms David and Betty could +have. + +"Why, you will give them half of the house," Jasper exclaimed. + +"Only three rooms." was the reply. "The old man can sleep downstairs, +and he can have this big room adjoining. The girl can have a +comfortable room right at the head of the stairs." + +Jasper and Lois were both greatly pleased, and as they walked away from +the house they discussed it like two animated children. + +"How delighted David will be with the place," Lois remarked. "He will +be so comfortable there, I feel sure, and Mrs. Peterson will take such +good care of him." + +"And he will be able to hear the falls so plainly," Jasper replied. +"He can sit on the verandah or at the window of his room and listen to +the waters as long as he likes. It is just the place for him." + +"How much does Mrs. Peterson want a week for their board?" Lois +enquired. + +"I never asked her," was the quiet reply. "I shall find that out +later, for it is a matter of minor importance." + +Lois glanced up quickly into her companion's face. She longed to know +where the money was to come from. Surely this man who was working +digging potatoes did not intend to pay the entire amount. But Jasper +volunteered not the slightest information. He continued to talk about +David, and his surprise when he learned of what was being done for him. + +"I am so grateful for your assistance this afternoon," Jasper told Lois +as they at last paused at the gate leading to the Sinclair house. "I +started forth uncertain what to do, and behold, everything has turned +out as if by magic." + +"I am thankful that I have been of some assistance," was the quiet +reply. "My mind is greatly relieved, too, for I was much worried about +the Petersons. Two heads are better than one after all, are they not?" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE + +"Isn't this lovely!" Betty exclaimed, as she stood in the middle of the +large room which had been assigned to David. + +It was the second day since their arrival at the Petersons' house, and +their delight at everything was not only amusing to Mrs. Peterson but +somewhat pathetic as well. She could not account for the girl's +remarkable care of the old man. She would allow nothing to interfere +with her attention upon him, and she arranged a cosy spot by the big +north window where he could sit and listen to the sound of his beloved +falls. + +"You will spoil him," Mrs. Peterson told her once when they were alone +in the kitchen. "You will make him as helpless as a child. It is not +good for men to be waited upon too much." + +"Are you not afraid of spoiling your husband, then, Mrs. Peterson?" +Betty replied. "You treat him just like a child." + +"Oh, but he is an invalid, and can't help himself. That is the reason +why I have to wait upon him." + +"But Mr. David is a wonder," Betty insisted, "and he must not be +neglected." + +There was such an expression of admiration in the girl's eyes that Mrs. +Peterson had not the heart to smile at her enthusiasm. + +"In what way is he a wonder?" was all she asked, as she went on with +her work. + +"Oh, he has a great thing in his head, which he is thinking about all +the time. It has to do with the falls, and he has told me a whole lot +about it. He will be very rich some day, and we are going to have such +a nice house of our own. You see, I am to be his housekeeper, and +nurse him when he is sick." + +It was a great pleasure for Captain Peterson to have David and Betty at +the house. No longer did he have to sit alone for hours upon the +verandah as he had an audience now to listen to his tales of the sea +and the places he had visited. David was a good listener and enjoyed +hearing the yarns, although he kept one ear open for the sound of the +falls. Nothing must interfere with his interest up there. + +One afternoon the captain was speaking about England, and mentioned +Liverpool. David became unusually interested, and even let his pipe go +out as he sat with his eyes fixed intently upon the captain's face. + +"You seem to know Liverpool pretty well," he at length remarked, as the +captain paused to re-light his pipe. + +"Should say so," was the reply. "Guess I know about everything there +worth knowing, especially along shipping lines." + +"There must be some big firms there, eh?" + +"Big! I should say so. Why, I could name a dozen right offhand, which +have ships sailing around the world. Now, there's the Dockett concern, +for instance. Holy smokes! but they're wealthy. If I told you the +business they do you wouldn't believe me." + +"No?" David laid his pipe upon the verandah railing. He had to do it +because his hand was trembling so violently that he could hold it no +longer. + +"Indeed you wouldn't," the captain continued, not noticing his +companion's agitation. "And you should see old Dockett himself, who +owns it all, so I understand." + +"What about him?" David asked in a voice scarcely above a whisper. For +once he had forgotten his beloved falls. + +"Ho, ho, I wish you could see him," and the captain leaned back and +laughed as he had not laughed for months. "He certainly is a queer +one." + +"In what way?" David questioned. + +"Well, it is hard to explain. He looks like a bear, and he acts like +one, too. My, I've heard him get his tongue on men lots of times, and +he is a holy terror. But he's a great business man, so I believe, and +has made heaps of money." + +"What does he do with it?" David asked. + +"Piles it up, I guess. He hasn't a chick to leave it to, so I +understand." + +"Hasn't he a wife?" + +"No, not when I last heard of him, which was five years ago. It isn't +likely he's married since then." + +David was unusually quiet the rest of the day. There was a far-away +look in his eyes and nothing interested him, not even the voice of his +falls. Betty was quite anxious, and confided her trouble to Mrs. +Peterson. + +"Do you think he is going to be sick?" she asked. "Suppose he should +die, what will become of that great thing he has in his head?" + +"Oh, I guess he is all right," Mrs. Peterson soothed. "Perhaps he is +thinking out something else, and will surprise us with some new idea." + +"Oh, do you think so?" and the girl's eyes grew big with wonder. +"Won't it be great if he does!" + +David was much brighter the next morning and sat for some time out upon +the verandah. Betty had gone to the office for the mail, as Mrs. +Peterson was too busy about the house. She did this nearly every day +now, and enjoyed the walk. The captain was always anxious to get his +daily paper, and sometimes there would be a letter from an old friend. + +It was almost noon when Betty arrived. Her cheeks were flushed more +than usual and she was greatly excited. + +"What's up now?" the captain enquired. "Haven't been scared, have ye?" + +"It's a letter for Mr. David!" she replied. "Just think of that!" + +"H'm," and the captain gave a grunt of disgust. "Is that all. I +thought maybe ye'd seen a ghost. Why should a letter so upset you?" + +"Oh, but he never got a letter before since I've known him, and it must +be very important." + +While the two were talking David rose from his chair and stepped toward +Betty. + +"A letter for me?" he asked, in a somewhat doubtful voice. + +"Yes, here it is. You had better open it at once." + +The old man took it in his hand and stood studying it for a few +seconds. Then he slowly opened the envelope, and drew forth the +letter. As he scanned the contents, his eyes grew suddenly wide with +astonishment and his hands trembled violently. + +"Oh, Mr. David, what's the matter?" Betty cried as she observed his +intense excitement. "Is it some bad news?" + +But the old man did not seem to notice her. He stood there, shaking in +every limb, staring upon the letter. + +"Tell me what it is," the girl again demanded. "I want to know at +once." + +This imperious order brought David to his senses, and without a word he +handed her the letter. Eagerly seizing it, she began to read. It took +her longer than the old man to make out its meaning, and when the truth +at last dawned upon her mind she gave a glad cry of joy, and her eyes +beamed with delight as she turned them upon his face. + +"Oh, isn't it great!" she exclaimed. "Five thousand dollars for that +thing in your head, Mr. David. Won't you be rich. Now we can have a +house of our very own, and I can be your housekeeper!" + +"But that isn't all, Betty," David replied. "I am to be Honorary +President of the company, just think of that. And they are to carry +out my plans and do just what I wish. Girl, my dreams are to come true +at last. I shall live to see my beautiful falls bringing a blessing to +the entire country. I wonder if people will laugh at me now, and call +me crazy." + +It was only natural that intense excitement should reign at the Haven +for the next few hours. The captain and his wife were greatly +impressed by the good fortune which had come so suddenly to old David. +They could hardly believe it possible, and they had the feeling that +there had been some mistake. But Betty would not hear of such a thing. +She was sure that it was all true, and it was due to the wonderful +thing that David had in his head. + +Dinner was late that day, and they had just finished when Jasper +arrived. Then out upon the verandah he heard the remarkable story. It +was Betty who told it, while David and the captain sat smoking near by. +He was shown the letter as well, the cause of all the excitement. +Jasper read it over several times, and then stepping over to David he +grasped his hand. + +"Allow me to congratulate you, sir," he began. "Such good luck does +not come to many in this country. I am so thankful that your plans are +to be carried out after all." + +"And they are to consult me, and carry out my every wish," David +replied. "It is so stated there," and he pointed to the letter. + +The enthusiasm of the old man was so intense and childlike that Jasper +had not the heart to say one word that would in any way dampen his joy. +To him, however, the whole thing was a great puzzle. Was it a joke, he +wondered, which some people were playing upon this simple-minded man? +A company was mentioned, but its name was not given. And further, why +should any company be willing to pay five thousand dollars for David's +idea, which was not new? It had been successfully carried out in other +localities. Surely a concern which was able to make such a liberal +offer must have full and accurate knowledge about hydro-electric plants +and what they had accomplished in the past. And why should David be +made Honorary President of the company? Was Robert Westcote, the +stranger, the cause of it all? He had not heard from him since the day +of their visit to Mrs. Bean's, and but for the cheque which he had +received he would have been inclined to consider the whole thing as a +hoax. + +Jasper kept his thoughts, however, to himself, and sat for some time on +the verandah taking but little part in the conversation. Betty and the +captain did most of the talking, while David sat near with a happy +expression upon his face. + +"When are you thinking of starting housekeeping on your own account?" +the captain enquired. "You'll be so mighty important now that you +won't want to stay with us any longer." + +"Don't you worry, Captain," Betty laughingly replied. "We're not going +to leave you just yet. You see, we haven't any house to go to, and it +will take the rest of the summer to make arrangements." + +When Jasper left the Haven he walked slowly down the road toward the +post office thinking over carefully all that he had just heard. Every +day he had been expecting news from Mr. Westcote, giving information as +to what was expected of him. Hitherto he had been disappointed. But +to-day he was rewarded when the postmaster, in addition to his daily +paper, handed him out a letter. Jasper felt that this was the one he +had been looking for, and he hurried out of the building and carted +homeward. Reaching a shady tree by the side of the road, he sat down +upon the ground and tore open the letter. A week of thought and +inactivity had made him anxious to know something more of what was +expected of him, and he was quite certain that now the veil was to be +lifted and the mystery partly solved. + +The letter was from Robert Westcote, and although it was somewhat brief +it brought him considerable satisfaction. His eyes kindled with +animation and his pulse quickened as he considered the message he had +just received and meditated upon the possibilities of the future. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +CURIOSITY AND ANXIETY + +Never in the memory of the oldest inhabitant had Creekdale been so +greatly excited. How the news first arrived no one could tell. But +everybody seemed to have heard the rumor at once, and immediately there +was much running to and fro among the villagers. The store was the +principal place where the men gathered to discuss the report and to +find out what was the latest bit of information. Men would find some +excuse for leaving their work in the fields in order to drop into the +store during the afternoon lest some choice morsel of news should be +missed. Every evening they would gather there such as they had never +done before in the summer months. It was always in the winter that +they made the store their headquarters when work was not so pressing. + +It was Andy Forbes, the storekeeper, who made it a point of keeping +abreast of the times. What he didn't know of the events of the parish +was not considered of any importance. He had a way of appearing to +know more than he really did. But concerning this affair at the falls +he was completely blocked. + +"The whole thing stumps me," he acknowledged one night, after an +animated discussion had taken place as to the purpose of it all. "I +can understand about the engineers making the surveys to find out how +much power can be obtained from the falls. That Light and Power +Company in the city has been playing the hog too long, and robbing the +people. It is something fierce what they charge. It is only natural +that an opposition company should be formed to force down the prices. +But the question is, Who is back of this new movement? and what has +Crazy David to do with it?" + +"And so you really think he knows something about at?" Ben Logan +enquired. + +"Sure. I could tell you a number of things but my position as +postmaster compels me to be silent." This was merely another of Andy's +methods, and it always impressed his hearers in a marked degree. + +"But what about that chap who was working for old Squabbles?" Billy +Dexter asked. "He seems to be mixed up somehow with the affair. He +spends most of his time now at the falls with the engineers. I +understand that he was the one who got the Petersons to take in Crazy +David and that girl, Betty Bean." + +"Oh, he's a queer one," Sandy Morton replied. "I met him the other day +on the road and asked him what was going on up at the falls and who +were the men back of the work? My, you should have seen the look he +gave me. It was 'Mind your own business,' as plain as if he had said +it in words. I ought to have knocked him down, for it was a dead +insult." + +"Better not try anything like that, Sandy," Ben Logan laughingly gibed. +"He'd wipe up the dust with you in no time, if I'm not much mistaken. +Anyway, he minds his own business, and that's something in his favour." + +"I believe he's working for the bunch," the store-keeper volunteered. +"I cashed a cheque of his some time ago, and---- But, there, I must +not let out secrets." + +While the people of Creekdale were consumed with curiosity at what was +taking place at the falls, Peter Sinclair was becoming filled with +anxiety, which increased as the days passed into weeks. Lois found it +harder than ever to get along with him, and she always dreaded his +home-coming every evening from the city. Occasionally he travelled on +the river steamer, but as a rule Dick drove him to the city in the +morning in the car and brought him back at night. This was to the +young man's liking, as he found it lonely in the country where he +missed his boon companions. Lois was glad that this was so as she +could have the days free to follow her own inclinations. But she was +always careful to have dinner ready when her father and brother +arrived, and to make their home-coming as bright and pleasant as +possible. + +Whether Mr. Sinclair appreciated this attention Lois did not know, as +he never made any comment. At times, he treated her as if she were +merely a housekeeper, and not his own daughter interested in his +welfare. He ate and slept in the house and spent his Sundays there. +But apart from paying the bills, which, were always light, he left +everything else to his daughter. + +The night when the men of Creekdale were talking so earnestly at the +store, Mr. Sinclair was late reaching, home. Dinner had been waiting +for over an hour, and Lois was reading on the verandah, for it was a +beautiful evening, with not a ripple on the surface of the river. She +longed to be out there in her little boat where of late she spent so +much of her time. + +To almost any one else this home-coming would have been a great +pleasure, especially if the day in the city had been trying. He would +have found the cool, quiet house with such a daughter waiting to +receive him most comforting. But with Mr. Sinclair it was altogether +different. He did not seem to notice the neatly-set dining-room table, +with its snow-white linen and the fragrant flowers so artistically +arranged in the centre. Neither did he pay any special attention to +Lois, who, clad in a simple white dress, sat at the head of the table. + +Lois intuitively realised that there was something out of the ordinary +worrying her father. He was more silent than ever, and took no part in +the conversation between his son and daughter. Dick related to Lois +his experience that afternoon with a party of his friends who had +motored over to the Sea Breeze Park, and had luncheon at the Sign of +the Maple. + +"It's a dandy place," Dick exclaimed, as he passed his plate for +another helping of roast lamb. "They certainly do serve things up in +style, and it is no wonder that so many city people go there. But you +could never guess who came in while we were eating." + +"Any one I know?" Lois asked. + +"Sure; a special friend of yours," and Dick gave a knowing grin. "He's +been under your care for years. I guess you know Spuds all right." + +Lois' face flushed at these words, but she looked calmly at her brother. + +"What is there remarkable about seeing Mr. Randall at such a place?" +she enquired. "Why shouldn't he go there as well as you or any one +else?" + +"Oh, nothing in that, only I thought maybe you'd be interested." + +"So I am in a way, as I thought that Mr. Randall was up at the falls. +He seldom goes to the city, so I understand, but attends strictly to +business." + +"I guess he was doing that all right at the Sign of the Maple. He +seemed to be so busy that he forgot to eat." + +"Was he alone?" + +"Oh, no. There was the prettiest girl I ever set eyes on. I tell you +Spuds is a lucky fellow to know such a beauty. He's gone up a peg in +my estimation since I saw him with her. You should have seen her eyes, +especially when she smiled at something her father was saying." + +"Her father, did you say?" Lois asked. It was somewhat of a relief for +her to know that there was a father present and that she was not alone +with Jasper. + +"Well, I suppose he was her father," Dick replied, "though I am not +positive. He was a fine looking man, anyway. I'd like to get +acquainted with him, for it's worth knowing such a chap who has a +daughter like that. I wonder how Spuds happened to meet him. By +jingo! I've got it," and Dick brought his fist down upon the table with +such a bang that the dishes rattled. "I'll bet you anything that he +has something to do with that Break Neck Falls affair, for old Tim +Parkin, the big lumber merchant, was along, too. He owns some fine +timber tracts up this way, and no doubt there was a deal on. That +confounded mysterious company will need a great amount of lumber, if +rumours are correct." + +As Dick uttered these words his father looked up. His interest had +been suddenly aroused, and for the first time he joined in the +conversation. + +"Did you say that Tim Parkin was at the Sign of the Maple?" he growled. + +"Yes, Dad," the young man replied. "He was looking bigger and more +prosperous than ever. He seemed mighty pleased over something." + +"Did you near what they were talking about?" + +"No, I couldn't make out anything as we were on the opposite side of +the room." + +"But you could see the girl, though. If your ears had been half as +good as your eyes you would have heard what was being said." + +"But any one can see much farther than he can hear," Dick protested. +"You surely don't expect the impossible from me, do you?" + +"I don't expect anything from you, sir," and Mr. Sinclair glared at his +son. "I have long since given up expecting. All you care for is to +have a good time riding around in the car, attending parties, and +looking for the prettiest girls. If you were as much interested in +business as you are in pleasure you would be of some use to me. But I +guess you'll have to get a hustle on mighty goon, though, from the look +of things. I won't be able to indulge you in your idleness much +longer." + +"Why, Dad, what do you mean?" Dick enquired. "You're not going to +throw me overboard, are you?" + +"Oh, no, I won't do it. But there are others who will, or I'm very +much mistaken." + +"Who--why?" the young man stammered. "I don't understand you, Dad." + +"I mean that new Light and Power Company which has been formed. That +is what will do it." + +"Oh, is that all?" and Dick breathed a sigh of relief. "You certainly +did give me a jolt. I thought you were speaking of something real. +But that company's all a hoax, isn't it? Tommy Flowers said it was +nothing but a scare to force you to cut your rates. The whole thing is +so mysterious, so people say, that they consider it a put up job to +force your hand. Why, the names of the men who form the company are +not even known." + +"H'm, that's all that people know about what is going on," Mr. Sinclair +retorted. "That company is no hoax, mark my word. It means business +of a most serious nature, and it is getting to work, too. Don't you +live in a fool's paradise, boy. If you do, there will be a rude +awakening, and sooner perhaps than you expect." + +"What, have you heard anything of late, Dad?" Dick asked. + +"Well, I have heard enough, and it is more than hear-say at that. A +strong company has been formed to utilise the water of Break Neck Falls +for light and power to supply not only the city but the entire country. +The scheme is a big one, almost gigantic, I should say. And there +seems to be plenty of money back of it, too. It is an English concern +which has recently opened an office in the city. + +"What is the purpose of such a company working here?" Dick questioned. +"One would naturally think that a city much larger than ours would +offer more inducements." + +Mr. Sinclair pushed back his chair from the table, and lighted a cigar. + +"That is one of the things which puzzles me," he at length replied. +"Why a company with large capital should build a big plant at the falls +to supply light and power in such a limited locality, is more than I +can understand. I cannot see how it will pay even if it gets full +control." + +"Who is in charge of the city office?" Dick asked. + +"A man by the name of Westcote. He is an Englishman, so I believe. He +seems to have full charge of everything. He must have been the man you +saw at the Sign of the Maple with Tim Parkin, for he has a daughter +with him, who recently came to the city." + +"But what has Spuds to do with the concern, and how did he come to meet +this man Westcote?" + +"He is evidently in his employ. But where he met him I do not know. +Perhaps Lois can tell us," and he glanced around upon his daughter. + +Lois suddenly started and looked keenly at her father as if she had not +heard aright. This was the first time that he had ever hinted at any +interest on her part in Jasper. A feeling of resentment welled up in +her heart. + +"Why should I know?" she enquired, "and what reason have you for asking +me such a question?" + +Mr. Sinclair, however, did not deign to make any explanation, but +puffed away at his cigar. Lois took this as a direct insult and +started to leave the table. She wished to get away by herself that she +might think it all over. + +"And where does old Crazy David come in?" her father asked. "What +interest has he in that concern?" + +"I have not the slightest idea," Lois impatiently replied. "Why do you +expect me to understand such things?" + +"But you should know. You see that old man every day, and are so +interested in his welfare. Surely he must have told you something, and +if he did not you should have tried to find out. Remember, you are my +daughter, and my interest should be your first concern. Both you and +Dick think that you have no responsibilities in life, and that I will +always provide for you. If we are not careful that new company will +put us out of business; so you two must do all you can to help me. +Something must be done to cheek that concern and I want you to assist +me. As it is, I am working in the dark and do not know what to expect +next, or who are the ones working against me. Is it old David who is +merely acting the part of a fool, or is it that young man who pretended +to be a hired hand, who worked awhile for Simon Squabbles? There is +something queer about the whole thing, and I am nearly crazy trying to +puzzle it all out." + +To these words Lois made no reply. She quietly left the table and made +her way out of the house and walked down to the shore. Here she felt +more at home, and the stillness which reigned over land and water +soothed her, bringing a restful peace to her heart and mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +PYRAMID ROCK + +A good home, plenty of well-cooked food, and proper attention did much +for old David. His strength, and health improved, and although he lost +nothing of his interest in the falls, he was quite content to listen +more to the sound drifting down the valley instead of visiting the +place as often as formerly. The spot he liked best of all was the cosy +corner on the verandah, just outside the window of his room. Here the +vines clambered up over the sides, forming a shelter from the burning +sun and a refuge from the wind when the days were cool. + +Jasper was a frequent visitor at the Haven, and he was not slow to +notice the change that had come over David. Hitherto the old man had +been content to listen to the voice of the falls and utter brief and +almost mystic words about what the water would do. But latterly he had +given greater vent to his thoughts and enlarged upon the plans he had +been revolving in his mind. + +It was a beautiful evening not long after Jasper had been at the Sign +of the Maple, that he was sitting with David and Betty in the +accustomed place. The captain had retired, and Mrs. Peterson was busy +in the kitchen. Jasper told of the progress that had been made at the +falls and how the engineers had finished their preliminary work, and +had declared the undertaking most feasible. The definite start of +building would not begin until the next spring, though in the meantime +necessary preparations would be made so that the work could be pushed +forward then as rapidly as possible. Logs would be needed for building +purposes, and many large poles suitable for carrying the wires to the +city and throughout the country. + +"I have been requested to undertake this work," Jasper told them, "and +so will be busy all the fall and winter. In a few weeks I hope to have +a number of men and teams at work in the woods. It will be a fine +thing for Creekdale as it will put so much money in circulation by +giving employment to all available men during the winter when as a rule +little is going on, so I understand." + +"Oh, won't that be nice," Betty exclaimed, while her eyes danced with +animation. "My brother will be able to earn money right at home. +Jimmy has been planning to go to the city next winter to earn some +money to help pay off the mortgage on our place. Mother doesn't want +him to go as he is only sixteen, but he thinks he should be earning +something." + +"You have some fine trees on your place, have you not?" Jasper asked in +reply. + +"Oh, yes, lots of them. You see, our farm is part of the old Dinsmore +Manor, and no logs have been cut on it for years as they have not been +worth much. My father said before he died that they would bring a lot +of money some day, and they would make us rich. That's why mother has +been holding on to the place and trying to pay off the mortgage. But +she finds it hard work. Jimmy works for the neighbours, but Steve and +Dora can't earn anything yet. I am helping all I can." + +"Those trees are very valuable now," Jasper remarked. + +"Have you seen them?" Betty asked, in surprise. + +"Yes, I have been all over the place, and there are acres of the finest +trees I have ever seen. We shall need many of them, that is, if your +mother will sell." + +"Won't that be great!" and the girl clapped her hands with delight. "I +know she will sell if she can get a fair price for them." + +"There should be no trouble about that, Betty. Logs are higher than +they have been for years, and those who own them are fortunate. The +company wants only the best and is willing to pay a good price, so I +believe. But there is something I would advise your mother to do." + +"What is that?" + +"Keep a sharp look-out upon those trees. The city Light and Power +Company, of which Mr. Sinclair is manager and principal owner, has land +right next to yours. Most of the best trees have been cut there for +poles, and it is only natural that envious eyes should be east upon +your mother's valuable property. Mr. Sinclair does quite a lumbering +business on his own account, so I understand." + +"Oh, do you think that Mr. Sinclair would do anything like that?" Betty +asked in surprise. + +"I trust not," was the reply. "Nevertheless, it is just as well to be +on guard in case something does happen. You might speak to your mother +about it when you see her." + +The next day David and Betty paid a visit to the falls. They had not +been there for over a week, which was a most unusual thing. It was a +beautiful afternoon, and a complete harmony seemed to reign everywhere. +David was in excellent spirits and he talked much about the wonderful +improvements which were to come to the country. He pointed out a +number of the stakes the engineers had driven into the ground, and +explained where the power house would be built. + +"A year from now," he told her, "there will be wires running to the +city and all through the country. The city people will have light for +their houses and power for their machinery at cheap rates. The farmers +will have electric lights right in their homes and barns; they will +have power to saw their wood, churn their butter, thresh and grind +their grain, besides doing so many other things. It will make a +wonderful change in the lives of all. Young people will not want to +leave the farms and go to the city. It will be a joy for them to +remain, and so much of the drudgery will be taken away." + +"Won't that be splendid!" Betty replied. "How did you ever think of +all those things? Why, the people didn't know you were thinking so +much about their welfare when you were living all alone, and when they +said you were crazy." + +"No, girl, they did not know," and the old man gazed thoughtfully off +into space. "They believed that I was a fool, and perhaps they had +reason for so thinking. You see, I was very poor and had no means of +carrying out my plans. It has always been the way, and why should I +have expected anything different from thousands of others who have +tried to help their fellow men? But now things have changed, and they +will soon learn that old David was not so crazy after all." + +They were seated upon the bank of the stream as they thus talked. On a +bough of a near-by tree a squirrel was scolding, and off in the +distance several crows were lifting up their raucous voices. Betty +picked up a stone and tossed it into the water below, and then watched +with interest as it fell with a splash. + +"I can throw farther than you, Mr. David," she bantered. "I can throw +a stone to that big rock over there." + +"I haven't thrown a stone in a long time, my child," was the reply. + +"Well, try it then," was the command. "Here is a nice smooth one." + +Rising to his feet, David took the stone and with a wide sweep of his +long arm hurled it far down the stream almost to the base of the rock. + +"You didn't do it," Betty shouted with delight. "I can beat that, see +if I can't." + +She half turned to pick up another stone when she suddenly paused as +her eyes rested upon a man coming toward them. It was Peter Sinclair, +and as he drew near and spoke to them, it seemed to Betty that the +atmosphere had changed, and the day was not as fine as it had been but +a few seconds before. She wanted to get away, for this man's presence +seemed to weigh upon her in an ominous manner. The reason why she +could not explain. + +"Having a nice time here, eh?" Mr. Sinclair remarked, as he sat down +upon the bank. "That walk has puffed me. Do you come up here often?" +he asked, turning toward Betty. + +"Whenever Mr. David takes the notion," was her reply. "I always come +with him, and we have such a pleasant time." + +"And do you always stop here and spend your time in throwing stones at +that rock? Are you not wasting your time?" + +"We might be doing worse, though," Betty replied, somewhat nettled at +the man's words. "We might be throwing stones at you or somebody else." + +"At me!" and Mr. Sinclair looked surprised. + +"Yes, at you. But perhaps it's safer to throw them at that rock over +there. It doesn't mind for it knows we're only in fun. It's a special +friend of mine, and that's why I like to be near it. You would never +believe that it saved half my father's farm several years ago." + +"What, that rock?" + +"It certainly did, and I shall never forget what it did for us." + +"Tell me about it," and Mr. Sinclair sat down upon the ground. The +mention of the Bean farm had suddenly aroused his interest, and made +him willing to listen to this country girl's story. + +"It was a long time ago," Betty began, "just after my father was +married. He had bought a piece of land off of the Dinsmore Manor, +about one hundred acres, I think it was. After he had paid for the +place there was some trouble about the line between him and the man who +had bought another piece of the manor next to him. They agreed to have +the line run over again. I don't understand all about it, but, anyway, +when the line was run it cut my father's place almost in two, and he +was afraid he was going to lose all that land where those fine logs are +now. It was a funny mistake, but it was soon settled." + +"What had that rock to do with it?" Mr. Sinclair enquired. + +"Oh," and the girl gave a slight laugh. "I forgot that part. You see, +the surveyor was to start running the line from the big pyramid rock on +this brook. It is called that because of its shape. Father happened +to be away from home the day the line was run and the surveyor started +from another rock farther down the brook, which looks something like +that one over there. Wasn't it funny? So you see that is why I am so +fond of that big rock and come here as often as I can to be near my +good friend." + +As Betty finished, a peculiar expression might have been detected in +Peter Sinclair's eyes, and for a few seconds he gazed steadily at the +rock before him. It seemed that the girl's story had greatly +interested him and started him off on a new line of thought. Just what +it was he kept to himself and with an apparent effort turned his +attention once more to Betty. + +"You will not come here as often, I suppose, when the company gets to +work," he remarked. "Things will be much changed along this brook, and +perhaps your old friend, the rock, may be disturbed." + +"You are right, sir," David replied, speaking for the first time. +"There will certainly be marvellous changes all over this country in a +year or two. You will hardly know the place then." + +"That is interesting. And can you tell me who will perform these +wonders of which you speak so confidently?" + +"The falls will do it," and David stretched out his right arm. "Light +and power will come from there to transform city and country. Living +will be made far more tolerable in both." + +"But who are the men back of all this?" Mr. Sinclair asked. He felt +sure now that he was on the verge of a new discovery. + +"I am the man," and David stood proudly erect. "It was my plan which +suggested the movement." + +"I know all that," and Mr. Sinclair rose impatiently to his feet. "But +where does the money come from? and, who are the men who form the +company? That is what I want to know." + +"That I cannot tell you, sir. And why should it matter? I am +concerned about the improvements and not where the money comes from." + +"H'm, that's a queer way to do business," was the disgusted reply. +"Well, I must be off up the brook. I've wasted too much time already. +Look out for your big rock, little girl, and see that no one disturbs +it." + +"Oh, I guess it'll stay there all right," Betty replied with a laugh. +"My friends never leave me." + +They stood and watched Mr. Sinclair until the tree hid him from view. + +"I don't like that man," and Betty stamped her small foot upon the +ground. "He makes me feel creepy all over just like I always do when I +see a snake or a rat. Let's go home." + +About an hour after they had left the place, Peter Sinclair drew near, +and stood looking at the big rock across the brook. Then he walked +along the bank until he came to the smaller rock of which Betty had +spoken. He next turned his eyes northward and pointed with the +forefinger of his right hand as if tracing an imaginary boundary line. +As he did so a smile of satisfaction lighted his face, and when he left +the brook and started homeward, his step was quicker and more elastic +than it had been for many a day. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE DISTURBING LETTER + +It took Jasper longer than he had expected to get everything ready for +his fall and winter lumbering operations. He found it hard to obtain +as many teams as he needed, and greater difficulty still to procure the +right kind of men. He offered good wages, but the choppers held out +for more. Although such matters had been left to Jasper, yet he did +not feel inclined to pay such wages as were demanded. At length, +however, he succeeded in rounding together a band of men upon whom he +felt he could depend, and he hoped in a few days to begin work upon the +building of the cabins for the men and the stables for the horses. + +Jasper often mused upon the peculiar situation in which he was placed. +Everything seemed to depend upon him. The engineers, having made their +surveys, had departed, leaving him in charge. The buying of the food +supplies devolved upon him, though the bills were sent to the city +office for payment. He had not seen Robert Westcote since the day he +had luncheon with him at the Sign of the Maple. He had merely received +specific information as to the various kinds of logs required, their +length and size, as well as the places where they were to be hauled +near the falls. + +During these busy days Jasper had seen nothing of Lois. He knew that +she visited the Haven regularly, and Betty always had a great deal to +tell him about her. But somehow he had missed meeting her, and every +time he left he felt disappointed, and made his way back to his lonely +cabin which seemed to become more lonely as the days passed. Sometimes +he would stand on the hill and look down upon the Sinclair house, +hoping that he might catch a glimpse of her who was so much in his +mind. He would scan the river, thinking he might see her out there. +At length a great longing came upon him to see her before he should go +into the woods. He knew that in a few weeks at the most she would be +leaving for the city with her father, and then all hope of meeting her +again for months would have to be abandoned. Somehow he could not bear +the thought of her going. As long as she was near he could work +better, and her presence in the place was like an inspiration. He felt +that she knew what he was doing, and took an interest in his welfare. +But in the city she would be far away, and taken up with so many +interests she would have no time to give any thought to him. + +All preparations had now been made for the lumbering operations and +work would begin on Monday morning. Saturday found Jasper with nothing +to do. He spent the forenoon in packing up his belongings to take with +him into the woods. They were very few, and one small grip would +contain his scanty library which he could not bear to leave behind. +The next time he went to the city he intended to purchase a number of +books upon which he had set his heart. He would have the long winter +evenings for reading in the little cabin he was to erect for his own +special use. + +About the middle of the afternoon he decided to pay a visit to the +Haven. He wished to see David and Betty before going away, and learn +how they were making out. But the hope that he might see Lois was the +real reason why he decided to go. Several times he had thought of +visiting her at her own home. But as he had never been there and had +received no invitation, he did not feel inclined to go where perhaps he +was not wanted, and where his presence might be looked upon as an +intrusion. He often upbraided himself for thinking about her at all. +What hope had he that she would ever deign to look upon him with +favour? What had he to offer her? He was poor, and he had no +guarantee that his employment with this mysterious company would be +permanent. In a few months he might again be seeking for work. + +But no matter what resolutions Jasper made he could not banish Lois +from his mind. It was she who several years before had unconsciously +inspired him to launch out into the world and make something of +himself. The thought of her had always urged him on when most +depressed and discouraged. In his darkest hours of gloom he had seen +her eyes filled with sympathy fixed upon him as on that day he had +first met her and had fled disgraced from her father's house. + +Such impressions were not easy to banish in an instant, and so as he +knocked at the door of the haven he fervently hoped that Lois might be +there. But as he entered David's room other interests engaged his +attention. Hitherto all had been peace there. The old man was +generally seated by the open window listening to the voice of his +beloved falls. But now there was a distinct atmosphere of excitement. +Mrs. Bean was there, and her face had a most worried expression. Betty +had been crying, but seeing Jasper she brushed away her tears and +sprang to her feet. + +"Oh, Mr. Jasper," she cried, "isn't it awful! Have you heard the news?" + +"What news?" Jasper asked in surprise, as he took a chair by David's +side. "I haven't heard anything of special importance." + +"It's about Mr. Sinclair, that's who it is. Just think, he wants to +take all of our logs!" + +"Take your logs!" + +"Yes, that's what he's going to do. Mother got a letter from him and +she has just read it to us. He says there is a mistake about the line +between his place and ours, and that all those fine logs belong to him. +He says he had a new line run last week and that the old line is wrong. +He warns mother not to touch or sell a log there, for if she does he +will sue her." + +Betty was excited, and her words rushed forth like a torrent. For a +few minutes Jasper could hardly believe that he had heard aright. + +"Do you mean to tell me," and he turned to Mrs. Bean, "that what your +daughter says is true? Surely there must be some serious mistake." + +"I'm afraid not," was the reply. "There is the letter, which you can +read for yourself." + +It took Jasper but a few seconds to scan the brief note, and when he +was through he sat staring at it as if he had not seen aright. Was it +possible, he asked himself, that Peter Sinclair was stooping to such a +contemptible piece of business? And to do it to a widow at that added +to his meanness. What justification did he have for doing such a +thing? he wondered. + +"Was there ever any dispute about the line?" Jasper asked. + +"None at all," Mrs. Bean replied. "A mistake was made years ago just +after we were married. The surveyor started from the wrong rock up the +brook, and the line then run cut off that part which Mr. Sinclair is +now claiming. But it was rectified just as soon as my husband came +home, and there has been no trouble since until now." + +"Did Mr. Sinclair notify you that he was going to have a new line run?" +Jasper enquired. + +"No, I knew nothing about what was taking place until I received that +letter." + +"I wonder what suggested such a thing to him?" Jasper mused as if to +himself. "There must have been something." + +"Why, I think I know." Betty exclaimed. "I do not believe he ever +thought about it until that day he was talking to Mr. David and me up +the brook. We were near Pyramid Rock, and I told him about the mistake +the surveyor had made years ago in running the line. He seemed to be +very much interested then. Maybe that was what started it. Just +think, it was all my fault. Oh, if I could only hold my tongue once in +a while how much good it would do." + +At that instant a knock sounded upon the door, and when Betty had +opened it Lois entered. She looked surprised when she saw the visitors +in the room, and at once noticed the worried expression upon Mrs. +Bean's face. + +"This must be your special afternoon for receiving company," she +remarked with a smile, as she took David's hand. "It isn't often you +have Mrs. Bean and Mr. Randall to see you on the same day, is it?" + +"Mr. Randall has been here before," was the reply, "but this is the +first time that Mrs. Bean has favoured me with a call. It was special +business which brought her here to-day." + +"You're not going to take Betty away from Mr. David, are you?" Lois +asked, turning to Mrs. Bean. + +"Oh, no; it is something far different from that. It is a very serious +matter, I assure you." + +"What, no one ill at home, I hope?" + +"No. The boys were well when I left." + +An awkward silence followed, and Lois felt that there was something of +a private nature which these people were discussing, and that she had +interrupted their conversation. + +Jasper, who had risen to his feet as Lois entered the room, divined the +thoughts which were passing through her mind, and came to her +assistance. + +"Let Miss Sinclair see the letter, Mrs. Bean," he suggested. "Perhaps +it will explain matters better than we can." + +Without a word Mrs. Bean complied with this request, and then leaned +back in her chair with a deep sigh. + +Much mystified, Lois ran her eyes over the letter, and as she did so +her face underwent a marvellous transformation. The sunny expression +departed and the colour faded from her cheeks, leaving them very white. +The words seemed to fascinate her, and for a while she stood staring +upon them. Then a tremor shook her body, and her right hand closed, +crushing the letter within it. With a strong effort she regained her +composure and turned toward the widow. + +"I cannot understand this," she began. "I had no idea that my father +would do such a thing. There must be some mistake. I shall go now and +think it all over. Will you come with me, Mr. Randall? I would like +to speak with you." + +Without another word the two left the house and walked slowly down the +lane leading to the road. Presently Lois stopped and turned to her +companion. + +"I am almost heartbroken over what my father has done," she began. "I +have stood by him, and have tried to shield him all I could, but what +is the use of doing so any longer?" + +"Could you not speak to him, and induce him to change his mind?" Jasper +asked. + +"I can do nothing. He has even turned against me. He believes that I +am his enemy, and that I know more about the affairs of the new company +than I am willing to tell him. He is becoming more unbearable every +day. Only last night he told me that I could leave him whenever I +wanted to as he could get along better without me. He said that he did +not want a traitor in his house. Oh, it is terrible! I cannot +understand what has come over him. He was always hard and +unsympathetic, but never like this." + +"And will you go?" Jasper enquired. + +"At first I thought I would. But after thinking it all over very +carefully I have decided to remain with him. He needs me now more than +ever. You have no idea what a helpless man he is. I shudder to think +what would become of him should I leave him at the present time." + +"But it might teach him a lesson if you should leave him for a while," +Jasper urged. "It is not right that your life should be made so +miserable." + +He was looking into her downcast face as he said this. Her hands were +clasped before her, and how he longed to seize them in his, and tell +her all that was in his heart; how he would look after her and bestow +upon her that love which her father denied her. + +"I must not forsake him," was her low reply. "He is my father, and I +must remain by his side. I promised my mother that I would. We shall +leave for the city next week, and I dread the thought of going." + +"But you will be able to forget much of your trouble there, will you +not? Your social life will be so different, and----" + +"Don't speak of such a thing," she interrupted. "You little realise +how I despise so many of the social gatherings held there. What do +they amount to? What good do they do? I enjoy amusements, but I think +people should not make them the sole object in life. But that seems to +me to be just what so many do. I want to be of some use in the world, +and I believe the best way to be happy is to help others." + +They were walking slowly along as Lois uttered these words. She spoke +deliberately as if she had considered them carefully, and was not +speaking under the influence of the moment. + +"You are right, Miss Sinclair," Jasper replied. "I, too, have come to +realise that he who thinks only of self finds unhappiness, while he who +forgets self in seeking to help and uplift others will find the +greatest joy." + +The tone of certainty in his voice caused Lois to glance up into his +face. She liked his words, especially as she felt they were real. + +"And you were not always like that?" Lois asked. + +"Oh, no. Only recently have I come to view things in a different +light." + +"What caused the change?" + +"It was old David." + +"Old David! I am surprised to hear you say that. I had no idea that +he was able to influence any one except Betty Bean." + +"He has influenced me as well, though it was all done unconsciously. I +have been watching him closely for some time, and ever since I have +known him he has been so happy. Even when he had not a cent and was +sold to the lowest bidder, he did not lose heart. And why? Because he +was thinking of others, and what his plans would do for the people both +in the city and in the country. He was willing to endure poverty and +taunts that those around him might be benefited. He was misunderstood, +but it made little or no difference to him. He was happy in the +thought that he was going to do good. To me he is a wonder, and I +believe I can do no better than endeavour to follow his example and +think less of myself. When I entered into the employ of this new +company I did it merely for the money I was to get out of it, and a +certain spirit of curiosity as to the outcome. Now, however, I am +working with a far higher motive. I begin to see what a benefit this +undertaking will be to the entire community and a blessing to so many, +even though at present they may not realise it." + +They had reached the gate leading to the Sinclair house by the time +Jasper had finished. The colour had returned to Lois' cheeks, and her +eyes were now filled with animation. + +"Oh, I am so glad to hear you speak as you do," she replied. "It +strengthens my own convictions to hear you express yourself that way, +and I feel that I shall bear my part more bravely in the city than +otherwise I would have done." + +Jasper's pulse beat quicker at these words. So she would think of him, +then, in the midst of her active city life. There was a great comfort +to him in the thought. + +"You will return next summer, I suppose," he remarked. "We shall miss +you very much in the meantime." + +"I hope to do so, and it will be something to look forward to. But you +will surely come to see us when you visit the city. I shall be so +anxious to hear all the news from Creekdale." + +"Nothing would give me greater pleasure," Jasper replied. "But I do +not expect to leave the woods before spring. Even if business should +take me to the city, I should not feel like making a social call. I +should frighten you and your friends who might happen to be with you by +my rough clothes and hard hands. Oh, no, it would not be proper, so I +had better stay away." + +Lois was not slow in detecting the note of bitterness an his voice as +he uttered these words. She was aggrieved that he should think that +his rough appearance would make any difference to her. And yet she +understood his feelings. His sensitiveness would make him most +unwilling to go to a place where he would be looked upon with ridicule, +and at the same time embarrass the ones he happened to visit. + +"You need not worry about your appearance when you visit me, Mr. +Randall," and her eyes met his as she spoke. "I shall think all the +more of you if your hands are rough and your face weather-beaten. I +shall never be ashamed of the marks of honest toil. I must go now, but +I shall expect to see you before spring." + +To Jasper that was one of the happiest times of his whole life. He +believed that she was interested in him, while the look in her eyes and +the words she uttered were to him an inspiration during the following +days and weeks of weary work in the woods. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SUBTLE INFLUENCE + +Although Lois preferred to remain in the country, yet she did not waste +her days in repining over her life in the city. She at once looked +about for opportunities of usefulness. These she found in St. +Saviour's, the church she attended. Her musical abilities made her a +welcomed member of the choir. But she was not satisfied with merely +singing. She wished to do more, and she soon found an outlet in +assisting the unfortunate ones in the parish. It was through "The +Helping Hand Society" that she found she could do the most effective +work, and she never tired of going from house to house where her +services were most needed. + +Dick often upbraided her for giving so much of her time to Church work, +and said that she should go with him to dances and whist parties. + +"I have no interest in such things," she told him over and over again. +"There is too much to be done around us in helping others, to spend all +of one's time upon such gaieties." + +"But think what people are saying," her brother protested. "They call +you unsociable and stuck-up, and it is hard for me to listen to such +things." + +Lois laughed at Dick's fears and told him not to worry. She said that +she was quite able to look after herself, and did not mind what people +were saying so long as she was doing what was right. + +When Christmas season came around Lois found herself more busy than +ever. There were so many baskets to be provided for the needy, and +this year they were going to send a number to poor families out in the +country districts. It was just when she was in the midst of this work +that Dick asked her to attend a dance with him on Thursday night. + +"If you don't go this time I shall never ask you again," he told her. +"It's to be at Mrs. Dingle's, and you know how cut up she will feel if +you refuse her. Sammie, too, is expecting you, and he will never visit +us again if you do not go." + +"But how am I to leave my work, Dick?" Lois questioned. "We are so +busy every night packing the boxes, which we must get off as soon as +possible. I am more interested in them than I am in what Mrs. Dingle +and Sammie might think. They surely know by this time that I do not +care for them." + +"Well, come for my sake, then," Dick pleaded. + +"That is a better reason why I should go," and Lois smiled upon her +brother. + +"And you will go?" Dick was all eagerness now. "There's to be a jolly +crowd there. Sammie told me that he has invited a crack-a-jack of an +artist he met at the club. He is an English chap and has been out here +only a short time. He puts out some great stuff in the way of +pictures, so I understand. Then, that Westcote girl is to be there. +My, I'm anxious to meet her. She is worth while if what I hear about +her is true." + +The mention of the Westcote girl gave Lois more interest in the dance +than she had hitherto taken. She did want to see her as well as Dick, +for she had often thought about her since she had heard that Jasper had +luncheon with her and her father at the Sign of the Maple. It was +unusual for her to take an interest in a stranger. But this was +different, and so she decided to accompany her brother. + +Mrs. Dingle was delighted to have Lois at her party, principally on her +son's account. She had chosen her for Sammie from all the eligible +girls she knew, and the idea that Lois might object to becoming Mrs. +Sammie Dingle never once entered her mind. There were financial +reasons as well, for was not Peter Sinclair manager and chief owner of +the City Light and Power Company? + +Lois had not been long in the room, ere she felt herself affected by +some unknown influence. She could not account for this feeling as she +had never experienced, anything like it before. Even when on the floor +in the midst of a dreamy waltz, a sense of dread almost overwhelmed +her. A weight seemed suddenly to press upon her heart, as if some +terrible disaster were near. Hers was not a mind to be easily +disturbed by such things, and she was not naturally of a superstitious +nature. She tried to shake off the feeling, but all in vain. What was +the cause of it? she asked herself over and over again. + +That waltz was the longest she had ever experienced; and most thankful +was she when Sammie at last led her off the floor. As she was about to +sit down she happened to glance to her right, and as she did so her +eyes met those of a man standing not far away. Intuitively she +realised that there was the source of her strange agitation. It was +only for an instant that their eyes met, but it was long enough for +Lois to realise that some subtle influence had come upon her which +would affect her whole life. + +With as much composure as possible she resumed her seat. She longed to +be alone that she might think it all over, and endeavour to cast off +the spell which was depressing her. She tried to reason it out, but +her thoughts were interrupted by Mrs. Dingle who stood suddenly before +her. + +"Lois, dear," she heard her say, "I want you to meet my famous guest, +Mr. Sydney Bramshaw, the noted English artist, who has favoured us with +his presence to-night. I have been waiting this opportunity ever since +you arrived, but could not get you and Sammie separated long enough to +do so until now." + +These closing words annoyed Lois and she longed more than ever to leave +the room, especially so when Bramshaw sat down by her side and began to +talk to her in a familiar manner. + +"I wanted to meet you as soon as I saw you enter the room," he told +her, "and I almost despaired of obtaining an opportunity." + +"Why should you be so anxious to meet me?" Lois replied. "I am sure +that I have done nothing to merit your special attention." + +"Oh, but you are so decidedly superior to the rest, don't you know. I +am somewhat gifted with a discerning mind, and am able at a glance to +tell the gold from the dross." + +If Bramshaw imagined that his companion was susceptible to such +flattery he was greatly mistaken. His words disgusted Lois, and yet +she must remember that he was Mrs. Dingle's guest and that she must be +agreeable as far as it was possible. + +"You are an artist, so I understand," she replied. + +"Yes, in a way. I am fond of observing the beautiful in the common +things of Nature, and placing them upon canvas. So many go through +life with their eyes shut. They have eyes but do not see. With me it +is different, and because of my ability to see and depict the real +things of life, I have received considerable recognition." + +"That must give you satisfaction," Lois murmured. + +She tried to seem interested, but it was a difficult undertaking. + +"It does in a way," and Bramshaw assumed an air of careless +indifference. He was a little man, and his effort made him seem +ridiculous. "But, it is so seldom that one meets with kindred spirits, +don't you know. There are so few who are able to discuss the finer +points of art. I would not mind in the least enlightening those around +me, but they, as a rule, are so unwilling to listen. With you, +however, it is different. You have a trained mind, and that makes such +a vast difference." + +Lois was about to make some half-hearted reply, when her eyes rested +upon the face of a girl on the opposite side of the room. It was the +most beautiful and perfect face she had ever seen, and she wondered who +she was and where she had come from. She tried to listen to what +Bramshaw was saying and at the same time watch the girl before her. +She was talking to Dick, and she noted the animated expression upon her +face as she smiled at something he was saying. It must have been about +her for she suddenly turned and their eyes met. For an instant only +the girl hesitated, and then with a graceful movement swept swiftly +across the room and stood before Lois. + +"Pardon me," she began, as she took Lois' hand, "I could not help +coming to you as soon as I saw you. Your brother was telling me what a +hard time he had to get you away from your Church work to come to the +party. When I heard that I wanted to meet you at once. I am Margaret +Westcote, and have been in this country but a short time, and +everything is so new and interesting to me." + +"Ducedly tame, I call it," Bramshaw interposed before Lois had time to +say a word. "I can't for the life of me see what you find congenial in +a land like this, Miss Westcote." + +"It all depends upon what you call tame, Mr. Bramshaw," was the +somewhat sarcastic reply. "If you spend your time thinking only about +yourself it is no wonder you are bored. I haven't heard of your doing +anything worth while since you came to this city." + +"Come, come, Miss Westcote," Bramshaw protested, as he stroked his +silky moustache with the soft white fingers of his right hand. +"Artists, you should realise, are generally misunderstood. You cannot +judge us according to ordinary standards. We are often most intensely +busy when we seem to be inactive. Our apparent idleness is the time +when valuable impressions are being imbibed to be produced later in +masterpieces for the benefit and admiration of the whole world. It is +utterly impossible for ordinary minds to grasp this, but it is true, +nevertheless." + +"I beg your pardon, Mr. Bramshaw," and the girl made him a slight +graceful bow, "I really forgot that you are an artist. Appearances are +so deceptive, you know. I shall leave you now to carry on your +imbibing process. Perhaps Miss Sinclair will come with me, so that you +can have the imbibing time all to yourself. It would be a pity to +spoil your great masterpiece." + +Lois was surprised at Miss Westcote's sarcasm, and, she fully expected +that Bramshaw would be angry. But he did not appear to mind in the +least. On the contrary, he smiled all the time she was speaking, as if +her words greatly amused him. Lois was glad of any excuse to leave +this man whose very presence depressed her in a remarkable manner. +When at last alone with Miss Westcote in an adjoining room, she sank +into a comfortable chair in a cosy corner. Her face was unusually +pale, and this her companion at once noted. + +"You are tired," she sympathetically remarked, taking a seat by her +side. "You seem to be greatly upset." + +"It is that man," Lois replied with considerable emphasis. "I never +had any one to affect me as he does. I cannot understand it. I am not +superstitious, and I have always prided myself upon my self-confidence, +but I cannot account for the feeling that has come over me to-night." + +"Oh, that man would upset almost any one," Miss Westcote replied. "I +can not endure him." + +"You do not evidently mind speaking plainly to him," Lois remarked. + +"Certainly not. When I take a dislike to any person I generally say +just what I think, especially to such a cad as that." + +"You know something about him, then?" + +"All I want to. He has been trying to get my father to give him the +position of looking after an old man up the river. Mr. Randall has +been doing it, and Bramshaw wants to have him discharged so he can get +the job. Just think of that." + +"Why should he wish to do that?" Lois asked in great surprise. "If he +is an artist why should he want to take care of old David?" + +"So you know the old man?" Miss Westcote enquired. + +"Oh, yes. And I know Mr. Randall, too. He is so good to old David." + +"I know he would be. I met him once at the Sign of the Maple with my +father, and he seemed to be so different from most men. He was so +manly and had such a strong face. I liked him as soon as I saw him." + +"He deserves great credit, Miss Westcote. He is a self-made man, and +his life has been a hard one. He has had to struggle against many +obstacles. But he will win and make a name for himself, I feel quite +sure." + +It was impossible for these two to be long alone in such a quiet spot. +Just when the conversation was becoming interesting, they were sought +for by their partners for the next dance, and reluctantly they were +forced to forego the many things they wished to say to each other. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE "CUT-OFF" + +The meeting with Margaret Westcote was a great event in Lois' life. +Hitherto, her lot had been somewhat of a lonely one, with no special +girl friend to share her confidences. Her interests had always been so +different from others that she was not looked upon by any as a boon +companion. She often reasoned with them and asked why they should make +selfish pleasure the principal motive of living when they could have +more enjoyment by putting self last and others first. + +With Margaret Westcote, however, it was different. She was after Lois' +own heart, and the two were as one in their interests. Each supplied +what the other lacked; one her vivaciousness, and the other her +calmness of mind. Their friendship was not a growth but a fusing at +the first meeting. They were now very much together, and Margaret took +a keen interest in the work of getting the Christmas supplies ready for +needy families. + +Dick was delighted that this beautiful girl was so much at the house, +and for the first time in his life he found Church work most +interesting. He was always ready to help, but was generally in the +way. It was quite evident that he was greatly in love with Margaret, +though she on her part treated him as a mere boy and not as a lover. +He could not seem to realise that she was an excellent judge of +character, and preferred men who did things instead of spending their +time in idleness. Lois understood the girl's feelings, and the truth +began to dawn upon her that Jasper Randall was Margaret's ideal type of +a man. One who could battle and overcome was the man who appealed to +her. Whenever Jasper's name was mentioned Margaret's eyes would +sparkle with animation, and she never tired of talking about him and +the struggle he had made in life. + +The week before Christmas Lois became more enthusiastic than ever with +the work of getting the boxes ready to be sent to the various families. +She longed to interest her father, and one morning before he left for +his office she asked him if he would not do something for the families +of the men who were working for him in the woods on the old Dinsmore +Manor. She had never spoken to him about the letter he had written to +Mrs. Bean, feeling sure that it would be of no avail. But she had +learned through a letter from Betty that the choppers had not yet +crossed the line, and for this Lois was thankful. Perhaps he did not +intend to take the logs, she reasoned, but had written the letter +during one of his cranky moods, with no intention of putting his threat +into practice. + +"Why should we send anything to country families?" her father asked +her. "They earn good money, and why should we help them?" + +"But there are some very poor families," Lois replied, "and I know they +can hardly make a living. There is Mrs. Bean, for instance. She +hasn't the bare necessities of life at times, and a present this +Christmas would be a blessing to her." + +"I can't help that," Mr. Sinclair angrily retorted. "It's none of my +business if she is poor. Where would we be, I'd like to know, if we +handed out to such people? Why, there are thousands of them." + +It was in no happy frame of mind that Mr. Sinclair left the house and +made his way down town. Reaching his office, he seated himself before +his desk and spread out a somewhat soiled piece of paper. Over this he +ran his finger until it stopped at a certain mark. "Camp Number One," +he muttered. "Ha, ha! good timber there, and close to the line, too. +Camp Number Two--much nearer the line," and his finger moved over the +paper to another mark. "Camp Number Three, and over the border into +the enemy's country, ha, ha! Good for five thousand. Pine timber, +straight and clean as masts, and thick as hair on a dog's back. How +they'll squirm, those country clogs, when they see their good logs +floating down the river. But they're mine. The new line is right, for +the best surveyor in the Province ran it. Fifty rods inside the old +one, ha, ha! I expect they'll make a fuss and put up a big kick. But +I'll fight them, and then we'll see what money will do." + +A knock sounded upon the door, and three men entered with hats in their +hands. + +"Mr. Sinclair, I believe," the spokesman began. + +"Yes, that's my name, and what can I do for you?" the lumberman replied. + +"Well, you see," continued the other, "we've come to the city on +purpose to have a talk with you about that line you had run between +your land and ours." + +"Well, and what about it?" snapped Sinclair. + +"We've been appointed a committee to inform you that your men are +cutting logs over the line, and are encroaching on the shore lots. +They began day before yesterday." + +"What, the men of Camp Number Three?" + +"Yes." + +"But that timber is mine," Sinclair replied. "I sent a surveyor there +last summer and he found that the old line was wrong. A new one was +run which gives me fifty rods off the rear of your shore lots." + +"There must be some mistake, Mr. Sinclair," the countryman calmly +returned. "Our forefathers received their lands as grants from the +Crown after the Revolutionary War. A line was then run which separated +the shore lots from that portion of land known as the 'Dinsmore Manor,' +and there has been no dispute over it until now." + +"Look here!" and Sinclair sprang to his feet. "I know my business and +attend to it. You attend to yours. The new line is right and, by +heavens, I'll stick to it!" + +"We are attending to our business," the countryman replied, "and we'll +show you, wealthy though you are, that you can't work any bluff game on +us. But," and here he lowered his voice, "Mr. Sinclair, we don't want +to quarrel. We came chiefly to tell you that your men in Camp Number +Three are cutting the logs on the farm of a poor widow with several +children. If you are a man of any heart you will see that the work is +stopped at once." + +"What, cease for a widow and her brood? Never! There is the Poor +House--let her go there; and the Orphanage is the place for the kids if +they are not old enough to work. Such people only injure a settlement, +and you should be glad to be rid of them. So, gentlemen, as I have +much business on hand, I wish to be alone." + +"And you will do nothing to help that poor woman?" the three men asked +as one. + +"No, nothing. Do your best. If you wish to lose your farms, go ahead. +Good day." + +Christmas came on Thursday, and on Tuesday morning Mr. Sinclair +informed Lois that he was going away and would not be back until the +end of the week. It was during breakfast that he told her this, and +Lois paused in the act of pouring his coffee. + +"And you'll not be here for Christmas?" she asked in surprise. + +"No. Christmas means nothing to me. I intend to visit my camps. I +should have gone before, as no doubt the men are loafing. I am going +to surprise them. They'll never expect to see me at this season of the +year. The men'll want to take three days off, and I can't allow it. +They always come back unfitted for work after their celebrations. +They'll do nothing of the kind this year if they expect to work for me." + +Lois knew only too well how useless it was to try to reason with her +father when he had once made up his mind. She had learned from bitter +experience in the past that the less she said the better it would be. +Nevertheless, her heart was very sad at the change that had come over +her father. Never before had he gone away fit Christmas time, and it +was the one day in the year when he was more pleasant than usual. What +would be the outcome of it all? she wondered. + +That very morning as soon as breakfast was over Mr. Sinclair left for +the scenes of his lumbering operations, about fifty miles from the +city. He travelled with a horse and sleigh, and on the second day he +reached Camp Number Two shortly after the men had finished their +mid-day meal and were starting back to their work. No sooner had +Sinclair entered the cabin than his eyes fell upon a man lying in one +of the bunks. + +"Hello, Stevens," he called to the foreman, "who is this taking life so +easy, when the rest of us are struggling for our daily bread?" + +"Oh, that is Robins, one of our best men," was the reply. "He took +sick this morning, and I would have sent him to the shore at once only +to-morrow will be Christmas Day and I thought he could wait until +to-night when the teams will be going out, and----" + +"Going out! Going out, are they?" Sinclair interrupted. "And who gave +orders to quit on Christmas Day, I'd like to know?" + +"We always quit on that day, sir," Stevens stammered. "It's been the +custom for years, and I took it for granted----" + +"Yes, that's just the trouble. You take too many things for granted. +But I tell you this, Christmas is all nonsense. It breaks up the work, +and the hauling season is none too long at the best. I'll have none of +it. You'll work or quit, and that's the end of it." + +"But what about Robins?" questioned the foreman, whose thoughts were +travelling away to a little group of bright faces anxiously awaiting +his home-coming for a jolly Christmas. + +"Isn't there any spare team?" Sinclair asked. + +"None to spare, sir. We've only the bob-sleds, and they're not much +for a sick man to ride on. But," he added after a pause, "we were +going to fix up something to-night, sir." + +"Confound it all!" Sinclair exclaimed. "What are we going to do? I +can't afford to let a double team go, and besides, it would mean a loss +of two days. Let me see. How far is it to Camp Number Three?" + +"Three miles if you go by way of the cut-off, but four if you go +around. The cut-off hasn't been used much by the teams this winter, +and it is little more than a foot-path." + +"How far is it to the cut-off?" Sinclair asked. + +"About two miles." + +"Well, look here, Stevens. You drive me to that cut-off, and then get +some one to take that sick fellow out with my rig. I'll walk the rest +of the way to the camp, and stay there till you come for me." + +When the cut-off had been reached, Sinclair started off on a brisk walk +in the keen frosty air. He even felt quite young and cheerful as he +moved forward. But the trail was rough, and his coat was very heavy, +so after walking for some time he began to feel weary. + +"This is a long trail," he muttered. "Confound that sick man! What +business had he getting laid up and causing all this trouble." + +Hardly had the words left his mouth before his foot struck the stump of +a small tree, and with a cry of pain he sank upon the snow. Recovering +himself he tried to walk, but so great was the agony when his right +foot touched the trail that he groaned aloud. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +CHRISTMAS EVE + +Peter Sinclair was now in a serious predicament. Fortune had favoured +him so long that to be thus blocked by a mean little stump was too much +for his excitable nature. He raged and railed against everything and +everybody in general. But the tall stately trees were silent witnesses +to his passionate outbursts, and poor sympathisers. When sober +thoughts at length came to him, he began to realise the seriousness of +his position. Out of hearing of the camp, on a trail seldom travelled; +a sprained ankle; the short December day closing down, and the unknown +terrors of the lone forest. The perspiration stood out in beads upon +his forehead as he viewed the situation. + +At last he started to limp along the trail, but at every step he +staggered into the snow and fell heavily forward. He tried to crawl, +but so slow was his progress and so weary did he become that this was +soon abandoned. And there he lay, thinking as he had never thought +before. His business was forgotten, and several times he remembered +the sick man lying in the bunk at Camp Number Two. And all this time +the sun sank lower to rest, and long shadows stole among the great +trees like fearful monsters creeping upon him. He became cold, too, +and his body shivered, while his teeth chattered incessantly. + +When it seemed to him that he had lain there on the snow for hours, he +heard a noise, and looking along the trail he saw a little red dog +bounding straight toward him. How often had he spurned just such a cur +with his foot, on the city streets, but never did any creature seem so +good to Sinclair as did that lean canine specimen before him. + +"Good doggie," he called. "Come here, doggie." + +But the animal remained at a safe distance, barking furiously, at the +same time casting glances back along the trail as if expecting some one +from that quarter. Soon a sturdy figure appeared in sight with a +rabbit over his shoulder. He stopped in amazement at the scene before +him, unable to comprehend its meaning. + +"Come here, sonny," Sinclair called out, fearing the boy would take +fright and disappear. + +But the lad stood perfectly still as if turned to stone. + +"For heaven's sake!" Sinclair continued, "come and help a poor stricken +man who can't walk." + +At this appeal the boy drew nearer, and seeing that it was only a man +lying in the snow, the startled expression faded from his face. + +"What's the matter, and watcher want?" he asked. + +"I've sprained my ankle and can't walk," was the reply. "Is there any +house near? Can't you bring some one to help me?" + +At this the lad became electrified into new life. His senses returned, +and he grasped the situation in an instant. + +"Gee whiz!" he exclaimed. "Mighty lucky I came to my rabbit snares +to-night instead of t'morrer. Y'see, that's Christmas Day, and we +don't do no work then." + +"Lucky for me you came to-night, my boy," Sinclair replied, and then he +remembered how he had denounced the day but a short time before. "But +I can't stay in this place all night. Can't you get somebody to help +me?" + +"Y'bet," the boy responded. "Buck and Bright'll help y'outer this fix. +Jes' wait a minute." + +At this he hurried away, and although he was gone not much over half an +hour it seemed to Sinclair like an age before "Haw, Buck! G'up, +Bright! Git up thar!" sounded upon his ears. + +Presently he beheld the forms of two panting steers, plunging and +wallowing through the snow, each crowding the other in an endeavour to +maintain the firm footing on the narrow trail. When they caught sight +of the dark object lying before them, they stopped, sniffed the air, +and bolted to the right. But the boy with considerable skill, the +result of long practice, wheeled them about, and after much shouting +and exertion headed them homeward. + +"Hi, thar!" he called to the prostrate man. "Kin ye manage t'git to +th' sled? These steers is mighty scart, and I must stan' by an' hold +'em." + +With a great effort Sinclair began to crawl slowly along the trail, and +when about exhausted reached the sled. + +"Hol' on now," the boy ordered, as he cracked his whip and the steers +started forward. It was a rough trip, over knolls, striking stumps +here and there, and squeezing between trees, when the sled had to be +freed by much twisting and manoeuvring; but Sinclair thought it the +best ride he had ever taken. + +"Mother's lookin' fer y'," remarked the lad, when they had finally +gained the good road. "She's got the best sofy out, an' was warmin' +things up when I left." + +Sinclair made no reply. He was cold, stiff, and too much exhausted to +enter into conversation. Not until he was stretched out on the big +cosy sofa in front of the cheerful fire, after his sprained ankle had +been bathed and well rubbed, did he become talkative. + +"My good woman," he began, "how can I ever repay you for your great +kindness?" + +"Oh, that's nothing," she returned with a cheerful smile. "I'm so glad +Stephen went to his snares to-night. It's Christmas Eve, you see, and +though I'm sorry you're hurt, yet it's nice to have some one with me +and the children. It's very lonely here sometimes, and," she added +after a pause, "he was here last Christmas. But," she quickly +continued, afraid she had said too much to a stranger, "I hope you feel +more comfortable now, sir." + +"Oh, yes," Sinclair replied. "My foot is quite easy: But would you +mind making me a cup of hot tea? I feel so chilly, and the tea will do +me a world of good. It always helps me." + +As he uttered these words a change passed over the woman's face, which +Sinclair was not slow to observe. + +"Never mind," he hastened to remark. "I don't wish to trouble you." + +"Dear me, sir, it's not that," the woman replied, somewhat confused, as +she sat down upon a splint-bottom chair, and plucked at her apron. +"It's not the trouble I mind; it's something else. You see, it's +this," she continued, while a flush passed over her care-worn face. +"He left us last February, after one month's illness, and what with the +doctor's bills and funeral expenses it was hard scraping. We tried our +best to get along, and ploughed and sowed last spring. But it was a +bad year for us. The frost destroyed our buckwheat and potatoes when +they were just in blossom; a fine cow died, and the foxes killed our +geese and turkeys. But we had our logs, and we always felt that we +could fall back on them if the worst came. Then just as we had made up +our minds to sell a strip to that new Light and Power Company another +blow fell." + +"What was that?" Sinclair quickly asked, as a new light dawned upon his +mind. + +"It was a letter, sir, that I received from Mr. Sinclair, the manager +of the city Light and Power Company, and who does a big lumbering +business besides. He told me that a new line had been run by a +surveyor between the shore lots and the old Dinsmore Manor, and that +all of those logs which I had hoped to sell belong to him. He warned +me not to sell or cut one, as he would prosecute me at once if I did. +His men have already begun work, and I am helpless to stop them. It is +no use for me to go to law as I have no money, and it takes money to +fight a man like that. Would you like to see the letter, sir?" + +"No, no," Sinclair hastily replied. "That man is a dev----. Excuse +me, madam, but I mean he is a hard man." + +"Well, you see," the woman continued, "things got so bad that we had to +give up every little luxury, and the few dollars we could make from +eggs and butter went for flour, clothing and taxes. Tea we found too +expensive, and it was given up. That is the reason why I can't give +you any to-night, sir. And the poor children are so disappointed. +Never before were they without presents at Christmas time. But this +year----" Here the woman stopped and put her apron to her face. It +was for only an instant, however, for quickly removing it she +continued: "But gracious me! here I've been bothering you with my long +tale of woe, when you, poor man, have troubles enough of your own. I +have some fresh bread, butter, milk and preserves, which you shall have +at once," and the little woman bustled away, leaving Sinclair alone +with his thoughts. + +"Isn't it about time the mailman was along?" the mother asked that +evening, after the chores had been done, and the children were sitting +quietly in the room for fear of waking the stranger who had fallen +asleep upon the sofa. + +"I believe I hear his bells now!" Stephen cried, as he rushed to the +door. Presently he came running back, his face aglow with excitement. +"A bundle, Mother!" he shouted. "A big bundle! Come and help me." + +The confusion thus made awakened Sinclair, who opened his eyes just in +time to see a good-sized bundle carried into the room, securely bound +with stout cords. + +"There must be some mistake," exclaimed the surprised woman to the +mailman who had entered. + +"No, mum," he replied. "It's yours all right. I found it at the shore +where a freightin' team left it. I don't generally carry such things. +But says I to myself, 'That's fer Widder Bean, and she's goin' to have +it to-night if Tim Harking knows anything.' So thar 'tis. I must be +off now. A merry Christmas to ye all," and with that the big-hearted +man hurried away. + +"Dear me!" cried Mrs. Bean. "What can it be, and who could have sent +it?" + +"Let's open it, mother," Steve suggested. "Mebbe we'll find out then." + +Together they all set to work, and after much tugging and labour the +knots were loosened and the bundle fell apart. + +Then what a sight met their eyes. Clothes of various sizes and quality +were neatly piled together; complete suits for the boys; dresses for +Betty and Dora, and another for their mother, besides a good supply of +underwear for the whole family. + +"Well, bless my heart!" Mrs. Bean exclaimed. "Who in the world has +done this? There must be some mis----" + +"A doll!" shrieked Dora. + +"A knife!" yelled Stephen, as he seized the precious treasure, felt its +keen edge and examined the handle. + +Then a paper fluttered out of the bundle and fell on the floor at Mrs. +Bean's feet. As she picked it up and read the contents, a light broke +over her puzzled face, and her hand trembled. + +"What's the matter, Mother?" Jimmy asked, noting her agitation. + +"Nothing, my boy," she replied. "Only I'm so overcome at the good Lord +giving us such kind friends on this Christmas Eve. This is such a +lovely letter from Miss Sinclair, and she says that all these things +are from the Helping Hand Society of St. Saviour's Church. Isn't it +good of them?" + +A groan from the sofa startled her. + +"Is your ankle worse, sir?" she enquired, going to the side of the +afflicted man. + +"Y-y-es," Sinclair replied; "but I feel better now. I didn't mean to +disturb you." + +"And look here!" Stephen cried, who had at length reached the bottom of +the bundle. "Well, I declare! Two packages of Red Rose tea! Hurrah! +Now we kin have some fer Christmas." + +"And you, poor man," she said turning to Sinclair, "shall have a good +strong cup just as soon as I can make it. It seems to me I must be +dreaming," and the excited woman bustled off to the kitchen. + +"Fool! fool!" Sinclair mused to himself as he sipped the delicious +beverage. "I thought such gifts went only to rogues and lazy rascals. +I was wrong. And yet, some of that tea has reached one of the biggest +fools and rogues in the whole country, and that is Peter Sinclair." + +"And now, children," said Mrs. Bean, when the excitement of the evening +had somewhat subsided, "it's getting late. Let's have a Christmas +hymn, and then Dora must go to bed. You don't mind, sir, I hope. We +always sing several hymns on Christmas eve, and last year he was here +to start them, for he had a good voice." + +"Oh, no," Sinclair replied. "I don't mind, so go ahead." + +The mother started and all joined in; and as the words of "Hark the +Herald Angels Sing" floated forth, old memories came drifting into the +mind of the silent listener on the sofa. He forgot for a time his +surroundings and saw only the little parish church, of his boyhood +days, decked with fresh bright evergreens, and heard the choir singing +the familiar carols. Several faces stood forth in clear relief; his +parents', honest and careworn; his rector's, transfigured with a holy +light; and one, fresh and fair, encircled by a wreath of light-brown +tresses. + +He came to himself with a start, thinking the choir was singing "Glory +to the New-Born King," when it was only the little group at his side +finishing their hymn. Tears were stealing down his cheeks, which he +quickly brushed away, lest his emotion should be observed. + +That night, when the house was quiet, Sinclair drew forth a small +note-book and wrote a few lines to the foreman of Camp Number Three. +"Send word to the other camps as quickly as possible, and tell the men +they need not come back till next Monday." He then brought forth a +thin book and made out a cheque for no small amount, payable to Mrs. +Bean on account. + +Little did Peter Sinclair realise that the letter written to the +foreman would never reach its destination, and that months would pass +before the cheque would be presented for payment. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE NIGHT SUMMONS + +All through the fall and winter Jasper had been very busy. The +planning of the work, the overseeing of the men and ordering the +supplies rested upon him alone. He felt the responsibility, and he was +determined that as far as he was concerned the company should not be +disappointed in the amount of logs cut and hauled to the large "brow" +near the falls. He left the woods only when it was absolutely +necessary for him to do so. Several times he was tempted to drive to +the city when new supplies were needed instead of ordering them over +the telephone from Creekdale. He longed to see Lois, even for a few +minutes. Such a visit, no matter how brief, would be an inspiration to +him in his arduous work. But he had always resisted the temptation, +however, and had remained firmly at his post. His desire to see her +and to listen to her voice was great. But he dreaded the idea of +presenting himself at her home when she might have company, and he +would feel so much out of place in their presence. It might embarrass +Lois as well, so he reasoned, and it would be better for him not to go. + +As Christmas drew near the men began to talk much about going home. +Jasper listened to them but took no part in the conversation. All of +the men had homes to go to. Most of them were married, and were +looking forward with eagerness to the holiday with their families. But +to Jasper the season brought little joy. No one was expecting him, and +no face would brighten at his home-coming. There was only one place +where he longed to go, and one person he desired to see. If he could +but feel that her eyes would sparkle and her heart beat with joy at his +presence, he would not have hesitated a moment. But he was not sure, +and so he decided to remain in camp and keep watch over the supplies +while the rest went home. If Christmas Day should be fine, he planned +to pay a visit to old David in the afternoon. He might hear something +about Lois from the Petersons, so he thought, and that would be some +comfort. + +Jasper lived in a small snug log cabin which he had built for his own +special use. He wished to be alone as much as possible each night that +he might think over the work for the next day, and also have quietness +for reading. He had supplied himself with a number of books, and these +were placed on a small shelf fastened to the wall. So long had he been +denied the privilege of good literature that he now came to the feast +like a starving man. Hitherto, his mind had craved only solid works of +the masters. But of late he had turned his attention more to books of +romance, for in them he could find more heart satisfaction than in the +others. How he revelled in the outstanding characters of Dickens, +Scott, Thackeray and Kingsley. But it remained for Charles Reed to +completely captivate him in "The Cloister and the Hearth." + +He was reading it this Christmas Eve as he lay stretched out upon his +cot. The lamp was at his head and the camp stove was sending out its +genial heat. It was a scene of peace and comfort. But Jasper thought +nothing of his surroundings as he lay there, for he was lost in the +tragic story of Gerard and Margaret. Nothing had ever moved him as +much as the sad tale of these two unfortunate lovers. His disengaged +right hand often clenched hard as he read of the contemptible ones who +plotted to separate them. But how Margaret appealed to him. What +strength of character was hers, and how true and unselfish was her love +through long, trying years. + +At length, laying aside the book, he began to meditate upon what he +would do under like circumstances, if Lois' love for him were as deep +as that of Margaret for Gerard. He blamed Gerard for what he +considered weakness on his part. Why did he not arouse himself and +throw off the shackles which bound him? What right had any Church to +separate two loving ones, and make their young lives so miserable? + +While thus musing Jasper fell asleep. He was awakened by a loud +rapping upon the door. With no idea what time it was he sprang to his +feet, hurried across the room and threw open the door. As he did so he +saw a young lad standing before him. His face was flushed and he was +panting heavily as if from a long run. + +"Hello! Who are you? And what do you want here at this time of the +night?" Jasper demanded. + +"I'm Steve Bean, Betty's brother," the boy replied as he stepped +briskly into the cabin. "My, that was a hard run!" he added. "I left +home jist a quarter to twelve an' I don't think I've been over twenty +minutes comin'." + +"Is it that late?" Jasper asked in surprise, as he drew forth his +watch. "Why, it's half-past twelve! I didn't think I was asleep that +long. But, say, boy, what do you want at this time of the night?" + +"I want ye to go fer the doctor as quick as ye can." + +"Go for the doctor!" Jasper gasped. "Who's sick? Your mother?" + +"Oh, no; she's all right. But there's a man at our place who is pretty +bad, I guess. I found him last night on that old cut-off when I was +visitin' my snares. He had a sprained ankle, an' couldn't walk. I got +the steers and toted him to our place. Guess he got a bad cold while +he was layin' there in the snow, fer he took awful sick in the night +with chills, an' ma's afraid he'll die. She kept Jimmy to help her an' +sent me to git you to fetch the doctor." + +"But why didn't you get one of your nearby neighbours to go?" Jasper +enquired. "You have lost valuable time already." + +"H'm, I guess you don't know our neighbours. They're kind enough an' +would do all they could. But their horses are about as slow as oxen. +So ma says, 'Steve, you jist hustle fer Mr. Jasper. He's got a horse +that goes like a streak of lightin'. He'll go all right when ye tell +him you're Betty's brother.' So I took the short-cut through the +woods, an' here I am. Will ye go?" + +"Sure," Jasper replied as he reached for his coat and hat. "But who is +that man? And where did he come from?" + +"I don't know; never saw him before. He's quite oldish, though." + +"Didn't your mother ask him what he was doing there alone in the woods?" + +"No; she didn't like to ask him. She thought maybe he was goin' to +Camp Number Three, which is not far from our house, an' on our land, +too." + +Jasper paused in the act of lighting the lantern and looked into +Steve's face. + +"Why, didn't you go there for help?" he asked. + +"What! go to them skunks fer help?" and the boy clenched his fists. +"Never! They're stealin' our logs an' we can't do nothin'. De'ye +think we'd ask old Pete Sinclair's men to do anything fer us? We'd die +first. Jimmy an' me's been waitin' fer some time fer old Pete to come +our way. An' when he does----" Steve's clenched right fist shooting +out straight before him supplied his lack of suitable words to express +the depth of his feelings. + +An idea suddenly flashed into Jasper's mind with a startling intensity. + +"What does that man look like?" he demanded in a voice which surprised +the boy. + +"Oh, he's somewhat oldish, as I told ye; rather thick-set; has a heavy +moustache, an' looks as if he has always had plenty of good things to +eat. I don't know as I can tell ye much more about him." + +Jasper had blown out the lamp and opened the door before Steve had +finished speaking. He was now very impatient to be away. There was +only one man, he felt quite sure, who would be prowling along that +lonely trail on a Christmas Eve, and that man would be Peter Sinclair. +It was of Lois he thought and not the sick man as he hurried to the +stable, harnessed Pedro, and made him fast to the sleigh. + +"You go back home, Steve," he ordered, "and tell your mother that I +have gone for the doctor." + +Pedro did not like the idea of being taken out of his warm stable at +such an hour of the night. But when once upon the firm road he gave +his noble head a toss and sped along at a fast clip. He had not been +driven much of late and was in excellent form. It was a clear +star-light night, with not a breath of wind astir. Jasper not only +enjoyed the ride in the bracing air behind such a fast horse, but the +feeling that he was doing it for Lois' sake filled him with +satisfaction. How he longed to speed straight to her with the message. +But, no, that would not do. Her father, he believed, was in need and +must be cared for first. + +It took him somewhat over an hour to reach the doctor's house and to +arouse him from sleep. The latter was in no enviable frame of mind +when he had admitted Jasper and learned the object of his visit. + +"Confound it all!" he growled. "What do people mean by getting sick in +the night! Why don't they take the day for it! But I don't see how I +can go now. My horse threw a shoe coming home last night, and I +wouldn't think of putting her on the road without being properly shod." + +"I'll drive you there," Jasper replied, "and bring you back as well. +But we must have you to-night, and at once. If he is the man I think +he is, you will not regret going." + +"Who is he? Any one I know?" the doctor queried, now somewhat +interested. + +"Yes, you know him. But I shall not mention his name until I am +certain. Will you come?" + +"Oh, yes, I suppose so," the doctor replied as he moved wearily away to +get ready for the journey. "I have had so many night calls of late +that I am tired out, and was hoping to have a good rest, especially on +Christmas Day." + +In less than half an hour Pedro was again bounding nimbly over the +road, this time headed straight for Mrs. Bean's ten miles off. Jasper +believed that the doctor slept most of the way for he never uttered a +word from the time they started until they drew up before Mrs. Bean's +house. + +The sound of the bells brought Jimmy to the door, and asking him to +stable Pedro and give him something to eat, Jasper accompanied the +doctor. He was anxious to find out as soon as possible whether his +surmise was correct about the sick man. If so, he had his mind all +made up what he would do, and there was no time to be lost. + +Mrs. Bean was waiting at the door to receive them, and led the way at +once into the little sitting room which was warm and cosy. + +"Where's that man?" the doctor asked as he threw off his coat. "You +might have waited until morning before sending for me. It's no joke to +come so far on a cold night like this." + +"But I was afraid he would die, sir," Mrs. Bean replied. "He is a very +sick man. He's in there," and she pointed to a door which led from the +sitting room. + +After warming himself for a few minutes before the stove, the doctor +entered the small bedroom closely followed by Jasper. A shaded lamp +with the wick turned down stood on a little table by the side of the +bed. Though the light was dim, it was enough for Jasper to recognise +the man lying upon the bed. + +"You know who it is," he remarked in a low voice as he turned to the +doctor. + +"Good heavens! it's Peter Sinclair!" was the astonished exclamation. +"What in thunder is he doing here?" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE WILD NOR'EASTER + +Jasper did not remain long in the bedroom. There was nothing there +that he could do and he would be only in the way. He found Mrs. Bean +in the kitchen putting some wood in the stove. + +"Do you know who that sick man is?" he asked. + +"No, I have not the least idea," was the reply. "He is a stranger to +me, but that makes no difference. The Bible bids us to entertain +strangers for they may be angels unawares. Isn't that so?" + +"But the Bible doesn't say that they will all be good angels, does it? +Suppose the stranger you entertain should turn out to be your enemy, +for instance?" + +"Why, what do you mean?" and the widow looked her surprise. "How could +an angel be one's enemy?" + +"Doesn't the Bible speak about evil angels? If people were troubled +with them in olden days I guess affairs haven't changed much since. +Now, suppose the stranger you have entertained should be your enemy +unawares instead of your friend, what would you do?" + +"It wouldn't make any difference in my care of him," Mrs. Bean +emphatically replied. "I should do just as the Scripture tells me, 'If +thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so +doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.' That is what I +should do." + +"Well, I guess you'll feel like heaping on the coals, all right, when +you learn the name of your stranger. You had better get a shovelful +ready, for I am going to tell you." + +Mrs. Bean was busy setting the table for she knew how the men would +appreciate a cup of hot tea and some of her fresh homemade bread after +their long cold drive. She paused with a plate in her hand and looked +keenly at Jasper as he stood with his back to the stove. When he had +mentioned evil angels she thought that he was joking. But now +something told her that he was in earnest. Suddenly there flashed into +her mind an idea which made her heart thump. + +"There is only one person in the world who is my enemy, as far as I +know," she remarked. + +"The man who is stealing your logs, eh?" Jasper queried. + +"Yes. But surely he's not in there!" + +"Get your coals ready, Mrs. Bean," Jasper bantered. "You can use them +right away if you want to." + +Mrs. Bean paid no attention to these words. Her worn face grew a shade +paler and her hand shook as she laid the plate upon the table. Just +then the doctor entered the kitchen. + +"We must have a trained nurse at once," he began. "That's a very sick +man in there, Mrs. Bean, and he must have the greatest of care." + +"I shall do the best I can, sir," was the quiet reply. "No one shall +ever say of me that I didn't do my duty. I have tried to do it in the +past and shall try to do it still." + +"I know you will do what you can, Mrs. Bean," and the doctor's voice +was more gentle than usual, "but you must have assistance. No one +could expect you to look after the house and take care of such a sick +man as that. We must send to the city for a nurse at once." + +"What about Miss Sinclair?" Jasper asked. "She should be told of her +father's illness. I was planning to phone to her when we get hack to +Creekdale. She could arrange for a nurse to come by train, and I could +meet her at the station. This is Christmas Day and I'm afraid it will +be difficult to get a nurse to come on go short a notice. She would +have to come on the suburban this evening, though, as that will be the +only train she would be able to get." + +"Do the best you can," the doctor replied. "I shall stay here to-day. +It would not do for me to leave now until some one comes to help Mrs. +Bean." + +The sun was just rising above the far-off horizon as Jasper rode into +Creekdale. Not a breath of wind was astir, and the only signs of life +were the long wreathes of smoke circling up from numerous chimneys. +The village nestled on the side of a hill and thus met the sun's early +smile while the surrounding valleys were still draped in shadows. To +Jasper it seemed as if fairyland had burst suddenly upon his view after +his drive through the sombre forest. The snow sparkled like countless +diamonds and the white-robed trees stood bathed in glistening glory. +It was Nature's silent symphony in honour of the birthday of the great +Prince of Peace. + +The telephone was at the store and it did not take Jasper long to +arouse Andy Forbes and acquaint him with the object of his early visit. +The storekeeper was greatly interested in the news of Peter Sinclair's +illness. He knew that in a short time various rumours would be +circulating throughout the parish. But he would have exact information +and would be able to impress all by his hints of superior and +first-hand knowledge. + +It took Andy some time to get "Central" in the city, and longer still +to make connection with the Sinclair home, the number of which he had +found in the Telephone Directory. But at length his efforts were +rewarded and he handed the receiver to Jasper. + +"Guess it's her, all right," was his comment. "Her voice seems mighty +shaky as if she's scared most out of her wits." + +How far away seemed Lois' voice and how anxious the tone as before +Jasper had even time to explain she asked about her father. Then, as +briefly as possible, Jasper told what had happened to him, his illness, +and where he was. + +"We need a nurse at once," he said, "and if you can get one, send her +out on the suburban. I will meet her at the station." + +"She will be there," was the emphatic reply. "I know of one who will +go without fail. I thank you very much, Mr. Randall, for all your +kindness to my father." + +Leaving the store Jasper made straight for the Haven where he received +a royal welcome. Early though it was they were all astir for a +wonderful Christmas tree had been prepared the day before, and there it +stood loaded with presents. + +"We had it for Betty," Mrs. Peterson explained, though it was quite +evident that she and the captain as well as David were as much pleased +as the girl. + +Besides the presents from one another there was something for each one +from Lois. As Jasper watched them unwrap their gifts and listened to +Betty's exclamations of delight, a slight feeling of jealousy stole +into his heart. He was the only one there beyond the orbit of Lois' +circle of remembrance. He was well aware that he had no reason to +expect anything, and yet how much any little token would have meant to +him, for it would have told him that she had not forgotten him. + +"Wasn't it kind of Miss Lois to send these lovely presents," Betty +exclaimed, after she had examined everything most carefully. "And +there's something for you, too, Mr. Jasper," she added. "I kept it +till the last," and a merry twinkle shone in her eyes as she handed him +a neatly-tied package. + +"Why, who sent me this?" Jasper asked in surprise. + +"Miss Lois, of course. She knew that you would be here to-day, and she +asked me to give it to you when you came. This tree is her idea, you +see. We would never have thought about it but for her. Isn't she +great!" + +Jasper took the package in his hands and held it there like a big +awkward school boy. He could not trust himself to speak lest he should +betray his feelings. He longed to be away in the quietness of his own +cabin that he might open his treasure and that no eyes but his might +look upon the gift. But Betty knew nothing of such thoughts. + +"Open it, Mr. Jasper," she ordered, "I know you'll be surprised." + +Slowly and carefully Jasper untied the red ribbon and opened out the +paper wrapping. As he did so there came forth a grey woollen +well-knitted muffler. + +"Isn't it lovely!" Betty exclaimed as Jasper stood holding it in his +hands staring hard upon it. "And I saw Miss Lois begin it herself just +before she left for the city. She asked me what I thought you would +like for a Christmas present, and I told her that you should have a +muffler to keep your throat warm on cold days. She thought maybe you +would rather have a book, but when I told her that you could buy books, +but not a muffler like she could make, she said that perhaps I was +right. Let me see what it looks like on you, for I must write and tell +her all about it." + +Before this torrent of words Jasper was as helpless as a child. He +allowed Betty to unfold the muffler and wrap it carefully about his +neck. + +"There, isn't that fine, Mrs. Peterson?" she asked. "Mr. Jasper won't +get cold now in his throat, will he?" + +"I have never worn such a thing in my life," Jasper managed to explain. +"What shall I do with it? I couldn't wear that in the woods." + +"Oh, but you might need it, Mr. Jasper," Betty insisted. "Anyway, if +you don't wear it Miss Lois will be so disappointed. She knit every +bit of it with her own fingers, for she told me so. You should wear it +because of that if for no other reason." + +Jasper made no reply, but taking off the muffler folded it up and laid +it upon the table. In fact, he hardly knew what he was doing so full +of happiness was his heart. It was fortunate that just then Mrs. +Peterson announced that breakfast was ready, for it changed the topic +of conversation and gave him time to think it all over. + +What a day that was at the Haven! There were so many things to talk +about and such a number of questions to be asked and answered that the +time sped by all too quickly. David was in excellent spirits, for he +learned of the progress the men were making in the woods. Jasper +heard, as well, about Lois, and Betty showed him several letters she +had received from her. In every one she told of her longing for the +spring that she might return to Creekdale. + +When Jasper left the Haven he noticed how the weather had changed. The +brightness of the day had passed and the sky was a mackerel grey. The +wind, drifting in from the northeast, hummed a weird prelude to the +coming storm upon the telephone wires stretched along the road. + +The journey to the station was a pleasant one, for Pedro, after his +rest, swung along at a swift clip. The wind was in their backs and the +snow had not begun to fall. Jasper realised that the storm would not +hold off much longer, and he wondered how the nurse would mind facing +it for fifteen miles to Mrs. Bean's. The muffler that Lois had given +him he was wearing. Betty had put it there before he left the Haven +with the strict instruction to wear it, because if he didn't Miss Lois +would feel badly. Never had he received any present which he valued +more highly than this. And to think that Lois made it herself, +especially for him, and that it had been so often in her hands. He was +almost like a man beside himself as he thought of this, and several +times his lips pressed the muffler in the fervency of his emotion. + +Reaching the station he had half an hour to spare before the train +would arrive. This gave him an opportunity to give Pedro a feed of +oats in a nearby stable, for he well knew that a severe battle was +ahead of him. Already the storm had set in, gentle at first but +increasing in intensity as the afternoon waned. It was snowing hard by +the time the train surged up to the station, and as Jasper waited for +the passengers to alight he wondered whether it would be advisable to +face the tempest on such a night and in the teeth of so furious a storm. + +As the passengers came forth what was his surprise to see not a +stranger as he had expected but Lois Sinclair. Scarcely had she +stepped upon the platform ere Jasper hurried forward. Her face +brightened when she saw him and she reached out her gloved hand. + +"How is my father?" was her first question. "I have been so uneasy +about him." + +As they walked along the platform Jasper told her all he could about +the sick man, and how the doctor was staying with him, to assist Mrs. +Bean until the nurse arrived. + +"I little expected to see you," he added, "I am afraid it will be a +terrible drive in the face of this storm. But if we wait until morning +the roads will be so blocked that we may not be able to get there for +several days." + +"Let us go to-night," Lois replied. "I can stand the storm, but it is +a great pity to give you so much trouble. How far is it?" + +"About fifteen miles. You get good and warm in the waiting-room while +I go for Pedro. Wrap yourself up well before we start." + +In about a quarter of an hour they had left the station and Pedro was +speeding up the road with long swinging strides. So far but little +snow had fallen to interfere with the travelling, and they made +excellent progress. But after they had been on the way for about an +hour Pedro was forced to slow down and walk most of the time. Drifts +were forming across the road and the snow was blinding. At times they +obtained considerable shelter from stretches of woods they passed +through. But out in the open the tempest struck them with full force, +blotting out everything from view. + +But notwithstanding the discomforts of the journey, Jasper was +supremely happy. For a few brief hours this beautiful woman by his +side was his, and he was her guide and protector. The unexpected had +happened and come what might he would always look back upon this drive +as one of the happiest times in his life. + +Lois, too, enjoyed the drive. She was content to sit there and to feel +Jasper's strength by her side, as he guided Pedro through the night. +Owing to the storm there was very little conversation. But it was not +necessary. They were happy in each other's presence and words were not +needed. + +The farther they went the heavier became the roads and the more violent +the storm. It was cold as well, and once a shiver shook Lois' body, +which Jasper was quick to notice. + +"Are you cold?" he asked. "I have an extra rug. Let me wrap it around +you." + +Carefully as if she had been a child, Jasper placed the rug about Lois' +shoulders and over her head. Then, taking off the precious muffler he +folded it about her body in such a way as to hold the rug in place and +thus form a complete shelter from the driving storm. This +accomplished, he reached over and drew the sleigh-robe around her body. +It was but natural that his arm should remain around her for a while +that the robe might be kept in place. Their heads, too, drew closer +together. Perhaps it was the storm which caused this movement, for it +was difficult to face the tempest. It was merely an incident in their +young lives, and yet it caused their hearts to beat faster and their +faces to flush, the memory of which they would ever cherish. How easy +then it would have been for Jasper to give voice to the promptings of +his heart. He felt that Lois cared for him and would respond to his +love. But just when he might have spoken Pedro plunged into the ditch, +and it took all of his master's attention to get him back on the road +without upsetting the sleigh. + +"We nearly went over that time," Jasper remarked. Then they both +laughed. Why they did so they alone knew. But from that moment they +understood each other better than ever before. + +It was a hard struggle Pedro put up that night as mile after mile he +crept onward. The froth flew from his champing mouth and the vapour +rose from his steaming body. The footing was uncertain, the snow deep, +and the driving storm almost blinded him. But never for an instant did +he hesitate or show the least sign of discouragement. He seemed to +realise how much depended upon his exertions this night, and he felt +bound to do his utmost. His master held the reins and in his judgment +he had perfect confidence, and for him he would have expended the last +ounce of his marvellous strength. Nevertheless, his eyes brightened +and his weary steps quickened when at length he saw the lights from +Mrs. Bean's house struggling faintly through the night. With a sudden +spurt he dashed through the gateway and surged proudly up to the door +like a hero who had fought a hard battle and had won. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +DEVELOPMENTS + +Lois was destined to remain at Mrs. Bean's during January and February. +She camped, as she called it, in the room next to the small one +occupied by her father, and thus she was always near to wait upon him +day or night. Mr. Sinclair's recovery was slow, and at first the +doctor almost despaired of his life. It was a bad case of pneumonia +brought on by his becoming over-heated while walking along the cut-out, +and then getting chilled to the bone lying on the snow. To Lois it was +a most anxious time, and during the first two weeks she seldom went out +of the house. When at last her father was able to be left alone for a +while she spent an hour or so out of doors with Dora and Stephen. + +It was a wonderful winter to the Bean family. Never before had Mrs. +Bean known what it was to be free from the oppressing spectre of want. +No longer was she forced to worry about household supplies; neither was +it necessary for Steve to go to the store each week with his basket of +eggs and a few rolls of butter. He carried, instead, an order from +Lois, and Andy Forbes was only too willing to deliver the goods in +person instead of letting Steve carry them as hitherto. Jimmy was +working in the woods with Jasper, and every Saturday night he brought +his wages home to his mother. Thus the Bean household was well +supplied with sufficient food and the widow's heart was made glad. + +To some city people the life in a country house, especially in the +winter time, would have been very lonely and trying. But with Lois it +was different. She thoroughly enjoyed the change, and as soon as she +was able to leave her father alone for a few hours she would spend the +time out of doors with Dora and Stephen. To them she was a marvellous +woman, and they fairly worshipped her. What fun they had coasting down +the big hill over the firm crust, and what snow-houses they made when +the snow could be packed and moulded into any shape. But to Lois the +best enjoyment of all was to accompany Steve on his rounds to his +rabbit snares. The forest was a revelation to her. She knew it well +in summer, but nothing about its winter moods, such as the weird +silence of a frosty morning, broken only at times by the pistol-like +report from a distant tree. It startled her at first, and she stood +spell-bound listening to its reverberation up and down the long woody +reaches. + +"The frost does that," Steve explained. "I've heard our house do the +same thing on a cold night. Ma says it's drawin' the nails." + +Lois liked the woods best when a stiff wind was abroad. She enjoyed +hearing it roaring overhead, bending and twisting the tops of the +pointed trees. The forest then seemed to be alive, and not so +inanimate as on a cold frosty morning. It was more companionable in +such a mood, and it seemed to her like a wonderful organ with all the +stops out under the control of some mighty unseen master. It was a +pleasure to her to stand and listen to the varying sounds. But Steve +and Dora knew nothing of such feelings and kept her constantly on the +move. The tracks of the rabbits or those of a fox thrilled them far +more than Nature's mysterious melodies. + +It was a Saturday afternoon such as this that Lois was with Steve and +Dora on their regular rounds. They led her this day farther than usual +to some new snares that Steve had set. At length they came out upon +the trail leading from Mrs. Bean's to the falls, travelled chiefly by +Jimmy. Lois was standing on the path with Dora by her side waiting +until Steve had set one more snare in a good place he had spied. She +presented a picture of perfect health and beauty as she stood there, +with the rich blood mantling her face. Jasper was sure that he had +never seen any one so lovely as he appeared suddenly in sight around a +bend in the trail. He was walking fast with an axe over his shoulder, +but he stopped in his tracks when he saw Lois before him. At first he +was half tempted to turn back, lest his presence might not be desired. +He did not wish to have the appearance of spying upon those before him. +But before he had time to decide, Dora saw him. + +"Oh, look," she cried, "there is Mr. Jasper." + +Startled more than was her wont, Lois quickly turned and her eyes +rested upon the young man who was now hastening forward. + +"Pardon me," Jasper began, "I am so sorry that I have frightened you." + +"Oh, it is not as bad as that," Lois replied with a smile. "I was not +frightened, only startled. Anyway, we are glad to see you, for you +have deserted us of late." + +"It was not my fault, I assure you," Jasper explained. "We have been +so busy that I have had no time to come, though I sent Jimmy often, to +enquire about your father. I have had to go to the city every Saturday +since I saw you last and never got back until late Sunday night. The +company is pushing us hard, and now that the portable saw-mill has +arrived there is no let-up. To-day I was cruising the woods for some +special trees the company wants, and as I came so near I made up my +mind to drop in and see for myself how you are all making out." + +"And you will come and have tea with us?" Lois asked. + +"Yes, if I shall not be in the way. It will be a great change for me." + +"We shall be delighted to have you, and I know my father will be +pleased to see you, for he gets so lonely at times. He is sitting up +now, and likes to have some one to talk to. He has changed a great +deal since his illness." + +By this time Steve had finished setting his snare, and then they all +started homeward. It was quite an event to have a visitor, so Dora and +Steve rushed on ahead to tell their mother to set an extra place "fer +company." Lois and Jasper had no inclination to hurry. Their hearts +were happy in each other's company, and they walked slowly along the +trail not talking about anything in particular, and laughing when there +was really nothing to laugh about. + +Mr. Sinclair was sitting in a big, cosy chair before the fire as Lois +and Jasper entered the room. Notwithstanding the change that had come +over him and his desire for conversation, he looked upon his visitor +with a reserved suspicion. + +"You belong to that new company, eh?" he questioned. + +"Only as an employee," Jasper replied. "I am merely working for wages." + +"H'm, is that so? I thought you had an interest in the concern." + +"In a way I have. I am interested in getting out as many logs and +poles as I can this winter. But apart from that I am nothing as far as +the company goes." + +"But you know all about their plans, I suppose, and what they intend to +do?" + +"Oh, yes, I naturally understand that they intend to supply light and +power to the city and the surrounding country, but further than that I +know nothing." + +"Don't you know who compose the company?" + +"No, I have not the least idea." + +"Well, that's queer," and Sinclair shifted uneasily in his chair. +"Perhaps you can tell me, though, where Crazy David comes in? He seems +to be somewhat connected with the whole affair." + +"He supplied the plans, so I believe. They paid him, and made him +Honorary President of the company." + +"And so that's all you know about it?" + +"Certainly. The whole affair is as much of a mystery to me as it is to +you." + +"Confound it all!" and Sinclair stamped his right foot upon the floor. +"I'd like to know what's coming over people, anyway. Things are +getting so mysterious these days that I'm about crazy trying to puzzle +matters out." + +"Don't try, father, dear," Lois soothed, placing her arms about his +neck. "You must not make yourself worse by worrying over such things +now. Supper is all ready, and Mrs. Bean is waiting for us, so let us +forget all about such matters for the present." + +Jasper stayed for a while that evening, and before leaving he made +arrangements with Lois to take her to church in the morning, and then +they would stop at the Haven for dinner. That was the beginning of a +most delightful time for Lois and Jasper. Every fine Sunday he called +for her, and pleasant were the drives they had together. + +When Mr. Sinclair was well enough he moved with his daughter into his +own house. Lois and Betty had spent several days getting it in order +and thoroughly warmed. It was really a comfort to be here, and for the +first time he expressed his pleasure to Lois. + +"This is a comfort," and he gave a sigh of relief as he sat in a big +chair before a bright open fire. "How large and roomy this house seems +after living for so long at Mrs. Bean's. But she was good to us and I +hope you sent her that money." + +"For the logs on her place?" Lois asked. + +"Yes. I made out a cheque the night I took ill, but she never got it. +This new one is larger and will somewhat pay her for the trouble we +have been to her as well as for the logs." + +"I mailed it to-day, father, and Mrs. Bean should get it to-morrow." + +"That is good. I feel more contented now. But, see here, Lois, you +will be very lonely now with only me to talk to. Isn't there any one +who could come and visit us for a while? It might brighten us both up." + +"I expect Margaret," Lois replied. "She said she would be delighted to +come as soon as we moved into our own house. Dick, you know, will +bring her in the car just as soon as the roads are settled. It will be +so nice to have her." + +"Do you think Mr. Randall will forsake us now?" Mr. Sinclair asked. + +"Why, what makes you think that he will?" Lois replied. + +"I was afraid he might, that's all. I like that young man. But he has +peculiar ideas, and will not go where he thinks he is not wanted." + +Lois did not reply to these words. She was sitting by her father's +side sewing, and she went on calmly with her work. But she was +thinking of the great change that had come over her father since his +illness. He was so gentle and considerate, and was more companionable +than she had ever known him to be. It caused her great joy of heart, +and she was so thankful now that she had not left him when he had made +life so miserable for her. She was thankful as well that he liked +Jasper and welcomed his visits to the house. She, too, had wondered if +he would come as often as he did to Mrs. Bean's. When Margaret arrived +he might think that he was not needed and would stay away. + +Jasper, however, did not stay away. He came as often as before, even +after Margaret arrived. He now believed that Lois cared for him and +looked forward with pleasure to his visits. Never before had the +Sundays seemed so far apart. She was his inspiration in all that he +did and she was ever in his mind throughout the week. How delightful +it was to listen to her playing upon the piano, and then when she and +Margaret sang, as they did so well together, it seemed to him as if +heaven had opened and poured upon him its greatest joys. His past +trials were all forgotten, and he did not worry about the future. + +One balmy spring Sunday evening they were all gathered around the piano +as usual singing several of their favourite hymns. Lois was playing, +and the soft light from the shaded lamp fell upon her face. Jasper +standing near thought he had never seen her look so beautiful. It +seemed to him that her face was almost radiant and her eyes glowed with +an intense light of holy fervour. Everything in that room spoke of +peace and harmony. The singers were happy in one another's company, +and no worry troubled them. + +As they sang, the shades of night deepened over the land and brighter +the light seemed to shine through the large window facing westward. A +man standing just outside watched all that was going on within the +room. He had approached cautiously and now stood back far enough from +the window that he might not be observed should any one happen to look +in his direction. To all outward appearance he might have been drawn +there out of mere curiosity or by the sound of the music. His lean, +smooth-shaven face betrayed nothing, and his steel-grey eyes which +rested alternately upon Jasper and the fair young player were +expressionless. Well it was for Lois' peace of mind that she did not +see that face out there in the night, for it was the same face which +had been haunting her for months. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +BUSINESS DETAILS + +As spring drew near David became anxious for more definite news about +the work at the falls. He knew what Jasper and his men were doing and +how the portable mill was busy sawing the logs which had been hauled +out. But he was impatient to see what he called "the real beginning." +It was, therefore, with considerable satisfaction when at last the +great start was made. As the weeks passed word reached him of what was +going on. He had not yet visited the falls as he did not feel equal to +the walk. But he listened eagerly to all that was told him. The +reports were truly marvellous of the large number of men engaged upon +the "Plant," of the activity at Creekdale and all up the brook. In a +few weeks the whole place had been converted into a hive of bustling +industry. It seemed as if a magic wand had been suddenly waved over +the place to produce such an astonishing change. + +In addition to this there were men working between the city and +Creekdale as well as along the road leading up-river, putting large +poles in place for the electric wires. These poles had been run down +the brook and then floated to various places along the river. In this +way the work was facilitated. Everything had been well planned, and it +seemed as if nothing had been overlooked. Though David could not visit +the falls, yet he and Betty often sat by the road and watched the +workmen as they dug the deep holes, erected the poles and strung the +wires. + +One beautiful morning as they came to the road, they saw a man not far +off busily sketching a clump of white birch trees a short distance +away. So intent was he upon his work that he did not appear to notice +the two who were watching him with undisguised curiosity. + +"Who is he?" David whispered, fearful lest he should disturb the man. + +"He must be that artist who came yesterday," Betty replied. "He has a +little tent over there," and she pointed to the right. "I saw him +fixing it up yesterday and it looks so cosy. He spoke to me as I came +by and seemed to be very friendly." + +"And you say that he is an artist?" David enquired. + +"Yes. Don't you see him painting now? He told me that he wants to get +some pictures of this beautiful place." + +"He must see the falls, girl," and David rose from his sitting +position. "There is nothing here to equal it, and how nice it would be +to have a picture before too great a change takes place up there." + +"Suppose we tell him about it," Betty suggested, now much interested in +the idea. "Come, I will introduce you." + +As the two approached, the artist rose to his feet and lifted his hat. + +"Why, it's my little visitor of yesterday," he pleasantly remarked. "I +didn't expect to meet you so soon again. Is this your grandfather?" + +"Oh, no," and Betty laughed heartily. "This is Mr. David, and I am +looking after him." + +"I am glad to meet you, sir," and the stranger held out his hand. "I +have only arrived lately and of course do not know any of the people +here, so you will pardon my mistake." + +"It doesn't matter, I assure you," David replied. "Betty is really a +daughter to me, so it was no mistake after all. But I hope we have not +interrupted you." + +"Not at all. I am not doing much this morning, just getting my +bearings, as it were. But you have a wonderful view from this hill. I +am hoping to get some excellent pictures. I wish I had known of this +beautiful spot before." + +"Wait until you see the falls," David eagerly replied. "You will find +something worth while there." + +"Is it far from here?" the artist enquired. + +"Oh, no. You can easily find it. There is a good road there now which +has been made by the new company." + +"Is that the place where the light and power are to come from, of which +I have heard so much?" + +"So you have heard of it then? I am very glad." There was a pleased +expression in David's eyes. It gave him much satisfaction to know that +the news of what was being done at the falls had extended beyond +Creekdale. + +"Oh, yes, every one has heard about the great undertaking which is +going on at Break Neck Falls," the artist replied. "I have read much +about it in the city papers, and only recently there was a long article +describing certain phases of the work and what would be accomplished. +I have the paper with me. Here it is, if you care to read it," and the +artist drew from his pocket a carefully-folded newspaper, and handed it +to the old man. + +With much eagerness David took it in his hands, unfolded it and ran his +eyes quickly over the article with the big headlines, "A Gigantic +Undertaking." Betty stepped close to his side and began to read as +well. Her animated face and sparkling eyes showed plainly the keen +interest she took in the whole affair, and several times she gave +expression to exclamations of delight. + +"Isn't it great!" she cried, when she had finished. "And what a lot +they tell about you, Mr. David, and how you had that thing in your head +for so long when you were very poor." + +"Yes, girl," David replied, "and did you notice what is said about the +benefit it will be to the city and the whole country?" + +In their intense excitement they had forgotten all about the artist. +But as they talked like two happy children he was watching them very +closely, especially the old man. In his eyes there was a peculiar +half-gloating expression, while a partly-suppressed sinister smile +lurked about the corners of his mouth. + +"May we show this paper to Miss Lois?" Betty asked, turning suddenly +toward the artist. As she did so, she started, for intuitively she saw +something in the man's face which frightened her. Whatever it was, it +instantly dispelled the happiness which possessed her. The artist +noticed this, and it annoyed him. He shrugged his shoulder and gave a +short laugh. + +"Yes, you may keep the paper," he said. "I am through with it. But I +must get on with my work now." + +They stood and watched him as he walked away carrying with him his +easel and camp-stool. + +"I am afraid of him," Betty whispered to her companion. Then she +shivered as if cold. + +"Why, what's the matter?" David asked in surprise. "What makes you +afraid of that man? He is only a harmless artist, and he was very kind +to us this morning. I feel most grateful for the paper he has given +us." + +"I know that, but I don't want to see him again," the girl replied. "I +saw something in his eyes which I don't like. I can't explain it, but +it makes me afraid of him. I hope he will go away soon." + +"Tut, girl, that is all nonsense," David chided. "It is just a notion +on your part. I like him well enough for a stranger. What harm can he +do us?" + +During the rest of the morning Betty could not get clear of the feeling +of fear which possessed her, and David worried much over her unusual +silence. She longed to see Lois that she might talk it all over with +her. In fact she had her mind made up to visit her that afternoon when +an unlooked-for excitement changed the entire current of her thoughts, +and put the artist out of her mind for the rest of the day. + +It was just after dinner when the captain and David were out upon the +verandah enjoying their pipes, when a big car lurched up and stopped in +front of the house. To David's surprise he saw Mr. Westcote alight and +come up the verandah steps. He at once rose to meet him. + +"I have come to give you a ride in my car," Mr. Westcote informed +David, after he had been introduced to the captain, and had handed him +a cigar. "It is a pity to take you from such a beautiful place as +this," and he cast his eyes over the sloping fields before him. "But, +I would like for you to come with me to the city to-day. It is a +matter of business, that is, some details which should have been +attended to before." + +"Has it anything to do with the falls?" David enquired. + +"Yes, everything centres there," and Mr. Westcote smiled. "This affair +is really important or I should not bother you to-day." + +"I can be ready in a short time," David replied. He was eager now to +be away, and the thought that he was needed and was in some way +necessary to the working out of the plans at the falls gave him great +pleasure. + +In little less than half an hour the car left the Haven and sped +rapidly down the road. David enjoyed the ride, and leaned back +comfortably in the soft springy seat. + +"You should have a car, sir," Mr. Westcote remarked as he noted how +David liked the drive. "It would do you so much good to have a spin +every day." + +"Why, I never thought of it," was the reply. "But I would not know how +to handle a car if I did have one. And besides, it would cost a great +deal." + +"Oh, you could easily overcome such difficulties. You are a rich man, +you know, and could afford to buy a good car and keep a chauffeur to +drive it for you. You have not spent all of that money you received, +have you?" + +"No, no; only a very small portion of it. You see, Betty and I live +very quietly, and spend but little. We are planning to build a +comfortable house of our own some day. We keep putting it off, though, +as we are so happy at the Haven with the captain and Mrs. Peterson." + +Nothing more was said about this subject during the rest of the ride, +and in about an hour and a half they reached the city and drew up +before a large building on one of the business streets. When once +inside David looked around with much interest upon the busy scenes +which met his eyes. + +"This is our main office," Mr. Westcote explained, "and we keep quite a +staff. As the work develops it will be necessary to have a building of +our own, for we have only the ground floor here. This is my private +office," and he motioned to a door on the right. "We will be more +quiet there." + +David was greatly delighted at all he saw, and he could not restrain +the feeling of pride that he was the cause of all this activity. Not +the slightest surprise entered his mind at what he observed. There was +not even the least shadow of mystery about it all. To him it was but +natural that things should be as they were. He doubted nothing; he +asked no questions. His plan was so great and reasonable that he +accepted everything as a matter of course. + +"You have perhaps wondered," Mr. Westcote began, after they were +seated, "why I have brought you here to-day. I told you that it is a +matter of business details, and so it is. You are Honorary President +of our company and, accordingly, you are a large share-holder. You +were not aware of that before, and I trust you do not mind our keeping +it a secret?" + +"No, no; not at all," David replied. "Everything is satisfactory to +me." + +"That is good," Mr. Westcote continued. "But as you have such a large +interest in the company, it is necessary that you should have your will +made to save complications in the future. Life is uncertain, you know, +and if anything should happen to you it would make it very difficult +for us if you did not have your business matters attended to." + +"Quite right, quite right," David assented. "I have thought about it +somewhat of late, and I am very glad that you have mentioned it. Could +we not have the business attended to at once? It will not take long, +will it?" + +"No, it can soon be done," was the reply. "But first of all it will be +necessary for you to state in whose favour you wish to make your will. +Then we can have the papers drawn up, and you can sign them before you, +leave the city." + +"Yes, that will be necessary," and David placed his right hand to his +forehead in a thoughtful manner. "I have been thinking that all over, +and know the ones to whom I wish to leave my principal share in the +falls. You see, I want to have people who will take a keen interest in +the undertaking, such as I have, and who will be able to continue the +work when I am gone." + +"You are quite right," Mr. Westcote replied, though it was evident that +he with difficulty repressed a smile of amusement at his companion's +words. + +"But I am somewhat worried about the others," David continued. "I wish +to leave something to my faithful girl, Betty Bean, to her mother, who +is a widow, and to Captain Peterson and his wife, for they have a hard +struggle to make a living. Now, they are the ones I wish to help as +far as I can, but I have no idea what I ought to leave them." + +"How much would you like for them to have?" Mr. Westcote enquired. + +"Well, it would be nice if they could have a thousand each. That would +make them so comfortable. But I am afraid such an amount is out of the +question." + +"Not at all," was the reply. "You name the amount, and we shall put it +in the will. You see," he added, as if it were an afterthought, "the +falls will be good for that, and perhaps more, even after you have +arranged for the others." + +"I am pleased to hear you express such confidence in the undertaking," +and David looked into his companion's face. "I little realised that it +would pay so well in such a short time. I am very grateful to you for +what you have done." + +"It will pay you regularly," Mr. Westcote replied. "I may as well tell +you that this is one of the most remarkable companies ever formed. +Will you now mention the names of the principal ones to whom you wish +to leave the rest of your interest?" + +"There are only two, but I have such unlimited confidence in them that +I feel I am making no mistake. You know them both for they are Jasper +Randall, the young foreman, and Miss Lois Sinclair." + +"Have you no relatives?" Mr. Westcote asked, concealing his surprise as +much as possible. "If you have, would it not be well to remember them +in your will?" + +"I desire that all I possess in this world should go to the ones I have +mentioned," David slowly replied. "We will not talk about relatives, +please." + +"Just as you say," Mr. Westcote assented, as he rose to his feet. "I +shall have the papers drawn up at once. In the meantime, you had +better come and stay with me. You will need a good rest after your +trip." + +It was late in the afternoon the next day before the work upon the will +was completed. It was quite an elaborate affair, so David thought, and +he had to study it carefully before signing it. When at last all was +finished, the car was waiting before the office to carry them back to +Creekdale. + +"I am going with you," Mr. Westcote remarked as he took his seat by +David's side. "I want to see that you get safely home. And besides," +he added, "I wish to learn how the work is getting along up there. I +have just been telephoning to Mr. Randall, and his report is most +encouraging." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +HARNESSED POWER + +It was dark by the time they drew near to Creekdale, and as the car +rounded a bend in the road David was astonished at the sight which met +his eyes. The entire way was brilliantly illuminated by hundreds of +electric lights strung along both sides of the road. + +David started, sat bolt upright, and clutched his companion by the arm. + +"What is this?" he demanded in a hoarse whisper. "Where are we, +anyway? I thought you were bringing me home." + +"So I am," Mr. Westcote laughingly replied. "We are at Creekdale now. +This is the work of your beloved falls. Are you satisfied?" + +"Oh!" It was all that the old man could say. He leaned back in his +seat and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. It was quite evident that +he was strongly moved by what he saw. + +Slowly the car moved up the great white way, and at last turned into +the gate leading to the Haven. Two large lights had been placed on the +gate post, and these shed forth their bright light upon all sides. It +was a marvellous transformation which had been made in such a short +time. David could not utter a word, so overcome was he. Even when he +saw the house ablaze with many lights and the verandah as bright as +day, and observed the people there waiting to welcome him home, he +seemed like one in a dream. It was only when Betty danced about him +and caught both of his hands in hers, that he aroused from his +stupefaction. + +"What's the matter, Mr. David?" she cried. "Why don't you speak to me, +and tell me how you like it all?" + +"It is wonderful!" and the old man placed his hand to his forehead, as +he always did when greatly affected or puzzled. "Who did all this?" + +"It was done for you, Mr. David," the girl explained. "My, we have had +a lively time here since you left!" + +"And was that the reason why I was taken to the city yesterday?" David +asked, while a new light of comprehension dawned upon his mind. "You +knew all about this, did you?" + +"Oh, no, I didn't know a thing," Betty protested. "But just as soon as +you got away Mr. Jasper and a whole crowd of men began to work, and +they have been just hustling ever since. Isn't it lovely! And to +think that it was in your brain all the time!" + +"This is very gratifying, sir," and David turned to Jasper, who was +standing by listening with great interest to the conversation between +the girl and the old man. "I can hardly believe what I see. I had no +idea that you had made such progress at the falls. It will be +necessary for me to go and see the works for myself." + +"We have a great deal more to do yet, I assure you," Jasper replied. +"We have merely begun. We planned this little surprise for your +special benefit. We wished that you should be the first one to be +honoured. But we have something more to show you, which, no doubt, +will surprise you. If you will come with me I will show you what it +is." + +Leading the way, he conducted them through the kitchen and into an +adjoining room used partly as a wood-house and also as a wash room. +Each place was brilliantly lighted by means of several electric lamps. +He stopped at last before a cream-separator which was new and recently +installed. Touching a switch, there was a sudden whirring sound, and +the machine began to revolve, slowly at first, but gaining rapidly in +speed until it was fairly spinning. After it had been running for a +few minutes Jasper turned off the current, and then stood watching the +separator until its movements ceased. + +He next moved across the room to where stood a churn. Again placing +his finger upon another switch the churn began to revolve. + +During all this time David's eyes were ablaze with joy as he watched +all that was taking place. + +"It is wonderful!" he remarked. "How have you managed to arrange +everything in such a short time? It seems almost magical." + +"Oh, we had everything all ready," Jasper laughingly replied. "And +just as soon as we got you away we merely had to put the machinery into +place. But here is something else," and he turned to the left. "This +is a wood-cutting machine, and all you have to do is to turn on the +current, so," and he touched a switch, "and behold, your saw is all +ready for use. Watch this," he added, picking up a stick, which in an +instant was severed in two. "That is the way the farmers will cut +their wood. You have thus seen some of the things your falls will do. +But there are others we cannot show here, which will revolutionise the +entire country." + +Scarcely had he ended when Lois entered and stood watching the +revolving saw. Jasper was the first to see her, and he noticed that +her face was paler than usual and that she seemed to be trembling. + +"I am sorry that I am late," she apologised. "I was planning to be +here to see these wonderful things, but I was delayed." + +"But you can see them all now, Miss Sinclair," David eagerly replied. +"Look at the lights along the road and in the house, and the way these +machines run. Isn't it wonderful? My visions have come true at last, +and my beautiful falls have done it." + +Jasper was anxious to know what was troubling Lois. Although she +talked and laughed and seemed to be the gayest one there, it was quite +evident to him that she was merely acting the part. When she had +stayed for about half an hour she spoke to Jasper privately and asked +him to accompany her home. + +"I wish to speak to you about something," she told him. + +Jasper was delighted, and after they had said good-night to the rest +they walked slowly down the lighted lane toward the main road. + +"This is like fairyland," Lois remarked. "I never expected to see +anything like this." + +"It was done for David's sake," Jasper replied. "And wasn't he +surprised and delighted? I think I was as much excited as he was." + +"Have you any idea why the company should do all this for his sake?" +Lois enquired. "Who is he, anyway?" + +"I have not the slightest idea," was the reply. "Everything has been a +profound mystery to me from the beginning. There is something most +interesting back of it all, mark my word. Mr. Westcote evidently +knows, but he has never enlightened me. Perhaps his daughter knows +something." + +"If she does she has never told me. Sometimes I think she knows, but +is not at liberty to speak. Oh, what's that?" and Lois gave a sudden +start. "I thought I heard something among the trees. But I guess it +was nothing, only my nerves," and she gave a slight laugh. + +"Perhaps it was merely some animal," Jasper suggested. "It may have +been a dog or a rabbit. Any slight noise sounds large at night." + +"Let us hurry on," Lois urged. "I am afraid that I am somewhat upset +to-night. I had such a start on my way to the Haven that I have not +got over it yet." + +"I saw that there was something wrong with you when you came into the +house," Jasper replied. + +"Did you? I was hoping that no one noticed it." + +"What was the matter?" + +"It was a man." + +"Oh, was that all? I thought that perhaps it was a bear." + +"But a man can be far worse than a bear, Mr. Randall. I would not mind +meeting a bear half as much as a brute in the form of a man." + +"What, did he frighten you, or try to harm you in any way?" Jasper +stopped short in his tracks and waited for an answer. He was beginning +to understand now that Lois' fright was something not to be treated +lightly. + +"Oh, no," Lois hastened to explain. "He didn't even speak to me. But +I saw him cross the brightly-lighted lane leading to the Haven. He +plunged among the trees and disappeared." + +"Did you know him?" Jasper asked, now much interested. + +"Yes. I met him once in the city at Mrs. Dingle's party. He is an +English artist, Sydney Bramshaw by name, and he affected me then like a +terrible night-mare. I could not get him out of my mind for weeks. I +have never been able to explain it, and never experienced anything like +it before." + +"Do you know anything about the man?" Jasper asked. + +"No, and that is the strange thing about it. I had a slight +conversation with him then and his words disgusted me. Apart from that +I know nothing." + +"It is strange," Jasper mused as if to himself. "We sometimes do get +queer impressions about people, do we not?" + +"But I never had anything like this before. It seemed to me when I +first saw that man that he was Satan in disguise. A queer idea, was it +not? I felt that in some unaccountable way he had crossed my path for +evil, and I have that same feeling now." + +They had reached the house by this time and were standing near the +verandah steps. It was a chilly night, and the sky was overcast with +not a star to be seen. A tremor shook Lois' form as she stood there. + +"You are cold," Jasper remarked, "and you should go in the house at +once." + +"Will you come in?" Lois asked. "It is not late and father will be +pleased to see you." + +"Not to-night, thank you," Jasper replied. "I was working nearly all +last night at the Haven, and so must get some rest. I am living in my +little old cabin now, and it is really good to be there again. It +seems more like home to me than up the brook. But, there, I must not +keep you any longer or you will catch cold. Do not worry too much +about that man. If he begins to trouble you, he will have to reckon +with me." + +Jasper walked slowly away from the house along a path leading to the +main road. He was thinking seriously of what Lois had told him about +Bramshaw. He could not understand her strange aversion for the man, +and he wondered if there were really anything in such a presentiment. +He made up his mind that he would be on the lookout and if the fellow +became the least objectionable he would deal with him then in no gentle +manner. + +As Jasper drew near to the main road a feeling suddenly possessed him +that he was being followed. He looked back but could see nothing. +Laughing at himself for what he considered his foolishness, he +continued on his way. But it was not so easy to banish the impression +he had received, and every once in a while he glanced around as if +expecting to see some one not far off. Once he thought he heard the +sound of foot-steps in the distance, and he stopped to listen but heard +nothing more. + +Reaching at last the path which led to his cabin, he was about to enter +upon this when an idea came into his mind. It was suggested by a thick +clump of hazel bushes by the side of the road. As quick as thought he +darted behind these and crouched low upon the ground. From this +position it was possible for him to watch the road without being +observed. He wished to find out whether any one was really following +him, or if it was merely imagination on his part. + +He had not been there long ere he heard faint footfalls upon the road, +which grew more distinct as he listened. He was now sure that his +surmises had been true, and it made him angry. He knew that it was not +an ordinary pedestrian, for why had he come after him along the path +leading from the Sinclair house? It must be some one stalking him, for +what purpose he could not imagine. + +Peering forth from his concealed position Jasper was ere long able to +see the dim form of a man slouching cautiously along, keeping well to +the side of the road where the trees and bushes were the thickest. He +even brushed the hazel bushes in passing and Jasper held his breath +lest he should be detected by his breathing. He was sure now that the +man had been following him with no good intentions, and his first +inclination was to rush forward and find out what was his business. He +resisted, however, thinking it better to remain where he was and see +what the night prowler would do next. + +Not long did he have to wait for the man, coming to the path leading +across the fields, stopped and looked carefully around. The dim form +of the little cabin could be seen in the distance, and for this he at +once started. There were no trees now to hide him, and he started on a +run across the open space. Jasper, seeing this, sprang from his hiding +place and hurried forward. By the time he reached the path the man was +nowhere to be seen. He had evidently reached the cabin, and was no +doubt at the door or listening at the window. Jasper knew that it was +now time for him to act and he at once bounded across the field +straight for his cabin. He had scarcely reached it when the prowler +came suddenly around the corner, and the two met. In an instant Jasper +reached out his hand and caught the man by the shoulder and demanded +what he was doing around his cabin at that time of the night. With an +angry oath, the other tried to free himself from the tightening grip, +and when he failed to do so he struck Jasper a blow right in the face +with the clenched fist of his right hand. + +"Take that, you damned fool," he growled, "and mind your own business." + +Jasper did not wait to argue. In a twinkling he threw himself full +upon the man. His blood surged madly through his veins, for the blow +stung him to fury. His opponent, though he tried to put up a fight, +was as a child in Jasper's hands, and soon he was sprawling upon the +ground with Jasper sitting upon his body. + +"Now, then," the victor calmly remarked, "as you would not answer my +question in a civil manner while standing on your feet, perhaps you +will do it here on the ground. And you will do it before you get up, +remember that, so you might as well speak first as last. Who are you, +and why were you following me up the road and prowling so suspiciously +around my cabin?" + +"I'm a stranger here," was the low reply, "and I was looking for a +place to spend the night. Will that satisfy you?" + +"No, it will not," Jasper emphatically replied. "I believe that you +are lying. What is your name?" + +"Jim Dobbins," was the somewhat hesitating answer. "I am seeking for +work with the Light and Power Company and got astray." + +"Now, look here," and Jasper rose to his feet, "it's no use for you to +string off such lies to me. Your name is Sydney Bramshaw, the artist. +I know who you are, but why you are acting this way I do not know. So +get up now, and clear out of this. If I catch you at any more such +pranks I'll break every bone in your body. You had better mind what +you do while in this place, and keep out of my sight after this." + +Without a word the prostrate man rose to his feet and stood for an +instant as if he would speak. He was trembling with rage, though in +the darkness Jasper could not see the ugly expression upon his face. +Presently he turned and glided away swiftly from the cabin, and was +soon lost to sight. + +Jasper stood for a while and peered through the night. He was almost +tempted to follow the man to be sure that he really departed and was +not hiding among the bushes but a short distance away. He called +himself a fool for letting him off so easily. He should have kept him +until morning to be sure that he would do no mischief under cover of +darkness. At length, however, he entered the cabin and threw himself +upon his cot. He wished to think it all over and keep awake lest the +man should return and wreak vengeance upon him in some under-handed +way. He felt sure now that Lois' opinion of the man was correct, and +that for some unaccountable reason he had a contemptible enemy to deal +with, who would stoop to almost anything to carry out his evil designs, +whatever they might be. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +IN THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION + +It was only natural that the people of Creekdale should have been +greatly excited over the progress made at the falls. They watched +everything with the keenest interest which reached its highest point on +the night of David's arrival home. To see the road so brilliantly +illuminated was both wonderful and puzzling. They all knew that it was +done for "Crazy David's sake," and they could not understand why such a +fuss should be made over his return to the place. + +"It beats me," Andy Forbes remarked to a number of men gathered before +the store. "I'm mighty glad to have the lights there for they make +things around here as bright as day. But why is it done? What has +Crazy David got to do with it? You would think he was a king coming +home instead of a half-cracked old man." + +"But he supplied the plans, didn't he?" one of the men asked in reply. + +"The plans be jiggered!" and Andy gave a contemptuous toss of his head. +"What value do you suppose were his plans? I don't believe the company +ever looked at them." + +"There must be something, though," Ned Travis replied. "David's living +in luxury now, and if the plans were not back of it, I'd like to know +what is. It isn't natural for a big company with unlimited means to +throw away money on an old man like that just for charity." + +"How's Jim Goban feeling these days?" Andy asked. "I haven't seen him +of late." + +"He's a very sick man," Billy Goban answered, at which they all +laughed. "He curses himself every minute day and night for letting +Crazy David out of his clutches. He believes that if he had kept him +he would have come in for a big share of David's good luck." + +"Serves him right," Andy mused as he gazed thoughtfully at the array of +lights before him. "He should be ashamed of himself, and so should we +for that matter for selling that old man to the lowest bidder. It'll +be the last time such a thing takes place in this parish if I can help +it, and I guess I can. It's most degrading, and should be stopped." + +While the people of Creekdale were intensely aroused over the +marvellous progress of the Light and Power Company, the world beyond +was becoming much interested in what was taking place. The day after +David's arrival home the city papers devoted considerable space to the +developments at the falls. They told about the mysterious company and +the old man who had supplied the plans. They gave a most vivid account +of the lighted way and the examples of the harnessed power at the +Haven. They, like the people of Creekdale, could not understand why +such a fuss should be made over David. They hinted that there was some +mystery back of it all, the solving of which would be watched with +considerable interest. + +But the papers had much more to say. They spoke of the great benefit +the city would receive from cheaper light and power, and how the new +company would lower the rates, and perhaps force the city company out +of business altogether. They deemed it a day of great things when +people would not be compelled to pay such prices as hitherto, and how +industries of all kinds would increase and flourish. A table of rates +was appended showing the difference between the rates of the old +company and the new. + +It was with much satisfaction that David read these accounts to the +captain as they sat out upon the verandah. He was a happy man that +day, and when he was through with his reading he leaned back in his +chair and remained silent for a long time. The captain watched him +somewhat curiously as he puffed away at his pipe. Presently he took +the pipe from his mouth and allowed it to go out, which was a most +unusual thing for him. He even stared at David as if he had never seen +him before. What his thoughts were he kept to himself, but he observed +the old man now more closely than ever and studied his face most +carefully. + +They had been sitting on the verandah for about half an hour, when +Sydney Bramshaw strolled up to the house, with his easel under his arm. +He looked none the worse for his experience with Jasper and was most +affable as he accosted David, who at once introduced him to the captain. + +"You have a beautiful place here, sir," he remarked to the invalid. "I +have been fascinated with the scenery and have done considerable work +since my arrival. May I have the privilege of sketching this +delightful cottage? It will make a fine picture, I am sure." + +"Sketch away all you like," the captain replied. "It is a beautiful +spot, if I do say it, and it can't be beat anywhere." + +From the moment the captain had set eyes upon the artist he was sure +that he had seen him before. Just where it was he could not at first +recall, but suddenly it flashed into his mind, and with it a train of +thoughts which excited him more than was his wont. He looked at David +and then at the artist, and for a moment he closed his eyes as memories +drifted upon him. What was this man doing here? he asked himself. He +longed to question Bramshaw, but desisted, determined to await future +developments. Nevertheless, he was very quiet during the rest of the +day, which made his wife and Betty think that he was not well. + +"You are not sick, are you?" Mrs. Peterson asked. + +"Not at all," was the reply. "I am only thinking." + +"Maybe he's got something in his head just like Mr. David," Betty +suggested. + +"Maybe I have, girl," the captain laughed. "But I'm afraid the thing +that I've got won't make as much money as his. Where is Mr. David now?" + +"He's with that artist over there, watching him sketch this house. He +likes the man, for he talks to him so much about the falls. I don't +like him; his face frightens me." + +The captain made no reply to these words but gazed meditatively out +over the fields long after Mrs. Peterson and Betty had left him. He +was trying to piece together a number of fragmentary incidents which +were revolving in his mind, and to ascertain how they were related. + +"I'm sure 'twas on that trip," he muttered, "But darn it all, why can't +I remember what he said. He was always talking and boasting about one +thing and another. Hello, by jingo, I've got it!" and the captain gave +such a whoop that both Mrs. Peterson and Betty came running from the +kitchen to see what was the matter. + +"It's nothing," the captain growled, disgusted with himself for +attracting attention when he wanted to be alone, "I was just thinking, +that's all. Can't a man whoop when he wants to without everybody +rushing around him like mad?" + +"It all depends on what kind of a whoop it is, Robert," his wife +replied. "We couldn't tell whether you had gone out of your mind or +had fallen off the verandah." + +"It's that thing in his brain which did it, Mrs. Peterson," Betty +explained. "Mr. David acted queer sometimes, though he never hollered +out. It must be something great, Captain," she added, "which made you +yelp like that." + +"It certainly was, girl," and the captain smiled. "I feel better now, +though, so you women needn't worry about me." + +The next morning David told Betty that he had made up his mind to visit +the falls. He said that he wished to see for himself the wonderful +changes which had been made there. Betty was delighted and at once set +to work to prepare the luncheon they were to take with them. + +"We'll find a nice cosy place along the brook and have a picnic there," +she told Mrs. Peterson. + +"I'm afraid there will not be many cosy places," was the reply. "You +must be prepared for great changes up the brook." + +David and Betty were like two children off for a holiday as they left +the Haven and walked gaily down the lane toward the main highway. It +was a perfect morning, and the perfume of clover from the expansive +meadows scented the air. Birds were darting here and there or +twittering from the branches of the trees. A short distance from the +road, and partly concealed, a white tent nestled among the trees, +though no sign of the artist was to be seen. Betty breathed a sigh of +relief when they were past. She did not wish to see Bramshaw, to whom +she had taken such a violent dislike. She wondered where he was at +that time of the morning. Perhaps he was still asleep, she thought, +for she knew that he prowled about late at night. + +The tent was a small one, such as is generally used by campers. It was +in a beautiful situation, and it was so placed that it commanded an +excellent view of the Haven and the lane leading to it. It was a +common occurrence for people from the city to camp along the river +during the summer months, and people did not wonder about this one +among the trees. They all knew that Bramshaw was an artist of some +note, and they felt rather pleased that he had come to Creekdale to +obtain some pictures. + +"I am glad we didn't meet that artist this morning," Petty remarked +after they had left the tent out of sight. + +"I cannot understand your dislike to the man," David replied. "He has +been so civil to us both, and he is very fond of hearing about the work +at the falls, and how the whole community will be benefited." + +"I can't help it, Mr. David," and Betty twirled the sunbonnet she was +carrying in her hand, as was often her custom. "He may be all right, +but I don't like him. I wish he would go away and never come back. +Isn't it strange how some people spoil everything? We are so happy +this morning because we are going to the falls together, and yet as +soon as I think of that man I shiver. I don't understand it at all." + +"You'll get over it in time, Betty," David replied. "But, see, what a +change they have made in our path. Why, it's a regular road now." + +"I don't like it one bit," Betty protested. "It isn't half as nice as +it was before. I hope they haven't touched my rock. If they have, +somebody's going to get a big scolding." + +Talking thus and passing remarks upon everything they saw, the two +moved slowly along the newly-made road. Several freighting teams +passed them and the drivers looked with interest upon the old man and +the bright-faced girl. + +"They all know you, Mr. David," Betty remarked. "Did you notice how +the men lifted their hats!" + +"They did it to you, girl," was the reply. "Why should they do such a +thing to me?" + +"Because you are great, that is why. They all know of the wonderful +thing you had in your head. Oh!" she suddenly exclaimed, stopping +short in her tracks. + +"What is the matter?" David asked. + +"They have taken away my rock! Look, there are only little pieces of +it left." + +"They needed it, no doubt, for the works up there, Betty. You must not +mind when it has been put to such good use." + +Betty, nevertheless, felt badly, and for a while she ceased her +chattering and walked along quietly by her companion's side. At length +they came to a place where the road left the path and swung to the +right. + +"Isn't this nice!" Betty exclaimed. "Some of our dear old path is +left, anyway, and we can follow it and forget that any changes have +been made." + +The path ran close to the brook and after they had followed this for +several hundred yards through a growth of young birches and maples, +they came to a clearing which had been made since they were last there. +Above them was the road, and on its lower side was a large pile of big +poles ready to be rolled into the brook. + +"I wonder what they left them there for?" David enquired. + +"Oh, I know," Betty replied. "Mr. Jasper told us, don't you remember, +that they left a lot of poles to be used along the brook. They must be +the ones." + +"So he did tell us that," the old man mused. "Your memory is better +than mine. Suppose we sit down here and rest a while. That walk has +tired me." + +"There's a nice place right in front of that big stump close to the +brook," and Betty pointed with her finger. "We can rest there and eat +a part of our lunch." + +When they had reached the place Betty began to unpack the basket. +First of all she spread down a white cloth, and then laid out the +sandwiches and cake. Then she paused, and a look of dismay overspread +her face. + +"We forgot to bring anything to drink!" she exclaimed. "I had the milk +all ready in the bottle and came away without it. What shall we do?" + +"Oh, never mind," David replied. "We can drink some of this brook +water, can we not?" + +"No, it's nasty. It's too warm. I know," and she reached for two tin +cups. "There's a nice cool spring just up the brook. I have often got +water there. You keep off the flies from the food. I won't be a +minute." + +Leaving David, Betty hurried up along the edge of the brook until she +reached the spring bubbling out of the bank. Filling the cups she made +her way back as carefully as possible so as not to spill any of the +water. She had just reached the edge of the clearing when a strange +sound fell upon her ears. It startled her, and looking up, her face +blanched with terror, for coming down the steep bank was one of the +large poles which had been separated from its companions. It was only +a few seconds in making the descent, but in that brief space of time a +world of thought crowded into Betty's excited brain. She saw David +sitting right in the track of death, unconscious of impending doom. +Betty tried to shout, to rush forward to rescue him, but no words came +from her lips, and her feet seemed glued to the ground. Rapidly the +pole sped down the bank, and then just when but a score of feet from +the helpless old man it struck the large stump in its onward sweep. +With a wild bound it leaped high and like a mighty catapult hurled +itself through the air over David's head and fell with a terrific crash +into the brook below. + +At first a wild scream of terror escaped Betty's lips, followed +instantly by a cry of joy as she rushed forward, seized the hand of the +bewildered old man and led him to a place of safety near the edge of +the forest. Then her strength deserted her, and she sank down upon the +ground and wept like a child. + +"Oh, Mr. David, Mr. David," she sobbed, "you were nearly killed. Oh, +oh, oh! Wasn't it awful!" + +"There, there, Betty, don't feel so badly," and David stroked her hair +in a gentle manner. "I'm all right now, so why should you cry?" + +"But I can't help it," the girl moaned. "I was sure you would be +killed, and I could do nothing to save you." + +"Strange," her companion mused, "what started that log just as I was +sitting there. It must have been loose and ready to start at the least +motion." + +"Let us go home," and Betty rose suddenly to her feet. "I don't want +to stay here any longer. The place is not like it used to be. I do +not feel safe. There seems to be danger everywhere." + +Hurrying as fast as possible across the open space and casting +apprehensive glances up the bank lest another pole should take a sudden +notion to come down, they soon reached the woods beyond. + +"There, I feel safer now," Betty panted. "Those poles can't touch us, +anyway." + +"I did want to see the falls," David replied, "and I am quite +disappointed. But I do not feel able to try the trip again as it tires +me too much." + +"Suppose we ask Mr. Jasper to drive you there," Betty suggested. "I +know he will be only too pleased to do it. Isn't it funny we didn't +think of that before?" + +"That is a good idea," David assented. "Maybe he will do it to-morrow. +But what's the matter, girl?" he demanded, looking with surprise upon +Betty, who had suddenly stopped and was staring down upon the brook +through an opening among the trees. + +"Look," she whispered, pointing with her finger, "there is that artist +sketching down below. He doesn't know we are here, so let us be as +quiet as possible." + +"Well, why should he startle you?" David enquired. "He is not +troubling us. I'm not afraid of him. In fact, I feel inclined to go +and have a talk with him." + +"Don't, please don't," and the girl laid her right hand imploringly on +his arm. "Let us go home at once, for I feel shaky all over." + +"Very well, then," David assented. "But I wish you would get over your +foolish notion about that man. He is merely a harmless artist who has +come to this place to get some good pictures. Why can't you be +sensible?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +RESCUED + +Jasper had charge of fixing the poles and stretching the wires for +light and power between the city and the falls, as well as throughout +the country wherever it was planned to extend them. Gangs of men were +at work along the lines, and Jasper was kept busy moving from place to +place giving instructions and supervising everything. The entire +responsibility rested upon him, and he wished to prove worthy of the +trust. + +The afternoon when David and Betty were up the brook, Jasper remained +closer than usual to Creekdale, where a number of men were working. +Opposite them a small island nestled out in the river, called "Emerald" +Island by reason of its rich covering of fir, pine and birch trees. As +a rule, Jasper paid strict attention to his duties, but to-day his mind +often wandered and he would stand gazing out over the water to the +island beyond. + +As the afternoon wore away he became quite restless and watched the +river most anxiously. A wind had sprung up, which, gentle at first, +increased steadily into a gale. The water soon became rough and great +white-caps rolled up-stream, especially heavy where the tide was +strongest. + +At length, leaving his men he went to the shore and stood close to the +watery edge. He looked more down the river than formerly, as if +expecting some one from that direction. But occasionally he cast his +eyes off toward the island and breathed more freely after each look. +He often consulted his watch as he now paced up and down the beach. + +"What can be keeping that fellow?" he muttered. "He should have been +here an hour ago. Surely he's not tied up on account of the wind. I +gave him strict instructions to come back as soon as possible. If he +does not----Hello, there he is now," and his face brightened as he gave +a sigh of relief. + +Coming up the river was a big boat used for rafting purposes containing +one man. Volumes of spray leaped high as she surged through the water +driven by a seven horse-power engine. This craft was used for towing +logs and poles, and for the carrying of supplies to the various camps. + +"You're late, Tom," Jasper remarked as the boat's bow touched the shore +where he was standing. "I expected you an hour ago." + +"It was the wind, sir," was the reply. "A number of logs broke loose +from the raft and I had a hard time to collect them. There's a heavy +sea runnin' below the Bar." + +"It's bad out there, too," and Jasper pointed off toward the island. + +"Sure thing," the man replied, turning partly around. "There's a boat +leavin' the island now. Surely it's not goin' to try to run over." + +"Where is it?" Jasper demanded. + +"Look," and Tom stretched out his long right arm, "ye kin just see it. +There, it's plainer now." + +The only answer Jasper made was to give the boat a vigorous push from +the shore, leap aboard, seize the wheel and order Tom to start the +engine. In a few seconds they were cutting their way rapidly through +the water straight for the big white-caps beyond. Tom asked no +questions, but attended to the engine. It was all in the day's work to +him, and this was much easier than towing logs. + +From the moment he had seized the wheel Jasper had not taken his eyes +off of the little boat away in the distance. He could see that it was +in the rough water and was pitching about in an alarming manner. It +seemed to be beyond control and was drifting rapidly toward the rougher +water of the main channel. + +"We are going very slow, Tom," he remarked. "Can't we do any better?" + +"She's runnin' full speed," was the reply. "I'd like to slow down a +bit, for we're gettin' soaked." + +"Never mind the water, Tom. I wish you could make her go as fast +again. Oh! did you see that?" + +"See what?" + +"The way that little boat pitched. I thought she had swamped." + +It did not really take them more than ten minutes to run across that +stretch of water, but to Jasper it seemed much longer. The boat +pounded and threshed her way forward, shipping water at every plunge, +keeping Tom busy with the small suction pump. At last, however, it was +easy for Jasper to see two women sitting in the drifting boat. That +they were helpless and had given up all attempt to reach the shore was +quite evident. One was seated astern, and the other was holding the +oars in her hands, but making no use of them. Jasper's heart beat +quicker as he watched her, for he well knew what a struggle she must +have made before giving up in despair. + +"They're women!" Tom exclaimed in astonishment. "What in the devil are +they doin' out here!" + +"Shut up, and attend to your engine," Jasper sternly ordered. + +They were quite close now, and the women saw them. As they approached +Jasper could see Lois' face turned toward him and it was very white. + +"Sit still," he shouted, and then he motioned to Tom to slow down. +"Stop her," he presently ordered, and soon they were drifting up close +to the little boat. + +It took Lois and Margaret but a few seconds to step on board of the +rafting boat, and then their own craft was taken in tow. There was no +time for words now, as Jasper had all he could do to handle his own +boat, for she was rolling heavily as he swung her around and headed for +the shore. Running almost broadside to the waves a great deal of water +was shipped, which kept Tom busy at the pump. + +Jasper had no time to pay any attention to the women, but he +intuitively knew that Lois was watching him. He was really happier +than he had been for days, and he was so pleased that he had been of +some service to the woman he loved. This was the second time he had +rescued her from the water, and his mind went back to the experience up +the brook below the falls. There was no Sammie Dingle present now to +mar his pleasure, for which he was most thankful. + +It did not take the boat long to run to the Sinclair shore, and here in +a snug place, safe from the wind, she was beached. + +"We can never thank you for what you have done for us to-day," Lois +remarked as she and Margaret walked with Jasper to the house. "You +have saved our lives." + +"Don't thank me," Jasper replied. "It was a pleasure for me to do what +I did." + +"But how did you know we were out there?" Margaret asked. + +"It was Tom who saw you first and pointed your boat out to me. He is +the one you should thank." + +"But why was Tom looking toward the island?" Lois enquired. "Your +explanation does not satisfy me." + +"Do you imagine that I was spying upon your little outing?" Jasper +questioned. + +"Not exactly spying. I don't like that word. But you must have known +that we were there." + +"Yes, I did. I saw you go over this afternoon, and when the wind +sprang up it was only natural to suppose you would have trouble in +getting home. That is all there is about it." + +"And so you kept watch, and then came to our assistance?" + +"Yes." + +Lois said no more just then, but walked quietly to the house. She was +doing considerable thinking, however, and when she and Margaret went +upstairs to change their wet clothes, she again referred to the matter. + +"It is just like him," Margaret remarked. "He knew that we were over +there and that our lives would be in danger on the water. Not many men +would have thought of such a thing." + +Lois made no reply, but there was a deep happiness in her heart. She +believed that Jasper had been thinking of her throughout the day and +that she was always much in his mind. Margaret somewhat divined her +thoughts and twined her arms around her neck. + +"I believe he thinks a great deal of you, dear," she said, "and I am so +glad. It is only natural, for who could resist you? You are as sweet +and loveable as can be. If I were a man I am sure I would fall in love +with you the first time I met you." + +"You did it, anyway, didn't you?" Lois asked, in order to hide her +embarrassment. "But there is the car," she added. "I wonder what +brings father home so early?" + +Going downstairs, they found Mr. Sinclair and Jasper seated upon the +verandah in a corner protected from the wind by heavy vines. + +"You are early to-day, Father," Lois remarked as she gave him the +customary kiss. "We generally have to wait dinner for you." + +"It is quite necessary that I should get back early, from what I have +heard about you young women," was the reply. "It is hardly safe to +leave you alone." + +"So you know all about our narrow escape, then," and Lois looked +enquiringly into his face. She believed that Jasper must have been +telling him, and it somehow disappointed her. She did not think that +he would be the first one to talk about the rescue he had made. + +"Oh, yes, I learned all about it before I got home," Mr. Sinclair +explained. "The men down the road saw it all, and then when Tom took +the boat back he gave them the full details. You must be very careful +after this, Lois, about going over to the island. You might not always +have a rescuer handy as you had to-day." + +Lois did not reply. She was glad that Jasper had not told, and she was +sorry that she had judged him wrongly. She might have known better, so +she mused. + +Mr. Sinclair was in excellent spirits. He had changed a great deal +since his illness and had become more like a father to her than he had +ever been before. He entered more into the life of his family, and his +old sternness passed away. Lois wondered what brought him back so +early from the city. She asked no questions, however, feeling sure +that he would explain the reason in due time. + +She did not in fact have long to wait, for after they were all seated +at dinner Mr. Sinclair looked quizzically into his daughter's face. + +"I know you are puzzling your brain why I came home so early," he +began. "Now, are you not?" + +"I certainly am," Lois laughingly replied. "Margaret and I have been +having all kinds of surmises." + +"I've done a great stroke of business to-day," Mr. Sinclair continued, +"and it has lifted a heavy burden from my mind. Can any of you guess +what it is?" + +"Bought a new tract of timber, Dad," Dick replied. "I can't think of +anything that would please you better than that." + +"No, it's not that." + +"Maybe you've found some work for Dick to do," Lois suggested. "That +would certainly be a great stroke of business." + +"Come, come, Lois," her brother remonstrated. "You seem to think that +I have nothing to do." + +"Haven't I good reason to think so?" + +"No, it's not that," Mr. Sinclair intervened. "You're a long way off." + +"Have you bought out the new Light and Power Company?" Jasper asked. + +"No, no," and Mr. Sinclair chuckled as he went on with his dinner. He +was enjoying immensely the little game. + +"I think I know what it is," and Margaret looked intently into his +face. "You have sold out to the Break Neck Light and Power Company." + +"How in the world did you know that?" Mr. Sinclair asked in surprise. +"Why, I thought it was a dead secret." + +"So it was in a way," Margaret smilingly replied. "But, you see, I am +supposed to know a little of what is going on." + +"And your father told you about it, did he?" + +"Yes. I have known for some time that he was hoping you would sell +out, and thus avoid trouble." + +"Is it possible, Father," Lois asked, "that you have sold out all your +interest in the City Light and Power Company?" + +"We've all sold out, and at such a figure that we are much satisfied." + +"Oh, I am so glad," and Margaret clasped her hands before her. "I was +afraid that there might be trouble between you and father, and I did +not want that." + +"There is no danger of that now," Mr. Sinclair replied, "though there +was at one time. I never believed that the matter could be so +satisfactorily arranged, for I had no idea that the new company would +be willing to come to our terms." + +Margaret said nothing more, and while the others talked she took no +part in the conversation. She very well knew why the matter had been +so amicably settled, and she smiled to herself as she thought of the +several long conversations she and her father had had together. But +for her interference nothing would have been done, she was well aware +of that. She remembered how stubborn her father had been when she +first suggested the idea to him. But after he had considered it most +carefully he realised what a good business proposition it would be. + +"I believe Margaret is getting home-sick," Dick remarked. + +"Why, what makes you think that?" she asked, somewhat startled by the +question. + +"Because you are so quiet. You haven't said a word for the last five +minutes." + +"She hasn't had much chance," Lois laughingly replied. "You have been +doing most of the talking, Dick." + +"Have I?" and the young man opened his eyes wide in apparent amazement. +"But I am going to be silent now and let Margaret tell my fortune. She +is a dandy at that," and he handed over his cup as he spoke. + +"Oh, I have told your fortune so often," was the reply, "that it is +getting to be an old story now." + +"Won't you tell me mine?" Jasper asked, passing his cup. "I should +like to know what's in store for me." + +Margaret took the cup in her hand and gazed at it thoughtfully for a +few seconds. + +"Do you really wish to know?" she asked. + +"Certainly." + +"Well, then, I see great trouble ahead of you." + +"Whew!" Dick whistled. "This is getting serious. You'd better be +careful, Spuds." + +"Yes," Margaret continued, "I see a big black cloud, and it entirely +surrounds you." + +"Does it pass away?" Lois questioned, now much interested. + +"I can not altogether tell." + +"He's going to have a nightmare," Dick bantered, at which they all +laughed. + +"I hope there's nothing in your prophecy," Jasper remarked. "If I were +at all superstitious I might worry a great deal over what you say." + +"Look here, Lois," and Dick turned to his sister, "is there a hole in +that tea-strainer? For pity sakes get a new one, and don't let so many +grounds get through in the future. We don't want any more clouds." + +When dinner was over they all went out on the verandah. It was a +beautiful evening, for the wind had subsided, and the river stretched +out before them like a huge mirror. + +"How I should like to be out there now," Lois remarked, as she gazed +pensively upon the water. "Suppose we go for a row?" + +"I should think you'd be sick and tired of the river after your +experience to-day," Dick replied. "I prefer the car to a boat any +time." + +"With all the enjoyment of dust, noise, and smell of gasoline thrown +in," his sister sarcastically retorted. + +"I guess you were most thankful to smell gasoline to-day, though, when +Spuds picked you up in that old tub of his. Now, weren't you?" + +Before Lois could reply Betty suddenly appeared before them. Her face +was flushed, and she was panting as if she had been running fast. + +"I have only a minute to spare," she explained, "for Mr. David doesn't +know I have left him. He wants to see you, Mr. Jasper, and so I have +come before it gets too late. I am afraid to come out after dark now." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +GATHERING CLOUDS + +Jasper did not like the idea of leaving such agreeable company and +going with Betty. It was so pleasant to be near Lois, and he was +hoping that they might have a quiet little conversation together. Why +could not David wait? There was surely nothing of great importance +that he wished to see him about. No doubt he wanted to ask him some +questions concerning the progress of the work at the falls. He could +call in on his way home and have a chat with him. + +These thoughts ran quickly through his mind as he sat there watching +Betty. But something in the girl's face told him that he had better go +at once, and so he rose from his chair. + +"Won't you come back again?" Lois asked. "It is go early that surely +Mr. David will not keep you all the evening." + +"I'm afraid not," was the reluctant reply. "I shall go over to my +cabin and get a good sleep. I was up late last night looking after +that raft of poles which we took down river to-day." + +Lois had the feeling that something was wrong, and she longed to go to +the Haven and find out what it was. She was almost tempted to leave +the rest and accompany Jasper and Betty. She banished this idea, +however, thinking that after all there was nothing over which she +should worry. But in a twinkling there flashed into her mind the words +Margaret had so lightly spoken over the tea-cup. "I see a big black +cloud, and it entirely surrounds you." Why did those words come to her +now? she asked herself, and why should she have that strange foreboding +of impending trouble? So strong was this impression that she was +inclined to hurry after Jasper and give him warning. She did nothing +of the kind, however, but during the remainder of the evening she was +quieter than usual and took little part in any conversation. + +Jasper walked by Betty's side along the road leading to the main +highway. + +"How did you know where I was?" he presently asked her. + +"We saw you this afternoon out on the river saving Miss Lois and Miss +Margaret." + +"Why, where were you?" + +"Mr. David and I were up on the hill. We had just come back from a +walk up the brook. Mr. David was tired after his excitement, and so we +sat down to rest. It was then that we saw you." + +"What made Mr. David excited?" Jasper enquired. "I suppose it was the +great change he saw at the falls, was it?" + +"Oh, no, not that. It was the rolling log which did it. You see, Mr. +David was nearly killed this afternoon." + +At these words Jasper stopped short and looked keenly into Betty's face. + +"Nearly killed! What do you mean?" he demanded. + +"Yes, that was it." Then in a few words the girl told him what had +happened up the brook that afternoon, and of old David's narrow escape. + +For a while Jasper walked slowly along the road after Betty had +finished. He was greatly puzzled, for he could not believe that any +log would become loosened at the exact moment when David was directly +in front of it unless there was something to start it on its downward +course. + +"Did you see any men working near the logs when you were there?" he at +length asked. + +"I didn't see any," was the reply. "But we met several teams on our +way up." + +"And you saw no one near the place at all?" + +"We didn't see any one near where we were going to have our lunch, but +as we were coming home we saw the artist down by our brook." + +"You did? And where was he?" + +"Not far from Pyramid Rock. I don't think he saw us, for we hurried by +as fast as we could." + +"Why did you do that?" + +"Because I'm afraid of him." + +"What, did he ever do anything to frighten you?" + +"No. But he makes me shiver all over. I can't understand why it is." + +Jasper found David crouched in his big easy chair near the open window +facing the falls. His eyes brightened as the young man entered and sat +down by his side. + +"It is good of you to come," David began, "for I have been anxious to +speak to you ever since we came back from up the brook. You may go," +and he motioned Betty to the door. "I wish to be alone for a while +with Mr. Randall." + +He waited until the door had closed behind the girl, and then turned +his eyes upon his visitor's face. Jasper noted the worry there, and at +once connected it with his experience up the brook that afternoon. + +"Has Betty told you?" and David laid his right hand gently upon +Jasper's arm. + +"About the rolling log, and your narrow escape this afternoon?" + +David nodded. + +"Yes, she told me about it on our way here. I am so thankful that you +were not hurt." + +"I might have been killed! It was nothing less than a miracle that I +escaped." + +"It has shaken you up a great deal, so I see. But you will be all +right after a good night's sleep. Your nerves are somewhat unstrung +now." + +"Perhaps so," the old man mused. "But I feel uneasy. It may be the +shock, as you suggest. But there is something in my heart that I +cannot explain. I never had such a feeling before, and I thought that +perhaps you could help me." + +"In what way?" Jasper asked, as David paused as if groping for the +right words. + +"It appears as if everything is about to slip away from me. I seem +to-night as if about to start on a long mysterious journey, and that I +shall never return. People call me crazy, and perhaps they have good +reason for doing so. You may think the same, and especially so now as +you listen to my words. But I cannot help this peculiar notion that +possesses me and almost overwhelms me with strange forebodings. It may +be the outcome of a mind diseased, who knows? My great concern, +though, is in connection with the work at the falls. I have the +feeling that in some way I am necessary to its welfare. I do not wish +it to stop, and I want you to promise me to-night that if anything +should happen to me that you will take my place, and be keenly +interested in it." + +"I do not see how I can take your place, for that is not in my power. +But take a deep interest in all that goes on up there I certainly +shall, and be as deeply interested in its progress as you have been." + +"Ah, you can never be interested in it as I am," and David's eyes +glowed with the intensity of his old-time devotion. "Can any one be as +much interested in the growth and progress of a child as its parents? +My child is up there," and he stretched out his arm toward the falls. +"For it I have longed and suffered. It is bone of my bone and flesh of +my flesh. My heart's blood is there." + +Jasper now felt certain that the old man's mind was really unbalanced. +He attributed it to the excitement of his narrow escape that afternoon. +A good sleep would refresh him, and he would be all right in the +morning. He rose to his feet and took David's hand in his. + +"I must go now," he said. "We both need sleep. I was up late last +night, and so must go home early to get a good rest. You had better do +the same." + + "I don't want to sleep," David emphatically replied. +"My mind is too much upset to rest. But if you must go let me walk a +short way with you. Perhaps the cool night air will refresh me. Wait +a moment until I put on my coat and hat. Betty will be angry if I go +without them." + +Then he suddenly paused and caught Jasper fiercely by the arm. + +"Do you hear them?" he asked. "Listen," and he held up his right hand. + +In the old man's eyes had come a peculiar light, and his manner +reminded Jasper of the first night he had met him on the road when he +had rescued him from the speeding auto. + +"Do you hear them?" David repeated. "My beautiful falls, my beautiful +falls. What sweeter music than the sound of your rushing water. +People have been deaf to your luring voice. I alone have listened and +understood. They called me a fool and said I was crazy, ha, ha! But +they know better now. They have seen what my beautiful falls can do. +Light and power! Light and power! The world transformed. Burdens +lifted from weary shoulders; homes transformed, and the hearts of all +made glad." + +He was standing in the middle of the room as he uttered these words, +and Jasper noted how the fire of excitement was increasing in intensity. + +"Come," and he laid his hand upon his companion's arm as he spoke, "let +us go for a walk." + +"Hush! Listen!" he cried, unheeding Jasper's words. "There it is +again! Do you hear it? It's coming from the valley; it has winged its +way across the sea. Ha, ha, he will hear it and tremble. But, wait, +he is not there; he is in hell. Yes, that's where he is--in hell! +Where else could he be?" + +David's voice had risen to a shriek as he uttered the last words. +Jasper stared at him in amazement. What did he mean by such strange +utterances? Surely the man was out of his mind. + +"Come," he again ordered, "let us leave the house and go for a walk. +You will feel better out in the cool air." + +Taking him by the arm Jasper led him out upon the verandah and down the +steps. The twilight was deepening fast, and a quiet peace had settled +over the land. Away to the right the trees on the high hills were +clearly silhouetted against the evening sky. At any other time Jasper +would have stood and revelled in the beauty of his surroundings. But +now he was too much concerned about the man at his side to think about +such things. From the time they left the house until they reached the +main highway David talked incessantly. He was greatly excited, and +gesticulated at almost every word. + +At length he stopped, placed his right hand to his forehead, and looked +around. + +"What have I been saying?" he asked in a calmer voice. "It seems to me +that I have been in a strange country seeing all kinds of things." + +"You are all right now," Jasper replied. "You certainly have been +raving at a great rate." + +"Have I?" the old man queried, and he lapsed into a momentary silence. +"Peculiar feelings come over me at times. The fresh air of night has +done me much good. I shall walk a short way with you along the road." + +David was now a pleasant companion, and Jasper enjoyed talking to him. +He enquired about the progress of the work at the falls and asked +numerous questions. Not once did he refer to the dark forebodings +which had possessed him at the Haven, and Jasper believed that he had +forgotten about them. + +"I think I shall return now," he said after they had walked some +distance. + +"Shall I go back with you?" Jasper asked. + +"Not at all. I shall enjoy the walk alone. You are tired and should +get home at once. So, good night. I hope to see you again soon." + +Jasper stood and watched him until the darkness swallowed him up. Then +he made his way along the road to his own lonely house. He was very +tired, but he found it difficult to get to sleep. The strange words +which David had uttered kept running constantly through his mind. When +he did at last fall into a fitful slumber, he was beset by a dreadful +monster, which was slowly crushing him to pieces while he was unable to +do anything to save himself. + +He was aroused from this nightmare by a loud pounding upon the door. +At first he imagined it was some one coming to his relief. Half dazed +he groped his way across the room, threw open the door and peered out +into the night. + +"Who's there?" he demanded. + +"It's only me," came a voice which he recognised at once as Betty's. +"Oh, Mr. Jasper, have you seen Mr. David?" she asked. + +"Seen Mr. David!" Jasper exclaimed in surprise. "I haven't seen him +since I left him last night on the road near the Haven. Didn't he go +home?" + +"No, he didn't, and that's the reason I'm here. I waited up for him +and when he didn't come back, I started out to find him." + +"You stay there a minute," Jasper ordered, as he closed the door and +turned back into the room. Lighting a lamp, he was astonished to find +that it was near midnight. It took him but a few moments to dress, and +then he again threw open the door and stepped out into the night. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +MYSTERY + +By the light streaming through the doorway Jasper could see that +Betty's face was very pale. She was greatly agitated as well, and her +teeth chattered as she spoke. + +"You have been running hard," Jasper remarked. "You had better come in +and rest awhile." + +"No, no," the girl protested. "Don't let us wait a minute. We must +find Mr. David!" + +"Are you sure he isn't home?" Jasper asked. + +"Yes, I am sure he isn't there." + +"But he may have slipped in and you didn't hear him." + +"No, no, he couldn't have done it. I was listening and watching every +minute for him to come back. I am certain I would have seen him." + +"Does Mrs. Peterson know where you are?" + +"No. She was asleep when I left. I only intended, to come a short +distance for I was sure that I would meet Mr. David coming back. But +when I didn't, I came all the way here. Oh, let us go at once." + +Jasper stepped back into the room, and put out the light. He was about +to close the door when he paused. + +"Wait a minute," he said, "until I get my lantern. We can't do +anything without a light. Mr. David may have fainted by the side of +the road. He is an old man, you know." + +It did not take Jasper long to get the lantern, and soon they were +speeding across the field toward the main highway. He noticed that +Betty kept very close to him, and as they drew near the Haven she +seemed to be trembling violently. She started often, and Jasper +wondered what was the matter with her. + +"Were you not frightened to come all the way alone?" he asked. + +"Not at first," was the reply. "But I was frightened after a while and +I ran hard." + +"What frightened you? Were you afraid of the dark?" + +"No--yes," Betty faltered. Jasper wondered at her answer, but made no +comment. + +All along the road they watched most carefully, thinking they might +find David. Especially careful was this search as they neared the +Haven but not a trace of him could they find. + +The Petersons were greatly concerned over the missing man. The captain +suggested that the neighbours should be notified and a search-party +should start out at once. As this seemed the only thing to do, Jasper +hurried to the village and aroused Andy Forbes from his slumbers. It +took the storekeeper several minutes to grasp the significance of the +affair, and Jasper had to do considerable explaining. + +"So you tell me that Crazy David is lost?" he at length queried. + +"Certainly. Isn't that what I have been trying to tell you? We must +get a search-party out after him at once. I fear that evil has +befallen the old man. He may be wandering off in the woods somewhere, +as his mind seems to be uncertain at times." + +"I'm afraid we can't do much to-night," and Andy scratched his head in +perplexity. "However, I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can get a bunch +of men together before morning." + +"That's good," Jasper encouraged. "You round up the men here, and I'll +go to the camp down the road. There are several men there and I'll get +one of them to hurry to the falls and bring in all the men. I feel +responsible for the welfare of David as I had strict instructions to +look after him. If anything has befallen him I shall never forgive +myself." + +It took Jasper over an hour to go to the camp and bring back a half +dozen men. In the meantime a dozen or more had left the village with +lanterns to begin the search. These he met up the road. They had +searched every nook and corner, but had found no trace of the missing +one. + +"It's no use hunting when it is so dark," Andy informed him. "We might +as well look for a needle in a hay-stack. I move that we wait until +morning." + +This suggestion was carried out, and while most of the men went back to +their homes in order to get something to eat, Jasper made his way to +the Haven. Mrs. Peterson met him at the door and her face bore a +worried expression. + +"Have you found him?" she enquired. "We have been so uneasy." + +"No," was the reply. "We must wait until morning. It is no use +groping about in the dark. Where is Betty?" + +"She's in Mr. David's room. I am so anxious about her. She has been +crying and wringing her hands ever since you left. I cannot tell what +has come over the girl." + +"She is fretting about David, no doubt." + +"Yes, that may account for some of her grief," and Mrs. Peterson's eyes +rested thoughtfully upon the floor. "But there's something else +troubling her, mark my word. She's been nearly frightened to death +over something, and the way she sits and shivers at times is hard for +me to stand." + +"But won't she tell you what's the matter?" Jasper asked. + +"I have asked her over and over again, but she always shakes her head, +and falls to sobbing and moaning worse than ever. Poor child, I feel +so sorry for her." + +"It is strange," Jasper mused. "May I see her? Perhaps it is only the +excitement that is troubling her." + +Betty's face brightened somewhat as Jasper entered the room. This was +for only an instant, however, and then she buried her face in her hands +and sobbed as if her heart would break. + +"Betty, Betty, what is the matter?" Jasper asked. "Tell me what is +worrying you?" + +"It's about Mr. David!" she moaned. "He's lost and I'm sure he's dead!" + +"But we hope to find him," Jasper soothed. "Just as soon as it is +light enough we are going to continue our search for him. He must have +wandered away into the woods, and no doubt we shall soon find him. +There is something else troubling you, is there not? Won't you tell me +what it is?" + +But the girl shook her head, and try as he might Jasper could not +induce her to talk. She was determined to remain obstinately silent. + +There was but one person to whom Jasper felt he could turn for +assistance, and that was Lois. He had thought of her before, and +wondered if she had heard the news of David's disappearance. He felt +that it was unlikely as no one would think of carrying the news there. +As he stood for a few minutes looking upon Betty who was sitting before +him the very embodiment of abject misery, he believed that Lois was the +only one who could comfort her, and perhaps induce her to reveal the +cause of her unusual state of agitation. Telling the girl to be brave, +and to keep up hope for David's safe return, he left the Haven and +hastened down the road toward the main highway, and then took a short +cut across the field toward the Sinclair house. Far off in the east +light was breaking above the horizon, and he knew that in a short time +the search would again begin for the missing man, and he must be there. + +Not a sign of life could he observe around the place, and he wondered +how he could awaken Lois and not disturb the whole household. As he +drew near the verandah he noticed that a light shone from one of the +upstairs windows. Whether it was Lois' room or not he could not tell, +but scarcely had he stepped upon the verandah and tapped gently upon +the door, ere it was opened and Lois stood before him, dressed in her +out-of-door clothes. + +"What's the matter?" she asked before Jasper had time to say a word. + +"Have you heard anything?" Jasper enquired, + +"No, nothing," was the reply. "But I saw the lights near the Haven and +along the road and felt sure that something was wrong." + +Jasper noted that Lois' face was very pale, and that she was trembling +as if cold. He did not know that she had been unable to sleep owing to +the strange presentiment which had come to her the previous evening. +So strong had this at last become that she had risen and looked out of +the window facing the Haven. It was then that she saw the moving +lights, and her worst tears were confirmed. + +"David is missing," Jasper told her, "and we are waiting for daylight +to have another search for him." + +"David is missing!" Lois slowly repeated, as if she had not heard +aright. "Have you any idea where he is?" + +"No. I left him last night on the road near the Haven. He may have +wandered off somewhere into the woods. But Betty is feeling very +badly, and I have come thinking that perhaps you might be able to +comfort her." + +"I shall go at once," Lois replied. "I am so glad you have come for +me, as I was almost frantic wondering what was going on." + +As they made their way toward the Haven Jasper told Lois more about +Betty and her state of agitation. + +"What is the cause of it, do you suppose?" Lois asked. "Do you think +it is in connection with Mr. David?" + +"Not altogether, I am quite certain. There is something else on her +mind. She might explain to you what it is when she would tell no one +else." + +They had just reached the gate leading to the Haven when Andy Forbes, +accompanied by several men, swung up the road. + +"I must leave you now," Jasper told Lois, "and assist in the search." + +"Please let us know as soon as you find any trace of Mr. David," Lois +replied. "I shall stay with Betty for a while." + +It was quite light now, and as the men walked along the road they +searched most carefully every nook and corner, but all in vain. + +"He is not anywhere here," Andy remarked. "But he may have wandered +into the woods along that old winter road. I suggest that we follow it +for a while. He may be wandering about in there. We can comb the +woods if he's not on the road." + +The men moved very quietly, keenly alert, each hoping to make the +discovery first. To Jasper there seemed something uncanny about the +way they moved so silently onward at that weird morning hour. A spirit +of depression came upon him, and his companions appeared like enemies. +He felt that in some unaccountable way they believed that he was to +blame for all the trouble, and that he should have taken more care of +the old man. + +After they had gone some distance along the old road and had found +nothing, they stopped and held a consultation as to what they should do. + +"Suppose we divide up and search through the woods," Jasper suggested. +"Andy, you and Dave come with me, and we'll work back on this side of +the road, while the rest of the men do the same on the other." + +Acting upon this suggestion, they at once plunged into the woods and +took up their positions several rods from one another. Jasper was +nearest the road. Next to him was Dave, while Andy was farthest off. +Walking abreast among the trees, they were thus enabled to examine +every portion of the ground. In a way it seemed almost a hopeless +task, but there was nothing else for them to do. They knew that other +men would be scouring up and down the main road, as well as through the +fields, and in fact every place where David might have strayed. + +They had been thus searching for some time and were not far from the +main highway, when they heard loud shouting from the men on the other +side of the old wood-road. Feeling sure that they were needed, the +three men hurried forward in the direction from whence the sounds came. +Jasper led, and his heart beat fast as he bounded through the woods, +unheeding scratches upon his face and hands from the rough branches +which brushed his body. + +It took him only a few minutes to accomplish this, and he suddenly came +upon the men grouped around something which was lying upon the ground. +When his eyes rested upon the form of David huddled there, he gave a +half-suppressed cry, and brushing the men aside, dropped upon his knees +by the old man's side. + +"Is he dead?" he asked in a hoarse whisper. + +"Dead as a door nail," Jim Goban replied. "Guess he's been dead fer +some time by the look of things. Mighty bad piece of business this, I +call it." + +"Do you suppose he was killed?" Jasper enquired. + +"Sure. There's no doubt about that from the mark on his head. He's +been knocked down like an ox." + +A shiver shook Jasper's body at these words, and he straightened +himself up. He did not notice that several of the men were watching +him closely and observing his every word and action. + +"Who could have done such a diabolical thing?" Jasper mused, as if to +himself. "Let us examine the ground very carefully to see if the man +who did this deed left any trace. He might have dropped something." + +"We have looked," Jim replied, "and we found this." + +Jasper's eyes had been searching the ground, but something in Jim's +voice caused him to turn suddenly, and as he did so his heart almost +stopped beating and his face turned ghastly pale, for there in the +man's out-stretched hand was an envelope with his own name upon it. + +"Where did you find that?" he gasped, as he reached out to take it. + +But Jim drew back, while an expression of exultation gleamed in his +eyes. + +"No, I guess I better keep it," he replied. "It might come in handy +later on. We found it right there," and he pointed to a spot near +where the dead man was lying. "Guess we all saw it at once." + +A sickening feeling suddenly overwhelmed Jasper, and he felt faint. He +looked keenly into the faces of the men standing near, but their eyes +were averted. Did they believe him to be guilty of such a foul deed? +he asked himself. Something told him that they did, and the less he +now said the better it would be. He wanted to get away from their +presence to think it all over. + +"You better carry the body to the Haven," he at length suggested in a +voice as calm as possible. "I'm afraid I can't be of any more service." + +With that, he turned and walked rapidly away, leaving the men staring +after him with suspicious, wondering eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +UNDER SUSPICION + +Never in the entire history of Creekdale had there been such intense +excitement as when word was received of the murder of old David. At +first people could not believe it was true, and thought there had been +some mistake. But when the men who had found David related the story +then all doubt was set aside. The store was crowded that afternoon +with excited men who had gathered to hear the smallest detail, and to +discuss with one another the whole affair. It was Sandy Miller who +described how he had made the discovery, and then shouted for his +companions. + +"Was the letter lying near?" Andy Forbes asked. + +"I didn't notice it at first," was the reply, "as I was so overcome by +the sight before me. It must have been lying there all the time, for +Jim Goban saw it at once." + +"Where is that letter now?" + +"Jim has it, I guess. It wasn't a letter, but merely an envelope with +'Jasper Randall' written plain on the outside. You should have seen +that fellow's face when Jim showed it to him." + +"But do you think that proves anything?" Andy enquired. + +"Wouldn't like to say. But you know as well as I do how suspicious the +thing looks, and how much the lawyers will make out of it." + +"Is the body at the Haven now?" one of the men asked. + +"We took it there," Andy replied. Then he paused and looked around +upon his audience. "I hope I shall never have to take part in such a +business again," he continued. "I can't get the face of that girl +Betty out of my mind, and her wild cry is still ringing in my ears. I +thought she would go crazy for sure when she heard what had happened." + +"She was very fond of the old man, so I understand," Ned Purvis +remarked. + +"She certainly was. They were just like father and daughter. But I +must say that Miss Sinclair was a regular brick. She took charge of +everything at once and seemed to know the right thing to do. But, my, +her face was pale, and you should have seen her eyes--when she turned +them upon Jim Goban." + +"What did she do that for?" Ned questioned. + +"Because Jim showed her the envelope and hinted that Randall was the +guilty one." + +"Did she say anything?" + +"Never a word. But her eyes said enough, and I saw Jim flinch as if he +had been struck in the face." + +"The women folks say that her and him are pretty thick," Steve Clemwell +drawled. "Maybe that's the reason why she's goin' to stick up fer him. +They've been seen drivin' together, and he's been often at her house." + +"But what reason would Randall have for murdering Crazy David?" Andy +asked. "They've always been the best of friends, and they've never had +a quarrel as far as I know." + +"But the old man had money, so it was reported," Ned replied. "Andy +here knows something about that." + +The storekeeper, however, shook his head. He was not anxious now to +appear to know more than he really did. He alone of all the men was +feeling keenly for Jasper. + +"Mark my word, men," and he looked around solemnly upon those before +him, "there's a deep mystery connected with this affair. You have +taken for granted that Randall is guilty because that envelope was +found near the body. But I think we had better keep our mouths shut, +for if we don't some of us may get into trouble. There's going to be a +big time over this, and it's best for us to wait and see what will be +the outcome. When the detectives get to work they won't leave a stone +unturned, and the smallest detail which bears upon the matter will be +put into evidence. + +"When will the detectives begin work?" Ned asked. + +"I don't know, and I don't suppose any of us will, for that matter. +They're not going to inform the public of their movements, and maybe +we'll never know they've been here. But they'll find out all there is +to know, or I'm much mistaken." + +"D'ye s'pose they'll arrest that chap on suspicion?" Steve enquired, as +he cut a slice from a plug of tobacco he was holding in his hand. +"I've heered they ginerally do that furst of all so as to make no +mistake." + +"Most likely they will," Andy replied. "I wonder where he is, anyway. +I haven't seen him since he left us in the woods." + +"Maybe he's cleared out," Ned suggested. + +Scarcely had he finished speaking ere Jasper entered the store. His +face was very pale, and he walked at once toward Andy. + +"I want to use the phone," he told him. + +"All right, go ahead," and the storekeeper motioned to a small +closet-like compartment in one corner of the room. Andy prided himself +upon this place which he had built with his own hands. As there were +generally people in the store he found it important that the ones using +the telephone should be as private as possible. It was for his own +protection as well as for others that he had built it. + +Jasper at once crossed the room, entered the place and closed the door +tightly after him. He well knew that the ears of all would be strained +to the utmost to hear what he was saying. It took him only a short +time to call up Central in the city and to get into communication with +Mr. Westcote. His message was very brief. + +"There is great trouble here, and you must come as soon and fast as you +possibly can. Come at once to my cabin, and bring the best lawyer in +the city. I will explain everything then." + +That was the message, and in reply Mr. Westcote told him that he would +leave immediately in his car, travel as fast as possible, and bring his +own lawyer with him. + +Jasper then crossed the room and paid the storekeeper the price of the +message. There was a dead silence while he did this, which Jasper was +not slow to notice. He spoke to none of the men gathered there, in +fact did not even look at them, but left the store as soon as possible. + +From the time the blow had fallen and he realised that he was a man +suspected of murder, he seemed to be dazed. + +He had gone to his own cabin and had tried to reason the whole thing +out. But the more he thought the more puzzled he became. There was no +doubt that David had been murdered, but who had done the deed, and for +what purpose? Only one person came to his mind, and he recalled what +Betty had told him about the old man's narrow escape from the rolling +log. Though he felt that Sydney Bramshaw had something to do with the +affair, he had no definite proof. He naturally connected him with the +murder. But what object would the man have for doing such a dastardly +deed? He wondered much about the envelope, and how it got there. He +had never been to that spot before, and he was quite certain that David +did not have it with him. Somebody, then, must have obtained +possession of the envelope and dropped it near the body in order to +cast suspicion upon him. But why should any one wish to involve him in +such a serious crime? + +Long and carefully Jasper considered the matter in an effort to solve +the problem. But the more he thought the greater was he puzzled. He +realised that he must have assistance as that envelope and the fact +that he was on the road with David the night of the murder would tell +strongly against him. He naturally turned to Robert Westcote as the +one man who could help him and would stand by him in his time of need. + +He felt very lonely and wretched as he left the store and walked slowly +up the road. He did not wish to go back to the silence of his own +cabin. If he could only speak to some one and feel that all were not +against him it would be some comfort. He thought of Lois, and wondered +if she were at the Haven. He was certain that she would not believe +him guilty of such a cowardly deed, but would stand by him to the last. +Yes, she was the very one, and he would go to her at once. His step +quickened as this impulse possessed him and he hurried rapidly along +the road, with swinging strides. + +"Hello, you seem to be in a great hurry." + +Jasper started at these words, stopped short and looked in the +direction from whence the voice came. As he did so his face darkened, +for there, sitting before his easel not far from the road, was Sydney +Bramshaw. + +His brush was poised in hand as if he had merely paused in his work of +sketching a bunch of birch trees a short distance away. + +"You seem to be in a great hurry," the artist repeated, evidently +enjoying the forbidding expression upon Jasper's face. + +"Well, what of it?" was the curt reply. "It's a free country, isn't +it?" + +"That all depends," and Bramshaw laid down his brush in a thoughtful +manner. "It might be free to one and not to another. You and I can do +about as we please to-day, and no one will try to interfere with us. +But it isn't the same with the one who put that poor old man out of +business last night. He isn't free in the sense we are." + +"So you've heard about it, have you?" Jasper questioned. + +"Oh, yes. The whole country is wild with the news. I have been +talking to a number of people and they are greatly worked up over the +cowardly deed. Poor old David! He certainly was an innocent cuss." + +"When did you first hear about it?" Jasper enquired. + +"Not until late this morning. I am a sound sleeper." + +"You surely must be. I don't see how any man could sleep with all the +noise the men made passing along the road last night. Were you up +late, eh?" + +"What do you mean?" and an angry light leaped into Bramshaw's eyes. "I +wish you to know that I went to sleep with the birds last night." + +"I am glad to hear of it. You didn't always keep such good hours, +especially one night when I caught you prowling about my place. +Perhaps a hint to the wise was sufficient, and you have changed your +manner of living." + +"D---- you!" Bramshaw cried, rising to his feet. "I was willing to be +friendly with you, but you insult me to my face." + +"That's much better than insulting you behind your back, isn't it? You +are sure who does it and you can act accordingly." + +"Is that a challenge to fight?" + +"Take it any way you like. I am anxious to get my hands on somebody +to-day, for I want a little exercise. I'm getting tired of doing +nothing." + +"But there's nothing to be gained by fighting," Bramshaw protested. +"What reason have we for fighting?" + +Jasper gave a sarcastic laugh, and looked the artist up and down. + +"You certainly wouldn't gain much by fighting, but I would. Sydney +Bramshaw, I believe you are a miserable sneak, ay, and worse, and it +would be a great satisfaction for me to get my hands on your measly +carcass just for two minutes." + +Under the impulse of the moment Jasper had left the road and approached +close to the artist. The latter shrank back and his face paled at the +action of his formidable opponent. + +"Bah! I wouldn't touch you," Jasper sneered. "I wouldn't spoil your +nice clothes and your soft delicate hands. Oh, no. Go on with your +work of painting the beautiful things in nature." + +For a few seconds Jasper stood and looked upon the man cowering before +him. He longed to pierce his very soul that he might learn whether his +suspicious were really true. He was tempted to startle him with a +question about that envelope. But, no, he felt that it would be better +to consult the lawyer before saying anything. + +Leaving the artist, Jasper regained the highway with a bound, and +hurried onward. It did not take him long now to reach the road leading +to the Haven, and his angry mood passed like a cloud from the face of +the sun when he saw Lois standing there beneath the shade of a large +tree. Her eyes brightened when she saw him, and without a word she +held out her hand. For a few heartbeats neither spoke, but their eyes +met, and Jasper knew by the look that Lois gave him that she at least +was true and believed in him. + +"You know all?" he stammered. + +"No, not all," was the quiet reply. "But I know enough to make me +certain that the people in this place are wrong in their suspicions." + +"Whom do they suspect?" Jasper eagerly asked, thinking that perhaps he +might learn something new. + +"Don't you know?" + +"Yes, I'm afraid I do," Jasper bitterly replied. "But I can endure it +if I know that you believe me to be innocent." + +"I certainly do, no matter what others think." + +"What proof have you?" + +"Your life; isn't that proof enough?" + +"It may be to you, but I'm afraid it will count but little at the +trial." + +"At the trial!" Lois repeated in amazement. "Surely you'll not be-----" + +"Arrested?" Jasper assisted, as Lois' voice faltered. + +"Yes, that's what I mean." + +"I'd like to know what's to prevent it. Wasn't I with David the night +he was murdered, and wasn't that envelope with my name on it found by +his body? Do you for one moment imagine that I can hope to escape a +severe grilling and perhaps conviction with such evidence against me?" + +"But it isn't right," and Lois stamped her foot impatiently. "It's +only circumstantial evidence, and that shouldn't count." + +"But it does. It has convicted many men before this. But tell me, did +you learn what is troubling Betty?" + +"It's about Mr. David, you know. She grieves very much over his death. +She loved the old man dearly, almost as if he were her own father." + +"I know she feels badly. But isn't there something else troubling her +as well? Didn't you notice it?" + +"I did, but Betty would tell me nothing. I believe she has been +frightened in some way, for at times she started up in terror, and her +whole body trembled. I wonder what it can be!" + +Before Jasper could reply, an auto swung up the road and stopped near +them. There were two men in the car and almost intuitively Jasper knew +that they were detectives. They looked keenly at the two standing +beneath the tree, and then asked the way to Captain Peterson's. Jasper +told them, and without another word they turned to the left and sped up +to the house. + +"Who are they, do you suppose?" Lois asked. + +"They must be detectives," Jasper slowly replied. + +"Oh!" It was all that Lois could say as she stood watching the car +until it drew up before the Haven. + +"I shall go back to my cabin now," Jasper remarked. "I expect Mr. +Westcote shortly, and so I must be there when he arrives." + +Slowly they walked along the road to the gate leading to the Sinclair +house. For a while neither spoke. Jasper realised that it would be a +long time ere he would again be with her who was so dear to him. +Perhaps never, for who could tell what the lap of the future might +contain? Lois was thinking of the same thing, and her heart was very +heavy. There came to her mind the words Margaret had so lightly spoken +over the tea-cup. Why had she not warned Jasper? she asked herself +over and over again. Never before had she fully comprehended what this +man really meant to her. He was the first one who had ever inspired +her with the spirit of courage and endurance. Not once had she heard +him whine or complain but, in her presence at least, he had always +appeared as master of his fate. Now he was going from her, and she +might never see him again. But no matter what happened she was sure +that he would bear himself manfully, and fight to the very last. + +Having reached the gate, they paused. Both knew that the moment for +parting had come and strange feelings stirred their hearts. Jasper +thought that Lois never looked so beautiful. Oh, if he were only +certain that she loved him. If he could only take her in his arms and +tell her of his love, and feel that his great love was returned; then +he could go down into the dark valley of trouble, and perhaps death, +with a braver heart. But, no, it would not do for him to tell of his +love now with such a shadow hanging over his head. There were many +things he longed to do, but all he did was to step forward, seize Lois' +right hand in his, and press it fervently to his lips. Instantly he +realised his boldness. + +"Forgive me," he cried, "but I could not help it." + +"There is nothing to forgive," Lois quietly replied, though her heart +was beating fast and her face was more flushed than usual. "You had +better go now, for Mr. Westcote may come at any moment. Good-bye, and +may God bless and keep you." + +That was the hardest parting Jasper had ever known. But as he walked +up the road a new spirit possessed his soul. He knew what it was to +fight, for he had fought all his life long. But now he had the vision +of a fair woman to sustain him, and for her sake, and to show her that +he was worthy of her trust he would still fight the fiercest battle of +all. What the outcome would be he could not tell, but he was +determined to bear himself in such a manner that Lois would never be +ashamed of him. He well knew that even a defeated man might be more of +a conquerer than those who triumphed over him. And even as he walked +there flashed suddenly into his mind a vision of the Man of Sorrows +bearing his cross. Why had he not thought of Him before? he asked +himself. There was his example to follow; there was the One who was +the victor even on the cross, and there was the One to whom he could +now turn for comfort in the hour of his great need. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +IN THE TOILS + +It was with a heavy heart that Lois made her way slowly toward the +house. She felt that many changes would take place before she would +again see Jasper. Not for an instant did she consider him guilty of +murdering old David. But she was well aware that others would think +differently, and would be only too ready to condemn Jasper upon the +slightest evidence. An idea suddenly flashed into her mind, which +caused her heart to beat quicker. Some one was guilty of the murder, +and that person must be found, whoever and wherever he was. Was there +not something that she could do? she asked herself. Jasper must be +saved, and who else would take such a real heart interest in the matter +as herself? She knew that a woman was not expected to undertake work +of such a nature. But Lois Sinclair had very little respect for social +customs if they stood in the way of duty. + +During the day she had thought much about the murder and had tried to +unravel the mystery connected with it. Who was there in the place +likely to commit such a cowardly deed, and what would be his motive? +Old David had not an enemy, as far as she knew, and he had injured no +one. It was necessary for her to probe deeper still, and as she neared +the house her mind brooded over this question. She chided herself that +she had not asked Jasper's opinion. Perhaps he had some suspicion, for +even upon the slightest clue important results might depend. + +Lois had reached the steps leading to the verandah when she happened to +stop and look down toward the river. As she did so, she started, for +there near the shore, with his easel before him, was Sydney Bramshaw. +Had she known of the stormy scene which had taken place between him and +Jasper about an hour before she would have been more surprised to see +him where he was. He was seated facing the house, and thus could +observe all that took place about the building. If he saw Lois he gave +no sign of recognition, but seemed to be entirely occupied with his +work. + +The sight of this man had a remarkable effect upon Lois. She had seen +him but little of late, and to behold him now when she was thinking so +much about the murder was most startling. She entered the house as if +nothing unusual were agitating her mind. But with the door closed +behind her, she hurried upstairs, where she found Margaret sitting in +her room engaged upon some fancy-work. It was a bright sunny room, and +the girl sitting there by the open window presented a beautiful picture +of peace and youthful charm. + +"What is the matter, dear?" she asked, pausing in her work, as she +noted the troubled expression upon Lois' face. + +"Look," and Lois pointed toward the river, "there he is near the shore." + +"Well, what of it?" Margaret enquired with a smile. "One would think +that you had never seen a man before." + +"But not such a man as that, Margaret," and Lois sat down by the girl's +side. "Something tells me that he had much to do with the murder of +poor old David." + +"Whatever put such a foolish notion as that into your head?" and +Margaret looked keenly into Lois' face. + +"Sydney Bramshaw is merely a harmless artist, and wouldn't hurt a fly." + +"So you have always said. You may be right, but my heart tells a +different story, and it is hard for me not to believe it. I am going +to find out, anyway, if there is any justification for my suspicion of +that man." + +"You!" and Margaret looked her astonishment. "Why, what can you do?" + +"Perhaps nothing. Anyway, I am going to try. Something must be done +at once if Mr. Randall is to be saved." Lois then told Margaret all +about the finding of David, of the envelope lying near the body, and +how the people were accusing Jasper of the murder. + +When Mr. Sinclair and Dick came home they brought with them a copy of +_The Evening News_, which contained a long account of the murder. +Lois' hand trembled as she took the paper and saw the big startling +headlines. She feared lest Jasper's name should be mentioned in +connection with the affair, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she +saw that it did not appear. The article merely said that a certain +person was suspected and that the detectives were working on the case. + +"I'm afraid Spuds is in hot water," Dick remarked, as they all sat down +to dinner. + +"What makes you think that?" Lois asked in a voice as calm as possible. + +"Oh, from what people are saying. It's known all over the country that +he was with Crazy David that night, and that they left the Haven and +walked along the road together. That in itself looks suspicious, for +Spuds was the last person seen with old David." + +"Who saw them together?" Lois enquired, "and how did that information +get abroad?" + +"The Petersons, I suppose, or that girl Betty told it." + +"But do you suppose some one else saw them together? Have you thought +of that?" + +"I don't catch the drift of your meaning," and Dick looked enquiringly +at his sister. + +"Suppose there was some one else near the road that night watching Mr. +Randall and David as they walked along? And suppose, further, that +when the old man was going back alone to the Haven some one had killed +him?" + +"Good heavens, Lois! you make my blood run cold. Why should you +suggest such a thing?" + +"But you don't believe that Mr. Randall killed David, do you?" + +"No, no! I couldn't for a moment think that Spuds would do such a +thing." + +"Well, then, some one must have done it in a way similar to what I have +said." + +"Sure, I never thought of that. But who do you suppose did it?" + +"That's for us to find out." + +"Us?" + +"Yes, why not? Isn't it right to stick by our friends in their time of +need?" + +"But what can we do?" + +"That remains to be seen." + +"But what about that envelope, Lois? How do you I suppose it got +there? That looks queer, doesn't it?" + +"That's another part of the mystery to be solved, that's all." + +The next day was an exciting one, for all kinds of rumours were afloat, +and at times Lois hardly knew what to believe. But there were several +things about which there was no doubt. She learned that an inquest had +been held over David's body, and that it had been decided that David +Findlay had met his death at the hands of some unknown person or +persons. There was nothing more left to be done but to give the body a +decent burial. + +The funeral was held that afternoon, and it seemed that the entire +parish turned out. It was a fine mild summer day, but notwithstanding +that the farmers left their fields and attended the funeral. Lois and +Betty walked together to the church, and as they passed Jasper's cabin +they looked across the field, thinking they might see some one there. +But not a sign of life could they behold. + +The service in the church was brief and solemn, and Betty found it very +difficult to control her feelings. At the grave side she broke down +completely, and Lois had to lead her away to a quiet spot. + +"Poor Mr. David!" the girl moaned. "I shall never see him again. He +was so good to me." + +"There, there, dear," Lois soothed. "If he were alive he would not +wish you to feel so badly. He is at rest, anyway." + +"I know that, but I miss him so much. Oh, why was he taken?" + +For some time they sat there, Betty sobbing out her grief, and Lois +trying to sooth her, at the same time wondering what had become of +Jasper. If he had not gone away it was strange that he was not at the +funeral. The people leaving the grave passed close to the spot where +they were sitting, and many were the curious glances cast in their +direction. Several women stopped to speak to them, among whom was Mrs. +Wadell, noted all over the parish for her fondness for gossip, as well +as for meddling in the affairs of others. + +"So ye feel bad, do ye?" and she fixed her piercing eyes upon Betty's +tear-stained face. "I wouldn't feel bad fer such as him," and she +jerked her thumb toward the grave. + +"But I do," Betty protested. "He was good to me, and now he is gone." + +"I guess ye'll like him better now that he's gone," Mrs. Wadell +remarked. "I know I should, anyway, if he'd done as handsome by me as +he's done by you." + +"Why, what do you mean?" Betty asked in surprise. + +"Why, about the money he's left ye. It's a snug sum, so I understand, +and I suppose it'll make ye put on mighty fine airs, so's ye won't +speak to common folks any more." + +Lois now became much interested in the words of this garrulous old +woman, and she was anxious to know more, and where she had obtained her +information. + +"How did you hear that?" she asked. + +"Land sakes, don't ask me sich a question as that, Miss," was the +evasive reply. "How could I begin to tell ye where I hear things, fer +the air is full of all kinds of stories to-day. But I guess it's true +all right." + +"I didn't know that Mr. David had made a will. That is a surprise to +me." + +"And indeed it is to everybody else, Miss. We didn't think that Crazy +David had anything to leave. Why he was sold as a pauper to Jim Goban +in this very parish about a year ago. But that isn't the only thing +that surprises me." + +"What, is there something more?" + +"There surely is, Miss. It's reported that he's left a hull lot to +that Randall feller. I guess he knew how to work his cards all right +with the old man. He didn't take an interest in him fer nuthin', oh, +no. People don't generally do sich things these days fer love." + +"Mr. Jasper hadn't anything to do with that will," Betty angrily +protested. "He didn't know anything about it, neither did I." + +"Oh, you wouldn't know," and the old woman gave a sarcastic chuckle. +"He wouldn't want people to know what he was doin'. He was cute enough +fer that. And then to think that he should kill Crazy David to git his +money. Why the poor old man couldn't have lived much longer, anyway." + +"You lie!" and Betty, trembling in every limb, sprang to her feet. +"Mr. Jasper didn't do it. I tell you he didn't, and you have no right +to say such things." + +"Come, Betty," Lois remarked, rising to her feet and taking the girl by +the arm, "let us go home." + +"Ye may not believe me," the old woman called after them as they walked +away, "but ye'll soon find out fer yerselves, and then maybe ye won't +talk so big and mighty." + +Betty was going to reply, but Lois checked her. + +"I wouldn't say anything more, dear," she advised. "We must expect +people to talk and imagine all sorts of things. Let us be brave and +hope for the best." + +"But I can't bear to hear them say such awful things about Mr. Jasper," +the girl sobbed. "I'm sure he didn't get Mr. David to make his will, +and then kill him to get the money." + +"So am I, Betty. But I'm afraid we'll be the only ones who think so. +We'll stand by him, anyway, and do all we can for him, won't we?" + +Lois suddenly stopped and her face went pale. They had now come in +sight of Jasper's cabin, and near it were several men. On the road +were most of the people who had been at the funeral. That they were +greatly excited was quite evident. In an instant Lois realised the +meaning of it all, and she clutched Betty by the arm in the intensity +of her emotion. + +"They are going to arrest him!" Her voice was hoarse, and she spoke +scarcely above a whisper. + +"Who?" Betty asked in surprise, not fully comprehending the meaning of +her words. + +"The constables are after Mr. Randall," Lois explained. "There they +are now!" she cried. "They are coming from the house, and he is +walking between them." + +"Are they going to put him in prison?" the girl asked. + +"Yes, I'm afraid so." + +With a wild cry, Betty sprang forward and rushed up the road. Lois +followed, wondering what the girl was going to do. She reached the +crowd just as Jasper and the constables approached, and stood there a +silent watcher. What could she do? she asked herself. Would he see +her, and know of her sympathy? + +Jasper was walking with a free easy motion, closely guarded by the two +constables, one of whom was Jim Goban. His face was pale and he looked +very careworn, but he held his head erect and kept his eyes straight +before him. Betty standing near, rushed suddenly forward and caught +him by the hand. + +"Oh, Mr. Jasper," she cried, "we know you didn't do at, and I want to +tell you so." + +Taken by surprise, Jasper paused and looked at the girl. + +"Thank you," he replied. "I am glad you believe in me." + +"And so does Miss Lois," Betty explained. "She's standing right +there," and she motioned to the right. + +Jasper turned, saw Lois, and their eyes met. Not a word did they say, +but in that fleeting glance the expression that he saw in the eyes of +the woman he loved gave him great comfort and courage. + +"Git out of the way, girl," Jim Goban brutally ordered. "What d'ye +mean by stoppin' us in our duty? We'll miss the boat if we don't +hurry." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +LIGHT BREAKS + +Lois stood and watched Jasper and the constables until a bend in the +road hid them from view. Then taking Betty by the hand, she moved away +from the crowd. She could not bear to listen to their animated +discussions as to what would happen to the prisoner, for she was well +aware that most of them believed him to be guilty. She walked quite +fast until the path across the field was reached. This led along the +edge of a grove of young maples and birches, and here was a restful +seclusion from all prying eyes. + +"You must come and have dinner with me, Betty," she said, speaking for +the first time since leaving the crowd. "You will be lonely at the +Haven now, and I would like to have you for company, as Miss Westcote +has gone to the city." + +"Oh, may I?" and the girl lifted her tear-dimmed eyes to her +companion's face. "How nice that will be, and we can talk together +about him, can't we? I must go home soon, for mother will be anxious +to see me. She hasn't been well lately and wasn't able to get to the +funeral. I must do what I can to help her." + +"You will not have to work out any more, I suppose," Lois remarked. + +"Why?" the girl asked. + +"Because of the money Mr. David has left you. You remember what Mrs. +Wadell said, don't you?" + +"Oh, yes," and Betty fixed her eyes thoughtfully upon the ground. "I +have been thinking about that. But do you think I should use that +money on myself?" + +"Why, certainly; what else should you do with it?" + +"But Mr. Jasper will need it, will he not?" + +"In what way?" + +"Won't he need a lawyer to help him? I know it costs so much to get a +lawyer for mother has told me so. We must do all we can to save him." + +A mistiness came into Lois' eyes as Betty uttered these words. She +suddenly stopped, put her arms lovingly around the girl, and tenderly +kissed her. + +"You precious dear," she cried. "How sweet it is of you to think of +him, and I am most grateful to you. But I do not think you need worry +about paying the lawyer. I am sure Mr. Westcote will look after that." + +"Oh, do you think he will?" and the girl breathed a sigh of relief. +Then her face clouded, and that worried expression again came into her +eyes. + +"What will they do with Mr. Jasper?" she enquired. + +"I can't say," was the low reply. + +"Will they keep him in prison a long time, or will they----?" + +"Don't say that word!" Lois cried, clutching Betty firmly by the arm. +"I know what you were going to say, and I can't bear to hear it." + +They were walking slowly now along the narrow path, bordered by waving +grass. Birds sang in the trees to their left and butterflies flitted +here and there over the broad fields. It was a scene of peace and +contentment. Nature was in her most attractive mood and seemed to care +nothing for the cares of struggling humanity. At any other time Lois +would have rejoiced in the beauty around her and would have revelled in +the glory of earth and sky. But now it was otherwise. How could she +be happy when her heart was so heavy? She knew the cause, and she was +not ashamed to confess it to herself. In fact, it brought a slight ray +of comfort to feel that she was suffering with him. + +They had almost reached the house when a boy was seen approaching. He +carried a note in his hand, which he gave at once to Lois. + +"It's from Mr. Forbes," he explained, "and he told me to hustle, and +take an answer back as quick as I can." + +Lois read the note, which simply stated that she was wanted at the +telephone. + +"Tell Mr. Forbes that I shall be there shortly," she told the boy, at +the same time handing him a coin for his trouble in carrying the +message. + +Hurrying into the house in order to leave word with the maid where she +was going in case any one should call, Lois started with Betty for the +store. There was no more loitering now as she was anxious to learn who +wanted her on the phone. It was rarely that any one called her up, and +she was hoping that it might be Margaret to tell her that she was +coming back that evening. + +On their way they came to the grove at the top of the hill not far from +the Haven. Here Betty stopped, and stood as if hesitating what to do. + +"I think I shall leave you, Miss Lois," she said. + +"What, are you not going with me to the store?" + +"No, I guess not. I will see you later. I want to go to my room now +to think something over." + +She was trembling as she said this, and Lois wondered what was the +matter with her. Then an idea flashed into her mind. Was she afraid +to go past the artist's tent? she asked herself. There could surely be +nothing else which would cause her to leave her and go to the +loneliness of her own room. She said nothing to Betty, however, of her +thoughts, but bade her good-bye and hurried on her way. + +Coming at length to the spot where Bramshaw had been living, she +glanced to the left as if expecting to see him. But no sign of him did +she see, and great was her surprise to find that his tent was gone. +She rubbed her eyes, thinking that she had not seen aright. But, no, +there was no mistake. Bramshaw had gone, and had taken all his +belongings with him. This was strange, and as she walked along she +began to muse as to where he had gone and the purpose of his hasty +departure. Had it anything to do with the murder of old David? she +wondered. + +Lois was thinking of these things as she reached the store, where she +met Andy Forbes. + +"Do you know what has become of the artist?" she enquired. + +"Isn't he up the road?" Andy asked in reply. + +"His tent has been removed, and so I suppose he has gone with it." + +"Gone!" he exclaimed in surprise. "Why, when did he go?" + +"I haven't the least idea." + +"Well, I guess there must be something in it after all," Andy mused as +if to himself. + +"In what?" Lois questioned, wondering what the man meant. + +"I'll tell you in a minute, Miss Sinclair, but you'd better read this +first," and the storekeeper handed her a piece of paper. "It's the +telephone message," he explained. + +Lois took the paper in her hand, and read. It was from Mr. Westcote, +containing a request that she should go to the city the next day if she +possibly could, as he wished to see her on important business. + +"Why didn't you send this with the boy?" Lois enquired, somewhat +annoyed. "It would have saved my coming here." + +But Andy did not notice her annoyance, for something seemed to be +troubling him. + +"Would you mind coming into the house?" he asked. "My wife will look +after the store for a few minutes. There is an important matter I wish +to speak to you about." + +Opening the door to the right, he ushered her at once into a small +sitting-room. It was a cosy place, and here she found Mrs. Forbes, a +bright-eyed little woman, seated at the window facing the road, doing +some sewing. Lois knew her very well as one of the quiet thoughtful +women, of Creekdale, and who was of such great assistance to her +husband. + +"It is too bad to disturb you," Lois apologised, when Andy had asked +her to look after the store for a short time. + +"Oh, I do not mind," she pleasantly replied. "I am so glad you have +come, for I have been most anxious for Andy to have a talk with you. +Sit down, please," and she motioned to a chair. + +Andy did not sit down but walked up and down the room, as was his +custom when greatly excited. Presently he paused and looked keenly +into Lois' expectant face. + +"It's something very serious I've got to tell you, Miss Sinclair," he +began. "In fact, it's so serious that I have been doubting for some +time whether I should tell anybody about it. But when I told my wife +this afternoon she advised me to tell you, and so that's the reason why +I asked you to come here." + +"Has it anything to do with the murder case?" Lois asked, now much +interested. + +"Yes, I believe it will have, and that is what makes me so worried, +because I don't want to get tangled up in that nasty affair." + +"Tell me what it is," Lois suggested, impatient to learn what it really +was. + +"Well, it has to do with that envelope." + +"Oh!" Lois was more interested than ever now. + +"Yes, that's what it is about. You see, Randall came to the office one +day last week, and there was a letter for him from his company. I know +that much about it for their name was on the top left hand corner. +Randall opened the letter right in the store and dropped the envelope +on the floor, and didn't pay any more heed to it. I've seen him do the +same thing several times and so I didn't pay any special attention to +it. Now, Randall hadn't been gone very long before that artist came +for his mail. There was nothing for him and he seemed very surly and +said a few cuss words about people not writing. As he was standing +there talking I saw him stoop and pick up the envelope Randall had +dropped. He didn't know that I saw him doing it, for I was busy with +the mail though I was watching him all the time out of the corner of my +eye, for I never liked the fellow. I saw him glance at me, and when he +felt sure that I didn't notice what he was doing he slipped that +envelope into an inside pocket of his coat." + +When Andy began his story Lois was sitting with her hands clasped +before her and her eyes fixed full upon his face. But before he had +finished she had risen to her feet greatly agitated. + +"Are you sure that is the same letter that was found by David's side?" +she asked in a hoarse whisper. + +"I couldn't swear that it was," Andy slowly replied. "Anyway, it looks +very much like it, and the name of the company is on the left-hand +corner, just as it was on the one which Randall dropped on the floor +and Bramshaw picked up." + +"It must have been the same one," Lois emphatically declared. "Oh, I +am so thankful that you have told me this. I am sure it will go a long +way toward saving Mr. Randall." + +"I can't swear though that it's the same envelope," Andy repeated. + +"But you will be willing to swear to what you have just told me, will +you not?" Lois asked. + +"Sure. I'd swear to that any time and anywhere." + +"Thank you," and Lois breathed a sigh of relief. "I feel quite certain +that it will be valuable evidence." + +"Now, I wonder what that chap wanted that envelope for?" Andy mused. + +"To leave it by old David's body, of course, and to throw the blame on +Mr. Randall." + +"Yes, that no doubt was his idea. But why did he want to do that? And +if he committed that deed, why did he do it? What object did he have +in murdering an innocent old man who never injured anybody, as far as I +know?" + +"That is the puzzling thing which must be solved," Lois replied. "But +I must go home now, Mr. Forbes, and I thank you very much for what you +have told me this afternoon." + +She left the store with a lighter heart than she had entered it, and +walked briskly up the road. She somehow felt that what Andy had told +her would be of great value in freeing Jasper and bringing home the +crime to the right person. But something more must be done, and she +knew that it would be quite necessary to find the motive which prompted +Bramshaw to pick up that letter and to commit the deed. + +As Lois came to the road leading to the Haven, she found Betty waiting +there for her. The girl seemed brighter than she had been since the +night of the murder, and Lois wondered what was the cause of it. Had +she heard some good news? she asked herself. + +"Oh, Miss Lois," Betty cried, "I have been waiting a long time for you +and I thought you would never come. May I go home with you?" + +"Certainly, I shall be delighted to have you. But you look brighter, +Betty, than you did when I left you. Have you heard anything new?" + +"Oh, yes, Miss Lois, I have," the girl replied. "The captain told me +that he has gone away." + +"Who?" Lois enquired. + +"The artist! Just think of that! He has cleared out, and taken +everything with him." + +"Why should that make you so happy, Betty?" + +"Because he can't hurt me now." + +"Why, did he ever try to hurt you?" + +"Oh, yes, he said he would kill me if I told on him." + +"Kill you!" Lois exclaimed, stopping short. "If you told on him! I do +not understand you." + +"Hush," and the girl raised a warning finger and looked apprehensively +around. "Don't speak too loud. I am really afraid yet. But I know he +can't hurt me because he has gone." + +"No, he won't hurt you, Betty. I will see that he doesn't. Tell me +when he said he would kill you." + +"The night I went to meet Mr. David." + +"Oh!" + +"Yes, I was hurrying along the road just up there when I heard some one +coming toward me. I was sure it was Mr. David, and so I rushed up to +him and called out his name. Instead of Mr. David it was the artist, +just think of that! My, he was surprised when he found who I was. He +was so excited that he caught me by the arm so hard that I cried out +with pain and fear." + +"He did?" + +"Yes; and he said he would kill me if I ever told that I had met him +there on the road that night. He said that nothing could save me from +him, and oh, how he did curse and swear what he would do. He made my +blood run cold." + +"And did you promise that you wouldn't tell?" Lois asked. + +"No, indeed I didn't! I jerked myself suddenly away from him and ran +home as hard as I could. He ran after me, but he didn't catch me. I +was so afraid to look for Mr. David after that. I stayed in the house +till near midnight before I went out again." + +"So that was what was troubling you so much, was it?" Lois asked. + +"Yes. I was afraid that he would kill me. I guess I'm a coward +anyway. But when I saw the constables take Mr. Jasper away this +afternoon I made up my mind to tell you all about it. I don't mind now +if the artist does kill me if I can save Mr. Jasper. Anyway, I am glad +that he has cleared out." + +"Don't be afraid, Betty, he will not hurt you at all," and Lois put her +arms lovingly around the girl. "I am so thankful that you have told me +this. Come, now, and let us go home." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +LOIS GOES TO THE CITY + +Betty's story filled Lois with still greater hope, and she was anxious +to see Jasper's lawyer that she might tell him what she had learned. +For most of the night she thought about the matter, and she tried to +find some reason why Bramshaw should commit the murder. She thought, +too, of Jasper, and wondered how he was bearing himself in his lonely +cell. She longed to speak to him and tell him of the discovery she had +made. She knew that his mental suffering must be great, and she did +want to help him to bear his trouble. + +Lois learned from her father and Dick upon their arrival from the city +what a strong feeling was abroad against Jasper. People condemned him +in no measured language, and denounced him as a dastardly villain who +deserved the severest punishment. Mr. Sinclair told of the +conversation he had with several people along the road, and how all +were loud in their severe denunciations. Even the city papers, +following the popular cry, had editorials about the murder. Though +they did not mention Jasper by name, yet their allusions were so +pointed that no one could mistake their meaning. All united in +condemning the criminal and declaring that the deed was all the more +abhorrent owing to the age of the murdered man and the friendly +relations which had existed between him and his suspected assailant. + +All this was very hard for Lois to endure. It annoyed her to think how +willing people were to condemn a man and judge him worthy of death +before he had received a fair trial. She had a secret satisfaction, +however, in the information Andy and Betty had imparted to her. It +buoyed her up with the hope that it would greatly assist in freeing +Jasper and clearing him entirely from all blame. It was only natural +that she should desire to see the ones who condemned him so severely +put to an ignominious silence. She smiled almost bitterly as she +thought how they would come about Jasper with their smooth, oily words +of congratulation when he again came into their midst. + +In the morning Lois went to the city with her father and Dick. She +enjoyed the ride in the fresh air and she was somewhat sorry when she +alighted from the car in front of her father's office. Dick wanted to +drive her around to Mr. Westcote's house as he was most anxious to see +Margaret. He had not met her for two days, and to him it seemed a very +long time. But as Lois had some shopping to do, she preferred to walk. + +"I'll be around this afternoon, though," Dick told her. + +"Oh, I know you will," was the laughing reply. "Shall I tell her?" + +"Yes, do, Lois. She's great, isn't she?" + +"She certainly is, Dick. But I must hurry away now," she added as she +saw that her brother was anxious to talk more about Margaret. + +It did not take Lois long to do her shopping, and she was just leaving +the store when she met Mrs. Dingle face to face. Had she seen her +sooner she would have made a desperate effort to escape her. But there +was nothing for her to do now but to submit with the best grace +possible. + +"Oh, isn't it lovely to see you, dear," Mrs. Dingle effusively cried, +as she gave her a peck-like kiss upon the right cheek. "We have been +talking so much about you lately. Sammie is fairly crazy to see you, +and you must be prepared for a visit from him as soon as he learns you +are in town. I am so thankful that I have such a dutiful son. He is +quite a comfort to me, and I am sure any woman would be proud to have +him for a husband. There are so many bad men these days that we +appreciate a good one when we find him. We knew that you would come +back to the city." + +"What made you think that?" Lois enquired as Mrs. Dingle paused an +instant for breath. + +"To get away from that horrid country place, of course, where that +terrible murder was committed. I hope they have that villain securely +locked up." + +"What villain?" Lois asked. + +"Why the one who killed that poor old man for his money." + +"No, he is not locked up yet." + +"But I heard that he is. Surely he hasn't escaped!" and Mrs. Dingle +held up her well-gloved hands. + +"No, he isn't in prison yet," Lois calmly replied. "But there is an +innocent man there, though, I am sorry to say." + +"Do you mean that uncouth fellow Sammie was telling me about?" + +"I am not referring to any uncouth fellow, Mrs. Dingle, but merely to +Mr. Jasper Randall, a gentleman and a friend of mine." + +"Oh, I didn't know that," and Mrs. Dingle looked her surprise as well +as her embarrassment. "All I know is what Sammie told me." + +"What did Sammie tell you?" Lois voice was sharp as she asked the +question. + +"I can't remember all. But he said that he was brought up on a farm, +had to work his way through college, and that sort of thing, you know. +As he is not of our set, of course I did not pay much attention to what +Sammie told me." + +Lois was both angry and disgusted at this woman. Oh, how she longed to +tell her something that she would not soon forget. How she was tempted +to place Jasper and Sammie side by side and compare them; the one an +insignificant, brainless, useless, overdressed nincompoop; the other a +strong, self-reliant, masterful man, fighting against fate with face to +the front and head erect. + +"Excuse me, Mrs. Dingle," she said, "I am in a great hurry this +morning. And I am afraid if I stay I may say something to hurt your +feelings. Mr. Randall is a friend of mine, and I have great respect +for him. I have always made it a point of being loyal to my friends, +and adversity is the test of friendship." + +Mrs. Dingle stared in amazement after Lois. She could not understand +what had come over the girl, and at luncheon she discussed the matter +with Sammie. + +"You must see her at once, dear," she told him. "It would not do to +lose her, for her father is very rich and she is his only daughter. I +am afraid she thinks a great deal of that uncouth fellow who has been +arrested." + +"Hm," her son grunted. "Don't you worry one bit. Spuds'll be fixed +all right. The noose is hanging over his head and just ready to drop, +I was talking to some of the fellows to-day and they say that he's a +goner, and that nothing can save him. Oh, by the way, Ma, I saw +Bramshaw to-day." + +"You did!" his mother replied in surprise. "Why I thought he had left +the city." + +"So he did; but he's back now all right." + +"Where did you meet him?" + +"Just as he was coming out of the C. P. R. ticket office. He was in a +great hurry and had no time to stop and talk." + +"You must find out where he is staying, Sammie, and invite him to come +and see us. He is a very distinguished young man, you know; an artist +of wide reputation, and it makes a favourable impression to have such a +man visit us. He is a gentleman, and not like that uncouth man who +committed that terrible crime at Creekdale." + +"But I don't believe he'll be here long, Ma," Sammie replied. + +"Why, what makes you think that?" + +"I guess he's leaving the city. He must have been at the office +getting his ticket when I met him. No doubt he is going on this +evening's train." + +"He is visiting some of the big cities, no doubt, Sammie. A man like +that could not be expected to remain in a small place like this. +People must be anxious to see the man who has painted such famous +pictures." + +"Have you seen any of them, Ma?" her son asked. + +"Oh, no. But he has told me about them, and they must be great from +what he said. He has sold a great many at large prices, but the most +valuable he keeps in his mansion in England, so he informed me. He +said that he regretted that he had not brought several with him, but +the risk was too great, and the pictures were so big that it was +difficult to transport them so far." + +"H'm," Sammie grunted, as he went on with his luncheon, and nothing +more was said then about the artist. + +Lois found Margaret at home and they had luncheon together. There was +only one topic of conversation, and Lois told of the information she +had received from Andy and Betty Bean. + +"Have you any idea what your father wishes to see me about?" she asked. +"I am quite curious to know." + +"I really don't know," and Margaret shook her head. "He generally +tells me his secret plans because he knows that I will not divulge +them." + +"You will go with me to his office this afternoon, will you not?" + +"Certainly, if you care to have me. Father generally gets his luncheon +out and is somewhat late getting back to his office. Wait a minute, +dear, while I phone and tell him you are here." + +Margaret was gone only a few minutes, and when she returned she resumed +her seat at the table. + +"Father will be back in his office at one-thirty," she began, "and he +says that I may go with you. Lois, I have something important to tell +you." Here she dropped her voice and looked apprehensively around the +room. "Since you told me about that letter and Betty's fright I have +been doing some serious thinking. You say that Sydney Bramshaw has +left Creekdale?" + +"Yes. He cleared out, tent and baggage." + +"Have you any idea where he is?" + +"No. But I am afraid he is far away by this time." + +"Well, he isn't. He's in the city now." + +"In the city!" Lois repeated in surprise. + +"Yes. I met Sammie Dingle on the street this morning, and he told me +that he met Bramshaw coming out of the C. P. R. ticket office." + +"Oh!" + +"Yes, that's what he told me. I did not think anything about it at the +time, but I see things in a different light now. He must be planning +to leave the city on the evening train, and if he once gets across the +Border it will be difficult to find him. You should tell father all +you know, and I am sure he will take action at once." + +"And will he have Bramshaw arrested?" Lois asked. + +"What else will there be to do? It would not do to let him escape with +such evidence against him. It will be necessary for him to explain +about that letter and his suspicious actions and threat to Betty. We +have really no time to lose. My, I am getting interested and excited." + +"For my part," Lois replied, "I believe he is the guilty man. But I +cannot understand the motive of his crime. If we knew that it might +lead to greater discoveries. You see, in reference to that envelope it +will be merely one man's word against another. Andy will swear that he +saw him pick up an envelope which Mr. Randall dropped on the floor, but +he cannot swear that it is the same one that was found by the side of +the murdered man. Bramshaw will also swear that he never met Betty +that night on the road. His lawyer will not overlook anything, mark my +word. It will be only circumstantial evidence after all, and it may +not have much effect." + +"Keep up courage, Lois," Margaret encouraged. "You have accomplished a +great deal in a short time, and I know that father's lawyer has not +been idle." + +"Has he found out anything yet?" Lois eagerly asked. + +"I am afraid not. There has not been much time, you see. But he is a +very able man and will leave no stone unturned. But, come, dear, it is +time for us to get ready. We must not keep father waiting as he is +very busy these days." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A STRANGE COMMISSION + +Robert Westcote did not go to his luncheon the day of Lois' visit to +the city. He intended to go but was unexpectedly detained. He had +been very busy all the morning in his office. His lawyer had been with +him for some time, and when he was at last alone he turned his +attention to a type-written manuscript lying on the desk before him. +This consisted of several sheets of legal paper, attached to which was +an official seal which had been recently broken. This was the third +time that Mr. Westcote had read it and when he was through he sat for a +while in deep thought. He paid no attention to the click of the +typewriters in the adjoining room, and so engrossed was he that he did +not at first hear a tap upon the office door. When it was repeated, he +started from his reverie and called to the visitor to enter, thinking +that perhaps it was one of the clerks. It was not his habit to be +caught off guard, for he prided himself upon his alertness and strict +attention to every business detail. + +The office door slowly opened, and instead of a clerk, there stood +before him a man dressed in rough working clothes. He recognised him +at once as one of the men employed at the falls, and whom he had met on +several occasions. It was Mr. Westcote's kindness and courtesy which +always won for him the hearty support of his employees. They knew that +they would receive justice and consideration at his hands and that he +did not look upon them with contempt and as inferior beings. Mr. +Westcote at once arose from his chair and held out his hand. + +"Why, Dobbins," he exclaimed, "this is a surprise. I did not know you +were in the city. How are things going on at the falls? Nothing +wrong, I hope? Sit down, please," and he motioned him to a chair. + +"The work is going on all right, sir," Dobbins replied, as he took the +offered seat. "But I have come to see you, sir, on very important +business. It has troubled me so much that I have not been able to +sleep ever since Randall was arrested." + +"Oh, I see, it has to do with that murder case, has it?" Mr. Westcote +asked, now greatly interested. + +"I wouldn't like to say that, sir," and Dobbins twirled his hat in his +hands. "But it might throw some light upon the matter. You see, +somebody killed old David. That's certain, isn't it?" + +Mr. Westcote nodded his assent. + +"Well, if you knew for sure that somebody had tried to but a short time +before, it would make you rather suspicious of that somebody, wouldn't +it?" + +"I should say so!" Mr. Westcote exclaimed. "But do you know of any one +who made the attempt, Dobbins?" + +"You can judge of that, sir, when you hear what I have to say. It was +this way. The day of the big wind I was sent to the shore to get a +piece of mill belting, which was to come from the city on the afternoon +boat. I had almost reached the brow of logs on the edge of the +clearing when I stopped to get a drink from that little spring by the +side of the road. I sat down for a minute or two under the shade of a +small thick fir tree to fill my pipe, when happening to glance to my +left I saw a man running up the road. I at once saw it was that artist +fellow, and curious to know what he was running for I moved back a +little behind the fir so's he couldn't see me. He stopped right by the +logs and peered down the bank. Then he looked cautiously around and, +picking up a stick, he pried loose one of the logs lying on top, and +which was almost ready to go anyway. As soon as he had done this, he +dropped the stick and ran like a streak of lightning down the road, and +that was the last I saw of him." + +"Well?" Mr. Westcote questioned as Dobbins paused and wiped the +perspiration from his forehead with a big red handkerchief. + +"This is the part, sir, which I am ashamed to tell," the man continued. +"I heard the crash of that log down the bank and the splash in the +water. Then there fell upon my ears a shriek of terror. I knew it was +a woman's voice and I leaped from my hiding place and peeked down the +bank. And there I saw old David and that girl Betty Bean standing +there frightened almost out of their senses. Say, I wasn't long +getting back under cover again, for I knew that if they saw me they +would say for sure that I had rolled that log down the bank on purpose. +I didn't dare to go to the shore on the road so I cut up through the +woods and came out another way. I didn't dare to say a word about it +for fear I might get into trouble. But when young Randall, who is a +chap we all think a lot of, was arrested for the murder of that old man +I couldn't sleep a wink. If that artist fellow tried to kill old David +once he would try again, and put the blame off on some one else. At +last I could stand it no longer and so made up my mind to tell you all +I know. You can judge now, sir, for yourself." + +Mr. Westcote was greatly excited at this story, though outwardly he +remained very calm. Twice during the narration he had glanced at the +manuscript lying upon the desk, and once he had reached out his hand as +if to pick it up. For a few seconds he remained silent when the story +was ended. Then he rose to his feet and reached out his hand. + +"Dobbins," he began, "I wish to thank you for what you have told me +to-day. You have done a good deed by thus unburdening your mind. Will +you be willing to swear to what you have just told me?" + +"Swear! Indeed I will. I'll swear on a dozen Bibles any time and +anywhere." + +"That's good," Mr. Westcote replied, as he bade him good-day. "We +shall need you before long, if I'm not much mistaken, so be ready." + +Dobbins had scarcely left the office when Lois and Margaret arrived. + +"My, how the morning has gone!" Mr. Westcote remarked as he greeted +Lois with a hearty shake of the hand. "I suppose we had better get +down to business at once, as no doubt you wish to go home this +afternoon. I hope you will pardon my sending for you and giving you +all this trouble." + +"I do not mind in the least," Lois replied, "for I am sure it has +something to do with the murder, and I am so anxious to learn whether +you have found out anything new." + +"Only something this morning, Miss Sinclair, which may be of +considerable value. I trust that we may unearth more in a few days." + +"Oh, don't wait for a few days, Mr. Westcote," Lois pleaded. "You must +act at once, this very afternoon, if the criminal is to be caught." + +"How can we, Miss Sinclair," was the reply, "when we are not sure who +the real criminal is?" + +"But I know, and I think you will agree with me when I tell you my +story. Listen." + +Lois then related what she had heard from Andy Forbes and Betty Bean. +She told her story well and Mr. Westcote was keenly interested not only +in what she told him, but in the animated look in her eyes and the +varying shades of expression which passed over her fair face. He +considered Jasper a lucky fellow in having such a beautiful woman +striving so hard for his release. + +When Lois had finished, Mr. Westcote turned to his desk and drew the +telephone toward him. + +"What you tell me, Miss Sinclair," he said, "is very valuable, and I +must see my lawyer at once. Excuse me a moment." + +After he had called up the lawyer and asked him to come at once to his +office, he hung up the receiver and sat for a few seconds lost in deep +thought. + +"Yes, we had better do it at once," he remarked as if to himself. "It +will not do to run any risk." + +"Do what, Father?" Margaret enquired. + +"Have that Bramshaw detained. I have received some additional +information to-day, and with what Miss Sinclair has just told me it +should be enough to arrest any man. Now, I must come to the question I +wish to speak to you about," and he turned to Lois. "You have told me +your story and in return I shall relate one perhaps of a more startling +nature." + +"In connection with this same affair?" Lois eagerly asked. + +"It has a direct bearing upon it. It has to do with the mystery which +has been surrounding the life of old David." + +"And does it clear it up?" + +"Wait, please, until I am through, and you can judge for yourself," Mr. +Westcote smilingly told her. + +"I shall be as patient as Job," Lois replied, as she settled herself in +her chair as comfortably as possible. + +"My story might seem strange to you," Mr. Westcote began. "In fact, it +has always seemed strange to me, and sometimes I think that I shall +wake up and find it nothing more than a dream. Well, without going +into details, which would not interest you, it is sufficient to say +that I came to this country over two years ago on one of the strangest +commissions ever given to man. I was handed two sealed papers numbered +1 and 2, with strict orders to break the seal of paper Number 1 only +upon my arrival in Canada, and then I should find my instructions in +reference to Number 2." + +"What were the instructions?" Lois eagerly asked, as Mr. Westcote +paused for a few seconds as if considering how to proceed. + +"That will come later," he replied. "I must tell you about Number 1 +first. You promised to be patient, you know." + +"Excuse me, I know I did," Lois smilingly confessed, as she glanced at +Margaret, whose eyes were twinkling with amusement. + +"I was naturally anxious to know what my orders were," Mr. Westcote +continued, "and shortly after my arrival here, I broke the seal of +Number 1. Then I learned that I was to search for an old man who was +living in this country under the name of David Findley. No effort or +expense was to be spared. Money would be provided without stint +through one of the city banks. When the old man was found he was to be +kept in complete ignorance of the fact that I had been searching for +him. The hard part was that I should undertake to assist him in such a +way that he should not have the slightest idea that anything was being +done on his behalf. There was not to be the least semblance of +charity, and whatever was done for him had to appear to be the natural +payment for value received. If the old man had any special hobby or +scheme, no matter how wild, so long as it was legitimate, I was to +undertake to see that it should be carried out, no matter what the +expense. If the scheme proved feasible, so much the better, and strict +business methods were to be used to make it pay. But if not, the old +man's every lawful wish was to be gratified. One of the strict +instructions was that he should be induced as soon as possible to make +his will. This was to be done in such a way as to arouse no suspicion, +but that he should consider it as a matter of business detail, so that +his fond scheme, or whatever it might be, would not suffer in case of +his death. + +"You can readily understand, Miss Sinclair, the magnitude of the +undertaking. At first I thought that I had been made the victim of a +madman, and was tempted to return to England at once, and have nothing +to do with the affair. But the amount of money placed at my disposal +in the bank settled all scruples and started me forth upon my strange +quest. I even began to enjoy the adventure of the whole thing, and the +mystery attached to it lured me on. I searched far and wide for David +Findley and at last, owing to an accident to my auto, located him at +Creekdale, living as a pauper. By the description given in paper +Number 1 I knew that he was the man for whom I had been searching. +After that, matters moved along very smoothly. He had a fond scheme, +too, which served my purpose splendidly. He was wrapped up in the idea +of converting the water of Break Neck Falls into light and power for +the benefit of the entire community. I consulted with the best +engineers, and they said the scheme was most feasible, and so we began +work. David was paid a sum of money for his plans, which satisfied +him, and he was made Honorary President of a company which has never +really existed. The money at my disposal made everything easy. You +know the rest, and why should I go further into details? It would be +unnecessary for me to tell you of the faithful and excellent work of +Mr. Randall. He has been of great assistance to me, and without his +aid my task would have been much harder than it has been." + +When Mr. Westcote paused Lois looked enquiringly into his face. + +"May I speak now?" she asked. "I have been very patient, have I not?" + +"Indeed you have, Miss Sinclair," and Mr. Westcote smiled. "You may +ask anything you like." + +"Surely you have not told me all. I thought you had merely begun when +you stopped. Who was David Findley, anyway, and what does paper Number +2 contain? I am most curious to know the end of this strange story." + +"Oh, I forgot to tell you a very important thing," and Mr. Westcote +laughed. "My instructions in paper Number 1 told me not to open Number +2 until after the old man's death. Then I should learn all about him +and the mystery of my strange commission would be solved." + +"Do you know yet?" Lois eagerly asked. "Have you broken the seal?" + +"Yes, I broke it this morning, and have read the contents of the paper +three times. I am going to read it to you now, for that will be better +than if I tell it to you in my own words." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +PAPER NUMBER TWO + +Mr. Westcote was about to begin the reading of the manuscript lying +before him, when his lawyer was announced. + +"Excuse me for a moment," he said, "I must speak to Dr. Turnsell at +once." + +"Suppose we go out for a while, Father," Margaret suggested. "You will +wish to see him privately, I suppose." + +"Remain just where you are," was the reply. "It is not necessary for +you to leave." + +When they were alone Lois and Margaret discussed what Mr. Westcote had +just told them. + +"Isn't it strange?" Margaret began. "Did you ever hear anything like +it before?" + +"No, I never did," was the reply. "But did you know about it?" + +"Oh, yes. Father told me, of course, but I had to promise that I +wouldn't say a word about it. And I didn't, did I, not even to you? I +longed to tell you all I knew, but that would not have been right." + +"I wonder what that paper contains," and Lois motioned to the desk. +"It, no doubt, will explain everything. I wish your father would hurry +back." + +"Here he is now," Margaret replied. "He wasn't long with Dr. Turnsell." + +"I am afraid that I shall have to leave you young ladies for a while," +Mr. Westcote informed them as soon as he had closed the door behind +him. "My lawyer wants me to go with him. It is too bad as I wished to +read that paper to you." + +"Why cannot we read it ourselves?" Margaret asked. "You surely will +not keep us in suspense any longer." + +"Why, certainly," was the reply. "That will do just as well. Strange +that I never thought of that. Suppose you read it, Miss Sinclair," and +he handed the manuscript to her. "I shall come back as soon as I can, +so you had better wait here until I return unless I am too late." + +"Hurry up, Lois," Margaret urged, when they were once more alone. "I +can't wait another minute." + +Lois was nothing loath, and in a clear, well-modulated voice she began: + + +"I, Simon Dockett, feeling keenly the weight of years, and knowing that +my days on earth are but few, desire to unburden my soul and make +amends as far as possible for a grievous wrong I have committed. That +wrong can never be fully rectified in this world. If money could do +it, then it would flow like water; if a troubled conscience and a +wearied and a burdened soul could atone for what I have done, then +surely I have made atonement enough. They greatly err who say that a +man can sin and yet have peace of mind. I tell you it is hell; yes, +hell here, and hell in the world to come. + +"I have heaped up riches in my life, enough to satisfy the most +avaricious. But at what cost have I acquired them, and of what comfort +are they to me now? I am old, lonely, and menials serve me because of +my money. How much better are my so-called friends? They fawn upon me +with their lips, but deceit is in their hearts. They laugh at me +behind my back, and joke about 'Old Dockett' and his money. In all the +world there is none who loves me, but many who hate me. One especially +there is who desires my death, thinking that he will get my money. +That is part of what my riches have cost me, though not all. + +"I have a brother, and when we were young our hearts were as one. He +was gentle and thoughtful, while I was rough and impetuous. My one +object was to make money for self, his, to assist others. Once I loved +him as my own soul. But gold got into my heart and changed everything. +I became a machine, nay, more, a brutal thinking machine, with gold as +the one object in life. + +"All natural affections died in me, and I think I would have betrayed +my parents for gold, but thank God they were beyond my power. My only +brother, Henry, however, was not, and him I betrayed, deceived and +ruined. All that he had became mine, and I considered it shrewd +business. He left England and I was glad that he was out of my sight. +I have never seen him since, but I have kept track of him. + +"Had my brother cursed me when I robbed him, it would have been easier +for me in after years. But he reproached me not, except with his eyes, +and the look that he gave me as we parted has haunted me ever since. I +tried to forget what I had done to him, and plunged deeply into +business. But all in vain. I could not banish the wrong I had +committed, and my brother's face with the reproachful eyes was ever +before me day and night. + +"At last I could endure it no longer, and so resolved to make what +amends I could. I found out where my brother was living, wrote to him, +and sent him a considerable sum of money. He returned it, and that +made me angry. But I knew that my brother was right, and I also +learned that he would starve rather than accept a penny from me or help +in any form. + +"For several years I made no further attempt to assist him. But the +remorse gnawing at my soul could not be silenced. I reasoned that I +had done what I could to rectify my wrong, but that gave me no peace. +Finally I resolved that I would help him in such a manner that he +should never know that I had anything to do with it. I knew that he +was living in Eastern Canada, but just where I was uncertain. + +"After weeks of careful consideration I made arrangements that all that +I possess should go to my brother Henry after my death. In the +meantime I planned with my solicitors that a man of exceptional ability +and unimpeachable character and integrity should be sent to Canada, +backed with sufficient money, to find my brother and to devise some +means of assisting him, and carrying out his every legitimate wish +without his ever knowing that I was behind the scheme. + +"I have also provided that he should be given two sealed papers, the +first setting forth his instructions, which he is not to open until his +arrival in Canada. He will then learn that this second which I am now +writing must not be opened until after my brother's death, should he +outlive me. If he should die first then this paper is to be returned +to me with the seal unbroken. The man chosen for this special +undertaking must not know anything about me, and he is not to have the +least idea who my brother really is. When I am dead, my solicitors +will notify the man so that he may break the seal of this paper +immediately after my brother's death. + +"My solicitors have full knowledge of my business affairs, and they +will continue to manage them after my death. In case of my brother +Henry dying without having made a will, they have full instructions as +to the disposal of my property. Only one other living relative I have, +and he is my sister's son, Melburne Telford. He cherishes the hope +that my money will go to him after my death. In this, however, he is +mistaken, for I have taken a great dislike to the young man. He is +absolutely worthless, and travels over the country as an artist. I +have given him considerable money at various times, for my dead +sister's sake. But he has been very ungrateful, and lives a most evil +life. He believes that my brother Henry is the only one who stands +between him and my money. But I have so arranged that he shall not +receive one penny of it, though he is not aware of the fact. + +"I have now done all in my power to make amends for past wrongs to my +only brother. I should like to see him again, and to hear from his own +lips words of forgiveness. But that can never be. People have called +me hard, and good reason have they had for such an opinion. But they +have not known all. When I am gone and this story is told, perhaps +they may think somewhat differently of me. But whether they do or not +will not affect me then. I have made my bed, and so I must lie in it. + + (Signed) "SIMON DOCKETT, + Liverpool, England." + + +When Lois had finished, she laid the paper upon the desk and remained +silent for a few seconds. The last part of the confession was what +interested her most of all. She felt sure that Melburne Telford was +none other than Sydney Bramshaw. But how was she to prove it? Where +could the person be found who could identify him? she asked herself. + +"What do you think of the story?" Margaret asked, as she studied Lois' +face in an effort to divine her thoughts. + +"It is most interesting," was the reply, "and it explains things I +could not understand before. But how are we to prove that Sydney +Bramshaw is really Simon Dockett's nephew?" + +"Perhaps father may know more about it than we do," Margaret suggested. +"He must have received notice of Simon Dockett's death." + +Lois was about to reply when a sudden thought flashed into her mind, +which caused her face to flush with excitement. + +"What is it, dear?" Margaret questioned, noticing her agitation. + +"Don't press me for an answer, please," and Lois rose to her feet. "I +shall explain everything to you later. I must get home at once. A new +idea has come into my mind, which makes me very restless." + +As she was standing there, Mr. Westcote entered. His face bore a +worried expression which Lois and Margaret were not slow to notice. + +"Have they caught him?" Lois eagerly asked. + +"No, not yet, but he will be taken no doubt at the station. You have +finished reading the paper, I see," and he glanced toward the desk. +"What do you think of it?" + +"We have found it most interesting, but some of it quite puzzling." + +"What part?" + +"Where it speaks about Simon Dockett's nephew. Who is Melburne +Telford, do you think?" + +"Ah, that is where the present trouble lies, Miss Sinclair. I firmly +believe that this Sydney Bramshaw is the man, but how are we to prove +it without bringing people all the way from England? I thought there +was a man in the city who could identify him, as he had done business +with the Dockett Concern, as it is commonly called in England. My +lawyer and I hunted him up this afternoon, but he told us that he never +knew before that Simon Dockett had a nephew. Now if we could only +unearth some one who knows that Sydney Bramshaw is in reality Melburne +Telford then our case is complete." + +"I believe I know the right man," Lois remarked in a low voice. "He is +living at Creekdale, and if you will take me there at once we can have +a talk with him. I know he will assist us all he can, and we can +depend upon what he says." + +"We shall go at once," Mr. Westcote replied. "I shall order the car +immediately. You had better come too, Margaret." + +Lois was now in a great whirl of excitement, and she could hardly wait +for the arrival of the car. Mr. Westcote told the chauffeur to make +good time, and though they travelled fast it seemed to Lois a long time +before the Haven appeared in sight. + +The captain and Mrs. Peterson were greatly surprised when the car swung +up to the Haven and the young women and Mr. Westcote alighted. The +captain was lying in his big chair upon the verandah with his wife +knitting by his side. + +"Well, this is a surprise," he exclaimed as he shook hands with his +visitors. "I thought you were all in the city, and had forgotten your +country friends." + +"Oh, we can never forget you, Captain," Lois smilingly replied. "We +have come on purpose to see you, and so you should feel very much +elated and be on your best behaviour." + +"Sure, sure, indeed I shall. But what do you want to see me about?" he +enquired. "Has it anything to do with that murder case? I am most +anxious to hear the latest news." + +"I have come to ask you to get your thinking-cap on," Lois replied. + +"My thinking-cap! Why, bless your heart, it's always on, day and +night." + +"That's good, Captain. But first I wish to ask you a few questions." + +"Drive ahead, then, I'm ready." + +"You have often sailed to Liverpool, have you not?" + +"Sure. Know the place well." + +"You knew also of the Dockett Concern there, didn't you? I have heard +you mention that name." + +"Yes, indeed I did. Knew old Simon Dockett himself, and saw him often. +My, he was a cranky cuss, if ever there was one. He had a whale of a +tongue, and knew how to use it." + +"Did you know anything about his family?" + +"Not much. He never married, as I guess no woman would have him. But +I know for sure that he has a nephew. He sailed once on my ship, and +that was the first time I met him. He was a gay one." + +"Do you remember his name?" Lois was much excited now. + +"Sure; it was Melburne Telford. I couldn't forget that for if he told +it to us once on that trip he told it a hundred times. He was always +boasting that he was the nephew of old Simon Dockett, and that he was +to fall heir to his wealth." + +"Have you ever seen him since, Captain?" + +"Not until he struck this place, travelling under the name of Sydney +Bramshaw. I knew him, though he didn't know me," and the captain +smiled as he ran his hand over his bearded face. "I didn't have this +then. At first I couldn't exactly make out where I had seen the fellow +before, but when I remembered I gave such a whoop that the women folk +thought I had gone out of my mind, and came running in to see what was +wrong." + +"So that was the matter with you that day, was it?" Mrs. Peterson asked +as she paused in her knitting. + +"Yes, that was it, and poor little Betty thought I had something in my +head like 'Mr. David,' ho, ho!" + +"But why didn't you tell us who Sydney Bramshaw really was?" Lois asked. + +"At first I thought I would. But then I decided to await developments, +and see what the fellow was doing around here, and why he was sailing +under another name. If I told what I knew it would have been gabbled +all over the place in no time, and the chap would have been looked upon +with suspicion. He seemed to be harmless enough, and so I thought I +might as well hold my tongue for a while anyway. But since he's gone +and you've asked me point blank about him, I can't see any harm in +telling what I know." + +"Would it surprise you, Captain, to learn that Melburne Telford, alias +Sydney Bramshaw, is David Findley's nephew?" Mr. Westcote asked. + +"His nephew!" the captain exclaimed. "Old David's nephew!" + +"Yes, that's who he is, and David and Simon Dockett were brothers." + +"Good heavens!" the captain ejaculated. "What's the meaning of it all, +I'd like to know?" + +"Let me tell you," Mr. Westcote replied. "It is only right that you +should know." + +As briefly as possible he related the story of the two sealed papers, +the captain and his wife listening with the keenest interest. He told +also of Bramshaw's suspicious actions. + +"And do you mean to tell me that old David was murdered by his nephew?" +the captain asked in amazement when the story was finished. + +"It looks very much like it, doesn't it?" + +"It certainly does. My, my, who'd have thought such a thing!" and the +captain leaned back overcome by what he had just heard. + +Before the visitors left, Mrs. Peterson spread a little table with a +spotless cloth, and brought forth some of her fresh bread, cake and +preserves. + +"It is no trouble, I assure you," she replied in answer to Lois' +remonstrance. "You must have a cup of tea before you leave, and I +thought it would be nice out here on the verandah." + +"That looks good to me," Mr. Westcote remarked as he drew his chair up +to the table. "I haven't eaten a bite since morning. I was all ready +to go to the restaurant when Dobbins came to see me, and then you girls +arrived. If this keeps up much longer I shall be a skeleton. But I +must not remain too long," he added, as he consulted his watch. "I +must be back in the city before the C. P. R. leaves." + +"May I stay with Lois?" Margaret asked. + +"Why yes, if you will not be in the way." + +"She must stay," Lois replied. "I could not get along without her now. +You will keep us informed, I hope, of how you make out." + +"Yes, I shall write to-night, and if anything of great importance turns +up I shall let you know at once." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +THE TABLES TURNED + +The agony of mind that Jasper suffered in leaving his cabin and meeting +the people of Creekdale on their return from old David's funeral was +only a part of the trial he endured on his journey to the county jail. +On the wharf, while waiting for the arrival of the steamer, he was +subjected to the pitiless stares and gibes of men, women and children. +News of the arrest had spread from house to house, and people had +flocked to the wharf to have a last look upon the suspected man. +Jasper stood with his face to the river watching the steamer off in the +distance, which was rapidly approaching. The actions of the crowd +disgusted him. There was not one friendly voice lifted up on his +behalf. Jim Goban strutted up and down keeping close watch upon his +prisoner, and gloating over his task. He was having his revenge now +for the blows he had received on the day of David's release. + +When once on the steamer Jasper believed that he would be free from all +curious eyes. In this, however, he was mistaken. There were many on +board and all soon learned that the "terrible murderer" was in their +midst. Jasper was kept down below near the engine room and it was +remarkable how most of the people on that boat found it necessary to +pass him quite often. He could hear some of their comments as they +moved away. + +"What a bad face he has," a woman remarked. + +"Yes," her companion replied, "he surely does look like a desperate +character. Wasn't it awful for him to kill that poor old man?" + +Jasper's face was really hard and stern; how could it have been +otherwise? Where was all their Christian charity? he asked himself. +Where was the spirit of justice? Those people knew that he had not yet +received a fair trial, and why were they so willing and eager to +believe him guilty? + +Old Simon Squabbles was on board, and though he said nothing to Jasper, +he expressed his views to several men a short distance away. + +"It's nothin' more than I expected," he boasted. "I knew he would soon +reach the end of his tether after the experience I had with him. I had +him workin' fer me, an' when I wouldn't pay him fer loafin' in the +potato patch, he got as mad as blazes an' said things I wouldn't like +to repeat." + +Jasper endured such remarks without a word. He did not feel like +making any reply. In fact, he realised how useless it would be, and +the less said the better. + +The limit of his bitterness was reached when a woman approached and +began to speak to him about his soul, and the danger of hell fire. She +dilated glibly upon the awfulness of sin, and even offered to pray for +him. + +"Keep your prayers for yourself," Jasper retorted, stung almost to fury +by her impudence. "You'll do more good if you pray for these +snivelling hypocrites," and he motioned to those standing around him. + +"Isn't it awful!" and the woman held up her hands in horror. "You +should be afraid to speak that way, and you in such danger. Read this, +poor man," and she held forth a tract she had been holding in her hand. + +Jasper glanced at it and read the heading, "Flee from Hell Fire." He +took it, and then crushing it in his hand, threw it from him. + +"I've had enough of this," he cried, "and I'll stand no more. Leave me +alone, is all I ask. Hell can be no worse than what you people are +dealing out to me now." + +Jasper's look and attitude caused those near him to shrink back, and +during the rest of the voyage he had peace from the clatter of tongues, +at least. + +It was a great relief to him when at last he was lodged in the cell of +the county jail. Here he was alone and free from all curious eyes, and +he had time and quietness for thought. His heart was nevertheless +heavy as he sat there in his solitude. He brooded over all that had +taken place, and the one and only ray of brightness which came to him +in his misery was the thought of Lois and the vision of her standing +where he last saw her with such deep sympathy expressed in her eyes. + +The following day Mr. Westcote's lawyer came to see him, and they had a +long talk together. Dr. Turnsell was greatly impressed by Jasper and +the straightforward manner in which he told about his visit to David +the night of the murder. + +"We shall do the best we can for you," the lawyer informed him as he +bade him good-bye. "We have tried to get you out on bail, but so far +have been unsuccessful." + +This visit somewhat encouraged Jasper. He knew that able men were +working for him and that Mr. Westcote would spare no money on his +behalf. As he sat there in his cell he thought over his past life and +of the many struggles he had made to succeed. He brooded over the +injustice he had received from so many simply because he was poor and +forced to fight his own battles against almost overwhelming odds. "And +is this the end?" he asked himself. "Will all my efforts amount to +nothing?" He thought of several of his college companions, sons of +rich men, who knew not what it was to fight in order to win their way, +and who were now occupying important positions in life. He knew what +they would say about him now. "Poor Spuds," would be their laconic +comment. "He was always an odd one, anyway." Yes, that was the way +they would talk, and then dismiss him from their minds. + +The afternoon slowly passed, and after a while he rose and paced up and +down his small room. He looked through the barred window and saw the +clouds sweeping across the "long savannahs of the blue." How precious +freedom seemed to him, and he longed to be once more in the open. He +thought of Lois, and wondered if she were thinking of him. Perhaps she +was out on the river in her little boat watching those same clouds. +There would be no one near now to rescue her should the water get rough. + +Jasper was interrupted in his reverie by the entrance of the jailor. +He carried a letter in his hand, which he gave to the prisoner, and +then retired and bolted the door. + +Jasper glanced at the writing and his heart gave a great bound as he at +once recognised Lois' handwriting. Quickly he tore open the envelope +and drew forth the letter. + + +"Dear Mr. Randall," it began, "I am sending you this little note to +remind you that all your friends have not forgotten you, and that we +are doing what we can on your behalf. Keep up courage. I am very +hopeful now and feel sure that everything will turn out right. I know +you are innocent, and am confident that you will soon be free. +Good-bye. + +"Yours in haste, + +"Lois Sinclair." + + +Next to Lois herself nothing could have been more welcome to Jasper +than that letter. He pressed it fervently to his lips, and read it +over and over again. It brought a great comfort to his burdened heart. +He was sure now that Lois was thinking of him and doing what she could +for his release. He wondered what she had discovered, and mused much +upon the words "I am very hopeful now." + +Jasper slept well that night and awoke in the morning greatly +refreshed. He wondered what the day would bring forth, and as he paced +up and down his room in order to get a little exercise, he squared back +his shoulders and held his head high. He felt fit and ready for battle +and longed for activity of some kind. As the morning hours wore slowly +away he became restless and impatient. The silence of his room was +affecting his nerves, and he thought with a shudder of men who were +condemned for life to solitary confinement. What more horrible +punishment could be meted out to any man? He was sure that he would go +mad in a few days. + +Jasper could eat but little of the meagre dinner the jailor brought +him. He was hoping that there would be a letter or some message for +him, and when there was none he felt sadly disappointed. How long +would it be before he had any word from the lawyer? he wondered. + +He was brooding at the table when the door again opened and to his +great joy and surprise Mr. Westcote entered. Jasper sprang to his feet +and seized the hand held out to him. + +"Are you quite repentant now?" Mr. Westcote smilingly asked. + +"Quite," was the reply. "I think this dose will do me all my life. I +am willing to do anything you ask me, even to blacking your boots." + +"That's good, so obey me at once and leave this confounded hole." + +"What, go with you?" + +"Certainly. What else would have brought me here but to take you away?" + +"To the court-room, I suppose," was the bitter rejoinder. + +"Not at all. But come now, and I will explain everything on our way to +the city. My car is just outside." + +How good Jasper felt to be once again out of doors, and he expanded his +chest and inhaled great draughts of the fresh air. + +"My, that's great!" he exclaimed. "It will take me a long time to get +the poison of that cell out of my lungs, and----" + +"The bitterness out of your soul, eh?" Mr. Westcote quietly asked, as +Jasper paused. + +"Yes, that's what I was going to say. But I'm afraid it will be a much +harder thing to do. I've been the sport of fools so long that the +bitterness of my soul has become a chronic disease." + +"Tut, tut, don't talk that way any more," Mr. Westcote chided. "Jump +on board now, and let us be off. I'll tell you something that will +sweeten your soul and make life worth living." + +To Jasper it seemed almost like a dream as he leaned back and listened +to what his companion told him about the net of evidence which had been +woven about Sydney Bramshaw. He did not mention Lois in connection +with the affair, but related the incidents of the letter, the threat to +Betty Bean, and old David's narrow escape from the falling log. He +told him also about the two sealed papers, and who David Findley and +Sydney Bramshaw really were. + +"This is certainly remarkable!" Jasper exclaimed, when Mr. Westcote +ceased speaking and took a cigar from his pocket. "But where is +Bramshaw now?" he asked. "Surely he has not been allowed to escape." + +"Indeed he hasn't. He's in the city jail, that's where he is." + +"Oh, I see." It was all Jasper could say. + +"Yes, he was arrested last night as he was about to board the C. P. R. +for New York. His grip was searched and letters of a most +incriminating nature were found. Why, the fellow must be a fool to +have kept them with him. Almost any man in his right mind would have +destroyed them at once." + +"How did he take his arrest?" Jasper enquired. + +"At first he put up a big bluff and threatened all sorts of things. +But after a night in the lock-up and a thorough grilling this morning, +he broke down and begged for mercy. He was confounded by the net which +had been woven about him, and the look of terror in his eyes was really +pathetic." + +"And has he confessed to murdering old David?" Jasper eagerly asked. + +"Not exactly. But he has come so near to it that not the shadow of a +doubt is left about his guilt. I believe that he will confess all +shortly in the hope that he may escape the death penalty by doing so." + +Jasper remained silent for a while apparently studying the scenery as +they sped on their way. But he saw nothing of tree, flower or rich +rolling meadows. His thoughts were elsewhere, and his next question +revealed the working of his mind. + +"To whom am I indebted for the collecting of all that valuable +evidence?" he questioned. "Some one must have been very busy." + +"You are indebted to several," was the reply. "But Miss Sinclair has +been the most active." + +"So I imagined," was all Jasper said and he once more lapsed into a +silence which he did not break until the car drew up before Mr. +Westcote's office. He knew now that Lois cared for him, and his heart +thrilled with joy as he thought of the efforts she had made on his +behalf. How he longed to see her and thank her for what she had done. + +The surprise which came to Jasper upon his speedy release and +vindication was nothing compared to the shock he received when Mr. +Westcote told him about old David's will. + +"Surely he has not left everything to me!" Jasper exclaimed. + +"No, not all; merely half after a few bequests have been disposed of. +Then you and Miss Sinclair are to share alike." + +"I don't seem to comprehend it all yet," and Jasper placed his hand to +his forehead in a bewildered manner. + +"It's only natural that you shouldn't. It will take you some time to +grasp the significance of the bequest which has been made to you. Your +responsibility will be very heavy, but from what I know of you I +believe that you will be equal to the undertaking." + +"I shall do the best I can," Jasper replied. "I am too much dazed at +present to think it carefully over. For a man to be freed from all +suspicion of a terrible crime, and then to find himself heir to a vast +fortune all in one day is enough to turn any one's brain." + +A knock sounded upon the office door, and Dr. Turnsell at once entered. +He shook hands with Jasper and heartily congratulated him. + +"I have come to tell you," he added, "that Bramshaw has made a full +confession of his crime. He is a nervous wreck, and this morning he +broke down completely." + +"I am very thankful that he has confessed," and Jasper gave a sigh of +relief. "Wasn't it lucky that he was caught before he got over the +Border?" + +"You have to thank Miss Sinclair for that," Mr. Westcote replied. "But +for her prompt action I am afraid we would be frantically searching for +Bramshaw now." + +"And I would be still in jail," Jasper mused. + +"Undoubtedly. Now, it seems to me that Miss Sinclair should be +informed of what has happened as soon as possible. Suppose we slip up +and tell her?" + +"That will be great," and Jasper sprang to his feet. "When can we +start?" + +"At once. The car is waiting outside. I knew that you would be +anxious to go, and so ordered the chauffeur to be ready." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +THE REAL HAVEN + +Lois rose early that morning and attended to numerous household +affairs. It was necessary for her to keep busy, as her mind was always +calmer when her hands were employed. She had the feeling that the day +would be an unusual one, and that much would happen before its close. +She could not rid her mind of this idea, and she mentioned it to +Margaret over the breakfast table. + +"Do you believe in premonitions?" she asked. + +"In a way I do," was the reply. "Strange things happen sometimes, you +know. I, too, have a peculiar feeling this morning that we are to hear +great news today. Everything is so still just now, with not a leaf nor +a blade of grass aquiver. See how the fog rests upon the river through +which the sun is trying to break. There will be a heavy wind this +afternoon, mark my word. I have often noticed it to be so. It is the +rule rather than the exception. And it may be the case with us. The +quietness of the morning may give place to excitement before night." + +"You are quite a philosopher," Lois laughingly remarked. + +"Not at all, dear. I am merely an observer, and I notice that what +happens in nature around us is often true in our own lives. The law +which governs the waves of the ocean affects in a similar manner the +ripples of a tiny pool. I am going to make a prophecy now." + +"Let it be a good one." + +"Certainly. I am going to predict that this afternoon will bring us +the excitement of joy, and that there will be a happy company seated at +this table for dinner. How is that for a prophecy?" + +"I hope it will come true," Lois replied with a smile. + +"Do you care for a walk this morning?" she asked. + +"No, I think not. I have some needle-work to finish, and I do so like +that shady corner of the verandah. But don't you stay in on my +account." + +"I'm afraid I couldn't content myself in any one place this morning," +and Lois gazed thoughtfully out of the window. "I am so restless that +I must be on the move. I shall visit the Haven first and then go for +the mail. We should hear something from your father." + +Lois enjoyed the walk up along the shaded lane, and when she was almost +to the main highway she sat down under a large tree and looked out upon +the river. The last trace of fog was slowly lifting and not a ripple +disturbed the surface of the water. She longed to be out there in her +boat and made up her mind to go for a row during the afternoon. She +thought of the day Jasper had rescued her and Margaret. What was he +doing now? she wondered. Perhaps he was sitting in his lonely cell +thinking of her. The thought brought a flush to her cheeks and a sweet +peace to her heart. No doubt he had received her letter, and that +would tell him that she had not forgotten him. + +She found the captain in his accustomed place upon the verandah. + +"You are early this morning," was his salutation as he took the pipe +from his mouth. + +"Why shouldn't I be?" she asked, as she sat down by his side. +"Wouldn't it be a pity to stay indoors a morning like this?" + +"Sure it would. But you are lucky to be able to walk about. Look at +me; nothing but a cripple who must stick to this one place with never a +chance of moving around." + +"But you don't need to, Captain. People come to see you, and you know +all that is going on. You held quite a reception yesterday afternoon." + +"Indeed I did. And I have been thinking very much about what I heard. +It is wonderful. I do hope they have caught that rascal." + +"Have you seen Betty lately?" Lois enquired. + +"We expect her to-night. She is coming to stay a few days with us. It +will be good to have her here again, for we miss her very much." + +"Have you any idea what she is going to do?" + +"Her mind is set upon being a nurse, so I understand. She'll make a +good one, mark my word. The way she took to old David and looked after +him was a marvel." + +Mrs. Peterson now came from the house and joined in the conversation. + +"You must excuse me, dear," she apologised, "but I haven't had time to +dress up this morning. Betty is coming to-night, and I want to get +some cakes and pies made." + +"You won't have to work so hard when you get your money," Lois replied. +"I suppose you have heard nothing more about it?" + +"Only that we're to get a thousand a year. Isn't it wonderful! It +seems that it must be all a dream. At first we couldn't understand +where so much money was to come from. But after what Mr. Westcote told +us it is all clear. Betty and her mother are to get the same amount +each, so I believe. Poor old David! We little realised what he would +do for us when we took him to board. I did hear that Mr. Jasper is to +come in for a large share. I hope he does, anyway, for he deserves it." + +"Have you heard who will get the balance of the money, property, or +whatever it is?" Lois asked. + +"Why, certainly. Don't you know?" Mrs. Peterson asked in astonishment. + +"No, I have not the least idea." + +"Well, isn't that strange! Why, the bulk of the property is to go to +you and Mr. Jasper." + +At these words Lois' eyes opened wide with amazement, and she felt that +she had not heard aright. + +"To me?" she gasped. + +"So I understand. We didn't mention it to you, thinking that you knew +all about it. But isn't it wonderful what strange things have happened +in such a short time?" + +Lois made no reply, for her mind was too much agitated. She wished to +be by herself that she might think over this remarkable piece of news. +Bidding the captain and his wife good-bye, she walked slowly down the +road toward the store. Surely there had been some mistake, she +reasoned. Why should anything have been left to her? What had she +done to merit it? She wished that David had not done such a thing. It +would mean a great responsibility, and she did not feel equal to the +task. + +Reaching the store, her attention was diverted for a time by the brief +note she received from Mr. Westcote telling of the arrest of Sydney +Bramshaw. This was very gratifying news, but she longed to hear some +word about Jasper, and whether he would be released. This and what +Mrs. Peterson had told her about the will occupied her mind all that +afternoon. She was unusually silent, and Margaret was afraid that she +was not well. She spent a couple of hours upon the river, but the +water becoming rough she was unable to remain out any longer. + +"Your prediction has come true, Margaret," she said when she had +reached the house. "It is very rough out there now. You were quite +right as regards the water, but I guess that is about as far as it +goes. It is almost dinner time and here we are just as quiet as we +were this morning." + +"There is plenty of time yet," and Margaret looked up from her work +with a smile. "I have had such a delightful day," she added. "See, I +have done all this," and she held up a piece of needle-work for +inspection. + +"I wish that I could settle down to something definite," Lois sighed. +"I have never been so restless in all my life as I have to-day. I have +the feeling that something wonderful is about to happen, and that a +great change is to take place in my life. If I were superstitious I +should be quite uneasy." + +"Is it a feeling of dread?" Margaret asked. + +"No, not at all. I cannot explain it, for I never experienced anything +like it before." + +This conversation was suddenly interrupted by a long succession of +raucous honks up the road, and in a few seconds a car swung around the +corner of the house and stopped before the verandah. + +Lois had risen and stepped forward. But she stopped short in amazement +when she saw Jasper in the car, seated by Mr. Westcote's side. Her +father and Dick were in the front seat, but she hardly noticed them. +Jasper was free! That was the one idea which filled her mind. It +seemed almost too good to be true. Just what happened next she was not +altogether certain. She welcomed them all and listened to their +voices, but she seemed to be living in a dream from which she would +suddenly awaken. She took her place as usual at the head of the table, +but made so many mistakes that Dick laughed at her. + +"What's the matter, Lois?" he enquired. "You're surely strong on hot +water. You've given me a cup of it instead of tea, and the rest you +poured into the milk pitcher." + +"Did I do that?" Lois asked in surprise. "Well, I guess I'm rattled, +anyway. You have told me so many things during the last half hour that +my brain is all in a whirl." + +Jasper was as much excited as Lois, though outwardly he remained calm. +He said very little, and let Mr. Westcote tell how their car had broken +down and but for the timely arrival of Mr. Sinclair and Dick they would +not have been able to reach their destination. He recalled his feeling +of dismay when they were stalled, and he feared that he would not be +able to see Lois that night. He did want to tell her how grateful he +was for what she had done for him. But now he was near her and yet he +had not told her. He had thought over the proper words he would say, +but when he had taken her hand as she met him at the verandah steps, he +did not utter them. + +After dinner they all went out upon the verandah, and what a delightful +time that was. It was a happy company, and for a while all cares were +banished. It was a balmy evening, the wind of the afternoon having +subsided, and all nature was hushed in repose as the shades of night +began to steal over the land. It was the hour of enchantment, and +while Mr. Sinclair and Mr. Westcote discussed matters relating to the +work at the falls, Dick and Margaret strolled slowly down to the river. + +Jasper and Lois thus found themselves sitting alone on the verandah +steps. + +"Suppose we pay a visit to the Haven," Jasper suggested. "It is a +perfect night for a walk, and I know the captain and his wife will be +glad to hear the news. Your father won't mind our leaving him, will +he?" + +"He won't realise that we have gone," Lois laughingly replied. "He is +very happy just now." + +Jasper and Lois were in no great hurry to reach the Haven. Their +hearts were happy, and as they walked slowly along Jasper told Lois all +that had happened to him since the day of his arrest. + +"I can never thank you enough for sending me that letter of +encouragement, and what you have done for me," he told her. + +"Don't try to do so," Lois replied. "It was a joy to me to be able to +do something." + +They were standing beneath a big maple tree, and Lois was plucking at a +wild flower she had just picked. Jasper suddenly reached out, caught +both her hands in his and held them tight. + +"Lois, Lois," he breathed, and his voice was intense with emotion, "I +want you for my very own. I cannot live without you." + +"Oh, look, you have crushed my flower," Lois remonstrated, while a +nervous little laugh escaped her lips. + +"That is too bad," and at once Jasper released her hands and placed his +arms around her. + +"Lois, I love you," he murmured. "I have loved you for years. Can you +love me in return?" + +In reply Lois lifted her flushed face to his and their lips met. The +seal of their betrothal was set, and their young hearts were as one. +Time to them was nothing now in the rapturous joy of their sweet pure +love. Their past doubts, cares and trials were all ended. They had +started forth to reach the Haven nestling on the hill and they found on +the way the real Haven which they had long been seeking--the enchanted +Haven of Love. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER SEALED ORDERS*** + + +******* This file should be named 16714.txt or 16714.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/7/1/16714 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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