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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/5871-h.zip b/5871-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed0cea7 --- /dev/null +++ b/5871-h.zip diff --git a/5871-h/5871-h.htm b/5871-h/5871-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..07c3b7a --- /dev/null +++ b/5871-h/5871-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12332 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta content="pg2html (binary v0.17)" name="linkgenerator" /> + <title> + Green Fancy, by George Barr Mccutcheon + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .75em; margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; text-align: justify; font-size: 80%; font-style: italic;} + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + .xx-small {font-size: 60%;} + .x-small {font-size: 75%;} + .small {font-size: 85%;} + .large {font-size: 115%;} + .x-large {font-size: 130%;} + .indent5 { margin-left: 5%;} + .indent10 { margin-left: 10%;} + .indent15 { margin-left: 15%;} + .indent20 { margin-left: 20%;} + .indent25 { margin-left: 25%;} + .indent30 { margin-left: 30%;} + .indent35 { margin-left: 35%;} + .indent40 { margin-left: 40%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; right: 1%; font-size: 0.6em; + font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; + text-align: right; background-color: #FFFACD; + border: 1px solid; padding: 0.3em;text-indent: 0em;} + .side { float: left; font-size: 75%; width: 15%; padding-left: 0.8em; + border-left: dashed thin; text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; + font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + .head { float: left; font-size: 90%; width: 98%; padding-left: 0.8em; + border-left: dashed thin; text-align: center; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; + font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + p.pfirst, p.noindent {text-indent: 0} + span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 0.8 } + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Green Fancy, by George Barr McCutcheon + +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: Green Fancy + +Author: George Barr McCutcheon + +Release Date: June, 2004 [EBook #5871] +First Posted: September 15, 2002 +Last Updated: May 10, 2019 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREEN FANCY *** + + + + +Etext produced by Charles Aldarondo, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + GREEN FANCY + </h1> + <h2> + By George Barr Mccutcheon + </h2> + <h3> + 1917 + </h3> + <hr /> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I — THE FIRST WAYFARER AND THE + SECOND WAYFARER MEET AND PART ON THE HIGHWAY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II — THE FIRST WAYFARER LAYS HIS + PACK ASIDE AND FALLS IN WITH FRIENDS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III — MR. RUSHCROFT DISSOLVES, MR. + JONES INTERVENES, AND TWO MEN RIDE AWAY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV — AN EXTRAORDINARY CHAMBERMAID, + A MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY, AND A MAN WHO SAID "THANK YOU" </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V — THE FARM-BOY TELLS A GHASTLY + STORY AND AN IRISHMAN ENTERS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI — CHARITY BEGINS FAR FROM HOME, + AND A STROLL IN THE WILDWOOD FOLLOWS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII — SPUN-GOLD HAIR, BLUE EYES, + AND VARIOUS ENCOUNTERS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII — A NOTE, SOME FANCIES, AND AN + EXPEDITION IN QUEST OF FACTS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX — THE FIRST WAYFARER, THE SECOND + WAYFARER, AND THE SPIRIT OF CHIVALRY ASCENDANT </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X — THE PRISONER OF GEEEN FANCY, + AND THE LAMENT OF PETER THE CHAUFFEUR </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI — MR. SPROUSE ABANDONS + LITERATURE AT AN EARLY HOUR IN THE MORNING </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII — THE FIRST WAYFARER ACCEPTS AN + INVITATION, AND MR. DILLINGFORD BELABOURS A PROXY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII — THE SECOND WAYFARER RECEIVES + TWO VISITORS AT MIDNIGHT </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV — A FLIGHT, A STONE-CUTTER'S + SHED, AND A VOICE OUTSIDE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV — LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY,—BUT + MR. SPROUSE WAS SMALLER THAN THE AVERAGE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI — THE FIRST WAYFARER VISITS A + SHRINE, CONFESSES, AND TAKES AN OATH </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII — THE SECOND WAYFARER IS + TRANSFORMED, AND MARRIAGE IS FLOUTED </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII — MR. SPROUSE CONTINUES TO BE + PERPLEXING, BUT PUTS HIS NOSE TO THE GROUND </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX — A TRIP BY NIGHT, A SUPPER, + AND A LATE ARRIVAL </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX — THE FIRST WAYFARER HAS ONE + TREASURE THRUST UPON HIM—AND FORTHWITH CLAIMS ANOTHER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI — THE END IN SIGHT </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I — THE FIRST WAYFARER AND THE SECOND WAYFARER MEET AND PART + ON THE HIGHWAY + </h2> + <p> + A solitary figure trudged along the narrow road that wound its + serpentinous way through the dismal, forbidding depths of the forest: a + man who, though weary and footsore, lagged not in his swift, resolute + advance. Night was coming on, and with it the no uncertain prospects of + storm. Through the foliage that overhung the wretched road, his + ever-lifting and apprehensive eye caught sight of the thunder-black, + low-lying clouds that swept over the mountain and bore down upon the + green, whistling tops of the trees. At a cross-road below he had + encountered a small girl driving homeward the cows. She was afraid of the + big, strange man with the bundle on his back and the stout walking stick + in his hand: to her a remarkable creature who wore "knee pants" and + stockings like a boy on Sunday, and hob-nail shoes, and a funny coat with + "pleats" and a belt, and a green hat with a feather sticking up from the + band. His agreeable voice and his amiable smile had no charm for her. He + merely wanted to know how far it was to the nearest village, but she + stared in alarm and edged away as if preparing to break into mad flight + the instant she was safely past him with a clear way ahead. + </p> + <p> + "Don't be afraid," he said gently. "And here! Catch it if you can." He + tossed a coin across the road. It struck at her feet and rolled into the + high grass. She did not divert her gaze for the fraction of a second. "I'm + a stranger up here and I want to find some place to sleep for the night. + Surely you have a tongue, haven't you?" By dint of persuasive smiles and + smirks that would have sickened him at any other time he finally induced + her to say that if he kept right on until he came to the turnpike he would + find a sign-post telling him where to get gasolene. + </p> + <p> + "But I don't want gasolene. I want bread and butter," he said. + </p> + <p> + "Well, you can git bread an' butter there too," she said. "Food fer man + an' beast, it says." + </p> + <p> + "A hotel?" + </p> + <p> + "Whut?" + </p> + <p> + "A boarding-house?" he substituted. + </p> + <p> + "It's a shindy," she said, painfully. "Men get drunk there. Pap calls it a + tavern, but Ma says it's a shindy." + </p> + <p> + "A road-house, eh?" She was puzzled—and silent. "Thank you. You'll + find the quarter in the grass. Good-bye." + </p> + <p> + He lifted his queer green hat and strode away, too much of a gentleman to + embarrass her by looking back. If he had done so he would have seen her + grubbing stealthily in the grass, not with her brown little hands, but + with the wriggling toes of a bare foot on which the mud, perhaps of + yesterday, had caked. She was too proud to stoop. + </p> + <p> + At last he came to the "pike" and there, sure enough, was the sign-post. A + huge, crudely painted hand pointed to the left, and on what was intended + to be the sleeve of a very stiff and unflinching arm these words were + printed in scaly white: "Hart's Tavern. Food for Man and Beast. Also + Gasolene. Established 1798. 1 mile." "Also Gasolene" was freshly painted + and crowded its elders in a most disrespectful manner. + </p> + <p> + The chill spring wind of the gale was sweeping in the direction indicated + by the giant forefinger. There was little consolation in the thought that + a mile lay between him and shelter, but it was a relief to know that he + would have the wind at his back. Darkness was settling over the land. The + lofty hills seemed to be closing in as if to smother the breath out of + this insolent adventurer who walked alone among them. He was an outsider. + He did not belong there. He came from the lowlands and he was an object of + scorn. + </p> + <p> + On the opposite side of the "pike," in the angle formed by a junction with + the narrow mountain road, stood a humbler sign-post, lettered so + indistinctly that it deserved the compassion of all observers because of + its humility. Swerving in his hurried passage, the tall stranger drew near + this shrinking friend to the uncertain traveller, and was suddenly aware + of another presence in the roadway. + </p> + <p> + A woman appeared, as if from nowhere, almost at his side. He drew back to + let her pass. She stopped before the little sign-post, and together they + made out the faint directions. + </p> + <p> + To the right and up the mountain road Frogg's Corner lay four miles and a + half away; Pitcairn was six miles back over the road which the man had + travelled. Two miles and a half down the turnpike was Spanish Falls, a + railway station, and four miles above the cross-roads where the man and + woman stood peering through the darkness at the laconic sign-post reposed + the village of Saint Elizabeth. Hart's Tavern was on the road to Saint + Elizabeth, and the man, with barely a glance at his fellow-traveller, + started briskly off in that direction. + </p> + <p> + Lightning was flashing fitfully beyond the barrier heights and faraway + thunder came to his ears. He knew that these wild mountain storms moved + swiftly; his chance of reaching the tavern ahead of the deluge was + exceedingly slim. His long, powerful legs had carried him twenty or thirty + paces before he came to a sudden halt. + </p> + <p> + What of this lone woman who traversed the highway? Obviously she too was a + stranger on the road, and a glance over his shoulder supported a first + impression: she was carrying a stout travelling bag. His first glimpse of + her had been extremely casual,—indeed he had paid no attention to + her at all, so eager was he to read the directions and be on his way. + </p> + <p> + She was standing quite still in front of the sign-post, peering up the + road toward Frogg's Corner,—confronted by a steep climb that led + into black and sinister timberlands above the narrow strip of pasture + bordering the pike. + </p> + <p> + The fierce wind pinned her skirts to her slender body as she leaned + against the gale, gripping her hat tightly with one hand and straining + under the weight of the bag in the other. The ends of a veil whipped + furiously about her head, and, even in the gathering darkness, he could + see a strand or two of hair keeping them company. + </p> + <p> + He hesitated. Evidently her way was up the steep, winding road and into + the dark forest, a far from appealing prospect. Not a sign of habitation + was visible along the black ridge of the wood; no lighted window peeped + down from the shadows, no smoke curled up from unseen kitchen stoves. + Gallantry ordered him to proffer his aid or, at the least, advice to the + woman, be she young or old, native or stranger. + </p> + <p> + Retracing his steps, he called out to her above the gale: + </p> + <p> + "Can I be of any assistance to you?" + </p> + <p> + She turned quickly. He saw that the veil was drawn tightly over her face. + </p> + <p> + "No, thank you," she replied. Her voice, despite a certain nervous note, + was soft and clear and gentle,—the voice and speech of a well-bred + person who was young and resolute. + </p> + <p> + "Pardon me, but have you much farther to go? The storm will soon be upon + us, and—surely you will not consider me presumptuous—I don't + like the idea of your being caught out in—" + </p> + <p> + "What is to be done about it?" she inquired, resignedly. "I must go on. I + can't wait here, you know, to be washed back to the place I started from." + </p> + <p> + He smiled. She had wit as well as determination. There was the suggestion + of mirth in her voice—and certainly it was a most pleasing, + agreeable voice. + </p> + <p> + "If I can be of the least assistance to you, pray don't hesitate to + command me. I am a sort of tramp, you might say, and I travel as well by + night as I do by day,—so don't feel that you are putting me to any + inconvenience. Are you by any chance bound for Hart's Tavern? If so, I + will be glad to lag behind and carry your bag." + </p> + <p> + "You are very good, but I am not bound for Hart's Tavern, wherever that + may be. Thank you, just the same. You appear to be an uncommonly genteel + tramp, and it isn't because I am afraid you might make off with my + belongings." She added the last by way of apology. + </p> + <p> + He smiled—and then frowned as he cast an uneasy look at the black + clouds now rolling ominously up over the mountain ridge. + </p> + <p> + "By Jove, we're going to catch it good and hard," he exclaimed. "Better + take my advice. These storms are terrible. I know, for I've encountered + half a dozen of them in the past week. They fairly tear one to pieces." + </p> + <p> + "Are you trying to frighten me?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," he confessed. "Better to frighten you in advance than to let it + come later on when you haven't any one to turn to in your terror. You are + a stranger in these parts?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. The railway station is a few miles below here. I have walked all the + way. There was no one to meet me. You are a stranger also, so it is + useless to inquire if you know whether this road leads to Green Fancy." + </p> + <p> + "Green Fancy? Sounds attractive. I'm sorry I can't enlighten you." He drew + a small electric torch from his pocket and directed its slender ray upon + the sign-post. So fierce was the gale by this time that he was compelled + to brace his strong body against the wind. + </p> + <p> + "It is on the road to Frogg's Corner," she explained nervously. "A mile + and a half, so I am told. It isn't on the sign-post. It is a house, not a + village. Thank you for your kindness. And I am not at all frightened," she + added, raising her voice slightly. + </p> + <p> + "But you ARE" he cried. "You're scared half out of your wits. You can't + fool me. I'd be scared myself at the thought of venturing into those woods + up yonder." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then, I AM frightened," she confessed plaintively. "Almost out of + my boots." + </p> + <p> + "That settles it," he said flatly. "You shall not undertake it." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, but I must. I am expected. It is import—" + </p> + <p> + "If you are expected, why didn't some one meet you at the station? Seems + to me—" + </p> + <p> + "Hark! Do you hear—doesn't that sound like an automobile—Ah!" + The hoarse honk of an automobile horn rose above the howling wind, and an + instant later two faint lights came rushing toward them around a bend in + the mountain road. "Better late than never," she cried, her voice vibrant + once more. + </p> + <p> + He grasped her arm and jerked her out of the path of the on-coming + machine, whose driver was sending it along at a mad rate, regardless of + ruts and stones and curves. The car careened as it swung into the pike, + skidded alarmingly, and then the brakes were jammed down. Attended by a + vast grinding of gears and wheels, the rattling old car came to a stop + fifty feet or more beyond them. + </p> + <p> + "I'd sooner walk than take my chances in an antediluvian rattle-trap like + that," said the tall wayfarer, bending quite close to her ear. "It will + fall to pieces before you—" + </p> + <p> + But she was running down the road towards the car, calling out sharply to + the driver. He stooped over and took up the travelling bag she had dropped + in her haste and excitement. It was heavy, amazingly heavy. + </p> + <p> + "I shouldn't like to carry that a mile and a half," he said to himself. + </p> + <p> + The voice of the belated driver came to his ears on the swift wind. It was + high pitched and unmistakably apologetic. He could not hear what she was + saying to him, but there wasn't much doubt as to the nature of her + remarks. She was roundly upbraiding him. + </p> + <p> + Urged to action by thoughts of his own plight, he hurried to her side and + said: + </p> + <p> + "Excuse me, please. You dropped something. Shall I put it up in front or + in the tonneau?" + </p> + <p> + The whimsical note in his voice brought a quick, responsive laugh from her + lips. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you so much. I am frightfully careless with my valuables. Would you + mind putting it in behind? Thanks!" Her tone altered completely as she + ordered the man to turn the car around—"And be quick about it," she + added. + </p> + <p> + The first drops of rain pelted down from the now thoroughly black dome + above them, striking in the road with the sharpness of pebbles. + </p> + <p> + "Lucky it's a limousine," said the tall traveller. "Better hop in. We'll + be getting it hard in a second or two." + </p> + <p> + "I can't very well hop in while he's backing and twisting like that, can + I?" she laughed. He was acutely aware of a strained, nervous note in her + voice, as of one who is confronted by an undertaking calling for + considerable fortitude. + </p> + <p> + "Are you quite sure of this man?" he asked. + </p> + <p> + "Absolutely," she replied, after a pause. + </p> + <p> + "You know him, eh?" + </p> + <p> + "By reputation," she said briefly, and without a trace of laughter. + </p> + <p> + "Well, that comforts me to some extent," he said, but dubiously. + </p> + <p> + She was silent for a moment and then turned to him impulsively. + </p> + <p> + "You must let me take you on to the Tavern in the car," she said. "Turn + about is fair play. I cannot allow you to—" + </p> + <p> + "Never mind about me," he broke in cheerily. He had been wondering if she + would make the offer, and he felt better now that she had done so. "I'm + accustomed to roughing it. I don't mind a soaking. I've had hundreds of + 'em." + </p> + <p> + "Just the same, you shall not have one to-night," she announced firmly. + The car stopped beside them. "Get in behind. I shall sit with the driver." + </p> + <p> + If any one had told him that this rattling, dilapidated automobile,—ten + years old, at the very least, he would have sworn,—was capable of + covering the mile in less than two minutes, he would have laughed in his + face. Almost before he realised that they were on the way up the straight, + dark road, the lights in the windows of Hart's Tavern came into view. Once + more the bounding, swaying car came to a stop under brakes, and he was + relaxing after the strain of the most hair-raising ride he had ever + experienced. + </p> + <p> + Not a word had been spoken during the trip. The front windows were + lowered. The driver,—an old, hatchet-faced man,—had uttered a + single word just before throwing in the clutch at the cross-roads in + response to the young woman's crisp command to drive to Hart's Tavern. + That word was uttered under his breath and it is not necessary to repeat + it here. + </p> + <p> + He lost no time in climbing out of the car. As he leaped to the ground and + raised his green hat, he took a second look at the automobile,—a + look of mingled wonder and respect. It was an old-fashioned, high-powered + Panhard, capable, despite its antiquity, of astonishing speed in any sort + of going. + </p> + <p> + "For heaven's sake," he began, shouting to her above the roar of the wind + and rain, "don't let him drive like that over those—" + </p> + <p> + "You're getting wet," she cried out, a thrill in her voice. "Good night,—and + thank you!" + </p> + <p> + "Look out!" rasped the unpleasant driver, and in went the clutch. The man + in the road jumped hastily to one side as the car shot backward with a + jerk, curved sharply, stopped for the fraction of a second, and then + bounded forward again, headed for the cross-roads. + </p> + <p> + "Thanks!" shouted the late passenger after the receding tail light, and + dashed up the steps to the porch that ran the full length of Hart's + Tavern. In the shelter of its low-lying roof, he stopped short and once + more peered down the dark, rain-swept road. A flash of lightning revealed + the flying automobile. He waited for a second flash. It came an instant + later, but the car was no longer visible. He shook his head. "I hope the + blamed old fool knows what he's doing, hitting it up like that over a wet + road. There'll be a double funeral in this neck of the woods if anything + goes wrong," he reflected. Still shaking his head, he faced the closed + door of the Tavern. + </p> + <p> + A huge, old-fashioned lantern hung above the portal, creaking and + straining in the wind, dragging at its stout supports and threatening + every instant to break loose and go frolicking away with the storm. + </p> + <p> + The sound of the rain on the clap-board roof was deafening. At the lower + end of the porch the water swished in with all the velocity of a gigantic + wave breaking over a ship at sea. The wind howled, the thunder roared and + almost like cannon-fire were the successive crashes of lightning among the + trees out there in the path of fury. + </p> + <p> + There were lights in several of the windows opening upon the porch; the + wooden shutters not only were ajar but were banging savagely against the + walls. Even in the dim, grim light shed by the lantern he could see that + the building was of an age far beyond the ken of any living man. He + recalled the words of the informing sign-post: "Established in 1798." One + hundred and eighteen years old, and still baffling the assaults of all the + elements in a region where they were never timid! + </p> + <p> + It may, in all truth, be a "shindy," thought he, but it had led a gallant + life. + </p> + <p> + The broad, thick weather-boarding, overlapping in layers, was brown with + age and smooth with the polishing of time and the backs, no doubt, of + countless loiterers who had come and gone in the making of the narrative + that Hart's Tavern could relate. The porch itself, while old, was + comparatively modern; it did not belong to the century in which the inn + itself was built, for in those far-off days men did not waste time, timber + or thought on the unnecessary. While the planks in the floor were worn and + the uprights battered and whittled out of their pristine shapeliness, they + were but grandchildren to the parent building to which they clung. Stout + and, beyond question, venerable benches stood close to the wall on both + sides of the entrance. Directly over the broad, low door with its big + wooden latch and bar, was the word "Welcome," rudely carved in the oak + beam. It required no cultured eye to see that the letters had been cut, + deep and strong, into the timber, not with the tool of the skilled wood + carver but with the hunting knife of an ambitious pioneer. + </p> + <p> + A shocking incongruity marred the whole effect. Suspended at the side of + this hundred-year-old doorway was a black and gold, shield-shaped ornament + of no inconsiderable dimensions informing the observer that a certain + brand of lager beer was to be had inside. + </p> + <p> + He lifted the latch and, being a tall man, involuntarily stooped as he + passed through the door, a needless precaution, for gaunt, gigantic + mountaineers had entered there before him and without bending their + arrogant heads. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II — THE FIRST WAYFARER LAYS HIS PACK ASIDE AND FALLS IN + WITH FRIENDS + </h2> + <p> + The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which + all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern. A steep, angular + staircase took up one end of the room. Set in beneath its upper turn was + the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and + behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a + corn-cob pipe. He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the + back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the + arrival. + </p> + <p> + An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from + which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned + out to be a conversational solo. To the left another door led to what was + evidently the dining-room. The glance that the stranger sent in that + direction revealed two or three tables, covered with white cloths. + </p> + <p> + "Can you put me up for the night?" he inquired, advancing to the counter. + </p> + <p> + "You look like a feller who'd want a room with bath," drawled the man + behind the counter, surveying the applicant from head to foot. "Which we + ain't got," he added. + </p> + <p> + "I'll be satisfied to have a room with a bed," said the other. + </p> + <p> + "Sign here," was the laconic response. He went to the trouble of actually + putting his finger on the line where the guest was expected to write his + name. + </p> + <p> + "Can I have supper?" + </p> + <p> + "Food for man and beast," said the other patiently. He slapped his palm + upon a cracked call-bell, and then looked at the fresh name on the page. + "Thomas K. Barnes, New York," he read aloud. He eyed the newcomer once + more. "And automobile?" + </p> + <p> + "No. I'm walking." + </p> + <p> + "Didn't I hear you just come up in a car?" + </p> + <p> + "A fellow gave me a lift from the cross-roads." + </p> + <p> + "I see. My name is Jones, Putnam Jones. I run this place. My father an' + grandfather run it before me. Glad to meet you, Mr. Barnes. We used to + have a hostler here named Barnes. What's your idea fer footin' it this + time o' the year?" + </p> + <p> + "I do something like this every spring. A month or six weeks of it puts me + in fine shape for a vacation later on," supplied Mr. Barnes whimsically. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jones allowed a grin to steal over his seamed face. He re-inserted the + corn-cob pipe and took a couple of pulls at it. + </p> + <p> + "I never been to New York, but it must be a heavenly place for a vacation, + if a feller c'n judge by what some of my present boarders have to say + about it. It's a sort of play-actor's paradise, ain't it?" + </p> + <p> + "It is paradise to every actor who happens to be on the road, Mr. Jones," + said Barnes, slipping his big pack from his shoulders and letting it slide + to the floor. + </p> + <p> + "Hear that feller in the tap-room talkin'? Well, he is one of the leading + actors in New York,—in the world, for that matter. He's been talkin' + about Broadway for nearly a week now, steady." + </p> + <p> + "May I enquire what he is doing up here in the wilds?" + </p> + <p> + "At present he ain't doing anything except talk. Last week he was treadin' + the boards, as he puts it himself. Busted. Up the flue. Showed last + Saturday night in Hornville, eighteen mile north of here, and immediately + after the performance him and his whole troupe started to walk back to New + York, a good four hunderd mile. They started out the back way of the opery + house and nobody missed 'em till next mornin' except the sheriff, and he + didn't miss 'em till they'd got over the county line into our bailiwick. + Four of 'em are still stoppin' here just because I ain't got the heart to + turn 'em out ner the spare money to buy 'em tickets to New York. Here + comes one of 'em now. Mr. Dillingford, will you show this gentleman to + room eleven, and carry his baggage up fer him? And maybe he'll want a + pitcher of warm water to wash and shave in." He turned to the new guest + and smiled apologetically. + </p> + <p> + "We're a little short o' help just now, Mr. Barnes, and Mr. Dillingford + has kindly consented to—" + </p> + <p> + "My God!" gasped Mr. Dillingford, staring at the register. "Some one from + little old New York? My word, sir, you—Won't you have a—er—little + something to drink with me before you—" + </p> + <p> + "He wants something to eat," interrupted Mr. Jones sharply. "Tell Mr. + Bacon to step up to his room and take the order." + </p> + <p> + "All right, old chap,—nothing easier," said Mr. Dillingford + genially. "Just climb up the elevator, Mr. Barnes. We do this to get up an + appetite. When did you leave New York?" + </p> + <p> + Taking up a lighted kerosene lamp and the heavy pack, Mr. Clarence + Dillingford led the way up the stairs. He was a chubby individual of + indefinite age. At a glance you would have said he was under twenty-one; a + second look would have convinced you that he was nearer forty-one. He was + quite shabby, but chin and cheek were as clean as that of a freshly + scrubbed boy. He may not have changed his collar for days but he lived up + to the traditions of his profession by shaving twice every twenty-four + hours. + </p> + <p> + Depositing Barnes' pack on a chair in the little bedroom at the end of the + hall upstairs, he favoured the guest with a perfectly unabashed grin. + </p> + <p> + "I'm not doing this to oblige old man Jones, you know. I won't attempt to + deceive you. I'm working out a daily bread-bill. Chuck three times a day + and a bed to sleep in, that's what I'm doing it for, so don't get it into + your head that I applied for the job. Let me take a look at you. I want to + get a good square peep at a man who has the means to go somewhere else and + yet is boob enough to come to this gosh-awful place of his own free will + and accord. Darn it, you LOOK intelligent. I don't get you at all. What's + the matter? Are you a fugitive from justice?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes laughed aloud. There was no withstanding the fellow's sprightly + impudence. + </p> + <p> + "I happen to enjoy walking," said he. + </p> + <p> + "If I enjoyed it as much as you do, I'd be limping into Harlem by this + time," said Mr. Dillingford sadly. "But, you see, I'm an actor. I'm too + proud to walk." + </p> + <p> + "Up against poor business, I presume?" + </p> + <p> + "Up against no business at all," said Mr. Dillingford. "We couldn't even + get 'em to come in on passes. Last Saturday night we had out enough paper + to fill the house and, by gosh, only eleven people showed up. You can't + beat that, can you? Three of 'em paid to get in. That made a dollar and a + half, box office. We nearly had to give it back." + </p> + <p> + "Bad weather?" suggested Barnes feelingly. He had removed his wet coat, + and stood waiting. + </p> + <p> + "Nope. Moving pictures. They'd sooner pay ten cents to see a movie than to + come in and see us free. The old man was so desperate he tried to kill + himself the morning we arrived at this joint." + </p> + <p> + "You mean the star? Poison, rope or pistol?" + </p> + <p> + "Whiskey. He tried to drink himself to death. Before old Jones got onto + him he had put down seven dollars' worth of booze, and now we've got to + help wipe out the account. But why complain? It's all in a day's—" + </p> + <p> + The cracked bell on the office desk interrupted him, somewhat + peremptorially. Mr. Dillingford's face assumed an expression of profound + dignity. He lowered his voice as he gave vent to the following: + </p> + <p> + "That man Jones is the meanest human being God ever let—Yes, sir, + coming, sir!" He started for the open door with surprising alacrity. + </p> + <p> + "Never mind the hot water," said Barnes, sorry for the little man. + </p> + <p> + "No use," said Mr. Dillingford dejectedly. "He charges ten cents for hot + water. You've got to have it whether you want it or not. Remember that you + are in the very last stages of New England. The worst affliction known to + the human race. So long. I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's—" + The remainder of his promise was lost in the rush of exit. + </p> + <p> + Barnes surveyed the little bed-chamber. It was just what he had expected + it would be. The walls were covered with a garish paper selected by one + who had an eye but not a taste for colour: bright pink flowers that looked + more or less like chunks of a shattered water melon spilt promiscuously + over a background of pearl grey. There was every indication that it had + been hung recently. Indeed there was a distinct aroma of fresh flour + paste. The bedstead, bureau and washstand were likewise offensively + modern. Everything was as clean as a pin, however, and the bed looked + comfortable. He stepped to the small, many-paned window and looked out + into the night. The storm was at its height. In all his life he never had + heard such a clatter of rain, nor a wind that shrieked so appallingly. + </p> + <p> + His thoughts went quite naturally to the woman who was out there in the + thick of it. He wondered how she was faring, and lamented that she was not + in his place now and he in hers. A smile lighted his eyes. She had such a + nice voice and such a quaint way of putting things into words. What was + she doing up in this God-forsaken country? And how could she be so certain + of that grumpy old man whom she had never laid eyes on before? What was + the name of the place she was bound for? Green Fancy! What an odd name for + a house! And what sort of house— + </p> + <p> + His reflections were interrupted by the return of Mr. Dillingford, who + carried a huge pewter pitcher from which steam arose in volume. At his + heels strode a tall, cadaverous person in a checked suit. + </p> + <p> + Never had Barnes seen anything quite so overpowering in the way of a suit. + Joseph's coat of many colours was no longer a vision of childhood. It was + a reality. The checks were an inch square, and each cube had a narrow + border of azure blue. The general tone was a dirty grey, due no doubt to + age and a constitution that would not allow it to outlive its usefulness. + </p> + <p> + "Meet Mr. Bacon, Mr. Barnes," introduced Mr. Dillingford, going to the + needless exertion of indicating Mr. Bacon with a generous sweep of his + free hand. "Our heavy leads. Mr. Montague Bacon, also of New York." + </p> + <p> + "Ham and eggs, pork tenderloin, country sausage, rump steak and spring + chicken," said Mr. Bacon, in a cavernous voice, getting it over with while + the list was fresh in his memory. "Fried and boiled potatoes, beans, + succotash, onions, stewed tomatoes and—er—just a moment, + please. Fried and boiled potatoes, beans—" + </p> + <p> + "Learn your lines, Ague," said Mr. Dillingford, from the washstand. "We + call him Ague for short, Mr. Barnes, because he's always shaky with his + lines." + </p> + <p> + "Ham and eggs, potatoes and a cup or two of coffee," said Barnes, + suppressing a desire to laugh. + </p> + <p> + "And apple pie," concluded the waiter, triumphantly. "I knew I'd get it if + you gave me time. As you may have observed, my dear sir, I am not what you + would call an experienced waiter. As a matter of fact, I—" + </p> + <p> + "I told him you were an actor," interrupted his friend. "Run along now and + give the order to Mother Jones. Mr. Barnes is hungry." + </p> + <p> + "I am delighted to meet you, Mr. Barnes," said Mr. Bacon, extending his + hand. As he did so, his coat sleeve receded half way to the elbow, + revealing the full expanse of a frayed cuff. "So delighted, in fact, that + it gives me great pleasure to inform you that you have at last encountered + a waiter who does not expect a tip. God forbid that I should ever sink so + low as that. I have been a villain of the deepest dye in a score or more + of productions—many of them depending to a large extent upon the + character of the work I did in—" + </p> + <p> + "Actor stuff," inserted Mr. Dillingford, unfeelingly. + </p> + <p> + "—And I have been hissed a thousand times by gallery gods and + kitchen angels from one end of this broad land to the other, but never, + sir, never in all my career have I been obliged to play such a diabolical + part as I am playing here, and, dammit, sir, I am denied even the tribute + of a healthy hiss. This is—" + </p> + <p> + The bell downstairs rang violently. Mr. Bacon departed in great haste. + </p> + <p> + While the traveller performed his ablutions, Mr. Dillingford, for the + moment disengaged, sat upon the edge of the bed and enjoyed himself. He + talked. + </p> + <p> + "We were nine at the start," said he, pensively. "Gradually we were + reduced to seven, not including the manager. I doubled and so did Miss + Hughes,—a very charming actress, by the way, who will soon be heard + of on Broadway unless I miss my guess. The last week I was playing Dick + Cranford, light juvenile, and General Parsons, comedy old man. In the + second act Dick has to meet the general face to face and ask him for his + daughter's hand. Miss Hughes was Amy Parsons, and, as I say, doubled along + toward the end. She played her own mother. The best you could say for the + arrangement was that the family resemblance was remarkable. I never saw a + mother and daughter look so much alike. You see, she didn't have time to + change her make-up or costume, so all she could do was to put on a long + shawl and a grey wig, and that made a mother of her. Well, we had a + terrible time getting around that scene between Dick and the general. Amy + and her mother were in on it too, and Mrs. Parsons was supposed to faint. + It looked absolutely impossible for Miss Hughes. But we got around it, all + right." + </p> + <p> + "How, may I ask?" enquired Barnes, over the edge of a towel. + </p> + <p> + "Just as I was about to enter to tackle the old man, who was seated in his + library with Mrs. Parsons, the lights went out. I jumped up and addressed + the audience, telling 'em (almost in a confidential whisper, there were so + darned few of 'em) that there was nothing to be alarmed about and the act + would go right on. Then Amy and Dick came on in total darkness, and the + audience never got wise to the game. When the lights went up, there was + Amy and Dick embracing each other in plain view, the old folks nowhere in + sight. General Parsons had dragged the old lady into the next room. We + made our changes right there on the stage, speaking all four parts at the + same time." + </p> + <p> + "Pretty clever," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "My idea," announced Mr. Dillingford calmly. + </p> + <p> + "What has become of the rest of the company?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, as I said before, two of 'em escaped before the smash. The low + comedian and character old woman. Joe Beckley and his wife. That left the + old man,—I mean Mr. Rushcroft, the star—Lyndon Rushcroft, you + know,—myself and Bacon, Tommy Gray, Miss Rushcroft, Miss Hughes and + a woman named Bradley, seven of us. Miss Hughes happened to know a chap + who was travelling around the country for his health, always meeting up + with us,—accidentally, of course,—and he staked her to a + ticket to New York. The woman named Bradley said her mother was dying in + Buffalo, so the rest of us scraped together all the money we had,—nine + dollars and sixty cents,—and did the right thing by her. Actors are + always doing darn-fool things like that, Mr. Barnes. And what do you + suppose she did? She took that money and bought two tickets to Albany, one + for herself and another for the manager of the company,—the lowest, + meanest, orneriest white man that ever,—But I am crabbing the old + man's part. You ought to hear what HE has to say about Mr. Manager. He can + use words I never even heard of before. So, that leaves just the four of + us here, working off the two days' board bill of Bradley and the manager, + Rushcroft's ungodly spree, and at the same time keeping our own slate + clean. Miss Thackeray will no doubt make up your bed in the morning. She + is temporarily a chambermaid. Cracking fine girl, too, if I do say—" + </p> + <p> + "Miss Thackeray? I don't recall your mentioning—" + </p> + <p> + "Mercedes Thackeray on the programme, but in real life, as they say, Emma + Smith. She is Rushcroft's daughter." + </p> + <p> + "Somewhat involved, isn't it?" + </p> + <p> + "Not in the least. Rushcroft's real name is Otterbein Smith. Horrible, + isn't it? He sprung from some place in Indiana, where the authors come + from. Miss Thackeray was our ingenue. A trifle large for that sort of + thing, perhaps, but—very sprightly, just the same. She's had her + full growth upwards, but not outwards. Tommy Gray, the other member of the + company, is driving a taxi in Hornville. He used to own his own car in + Springfield, Mass., by the way. Comes of a very good family. At least, so + he says. Are you all ready? I'll lead you to the dining-room. Or would you + prefer a little appetiser beforehand? The tap-room is right on the way. + You mustn't call it the bar. Everybody in that little graveyard down the + road would turn over completely if you did. Hallowed tradition, you know." + </p> + <p> + "I don't mind having a cocktail. Will you join me?" + </p> + <p> + "As a matter of fact, I'm expected to," confessed Mr. Dillingford. "We've + been drawing quite a bit of custom to the tap-room. The rubes like to sit + around and listen to conversation about Broadway and Bunker Hill and Old + Point Comfort and other places, and then go home and tell the neighbours + that they know quite a number of stage people. Human nature, I guess. I + used to think that if I could ever meet an actress I'd be the happiest + thing in the world. Well, I've met a lot of 'em, and God knows I'm not as + happy as I was when I was WISHING I could meet one of them. Listen! Hear + that? Rushcroft is reciting Gunga Din. You can't hear the thunder for the + noise he's making." + </p> + <p> + They descended the stairs and entered the tap-room, where a dozen men were + seated around the tables, all of them with pewter mugs in front of them. + Standing at the top table,—that is to say, the one farthest removed + from the door and commanding the attention of every creature in the room—was + the imposing figure of Lyndon Rushcroft. He was reciting, in a sonorous + voice and with tremendous fervour, the famous Kipling poem. Barnes had + heard it given a score of times at The Players in New York, and knew it by + heart. He was therefore able to catch Mr. Rushcroft in the very + reprehensible act of taking liberties with the designs of the author. The + "star," after a sharp and rather startled look at the newcomer, + deliberately "cut" four stanzas and rushed somewhat hastily through the + concluding verse, marring a tremendous climax. + </p> + <p> + A genial smile wiped the tragic expression from his face. He advanced upon + Barnes and the beaming Mr. Dillingford, his hand extended. + </p> + <p> + "My dear fellow," he exclaimed resoundingly, "how are you?" Cordiality + boomed in his voice. "I heard you had arrived. Welcome,—thricefold + welcome!" He neglected to say that Mr. Montague Bacon, in passing a few + minutes before, had leaned over and whispered behind his hand: + </p> + <p> + "Fellow upstairs from New York, Mr. Rushcroft,—fellow named Barnes. + Quite a swell, believe me." + </p> + <p> + It was a well-placed tip, for Mr. Rushcroft had been telling the natives + for days that he knew everybody worth knowing in New York. + </p> + <p> + Barnes was momentarily taken aback. Then he rose to the spirit of the + occasion. + </p> + <p> + "Hello, Rushcroft," he greeted, as if meeting an old time and greatly + beloved friend. "This IS good. 'Pon my soul, you are like a thriving date + palm in the middle of an endless desert. How are you?" + </p> + <p> + They shook hands warmly. Mr. Dillingford slapped the newcomer on the + shoulder, affectionately, familiarly, and shouted: + </p> + <p> + "Who would have dreamed we'd run across good old Barnesy up here? By Jove, + it's marvellous!" + </p> + <p> + "Friends, countrymen," boomed Mr. Rushcroft, "this is Mr. Barnes of New + York. Not the man the book was written about, but one of the best fellows + God ever put into this little world of ours. I do not recall your names, + gentlemen, or I would introduce each of you separately and divisibly. And + when did you leave New York, my dear fellow?" + </p> + <p> + "A fortnight ago," replied Barnes. "I have been walking for the past two + weeks." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft's expression changed. His face fell. + </p> + <p> + "Walking?" he repeated, a trifle stiffly. Was the fellow a tramp? Was he + in no better condition of life than himself and his stranded companions, + against whom the mockery of the assemblage was slyly but indubitably + directed? If so, what was to be gained by claiming friendship with him? It + behooved him to go slow. He drew himself up to his full height. "Well, + well! Really?" he said. + </p> + <p> + The others looked on with interest. The majority were farmers, hardy, + rawboned men with misty eyes. Two of them looked like mechanics,—blacksmiths, + was Barnes' swift estimate,—and as there was an odor of gasolene in + the low, heavy-timbered room, others were no doubt connected with the + tavern garage. For that matter, there was also an atmosphere of the + stables. + </p> + <p> + Lyndon Rushcroft was a tall, saggy man of fifty. Despite his determined + erectness, he was inclined to sag from the shoulders down. His head, huge + and grey, appeared to be much too ponderous for his yielding body, and yet + he carried it manfully, even theatrically. The lines in his dark, seasoned + face were like furrows; his nose was large and somewhat bulbous, his mouth + wide and grim. Thick, black eyebrows shaded a pair of eyes in which white + was no longer apparent; it had given way to a permanent red. A two days' + stubble covered his chin and cheeks. Altogether he was a singular + exemplification of one's idea of the old-time actor. He was far better + dressed than the two male members of his company who had come under + Barnes' observation. A fashionably made cutaway coat of black, a fancy + waistcoat, and trousers with a delicate stripe (sadly in need of creasing) + gave him an air of distinction totally missing in his subordinates. + (Afterwards Barnes was to learn that he was making daily use of his last + act drawing-room costume, which included a silk hat and a pair of pearl + grey gloves.) Evidently he had possessed the foresight to "skip out" in + the best that the wardrobe afforded, leaving his ordinary garments for the + sheriff to lay hands upon. + </p> + <p> + "A customary adventure with me," said Barnes. "I take a month's walking + tour every spring, usually timing my pilgrimage so as to miss the + hoi-polloi that blunders into the choice spots of the world later on and + spoils them completely for me. This is my first jaunt into this part of + New England. Most attractive walking, my dear fellow. Wonderful scenery, + splendid air—" "Deliver me from the hoi-polloi," said Mr. Rushcroft, + at his ease once more. "I may also add, deliver me from walking. I'm + damned if I can see anything in it. What will you have to drink, old + chap?" + </p> + <p> + He turned toward the broad aperture which served as a passageway in the + wall for drinks leaving the hands of a fat bartender beyond to fall into + the clutches of thirsty customers in the tap-room. There was no + outstanding bar. A time-polished shelf, as old as the house itself, + provided the afore-said bartender with a place on which to spread his + elbows while not actively engaged in advancing mugs and bottles from more + remote resting-places at his back. + </p> + <p> + "Everything comes through 'the hole in the wall,'" explained Rushcroft, + wrinkling his face into a smile. + </p> + <p> + He unceremoniously turned his back on the audience of a moment before, and + pounded smartly on the shelf, notwithstanding the fact that the bartender + was less than a yard away and facing him expectantly. "What ho! Give ear, + professor. Ye gods, what a night! Devil-brewed pandemonium—I beg + pardon?" + </p> + <p> + "I was just about to ask what you will have," said Barnes, lining up + beside him with Mr. Dillingford. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft drew himself up once more. "My dear fellow, I asked you to + have a—" + </p> + <p> + "But I had already invited Dillingford. You must allow me to extend the + invitation—" + </p> + <p> + "Say no more, sir. I understand perfectly. A flagon of ale, Bob, for me." + He leaned closer to Barnes and said, in what was supposed to be a + confidential aside: "Don't tackle the whiskey. It would kill a + rattlesnake." + </p> + <p> + A few minutes later he laid one hand fondly upon Barnes' shoulder and, + with a graceful sweep of the other in the direction of the hall, addressed + himself to Dillingford. + </p> + <p> + "Lead the way to the banquet-hall, good fellow. We follow." To the patrons + he was abandoning: + </p> + <p> + "We return anon." Passing through the office, his arm linked in one of + Barnes', Mr. Rushcroft hesitated long enough to impress upon Landlord + Jones the importance of providing his "distinguished friend, Robert W. + Barnes," with the very best that the establishment afforded. Putnam Jones + blinked slightly and his eyes sought the register as if to accuse or + justify his memory. Then he spat copiously into the corner, a necessary + preliminary to a grin. He hadn't much use for the great Lyndon Rushcroft. + His grin was sardonic. Something told him that Mr. Rushcroft was about to + be liberally fed. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III — MR. RUSHCROFT DISSOLVES, MR. JONES INTERVENES, AND TWO + MEN RIDE AWAY + </h2> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft explained that he had had his supper. In fact, he went on to + confess, he had been compelled, like the dog, to "speak" for it. What + could be more disgusting, more degrading, he mourned, than the spectacle + of a man who had appeared in all of the principal theatres of the land as + star and leading support to stars, settling for his supper by telling + stories and reciting poetry in the tap-room of a tavern? + </p> + <p> + "Still," he consented, when Barnes insisted that it would be a kindness to + him, "since you put it that way, I dare say I could do with a little + snack, as you so aptly put it. Just a bite or two. Like you, my dear + fellow, I loathe and detest eating alone. I covet companionship, convivial + com—what have you ready, Miss Tilly?" + </p> + <p> + Miss Tilly was a buxom female of forty or thereabouts, with spectacles. + She was one of a pair of sedentary waitresses who had been so long in the + employ of Mr. Jones that he hated the sight of them. Close proximity to a + real star affected her intensely. In fact, she was dazzled. For something + like twenty years she had nursed an ambition that wavered between the + desire to become an actress or an authoress. At present she despised + literature. More than once she had confessed to Mr. Rushcroft that she + hated like poison to write out the bill-o'-fare, a duty devolving solely + upon her, it appears, because of a local tradition that she possessed + literary talent. Every one said that she wrote the best hand in the + county. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft's conception of a bite or two may have staggered Barnes but + it did not bewilder Miss Tilly. He had four eggs with his ham, and other + things in proportion. He talked a great deal, proving in that way that it + was a supper well worth speaking for. Among other things, he dilated at + great length upon his reasons for not being a member of The Players or The + Lambs in New York City. It seems that he had promised his dear, devoted + wife that he would never join a club of any description. Dear old girl, he + would as soon have cut off his right hand as to break any promise made to + her. He brushed something away from his eyes, and his chin, contracting, + trembled slightly. + </p> + <p> + "Quite right," said Barnes, sympathetically. "And how long has Mrs. + Rushcroft been dead?" + </p> + <p> + A hurt, incredulous look came into Mr. Rushcroft's eyes. "Is it possible + that you have forgotten the celebrated case of Rushcroft vs. Rushcroft, + not more than six years back? Good Lord, man, it was one of the most + sensational cases that ever—But I see that you do not recall it. You + must have been abroad at the time. I don't believe I ever knew of a case + being quite so admirably handled by the press as that one was. She got it + after a bitter and protracted fight. Infidelity. Nothing so rotten as + cruelty or desertion,—no sir!" + </p> + <p> + "Ahem!" coughed Miss Tilly. + </p> + <p> + "The dear old girl married again," sighed Mr. Rushcroft, helping himself + to Barnes' butter. "Did very well, too. Man in the wine trade. He saves a + great deal, you see, by getting it at cost, and I can assure you, on my + word of honour, sir, that he'll find it quite an item. What is it, Mr. + Bacon? Any word from New York?" + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bacon hovered near, perhaps hungrily. + </p> + <p> + "Our genial host has instructed me to say to his latest guest that the + rates are two dollars a day, in advance, all dining-room checks payable on + presentation," said Mr. Bacon, apologetically. + </p> + <p> + Rushcroft exploded. "A scurvy insult," he boomed. "Confound his—" + </p> + <p> + The new guest was amiable. He interrupted the outraged star. "Tell Mr. + Jones that I shall settle promptly," he said, with a smile. + </p> + <p> + The "heavy leads" lowered his voice. "He told me that he had had a + horrible thought." + </p> + <p> + "He never has anything else," said Mr. Rushcroft. + </p> + <p> + "It has just entered his bean that you may be an actor, Mr. Barnes," said + Bacon. + </p> + <p> + Miss Tilly, overhearing, drew a step or two nearer. A sudden interest in + Mr. Barnes developed. She had not noticed before that he was an uncommonly + good-looking fellow. She always had said that she adored strong, + "athletic" faces. + </p> + <p> + "Hence the insult," said Mr. Rushcroft bitterly. He raised both arms in a + gesture of complete dejection. "My God!" + </p> + <p> + "Says it looks suspicious," went on Mr. Bacon, "flocking with us as you + do. He mentioned something about birds of a feather." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft arose majestically. "I shall see the man myself, Mr. Barnes. + His infernal insolence—" + </p> + <p> + "Pray do not distress yourself, my dear Rushcroft," interrupted Barnes. + "He is quite within his rights. I may be even worse than an actor. I may + turn out to be an ordinary tramp." He took a wallet from his pocket, and + smiled engagingly upon Miss Tilly. "The check, please." + </p> + <p> + "For both?" inquired she, blinking. + </p> + <p> + "Certainly. Mr. Rushcroft was my guest." + </p> + <p> + "Four twenty five," she announced, after computation on the back of the + menu. + </p> + <p> + He selected a five dollar bill from the rather plethoric purse and handed + it to her. + </p> + <p> + "Be so good as to keep the change," he said, and Miss Tilly went away in a + daze from which she did not emerge for a long, long time. + </p> + <p> + Later on she felt inspired to jot down, for use no doubt in some future + literary production, a concise, though general, description of the + magnificent Mr. Barnes. She utilised the back of the bill-of-fare and she + wrote with the feverish ardour of one who dreads the loss of a first + impression. I herewith append her visual estimate of the hero of this + story. + </p> + <p> + "He was a tall, shapely speciman of mankind," wrote Miss Tilly. + "Broad-shouldered. Smooth shaved face. Penetrating grey eyes. Short curly + hair about the colour of mine. Strong hands of good shape. Face tanned + considerable. Heavy dark eyebrows. Good teeth, very white. Square chin. + Lovely smile that seemed to light up the room for everybody within + hearing. Nose ideal. Mouth same. Voice aristocratic and reverberating with + education. Age about thirty or thirty one. Rich as Croesus. Costume + resembling the picture in the English novel the woman forgot and left here + last summer. Well turned legs. Would make a good nobleman." + </p> + <p> + All this would appear to be reasonably definite were it not for the note + regarding the colour of his hair. It leaves to me the simple task of + completing the very admirable description of Mr. Barnes by announcing that + Miss Tilly's hair was an extremely dark brown. + </p> + <p> + Also it is advisable to append the following biographical information: + Thomas Kingsbury Barnes, engineer, born in Montclair, New Jersey, Sept. + 26, 1885. Cornell and Beaux Arts, Paris. Son of the late Stephen S. + Barnes, engineer, and Edith (Valentine) Barnes. Office, Metropolitan + Building, New York City. Residence, Amsterdam Mansions. Clubs: (Lack of + space prevents listing them here). Recreations: golf, tennis, and + horseback riding. Author of numerous articles resulting from expeditions + and discoveries in Peru and Ecuador. Fellow of the Royal Geographic + Society. Member of the Loyal Legion and the Sons of the American + Revolution. + </p> + <p> + Added to this, the mere announcement that he was in a position to indulge + a fancy for long and perhaps aimless walking tours through more or less + out of the way sections of his own country, to say nothing of excursions + in Europe. + </p> + <p> + Needless to say, he obtained a great deal of pleasure from these lonely + jaunts, and at the same time laid up for future use an ample supply of + mind's ease. His was undoubtedly a romantic nature. He loved the fancies + that his susceptibilities garnered from the hills and dales and fields and + forests. He never tired of the changing prospect; the simple meadow and + the inspiring mountain peak were as one to his generous imagination. He + found something worth while in every mile he traversed in these long and + solitary tramps, and he covered no fewer than twenty of them between + breakfast and dinner unless ordered by circumstance to loiter along the + way. + </p> + <p> + Each succeeding spring he set out from his "diggings" in New York without + having the remotest idea where his peregrinations would carry him. It was + his habit to select a starting point in advance, approach that spot by + train or ship or motor, and then divest himself of all purpose except to + fare forward until he came upon some haven for the night. He went east or + west, north or south, even as the winds of heaven blow; indeed, he not + infrequently followed them. + </p> + <p> + For five or six weeks in the early spring it was his custom to forge his + daily chain of miles and, when the end was reached, climb contentedly + aboard a train and be transported, often by arduous means, to the city + where millions of men walk with a definite aim in view. He liked the + spring of the year. He liked the rains and the winds of early spring. They + meant the beginning of things to him. + </p> + <p> + He was rich. Perhaps not as riches are measured in these Midas-like days, + but rich beyond the demands of avarice. His legacy had been an ample one. + The fact that he worked hard at his profession from one year's end to the + other,—not excluding the six weeks devoted to these mentally + productive jaunts,—is proof sufficient that he was not content to + subsist on the fruits of another man's enterprise. He was a worker. He was + a creator, a builder and a destroyer. It was part of his ambition to + destroy in order that he might build the better. + </p> + <p> + The first fortnight of a proposed six weeks' jaunt through Upper New + England terminated when he laid aside his heavy pack in the little + bed-room at Hart's Tavern. Cock-crow would find him ready and eager to + begin his third week. At least, so he thought. But, truth is, he had come + to his journey's end; he was not to sling his pack for many a day to come. + </p> + <p> + After setting the mind of the landlord at rest, Barnes declined Mr. + Rushcroft's invitation to "quaff" a cordial with him in the tap-room, + explaining that he was exceedingly tired and intended to retire early (an + announcement that caused unmistakable distress to the actor, who held + forth for some time on the folly of "letting a thing like that go without + taking it in time," although it was not made quite clear just what he + meant by "thing"). Barnes was left to infer that he considered fatigue a + malady that ought to be treated. + </p> + <p> + Instead of going up to his room immediately, however, he decided to have a + look at the weather. He stepped out upon the wet porch and closed the door + behind him. The wind was still high; the lantern creaked and the dingy + sign that hung above the steps gave forth raucous, spasmodic wails as it + swung back and forth in the stiff, raw wind. Far away to the north + lightning flashed dimly; the roar of thunder had diminished to a low, + half-hearted growl. + </p> + <p> + His uneasiness concerning the young woman of the cross-roads increased as + he peered at the wall of blackness looming up beyond the circle of light. + He could not see the towering hills, but memory pictured them as they were + revealed to him in the gathering darkness before the storm. She was + somewhere outside that sinister black wall and in the smothering grasp of + those invisible hills, but was she living or dead? Had she reached her + journey's end safely? He tried to extract comfort from the confidence she + had expressed in the ability and integrity of the old man who drove with + far greater recklessness than one would have looked for in a wild and + irresponsible youngster. + </p> + <p> + He recalled, with a thrill, the imperious manner in which she gave + directions to the man, and his surprising servility. It suddenly occurred + to him that she was no ordinary person; he was rather amazed that he had + not thought of it before. + </p> + <p> + She had confessed to total ignorance regarding the driver of that + ramshackle conveyance; to being utterly at sea in the neighbourhood; to + having walked like any country bumpkin from the railroad station, lugging + an unconscionably heavy bag; and yet, despite all this, she seemed + amazingly sure of herself. He recalled her frivolous remark about her + jewels, and now wondered if there had not been more truth than jest in her + words. Then there was the rather significant alteration in tone and manner + when she spoke to the driver. The soft, somewhat deliberate drawl gave way + to sharp, crisp sentences; the quaint good humour vanished and in its + place he had no difficulty in remembering a very decided note of command. + </p> + <p> + Moreover, now that he thought of it, there was, even in the agreeable + rejoinders she had made to his offerings, the faint suggestion of an + accent that should have struck him at the time but did not for the obvious + reason that he was then not at all interested in her. Her English was so + perfect that he had failed to detect the almost imperceptible foreign + flavour that now took definite form in his reflections. He tried to place + this accent. Was it French, or Italian, or Spanish? Certainly it was not + German. The lightness of the Latin was evident, he decided, but it was all + so faint and remote that classification was impossible, notwithstanding + his years of association with the peoples of many countries where English + is spoken more perfectly by the upper classes, who have a language of + their own, than it is in England itself. + </p> + <p> + He took a few turns up and down the long porch, stopping finally at the + upper end. The clear, inspiring clang of a hammer on an anvil fell + suddenly upon his ears. He looked at his watch. The hour was nine, + certainly an unusual time for men to be at work in a forge. He remembered + the two men in the tap-room who were bare-armed and wore the shapeless + leather aprons of the smithy. + </p> + <p> + He had been standing there not more than half a minute peering in the + direction from whence came the rhythmic bang of the anvil,—at no + great distance, he was convinced,—when some one spoke suddenly at + his elbow. He whirled and found himself facing the gaunt landlord. + </p> + <p> + "Good Lord! You startled me," he exclaimed. He had not heard the approach + of the man, nor the opening and closing of the tavern door. His gaze + travelled past the tall figure of Putnam Jones and rested on that of a + second man, who leaned, with legs crossed and arms folded, against the + porch post directly in front of the entrance to the house, his features + almost wholly concealed by the broad-brimmed slouch hat that came far down + over his eyes. He too, it seemed to Barnes, had sprung from nowhere. + </p> + <p> + "Fierce night," said Putnam Jones, removing the corn-cob pipe from his + lips. Then, as an after thought: "Sorry I skeert you. I thought you heerd + me." + </p> + <p> + "I was listening to the song of the anvil," said Barnes, as the landlord + moved forward and took his place beside him. "It has always possessed a + singular charm for me." + </p> + <p> + "Special hurry-up job," said Jones, and no more. + </p> + <p> + "Shoeing?" + </p> + <p> + "Yep. You'd think these hayseeds could git their horses in here durin' + regular hours, wouldn't you?" + </p> + <p> + "I dare say they consider their own regular hours instead of yours, Mr. + Jones." + </p> + <p> + "I didn't quite ketch that." + </p> + <p> + "I mean that they bring their horses in after their regular day's work is + done." + </p> + <p> + "I see. Yes, I reckon that's the idee." After a few pulls at his pipe, the + landlord inquired: "Where'd you walk from to-day?" "I slept in a + farm-house last night, about fifteen miles south of this place I should + say." + </p> + <p> + "That'd be a little ways out of East Cobb," speculated Mr. Jones. + </p> + <p> + "Five or six miles." + </p> + <p> + "Goin' over into Canada?" + </p> + <p> + "No. I shall turn west, I think, and strike for the Lake Champlain + country." + </p> + <p> + "Canadian line is only a few miles from here," said Jones. "Last summer we + had a couple of crooks from Boston here, makin' a dash for the border. + Didn't know it till they'd been gone a day, however. The officers were + just a day behind 'em. Likely lookin' fellers, too. Last men in the world + you'd take for bank robbers." + </p> + <p> + "Bank robbers, as a rule, are very classy looking customers," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jones grunted. After a short silence, he branched off on a new line. + "What you think about the war? Think it'll be over soon?" + </p> + <p> + "It has been going on for nearly two years, and I can't see any signs of + abatement. Looks to me like a draw. They're all tired of it." + </p> + <p> + "Think the Germans are going to win?" + </p> + <p> + "No. They can't win. On the other hand, I don't see how the Allies can + win. I may be wrong, of course. The Allies are getting stronger every day + and the Germans must surely be getting weaker. As a matter of fact, Mr. + Jones, I've long since stopped speculating on the outcome of the war. It + is too big for me. I am not one of your know-it-alls who figure the whole + thing out from day to day, and then wonder why the fool generals didn't + have sense enough to perform as expected." + </p> + <p> + "I wish them countries over there would let me fix 'em out with generals," + drawled Mr. Jones. "I could pick out fifteen or twenty men right here in + this district that could show 'em in ten minutes just how to win the war. + You'd be surprised to know how many great generals we have running two by + four farms and choppin' wood for a livin' up here. And there are fellers + settin' right in there now that never saw a body of water bigger'n Plum + Pond, an' every blamed one of 'em knows more'n the whole British navy + about ketchin' submarines. The quickest way to end the war, says Jim + Roudebush,—one of our leadin' ice-cutters,—is for the British + navy to bombard Berlin from both sides, an' he don't see why in thunder + they've never thought of it. I suppose you've travelled right smart in + Europe?" + </p> + <p> + "Quite a bit, Mr. Jones." + </p> + <p> + "Any partic'lar part?" + </p> + <p> + "No," said Barnes, suddenly divining that he was being "pumped." "One end + to the other, you might say." + </p> + <p> + "What about them countries down around Bulgaria and Roumania? I've been + considerable interested in what's going to become of them if Germany gets + licked. What do they get out of it, either way?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes spent the next ten minutes expatiating upon the future of the + Balkan states. Jones had little to say. He was interested, and drank in + all the information that Barnes had to impart. He puffed at his pipe, + nodded his head from time to time, and occasionally put a leading + question. And quite as abruptly as he introduced the topic he changed it. + </p> + <p> + "Not many automobiles up here at this time 'o the year," he said. "I was a + little surprised when you said a feller had given you a lift. Where from?" + </p> + <p> + "The cross-roads, a mile down. He came from the direction of Frogg's + Corner and was on his way to meet some one at Spanish Falls." Barnes + shrewdly leaped to the conclusion that the landlord's interest in the + European War was more or less assumed. The man's purpose was beginning to + reveal itself. He was evidently curious, if not actually concerned, about + his guest's arrival by motor. + </p> + <p> + "That's queer," he said, after a moment. "There's no train arrivin' at + Spanish Falls as late as six o'clock. Gets in at four-ten, if she's on + time. And she was reported on time to-day." + </p> + <p> + "It appears that there was a misunderstanding. The driver didn't meet the + train, so the person he was going after walked all the way to the forks. + We happened upon each other there, Mr. Jones, and we studied the sign-post + together. She was bound for a place called Green Fancy." + </p> + <p> + "Did you say SHE?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. I was proposing to help her out of her predicament when the belated + motor came racing down the slope. As a matter of fact, I was wrong when I + said that a man brought me here in an automobile. It was she who did it. + She gave the order. He merely obeyed,—and not very willingly, I + suspect." + </p> + <p> + "What for sort of looking lady was she?" + </p> + <p> + "She wore a veil," said Barnes, succinctly. + </p> + <p> + "Young?" + </p> + <p> + "I had that impression. By the way, Mr. Jones, what and where is Green + Fancy?" + </p> + <p> + Jones looked over his shoulder, and his guest's glance followed. The man + near the entrance had been joined by another. + </p> + <p> + "Well," began the landlord, lowering his voice, "it's about two mile and a + half from here, up the mountain. It's a house and people live in it, same + as any other house. That's about all there is to say about it." + </p> + <p> + "Why is it called Green Fancy?" + </p> + <p> + "Because it's a green house," replied Jones succinctly. + </p> + <p> + "You mean that it is painted green?" + </p> + <p> + "Exactly. Green as a gourd. A man named Curtis built it a couple o' year + ago and he had a fool idee about paintin' it green. Might ha' been a + little crazy, for all I know. Anyhow, after he got it finished he settled + down to live in it, and from that day to this he's never been off'n the + place. He didn't seem sick or anything, so we can't make out his object in + shuttin' himself up in the house an' seldom ever stickin' his nose outside + the door." + </p> + <p> + "Isn't it possible that he isn't there at all?" + </p> + <p> + "He's there all right. Every now an' then he has visitors,—just like + this woman to-day,—and sometimes they come down here for supper. + They don't hesitate to speak of him, so he must be there. Miss Tilly has + got the idee that he is a reecluse, if you know what that is." + </p> + <p> + "It's all very interesting. I should say, judging by the visitor who came + this evening, that he entertains extremely nice people." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Jones drily, "they claim to be from New York. But," he added, + "so do them cheapskate actors in there." Which was as much as to say that + he had his doubts. + </p> + <p> + Further conversation was interrupted by the irregular clatter of horses' + hoofs on the macadam. Off to the left a dull red glow of light spread + across the roadway, and a man's voice called out: "Whoa, dang ye!" + </p> + <p> + The door of the smithy had been thrown open and some one was leading forth + freshly shod horses. + </p> + <p> + A moment later the horses,—prancing, high-spirited animals,—their + bridle-bits held by a strapping blacksmith, came into view. Barnes looked + in the direction of the steps. The two men had disappeared. Instead of + stopping directly in front of the steps, the smith led his charges quite a + distance beyond and into the darkness. + </p> + <p> + Putnam Jones abruptly changed his position. He insinuated his long body + between Barnes and the doorway, at the same time rather loudly proclaiming + that the rain appeared to be over. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir," he repeated, "she seems to have let up altogether. Ought to + have a nice day to-morrow, Mr. Barnes,—nice, cool day for walkin'." + </p> + <p> + Voices came up from the darkness. Jones had not been able to cover them + with his own. Barnes caught two or three sharp commands, rising above the + pawing of horses' hoofs, and then a great clatter as the mounted horsemen + rode off in the direction of the cross-roads. The beat of the hoofs became + rhythmical as the animals steadied into a swinging lope. + </p> + <p> + Barnes waited until they were muffled by distance, and then turned to + Jones with the laconic remark: + </p> + <p> + "They seem to be foreigners, Mr. Jones." Jones's manner became natural + once more. He leaned against one of the posts and, striking a match on his + leg, relighted his pipe. + </p> + <p> + "Kind o' curious about 'em, eh?" he drawled. + </p> + <p> + "It never entered my mind until this instant to be curious," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "Well, it entered their minds about an hour ago to be curious about you," + said the other. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV — AN EXTRAORDINARY CHAMBERMAID, A MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY, AND A + MAN WHO SAID "THANK YOU" + </h2> + <p> + Miss Thackeray was "turning down" his bed when he entered his room after + bidding his new actor friends good night. All three promised to be up + bright and early in the morning to speed him on his way with good wishes. + Mr. Rushcroft declared that he would break the habit of years and get up + in time to partake of a seven o'clock breakfast with him. Mr. Dillingford + and Mr. Bacon, though under sentence to eat at six with the rest of the + "help," were quite sanguine that old man Jones wouldn't mind if they ate + again at seven. So it was left that Barnes was to have company for + breakfast. + </p> + <p> + He was staggered and somewhat abashed by the appearance of Miss Thackeray. + She was by no means dressed as a chambermaid should be, nor was she as + dumb. On the contrary, she confronted him in the choicest raiment that her + wardrobe contained, and she was bright and cheery and exceedingly + incompetent. It was her costume that shocked him. Not only was she attired + in a low-necked, rose-coloured evening gown, liberally bespangled with + tinsel, but she wore a vast top-heavy picture-hat whose crown of black was + almost wholly obscured by a gorgeous white feather that once must have + adorned the king of all ostriches. She was not at all his idea of a + chambermaid. He started to back out of the door with an apology for having + blundered into the wrong room by mistake. + </p> + <p> + "Come right in," she said cheerily. "I'll soon be through. I suppose I + should have done all this an hour ago, but I just had to write a few + letters." She went on with her clumsy operations. "I don't know who made + up this bed but whoever did was determined that it should stay put. I + never knew that bed clothes could be tucked in as far and as tight as + these. Tight enough for old Mother Jones to have done it herself, and + heaven knows she's a tight one. I am Miss Thackeray. This is Mr. Barnes, I + believe." + </p> + <p> + He bowed, still quite overcome. + </p> + <p> + "You needn't be scared," she cried, observing his confusion. "This is my + regular uniform. I'm starting a new style for chambermaids. Did it + paralyse you to find me here?" + </p> + <p> + "I must confess to a moment of indecision," he said, smiling. + </p> + <p> + "Followed by a moment of uneasiness," she added, slapping the bolster. + "You didn't know what to think, now did you?" + </p> + <p> + "I couldn't believe my eyes." + </p> + <p> + She abandoned her easy, careless manner. A look of mortification came into + her eyes as she straightened up and faced him. Her voice was a trifle + husky when she spoke again, after a moment's pause. + </p> + <p> + "You see, Mr. Barnes, these are the only duds I have with me. It wasn't + necessary to put on this hat, of course, but I did it simply to make the + character complete. I might just as well make beds and clean washstands in + a picture hat as in a low-necked gown, so here I am." + </p> + <p> + She was a tall, pleasant-faced girl of twenty-three or four, not unlike + her father in many respects. Her features were rather heavy, her mouth + large but comely, her eyes dark and lustrous behind heavy lashes. As she + now appeared before Barnes, she was the typical stage society woman: in + other words, utterly commonplace. In a drawing-room she would have been as + conspicuously out of place as she was in her present occupation. + </p> + <p> + "I am very sorry," he said lamely. "I have heard something of your + misfortunes from your father and—the others. It's—it's really + hard luck." + </p> + <p> + "I call it rather good luck to have got away with the only dress in the + lot that cost more than tuppence," she said, smiling again. "Lord knows + what would have happened to me if they had dropped down on us at the end + of the first act. I was the beggar's daughter, you see,—absolutely + in rags." + </p> + <p> + "You might have got away in your ordinary street clothes, however," he + said; "which would have been pleasanter, I dare say." + </p> + <p> + "I dare say," she agreed brightly. "Glad to have met you. I think you'll + find everything NEARLY all right. Good night, sir." + </p> + <p> + She smiled brightly, unaffectedly, as she turned toward the open door. + There was something forelorn about her, after all, and his heart was + touched. + </p> + <p> + "Better luck, Miss Thackeray. Every cloud has its silver lining." + </p> + <p> + She stopped and faced him once more. "That's the worst bromide in the + language," she said. "If I were to tell you how many clouds I've seen and + how little silver, you'd think I was lying. This experience? Why, it's a + joy compared to some of the jolts we've had,—dad and me. And the + others, too, for that matter. We've had to get used to it. Five years ago + I would have jumped out of a ten story window before I'd have let you see + me in this get-up. I know you'll laugh yourself sick over the way I look, + and so will your friends when you tell them about me, but, thank the Lord, + I shan't be in a position to hear you. So why should I mind? What a fellow + doesn't know, isn't going to hurt him. You haven't laughed in my face, and + I'm grateful for that. What you do afterward can't make the least bit of + difference to me." + </p> + <p> + "I assure you, Miss Thackeray, that I shall not laugh, nor shall I ever + relate the story of your—" + </p> + <p> + "There is one more bromide that I've never found much virtue in," she + interrupted, not disagreeably, "and that is: 'it's too good to be true.' + Good night. Sleep tight." + </p> + <p> + She closed the door behind her, leaving him standing in the middle of the + room, perplexed but amused. + </p> + <p> + "By George," he said to himself, still staring at the closed door, + "they're wonders, all of them. We could all take lessons in philosophy + from such as they. I wish I could do something to help them out of—" + He sat down abruptly on the edge of the bed and pulled his wallet from his + pocket. He set about counting the bills, a calculating frown in his eyes. + Then he stared at the ceiling, summing up. "I'll do it," he said, after a + moment of mental figuring. He told off a half dozen bills and slipped them + into his pocket. The wallet sought its usual resting place for the night: + under a pillow. + </p> + <p> + He was healthy and he was tired. Two minutes after his head touched the + pillow he was sound asleep, losing consciousness even as he fought to stay + awake in order that he might continue to vex himself with the + extraordinary behavior and statement of Putnam Jones. + </p> + <p> + He was aroused shortly after midnight by shouts, apparently just outside + his window. A man was calling in a loud voice from the road below; an + instant later he heard a tremendous pounding on the tavern door. + </p> + <p> + Springing out of bed, he rushed to the window. There were horses in front + of the house,—several of them,—and men on foot moving like + shadows among them. A shuffling of feet came up to his open window; the + intervening roof shut off his view of the porch and all that was + transpiring. His eyes, accustomed to darkness, made out at least five + horses in the now unlighted area before the tavern. + </p> + <p> + Turning from the window, he unlocked and opened the door into the hall. + Some one was clattering down the narrow staircase. The bolts on the front + door shot back with resounding force, and there came the hoarse jumble of + excited voices as men crowded through the entrance. Putnam Jones's voice + rose above the clamour. + </p> + <p> + "Keep quiet! Do you want to wake everybody on the place?" he was saying + angrily. "What's up? This is a fine time o' night to be—Good Lord! + What's the matter with him?" + </p> + <p> + "Telephone for a doctor, Put,—damn' quick! This one's still alive. + The other one is dead as a door nail up at Jim Conley's house. Git ole Doc + James down from Saint Liz. Bring him in here, boys. Where's your lights? + Easy now! Eas-EE!" + </p> + <p> + Barnes waited to hear no more. His blood seemed to be running ice-cold as + he retreated into the room and began scrambling for his clothes. The thing + he feared had come to pass. Disaster had overtaken her in that wild, + senseless dash up the mountain road. He was cursing half aloud as he + dressed, cursing the fool who drove that machine and who now was perhaps + dying down there in the tap-room. "The other one is dead as a door nail," + kept running through his head,—"the other one." + </p> + <p> + The rumble of voices and the shuffling of feet continued, indistinct but + laden with tragedy. The curious hush of catastrophe seemed to top the + confusion that infected the place, inside and out. Barnes found his + electric pocket torch and dressed hurriedly, though not fully, by its + constricted light. As he was pulling on his heavy walking shoes, a head + was inserted through the half open door, and an excited voice called out: + </p> + <p> + "You awake? Good work! Hustle along, will you? No more sleep to-night, old + chap. Man dying downstairs. Shot smack through the lungs. Get a move—" + </p> + <p> + "Shot?" exclaimed Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "So they say," replied the agitated Mr. Dillingford, entering the room. He + had slipped on his trousers and was then in the act of pulling his + suspenders over his shoulders. His unlaced shoes gaped broadly; the upper + part of his body was closely encased in a once blue undershirt; his + abundant black hair was tousled,—some of it, indeed, having the + appearance of standing on end. And in his wide eyes there was a look of + horror. "I didn't hear much of the story. Old man Jones is telephoning for + a doctor and—" + </p> + <p> + "Did you say that the man was shot?" repeated Barnes, bewildered. "Wasn't + it an automobile accident?" + </p> + <p> + "Search ME. Gosh, I had one look at that fellow's face down there and—I + didn't hear another word that was said. I never saw a man's face look like + that. It was the colour of grey wall paper. Hurry up! Old man Jones told + me to call you. He says you understand some of the foreign languages, and + maybe you can make out what the poor devil is trying to say." "Do they + know who he is?" + </p> + <p> + "Sure. He's been staying in the house for three days. The other one spoke + English all right but this one not a word." + </p> + <p> + "Did they ride away from here about nine o'clock?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. They had their own horses and said they were going to spend the + night at Spanish Falls so's they could meet the down train that goes + through at five o'clock in the morning. But hustle along, please. He's + trying to talk and he's nearly gone." + </p> + <p> + Barnes, buoyed by a sharp feeling of relief, followed the actor downstairs + and into the tap-room. A dozen men were there, gathered around two tables + that had been drawn together. Transient lodgers, in various stages of + dishabille, popped out of all sorts of passageways and joined the throng. + The men about the table, on which was stretched the figure of the wounded + man, were undoubtedly natives: farmers, woodsmen or employees of the + tavern. At a word from Putnam Jones, they opened up and allowed Barnes to + advance to the side of the man. + </p> + <p> + "See if you c'n understand him, Mr. Barnes," said the landlord. + Perspiration was dripping from his long, raw-boned face. "And you, Bacon,—you + and Dillingford hustle upstairs and get a mattress off'n one of the beds. + Stand at the door there, Pike, and don't let any women in here. Go away, + Miss Thackeray! This is no place for you." + </p> + <p> + Miss Thackeray pushed her way past the man who tried to stop her and + joined Barnes. Her long black hair hung in braids down her back; above her + forehead clustered a mass of ringlets, vastly disordered but not untidy. A + glance would have revealed the gaudy rose-coloured skirt hanging below the + bottom of the long rain-coat she had snatched from a peg in the hall-way. + </p> + <p> + "It is the place for me," she said sharply. "Haven't you men got sense + enough to put something under his head? Where is he hurt? Get that + cushion, you. Stick, it under here when I lift his head. Oh, you poor + thing! We'll be as quick as possible. There!" + </p> + <p> + "You'd better go away," said Barnes, himself ghastly pale. "He's been + shot. There is a lot of blood—don't you know. It's splendid of you—" + </p> + <p> + "Dangerously?" she cried, shrinking back, her eyes fixed in dread upon the + white face. + </p> + <p> + The man's eyes were closed, but at the sound of a woman's voice he opened + them. The hand with which he clutched at his breast slid off and seemed to + be groping for hers. His breathing was terrible. There was blood at the + corners of his mouth, and more oozed forth when his lips parted in an + effort to speak. + </p> + <p> + With a courage that surprised even herself, the girl took his hand in + hers. It was wet and warm. She did not dare look at it. + </p> + <p> + "Merci, madame," struggled from the man's lips, and he smiled. + </p> + <p> + Barnes had heard of the French soldiers who, as they died, said "thank + you" to those who ministered to them, and smiled as they said it. He had + always marvelled at the fortitude that could put gratefulness above + physical suffering, and his blood never failed to respond to an exquisite + thrill of exaltation under such recitals. He at once deduced that the + injured man, while probably not a Frenchman, at least was familiar with + the language. + </p> + <p> + He was young, dark-haired and swarthy. His riding-clothes were well-made + and modish. + </p> + <p> + Barnes leaned over and spoke to him in French. The dark, pain-stricken + eyes closed, and an almost imperceptible shake of the head signified that + he did not understand. Evidently he had acquired only a few of the simple + French expressions. Barnes had a slight knowledge of Spanish and Italian, + and tried again with no better results. German was his last resort, and he + knew he would fail once more, for the man obviously was not Teutonic. + </p> + <p> + The bloody lips parted, however, and the eyes opened with a piteous, + appealing expression in their depths. It was apparent that there was + something he wanted to say, something he had to say before he died. He + gasped a dozen words or more in a tongue utterly unknown to Barnes, who + bent closer to catch the feeble effort. It was he who now shook his head; + with a groan the sufferer closed his eyes in despair. He choked and + coughed violently an instant later. + </p> + <p> + "Get some water and a towel," cried Miss Thackeray, tremulously. She was + very white, but still clung to the man's hand. "Be quick! Behind the bar." + Then she turned to Jones. "Don't call my father. He can't stand the sight + of blood," she said. + </p> + <p> + Barnes unbuttoned the coat and revealed the blood-soaked white shirt. + </p> + <p> + "Better leave this to me," he said in her ear. "There's nothing you can + do. He's done for. Please go away." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I sha'n't faint—at least, not yet. Poor fellow! I've seen him + upstairs and wondered who he was. Is he really going to die?" + </p> + <p> + "Looks bad," said Barnes, gently opening the shirt front. Several of the + craning men turned away suddenly. + </p> + <p> + "Can't you understand him?" demanded Putnam Jones, from the opposite side. + </p> + <p> + "No. Did you get the doctor?" + </p> + <p> + "He's on the way by this time. He's got a little automobile. Ought to be + here in ten or fifteen minutes." + </p> + <p> + "Who is he, Mr. Jones?" + </p> + <p> + "He is registered as Andrew Paul, from New York. That's all I know. The + other man put his name down as Albert Roon. He seemed to be the boss and + this man a sort of servant, far as I could make out. They never talked + much and seldom came downstairs. They had their meals in their room. Bacon + served them. Where is Bacon? Where the hell—oh, the mattress. Now, + we'll lift him up gentle-like while you fellers slip it under him. Easy + now. Brace up, my lad, we—we won't hurt you. Lordy! Lordy! I'm sorry—Gosh! + I thought he was gone!" He wiped his brow with a shaking hand. + </p> + <p> + "There is nothing we can do," said Barnes, "except try to stanch the flow + of blood. He is bleeding inwardly, I'm afraid. It's a clean wound, Mr. + Jones. Like a rifle shot, I should say." + </p> + <p> + "That's just what it is," said one of the men, a tall woodsman. "The + feller who did it was a dead shot, you c'n bet on that. He got t' other + man square through the heart." + </p> + <p> + "Lordy, but this will raise a rumpus," groaned the landlord. "We'll have + detectives an'—" + </p> + <p> + "I guess they got what was comin' to 'em," said another of the men. + </p> + <p> + "What's that? Why, they was ridin' peaceful as could be to Spanish Falls. + What do you mean by sayin' that, Jim Conley? But wait a minute! How does + it happen that they were up near your dad's house? That certainly ain't on + the road to Span—" + </p> + <p> + "Spanish Falls nothin'! They wasn't goin' to Spanish Falls any more'n I am + at this minute. They tied their hosses up the road just above our house," + said young Conley, lowering his voice out of consideration for the + feelings of the helpless man. "It was about 'leven o'clock, I reckon. I + was comin' home from singin' school up at Number Ten, an' I passed the + hosses hitched to the fence. Naturally I stopped, curious like. There + wasn't no one around, fer as I could see, so I thought I'd take a look to + see whose hosses they were. I thought it was derned funny, them hosses + bein' there at that time o' night an' no one around. So as I said before, + I thought I'd take a look. I know every hoss fer ten mile around. So I + thought I'd take—" + </p> + <p> + "You said that three times," broke in Jones impatiently. + </p> + <p> + "Well, to make a long story short, I thought I'd take a look. I never seen + either of them animals before. They didn't belong around here. So I + thought I'd better hustle down to the house an' speak to pa about it. + Looked mighty queer to me. Course, thinks I, they might belong to somebody + visitin' in there at Green Fancy, so I thought I'd—" + </p> + <p> + "Green Fancy?" said Barnes, starting. + </p> + <p> + "Was it up that far?" demanded Jones. + </p> + <p> + "They was hitched jest about a hundred yards below Mr. Curtis's propity, + on the off side o' the road. Course it's quite a ways in from the road to + the house, an' I couldn't see why if it was anybody callin' up there they + didn't ride all the ways up, 'stead o' walkin' through the woods. So I + thought I'd speak to pa about it. Say," and he paused abruptly, a queer + expression in his eyes, "you don't suppose he knows what I'm sayin', do + you? I wouldn't say anything to hurt the poor feller's feelin's fer—" + </p> + <p> + "He doesn't know what you are saying," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "But, dern it, he jest now looked at me in the funniest way. It's given me + the creeps." + </p> + <p> + "Go on," said one of the men. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I hadn't any more'n got to our front gate when I heard some one + running in the road up there behind me. 'Fore I knowed what was happenin', + bang went a gun. I almost jumped out'n my boots. I lept behind that big + locus' tree in front of our house and listened. The runnin' had stopped. + The hosses was rarin' an' tearin' so I thought I'd—" + </p> + <p> + "Where'd the shot come from?" demanded Jones. + </p> + <p> + "Up the road some'eres, I couldn't swear just where. Must 'a' been up by + the road that cuts in to Green Fancy. So I thought I'd hustle in an' see + if pa was awake, an' git my gun. Looked mighty suspicious, thinks I, that + gun shot. Jest then pa stuck his head out'n the winder an' yelled what the + hell's the matter. You betcher life I sung out who I was mighty quick, + 'cause pa's purty spry with a gun an' I didn't want him takin' me fer + burglars sneakin' around the house. While we wuz talkin' there, one of the + hosses started our way lickety-split, an' in about two seconds it went by + us. It was purty dark but we see plain as day that there was a man in the + saddle, bendin' low over the hoss's neck and shoutin' to it. Well, we + shore was guessin'. We waited a couple o' minutes, wonderin' what to do, + an' listenin' to the hoss gittin' furder and furder away in the direction + of the cross-roads. Then, 'way down there by the pike we heerd another + shot. Right there an' then pa said he'd put on his clothes an' we'd set + out to see what it was all about. I had it figgered out that the feller on + the hoss had shot the other one and was streakin' it fer town or + some'eres. That second shot had me guessin' though. Who wuz he shootin' at + now, thinks I. + </p> + <p> + "Well, pa come out with my gun an' his'n an' we walks up to where I seen + the hosses. Shore 'nough, one of 'em was still hitched to the fence, an' + t'other was gone. We stood around a minute or two examinin' the hoss an' + then pa says let's go up the road aways an' see if we c'n see anything. + An' by gosh, we hadn't gone more'n fifty feet afore we come plumb on a man + layin' in the middle of the road. Pa shook him an' he didn't let out a + sound. He was warm but deader'n a tombstone. I wuz fer leavin' him there + till we c'd git the coroner, but pa says no. We'd carry him down to our + porch, an' lay him there, so's he'd be out o' danger. Ma an' the kids wuz + all up when we got him there, an' pa sent Bill and Charley over to Mr. + Pike's and Uncle John's to fetch 'em quick. I jumps on Polly an' lights + out fer here, Mr. Jones, to telephone up to Saint Liz fer the sheriff an' + the coroner, not givin' a dang what I run into on the way. Polly shied + somethin' terrible jest afore we got to the pike an' I come derned near + bein' throwed. An' right there 'side the road was this feller, all in a + heap. I went back an' jumped off. He was groanin' somethin' awful. Thinks + I, you poor cuss, you must 'a' tried to stop that feller on hossback an' + he plunked you. That accounted fer the second shot. But while I wuz tryin' + to lift him up an' git somethin' out'n him about the matter, I sees his + boss standin' in the road a couple o' rods away. I couldn't understand a + word he said, so I thought I better go back home an' git some help, + seein's I couldn't manage him by myself. So I dragged him up on the bank + an' made him comfortable as I could, and lit out fer home. We thought we'd + better bring him up here, Mr. Jones, it bein' just as near an' you could + git the doctor sooner. I hitched up the buck-board and went back. Pa an' + some of the other fellers took their guns an' went up in the woods lookin' + fer the man that done the shootin'. The thing that worries all of us is + did the same man do the shootin', or was there two of 'em, one waitin' + down at the cross-roads?" + </p> + <p> + "Must have been two," said Jones, thoughtfully. "The same man couldn't + have got down there ahead of him, that's sure. Did anybody go up to Green + Fancy to make inquiries?" + </p> + <p> + "'Twasn't necessary. Mr. Curtis heard the shootin' an' jest before we left + he sent a man out to see what it was all about. The old skeezicks that's + been drivin' his car lately come down half-dressed. He said nothin' out of + the way had happened up at Green Fancy. Nobody had been nosin' around + their place, an' if they had, he said, there wasn't anybody there who + could hit the side of a barn with a rifle." + </p> + <p> + "It's most mysterious," said Barnes, glancing around the circle of awed + faces. "There must have been some one lying in wait for these men, and + with a very definite purpose in mind." + </p> + <p> + "Strikes me," said Jones, "that these two men were up to some kind of + dirty work themselves, else why did they say they were goin' to Spanish + Falls? It's my idee that they went up that road to lay fer somebody comin' + down from the border, and they got theirs good an' plenty instead of the + other way round. They were queer actin' men, I'll have to say that." + </p> + <p> + His eyes met Barnes' and there was a queer light in them. + </p> + <p> + "You don't happen to know anything about this, do you, Mr. Barnes?" he + demanded, suddenly. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V — THE FARM-BOY TELLS A GHASTLY STORY AND AN IRISHMAN + ENTERS + </h2> + <p> + Barnes stared. "What do you mean?" he demanded sharply. + </p> + <p> + "I mean just what I said. What do you know about this business?" + </p> + <p> + "How should I know ANYTHING about it?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, we don't know who you are, nor what you're doing up here, nor what + your real profession is. That's why I ask the question." + </p> + <p> + "I see," said Barnes, after a moment. He grasped the situation and he + admitted to himself that Jones had cause for his suspicions. "It has + occurred to you that I may be a detective or a secret service man, isn't + that the case? Well, I am neither. Moreover, this man and his companion + evidently had their doubts about me, if I am to judge by your remark and + your actions on the porch earlier in the evening." + </p> + <p> + "I only said that they were curious about you. The man named Roon asked me + a good many questions about you while you were in at supper. Who knows but + what he was justified in thinkin' you didn't mean any good to him and his + friend?" + </p> + <p> + "Did you know any more about these two men, Mr. Jones, than you know about + me?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know anything about 'em. They came here like any one else, paid + their bills regular, 'tended to their own business, and that's all." + </p> + <p> + "What was their business?" + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Roon was lookin' for a place to bring his daughter who has + consumption. He didn't want to take her to a reg'lar consumptive + community, he said, an' so he was lookin' for a quiet place where she + wouldn't be associatin' with lungers all the time. Some big doctor in New + York told him to come up here an' look around. That was his business, Mr. + Barnes, an' I guess you'd call it respectable, wouldn't you?" + </p> + <p> + "Perfectly. But why should he be troubled by my presence here if—" + Miss Thackeray put an end to the discussion in a most effectual manner. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, for the Lord's sake, cut it out! Wait till he's dead, can't you?" she + whispered fiercely. "You've got all the time in the world to talk, and he + hasn't more than ten minutes left to breathe unless that rube doctor gets + here pretty soon. If you've GOT to settle the question right away, at + least have the decency to go out of this room." + </p> + <p> + Barnes flushed to the roots of his hair. Jones was aghast, dumb with + surprise and anger. + </p> + <p> + "You are right, Miss Thackeray," said the former, deeply mortified. "This + is not the time nor the place to——" + </p> + <p> + "He can't understand a word we say," said Putnam Jones loudly. "You better + get out of here yourself, young woman. This is a job for men, not—" + </p> + <p> + "I think he's going now," she whispered in an awe-struck voice. "Keep + still, all of you. Is he breathing, Mr. Barnes? That awful cough just now + seemed to—" + </p> + <p> + "Come away, please," said Barnes, taking her gently by the arm. "I—I + believe that was the end. Don't stay here, Miss Thackeray. Dillingford, + will you be good enough to escort Miss—" + </p> + <p> + "I've never seen any one die before," she said in a low, tense voice. Her + eyes were fixed on the still face. "Why—why, how tightly he holds my + hand! I can't get it away—he must be alive, Mr. Barnes. Where is + that silly doctor?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes unclasped the rigid fingers of the man called Andrew Paul, and, + shaking his head sadly, drew her away from the improvised bier. He and the + shivering Mr. Dillingford conducted her to the dining-room, where a single + kerosene lamp gave out a feeble, rather ghastly light. The tall Bacon + followed, the upper part of his person enveloped in the blanket Putnam + Jones had hastily snatched from the mattress before it was slipped under + the dying man. Several of the women of the house, including the wife of + the landlord, clogged the little entrance hall, chattering in hushed + undertones. + </p> + <p> + "Would you like a little brandy?" inquired Barnes, as she sat down limply + in the chair he pulled out for her. "I have a flask upstairs in my—" + </p> + <p> + "I never touch it," she said. "I'm all right. My legs wabble a little but—Sit + down, Mr. Barnes. I've got something to say to you and I'd better say it + now, because it may come in pretty handy for you later on. Don't let those + women come in here, Dilly." + </p> + <p> + Barnes drew a chair close beside her. Bacon, with scant regard for + elegance, seated himself on the edge of the table and bent an ear. + </p> + <p> + "It's all rot about that man Roon being here to look for a place for his + daughter." She spoke rapidly and cautiously. "I don't know whether Jones + knows, but that certainly wasn't what he was here for. The young fellow in + there was a sort of secretary. Roon had a room at the other end of the + hall from yours, on the corner, facing the road and also looking toward + the cross-roads. Young Paul had the next room, with a door between. I was + supposed to make up their rooms after they'd gone out in the forenoon for + a horseback ride. I kept out of their sight, because I knew they were the + kind of men who would laugh at me. They couldn't understand, and, of + course, I couldn't explain. Yesterday morning I found a sort of map on the + floor under young Paul's washstand. The wind had blown it off the table by + the window and he hadn't missed it. It was in lead pencil and looked like + a map of the roads around here. I couldn't read the notations, but it + required only a glance to convince me that this place was the central + point. All of the little mountain roads were there, and the cross-roads. + There wasn't anything queer about it, so I laid it on his table and put a + book on it. + </p> + <p> + "This afternoon I walked up in the woods back of the Tavern to go over + some lines in a new piece we are to do later on,—God knows when! I + could see the house from where I was sitting. Roon's windows were plainly + visible. I wasn't very far away, you see, the climb being too steep for + me. I saw Roon standing at a window looking toward the cross-roads with a + pair of field-glasses. Every once in awhile he would turn to Paul, who + stood beside him with a notebook, and say something to him. Paul wrote it + down. Then he would look again, turning the glasses this way and that. I + wouldn't have thought much about it if they hadn't spent so much time + there. I believe I watched them for an hour. Suddenly my eyes almost + popped out of my head. Paul had gone away from the window. He came back + and he had a couple of revolvers in his hands. They stood there for a few + minutes carefully examining the weapons and reloading them with fresh + cartridges. The storm was coming up, but I love it so that I waited almost + until dark, watching the clouds and listening to the roar of the wind in + the trees. I'm a queer girl in that way. I like turmoil. I could sit out + in the most dreadful thunder storm and just revel in the crashes. Just as + I was about to start down to the house—it was a little after six + o'clock, and getting awfully dark and overcast,—Roon took up the + glasses again. He seemed to be excited and called his companion. Paul + grabbed the glasses and looked down the road. They both became very much + excited, pointing and gesticulating, and taking turn about with the + glasses." + </p> + <p> + "About six o'clock, you say?" said Barnes, greatly interested. + </p> + <p> + "It was a quarter after six when I got back to the house. I spoke to Mr. + Bacon about what I'd seen and he said he believed they were German spies, + up to some kind of mischief along the Canadian border. Everybody is a + German spy nowadays, Mr. Barnes, if he looks cross-wise. Then about half + an hour later you came to the Tavern. I saw Roon sneak out to the head of + the stairs and listen to your conversation with Jones when you registered. + That gave me an idea. It was you they were watching the road for. They saw + you long before you got here, and it was—" + </p> + <p> + Barnes held up his hand for silence. "Listen," he said in a low voice, "I + will tell you who they were looking for." As briefly as possible he + recounted his experience with the strange young woman at the cross-roads. + "From the beginning I have connected this tragedy with the place called + Green Fancy. I'll stake my last penny that they have been hanging around + here waiting for the arrival of that young woman. They knew she was coming + and they doubtless knew what she was bringing with her. They went to Green + Fancy to-night with a very sinister purpose in mind, and things didn't + turn out as they expected. What do you know about the place called Green + Fancy?" + </p> + <p> + He was vastly excited. His active imagination was creating all sorts of + possibilities and complications, depredations and intrigues. + </p> + <p> + Bacon was the one who answered. He drew the blanket closer about his lean + form and shivered as with a chill. + </p> + <p> + "I know this much about the place from hearsay," he said in a guttural + whisper. "It's supposed to be haunted. I've heard more than one of these + jays,—big huskies too,—say they wouldn't go near the place + after dark for all the money in the state." + </p> + <p> + "That's just talk to scare you, Ague," said Dillingford. "People live up + there and since we've been here two or three men visitors have come down + from the place to sample our stock of wet goods. Nothing suspicious + looking or ghostly about them either. I talked with a couple of 'em day + before yesterday. They were out for a horseback ride and stopped here for + a mug of ale." + </p> + <p> + "Were they foreigners?" inquired Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "If you want to call an Irishman a foreigner, I'll have to say one of them + was. He had a beautiful brogue. I'd never seen an Irishman in slick riding + clothes, however, so I doubted my ears at first. You don't associate a + plain Mick with anything so swell as that, you know. The other was an + American, I'm sure. Yesterday they rode past here with a couple of swell + looking women. I saw them turn up the road to Green Fancy, so that knocks + your ghost story all to smash, Bacon." + </p> + <p> + "It isn't MY ghost story," began Mr. Bacon indignantly. The arrival of + four or five men, who stamped into the already crowded hallway from the + porch outside, claimed the attention of the quartette. Among them was the + doctor who, they were soon to discover, was also the coroner of the + county. A very officious deputy sheriff was also in the group. + </p> + <p> + Before rejoining the crowd in the tap-room, Barnes advised his companions, + especially the girl, to say as little as possible about what they had + heard and seen. + </p> + <p> + "This thing is going to turn out to be a whacking sensation, and it may be + a great deal more important than we think. You don't want to become + involved in the investigation, which may become a national affair. I'd + like to have a hand in clearing it up. My head is chock-full of theories + that might—" + </p> + <p> + "Maybe Roon was right," said Dillingford, slowly, as he edged a step or + two away from Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "In what respect?" + </p> + <p> + "He certainly thought you were a detective or something like that. Maybe + he thought you came with that young woman, or maybe he thought you were + shadowing her, or—" + </p> + <p> + "There are a lot of things he may have thought," interrupted Barnes, + smiling. "It is barely possible that my arrival may have caused him to act + more hastily than he intended. That may be the reason why the job ended so + disastrously for him." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Jones called out from the doorway. "Mr. Barnes, you're wanted in + there." + </p> + <p> + "All right," he responded. + </p> + <p> + "Better let me get you a wet towel to wash your hand," said Bacon to Miss + Thackeray. "My God, I wouldn't have THAT on my hand for a million + dollars." + </p> + <p> + The doctor had been working over the prostrate form on the tables. As + Barnes entered the room, he looked up and declared that the man was dead. + </p> + <p> + "This is Mr. Barnes," said Putnam Jones, indicating the tall traveller + with a short jerk of his thumb. + </p> + <p> + "I am from the sheriff's office," said the man who stood beside the + doctor. The rest of the crowd evidently had been ordered to stand back + from the tables. The sheriff was a burly fellow, whose voice shook in a + most incongruous manner, despite his efforts to appear composed and + otherwise efficient. "Did you ever see this man before?" + </p> + <p> + "Not until he was carried in here half an hour ago. I arrived here this + evening." + </p> + <p> + "What's your business up here, Mr. Barnes?" + </p> + <p> + "I have no business up here. I just happened to stroll in this evening." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the sheriff darkly, "I guess I'll have to ask you to stick + around here till we clear this business up. We don't know you an'—Well, + we can't take any chances. You understand, I reckon." + </p> + <p> + "I certainly fail to understand, Mr. Sheriff. I know nothing whatever of + this affair and I intend to continue on my way to-morrow morning." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I guess not." + </p> + <p> + "Do you mean to say that I am to be detained here against my—" + </p> + <p> + "You got to stay here till we are satisfied that you don't know anything + about this business. That's all." + </p> + <p> + "Am I to consider myself under arrest, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "I wouldn't go as far as to say that. You just stick around here, that's + all I got to say. If you're all right, we'll soon find it out. What's + more, if you are all right you'll be willin' to stay. Do you get me?" + </p> + <p> + "I certainly do. And I can now assure you, Mr. Sheriff, that I'd like + nothing better than to stick around here, as you put it. I'd like to help + clear this matter up. In the meantime, you may readily find out who I am + and why I am here by telegraphing to the Mayor of New York City. This + document, which experience has taught me to carry for just such an + emergency as this, may have some weight with you." He opened his + bill-folder and drew forth a neatly creased sheet of paper. This he handed + to the sheriff. "Read it, please, and note the date, the signature, the + official seal of the New York Police department, and also the rather + interesting silver print pasted in the lower left hand corner. I think you + will agree that it is a good likeness of me. Each year I take the + precaution of having myself properly certified by the police department at + home before venturing into unknown and perhaps unfriendly communities. + This, in a word, is a guarantee of good citizenship, good intentions + and-good health. I was once taken up by a rural Sherlock on suspicion of + being connected with the theft of a horse and buggy, although all the + evidence seemed to indicate that I was absolutely afoot and weary at the + time, and didn't have the outfit concealed about my person. I languished + in the calaboose for twenty-four hours, and might have remained there + indefinitely if the real desperado hadn't been captured in the nick o' + time. Have you read it?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the sheriff dubiously; "but how do I know it ain't a forgery?" + </p> + <p> + "You don't know, of course. But in case it shouldn't be a forgery and I am + subjected to the indignity of arrest or even detention, you would have a + nasty time defending yourself in a civil suit for damages. Don't + misunderstand me. I appreciate your position. I shall remain here, as you + suggest, but only for the purpose of aiding you in getting to the bottom + of this affair." + </p> + <p> + "What do you think about it, Doc?" + </p> + <p> + "He says he's willing to stay, don't he? Well, what more can you ask?" + snapped the old doctor. "I should say the best thing for you to do, Abner, + is to get a posse of men together and begin raking the woods up yonder for + the men that did the shooting. You say there is another one dead up at Jim + Conley's? Well, I'll go over and view him at once. The first thing to do + is to establish the corpus delicti. We've got to be able to say the men + are dead before we can charge anybody with murder. This man was shot in + the chest, from in front. Now we'll examine his clothes and so forth and + see if they throw any additional light on the matter." + </p> + <p> + The most careful search of Andrew Paul's person established one thing + beyond all question: the man had deliberately removed everything that + might in any way serve to aid the authorities in determining who he really + was and whence he came. The tailor's tags had been cut from the smart, + well-fitting garments; the buttons on the same had been replaced by others + of an ordinary character; the names of the haberdasher, the hat dealer and + the boot maker had been as effectually destroyed. There were no papers of + any description in his pockets. His wrist watch bore neither name, date + nor initials. Indeed, nothing had been overlooked in his very palpable + effort to prevent actual identification, either in life or death. + </p> + <p> + Subsequent search of the two rooms disclosed the same extreme precautions. + Not a single object, not even a scrap of paper had been left there on the + departure of the men at nine o'clock. Ashes in an old-fashioned fireplace + in Roon's room suggested the destruction of tell-tale papers. Everything + had vanished. A large calibre automatic revolver, all cartridges + unexploded, was found in Paul's coat pocket. In another pocket, lying + loose, were a few bank notes and some silver, amounting all told to about + thirty dollars. + </p> + <p> + The same thorough search of the dead body of Roon later on by the coroner + and sheriff, revealed a similar condition. The field-glasses, of English + make, were found slung across his shoulder, and a fully loaded revolver, + evidently his, was discovered the next morning in the grass beside the + road near the point where he fell. There were several hundred dollars in + the roll of bills they found in his inside coat pocket. + </p> + <p> + Roon was a man of fifty or thereabouts. Although both men were + smooth-faced, there was reason to suspect that Roon at least had but + recently worn a mustache. His upper lip had the thick, stiff look of one + from which a beard of long-standing recently had been shaved. + </p> + <p> + Later on it was learned that they purchased the two horses in Hornville, + paying cash for the beasts and the trappings. The transaction took place a + day or two before they came to Hart's Tavern for what had been announced + as a short stay. + </p> + <p> + Standing on Jim Conley's front porch a little after sunrise, Barnes made + the following declaration: + </p> + <p> + "Everything goes to show that these men were up here for one of two + reasons. They were either trying to prevent or to enact a crime. The + latter is my belief. They were afraid of me. Why? Because they believed I + was trailing them and likely to spoil their game. Gentlemen, those fellows + were here for the purpose of robbing the place you call Green Fancy." + </p> + <p> + "What's that?" came a rich, mellow voice from the outskirts of the crowd. + A man pushed his way through and confronted Barnes. He was a tall, + good-looking fellow of thirty-five, and it was apparent that he had + dressed in haste. "My name is O'Dowd, and I am a guest of Mr. Curtis at + Green Fancy. Why do you think they meant to rob his place?" + </p> + <p> + "Well," began Barnes drily, "it would seem that his place is the only one + in the neighbourhood that would BEAR robbing. My name is Barnes. Of + course, Mr. O'Dowd, it is mere speculation on my part." + </p> + <p> + "But who shot the man?" demanded the Irishman. "He certainly wasn't winged + by any one from our place. Wouldn't we have known something about it if he + had attempted to get into the house and was nailed by—Why, Lord love + you, sir, there isn't a soul at Green Fancy who could shoot a thief if he + saw one. This is Mr. De Soto, also a guest at Green Fancy. He will, I + think, bear me out in upsetting your theory." + </p> + <p> + A second man approached, shaking his head vigorously. He was a thin, pale + man with a singularly scholastic face. Quite an unprepossessing, + unsanguinary person, thought Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Curtis's chauffeur, I think it was, said the killing occurred just + above this house," said he, visibly excited. "Green Fancy is at least a + mile from here, isn't it? You don't shoot burglars a mile from the place + they are planning to rob, do you? Is the man a native of this community?" + </p> + <p> + "No," said Barnes, on whom devolved the duties of spokesman. "By the way, + his companion lies dead at Hart's Tavern. He was shot from his horse at + the cross-roads." + </p> + <p> + "God bless me soul," gasped O'Dowd. "The chauffeur didn't mention a second + one. And were there two of them?" + </p> + <p> + "And both of them dead?" cried De Soto. "At the cross-roads? My dear sir, + how can you reconcile—" He broke off with a gesture of impatience. + </p> + <p> + "I'll admit it's a bit out of reason," said Barnes. "The second man could + only have been shot by some one who was lying in wait for him." + </p> + <p> + "Why, the thing's as clear as day," cried O'Dowd, facing the crowd. His + cheerful, sprightly face was alive with excitement. "They were not trying + to rob any one. They were either trying to get across the border into + Canada themselves or else trying to head some one off who was coming from + that side of the line." + </p> + <p> + "Gad, you may be right," agreed Barnes instantly. "If you'd like to hear + more of the story I'll be happy to relate all that we know at present." + </p> + <p> + While the coroner and the others were loading the body of Albert Roon into + a farm wagon for conveyance to the county-seat, Barnes, who had taken a + sudden fancy to the two men from Green Fancy, gave them a brief but full + account of the tragedy and the result of investigations as far as they had + gone. + </p> + <p> + "Bedad," said O'Dowd, "it beats the devil. There's something big in this + thing, Mr. Barnes,—something a long shot bigger than any of us + suspects. The extraordinary secrecy of these fellows, their evident + gentility, their doubtful nationality—why, bedad, it sounds like a + penny-dreadful thriller." + </p> + <p> + "You'll find that it resolves itself into a problem for Washington to + solve," said De Soto darkly. "Nothing local about it, take my word for it. + These men were up to some international devilment. I'm not saying that + Germany is at the back of it, but, by Jove, I don't put anything beyond + the beggars. They are the cleverest, most resourceful people in the world, + damn 'em. You wait and see if I'm not right. There'll be a stir in + Washington over this, sure as anything." + </p> + <p> + "What time was it that you heard the shots up at Green Fancy?" ventured + Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "Lord love you," cried O'Dowd, "we didn't hear a sound. Mr. Curtis, who + has insomnia the worst way, poor devil, heard them and sent some one out + to see what all the racket was about. It wasn't till half an hour or so + ago that De Soto and I were routed out of our peaceful nests and ordered,—virtually + ordered, mind you,—to get up and guard the house. Mr. Curtis was in + a pitiful state of nerves over the killing, and so were the ladies. 'Gad, + everybody seemed to know all about the business except De Soto and me. The + man, it seems, made such a devil of a racket when he came home with the + news that the whole house was up in pajamas and peignoirs. He didn't say + anything about a second Johnnie being shot, however. I'm glad he didn't + know about it, for that matter. He'll be seeing one ghost for the rest of + his days and that's enough, without having another foisted upon him." + </p> + <p> + "I think I have a slight acquaintance with the chauffeur," said Barnes. + "He gave me the most thrilling motor ride I've ever experienced. 'Gad, + I'll never forget it." + </p> + <p> + The two men looked at him, plainly perplexed. + </p> + <p> + "When was all this?" inquired De Soto. + </p> + <p> + "Early last evening. He took me from the cross-roads to Hart's Tavern in a + minute and a half, I'll bet my soul." + </p> + <p> + "Last evening?" said O'Dowd, something like skepticism in his tone. + </p> + <p> + "Yes. He picked up your latest guest at the corners, and she insisted on + his driving me to the Tavern before the storm broke. I've been terribly + anxious about her. She must have been caught out in all that frightful—" + </p> + <p> + "What's this you are saying, Mr. Barnes?" cut in De Soto, frowning. "No + guest arrived at Green Fancy last evening, nor was one expected." + </p> + <p> + Barnes stared. "Do you mean to say that she didn't get there, after all?" + </p> + <p> + "She? A woman, was it?" demanded O'Dowd. "Bedad, if she said she was + coming to Green Fancy she was spoofing you. Are you sure it was old Peter + who gave you that jolly ride?" + </p> + <p> + "No, I am not sure," said Barnes, uneasily. "She was afoot, having walked + from the station below. I met her at the corners and she asked me if I + knew how far it was to Green Fancy, or something like that. Said she was + going there. Then along came the automobile, rattling down this very road,—an + ancient Panhard driven by an old codger. She seemed to think it was all + right to hop in and trust herself to him, although she'd never seen him + before." + </p> + <p> + "The antique Panhard fits in all right," said O'Dowd, "but I'm hanged if + the woman fits at all. No such person arrived at Green Fancy last night." + </p> + <p> + "Did you get a square look at the driver's face?" demanded De Soto. + </p> + <p> + "It was almost too dark to see, but he was old, hatchet-faced, and spoke + with an accent." + </p> + <p> + "Then it couldn't have been Peter," said De Soto positively. "He's old, + right enough, but he is as big as the side of a house, with a face like a + full moon, and he is Yankee to his toes. By gad, Barnes, the plot + thickens! A woman has been added to the mystery. Now, who the devil is she + and what has become of her?" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI — CHARITY BEGINS FAR FROM HOME, AND A STROLL IN THE + WILDWOOD FOLLOWS + </h2> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft as furious when he arose at eleven o'clock on the morning + after the double murder, having slept like a top through all of the + commotion. He boomed all over the place, vocal castigations falling right + and left on the guilty and the innocent without distinction. He wouldn't + have missed the excitement for anything in the world. He didn't mind + missing the breakfast he was to have had with Barnes, but he did feel + outraged over the pusillanimous trick played upon him by the remaining + members of his troupe. Nothing was to have been expected of Putnam Jones + and his damnation crew; they wouldn't have called him if the house was + afire; they would let him roast to death; but certainly something was due + him from the members of his company, something better than utter + abandonment! + </p> + <p> + He was still deep in the sulks when he came upon Barnes, who was pacing + the sunlit porch, deep in thought. + </p> + <p> + "There will never be another opportunity like that," he groaned, at the + close of a ten minute dissertation on the treachery of friends; "never in + all the years to come. The driveling fools! What do I pay them for? To let + me lie there snoring so loud that I couldn't hear opportunity for the + noise I was making? As in everything else I undertake, my dear Barnes, I + excel at snoring. My lung capacity is something amazing. It has to have an + outlet. They let me lie there like a log while the richest publicity + material that ever fell to the lot of an actor went to waste,—utter + waste. Why, damme, sir, I could have made that scene in the tap-room + historic; I could have made it so dramatic that it would have thrilled to + the marrow every man, woman and child in the United States of America. + That's what I mean. They allowed a chance like that to get away. Can you + beat it? Tragedy at my very elbow,—by gad, almost nudging me, you + might say,—and no one to tell me to get up. Think of the awful + requiem I could have—But what's the use thinking about it now? I am + so exasperated I can't think of anything but anathemas, so—" + </p> + <p> + "I don't see how you managed to sleep through it," Barnes broke in. "You + must have an unusually clear conscience, Mr. Rushcroft." + </p> + <p> + "I haven't any conscience at all, sir," roared the star. "I had an + unusually full stomach, that's what was the matter with me. Damme, I ought + to have known better. I take oath now, sir, never to eat again as long as + I live. A man who cannot govern his beastly appetite ought to defy it, if + nothing else." + </p> + <p> + "I gather from that remark that you omitted breakfast this morning." + </p> + <p> + "Breakfast, sir? In God's name, I implore you not to refer to anything so + disgusting as stewed prunes and bacon at a time like this. My mind is—" + </p> + <p> + "How about luncheon? Will you join me at twelve-thirty?" + </p> + <p> + "That's quite another matter," said Mr. Rushcroft readily. "Luncheon is an + aesthetic tribute to the physical intelligence of man, if you know what I + mean. I shall be delighted to join you. Twelve-thirty, did you say?" + </p> + <p> + "It would give me great pleasure if your daughter would also grace the + festal board." + </p> + <p> + "Ahem! My daughter and I are—er—what you might say 'on the + outs' at present. I dare say I was a trifle crusty with her this morning. + She was a bit inconsiderate, too, I may add. As a matter of fact she told + me to go and soak my head." Mr. Rushcroft actually blushed as he said it. + "I don't know where the devil she learned such language, unless she's been + overhearing the disrespectful remarks that some of these confounded opera + house managers make when I try to argue with them about—But never + mind! She's a splendid creature, isn't she? She has it born in her to be + one of the greatest actresses in—" + </p> + <p> + "I think it is too bad that she has to go about in the gown she wears, Mr. + Rushcroft," said Barnes. "She's much too splendid for that. I have a + proposition I'd like to make to you later on. I cannot make it, however, + without consulting Miss Thackeray's feelings." + </p> + <p> + "My dear fellow!" beamed Rushcroft, seizing the other's hand. "One + frequently reads in books about it coming like this, at first sight, but, + damme, I never dreamed that it ever really happened. Count on me! She + ought to leave the stage, the dear child. No more fitted to it than an + Easter lily. Her place is in the home, the—" + </p> + <p> + "Good Lord, I'm not thinking of—" And Barnes, aghast, stopped before + blurting out the words that leaped to his lips. "I mean to say, this is a + proposition that may also affect your excellent companions, Bacon and + Dillingford, as well as yourselves." + </p> + <p> + "Abominations!" snorted Rushcroft. "I fired both of them this morning. + They are no longer connected with my company. I won't have 'em around. + What's more, they can't act and never will. The best bit of acting that + Bacon ever did in his life was when he told me to go to hell a little + while ago. I say 'acting,' mind you, because the wretch COULDN'T have been + in earnest, and yet he gave the most convincing performance of his life. + If I'd ever dreamed that he had it in him to do it so well, I'd have had + the line in every play we've done since he joined us, author or no + author." + </p> + <p> + At twelve-thirty sharp, Barnes came down from his room freshly shaved and + brushed, to find not only Mr. Rushcroft and Miss Thackeray awaiting him in + the office, but the Messrs. Dillingford and Bacon as well. Putnam Jones, + gloomy and preoccupied behind the counter, allowed his eyes to brighten a + little as the latest guest of the house approached the group. + </p> + <p> + "I've given all of 'em an hour or two off," he said genially. "Do what you + like to 'em." + </p> + <p> + Rushcroft expanded. "My good man, what the devil do you mean by a remark + like that? Remember—" + </p> + <p> + "Never mind, dad," said Miss Thackeray, lifting her chin haughtily. + "Forgive us our trespassers as we forgive our trespasses. And remember, + also, that poor, dear Mr. Jones is all out of sorts to-day. He is all + keyed up over the notoriety his house is going to achieve before the + government gets through annoying him." + </p> + <p> + "See here, Miss," began Mr. Jones, threateningly, and then, overcome by + his Yankee shrewdness, stopped as suddenly as he started. "Go on in and + have your dinner. Don't mind me. I am out of sorts." He was smart enough + to realise that it was wiser to have the good rather than the ill-will of + these people. He dreaded the inquiry that was imminent. + </p> + <p> + "That's better," mumbled Mr. Rushcroft, partially mollified. "I took the + liberty, old fellow," he went on, addressing Barnes, "of asking my + excellent co-workers to join us in our repast. In all my career I have not + known more capable, intelligent players than these—" + </p> + <p> + "Delighted to have you with us, gentlemen," said Barnes affably. "In fact, + I was going to ask Mr. Rushcroft if he had the slightest objection to + including you—" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, the row's all over," broke in Mr. Dillingford magnanimously. "It + didn't amount to anything. I'm sure if Mr. Rushcroft doesn't object to us, + we don't object to him." + </p> + <p> + "Peace reigns throughout the land," said Mr. Bacon, in his deepest bass. + "Precede us, my dear Miss Thackeray." + </p> + <p> + The sole topic of conversation for the first half hour was the mysterious + slaying of their fellow lodgers. Mr. Rushcroft complained bitterly of the + outrageous, high-handed action of the coroner and sheriff in imposing upon + him and his company the same restrictions that had been applied to Barnes. + They were not to leave the county until the authorities gave the word. One + would have thought, to hear the star's indignant lamentations, that he and + his party were in a position to depart when they pleased. It would have + been difficult to imagine that he was not actually rolling in money + instead of being absolutely penniless. + </p> + <p> + "What were these confounded rascals to me?" he demanded, scowling at Miss + Tilly as if she were solely to blame for his misfortune. "Why should I be + held up in this God-forsaken place because a couple of scoundrels got + their just deserts? Why, I repeat? I'd—" + </p> + <p> + "I—I'm sure I—I don't know," stammered Miss Tilly, wetting her + dry lips with her tongue in an attempt to be lucid. + </p> + <p> + "What?" exploded Mr. Rushcroft, somewhat taken aback by the retort from an + unexpected quarter. "Upon my soul, I—I—What?" + </p> + <p> + "He won't bite, Miss Tilly," said Miss Thackeray soothingly. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear!" said Miss Tilly, putting her hand over her mouth. + </p> + <p> + Barnes had been immersed in his own thoughts for some time. A slight + frown, as of reflection, darkened his eyes. Suddenly,—perhaps + impolitely,—he interrupted Mr. Rushcroft's flow of eloquence. + </p> + <p> + "Have you any objection, Mr. Rushcroft, to a more or less personal + question concerning your own private—er—misfortunes?" he + asked, leaning forward. + </p> + <p> + For a moment one could have heard a pin drop. Mr. Rushcroft evidently held + his breath. There could be no mistake about that. + </p> + <p> + "I don't mean to be offensive," Barnes made haste to add. + </p> + <p> + "My misfortunes are not private," said Mr. Rushcroft, with dignity. "They + are decidedly public. Ask all the questions you please, my dear fellow." + </p> + <p> + "Well, it's rather delicate, but would you mind telling me just how much + you were stuck up for by the—er—was it a writ of attachment?" + </p> + <p> + "It was," said the star. "A writ of inquisition, you might as well + substitute. The act of a polluted, impecunious, parsimonious,—what + shall I say? Well, I will be as simple as possible: hotel keeper. In other + words, a damnation blighter, sir. Ninety-seven dollars and forty cents. + For that pitiful amount he subjected me to—" + </p> + <p> + "Well, that isn't so bad," said Barnes, vastly relieved. "It would require + that amount to square everything and release your personal effects?" + </p> + <p> + "It would release the whole blooming production," put in Mr. Dillingford, + with unction. "Including my dress suit and a top hat, to say nothing of a + change of linen and—" + </p> + <p> + "Two wood exteriors and a parlor set, make-up boxes, wardrobe trunks, a + slide trombone and—" mused Mr. Bacon, and would have gone on but for + Barnes' interruption. + </p> + <p> + He was covertly watching Miss Thackeray's half-averted face as he ventured + upon the proposition he had decided to put before them. She was staring + out of the window, and there was a strained, almost harassed expression + about the corners of her mouth. The glimpse he had of her dark eyes + revealed something sullen, rebellious in them. She had taken no part in + the conversation for some time. + </p> + <p> + "I am prepared and willing to advance this amount, Mr. Rushcroft, and to + take your personal note as security." + </p> + <p> + Rushcroft leaned back in his chair and stuck his thumbs in the arm holes + of his vest. He displayed no undue elation. Instead he affected profound + calculation. His daughter shot a swift, searching look at the would-be + Samaritan. There was a heightened colour in her cheeks. + </p> + <p> + "Ahem," said Rushcroft, squinting at the ceiling beams. + </p> + <p> + "Moreover, I shall be happy to increase the amount of the loan + sufficiently to cover your return at once to New York, if you so desire,—by + train." Barnes smiled as he added the last two words. + </p> + <p> + "Extremely kind of you, my dear Barnes," said the actor, running his + fingers through his hair. "Your faith in me is most gratifying. I—I + really don't know what to say to you, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Of course, Mr. Barnes, you ought to know that you may be a long time in + getting your money back," said his daughter levelly. "We are poor pay." + </p> + <p> + "My dear child," began Mr. Rushcroft, amazed. + </p> + <p> + "I shall permit your father himself to specify the number of months or + years to be written in the body of the note," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "And if he never pays, what then?" said she. + </p> + <p> + "I shall not trouble him with demands for the money," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "May I inquire just how you expect to profit by this transaction, Mr. + Barnes?" she asked steadily. + </p> + <p> + He started, suddenly catching her meaning. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Miss Thackeray," he exclaimed, "this transaction is solely + between your father and me. I shall have no other claim to press." + </p> + <p> + "I wish I could believe that," she said. + </p> + <p> + "You may believe it," he assured her. + </p> + <p> + "It isn't the usual course," she said quietly, and her face brightened. + "You are not like most men, Mr. Barnes." + </p> + <p> + "My dear child," said Rushcroft, "you must leave this matter to our friend + and me. I fancy I know an honest man when I see him. My dear fellow, + fortune is but temporarily frowning upon me. In a few weeks I shall be on + my feet again, zipping along on the crest of the wave. I dare say I can + return the money to you in a month or six weeks. If—" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, father!" cried Miss Thackeray. + </p> + <p> + "We'll make it six months, and I'll pay any rate of interest you desire. + Six per cent, eight per cent, ten per—" + </p> + <p> + "Six per cent, sir, and we will make it a year from date." + </p> + <p> + "Agreed. And now, Miss Tilly, will you ask the barmaid,—who happens + to be masculine,—to step in here and take the orders? We would drink + to Dame Fortune, who has a smile that defies all forms of adversity. Out + of the clouds falls a slice of silver lining. It alights in my trembling + palm. I—I—Damme, sir, you are a nobleman! In behalf of my + daughter, my company and the—Heaven forfend! I was about to add the + accursed management!—I thank you. Get up and dance for us, Dilly! We + shall be in New York to-morrow!" + </p> + <p> + "You forget the dictatorial sheriff, Mr. Rushcroft," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "The varlet!" barked Mr. Rushcroft. + </p> + <p> + It was arranged that Dillingford and Bacon were to go to Hornville in a + hired motor that afternoon, secure the judgment, pay the costs, and attend + to the removal of the personal belongings of the stranded quartette from + the hotel to Hart's Tavern. The younger actors stoutly refused to accept + Barnes' offer to pay their board while at the Tavern. That, they declared, + would be charity, and they preferred his friendship and his respect to + anything of that sort. Miss Thackeray, however, was to be immediately + relieved of her position as chambermaid. She was to become a paying guest. + </p> + <p> + "I'll be glad to have my street togs, such as they are," said she, rosily. + "I dare say you are sick of seeing me in this rig, Mr. Barnes. That's + probably why you opened your heart and purse." + </p> + <p> + "Not at all," said he gaily. "As I presume I shall have to remain here for + some time, I deem it my right to improve the service as much as possible. + You are a very incompetent chambermaid, Miss Thackeray." + </p> + <p> + Rushcroft took the whole affair with the most noteworthy complacency. He + seemed to regard it as his due, or more properly speaking as if he were + doing Barnes a great favour in allowing him to lend money to a person of + his importance. + </p> + <p> + "A thought has just come to me, my dear fellow," he remarked, as they + arose from table. "With the proper kind of backing I could put over one of + the most stupendous things the theatre has known in fifty years. I don't + mind saying to you,—although it's rather sub rosa—that I have + written a play. A four act drama that will pack the biggest house on + Broadway to the roof for as many months as we'd care to stay. Perhaps you + will allow me to talk it over with you a little later on. You will be + interested, I'm sure. I actually shudder sometimes when I think of the + filthy greenbacks I'll have to carry around on my person if the piece ever + gets into New York. Yes, yes, I'll be glad to talk it over with you. Egad, + sir, I'll read the play to you. I'll—What ho, landlord! When my + luggage arrives this evening will you be good enough to have it placed in + the room just vacated by the late Mr. Roon? My daughter will have the room + adjoining, sir. By the way, will you have your best automobile sent around + to the door as quickly as possible? A couple of my men are going to + Hornville—damned spot!—to fetch hither my—" + </p> + <p> + "Just a minute," interrupted Putnam Jones, wholly unimpressed. "A man just + called you up on the 'phone, Mr. Barnes. I told him you was entertaining + royalty at lunch and couldn't be disturbed. So he asked me to have you + call him up as soon as you revived. His words, not mine. Call up Mr. + O'Dowd at Green Fancy. Here's the number." + </p> + <p> + The mellow voice of the Irishman soon responded. + </p> + <p> + "I called you up to relieve your mind regarding the young woman who came + last night," he said. "You observe that I say 'came.' She's quite all + right, safe and sound, and no cause for uneasiness. I thought you meant + that she was coming here as a guest, and so I made the very natural + mistake of saying she hadn't come at all, at all. The young woman in + question is Mrs. Van Dyke's maid. But bless me soul, how was I to know she + was even in existence, much less expected by train or motor or Shanks' + mare? Well, she's here, so there's the end of our mystery. We sha'n't have + to follow your gay plan of searching the wilderness for beauty in + distress. Our romance is spoiled, and I am sorry to say it to you. You + were so full of it this morning that you had me all stirred up meself." + </p> + <p> + Barnes was slow in replying. He was doubting his own ears. It was not + conceivable that an ordinary—or even an extraordinary—lady's + maid could have possessed the exquisite voice and manner of his chance + acquaintance of the day before, or the temerity to order that sour-faced + chauffeur about as if—The chauffeur! + </p> + <p> + "But I thought you said that Mr. Curtis's chauffeur was moon-faced and—" + </p> + <p> + "He is, bedad," broke in Mr. O'Dowd, chuckling. "That's what deceived me + entirely, and no wonder. It wasn't Peter at all, but the rapscallion + washer who went after her. He was instructed to tell Peter to meet the + four o'clock train, and the blockhead forgot to give the order. Bedad, + what does he do but sneak out after her himself, scared out of his boots + for fear of what he was to get from Peter. I had the whole story from Mrs. + Van Dyke." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'm tremendously relieved," said Barnes slowly. + </p> + <p> + "And so am I," said O'Dowd, with conviction. "I have seen the heroine of + our busted romance. She's a good-looking girl. I'm not surprised that she + kept her veil down. If you were to leave it to me, though, I'd say that + it's a sin to carry discretion so far as all that. I thought I'd take the + liberty of calling you up as soon as I had the facts, so that you wouldn't + go forth in knightly ardour—You see what I mean, don't you?" His + rich laugh came over the wire. + </p> + <p> + "Perfectly. Thank you for letting me know. My mind is at rest." + </p> + <p> + "Will you be staying on for some days at the Tavern?" + </p> + <p> + "I think so." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I shall give myself the pleasure of running over to see you in a + day or so." + </p> + <p> + "Do," said Barnes. "Good by." As he hung up the receiver he said to + himself, "You are a most affable, convincing chap, Mr. O'Dowd, but I don't + believe a word you say. That woman is no lady's maid, and you've known all + the time that she was there." + </p> + <p> + At four o'clock he set out alone for a tramp up the mountain road in which + the two men had been shot down. A number of men under the direction of the + sheriff were scouring the lofty timberland for the deadly marksmen. He + knew it would turn out to be as futile as the proverbial effort to find + the needle in the haystack. + </p> + <p> + His mind was quite clear on the subject. Roon and Paul were not ordinary + robbers. They were, no doubt, honest men. He would have said that they + were thieves bent on burglarising Green Fancy were it not for the + disclosures of Miss Thackeray and the very convincing proof that they were + not shot by the same man. Detected on the grounds about Green Fancy by a + watchman, they would have had an encounter with him there and then. + Moreover, they would have taken an active part in the play of firearms. + Desperadoes would not have succumbed so tamely. + </p> + <p> + It was not beyond reason,—indeed, it was quite probable,—that + they were trying to cross the border; in that event, their real operations + would be confined to the Canadian side of the line. They were unmistakably + foreigners. That fact, in itself, went far toward establishing in his mind + the conviction that they were not attempting to intercept any one coming + from the other side. Equally as strong was the belief that the Canadian + authorities would not have entered upon United States territory for the + purpose of apprehending these suspects, no matter how thoroughly the + movements and motives of the two men might have been known to them. + </p> + <p> + He could not free himself of the suspicion that Green Fancy possessed the + key to the situation. Roon and his companion could not have had the + slightest interest in his movements up to the instant he encountered the + young woman at the cross-roads. It was ridiculous to even consider himself + an object of concern to these men who had been haunting the border for + days prior to his appearance on the scene. They were interested only in + the advent of the woman, and as her destination confessedly was Green + Fancy, what could be more natural than the conclusion that their plans, + evil or otherwise, depended entirely upon her arrival at the strange house + on the mountainside? They had been awaiting her appearance for days. The + instant it became known to them that she was installed at Green Fancy, + their plans went forward with a swiftness that bespoke complete + understanding. + </p> + <p> + His busy brain suddenly suffered the shock of a distinct conclusion. So + startling was the thought that he stopped abruptly in his walk and uttered + an exclamation of dismay. Was she a fellow-conspirator? Was she the inside + worker at Green Fancy in a well-laid plan to rifle the place? She too was + unmistakably a foreigner. + </p> + <p> + Could it be possible that she was the confederate of these painstaking + agents who lurked with sinister patience outside the very gates of the + place called Green Fancy? + </p> + <p> + In support of this theory was the supposition that O'Dowd may have been + perfectly sincere in his declarations over the telephone. Opposed to it, + however, was the absolute certainty that Roon and Paul were waylaid and + killed at widely separated points, and not while actively employed in + raiding the house. That was the rock over which all of his theories + stumbled. + </p> + <p> + His ramble carried him far beyond the spot where Roon's body was found and + where young Conley had come upon the tethered horses. His eager, curious + gaze swept the forest to the left of the road in search of Green Fancy. + Overcome by a rash, daring impulse, he climbed over the stake and rider + fence and sauntered among the big trees which so far had obscured the + house from view. He had looked in vain for the lane or avenue leading from + the road up to Mr. Curtis's house. He could not have passed it in his + stroll, of that he was sure, and yet he remembered distinctly seeing + O'Dowd and De Soto turn their horses into the forest at a point far back + of the place where he now entered the grounds. + </p> + <p> + The trees grew very thickly on the slope, and they were unusually large. + Virgin timber, he decided, on which the woodman's axe had made no inroads. + The foliage was dense. Tree tops seemed to intermingle in one vast canopy + through which the sun but rarely penetrated. The bright green of the + grass, the sponginess of the soil, the presence of great stretches of + ferns and beds of moss told of almost perpetual moisture. Strangely enough + there was no suggestion of dankness in these shadowy glades, rich with the + fulness of early Spring. + </p> + <p> + He progressed deeper into the wood. At the end of what must have been a + mile, he halted. There was no sign of habitation, no indication that man + had ever penetrated so far into the forest. As he was on the point of + retracing his steps toward the road, his gaze fell upon a huge + moss-covered rock less than a hundred yards away. He stared, and gradually + it began to take on angles and planes and recesses of the most astounding + symmetry. Under his widening gaze it was transformed into a substantial + object of cubes and gables and—yes, windows. + </p> + <p> + He was looking upon the strange home of the even stranger Mr. Curtis: + Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + Now he understood why it was called Green Fancy. Its surroundings were no + greener than itself; it seemed to melt into the foliage, to become a part + of the natural landscape. For a long time he stood stock-still, studying + the curious structure. Mountain ivy literally enveloped it. Exposed + sections of the house were painted green,—a mottled green that + seemed to indicate flickering sunbeams against an emerald wall. The doors + were green; the leafy porches and their columns, the chimney pots, the + window hangings,—all were the colour of the unchanging forest. And + it was a place of huge dimensions, low and long and rambling. It seemed to + have been forcibly jammed into the steep slope that shot high above its + chimneys; the mountain hung over its vine clad roof, an ominous threat of + oblivion. + </p> + <p> + There was no lawn, no indication of landscape gardening, and yet Barnes + was singularly impressed by the arrangement of the shrubbery that + surrounded the place. There was no visible approach to the house through + the thick, unbroken sea of green; everywhere was dense underbrush, + standing higher than the head of the tallest of men,—clean, bright + bushes, revealing the most astonishing uniformity in size and character. + </p> + <p> + "'Gad," he said to himself, "what manner of crank is he who would bury + himself like this? Of all the crazy ideas I ever—" + </p> + <p> + His reflections ended there. A woman crossed his vision; a woman strolling + slowly toward him through the intricate avenues of the wildwood. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII — SPUN-GOLD HAIR, BLUE EYES, AND VARIOUS ENCOUNTERS + </h2> + <p> + She was quite unaware of his presence, and yet he was directly in her + path, though some distance away. Her head was bent; her mien was + thoughtful, her stride slow and aimless. + </p> + <p> + The azure blue of the sweater she wore presented an inharmonious note on + the field of velvety green;—it was strangely out of place, he + thought,—almost an offence to the eye. He was conscious of an + instant protest against this profanation. + </p> + <p> + She was slender, graceful and evidently quite tall, although she seemed a + pigmy among the towering giants that attended her stroll. Her hands were + thrust deep into the pockets of a white duck skirt. A glance revealed + white shoes and trim ankles in blue. She wore no hat. Her hair was like + spun gold, thick, wavy and shimmering in the subdued light. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly she stopped, and looked up. He had a full view of her face as she + gazed about as if startled by some unexpected, even alarming, sound. For a + second or two he held his breath, stunned by the amazing loveliness that + was revealed to him. Then she discovered him standing there. + </p> + <p> + He was never to forget the expression that came into her eyes; nor had he + ever seen eyes so blue. Alarm gave way to bewilderment as she stared at + the motionless intruder not thirty feet away. Then, to his utter + astonishment, her lips parted and a faint, wondering smile came into her + eyes. His heart leaped. She recognised him! + </p> + <p> + In a flash he realised that he was face to face with the stranger of the + day before,—she of the veil, the alluring voice, the unfaltering + spirits, and the weighty handbag! + </p> + <p> + He took two or three impulsive steps forward, his hand going to his hat,—and + then halted. Evidently his senses had deceived him. There was no smile in + her eyes,—and yet he could have sworn that it was there an instant + before. Instead, there was a level stare. + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry if I startled—" he began. + </p> + <p> + The figure of a man appeared, as if discharged bodily from some magic + tree-trunk, and stood directly in his path: A tall, rugged man in overalls + was he, who held a spade in his hand and eyed him inimically. Without + another glance in his direction, the first and more pleasing vision turned + on her heel and continued her stroll, sauntering off to the right, her + fair head once more bent in study, her back eloquently indifferent to the + gaze that followed her. + </p> + <p> + "Who do you want to see?" inquired the man with the spade. + </p> + <p> + Before Barnes could reply, a hearty voice accosted him from behind. He + whirled and saw O'Dowd approaching, not twenty yards away. The Irishman's + face was aglow with pleasure. + </p> + <p> + "I knew I couldn't be mistaken in the shape of you," he cried, advancing + with outstretched hand. "You've got the breadth of a dock-hand in your + shoulders, and the trimness of a prize-fighter in your waist." + </p> + <p> + They shook hands. "I fear I am trespassing," said Barnes. His glance went + over his shoulder as he spoke. The man with the spade had been swallowed + up by the earth! He could not have vanished more quickly in any other way. + Off among the trees there were intermittent flashes of blue and white. + </p> + <p> + "I am quite sure you are," said O'Dowd promptly, but without a trace of + unfriendliness in his manner. "Bedad, loving him as I do, I can't help + saying that Curtis is a bally old crank. Mind ye, I'd say it to his face,—I + often do, for the matter of that. Of course," he went on seriously, "he is + a sick man, poor devil. I have the unholy courage to call him a chronic + crank every once in awhile, and the best thing I can say for his health is + that he grins when I say it to him. You see, I've known him for a dozen + years and more, and he likes me, though God knows why, unless it may be + that I once did his son a good turn in London." + </p> + <p> + "Sufficient excuse for reparation, I should say," smiled Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "I introduced the lad to me only sister," said O'Dowd, "and she kept him + happy for the next ten years. No doubt, I also provided Mr. Curtis with + three grandchildren he might never have had but for my graciousness. As + for that, I let meself in for three of the most prodigious nephews a man + ever had, God bless them. I'll show you a photograph of them if ye'd care + to look." He opened the back of his watch and held it out to Barnes. + "Nine, seven and five, and all of them as bright as Gladstone." + </p> + <p> + "They must be stunning," said Barnes warmly. + </p> + <p> + "They'll make a beggar of me, if I live long enough," groaned O'Dowd. "It + beats the deuce how childer as young as they are can have discovered what + a doddering fool their uncle is. Bedad, the smallest of them knows it. The + very instant I pretend to be a sensible, provident, middle-aged gentleman + he shows me up most shamelessly. 'Twas only a couple of months ago that + his confounded blandishments wiggled a sixty-five dollar fire engine out + of me. He squirted water all over the drawing-room furniture, and I + haven't been allowed to put foot into the house since. My own darlin' + sister refused to look at me for a week, and it wouldn't surprise me in + the least if she changed me namesake's title to something less enfuriating + than William." A look of distress came into his merry eyes. "By Jove, I'd + like nothing better than to ask you in to have a dish of tea,—it's + tea-time, I'm sure,—but I'd no more think of doing it than I'd + consider cutting off me head. He doesn't like strangers. He—" + </p> + <p> + "My dear fellow, don't distress yourself," cried Barnes heartily. "There + isn't the least reason in the world why—" + </p> + <p> + "You see, the poor old chap asks us up here once or twice a year,—that + is to say, De Soto and me,—to keep his sister from filling the house + up with men he can't endure. So long as we occupy the only available + rooms, he argues, she can't stuff them full of objectionables. Twice a + year she comes for a month, in the late fall and early spring. He's very + fond of her, and she stands by him like a major." + </p> + <p> + "Why does he continue to live in this out-of-the-world spot, Mr. O'Dowd? + He is an old man, I take it, and ill." + </p> + <p> + "You wouldn't be wondering if you knew the man," said O'Dowd. "He is a + scholar, a dreamer, a sufferer. He doesn't believe in doctors. He says + they're all rascals. They'd keep him alive just for the sake of what they + could get out of him. So he's up here to die in peace, when his time + comes, and he hopes it will come soon. He doesn't want it prolonged by a + grasping, greedy doctor man. It's his kidneys, you know. He's not a very + old man at that. Not more than sixty-five." + </p> + <p> + "He certainly has a fanciful streak in him, building a place like that," + said Barnes, looking not at the house but into the thicket above. There + was no sign of the blue and white and the spun gold that still defied + exclusion from his mind's eye. He had not recovered from the thrall into + which the vision of loveliness plunged him. He was still a trifle dazed + and distraught. + </p> + <p> + "Right you are," agreed O'Dowd; "the queerest streak in the world. It's + his notion of simplicity. I wish you could see the inside of the place. + You'd wonder to what exalted heights his ideas of magnificence would carry + him if he calls this simplicity. He loves it all, he dotes on it. It's the + only joy he knows, this bewildering creation of his. For nearly three + years he has not been more than a stone's throw from the walls of that + house. I doubt if he's been as far as the spot where we're standing now." + </p> + <p> + "Green Fancy. Is that the name he gave the place or does it spring from—" + </p> + <p> + "'Twas christened by me own sister, Mr. Barnes, the first time she was + here, two years ago. I'll walk with you to the fence beyond if you've no + objections," said O'Dowd, genially, and linked his arm through that of + Barnes. + </p> + <p> + The latter was at once subtly aware of the fact that he was being + deliberately conducted from the grounds. Moreover, he was now convinced + that O'Dowd had been close upon his heels from the instant he entered + them. There was something uncanny in the feeling that possessed him. Such + espionage as this signified something deep and imperative in the presence + not only of O'Dowd but the Jack-in-the-box gardener a few minutes earlier. + He had the grim suspicion that he would later on encounter the spectacled + De Soto. + </p> + <p> + His mind was still full of the lovely stranger about whom O'Dowd had so + manifestly lied over the telephone. + </p> + <p> + "I must ask you to apologise to the young lady on whom I blundered a few + moments ago, Mr. O'Dowd. She must have been startled. Pray convey to her + my solicitude and excuses." + </p> + <p> + "Consider it done, my dear sir," said the Irishman. "Our most charming and + seductive guest," he went on. "Bedad, of the two of you, I'll stake me + head you were startled the most. Coming suddenly upon such rare loveliness + is almost equivalent to being struck by a bolt of lightning. It did + something like that to me when I saw her for the first time a couple of + weeks ago. I didn't get over it for the better part of a day,—I + can't say that I really got over it at all. More than one painter of + portraits has said that she is the most beautiful woman in the world. I + don't take much stock in portrait painters, but I'm always fair to the + lords of creation when their opinions coincide with mine. Mayhap you have + heard of her. She is Miss Cameron of New Orleans, a friend of Mrs. Van + Dyke. We have quite an enchanting house-party, Mr. Barnes, if you consider + no more than the feminine side of it. Unfortunate creatures! To be saddled + with such ungainly lummixes as De Soto and me! By the way, have you heard + when the coroner is to hold his inquests?" + </p> + <p> + "Nothing definite. He may wait a week," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose you'll stick around until it's all over," ventured O'Dowd. + Barnes thought he detected a slight harshness in his voice. + </p> + <p> + "I have quite made up my mind to stay until the mystery is entirely + cleared up," he said. "The case is so interesting that I don't want to + miss a shred of it." + </p> + <p> + "I don't blame ye," said O'Dowd heartily. "I'd like nothing better meself + than to mix up in it, but, Lord love ye, if I turned detective I'd also be + turned out of the spare bed-room beyond, and sped on me way with curses. + Well, here we are. The next time you plan to pay us a visit, telephone in + advance. I may be able to persuade my host that you're a decent, + law-abiding, educated gentleman, and he'll consent to receive you at Green + Fancy. Good day to ye," and he shook hands with the departing trespasser. + </p> + <p> + A quarter of a mile below the spot where he parted from O'Dowd, Barnes + caught a glimpse of De Soto sauntering among the trees. He smiled to + himself. It was just what he had expected. + </p> + <p> + "Takin' a walk?" was the landlord's greeting as he mounted the tavern + steps at dusk. Putnam Jones's gaunt figure had been discernible for some + time, standing motionless at the top of the steps. + </p> + <p> + "Going over the ground of last night's affair," responded Barnes, pausing. + "Any word from the sheriff and his party?" + </p> + <p> + "Nope. The blamed fools are still up there turnin' over all the loose + stones they c'n find," said Jones sarcastically. "Did you get a glimpse of + Green Fancy?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes nodded. "I strolled a little distance into the woods," he said + briefly. + </p> + <p> + "I wouldn't do it again," said Jones. "Strangers ain't welcome. I might + have told you as much if I'd thought you were going up that way. Mr. + Curtis notified me a long while ago to warn my guests not to set foot on + his grounds, under penalty of the law." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I escaped without injury," laughed Barnes. "No one took a shot at + me." + </p> + <p> + As he entered the door he was acutely aware of an intense stare levelled + at him from behind by the landlord of Hart's Tavern. Half way up the + stairway he stopped short, and with difficulty repressed the exclamation + that rose to his lips. + </p> + <p> + He had recalled a significant incident of the night before. Almost + immediately after the departure of Roon and Paul from the Tavern, Putnam + Jones had made his way to the telephone behind the desk, and had called + for a number in a loud, brisk voice, but the subsequent conversation was + carried on in subdued tones, attended by haste and occasional furtive + glances in the direction of the tap-room. + </p> + <p> + Upon reaching his room, Barnes permitted the suppressed emotion to escape + his lips in the shape of a soft whistle, which if it could have been + translated into words would have said: "By Gad, why haven't I thought of + it before? He sent out the warning that Roon and Paul were on the way! And + I'd like to bet my last dollar that some one at Green Fancy had the other + end of the wire." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft stalked majestically into his room while he was shaving, + without taking the trouble to knock at the door, and in his most + impressive manner announced that if there was another hostelry within + reasonable distance he would move himself, his luggage and his entire + company out of Putnam Jones's incomprehensible house. + </p> + <p> + "Why, sir," he declared, "the man is not only a knave but a fool. He + flatly declines the prodigious offer I have made for the corner rooms at + the end of the corridor. In fact, he refuses to transfer my daughter and + me from our present quarters into what might be called the royal suite if + one were disposed to be facetious. The confounded blockhead insists on + seeing the colour of my money in advance." He sat down on the edge of the + bed, dejectedly. "My daughter, perversity personified, takes the + extraordinary stand that the wretch is right. She agrees with him. She has + even gone so far as to say, to my face, that beggars cannot be choosers, + although I must give her credit for not using the expression in the + scoundrel's presence. 'Pon my soul, Barnes, I have never been so sorely + tried in all my life. Emma,—I should say, Mercedes,—denounces + me to my face. She says I am a wastrel, a profligate,—(there I have + her, however, for she failed to consult the dictionary before applying the + word to me),—an ingrate, and a lot of other things I fail to recall + in my dismay. She contends that I have no right to do what I please with + my own money. Indeed, she goes so far as to say that I haven't any money + at all. I have tried to explain to her the very simple principles upon + which all financial transactions are based, but she remains as obtuse as + Cleopatra's Needle. Her ignorance would be pitiful if she wasn't so damned + obstinate about it. And to cap the climax, she had the insolence to ask me + to show her a dollar in real money. By gad, sir, she's as unreasonable as + Putnam Jones himself." + </p> + <p> + Barnes gallantly came to the daughter's defense. He was more than pleased + by the father's revelations. They proved her to be possessed of fine + feelings and a genuine sense of appreciation. + </p> + <p> + "As a matter of fact, Mr. Rushcroft, I think she is quite right," he said + flatly. "It isn't a bad idea to practice economy." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said Rushcroft peevishly, "where would I be now in my + profession if I had practiced economy at the expense of progress?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know," confessed Barnes, much too promptly. + </p> + <p> + "I can tell you, sir. I would be nowhere at all. I would not be the + possessor of a name that is known from one end of this land to the other, + a name that guarantees to the public the most elaborate productions known + to—" + </p> + <p> + "Pardon me," interrupted the other; "it doesn't get you anywhere with + Putnam Jones, and that is the issue at present. The government puts the + portrait of George Washington on one of its greenbacks but his face and + name wouldn't be worth the tenth of a penny if the United States went + bankrupt. As it is, however, if you were to go downstairs and proffer one + of those bills to Putnam Jones he would make his most elaborate bow and + put you into the best room in the house. George Washington has backing + that even Mr. Jones cannot despise. So, you see, your daughter is right. + Your name and face is yet to be stamped on a government bank note, Mr. + Rushcroft, and until that time comes you are no better off than I or any + of the rest of the unfortunates who, being still alive, have to eat for a + living." + </p> + <p> + "You speak in parables," said Mr. Rushcroft, arising. "Am I to assume that + you wish to withdraw your offer to lend me—" + </p> + <p> + "Not at all," said Barnes. "My desire to stake you to the comforts and + dignity your station deserves remains unchanged. If you will bear with me + until I have finished shaving I will go with you to Mr. Jones and show him + the colour of your money." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft grinned shamelessly. "My daughter was right when she said + another thing to me," he observed, sitting down once more. + </p> + <p> + "She appears to be more or less infallible." + </p> + <p> + "A woman in a million," said the star. "She said that I wouldn't make a + hit with you if I attempted to put on too much side. I perceive that she + was right,—as usual." + </p> + <p> + "Absolutely," said Barnes, with decision. + </p> + <p> + "So I'll cut it out," remarked Rushcroft quaintly. "I will be + everlastingly grateful to you, Mr. Barnes, if you'll fix things up with + Jones. God knows when or whether I can ever reimburse you, but as I am not + really a dead-beat the time will certainly come when I may begin paying in + installments. Do we understand each other?" + </p> + <p> + "We do," said Barnes, and started downstairs with him. + </p> + <p> + Half an hour later Barnes succeeded in striking a bargain with Putnam + Jones. He got the two rooms at the end of the hall at half price, + insisting that it was customary for every hotel to give actors a + substantial reduction in rates. + </p> + <p> + "You shall be treasurer and business-manager in my reorganized company," + said Rushcroft. "With your acumen and my eccentricity united in a common + cause we will stagger the universe." + </p> + <p> + Despite his rehabilitation as a gentleman of means and independence, Mr. + Rushcroft could not forego the pleasure of staggering a small section of + the world that very night. He was giving Hamlet's address to the players + in the tap-room when Barnes came downstairs at nine o'clock. Bacon and + Dillingford having returned earlier in the evening with the trunks, bags + and other portable chattels of the defunct "troupe," Mr. Rushcroft was + performing in a sadly wrinkled Norfolk suit of grey which Dillingford was + under solemn injunction to press before breakfast the next morning. + </p> + <p> + "I know I don't have to do it," said the star, catching the surprised look + in Barnes's eye and pausing to explain, sotto voce, "but I hadn't the + heart to refuse. They're eating it up, my dear fellow. Up to this instant + they've been sitting with their mouths wide open while I hurled it, word + after word, into their very vitals. "Whereupon he resumed the sonorous + monologue, glowering balefully upon his transfixed hearers. + </p> + <p> + Barnes, leaning against the door-jamb, listened with an amused smile on + his lips. His gaze swept the rapt faces of the dozen or more customers + seated at the tables, and he found himself wondering if one of these men + was the father of the little girl whose mother had described Hart's Tavern + as a "shindy." Was it only yesterday that he had spoken with the barefoot + child? An age seemed to have passed since that brief encounter. + </p> + <p> + Rushcroft ended Hamlet's speech in fine style, and almost instantly a mild + voice from the crowd asked if he knew "Casey at the Bat." Not in the least + distressed by this woeful commentary, Mr. Rushcroft cheerfully, obligingly + tackled the tragic fizzle of the immortal Casey. + </p> + <p> + A small, dark man who sat alone at a table in the corner, caught Barnes's + eye and smiled almost mournfully. He was undoubtedly a stranger; his + action was meant to convey to Barnes the information that he too was from + a distant and sophisticated community, and that a bond of sympathy existed + between them. + </p> + <p> + Putnam Jones spoke suddenly at Barnes's shoulder. He started + involuntarily. The man was beginning to get on his nerves. He seemed to be + dogging his footsteps with ceaseless persistency. + </p> + <p> + "That feller over there in the corner," said Jones, softly, "is a + book-agent from your town. He sold me a set of Dickens when he was here + last time, about six weeks ago. A year's subscription to two magazines + throwed in. By gosh, these book-agents are slick ones. I didn't want that + set of Dickens any more'n I wanted a last year's bird's nest. The thing + I'm afraid of is that he'll talk me into taking a set of Scott before he + moves on. He's got me sweatin' already." + </p> + <p> + "He's a shrewd looking chap," commented Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "Says he won't be satisfied till he's made this section of the country the + most cultured, refined spot in the United States," said Jones dolefully. + "He brags about how much he did toward makin' Boston the literary centre + of the United States, him and his father before him. Together, he says, + they actually elevated Boston from the bottomless pit of ignorance and——Excuse + me. There goes the telephone. Maybe it's news from the sheriff." + </p> + <p> + With the spasmodic tinkling of the telephone bell, the book-agent arose + and made his way to the little office. As he passed Barnes, he winked + broadly, and said, out of the corner of his mouth: + </p> + <p> + "He'd make DeWolf Hopper look sick, wouldn't he?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes glanced over his shoulder a moment later and saw the book-agent + studying the register. The poise of his sleek head, however, suggested a + listening attitude. Putnam Jones, not four feet away, was speaking into + the telephone receiver. As the receiver was restored to its hook, Barnes + turned again. Jones and the book-agent were examining the register, their + heads almost meeting from opposite sides of the desk. + </p> + <p> + The latter straightened up, stretched his arms, yawned, and announced in a + loud tone that he guessed he'd step out and get a bit of fresh air before + turning in. + </p> + <p> + "Any news?" inquired Barnes, approaching the desk after the door had + closed behind the book-agent. + </p> + <p> + "It wasn't the sheriff," replied Jones shortly, and immediately resumed + his interrupted discourse on books, book-agents and the reclamation of + Boston. Ten minutes elapsed before the landlord's garrulity was checked by + the sound of an automobile coming to a stop in front of the house. Barnes + turned expectantly toward the door. Almost immediately the car started up + again, with a loud shifting of gears, and a moment later the door opened + to admit, not a fresh arrival, but the little book-agent. + </p> + <p> + "Party trying to make Hornville to-night," he announced casually. "Well, + good night. See you in the morning." + </p> + <p> + Barnes was not in a position to doubt the fellow's word, for the car + unmistakably had gone on toward Hornville. He waited a few minutes after + the man disappeared up the narrow stairway, and then proceeded to test his + powers of divination. He was as sure as he could be sure of anything that + had not actually come to pass, that in a short time the automobile would + again pass the tavern but this time from the direction of Hornville. + </p> + <p> + Lighting a cigarette, he strolled outside. He had barely time to take a + position at the darkened end of the porch before the sounds of an + approaching machine came to his ears. A second or two later the lights + swung around the bend in the road a quarter of a mile above Hart's Tavern, + and down came the car at a high rate of speed. It dashed past the tavern + with a great roar and rattle and shot off into the darkness beyond. As it + rushed through the dim circle of light in front of the tavern, Barnes + succeeded in obtaining a brief but convincing view of the car. That glance + was enough, however. He would have been willing to go before a jury and + swear that it was the same car that had deposited him at Hart's Tavern the + day before. + </p> + <p> + Having guessed correctly in the one instance, he allowed himself another + and even bolder guess: the little book-agent had either received a message + from or delivered one to the occupant or driver of the car from Green + Fancy. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII — A NOTE, SOME FANCIES, AND AN EXPEDITION IN QUEST OF + FACTS + </h2> + <p> + Dillingford gave him a lighted candle at the desk and he started upstairs, + his mind full of the events and conjectures of the day. Uppermost in his + thoughts was the dazzling vision of the afternoon, and the fleeting smile + that had come to him through the leafy interstices. As he entered the + room, his eyes fell upon a white envelope at his feet. It had been slipped + under the door since he left the room an hour before. + </p> + <p> + Terse reminder from the prudent Mr. Jones! His bill for the day! He picked + it up, glanced at the inscription, and at once altered his opinion. His + full name was there in the handwriting of a woman. For a moment he was + puzzled; then he thought of Miss Thackeray. A note of thanks, no doubt, + unpleasantly fulsome! Vaguely annoyed, he ripped open the envelope and + read: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +"In case I do not have the opportunity to speak with you to-night, this +is to let you know that the little man who says he is a book-agent was +in your room for three-quarters of an hour while you were away this +afternoon. You'd better see if anything is missing. + M.T." +</pre> + <p> + He read the note again, and then held it over the candle flame. Surprise + and a temporary indignation gave way before the thrill of exultation as + the blazing paper fell upon the hearth. + </p> + <p> + "'Gad, it grows more and more interesting," he mused, and chuckled aloud. + "They're not losing a minute's time in finding out all they can about me, + that's certain. Thanks, my dear Miss Thackeray. You are undoubtedly + deceived but I am not. This chap may be a detective but he isn't looking + for evidence to connect me with last night's murders. Not a bit of it. He + is trying to find out whether I ought to be shot the next time I go + snooping around Green Fancy. I'd give a good deal to know what he put into + the report he sent off a little while ago. And I'd give a good deal more + to know just where Mr. Jones stands in this business. Selling sets of + Dickens, eh? Book-agent by day, secret agent by night,—'gad, he may + even be a road-agent!" + </p> + <p> + He made a hasty but careful examination of his effects. There was not the + slightest evidence that his pack had been opened or even disturbed. + Naturally he travelled without surplus impedimenta; he carried the + lightest outfit possible. There were a few papers containing notes and + memoranda; a small camera and films; a blank book to which he transferred + his daily experiences, observations and impressions; a small medicine + case; tobacco and cigarettes; a flask of brandy; copies of Galworthy's + "Man of Property" and Hutchinson's "Happy Warrior"; wearing apparel, and a + revolver. His purse and private papers rarely were off his person. If the + little book-agent spent three-quarters of an hour in the room he managed + most effectually to cover up all traces of his visit. + </p> + <p> + Barnes did not go to sleep until long after midnight. He now regarded + himself as definitely committed to a combination of sinister and piquant + enterprises, not the least of which was the determination to find out all + there was to know about the mysterious young woman at Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + His operations along any line of endeavour were bound to be difficult, + perhaps hazardous. Every movement that he made would be observed and + reported; his every step followed. He could hope to disarm suspicion only + by moving with the utmost boldness and unconcern. Success rested in his + ability to convince O'Dowd, Jones and the rest of them that they had + nothing to fear from his innocuous wanderings. + </p> + <p> + His interest in the sensational affair that had disturbed his first + night's rest at Hart's Tavern must remain paramount. His theories, + deductions and suggestions as to the designs and identity of Roon and + Paul; the stated results of personal and no doubt ludicrous experiments; + sly and confidential jabs at the incompetent investigators, uttered behind + the hand to Putnam Jones and, if possible, to the book-agent;—a + quixotic philanthropy in connection with the fortunes of Rushcroft and his + players; all these would have to be put forward in the scheme to dispel + suspicion at Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + It did not occur to him that he ought to be furthering the ends of justice + by disclosing to the authorities his secret opinion of Putman Jones, the + strange behaviour of Roon as observed by Miss Thackeray, and his own + adventure with the lady of the cross-roads. The chance that Jones, + subjected to third degree pressure, might break down and reveal all that + he knew was not even considered. + </p> + <p> + Back of all his motives was the spur of Romance: his real interest was + centred in the lovely lady of Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + He was confident that O'Dowd's system of espionage would quickly absolve + him of all interest in or connection with the plans of Albert Roon; it + remained therefore for him to convince the Irishman that he had no notions + or vagaries inimical to the well-being of Green Fancy or its occupants. + With that result achieved, he need have no fear of meeting the fate that + had befallen Roon and his lieutenant; nothing worse could happen than an + arrest and fine for trespass. + </p> + <p> + The next day he, with other lodgers in the Tavern, was put through an + examination by police and county officials from Saint Elizabeth, and + notified that, while he was not under suspicion or surveillance, it would + be necessary for him to remain in the "bailiwick" until detectives, + already on the way, were satisfied that he possessed no knowledge that + would be useful to them in clearing up what had now assumed the dignity of + a "national problem." + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd rode down from Green Fancy and created quite a sensation among the + officials by announcing that Mr. Curtis desired them to feel that they had + a perfect right to extend their search for clues to all parts of his + estate, and that he was deeply interested in the outcome of their + investigations. + </p> + <p> + "The devils may have laid their ambush on his property," said O'Dowd, "and + they may have made their escape into the hills back of his place without + running the risk of tackling the highways. Nothing, Mr. Curtis says, + should stand in the way of justice. While he knows that you have a legal + right to enter his grounds, and even his house, in the pursuit of duty, he + urges me to make it clear to you gentlemen, that you are welcome to come + without even so much as a demand upon him. If I may be so bold as to offer + my services, you may count on me to act as guide at any time you may + elect. I know the lay of the land pretty well, and what I don't know the + gardeners and other men up there do. You are to call upon all of us if + necessary. Mr. Curtis, as you know, is an invalid. May I suggest, + therefore, that you conduct your examination of the grounds near his home + with as little commotion as possible? Incidentally, I may inform you, but + one person at Green Fancy heard the shots. That person was Mr. Curtis + himself. He rang for his attendant and instructed him to send some one out + to find out what it was all about. The chauffeur went down to Conley's, as + you know. If you consider it absolutely necessary to question Mr. Curtis + as to the time the shots were fired, he will receive you; but I think you + may properly establish that fact by young Conley without submitting a sick + man to the excitement and distress of a—" + </p> + <p> + The sheriff hastily broke in with the assurance that it was not at all + necessary to disturb Mr. Curtis. It wasn't to be thought of for a moment. + He would, however, like to "run over the ground a bit" that very + afternoon, if it was agreeable to Mr. O'Dowd. + </p> + <p> + It being quite agreeable, the genial Irishman proposed that his friend, + Mr. Barnes,—(here he bestowed an almost imperceptible wink upon the + New Yorker),—should join the party. He could vouch for the + intelligence and discretion of the gentleman. + </p> + <p> + Barnes, concealing his surprise, expressed himself as happy to be of any + service. He glanced at Putnam Jones as he made the statement. It was at + once borne in upon him that the landlord's attitude toward him had + undergone a marked change in the last few minutes. The furtive, + distrustful look was missing from his eyes and in its place was a + friendly, approving twinkle. + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd stayed to dinner. (Dinner was served in the middle of the day at + Hart's Tavern.) He made a great impression upon Lyndon Rushcroft, who, + with his daughter, joined the two men. Indeed, the palavering Irishman + extended himself in the effort to make himself agreeable. He was vastly + interested in the stage, he declared. As a matter of fact, he had been + told a thousand times that he ought to go on the stage. He had decided + talent.... + </p> + <p> + "If you change your mind," said Mr. Rushcroft, "and conclude to try a + whirl at it, just let me know. I can find a place for you in my company at + any time. If there isn't a vacancy, we can always write in an Irish comedy + part." + </p> + <p> + "But I never wanted to be a comedian," said O'Dowd. "I've always wanted to + play the young hero,—the fellow who gets the girl, you know." He + bestowed a gallant smile upon Miss Thackeray. + </p> + <p> + "You may take my word for it, sir," said Mr. Rushcroft with feeling, + "heroism, and nothing less, is necessary to the man who has to play + opposite most of the harridans you, in your ignorance, speak of as girls." + And he launched forth upon a round of soul-trying experiences with + "leading-ladies." + </p> + <p> + The little book-agent came in while they were at table. He sat down in a + corner of the dining-room and busied himself with his subscription lists + while waiting for the meal to be served. He was still poring over them, + frowning intently, when Barnes and the others left the room. + </p> + <p> + Barnes walked out beside Miss Thackeray. + </p> + <p> + "The tailor-made gown is an improvement," he said to her. + </p> + <p> + "Does that mean that I look more like a good chambermaid than I did + before?" + </p> + <p> + "If you would consider it a compliment, yes," he replied, smiling. He was + thinking that she was a very pretty girl, after all. + </p> + <p> + "The frock usually makes the woman," she said slowly, "but not always the + lady." + </p> + <p> + He thought of that remark more than once during the course of an afternoon + spent in the woods about Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd virtually commanded the expedition. It was he who thought of + everything. First of all, he led the party to the corner of the estate + nearest the point where Paul was shot from his horse. Sitting in his own + saddle, he called the attention of the other riders to what appeared to be + a most significant fact in connection with the killing of this man. + </p> + <p> + "From what I hear, the man Paul was shot through the lungs, directly from + in front. The bullet went straight through his body. He was riding very + rapidly down this road. When he came to a point not far above cross-roads, + he was fired upon. It is safe to assume that he was looking intently + ahead, trying to make out the crossing. He was not shot from the side of + the road, gentlemen, but from the middle of it. The bullet came from a + point almost directly in front of him, and not from Mr. Curtis's property + here to the left, or Mr. Conley's on the right. Understand, this is my + whimsey only. I may be entirely wrong. My idea is that the man who shot + him waited here at the cross-roads to head off either or both of them in + case they were not winged by men stationed farther up. Of course, that + must be quite obvious to all of you. My friend De Soto is inclined to the + belief that they were trying to get across the border. I don't believe so. + If that were the case, why did they dismount above Conley's house, hitch + their horses to the fence, and set forth on foot? I am convinced in my own + mind that they came here to meet some one to whom they were to deliver a + verbal report of vital importance,—some one from across the border + in Canada. This message was delivered. So far as Roon and Paul were + concerned their usefulness was ended. They had done all that was required + of them. The cause they served was better off with them dead than alive. + Without the slightest compunction, without the least regard for faithful + service, they were set upon and slain by their supposed friends. Now, you + may laugh at my fancy if you like, but you must remember that frightful + things are happening in these days. The killing of these men adds but a + drop to the ocean of blood that is being shed. Roon and Paul, suddenly + confronted by treachery, fled for their lives. The trap had been set with + care, however; they rushed into it." + </p> + <p> + "I am inclined to your hypothesis, O'Dowd," said Barnes. "It seems sound + and reasonable. The extraordinary precautions taken by Roon and Paul to + prevent identification, dead or alive, supports your whimsey, as you call + it. The thing that puzzles me, however, is the singular failure of the two + men to defend themselves. They were armed, yet neither fired a shot. You + would think that when they found themselves in a tight place, such as you + suggest, their first impulse would be to shoot." + </p> + <p> + "Well," mused O'Dowd, squinting his eyes in thought, "there's something in + that. It doesn't seem reasonable that they'd run like whiteheads with guns + in—By Jove, here's a new thought!" His eyes glistened with boyish + elation. "They had delivered their message,—we'll assume that much, + of course,—and were walking back to their horses when they were + ordered to halt by some one hidden in the brush at the roadside. You can't + very well succeed in hitting a man if you can't see him at all, so they + made a dash for it instead of wasting time in shooting at the air. What's + more, they may have anticipated the very thing that happened: they were + prepared for treachery. Their only chance lay in getting safely into their + saddles. Oh, I am a good romancer! I should be writing dime novels instead + of living the respectable life I do. Conley heard them running for their + lives. Assassins had been stationed along the road to head them off, + however. The man who had his place near the horses, got Roon. The chances + are that Paul did not accompany Roon to the meeting place up the road. He + remained near the horses. That's how he managed to get away so quickly. It + remained for the man at the cross-roads to settle with him. But, we're + wasting time with all this twaddle of mine. Let us be moving. There is one + point on which we must all agree. The deadliest marksmen in the world + fired those shots. No bungling on that score, bedad." + </p> + <p> + In course of time, the party, traversing the ground contiguous to the + public road, came within sight of the green dwelling among the trees. + Barnes's interest revived. He had, from the outset, appreciated the + futility of the search for clues in the territory they had covered. The + searchers were incapable of conducting a scientific examination. It was + work for the most skilful, the most practised, the most untiring of + tracers. His second view of the house increased his wonder and admiration. + If O'Dowd had not actually located it among the trees for him, he would + have been at a loss to discover it, although it was immediately in front + of him and in direct line of vision. + </p> + <p> + "Astonishing, isn't it?" said the Irishman, as they stood side by side, + peering ahead. + </p> + <p> + "Marvellous is the better word," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "The fairies might have built it," said the other, with something like awe + in his voice. He shook his head solemnly. + </p> + <p> + "One could almost fancy that a fairy queen dwelt there, surrounded by + Peter Pans and Aladdins," mused Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "Instead of an ogre attended by owls and nightbirds and the devil knows + what,—for I don't." + </p> + <p> + Barnes looked at him in amazement, struck by the curious note in his + voice. + </p> + <p> + "If you were a small boy in knickers, O'Dowd, I should say that you were + mortally afraid of the place." + </p> + <p> + "If I were a small boy," said O'Dowd, "I'd be scairt entirely out of me + knickers. I'd keep me boots on, mind ye, so that I could run the better. + It's me Irish imagination that does the trick. You never saw an Irishman + in your life that wasn't conscious of the 'little people' that inhabit the + places that are always dark and green." + </p> + <p> + De Soto was seen approaching through the green sea, his head appearing and + disappearing intermittently in the billows formed by the undulating + underbrush. He shook hands with Barnes a moment later. + </p> + <p> + "I'm glad you had the sense to bring Mr. Barnes with you, O'Dowd," said + he. "You didn't mention him when you telephoned that you were personally + conducting a sight-seeing party. I tried to catch you afterwards on the + telephone, but you had left the tavern. Mrs. Collier wanted me to ask you + to capture Mr. Barnes for dinner to-night." + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Collier is the sister of Mr. Curtis," explained O'Dowd. Then he + turned upon De Soto incredulously. "For the love of Pat," he cried "what's + come over them? When I made so bold as to suggest last night that you were + a chap worth cultivating, Barnes,—and that you wouldn't be long in + the neighbourhood,—But, to save your feelings I'll not repeat what + they said, the two of them. What changed them over, De Soto?" + </p> + <p> + "A chance remark of Miss Cameron's at lunch to-day. She wondered if Barnes + could be the chap who wrote the articles about Peru and the Incas, or + something of the sort, and that set them to looking up the back numbers of + the geographic magazine in Mr. Curtis's library. Not only did they find + the articles but they found your picture. I had no difficulty in deciding + that you were one and the same. The atmosphere cleared in a jiffy. It + became even clearer when it was discovered that you have had a few + ancestors and are received in good society—both here and abroad, as + the late Frederic Townsend Martin would have said. I hereby officially + present the result of subsequent deliberation. Mr. Barnes is invited to + dine with us to-night." + </p> + <p> + Barnes's heart was still pounding rapidly as he made the rueful admission + that he "didn't have a thing to wear." He couldn't think of accepting the + gracious invitation— + </p> + <p> + "Don't you think the clothes you have on your back will last through the + evening?" inquired O'Dowd quaintly. + </p> + <p> + "But look at them!" cried Barnes. "I've tramped in 'em for two weeks and—" + </p> + <p> + "All the more reason why you should be thankful they're good and stout," + said O'Dowd. + </p> + <p> + "We live rather simply up here, Mr. Barnes," said De Soto. "There isn't a + dinner jacket or a spike tail coat on the place. It's strictly against the + law up here to have such things about one's person. Come as you are, sir. + I assure you I speak the truth when I say we don't dress for dinner." + </p> + <p> + "Bedad," said O'Dowd enthusiastically, "if it will make ye feel any more + comfortable I'll put on the corduroy outfit I go trout fishing in, + bespattered and patched as it is. And De Soto will appear in the white + duck trousers and blazer he tries to play tennis in,—though, God + bless him, poor wretch, he hates to put them on after all he's heard said + about his game." + </p> + <p> + "If they'll take me as I am," began Barnes, doubtfully. + </p> + <p> + "I say," called out O'Dowd to the sheriff, who was gazing longingly at the + horses tethered at the bottom of the slope; "would ye mind leading Mr. + Barnes's nag back to the Tavern? He is stopping to dinner. And, while I + think of it, are you satisfied, Mr. Sheriff, with the day's work? If not, + you will be welcome again at any time, if ye'll only telephone a half + minute in advance." To Barnes he said: "We'll send you down in the + automobile to-night, provided it has survived the day. We're expecting the + poor thing to die in its tracks at almost any instant." + </p> + <p> + Ten minutes later Barnes passed through the portals of Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX — THE FIRST WAYFARER, THE SECOND WAYFARER, AND THE SPIRIT + OF CHIVALRY ASCENDANT + </h2> + <p> + The wide green door, set far back in a recess not unlike a kiosk, was + opened by a man-servant who might easily have been mistaken for a waiter + from Delmonico's or Sherry's. He did not have the air or aplomb of a + butler, nor the smartness of a footman. On the contrary, he was a + thick-set, rather scrubby sort of person with all the symptoms of cafe + servitude about him, including the never-failing doubt as to nationality. + He might have been a Greek, a Pole, an Italian or a Turk. + </p> + <p> + "Say to Mrs. Collier, Nicholas, that Mr. Barnes is here for dinner," said + De Soto. "I will make the cocktails this evening." + </p> + <p> + Much to Barnes's surprise,—and disappointment,—the interior of + the house failed to sustain the bewildering effect produced by the + exterior. The entrance hall and the living-room into which he was + conducted by the two men were singularly like others that he had seen. The + latter, for example, was of ordinary dimensions, furnished with a thought + for comfort rather than elegance or even good taste. The rugs were thick + and in tone held almost exclusively to Turkish reds; the couches and + chairs were low and deep and comfortable, as if intended for men only, and + they were covered with rich, gay materials; the hangings at the windows + were of deep blue and gold; the walls an unobtrusive cream colour, almost + literally thatched with etchings. + </p> + <p> + Barnes, somewhat of a connoisseur, was not slow to recognise the value and + extreme rarity of the prints. Rembrandt, Whistler, Hayden, Merryon, + Cameron, Muirhead Bone and Zorn were represented by their most notable + creations; two startling subjects by Brangwyn hung alone in one corner of + the room, isolated, it would seem, out of consideration for the gleaming, + jewel-like surfaces of other and smaller treasures. There were at least a + dozen Zorns, as many Whistlers and Camerons. + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd, observing the glance of appreciation that Barnes sent about the + room, said: "All of thim are in the very rarest state. He has one of the + finest collections in America. Ye'll want your boots cleaned and polished, + and your face needs scrubbing, if ye don't mind my saying so," he went on, + critically surveying the visitor's person. "Come up to my room and make + yourself tidy. My own man will dust you off and furbish you up in no time + at all." + </p> + <p> + They passed into another room at the left and approached a wide stairway, + the lower step of which was flush with the baseboard on the wall. Not so + much as an inch of the stairway protruded into the room, and yet Barnes, + whose artistic sense should have been offended, was curiously pleased with + the arrangement and effect. He made a mental note of this deliberate + violation of the holy rules of construction, and decided that one day he + would try it out for himself. + </p> + <p> + The room itself was obviously a continuation of the larger one beyond, a + sort of annex, as it were. The same scheme in decoration and furnishings + was observed, except here the walls were adorned with small paintings in + oil, heavily framed. Hanging in the panel at the right of the stairway was + an exquisite little Corot, silvery and feathery even in the dim light of + early dusk. On the opposite side was a brilliant little Cazin. + </p> + <p> + The stairs were thickly carpeted. At the top, his guide turned to the left + and led the way down a long corridor. They passed at least four doors + before O'Dowd stopped and threw open the fifth on that side of the hall. + There were still two more doors beyond. + </p> + <p> + "Suggests a hotel, doesn't it?" said the Irishman, standing aside for + Barnes to enter. "All of the sleeping apartments are on this floor, and + the baths, and boudoirs, and what-not. The garret is above, and that's + where we deposit our family skeletons, intern our grievances, store our + stock of spitefulness, and hide all the little devils that must come + sneaking up from the city with us whether we will or no. Nothing but + good-humour, contentment, happiness and mirth are permitted to occupy this + floor and the one below. I might also add beauty, for you can't conceive + any of the others without it, me friend. God knows I couldn't be + good-natured for a minute if I wasn't encouraged by beauty appreciative, + and as for being contented, happy or mirthful,—bedad, words fail me! + Dabson," he said, addressing the man who had quietly entered the room + through the door behind them, "do Mr. Barnes, will ye, and fetch me from + Mr. De Soto's room when you've finished. I leave you to Dabson's tender + mercies. The saints preserve us! Look at the man's boots! Dabson, get out + your brush and dauber first of all. He's been floundering in a bog." + </p> + <p> + The jovial Irishman retired, leaving Barnes to be "done" by the silent, + swift-moving valet. Dabson was young and vigorous and exceedingly + well-trained. He made short work of "doing" the visitor; barely fifteen + minutes elapsed before O'Dowd's return. + </p> + <p> + Presently they went downstairs together. Lamps had been lighted, many of + them, throughout the house. A warm, pleasing glow filled the rooms, + softening,—one might even say tempering,—the insistent reds in + the rugs, which now seemed to reflect rather than to project their hues; a + fire crackled in the cavernous fireplace at the end of the living-room, + and grouped about its cheerful, grateful blaze were the ladies of Green + Fancy. + </p> + <p> + Barnes was aware of a quickening of his pulses as he advanced with O'Dowd. + De Soto was there ahead of them, posed ungracefully in front of the fire, + his feet widespread, his hands in his pockets. Another man, sallow-faced + and tall, with a tired looking blond moustache and sleepy eyes, was + managing, with amazing skill, the retention of a cigarette which seemed to + be constantly in peril of detaching itself from his parted though inactive + lips. + </p> + <p> + SHE was there, standing slightly aloof from the others, but evidently + amused by the tale with which De Soto was regaling them. She was smiling; + Barnes saw the sapphire lights sparkling in her eyes, and experienced a + sensation that was woefully akin to confusion. + </p> + <p> + He had the feeling that he would be absolutely speechless when presented + to her; in the full, luminous glow of those lovely eyes he would lose + consciousness, momentarily, no doubt, but long enough to give her,—and + all the rest of them,—no end of a fright. + </p> + <p> + But nothing of the kind happened. Everything went off quite naturally. He + favoured Miss Cameron with an uncommonly self-possessed smile as she gave + her hand to him, and she, in turn, responded with one faintly suggestive + of tolerance, although it certainly would have been recorded by a less + sensitive person than Barnes as "ripping." + </p> + <p> + In reply to his perfunctory "delighted, I'm sure, etc.," she said, quite + clearly: "Oh, now I remember. I was sure I had seen you before, Mr. + Barnes. You are the magic gentleman who sprung like a mushroom out of the + earth yesterday afternoon." + </p> + <p> + "And frightened you," he said; "whereupon you vanished like the mushroom + that is gobbled up by the predatory glutton." + </p> + <p> + He had thrilled at the sound of her voice. It was the low, deliberate + voice of the woman of the crossroads, and, as before, he caught the almost + imperceptible accent. The red gleam from the blazing logs fell upon her + shining hair; it glistened like gold. She wore a simple evening gown of + white, softened over the shoulders and neck with a fall of rare + vallenciennes lace. There was no jewelry,—not even a ring on her + slender, tapering fingers. Oddly enough, now that he stood beside her, she + was not so tall as he had believed her to be the day before. The crown of + her silken head came but little above his shoulder. As she had appeared to + him among the trees he would have sworn that she was but little below his + own height, which was a liberal six feet. He recalled a flash of wonder on + that occasion; she had seemed so much taller than the woman at the + cross-roads that he was almost convinced that she could not, after all, be + the same person. Now she was back to the height that he remembered, and he + marvelled once more. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Collier, the hostess, was an elderly, heavy-featured woman, decidedly + over-dressed. Barnes knew her kind. One encounters her everywhere: the + otherwise intelligent woman who has no sense about her clothes. Mrs. Van + Dyke, her daughter, was a woman of thirty, tall, dark and handsome in a + bold, dashing sort of way. She too was rather resplendent in a black jet + gown, and she was liberally bestrewn with jewels. Much to Barnes's + surprise, she possessed a soft, gentle speaking-voice and a quiet, musical + laugh instead of the boisterous tones and cackle that he always associated + with her type. The lackadaisical gentleman with the moustache turned out + to be her husband. + </p> + <p> + "My brother is unable to be with us to-night, Mr. Barnes," explained Mrs. + Collier. "Mr. O'Dowd may have told you that he is an invalid. Quite rarely + is he well enough to leave his room. He has been feeling much better of + late, but now his nerves are all torn to pieces by this shooting affair. + The mere knowledge that our grounds were being inspected to-day by the + authorities upset him terribly. He has begged me to present his apologies + and regrets to you. Another time, perhaps, you will give him the pleasure + he is missing to-night. He wanted so much to talk with you about the + quaint places you have described so charmingly in your articles. They must + be wonderfully appealing. One cannot read your descriptions without really + envying the people who live in those enchanted—" + </p> + <p> + "Ahem!" coughed O'Dowd, who actually had read the articles and could see + nothing alluring in a prospect that contemplated barren, snow-swept + wildernesses in the Andes. "The only advantage I can see in living up + there," he said, with a sly wink at Barnes, "is that one has all the + privileges of death without being put to the expense of burial." + </p> + <p> + "How very extraordinary, Mr. O'Dowd," said Mrs. Collier, lifting her + lorgnon. + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Collier has been reading my paper on the chateau country in France," + said Barnes mendaciously. (It had not yet been published, but what of + that?) + </p> + <p> + "Perfectly delightful," said Mrs. Collier, and at once changed the + subject. + </p> + <p> + De Soto's cocktails came in. Miss Cameron did not take one. O'Dowd + proposed a toast. + </p> + <p> + "To the rascals who went gunning for the other rascals. But for them we + should be short at least one member of this agreeable company." + </p> + <p> + It was rather startling. Barnes's glass stopped half-way to his lips. An + instant later he drained it. He accepted the toast as a compliment from + the whilom Irishman, and not as a tribute to the prowess of those + mysterious marksmen. + </p> + <p> + "Rather grewsome, O'Dowd," drawled Van Dyke, "but offset by the + foresightedness of the maker of this cocktail. Uncommonly good one, De + Soto." + </p> + <p> + The table in the spacious dining-room was one of those long, narrow + Italian boards, unmistakably antique and equally rare. Sixteen or eighteen + people could have been seated without crowding, and when the seven took + their places wide intervals separated them. No effort had been made by the + hostess to bring her guests close together, as might have been done by + using one end or the centre of the table. Except for scattered doylies, + the smooth, nut-brown top was bare of cloth; there was a glorious patina + to this huge old board, with tiny cracks running like veins across its + surface. + </p> + <p> + Decorations were scant. A half dozen big candlesticks, ecclesiastical in + character, were placed at proper intervals, and at each end of the table + there was a shallow, alabaster dish containing pansies. The serving plates + were of silver. Especially beautiful were the long-stemmed water goblets + and the graceful champagne glasses. They were blue and white and of a + design and quality no longer obtainable except at great cost. The + aesthetic Barnes was not slow to appreciate the rarity of the glassware + and the chaste beauty of the serving plates. + </p> + <p> + The man Nicholas was evidently the butler, despite his Seventh Avenue + manner. He was assisted in serving by two stalwart and amazingly clumsy + footmen, of similar ilk and nationality. On seeing these additional + men-servants, Barnes began figuratively to count on his fingers the + retainers he had so far encountered on the place. Already he has seen six, + all of them powerful, rugged fellows. It struck him. as extraordinary, and + in a way significant, that there should be so many men at Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + Somewhere back in his mind was the impression that O'Dowd had spoken of + Pierre the cook, a private secretary and male attendant who looked after + Mr. Curtis. Then there was Peter, the regular chauffeur, whom he had not + seen, and doubtless there were able-bodied woodchoppers and foresters + besides. Not forgetting the little book-agent! It suddenly occurred to him + that he was surrounded by a company of the most formidable character: no + less than twenty men would be a reasonable guess if he were to include + O'Dowd, De Soto and Van Dyke. + </p> + <p> + Much to his disappointment, he was not placed near Miss Cameron at table. + Indeed, she was seated as far away from him as possible. He sat at Mrs. + Collier's right. On his left was Mrs. Van Dyke, with Miss Cameron at the + foot of the table flanked by O'Dowd and De Soto. Van Dyke had nearly the + whole of the opposite side of the table to himself. There was, to be sure, + a place set between him and De Soto, for symmetry's sake, Barnes + concluded. In this he was mistaken; they had barely seated themselves when + Mrs. Collier remarked: + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Curtis's secretary usually joins us here for coffee. He has his + dinner with my brother and then, poor man, comes in for a brief period of + relaxation. When my brother is in one of his bad spells poor Mr. Loeb + doesn't have much time to himself. It seems to me that my brother is at + his best when his health is at its worst. You may be interested to know, + Mr. Barnes, that he is writing a history of the Five Nations." + </p> + <p> + "Indians, you know," explained Van Dyke. + </p> + <p> + "A history of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas and Senecas, and + their 'Long House' should be of great value, Mrs. Collier," said Barnes, a + trifle didactically. "When does he expect to have it completed?" + </p> + <p> + "'Gad, you know a little of everything, don't you?" said Van Dyke, sitting + up a little straighter in his chair and eyeing Barnes fishily. ("Awfully + smart chap," he afterwards confided to O'Dowd.) "If he lives long enough, + he'll finish it in 1999," he added, lifting his voice above Mrs. Collier's + passive reply out of which Barnes gathered the words "couple" and "years." + </p> + <p> + It is not necessary to dilate upon the excellence of the dinner, to repeat + the dialogue, or to comment on the service, other than to say, for the + sake of record, that the first WAS excellent; the second sprightly, and + the third atrocious. + </p> + <p> + Loeb, the private secretary, came in for coffee. He was a tall, spare man + of thirty, pallidly handsome, with dark, studious eyes and features of an + unmistakably Hebraic cast, as his name might have foretold. His teeth were + marvellously white, and his slow smile attractive. When he spoke, which + was seldom unless a remark was directed specifically to him, his voice was + singularly deep and resonant. More than once during the hour that Loeb + spent with them Barnes formed and dismissed a stubborn, ever-recurring + opinion that the man was not a Jew. Certainly he was not an American Jew. + His voice, his manner of speech, his every action stamped him as one born + and bred in a land far removed from Broadway and its counterparts. If a + Jew, he was of the East as it is measured from Rome: the Jew of the carnal + Orient. + </p> + <p> + And as the evening wore on, there came to Barnes the singular fancy that + this man was the master and not the servant of the house! He could not put + the ridiculous idea out of his mind. + </p> + <p> + He was to depart at ten. The hour drew near and he had had no opportunity + for detached conversation with Miss Cameron. He had listened to her bright + retorts to O'Dowd's sallies, and marvelled at the ease and composure with + which she met the witty Irishman on even terms. Her voice, always low and + distinct, was never without the suggestion of good-natured raillery; he + was enchanted by the faint, delicious chuckle that rode in every sentence + she uttered during these sprightly tilts. + </p> + <p> + When the conversation turned to serious topics, her voice steadied + perceptibly, the blue in her eyes took on a deeper and darker hue, the + half-satirical smile vanished from her adorable lips, and she spoke with + the gravity of a profound thinker. Barnes watched her, fascinated, bereft + of the power to concentrate his thoughts on anything else. He hung on her + every movement, hoping and longing for the impersonal glance or remark + with which she occasionally favoured him. + </p> + <p> + Not until the very close of the evening, and when he had resigned himself + to hopelessness, did the opportunity come for him to speak with her alone. + She caught his eye, and, to his amazement, made a slight movement of her + head, unobserved by the others but curiously imperative to him. There was + no mistaking the meaning of the direct, intense look that she gave him. + </p> + <p> + She was appealing to him as a friend,—as one on whom she could + depend! + </p> + <p> + The spirit of chivalry took possession of him. His blood leaped to the + call. She needed him and he would not fail her. And it was with difficulty + that he contrived to hide the exaltation that might have ruined + everything! + </p> + <p> + Loeb had returned to his labours in Mr. Curtis's study, after bidding + Barnes a courteous good-night. It seemed to the latter that with the + secretary's departure an indefinable restraint fell away from the small + company. + </p> + <p> + While he was trying to invent a pretext for drawing her apart from the + others, she calmly ordered Van Dyke to relinquish his place on the couch + beside her to Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "Come and sit beside me, Mr. Barnes," she called out, gaily. "I will not + bite you, or scratch you, or harm you in any way. Ask Mr. O'Dowd and he + will tell you that I am quite docile. What is there about me, sir, that + causes you to think that I am dangerous? You have barely spoken a word to + me, and you've been disagreeably nice to Mrs. Collier and Mrs. Van Dyke. I + don't bite, do I, Mr. O'Dowd?" + </p> + <p> + "You do," said O'Dowd promptly. "You do more than that. You devour. Bedad, + I have to look in a mirror to convince meself that you haven't swallowed + me whole. That's another way of telling you, Barnes, that she'll absorb + you entirely." + </p> + <p> + It was a long, deep and comfortable couch of the davenport class, and she + sat in the middle of it instead of at the end, a circumstance that he was + soon to regard as premeditated. She had planned to bring him to this place + beside her and had cunningly prepared against the possibility that he + might put the full length of the couch between them if she settled herself + in a corner. As it was, their elbows almost touched as he sat down beside + her. + </p> + <p> + For a few minutes she chided him for his unseemly aversion. He was + beginning to think that he had been mistaken in her motive, and that after + all she was merely satisfying her vanity. Suddenly, and as she smiled into + his eyes, she said, lowering her voice slightly: + </p> + <p> + "Do not appear surprised at anything I may say to you. Smile as if we were + uttering the silliest nonsense. So much depends upon it, Mr. Barnes." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X — THE PRISONER OF GEEEN FANCY, AND THE LAMENT OF PETER THE + CHAUFFEUR + </h2> + <p> + He envied Mr. Rushcroft. The barn-stormer would have risen to the occasion + without so much as the blinking of an eye. He would have been able to + smile and gesticulate in a manner that would have deceived the most acute + observer, while he—ah, he was almost certain to flounder and make a + mess of the situation. He did his best, however, and, despite his + eagerness, managed to come off fairly well. Any one out of ear-shot would + have thought that he was uttering some trifling inanity instead of these + words: + </p> + <p> + "You may trust me. I have suspected that something was wrong here." + </p> + <p> + "It is impossible to explain now," she said. "These people are not my + friends. I have no one to turn to in my predicament." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, you have," he broke in, and laughed rather boisterously for him. He + felt that they were being watched in turn by every person in the room. + </p> + <p> + "To-night,—not an hour ago,—I began to feel that I could call + upon you for help. I began to relax. Something whispered to me that I was + no longer utterly alone. Oh, you will never know what it is to have your + heart lighten as mine—But I must control myself. We are not to waste + words." + </p> + <p> + "You have only to command me, Miss Cameron. No more than a dozen words are + necessary." + </p> + <p> + "I knew it,—I felt it," she cried eagerly. "Nothing can be done + to-night. The slightest untoward action on your part would send you after—the + other two. There is one man here who, I think, will stand between me and + actual peril. Mr. O'Dowd. He is—" + </p> + <p> + "He is the liveliest liar I've ever known," broke in Barnes quickly. + "Don't trust him." + </p> + <p> + "But he is also an Irishman," she said, as if that fact overcame all other + shortcomings. "I like him; he must be an honest man, for he has already + lied nobly in MY behalf." She smiled as she uttered this quaint anomaly. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me how I can be of service to you," said he, disposing of O'Dowd + with a shrug. + </p> + <p> + "I shall try to communicate with you in some way—to-morrow. I beg of + you, I implore you, do not desert me. If I can only be sure that you will—" + </p> + <p> + "You may depend on me, no matter what happens," said he, and, looking into + her eyes was bound forever. + </p> + <p> + "I have been thinking," she said. "Yesterday I made the discovery that I—that + I am actually a prisoner here, Mr. Barnes. I—Smile! Say something + silly!" + </p> + <p> + Together they laughed over the meaningless remark he made in response to + her command. + </p> + <p> + "I am constantly watched. If I venture outside the house, I am almost + immediately joined by one of these men. You saw what happened yesterday. I + am distracted. I do not know how to arrange a meeting so that I may + explain my unhappy position to you." + </p> + <p> + "I will ask the authorities to step in and—" + </p> + <p> + "No! You are to do nothing of the kind. The authorities would never find + me if they came here to search." (It was hard for him to smile at that!) + "It must be some other way. If I could steal out of the house,—but + that is impossible," she broke off with a catch in her voice. + </p> + <p> + "Suppose that I were to steal INTO the house," he said, a reckless light + in his eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, you could never succeed!" + </p> + <p> + "Well, I could try, couldn't I?" There was nothing funny in the remark but + they both leaned back and laughed heartily. "Leave it to me. I once got + into and out of a Morrocan harem,—but that story may wait. Tell me, + where—" + </p> + <p> + "The place is guarded day and night. The stealthiest burglar in the world + could not come within a stone's throw of the house." + </p> + <p> + "By Jove! Those two men night before last were trying to—" He said + no more, but turned his head so that the others could not see the hard + look that settled in his eyes. "If it's as bad as all that, we cannot + afford to make any slips. You think you are in no immediate peril?" + </p> + <p> + "I am in no peril at all unless I bring it upon myself," she said, + significantly. + </p> + <p> + "Then a delay of a day or so will not matter," he said, frowning. "Leave + it to me. I will find a way." + </p> + <p> + "Be careful!" De Soto came lounging up behind them. She went on speaking, + changing the subject so abruptly and so adroitly that for a moment Barnes + was at a loss. "But if she could obtain all those luxuries without using a + penny of his money, what right had he to object? Surely a wife may do as + she pleases with her own money." + </p> + <p> + "He was trying to break her of selfishness," said Barnes, suddenly + inspired. "The difference between men and women in the matter of luxuries + lies in the fact that one is selfish and the other is not. A man slaves + all the year round to provide luxuries for his wife. The wife comes into a + nice little fortune of her own, and what does she proceed to do with it? + Squander it on her husband? Not much! She sets out immediately to prove to + the world that he is a miser, a skinflint who never gave her more than the + bare necessities of life. The chap I was speaking of—I beg pardon, + Mr. De Soto." + </p> + <p> + "Forgive me for interrupting, but I am under command from royal + headquarters. Peter, the king of chauffeurs, sends in word that the car is + in an amiable mood and champing to be off. So seldom is it in a + good-humour that he—" + </p> + <p> + "I'll be off at once," exclaimed Barnes, arising. + </p> + <p> + "By Jove, it is half-past ten. I had no idea—Good night, Miss + Cameron. Sorry my time is up. I am sure I could have made you hate your + own sex in another half hour." + </p> + <p> + She held out her hand. "One of our virtues is that we never pretend to be + in love with our own sex, Mr. Barnes. That, at least, is a luxury reserved + solely for your sex." + </p> + <p> + He bowed low over her hand. "A necessity, if I may be pardoned for + correcting you." He pressed her hand re-assuringly and left her. + </p> + <p> + She had arisen and was standing, straight and slim by the corner of the + fireplace, a confident smile on her lips. + </p> + <p> + "If you are to be long in the neighbourhood, Mr. Barnes," said his + hostess, "you must let us have you again." + </p> + <p> + "My stay is short, I fear. You have only to reveal the faintest sign that + I may come, however, and I'll hop into my seven league boots before you + can utter Jack Robinson's Christian name. Good night, Mrs. Van Dyke. I + have you all to thank for a most delightful evening. May I expect to see + you down our way, Mr. Van Dyke? We have food for man and beast at all + times and in all forms." + </p> + <p> + "I've tackled your liquids," said Van Dyke. "You are likely to see me + 'most any day. I'm always rattling 'round somewhere, don't you know." (He + said "rettling," by the way.) The car was waiting at the back of the + house. O'Dowd walked out with Barnes, their arms linked,—as on a + former occasion, Barnes recalled. + </p> + <p> + "I'll ride out to the gate with you," said the Irishman. "It's a winding, + devious route the road takes through the trees. As the crow flies it's no + more than five hundred yards, but this way it can't be less than a mile + and a half. Eh, Peter?" + </p> + <p> + Peter opined that it was at least a mile and a quarter. He was a Yankee, + as O'Dowd had said, and he was not extravagant in estimates. + </p> + <p> + The passengers sat in the rear seat. Two small lamps served to light the + way through the Stygian labyrinth of trees and rocks. O'Dowd had an + electric pocket torch with which to pick his way back to Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + "I can't, for the life of me, see why he doesn't put in a driveway + straight to the road beyond, instead of roaming all over creation as we + have to do," said O'Dowd. + </p> + <p> + "We foller the bed of the crick that used to run through here 'fore it was + dammed a little ways up to make the ice-pond 'tween here an' Spanish + Falls," supplied Peter. "Makes a durned good road, 'cept when there's a + freshet. It would cost a hull lot o' money to build a road as good as + this-un." + </p> + <p> + "I was only thinking 'twould save a mile and more," said O'Dowd. + </p> + <p> + "What's the use o' him savin' a mile, er ten miles, fer that matter, when + he never puts foot out'n the house?" said Peter, the logician. + </p> + <p> + "Well, then," persisted O'Dowd testily, "he ought to consider the saving + in gasolene." + </p> + <p> + Peter's reply was a grunt. + </p> + <p> + They came in time, after many "hair-pins" and right angles, to the gate + opening upon the highway. Peter got down from the seat to release the + pad-locked chain and throw open the gate. + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd leaned closer to Barnes and lowered his voice. + </p> + <p> + "See here, Barnes, I'm no fool, and for that reason I've got sense enough + to know that you're not either. I don't know what's in your mind, nor what + you're trying to get into it if it isn't already there. But I'll say this + to you, man to man: don't let your imagination get the better of your + common-sense. That's all. Take the tip from me." + </p> + <p> + "I am not imagining anything, O'Dowd," said Barnes quietly. "What do you + mean?" + </p> + <p> + "I mean just what I say. I'm giving you the tip for selfish reasons. If + you make a bally fool of yourself, I'll have to see you through the worst + of it,—and it's a job I don't relish. Ponder that, will ye, on the + way home?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes did ponder it on the way home. There was but one construction to + put upon the remark: it was O'Dowd's way of letting him know that he could + be depended upon for support if the worst came to pass. + </p> + <p> + His heart warmed to the lively Irishman. He jumped to the conclusion that + O'Dowd, while aligned with the others in the flesh, was not with them in + spirit. His blithe heart was a gallant one as well. The lovely prisoner at + Green Fancy had a chivalrous defender among the conspirators, and that + fact, suddenly revealed to the harassed Barnes, sent a thrill of + exultation through his veins. + </p> + <p> + He realised that he could not expect O'Dowd to be of any assistance in + preparing the way for her liberation. Indeed, the Irishman probably would + oppose him out of loyalty to the cause he espoused. His hand would be + against him until the end; then it would strike for him and the girl who + was in jeopardy. + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd evidently had not been deceived by the acting that masked the + conversation on the couch. He knew that Miss Cameron had appealed to + Barnes, and that the latter had promised to do everything in his power to + help her. + </p> + <p> + Suspecting that this was the situation, and doubtless sacrificing his own + private interests, he had uttered the vague but timely warning to Barnes. + The significance of this warning grew under reflection. The mere fact that + he could bring himself to the point of speaking to Barnes as he did, + established beyond all question that his position was not inimical. He + was, to a certain extent, delivering himself into the hands of one who, in + his rashness, might not hesitate to cast him to the lions: the beasts in + this instance being his own companions. + </p> + <p> + Barnes was not slow to appreciate the position in which O'Dowd voluntarily + placed himself. A word or a sign from him would be sufficient to bring + disaster upon the Irishman who had risked his own safety in a few + irretrievable words. The more he thought of it, the more fully convinced + was he that there was nothing to fear from O'Dowd. The cause for + apprehension in that direction was wiped out by a simple process of + reasoning: O'Dowd would have delivered his warning elsewhere if he + intended evil. While it was impossible to decide how far O'Dowd's friendly + interest would carry him, Barnes was still content to believe that he + would withhold his suspicions, for the present at least, from the others + at Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + He was at a loss to account for his invitation to Green Fancy under the + circumstances. The confident attitude of those responsible for Miss + Cameron's detention evidently was based upon conditions which rendered + their position tenable. Their disregard for the consequences that might + reasonably be expected to result from this visit was puzzling in the + extreme. He could arrive at no other conclusion than that their + hospitality was inspired by a desire to disarm him of suspicion. An open + welcome to the house, while a bold piece of strategy, was far better than + an effort to cloak the place in mystery. + </p> + <p> + As he left the place behind him, he found himself saying that he had + received his first and last invitation to visit Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + Peter drove slowly, carefully over the road down the mountain, in direct + contrast to the heedless rush of the belated "washer." + </p> + <p> + Responding to a sudden impulse, Barnes lowered one of the side-seats in + the tonneau and moved closer to the driver. By leaning forward he was in a + position to speak through the window at Peter's back. + </p> + <p> + "Pretty bad going, isn't it?" he ventured. + </p> + <p> + "Bad enough in the daytime," said Peter, without taking his eyes from the + road, "but something fierce at night." + </p> + <p> + "I suppose you've been over it so often, however, that you know every + crook and turn." + </p> + <p> + "I know 'em well enough not to get gay with 'em," said Peter. + </p> + <p> + "How long have you been driving for Mr. Curtis?" + </p> + <p> + "Ever since he come up here, more'n two years ago. I used to drive the + station bus fer the hotel down below Spanish Falls. He stayed there while + he was buildin'. Guess I'm going to get the G. B. 'fore long, though." + </p> + <p> + His listener started. "You don't say so! Cutting down expenses?" + </p> + <p> + "Not so's you could notice it," growled Peter. "Seems that he's gettin' a + new car an' wants an expert machinist to take hold of it from the start. I + was good enough to fiddle around with this second-hand pile o' junk an' + the Buick he had last year, but I ain't qualified to handle this here + twin-six Packard he's expectin', so he says. I guess they's been some + influence used against me, if the truth was known. This new sec'etary he's + got cain't stummick me." + </p> + <p> + "Why don't you see Mr. Curtis and demand—" "SEE him?" snorted Peter. + "Might as well try to see Napoleon Bonyparte. Didn't you know he was a + sick man?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly. But he isn't so ill that he can't attend to business, is he?" + </p> + <p> + "He sure is. Parylised, they say. He's a mighty fine man. It's awful to + think of him bein' so helpless he cain't ever git out'n his cheer ag'in. + Course, if he was hisself he wouldn't think o' lettin' me out. But bein' + sick-like, he jest don't give a durn about anything. So that's how this + new sec'etary gets in his fine work on me." + </p> + <p> + "What has Mr. Loeb against you, if I may ask?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, it's like this. I ain't in the habit o' bein' ordered aroun' as if + I was jest nobody at all, so when he starts in to cuss me about somethin' + a week or so ago, I ups and tells him I'll smash his head if he don't take + it back. He takes it back all right, but the first thing I know I get a + call-down from Mrs. Collier. She's Mr. Curtis's sister, you know. Course I + couldn't tell her what I told the sheeny, seein' as she's a female, so I + took it like a lamb. Then they gits a feller up here to wash the car. My + gosh, mister, the durned ole rattle-trap ain't wuth a bucket o' water all + told. You could wash from now till next Christmas an' she wouldn't look + any cleaner'n she does right now. So I sends word in to Mr. Curtis that if + she has to be washed, I'll wash her. I don't want no dago splashin' water + all over the barn floor an' drawin' pay fer doin' it. Then's when I hears + about the new car. Mr. Loeb comes out an' asts me if I ever drove a + Packard twin-six. I says no I ain't, an' he says it's too bad. He asts the + dago if he's ever drove one and the dago lies like thunder. He says he's + handled every kind of a Packard known to science, er somethin' like that. + I cain't understand half the durn fool says. Next day Mrs. Collier sends + fer me an' I go in. She says she guesses she'll try the new washer on the + Packard when it comes, an' if I keer to stay on as washer in his place + she'll be glad to have me. I says I'd like to have a word with Mr. Curtis, + if she don't mind, an' she says Mr. Curtis ain't able to see no one. So I + guess I'm goin' to be let out. Not as I keer very much, 'cept I hate to + leave Mr. Curtis in the lurch. He was mighty good to me up to the time he + got bed-ridden." + </p> + <p> + "I dare say you will have no difficulty in finding another place," said + Barnes, feeling his way. + </p> + <p> + "'Tain't easy to git a job up here. I guess I'll have to try New York er + some of the big cities," said Peter, confidently. + </p> + <p> + An idea was taking root in Barnes's brain, but it was too soon to consider + it fixed. + </p> + <p> + "You say Mr. Loeb is new at his job?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, he's new up here. Mr. Curtis was down to New York all last winter + bein' treated, you see. He didn't come up here till about five weeks ago. + Loeb was workin' fer him most of the winter, gittin' up a book er + somethin', I hear. Mr. Curtis's mind is all right, I guess, even if his + body ain't. Always was a great feller fer books an' writin' 'fore he got + so sick." + </p> + <p> + "I see. Mr. Loeb came up with him from New York." + </p> + <p> + "Kerect. Him and Mr. O'Dowd and Mr. De Soto brought him up 'bout the last + o' March." + </p> + <p> + "I understand that they are old friends." + </p> + <p> + "They was up here visitin' last spring an' the fall before. Mr. Curtis is + very fond of both of 'em." + </p> + <p> + "It seems to me that I have heard that his son married O'Dowd's sister." + </p> + <p> + "That's right. She's a widder now. Her husband was killed in the war + between Turkey an' them other countries four er five years ago." + </p> + <p> + "Really?" + </p> + <p> + "Yep. Him and Mr. O'Dowd—his own brother-in-law, y' know—was + fightin' on the side of the Boolgarians and young Ashley Curtis was + killed. Mr. O'Dowd's always fightin' whenever they's a war goin' on + anywheres. I cain't understand why he ain't over in Europe now helpin' out + one side or t'other." + </p> + <p> + "Was this son Mr. Curtis's only child?" + </p> + <p> + "So fer as I know. He left three little kids. They was all here with their + mother jest after the house was finished. Finest children I ever—" + </p> + <p> + "They will probably come into this property when Mr. Curtis dies," said + Barnes, keeping the excitement out of his voice. + </p> + <p> + "More'n likely." + </p> + <p> + "Was he very feeble when you saw him last?" + </p> + <p> + "I ain't seen him in more'n six months. He was failin' then. That's why he + went to the city." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I see. You did not see him when he arrived the last of March?" + </p> + <p> + "I was visitin' my sister up in Hornville when he come back + unexpected-like. This ijiot Loeb says he wrote me to meet 'em at Spanish + Falls but I never got the letter. Like as not the durn fool got the + address wrong. I didn't know Mr. Curtis was home till I come back from my + sister's three days later. The wust of it was that I had tooken the + automobile with me,—to have a little work done on her, mind ye,—an' + so they had to hire a Ford to bring him up from the Falls. I wouldn't 'a' + had it happen fer fifty dollars." Peter's tone was convincingly doleful. + </p> + <p> + "And he has been confined to his room ever since? Poor old fellow! It's + hard, isn't it?" + </p> + <p> + "It sure is. Seems like he'll never be able to walk ag'in. I was talkin' + to his nurse only the other day. He says it's a hopeless case." + </p> + <p> + "Fortunately his sister can be here with him." + </p> + <p> + "By gosh, she ain't nothin' like him," confided Peter. "She's all fuss an' + feathers an' he is jest as simple as you er me. Nothin' fluffy about him, + I c'n tell ye. Course, he must 'a' had a screw loose some'eres when he + made sich a botch of that house up there, but it's his'n an' there ain't + no law ag'in a man doin' what he pleases with his own property." He sighed + deeply. "I'm jest as well pleased to go as not," he went on. "Mrs. + Collier's got a lot o' money of her own, an' she's got highfalutin' New + York ideas that don't seem to jibe with mine. Used to be a time when + everything was nice an' peaceful up here, with Sally Perkins doin' the + cookin' and her daughter waitin' table, but 'tain't that way no more. Got + to have a man cook an' men waitresses, an' a butteler. An' it goes ag'in + the grain to set down to a meal with them hayseeds from Italy. You never + saw sich table manners." + </p> + <p> + He rambled on for some minutes, expanding under the soulful influence of + his own woes and the pleasure of having a visible auditor instead of the + make-believe ones he conjured out of the air at times when privacy + afforded him the opportunity to lament aloud. + </p> + <p> + At any other time Barnes would have been bored by such confidences as + these. Now he was eagerly drinking in every word that Peter uttered. His + lively brain was putting the whole situation into a nutshell. Assuming + that Peter was not the most guileful person on earth, it was quite obvious + that he not only was in ignorance of the true state of affairs at Green + Fancy but that he was to be banished from the place while still in that + condition. + </p> + <p> + Long before they came to the turnpike, Barnes had reduced his hundred and + one suppositions to the following concrete conclusion: Green Fancy was no + longer in the hands of its original owner for the good and sufficient + reason that Mr. Curtis was dead. The real master of the house was the man + known as Loeb. Through O'Dowd he had leased the property from the widowed + daughter-in-law, and had established himself there, surrounded by + trustworthy henchmen, for the purpose of carrying out some dark and + sinister project. + </p> + <p> + Putting two and two together, it was easy to determine how and when O'Dowd + decided to cast his fortunes with those of the leader in this mysterious + enterprise. Their intimacy undoubtedly grew out of association at the time + of the Balkan Wars. O'Dowd was a soldier of fortune. He saw vast + opportunities in the scheme proposed by Loeb, and fell in with it, whether + through a mistaken idea as to its real character or an active desire to + profit nefariously time only would tell. Green Fancy afforded an excellent + base for operations. O'Dowd induced his sister to lease the property to + Loeb,—or he may even have taken it himself. He had visited Mr. + Curtis on at least two occasions. He knew the place and its advantages. + The woman known as Mrs. Collier was not the sister of Curtis. She—but + here Barnes put a check upon his speculations. He appealed to Peter once + more. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose Mrs. Collier has spent a great deal of time up here with her + brother." + </p> + <p> + "First time she was ever here, so far as I know," said Peter, and Barnes + promptly took up his weaving once more. + </p> + <p> + With one exception, he decided, the entire company at Green Fancy was + involved in the conspiracy. The exception was Miss Cameron. It was quite + clear to him that she had been misled or betrayed into her present + position; that a trap had been set for her and she had walked into it + blindly, trustingly. This would seem to establish, beyond question, that + her capture and detention was vital to the interests of the plotters; + otherwise she would not have been lured to Green Fancy under the + impression that she was to find herself among friends and supporters. + Supporters! That word started a new train of thought. He could hardly wait + for the story that was to fall from her lips. + </p> + <p> + Peter swerved into the main-road. "Guess I c'n hit her up a little now," + he said. + </p> + <p> + "Take it slowly, if you please," said Barnes. "I've had one experience in + this car, going a mile a minute, and I didn't enjoy it." + </p> + <p> + "You never been in this car before," corrected Peter. + </p> + <p> + "Is it news to you? Day before yesterday I was picked up at this very + corner and taken to Hart's Tavern in this car. The day Miss Cameron + arrived and the car failed to meet her at Spanish Falls." + </p> + <p> + "You must be dreamin'," said Peter slowly. + </p> + <p> + "If you should have the opportunity, Peter, just ask Miss Cameron," said + the other. "She will tell you that I'm right." + </p> + <p> + "Is she the strange young lady that come a day er so ago?" + </p> + <p> + "The extremely pretty one," explained Barnes. + </p> + <p> + Peter lapsed into silence. It was evident that he considered it impossible + to continue the discussion without offending his passenger. + </p> + <p> + "By the way, Peter, it has just occurred to me that I may be able to give + you a job in case you are let out by Mr. Curtis. I can't say definitely + until I have communicated with my sister, who has a summer home in the + Berkshires. Don't mention it to Mr. Curtis. I wouldn't, for anything in + the world, have him think that I was trying to take you away from him. + That is regarded as one of the lowest tricks a man can be guilty of." + </p> + <p> + "We call it ornery up here," said Peter. "I'll be much obliged, sir. + Course I won't say a word. Will I find you at the Tavern if I get my + walkin' papers soon?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. Stop in to see me to-morrow if you happen to be passing." + </p> + <p> + There was additional food for reflection in the fact that Peter was + allowed to conduct him to the Tavern alone. It was evident that not only + was the garrulous native ignorant of the real conditions at Green Fancy, + but that the opportunity was deliberately afforded him to proclaim his + private grievances to the world. After all, mused Barnes, it wasn't a bad + bit of diplomacy at that! + </p> + <p> + Barnes said good night to the man and entered the Tavern a few minutes + later. Putnam Jones was behind the desk and facing him was the little + book-agent. + </p> + <p> + "Hello, stranger," greeted the landlord. "Been sashaying in society, hey? + Meet my friend Mr. Sprouse, Mr. Barnes. Sic-em, Sprouse! Give him the + Dickens!" Mr. Jones laughed loudly at his own jest. + </p> + <p> + Sprouse shook hands with his victim. + </p> + <p> + "I was just saying to our friend Jones here, Mr. Barnes, that you look + like a more than ordinarily intelligent man and that if I had a chance to + buzz with you for a quarter of an hour I could present a proposition—-" + </p> + <p> + "Sorry, Mr. Sprouse, but it is half-past eleven o'clock, and I am + dog-tired. You will have to excuse me." + </p> + <p> + "To-morrow morning will suit me," said Sprouse cheerfully, "if it suits + you." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI — MR. SPROUSE ABANDONS LITERATURE AT AN EARLY HOUR IN THE + MORNING + </h2> + <p> + After thrashing about in his bed for seven sleepless hours, Barnes arose + and gloomily breakfasted alone. He was not discouraged over his failure to + arrive at anything tangible in the shape of a plan of action. It was + inconceivable that he should not be able in very short order to bring + about the release of the fair guest of Green Fancy. He realised that the + conspiracy in which she appeared to be a vital link was far-reaching and + undoubtedly pernicious in character. There was not the slightest doubt in + his mind that international affairs of considerable importance were + involved and that the agents operating at Green Fancy were under definite + orders. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Sprouse came into the dining-room as he was taking his last swallow of + coffee. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, good morning," was the bland little man's greeting. "Up with the + lark, I see. It is almost a nocturnal habit with me. I get up so early + that you might say it's a nightly proceeding. I'm surprised to see you + circulating at seven o'clock, however. Mind if I sit down here and have my + eggs?" He pulled out a chair opposite Barnes and coolly sat down at the + table. + </p> + <p> + "You can't sell me a set of Dickens at this hour of the day," said Barnes + sourly. "Besides, I've finished my breakfast. Keep your seat." He started + to rise. + </p> + <p> + "Sit down," said Sprouse quietly. Something in the man's voice and manner + struck Barnes as oddly compelling. He hesitated a second and then resumed + his seat. "I've been investigating you, Mr. Barnes," said the little man, + unsmilingly. "Don't get sore. It may gratify you to know that I am + satisfied you are all right." + </p> + <p> + "What do you mean, Mr.—Mr.—?" began Barnes, angrily. + </p> + <p> + "Sprouse. There are a lot of things that you don't know, and one of them + is that I don't sell books for a living. It's something of a side line + with me." He leaned forward. "I shall be quite frank with you, sir. I am a + secret service man. Yesterday I went through your effects upstairs, and + last night I took the liberty of spying upon you, so to speak, while you + were a guest at Green Fancy." + </p> + <p> + "The deuce you say!" cried Barnes, staring. + </p> + <p> + "We will get right down to tacks," said Sprouse. "My government,—which + isn't yours, by the way,—sent me up here five weeks ago on a certain + undertaking. I am supposed to find out what is hatching up at Green Fancy. + Having satisfied myself that you are not connected with the gang up there, + I cheerfully place myself in your hands, Mr. Barnes. Just a moment, + please. Bring me my usual breakfast, Miss Tilly." The waitress having + vanished in the direction of the kitchen, he resumed. "You were at Green + Fancy last night. So was I. You had an advantage over me, however, for you + were on the inside and I was not." + </p> + <p> + "Confound your impudence! I—" + </p> + <p> + "One of my purposes in revealing myself to you, Mr. Barnes, is to warn you + to steer clear of that crowd. You may find yourself in exceedingly hot + water later on if you don't. Another purpose, and the real one, is to + secure, if possible, your co-operation in beating the game up there. You + can help me, and in helping me you may be instrumental in righting one of + the gravest wrongs the world has ever known. Of course, I am advising you + in one breath to avoid the crowd up there and in the next I ask you to do + nothing of the kind. If you can get into the good graces of—But + there is no use counting on that. They are too clever. There is too much + at stake. You might go there for weeks and—" + </p> + <p> + "See here, Mr. Sprouse or whatever your name is, what do you take me for?" + demanded Barnes, assuming an injured air. "You have the most monumental + nerve in—" + </p> + <p> + "Save your breath, Mr. Barnes. We may just as well get together on this + thing first as last. I've told you what I am,—and almost who,—and + I know who and what you are. You don't suppose for an instant that I, with + a record for having made fewer blunders than any man in the service, could + afford to take a chance with you unless I was absolutely sure of my + ground, do you? You ask me what I take you for. Well, I take you for a + meddler who, if given a free rein, may upset the whole pot of beans and + work an irreparable injury to an honest cause." + </p> + <p> + "A meddler, am I? Good morning, Mr. Sprouts. I fancy—" + </p> + <p> + "Sprouse. But the name doesn't matter. Keep your seat. You may learn + something that will be of untold value to you. I used the word meddler in + a professional sense. You are inexperienced. You would behave like a bull + in a china shop. I've been working for nearly six months on a job that you + think you can clear up in a couple of days. Fools walk in where angels + fear to tread. You—" + </p> + <p> + "Will you be good enough, Mr. Sprouse, to tell me just what you are trying + to get at? Come to the point. I know nothing whatever against Mr. Curtis + and his friends. You assume a great deal—" + </p> + <p> + "Excuse me, Mr. Barnes. I'll admit that you don't know anything against + them, but you suspect a whole lot. To begin with, you suspect that two men + were shot to death because they were in wrong with some one at Green + Fancy. Now, I could tell you who those two men really were and why they + were shot. But I sha'n't do anything of the sort,—at least not at + present. I—" + </p> + <p> + "You may have to tell all this to the State if I choose to go to the + authorities with the statement you have just made." + </p> + <p> + "I expect, at the proper time, to tell it all to the State. Are you + willing to listen to what I have to say, or are you going to stay on your + high-horse and tell me to go to the devil? You interest yourself in this + affair for the sake of a little pleasurable excitement. I am in it, not + for fun, but because I am employed by a great Power to risk my life + whenever it is necessary. This happens to be one of the times when it is + vitally necessary. This is not child's play or school-boy romance with me. + It is business." + </p> + <p> + Barnes was impressed. "Perhaps you will condescend to tell me who you are, + Mr. Sprouse. I am very much in the dark." + </p> + <p> + "I am a special agent,—but not a spy, sir,—of a government + that is friendly to yours. I am known in Washington. My credentials are + not to be questioned. At present it would be unwise for me to reveal the + name of my government. I dare say if I can afford to trust you, Mr. + Barnes, you can afford to trust me. There is too much at stake for me to + take the slightest chance with any man. I am ready to chance you, sir, if + you will do the same by me." + </p> + <p> + "Well," began Barnes deliberately, "I guess you will have to take a chance + with me, Mr. Sprouse, for I refuse to commit myself until I know exactly + what you are up to." + </p> + <p> + Sprouse had a pleasant word or two for Miss Tilly as she placed the bacon + and eggs before him and poured his coffee. + </p> + <p> + "Skip along now, Miss Tilly," he said. "I'm going to sell Mr. Barnes a + whole library if I can keep him awake long enough." + </p> + <p> + "I can heartily recommend the Dickens and Scott—" began Miss Tilly, + but Sprouse waved her away. + </p> + <p> + "In the first place, Mr. Barnes," said he, salting his eggs, "you have + been thinking that I was sent down from Green Fancy to spy on you. Isn't + that so?" + </p> + <p> + "I am answering no questions, Mr. Sprouse." + </p> + <p> + "You were wrong," said Sprouse, as if Barnes had answered in the + affirmative. "I am working on my own. You may have observed that I did not + accompany the sheriff's posse to-day. I was up in Hornville getting the + final word from New York that you were on the level. You have a document + from the police, I hear, but I hadn't seen it. Time is precious. I + telephoned to New York. Eleven dollars and sixty cents. You were under + suspicion until I hung up the receiver, I may say." + </p> + <p> + "Jones has been talking to you," said Barnes. "But you said a moment ago + that you were up at Green Fancy last night. Not by invitation, I take it." + </p> + <p> + "I invited myself," said Sprouse succinctly. "Are you inclined to favour + my proposition?" + </p> + <p> + "You haven't made one." + </p> + <p> + "By suggestion, Mr. Barnes. It is quite impossible for me to get inside + that house. You appear to have the entree. You are working in the dark, + guessing at everything. I am guessing at nothing. By combining forces we + should bring this thing to a head, and—" + </p> + <p> + "Just a moment. You expect me to abuse the hospitality of—" + </p> + <p> + "I shall have to speak plainly, I see." He leaned forward, fixing Barnes + with a pair of steady, earnest eyes. "Six months ago a certain royal house + in Europe was despoiled of its jewels, its privy seal, its most precious + state documents and its charter. They have been traced to the United + States. I am here to recover them. That is the foundation of my story, Mr. + Barnes. Shall I go on?" + </p> + <p> + "Can you not start at the beginning, Mr. Sprouse? What was it that led up + to this amazing theft?" + </p> + <p> + "Without divulging the name of the house, I will say that its sympathies + have been from the outset friendly to the Entente Allies,—especially + with France. There are two branches of the ruling family, one in power, + the other practically in exile. The state is a small one, but its + integrity is of the highest. Its sons and daughters have married into the + royal families of nearly all of the great nations of the continent. The + present—or I should say—the late ruler, for he died on a field + of battle not many months ago, had no direct heir. He was young and + unmarried. I am not permitted to state with what army he was fighting, nor + on which front he was killed. It is only necessary to say that his little + state was gobbled up by the Teutonic Allies. The branch of the family + mentioned as being in exile lent its support to the cause of Germany, not + for moral reasons but in the hope and with the understanding, I am to + believe, that the crown-lands would be the reward. The direct heir to the + crown is a cousin of the late prince. He is now a prisoner of war in + Austria. Other members of the family are held by the Bulgarians as + prisoners of war. It is not stretching the imagination very far to picture + them as already dead and out of the way. At the close of the war, if + Germany is victorious, the crown will be placed upon the head of the + pretender branch. Are you following me?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Barnes, his nerves tingling. He was beginning to see a great + light. + </p> + <p> + "Almost under the noses of the forces left by the Teutonic Allies to hold + the invaded territory, the crown-jewels, charter and so forth, heretofore + mentioned as they say in legal parlance, were surreptitiously removed from + the palace and spirited away by persons loyal to the ruling branch of the + family. As I have stated, I am engaged in the effort to recover them." + </p> + <p> + "It requires but little intelligence on my part to reach the conclusion + that you are employed by either the German or Austrian government, Mr. + Sprouse. You are working in the interests of the usurping branch of the + family." + </p> + <p> + "Wrong again, Mr. Barnes,—but naturally. I am in the service of a + country violently opposed to the German cause. My country's interest in + the case is—well, you might say benevolent. The missing property + belongs to the State from which it was taken. It represents a great deal + in the shape of treasure, to say nothing of its importance along other + lines. To restore the legitimate branch of the family to power after the + war, the Entente Allies must be in possession of the papers and + crown-rights that these misguided enthusiasts made away with. Of course, + it would be possible to do it without considering the demands of the + opposing claimants, arbitrarily kicking them out, but that isn't the way + my government does business. The persons who removed this treasure from + the state vaults believed that they were acting for the best interests of + their superiors. In a sense, they were. The only fault we have to find + with them is that they failed to do the sensible thing by delivering their + booty into the hands of one of the governments friendly to their cause. + Instead of doing so, they succeeded in crossing the ocean, conscientiously + believing that America was the safest place to keep the treasure pending + developments on the other side. + </p> + <p> + "Now we come to the present situation. Some months ago a member of the + aforesaid royal house arrived in this country by way of Japan. He is a + distant cousin of the crown and, in a way, remotely looked upon as the + heir-apparent. Later on he sequestered himself in Canada. Our agents in + Europe learned but recently that while he pretends to be loyal to the + ruling house, he is actually scheming against it. I have been ordered to + run him to earth, for there is every reason to believe that the men who + secured the treasure have been duped into regarding him as an avowed + champion of the crown. We believe that if we find this man we will, sooner + or later, be able to put our hands on the missing treasure. I have never + seen the man, nor a portrait of him. A fairly adequate description has + been sent to me, however. Now, Mr. Barnes, without telling you how I have + arrived at the conclusion, I am prepared to state that I believe this man + to be at Green Fancy, and that in time the loot,—to use a harsh + word,—will be delivered to him there. I am here to get it, one way + or another, when that comes to pass." + </p> + <p> + Barnes had not taken his eyes from the face of the little man during this + recital. He was rapidly changing his opinion of Sprouse. There was + sincerity in the voice and eyes of the secret agent. + </p> + <p> + "What led you to suspect that he is at Green Fancy, Mr. Sprouse?" + </p> + <p> + "History. It is known that this Mr. Curtis has spent a great deal of time + in the country alluded to. As a matter of fact, his son, who lived in + London, had rather extensive business interests there. This son was killed + in the Balkan War several years ago. It is said that the man I am looking + for was a friend of young Curtis, who married a Miss O'Dowd in London,—the + Honourable Miss O'Dowd, daughter of an Irish peer, and sister of the chap + you have met at Green Fancy. The elder Curtis was a close and intimate + friend of more than one member of the royal family. Indeed, he is known to + have been a welcome visitor in the home of a prominent nobleman, once high + in the counsels of State. This man O'Dowd is also a friend of the man I am + looking for. He went through the Balkan War with him. After that war, + O'Dowd drifted to China, hoping no doubt to take a hand in the revolution. + He is that sort. Some months ago he came to the United States. I forgot to + mention that he has long considered this country his home, although born + in Ireland. About six weeks ago a former equerry in the royal household + arrived in New York. Through him I learned that the daughter of the + gentleman in whose house the senior Mr. Curtis was a frequent guest had + been in the United States since some time prior to the beginning of the + war. She was visiting friends in the States and has been unable to return + to her own land, for reasons that must be obvious. I may as well confess + that her father was, by marriage, an uncle of the late ruler. + </p> + <p> + "Since the invasion and overthrow of her country by the Teutonic Allies, + she has been endeavouring to raise money here for the purpose of equipping + and supporting the remnants of the small army that fought so valiantly in + defence of the crown. These men, a few thousand only, are at present + interned in a neutral country. I leave you to guess what will happen if + she succeeds in supplying them with arms and ammunition. Her work is being + carried on with the greatest secrecy. Word of it came to the ears of her + country's minister in Paris, however, and he at once jumped to a quick but + very natural conclusion. She has been looked upon in court circles as the + prospective bride of the adventurous cousin I am hunting for. The embassy + has conceived the notion that she may know a great deal about the present + whereabouts of the missing treasure. No one accuses her of duplicity, + however. On the other hand, the man in the case is known to have + pro-German sympathies. She may be loyal to the crown, but there is a + decided doubt as to his loyalty. Of course, we have no means of knowing to + what extent she has confided her plans to him. We do not even know that + she is aware of his presence in this country. To bring the story to a + close, I was instructed to keep close watch on the man O'Dowd. The + ex-attache of the court to whom I referred a moment ago set out to find + the young lady in question. I traced O'Dowd to this place. I was on the + point of reporting to my superiors that he was in no way associated with + the much-sought-after crown-cousin, and that Green Fancy was as free from + taint as the village chapel, when out of a clear sky and almost under my + very nose two men were mysteriously done away with at the very gates of + the place. In fact, so positive was I that O'Dowd was all right, that I + had started for Washington to send my report back home and wait for + instructions. The killing of those two men changed the aspect completely. + You will certainly agree with me after I have explained to you that the + one known as Andrew Roon was no other than the equerry who had undertaken + to find the—young woman." + </p> + <p> + "By Jove!" exclaimed Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "He came up here because he had reason to believe that the—er—girl + was either at Green Fancy or was headed this way. I was back here in + thirty-six hours, selling Dickens. I saw the bodies of the two men at the + county-seat, and recognised both of them, despite the fact that they had + cut off their beards. Now, they could not have been recognised, Mr. + Barnes, except by some one who had known them all his life. And that is + why I am positive that the man I am looking for is up at Green Fancy." + </p> + <p> + Barnes drew a long breath. His mind was made up. He had decided to pool + issues with the secret agent, but not until he was convinced that the + result of their co-operation would in no way inflict a hardship upon the + young woman who had appealed to him for help. He was certain that she was + the fair propagandist described by Sprouse. + </p> + <p> + "Is it your intention to lodge him in jail if you succeed in capturing + your man, Mr. Sprouse, and to apply for extradition papers?" he asked. + </p> + <p> + "I can't land him in jail unless I can prove that he has the stolen goods, + can I?" + </p> + <p> + "You could implicate him in the general conspiracy." + </p> + <p> + "That is for others to say, sir. I am only instructed to recover the + treasure." + </p> + <p> + "And the young woman, what of her? She would, in any case, be held for + examination and—" + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir, I may as well tell you now that she is a loyal subject and, + far from being in bad grace at court, is an object of extreme solicitude + to the ambassador. Up to two months ago she was in touch with him. From + what I can gather, she has disappeared completely. Roon was sent over here + for the sole purpose of finding her and inducing her to return with him to + Paris." + </p> + <p> + "And to take the treasure with her, I suppose," said Barnes drily. + </p> + <p> + "Naturally." + </p> + <p> + "Well," began Barnes, introducing a harsh note into his voice, "I should + say that if she is guilty of receiving this stolen property she ought to + be punished. Jail is the place for her, Mr. Sprouse." + </p> + <p> + Sprouse put down his coffee cup rather suddenly. A queer pallor came into + his face. His voice was low and a trifle husky when he made reply. + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry to hear you say that, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Why, may I ask?" + </p> + <p> + "Because it puts an obstacle in the way of our working together in this + matter." + </p> + <p> + "You mean that my attitude toward her is—er—not in keeping + with your ideas?" + </p> + <p> + "You do not understand the situation. Haven't I made it plain to you that + she is innocent of any intent to do wrong?" + </p> + <p> + "You have said so, Mr. Sprouse, but your idea of wrong and mine may not + jibe." + </p> + <p> + "There cannot be two ways of looking at it, sir," said Sprouse, after a + moment. "She could do no wrong." + </p> + <p> + Whereupon Barnes reached his hand across the table and laid it on + Sprouse's. His eyes were dancing. + </p> + <p> + "That's just what I want to be sure about," he said. "It was my way of + finding out your intentions concerning her." + </p> + <p> + "What do you mean?" demanded Sprouse, staring. + </p> + <p> + "Come with me to my room," said Barnes, suppressing his excitement. "I + think I can tell you where she is,—and a great deal more that you + ought to know." + </p> + <p> + In the little room upstairs, he told the whole story to Sprouse. The + little man listened without so much as a single word of interruption or + interrogation. His sharp eyes began to glisten as the story progressed, + but in no other way did he reveal the slightest sign of emotion. Somewhat + breathlessly Barnes came to the end. + </p> + <p> + "And now, Mr. Sprouse, what do you make of it all?" he inquired. + </p> + <p> + Sprouse leaned back in his chair, suddenly relaxing. "I am completely at + sea," he said, and Barnes looked at him in surprise. + </p> + <p> + "By Jove, I thought it would all be as clear as day to you. Here is your + man and also your woman, and the travelling bag full of—" + </p> + <p> + "Right you are," interrupted Sprouse. "That is all simple enough. But, my + dear Barnes, can you tell me what Mr. Secretary Loeb's real game is? Why + has he established himself so close to the Canadian line, and why the + mobilisation? I refer to his army of huskies." + </p> + <p> + "Heirs-apparent usually have some sort of a bodyguard, don't they?" + </p> + <p> + Sprouse was staring thoughtfully at the ceiling. He either did not hear + the remark or considered it unworthy of notice. When he finally lowered + his eyes, it was to favour Barnes with a deep, inscrutable smile. + </p> + <p> + "I dare say the first thing for me to do is to advise the Canadian + authorities to keep a sharp lookout along the border." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII — THE FIRST WAYFARER ACCEPTS AN INVITATION, AND MR. + DILLINGFORD BELABOURS A PROXY + </h2> + <p> + Barnes insisted that the first thing to be considered was the release of + Miss Cameron. He held forth at some length on the urgency of immediate + action. + </p> + <p> + "If we can't think of any other way to get her out of this devilish + predicament, Sprouse, I shall apply to Washington for help." + </p> + <p> + "And be laughed at, my friend," said the secret agent. "In the first + place, you couldn't give a substantial reason for government + investigation; in the second place the government wouldn't act until it + had looked very thoroughly into the case; in the third place, it would be + too late by the time the government felt satisfied to act, and in the + fourth place, it is not a matter for the government to meddle in at all." + </p> + <p> + "Well, something has to be done at once," said Barnes doggedly. "I gave + her my promise. She is depending on me. If you could have seen the light + that leaped into her glorious eyes when I—" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I know. I've heard she is quite a pretty girl. You needn't—" + </p> + <p> + "Quite a pretty girl!" exclaimed Barnes. "Why, she is the loveliest thing + that God ever created. She has the face of—" + </p> + <p> + "I am beginning to understand O'Dowd's interest in her, Mr. Barnes. Your + enthusiasm conveys a great deal to me. Apparently you are not alone in + your ecstasies." + </p> + <p> + "You mean that he is—er—What the dickens do you mean?" + </p> + <p> + "He has probably fallen in love with her with as little difficulty as you + have experienced, Mr. Barnes, and almost as expeditiously. He has seen a + little more of her than you, but—" + </p> + <p> + "Don't talk nonsense. I'm not in love with her." + </p> + <p> + "Can you speak with equal authority for Mr. O'Dowd? He is a very + susceptible Irishman, I am told. Sweethearts in a great many ports,—and + still going strong, as we say of the illustrious Johnny Walker. From all + that I have heard of her amazing beauty, I can't blame him for losing his + heart to her. I only hope he loses his head as well." + </p> + <p> + "I don't believe he will get much encouragement from her, Mr. Sprouse," + said Barnes stiffly. + </p> + <p> + "If she is as clever as I think she is, she will encourage him + tremendously. I would if I were in her place." + </p> + <p> + "Umph!" was Barnes's only retort to that. + </p> + <p> + "Is it possible that you have never had the pleasure of being transformed + into a perfect ass by the magic of a perfect woman, Mr. Barnes? You've + missed a great deal. It happened to me once, and came near to upsetting + the destinies of two great nations. Mr. O'Dowd is only human. He isn't + immune." + </p> + <p> + "I catch the point, Mr. Sprouse," said Barnes, rather gloomily. He did not + like to think of the methods that might have to be employed in the + subjugation of Mr. O'Dowd. "There is a rather important question I'd like + to ask. Is she even remotely eligible to her country's throne?" + </p> + <p> + "Remotely, yes," said Sprouse without hesitation. + </p> + <p> + Barnes waited, but nothing further was volunteered. + </p> + <p> + "So remotely that she could marry a chap like O'Dowd without giving much + thought to future complications?" he ventured. + </p> + <p> + "She'd be just as safe in marrying O'Dowd as she would be in marrying + you," was Sprouse's unsatisfactory response. The man's brow was wrinkled + in thought. "See here, Mr. Barnes, I am planning a visit to Green Fancy + to-night. How would you like to accompany me?" + </p> + <p> + "I'd like nothing better," said Barnes, with enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + "Ever been shot at?" + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + "Well, you are likely to experience the novelty if you go with me. Better + think it over." + </p> + <p> + "Don't worry about me. I'll go." + </p> + <p> + "Will you agree to obey instructions? I can't have you muddling things up, + you know." + </p> + <p> + Barnes thought for a moment. "Of course, if the opportunity offers for me + to communicate with Miss Cameron, I don't see how I—" + </p> + <p> + Sprouse cut him off sharply. He made it quite plain to the would-be + cavalier that it was not a sentimental enterprise they were to undertake, + and that he would have to govern himself accordingly. + </p> + <p> + "The grounds are carefully guarded," said Barnes, after they had discussed + the project for some time. "Miss Cameron is constantly under the watchful + eye of one or more of the crowd." + </p> + <p> + "I know. I passed a couple of them last night," said Sprouse calmly. "By + the way, don't you think it would be very polite of you to invite the + Green Fancy party over here to have an old-fashioned country dinner with + you to-night?" + </p> + <p> + "Good Lord! What are you talking about? They wouldn't dream of accepting. + Besides, I thought you wanted me to go with you." + </p> + <p> + "You could offer them diversion in the shape of a theatrical + entertainment. Your friends, the Thespians, would be only too happy to + disport themselves in return for all your—" + </p> + <p> + "It would be useless, Mr. Sprouse. They will not come." + </p> + <p> + "I am perfectly aware of that, but it won't do any harm to ask them, will + it?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes chuckled. "I see. Establishing myself as an innocent bystander, + eh?" + </p> + <p> + "Get O'Dowd on the telephone and ask him if they can come," said Sprouse. + "Incidentally, you might test his love for Miss Cameron while you are + about it." + </p> + <p> + "How?" demanded Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "By asking him to call her to the telephone. Would you be sure to + recognise her voice?" + </p> + <p> + "I'd know it in Babel," said the other with some fervour. + </p> + <p> + "Well, if she comes to the 'phone and speaks to you without restraint, we + may be reasonably certain of two things: that O'Dowd is friendly and that + he is able to fix it so that she can talk to you without being overheard + or suspected by the others. It's worth trying, in any event." + </p> + <p> + "But there is Jones to consider. The telephone is in his office. What will + he think—" + </p> + <p> + "Jones is all right," said Sprouse briefly. "Come along. You can call up + from my room." He grinned slyly. "Such a thing as tapping the wire, you + know." + </p> + <p> + Sprouse had installed a telephone in his room, carrying a wire upstairs + from an attachment made in the cellar of the Tavern. He closed the door to + his little room on the top floor. + </p> + <p> + "With the landlord's approval," he explained, pointing to the instrument, + "but unknown to the telephone company, you may be sure. Call him up about + half-past ten. O'Dowd may be up at this unholy hour, but not she. Now, I + must be off to discuss literature with Mrs. Jim Conley. I've been working + on her for two weeks. The hardest part of my job is to keep her from + subscribing for a set of Dickens. She has been on the point of signing the + contract at least a half dozen times, and I've been fearfully hard put to + head her off. Conley's house is not far from Green Fancy. Savvy?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes, left to his own devices, wandered from tap-room to porch, from + porch to forge, from forge to tap-room, his brain far more active than his + legs, his heart as heavy as lead and as light as air by turns. More than + once he felt like resorting to a well-known expedient to determine whether + he was awake or dreaming. Could all this be real? + </p> + <p> + The sky was overcast. A cold, damp wind blew out of the north. There was a + feel of rain in the air, an ugly greyness in the road that stretched its + sharply defined course through the green fields that stole timorously up + to the barren forest and stopped short, as if afraid to venture farther. + </p> + <p> + The ring of the hammer on the anvil lent cheer to the otherwise harsh and + unlovely mood that had fallen upon Nature over night. It sang a song of + defiance that even the mournful chant of sheep on the distant slopes + failed to subdue. The crowing of a belated and no doubt mortified rooster, + the barking of faraway dogs, the sighing of journeying winds, the + lugubrious whistle of Mr. Clarence Dillingford,—all of these added + something to the dreariness of the morning. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Dillingford was engaged in lustily beating a rug suspended on a + clothes line in the area back of the stables. His tune was punctuated by + stifled lapses followed almost immediately by dull, flat whacks upon the + carpet. From the end of the porch he was visible to the abstracted Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "Hi!" he shouted, brandishing his flail at the New Yorker. "Want a job?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes looked at his watch. He still had an hour and a half to wait before + he could call up O'Dowd. He strolled across the lot and joined the + perspiring comedian. + </p> + <p> + "You seem to have a personal grudge against that carpet," he said, moving + back a few yards as Dillingford laid on so manfully that the dust arose in + clouds. + </p> + <p> + "Every time I land I say: 'Take that, darn you!' And it pleases me to + imagine that with every crack Mr. Putnam Jones lets out a mighty 'Ouch!' + Now listen! Didn't that sound a little like an ouch?" Mr. Dillingford + rubbed a spot clean on the handle of the flail and pressed his lips to it. + "Good dog!" he murmured tenderly. "Bite him! (Whack!) Now, bite him again! + (Whack!) Once more! (Whack!) Good dog! Now, go lie down awhile and rest." + He tossed the flail to the ground and, mopping his brow, turned to Barnes. + "If you want a real treat, go into the cellar and take a look at Bacon. He + is churning for butter. Got a gingham apron on and thinks he's disguised. + He can't cuss because old Miss Tilly is reading the first act of a play + she wrote for Julia Marlowe seven or eight years ago. Oh, it's a great + life!" + </p> + <p> + Barnes sat down on the edge of a watering-trough and began filling his + pipe. + </p> + <p> + "You are not obliged to do this sort of work, Dillingford," he said. "It + would give me pleasure to stake—" + </p> + <p> + "Nix," said Mr. Dillingford cheerily. "Some other time I may need help + more than I do now. I'm getting three square meals and plenty of fresh air + to sleep in at present, and work doesn't hurt me physically. It DOES hurt + my pride, but that's soon mended. Have you seen the old man this morning?" + </p> + <p> + "Rushcroft? No." + </p> + <p> + "Well, we're to be on our way next week, completely reorganised, + rejuvenated and resplendent. Fixed it all up last night. Tommy Gray was + down here with two weeks' salary as chauffeur and a little extra he picked + up playing poker in the garage with the rubes. Thirty-seven dollars in + real money. He has decided to buy a quarter interest in the company and + act as manager. Everything looks rosy. You are to have a half interest and + the old man the remaining quarter. He telegraphed last night for four + top-notch people to join us at Crowndale on Tuesday the twenty-third. We + open that night in 'The Duke's Revenge,' our best piece. It's the only + play we've got that provides me with a part in which I have a chance to + show what I can really do. As soon as I get through spanking this carpet + I'll run upstairs and get a lot of clippings to show you how big a hit + I've made in the part. In one town I got better notices than the star + himself, and seldom did I—" + </p> + <p> + "Where is Crowndale?" interrupted Barnes, a slight frown appearing on his + brow. He had a distinct feeling that there was handwriting on the wall and + that it was put there purposely for him to read. + </p> + <p> + "About five hours' walk from Hornville," said Dillingford, grinning. + "Twenty-five cents by train. We merely resume a tour interrupted by the + serious illness of Mr. Rushcroft. Rather than impose upon our audiences by + inflicting them with an understudy, the popular star temporarily abandons + his tour. We ought to sell out in Crowndale, top to bottom." + </p> + <p> + The amazing optimism of Mr. Dillingford had its effect on Barnes. Somehow + the day grew brighter, the skies less drear, a subtle warmth crept into + the air. + </p> + <p> + "You may count on me, Dillingford, to put up my half interest in the show. + I will have a fling at it a couple of weeks anyhow. If it doesn't pan out + in that time,—well, we can always close, can't we?" + </p> + <p> + "We certainly can," said the other, with conviction. "It wouldn't surprise + me in the least, however, to see you clean up a very tidy bit of money, + Mr. Barnes. Our season ordinarily closes toward the end of June, but the + chances are we'll stay out all summer if things go right. Congratulations! + Glad to see you in the profession." He shook hands with the new partner. + "Keep your seat! Don't move. I'll shift a little so's the wind won't blow + the dust in your eyes." He obligingly did so and fell upon the carpet with + renewed vigour. + </p> + <p> + Barnes was restless. He chatted with the rug-beater for a few minutes and + then sauntered away. Miss Thackeray was starting off for a walk as he came + around to the front of the Tavern. She wore a rather shabby tailor-suit of + blue serge, several seasons out of fashion, and a black sailor hat. Her + smile was bright and friendly as she turned in response to his call. As he + drew near he discovered that her lips were a vivid, startling red, her + eyes elaborately made up, and her cheeks the colour of bismuth. She was + returning to form, thought he, in some dismay. + </p> + <p> + "Where away?" he inquired. + </p> + <p> + "Seeking solitude," she replied. "I've got to learn a new part in an old + play." She flourished the script airily. "I have just accepted an + engagement as leading lady." + </p> + <p> + "Splendid! I am delighted. With John Drew, I hope." + </p> + <p> + "Nothing like that," she said loftily. Then her wide mouth spread into a + good-natured grin, revealing the even rows of teeth that were her + particular charm. "I am going out with the great Lyndon Rushcroft." + </p> + <p> + "Good! As one of the proprietors, I am glad to see you on our—er—programme, + Miss Thackeray." + </p> + <p> + "Programme is good," she mused. "I've been on a whole lot of programmes + during my brief career. What I want to get on some time, if possible, is a + pay-roll. Wait! Don't say it! I was only trying to be funny; I didn't know + how it would sound or I wouldn't have said anything so stupid. You've done + more than enough for us, Mr. Barnes. Don't let yourself in for anything + more. This thing will turn out like all the rest of our efforts. We'll + collapse again with a loud report, but we're used to it and you're not." + </p> + <p> + "But I'm only letting myself in for a couple of hundred," he protested. "I + can stand that much of a loss without squirming." + </p> + <p> + "You know your own business," she said shortly, almost ungraciously. "I'm + only giving you a little advice." + </p> + <p> + "Advice is something I always ignore," he said, smiling. "Experience is my + teacher." + </p> + <p> + "Advice is cheaper than experience, and a whole lot easier to forget," she + said. "My grandfather advised my father to stay in the hardware business + out in Indiana. That was thirty years ago. And here we are to-day," she + concluded, with a wide sweep of her hand that took in the forlorn + landscape. She said more in that expressive gesture than the most + accomplished orator could have put into words in a week. + </p> + <p> + "But there is always a to-morrow, you know." + </p> + <p> + "There may be a to-morrow for me, but there are nothing but yesterdays + left for dad. All of his to-morrows will be just like his yesterdays. They + will be just as empty of success, just as full of failure. There's no use + mincing matters. We never have had a chance to go broke for the simple + reason that we've never been anything else. He has been starring for + fifteen years, hitting the tanks from one end of the country to the other. + And for just that length of time he has been mooning. There's a lot of + difference between starring and mooning." + </p> + <p> + "He may go down somewhat regularly, Miss Thackeray, but he always comes up + again. That's what I admire in him. He will not stay down." + </p> + <p> + Her eyes brightened. "He is rather a brick, isn't he?" + </p> + <p> + "Rather! And so are you, if I may say so. You have stuck to him through + all—" + </p> + <p> + "Nothing bricky about me," she scoffed. "I am doing it because I can't, + for the life of me, get rid of the notion that I can act. God knows I + can't, and so does father, and the critics, and every one in the + profession, but I think I can,—so what does it all amount to? Now, + that will be enough about me. As for you, Mr. Barnes, if you have made up + your mind to be foolish, far be it from me to head you off. You will drop + considerably more than a couple of hundred, let me tell you, and—but, + as I said before, that is your business. I must be off now. It's a long + part and I'm slow study. So long,—and thanks!" + </p> + <p> + He sat down on the Tavern steps and watched her as she swung off down the + road. To his utter amazement, when she reached a point several hundred + yards below the Tavern, she left the highway and, gathering up her skirts, + climbed over the fence into the narrow meadow-land that formed a frontage + at the bottom of the Curtis estate. A few minutes later she disappeared + among the trees at the base of the mountain, going in the direction of + Green Fancy. He had followed her with his gaze all the way across that + narrow strip of pasture. When she came to the edge of the forest, she + stopped and looked back at the Tavern. Seeing him still on the steps, she + waved her hand at him. Then she was gone. + </p> + <p> + "Where ignorance is bliss," he muttered to himself, and then looked at his + watch. Ten minutes later he was in Sprouse's room, calling for Green Fancy + over an extension wire that had cost the company nothing and yielded + nothing in return. After some delay, O'Dowd's mellow voice sang out: + </p> + <p> + "Hello! How are you this morning?" + </p> + <p> + "Grievously lonesome," replied Barnes, and wound up a doleful account of + himself by imploring O'Dowd to save his life by bringing the entire Green + Fancy party over to dinner that night. + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd was heart-broken. Personally he would go to any extreme to save so + valuable a life, but as for the rest of the party, they begged him to say + they were sorry to hear of the expected death of so promising a chap and + that, while they couldn't come to his party, they would be delighted to + come to his funeral. In short, it would be impossible for them to accept + his kind invitation. The Irishman was so gay and good-humoured that Barnes + took hope. + </p> + <p> + "By the way, O'Dowd, I'd like to speak with Miss Cameron if she can come + to the telephone." + </p> + <p> + There was a moment of silence. Then: "Call up at twelve o'clock and ask + for me. Good-bye." + </p> + <p> + Promptly on the stroke of twelve Barnes took down the receiver and called + for Green Fancy. O'Dowd answered almost immediately. + </p> + <p> + "I warned you last night, Barnes," he said without preamble. "I told you + to keep out of this. You may not understand the situation and I cannot + enlighten you, but I will say this much: no harm can come to her while I'm + here and alive." + </p> + <p> + "Can't she come to the telephone?" + </p> + <p> + "Won't ye take my word for it? I swear by all that's holy that she'll be + safe while I've—" + </p> + <p> + Barnes was cautious. This might be the clever O'Dowd's way of trapping him + into serious admissions. + </p> + <p> + "I don't know what the deuce you are talking about, O'Dowd," he + interrupted. + </p> + <p> + "You lie, Barnes," said the other promptly. "Miss Cameron is here at my + elbow. Will you have her tell you that you lie?" + </p> + <p> + "Let her say anything she likes," said Barnes quickly. + </p> + <p> + "Don't be surprised if you are cut off suddenly. The coast is clear for + the moment, but—Here, Miss Cameron. Careful, now." + </p> + <p> + Her voice, soft and clear and trembling with eagerness caressed Barnes's + eager ear. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. O'Dowd will see that no evil befalls me here, but he refuses to help + me to get away. I quite understand and appreciate his position. I cannot + ask him to go so far as that. Help will have to come from the outside. It + will be dangerous—terribly dangerous, I fear. I have no right to ask + you to take the risk—" + </p> + <p> + "Wait! Is O'Dowd there?" + </p> + <p> + "He has left the room. He does not want to hear what I say to you. Don't + you understand?" + </p> + <p> + "Keeping his conscience clear, bless his soul," said Barnes. "It is safe + for you to speak freely?" + </p> + <p> + "I think so. O'Dowd suspected us last night. He came to me this morning + and spoke very frankly about it. I feel quite safe with him. You see, I've + known him for a long, long time. He did not know that I was to be led into + a trap like this. It was not until I had been here for several hours that + he realised the true state of affairs. I cannot tell you any more at + present, Mr. Barnes. So great are the other issues at stake that my own + misfortunes are as nothing." + </p> + <p> + "You say O'Dowd will not assist you to escape?" + </p> + <p> + "He urges me to stay here and take my chances. He believes that everything + will turn out well for me in the end, but I am frightened. I must get away + from this place." + </p> + <p> + "I'll manage it, never fear. Keep a stiff upper lip." + </p> + <p> + "Wha—keep a what?" + </p> + <p> + He laughed. "I forgot that you don't understand our language, Miss + Cameron. Have courage, is what I should have said. Are you prepared to fly + at a moment's notice?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + "Then, keep your eyes and ears open for the next night or two. Can you + tell me where your room is located?" + </p> + <p> + "It is one flight up; the first of the two windows in my room is the third + to the right of the entrance. I am confident that some one is stationed + below my windows all night long." + </p> + <p> + "Are you alone in that room?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Van Dyke occupy the rooms on my left, Mr. De Soto is on + my right." + </p> + <p> + "Where does Loeb sleep?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not know." He detected a new note in her voice, and at once put it + down to fear. + </p> + <p> + "You still insist that I am not to call on the authorities for help?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes! That must not even be considered. I have not only myself to + consider, Mr. Barnes. I am a very small atom in—" + </p> + <p> + "All right! We'll get along without them," he said cheerily. "Afterwards + we will discuss the importance of atoms." + </p> + <p> + "And your reward as well, Mr. Barnes," she said. Her voice trailed off + into an indistinct murmur. He heard the receiver click on the hook, and, + after calling "hello" twice, hung up his own with a sigh. Evidently O'Dowd + had warned her of the approach of a less considerate person than himself. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII — THE SECOND WAYFARER RECEIVES TWO VISITORS AT MIDNIGHT + </h2> + <p> + The hour for the midday dinner approached and there was no sign of Miss + Thackeray's return from the woods. Barnes sat for two exasperating hours + on the porch and listened to the confident, flamboyant oratory of Mr. + Lyndon Rushcroft. His gaze constantly swept the line of trees, and there + were times when he failed to hear a word in whole sentences that rolled + from the lips of the actor. He was beginning to feel acutely uneasy, when + suddenly her figure issued from the woods at a point just above the + Tavern. Instead of striking out at once across the meadow, she stopped and + for as long as three or four minutes appeared to be carrying on a + conversation with some invisible person among the trees she had just left + behind. Then she waved her hand and turned her steps homeward. A bent old + man came out of the woods and stood watching her progress across the open + stretch. She had less than two hundred yards to traverse between the woods + and the fence opposite the Tavern. The old man remained where he was until + she reached the fence and prepared to mount it. Then, as Barnes ran down + from the porch and across the road to assist her over the fence, he + whirled about and disappeared. + </p> + <p> + "Aha," said Barnes chidingly: "politely escorted from the grounds, I see. + If you had asked me I could have told you that trespassers are not + welcome." + </p> + <p> + "He is a nice old man. I chatted with him for nearly an hour. His business + is to shoo gipsy moths away from the trees, or something like that, and + not to shoo nice, tender young ladies off the place." + </p> + <p> + "Does he speak English?" + </p> + <p> + "Not a word. He speaks nothing but the most awful American I've ever + heard. He has lived up there on the mountain for sixty-nine years, and he + has eleven grown children, nineteen grandchildren and one wife. I'm + hungry." + </p> + <p> + The coroner's inquest over the bodies of Roon and Paul was held that + afternoon at St. Elizabeth. Witnesses from Hart's Tavern were among those + to testify. The verdict was "Murder at the hands of parties unknown." + </p> + <p> + Sprouse did not appear at the Tavern until long after nightfall. His + protracted absence was the source of grave uneasiness to Barnes, who, + having been summoned to St. Elizabeth, returned at six o'clock primed and + eager for the night's adventure. + </p> + <p> + The secret agent listened somewhat indifferently to the latter's account + of his telephonic experiences. At nine o'clock he yawned prodigiously and + announced that he was going to bed, much to the disgust of Mr. Rushcroft + and greatly to the surprise of Mr. Barnes, who followed him from the + tap-room and demanded an explanation. + </p> + <p> + "People usually go to bed at night, don't they?" said Sprouse patiently. + "It is expected, I believe." + </p> + <p> + "But, my dear man, we are to undertake—" + </p> + <p> + "There is no reason why we shouldn't go to bed like sensible beings, Mr. + Barnes, and get up again when we feel like it, is there? I have some cause + for believing that one of those chaps in there is from Green Fancy. Go to + bed at ten o'clock, my friend, and put out your light. I don't insist on + your taking off your clothes, however. I will rap on your door at eleven + o'clock. By the way, don't forget to stick your revolver in your pocket." + </p> + <p> + A few minutes before eleven there came a gentle tapping on Barnes's door. + He sprang to his feet and opened it, presenting himself before Sprouse + fully dressed and, as the secret agent said later on, "fit to kill." + </p> + <p> + They went quietly down a back stairway and let themselves out into the + stable-yard. A light, cold drizzle greeted them as they left the lee of + the building. + </p> + <p> + "A fine night for treason, stratagems and spoils," said Sprouse, speaking + barely above a whisper. "Follow me and don't ask questions. You will have + to talk if you do, and talking is barred for the present." + </p> + <p> + He stopped at the corner of the inn and listened for a moment. Then he + darted across the road and turned to the left in the ditch that bordered + it. The night was as black as pitch. Barnes, trusting to the little man's + eyes, and hanging close upon his coat-tails, followed blindly but + gallantly in the tracks of the leader. It seemed to him that they stumbled + along parallel to the road for miles before Sprouse came to a halt. + </p> + <p> + "Climb over the fence here, and stick close to me. Are you getting your + cats'-eyes?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I can see pretty well now. But, great scot, why should we walk half + way to the North Pole, Sprouse, before—" + </p> + <p> + "We haven't come more than half a mile. The Curtis land ends here. We stay + close to this fence till we reach the woods. I was in here to-day taking + observations." + </p> + <p> + "You were?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. Didn't that actress friend of yours mention meeting me?" + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + "I told her distinctly that I had eleven children, nineteen—" + </p> + <p> + "By Jove, was that you?" gasped Barnes, falling in beside him. + </p> + <p> + "If it were light enough you could see a sign on my back which says in + large type, 'Silence,'" said the other, and after that not a word passed + between them for half an hour or more. Then it was Sprouse who spoke. + "This is the short cut to Green Fancy," he whispered, laying his hand on + Barnes's arm. "We save four or five miles, coming this way. Do you know + where we are?" + </p> + <p> + "I haven't the remotest idea." + </p> + <p> + "About a quarter of a mile below Curtis's house. Are you all right?" + </p> + <p> + "Fine as a fiddle, except for a barked knee, a skinned elbow, a couple of + more or less busted ribs, something on my cheek that runs hot,—yes, + I'm all right." + </p> + <p> + "Pretty tough going," said Sprouse, sympathetically. + </p> + <p> + "I've banged into more trees than—" + </p> + <p> + "Sh!" After a moment of silence, intensified by the mournful squawk of + night-birds and the chorus of katydids, Sprouse whispered: "Did you hear + that?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes thrilled. This was real melodrama. "Hear what?" he whispered + shrilly. + </p> + <p> + "Listen!" After a second or two: "There!" + </p> + <p> + "It's a woodpecker hammering on the limb of a—" + </p> + <p> + "Woodpeckers don't hammer at midnight, my lad. Don't stir! Keep your ears + open." + </p> + <p> + "You bet they're open all right," whispered Barnes, his nerves aquiver. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the sharp tattoo sounded so close to the spot where they were + standing that Barnes caught his breath and with difficulty suppressed an + exclamation. It was like the irregular rattle of sticks on the rim of a + snare-drum. The tapping ceased and a moment later a similar sound, barely + audible, came out of the distance. + </p> + <p> + Sprouse clutched his companion's arm and, dropping to his knees in the + thick underbrush, pulled the other down after him. + </p> + <p> + Presently heavy footsteps approached. An unseen pedestrian passed within + ten yards of them. They scarcely breathed until the sounds passed entirely + out of hearing. Sprouse put his lips close to Barnes's ear. + </p> + <p> + "Telegraph," he whispered. "It's a system they have of reporting to each + other. There are two men patrolling the grounds near the house. You see + what we're up against, Barnes. Do you still want to go on with it? If you + are going to funk it, say so, and I'll go alone." + </p> + <p> + "I'll stay by you," replied Barnes sturdily. + </p> + <p> + "In about ten minutes that fellow will come back this way. He follows the + little path that winds down—but never mind. Stay where you are, and + don't make a sound, no matter what happens. Understand? No matter what + happens!" He arose and swiftly, noiselessly, stole away from his + companion's side. Barnes, his eyes accustomed to the night, either saw or + imagined that he saw, the shadowy hulk press forward for a dozen paces and + then apparently dissolve in black air. + </p> + <p> + Several minutes went by. There was not a sound save the restless patter of + rain in the tree tops. At last the faraway thud of footsteps came to the + ears of the tense listener. They drew nearer, louder, and once more seemed + to be approaching the very spot where he crouched. He had the uncanny + feeling that in a moment or two more the foot of the sentinel would come + in contact with his rigid body, and that he would not have the power to + suppress the yell of dismay that— + </p> + <p> + Then came the sound of a dull, heavy blow, a hoarse gasp, a momentary + commotion in the shrubbery, and—again silence. Barnes's blood ran + cold. He waited for the next footfall of the passing man. It never came. + </p> + <p> + A sharp whisper reached his ears. "Come here—quick!" + </p> + <p> + He floundered through the brush and almost fell prostrate over the + kneeling figure of a man. + </p> + <p> + "Take care! Lend a hand," whispered Sprouse. + </p> + <p> + Dropping to his knees, Barnes felt for and touched wet, coarse garments, + and gasped: + </p> + <p> + "My God! Have you—killed him?" + </p> + <p> + "Temporarily," said Sprouse, between his teeth. "Here, unwind the rope + I've got around my waist. Take the end—here. Got a knife? Cut off a + section about three feet long. I'll get the gag in his mouth while you're + doing it. Hangmen always carry their own ropes," he concluded, with + grewsome humour. "Got it cut? Well, cut two more sections, same length." + </p> + <p> + With incredible swiftness the two of them bound the feet, knees and arms + of the inert victim. + </p> + <p> + "I came prepared," said Sprouse, so calmly that Barnes marvelled at the + iron nerve of the man. + </p> + <p> + "Thirty feet of hemp clothes-line for a belt, properly prepared gags,—and + a sound silencer." + </p> + <p> + "By heaven, Sprouse, I—I believe he's dead," groaned Barnes. "We—we + haven't any right to kill a—" + </p> + <p> + "He'll be as much alive but not as lively as a cricket in ten minutes," + said the other. "Grab his heels. We'll chuck him over into the bushes + where he'll be out of harm's way. We may have to run like hell down this + path, partner, and I'd—I'd hate to step on his face." + </p> + <p> + "'Gad, you're a cold-blooded—" + </p> + <p> + "Don't be finicky," snapped Sprouse. "It wasn't much of a crack, and it + was necessary. There! You're safe for the time being," he grunted as they + laid the limp body down in the brush at the side of the narrow trail. + Straightening up, with a sigh of satisfaction, he laid his hand on + Barnes's shoulder. "We've just got to go through with it now, Barnes. + We'll never get another chance. Putting that fellow out of business queers + us forever afterward." He dropped to his knees and began searching over + the ground with his hands. "Here it is. You can't see it, of course, so + I'll tell you what it is. A nice little block of sandal-wood. I've already + got his nice little hammer, so we'll see what we can raise in the way of + wireless chit-chat." + </p> + <p> + Without the slightest hesitation, he struck a succession of quick, + confident blows upon the block of wood. + </p> + <p> + "He always signals at this spot going out and again coming in," he said + softly. + </p> + <p> + "How the deuce did you find out—" + </p> + <p> + "There! Hear that? He says, 'All's well,'—same as I said, or + something equivalent to it. I've been up here quite a bit, Barnes, making + a study of night-hawks, their habits and their language." + </p> + <p> + "By gad, you are a wonder!" + </p> + <p> + "Wait till to-morrow before you say that," replied Sprouse, sententiously. + "Come along now. Stick to the trail. We've got to land the other one." For + five or six minutes they moved forward. Barnes, following instructions, + trod heavily and without any attempt at caution. His companion, on the + other hand, moved with incredible stealthiness. A listener would have said + that but one man walked on that lonely trail. + </p> + <p> + Turning sharply to the right, Sprouse guided his companion through the + brush for some distance, and once more came to a halt. Again he stole on + ahead, and, as before, the slow, confident, even careless progress of a + man ceased as abruptly as that of the comrade who lay helpless in the + thicket below. + </p> + <p> + "There are others, no doubt, but they patrol the outposts, so to speak," + panted Sprouse as they bound and trussed the second victim. "We haven't + much to fear from them. Come on. We are within a hundred feet of the + house. Softly now, or—" + </p> + <p> + Barnes laid a firm, detaining hand on the man's shoulder. + </p> + <p> + "See here, Sprouse," he whispered, "it's all very well for you, knocking + men over like this, but just what is your object? What does all this lead + up to? We can't go on forever slugging and binding these fellows. There is + a house full of them up there. What do we gain by putting a few men out of + business?" + </p> + <p> + Sprouse broke in, and there was not the slightest trace of emotion in his + whisper. + </p> + <p> + "Quite right. You ought to know. I suppose you thought I was bringing you + up here for a Romeo and Juliet tete-a-tete with the beautiful Miss + Cameron,—and for nothing else. Well, in a way, you are right. But, + first of all, my business is to recover the crown jewels and parchments. I + am going into that house and take them away from the man you know as Loeb,—if + he has them. If he hasn't them, my work here is a failure." + </p> + <p> + "Going into the house?" gasped Barnes. "Why, my God, man, that is + impossible. You cannot get into the house, and if you did, you'd never + come out alive. You would be shot down as an ordinary burglar and—the + law would justify them for killing you. I must insist—" + </p> + <p> + "I am not asking you to go into the house, my friend. I shall go alone," + said Sprouse coolly. + </p> + <p> + "On the other hand, I came up here to rescue a helpless,—" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, we will attend to that also," said Sprouse. "The treasure comes + first, however. Has it not occurred to you that she will refuse to be + rescued unless the jewels can be brought away with her? She would die + before she would leave them behind. No, Barnes, I must get the booty + first, then the beauty." + </p> + <p> + "But you can do nothing without her advice and assistance," protested + Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "That is just why I brought you along with me. She does not know me. She + would not trust me. You are to introduce me." + </p> + <p> + "Well, by gad, you've got a nerve!" + </p> + <p> + "Keep cool! It's the only way. Now, listen. She has designated her room + and the windows that are hers. She is lying awake up there now, take it + from me, hoping that you will come to-night. Do you understand? If not + to-night, to-morrow night. I shall lead you directly to her window. And + then comes the only chance we take,—the only instance where we + gamble. There will not be a light in her window, but that won't make any + difference. This nobby cane I'm carrying is in reality a collapsible + fishing-rod. Bought it to-day in anticipation of some good fishing. First, + we use it to tap gently on her window ledge, or shade, or whatever we + find. Then, you pass up a little note to her. Here is paper and pencil. + Say that you are below her window and—all ready to take her away. + Say that the guards have been disposed of, and that the coast is clear. + Tell her to lower her valuables, some clothes, et cetera, from the window + by means of the rope we'll pass up on the pole. There is a remote + possibility that she may have the jewels in her room. For certain reasons + they may have permitted her to retain them. If such is the case, our work + is easy. If they have taken them away from her, she'll say so, some way or + another,—and she will not leave! Now, I've had a good look at the + front of that house. It is covered with a lattice work and huge vines. I + can shin up like a squirrel and go through her room to the—" + </p> + <p> + "Are you crazy, Sprouse?" + </p> + <p> + "I am the sanest person you've ever met, Mr. Barnes. The chance we take is + that she may not be alone in the room. But, nothing risked, nothing + gained." + </p> + <p> + "You take your life in your hands and—" + </p> + <p> + "Don't worry about that, my lad." + </p> + <p> + "—and you also place Miss Cameron in even graver peril than—" + </p> + <p> + "See here," said Sprouse shortly, "I am not risking my life for the fun of + the thing. I am risking it for her, bear that in mind,—for her and + her people. And if I am killed, they won't even say 'Well-done, good and + faithful servant.' So, let's not argue the point. Are you going to stand + by me or—back out?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes was shamed. "I'll stand by you," he said, and they stole forward. + </p> + <p> + The utmost caution was observed in the approach to the house through the + thin, winding paths that Barnes remembered from an earlier visit. They + crept on all fours over the last fifty feet that intervened, and each held + a revolver in readiness for a surprise attack. + </p> + <p> + There were no lights visible. The house was even darker than the night + itself; it was vaguely outlined by a deeper shade of black. The ground + being wet, the carpet of dead leaves gave out no rustling sound as the two + men crept nearer and nearer to the top-heavy shadow that seemed ready to + lurch forward and swallow them whole. + </p> + <p> + At last they were within a few yards of the entrance and at the edge of a + small space that had been cleared of shrubbery. Here Sprouse stopped and + began to adjust the sections of his fishing-rod. + </p> + <p> + "Write," he whispered. "There is a faint glow of light up there to the + right. The third window, did you say? Well, that's about where I should + locate it. She has opened the window shutters. The light comes into the + room through the transom over the door, I would say. There is probably a + light in the hall outside." + </p> + <p> + A few minutes later, they crept across the open space and huddled against + the vine-covered facade of Green Fancy. Barnes was singularly composed and + free from nervousness, despite the fact that his whole being tingled with + excitement. What was to transpire within the next few minutes? What was to + be the end of this daring exploit? Was he to see her, to touch her hand, + to carry her off into that dungeon-like forest,—and what was this + new, exquisite thrill that ran through his veins? + </p> + <p> + The tiny, metallic tip of the rod, held in the upstretched hand of Barnes, + much the taller of the two men, barely reached the window ledge. He tapped + gently, persistently on the hard surface. Obeying the hand-pressure of his + companion he desisted at intervals, resuming the operation after a moment + of waiting. Just as they were beginning to think that she was asleep and + that their efforts were in vain, their straining eyes made out a shadowy + object projecting slightly beyond the sill. Barnes felt Sprouse's grip on + his shoulder tighten, and the quick intake of his breath was evidence of + the little secret agent's relief. + </p> + <p> + After a moment or two of suspense, Barnes experienced a peculiar, almost + electric shock. Some one had seized the tip of the rod; it stiffened + suddenly, the vibrations due to its flexibility ceasing. He felt a gentle + tugging and wrenching; down the slender rod ran a delicate shiver that + seemed almost magnetic as it was communicated to his hand. He knew what + was happening. Some one was untying the bit of paper he had fastened to + the rod, and with fingers that shook and were clumsy with eagerness. + </p> + <p> + The tension relaxed a moment later; the rod was free, and the shadowy + object was gone from the window above. She had withdrawn to the far side + of the room for the purpose of reading the message so marvellously + delivered out of the night. He fancied her mounting a chair so that she + could read by the dim light from the transom. + </p> + <p> + He had written: "I am outside with a trusted friend, ready to do your + bidding. Two of the guards are safely bound and out of the way. Now is our + chance. We will never have another. If you are prepared to come with me + now, write me a word or two and drop it to the ground. I will pass up a + rope to you and you may lower anything you wish to carry away with you. + But be exceedingly careful. Take time. Don't hurry a single one of your + movements." He signed it with a large B. + </p> + <p> + It seemed an hour before their eyes distinguished the shadowy head above. + As a matter of fact, but a few minutes had passed. During the wait, + Sprouse had noiselessly removed his coat, a proceeding that puzzled + Barnes. Something light fell to the ground. It was Sprouse who stooped and + searched for it in the grass. When he resumed an upright posture, he put + his lips close to Barnes's ear and whispered: + </p> + <p> + "I will put my coat over your head. Here is a little electric torch. Don't + flash it until I am sure the coat is arranged so that you can do so + without a gleam of light getting out from under." He pressed the torch and + a bit of closely folded paper in the other's hand, and carefully draped + the coat over his head. Barnes was once more filled with admiration for + the little man's amazing resourcefulness. + </p> + <p> + He read: "Thank God! I was afraid you would wait until to-morrow night. + Then it would have been too late. I must get away to-night but I cannot + leave—I dare not leave without something that is concealed in + another part of the house. I do not know how to secure it. My door is + locked from the outside. What am I to do? I would rather die than to go + away without it." + </p> + <p> + Barnes whispered in Sprouse's ear. The latter replied at once: "Write her + that I will climb up to her window, and, with God's help and her + directions, manage to find the thing she wants." + </p> + <p> + Barnes wrote as directed and passed the missive aloft. In a little while a + reply came down. Resorting to the previous expedient, he read: + </p> + <p> + "It is impossible. The study is under bolt and key and no one can enter. I + do not know what I am to do. I dare not stay here and I dare not go. Leave + me to my fate. Do not run any further risk. I cannot allow you to endanger + your life for me. I shall never forget you, and I shall always be + grateful. You are a noble gentleman and I a foolish, stupid—oh, such + a stupid!—girl." + </p> + <p> + That was enough for Barnes. It needed but that discouraging cry to rouse + his fighting spirit to a pitch that bordered on recklessness. His courage + took fire, and blazed up in one mighty flame. Nothing,—nothing could + stop him now. + </p> + <p> + Hastily he wrote: "If you do not come at once, we will force our way into + the house and fight it out with them all. My friend is coming up the + vines. Let him enter the window. Tell him where to go and he will do the + rest. He is a miracle man. Nothing is impossible to him. If he does not + return in ten minutes, I shall follow." + </p> + <p> + There was no response to this. The head reappeared in the window, but no + word came down. + </p> + <p> + Sprouse whispered: "I am going up. She will not commit you to anything. We + have to take the matter into our own hands. Stay here. If you hear a + commotion in the house, run for it. Don't wait for me. I'll probably be + done for." + </p> + <p> + "I'll do just as I damn please about running," said Barnes, and there was + a deep thrill in his whisper. "Good luck. God help you if they catch you." + </p> + <p> + "Not even He could help me then. Good-bye. I'll do what I can to induce + her to drop out of the window if anything goes wrong with me down stairs." + </p> + <p> + He searched among the leaves and found the thick vine. A moment later he + was silently scaling the wall of the house, feeling his way carefully, + testing every precarious foothold, dragging himself painfully upwards by + means of the most uncanny, animal-like strength and stealth. + </p> + <p> + Barnes could not recall drawing a single breath from the instant the man + left his side until the faintly luminous square above his head was + obliterated by the black of his body as it wriggled over the ledge. + </p> + <p> + He was never to forget the almost interminable age that he spent, + flattened against the vines, waiting for a signal from aloft. He recalled, + with dire uneasiness, Miss Cameron's statement that a guard was stationed + beneath her window throughout the night. Evidently she was mistaken. + Sprouse would not have overlooked a peril like that, and yet as he + crouched there, scarcely breathing, he wondered how long it would be + before the missing guard returned to his post and he would be compelled to + fight for his life. The fine, cold rain fell gently about him; moist + tendrils and leaves caressed his face; owls hooted with ghastly vehemence, + as if determined to awaken all the sleepers for miles around; and frogs + chattered loudly in gleeful anticipation of the frenzied dash he would + have to make through the black maze. + </p> + <p> + We will follow Sprouse. When he crawled through the window and stood erect + inside the room, he found himself confronted by a tall, shadowy figure, + standing half way between him and the door. + </p> + <p> + He advanced a step or two and uttered a soft hiss of warning. + </p> + <p> + "Not a sound," he whispered, drawing still nearer. "I have come four + thousand miles to help you, Countess. This is not the time or place to + explain. We haven't a moment to waste. I need only say that I have been + sent from Paris by persons you know to aid you in delivering the crown + jewels into the custody of your country's minister in Paris. Nothing more + need be said now. We must act swiftly. Tell me where they are. I will get + them." + </p> + <p> + "Who are you?" she whispered tensely. + </p> + <p> + "My name is Theodore Sprouse. I have been loaned to your embassy by my own + government." + </p> + <p> + "How did you learn that I was here?" + </p> + <p> + "I beg of you do not ask questions now. Tell me where the Prince sleeps, + how I may get to his room—" + </p> + <p> + "You know that he is the Prince?" + </p> + <p> + "For a certainty. And that you are his cousin." + </p> + <p> + She laid her hand upon his arm. "And you know that he plans evil to—to + his people? That he is in sympathy with the—with the country that + has despoiled us?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + She was silent for a moment. "Not only is it impossible for you to enter + his room but it is equally impossible for you to get out of this one + except by the way you entered. If I thought there was the slightest chance + for you to—" + </p> + <p> + "Let me be the judge of that, Countess. Where is his room?" + </p> + <p> + "The last to the right as you leave this door,—at the extreme end of + the corridor. There are four doors between mine and his. Across the hall + from his room you will see an open door. A man sits in there all night + long, keeping watch. You could not approach Prince Ugo's door without + being seen by that watcher." + </p> + <p> + "You said in your note to Barnes that the—er—something was in + Curtis's study." + </p> + <p> + "The Prince sleeps in Mr. Curtis's room. The study adjoins it, and can + only be entered from the bed-room. There is no other door. What are you + doing?" + </p> + <p> + "I am going to take a peep over the transom, first of all. If the coast is + clear, I shall take a little stroll down the hall. Do not be alarmed. I + will come back,—with the things we both want. Pardon me." He sat + down on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes. She watched him as if + fascinated while he opened the bosom of his soft shirt and stuffed the wet + shoes inside. + </p> + <p> + "How did you dispose of the man who watches below my window?" she + inquired, drawing near. "He has been there for the past three nights. I + missed him to-night." + </p> + <p> + "Wasn't he there earlier in the evening?" demanded Sprouse quickly. + </p> + <p> + "I have been in my room since eleven. He seldom comes on duty before that + hour." + </p> + <p> + "I had it figured out that he was one of the men we got down in the woods. + If I have miscalculated—well, poor Barnes may be in for a bad time. + We are quite safe up here for the time being. The fellow will assume that + Barnes is alone and that he comes to pay his respects to you in a rather + romantic manner." + </p> + <p> + "You must warn Mr. Barnes. He—" + </p> + <p> + "May I not leave that to you, Countess? I shall be very busy for the next + few minutes, and if you will—Be careful! A slip now would be fatal. + Don't be hasty." His whispering was sharp and imperative. It was a command + that he uttered, and she shrank back in surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Pray do not presume to address me in—" + </p> + <p> + "I crave your pardon, my lady," he murmured abjectly. "You are not dressed + for flight. May I suggest that while I am outside you slip on a dark skirt + and coat? You cannot go far in that dressing-gown. It would be in shreds + before you had gone a hundred feet through the brush. If I do not return + to this room inside of fifteen minutes, or if you hear sounds of a + struggle, crawl through the window and go down the vines. Barnes will look + out for you." + </p> + <p> + "You must not fail, Theodore Sprouse," she whispered. "I must regain the + jewels and the state papers. I cannot go without—" + </p> + <p> + "I shall do my best," he said simply. Silently he drew a chair to the + door, mounted it and, drawing himself up by his hands, poked his head + through the open transom. An instant later he was on the floor again. She + heard him inserting a key in the lock. Almost before she could realise + that it had actually happened, the door opened slowly, cautiously, and his + thin wiry figure slid through what seemed to her no more than a crack. As + softly the door was closed. + </p> + <p> + For a long time she stood, dazed and unbelieving, in the centre of the + room, staring at the door. She held her breath, listening for the shout + that was so sure to come—and the shot, perhaps! A prayer formed on + her lips and went voicelessly up to God. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly she roused herself from the stupefaction that held her, and threw + off the slinky peignoir. With feverish haste she snatched up garments from + the chair on which she had carefully placed them in anticipation of the + emergency that now presented itself. A blouse (which she neglected to + button), a short skirt of some dark material, a jacket, and a pair of + stout walking shoes (which she failed to lace), completed the swift + transformation. She felt the pockets of skirt and jacket, assuring herself + that her purse and her own personal jewelry were where she had + forehandedly placed them. As she glided to the window, she jammed the pins + into a small black hat of felt. Then she peered over the ledge. She + started back, stifling a cry with her hand. A man's head had almost come + in contact with her own as she leaned out. A man's hand reached over and + grasped the inner ledge of the casement, and then a man's face was dimly + revealed to her startled gaze. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV — A FLIGHT, A STONE-CUTTER'S SHED, AND A VOICE OUTSIDE + </h2> + <p> + He saw her standing in the middle of the room, her clenched hands pressed + to her lips. At the angle from which he peered into the room, her head was + in line with the lighted transom. + </p> + <p> + His grip on the ledge was firm but his foothold on the lattice precarious. + He felt himself slipping. Exerting all of his strength he drew himself + upward, free of the vines that had begun to yield to his weight. + </p> + <p> + An almost inaudible "Whew!" escaped his lips as he straddled the sill. An + instant later he was in the room. + </p> + <p> + "Why have you come up here?" She came swiftly to his side. + </p> + <p> + "Thank the Lord, I made it," he whispered, breathlessly. "I came up + because there was nowhere else to go. I thought I heard voices—a man + and a woman speaking. They seemed to be quite close to me. Don't be + alarmed, Miss Cameron. I am confident that I can—" + </p> + <p> + "And now that you are here, trapped as I am, what do you purpose to do? + You cannot escape. Go back before it is too late. Go—" + </p> + <p> + "Is Sprouse—where is he?" + </p> + <p> + "He is somewhere in the house. I have heard no sound. I was to wait until + he—Oh, Mr. Barnes, I—I am terrified. You will never know the—" + </p> + <p> + "Trust him," he said. "He is a marvel. We'll be safely out of here in a + little while, and then it will all look simple to you. You are ready to + go? Good! We will wait a few minutes and if he doesn't show up we'll—Why, + you are trembling like a leaf! Sit down, do! If he doesn't return in a + minute or two, I'll take a look about the house myself. I don't intend to + desert him. I know this floor pretty well, and the lower one. The stairs + are—" + </p> + <p> + "But the stairway is closed at the bottom by a solid steel curtain. It is + made to look like a panel in the wall. Mr. Curtis had it put in to protect + himself from burglars. You are not to venture outside this room, Mr. + Barnes. I forbid it. You—" + </p> + <p> + "How did Sprouse get out? You said your door was locked." + </p> + <p> + He sat down on the edge of the bed beside her. She was still trembling + violently. He took her hand in his and held it tightly. + </p> + <p> + "He had a key. I do not know where he obtained—" + </p> + <p> + "Skeleton key, such as burglars use. By Jove, what a wonderful burglar he + would make! Courage, Miss Cameron! He will be here soon. Then comes the + real adventure,—my part of it. I didn't come here to-night to get + any flashy old crown jewels. I came to take you out of—" + </p> + <p> + "You—you know about the crown jewels?" she murmured. Her body seemed + to stiffen. + </p> + <p> + "Very little. They are nothing to me." + </p> + <p> + "Then you know who I am?" + </p> + <p> + "No. You will tell me to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes,—to-morrow," she whispered, and fell to shivering again. + </p> + <p> + For some time there was silence. Both were listening intently for sounds + in the hall; both were watching the door with unblinking eyes. She leaned + closer to whisper in his ear. Their shoulders touched. He wondered if she + experienced the same delightful thrill that ran through his body. She told + him of the man who watched across the hall from the room supposed to be + occupied by Loeb the secretary, and of Sprouse's incomprehensible daring. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Mr. Curtis?" he asked. + </p> + <p> + Her breath fanned his cheek, her lips were close to his ear. "There is no + Mr. Curtis here. He died four months ago in Florida." + </p> + <p> + "I suspected as much." He did not press her for further revelations. + "Sprouse should be here by this time. It isn't likely that he has met with + a mishap. You would have heard the commotion. I must go out there and see + if he requires any—" + </p> + <p> + She clutched his arm frantically. "You shall do nothing of the kind. You + shall not—" + </p> + <p> + "Sh! What do you take me for, Miss Cameron? He may be sorely in need of + help. Do you think that I would leave him to God knows what sort of fate? + Not much! We undertook this job together and—" + </p> + <p> + "But he said positively that I was to go in case he did not return in—in + fifteen minutes," she begged. "He may have been cut off and was compelled + to escape from another—" + </p> + <p> + "Just the same, I've got to see what has become of—" + </p> + <p> + "No! No!" She arose with him, dragging at his arm. "Do not be foolhardy. + You are not skilled at—" + </p> + <p> + "There is only one way to stop me, Miss Cameron. If you will come with me + now—" + </p> + <p> + "But I must know whether he secured the—" + </p> + <p> + "Then let me go. I will find out whether he has succeeded. Stand over + there by the window, ready to go if I have to make a run for it." + </p> + <p> + He was rougher than he realised in wrenching his arm free. She uttered a + low moan and covered her face with her hands. Undeterred, he crossed to + the door. His hand was on the knob when a door slammed violently somewhere + in a distant part of the house. + </p> + <p> + A hoarse shout of alarm rang out, and then the rush of heavy feet over + thickly carpeted floors. + </p> + <p> + Barnes acted with lightning swiftness. He sprang to the open window, + half-carrying, half-dragging the girl with him. + </p> + <p> + "Now for it!" he whispered. "Not a second to lose. Climb upon my back, + quick, and hang on for dear life." He had scrambled through the window and + was lying flat across the sill. "Hurry! Don't be afraid. I am strong + enough to carry you if the vines do their part." + </p> + <p> + With surprising alacrity and sureness she crawled out beside him and then + over upon his broad back, clasping her arms around his neck. Holding to + the ledge with one hand he felt for and clutched the thick vine with the + other. Slowly he slid his body off of the sill and swung free by one arm. + An instant later he found the lattice with the other hand and the hurried + descent began. His only fear was that the vine would not hold. If it broke + loose they would drop fifteen feet or more to the ground. A broken leg, an + arm, or even worse,—But her hair was brushing his ear and neck, her + arms were about him, her heart beat against his straining back, and—Why + be a pessimist? + </p> + <p> + His feet touched the ground. In the twinkling of an eye he picked her up + in his arms and bolted across the little grass plot into the shrubbery. + She did not utter a sound. Her arms tightened, and now her cheek was + against his. + </p> + <p> + Presently he set her down. His breath was gone, his strength exhausted. + </p> + <p> + "Can you—manage to—walk a little way?" he gasped. "Give me + your hand, and follow as close to my heels as you can. Better that I + should bump into things than you." + </p> + <p> + Shouts were now heard, and shrill blasts on a police whistle split the + air. + </p> + <p> + Her breathing was like sobs,—short and choking,—but he knew + she was not crying. Apprehension, alarm, excitement,—anything but + hysteria. The fortitude of generations was hers; a hundred forebears had + passed courage down to her. + </p> + <p> + On they stumbled, blindly, recklessly. He spared her many an injury by + taking it himself. More than once she murmured sympathy when he crashed + into a tree or floundered over a log. The soft, long-drawn "o-ohs!" that + came to his ears were full of a music that made him impervious to pain. + They had the effect of martial music on him, as the drum and fife exalts + the faltering soldier in his march to death. + </p> + <p> + Utterly at sea, he was now guessing at the course they were taking. + Whether their frantic dash was leading them toward the Tavern, or whether + they were circling back to Green Fancy, he knew not. Panting, he forged + onward, his ears alert not only for the sound of pursuit but for the shot + that would end the career of the spectacular Sprouse. + </p> + <p> + At last she cried out, quaveringly: + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I—I can go no farther! Can't we—is it not safe to stop + for a moment? My breath is—" + </p> + <p> + "God bless you, yes," he exclaimed, and came to an abrupt stop. She leaned + heavily against him, gasping for breath. "I haven't the faintest idea + where we are, but we must be some distance from the house. We will rest a + few minutes and then take it easier, more cautiously. I am sorry, but it + was the only thing to do, rough as it was." + </p> + <p> + "I know, I understand. I am not complaining, Mr. Barnes. You will find me + ready and strong and—" + </p> + <p> + "Let me think. I must try to get my bearings. Good Lord, I wish Sprouse + were here. He has eyes like a cat. He can see in the dark. We are off the + path, that's sure." + </p> + <p> + "I hope he is safe. Do you think he escaped?" + </p> + <p> + "I am sure of it. Those whistles were sounding the alarm. There would have + been no object in blowing them unless he had succeeded in getting out of + the house. He may come this way. The chances are that your flight has not + been discovered. They are too busy with him to think of you,—at + least for the time being. Do you feel like going on? We must beat them to + the Tavern. They—" + </p> + <p> + "I am all right now," she said, and they were off again. Barnes now picked + his way carefully and with the greatest caution. If at times he was urged + to increased speed through comparatively open spaces it was because he + realised the peril that lay at the very end of their journey: the + likelihood of being cut off by the pursuers before he could lodge her + safely inside of the walls. He could only pray that he was going in the + right direction. + </p> + <p> + An hour,—but what seemed thrice as long,—passed and they had + not come to the edge of the forest. Her feet were beginning to drag; he + could tell that by the effort she made to keep up with him. From time to + time he paused to allow her to rest. Always she leaned heavily against + him, seldom speaking; when she did it was to assure him that she would be + all right in a moment or two. There was no sentimental motive behind his + action when he finally found it necessary to support her with an + encircling arm, nor was she loath to accept this tribute of strength. + </p> + <p> + "You are plucky," he once said to her. + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid I could not be so plucky if you were not so strong," she + sighed, and he loved the tired, whimsical little twist she put into her + reply. It revived the delightful memory of another day. + </p> + <p> + To his dismay they came abruptly upon a region abounding in huge rocks. + This was new territory to him. His heart sank. + </p> + <p> + "By Jove, I—I believe we are farther away from the road than when we + started. We must have been going up the slope instead of down." + </p> + <p> + "In any case, Mr. Barnes," she murmured, "we have found something to sit + down upon." + </p> + <p> + He chuckled. "If you can be as cheerful as all that, we sha'n't miss the + cushions," he said, and, for the first time, risked a flash of the + electric torch. The survey was brief. He led her forward a few paces to a + flat boulder, and there they seated themselves. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder where we are," she said. + </p> + <p> + "I give it up," he replied dismally. "There isn't much sense in wandering + over the whole confounded mountain, Miss Cameron, and not getting + anywhere. I am inclined to suspect that we are above Green Fancy, but a + long way off to the right of it. My bump of direction tells me that we + have been going to the right all of the time. Admitting that to be the + case, I am afraid to retrace our steps. The Lord only knows what we might + blunder into." + </p> + <p> + "I think the only sensible thing to do, Mr. Barnes, is to make ourselves + as snug and comfortable as we can and wait for the first signs of + daybreak." + </p> + <p> + He scowled,—and was glad that it was too dark for her to see his + face. He wondered if she fully appreciated what would happen to him if the + pursuers came upon him in this forbidding spot. He could almost picture + his own body lying there among the rocks and rotting, while she—well, + she would merely go back to Green Fancy. + </p> + <p> + "I fear you do not realise the extreme gravity of the situation." + </p> + <p> + "I do, but I also realise the folly of thrashing about in this brush + without in the least knowing where our steps are leading us. Besides, I am + so exhausted that I must be a burden to you. You cannot go on supporting + me—" + </p> + <p> + "We must get out of these woods," he broke in doggedly, "if I have to + carry you in my arms." + </p> + <p> + "I shall try to keep going," she said quickly. "Forgive me if I seemed to + falter a little. I—I—am ready to go on when you say the word." + </p> + <p> + "You poor girl! Hang it all, perhaps you are right and not I. Sit still + and I will reconnoitre a bit. If I can find a place where we can hide + among these rocks, we'll stay here till the sky begins to lighten. Sit—" + </p> + <p> + "No! I shall not let you leave me for a second. Where you go, I go." She + struggled to her feet, suppressing a groan, and thrust a determined arm + through his. + </p> + <p> + "That's worth remembering," said he, and whether it was a muscular + necessity or an emotional exaction that caused his arm to tighten on hers, + none save he would ever know. + </p> + <p> + After a few minutes prowling among the rocks they came to the face of what + subsequently proved to be a sheer wall of stone. He flashed the light, + and, with an exclamation, started back. Not six feet ahead of them the + earth seemed to end; a yawning black gulf lay beyond. Apparently they were + on the very edge of a cliff. + </p> + <p> + "Good Lord, that was a close call," he gasped. He explained in a few words + and then, commanding her to stand perfectly still, dropped to the ground + and carefully felt his way forward. Again he flashed the light. In an + instant he understood. They were on the brink of a shallow quarry, from + which, no doubt, the stone used in building the foundations at Green Fancy + had been taken. + </p> + <p> + Lying there, he made swift calculations. There would be a road leading + from this pit up to the house itself. The quarry, no longer of use to the + builder, was reasonably sure to be abandoned. In all probability some sort + of a stone-cutter's shed would be found nearby. It would provide shelter + from the fine rain that was falling and from the chill night air. He + remembered that O'Dowd, in discussing the erection of Green Fancy the + night before, had said that the stone came from a pit two miles away, + where a fine quality of granite had been found. The quarry belonged to Mr. + Curtis, who had refused to consider any offer from would-be purchasers. + Two miles, according to Barnes's quick calculations, would bring the pit + close to the northern boundary of the Curtis property and almost directly + on a line with the point where he and Sprouse entered the meadow at the + beginning of their advance upon Green Fancy. That being the case, they + were now quite close to the stake and rider fence separating the Curtis + land from that of the farmer on the north. Sprouse and Barnes had hugged + this fence during their progress across the meadow. + </p> + <p> + "Good," he said, more to himself than to her. "I begin to see light." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear! Is there some one down in that hole, Mr.—" + </p> + <p> + "Are you afraid to remain here while I go down there for a look around? I + sha'n't be gone more than a couple of minutes." + </p> + <p> + "The way I feel at present," she said, jerkily, "I shall never, never from + this instant till the hour in which I die, let go of your coat-tails, Mr. + Barnes." Suiting the action to the word, her fingers resolutely fastened, + not upon the tail of his coat but upon his sturdy arm. "I wouldn't stay + here alone for anything in the world." + </p> + <p> + "Heaven bless you," he exclaimed, suddenly exalted. "And, since you put it + that way, I shall always contrive to be within arm's length." + </p> + <p> + And so, together, they ventured along the edge of the pit until they + reached the wagon road at the bottom. As he had expected, there was a + ramshackle shed hard by. It was not much of a place, but it was deserted + and a safe shelter for the moment. + </p> + <p> + A workman's bench lay on its side in the middle of the earthen floor. He + righted it and drew it over to the boarding.... She laid her head against + his shoulder and sighed deeply.... He kept his eyes glued on the door and + listened for the first ominous sound outside. A long time afterward she + stirred. + </p> + <p> + "Don't move," he said softly. "Go to sleep again if you can. I will—" + </p> + <p> + "Sleep? I haven't been asleep. I've been thinking all the time, Mr. + Barnes. I've been wondering how I can ever repay you for all the pain, and + trouble, and—" + </p> + <p> + "I am paid in full up to date," he said. "I take my pay as I go and am + satisfied." He did not give her time to puzzle it out, but went on + hurriedly: "You were so still I thought you were asleep." + </p> + <p> + "As if I could go to sleep with so many things to keep me awake!" She + shivered. + </p> + <p> + "Are you cold? You are wet—" + </p> + <p> + "It was the excitement, the nervousness, Mr. Barnes," she said, drawing + slightly away from him. He reconsidered the disposition of his arm. "Isn't + it nearly daybreak?" + </p> + <p> + He looked at his watch. "Three o'clock," he said, and turned the light + upon her face. "God, you are—" He checked the riotous words that + were driven to his lips by the glimpse of her lovely face. "I-I beg your + pardon!" + </p> + <p> + "For what?" she asked, after a moment. + </p> + <p> + "For—for blinding you with the light," he floundered. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I can forgive you for that," she said composedly. + </p> + <p> + There ensued another period of silence. She remained slightly aloof. + </p> + <p> + "You'd better lean against me," he said at last. "I am softer than the + beastly boards, you know, and quite as harmless." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you," she said, and promptly settled herself against his shoulder. + "It IS better," she sighed. + </p> + <p> + "Would you mind telling me something about yourself, Miss Cameron? What is + the true story of the crown jewels?" + </p> + <p> + She did not reply at once. When she spoke it was to ask a question of him. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know who he really is,—I mean the man known to you as Mr. + Loeb?" + </p> + <p> + "Not positively. I am led to believe that he is indirectly in line to + succeed to the throne of your country." + </p> + <p> + "Tell me something about Sprouse. How did you meet him and what induced + him to take you into his confidence? It is not the usual way with + government agents." + </p> + <p> + He told her the story of his encounter and connection with the secret + agent, and part but not all of the man's revelations concerning herself + and the crown jewels. + </p> + <p> + "I knew that you were not a native American," he said. "I arrived at that + conclusion after our meeting at the cross-roads. When O'Dowd said you were + from New Orleans, I decided that you belonged to one of the French or + Spanish families there. Either that or you were a fairy princess such as + one reads about in books." + </p> + <p> + "And you now believe that I am a royal—or at the very worst—a + noble lady with designs on the crown?" There was a faint ripple in her low + voice. + </p> + <p> + "I should like to know whether I am to address you as Princess, Duchess, + or—just plain Miss." + </p> + <p> + "I am more accustomed to plain Miss, Mr. Barnes, than to either of the + titles you would give me." + </p> + <p> + "Don't you feel that I am deserving of a little enlightenment?" he asked. + "I am working literally as well as figuratively in the dark. Who are you? + Why were you a prisoner at Green Fancy? Where and what is your native + land?" + </p> + <p> + "Sprouse did not tell you any of these things?" + </p> + <p> + "No. I think he was in some doubt himself. I don't blame him for holding + back until he was certain." + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Barnes, I cannot answer any one of your questions without + jeopardising a cause that is dearer to me than anything else in all the + world. I am sorry. I pray God a day may soon come when I can reveal + everything to you—and to the world. I am of a stricken country; I am + trying to serve the unhappy house that has ruled it for centuries and is + now in the direst peril. The man you know as Loeb is a prince of that + house. I may say this to you, and it will serve to explain my position at + Green Fancy: he is not the Prince I was led to believe awaited me there. + He is the cousin of the man I expected to meet, and he is the enemy of the + branch of the house that I would serve. Do not ask me to say more. Trust + me as I am trusting you,—as Sprouse trusted you." + </p> + <p> + "May I ask the cause of O'Dowd's apparent defection?" + </p> + <p> + "He is not in sympathy with all of the plans advanced by his leader," she + said, after a moment's reflection. + </p> + <p> + "Your sympathies are with the Entente Allies, the prince's are opposed? Is + that part of Sprouse's story true?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + "And O'Dowd?" + </p> + <p> + "O'Dowd is anti-English, Mr. Barnes, if that conveys anything to you. He + is not pro-German. Perhaps you will understand." + </p> + <p> + "Wasn't it pretty risky for you to carry the crown jewels around in a + travelling bag, Miss Cameron?" + </p> + <p> + "I suppose so. It turned out, however, that it was the safest, surest way. + I had them in my possession for three days before coming to Green Fancy. + No one suspected. They were given into my custody by the committee to whom + they were delivered in New York by the men who brought them to this + country." + </p> + <p> + "And why did you bring them to Green Fancy?" + </p> + <p> + "I was to deliver them to one of their rightful owners, Mr. Barnes,—a + loyal prince of the blood." + </p> + <p> + "But why HERE?" he insisted. + </p> + <p> + "He was to take them into Canada, and thence, in good time, to the palace + of his ancestors." + </p> + <p> + "I am to understand, then, that not only you but the committee you speak + of, fell into a carefully prepared trap." + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + "You did not know the man who picked you up in the automobile, Miss + Cameron. Why did you take the chance with—" + </p> + <p> + "He gave the password, or whatever you may call it, and it could have been + known only to persons devoted to our—our cause." + </p> + <p> + "I see. The treachery, therefore, had its inception in the loyal nest. You + were betrayed by a friend." + </p> + <p> + "I am sure of it," she said bitterly. "If this man Sprouse does not + succeed in restoring the—oh, I believe I shall kill myself, Mr. + Barnes." + </p> + <p> + The wail of anguish in her voice went straight to his heart. + </p> + <p> + "He has succeeded, take my word for it. They will be in your hands before + many hours have passed." + </p> + <p> + "Is he to come to the Tavern with them? Or am I to meet him—" + </p> + <p> + "Good Lord!" he gulped. Here was a contingency he had not considered. + Where and when would Sprouse appear with his booty? "I—I fancy we'll + find him waiting for us at the Tavern." + </p> + <p> + "But had you no understanding?" + </p> + <p> + "Er—tentatively." The perspiration started on his brow. + </p> + <p> + "They will guard the Tavern so closely that we will never be able to get + away from the place," she said, and he detected a querulous note in her + voice. + </p> + <p> + "Now don't you worry about that," he said stoutly. + </p> + <p> + "I love the comforting way you have of saying things," she murmured, and + he felt her body relax. + </p> + <p> + For reasons best known to himself, he failed to respond to this + interesting confession. He was thinking of something else: his amazing + stupidity in not foreseeing the very situation that now presented itself. + Why had he neglected to settle upon a meeting place with Sprouse in the + event that circumstances forced them to part company in flight? Fearing + that she would pursue the subject, he made haste to branch off onto + another line. + </p> + <p> + "What is the real object of the conspiracy up there, Miss Cameron?" + </p> + <p> + "You must bear with me a little longer, Mr. Barnes," she said, + appealingly. "I cannot say anything now. I am in a very perplexing + position. You see, I am not quite sure that I am right in my conclusions, + and it would be dreadful if I were to make a mistake." + </p> + <p> + "If they are up to any game that may work harm to the Allies, they must + not be allowed to go on with it," he said sternly. "Don't wait too long + before exposing them, Miss Cameron." + </p> + <p> + "I—I cannot speak now," she said, painfully. + </p> + <p> + "You said that to-morrow night would be too late. What did you mean by + that?" + </p> + <p> + "Do you insist on pinning me down to—" + </p> + <p> + "No. You may tell me to mind my own business, if you like." + </p> + <p> + "That is not a nice way to put it, Mr. Barnes. I could never say such a + thing to you." + </p> + <p> + He was silent. She waited a few seconds and then removed her head from his + shoulder. He heard the sharp intake of her breath and felt the convulsive + movement of the arm that rested against his. There was no mistaking her + sudden agitation. + </p> + <p> + "I will tell you," she said, and he was surprised by the harshness that + came into her voice. "To-morrow morning was the time set for my marriage + to that wretch up there. I could have avoided it only by destroying + myself. If you had come to-morrow night instead of to-night you would have + found me dead, that is all. Now you understand." + </p> + <p> + "Good God! You—you were to be forced into a marriage with—why, + it is the most damnable—" + </p> + <p> + "O'Dowd,—God bless him!—was my only champion. He knew my + father. He—" + </p> + <p> + "Listen!" he hissed, starting to his feet. + </p> + <p> + "Don't move!" came from the darkness outside. "I have me gun leveled. I + heard me name taken in vain. Thanks for the blessing. I was wondering + whether you would say something pleasant about me,—and, thank the + good Lord, I was patient. But I'd advise you both to sit still, just the + same." + </p> + <p> + A chuckle rounded out the gentle admonition of the invisible Irishman. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV — LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY,—BUT MR. SPROUSE WAS + SMALLER THAN THE AVERAGE + </h2> + <p> + There was not a sound for many seconds. The trapped couple in the + stone-cutter's shed scarcely breathed. She was the first to speak. + </p> + <p> + "I am ready to return with you, Mr. O'Dowd," she said, distinctly. "There + must be no struggle, no blood-shed. Anything but that." + </p> + <p> + She felt Barnes's body stiffen and caught the muttered execration that + fell from his lips. + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd spoke out of the darkness: "You forget that I have your own word + for it that ye'll be a dead woman before the day is over. Wouldn't it be + better for me to begin shooting at once and spare your soul the + everlasting torture that would begin immediately after your self-produced + decease?" + </p> + <p> + A little cry of relief greeted this quaint sally. "You have my word that I + will return with you quietly if—" + </p> + <p> + "Thunderation!" exclaimed Barnes wrathfully. "What do you think I am? A + worm that—" + </p> + <p> + "Easy, easy, me dear man," cautioned O'Dowd. "Keep your seat. Don't be + deceived by my infernal Irish humour. It is my way to be always polite, + agreeable and—prompt. I'll shoot in a second if ye move one step + outside that cabin." + </p> + <p> + "O'Dowd, you haven't the heart to drag her back to that beast of a—" + </p> + <p> + "Hold hard! We'll come to the point without further palavering. Where are + ye dragging her yourself, ye rascal?" + </p> + <p> + "To a place where she will be safe from insult, injury, degradation—" + </p> + <p> + "Well, I have no fault to find with ye for that," said O'Dowd. "Bedad, I + didn't believe you had the nerve to tackle the job. To be honest with you, + I hadn't the remotest idea who the divvil you were, either of you, until I + heard your voices. You may be interested to know that up to the moment I + left the house your absence had not been noticed, my dear Miss Cameron. + And as for you, my dear Barnes, your visit is not even suspected. By this + time, of course, the list of the missing at Green Fancy is headed by an + honourable and imperishable name,—which isn't Cameron,—and + there is an increased wailing and gnashing of teeth. How the divvil did ye + do it, Barnes?" + </p> + <p> + "Are you disposed to be friendly, O'Dowd?" demanded Barnes. "If you are + not, we may just as well fight it out now as later on. I do not mean to + submit without a—" + </p> + <p> + "You are not to fight!" she cried in great agitation. "What are you doing? + Put it away! Don't shoot!" + </p> + <p> + "Is it a gun he is pulling" inquired O'Dowd calmly. "And what the deuce + are you going to aim at, me hearty?" + </p> + <p> + "It may sound cowardly to you, O'Dowd, but I have an advantage over you in + the presence of Miss Cameron. You don't dare shoot into this shed. You—" + </p> + <p> + "Lord love ye, Barnes, haven't you my word that I will not shoot unless ye + try to come out? And I know you wouldn't use her for a shield. Besides, I + have a bull's-eye lantern with me. From the luxurious seat behind this + rock I could spot ye in a second. Confound you, man, you ought to thank me + for being so considerate as not to flash it on you before. I ask ye now, + isn't that proof that I'm a gentleman and not a bounder? Having said as + much, I now propose arbitration. What have ye to offer in the shape of + concessions?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know what you mean." + </p> + <p> + "I'll be explicit. Would you mind handing over that tin box in exchange + for my polite thanks and a courteous good-by to both of ye?" + </p> + <p> + "Tin box?" cried Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "We have no box of any description, Mr. O'Dowd," cried she, triumphantly. + "Thank heaven, he got safely away!" + </p> + <p> + "Do you mean to tell me you came away without the—your belongings, + Miss Cameron?" exclaimed O'Dowd. + </p> + <p> + "They are not with me," she replied. Her grasp on Barnes's arm tightened. + "Oh, isn't it splendid? They did not catch him. He—" + </p> + <p> + "Catch him? Catch who?" cried O'Dowd. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, that is for you to find out, my dear O'Dowd," said Barnes, assuming a + satisfaction he did not feel. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'll be—jiggered," came in low, puzzled tones from the rocks + outside. "Did you have a—a confederate, Barnes? Didn't you do the + whole job yourself?" + </p> + <p> + "I did my part of the job, as you call it, O'Dowd, and nothing more." + </p> + <p> + "Will you both swear on your sacred honour that ye haven't the jewels in + your possession?" + </p> + <p> + "Unhesitatingly," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "I swear, Mr. O'Dowd." + </p> + <p> + "Then," said he, "I have no time to waste here. I am looking for a tin + box. I beg your pardon for disturbing you." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Mr. O'Dowd, I shall never forget all that you have—" + </p> + <p> + "Whist, now! There is one thing I must insist on your forgetting + completely: all that has happened in the last five minutes. I shall put no + obstacles in your way. You may go with my blessings. The only favour I ask + in return is that you never mention having seen me to-night." + </p> + <p> + "We can do that with a perfectly clear conscience," said Barnes. "You are + absolutely invisible." + </p> + <p> + "What I am doing now, Mr. Barnes," said O'Dowd seriously, "would be my + death sentence if it ever became known." + </p> + <p> + "It shall never be known through me, O'Dowd. I'd like to shake your hand, + old man." + </p> + <p> + "God bless you, Mr. O'Dowd," said the girl in a low, small voice, + singularly suggestive of tears. "Some day I may be in a position to—" + </p> + <p> + "Don't say it! You'll spoil everything if you let me think you are in my + debt. Bedad, don't be so sure I sha'n't see you again, and soon. You are + not out of the woods yet." + </p> + <p> + "Tell me how to find Hart's Tavern, old man. I'll—" + </p> + <p> + "No, I'm dashed if I do. I leave you to your own devices. You ought to be + grateful to me for not stopping you entirely, without asking me to give + you a helping hand. Good-bye, and God bless you. I'm praying that ye get + away safely, Miss Cameron. So long, Barnes. If you were a crow and wanted + to roost on that big tree in front of Hart's Tavern, I dare say you'd take + the shortest way there by flying as straight as a bullet from the mouth of + this pit, following your extremely good-looking nose." + </p> + <p> + They heard him rattle off among the loose stones and into the brush. A + long time afterward, when the sounds had ceased, Barnes said, from the + bottom of a full heart: + </p> + <p> + "I shall always feel something warm stirring within me when I think of + that man." + </p> + <p> + "He is a gallant gentleman," said she simply. + </p> + <p> + They did not wait for the break of day. Taking O'Dowd's hint, Barnes + directed his steps straight out from the mouth of the quarry and pressed + confidently onward. Their progress was swifter than before and less + cautious. The thought had come to him that the men from Green Fancy would + rush to the outer edges of the Curtis land and seek to intercept, rather + than to overtake, the fugitive. In answer to a question she informed him + that there were no fewer than twenty-five men on the place, all of them + shrewd, resolute and formidable. + </p> + <p> + "The women, who are they, and what part do they play in this enterprise?" + he inquired, during a short pause for rest. + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Collier is the widow of a spy executed in France at the beginning of + the war. She is an American and was married to a—to a foreigner. The + Van Dykes are very rich Americans,—at least she has a great deal of + money. Her husband was in the diplomatic service some years ago but was + dismissed. There was a huge gambling scandal and he was involved. His wife + is determined to force her way into court circles in Europe. She has + money, she is clever and unprincipled, and—I am convinced that she + is paying in advance for future favours and position at a certain court. + She—" + </p> + <p> + "In other words, she is financing the game up at Green Fancy." + </p> + <p> + "I suppose so. She has millions, I am told. Mr. De Soto is a Spaniard, + born and reared in England. All of them are known in my country." + </p> + <p> + "I can't understand a decent chap like O'Dowd being mixed up in a rotten—" + </p> + <p> + "Ah, but you do not understand. He is a soldier of fortune, an adventurer. + His heart is better than his reputation. It is the love of intrigue, the + joy of turmoil that commands him. He has been mixed up, as you say, in any + number of secret enterprises, both good and bad. His sister's children are + the owners of Green Fancy. I know her well. It was through Mr. O'Dowd that + I came to Green Fancy. Too late he realised that it was a mistake. He was + deceived. He has known me for years and he would not have exposed me to——But + come! As he has said, we are not yet out of the woods." + </p> + <p> + "I cannot, for the life of me, see why they took chances on inviting me to + the house, Miss Cameron. They must have known that—" + </p> + <p> + "It was a desperate chance but it was carefully considered, you may be + sure. They are clever, all of them. They were afraid of you. It was + necessary to deal openly, boldly, with you if your suspicions were to be + removed." + </p> + <p> + "But they must have known that you would appeal to me." + </p> + <p> + She was silent for a moment, and when she spoke it was with great + intensity. "Mr. Barnes, I had your life in my hands all the time you were + at Green Fancy. It was I who took the desperate chance. I shudder now when + I think of what might have happened. Before you were asked to the house, I + was coolly informed that you would not leave it alive if I so much as + breathed a word to you concerning my unhappy plight. The first word of an + appeal to you would have been the signal for—for your death. That is + what they held over me. They made it very clear to me that nothing was to + be gained by an appeal to you. You would die, and I would be no better off + than before. It was I who took the chance. When I spoke to you on the + couch that night, I—oh, don't you see? Don't you see that I + wantonly, cruelly, selfishly risked YOUR life,—not my own,—when + I—" + </p> + <p> + "There, there, now!" he cried, consolingly, as she put her hands to her + face and gave way to sobs. "Don't let THAT worry you. I am here and alive, + and so are you, and—for Heaven's sake don't do that! I—I + simply go all to pieces when I hear a woman crying. I—" + </p> + <p> + "Forgive me," she murmured. "I didn't mean to be so silly." + </p> + <p> + "It helps, to cry sometimes," he said lamely. + </p> + <p> + The first faint signs of day were struggling out of the night when they + stole across the road above Hart's Tavern and made their way through the + stable-yard to the rear of the house. His one thought was to get her + safely inside the Tavern. There he could defy the legions of Green Fancy, + and from there he could notify her real friends, deliver her into their + keeping,—and then regret the loss of her! + </p> + <p> + The door was locked. He delivered a series of resounding kicks upon its + stout face. Revolver in hand, he faced about and waited for the assault of + the men who, he was sure, would come plunging around the corner of the + building in response to the racket. He was confident that the approach to + the Tavern was watched by desperate men from Green Fancy, and that an + encounter with them was inevitable. But there was no attack. Save for his + repeated pounding on the door, there was no sign of life about the place. + </p> + <p> + At last there were sounds from within. A key grated in the lock and a bolt + was shot. The door flew open. Mr. Clarence Dillingford appeared in the + opening, partially dressed, his hair sadly tumbled, his eyes blinking in + the light of the lantern he held aloft. + </p> + <p> + "Well, what the—" Then his gaze alighted on the lady. "My God," he + gulped, and instantly put all of his body except the head and one arm + behind the door. + </p> + <p> + Barnes crowded past him with his faltering charge, and slammed the door. + Moreover, he quickly shot the bolt. + </p> + <p> + "For the love of—" began the embarrassed Dillingford. "What the dev—I + say, can't you see that I'm not dressed? What the—" + </p> + <p> + "Give me that lantern," said Barnes, and snatched the article out of the + unresisting hand. "Show me the way to Miss Thackeray's room, Dillingford. + No time for explanations. This lady is a friend of mine." + </p> + <p> + "Well, for the love of—" + </p> + <p> + "I will take you to Miss Thackeray's room," said Barnes, leading her + swiftly through the narrow passage. "She will make you comfortable for the—that + is until I am able to secure a room for you. Come on, Dillingford." + </p> + <p> + "My God, Barnes, have you been in an automobile smash-up? You—" + </p> + <p> + "Don't wake the house! Where is her room?" + </p> + <p> + "You know just as well as I do. All right,—all right! Don't bite me! + I'm coming." + </p> + <p> + Miss Thackeray was awake. She had heard the pounding. Through the closed + door she asked what on earth was the matter. + </p> + <p> + "I have a friend here,—a lady. Will you dress as quickly as possible + and take her in with you for a little while?" He spoke as softly as + possible. + </p> + <p> + There was no immediate response from the inside. Then Miss Thackeray + observed, quite coldly: "I think I'd like to hear the lady's voice, if you + don't mind. I recognise yours perfectly, Mr. Barnes, but I am not in the + habit of opening my—" + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Barnes speaks the truth," said Miss Cameron. "But pray do not disturb—" + </p> + <p> + "I guess I don't need to dress," said Miss Thackeray, and opened her door. + "Come in, please. I don't know who you are or what you've been up to, but + there are times when women ought to stand together. And what's more, I + sha'n't ask any questions." + </p> + <p> + She closed the door behind the unexpected guest, and Barnes gave a great + sigh of relief. + </p> + <p> + "Say, Mr. Barnes," said Miss Thackeray, several hours later, coming upon + him in the hall; "I guess I'll have to ask you to explain a little. She's + a nice, pretty girl, and all that, but she won't open her lips about + anything. She says you will do the talking. I'm a good sport, you know, + and not especially finicky, but I'd like to—" + </p> + <p> + "How is she? Is she resting? Does she seem—" + </p> + <p> + "Well, she's stretched out in my bed, with my best nightie on, and she + seems to be doing as well as could be expected," said Miss Thackeray + dryly. + </p> + <p> + "Has she had coffee and—" + </p> + <p> + "I am going after it now. It seems that she is in the habit of having it + in bed. I wish I had her imagination. It would be great to imagine that + all you have to do is to say 'I think I'll have coffee and rolls and one + egg' sent up, and then go on believing your wish would come true. Still, I + don't mind. She seems so nice and pathetic, and in trouble, and I—" + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, Miss Thackeray. If you will see that she has her coffee, I'll—I'll + wait for you here in the hall and try to explain. I can't tell you + everything at present,—not without her consent,—but what I do + tell will be sufficient to make you think you are listening to a chapter + out of a dime novel." + </p> + <p> + He had already taken Putnam Jones into his confidence. He saw no other way + out of the new and somewhat extraordinary situation. + </p> + <p> + His uneasiness increased to consternation when he discovered that Sprouse + had not yet put in an appearance. What had become of the man? He could not + help feeling, however, that somehow the little agent would suddenly pop + out of the chimney in his room, or sneak in through a crack under the + door,—and laugh at his fears. + </p> + <p> + His lovely companion, falling asleep, blocked all hope of a council of + war, so to speak. Miss Thackeray refused to allow her to be disturbed. She + listened with sparkling eyes to Barnes's curtailed account of the exploit + of the night before. He failed to mention Mr. Sprouse. It was not an + oversight. + </p> + <p> + "Sort of white slavery game, eh?" she said, with bated breath. "Good + gracious, Mr. Barnes, if this story ever gets into the newspapers you'll + be the grandest little hero in—" + </p> + <p> + "But it must never get into the newspapers," he cried. + </p> + <p> + "It ought to," she proclaimed stoutly. "When a gang of white slavers + kidnap a girl like that and—" + </p> + <p> + "I'm not saying it was that," he protested, uncomfortably. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I guess I'll talk to her about that part of the story," said Miss + Thackeray sagely. "And as you say, mum's the word. We don't want them to + get onto the fact that she's here. That's the idea, isn't it?" + </p> + <p> + "Absolutely." + </p> + <p> + "Then," she said, wrinkling her brow, "I wouldn't repeat this story to Mr. + Lyndon Rushcroft, father of yours truly. He would blab it all over the + county. The greatest press stuff in the world. Listen to it: 'Lyndon + Rushcroft, the celebrated actor, takes part in the rescue of a beautiful + heiress who falls into the hands of So and So, the king of kidnappers.' + That's only a starter. So we'd better let him think she just happened in. + You fix it with old Jones, and I'll see that Dilly keeps his mouth shut. I + fear I shall have to tell Mr. Bacon." She blushed. "I have always sworn + I'd never marry any one in the profession, but—Mr. Bacon is not like + other actors, Mr. Barnes. You will say so yourself when you know him + better. He is more like a—a—well, you might say a poet. His + soul is—but, you'll think I'm nutty if I go on about him. As soon as + she awakes, I'll take her up to the room you've engaged for her, and I'll + lend her some of my duds, bless her heart. What an escape she's had! Oh, + my God!" + </p> + <p> + She uttered the exclamation in a voice so full of horror that Barnes was + startled. + </p> + <p> + "What is it, Miss Thack—" + </p> + <p> + "Why, they might have nabbed me yesterday when I was up there in the + woods! And I don't know what kind of heroism goes with a poetic nature. + I'm afraid Mr. Bacon—" + </p> + <p> + He laughed. "I am sure he would have acted like a man." + </p> + <p> + "If you were to ask father, he'd say that Mr. Bacon can't act like a man + to save his soul. He says he acts like a fence-post." + </p> + <p> + Shortly before the noon hour, Peter Ames halted the old automobile from + Green Fancy in front of the Tavern and out stepped O'Dowd, followed by no + less a personage than the pseudo Mr. Loeb. There were a number of + travelling bags in the tonneau of the car. + </p> + <p> + Catching sight of Barnes, the Irishman shouted a genial greeting. + </p> + <p> + "The top of the morning to ye. You remember Mr. Loeb, don't you? Mr. + Curtis's secretary." + </p> + <p> + He shook hands with Barnes. Loeb bowed stiffly and did not extend his + hand. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Loeb is leaving us for a few days on business. Will you be moving on + yourself soon, Mr. Barnes?" + </p> + <p> + "I shall hang around here a few days longer," said Barnes, considerably + puzzled but equal to the occasion. "Still interested in our murder + mystery, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Any new developments?" + </p> + <p> + "Not to my knowledge." He ventured a crafty "feeler." "I hear, however, + that the state authorities have asked assistance of the secret service + people in Washington. That would seem to indicate that there is more + behind the affair than—" + </p> + <p> + "Have I not maintained from the first, Mr. O'Dowd, that it is a case for + the government to handle?" interrupted Loeb. He spoke rapidly and with + unmistakable nervousness. Barnes remarked the extraordinary pallor in the + man's face and the shifty, uneasy look in his dark eyes. "It has been my + contention, Mr. Barnes, that those men were trying to carry out their part + of a plan to inflict—" + </p> + <p> + "Lord love ye, Loeb, you are not alone in that theory," broke in O'Dowd + hastily. "I think we're all agreed on that. Good morning, Mr. Boneface," + he called out to Putnam Jones who approached at that juncture. "We are + sadly in want of gasoline." + </p> + <p> + Peter had backed the car up to the gasoline hydrant at the corner of the + building and was waiting for some one to replenish his tank. Barnes caught + the queer, perplexed look that the Irishman shot at him out of the corner + of his eye. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps you'd better see that the scoundrels don't give us short measure, + Mr. Loeb," said O'Dowd. Loeb hesitated for a second, and then, evidently + in obedience to a command from the speaker's eye, moved off to where Peter + was opening the intake. Jones followed, bawling to some one in the + stable-yard. + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd lowered his voice. "Bedad, your friend made a smart job of it last + night. He opened the tank back of the house and let every damn' bit of our + gas run out. Is she safe inside?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, thanks to you, old man. You didn't catch him?" + </p> + <p> + "Not even a whiff of him," said the other lugubriously. "The devil's to + pay. In the name of God, how many were in your gang last night?" + </p> + <p> + "That is for Mr. Loeb to find out," said Barnes shrewdly. + </p> + <p> + "Barnes, I let you off last night, and I let her off as well. In return, I + ask you to hold your tongue until the man down there gets a fair start." + O'Dowd was serious, even imploring. + </p> + <p> + "What would she say to that, O'Dowd? I have to consider her interests, you + know." + </p> + <p> + "She'd give him a chance for his white alley, I'm sure, in spite of the + way he treated her. There is a great deal at stake, Barnes. A day's start + and—" + </p> + <p> + "Are you in danger too, O'Dowd?" + </p> + <p> + "To be sure,—but I love it. I can always squirm out of tight places. + You see, I am putting myself in your hands, old man." + </p> + <p> + "I would not deliberately put you in jeopardy, O'Dowd." + </p> + <p> + "See here, I am going back to that house up yonder. There is still work + for me there. What I'm after now is to get him on the train at Hornville. + I'll be here again at four o'clock, on me word of honour. Trust me, + Barnes. When I explain to her, she'll agree that I'm doing the right + thing. Bedad, the whole bally game is busted. Another week and we'd have—but, + there ye are! It's all up in the air, thanks to you and your + will-o'-the-wisp rascals. You played the deuce with everything." + </p> + <p> + "Do you mean to say that you are coming back here to run the risk of being—" + </p> + <p> + "We've had word that the government has men on the way. They'll be here + to-night or to-morrow, working in cahoots with the fellows across the + border. Why, damn it all, Barnes, don't you know who it was that + engineered that whole business last night?" He blurted it out angrily, + casting off all reserve. + </p> + <p> + Barnes smiled. "I do. He is a secret agent from the embassy—" + </p> + <p> + "Secret granny!" almost shouted O'Dowd. "He is the slickest, cleverest + crook that ever drew the breath of life. And he's got away with the + jewels, for which you can whistle in vain, I'm thinking." + </p> + <p> + "For Heaven's sake, O'Dowd—" began Barnes, his blood like ice in his + veins. + </p> + <p> + "But don't take my word for it. Ask her,—upstairs there, God bless + her!—ask her if she knows Chester Naismith. She'll tell ye, my + bucko. He's been standing guard outside her window for the past three + nights. He's—" + </p> + <p> + "Now, I know you are mistaken," cried Barnes, a wave of relief surging + over him. "He has been in this Tavern every night—" + </p> + <p> + "Sure he has. But he never was here after eleven o'clock, was he? Answer + me, did ye ever see him here after eleven in the evening? You did not,—not + until last night, anyhow. In the struggle he had with Nicholas last night + his whiskers came off and he was recognised. That's why poor old Nicholas + is lying dead up there at the house now,—and will have a decent + burial unbeknownst to anybody but his friends." + </p> + <p> + "Whiskers? Dead?" jerked from Barnes's lips. + </p> + <p> + "Didn't you know he had false ones on?" + </p> + <p> + "He did not have them on when he left me," declared Barnes. "Good God, + O'Dowd, you can't mean that he—he killed—" + </p> + <p> + "He stuck a knife in his neck. The poor devil died while I was out + skirmishing, but not before he whispered in the chief's ear the name of + the man who did for him. The dirty snake! And the chief trusted him as no + crook ever was trusted before. He knew him for what he was, but he thought + he was loyal. And this is what he gets in return for saving the dog's life + in Buda Pesth three years ago. In the name of God, Barnes, how did you + happen to fall in with the villain?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes passed his hand over his brow, dazed beyond the power of speech. + His gaze rested on Putnam Jones. Suddenly something seemed to have struck + him between the eyes. He almost staggered under the imaginary impact. + Jones! Was Jones a party to this—He started forward, an oath on his + lips, prepared to leap upon the man and throttle the truth out of him. As + abruptly he checked himself. The cunning that inspired the actions of + every one of these people had communicated itself to him. A false move now + would ruin everything. Putnam Jones would have to be handled with gloves, + and gently at that. + </p> + <p> + "He—he represented himself as a book-agent," he mumbled, striving to + collect himself. "Jones knew him. Said he had been around here for weeks. + I—I— + </p> + <p> + "That's the man," said O'Dowd, scowling. "He trotted all over the county, + selling books. For the love of it, do ye think? Not much. He had other + fish to fry, you may be sure. I talked with him the night you dined at + Green Fancy. He beat you to the Tavern, I dare say. It was his second + night on guard below the—below her window. He told me how he shinned + up and down one of these porch posts, so as not to let old Jones get onto + the fact he was out of his room. He had old Jones fooled as badly—What + are you glaring at HIM for? I was about to say he had old Jones as badly + fooled as you—or worse, damn him. Barnes, if we ever lay hands on + that friend of yours,—well, he won't have to fry in hell. He'll be + burnt alive. Thank God, my mind's at rest on one score. SHE didn't skip + out with him. They all think she did. Not one of them suspects that she + came away with you. There is plenty of evidence that she let him in + through her window—" + </p> + <p> + "All ready, O'Dowd," called Loeb. "Come along, please." + </p> + <p> + "Coming," said the Irishman. To Barnes: "Don't blame yourself, old man. + You are not the only one who has been hoodwinked. He fooled men a long + shot keener than you are, so—All right! Coming. See you later, + Barnes. So long!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI — THE FIRST WAYFARER VISITS A SHRINE, CONFESSES, AND + TAKES AN OATH + </h2> + <p> + How was he to find the courage to impart the appalling news to her? He was + now convinced beyond all doubt that the so-called Sprouse had made off + with the priceless treasure and that only a miracle could bring about its + recovery. O'Dowd's estimate of the man's cleverness was amply supported by + what Barnes knew of him. He knew him to be the personification of + craftiness, and of daring. It was not surprising that he had been tricked + by this devil's own genius. He recalled his admiration, his wonder over + the man's artfulness; he groaned as he thought of the pride he had felt in + being accorded the privilege of helping him! + </p> + <p> + Sitting glumly in a corner of the tap-room, watching but not listening to + the spouting Mr. Rushcroft, (who was regaling the cellarer and two vastly + impressed countrymen with the story of his appearance before Queen + Victoria and the Royal Family), Barnes went over the events of the past + twenty-four hours, deriving from his reflections a few fairly reasonable + deductions as to his place in the plans of the dauntless Mr. Sprouse. + </p> + <p> + In the first place, Sprouse, being aware of his somewhat ardent interest + in the fair captive, took a long and desperate chance on his + susceptibility. With incomprehensible boldness he decided to make an + accomplice of the eager and unsuspecting knight-errant! His cunningly + devised tale,—in which there was more than a little of the truth,—served + to excite the interest and ultimately to win the co-operation of the New + Yorker. His object in enlisting this support was now perfectly clear to + the victim of his duplicity. Barnes had admitted that he was bound by a + promise to aid the prisoner in an effort to escape from the house; even a + slow-witted person would have reached the conclusion that a partial + understanding at least existed between captive and champion. Sprouse + staked everything on that conviction. Through Barnes he counted on + effecting an entrance to the almost hermetically sealed house. + </p> + <p> + Evidently the simplest, and perhaps the only, means of gaining admission + was through the very window he was supposed to guard. Once inside her + room, with the aid and connivance of one in whom the occupant placed the + utmost confidence, he would be in a position to employ his marvellous + talents in accomplishing his own peculiar ends. + </p> + <p> + Barnes recalled all of the elaborate details preliminary to the actual + performance of that amazing feat, and realised to what extent he had been + shaped into a tool to be used by the master craftsman. He saw through the + whole Machiavellian scheme, and he was now morally certain that Sprouse + would have sacrificed him without the slightest hesitation. + </p> + <p> + In the event that anything went wrong with their enterprise, the man would + have shot him dead and earned the gratitude and commendation of his + associates! There would be no one to question him, no one to say that he + had failed in the duty set upon him by the master of the house. He would + have been glorified and not crucified by his friends. + </p> + <p> + Up to the point when he actually passed through the window Sprouse could + have justified himself by shooting the would-be rescuer. Up to that point, + Barnes was of inestimable value to him; after that,—well, he had + proved that he was capable of taking care of himself. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Dillingford came and pronounced sentence. He informed the rueful + thinker that the young lady wanted to see him at once in Miss Thackeray's + room. + </p> + <p> + With a heavy heart he mounted the stairs. At the top he paused to + deliberate. Would it not be better to keep her in ignorance? What was to + be gained by revealing to her the—But Miss Thackeray was luring him + on to destruction. She stood outside the door and beckoned. That in itself + was ominous. Why should she wriggle a forefinger at him instead of calling + out in her usual free-and-easy manner? There was foreboding— + </p> + <p> + "Is Mr. Barnes coming?" His heart bounded perceptibly at the sound of that + soft, eager voice from the interior of the room. + </p> + <p> + "By fits and starts," said Miss Thackeray critically. "Yes, he has started + again." + </p> + <p> + She closed the door from the outside, and Barnes was alone with the cousin + of kings and queens and princes. + </p> + <p> + "I feared you had deserted me," she said, holding out her hand to him as + he strode across the room. S he did not rise from the chair in which she + was seated by the window. The lower wings of the old-fashioned shutters + were closed except for a narrow strip; light streamed down upon her wavy + golden hair from the upper half of the casement. She was attired in a + gorgeously flowered dressing-gown; he had seen it once before, draping the + matutinal figure of Miss Thackeray as she glided through the hall with a + breakfast tray which Miss Tilly had flatly refused to carry to her room: + being no servant, she declared with heat. + </p> + <p> + "I saw no occasion to disturb your rest," he mumbled. "Nothing—nothing + new has turned up." + </p> + <p> + "I have been peeping," she said, looking at him searchingly. A little line + of anxiety lay between her eyes. "Where is Mr. Loeb going, Mr. Barnes?" + </p> + <p> + He noted the omission of Mr. O'Dowd. "To Hornville, I believe. They + stopped for gasoline." + </p> + <p> + "Is he running away?" was her disconcerting question. + </p> + <p> + "O'Dowd says he is to be gone for a few days on business," he equivocated. + </p> + <p> + "He will not return," she said quietly. "He is a coward at heart. Oh, I + know him well," she went on, scorn in her voice. + </p> + <p> + "Was I wrong in not trying to stop him?" he asked. + </p> + <p> + She pondered this for a moment. "No," she said, but he caught the dubious + note in her voice. "It is just as well, perhaps, that he should disappear. + Nothing is to be gained now by his seizure. Next week, yes; but to-day, + no. His flight to-day spares—but we are more interested in the man + Sprouse. Has he returned?" + </p> + <p> + "No, Miss Cameron," said he ruefully. And then, without a single + reservation, he laid bare the story of Sprouse's defection. When he + inquired if she had heard of the man known as Chester Naismith, she + confirmed his worst fears by describing him as the guard who watched + beneath her window. He was known to her as a thief of international fame. + The light died out of her lovely eyes as the truth dawned upon her; her + lips trembled, her shoulders drooped. + </p> + <p> + "What a fool I've been," she mourned. "What a fool I was to accept the + responsibility of—" + </p> + <p> + "Don't blame yourself," he implored. "Blame me. I am the fool, the + stupidest fool that ever lived. He played with me as if I were the + simplest child." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my friend, why do you say that? Played with you? He has tricked some + of the shrewdest men in the world. There are no simple children at Green + Fancy. They are men with the brains of foxes and the hearts of wolves. To + deceive you was child's play. You are an honest man. It is always the + honest man who is the victim; he is never the culprit. If honest men were + as smart as the corrupt ones, Mr. Barnes, there would be no such thing as + crime. If the honest man kept one hand on his purse and the other on his + revolver, he would be more than a match for the thief. You were no match + for Chester Naismith. Do not look so glum. The shrewdest police officers + in Europe have never been able to cope with him. Why should you despair?" + </p> + <p> + He sprang to his feet. "By gad, he hasn't got away with it yet," he + grated. "He is only one man against a million. I will set every cog in the + entire police and detective machinery of the United States going. He + cannot escape. They will run him to earth before—" + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Barnes, I have no words to express my gratitude to you for all that + you have done and all that you still would do," she interrupted. "I may + prove it to you, however, by advising you to abandon all efforts to help + me from now on. You did all that you set out to do, and I must ask no more + of you. You risked your life to save a woman who, for all you know, may be + deceiving you with—" + </p> + <p> + "I have not lost all of my senses, Miss Cameron," he said bluntly. "The + few that I retain make me your slave. I shall abandon neither you nor the + effort to recover what my stupidity has cost you. I will run this + scoundrel down if I have to devote the remainder of my life to the task." + </p> + <p> + She sighed. "Alas, I fear that I shall have to tell you a little more + about this wonderful man you know as Sprouse. Six months ago the friends + and supporters of the legitimate successor to my country's throne, + consummated a plan whereby the crown jewels and certain documents of state + were surreptitiously removed from the palace vaults. The act, though meant + to be a loyal and worthy one, was nevertheless nullified by the most + stupendous folly. Instead of depositing the treasure in Paris, it was sent + to this country in charge of a group of men whose fealty could not be + questioned. I am not at liberty to tell you how this treasure was brought + into the United States without detection by the Customs authorities. + Suffice it to say, it was delivered safely to a committee of my countrymen + in New York. There are two contenders for the throne in my land. One is a + prisoner in Austria, the other is at liberty somewhere in—in the + world. The Teutonic Allies are now in possession of my country. It has + been ravished and despoiled." + </p> + <p> + "So far Sprouse's story jibes," said he, as she paused. + </p> + <p> + "My countrymen conceived the notion that Germany would one day conquer + France and over-run England. It was this notion that urged them to put the + treasure beyond all possible chance of its being seized by the conquerors + and turned over to the usurping prince who would be placed on our throne. + </p> + <p> + "As for my part in this unhappy project, it is quite simple. I was not the + only one to be deceived by plotters who far outstripped the original + conspirators in cleverness and guile. The man you know as Loeb is in + reality my cousin. I have known him all my life. He is the youngest + brother of the pretender to the throne, and a cousin of the prince who is + held prisoner by the Austrians. This prince has a brother also, and it was + to him that I was supposed to deliver the jewels. He came to Canada a + month ago, sent by the embassy in Paris. I travelled from New York, but + not alone as you may suspect. I was carefully protected from the time I + left my hotel there until—well, until I arrived in Boston. + </p> + <p> + "While there I received a secret message from friends in Canada directing + me to go to Spanish Falls, where I would be met and conducted to Green + Fancy by Prince Sebastian himself. I was on my way to Halifax when this + message changed my plans. Moreover, the reason given for this change was + an excellent one. It had been discovered that the two men who acted + secretly as my escort were traitors. They were to lead me into a trap + prepared at Portland, where I was to be robbed and detained long enough + for the wretches to make off in safety with their booty. I need not + describe my feelings. I obeyed the directions and stole away at night, + eluding my protectors, and came by devious ways to the place mentioned in + the message. + </p> + <p> + "As you may have guessed by this time, the whole thing was a carefully + planned ruse. The company at Green Fancy,—you may some day know why + they were there,—learned through the man Naismith that the treasure + had been entrusted to me for delivery to Prince Sebastian and his friends + in Halifax. Let me interrupt myself to explain why the Prince did not come + to New York in person, instead of arranging to have the jewels taken to + him at Halifax. He is an officer of high rank in the army. His trip across + the ocean was known to the German secret service. The instant he landed on + American soil, a demand would have been made by the German Embassy for his + detention here for the duration of the war. + </p> + <p> + "I was informed in the message that Prince Sebastian would take me to the + place called Green Fancy, which was near the Canadian border. A safe + escort would be provided for us, and we would be on British soil within a + few hours after our meeting. It is only necessary to add that when I + arrived at Green Fancy I met Prince Ugo,—and understood! I had + carefully covered my tracks after leaving Boston. My real friends were, + and still are, completely in the dark as to my movements, so skilfully was + the trick managed. I shall ask you directly, Mr. Barnes, to wire my + friends in New York and in Halifax, acquainting them with my present + whereabouts and safety. Now, that we know the jewels have been stolen + again, that message need not be delayed. + </p> + <p> + "And now for Chester Naismith. It was he who, acting for the misguided + loyalists and recommended by certain young aristocrats who by virtue of + their own dissipations had come to know him as a man of infinite + resourcefulness and daring, planned and carried out the pillaging of the + palace vaults. Almost under the noses of the foreign guards he succeeded + in obtaining the jewels. No doubt he could have made off with them at that + time, but he shrewdly preferred to have them brought to America by some + one else. It would have been impossible for him to dispose of them in + Europe. The United States was the only place in the world where he could + have sold them. You see how cunning he is? + </p> + <p> + "This much I know: he came to New York with the men who carried the + jewels. He tried to rob them in New York but failed. Then he disappeared. + So carefully guarded were the jewels that he knew there was no chance of + securing them without assistance. For nearly six months they remained in a + safety vault on Fifth Avenue. Evidently he gave up hope and, falling in + with Prince Ugo, joined his party. I do not know this to be the case, but + I am now convinced that he learned of the plan to send the jewels to + Halifax. It was he, I am sure, who conveyed this news to Prince Ugo, who + at once invented the scheme to divert me to this place. + </p> + <p> + "And now comes the remarkable part of the story. When I arrived at Spanish + Falls, there was no one to meet me. The agent, seeing me on the platform + and evidently at a loss which way to turn, accosted me. He offered to + secure a conveyance for me, and was very considerate, but I decided to + call up Green Fancy on the telephone. I wanted to be sure that there was + no trick. To my surprise, O'Dowd came to the telephone. I was greatly + relieved when I actually heard his voice. I have known him for years, and + the belief that he had at last allied himself with Prince Sebastian,—after + being on the opposite side, you see,—was cause for rejoicing. + </p> + <p> + "He was amazed. It seems that I was not expected until the next afternoon. + The car was out on an errand to some little village in the mountains, he + said, but he would telephone at once to see if it could be located. + Afterwards it turned out that the message announcing my arrival a day + ahead of the time agreed upon was never delivered." + </p> + <p> + "Sprouse's fine work, I suppose," put in Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "I haven't the remotest doubt. Nor do I doubt that he intended to waylay + me at some point along the road. O'Dowd failed to catch the car at the + village and was on the point of starting off on horseback to meet me, when + it returned. He sent it ahead and followed on horseback. You know how I + was picked up at the cross-roads. It is all so like one of those picture + puzzles. By putting the meaningless pieces together one obtains a complete + design. The last piece to go into this puzzle is the mishap that befell + Naismith on that very afternoon. He was no doubt thwarted in his design to + waylay me on the road from Spanish Falls by a singular occurrence in this + tavern. He was attacked in his room here shortly after the noon hour, + overpowered, bound and gagged by two men. They carried him to another + room, where he remained until late in the night when he managed to + extricate himself. I have reason to believe that this part of his story is + true. He knew the men. They were thieves as clever and as merciless as + himself. They too were watching for me. I may say to you now, Mr. Barnes, + that he has never posed as an honest man among his associates at Green + Fancy. He glories in his fame as a thief, but until now no one would have + questioned his loyalty to his friends. I do not know how these men learned + of my intention to come to Green Fancy. They—" + </p> + <p> + "They came to this tavern four or five days in advance of your arrival at + Green Fancy," he interrupted. + </p> + <p> + "Are you sure?" she asked in surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Absolutely." + </p> + <p> + "In that case, they could not have known," she said, deeply perplexed. + </p> + <p> + "Sprouse told me that they were secret service men from abroad and that he + was working with them. Putnam Jones, I am sure, believes that they were + detectives. He also believes the same to be true of Sprouse. My theory is + this, and I think it is justified by events. The men were really secret + agents, sent here to watch the movements of the gang up there. They came + upon Sprouse and recognised him. On the day mentioned they overpowered him + and forced him to reveal certain facts connected with affairs at Green + Fancy. Possibly he led them to believe that you were one of the + conspirators. They waited for your arrival and then risked the hazardous + trip to Green Fancy. They were discovered and shot." + </p> + <p> + She could hardly wait for him to finish. "I believe you are right," she + cried. "A little while before the shooting occurred, the house was roused + by a telephone call. I was in my room, but not asleep. I had just realised + my own dreadful predicament. There was a great commotion downstairs, and I + distinctly heard some one say, in my own language, that they were not to + get away alive. It must have been Naismith who telephoned. One of the men, + I have been told, was killed not far from our gates. He was shot, I am + sure, by the man called Nicholas, noted as one of the most marvellous + marksmen in our little army. The other was accounted for by Naismith + himself, who had managed to reach the cross-roads in time to head him off. + Naismith openly boasted of the feat. The greatest consternation prevailed + at Green Fancy because the men succeeded in reaching the highway before + they were shot. Prince Ugo was distracted. He said that the attention of + the public would be directed to Green Fancy and curious investigators were + certain to interfere with the great project he was carrying on." + </p> + <p> + "I believe we have accounted for Mr. Sprouse, and I am no longer + interested in the unravelling of the mystery surrounding the deaths of + Roon and Paul," said he. "There is nothing to keep me here any longer, + Miss Cameron. I suggest that you allow me to escort you at once to your + friends, wherever they—" + </p> + <p> + She was opposed to this plan. While there was still a chance that Sprouse + might be apprehended in the neighbourhood, or the possibility of his being + caught by the relentless pursuers, she declined to leave. + </p> + <p> + "Then, I shall also stay," said he promptly, and was repaid by the + tremulous smile she gave him. His heart was beating like mad, and he knew, + in that instant, just what had happened to him. He was helplessly in love + with this beautiful cousin of kings and queens. And when he thought of + kings and queens he realised that beyond all question his love was + hopeless. + </p> + <p> + "You are very good to me," she said softly. + </p> + <p> + He got up suddenly and walked away. After a moment, in which he regained + control of himself, he returned to her side. + </p> + <p> + "What effect will Mr. Loeb's flight have on the scheme up there, Miss + Cameron?" he inquired, quite steadily. + </p> + <p> + "They will scatter to the four winds, those people," she said. "He would + not have fled unless disaster was staring him in the face. Something has + transpired to defeat his ugly plan. They will all run to cover like so + many rats." + </p> + <p> + "The government of the United States is a good rat-catcher," he said. + </p> + <p> + "The United States would do well to keep the rats out, Mr. Barnes, instead + of allowing them to come here and thrive and multiply and gnaw into its + very vitals." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII — THE SECOND WAYFARER IS TRANSFORMED, AND MARRIAGE IS + FLOUTED + </h2> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft sent for Barnes at three o'clock. "Come to my room as soon + as possible," was the message delivered by Mr. Bacon. Barnes was taking a + nap. More than that, he was pleasantly dreaming when the pounding fell + upon his door. Awakened suddenly from this elysian dream he leaped from + his bed and rushed to the door, his heart in his mouth. Something sinister + was back of this imperative summons! She was in fresh peril. The gang from + Green Fancy had descended upon the Tavern in force and— + </p> + <p> + "Sorry to disturb you," said Mr. Bacon, as the door flew open, "but he + says it's important. He says—" + </p> + <p> + "I wish you would tell him to go to the devil," said Barnes wrathfully. + </p> + <p> + "Superfluous, I assure you, sir. He says that everything and everybody is + going to the devil, so—" + </p> + <p> + "If he wants to see me why doesn't he come to my room? Why should I go to + his?" + </p> + <p> + "Lord bless you, don't you know that it's one of the prerogatives of a + star to insist on people coming to him instead of the other way about? + What's the use of being a star if you can't—" + </p> + <p> + "Tell him I will come when I get good and ready." + </p> + <p> + "Quite so," said Mr. Bacon absently. He did not retire, but stood in the + door, evidently weighing something that was on his mind and considering + the best means of relieving himself of the mental burden. "Ahem!" he + coughed. "Miss Thackeray advises me that you have expressed a generous + interest in our personal"—(He stepped inside the room and closed the + door)—"er—in our private future, so to speak, and I take this + opportunity to thank you, Mr. Barnes. If it isn't asking too much of you, + I'd like you to say a word or two in my behalf to the old man. You might + tell him that you believe I have a splendid future before me,—and + you wouldn't be lying, let me assure you,—and that there is no doubt + in your mind that a Broadway engagement is quite imminent. A word from you + to one of the Broadway managers, by the way, would—" + </p> + <p> + "You want me to intercede for you in the matter of two engagements instead + of one, is that it?" + </p> + <p> + "I am already engaged to Miss Thackeray,—in a way. The better way to + put it would be for you to intercede in the matter of one marriage and one + engagement. I think he would understand the situation much better if you + put it in that way." + </p> + <p> + "Have you spoken to Mr. Rushcroft about it?" + </p> + <p> + "Only in a roundabout way. I told him I'd beat his head off if he ever + spoke to Miss Thackeray again as he did last night." + </p> + <p> + "Well, that's a fair sort of start," said Barnes, who was brushing his + hair. "What did he say to that?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know. I had to close the door rather hastily. If he said anything + at all it was after the chair hit the door. Ahem! That was last night. He + is as nice as pie this afternoon, so I have an idea that he busted the + chair and doesn't want old Jones to find out about it." + </p> + <p> + "I will say a good word for you," said Barnes, grinning. + </p> + <p> + He found Mr. Rushcroft in a greatly perturbed state of mind. + </p> + <p> + "I've had telegrams from the three people I mentioned to you, Barnes, and + the damned ingrates refuse to join us unless they get their railroad fares + to Crowndale. Moreover, they had the insolence to send the telegrams + collect. The more you do for the confounded bums, the more they ask. I + once had a leading woman who—" + </p> + <p> + Barnes was in no humour to listen to the long-winded reminiscences of the + "star," so he cut him short at once. He ascertained that the "ingrates" + were in New York, on their "uppers," and that they could not accomplish + the trip to Crowndale unless railroad tickets were provided. The + difficulty was bridged in short order by telegrams requesting the distant + players to apply the next day at his office in New York where tickets to + Crowndale would be given them. He telegraphed his office to buy the + tickets and hold them for Miss Milkens, Mr. Hatcher and Mr. Fling. + </p> + <p> + "That completes one of the finest companies, Mr. Barnes, that ever took + the road," said Mr. Rushcroft warmly, forgetting his animosity. "You will + never be associated with a more evenly balanced company of players, sir. I + congratulate you upon your wonderful good fortune in having such a cast + for 'The Duke's Revenge.' If you can maintain a similar standard of + excellence in all of your future productions, you will go down in history + as the most astute theatrical manager of the day." + </p> + <p> + Barnes winced, but was game. "When do you start rehearsals, Rushcroft?" + </p> + <p> + "It is my plan to go to Crowndale to-morrow or the next day, where I shall + meet my company. Rehearsals will undoubtedly start at once. That would + give us—let me see—Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday—four + days. We open on Tuesday night. Oh, by the way, I have engaged a young + woman of most unusual talent to take the minor part of Hortense. You may + have noticed her in the dining-room. Miss Rosamond—er—where + did I put that card?—ah, yes, Miss Floribel Blivens. The poor idiot + insists on Blivens, desiring to perpetuate the family monicker. I have + gotten rid of her spectacles, however, and the name that the prehistoric + Blivenses gave her at the christening." + </p> + <p> + "You—you don't mean Miss Tilly?" + </p> + <p> + "I do. She is to give notice to Jones to-day. There are more ways than one + of getting even with a scurvy caitiff. In this case, I take old Jones's + best waitress away from him, and, praise God, he'll never find another + that will stick to him for eighteen years as she has done." + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd returned late in the afternoon. He was in a hurry to get back to + Green Fancy; there was no mistaking his uneasiness. He drew Barnes aside. + </p> + <p> + "For the love of Heaven, Barnes, get her away from here as soon as + possible, and do it as secretly as you can," he said. "I may as well tell + you that she is in more danger from the government secret service than + from any one up yonder. Understand, I'm not pleading guilty to anything, + but I shall be far, far away from here meself before another sunrise. That + ought to mean something to you." + </p> + <p> + "But she has done no wrong. She has not laid herself liable to—" + </p> + <p> + "That isn't the point. She has been up there with us, and you don't want + to put her in the position of having to answer a lot of nasty questions + they'll be after asking her if they get their hands on her. She might be + weeks or months clearing herself, innocent though she be. Mind you, she is + as square as anything; she is in no way mixed up with our affairs up + there. But I'm giving you the tip. Sneak her out as soon as you can, and + don't leave any trail." + </p> + <p> + "She may prefer to face the music, O'Dowd. If I know her at all, she will + refuse to run away." + </p> + <p> + "Then ye'll have to kidnap her," said the Irishman earnestly. "There will + be men swarming here from both sides of the border by to-morrow night or + next day. I've had direct information. The matter is in the hands of the + people at Washington and they are in communication with Ottawa this + afternoon. Never mind how I found it out. It's the gospel truth, and—it's + going to be bad for all of us if we're here when they come." + </p> + <p> + "Who is she, O'Dowd? Man to man, tell me the truth. I want to know just + where I stand." + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd hesitated, looked around the tap-room, and then leaned across the + table. + </p> + <p> + "She is the daughter of Andreas Mara-Dafanda, former minister of war in + the cabinet of Prince Bolaroz the Sixth. Her mother was first cousin to + the Prince. Both father and mother are dead. And for that matter, so is + Bolaroz the Sixth. He was killed early in this war. His brother, a + prisoner in Austria, as you may already know, is the next in line for the + throne,—if the poor devil lives to get it back from the Huns. Miss + Cameron is in reality the Countess Therese Mara-Dafanda—familiarly + and lovingly known in her own land as the Countess Ted. She was visiting + in this country when the war broke out. If it is of any use to you, I'll + add that she would be rich if Aladdin could only come to life and restore + the splendours of the demolished castle, refill the chests of gold that + have been emptied by the conquerors, and restock the farms that have been + pillaged and devastated. In the absence of Aladdin, however, she is almost + as poor as the ancient church-mouse. But she has a fortune of her own. Two + of the most glorious rubies in the world represent her lips; her eyes are + sapphires that put to shame the rocks of all the Sultans; when she smiles, + you may look upon pearls that would make the Queen of Sheba's trinkets + look like chinaware; her skin is of the rarest and richest velvet; her + hair is all silk and a yard wide; and, best of all, she has a heart of + pure gold. So there you are, me man. Half the royal progeny of Europe have + been suitors for her hand, and the other half would be if they didn't + happen to be of the same sex." + </p> + <p> + "Is she likely to—er—marry any one of them, O'Dowd?" + </p> + <p> + "Do you mean, is she betrothed to one of the royal nuts? If I were her + worst enemy I couldn't wish her anything as bad as that. The world is full + of regular men,—like meself, for example,—and 'twould be a + pity to see her wasted upon anything so cheap as a king." + </p> + <p> + "Then, she isn't?" + </p> + <p> + "Isn't what?" + </p> + <p> + "Betrothed." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" He squinted his eyes drolly. "Bedad, if she is, she's kept it a + secret from me. Have you aspirations, me friend?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly not," said Barnes sharply. "By the way, you have mentioned + Prince Bolaroz the Sixth, but you haven't given a name to the country he + ruled." + </p> + <p> + O'Dowd stared. "The Saints preserve us! Is the man a numbskull? Are you + saying that you don't know who and what—My God, such ignorance + bewilders me!" + </p> + <p> + "Painful as it may be to you, O'Dowd, I don't seem able to place Bolaroz + in his proper realm." + </p> + <p> + "Whist, then!" He put his hand to his mouth and whispered a name. + </p> + <p> + An incredulous expression came into Barnes's eyes. "Are you jesting with + me, O'Dowd?" + </p> + <p> + "I am not." + </p> + <p> + "But I thought it was nothing more than a make-believe, imaginary land, + cooked up by some hair-brained novelist for the purpose of—" + </p> + <p> + "Well, ye know better now," said O'Dowd crisply. "Good-bye. I must be on + my way. Deliver my best wishes to her, Barnes, and say that if she ever + needs a friend Billy O'Dowd is the boy to respond to any call she sends + out. God willing, I may see her again some day,—and I'll say the + same to you, old man." He arose and held out his hand. "I'm trusting to + you to get her away from these parts before the rat-catchers come. Don't + let 'em bother her. Good-bye and good luck forever." + </p> + <p> + "You are a brick, O'Dowd. I want to see you again. You will always find me—" + </p> + <p> + "Thanks. Don't issue any rash invitations. I might take you up." He strode + to the door, followed by Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "Is there anything to be feared from this Prince Ugo or the crowd up + there?" + </p> + <p> + "There would be if they knew where they could lay their hands on her + inside of the next ten hours. She could a tale unfold, and they wouldn't + like that. Keep her under cover here till—well, till THAT danger is + past and then keep her out of the danger that is to come." + </p> + <p> + Barnes started upstairs as soon as O'Dowd was off, urged by an eagerness + that put wings on his feet and a thrill of excitement in his blood. Half + way up he stopped short. A new condition confronted him. What was the + proper way to approach a person of royal blood? Certainly it wasn't right + to go galumping upstairs and bang on her door, and saunter in as if she + were just like any one else. He would have to think. + </p> + <p> + When he resumed his upward progress it was with a chastened and + deferential mien. Pausing at her door, he was at once aware of voices + inside the room. He stood there for some time before he realised that Miss + Thackeray was repeating, with theatric fervour, though haltingly, as much + of her "part" as she could remember, evidently to the satisfaction of the + cousin of princes, for there were frequent interruptions which had all the + symptoms of applause. + </p> + <p> + He rapped on the door, but so timorously that nothing came of it. His + second effort was productive. He heard Miss Thackeray say "good gracious," + and, after a moment, Miss Cameron's subdued: "What is it?" + </p> + <p> + "May I come in?" he inquired, rather ashamed of his vigour. "It's only + Barnes." + </p> + <p> + "Come in," was her lively response. "It was awfully good of you, Miss + Thackeray, to let me hear your lines. I think you will be a great success + in the part." + </p> + <p> + "Thanks," said Miss Thackeray drily. "I'll come in again and let you hear + me in the third act." She went out, mumbling her lines as she passed + Barnes without seeing him. + </p> + <p> + "Forgive me for not arising, Mr. Barnes," said Royalty, a wry little smile + on her lips. "I fear I twisted it more severely than I thought at first. + It is really quite painful." + </p> + <p> + "Your ankle?" he cried in surprise. "When and how did it happen? I'm + sorry, awfully sorry." + </p> + <p> + "It happened last night, just as we were crossing the ditch in front—" + </p> + <p> + "Last night? Why didn't you tell me? Don't you know that it's wrong to + walk with a sprained ankle? Don't—" + </p> + <p> + "Don't be angry with me," she pleaded. "You could not have done anything." + </p> + <p> + "Couldn't I, though? I certainly could have carried you the rest of the + way,—and upstairs." He was conscious of a strange exasperation. He + felt as though he had been deliberately cheated out of something. + </p> + <p> + "You poor man! I am quite heavy." + </p> + <p> + "Pooh! A hundred and twenty-five at the outside. Do you think I'm a + weakling?" + </p> + <p> + "Please, please!" she cried. "You look so—so furious. I know you are + very, very strong,—but so am I. Why should I expect you to carry me + all that distance when—" + </p> + <p> + "But, good Lord," he blurted out, "I would have loved to do it. I can't + imagine anything more—I—I—" He broke off in confusion. + </p> + <p> + She smiled divinely. "Alas, it is too late now. But—" she went on + gaily, "you may yet have the pleasure of carrying me downstairs, Mr. + Barnes. Will that appease your wrath?" + </p> + <p> + He flushed. "I'm sorry I—" + </p> + <p> + "See," she said, "it is nicely bandaged,—and if you could see + through the bandages you would find it dreadfully swollen. That nice Miss + Thackeray doctored me. What a quaint person she is." + </p> + <p> + His brow clouded once more. "I hope you will feel able to leave this place + to-morrow, Countess. We must get away almost immediately." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, you have been listening to O'Dowd, I see." + </p> + <p> + "Yes. He tells me it will be dangerous to—" + </p> + <p> + "I was thinking of something else that he must have told you. You forgot + to address me as Miss Cameron." + </p> + <p> + "I might have gone even farther and called you the Countess Ted," he said. + </p> + <p> + She sighed. "It was rather nice being Miss Cameron to you, Mr. Barnes. You + will not let it make any difference, will you? I mean to say, you will be + just the same as if I were still Miss Cameron and not—some one + else?" + </p> + <p> + "I will be just the same," he said, leaning a little closer. "I am not so + easily frightened as all that, you know." + </p> + <p> + She looked into his eyes for a moment, and then turned her own swiftly + away. Entranced, he watched the delicate colour steal into her cheek. + </p> + <p> + "You are just like other women," he said thickly, "and I am like other + men. We can't help being what we are, Countess. Flesh and blood mortals, + that's all. If a cat may look at a king, why may not I look at a + countess?" + </p> + <p> + She met his gaze, but not steadily. Her deep blue eyes were filled with a + vague wonder; she seemed to be searching for something in his to explain + the sudden embarrassment that had come over her. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, I do not understand you American men," she murmured, shaking her + head. "A king would have found as much pleasure in looking at Miss Cameron + as at a countess. Why shouldn't YOU?" A radiant smile lighted her face. + "The king would not think of reproving the cat. I see no reason why you + should not look at a poor little countess with impunity." + </p> + <p> + "Do you think it would be possible for you to understand me any better as + Miss Cameron?" he asked bluntly. + </p> + <p> + "I think perhaps it would," she said, the smile fading. + </p> + <p> + "Then, I shall continue to look upon you as Miss Cameron, Countess. It + will make it easier for both of us." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," she said, a little sadly, "I am sure Miss Cameron would not be half + so dense as the Countess. She would understand perfectly. She has grown to + be a very discerning person, Mr. Barnes, notwithstanding her extreme + youth. Miss Cameron is only four days old, you see." + </p> + <p> + He bowed very low and said: "My proudest boast is that I have known her + since the day she was born. If I had the tongue and the courage of O'Dowd + I might add a great deal to that statement." + </p> + <p> + "A great deal that you would not say to a countess?" she asked, playing + with fire. + </p> + <p> + "A great deal that a child four days old could hardly be expected to + grasp, Miss Cameron," he replied, pointedly. "Having lived to a great age + myself, and acquired wisdom, I appreciate the futility of uttering + profound truths to an infant in arms." + </p> + <p> + She beamed. "O'Dowd could not have done any better than that," she cried. + Then quickly, even nervously, as he was about to speak again: "Now, tell + me all that Mr. O'Dowd had to say." + </p> + <p> + He seated himself and repeated the Irishman's warning. Her eyes clouded as + he went on; utter dejection came into them. + </p> + <p> + "He is right. It would be difficult for me to clear myself. My own people + would be against me. No one would believe that I did not deliberately make + off with the jewels. They would say that I—oh, it is too dreadful!" + </p> + <p> + "Don't worry about that," he exclaimed. "You have me to testify that—" + </p> + <p> + "How little you know of intrigue," she cried. "They would laugh at you and + say that you were merely another fool who had lost his head over a woman. + They would say that I duped you—" + </p> + <p> + "No!" he cried vehemently. "Your people know better than you think. You + are disheartened, discouraged. Things will look brighter to-morrow. Good + heavens, think how much worse it might have been. That—that infernal + brute was going to force you into a vile, unholy marriage. He—By the + way," he broke off abruptly, "I have been thinking a lot about what you + told me. He couldn't have married you without your consent. Such a + marriage would never hold in a court of—" + </p> + <p> + "You are wrong," she said quietly. "He could have married me without my + consent, and it would have held,—not in one of your law courts, I + dare say, but in the court to which he and I belong by laws that were made + centuries before America was discovered. A prince of the royal house may + wed whom and when he chooses, provided he does not look too far beneath + his station. He may not wed a commoner. The state would not recognise such + a union. My consent was not necessary." + </p> + <p> + "But you are in my country now, not in yours," he argued. "Our laws would + have protected you." + </p> + <p> + "You do not understand. Marriages such as he contemplated are made every + year in Europe. Do you suppose that the royal marriages you read about in + the newspapers are made with the consent of the poor little princes and + princesses? Your laws are one thing, Mr. Barnes; our courts are another. + Need I be more explicit?" + </p> + <p> + "I think I understand," he said slowly. "Poor wretches!" + </p> + <p> + "Prince Ugo is of royal blood. I am not too far beneath him. In my country + his word is the law. The marriage that was to have been celebrated to-day + at Green Fancy would have bound me to him forever. It would have been + recognised in my country as legal. I have not the right of appeal. I would + not even be permitted to question his right to make me his wife against my + will. He is a prince. His will is law." + </p> + <p> + "Isn't love allowed to enter into a—" + </p> + <p> + "Love?" she scorned. "What has love to do with it? There isn't a queen in + all the world who loves—or loved, I would better say,—the man + she married. Some of them may have grown afterwards to love their kings, + because all kings are not alike. You may be quite sure, however, that the + wives of kings and princes did not marry their ideals; they did not marry + the men they loved. So, you see, it wouldn't have mattered in the least to + Prince Ugo whether I loved him or hated him. It was all the same to him. + It was enough that he loved me and wanted me. And besides, laying + sentiment aside, it wouldn't have been a bad stroke of business on his + part. He has a fair chance to sit on the throne of our country. By placing + me beside him on the throne he would be taking a long step toward uniting + the factions that are now bitterly opposing each other. I am able to + discuss all this very calmly with you now, Mr. Barnes, for the nightmare + is ended. I am here with you, alive and well. If you had not come for me + last night, I would now be sleeping the long sleep at Green Fancy." + </p> + <p> + "You—you would have taken your own life?" he said, in a shocked + voice. + </p> + <p> + "I would have spared myself the horror of letting him destroy it in a + slower, more painful fashion," she said, compressing her lips. + </p> + <p> + He did not speak at once. Looking into her troubled eyes, he said, after a + soulful moment: "I am glad that I came in time. You were made to love and + be loved. The man you love,—if there ever be one so fortunate,—will + be my debtor to the end of his days. I glorify myself for having been + instrumental in saving you for him." + </p> + <p> + "If there ever be one so fortunate," she mused. Suddenly her mood changed. + A new kind of despair came into her lovely eyes, a plaintive note into her + voice. (I may be pardoned for declaring that she became, in the twinkling + of an eye, a real flesh and blood woman.) "I don't know what I shall do + unless I can get something to wear, Mr. Barnes. I haven't a thing, you + see. This suit is—well, you can see what it is. I—" + </p> + <p> + "I've never seen a more attractive suit," he pronounced. "I said as much + to myself the first time I saw it, the other evening at the cross-roads. + It fits—" + </p> + <p> + "But I cannot LIVE in it, you know. My boxes are up at Green Fancy,—two + small ones for steamer use. Everything I have in the world is in them. + Pray do not look so forlorn. You really couldn't have carried them, Mr. + Barnes, and I shudder when I think of what would have happened to you if I + had tumbled them out of the window upon your head. You would have been + squashed, and it isn't unlikely that you would have aroused every one in + the house with your groans and curses." + </p> + <p> + "I dropped a trunk on my toes one time," he said, grinning with a delight + that had nothing to do with the reminiscence. She was quaintly humorous + once more, and he was happy. "I think one swears more prodigiously when a + trunk falls on his toes than he does when it drops on his head. There is + something wonderfully quieting and soothing about a trunk lighting on + one's head from a great height. Don't worry about your boxes. I have a + feeling it will be perfectly safe to call for them with a wagon + to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "I don't know what I should do without you," she said. + </p> + <p> + That evening at supper, Barnes and Mr. Rushcroft, to say nothing of three + or four "transients," had great cause for complaint about the service. + Miss Tilly was wholly pre-occupied. She was memorising her "part." Instead + of asking Mr. Rushcroft whether he would have bean soup or noodles, she + wanted to know whether she should speak the line this way or that. She had + a faraway, strained look in her eyes, and she mumbled so incessantly that + one of the guests got up and went out to see Mr. Jones about it. Being + assured that she was just a plain damn' fool and not crazy, he returned + and said a great many unpleasant things in the presence of Miss Tilly, who + fortunately did not hear them. + </p> + <p> + "You've spoiled a very good waitress, Rushcroft," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "And a very good appetite as well," growled the Star. + </p> + <p> + Late in the night, Barnes, sitting at his window dreaming dreams, saw two + big touring cars whiz past the tavern. The next morning Peter Ames, the + chauffeur, called him up on the telephone to inquire whether he had heard + anything more about the job on his sister's place. He was anxious to know, + he said, because everybody had cleared out of Green Fancy during the night + and he had received instructions to lock up the house and look for another + situation. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII — MR. SPROUSE CONTINUES TO BE PERPLEXING, BUT PUTS HIS + NOSE TO THE GROUND + </h2> + <p> + The morning air was soft with the first real touch of spring. A quiet haze + lay over the valley; the lofty hills were enjoying a peaceful smoke, and + the sky was as blue as the turquoise. Birds shrilled a fresh, gay carol; + the song of the anvil had a new thrill of joy in every inspiring note; the + cawing of crows travelled melodiously across the fields, roosters split + their throats in vociferous acclaim to the distant sun, and hens clucked a + complacent chorus. The rattle of kitchen pans was melody to the ear + instead of torture; the squeaking of pigs in the sty beyond the stable + yard took on the dignity of music; and the blue smoke that rose from + chimneys near and far went dancing up to wed the smiling sky. + </p> + <p> + Barnes was abroad early. Very greatly to his annoyance, he had slept long + and soundly throughout the night. He was annoyed because he had made up + his mind that as her protector he would be most negligent if he went to + sleep at all, with all those frightened varlets hovering around ready to + go to any extreme in order to save their skins. + </p> + <p> + Indeed, he left his door slightly ajar and laid his revolver on a chair + beside the bed, in which, with the aid of a lantern, he promised himself + to keep the vigil, stretched out in his daytime garb, prepared for instant + action, the while he enriched his mind by reading "The Man of Property." + But he fell to dreaming with his eyes wide open, and few were the pages he + turned. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly it was broad daylight and the wick in the lantern smelled + horribly. He popped from the bed, rubbed his eyes, and then dashed out in + the hall, expecting to come upon sanguinary evidence of a raid during the + night. To his amazement, there were no visible signs of an attack upon the + house. It seemed incredible that his defection had not been attended by + results too horrible to contemplate. By all the laws of fate, she should + now be either dead or at the very least, frightfully mutilated. Something + like that invariably happens when a sentinel sleeps at his post, or an + engineer drowses in his cab. But nothing of the sort had happened. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bacon, sweeping the front stairs, assured him between yawns that he + hadn't heard a sound in the Tavern after half-past ten,—at which + hour he went to bed and to sleep. + </p> + <p> + Barnes was at breakfast when Peter Ames called up. An inspiration seized + him when the chauffeur mentioned the wholesale exodus: he hired Peter + forthwith and ordered him to report immediately,—with the car. He + was going up to Green Fancy for Miss Cameron's "boxes." + </p> + <p> + Whether it was the fresh, sweet smell of the earth that caused him to + saunter forth from the Tavern, and to adventure across the road to the + foot of the great old oak, or the ripening of spring in his blood, is of + no immediate consequence here. He had no reason for going over there to + lean against the tree and light his after-breakfast pipe,—unless, of + course, it be argued that the position afforded a fair and excellent view + of the window in Miss Cameron's room. The shutters were open and the low + sash was raised. + </p> + <p> + Presently she appeared at the window, and smiled down upon him. The spell + was at its height; the charm that had clothed the morning with enchantment + was now complete. + </p> + <p> + He waved his hand. "The top o' the morning," he cried. + </p> + <p> + "I detect coffee," she returned, "and, oh, how good it smells. Have you + had yours?" + </p> + <p> + "Ages ago," he replied, ecstatically. + </p> + <p> + She placed her elbows on the sill and her chin in the palms of her hands. + The loose sleeves of Miss Thackeray's bizarre dressing gown fell away, + revealing two round, smooth, white arms. The sun shot its mellow light + into the ripples of her tousled hair, and it shone like burnished gold. + Her white teeth gleamed against the red of her smiling lips. He was + fascinated. + </p> + <p> + The automobile driven by Peter Ames too soon came roaring and rattling up + the pike. She withdrew her head, after twice being warned by Barnes not to + reveal herself to the view of skulkers who might infest the wood beyond,—and + each time his reward was a delightfully stubborn shake of the head and the + ruthless assertion that on such a heavenly morning as this she didn't mind + in the least if all the spies in the world were gazing at her. + </p> + <p> + Two minutes after Peter drove up to the Tavern he was on the way back to + Green Fancy again, and seated beside him was Thomas Kingsbury Barnes, his + new master. + </p> + <p> + "Needn't be afraid of trespassin'," said Peter when Barnes advised him to + go slow as they turned off the road into the forest. "Nobody's going to + object. You c'n yell, and shoot, and raise all the thunder you want, an' + there won't be nobody runnin' out to tell you to shut up. Might as well + try to disturb a graveyard." + </p> + <p> + There was not a sign of human life about the place. Peter, without + compunction, admitted his employer through the back door of the house, and + accompanied him upstairs to the room recently occupied by Miss Cameron. + </p> + <p> + "Course," he said, but not uneasily, "I'm not supposed to let anybody + remove anything from the house as long as I'm employed as caretaker." + </p> + <p> + "But you are no longer employed as caretaker. You were discharged and you + are now working for me, Peter." + </p> + <p> + "That's so," said Peter, scratching his head. "Makes all the difference in + the world. I never thought of that. Come to think of it, I guess Miss + Cameron needs clothes as much as anybody. The rest of 'em took all their + duds away with 'em, you c'n bet. Would you know Miss Cameron's clothes if + you was to see 'em?" + </p> + <p> + "Perfectly," said Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "That's good," said Peter, relieved. "Clothes seem to look purty much + alike to me, specially women's." + </p> + <p> + They found the two small leather trunks, thickly belabelled, in the room + upstairs. Both were locked. + </p> + <p> + "I don't see how you're going to identify 'em without seein' 'em," said + Peter dubiously. + </p> + <p> + Barnes looked at him sternly. "Peter, be good enough to remember that you + are working for a man of the most highly developed powers of divination. + Do you get that?" + </p> + <p> + "No, sir," said Peter honestly; "I don't." + </p> + <p> + "Well, if I were to say to you that I possess the singular ability to see + a thing without actually seeing it, what would you say?" + </p> + <p> + "I wouldn't say anything, because I don't think it helps a man any to call + his boss a liar." + </p> + <p> + "You take this one," said Barnes, without further parley, "and I will + manage the other." He was in a hurry to get away from the house. There was + no telling when the government agents would descend upon the place. He was + at a loss to understand O'Dowd's failure to remove the trunks which would + so surely draw the attention of the authorities to the girl he seemed so + eager to shield. "And, by the way," he added, as they descended the stairs + with the trunks on their backs, "you may as well get your own things + together, Peter. We start on a long motor trip to-night. I am afraid we + shall have to steal the automobile, if you don't mind." + </p> + <p> + "It belongs to me, sir," said Peter. "Mr. O'Dowd gave it to me yesterday, + with his compliments. It seems that he had word from his sister to reward + me for long and faithful service. Special cablegram from London or + England, I forget which." + </p> + <p> + "Did Mr. Curtis leave with the others last night?" inquired Barnes, + setting the trunk down on the brick pavement outside the door. + </p> + <p> + "'Pears that he left a couple of days ago," said Peter, vastly perplexed. + "By gosh, I don't see how he done it, 'thout me knowin' anything about it. + Derned queer, that's all I got to say, man as sick as he is." + </p> + <p> + Barnes did not enlighten him. He helped Peter to lift the trunks into the + car and then ordered him to start at once for Hart's Tavern. + </p> + <p> + "You can return later on for your things," he said. + </p> + <p> + "I got 'em tied up in a bundle in the garage, Mr. Burns," he said. "Won't + take a second to get 'em out." He hurried around the corner of the house, + leaving Barnes alone with the car. + </p> + <p> + A dry, quiet chuckle fell upon Barnes's ears. He glanced about in surprise + and alarm. No one was in sight. + </p> + <p> + "Look up, young man," and the startled young man obeyed. His gaze halted + at a window on the second story, almost directly over his head. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Sprouse was looking down upon him, his sharp features fixed in a + sardonic grin. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'll be damned!" burst from Barnes's lips. He could not believe his + eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Surprised to see me, eh? If you're not in a hurry, I'd certainly + appreciate a lift as far as the Tavern, old man. I'll be down in a jiffy." + </p> + <p> + "Hold on! What the deuce does all this mean? How do you happen to be here, + and where are the—" + </p> + <p> + "Sh! Not so loud! Don't get excited. I dare say you know all there is to + know about me by this time, so we needn't waste time over trifles. Stand + aside! I'm going to drop." A moment later he swung over the sill, and + dropped lightly to the ground eight feet below. Dusting his hands, he + advanced and extended one of them to the bewildered Barnes. "Oh, you won't + shake, eh? Well, it doesn't matter. I don't blame you." + </p> + <p> + "See here, Sprouse or whatever your name is,—" + </p> + <p> + "Cool off! I'll explain in ten words. I didn't get the stuff. I came back + this morning to have a quiet, undisturbed look around. My only reason for + revealing myself to you now, Barnes, is to ask your assistance in—" + </p> + <p> + "Ask my assistance, you infernal rogue!" roared Barnes. "Why, I'll—I'll—" + </p> + <p> + "Better hear me out," broke in Sprouse calmly. + </p> + <p> + "I could drill a hole through you so quickly you'd never know what did + it," he went on. His hand was in his coat pocket, and a quick glance + revealed to Barnes a singularly impressive angle in the cloth, the point + of which seemed to be directed squarely at his chest. "But I'm not going + to do it. I just want to set myself straight with you. In a word, I never + got anywhere near the room in which the jewels were hidden. This is God's + truth, Barnes. I didn't stick a knife into that poor devil up there the + other night. Here's what actually happened. I—" + </p> + <p> + "Wait a moment. You intended to steal the jewels, didn't you? You were not + playing fair with me then, so why should I put any faith in you now?" + </p> + <p> + "Honest confession is good for the soul," said Sprouse easily. "I wasn't + the only one who was trying to get the baubles, my friend. It was a game + in which only the best man could win." + </p> + <p> + "I know the truth now about Roon and Paul," said Barnes significantly. + </p> + <p> + "You do?" sneered Sprouse. "I'll bet you a thousand to one you do not. If + the girl told you what she believes to be true, she didn't have it + straight at all. She was led to believe that they were a couple of crooks + and that they fixed me in that Tavern down there. Isn't that what she told + you? Well, that story was cooked up for her special benefit. I don't mind + telling you the truth about them, and you can tell it to her. Roon was the + Baron Hedlund—But all this can wait. Now—" + </p> + <p> + "Did you shoot either of those men?" + </p> + <p> + "I did not. Baron Hedlund was shot, I firmly believe, by Prince Ugo. I + might as well go on with the story now and have it over with. Tell that + chauffeur to take a little stroll. He doesn't have to hear the story, you + know. Hedlund came up here a week or so ago to keep a look-out for his + wife. The Baroness is supposed to be deeply enamoured of Prince Ugo. He + found letters which seemed to indicate that she was planning to join the + Prince up here. In any event, he came to watch. Well, she didn't come. She + had been headed off, but he didn't know that. When he heard of the arrival + of a lady at Green Fancy the other afternoon, he got busy. He went right + up there with blood in his eye. I admit that I am the gentleman who + telephoned the warning up to the Prince. They tried to head the Baron and + his man off at the cross-roads, but he beat them to it. If there was to be + a fight, they didn't want it to happen anywhere near the house. Part of + them, led by Ugo himself, took a short cut up through the woods and met + the two men in the road. + </p> + <p> + "There is only one man in the world to-day who is a better shot at night + than Prince Ugo, and modesty keeps me from mentioning his illustrious + name. That's why I believe Ugo is the one who got the Baron,—or + Roon, as you know him. The other fellow was halted at the cross-roads when + he made a run for it. A couple of men had been sent there for just such an + emergency. Hedlund was a curiously chivalrous chap. He went to extreme + measures to protect his wife's good name by wiping out all means of + identification. His wife's good name! It is to laugh! Now, that is the + true story of the little affair, and if you are as much of a gentleman as + I take you to be, Barnes, you will respect Hedlund's desire to shield the + woman he loved, and let him lie up yonder in an unmarked grave. That is + what he figured on, you know, in case things went against him, and I'll + stake my head that if you put it up to the Countess Therese, she will feel + as I do about it. She will beg you to keep the secret. Hedlund was a + lifelong friend of her family. He was beloved by all of them. He married + an actress in Vienna three or four years ago. On second thoughts, if I + were you I'd spare the Countess. I'd let her go on thinking that the story + she has heard is true,—at least for the time being. She's a nice + girl and there's no sense in giving her any unnecessary pain. But that's + up to you. You can do as you please about it. + </p> + <p> + "Now to go back to my own troubles. When I got out into the hall night + before last, after leaving her room, I heard voices whispering in Prince + Ugo's room. Naturally I thought that some one had lamped us on the + outside, and that I was likely to be in a devil of a mess if I wasn't + careful. The last place for me to go was back into her room. They would + cut me off from the outside. So I beat it up the stairway into the attic. + Nothing happened, so I sneaked down to have a peep around. The door to + Ugo's room was open, but there was no light on the inside. He came to the + door and looked up and down the hall. Then some one else came out and + started to sneak away. I leave you to guess the sex. + </p> + <p> + "Nicholas butted in at this unfortunate juncture. He made the mistake of + his life. I could see him as plain as day, standing in the hall grinning + like an ape. Ugo jumped back into his room. In less than a second he was + out again. He landed squarely on Nicholas's back as the fellow turned to + escape. I saw the steel flash. Poor old Nick went down in a heap, letting + out a horrible yell. Ugo dragged him into the room and dashed back into + his own. A moment later he came out again, yelling for help. I heard him + shouting that the house had been robbed,—and in two seconds there + was an uproar all over the place. I thought I was done for. But he had + them all rushing downstairs, yelling that the thief had gone that way. + There was only one thing left for me to do and that was to get out on the + roof if possible, and wait for things to quiet down. I got out through a + trap door and stayed there for an hour or so. They were beating the forest + for the thief, and I give you my word, believe it or not, I actually sent + up a prayer, Barnes, that you had got off safely with the girl. I prayed + harder than I ever dreamed a man could pray. + </p> + <p> + "Well, to shorten the story, I finally took a chance and slid down to the + eaves where I managed to find the limb of a tree big enough to support me,—just + as if the Lord had ordered it put there for my special benefit. I was soon + on the ground, and that meant safety for me. I had heard Ugo tell the + others that Nicholas said the man who stabbed him was yours truly. Can you + beat it? And then every mother's son of them declared it was a feat that + no one else in the world could have pulled off but me, and as I was + nowhere to be found, it was only natural that all of them should believe + the lie that Ugo told. + </p> + <p> + "And now comes the maddening part of the whole business. He said that the + crown jewels were gone! I heard him telling how he was awakened out of a + sound sleep by a man with a gun, who forced him to open the safe and hand + over the treasure. Then he said he was put to sleep again by a crack over + the head with a slung-shot. He was only partially stunned,—Lord, + what a liar!—and came to in time to hear the struggle across the + hall. The thief was running downstairs when he staggered to the door. It + seems that the door at the bottom of the steps had not been closed that + night. + </p> + <p> + "Now, my dear Mr. Barnes, when I asked you to lend your assistance awhile + ago, it was only to have you tell me when it was that Mr. Loeb left this + place, which way he went, and who accompanied him. If we are to find the + crown jewels, my friend, we will first have to find Prince Ugo. He has + them." + </p> + <p> + Barnes had not taken his eyes from the face of this amazing rascal during + the whole of the recital. He had been deceived in him before; he was + determined not to be fooled again. + </p> + <p> + "I don't believe a word of this yarn," he said flatly. "You have the + jewels and—" + </p> + <p> + "Don't be an ass," snapped Sprouse. "If I had them do you suppose I'd be + fiddling around here to-day? Not much. I saw the gang making their getaway + last night, and I saw Peter depart this morning. I concluded to have a + look about the place. Hope springs eternal, you know. There was a bare + possibility that he might have forgotten them!" He scowled as he grinned, + and never had Barnes looked upon a countenance so evil. + </p> + <p> + "Why should I tell YOU anything about Prince Ugo? It would only be helping + you to carry out the game—" + </p> + <p> + "Look here, Mr. Barnes, I'm not going to double-cross you again. That's + all over. I want to get that scurvy dog who knifed poor old Nick. Nick was + a decent, square man. He wasn't a crook. He was a patriot, if such a thing + exists in this world to-day. If you can give me a lead, I'll try to run + Prince Ugo down. And if I do, we'll get the jewels." + </p> + <p> + "We? You amuse me, Sprouse." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I can't do any more than give my promise, my solemn oath, or + something like that. I can't give a bond, you know. I swear to you that if + I lay hands on that stuff, I will deliver it to you. Might just as well + trust me as Ugo. You won't get them from him, that's sure; and you may get + them from me." + </p> + <p> + "Is it revenge you're after?" + </p> + <p> + "My God," almost shouted Sprouse in his exasperation, "didn't he give me a + black eye among my friends up here? Didn't he put me in wrong with all of + them? Do you think I'm going to stand for that? Think I'm going to let him + get away with it? You don't know me, my friend. I've got a reputation at + stake. No one has ever double-crossed me and got away with it. I want to + prove to the world that I didn't take those jewels. I—" + </p> + <p> + "Just what do you mean by 'the world,' Sprouse?" + </p> + <p> + "My world," he replied succinctly. "I'm not a piker, you know," he went + on, cocking one eye in a somewhat supercilious manner. "The stakes are + always high in my game. I don't play for pennies." + </p> + <p> + "Get in the car," said Barnes suddenly. He had decided to take a chance + with the resourceful, indefatigable rascal. There was nothing to be lost + by setting him on the track of Prince Ugo, who, if the man's story was + true, had betrayed his best friends. There was something convincing about + Sprouse's version of the affair at Green Fancy. He called out to Peter. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose you know that the whole game is up, Naismith," he said, + lowering his voice. Peter was wrathfully cranking the car. "The government + is going to take a hand in this business up here." + </p> + <p> + "If you mean that as a hint to me, it's unnecessary. I'll be on my way + inside of an hour. This is no place for me. And that Tavern is no place + for—er—for her, Barnes. Just mention that you saw me and that + I'm going after Mr. Loeb. If I get the stuff, I'll do the square thing by + her. Not for sentimental reasons, bless you, but just because I like to do + things that make people wonder what the hell I'll do next. Tell her the + whole story if you feel like it, but if I were you I'd wait till she is + safe among her friends, where she won't be nervous. Hit it up a bit, + Peter, old boy. I'm in a hurry." + </p> + <p> + Peter eyed him in an unfriendly manner. "Where did you come from, Mr. + Perkins? Mighty queer you—" + </p> + <p> + Sprouse spoke softly out of the corner of his mouth. "Nice old New England + name, isn't it, Barnes?" To Peter: "It's a long story. I'll write it to + you. Speed up." + </p> + <p> + Barnes told all that he knew of Prince Ugo's flight. Sprouse looked + thoughtful for a long time. + </p> + <p> + "So O'Dowd knows that I really was after the swag, eh? He believes I got + it?" + </p> + <p> + "I suppose so." + </p> + <p> + "The only one who thinks I'm absolutely innocent is Ugo, of course,—and + Mrs. Van Dyke. That's good." Sprouse smacked his lips. "Just send me on to + Hornville in the car, and don't give me another thought till you hear from + me. I've got a pretty fair idea where I can find Mr. Loeb. It will take a + little time,—a couple of days, perhaps,—but sooner or later + he'll turn up in close proximity to the beautiful baroness." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX — A TRIP BY NIGHT, A SUPPER, AND A LATE ARRIVAL + </h2> + <p> + Shortly after sundown that evening, the Rushcroft Company evacuated Hart's + Tavern. They were delayed by the irritating and, to Mr. Rushcroft, + unpardonable behaviour of two officious gentlemen, lately arrived, who + insisted politely but firmly on prying into the past, present and future + history of the several members of the organisation, including the new + "backer" or "angel," as one of the operatives slyly observed to the other + on beholding Miss Thackeray. + </p> + <p> + Barnes easily established his own identity and position, and was not long + in convincing the investigators that his connection with the stranded + company was of a purely philanthropic nature,—yes, even platonic, he + asseverated with some heat when the question was put to him. + </p> + <p> + They examined him closely concerning his solitary visit to Green Fancy, + and he described to the best of his ability all but one of the inmates. He + neglected to mention Miss Cameron. Realising that he would be storing up + trouble for himself if he failed to mention his trip to the house that + morning,—they were sure to hear of it in time,—he set his mind + to the task of constructing a satisfactory explanation. He concluded to + sacrifice Peter Ames, temporarily at least. Taking Peter aside, he + explained the situation to him, impressing upon him the importance of + leaving Miss Cameron and her luggage out of the interview, and to say + nothing about the return of "Mr. Perkins." + </p> + <p> + Fortified by Barnes's promise to protect him if he followed these + instructions, Peter consented to tell all that he knew about the people at + Green Fancy. Whereupon his new employer informed the secret service men + that he had gone up to Green Fancy that morning in response to an appeal + from Peter Ames, who had applied to him for a position a day or two + before. On his arrival there he confirmed the bewildered chauffeur's story + that the whole crowd had stolen away during the night. He guaranteed to + produce Peter at any time he was needed, and was perfectly willing to + discommode himself to the extent of leaving the man behind if they + insisted on holding him. + </p> + <p> + The officers, after putting him through a rather rigid examination, held + private consultation over Peter. To Barnes's surprise and subsequent + dismay, they announced that there was nothing to be gained by holding the + man; he was at liberty to depart with his employer, provided he would + report when necessary. + </p> + <p> + Barnes was some time in fathoming the motive behind this seeming + indifference on the part of the secret service men. It came to him like a + flash, and its significance stunned him. They had decided that there was + more to be gained by letting Peter Ames think he was above suspicion than + by keeping him on the anxious seat. Peter unrestrained was of more value + to them than Peter in durance vile. And from that moment forward there + would not be an hour of the day or night when he was far ahead of the + shadower who followed his trail. There would be a sly, invisible pursuer + at his heels, and an eye ever ready to detect the first false move that he + made. They were counting on Peter to lead them, in his own good time, to + the haunts of his comrades. He could not escape. And he could make the + fatal mistake of considering them a pack of fools! + </p> + <p> + Barnes, perceiving all this, was in a state of perturbation. He had + devised a very clever plan for getting Miss Cameron away from the Tavern + without attracting undue attention. She was to leave in one of the + automobiles that he had engaged to convey the players to Crowndale. It + should go without saying that she was to travel with him in Peter's + ramshackle car. In case of detention or inquiry, she was to pose as a + stage-struck young woman who had obtained a place with the company at the + last moment through his influence. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft was not in the secret. Barnes merely announced that he + wanted to give a charming young friend of the family a chance to see what + she could do on the stage, and that he had taken the liberty of sending + for her. The star was magnanimous. He slapped Barnes on the back and + declared that nothing could give him greater joy than to transform any + friend of his into an actress, and he didn't give a hang whether she had + talent or not. + </p> + <p> + "We'll write in a part for her to-night," he said, "and we'll make it a + small one at first, so that she won't have any difficulty in learning it. + From night to night we'll build it up, Barnes, so that by the end of our + first month your protegee practically will be a co-star with me. There's + nothing mean about me, old chap. Any friend of yours can have—" + </p> + <p> + Barnes made haste to explain that he did not want any one to know that + this friend of the family was going on the stage, and that he would be + greatly indebted to Rushcroft if he would keep "mum" about it for the time + being. + </p> + <p> + "Certainly. Not a word. I understand," said Mr. Rushcroft amiably. "I've + had it happen before," he went on, a perfectly meaningless remark that + brought a flush to Barnes's cheek. + </p> + <p> + It had been Barnes's intention to spirit his charge away from Hart's + Tavern under cover of darkness, in company with his other + "responsibilities," but the fresh turn of affairs now presented + difficulties that were likely to upset his hastily conceived strategy. He + had but one purpose in view, and that was to spare her an unpleasant + encounter with the government officials,—an encounter that + conceivably might result in very distressing complications. He had + revealed his plan to her and she apparently was very much taken with it,—indeed, + she was quite enthusiastic over the prospect of being whisked + unceremoniously to Crowndale, and thence to the home of his sister in New + York City, where she could at once put herself in communication with + friends and supporters. + </p> + <p> + He was looking forward with dubious hopes to a possible extension of his + guardianship, involving a voyage across the Atlantic and the triumphant + delivery of the Countess, so to speak, into the eager arms of her + country's ambassador at Paris. He was now in a state of mind that inspired + him with the belief that it would be a joy to die for her. If he died for + her, she would always remember him as a brave, devoted champion; she would + exalt him; in her tender, grateful heart there would always be a corner + for him, even to the end of her days,—even to the end of her days on + the throne of her country's ruler. Far better that he should die for her,—and + have it all over with,—than that he should live to see her the wife + of—But invariably he ceased dreaming at this point and admitted that + it would be infinitely more satisfying to live. It was his matter-of-fact + contention that while there is life there is hope. + </p> + <p> + When the hour came for the departure from Hart's Tavern he deliberately + engaged the two secret service men in conversation in the tap-room. Miss + Cameron left the house by the rear door and was safely ensconced in + Peter's automobile long before he shook hands with the "rat-catchers" and + dashed out to join her. Tommy Gray's car, occupied by the four players, + was moving away from the door as he sprang in beside her and slammed the + door. The interior of the car was as black as pitch. + </p> + <p> + "Are you there?" he whispered. + </p> + <p> + "Yes. Isn't it jolly, running away like this? It must be wonderfully + exciting to be a criminal, always dodging and—" + </p> + <p> + "Sh! Even a limousine may have ears!" + </p> + <p> + But if the limousine had possessed a thousand ears they would have been + rendered useless in the stormy racket made by Peter's muffler and the + thunderous roar of the exhaust as the car got under way. + </p> + <p> + Sixty miles lay between them and Crowndale. Tommy Gray guaranteed that the + distance could be covered in three hours, even over the vile mountain + roads. Ten o'clock would find them at the Grand Palace Hotel, none the + worse for wear, provided (he always put it parenthetically) they lived to + tell the tale! The luggage had gone on ahead of them earlier in the day. + </p> + <p> + Peter's efforts to stay behind Tommy's venerable but surprisingly + energetic Buick were the cause of many a gasp and shudder from the couple + who sat behind him in the bounding car. He had orders to keep back of + Tommy but never to lose sight of his tail light. + </p> + <p> + Peter was like the celebrated Tam O' Shanter. He was pursued by spectres. + The instant that he discovered that he was lagging a trifle, he shot the + car up to top speed, with the result that he had to jam on the brakes + violently in order to avoid crashing into Tommy's tail light, and at such + times Miss Cameron and Barnes sustained unpleasant jars. Something seemed + to be telling Peter that the law was stretching out its cruel hand to + clutch him from behind; he was determined to keep out of its reach. + </p> + <p> + There was small opportunity for conversation. The trip was not at all as + Barnes had imagined it would be. After the car had raced through Hornville + he decided that it was not necessary to keep Tommy's tail light in view, + and so directed Peter. After that conversation was possible, but the gain + was counterbalanced by a distinct sense of loss. She relinquished her + rather frenzied grasp upon his arm, and sank back into the corner of the + seat. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear, what a relief!" she gasped. + </p> + <p> + "What arrant stupidity," he growled, and she never knew that the remark + bore no relation whatsoever to Peter. + </p> + <p> + He confessed his fears to her, and was immeasurably consoled by her + enthusiastic scorn for the consequences of his mistake. + </p> + <p> + "Let them follow poor old Peter," she said. "We will outwit them, never + fear. If necessary, Mr. Barnes, we can travel with the company for days + and days. I think I should rather enjoy it. If you can manage to get word + to my friends in New York, to relieve their anxiety, I shall be more than + grateful. I am sure they will decide that you are acting for the best in + every particular. It would grieve them,—yes, it would distress them + greatly,—if I were to be subjected to an inquiry at the hands of the + authorities. The notoriety would be—harrowing, to say the least. + Moreover, the disclosures would certainly bring disaster upon those who + are working so loyally to right a grave wrong. They will understand, and + they will thank you not only for all that you have done for me but for the + cause I support." + </p> + <p> + "The first time I ever saw you, I said to myself that you were a brave, + indomitable little soldier," he said warmly. "I am more than ever + convinced of it now." + </p> + <p> + "The men of my family have been soldiers for ten generations," she said + simply, as if that covered everything. "They haven't all been heroes but + none of them has been a coward." + </p> + <p> + "I can believe that," he said. "Blood will tell." + </p> + <p> + "If God gives back my country to my people, Mr. Barnes," she said, after a + long silence, "will you not one day make your way out there to us, so that + we may present some fitting expression of the gratitude—" + </p> + <p> + "Don't speak of gratitude," he exclaimed. "I don't want to be thanked. + Good Lord, do you suppose I—" + </p> + <p> + "There, there! Don't be angry," she cried. "But you must come to my + country. You must see it. You will love it." + </p> + <p> + "But suppose that God does not see fit to restore it to you. Suppose that + he leaves it in the hands of the vandals. What then? Will you go back to—that?" + </p> + <p> + She was still for a long time. "I shall not return to my country until it + is free again, Mr. Barnes," she said, and there was a break in her voice. + </p> + <p> + "You—you will remain in MY country?" he asked, leaning closer to her + ear. + </p> + <p> + "The world is large," she replied. "I shall have to live somewhere. It may + be here, it may be France, or England or Switzerland." + </p> + <p> + "Why not here? You could go far and do worse." + </p> + <p> + "Beggars may not be choosers. The homeless cannot be very particular, you + know. If the Germans remain in my country, I shall be without a home." + </p> + <p> + His voice was tense and vibrant when he spoke again, after a moment's + reflection. "I know what O'Dowd would say if he were in my place." + </p> + <p> + "O'Dowd has known me a great many years," she said. "When you have known + me as many months as he has years, you will thank your lucky star that you + do not possess the affability that the gods have bestowed upon O'Dowd." + </p> + <p> + "Don't be too sure of that," he said, and heard the little catch in her + breath. He found her hand and clasped it firmly. His lips were close to + her ear. "I have known you long enough to—" + </p> + <p> + "Don't!" she cried out sharply. "Don't say it now,—please. I could + listen to O'Dowd, but—but you are different. He would forget by + to-morrow, and I would forget even sooner than he. But it would not be so + easy to forget if you were to say it,—it would not be easy for + either of us." + </p> + <p> + "You are not offended?" he whispered hoarsely. + </p> + <p> + "Why should I be offended? Are you not my protector?" + </p> + <p> + The subtle implication in those words brought him to his senses. Was he + not her protector? And was he not abusing the confidence she placed in + him? + </p> + <p> + "I shall try to remember that,—always," he said abjectly. + </p> + <p> + "Some day I shall tell you why I am glad you did not say it to me + to-night," she said, a trifle unsteadily. She squeezed his hand. "You are + very good to me. I shall not forget that either." + </p> + <p> + And she meant that some day she would confess to him that she was so + tired, and lonely, and disconsolate on this journey to Crowndale, and so + in need of the strength he could give, that she would have surrendered + herself gladly to the comfort of his arms, to the passion that his touch + aroused in her quickening blood! + </p> + <p> + Soon after ten o'clock they entered the town of Crowndale and drew up + before the unattractive portals of the Grand Palace Hotel. An arc lamp + swinging above the entrance shed a pitiless light upon the dreary, + God-forsaken hostelry with the ironic name. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft was already at the desk, complaining bitterly of everything + seen and unseen. As a matter of habit he was roaring about his room and, + while he hadn't put so much as his nose inside of it, he insisted on + knowing what they meant by giving it to him. Mr. Bacon and Mr. Dillingford + were growling because there was no elevator to hoist them two flights up, + and Miss Thackeray was wanting to know WHY she couldn't have a bit of + supper served in her room. + </p> + <p> + "They're all alike," announced Mr. Rushcroft despairingly, addressing the + rafters. He meant hotels in general. + </p> + <p> + "They're all alike," vouchsafed the clerk in an aside to the "drummer" who + leaned against the counter, meaning stage-folk in general. + </p> + <p> + "You're both right," said the travelling salesman, who knew. + </p> + <p> + "Is there a cafe in the neighbourhood?" inquired Barnes, with authority. + </p> + <p> + "There's a rest'rant in the next block," replied the clerk, instantly + impressed. Here was one who obviously was not "alike." "A two-minutes' + walk, Mr.—" (looking at the register)—"Mr. Barnes." + </p> + <p> + "That's good. We will have supper in Miss Thackeray's room. Let me have + your pencil, please. Send over and have them fill this order inside of + twenty minutes." He handed what he had written to the blinking clerk. "For + eight persons. Tell 'em to hurry it along." + </p> + <p> + "Maybe they're closed for the night," said the clerk. "And besides—" + </p> + <p> + "My God! He even hesitates to get food for us when—" began Mr. + Rushcroft. + </p> + <p> + "Besides there's only one waiter on at night and he couldn't get off, I + guess. And besides it's against the rules of this house to serve drinks in + a lady's—" + </p> + <p> + "You tell that waiter to close up when he comes over here with what I've + ordered, and tell him that I will pay double for everything, and to-morrow + morning you can tell the proprietor of this house that we broke the rules + to-night." + </p> + <p> + For the first time in her life Miss Tilly sat down to a meal served by a + member of her late profession. She sat on the edge of Miss Thackeray's bed + and held a chicken sandwich in one hand and a full glass of beer in the + other. Be it said to the credit of her forebears, she did not take even so + much as a sip from the glass, but seven sandwiches, two slices of cold + ham, half a box of sardines, a plate of potato salad, a saucer of Boston + baked beans, two hardboiled eggs, a piece of apple pie and two cups of + coffee passed her freshly carmined lips. She was in her seventh heaven. + She was no longer dreaming of fame: it was a gay reality. Emulating the + example of Miss Thackeray, she addressed Mr. Dillingford as "dear," and + came near to being the cause of his death by strangulation. + </p> + <p> + Miss Cameron submitted to the contagion. She had had no such dreams as + Miss Tilly's, but she was quite as thrilled by the novelty of her + surroundings, the informality of the feast, and the sprightliness of these + undaunted spirits. She sat on Miss Thackeray's trunk, her back against the + wall, her bandaged foot resting on a decrepit suit-case. Her eyes were + sparkling, her lips ever ready to part in the joy of laughter, the colour + leaping into her cheeks in response to the amazing quips of these + unconventional vagabonds. + </p> + <p> + She too was hungry. Food had never tasted so good to her. From time to + time her soft, smiling eyes sought Barnes with a look of mingled wonder + and confusion. She always laughed when she caught the expression of + concern in his eyes, and once she slyly winked at him. He was entranced. + </p> + <p> + He crossed over and sat beside her. "They are a perfectly irresponsible + lot," he said in a low voice. "I hope you don't mind their—er—levity." + </p> + <p> + "I love it," she whispered. "They are an inspiration. One would think that + they had never known such a thing as trouble. I am taking lessons, Mr. + Barnes." + </p> + <p> + She was still warmly conscious of the thrill that had come into her blood + when he carried her up the stairs in his powerful arms, disdaining the + offer of assistance from the suddenly infatuated Tommy Gray. + </p> + <p> + "Rehearsal at eleven sharp," announced Mr. Rushcroft, arising from the + window-sill on which he was seated. "Letter perfect, every one of you. No + guessing. By the way, Miss—er—'pon my soul, I don't believe I + got your name?" + </p> + <p> + "Jones," said the new member, shamelessly. + </p> + <p> + "Ah," said he, smiling broadly, "a word oft spoken in jest—ahem!—how + does it go? No matter. You know what I mean. I have not had time to write + in the part for you, Miss Jones, but I shall do so the first thing in the + morning. Now that I see how difficult it is for you to get around, I have + hit upon a wonderful idea. I shall make it a sitting part. You won't have + to do anything with your legs at all. Most beginners declare that they + don't know what to do with their hands, but I maintain that they know less + about what to do with their legs. Fortunately you are incapacitated—" + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps it would be just as well to excuse Miss Jones from rehearsal in + the morning," broke in Barnes hastily. "She is hardly fit to—" + </p> + <p> + "Just as you say, old chap. Doesn't matter in the least. Good night, + everybody. Sleep tight." + </p> + <p> + "I sha'n't sleep a wink," said Miss Tilly. + </p> + <p> + "Homesick already?" demanded Mr. Bacon, fixing her with a pitying stare. + </p> + <p> + "Worrying over my part," she explained. + </p> + <p> + "Haven't you committed it yet? Say it now. 'It is half past seven, my + lord.' All you have to do is to remember that it comes in the second act + and not in the first or third." + </p> + <p> + "Good night," said Miss Cameron, giving her hand to Barnes at the door. + She was leaning on Miss Thackeray's arm. He never was to forget the deep, + searching look she sent into his eyes. She seemed to be asking a thousand + questions. + </p> + <p> + He went down to the dingy lobby. A single, half-hearted electric bulb shed + its feeble light on the desk, in front of which stood a man registering + under the sleepy eye of the night clerk. + </p> + <p> + After the late arrival had started upstairs in the wake of the clerk, + Barnes stepped up to inspect the book. The midnight express from the north + did not stop at Crowndale, he had learned upon inquiry, and it was the + only train touching the town between nightfall and dawn. + </p> + <p> + The register bore the name of Thomas Moore, Hornville. There was not the + slightest doubt in Barnes's mind that this was the man who had been + detailed to shadow the luckless Peter. Only an imperative demand by + government authorities could have brought about the stopping of the + express at Hornville and later on at Crowndale. + </p> + <p> + Barnes smiled grimly. "I've just thought of a way to fool you, my friend," + he said to himself, and was turning away when a familiar voice assailed + him. + </p> + <p> + Whirling, he looked into the face of a man who stood almost at his elbow,—the + sharp, impassive face of Mr. Sprouse. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX — THE FIRST WAYFARER HAS ONE TREASURE THRUST UPON HIM—AND + FORTHWITH CLAIMS ANOTHER + </h2> + <p> + "That fellow is a rat-catcher," said Sprouse. "What are you doing here?" + demanded Barnes, staring. He seized the man's arm and inquired eagerly: + "Have you got the jewels?" + </p> + <p> + "No; but I will have them before morning," replied Sprouse coolly. He shot + a furtive glance around the deserted lobby. "Better not act as though you + knew me. That bull is no fool. He doesn't know me, but by this time he + knows who you are." + </p> + <p> + "He is trailing Peter Ames." + </p> + <p> + "Ship Peter to-morrow," advised Sprouse promptly. + </p> + <p> + "I had already thought of doing so," said Barnes, surprised by the uncanny + promptness of the man in hitting upon the strategy he had worked out for + himself after many harassing hours. "He goes to my sister's place + to-morrow morning." + </p> + <p> + "Send him by train. He will be easier to follow. There is a train leaving + for the south at 9:15." + </p> + <p> + "You were saying that before morning you would—" + </p> + <p> + "Be careful! Don't whisper. People don't whisper to utter strangers. Step + over here by the front door. Would you be surprised if I were to tell you + that his royal nibs is hiding in this town? Well, he certainly is. He + bought a railway ticket for Albany at Hornville the day he beat it, but he + got off at the second station,—which happens to be this one." + </p> + <p> + "How can you be sure of all this?" + </p> + <p> + "Simple as falling off a log," said Sprouse, squinting over his shoulder. + "The Baroness Hedlund has been here for a week or ten days. The Baron + wasn't so far wrong in his suspicions, you see. He lost track of her, + that's all. I happened to overhear a conversation at Hart's Tavern between + him and his secretary. I have a way of hearing things I'm not supposed to + hear, you know. By a curious coincidence I happened to be taking the air + late one night just outside his window at the Tavern,—on the roof of + the porch, to be accurate. I told Ugo what I'd heard and he nearly broke + his neck trying to head her off. O'Dowd and De Soto rushed over to + Hornville and telegraphed for her to leave the train at the first + convenient place and return to New York. She was on her way up here, you + see. She got off at Crowndale and everybody supposed that she had taken + the next train home. But she didn't do anything of the kind. She is a + silly, obstinate fool and she's crazy about Ugo,—and jealous as + fury. She hated to think of him being up here with other women. A day or + so later she sent him a letter. No one saw that letter but Ugo, and—your + humble servant. + </p> + <p> + "I happened to be the one to go to Spanish Falls for the mail that day. + The postmark excited my curiosity. If I told you what I did to that letter + before delivering it to Mr. Loeb, you could send me to a federal prison. + But that's how I came to know that she had decided to wait in Crowndale + until he sent word that the coast was clear. She went to the big + sanatorium outside the town and has been there ever since, incognito, + taking a cure for something or other. She goes by the name of Mrs. + Hasselwein. I popped down here this afternoon and found out that she is + still at the sanatorium but expects to leave early to-morrow morning. Her + trunks are over at the station now, to be expressed to Buffalo. I made + another trip out there this evening and waited. About eight o'clock Mr. + Hasselwein strolled up. He sat on the verandah with her for half an hour + or so and then left. I followed him. He went to one of the little cottages + that belong to the sanatorium. I couldn't get close enough to hear what + they said, but I believe he expects to take her away in an automobile + early in the morning. It is a seventy mile ride from here to the junction + where they catch the train for the west. I'm going up now to make a call + on Mr. Hasselwein. Would you like to join me?" + </p> + <p> + Barnes eyed him narrowly. "There is only one reason why I feel that I + ought to accompany you," he said. "If you have it in your mind to kill + him, I certainly shall do everything in my power to prevent—" + </p> + <p> + "Possess your soul in peace. I'm not going to do anything foolish. Time + enough left for that sort of thing. I will get him some day, but not now. + By the way, what is the number of your room?" + </p> + <p> + "Twenty-two,—on the next floor." + </p> + <p> + "Good. Go upstairs now and I'll join you in about ten minutes. I will tap + three times on your door." + </p> + <p> + "Why should you come to my room, Sprouse? We can say all that is to be + said—" + </p> + <p> + "If you will look on the register you will discover that Mr. J. H. Prosser + registered here about half an hour ago. He is in room 30. He left a call + for five o'clock. Well, Prosser is another name for Ugo." + </p> + <p> + "Here in this hotel? In room 30?" cried Barnes, incredulously. + </p> + <p> + "Sure as you're alive. Left the cottage an hour ago. Came in a jitney or I + could have got to him on the way over." + </p> + <p> + Barnes, regardless of consequences, dashed over to inspect the register. + Sprouse followed leisurely, shooting anxious glances up the stairs at the + end of the lobby. + </p> + <p> + "See!" cried Barnes, excitedly, putting his finger on the name "Miss + Jones." "She's in room 32,—next to his. By gad, Sprouse, do you + suppose he knows that she is here? Would the dog undertake anything—" + </p> + <p> + "You may be sure he doesn't know she's here, or you either, for that + matter. The country's full of Joneses and Barneses. Go on upstairs. Leave + everything to me." + </p> + <p> + He strolled away as the clerk came shuffling down the steps. As Barnes + mounted them, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Sprouse take up a + suitcase near the door and return to the desk, evidently for the purpose + of engaging a room for the night. + </p> + <p> + Before going to his room, he strode lightly down the hall in the direction + of room 30. There was no light in the transom. Stepping close to the door, + he listened intently for sounds from within. He started back almost + instantly. The occupant was snoring with extreme heartiness. + </p> + <p> + A glance revealed a light in the transom of room 32. As he looked, + however, it disappeared. Abashed, he turned and went swiftly away. She was + going to bed. He felt like a snooping, despicable "peeping Tom" caught in + the act. + </p> + <p> + He had been in his room for twenty minutes before he heard the tapping on + his door. He opened it and Sprouse slid into the room. The instant the + door closed behind him, he threw open his coat and coolly produced a long, + shallow metal box, such as one finds in safety vaults. + </p> + <p> + "With my compliments," he said drily, thrusting the box into Barnes's + hands. "You'd better have the Countess check them up and see if they're + all there. I am not well enough acquainted with the collection to be + positive." + </p> + <p> + Barnes was speechless. He could only stare, open-mouthed, at this amazing + man. + </p> + <p> + "Grip 'em tight," went on Sprouse, grinning. "I may relieve you of them if + you get too careless. My advice to you is to hide them and keep your lips + closed—" + </p> + <p> + "My God, Sprouse, have you been in that man's room since I saw you down—" + </p> + <p> + "I forgot to say that no questions were to be asked," broke in the other. + </p> + <p> + "But I insist upon having everything cleared up. Here am I with a box of + jewels stolen from a lodger's room, God knows how, and in danger of being + slapped into jail if they catch me with the—" + </p> + <p> + "All you have to do is to keep quiet and look innocent. Stay out of the + hall to-night. Don't go near the door of No. 30. Act like a man with + brains. I said I would square myself with you and with him, too. Well, + I've done both. Maybe you think it is easy to give up this stuff. There is + a half million dollars' worth of nice little things in that box, small as + it is. I went to a lot of trouble to get 'em, and all I'll receive for my + pains is a thank you from Mr. Thomas K. Barnes, New York." + </p> + <p> + "I cannot begin to thank you enough," said Barnes. "See here, you must + allow me to reward you in some way commensurate with your—" + </p> + <p> + "Cut that out," said Sprouse darkly. "I'm not so damned virtuous that I + have to be rewarded. I like the game. It's the breath of life to me." + </p> + <p> + "The time will surely come when I can do you a good turn, Sprouse, and you + will not find me reluctant," said Barnes, lamely. He was completely at a + loss in the presence of the master-crook. He felt very small, and stupid, + and inadequate,—as one always feels when confronted by genius. + Moreover, he was utterly stupefied. + </p> + <p> + "That's different. If I ever need a friendly hand I'll call on you. It's + only fair that I should give you a tip, Barnes, just to put you on your + guard. I've lived up to my word in this business, and I've done all that I + said I would. From now on, I'm a free agent. I want to advise you to put + that stuff in a safe place. I'll give you two days' start. After that, if + I can get 'em away from you, or whoever may have them, I'm going to do it. + They will be fair plunder from then on. Notwithstanding the fact that I + put them in your hands to-night,—and so wash my own of them + temporarily,—I haven't a single scruple about relieving you of them + on some later occasion. I may have to crack you over the head to do it,—so + a word to the wise ought to be sufficient. If you don't guard them pretty + closely, my friend, you will regain consciousness some day and find you + haven't got them any longer. Good night—and good-bye for the + present. Stick close to your room till morning and—then beat it with + her for New York. I give you two days' start, remember." + </p> + <p> + He switched off the light suddenly. Barnes gasped and prepared to defend + himself. Sprouse chuckled. + </p> + <p> + "Don't be nervous. I'm merely getting ready to leave you with your + ill-gotten gains. It isn't wise, you see, to peep out of a door with a + light in the room behind you. Keep cool. I sha'n't be more than a minute." + </p> + <p> + There was no sound for many seconds, save the deep breathing of the two + men. Then, with infinite caution, Sprouse turned the knob and opened the + door a half inch or so. He left the room so abruptly that Barnes never + quite got over the weird impression that he squeezed through that slender + crack, and pulled it after him! + </p> + <p> + Many minutes passed before he turned on the light. The key of the box was + tied to the wire grip. With trembling fingers he inserted it in the lock + and opened the lid.... "A half-million dollars' worth of nice little + things," Sprouse had said! + </p> + <p> + He did not close his eyes that night. Daybreak found him lying in bed, + with the box under his pillow, a pistol at hand, and his eyes wide-open. + He was in a graver quandary than ever. Now that he had the treasure in his + possession, what was he to do with it? He did not dare to leave it in the + room, nor was it advisable to carry it about with him. The discovery of + the burglary in room 30 would result in a search of the house, from top to + bottom. + </p> + <p> + Cold perspiration started out on his brow. The situation was far from + being the happy one that he had anticipated. + </p> + <p> + He solved the breakfast problem by calling downstairs for a waiter and + ordering coffee and rolls and eggs sent up to his room. Singularly enough + the waiter solved the other and more disturbing problem for him. + </p> + <p> + "SOME robbery last night," said that worthy, as he re-appeared with the + tray. Barnes was thankful that the waiter was not looking at him when he + hurled the bomb, figuratively speaking. He had a moment's time to recover. + </p> + <p> + "What robbery?" he enquired, feigning indifference. + </p> + <p> + "Feller up in one of the cottages at the sanatorium. All beat up, + something fierce they say." + </p> + <p> + "Up in—Where?" almost shouted Barnes, starting up. + </p> + <p> + The man explained where the cottages were situated, Barnes listening as + one completely bereft of intelligence. + </p> + <p> + "Seems he was to leave by auto early this mornin', and they didn't know + anything was wrong till Joe Keep—he's driving a Fierce-Arrow that + Mr. Norton has for rent—till Joe'd been settin' out in front for + nearly half an hour. The man's wife was waitin' fer him up at the main + buildin' and she got so tired waitin' that she sent one of the clerks down + to see what was keeping her husband. Well, sir, him and Joe couldn't wake + the feller, so they climb in an open winder, an' by gosh, Joe says it was + terrible. The feller was layin' on the bed, feet an' hands tied and + gagged, and blood from head to foot. He was inconscious, Joe says, an'—my + God, how his wife took on! Joe says he couldn't stand it, so he snook out, + shakin' like a leaf. He says she's a pippin, too. Never seen a purtier—" + </p> + <p> + "Is—is the man dead?" cried Barnes, aghast. He felt that his face + was as white as chalk. + </p> + <p> + "Nope! Seems like it's nothing serious: just beat up, that's all. Terrible + cuts on his head and—" + </p> + <p> + "What is his name?" demanded Barnes. + </p> + <p> + "Something like Hackensack." + </p> + <p> + "Have they caught the thief?" + </p> + <p> + "I should say not. The police never ketch anything but drunks in this + burg, and they wouldn't ketch them if they could keep from stumblin'." + </p> + <p> + "What time did all this happen?" Barnes was having great difficulty in + keeping his coffee from splashing over. + </p> + <p> + "Doc Smith figgers it was long about midnight, judgin' by the way the + blood co'gulated." + </p> + <p> + "Did they get away with much?" + </p> + <p> + "Haven't heard. Joe says the stove pipe in the feller's room was knocked + down and they's soot all over everything. Looks like they must have been a + struggle. Seems as though the burglar,—must ha' been more'n one of + 'em, I say,—wasn't satisfied with cracking him over the head. He + stuck the point of a knife or something into him,—just a little way, + Joe says—in more'n a dozen places. What say?" + </p> + <p> + "I—I didn't say anything." + </p> + <p> + "I thought you did. Well, if I hear anything more I'll let you know." + </p> + <p> + "Anything for a little excitement," said Barnes casually. + </p> + <p> + He listened at the door until he heard the waiter clattering down the + stairway, and then went swiftly down the hall to No. 30. Mr. Prosser was + sleeping just as soundly and as resoundingly as at midnight! + </p> + <p> + "By gad!" he muttered, half aloud. Everything was as clear as day to him + now. Bolting into his own room, he closed the door and stood stock-still + for many minutes, trying to picture the scene in the cottage. + </p> + <p> + No stretch of the imagination was required to establish the facts. Sprouse + had come to him during the night with Prince Ugo's blood on the hands that + bore the treasure. He had surprised and overpowered the pseudo Mr. + Hasselwein, and had actually tortured him into revealing the hiding place + of the jewels. The significance of the scattered stove pipe was not lost + on Barnes; it had not been knocked down in a struggle between the two men. + Prince Ugo was not, and never had been, in a position to defend himself + against his wily assailant. Barnes's blood ran cold as he went over in his + mind the pitiless method employed by Sprouse in subduing his royal victim. + And the coolness, the unspeakable bravado of the man in coming direct to + him with the booty! His amazingly clever subterfuge in allowing Barnes to + think that room No. 30 was the scene of his operations, thereby forcing + him to remain inactive through fear of consequences to himself and the + Countess if he undertook to investigate! + </p> + <p> + He found a letter in his box when he went downstairs, after stuffing the + tin box deep into his pack,—a risky thing to do he realised, but no + longer perilous in the light of developments. It was no longer probable + that his effects would be subjected to inspection by the police. He walked + over to a window to read the letter. Before he slit the envelope he knew + that Sprouse was the writer. The message was brief. + </p> + <p> + "After due consideration, I feel that it would be a mistake for you to + abandon your present duties at this time. It might be misunderstood. Stick + to the company until something better turns up. With this thought in view + I withdraw the two days' limit mentioned recently to you, and extend the + time to one week. Yours very truly, J. H. Wilson." + </p> + <p> + "Gad, the fellow thinks of everything," said Barnes to himself. "He is + positively uncanny." + </p> + <p> + He read between the lines, and saw there a distinct warning. It had not + occurred to him that his plan to leave for New York that day with Miss + Cameron might be attended by disastrous results. + </p> + <p> + On reflection, he found the prospect far from disagreeable. A week or so + with the Rushcroft company was rather attractive under the circumstances. + The idea appealed to him. + </p> + <p> + But the jewels? What of them? He could not go gallivanting about the + country with a half million dollars' worth of precious stones in his + possession. A king's ransom strapped on his back! He would not be able to + sleep a wink. Indeed, he could see himself wasting away to a mere shadow + through worry and dread. Precious stones? They would develop into + millstones, he thought, with an inward groan. + </p> + <p> + He questioned the advisability of informing Miss Cameron that the crown + jewels were in his possession. Her anxiety would be far greater than his + own. There was nothing to be gained by telling her in any case; so he + decided to bear the burden alone. + </p> + <p> + The play was not to open in Crowndale until Tuesday night, three full days + off. He revelled in the thought of sitting "out front" in the empty little + theatre, watching the rehearsals. At such times he was confident that his + thoughts would not be solely of the jewels. He would at least have + surcease during these periods of forgetfulness. + </p> + <p> + He spent the early part of the forenoon in wandering nervously about the + hotel,—upstairs and down. The jewels were locked in his pack + upstairs. He went up to his room half a dozen times and almost instantly + walked down again, after satisfying himself that the pack had not been + rifled. + </p> + <p> + Exasperation filled his soul. Ten o'clock came and still no sign of the + lazy actors. Rehearsal at eleven, and not one of them out of bed. + </p> + <p> + Peter came to the hotel soon after ten. He had forgotten Peter and his + decision to send him down to the Berkshires that day, and was sharply + reminded of the necessity for doing so by the appearance of the man who + had registered just before midnight. This individual strolled casually + into the lobby a few seconds behind Peter. + </p> + <p> + He acted at once and with decision. The stranger took a seat in the window + not far away. Barnes, in a brisk and business-like tone, informed Peter + that he was to leave on the one o'clock train for the south, and to go + direct to his sister's place near Stockbridge. He was to leave the + automobile in Crowndale for the present. + </p> + <p> + "Here is the money for your railroad fare," he announced in conclusion. "I + have telegraphed Mrs. Courtney's man that you will arrive this evening. He + will start you in on your duties to-morrow. I understand they are + short-handed on the place. And now let me impress upon you, Peter, the + importance of holding yourself ready to report when needed. You know what + I mean. Remember, I have guaranteed that you will appear." + </p> + <p> + The stranger drank in every word that passed between the two men. When the + one o'clock train pulled out of Crowndale, it carried Peter Ames in one of + the forward coaches, and a late guest of the Grand Palace Hotel in the + next car behind. Barnes took the time to assure himself of these facts, + and smiled faintly as he drove away from the railway station after the + departure of the train. Miss Cameron, her veil lowered, sat beside him in + the "hack." + </p> + <p> + For the next three days and nights rehearsals were in full swing, with + scarcely a moment's let-up. The Rushcroft company was increased by the + arrival of three new members and several pieces of baggage. The dingy barn + of a theatre was the scene of ceaseless industry, both peaceful and + otherwise. The actors quarrelled and fumed and all but fought over their + grievances. Only the presence of the "backer" and the extremely pretty and + cultured "friend of the family" in "front" prevented sanguinary encounters + among the male contenders for the centre of the stage. The usually placid + Mr. Dillingford was transformed into a snarling beast every time one of + his "lines" was cut out by the relentless Rushcroft, and there were times + when Mr. Bacon loudly accused his fiancee of "crabbing" his part. + Everybody called everybody else a "hog," and God was asked a hundred times + a day to bear witness to as many atrocities. + </p> + <p> + Each day the bewildered, distressed young woman who sat with Barnes in the + dim "parquet," whispered in his ear: + </p> + <p> + "Can they ever be friendly again?" + </p> + <p> + And every night at supper she rejoiced to find them all on the best of + terms, calling each other "dearie," and "old chap," and "honey," and + declaring that no such company had ever been gotten together in the + history of the stage! Such words as "slob," "fat-head," "boob" or "you + poor nut" never found their way outside the sacred precincts of the + theatre. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Rushcroft magnanimously offered to coach "Miss Jones" in the part he + was going to write in for her just as soon as he could get around to it. + </p> + <p> + "No use writing a part for her, Mr. Barnes, until I get through beating + the parts we already have into the heads of these poor fools up here. I've + got trouble enough on my hands." + </p> + <p> + And so the time crept by, up to the night of the performance. Miss Cameron + remained in ignorance of the close proximity of the jewels, and the police + of Crowndale remained in even denser ignorance as to the whereabouts of + the man who robbed Mr. Hasselwein of all his spare cash and an excellent + gold watch. + </p> + <p> + Hasselwein's story was brief but dramatic. He was recovering rapidly from + his experience and the local newspaper, on Tuesday, announced that he + would be strong enough to accompany his wife when she left the "city" + toward the end of the week. (Considerable space was employed by the + reporter in "writing up" the wonderful devotion of Mrs. Hasselwein, who, + despite the fact that she was quite an invalid, conducted herself with + rare fortitude, seldom leaving her husband's room in the hospital.) + </p> + <p> + According to the injured man, his assailant was a huge, powerful + individual, wearing a mask and armed to the teeth. He came in through an + open window and attacked him while he was asleep in bed. Notwithstanding + the stunning blow he received while prostrate, Mr. Hasselwein struggled to + his feet and engaged the miscreant—(while the word was used at least + twenty times in the newspaper account, I promise to use it but once)—in + a desperate conflict. Loss of blood weakened him and he soon fell + exhausted upon the bed. To make the story even shorter than Prince Ugo + made it, not a word was said about the jewels, and that, after all, is the + only feature of the case in which we are interested. + </p> + <p> + Barnes smiled grimly over Ugo's failure to mention the jewels, and the + misleading description of the thief. He was thankful, however, and + relieved to learn that the one man who might recognise Miss Cameron was + not likely to leave the hospital short of a week's time. + </p> + <p> + No time was lost by the Countess in getting word to her compatriots in New + York. Barnes posted a dozen letters for her; each contained the tidings of + her safety and the assurance that she would soon follow in person. + </p> + <p> + Those three days and nights were full of joy and enchantment for Barnes. + True, he did not sleep very well,—indeed, scarcely at all,—but + it certainly was not a hardship to lie awake and think of her throughout + the whole of each blessed night. He recalled and secretly dilated upon + every sign of decreasing reserve on her part. He shamed himself more than + once for deploring the fact that her ankle was mending with uncommon + rapidity, and that in a few days she would be quite able to walk without + support. And he actually debased himself by wishing that the Rushcroft + company might find it imperative to go on rehearsing for weeks in that + dim, enchanted temple. + </p> + <p> + It was not a "barn of a place" to him. It was paradise. He sat for hours + in one of the most uncomfortable seats he had ever known, devouring with + hungry eyes the shadowy, interested face so close to his own,—and + never tired. + </p> + <p> + And then came a time at last when conversation became difficult between + them; when there were long silences fraught with sweet peril, exceeding + shyness, and a singular form of deafness that defied even the roars of the + players and yet permitted them to hear, with amazing clearness, the + faintest of heart-beats. + </p> + <p> + On the afternoon of the dress rehearsal, he led her, after an hour of + almost insupportable repression, to the rear of the auditorium, in the + region made gloomy by the shelving gallery overhead. Dropping into the + seat beside her, he blurted out, almost in anguish: + </p> + <p> + "I can't stand it any longer. I cannot be near you without—why, I—I—well, + it is more than I can struggle against, that's all. You've either got to + send me away altogether or—or—let me love you without + restraint. I tell you, I can't go on as I am now. I must speak, I must + tell you all that has been in my heart for days. I love you—I love + you! You know I love you, don't you? You know I worship you. Don't be + frightened. I just had to tell you to-day. I could not have held it back + another hour. I should have gone mad if I had tried to keep it up any + longer." He waited breathlessly for her to speak. She sat silent and + rigid, looking straight before her. "Is it hopeless?" he went on at last, + huskily. "Must I ask your forgiveness for my presumption and—and go + away from you?" + </p> + <p> + She turned to him and laid her hand upon his arm. + </p> + <p> + "Am I not like other women? Have you forgotten that you once said that I + was not different? Why should I forgive you for loving me? Doesn't every + woman want to be loved? No, no, my friend! Wait! A moment ago I was so + weak and trembly that I thought I—Oh, I was afraid for myself. Now I + am quite calm and sensible. See how well I have myself in hand? I do not + tremble, I am strong. We may now discuss ourselves calmly, sensibly. A + moment ago—Ah, then it was different! I was being drawn into—Oh! + What are you doing?" + </p> + <p> + "I too am strong," he whispered. "I am sure of my ground now, and I am not + afraid." + </p> + <p> + He had clasped the hand that rested on his sleeve and, as he pressed it to + his heart, his other arm stole over her shoulders and drew her close to + his triumphant body. For an instant she resisted, and then relaxed into + complete submission. Her head sank upon his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" she sighed, and there was wonder, joy—even perplexity, in the + tremulous sign of capitulation. "Oh," came softly from her parted lips + again at the end of the first long, passionate kiss. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI — THE END IN SIGHT + </h2> + <p> + Barnes, soaring beyond all previous heights of exaltation, ranged dizzily + between "front" and "back" at the Grand Opera House that evening. He was + supposed to remain "out front" until the curtain went up on the second + act. But the presence of the Countess in Miss Thackeray's barren, sordid + little dressing-room rendered it exceedingly difficult for him to remain + in any fixed spot for more than five minutes at a stretch. He was in the + "wings" with her, whispering in her delighted ear; in the dressing-room, + listening to her soft words of encouragement to the excited leading-lady; + on the narrow stairs leading up to the stage, assisting her to mount them,—and + not in the least minding the narrowness; out in front for a jiffy, and + then back again; and all the time he was dreading the moment when he would + awake and find it all a dream. + </p> + <p> + There was an annoying fly in the ointment, however. Her languorous + surrender to love, her physical confession of defeat at the hands of that + inexorable power, her sweet submission to the conquering arms of the + besieger, left nothing to be desired; and yet there was something that + stood between him and utter happiness: her resolute refusal to bind + herself to any promise for the future. + </p> + <p> + "I love you," she had said simply. "I want more than anything else in all + the world to be your wife. But I cannot promise now. I must have time to + think, time to—" + </p> + <p> + "Why should you require more time than I?" he persisted. "Have we not + shown that there is nothing left for either of us but to make the other + happy? What is time to us? Why make wanton waste of it?" + </p> + <p> + "I know that I cannot find happiness except with you," she replied. "No + matter what happens to me, I shall always love you, I shall never forget + the joy of THIS. But—" She shook her head sadly. + </p> + <p> + "Would you go back to your people and marry—" he swallowed hard and + went on—"marry some one you could never love, not even respect, with + the memory of—" + </p> + <p> + "Stop! I shall never marry a man I do not love. Oh, please be patient, be + good to me. Give me a little time. Can you not see that you are asking me + to alter destiny, to upset the teachings and traditions of ages, and all + in one little minute of weakness?" + </p> + <p> + "We cannot alter destiny," he said stubbornly. "We may upset tradition, + but what does that amount to? We have but one life to live. I think our + grandchildren and our great-grandchildren will be quite as well pleased + with their ancestors as their royal contemporaries will be with theirs a + hundred years from now." + </p> + <p> + "I cannot promise now," she said gently, and kissed him. + </p> + <p> + The first performance of "The Duke's Revenge" was incredibly bad. The + little that Barnes saw of it, filled him with dismay. Never had he + witnessed anything so hopeless as the play, unless it was the actors + themselves. But more incredible than anything else in connection with the + performance was the very palpable enjoyment of the audience. He could + hardly believe his ears. The ranting, the shouting, the howling of the + actors sent shivers to the innermost recesses of his being. Then suddenly + he remembered that he was in the heart of the "barn-stormer's" domain. The + audience revelled in "The Duke's Revenge" because they had never seen + anything better! + </p> + <p> + Between the second and third acts Tommy Gray rushed back with the + box-office statement. The gross was $359. The instant that fact became + known to Mr. Rushcroft he informed Barnes that they had a "knockout," a + gold mine, and that never in all his career had he known a season to start + off so auspiciously as this one. + </p> + <p> + "It's good for forty weeks solid," he exclaimed. Both Barnes and the + wide-eyed Countess became infused with the spirit of jubilation that + filled the souls of these time-worn, hand-to-mouth stragglers. They + rejoiced with them in their sudden elevation to happiness, and overlooked + the vain-glorious claims of each individual in the matter of personal + achievement. Even the bewildered Tilly bleated out her little cry for + distinction. + </p> + <p> + "Did you hear them laugh at the way I got off my speech?" she cried + excitedly. + </p> + <p> + "I certainly did," said Mr. Bacon amiably. "By gad, I laughed at it + myself." + </p> + <p> + "Parquet $217.50, dress circle $105, gallery $36.50," announced Tommy + Gray, as he donned his wig and false beard for the third act. "Sixty-forty + gives us $215.40 on the night. Thank God, we won't have to worry about the + sheriff this week." + </p> + <p> + In Miss Thackeray's dressing-room that level-headed young woman broke down + and wept like a child. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Lord," she stuttered, "is it possible that we're going to stay above + water at last? I thought we had gone down for the last time, and here we + are bobbing up again as full of ginger as if we'd never hit the bottom." + </p> + <p> + The Countess kissed her and told her that she was the rarest girl she had + ever known, the pluckiest and the best. + </p> + <p> + "If I had your good looks, Miss Cameron," said Mercedes, "added to my + natural ability, I'd make Julia Marlowe look like an old-fashioned + one-ring circus. Send Mr. Bacon to me, Mr. Barnes. I want to congratulate + him." + </p> + <p> + "He gave a fine performance," said Barnes promptly. + </p> + <p> + "I don't want to congratulate him on his acting," said she, smiling + through her tears. "He's going to be married to-morrow. And I am going to + have Miss Cameron for my bridesmaid," she added, throwing an arm about the + astonished Countess. "Mr. Bacon will want Dilly for his best man, but he + ought to think more of the general effect than that. Dilly only comes to + his shoulder." She measured the stalwart figure of Thomas Barnes with an + appraising eye. "What do you say, Mr. Barnes?" + </p> + <p> + "I'll do it with the greatest pleasure," he declared. + </p> + <p> + The next afternoon in the town of Bittler the Countess Mara-Dafanda, + daughter of royalty, and Thomas Kingsbury Barnes "stood up" with the happy + couple during a lull in the hastily called rehearsal on the stage of + Fisher's Imperial Theatre, and Lyndon Rushcroft gave the bride away. There + was $107 in the house that night, but no one was down-hearted. + </p> + <p> + "You could do worse, dear heart, than to marry one of us care-free + Americans," whispered Barnes to the girl who clung to his arm so tightly + as they entered the wings in the wake of the bride and groom. + </p> + <p> + And she said something in reply that brought a flush of mortification to + his cheek. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, it would be wonderful to marry a man who will never have to go to + war. A brave man who will not have to be a soldier." + </p> + <p> + The unintentional reflection on the fighting integrity of his country + struck a raw spot in Barnes's pride. He knew what all Europe was saying + about the pussy-willow attitude of the United States, and he squirmed + inwardly despite the tribute she tendered him as an individual. He was not + a "peace at any price" citizen. + </p> + <p> + He gave the wedding breakfast at one o'clock that night. + </p> + <p> + Three days later he and "Miss Jones" said farewell to the strollers and + boarded a day train for New York City. They left the company in a + condition of prosperity. The show was averaging two hundred dollars + nightly, and Mr. Rushcroft was already booking return engagements for the + early fall. He was looking forward to a tour of Europe at the close of the + war. + </p> + <p> + "My boy," he said to Barnes on the platform of the railway station, "I + trust you will forgive me for not finding a place in our remarkably + well-balanced cast for your friend. I have been thinking a great deal + about her in the past few days, and it has occurred to me that she might + find it greatly to her advantage to accept a brief New York engagement + before tackling the real proposition. It won't take her long to find out + whether she really likes it, and whether she thinks it worth while to go + on with it. Let me give you one bit of advice, my dear Miss Jones. This is + very important. The name of Jones will not get you anywhere. It is a nice + old family, fireside name, but it lacks romance. Chuck it. Start your new + life with another name, my dear. God bless you! Good luck and—good-bye + till we meet on the Rialto." + </p> + <p> + "I wonder how he could possibly have known," she mused aloud, the pink + still in her cheeks as the train pulled out. + </p> + <p> + "You darling," cried Barnes, "he doesn't know. But taking it by and large, + it was excellent advice. The brief New York engagement meets with my + approval, and so does the change of name. I am in a position to supply you + with both." + </p> + <p> + "Do you regard Barnes as an especially attractive name?" she inquired, + dimpling. + </p> + <p> + "It has the virtue of beginning with B, entitling it to a place well + toward the top of alphabetical lists. A very handy name for patronesses at + charity bazaars, and so forth. People never look below B unless to make + sure that their own names haven't been omitted. You ought to take that + into consideration. If you can't be an A, take the next best thing + offered. Be a B." + </p> + <p> + "You almost persuade me," she smiled. + </p> + <p> + His sister met them at the Grand Central Terminal. + </p> + <p> + "It's now a quarter to five," said Barnes, after the greeting and + presentation. "Drop me at the Fifth Avenue Bank, Edith. I want to leave + something in my safety box downstairs. Sha'n't be more than five minutes." + </p> + <p> + He got down from the automobile at 44th Street and shot across the + sidewalk into the bank, casting quick, apprehensive glances through the + five o'clock crowd on the avenue as he sprinted. In his hand he lugged the + heavy, weatherbeaten pack. His sister and the Countess stared after him in + amazement. + </p> + <p> + Presently he emerged from the bank, still carrying the bag. He was + beaming. A certain worried, haggard expression had vanished from his face + and for the first time in eight hours he treated his travelling wardrobe + with scorn and indifference. He tossed it carelessly into the seat beside + the chauffeur, and, springing nimbly into the car, sank back with a + prodigious sigh of relief. + </p> + <p> + "Thank God, they're off my mind at last," he cried. "That is the first + good, long breath I've had in a week. No, not now. It's a long story and I + can't tell it in Fifth Avenue. It would be extremely annoying to have both + of you die of heart failure with all these people looking on." + </p> + <p> + He felt her hand on his arm, and knew that she was looking at him with + wide, incredulous eyes, but he faced straight ahead. After a moment or + two, she snuggled back in the seat and cried out tremulously: + </p> + <p> + "Oh, how wonderful—how wonderful!" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Courtney, in utter ignorance, inquired politely: + </p> + <p> + "Isn't it? Have you never been in New York before, Miss Cameron? Strangers + always find it quite wonderful at the—" + </p> + <p> + "How are all the kiddies, Edith, and old Bill?" broke in her brother + hastily. + </p> + <p> + He was terribly afraid that the girl beside him was preparing to shed + tears of joy and relief. He could feel her searching in her jacket pocket + for a handkerchief. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Courtney was not only curious but apprehensive. She hadn't the + faintest idea who Miss Cameron was, nor where her brother had picked her + up. But she saw at a glance that she was lovely, and her soul was filled + with strange misgivings. She was like all sisters who have pet bachelor + brothers. She hoped that poor Tom hadn't gone and made a fool of himself. + The few minutes' conversation she had had with the stranger only served to + increase her alarm. Miss Cameron's voice and smile—and her eyes!—were + positively alluring. + </p> + <p> + She had had a night letter from Tom that morning in which he said that he + was bringing a young lady friend down from the north,—and would she + meet them at the station and put her up for a couple of days? That was all + she knew of the dazzling stranger up to the moment she saw her. + Immediately after that, she knew, by intuition, a great deal more about + her than Tom could have told in volumes of correspondence. She knew, also, + that Tom was lost forever! + </p> + <p> + "Now, tell me," said the Countess, the instant they entered the Courtney + apartment. She gripped both of his arms with her firm little hands, and + looked straight into his eyes, eagerly, hopefully. She had forgotten Mrs. + Courtney's presence, she had not taken the time to remove her hat or + jacket. + </p> + <p> + "Let's all sit down," said he. "My knees are unaccountably weak. Come + along, Ede. Listen to the romance of my life." + </p> + <p> + And when the story was finished, the Countess took his hand in hers and + held it to her cool cheek. The tears were still drowning her eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, you poor dear! Was that why you grew so haggard, and pale, and + hollow-eyed?" + </p> + <p> + "Partly," said he, with great significance. + </p> + <p> + "And you had them in your pack all the time? You—!" + </p> + <p> + "I had Sprouse's most solemn word not to touch them for a week. He is the + only man I feared. He is the only one who could have—" + </p> + <p> + "May I use your telephone, Mrs. Courtney?" cried she, suddenly. She sprang + to her feet, quivering with excitement. "Pray forgive me for being so + ill-mannered, but I—I must call up one or two people at once. They + are my friends. I have written them, but—but I know they are waiting + to see me in the flesh or to hear my voice. You will understand, I am + sure." + </p> + <p> + Barnes was pacing the floor nervously when his sister returned after + conducting her new guest to the room prepared for her. The Countess was at + the telephone before the door closed behind her hostess. + </p> + <p> + "I wish you had been a little more explicit in your telegram, Tom," she + said peevishly. "If I had known who she is I wouldn't have put her in that + room. Now, I shall have to move Aunt Kate back into it to-morrow, and give + Miss Cameron the big one at the end of the hall." Which goes to prove that + Tom's sister was a bit of a snob in her way. "Stop walking like that, and + come here." She faced him accusingly. "Have you told me ALL there is to + tell, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "Can't you see for yourself, Ede, that I'm in love with her? Desperately, + horribly, madly in love with her. Don't giggle like that! I couldn't have + told you while she was present, could I?" + </p> + <p> + "That isn't what I want to know. Is she in love with YOU? That's what I'm + after." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said he, but frowned anxiously. + </p> + <p> + "She is perfectly adorable," said she, and was at once aware of a guilty, + nagging impression that she would not have said it to him half an hour + earlier for anything in the world. + </p> + <p> + The Countess was strangely white and subdued when she rejoined them later + on. She had removed her hat. The other woman saw nothing but the wealth of + sun-kissed hair that rippled. Barnes went forward to meet her, filled with + a sudden apprehension. + </p> + <p> + "What is it? You are pale and—what have you heard?" + </p> + <p> + She stopped and looked searchingly into his eyes. A warm flush rose to her + cheeks; her own eyes grew soft and tender and wistful. + </p> + <p> + "They all believe that the war will last two or three years longer," she + said huskily. "I cannot go back to my own country till it is all over. + They implore me to remain here with them until—until my fortunes are + mended." She turned to Mrs. Courtney and went on without the slightest + trace of indecision or embarrassment in her manner. "You see, Mrs. + Courtney, I am very, very poor. They have taken everything. I—I fear + I shall have to accept the kind, the generous proffer of a—" her + voice shook slightly—"of a home with my friends until the Huns are + driven out." + </p> + <p> + Barnes's silence was more eloquent than words. Her eyes fell. Mrs. + Courtney's words of sympathy passed unheard; her bitter excoriation of the + Teutons and Turks was but dimly registered on the inattentive mind of the + victim of their ruthless greed; not until she expressed the hope that Miss + Cameron would condescend to accept the hospitality of her home until plans + for the future were definitely fixed was there a sign that the object of + her concern had given a thought to what she was saying. + </p> + <p> + "You are so very kind," stammered the Countess. "But I cannot think of + imposing upon—" + </p> + <p> + "Leave it to me, Ede," said Barnes gently, and, laying his hand upon his + sister's arm, he led her from the room. Then he came swiftly back to the + outstretched arms of the exile. + </p> + <p> + "A very brief New York engagement," he whispered in her ear, he knew not + how long afterward. Her head was pressed against his shoulder, her eyes + were closed, her lips parted in the ecstasy of passion. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," she breathed, so faintly that he barely heard the strongest word + ever put into the language of man. + </p> + <p> + Half-an-hour later he was speeding down the avenue in a taxi. His blood + was singing, his heart was bursting with joy,—his head was light, + for the feel of her was still in his arms, the voice of her in his + enraptured ears. + </p> + <p> + He was hurrying homeward to the "diggings" he was soon to desert forever. + Poor, wretched, little old "diggings"! As he passed the Plaza, the St. + Regis and the Gotham, he favoured the great hostelries with contemplative, + calculating eyes; he even looked with speculative envy upon the mansions + of the Astors, the Vanderbilts and the Huntingtons. She was born and + reared in a house of vast dimensions. Even the Vanderbilt places were puny + in comparison. His reflections carried him back to the Plaza. There, at + least, was something comparable in size. At any rate, it would do until he + could look around for something larger! He laughed at his conceit,—and + pinched himself again. + </p> + <p> + He was to spend the night at his sister's apartment. When he issued forth + from his "diggings" at half-past seven, he was attired in evening clothes, + and there was not a woman in all New York, young or old, who would have + denied him a second glance. + </p> + <p> + Later on in the evening three of the Countess's friends arrived at the + Courtney home to pay their respects to their fair compatriot, and to + discuss the crown jewels. They came and brought with them the consoling + information that arrangements were practically completed for the delivery + of the jewels into the custody of the French Embassy at Washington, + through whose intervention they were to be allowed to leave the United + States without the formalities usually observed in cases of suspected + smuggling. Upon the arrival in America of trusted messengers from Paris, + headed by no less a personage than the ambassador himself, the imperial + treasure was to pass into hands that would carry it safely to France. + Prince Sebastian, still in Halifax, had been apprised by telegraph of the + recovery of the jewels, and was expected to sail for England by the + earliest steamer. + </p> + <p> + And while the visitors at the Courtney house were lifting their glasses to + toast the prince they loved, and, in turn, the beautiful cousin who had + braved so much and fared so luckily, and the tall wayfarer who had come + into her life, a small man was stooping over a rifled knapsack in a room + far down-town, glumly regarding the result of an unusually hazardous + undertaking, even for one who could perform, such miracles as he. + Scratching his chin, he grinned,—for he was the kind who bears + disappointment with a grin,—and sat himself down at the big library + table in the centre of the room. Carefully selecting a pen-point, he + wrote: + </p> + <p> + "It will be quite obvious to you that I called unexpectedly to-night. The + week was up, you see. I take the liberty of leaving under the paperweight + at my elbow a two dollar bill. It ought to be ample payment for the damage + done to your faithful traveling companion. Have the necessary stitches + taken in the gash, and you will find the kit as good as new. I was more or + less certain not to find what I was after, but as I have done no + irreparable injury, I am sure you will forgive my love of adventure and + excitement. It was really quite difficult to get from the fire escape to + your window, but it was a delightful experience. Try crawling along that + ten inch ledge yourself some day, and see if it isn't productive of a + pleasant thrill. I shall not forget your promise to return good for evil + some day. God knows I hope I may never be in a position to test your + sincerity. We may meet again, and I hope under agreeable circumstances. + Kindly pay my deepest respects to the Countess Ted, and believe me to be, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +"Yours VERY respectfully, + "Sprouse. +</pre> + <p> + "P.S.—I saw O'Dowd to-day. He left a message for you and the + Countess. Tell them, said he, that I ask God's blessing for them forever. + He is off to-morrow for Brazil. He was very much relieved when he heard + that I did not get the jewels the first time I went after them, and + immensely entertained by my jolly description of how I went after them the + second. By the way, you will be interested to learn that he has cut loose + from the crowd he was trailing with. Mostly nuts, he says. Dynamiting + munition plants in Canada was a grand project, says he, and it would have + come to something if the damned women had only left the damned men alone. + The expletives are O'Dowd's." + </p> + <p> + Ten hours before Barnes found this illuminating message on his library + table, he stood at the window of a lofty Park Avenue apartment building, + his arm about the slender, yielding figure of the only other occupant of + the room. Pointing out over the black house-tops, he directed her + attention to the myriad lights in the upper floors of a great hostelry to + the south and west, and said, + </p> + <p> + "THAT is where you are going to live, darling." + </p> + <h3> + THE END + </h3> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Green Fancy, by George Barr McCutcheon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREEN FANCY *** + +***** This file should be named 5871-h.htm or 5871-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/8/7/5871/ + +Etext produced by Charles Aldarondo, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + +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. 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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: Green Fancy + +Author: George Barr McCutcheon + +Posting Date: April 12, 2013 [EBook #5871] +Release Date: June, 2004 +First Posted: September 15, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREEN FANCY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THE RED GLEAM FROM THE BLAZING LOGS FELL UPON HER +SHINING HAIR; IT GLISTENED LIKE GOLD. SHE WORE A SIMPLE EVENING GOWN OF +WHITE.] + +GREEN FANCY + +BY + +GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON + +AUTHOR OF "GRAUSTARK," "THE HOLLOW OF HER HAND," "THE PRINCE OF +GRAUSTARK," ETC. + +WITH FRONTISPIECE BY C. ALLAN GILBERT + +NEW YORK + +1917 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +I. THE FIRST WAYFARER AND THE SECOND WAYFARER MEET AND PART ON THE + HIGHWAY + +II. THE FIRST WAYFARER LAYS HIS PACK ASIDE AND FALLS IN WITH + FRIENDS + +III. MR. RUSHCROFT DISSOLVES, MR. JONES INTERVENES, AND TWO MEN RIDE + AWAY + +IV. AN EXTRAORDINARY CHAMBERMAID, A MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY, AND A MAN WHO + SAID "THANK YOU" + +V. THE FARM-BOY TELLS A GHASTLY STORY, AND AN IRISHMAN ENTERS + +VI. CHARITY BEGINS FAR FROM HOME, AND A STROLL IN THE WILDWOOD + FOLLOWS + +VII. SPUN-GOLD HAIR, BLUE EYES, AND VARIOUS ENCOUNTERS + +VIII. A NOTE, SOME FANCIES, AND AN EXPEDITION IN QUEST OF FACTS + +IX. THE FIRST WAYFARER, THE SECOND WAYFARER, AND THE SPIRIT OF + CHIVALRY ASCENDANT + +X. THE PRISONER OF GREEN FANCY, AND THE LAMENT OF PETER THE + CHAUFFEUR + +XI. MR. SPROUSE ABANDONS LITERATURE AT AN EARLY HOUR IN THE MORNING + +XII. THE FIRST WAYFARER ACCEPTS AN INVITATION, AND MR. DILLINGFORD + BELABORS A PROXY + +XIII. THE SECOND WAYFARER RECEIVES TWO VISITORS AT MIDNIGHT + +XIV. A FLIGHT, A STONE-CUTTER'S SHED, AND A VOICE OUTSIDE + +XV. LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY,--BUT MR. SPROUSE WAS SMALLER THAN THE + AVERAGE + +XVI. THE FIRST WAYFARER VISITS A SHRINE, CONFESSES, AND TAKES AN + OATH + +XVII. THE SECOND WAYFARER IS TRANSFORMED, AND MARRIAGE IS FLOUTED + +XVIII. MR. SPROUSE CONTINUES TO BE PERPLEXING, BUT PUTS HIS NOSE TO + THE GROUND + +XIX. A TRIP BY NIGHT, A SUPPER, AND A LATE ARRIVAL + +XX. THE FIRST WAYFARER HAS ONE TREASURE THRUST UPON HIM,--AND + FORTHWITH CLAIMS ANOTHER + +XXI. THE END IN SIGHT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FIRST WAYFARER AND THE SECOND WAYFARER MEET AND PART ON THE HIGHWAY + + +A solitary figure trudged along the narrow road that wound its +serpentinous way through the dismal, forbidding depths of the forest: a +man who, though weary and footsore, lagged not in his swift, resolute +advance. Night was coming on, and with it the no uncertain prospects of +storm. Through the foliage that overhung the wretched road, his +ever-lifting and apprehensive eye caught sight of the thunder-black, +low-lying clouds that swept over the mountain and bore down upon the +green, whistling tops of the trees. At a cross-road below he had +encountered a small girl driving homeward the cows. She was afraid of +the big, strange man with the bundle on his back and the stout walking +stick in his hand: to her a remarkable creature who wore "knee pants" +and stockings like a boy on Sunday, and hob-nail shoes, and a funny +coat with "pleats" and a belt, and a green hat with a feather sticking +up from the band. His agreeable voice and his amiable smile had no +charm for her. He merely wanted to know how far it was to the nearest +village, but she stared in alarm and edged away as if preparing to +break into mad flight the instant she was safely past him with a clear +way ahead. + +"Don't be afraid," he said gently. "And here! Catch it if you can." He +tossed a coin across the road. It struck at her feet and rolled into +the high grass. She did not divert her gaze for the fraction of a +second. "I'm a stranger up here and I want to find some place to sleep +for the night. Surely you have a tongue, haven't you?" By dint of +persuasive smiles and smirks that would have sickened him at any other +time he finally induced her to say that if he kept right on until he +came to the turnpike he would find a sign-post telling him where to get +gasolene. + +"But I don't want gasolene. I want bread and butter," he said. + +"Well, you can git bread an' butter there too," she said. "Food fer man +an' beast, it says." + +"A hotel?" + +"Whut?" + +"A boarding-house?" he substituted. + +"It's a shindy," she said, painfully. "Men get drunk there. Pap calls +it a tavern, but Ma says it's a shindy." + +"A road-house, eh?" She was puzzled--and silent. "Thank you. You'll +find the quarter in the grass. Good-bye." + +He lifted his queer green hat and strode away, too much of a gentleman +to embarrass her by looking back. If he had done so he would have seen +her grubbing stealthily in the grass, not with her brown little hands, +but with the wriggling toes of a bare foot on which the mud, perhaps of +yesterday, had caked. She was too proud to stoop. + +At last he came to the "pike" and there, sure enough, was the +sign-post. A huge, crudely painted hand pointed to the left, and on +what was intended to be the sleeve of a very stiff and unflinching arm +these words were printed in scaly white: "Hart's Tavern. Food for Man +and Beast. Also Gasolene. Established 1798. 1 mile." "Also Gasolene" +was freshly painted and crowded its elders in a most disrespectful +manner. + +The chill spring wind of the gale was sweeping in the direction +indicated by the giant forefinger. There was little consolation in the +thought that a mile lay between him and shelter, but it was a relief to +know that he would have the wind at his back. Darkness was settling +over the land. The lofty hills seemed to be closing in as if to smother +the breath out of this insolent adventurer who walked alone among them. +He was an outsider. He did not belong there. He came from the lowlands +and he was an object of scorn. + +On the opposite side of the "pike," in the angle formed by a junction +with the narrow mountain road, stood a humbler sign-post, lettered so +indistinctly that it deserved the compassion of all observers because +of its humility. Swerving in his hurried passage, the tall stranger +drew near this shrinking friend to the uncertain traveller, and was +suddenly aware of another presence in the roadway. + +A woman appeared, as if from nowhere, almost at his side. He drew back +to let her pass. She stopped before the little sign-post, and together +they made out the faint directions. + +To the right and up the mountain road Frogg's Corner lay four miles and +a half away; Pitcairn was six miles back over the road which the man +had travelled. Two miles and a half down the turnpike was Spanish +Falls, a railway station, and four miles above the cross-roads where +the man and woman stood peering through the darkness at the laconic +sign-post reposed the village of Saint Elizabeth. Hart's Tavern was on +the road to Saint Elizabeth, and the man, with barely a glance at his +fellow-traveller, started briskly off in that direction. + +Lightning was flashing fitfully beyond the barrier heights and faraway +thunder came to his ears. He knew that these wild mountain storms moved +swiftly; his chance of reaching the tavern ahead of the deluge was +exceedingly slim. His long, powerful legs had carried him twenty or +thirty paces before he came to a sudden halt. + +What of this lone woman who traversed the highway? Obviously she too +was a stranger on the road, and a glance over his shoulder supported a +first impression: she was carrying a stout travelling bag. His first +glimpse of her had been extremely casual,--indeed he had paid no +attention to her at all, so eager was he to read the directions and be +on his way. + +She was standing quite still in front of the sign-post, peering up the +road toward Frogg's Corner,--confronted by a steep climb that led into +black and sinister timberlands above the narrow strip of pasture +bordering the pike. + +The fierce wind pinned her skirts to her slender body as she leaned +against the gale, gripping her hat tightly with one hand and straining +under the weight of the bag in the other. The ends of a veil whipped +furiously about her head, and, even in the gathering darkness, he could +see a strand or two of hair keeping them company. + +He hesitated. Evidently her way was up the steep, winding road and into +the dark forest, a far from appealing prospect. Not a sign of +habitation was visible along the black ridge of the wood; no lighted +window peeped down from the shadows, no smoke curled up from unseen +kitchen stoves. Gallantry ordered him to proffer his aid or, at the +least, advice to the woman, be she young or old, native or stranger. + +Retracing his steps, he called out to her above the gale: + +"Can I be of any assistance to you?" + +She turned quickly. He saw that the veil was drawn tightly over her +face. + +"No, thank you," she replied. Her voice, despite a certain nervous +note, was soft and clear and gentle,--the voice and speech of a +well-bred person who was young and resolute. + +"Pardon me, but have you much farther to go? The storm will soon be +upon us, and--surely you will not consider me presumptuous--I don't +like the idea of your being caught out in--" + +"What is to be done about it?" she inquired, resignedly. "I must go on. +I can't wait here, you know, to be washed back to the place I started +from." + +He smiled. She had wit as well as determination. There was the +suggestion of mirth in her voice--and certainly it was a most pleasing, +agreeable voice. + +"If I can be of the least assistance to you, pray don't hesitate to +command me. I am a sort of tramp, you might say, and I travel as well +by night as I do by day,--so don't feel that you are putting me to any +inconvenience. Are you by any chance bound for Hart's Tavern? If so, I +will be glad to lag behind and carry your bag." + +"You are very good, but I am not bound for Hart's Tavern, wherever that +may be. Thank you, just the same. You appear to be an uncommonly +genteel tramp, and it isn't because I am afraid you might make off with +my belongings." She added the last by way of apology. + +He smiled--and then frowned as he cast an uneasy look at the black +clouds now rolling ominously up over the mountain ridge. + +"By Jove, we're going to catch it good and hard," he exclaimed. "Better +take my advice. These storms are terrible. I know, for I've encountered +half a dozen of them in the past week. They fairly tear one to pieces." + +"Are you trying to frighten me?" + +"Yes," he confessed. "Better to frighten you in advance than to let it +come later on when you haven't any one to turn to in your terror. You +are a stranger in these parts?" + +"Yes. The railway station is a few miles below here. I have walked all +the way. There was no one to meet me. You are a stranger also, so it is +useless to inquire if you know whether this road leads to Green Fancy." + +"Green Fancy? Sounds attractive. I'm sorry I can't enlighten you." He +drew a small electric torch from his pocket and directed its slender +ray upon the sign-post. So fierce was the gale by this time that he was +compelled to brace his strong body against the wind. + +"It is on the road to Frogg's Corner," she explained nervously. "A mile +and a half, so I am told. It isn't on the sign-post. It is a house, not +a village. Thank you for your kindness. And I am not at all +frightened," she added, raising her voice slightly. + +"But you ARE" he cried. "You're scared half out of your wits. You can't +fool me. I'd be scared myself at the thought of venturing into those +woods up yonder." + +"Well, then, I AM frightened," she confessed plaintively. "Almost out +of my boots." + +"That settles it," he said flatly. "You shall not undertake it." + +"Oh, but I must. I am expected. It is import--" + +"If you are expected, why didn't some one meet you at the station? +Seems to me--" + +"Hark! Do you hear--doesn't that sound like an automobile--Ah!" The +hoarse honk of an automobile horn rose above the howling wind, and an +instant later two faint lights came rushing toward them around a bend +in the mountain road. "Better late than never," she cried, her voice +vibrant once more. + +He grasped her arm and jerked her out of the path of the on-coming +machine, whose driver was sending it along at a mad rate, regardless of +ruts and stones and curves. The car careened as it swung into the pike, +skidded alarmingly, and then the brakes were jammed down. Attended by a +vast grinding of gears and wheels, the rattling old car came to a stop +fifty feet or more beyond them. + +"I'd sooner walk than take my chances in an antediluvian rattle-trap +like that," said the tall wayfarer, bending quite close to her ear. "It +will fall to pieces before you--" + +But she was running down the road towards the car, calling out sharply +to the driver. He stooped over and took up the travelling bag she had +dropped in her haste and excitement. It was heavy, amazingly heavy. + +"I shouldn't like to carry that a mile and a half," he said to himself. + +The voice of the belated driver came to his ears on the swift wind. It +was high pitched and unmistakably apologetic. He could not hear what +she was saying to him, but there wasn't much doubt as to the nature of +her remarks. She was roundly upbraiding him. + +Urged to action by thoughts of his own plight, he hurried to her side +and said: + +"Excuse me, please. You dropped something. Shall I put it up in front +or in the tonneau?" + +The whimsical note in his voice brought a quick, responsive laugh from +her lips. + +"Thank you so much. I am frightfully careless with my valuables. Would +you mind putting it in behind? Thanks!" Her tone altered completely as +she ordered the man to turn the car around--"And be quick about it," +she added. + +The first drops of rain pelted down from the now thoroughly black dome +above them, striking in the road with the sharpness of pebbles. + +"Lucky it's a limousine," said the tall traveller. "Better hop in. +We'll be getting it hard in a second or two." + +"I can't very well hop in while he's backing and twisting like that, +can I?" she laughed. He was acutely aware of a strained, nervous note +in her voice, as of one who is confronted by an undertaking calling for +considerable fortitude. + +"Are you quite sure of this man?" he asked. + +"Absolutely," she replied, after a pause. + +"You know him, eh?" + +"By reputation," she said briefly, and without a trace of laughter. + +"Well, that comforts me to some extent," he said, but dubiously. + +She was silent for a moment and then turned to him impulsively. + +"You must let me take you on to the Tavern in the car," she said. "Turn +about is fair play. I cannot allow you to--" + +"Never mind about me," he broke in cheerily. He had been wondering if +she would make the offer, and he felt better now that she had done so. +"I'm accustomed to roughing it. I don't mind a soaking. I've had +hundreds of 'em." + +"Just the same, you shall not have one to-night," she announced firmly. +The car stopped beside them. "Get in behind. I shall sit with the +driver." + +If any one had told him that this rattling, dilapidated +automobile,--ten years old, at the very least, he would have +sworn,--was capable of covering the mile in less than two minutes, he +would have laughed in his face. Almost before he realised that they +were on the way up the straight, dark road, the lights in the windows +of Hart's Tavern came into view. Once more the bounding, swaying car +came to a stop under brakes, and he was relaxing after the strain of +the most hair-raising ride he had ever experienced. + +Not a word had been spoken during the trip. The front windows were +lowered. The driver,--an old, hatchet-faced man,--had uttered a single +word just before throwing in the clutch at the cross-roads in response +to the young woman's crisp command to drive to Hart's Tavern. That word +was uttered under his breath and it is not necessary to repeat it here. + +He lost no time in climbing out of the car. As he leaped to the ground +and raised his green hat, he took a second look at the automobile,--a +look of mingled wonder and respect. It was an old-fashioned, +high-powered Panhard, capable, despite its antiquity, of astonishing +speed in any sort of going. + +"For heaven's sake," he began, shouting to her above the roar of the +wind and rain, "don't let him drive like that over those--" + +"You're getting wet," she cried out, a thrill in her voice. "Good +night,--and thank you!" + +"Look out!" rasped the unpleasant driver, and in went the clutch. The +man in the road jumped hastily to one side as the car shot backward +with a jerk, curved sharply, stopped for the fraction of a second, and +then bounded forward again, headed for the cross-roads. + +"Thanks!" shouted the late passenger after the receding tail light, and +dashed up the steps to the porch that ran the full length of Hart's +Tavern. In the shelter of its low-lying roof, he stopped short and once +more peered down the dark, rain-swept road. A flash of lightning +revealed the flying automobile. He waited for a second flash. It came +an instant later, but the car was no longer visible. He shook his head. +"I hope the blamed old fool knows what he's doing, hitting it up like +that over a wet road. There'll be a double funeral in this neck of the +woods if anything goes wrong," he reflected. Still shaking his head, he +faced the closed door of the Tavern. + +A huge, old-fashioned lantern hung above the portal, creaking and +straining in the wind, dragging at its stout supports and threatening +every instant to break loose and go frolicking away with the storm. + +The sound of the rain on the clap-board roof was deafening. At the +lower end of the porch the water swished in with all the velocity of a +gigantic wave breaking over a ship at sea. The wind howled, the thunder +roared and almost like cannon-fire were the successive crashes of +lightning among the trees out there in the path of fury. + +There were lights in several of the windows opening upon the porch; the +wooden shutters not only were ajar but were banging savagely against +the walls. Even in the dim, grim light shed by the lantern he could see +that the building was of an age far beyond the ken of any living man. +He recalled the words of the informing sign-post: "Established in +1798." One hundred and eighteen years old, and still baffling the +assaults of all the elements in a region where they were never timid! + +It may, in all truth, be a "shindy," thought he, but it had led a +gallant life. + +The broad, thick weather-boarding, overlapping in layers, was brown +with age and smooth with the polishing of time and the backs, no doubt, +of countless loiterers who had come and gone in the making of the +narrative that Hart's Tavern could relate. The porch itself, while old, +was comparatively modern; it did not belong to the century in which the +inn itself was built, for in those far-off days men did not waste time, +timber or thought on the unnecessary. While the planks in the floor +were worn and the uprights battered and whittled out of their pristine +shapeliness, they were but grandchildren to the parent building to +which they clung. Stout and, beyond question, venerable benches stood +close to the wall on both sides of the entrance. Directly over the +broad, low door with its big wooden latch and bar, was the word +"Welcome," rudely carved in the oak beam. It required no cultured eye +to see that the letters had been cut, deep and strong, into the timber, +not with the tool of the skilled wood carver but with the hunting knife +of an ambitious pioneer. + +A shocking incongruity marred the whole effect. Suspended at the side +of this hundred-year-old doorway was a black and gold, shield-shaped +ornament of no inconsiderable dimensions informing the observer that a +certain brand of lager beer was to be had inside. + +He lifted the latch and, being a tall man, involuntarily stooped as he +passed through the door, a needless precaution, for gaunt, gigantic +mountaineers had entered there before him and without bending their +arrogant heads. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE FIRST WAYFARER LAYS HIS PACK ASIDE AND FALLS IN WITH FRIENDS + + +The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through +which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern. A steep, +angular staircase took up one end of the room. Set in beneath its upper +turn was the counter over which the business of the house was +transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful +occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe. He removed the pipe, brushed his +long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with +grave ceremony to the arrival. + +An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from +which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned +out to be a conversational solo. To the left another door led to what +was evidently the dining-room. The glance that the stranger sent in +that direction revealed two or three tables, covered with white cloths. + +"Can you put me up for the night?" he inquired, advancing to the +counter. + +"You look like a feller who'd want a room with bath," drawled the man +behind the counter, surveying the applicant from head to foot. "Which +we ain't got," he added. + +"I'll be satisfied to have a room with a bed," said the other. + +"Sign here," was the laconic response. He went to the trouble of +actually putting his finger on the line where the guest was expected to +write his name. + +"Can I have supper?" + +"Food for man and beast," said the other patiently. He slapped his palm +upon a cracked call-bell, and then looked at the fresh name on the +page. "Thomas K. Barnes, New York," he read aloud. He eyed the newcomer +once more. "And automobile?" + +"No. I'm walking." + +"Didn't I hear you just come up in a car?" + +"A fellow gave me a lift from the cross-roads." + +"I see. My name is Jones, Putnam Jones. I run this place. My father an' +grandfather run it before me. Glad to meet you, Mr. Barnes. We used to +have a hostler here named Barnes. What's your idea fer footin' it this +time o' the year?" + +"I do something like this every spring. A month or six weeks of it puts +me in fine shape for a vacation later on," supplied Mr. Barnes +whimsically. + +Mr. Jones allowed a grin to steal over his seamed face. He re-inserted +the corn-cob pipe and took a couple of pulls at it. + +"I never been to New York, but it must be a heavenly place for a +vacation, if a feller c'n judge by what some of my present boarders +have to say about it. It's a sort of play-actor's paradise, ain't it?" + +"It is paradise to every actor who happens to be on the road, Mr. +Jones," said Barnes, slipping his big pack from his shoulders and +letting it slide to the floor. + +"Hear that feller in the tap-room talkin'? Well, he is one of the +leading actors in New York,--in the world, for that matter. He's been +talkin' about Broadway for nearly a week now, steady." + +"May I enquire what he is doing up here in the wilds?" + +"At present he ain't doing anything except talk. Last week he was +treadin' the boards, as he puts it himself. Busted. Up the flue. Showed +last Saturday night in Hornville, eighteen mile north of here, and +immediately after the performance him and his whole troupe started to +walk back to New York, a good four hunderd mile. They started out the +back way of the opery house and nobody missed 'em till next mornin' +except the sheriff, and he didn't miss 'em till they'd got over the +county line into our bailiwick. Four of 'em are still stoppin' here +just because I ain't got the heart to turn 'em out ner the spare money +to buy 'em tickets to New York. Here comes one of 'em now. Mr. +Dillingford, will you show this gentleman to room eleven, and carry his +baggage up fer him? And maybe he'll want a pitcher of warm water to +wash and shave in." He turned to the new guest and smiled +apologetically. + +"We're a little short o' help just now, Mr. Barnes, and Mr. Dillingford +has kindly consented to--" + +"My God!" gasped Mr. Dillingford, staring at the register. "Some one +from little old New York? My word, sir, you--Won't you have +a--er--little something to drink with me before you--" + +"He wants something to eat," interrupted Mr. Jones sharply. "Tell Mr. +Bacon to step up to his room and take the order." + +"All right, old chap,--nothing easier," said Mr. Dillingford genially. +"Just climb up the elevator, Mr. Barnes. We do this to get up an +appetite. When did you leave New York?" + +Taking up a lighted kerosene lamp and the heavy pack, Mr. Clarence +Dillingford led the way up the stairs. He was a chubby individual of +indefinite age. At a glance you would have said he was under +twenty-one; a second look would have convinced you that he was nearer +forty-one. He was quite shabby, but chin and cheek were as clean as +that of a freshly scrubbed boy. He may not have changed his collar for +days but he lived up to the traditions of his profession by shaving +twice every twenty-four hours. + +Depositing Barnes' pack on a chair in the little bedroom at the end of +the hall upstairs, he favoured the guest with a perfectly unabashed +grin. + +"I'm not doing this to oblige old man Jones, you know. I won't attempt +to deceive you. I'm working out a daily bread-bill. Chuck three times a +day and a bed to sleep in, that's what I'm doing it for, so don't get +it into your head that I applied for the job. Let me take a look at +you. I want to get a good square peep at a man who has the means to go +somewhere else and yet is boob enough to come to this gosh-awful place +of his own free will and accord. Darn it, you LOOK intelligent. I don't +get you at all. What's the matter? Are you a fugitive from justice?" + +Barnes laughed aloud. There was no withstanding the fellow's sprightly +impudence. + +"I happen to enjoy walking," said he. + +"If I enjoyed it as much as you do, I'd be limping into Harlem by this +time," said Mr. Dillingford sadly. "But, you see, I'm an actor. I'm too +proud to walk." + +"Up against poor business, I presume?" + +"Up against no business at all," said Mr. Dillingford. "We couldn't +even get 'em to come in on passes. Last Saturday night we had out +enough paper to fill the house and, by gosh, only eleven people showed +up. You can't beat that, can you? Three of 'em paid to get in. That +made a dollar and a half, box office. We nearly had to give it back." + +"Bad weather?" suggested Barnes feelingly. He had removed his wet coat, +and stood waiting. + +"Nope. Moving pictures. They'd sooner pay ten cents to see a movie than +to come in and see us free. The old man was so desperate he tried to +kill himself the morning we arrived at this joint." + +"You mean the star? Poison, rope or pistol?" + +"Whiskey. He tried to drink himself to death. Before old Jones got onto +him he had put down seven dollars' worth of booze, and now we've got to +help wipe out the account. But why complain? It's all in a day's--" + +The cracked bell on the office desk interrupted him, somewhat +peremptorially. Mr. Dillingford's face assumed an expression of +profound dignity. He lowered his voice as he gave vent to the following: + +"That man Jones is the meanest human being God ever let--Yes, sir, +coming, sir!" He started for the open door with surprising alacrity. + +"Never mind the hot water," said Barnes, sorry for the little man. + +"No use," said Mr. Dillingford dejectedly. "He charges ten cents for +hot water. You've got to have it whether you want it or not. Remember +that you are in the very last stages of New England. The worst +affliction known to the human race. So long. I'll be back in two shakes +of a lamb's--" The remainder of his promise was lost in the rush of +exit. + +Barnes surveyed the little bed-chamber. It was just what he had +expected it would be. The walls were covered with a garish paper +selected by one who had an eye but not a taste for colour: bright pink +flowers that looked more or less like chunks of a shattered water melon +spilt promiscuously over a background of pearl grey. There was every +indication that it had been hung recently. Indeed there was a distinct +aroma of fresh flour paste. The bedstead, bureau and washstand were +likewise offensively modern. Everything was as clean as a pin, however, +and the bed looked comfortable. He stepped to the small, many-paned +window and looked out into the night. The storm was at its height. In +all his life he never had heard such a clatter of rain, nor a wind that +shrieked so appallingly. + +His thoughts went quite naturally to the woman who was out there in the +thick of it. He wondered how she was faring, and lamented that she was +not in his place now and he in hers. A smile lighted his eyes. She had +such a nice voice and such a quaint way of putting things into words. +What was she doing up in this God-forsaken country? And how could she +be so certain of that grumpy old man whom she had never laid eyes on +before? What was the name of the place she was bound for? Green Fancy! +What an odd name for a house! And what sort of house-- + +His reflections were interrupted by the return of Mr. Dillingford, who +carried a huge pewter pitcher from which steam arose in volume. At his +heels strode a tall, cadaverous person in a checked suit. + +Never had Barnes seen anything quite so overpowering in the way of a +suit. Joseph's coat of many colours was no longer a vision of +childhood. It was a reality. The checks were an inch square, and each +cube had a narrow border of azure blue. The general tone was a dirty +grey, due no doubt to age and a constitution that would not allow it to +outlive its usefulness. + +"Meet Mr. Bacon, Mr. Barnes," introduced Mr. Dillingford, going to the +needless exertion of indicating Mr. Bacon with a generous sweep of his +free hand. "Our heavy leads. Mr. Montague Bacon, also of New York." + +"Ham and eggs, pork tenderloin, country sausage, rump steak and spring +chicken," said Mr. Bacon, in a cavernous voice, getting it over with +while the list was fresh in his memory. "Fried and boiled potatoes, +beans, succotash, onions, stewed tomatoes and--er--just a moment, +please. Fried and boiled potatoes, beans--" + +"Learn your lines, Ague," said Mr. Dillingford, from the washstand. "We +call him Ague for short, Mr. Barnes, because he's always shaky with his +lines." + +"Ham and eggs, potatoes and a cup or two of coffee," said Barnes, +suppressing a desire to laugh. + +"And apple pie," concluded the waiter, triumphantly. "I knew I'd get it +if you gave me time. As you may have observed, my dear sir, I am not +what you would call an experienced waiter. As a matter of fact, I--" + +"I told him you were an actor," interrupted his friend. "Run along now +and give the order to Mother Jones. Mr. Barnes is hungry." + +"I am delighted to meet you, Mr. Barnes," said Mr. Bacon, extending his +hand. As he did so, his coat sleeve receded half way to the elbow, +revealing the full expanse of a frayed cuff. "So delighted, in fact, +that it gives me great pleasure to inform you that you have at last +encountered a waiter who does not expect a tip. God forbid that I +should ever sink so low as that. I have been a villain of the deepest +dye in a score or more of productions--many of them depending to a +large extent upon the character of the work I did in--" + +"Actor stuff," inserted Mr. Dillingford, unfeelingly. + +"--And I have been hissed a thousand times by gallery gods and kitchen +angels from one end of this broad land to the other, but never, sir, +never in all my career have I been obliged to play such a diabolical +part as I am playing here, and, dammit, sir, I am denied even the +tribute of a healthy hiss. This is--" + +The bell downstairs rang violently. Mr. Bacon departed in great haste. + +While the traveller performed his ablutions, Mr. Dillingford, for the +moment disengaged, sat upon the edge of the bed and enjoyed himself. He +talked. + +"We were nine at the start," said he, pensively. "Gradually we were +reduced to seven, not including the manager. I doubled and so did Miss +Hughes,--a very charming actress, by the way, who will soon be heard of +on Broadway unless I miss my guess. The last week I was playing Dick +Cranford, light juvenile, and General Parsons, comedy old man. In the +second act Dick has to meet the general face to face and ask him for +his daughter's hand. Miss Hughes was Amy Parsons, and, as I say, +doubled along toward the end. She played her own mother. The best you +could say for the arrangement was that the family resemblance was +remarkable. I never saw a mother and daughter look so much alike. You +see, she didn't have time to change her make-up or costume, so all she +could do was to put on a long shawl and a grey wig, and that made a +mother of her. Well, we had a terrible time getting around that scene +between Dick and the general. Amy and her mother were in on it too, and +Mrs. Parsons was supposed to faint. It looked absolutely impossible for +Miss Hughes. But we got around it, all right." + +"How, may I ask?" enquired Barnes, over the edge of a towel. + +"Just as I was about to enter to tackle the old man, who was seated in +his library with Mrs. Parsons, the lights went out. I jumped up and +addressed the audience, telling 'em (almost in a confidential whisper, +there were so darned few of 'em) that there was nothing to be alarmed +about and the act would go right on. Then Amy and Dick came on in total +darkness, and the audience never got wise to the game. When the lights +went up, there was Amy and Dick embracing each other in plain view, the +old folks nowhere in sight. General Parsons had dragged the old lady +into the next room. We made our changes right there on the stage, +speaking all four parts at the same time." + +"Pretty clever," said Barnes. + +"My idea," announced Mr. Dillingford calmly. + +"What has become of the rest of the company?" + +"Well, as I said before, two of 'em escaped before the smash. The low +comedian and character old woman. Joe Beckley and his wife. That left +the old man,--I mean Mr. Rushcroft, the star--Lyndon Rushcroft, you +know,--myself and Bacon, Tommy Gray, Miss Rushcroft, Miss Hughes and a +woman named Bradley, seven of us. Miss Hughes happened to know a chap +who was travelling around the country for his health, always meeting up +with us,--accidentally, of course,--and he staked her to a ticket to +New York. The woman named Bradley said her mother was dying in Buffalo, +so the rest of us scraped together all the money we had,--nine dollars +and sixty cents,--and did the right thing by her. Actors are always +doing darn-fool things like that, Mr. Barnes. And what do you suppose +she did? She took that money and bought two tickets to Albany, one for +herself and another for the manager of the company,--the lowest, +meanest, orneriest white man that ever,--But I am crabbing the old +man's part. You ought to hear what HE has to say about Mr. Manager. He +can use words I never even heard of before. So, that leaves just the +four of us here, working off the two days' board bill of Bradley and +the manager, Rushcroft's ungodly spree, and at the same time keeping +our own slate clean. Miss Thackeray will no doubt make up your bed in +the morning. She is temporarily a chambermaid. Cracking fine girl, too, +if I do say--" + +"Miss Thackeray? I don't recall your mentioning--" + +"Mercedes Thackeray on the programme, but in real life, as they say, +Emma Smith. She is Rushcroft's daughter." + +"Somewhat involved, isn't it?" + +"Not in the least. Rushcroft's real name is Otterbein Smith. Horrible, +isn't it? He sprung from some place in Indiana, where the authors come +from. Miss Thackeray was our ingenue. A trifle large for that sort of +thing, perhaps, but--very sprightly, just the same. She's had her full +growth upwards, but not outwards. Tommy Gray, the other member of the +company, is driving a taxi in Hornville. He used to own his own car in +Springfield, Mass., by the way. Comes of a very good family. At least, +so he says. Are you all ready? I'll lead you to the dining-room. Or +would you prefer a little appetiser beforehand? The tap-room is right +on the way. You mustn't call it the bar. Everybody in that little +graveyard down the road would turn over completely if you did. Hallowed +tradition, you know." + +"I don't mind having a cocktail. Will you join me?" + +"As a matter of fact, I'm expected to," confessed Mr. Dillingford. +"We've been drawing quite a bit of custom to the tap-room. The rubes +like to sit around and listen to conversation about Broadway and Bunker +Hill and Old Point Comfort and other places, and then go home and tell +the neighbours that they know quite a number of stage people. Human +nature, I guess. I used to think that if I could ever meet an actress +I'd be the happiest thing in the world. Well, I've met a lot of 'em, +and God knows I'm not as happy as I was when I was WISHING I could meet +one of them. Listen! Hear that? Rushcroft is reciting Gunga Din. You +can't hear the thunder for the noise he's making." + +They descended the stairs and entered the tap-room, where a dozen men +were seated around the tables, all of them with pewter mugs in front of +them. Standing at the top table,--that is to say, the one farthest +removed from the door and commanding the attention of every creature in +the room--was the imposing figure of Lyndon Rushcroft. He was reciting, +in a sonorous voice and with tremendous fervour, the famous Kipling +poem. Barnes had heard it given a score of times at The Players in New +York, and knew it by heart. He was therefore able to catch Mr. +Rushcroft in the very reprehensible act of taking liberties with the +designs of the author. The "star," after a sharp and rather startled +look at the newcomer, deliberately "cut" four stanzas and rushed +somewhat hastily through the concluding verse, marring a tremendous +climax. + +A genial smile wiped the tragic expression from his face. He advanced +upon Barnes and the beaming Mr. Dillingford, his hand extended. + +"My dear fellow," he exclaimed resoundingly, "how are you?" Cordiality +boomed in his voice. "I heard you had arrived. Welcome,--thricefold +welcome!" He neglected to say that Mr. Montague Bacon, in passing a few +minutes before, had leaned over and whispered behind his hand: + +"Fellow upstairs from New York, Mr. Rushcroft,--fellow named Barnes. +Quite a swell, believe me." + +It was a well-placed tip, for Mr. Rushcroft had been telling the +natives for days that he knew everybody worth knowing in New York. + +Barnes was momentarily taken aback. Then he rose to the spirit of the +occasion. + +"Hello, Rushcroft," he greeted, as if meeting an old time and greatly +beloved friend. "This IS good. 'Pon my soul, you are like a thriving +date palm in the middle of an endless desert. How are you?" + +They shook hands warmly. Mr. Dillingford slapped the newcomer on the +shoulder, affectionately, familiarly, and shouted: + +"Who would have dreamed we'd run across good old Barnesy up here? By +Jove, it's marvellous!" + +"Friends, countrymen," boomed Mr. Rushcroft, "this is Mr. Barnes of New +York. Not the man the book was written about, but one of the best +fellows God ever put into this little world of ours. I do not recall +your names, gentlemen, or I would introduce each of you separately and +divisibly. And when did you leave New York, my dear fellow?" + +"A fortnight ago," replied Barnes. "I have been walking for the past +two weeks." + +Mr. Rushcroft's expression changed. His face fell. + +"Walking?" he repeated, a trifle stiffly. Was the fellow a tramp? Was +he in no better condition of life than himself and his stranded +companions, against whom the mockery of the assemblage was slyly but +indubitably directed? If so, what was to be gained by claiming +friendship with him? It behooved him to go slow. He drew himself up to +his full height. "Well, well! Really?" he said. + +The others looked on with interest. The majority were farmers, hardy, +rawboned men with misty eyes. Two of them looked like +mechanics,--blacksmiths, was Barnes' swift estimate,--and as there was +an odor of gasolene in the low, heavy-timbered room, others were no +doubt connected with the tavern garage. For that matter, there was also +an atmosphere of the stables. + +Lyndon Rushcroft was a tall, saggy man of fifty. Despite his determined +erectness, he was inclined to sag from the shoulders down. His head, +huge and grey, appeared to be much too ponderous for his yielding body, +and yet he carried it manfully, even theatrically. The lines in his +dark, seasoned face were like furrows; his nose was large and somewhat +bulbous, his mouth wide and grim. Thick, black eyebrows shaded a pair +of eyes in which white was no longer apparent; it had given way to a +permanent red. A two days' stubble covered his chin and cheeks. +Altogether he was a singular exemplification of one's idea of the +old-time actor. He was far better dressed than the two male members of +his company who had come under Barnes' observation. A fashionably made +cutaway coat of black, a fancy waistcoat, and trousers with a delicate +stripe (sadly in need of creasing) gave him an air of distinction +totally missing in his subordinates. (Afterwards Barnes was to learn +that he was making daily use of his last act drawing-room costume, +which included a silk hat and a pair of pearl grey gloves.) Evidently +he had possessed the foresight to "skip out" in the best that the +wardrobe afforded, leaving his ordinary garments for the sheriff to lay +hands upon. + +"A customary adventure with me," said Barnes. "I take a month's walking +tour every spring, usually timing my pilgrimage so as to miss the +hoi-polloi that blunders into the choice spots of the world later on +and spoils them completely for me. This is my first jaunt into this +part of New England. Most attractive walking, my dear fellow. Wonderful +scenery, splendid air--" "Deliver me from the hoi-polloi," said Mr. +Rushcroft, at his ease once more. "I may also add, deliver me from +walking. I'm damned if I can see anything in it. What will you have to +drink, old chap?" + +He turned toward the broad aperture which served as a passageway in the +wall for drinks leaving the hands of a fat bartender beyond to fall +into the clutches of thirsty customers in the tap-room. There was no +outstanding bar. A time-polished shelf, as old as the house itself, +provided the afore-said bartender with a place on which to spread his +elbows while not actively engaged in advancing mugs and bottles from +more remote resting-places at his back. + +"Everything comes through 'the hole in the wall,'" explained Rushcroft, +wrinkling his face into a smile. + +He unceremoniously turned his back on the audience of a moment before, +and pounded smartly on the shelf, notwithstanding the fact that the +bartender was less than a yard away and facing him expectantly. "What +ho! Give ear, professor. Ye gods, what a night! Devil-brewed +pandemonium--I beg pardon?" + +"I was just about to ask what you will have," said Barnes, lining up +beside him with Mr. Dillingford. + +Mr. Rushcroft drew himself up once more. "My dear fellow, I asked you +to have a--" + +"But I had already invited Dillingford. You must allow me to extend the +invitation--" + +"Say no more, sir. I understand perfectly. A flagon of ale, Bob, for +me." He leaned closer to Barnes and said, in what was supposed to be a +confidential aside: "Don't tackle the whiskey. It would kill a +rattlesnake." + +A few minutes later he laid one hand fondly upon Barnes' shoulder and, +with a graceful sweep of the other in the direction of the hall, +addressed himself to Dillingford. + +"Lead the way to the banquet-hall, good fellow. We follow." To the +patrons he was abandoning: + +"We return anon." Passing through the office, his arm linked in one of +Barnes', Mr. Rushcroft hesitated long enough to impress upon Landlord +Jones the importance of providing his "distinguished friend, Robert W. +Barnes," with the very best that the establishment afforded. Putnam +Jones blinked slightly and his eyes sought the register as if to accuse +or justify his memory. Then he spat copiously into the corner, a +necessary preliminary to a grin. He hadn't much use for the great +Lyndon Rushcroft. His grin was sardonic. Something told him that Mr. +Rushcroft was about to be liberally fed. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MR. RUSHCROFT DISSOLVES, MR. JONES INTERVENES, AND TWO MEN RIDE AWAY + + +Mr. Rushcroft explained that he had had his supper. In fact, he went on +to confess, he had been compelled, like the dog, to "speak" for it. +What could be more disgusting, more degrading, he mourned, than the +spectacle of a man who had appeared in all of the principal theatres of +the land as star and leading support to stars, settling for his supper +by telling stories and reciting poetry in the tap-room of a tavern? + +"Still," he consented, when Barnes insisted that it would be a kindness +to him, "since you put it that way, I dare say I could do with a little +snack, as you so aptly put it. Just a bite or two. Like you, my dear +fellow, I loathe and detest eating alone. I covet companionship, +convivial com--what have you ready, Miss Tilly?" + +Miss Tilly was a buxom female of forty or thereabouts, with spectacles. +She was one of a pair of sedentary waitresses who had been so long in +the employ of Mr. Jones that he hated the sight of them. Close +proximity to a real star affected her intensely. In fact, she was +dazzled. For something like twenty years she had nursed an ambition +that wavered between the desire to become an actress or an authoress. +At present she despised literature. More than once she had confessed to +Mr. Rushcroft that she hated like poison to write out the bill-o'-fare, +a duty devolving solely upon her, it appears, because of a local +tradition that she possessed literary talent. Every one said that she +wrote the best hand in the county. + +Mr. Rushcroft's conception of a bite or two may have staggered Barnes +but it did not bewilder Miss Tilly. He had four eggs with his ham, and +other things in proportion. He talked a great deal, proving in that way +that it was a supper well worth speaking for. Among other things, he +dilated at great length upon his reasons for not being a member of The +Players or The Lambs in New York City. It seems that he had promised +his dear, devoted wife that he would never join a club of any +description. Dear old girl, he would as soon have cut off his right +hand as to break any promise made to her. He brushed something away +from his eyes, and his chin, contracting, trembled slightly. + +"Quite right," said Barnes, sympathetically. "And how long has Mrs. +Rushcroft been dead?" + +A hurt, incredulous look came into Mr. Rushcroft's eyes. "Is it +possible that you have forgotten the celebrated case of Rushcroft vs. +Rushcroft, not more than six years back? Good Lord, man, it was one of +the most sensational cases that ever--But I see that you do not recall +it. You must have been abroad at the time. I don't believe I ever knew +of a case being quite so admirably handled by the press as that one +was. She got it after a bitter and protracted fight. Infidelity. +Nothing so rotten as cruelty or desertion,--no sir!" + +"Ahem!" coughed Miss Tilly. + +"The dear old girl married again," sighed Mr. Rushcroft, helping +himself to Barnes' butter. "Did very well, too. Man in the wine trade. +He saves a great deal, you see, by getting it at cost, and I can assure +you, on my word of honour, sir, that he'll find it quite an item. What +is it, Mr. Bacon? Any word from New York?" + +Mr. Bacon hovered near, perhaps hungrily. + +"Our genial host has instructed me to say to his latest guest that the +rates are two dollars a day, in advance, all dining-room checks payable +on presentation," said Mr. Bacon, apologetically. + +Rushcroft exploded. "A scurvy insult," he boomed. "Confound his--" + +The new guest was amiable. He interrupted the outraged star. "Tell Mr. +Jones that I shall settle promptly," he said, with a smile. + +The "heavy leads" lowered his voice. "He told me that he had had a +horrible thought." + +"He never has anything else," said Mr. Rushcroft. + +"It has just entered his bean that you may be an actor, Mr. Barnes," +said Bacon. + +Miss Tilly, overhearing, drew a step or two nearer. A sudden interest +in Mr. Barnes developed. She had not noticed before that he was an +uncommonly good-looking fellow. She always had said that she adored +strong, "athletic" faces. + +"Hence the insult," said Mr. Rushcroft bitterly. He raised both arms in +a gesture of complete dejection. "My God!" + +"Says it looks suspicious," went on Mr. Bacon, "flocking with us as you +do. He mentioned something about birds of a feather." + +Mr. Rushcroft arose majestically. "I shall see the man myself, Mr. +Barnes. His infernal insolence--" + +"Pray do not distress yourself, my dear Rushcroft," interrupted Barnes. +"He is quite within his rights. I may be even worse than an actor. I +may turn out to be an ordinary tramp." He took a wallet from his +pocket, and smiled engagingly upon Miss Tilly. "The check, please." + +"For both?" inquired she, blinking. + +"Certainly. Mr. Rushcroft was my guest." + +"Four twenty five," she announced, after computation on the back of the +menu. + +He selected a five dollar bill from the rather plethoric purse and +handed it to her. + +"Be so good as to keep the change," he said, and Miss Tilly went away +in a daze from which she did not emerge for a long, long time. + +Later on she felt inspired to jot down, for use no doubt in some future +literary production, a concise, though general, description of the +magnificent Mr. Barnes. She utilised the back of the bill-of-fare and +she wrote with the feverish ardour of one who dreads the loss of a +first impression. I herewith append her visual estimate of the hero of +this story. + +"He was a tall, shapely speciman of mankind," wrote Miss Tilly. +"Broad-shouldered. Smooth shaved face. Penetrating grey eyes. Short +curly hair about the colour of mine. Strong hands of good shape. Face +tanned considerable. Heavy dark eyebrows. Good teeth, very white. +Square chin. Lovely smile that seemed to light up the room for +everybody within hearing. Nose ideal. Mouth same. Voice aristocratic +and reverberating with education. Age about thirty or thirty one. Rich +as Croesus. Costume resembling the picture in the English novel the +woman forgot and left here last summer. Well turned legs. Would make a +good nobleman." + +All this would appear to be reasonably definite were it not for the +note regarding the colour of his hair. It leaves to me the simple task +of completing the very admirable description of Mr. Barnes by +announcing that Miss Tilly's hair was an extremely dark brown. + +Also it is advisable to append the following biographical information: +Thomas Kingsbury Barnes, engineer, born in Montclair, New Jersey, Sept. +26, 1885. Cornell and Beaux Arts, Paris. Son of the late Stephen S. +Barnes, engineer, and Edith (Valentine) Barnes. Office, Metropolitan +Building, New York City. Residence, Amsterdam Mansions. Clubs: (Lack of +space prevents listing them here). Recreations: golf, tennis, and +horseback riding. Author of numerous articles resulting from +expeditions and discoveries in Peru and Ecuador. Fellow of the Royal +Geographic Society. Member of the Loyal Legion and the Sons of the +American Revolution. + +Added to this, the mere announcement that he was in a position to +indulge a fancy for long and perhaps aimless walking tours through more +or less out of the way sections of his own country, to say nothing of +excursions in Europe. + +Needless to say, he obtained a great deal of pleasure from these lonely +jaunts, and at the same time laid up for future use an ample supply of +mind's ease. His was undoubtedly a romantic nature. He loved the +fancies that his susceptibilities garnered from the hills and dales and +fields and forests. He never tired of the changing prospect; the simple +meadow and the inspiring mountain peak were as one to his generous +imagination. He found something worth while in every mile he traversed +in these long and solitary tramps, and he covered no fewer than twenty +of them between breakfast and dinner unless ordered by circumstance to +loiter along the way. + +Each succeeding spring he set out from his "diggings" in New York +without having the remotest idea where his peregrinations would carry +him. It was his habit to select a starting point in advance, approach +that spot by train or ship or motor, and then divest himself of all +purpose except to fare forward until he came upon some haven for the +night. He went east or west, north or south, even as the winds of +heaven blow; indeed, he not infrequently followed them. + +For five or six weeks in the early spring it was his custom to forge +his daily chain of miles and, when the end was reached, climb +contentedly aboard a train and be transported, often by arduous means, +to the city where millions of men walk with a definite aim in view. He +liked the spring of the year. He liked the rains and the winds of early +spring. They meant the beginning of things to him. + +He was rich. Perhaps not as riches are measured in these Midas-like +days, but rich beyond the demands of avarice. His legacy had been an +ample one. The fact that he worked hard at his profession from one +year's end to the other,--not excluding the six weeks devoted to these +mentally productive jaunts,--is proof sufficient that he was not +content to subsist on the fruits of another man's enterprise. He was a +worker. He was a creator, a builder and a destroyer. It was part of his +ambition to destroy in order that he might build the better. + +The first fortnight of a proposed six weeks' jaunt through Upper New +England terminated when he laid aside his heavy pack in the little +bed-room at Hart's Tavern. Cock-crow would find him ready and eager to +begin his third week. At least, so he thought. But, truth is, he had +come to his journey's end; he was not to sling his pack for many a day +to come. + +After setting the mind of the landlord at rest, Barnes declined Mr. +Rushcroft's invitation to "quaff" a cordial with him in the tap-room, +explaining that he was exceedingly tired and intended to retire early +(an announcement that caused unmistakable distress to the actor, who +held forth for some time on the folly of "letting a thing like that go +without taking it in time," although it was not made quite clear just +what he meant by "thing"). Barnes was left to infer that he considered +fatigue a malady that ought to be treated. + +Instead of going up to his room immediately, however, he decided to +have a look at the weather. He stepped out upon the wet porch and +closed the door behind him. The wind was still high; the lantern +creaked and the dingy sign that hung above the steps gave forth +raucous, spasmodic wails as it swung back and forth in the stiff, raw +wind. Far away to the north lightning flashed dimly; the roar of +thunder had diminished to a low, half-hearted growl. + +His uneasiness concerning the young woman of the cross-roads increased +as he peered at the wall of blackness looming up beyond the circle of +light. He could not see the towering hills, but memory pictured them as +they were revealed to him in the gathering darkness before the storm. +She was somewhere outside that sinister black wall and in the +smothering grasp of those invisible hills, but was she living or dead? +Had she reached her journey's end safely? He tried to extract comfort +from the confidence she had expressed in the ability and integrity of +the old man who drove with far greater recklessness than one would have +looked for in a wild and irresponsible youngster. + +He recalled, with a thrill, the imperious manner in which she gave +directions to the man, and his surprising servility. It suddenly +occurred to him that she was no ordinary person; he was rather amazed +that he had not thought of it before. + +She had confessed to total ignorance regarding the driver of that +ramshackle conveyance; to being utterly at sea in the neighbourhood; to +having walked like any country bumpkin from the railroad station, +lugging an unconscionably heavy bag; and yet, despite all this, she +seemed amazingly sure of herself. He recalled her frivolous remark +about her jewels, and now wondered if there had not been more truth +than jest in her words. Then there was the rather significant +alteration in tone and manner when she spoke to the driver. The soft, +somewhat deliberate drawl gave way to sharp, crisp sentences; the +quaint good humour vanished and in its place he had no difficulty in +remembering a very decided note of command. + +Moreover, now that he thought of it, there was, even in the agreeable +rejoinders she had made to his offerings, the faint suggestion of an +accent that should have struck him at the time but did not for the +obvious reason that he was then not at all interested in her. Her +English was so perfect that he had failed to detect the almost +imperceptible foreign flavour that now took definite form in his +reflections. He tried to place this accent. Was it French, or Italian, +or Spanish? Certainly it was not German. The lightness of the Latin was +evident, he decided, but it was all so faint and remote that +classification was impossible, notwithstanding his years of association +with the peoples of many countries where English is spoken more +perfectly by the upper classes, who have a language of their own, than +it is in England itself. + +He took a few turns up and down the long porch, stopping finally at the +upper end. The clear, inspiring clang of a hammer on an anvil fell +suddenly upon his ears. He looked at his watch. The hour was nine, +certainly an unusual time for men to be at work in a forge. He +remembered the two men in the tap-room who were bare-armed and wore the +shapeless leather aprons of the smithy. + +He had been standing there not more than half a minute peering in the +direction from whence came the rhythmic bang of the anvil,--at no great +distance, he was convinced,--when some one spoke suddenly at his elbow. +He whirled and found himself facing the gaunt landlord. + +"Good Lord! You startled me," he exclaimed. He had not heard the +approach of the man, nor the opening and closing of the tavern door. +His gaze travelled past the tall figure of Putnam Jones and rested on +that of a second man, who leaned, with legs crossed and arms folded, +against the porch post directly in front of the entrance to the house, +his features almost wholly concealed by the broad-brimmed slouch hat +that came far down over his eyes. He too, it seemed to Barnes, had +sprung from nowhere. + +"Fierce night," said Putnam Jones, removing the corn-cob pipe from his +lips. Then, as an after thought: "Sorry I skeert you. I thought you +heerd me." + +"I was listening to the song of the anvil," said Barnes, as the +landlord moved forward and took his place beside him. "It has always +possessed a singular charm for me." + +"Special hurry-up job," said Jones, and no more. + +"Shoeing?" + +"Yep. You'd think these hayseeds could git their horses in here durin' +regular hours, wouldn't you?" + +"I dare say they consider their own regular hours instead of yours, Mr. +Jones." + +"I didn't quite ketch that." + +"I mean that they bring their horses in after their regular day's work +is done." + +"I see. Yes, I reckon that's the idee." After a few pulls at his pipe, +the landlord inquired: "Where'd you walk from to-day?" "I slept in a +farm-house last night, about fifteen miles south of this place I should +say." + +"That'd be a little ways out of East Cobb," speculated Mr. Jones. + +"Five or six miles." + +"Goin' over into Canada?" + +"No. I shall turn west, I think, and strike for the Lake Champlain +country." + +"Canadian line is only a few miles from here," said Jones. "Last summer +we had a couple of crooks from Boston here, makin' a dash for the +border. Didn't know it till they'd been gone a day, however. The +officers were just a day behind 'em. Likely lookin' fellers, too. Last +men in the world you'd take for bank robbers." + +"Bank robbers, as a rule, are very classy looking customers," said +Barnes. + +Mr. Jones grunted. After a short silence, he branched off on a new +line. "What you think about the war? Think it'll be over soon?" + +"It has been going on for nearly two years, and I can't see any signs +of abatement. Looks to me like a draw. They're all tired of it." + +"Think the Germans are going to win?" + +"No. They can't win. On the other hand, I don't see how the Allies can +win. I may be wrong, of course. The Allies are getting stronger every +day and the Germans must surely be getting weaker. As a matter of fact, +Mr. Jones, I've long since stopped speculating on the outcome of the +war. It is too big for me. I am not one of your know-it-alls who figure +the whole thing out from day to day, and then wonder why the fool +generals didn't have sense enough to perform as expected." + +"I wish them countries over there would let me fix 'em out with +generals," drawled Mr. Jones. "I could pick out fifteen or twenty men +right here in this district that could show 'em in ten minutes just how +to win the war. You'd be surprised to know how many great generals we +have running two by four farms and choppin' wood for a livin' up here. +And there are fellers settin' right in there now that never saw a body +of water bigger'n Plum Pond, an' every blamed one of 'em knows more'n +the whole British navy about ketchin' submarines. The quickest way to +end the war, says Jim Roudebush,--one of our leadin' ice-cutters,--is +for the British navy to bombard Berlin from both sides, an' he don't +see why in thunder they've never thought of it. I suppose you've +travelled right smart in Europe?" + +"Quite a bit, Mr. Jones." + +"Any partic'lar part?" + +"No," said Barnes, suddenly divining that he was being "pumped." "One +end to the other, you might say." + +"What about them countries down around Bulgaria and Roumania? I've been +considerable interested in what's going to become of them if Germany +gets licked. What do they get out of it, either way?" + +Barnes spent the next ten minutes expatiating upon the future of the +Balkan states. Jones had little to say. He was interested, and drank in +all the information that Barnes had to impart. He puffed at his pipe, +nodded his head from time to time, and occasionally put a leading +question. And quite as abruptly as he introduced the topic he changed +it. + +"Not many automobiles up here at this time 'o the year," he said. "I +was a little surprised when you said a feller had given you a lift. +Where from?" + +"The cross-roads, a mile down. He came from the direction of Frogg's +Corner and was on his way to meet some one at Spanish Falls." Barnes +shrewdly leaped to the conclusion that the landlord's interest in the +European War was more or less assumed. The man's purpose was beginning +to reveal itself. He was evidently curious, if not actually concerned, +about his guest's arrival by motor. + +"That's queer," he said, after a moment. "There's no train arrivin' at +Spanish Falls as late as six o'clock. Gets in at four-ten, if she's on +time. And she was reported on time to-day." + +"It appears that there was a misunderstanding. The driver didn't meet +the train, so the person he was going after walked all the way to the +forks. We happened upon each other there, Mr. Jones, and we studied the +sign-post together. She was bound for a place called Green Fancy." + +"Did you say SHE?" + +"Yes. I was proposing to help her out of her predicament when the +belated motor came racing down the slope. As a matter of fact, I was +wrong when I said that a man brought me here in an automobile. It was +she who did it. She gave the order. He merely obeyed,--and not very +willingly, I suspect." + +"What for sort of looking lady was she?" + +"She wore a veil," said Barnes, succinctly. + +"Young?" + +"I had that impression. By the way, Mr. Jones, what and where is Green +Fancy?" + +Jones looked over his shoulder, and his guest's glance followed. The +man near the entrance had been joined by another. + +"Well," began the landlord, lowering his voice, "it's about two mile +and a half from here, up the mountain. It's a house and people live in +it, same as any other house. That's about all there is to say about it." + +"Why is it called Green Fancy?" + +"Because it's a green house," replied Jones succinctly. + +"You mean that it is painted green?" + +"Exactly. Green as a gourd. A man named Curtis built it a couple o' +year ago and he had a fool idee about paintin' it green. Might ha' been +a little crazy, for all I know. Anyhow, after he got it finished he +settled down to live in it, and from that day to this he's never been +off'n the place. He didn't seem sick or anything, so we can't make out +his object in shuttin' himself up in the house an' seldom ever stickin' +his nose outside the door." + +"Isn't it possible that he isn't there at all?" + +"He's there all right. Every now an' then he has visitors,--just like +this woman to-day,--and sometimes they come down here for supper. They +don't hesitate to speak of him, so he must be there. Miss Tilly has got +the idee that he is a reecluse, if you know what that is." + +"It's all very interesting. I should say, judging by the visitor who +came this evening, that he entertains extremely nice people." + +"Well," said Jones drily, "they claim to be from New York. But," he +added, "so do them cheapskate actors in there." Which was as much as to +say that he had his doubts. + +Further conversation was interrupted by the irregular clatter of +horses' hoofs on the macadam. Off to the left a dull red glow of light +spread across the roadway, and a man's voice called out: "Whoa, dang +ye!" + +The door of the smithy had been thrown open and some one was leading +forth freshly shod horses. + +A moment later the horses,--prancing, high-spirited animals,--their +bridle-bits held by a strapping blacksmith, came into view. Barnes +looked in the direction of the steps. The two men had disappeared. +Instead of stopping directly in front of the steps, the smith led his +charges quite a distance beyond and into the darkness. + +Putnam Jones abruptly changed his position. He insinuated his long body +between Barnes and the doorway, at the same time rather loudly +proclaiming that the rain appeared to be over. + +"Yes, sir," he repeated, "she seems to have let up altogether. Ought to +have a nice day to-morrow, Mr. Barnes,--nice, cool day for walkin'." + +Voices came up from the darkness. Jones had not been able to cover them +with his own. Barnes caught two or three sharp commands, rising above +the pawing of horses' hoofs, and then a great clatter as the mounted +horsemen rode off in the direction of the cross-roads. The beat of the +hoofs became rhythmical as the animals steadied into a swinging lope. + +Barnes waited until they were muffled by distance, and then turned to +Jones with the laconic remark: + +"They seem to be foreigners, Mr. Jones." Jones's manner became natural +once more. He leaned against one of the posts and, striking a match on +his leg, relighted his pipe. + +"Kind o' curious about 'em, eh?" he drawled. + +"It never entered my mind until this instant to be curious," said +Barnes. + +"Well, it entered their minds about an hour ago to be curious about +you," said the other. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN EXTRAORDINARY CHAMBERMAID, A MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY, AND A MAN WHO SAID +"THANK YOU" + + +Miss Thackeray was "turning down" his bed when he entered his room +after bidding his new actor friends good night. All three promised to +be up bright and early in the morning to speed him on his way with good +wishes. Mr. Rushcroft declared that he would break the habit of years +and get up in time to partake of a seven o'clock breakfast with him. +Mr. Dillingford and Mr. Bacon, though under sentence to eat at six with +the rest of the "help," were quite sanguine that old man Jones wouldn't +mind if they ate again at seven. So it was left that Barnes was to have +company for breakfast. + +He was staggered and somewhat abashed by the appearance of Miss +Thackeray. She was by no means dressed as a chambermaid should be, nor +was she as dumb. On the contrary, she confronted him in the choicest +raiment that her wardrobe contained, and she was bright and cheery and +exceedingly incompetent. It was her costume that shocked him. Not only +was she attired in a low-necked, rose-coloured evening gown, liberally +bespangled with tinsel, but she wore a vast top-heavy picture-hat whose +crown of black was almost wholly obscured by a gorgeous white feather +that once must have adorned the king of all ostriches. She was not at +all his idea of a chambermaid. He started to back out of the door with +an apology for having blundered into the wrong room by mistake. + +"Come right in," she said cheerily. "I'll soon be through. I suppose I +should have done all this an hour ago, but I just had to write a few +letters." She went on with her clumsy operations. "I don't know who +made up this bed but whoever did was determined that it should stay +put. I never knew that bed clothes could be tucked in as far and as +tight as these. Tight enough for old Mother Jones to have done it +herself, and heaven knows she's a tight one. I am Miss Thackeray. This +is Mr. Barnes, I believe." + +He bowed, still quite overcome. + +"You needn't be scared," she cried, observing his confusion. "This is +my regular uniform. I'm starting a new style for chambermaids. Did it +paralyse you to find me here?" + +"I must confess to a moment of indecision," he said, smiling. + +"Followed by a moment of uneasiness," she added, slapping the bolster. +"You didn't know what to think, now did you?" + +"I couldn't believe my eyes." + +She abandoned her easy, careless manner. A look of mortification came +into her eyes as she straightened up and faced him. Her voice was a +trifle husky when she spoke again, after a moment's pause. + +"You see, Mr. Barnes, these are the only duds I have with me. It wasn't +necessary to put on this hat, of course, but I did it simply to make +the character complete. I might just as well make beds and clean +washstands in a picture hat as in a low-necked gown, so here I am." + +She was a tall, pleasant-faced girl of twenty-three or four, not unlike +her father in many respects. Her features were rather heavy, her mouth +large but comely, her eyes dark and lustrous behind heavy lashes. As +she now appeared before Barnes, she was the typical stage society +woman: in other words, utterly commonplace. In a drawing-room she would +have been as conspicuously out of place as she was in her present +occupation. + +"I am very sorry," he said lamely. "I have heard something of your +misfortunes from your father and--the others. It's--it's really hard +luck." + +"I call it rather good luck to have got away with the only dress in the +lot that cost more than tuppence," she said, smiling again. "Lord knows +what would have happened to me if they had dropped down on us at the +end of the first act. I was the beggar's daughter, you see,--absolutely +in rags." + +"You might have got away in your ordinary street clothes, however," he +said; "which would have been pleasanter, I dare say." + +"I dare say," she agreed brightly. "Glad to have met you. I think +you'll find everything NEARLY all right. Good night, sir." + +She smiled brightly, unaffectedly, as she turned toward the open door. +There was something forelorn about her, after all, and his heart was +touched. + +"Better luck, Miss Thackeray. Every cloud has its silver lining." + +She stopped and faced him once more. "That's the worst bromide in the +language," she said. "If I were to tell you how many clouds I've seen +and how little silver, you'd think I was lying. This experience? Why, +it's a joy compared to some of the jolts we've had,--dad and me. And +the others, too, for that matter. We've had to get used to it. Five +years ago I would have jumped out of a ten story window before I'd have +let you see me in this get-up. I know you'll laugh yourself sick over +the way I look, and so will your friends when you tell them about me, +but, thank the Lord, I shan't be in a position to hear you. So why +should I mind? What a fellow doesn't know, isn't going to hurt him. You +haven't laughed in my face, and I'm grateful for that. What you do +afterward can't make the least bit of difference to me." + +"I assure you, Miss Thackeray, that I shall not laugh, nor shall I ever +relate the story of your--" + +"There is one more bromide that I've never found much virtue in," she +interrupted, not disagreeably, "and that is: 'it's too good to be +true.' Good night. Sleep tight." + +She closed the door behind her, leaving him standing in the middle of +the room, perplexed but amused. + +"By George," he said to himself, still staring at the closed door, +"they're wonders, all of them. We could all take lessons in philosophy +from such as they. I wish I could do something to help them out of--" +He sat down abruptly on the edge of the bed and pulled his wallet from +his pocket. He set about counting the bills, a calculating frown in his +eyes. Then he stared at the ceiling, summing up. "I'll do it," he said, +after a moment of mental figuring. He told off a half dozen bills and +slipped them into his pocket. The wallet sought its usual resting place +for the night: under a pillow. + +He was healthy and he was tired. Two minutes after his head touched the +pillow he was sound asleep, losing consciousness even as he fought to +stay awake in order that he might continue to vex himself with the +extraordinary behavior and statement of Putnam Jones. + +He was aroused shortly after midnight by shouts, apparently just +outside his window. A man was calling in a loud voice from the road +below; an instant later he heard a tremendous pounding on the tavern +door. + +Springing out of bed, he rushed to the window. There were horses in +front of the house,--several of them,--and men on foot moving like +shadows among them. A shuffling of feet came up to his open window; the +intervening roof shut off his view of the porch and all that was +transpiring. His eyes, accustomed to darkness, made out at least five +horses in the now unlighted area before the tavern. + +Turning from the window, he unlocked and opened the door into the hall. +Some one was clattering down the narrow staircase. The bolts on the +front door shot back with resounding force, and there came the hoarse +jumble of excited voices as men crowded through the entrance. Putnam +Jones's voice rose above the clamour. + +"Keep quiet! Do you want to wake everybody on the place?" he was saying +angrily. "What's up? This is a fine time o' night to be--Good Lord! +What's the matter with him?" + +"Telephone for a doctor, Put,--damn' quick! This one's still alive. The +other one is dead as a door nail up at Jim Conley's house. Git ole Doc +James down from Saint Liz. Bring him in here, boys. Where's your +lights? Easy now! Eas-EE!" + +Barnes waited to hear no more. His blood seemed to be running ice-cold +as he retreated into the room and began scrambling for his clothes. The +thing he feared had come to pass. Disaster had overtaken her in that +wild, senseless dash up the mountain road. He was cursing half aloud as +he dressed, cursing the fool who drove that machine and who now was +perhaps dying down there in the tap-room. "The other one is dead as a +door nail," kept running through his head,--"the other one." + +The rumble of voices and the shuffling of feet continued, indistinct +but laden with tragedy. The curious hush of catastrophe seemed to top +the confusion that infected the place, inside and out. Barnes found his +electric pocket torch and dressed hurriedly, though not fully, by its +constricted light. As he was pulling on his heavy walking shoes, a head +was inserted through the half open door, and an excited voice called +out: + +"You awake? Good work! Hustle along, will you? No more sleep to-night, +old chap. Man dying downstairs. Shot smack through the lungs. Get a +move--" + +"Shot?" exclaimed Barnes. + +"So they say," replied the agitated Mr. Dillingford, entering the room. +He had slipped on his trousers and was then in the act of pulling his +suspenders over his shoulders. His unlaced shoes gaped broadly; the +upper part of his body was closely encased in a once blue undershirt; +his abundant black hair was tousled,--some of it, indeed, having the +appearance of standing on end. And in his wide eyes there was a look of +horror. "I didn't hear much of the story. Old man Jones is telephoning +for a doctor and--" + +"Did you say that the man was shot?" repeated Barnes, bewildered. +"Wasn't it an automobile accident?" + +"Search ME. Gosh, I had one look at that fellow's face down there +and--I didn't hear another word that was said. I never saw a man's face +look like that. It was the colour of grey wall paper. Hurry up! Old man +Jones told me to call you. He says you understand some of the foreign +languages, and maybe you can make out what the poor devil is trying to +say." "Do they know who he is?" + +"Sure. He's been staying in the house for three days. The other one +spoke English all right but this one not a word." + +"Did they ride away from here about nine o'clock?" + +"Yes. They had their own horses and said they were going to spend the +night at Spanish Falls so's they could meet the down train that goes +through at five o'clock in the morning. But hustle along, please. He's +trying to talk and he's nearly gone." + +Barnes, buoyed by a sharp feeling of relief, followed the actor +downstairs and into the tap-room. A dozen men were there, gathered +around two tables that had been drawn together. Transient lodgers, in +various stages of dishabille, popped out of all sorts of passageways +and joined the throng. The men about the table, on which was stretched +the figure of the wounded man, were undoubtedly natives: farmers, +woodsmen or employees of the tavern. At a word from Putnam Jones, they +opened up and allowed Barnes to advance to the side of the man. + +"See if you c'n understand him, Mr. Barnes," said the landlord. +Perspiration was dripping from his long, raw-boned face. "And you, +Bacon,--you and Dillingford hustle upstairs and get a mattress off'n +one of the beds. Stand at the door there, Pike, and don't let any women +in here. Go away, Miss Thackeray! This is no place for you." + +Miss Thackeray pushed her way past the man who tried to stop her and +joined Barnes. Her long black hair hung in braids down her back; above +her forehead clustered a mass of ringlets, vastly disordered but not +untidy. A glance would have revealed the gaudy rose-coloured skirt +hanging below the bottom of the long rain-coat she had snatched from a +peg in the hall-way. + +"It is the place for me," she said sharply. "Haven't you men got sense +enough to put something under his head? Where is he hurt? Get that +cushion, you. Stick, it under here when I lift his head. Oh, you poor +thing! We'll be as quick as possible. There!" + +"You'd better go away," said Barnes, himself ghastly pale. "He's been +shot. There is a lot of blood--don't you know. It's splendid of you--" + +"Dangerously?" she cried, shrinking back, her eyes fixed in dread upon +the white face. + +The man's eyes were closed, but at the sound of a woman's voice he +opened them. The hand with which he clutched at his breast slid off and +seemed to be groping for hers. His breathing was terrible. There was +blood at the corners of his mouth, and more oozed forth when his lips +parted in an effort to speak. + +With a courage that surprised even herself, the girl took his hand in +hers. It was wet and warm. She did not dare look at it. + +"Merci, madame," struggled from the man's lips, and he smiled. + +Barnes had heard of the French soldiers who, as they died, said "thank +you" to those who ministered to them, and smiled as they said it. He +had always marvelled at the fortitude that could put gratefulness above +physical suffering, and his blood never failed to respond to an +exquisite thrill of exaltation under such recitals. He at once deduced +that the injured man, while probably not a Frenchman, at least was +familiar with the language. + +He was young, dark-haired and swarthy. His riding-clothes were +well-made and modish. + +Barnes leaned over and spoke to him in French. The dark, pain-stricken +eyes closed, and an almost imperceptible shake of the head signified +that he did not understand. Evidently he had acquired only a few of the +simple French expressions. Barnes had a slight knowledge of Spanish and +Italian, and tried again with no better results. German was his last +resort, and he knew he would fail once more, for the man obviously was +not Teutonic. + +The bloody lips parted, however, and the eyes opened with a piteous, +appealing expression in their depths. It was apparent that there was +something he wanted to say, something he had to say before he died. He +gasped a dozen words or more in a tongue utterly unknown to Barnes, who +bent closer to catch the feeble effort. It was he who now shook his +head; with a groan the sufferer closed his eyes in despair. He choked +and coughed violently an instant later. + +"Get some water and a towel," cried Miss Thackeray, tremulously. She +was very white, but still clung to the man's hand. "Be quick! Behind +the bar." Then she turned to Jones. "Don't call my father. He can't +stand the sight of blood," she said. + +Barnes unbuttoned the coat and revealed the blood-soaked white shirt. + +"Better leave this to me," he said in her ear. "There's nothing you can +do. He's done for. Please go away." + +"Oh, I sha'n't faint--at least, not yet. Poor fellow! I've seen him +upstairs and wondered who he was. Is he really going to die?" + +"Looks bad," said Barnes, gently opening the shirt front. Several of +the craning men turned away suddenly. + +"Can't you understand him?" demanded Putnam Jones, from the opposite +side. + +"No. Did you get the doctor?" + +"He's on the way by this time. He's got a little automobile. Ought to +be here in ten or fifteen minutes." + +"Who is he, Mr. Jones?" + +"He is registered as Andrew Paul, from New York. That's all I know. The +other man put his name down as Albert Roon. He seemed to be the boss +and this man a sort of servant, far as I could make out. They never +talked much and seldom came downstairs. They had their meals in their +room. Bacon served them. Where is Bacon? Where the hell--oh, the +mattress. Now, we'll lift him up gentle-like while you fellers slip it +under him. Easy now. Brace up, my lad, we--we won't hurt you. Lordy! +Lordy! I'm sorry--Gosh! I thought he was gone!" He wiped his brow with +a shaking hand. + +"There is nothing we can do," said Barnes, "except try to stanch the +flow of blood. He is bleeding inwardly, I'm afraid. It's a clean wound, +Mr. Jones. Like a rifle shot, I should say." + +"That's just what it is," said one of the men, a tall woodsman. "The +feller who did it was a dead shot, you c'n bet on that. He got t' other +man square through the heart." + +"Lordy, but this will raise a rumpus," groaned the landlord. "We'll +have detectives an'--" + +"I guess they got what was comin' to 'em," said another of the men. + +"What's that? Why, they was ridin' peaceful as could be to Spanish +Falls. What do you mean by sayin' that, Jim Conley? But wait a minute! +How does it happen that they were up near your dad's house? That +certainly ain't on the road to Span--" + +"Spanish Falls nothin'! They wasn't goin' to Spanish Falls any more'n I +am at this minute. They tied their hosses up the road just above our +house," said young Conley, lowering his voice out of consideration for +the feelings of the helpless man. "It was about 'leven o'clock, I +reckon. I was comin' home from singin' school up at Number Ten, an' I +passed the hosses hitched to the fence. Naturally I stopped, curious +like. There wasn't no one around, fer as I could see, so I thought I'd +take a look to see whose hosses they were. I thought it was derned +funny, them hosses bein' there at that time o' night an' no one around. +So as I said before, I thought I'd take a look. I know every hoss fer +ten mile around. So I thought I'd take--" + +"You said that three times," broke in Jones impatiently. + +"Well, to make a long story short, I thought I'd take a look. I never +seen either of them animals before. They didn't belong around here. So +I thought I'd better hustle down to the house an' speak to pa about it. +Looked mighty queer to me. Course, thinks I, they might belong to +somebody visitin' in there at Green Fancy, so I thought I'd--" + +"Green Fancy?" said Barnes, starting. + +"Was it up that far?" demanded Jones. + +"They was hitched jest about a hundred yards below Mr. Curtis's +propity, on the off side o' the road. Course it's quite a ways in from +the road to the house, an' I couldn't see why if it was anybody callin' +up there they didn't ride all the ways up, 'stead o' walkin' through +the woods. So I thought I'd speak to pa about it. Say," and he paused +abruptly, a queer expression in his eyes, "you don't suppose he knows +what I'm sayin', do you? I wouldn't say anything to hurt the poor +feller's feelin's fer--" + +"He doesn't know what you are saying," said Barnes. + +"But, dern it, he jest now looked at me in the funniest way. It's given +me the creeps." + +"Go on," said one of the men. + +"Well, I hadn't any more'n got to our front gate when I heard some one +running in the road up there behind me. 'Fore I knowed what was +happenin', bang went a gun. I almost jumped out'n my boots. I lept +behind that big locus' tree in front of our house and listened. The +runnin' had stopped. The hosses was rarin' an' tearin' so I thought +I'd--" + +"Where'd the shot come from?" demanded Jones. + +"Up the road some'eres, I couldn't swear just where. Must 'a' been up +by the road that cuts in to Green Fancy. So I thought I'd hustle in an' +see if pa was awake, an' git my gun. Looked mighty suspicious, thinks +I, that gun shot. Jest then pa stuck his head out'n the winder an' +yelled what the hell's the matter. You betcher life I sung out who I +was mighty quick, 'cause pa's purty spry with a gun an' I didn't want +him takin' me fer burglars sneakin' around the house. While we wuz +talkin' there, one of the hosses started our way lickety-split, an' in +about two seconds it went by us. It was purty dark but we see plain as +day that there was a man in the saddle, bendin' low over the hoss's +neck and shoutin' to it. Well, we shore was guessin'. We waited a +couple o' minutes, wonderin' what to do, an' listenin' to the hoss +gittin' furder and furder away in the direction of the cross-roads. +Then, 'way down there by the pike we heerd another shot. Right there +an' then pa said he'd put on his clothes an' we'd set out to see what +it was all about. I had it figgered out that the feller on the hoss had +shot the other one and was streakin' it fer town or some'eres. That +second shot had me guessin' though. Who wuz he shootin' at now, thinks +I. + +"Well, pa come out with my gun an' his'n an' we walks up to where I +seen the hosses. Shore 'nough, one of 'em was still hitched to the +fence, an' t'other was gone. We stood around a minute or two examinin' +the hoss an' then pa says let's go up the road aways an' see if we c'n +see anything. An' by gosh, we hadn't gone more'n fifty feet afore we +come plumb on a man layin' in the middle of the road. Pa shook him an' +he didn't let out a sound. He was warm but deader'n a tombstone. I wuz +fer leavin' him there till we c'd git the coroner, but pa says no. We'd +carry him down to our porch, an' lay him there, so's he'd be out o' +danger. Ma an' the kids wuz all up when we got him there, an' pa sent +Bill and Charley over to Mr. Pike's and Uncle John's to fetch 'em +quick. I jumps on Polly an' lights out fer here, Mr. Jones, to +telephone up to Saint Liz fer the sheriff an' the coroner, not givin' a +dang what I run into on the way. Polly shied somethin' terrible jest +afore we got to the pike an' I come derned near bein' throwed. An' +right there 'side the road was this feller, all in a heap. I went back +an' jumped off. He was groanin' somethin' awful. Thinks I, you poor +cuss, you must 'a' tried to stop that feller on hossback an' he plunked +you. That accounted fer the second shot. But while I wuz tryin' to lift +him up an' git somethin' out'n him about the matter, I sees his boss +standin' in the road a couple o' rods away. I couldn't understand a +word he said, so I thought I better go back home an' git some help, +seein's I couldn't manage him by myself. So I dragged him up on the +bank an' made him comfortable as I could, and lit out fer home. We +thought we'd better bring him up here, Mr. Jones, it bein' just as near +an' you could git the doctor sooner. I hitched up the buck-board and +went back. Pa an' some of the other fellers took their guns an' went up +in the woods lookin' fer the man that done the shootin'. The thing that +worries all of us is did the same man do the shootin', or was there two +of 'em, one waitin' down at the cross-roads?" + +"Must have been two," said Jones, thoughtfully. "The same man couldn't +have got down there ahead of him, that's sure. Did anybody go up to +Green Fancy to make inquiries?" + +"'Twasn't necessary. Mr. Curtis heard the shootin' an' jest before we +left he sent a man out to see what it was all about. The old skeezicks +that's been drivin' his car lately come down half-dressed. He said +nothin' out of the way had happened up at Green Fancy. Nobody had been +nosin' around their place, an' if they had, he said, there wasn't +anybody there who could hit the side of a barn with a rifle." + +"It's most mysterious," said Barnes, glancing around the circle of awed +faces. "There must have been some one lying in wait for these men, and +with a very definite purpose in mind." + +"Strikes me," said Jones, "that these two men were up to some kind of +dirty work themselves, else why did they say they were goin' to Spanish +Falls? It's my idee that they went up that road to lay fer somebody +comin' down from the border, and they got theirs good an' plenty +instead of the other way round. They were queer actin' men, I'll have +to say that." + +His eyes met Barnes' and there was a queer light in them. + +"You don't happen to know anything about this, do you, Mr. Barnes?" he +demanded, suddenly. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE FARM-BOY TELLS A GHASTLY STORY AND AN IRISHMAN ENTERS + + +Barnes stared. "What do you mean?" he demanded sharply. + +"I mean just what I said. What do you know about this business?" + +"How should I know ANYTHING about it?" + +"Well, we don't know who you are, nor what you're doing up here, nor +what your real profession is. That's why I ask the question." + +"I see," said Barnes, after a moment. He grasped the situation and he +admitted to himself that Jones had cause for his suspicions. "It has +occurred to you that I may be a detective or a secret service man, +isn't that the case? Well, I am neither. Moreover, this man and his +companion evidently had their doubts about me, if I am to judge by your +remark and your actions on the porch earlier in the evening." + +"I only said that they were curious about you. The man named Roon asked +me a good many questions about you while you were in at supper. Who +knows but what he was justified in thinkin' you didn't mean any good to +him and his friend?" + +"Did you know any more about these two men, Mr. Jones, than you know +about me?" + +"I don't know anything about 'em. They came here like any one else, +paid their bills regular, 'tended to their own business, and that's +all." + +"What was their business?" + +"Mr. Roon was lookin' for a place to bring his daughter who has +consumption. He didn't want to take her to a reg'lar consumptive +community, he said, an' so he was lookin' for a quiet place where she +wouldn't be associatin' with lungers all the time. Some big doctor in +New York told him to come up here an' look around. That was his +business, Mr. Barnes, an' I guess you'd call it respectable, wouldn't +you?" + +"Perfectly. But why should he be troubled by my presence here if--" +Miss Thackeray put an end to the discussion in a most effectual manner. + +"Oh, for the Lord's sake, cut it out! Wait till he's dead, can't you?" +she whispered fiercely. "You've got all the time in the world to talk, +and he hasn't more than ten minutes left to breathe unless that rube +doctor gets here pretty soon. If you've GOT to settle the question +right away, at least have the decency to go out of this room." + +Barnes flushed to the roots of his hair. Jones was aghast, dumb with +surprise and anger. + +"You are right, Miss Thackeray," said the former, deeply mortified. +"This is not the time nor the place to----" + +"He can't understand a word we say," said Putnam Jones loudly. "You +better get out of here yourself, young woman. This is a job for men, +not--" + +"I think he's going now," she whispered in an awe-struck voice. "Keep +still, all of you. Is he breathing, Mr. Barnes? That awful cough just +now seemed to--" + +"Come away, please," said Barnes, taking her gently by the arm. "I--I +believe that was the end. Don't stay here, Miss Thackeray. Dillingford, +will you be good enough to escort Miss--" + +"I've never seen any one die before," she said in a low, tense voice. +Her eyes were fixed on the still face. "Why--why, how tightly he holds +my hand! I can't get it away--he must be alive, Mr. Barnes. Where is +that silly doctor?" + +Barnes unclasped the rigid fingers of the man called Andrew Paul, and, +shaking his head sadly, drew her away from the improvised bier. He and +the shivering Mr. Dillingford conducted her to the dining-room, where a +single kerosene lamp gave out a feeble, rather ghastly light. The tall +Bacon followed, the upper part of his person enveloped in the blanket +Putnam Jones had hastily snatched from the mattress before it was +slipped under the dying man. Several of the women of the house, +including the wife of the landlord, clogged the little entrance hall, +chattering in hushed undertones. + +"Would you like a little brandy?" inquired Barnes, as she sat down +limply in the chair he pulled out for her. "I have a flask upstairs in +my--" + +"I never touch it," she said. "I'm all right. My legs wabble a little +but--Sit down, Mr. Barnes. I've got something to say to you and I'd +better say it now, because it may come in pretty handy for you later +on. Don't let those women come in here, Dilly." + +Barnes drew a chair close beside her. Bacon, with scant regard for +elegance, seated himself on the edge of the table and bent an ear. + +"It's all rot about that man Roon being here to look for a place for +his daughter." She spoke rapidly and cautiously. "I don't know whether +Jones knows, but that certainly wasn't what he was here for. The young +fellow in there was a sort of secretary. Roon had a room at the other +end of the hall from yours, on the corner, facing the road and also +looking toward the cross-roads. Young Paul had the next room, with a +door between. I was supposed to make up their rooms after they'd gone +out in the forenoon for a horseback ride. I kept out of their sight, +because I knew they were the kind of men who would laugh at me. They +couldn't understand, and, of course, I couldn't explain. Yesterday +morning I found a sort of map on the floor under young Paul's +washstand. The wind had blown it off the table by the window and he +hadn't missed it. It was in lead pencil and looked like a map of the +roads around here. I couldn't read the notations, but it required only +a glance to convince me that this place was the central point. All of +the little mountain roads were there, and the cross-roads. There wasn't +anything queer about it, so I laid it on his table and put a book on it. + +"This afternoon I walked up in the woods back of the Tavern to go over +some lines in a new piece we are to do later on,--God knows when! I +could see the house from where I was sitting. Roon's windows were +plainly visible. I wasn't very far away, you see, the climb being too +steep for me. I saw Roon standing at a window looking toward the +cross-roads with a pair of field-glasses. Every once in awhile he would +turn to Paul, who stood beside him with a notebook, and say something +to him. Paul wrote it down. Then he would look again, turning the +glasses this way and that. I wouldn't have thought much about it if +they hadn't spent so much time there. I believe I watched them for an +hour. Suddenly my eyes almost popped out of my head. Paul had gone away +from the window. He came back and he had a couple of revolvers in his +hands. They stood there for a few minutes carefully examining the +weapons and reloading them with fresh cartridges. The storm was coming +up, but I love it so that I waited almost until dark, watching the +clouds and listening to the roar of the wind in the trees. I'm a queer +girl in that way. I like turmoil. I could sit out in the most dreadful +thunder storm and just revel in the crashes. Just as I was about to +start down to the house--it was a little after six o'clock, and getting +awfully dark and overcast,--Roon took up the glasses again. He seemed +to be excited and called his companion. Paul grabbed the glasses and +looked down the road. They both became very much excited, pointing and +gesticulating, and taking turn about with the glasses." + +"About six o'clock, you say?" said Barnes, greatly interested. + +"It was a quarter after six when I got back to the house. I spoke to +Mr. Bacon about what I'd seen and he said he believed they were German +spies, up to some kind of mischief along the Canadian border. Everybody +is a German spy nowadays, Mr. Barnes, if he looks cross-wise. Then +about half an hour later you came to the Tavern. I saw Roon sneak out +to the head of the stairs and listen to your conversation with Jones +when you registered. That gave me an idea. It was you they were +watching the road for. They saw you long before you got here, and it +was--" + +Barnes held up his hand for silence. "Listen," he said in a low voice, +"I will tell you who they were looking for." As briefly as possible he +recounted his experience with the strange young woman at the +cross-roads. "From the beginning I have connected this tragedy with the +place called Green Fancy. I'll stake my last penny that they have been +hanging around here waiting for the arrival of that young woman. They +knew she was coming and they doubtless knew what she was bringing with +her. They went to Green Fancy to-night with a very sinister purpose in +mind, and things didn't turn out as they expected. What do you know +about the place called Green Fancy?" + +He was vastly excited. His active imagination was creating all sorts of +possibilities and complications, depredations and intrigues. + +Bacon was the one who answered. He drew the blanket closer about his +lean form and shivered as with a chill. + +"I know this much about the place from hearsay," he said in a guttural +whisper. "It's supposed to be haunted. I've heard more than one of +these jays,--big huskies too,--say they wouldn't go near the place +after dark for all the money in the state." + +"That's just talk to scare you, Ague," said Dillingford. "People live +up there and since we've been here two or three men visitors have come +down from the place to sample our stock of wet goods. Nothing +suspicious looking or ghostly about them either. I talked with a couple +of 'em day before yesterday. They were out for a horseback ride and +stopped here for a mug of ale." + +"Were they foreigners?" inquired Barnes. + +"If you want to call an Irishman a foreigner, I'll have to say one of +them was. He had a beautiful brogue. I'd never seen an Irishman in +slick riding clothes, however, so I doubted my ears at first. You don't +associate a plain Mick with anything so swell as that, you know. The +other was an American, I'm sure. Yesterday they rode past here with a +couple of swell looking women. I saw them turn up the road to Green +Fancy, so that knocks your ghost story all to smash, Bacon." + +"It isn't MY ghost story," began Mr. Bacon indignantly. The arrival of +four or five men, who stamped into the already crowded hallway from the +porch outside, claimed the attention of the quartette. Among them was +the doctor who, they were soon to discover, was also the coroner of the +county. A very officious deputy sheriff was also in the group. + +Before rejoining the crowd in the tap-room, Barnes advised his +companions, especially the girl, to say as little as possible about +what they had heard and seen. + +"This thing is going to turn out to be a whacking sensation, and it may +be a great deal more important than we think. You don't want to become +involved in the investigation, which may become a national affair. I'd +like to have a hand in clearing it up. My head is chock-full of +theories that might--" + +"Maybe Roon was right," said Dillingford, slowly, as he edged a step or +two away from Barnes. + +"In what respect?" + +"He certainly thought you were a detective or something like that. +Maybe he thought you came with that young woman, or maybe he thought +you were shadowing her, or--" + +"There are a lot of things he may have thought," interrupted Barnes, +smiling. "It is barely possible that my arrival may have caused him to +act more hastily than he intended. That may be the reason why the job +ended so disastrously for him." + +Mrs. Jones called out from the doorway. "Mr. Barnes, you're wanted in +there." + +"All right," he responded. + +"Better let me get you a wet towel to wash your hand," said Bacon to +Miss Thackeray. "My God, I wouldn't have THAT on my hand for a million +dollars." + +The doctor had been working over the prostrate form on the tables. As +Barnes entered the room, he looked up and declared that the man was +dead. + +"This is Mr. Barnes," said Putnam Jones, indicating the tall traveller +with a short jerk of his thumb. + +"I am from the sheriff's office," said the man who stood beside the +doctor. The rest of the crowd evidently had been ordered to stand back +from the tables. The sheriff was a burly fellow, whose voice shook in a +most incongruous manner, despite his efforts to appear composed and +otherwise efficient. "Did you ever see this man before?" + +"Not until he was carried in here half an hour ago. I arrived here this +evening." + +"What's your business up here, Mr. Barnes?" + +"I have no business up here. I just happened to stroll in this evening." + +"Well," said the sheriff darkly, "I guess I'll have to ask you to stick +around here till we clear this business up. We don't know you +an'--Well, we can't take any chances. You understand, I reckon." + +"I certainly fail to understand, Mr. Sheriff. I know nothing whatever +of this affair and I intend to continue on my way to-morrow morning." + +"Well, I guess not." + +"Do you mean to say that I am to be detained here against my--" + +"You got to stay here till we are satisfied that you don't know +anything about this business. That's all." + +"Am I to consider myself under arrest, sir?" + +"I wouldn't go as far as to say that. You just stick around here, +that's all I got to say. If you're all right, we'll soon find it out. +What's more, if you are all right you'll be willin' to stay. Do you get +me?" + +"I certainly do. And I can now assure you, Mr. Sheriff, that I'd like +nothing better than to stick around here, as you put it. I'd like to +help clear this matter up. In the meantime, you may readily find out +who I am and why I am here by telegraphing to the Mayor of New York +City. This document, which experience has taught me to carry for just +such an emergency as this, may have some weight with you." He opened +his bill-folder and drew forth a neatly creased sheet of paper. This he +handed to the sheriff. "Read it, please, and note the date, the +signature, the official seal of the New York Police department, and +also the rather interesting silver print pasted in the lower left hand +corner. I think you will agree that it is a good likeness of me. Each +year I take the precaution of having myself properly certified by the +police department at home before venturing into unknown and perhaps +unfriendly communities. This, in a word, is a guarantee of good +citizenship, good intentions and-good health. I was once taken up by a +rural Sherlock on suspicion of being connected with the theft of a +horse and buggy, although all the evidence seemed to indicate that I +was absolutely afoot and weary at the time, and didn't have the outfit +concealed about my person. I languished in the calaboose for +twenty-four hours, and might have remained there indefinitely if the +real desperado hadn't been captured in the nick o' time. Have you read +it?" + +"Yes," said the sheriff dubiously; "but how do I know it ain't a +forgery?" + +"You don't know, of course. But in case it shouldn't be a forgery and I +am subjected to the indignity of arrest or even detention, you would +have a nasty time defending yourself in a civil suit for damages. Don't +misunderstand me. I appreciate your position. I shall remain here, as +you suggest, but only for the purpose of aiding you in getting to the +bottom of this affair." + +"What do you think about it, Doc?" + +"He says he's willing to stay, don't he? Well, what more can you ask?" +snapped the old doctor. "I should say the best thing for you to do, +Abner, is to get a posse of men together and begin raking the woods up +yonder for the men that did the shooting. You say there is another one +dead up at Jim Conley's? Well, I'll go over and view him at once. The +first thing to do is to establish the corpus delicti. We've got to be +able to say the men are dead before we can charge anybody with murder. +This man was shot in the chest, from in front. Now we'll examine his +clothes and so forth and see if they throw any additional light on the +matter." + +The most careful search of Andrew Paul's person established one thing +beyond all question: the man had deliberately removed everything that +might in any way serve to aid the authorities in determining who he +really was and whence he came. The tailor's tags had been cut from the +smart, well-fitting garments; the buttons on the same had been replaced +by others of an ordinary character; the names of the haberdasher, the +hat dealer and the boot maker had been as effectually destroyed. There +were no papers of any description in his pockets. His wrist watch bore +neither name, date nor initials. Indeed, nothing had been overlooked in +his very palpable effort to prevent actual identification, either in +life or death. + +Subsequent search of the two rooms disclosed the same extreme +precautions. Not a single object, not even a scrap of paper had been +left there on the departure of the men at nine o'clock. Ashes in an +old-fashioned fireplace in Roon's room suggested the destruction of +tell-tale papers. Everything had vanished. A large calibre automatic +revolver, all cartridges unexploded, was found in Paul's coat pocket. +In another pocket, lying loose, were a few bank notes and some silver, +amounting all told to about thirty dollars. + +The same thorough search of the dead body of Roon later on by the +coroner and sheriff, revealed a similar condition. The field-glasses, +of English make, were found slung across his shoulder, and a fully +loaded revolver, evidently his, was discovered the next morning in the +grass beside the road near the point where he fell. There were several +hundred dollars in the roll of bills they found in his inside coat +pocket. + +Roon was a man of fifty or thereabouts. Although both men were +smooth-faced, there was reason to suspect that Roon at least had but +recently worn a mustache. His upper lip had the thick, stiff look of +one from which a beard of long-standing recently had been shaved. + +Later on it was learned that they purchased the two horses in +Hornville, paying cash for the beasts and the trappings. The +transaction took place a day or two before they came to Hart's Tavern +for what had been announced as a short stay. + +Standing on Jim Conley's front porch a little after sunrise, Barnes +made the following declaration: + +"Everything goes to show that these men were up here for one of two +reasons. They were either trying to prevent or to enact a crime. The +latter is my belief. They were afraid of me. Why? Because they believed +I was trailing them and likely to spoil their game. Gentlemen, those +fellows were here for the purpose of robbing the place you call Green +Fancy." + +"What's that?" came a rich, mellow voice from the outskirts of the +crowd. A man pushed his way through and confronted Barnes. He was a +tall, good-looking fellow of thirty-five, and it was apparent that he +had dressed in haste. "My name is O'Dowd, and I am a guest of Mr. +Curtis at Green Fancy. Why do you think they meant to rob his place?" + +"Well," began Barnes drily, "it would seem that his place is the only +one in the neighbourhood that would BEAR robbing. My name is Barnes. Of +course, Mr. O'Dowd, it is mere speculation on my part." + +"But who shot the man?" demanded the Irishman. "He certainly wasn't +winged by any one from our place. Wouldn't we have known something +about it if he had attempted to get into the house and was nailed +by--Why, Lord love you, sir, there isn't a soul at Green Fancy who +could shoot a thief if he saw one. This is Mr. De Soto, also a guest at +Green Fancy. He will, I think, bear me out in upsetting your theory." + +A second man approached, shaking his head vigorously. He was a thin, +pale man with a singularly scholastic face. Quite an unprepossessing, +unsanguinary person, thought Barnes. + +"Mr. Curtis's chauffeur, I think it was, said the killing occurred just +above this house," said he, visibly excited. "Green Fancy is at least a +mile from here, isn't it? You don't shoot burglars a mile from the +place they are planning to rob, do you? Is the man a native of this +community?" + +"No," said Barnes, on whom devolved the duties of spokesman. "By the +way, his companion lies dead at Hart's Tavern. He was shot from his +horse at the cross-roads." + +"God bless me soul," gasped O'Dowd. "The chauffeur didn't mention a +second one. And were there two of them?" + +"And both of them dead?" cried De Soto. "At the cross-roads? My dear +sir, how can you reconcile--" He broke off with a gesture of impatience. + +"I'll admit it's a bit out of reason," said Barnes. "The second man +could only have been shot by some one who was lying in wait for him." + +"Why, the thing's as clear as day," cried O'Dowd, facing the crowd. His +cheerful, sprightly face was alive with excitement. "They were not +trying to rob any one. They were either trying to get across the border +into Canada themselves or else trying to head some one off who was +coming from that side of the line." + +"Gad, you may be right," agreed Barnes instantly. "If you'd like to +hear more of the story I'll be happy to relate all that we know at +present." + +While the coroner and the others were loading the body of Albert Roon +into a farm wagon for conveyance to the county-seat, Barnes, who had +taken a sudden fancy to the two men from Green Fancy, gave them a brief +but full account of the tragedy and the result of investigations as far +as they had gone. + +"Bedad," said O'Dowd, "it beats the devil. There's something big in +this thing, Mr. Barnes,--something a long shot bigger than any of us +suspects. The extraordinary secrecy of these fellows, their evident +gentility, their doubtful nationality--why, bedad, it sounds like a +penny-dreadful thriller." + +"You'll find that it resolves itself into a problem for Washington to +solve," said De Soto darkly. "Nothing local about it, take my word for +it. These men were up to some international devilment. I'm not saying +that Germany is at the back of it, but, by Jove, I don't put anything +beyond the beggars. They are the cleverest, most resourceful people in +the world, damn 'em. You wait and see if I'm not right. There'll be a +stir in Washington over this, sure as anything." + +"What time was it that you heard the shots up at Green Fancy?" ventured +Barnes. + +"Lord love you," cried O'Dowd, "we didn't hear a sound. Mr. Curtis, who +has insomnia the worst way, poor devil, heard them and sent some one +out to see what all the racket was about. It wasn't till half an hour +or so ago that De Soto and I were routed out of our peaceful nests and +ordered,--virtually ordered, mind you,--to get up and guard the house. +Mr. Curtis was in a pitiful state of nerves over the killing, and so +were the ladies. 'Gad, everybody seemed to know all about the business +except De Soto and me. The man, it seems, made such a devil of a racket +when he came home with the news that the whole house was up in pajamas +and peignoirs. He didn't say anything about a second Johnnie being +shot, however. I'm glad he didn't know about it, for that matter. He'll +be seeing one ghost for the rest of his days and that's enough, without +having another foisted upon him." + +"I think I have a slight acquaintance with the chauffeur," said Barnes. +"He gave me the most thrilling motor ride I've ever experienced. 'Gad, +I'll never forget it." + +The two men looked at him, plainly perplexed. + +"When was all this?" inquired De Soto. + +"Early last evening. He took me from the cross-roads to Hart's Tavern +in a minute and a half, I'll bet my soul." + +"Last evening?" said O'Dowd, something like skepticism in his tone. + +"Yes. He picked up your latest guest at the corners, and she insisted +on his driving me to the Tavern before the storm broke. I've been +terribly anxious about her. She must have been caught out in all that +frightful--" + +"What's this you are saying, Mr. Barnes?" cut in De Soto, frowning. "No +guest arrived at Green Fancy last evening, nor was one expected." + +Barnes stared. "Do you mean to say that she didn't get there, after +all?" + +"She? A woman, was it?" demanded O'Dowd. "Bedad, if she said she was +coming to Green Fancy she was spoofing you. Are you sure it was old +Peter who gave you that jolly ride?" + +"No, I am not sure," said Barnes, uneasily. "She was afoot, having +walked from the station below. I met her at the corners and she asked +me if I knew how far it was to Green Fancy, or something like that. +Said she was going there. Then along came the automobile, rattling down +this very road,--an ancient Panhard driven by an old codger. She seemed +to think it was all right to hop in and trust herself to him, although +she'd never seen him before." + +"The antique Panhard fits in all right," said O'Dowd, "but I'm hanged +if the woman fits at all. No such person arrived at Green Fancy last +night." + +"Did you get a square look at the driver's face?" demanded De Soto. + +"It was almost too dark to see, but he was old, hatchet-faced, and +spoke with an accent." + +"Then it couldn't have been Peter," said De Soto positively. "He's old, +right enough, but he is as big as the side of a house, with a face like +a full moon, and he is Yankee to his toes. By gad, Barnes, the plot +thickens! A woman has been added to the mystery. Now, who the devil is +she and what has become of her?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +CHARITY BEGINS FAR FROM HOME, AND A STROLL IN THE WILDWOOD FOLLOWS + + +Mr. Rushcroft as furious when he arose at eleven o'clock on the morning +after the double murder, having slept like a top through all of the +commotion. He boomed all over the place, vocal castigations falling +right and left on the guilty and the innocent without distinction. He +wouldn't have missed the excitement for anything in the world. He +didn't mind missing the breakfast he was to have had with Barnes, but +he did feel outraged over the pusillanimous trick played upon him by +the remaining members of his troupe. Nothing was to have been expected +of Putnam Jones and his damnation crew; they wouldn't have called him +if the house was afire; they would let him roast to death; but +certainly something was due him from the members of his company, +something better than utter abandonment! + +He was still deep in the sulks when he came upon Barnes, who was pacing +the sunlit porch, deep in thought. + +"There will never be another opportunity like that," he groaned, at the +close of a ten minute dissertation on the treachery of friends; "never +in all the years to come. The driveling fools! What do I pay them for? +To let me lie there snoring so loud that I couldn't hear opportunity +for the noise I was making? As in everything else I undertake, my dear +Barnes, I excel at snoring. My lung capacity is something amazing. It +has to have an outlet. They let me lie there like a log while the +richest publicity material that ever fell to the lot of an actor went +to waste,--utter waste. Why, damme, sir, I could have made that scene +in the tap-room historic; I could have made it so dramatic that it +would have thrilled to the marrow every man, woman and child in the +United States of America. That's what I mean. They allowed a chance +like that to get away. Can you beat it? Tragedy at my very elbow,--by +gad, almost nudging me, you might say,--and no one to tell me to get +up. Think of the awful requiem I could have--But what's the use +thinking about it now? I am so exasperated I can't think of anything +but anathemas, so--" + +"I don't see how you managed to sleep through it," Barnes broke in. +"You must have an unusually clear conscience, Mr. Rushcroft." + +"I haven't any conscience at all, sir," roared the star. "I had an +unusually full stomach, that's what was the matter with me. Damme, I +ought to have known better. I take oath now, sir, never to eat again as +long as I live. A man who cannot govern his beastly appetite ought to +defy it, if nothing else." + +"I gather from that remark that you omitted breakfast this morning." + +"Breakfast, sir? In God's name, I implore you not to refer to anything +so disgusting as stewed prunes and bacon at a time like this. My mind +is--" + +"How about luncheon? Will you join me at twelve-thirty?" + +"That's quite another matter," said Mr. Rushcroft readily. "Luncheon is +an aesthetic tribute to the physical intelligence of man, if you know +what I mean. I shall be delighted to join you. Twelve-thirty, did you +say?" + +"It would give me great pleasure if your daughter would also grace the +festal board." + +"Ahem! My daughter and I are--er--what you might say 'on the outs' at +present. I dare say I was a trifle crusty with her this morning. She +was a bit inconsiderate, too, I may add. As a matter of fact she told +me to go and soak my head." Mr. Rushcroft actually blushed as he said +it. "I don't know where the devil she learned such language, unless +she's been overhearing the disrespectful remarks that some of these +confounded opera house managers make when I try to argue with them +about--But never mind! She's a splendid creature, isn't she? She has it +born in her to be one of the greatest actresses in--" + +"I think it is too bad that she has to go about in the gown she wears, +Mr. Rushcroft," said Barnes. "She's much too splendid for that. I have +a proposition I'd like to make to you later on. I cannot make it, +however, without consulting Miss Thackeray's feelings." + +"My dear fellow!" beamed Rushcroft, seizing the other's hand. "One +frequently reads in books about it coming like this, at first sight, +but, damme, I never dreamed that it ever really happened. Count on me! +She ought to leave the stage, the dear child. No more fitted to it than +an Easter lily. Her place is in the home, the--" + +"Good Lord, I'm not thinking of--" And Barnes, aghast, stopped before +blurting out the words that leaped to his lips. "I mean to say, this is +a proposition that may also affect your excellent companions, Bacon and +Dillingford, as well as yourselves." + +"Abominations!" snorted Rushcroft. "I fired both of them this morning. +They are no longer connected with my company. I won't have 'em around. +What's more, they can't act and never will. The best bit of acting that +Bacon ever did in his life was when he told me to go to hell a little +while ago. I say 'acting,' mind you, because the wretch COULDN'T have +been in earnest, and yet he gave the most convincing performance of his +life. If I'd ever dreamed that he had it in him to do it so well, I'd +have had the line in every play we've done since he joined us, author +or no author." + +At twelve-thirty sharp, Barnes came down from his room freshly shaved +and brushed, to find not only Mr. Rushcroft and Miss Thackeray awaiting +him in the office, but the Messrs. Dillingford and Bacon as well. +Putnam Jones, gloomy and preoccupied behind the counter, allowed his +eyes to brighten a little as the latest guest of the house approached +the group. + +"I've given all of 'em an hour or two off," he said genially. "Do what +you like to 'em." + +Rushcroft expanded. "My good man, what the devil do you mean by a +remark like that? Remember--" + +"Never mind, dad," said Miss Thackeray, lifting her chin haughtily. +"Forgive us our trespassers as we forgive our trespasses. And remember, +also, that poor, dear Mr. Jones is all out of sorts to-day. He is all +keyed up over the notoriety his house is going to achieve before the +government gets through annoying him." + +"See here, Miss," began Mr. Jones, threateningly, and then, overcome by +his Yankee shrewdness, stopped as suddenly as he started. "Go on in and +have your dinner. Don't mind me. I am out of sorts." He was smart +enough to realise that it was wiser to have the good rather than the +ill-will of these people. He dreaded the inquiry that was imminent. + +"That's better," mumbled Mr. Rushcroft, partially mollified. "I took +the liberty, old fellow," he went on, addressing Barnes, "of asking my +excellent co-workers to join us in our repast. In all my career I have +not known more capable, intelligent players than these--" + +"Delighted to have you with us, gentlemen," said Barnes affably. "In +fact, I was going to ask Mr. Rushcroft if he had the slightest +objection to including you--" + +"Oh, the row's all over," broke in Mr. Dillingford magnanimously. "It +didn't amount to anything. I'm sure if Mr. Rushcroft doesn't object to +us, we don't object to him." + +"Peace reigns throughout the land," said Mr. Bacon, in his deepest +bass. "Precede us, my dear Miss Thackeray." + +The sole topic of conversation for the first half hour was the +mysterious slaying of their fellow lodgers. Mr. Rushcroft complained +bitterly of the outrageous, high-handed action of the coroner and +sheriff in imposing upon him and his company the same restrictions that +had been applied to Barnes. They were not to leave the county until the +authorities gave the word. One would have thought, to hear the star's +indignant lamentations, that he and his party were in a position to +depart when they pleased. It would have been difficult to imagine that +he was not actually rolling in money instead of being absolutely +penniless. + +"What were these confounded rascals to me?" he demanded, scowling at +Miss Tilly as if she were solely to blame for his misfortune. "Why +should I be held up in this God-forsaken place because a couple of +scoundrels got their just deserts? Why, I repeat? I'd--" + +"I--I'm sure I--I don't know," stammered Miss Tilly, wetting her dry +lips with her tongue in an attempt to be lucid. + +"What?" exploded Mr. Rushcroft, somewhat taken aback by the retort from +an unexpected quarter. "Upon my soul, I--I--What?" + +"He won't bite, Miss Tilly," said Miss Thackeray soothingly. + +"Oh, dear!" said Miss Tilly, putting her hand over her mouth. + +Barnes had been immersed in his own thoughts for some time. A slight +frown, as of reflection, darkened his eyes. Suddenly,--perhaps +impolitely,--he interrupted Mr. Rushcroft's flow of eloquence. + +"Have you any objection, Mr. Rushcroft, to a more or less personal +question concerning your own private--er--misfortunes?" he asked, +leaning forward. + +For a moment one could have heard a pin drop. Mr. Rushcroft evidently +held his breath. There could be no mistake about that. + +"I don't mean to be offensive," Barnes made haste to add. + +"My misfortunes are not private," said Mr. Rushcroft, with dignity. +"They are decidedly public. Ask all the questions you please, my dear +fellow." + +"Well, it's rather delicate, but would you mind telling me just how +much you were stuck up for by the--er--was it a writ of attachment?" + +"It was," said the star. "A writ of inquisition, you might as well +substitute. The act of a polluted, impecunious, parsimonious,--what +shall I say? Well, I will be as simple as possible: hotel keeper. In +other words, a damnation blighter, sir. Ninety-seven dollars and forty +cents. For that pitiful amount he subjected me to--" + +"Well, that isn't so bad," said Barnes, vastly relieved. "It would +require that amount to square everything and release your personal +effects?" + +"It would release the whole blooming production," put in Mr. +Dillingford, with unction. "Including my dress suit and a top hat, to +say nothing of a change of linen and--" + +"Two wood exteriors and a parlor set, make-up boxes, wardrobe trunks, a +slide trombone and--" mused Mr. Bacon, and would have gone on but for +Barnes' interruption. + +He was covertly watching Miss Thackeray's half-averted face as he +ventured upon the proposition he had decided to put before them. She +was staring out of the window, and there was a strained, almost +harassed expression about the corners of her mouth. The glimpse he had +of her dark eyes revealed something sullen, rebellious in them. She had +taken no part in the conversation for some time. + +"I am prepared and willing to advance this amount, Mr. Rushcroft, and +to take your personal note as security." + +Rushcroft leaned back in his chair and stuck his thumbs in the arm +holes of his vest. He displayed no undue elation. Instead he affected +profound calculation. His daughter shot a swift, searching look at the +would-be Samaritan. There was a heightened colour in her cheeks. + +"Ahem," said Rushcroft, squinting at the ceiling beams. + +"Moreover, I shall be happy to increase the amount of the loan +sufficiently to cover your return at once to New York, if you so +desire,--by train." Barnes smiled as he added the last two words. + +"Extremely kind of you, my dear Barnes," said the actor, running his +fingers through his hair. "Your faith in me is most gratifying. I--I +really don't know what to say to you, sir." + +"Of course, Mr. Barnes, you ought to know that you may be a long time +in getting your money back," said his daughter levelly. "We are poor +pay." + +"My dear child," began Mr. Rushcroft, amazed. + +"I shall permit your father himself to specify the number of months or +years to be written in the body of the note," said Barnes. + +"And if he never pays, what then?" said she. + +"I shall not trouble him with demands for the money," said Barnes. + +"May I inquire just how you expect to profit by this transaction, Mr. +Barnes?" she asked steadily. + +He started, suddenly catching her meaning. + +"My dear Miss Thackeray," he exclaimed, "this transaction is solely +between your father and me. I shall have no other claim to press." + +"I wish I could believe that," she said. + +"You may believe it," he assured her. + +"It isn't the usual course," she said quietly, and her face brightened. +"You are not like most men, Mr. Barnes." + +"My dear child," said Rushcroft, "you must leave this matter to our +friend and me. I fancy I know an honest man when I see him. My dear +fellow, fortune is but temporarily frowning upon me. In a few weeks I +shall be on my feet again, zipping along on the crest of the wave. I +dare say I can return the money to you in a month or six weeks. If--" + +"Oh, father!" cried Miss Thackeray. + +"We'll make it six months, and I'll pay any rate of interest you +desire. Six per cent, eight per cent, ten per--" + +"Six per cent, sir, and we will make it a year from date." + +"Agreed. And now, Miss Tilly, will you ask the barmaid,--who happens to +be masculine,--to step in here and take the orders? We would drink to +Dame Fortune, who has a smile that defies all forms of adversity. Out +of the clouds falls a slice of silver lining. It alights in my +trembling palm. I--I--Damme, sir, you are a nobleman! In behalf of my +daughter, my company and the--Heaven forfend! I was about to add the +accursed management!--I thank you. Get up and dance for us, Dilly! We +shall be in New York to-morrow!" + +"You forget the dictatorial sheriff, Mr. Rushcroft," said Barnes. + +"The varlet!" barked Mr. Rushcroft. + +It was arranged that Dillingford and Bacon were to go to Hornville in a +hired motor that afternoon, secure the judgment, pay the costs, and +attend to the removal of the personal belongings of the stranded +quartette from the hotel to Hart's Tavern. The younger actors stoutly +refused to accept Barnes' offer to pay their board while at the Tavern. +That, they declared, would be charity, and they preferred his +friendship and his respect to anything of that sort. Miss Thackeray, +however, was to be immediately relieved of her position as chambermaid. +She was to become a paying guest. + +"I'll be glad to have my street togs, such as they are," said she, +rosily. "I dare say you are sick of seeing me in this rig, Mr. Barnes. +That's probably why you opened your heart and purse." + +"Not at all," said he gaily. "As I presume I shall have to remain here +for some time, I deem it my right to improve the service as much as +possible. You are a very incompetent chambermaid, Miss Thackeray." + +Rushcroft took the whole affair with the most noteworthy complacency. +He seemed to regard it as his due, or more properly speaking as if he +were doing Barnes a great favour in allowing him to lend money to a +person of his importance. + +"A thought has just come to me, my dear fellow," he remarked, as they +arose from table. "With the proper kind of backing I could put over one +of the most stupendous things the theatre has known in fifty years. I +don't mind saying to you,--although it's rather sub rosa--that I have +written a play. A four act drama that will pack the biggest house on +Broadway to the roof for as many months as we'd care to stay. Perhaps +you will allow me to talk it over with you a little later on. You will +be interested, I'm sure. I actually shudder sometimes when I think of +the filthy greenbacks I'll have to carry around on my person if the +piece ever gets into New York. Yes, yes, I'll be glad to talk it over +with you. Egad, sir, I'll read the play to you. I'll--What ho, +landlord! When my luggage arrives this evening will you be good enough +to have it placed in the room just vacated by the late Mr. Roon? My +daughter will have the room adjoining, sir. By the way, will you have +your best automobile sent around to the door as quickly as possible? A +couple of my men are going to Hornville--damned spot!--to fetch hither +my--" + +"Just a minute," interrupted Putnam Jones, wholly unimpressed. "A man +just called you up on the 'phone, Mr. Barnes. I told him you was +entertaining royalty at lunch and couldn't be disturbed. So he asked me +to have you call him up as soon as you revived. His words, not mine. +Call up Mr. O'Dowd at Green Fancy. Here's the number." + +The mellow voice of the Irishman soon responded. + +"I called you up to relieve your mind regarding the young woman who +came last night," he said. "You observe that I say 'came.' She's quite +all right, safe and sound, and no cause for uneasiness. I thought you +meant that she was coming here as a guest, and so I made the very +natural mistake of saying she hadn't come at all, at all. The young +woman in question is Mrs. Van Dyke's maid. But bless me soul, how was I +to know she was even in existence, much less expected by train or motor +or Shanks' mare? Well, she's here, so there's the end of our mystery. +We sha'n't have to follow your gay plan of searching the wilderness for +beauty in distress. Our romance is spoiled, and I am sorry to say it to +you. You were so full of it this morning that you had me all stirred up +meself." + +Barnes was slow in replying. He was doubting his own ears. It was not +conceivable that an ordinary--or even an extraordinary--lady's maid +could have possessed the exquisite voice and manner of his chance +acquaintance of the day before, or the temerity to order that +sour-faced chauffeur about as if--The chauffeur! + +"But I thought you said that Mr. Curtis's chauffeur was moon-faced +and--" + +"He is, bedad," broke in Mr. O'Dowd, chuckling. "That's what deceived +me entirely, and no wonder. It wasn't Peter at all, but the rapscallion +washer who went after her. He was instructed to tell Peter to meet the +four o'clock train, and the blockhead forgot to give the order. Bedad, +what does he do but sneak out after her himself, scared out of his +boots for fear of what he was to get from Peter. I had the whole story +from Mrs. Van Dyke." + +"Well, I'm tremendously relieved," said Barnes slowly. + +"And so am I," said O'Dowd, with conviction. "I have seen the heroine +of our busted romance. She's a good-looking girl. I'm not surprised +that she kept her veil down. If you were to leave it to me, though, I'd +say that it's a sin to carry discretion so far as all that. I thought +I'd take the liberty of calling you up as soon as I had the facts, so +that you wouldn't go forth in knightly ardour--You see what I mean, +don't you?" His rich laugh came over the wire. + +"Perfectly. Thank you for letting me know. My mind is at rest." + +"Will you be staying on for some days at the Tavern?" + +"I think so." + +"Well, I shall give myself the pleasure of running over to see you in a +day or so." + +"Do," said Barnes. "Good by." As he hung up the receiver he said to +himself, "You are a most affable, convincing chap, Mr. O'Dowd, but I +don't believe a word you say. That woman is no lady's maid, and you've +known all the time that she was there." + +At four o'clock he set out alone for a tramp up the mountain road in +which the two men had been shot down. A number of men under the +direction of the sheriff were scouring the lofty timberland for the +deadly marksmen. He knew it would turn out to be as futile as the +proverbial effort to find the needle in the haystack. + +His mind was quite clear on the subject. Roon and Paul were not +ordinary robbers. They were, no doubt, honest men. He would have said +that they were thieves bent on burglarising Green Fancy were it not for +the disclosures of Miss Thackeray and the very convincing proof that +they were not shot by the same man. Detected on the grounds about Green +Fancy by a watchman, they would have had an encounter with him there +and then. Moreover, they would have taken an active part in the play of +firearms. Desperadoes would not have succumbed so tamely. + +It was not beyond reason,--indeed, it was quite probable,--that they +were trying to cross the border; in that event, their real operations +would be confined to the Canadian side of the line. They were +unmistakably foreigners. That fact, in itself, went far toward +establishing in his mind the conviction that they were not attempting +to intercept any one coming from the other side. Equally as strong was +the belief that the Canadian authorities would not have entered upon +United States territory for the purpose of apprehending these suspects, +no matter how thoroughly the movements and motives of the two men might +have been known to them. + +He could not free himself of the suspicion that Green Fancy possessed +the key to the situation. Roon and his companion could not have had the +slightest interest in his movements up to the instant he encountered +the young woman at the cross-roads. It was ridiculous to even consider +himself an object of concern to these men who had been haunting the +border for days prior to his appearance on the scene. They were +interested only in the advent of the woman, and as her destination +confessedly was Green Fancy, what could be more natural than the +conclusion that their plans, evil or otherwise, depended entirely upon +her arrival at the strange house on the mountainside? They had been +awaiting her appearance for days. The instant it became known to them +that she was installed at Green Fancy, their plans went forward with a +swiftness that bespoke complete understanding. + +His busy brain suddenly suffered the shock of a distinct conclusion. So +startling was the thought that he stopped abruptly in his walk and +uttered an exclamation of dismay. Was she a fellow-conspirator? Was she +the inside worker at Green Fancy in a well-laid plan to rifle the +place? She too was unmistakably a foreigner. + +Could it be possible that she was the confederate of these painstaking +agents who lurked with sinister patience outside the very gates of the +place called Green Fancy? + +In support of this theory was the supposition that O'Dowd may have been +perfectly sincere in his declarations over the telephone. Opposed to +it, however, was the absolute certainty that Roon and Paul were waylaid +and killed at widely separated points, and not while actively employed +in raiding the house. That was the rock over which all of his theories +stumbled. + +His ramble carried him far beyond the spot where Roon's body was found +and where young Conley had come upon the tethered horses. His eager, +curious gaze swept the forest to the left of the road in search of +Green Fancy. Overcome by a rash, daring impulse, he climbed over the +stake and rider fence and sauntered among the big trees which so far +had obscured the house from view. He had looked in vain for the lane or +avenue leading from the road up to Mr. Curtis's house. He could not +have passed it in his stroll, of that he was sure, and yet he +remembered distinctly seeing O'Dowd and De Soto turn their horses into +the forest at a point far back of the place where he now entered the +grounds. + +The trees grew very thickly on the slope, and they were unusually +large. Virgin timber, he decided, on which the woodman's axe had made +no inroads. The foliage was dense. Tree tops seemed to intermingle in +one vast canopy through which the sun but rarely penetrated. The bright +green of the grass, the sponginess of the soil, the presence of great +stretches of ferns and beds of moss told of almost perpetual moisture. +Strangely enough there was no suggestion of dankness in these shadowy +glades, rich with the fulness of early Spring. + +He progressed deeper into the wood. At the end of what must have been a +mile, he halted. There was no sign of habitation, no indication that +man had ever penetrated so far into the forest. As he was on the point +of retracing his steps toward the road, his gaze fell upon a huge +moss-covered rock less than a hundred yards away. He stared, and +gradually it began to take on angles and planes and recesses of the +most astounding symmetry. Under his widening gaze it was transformed +into a substantial object of cubes and gables and--yes, windows. + +He was looking upon the strange home of the even stranger Mr. Curtis: +Green Fancy. + +Now he understood why it was called Green Fancy. Its surroundings were +no greener than itself; it seemed to melt into the foliage, to become a +part of the natural landscape. For a long time he stood stock-still, +studying the curious structure. Mountain ivy literally enveloped it. +Exposed sections of the house were painted green,--a mottled green that +seemed to indicate flickering sunbeams against an emerald wall. The +doors were green; the leafy porches and their columns, the chimney +pots, the window hangings,--all were the colour of the unchanging +forest. And it was a place of huge dimensions, low and long and +rambling. It seemed to have been forcibly jammed into the steep slope +that shot high above its chimneys; the mountain hung over its vine clad +roof, an ominous threat of oblivion. + +There was no lawn, no indication of landscape gardening, and yet Barnes +was singularly impressed by the arrangement of the shrubbery that +surrounded the place. There was no visible approach to the house +through the thick, unbroken sea of green; everywhere was dense +underbrush, standing higher than the head of the tallest of +men,--clean, bright bushes, revealing the most astonishing uniformity +in size and character. + +"'Gad," he said to himself, "what manner of crank is he who would bury +himself like this? Of all the crazy ideas I ever--" + +His reflections ended there. A woman crossed his vision; a woman +strolling slowly toward him through the intricate avenues of the +wildwood. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SPUN-GOLD HAIR, BLUE EYES, AND VARIOUS ENCOUNTERS + + +She was quite unaware of his presence, and yet he was directly in her +path, though some distance away. Her head was bent; her mien was +thoughtful, her stride slow and aimless. + +The azure blue of the sweater she wore presented an inharmonious note +on the field of velvety green;--it was strangely out of place, he +thought,--almost an offence to the eye. He was conscious of an instant +protest against this profanation. + +She was slender, graceful and evidently quite tall, although she seemed +a pigmy among the towering giants that attended her stroll. Her hands +were thrust deep into the pockets of a white duck skirt. A glance +revealed white shoes and trim ankles in blue. She wore no hat. Her hair +was like spun gold, thick, wavy and shimmering in the subdued light. + +Suddenly she stopped, and looked up. He had a full view of her face as +she gazed about as if startled by some unexpected, even alarming, +sound. For a second or two he held his breath, stunned by the amazing +loveliness that was revealed to him. Then she discovered him standing +there. + +He was never to forget the expression that came into her eyes; nor had +he ever seen eyes so blue. Alarm gave way to bewilderment as she stared +at the motionless intruder not thirty feet away. Then, to his utter +astonishment, her lips parted and a faint, wondering smile came into +her eyes. His heart leaped. She recognised him! + +In a flash he realised that he was face to face with the stranger of +the day before,--she of the veil, the alluring voice, the unfaltering +spirits, and the weighty handbag! + +He took two or three impulsive steps forward, his hand going to his +hat,--and then halted. Evidently his senses had deceived him. There was +no smile in her eyes,--and yet he could have sworn that it was there an +instant before. Instead, there was a level stare. + +"I am sorry if I startled--" he began. + +The figure of a man appeared, as if discharged bodily from some magic +tree-trunk, and stood directly in his path: A tall, rugged man in +overalls was he, who held a spade in his hand and eyed him inimically. +Without another glance in his direction, the first and more pleasing +vision turned on her heel and continued her stroll, sauntering off to +the right, her fair head once more bent in study, her back eloquently +indifferent to the gaze that followed her. + +"Who do you want to see?" inquired the man with the spade. + +Before Barnes could reply, a hearty voice accosted him from behind. He +whirled and saw O'Dowd approaching, not twenty yards away. The +Irishman's face was aglow with pleasure. + +"I knew I couldn't be mistaken in the shape of you," he cried, +advancing with outstretched hand. "You've got the breadth of a +dock-hand in your shoulders, and the trimness of a prize-fighter in +your waist." + +They shook hands. "I fear I am trespassing," said Barnes. His glance +went over his shoulder as he spoke. The man with the spade had been +swallowed up by the earth! He could not have vanished more quickly in +any other way. Off among the trees there were intermittent flashes of +blue and white. + +"I am quite sure you are," said O'Dowd promptly, but without a trace of +unfriendliness in his manner. "Bedad, loving him as I do, I can't help +saying that Curtis is a bally old crank. Mind ye, I'd say it to his +face,--I often do, for the matter of that. Of course," he went on +seriously, "he is a sick man, poor devil. I have the unholy courage to +call him a chronic crank every once in awhile, and the best thing I can +say for his health is that he grins when I say it to him. You see, I've +known him for a dozen years and more, and he likes me, though God knows +why, unless it may be that I once did his son a good turn in London." + +"Sufficient excuse for reparation, I should say," smiled Barnes. + +"I introduced the lad to me only sister," said O'Dowd, "and she kept +him happy for the next ten years. No doubt, I also provided Mr. Curtis +with three grandchildren he might never have had but for my +graciousness. As for that, I let meself in for three of the most +prodigious nephews a man ever had, God bless them. I'll show you a +photograph of them if ye'd care to look." He opened the back of his +watch and held it out to Barnes. "Nine, seven and five, and all of them +as bright as Gladstone." + +"They must be stunning," said Barnes warmly. + +"They'll make a beggar of me, if I live long enough," groaned O'Dowd. +"It beats the deuce how childer as young as they are can have +discovered what a doddering fool their uncle is. Bedad, the smallest of +them knows it. The very instant I pretend to be a sensible, provident, +middle-aged gentleman he shows me up most shamelessly. 'Twas only a +couple of months ago that his confounded blandishments wiggled a +sixty-five dollar fire engine out of me. He squirted water all over the +drawing-room furniture, and I haven't been allowed to put foot into the +house since. My own darlin' sister refused to look at me for a week, +and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if she changed me namesake's +title to something less enfuriating than William." A look of distress +came into his merry eyes. "By Jove, I'd like nothing better than to ask +you in to have a dish of tea,--it's tea-time, I'm sure,--but I'd no +more think of doing it than I'd consider cutting off me head. He +doesn't like strangers. He--" + +"My dear fellow, don't distress yourself," cried Barnes heartily. +"There isn't the least reason in the world why--" + +"You see, the poor old chap asks us up here once or twice a year,--that +is to say, De Soto and me,--to keep his sister from filling the house +up with men he can't endure. So long as we occupy the only available +rooms, he argues, she can't stuff them full of objectionables. Twice a +year she comes for a month, in the late fall and early spring. He's +very fond of her, and she stands by him like a major." + +"Why does he continue to live in this out-of-the-world spot, Mr. +O'Dowd? He is an old man, I take it, and ill." + +"You wouldn't be wondering if you knew the man," said O'Dowd. "He is a +scholar, a dreamer, a sufferer. He doesn't believe in doctors. He says +they're all rascals. They'd keep him alive just for the sake of what +they could get out of him. So he's up here to die in peace, when his +time comes, and he hopes it will come soon. He doesn't want it +prolonged by a grasping, greedy doctor man. It's his kidneys, you know. +He's not a very old man at that. Not more than sixty-five." + +"He certainly has a fanciful streak in him, building a place like +that," said Barnes, looking not at the house but into the thicket +above. There was no sign of the blue and white and the spun gold that +still defied exclusion from his mind's eye. He had not recovered from +the thrall into which the vision of loveliness plunged him. He was +still a trifle dazed and distraught. + +"Right you are," agreed O'Dowd; "the queerest streak in the world. It's +his notion of simplicity. I wish you could see the inside of the place. +You'd wonder to what exalted heights his ideas of magnificence would +carry him if he calls this simplicity. He loves it all, he dotes on it. +It's the only joy he knows, this bewildering creation of his. For +nearly three years he has not been more than a stone's throw from the +walls of that house. I doubt if he's been as far as the spot where +we're standing now." + +"Green Fancy. Is that the name he gave the place or does it spring +from--" + +"'Twas christened by me own sister, Mr. Barnes, the first time she was +here, two years ago. I'll walk with you to the fence beyond if you've +no objections," said O'Dowd, genially, and linked his arm through that +of Barnes. + +The latter was at once subtly aware of the fact that he was being +deliberately conducted from the grounds. Moreover, he was now convinced +that O'Dowd had been close upon his heels from the instant he entered +them. There was something uncanny in the feeling that possessed him. +Such espionage as this signified something deep and imperative in the +presence not only of O'Dowd but the Jack-in-the-box gardener a few +minutes earlier. He had the grim suspicion that he would later on +encounter the spectacled De Soto. + +His mind was still full of the lovely stranger about whom O'Dowd had so +manifestly lied over the telephone. + +"I must ask you to apologise to the young lady on whom I blundered a +few moments ago, Mr. O'Dowd. She must have been startled. Pray convey +to her my solicitude and excuses." + +"Consider it done, my dear sir," said the Irishman. "Our most charming +and seductive guest," he went on. "Bedad, of the two of you, I'll stake +me head you were startled the most. Coming suddenly upon such rare +loveliness is almost equivalent to being struck by a bolt of lightning. +It did something like that to me when I saw her for the first time a +couple of weeks ago. I didn't get over it for the better part of a +day,--I can't say that I really got over it at all. More than one +painter of portraits has said that she is the most beautiful woman in +the world. I don't take much stock in portrait painters, but I'm always +fair to the lords of creation when their opinions coincide with mine. +Mayhap you have heard of her. She is Miss Cameron of New Orleans, a +friend of Mrs. Van Dyke. We have quite an enchanting house-party, Mr. +Barnes, if you consider no more than the feminine side of it. +Unfortunate creatures! To be saddled with such ungainly lummixes as De +Soto and me! By the way, have you heard when the coroner is to hold his +inquests?" + +"Nothing definite. He may wait a week," said Barnes. + +"I suppose you'll stick around until it's all over," ventured O'Dowd. +Barnes thought he detected a slight harshness in his voice. + +"I have quite made up my mind to stay until the mystery is entirely +cleared up," he said. "The case is so interesting that I don't want to +miss a shred of it." + +"I don't blame ye," said O'Dowd heartily. "I'd like nothing better +meself than to mix up in it, but, Lord love ye, if I turned detective +I'd also be turned out of the spare bed-room beyond, and sped on me way +with curses. Well, here we are. The next time you plan to pay us a +visit, telephone in advance. I may be able to persuade my host that +you're a decent, law-abiding, educated gentleman, and he'll consent to +receive you at Green Fancy. Good day to ye," and he shook hands with +the departing trespasser. + +A quarter of a mile below the spot where he parted from O'Dowd, Barnes +caught a glimpse of De Soto sauntering among the trees. He smiled to +himself. It was just what he had expected. + +"Takin' a walk?" was the landlord's greeting as he mounted the tavern +steps at dusk. Putnam Jones's gaunt figure had been discernible for +some time, standing motionless at the top of the steps. + +"Going over the ground of last night's affair," responded Barnes, +pausing. "Any word from the sheriff and his party?" + +"Nope. The blamed fools are still up there turnin' over all the loose +stones they c'n find," said Jones sarcastically. "Did you get a glimpse +of Green Fancy?" + +Barnes nodded. "I strolled a little distance into the woods," he said +briefly. + +"I wouldn't do it again," said Jones. "Strangers ain't welcome. I might +have told you as much if I'd thought you were going up that way. Mr. +Curtis notified me a long while ago to warn my guests not to set foot +on his grounds, under penalty of the law." + +"Well, I escaped without injury," laughed Barnes. "No one took a shot +at me." + +As he entered the door he was acutely aware of an intense stare +levelled at him from behind by the landlord of Hart's Tavern. Half way +up the stairway he stopped short, and with difficulty repressed the +exclamation that rose to his lips. + +He had recalled a significant incident of the night before. Almost +immediately after the departure of Roon and Paul from the Tavern, +Putnam Jones had made his way to the telephone behind the desk, and had +called for a number in a loud, brisk voice, but the subsequent +conversation was carried on in subdued tones, attended by haste and +occasional furtive glances in the direction of the tap-room. + +Upon reaching his room, Barnes permitted the suppressed emotion to +escape his lips in the shape of a soft whistle, which if it could have +been translated into words would have said: "By Gad, why haven't I +thought of it before? He sent out the warning that Roon and Paul were +on the way! And I'd like to bet my last dollar that some one at Green +Fancy had the other end of the wire." + +Mr. Rushcroft stalked majestically into his room while he was shaving, +without taking the trouble to knock at the door, and in his most +impressive manner announced that if there was another hostelry within +reasonable distance he would move himself, his luggage and his entire +company out of Putnam Jones's incomprehensible house. + +"Why, sir," he declared, "the man is not only a knave but a fool. He +flatly declines the prodigious offer I have made for the corner rooms +at the end of the corridor. In fact, he refuses to transfer my daughter +and me from our present quarters into what might be called the royal +suite if one were disposed to be facetious. The confounded blockhead +insists on seeing the colour of my money in advance." He sat down on +the edge of the bed, dejectedly. "My daughter, perversity personified, +takes the extraordinary stand that the wretch is right. She agrees with +him. She has even gone so far as to say, to my face, that beggars +cannot be choosers, although I must give her credit for not using the +expression in the scoundrel's presence. 'Pon my soul, Barnes, I have +never been so sorely tried in all my life. Emma,--I should say, +Mercedes,--denounces me to my face. She says I am a wastrel, a +profligate,--(there I have her, however, for she failed to consult the +dictionary before applying the word to me),--an ingrate, and a lot of +other things I fail to recall in my dismay. She contends that I have no +right to do what I please with my own money. Indeed, she goes so far as +to say that I haven't any money at all. I have tried to explain to her +the very simple principles upon which all financial transactions are +based, but she remains as obtuse as Cleopatra's Needle. Her ignorance +would be pitiful if she wasn't so damned obstinate about it. And to cap +the climax, she had the insolence to ask me to show her a dollar in +real money. By gad, sir, she's as unreasonable as Putnam Jones himself." + +Barnes gallantly came to the daughter's defense. He was more than +pleased by the father's revelations. They proved her to be possessed of +fine feelings and a genuine sense of appreciation. + +"As a matter of fact, Mr. Rushcroft, I think she is quite right," he +said flatly. "It isn't a bad idea to practice economy." + +"My dear sir," said Rushcroft peevishly, "where would I be now in my +profession if I had practiced economy at the expense of progress?" + +"I don't know," confessed Barnes, much too promptly. + +"I can tell you, sir. I would be nowhere at all. I would not be the +possessor of a name that is known from one end of this land to the +other, a name that guarantees to the public the most elaborate +productions known to--" + +"Pardon me," interrupted the other; "it doesn't get you anywhere with +Putnam Jones, and that is the issue at present. The government puts the +portrait of George Washington on one of its greenbacks but his face and +name wouldn't be worth the tenth of a penny if the United States went +bankrupt. As it is, however, if you were to go downstairs and proffer +one of those bills to Putnam Jones he would make his most elaborate bow +and put you into the best room in the house. George Washington has +backing that even Mr. Jones cannot despise. So, you see, your daughter +is right. Your name and face is yet to be stamped on a government bank +note, Mr. Rushcroft, and until that time comes you are no better off +than I or any of the rest of the unfortunates who, being still alive, +have to eat for a living." + +"You speak in parables," said Mr. Rushcroft, arising. "Am I to assume +that you wish to withdraw your offer to lend me--" + +"Not at all," said Barnes. "My desire to stake you to the comforts and +dignity your station deserves remains unchanged. If you will bear with +me until I have finished shaving I will go with you to Mr. Jones and +show him the colour of your money." + +Mr. Rushcroft grinned shamelessly. "My daughter was right when she said +another thing to me," he observed, sitting down once more. + +"She appears to be more or less infallible." + +"A woman in a million," said the star. "She said that I wouldn't make a +hit with you if I attempted to put on too much side. I perceive that +she was right,--as usual." + +"Absolutely," said Barnes, with decision. + +"So I'll cut it out," remarked Rushcroft quaintly. "I will be +everlastingly grateful to you, Mr. Barnes, if you'll fix things up with +Jones. God knows when or whether I can ever reimburse you, but as I am +not really a dead-beat the time will certainly come when I may begin +paying in installments. Do we understand each other?" + +"We do," said Barnes, and started downstairs with him. + +Half an hour later Barnes succeeded in striking a bargain with Putnam +Jones. He got the two rooms at the end of the hall at half price, +insisting that it was customary for every hotel to give actors a +substantial reduction in rates. + +"You shall be treasurer and business-manager in my reorganized +company," said Rushcroft. "With your acumen and my eccentricity united +in a common cause we will stagger the universe." + +Despite his rehabilitation as a gentleman of means and independence, +Mr. Rushcroft could not forego the pleasure of staggering a small +section of the world that very night. He was giving Hamlet's address to +the players in the tap-room when Barnes came downstairs at nine +o'clock. Bacon and Dillingford having returned earlier in the evening +with the trunks, bags and other portable chattels of the defunct +"troupe," Mr. Rushcroft was performing in a sadly wrinkled Norfolk suit +of grey which Dillingford was under solemn injunction to press before +breakfast the next morning. + +"I know I don't have to do it," said the star, catching the surprised +look in Barnes's eye and pausing to explain, sotto voce, "but I hadn't +the heart to refuse. They're eating it up, my dear fellow. Up to this +instant they've been sitting with their mouths wide open while I hurled +it, word after word, into their very vitals. "Whereupon he resumed the +sonorous monologue, glowering balefully upon his transfixed hearers. + +Barnes, leaning against the door-jamb, listened with an amused smile on +his lips. His gaze swept the rapt faces of the dozen or more customers +seated at the tables, and he found himself wondering if one of these +men was the father of the little girl whose mother had described Hart's +Tavern as a "shindy." Was it only yesterday that he had spoken with the +barefoot child? An age seemed to have passed since that brief encounter. + +Rushcroft ended Hamlet's speech in fine style, and almost instantly a +mild voice from the crowd asked if he knew "Casey at the Bat." Not in +the least distressed by this woeful commentary, Mr. Rushcroft +cheerfully, obligingly tackled the tragic fizzle of the immortal Casey. + +A small, dark man who sat alone at a table in the corner, caught +Barnes's eye and smiled almost mournfully. He was undoubtedly a +stranger; his action was meant to convey to Barnes the information that +he too was from a distant and sophisticated community, and that a bond +of sympathy existed between them. + +Putnam Jones spoke suddenly at Barnes's shoulder. He started +involuntarily. The man was beginning to get on his nerves. He seemed to +be dogging his footsteps with ceaseless persistency. + +"That feller over there in the corner," said Jones, softly, "is a +book-agent from your town. He sold me a set of Dickens when he was here +last time, about six weeks ago. A year's subscription to two magazines +throwed in. By gosh, these book-agents are slick ones. I didn't want +that set of Dickens any more'n I wanted a last year's bird's nest. The +thing I'm afraid of is that he'll talk me into taking a set of Scott +before he moves on. He's got me sweatin' already." + +"He's a shrewd looking chap," commented Barnes. + +"Says he won't be satisfied till he's made this section of the country +the most cultured, refined spot in the United States," said Jones +dolefully. "He brags about how much he did toward makin' Boston the +literary centre of the United States, him and his father before him. +Together, he says, they actually elevated Boston from the bottomless +pit of ignorance and----Excuse me. There goes the telephone. Maybe it's +news from the sheriff." + +With the spasmodic tinkling of the telephone bell, the book-agent arose +and made his way to the little office. As he passed Barnes, he winked +broadly, and said, out of the corner of his mouth: + +"He'd make DeWolf Hopper look sick, wouldn't he?" + +Barnes glanced over his shoulder a moment later and saw the book-agent +studying the register. The poise of his sleek head, however, suggested +a listening attitude. Putnam Jones, not four feet away, was speaking +into the telephone receiver. As the receiver was restored to its hook, +Barnes turned again. Jones and the book-agent were examining the +register, their heads almost meeting from opposite sides of the desk. + +The latter straightened up, stretched his arms, yawned, and announced +in a loud tone that he guessed he'd step out and get a bit of fresh air +before turning in. + +"Any news?" inquired Barnes, approaching the desk after the door had +closed behind the book-agent. + +"It wasn't the sheriff," replied Jones shortly, and immediately resumed +his interrupted discourse on books, book-agents and the reclamation of +Boston. Ten minutes elapsed before the landlord's garrulity was checked +by the sound of an automobile coming to a stop in front of the house. +Barnes turned expectantly toward the door. Almost immediately the car +started up again, with a loud shifting of gears, and a moment later the +door opened to admit, not a fresh arrival, but the little book-agent. + +"Party trying to make Hornville to-night," he announced casually. +"Well, good night. See you in the morning." + +Barnes was not in a position to doubt the fellow's word, for the car +unmistakably had gone on toward Hornville. He waited a few minutes +after the man disappeared up the narrow stairway, and then proceeded to +test his powers of divination. He was as sure as he could be sure of +anything that had not actually come to pass, that in a short time the +automobile would again pass the tavern but this time from the direction +of Hornville. + +Lighting a cigarette, he strolled outside. He had barely time to take a +position at the darkened end of the porch before the sounds of an +approaching machine came to his ears. A second or two later the lights +swung around the bend in the road a quarter of a mile above Hart's +Tavern, and down came the car at a high rate of speed. It dashed past +the tavern with a great roar and rattle and shot off into the darkness +beyond. As it rushed through the dim circle of light in front of the +tavern, Barnes succeeded in obtaining a brief but convincing view of +the car. That glance was enough, however. He would have been willing to +go before a jury and swear that it was the same car that had deposited +him at Hart's Tavern the day before. + +Having guessed correctly in the one instance, he allowed himself +another and even bolder guess: the little book-agent had either +received a message from or delivered one to the occupant or driver of +the car from Green Fancy. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A NOTE, SOME FANCIES, AND AN EXPEDITION IN QUEST OF FACTS + + +Dillingford gave him a lighted candle at the desk and he started +upstairs, his mind full of the events and conjectures of the day. +Uppermost in his thoughts was the dazzling vision of the afternoon, and +the fleeting smile that had come to him through the leafy interstices. +As he entered the room, his eyes fell upon a white envelope at his +feet. It had been slipped under the door since he left the room an hour +before. + +Terse reminder from the prudent Mr. Jones! His bill for the day! He +picked it up, glanced at the inscription, and at once altered his +opinion. His full name was there in the handwriting of a woman. For a +moment he was puzzled; then he thought of Miss Thackeray. A note of +thanks, no doubt, unpleasantly fulsome! Vaguely annoyed, he ripped open +the envelope and read: + +"In case I do not have the opportunity to speak with you to-night, this +is to let you know that the little man who says he is a book-agent was +in your room for three-quarters of an hour while you were away this +afternoon. You'd better see if anything is missing. + M.T." + +He read the note again, and then held it over the candle flame. +Surprise and a temporary indignation gave way before the thrill of +exultation as the blazing paper fell upon the hearth. + +"'Gad, it grows more and more interesting," he mused, and chuckled +aloud. "They're not losing a minute's time in finding out all they can +about me, that's certain. Thanks, my dear Miss Thackeray. You are +undoubtedly deceived but I am not. This chap may be a detective but he +isn't looking for evidence to connect me with last night's murders. Not +a bit of it. He is trying to find out whether I ought to be shot the +next time I go snooping around Green Fancy. I'd give a good deal to +know what he put into the report he sent off a little while ago. And +I'd give a good deal more to know just where Mr. Jones stands in this +business. Selling sets of Dickens, eh? Book-agent by day, secret agent +by night,--'gad, he may even be a road-agent!" + +He made a hasty but careful examination of his effects. There was not +the slightest evidence that his pack had been opened or even disturbed. +Naturally he travelled without surplus impedimenta; he carried the +lightest outfit possible. There were a few papers containing notes and +memoranda; a small camera and films; a blank book to which he +transferred his daily experiences, observations and impressions; a +small medicine case; tobacco and cigarettes; a flask of brandy; copies +of Galworthy's "Man of Property" and Hutchinson's "Happy Warrior"; +wearing apparel, and a revolver. His purse and private papers rarely +were off his person. If the little book-agent spent three-quarters of +an hour in the room he managed most effectually to cover up all traces +of his visit. + +Barnes did not go to sleep until long after midnight. He now regarded +himself as definitely committed to a combination of sinister and +piquant enterprises, not the least of which was the determination to +find out all there was to know about the mysterious young woman at +Green Fancy. + +His operations along any line of endeavour were bound to be difficult, +perhaps hazardous. Every movement that he made would be observed and +reported; his every step followed. He could hope to disarm suspicion +only by moving with the utmost boldness and unconcern. Success rested +in his ability to convince O'Dowd, Jones and the rest of them that they +had nothing to fear from his innocuous wanderings. + +His interest in the sensational affair that had disturbed his first +night's rest at Hart's Tavern must remain paramount. His theories, +deductions and suggestions as to the designs and identity of Roon and +Paul; the stated results of personal and no doubt ludicrous +experiments; sly and confidential jabs at the incompetent +investigators, uttered behind the hand to Putnam Jones and, if +possible, to the book-agent;--a quixotic philanthropy in connection +with the fortunes of Rushcroft and his players; all these would have to +be put forward in the scheme to dispel suspicion at Green Fancy. + +It did not occur to him that he ought to be furthering the ends of +justice by disclosing to the authorities his secret opinion of Putman +Jones, the strange behaviour of Roon as observed by Miss Thackeray, and +his own adventure with the lady of the cross-roads. The chance that +Jones, subjected to third degree pressure, might break down and reveal +all that he knew was not even considered. + +Back of all his motives was the spur of Romance: his real interest was +centred in the lovely lady of Green Fancy. + +He was confident that O'Dowd's system of espionage would quickly +absolve him of all interest in or connection with the plans of Albert +Roon; it remained therefore for him to convince the Irishman that he +had no notions or vagaries inimical to the well-being of Green Fancy or +its occupants. With that result achieved, he need have no fear of +meeting the fate that had befallen Roon and his lieutenant; nothing +worse could happen than an arrest and fine for trespass. + +The next day he, with other lodgers in the Tavern, was put through an +examination by police and county officials from Saint Elizabeth, and +notified that, while he was not under suspicion or surveillance, it +would be necessary for him to remain in the "bailiwick" until +detectives, already on the way, were satisfied that he possessed no +knowledge that would be useful to them in clearing up what had now +assumed the dignity of a "national problem." + +O'Dowd rode down from Green Fancy and created quite a sensation among +the officials by announcing that Mr. Curtis desired them to feel that +they had a perfect right to extend their search for clues to all parts +of his estate, and that he was deeply interested in the outcome of +their investigations. + +"The devils may have laid their ambush on his property," said O'Dowd, +"and they may have made their escape into the hills back of his place +without running the risk of tackling the highways. Nothing, Mr. Curtis +says, should stand in the way of justice. While he knows that you have +a legal right to enter his grounds, and even his house, in the pursuit +of duty, he urges me to make it clear to you gentlemen, that you are +welcome to come without even so much as a demand upon him. If I may be +so bold as to offer my services, you may count on me to act as guide at +any time you may elect. I know the lay of the land pretty well, and +what I don't know the gardeners and other men up there do. You are to +call upon all of us if necessary. Mr. Curtis, as you know, is an +invalid. May I suggest, therefore, that you conduct your examination of +the grounds near his home with as little commotion as possible? +Incidentally, I may inform you, but one person at Green Fancy heard the +shots. That person was Mr. Curtis himself. He rang for his attendant +and instructed him to send some one out to find out what it was all +about. The chauffeur went down to Conley's, as you know. If you +consider it absolutely necessary to question Mr. Curtis as to the time +the shots were fired, he will receive you; but I think you may properly +establish that fact by young Conley without submitting a sick man to +the excitement and distress of a--" + +The sheriff hastily broke in with the assurance that it was not at all +necessary to disturb Mr. Curtis. It wasn't to be thought of for a +moment. He would, however, like to "run over the ground a bit" that +very afternoon, if it was agreeable to Mr. O'Dowd. + +It being quite agreeable, the genial Irishman proposed that his friend, +Mr. Barnes,--(here he bestowed an almost imperceptible wink upon the +New Yorker),--should join the party. He could vouch for the +intelligence and discretion of the gentleman. + +Barnes, concealing his surprise, expressed himself as happy to be of +any service. He glanced at Putnam Jones as he made the statement. It +was at once borne in upon him that the landlord's attitude toward him +had undergone a marked change in the last few minutes. The furtive, +distrustful look was missing from his eyes and in its place was a +friendly, approving twinkle. + +O'Dowd stayed to dinner. (Dinner was served in the middle of the day at +Hart's Tavern.) He made a great impression upon Lyndon Rushcroft, who, +with his daughter, joined the two men. Indeed, the palavering Irishman +extended himself in the effort to make himself agreeable. He was vastly +interested in the stage, he declared. As a matter of fact, he had been +told a thousand times that he ought to go on the stage. He had decided +talent.... + +"If you change your mind," said Mr. Rushcroft, "and conclude to try a +whirl at it, just let me know. I can find a place for you in my company +at any time. If there isn't a vacancy, we can always write in an Irish +comedy part." + +"But I never wanted to be a comedian," said O'Dowd. "I've always wanted +to play the young hero,--the fellow who gets the girl, you know." He +bestowed a gallant smile upon Miss Thackeray. + +"You may take my word for it, sir," said Mr. Rushcroft with feeling, +"heroism, and nothing less, is necessary to the man who has to play +opposite most of the harridans you, in your ignorance, speak of as +girls." And he launched forth upon a round of soul-trying experiences +with "leading-ladies." + +The little book-agent came in while they were at table. He sat down in +a corner of the dining-room and busied himself with his subscription +lists while waiting for the meal to be served. He was still poring over +them, frowning intently, when Barnes and the others left the room. + +Barnes walked out beside Miss Thackeray. + +"The tailor-made gown is an improvement," he said to her. + +"Does that mean that I look more like a good chambermaid than I did +before?" + +"If you would consider it a compliment, yes," he replied, smiling. He +was thinking that she was a very pretty girl, after all. + +"The frock usually makes the woman," she said slowly, "but not always +the lady." + +He thought of that remark more than once during the course of an +afternoon spent in the woods about Green Fancy. + +O'Dowd virtually commanded the expedition. It was he who thought of +everything. First of all, he led the party to the corner of the estate +nearest the point where Paul was shot from his horse. Sitting in his +own saddle, he called the attention of the other riders to what +appeared to be a most significant fact in connection with the killing +of this man. + +"From what I hear, the man Paul was shot through the lungs, directly +from in front. The bullet went straight through his body. He was riding +very rapidly down this road. When he came to a point not far above +cross-roads, he was fired upon. It is safe to assume that he was +looking intently ahead, trying to make out the crossing. He was not +shot from the side of the road, gentlemen, but from the middle of it. +The bullet came from a point almost directly in front of him, and not +from Mr. Curtis's property here to the left, or Mr. Conley's on the +right. Understand, this is my whimsey only. I may be entirely wrong. My +idea is that the man who shot him waited here at the cross-roads to +head off either or both of them in case they were not winged by men +stationed farther up. Of course, that must be quite obvious to all of +you. My friend De Soto is inclined to the belief that they were trying +to get across the border. I don't believe so. If that were the case, +why did they dismount above Conley's house, hitch their horses to the +fence, and set forth on foot? I am convinced in my own mind that they +came here to meet some one to whom they were to deliver a verbal report +of vital importance,--some one from across the border in Canada. This +message was delivered. So far as Roon and Paul were concerned their +usefulness was ended. They had done all that was required of them. The +cause they served was better off with them dead than alive. Without the +slightest compunction, without the least regard for faithful service, +they were set upon and slain by their supposed friends. Now, you may +laugh at my fancy if you like, but you must remember that frightful +things are happening in these days. The killing of these men adds but a +drop to the ocean of blood that is being shed. Roon and Paul, suddenly +confronted by treachery, fled for their lives. The trap had been set +with care, however; they rushed into it." + +"I am inclined to your hypothesis, O'Dowd," said Barnes. "It seems +sound and reasonable. The extraordinary precautions taken by Roon and +Paul to prevent identification, dead or alive, supports your whimsey, +as you call it. The thing that puzzles me, however, is the singular +failure of the two men to defend themselves. They were armed, yet +neither fired a shot. You would think that when they found themselves +in a tight place, such as you suggest, their first impulse would be to +shoot." + +"Well," mused O'Dowd, squinting his eyes in thought, "there's something +in that. It doesn't seem reasonable that they'd run like whiteheads +with guns in--By Jove, here's a new thought!" His eyes glistened with +boyish elation. "They had delivered their message,--we'll assume that +much, of course,--and were walking back to their horses when they were +ordered to halt by some one hidden in the brush at the roadside. You +can't very well succeed in hitting a man if you can't see him at all, +so they made a dash for it instead of wasting time in shooting at the +air. What's more, they may have anticipated the very thing that +happened: they were prepared for treachery. Their only chance lay in +getting safely into their saddles. Oh, I am a good romancer! I should +be writing dime novels instead of living the respectable life I do. +Conley heard them running for their lives. Assassins had been stationed +along the road to head them off, however. The man who had his place +near the horses, got Roon. The chances are that Paul did not accompany +Roon to the meeting place up the road. He remained near the horses. +That's how he managed to get away so quickly. It remained for the man +at the cross-roads to settle with him. But, we're wasting time with all +this twaddle of mine. Let us be moving. There is one point on which we +must all agree. The deadliest marksmen in the world fired those shots. +No bungling on that score, bedad." + +In course of time, the party, traversing the ground contiguous to the +public road, came within sight of the green dwelling among the trees. +Barnes's interest revived. He had, from the outset, appreciated the +futility of the search for clues in the territory they had covered. The +searchers were incapable of conducting a scientific examination. It was +work for the most skilful, the most practised, the most untiring of +tracers. His second view of the house increased his wonder and +admiration. If O'Dowd had not actually located it among the trees for +him, he would have been at a loss to discover it, although it was +immediately in front of him and in direct line of vision. + +"Astonishing, isn't it?" said the Irishman, as they stood side by side, +peering ahead. + +"Marvellous is the better word," said Barnes. + +"The fairies might have built it," said the other, with something like +awe in his voice. He shook his head solemnly. + +"One could almost fancy that a fairy queen dwelt there, surrounded by +Peter Pans and Aladdins," mused Barnes. + +"Instead of an ogre attended by owls and nightbirds and the devil knows +what,--for I don't." + +Barnes looked at him in amazement, struck by the curious note in his +voice. + +"If you were a small boy in knickers, O'Dowd, I should say that you +were mortally afraid of the place." + +"If I were a small boy," said O'Dowd, "I'd be scairt entirely out of me +knickers. I'd keep me boots on, mind ye, so that I could run the +better. It's me Irish imagination that does the trick. You never saw an +Irishman in your life that wasn't conscious of the 'little people' that +inhabit the places that are always dark and green." + +De Soto was seen approaching through the green sea, his head appearing +and disappearing intermittently in the billows formed by the undulating +underbrush. He shook hands with Barnes a moment later. + +"I'm glad you had the sense to bring Mr. Barnes with you, O'Dowd," said +he. "You didn't mention him when you telephoned that you were +personally conducting a sight-seeing party. I tried to catch you +afterwards on the telephone, but you had left the tavern. Mrs. Collier +wanted me to ask you to capture Mr. Barnes for dinner to-night." + +"Mrs. Collier is the sister of Mr. Curtis," explained O'Dowd. Then he +turned upon De Soto incredulously. "For the love of Pat," he cried +"what's come over them? When I made so bold as to suggest last night +that you were a chap worth cultivating, Barnes,--and that you wouldn't +be long in the neighbourhood,--But, to save your feelings I'll not +repeat what they said, the two of them. What changed them over, De +Soto?" + +"A chance remark of Miss Cameron's at lunch to-day. She wondered if +Barnes could be the chap who wrote the articles about Peru and the +Incas, or something of the sort, and that set them to looking up the +back numbers of the geographic magazine in Mr. Curtis's library. Not +only did they find the articles but they found your picture. I had no +difficulty in deciding that you were one and the same. The atmosphere +cleared in a jiffy. It became even clearer when it was discovered that +you have had a few ancestors and are received in good society--both +here and abroad, as the late Frederic Townsend Martin would have said. +I hereby officially present the result of subsequent deliberation. Mr. +Barnes is invited to dine with us to-night." + +Barnes's heart was still pounding rapidly as he made the rueful +admission that he "didn't have a thing to wear." He couldn't think of +accepting the gracious invitation-- + +"Don't you think the clothes you have on your back will last through +the evening?" inquired O'Dowd quaintly. + +"But look at them!" cried Barnes. "I've tramped in 'em for two weeks +and--" + +"All the more reason why you should be thankful they're good and +stout," said O'Dowd. + +"We live rather simply up here, Mr. Barnes," said De Soto. "There isn't +a dinner jacket or a spike tail coat on the place. It's strictly +against the law up here to have such things about one's person. Come as +you are, sir. I assure you I speak the truth when I say we don't dress +for dinner." + +"Bedad," said O'Dowd enthusiastically, "if it will make ye feel any +more comfortable I'll put on the corduroy outfit I go trout fishing in, +bespattered and patched as it is. And De Soto will appear in the white +duck trousers and blazer he tries to play tennis in,--though, God bless +him, poor wretch, he hates to put them on after all he's heard said +about his game." + +"If they'll take me as I am," began Barnes, doubtfully. + +"I say," called out O'Dowd to the sheriff, who was gazing longingly at +the horses tethered at the bottom of the slope; "would ye mind leading +Mr. Barnes's nag back to the Tavern? He is stopping to dinner. And, +while I think of it, are you satisfied, Mr. Sheriff, with the day's +work? If not, you will be welcome again at any time, if ye'll only +telephone a half minute in advance." To Barnes he said: "We'll send you +down in the automobile to-night, provided it has survived the day. +We're expecting the poor thing to die in its tracks at almost any +instant." + +Ten minutes later Barnes passed through the portals of Green Fancy. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FIRST WAYFARER, THE SECOND WAYFARER, AND THE SPIRIT OF CHIVALRY +ASCENDANT + + +The wide green door, set far back in a recess not unlike a kiosk, was +opened by a man-servant who might easily have been mistaken for a +waiter from Delmonico's or Sherry's. He did not have the air or aplomb +of a butler, nor the smartness of a footman. On the contrary, he was a +thick-set, rather scrubby sort of person with all the symptoms of cafe +servitude about him, including the never-failing doubt as to +nationality. He might have been a Greek, a Pole, an Italian or a Turk. + +"Say to Mrs. Collier, Nicholas, that Mr. Barnes is here for dinner," +said De Soto. "I will make the cocktails this evening." + +Much to Barnes's surprise,--and disappointment,--the interior of the +house failed to sustain the bewildering effect produced by the +exterior. The entrance hall and the living-room into which he was +conducted by the two men were singularly like others that he had seen. +The latter, for example, was of ordinary dimensions, furnished with a +thought for comfort rather than elegance or even good taste. The rugs +were thick and in tone held almost exclusively to Turkish reds; the +couches and chairs were low and deep and comfortable, as if intended +for men only, and they were covered with rich, gay materials; the +hangings at the windows were of deep blue and gold; the walls an +unobtrusive cream colour, almost literally thatched with etchings. + +Barnes, somewhat of a connoisseur, was not slow to recognise the value +and extreme rarity of the prints. Rembrandt, Whistler, Hayden, Merryon, +Cameron, Muirhead Bone and Zorn were represented by their most notable +creations; two startling subjects by Brangwyn hung alone in one corner +of the room, isolated, it would seem, out of consideration for the +gleaming, jewel-like surfaces of other and smaller treasures. There +were at least a dozen Zorns, as many Whistlers and Camerons. + +O'Dowd, observing the glance of appreciation that Barnes sent about the +room, said: "All of thim are in the very rarest state. He has one of +the finest collections in America. Ye'll want your boots cleaned and +polished, and your face needs scrubbing, if ye don't mind my saying +so," he went on, critically surveying the visitor's person. "Come up to +my room and make yourself tidy. My own man will dust you off and +furbish you up in no time at all." + +They passed into another room at the left and approached a wide +stairway, the lower step of which was flush with the baseboard on the +wall. Not so much as an inch of the stairway protruded into the room, +and yet Barnes, whose artistic sense should have been offended, was +curiously pleased with the arrangement and effect. He made a mental +note of this deliberate violation of the holy rules of construction, +and decided that one day he would try it out for himself. + +The room itself was obviously a continuation of the larger one beyond, +a sort of annex, as it were. The same scheme in decoration and +furnishings was observed, except here the walls were adorned with small +paintings in oil, heavily framed. Hanging in the panel at the right of +the stairway was an exquisite little Corot, silvery and feathery even +in the dim light of early dusk. On the opposite side was a brilliant +little Cazin. + +The stairs were thickly carpeted. At the top, his guide turned to the +left and led the way down a long corridor. They passed at least four +doors before O'Dowd stopped and threw open the fifth on that side of +the hall. There were still two more doors beyond. + +"Suggests a hotel, doesn't it?" said the Irishman, standing aside for +Barnes to enter. "All of the sleeping apartments are on this floor, and +the baths, and boudoirs, and what-not. The garret is above, and that's +where we deposit our family skeletons, intern our grievances, store our +stock of spitefulness, and hide all the little devils that must come +sneaking up from the city with us whether we will or no. Nothing but +good-humour, contentment, happiness and mirth are permitted to occupy +this floor and the one below. I might also add beauty, for you can't +conceive any of the others without it, me friend. God knows I couldn't +be good-natured for a minute if I wasn't encouraged by beauty +appreciative, and as for being contented, happy or mirthful,--bedad, +words fail me! Dabson," he said, addressing the man who had quietly +entered the room through the door behind them, "do Mr. Barnes, will ye, +and fetch me from Mr. De Soto's room when you've finished. I leave you +to Dabson's tender mercies. The saints preserve us! Look at the man's +boots! Dabson, get out your brush and dauber first of all. He's been +floundering in a bog." + +The jovial Irishman retired, leaving Barnes to be "done" by the silent, +swift-moving valet. Dabson was young and vigorous and exceedingly +well-trained. He made short work of "doing" the visitor; barely fifteen +minutes elapsed before O'Dowd's return. + +Presently they went downstairs together. Lamps had been lighted, many +of them, throughout the house. A warm, pleasing glow filled the rooms, +softening,--one might even say tempering,--the insistent reds in the +rugs, which now seemed to reflect rather than to project their hues; a +fire crackled in the cavernous fireplace at the end of the living-room, +and grouped about its cheerful, grateful blaze were the ladies of Green +Fancy. + +Barnes was aware of a quickening of his pulses as he advanced with +O'Dowd. De Soto was there ahead of them, posed ungracefully in front of +the fire, his feet widespread, his hands in his pockets. Another man, +sallow-faced and tall, with a tired looking blond moustache and sleepy +eyes, was managing, with amazing skill, the retention of a cigarette +which seemed to be constantly in peril of detaching itself from his +parted though inactive lips. + +SHE was there, standing slightly aloof from the others, but evidently +amused by the tale with which De Soto was regaling them. She was +smiling; Barnes saw the sapphire lights sparkling in her eyes, and +experienced a sensation that was woefully akin to confusion. + +He had the feeling that he would be absolutely speechless when +presented to her; in the full, luminous glow of those lovely eyes he +would lose consciousness, momentarily, no doubt, but long enough to +give her,--and all the rest of them,--no end of a fright. + +But nothing of the kind happened. Everything went off quite naturally. +He favoured Miss Cameron with an uncommonly self-possessed smile as she +gave her hand to him, and she, in turn, responded with one faintly +suggestive of tolerance, although it certainly would have been recorded +by a less sensitive person than Barnes as "ripping." + +In reply to his perfunctory "delighted, I'm sure, etc.," she said, +quite clearly: "Oh, now I remember. I was sure I had seen you before, +Mr. Barnes. You are the magic gentleman who sprung like a mushroom out +of the earth yesterday afternoon." + +"And frightened you," he said; "whereupon you vanished like the +mushroom that is gobbled up by the predatory glutton." + +He had thrilled at the sound of her voice. It was the low, deliberate +voice of the woman of the crossroads, and, as before, he caught the +almost imperceptible accent. The red gleam from the blazing logs fell +upon her shining hair; it glistened like gold. She wore a simple +evening gown of white, softened over the shoulders and neck with a fall +of rare vallenciennes lace. There was no jewelry,--not even a ring on +her slender, tapering fingers. Oddly enough, now that he stood beside +her, she was not so tall as he had believed her to be the day before. +The crown of her silken head came but little above his shoulder. As she +had appeared to him among the trees he would have sworn that she was +but little below his own height, which was a liberal six feet. He +recalled a flash of wonder on that occasion; she had seemed so much +taller than the woman at the cross-roads that he was almost convinced +that she could not, after all, be the same person. Now she was back to +the height that he remembered, and he marvelled once more. + +Mrs. Collier, the hostess, was an elderly, heavy-featured woman, +decidedly over-dressed. Barnes knew her kind. One encounters her +everywhere: the otherwise intelligent woman who has no sense about her +clothes. Mrs. Van Dyke, her daughter, was a woman of thirty, tall, dark +and handsome in a bold, dashing sort of way. She too was rather +resplendent in a black jet gown, and she was liberally bestrewn with +jewels. Much to Barnes's surprise, she possessed a soft, gentle +speaking-voice and a quiet, musical laugh instead of the boisterous +tones and cackle that he always associated with her type. The +lackadaisical gentleman with the moustache turned out to be her husband. + +"My brother is unable to be with us to-night, Mr. Barnes," explained +Mrs. Collier. "Mr. O'Dowd may have told you that he is an invalid. +Quite rarely is he well enough to leave his room. He has been feeling +much better of late, but now his nerves are all torn to pieces by this +shooting affair. The mere knowledge that our grounds were being +inspected to-day by the authorities upset him terribly. He has begged +me to present his apologies and regrets to you. Another time, perhaps, +you will give him the pleasure he is missing to-night. He wanted so +much to talk with you about the quaint places you have described so +charmingly in your articles. They must be wonderfully appealing. One +cannot read your descriptions without really envying the people who +live in those enchanted--" + +"Ahem!" coughed O'Dowd, who actually had read the articles and could +see nothing alluring in a prospect that contemplated barren, snow-swept +wildernesses in the Andes. "The only advantage I can see in living up +there," he said, with a sly wink at Barnes, "is that one has all the +privileges of death without being put to the expense of burial." + +"How very extraordinary, Mr. O'Dowd," said Mrs. Collier, lifting her +lorgnon. + +"Mrs. Collier has been reading my paper on the chateau country in +France," said Barnes mendaciously. (It had not yet been published, but +what of that?) + +"Perfectly delightful," said Mrs. Collier, and at once changed the +subject. + +De Soto's cocktails came in. Miss Cameron did not take one. O'Dowd +proposed a toast. + +"To the rascals who went gunning for the other rascals. But for them we +should be short at least one member of this agreeable company." + +It was rather startling. Barnes's glass stopped half-way to his lips. +An instant later he drained it. He accepted the toast as a compliment +from the whilom Irishman, and not as a tribute to the prowess of those +mysterious marksmen. + +"Rather grewsome, O'Dowd," drawled Van Dyke, "but offset by the +foresightedness of the maker of this cocktail. Uncommonly good one, De +Soto." + +The table in the spacious dining-room was one of those long, narrow +Italian boards, unmistakably antique and equally rare. Sixteen or +eighteen people could have been seated without crowding, and when the +seven took their places wide intervals separated them. No effort had +been made by the hostess to bring her guests close together, as might +have been done by using one end or the centre of the table. Except for +scattered doylies, the smooth, nut-brown top was bare of cloth; there +was a glorious patina to this huge old board, with tiny cracks running +like veins across its surface. + +Decorations were scant. A half dozen big candlesticks, ecclesiastical +in character, were placed at proper intervals, and at each end of the +table there was a shallow, alabaster dish containing pansies. The +serving plates were of silver. Especially beautiful were the +long-stemmed water goblets and the graceful champagne glasses. They +were blue and white and of a design and quality no longer obtainable +except at great cost. The aesthetic Barnes was not slow to appreciate +the rarity of the glassware and the chaste beauty of the serving plates. + +The man Nicholas was evidently the butler, despite his Seventh Avenue +manner. He was assisted in serving by two stalwart and amazingly clumsy +footmen, of similar ilk and nationality. On seeing these additional +men-servants, Barnes began figuratively to count on his fingers the +retainers he had so far encountered on the place. Already he has seen +six, all of them powerful, rugged fellows. It struck him. as +extraordinary, and in a way significant, that there should be so many +men at Green Fancy. + +Somewhere back in his mind was the impression that O'Dowd had spoken of +Pierre the cook, a private secretary and male attendant who looked +after Mr. Curtis. Then there was Peter, the regular chauffeur, whom he +had not seen, and doubtless there were able-bodied woodchoppers and +foresters besides. Not forgetting the little book-agent! It suddenly +occurred to him that he was surrounded by a company of the most +formidable character: no less than twenty men would be a reasonable +guess if he were to include O'Dowd, De Soto and Van Dyke. + +Much to his disappointment, he was not placed near Miss Cameron at +table. Indeed, she was seated as far away from him as possible. He sat +at Mrs. Collier's right. On his left was Mrs. Van Dyke, with Miss +Cameron at the foot of the table flanked by O'Dowd and De Soto. Van +Dyke had nearly the whole of the opposite side of the table to himself. +There was, to be sure, a place set between him and De Soto, for +symmetry's sake, Barnes concluded. In this he was mistaken; they had +barely seated themselves when Mrs. Collier remarked: + +"Mr. Curtis's secretary usually joins us here for coffee. He has his +dinner with my brother and then, poor man, comes in for a brief period +of relaxation. When my brother is in one of his bad spells poor Mr. +Loeb doesn't have much time to himself. It seems to me that my brother +is at his best when his health is at its worst. You may be interested +to know, Mr. Barnes, that he is writing a history of the Five Nations." + +"Indians, you know," explained Van Dyke. + +"A history of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas and Senecas, and +their 'Long House' should be of great value, Mrs. Collier," said +Barnes, a trifle didactically. "When does he expect to have it +completed?" + +"'Gad, you know a little of everything, don't you?" said Van Dyke, +sitting up a little straighter in his chair and eyeing Barnes fishily. +("Awfully smart chap," he afterwards confided to O'Dowd.) "If he lives +long enough, he'll finish it in 1999," he added, lifting his voice +above Mrs. Collier's passive reply out of which Barnes gathered the +words "couple" and "years." + +It is not necessary to dilate upon the excellence of the dinner, to +repeat the dialogue, or to comment on the service, other than to say, +for the sake of record, that the first WAS excellent; the second +sprightly, and the third atrocious. + +Loeb, the private secretary, came in for coffee. He was a tall, spare +man of thirty, pallidly handsome, with dark, studious eyes and features +of an unmistakably Hebraic cast, as his name might have foretold. His +teeth were marvellously white, and his slow smile attractive. When he +spoke, which was seldom unless a remark was directed specifically to +him, his voice was singularly deep and resonant. More than once during +the hour that Loeb spent with them Barnes formed and dismissed a +stubborn, ever-recurring opinion that the man was not a Jew. Certainly +he was not an American Jew. His voice, his manner of speech, his every +action stamped him as one born and bred in a land far removed from +Broadway and its counterparts. If a Jew, he was of the East as it is +measured from Rome: the Jew of the carnal Orient. + +And as the evening wore on, there came to Barnes the singular fancy +that this man was the master and not the servant of the house! He could +not put the ridiculous idea out of his mind. + +He was to depart at ten. The hour drew near and he had had no +opportunity for detached conversation with Miss Cameron. He had +listened to her bright retorts to O'Dowd's sallies, and marvelled at +the ease and composure with which she met the witty Irishman on even +terms. Her voice, always low and distinct, was never without the +suggestion of good-natured raillery; he was enchanted by the faint, +delicious chuckle that rode in every sentence she uttered during these +sprightly tilts. + +When the conversation turned to serious topics, her voice steadied +perceptibly, the blue in her eyes took on a deeper and darker hue, the +half-satirical smile vanished from her adorable lips, and she spoke +with the gravity of a profound thinker. Barnes watched her, fascinated, +bereft of the power to concentrate his thoughts on anything else. He +hung on her every movement, hoping and longing for the impersonal +glance or remark with which she occasionally favoured him. + +Not until the very close of the evening, and when he had resigned +himself to hopelessness, did the opportunity come for him to speak with +her alone. She caught his eye, and, to his amazement, made a slight +movement of her head, unobserved by the others but curiously imperative +to him. There was no mistaking the meaning of the direct, intense look +that she gave him. + +She was appealing to him as a friend,--as one on whom she could depend! + +The spirit of chivalry took possession of him. His blood leaped to the +call. She needed him and he would not fail her. And it was with +difficulty that he contrived to hide the exaltation that might have +ruined everything! + +Loeb had returned to his labours in Mr. Curtis's study, after bidding +Barnes a courteous good-night. It seemed to the latter that with the +secretary's departure an indefinable restraint fell away from the small +company. + +While he was trying to invent a pretext for drawing her apart from the +others, she calmly ordered Van Dyke to relinquish his place on the +couch beside her to Barnes. + +"Come and sit beside me, Mr. Barnes," she called out, gaily. "I will +not bite you, or scratch you, or harm you in any way. Ask Mr. O'Dowd +and he will tell you that I am quite docile. What is there about me, +sir, that causes you to think that I am dangerous? You have barely +spoken a word to me, and you've been disagreeably nice to Mrs. Collier +and Mrs. Van Dyke. I don't bite, do I, Mr. O'Dowd?" + +"You do," said O'Dowd promptly. "You do more than that. You devour. +Bedad, I have to look in a mirror to convince meself that you haven't +swallowed me whole. That's another way of telling you, Barnes, that +she'll absorb you entirely." + +It was a long, deep and comfortable couch of the davenport class, and +she sat in the middle of it instead of at the end, a circumstance that +he was soon to regard as premeditated. She had planned to bring him to +this place beside her and had cunningly prepared against the +possibility that he might put the full length of the couch between them +if she settled herself in a corner. As it was, their elbows almost +touched as he sat down beside her. + +For a few minutes she chided him for his unseemly aversion. He was +beginning to think that he had been mistaken in her motive, and that +after all she was merely satisfying her vanity. Suddenly, and as she +smiled into his eyes, she said, lowering her voice slightly: + +"Do not appear surprised at anything I may say to you. Smile as if we +were uttering the silliest nonsense. So much depends upon it, Mr. +Barnes." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PRISONER OF GEEEN FANCY, AND THE LAMENT OF PETER THE CHAUFFEUR + + +He envied Mr. Rushcroft. The barn-stormer would have risen to the +occasion without so much as the blinking of an eye. He would have been +able to smile and gesticulate in a manner that would have deceived the +most acute observer, while he--ah, he was almost certain to flounder +and make a mess of the situation. He did his best, however, and, +despite his eagerness, managed to come off fairly well. Any one out of +ear-shot would have thought that he was uttering some trifling inanity +instead of these words: + +"You may trust me. I have suspected that something was wrong here." + +"It is impossible to explain now," she said. "These people are not my +friends. I have no one to turn to in my predicament." + +"Yes, you have," he broke in, and laughed rather boisterously for him. +He felt that they were being watched in turn by every person in the +room. + +"To-night,--not an hour ago,--I began to feel that I could call upon +you for help. I began to relax. Something whispered to me that I was no +longer utterly alone. Oh, you will never know what it is to have your +heart lighten as mine--But I must control myself. We are not to waste +words." + +"You have only to command me, Miss Cameron. No more than a dozen words +are necessary." + +"I knew it,--I felt it," she cried eagerly. "Nothing can be done +to-night. The slightest untoward action on your part would send you +after--the other two. There is one man here who, I think, will stand +between me and actual peril. Mr. O'Dowd. He is--" + +"He is the liveliest liar I've ever known," broke in Barnes quickly. +"Don't trust him." + +"But he is also an Irishman," she said, as if that fact overcame all +other shortcomings. "I like him; he must be an honest man, for he has +already lied nobly in MY behalf." She smiled as she uttered this quaint +anomaly. + +"Tell me how I can be of service to you," said he, disposing of O'Dowd +with a shrug. + +"I shall try to communicate with you in some way--to-morrow. I beg of +you, I implore you, do not desert me. If I can only be sure that you +will--" + +"You may depend on me, no matter what happens," said he, and, looking +into her eyes was bound forever. + +"I have been thinking," she said. "Yesterday I made the discovery that +I--that I am actually a prisoner here, Mr. Barnes. I--Smile! Say +something silly!" + +Together they laughed over the meaningless remark he made in response +to her command. + +"I am constantly watched. If I venture outside the house, I am almost +immediately joined by one of these men. You saw what happened +yesterday. I am distracted. I do not know how to arrange a meeting so +that I may explain my unhappy position to you." + +"I will ask the authorities to step in and--" + +"No! You are to do nothing of the kind. The authorities would never +find me if they came here to search." (It was hard for him to smile at +that!) "It must be some other way. If I could steal out of the +house,--but that is impossible," she broke off with a catch in her voice. + +"Suppose that I were to steal INTO the house," he said, a reckless +light in his eyes. + +"Oh, you could never succeed!" + +"Well, I could try, couldn't I?" There was nothing funny in the remark +but they both leaned back and laughed heartily. "Leave it to me. I once +got into and out of a Morrocan harem,--but that story may wait. Tell +me, where--" + +"The place is guarded day and night. The stealthiest burglar in the +world could not come within a stone's throw of the house." + +"By Jove! Those two men night before last were trying to--" He said no +more, but turned his head so that the others could not see the hard +look that settled in his eyes. "If it's as bad as all that, we cannot +afford to make any slips. You think you are in no immediate peril?" + +"I am in no peril at all unless I bring it upon myself," she said, +significantly. + +"Then a delay of a day or so will not matter," he said, frowning. +"Leave it to me. I will find a way." + +"Be careful!" De Soto came lounging up behind them. She went on +speaking, changing the subject so abruptly and so adroitly that for a +moment Barnes was at a loss. "But if she could obtain all those +luxuries without using a penny of his money, what right had he to +object? Surely a wife may do as she pleases with her own money." + +"He was trying to break her of selfishness," said Barnes, suddenly +inspired. "The difference between men and women in the matter of +luxuries lies in the fact that one is selfish and the other is not. A +man slaves all the year round to provide luxuries for his wife. The +wife comes into a nice little fortune of her own, and what does she +proceed to do with it? Squander it on her husband? Not much! She sets +out immediately to prove to the world that he is a miser, a skinflint +who never gave her more than the bare necessities of life. The chap I +was speaking of--I beg pardon, Mr. De Soto." + +"Forgive me for interrupting, but I am under command from royal +headquarters. Peter, the king of chauffeurs, sends in word that the car +is in an amiable mood and champing to be off. So seldom is it in a +good-humour that he--" + +"I'll be off at once," exclaimed Barnes, arising. + +"By Jove, it is half-past ten. I had no idea--Good night, Miss Cameron. +Sorry my time is up. I am sure I could have made you hate your own sex +in another half hour." + +She held out her hand. "One of our virtues is that we never pretend to +be in love with our own sex, Mr. Barnes. That, at least, is a luxury +reserved solely for your sex." + +He bowed low over her hand. "A necessity, if I may be pardoned for +correcting you." He pressed her hand re-assuringly and left her. + +She had arisen and was standing, straight and slim by the corner of the +fireplace, a confident smile on her lips. + +"If you are to be long in the neighbourhood, Mr. Barnes," said his +hostess, "you must let us have you again." + +"My stay is short, I fear. You have only to reveal the faintest sign +that I may come, however, and I'll hop into my seven league boots +before you can utter Jack Robinson's Christian name. Good night, Mrs. +Van Dyke. I have you all to thank for a most delightful evening. May I +expect to see you down our way, Mr. Van Dyke? We have food for man and +beast at all times and in all forms." + +"I've tackled your liquids," said Van Dyke. "You are likely to see me +'most any day. I'm always rattling 'round somewhere, don't you know." +(He said "rettling," by the way.) The car was waiting at the back of +the house. O'Dowd walked out with Barnes, their arms linked,--as on a +former occasion, Barnes recalled. + +"I'll ride out to the gate with you," said the Irishman. "It's a +winding, devious route the road takes through the trees. As the crow +flies it's no more than five hundred yards, but this way it can't be +less than a mile and a half. Eh, Peter?" + +Peter opined that it was at least a mile and a quarter. He was a +Yankee, as O'Dowd had said, and he was not extravagant in estimates. + +The passengers sat in the rear seat. Two small lamps served to light +the way through the Stygian labyrinth of trees and rocks. O'Dowd had an +electric pocket torch with which to pick his way back to Green Fancy. + +"I can't, for the life of me, see why he doesn't put in a driveway +straight to the road beyond, instead of roaming all over creation as we +have to do," said O'Dowd. + +"We foller the bed of the crick that used to run through here 'fore it +was dammed a little ways up to make the ice-pond 'tween here an' +Spanish Falls," supplied Peter. "Makes a durned good road, 'cept when +there's a freshet. It would cost a hull lot o' money to build a road as +good as this-un." + +"I was only thinking 'twould save a mile and more," said O'Dowd. + +"What's the use o' him savin' a mile, er ten miles, fer that matter, +when he never puts foot out'n the house?" said Peter, the logician. + +"Well, then," persisted O'Dowd testily, "he ought to consider the +saving in gasolene." + +Peter's reply was a grunt. + +They came in time, after many "hair-pins" and right angles, to the gate +opening upon the highway. Peter got down from the seat to release the +pad-locked chain and throw open the gate. + +O'Dowd leaned closer to Barnes and lowered his voice. + +"See here, Barnes, I'm no fool, and for that reason I've got sense +enough to know that you're not either. I don't know what's in your +mind, nor what you're trying to get into it if it isn't already there. +But I'll say this to you, man to man: don't let your imagination get +the better of your common-sense. That's all. Take the tip from me." + +"I am not imagining anything, O'Dowd," said Barnes quietly. "What do +you mean?" + +"I mean just what I say. I'm giving you the tip for selfish reasons. If +you make a bally fool of yourself, I'll have to see you through the +worst of it,--and it's a job I don't relish. Ponder that, will ye, on +the way home?" + +Barnes did ponder it on the way home. There was but one construction to +put upon the remark: it was O'Dowd's way of letting him know that he +could be depended upon for support if the worst came to pass. + +His heart warmed to the lively Irishman. He jumped to the conclusion +that O'Dowd, while aligned with the others in the flesh, was not with +them in spirit. His blithe heart was a gallant one as well. The lovely +prisoner at Green Fancy had a chivalrous defender among the +conspirators, and that fact, suddenly revealed to the harassed Barnes, +sent a thrill of exultation through his veins. + +He realised that he could not expect O'Dowd to be of any assistance in +preparing the way for her liberation. Indeed, the Irishman probably +would oppose him out of loyalty to the cause he espoused. His hand +would be against him until the end; then it would strike for him and +the girl who was in jeopardy. + +O'Dowd evidently had not been deceived by the acting that masked the +conversation on the couch. He knew that Miss Cameron had appealed to +Barnes, and that the latter had promised to do everything in his power +to help her. + +Suspecting that this was the situation, and doubtless sacrificing his +own private interests, he had uttered the vague but timely warning to +Barnes. The significance of this warning grew under reflection. The +mere fact that he could bring himself to the point of speaking to +Barnes as he did, established beyond all question that his position was +not inimical. He was, to a certain extent, delivering himself into the +hands of one who, in his rashness, might not hesitate to cast him to +the lions: the beasts in this instance being his own companions. + +Barnes was not slow to appreciate the position in which O'Dowd +voluntarily placed himself. A word or a sign from him would be +sufficient to bring disaster upon the Irishman who had risked his own +safety in a few irretrievable words. The more he thought of it, the +more fully convinced was he that there was nothing to fear from O'Dowd. +The cause for apprehension in that direction was wiped out by a simple +process of reasoning: O'Dowd would have delivered his warning elsewhere +if he intended evil. While it was impossible to decide how far O'Dowd's +friendly interest would carry him, Barnes was still content to believe +that he would withhold his suspicions, for the present at least, from +the others at Green Fancy. + +He was at a loss to account for his invitation to Green Fancy under the +circumstances. The confident attitude of those responsible for Miss +Cameron's detention evidently was based upon conditions which rendered +their position tenable. Their disregard for the consequences that might +reasonably be expected to result from this visit was puzzling in the +extreme. He could arrive at no other conclusion than that their +hospitality was inspired by a desire to disarm him of suspicion. An +open welcome to the house, while a bold piece of strategy, was far +better than an effort to cloak the place in mystery. + +As he left the place behind him, he found himself saying that he had +received his first and last invitation to visit Green Fancy. + +Peter drove slowly, carefully over the road down the mountain, in +direct contrast to the heedless rush of the belated "washer." + +Responding to a sudden impulse, Barnes lowered one of the side-seats in +the tonneau and moved closer to the driver. By leaning forward he was +in a position to speak through the window at Peter's back. + +"Pretty bad going, isn't it?" he ventured. + +"Bad enough in the daytime," said Peter, without taking his eyes from +the road, "but something fierce at night." + +"I suppose you've been over it so often, however, that you know every +crook and turn." + +"I know 'em well enough not to get gay with 'em," said Peter. + +"How long have you been driving for Mr. Curtis?" + +"Ever since he come up here, more'n two years ago. I used to drive the +station bus fer the hotel down below Spanish Falls. He stayed there +while he was buildin'. Guess I'm going to get the G. B. 'fore long, +though." + +His listener started. "You don't say so! Cutting down expenses?" + +"Not so's you could notice it," growled Peter. "Seems that he's gettin' +a new car an' wants an expert machinist to take hold of it from the +start. I was good enough to fiddle around with this second-hand pile o' +junk an' the Buick he had last year, but I ain't qualified to handle +this here twin-six Packard he's expectin', so he says. I guess they's +been some influence used against me, if the truth was known. This new +sec'etary he's got cain't stummick me." + +"Why don't you see Mr. Curtis and demand--" "SEE him?" snorted Peter. +"Might as well try to see Napoleon Bonyparte. Didn't you know he was a +sick man?" + +"Certainly. But he isn't so ill that he can't attend to business, is +he?" + +"He sure is. Parylised, they say. He's a mighty fine man. It's awful to +think of him bein' so helpless he cain't ever git out'n his cheer +ag'in. Course, if he was hisself he wouldn't think o' lettin' me out. +But bein' sick-like, he jest don't give a durn about anything. So +that's how this new sec'etary gets in his fine work on me." + +"What has Mr. Loeb against you, if I may ask?" + +"Well, it's like this. I ain't in the habit o' bein' ordered aroun' as +if I was jest nobody at all, so when he starts in to cuss me about +somethin' a week or so ago, I ups and tells him I'll smash his head if +he don't take it back. He takes it back all right, but the first thing +I know I get a call-down from Mrs. Collier. She's Mr. Curtis's sister, +you know. Course I couldn't tell her what I told the sheeny, seein' as +she's a female, so I took it like a lamb. Then they gits a feller up +here to wash the car. My gosh, mister, the durned ole rattle-trap ain't +wuth a bucket o' water all told. You could wash from now till next +Christmas an' she wouldn't look any cleaner'n she does right now. So I +sends word in to Mr. Curtis that if she has to be washed, I'll wash +her. I don't want no dago splashin' water all over the barn floor an' +drawin' pay fer doin' it. Then's when I hears about the new car. Mr. +Loeb comes out an' asts me if I ever drove a Packard twin-six. I says +no I ain't, an' he says it's too bad. He asts the dago if he's ever +drove one and the dago lies like thunder. He says he's handled every +kind of a Packard known to science, er somethin' like that. I cain't +understand half the durn fool says. Next day Mrs. Collier sends fer me +an' I go in. She says she guesses she'll try the new washer on the +Packard when it comes, an' if I keer to stay on as washer in his place +she'll be glad to have me. I says I'd like to have a word with Mr. +Curtis, if she don't mind, an' she says Mr. Curtis ain't able to see no +one. So I guess I'm goin' to be let out. Not as I keer very much, 'cept +I hate to leave Mr. Curtis in the lurch. He was mighty good to me up to +the time he got bed-ridden." + +"I dare say you will have no difficulty in finding another place," said +Barnes, feeling his way. + +"'Tain't easy to git a job up here. I guess I'll have to try New York +er some of the big cities," said Peter, confidently. + +An idea was taking root in Barnes's brain, but it was too soon to +consider it fixed. + +"You say Mr. Loeb is new at his job?" + +"Well, he's new up here. Mr. Curtis was down to New York all last +winter bein' treated, you see. He didn't come up here till about five +weeks ago. Loeb was workin' fer him most of the winter, gittin' up a +book er somethin', I hear. Mr. Curtis's mind is all right, I guess, +even if his body ain't. Always was a great feller fer books an' writin' +'fore he got so sick." + +"I see. Mr. Loeb came up with him from New York." + +"Kerect. Him and Mr. O'Dowd and Mr. De Soto brought him up 'bout the +last o' March." + +"I understand that they are old friends." + +"They was up here visitin' last spring an' the fall before. Mr. Curtis +is very fond of both of 'em." + +"It seems to me that I have heard that his son married O'Dowd's sister." + +"That's right. She's a widder now. Her husband was killed in the war +between Turkey an' them other countries four er five years ago." + +"Really?" + +"Yep. Him and Mr. O'Dowd--his own brother-in-law, y' know--was fightin' +on the side of the Boolgarians and young Ashley Curtis was killed. Mr. +O'Dowd's always fightin' whenever they's a war goin' on anywheres. I +cain't understand why he ain't over in Europe now helpin' out one side +or t'other." + +"Was this son Mr. Curtis's only child?" + +"So fer as I know. He left three little kids. They was all here with +their mother jest after the house was finished. Finest children I +ever--" + +"They will probably come into this property when Mr. Curtis dies," said +Barnes, keeping the excitement out of his voice. + +"More'n likely." + +"Was he very feeble when you saw him last?" + +"I ain't seen him in more'n six months. He was failin' then. That's why +he went to the city." + +"Oh, I see. You did not see him when he arrived the last of March?" + +"I was visitin' my sister up in Hornville when he come back +unexpected-like. This ijiot Loeb says he wrote me to meet 'em at +Spanish Falls but I never got the letter. Like as not the durn fool got +the address wrong. I didn't know Mr. Curtis was home till I come back +from my sister's three days later. The wust of it was that I had tooken +the automobile with me,--to have a little work done on her, mind +ye,--an' so they had to hire a Ford to bring him up from the Falls. I +wouldn't 'a' had it happen fer fifty dollars." Peter's tone was +convincingly doleful. + +"And he has been confined to his room ever since? Poor old fellow! It's +hard, isn't it?" + +"It sure is. Seems like he'll never be able to walk ag'in. I was +talkin' to his nurse only the other day. He says it's a hopeless case." + +"Fortunately his sister can be here with him." + +"By gosh, she ain't nothin' like him," confided Peter. "She's all fuss +an' feathers an' he is jest as simple as you er me. Nothin' fluffy +about him, I c'n tell ye. Course, he must 'a' had a screw loose +some'eres when he made sich a botch of that house up there, but it's +his'n an' there ain't no law ag'in a man doin' what he pleases with his +own property." He sighed deeply. "I'm jest as well pleased to go as +not," he went on. "Mrs. Collier's got a lot o' money of her own, an' +she's got highfalutin' New York ideas that don't seem to jibe with +mine. Used to be a time when everything was nice an' peaceful up here, +with Sally Perkins doin' the cookin' and her daughter waitin' table, +but 'tain't that way no more. Got to have a man cook an' men +waitresses, an' a butteler. An' it goes ag'in the grain to set down to +a meal with them hayseeds from Italy. You never saw sich table manners." + +He rambled on for some minutes, expanding under the soulful influence +of his own woes and the pleasure of having a visible auditor instead of +the make-believe ones he conjured out of the air at times when privacy +afforded him the opportunity to lament aloud. + +At any other time Barnes would have been bored by such confidences as +these. Now he was eagerly drinking in every word that Peter uttered. +His lively brain was putting the whole situation into a nutshell. +Assuming that Peter was not the most guileful person on earth, it was +quite obvious that he not only was in ignorance of the true state of +affairs at Green Fancy but that he was to be banished from the place +while still in that condition. + +Long before they came to the turnpike, Barnes had reduced his hundred +and one suppositions to the following concrete conclusion: Green Fancy +was no longer in the hands of its original owner for the good and +sufficient reason that Mr. Curtis was dead. The real master of the +house was the man known as Loeb. Through O'Dowd he had leased the +property from the widowed daughter-in-law, and had established himself +there, surrounded by trustworthy henchmen, for the purpose of carrying +out some dark and sinister project. + +Putting two and two together, it was easy to determine how and when +O'Dowd decided to cast his fortunes with those of the leader in this +mysterious enterprise. Their intimacy undoubtedly grew out of +association at the time of the Balkan Wars. O'Dowd was a soldier of +fortune. He saw vast opportunities in the scheme proposed by Loeb, and +fell in with it, whether through a mistaken idea as to its real +character or an active desire to profit nefariously time only would +tell. Green Fancy afforded an excellent base for operations. O'Dowd +induced his sister to lease the property to Loeb,--or he may even have +taken it himself. He had visited Mr. Curtis on at least two occasions. +He knew the place and its advantages. The woman known as Mrs. Collier +was not the sister of Curtis. She--but here Barnes put a check upon his +speculations. He appealed to Peter once more. + +"I suppose Mrs. Collier has spent a great deal of time up here with her +brother." + +"First time she was ever here, so far as I know," said Peter, and +Barnes promptly took up his weaving once more. + +With one exception, he decided, the entire company at Green Fancy was +involved in the conspiracy. The exception was Miss Cameron. It was +quite clear to him that she had been misled or betrayed into her +present position; that a trap had been set for her and she had walked +into it blindly, trustingly. This would seem to establish, beyond +question, that her capture and detention was vital to the interests of +the plotters; otherwise she would not have been lured to Green Fancy +under the impression that she was to find herself among friends and +supporters. Supporters! That word started a new train of thought. He +could hardly wait for the story that was to fall from her lips. + +Peter swerved into the main-road. "Guess I c'n hit her up a little +now," he said. + +"Take it slowly, if you please," said Barnes. "I've had one experience +in this car, going a mile a minute, and I didn't enjoy it." + +"You never been in this car before," corrected Peter. + +"Is it news to you? Day before yesterday I was picked up at this very +corner and taken to Hart's Tavern in this car. The day Miss Cameron +arrived and the car failed to meet her at Spanish Falls." + +"You must be dreamin'," said Peter slowly. + +"If you should have the opportunity, Peter, just ask Miss Cameron," +said the other. "She will tell you that I'm right." + +"Is she the strange young lady that come a day er so ago?" + +"The extremely pretty one," explained Barnes. + +Peter lapsed into silence. It was evident that he considered it +impossible to continue the discussion without offending his passenger. + +"By the way, Peter, it has just occurred to me that I may be able to +give you a job in case you are let out by Mr. Curtis. I can't say +definitely until I have communicated with my sister, who has a summer +home in the Berkshires. Don't mention it to Mr. Curtis. I wouldn't, for +anything in the world, have him think that I was trying to take you +away from him. That is regarded as one of the lowest tricks a man can +be guilty of." + +"We call it ornery up here," said Peter. "I'll be much obliged, sir. +Course I won't say a word. Will I find you at the Tavern if I get my +walkin' papers soon?" + +"Yes. Stop in to see me to-morrow if you happen to be passing." + +There was additional food for reflection in the fact that Peter was +allowed to conduct him to the Tavern alone. It was evident that not +only was the garrulous native ignorant of the real conditions at Green +Fancy, but that the opportunity was deliberately afforded him to +proclaim his private grievances to the world. After all, mused Barnes, +it wasn't a bad bit of diplomacy at that! + +Barnes said good night to the man and entered the Tavern a few minutes +later. Putnam Jones was behind the desk and facing him was the little +book-agent. + +"Hello, stranger," greeted the landlord. "Been sashaying in society, +hey? Meet my friend Mr. Sprouse, Mr. Barnes. Sic-em, Sprouse! Give him +the Dickens!" Mr. Jones laughed loudly at his own jest. + +Sprouse shook hands with his victim. + +"I was just saying to our friend Jones here, Mr. Barnes, that you look +like a more than ordinarily intelligent man and that if I had a chance +to buzz with you for a quarter of an hour I could present a +proposition---" + +"Sorry, Mr. Sprouse, but it is half-past eleven o'clock, and I am +dog-tired. You will have to excuse me." + +"To-morrow morning will suit me," said Sprouse cheerfully, "if it suits +you." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +MR. SPROUSE ABANDONS LITERATURE AT AN EARLY HOUR IN THE MORNING + + +After thrashing about in his bed for seven sleepless hours, Barnes +arose and gloomily breakfasted alone. He was not discouraged over his +failure to arrive at anything tangible in the shape of a plan of +action. It was inconceivable that he should not be able in very short +order to bring about the release of the fair guest of Green Fancy. He +realised that the conspiracy in which she appeared to be a vital link +was far-reaching and undoubtedly pernicious in character. There was not +the slightest doubt in his mind that international affairs of +considerable importance were involved and that the agents operating at +Green Fancy were under definite orders. + +Mr. Sprouse came into the dining-room as he was taking his last swallow +of coffee. + +"Ah, good morning," was the bland little man's greeting. "Up with the +lark, I see. It is almost a nocturnal habit with me. I get up so early +that you might say it's a nightly proceeding. I'm surprised to see you +circulating at seven o'clock, however. Mind if I sit down here and have +my eggs?" He pulled out a chair opposite Barnes and coolly sat down at +the table. + +"You can't sell me a set of Dickens at this hour of the day," said +Barnes sourly. "Besides, I've finished my breakfast. Keep your seat." +He started to rise. + +"Sit down," said Sprouse quietly. Something in the man's voice and +manner struck Barnes as oddly compelling. He hesitated a second and +then resumed his seat. "I've been investigating you, Mr. Barnes," said +the little man, unsmilingly. "Don't get sore. It may gratify you to +know that I am satisfied you are all right." + +"What do you mean, Mr.--Mr.--?" began Barnes, angrily. + +"Sprouse. There are a lot of things that you don't know, and one of +them is that I don't sell books for a living. It's something of a side +line with me." He leaned forward. "I shall be quite frank with you, +sir. I am a secret service man. Yesterday I went through your effects +upstairs, and last night I took the liberty of spying upon you, so to +speak, while you were a guest at Green Fancy." + +"The deuce you say!" cried Barnes, staring. + +"We will get right down to tacks," said Sprouse. "My government,--which +isn't yours, by the way,--sent me up here five weeks ago on a certain +undertaking. I am supposed to find out what is hatching up at Green +Fancy. Having satisfied myself that you are not connected with the gang +up there, I cheerfully place myself in your hands, Mr. Barnes. Just a +moment, please. Bring me my usual breakfast, Miss Tilly." The waitress +having vanished in the direction of the kitchen, he resumed. "You were +at Green Fancy last night. So was I. You had an advantage over me, +however, for you were on the inside and I was not." + +"Confound your impudence! I--" + +"One of my purposes in revealing myself to you, Mr. Barnes, is to warn +you to steer clear of that crowd. You may find yourself in exceedingly +hot water later on if you don't. Another purpose, and the real one, is +to secure, if possible, your co-operation in beating the game up there. +You can help me, and in helping me you may be instrumental in righting +one of the gravest wrongs the world has ever known. Of course, I am +advising you in one breath to avoid the crowd up there and in the next +I ask you to do nothing of the kind. If you can get into the good +graces of--But there is no use counting on that. They are too clever. +There is too much at stake. You might go there for weeks and--" + +"See here, Mr. Sprouse or whatever your name is, what do you take me +for?" demanded Barnes, assuming an injured air. "You have the most +monumental nerve in--" + +"Save your breath, Mr. Barnes. We may just as well get together on this +thing first as last. I've told you what I am,--and almost who,--and I +know who and what you are. You don't suppose for an instant that I, +with a record for having made fewer blunders than any man in the +service, could afford to take a chance with you unless I was absolutely +sure of my ground, do you? You ask me what I take you for. Well, I take +you for a meddler who, if given a free rein, may upset the whole pot of +beans and work an irreparable injury to an honest cause." + +"A meddler, am I? Good morning, Mr. Sprouts. I fancy--" + +"Sprouse. But the name doesn't matter. Keep your seat. You may learn +something that will be of untold value to you. I used the word meddler +in a professional sense. You are inexperienced. You would behave like a +bull in a china shop. I've been working for nearly six months on a job +that you think you can clear up in a couple of days. Fools walk in +where angels fear to tread. You--" + +"Will you be good enough, Mr. Sprouse, to tell me just what you are +trying to get at? Come to the point. I know nothing whatever against +Mr. Curtis and his friends. You assume a great deal--" + +"Excuse me, Mr. Barnes. I'll admit that you don't know anything against +them, but you suspect a whole lot. To begin with, you suspect that two +men were shot to death because they were in wrong with some one at +Green Fancy. Now, I could tell you who those two men really were and +why they were shot. But I sha'n't do anything of the sort,--at least +not at present. I--" + +"You may have to tell all this to the State if I choose to go to the +authorities with the statement you have just made." + +"I expect, at the proper time, to tell it all to the State. Are you +willing to listen to what I have to say, or are you going to stay on +your high-horse and tell me to go to the devil? You interest yourself +in this affair for the sake of a little pleasurable excitement. I am in +it, not for fun, but because I am employed by a great Power to risk my +life whenever it is necessary. This happens to be one of the times when +it is vitally necessary. This is not child's play or school-boy romance +with me. It is business." + +Barnes was impressed. "Perhaps you will condescend to tell me who you +are, Mr. Sprouse. I am very much in the dark." + +"I am a special agent,--but not a spy, sir,--of a government that is +friendly to yours. I am known in Washington. My credentials are not to +be questioned. At present it would be unwise for me to reveal the name +of my government. I dare say if I can afford to trust you, Mr. Barnes, +you can afford to trust me. There is too much at stake for me to take +the slightest chance with any man. I am ready to chance you, sir, if +you will do the same by me." + +"Well," began Barnes deliberately, "I guess you will have to take a +chance with me, Mr. Sprouse, for I refuse to commit myself until I know +exactly what you are up to." + +Sprouse had a pleasant word or two for Miss Tilly as she placed the +bacon and eggs before him and poured his coffee. + +"Skip along now, Miss Tilly," he said. "I'm going to sell Mr. Barnes a +whole library if I can keep him awake long enough." + +"I can heartily recommend the Dickens and Scott--" began Miss Tilly, +but Sprouse waved her away. + +"In the first place, Mr. Barnes," said he, salting his eggs, "you have +been thinking that I was sent down from Green Fancy to spy on you. +Isn't that so?" + +"I am answering no questions, Mr. Sprouse." + +"You were wrong," said Sprouse, as if Barnes had answered in the +affirmative. "I am working on my own. You may have observed that I did +not accompany the sheriff's posse to-day. I was up in Hornville getting +the final word from New York that you were on the level. You have a +document from the police, I hear, but I hadn't seen it. Time is +precious. I telephoned to New York. Eleven dollars and sixty cents. You +were under suspicion until I hung up the receiver, I may say." + +"Jones has been talking to you," said Barnes. "But you said a moment +ago that you were up at Green Fancy last night. Not by invitation, I +take it." + +"I invited myself," said Sprouse succinctly. "Are you inclined to +favour my proposition?" + +"You haven't made one." + +"By suggestion, Mr. Barnes. It is quite impossible for me to get inside +that house. You appear to have the entree. You are working in the dark, +guessing at everything. I am guessing at nothing. By combining forces +we should bring this thing to a head, and--" + +"Just a moment. You expect me to abuse the hospitality of--" + +"I shall have to speak plainly, I see." He leaned forward, fixing +Barnes with a pair of steady, earnest eyes. "Six months ago a certain +royal house in Europe was despoiled of its jewels, its privy seal, its +most precious state documents and its charter. They have been traced to +the United States. I am here to recover them. That is the foundation of +my story, Mr. Barnes. Shall I go on?" + +"Can you not start at the beginning, Mr. Sprouse? What was it that led +up to this amazing theft?" + +"Without divulging the name of the house, I will say that its +sympathies have been from the outset friendly to the Entente +Allies,--especially with France. There are two branches of the ruling +family, one in power, the other practically in exile. The state is a +small one, but its integrity is of the highest. Its sons and daughters +have married into the royal families of nearly all of the great nations +of the continent. The present--or I should say--the late ruler, for he +died on a field of battle not many months ago, had no direct heir. He +was young and unmarried. I am not permitted to state with what army he +was fighting, nor on which front he was killed. It is only necessary to +say that his little state was gobbled up by the Teutonic Allies. The +branch of the family mentioned as being in exile lent its support to +the cause of Germany, not for moral reasons but in the hope and with +the understanding, I am to believe, that the crown-lands would be the +reward. The direct heir to the crown is a cousin of the late prince. He +is now a prisoner of war in Austria. Other members of the family are +held by the Bulgarians as prisoners of war. It is not stretching the +imagination very far to picture them as already dead and out of the +way. At the close of the war, if Germany is victorious, the crown will +be placed upon the head of the pretender branch. Are you following me?" + +"Yes," said Barnes, his nerves tingling. He was beginning to see a +great light. + +"Almost under the noses of the forces left by the Teutonic Allies to +hold the invaded territory, the crown-jewels, charter and so forth, +heretofore mentioned as they say in legal parlance, were +surreptitiously removed from the palace and spirited away by persons +loyal to the ruling branch of the family. As I have stated, I am +engaged in the effort to recover them." + +"It requires but little intelligence on my part to reach the conclusion +that you are employed by either the German or Austrian government, Mr. +Sprouse. You are working in the interests of the usurping branch of the +family." + +"Wrong again, Mr. Barnes,--but naturally. I am in the service of a +country violently opposed to the German cause. My country's interest in +the case is--well, you might say benevolent. The missing property +belongs to the State from which it was taken. It represents a great +deal in the shape of treasure, to say nothing of its importance along +other lines. To restore the legitimate branch of the family to power +after the war, the Entente Allies must be in possession of the papers +and crown-rights that these misguided enthusiasts made away with. Of +course, it would be possible to do it without considering the demands +of the opposing claimants, arbitrarily kicking them out, but that isn't +the way my government does business. The persons who removed this +treasure from the state vaults believed that they were acting for the +best interests of their superiors. In a sense, they were. The only +fault we have to find with them is that they failed to do the sensible +thing by delivering their booty into the hands of one of the +governments friendly to their cause. Instead of doing so, they +succeeded in crossing the ocean, conscientiously believing that America +was the safest place to keep the treasure pending developments on the +other side. + +"Now we come to the present situation. Some months ago a member of the +aforesaid royal house arrived in this country by way of Japan. He is a +distant cousin of the crown and, in a way, remotely looked upon as the +heir-apparent. Later on he sequestered himself in Canada. Our agents in +Europe learned but recently that while he pretends to be loyal to the +ruling house, he is actually scheming against it. I have been ordered +to run him to earth, for there is every reason to believe that the men +who secured the treasure have been duped into regarding him as an +avowed champion of the crown. We believe that if we find this man we +will, sooner or later, be able to put our hands on the missing +treasure. I have never seen the man, nor a portrait of him. A fairly +adequate description has been sent to me, however. Now, Mr. Barnes, +without telling you how I have arrived at the conclusion, I am prepared +to state that I believe this man to be at Green Fancy, and that in time +the loot,--to use a harsh word,--will be delivered to him there. I am +here to get it, one way or another, when that comes to pass." + +Barnes had not taken his eyes from the face of the little man during +this recital. He was rapidly changing his opinion of Sprouse. There was +sincerity in the voice and eyes of the secret agent. + +"What led you to suspect that he is at Green Fancy, Mr. Sprouse?" + +"History. It is known that this Mr. Curtis has spent a great deal of +time in the country alluded to. As a matter of fact, his son, who lived +in London, had rather extensive business interests there. This son was +killed in the Balkan War several years ago. It is said that the man I +am looking for was a friend of young Curtis, who married a Miss O'Dowd +in London,--the Honourable Miss O'Dowd, daughter of an Irish peer, and +sister of the chap you have met at Green Fancy. The elder Curtis was a +close and intimate friend of more than one member of the royal family. +Indeed, he is known to have been a welcome visitor in the home of a +prominent nobleman, once high in the counsels of State. This man O'Dowd +is also a friend of the man I am looking for. He went through the +Balkan War with him. After that war, O'Dowd drifted to China, hoping no +doubt to take a hand in the revolution. He is that sort. Some months +ago he came to the United States. I forgot to mention that he has long +considered this country his home, although born in Ireland. About six +weeks ago a former equerry in the royal household arrived in New York. +Through him I learned that the daughter of the gentleman in whose house +the senior Mr. Curtis was a frequent guest had been in the United +States since some time prior to the beginning of the war. She was +visiting friends in the States and has been unable to return to her own +land, for reasons that must be obvious. I may as well confess that her +father was, by marriage, an uncle of the late ruler. + +"Since the invasion and overthrow of her country by the Teutonic +Allies, she has been endeavouring to raise money here for the purpose +of equipping and supporting the remnants of the small army that fought +so valiantly in defence of the crown. These men, a few thousand only, +are at present interned in a neutral country. I leave you to guess what +will happen if she succeeds in supplying them with arms and ammunition. +Her work is being carried on with the greatest secrecy. Word of it came +to the ears of her country's minister in Paris, however, and he at once +jumped to a quick but very natural conclusion. She has been looked upon +in court circles as the prospective bride of the adventurous cousin I +am hunting for. The embassy has conceived the notion that she may know +a great deal about the present whereabouts of the missing treasure. No +one accuses her of duplicity, however. On the other hand, the man in +the case is known to have pro-German sympathies. She may be loyal to +the crown, but there is a decided doubt as to his loyalty. Of course, +we have no means of knowing to what extent she has confided her plans +to him. We do not even know that she is aware of his presence in this +country. To bring the story to a close, I was instructed to keep close +watch on the man O'Dowd. The ex-attache of the court to whom I referred +a moment ago set out to find the young lady in question. I traced +O'Dowd to this place. I was on the point of reporting to my superiors +that he was in no way associated with the much-sought-after +crown-cousin, and that Green Fancy was as free from taint as the +village chapel, when out of a clear sky and almost under my very nose +two men were mysteriously done away with at the very gates of the +place. In fact, so positive was I that O'Dowd was all right, that I had +started for Washington to send my report back home and wait for +instructions. The killing of those two men changed the aspect +completely. You will certainly agree with me after I have explained to +you that the one known as Andrew Roon was no other than the equerry who +had undertaken to find the--young woman." + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Barnes. + +"He came up here because he had reason to believe that the--er--girl +was either at Green Fancy or was headed this way. I was back here in +thirty-six hours, selling Dickens. I saw the bodies of the two men at +the county-seat, and recognised both of them, despite the fact that +they had cut off their beards. Now, they could not have been +recognised, Mr. Barnes, except by some one who had known them all his +life. And that is why I am positive that the man I am looking for is up +at Green Fancy." + +Barnes drew a long breath. His mind was made up. He had decided to pool +issues with the secret agent, but not until he was convinced that the +result of their co-operation would in no way inflict a hardship upon +the young woman who had appealed to him for help. He was certain that +she was the fair propagandist described by Sprouse. + +"Is it your intention to lodge him in jail if you succeed in capturing +your man, Mr. Sprouse, and to apply for extradition papers?" he asked. + +"I can't land him in jail unless I can prove that he has the stolen +goods, can I?" + +"You could implicate him in the general conspiracy." + +"That is for others to say, sir. I am only instructed to recover the +treasure." + +"And the young woman, what of her? She would, in any case, be held for +examination and--" + +"My dear sir, I may as well tell you now that she is a loyal subject +and, far from being in bad grace at court, is an object of extreme +solicitude to the ambassador. Up to two months ago she was in touch +with him. From what I can gather, she has disappeared completely. Roon +was sent over here for the sole purpose of finding her and inducing her +to return with him to Paris." + +"And to take the treasure with her, I suppose," said Barnes drily. + +"Naturally." + +"Well," began Barnes, introducing a harsh note into his voice, "I +should say that if she is guilty of receiving this stolen property she +ought to be punished. Jail is the place for her, Mr. Sprouse." + +Sprouse put down his coffee cup rather suddenly. A queer pallor came +into his face. His voice was low and a trifle husky when he made reply. + +"I am sorry to hear you say that, sir." + +"Why, may I ask?" + +"Because it puts an obstacle in the way of our working together in this +matter." + +"You mean that my attitude toward her is--er--not in keeping with your +ideas?" + +"You do not understand the situation. Haven't I made it plain to you +that she is innocent of any intent to do wrong?" + +"You have said so, Mr. Sprouse, but your idea of wrong and mine may not +jibe." + +"There cannot be two ways of looking at it, sir," said Sprouse, after a +moment. "She could do no wrong." + +Whereupon Barnes reached his hand across the table and laid it on +Sprouse's. His eyes were dancing. + +"That's just what I want to be sure about," he said. "It was my way of +finding out your intentions concerning her." + +"What do you mean?" demanded Sprouse, staring. + +"Come with me to my room," said Barnes, suppressing his excitement. "I +think I can tell you where she is,--and a great deal more that you +ought to know." + +In the little room upstairs, he told the whole story to Sprouse. The +little man listened without so much as a single word of interruption or +interrogation. His sharp eyes began to glisten as the story progressed, +but in no other way did he reveal the slightest sign of emotion. +Somewhat breathlessly Barnes came to the end. + +"And now, Mr. Sprouse, what do you make of it all?" he inquired. + +Sprouse leaned back in his chair, suddenly relaxing. "I am completely +at sea," he said, and Barnes looked at him in surprise. + +"By Jove, I thought it would all be as clear as day to you. Here is +your man and also your woman, and the travelling bag full of--" + +"Right you are," interrupted Sprouse. "That is all simple enough. But, +my dear Barnes, can you tell me what Mr. Secretary Loeb's real game is? +Why has he established himself so close to the Canadian line, and why +the mobilisation? I refer to his army of huskies." + +"Heirs-apparent usually have some sort of a bodyguard, don't they?" + +Sprouse was staring thoughtfully at the ceiling. He either did not hear +the remark or considered it unworthy of notice. When he finally lowered +his eyes, it was to favour Barnes with a deep, inscrutable smile. + +"I dare say the first thing for me to do is to advise the Canadian +authorities to keep a sharp lookout along the border." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE FIRST WAYFARER ACCEPTS AN INVITATION, AND MR. DILLINGFORD BELABOURS +A PROXY + + +Barnes insisted that the first thing to be considered was the release +of Miss Cameron. He held forth at some length on the urgency of +immediate action. + +"If we can't think of any other way to get her out of this devilish +predicament, Sprouse, I shall apply to Washington for help." + +"And be laughed at, my friend," said the secret agent. "In the first +place, you couldn't give a substantial reason for government +investigation; in the second place the government wouldn't act until it +had looked very thoroughly into the case; in the third place, it would +be too late by the time the government felt satisfied to act, and in +the fourth place, it is not a matter for the government to meddle in at +all." + +"Well, something has to be done at once," said Barnes doggedly. "I gave +her my promise. She is depending on me. If you could have seen the +light that leaped into her glorious eyes when I--" + +"Yes, I know. I've heard she is quite a pretty girl. You needn't--" + +"Quite a pretty girl!" exclaimed Barnes. "Why, she is the loveliest +thing that God ever created. She has the face of--" + +"I am beginning to understand O'Dowd's interest in her, Mr. Barnes. +Your enthusiasm conveys a great deal to me. Apparently you are not +alone in your ecstasies." + +"You mean that he is--er--What the dickens do you mean?" + +"He has probably fallen in love with her with as little difficulty as +you have experienced, Mr. Barnes, and almost as expeditiously. He has +seen a little more of her than you, but--" + +"Don't talk nonsense. I'm not in love with her." + +"Can you speak with equal authority for Mr. O'Dowd? He is a very +susceptible Irishman, I am told. Sweethearts in a great many +ports,--and still going strong, as we say of the illustrious Johnny +Walker. From all that I have heard of her amazing beauty, I can't blame +him for losing his heart to her. I only hope he loses his head as well." + +"I don't believe he will get much encouragement from her, Mr. Sprouse," +said Barnes stiffly. + +"If she is as clever as I think she is, she will encourage him +tremendously. I would if I were in her place." + +"Umph!" was Barnes's only retort to that. + +"Is it possible that you have never had the pleasure of being +transformed into a perfect ass by the magic of a perfect woman, Mr. +Barnes? You've missed a great deal. It happened to me once, and came +near to upsetting the destinies of two great nations. Mr. O'Dowd is +only human. He isn't immune." + +"I catch the point, Mr. Sprouse," said Barnes, rather gloomily. He did +not like to think of the methods that might have to be employed in the +subjugation of Mr. O'Dowd. "There is a rather important question I'd +like to ask. Is she even remotely eligible to her country's throne?" + +"Remotely, yes," said Sprouse without hesitation. + +Barnes waited, but nothing further was volunteered. + +"So remotely that she could marry a chap like O'Dowd without giving +much thought to future complications?" he ventured. + +"She'd be just as safe in marrying O'Dowd as she would be in marrying +you," was Sprouse's unsatisfactory response. The man's brow was +wrinkled in thought. "See here, Mr. Barnes, I am planning a visit to +Green Fancy to-night. How would you like to accompany me?" + +"I'd like nothing better," said Barnes, with enthusiasm. + +"Ever been shot at?" + +"No." + +"Well, you are likely to experience the novelty if you go with me. +Better think it over." + +"Don't worry about me. I'll go." + +"Will you agree to obey instructions? I can't have you muddling things +up, you know." + +Barnes thought for a moment. "Of course, if the opportunity offers for +me to communicate with Miss Cameron, I don't see how I--" + +Sprouse cut him off sharply. He made it quite plain to the would-be +cavalier that it was not a sentimental enterprise they were to +undertake, and that he would have to govern himself accordingly. + +"The grounds are carefully guarded," said Barnes, after they had +discussed the project for some time. "Miss Cameron is constantly under +the watchful eye of one or more of the crowd." + +"I know. I passed a couple of them last night," said Sprouse calmly. +"By the way, don't you think it would be very polite of you to invite +the Green Fancy party over here to have an old-fashioned country dinner +with you to-night?" + +"Good Lord! What are you talking about? They wouldn't dream of +accepting. Besides, I thought you wanted me to go with you." + +"You could offer them diversion in the shape of a theatrical +entertainment. Your friends, the Thespians, would be only too happy to +disport themselves in return for all your--" + +"It would be useless, Mr. Sprouse. They will not come." + +"I am perfectly aware of that, but it won't do any harm to ask them, +will it?" + +Barnes chuckled. "I see. Establishing myself as an innocent bystander, +eh?" + +"Get O'Dowd on the telephone and ask him if they can come," said +Sprouse. "Incidentally, you might test his love for Miss Cameron while +you are about it." + +"How?" demanded Barnes. + +"By asking him to call her to the telephone. Would you be sure to +recognise her voice?" + +"I'd know it in Babel," said the other with some fervour. + +"Well, if she comes to the 'phone and speaks to you without restraint, +we may be reasonably certain of two things: that O'Dowd is friendly and +that he is able to fix it so that she can talk to you without being +overheard or suspected by the others. It's worth trying, in any event." + +"But there is Jones to consider. The telephone is in his office. What +will he think--" + +"Jones is all right," said Sprouse briefly. "Come along. You can call +up from my room." He grinned slyly. "Such a thing as tapping the wire, +you know." + +Sprouse had installed a telephone in his room, carrying a wire upstairs +from an attachment made in the cellar of the Tavern. He closed the door +to his little room on the top floor. + +"With the landlord's approval," he explained, pointing to the +instrument, "but unknown to the telephone company, you may be sure. +Call him up about half-past ten. O'Dowd may be up at this unholy hour, +but not she. Now, I must be off to discuss literature with Mrs. Jim +Conley. I've been working on her for two weeks. The hardest part of my +job is to keep her from subscribing for a set of Dickens. She has been +on the point of signing the contract at least a half dozen times, and +I've been fearfully hard put to head her off. Conley's house is not far +from Green Fancy. Savvy?" + +Barnes, left to his own devices, wandered from tap-room to porch, from +porch to forge, from forge to tap-room, his brain far more active than +his legs, his heart as heavy as lead and as light as air by turns. More +than once he felt like resorting to a well-known expedient to determine +whether he was awake or dreaming. Could all this be real? + +The sky was overcast. A cold, damp wind blew out of the north. There +was a feel of rain in the air, an ugly greyness in the road that +stretched its sharply defined course through the green fields that +stole timorously up to the barren forest and stopped short, as if +afraid to venture farther. + +The ring of the hammer on the anvil lent cheer to the otherwise harsh +and unlovely mood that had fallen upon Nature over night. It sang a +song of defiance that even the mournful chant of sheep on the distant +slopes failed to subdue. The crowing of a belated and no doubt +mortified rooster, the barking of faraway dogs, the sighing of +journeying winds, the lugubrious whistle of Mr. Clarence +Dillingford,--all of these added something to the dreariness of the +morning. + +Mr. Dillingford was engaged in lustily beating a rug suspended on a +clothes line in the area back of the stables. His tune was punctuated +by stifled lapses followed almost immediately by dull, flat whacks upon +the carpet. From the end of the porch he was visible to the abstracted +Barnes. + +"Hi!" he shouted, brandishing his flail at the New Yorker. "Want a job?" + +Barnes looked at his watch. He still had an hour and a half to wait +before he could call up O'Dowd. He strolled across the lot and joined +the perspiring comedian. + +"You seem to have a personal grudge against that carpet," he said, +moving back a few yards as Dillingford laid on so manfully that the +dust arose in clouds. + +"Every time I land I say: 'Take that, darn you!' And it pleases me to +imagine that with every crack Mr. Putnam Jones lets out a mighty +'Ouch!' Now listen! Didn't that sound a little like an ouch?" Mr. +Dillingford rubbed a spot clean on the handle of the flail and pressed +his lips to it. "Good dog!" he murmured tenderly. "Bite him! (Whack!) +Now, bite him again! (Whack!) Once more! (Whack!) Good dog! Now, go lie +down awhile and rest." He tossed the flail to the ground and, mopping +his brow, turned to Barnes. "If you want a real treat, go into the +cellar and take a look at Bacon. He is churning for butter. Got a +gingham apron on and thinks he's disguised. He can't cuss because old +Miss Tilly is reading the first act of a play she wrote for Julia +Marlowe seven or eight years ago. Oh, it's a great life!" + +Barnes sat down on the edge of a watering-trough and began filling his +pipe. + +"You are not obliged to do this sort of work, Dillingford," he said. +"It would give me pleasure to stake--" + +"Nix," said Mr. Dillingford cheerily. "Some other time I may need help +more than I do now. I'm getting three square meals and plenty of fresh +air to sleep in at present, and work doesn't hurt me physically. It +DOES hurt my pride, but that's soon mended. Have you seen the old man +this morning?" + +"Rushcroft? No." + +"Well, we're to be on our way next week, completely reorganised, +rejuvenated and resplendent. Fixed it all up last night. Tommy Gray was +down here with two weeks' salary as chauffeur and a little extra he +picked up playing poker in the garage with the rubes. Thirty-seven +dollars in real money. He has decided to buy a quarter interest in the +company and act as manager. Everything looks rosy. You are to have a +half interest and the old man the remaining quarter. He telegraphed +last night for four top-notch people to join us at Crowndale on Tuesday +the twenty-third. We open that night in 'The Duke's Revenge,' our best +piece. It's the only play we've got that provides me with a part in +which I have a chance to show what I can really do. As soon as I get +through spanking this carpet I'll run upstairs and get a lot of +clippings to show you how big a hit I've made in the part. In one town +I got better notices than the star himself, and seldom did I--" + +"Where is Crowndale?" interrupted Barnes, a slight frown appearing on +his brow. He had a distinct feeling that there was handwriting on the +wall and that it was put there purposely for him to read. + +"About five hours' walk from Hornville," said Dillingford, grinning. +"Twenty-five cents by train. We merely resume a tour interrupted by the +serious illness of Mr. Rushcroft. Rather than impose upon our audiences +by inflicting them with an understudy, the popular star temporarily +abandons his tour. We ought to sell out in Crowndale, top to bottom." + +The amazing optimism of Mr. Dillingford had its effect on Barnes. +Somehow the day grew brighter, the skies less drear, a subtle warmth +crept into the air. + +"You may count on me, Dillingford, to put up my half interest in the +show. I will have a fling at it a couple of weeks anyhow. If it doesn't +pan out in that time,--well, we can always close, can't we?" + +"We certainly can," said the other, with conviction. "It wouldn't +surprise me in the least, however, to see you clean up a very tidy bit +of money, Mr. Barnes. Our season ordinarily closes toward the end of +June, but the chances are we'll stay out all summer if things go right. +Congratulations! Glad to see you in the profession." He shook hands +with the new partner. "Keep your seat! Don't move. I'll shift a little +so's the wind won't blow the dust in your eyes." He obligingly did so +and fell upon the carpet with renewed vigour. + +Barnes was restless. He chatted with the rug-beater for a few minutes +and then sauntered away. Miss Thackeray was starting off for a walk as +he came around to the front of the Tavern. She wore a rather shabby +tailor-suit of blue serge, several seasons out of fashion, and a black +sailor hat. Her smile was bright and friendly as she turned in response +to his call. As he drew near he discovered that her lips were a vivid, +startling red, her eyes elaborately made up, and her cheeks the colour +of bismuth. She was returning to form, thought he, in some dismay. + +"Where away?" he inquired. + +"Seeking solitude," she replied. "I've got to learn a new part in an +old play." She flourished the script airily. "I have just accepted an +engagement as leading lady." + +"Splendid! I am delighted. With John Drew, I hope." + +"Nothing like that," she said loftily. Then her wide mouth spread into +a good-natured grin, revealing the even rows of teeth that were her +particular charm. "I am going out with the great Lyndon Rushcroft." + +"Good! As one of the proprietors, I am glad to see you on +our--er--programme, Miss Thackeray." + +"Programme is good," she mused. "I've been on a whole lot of programmes +during my brief career. What I want to get on some time, if possible, +is a pay-roll. Wait! Don't say it! I was only trying to be funny; I +didn't know how it would sound or I wouldn't have said anything so +stupid. You've done more than enough for us, Mr. Barnes. Don't let +yourself in for anything more. This thing will turn out like all the +rest of our efforts. We'll collapse again with a loud report, but we're +used to it and you're not." + +"But I'm only letting myself in for a couple of hundred," he protested. +"I can stand that much of a loss without squirming." + +"You know your own business," she said shortly, almost ungraciously. +"I'm only giving you a little advice." + +"Advice is something I always ignore," he said, smiling. "Experience is +my teacher." + +"Advice is cheaper than experience, and a whole lot easier to forget," +she said. "My grandfather advised my father to stay in the hardware +business out in Indiana. That was thirty years ago. And here we are +to-day," she concluded, with a wide sweep of her hand that took in the +forlorn landscape. She said more in that expressive gesture than the +most accomplished orator could have put into words in a week. + +"But there is always a to-morrow, you know." + +"There may be a to-morrow for me, but there are nothing but yesterdays +left for dad. All of his to-morrows will be just like his yesterdays. +They will be just as empty of success, just as full of failure. There's +no use mincing matters. We never have had a chance to go broke for the +simple reason that we've never been anything else. He has been starring +for fifteen years, hitting the tanks from one end of the country to the +other. And for just that length of time he has been mooning. There's a +lot of difference between starring and mooning." + +"He may go down somewhat regularly, Miss Thackeray, but he always comes +up again. That's what I admire in him. He will not stay down." + +Her eyes brightened. "He is rather a brick, isn't he?" + +"Rather! And so are you, if I may say so. You have stuck to him through +all--" + +"Nothing bricky about me," she scoffed. "I am doing it because I can't, +for the life of me, get rid of the notion that I can act. God knows I +can't, and so does father, and the critics, and every one in the +profession, but I think I can,--so what does it all amount to? Now, +that will be enough about me. As for you, Mr. Barnes, if you have made +up your mind to be foolish, far be it from me to head you off. You will +drop considerably more than a couple of hundred, let me tell you, +and--but, as I said before, that is your business. I must be off now. +It's a long part and I'm slow study. So long,--and thanks!" + +He sat down on the Tavern steps and watched her as she swung off down +the road. To his utter amazement, when she reached a point several +hundred yards below the Tavern, she left the highway and, gathering up +her skirts, climbed over the fence into the narrow meadow-land that +formed a frontage at the bottom of the Curtis estate. A few minutes +later she disappeared among the trees at the base of the mountain, +going in the direction of Green Fancy. He had followed her with his +gaze all the way across that narrow strip of pasture. When she came to +the edge of the forest, she stopped and looked back at the Tavern. +Seeing him still on the steps, she waved her hand at him. Then she was +gone. + +"Where ignorance is bliss," he muttered to himself, and then looked at +his watch. Ten minutes later he was in Sprouse's room, calling for +Green Fancy over an extension wire that had cost the company nothing +and yielded nothing in return. After some delay, O'Dowd's mellow voice +sang out: + +"Hello! How are you this morning?" + +"Grievously lonesome," replied Barnes, and wound up a doleful account +of himself by imploring O'Dowd to save his life by bringing the entire +Green Fancy party over to dinner that night. + +O'Dowd was heart-broken. Personally he would go to any extreme to save +so valuable a life, but as for the rest of the party, they begged him +to say they were sorry to hear of the expected death of so promising a +chap and that, while they couldn't come to his party, they would be +delighted to come to his funeral. In short, it would be impossible for +them to accept his kind invitation. The Irishman was so gay and +good-humoured that Barnes took hope. + +"By the way, O'Dowd, I'd like to speak with Miss Cameron if she can +come to the telephone." + +There was a moment of silence. Then: "Call up at twelve o'clock and ask +for me. Good-bye." + +Promptly on the stroke of twelve Barnes took down the receiver and +called for Green Fancy. O'Dowd answered almost immediately. + +"I warned you last night, Barnes," he said without preamble. "I told +you to keep out of this. You may not understand the situation and I +cannot enlighten you, but I will say this much: no harm can come to her +while I'm here and alive." + +"Can't she come to the telephone?" + +"Won't ye take my word for it? I swear by all that's holy that she'll +be safe while I've--" + +Barnes was cautious. This might be the clever O'Dowd's way of trapping +him into serious admissions. + +"I don't know what the deuce you are talking about, O'Dowd," he +interrupted. + +"You lie, Barnes," said the other promptly. "Miss Cameron is here at my +elbow. Will you have her tell you that you lie?" + +"Let her say anything she likes," said Barnes quickly. + +"Don't be surprised if you are cut off suddenly. The coast is clear for +the moment, but--Here, Miss Cameron. Careful, now." + +Her voice, soft and clear and trembling with eagerness caressed +Barnes's eager ear. + +"Mr. O'Dowd will see that no evil befalls me here, but he refuses to +help me to get away. I quite understand and appreciate his position. I +cannot ask him to go so far as that. Help will have to come from the +outside. It will be dangerous--terribly dangerous, I fear. I have no +right to ask you to take the risk--" + +"Wait! Is O'Dowd there?" + +"He has left the room. He does not want to hear what I say to you. +Don't you understand?" + +"Keeping his conscience clear, bless his soul," said Barnes. "It is +safe for you to speak freely?" + +"I think so. O'Dowd suspected us last night. He came to me this morning +and spoke very frankly about it. I feel quite safe with him. You see, +I've known him for a long, long time. He did not know that I was to be +led into a trap like this. It was not until I had been here for several +hours that he realised the true state of affairs. I cannot tell you any +more at present, Mr. Barnes. So great are the other issues at stake +that my own misfortunes are as nothing." + +"You say O'Dowd will not assist you to escape?" + +"He urges me to stay here and take my chances. He believes that +everything will turn out well for me in the end, but I am frightened. I +must get away from this place." + +"I'll manage it, never fear. Keep a stiff upper lip." + +"Wha--keep a what?" + +He laughed. "I forgot that you don't understand our language, Miss +Cameron. Have courage, is what I should have said. Are you prepared to +fly at a moment's notice?" + +"Yes." + +"Then, keep your eyes and ears open for the next night or two. Can you +tell me where your room is located?" + +"It is one flight up; the first of the two windows in my room is the +third to the right of the entrance. I am confident that some one is +stationed below my windows all night long." + +"Are you alone in that room?" + +"Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Van Dyke occupy the rooms on my left, Mr. De Soto is +on my right." + +"Where does Loeb sleep?" + +"I do not know." He detected a new note in her voice, and at once put +it down to fear. + +"You still insist that I am not to call on the authorities for help?" + +"Yes, yes! That must not even be considered. I have not only myself to +consider, Mr. Barnes. I am a very small atom in--" + +"All right! We'll get along without them," he said cheerily. +"Afterwards we will discuss the importance of atoms." + +"And your reward as well, Mr. Barnes," she said. Her voice trailed off +into an indistinct murmur. He heard the receiver click on the hook, +and, after calling "hello" twice, hung up his own with a sigh. +Evidently O'Dowd had warned her of the approach of a less considerate +person than himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE SECOND WAYFARER RECEIVES TWO VISITORS AT MIDNIGHT + + +The hour for the midday dinner approached and there was no sign of Miss +Thackeray's return from the woods. Barnes sat for two exasperating +hours on the porch and listened to the confident, flamboyant oratory of +Mr. Lyndon Rushcroft. His gaze constantly swept the line of trees, and +there were times when he failed to hear a word in whole sentences that +rolled from the lips of the actor. He was beginning to feel acutely +uneasy, when suddenly her figure issued from the woods at a point just +above the Tavern. Instead of striking out at once across the meadow, +she stopped and for as long as three or four minutes appeared to be +carrying on a conversation with some invisible person among the trees +she had just left behind. Then she waved her hand and turned her steps +homeward. A bent old man came out of the woods and stood watching her +progress across the open stretch. She had less than two hundred yards +to traverse between the woods and the fence opposite the Tavern. The +old man remained where he was until she reached the fence and prepared +to mount it. Then, as Barnes ran down from the porch and across the +road to assist her over the fence, he whirled about and disappeared. + +"Aha," said Barnes chidingly: "politely escorted from the grounds, I +see. If you had asked me I could have told you that trespassers are not +welcome." + +"He is a nice old man. I chatted with him for nearly an hour. His +business is to shoo gipsy moths away from the trees, or something like +that, and not to shoo nice, tender young ladies off the place." + +"Does he speak English?" + +"Not a word. He speaks nothing but the most awful American I've ever +heard. He has lived up there on the mountain for sixty-nine years, and +he has eleven grown children, nineteen grandchildren and one wife. I'm +hungry." + +The coroner's inquest over the bodies of Roon and Paul was held that +afternoon at St. Elizabeth. Witnesses from Hart's Tavern were among +those to testify. The verdict was "Murder at the hands of parties +unknown." + +Sprouse did not appear at the Tavern until long after nightfall. His +protracted absence was the source of grave uneasiness to Barnes, who, +having been summoned to St. Elizabeth, returned at six o'clock primed +and eager for the night's adventure. + +The secret agent listened somewhat indifferently to the latter's +account of his telephonic experiences. At nine o'clock he yawned +prodigiously and announced that he was going to bed, much to the +disgust of Mr. Rushcroft and greatly to the surprise of Mr. Barnes, who +followed him from the tap-room and demanded an explanation. + +"People usually go to bed at night, don't they?" said Sprouse +patiently. "It is expected, I believe." + +"But, my dear man, we are to undertake--" + +"There is no reason why we shouldn't go to bed like sensible beings, +Mr. Barnes, and get up again when we feel like it, is there? I have +some cause for believing that one of those chaps in there is from Green +Fancy. Go to bed at ten o'clock, my friend, and put out your light. I +don't insist on your taking off your clothes, however. I will rap on +your door at eleven o'clock. By the way, don't forget to stick your +revolver in your pocket." + +A few minutes before eleven there came a gentle tapping on Barnes's +door. He sprang to his feet and opened it, presenting himself before +Sprouse fully dressed and, as the secret agent said later on, "fit to +kill." + +They went quietly down a back stairway and let themselves out into the +stable-yard. A light, cold drizzle greeted them as they left the lee of +the building. + +"A fine night for treason, stratagems and spoils," said Sprouse, +speaking barely above a whisper. "Follow me and don't ask questions. +You will have to talk if you do, and talking is barred for the present." + +He stopped at the corner of the inn and listened for a moment. Then he +darted across the road and turned to the left in the ditch that +bordered it. The night was as black as pitch. Barnes, trusting to the +little man's eyes, and hanging close upon his coat-tails, followed +blindly but gallantly in the tracks of the leader. It seemed to him +that they stumbled along parallel to the road for miles before Sprouse +came to a halt. + +"Climb over the fence here, and stick close to me. Are you getting your +cats'-eyes?" + +"Yes, I can see pretty well now. But, great scot, why should we walk +half way to the North Pole, Sprouse, before--" + +"We haven't come more than half a mile. The Curtis land ends here. We +stay close to this fence till we reach the woods. I was in here to-day +taking observations." + +"You were?" + +"Yes. Didn't that actress friend of yours mention meeting me?" + +"No." + +"I told her distinctly that I had eleven children, nineteen--" + +"By Jove, was that you?" gasped Barnes, falling in beside him. + +"If it were light enough you could see a sign on my back which says in +large type, 'Silence,'" said the other, and after that not a word +passed between them for half an hour or more. Then it was Sprouse who +spoke. "This is the short cut to Green Fancy," he whispered, laying his +hand on Barnes's arm. "We save four or five miles, coming this way. Do +you know where we are?" + +"I haven't the remotest idea." + +"About a quarter of a mile below Curtis's house. Are you all right?" + +"Fine as a fiddle, except for a barked knee, a skinned elbow, a couple +of more or less busted ribs, something on my cheek that runs hot,--yes, +I'm all right." + +"Pretty tough going," said Sprouse, sympathetically. + +"I've banged into more trees than--" + +"Sh!" After a moment of silence, intensified by the mournful squawk of +night-birds and the chorus of katydids, Sprouse whispered: "Did you +hear that?" + +Barnes thrilled. This was real melodrama. "Hear what?" he whispered +shrilly. + +"Listen!" After a second or two: "There!" + +"It's a woodpecker hammering on the limb of a--" + +"Woodpeckers don't hammer at midnight, my lad. Don't stir! Keep your +ears open." + +"You bet they're open all right," whispered Barnes, his nerves aquiver. + +Suddenly the sharp tattoo sounded so close to the spot where they were +standing that Barnes caught his breath and with difficulty suppressed +an exclamation. It was like the irregular rattle of sticks on the rim +of a snare-drum. The tapping ceased and a moment later a similar sound, +barely audible, came out of the distance. + +Sprouse clutched his companion's arm and, dropping to his knees in the +thick underbrush, pulled the other down after him. + +Presently heavy footsteps approached. An unseen pedestrian passed +within ten yards of them. They scarcely breathed until the sounds +passed entirely out of hearing. Sprouse put his lips close to Barnes's +ear. + +"Telegraph," he whispered. "It's a system they have of reporting to +each other. There are two men patrolling the grounds near the house. +You see what we're up against, Barnes. Do you still want to go on with +it? If you are going to funk it, say so, and I'll go alone." + +"I'll stay by you," replied Barnes sturdily. + +"In about ten minutes that fellow will come back this way. He follows +the little path that winds down--but never mind. Stay where you are, +and don't make a sound, no matter what happens. Understand? No matter +what happens!" He arose and swiftly, noiselessly, stole away from his +companion's side. Barnes, his eyes accustomed to the night, either saw +or imagined that he saw, the shadowy hulk press forward for a dozen +paces and then apparently dissolve in black air. + +Several minutes went by. There was not a sound save the restless patter +of rain in the tree tops. At last the faraway thud of footsteps came to +the ears of the tense listener. They drew nearer, louder, and once more +seemed to be approaching the very spot where he crouched. He had the +uncanny feeling that in a moment or two more the foot of the sentinel +would come in contact with his rigid body, and that he would not have +the power to suppress the yell of dismay that-- + +Then came the sound of a dull, heavy blow, a hoarse gasp, a momentary +commotion in the shrubbery, and--again silence. Barnes's blood ran +cold. He waited for the next footfall of the passing man. It never came. + +A sharp whisper reached his ears. "Come here--quick!" + +He floundered through the brush and almost fell prostrate over the +kneeling figure of a man. + +"Take care! Lend a hand," whispered Sprouse. + +Dropping to his knees, Barnes felt for and touched wet, coarse +garments, and gasped: + +"My God! Have you--killed him?" + +"Temporarily," said Sprouse, between his teeth. "Here, unwind the rope +I've got around my waist. Take the end--here. Got a knife? Cut off a +section about three feet long. I'll get the gag in his mouth while +you're doing it. Hangmen always carry their own ropes," he concluded, +with grewsome humour. "Got it cut? Well, cut two more sections, same +length." + +With incredible swiftness the two of them bound the feet, knees and +arms of the inert victim. + +"I came prepared," said Sprouse, so calmly that Barnes marvelled at the +iron nerve of the man. + +"Thirty feet of hemp clothes-line for a belt, properly prepared +gags,--and a sound silencer." + +"By heaven, Sprouse, I--I believe he's dead," groaned Barnes. "We--we +haven't any right to kill a--" + +"He'll be as much alive but not as lively as a cricket in ten minutes," +said the other. "Grab his heels. We'll chuck him over into the bushes +where he'll be out of harm's way. We may have to run like hell down +this path, partner, and I'd--I'd hate to step on his face." + +"'Gad, you're a cold-blooded--" + +"Don't be finicky," snapped Sprouse. "It wasn't much of a crack, and it +was necessary. There! You're safe for the time being," he grunted as +they laid the limp body down in the brush at the side of the narrow +trail. Straightening up, with a sigh of satisfaction, he laid his hand +on Barnes's shoulder. "We've just got to go through with it now, +Barnes. We'll never get another chance. Putting that fellow out of +business queers us forever afterward." He dropped to his knees and +began searching over the ground with his hands. "Here it is. You can't +see it, of course, so I'll tell you what it is. A nice little block of +sandal-wood. I've already got his nice little hammer, so we'll see what +we can raise in the way of wireless chit-chat." + +Without the slightest hesitation, he struck a succession of quick, +confident blows upon the block of wood. + +"He always signals at this spot going out and again coming in," he said +softly. + +"How the deuce did you find out--" + +"There! Hear that? He says, 'All's well,'--same as I said, or something +equivalent to it. I've been up here quite a bit, Barnes, making a study +of night-hawks, their habits and their language." + +"By gad, you are a wonder!" + +"Wait till to-morrow before you say that," replied Sprouse, +sententiously. "Come along now. Stick to the trail. We've got to land +the other one." For five or six minutes they moved forward. Barnes, +following instructions, trod heavily and without any attempt at +caution. His companion, on the other hand, moved with incredible +stealthiness. A listener would have said that but one man walked on +that lonely trail. + +Turning sharply to the right, Sprouse guided his companion through the +brush for some distance, and once more came to a halt. Again he stole +on ahead, and, as before, the slow, confident, even careless progress +of a man ceased as abruptly as that of the comrade who lay helpless in +the thicket below. + +"There are others, no doubt, but they patrol the outposts, so to +speak," panted Sprouse as they bound and trussed the second victim. "We +haven't much to fear from them. Come on. We are within a hundred feet +of the house. Softly now, or--" + +Barnes laid a firm, detaining hand on the man's shoulder. + +"See here, Sprouse," he whispered, "it's all very well for you, +knocking men over like this, but just what is your object? What does +all this lead up to? We can't go on forever slugging and binding these +fellows. There is a house full of them up there. What do we gain by +putting a few men out of business?" + +Sprouse broke in, and there was not the slightest trace of emotion in +his whisper. + +"Quite right. You ought to know. I suppose you thought I was bringing +you up here for a Romeo and Juliet tete-a-tete with the beautiful Miss +Cameron,--and for nothing else. Well, in a way, you are right. But, +first of all, my business is to recover the crown jewels and +parchments. I am going into that house and take them away from the man +you know as Loeb,--if he has them. If he hasn't them, my work here is a +failure." + +"Going into the house?" gasped Barnes. "Why, my God, man, that is +impossible. You cannot get into the house, and if you did, you'd never +come out alive. You would be shot down as an ordinary burglar and--the +law would justify them for killing you. I must insist--" + +"I am not asking you to go into the house, my friend. I shall go +alone," said Sprouse coolly. + +"On the other hand, I came up here to rescue a helpless,--" + +"Oh, we will attend to that also," said Sprouse. "The treasure comes +first, however. Has it not occurred to you that she will refuse to be +rescued unless the jewels can be brought away with her? She would die +before she would leave them behind. No, Barnes, I must get the booty +first, then the beauty." + +"But you can do nothing without her advice and assistance," protested +Barnes. + +"That is just why I brought you along with me. She does not know me. +She would not trust me. You are to introduce me." + +"Well, by gad, you've got a nerve!" + +"Keep cool! It's the only way. Now, listen. She has designated her room +and the windows that are hers. She is lying awake up there now, take it +from me, hoping that you will come to-night. Do you understand? If not +to-night, to-morrow night. I shall lead you directly to her window. And +then comes the only chance we take,--the only instance where we gamble. +There will not be a light in her window, but that won't make any +difference. This nobby cane I'm carrying is in reality a collapsible +fishing-rod. Bought it to-day in anticipation of some good fishing. +First, we use it to tap gently on her window ledge, or shade, or +whatever we find. Then, you pass up a little note to her. Here is paper +and pencil. Say that you are below her window and--all ready to take +her away. Say that the guards have been disposed of, and that the coast +is clear. Tell her to lower her valuables, some clothes, et cetera, +from the window by means of the rope we'll pass up on the pole. There +is a remote possibility that she may have the jewels in her room. For +certain reasons they may have permitted her to retain them. If such is +the case, our work is easy. If they have taken them away from her, +she'll say so, some way or another,--and she will not leave! Now, I've +had a good look at the front of that house. It is covered with a +lattice work and huge vines. I can shin up like a squirrel and go +through her room to the--" + +"Are you crazy, Sprouse?" + +"I am the sanest person you've ever met, Mr. Barnes. The chance we take +is that she may not be alone in the room. But, nothing risked, nothing +gained." + +"You take your life in your hands and--" + +"Don't worry about that, my lad." + +"--and you also place Miss Cameron in even graver peril than--" + +"See here," said Sprouse shortly, "I am not risking my life for the fun +of the thing. I am risking it for her, bear that in mind,--for her and +her people. And if I am killed, they won't even say 'Well-done, good +and faithful servant.' So, let's not argue the point. Are you going to +stand by me or--back out?" + +Barnes was shamed. "I'll stand by you," he said, and they stole forward. + +The utmost caution was observed in the approach to the house through +the thin, winding paths that Barnes remembered from an earlier visit. +They crept on all fours over the last fifty feet that intervened, and +each held a revolver in readiness for a surprise attack. + +There were no lights visible. The house was even darker than the night +itself; it was vaguely outlined by a deeper shade of black. The ground +being wet, the carpet of dead leaves gave out no rustling sound as the +two men crept nearer and nearer to the top-heavy shadow that seemed +ready to lurch forward and swallow them whole. + +At last they were within a few yards of the entrance and at the edge of +a small space that had been cleared of shrubbery. Here Sprouse stopped +and began to adjust the sections of his fishing-rod. + +"Write," he whispered. "There is a faint glow of light up there to the +right. The third window, did you say? Well, that's about where I should +locate it. She has opened the window shutters. The light comes into the +room through the transom over the door, I would say. There is probably +a light in the hall outside." + +A few minutes later, they crept across the open space and huddled +against the vine-covered facade of Green Fancy. Barnes was singularly +composed and free from nervousness, despite the fact that his whole +being tingled with excitement. What was to transpire within the next +few minutes? What was to be the end of this daring exploit? Was he to +see her, to touch her hand, to carry her off into that dungeon-like +forest,--and what was this new, exquisite thrill that ran through his +veins? + +The tiny, metallic tip of the rod, held in the upstretched hand of +Barnes, much the taller of the two men, barely reached the window +ledge. He tapped gently, persistently on the hard surface. Obeying the +hand-pressure of his companion he desisted at intervals, resuming the +operation after a moment of waiting. Just as they were beginning to +think that she was asleep and that their efforts were in vain, their +straining eyes made out a shadowy object projecting slightly beyond the +sill. Barnes felt Sprouse's grip on his shoulder tighten, and the quick +intake of his breath was evidence of the little secret agent's relief. + +After a moment or two of suspense, Barnes experienced a peculiar, +almost electric shock. Some one had seized the tip of the rod; it +stiffened suddenly, the vibrations due to its flexibility ceasing. He +felt a gentle tugging and wrenching; down the slender rod ran a +delicate shiver that seemed almost magnetic as it was communicated to +his hand. He knew what was happening. Some one was untying the bit of +paper he had fastened to the rod, and with fingers that shook and were +clumsy with eagerness. + +The tension relaxed a moment later; the rod was free, and the shadowy +object was gone from the window above. She had withdrawn to the far +side of the room for the purpose of reading the message so marvellously +delivered out of the night. He fancied her mounting a chair so that she +could read by the dim light from the transom. + +He had written: "I am outside with a trusted friend, ready to do your +bidding. Two of the guards are safely bound and out of the way. Now is +our chance. We will never have another. If you are prepared to come +with me now, write me a word or two and drop it to the ground. I will +pass up a rope to you and you may lower anything you wish to carry away +with you. But be exceedingly careful. Take time. Don't hurry a single +one of your movements." He signed it with a large B. + +It seemed an hour before their eyes distinguished the shadowy head +above. As a matter of fact, but a few minutes had passed. During the +wait, Sprouse had noiselessly removed his coat, a proceeding that +puzzled Barnes. Something light fell to the ground. It was Sprouse who +stooped and searched for it in the grass. When he resumed an upright +posture, he put his lips close to Barnes's ear and whispered: + +"I will put my coat over your head. Here is a little electric torch. +Don't flash it until I am sure the coat is arranged so that you can do +so without a gleam of light getting out from under." He pressed the +torch and a bit of closely folded paper in the other's hand, and +carefully draped the coat over his head. Barnes was once more filled +with admiration for the little man's amazing resourcefulness. + +He read: "Thank God! I was afraid you would wait until to-morrow night. +Then it would have been too late. I must get away to-night but I cannot +leave--I dare not leave without something that is concealed in another +part of the house. I do not know how to secure it. My door is locked +from the outside. What am I to do? I would rather die than to go away +without it." + +Barnes whispered in Sprouse's ear. The latter replied at once: "Write +her that I will climb up to her window, and, with God's help and her +directions, manage to find the thing she wants." + +Barnes wrote as directed and passed the missive aloft. In a little +while a reply came down. Resorting to the previous expedient, he read: + +"It is impossible. The study is under bolt and key and no one can +enter. I do not know what I am to do. I dare not stay here and I dare +not go. Leave me to my fate. Do not run any further risk. I cannot +allow you to endanger your life for me. I shall never forget you, and I +shall always be grateful. You are a noble gentleman and I a foolish, +stupid--oh, such a stupid!--girl." + +That was enough for Barnes. It needed but that discouraging cry to +rouse his fighting spirit to a pitch that bordered on recklessness. His +courage took fire, and blazed up in one mighty flame. Nothing,--nothing +could stop him now. + +Hastily he wrote: "If you do not come at once, we will force our way +into the house and fight it out with them all. My friend is coming up +the vines. Let him enter the window. Tell him where to go and he will +do the rest. He is a miracle man. Nothing is impossible to him. If he +does not return in ten minutes, I shall follow." + +There was no response to this. The head reappeared in the window, but +no word came down. + +Sprouse whispered: "I am going up. She will not commit you to anything. +We have to take the matter into our own hands. Stay here. If you hear a +commotion in the house, run for it. Don't wait for me. I'll probably be +done for." + +"I'll do just as I damn please about running," said Barnes, and there +was a deep thrill in his whisper. "Good luck. God help you if they +catch you." + +"Not even He could help me then. Good-bye. I'll do what I can to induce +her to drop out of the window if anything goes wrong with me down +stairs." + +He searched among the leaves and found the thick vine. A moment later +he was silently scaling the wall of the house, feeling his way +carefully, testing every precarious foothold, dragging himself +painfully upwards by means of the most uncanny, animal-like strength +and stealth. + +Barnes could not recall drawing a single breath from the instant the +man left his side until the faintly luminous square above his head was +obliterated by the black of his body as it wriggled over the ledge. + +He was never to forget the almost interminable age that he spent, +flattened against the vines, waiting for a signal from aloft. He +recalled, with dire uneasiness, Miss Cameron's statement that a guard +was stationed beneath her window throughout the night. Evidently she +was mistaken. Sprouse would not have overlooked a peril like that, and +yet as he crouched there, scarcely breathing, he wondered how long it +would be before the missing guard returned to his post and he would be +compelled to fight for his life. The fine, cold rain fell gently about +him; moist tendrils and leaves caressed his face; owls hooted with +ghastly vehemence, as if determined to awaken all the sleepers for +miles around; and frogs chattered loudly in gleeful anticipation of the +frenzied dash he would have to make through the black maze. + +We will follow Sprouse. When he crawled through the window and stood +erect inside the room, he found himself confronted by a tall, shadowy +figure, standing half way between him and the door. + +He advanced a step or two and uttered a soft hiss of warning. + +"Not a sound," he whispered, drawing still nearer. "I have come four +thousand miles to help you, Countess. This is not the time or place to +explain. We haven't a moment to waste. I need only say that I have been +sent from Paris by persons you know to aid you in delivering the crown +jewels into the custody of your country's minister in Paris. Nothing +more need be said now. We must act swiftly. Tell me where they are. I +will get them." + +"Who are you?" she whispered tensely. + +"My name is Theodore Sprouse. I have been loaned to your embassy by my +own government." + +"How did you learn that I was here?" + +"I beg of you do not ask questions now. Tell me where the Prince +sleeps, how I may get to his room--" + +"You know that he is the Prince?" + +"For a certainty. And that you are his cousin." + +She laid her hand upon his arm. "And you know that he plans evil to--to +his people? That he is in sympathy with the--with the country that has +despoiled us?" + +"Yes." + +She was silent for a moment. "Not only is it impossible for you to +enter his room but it is equally impossible for you to get out of this +one except by the way you entered. If I thought there was the slightest +chance for you to--" + +"Let me be the judge of that, Countess. Where is his room?" + +"The last to the right as you leave this door,--at the extreme end of +the corridor. There are four doors between mine and his. Across the +hall from his room you will see an open door. A man sits in there all +night long, keeping watch. You could not approach Prince Ugo's door +without being seen by that watcher." + +"You said in your note to Barnes that the--er--something was in +Curtis's study." + +"The Prince sleeps in Mr. Curtis's room. The study adjoins it, and can +only be entered from the bed-room. There is no other door. What are you +doing?" + +"I am going to take a peep over the transom, first of all. If the coast +is clear, I shall take a little stroll down the hall. Do not be +alarmed. I will come back,--with the things we both want. Pardon me." +He sat down on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes. She watched +him as if fascinated while he opened the bosom of his soft shirt and +stuffed the wet shoes inside. + +"How did you dispose of the man who watches below my window?" she +inquired, drawing near. "He has been there for the past three nights. I +missed him to-night." + +"Wasn't he there earlier in the evening?" demanded Sprouse quickly. + +"I have been in my room since eleven. He seldom comes on duty before +that hour." + +"I had it figured out that he was one of the men we got down in the +woods. If I have miscalculated--well, poor Barnes may be in for a bad +time. We are quite safe up here for the time being. The fellow will +assume that Barnes is alone and that he comes to pay his respects to +you in a rather romantic manner." + +"You must warn Mr. Barnes. He--" + +"May I not leave that to you, Countess? I shall be very busy for the +next few minutes, and if you will--Be careful! A slip now would be +fatal. Don't be hasty." His whispering was sharp and imperative. It was +a command that he uttered, and she shrank back in surprise. + +"Pray do not presume to address me in--" + +"I crave your pardon, my lady," he murmured abjectly. "You are not +dressed for flight. May I suggest that while I am outside you slip on a +dark skirt and coat? You cannot go far in that dressing-gown. It would +be in shreds before you had gone a hundred feet through the brush. If I +do not return to this room inside of fifteen minutes, or if you hear +sounds of a struggle, crawl through the window and go down the vines. +Barnes will look out for you." + +"You must not fail, Theodore Sprouse," she whispered. "I must regain +the jewels and the state papers. I cannot go without--" + +"I shall do my best," he said simply. Silently he drew a chair to the +door, mounted it and, drawing himself up by his hands, poked his head +through the open transom. An instant later he was on the floor again. +She heard him inserting a key in the lock. Almost before she could +realise that it had actually happened, the door opened slowly, +cautiously, and his thin wiry figure slid through what seemed to her no +more than a crack. As softly the door was closed. + +For a long time she stood, dazed and unbelieving, in the centre of the +room, staring at the door. She held her breath, listening for the shout +that was so sure to come--and the shot, perhaps! A prayer formed on her +lips and went voicelessly up to God. + +Suddenly she roused herself from the stupefaction that held her, and +threw off the slinky peignoir. With feverish haste she snatched up +garments from the chair on which she had carefully placed them in +anticipation of the emergency that now presented itself. A blouse +(which she neglected to button), a short skirt of some dark material, a +jacket, and a pair of stout walking shoes (which she failed to lace), +completed the swift transformation. She felt the pockets of skirt and +jacket, assuring herself that her purse and her own personal jewelry +were where she had forehandedly placed them. As she glided to the +window, she jammed the pins into a small black hat of felt. Then she +peered over the ledge. She started back, stifling a cry with her hand. +A man's head had almost come in contact with her own as she leaned out. +A man's hand reached over and grasped the inner ledge of the casement, +and then a man's face was dimly revealed to her startled gaze. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A FLIGHT, A STONE-CUTTER'S SHED, AND A VOICE OUTSIDE + + +He saw her standing in the middle of the room, her clenched hands +pressed to her lips. At the angle from which he peered into the room, +her head was in line with the lighted transom. + +His grip on the ledge was firm but his foothold on the lattice +precarious. He felt himself slipping. Exerting all of his strength he +drew himself upward, free of the vines that had begun to yield to his +weight. + +An almost inaudible "Whew!" escaped his lips as he straddled the sill. +An instant later he was in the room. + +"Why have you come up here?" She came swiftly to his side. + +"Thank the Lord, I made it," he whispered, breathlessly. "I came up +because there was nowhere else to go. I thought I heard voices--a man +and a woman speaking. They seemed to be quite close to me. Don't be +alarmed, Miss Cameron. I am confident that I can--" + +"And now that you are here, trapped as I am, what do you purpose to do? +You cannot escape. Go back before it is too late. Go--" + +"Is Sprouse--where is he?" + +"He is somewhere in the house. I have heard no sound. I was to wait +until he--Oh, Mr. Barnes, I--I am terrified. You will never know the--" + +"Trust him," he said. "He is a marvel. We'll be safely out of here in a +little while, and then it will all look simple to you. You are ready to +go? Good! We will wait a few minutes and if he doesn't show up +we'll--Why, you are trembling like a leaf! Sit down, do! If he doesn't +return in a minute or two, I'll take a look about the house myself. I +don't intend to desert him. I know this floor pretty well, and the +lower one. The stairs are--" + +"But the stairway is closed at the bottom by a solid steel curtain. It +is made to look like a panel in the wall. Mr. Curtis had it put in to +protect himself from burglars. You are not to venture outside this +room, Mr. Barnes. I forbid it. You--" + +"How did Sprouse get out? You said your door was locked." + +He sat down on the edge of the bed beside her. She was still trembling +violently. He took her hand in his and held it tightly. + +"He had a key. I do not know where he obtained--" + +"Skeleton key, such as burglars use. By Jove, what a wonderful burglar +he would make! Courage, Miss Cameron! He will be here soon. Then comes +the real adventure,--my part of it. I didn't come here to-night to get +any flashy old crown jewels. I came to take you out of--" + +"You--you know about the crown jewels?" she murmured. Her body seemed +to stiffen. + +"Very little. They are nothing to me." + +"Then you know who I am?" + +"No. You will tell me to-morrow." + +"Yes, yes,--to-morrow," she whispered, and fell to shivering again. + +For some time there was silence. Both were listening intently for +sounds in the hall; both were watching the door with unblinking eyes. +She leaned closer to whisper in his ear. Their shoulders touched. He +wondered if she experienced the same delightful thrill that ran through +his body. She told him of the man who watched across the hall from the +room supposed to be occupied by Loeb the secretary, and of Sprouse's +incomprehensible daring. + +"Where is Mr. Curtis?" he asked. + +Her breath fanned his cheek, her lips were close to his ear. "There is +no Mr. Curtis here. He died four months ago in Florida." + +"I suspected as much." He did not press her for further revelations. +"Sprouse should be here by this time. It isn't likely that he has met +with a mishap. You would have heard the commotion. I must go out there +and see if he requires any--" + +She clutched his arm frantically. "You shall do nothing of the kind. +You shall not--" + +"Sh! What do you take me for, Miss Cameron? He may be sorely in need of +help. Do you think that I would leave him to God knows what sort of +fate? Not much! We undertook this job together and--" + +"But he said positively that I was to go in case he did not return +in--in fifteen minutes," she begged. "He may have been cut off and was +compelled to escape from another--" + +"Just the same, I've got to see what has become of--" + +"No! No!" She arose with him, dragging at his arm. "Do not be +foolhardy. You are not skilled at--" + +"There is only one way to stop me, Miss Cameron. If you will come with +me now--" + +"But I must know whether he secured the--" + +"Then let me go. I will find out whether he has succeeded. Stand over +there by the window, ready to go if I have to make a run for it." + +He was rougher than he realised in wrenching his arm free. She uttered +a low moan and covered her face with her hands. Undeterred, he crossed +to the door. His hand was on the knob when a door slammed violently +somewhere in a distant part of the house. + +A hoarse shout of alarm rang out, and then the rush of heavy feet over +thickly carpeted floors. + +Barnes acted with lightning swiftness. He sprang to the open window, +half-carrying, half-dragging the girl with him. + +"Now for it!" he whispered. "Not a second to lose. Climb upon my back, +quick, and hang on for dear life." He had scrambled through the window +and was lying flat across the sill. "Hurry! Don't be afraid. I am +strong enough to carry you if the vines do their part." + +With surprising alacrity and sureness she crawled out beside him and +then over upon his broad back, clasping her arms around his neck. +Holding to the ledge with one hand he felt for and clutched the thick +vine with the other. Slowly he slid his body off of the sill and swung +free by one arm. An instant later he found the lattice with the other +hand and the hurried descent began. His only fear was that the vine +would not hold. If it broke loose they would drop fifteen feet or more +to the ground. A broken leg, an arm, or even worse,--But her hair was +brushing his ear and neck, her arms were about him, her heart beat +against his straining back, and--Why be a pessimist? + +His feet touched the ground. In the twinkling of an eye he picked her +up in his arms and bolted across the little grass plot into the +shrubbery. She did not utter a sound. Her arms tightened, and now her +cheek was against his. + +Presently he set her down. His breath was gone, his strength exhausted. + +"Can you--manage to--walk a little way?" he gasped. "Give me your hand, +and follow as close to my heels as you can. Better that I should bump +into things than you." + +Shouts were now heard, and shrill blasts on a police whistle split the +air. + +Her breathing was like sobs,--short and choking,--but he knew she was +not crying. Apprehension, alarm, excitement,--anything but hysteria. +The fortitude of generations was hers; a hundred forebears had passed +courage down to her. + +On they stumbled, blindly, recklessly. He spared her many an injury by +taking it himself. More than once she murmured sympathy when he crashed +into a tree or floundered over a log. The soft, long-drawn "o-ohs!" +that came to his ears were full of a music that made him impervious to +pain. They had the effect of martial music on him, as the drum and fife +exalts the faltering soldier in his march to death. + +Utterly at sea, he was now guessing at the course they were taking. +Whether their frantic dash was leading them toward the Tavern, or +whether they were circling back to Green Fancy, he knew not. Panting, +he forged onward, his ears alert not only for the sound of pursuit but +for the shot that would end the career of the spectacular Sprouse. + +At last she cried out, quaveringly: + +"Oh, I--I can go no farther! Can't we--is it not safe to stop for a +moment? My breath is--" + +"God bless you, yes," he exclaimed, and came to an abrupt stop. She +leaned heavily against him, gasping for breath. "I haven't the faintest +idea where we are, but we must be some distance from the house. We will +rest a few minutes and then take it easier, more cautiously. I am +sorry, but it was the only thing to do, rough as it was." + +"I know, I understand. I am not complaining, Mr. Barnes. You will find +me ready and strong and--" + +"Let me think. I must try to get my bearings. Good Lord, I wish Sprouse +were here. He has eyes like a cat. He can see in the dark. We are off +the path, that's sure." + +"I hope he is safe. Do you think he escaped?" + +"I am sure of it. Those whistles were sounding the alarm. There would +have been no object in blowing them unless he had succeeded in getting +out of the house. He may come this way. The chances are that your +flight has not been discovered. They are too busy with him to think of +you,--at least for the time being. Do you feel like going on? We must +beat them to the Tavern. They--" + +"I am all right now," she said, and they were off again. Barnes now +picked his way carefully and with the greatest caution. If at times he +was urged to increased speed through comparatively open spaces it was +because he realised the peril that lay at the very end of their +journey: the likelihood of being cut off by the pursuers before he +could lodge her safely inside of the walls. He could only pray that he +was going in the right direction. + +An hour,--but what seemed thrice as long,--passed and they had not come +to the edge of the forest. Her feet were beginning to drag; he could +tell that by the effort she made to keep up with him. From time to time +he paused to allow her to rest. Always she leaned heavily against him, +seldom speaking; when she did it was to assure him that she would be +all right in a moment or two. There was no sentimental motive behind +his action when he finally found it necessary to support her with an +encircling arm, nor was she loath to accept this tribute of strength. + +"You are plucky," he once said to her. + +"I am afraid I could not be so plucky if you were not so strong," she +sighed, and he loved the tired, whimsical little twist she put into her +reply. It revived the delightful memory of another day. + +To his dismay they came abruptly upon a region abounding in huge rocks. +This was new territory to him. His heart sank. + +"By Jove, I--I believe we are farther away from the road than when we +started. We must have been going up the slope instead of down." + +"In any case, Mr. Barnes," she murmured, "we have found something to +sit down upon." + +He chuckled. "If you can be as cheerful as all that, we sha'n't miss +the cushions," he said, and, for the first time, risked a flash of the +electric torch. The survey was brief. He led her forward a few paces to +a flat boulder, and there they seated themselves. + +"I wonder where we are," she said. + +"I give it up," he replied dismally. "There isn't much sense in +wandering over the whole confounded mountain, Miss Cameron, and not +getting anywhere. I am inclined to suspect that we are above Green +Fancy, but a long way off to the right of it. My bump of direction +tells me that we have been going to the right all of the time. +Admitting that to be the case, I am afraid to retrace our steps. The +Lord only knows what we might blunder into." + +"I think the only sensible thing to do, Mr. Barnes, is to make +ourselves as snug and comfortable as we can and wait for the first +signs of daybreak." + +He scowled,--and was glad that it was too dark for her to see his face. +He wondered if she fully appreciated what would happen to him if the +pursuers came upon him in this forbidding spot. He could almost picture +his own body lying there among the rocks and rotting, while she--well, +she would merely go back to Green Fancy. + +"I fear you do not realise the extreme gravity of the situation." + +"I do, but I also realise the folly of thrashing about in this brush +without in the least knowing where our steps are leading us. Besides, I +am so exhausted that I must be a burden to you. You cannot go on +supporting me--" + +"We must get out of these woods," he broke in doggedly, "if I have to +carry you in my arms." + +"I shall try to keep going," she said quickly. "Forgive me if I seemed +to falter a little. I--I--am ready to go on when you say the word." + +"You poor girl! Hang it all, perhaps you are right and not I. Sit still +and I will reconnoitre a bit. If I can find a place where we can hide +among these rocks, we'll stay here till the sky begins to lighten. +Sit--" + +"No! I shall not let you leave me for a second. Where you go, I go." +She struggled to her feet, suppressing a groan, and thrust a determined +arm through his. + +"That's worth remembering," said he, and whether it was a muscular +necessity or an emotional exaction that caused his arm to tighten on +hers, none save he would ever know. + +After a few minutes prowling among the rocks they came to the face of +what subsequently proved to be a sheer wall of stone. He flashed the +light, and, with an exclamation, started back. Not six feet ahead of +them the earth seemed to end; a yawning black gulf lay beyond. +Apparently they were on the very edge of a cliff. + +"Good Lord, that was a close call," he gasped. He explained in a few +words and then, commanding her to stand perfectly still, dropped to the +ground and carefully felt his way forward. Again he flashed the light. +In an instant he understood. They were on the brink of a shallow +quarry, from which, no doubt, the stone used in building the +foundations at Green Fancy had been taken. + +Lying there, he made swift calculations. There would be a road leading +from this pit up to the house itself. The quarry, no longer of use to +the builder, was reasonably sure to be abandoned. In all probability +some sort of a stone-cutter's shed would be found nearby. It would +provide shelter from the fine rain that was falling and from the chill +night air. He remembered that O'Dowd, in discussing the erection of +Green Fancy the night before, had said that the stone came from a pit +two miles away, where a fine quality of granite had been found. The +quarry belonged to Mr. Curtis, who had refused to consider any offer +from would-be purchasers. Two miles, according to Barnes's quick +calculations, would bring the pit close to the northern boundary of the +Curtis property and almost directly on a line with the point where he +and Sprouse entered the meadow at the beginning of their advance upon +Green Fancy. That being the case, they were now quite close to the +stake and rider fence separating the Curtis land from that of the +farmer on the north. Sprouse and Barnes had hugged this fence during +their progress across the meadow. + +"Good," he said, more to himself than to her. "I begin to see light." + +"Oh, dear! Is there some one down in that hole, Mr.--" + +"Are you afraid to remain here while I go down there for a look around? +I sha'n't be gone more than a couple of minutes." + +"The way I feel at present," she said, jerkily, "I shall never, never +from this instant till the hour in which I die, let go of your +coat-tails, Mr. Barnes." Suiting the action to the word, her fingers +resolutely fastened, not upon the tail of his coat but upon his sturdy +arm. "I wouldn't stay here alone for anything in the world." + +"Heaven bless you," he exclaimed, suddenly exalted. "And, since you put +it that way, I shall always contrive to be within arm's length." + +And so, together, they ventured along the edge of the pit until they +reached the wagon road at the bottom. As he had expected, there was a +ramshackle shed hard by. It was not much of a place, but it was +deserted and a safe shelter for the moment. + +A workman's bench lay on its side in the middle of the earthen floor. +He righted it and drew it over to the boarding.... She laid her head +against his shoulder and sighed deeply.... He kept his eyes glued on +the door and listened for the first ominous sound outside. A long time +afterward she stirred. + +"Don't move," he said softly. "Go to sleep again if you can. I will--" + +"Sleep? I haven't been asleep. I've been thinking all the time, Mr. +Barnes. I've been wondering how I can ever repay you for all the pain, +and trouble, and--" + +"I am paid in full up to date," he said. "I take my pay as I go and am +satisfied." He did not give her time to puzzle it out, but went on +hurriedly: "You were so still I thought you were asleep." + +"As if I could go to sleep with so many things to keep me awake!" She +shivered. + +"Are you cold? You are wet--" + +"It was the excitement, the nervousness, Mr. Barnes," she said, drawing +slightly away from him. He reconsidered the disposition of his arm. +"Isn't it nearly daybreak?" + +He looked at his watch. "Three o'clock," he said, and turned the light +upon her face. "God, you are--" He checked the riotous words that were +driven to his lips by the glimpse of her lovely face. "I-I beg your +pardon!" + +"For what?" she asked, after a moment. + +"For--for blinding you with the light," he floundered. + +"Oh, I can forgive you for that," she said composedly. + +There ensued another period of silence. She remained slightly aloof. + +"You'd better lean against me," he said at last. "I am softer than the +beastly boards, you know, and quite as harmless." + +"Thank you," she said, and promptly settled herself against his +shoulder. "It IS better," she sighed. + +"Would you mind telling me something about yourself, Miss Cameron? What +is the true story of the crown jewels?" + +She did not reply at once. When she spoke it was to ask a question of +him. + +"Do you know who he really is,--I mean the man known to you as Mr. +Loeb?" + +"Not positively. I am led to believe that he is indirectly in line to +succeed to the throne of your country." + +"Tell me something about Sprouse. How did you meet him and what induced +him to take you into his confidence? It is not the usual way with +government agents." + +He told her the story of his encounter and connection with the secret +agent, and part but not all of the man's revelations concerning herself +and the crown jewels. + +"I knew that you were not a native American," he said. "I arrived at +that conclusion after our meeting at the cross-roads. When O'Dowd said +you were from New Orleans, I decided that you belonged to one of the +French or Spanish families there. Either that or you were a fairy +princess such as one reads about in books." + +"And you now believe that I am a royal--or at the very worst--a noble +lady with designs on the crown?" There was a faint ripple in her low +voice. + +"I should like to know whether I am to address you as Princess, +Duchess, or--just plain Miss." + +"I am more accustomed to plain Miss, Mr. Barnes, than to either of the +titles you would give me." + +"Don't you feel that I am deserving of a little enlightenment?" he +asked. "I am working literally as well as figuratively in the dark. Who +are you? Why were you a prisoner at Green Fancy? Where and what is your +native land?" + +"Sprouse did not tell you any of these things?" + +"No. I think he was in some doubt himself. I don't blame him for +holding back until he was certain." + +"Mr. Barnes, I cannot answer any one of your questions without +jeopardising a cause that is dearer to me than anything else in all the +world. I am sorry. I pray God a day may soon come when I can reveal +everything to you--and to the world. I am of a stricken country; I am +trying to serve the unhappy house that has ruled it for centuries and +is now in the direst peril. The man you know as Loeb is a prince of +that house. I may say this to you, and it will serve to explain my +position at Green Fancy: he is not the Prince I was led to believe +awaited me there. He is the cousin of the man I expected to meet, and +he is the enemy of the branch of the house that I would serve. Do not +ask me to say more. Trust me as I am trusting you,--as Sprouse trusted +you." + +"May I ask the cause of O'Dowd's apparent defection?" + +"He is not in sympathy with all of the plans advanced by his leader," +she said, after a moment's reflection. + +"Your sympathies are with the Entente Allies, the prince's are opposed? +Is that part of Sprouse's story true?" + +"Yes." + +"And O'Dowd?" + +"O'Dowd is anti-English, Mr. Barnes, if that conveys anything to you. +He is not pro-German. Perhaps you will understand." + +"Wasn't it pretty risky for you to carry the crown jewels around in a +travelling bag, Miss Cameron?" + +"I suppose so. It turned out, however, that it was the safest, surest +way. I had them in my possession for three days before coming to Green +Fancy. No one suspected. They were given into my custody by the +committee to whom they were delivered in New York by the men who +brought them to this country." + +"And why did you bring them to Green Fancy?" + +"I was to deliver them to one of their rightful owners, Mr. Barnes,--a +loyal prince of the blood." + +"But why HERE?" he insisted. + +"He was to take them into Canada, and thence, in good time, to the +palace of his ancestors." + +"I am to understand, then, that not only you but the committee you +speak of, fell into a carefully prepared trap." + +"Yes." + +"You did not know the man who picked you up in the automobile, Miss +Cameron. Why did you take the chance with--" + +"He gave the password, or whatever you may call it, and it could have +been known only to persons devoted to our--our cause." + +"I see. The treachery, therefore, had its inception in the loyal nest. +You were betrayed by a friend." + +"I am sure of it," she said bitterly. "If this man Sprouse does not +succeed in restoring the--oh, I believe I shall kill myself, Mr. +Barnes." + +The wail of anguish in her voice went straight to his heart. + +"He has succeeded, take my word for it. They will be in your hands +before many hours have passed." + +"Is he to come to the Tavern with them? Or am I to meet him--" + +"Good Lord!" he gulped. Here was a contingency he had not considered. +Where and when would Sprouse appear with his booty? "I--I fancy we'll +find him waiting for us at the Tavern." + +"But had you no understanding?" + +"Er--tentatively." The perspiration started on his brow. + +"They will guard the Tavern so closely that we will never be able to +get away from the place," she said, and he detected a querulous note in +her voice. + +"Now don't you worry about that," he said stoutly. + +"I love the comforting way you have of saying things," she murmured, +and he felt her body relax. + +For reasons best known to himself, he failed to respond to this +interesting confession. He was thinking of something else: his amazing +stupidity in not foreseeing the very situation that now presented +itself. Why had he neglected to settle upon a meeting place with +Sprouse in the event that circumstances forced them to part company in +flight? Fearing that she would pursue the subject, he made haste to +branch off onto another line. + +"What is the real object of the conspiracy up there, Miss Cameron?" + +"You must bear with me a little longer, Mr. Barnes," she said, +appealingly. "I cannot say anything now. I am in a very perplexing +position. You see, I am not quite sure that I am right in my +conclusions, and it would be dreadful if I were to make a mistake." + +"If they are up to any game that may work harm to the Allies, they must +not be allowed to go on with it," he said sternly. "Don't wait too long +before exposing them, Miss Cameron." + +"I--I cannot speak now," she said, painfully. + +"You said that to-morrow night would be too late. What did you mean by +that?" + +"Do you insist on pinning me down to--" + +"No. You may tell me to mind my own business, if you like." + +"That is not a nice way to put it, Mr. Barnes. I could never say such a +thing to you." + +He was silent. She waited a few seconds and then removed her head from +his shoulder. He heard the sharp intake of her breath and felt the +convulsive movement of the arm that rested against his. There was no +mistaking her sudden agitation. + +"I will tell you," she said, and he was surprised by the harshness that +came into her voice. "To-morrow morning was the time set for my +marriage to that wretch up there. I could have avoided it only by +destroying myself. If you had come to-morrow night instead of to-night +you would have found me dead, that is all. Now you understand." + +"Good God! You--you were to be forced into a marriage with--why, it is +the most damnable--" + +"O'Dowd,--God bless him!--was my only champion. He knew my father. He--" + +"Listen!" he hissed, starting to his feet. + +"Don't move!" came from the darkness outside. "I have me gun leveled. I +heard me name taken in vain. Thanks for the blessing. I was wondering +whether you would say something pleasant about me,--and, thank the good +Lord, I was patient. But I'd advise you both to sit still, just the +same." + +A chuckle rounded out the gentle admonition of the invisible Irishman. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY,--BUT MR. SPROUSE WAS SMALLER THAN THE AVERAGE + + +There was not a sound for many seconds. The trapped couple in the +stone-cutter's shed scarcely breathed. She was the first to speak. + +"I am ready to return with you, Mr. O'Dowd," she said, distinctly. +"There must be no struggle, no blood-shed. Anything but that." + +She felt Barnes's body stiffen and caught the muttered execration that +fell from his lips. + +O'Dowd spoke out of the darkness: "You forget that I have your own word +for it that ye'll be a dead woman before the day is over. Wouldn't it +be better for me to begin shooting at once and spare your soul the +everlasting torture that would begin immediately after your +self-produced decease?" + +A little cry of relief greeted this quaint sally. "You have my word +that I will return with you quietly if--" + +"Thunderation!" exclaimed Barnes wrathfully. "What do you think I am? A +worm that--" + +"Easy, easy, me dear man," cautioned O'Dowd. "Keep your seat. Don't be +deceived by my infernal Irish humour. It is my way to be always polite, +agreeable and--prompt. I'll shoot in a second if ye move one step +outside that cabin." + +"O'Dowd, you haven't the heart to drag her back to that beast of a--" + +"Hold hard! We'll come to the point without further palavering. Where +are ye dragging her yourself, ye rascal?" + +"To a place where she will be safe from insult, injury, degradation--" + +"Well, I have no fault to find with ye for that," said O'Dowd. "Bedad, +I didn't believe you had the nerve to tackle the job. To be honest with +you, I hadn't the remotest idea who the divvil you were, either of you, +until I heard your voices. You may be interested to know that up to the +moment I left the house your absence had not been noticed, my dear Miss +Cameron. And as for you, my dear Barnes, your visit is not even +suspected. By this time, of course, the list of the missing at Green +Fancy is headed by an honourable and imperishable name,--which isn't +Cameron,--and there is an increased wailing and gnashing of teeth. How +the divvil did ye do it, Barnes?" + +"Are you disposed to be friendly, O'Dowd?" demanded Barnes. "If you are +not, we may just as well fight it out now as later on. I do not mean to +submit without a--" + +"You are not to fight!" she cried in great agitation. "What are you +doing? Put it away! Don't shoot!" + +"Is it a gun he is pulling" inquired O'Dowd calmly. "And what the deuce +are you going to aim at, me hearty?" + +"It may sound cowardly to you, O'Dowd, but I have an advantage over you +in the presence of Miss Cameron. You don't dare shoot into this shed. +You--" + +"Lord love ye, Barnes, haven't you my word that I will not shoot unless +ye try to come out? And I know you wouldn't use her for a shield. +Besides, I have a bull's-eye lantern with me. From the luxurious seat +behind this rock I could spot ye in a second. Confound you, man, you +ought to thank me for being so considerate as not to flash it on you +before. I ask ye now, isn't that proof that I'm a gentleman and not a +bounder? Having said as much, I now propose arbitration. What have ye +to offer in the shape of concessions?" + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"I'll be explicit. Would you mind handing over that tin box in exchange +for my polite thanks and a courteous good-by to both of ye?" + +"Tin box?" cried Barnes. + +"We have no box of any description, Mr. O'Dowd," cried she, +triumphantly. "Thank heaven, he got safely away!" + +"Do you mean to tell me you came away without the--your belongings, +Miss Cameron?" exclaimed O'Dowd. + +"They are not with me," she replied. Her grasp on Barnes's arm +tightened. "Oh, isn't it splendid? They did not catch him. He--" + +"Catch him? Catch who?" cried O'Dowd. + +"Ah, that is for you to find out, my dear O'Dowd," said Barnes, +assuming a satisfaction he did not feel. + +"Well, I'll be--jiggered," came in low, puzzled tones from the rocks +outside. "Did you have a--a confederate, Barnes? Didn't you do the +whole job yourself?" + +"I did my part of the job, as you call it, O'Dowd, and nothing more." + +"Will you both swear on your sacred honour that ye haven't the jewels +in your possession?" + +"Unhesitatingly," said Barnes. + +"I swear, Mr. O'Dowd." + +"Then," said he, "I have no time to waste here. I am looking for a tin +box. I beg your pardon for disturbing you." + +"Oh, Mr. O'Dowd, I shall never forget all that you have--" + +"Whist, now! There is one thing I must insist on your forgetting +completely: all that has happened in the last five minutes. I shall put +no obstacles in your way. You may go with my blessings. The only favour +I ask in return is that you never mention having seen me to-night." + +"We can do that with a perfectly clear conscience," said Barnes. "You +are absolutely invisible." + +"What I am doing now, Mr. Barnes," said O'Dowd seriously, "would be my +death sentence if it ever became known." + +"It shall never be known through me, O'Dowd. I'd like to shake your +hand, old man." + +"God bless you, Mr. O'Dowd," said the girl in a low, small voice, +singularly suggestive of tears. "Some day I may be in a position to--" + +"Don't say it! You'll spoil everything if you let me think you are in +my debt. Bedad, don't be so sure I sha'n't see you again, and soon. You +are not out of the woods yet." + +"Tell me how to find Hart's Tavern, old man. I'll--" + +"No, I'm dashed if I do. I leave you to your own devices. You ought to +be grateful to me for not stopping you entirely, without asking me to +give you a helping hand. Good-bye, and God bless you. I'm praying that +ye get away safely, Miss Cameron. So long, Barnes. If you were a crow +and wanted to roost on that big tree in front of Hart's Tavern, I dare +say you'd take the shortest way there by flying as straight as a bullet +from the mouth of this pit, following your extremely good-looking nose." + +They heard him rattle off among the loose stones and into the brush. A +long time afterward, when the sounds had ceased, Barnes said, from the +bottom of a full heart: + +"I shall always feel something warm stirring within me when I think of +that man." + +"He is a gallant gentleman," said she simply. + +They did not wait for the break of day. Taking O'Dowd's hint, Barnes +directed his steps straight out from the mouth of the quarry and +pressed confidently onward. Their progress was swifter than before and +less cautious. The thought had come to him that the men from Green +Fancy would rush to the outer edges of the Curtis land and seek to +intercept, rather than to overtake, the fugitive. In answer to a +question she informed him that there were no fewer than twenty-five men +on the place, all of them shrewd, resolute and formidable. + +"The women, who are they, and what part do they play in this +enterprise?" he inquired, during a short pause for rest. + +"Mrs. Collier is the widow of a spy executed in France at the beginning +of the war. She is an American and was married to a--to a foreigner. +The Van Dykes are very rich Americans,--at least she has a great deal +of money. Her husband was in the diplomatic service some years ago but +was dismissed. There was a huge gambling scandal and he was involved. +His wife is determined to force her way into court circles in Europe. +She has money, she is clever and unprincipled, and--I am convinced +that she is paying in advance for future favours and position at a +certain court. She--" + +"In other words, she is financing the game up at Green Fancy." + +"I suppose so. She has millions, I am told. Mr. De Soto is a Spaniard, +born and reared in England. All of them are known in my country." + +"I can't understand a decent chap like O'Dowd being mixed up in a +rotten--" + +"Ah, but you do not understand. He is a soldier of fortune, an +adventurer. His heart is better than his reputation. It is the love of +intrigue, the joy of turmoil that commands him. He has been mixed up, +as you say, in any number of secret enterprises, both good and bad. His +sister's children are the owners of Green Fancy. I know her well. It +was through Mr. O'Dowd that I came to Green Fancy. Too late he realised +that it was a mistake. He was deceived. He has known me for years and +he would not have exposed me to----But come! As he has said, we are not +yet out of the woods." + +"I cannot, for the life of me, see why they took chances on inviting me +to the house, Miss Cameron. They must have known that--" + +"It was a desperate chance but it was carefully considered, you may be +sure. They are clever, all of them. They were afraid of you. It was +necessary to deal openly, boldly, with you if your suspicions were to +be removed." + +"But they must have known that you would appeal to me." + +She was silent for a moment, and when she spoke it was with great +intensity. "Mr. Barnes, I had your life in my hands all the time you +were at Green Fancy. It was I who took the desperate chance. I shudder +now when I think of what might have happened. Before you were asked to +the house, I was coolly informed that you would not leave it alive if I +so much as breathed a word to you concerning my unhappy plight. The +first word of an appeal to you would have been the signal for--for your +death. That is what they held over me. They made it very clear to me +that nothing was to be gained by an appeal to you. You would die, and I +would be no better off than before. It was I who took the chance. When +I spoke to you on the couch that night, I--oh, don't you see? Don't you +see that I wantonly, cruelly, selfishly risked YOUR life,--not my +own,--when I--" + +"There, there, now!" he cried, consolingly, as she put her hands to her +face and gave way to sobs. "Don't let THAT worry you. I am here and +alive, and so are you, and--for Heaven's sake don't do that! I--I +simply go all to pieces when I hear a woman crying. I--" + +"Forgive me," she murmured. "I didn't mean to be so silly." + +"It helps, to cry sometimes," he said lamely. + +The first faint signs of day were struggling out of the night when they +stole across the road above Hart's Tavern and made their way through +the stable-yard to the rear of the house. His one thought was to get +her safely inside the Tavern. There he could defy the legions of Green +Fancy, and from there he could notify her real friends, deliver her +into their keeping,--and then regret the loss of her! + +The door was locked. He delivered a series of resounding kicks upon its +stout face. Revolver in hand, he faced about and waited for the assault +of the men who, he was sure, would come plunging around the corner of +the building in response to the racket. He was confident that the +approach to the Tavern was watched by desperate men from Green Fancy, +and that an encounter with them was inevitable. But there was no +attack. Save for his repeated pounding on the door, there was no sign +of life about the place. + +At last there were sounds from within. A key grated in the lock and a +bolt was shot. The door flew open. Mr. Clarence Dillingford appeared in +the opening, partially dressed, his hair sadly tumbled, his eyes +blinking in the light of the lantern he held aloft. + +"Well, what the--" Then his gaze alighted on the lady. "My God," he +gulped, and instantly put all of his body except the head and one arm +behind the door. + +Barnes crowded past him with his faltering charge, and slammed the +door. Moreover, he quickly shot the bolt. + +"For the love of--" began the embarrassed Dillingford. "What the dev--I +say, can't you see that I'm not dressed? What the--" + +"Give me that lantern," said Barnes, and snatched the article out of +the unresisting hand. "Show me the way to Miss Thackeray's room, +Dillingford. No time for explanations. This lady is a friend of mine." + +"Well, for the love of--" + +"I will take you to Miss Thackeray's room," said Barnes, leading her +swiftly through the narrow passage. "She will make you comfortable for +the--that is until I am able to secure a room for you. Come on, +Dillingford." + +"My God, Barnes, have you been in an automobile smash-up? You--" + +"Don't wake the house! Where is her room?" + +"You know just as well as I do. All right,--all right! Don't bite me! +I'm coming." + +Miss Thackeray was awake. She had heard the pounding. Through the +closed door she asked what on earth was the matter. + +"I have a friend here,--a lady. Will you dress as quickly as possible +and take her in with you for a little while?" He spoke as softly as +possible. + +There was no immediate response from the inside. Then Miss Thackeray +observed, quite coldly: "I think I'd like to hear the lady's voice, if +you don't mind. I recognise yours perfectly, Mr. Barnes, but I am not +in the habit of opening my--" + +"Mr. Barnes speaks the truth," said Miss Cameron. "But pray do not +disturb--" + +"I guess I don't need to dress," said Miss Thackeray, and opened her +door. "Come in, please. I don't know who you are or what you've been up +to, but there are times when women ought to stand together. And what's +more, I sha'n't ask any questions." + +She closed the door behind the unexpected guest, and Barnes gave a +great sigh of relief. + +"Say, Mr. Barnes," said Miss Thackeray, several hours later, coming +upon him in the hall; "I guess I'll have to ask you to explain a +little. She's a nice, pretty girl, and all that, but she won't open her +lips about anything. She says you will do the talking. I'm a good +sport, you know, and not especially finicky, but I'd like to--" + +"How is she? Is she resting? Does she seem--" + +"Well, she's stretched out in my bed, with my best nightie on, and she +seems to be doing as well as could be expected," said Miss Thackeray +dryly. + +"Has she had coffee and--" + +"I am going after it now. It seems that she is in the habit of having +it in bed. I wish I had her imagination. It would be great to imagine +that all you have to do is to say 'I think I'll have coffee and rolls +and one egg' sent up, and then go on believing your wish would come +true. Still, I don't mind. She seems so nice and pathetic, and in +trouble, and I--" + +"Thank you, Miss Thackeray. If you will see that she has her coffee, +I'll--I'll wait for you here in the hall and try to explain. I can't +tell you everything at present,--not without her consent,--but what I +do tell will be sufficient to make you think you are listening to a +chapter out of a dime novel." + +He had already taken Putnam Jones into his confidence. He saw no other +way out of the new and somewhat extraordinary situation. + +His uneasiness increased to consternation when he discovered that +Sprouse had not yet put in an appearance. What had become of the man? +He could not help feeling, however, that somehow the little agent would +suddenly pop out of the chimney in his room, or sneak in through a +crack under the door,--and laugh at his fears. + +His lovely companion, falling asleep, blocked all hope of a council of +war, so to speak. Miss Thackeray refused to allow her to be disturbed. +She listened with sparkling eyes to Barnes's curtailed account of the +exploit of the night before. He failed to mention Mr. Sprouse. It was +not an oversight. + +"Sort of white slavery game, eh?" she said, with bated breath. "Good +gracious, Mr. Barnes, if this story ever gets into the newspapers +you'll be the grandest little hero in--" + +"But it must never get into the newspapers," he cried. + +"It ought to," she proclaimed stoutly. "When a gang of white slavers +kidnap a girl like that and--" + +"I'm not saying it was that," he protested, uncomfortably. + +"Well, I guess I'll talk to her about that part of the story," said +Miss Thackeray sagely. "And as you say, mum's the word. We don't want +them to get onto the fact that she's here. That's the idea, isn't it?" + +"Absolutely." + +"Then," she said, wrinkling her brow, "I wouldn't repeat this story to +Mr. Lyndon Rushcroft, father of yours truly. He would blab it all over +the county. The greatest press stuff in the world. Listen to it: +'Lyndon Rushcroft, the celebrated actor, takes part in the rescue of a +beautiful heiress who falls into the hands of So and So, the king of +kidnappers.' That's only a starter. So we'd better let him think she +just happened in. You fix it with old Jones, and I'll see that Dilly +keeps his mouth shut. I fear I shall have to tell Mr. Bacon." She +blushed. "I have always sworn I'd never marry any one in the +profession, but--Mr. Bacon is not like other actors, Mr. Barnes. You +will say so yourself when you know him better. He is more like +a--a--well, you might say a poet. His soul is--but, you'll think I'm +nutty if I go on about him. As soon as she awakes, I'll take her up to +the room you've engaged for her, and I'll lend her some of my duds, +bless her heart. What an escape she's had! Oh, my God!" + +She uttered the exclamation in a voice so full of horror that Barnes +was startled. + +"What is it, Miss Thack--" + +"Why, they might have nabbed me yesterday when I was up there in the +woods! And I don't know what kind of heroism goes with a poetic nature. +I'm afraid Mr. Bacon--" + +He laughed. "I am sure he would have acted like a man." + +"If you were to ask father, he'd say that Mr. Bacon can't act like a +man to save his soul. He says he acts like a fence-post." + +Shortly before the noon hour, Peter Ames halted the old automobile from +Green Fancy in front of the Tavern and out stepped O'Dowd, followed by +no less a personage than the pseudo Mr. Loeb. There were a number of +travelling bags in the tonneau of the car. + +Catching sight of Barnes, the Irishman shouted a genial greeting. + +"The top of the morning to ye. You remember Mr. Loeb, don't you? Mr. +Curtis's secretary." + +He shook hands with Barnes. Loeb bowed stiffly and did not extend his +hand. + +"Mr. Loeb is leaving us for a few days on business. Will you be moving +on yourself soon, Mr. Barnes?" + +"I shall hang around here a few days longer," said Barnes, considerably +puzzled but equal to the occasion. "Still interested in our murder +mystery, you know." + +"Any new developments?" + +"Not to my knowledge." He ventured a crafty "feeler." "I hear, however, +that the state authorities have asked assistance of the secret service +people in Washington. That would seem to indicate that there is more +behind the affair than--" + +"Have I not maintained from the first, Mr. O'Dowd, that it is a case +for the government to handle?" interrupted Loeb. He spoke rapidly and +with unmistakable nervousness. Barnes remarked the extraordinary pallor +in the man's face and the shifty, uneasy look in his dark eyes. "It has +been my contention, Mr. Barnes, that those men were trying to carry out +their part of a plan to inflict--" + +"Lord love ye, Loeb, you are not alone in that theory," broke in O'Dowd +hastily. "I think we're all agreed on that. Good morning, Mr. +Boneface," he called out to Putnam Jones who approached at that +juncture. "We are sadly in want of gasoline." + +Peter had backed the car up to the gasoline hydrant at the corner of +the building and was waiting for some one to replenish his tank. Barnes +caught the queer, perplexed look that the Irishman shot at him out of +the corner of his eye. + +"Perhaps you'd better see that the scoundrels don't give us short +measure, Mr. Loeb," said O'Dowd. Loeb hesitated for a second, and then, +evidently in obedience to a command from the speaker's eye, moved off +to where Peter was opening the intake. Jones followed, bawling to some +one in the stable-yard. + +O'Dowd lowered his voice. "Bedad, your friend made a smart job of it +last night. He opened the tank back of the house and let every damn' +bit of our gas run out. Is she safe inside?" + +"Yes, thanks to you, old man. You didn't catch him?" + +"Not even a whiff of him," said the other lugubriously. "The devil's to +pay. In the name of God, how many were in your gang last night?" + +"That is for Mr. Loeb to find out," said Barnes shrewdly. + +"Barnes, I let you off last night, and I let her off as well. In +return, I ask you to hold your tongue until the man down there gets a +fair start." O'Dowd was serious, even imploring. + +"What would she say to that, O'Dowd? I have to consider her interests, +you know." + +"She'd give him a chance for his white alley, I'm sure, in spite of the +way he treated her. There is a great deal at stake, Barnes. A day's +start and--" + +"Are you in danger too, O'Dowd?" + +"To be sure,--but I love it. I can always squirm out of tight places. +You see, I am putting myself in your hands, old man." + +"I would not deliberately put you in jeopardy, O'Dowd." + +"See here, I am going back to that house up yonder. There is still work +for me there. What I'm after now is to get him on the train at +Hornville. I'll be here again at four o'clock, on me word of honour. +Trust me, Barnes. When I explain to her, she'll agree that I'm doing +the right thing. Bedad, the whole bally game is busted. Another week +and we'd have--but, there ye are! It's all up in the air, thanks to you +and your will-o'-the-wisp rascals. You played the deuce with +everything." + +"Do you mean to say that you are coming back here to run the risk of +being--" + +"We've had word that the government has men on the way. They'll be here +to-night or to-morrow, working in cahoots with the fellows across the +border. Why, damn it all, Barnes, don't you know who it was that +engineered that whole business last night?" He blurted it out angrily, +casting off all reserve. + +Barnes smiled. "I do. He is a secret agent from the embassy--" + +"Secret granny!" almost shouted O'Dowd. "He is the slickest, cleverest +crook that ever drew the breath of life. And he's got away with the +jewels, for which you can whistle in vain, I'm thinking." + +"For Heaven's sake, O'Dowd--" began Barnes, his blood like ice in his +veins. + +"But don't take my word for it. Ask her,--upstairs there, God bless +her!--ask her if she knows Chester Naismith. She'll tell ye, my bucko. +He's been standing guard outside her window for the past three nights. +He's--" + +"Now, I know you are mistaken," cried Barnes, a wave of relief surging +over him. "He has been in this Tavern every night--" + +"Sure he has. But he never was here after eleven o'clock, was he? +Answer me, did ye ever see him here after eleven in the evening? You +did not,--not until last night, anyhow. In the struggle he had with +Nicholas last night his whiskers came off and he was recognised. That's +why poor old Nicholas is lying dead up there at the house now,--and +will have a decent burial unbeknownst to anybody but his friends." + +"Whiskers? Dead?" jerked from Barnes's lips. + +"Didn't you know he had false ones on?" + +"He did not have them on when he left me," declared Barnes. "Good God, +O'Dowd, you can't mean that he--he killed--" + +"He stuck a knife in his neck. The poor devil died while I was out +skirmishing, but not before he whispered in the chief's ear the name of +the man who did for him. The dirty snake! And the chief trusted him as +no crook ever was trusted before. He knew him for what he was, but he +thought he was loyal. And this is what he gets in return for saving the +dog's life in Buda Pesth three years ago. In the name of God, Barnes, +how did you happen to fall in with the villain?" + +Barnes passed his hand over his brow, dazed beyond the power of speech. +His gaze rested on Putnam Jones. Suddenly something seemed to have +struck him between the eyes. He almost staggered under the imaginary +impact. Jones! Was Jones a party to this--He started forward, an oath +on his lips, prepared to leap upon the man and throttle the truth out +of him. As abruptly he checked himself. The cunning that inspired the +actions of every one of these people had communicated itself to him. A +false move now would ruin everything. Putnam Jones would have to be +handled with gloves, and gently at that. + +"He--he represented himself as a book-agent," he mumbled, striving to +collect himself. "Jones knew him. Said he had been around here for +weeks. I--I-- + +"That's the man," said O'Dowd, scowling. "He trotted all over the +county, selling books. For the love of it, do ye think? Not much. He +had other fish to fry, you may be sure. I talked with him the night you +dined at Green Fancy. He beat you to the Tavern, I dare say. It was his +second night on guard below the--below her window. He told me how he +shinned up and down one of these porch posts, so as not to let old +Jones get onto the fact he was out of his room. He had old Jones fooled +as badly--What are you glaring at HIM for? I was about to say he had +old Jones as badly fooled as you--or worse, damn him. Barnes, if we +ever lay hands on that friend of yours,--well, he won't have to fry in +hell. He'll be burnt alive. Thank God, my mind's at rest on one score. +SHE didn't skip out with him. They all think she did. Not one of them +suspects that she came away with you. There is plenty of evidence that +she let him in through her window--" + +"All ready, O'Dowd," called Loeb. "Come along, please." + +"Coming," said the Irishman. To Barnes: "Don't blame yourself, old man. +You are not the only one who has been hoodwinked. He fooled men a long +shot keener than you are, so--All right! Coming. See you later, Barnes. +So long!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FIRST WAYFARER VISITS A SHRINE, CONFESSES, AND TAKES AN OATH + + +How was he to find the courage to impart the appalling news to her? He +was now convinced beyond all doubt that the so-called Sprouse had made +off with the priceless treasure and that only a miracle could bring +about its recovery. O'Dowd's estimate of the man's cleverness was amply +supported by what Barnes knew of him. He knew him to be the +personification of craftiness, and of daring. It was not surprising +that he had been tricked by this devil's own genius. He recalled his +admiration, his wonder over the man's artfulness; he groaned as he +thought of the pride he had felt in being accorded the privilege of +helping him! + +Sitting glumly in a corner of the tap-room, watching but not listening +to the spouting Mr. Rushcroft, (who was regaling the cellarer and two +vastly impressed countrymen with the story of his appearance before +Queen Victoria and the Royal Family), Barnes went over the events of +the past twenty-four hours, deriving from his reflections a few fairly +reasonable deductions as to his place in the plans of the dauntless Mr. +Sprouse. + +In the first place, Sprouse, being aware of his somewhat ardent +interest in the fair captive, took a long and desperate chance on his +susceptibility. With incomprehensible boldness he decided to make an +accomplice of the eager and unsuspecting knight-errant! His cunningly +devised tale,--in which there was more than a little of the +truth,--served to excite the interest and ultimately to win the +co-operation of the New Yorker. His object in enlisting this support +was now perfectly clear to the victim of his duplicity. Barnes had +admitted that he was bound by a promise to aid the prisoner in an +effort to escape from the house; even a slow-witted person would have +reached the conclusion that a partial understanding at least existed +between captive and champion. Sprouse staked everything on that +conviction. Through Barnes he counted on effecting an entrance to the +almost hermetically sealed house. + +Evidently the simplest, and perhaps the only, means of gaining +admission was through the very window he was supposed to guard. Once +inside her room, with the aid and connivance of one in whom the +occupant placed the utmost confidence, he would be in a position to +employ his marvellous talents in accomplishing his own peculiar ends. + +Barnes recalled all of the elaborate details preliminary to the actual +performance of that amazing feat, and realised to what extent he had +been shaped into a tool to be used by the master craftsman. He saw +through the whole Machiavellian scheme, and he was now morally certain +that Sprouse would have sacrificed him without the slightest hesitation. + +In the event that anything went wrong with their enterprise, the man +would have shot him dead and earned the gratitude and commendation of +his associates! There would be no one to question him, no one to say +that he had failed in the duty set upon him by the master of the house. +He would have been glorified and not crucified by his friends. + +Up to the point when he actually passed through the window Sprouse +could have justified himself by shooting the would-be rescuer. Up to +that point, Barnes was of inestimable value to him; after that,--well, +he had proved that he was capable of taking care of himself. + +Mr. Dillingford came and pronounced sentence. He informed the rueful +thinker that the young lady wanted to see him at once in Miss +Thackeray's room. + +With a heavy heart he mounted the stairs. At the top he paused to +deliberate. Would it not be better to keep her in ignorance? What was +to be gained by revealing to her the--But Miss Thackeray was luring him +on to destruction. She stood outside the door and beckoned. That in +itself was ominous. Why should she wriggle a forefinger at him instead +of calling out in her usual free-and-easy manner? There was foreboding-- + +"Is Mr. Barnes coming?" His heart bounded perceptibly at the sound of +that soft, eager voice from the interior of the room. + +"By fits and starts," said Miss Thackeray critically. "Yes, he has +started again." + +She closed the door from the outside, and Barnes was alone with the +cousin of kings and queens and princes. + +"I feared you had deserted me," she said, holding out her hand to him +as he strode across the room. S he did not rise from the chair in which +she was seated by the window. The lower wings of the old-fashioned +shutters were closed except for a narrow strip; light streamed down +upon her wavy golden hair from the upper half of the casement. She was +attired in a gorgeously flowered dressing-gown; he had seen it once +before, draping the matutinal figure of Miss Thackeray as she glided +through the hall with a breakfast tray which Miss Tilly had flatly +refused to carry to her room: being no servant, she declared with heat. + +"I saw no occasion to disturb your rest," he mumbled. "Nothing--nothing +new has turned up." + +"I have been peeping," she said, looking at him searchingly. A little +line of anxiety lay between her eyes. "Where is Mr. Loeb going, Mr. +Barnes?" + +He noted the omission of Mr. O'Dowd. "To Hornville, I believe. They +stopped for gasoline." + +"Is he running away?" was her disconcerting question. + +"O'Dowd says he is to be gone for a few days on business," he +equivocated. + +"He will not return," she said quietly. "He is a coward at heart. Oh, I +know him well," she went on, scorn in her voice. + +"Was I wrong in not trying to stop him?" he asked. + +She pondered this for a moment. "No," she said, but he caught the +dubious note in her voice. "It is just as well, perhaps, that he should +disappear. Nothing is to be gained now by his seizure. Next week, yes; +but to-day, no. His flight to-day spares--but we are more interested in +the man Sprouse. Has he returned?" + +"No, Miss Cameron," said he ruefully. And then, without a single +reservation, he laid bare the story of Sprouse's defection. When he +inquired if she had heard of the man known as Chester Naismith, she +confirmed his worst fears by describing him as the guard who watched +beneath her window. He was known to her as a thief of international +fame. The light died out of her lovely eyes as the truth dawned upon +her; her lips trembled, her shoulders drooped. + +"What a fool I've been," she mourned. "What a fool I was to accept the +responsibility of--" + +"Don't blame yourself," he implored. "Blame me. I am the fool, the +stupidest fool that ever lived. He played with me as if I were the +simplest child." + +"Ah, my friend, why do you say that? Played with you? He has tricked +some of the shrewdest men in the world. There are no simple children at +Green Fancy. They are men with the brains of foxes and the hearts of +wolves. To deceive you was child's play. You are an honest man. It is +always the honest man who is the victim; he is never the culprit. If +honest men were as smart as the corrupt ones, Mr. Barnes, there would +be no such thing as crime. If the honest man kept one hand on his purse +and the other on his revolver, he would be more than a match for the +thief. You were no match for Chester Naismith. Do not look so glum. The +shrewdest police officers in Europe have never been able to cope with +him. Why should you despair?" + +He sprang to his feet. "By gad, he hasn't got away with it yet," he +grated. "He is only one man against a million. I will set every cog in +the entire police and detective machinery of the United States going. +He cannot escape. They will run him to earth before--" + +"Mr. Barnes, I have no words to express my gratitude to you for all +that you have done and all that you still would do," she interrupted. +"I may prove it to you, however, by advising you to abandon all efforts +to help me from now on. You did all that you set out to do, and I must +ask no more of you. You risked your life to save a woman who, for all +you know, may be deceiving you with--" + +"I have not lost all of my senses, Miss Cameron," he said bluntly. "The +few that I retain make me your slave. I shall abandon neither you nor +the effort to recover what my stupidity has cost you. I will run this +scoundrel down if I have to devote the remainder of my life to the +task." + +She sighed. "Alas, I fear that I shall have to tell you a little more +about this wonderful man you know as Sprouse. Six months ago the +friends and supporters of the legitimate successor to my country's +throne, consummated a plan whereby the crown jewels and certain +documents of state were surreptitiously removed from the palace vaults. +The act, though meant to be a loyal and worthy one, was nevertheless +nullified by the most stupendous folly. Instead of depositing the +treasure in Paris, it was sent to this country in charge of a group of +men whose fealty could not be questioned. I am not at liberty to tell +you how this treasure was brought into the United States without +detection by the Customs authorities. Suffice it to say, it was +delivered safely to a committee of my countrymen in New York. There are +two contenders for the throne in my land. One is a prisoner in Austria, +the other is at liberty somewhere in--in the world. The Teutonic Allies +are now in possession of my country. It has been ravished and +despoiled." + +"So far Sprouse's story jibes," said he, as she paused. + +"My countrymen conceived the notion that Germany would one day conquer +France and over-run England. It was this notion that urged them to put +the treasure beyond all possible chance of its being seized by the +conquerors and turned over to the usurping prince who would be placed +on our throne. + +"As for my part in this unhappy project, it is quite simple. I was not +the only one to be deceived by plotters who far outstripped the +original conspirators in cleverness and guile. The man you know as Loeb +is in reality my cousin. I have known him all my life. He is the +youngest brother of the pretender to the throne, and a cousin of the +prince who is held prisoner by the Austrians. This prince has a brother +also, and it was to him that I was supposed to deliver the jewels. He +came to Canada a month ago, sent by the embassy in Paris. I travelled +from New York, but not alone as you may suspect. I was carefully +protected from the time I left my hotel there until--well, until I +arrived in Boston. + +"While there I received a secret message from friends in Canada +directing me to go to Spanish Falls, where I would be met and conducted +to Green Fancy by Prince Sebastian himself. I was on my way to Halifax +when this message changed my plans. Moreover, the reason given for this +change was an excellent one. It had been discovered that the two men +who acted secretly as my escort were traitors. They were to lead me +into a trap prepared at Portland, where I was to be robbed and detained +long enough for the wretches to make off in safety with their booty. I +need not describe my feelings. I obeyed the directions and stole away +at night, eluding my protectors, and came by devious ways to the place +mentioned in the message. + +"As you may have guessed by this time, the whole thing was a carefully +planned ruse. The company at Green Fancy,--you may some day know why +they were there,--learned through the man Naismith that the treasure +had been entrusted to me for delivery to Prince Sebastian and his +friends in Halifax. Let me interrupt myself to explain why the Prince +did not come to New York in person, instead of arranging to have the +jewels taken to him at Halifax. He is an officer of high rank in the +army. His trip across the ocean was known to the German secret service. +The instant he landed on American soil, a demand would have been made +by the German Embassy for his detention here for the duration of the +war. + +"I was informed in the message that Prince Sebastian would take me to +the place called Green Fancy, which was near the Canadian border. A +safe escort would be provided for us, and we would be on British soil +within a few hours after our meeting. It is only necessary to add that +when I arrived at Green Fancy I met Prince Ugo,--and understood! I had +carefully covered my tracks after leaving Boston. My real friends were, +and still are, completely in the dark as to my movements, so skilfully +was the trick managed. I shall ask you directly, Mr. Barnes, to wire my +friends in New York and in Halifax, acquainting them with my present +whereabouts and safety. Now, that we know the jewels have been stolen +again, that message need not be delayed. + +"And now for Chester Naismith. It was he who, acting for the misguided +loyalists and recommended by certain young aristocrats who by virtue of +their own dissipations had come to know him as a man of infinite +resourcefulness and daring, planned and carried out the pillaging of +the palace vaults. Almost under the noses of the foreign guards he +succeeded in obtaining the jewels. No doubt he could have made off with +them at that time, but he shrewdly preferred to have them brought to +America by some one else. It would have been impossible for him to +dispose of them in Europe. The United States was the only place in the +world where he could have sold them. You see how cunning he is? + +"This much I know: he came to New York with the men who carried the +jewels. He tried to rob them in New York but failed. Then he +disappeared. So carefully guarded were the jewels that he knew there +was no chance of securing them without assistance. For nearly six +months they remained in a safety vault on Fifth Avenue. Evidently he +gave up hope and, falling in with Prince Ugo, joined his party. I do +not know this to be the case, but I am now convinced that he learned of +the plan to send the jewels to Halifax. It was he, I am sure, who +conveyed this news to Prince Ugo, who at once invented the scheme to +divert me to this place. + +"And now comes the remarkable part of the story. When I arrived at +Spanish Falls, there was no one to meet me. The agent, seeing me on the +platform and evidently at a loss which way to turn, accosted me. He +offered to secure a conveyance for me, and was very considerate, but I +decided to call up Green Fancy on the telephone. I wanted to be sure +that there was no trick. To my surprise, O'Dowd came to the telephone. +I was greatly relieved when I actually heard his voice. I have known +him for years, and the belief that he had at last allied himself with +Prince Sebastian,--after being on the opposite side, you see,--was +cause for rejoicing. + +"He was amazed. It seems that I was not expected until the next +afternoon. The car was out on an errand to some little village in the +mountains, he said, but he would telephone at once to see if it could +be located. Afterwards it turned out that the message announcing my +arrival a day ahead of the time agreed upon was never delivered." + +"Sprouse's fine work, I suppose," put in Barnes. + +"I haven't the remotest doubt. Nor do I doubt that he intended to +waylay me at some point along the road. O'Dowd failed to catch the car +at the village and was on the point of starting off on horseback to +meet me, when it returned. He sent it ahead and followed on horseback. +You know how I was picked up at the cross-roads. It is all so like one +of those picture puzzles. By putting the meaningless pieces together +one obtains a complete design. The last piece to go into this puzzle is +the mishap that befell Naismith on that very afternoon. He was no doubt +thwarted in his design to waylay me on the road from Spanish Falls by a +singular occurrence in this tavern. He was attacked in his room here +shortly after the noon hour, overpowered, bound and gagged by two men. +They carried him to another room, where he remained until late in the +night when he managed to extricate himself. I have reason to believe +that this part of his story is true. He knew the men. They were thieves +as clever and as merciless as himself. They too were watching for me. I +may say to you now, Mr. Barnes, that he has never posed as an honest +man among his associates at Green Fancy. He glories in his fame as a +thief, but until now no one would have questioned his loyalty to his +friends. I do not know how these men learned of my intention to come to +Green Fancy. They--" + +"They came to this tavern four or five days in advance of your arrival +at Green Fancy," he interrupted. + +"Are you sure?" she asked in surprise. + +"Absolutely." + +"In that case, they could not have known," she said, deeply perplexed. + +"Sprouse told me that they were secret service men from abroad and that +he was working with them. Putnam Jones, I am sure, believes that they +were detectives. He also believes the same to be true of Sprouse. My +theory is this, and I think it is justified by events. The men were +really secret agents, sent here to watch the movements of the gang up +there. They came upon Sprouse and recognised him. On the day mentioned +they overpowered him and forced him to reveal certain facts connected +with affairs at Green Fancy. Possibly he led them to believe that you +were one of the conspirators. They waited for your arrival and then +risked the hazardous trip to Green Fancy. They were discovered and +shot." + +She could hardly wait for him to finish. "I believe you are right," she +cried. "A little while before the shooting occurred, the house was +roused by a telephone call. I was in my room, but not asleep. I had +just realised my own dreadful predicament. There was a great commotion +downstairs, and I distinctly heard some one say, in my own language, +that they were not to get away alive. It must have been Naismith who +telephoned. One of the men, I have been told, was killed not far from +our gates. He was shot, I am sure, by the man called Nicholas, noted as +one of the most marvellous marksmen in our little army. The other was +accounted for by Naismith himself, who had managed to reach the +cross-roads in time to head him off. Naismith openly boasted of the +feat. The greatest consternation prevailed at Green Fancy because the +men succeeded in reaching the highway before they were shot. Prince Ugo +was distracted. He said that the attention of the public would be +directed to Green Fancy and curious investigators were certain to +interfere with the great project he was carrying on." + +"I believe we have accounted for Mr. Sprouse, and I am no longer +interested in the unravelling of the mystery surrounding the deaths of +Roon and Paul," said he. "There is nothing to keep me here any longer, +Miss Cameron. I suggest that you allow me to escort you at once to your +friends, wherever they--" + +She was opposed to this plan. While there was still a chance that +Sprouse might be apprehended in the neighbourhood, or the possibility +of his being caught by the relentless pursuers, she declined to leave. + +"Then, I shall also stay," said he promptly, and was repaid by the +tremulous smile she gave him. His heart was beating like mad, and he +knew, in that instant, just what had happened to him. He was helplessly +in love with this beautiful cousin of kings and queens. And when he +thought of kings and queens he realised that beyond all question his +love was hopeless. + +"You are very good to me," she said softly. + +He got up suddenly and walked away. After a moment, in which he +regained control of himself, he returned to her side. + +"What effect will Mr. Loeb's flight have on the scheme up there, Miss +Cameron?" he inquired, quite steadily. + +"They will scatter to the four winds, those people," she said. "He +would not have fled unless disaster was staring him in the face. +Something has transpired to defeat his ugly plan. They will all run to +cover like so many rats." + +"The government of the United States is a good rat-catcher," he said. + +"The United States would do well to keep the rats out, Mr. Barnes, +instead of allowing them to come here and thrive and multiply and gnaw +into its very vitals." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE SECOND WAYFARER IS TRANSFORMED, AND MARRIAGE IS FLOUTED + + +Mr. Rushcroft sent for Barnes at three o'clock. "Come to my room as +soon as possible," was the message delivered by Mr. Bacon. Barnes was +taking a nap. More than that, he was pleasantly dreaming when the +pounding fell upon his door. Awakened suddenly from this elysian dream +he leaped from his bed and rushed to the door, his heart in his mouth. +Something sinister was back of this imperative summons! She was in +fresh peril. The gang from Green Fancy had descended upon the Tavern in +force and-- + +"Sorry to disturb you," said Mr. Bacon, as the door flew open, "but he +says it's important. He says--" + +"I wish you would tell him to go to the devil," said Barnes wrathfully. + +"Superfluous, I assure you, sir. He says that everything and everybody +is going to the devil, so--" + +"If he wants to see me why doesn't he come to my room? Why should I go +to his?" + +"Lord bless you, don't you know that it's one of the prerogatives of a +star to insist on people coming to him instead of the other way about? +What's the use of being a star if you can't--" + +"Tell him I will come when I get good and ready." + +"Quite so," said Mr. Bacon absently. He did not retire, but stood in +the door, evidently weighing something that was on his mind and +considering the best means of relieving himself of the mental burden. +"Ahem!" he coughed. "Miss Thackeray advises me that you have expressed +a generous interest in our personal"--(He stepped inside the room and +closed the door)--"er--in our private future, so to speak, and I take +this opportunity to thank you, Mr. Barnes. If it isn't asking too much +of you, I'd like you to say a word or two in my behalf to the old man. +You might tell him that you believe I have a splendid future before +me,--and you wouldn't be lying, let me assure you,--and that there is +no doubt in your mind that a Broadway engagement is quite imminent. A +word from you to one of the Broadway managers, by the way, would--" + +"You want me to intercede for you in the matter of two engagements +instead of one, is that it?" + +"I am already engaged to Miss Thackeray,--in a way. The better way to +put it would be for you to intercede in the matter of one marriage and +one engagement. I think he would understand the situation much better +if you put it in that way." + +"Have you spoken to Mr. Rushcroft about it?" + +"Only in a roundabout way. I told him I'd beat his head off if he ever +spoke to Miss Thackeray again as he did last night." + +"Well, that's a fair sort of start," said Barnes, who was brushing his +hair. "What did he say to that?" + +"I don't know. I had to close the door rather hastily. If he said +anything at all it was after the chair hit the door. Ahem! That was +last night. He is as nice as pie this afternoon, so I have an idea that +he busted the chair and doesn't want old Jones to find out about it." + +"I will say a good word for you," said Barnes, grinning. + +He found Mr. Rushcroft in a greatly perturbed state of mind. + +"I've had telegrams from the three people I mentioned to you, Barnes, +and the damned ingrates refuse to join us unless they get their +railroad fares to Crowndale. Moreover, they had the insolence to send +the telegrams collect. The more you do for the confounded bums, the +more they ask. I once had a leading woman who--" + +Barnes was in no humour to listen to the long-winded reminiscences of +the "star," so he cut him short at once. He ascertained that the +"ingrates" were in New York, on their "uppers," and that they could not +accomplish the trip to Crowndale unless railroad tickets were provided. +The difficulty was bridged in short order by telegrams requesting the +distant players to apply the next day at his office in New York where +tickets to Crowndale would be given them. He telegraphed his office to +buy the tickets and hold them for Miss Milkens, Mr. Hatcher and Mr. +Fling. + +"That completes one of the finest companies, Mr. Barnes, that ever took +the road," said Mr. Rushcroft warmly, forgetting his animosity. "You +will never be associated with a more evenly balanced company of +players, sir. I congratulate you upon your wonderful good fortune in +having such a cast for 'The Duke's Revenge.' If you can maintain a +similar standard of excellence in all of your future productions, you +will go down in history as the most astute theatrical manager of the +day." + +Barnes winced, but was game. "When do you start rehearsals, Rushcroft?" + +"It is my plan to go to Crowndale to-morrow or the next day, where I +shall meet my company. Rehearsals will undoubtedly start at once. That +would give us--let me see--Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday--four days. +We open on Tuesday night. Oh, by the way, I have engaged a young woman +of most unusual talent to take the minor part of Hortense. You may have +noticed her in the dining-room. Miss Rosamond--er--where did I put that +card?--ah, yes, Miss Floribel Blivens. The poor idiot insists on +Blivens, desiring to perpetuate the family monicker. I have gotten rid +of her spectacles, however, and the name that the prehistoric Blivenses +gave her at the christening." + +"You--you don't mean Miss Tilly?" + +"I do. She is to give notice to Jones to-day. There are more ways than +one of getting even with a scurvy caitiff. In this case, I take old +Jones's best waitress away from him, and, praise God, he'll never find +another that will stick to him for eighteen years as she has done." + +O'Dowd returned late in the afternoon. He was in a hurry to get back to +Green Fancy; there was no mistaking his uneasiness. He drew Barnes +aside. + +"For the love of Heaven, Barnes, get her away from here as soon as +possible, and do it as secretly as you can," he said. "I may as well +tell you that she is in more danger from the government secret service +than from any one up yonder. Understand, I'm not pleading guilty to +anything, but I shall be far, far away from here meself before another +sunrise. That ought to mean something to you." + +"But she has done no wrong. She has not laid herself liable to--" + +"That isn't the point. She has been up there with us, and you don't +want to put her in the position of having to answer a lot of nasty +questions they'll be after asking her if they get their hands on her. +She might be weeks or months clearing herself, innocent though she be. +Mind you, she is as square as anything; she is in no way mixed up with +our affairs up there. But I'm giving you the tip. Sneak her out as soon +as you can, and don't leave any trail." + +"She may prefer to face the music, O'Dowd. If I know her at all, she +will refuse to run away." + +"Then ye'll have to kidnap her," said the Irishman earnestly. "There +will be men swarming here from both sides of the border by to-morrow +night or next day. I've had direct information. The matter is in the +hands of the people at Washington and they are in communication with +Ottawa this afternoon. Never mind how I found it out. It's the gospel +truth, and--it's going to be bad for all of us if we're here when they +come." + +"Who is she, O'Dowd? Man to man, tell me the truth. I want to know just +where I stand." + +O'Dowd hesitated, looked around the tap-room, and then leaned across +the table. + +"She is the daughter of Andreas Mara-Dafanda, former minister of war in +the cabinet of Prince Bolaroz the Sixth. Her mother was first cousin to +the Prince. Both father and mother are dead. And for that matter, so is +Bolaroz the Sixth. He was killed early in this war. His brother, a +prisoner in Austria, as you may already know, is the next in line for +the throne,--if the poor devil lives to get it back from the Huns. Miss +Cameron is in reality the Countess Therese Mara-Dafanda--familiarly and +lovingly known in her own land as the Countess Ted. She was visiting in +this country when the war broke out. If it is of any use to you, I'll +add that she would be rich if Aladdin could only come to life and +restore the splendours of the demolished castle, refill the chests of +gold that have been emptied by the conquerors, and restock the farms +that have been pillaged and devastated. In the absence of Aladdin, +however, she is almost as poor as the ancient church-mouse. But she has +a fortune of her own. Two of the most glorious rubies in the world +represent her lips; her eyes are sapphires that put to shame the rocks +of all the Sultans; when she smiles, you may look upon pearls that +would make the Queen of Sheba's trinkets look like chinaware; her skin +is of the rarest and richest velvet; her hair is all silk and a yard +wide; and, best of all, she has a heart of pure gold. So there you are, +me man. Half the royal progeny of Europe have been suitors for her +hand, and the other half would be if they didn't happen to be of the +same sex." + +"Is she likely to--er--marry any one of them, O'Dowd?" + +"Do you mean, is she betrothed to one of the royal nuts? If I were her +worst enemy I couldn't wish her anything as bad as that. The world is +full of regular men,--like meself, for example,--and 'twould be a pity +to see her wasted upon anything so cheap as a king." + +"Then, she isn't?" + +"Isn't what?" + +"Betrothed." + +"Oh!" He squinted his eyes drolly. "Bedad, if she is, she's kept it a +secret from me. Have you aspirations, me friend?" + +"Certainly not," said Barnes sharply. "By the way, you have mentioned +Prince Bolaroz the Sixth, but you haven't given a name to the country +he ruled." + +O'Dowd stared. "The Saints preserve us! Is the man a numbskull? Are you +saying that you don't know who and what--My God, such ignorance +bewilders me!" + +"Painful as it may be to you, O'Dowd, I don't seem able to place +Bolaroz in his proper realm." + +"Whist, then!" He put his hand to his mouth and whispered a name. + +An incredulous expression came into Barnes's eyes. "Are you jesting +with me, O'Dowd?" + +"I am not." + +"But I thought it was nothing more than a make-believe, imaginary land, +cooked up by some hair-brained novelist for the purpose of--" + +"Well, ye know better now," said O'Dowd crisply. "Good-bye. I must be +on my way. Deliver my best wishes to her, Barnes, and say that if she +ever needs a friend Billy O'Dowd is the boy to respond to any call she +sends out. God willing, I may see her again some day,--and I'll say the +same to you, old man." He arose and held out his hand. "I'm trusting to +you to get her away from these parts before the rat-catchers come. +Don't let 'em bother her. Good-bye and good luck forever." + +"You are a brick, O'Dowd. I want to see you again. You will always find +me--" + +"Thanks. Don't issue any rash invitations. I might take you up." He +strode to the door, followed by Barnes. + +"Is there anything to be feared from this Prince Ugo or the crowd up +there?" + +"There would be if they knew where they could lay their hands on her +inside of the next ten hours. She could a tale unfold, and they +wouldn't like that. Keep her under cover here till--well, till THAT +danger is past and then keep her out of the danger that is to come." + +Barnes started upstairs as soon as O'Dowd was off, urged by an +eagerness that put wings on his feet and a thrill of excitement in his +blood. Half way up he stopped short. A new condition confronted him. +What was the proper way to approach a person of royal blood? Certainly +it wasn't right to go galumping upstairs and bang on her door, and +saunter in as if she were just like any one else. He would have to +think. + +When he resumed his upward progress it was with a chastened and +deferential mien. Pausing at her door, he was at once aware of voices +inside the room. He stood there for some time before he realised that +Miss Thackeray was repeating, with theatric fervour, though haltingly, +as much of her "part" as she could remember, evidently to the +satisfaction of the cousin of princes, for there were frequent +interruptions which had all the symptoms of applause. + +He rapped on the door, but so timorously that nothing came of it. His +second effort was productive. He heard Miss Thackeray say "good +gracious," and, after a moment, Miss Cameron's subdued: "What is it?" + +"May I come in?" he inquired, rather ashamed of his vigour. "It's only +Barnes." + +"Come in," was her lively response. "It was awfully good of you, Miss +Thackeray, to let me hear your lines. I think you will be a great +success in the part." + +"Thanks," said Miss Thackeray drily. "I'll come in again and let you +hear me in the third act." She went out, mumbling her lines as she +passed Barnes without seeing him. + +"Forgive me for not arising, Mr. Barnes," said Royalty, a wry little +smile on her lips. "I fear I twisted it more severely than I thought at +first. It is really quite painful." + +"Your ankle?" he cried in surprise. "When and how did it happen? I'm +sorry, awfully sorry." + +"It happened last night, just as we were crossing the ditch in front--" + +"Last night? Why didn't you tell me? Don't you know that it's wrong to +walk with a sprained ankle? Don't--" + +"Don't be angry with me," she pleaded. "You could not have done +anything." + +"Couldn't I, though? I certainly could have carried you the rest of the +way,--and upstairs." He was conscious of a strange exasperation. He +felt as though he had been deliberately cheated out of something. + +"You poor man! I am quite heavy." + +"Pooh! A hundred and twenty-five at the outside. Do you think I'm a +weakling?" + +"Please, please!" she cried. "You look so--so furious. I know you are +very, very strong,--but so am I. Why should I expect you to carry me +all that distance when--" + +"But, good Lord," he blurted out, "I would have loved to do it. I can't +imagine anything more--I--I--" He broke off in confusion. + +She smiled divinely. "Alas, it is too late now. But--" she went on +gaily, "you may yet have the pleasure of carrying me downstairs, Mr. +Barnes. Will that appease your wrath?" + +He flushed. "I'm sorry I--" + +"See," she said, "it is nicely bandaged,--and if you could see through +the bandages you would find it dreadfully swollen. That nice Miss +Thackeray doctored me. What a quaint person she is." + +His brow clouded once more. "I hope you will feel able to leave this +place to-morrow, Countess. We must get away almost immediately." + +"Ah, you have been listening to O'Dowd, I see." + +"Yes. He tells me it will be dangerous to--" + +"I was thinking of something else that he must have told you. You +forgot to address me as Miss Cameron." + +"I might have gone even farther and called you the Countess Ted," he +said. + +She sighed. "It was rather nice being Miss Cameron to you, Mr. Barnes. +You will not let it make any difference, will you? I mean to say, you +will be just the same as if I were still Miss Cameron and not--some one +else?" + +"I will be just the same," he said, leaning a little closer. "I am not +so easily frightened as all that, you know." + +She looked into his eyes for a moment, and then turned her own swiftly +away. Entranced, he watched the delicate colour steal into her cheek. + +"You are just like other women," he said thickly, "and I am like other +men. We can't help being what we are, Countess. Flesh and blood +mortals, that's all. If a cat may look at a king, why may not I look at +a countess?" + +She met his gaze, but not steadily. Her deep blue eyes were filled with +a vague wonder; she seemed to be searching for something in his to +explain the sudden embarrassment that had come over her. + +"Ah, I do not understand you American men," she murmured, shaking her +head. "A king would have found as much pleasure in looking at Miss +Cameron as at a countess. Why shouldn't YOU?" A radiant smile lighted +her face. "The king would not think of reproving the cat. I see no +reason why you should not look at a poor little countess with impunity." + +"Do you think it would be possible for you to understand me any better +as Miss Cameron?" he asked bluntly. + +"I think perhaps it would," she said, the smile fading. + +"Then, I shall continue to look upon you as Miss Cameron, Countess. It +will make it easier for both of us." + +"Yes," she said, a little sadly, "I am sure Miss Cameron would not be +half so dense as the Countess. She would understand perfectly. She has +grown to be a very discerning person, Mr. Barnes, notwithstanding her +extreme youth. Miss Cameron is only four days old, you see." + +He bowed very low and said: "My proudest boast is that I have known her +since the day she was born. If I had the tongue and the courage of +O'Dowd I might add a great deal to that statement." + +"A great deal that you would not say to a countess?" she asked, playing +with fire. + +"A great deal that a child four days old could hardly be expected to +grasp, Miss Cameron," he replied, pointedly. "Having lived to a great +age myself, and acquired wisdom, I appreciate the futility of uttering +profound truths to an infant in arms." + +She beamed. "O'Dowd could not have done any better than that," she +cried. Then quickly, even nervously, as he was about to speak again: +"Now, tell me all that Mr. O'Dowd had to say." + +He seated himself and repeated the Irishman's warning. Her eyes clouded +as he went on; utter dejection came into them. + +"He is right. It would be difficult for me to clear myself. My own +people would be against me. No one would believe that I did not +deliberately make off with the jewels. They would say that I--oh, it is +too dreadful!" + +"Don't worry about that," he exclaimed. "You have me to testify that--" + +"How little you know of intrigue," she cried. "They would laugh at you +and say that you were merely another fool who had lost his head over a +woman. They would say that I duped you--" + +"No!" he cried vehemently. "Your people know better than you think. You +are disheartened, discouraged. Things will look brighter to-morrow. +Good heavens, think how much worse it might have been. That--that +infernal brute was going to force you into a vile, unholy marriage. +He--By the way," he broke off abruptly, "I have been thinking a lot +about what you told me. He couldn't have married you without your +consent. Such a marriage would never hold in a court of--" + +"You are wrong," she said quietly. "He could have married me without my +consent, and it would have held,--not in one of your law courts, I dare +say, but in the court to which he and I belong by laws that were made +centuries before America was discovered. A prince of the royal house +may wed whom and when he chooses, provided he does not look too far +beneath his station. He may not wed a commoner. The state would not +recognise such a union. My consent was not necessary." + +"But you are in my country now, not in yours," he argued. "Our laws +would have protected you." + +"You do not understand. Marriages such as he contemplated are made +every year in Europe. Do you suppose that the royal marriages you read +about in the newspapers are made with the consent of the poor little +princes and princesses? Your laws are one thing, Mr. Barnes; our courts +are another. Need I be more explicit?" + +"I think I understand," he said slowly. "Poor wretches!" + +"Prince Ugo is of royal blood. I am not too far beneath him. In my +country his word is the law. The marriage that was to have been +celebrated to-day at Green Fancy would have bound me to him forever. It +would have been recognised in my country as legal. I have not the right +of appeal. I would not even be permitted to question his right to make +me his wife against my will. He is a prince. His will is law." + +"Isn't love allowed to enter into a--" + +"Love?" she scorned. "What has love to do with it? There isn't a queen +in all the world who loves--or loved, I would better say,--the man she +married. Some of them may have grown afterwards to love their kings, +because all kings are not alike. You may be quite sure, however, that +the wives of kings and princes did not marry their ideals; they did not +marry the men they loved. So, you see, it wouldn't have mattered in the +least to Prince Ugo whether I loved him or hated him. It was all the +same to him. It was enough that he loved me and wanted me. And besides, +laying sentiment aside, it wouldn't have been a bad stroke of business +on his part. He has a fair chance to sit on the throne of our country. +By placing me beside him on the throne he would be taking a long step +toward uniting the factions that are now bitterly opposing each other. +I am able to discuss all this very calmly with you now, Mr. Barnes, for +the nightmare is ended. I am here with you, alive and well. If you had +not come for me last night, I would now be sleeping the long sleep at +Green Fancy." + +"You--you would have taken your own life?" he said, in a shocked voice. + +"I would have spared myself the horror of letting him destroy it in a +slower, more painful fashion," she said, compressing her lips. + +He did not speak at once. Looking into her troubled eyes, he said, +after a soulful moment: "I am glad that I came in time. You were made +to love and be loved. The man you love,--if there ever be one so +fortunate,--will be my debtor to the end of his days. I glorify myself +for having been instrumental in saving you for him." + +"If there ever be one so fortunate," she mused. Suddenly her mood +changed. A new kind of despair came into her lovely eyes, a plaintive +note into her voice. (I may be pardoned for declaring that she became, +in the twinkling of an eye, a real flesh and blood woman.) "I don't +know what I shall do unless I can get something to wear, Mr. Barnes. I +haven't a thing, you see. This suit is--well, you can see what it is. +I--" + +"I've never seen a more attractive suit," he pronounced. "I said as +much to myself the first time I saw it, the other evening at the +cross-roads. It fits--" + +"But I cannot LIVE in it, you know. My boxes are up at Green +Fancy,--two small ones for steamer use. Everything I have in the world +is in them. Pray do not look so forlorn. You really couldn't have +carried them, Mr. Barnes, and I shudder when I think of what would have +happened to you if I had tumbled them out of the window upon your head. +You would have been squashed, and it isn't unlikely that you would have +aroused every one in the house with your groans and curses." + +"I dropped a trunk on my toes one time," he said, grinning with a +delight that had nothing to do with the reminiscence. She was quaintly +humorous once more, and he was happy. "I think one swears more +prodigiously when a trunk falls on his toes than he does when it drops +on his head. There is something wonderfully quieting and soothing about +a trunk lighting on one's head from a great height. Don't worry about +your boxes. I have a feeling it will be perfectly safe to call for them +with a wagon to-morrow." + +"I don't know what I should do without you," she said. + +That evening at supper, Barnes and Mr. Rushcroft, to say nothing of +three or four "transients," had great cause for complaint about the +service. Miss Tilly was wholly pre-occupied. She was memorising her +"part." Instead of asking Mr. Rushcroft whether he would have bean soup +or noodles, she wanted to know whether she should speak the line this +way or that. She had a faraway, strained look in her eyes, and she +mumbled so incessantly that one of the guests got up and went out to +see Mr. Jones about it. Being assured that she was just a plain damn' +fool and not crazy, he returned and said a great many unpleasant things +in the presence of Miss Tilly, who fortunately did not hear them. + +"You've spoiled a very good waitress, Rushcroft," said Barnes. + +"And a very good appetite as well," growled the Star. + +Late in the night, Barnes, sitting at his window dreaming dreams, saw +two big touring cars whiz past the tavern. The next morning Peter Ames, +the chauffeur, called him up on the telephone to inquire whether he had +heard anything more about the job on his sister's place. He was anxious +to know, he said, because everybody had cleared out of Green Fancy +during the night and he had received instructions to lock up the house +and look for another situation. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +MR. SPROUSE CONTINUES TO BE PERPLEXING, BUT PUTS HIS NOSE TO THE GROUND + + +The morning air was soft with the first real touch of spring. A quiet +haze lay over the valley; the lofty hills were enjoying a peaceful +smoke, and the sky was as blue as the turquoise. Birds shrilled a +fresh, gay carol; the song of the anvil had a new thrill of joy in +every inspiring note; the cawing of crows travelled melodiously across +the fields, roosters split their throats in vociferous acclaim to the +distant sun, and hens clucked a complacent chorus. The rattle of +kitchen pans was melody to the ear instead of torture; the squeaking of +pigs in the sty beyond the stable yard took on the dignity of music; +and the blue smoke that rose from chimneys near and far went dancing up +to wed the smiling sky. + +Barnes was abroad early. Very greatly to his annoyance, he had slept +long and soundly throughout the night. He was annoyed because he had +made up his mind that as her protector he would be most negligent if he +went to sleep at all, with all those frightened varlets hovering around +ready to go to any extreme in order to save their skins. + +Indeed, he left his door slightly ajar and laid his revolver on a chair +beside the bed, in which, with the aid of a lantern, he promised +himself to keep the vigil, stretched out in his daytime garb, prepared +for instant action, the while he enriched his mind by reading "The Man +of Property." But he fell to dreaming with his eyes wide open, and few +were the pages he turned. + +Suddenly it was broad daylight and the wick in the lantern smelled +horribly. He popped from the bed, rubbed his eyes, and then dashed out +in the hall, expecting to come upon sanguinary evidence of a raid +during the night. To his amazement, there were no visible signs of an +attack upon the house. It seemed incredible that his defection had not +been attended by results too horrible to contemplate. By all the laws +of fate, she should now be either dead or at the very least, +frightfully mutilated. Something like that invariably happens when a +sentinel sleeps at his post, or an engineer drowses in his cab. But +nothing of the sort had happened. + +Mr. Bacon, sweeping the front stairs, assured him between yawns that he +hadn't heard a sound in the Tavern after half-past ten,--at which hour +he went to bed and to sleep. + +Barnes was at breakfast when Peter Ames called up. An inspiration +seized him when the chauffeur mentioned the wholesale exodus: he hired +Peter forthwith and ordered him to report immediately,--with the car. +He was going up to Green Fancy for Miss Cameron's "boxes." + +Whether it was the fresh, sweet smell of the earth that caused him to +saunter forth from the Tavern, and to adventure across the road to the +foot of the great old oak, or the ripening of spring in his blood, is +of no immediate consequence here. He had no reason for going over there +to lean against the tree and light his after-breakfast pipe,--unless, +of course, it be argued that the position afforded a fair and excellent +view of the window in Miss Cameron's room. The shutters were open and +the low sash was raised. + +Presently she appeared at the window, and smiled down upon him. The +spell was at its height; the charm that had clothed the morning with +enchantment was now complete. + +He waved his hand. "The top o' the morning," he cried. + +"I detect coffee," she returned, "and, oh, how good it smells. Have you +had yours?" + +"Ages ago," he replied, ecstatically. + +She placed her elbows on the sill and her chin in the palms of her +hands. The loose sleeves of Miss Thackeray's bizarre dressing gown fell +away, revealing two round, smooth, white arms. The sun shot its mellow +light into the ripples of her tousled hair, and it shone like burnished +gold. Her white teeth gleamed against the red of her smiling lips. He +was fascinated. + +The automobile driven by Peter Ames too soon came roaring and rattling +up the pike. She withdrew her head, after twice being warned by Barnes +not to reveal herself to the view of skulkers who might infest the wood +beyond,--and each time his reward was a delightfully stubborn shake of +the head and the ruthless assertion that on such a heavenly morning as +this she didn't mind in the least if all the spies in the world were +gazing at her. + +Two minutes after Peter drove up to the Tavern he was on the way back +to Green Fancy again, and seated beside him was Thomas Kingsbury +Barnes, his new master. + +"Needn't be afraid of trespassin'," said Peter when Barnes advised him +to go slow as they turned off the road into the forest. "Nobody's going +to object. You c'n yell, and shoot, and raise all the thunder you want, +an' there won't be nobody runnin' out to tell you to shut up. Might as +well try to disturb a graveyard." + +There was not a sign of human life about the place. Peter, without +compunction, admitted his employer through the back door of the house, +and accompanied him upstairs to the room recently occupied by Miss +Cameron. + +"Course," he said, but not uneasily, "I'm not supposed to let anybody +remove anything from the house as long as I'm employed as caretaker." + +"But you are no longer employed as caretaker. You were discharged and +you are now working for me, Peter." + +"That's so," said Peter, scratching his head. "Makes all the difference +in the world. I never thought of that. Come to think of it, I guess +Miss Cameron needs clothes as much as anybody. The rest of 'em took all +their duds away with 'em, you c'n bet. Would you know Miss Cameron's +clothes if you was to see 'em?" + +"Perfectly," said Barnes. + +"That's good," said Peter, relieved. "Clothes seem to look purty much +alike to me, specially women's." + +They found the two small leather trunks, thickly belabelled, in the +room upstairs. Both were locked. + +"I don't see how you're going to identify 'em without seein' 'em," said +Peter dubiously. + +Barnes looked at him sternly. "Peter, be good enough to remember that +you are working for a man of the most highly developed powers of +divination. Do you get that?" + +"No, sir," said Peter honestly; "I don't." + +"Well, if I were to say to you that I possess the singular ability to +see a thing without actually seeing it, what would you say?" + +"I wouldn't say anything, because I don't think it helps a man any to +call his boss a liar." + +"You take this one," said Barnes, without further parley, "and I will +manage the other." He was in a hurry to get away from the house. There +was no telling when the government agents would descend upon the place. +He was at a loss to understand O'Dowd's failure to remove the trunks +which would so surely draw the attention of the authorities to the girl +he seemed so eager to shield. "And, by the way," he added, as they +descended the stairs with the trunks on their backs, "you may as well +get your own things together, Peter. We start on a long motor trip +to-night. I am afraid we shall have to steal the automobile, if you +don't mind." + +"It belongs to me, sir," said Peter. "Mr. O'Dowd gave it to me +yesterday, with his compliments. It seems that he had word from his +sister to reward me for long and faithful service. Special cablegram +from London or England, I forget which." + +"Did Mr. Curtis leave with the others last night?" inquired Barnes, +setting the trunk down on the brick pavement outside the door. + +"'Pears that he left a couple of days ago," said Peter, vastly +perplexed. "By gosh, I don't see how he done it, 'thout me knowin' +anything about it. Derned queer, that's all I got to say, man as sick +as he is." + +Barnes did not enlighten him. He helped Peter to lift the trunks into +the car and then ordered him to start at once for Hart's Tavern. + +"You can return later on for your things," he said. + +"I got 'em tied up in a bundle in the garage, Mr. Burns," he said. +"Won't take a second to get 'em out." He hurried around the corner of +the house, leaving Barnes alone with the car. + +A dry, quiet chuckle fell upon Barnes's ears. He glanced about in +surprise and alarm. No one was in sight. + +"Look up, young man," and the startled young man obeyed. His gaze +halted at a window on the second story, almost directly over his head. + +Mr. Sprouse was looking down upon him, his sharp features fixed in a +sardonic grin. + +"Well, I'll be damned!" burst from Barnes's lips. He could not believe +his eyes. + +"Surprised to see me, eh? If you're not in a hurry, I'd certainly +appreciate a lift as far as the Tavern, old man. I'll be down in a +jiffy." + +"Hold on! What the deuce does all this mean? How do you happen to be +here, and where are the--" + +"Sh! Not so loud! Don't get excited. I dare say you know all there is +to know about me by this time, so we needn't waste time over trifles. +Stand aside! I'm going to drop." A moment later he swung over the sill, +and dropped lightly to the ground eight feet below. Dusting his hands, +he advanced and extended one of them to the bewildered Barnes. "Oh, you +won't shake, eh? Well, it doesn't matter. I don't blame you." + +"See here, Sprouse or whatever your name is,--" + +"Cool off! I'll explain in ten words. I didn't get the stuff. I came +back this morning to have a quiet, undisturbed look around. My only +reason for revealing myself to you now, Barnes, is to ask your +assistance in--" + +"Ask my assistance, you infernal rogue!" roared Barnes. "Why, +I'll--I'll--" + +"Better hear me out," broke in Sprouse calmly. + +"I could drill a hole through you so quickly you'd never know what did +it," he went on. His hand was in his coat pocket, and a quick glance +revealed to Barnes a singularly impressive angle in the cloth, the +point of which seemed to be directed squarely at his chest. "But I'm +not going to do it. I just want to set myself straight with you. In a +word, I never got anywhere near the room in which the jewels were +hidden. This is God's truth, Barnes. I didn't stick a knife into that +poor devil up there the other night. Here's what actually happened. I--" + +"Wait a moment. You intended to steal the jewels, didn't you? You were +not playing fair with me then, so why should I put any faith in you +now?" + +"Honest confession is good for the soul," said Sprouse easily. "I +wasn't the only one who was trying to get the baubles, my friend. It +was a game in which only the best man could win." + +"I know the truth now about Roon and Paul," said Barnes significantly. + +"You do?" sneered Sprouse. "I'll bet you a thousand to one you do not. +If the girl told you what she believes to be true, she didn't have it +straight at all. She was led to believe that they were a couple of +crooks and that they fixed me in that Tavern down there. Isn't that +what she told you? Well, that story was cooked up for her special +benefit. I don't mind telling you the truth about them, and you can +tell it to her. Roon was the Baron Hedlund--But all this can wait. +Now--" + +"Did you shoot either of those men?" + +"I did not. Baron Hedlund was shot, I firmly believe, by Prince Ugo. I +might as well go on with the story now and have it over with. Tell that +chauffeur to take a little stroll. He doesn't have to hear the story, +you know. Hedlund came up here a week or so ago to keep a look-out for +his wife. The Baroness is supposed to be deeply enamoured of Prince +Ugo. He found letters which seemed to indicate that she was planning to +join the Prince up here. In any event, he came to watch. Well, she +didn't come. She had been headed off, but he didn't know that. When he +heard of the arrival of a lady at Green Fancy the other afternoon, he +got busy. He went right up there with blood in his eye. I admit that I +am the gentleman who telephoned the warning up to the Prince. They +tried to head the Baron and his man off at the cross-roads, but he beat +them to it. If there was to be a fight, they didn't want it to happen +anywhere near the house. Part of them, led by Ugo himself, took a short +cut up through the woods and met the two men in the road. + +"There is only one man in the world to-day who is a better shot at +night than Prince Ugo, and modesty keeps me from mentioning his +illustrious name. That's why I believe Ugo is the one who got the +Baron,--or Roon, as you know him. The other fellow was halted at the +cross-roads when he made a run for it. A couple of men had been sent +there for just such an emergency. Hedlund was a curiously chivalrous +chap. He went to extreme measures to protect his wife's good name by +wiping out all means of identification. His wife's good name! It is to +laugh! Now, that is the true story of the little affair, and if you are +as much of a gentleman as I take you to be, Barnes, you will respect +Hedlund's desire to shield the woman he loved, and let him lie up +yonder in an unmarked grave. That is what he figured on, you know, in +case things went against him, and I'll stake my head that if you put it +up to the Countess Therese, she will feel as I do about it. She will +beg you to keep the secret. Hedlund was a lifelong friend of her +family. He was beloved by all of them. He married an actress in Vienna +three or four years ago. On second thoughts, if I were you I'd spare +the Countess. I'd let her go on thinking that the story she has heard +is true,--at least for the time being. She's a nice girl and there's no +sense in giving her any unnecessary pain. But that's up to you. You can +do as you please about it. + +"Now to go back to my own troubles. When I got out into the hall night +before last, after leaving her room, I heard voices whispering in +Prince Ugo's room. Naturally I thought that some one had lamped us on +the outside, and that I was likely to be in a devil of a mess if I +wasn't careful. The last place for me to go was back into her room. +They would cut me off from the outside. So I beat it up the stairway +into the attic. Nothing happened, so I sneaked down to have a peep +around. The door to Ugo's room was open, but there was no light on the +inside. He came to the door and looked up and down the hall. Then some +one else came out and started to sneak away. I leave you to guess the +sex. + +"Nicholas butted in at this unfortunate juncture. He made the mistake +of his life. I could see him as plain as day, standing in the hall +grinning like an ape. Ugo jumped back into his room. In less than a +second he was out again. He landed squarely on Nicholas's back as the +fellow turned to escape. I saw the steel flash. Poor old Nick went down +in a heap, letting out a horrible yell. Ugo dragged him into the room +and dashed back into his own. A moment later he came out again, yelling +for help. I heard him shouting that the house had been robbed,--and in +two seconds there was an uproar all over the place. I thought I was +done for. But he had them all rushing downstairs, yelling that the +thief had gone that way. There was only one thing left for me to do and +that was to get out on the roof if possible, and wait for things to +quiet down. I got out through a trap door and stayed there for an hour +or so. They were beating the forest for the thief, and I give you my +word, believe it or not, I actually sent up a prayer, Barnes, that you +had got off safely with the girl. I prayed harder than I ever dreamed a +man could pray. + +"Well, to shorten the story, I finally took a chance and slid down to +the eaves where I managed to find the limb of a tree big enough to +support me,--just as if the Lord had ordered it put there for my +special benefit. I was soon on the ground, and that meant safety for +me. I had heard Ugo tell the others that Nicholas said the man who +stabbed him was yours truly. Can you beat it? And then every mother's +son of them declared it was a feat that no one else in the world could +have pulled off but me, and as I was nowhere to be found, it was only +natural that all of them should believe the lie that Ugo told. + +"And now comes the maddening part of the whole business. He said that +the crown jewels were gone! I heard him telling how he was awakened out +of a sound sleep by a man with a gun, who forced him to open the safe +and hand over the treasure. Then he said he was put to sleep again by a +crack over the head with a slung-shot. He was only partially +stunned,--Lord, what a liar!--and came to in time to hear the struggle +across the hall. The thief was running downstairs when he staggered to +the door. It seems that the door at the bottom of the steps had not +been closed that night. + +"Now, my dear Mr. Barnes, when I asked you to lend your assistance +awhile ago, it was only to have you tell me when it was that Mr. Loeb +left this place, which way he went, and who accompanied him. If we are +to find the crown jewels, my friend, we will first have to find Prince +Ugo. He has them." + +Barnes had not taken his eyes from the face of this amazing rascal +during the whole of the recital. He had been deceived in him before; he +was determined not to be fooled again. + +"I don't believe a word of this yarn," he said flatly. "You have the +jewels and--" + +"Don't be an ass," snapped Sprouse. "If I had them do you suppose I'd +be fiddling around here to-day? Not much. I saw the gang making their +getaway last night, and I saw Peter depart this morning. I concluded to +have a look about the place. Hope springs eternal, you know. There was +a bare possibility that he might have forgotten them!" He scowled as he +grinned, and never had Barnes looked upon a countenance so evil. + +"Why should I tell YOU anything about Prince Ugo? It would only be +helping you to carry out the game--" + +"Look here, Mr. Barnes, I'm not going to double-cross you again. That's +all over. I want to get that scurvy dog who knifed poor old Nick. Nick +was a decent, square man. He wasn't a crook. He was a patriot, if such +a thing exists in this world to-day. If you can give me a lead, I'll +try to run Prince Ugo down. And if I do, we'll get the jewels." + +"We? You amuse me, Sprouse." + +"Well, I can't do any more than give my promise, my solemn oath, or +something like that. I can't give a bond, you know. I swear to you that +if I lay hands on that stuff, I will deliver it to you. Might just as +well trust me as Ugo. You won't get them from him, that's sure; and you +may get them from me." + +"Is it revenge you're after?" + +"My God," almost shouted Sprouse in his exasperation, "didn't he give +me a black eye among my friends up here? Didn't he put me in wrong with +all of them? Do you think I'm going to stand for that? Think I'm going +to let him get away with it? You don't know me, my friend. I've got a +reputation at stake. No one has ever double-crossed me and got away +with it. I want to prove to the world that I didn't take those jewels. +I--" + +"Just what do you mean by 'the world,' Sprouse?" + +"My world," he replied succinctly. "I'm not a piker, you know," he went +on, cocking one eye in a somewhat supercilious manner. "The stakes are +always high in my game. I don't play for pennies." + +"Get in the car," said Barnes suddenly. He had decided to take a chance +with the resourceful, indefatigable rascal. There was nothing to be +lost by setting him on the track of Prince Ugo, who, if the man's story +was true, had betrayed his best friends. There was something convincing +about Sprouse's version of the affair at Green Fancy. He called out to +Peter. + +"I suppose you know that the whole game is up, Naismith," he said, +lowering his voice. Peter was wrathfully cranking the car. "The +government is going to take a hand in this business up here." + +"If you mean that as a hint to me, it's unnecessary. I'll be on my way +inside of an hour. This is no place for me. And that Tavern is no place +for--er--for her, Barnes. Just mention that you saw me and that I'm +going after Mr. Loeb. If I get the stuff, I'll do the square thing by +her. Not for sentimental reasons, bless you, but just because I like to +do things that make people wonder what the hell I'll do next. Tell her +the whole story if you feel like it, but if I were you I'd wait till +she is safe among her friends, where she won't be nervous. Hit it up a +bit, Peter, old boy. I'm in a hurry." + +Peter eyed him in an unfriendly manner. "Where did you come from, Mr. +Perkins? Mighty queer you--" + +Sprouse spoke softly out of the corner of his mouth. "Nice old New +England name, isn't it, Barnes?" To Peter: "It's a long story. I'll +write it to you. Speed up." + +Barnes told all that he knew of Prince Ugo's flight. Sprouse looked +thoughtful for a long time. + +"So O'Dowd knows that I really was after the swag, eh? He believes I +got it?" + +"I suppose so." + +"The only one who thinks I'm absolutely innocent is Ugo, of +course,--and Mrs. Van Dyke. That's good." Sprouse smacked his lips. +"Just send me on to Hornville in the car, and don't give me another +thought till you hear from me. I've got a pretty fair idea where I can +find Mr. Loeb. It will take a little time,--a couple of days, +perhaps,--but sooner or later he'll turn up in close proximity to the +beautiful baroness." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A TRIP BY NIGHT, A SUPPER, AND A LATE ARRIVAL + + +Shortly after sundown that evening, the Rushcroft Company evacuated +Hart's Tavern. They were delayed by the irritating and, to Mr. +Rushcroft, unpardonable behaviour of two officious gentlemen, lately +arrived, who insisted politely but firmly on prying into the past, +present and future history of the several members of the organisation, +including the new "backer" or "angel," as one of the operatives slyly +observed to the other on beholding Miss Thackeray. + +Barnes easily established his own identity and position, and was not +long in convincing the investigators that his connection with the +stranded company was of a purely philanthropic nature,--yes, even +platonic, he asseverated with some heat when the question was put to +him. + +They examined him closely concerning his solitary visit to Green Fancy, +and he described to the best of his ability all but one of the inmates. +He neglected to mention Miss Cameron. Realising that he would be +storing up trouble for himself if he failed to mention his trip to the +house that morning,--they were sure to hear of it in time,--he set his +mind to the task of constructing a satisfactory explanation. He +concluded to sacrifice Peter Ames, temporarily at least. Taking Peter +aside, he explained the situation to him, impressing upon him the +importance of leaving Miss Cameron and her luggage out of the +interview, and to say nothing about the return of "Mr. Perkins." + +Fortified by Barnes's promise to protect him if he followed these +instructions, Peter consented to tell all that he knew about the people +at Green Fancy. Whereupon his new employer informed the secret service +men that he had gone up to Green Fancy that morning in response to an +appeal from Peter Ames, who had applied to him for a position a day or +two before. On his arrival there he confirmed the bewildered +chauffeur's story that the whole crowd had stolen away during the +night. He guaranteed to produce Peter at any time he was needed, and +was perfectly willing to discommode himself to the extent of leaving +the man behind if they insisted on holding him. + +The officers, after putting him through a rather rigid examination, +held private consultation over Peter. To Barnes's surprise and +subsequent dismay, they announced that there was nothing to be gained +by holding the man; he was at liberty to depart with his employer, +provided he would report when necessary. + +Barnes was some time in fathoming the motive behind this seeming +indifference on the part of the secret service men. It came to him like +a flash, and its significance stunned him. They had decided that there +was more to be gained by letting Peter Ames think he was above +suspicion than by keeping him on the anxious seat. Peter unrestrained +was of more value to them than Peter in durance vile. And from that +moment forward there would not be an hour of the day or night when he +was far ahead of the shadower who followed his trail. There would be a +sly, invisible pursuer at his heels, and an eye ever ready to detect +the first false move that he made. They were counting on Peter to lead +them, in his own good time, to the haunts of his comrades. He could not +escape. And he could make the fatal mistake of considering them a pack +of fools! + +Barnes, perceiving all this, was in a state of perturbation. He had +devised a very clever plan for getting Miss Cameron away from the +Tavern without attracting undue attention. She was to leave in one of +the automobiles that he had engaged to convey the players to Crowndale. +It should go without saying that she was to travel with him in Peter's +ramshackle car. In case of detention or inquiry, she was to pose as a +stage-struck young woman who had obtained a place with the company at +the last moment through his influence. + +Mr. Rushcroft was not in the secret. Barnes merely announced that he +wanted to give a charming young friend of the family a chance to see +what she could do on the stage, and that he had taken the liberty of +sending for her. The star was magnanimous. He slapped Barnes on the +back and declared that nothing could give him greater joy than to +transform any friend of his into an actress, and he didn't give a hang +whether she had talent or not. + +"We'll write in a part for her to-night," he said, "and we'll make it a +small one at first, so that she won't have any difficulty in learning +it. From night to night we'll build it up, Barnes, so that by the end +of our first month your protegee practically will be a co-star with me. +There's nothing mean about me, old chap. Any friend of yours can have--" + +Barnes made haste to explain that he did not want any one to know that +this friend of the family was going on the stage, and that he would be +greatly indebted to Rushcroft if he would keep "mum" about it for the +time being. + +"Certainly. Not a word. I understand," said Mr. Rushcroft amiably. +"I've had it happen before," he went on, a perfectly meaningless remark +that brought a flush to Barnes's cheek. + +It had been Barnes's intention to spirit his charge away from Hart's +Tavern under cover of darkness, in company with his other +"responsibilities," but the fresh turn of affairs now presented +difficulties that were likely to upset his hastily conceived strategy. +He had but one purpose in view, and that was to spare her an unpleasant +encounter with the government officials,--an encounter that conceivably +might result in very distressing complications. He had revealed his +plan to her and she apparently was very much taken with it,--indeed, +she was quite enthusiastic over the prospect of being whisked +unceremoniously to Crowndale, and thence to the home of his sister in +New York City, where she could at once put herself in communication +with friends and supporters. + +He was looking forward with dubious hopes to a possible extension of +his guardianship, involving a voyage across the Atlantic and the +triumphant delivery of the Countess, so to speak, into the eager arms +of her country's ambassador at Paris. He was now in a state of mind +that inspired him with the belief that it would be a joy to die for +her. If he died for her, she would always remember him as a brave, +devoted champion; she would exalt him; in her tender, grateful heart +there would always be a corner for him, even to the end of her +days,--even to the end of her days on the throne of her country's +ruler. Far better that he should die for her,--and have it all over +with,--than that he should live to see her the wife of--But invariably +he ceased dreaming at this point and admitted that it would be +infinitely more satisfying to live. It was his matter-of-fact +contention that while there is life there is hope. + +When the hour came for the departure from Hart's Tavern he deliberately +engaged the two secret service men in conversation in the tap-room. +Miss Cameron left the house by the rear door and was safely ensconced +in Peter's automobile long before he shook hands with the +"rat-catchers" and dashed out to join her. Tommy Gray's car, occupied +by the four players, was moving away from the door as he sprang in +beside her and slammed the door. The interior of the car was as black +as pitch. + +"Are you there?" he whispered. + +"Yes. Isn't it jolly, running away like this? It must be wonderfully +exciting to be a criminal, always dodging and--" + +"Sh! Even a limousine may have ears!" + +But if the limousine had possessed a thousand ears they would have been +rendered useless in the stormy racket made by Peter's muffler and the +thunderous roar of the exhaust as the car got under way. + +Sixty miles lay between them and Crowndale. Tommy Gray guaranteed that +the distance could be covered in three hours, even over the vile +mountain roads. Ten o'clock would find them at the Grand Palace Hotel, +none the worse for wear, provided (he always put it parenthetically) +they lived to tell the tale! The luggage had gone on ahead of them +earlier in the day. + +Peter's efforts to stay behind Tommy's venerable but surprisingly +energetic Buick were the cause of many a gasp and shudder from the +couple who sat behind him in the bounding car. He had orders to keep +back of Tommy but never to lose sight of his tail light. + +Peter was like the celebrated Tam O' Shanter. He was pursued by +spectres. The instant that he discovered that he was lagging a trifle, +he shot the car up to top speed, with the result that he had to jam on +the brakes violently in order to avoid crashing into Tommy's tail +light, and at such times Miss Cameron and Barnes sustained unpleasant +jars. Something seemed to be telling Peter that the law was stretching +out its cruel hand to clutch him from behind; he was determined to keep +out of its reach. + +There was small opportunity for conversation. The trip was not at all +as Barnes had imagined it would be. After the car had raced through +Hornville he decided that it was not necessary to keep Tommy's tail +light in view, and so directed Peter. After that conversation was +possible, but the gain was counterbalanced by a distinct sense of loss. +She relinquished her rather frenzied grasp upon his arm, and sank back +into the corner of the seat. + +"Oh, dear, what a relief!" she gasped. + +"What arrant stupidity," he growled, and she never knew that the remark +bore no relation whatsoever to Peter. + +He confessed his fears to her, and was immeasurably consoled by her +enthusiastic scorn for the consequences of his mistake. + +"Let them follow poor old Peter," she said. "We will outwit them, never +fear. If necessary, Mr. Barnes, we can travel with the company for days +and days. I think I should rather enjoy it. If you can manage to get +word to my friends in New York, to relieve their anxiety, I shall be +more than grateful. I am sure they will decide that you are acting for +the best in every particular. It would grieve them,--yes, it would +distress them greatly,--if I were to be subjected to an inquiry at the +hands of the authorities. The notoriety would be--harrowing, to say the +least. Moreover, the disclosures would certainly bring disaster upon +those who are working so loyally to right a grave wrong. They will +understand, and they will thank you not only for all that you have done +for me but for the cause I support." + +"The first time I ever saw you, I said to myself that you were a brave, +indomitable little soldier," he said warmly. "I am more than ever +convinced of it now." + +"The men of my family have been soldiers for ten generations," she said +simply, as if that covered everything. "They haven't all been heroes +but none of them has been a coward." + +"I can believe that," he said. "Blood will tell." + +"If God gives back my country to my people, Mr. Barnes," she said, +after a long silence, "will you not one day make your way out there to +us, so that we may present some fitting expression of the gratitude--" + +"Don't speak of gratitude," he exclaimed. "I don't want to be thanked. +Good Lord, do you suppose I--" + +"There, there! Don't be angry," she cried. "But you must come to my +country. You must see it. You will love it." + +"But suppose that God does not see fit to restore it to you. Suppose +that he leaves it in the hands of the vandals. What then? Will you go +back to--that?" + +She was still for a long time. "I shall not return to my country until +it is free again, Mr. Barnes," she said, and there was a break in her +voice. + +"You--you will remain in MY country?" he asked, leaning closer to her +ear. + +"The world is large," she replied. "I shall have to live somewhere. It +may be here, it may be France, or England or Switzerland." + +"Why not here? You could go far and do worse." + +"Beggars may not be choosers. The homeless cannot be very particular, +you know. If the Germans remain in my country, I shall be without a +home." + +His voice was tense and vibrant when he spoke again, after a moment's +reflection. "I know what O'Dowd would say if he were in my place." + +"O'Dowd has known me a great many years," she said. "When you have +known me as many months as he has years, you will thank your lucky star +that you do not possess the affability that the gods have bestowed upon +O'Dowd." + +"Don't be too sure of that," he said, and heard the little catch in her +breath. He found her hand and clasped it firmly. His lips were close to +her ear. "I have known you long enough to--" + +"Don't!" she cried out sharply. "Don't say it now,--please. I could +listen to O'Dowd, but--but you are different. He would forget by +to-morrow, and I would forget even sooner than he. But it would not be +so easy to forget if you were to say it,--it would not be easy for +either of us." + +"You are not offended?" he whispered hoarsely. + +"Why should I be offended? Are you not my protector?" + +The subtle implication in those words brought him to his senses. Was he +not her protector? And was he not abusing the confidence she placed in +him? + +"I shall try to remember that,--always," he said abjectly. + +"Some day I shall tell you why I am glad you did not say it to me +to-night," she said, a trifle unsteadily. She squeezed his hand. "You +are very good to me. I shall not forget that either." + +And she meant that some day she would confess to him that she was so +tired, and lonely, and disconsolate on this journey to Crowndale, and +so in need of the strength he could give, that she would have +surrendered herself gladly to the comfort of his arms, to the passion +that his touch aroused in her quickening blood! + +Soon after ten o'clock they entered the town of Crowndale and drew up +before the unattractive portals of the Grand Palace Hotel. An arc lamp +swinging above the entrance shed a pitiless light upon the dreary, +God-forsaken hostelry with the ironic name. + +Mr. Rushcroft was already at the desk, complaining bitterly of +everything seen and unseen. As a matter of habit he was roaring about +his room and, while he hadn't put so much as his nose inside of it, he +insisted on knowing what they meant by giving it to him. Mr. Bacon and +Mr. Dillingford were growling because there was no elevator to hoist +them two flights up, and Miss Thackeray was wanting to know WHY she +couldn't have a bit of supper served in her room. + +"They're all alike," announced Mr. Rushcroft despairingly, addressing +the rafters. He meant hotels in general. + +"They're all alike," vouchsafed the clerk in an aside to the "drummer" +who leaned against the counter, meaning stage-folk in general. + +"You're both right," said the travelling salesman, who knew. + +"Is there a cafe in the neighbourhood?" inquired Barnes, with authority. + +"There's a rest'rant in the next block," replied the clerk, instantly +impressed. Here was one who obviously was not "alike." "A two-minutes' +walk, Mr.--" (looking at the register)--"Mr. Barnes." + +"That's good. We will have supper in Miss Thackeray's room. Let me have +your pencil, please. Send over and have them fill this order inside of +twenty minutes." He handed what he had written to the blinking clerk. +"For eight persons. Tell 'em to hurry it along." + +"Maybe they're closed for the night," said the clerk. "And besides--" + +"My God! He even hesitates to get food for us when--" began Mr. +Rushcroft. + +"Besides there's only one waiter on at night and he couldn't get off, I +guess. And besides it's against the rules of this house to serve drinks +in a lady's--" + +"You tell that waiter to close up when he comes over here with what +I've ordered, and tell him that I will pay double for everything, and +to-morrow morning you can tell the proprietor of this house that we +broke the rules to-night." + +For the first time in her life Miss Tilly sat down to a meal served by +a member of her late profession. She sat on the edge of Miss +Thackeray's bed and held a chicken sandwich in one hand and a full +glass of beer in the other. Be it said to the credit of her forebears, +she did not take even so much as a sip from the glass, but seven +sandwiches, two slices of cold ham, half a box of sardines, a plate of +potato salad, a saucer of Boston baked beans, two hardboiled eggs, a +piece of apple pie and two cups of coffee passed her freshly carmined +lips. She was in her seventh heaven. She was no longer dreaming of +fame: it was a gay reality. Emulating the example of Miss Thackeray, +she addressed Mr. Dillingford as "dear," and came near to being the +cause of his death by strangulation. + +Miss Cameron submitted to the contagion. She had had no such dreams as +Miss Tilly's, but she was quite as thrilled by the novelty of her +surroundings, the informality of the feast, and the sprightliness of +these undaunted spirits. She sat on Miss Thackeray's trunk, her back +against the wall, her bandaged foot resting on a decrepit suit-case. +Her eyes were sparkling, her lips ever ready to part in the joy of +laughter, the colour leaping into her cheeks in response to the amazing +quips of these unconventional vagabonds. + +She too was hungry. Food had never tasted so good to her. From time to +time her soft, smiling eyes sought Barnes with a look of mingled wonder +and confusion. She always laughed when she caught the expression of +concern in his eyes, and once she slyly winked at him. He was entranced. + +He crossed over and sat beside her. "They are a perfectly irresponsible +lot," he said in a low voice. "I hope you don't mind their--er--levity." + +"I love it," she whispered. "They are an inspiration. One would think +that they had never known such a thing as trouble. I am taking lessons, +Mr. Barnes." + +She was still warmly conscious of the thrill that had come into her +blood when he carried her up the stairs in his powerful arms, +disdaining the offer of assistance from the suddenly infatuated Tommy +Gray. + +"Rehearsal at eleven sharp," announced Mr. Rushcroft, arising from the +window-sill on which he was seated. "Letter perfect, every one of you. +No guessing. By the way, Miss--er--'pon my soul, I don't believe I got +your name?" + +"Jones," said the new member, shamelessly. + +"Ah," said he, smiling broadly, "a word oft spoken in jest--ahem!--how +does it go? No matter. You know what I mean. I have not had time to +write in the part for you, Miss Jones, but I shall do so the first +thing in the morning. Now that I see how difficult it is for you to get +around, I have hit upon a wonderful idea. I shall make it a sitting +part. You won't have to do anything with your legs at all. Most +beginners declare that they don't know what to do with their hands, but +I maintain that they know less about what to do with their legs. +Fortunately you are incapacitated--" + +"Perhaps it would be just as well to excuse Miss Jones from rehearsal +in the morning," broke in Barnes hastily. "She is hardly fit to--" + +"Just as you say, old chap. Doesn't matter in the least. Good night, +everybody. Sleep tight." + +"I sha'n't sleep a wink," said Miss Tilly. + +"Homesick already?" demanded Mr. Bacon, fixing her with a pitying stare. + +"Worrying over my part," she explained. + +"Haven't you committed it yet? Say it now. 'It is half past seven, my +lord.' All you have to do is to remember that it comes in the second +act and not in the first or third." + +"Good night," said Miss Cameron, giving her hand to Barnes at the door. +She was leaning on Miss Thackeray's arm. He never was to forget the +deep, searching look she sent into his eyes. She seemed to be asking a +thousand questions. + +He went down to the dingy lobby. A single, half-hearted electric bulb +shed its feeble light on the desk, in front of which stood a man +registering under the sleepy eye of the night clerk. + +After the late arrival had started upstairs in the wake of the clerk, +Barnes stepped up to inspect the book. The midnight express from the +north did not stop at Crowndale, he had learned upon inquiry, and it +was the only train touching the town between nightfall and dawn. + +The register bore the name of Thomas Moore, Hornville. There was not +the slightest doubt in Barnes's mind that this was the man who had been +detailed to shadow the luckless Peter. Only an imperative demand by +government authorities could have brought about the stopping of the +express at Hornville and later on at Crowndale. + +Barnes smiled grimly. "I've just thought of a way to fool you, my +friend," he said to himself, and was turning away when a familiar voice +assailed him. + +Whirling, he looked into the face of a man who stood almost at his +elbow,--the sharp, impassive face of Mr. Sprouse. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE FIRST WAYFARER HAS ONE TREASURE THRUST UPON HIM--AND FORTHWITH +CLAIMS ANOTHER + + +"That fellow is a rat-catcher," said Sprouse. "What are you doing here?" +demanded Barnes, staring. He seized the man's arm and inquired eagerly: +"Have you got the jewels?" + +"No; but I will have them before morning," replied Sprouse coolly. He +shot a furtive glance around the deserted lobby. "Better not act as +though you knew me. That bull is no fool. He doesn't know me, but by +this time he knows who you are." + +"He is trailing Peter Ames." + +"Ship Peter to-morrow," advised Sprouse promptly. + +"I had already thought of doing so," said Barnes, surprised by the +uncanny promptness of the man in hitting upon the strategy he had +worked out for himself after many harassing hours. "He goes to my +sister's place to-morrow morning." + +"Send him by train. He will be easier to follow. There is a train +leaving for the south at 9:15." + +"You were saying that before morning you would--" + +"Be careful! Don't whisper. People don't whisper to utter strangers. +Step over here by the front door. Would you be surprised if I were to +tell you that his royal nibs is hiding in this town? Well, he certainly +is. He bought a railway ticket for Albany at Hornville the day he beat +it, but he got off at the second station,--which happens to be this +one." + +"How can you be sure of all this?" + +"Simple as falling off a log," said Sprouse, squinting over his +shoulder. "The Baroness Hedlund has been here for a week or ten days. +The Baron wasn't so far wrong in his suspicions, you see. He lost track +of her, that's all. I happened to overhear a conversation at Hart's +Tavern between him and his secretary. I have a way of hearing things +I'm not supposed to hear, you know. By a curious coincidence I happened +to be taking the air late one night just outside his window at the +Tavern,--on the roof of the porch, to be accurate. I told Ugo what I'd +heard and he nearly broke his neck trying to head her off. O'Dowd and +De Soto rushed over to Hornville and telegraphed for her to leave the +train at the first convenient place and return to New York. She was on +her way up here, you see. She got off at Crowndale and everybody +supposed that she had taken the next train home. But she didn't do +anything of the kind. She is a silly, obstinate fool and she's crazy +about Ugo,--and jealous as fury. She hated to think of him being up +here with other women. A day or so later she sent him a letter. No one +saw that letter but Ugo, and--your humble servant. + +"I happened to be the one to go to Spanish Falls for the mail that day. +The postmark excited my curiosity. If I told you what I did to that +letter before delivering it to Mr. Loeb, you could send me to a federal +prison. But that's how I came to know that she had decided to wait in +Crowndale until he sent word that the coast was clear. She went to the +big sanatorium outside the town and has been there ever since, +incognito, taking a cure for something or other. She goes by the name +of Mrs. Hasselwein. I popped down here this afternoon and found out +that she is still at the sanatorium but expects to leave early +to-morrow morning. Her trunks are over at the station now, to be +expressed to Buffalo. I made another trip out there this evening and +waited. About eight o'clock Mr. Hasselwein strolled up. He sat on the +verandah with her for half an hour or so and then left. I followed him. +He went to one of the little cottages that belong to the sanatorium. I +couldn't get close enough to hear what they said, but I believe he +expects to take her away in an automobile early in the morning. It is a +seventy mile ride from here to the junction where they catch the train +for the west. I'm going up now to make a call on Mr. Hasselwein. Would +you like to join me?" + +Barnes eyed him narrowly. "There is only one reason why I feel that I +ought to accompany you," he said. "If you have it in your mind to kill +him, I certainly shall do everything in my power to prevent--" + +"Possess your soul in peace. I'm not going to do anything foolish. Time +enough left for that sort of thing. I will get him some day, but not +now. By the way, what is the number of your room?" + +"Twenty-two,--on the next floor." + +"Good. Go upstairs now and I'll join you in about ten minutes. I will +tap three times on your door." + +"Why should you come to my room, Sprouse? We can say all that is to be +said--" + +"If you will look on the register you will discover that Mr. J. H. +Prosser registered here about half an hour ago. He is in room 30. He +left a call for five o'clock. Well, Prosser is another name for Ugo." + +"Here in this hotel? In room 30?" cried Barnes, incredulously. + +"Sure as you're alive. Left the cottage an hour ago. Came in a jitney +or I could have got to him on the way over." + +Barnes, regardless of consequences, dashed over to inspect the +register. Sprouse followed leisurely, shooting anxious glances up the +stairs at the end of the lobby. + +"See!" cried Barnes, excitedly, putting his finger on the name "Miss +Jones." "She's in room 32,--next to his. By gad, Sprouse, do you +suppose he knows that she is here? Would the dog undertake anything--" + +"You may be sure he doesn't know she's here, or you either, for that +matter. The country's full of Joneses and Barneses. Go on upstairs. +Leave everything to me." + +He strolled away as the clerk came shuffling down the steps. As Barnes +mounted them, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Sprouse take up a +suitcase near the door and return to the desk, evidently for the +purpose of engaging a room for the night. + +Before going to his room, he strode lightly down the hall in the +direction of room 30. There was no light in the transom. Stepping close +to the door, he listened intently for sounds from within. He started +back almost instantly. The occupant was snoring with extreme heartiness. + +A glance revealed a light in the transom of room 32. As he looked, +however, it disappeared. Abashed, he turned and went swiftly away. She +was going to bed. He felt like a snooping, despicable "peeping Tom" +caught in the act. + +He had been in his room for twenty minutes before he heard the tapping +on his door. He opened it and Sprouse slid into the room. The instant +the door closed behind him, he threw open his coat and coolly produced +a long, shallow metal box, such as one finds in safety vaults. + +"With my compliments," he said drily, thrusting the box into Barnes's +hands. "You'd better have the Countess check them up and see if they're +all there. I am not well enough acquainted with the collection to be +positive." + +Barnes was speechless. He could only stare, open-mouthed, at this +amazing man. + +"Grip 'em tight," went on Sprouse, grinning. "I may relieve you of them +if you get too careless. My advice to you is to hide them and keep your +lips closed--" + +"My God, Sprouse, have you been in that man's room since I saw you +down--" + +"I forgot to say that no questions were to be asked," broke in the +other. + +"But I insist upon having everything cleared up. Here am I with a box +of jewels stolen from a lodger's room, God knows how, and in danger of +being slapped into jail if they catch me with the--" + +"All you have to do is to keep quiet and look innocent. Stay out of the +hall to-night. Don't go near the door of No. 30. Act like a man with +brains. I said I would square myself with you and with him, too. Well, +I've done both. Maybe you think it is easy to give up this stuff. There +is a half million dollars' worth of nice little things in that box, +small as it is. I went to a lot of trouble to get 'em, and all I'll +receive for my pains is a thank you from Mr. Thomas K. Barnes, New +York." + +"I cannot begin to thank you enough," said Barnes. "See here, you must +allow me to reward you in some way commensurate with your--" + +"Cut that out," said Sprouse darkly. "I'm not so damned virtuous that I +have to be rewarded. I like the game. It's the breath of life to me." + +"The time will surely come when I can do you a good turn, Sprouse, and +you will not find me reluctant," said Barnes, lamely. He was completely +at a loss in the presence of the master-crook. He felt very small, and +stupid, and inadequate,--as one always feels when confronted by genius. +Moreover, he was utterly stupefied. + +"That's different. If I ever need a friendly hand I'll call on you. +It's only fair that I should give you a tip, Barnes, just to put you on +your guard. I've lived up to my word in this business, and I've done +all that I said I would. From now on, I'm a free agent. I want to +advise you to put that stuff in a safe place. I'll give you two days' +start. After that, if I can get 'em away from you, or whoever may have +them, I'm going to do it. They will be fair plunder from then on. +Notwithstanding the fact that I put them in your hands to-night,--and +so wash my own of them temporarily,--I haven't a single scruple about +relieving you of them on some later occasion. I may have to crack you +over the head to do it,--so a word to the wise ought to be sufficient. +If you don't guard them pretty closely, my friend, you will regain +consciousness some day and find you haven't got them any longer. Good +night--and good-bye for the present. Stick close to your room till +morning and--then beat it with her for New York. I give you two days' +start, remember." + +He switched off the light suddenly. Barnes gasped and prepared to +defend himself. Sprouse chuckled. + +"Don't be nervous. I'm merely getting ready to leave you with your +ill-gotten gains. It isn't wise, you see, to peep out of a door with a +light in the room behind you. Keep cool. I sha'n't be more than a +minute." + +There was no sound for many seconds, save the deep breathing of the two +men. Then, with infinite caution, Sprouse turned the knob and opened +the door a half inch or so. He left the room so abruptly that Barnes +never quite got over the weird impression that he squeezed through that +slender crack, and pulled it after him! + +Many minutes passed before he turned on the light. The key of the box +was tied to the wire grip. With trembling fingers he inserted it in the +lock and opened the lid.... "A half-million dollars' worth of nice +little things," Sprouse had said! + +He did not close his eyes that night. Daybreak found him lying in bed, +with the box under his pillow, a pistol at hand, and his eyes +wide-open. He was in a graver quandary than ever. Now that he had the +treasure in his possession, what was he to do with it? He did not dare +to leave it in the room, nor was it advisable to carry it about with +him. The discovery of the burglary in room 30 would result in a search +of the house, from top to bottom. + +Cold perspiration started out on his brow. The situation was far from +being the happy one that he had anticipated. + +He solved the breakfast problem by calling downstairs for a waiter and +ordering coffee and rolls and eggs sent up to his room. Singularly +enough the waiter solved the other and more disturbing problem for him. + +"SOME robbery last night," said that worthy, as he re-appeared with the +tray. Barnes was thankful that the waiter was not looking at him when +he hurled the bomb, figuratively speaking. He had a moment's time to +recover. + +"What robbery?" he enquired, feigning indifference. + +"Feller up in one of the cottages at the sanatorium. All beat up, +something fierce they say." + +"Up in--Where?" almost shouted Barnes, starting up. + +The man explained where the cottages were situated, Barnes listening as +one completely bereft of intelligence. + +"Seems he was to leave by auto early this mornin', and they didn't know +anything was wrong till Joe Keep--he's driving a Fierce-Arrow that Mr. +Norton has for rent--till Joe'd been settin' out in front for nearly +half an hour. The man's wife was waitin' fer him up at the main +buildin' and she got so tired waitin' that she sent one of the clerks +down to see what was keeping her husband. Well, sir, him and Joe +couldn't wake the feller, so they climb in an open winder, an' by gosh, +Joe says it was terrible. The feller was layin' on the bed, feet an' +hands tied and gagged, and blood from head to foot. He was inconscious, +Joe says, an'--my God, how his wife took on! Joe says he couldn't stand +it, so he snook out, shakin' like a leaf. He says she's a pippin, too. +Never seen a purtier--" + +"Is--is the man dead?" cried Barnes, aghast. He felt that his face was +as white as chalk. + +"Nope! Seems like it's nothing serious: just beat up, that's all. +Terrible cuts on his head and--" + +"What is his name?" demanded Barnes. + +"Something like Hackensack." + +"Have they caught the thief?" + +"I should say not. The police never ketch anything but drunks in this +burg, and they wouldn't ketch them if they could keep from stumblin'." + +"What time did all this happen?" Barnes was having great difficulty in +keeping his coffee from splashing over. + +"Doc Smith figgers it was long about midnight, judgin' by the way the +blood co'gulated." + +"Did they get away with much?" + +"Haven't heard. Joe says the stove pipe in the feller's room was +knocked down and they's soot all over everything. Looks like they must +have been a struggle. Seems as though the burglar,--must ha' been +more'n one of 'em, I say,--wasn't satisfied with cracking him over the +head. He stuck the point of a knife or something into him,--just a +little way, Joe says--in more'n a dozen places. What say?" + +"I--I didn't say anything." + +"I thought you did. Well, if I hear anything more I'll let you know." + +"Anything for a little excitement," said Barnes casually. + +He listened at the door until he heard the waiter clattering down the +stairway, and then went swiftly down the hall to No. 30. Mr. Prosser +was sleeping just as soundly and as resoundingly as at midnight! + +"By gad!" he muttered, half aloud. Everything was as clear as day to +him now. Bolting into his own room, he closed the door and stood +stock-still for many minutes, trying to picture the scene in the +cottage. + +No stretch of the imagination was required to establish the facts. +Sprouse had come to him during the night with Prince Ugo's blood on the +hands that bore the treasure. He had surprised and overpowered the +pseudo Mr. Hasselwein, and had actually tortured him into revealing the +hiding place of the jewels. The significance of the scattered stove +pipe was not lost on Barnes; it had not been knocked down in a struggle +between the two men. Prince Ugo was not, and never had been, in a +position to defend himself against his wily assailant. Barnes's blood +ran cold as he went over in his mind the pitiless method employed by +Sprouse in subduing his royal victim. And the coolness, the unspeakable +bravado of the man in coming direct to him with the booty! His +amazingly clever subterfuge in allowing Barnes to think that room No. +30 was the scene of his operations, thereby forcing him to remain +inactive through fear of consequences to himself and the Countess if he +undertook to investigate! + +He found a letter in his box when he went downstairs, after stuffing +the tin box deep into his pack,--a risky thing to do he realised, but +no longer perilous in the light of developments. It was no longer +probable that his effects would be subjected to inspection by the +police. He walked over to a window to read the letter. Before he slit +the envelope he knew that Sprouse was the writer. The message was brief. + +"After due consideration, I feel that it would be a mistake for you to +abandon your present duties at this time. It might be misunderstood. +Stick to the company until something better turns up. With this thought +in view I withdraw the two days' limit mentioned recently to you, and +extend the time to one week. Yours very truly, J. H. Wilson." + +"Gad, the fellow thinks of everything," said Barnes to himself. "He is +positively uncanny." + +He read between the lines, and saw there a distinct warning. It had not +occurred to him that his plan to leave for New York that day with Miss +Cameron might be attended by disastrous results. + +On reflection, he found the prospect far from disagreeable. A week or +so with the Rushcroft company was rather attractive under the +circumstances. The idea appealed to him. + +But the jewels? What of them? He could not go gallivanting about the +country with a half million dollars' worth of precious stones in his +possession. A king's ransom strapped on his back! He would not be able +to sleep a wink. Indeed, he could see himself wasting away to a mere +shadow through worry and dread. Precious stones? They would develop +into millstones, he thought, with an inward groan. + +He questioned the advisability of informing Miss Cameron that the crown +jewels were in his possession. Her anxiety would be far greater than +his own. There was nothing to be gained by telling her in any case; so +he decided to bear the burden alone. + +The play was not to open in Crowndale until Tuesday night, three full +days off. He revelled in the thought of sitting "out front" in the +empty little theatre, watching the rehearsals. At such times he was +confident that his thoughts would not be solely of the jewels. He would +at least have surcease during these periods of forgetfulness. + +He spent the early part of the forenoon in wandering nervously about +the hotel,--upstairs and down. The jewels were locked in his pack +upstairs. He went up to his room half a dozen times and almost +instantly walked down again, after satisfying himself that the pack had +not been rifled. + +Exasperation filled his soul. Ten o'clock came and still no sign of the +lazy actors. Rehearsal at eleven, and not one of them out of bed. + +Peter came to the hotel soon after ten. He had forgotten Peter and his +decision to send him down to the Berkshires that day, and was sharply +reminded of the necessity for doing so by the appearance of the man who +had registered just before midnight. This individual strolled casually +into the lobby a few seconds behind Peter. + +He acted at once and with decision. The stranger took a seat in the +window not far away. Barnes, in a brisk and business-like tone, +informed Peter that he was to leave on the one o'clock train for the +south, and to go direct to his sister's place near Stockbridge. He was +to leave the automobile in Crowndale for the present. + +"Here is the money for your railroad fare," he announced in conclusion. +"I have telegraphed Mrs. Courtney's man that you will arrive this +evening. He will start you in on your duties to-morrow. I understand +they are short-handed on the place. And now let me impress upon you, +Peter, the importance of holding yourself ready to report when needed. +You know what I mean. Remember, I have guaranteed that you will appear." + +The stranger drank in every word that passed between the two men. When +the one o'clock train pulled out of Crowndale, it carried Peter Ames in +one of the forward coaches, and a late guest of the Grand Palace Hotel +in the next car behind. Barnes took the time to assure himself of these +facts, and smiled faintly as he drove away from the railway station +after the departure of the train. Miss Cameron, her veil lowered, sat +beside him in the "hack." + +For the next three days and nights rehearsals were in full swing, with +scarcely a moment's let-up. The Rushcroft company was increased by the +arrival of three new members and several pieces of baggage. The dingy +barn of a theatre was the scene of ceaseless industry, both peaceful +and otherwise. The actors quarrelled and fumed and all but fought over +their grievances. Only the presence of the "backer" and the extremely +pretty and cultured "friend of the family" in "front" prevented +sanguinary encounters among the male contenders for the centre of the +stage. The usually placid Mr. Dillingford was transformed into a +snarling beast every time one of his "lines" was cut out by the +relentless Rushcroft, and there were times when Mr. Bacon loudly +accused his fiancee of "crabbing" his part. Everybody called everybody +else a "hog," and God was asked a hundred times a day to bear witness +to as many atrocities. + +Each day the bewildered, distressed young woman who sat with Barnes in +the dim "parquet," whispered in his ear: + +"Can they ever be friendly again?" + +And every night at supper she rejoiced to find them all on the best of +terms, calling each other "dearie," and "old chap," and "honey," and +declaring that no such company had ever been gotten together in the +history of the stage! Such words as "slob," "fat-head," "boob" or "you +poor nut" never found their way outside the sacred precincts of the +theatre. + +Mr. Rushcroft magnanimously offered to coach "Miss Jones" in the part +he was going to write in for her just as soon as he could get around to +it. + +"No use writing a part for her, Mr. Barnes, until I get through beating +the parts we already have into the heads of these poor fools up here. +I've got trouble enough on my hands." + +And so the time crept by, up to the night of the performance. Miss +Cameron remained in ignorance of the close proximity of the jewels, and +the police of Crowndale remained in even denser ignorance as to the +whereabouts of the man who robbed Mr. Hasselwein of all his spare cash +and an excellent gold watch. + +Hasselwein's story was brief but dramatic. He was recovering rapidly +from his experience and the local newspaper, on Tuesday, announced that +he would be strong enough to accompany his wife when she left the +"city" toward the end of the week. (Considerable space was employed by +the reporter in "writing up" the wonderful devotion of Mrs. Hasselwein, +who, despite the fact that she was quite an invalid, conducted herself +with rare fortitude, seldom leaving her husband's room in the hospital.) + +According to the injured man, his assailant was a huge, powerful +individual, wearing a mask and armed to the teeth. He came in through +an open window and attacked him while he was asleep in bed. +Notwithstanding the stunning blow he received while prostrate, Mr. +Hasselwein struggled to his feet and engaged the miscreant--(while the +word was used at least twenty times in the newspaper account, I promise +to use it but once)--in a desperate conflict. Loss of blood weakened +him and he soon fell exhausted upon the bed. To make the story even +shorter than Prince Ugo made it, not a word was said about the jewels, +and that, after all, is the only feature of the case in which we are +interested. + +Barnes smiled grimly over Ugo's failure to mention the jewels, and the +misleading description of the thief. He was thankful, however, and +relieved to learn that the one man who might recognise Miss Cameron was +not likely to leave the hospital short of a week's time. + +No time was lost by the Countess in getting word to her compatriots in +New York. Barnes posted a dozen letters for her; each contained the +tidings of her safety and the assurance that she would soon follow in +person. + +Those three days and nights were full of joy and enchantment for +Barnes. True, he did not sleep very well,--indeed, scarcely at +all,--but it certainly was not a hardship to lie awake and think of her +throughout the whole of each blessed night. He recalled and secretly +dilated upon every sign of decreasing reserve on her part. He shamed +himself more than once for deploring the fact that her ankle was +mending with uncommon rapidity, and that in a few days she would be +quite able to walk without support. And he actually debased himself by +wishing that the Rushcroft company might find it imperative to go on +rehearsing for weeks in that dim, enchanted temple. + +It was not a "barn of a place" to him. It was paradise. He sat for +hours in one of the most uncomfortable seats he had ever known, +devouring with hungry eyes the shadowy, interested face so close to his +own,--and never tired. + +And then came a time at last when conversation became difficult between +them; when there were long silences fraught with sweet peril, exceeding +shyness, and a singular form of deafness that defied even the roars of +the players and yet permitted them to hear, with amazing clearness, the +faintest of heart-beats. + +On the afternoon of the dress rehearsal, he led her, after an hour of +almost insupportable repression, to the rear of the auditorium, in the +region made gloomy by the shelving gallery overhead. Dropping into the +seat beside her, he blurted out, almost in anguish: + +"I can't stand it any longer. I cannot be near you without--why, +I--I--well, it is more than I can struggle against, that's all. You've +either got to send me away altogether or--or--let me love you without +restraint. I tell you, I can't go on as I am now. I must speak, I must +tell you all that has been in my heart for days. I love you--I love +you! You know I love you, don't you? You know I worship you. Don't be +frightened. I just had to tell you to-day. I could not have held it +back another hour. I should have gone mad if I had tried to keep it up +any longer." He waited breathlessly for her to speak. She sat silent +and rigid, looking straight before her. "Is it hopeless?" he went on at +last, huskily. "Must I ask your forgiveness for my presumption and--and +go away from you?" + +She turned to him and laid her hand upon his arm. + +"Am I not like other women? Have you forgotten that you once said that +I was not different? Why should I forgive you for loving me? Doesn't +every woman want to be loved? No, no, my friend! Wait! A moment ago I +was so weak and trembly that I thought I--Oh, I was afraid for myself. +Now I am quite calm and sensible. See how well I have myself in hand? I +do not tremble, I am strong. We may now discuss ourselves calmly, +sensibly. A moment ago--Ah, then it was different! I was being drawn +into--Oh! What are you doing?" + +"I too am strong," he whispered. "I am sure of my ground now, and I am +not afraid." + +He had clasped the hand that rested on his sleeve and, as he pressed it +to his heart, his other arm stole over her shoulders and drew her close +to his triumphant body. For an instant she resisted, and then relaxed +into complete submission. Her head sank upon his shoulder. + +"Oh!" she sighed, and there was wonder, joy--even perplexity, in the +tremulous sign of capitulation. "Oh," came softly from her parted lips +again at the end of the first long, passionate kiss. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE END IN SIGHT + + +Barnes, soaring beyond all previous heights of exaltation, ranged +dizzily between "front" and "back" at the Grand Opera House that +evening. He was supposed to remain "out front" until the curtain went +up on the second act. But the presence of the Countess in Miss +Thackeray's barren, sordid little dressing-room rendered it exceedingly +difficult for him to remain in any fixed spot for more than five +minutes at a stretch. He was in the "wings" with her, whispering in her +delighted ear; in the dressing-room, listening to her soft words of +encouragement to the excited leading-lady; on the narrow stairs leading +up to the stage, assisting her to mount them,--and not in the least +minding the narrowness; out in front for a jiffy, and then back again; +and all the time he was dreading the moment when he would awake and +find it all a dream. + +There was an annoying fly in the ointment, however. Her languorous +surrender to love, her physical confession of defeat at the hands of +that inexorable power, her sweet submission to the conquering arms of +the besieger, left nothing to be desired; and yet there was something +that stood between him and utter happiness: her resolute refusal to +bind herself to any promise for the future. + +"I love you," she had said simply. "I want more than anything else in +all the world to be your wife. But I cannot promise now. I must have +time to think, time to--" + +"Why should you require more time than I?" he persisted. "Have we not +shown that there is nothing left for either of us but to make the other +happy? What is time to us? Why make wanton waste of it?" + +"I know that I cannot find happiness except with you," she replied. "No +matter what happens to me, I shall always love you, I shall never +forget the joy of THIS. But--" She shook her head sadly. + +"Would you go back to your people and marry--" he swallowed hard and +went on--"marry some one you could never love, not even respect, with +the memory of--" + +"Stop! I shall never marry a man I do not love. Oh, please be patient, +be good to me. Give me a little time. Can you not see that you are +asking me to alter destiny, to upset the teachings and traditions of +ages, and all in one little minute of weakness?" + +"We cannot alter destiny," he said stubbornly. "We may upset tradition, +but what does that amount to? We have but one life to live. I think our +grandchildren and our great-grandchildren will be quite as well pleased +with their ancestors as their royal contemporaries will be with theirs +a hundred years from now." + +"I cannot promise now," she said gently, and kissed him. + +The first performance of "The Duke's Revenge" was incredibly bad. The +little that Barnes saw of it, filled him with dismay. Never had he +witnessed anything so hopeless as the play, unless it was the actors +themselves. But more incredible than anything else in connection with +the performance was the very palpable enjoyment of the audience. He +could hardly believe his ears. The ranting, the shouting, the howling +of the actors sent shivers to the innermost recesses of his being. Then +suddenly he remembered that he was in the heart of the "barn-stormer's" +domain. The audience revelled in "The Duke's Revenge" because they had +never seen anything better! + +Between the second and third acts Tommy Gray rushed back with the +box-office statement. The gross was $359. The instant that fact became +known to Mr. Rushcroft he informed Barnes that they had a "knockout," a +gold mine, and that never in all his career had he known a season to +start off so auspiciously as this one. + +"It's good for forty weeks solid," he exclaimed. Both Barnes and the +wide-eyed Countess became infused with the spirit of jubilation that +filled the souls of these time-worn, hand-to-mouth stragglers. They +rejoiced with them in their sudden elevation to happiness, and +overlooked the vain-glorious claims of each individual in the matter of +personal achievement. Even the bewildered Tilly bleated out her little +cry for distinction. + +"Did you hear them laugh at the way I got off my speech?" she cried +excitedly. + +"I certainly did," said Mr. Bacon amiably. "By gad, I laughed at it +myself." + +"Parquet $217.50, dress circle $105, gallery $36.50," announced Tommy +Gray, as he donned his wig and false beard for the third act. +"Sixty-forty gives us $215.40 on the night. Thank God, we won't have to +worry about the sheriff this week." + +In Miss Thackeray's dressing-room that level-headed young woman broke +down and wept like a child. + +"Oh, Lord," she stuttered, "is it possible that we're going to stay +above water at last? I thought we had gone down for the last time, and +here we are bobbing up again as full of ginger as if we'd never hit the +bottom." + +The Countess kissed her and told her that she was the rarest girl she +had ever known, the pluckiest and the best. + +"If I had your good looks, Miss Cameron," said Mercedes, "added to my +natural ability, I'd make Julia Marlowe look like an old-fashioned +one-ring circus. Send Mr. Bacon to me, Mr. Barnes. I want to +congratulate him." + +"He gave a fine performance," said Barnes promptly. + +"I don't want to congratulate him on his acting," said she, smiling +through her tears. "He's going to be married to-morrow. And I am going +to have Miss Cameron for my bridesmaid," she added, throwing an arm +about the astonished Countess. "Mr. Bacon will want Dilly for his best +man, but he ought to think more of the general effect than that. Dilly +only comes to his shoulder." She measured the stalwart figure of Thomas +Barnes with an appraising eye. "What do you say, Mr. Barnes?" + +"I'll do it with the greatest pleasure," he declared. + +The next afternoon in the town of Bittler the Countess Mara-Dafanda, +daughter of royalty, and Thomas Kingsbury Barnes "stood up" with the +happy couple during a lull in the hastily called rehearsal on the stage +of Fisher's Imperial Theatre, and Lyndon Rushcroft gave the bride away. +There was $107 in the house that night, but no one was down-hearted. + +"You could do worse, dear heart, than to marry one of us care-free +Americans," whispered Barnes to the girl who clung to his arm so +tightly as they entered the wings in the wake of the bride and groom. + +And she said something in reply that brought a flush of mortification +to his cheek. + +"Oh, it would be wonderful to marry a man who will never have to go to +war. A brave man who will not have to be a soldier." + +The unintentional reflection on the fighting integrity of his country +struck a raw spot in Barnes's pride. He knew what all Europe was saying +about the pussy-willow attitude of the United States, and he squirmed +inwardly despite the tribute she tendered him as an individual. He was +not a "peace at any price" citizen. + +He gave the wedding breakfast at one o'clock that night. + +Three days later he and "Miss Jones" said farewell to the strollers and +boarded a day train for New York City. They left the company in a +condition of prosperity. The show was averaging two hundred dollars +nightly, and Mr. Rushcroft was already booking return engagements for +the early fall. He was looking forward to a tour of Europe at the close +of the war. + +"My boy," he said to Barnes on the platform of the railway station, "I +trust you will forgive me for not finding a place in our remarkably +well-balanced cast for your friend. I have been thinking a great deal +about her in the past few days, and it has occurred to me that she +might find it greatly to her advantage to accept a brief New York +engagement before tackling the real proposition. It won't take her long +to find out whether she really likes it, and whether she thinks it +worth while to go on with it. Let me give you one bit of advice, my +dear Miss Jones. This is very important. The name of Jones will not get +you anywhere. It is a nice old family, fireside name, but it lacks +romance. Chuck it. Start your new life with another name, my dear. God +bless you! Good luck and--good-bye till we meet on the Rialto." + +"I wonder how he could possibly have known," she mused aloud, the pink +still in her cheeks as the train pulled out. + +"You darling," cried Barnes, "he doesn't know. But taking it by and +large, it was excellent advice. The brief New York engagement meets +with my approval, and so does the change of name. I am in a position to +supply you with both." + +"Do you regard Barnes as an especially attractive name?" she inquired, +dimpling. + +"It has the virtue of beginning with B, entitling it to a place well +toward the top of alphabetical lists. A very handy name for patronesses +at charity bazaars, and so forth. People never look below B unless to +make sure that their own names haven't been omitted. You ought to take +that into consideration. If you can't be an A, take the next best thing +offered. Be a B." + +"You almost persuade me," she smiled. + +His sister met them at the Grand Central Terminal. + +"It's now a quarter to five," said Barnes, after the greeting and +presentation. "Drop me at the Fifth Avenue Bank, Edith. I want to leave +something in my safety box downstairs. Sha'n't be more than five +minutes." + +He got down from the automobile at 44th Street and shot across the +sidewalk into the bank, casting quick, apprehensive glances through the +five o'clock crowd on the avenue as he sprinted. In his hand he lugged +the heavy, weatherbeaten pack. His sister and the Countess stared after +him in amazement. + +Presently he emerged from the bank, still carrying the bag. He was +beaming. A certain worried, haggard expression had vanished from his +face and for the first time in eight hours he treated his travelling +wardrobe with scorn and indifference. He tossed it carelessly into the +seat beside the chauffeur, and, springing nimbly into the car, sank +back with a prodigious sigh of relief. + +"Thank God, they're off my mind at last," he cried. "That is the first +good, long breath I've had in a week. No, not now. It's a long story +and I can't tell it in Fifth Avenue. It would be extremely annoying to +have both of you die of heart failure with all these people looking on." + +He felt her hand on his arm, and knew that she was looking at him with +wide, incredulous eyes, but he faced straight ahead. After a moment or +two, she snuggled back in the seat and cried out tremulously: + +"Oh, how wonderful--how wonderful!" + +Mrs. Courtney, in utter ignorance, inquired politely: + +"Isn't it? Have you never been in New York before, Miss Cameron? +Strangers always find it quite wonderful at the--" + +"How are all the kiddies, Edith, and old Bill?" broke in her brother +hastily. + +He was terribly afraid that the girl beside him was preparing to shed +tears of joy and relief. He could feel her searching in her jacket +pocket for a handkerchief. + +Mrs. Courtney was not only curious but apprehensive. She hadn't the +faintest idea who Miss Cameron was, nor where her brother had picked +her up. But she saw at a glance that she was lovely, and her soul was +filled with strange misgivings. She was like all sisters who have pet +bachelor brothers. She hoped that poor Tom hadn't gone and made a fool +of himself. The few minutes' conversation she had had with the stranger +only served to increase her alarm. Miss Cameron's voice and smile--and +her eyes!--were positively alluring. + +She had had a night letter from Tom that morning in which he said that +he was bringing a young lady friend down from the north,--and would she +meet them at the station and put her up for a couple of days? That was +all she knew of the dazzling stranger up to the moment she saw her. +Immediately after that, she knew, by intuition, a great deal more about +her than Tom could have told in volumes of correspondence. She knew, +also, that Tom was lost forever! + +"Now, tell me," said the Countess, the instant they entered the +Courtney apartment. She gripped both of his arms with her firm little +hands, and looked straight into his eyes, eagerly, hopefully. She had +forgotten Mrs. Courtney's presence, she had not taken the time to +remove her hat or jacket. + +"Let's all sit down," said he. "My knees are unaccountably weak. Come +along, Ede. Listen to the romance of my life." + +And when the story was finished, the Countess took his hand in hers and +held it to her cool cheek. The tears were still drowning her eyes. + +"Oh, you poor dear! Was that why you grew so haggard, and pale, and +hollow-eyed?" + +"Partly," said he, with great significance. + +"And you had them in your pack all the time? You--!" + +"I had Sprouse's most solemn word not to touch them for a week. He is +the only man I feared. He is the only one who could have--" + +"May I use your telephone, Mrs. Courtney?" cried she, suddenly. She +sprang to her feet, quivering with excitement. "Pray forgive me for +being so ill-mannered, but I--I must call up one or two people at once. +They are my friends. I have written them, but--but I know they are +waiting to see me in the flesh or to hear my voice. You will +understand, I am sure." + +Barnes was pacing the floor nervously when his sister returned after +conducting her new guest to the room prepared for her. The Countess was +at the telephone before the door closed behind her hostess. + +"I wish you had been a little more explicit in your telegram, Tom," she +said peevishly. "If I had known who she is I wouldn't have put her in +that room. Now, I shall have to move Aunt Kate back into it to-morrow, +and give Miss Cameron the big one at the end of the hall." Which goes +to prove that Tom's sister was a bit of a snob in her way. "Stop +walking like that, and come here." She faced him accusingly. "Have you +told me ALL there is to tell, sir?" + +"Can't you see for yourself, Ede, that I'm in love with her? +Desperately, horribly, madly in love with her. Don't giggle like that! +I couldn't have told you while she was present, could I?" + +"That isn't what I want to know. Is she in love with YOU? That's what +I'm after." + +"Yes," said he, but frowned anxiously. + +"She is perfectly adorable," said she, and was at once aware of a +guilty, nagging impression that she would not have said it to him half +an hour earlier for anything in the world. + +The Countess was strangely white and subdued when she rejoined them +later on. She had removed her hat. The other woman saw nothing but the +wealth of sun-kissed hair that rippled. Barnes went forward to meet +her, filled with a sudden apprehension. + +"What is it? You are pale and--what have you heard?" + +She stopped and looked searchingly into his eyes. A warm flush rose to +her cheeks; her own eyes grew soft and tender and wistful. + +"They all believe that the war will last two or three years longer," +she said huskily. "I cannot go back to my own country till it is all +over. They implore me to remain here with them until--until my fortunes +are mended." She turned to Mrs. Courtney and went on without the +slightest trace of indecision or embarrassment in her manner. "You see, +Mrs. Courtney, I am very, very poor. They have taken everything. I--I +fear I shall have to accept the kind, the generous proffer of a--" her +voice shook slightly--"of a home with my friends until the Huns are +driven out." + +Barnes's silence was more eloquent than words. Her eyes fell. Mrs. +Courtney's words of sympathy passed unheard; her bitter excoriation of +the Teutons and Turks was but dimly registered on the inattentive mind +of the victim of their ruthless greed; not until she expressed the hope +that Miss Cameron would condescend to accept the hospitality of her +home until plans for the future were definitely fixed was there a sign +that the object of her concern had given a thought to what she was +saying. + +"You are so very kind," stammered the Countess. "But I cannot think of +imposing upon--" + +"Leave it to me, Ede," said Barnes gently, and, laying his hand upon +his sister's arm, he led her from the room. Then he came swiftly back +to the outstretched arms of the exile. + +"A very brief New York engagement," he whispered in her ear, he knew +not how long afterward. Her head was pressed against his shoulder, her +eyes were closed, her lips parted in the ecstasy of passion. + +"Yes," she breathed, so faintly that he barely heard the strongest word +ever put into the language of man. + +Half-an-hour later he was speeding down the avenue in a taxi. His blood +was singing, his heart was bursting with joy,--his head was light, for +the feel of her was still in his arms, the voice of her in his +enraptured ears. + +He was hurrying homeward to the "diggings" he was soon to desert +forever. Poor, wretched, little old "diggings"! As he passed the Plaza, +the St. Regis and the Gotham, he favoured the great hostelries with +contemplative, calculating eyes; he even looked with speculative envy +upon the mansions of the Astors, the Vanderbilts and the Huntingtons. +She was born and reared in a house of vast dimensions. Even the +Vanderbilt places were puny in comparison. His reflections carried him +back to the Plaza. There, at least, was something comparable in size. +At any rate, it would do until he could look around for something +larger! He laughed at his conceit,--and pinched himself again. + +He was to spend the night at his sister's apartment. When he issued +forth from his "diggings" at half-past seven, he was attired in evening +clothes, and there was not a woman in all New York, young or old, who +would have denied him a second glance. + +Later on in the evening three of the Countess's friends arrived at the +Courtney home to pay their respects to their fair compatriot, and to +discuss the crown jewels. They came and brought with them the consoling +information that arrangements were practically completed for the +delivery of the jewels into the custody of the French Embassy at +Washington, through whose intervention they were to be allowed to leave +the United States without the formalities usually observed in cases of +suspected smuggling. Upon the arrival in America of trusted messengers +from Paris, headed by no less a personage than the ambassador himself, +the imperial treasure was to pass into hands that would carry it safely +to France. Prince Sebastian, still in Halifax, had been apprised by +telegraph of the recovery of the jewels, and was expected to sail for +England by the earliest steamer. + +And while the visitors at the Courtney house were lifting their glasses +to toast the prince they loved, and, in turn, the beautiful cousin who +had braved so much and fared so luckily, and the tall wayfarer who had +come into her life, a small man was stooping over a rifled knapsack in +a room far down-town, glumly regarding the result of an unusually +hazardous undertaking, even for one who could perform, such miracles as +he. Scratching his chin, he grinned,--for he was the kind who bears +disappointment with a grin,--and sat himself down at the big library +table in the centre of the room. Carefully selecting a pen-point, he +wrote: + +"It will be quite obvious to you that I called unexpectedly to-night. +The week was up, you see. I take the liberty of leaving under the +paperweight at my elbow a two dollar bill. It ought to be ample payment +for the damage done to your faithful traveling companion. Have the +necessary stitches taken in the gash, and you will find the kit as good +as new. I was more or less certain not to find what I was after, but as +I have done no irreparable injury, I am sure you will forgive my love +of adventure and excitement. It was really quite difficult to get from +the fire escape to your window, but it was a delightful experience. Try +crawling along that ten inch ledge yourself some day, and see if it +isn't productive of a pleasant thrill. I shall not forget your promise +to return good for evil some day. God knows I hope I may never be in a +position to test your sincerity. We may meet again, and I hope under +agreeable circumstances. Kindly pay my deepest respects to the Countess +Ted, and believe me to be, + +"Yours VERY respectfully, + "Sprouse. + +"P.S.--I saw O'Dowd to-day. He left a message for you and the Countess. +Tell them, said he, that I ask God's blessing for them forever. He is +off to-morrow for Brazil. He was very much relieved when he heard that +I did not get the jewels the first time I went after them, and +immensely entertained by my jolly description of how I went after them +the second. By the way, you will be interested to learn that he has cut +loose from the crowd he was trailing with. Mostly nuts, he says. +Dynamiting munition plants in Canada was a grand project, says he, and +it would have come to something if the damned women had only left the +damned men alone. The expletives are O'Dowd's." + +Ten hours before Barnes found this illuminating message on his library +table, he stood at the window of a lofty Park Avenue apartment +building, his arm about the slender, yielding figure of the only other +occupant of the room. Pointing out over the black house-tops, he +directed her attention to the myriad lights in the upper floors of a +great hostelry to the south and west, and said, + +"THAT is where you are going to live, darling." + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Green Fancy, by George Barr McCutcheon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREEN FANCY *** + +***** This file should be named 5871.txt or 5871.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/8/7/5871/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +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. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Green Fancy + +Author: George Barr McCutcheon + +Release Date: June, 2004 [EBook #5871] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on September 15, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREEN FANCY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + +[Illustration: THE RED GLEAM FROM THE BLAZING LOGS FELL UPON HER +SHINING HAIR; IT GLISTENED LIKE GOLD. SHE WORE A SIMPLE EVENING GOWN +OF WHITE.] + +GREEN FANCY + +BY + +GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON + +AUTHOR OF "GRAUSTARK," "THE HOLLOW OF HER HAND," +"THE PRINCE OF GRAUSTARK," ETC. + +WITH FRONTISPIECE BY +C. ALLAN GILBERT + +NEW YORK + +1917 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +I. THE FIRST WAYFARER AND THE SECOND WAYFARER MEET AND PART ON THE + HIGHWAY + +II. THE FIRST WAYFARER LAYS HIS PACK ASIDE AND FALLS IN WITH + FRIENDS + +III. MR. RUSHCROFT DISSOLVES, MR. JONES INTERVENES, AND TWO MEN RIDE + AWAY + +IV. AN EXTRAORDINARY CHAMBERMAID, A MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY, AND A MAN WHO + SAID "THANK YOU" + +V. THE FARM-BOY TELLS A GHASTLY STORY, AND AN IRISHMAN ENTERS + +VI. CHARITY BEGINS FAR FROM HOME, AND A STROLL IN THE WILDWOOD + FOLLOWS + +VII. SPUN-GOLD HAIR, BLUE EYES, AND VARIOUS ENCOUNTERS + +VIII. A NOTE, SOME FANCIES, AND AN EXPEDITION IN QUEST OF FACTS + +IX. THE FIRST WAYFARER, THE SECOND WAYFARER, AND THE SPIRIT OF + CHIVALRY ASCENDANT + +X. THE PRISONER OF GREEN FANCY, AND THE LAMENT OF PETER THE + CHAUFFEUR + +XI. MR. SPROUSE ABANDONS LITERATURE AT AN EARLY HOUR IN THE MORNING + +XII. THE FIRST WAYFARER ACCEPTS AN INVITATION, AND MR. DILLINGFORD + BELABORS A PROXY + +XIII. THE SECOND WAYFARER RECEIVES TWO VISITORS AT MIDNIGHT + +XIV. A FLIGHT, A STONE-CUTTER'S SHED, AND A VOICE OUTSIDE + +XV. LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY,--BUT MR. SPROUSE WAS SMALLER THAN THE + AVERAGE + +XVI. THE FIRST WAYFARER VISITS A SHRINE, CONFESSES, AND TAKES AN + OATH + +XVII. THE SECOND WAYFARER IS TRANSFORMED, AND MARRIAGE IS FLOUTED + +XVIII. MR. SPROUSE CONTINUES TO BE PERPLEXING, BUT PUTS HIS NOSE TO + THE GROUND + +XIX. A TRIP BY NIGHT, A SUPPER, AND A LATE ARRIVAL + +XX. THE FIRST WAYFARER HAS ONE TREASURE THRUST UPON HIM,--AND + FORTHWITH CLAIMS ANOTHER + +XXI. THE END IN SIGHT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FIRST WAYFARER AND THE SECOND WAYFARER MEET AND PART ON THE +HIGHWAY + + +A solitary figure trudged along the narrow road that wound its +serpentinous way through the dismal, forbidding depths of the forest: +a man who, though weary and footsore, lagged not in his swift, +resolute advance. Night was coming on, and with it the no uncertain +prospects of storm. Through the foliage that overhung the wretched +road, his ever-lifting and apprehensive eye caught sight of the +thunder-black, low-lying clouds that swept over the mountain and bore +down upon the green, whistling tops of the trees. At a cross-road +below he had encountered a small girl driving homeward the cows. She +was afraid of the big, strange man with the bundle on his back and the +stout walking stick in his hand: to her a remarkable creature who wore +"knee pants" and stockings like a boy on Sunday, and hob-nail shoes, +and a funny coat with "pleats" and a belt, and a green hat with a +feather sticking up from the band. His agreeable voice and his amiable +smile had no charm for her. He merely wanted to know how far it was to +the nearest village, but she stared in alarm and edged away as if +preparing to break into mad flight the instant she was safely past him +with a clear way ahead. + +"Don't be afraid," he said gently. "And here! Catch it if you can." He +tossed a coin across the road. It struck at her feet and rolled into +the high grass. She did not divert her gaze for the fraction of a +second. "I'm a stranger up here and I want to find some place to sleep +for the night. Surely you have a tongue, haven't you?" By dint of +persuasive smiles and smirks that would have sickened him at any other +time he finally induced her to say that if he kept right on until he +came to the turnpike he would find a sign-post telling him where to +get gasolene. + +"But I don't want gasolene. I want bread and butter," he said. + +"Well, you can git bread an' butter there too," she said. "Food fer +man an' beast, it says." + +"A hotel?" + +"Whut?" + +"A boarding-house?" he substituted. + +"It's a shindy," she said, painfully. "Men get drunk there. Pap calls +it a tavern, but Ma says it's a shindy." + +"A road-house, eh?" She was puzzled--and silent. "Thank you. You'll +find the quarter in the grass. Good-bye." + +He lifted his queer green hat and strode away, too much of a gentleman +to embarrass her by looking back. If he had done so he would have seen +her grubbing stealthily in the grass, not with her brown little hands, +but with the wriggling toes of a bare foot on which the mud, perhaps +of yesterday, had caked. She was too proud to stoop. + +At last he came to the "pike" and there, sure enough, was the sign- +post. A huge, crudely painted hand pointed to the left, and on what +was intended to be the sleeve of a very stiff and unflinching arm +these words were printed in scaly white: "Hart's Tavern. Food for Man +and Beast. Also Gasolene. Established 1798. 1 mile." "Also Gasolene" +was freshly painted and crowded its elders in a most disrespectful +manner. + +The chill spring wind of the gale was sweeping in the direction +indicated by the giant forefinger. There was little consolation in the +thought that a mile lay between him and shelter, but it was a relief +to know that he would have the wind at his back. Darkness was settling +over the land. The lofty hills seemed to be closing in as if to +smother the breath out of this insolent adventurer who walked alone +among them. He was an outsider. He did not belong there. He came from +the lowlands and he was an object of scorn. + +On the opposite side of the "pike," in the angle formed by a junction +with the narrow mountain road, stood a humbler sign-post, lettered so +indistinctly that it deserved the compassion of all observers because +of its humility. Swerving in his hurried passage, the tall stranger +drew near this shrinking friend to the uncertain traveller, and was +suddenly aware of another presence in the roadway. + +A woman appeared, as if from nowhere, almost at his side. He drew back +to let her pass. She stopped before the little sign-post, and together +they made out the faint directions. + +To the right and up the mountain road Frogg's Corner lay four miles +and a half away; Pitcairn was six miles back over the road which the +man had travelled. Two miles and a half down the turnpike was Spanish +Falls, a railway station, and four miles above the cross-roads where +the man and woman stood peering through the darkness at the laconic +sign-post reposed the village of Saint Elizabeth. Hart's Tavern was on +the road to Saint Elizabeth, and the man, with barely a glance at his +fellow-traveller, started briskly off in that direction. + +Lightning was flashing fitfully beyond the barrier heights and faraway +thunder came to his ears. He knew that these wild mountain storms +moved swiftly; his chance of reaching the tavern ahead of the deluge +was exceedingly slim. His long, powerful legs had carried him twenty +or thirty paces before he came to a sudden halt. + +What of this lone woman who traversed the highway? Obviously she too +was a stranger on the road, and a glance over his shoulder supported a +first impression: she was carrying a stout travelling bag. His first +glimpse of her had been extremely casual,--indeed he had paid no +attention to her at all, so eager was he to read the directions and be +on his way. + +She was standing quite still in front of the sign-post, peering up the +road toward Frogg's Corner,--confronted by a steep climb that led into +black and sinister timberlands above the narrow strip of pasture +bordering the pike. + +The fierce wind pinned her skirts to her slender body as she leaned +against the gale, gripping her hat tightly with one hand and straining +under the weight of the bag in the other. The ends of a veil whipped +furiously about her head, and, even in the gathering darkness, he +could see a strand or two of hair keeping them company. + +He hesitated. Evidently her way was up the steep, winding road and +into the dark forest, a far from appealing prospect. Not a sign of +habitation was visible along the black ridge of the wood; no lighted +window peeped down from the shadows, no smoke curled up from unseen +kitchen stoves. Gallantry ordered him to proffer his aid or, at the +least, advice to the woman, be she young or old, native or stranger. + +Retracing his steps, he called out to her above the gale: + +"Can I be of any assistance to you?" + +She turned quickly. He saw that the veil was drawn tightly over her +face. + +"No, thank you," she replied. Her voice, despite a certain nervous +note, was soft and clear and gentle,--the voice and speech of a well- +bred person who was young and resolute. + +"Pardon me, but have you much farther to go? The storm will soon be +upon us, and--surely you will not consider me presumptuous--I don't +like the idea of your being caught out in--" + +"What is to be done about it?" she inquired, resignedly. "I must go +on. I can't wait here, you know, to be washed back to the place I +started from." + +He smiled. She had wit as well as determination. There was the +suggestion of mirth in her voice--and certainly it was a most +pleasing, agreeable voice. + +"If I can be of the least assistance to you, pray don't hesitate to +command me. I am a sort of tramp, you might say, and I travel as well +by night as I do by day,--so don't feel that you are putting me to any +inconvenience. Are you by any chance bound for Hart's Tavern? If so, I +will be glad to lag behind and carry your bag." + +"You are very good, but I am not bound for Hart's Tavern, wherever +that may be. Thank you, just the same. You appear to be an uncommonly +genteel tramp, and it isn't because I am afraid you might make off +with my belongings." She added the last by way of apology. + +He smiled--and then frowned as he cast an uneasy look at the black +clouds now rolling ominously up over the mountain ridge. + +"By Jove, we're going to catch it good and hard," he exclaimed. +"Better take my advice. These storms are terrible. I know, for I've +encountered half a dozen of them in the past week. They fairly tear +one to pieces." + +"Are you trying to frighten me?" + +"Yes," he confessed. "Better to frighten you in advance than to let it +come later on when you haven't any one to turn to in your terror. You +are a stranger in these parts?" + +"Yes. The railway station is a few miles below here. I have walked all +the way. There was no one to meet me. You are a stranger also, so it +is useless to inquire if you know whether this road leads to Green +Fancy." + +"Green Fancy? Sounds attractive. I'm sorry I can't enlighten you." He +drew a small electric torch from his pocket and directed its slender +ray upon the sign-post. So fierce was the gale by this time that he +was compelled to brace his strong body against the wind. + +"It is on the road to Frogg's Corner," she explained nervously. "A +mile and a half, so I am told. It isn't on the sign-post. It is a +house, not a village. Thank you for your kindness. And I am not at all +frightened," she added, raising her voice slightly. + +"But you ARE" he cried. "You're scared half out of your wits. You +can't fool me. I'd be scared myself at the thought of venturing into +those woods up yonder." + +"Well, then, I AM frightened," she confessed plaintively. "Almost out +of my boots." + +"That settles it," he said flatly. "You shall not undertake it." + +"Oh, but I must. I am expected. It is import--" + +"If you are expected, why didn't some one meet you at the station? +Seems to me--" + +"Hark! Do you hear--doesn't that sound like an automobile--Ah!" The +hoarse honk of an automobile horn rose above the howling wind, and an +instant later two faint lights came rushing toward them around a bend +in the mountain road. "Better late than never," she cried, her voice +vibrant once more. + +He grasped her arm and jerked her out of the path of the on-coming +machine, whose driver was sending it along at a mad rate, regardless +of ruts and stones and curves. The car careened as it swung into the +pike, skidded alarmingly, and then the brakes were jammed down. +Attended by a vast grinding of gears and wheels, the rattling old car +came to a stop fifty feet or more beyond them. + +"I'd sooner walk than take my chances in an antediluvian rattle-trap +like that," said the tall wayfarer, bending quite close to her ear. +"It will fall to pieces before you--" + +But she was running down the road towards the car, calling out sharply +to the driver. He stooped over and took up the travelling bag she had +dropped in her haste and excitement. It was heavy, amazingly heavy. + +"I shouldn't like to carry that a mile and a half," he said to +himself. + +The voice of the belated driver came to his ears on the swift wind. It +was high pitched and unmistakably apologetic. He could not hear what +she was saying to him, but there wasn't much doubt as to the nature of +her remarks. She was roundly upbraiding him. + +Urged to action by thoughts of his own plight, he hurried to her side +and said: + +"Excuse me, please. You dropped something. Shall I put it up in front +or in the tonneau?" + +The whimsical note in his voice brought a quick, responsive laugh from +her lips. + +"Thank you so much. I am frightfully careless with my valuables. Would +you mind putting it in behind? Thanks!" Her tone altered completely as +she ordered the man to turn the car around--"And be quick about it," +she added. + +The first drops of rain pelted down from the now thoroughly black dome +above them, striking in the road with the sharpness of pebbles. + +"Lucky it's a limousine," said the tall traveller. "Better hop in. +We'll be getting it hard in a second or two." + +"I can't very well hop in while he's backing and twisting like that, +can I?" she laughed. He was acutely aware of a strained, nervous note +in her voice, as of one who is confronted by an undertaking calling +for considerable fortitude. + +"Are you quite sure of this man?" he asked. + +"Absolutely," she replied, after a pause. + +"You know him, eh?" + +"By reputation," she said briefly, and without a trace of laughter. + +"Well, that comforts me to some extent," he said, but dubiously. + +She was silent for a moment and then turned to him impulsively. + +"You must let me take you on to the Tavern in the car," she said. +"Turn about is fair play. I cannot allow you to--" + +"Never mind about me," he broke in cheerily. He had been wondering if +she would make the offer, and he felt better now that she had done so. +"I'm accustomed to roughing it. I don't mind a soaking. I've had +hundreds of 'em." + +"Just the same, you shall not have one to-night," she announced +firmly. The car stopped beside them. "Get in behind. I shall sit with +the driver." + +If any one had told him that this rattling, dilapidated automobile,-- +ten years old, at the very least, he would have sworn,--was capable of +covering the mile in less than two minutes, he would have laughed in +his face. Almost before he realised that they were on the way up the +straight, dark road, the lights in the windows of Hart's Tavern came +into view. Once more the bounding, swaying car came to a stop under +brakes, and he was relaxing after the strain of the most hair-raising +ride he had ever experienced. + +Not a word had been spoken during the trip. The front windows were +lowered. The driver,--an old, hatchet-faced man,--had uttered a single +word just before throwing in the clutch at the cross-roads in response +to the young woman's crisp command to drive to Hart's Tavern. That +word was uttered under his breath and it is not necessary to repeat it +here. + +He lost no time in climbing out of the car. As he leaped to the ground +and raised his green hat, he took a second look at the automobile,--a +look of mingled wonder and respect. It was an old-fashioned, high- +powered Panhard, capable, despite its antiquity, of astonishing speed +in any sort of going. + +"For heaven's sake," he began, shouting to her above the roar of the +wind and rain, "don't let him drive like that over those--" + +"You're getting wet," she cried out, a thrill in her voice. "Good +night,--and thank you!" + +"Look out!" rasped the unpleasant driver, and in went the clutch. The +man in the road jumped hastily to one side as the car shot backward +with a jerk, curved sharply, stopped for the fraction of a second, and +then bounded forward again, headed for the cross-roads. + +"Thanks!" shouted the late passenger after the receding tail light, +and dashed up the steps to the porch that ran the full length of +Hart's Tavern. In the shelter of its low-lying roof, he stopped short +and once more peered down the dark, rain-swept road. A flash of +lightning revealed the flying automobile. He waited for a second +flash. It came an instant later, but the car was no longer visible. He +shook his head. "I hope the blamed old fool knows what he's doing, +hitting it up like that over a wet road. There'll be a double funeral +in this neck of the woods if anything goes wrong," he reflected. Still +shaking his head, he faced the closed door of the Tavern. + +A huge, old-fashioned lantern hung above the portal, creaking and +straining in the wind, dragging at its stout supports and threatening +every instant to break loose and go frolicking away with the storm. + +The sound of the rain on the clap-board roof was deafening. At the +lower end of the porch the water swished in with all the velocity of a +gigantic wave breaking over a ship at sea. The wind howled, the +thunder roared and almost like cannon-fire were the successive crashes +of lightning among the trees out there in the path of fury. + +There were lights in several of the windows opening upon the porch; +the wooden shutters not only were ajar but were banging savagely +against the walls. Even in the dim, grim light shed by the lantern he +could see that the building was of an age far beyond the ken of any +living man. He recalled the words of the informing sign-post: +"Established in 1798." One hundred and eighteen years old, and still +baffling the assaults of all the elements in a region where they were +never timid! + +It may, in all truth, be a "shindy," thought he, but it had led a +gallant life. + +The broad, thick weather-boarding, overlapping in layers, was brown +with age and smooth with the polishing of time and the backs, no +doubt, of countless loiterers who had come and gone in the making of +the narrative that Hart's Tavern could relate. The porch itself, while +old, was comparatively modern; it did not belong to the century in +which the inn itself was built, for in those far-off days men did not +waste time, timber or thought on the unnecessary. While the planks in +the floor were worn and the uprights battered and whittled out of +their pristine shapeliness, they were but grandchildren to the parent +building to which they clung. Stout and, beyond question, venerable +benches stood close to the wall on both sides of the entrance. +Directly over the broad, low door with its big wooden latch and bar, +was the word "Welcome," rudely carved in the oak beam. It required no +cultured eye to see that the letters had been cut, deep and strong, +into the timber, not with the tool of the skilled wood carver but with +the hunting knife of an ambitious pioneer. + +A shocking incongruity marred the whole effect. Suspended at the side +of this hundred-year-old doorway was a black and gold, shield-shaped +ornament of no inconsiderable dimensions informing the observer that a +certain brand of lager beer was to be had inside. + +He lifted the latch and, being a tall man, involuntarily stooped as he +passed through the door, a needless precaution, for gaunt, gigantic +mountaineers had entered there before him and without bending their +arrogant heads. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE FIRST WAYFARER LAYS HIS PACK ASIDE AND FALLS IN WITH FRIENDS + + +The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through +which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern. A steep, +angular staircase took up one end of the room. Set in beneath its +upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was +transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful +occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe. He removed the pipe, brushed +his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and +with grave ceremony to the arrival. + +An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from +which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what +turned out to be a conversational solo. To the left another door led +to what was evidently the dining-room. The glance that the stranger +sent in that direction revealed two or three tables, covered with +white cloths. + +"Can you put me up for the night?" he inquired, advancing to the +counter. + +"You look like a feller who'd want a room with bath," drawled the man +behind the counter, surveying the applicant from head to foot. "Which +we ain't got," he added. + +"I'll be satisfied to have a room with a bed," said the other. + +"Sign here," was the laconic response. He went to the trouble of +actually putting his finger on the line where the guest was expected +to write his name. + +"Can I have supper?" + +"Food for man and beast," said the other patiently. He slapped his +palm upon a cracked call-bell, and then looked at the fresh name on +the page. "Thomas K. Barnes, New York," he read aloud. He eyed the +newcomer once more. "And automobile?" + +"No. I'm walking." + +"Didn't I hear you just come up in a car?" + +"A fellow gave me a lift from the cross-roads." + +"I see. My name is Jones, Putnam Jones. I run this place. My father +an' grandfather run it before me. Glad to meet you, Mr. Barnes. We +used to have a hostler here named Barnes. What's your idea fer footin' +it this time o' the year?" + +"I do something like this every spring. A month or six weeks of it +puts me in fine shape for a vacation later on," supplied Mr. Barnes +whimsically. + +Mr. Jones allowed a grin to steal over his seamed face. He re-inserted +the corn-cob pipe and took a couple of pulls at it. + +"I never been to New York, but it must be a heavenly place for a +vacation, if a feller c'n judge by what some of my present boarders +have to say about it. It's a sort of play-actor's paradise, ain't it?" + +"It is paradise to every actor who happens to be on the road, Mr. +Jones," said Barnes, slipping his big pack from his shoulders and +letting it slide to the floor. + +"Hear that feller in the tap-room talkin'? Well, he is one of the +leading actors in New York,--in the world, for that matter. He's been +talkin' about Broadway for nearly a week now, steady." + +"May I enquire what he is doing up here in the wilds?" + +"At present he ain't doing anything except talk. Last week he was +treadin' the boards, as he puts it himself. Busted. Up the flue. +Showed last Saturday night in Hornville, eighteen mile north of here, +and immediately after the performance him and his whole troupe started +to walk back to New York, a good four hunderd mile. They started out +the back way of the opery house and nobody missed 'em till next +mornin' except the sheriff, and he didn't miss 'em till they'd got +over the county line into our bailiwick. Four of 'em are still +stoppin' here just because I ain't got the heart to turn 'em out ner +the spare money to buy 'em tickets to New York. Here comes one of 'em +now. Mr. Dillingford, will you show this gentleman to room eleven, and +carry his baggage up fer him? And maybe he'll want a pitcher of warm +water to wash and shave in." He turned to the new guest and smiled +apologetically. + +"We're a little short o' help just now, Mr. Barnes, and Mr. +Dillingford has kindly consented to--" + +"My God!" gasped Mr. Dillingford, staring at the register. "Some one +from little old New York? My word, sir, you--Won't you have a--er-- +little something to drink with me before you--" + +"He wants something to eat," interrupted Mr. Jones sharply. "Tell Mr. +Bacon to step up to his room and take the order." + +"All right, old chap,--nothing easier," said Mr. Dillingford genially. +"Just climb up the elevator, Mr. Barnes. We do this to get up an +appetite. When did you leave New York?" + +Taking up a lighted kerosene lamp and the heavy pack, Mr. Clarence +Dillingford led the way up the stairs. He was a chubby individual of +indefinite age. At a glance you would have said he was under twenty- +one; a second look would have convinced you that he was nearer forty- +one. He was quite shabby, but chin and cheek were as clean as that of +a freshly scrubbed boy. He may not have changed his collar for days +but he lived up to the traditions of his profession by shaving twice +every twenty-four hours. + +Depositing Barnes' pack on a chair in the little bedroom at the end of +the hall upstairs, he favoured the guest with a perfectly unabashed +grin. + +"I'm not doing this to oblige old man Jones, you know. I won't attempt +to deceive you. I'm working out a daily bread-bill. Chuck three times +a day and a bed to sleep in, that's what I'm doing it for, so don't +get it into your head that I applied for the job. Let me take a look +at you. I want to get a good square peep at a man who has the means to +go somewhere else and yet is boob enough to come to this gosh-awful +place of his own free will and accord. Darn it, you LOOK intelligent. +I don't get you at all. What's the matter? Are you a fugitive from +justice?" + +Barnes laughed aloud. There was no withstanding the fellow's sprightly +impudence. + +"I happen to enjoy walking," said he. + +"If I enjoyed it as much as you do, I'd be limping into Harlem by this +time," said Mr. Dillingford sadly. "But, you see, I'm an actor. I'm +too proud to walk." + +"Up against poor business, I presume?" + +"Up against no business at all," said Mr. Dillingford. "We couldn't +even get 'em to come in on passes. Last Saturday night we had out +enough paper to fill the house and, by gosh, only eleven people showed +up. You can't beat that, can you? Three of 'em paid to get in. That +made a dollar and a half, box office. We nearly had to give it back." + +"Bad weather?" suggested Barnes feelingly. He had removed his wet +coat, and stood waiting. + +"Nope. Moving pictures. They'd sooner pay ten cents to see a movie +than to come in and see us free. The old man was so desperate he tried +to kill himself the morning we arrived at this joint." + +"You mean the star? Poison, rope or pistol?" + +"Whiskey. He tried to drink himself to death. Before old Jones got +onto him he had put down seven dollars' worth of booze, and now we've +got to help wipe out the account. But why complain? It's all in a +day's--" + +The cracked bell on the office desk interrupted him, somewhat +peremptorially. Mr. Dillingford's face assumed an expression of +profound dignity. He lowered his voice as he gave vent to the +following: + +"That man Jones is the meanest human being God ever let--Yes, sir, +coming, sir!" He started for the open door with surprising alacrity. + +"Never mind the hot water," said Barnes, sorry for the little man. + +"No use," said Mr. Dillingford dejectedly. "He charges ten cents for +hot water. You've got to have it whether you want it or not. Remember +that you are in the very last stages of New England. The worst +affliction known to the human race. So long. I'll be back in two +shakes of a lamb's--" The remainder of his promise was lost in the +rush of exit. + +Barnes surveyed the little bed-chamber. It was just what he had +expected it would be. The walls were covered with a garish paper +selected by one who had an eye but not a taste for colour: bright pink +flowers that looked more or less like chunks of a shattered water +melon spilt promiscuously over a background of pearl grey. There was +every indication that it had been hung recently. Indeed there was a +distinct aroma of fresh flour paste. The bedstead, bureau and +washstand were likewise offensively modern. Everything was as clean as +a pin, however, and the bed looked comfortable. He stepped to the +small, many-paned window and looked out into the night. The storm was +at its height. In all his life he never had heard such a clatter of +rain, nor a wind that shrieked so appallingly. + +His thoughts went quite naturally to the woman who was out there in +the thick of it. He wondered how she was faring, and lamented that she +was not in his place now and he in hers. A smile lighted his eyes. She +had such a nice voice and such a quaint way of putting things into +words. What was she doing up in this God-forsaken country? And how +could she be so certain of that grumpy old man whom she had never laid +eyes on before? What was the name of the place she was bound for? +Green Fancy! What an odd name for a house! And what sort of house-- + +His reflections were interrupted by the return of Mr. Dillingford, who +carried a huge pewter pitcher from which steam arose in volume. At his +heels strode a tall, cadaverous person in a checked suit. + +Never had Barnes seen anything quite so overpowering in the way of a +suit. Joseph's coat of many colours was no longer a vision of +childhood. It was a reality. The checks were an inch square, and each +cube had a narrow border of azure blue. The general tone was a dirty +grey, due no doubt to age and a constitution that would not allow it +to outlive its usefulness. + +"Meet Mr. Bacon, Mr. Barnes," introduced Mr. Dillingford, going to the +needless exertion of indicating Mr. Bacon with a generous sweep of his +free hand. "Our heavy leads. Mr. Montague Bacon, also of New York." + +"Ham and eggs, pork tenderloin, country sausage, rump steak and spring +chicken," said Mr. Bacon, in a cavernous voice, getting it over with +while the list was fresh in his memory. "Fried and boiled potatoes, +beans, succotash, onions, stewed tomatoes and--er--just a moment, +please. Fried and boiled potatoes, beans--" + +"Learn your lines, Ague," said Mr. Dillingford, from the washstand. +"We call him Ague for short, Mr. Barnes, because he's always shaky +with his lines." + +"Ham and eggs, potatoes and a cup or two of coffee," said Barnes, +suppressing a desire to laugh. + +"And apple pie," concluded the waiter, triumphantly. "I knew I'd get +it if you gave me time. As you may have observed, my dear sir, I am +not what you would call an experienced waiter. As a matter of fact, I--" + +"I told him you were an actor," interrupted his friend. "Run along now +and give the order to Mother Jones. Mr. Barnes is hungry." + +"I am delighted to meet you, Mr. Barnes," said Mr. Bacon, extending +his hand. As he did so, his coat sleeve receded half way to the elbow, +revealing the full expanse of a frayed cuff. "So delighted, in fact, +that it gives me great pleasure to inform you that you have at last +encountered a waiter who does not expect a tip. God forbid that I +should ever sink so low as that. I have been a villain of the deepest +dye in a score or more of productions--many of them depending to a +large extent upon the character of the work I did in--" + +"Actor stuff," inserted Mr. Dillingford, unfeelingly. + +"--And I have been hissed a thousand times by gallery gods and kitchen +angels from one end of this broad land to the other, but never, sir, +never in all my career have I been obliged to play such a diabolical +part as I am playing here, and, dammit, sir, I am denied even the +tribute of a healthy hiss. This is--" + +The bell downstairs rang violently. Mr. Bacon departed in great haste. + +While the traveller performed his ablutions, Mr. Dillingford, for the +moment disengaged, sat upon the edge of the bed and enjoyed himself. +He talked. + +"We were nine at the start," said he, pensively. "Gradually we were +reduced to seven, not including the manager. I doubled and so did Miss +Hughes,--a very charming actress, by the way, who will soon be heard +of on Broadway unless I miss my guess. The last week I was playing +Dick Cranford, light juvenile, and General Parsons, comedy old man. In +the second act Dick has to meet the general face to face and ask him +for his daughter's hand. Miss Hughes was Amy Parsons, and, as I say, +doubled along toward the end. She played her own mother. The best you +could say for the arrangement was that the family resemblance was +remarkable. I never saw a mother and daughter look so much alike. You +see, she didn't have time to change her make-up or costume, so all she +could do was to put on a long shawl and a grey wig, and that made a +mother of her. Well, we had a terrible time getting around that scene +between Dick and the general. Amy and her mother were in on it too, +and Mrs. Parsons was supposed to faint. It looked absolutely +impossible for Miss Hughes. But we got around it, all right." + +"How, may I ask?" enquired Barnes, over the edge of a towel. + +"Just as I was about to enter to tackle the old man, who was seated in +his library with Mrs. Parsons, the lights went out. I jumped up and +addressed the audience, telling 'em (almost in a confidential whisper, +there were so darned few of 'em) that there was nothing to be alarmed +about and the act would go right on. Then Amy and Dick came on in +total darkness, and the audience never got wise to the game. When the +lights went up, there was Amy and Dick embracing each other in plain +view, the old folks nowhere in sight. General Parsons had dragged the +old lady into the next room. We made our changes right there on the +stage, speaking all four parts at the same time." + +"Pretty clever," said Barnes. + +"My idea," announced Mr. Dillingford calmly. + +"What has become of the rest of the company?" + +"Well, as I said before, two of 'em escaped before the smash. The low +comedian and character old woman. Joe Beckley and his wife. That left +the old man,--I mean Mr. Rushcroft, the star--Lyndon Rushcroft, you +know,--myself and Bacon, Tommy Gray, Miss Rushcroft, Miss Hughes and a +woman named Bradley, seven of us. Miss Hughes happened to know a chap +who was travelling around the country for his health, always meeting +up with us,--accidentally, of course,--and he staked her to a ticket +to New York. The woman named Bradley said her mother was dying in +Buffalo, so the rest of us scraped together all the money we had,-- +nine dollars and sixty cents,--and did the right thing by her. Actors +are always doing darn-fool things like that, Mr. Barnes. And what do +you suppose she did? She took that money and bought two tickets to +Albany, one for herself and another for the manager of the company,-- +the lowest, meanest, orneriest white man that ever,--But I am crabbing +the old man's part. You ought to hear what HE has to say about Mr. +Manager. He can use words I never even heard of before. So, that +leaves just the four of us here, working off the two days' board bill +of Bradley and the manager, Rushcroft's ungodly spree, and at the same +time keeping our own slate clean. Miss Thackeray will no doubt make up +your bed in the morning. She is temporarily a chambermaid. Cracking +fine girl, too, if I do say--" + +"Miss Thackeray? I don't recall your mentioning--" + +"Mercedes Thackeray on the programme, but in real life, as they say, +Emma Smith. She is Rushcroft's daughter." + +"Somewhat involved, isn't it?" + +"Not in the least. Rushcroft's real name is Otterbein Smith. Horrible, +isn't it? He sprung from some place in Indiana, where the authors come +from. Miss Thackeray was our ingenue. A trifle large for that sort of +thing, perhaps, but--very sprightly, just the same. She's had her full +growth upwards, but not outwards. Tommy Gray, the other member of the +company, is driving a taxi in Hornville. He used to own his own car in +Springfield, Mass., by the way. Comes of a very good family. At least, +so he says. Are you all ready? I'll lead you to the dining-room. Or +would you prefer a little appetiser beforehand? The tap-room is right +on the way. You mustn't call it the bar. Everybody in that little +graveyard down the road would turn over completely if you did. +Hallowed tradition, you know." + +"I don't mind having a cocktail. Will you join me?" + +"As a matter of fact, I'm expected to," confessed Mr. Dillingford. +"We've been drawing quite a bit of custom to the tap-room. The rubes +like to sit around and listen to conversation about Broadway and +Bunker Hill and Old Point Comfort and other places, and then go home +and tell the neighbours that they know quite a number of stage people. +Human nature, I guess. I used to think that if I could ever meet an +actress I'd be the happiest thing in the world. Well, I've met a lot +of 'em, and God knows I'm not as happy as I was when I was WISHING I +could meet one of them. Listen! Hear that? Rushcroft is reciting Gunga +Din. You can't hear the thunder for the noise he's making." + +They descended the stairs and entered the tap-room, where a dozen men +were seated around the tables, all of them with pewter mugs in front +of them. Standing at the top table,--that is to say, the one farthest +removed from the door and commanding the attention of every creature +in the room--was the imposing figure of Lyndon Rushcroft. He was +reciting, in a sonorous voice and with tremendous fervour, the famous +Kipling poem. Barnes had heard it given a score of times at The +Players in New York, and knew it by heart. He was therefore able to +catch Mr. Rushcroft in the very reprehensible act of taking liberties +with the designs of the author. The "star," after a sharp and rather +startled look at the newcomer, deliberately "cut" four stanzas and +rushed somewhat hastily through the concluding verse, marring a +tremendous climax. + +A genial smile wiped the tragic expression from his face. He advanced +upon Barnes and the beaming Mr. Dillingford, his hand extended. + +"My dear fellow," he exclaimed resoundingly, "how are you?" Cordiality +boomed in his voice. "I heard you had arrived. Welcome,--thricefold +welcome!" He neglected to say that Mr. Montague Bacon, in passing a +few minutes before, had leaned over and whispered behind his hand: + +"Fellow upstairs from New York, Mr. Rushcroft,--fellow named Barnes. +Quite a swell, believe me." + +It was a well-placed tip, for Mr. Rushcroft had been telling the +natives for days that he knew everybody worth knowing in New York. + +Barnes was momentarily taken aback. Then he rose to the spirit of the +occasion. + +"Hello, Rushcroft," he greeted, as if meeting an old time and greatly +beloved friend. "This IS good. 'Pon my soul, you are like a thriving +date palm in the middle of an endless desert. How are you?" + +They shook hands warmly. Mr. Dillingford slapped the newcomer on the +shoulder, affectionately, familiarly, and shouted: + +"Who would have dreamed we'd run across good old Barnesy up here? By +Jove, it's marvellous!" + +"Friends, countrymen," boomed Mr. Rushcroft, "this is Mr. Barnes of +New York. Not the man the book was written about, but one of the best +fellows God ever put into this little world of ours. I do not recall +your names, gentlemen, or I would introduce each of you separately and +divisibly. And when did you leave New York, my dear fellow?" + +"A fortnight ago," replied Barnes. "I have been walking for the past +two weeks." + +Mr. Rushcroft's expression changed. His face fell. + +"Walking?" he repeated, a trifle stiffly. Was the fellow a tramp? Was +he in no better condition of life than himself and his stranded +companions, against whom the mockery of the assemblage was slyly but +indubitably directed? If so, what was to be gained by claiming +friendship with him? It behooved him to go slow. He drew himself up to +his full height. "Well, well! Really?" he said. + +The others looked on with interest. The majority were farmers, hardy, +rawboned men with misty eyes. Two of them looked like mechanics,-- +blacksmiths, was Barnes' swift estimate,--and as there was an odor of +gasolene in the low, heavy-timbered room, others were no doubt +connected with the tavern garage. For that matter, there was also an +atmosphere of the stables. + +Lyndon Rushcroft was a tall, saggy man of fifty. Despite his +determined erectness, he was inclined to sag from the shoulders down. +His head, huge and grey, appeared to be much too ponderous for his +yielding body, and yet he carried it manfully, even theatrically. The +lines in his dark, seasoned face were like furrows; his nose was large +and somewhat bulbous, his mouth wide and grim. Thick, black eyebrows +shaded a pair of eyes in which white was no longer apparent; it had +given way to a permanent red. A two days' stubble covered his chin and +cheeks. Altogether he was a singular exemplification of one's idea of +the old-time actor. He was far better dressed than the two male +members of his company who had come under Barnes' observation. A +fashionably made cutaway coat of black, a fancy waistcoat, and +trousers with a delicate stripe (sadly in need of creasing) gave him +an air of distinction totally missing in his subordinates. (Afterwards +Barnes was to learn that he was making daily use of his last act +drawing-room costume, which included a silk hat and a pair of pearl +grey gloves.) Evidently he had possessed the foresight to "skip out" +in the best that the wardrobe afforded, leaving his ordinary garments +for the sheriff to lay hands upon. + +"A customary adventure with me," said Barnes. "I take a month's +walking tour every spring, usually timing my pilgrimage so as to miss +the hoi-polloi that blunders into the choice spots of the world later +on and spoils them completely for me. This is my first jaunt into this +part of New England. Most attractive walking, my dear fellow. +Wonderful scenery, splendid air--" "Deliver me from the hoi-polloi," +said Mr. Rushcroft, at his ease once more. "I may also add, deliver me +from walking. I'm damned if I can see anything in it. What will you +have to drink, old chap?" + +He turned toward the broad aperture which served as a passageway in +the wall for drinks leaving the hands of a fat bartender beyond to +fall into the clutches of thirsty customers in the tap-room. There was +no outstanding bar. A time-polished shelf, as old as the house itself, +provided the afore-said bartender with a place on which to spread his +elbows while not actively engaged in advancing mugs and bottles from +more remote resting-places at his back. + +"Everything comes through 'the hole in the wall,'" explained +Rushcroft, wrinkling his face into a smile. + +He unceremoniously turned his back on the audience of a moment before, +and pounded smartly on the shelf, notwithstanding the fact that the +bartender was less than a yard away and facing him expectantly. "What +ho! Give ear, professor. Ye gods, what a night! Devil-brewed +pandemonium--I beg pardon?" + +"I was just about to ask what you will have," said Barnes, lining up +beside him with Mr. Dillingford. + +Mr. Rushcroft drew himself up once more. "My dear fellow, I asked you +to have a--" + +"But I had already invited Dillingford. You must allow me to extend +the invitation--" + +"Say no more, sir. I understand perfectly. A flagon of ale, Bob, for +me." He leaned closer to Barnes and said, in what was supposed to be a +confidential aside: "Don't tackle the whiskey. It would kill a +rattlesnake." + +A few minutes later he laid one hand fondly upon Barnes' shoulder and, +with a graceful sweep of the other in the direction of the hall, +addressed himself to Dillingford. + +"Lead the way to the banquet-hall, good fellow. We follow." To the +patrons he was abandoning: + +"We return anon." Passing through the office, his arm linked in one of +Barnes', Mr. Rushcroft hesitated long enough to impress upon Landlord +Jones the importance of providing his "distinguished friend, Robert W. +Barnes," with the very best that the establishment afforded. Putnam +Jones blinked slightly and his eyes sought the register as if to +accuse or justify his memory. Then he spat copiously into the corner, +a necessary preliminary to a grin. He hadn't much use for the great +Lyndon Rushcroft. His grin was sardonic. Something told him that Mr. +Rushcroft was about to be liberally fed. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MR. RUSHCROFT DISSOLVES, MR. JONES INTERVENES, AND TWO MEN RIDE AWAY + + +Mr. Rushcroft explained that he had had his supper. In fact, he went +on to confess, he had been compelled, like the dog, to "speak" for it. +What could be more disgusting, more degrading, he mourned, than the +spectacle of a man who had appeared in all of the principal theatres +of the land as star and leading support to stars, settling for his +supper by telling stories and reciting poetry in the tap-room of a +tavern? + +"Still," he consented, when Barnes insisted that it would be a +kindness to him, "since you put it that way, I dare say I could do +with a little snack, as you so aptly put it. Just a bite or two. Like +you, my dear fellow, I loathe and detest eating alone. I covet +companionship, convivial com--what have you ready, Miss Tilly?" + +Miss Tilly was a buxom female of forty or thereabouts, with +spectacles. She was one of a pair of sedentary waitresses who had been +so long in the employ of Mr. Jones that he hated the sight of them. +Close proximity to a real star affected her intensely. In fact, she +was dazzled. For something like twenty years she had nursed an +ambition that wavered between the desire to become an actress or an +authoress. At present she despised literature. More than once she had +confessed to Mr. Rushcroft that she hated like poison to write out the +bill-o'-fare, a duty devolving solely upon her, it appears, because of +a local tradition that she possessed literary talent. Every one said +that she wrote the best hand in the county. + +Mr. Rushcroft's conception of a bite or two may have staggered Barnes +but it did not bewilder Miss Tilly. He had four eggs with his ham, and +other things in proportion. He talked a great deal, proving in that +way that it was a supper well worth speaking for. Among other things, +he dilated at great length upon his reasons for not being a member of +The Players or The Lambs in New York City. It seems that he had +promised his dear, devoted wife that he would never join a club of any +description. Dear old girl, he would as soon have cut off his right +hand as to break any promise made to her. He brushed something away +from his eyes, and his chin, contracting, trembled slightly. + +"Quite right," said Barnes, sympathetically. "And how long has Mrs. +Rushcroft been dead?" + +A hurt, incredulous look came into Mr. Rushcroft's eyes. "Is it +possible that you have forgotten the celebrated case of Rushcroft vs. +Rushcroft, not more than six years back? Good Lord, man, it was one of +the most sensational cases that ever--But I see that you do not recall +it. You must have been abroad at the time. I don't believe I ever knew +of a case being quite so admirably handled by the press as that one +was. She got it after a bitter and protracted fight. Infidelity. +Nothing so rotten as cruelty or desertion,--no sir!" + +"Ahem!" coughed Miss Tilly. + +"The dear old girl married again," sighed Mr. Rushcroft, helping +himself to Barnes' butter. "Did very well, too. Man in the wine trade. +He saves a great deal, you see, by getting it at cost, and I can +assure you, on my word of honour, sir, that he'll find it quite an +item. What is it, Mr. Bacon? Any word from New York?" + +Mr. Bacon hovered near, perhaps hungrily. + +"Our genial host has instructed me to say to his latest guest that the +rates are two dollars a day, in advance, all dining-room checks +payable on presentation," said Mr. Bacon, apologetically. + +Rushcroft exploded. "A scurvy insult," he boomed. "Confound his--" + +The new guest was amiable. He interrupted the outraged star. "Tell Mr. +Jones that I shall settle promptly," he said, with a smile. + +The "heavy leads" lowered his voice. "He told me that he had had a +horrible thought." + +"He never has anything else," said Mr. Rushcroft. + +"It has just entered his bean that you may be an actor, Mr. Barnes," +said Bacon. + +Miss Tilly, overhearing, drew a step or two nearer. A sudden interest +in Mr. Barnes developed. She had not noticed before that he was an +uncommonly good-looking fellow. She always had said that she adored +strong, "athletic" faces. + +"Hence the insult," said Mr. Rushcroft bitterly. He raised both arms +in a gesture of complete dejection. "My God!" + +"Says it looks suspicious," went on Mr. Bacon, "flocking with us as +you do. He mentioned something about birds of a feather." + +Mr. Rushcroft arose majestically. "I shall see the man myself, Mr. +Barnes. His infernal insolence--" + +"Pray do not distress yourself, my dear Rushcroft," interrupted +Barnes. "He is quite within his rights. I may be even worse than an +actor. I may turn out to be an ordinary tramp." He took a wallet from +his pocket, and smiled engagingly upon Miss Tilly. "The check, +please." + +"For both?" inquired she, blinking. + +"Certainly. Mr. Rushcroft was my guest." + +"Four twenty five," she announced, after computation on the back of +the menu. + +He selected a five dollar bill from the rather plethoric purse and +handed it to her. + +"Be so good as to keep the change," he said, and Miss Tilly went away +in a daze from which she did not emerge for a long, long time. + +Later on she felt inspired to jot down, for use no doubt in some +future literary production, a concise, though general, description of +the magnificent Mr. Barnes. She utilised the back of the bill-of-fare +and she wrote with the feverish ardour of one who dreads the loss of a +first impression. I herewith append her visual estimate of the hero of +this story. + +"He was a tall, shapely speciman of mankind," wrote Miss Tilly. +"Broad-shouldered. Smooth shaved face. Penetrating grey eyes. Short +curly hair about the colour of mine. Strong hands of good shape. Face +tanned considerable. Heavy dark eyebrows. Good teeth, very white. +Square chin. Lovely smile that seemed to light up the room for +everybody within hearing. Nose ideal. Mouth same. Voice aristocratic +and reverberating with education. Age about thirty or thirty one. Rich +as Croesus. Costume resembling the picture in the English novel the +woman forgot and left here last summer. Well turned legs. Would make a +good nobleman." + +All this would appear to be reasonably definite were it not for the +note regarding the colour of his hair. It leaves to me the simple task +of completing the very admirable description of Mr. Barnes by +announcing that Miss Tilly's hair was an extremely dark brown. + +Also it is advisable to append the following biographical information: +Thomas Kingsbury Barnes, engineer, born in Montclair, New Jersey, +Sept. 26, 1885. Cornell and Beaux Arts, Paris. Son of the late Stephen +S. Barnes, engineer, and Edith (Valentine) Barnes. Office, +Metropolitan Building, New York City. Residence, Amsterdam Mansions. +Clubs: (Lack of space prevents listing them here). Recreations: golf, +tennis, and horseback riding. Author of numerous articles resulting +from expeditions and discoveries in Peru and Ecuador. Fellow of the +Royal Geographic Society. Member of the Loyal Legion and the Sons of +the American Revolution. + +Added to this, the mere announcement that he was in a position to +indulge a fancy for long and perhaps aimless walking tours through +more or less out of the way sections of his own country, to say +nothing of excursions in Europe. + +Needless to say, he obtained a great deal of pleasure from these +lonely jaunts, and at the same time laid up for future use an ample +supply of mind's ease. His was undoubtedly a romantic nature. He loved +the fancies that his susceptibilities garnered from the hills and +dales and fields and forests. He never tired of the changing prospect; +the simple meadow and the inspiring mountain peak were as one to his +generous imagination. He found something worth while in every mile he +traversed in these long and solitary tramps, and he covered no fewer +than twenty of them between breakfast and dinner unless ordered by +circumstance to loiter along the way. + +Each succeeding spring he set out from his "diggings" in New York +without having the remotest idea where his peregrinations would carry +him. It was his habit to select a starting point in advance, approach +that spot by train or ship or motor, and then divest himself of all +purpose except to fare forward until he came upon some haven for the +night. He went east or west, north or south, even as the winds of +heaven blow; indeed, he not infrequently followed them. + +For five or six weeks in the early spring it was his custom to forge +his daily chain of miles and, when the end was reached, climb +contentedly aboard a train and be transported, often by arduous means, +to the city where millions of men walk with a definite aim in view. He +liked the spring of the year. He liked the rains and the winds of +early spring. They meant the beginning of things to him. + +He was rich. Perhaps not as riches are measured in these Midas-like +days, but rich beyond the demands of avarice. His legacy had been an +ample one. The fact that he worked hard at his profession from one +year's end to the other,--not excluding the six weeks devoted to these +mentally productive jaunts,--is proof sufficient that he was not +content to subsist on the fruits of another man's enterprise. He was a +worker. He was a creator, a builder and a destroyer. It was part of +his ambition to destroy in order that he might build the better. + +The first fortnight of a proposed six weeks' jaunt through Upper New +England terminated when he laid aside his heavy pack in the little +bed-room at Hart's Tavern. Cock-crow would find him ready and eager to +begin his third week. At least, so he thought. But, truth is, he had +come to his journey's end; he was not to sling his pack for many a day +to come. + +After setting the mind of the landlord at rest, Barnes declined Mr. +Rushcroft's invitation to "quaff" a cordial with him in the tap-room, +explaining that he was exceedingly tired and intended to retire early +(an announcement that caused unmistakable distress to the actor, who +held forth for some time on the folly of "letting a thing like that go +without taking it in time," although it was not made quite clear just +what he meant by "thing"). Barnes was left to infer that he considered +fatigue a malady that ought to be treated. + +Instead of going up to his room immediately, however, he decided to +have a look at the weather. He stepped out upon the wet porch and +closed the door behind him. The wind was still high; the lantern +creaked and the dingy sign that hung above the steps gave forth +raucous, spasmodic wails as it swung back and forth in the stiff, raw +wind. Far away to the north lightning flashed dimly; the roar of +thunder had diminished to a low, half-hearted growl. + +His uneasiness concerning the young woman of the cross-roads increased +as he peered at the wall of blackness looming up beyond the circle of +light. He could not see the towering hills, but memory pictured them +as they were revealed to him in the gathering darkness before the +storm. She was somewhere outside that sinister black wall and in the +smothering grasp of those invisible hills, but was she living or dead? +Had she reached her journey's end safely? He tried to extract comfort +from the confidence she had expressed in the ability and integrity of +the old man who drove with far greater recklessness than one would +have looked for in a wild and irresponsible youngster. + +He recalled, with a thrill, the imperious manner in which she gave +directions to the man, and his surprising servility. It suddenly +occurred to him that she was no ordinary person; he was rather amazed +that he had not thought of it before. + +She had confessed to total ignorance regarding the driver of that +ramshackle conveyance; to being utterly at sea in the neighbourhood; +to having walked like any country bumpkin from the railroad station, +lugging an unconscionably heavy bag; and yet, despite all this, she +seemed amazingly sure of herself. He recalled her frivolous remark +about her jewels, and now wondered if there had not been more truth +than jest in her words. Then there was the rather significant +alteration in tone and manner when she spoke to the driver. The soft, +somewhat deliberate drawl gave way to sharp, crisp sentences; the +quaint good humour vanished and in its place he had no difficulty in +remembering a very decided note of command. + +Moreover, now that he thought of it, there was, even in the agreeable +rejoinders she had made to his offerings, the faint suggestion of an +accent that should have struck him at the time but did not for the +obvious reason that he was then not at all interested in her. Her +English was so perfect that he had failed to detect the almost +imperceptible foreign flavour that now took definite form in his +reflections. He tried to place this accent. Was it French, or Italian, +or Spanish? Certainly it was not German. The lightness of the Latin +was evident, he decided, but it was all so faint and remote that +classification was impossible, notwithstanding his years of +association with the peoples of many countries where English is spoken +more perfectly by the upper classes, who have a language of their own, +than it is in England itself. + +He took a few turns up and down the long porch, stopping finally at +the upper end. The clear, inspiring clang of a hammer on an anvil fell +suddenly upon his ears. He looked at his watch. The hour was nine, +certainly an unusual time for men to be at work in a forge. He +remembered the two men in the tap-room who were bare-armed and wore +the shapeless leather aprons of the smithy. + +He had been standing there not more than half a minute peering in the +direction from whence came the rhythmic bang of the anvil,--at no +great distance, he was convinced,--when some one spoke suddenly at his +elbow. He whirled and found himself facing the gaunt landlord. + +"Good Lord! You startled me," he exclaimed. He had not heard the +approach of the man, nor the opening and closing of the tavern door. +His gaze travelled past the tall figure of Putnam Jones and rested on +that of a second man, who leaned, with legs crossed and arms folded, +against the porch post directly in front of the entrance to the house, +his features almost wholly concealed by the broad-brimmed slouch hat +that came far down over his eyes. He too, it seemed to Barnes, had +sprung from nowhere. + +"Fierce night," said Putnam Jones, removing the corn-cob pipe from his +lips. Then, as an after thought: "Sorry I skeert you. I thought you +heerd me." + +"I was listening to the song of the anvil," said Barnes, as the +landlord moved forward and took his place beside him. "It has always +possessed a singular charm for me." + +"Special hurry-up job," said Jones, and no more. + +"Shoeing?" + +"Yep. You'd think these hayseeds could git their horses in here durin' +regular hours, wouldn't you?" + +"I dare say they consider their own regular hours instead of yours, +Mr. Jones." + +"I didn't quite ketch that." + +"I mean that they bring their horses in after their regular day's work +is done." + +"I see. Yes, I reckon that's the idee." After a few pulls at his pipe, +the landlord inquired: "Where'd you walk from to-day?" "I slept in a +farm-house last night, about fifteen miles south of this place I +should say." + +"That'd be a little ways out of East Cobb," speculated Mr. Jones. + +"Five or six miles." + +"Goin' over into Canada?" + +"No. I shall turn west, I think, and strike for the Lake Champlain +country." + +"Canadian line is only a few miles from here," said Jones. "Last +summer we had a couple of crooks from Boston here, makin' a dash for +the border. Didn't know it till they'd been gone a day, however. The +officers were just a day behind 'em. Likely lookin' fellers, too. Last +men in the world you'd take for bank robbers." + +"Bank robbers, as a rule, are very classy looking customers," said +Barnes. + +Mr. Jones grunted. After a short silence, he branched off on a new +line. "What you think about the war? Think it'll be over soon?" + +"It has been going on for nearly two years, and I can't see any signs +of abatement. Looks to me like a draw. They're all tired of it." + +"Think the Germans are going to win?" + +"No. They can't win. On the other hand, I don't see how the Allies can +win. I may be wrong, of course. The Allies are getting stronger every +day and the Germans must surely be getting weaker. As a matter of +fact, Mr. Jones, I've long since stopped speculating on the outcome of +the war. It is too big for me. I am not one of your know-it-alls who +figure the whole thing out from day to day, and then wonder why the +fool generals didn't have sense enough to perform as expected." + +"I wish them countries over there would let me fix 'em out with +generals," drawled Mr. Jones. "I could pick out fifteen or twenty men +right here in this district that could show 'em in ten minutes just +how to win the war. You'd be surprised to know how many great generals +we have running two by four farms and choppin' wood for a livin' up +here. And there are fellers settin' right in there now that never saw +a body of water bigger'n Plum Pond, an' every blamed one of 'em knows +more'n the whole British navy about ketchin' submarines. The quickest +way to end the war, says Jim Roudebush,--one of our leadin' ice- +cutters,--is for the British navy to bombard Berlin from both sides, +an' he don't see why in thunder they've never thought of it. I suppose +you've travelled right smart in Europe?" + +"Quite a bit, Mr. Jones." + +"Any partic'lar part?" + +"No," said Barnes, suddenly divining that he was being "pumped." "One +end to the other, you might say." + +"What about them countries down around Bulgaria and Roumania? I've +been considerable interested in what's going to become of them if +Germany gets licked. What do they get out of it, either way?" + +Barnes spent the next ten minutes expatiating upon the future of the +Balkan states. Jones had little to say. He was interested, and drank +in all the information that Barnes had to impart. He puffed at his +pipe, nodded his head from time to time, and occasionally put a +leading question. And quite as abruptly as he introduced the topic he +changed it. + +"Not many automobiles up here at this time 'o the year," he said. "I +was a little surprised when you said a feller had given you a lift. +Where from?" + +"The cross-roads, a mile down. He came from the direction of Frogg's +Corner and was on his way to meet some one at Spanish Falls." Barnes +shrewdly leaped to the conclusion that the landlord's interest in the +European War was more or less assumed. The man's purpose was beginning +to reveal itself. He was evidently curious, if not actually concerned, +about his guest's arrival by motor. + +"That's queer," he said, after a moment. "There's no train arrivin' at +Spanish Falls as late as six o'clock. Gets in at four-ten, if she's on +time. And she was reported on time to-day." + +"It appears that there was a misunderstanding. The driver didn't meet +the train, so the person he was going after walked all the way to the +forks. We happened upon each other there, Mr. Jones, and we studied +the sign-post together. She was bound for a place called Green Fancy." + +"Did you say SHE?" + +"Yes. I was proposing to help her out of her predicament when the +belated motor came racing down the slope. As a matter of fact, I was +wrong when I said that a man brought me here in an automobile. It was +she who did it. She gave the order. He merely obeyed,--and not very +willingly, I suspect." + +"What for sort of looking lady was she?" + +"She wore a veil," said Barnes, succinctly. + +"Young?" + +"I had that impression. By the way, Mr. Jones, what and where is Green +Fancy?" + +Jones looked over his shoulder, and his guest's glance followed. The +man near the entrance had been joined by another. + +"Well," began the landlord, lowering his voice, "it's about two mile +and a half from here, up the mountain. It's a house and people live in +it, same as any other house. That's about all there is to say about +it." + +"Why is it called Green Fancy?" + +"Because it's a green house," replied Jones succinctly. + +"You mean that it is painted green?" + +"Exactly. Green as a gourd. A man named Curtis built it a couple o' +year ago and he had a fool idee about paintin' it green. Might ha' +been a little crazy, for all I know. Anyhow, after he got it finished +he settled down to live in it, and from that day to this he's never +been off'n the place. He didn't seem sick or anything, so we can't +make out his object in shuttin' himself up in the house an' seldom +ever stickin' his nose outside the door." + +"Isn't it possible that he isn't there at all?" + +"He's there all right. Every now an' then he has visitors,--just like +this woman to-day,--and sometimes they come down here for supper. They +don't hesitate to speak of him, so he must be there. Miss Tilly has +got the idee that he is a reecluse, if you know what that is." + +"It's all very interesting. I should say, judging by the visitor who +came this evening, that he entertains extremely nice people." + +"Well," said Jones drily, "they claim to be from New York. But," he +added, "so do them cheapskate actors in there." Which was as much as +to say that he had his doubts. + +Further conversation was interrupted by the irregular clatter of +horses' hoofs on the macadam. Off to the left a dull red glow of light +spread across the roadway, and a man's voice called out: "Whoa, dang +ye!" + +The door of the smithy had been thrown open and some one was leading +forth freshly shod horses. + +A moment later the horses,--prancing, high-spirited animals,--their +bridle-bits held by a strapping blacksmith, came into view. Barnes +looked in the direction of the steps. The two men had disappeared. +Instead of stopping directly in front of the steps, the smith led his +charges quite a distance beyond and into the darkness. + +Putnam Jones abruptly changed his position. He insinuated his long +body between Barnes and the doorway, at the same time rather loudly +proclaiming that the rain appeared to be over. + +"Yes, sir," he repeated, "she seems to have let up altogether. Ought +to have a nice day to-morrow, Mr. Barnes,--nice, cool day for +walkin'." + +Voices came up from the darkness. Jones had not been able to cover +them with his own. Barnes caught two or three sharp commands, rising +above the pawing of horses' hoofs, and then a great clatter as the +mounted horsemen rode off in the direction of the cross-roads. The +beat of the hoofs became rhythmical as the animals steadied into a +swinging lope. + +Barnes waited until they were muffled by distance, and then turned to +Jones with the laconic remark: + +"They seem to be foreigners, Mr. Jones." Jones's manner became natural +once more. He leaned against one of the posts and, striking a match on +his leg, relighted his pipe. + +"Kind o' curious about 'em, eh?" he drawled. + +"It never entered my mind until this instant to be curious," said +Barnes. + +"Well, it entered their minds about an hour ago to be curious about +you," said the other. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN EXTRAORDINARY CHAMBERMAID, A MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY, AND A MAN WHO SAID +"THANK YOU" + + +Miss Thackeray was "turning down" his bed when he entered his room +after bidding his new actor friends good night. All three promised to +be up bright and early in the morning to speed him on his way with +good wishes. Mr. Rushcroft declared that he would break the habit of +years and get up in time to partake of a seven o'clock breakfast with +him. Mr. Dillingford and Mr. Bacon, though under sentence to eat at +six with the rest of the "help," were quite sanguine that old man +Jones wouldn't mind if they ate again at seven. So it was left that +Barnes was to have company for breakfast. + +He was staggered and somewhat abashed by the appearance of Miss +Thackeray. She was by no means dressed as a chambermaid should be, nor +was she as dumb. On the contrary, she confronted him in the choicest +raiment that her wardrobe contained, and she was bright and cheery and +exceedingly incompetent. It was her costume that shocked him. Not only +was she attired in a low-necked, rose-coloured evening gown, liberally +bespangled with tinsel, but she wore a vast top-heavy picture-hat +whose crown of black was almost wholly obscured by a gorgeous white +feather that once must have adorned the king of all ostriches. She was +not at all his idea of a chambermaid. He started to back out of the +door with an apology for having blundered into the wrong room by +mistake. + +"Come right in," she said cheerily. "I'll soon be through. I suppose I +should have done all this an hour ago, but I just had to write a few +letters." She went on with her clumsy operations. "I don't know who +made up this bed but whoever did was determined that it should stay +put. I never knew that bed clothes could be tucked in as far and as +tight as these. Tight enough for old Mother Jones to have done it +herself, and heaven knows she's a tight one. I am Miss Thackeray. This +is Mr. Barnes, I believe." + +He bowed, still quite overcome. + +"You needn't be scared," she cried, observing his confusion. "This is +my regular uniform. I'm starting a new style for chambermaids. Did it +paralyse you to find me here?" + +"I must confess to a moment of indecision," he said, smiling. + +"Followed by a moment of uneasiness," she added, slapping the bolster. +"You didn't know what to think, now did you?" + +"I couldn't believe my eyes." + +She abandoned her easy, careless manner. A look of mortification came +into her eyes as she straightened up and faced him. Her voice was a +trifle husky when she spoke again, after a moment's pause. + +"You see, Mr. Barnes, these are the only duds I have with me. It +wasn't necessary to put on this hat, of course, but I did it simply to +make the character complete. I might just as well make beds and clean +washstands in a picture hat as in a low-necked gown, so here I am." + +She was a tall, pleasant-faced girl of twenty-three or four, not +unlike her father in many respects. Her features were rather heavy, +her mouth large but comely, her eyes dark and lustrous behind heavy +lashes. As she now appeared before Barnes, she was the typical stage +society woman: in other words, utterly commonplace. In a drawing-room +she would have been as conspicuously out of place as she was in her +present occupation. + +"I am very sorry," he said lamely. "I have heard something of your +misfortunes from your father and--the others. It's--it's really hard +luck." + +"I call it rather good luck to have got away with the only dress in +the lot that cost more than tuppence," she said, smiling again. "Lord +knows what would have happened to me if they had dropped down on us at +the end of the first act. I was the beggar's daughter, you see,-- +absolutely in rags." + +"You might have got away in your ordinary street clothes, however," he +said; "which would have been pleasanter, I dare say." + +"I dare say," she agreed brightly. "Glad to have met you. I think +you'll find everything NEARLY all right. Good night, sir." + +She smiled brightly, unaffectedly, as she turned toward the open door. +There was something forelorn about her, after all, and his heart was +touched. + +"Better luck, Miss Thackeray. Every cloud has its silver lining." + +She stopped and faced him once more. "That's the worst bromide in the +language," she said. "If I were to tell you how many clouds I've seen +and how little silver, you'd think I was lying. This experience? Why, +it's a joy compared to some of the jolts we've had,--dad and me. And +the others, too, for that matter. We've had to get used to it. Five +years ago I would have jumped out of a ten story window before I'd +have let you see me in this get-up. I know you'll laugh yourself sick +over the way I look, and so will your friends when you tell them about +me, but, thank the Lord, I shan't be in a position to hear you. So why +should I mind? What a fellow doesn't know, isn't going to hurt him. +You haven't laughed in my face, and I'm grateful for that. What you do +afterward can't make the least bit of difference to me." + +"I assure you, Miss Thackeray, that I shall not laugh, nor shall I +ever relate the story of your--" + +"There is one more bromide that I've never found much virtue in," she +interrupted, not disagreeably, "and that is: 'it's too good to be +true.' Good night. Sleep tight." + +She closed the door behind her, leaving him standing in the middle of +the room, perplexed but amused. + +"By George," he said to himself, still staring at the closed door, +"they're wonders, all of them. We could all take lessons in philosophy +from such as they. I wish I could do something to help them out of--" +He sat down abruptly on the edge of the bed and pulled his wallet from +his pocket. He set about counting the bills, a calculating frown in +his eyes. Then he stared at the ceiling, summing up. "I'll do it," he +said, after a moment of mental figuring. He told off a half dozen +bills and slipped them into his pocket. The wallet sought its usual +resting place for the night: under a pillow. + +He was healthy and he was tired. Two minutes after his head touched +the pillow he was sound asleep, losing consciousness even as he fought +to stay awake in order that he might continue to vex himself with the +extraordinary behavior and statement of Putnam Jones. + +He was aroused shortly after midnight by shouts, apparently just +outside his window. A man was calling in a loud voice from the road +below; an instant later he heard a tremendous pounding on the tavern +door. + +Springing out of bed, he rushed to the window. There were horses in +front of the house,--several of them,--and men on foot moving like +shadows among them. A shuffling of feet came up to his open window; +the intervening roof shut off his view of the porch and all that was +transpiring. His eyes, accustomed to darkness, made out at least five +horses in the now unlighted area before the tavern. + +Turning from the window, he unlocked and opened the door into the +hall. Some one was clattering down the narrow staircase. The bolts on +the front door shot back with resounding force, and there came the +hoarse jumble of excited voices as men crowded through the entrance. +Putnam Jones's voice rose above the clamour. + +"Keep quiet! Do you want to wake everybody on the place?" he was +saying angrily. "What's up? This is a fine time o' night to be--Good +Lord! What's the matter with him?" + +"Telephone for a doctor, Put,--damn' quick! This one's still alive. +The other one is dead as a door nail up at Jim Conley's house. Git ole +Doc James down from Saint Liz. Bring him in here, boys. Where's your +lights? Easy now! Eas-EE!" + +Barnes waited to hear no more. His blood seemed to be running ice-cold +as he retreated into the room and began scrambling for his clothes. +The thing he feared had come to pass. Disaster had overtaken her in +that wild, senseless dash up the mountain road. He was cursing half +aloud as he dressed, cursing the fool who drove that machine and who +now was perhaps dying down there in the tap-room. "The other one is +dead as a door nail," kept running through his head,--"the other one." + +The rumble of voices and the shuffling of feet continued, indistinct +but laden with tragedy. The curious hush of catastrophe seemed to top +the confusion that infected the place, inside and out. Barnes found +his electric pocket torch and dressed hurriedly, though not fully, by +its constricted light. As he was pulling on his heavy walking shoes, a +head was inserted through the half open door, and an excited voice +called out: + +"You awake? Good work! Hustle along, will you? No more sleep to-night, +old chap. Man dying downstairs. Shot smack through the lungs. Get a +move--" + +"Shot?" exclaimed Barnes. + +"So they say," replied the agitated Mr. Dillingford, entering the +room. He had slipped on his trousers and was then in the act of +pulling his suspenders over his shoulders. His unlaced shoes gaped +broadly; the upper part of his body was closely encased in a once blue +undershirt; his abundant black hair was tousled,--some of it, indeed, +having the appearance of standing on end. And in his wide eyes there +was a look of horror. "I didn't hear much of the story. Old man Jones +is telephoning for a doctor and--" + +"Did you say that the man was shot?" repeated Barnes, bewildered. +"Wasn't it an automobile accident?" + +"Search ME. Gosh, I had one look at that fellow's face down there and +--I didn't hear another word that was said. I never saw a man's face +look like that. It was the colour of grey wall paper. Hurry up! Old +man Jones told me to call you. He says you understand some of the +foreign languages, and maybe you can make out what the poor devil is +trying to say." "Do they know who he is?" + +"Sure. He's been staying in the house for three days. The other one +spoke English all right but this one not a word." + +"Did they ride away from here about nine o'clock?" + +"Yes. They had their own horses and said they were going to spend the +night at Spanish Falls so's they could meet the down train that goes +through at five o'clock in the morning. But hustle along, please. He's +trying to talk and he's nearly gone." + +Barnes, buoyed by a sharp feeling of relief, followed the actor +downstairs and into the tap-room. A dozen men were there, gathered +around two tables that had been drawn together. Transient lodgers, in +various stages of dishabille, popped out of all sorts of passageways +and joined the throng. The men about the table, on which was stretched +the figure of the wounded man, were undoubtedly natives: farmers, +woodsmen or employees of the tavern. At a word from Putnam Jones, they +opened up and allowed Barnes to advance to the side of the man. + +"See if you c'n understand him, Mr. Barnes," said the landlord. +Perspiration was dripping from his long, raw-boned face. "And you, +Bacon,--you and Dillingford hustle upstairs and get a mattress off'n +one of the beds. Stand at the door there, Pike, and don't let any +women in here. Go away, Miss Thackeray! This is no place for you." + +Miss Thackeray pushed her way past the man who tried to stop her and +joined Barnes. Her long black hair hung in braids down her back; above +her forehead clustered a mass of ringlets, vastly disordered but not +untidy. A glance would have revealed the gaudy rose-coloured skirt +hanging below the bottom of the long rain-coat she had snatched from a +peg in the hall-way. + +"It is the place for me," she said sharply. "Haven't you men got sense +enough to put something under his head? Where is he hurt? Get that +cushion, you. Stick, it under here when I lift his head. Oh, you poor +thing! We'll be as quick as possible. There!" + +"You'd better go away," said Barnes, himself ghastly pale. "He's been +shot. There is a lot of blood--don't you know. It's splendid of you--" + +"Dangerously?" she cried, shrinking back, her eyes fixed in dread upon +the white face. + +The man's eyes were closed, but at the sound of a woman's voice he +opened them. The hand with which he clutched at his breast slid off +and seemed to be groping for hers. His breathing was terrible. There +was blood at the corners of his mouth, and more oozed forth when his +lips parted in an effort to speak. + +With a courage that surprised even herself, the girl took his hand in +hers. It was wet and warm. She did not dare look at it. + +"Merci, madame," struggled from the man's lips, and he smiled. + +Barnes had heard of the French soldiers who, as they died, said "thank +you" to those who ministered to them, and smiled as they said it. He +had always marvelled at the fortitude that could put gratefulness +above physical suffering, and his blood never failed to respond to an +exquisite thrill of exaltation under such recitals. He at once deduced +that the injured man, while probably not a Frenchman, at least was +familiar with the language. + +He was young, dark-haired and swarthy. His riding-clothes were well- +made and modish. + +Barnes leaned over and spoke to him in French. The dark, pain-stricken +eyes closed, and an almost imperceptible shake of the head signified +that he did not understand. Evidently he had acquired only a few of +the simple French expressions. Barnes had a slight knowledge of +Spanish and Italian, and tried again with no better results. German +was his last resort, and he knew he would fail once more, for the man +obviously was not Teutonic. + +The bloody lips parted, however, and the eyes opened with a piteous, +appealing expression in their depths. It was apparent that there was +something he wanted to say, something he had to say before he died. He +gasped a dozen words or more in a tongue utterly unknown to Barnes, +who bent closer to catch the feeble effort. It was he who now shook +his head; with a groan the sufferer closed his eyes in despair. He +choked and coughed violently an instant later. + +"Get some water and a towel," cried Miss Thackeray, tremulously. She +was very white, but still clung to the man's hand. "Be quick! Behind +the bar." Then she turned to Jones. "Don't call my father. He can't +stand the sight of blood," she said. + +Barnes unbuttoned the coat and revealed the blood-soaked white shirt. + +"Better leave this to me," he said in her ear. "There's nothing you +can do. He's done for. Please go away." + +"Oh, I sha'n't faint--at least, not yet. Poor fellow! I've seen him +upstairs and wondered who he was. Is he really going to die?" + +"Looks bad," said Barnes, gently opening the shirt front. Several of +the craning men turned away suddenly. + +"Can't you understand him?" demanded Putnam Jones, from the opposite +side. + +"No. Did you get the doctor?" + +"He's on the way by this time. He's got a little automobile. Ought to +be here in ten or fifteen minutes." + +"Who is he, Mr. Jones?" + +"He is registered as Andrew Paul, from New York. That's all I know. +The other man put his name down as Albert Roon. He seemed to be the +boss and this man a sort of servant, far as I could make out. They +never talked much and seldom came downstairs. They had their meals in +their room. Bacon served them. Where is Bacon? Where the hell--oh, the +mattress. Now, we'll lift him up gentle-like while you fellers slip it +under him. Easy now. Brace up, my lad, we--we won't hurt you. Lordy! +Lordy! I'm sorry--Gosh! I thought he was gone!" He wiped his brow with +a shaking hand. + +"There is nothing we can do," said Barnes, "except try to stanch the +flow of blood. He is bleeding inwardly, I'm afraid. It's a clean +wound, Mr. Jones. Like a rifle shot, I should say." + +"That's just what it is," said one of the men, a tall woodsman. "The +feller who did it was a dead shot, you c'n bet on that. He got t' +other man square through the heart." + +"Lordy, but this will raise a rumpus," groaned the landlord. "We'll +have detectives an'--" + +"I guess they got what was comin' to 'em," said another of the men. + +"What's that? Why, they was ridin' peaceful as could be to Spanish +Falls. What do you mean by sayin' that, Jim Conley? But wait a minute! +How does it happen that they were up near your dad's house? That +certainly ain't on the road to Span--" + +"Spanish Falls nothin'! They wasn't goin' to Spanish Falls any more'n +I am at this minute. They tied their hosses up the road just above our +house," said young Conley, lowering his voice out of consideration for +the feelings of the helpless man. "It was about 'leven o'clock, I +reckon. I was comin' home from singin' school up at Number Ten, an' I +passed the hosses hitched to the fence. Naturally I stopped, curious +like. There wasn't no one around, fer as I could see, so I thought I'd +take a look to see whose hosses they were. I thought it was derned +funny, them hosses bein' there at that time o' night an' no one +around. So as I said before, I thought I'd take a look. I know every +hoss fer ten mile around. So I thought I'd take--" + +"You said that three times," broke in Jones impatiently. + +"Well, to make a long story short, I thought I'd take a look. I never +seen either of them animals before. They didn't belong around here. So +I thought I'd better hustle down to the house an' speak to pa about +it. Looked mighty queer to me. Course, thinks I, they might belong to +somebody visitin' in there at Green Fancy, so I thought I'd--" + +"Green Fancy?" said Barnes, starting. + +"Was it up that far?" demanded Jones. + +"They was hitched jest about a hundred yards below Mr. Curtis's +propity, on the off side o' the road. Course it's quite a ways in from +the road to the house, an' I couldn't see why if it was anybody +callin' up there they didn't ride all the ways up, 'stead o' walkin' +through the woods. So I thought I'd speak to pa about it. Say," and he +paused abruptly, a queer expression in his eyes, "you don't suppose he +knows what I'm sayin', do you? I wouldn't say anything to hurt the +poor feller's feelin's fer--" + +"He doesn't know what you are saying," said Barnes. + +"But, dern it, he jest now looked at me in the funniest way. It's +given me the creeps." + +"Go on," said one of the men. + +"Well, I hadn't any more'n got to our front gate when I heard some one +running in the road up there behind me. 'Fore I knowed what was +happenin', bang went a gun. I almost jumped out'n my boots. I lept +behind that big locus' tree in front of our house and listened. The +runnin' had stopped. The hosses was rarin' an' tearin' so I thought +I'd--" + +"Where'd the shot come from?" demanded Jones. + +"Up the road some'eres, I couldn't swear just where. Must 'a' been up +by the road that cuts in to Green Fancy. So I thought I'd hustle in +an' see if pa was awake, an' git my gun. Looked mighty suspicious, +thinks I, that gun shot. Jest then pa stuck his head out'n the winder +an' yelled what the hell's the matter. You betcher life I sung out who +I was mighty quick, 'cause pa's purty spry with a gun an' I didn't +want him takin' me fer burglars sneakin' around the house. While we +wuz talkin' there, one of the hosses started our way lickety-split, +an' in about two seconds it went by us. It was purty dark but we see +plain as day that there was a man in the saddle, bendin' low over the +hoss's neck and shoutin' to it. Well, we shore was guessin'. We waited +a couple o' minutes, wonderin' what to do, an' listenin' to the hoss +gittin' furder and furder away in the direction of the cross-roads. +Then, 'way down there by the pike we heerd another shot. Right there +an' then pa said he'd put on his clothes an' we'd set out to see what +it was all about. I had it figgered out that the feller on the hoss +had shot the other one and was streakin' it fer town or some'eres. +That second shot had me guessin' though. Who wuz he shootin' at now, +thinks I. + +"Well, pa come out with my gun an' his'n an' we walks up to where I +seen the hosses. Shore 'nough, one of 'em was still hitched to the +fence, an' t'other was gone. We stood around a minute or two examinin' +the hoss an' then pa says let's go up the road aways an' see if we c'n +see anything. An' by gosh, we hadn't gone more'n fifty feet afore we +come plumb on a man layin' in the middle of the road. Pa shook him an' +he didn't let out a sound. He was warm but deader'n a tombstone. I wuz +fer leavin' him there till we c'd git the coroner, but pa says no. +We'd carry him down to our porch, an' lay him there, so's he'd be out +o' danger. Ma an' the kids wuz all up when we got him there, an' pa +sent Bill and Charley over to Mr. Pike's and Uncle John's to fetch 'em +quick. I jumps on Polly an' lights out fer here, Mr. Jones, to +telephone up to Saint Liz fer the sheriff an' the coroner, not givin' +a dang what I run into on the way. Polly shied somethin' terrible jest +afore we got to the pike an' I come derned near bein' throwed. An' +right there 'side the road was this feller, all in a heap. I went back +an' jumped off. He was groanin' somethin' awful. Thinks I, you poor +cuss, you must 'a' tried to stop that feller on hossback an' he +plunked you. That accounted fer the second shot. But while I wuz +tryin' to lift him up an' git somethin' out'n him about the matter, I +sees his boss standin' in the road a couple o' rods away. I couldn't +understand a word he said, so I thought I better go back home an' git +some help, seein's I couldn't manage him by myself. So I dragged him +up on the bank an' made him comfortable as I could, and lit out fer +home. We thought we'd better bring him up here, Mr. Jones, it bein' +just as near an' you could git the doctor sooner. I hitched up the +buck-board and went back. Pa an' some of the other fellers took their +guns an' went up in the woods lookin' fer the man that done the +shootin'. The thing that worries all of us is did the same man do the +shootin', or was there two of 'em, one waitin' down at the cross- +roads?" + +"Must have been two," said Jones, thoughtfully. "The same man couldn't +have got down there ahead of him, that's sure. Did anybody go up to +Green Fancy to make inquiries?" + +"'Twasn't necessary. Mr. Curtis heard the shootin' an' jest before we +left he sent a man out to see what it was all about. The old skeezicks +that's been drivin' his car lately come down half-dressed. He said +nothin' out of the way had happened up at Green Fancy. Nobody had been +nosin' around their place, an' if they had, he said, there wasn't +anybody there who could hit the side of a barn with a rifle." + +"It's most mysterious," said Barnes, glancing around the circle of +awed faces. "There must have been some one lying in wait for these +men, and with a very definite purpose in mind." + +"Strikes me," said Jones, "that these two men were up to some kind of +dirty work themselves, else why did they say they were goin' to +Spanish Falls? It's my idee that they went up that road to lay fer +somebody comin' down from the border, and they got theirs good an' +plenty instead of the other way round. They were queer actin' men, +I'll have to say that." + +His eyes met Barnes' and there was a queer light in them. + +"You don't happen to know anything about this, do you, Mr. Barnes?" he +demanded, suddenly. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE FARM-BOY TELLS A GHASTLY STORY AND AN IRISHMAN ENTERS + + +Barnes stared. "What do you mean?" he demanded sharply. + +"I mean just what I said. What do you know about this business?" + +"How should I know ANYTHING about it?" + +"Well, we don't know who you are, nor what you're doing up here, nor +what your real profession is. That's why I ask the question." + +"I see," said Barnes, after a moment. He grasped the situation and he +admitted to himself that Jones had cause for his suspicions. "It has +occurred to you that I may be a detective or a secret service man, +isn't that the case? Well, I am neither. Moreover, this man and his +companion evidently had their doubts about me, if I am to judge by +your remark and your actions on the porch earlier in the evening." + +"I only said that they were curious about you. The man named Roon +asked me a good many questions about you while you were in at supper. +Who knows but what he was justified in thinkin' you didn't mean any +good to him and his friend?" + +"Did you know any more about these two men, Mr. Jones, than you know +about me?" + +"I don't know anything about 'em. They came here like any one else, +paid their bills regular, 'tended to their own business, and that's +all." + +"What was their business?" + +"Mr. Roon was lookin' for a place to bring his daughter who has +consumption. He didn't want to take her to a reg'lar consumptive +community, he said, an' so he was lookin' for a quiet place where she +wouldn't be associatin' with lungers all the time. Some big doctor in +New York told him to come up here an' look around. That was his +business, Mr. Barnes, an' I guess you'd call it respectable, wouldn't +you?" + +"Perfectly. But why should he be troubled by my presence here if--" +Miss Thackeray put an end to the discussion in a most effectual +manner. + +"Oh, for the Lord's sake, cut it out! Wait till he's dead, can't you?" +she whispered fiercely. "You've got all the time in the world to talk, +and he hasn't more than ten minutes left to breathe unless that rube +doctor gets here pretty soon. If you've GOT to settle the question +right away, at least have the decency to go out of this room." + +Barnes flushed to the roots of his hair. Jones was aghast, dumb with +surprise and anger. + +"You are right, Miss Thackeray," said the former, deeply mortified. +"This is not the time nor the place to----" + +"He can't understand a word we say," said Putnam Jones loudly. "You +better get out of here yourself, young woman. This is a job for men, +not--" + +"I think he's going now," she whispered in an awe-struck voice. "Keep +still, all of you. Is he breathing, Mr. Barnes? That awful cough just +now seemed to--" + +"Come away, please," said Barnes, taking her gently by the arm. "I--I +believe that was the end. Don't stay here, Miss Thackeray. +Dillingford, will you be good enough to escort Miss--" + +"I've never seen any one die before," she said in a low, tense voice. +Her eyes were fixed on the still face. "Why--why, how tightly he holds +my hand! I can't get it away--he must be alive, Mr. Barnes. Where is +that silly doctor?" + +Barnes unclasped the rigid fingers of the man called Andrew Paul, and, +shaking his head sadly, drew her away from the improvised bier. He and +the shivering Mr. Dillingford conducted her to the dining-room, where +a single kerosene lamp gave out a feeble, rather ghastly light. The +tall Bacon followed, the upper part of his person enveloped in the +blanket Putnam Jones had hastily snatched from the mattress before it +was slipped under the dying man. Several of the women of the house, +including the wife of the landlord, clogged the little entrance hall, +chattering in hushed undertones. + +"Would you like a little brandy?" inquired Barnes, as she sat down +limply in the chair he pulled out for her. "I have a flask upstairs in +my--" + +"I never touch it," she said. "I'm all right. My legs wabble a little +but--Sit down, Mr. Barnes. I've got something to say to you and I'd +better say it now, because it may come in pretty handy for you later +on. Don't let those women come in here, Dilly." + +Barnes drew a chair close beside her. Bacon, with scant regard for +elegance, seated himself on the edge of the table and bent an ear. + +"It's all rot about that man Roon being here to look for a place for +his daughter." She spoke rapidly and cautiously. "I don't know whether +Jones knows, but that certainly wasn't what he was here for. The young +fellow in there was a sort of secretary. Roon had a room at the other +end of the hall from yours, on the corner, facing the road and also +looking toward the cross-roads. Young Paul had the next room, with a +door between. I was supposed to make up their rooms after they'd gone +out in the forenoon for a horseback ride. I kept out of their sight, +because I knew they were the kind of men who would laugh at me. They +couldn't understand, and, of course, I couldn't explain. Yesterday +morning I found a sort of map on the floor under young Paul's +washstand. The wind had blown it off the table by the window and he +hadn't missed it. It was in lead pencil and looked like a map of the +roads around here. I couldn't read the notations, but it required only +a glance to convince me that this place was the central point. All of +the little mountain roads were there, and the cross-roads. There +wasn't anything queer about it, so I laid it on his table and put a +book on it. + +"This afternoon I walked up in the woods back of the Tavern to go over +some lines in a new piece we are to do later on,--God knows when! I +could see the house from where I was sitting. Roon's windows were +plainly visible. I wasn't very far away, you see, the climb being too +steep for me. I saw Roon standing at a window looking toward the +cross-roads with a pair of field-glasses. Every once in awhile he +would turn to Paul, who stood beside him with a notebook, and say +something to him. Paul wrote it down. Then he would look again, +turning the glasses this way and that. I wouldn't have thought much +about it if they hadn't spent so much time there. I believe I watched +them for an hour. Suddenly my eyes almost popped out of my head. Paul +had gone away from the window. He came back and he had a couple of +revolvers in his hands. They stood there for a few minutes carefully +examining the weapons and reloading them with fresh cartridges. The +storm was coming up, but I love it so that I waited almost until dark, +watching the clouds and listening to the roar of the wind in the +trees. I'm a queer girl in that way. I like turmoil. I could sit out +in the most dreadful thunder storm and just revel in the crashes. Just +as I was about to start down to the house--it was a little after six +o'clock, and getting awfully dark and overcast,--Roon took up the +glasses again. He seemed to be excited and called his companion. Paul +grabbed the glasses and looked down the road. They both became very +much excited, pointing and gesticulating, and taking turn about with +the glasses." + +"About six o'clock, you say?" said Barnes, greatly interested. + +"It was a quarter after six when I got back to the house. I spoke to +Mr. Bacon about what I'd seen and he said he believed they were German +spies, up to some kind of mischief along the Canadian border. +Everybody is a German spy nowadays, Mr. Barnes, if he looks cross- +wise. Then about half an hour later you came to the Tavern. I saw Roon +sneak out to the head of the stairs and listen to your conversation +with Jones when you registered. That gave me an idea. It was you they +were watching the road for. They saw you long before you got here, and +it was--" + +Barnes held up his hand for silence. "Listen," he said in a low voice, +"I will tell you who they were looking for." As briefly as possible he +recounted his experience with the strange young woman at the cross- +roads. "From the beginning I have connected this tragedy with the +place called Green Fancy. I'll stake my last penny that they have been +hanging around here waiting for the arrival of that young woman. They +knew she was coming and they doubtless knew what she was bringing with +her. They went to Green Fancy to-night with a very sinister purpose in +mind, and things didn't turn out as they expected. What do you know +about the place called Green Fancy?" + +He was vastly excited. His active imagination was creating all sorts +of possibilities and complications, depredations and intrigues. + +Bacon was the one who answered. He drew the blanket closer about his +lean form and shivered as with a chill. + +"I know this much about the place from hearsay," he said in a guttural +whisper. "It's supposed to be haunted. I've heard more than one of +these jays,--big huskies too,--say they wouldn't go near the place +after dark for all the money in the state." + +"That's just talk to scare you, Ague," said Dillingford. "People live +up there and since we've been here two or three men visitors have come +down from the place to sample our stock of wet goods. Nothing +suspicious looking or ghostly about them either. I talked with a +couple of 'em day before yesterday. They were out for a horseback ride +and stopped here for a mug of ale." + +"Were they foreigners?" inquired Barnes. + +"If you want to call an Irishman a foreigner, I'll have to say one of +them was. He had a beautiful brogue. I'd never seen an Irishman in +slick riding clothes, however, so I doubted my ears at first. You +don't associate a plain Mick with anything so swell as that, you know. +The other was an American, I'm sure. Yesterday they rode past here +with a couple of swell looking women. I saw them turn up the road to +Green Fancy, so that knocks your ghost story all to smash, Bacon." + +"It isn't MY ghost story," began Mr. Bacon indignantly. The arrival of +four or five men, who stamped into the already crowded hallway from +the porch outside, claimed the attention of the quartette. Among them +was the doctor who, they were soon to discover, was also the coroner +of the county. A very officious deputy sheriff was also in the group. + +Before rejoining the crowd in the tap-room, Barnes advised his +companions, especially the girl, to say as little as possible about +what they had heard and seen. + +"This thing is going to turn out to be a whacking sensation, and it +may be a great deal more important than we think. You don't want to +become involved in the investigation, which may become a national +affair. I'd like to have a hand in clearing it up. My head is chock- +full of theories that might--" + +"Maybe Roon was right," said Dillingford, slowly, as he edged a step +or two away from Barnes. + +"In what respect?" + +"He certainly thought you were a detective or something like that. +Maybe he thought you came with that young woman, or maybe he thought +you were shadowing her, or--" + +"There are a lot of things he may have thought," interrupted Barnes, +smiling. "It is barely possible that my arrival may have caused him to +act more hastily than he intended. That may be the reason why the job +ended so disastrously for him." + +Mrs. Jones called out from the doorway. "Mr. Barnes, you're wanted in +there." + +"All right," he responded. + +"Better let me get you a wet towel to wash your hand," said Bacon to +Miss Thackeray. "My God, I wouldn't have THAT on my hand for a million +dollars." + +The doctor had been working over the prostrate form on the tables. As +Barnes entered the room, he looked up and declared that the man was +dead. + +"This is Mr. Barnes," said Putnam Jones, indicating the tall traveller +with a short jerk of his thumb. + +"I am from the sheriff's office," said the man who stood beside the +doctor. The rest of the crowd evidently had been ordered to stand back +from the tables. The sheriff was a burly fellow, whose voice shook in +a most incongruous manner, despite his efforts to appear composed and +otherwise efficient. "Did you ever see this man before?" + +"Not until he was carried in here half an hour ago. I arrived here +this evening." + +"What's your business up here, Mr. Barnes?" + +"I have no business up here. I just happened to stroll in this +evening." + +"Well," said the sheriff darkly, "I guess I'll have to ask you to +stick around here till we clear this business up. We don't know you +an'--Well, we can't take any chances. You understand, I reckon." + +"I certainly fail to understand, Mr. Sheriff. I know nothing whatever +of this affair and I intend to continue on my way to-morrow morning." + +"Well, I guess not." + +"Do you mean to say that I am to be detained here against my--" + +"You got to stay here till we are satisfied that you don't know +anything about this business. That's all." + +"Am I to consider myself under arrest, sir?" + +"I wouldn't go as far as to say that. You just stick around here, +that's all I got to say. If you're all right, we'll soon find it out. +What's more, if you are all right you'll be willin' to stay. Do you +get me?" + +"I certainly do. And I can now assure you, Mr. Sheriff, that I'd like +nothing better than to stick around here, as you put it. I'd like to +help clear this matter up. In the meantime, you may readily find out +who I am and why I am here by telegraphing to the Mayor of New York +City. This document, which experience has taught me to carry for just +such an emergency as this, may have some weight with you." He opened +his bill-folder and drew forth a neatly creased sheet of paper. This +he handed to the sheriff. "Read it, please, and note the date, the +signature, the official seal of the New York Police department, and +also the rather interesting silver print pasted in the lower left hand +corner. I think you will agree that it is a good likeness of me. Each +year I take the precaution of having myself properly certified by the +police department at home before venturing into unknown and perhaps +unfriendly communities. This, in a word, is a guarantee of good +citizenship, good intentions and-good health. I was once taken up by a +rural Sherlock on suspicion of being connected with the theft of a +horse and buggy, although all the evidence seemed to indicate that I +was absolutely afoot and weary at the time, and didn't have the outfit +concealed about my person. I languished in the calaboose for twenty- +four hours, and might have remained there indefinitely if the real +desperado hadn't been captured in the nick o' time. Have you read it?" + +"Yes," said the sheriff dubiously; "but how do I know it ain't a +forgery?" + +"You don't know, of course. But in case it shouldn't be a forgery and +I am subjected to the indignity of arrest or even detention, you would +have a nasty time defending yourself in a civil suit for damages. +Don't misunderstand me. I appreciate your position. I shall remain +here, as you suggest, but only for the purpose of aiding you in +getting to the bottom of this affair." + +"What do you think about it, Doc?" + +"He says he's willing to stay, don't he? Well, what more can you ask?" +snapped the old doctor. "I should say the best thing for you to do, +Abner, is to get a posse of men together and begin raking the woods up +yonder for the men that did the shooting. You say there is another one +dead up at Jim Conley's? Well, I'll go over and view him at once. The +first thing to do is to establish the corpus delicti. We've got to be +able to say the men are dead before we can charge anybody with murder. +This man was shot in the chest, from in front. Now we'll examine his +clothes and so forth and see if they throw any additional light on the +matter." + +The most careful search of Andrew Paul's person established one thing +beyond all question: the man had deliberately removed everything that +might in any way serve to aid the authorities in determining who he +really was and whence he came. The tailor's tags had been cut from the +smart, well-fitting garments; the buttons on the same had been +replaced by others of an ordinary character; the names of the +haberdasher, the hat dealer and the boot maker had been as effectually +destroyed. There were no papers of any description in his pockets. His +wrist watch bore neither name, date nor initials. Indeed, nothing had +been overlooked in his very palpable effort to prevent actual +identification, either in life or death. + +Subsequent search of the two rooms disclosed the same extreme +precautions. Not a single object, not even a scrap of paper had been +left there on the departure of the men at nine o'clock. Ashes in an +old-fashioned fireplace in Roon's room suggested the destruction of +tell-tale papers. Everything had vanished. A large calibre automatic +revolver, all cartridges unexploded, was found in Paul's coat pocket. +In another pocket, lying loose, were a few bank notes and some silver, +amounting all told to about thirty dollars. + +The same thorough search of the dead body of Roon later on by the +coroner and sheriff, revealed a similar condition. The field-glasses, +of English make, were found slung across his shoulder, and a fully +loaded revolver, evidently his, was discovered the next morning in the +grass beside the road near the point where he fell. There were several +hundred dollars in the roll of bills they found in his inside coat +pocket. + +Roon was a man of fifty or thereabouts. Although both men were smooth- +faced, there was reason to suspect that Roon at least had but recently +worn a mustache. His upper lip had the thick, stiff look of one from +which a beard of long-standing recently had been shaved. + +Later on it was learned that they purchased the two horses in +Hornville, paying cash for the beasts and the trappings. The +transaction took place a day or two before they came to Hart's Tavern +for what had been announced as a short stay. + +Standing on Jim Conley's front porch a little after sunrise, Barnes +made the following declaration: + +"Everything goes to show that these men were up here for one of two +reasons. They were either trying to prevent or to enact a crime. The +latter is my belief. They were afraid of me. Why? Because they +believed I was trailing them and likely to spoil their game. +Gentlemen, those fellows were here for the purpose of robbing the +place you call Green Fancy." + +"What's that?" came a rich, mellow voice from the outskirts of the +crowd. A man pushed his way through and confronted Barnes. He was a +tall, good-looking fellow of thirty-five, and it was apparent that he +had dressed in haste. "My name is O'Dowd, and I am a guest of Mr. +Curtis at Green Fancy. Why do you think they meant to rob his place?" + +"Well," began Barnes drily, "it would seem that his place is the only +one in the neighbourhood that would BEAR robbing. My name is Barnes. +Of course, Mr. O'Dowd, it is mere speculation on my part." + +"But who shot the man?" demanded the Irishman. "He certainly wasn't +winged by any one from our place. Wouldn't we have known something +about it if he had attempted to get into the house and was nailed by-- +Why, Lord love you, sir, there isn't a soul at Green Fancy who could +shoot a thief if he saw one. This is Mr. De Soto, also a guest at +Green Fancy. He will, I think, bear me out in upsetting your theory." + +A second man approached, shaking his head vigorously. He was a thin, +pale man with a singularly scholastic face. Quite an unprepossessing, +unsanguinary person, thought Barnes. + +"Mr. Curtis's chauffeur, I think it was, said the killing occurred +just above this house," said he, visibly excited. "Green Fancy is at +least a mile from here, isn't it? You don't shoot burglars a mile from +the place they are planning to rob, do you? Is the man a native of +this community?" + +"No," said Barnes, on whom devolved the duties of spokesman. "By the +way, his companion lies dead at Hart's Tavern. He was shot from his +horse at the cross-roads." + +"God bless me soul," gasped O'Dowd. "The chauffeur didn't mention a +second one. And were there two of them?" + +"And both of them dead?" cried De Soto. "At the cross-roads? My dear +sir, how can you reconcile--" He broke off with a gesture of +impatience. + +"I'll admit it's a bit out of reason," said Barnes. "The second man +could only have been shot by some one who was lying in wait for him." + +"Why, the thing's as clear as day," cried O'Dowd, facing the crowd. +His cheerful, sprightly face was alive with excitement. "They were not +trying to rob any one. They were either trying to get across the +border into Canada themselves or else trying to head some one off who +was coming from that side of the line." + +"Gad, you may be right," agreed Barnes instantly. "If you'd like to +hear more of the story I'll be happy to relate all that we know at +present." + +While the coroner and the others were loading the body of Albert Roon +into a farm wagon for conveyance to the county-seat, Barnes, who had +taken a sudden fancy to the two men from Green Fancy, gave them a +brief but full account of the tragedy and the result of investigations +as far as they had gone. + +"Bedad," said O'Dowd, "it beats the devil. There's something big in +this thing, Mr. Barnes,--something a long shot bigger than any of us +suspects. The extraordinary secrecy of these fellows, their evident +gentility, their doubtful nationality--why, bedad, it sounds like a +penny-dreadful thriller." + +"You'll find that it resolves itself into a problem for Washington to +solve," said De Soto darkly. "Nothing local about it, take my word for +it. These men were up to some international devilment. I'm not saying +that Germany is at the back of it, but, by Jove, I don't put anything +beyond the beggars. They are the cleverest, most resourceful people in +the world, damn 'em. You wait and see if I'm not right. There'll be a +stir in Washington over this, sure as anything." + +"What time was it that you heard the shots up at Green Fancy?" +ventured Barnes. + +"Lord love you," cried O'Dowd, "we didn't hear a sound. Mr. Curtis, +who has insomnia the worst way, poor devil, heard them and sent some +one out to see what all the racket was about. It wasn't till half an +hour or so ago that De Soto and I were routed out of our peaceful +nests and ordered,--virtually ordered, mind you,--to get up and guard +the house. Mr. Curtis was in a pitiful state of nerves over the +killing, and so were the ladies. 'Gad, everybody seemed to know all +about the business except De Soto and me. The man, it seems, made such +a devil of a racket when he came home with the news that the whole +house was up in pajamas and peignoirs. He didn't say anything about a +second Johnnie being shot, however. I'm glad he didn't know about it, +for that matter. He'll be seeing one ghost for the rest of his days +and that's enough, without having another foisted upon him." + +"I think I have a slight acquaintance with the chauffeur," said +Barnes. "He gave me the most thrilling motor ride I've ever +experienced. 'Gad, I'll never forget it." + +The two men looked at him, plainly perplexed. + +"When was all this?" inquired De Soto. + +"Early last evening. He took me from the cross-roads to Hart's Tavern +in a minute and a half, I'll bet my soul." + +"Last evening?" said O'Dowd, something like skepticism in his tone. + +"Yes. He picked up your latest guest at the corners, and she insisted +on his driving me to the Tavern before the storm broke. I've been +terribly anxious about her. She must have been caught out in all that +frightful--" + +"What's this you are saying, Mr. Barnes?" cut in De Soto, frowning. +"No guest arrived at Green Fancy last evening, nor was one expected." + +Barnes stared. "Do you mean to say that she didn't get there, after +all?" + +"She? A woman, was it?" demanded O'Dowd. "Bedad, if she said she was +coming to Green Fancy she was spoofing you. Are you sure it was old +Peter who gave you that jolly ride?" + +"No, I am not sure," said Barnes, uneasily. "She was afoot, having +walked from the station below. I met her at the corners and she asked +me if I knew how far it was to Green Fancy, or something like that. +Said she was going there. Then along came the automobile, rattling +down this very road,--an ancient Panhard driven by an old codger. She +seemed to think it was all right to hop in and trust herself to him, +although she'd never seen him before." + +"The antique Panhard fits in all right," said O'Dowd, "but I'm hanged +if the woman fits at all. No such person arrived at Green Fancy last +night." + +"Did you get a square look at the driver's face?" demanded De Soto. + +"It was almost too dark to see, but he was old, hatchet-faced, and +spoke with an accent." + +"Then it couldn't have been Peter," said De Soto positively. "He's +old, right enough, but he is as big as the side of a house, with a +face like a full moon, and he is Yankee to his toes. By gad, Barnes, +the plot thickens! A woman has been added to the mystery. Now, who the +devil is she and what has become of her?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +CHARITY BEGINS FAR FROM HOME, AND A STROLL IN THE WILDWOOD FOLLOWS + + +Mr. Rushcroft as furious when he arose at eleven o'clock on the +morning after the double murder, having slept like a top through all +of the commotion. He boomed all over the place, vocal castigations +falling right and left on the guilty and the innocent without +distinction. He wouldn't have missed the excitement for anything in +the world. He didn't mind missing the breakfast he was to have had +with Barnes, but he did feel outraged over the pusillanimous trick +played upon him by the remaining members of his troupe. Nothing was to +have been expected of Putnam Jones and his damnation crew; they +wouldn't have called him if the house was afire; they would let him +roast to death; but certainly something was due him from the members +of his company, something better than utter abandonment! + +He was still deep in the sulks when he came upon Barnes, who was +pacing the sunlit porch, deep in thought. + +"There will never be another opportunity like that," he groaned, at +the close of a ten minute dissertation on the treachery of friends; +"never in all the years to come. The driveling fools! What do I pay +them for? To let me lie there snoring so loud that I couldn't hear +opportunity for the noise I was making? As in everything else I +undertake, my dear Barnes, I excel at snoring. My lung capacity is +something amazing. It has to have an outlet. They let me lie there +like a log while the richest publicity material that ever fell to the +lot of an actor went to waste,--utter waste. Why, damme, sir, I could +have made that scene in the tap-room historic; I could have made it so +dramatic that it would have thrilled to the marrow every man, woman +and child in the United States of America. That's what I mean. They +allowed a chance like that to get away. Can you beat it? Tragedy at my +very elbow,--by gad, almost nudging me, you might say,--and no one to +tell me to get up. Think of the awful requiem I could have--But what's +the use thinking about it now? I am so exasperated I can't think of +anything but anathemas, so--" + +"I don't see how you managed to sleep through it," Barnes broke in. +"You must have an unusually clear conscience, Mr. Rushcroft." + +"I haven't any conscience at all, sir," roared the star. "I had an +unusually full stomach, that's what was the matter with me. Damme, I +ought to have known better. I take oath now, sir, never to eat again +as long as I live. A man who cannot govern his beastly appetite ought +to defy it, if nothing else." + +"I gather from that remark that you omitted breakfast this morning." + +"Breakfast, sir? In God's name, I implore you not to refer to anything +so disgusting as stewed prunes and bacon at a time like this. My mind +is--" + +"How about luncheon? Will you join me at twelve-thirty?" + +"That's quite another matter," said Mr. Rushcroft readily. "Luncheon +is an aesthetic tribute to the physical intelligence of man, if you +know what I mean. I shall be delighted to join you. Twelve-thirty, did +you say?" + +"It would give me great pleasure if your daughter would also grace the +festal board." + +"Ahem! My daughter and I are--er--what you might say 'on the outs' at +present. I dare say I was a trifle crusty with her this morning. She +was a bit inconsiderate, too, I may add. As a matter of fact she told +me to go and soak my head." Mr. Rushcroft actually blushed as he said +it. "I don't know where the devil she learned such language, unless +she's been overhearing the disrespectful remarks that some of these +confounded opera house managers make when I try to argue with them +about--But never mind! She's a splendid creature, isn't she? She has +it born in her to be one of the greatest actresses in--" + +"I think it is too bad that she has to go about in the gown she wears, +Mr. Rushcroft," said Barnes. "She's much too splendid for that. I have +a proposition I'd like to make to you later on. I cannot make it, +however, without consulting Miss Thackeray's feelings." + +"My dear fellow!" beamed Rushcroft, seizing the other's hand. "One +frequently reads in books about it coming like this, at first sight, +but, damme, I never dreamed that it ever really happened. Count on me! +She ought to leave the stage, the dear child. No more fitted to it +than an Easter lily. Her place is in the home, the--" + +"Good Lord, I'm not thinking of--" And Barnes, aghast, stopped before +blurting out the words that leaped to his lips. "I mean to say, this +is a proposition that may also affect your excellent companions, Bacon +and Dillingford, as well as yourselves." + +"Abominations!" snorted Rushcroft. "I fired both of them this morning. +They are no longer connected with my company. I won't have 'em around. +What's more, they can't act and never will. The best bit of acting +that Bacon ever did in his life was when he told me to go to hell a +little while ago. I say 'acting,' mind you, because the wretch +COULDN'T have been in earnest, and yet he gave the most convincing +performance of his life. If I'd ever dreamed that he had it in him to +do it so well, I'd have had the line in every play we've done since he +joined us, author or no author." + +At twelve-thirty sharp, Barnes came down from his room freshly shaved +and brushed, to find not only Mr. Rushcroft and Miss Thackeray +awaiting him in the office, but the Messrs. Dillingford and Bacon as +well. Putnam Jones, gloomy and preoccupied behind the counter, allowed +his eyes to brighten a little as the latest guest of the house +approached the group. + +"I've given all of 'em an hour or two off," he said genially. "Do what +you like to 'em." + +Rushcroft expanded. "My good man, what the devil do you mean by a +remark like that? Remember--" + +"Never mind, dad," said Miss Thackeray, lifting her chin haughtily. +"Forgive us our trespassers as we forgive our trespasses. And +remember, also, that poor, dear Mr. Jones is all out of sorts to-day. +He is all keyed up over the notoriety his house is going to achieve +before the government gets through annoying him." + +"See here, Miss," began Mr. Jones, threateningly, and then, overcome +by his Yankee shrewdness, stopped as suddenly as he started. "Go on in +and have your dinner. Don't mind me. I am out of sorts." He was smart +enough to realise that it was wiser to have the good rather than the +ill-will of these people. He dreaded the inquiry that was imminent. + +"That's better," mumbled Mr. Rushcroft, partially mollified. "I took +the liberty, old fellow," he went on, addressing Barnes, "of asking my +excellent co-workers to join us in our repast. In all my career I have +not known more capable, intelligent players than these--" + +"Delighted to have you with us, gentlemen," said Barnes affably. "In +fact, I was going to ask Mr. Rushcroft if he had the slightest +objection to including you--" + +"Oh, the row's all over," broke in Mr. Dillingford magnanimously. "It +didn't amount to anything. I'm sure if Mr. Rushcroft doesn't object to +us, we don't object to him." + +"Peace reigns throughout the land," said Mr. Bacon, in his deepest +bass. "Precede us, my dear Miss Thackeray." + +The sole topic of conversation for the first half hour was the +mysterious slaying of their fellow lodgers. Mr. Rushcroft complained +bitterly of the outrageous, high-handed action of the coroner and +sheriff in imposing upon him and his company the same restrictions +that had been applied to Barnes. They were not to leave the county +until the authorities gave the word. One would have thought, to hear +the star's indignant lamentations, that he and his party were in a +position to depart when they pleased. It would have been difficult to +imagine that he was not actually rolling in money instead of being +absolutely penniless. + +"What were these confounded rascals to me?" he demanded, scowling at +Miss Tilly as if she were solely to blame for his misfortune. "Why +should I be held up in this God-forsaken place because a couple of +scoundrels got their just deserts? Why, I repeat? I'd--" + +"I--I'm sure I--I don't know," stammered Miss Tilly, wetting her dry +lips with her tongue in an attempt to be lucid. + +"What?" exploded Mr. Rushcroft, somewhat taken aback by the retort +from an unexpected quarter. "Upon my soul, I--I--What?" + +"He won't bite, Miss Tilly," said Miss Thackeray soothingly. + +"Oh, dear!" said Miss Tilly, putting her hand over her mouth. + +Barnes had been immersed in his own thoughts for some time. A slight +frown, as of reflection, darkened his eyes. Suddenly,--perhaps +impolitely,--he interrupted Mr. Rushcroft's flow of eloquence. + +"Have you any objection, Mr. Rushcroft, to a more or less personal +question concerning your own private--er--misfortunes?" he asked, +leaning forward. + +For a moment one could have heard a pin drop. Mr. Rushcroft evidently +held his breath. There could be no mistake about that. + +"I don't mean to be offensive," Barnes made haste to add. + +"My misfortunes are not private," said Mr. Rushcroft, with dignity. +"They are decidedly public. Ask all the questions you please, my dear +fellow." + +"Well, it's rather delicate, but would you mind telling me just how +much you were stuck up for by the--er--was it a writ of attachment?" + +"It was," said the star. "A writ of inquisition, you might as well +substitute. The act of a polluted, impecunious, parsimonious,--what +shall I say? Well, I will be as simple as possible: hotel keeper. In +other words, a damnation blighter, sir. Ninety-seven dollars and forty +cents. For that pitiful amount he subjected me to--" + +"Well, that isn't so bad," said Barnes, vastly relieved. "It would +require that amount to square everything and release your personal +effects?" + +"It would release the whole blooming production," put in Mr. +Dillingford, with unction. "Including my dress suit and a top hat, to +say nothing of a change of linen and--" + +"Two wood exteriors and a parlor set, make-up boxes, wardrobe trunks, +a slide trombone and--" mused Mr. Bacon, and would have gone on but +for Barnes' interruption. + +He was covertly watching Miss Thackeray's half-averted face as he +ventured upon the proposition he had decided to put before them. She +was staring out of the window, and there was a strained, almost +harassed expression about the corners of her mouth. The glimpse he had +of her dark eyes revealed something sullen, rebellious in them. She +had taken no part in the conversation for some time. + +"I am prepared and willing to advance this amount, Mr. Rushcroft, and +to take your personal note as security." + +Rushcroft leaned back in his chair and stuck his thumbs in the arm +holes of his vest. He displayed no undue elation. Instead he affected +profound calculation. His daughter shot a swift, searching look at the +would-be Samaritan. There was a heightened colour in her cheeks. + +"Ahem," said Rushcroft, squinting at the ceiling beams. + +"Moreover, I shall be happy to increase the amount of the loan +sufficiently to cover your return at once to New York, if you so +desire,--by train." Barnes smiled as he added the last two words. + +"Extremely kind of you, my dear Barnes," said the actor, running his +fingers through his hair. "Your faith in me is most gratifying. I--I +really don't know what to say to you, sir." + +"Of course, Mr. Barnes, you ought to know that you may be a long time +in getting your money back," said his daughter levelly. "We are poor +pay." + +"My dear child," began Mr. Rushcroft, amazed. + +"I shall permit your father himself to specify the number of months or +years to be written in the body of the note," said Barnes. + +"And if he never pays, what then?" said she. + +"I shall not trouble him with demands for the money," said Barnes. + +"May I inquire just how you expect to profit by this transaction, Mr. +Barnes?" she asked steadily. + +He started, suddenly catching her meaning. + +"My dear Miss Thackeray," he exclaimed, "this transaction is solely +between your father and me. I shall have no other claim to press." + +"I wish I could believe that," she said. + +"You may believe it," he assured her. + +"It isn't the usual course," she said quietly, and her face +brightened. "You are not like most men, Mr. Barnes." + +"My dear child," said Rushcroft, "you must leave this matter to our +friend and me. I fancy I know an honest man when I see him. My dear +fellow, fortune is but temporarily frowning upon me. In a few weeks I +shall be on my feet again, zipping along on the crest of the wave. I +dare say I can return the money to you in a month or six weeks. If--" + +"Oh, father!" cried Miss Thackeray. + +"We'll make it six months, and I'll pay any rate of interest you +desire. Six per cent, eight per cent, ten per--" + +"Six per cent, sir, and we will make it a year from date." + +"Agreed. And now, Miss Tilly, will you ask the barmaid,--who happens +to be masculine,--to step in here and take the orders? We would drink +to Dame Fortune, who has a smile that defies all forms of adversity. +Out of the clouds falls a slice of silver lining. It alights in my +trembling palm. I--I--Damme, sir, you are a nobleman! In behalf of my +daughter, my company and the--Heaven forfend! I was about to add the +accursed management!--I thank you. Get up and dance for us, Dilly! We +shall be in New York to-morrow!" + +"You forget the dictatorial sheriff, Mr. Rushcroft," said Barnes. + +"The varlet!" barked Mr. Rushcroft. + +It was arranged that Dillingford and Bacon were to go to Hornville in +a hired motor that afternoon, secure the judgment, pay the costs, and +attend to the removal of the personal belongings of the stranded +quartette from the hotel to Hart's Tavern. The younger actors stoutly +refused to accept Barnes' offer to pay their board while at the +Tavern. That, they declared, would be charity, and they preferred his +friendship and his respect to anything of that sort. Miss Thackeray, +however, was to be immediately relieved of her position as +chambermaid. She was to become a paying guest. + +"I'll be glad to have my street togs, such as they are," said she, +rosily. "I dare say you are sick of seeing me in this rig, Mr. Barnes. +That's probably why you opened your heart and purse." + +"Not at all," said he gaily. "As I presume I shall have to remain here +for some time, I deem it my right to improve the service as much as +possible. You are a very incompetent chambermaid, Miss Thackeray." + +Rushcroft took the whole affair with the most noteworthy complacency. +He seemed to regard it as his due, or more properly speaking as if he +were doing Barnes a great favour in allowing him to lend money to a +person of his importance. + +"A thought has just come to me, my dear fellow," he remarked, as they +arose from table. "With the proper kind of backing I could put over +one of the most stupendous things the theatre has known in fifty +years. I don't mind saying to you,--although it's rather sub rosa-- +that I have written a play. A four act drama that will pack the +biggest house on Broadway to the roof for as many months as we'd care +to stay. Perhaps you will allow me to talk it over with you a little +later on. You will be interested, I'm sure. I actually shudder +sometimes when I think of the filthy greenbacks I'll have to carry +around on my person if the piece ever gets into New York. Yes, yes, +I'll be glad to talk it over with you. Egad, sir, I'll read the play +to you. I'll--What ho, landlord! When my luggage arrives this evening +will you be good enough to have it placed in the room just vacated by +the late Mr. Roon? My daughter will have the room adjoining, sir. By +the way, will you have your best automobile sent around to the door as +quickly as possible? A couple of my men are going to Hornville--damned +spot!--to fetch hither my--" + +"Just a minute," interrupted Putnam Jones, wholly unimpressed. "A man +just called you up on the 'phone, Mr. Barnes. I told him you was +entertaining royalty at lunch and couldn't be disturbed. So he asked +me to have you call him up as soon as you revived. His words, not +mine. Call up Mr. O'Dowd at Green Fancy. Here's the number." + +The mellow voice of the Irishman soon responded. + +"I called you up to relieve your mind regarding the young woman who +came last night," he said. "You observe that I say 'came.' She's quite +all right, safe and sound, and no cause for uneasiness. I thought you +meant that she was coming here as a guest, and so I made the very +natural mistake of saying she hadn't come at all, at all. The young +woman in question is Mrs. Van Dyke's maid. But bless me soul, how was +I to know she was even in existence, much less expected by train or +motor or Shanks' mare? Well, she's here, so there's the end of our +mystery. We sha'n't have to follow your gay plan of searching the +wilderness for beauty in distress. Our romance is spoiled, and I am +sorry to say it to you. You were so full of it this morning that you +had me all stirred up meself." + +Barnes was slow in replying. He was doubting his own ears. It was not +conceivable that an ordinary--or even an extraordinary--lady's maid +could have possessed the exquisite voice and manner of his chance +acquaintance of the day before, or the temerity to order that sour- +faced chauffeur about as if--The chauffeur! + +"But I thought you said that Mr. Curtis's chauffeur was moon-faced +and--" + +"He is, bedad," broke in Mr. O'Dowd, chuckling. "That's what deceived +me entirely, and no wonder. It wasn't Peter at all, but the +rapscallion washer who went after her. He was instructed to tell Peter +to meet the four o'clock train, and the blockhead forgot to give the +order. Bedad, what does he do but sneak out after her himself, scared +out of his boots for fear of what he was to get from Peter. I had the +whole story from Mrs. Van Dyke." + +"Well, I'm tremendously relieved," said Barnes slowly. + +"And so am I," said O'Dowd, with conviction. "I have seen the heroine +of our busted romance. She's a good-looking girl. I'm not surprised +that she kept her veil down. If you were to leave it to me, though, +I'd say that it's a sin to carry discretion so far as all that. I +thought I'd take the liberty of calling you up as soon as I had the +facts, so that you wouldn't go forth in knightly ardour--You see what +I mean, don't you?" His rich laugh came over the wire. + +"Perfectly. Thank you for letting me know. My mind is at rest." + +"Will you be staying on for some days at the Tavern?" + +"I think so." + +"Well, I shall give myself the pleasure of running over to see you in +a day or so." + +"Do," said Barnes. "Good by." As he hung up the receiver he said to +himself, "You are a most affable, convincing chap, Mr. O'Dowd, but I +don't believe a word you say. That woman is no lady's maid, and you've +known all the time that she was there." + +At four o'clock he set out alone for a tramp up the mountain road in +which the two men had been shot down. A number of men under the +direction of the sheriff were scouring the lofty timberland for the +deadly marksmen. He knew it would turn out to be as futile as the +proverbial effort to find the needle in the haystack. + +His mind was quite clear on the subject. Roon and Paul were not +ordinary robbers. They were, no doubt, honest men. He would have said +that they were thieves bent on burglarising Green Fancy were it not +for the disclosures of Miss Thackeray and the very convincing proof +that they were not shot by the same man. Detected on the grounds about +Green Fancy by a watchman, they would have had an encounter with him +there and then. Moreover, they would have taken an active part in the +play of firearms. Desperadoes would not have succumbed so tamely. + +It was not beyond reason,--indeed, it was quite probable,--that they +were trying to cross the border; in that event, their real operations +would be confined to the Canadian side of the line. They were +unmistakably foreigners. That fact, in itself, went far toward +establishing in his mind the conviction that they were not attempting +to intercept any one coming from the other side. Equally as strong was +the belief that the Canadian authorities would not have entered upon +United States territory for the purpose of apprehending these +suspects, no matter how thoroughly the movements and motives of the +two men might have been known to them. + +He could not free himself of the suspicion that Green Fancy possessed +the key to the situation. Roon and his companion could not have had +the slightest interest in his movements up to the instant he +encountered the young woman at the cross-roads. It was ridiculous to +even consider himself an object of concern to these men who had been +haunting the border for days prior to his appearance on the scene. +They were interested only in the advent of the woman, and as her +destination confessedly was Green Fancy, what could be more natural +than the conclusion that their plans, evil or otherwise, depended +entirely upon her arrival at the strange house on the mountainside? +They had been awaiting her appearance for days. The instant it became +known to them that she was installed at Green Fancy, their plans went +forward with a swiftness that bespoke complete understanding. + +His busy brain suddenly suffered the shock of a distinct conclusion. +So startling was the thought that he stopped abruptly in his walk and +uttered an exclamation of dismay. Was she a fellow-conspirator? Was +she the inside worker at Green Fancy in a well-laid plan to rifle the +place? She too was unmistakably a foreigner. + +Could it be possible that she was the confederate of these painstaking +agents who lurked with sinister patience outside the very gates of the +place called Green Fancy? + +In support of this theory was the supposition that O'Dowd may have +been perfectly sincere in his declarations over the telephone. Opposed +to it, however, was the absolute certainty that Roon and Paul were +waylaid and killed at widely separated points, and not while actively +employed in raiding the house. That was the rock over which all of his +theories stumbled. + +His ramble carried him far beyond the spot where Roon's body was found +and where young Conley had come upon the tethered horses. His eager, +curious gaze swept the forest to the left of the road in search of +Green Fancy. Overcome by a rash, daring impulse, he climbed over the +stake and rider fence and sauntered among the big trees which so far +had obscured the house from view. He had looked in vain for the lane +or avenue leading from the road up to Mr. Curtis's house. He could not +have passed it in his stroll, of that he was sure, and yet he +remembered distinctly seeing O'Dowd and De Soto turn their horses into +the forest at a point far back of the place where he now entered the +grounds. + +The trees grew very thickly on the slope, and they were unusually +large. Virgin timber, he decided, on which the woodman's axe had made +no inroads. The foliage was dense. Tree tops seemed to intermingle in +one vast canopy through which the sun but rarely penetrated. The +bright green of the grass, the sponginess of the soil, the presence of +great stretches of ferns and beds of moss told of almost perpetual +moisture. Strangely enough there was no suggestion of dankness in +these shadowy glades, rich with the fulness of early Spring. + +He progressed deeper into the wood. At the end of what must have been +a mile, he halted. There was no sign of habitation, no indication that +man had ever penetrated so far into the forest. As he was on the point +of retracing his steps toward the road, his gaze fell upon a huge +moss-covered rock less than a hundred yards away. He stared, and +gradually it began to take on angles and planes and recesses of the +most astounding symmetry. Under his widening gaze it was transformed +into a substantial object of cubes and gables and--yes, windows. + +He was looking upon the strange home of the even stranger Mr. Curtis: +Green Fancy. + +Now he understood why it was called Green Fancy. Its surroundings were +no greener than itself; it seemed to melt into the foliage, to become +a part of the natural landscape. For a long time he stood stock-still, +studying the curious structure. Mountain ivy literally enveloped it. +Exposed sections of the house were painted green,--a mottled green +that seemed to indicate flickering sunbeams against an emerald wall. +The doors were green; the leafy porches and their columns, the chimney +pots, the window hangings,--all were the colour of the unchanging +forest. And it was a place of huge dimensions, low and long and +rambling. It seemed to have been forcibly jammed into the steep slope +that shot high above its chimneys; the mountain hung over its vine +clad roof, an ominous threat of oblivion. + +There was no lawn, no indication of landscape gardening, and yet +Barnes was singularly impressed by the arrangement of the shrubbery +that surrounded the place. There was no visible approach to the house +through the thick, unbroken sea of green; everywhere was dense +underbrush, standing higher than the head of the tallest of men,-- +clean, bright bushes, revealing the most astonishing uniformity in +size and character. + +"'Gad," he said to himself, "what manner of crank is he who would bury +himself like this? Of all the crazy ideas I ever--" + +His reflections ended there. A woman crossed his vision; a woman +strolling slowly toward him through the intricate avenues of the +wildwood. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SPUN-GOLD HAIR, BLUE EYES, AND VARIOUS ENCOUNTERS + + +She was quite unaware of his presence, and yet he was directly in her +path, though some distance away. Her head was bent; her mien was +thoughtful, her stride slow and aimless. + +The azure blue of the sweater she wore presented an inharmonious note +on the field of velvety green;--it was strangely out of place, he +thought,--almost an offence to the eye. He was conscious of an instant +protest against this profanation. + +She was slender, graceful and evidently quite tall, although she +seemed a pigmy among the towering giants that attended her stroll. Her +hands were thrust deep into the pockets of a white duck skirt. A +glance revealed white shoes and trim ankles in blue. She wore no hat. +Her hair was like spun gold, thick, wavy and shimmering in the subdued +light. + +Suddenly she stopped, and looked up. He had a full view of her face as +she gazed about as if startled by some unexpected, even alarming, +sound. For a second or two he held his breath, stunned by the amazing +loveliness that was revealed to him. Then she discovered him standing +there. + +He was never to forget the expression that came into her eyes; nor had +he ever seen eyes so blue. Alarm gave way to bewilderment as she +stared at the motionless intruder not thirty feet away. Then, to his +utter astonishment, her lips parted and a faint, wondering smile came +into her eyes. His heart leaped. She recognised him! + +In a flash he realised that he was face to face with the stranger of +the day before,--she of the veil, the alluring voice, the unfaltering +spirits, and the weighty handbag! + +He took two or three impulsive steps forward, his hand going to his +hat,--and then halted. Evidently his senses had deceived him. There +was no smile in her eyes,--and yet he could have sworn that it was +there an instant before. Instead, there was a level stare. + +"I am sorry if I startled--" he began. + +The figure of a man appeared, as if discharged bodily from some magic +tree-trunk, and stood directly in his path: A tall, rugged man in +overalls was he, who held a spade in his hand and eyed him inimically. +Without another glance in his direction, the first and more pleasing +vision turned on her heel and continued her stroll, sauntering off to +the right, her fair head once more bent in study, her back eloquently +indifferent to the gaze that followed her. + +"Who do you want to see?" inquired the man with the spade. + +Before Barnes could reply, a hearty voice accosted him from behind. He +whirled and saw O'Dowd approaching, not twenty yards away. The +Irishman's face was aglow with pleasure. + +"I knew I couldn't be mistaken in the shape of you," he cried, +advancing with outstretched hand. "You've got the breadth of a dock- +hand in your shoulders, and the trimness of a prize-fighter in your +waist." + +They shook hands. "I fear I am trespassing," said Barnes. His glance +went over his shoulder as he spoke. The man with the spade had been +swallowed up by the earth! He could not have vanished more quickly in +any other way. Off among the trees there were intermittent flashes of +blue and white. + +"I am quite sure you are," said O'Dowd promptly, but without a trace +of unfriendliness in his manner. "Bedad, loving him as I do, I can't +help saying that Curtis is a bally old crank. Mind ye, I'd say it to +his face,--I often do, for the matter of that. Of course," he went on +seriously, "he is a sick man, poor devil. I have the unholy courage to +call him a chronic crank every once in awhile, and the best thing I +can say for his health is that he grins when I say it to him. You see, +I've known him for a dozen years and more, and he likes me, though God +knows why, unless it may be that I once did his son a good turn in +London." + +"Sufficient excuse for reparation, I should say," smiled Barnes. + +"I introduced the lad to me only sister," said O'Dowd, "and she kept +him happy for the next ten years. No doubt, I also provided Mr. Curtis +with three grandchildren he might never have had but for my +graciousness. As for that, I let meself in for three of the most +prodigious nephews a man ever had, God bless them. I'll show you a +photograph of them if ye'd care to look." He opened the back of his +watch and held it out to Barnes. "Nine, seven and five, and all of +them as bright as Gladstone." + +"They must be stunning," said Barnes warmly. + +"They'll make a beggar of me, if I live long enough," groaned O'Dowd. +"It beats the deuce how childer as young as they are can have +discovered what a doddering fool their uncle is. Bedad, the smallest +of them knows it. The very instant I pretend to be a sensible, +provident, middle-aged gentleman he shows me up most shamelessly. +'Twas only a couple of months ago that his confounded blandishments +wiggled a sixty-five dollar fire engine out of me. He squirted water +all over the drawing-room furniture, and I haven't been allowed to put +foot into the house since. My own darlin' sister refused to look at me +for a week, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if she changed me +namesake's title to something less enfuriating than William." A look +of distress came into his merry eyes. "By Jove, I'd like nothing +better than to ask you in to have a dish of tea,--it's tea-time, I'm +sure,--but I'd no more think of doing it than I'd consider cutting off +me head. He doesn't like strangers. He--" + +"My dear fellow, don't distress yourself," cried Barnes heartily. +"There isn't the least reason in the world why--" + +"You see, the poor old chap asks us up here once or twice a year,-- +that is to say, De Soto and me,--to keep his sister from filling the +house up with men he can't endure. So long as we occupy the only +available rooms, he argues, she can't stuff them full of +objectionables. Twice a year she comes for a month, in the late fall +and early spring. He's very fond of her, and she stands by him like a +major." + +"Why does he continue to live in this out-of-the-world spot, Mr. +O'Dowd? He is an old man, I take it, and ill." + +"You wouldn't be wondering if you knew the man," said O'Dowd. "He is a +scholar, a dreamer, a sufferer. He doesn't believe in doctors. He says +they're all rascals. They'd keep him alive just for the sake of what +they could get out of him. So he's up here to die in peace, when his +time comes, and he hopes it will come soon. He doesn't want it +prolonged by a grasping, greedy doctor man. It's his kidneys, you +know. He's not a very old man at that. Not more than sixty-five." + +"He certainly has a fanciful streak in him, building a place like +that," said Barnes, looking not at the house but into the thicket +above. There was no sign of the blue and white and the spun gold that +still defied exclusion from his mind's eye. He had not recovered from +the thrall into which the vision of loveliness plunged him. He was +still a trifle dazed and distraught. + +"Right you are," agreed O'Dowd; "the queerest streak in the world. +It's his notion of simplicity. I wish you could see the inside of the +place. You'd wonder to what exalted heights his ideas of magnificence +would carry him if he calls this simplicity. He loves it all, he dotes +on it. It's the only joy he knows, this bewildering creation of his. +For nearly three years he has not been more than a stone's throw from +the walls of that house. I doubt if he's been as far as the spot where +we're standing now." + +"Green Fancy. Is that the name he gave the place or does it spring +from--" + +"'Twas christened by me own sister, Mr. Barnes, the first time she was +here, two years ago. I'll walk with you to the fence beyond if you've +no objections," said O'Dowd, genially, and linked his arm through that +of Barnes. + +The latter was at once subtly aware of the fact that he was being +deliberately conducted from the grounds. Moreover, he was now +convinced that O'Dowd had been close upon his heels from the instant +he entered them. There was something uncanny in the feeling that +possessed him. Such espionage as this signified something deep and +imperative in the presence not only of O'Dowd but the Jack-in-the-box +gardener a few minutes earlier. He had the grim suspicion that he +would later on encounter the spectacled De Soto. + +His mind was still full of the lovely stranger about whom O'Dowd had +so manifestly lied over the telephone. + +"I must ask you to apologise to the young lady on whom I blundered a +few moments ago, Mr. O'Dowd. She must have been startled. Pray convey +to her my solicitude and excuses." + +"Consider it done, my dear sir," said the Irishman. "Our most charming +and seductive guest," he went on. "Bedad, of the two of you, I'll +stake me head you were startled the most. Coming suddenly upon such +rare loveliness is almost equivalent to being struck by a bolt of +lightning. It did something like that to me when I saw her for the +first time a couple of weeks ago. I didn't get over it for the better +part of a day,--I can't say that I really got over it at all. More +than one painter of portraits has said that she is the most beautiful +woman in the world. I don't take much stock in portrait painters, but +I'm always fair to the lords of creation when their opinions coincide +with mine. Mayhap you have heard of her. She is Miss Cameron of New +Orleans, a friend of Mrs. Van Dyke. We have quite an enchanting house- +party, Mr. Barnes, if you consider no more than the feminine side of +it. Unfortunate creatures! To be saddled with such ungainly lummixes +as De Soto and me! By the way, have you heard when the coroner is to +hold his inquests?" + +"Nothing definite. He may wait a week," said Barnes. + +"I suppose you'll stick around until it's all over," ventured O'Dowd. +Barnes thought he detected a slight harshness in his voice. + +"I have quite made up my mind to stay until the mystery is entirely +cleared up," he said. "The case is so interesting that I don't want to +miss a shred of it." + +"I don't blame ye," said O'Dowd heartily. "I'd like nothing better +meself than to mix up in it, but, Lord love ye, if I turned detective +I'd also be turned out of the spare bed-room beyond, and sped on me +way with curses. Well, here we are. The next time you plan to pay us a +visit, telephone in advance. I may be able to persuade my host that +you're a decent, law-abiding, educated gentleman, and he'll consent to +receive you at Green Fancy. Good day to ye," and he shook hands with +the departing trespasser. + +A quarter of a mile below the spot where he parted from O'Dowd, Barnes +caught a glimpse of De Soto sauntering among the trees. He smiled to +himself. It was just what he had expected. + +"Takin' a walk?" was the landlord's greeting as he mounted the tavern +steps at dusk. Putnam Jones's gaunt figure had been discernible for +some time, standing motionless at the top of the steps. + +"Going over the ground of last night's affair," responded Barnes, +pausing. "Any word from the sheriff and his party?" + +"Nope. The blamed fools are still up there turnin' over all the loose +stones they c'n find," said Jones sarcastically. "Did you get a +glimpse of Green Fancy?" + +Barnes nodded. "I strolled a little distance into the woods," he said +briefly. + +"I wouldn't do it again," said Jones. "Strangers ain't welcome. I +might have told you as much if I'd thought you were going up that way. +Mr. Curtis notified me a long while ago to warn my guests not to set +foot on his grounds, under penalty of the law." + +"Well, I escaped without injury," laughed Barnes. "No one took a shot +at me." + +As he entered the door he was acutely aware of an intense stare +levelled at him from behind by the landlord of Hart's Tavern. Half way +up the stairway he stopped short, and with difficulty repressed the +exclamation that rose to his lips. + +He had recalled a significant incident of the night before. Almost +immediately after the departure of Roon and Paul from the Tavern, +Putnam Jones had made his way to the telephone behind the desk, and +had called for a number in a loud, brisk voice, but the subsequent +conversation was carried on in subdued tones, attended by haste and +occasional furtive glances in the direction of the tap-room. + +Upon reaching his room, Barnes permitted the suppressed emotion to +escape his lips in the shape of a soft whistle, which if it could have +been translated into words would have said: "By Gad, why haven't I +thought of it before? He sent out the warning that Roon and Paul were +on the way! And I'd like to bet my last dollar that some one at Green +Fancy had the other end of the wire." + +Mr. Rushcroft stalked majestically into his room while he was shaving, +without taking the trouble to knock at the door, and in his most +impressive manner announced that if there was another hostelry within +reasonable distance he would move himself, his luggage and his entire +company out of Putnam Jones's incomprehensible house. + +"Why, sir," he declared, "the man is not only a knave but a fool. He +flatly declines the prodigious offer I have made for the corner rooms +at the end of the corridor. In fact, he refuses to transfer my +daughter and me from our present quarters into what might be called +the royal suite if one were disposed to be facetious. The confounded +blockhead insists on seeing the colour of my money in advance." He sat +down on the edge of the bed, dejectedly. "My daughter, perversity +personified, takes the extraordinary stand that the wretch is right. +She agrees with him. She has even gone so far as to say, to my face, +that beggars cannot be choosers, although I must give her credit for +not using the expression in the scoundrel's presence. 'Pon my soul, +Barnes, I have never been so sorely tried in all my life. Emma,--I +should say, Mercedes,--denounces me to my face. She says I am a +wastrel, a profligate,--(there I have her, however, for she failed to +consult the dictionary before applying the word to me),--an ingrate, +and a lot of other things I fail to recall in my dismay. She contends +that I have no right to do what I please with my own money. Indeed, +she goes so far as to say that I haven't any money at all. I have +tried to explain to her the very simple principles upon which all +financial transactions are based, but she remains as obtuse as +Cleopatra's Needle. Her ignorance would be pitiful if she wasn't so +damned obstinate about it. And to cap the climax, she had the +insolence to ask me to show her a dollar in real money. By gad, sir, +she's as unreasonable as Putnam Jones himself." + +Barnes gallantly came to the daughter's defense. He was more than +pleased by the father's revelations. They proved her to be possessed +of fine feelings and a genuine sense of appreciation. + +"As a matter of fact, Mr. Rushcroft, I think she is quite right," he +said flatly. "It isn't a bad idea to practice economy." + +"My dear sir," said Rushcroft peevishly, "where would I be now in my +profession if I had practiced economy at the expense of progress?" + +"I don't know," confessed Barnes, much too promptly. + +"I can tell you, sir. I would be nowhere at all. I would not be the +possessor of a name that is known from one end of this land to the +other, a name that guarantees to the public the most elaborate +productions known to--" + +"Pardon me," interrupted the other; "it doesn't get you anywhere with +Putnam Jones, and that is the issue at present. The government puts +the portrait of George Washington on one of its greenbacks but his +face and name wouldn't be worth the tenth of a penny if the United +States went bankrupt. As it is, however, if you were to go downstairs +and proffer one of those bills to Putnam Jones he would make his most +elaborate bow and put you into the best room in the house. George +Washington has backing that even Mr. Jones cannot despise. So, you +see, your daughter is right. Your name and face is yet to be stamped +on a government bank note, Mr. Rushcroft, and until that time comes +you are no better off than I or any of the rest of the unfortunates +who, being still alive, have to eat for a living." + +"You speak in parables," said Mr. Rushcroft, arising. "Am I to assume +that you wish to withdraw your offer to lend me--" + +"Not at all," said Barnes. "My desire to stake you to the comforts and +dignity your station deserves remains unchanged. If you will bear with +me until I have finished shaving I will go with you to Mr. Jones and +show him the colour of your money." + +Mr. Rushcroft grinned shamelessly. "My daughter was right when she +said another thing to me," he observed, sitting down once more. + +"She appears to be more or less infallible." + +"A woman in a million," said the star. "She said that I wouldn't make +a hit with you if I attempted to put on too much side. I perceive that +she was right,--as usual." + +"Absolutely," said Barnes, with decision. + +"So I'll cut it out," remarked Rushcroft quaintly. "I will be +everlastingly grateful to you, Mr. Barnes, if you'll fix things up +with Jones. God knows when or whether I can ever reimburse you, but as +I am not really a dead-beat the time will certainly come when I may +begin paying in installments. Do we understand each other?" + +"We do," said Barnes, and started downstairs with him. + +Half an hour later Barnes succeeded in striking a bargain with Putnam +Jones. He got the two rooms at the end of the hall at half price, +insisting that it was customary for every hotel to give actors a +substantial reduction in rates. + +"You shall be treasurer and business-manager in my reorganized +company," said Rushcroft. "With your acumen and my eccentricity united +in a common cause we will stagger the universe." + +Despite his rehabilitation as a gentleman of means and independence, +Mr. Rushcroft could not forego the pleasure of staggering a small +section of the world that very night. He was giving Hamlet's address +to the players in the tap-room when Barnes came downstairs at nine +o'clock. Bacon and Dillingford having returned earlier in the evening +with the trunks, bags and other portable chattels of the defunct +"troupe," Mr. Rushcroft was performing in a sadly wrinkled Norfolk +suit of grey which Dillingford was under solemn injunction to press +before breakfast the next morning. + +"I know I don't have to do it," said the star, catching the surprised +look in Barnes's eye and pausing to explain, sotto voce, "but I hadn't +the heart to refuse. They're eating it up, my dear fellow. Up to this +instant they've been sitting with their mouths wide open while I +hurled it, word after word, into their very vitals. "Whereupon he +resumed the sonorous monologue, glowering balefully upon his +transfixed hearers. + +Barnes, leaning against the door-jamb, listened with an amused smile +on his lips. His gaze swept the rapt faces of the dozen or more +customers seated at the tables, and he found himself wondering if one +of these men was the father of the little girl whose mother had +described Hart's Tavern as a "shindy." Was it only yesterday that he +had spoken with the barefoot child? An age seemed to have passed since +that brief encounter. + +Rushcroft ended Hamlet's speech in fine style, and almost instantly a +mild voice from the crowd asked if he knew "Casey at the Bat." Not in +the least distressed by this woeful commentary, Mr. Rushcroft +cheerfully, obligingly tackled the tragic fizzle of the immortal +Casey. + +A small, dark man who sat alone at a table in the corner, caught +Barnes's eye and smiled almost mournfully. He was undoubtedly a +stranger; his action was meant to convey to Barnes the information +that he too was from a distant and sophisticated community, and that a +bond of sympathy existed between them. + +Putnam Jones spoke suddenly at Barnes's shoulder. He started +involuntarily. The man was beginning to get on his nerves. He seemed +to be dogging his footsteps with ceaseless persistency. + +"That feller over there in the corner," said Jones, softly, "is a +book-agent from your town. He sold me a set of Dickens when he was +here last time, about six weeks ago. A year's subscription to two +magazines throwed in. By gosh, these book-agents are slick ones. I +didn't want that set of Dickens any more'n I wanted a last year's +bird's nest. The thing I'm afraid of is that he'll talk me into taking +a set of Scott before he moves on. He's got me sweatin' already." + +"He's a shrewd looking chap," commented Barnes. + +"Says he won't be satisfied till he's made this section of the country +the most cultured, refined spot in the United States," said Jones +dolefully. "He brags about how much he did toward makin' Boston the +literary centre of the United States, him and his father before him. +Together, he says, they actually elevated Boston from the bottomless +pit of ignorance and----Excuse me. There goes the telephone. Maybe +it's news from the sheriff." + +With the spasmodic tinkling of the telephone bell, the book-agent +arose and made his way to the little office. As he passed Barnes, he +winked broadly, and said, out of the corner of his mouth: + +"He'd make DeWolf Hopper look sick, wouldn't he?" + +Barnes glanced over his shoulder a moment later and saw the book-agent +studying the register. The poise of his sleek head, however, suggested +a listening attitude. Putnam Jones, not four feet away, was speaking +into the telephone receiver. As the receiver was restored to its hook, +Barnes turned again. Jones and the book-agent were examining the +register, their heads almost meeting from opposite sides of the desk. + +The latter straightened up, stretched his arms, yawned, and announced +in a loud tone that he guessed he'd step out and get a bit of fresh +air before turning in. + +"Any news?" inquired Barnes, approaching the desk after the door had +closed behind the book-agent. + +"It wasn't the sheriff," replied Jones shortly, and immediately +resumed his interrupted discourse on books, book-agents and the +reclamation of Boston. Ten minutes elapsed before the landlord's +garrulity was checked by the sound of an automobile coming to a stop +in front of the house. Barnes turned expectantly toward the door. +Almost immediately the car started up again, with a loud shifting of +gears, and a moment later the door opened to admit, not a fresh +arrival, but the little book-agent. + +"Party trying to make Hornville to-night," he announced casually. +"Well, good night. See you in the morning." + +Barnes was not in a position to doubt the fellow's word, for the car +unmistakably had gone on toward Hornville. He waited a few minutes +after the man disappeared up the narrow stairway, and then proceeded +to test his powers of divination. He was as sure as he could be sure +of anything that had not actually come to pass, that in a short time +the automobile would again pass the tavern but this time from the +direction of Hornville. + +Lighting a cigarette, he strolled outside. He had barely time to take +a position at the darkened end of the porch before the sounds of an +approaching machine came to his ears. A second or two later the lights +swung around the bend in the road a quarter of a mile above Hart's +Tavern, and down came the car at a high rate of speed. It dashed past +the tavern with a great roar and rattle and shot off into the darkness +beyond. As it rushed through the dim circle of light in front of the +tavern, Barnes succeeded in obtaining a brief but convincing view of +the car. That glance was enough, however. He would have been willing +to go before a jury and swear that it was the same car that had +deposited him at Hart's Tavern the day before. + +Having guessed correctly in the one instance, he allowed himself +another and even bolder guess: the little book-agent had either +received a message from or delivered one to the occupant or driver of +the car from Green Fancy. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A NOTE, SOME FANCIES, AND AN EXPEDITION IN QUEST OF FACTS + + +Dillingford gave him a lighted candle at the desk and he started +upstairs, his mind full of the events and conjectures of the day. +Uppermost in his thoughts was the dazzling vision of the afternoon, +and the fleeting smile that had come to him through the leafy +interstices. As he entered the room, his eyes fell upon a white +envelope at his feet. It had been slipped under the door since he left +the room an hour before. + +Terse reminder from the prudent Mr. Jones! His bill for the day! He +picked it up, glanced at the inscription, and at once altered his +opinion. His full name was there in the handwriting of a woman. For a +moment he was puzzled; then he thought of Miss Thackeray. A note of +thanks, no doubt, unpleasantly fulsome! Vaguely annoyed, he ripped +open the envelope and read: + +"In case I do not have the opportunity to speak with you to-night, +this is to let you know that the little man who says he is a book- +agent was in your room for three-quarters of an hour while you were +away this afternoon. You'd better see if anything is missing. + M.T." + +He read the note again, and then held it over the candle flame. +Surprise and a temporary indignation gave way before the thrill of +exultation as the blazing paper fell upon the hearth. + +"'Gad, it grows more and more interesting," he mused, and chuckled +aloud. "They're not losing a minute's time in finding out all they can +about me, that's certain. Thanks, my dear Miss Thackeray. You are +undoubtedly deceived but I am not. This chap may be a detective but he +isn't looking for evidence to connect me with last night's murders. +Not a bit of it. He is trying to find out whether I ought to be shot +the next time I go snooping around Green Fancy. I'd give a good deal +to know what he put into the report he sent off a little while ago. +And I'd give a good deal more to know just where Mr. Jones stands in +this business. Selling sets of Dickens, eh? Book-agent by day, secret +agent by night,--'gad, he may even be a road-agent!" + +He made a hasty but careful examination of his effects. There was not +the slightest evidence that his pack had been opened or even +disturbed. Naturally he travelled without surplus impedimenta; he +carried the lightest outfit possible. There were a few papers +containing notes and memoranda; a small camera and films; a blank book +to which he transferred his daily experiences, observations and +impressions; a small medicine case; tobacco and cigarettes; a flask of +brandy; copies of Galworthy's "Man of Property" and Hutchinson's +"Happy Warrior"; wearing apparel, and a revolver. His purse and +private papers rarely were off his person. If the little book-agent +spent three-quarters of an hour in the room he managed most +effectually to cover up all traces of his visit. + +Barnes did not go to sleep until long after midnight. He now regarded +himself as definitely committed to a combination of sinister and +piquant enterprises, not the least of which was the determination to +find out all there was to know about the mysterious young woman at +Green Fancy. + +His operations along any line of endeavour were bound to be difficult, +perhaps hazardous. Every movement that he made would be observed and +reported; his every step followed. He could hope to disarm suspicion +only by moving with the utmost boldness and unconcern. Success rested +in his ability to convince O'Dowd, Jones and the rest of them that +they had nothing to fear from his innocuous wanderings. + +His interest in the sensational affair that had disturbed his first +night's rest at Hart's Tavern must remain paramount. His theories, +deductions and suggestions as to the designs and identity of Roon and +Paul; the stated results of personal and no doubt ludicrous +experiments; sly and confidential jabs at the incompetent +investigators, uttered behind the hand to Putnam Jones and, if +possible, to the book-agent;--a quixotic philanthropy in connection +with the fortunes of Rushcroft and his players; all these would have +to be put forward in the scheme to dispel suspicion at Green Fancy. + +It did not occur to him that he ought to be furthering the ends of +justice by disclosing to the authorities his secret opinion of Putman +Jones, the strange behaviour of Roon as observed by Miss Thackeray, +and his own adventure with the lady of the cross-roads. The chance +that Jones, subjected to third degree pressure, might break down and +reveal all that he knew was not even considered. + +Back of all his motives was the spur of Romance: his real interest was +centred in the lovely lady of Green Fancy. + +He was confident that O'Dowd's system of espionage would quickly +absolve him of all interest in or connection with the plans of Albert +Roon; it remained therefore for him to convince the Irishman that he +had no notions or vagaries inimical to the well-being of Green Fancy +or its occupants. With that result achieved, he need have no fear of +meeting the fate that had befallen Roon and his lieutenant; nothing +worse could happen than an arrest and fine for trespass. + +The next day he, with other lodgers in the Tavern, was put through an +examination by police and county officials from Saint Elizabeth, and +notified that, while he was not under suspicion or surveillance, it +would be necessary for him to remain in the "bailiwick" until +detectives, already on the way, were satisfied that he possessed no +knowledge that would be useful to them in clearing up what had now +assumed the dignity of a "national problem." + +O'Dowd rode down from Green Fancy and created quite a sensation among +the officials by announcing that Mr. Curtis desired them to feel that +they had a perfect right to extend their search for clues to all parts +of his estate, and that he was deeply interested in the outcome of +their investigations. + +"The devils may have laid their ambush on his property," said O'Dowd, +"and they may have made their escape into the hills back of his place +without running the risk of tackling the highways. Nothing, Mr. Curtis +says, should stand in the way of justice. While he knows that you have +a legal right to enter his grounds, and even his house, in the pursuit +of duty, he urges me to make it clear to you gentlemen, that you are +welcome to come without even so much as a demand upon him. If I may be +so bold as to offer my services, you may count on me to act as guide +at any time you may elect. I know the lay of the land pretty well, and +what I don't know the gardeners and other men up there do. You are to +call upon all of us if necessary. Mr. Curtis, as you know, is an +invalid. May I suggest, therefore, that you conduct your examination +of the grounds near his home with as little commotion as possible? +Incidentally, I may inform you, but one person at Green Fancy heard +the shots. That person was Mr. Curtis himself. He rang for his +attendant and instructed him to send some one out to find out what it +was all about. The chauffeur went down to Conley's, as you know. If +you consider it absolutely necessary to question Mr. Curtis as to the +time the shots were fired, he will receive you; but I think you may +properly establish that fact by young Conley without submitting a sick +man to the excitement and distress of a--" + +The sheriff hastily broke in with the assurance that it was not at all +necessary to disturb Mr. Curtis. It wasn't to be thought of for a +moment. He would, however, like to "run over the ground a bit" that +very afternoon, if it was agreeable to Mr. O'Dowd. + +It being quite agreeable, the genial Irishman proposed that his +friend, Mr. Barnes,--(here he bestowed an almost imperceptible wink +upon the New Yorker),--should join the party. He could vouch for the +intelligence and discretion of the gentleman. + +Barnes, concealing his surprise, expressed himself as happy to be of +any service. He glanced at Putnam Jones as he made the statement. It +was at once borne in upon him that the landlord's attitude toward him +had undergone a marked change in the last few minutes. The furtive, +distrustful look was missing from his eyes and in its place was a +friendly, approving twinkle. + +O'Dowd stayed to dinner. (Dinner was served in the middle of the day +at Hart's Tavern.) He made a great impression upon Lyndon Rushcroft, +who, with his daughter, joined the two men. Indeed, the palavering +Irishman extended himself in the effort to make himself agreeable. He +was vastly interested in the stage, he declared. As a matter of fact, +he had been told a thousand times that he ought to go on the stage. He +had decided talent.... + +"If you change your mind," said Mr. Rushcroft, "and conclude to try a +whirl at it, just let me know. I can find a place for you in my +company at any time. If there isn't a vacancy, we can always write in +an Irish comedy part." + +"But I never wanted to be a comedian," said O'Dowd. "I've always +wanted to play the young hero,--the fellow who gets the girl, you +know." He bestowed a gallant smile upon Miss Thackeray. + +"You may take my word for it, sir," said Mr. Rushcroft with feeling, +"heroism, and nothing less, is necessary to the man who has to play +opposite most of the harridans you, in your ignorance, speak of as +girls." And he launched forth upon a round of soul-trying experiences +with "leading-ladies." + +The little book-agent came in while they were at table. He sat down in +a corner of the dining-room and busied himself with his subscription +lists while waiting for the meal to be served. He was still poring +over them, frowning intently, when Barnes and the others left the +room. + +Barnes walked out beside Miss Thackeray. + +"The tailor-made gown is an improvement," he said to her. + +"Does that mean that I look more like a good chambermaid than I did +before?" + +"If you would consider it a compliment, yes," he replied, smiling. He +was thinking that she was a very pretty girl, after all. + +"The frock usually makes the woman," she said slowly, "but not always +the lady." + +He thought of that remark more than once during the course of an +afternoon spent in the woods about Green Fancy. + +O'Dowd virtually commanded the expedition. It was he who thought of +everything. First of all, he led the party to the corner of the estate +nearest the point where Paul was shot from his horse. Sitting in his +own saddle, he called the attention of the other riders to what +appeared to be a most significant fact in connection with the killing +of this man. + +"From what I hear, the man Paul was shot through the lungs, directly +from in front. The bullet went straight through his body. He was +riding very rapidly down this road. When he came to a point not far +above cross-roads, he was fired upon. It is safe to assume that he was +looking intently ahead, trying to make out the crossing. He was not +shot from the side of the road, gentlemen, but from the middle of it. +The bullet came from a point almost directly in front of him, and not +from Mr. Curtis's property here to the left, or Mr. Conley's on the +right. Understand, this is my whimsey only. I may be entirely wrong. +My idea is that the man who shot him waited here at the cross-roads to +head off either or both of them in case they were not winged by men +stationed farther up. Of course, that must be quite obvious to all of +you. My friend De Soto is inclined to the belief that they were trying +to get across the border. I don't believe so. If that were the case, +why did they dismount above Conley's house, hitch their horses to the +fence, and set forth on foot? I am convinced in my own mind that they +came here to meet some one to whom they were to deliver a verbal +report of vital importance,--some one from across the border in +Canada. This message was delivered. So far as Roon and Paul were +concerned their usefulness was ended. They had done all that was +required of them. The cause they served was better off with them dead +than alive. Without the slightest compunction, without the least +regard for faithful service, they were set upon and slain by their +supposed friends. Now, you may laugh at my fancy if you like, but you +must remember that frightful things are happening in these days. The +killing of these men adds but a drop to the ocean of blood that is +being shed. Roon and Paul, suddenly confronted by treachery, fled for +their lives. The trap had been set with care, however; they rushed +into it." + +"I am inclined to your hypothesis, O'Dowd," said Barnes. "It seems +sound and reasonable. The extraordinary precautions taken by Roon and +Paul to prevent identification, dead or alive, supports your whimsey, +as you call it. The thing that puzzles me, however, is the singular +failure of the two men to defend themselves. They were armed, yet +neither fired a shot. You would think that when they found themselves +in a tight place, such as you suggest, their first impulse would be to +shoot." + +"Well," mused O'Dowd, squinting his eyes in thought, "there's +something in that. It doesn't seem reasonable that they'd run like +whiteheads with guns in--By Jove, here's a new thought!" His eyes +glistened with boyish elation. "They had delivered their message,-- +we'll assume that much, of course,--and were walking back to their +horses when they were ordered to halt by some one hidden in the brush +at the roadside. You can't very well succeed in hitting a man if you +can't see him at all, so they made a dash for it instead of wasting +time in shooting at the air. What's more, they may have anticipated +the very thing that happened: they were prepared for treachery. Their +only chance lay in getting safely into their saddles. Oh, I am a good +romancer! I should be writing dime novels instead of living the +respectable life I do. Conley heard them running for their lives. +Assassins had been stationed along the road to head them off, however. +The man who had his place near the horses, got Roon. The chances are +that Paul did not accompany Roon to the meeting place up the road. He +remained near the horses. That's how he managed to get away so +quickly. It remained for the man at the cross-roads to settle with +him. But, we're wasting time with all this twaddle of mine. Let us be +moving. There is one point on which we must all agree. The deadliest +marksmen in the world fired those shots. No bungling on that score, +bedad." + +In course of time, the party, traversing the ground contiguous to the +public road, came within sight of the green dwelling among the trees. +Barnes's interest revived. He had, from the outset, appreciated the +futility of the search for clues in the territory they had covered. +The searchers were incapable of conducting a scientific examination. +It was work for the most skilful, the most practised, the most +untiring of tracers. His second view of the house increased his wonder +and admiration. If O'Dowd had not actually located it among the trees +for him, he would have been at a loss to discover it, although it was +immediately in front of him and in direct line of vision. + +"Astonishing, isn't it?" said the Irishman, as they stood side by +side, peering ahead. + +"Marvellous is the better word," said Barnes. + +"The fairies might have built it," said the other, with something like +awe in his voice. He shook his head solemnly. + +"One could almost fancy that a fairy queen dwelt there, surrounded by +Peter Pans and Aladdins," mused Barnes. + +"Instead of an ogre attended by owls and nightbirds and the devil +knows what,--for I don't." + +Barnes looked at him in amazement, struck by the curious note in his +voice. + +"If you were a small boy in knickers, O'Dowd, I should say that you +were mortally afraid of the place." + +"If I were a small boy," said O'Dowd, "I'd be scairt entirely out of +me knickers. I'd keep me boots on, mind ye, so that I could run the +better. It's me Irish imagination that does the trick. You never saw +an Irishman in your life that wasn't conscious of the 'little people' +that inhabit the places that are always dark and green." + +De Soto was seen approaching through the green sea, his head appearing +and disappearing intermittently in the billows formed by the +undulating underbrush. He shook hands with Barnes a moment later. + +"I'm glad you had the sense to bring Mr. Barnes with you, O'Dowd," +said he. "You didn't mention him when you telephoned that you were +personally conducting a sight-seeing party. I tried to catch you +afterwards on the telephone, but you had left the tavern. Mrs. Collier +wanted me to ask you to capture Mr. Barnes for dinner to-night." + +"Mrs. Collier is the sister of Mr. Curtis," explained O'Dowd. Then he +turned upon De Soto incredulously. "For the love of Pat," he cried +"what's come over them? When I made so bold as to suggest last night +that you were a chap worth cultivating, Barnes,--and that you wouldn't +be long in the neighbourhood,--But, to save your feelings I'll not +repeat what they said, the two of them. What changed them over, De +Soto?" + +"A chance remark of Miss Cameron's at lunch to-day. She wondered if +Barnes could be the chap who wrote the articles about Peru and the +Incas, or something of the sort, and that set them to looking up the +back numbers of the geographic magazine in Mr. Curtis's library. Not +only did they find the articles but they found your picture. I had no +difficulty in deciding that you were one and the same. The atmosphere +cleared in a jiffy. It became even clearer when it was discovered that +you have had a few ancestors and are received in good society--both +here and abroad, as the late Frederic Townsend Martin would have said. +I hereby officially present the result of subsequent deliberation. Mr. +Barnes is invited to dine with us to-night." + +Barnes's heart was still pounding rapidly as he made the rueful +admission that he "didn't have a thing to wear." He couldn't think of +accepting the gracious invitation-- + +"Don't you think the clothes you have on your back will last through +the evening?" inquired O'Dowd quaintly. + +"But look at them!" cried Barnes. "I've tramped in 'em for two weeks +and--" + +"All the more reason why you should be thankful they're good and +stout," said O'Dowd. + +"We live rather simply up here, Mr. Barnes," said De Soto. "There +isn't a dinner jacket or a spike tail coat on the place. It's strictly +against the law up here to have such things about one's person. Come +as you are, sir. I assure you I speak the truth when I say we don't +dress for dinner." + +"Bedad," said O'Dowd enthusiastically, "if it will make ye feel any +more comfortable I'll put on the corduroy outfit I go trout fishing +in, bespattered and patched as it is. And De Soto will appear in the +white duck trousers and blazer he tries to play tennis in,--though, +God bless him, poor wretch, he hates to put them on after all he's +heard said about his game." + +"If they'll take me as I am," began Barnes, doubtfully. + +"I say," called out O'Dowd to the sheriff, who was gazing longingly at +the horses tethered at the bottom of the slope; "would ye mind leading +Mr. Barnes's nag back to the Tavern? He is stopping to dinner. And, +while I think of it, are you satisfied, Mr. Sheriff, with the day's +work? If not, you will be welcome again at any time, if ye'll only +telephone a half minute in advance." To Barnes he said: "We'll send +you down in the automobile to-night, provided it has survived the day. +We're expecting the poor thing to die in its tracks at almost any +instant." + +Ten minutes later Barnes passed through the portals of Green Fancy. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FIRST WAYFARER, THE SECOND WAYFARER, AND THE SPIRIT OF CHIVALRY +ASCENDANT + + +The wide green door, set far back in a recess not unlike a kiosk, was +opened by a man-servant who might easily have been mistaken for a +waiter from Delmonico's or Sherry's. He did not have the air or aplomb +of a butler, nor the smartness of a footman. On the contrary, he was a +thick-set, rather scrubby sort of person with all the symptoms of cafe +servitude about him, including the never-failing doubt as to +nationality. He might have been a Greek, a Pole, an Italian or a Turk. + +"Say to Mrs. Collier, Nicholas, that Mr. Barnes is here for dinner," +said De Soto. "I will make the cocktails this evening." + +Much to Barnes's surprise,--and disappointment,--the interior of the +house failed to sustain the bewildering effect produced by the +exterior. The entrance hall and the living-room into which he was +conducted by the two men were singularly like others that he had seen. +The latter, for example, was of ordinary dimensions, furnished with a +thought for comfort rather than elegance or even good taste. The rugs +were thick and in tone held almost exclusively to Turkish reds; the +couches and chairs were low and deep and comfortable, as if intended +for men only, and they were covered with rich, gay materials; the +hangings at the windows were of deep blue and gold; the walls an +unobtrusive cream colour, almost literally thatched with etchings. + +Barnes, somewhat of a connoisseur, was not slow to recognise the value +and extreme rarity of the prints. Rembrandt, Whistler, Hayden, +Merryon, Cameron, Muirhead Bone and Zorn were represented by their +most notable creations; two startling subjects by Brangwyn hung alone +in one corner of the room, isolated, it would seem, out of +consideration for the gleaming, jewel-like surfaces of other and +smaller treasures. There were at least a dozen Zorns, as many +Whistlers and Camerons. + +O'Dowd, observing the glance of appreciation that Barnes sent about +the room, said: "All of thim are in the very rarest state. He has one +of the finest collections in America. Ye'll want your boots cleaned +and polished, and your face needs scrubbing, if ye don't mind my +saying so," he went on, critically surveying the visitor's person. +"Come up to my room and make yourself tidy. My own man will dust you +off and furbish you up in no time at all." + +They passed into another room at the left and approached a wide +stairway, the lower step of which was flush with the baseboard on the +wall. Not so much as an inch of the stairway protruded into the room, +and yet Barnes, whose artistic sense should have been offended, was +curiously pleased with the arrangement and effect. He made a mental +note of this deliberate violation of the holy rules of construction, +and decided that one day he would try it out for himself. + +The room itself was obviously a continuation of the larger one beyond, +a sort of annex, as it were. The same scheme in decoration and +furnishings was observed, except here the walls were adorned with +small paintings in oil, heavily framed. Hanging in the panel at the +right of the stairway was an exquisite little Corot, silvery and +feathery even in the dim light of early dusk. On the opposite side was +a brilliant little Cazin. + +The stairs were thickly carpeted. At the top, his guide turned to the +left and led the way down a long corridor. They passed at least four +doors before O'Dowd stopped and threw open the fifth on that side of +the hall. There were still two more doors beyond. + +"Suggests a hotel, doesn't it?" said the Irishman, standing aside for +Barnes to enter. "All of the sleeping apartments are on this floor, +and the baths, and boudoirs, and what-not. The garret is above, and +that's where we deposit our family skeletons, intern our grievances, +store our stock of spitefulness, and hide all the little devils that +must come sneaking up from the city with us whether we will or no. +Nothing but good-humour, contentment, happiness and mirth are +permitted to occupy this floor and the one below. I might also add +beauty, for you can't conceive any of the others without it, me +friend. God knows I couldn't be good-natured for a minute if I wasn't +encouraged by beauty appreciative, and as for being contented, happy +or mirthful,--bedad, words fail me! Dabson," he said, addressing the +man who had quietly entered the room through the door behind them, "do +Mr. Barnes, will ye, and fetch me from Mr. De Soto's room when you've +finished. I leave you to Dabson's tender mercies. The saints preserve +us! Look at the man's boots! Dabson, get out your brush and dauber +first of all. He's been floundering in a bog." + +The jovial Irishman retired, leaving Barnes to be "done" by the +silent, swift-moving valet. Dabson was young and vigorous and +exceedingly well-trained. He made short work of "doing" the visitor; +barely fifteen minutes elapsed before O'Dowd's return. + +Presently they went downstairs together. Lamps had been lighted, many +of them, throughout the house. A warm, pleasing glow filled the rooms, +softening,--one might even say tempering,--the insistent reds in the +rugs, which now seemed to reflect rather than to project their hues; a +fire crackled in the cavernous fireplace at the end of the living- +room, and grouped about its cheerful, grateful blaze were the ladies +of Green Fancy. + +Barnes was aware of a quickening of his pulses as he advanced with +O'Dowd. De Soto was there ahead of them, posed ungracefully in front +of the fire, his feet widespread, his hands in his pockets. Another +man, sallow-faced and tall, with a tired looking blond moustache and +sleepy eyes, was managing, with amazing skill, the retention of a +cigarette which seemed to be constantly in peril of detaching itself +from his parted though inactive lips. + +SHE was there, standing slightly aloof from the others, but evidently +amused by the tale with which De Soto was regaling them. She was +smiling; Barnes saw the sapphire lights sparkling in her eyes, and +experienced a sensation that was woefully akin to confusion. + +He had the feeling that he would be absolutely speechless when +presented to her; in the full, luminous glow of those lovely eyes he +would lose consciousness, momentarily, no doubt, but long enough to +give her,--and all the rest of them,--no end of a fright. + +But nothing of the kind happened. Everything went off quite naturally. +He favoured Miss Cameron with an uncommonly self-possessed smile as +she gave her hand to him, and she, in turn, responded with one faintly +suggestive of tolerance, although it certainly would have been +recorded by a less sensitive person than Barnes as "ripping." + +In reply to his perfunctory "delighted, I'm sure, etc.," she said, +quite clearly: "Oh, now I remember. I was sure I had seen you before, +Mr. Barnes. You are the magic gentleman who sprung like a mushroom out +of the earth yesterday afternoon." + +"And frightened you," he said; "whereupon you vanished like the +mushroom that is gobbled up by the predatory glutton." + +He had thrilled at the sound of her voice. It was the low, deliberate +voice of the woman of the crossroads, and, as before, he caught the +almost imperceptible accent. The red gleam from the blazing logs fell +upon her shining hair; it glistened like gold. She wore a simple +evening gown of white, softened over the shoulders and neck with a +fall of rare vallenciennes lace. There was no jewelry,--not even a +ring on her slender, tapering fingers. Oddly enough, now that he stood +beside her, she was not so tall as he had believed her to be the day +before. The crown of her silken head came but little above his +shoulder. As she had appeared to him among the trees he would have +sworn that she was but little below his own height, which was a +liberal six feet. He recalled a flash of wonder on that occasion; she +had seemed so much taller than the woman at the cross-roads that he +was almost convinced that she could not, after all, be the same +person. Now she was back to the height that he remembered, and he +marvelled once more. + +Mrs. Collier, the hostess, was an elderly, heavy-featured woman, +decidedly over-dressed. Barnes knew her kind. One encounters her +everywhere: the otherwise intelligent woman who has no sense about her +clothes. Mrs. Van Dyke, her daughter, was a woman of thirty, tall, +dark and handsome in a bold, dashing sort of way. She too was rather +resplendent in a black jet gown, and she was liberally bestrewn with +jewels. Much to Barnes's surprise, she possessed a soft, gentle +speaking-voice and a quiet, musical laugh instead of the boisterous +tones and cackle that he always associated with her type. The +lackadaisical gentleman with the moustache turned out to be her +husband. + +"My brother is unable to be with us to-night, Mr. Barnes," explained +Mrs. Collier. "Mr. O'Dowd may have told you that he is an invalid. +Quite rarely is he well enough to leave his room. He has been feeling +much better of late, but now his nerves are all torn to pieces by this +shooting affair. The mere knowledge that our grounds were being +inspected to-day by the authorities upset him terribly. He has begged +me to present his apologies and regrets to you. Another time, perhaps, +you will give him the pleasure he is missing to-night. He wanted so +much to talk with you about the quaint places you have described so +charmingly in your articles. They must be wonderfully appealing. One +cannot read your descriptions without really envying the people who +live in those enchanted--" + +"Ahem!" coughed O'Dowd, who actually had read the articles and could +see nothing alluring in a prospect that contemplated barren, snow- +swept wildernesses in the Andes. "The only advantage I can see in +living up there," he said, with a sly wink at Barnes, "is that one has +all the privileges of death without being put to the expense of +burial." + +"How very extraordinary, Mr. O'Dowd," said Mrs. Collier, lifting her +lorgnon. + +"Mrs. Collier has been reading my paper on the chateau country in +France," said Barnes mendaciously. (It had not yet been published, but +what of that?) + +"Perfectly delightful," said Mrs. Collier, and at once changed the +subject. + +De Soto's cocktails came in. Miss Cameron did not take one. O'Dowd +proposed a toast. + +"To the rascals who went gunning for the other rascals. But for them +we should be short at least one member of this agreeable company." + +It was rather startling. Barnes's glass stopped half-way to his lips. +An instant later he drained it. He accepted the toast as a compliment +from the whilom Irishman, and not as a tribute to the prowess of those +mysterious marksmen. + +"Rather grewsome, O'Dowd," drawled Van Dyke, "but offset by the +foresightedness of the maker of this cocktail. Uncommonly good one, De +Soto." + +The table in the spacious dining-room was one of those long, narrow +Italian boards, unmistakably antique and equally rare. Sixteen or +eighteen people could have been seated without crowding, and when the +seven took their places wide intervals separated them. No effort had +been made by the hostess to bring her guests close together, as might +have been done by using one end or the centre of the table. Except for +scattered doylies, the smooth, nut-brown top was bare of cloth; there +was a glorious patina to this huge old board, with tiny cracks running +like veins across its surface. + +Decorations were scant. A half dozen big candlesticks, ecclesiastical +in character, were placed at proper intervals, and at each end of the +table there was a shallow, alabaster dish containing pansies. The +serving plates were of silver. Especially beautiful were the long- +stemmed water goblets and the graceful champagne glasses. They were +blue and white and of a design and quality no longer obtainable except +at great cost. The aesthetic Barnes was not slow to appreciate the +rarity of the glassware and the chaste beauty of the serving plates. + +The man Nicholas was evidently the butler, despite his Seventh Avenue +manner. He was assisted in serving by two stalwart and amazingly +clumsy footmen, of similar ilk and nationality. On seeing these +additional men-servants, Barnes began figuratively to count on his +fingers the retainers he had so far encountered on the place. Already +he has seen six, all of them powerful, rugged fellows. It struck him. +as extraordinary, and in a way significant, that there should be so +many men at Green Fancy. + +Somewhere back in his mind was the impression that O'Dowd had spoken +of Pierre the cook, a private secretary and male attendant who looked +after Mr. Curtis. Then there was Peter, the regular chauffeur, whom he +had not seen, and doubtless there were able-bodied woodchoppers and +foresters besides. Not forgetting the little book-agent! It suddenly +occurred to him that he was surrounded by a company of the most +formidable character: no less than twenty men would be a reasonable +guess if he were to include O'Dowd, De Soto and Van Dyke. + +Much to his disappointment, he was not placed near Miss Cameron at +table. Indeed, she was seated as far away from him as possible. He sat +at Mrs. Collier's right. On his left was Mrs. Van Dyke, with Miss +Cameron at the foot of the table flanked by O'Dowd and De Soto. Van +Dyke had nearly the whole of the opposite side of the table to +himself. There was, to be sure, a place set between him and De Soto, +for symmetry's sake, Barnes concluded. In this he was mistaken; they +had barely seated themselves when Mrs. Collier remarked: + +"Mr. Curtis's secretary usually joins us here for coffee. He has his +dinner with my brother and then, poor man, comes in for a brief period +of relaxation. When my brother is in one of his bad spells poor Mr. +Loeb doesn't have much time to himself. It seems to me that my brother +is at his best when his health is at its worst. You may be interested +to know, Mr. Barnes, that he is writing a history of the Five +Nations." + +"Indians, you know," explained Van Dyke. + +"A history of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas and Senecas, +and their 'Long House' should be of great value, Mrs. Collier," said +Barnes, a trifle didactically. "When does he expect to have it +completed?" + +"'Gad, you know a little of everything, don't you?" said Van Dyke, +sitting up a little straighter in his chair and eyeing Barnes fishily. +("Awfully smart chap," he afterwards confided to O'Dowd.) "If he lives +long enough, he'll finish it in 1999," he added, lifting his voice +above Mrs. Collier's passive reply out of which Barnes gathered the +words "couple" and "years." + +It is not necessary to dilate upon the excellence of the dinner, to +repeat the dialogue, or to comment on the service, other than to say, +for the sake of record, that the first WAS excellent; the second +sprightly, and the third atrocious. + +Loeb, the private secretary, came in for coffee. He was a tall, spare +man of thirty, pallidly handsome, with dark, studious eyes and +features of an unmistakably Hebraic cast, as his name might have +foretold. His teeth were marvellously white, and his slow smile +attractive. When he spoke, which was seldom unless a remark was +directed specifically to him, his voice was singularly deep and +resonant. More than once during the hour that Loeb spent with them +Barnes formed and dismissed a stubborn, ever-recurring opinion that +the man was not a Jew. Certainly he was not an American Jew. His +voice, his manner of speech, his every action stamped him as one born +and bred in a land far removed from Broadway and its counterparts. If +a Jew, he was of the East as it is measured from Rome: the Jew of the +carnal Orient. + +And as the evening wore on, there came to Barnes the singular fancy +that this man was the master and not the servant of the house! He +could not put the ridiculous idea out of his mind. + +He was to depart at ten. The hour drew near and he had had no +opportunity for detached conversation with Miss Cameron. He had +listened to her bright retorts to O'Dowd's sallies, and marvelled at +the ease and composure with which she met the witty Irishman on even +terms. Her voice, always low and distinct, was never without the +suggestion of good-natured raillery; he was enchanted by the faint, +delicious chuckle that rode in every sentence she uttered during these +sprightly tilts. + +When the conversation turned to serious topics, her voice steadied +perceptibly, the blue in her eyes took on a deeper and darker hue, the +half-satirical smile vanished from her adorable lips, and she spoke +with the gravity of a profound thinker. Barnes watched her, +fascinated, bereft of the power to concentrate his thoughts on +anything else. He hung on her every movement, hoping and longing for +the impersonal glance or remark with which she occasionally favoured +him. + +Not until the very close of the evening, and when he had resigned +himself to hopelessness, did the opportunity come for him to speak +with her alone. She caught his eye, and, to his amazement, made a +slight movement of her head, unobserved by the others but curiously +imperative to him. There was no mistaking the meaning of the direct, +intense look that she gave him. + +She was appealing to him as a friend,--as one on whom she could +depend! + +The spirit of chivalry took possession of him. His blood leaped to the +call. She needed him and he would not fail her. And it was with +difficulty that he contrived to hide the exaltation that might have +ruined everything! + +Loeb had returned to his labours in Mr. Curtis's study, after bidding +Barnes a courteous good-night. It seemed to the latter that with the +secretary's departure an indefinable restraint fell away from the +small company. + +While he was trying to invent a pretext for drawing her apart from the +others, she calmly ordered Van Dyke to relinquish his place on the +couch beside her to Barnes. + +"Come and sit beside me, Mr. Barnes," she called out, gaily. "I will +not bite you, or scratch you, or harm you in any way. Ask Mr. O'Dowd +and he will tell you that I am quite docile. What is there about me, +sir, that causes you to think that I am dangerous? You have barely +spoken a word to me, and you've been disagreeably nice to Mrs. Collier +and Mrs. Van Dyke. I don't bite, do I, Mr. O'Dowd?" + +"You do," said O'Dowd promptly. "You do more than that. You devour. +Bedad, I have to look in a mirror to convince meself that you haven't +swallowed me whole. That's another way of telling you, Barnes, that +she'll absorb you entirely." + +It was a long, deep and comfortable couch of the davenport class, and +she sat in the middle of it instead of at the end, a circumstance that +he was soon to regard as premeditated. She had planned to bring him to +this place beside her and had cunningly prepared against the +possibility that he might put the full length of the couch between +them if she settled herself in a corner. As it was, their elbows +almost touched as he sat down beside her. + +For a few minutes she chided him for his unseemly aversion. He was +beginning to think that he had been mistaken in her motive, and that +after all she was merely satisfying her vanity. Suddenly, and as she +smiled into his eyes, she said, lowering her voice slightly: + +"Do not appear surprised at anything I may say to you. Smile as if we +were uttering the silliest nonsense. So much depends upon it, Mr. +Barnes." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PRISONER OF GEEEN FANCY, AND THE LAMENT OF PETER THE CHAUFFEUR + + +He envied Mr. Rushcroft. The barn-stormer would have risen to the +occasion without so much as the blinking of an eye. He would have been +able to smile and gesticulate in a manner that would have deceived the +most acute observer, while he--ah, he was almost certain to flounder +and make a mess of the situation. He did his best, however, and, +despite his eagerness, managed to come off fairly well. Any one out of +ear-shot would have thought that he was uttering some trifling inanity +instead of these words: + +"You may trust me. I have suspected that something was wrong here." + +"It is impossible to explain now," she said. "These people are not my +friends. I have no one to turn to in my predicament." + +"Yes, you have," he broke in, and laughed rather boisterously for him. +He felt that they were being watched in turn by every person in the +room. + +"To-night,--not an hour ago,--I began to feel that I could call upon +you for help. I began to relax. Something whispered to me that I was +no longer utterly alone. Oh, you will never know what it is to have +your heart lighten as mine--But I must control myself. We are not to +waste words." + +"You have only to command me, Miss Cameron. No more than a dozen words +are necessary." + +"I knew it,--I felt it," she cried eagerly. "Nothing can be done to- +night. The slightest untoward action on your part would send you +after--the other two. There is one man here who, I think, will stand +between me and actual peril. Mr. O'Dowd. He is--" + +"He is the liveliest liar I've ever known," broke in Barnes quickly. +"Don't trust him." + +"But he is also an Irishman," she said, as if that fact overcame all +other shortcomings. "I like him; he must be an honest man, for he has +already lied nobly in MY behalf." She smiled as she uttered this +quaint anomaly. + +"Tell me how I can be of service to you," said he, disposing of O'Dowd +with a shrug. + +"I shall try to communicate with you in some way--to-morrow. I beg of +you, I implore you, do not desert me. If I can only be sure that you +will--" + +"You may depend on me, no matter what happens," said he, and, looking +into her eyes was bound forever. + +"I have been thinking," she said. "Yesterday I made the discovery that +I--that I am actually a prisoner here, Mr. Barnes. I--Smile! Say +something silly!" + +Together they laughed over the meaningless remark he made in response +to her command. + +"I am constantly watched. If I venture outside the house, I am almost +immediately joined by one of these men. You saw what happened +yesterday. I am distracted. I do not know how to arrange a meeting so +that I may explain my unhappy position to you." + +"I will ask the authorities to step in and--" + +"No! You are to do nothing of the kind. The authorities would never +find me if they came here to search." (It was hard for him to smile at +that!) "It must be some other way. If I could steal out of the house, +--but that is impossible," she broke off with a catch in her voice. + +"Suppose that I were to steal INTO the house," he said, a reckless +light in his eyes. + +"Oh, you could never succeed!" + +"Well, I could try, couldn't I?" There was nothing funny in the remark +but they both leaned back and laughed heartily. "Leave it to me. I +once got into and out of a Morrocan harem,--but that story may wait. +Tell me, where--" + +"The place is guarded day and night. The stealthiest burglar in the +world could not come within a stone's throw of the house." + +"By Jove! Those two men night before last were trying to--" He said no +more, but turned his head so that the others could not see the hard +look that settled in his eyes. "If it's as bad as all that, we cannot +afford to make any slips. You think you are in no immediate peril?" + +"I am in no peril at all unless I bring it upon myself," she said, +significantly. + +"Then a delay of a day or so will not matter," he said, frowning. +"Leave it to me. I will find a way." + +"Be careful!" De Soto came lounging up behind them. She went on +speaking, changing the subject so abruptly and so adroitly that for a +moment Barnes was at a loss. "But if she could obtain all those +luxuries without using a penny of his money, what right had he to +object? Surely a wife may do as she pleases with her own money." + +"He was trying to break her of selfishness," said Barnes, suddenly +inspired. "The difference between men and women in the matter of +luxuries lies in the fact that one is selfish and the other is not. A +man slaves all the year round to provide luxuries for his wife. The +wife comes into a nice little fortune of her own, and what does she +proceed to do with it? Squander it on her husband? Not much! She sets +out immediately to prove to the world that he is a miser, a skinflint +who never gave her more than the bare necessities of life. The chap I +was speaking of--I beg pardon, Mr. De Soto." + +"Forgive me for interrupting, but I am under command from royal +headquarters. Peter, the king of chauffeurs, sends in word that the +car is in an amiable mood and champing to be off. So seldom is it in a +good-humour that he--" + +"I'll be off at once," exclaimed Barnes, arising. + +"By Jove, it is half-past ten. I had no idea--Good night, Miss +Cameron. Sorry my time is up. I am sure I could have made you hate +your own sex in another half hour." + +She held out her hand. "One of our virtues is that we never pretend to +be in love with our own sex, Mr. Barnes. That, at least, is a luxury +reserved solely for your sex." + +He bowed low over her hand. "A necessity, if I may be pardoned for +correcting you." He pressed her hand re-assuringly and left her. + +She had arisen and was standing, straight and slim by the corner of +the fireplace, a confident smile on her lips. + +"If you are to be long in the neighbourhood, Mr. Barnes," said his +hostess, "you must let us have you again." + +"My stay is short, I fear. You have only to reveal the faintest sign +that I may come, however, and I'll hop into my seven league boots +before you can utter Jack Robinson's Christian name. Good night, Mrs. +Van Dyke. I have you all to thank for a most delightful evening. May I +expect to see you down our way, Mr. Van Dyke? We have food for man and +beast at all times and in all forms." + +"I've tackled your liquids," said Van Dyke. "You are likely to see me +'most any day. I'm always rattling 'round somewhere, don't you know." +(He said "rettling," by the way.) The car was waiting at the back of +the house. O'Dowd walked out with Barnes, their arms linked,--as on a +former occasion, Barnes recalled. + +"I'll ride out to the gate with you," said the Irishman. "It's a +winding, devious route the road takes through the trees. As the crow +flies it's no more than five hundred yards, but this way it can't be +less than a mile and a half. Eh, Peter?" + +Peter opined that it was at least a mile and a quarter. He was a +Yankee, as O'Dowd had said, and he was not extravagant in estimates. + +The passengers sat in the rear seat. Two small lamps served to light +the way through the Stygian labyrinth of trees and rocks. O'Dowd had +an electric pocket torch with which to pick his way back to Green +Fancy. + +"I can't, for the life of me, see why he doesn't put in a driveway +straight to the road beyond, instead of roaming all over creation as +we have to do," said O'Dowd. + +"We foller the bed of the crick that used to run through here 'fore it +was dammed a little ways up to make the ice-pond 'tween here an' +Spanish Falls," supplied Peter. "Makes a durned good road, 'cept when +there's a freshet. It would cost a hull lot o' money to build a road +as good as this-un." + +"I was only thinking 'twould save a mile and more," said O'Dowd. + +"What's the use o' him savin' a mile, er ten miles, fer that matter, +when he never puts foot out'n the house?" said Peter, the logician. + +"Well, then," persisted O'Dowd testily, "he ought to consider the +saving in gasolene." + +Peter's reply was a grunt. + +They came in time, after many "hair-pins" and right angles, to the +gate opening upon the highway. Peter got down from the seat to release +the pad-locked chain and throw open the gate. + +O'Dowd leaned closer to Barnes and lowered his voice. + +"See here, Barnes, I'm no fool, and for that reason I've got sense +enough to know that you're not either. I don't know what's in your +mind, nor what you're trying to get into it if it isn't already there. +But I'll say this to you, man to man: don't let your imagination get +the better of your common-sense. That's all. Take the tip from me." + +"I am not imagining anything, O'Dowd," said Barnes quietly. "What do +you mean?" + +"I mean just what I say. I'm giving you the tip for selfish reasons. +If you make a bally fool of yourself, I'll have to see you through the +worst of it,--and it's a job I don't relish. Ponder that, will ye, on +the way home?" + +Barnes did ponder it on the way home. There was but one construction +to put upon the remark: it was O'Dowd's way of letting him know that +he could be depended upon for support if the worst came to pass. + +His heart warmed to the lively Irishman. He jumped to the conclusion +that O'Dowd, while aligned with the others in the flesh, was not with +them in spirit. His blithe heart was a gallant one as well. The lovely +prisoner at Green Fancy had a chivalrous defender among the +conspirators, and that fact, suddenly revealed to the harassed Barnes, +sent a thrill of exultation through his veins. + +He realised that he could not expect O'Dowd to be of any assistance in +preparing the way for her liberation. Indeed, the Irishman probably +would oppose him out of loyalty to the cause he espoused. His hand +would be against him until the end; then it would strike for him and +the girl who was in jeopardy. + +O'Dowd evidently had not been deceived by the acting that masked the +conversation on the couch. He knew that Miss Cameron had appealed to +Barnes, and that the latter had promised to do everything in his power +to help her. + +Suspecting that this was the situation, and doubtless sacrificing his +own private interests, he had uttered the vague but timely warning to +Barnes. The significance of this warning grew under reflection. The +mere fact that he could bring himself to the point of speaking to +Barnes as he did, established beyond all question that his position +was not inimical. He was, to a certain extent, delivering himself into +the hands of one who, in his rashness, might not hesitate to cast him +to the lions: the beasts in this instance being his own companions. + +Barnes was not slow to appreciate the position in which O'Dowd +voluntarily placed himself. A word or a sign from him would be +sufficient to bring disaster upon the Irishman who had risked his own +safety in a few irretrievable words. The more he thought of it, the +more fully convinced was he that there was nothing to fear from +O'Dowd. The cause for apprehension in that direction was wiped out by +a simple process of reasoning: O'Dowd would have delivered his warning +elsewhere if he intended evil. While it was impossible to decide how +far O'Dowd's friendly interest would carry him, Barnes was still +content to believe that he would withhold his suspicions, for the +present at least, from the others at Green Fancy. + +He was at a loss to account for his invitation to Green Fancy under +the circumstances. The confident attitude of those responsible for +Miss Cameron's detention evidently was based upon conditions which +rendered their position tenable. Their disregard for the consequences +that might reasonably be expected to result from this visit was +puzzling in the extreme. He could arrive at no other conclusion than +that their hospitality was inspired by a desire to disarm him of +suspicion. An open welcome to the house, while a bold piece of +strategy, was far better than an effort to cloak the place in mystery. + +As he left the place behind him, he found himself saying that he had +received his first and last invitation to visit Green Fancy. + +Peter drove slowly, carefully over the road down the mountain, in +direct contrast to the heedless rush of the belated "washer." + +Responding to a sudden impulse, Barnes lowered one of the side-seats +in the tonneau and moved closer to the driver. By leaning forward he +was in a position to speak through the window at Peter's back. + +"Pretty bad going, isn't it?" he ventured. + +"Bad enough in the daytime," said Peter, without taking his eyes from +the road, "but something fierce at night." + +"I suppose you've been over it so often, however, that you know every +crook and turn." + +"I know 'em well enough not to get gay with 'em," said Peter. + +"How long have you been driving for Mr. Curtis?" + +"Ever since he come up here, more'n two years ago. I used to drive the +station bus fer the hotel down below Spanish Falls. He stayed there +while he was buildin'. Guess I'm going to get the G. B. 'fore long, +though." + +His listener started. "You don't say so! Cutting down expenses?" + +"Not so's you could notice it," growled Peter. "Seems that he's +gettin' a new car an' wants an expert machinist to take hold of it +from the start. I was good enough to fiddle around with this second- +hand pile o' junk an' the Buick he had last year, but I ain't +qualified to handle this here twin-six Packard he's expectin', so he +says. I guess they's been some influence used against me, if the truth +was known. This new sec'etary he's got cain't stummick me." + +"Why don't you see Mr. Curtis and demand--" "SEE him?" snorted Peter. +"Might as well try to see Napoleon Bonyparte. Didn't you know he was a +sick man?" + +"Certainly. But he isn't so ill that he can't attend to business, is +he?" + +"He sure is. Parylised, they say. He's a mighty fine man. It's awful +to think of him bein' so helpless he cain't ever git out'n his cheer +ag'in. Course, if he was hisself he wouldn't think o' lettin' me out. +But bein' sick-like, he jest don't give a durn about anything. So +that's how this new sec'etary gets in his fine work on me." + +"What has Mr. Loeb against you, if I may ask?" + +"Well, it's like this. I ain't in the habit o' bein' ordered aroun' as +if I was jest nobody at all, so when he starts in to cuss me about +somethin' a week or so ago, I ups and tells him I'll smash his head if +he don't take it back. He takes it back all right, but the first thing +I know I get a call-down from Mrs. Collier. She's Mr. Curtis's sister, +you know. Course I couldn't tell her what I told the sheeny, seein' as +she's a female, so I took it like a lamb. Then they gits a feller up +here to wash the car. My gosh, mister, the durned ole rattle-trap +ain't wuth a bucket o' water all told. You could wash from now till +next Christmas an' she wouldn't look any cleaner'n she does right now. +So I sends word in to Mr. Curtis that if she has to be washed, I'll +wash her. I don't want no dago splashin' water all over the barn floor +an' drawin' pay fer doin' it. Then's when I hears about the new car. +Mr. Loeb comes out an' asts me if I ever drove a Packard twin-six. I +says no I ain't, an' he says it's too bad. He asts the dago if he's +ever drove one and the dago lies like thunder. He says he's handled +every kind of a Packard known to science, er somethin' like that. I +cain't understand half the durn fool says. Next day Mrs. Collier sends +fer me an' I go in. She says she guesses she'll try the new washer on +the Packard when it comes, an' if I keer to stay on as washer in his +place she'll be glad to have me. I says I'd like to have a word with +Mr. Curtis, if she don't mind, an' she says Mr. Curtis ain't able to +see no one. So I guess I'm goin' to be let out. Not as I keer very +much, 'cept I hate to leave Mr. Curtis in the lurch. He was mighty +good to me up to the time he got bed-ridden." + +"I dare say you will have no difficulty in finding another place," +said Barnes, feeling his way. + +"'Tain't easy to git a job up here. I guess I'll have to try New York +er some of the big cities," said Peter, confidently. + +An idea was taking root in Barnes's brain, but it was too soon to +consider it fixed. + +"You say Mr. Loeb is new at his job?" + +"Well, he's new up here. Mr. Curtis was down to New York all last +winter bein' treated, you see. He didn't come up here till about five +weeks ago. Loeb was workin' fer him most of the winter, gittin' up a +book er somethin', I hear. Mr. Curtis's mind is all right, I guess, +even if his body ain't. Always was a great feller fer books an' +writin' 'fore he got so sick." + +"I see. Mr. Loeb came up with him from New York." + +"Kerect. Him and Mr. O'Dowd and Mr. De Soto brought him up 'bout the +last o' March." + +"I understand that they are old friends." + +"They was up here visitin' last spring an' the fall before. Mr. Curtis +is very fond of both of 'em." + +"It seems to me that I have heard that his son married O'Dowd's +sister." + +"That's right. She's a widder now. Her husband was killed in the war +between Turkey an' them other countries four er five years ago." + +"Really?" + +"Yep. Him and Mr. O'Dowd--his own brother-in-law, y' know--was +fightin' on the side of the Boolgarians and young Ashley Curtis was +killed. Mr. O'Dowd's always fightin' whenever they's a war goin' on +anywheres. I cain't understand why he ain't over in Europe now helpin' +out one side or t'other." + +"Was this son Mr. Curtis's only child?" + +"So fer as I know. He left three little kids. They was all here with +their mother jest after the house was finished. Finest children I +ever--" + +"They will probably come into this property when Mr. Curtis dies," +said Barnes, keeping the excitement out of his voice. + +"More'n likely." + +"Was he very feeble when you saw him last?" + +"I ain't seen him in more'n six months. He was failin' then. That's +why he went to the city." + +"Oh, I see. You did not see him when he arrived the last of March?" + +"I was visitin' my sister up in Hornville when he come back +unexpected-like. This ijiot Loeb says he wrote me to meet 'em at +Spanish Falls but I never got the letter. Like as not the durn fool +got the address wrong. I didn't know Mr. Curtis was home till I come +back from my sister's three days later. The wust of it was that I had +tooken the automobile with me,--to have a little work done on her, +mind ye,--an' so they had to hire a Ford to bring him up from the +Falls. I wouldn't 'a' had it happen fer fifty dollars." Peter's tone +was convincingly doleful. + +"And he has been confined to his room ever since? Poor old fellow! +It's hard, isn't it?" + +"It sure is. Seems like he'll never be able to walk ag'in. I was +talkin' to his nurse only the other day. He says it's a hopeless +case." + +"Fortunately his sister can be here with him." + +"By gosh, she ain't nothin' like him," confided Peter. "She's all fuss +an' feathers an' he is jest as simple as you er me. Nothin' fluffy +about him, I c'n tell ye. Course, he must 'a' had a screw loose +some'eres when he made sich a botch of that house up there, but it's +his'n an' there ain't no law ag'in a man doin' what he pleases with +his own property." He sighed deeply. "I'm jest as well pleased to go +as not," he went on. "Mrs. Collier's got a lot o' money of her own, +an' she's got highfalutin' New York ideas that don't seem to jibe with +mine. Used to be a time when everything was nice an' peaceful up here, +with Sally Perkins doin' the cookin' and her daughter waitin' table, +but 'tain't that way no more. Got to have a man cook an' men +waitresses, an' a butteler. An' it goes ag'in the grain to set down to +a meal with them hayseeds from Italy. You never saw sich table +manners." + +He rambled on for some minutes, expanding under the soulful influence +of his own woes and the pleasure of having a visible auditor instead +of the make-believe ones he conjured out of the air at times when +privacy afforded him the opportunity to lament aloud. + +At any other time Barnes would have been bored by such confidences as +these. Now he was eagerly drinking in every word that Peter uttered. +His lively brain was putting the whole situation into a nutshell. +Assuming that Peter was not the most guileful person on earth, it was +quite obvious that he not only was in ignorance of the true state of +affairs at Green Fancy but that he was to be banished from the place +while still in that condition. + +Long before they came to the turnpike, Barnes had reduced his hundred +and one suppositions to the following concrete conclusion: Green Fancy +was no longer in the hands of its original owner for the good and +sufficient reason that Mr. Curtis was dead. The real master of the +house was the man known as Loeb. Through O'Dowd he had leased the +property from the widowed daughter-in-law, and had established himself +there, surrounded by trustworthy henchmen, for the purpose of carrying +out some dark and sinister project. + +Putting two and two together, it was easy to determine how and when +O'Dowd decided to cast his fortunes with those of the leader in this +mysterious enterprise. Their intimacy undoubtedly grew out of +association at the time of the Balkan Wars. O'Dowd was a soldier of +fortune. He saw vast opportunities in the scheme proposed by Loeb, and +fell in with it, whether through a mistaken idea as to its real +character or an active desire to profit nefariously time only would +tell. Green Fancy afforded an excellent base for operations. O'Dowd +induced his sister to lease the property to Loeb,--or he may even have +taken it himself. He had visited Mr. Curtis on at least two occasions. +He knew the place and its advantages. The woman known as Mrs. Collier +was not the sister of Curtis. She--but here Barnes put a check upon +his speculations. He appealed to Peter once more. + +"I suppose Mrs. Collier has spent a great deal of time up here with +her brother." + +"First time she was ever here, so far as I know," said Peter, and +Barnes promptly took up his weaving once more. + +With one exception, he decided, the entire company at Green Fancy was +involved in the conspiracy. The exception was Miss Cameron. It was +quite clear to him that she had been misled or betrayed into her +present position; that a trap had been set for her and she had walked +into it blindly, trustingly. This would seem to establish, beyond +question, that her capture and detention was vital to the interests of +the plotters; otherwise she would not have been lured to Green Fancy +under the impression that she was to find herself among friends and +supporters. Supporters! That word started a new train of thought. He +could hardly wait for the story that was to fall from her lips. + +Peter swerved into the main-road. "Guess I c'n hit her up a little +now," he said. + +"Take it slowly, if you please," said Barnes. "I've had one experience +in this car, going a mile a minute, and I didn't enjoy it." + +"You never been in this car before," corrected Peter. + +"Is it news to you? Day before yesterday I was picked up at this very +corner and taken to Hart's Tavern in this car. The day Miss Cameron +arrived and the car failed to meet her at Spanish Falls." + +"You must be dreamin'," said Peter slowly. + +"If you should have the opportunity, Peter, just ask Miss Cameron," +said the other. "She will tell you that I'm right." + +"Is she the strange young lady that come a day er so ago?" + +"The extremely pretty one," explained Barnes. + +Peter lapsed into silence. It was evident that he considered it +impossible to continue the discussion without offending his passenger. + +"By the way, Peter, it has just occurred to me that I may be able to +give you a job in case you are let out by Mr. Curtis. I can't say +definitely until I have communicated with my sister, who has a summer +home in the Berkshires. Don't mention it to Mr. Curtis. I wouldn't, +for anything in the world, have him think that I was trying to take +you away from him. That is regarded as one of the lowest tricks a man +can be guilty of." + +"We call it ornery up here," said Peter. "I'll be much obliged, sir. +Course I won't say a word. Will I find you at the Tavern if I get my +walkin' papers soon?" + +"Yes. Stop in to see me to-morrow if you happen to be passing." + +There was additional food for reflection in the fact that Peter was +allowed to conduct him to the Tavern alone. It was evident that not +only was the garrulous native ignorant of the real conditions at Green +Fancy, but that the opportunity was deliberately afforded him to +proclaim his private grievances to the world. After all, mused Barnes, +it wasn't a bad bit of diplomacy at that! + +Barnes said good night to the man and entered the Tavern a few minutes +later. Putnam Jones was behind the desk and facing him was the little +book-agent. + +"Hello, stranger," greeted the landlord. "Been sashaying in society, +hey? Meet my friend Mr. Sprouse, Mr. Barnes. Sic-em, Sprouse! Give him +the Dickens!" Mr. Jones laughed loudly at his own jest. + +Sprouse shook hands with his victim. + +"I was just saying to our friend Jones here, Mr. Barnes, that you look +like a more than ordinarily intelligent man and that if I had a chance +to buzz with you for a quarter of an hour I could present a +proposition---" + +"Sorry, Mr. Sprouse, but it is half-past eleven o'clock, and I am dog- +tired. You will have to excuse me." + +"To-morrow morning will suit me," said Sprouse cheerfully, "if it +suits you." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +MR. SPROUSE ABANDONS LITERATURE AT AN EARLY HOUR IN THE MORNING + + +After thrashing about in his bed for seven sleepless hours, Barnes +arose and gloomily breakfasted alone. He was not discouraged over his +failure to arrive at anything tangible in the shape of a plan of +action. It was inconceivable that he should not be able in very short +order to bring about the release of the fair guest of Green Fancy. He +realised that the conspiracy in which she appeared to be a vital link +was far-reaching and undoubtedly pernicious in character. There was +not the slightest doubt in his mind that international affairs of +considerable importance were involved and that the agents operating at +Green Fancy were under definite orders. + +Mr. Sprouse came into the dining-room as he was taking his last +swallow of coffee. + +"Ah, good morning," was the bland little man's greeting. "Up with the +lark, I see. It is almost a nocturnal habit with me. I get up so early +that you might say it's a nightly proceeding. I'm surprised to see you +circulating at seven o'clock, however. Mind if I sit down here and +have my eggs?" He pulled out a chair opposite Barnes and coolly sat +down at the table. + +"You can't sell me a set of Dickens at this hour of the day," said +Barnes sourly. "Besides, I've finished my breakfast. Keep your seat." +He started to rise. + +"Sit down," said Sprouse quietly. Something in the man's voice and +manner struck Barnes as oddly compelling. He hesitated a second and +then resumed his seat. "I've been investigating you, Mr. Barnes," said +the little man, unsmilingly. "Don't get sore. It may gratify you to +know that I am satisfied you are all right." + +"What do you mean, Mr.--Mr.--?" began Barnes, angrily. + +"Sprouse. There are a lot of things that you don't know, and one of +them is that I don't sell books for a living. It's something of a side +line with me." He leaned forward. "I shall be quite frank with you, +sir. I am a secret service man. Yesterday I went through your effects +upstairs, and last night I took the liberty of spying upon you, so to +speak, while you were a guest at Green Fancy." + +"The deuce you say!" cried Barnes, staring. + +"We will get right down to tacks," said Sprouse. "My government,-- +which isn't yours, by the way,--sent me up here five weeks ago on a +certain undertaking. I am supposed to find out what is hatching up at +Green Fancy. Having satisfied myself that you are not connected with +the gang up there, I cheerfully place myself in your hands, Mr. +Barnes. Just a moment, please. Bring me my usual breakfast, Miss +Tilly." The waitress having vanished in the direction of the kitchen, +he resumed. "You were at Green Fancy last night. So was I. You had an +advantage over me, however, for you were on the inside and I was not." + +"Confound your impudence! I--" + +"One of my purposes in revealing myself to you, Mr. Barnes, is to warn +you to steer clear of that crowd. You may find yourself in exceedingly +hot water later on if you don't. Another purpose, and the real one, is +to secure, if possible, your co-operation in beating the game up +there. You can help me, and in helping me you may be instrumental in +righting one of the gravest wrongs the world has ever known. Of +course, I am advising you in one breath to avoid the crowd up there +and in the next I ask you to do nothing of the kind. If you can get +into the good graces of--But there is no use counting on that. They +are too clever. There is too much at stake. You might go there for +weeks and--" + +"See here, Mr. Sprouse or whatever your name is, what do you take me +for?" demanded Barnes, assuming an injured air. "You have the most +monumental nerve in--" + +"Save your breath, Mr. Barnes. We may just as well get together on +this thing first as last. I've told you what I am,--and almost who,-- +and I know who and what you are. You don't suppose for an instant that +I, with a record for having made fewer blunders than any man in the +service, could afford to take a chance with you unless I was +absolutely sure of my ground, do you? You ask me what I take you for. +Well, I take you for a meddler who, if given a free rein, may upset +the whole pot of beans and work an irreparable injury to an honest +cause." + +"A meddler, am I? Good morning, Mr. Sprouts. I fancy--" + +"Sprouse. But the name doesn't matter. Keep your seat. You may learn +something that will be of untold value to you. I used the word meddler +in a professional sense. You are inexperienced. You would behave like +a bull in a china shop. I've been working for nearly six months on a +job that you think you can clear up in a couple of days. Fools walk in +where angels fear to tread. You--" + +"Will you be good enough, Mr. Sprouse, to tell me just what you are +trying to get at? Come to the point. I know nothing whatever against +Mr. Curtis and his friends. You assume a great deal--" + +"Excuse me, Mr. Barnes. I'll admit that you don't know anything +against them, but you suspect a whole lot. To begin with, you suspect +that two men were shot to death because they were in wrong with some +one at Green Fancy. Now, I could tell you who those two men really +were and why they were shot. But I sha'n't do anything of the sort,-- +at least not at present. I--" + +"You may have to tell all this to the State if I choose to go to the +authorities with the statement you have just made." + +"I expect, at the proper time, to tell it all to the State. Are you +willing to listen to what I have to say, or are you going to stay on +your high-horse and tell me to go to the devil? You interest yourself +in this affair for the sake of a little pleasurable excitement. I am +in it, not for fun, but because I am employed by a great Power to risk +my life whenever it is necessary. This happens to be one of the times +when it is vitally necessary. This is not child's play or school-boy +romance with me. It is business." + +Barnes was impressed. "Perhaps you will condescend to tell me who you +are, Mr. Sprouse. I am very much in the dark." + +"I am a special agent,--but not a spy, sir,--of a government that is +friendly to yours. I am known in Washington. My credentials are not to +be questioned. At present it would be unwise for me to reveal the name +of my government. I dare say if I can afford to trust you, Mr. Barnes, +you can afford to trust me. There is too much at stake for me to take +the slightest chance with any man. I am ready to chance you, sir, if +you will do the same by me." + +"Well," began Barnes deliberately, "I guess you will have to take a +chance with me, Mr. Sprouse, for I refuse to commit myself until I +know exactly what you are up to." + +Sprouse had a pleasant word or two for Miss Tilly as she placed the +bacon and eggs before him and poured his coffee. + +"Skip along now, Miss Tilly," he said. "I'm going to sell Mr. Barnes a +whole library if I can keep him awake long enough." + +"I can heartily recommend the Dickens and Scott--" began Miss Tilly, +but Sprouse waved her away. + +"In the first place, Mr. Barnes," said he, salting his eggs, "you have +been thinking that I was sent down from Green Fancy to spy on you. +Isn't that so?" + +"I am answering no questions, Mr. Sprouse." + +"You were wrong," said Sprouse, as if Barnes had answered in the +affirmative. "I am working on my own. You may have observed that I did +not accompany the sheriff's posse to-day. I was up in Hornville +getting the final word from New York that you were on the level. You +have a document from the police, I hear, but I hadn't seen it. Time is +precious. I telephoned to New York. Eleven dollars and sixty cents. +You were under suspicion until I hung up the receiver, I may say." + +"Jones has been talking to you," said Barnes. "But you said a moment +ago that you were up at Green Fancy last night. Not by invitation, I +take it." + +"I invited myself," said Sprouse succinctly. "Are you inclined to +favour my proposition?" + +"You haven't made one." + +"By suggestion, Mr. Barnes. It is quite impossible for me to get +inside that house. You appear to have the entree. You are working in +the dark, guessing at everything. I am guessing at nothing. By +combining forces we should bring this thing to a head, and--" + +"Just a moment. You expect me to abuse the hospitality of--" + +"I shall have to speak plainly, I see." He leaned forward, fixing +Barnes with a pair of steady, earnest eyes. "Six months ago a certain +royal house in Europe was despoiled of its jewels, its privy seal, its +most precious state documents and its charter. They have been traced +to the United States. I am here to recover them. That is the +foundation of my story, Mr. Barnes. Shall I go on?" + +"Can you not start at the beginning, Mr. Sprouse? What was it that led +up to this amazing theft?" + +"Without divulging the name of the house, I will say that its +sympathies have been from the outset friendly to the Entente Allies,-- +especially with France. There are two branches of the ruling family, +one in power, the other practically in exile. The state is a small +one, but its integrity is of the highest. Its sons and daughters have +married into the royal families of nearly all of the great nations of +the continent. The present--or I should say--the late ruler, for he +died on a field of battle not many months ago, had no direct heir. He +was young and unmarried. I am not permitted to state with what army he +was fighting, nor on which front he was killed. It is only necessary +to say that his little state was gobbled up by the Teutonic Allies. +The branch of the family mentioned as being in exile lent its support +to the cause of Germany, not for moral reasons but in the hope and +with the understanding, I am to believe, that the crown-lands would be +the reward. The direct heir to the crown is a cousin of the late +prince. He is now a prisoner of war in Austria. Other members of the +family are held by the Bulgarians as prisoners of war. It is not +stretching the imagination very far to picture them as already dead +and out of the way. At the close of the war, if Germany is victorious, +the crown will be placed upon the head of the pretender branch. Are +you following me?" + +"Yes," said Barnes, his nerves tingling. He was beginning to see a +great light. + +"Almost under the noses of the forces left by the Teutonic Allies to +hold the invaded territory, the crown-jewels, charter and so forth, +heretofore mentioned as they say in legal parlance, were +surreptitiously removed from the palace and spirited away by persons +loyal to the ruling branch of the family. As I have stated, I am +engaged in the effort to recover them." + +"It requires but little intelligence on my part to reach the +conclusion that you are employed by either the German or Austrian +government, Mr. Sprouse. You are working in the interests of the +usurping branch of the family." + +"Wrong again, Mr. Barnes,--but naturally. I am in the service of a +country violently opposed to the German cause. My country's interest +in the case is--well, you might say benevolent. The missing property +belongs to the State from which it was taken. It represents a great +deal in the shape of treasure, to say nothing of its importance along +other lines. To restore the legitimate branch of the family to power +after the war, the Entente Allies must be in possession of the papers +and crown-rights that these misguided enthusiasts made away with. Of +course, it would be possible to do it without considering the demands +of the opposing claimants, arbitrarily kicking them out, but that +isn't the way my government does business. The persons who removed +this treasure from the state vaults believed that they were acting for +the best interests of their superiors. In a sense, they were. The only +fault we have to find with them is that they failed to do the sensible +thing by delivering their booty into the hands of one of the +governments friendly to their cause. Instead of doing so, they +succeeded in crossing the ocean, conscientiously believing that +America was the safest place to keep the treasure pending developments +on the other side. + +"Now we come to the present situation. Some months ago a member of the +aforesaid royal house arrived in this country by way of Japan. He is a +distant cousin of the crown and, in a way, remotely looked upon as the +heir-apparent. Later on he sequestered himself in Canada. Our agents +in Europe learned but recently that while he pretends to be loyal to +the ruling house, he is actually scheming against it. I have been +ordered to run him to earth, for there is every reason to believe that +the men who secured the treasure have been duped into regarding him as +an avowed champion of the crown. We believe that if we find this man +we will, sooner or later, be able to put our hands on the missing +treasure. I have never seen the man, nor a portrait of him. A fairly +adequate description has been sent to me, however. Now, Mr. Barnes, +without telling you how I have arrived at the conclusion, I am +prepared to state that I believe this man to be at Green Fancy, and +that in time the loot,--to use a harsh word,--will be delivered to him +there. I am here to get it, one way or another, when that comes to +pass." + +Barnes had not taken his eyes from the face of the little man during +this recital. He was rapidly changing his opinion of Sprouse. There +was sincerity in the voice and eyes of the secret agent. + +"What led you to suspect that he is at Green Fancy, Mr. Sprouse?" + +"History. It is known that this Mr. Curtis has spent a great deal of +time in the country alluded to. As a matter of fact, his son, who +lived in London, had rather extensive business interests there. This +son was killed in the Balkan War several years ago. It is said that +the man I am looking for was a friend of young Curtis, who married a +Miss O'Dowd in London,--the Honourable Miss O'Dowd, daughter of an +Irish peer, and sister of the chap you have met at Green Fancy. The +elder Curtis was a close and intimate friend of more than one member +of the royal family. Indeed, he is known to have been a welcome +visitor in the home of a prominent nobleman, once high in the counsels +of State. This man O'Dowd is also a friend of the man I am looking +for. He went through the Balkan War with him. After that war, O'Dowd +drifted to China, hoping no doubt to take a hand in the revolution. He +is that sort. Some months ago he came to the United States. I forgot +to mention that he has long considered this country his home, although +born in Ireland. About six weeks ago a former equerry in the royal +household arrived in New York. Through him I learned that the daughter +of the gentleman in whose house the senior Mr. Curtis was a frequent +guest had been in the United States since some time prior to the +beginning of the war. She was visiting friends in the States and has +been unable to return to her own land, for reasons that must be +obvious. I may as well confess that her father was, by marriage, an +uncle of the late ruler. + +"Since the invasion and overthrow of her country by the Teutonic +Allies, she has been endeavouring to raise money here for the purpose +of equipping and supporting the remnants of the small army that fought +so valiantly in defence of the crown. These men, a few thousand only, +are at present interned in a neutral country. I leave you to guess +what will happen if she succeeds in supplying them with arms and +ammunition. Her work is being carried on with the greatest secrecy. +Word of it came to the ears of her country's minister in Paris, +however, and he at once jumped to a quick but very natural conclusion. +She has been looked upon in court circles as the prospective bride of +the adventurous cousin I am hunting for. The embassy has conceived the +notion that she may know a great deal about the present whereabouts of +the missing treasure. No one accuses her of duplicity, however. On the +other hand, the man in the case is known to have pro-German +sympathies. She may be loyal to the crown, but there is a decided +doubt as to his loyalty. Of course, we have no means of knowing to +what extent she has confided her plans to him. We do not even know +that she is aware of his presence in this country. To bring the story +to a close, I was instructed to keep close watch on the man O'Dowd. +The ex-attache of the court to whom I referred a moment ago set out to +find the young lady in question. I traced O'Dowd to this place. I was +on the point of reporting to my superiors that he was in no way +associated with the much-sought-after crown-cousin, and that Green +Fancy was as free from taint as the village chapel, when out of a +clear sky and almost under my very nose two men were mysteriously done +away with at the very gates of the place. In fact, so positive was I +that O'Dowd was all right, that I had started for Washington to send +my report back home and wait for instructions. The killing of those +two men changed the aspect completely. You will certainly agree with +me after I have explained to you that the one known as Andrew Roon was +no other than the equerry who had undertaken to find the--young +woman." + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Barnes. + +"He came up here because he had reason to believe that the--er--girl +was either at Green Fancy or was headed this way. I was back here in +thirty-six hours, selling Dickens. I saw the bodies of the two men at +the county-seat, and recognised both of them, despite the fact that +they had cut off their beards. Now, they could not have been +recognised, Mr. Barnes, except by some one who had known them all his +life. And that is why I am positive that the man I am looking for is +up at Green Fancy." + +Barnes drew a long breath. His mind was made up. He had decided to +pool issues with the secret agent, but not until he was convinced that +the result of their co-operation would in no way inflict a hardship +upon the young woman who had appealed to him for help. He was certain +that she was the fair propagandist described by Sprouse. + +"Is it your intention to lodge him in jail if you succeed in capturing +your man, Mr. Sprouse, and to apply for extradition papers?" he asked. + +"I can't land him in jail unless I can prove that he has the stolen +goods, can I?" + +"You could implicate him in the general conspiracy." + +"That is for others to say, sir. I am only instructed to recover the +treasure." + +"And the young woman, what of her? She would, in any case, be held for +examination and--" + +"My dear sir, I may as well tell you now that she is a loyal subject +and, far from being in bad grace at court, is an object of extreme +solicitude to the ambassador. Up to two months ago she was in touch +with him. From what I can gather, she has disappeared completely. Roon +was sent over here for the sole purpose of finding her and inducing +her to return with him to Paris." + +"And to take the treasure with her, I suppose," said Barnes drily. + +"Naturally." + +"Well," began Barnes, introducing a harsh note into his voice, "I +should say that if she is guilty of receiving this stolen property she +ought to be punished. Jail is the place for her, Mr. Sprouse." + +Sprouse put down his coffee cup rather suddenly. A queer pallor came +into his face. His voice was low and a trifle husky when he made +reply. + +"I am sorry to hear you say that, sir." + +"Why, may I ask?" + +"Because it puts an obstacle in the way of our working together in +this matter." + +"You mean that my attitude toward her is--er--not in keeping with your +ideas?" + +"You do not understand the situation. Haven't I made it plain to you +that she is innocent of any intent to do wrong?" + +"You have said so, Mr. Sprouse, but your idea of wrong and mine may +not jibe." + +"There cannot be two ways of looking at it, sir," said Sprouse, after +a moment. "She could do no wrong." + +Whereupon Barnes reached his hand across the table and laid it on +Sprouse's. His eyes were dancing. + +"That's just what I want to be sure about," he said. "It was my way of +finding out your intentions concerning her." + +"What do you mean?" demanded Sprouse, staring. + +"Come with me to my room," said Barnes, suppressing his excitement. "I +think I can tell you where she is,--and a great deal more that you +ought to know." + +In the little room upstairs, he told the whole story to Sprouse. The +little man listened without so much as a single word of interruption +or interrogation. His sharp eyes began to glisten as the story +progressed, but in no other way did he reveal the slightest sign of +emotion. Somewhat breathlessly Barnes came to the end. + +"And now, Mr. Sprouse, what do you make of it all?" he inquired. + +Sprouse leaned back in his chair, suddenly relaxing. "I am completely +at sea," he said, and Barnes looked at him in surprise. + +"By Jove, I thought it would all be as clear as day to you. Here is +your man and also your woman, and the travelling bag full of--" + +"Right you are," interrupted Sprouse. "That is all simple enough. But, +my dear Barnes, can you tell me what Mr. Secretary Loeb's real game +is? Why has he established himself so close to the Canadian line, and +why the mobilisation? I refer to his army of huskies." + +"Heirs-apparent usually have some sort of a bodyguard, don't they?" + +Sprouse was staring thoughtfully at the ceiling. He either did not +hear the remark or considered it unworthy of notice. When he finally +lowered his eyes, it was to favour Barnes with a deep, inscrutable +smile. + +"I dare say the first thing for me to do is to advise the Canadian +authorities to keep a sharp lookout along the border." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE FIRST WAYFARER ACCEPTS AN INVITATION, AND MR. DILLINGFORD +BELABOURS A PROXY + + +Barnes insisted that the first thing to be considered was the release +of Miss Cameron. He held forth at some length on the urgency of +immediate action. + +"If we can't think of any other way to get her out of this devilish +predicament, Sprouse, I shall apply to Washington for help." + +"And be laughed at, my friend," said the secret agent. "In the first +place, you couldn't give a substantial reason for government +investigation; in the second place the government wouldn't act until +it had looked very thoroughly into the case; in the third place, it +would be too late by the time the government felt satisfied to act, +and in the fourth place, it is not a matter for the government to +meddle in at all." + +"Well, something has to be done at once," said Barnes doggedly. "I +gave her my promise. She is depending on me. If you could have seen +the light that leaped into her glorious eyes when I--" + +"Yes, I know. I've heard she is quite a pretty girl. You needn't--" + +"Quite a pretty girl!" exclaimed Barnes. "Why, she is the loveliest +thing that God ever created. She has the face of--" + +"I am beginning to understand O'Dowd's interest in her, Mr. Barnes. +Your enthusiasm conveys a great deal to me. Apparently you are not +alone in your ecstasies." + +"You mean that he is--er--What the dickens do you mean?" + +"He has probably fallen in love with her with as little difficulty as +you have experienced, Mr. Barnes, and almost as expeditiously. He has +seen a little more of her than you, but--" + +"Don't talk nonsense. I'm not in love with her." + +"Can you speak with equal authority for Mr. O'Dowd? He is a very +susceptible Irishman, I am told. Sweethearts in a great many ports,-- +and still going strong, as we say of the illustrious Johnny Walker. +From all that I have heard of her amazing beauty, I can't blame him +for losing his heart to her. I only hope he loses his head as well." + +"I don't believe he will get much encouragement from her, Mr. +Sprouse," said Barnes stiffly. + +"If she is as clever as I think she is, she will encourage him +tremendously. I would if I were in her place." + +"Umph!" was Barnes's only retort to that. + +"Is it possible that you have never had the pleasure of being +transformed into a perfect ass by the magic of a perfect woman, Mr. +Barnes? You've missed a great deal. It happened to me once, and came +near to upsetting the destinies of two great nations. Mr. O'Dowd is +only human. He isn't immune." + +"I catch the point, Mr. Sprouse," said Barnes, rather gloomily. He did +not like to think of the methods that might have to be employed in the +subjugation of Mr. O'Dowd. "There is a rather important question I'd +like to ask. Is she even remotely eligible to her country's throne?" + +"Remotely, yes," said Sprouse without hesitation. + +Barnes waited, but nothing further was volunteered. + +"So remotely that she could marry a chap like O'Dowd without giving +much thought to future complications?" he ventured. + +"She'd be just as safe in marrying O'Dowd as she would be in marrying +you," was Sprouse's unsatisfactory response. The man's brow was +wrinkled in thought. "See here, Mr. Barnes, I am planning a visit to +Green Fancy to-night. How would you like to accompany me?" + +"I'd like nothing better," said Barnes, with enthusiasm. + +"Ever been shot at?" + +"No." + +"Well, you are likely to experience the novelty if you go with me. +Better think it over." + +"Don't worry about me. I'll go." + +"Will you agree to obey instructions? I can't have you muddling things +up, you know." + +Barnes thought for a moment. "Of course, if the opportunity offers for +me to communicate with Miss Cameron, I don't see how I--" + +Sprouse cut him off sharply. He made it quite plain to the would-be +cavalier that it was not a sentimental enterprise they were to +undertake, and that he would have to govern himself accordingly. + +"The grounds are carefully guarded," said Barnes, after they had +discussed the project for some time. "Miss Cameron is constantly under +the watchful eye of one or more of the crowd." + +"I know. I passed a couple of them last night," said Sprouse calmly. +"By the way, don't you think it would be very polite of you to invite +the Green Fancy party over here to have an old-fashioned country +dinner with you to-night?" + +"Good Lord! What are you talking about? They wouldn't dream of +accepting. Besides, I thought you wanted me to go with you." + +"You could offer them diversion in the shape of a theatrical +entertainment. Your friends, the Thespians, would be only too happy to +disport themselves in return for all your--" + +"It would be useless, Mr. Sprouse. They will not come." + +"I am perfectly aware of that, but it won't do any harm to ask them, +will it?" + +Barnes chuckled. "I see. Establishing myself as an innocent bystander, +eh?" + +"Get O'Dowd on the telephone and ask him if they can come," said +Sprouse. "Incidentally, you might test his love for Miss Cameron while +you are about it." + +"How?" demanded Barnes. + +"By asking him to call her to the telephone. Would you be sure to +recognise her voice?" + +"I'd know it in Babel," said the other with some fervour. + +"Well, if she comes to the 'phone and speaks to you without restraint, +we may be reasonably certain of two things: that O'Dowd is friendly +and that he is able to fix it so that she can talk to you without +being overheard or suspected by the others. It's worth trying, in any +event." + +"But there is Jones to consider. The telephone is in his office. What +will he think--" + +"Jones is all right," said Sprouse briefly. "Come along. You can call +up from my room." He grinned slyly. "Such a thing as tapping the wire, +you know." + +Sprouse had installed a telephone in his room, carrying a wire +upstairs from an attachment made in the cellar of the Tavern. He +closed the door to his little room on the top floor. + +"With the landlord's approval," he explained, pointing to the +instrument, "but unknown to the telephone company, you may be sure. +Call him up about half-past ten. O'Dowd may be up at this unholy hour, +but not she. Now, I must be off to discuss literature with Mrs. Jim +Conley. I've been working on her for two weeks. The hardest part of my +job is to keep her from subscribing for a set of Dickens. She has been +on the point of signing the contract at least a half dozen times, and +I've been fearfully hard put to head her off. Conley's house is not +far from Green Fancy. Savvy?" + +Barnes, left to his own devices, wandered from tap-room to porch, from +porch to forge, from forge to tap-room, his brain far more active than +his legs, his heart as heavy as lead and as light as air by turns. +More than once he felt like resorting to a well-known expedient to +determine whether he was awake or dreaming. Could all this be real? + +The sky was overcast. A cold, damp wind blew out of the north. There +was a feel of rain in the air, an ugly greyness in the road that +stretched its sharply defined course through the green fields that +stole timorously up to the barren forest and stopped short, as if +afraid to venture farther. + +The ring of the hammer on the anvil lent cheer to the otherwise harsh +and unlovely mood that had fallen upon Nature over night. It sang a +song of defiance that even the mournful chant of sheep on the distant +slopes failed to subdue. The crowing of a belated and no doubt +mortified rooster, the barking of faraway dogs, the sighing of +journeying winds, the lugubrious whistle of Mr. Clarence Dillingford, +--all of these added something to the dreariness of the morning. + +Mr. Dillingford was engaged in lustily beating a rug suspended on a +clothes line in the area back of the stables. His tune was punctuated +by stifled lapses followed almost immediately by dull, flat whacks +upon the carpet. From the end of the porch he was visible to the +abstracted Barnes. + +"Hi!" he shouted, brandishing his flail at the New Yorker. "Want a +job?" + +Barnes looked at his watch. He still had an hour and a half to wait +before he could call up O'Dowd. He strolled across the lot and joined +the perspiring comedian. + +"You seem to have a personal grudge against that carpet," he said, +moving back a few yards as Dillingford laid on so manfully that the +dust arose in clouds. + +"Every time I land I say: 'Take that, darn you!' And it pleases me to +imagine that with every crack Mr. Putnam Jones lets out a mighty +'Ouch!' Now listen! Didn't that sound a little like an ouch?" Mr. +Dillingford rubbed a spot clean on the handle of the flail and pressed +his lips to it. "Good dog!" he murmured tenderly. "Bite him! (Whack!) +Now, bite him again! (Whack!) Once more! (Whack!) Good dog! Now, go +lie down awhile and rest." He tossed the flail to the ground and, +mopping his brow, turned to Barnes. "If you want a real treat, go into +the cellar and take a look at Bacon. He is churning for butter. Got a +gingham apron on and thinks he's disguised. He can't cuss because old +Miss Tilly is reading the first act of a play she wrote for Julia +Marlowe seven or eight years ago. Oh, it's a great life!" + +Barnes sat down on the edge of a watering-trough and began filling his +pipe. + +"You are not obliged to do this sort of work, Dillingford," he said. +"It would give me pleasure to stake--" + +"Nix," said Mr. Dillingford cheerily. "Some other time I may need help +more than I do now. I'm getting three square meals and plenty of fresh +air to sleep in at present, and work doesn't hurt me physically. It +DOES hurt my pride, but that's soon mended. Have you seen the old man +this morning?" + +"Rushcroft? No." + +"Well, we're to be on our way next week, completely reorganised, +rejuvenated and resplendent. Fixed it all up last night. Tommy Gray +was down here with two weeks' salary as chauffeur and a little extra +he picked up playing poker in the garage with the rubes. Thirty-seven +dollars in real money. He has decided to buy a quarter interest in the +company and act as manager. Everything looks rosy. You are to have a +half interest and the old man the remaining quarter. He telegraphed +last night for four top-notch people to join us at Crowndale on +Tuesday the twenty-third. We open that night in 'The Duke's Revenge,' +our best piece. It's the only play we've got that provides me with a +part in which I have a chance to show what I can really do. As soon as +I get through spanking this carpet I'll run upstairs and get a lot of +clippings to show you how big a hit I've made in the part. In one town +I got better notices than the star himself, and seldom did I--" + +"Where is Crowndale?" interrupted Barnes, a slight frown appearing on +his brow. He had a distinct feeling that there was handwriting on the +wall and that it was put there purposely for him to read. + +"About five hours' walk from Hornville," said Dillingford, grinning. +"Twenty-five cents by train. We merely resume a tour interrupted by +the serious illness of Mr. Rushcroft. Rather than impose upon our +audiences by inflicting them with an understudy, the popular star +temporarily abandons his tour. We ought to sell out in Crowndale, top +to bottom." + +The amazing optimism of Mr. Dillingford had its effect on Barnes. +Somehow the day grew brighter, the skies less drear, a subtle warmth +crept into the air. + +"You may count on me, Dillingford, to put up my half interest in the +show. I will have a fling at it a couple of weeks anyhow. If it +doesn't pan out in that time,--well, we can always close, can't we?" + +"We certainly can," said the other, with conviction. "It wouldn't +surprise me in the least, however, to see you clean up a very tidy bit +of money, Mr. Barnes. Our season ordinarily closes toward the end of +June, but the chances are we'll stay out all summer if things go +right. Congratulations! Glad to see you in the profession." He shook +hands with the new partner. "Keep your seat! Don't move. I'll shift a +little so's the wind won't blow the dust in your eyes." He obligingly +did so and fell upon the carpet with renewed vigour. + +Barnes was restless. He chatted with the rug-beater for a few minutes +and then sauntered away. Miss Thackeray was starting off for a walk as +he came around to the front of the Tavern. She wore a rather shabby +tailor-suit of blue serge, several seasons out of fashion, and a black +sailor hat. Her smile was bright and friendly as she turned in +response to his call. As he drew near he discovered that her lips were +a vivid, startling red, her eyes elaborately made up, and her cheeks +the colour of bismuth. She was returning to form, thought he, in some +dismay. + +"Where away?" he inquired. + +"Seeking solitude," she replied. "I've got to learn a new part in an +old play." She flourished the script airily. "I have just accepted an +engagement as leading lady." + +"Splendid! I am delighted. With John Drew, I hope." + +"Nothing like that," she said loftily. Then her wide mouth spread into +a good-natured grin, revealing the even rows of teeth that were her +particular charm. "I am going out with the great Lyndon Rushcroft." + +"Good! As one of the proprietors, I am glad to see you on our--er-- +programme, Miss Thackeray." + +"Programme is good," she mused. "I've been on a whole lot of +programmes during my brief career. What I want to get on some time, if +possible, is a pay-roll. Wait! Don't say it! I was only trying to be +funny; I didn't know how it would sound or I wouldn't have said +anything so stupid. You've done more than enough for us, Mr. Barnes. +Don't let yourself in for anything more. This thing will turn out like +all the rest of our efforts. We'll collapse again with a loud report, +but we're used to it and you're not." + +"But I'm only letting myself in for a couple of hundred," he +protested. "I can stand that much of a loss without squirming." + +"You know your own business," she said shortly, almost ungraciously. +"I'm only giving you a little advice." + +"Advice is something I always ignore," he said, smiling. "Experience +is my teacher." + +"Advice is cheaper than experience, and a whole lot easier to forget," +she said. "My grandfather advised my father to stay in the hardware +business out in Indiana. That was thirty years ago. And here we are +to-day," she concluded, with a wide sweep of her hand that took in the +forlorn landscape. She said more in that expressive gesture than the +most accomplished orator could have put into words in a week. + +"But there is always a to-morrow, you know." + +"There may be a to-morrow for me, but there are nothing but yesterdays +left for dad. All of his to-morrows will be just like his yesterdays. +They will be just as empty of success, just as full of failure. +There's no use mincing matters. We never have had a chance to go broke +for the simple reason that we've never been anything else. He has been +starring for fifteen years, hitting the tanks from one end of the +country to the other. And for just that length of time he has been +mooning. There's a lot of difference between starring and mooning." + +"He may go down somewhat regularly, Miss Thackeray, but he always +comes up again. That's what I admire in him. He will not stay down." + +Her eyes brightened. "He is rather a brick, isn't he?" + +"Rather! And so are you, if I may say so. You have stuck to him +through all--" + +"Nothing bricky about me," she scoffed. "I am doing it because I +can't, for the life of me, get rid of the notion that I can act. God +knows I can't, and so does father, and the critics, and every one in +the profession, but I think I can,--so what does it all amount to? +Now, that will be enough about me. As for you, Mr. Barnes, if you have +made up your mind to be foolish, far be it from me to head you off. +You will drop considerably more than a couple of hundred, let me tell +you, and--but, as I said before, that is your business. I must be off +now. It's a long part and I'm slow study. So long,--and thanks!" + +He sat down on the Tavern steps and watched her as she swung off down +the road. To his utter amazement, when she reached a point several +hundred yards below the Tavern, she left the highway and, gathering up +her skirts, climbed over the fence into the narrow meadow-land that +formed a frontage at the bottom of the Curtis estate. A few minutes +later she disappeared among the trees at the base of the mountain, +going in the direction of Green Fancy. He had followed her with his +gaze all the way across that narrow strip of pasture. When she came to +the edge of the forest, she stopped and looked back at the Tavern. +Seeing him still on the steps, she waved her hand at him. Then she was +gone. + +"Where ignorance is bliss," he muttered to himself, and then looked at +his watch. Ten minutes later he was in Sprouse's room, calling for +Green Fancy over an extension wire that had cost the company nothing +and yielded nothing in return. After some delay, O'Dowd's mellow voice +sang out: + +"Hello! How are you this morning?" + +"Grievously lonesome," replied Barnes, and wound up a doleful account +of himself by imploring O'Dowd to save his life by bringing the entire +Green Fancy party over to dinner that night. + +O'Dowd was heart-broken. Personally he would go to any extreme to save +so valuable a life, but as for the rest of the party, they begged him +to say they were sorry to hear of the expected death of so promising a +chap and that, while they couldn't come to his party, they would be +delighted to come to his funeral. In short, it would be impossible for +them to accept his kind invitation. The Irishman was so gay and good- +humoured that Barnes took hope. + +"By the way, O'Dowd, I'd like to speak with Miss Cameron if she can +come to the telephone." + +There was a moment of silence. Then: "Call up at twelve o'clock and +ask for me. Good-bye." + +Promptly on the stroke of twelve Barnes took down the receiver and +called for Green Fancy. O'Dowd answered almost immediately. + +"I warned you last night, Barnes," he said without preamble. "I told +you to keep out of this. You may not understand the situation and I +cannot enlighten you, but I will say this much: no harm can come to +her while I'm here and alive." + +"Can't she come to the telephone?" + +"Won't ye take my word for it? I swear by all that's holy that she'll +be safe while I've--" + +Barnes was cautious. This might be the clever O'Dowd's way of trapping +him into serious admissions. + +"I don't know what the deuce you are talking about, O'Dowd," he +interrupted. + +"You lie, Barnes," said the other promptly. "Miss Cameron is here at +my elbow. Will you have her tell you that you lie?" + +"Let her say anything she likes," said Barnes quickly. + +"Don't be surprised if you are cut off suddenly. The coast is clear +for the moment, but--Here, Miss Cameron. Careful, now." + +Her voice, soft and clear and trembling with eagerness caressed +Barnes's eager ear. + +"Mr. O'Dowd will see that no evil befalls me here, but he refuses to +help me to get away. I quite understand and appreciate his position. I +cannot ask him to go so far as that. Help will have to come from the +outside. It will be dangerous--terribly dangerous, I fear. I have no +right to ask you to take the risk--" + +"Wait! Is O'Dowd there?" + +"He has left the room. He does not want to hear what I say to you. +Don't you understand?" + +"Keeping his conscience clear, bless his soul," said Barnes. "It is +safe for you to speak freely?" + +"I think so. O'Dowd suspected us last night. He came to me this +morning and spoke very frankly about it. I feel quite safe with him. +You see, I've known him for a long, long time. He did not know that I +was to be led into a trap like this. It was not until I had been here +for several hours that he realised the true state of affairs. I cannot +tell you any more at present, Mr. Barnes. So great are the other +issues at stake that my own misfortunes are as nothing." + +"You say O'Dowd will not assist you to escape?" + +"He urges me to stay here and take my chances. He believes that +everything will turn out well for me in the end, but I am frightened. +I must get away from this place." + +"I'll manage it, never fear. Keep a stiff upper lip." + +"Wha--keep a what?" + +He laughed. "I forgot that you don't understand our language, Miss +Cameron. Have courage, is what I should have said. Are you prepared to +fly at a moment's notice?" + +"Yes." + +"Then, keep your eyes and ears open for the next night or two. Can you +tell me where your room is located?" + +"It is one flight up; the first of the two windows in my room is the +third to the right of the entrance. I am confident that some one is +stationed below my windows all night long." + +"Are you alone in that room?" + +"Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Van Dyke occupy the rooms on my left, Mr. De Soto +is on my right." + +"Where does Loeb sleep?" + +"I do not know." He detected a new note in her voice, and at once put +it down to fear. + +"You still insist that I am not to call on the authorities for help?" + +"Yes, yes! That must not even be considered. I have not only myself to +consider, Mr. Barnes. I am a very small atom in--" + +"All right! We'll get along without them," he said cheerily. +"Afterwards we will discuss the importance of atoms." + +"And your reward as well, Mr. Barnes," she said. Her voice trailed off +into an indistinct murmur. He heard the receiver click on the hook, +and, after calling "hello" twice, hung up his own with a sigh. +Evidently O'Dowd had warned her of the approach of a less considerate +person than himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE SECOND WAYFARER RECEIVES TWO VISITORS AT MIDNIGHT + + +The hour for the midday dinner approached and there was no sign of +Miss Thackeray's return from the woods. Barnes sat for two +exasperating hours on the porch and listened to the confident, +flamboyant oratory of Mr. Lyndon Rushcroft. His gaze constantly swept +the line of trees, and there were times when he failed to hear a word +in whole sentences that rolled from the lips of the actor. He was +beginning to feel acutely uneasy, when suddenly her figure issued from +the woods at a point just above the Tavern. Instead of striking out at +once across the meadow, she stopped and for as long as three or four +minutes appeared to be carrying on a conversation with some invisible +person among the trees she had just left behind. Then she waved her +hand and turned her steps homeward. A bent old man came out of the +woods and stood watching her progress across the open stretch. She had +less than two hundred yards to traverse between the woods and the +fence opposite the Tavern. The old man remained where he was until she +reached the fence and prepared to mount it. Then, as Barnes ran down +from the porch and across the road to assist her over the fence, he +whirled about and disappeared. + +"Aha," said Barnes chidingly: "politely escorted from the grounds, I +see. If you had asked me I could have told you that trespassers are +not welcome." + +"He is a nice old man. I chatted with him for nearly an hour. His +business is to shoo gipsy moths away from the trees, or something like +that, and not to shoo nice, tender young ladies off the place." + +"Does he speak English?" + +"Not a word. He speaks nothing but the most awful American I've ever +heard. He has lived up there on the mountain for sixty-nine years, and +he has eleven grown children, nineteen grandchildren and one wife. I'm +hungry." + +The coroner's inquest over the bodies of Roon and Paul was held that +afternoon at St. Elizabeth. Witnesses from Hart's Tavern were among +those to testify. The verdict was "Murder at the hands of parties +unknown." + +Sprouse did not appear at the Tavern until long after nightfall. His +protracted absence was the source of grave uneasiness to Barnes, who, +having been summoned to St. Elizabeth, returned at six o'clock primed +and eager for the night's adventure. + +The secret agent listened somewhat indifferently to the latter's +account of his telephonic experiences. At nine o'clock he yawned +prodigiously and announced that he was going to bed, much to the +disgust of Mr. Rushcroft and greatly to the surprise of Mr. Barnes, +who followed him from the tap-room and demanded an explanation. + +"People usually go to bed at night, don't they?" said Sprouse +patiently. "It is expected, I believe." + +"But, my dear man, we are to undertake--" + +"There is no reason why we shouldn't go to bed like sensible beings, +Mr. Barnes, and get up again when we feel like it, is there? I have +some cause for believing that one of those chaps in there is from +Green Fancy. Go to bed at ten o'clock, my friend, and put out your +light. I don't insist on your taking off your clothes, however. I will +rap on your door at eleven o'clock. By the way, don't forget to stick +your revolver in your pocket." + +A few minutes before eleven there came a gentle tapping on Barnes's +door. He sprang to his feet and opened it, presenting himself before +Sprouse fully dressed and, as the secret agent said later on, "fit to +kill." + +They went quietly down a back stairway and let themselves out into the +stable-yard. A light, cold drizzle greeted them as they left the lee +of the building. + +"A fine night for treason, stratagems and spoils," said Sprouse, +speaking barely above a whisper. "Follow me and don't ask questions. +You will have to talk if you do, and talking is barred for the +present." + +He stopped at the corner of the inn and listened for a moment. Then he +darted across the road and turned to the left in the ditch that +bordered it. The night was as black as pitch. Barnes, trusting to the +little man's eyes, and hanging close upon his coat-tails, followed +blindly but gallantly in the tracks of the leader. It seemed to him +that they stumbled along parallel to the road for miles before Sprouse +came to a halt. + +"Climb over the fence here, and stick close to me. Are you getting +your cats'-eyes?" + +"Yes, I can see pretty well now. But, great scot, why should we walk +half way to the North Pole, Sprouse, before--" + +"We haven't come more than half a mile. The Curtis land ends here. We +stay close to this fence till we reach the woods. I was in here to-day +taking observations." + +"You were?" + +"Yes. Didn't that actress friend of yours mention meeting me?" + +"No." + +"I told her distinctly that I had eleven children, nineteen--" + +"By Jove, was that you?" gasped Barnes, falling in beside him. + +"If it were light enough you could see a sign on my back which says in +large type, 'Silence,'" said the other, and after that not a word +passed between them for half an hour or more. Then it was Sprouse who +spoke. "This is the short cut to Green Fancy," he whispered, laying +his hand on Barnes's arm. "We save four or five miles, coming this +way. Do you know where we are?" + +"I haven't the remotest idea." + +"About a quarter of a mile below Curtis's house. Are you all right?" + +"Fine as a fiddle, except for a barked knee, a skinned elbow, a couple +of more or less busted ribs, something on my cheek that runs hot,-- +yes, I'm all right." + +"Pretty tough going," said Sprouse, sympathetically. + +"I've banged into more trees than--" + +"Sh!" After a moment of silence, intensified by the mournful squawk of +night-birds and the chorus of katydids, Sprouse whispered: "Did you +hear that?" + +Barnes thrilled. This was real melodrama. "Hear what?" he whispered +shrilly. + +"Listen!" After a second or two: "There!" + +"It's a woodpecker hammering on the limb of a--" + +"Woodpeckers don't hammer at midnight, my lad. Don't stir! Keep your +ears open." + +"You bet they're open all right," whispered Barnes, his nerves +aquiver. + +Suddenly the sharp tattoo sounded so close to the spot where they were +standing that Barnes caught his breath and with difficulty suppressed +an exclamation. It was like the irregular rattle of sticks on the rim +of a snare-drum. The tapping ceased and a moment later a similar +sound, barely audible, came out of the distance. + +Sprouse clutched his companion's arm and, dropping to his knees in the +thick underbrush, pulled the other down after him. + +Presently heavy footsteps approached. An unseen pedestrian passed +within ten yards of them. They scarcely breathed until the sounds +passed entirely out of hearing. Sprouse put his lips close to Barnes's +ear. + +"Telegraph," he whispered. "It's a system they have of reporting to +each other. There are two men patrolling the grounds near the house. +You see what we're up against, Barnes. Do you still want to go on with +it? If you are going to funk it, say so, and I'll go alone." + +"I'll stay by you," replied Barnes sturdily. + +"In about ten minutes that fellow will come back this way. He follows +the little path that winds down--but never mind. Stay where you are, +and don't make a sound, no matter what happens. Understand? No matter +what happens!" He arose and swiftly, noiselessly, stole away from his +companion's side. Barnes, his eyes accustomed to the night, either saw +or imagined that he saw, the shadowy hulk press forward for a dozen +paces and then apparently dissolve in black air. + +Several minutes went by. There was not a sound save the restless +patter of rain in the tree tops. At last the faraway thud of footsteps +came to the ears of the tense listener. They drew nearer, louder, and +once more seemed to be approaching the very spot where he crouched. He +had the uncanny feeling that in a moment or two more the foot of the +sentinel would come in contact with his rigid body, and that he would +not have the power to suppress the yell of dismay that-- + +Then came the sound of a dull, heavy blow, a hoarse gasp, a momentary +commotion in the shrubbery, and--again silence. Barnes's blood ran +cold. He waited for the next footfall of the passing man. It never +came. + +A sharp whisper reached his ears. "Come here--quick!" + +He floundered through the brush and almost fell prostrate over the +kneeling figure of a man. + +"Take care! Lend a hand," whispered Sprouse. + +Dropping to his knees, Barnes felt for and touched wet, coarse +garments, and gasped: + +"My God! Have you--killed him?" + +"Temporarily," said Sprouse, between his teeth. "Here, unwind the rope +I've got around my waist. Take the end--here. Got a knife? Cut off a +section about three feet long. I'll get the gag in his mouth while +you're doing it. Hangmen always carry their own ropes," he concluded, +with grewsome humour. "Got it cut? Well, cut two more sections, same +length." + +With incredible swiftness the two of them bound the feet, knees and +arms of the inert victim. + +"I came prepared," said Sprouse, so calmly that Barnes marvelled at +the iron nerve of the man. + +"Thirty feet of hemp clothes-line for a belt, properly prepared gags, +--and a sound silencer." + +"By heaven, Sprouse, I--I believe he's dead," groaned Barnes. "We--we +haven't any right to kill a--" + +"He'll be as much alive but not as lively as a cricket in ten +minutes," said the other. "Grab his heels. We'll chuck him over into +the bushes where he'll be out of harm's way. We may have to run like +hell down this path, partner, and I'd--I'd hate to step on his face." + +"'Gad, you're a cold-blooded--" + +"Don't be finicky," snapped Sprouse. "It wasn't much of a crack, and +it was necessary. There! You're safe for the time being," he grunted +as they laid the limp body down in the brush at the side of the narrow +trail. Straightening up, with a sigh of satisfaction, he laid his hand +on Barnes's shoulder. "We've just got to go through with it now, +Barnes. We'll never get another chance. Putting that fellow out of +business queers us forever afterward." He dropped to his knees and +began searching over the ground with his hands. "Here it is. You can't +see it, of course, so I'll tell you what it is. A nice little block of +sandal-wood. I've already got his nice little hammer, so we'll see +what we can raise in the way of wireless chit-chat." + +Without the slightest hesitation, he struck a succession of quick, +confident blows upon the block of wood. + +"He always signals at this spot going out and again coming in," he +said softly. + +"How the deuce did you find out--" + +"There! Hear that? He says, 'All's well,'--same as I said, or +something equivalent to it. I've been up here quite a bit, Barnes, +making a study of night-hawks, their habits and their language." + +"By gad, you are a wonder!" + +"Wait till to-morrow before you say that," replied Sprouse, +sententiously. "Come along now. Stick to the trail. We've got to land +the other one." For five or six minutes they moved forward. Barnes, +following instructions, trod heavily and without any attempt at +caution. His companion, on the other hand, moved with incredible +stealthiness. A listener would have said that but one man walked on +that lonely trail. + +Turning sharply to the right, Sprouse guided his companion through the +brush for some distance, and once more came to a halt. Again he stole +on ahead, and, as before, the slow, confident, even careless progress +of a man ceased as abruptly as that of the comrade who lay helpless in +the thicket below. + +"There are others, no doubt, but they patrol the outposts, so to +speak," panted Sprouse as they bound and trussed the second victim. +"We haven't much to fear from them. Come on. We are within a hundred +feet of the house. Softly now, or--" + +Barnes laid a firm, detaining hand on the man's shoulder. + +"See here, Sprouse," he whispered, "it's all very well for you, +knocking men over like this, but just what is your object? What does +all this lead up to? We can't go on forever slugging and binding these +fellows. There is a house full of them up there. What do we gain by +putting a few men out of business?" + +Sprouse broke in, and there was not the slightest trace of emotion in +his whisper. + +"Quite right. You ought to know. I suppose you thought I was bringing +you up here for a Romeo and Juliet tete-a-tete with the beautiful Miss +Cameron,--and for nothing else. Well, in a way, you are right. But, +first of all, my business is to recover the crown jewels and +parchments. I am going into that house and take them away from the man +you know as Loeb,--if he has them. If he hasn't them, my work here is +a failure." + +"Going into the house?" gasped Barnes. "Why, my God, man, that is +impossible. You cannot get into the house, and if you did, you'd never +come out alive. You would be shot down as an ordinary burglar and--the +law would justify them for killing you. I must insist--" + +"I am not asking you to go into the house, my friend. I shall go +alone," said Sprouse coolly. + +"On the other hand, I came up here to rescue a helpless,--" + +"Oh, we will attend to that also," said Sprouse. "The treasure comes +first, however. Has it not occurred to you that she will refuse to be +rescued unless the jewels can be brought away with her? She would die +before she would leave them behind. No, Barnes, I must get the booty +first, then the beauty." + +"But you can do nothing without her advice and assistance," protested +Barnes. + +"That is just why I brought you along with me. She does not know me. +She would not trust me. You are to introduce me." + +"Well, by gad, you've got a nerve!" + +"Keep cool! It's the only way. Now, listen. She has designated her +room and the windows that are hers. She is lying awake up there now, +take it from me, hoping that you will come to-night. Do you +understand? If not to-night, to-morrow night. I shall lead you +directly to her window. And then comes the only chance we take,--the +only instance where we gamble. There will not be a light in her +window, but that won't make any difference. This nobby cane I'm +carrying is in reality a collapsible fishing-rod. Bought it to-day in +anticipation of some good fishing. First, we use it to tap gently on +her window ledge, or shade, or whatever we find. Then, you pass up a +little note to her. Here is paper and pencil. Say that you are below +her window and--all ready to take her away. Say that the guards have +been disposed of, and that the coast is clear. Tell her to lower her +valuables, some clothes, et cetera, from the window by means of the +rope we'll pass up on the pole. There is a remote possibility that she +may have the jewels in her room. For certain reasons they may have +permitted her to retain them. If such is the case, our work is easy. +If they have taken them away from her, she'll say so, some way or +another,--and she will not leave! Now, I've had a good look at the +front of that house. It is covered with a lattice work and huge vines. +I can shin up like a squirrel and go through her room to the--" + +"Are you crazy, Sprouse?" + +"I am the sanest person you've ever met, Mr. Barnes. The chance we +take is that she may not be alone in the room. But, nothing risked, +nothing gained." + +"You take your life in your hands and--" + +"Don't worry about that, my lad." + +"--and you also place Miss Cameron in even graver peril than--" + +"See here," said Sprouse shortly, "I am not risking my life for the +fun of the thing. I am risking it for her, bear that in mind,--for her +and her people. And if I am killed, they won't even say 'Well-done, +good and faithful servant.' So, let's not argue the point. Are you +going to stand by me or--back out?" + +Barnes was shamed. "I'll stand by you," he said, and they stole +forward. + +The utmost caution was observed in the approach to the house through +the thin, winding paths that Barnes remembered from an earlier visit. +They crept on all fours over the last fifty feet that intervened, and +each held a revolver in readiness for a surprise attack. + +There were no lights visible. The house was even darker than the night +itself; it was vaguely outlined by a deeper shade of black. The ground +being wet, the carpet of dead leaves gave out no rustling sound as the +two men crept nearer and nearer to the top-heavy shadow that seemed +ready to lurch forward and swallow them whole. + +At last they were within a few yards of the entrance and at the edge +of a small space that had been cleared of shrubbery. Here Sprouse +stopped and began to adjust the sections of his fishing-rod. + +"Write," he whispered. "There is a faint glow of light up there to the +right. The third window, did you say? Well, that's about where I +should locate it. She has opened the window shutters. The light comes +into the room through the transom over the door, I would say. There is +probably a light in the hall outside." + +A few minutes later, they crept across the open space and huddled +against the vine-covered facade of Green Fancy. Barnes was singularly +composed and free from nervousness, despite the fact that his whole +being tingled with excitement. What was to transpire within the next +few minutes? What was to be the end of this daring exploit? Was he to +see her, to touch her hand, to carry her off into that dungeon-like +forest,--and what was this new, exquisite thrill that ran through his +veins? + +The tiny, metallic tip of the rod, held in the upstretched hand of +Barnes, much the taller of the two men, barely reached the window +ledge. He tapped gently, persistently on the hard surface. Obeying the +hand-pressure of his companion he desisted at intervals, resuming the +operation after a moment of waiting. Just as they were beginning to +think that she was asleep and that their efforts were in vain, their +straining eyes made out a shadowy object projecting slightly beyond +the sill. Barnes felt Sprouse's grip on his shoulder tighten, and the +quick intake of his breath was evidence of the little secret agent's +relief. + +After a moment or two of suspense, Barnes experienced a peculiar, +almost electric shock. Some one had seized the tip of the rod; it +stiffened suddenly, the vibrations due to its flexibility ceasing. He +felt a gentle tugging and wrenching; down the slender rod ran a +delicate shiver that seemed almost magnetic as it was communicated to +his hand. He knew what was happening. Some one was untying the bit of +paper he had fastened to the rod, and with fingers that shook and were +clumsy with eagerness. + +The tension relaxed a moment later; the rod was free, and the shadowy +object was gone from the window above. She had withdrawn to the far +side of the room for the purpose of reading the message so +marvellously delivered out of the night. He fancied her mounting a +chair so that she could read by the dim light from the transom. + +He had written: "I am outside with a trusted friend, ready to do your +bidding. Two of the guards are safely bound and out of the way. Now is +our chance. We will never have another. If you are prepared to come +with me now, write me a word or two and drop it to the ground. I will +pass up a rope to you and you may lower anything you wish to carry +away with you. But be exceedingly careful. Take time. Don't hurry a +single one of your movements." He signed it with a large B. + +It seemed an hour before their eyes distinguished the shadowy head +above. As a matter of fact, but a few minutes had passed. During the +wait, Sprouse had noiselessly removed his coat, a proceeding that +puzzled Barnes. Something light fell to the ground. It was Sprouse who +stooped and searched for it in the grass. When he resumed an upright +posture, he put his lips close to Barnes's ear and whispered: + +"I will put my coat over your head. Here is a little electric torch. +Don't flash it until I am sure the coat is arranged so that you can do +so without a gleam of light getting out from under." He pressed the +torch and a bit of closely folded paper in the other's hand, and +carefully draped the coat over his head. Barnes was once more filled +with admiration for the little man's amazing resourcefulness. + +He read: "Thank God! I was afraid you would wait until to-morrow +night. Then it would have been too late. I must get away to-night but +I cannot leave--I dare not leave without something that is concealed +in another part of the house. I do not know how to secure it. My door +is locked from the outside. What am I to do? I would rather die than +to go away without it." + +Barnes whispered in Sprouse's ear. The latter replied at once: "Write +her that I will climb up to her window, and, with God's help and her +directions, manage to find the thing she wants." + +Barnes wrote as directed and passed the missive aloft. In a little +while a reply came down. Resorting to the previous expedient, he read: + +"It is impossible. The study is under bolt and key and no one can +enter. I do not know what I am to do. I dare not stay here and I dare +not go. Leave me to my fate. Do not run any further risk. I cannot +allow you to endanger your life for me. I shall never forget you, and +I shall always be grateful. You are a noble gentleman and I a foolish, +stupid--oh, such a stupid!--girl." + +That was enough for Barnes. It needed but that discouraging cry to +rouse his fighting spirit to a pitch that bordered on recklessness. +His courage took fire, and blazed up in one mighty flame. Nothing,-- +nothing could stop him now. + +Hastily he wrote: "If you do not come at once, we will force our way +into the house and fight it out with them all. My friend is coming up +the vines. Let him enter the window. Tell him where to go and he will +do the rest. He is a miracle man. Nothing is impossible to him. If he +does not return in ten minutes, I shall follow." + +There was no response to this. The head reappeared in the window, but +no word came down. + +Sprouse whispered: "I am going up. She will not commit you to +anything. We have to take the matter into our own hands. Stay here. If +you hear a commotion in the house, run for it. Don't wait for me. I'll +probably be done for." + +"I'll do just as I damn please about running," said Barnes, and there +was a deep thrill in his whisper. "Good luck. God help you if they +catch you." + +"Not even He could help me then. Good-bye. I'll do what I can to +induce her to drop out of the window if anything goes wrong with me +down stairs." + +He searched among the leaves and found the thick vine. A moment later +he was silently scaling the wall of the house, feeling his way +carefully, testing every precarious foothold, dragging himself +painfully upwards by means of the most uncanny, animal-like strength +and stealth. + +Barnes could not recall drawing a single breath from the instant the +man left his side until the faintly luminous square above his head was +obliterated by the black of his body as it wriggled over the ledge. + +He was never to forget the almost interminable age that he spent, +flattened against the vines, waiting for a signal from aloft. He +recalled, with dire uneasiness, Miss Cameron's statement that a guard +was stationed beneath her window throughout the night. Evidently she +was mistaken. Sprouse would not have overlooked a peril like that, and +yet as he crouched there, scarcely breathing, he wondered how long it +would be before the missing guard returned to his post and he would be +compelled to fight for his life. The fine, cold rain fell gently about +him; moist tendrils and leaves caressed his face; owls hooted with +ghastly vehemence, as if determined to awaken all the sleepers for +miles around; and frogs chattered loudly in gleeful anticipation of +the frenzied dash he would have to make through the black maze. + +We will follow Sprouse. When he crawled through the window and stood +erect inside the room, he found himself confronted by a tall, shadowy +figure, standing half way between him and the door. + +He advanced a step or two and uttered a soft hiss of warning. + +"Not a sound," he whispered, drawing still nearer. "I have come four +thousand miles to help you, Countess. This is not the time or place to +explain. We haven't a moment to waste. I need only say that I have +been sent from Paris by persons you know to aid you in delivering the +crown jewels into the custody of your country's minister in Paris. +Nothing more need be said now. We must act swiftly. Tell me where they +are. I will get them." + +"Who are you?" she whispered tensely. + +"My name is Theodore Sprouse. I have been loaned to your embassy by my +own government." + +"How did you learn that I was here?" + +"I beg of you do not ask questions now. Tell me where the Prince +sleeps, how I may get to his room--" + +"You know that he is the Prince?" + +"For a certainty. And that you are his cousin." + +She laid her hand upon his arm. "And you know that he plans evil to-- +to his people? That he is in sympathy with the--with the country that +has despoiled us?" + +"Yes." + +She was silent for a moment. "Not only is it impossible for you to +enter his room but it is equally impossible for you to get out of this +one except by the way you entered. If I thought there was the +slightest chance for you to--" + +"Let me be the judge of that, Countess. Where is his room?" + +"The last to the right as you leave this door,--at the extreme end of +the corridor. There are four doors between mine and his. Across the +hall from his room you will see an open door. A man sits in there all +night long, keeping watch. You could not approach Prince Ugo's door +without being seen by that watcher." + +"You said in your note to Barnes that the--er--something was in +Curtis's study." + +"The Prince sleeps in Mr. Curtis's room. The study adjoins it, and can +only be entered from the bed-room. There is no other door. What are +you doing?" + +"I am going to take a peep over the transom, first of all. If the +coast is clear, I shall take a little stroll down the hall. Do not be +alarmed. I will come back,--with the things we both want. Pardon me." +He sat down on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes. She watched +him as if fascinated while he opened the bosom of his soft shirt and +stuffed the wet shoes inside. + +"How did you dispose of the man who watches below my window?" she +inquired, drawing near. "He has been there for the past three nights. +I missed him to-night." + +"Wasn't he there earlier in the evening?" demanded Sprouse quickly. + +"I have been in my room since eleven. He seldom comes on duty before +that hour." + +"I had it figured out that he was one of the men we got down in the +woods. If I have miscalculated--well, poor Barnes may be in for a bad +time. We are quite safe up here for the time being. The fellow will +assume that Barnes is alone and that he comes to pay his respects to +you in a rather romantic manner." + +"You must warn Mr. Barnes. He--" + +"May I not leave that to you, Countess? I shall be very busy for the +next few minutes, and if you will--Be careful! A slip now would be +fatal. Don't be hasty." His whispering was sharp and imperative. It +was a command that he uttered, and she shrank back in surprise. + +"Pray do not presume to address me in--" + +"I crave your pardon, my lady," he murmured abjectly. "You are not +dressed for flight. May I suggest that while I am outside you slip on +a dark skirt and coat? You cannot go far in that dressing-gown. It +would be in shreds before you had gone a hundred feet through the +brush. If I do not return to this room inside of fifteen minutes, or +if you hear sounds of a struggle, crawl through the window and go down +the vines. Barnes will look out for you." + +"You must not fail, Theodore Sprouse," she whispered. "I must regain +the jewels and the state papers. I cannot go without--" + +"I shall do my best," he said simply. Silently he drew a chair to the +door, mounted it and, drawing himself up by his hands, poked his head +through the open transom. An instant later he was on the floor again. +She heard him inserting a key in the lock. Almost before she could +realise that it had actually happened, the door opened slowly, +cautiously, and his thin wiry figure slid through what seemed to her +no more than a crack. As softly the door was closed. + +For a long time she stood, dazed and unbelieving, in the centre of the +room, staring at the door. She held her breath, listening for the +shout that was so sure to come--and the shot, perhaps! A prayer formed +on her lips and went voicelessly up to God. + +Suddenly she roused herself from the stupefaction that held her, and +threw off the slinky peignoir. With feverish haste she snatched up +garments from the chair on which she had carefully placed them in +anticipation of the emergency that now presented itself. A blouse +(which she neglected to button), a short skirt of some dark material, +a jacket, and a pair of stout walking shoes (which she failed to +lace), completed the swift transformation. She felt the pockets of +skirt and jacket, assuring herself that her purse and her own personal +jewelry were where she had forehandedly placed them. As she glided to +the window, she jammed the pins into a small black hat of felt. Then +she peered over the ledge. She started back, stifling a cry with her +hand. A man's head had almost come in contact with her own as she +leaned out. A man's hand reached over and grasped the inner ledge of +the casement, and then a man's face was dimly revealed to her startled +gaze. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A FLIGHT, A STONE-CUTTER'S SHED, AND A VOICE OUTSIDE + + +He saw her standing in the middle of the room, her clenched hands +pressed to her lips. At the angle from which he peered into the room, +her head was in line with the lighted transom. + +His grip on the ledge was firm but his foothold on the lattice +precarious. He felt himself slipping. Exerting all of his strength he +drew himself upward, free of the vines that had begun to yield to his +weight. + +An almost inaudible "Whew!" escaped his lips as he straddled the sill. +An instant later he was in the room. + +"Why have you come up here?" She came swiftly to his side. + +"Thank the Lord, I made it," he whispered, breathlessly. "I came up +because there was nowhere else to go. I thought I heard voices--a man +and a woman speaking. They seemed to be quite close to me. Don't be +alarmed, Miss Cameron. I am confident that I can--" + +"And now that you are here, trapped as I am, what do you purpose to +do? You cannot escape. Go back before it is too late. Go--" + +"Is Sprouse--where is he?" + +"He is somewhere in the house. I have heard no sound. I was to wait +until he--Oh, Mr. Barnes, I--I am terrified. You will never know the--" + +"Trust him," he said. "He is a marvel. We'll be safely out of here in +a little while, and then it will all look simple to you. You are ready +to go? Good! We will wait a few minutes and if he doesn't show up +we'll--Why, you are trembling like a leaf! Sit down, do! If he doesn't +return in a minute or two, I'll take a look about the house myself. I +don't intend to desert him. I know this floor pretty well, and the +lower one. The stairs are--" + +"But the stairway is closed at the bottom by a solid steel curtain. It +is made to look like a panel in the wall. Mr. Curtis had it put in to +protect himself from burglars. You are not to venture outside this +room, Mr. Barnes. I forbid it. You--" + +"How did Sprouse get out? You said your door was locked." + +He sat down on the edge of the bed beside her. She was still trembling +violently. He took her hand in his and held it tightly. + +"He had a key. I do not know where he obtained--" + +"Skeleton key, such as burglars use. By Jove, what a wonderful burglar +he would make! Courage, Miss Cameron! He will be here soon. Then comes +the real adventure,--my part of it. I didn't come here to-night to get +any flashy old crown jewels. I came to take you out of--" + +"You--you know about the crown jewels?" she murmured. Her body seemed +to stiffen. + +"Very little. They are nothing to me." + +"Then you know who I am?" + +"No. You will tell me to-morrow." + +"Yes, yes,--to-morrow," she whispered, and fell to shivering again. + +For some time there was silence. Both were listening intently for +sounds in the hall; both were watching the door with unblinking eyes. +She leaned closer to whisper in his ear. Their shoulders touched. He +wondered if she experienced the same delightful thrill that ran +through his body. She told him of the man who watched across the hall +from the room supposed to be occupied by Loeb the secretary, and of +Sprouse's incomprehensible daring. + +"Where is Mr. Curtis?" he asked. + +Her breath fanned his cheek, her lips were close to his ear. "There is +no Mr. Curtis here. He died four months ago in Florida." + +"I suspected as much." He did not press her for further revelations. +"Sprouse should be here by this time. It isn't likely that he has met +with a mishap. You would have heard the commotion. I must go out there +and see if he requires any--" + +She clutched his arm frantically. "You shall do nothing of the kind. +You shall not--" + +"Sh! What do you take me for, Miss Cameron? He may be sorely in need +of help. Do you think that I would leave him to God knows what sort of +fate? Not much! We undertook this job together and--" + +"But he said positively that I was to go in case he did not return in +--in fifteen minutes," she begged. "He may have been cut off and was +compelled to escape from another--" + +"Just the same, I've got to see what has become of--" + +"No! No!" She arose with him, dragging at his arm. "Do not be +foolhardy. You are not skilled at--" + +"There is only one way to stop me, Miss Cameron. If you will come with +me now--" + +"But I must know whether he secured the--" + +"Then let me go. I will find out whether he has succeeded. Stand over +there by the window, ready to go if I have to make a run for it." + +He was rougher than he realised in wrenching his arm free. She uttered +a low moan and covered her face with her hands. Undeterred, he crossed +to the door. His hand was on the knob when a door slammed violently +somewhere in a distant part of the house. + +A hoarse shout of alarm rang out, and then the rush of heavy feet over +thickly carpeted floors. + +Barnes acted with lightning swiftness. He sprang to the open window, +half-carrying, half-dragging the girl with him. + +"Now for it!" he whispered. "Not a second to lose. Climb upon my back, +quick, and hang on for dear life." He had scrambled through the window +and was lying flat across the sill. "Hurry! Don't be afraid. I am +strong enough to carry you if the vines do their part." + +With surprising alacrity and sureness she crawled out beside him and +then over upon his broad back, clasping her arms around his neck. +Holding to the ledge with one hand he felt for and clutched the thick +vine with the other. Slowly he slid his body off of the sill and swung +free by one arm. An instant later he found the lattice with the other +hand and the hurried descent began. His only fear was that the vine +would not hold. If it broke loose they would drop fifteen feet or more +to the ground. A broken leg, an arm, or even worse,--But her hair was +brushing his ear and neck, her arms were about him, her heart beat +against his straining back, and--Why be a pessimist? + +His feet touched the ground. In the twinkling of an eye he picked her +up in his arms and bolted across the little grass plot into the +shrubbery. She did not utter a sound. Her arms tightened, and now her +cheek was against his. + +Presently he set her down. His breath was gone, his strength +exhausted. + +"Can you--manage to--walk a little way?" he gasped. "Give me your +hand, and follow as close to my heels as you can. Better that I should +bump into things than you." + +Shouts were now heard, and shrill blasts on a police whistle split the +air. + +Her breathing was like sobs,--short and choking,--but he knew she was +not crying. Apprehension, alarm, excitement,--anything but hysteria. +The fortitude of generations was hers; a hundred forebears had passed +courage down to her. + +On they stumbled, blindly, recklessly. He spared her many an injury by +taking it himself. More than once she murmured sympathy when he +crashed into a tree or floundered over a log. The soft, long-drawn "o- +ohs!" that came to his ears were full of a music that made him +impervious to pain. They had the effect of martial music on him, as +the drum and fife exalts the faltering soldier in his march to death. + +Utterly at sea, he was now guessing at the course they were taking. +Whether their frantic dash was leading them toward the Tavern, or +whether they were circling back to Green Fancy, he knew not. Panting, +he forged onward, his ears alert not only for the sound of pursuit but +for the shot that would end the career of the spectacular Sprouse. + +At last she cried out, quaveringly: + +"Oh, I--I can go no farther! Can't we--is it not safe to stop for a +moment? My breath is--" + +"God bless you, yes," he exclaimed, and came to an abrupt stop. She +leaned heavily against him, gasping for breath. "I haven't the +faintest idea where we are, but we must be some distance from the +house. We will rest a few minutes and then take it easier, more +cautiously. I am sorry, but it was the only thing to do, rough as it +was." + +"I know, I understand. I am not complaining, Mr. Barnes. You will find +me ready and strong and--" + +"Let me think. I must try to get my bearings. Good Lord, I wish +Sprouse were here. He has eyes like a cat. He can see in the dark. We +are off the path, that's sure." + +"I hope he is safe. Do you think he escaped?" + +"I am sure of it. Those whistles were sounding the alarm. There would +have been no object in blowing them unless he had succeeded in getting +out of the house. He may come this way. The chances are that your +flight has not been discovered. They are too busy with him to think of +you,--at least for the time being. Do you feel like going on? We must +beat them to the Tavern. They--" + +"I am all right now," she said, and they were off again. Barnes now +picked his way carefully and with the greatest caution. If at times he +was urged to increased speed through comparatively open spaces it was +because he realised the peril that lay at the very end of their +journey: the likelihood of being cut off by the pursuers before he +could lodge her safely inside of the walls. He could only pray that he +was going in the right direction. + +An hour,--but what seemed thrice as long,--passed and they had not +come to the edge of the forest. Her feet were beginning to drag; he +could tell that by the effort she made to keep up with him. From time +to time he paused to allow her to rest. Always she leaned heavily +against him, seldom speaking; when she did it was to assure him that +she would be all right in a moment or two. There was no sentimental +motive behind his action when he finally found it necessary to support +her with an encircling arm, nor was she loath to accept this tribute +of strength. + +"You are plucky," he once said to her. + +"I am afraid I could not be so plucky if you were not so strong," she +sighed, and he loved the tired, whimsical little twist she put into +her reply. It revived the delightful memory of another day. + +To his dismay they came abruptly upon a region abounding in huge +rocks. This was new territory to him. His heart sank. + +"By Jove, I--I believe we are farther away from the road than when we +started. We must have been going up the slope instead of down." + +"In any case, Mr. Barnes," she murmured, "we have found something to +sit down upon." + +He chuckled. "If you can be as cheerful as all that, we sha'n't miss +the cushions," he said, and, for the first time, risked a flash of the +electric torch. The survey was brief. He led her forward a few paces +to a flat boulder, and there they seated themselves. + +"I wonder where we are," she said. + +"I give it up," he replied dismally. "There isn't much sense in +wandering over the whole confounded mountain, Miss Cameron, and not +getting anywhere. I am inclined to suspect that we are above Green +Fancy, but a long way off to the right of it. My bump of direction +tells me that we have been going to the right all of the time. +Admitting that to be the case, I am afraid to retrace our steps. The +Lord only knows what we might blunder into." + +"I think the only sensible thing to do, Mr. Barnes, is to make +ourselves as snug and comfortable as we can and wait for the first +signs of daybreak." + +He scowled,--and was glad that it was too dark for her to see his +face. He wondered if she fully appreciated what would happen to him if +the pursuers came upon him in this forbidding spot. He could almost +picture his own body lying there among the rocks and rotting, while +she--well, she would merely go back to Green Fancy. + +"I fear you do not realise the extreme gravity of the situation." + +"I do, but I also realise the folly of thrashing about in this brush +without in the least knowing where our steps are leading us. Besides, +I am so exhausted that I must be a burden to you. You cannot go on +supporting me--" + +"We must get out of these woods," he broke in doggedly, "if I have to +carry you in my arms." + +"I shall try to keep going," she said quickly. "Forgive me if I seemed +to falter a little. I--I--am ready to go on when you say the word." + +"You poor girl! Hang it all, perhaps you are right and not I. Sit +still and I will reconnoitre a bit. If I can find a place where we can +hide among these rocks, we'll stay here till the sky begins to +lighten. Sit--" + +"No! I shall not let you leave me for a second. Where you go, I go." +She struggled to her feet, suppressing a groan, and thrust a +determined arm through his. + +"That's worth remembering," said he, and whether it was a muscular +necessity or an emotional exaction that caused his arm to tighten on +hers, none save he would ever know. + +After a few minutes prowling among the rocks they came to the face of +what subsequently proved to be a sheer wall of stone. He flashed the +light, and, with an exclamation, started back. Not six feet ahead of +them the earth seemed to end; a yawning black gulf lay beyond. +Apparently they were on the very edge of a cliff. + +"Good Lord, that was a close call," he gasped. He explained in a few +words and then, commanding her to stand perfectly still, dropped to +the ground and carefully felt his way forward. Again he flashed the +light. In an instant he understood. They were on the brink of a +shallow quarry, from which, no doubt, the stone used in building the +foundations at Green Fancy had been taken. + +Lying there, he made swift calculations. There would be a road leading +from this pit up to the house itself. The quarry, no longer of use to +the builder, was reasonably sure to be abandoned. In all probability +some sort of a stone-cutter's shed would be found nearby. It would +provide shelter from the fine rain that was falling and from the chill +night air. He remembered that O'Dowd, in discussing the erection of +Green Fancy the night before, had said that the stone came from a pit +two miles away, where a fine quality of granite had been found. The +quarry belonged to Mr. Curtis, who had refused to consider any offer +from would-be purchasers. Two miles, according to Barnes's quick +calculations, would bring the pit close to the northern boundary of +the Curtis property and almost directly on a line with the point where +he and Sprouse entered the meadow at the beginning of their advance +upon Green Fancy. That being the case, they were now quite close to +the stake and rider fence separating the Curtis land from that of the +farmer on the north. Sprouse and Barnes had hugged this fence during +their progress across the meadow. + +"Good," he said, more to himself than to her. "I begin to see light." + +"Oh, dear! Is there some one down in that hole, Mr.--" + +"Are you afraid to remain here while I go down there for a look +around? I sha'n't be gone more than a couple of minutes." + +"The way I feel at present," she said, jerkily, "I shall never, never +from this instant till the hour in which I die, let go of your coat- +tails, Mr. Barnes." Suiting the action to the word, her fingers +resolutely fastened, not upon the tail of his coat but upon his sturdy +arm. "I wouldn't stay here alone for anything in the world." + +"Heaven bless you," he exclaimed, suddenly exalted. "And, since you +put it that way, I shall always contrive to be within arm's length." + +And so, together, they ventured along the edge of the pit until they +reached the wagon road at the bottom. As he had expected, there was a +ramshackle shed hard by. It was not much of a place, but it was +deserted and a safe shelter for the moment. + +A workman's bench lay on its side in the middle of the earthen floor. +He righted it and drew it over to the boarding.... She laid her head +against his shoulder and sighed deeply.... He kept his eyes glued on +the door and listened for the first ominous sound outside. A long time +afterward she stirred. + +"Don't move," he said softly. "Go to sleep again if you can. I will--" + +"Sleep? I haven't been asleep. I've been thinking all the time, Mr. +Barnes. I've been wondering how I can ever repay you for all the pain, +and trouble, and--" + +"I am paid in full up to date," he said. "I take my pay as I go and am +satisfied." He did not give her time to puzzle it out, but went on +hurriedly: "You were so still I thought you were asleep." + +"As if I could go to sleep with so many things to keep me awake!" She +shivered. + +"Are you cold? You are wet--" + +"It was the excitement, the nervousness, Mr. Barnes," she said, +drawing slightly away from him. He reconsidered the disposition of his +arm. "Isn't it nearly daybreak?" + +He looked at his watch. "Three o'clock," he said, and turned the light +upon her face. "God, you are--" He checked the riotous words that were +driven to his lips by the glimpse of her lovely face. "I-I beg your +pardon!" + +"For what?" she asked, after a moment. + +"For--for blinding you with the light," he floundered. + +"Oh, I can forgive you for that," she said composedly. + +There ensued another period of silence. She remained slightly aloof. + +"You'd better lean against me," he said at last. "I am softer than the +beastly boards, you know, and quite as harmless." + +"Thank you," she said, and promptly settled herself against his +shoulder. "It IS better," she sighed. + +"Would you mind telling me something about yourself, Miss Cameron? +What is the true story of the crown jewels?" + +She did not reply at once. When she spoke it was to ask a question of +him. + +"Do you know who he really is,--I mean the man known to you as Mr. +Loeb?" + +"Not positively. I am led to believe that he is indirectly in line to +succeed to the throne of your country." + +"Tell me something about Sprouse. How did you meet him and what +induced him to take you into his confidence? It is not the usual way +with government agents." + +He told her the story of his encounter and connection with the secret +agent, and part but not all of the man's revelations concerning +herself and the crown jewels. + +"I knew that you were not a native American," he said. "I arrived at +that conclusion after our meeting at the cross-roads. When O'Dowd said +you were from New Orleans, I decided that you belonged to one of the +French or Spanish families there. Either that or you were a fairy +princess such as one reads about in books." + +"And you now believe that I am a royal--or at the very worst--a noble +lady with designs on the crown?" There was a faint ripple in her low +voice. + +"I should like to know whether I am to address you as Princess, +Duchess, or--just plain Miss." + +"I am more accustomed to plain Miss, Mr. Barnes, than to either of the +titles you would give me." + +"Don't you feel that I am deserving of a little enlightenment?" he +asked. "I am working literally as well as figuratively in the dark. +Who are you? Why were you a prisoner at Green Fancy? Where and what is +your native land?" + +"Sprouse did not tell you any of these things?" + +"No. I think he was in some doubt himself. I don't blame him for +holding back until he was certain." + +"Mr. Barnes, I cannot answer any one of your questions without +jeopardising a cause that is dearer to me than anything else in all +the world. I am sorry. I pray God a day may soon come when I can +reveal everything to you--and to the world. I am of a stricken +country; I am trying to serve the unhappy house that has ruled it for +centuries and is now in the direst peril. The man you know as Loeb is +a prince of that house. I may say this to you, and it will serve to +explain my position at Green Fancy: he is not the Prince I was led to +believe awaited me there. He is the cousin of the man I expected to +meet, and he is the enemy of the branch of the house that I would +serve. Do not ask me to say more. Trust me as I am trusting you,--as +Sprouse trusted you." + +"May I ask the cause of O'Dowd's apparent defection?" + +"He is not in sympathy with all of the plans advanced by his leader," +she said, after a moment's reflection. + +"Your sympathies are with the Entente Allies, the prince's are +opposed? Is that part of Sprouse's story true?" + +"Yes." + +"And O'Dowd?" + +"O'Dowd is anti-English, Mr. Barnes, if that conveys anything to you. +He is not pro-German. Perhaps you will understand." + +"Wasn't it pretty risky for you to carry the crown jewels around in a +travelling bag, Miss Cameron?" + +"I suppose so. It turned out, however, that it was the safest, surest +way. I had them in my possession for three days before coming to Green +Fancy. No one suspected. They were given into my custody by the +committee to whom they were delivered in New York by the men who +brought them to this country." + +"And why did you bring them to Green Fancy?" + +"I was to deliver them to one of their rightful owners, Mr. Barnes,--a +loyal prince of the blood." + +"But why HERE?" he insisted. + +"He was to take them into Canada, and thence, in good time, to the +palace of his ancestors." + +"I am to understand, then, that not only you but the committee you +speak of, fell into a carefully prepared trap." + +"Yes." + +"You did not know the man who picked you up in the automobile, Miss +Cameron. Why did you take the chance with--" + +"He gave the password, or whatever you may call it, and it could have +been known only to persons devoted to our--our cause." + +"I see. The treachery, therefore, had its inception in the loyal nest. +You were betrayed by a friend." + +"I am sure of it," she said bitterly. "If this man Sprouse does not +succeed in restoring the--oh, I believe I shall kill myself, Mr. +Barnes." + +The wail of anguish in her voice went straight to his heart. + +"He has succeeded, take my word for it. They will be in your hands +before many hours have passed." + +"Is he to come to the Tavern with them? Or am I to meet him--" + +"Good Lord!" he gulped. Here was a contingency he had not considered. +Where and when would Sprouse appear with his booty? "I--I fancy we'll +find him waiting for us at the Tavern." + +"But had you no understanding?" + +"Er--tentatively." The perspiration started on his brow. + +"They will guard the Tavern so closely that we will never be able to +get away from the place," she said, and he detected a querulous note +in her voice. + +"Now don't you worry about that," he said stoutly. + +"I love the comforting way you have of saying things," she murmured, +and he felt her body relax. + +For reasons best known to himself, he failed to respond to this +interesting confession. He was thinking of something else: his amazing +stupidity in not foreseeing the very situation that now presented +itself. Why had he neglected to settle upon a meeting place with +Sprouse in the event that circumstances forced them to part company in +flight? Fearing that she would pursue the subject, he made haste to +branch off onto another line. + +"What is the real object of the conspiracy up there, Miss Cameron?" + +"You must bear with me a little longer, Mr. Barnes," she said, +appealingly. "I cannot say anything now. I am in a very perplexing +position. You see, I am not quite sure that I am right in my +conclusions, and it would be dreadful if I were to make a mistake." + +"If they are up to any game that may work harm to the Allies, they +must not be allowed to go on with it," he said sternly. "Don't wait +too long before exposing them, Miss Cameron." + +"I--I cannot speak now," she said, painfully. + +"You said that to-morrow night would be too late. What did you mean by +that?" + +"Do you insist on pinning me down to--" + +"No. You may tell me to mind my own business, if you like." + +"That is not a nice way to put it, Mr. Barnes. I could never say such +a thing to you." + +He was silent. She waited a few seconds and then removed her head from +his shoulder. He heard the sharp intake of her breath and felt the +convulsive movement of the arm that rested against his. There was no +mistaking her sudden agitation. + +"I will tell you," she said, and he was surprised by the harshness +that came into her voice. "To-morrow morning was the time set for my +marriage to that wretch up there. I could have avoided it only by +destroying myself. If you had come to-morrow night instead of to-night +you would have found me dead, that is all. Now you understand." + +"Good God! You--you were to be forced into a marriage with--why, it is +the most damnable--" + +"O'Dowd,--God bless him!--was my only champion. He knew my father. He--" + +"Listen!" he hissed, starting to his feet. + +"Don't move!" came from the darkness outside. "I have me gun leveled. +I heard me name taken in vain. Thanks for the blessing. I was +wondering whether you would say something pleasant about me,--and, +thank the good Lord, I was patient. But I'd advise you both to sit +still, just the same." + +A chuckle rounded out the gentle admonition of the invisible Irishman. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY,--BUT MR. SPROUSE WAS SMALLER THAN THE +AVERAGE + + +There was not a sound for many seconds. The trapped couple in the +stone-cutter's shed scarcely breathed. She was the first to speak. + +"I am ready to return with you, Mr. O'Dowd," she said, distinctly. +"There must be no struggle, no blood-shed. Anything but that." + +She felt Barnes's body stiffen and caught the muttered execration that +fell from his lips. + +O'Dowd spoke out of the darkness: "You forget that I have your own +word for it that ye'll be a dead woman before the day is over. +Wouldn't it be better for me to begin shooting at once and spare your +soul the everlasting torture that would begin immediately after your +self-produced decease?" + +A little cry of relief greeted this quaint sally. "You have my word +that I will return with you quietly if--" + +"Thunderation!" exclaimed Barnes wrathfully. "What do you think I am? +A worm that--" + +"Easy, easy, me dear man," cautioned O'Dowd. "Keep your seat. Don't be +deceived by my infernal Irish humour. It is my way to be always +polite, agreeable and--prompt. I'll shoot in a second if ye move one +step outside that cabin." + +"O'Dowd, you haven't the heart to drag her back to that beast of a--" + +"Hold hard! We'll come to the point without further palavering. Where +are ye dragging her yourself, ye rascal?" + +"To a place where she will be safe from insult, injury, degradation--" + +"Well, I have no fault to find with ye for that," said O'Dowd. "Bedad, +I didn't believe you had the nerve to tackle the job. To be honest +with you, I hadn't the remotest idea who the divvil you were, either +of you, until I heard your voices. You may be interested to know that +up to the moment I left the house your absence had not been noticed, +my dear Miss Cameron. And as for you, my dear Barnes, your visit is +not even suspected. By this time, of course, the list of the missing +at Green Fancy is headed by an honourable and imperishable name,-- +which isn't Cameron,--and there is an increased wailing and gnashing +of teeth. How the divvil did ye do it, Barnes?" + +"Are you disposed to be friendly, O'Dowd?" demanded Barnes. "If you +are not, we may just as well fight it out now as later on. I do not +mean to submit without a--" + +"You are not to fight!" she cried in great agitation. "What are you +doing? Put it away! Don't shoot!" + +"Is it a gun he is pulling" inquired O'Dowd calmly. "And what the +deuce are you going to aim at, me hearty?" + +"It may sound cowardly to you, O'Dowd, but I have an advantage over +you in the presence of Miss Cameron. You don't dare shoot into this +shed. You--" + +"Lord love ye, Barnes, haven't you my word that I will not shoot +unless ye try to come out? And I know you wouldn't use her for a +shield. Besides, I have a bull's-eye lantern with me. From the +luxurious seat behind this rock I could spot ye in a second. Confound +you, man, you ought to thank me for being so considerate as not to +flash it on you before. I ask ye now, isn't that proof that I'm a +gentleman and not a bounder? Having said as much, I now propose +arbitration. What have ye to offer in the shape of concessions?" + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"I'll be explicit. Would you mind handing over that tin box in +exchange for my polite thanks and a courteous good-by to both of ye?" + +"Tin box?" cried Barnes. + +"We have no box of any description, Mr. O'Dowd," cried she, +triumphantly. "Thank heaven, he got safely away!" + +"Do you mean to tell me you came away without the--your belongings, +Miss Cameron?" exclaimed O'Dowd. + +"They are not with me," she replied. Her grasp on Barnes's arm +tightened. "Oh, isn't it splendid? They did not catch him. He--" + +"Catch him? Catch who?" cried O'Dowd. + +"Ah, that is for you to find out, my dear O'Dowd," said Barnes, +assuming a satisfaction he did not feel. + +"Well, I'll be--jiggered," came in low, puzzled tones from the rocks +outside. "Did you have a--a confederate, Barnes? Didn't you do the +whole job yourself?" + +"I did my part of the job, as you call it, O'Dowd, and nothing more." + +"Will you both swear on your sacred honour that ye haven't the jewels +in your possession?" + +"Unhesitatingly," said Barnes. + +"I swear, Mr. O'Dowd." + +"Then," said he, "I have no time to waste here. I am looking for a tin +box. I beg your pardon for disturbing you." + +"Oh, Mr. O'Dowd, I shall never forget all that you have--" + +"Whist, now! There is one thing I must insist on your forgetting +completely: all that has happened in the last five minutes. I shall +put no obstacles in your way. You may go with my blessings. The only +favour I ask in return is that you never mention having seen me to- +night." + +"We can do that with a perfectly clear conscience," said Barnes. "You +are absolutely invisible." + +"What I am doing now, Mr. Barnes," said O'Dowd seriously, "would be my +death sentence if it ever became known." + +"It shall never be known through me, O'Dowd. I'd like to shake your +hand, old man." + +"God bless you, Mr. O'Dowd," said the girl in a low, small voice, +singularly suggestive of tears. "Some day I may be in a position to--" + +"Don't say it! You'll spoil everything if you let me think you are in +my debt. Bedad, don't be so sure I sha'n't see you again, and soon. +You are not out of the woods yet." + +"Tell me how to find Hart's Tavern, old man. I'll--" + +"No, I'm dashed if I do. I leave you to your own devices. You ought to +be grateful to me for not stopping you entirely, without asking me to +give you a helping hand. Good-bye, and God bless you. I'm praying that +ye get away safely, Miss Cameron. So long, Barnes. If you were a crow +and wanted to roost on that big tree in front of Hart's Tavern, I dare +say you'd take the shortest way there by flying as straight as a +bullet from the mouth of this pit, following your extremely good- +looking nose." + +They heard him rattle off among the loose stones and into the brush. A +long time afterward, when the sounds had ceased, Barnes said, from the +bottom of a full heart: + +"I shall always feel something warm stirring within me when I think of +that man." + +"He is a gallant gentleman," said she simply. + +They did not wait for the break of day. Taking O'Dowd's hint, Barnes +directed his steps straight out from the mouth of the quarry and +pressed confidently onward. Their progress was swifter than before and +less cautious. The thought had come to him that the men from Green +Fancy would rush to the outer edges of the Curtis land and seek to +intercept, rather than to overtake, the fugitive. In answer to a +question she informed him that there were no fewer than twenty-five +men on the place, all of them shrewd, resolute and formidable. + +"The women, who are they, and what part do they play in this +enterprise?" he inquired, during a short pause for rest. + +"Mrs. Collier is the widow of a spy executed in France at the +beginning of the war. She is an American and was married to a--to a +foreigner. The Van Dykes are very rich Americans,--at least she has a +great deal of money. Her husband was in the diplomatic service some +years ago but was dismissed. There was a huge gambling scandal and he +was involved. His wife is determined to force her way into court +circles in Europe. She has money, she is clever and unprincipled, and +--I am convinced that she is paying in advance for future favours and +position at a certain court. She--" + +"In other words, she is financing the game up at Green Fancy." + +"I suppose so. She has millions, I am told. Mr. De Soto is a Spaniard, +born and reared in England. All of them are known in my country." + +"I can't understand a decent chap like O'Dowd being mixed up in a +rotten--" + +"Ah, but you do not understand. He is a soldier of fortune, an +adventurer. His heart is better than his reputation. It is the love of +intrigue, the joy of turmoil that commands him. He has been mixed up, +as you say, in any number of secret enterprises, both good and bad. +His sister's children are the owners of Green Fancy. I know her well. +It was through Mr. O'Dowd that I came to Green Fancy. Too late he +realised that it was a mistake. He was deceived. He has known me for +years and he would not have exposed me to----But come! As he has said, +we are not yet out of the woods." + +"I cannot, for the life of me, see why they took chances on inviting +me to the house, Miss Cameron. They must have known that--" + +"It was a desperate chance but it was carefully considered, you may be +sure. They are clever, all of them. They were afraid of you. It was +necessary to deal openly, boldly, with you if your suspicions were to +be removed." + +"But they must have known that you would appeal to me." + +She was silent for a moment, and when she spoke it was with great +intensity. "Mr. Barnes, I had your life in my hands all the time you +were at Green Fancy. It was I who took the desperate chance. I shudder +now when I think of what might have happened. Before you were asked to +the house, I was coolly informed that you would not leave it alive if +I so much as breathed a word to you concerning my unhappy plight. The +first word of an appeal to you would have been the signal for--for +your death. That is what they held over me. They made it very clear to +me that nothing was to be gained by an appeal to you. You would die, +and I would be no better off than before. It was I who took the +chance. When I spoke to you on the couch that night, I--oh, don't you +see? Don't you see that I wantonly, cruelly, selfishly risked YOUR +life,--not my own,--when I--" + +"There, there, now!" he cried, consolingly, as she put her hands to +her face and gave way to sobs. "Don't let THAT worry you. I am here +and alive, and so are you, and--for Heaven's sake don't do that! I--I +simply go all to pieces when I hear a woman crying. I--" + +"Forgive me," she murmured. "I didn't mean to be so silly." + +"It helps, to cry sometimes," he said lamely. + +The first faint signs of day were struggling out of the night when +they stole across the road above Hart's Tavern and made their way +through the stable-yard to the rear of the house. His one thought was +to get her safely inside the Tavern. There he could defy the legions +of Green Fancy, and from there he could notify her real friends, +deliver her into their keeping,--and then regret the loss of her! + +The door was locked. He delivered a series of resounding kicks upon +its stout face. Revolver in hand, he faced about and waited for the +assault of the men who, he was sure, would come plunging around the +corner of the building in response to the racket. He was confident +that the approach to the Tavern was watched by desperate men from +Green Fancy, and that an encounter with them was inevitable. But there +was no attack. Save for his repeated pounding on the door, there was +no sign of life about the place. + +At last there were sounds from within. A key grated in the lock and a +bolt was shot. The door flew open. Mr. Clarence Dillingford appeared +in the opening, partially dressed, his hair sadly tumbled, his eyes +blinking in the light of the lantern he held aloft. + +"Well, what the--" Then his gaze alighted on the lady. "My God," he +gulped, and instantly put all of his body except the head and one arm +behind the door. + +Barnes crowded past him with his faltering charge, and slammed the +door. Moreover, he quickly shot the bolt. + +"For the love of--" began the embarrassed Dillingford. "What the dev-- +I say, can't you see that I'm not dressed? What the--" + +"Give me that lantern," said Barnes, and snatched the article out of +the unresisting hand. "Show me the way to Miss Thackeray's room, +Dillingford. No time for explanations. This lady is a friend of mine." + +"Well, for the love of--" + +"I will take you to Miss Thackeray's room," said Barnes, leading her +swiftly through the narrow passage. "She will make you comfortable for +the--that is until I am able to secure a room for you. Come on, +Dillingford." + +"My God, Barnes, have you been in an automobile smash-up? You--" + +"Don't wake the house! Where is her room?" + +"You know just as well as I do. All right,--all right! Don't bite me! +I'm coming." + +Miss Thackeray was awake. She had heard the pounding. Through the +closed door she asked what on earth was the matter. + +"I have a friend here,--a lady. Will you dress as quickly as possible +and take her in with you for a little while?" He spoke as softly as +possible. + +There was no immediate response from the inside. Then Miss Thackeray +observed, quite coldly: "I think I'd like to hear the lady's voice, if +you don't mind. I recognise yours perfectly, Mr. Barnes, but I am not +in the habit of opening my--" + +"Mr. Barnes speaks the truth," said Miss Cameron. "But pray do not +disturb--" + +"I guess I don't need to dress," said Miss Thackeray, and opened her +door. "Come in, please. I don't know who you are or what you've been +up to, but there are times when women ought to stand together. And +what's more, I sha'n't ask any questions." + +She closed the door behind the unexpected guest, and Barnes gave a +great sigh of relief. + +"Say, Mr. Barnes," said Miss Thackeray, several hours later, coming +upon him in the hall; "I guess I'll have to ask you to explain a +little. She's a nice, pretty girl, and all that, but she won't open +her lips about anything. She says you will do the talking. I'm a good +sport, you know, and not especially finicky, but I'd like to--" + +"How is she? Is she resting? Does she seem--" + +"Well, she's stretched out in my bed, with my best nightie on, and she +seems to be doing as well as could be expected," said Miss Thackeray +dryly. + +"Has she had coffee and--" + +"I am going after it now. It seems that she is in the habit of having +it in bed. I wish I had her imagination. It would be great to imagine +that all you have to do is to say 'I think I'll have coffee and rolls +and one egg' sent up, and then go on believing your wish would come +true. Still, I don't mind. She seems so nice and pathetic, and in +trouble, and I--" + +"Thank you, Miss Thackeray. If you will see that she has her coffee, +I'll--I'll wait for you here in the hall and try to explain. I can't +tell you everything at present,--not without her consent,--but what I +do tell will be sufficient to make you think you are listening to a +chapter out of a dime novel." + +He had already taken Putnam Jones into his confidence. He saw no other +way out of the new and somewhat extraordinary situation. + +His uneasiness increased to consternation when he discovered that +Sprouse had not yet put in an appearance. What had become of the man? +He could not help feeling, however, that somehow the little agent +would suddenly pop out of the chimney in his room, or sneak in through +a crack under the door,--and laugh at his fears. + +His lovely companion, falling asleep, blocked all hope of a council of +war, so to speak. Miss Thackeray refused to allow her to be disturbed. +She listened with sparkling eyes to Barnes's curtailed account of the +exploit of the night before. He failed to mention Mr. Sprouse. It was +not an oversight. + +"Sort of white slavery game, eh?" she said, with bated breath. "Good +gracious, Mr. Barnes, if this story ever gets into the newspapers +you'll be the grandest little hero in--" + +"But it must never get into the newspapers," he cried. + +"It ought to," she proclaimed stoutly. "When a gang of white slavers +kidnap a girl like that and--" + +"I'm not saying it was that," he protested, uncomfortably. + +"Well, I guess I'll talk to her about that part of the story," said +Miss Thackeray sagely. "And as you say, mum's the word. We don't want +them to get onto the fact that she's here. That's the idea, isn't it?" + +"Absolutely." + +"Then," she said, wrinkling her brow, "I wouldn't repeat this story to +Mr. Lyndon Rushcroft, father of yours truly. He would blab it all over +the county. The greatest press stuff in the world. Listen to it: +'Lyndon Rushcroft, the celebrated actor, takes part in the rescue of a +beautiful heiress who falls into the hands of So and So, the king of +kidnappers.' That's only a starter. So we'd better let him think she +just happened in. You fix it with old Jones, and I'll see that Dilly +keeps his mouth shut. I fear I shall have to tell Mr. Bacon." She +blushed. "I have always sworn I'd never marry any one in the +profession, but--Mr. Bacon is not like other actors, Mr. Barnes. You +will say so yourself when you know him better. He is more like a--a-- +well, you might say a poet. His soul is--but, you'll think I'm nutty +if I go on about him. As soon as she awakes, I'll take her up to the +room you've engaged for her, and I'll lend her some of my duds, bless +her heart. What an escape she's had! Oh, my God!" + +She uttered the exclamation in a voice so full of horror that Barnes +was startled. + +"What is it, Miss Thack--" + +"Why, they might have nabbed me yesterday when I was up there in the +woods! And I don't know what kind of heroism goes with a poetic +nature. I'm afraid Mr. Bacon--" + +He laughed. "I am sure he would have acted like a man." + +"If you were to ask father, he'd say that Mr. Bacon can't act like a +man to save his soul. He says he acts like a fence-post." + +Shortly before the noon hour, Peter Ames halted the old automobile +from Green Fancy in front of the Tavern and out stepped O'Dowd, +followed by no less a personage than the pseudo Mr. Loeb. There were a +number of travelling bags in the tonneau of the car. + +Catching sight of Barnes, the Irishman shouted a genial greeting. + +"The top of the morning to ye. You remember Mr. Loeb, don't you? Mr. +Curtis's secretary." + +He shook hands with Barnes. Loeb bowed stiffly and did not extend his +hand. + +"Mr. Loeb is leaving us for a few days on business. Will you be moving +on yourself soon, Mr. Barnes?" + +"I shall hang around here a few days longer," said Barnes, +considerably puzzled but equal to the occasion. "Still interested in +our murder mystery, you know." + +"Any new developments?" + +"Not to my knowledge." He ventured a crafty "feeler." "I hear, +however, that the state authorities have asked assistance of the +secret service people in Washington. That would seem to indicate that +there is more behind the affair than--" + +"Have I not maintained from the first, Mr. O'Dowd, that it is a case +for the government to handle?" interrupted Loeb. He spoke rapidly and +with unmistakable nervousness. Barnes remarked the extraordinary +pallor in the man's face and the shifty, uneasy look in his dark eyes. +"It has been my contention, Mr. Barnes, that those men were trying to +carry out their part of a plan to inflict--" + +"Lord love ye, Loeb, you are not alone in that theory," broke in +O'Dowd hastily. "I think we're all agreed on that. Good morning, Mr. +Boneface," he called out to Putnam Jones who approached at that +juncture. "We are sadly in want of gasoline." + +Peter had backed the car up to the gasoline hydrant at the corner of +the building and was waiting for some one to replenish his tank. +Barnes caught the queer, perplexed look that the Irishman shot at him +out of the corner of his eye. + +"Perhaps you'd better see that the scoundrels don't give us short +measure, Mr. Loeb," said O'Dowd. Loeb hesitated for a second, and +then, evidently in obedience to a command from the speaker's eye, +moved off to where Peter was opening the intake. Jones followed, +bawling to some one in the stable-yard. + +O'Dowd lowered his voice. "Bedad, your friend made a smart job of it +last night. He opened the tank back of the house and let every damn' +bit of our gas run out. Is she safe inside?" + +"Yes, thanks to you, old man. You didn't catch him?" + +"Not even a whiff of him," said the other lugubriously. "The devil's +to pay. In the name of God, how many were in your gang last night?" + +"That is for Mr. Loeb to find out," said Barnes shrewdly. + +"Barnes, I let you off last night, and I let her off as well. In +return, I ask you to hold your tongue until the man down there gets a +fair start. "O'Dowd was serious, even imploring. + +"What would she say to that, O'Dowd? I have to consider her interests, +you know." + +"She'd give him a chance for his white alley, I'm sure, in spite of +the way he treated her. There is a great deal at stake, Barnes. A +day's start and--" + +"Are you in danger too, O'Dowd?" + +"To be sure,--but I love it. I can always squirm out of tight places. +You see, I am putting myself in your hands, old man." + +"I would not deliberately put you in jeopardy, O'Dowd." + +"See here, I am going back to that house up yonder. There is still +work for me there. What I'm after now is to get him on the train at +Hornville. I'll be here again at four o'clock, on me word of honour. +Trust me, Barnes. When I explain to her, she'll agree that I'm doing +the right thing. Bedad, the whole bally game is busted. Another week +and we'd have--but, there ye are! It's all up in the air, thanks to +you and your will-o'-the-wisp rascals. You played the deuce with +everything." + +"Do you mean to say that you are coming back here to run the risk of +being--" + +"We've had word that the government has men on the way. They'll be +here to-night or to-morrow, working in cahoots with the fellows across +the border. Why, damn it all, Barnes, don't you know who it was that +engineered that whole business last night?" He blurted it out angrily, +casting off all reserve. + +Barnes smiled. "I do. He is a secret agent from the embassy--" + +"Secret granny!" almost shouted O'Dowd. "He is the slickest, cleverest +crook that ever drew the breath of life. And he's got away with the +jewels, for which you can whistle in vain, I'm thinking." + +"For Heaven's sake, O'Dowd--" began Barnes, his blood like ice in his +veins. + +"But don't take my word for it. Ask her,--upstairs there, God bless +her!--ask her if she knows Chester Naismith. She'll tell ye, my bucko. +He's been standing guard outside her window for the past three nights. +He's--" + +"Now, I know you are mistaken," cried Barnes, a wave of relief surging +over him. "He has been in this Tavern every night--" + +"Sure he has. But he never was here after eleven o'clock, was he? +Answer me, did ye ever see him here after eleven in the evening? You +did not,--not until last night, anyhow. In the struggle he had with +Nicholas last night his whiskers came off and he was recognised. +That's why poor old Nicholas is lying dead up there at the house now, +--and will have a decent burial unbeknownst to anybody but his +friends." + +"Whiskers? Dead?" jerked from Barnes's lips. + +"Didn't you know he had false ones on?" + +"He did not have them on when he left me," declared Barnes. "Good God, +O'Dowd, you can't mean that he--he killed--" + +"He stuck a knife in his neck. The poor devil died while I was out +skirmishing, but not before he whispered in the chief's ear the name +of the man who did for him. The dirty snake! And the chief trusted him +as no crook ever was trusted before. He knew him for what he was, but +he thought he was loyal. And this is what he gets in return for saving +the dog's life in Buda Pesth three years ago. In the name of God, +Barnes, how did you happen to fall in with the villain?" + +Barnes passed his hand over his brow, dazed beyond the power of +speech. His gaze rested on Putnam Jones. Suddenly something seemed to +have struck him between the eyes. He almost staggered under the +imaginary impact. Jones! Was Jones a party to this--He started +forward, an oath on his lips, prepared to leap upon the man and +throttle the truth out of him. As abruptly he checked himself. The +cunning that inspired the actions of every one of these people had +communicated itself to him. A false move now would ruin everything. +Putnam Jones would have to be handled with gloves, and gently at that. + +"He--he represented himself as a book-agent," he mumbled, striving to +collect himself. "Jones knew him. Said he had been around here for +weeks. I--I-- + +"That's the man," said O'Dowd, scowling. "He trotted all over the +county, selling books. For the love of it, do ye think? Not much. He +had other fish to fry, you may be sure. I talked with him the night +you dined at Green Fancy. He beat you to the Tavern, I dare say. It +was his second night on guard below the--below her window. He told me +how he shinned up and down one of these porch posts, so as not to let +old Jones get onto the fact he was out of his room. He had old Jones +fooled as badly--What are you glaring at HIM for? I was about to say +he had old Jones as badly fooled as you--or worse, damn him. Barnes, +if we ever lay hands on that friend of yours,--well, he won't have to +fry in hell. He'll be burnt alive. Thank God, my mind's at rest on one +score. SHE didn't skip out with him. They all think she did. Not one +of them suspects that she came away with you. There is plenty of +evidence that she let him in through her window--" + +"All ready, O'Dowd," called Loeb. "Come along, please." + +"Coming," said the Irishman. To Barnes: "Don't blame yourself, old +man. You are not the only one who has been hoodwinked. He fooled men a +long shot keener than you are, so--All right! Coming. See you later, +Barnes. So long!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FIRST WAYFARER VISITS A SHRINE, CONFESSES, AND TAKES AN OATH + + +How was he to find the courage to impart the appalling news to her? He +was now convinced beyond all doubt that the so-called Sprouse had made +off with the priceless treasure and that only a miracle could bring +about its recovery. O'Dowd's estimate of the man's cleverness was +amply supported by what Barnes knew of him. He knew him to be the +personification of craftiness, and of daring. It was not surprising +that he had been tricked by this devil's own genius. He recalled his +admiration, his wonder over the man's artfulness; he groaned as he +thought of the pride he had felt in being accorded the privilege of +helping him! + +Sitting glumly in a corner of the tap-room, watching but not listening +to the spouting Mr. Rushcroft, (who was regaling the cellarer and two +vastly impressed countrymen with the story of his appearance before +Queen Victoria and the Royal Family), Barnes went over the events of +the past twenty-four hours, deriving from his reflections a few fairly +reasonable deductions as to his place in the plans of the dauntless +Mr. Sprouse. + +In the first place, Sprouse, being aware of his somewhat ardent +interest in the fair captive, took a long and desperate chance on his +susceptibility. With incomprehensible boldness he decided to make an +accomplice of the eager and unsuspecting knight-errant! His cunningly +devised tale,--in which there was more than a little of the truth,-- +served to excite the interest and ultimately to win the co-operation +of the New Yorker. His object in enlisting this support was now +perfectly clear to the victim of his duplicity. Barnes had admitted +that he was bound by a promise to aid the prisoner in an effort to +escape from the house; even a slow-witted person would have reached +the conclusion that a partial understanding at least existed between +captive and champion. Sprouse staked everything on that conviction. +Through Barnes he counted on effecting an entrance to the almost +hermetically sealed house. + +Evidently the simplest, and perhaps the only, means of gaining +admission was through the very window he was supposed to guard. Once +inside her room, with the aid and connivance of one in whom the +occupant placed the utmost confidence, he would be in a position to +employ his marvellous talents in accomplishing his own peculiar ends. + +Barnes recalled all of the elaborate details preliminary to the actual +performance of that amazing feat, and realised to what extent he had +been shaped into a tool to be used by the master craftsman. He saw +through the whole Machiavellian scheme, and he was now morally certain +that Sprouse would have sacrificed him without the slightest +hesitation. + +In the event that anything went wrong with their enterprise, the man +would have shot him dead and earned the gratitude and commendation of +his associates! There would be no one to question him, no one to say +that he had failed in the duty set upon him by the master of the +house. He would have been glorified and not crucified by his friends. + +Up to the point when he actually passed through the window Sprouse +could have justified himself by shooting the would-be rescuer. Up to +that point, Barnes was of inestimable value to him; after that,--well, +he had proved that he was capable of taking care of himself. + +Mr. Dillingford came and pronounced sentence. He informed the rueful +thinker that the young lady wanted to see him at once in Miss +Thackeray's room. + +With a heavy heart he mounted the stairs. At the top he paused to +deliberate. Would it not be better to keep her in ignorance? What was +to be gained by revealing to her the--But Miss Thackeray was luring +him on to destruction. She stood outside the door and beckoned. That +in itself was ominous. Why should she wriggle a forefinger at him +instead of calling out in her usual free-and-easy manner? There was +foreboding-- + +"Is Mr. Barnes coming?" His heart bounded perceptibly at the sound of +that soft, eager voice from the interior of the room. + +"By fits and starts," said Miss Thackeray critically. "Yes, he has +started again." + +She closed the door from the outside, and Barnes was alone with the +cousin of kings and queens and princes. + +"I feared you had deserted me," she said, holding out her hand to him +as he strode across the room. S he did not rise from the chair in +which she was seated by the window. The lower wings of the old- +fashioned shutters were closed except for a narrow strip; light +streamed down upon her wavy golden hair from the upper half of the +casement. She was attired in a gorgeously flowered dressing-gown; he +had seen it once before, draping the matutinal figure of Miss +Thackeray as she glided through the hall with a breakfast tray which +Miss Tilly had flatly refused to carry to her room: being no servant, +she declared with heat. + +"I saw no occasion to disturb your rest," he mumbled. "Nothing-- +nothing new has turned up." + +"I have been peeping," she said, looking at him searchingly. A little +line of anxiety lay between her eyes. "Where is Mr. Loeb going, Mr. +Barnes?" + +He noted the omission of Mr. O'Dowd. "To Hornville, I believe. They +stopped for gasoline." + +"Is he running away?" was her disconcerting question. + +"O'Dowd says he is to be gone for a few days on business," he +equivocated. + +"He will not return," she said quietly. "He is a coward at heart. Oh, +I know him well," she went on, scorn in her voice. + +"Was I wrong in not trying to stop him?" he asked. + +She pondered this for a moment. "No," she said, but he caught the +dubious note in her voice. "It is just as well, perhaps, that he +should disappear. Nothing is to be gained now by his seizure. Next +week, yes; but to-day, no. His flight to-day spares--but we are more +interested in the man Sprouse. Has he returned?" + +"No, Miss Cameron," said he ruefully. And then, without a single +reservation, he laid bare the story of Sprouse's defection. When he +inquired if she had heard of the man known as Chester Naismith, she +confirmed his worst fears by describing him as the guard who watched +beneath her window. He was known to her as a thief of international +fame. The light died out of her lovely eyes as the truth dawned upon +her; her lips trembled, her shoulders drooped. + +"What a fool I've been," she mourned. "What a fool I was to accept the +responsibility of--" + +"Don't blame yourself," he implored. "Blame me. I am the fool, the +stupidest fool that ever lived. He played with me as if I were the +simplest child." + +"Ah, my friend, why do you say that? Played with you? He has tricked +some of the shrewdest men in the world. There are no simple children +at Green Fancy. They are men with the brains of foxes and the hearts +of wolves. To deceive you was child's play. You are an honest man. It +is always the honest man who is the victim; he is never the culprit. +If honest men were as smart as the corrupt ones, Mr. Barnes, there +would be no such thing as crime. If the honest man kept one hand on +his purse and the other on his revolver, he would be more than a match +for the thief. You were no match for Chester Naismith. Do not look so +glum. The shrewdest police officers in Europe have never been able to +cope with him. Why should you despair?" + +He sprang to his feet. "By gad, he hasn't got away with it yet," he +grated. "He is only one man against a million. I will set every cog in +the entire police and detective machinery of the United States going. +He cannot escape. They will run him to earth before--" + +"Mr. Barnes, I have no words to express my gratitude to you for all +that you have done and all that you still would do," she interrupted. +"I may prove it to you, however, by advising you to abandon all +efforts to help me from now on. You did all that you set out to do, +and I must ask no more of you. You risked your life to save a woman +who, for all you know, may be deceiving you with--" + +"I have not lost all of my senses, Miss Cameron," he said bluntly. +"The few that I retain make me your slave. I shall abandon neither you +nor the effort to recover what my stupidity has cost you. I will run +this scoundrel down if I have to devote the remainder of my life to +the task." + +She sighed. "Alas, I fear that I shall have to tell you a little more +about this wonderful man you know as Sprouse. Six months ago the +friends and supporters of the legitimate successor to my country's +throne, consummated a plan whereby the crown jewels and certain +documents of state were surreptitiously removed from the palace +vaults. The act, though meant to be a loyal and worthy one, was +nevertheless nullified by the most stupendous folly. Instead of +depositing the treasure in Paris, it was sent to this country in +charge of a group of men whose fealty could not be questioned. I am +not at liberty to tell you how this treasure was brought into the +United States without detection by the Customs authorities. Suffice it +to say, it was delivered safely to a committee of my countrymen in New +York. There are two contenders for the throne in my land. One is a +prisoner in Austria, the other is at liberty somewhere in--in the +world. The Teutonic Allies are now in possession of my country. It has +been ravished and despoiled." + +"So far Sprouse's story jibes," said he, as she paused. + +"My countrymen conceived the notion that Germany would one day conquer +France and over-run England. It was this notion that urged them to put +the treasure beyond all possible chance of its being seized by the +conquerors and turned over to the usurping prince who would be placed +on our throne. + +"As for my part in this unhappy project, it is quite simple. I was not +the only one to be deceived by plotters who far outstripped the +original conspirators in cleverness and guile. The man you know as +Loeb is in reality my cousin. I have known him all my life. He is the +youngest brother of the pretender to the throne, and a cousin of the +prince who is held prisoner by the Austrians. This prince has a +brother also, and it was to him that I was supposed to deliver the +jewels. He came to Canada a month ago, sent by the embassy in Paris. I +travelled from New York, but not alone as you may suspect. I was +carefully protected from the time I left my hotel there until--well, +until I arrived in Boston. + +"While there I received a secret message from friends in Canada +directing me to go to Spanish Falls, where I would be met and +conducted to Green Fancy by Prince Sebastian himself. I was on my way +to Halifax when this message changed my plans. Moreover, the reason +given for this change was an excellent one. It had been discovered +that the two men who acted secretly as my escort were traitors. They +were to lead me into a trap prepared at Portland, where I was to be +robbed and detained long enough for the wretches to make off in safety +with their booty. I need not describe my feelings. I obeyed the +directions and stole away at night, eluding my protectors, and came by +devious ways to the place mentioned in the message. + +"As you may have guessed by this time, the whole thing was a carefully +planned ruse. The company at Green Fancy,--you may some day know why +they were there,--learned through the man Naismith that the treasure +had been entrusted to me for delivery to Prince Sebastian and his +friends in Halifax. Let me interrupt myself to explain why the Prince +did not come to New York in person, instead of arranging to have the +jewels taken to him at Halifax. He is an officer of high rank in the +army. His trip across the ocean was known to the German secret +service. The instant he landed on American soil, a demand would have +been made by the German Embassy for his detention here for the +duration of the war. + +"I was informed in the message that Prince Sebastian would take me to +the place called Green Fancy, which was near the Canadian border. A +safe escort would be provided for us, and we would be on British soil +within a few hours after our meeting. It is only necessary to add that +when I arrived at Green Fancy I met Prince Ugo,--and understood! I had +carefully covered my tracks after leaving Boston. My real friends +were, and still are, completely in the dark as to my movements, so +skilfully was the trick managed. I shall ask you directly, Mr. Barnes, +to wire my friends in New York and in Halifax, acquainting them with +my present whereabouts and safety. Now, that we know the jewels have +been stolen again, that message need not be delayed. + +"And now for Chester Naismith. It was he who, acting for the misguided +loyalists and recommended by certain young aristocrats who by virtue +of their own dissipations had come to know him as a man of infinite +resourcefulness and daring, planned and carried out the pillaging of +the palace vaults. Almost under the noses of the foreign guards he +succeeded in obtaining the jewels. No doubt he could have made off +with them at that time, but he shrewdly preferred to have them brought +to America by some one else. It would have been impossible for him to +dispose of them in Europe. The United States was the only place in the +world where he could have sold them. You see how cunning he is? + +"This much I know: he came to New York with the men who carried the +jewels. He tried to rob them in New York but failed. Then he +disappeared. So carefully guarded were the jewels that he knew there +was no chance of securing them without assistance. For nearly six +months they remained in a safety vault on Fifth Avenue. Evidently he +gave up hope and, falling in with Prince Ugo, joined his party. I do +not know this to be the case, but I am now convinced that he learned +of the plan to send the jewels to Halifax. It was he, I am sure, who +conveyed this news to Prince Ugo, who at once invented the scheme to +divert me to this place. + +"And now comes the remarkable part of the story. When I arrived at +Spanish Falls, there was no one to meet me. The agent, seeing me on +the platform and evidently at a loss which way to turn, accosted me. +He offered to secure a conveyance for me, and was very considerate, +but I decided to call up Green Fancy on the telephone. I wanted to be +sure that there was no trick. To my surprise, O'Dowd came to the +telephone. I was greatly relieved when I actually heard his voice. I +have known him for years, and the belief that he had at last allied +himself with Prince Sebastian,--after being on the opposite side, you +see,--was cause for rejoicing. + +"He was amazed. It seems that I was not expected until the next +afternoon. The car was out on an errand to some little village in the +mountains, he said, but he would telephone at once to see if it could +be located. Afterwards it turned out that the message announcing my +arrival a day ahead of the time agreed upon was never delivered." + +"Sprouse's fine work, I suppose," put in Barnes. + +"I haven't the remotest doubt. Nor do I doubt that he intended to +waylay me at some point along the road. O'Dowd failed to catch the car +at the village and was on the point of starting off on horseback to +meet me, when it returned. He sent it ahead and followed on horseback. +You know how I was picked up at the cross-roads. It is all so like one +of those picture puzzles. By putting the meaningless pieces together +one obtains a complete design. The last piece to go into this puzzle +is the mishap that befell Naismith on that very afternoon. He was no +doubt thwarted in his design to waylay me on the road from Spanish +Falls by a singular occurrence in this tavern. He was attacked in his +room here shortly after the noon hour, overpowered, bound and gagged +by two men. They carried him to another room, where he remained until +late in the night when he managed to extricate himself. I have reason +to believe that this part of his story is true. He knew the men. They +were thieves as clever and as merciless as himself. They too were +watching for me. I may say to you now, Mr. Barnes, that he has never +posed as an honest man among his associates at Green Fancy. He glories +in his fame as a thief, but until now no one would have questioned his +loyalty to his friends. I do not know how these men learned of my +intention to come to Green Fancy. They--" + +"They came to this tavern four or five days in advance of your arrival +at Green Fancy," he interrupted. + +"Are you sure?" she asked in surprise. + +"Absolutely." + +"In that case, they could not have known," she said, deeply perplexed. + +"Sprouse told me that they were secret service men from abroad and +that he was working with them. Putnam Jones, I am sure, believes that +they were detectives. He also believes the same to be true of Sprouse. +My theory is this, and I think it is justified by events. The men were +really secret agents, sent here to watch the movements of the gang up +there. They came upon Sprouse and recognised him. On the day mentioned +they overpowered him and forced him to reveal certain facts connected +with affairs at Green Fancy. Possibly he led them to believe that you +were one of the conspirators. They waited for your arrival and then +risked the hazardous trip to Green Fancy. They were discovered and +shot." + +She could hardly wait for him to finish. "I believe you are right," +she cried. "A little while before the shooting occurred, the house was +roused by a telephone call. I was in my room, but not asleep. I had +just realised my own dreadful predicament. There was a great commotion +downstairs, and I distinctly heard some one say, in my own language, +that they were not to get away alive. It must have been Naismith who +telephoned. One of the men, I have been told, was killed not far from +our gates. He was shot, I am sure, by the man called Nicholas, noted +as one of the most marvellous marksmen in our little army. The other +was accounted for by Naismith himself, who had managed to reach the +cross-roads in time to head him off. Naismith openly boasted of the +feat. The greatest consternation prevailed at Green Fancy because the +men succeeded in reaching the highway before they were shot. Prince +Ugo was distracted. He said that the attention of the public would be +directed to Green Fancy and curious investigators were certain to +interfere with the great project he was carrying on." + +"I believe we have accounted for Mr. Sprouse, and I am no longer +interested in the unravelling of the mystery surrounding the deaths of +Roon and Paul," said he. "There is nothing to keep me here any longer, +Miss Cameron. I suggest that you allow me to escort you at once to +your friends, wherever they--" + +She was opposed to this plan. While there was still a chance that +Sprouse might be apprehended in the neighbourhood, or the possibility +of his being caught by the relentless pursuers, she declined to leave. + +"Then, I shall also stay," said he promptly, and was repaid by the +tremulous smile she gave him. His heart was beating like mad, and he +knew, in that instant, just what had happened to him. He was +helplessly in love with this beautiful cousin of kings and queens. And +when he thought of kings and queens he realised that beyond all +question his love was hopeless. + +"You are very good to me," she said softly. + +He got up suddenly and walked away. After a moment, in which he +regained control of himself, he returned to her side. + +"What effect will Mr. Loeb's flight have on the scheme up there, Miss +Cameron?" he inquired, quite steadily. + +"They will scatter to the four winds, those people," she said. "He +would not have fled unless disaster was staring him in the face. +Something has transpired to defeat his ugly plan. They will all run to +cover like so many rats." + +"The government of the United States is a good rat-catcher," he said. + +"The United States would do well to keep the rats out, Mr. Barnes, +instead of allowing them to come here and thrive and multiply and gnaw +into its very vitals." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE SECOND WAYFARER IS TRANSFORMED, AND MARRIAGE IS FLOUTED + + +Mr. Rushcroft sent for Barnes at three o'clock. "Come to my room as +soon as possible," was the message delivered by Mr. Bacon. Barnes was +taking a nap. More than that, he was pleasantly dreaming when the +pounding fell upon his door. Awakened suddenly from this elysian dream +he leaped from his bed and rushed to the door, his heart in his mouth. +Something sinister was back of this imperative summons! She was in +fresh peril. The gang from Green Fancy had descended upon the Tavern +in force and-- + +"Sorry to disturb you," said Mr. Bacon, as the door flew open, "but he +says it's important. He says--" + +"I wish you would tell him to go to the devil," said Barnes +wrathfully. + +"Superfluous, I assure you, sir. He says that everything and everybody +is going to the devil, so--" + +"If he wants to see me why doesn't he come to my room? Why should I go +to his?" + +"Lord bless you, don't you know that it's one of the prerogatives of a +star to insist on people coming to him instead of the other way about? +What's the use of being a star if you can't--" + +"Tell him I will come when I get good and ready." + +"Quite so," said Mr. Bacon absently. He did not retire, but stood in +the door, evidently weighing something that was on his mind and +considering the best means of relieving himself of the mental burden. +"Ahem!" he coughed. "Miss Thackeray advises me that you have expressed +a generous interest in our personal"--(He stepped inside the room and +closed the door)--"er--in our private future, so to speak, and I take +this opportunity to thank you, Mr. Barnes. If it isn't asking too much +of you, I'd like you to say a word or two in my behalf to the old man. +You might tell him that you believe I have a splendid future before +me,--and you wouldn't be lying, let me assure you,--and that there is +no doubt in your mind that a Broadway engagement is quite imminent. A +word from you to one of the Broadway managers, by the way, would--" + +"You want me to intercede for you in the matter of two engagements +instead of one, is that it?" + +"I am already engaged to Miss Thackeray,--in a way. The better way to +put it would be for you to intercede in the matter of one marriage and +one engagement. I think he would understand the situation much better +if you put it in that way." + +"Have you spoken to Mr. Rushcroft about it?" + +"Only in a roundabout way. I told him I'd beat his head off if he ever +spoke to Miss Thackeray again as he did last night." + +"Well, that's a fair sort of start," said Barnes, who was brushing his +hair. "What did he say to that?" + +"I don't know. I had to close the door rather hastily. If he said +anything at all it was after the chair hit the door. Ahem! That was +last night. He is as nice as pie this afternoon, so I have an idea +that he busted the chair and doesn't want old Jones to find out about +it." + +"I will say a good word for you," said Barnes, grinning. + +He found Mr. Rushcroft in a greatly perturbed state of mind. + +"I've had telegrams from the three people I mentioned to you, Barnes, +and the damned ingrates refuse to join us unless they get their +railroad fares to Crowndale. Moreover, they had the insolence to send +the telegrams collect. The more you do for the confounded bums, the +more they ask. I once had a leading woman who--" + +Barnes was in no humour to listen to the long-winded reminiscences of +the "star," so he cut him short at once. He ascertained that the +"ingrates" were in New York, on their "uppers," and that they could +not accomplish the trip to Crowndale unless railroad tickets were +provided. The difficulty was bridged in short order by telegrams +requesting the distant players to apply the next day at his office in +New York where tickets to Crowndale would be given them. He +telegraphed his office to buy the tickets and hold them for Miss +Milkens, Mr. Hatcher and Mr. Fling. + +"That completes one of the finest companies, Mr. Barnes, that ever +took the road," said Mr. Rushcroft warmly, forgetting his animosity. +"You will never be associated with a more evenly balanced company of +players, sir. I congratulate you upon your wonderful good fortune in +having such a cast for 'The Duke's Revenge.' If you can maintain a +similar standard of excellence in all of your future productions, you +will go down in history as the most astute theatrical manager of the +day." + +Barnes winced, but was game. "When do you start rehearsals, +Rushcroft?" + +"It is my plan to go to Crowndale to-morrow or the next day, where I +shall meet my company. Rehearsals will undoubtedly start at once. That +would give us--let me see--Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday--four +days. We open on Tuesday night. Oh, by the way, I have engaged a young +woman of most unusual talent to take the minor part of Hortense. You +may have noticed her in the dining-room. Miss Rosamond--er--where did +I put that card?--ah, yes, Miss Floribel Blivens. The poor idiot +insists on Blivens, desiring to perpetuate the family monicker. I have +gotten rid of her spectacles, however, and the name that the +prehistoric Blivenses gave her at the christening." + +"You--you don't mean Miss Tilly?" + +"I do. She is to give notice to Jones to-day. There are more ways than +one of getting even with a scurvy caitiff. In this case, I take old +Jones's best waitress away from him, and, praise God, he'll never find +another that will stick to him for eighteen years as she has done." + +O'Dowd returned late in the afternoon. He was in a hurry to get back +to Green Fancy; there was no mistaking his uneasiness. He drew Barnes +aside. + +"For the love of Heaven, Barnes, get her away from here as soon as +possible, and do it as secretly as you can," he said. "I may as well +tell you that she is in more danger from the government secret service +than from any one up yonder. Understand, I'm not pleading guilty to +anything, but I shall be far, far away from here meself before another +sunrise. That ought to mean something to you." + +"But she has done no wrong. She has not laid herself liable to--" + +"That isn't the point. She has been up there with us, and you don't +want to put her in the position of having to answer a lot of nasty +questions they'll be after asking her if they get their hands on her. +She might be weeks or months clearing herself, innocent though she be. +Mind you, she is as square as anything; she is in no way mixed up with +our affairs up there. But I'm giving you the tip. Sneak her out as +soon as you can, and don't leave any trail." + +"She may prefer to face the music, O'Dowd. If I know her at all, she +will refuse to run away." + +"Then ye'll have to kidnap her," said the Irishman earnestly. "There +will be men swarming here from both sides of the border by to-morrow +night or next day. I've had direct information. The matter is in the +hands of the people at Washington and they are in communication with +Ottawa this afternoon. Never mind how I found it out. It's the gospel +truth, and--it's going to be bad for all of us if we're here when they +come." + +"Who is she, O'Dowd? Man to man, tell me the truth. I want to know +just where I stand." + +O'Dowd hesitated, looked around the tap-room, and then leaned across +the table. + +"She is the daughter of Andreas Mara-Dafanda, former minister of war +in the cabinet of Prince Bolaroz the Sixth. Her mother was first +cousin to the Prince. Both father and mother are dead. And for that +matter, so is Bolaroz the Sixth. He was killed early in this war. His +brother, a prisoner in Austria, as you may already know, is the next +in line for the throne,--if the poor devil lives to get it back from +the Huns. Miss Cameron is in reality the Countess Therese Mara- +Dafanda--familiarly and lovingly known in her own land as the Countess +Ted. She was visiting in this country when the war broke out. If it is +of any use to you, I'll add that she would be rich if Aladdin could +only come to life and restore the splendours of the demolished castle, +refill the chests of gold that have been emptied by the conquerors, +and restock the farms that have been pillaged and devastated. In the +absence of Aladdin, however, she is almost as poor as the ancient +church-mouse. But she has a fortune of her own. Two of the most +glorious rubies in the world represent her lips; her eyes are +sapphires that put to shame the rocks of all the Sultans; when she +smiles, you may look upon pearls that would make the Queen of Sheba's +trinkets look like chinaware; her skin is of the rarest and richest +velvet; her hair is all silk and a yard wide; and, best of all, she +has a heart of pure gold. So there you are, me man. Half the royal +progeny of Europe have been suitors for her hand, and the other half +would be if they didn't happen to be of the same sex." + +"Is she likely to--er--marry any one of them, O'Dowd?" + +"Do you mean, is she betrothed to one of the royal nuts? If I were her +worst enemy I couldn't wish her anything as bad as that. The world is +full of regular men,--like meself, for example,--and 'twould be a pity +to see her wasted upon anything so cheap as a king." + +"Then, she isn't?" + +"Isn't what?" + +"Betrothed." + +"Oh!" He squinted his eyes drolly. "Bedad, if she is, she's kept it a +secret from me. Have you aspirations, me friend?" + +"Certainly not," said Barnes sharply. "By the way, you have mentioned +Prince Bolaroz the Sixth, but you haven't given a name to the country +he ruled." + +O'Dowd stared. "The Saints preserve us! Is the man a numbskull? Are +you saying that you don't know who and what--My God, such ignorance +bewilders me!" + +"Painful as it may be to you, O'Dowd, I don't seem able to place +Bolaroz in his proper realm." + +"Whist, then!" He put his hand to his mouth and whispered a name. + +An incredulous expression came into Barnes's eyes. "Are you jesting +with me, O'Dowd?" + +"I am not." + +"But I thought it was nothing more than a make-believe, imaginary +land, cooked up by some hair-brained novelist for the purpose of--" + +"Well, ye know better now," said O'Dowd crisply. "Good-bye. I must be +on my way. Deliver my best wishes to her, Barnes, and say that if she +ever needs a friend Billy O'Dowd is the boy to respond to any call she +sends out. God willing, I may see her again some day,--and I'll say +the same to you, old man." He arose and held out his hand. "I'm +trusting to you to get her away from these parts before the rat- +catchers come. Don't let 'em bother her. Good-bye and good luck +forever." + +"You are a brick, O'Dowd. I want to see you again. You will always +find me--" + +"Thanks. Don't issue any rash invitations. I might take you up." He +strode to the door, followed by Barnes. + +"Is there anything to be feared from this Prince Ugo or the crowd up +there?" + +"There would be if they knew where they could lay their hands on her +inside of the next ten hours. She could a tale unfold, and they +wouldn't like that. Keep her under cover here till--well, till THAT +danger is past and then keep her out of the danger that is to come." + +Barnes started upstairs as soon as O'Dowd was off, urged by an +eagerness that put wings on his feet and a thrill of excitement in his +blood. Half way up he stopped short. A new condition confronted him. +What was the proper way to approach a person of royal blood? Certainly +it wasn't right to go galumping upstairs and bang on her door, and +saunter in as if she were just like any one else. He would have to +think. + +When he resumed his upward progress it was with a chastened and +deferential mien. Pausing at her door, he was at once aware of voices +inside the room. He stood there for some time before he realised that +Miss Thackeray was repeating, with theatric fervour, though haltingly, +as much of her "part" as she could remember, evidently to the +satisfaction of the cousin of princes, for there were frequent +interruptions which had all the symptoms of applause. + +He rapped on the door, but so timorously that nothing came of it. His +second effort was productive. He heard Miss Thackeray say "good +gracious," and, after a moment, Miss Cameron's subdued: "What is it?" + +"May I come in?" he inquired, rather ashamed of his vigour. "It's only +Barnes." + +"Come in," was her lively response. "It was awfully good of you, Miss +Thackeray, to let me hear your lines. I think you will be a great +success in the part." + +"Thanks," said Miss Thackeray drily. "I'll come in again and let you +hear me in the third act." She went out, mumbling her lines as she +passed Barnes without seeing him. + +"Forgive me for not arising, Mr. Barnes," said Royalty, a wry little +smile on her lips. "I fear I twisted it more severely than I thought +at first. It is really quite painful." + +"Your ankle?" he cried in surprise. "When and how did it happen? I'm +sorry, awfully sorry." + +"It happened last night, just as we were crossing the ditch in front-- +" + +"Last night? Why didn't you tell me? Don't you know that it's wrong to +walk with a sprained ankle? Don't--" + +"Don't be angry with me," she pleaded. "You could not have done +anything." + +"Couldn't I, though? I certainly could have carried you the rest of +the way,--and upstairs." He was conscious of a strange exasperation. +He felt as though he had been deliberately cheated out of something. + +"You poor man! I am quite heavy." + +"Pooh! A hundred and twenty-five at the outside. Do you think I'm a +weakling?" + +"Please, please!" she cried. "You look so--so furious. I know you are +very, very strong,--but so am I. Why should I expect you to carry me +all that distance when--" + +"But, good Lord," he blurted out, "I would have loved to do it. I +can't imagine anything more--I--I--" He broke off in confusion. + +She smiled divinely. "Alas, it is too late now. But--" she went on +gaily, "you may yet have the pleasure of carrying me downstairs, Mr. +Barnes. Will that appease your wrath?" + +He flushed. "I'm sorry I--" + +"See," she said, "it is nicely bandaged,--and if you could see through +the bandages you would find it dreadfully swollen. That nice Miss +Thackeray doctored me. What a quaint person she is." + +His brow clouded once more. "I hope you will feel able to leave this +place to-morrow, Countess. We must get away almost immediately." + +"Ah, you have been listening to O'Dowd, I see." + +"Yes. He tells me it will be dangerous to--" + +"I was thinking of something else that he must have told you. You +forgot to address me as Miss Cameron." + +"I might have gone even farther and called you the Countess Ted," he +said. + +She sighed. "It was rather nice being Miss Cameron to you, Mr. Barnes. +You will not let it make any difference, will you? I mean to say, you +will be just the same as if I were still Miss Cameron and not--some +one else?" + +"I will be just the same," he said, leaning a little closer. "I am not +so easily frightened as all that, you know." + +She looked into his eyes for a moment, and then turned her own swiftly +away. Entranced, he watched the delicate colour steal into her cheek. + +"You are just like other women," he said thickly, "and I am like other +men. We can't help being what we are, Countess. Flesh and blood +mortals, that's all. If a cat may look at a king, why may not I look +at a countess?" + +She met his gaze, but not steadily. Her deep blue eyes were filled +with a vague wonder; she seemed to be searching for something in his +to explain the sudden embarrassment that had come over her. + +"Ah, I do not understand you American men," she murmured, shaking her +head. "A king would have found as much pleasure in looking at Miss +Cameron as at a countess. Why shouldn't YOU?" A radiant smile lighted +her face. "The king would not think of reproving the cat. I see no +reason why you should not look at a poor little countess with +impunity." + +"Do you think it would be possible for you to understand me any better +as Miss Cameron?" he asked bluntly. + +"I think perhaps it would," she said, the smile fading. + +"Then, I shall continue to look upon you as Miss Cameron, Countess. It +will make it easier for both of us." + +"Yes," she said, a little sadly, "I am sure Miss Cameron would not be +half so dense as the Countess. She would understand perfectly. She has +grown to be a very discerning person, Mr. Barnes, notwithstanding her +extreme youth. Miss Cameron is only four days old, you see." + +He bowed very low and said: "My proudest boast is that I have known +her since the day she was born. If I had the tongue and the courage of +O'Dowd I might add a great deal to that statement." + +"A great deal that you would not say to a countess?" she asked, +playing with fire. + +"A great deal that a child four days old could hardly be expected to +grasp, Miss Cameron," he replied, pointedly. "Having lived to a great +age myself, and acquired wisdom, I appreciate the futility of uttering +profound truths to an infant in arms." + +She beamed. "O'Dowd could not have done any better than that," she +cried. Then quickly, even nervously, as he was about to speak again: +"Now, tell me all that Mr. O'Dowd had to say." + +He seated himself and repeated the Irishman's warning. Her eyes +clouded as he went on; utter dejection came into them. + +"He is right. It would be difficult for me to clear myself. My own +people would be against me. No one would believe that I did not +deliberately make off with the jewels. They would say that I--oh, it +is too dreadful!" + +"Don't worry about that," he exclaimed. "You have me to testify that--" + +"How little you know of intrigue," she cried. "They would laugh at you +and say that you were merely another fool who had lost his head over a +woman. They would say that I duped you--" + +"No!" he cried vehemently. "Your people know better than you think. +You are disheartened, discouraged. Things will look brighter to- +morrow. Good heavens, think how much worse it might have been. That-- +that infernal brute was going to force you into a vile, unholy +marriage. He--By the way," he broke off abruptly, "I have been +thinking a lot about what you told me. He couldn't have married you +without your consent. Such a marriage would never hold in a court of-- +" + +"You are wrong," she said quietly. "He could have married me without +my consent, and it would have held,--not in one of your law courts, I +dare say, but in the court to which he and I belong by laws that were +made centuries before America was discovered. A prince of the royal +house may wed whom and when he chooses, provided he does not look too +far beneath his station. He may not wed a commoner. The state would +not recognise such a union. My consent was not necessary." + +"But you are in my country now, not in yours," he argued. "Our laws +would have protected you." + +"You do not understand. Marriages such as he contemplated are made +every year in Europe. Do you suppose that the royal marriages you read +about in the newspapers are made with the consent of the poor little +princes and princesses? Your laws are one thing, Mr. Barnes; our +courts are another. Need I be more explicit?" + +"I think I understand," he said slowly. "Poor wretches!" + +"Prince Ugo is of royal blood. I am not too far beneath him. In my +country his word is the law. The marriage that was to have been +celebrated to-day at Green Fancy would have bound me to him forever. +It would have been recognised in my country as legal. I have not the +right of appeal. I would not even be permitted to question his right +to make me his wife against my will. He is a prince. His will is law." + +"Isn't love allowed to enter into a--" + +"Love?" she scorned. "What has love to do with it? There isn't a queen +in all the world who loves--or loved, I would better say,--the man she +married. Some of them may have grown afterwards to love their kings, +because all kings are not alike. You may be quite sure, however, that +the wives of kings and princes did not marry their ideals; they did +not marry the men they loved. So, you see, it wouldn't have mattered +in the least to Prince Ugo whether I loved him or hated him. It was +all the same to him. It was enough that he loved me and wanted me. And +besides, laying sentiment aside, it wouldn't have been a bad stroke of +business on his part. He has a fair chance to sit on the throne of our +country. By placing me beside him on the throne he would be taking a +long step toward uniting the factions that are now bitterly opposing +each other. I am able to discuss all this very calmly with you now, +Mr. Barnes, for the nightmare is ended. I am here with you, alive and +well. If you had not come for me last night, I would now be sleeping +the long sleep at Green Fancy." + +"You--you would have taken your own life?" he said, in a shocked +voice. + +"I would have spared myself the horror of letting him destroy it in a +slower, more painful fashion," she said, compressing her lips. + +He did not speak at once. Looking into her troubled eyes, he said, +after a soulful moment: "I am glad that I came in time. You were made +to love and be loved. The man you love,--if there ever be one so +fortunate,--will be my debtor to the end of his days. I glorify myself +for having been instrumental in saving you for him." + +"If there ever be one so fortunate," she mused. Suddenly her mood +changed. A new kind of despair came into her lovely eyes, a plaintive +note into her voice. (I may be pardoned for declaring that she became, +in the twinkling of an eye, a real flesh and blood woman.) "I don't +know what I shall do unless I can get something to wear, Mr. Barnes. I +haven't a thing, you see. This suit is--well, you can see what it is. +I--" + +"I've never seen a more attractive suit," he pronounced. "I said as +much to myself the first time I saw it, the other evening at the +cross-roads. It fits--" + +"But I cannot LIVE in it, you know. My boxes are up at Green Fancy,-- +two small ones for steamer use. Everything I have in the world is in +them. Pray do not look so forlorn. You really couldn't have carried +them, Mr. Barnes, and I shudder when I think of what would have +happened to you if I had tumbled them out of the window upon your +head. You would have been squashed, and it isn't unlikely that you +would have aroused every one in the house with your groans and +curses." + +"I dropped a trunk on my toes one time," he said, grinning with a +delight that had nothing to do with the reminiscence. She was quaintly +humorous once more, and he was happy. "I think one swears more +prodigiously when a trunk falls on his toes than he does when it drops +on his head. There is something wonderfully quieting and soothing +about a trunk lighting on one's head from a great height. Don't worry +about your boxes. I have a feeling it will be perfectly safe to call +for them with a wagon to-morrow." + +"I don't know what I should do without you," she said. + +That evening at supper, Barnes and Mr. Rushcroft, to say nothing of +three or four "transients," had great cause for complaint about the +service. Miss Tilly was wholly pre-occupied. She was memorising her +"part." Instead of asking Mr. Rushcroft whether he would have bean +soup or noodles, she wanted to know whether she should speak the line +this way or that. She had a faraway, strained look in her eyes, and +she mumbled so incessantly that one of the guests got up and went out +to see Mr. Jones about it. Being assured that she was just a plain +damn' fool and not crazy, he returned and said a great many unpleasant +things in the presence of Miss Tilly, who fortunately did not hear +them. + +"You've spoiled a very good waitress, Rushcroft," said Barnes. + +"And a very good appetite as well," growled the Star. + +Late in the night, Barnes, sitting at his window dreaming dreams, saw +two big touring cars whiz past the tavern. The next morning Peter +Ames, the chauffeur, called him up on the telephone to inquire whether +he had heard anything more about the job on his sister's place. He was +anxious to know, he said, because everybody had cleared out of Green +Fancy during the night and he had received instructions to lock up the +house and look for another situation. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +MR. SPROUSE CONTINUES TO BE PERPLEXING, BUT PUTS HIS NOSE TO THE +GROUND + + +The morning air was soft with the first real touch of spring. A quiet +haze lay over the valley; the lofty hills were enjoying a peaceful +smoke, and the sky was as blue as the turquoise. Birds shrilled a +fresh, gay carol; the song of the anvil had a new thrill of joy in +every inspiring note; the cawing of crows travelled melodiously across +the fields, roosters split their throats in vociferous acclaim to the +distant sun, and hens clucked a complacent chorus. The rattle of +kitchen pans was melody to the ear instead of torture; the squeaking +of pigs in the sty beyond the stable yard took on the dignity of +music; and the blue smoke that rose from chimneys near and far went +dancing up to wed the smiling sky. + +Barnes was abroad early. Very greatly to his annoyance, he had slept +long and soundly throughout the night. He was annoyed because he had +made up his mind that as her protector he would be most negligent if +he went to sleep at all, with all those frightened varlets hovering +around ready to go to any extreme in order to save their skins. + +Indeed, he left his door slightly ajar and laid his revolver on a +chair beside the bed, in which, with the aid of a lantern, he promised +himself to keep the vigil, stretched out in his daytime garb, prepared +for instant action, the while he enriched his mind by reading "The Man +of Property." But he fell to dreaming with his eyes wide open, and few +were the pages he turned. + +Suddenly it was broad daylight and the wick in the lantern smelled +horribly. He popped from the bed, rubbed his eyes, and then dashed out +in the hall, expecting to come upon sanguinary evidence of a raid +during the night. To his amazement, there were no visible signs of an +attack upon the house. It seemed incredible that his defection had not +been attended by results too horrible to contemplate. By all the laws +of fate, she should now be either dead or at the very least, +frightfully mutilated. Something like that invariably happens when a +sentinel sleeps at his post, or an engineer drowses in his cab. But +nothing of the sort had happened. + +Mr. Bacon, sweeping the front stairs, assured him between yawns that +he hadn't heard a sound in the Tavern after half-past ten,--at which +hour he went to bed and to sleep. + +Barnes was at breakfast when Peter Ames called up. An inspiration +seized him when the chauffeur mentioned the wholesale exodus: he hired +Peter forthwith and ordered him to report immediately,--with the car. +He was going up to Green Fancy for Miss Cameron's "boxes." + +Whether it was the fresh, sweet smell of the earth that caused him to +saunter forth from the Tavern, and to adventure across the road to the +foot of the great old oak, or the ripening of spring in his blood, is +of no immediate consequence here. He had no reason for going over +there to lean against the tree and light his after-breakfast pipe,-- +unless, of course, it be argued that the position afforded a fair and +excellent view of the window in Miss Cameron's room. The shutters were +open and the low sash was raised. + +Presently she appeared at the window, and smiled down upon him. The +spell was at its height; the charm that had clothed the morning with +enchantment was now complete. + +He waved his hand. "The top o' the morning," he cried. + +"I detect coffee," she returned, "and, oh, how good it smells. Have +you had yours?" + +"Ages ago," he replied, ecstatically. + +She placed her elbows on the sill and her chin in the palms of her +hands. The loose sleeves of Miss Thackeray's bizarre dressing gown +fell away, revealing two round, smooth, white arms. The sun shot its +mellow light into the ripples of her tousled hair, and it shone like +burnished gold. Her white teeth gleamed against the red of her smiling +lips. He was fascinated. + +The automobile driven by Peter Ames too soon came roaring and rattling +up the pike. She withdrew her head, after twice being warned by Barnes +not to reveal herself to the view of skulkers who might infest the +wood beyond,--and each time his reward was a delightfully stubborn +shake of the head and the ruthless assertion that on such a heavenly +morning as this she didn't mind in the least if all the spies in the +world were gazing at her. + +Two minutes after Peter drove up to the Tavern he was on the way back +to Green Fancy again, and seated beside him was Thomas Kingsbury +Barnes, his new master. + +"Needn't be afraid of trespassin'," said Peter when Barnes advised him +to go slow as they turned off the road into the forest. "Nobody's +going to object. You c'n yell, and shoot, and raise all the thunder +you want, an' there won't be nobody runnin' out to tell you to shut +up. Might as well try to disturb a graveyard." + +There was not a sign of human life about the place. Peter, without +compunction, admitted his employer through the back door of the house, +and accompanied him upstairs to the room recently occupied by Miss +Cameron. + +"Course," he said, but not uneasily, "I'm not supposed to let anybody +remove anything from the house as long as I'm employed as caretaker." + +"But you are no longer employed as caretaker. You were discharged and +you are now working for me, Peter." + +"That's so," said Peter, scratching his head. "Makes all the +difference in the world. I never thought of that. Come to think of it, +I guess Miss Cameron needs clothes as much as anybody. The rest of 'em +took all their duds away with 'em, you c'n bet. Would you know Miss +Cameron's clothes if you was to see 'em?" + +"Perfectly," said Barnes. + +"That's good," said Peter, relieved. "Clothes seem to look purty much +alike to me, specially women's." + +They found the two small leather trunks, thickly belabelled, in the +room upstairs. Both were locked. + +"I don't see how you're going to identify 'em without seein' 'em," +said Peter dubiously. + +Barnes looked at him sternly. "Peter, be good enough to remember that +you are working for a man of the most highly developed powers of +divination. Do you get that?" + +"No, sir," said Peter honestly; "I don't." + +"Well, if I were to say to you that I possess the singular ability to +see a thing without actually seeing it, what would you say?" + +"I wouldn't say anything, because I don't think it helps a man any to +call his boss a liar." + +"You take this one," said Barnes, without further parley, "and I will +manage the other." He was in a hurry to get away from the house. There +was no telling when the government agents would descend upon the +place. He was at a loss to understand O'Dowd's failure to remove the +trunks which would so surely draw the attention of the authorities to +the girl he seemed so eager to shield. "And, by the way," he added, as +they descended the stairs with the trunks on their backs, "you may as +well get your own things together, Peter. We start on a long motor +trip to-night. I am afraid we shall have to steal the automobile, if +you don't mind." + +"It belongs to me, sir," said Peter. "Mr. O'Dowd gave it to me +yesterday, with his compliments. It seems that he had word from his +sister to reward me for long and faithful service. Special cablegram +from London or England, I forget which." + +"Did Mr. Curtis leave with the others last night?" inquired Barnes, +setting the trunk down on the brick pavement outside the door. + +"'Pears that he left a couple of days ago," said Peter, vastly +perplexed. "By gosh, I don't see how he done it, 'thout me knowin' +anything about it. Derned queer, that's all I got to say, man as sick +as he is." + +Barnes did not enlighten him. He helped Peter to lift the trunks into +the car and then ordered him to start at once for Hart's Tavern. + +"You can return later on for your things," he said. + +"I got 'em tied up in a bundle in the garage, Mr. Burns," he said. +"Won't take a second to get 'em out." He hurried around the corner of +the house, leaving Barnes alone with the car. + +A dry, quiet chuckle fell upon Barnes's ears. He glanced about in +surprise and alarm. No one was in sight. + +"Look up, young man," and the startled young man obeyed. His gaze +halted at a window on the second story, almost directly over his head. + +Mr. Sprouse was looking down upon him, his sharp features fixed in a +sardonic grin. + +"Well, I'll be damned!" burst from Barnes's lips. He could not believe +his eyes. + +"Surprised to see me, eh? If you're not in a hurry, I'd certainly +appreciate a lift as far as the Tavern, old man. I'll be down in a +jiffy." + +"Hold on! What the deuce does all this mean? How do you happen to be +here, and where are the--" + +"Sh! Not so loud! Don't get excited. I dare say you know all there is +to know about me by this time, so we needn't waste time over trifles. +Stand aside! I'm going to drop." A moment later he swung over the +sill, and dropped lightly to the ground eight feet below. Dusting his +hands, he advanced and extended one of them to the bewildered Barnes. +"Oh, you won't shake, eh? Well, it doesn't matter. I don't blame you." + +"See here, Sprouse or whatever your name is,--" + +"Cool off! I'll explain in ten words. I didn't get the stuff. I came +back this morning to have a quiet, undisturbed look around. My only +reason for revealing myself to you now, Barnes, is to ask your +assistance in--" + +"Ask my assistance, you infernal rogue!" roared Barnes. "Why, I'll-- +I'll--" + +"Better hear me out," broke in Sprouse calmly. + +"I could drill a hole through you so quickly you'd never know what did +it," he went on. His hand was in his coat pocket, and a quick glance +revealed to Barnes a singularly impressive angle in the cloth, the +point of which seemed to be directed squarely at his chest. "But I'm +not going to do it. I just want to set myself straight with you. In a +word, I never got anywhere near the room in which the jewels were +hidden. This is God's truth, Barnes. I didn't stick a knife into that +poor devil up there the other night. Here's what actually happened. I--" + +"Wait a moment. You intended to steal the jewels, didn't you? You were +not playing fair with me then, so why should I put any faith in you +now?" + +"Honest confession is good for the soul," said Sprouse easily. "I +wasn't the only one who was trying to get the baubles, my friend. It +was a game in which only the best man could win." + +"I know the truth now about Roon and Paul," said Barnes significantly. + +"You do?" sneered Sprouse. "I'll bet you a thousand to one you do not. +If the girl told you what she believes to be true, she didn't have it +straight at all. She was led to believe that they were a couple of +crooks and that they fixed me in that Tavern down there. Isn't that +what she told you? Well, that story was cooked up for her special +benefit. I don't mind telling you the truth about them, and you can +tell it to her. Roon was the Baron Hedlund--But all this can wait. +Now--" + +"Did you shoot either of those men?" + +"I did not. Baron Hedlund was shot, I firmly believe, by Prince Ugo. I +might as well go on with the story now and have it over with. Tell +that chauffeur to take a little stroll. He doesn't have to hear the +story, you know. Hedlund came up here a week or so ago to keep a look- +out for his wife. The Baroness is supposed to be deeply enamoured of +Prince Ugo. He found letters which seemed to indicate that she was +planning to join the Prince up here. In any event, he came to watch. +Well, she didn't come. She had been headed off, but he didn't know +that. When he heard of the arrival of a lady at Green Fancy the other +afternoon, he got busy. He went right up there with blood in his eye. +I admit that I am the gentleman who telephoned the warning up to the +Prince. They tried to head the Baron and his man off at the cross- +roads, but he beat them to it. If there was to be a fight, they didn't +want it to happen anywhere near the house. Part of them, led by Ugo +himself, took a short cut up through the woods and met the two men in +the road. + +"There is only one man in the world to-day who is a better shot at +night than Prince Ugo, and modesty keeps me from mentioning his +illustrious name. That's why I believe Ugo is the one who got the +Baron,--or Roon, as you know him. The other fellow was halted at the +cross-roads when he made a run for it. A couple of men had been sent +there for just such an emergency. Hedlund was a curiously chivalrous +chap. He went to extreme measures to protect his wife's good name by +wiping out all means of identification. His wife's good name! It is to +laugh! Now, that is the true story of the little affair, and if you +are as much of a gentleman as I take you to be, Barnes, you will +respect Hedlund's desire to shield the woman he loved, and let him lie +up yonder in an unmarked grave. That is what he figured on, you know, +in case things went against him, and I'll stake my head that if you +put it up to the Countess Therese, she will feel as I do about it. She +will beg you to keep the secret. Hedlund was a lifelong friend of her +family. He was beloved by all of them. He married an actress in Vienna +three or four years ago. On second thoughts, if I were you I'd spare +the Countess. I'd let her go on thinking that the story she has heard +is true,--at least for the time being. She's a nice girl and there's +no sense in giving her any unnecessary pain. But that's up to you. You +can do as you please about it. + +"Now to go back to my own troubles. When I got out into the hall night +before last, after leaving her room, I heard voices whispering in +Prince Ugo's room. Naturally I thought that some one had lamped us on +the outside, and that I was likely to be in a devil of a mess if I +wasn't careful. The last place for me to go was back into her room. +They would cut me off from the outside. So I beat it up the stairway +into the attic. Nothing happened, so I sneaked down to have a peep +around. The door to Ugo's room was open, but there was no light on the +inside. He came to the door and looked up and down the hall. Then some +one else came out and started to sneak away. I leave you to guess the +sex. + +"Nicholas butted in at this unfortunate juncture. He made the mistake +of his life. I could see him as plain as day, standing in the hall +grinning like an ape. Ugo jumped back into his room. In less than a +second he was out again. He landed squarely on Nicholas's back as the +fellow turned to escape. I saw the steel flash. Poor old Nick went +down in a heap, letting out a horrible yell. Ugo dragged him into the +room and dashed back into his own. A moment later he came out again, +yelling for help. I heard him shouting that the house had been +robbed,--and in two seconds there was an uproar all over the place. I +thought I was done for. But he had them all rushing downstairs, +yelling that the thief had gone that way. There was only one thing +left for me to do and that was to get out on the roof if possible, and +wait for things to quiet down. I got out through a trap door and +stayed there for an hour or so. They were beating the forest for the +thief, and I give you my word, believe it or not, I actually sent up a +prayer, Barnes, that you had got off safely with the girl. I prayed +harder than I ever dreamed a man could pray. + +"Well, to shorten the story, I finally took a chance and slid down to +the eaves where I managed to find the limb of a tree big enough to +support me,--just as if the Lord had ordered it put there for my +special benefit. I was soon on the ground, and that meant safety for +me. I had heard Ugo tell the others that Nicholas said the man who +stabbed him was yours truly. Can you beat it? And then every mother's +son of them declared it was a feat that no one else in the world could +have pulled off but me, and as I was nowhere to be found, it was only +natural that all of them should believe the lie that Ugo told. + +"And now comes the maddening part of the whole business. He said that +the crown jewels were gone! I heard him telling how he was awakened +out of a sound sleep by a man with a gun, who forced him to open the +safe and hand over the treasure. Then he said he was put to sleep +again by a crack over the head with a slung-shot. He was only +partially stunned,--Lord, what a liar!--and came to in time to hear +the struggle across the hall. The thief was running downstairs when he +staggered to the door. It seems that the door at the bottom of the +steps had not been closed that night. + +"Now, my dear Mr. Barnes, when I asked you to lend your assistance +awhile ago, it was only to have you tell me when it was that Mr. Loeb +left this place, which way he went, and who accompanied him. If we are +to find the crown jewels, my friend, we will first have to find Prince +Ugo. He has them." + +Barnes had not taken his eyes from the face of this amazing rascal +during the whole of the recital. He had been deceived in him before; +he was determined not to be fooled again. + +"I don't believe a word of this yarn," he said flatly. "You have the +jewels and--" + +"Don't be an ass," snapped Sprouse. "If I had them do you suppose I'd +be fiddling around here to-day? Not much. I saw the gang making their +getaway last night, and I saw Peter depart this morning. I concluded +to have a look about the place. Hope springs eternal, you know. There +was a bare possibility that he might have forgotten them!" He scowled +as he grinned, and never had Barnes looked upon a countenance so evil. + +"Why should I tell YOU anything about Prince Ugo? It would only be +helping you to carry out the game--" + +"Look here, Mr. Barnes, I'm not going to double-cross you again. +That's all over. I want to get that scurvy dog who knifed poor old +Nick. Nick was a decent, square man. He wasn't a crook. He was a +patriot, if such a thing exists in this world to-day. If you can give +me a lead, I'll try to run Prince Ugo down. And if I do, we'll get the +jewels." + +"We? You amuse me, Sprouse." + +"Well, I can't do any more than give my promise, my solemn oath, or +something like that. I can't give a bond, you know. I swear to you +that if I lay hands on that stuff, I will deliver it to you. Might +just as well trust me as Ugo. You won't get them from him, that's +sure; and you may get them from me." + +"Is it revenge you're after?" + +"My God," almost shouted Sprouse in his exasperation, "didn't he give +me a black eye among my friends up here? Didn't he put me in wrong +with all of them? Do you think I'm going to stand for that? Think I'm +going to let him get away with it? You don't know me, my friend. I've +got a reputation at stake. No one has ever double-crossed me and got +away with it. I want to prove to the world that I didn't take those +jewels. I--" + +"Just what do you mean by 'the world,' Sprouse?" + +"My world," he replied succinctly. "I'm not a piker, you know," he +went on, cocking one eye in a somewhat supercilious manner. "The +stakes are always high in my game. I don't play for pennies." + +"Get in the car," said Barnes suddenly. He had decided to take a +chance with the resourceful, indefatigable rascal. There was nothing +to be lost by setting him on the track of Prince Ugo, who, if the +man's story was true, had betrayed his best friends. There was +something convincing about Sprouse's version of the affair at Green +Fancy. He called out to Peter. + +"I suppose you know that the whole game is up, Naismith," he said, +lowering his voice. Peter was wrathfully cranking the car. "The +government is going to take a hand in this business up here." + +"If you mean that as a hint to me, it's unnecessary. I'll be on my way +inside of an hour. This is no place for me. And that Tavern is no +place for--er--for her, Barnes. Just mention that you saw me and that +I'm going after Mr. Loeb. If I get the stuff, I'll do the square thing +by her. Not for sentimental reasons, bless you, but just because I +like to do things that make people wonder what the hell I'll do next. +Tell her the whole story if you feel like it, but if I were you I'd +wait till she is safe among her friends, where she won't be nervous. +Hit it up a bit, Peter, old boy. I'm in a hurry." + +Peter eyed him in an unfriendly manner. "Where did you come from, Mr. +Perkins? Mighty queer you--" + +Sprouse spoke softly out of the corner of his mouth. "Nice old New +England name, isn't it, Barnes?" To Peter: "It's a long story. I'll +write it to you. Speed up." + +Barnes told all that he knew of Prince Ugo's flight. Sprouse looked +thoughtful for a long time. + +"So O'Dowd knows that I really was after the swag, eh? He believes I +got it?" + +"I suppose so." + +"The only one who thinks I'm absolutely innocent is Ugo, of course,-- +and Mrs. Van Dyke. That's good." Sprouse smacked his lips. "Just send +me on to Hornville in the car, and don't give me another thought till +you hear from me. I've got a pretty fair idea where I can find Mr. +Loeb. It will take a little time,--a couple of days, perhaps,--but +sooner or later he'll turn up in close proximity to the beautiful +baroness." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A TRIP BY NIGHT, A SUPPER, AND A LATE ARRIVAL + + +Shortly after sundown that evening, the Rushcroft Company evacuated +Hart's Tavern. They were delayed by the irritating and, to Mr. +Rushcroft, unpardonable behaviour of two officious gentlemen, lately +arrived, who insisted politely but firmly on prying into the past, +present and future history of the several members of the organisation, +including the new "backer" or "angel," as one of the operatives slyly +observed to the other on beholding Miss Thackeray. + +Barnes easily established his own identity and position, and was not +long in convincing the investigators that his connection with the +stranded company was of a purely philanthropic nature,--yes, even +platonic, he asseverated with some heat when the question was put to +him. + +They examined him closely concerning his solitary visit to Green +Fancy, and he described to the best of his ability all but one of the +inmates. He neglected to mention Miss Cameron. Realising that he would +be storing up trouble for himself if he failed to mention his trip to +the house that morning,--they were sure to hear of it in time,--he set +his mind to the task of constructing a satisfactory explanation. He +concluded to sacrifice Peter Ames, temporarily at least. Taking Peter +aside, he explained the situation to him, impressing upon him the +importance of leaving Miss Cameron and her luggage out of the +interview, and to say nothing about the return of "Mr. Perkins." + +Fortified by Barnes's promise to protect him if he followed these +instructions, Peter consented to tell all that he knew about the +people at Green Fancy. Whereupon his new employer informed the secret +service men that he had gone up to Green Fancy that morning in +response to an appeal from Peter Ames, who had applied to him for a +position a day or two before. On his arrival there he confirmed the +bewildered chauffeur's story that the whole crowd had stolen away +during the night. He guaranteed to produce Peter at any time he was +needed, and was perfectly willing to discommode himself to the extent +of leaving the man behind if they insisted on holding him. + +The officers, after putting him through a rather rigid examination, +held private consultation over Peter. To Barnes's surprise and +subsequent dismay, they announced that there was nothing to be gained +by holding the man; he was at liberty to depart with his employer, +provided he would report when necessary. + +Barnes was some time in fathoming the motive behind this seeming +indifference on the part of the secret service men. It came to him +like a flash, and its significance stunned him. They had decided that +there was more to be gained by letting Peter Ames think he was above +suspicion than by keeping him on the anxious seat. Peter unrestrained +was of more value to them than Peter in durance vile. And from that +moment forward there would not be an hour of the day or night when he +was far ahead of the shadower who followed his trail. There would be a +sly, invisible pursuer at his heels, and an eye ever ready to detect +the first false move that he made. They were counting on Peter to lead +them, in his own good time, to the haunts of his comrades. He could +not escape. And he could make the fatal mistake of considering them a +pack of fools! + +Barnes, perceiving all this, was in a state of perturbation. He had +devised a very clever plan for getting Miss Cameron away from the +Tavern without attracting undue attention. She was to leave in one of +the automobiles that he had engaged to convey the players to +Crowndale. It should go without saying that she was to travel with him +in Peter's ramshackle car. In case of detention or inquiry, she was to +pose as a stage-struck young woman who had obtained a place with the +company at the last moment through his influence. + +Mr. Rushcroft was not in the secret. Barnes merely announced that he +wanted to give a charming young friend of the family a chance to see +what she could do on the stage, and that he had taken the liberty of +sending for her. The star was magnanimous. He slapped Barnes on the +back and declared that nothing could give him greater joy than to +transform any friend of his into an actress, and he didn't give a hang +whether she had talent or not. + +"We'll write in a part for her to-night," he said, "and we'll make it +a small one at first, so that she won't have any difficulty in +learning it. From night to night we'll build it up, Barnes, so that by +the end of our first month your protegee practically will be a co-star +with me. There's nothing mean about me, old chap. Any friend of yours +can have--" + +Barnes made haste to explain that he did not want any one to know that +this friend of the family was going on the stage, and that he would be +greatly indebted to Rushcroft if he would keep "mum" about it for the +time being. + +"Certainly. Not a word. I understand," said Mr. Rushcroft amiably. +"I've had it happen before," he went on, a perfectly meaningless +remark that brought a flush to Barnes's cheek. + +It had been Barnes's intention to spirit his charge away from Hart's +Tavern under cover of darkness, in company with his other +"responsibilities," but the fresh turn of affairs now presented +difficulties that were likely to upset his hastily conceived strategy. +He had but one purpose in view, and that was to spare her an +unpleasant encounter with the government officials,--an encounter that +conceivably might result in very distressing complications. He had +revealed his plan to her and she apparently was very much taken with +it,--indeed, she was quite enthusiastic over the prospect of being +whisked unceremoniously to Crowndale, and thence to the home of his +sister in New York City, where she could at once put herself in +communication with friends and supporters. + +He was looking forward with dubious hopes to a possible extension of +his guardianship, involving a voyage across the Atlantic and the +triumphant delivery of the Countess, so to speak, into the eager arms +of her country's ambassador at Paris. He was now in a state of mind +that inspired him with the belief that it would be a joy to die for +her. If he died for her, she would always remember him as a brave, +devoted champion; she would exalt him; in her tender, grateful heart +there would always be a corner for him, even to the end of her days,-- +even to the end of her days on the throne of her country's ruler. Far +better that he should die for her,--and have it all over with,--than +that he should live to see her the wife of--But invariably he ceased +dreaming at this point and admitted that it would be infinitely more +satisfying to live. It was his matter-of-fact contention that while +there is life there is hope. + +When the hour came for the departure from Hart's Tavern he +deliberately engaged the two secret service men in conversation in the +tap-room. Miss Cameron left the house by the rear door and was safely +ensconced in Peter's automobile long before he shook hands with the +"rat-catchers" and dashed out to join her. Tommy Gray's car, occupied +by the four players, was moving away from the door as he sprang in +beside her and slammed the door. The interior of the car was as black +as pitch. + +"Are you there?" he whispered. + +"Yes. Isn't it jolly, running away like this? It must be wonderfully +exciting to be a criminal, always dodging and--" + +"Sh! Even a limousine may have ears!" + +But if the limousine had possessed a thousand ears they would have +been rendered useless in the stormy racket made by Peter's muffler and +the thunderous roar of the exhaust as the car got under way. + +Sixty miles lay between them and Crowndale. Tommy Gray guaranteed that +the distance could be covered in three hours, even over the vile +mountain roads. Ten o'clock would find them at the Grand Palace Hotel, +none the worse for wear, provided (he always put it parenthetically) +they lived to tell the tale! The luggage had gone on ahead of them +earlier in the day. + +Peter's efforts to stay behind Tommy's venerable but surprisingly +energetic Buick were the cause of many a gasp and shudder from the +couple who sat behind him in the bounding car. He had orders to keep +back of Tommy but never to lose sight of his tail light. + +Peter was like the celebrated Tam O' Shanter. He was pursued by +spectres. The instant that he discovered that he was lagging a trifle, +he shot the car up to top speed, with the result that he had to jam on +the brakes violently in order to avoid crashing into Tommy's tail +light, and at such times Miss Cameron and Barnes sustained unpleasant +jars. Something seemed to be telling Peter that the law was stretching +out its cruel hand to clutch him from behind; he was determined to +keep out of its reach. + +There was small opportunity for conversation. The trip was not at all +as Barnes had imagined it would be. After the car had raced through +Hornville he decided that it was not necessary to keep Tommy's tail +light in view, and so directed Peter. After that conversation was +possible, but the gain was counterbalanced by a distinct sense of +loss. She relinquished her rather frenzied grasp upon his arm, and +sank back into the corner of the seat. + +"Oh, dear, what a relief!" she gasped. + +"What arrant stupidity," he growled, and she never knew that the +remark bore no relation whatsoever to Peter. + +He confessed his fears to her, and was immeasurably consoled by her +enthusiastic scorn for the consequences of his mistake. + +"Let them follow poor old Peter," she said. "We will outwit them, +never fear. If necessary, Mr. Barnes, we can travel with the company +for days and days. I think I should rather enjoy it. If you can manage +to get word to my friends in New York, to relieve their anxiety, I +shall be more than grateful. I am sure they will decide that you are +acting for the best in every particular. It would grieve them,--yes, +it would distress them greatly,--if I were to be subjected to an +inquiry at the hands of the authorities. The notoriety would be-- +harrowing, to say the least. Moreover, the disclosures would certainly +bring disaster upon those who are working so loyally to right a grave +wrong. They will understand, and they will thank you not only for all +that you have done for me but for the cause I support." + +"The first time I ever saw you, I said to myself that you were a +brave, indomitable little soldier," he said warmly. "I am more than +ever convinced of it now." + +"The men of my family have been soldiers for ten generations," she +said simply, as if that covered everything. "They haven't all been +heroes but none of them has been a coward." + +"I can believe that," he said. "Blood will tell." + +"If God gives back my country to my people, Mr. Barnes," she said, +after a long silence, "will you not one day make your way out there to +us, so that we may present some fitting expression of the gratitude--" + +"Don't speak of gratitude," he exclaimed. "I don't want to be thanked. +Good Lord, do you suppose I--" + +"There, there! Don't be angry," she cried. "But you must come to my +country. You must see it. You will love it." + +"But suppose that God does not see fit to restore it to you. Suppose +that he leaves it in the hands of the vandals. What then? Will you go +back to--that?" + +She was still for a long time. "I shall not return to my country until +it is free again, Mr. Barnes," she said, and there was a break in her +voice. + +"You--you will remain in MY country?" he asked, leaning closer to her +ear. + +"The world is large," she replied. "I shall have to live somewhere. It +may be here, it may be France, or England or Switzerland." + +"Why not here? You could go far and do worse." + +"Beggars may not be choosers. The homeless cannot be very particular, +you know. If the Germans remain in my country, I shall be without a +home." + +His voice was tense and vibrant when he spoke again, after a moment's +reflection. "I know what O'Dowd would say if he were in my place." + +"O'Dowd has known me a great many years," she said. "When you have +known me as many months as he has years, you will thank your lucky +star that you do not possess the affability that the gods have +bestowed upon O'Dowd." + +"Don't be too sure of that," he said, and heard the little catch in +her breath. He found her hand and clasped it firmly. His lips were +close to her ear. "I have known you long enough to--" + +"Don't!" she cried out sharply. "Don't say it now,--please. I could +listen to O'Dowd, but--but you are different. He would forget by to- +morrow, and I would forget even sooner than he. But it would not be so +easy to forget if you were to say it,--it would not be easy for either +of us." + +"You are not offended?" he whispered hoarsely. + +"Why should I be offended? Are you not my protector?" + +The subtle implication in those words brought him to his senses. Was +he not her protector? And was he not abusing the confidence she placed +in him? + +"I shall try to remember that,--always," he said abjectly. + +"Some day I shall tell you why I am glad you did not say it to me to- +night," she said, a trifle unsteadily. She squeezed his hand. "You are +very good to me. I shall not forget that either." + +And she meant that some day she would confess to him that she was so +tired, and lonely, and disconsolate on this journey to Crowndale, and +so in need of the strength he could give, that she would have +surrendered herself gladly to the comfort of his arms, to the passion +that his touch aroused in her quickening blood! + +Soon after ten o'clock they entered the town of Crowndale and drew up +before the unattractive portals of the Grand Palace Hotel. An arc lamp +swinging above the entrance shed a pitiless light upon the dreary, +God-forsaken hostelry with the ironic name. + +Mr. Rushcroft was already at the desk, complaining bitterly of +everything seen and unseen. As a matter of habit he was roaring about +his room and, while he hadn't put so much as his nose inside of it, he +insisted on knowing what they meant by giving it to him. Mr. Bacon and +Mr. Dillingford were growling because there was no elevator to hoist +them two flights up, and Miss Thackeray was wanting to know WHY she +couldn't have a bit of supper served in her room. + +"They're all alike," announced Mr. Rushcroft despairingly, addressing +the rafters. He meant hotels in general. + +"They're all alike," vouchsafed the clerk in an aside to the "drummer" +who leaned against the counter, meaning stage-folk in general. + +"You're both right," said the travelling salesman, who knew. + +"Is there a cafe in the neighbourhood?" inquired Barnes, with +authority. + +"There's a rest'rant in the next block," replied the clerk, instantly +impressed. Here was one who obviously was not "alike." "A two-minutes' +walk, Mr.--" (looking at the register)--"Mr. Barnes." + +"That's good. We will have supper in Miss Thackeray's room. Let me +have your pencil, please. Send over and have them fill this order +inside of twenty minutes." He handed what he had written to the +blinking clerk. "For eight persons. Tell 'em to hurry it along." + +"Maybe they're closed for the night," said the clerk. "And besides--" + +"My God! He even hesitates to get food for us when--" began Mr. +Rushcroft. + +"Besides there's only one waiter on at night and he couldn't get off, +I guess. And besides it's against the rules of this house to serve +drinks in a lady's--" + +"You tell that waiter to close up when he comes over here with what +I've ordered, and tell him that I will pay double for everything, and +to-morrow morning you can tell the proprietor of this house that we +broke the rules to-night." + +For the first time in her life Miss Tilly sat down to a meal served by +a member of her late profession. She sat on the edge of Miss +Thackeray's bed and held a chicken sandwich in one hand and a full +glass of beer in the other. Be it said to the credit of her forebears, +she did not take even so much as a sip from the glass, but seven +sandwiches, two slices of cold ham, half a box of sardines, a plate of +potato salad, a saucer of Boston baked beans, two hardboiled eggs, a +piece of apple pie and two cups of coffee passed her freshly carmined +lips. She was in her seventh heaven. She was no longer dreaming of +fame: it was a gay reality. Emulating the example of Miss Thackeray, +she addressed Mr. Dillingford as "dear," and came near to being the +cause of his death by strangulation. + +Miss Cameron submitted to the contagion. She had had no such dreams as +Miss Tilly's, but she was quite as thrilled by the novelty of her +surroundings, the informality of the feast, and the sprightliness of +these undaunted spirits. She sat on Miss Thackeray's trunk, her back +against the wall, her bandaged foot resting on a decrepit suit-case. +Her eyes were sparkling, her lips ever ready to part in the joy of +laughter, the colour leaping into her cheeks in response to the +amazing quips of these unconventional vagabonds. + +She too was hungry. Food had never tasted so good to her. From time to +time her soft, smiling eyes sought Barnes with a look of mingled +wonder and confusion. She always laughed when she caught the +expression of concern in his eyes, and once she slyly winked at him. +He was entranced. + +He crossed over and sat beside her. "They are a perfectly +irresponsible lot," he said in a low voice. "I hope you don't mind +their--er--levity." + +"I love it," she whispered. "They are an inspiration. One would think +that they had never known such a thing as trouble. I am taking +lessons, Mr. Barnes." + +She was still warmly conscious of the thrill that had come into her +blood when he carried her up the stairs in his powerful arms, +disdaining the offer of assistance from the suddenly infatuated Tommy +Gray. + +"Rehearsal at eleven sharp," announced Mr. Rushcroft, arising from the +window-sill on which he was seated. "Letter perfect, every one of you. +No guessing. By the way, Miss--er--'pon my soul, I don't believe I got +your name?" + +"Jones," said the new member, shamelessly. + +"Ah," said he, smiling broadly, "a word oft spoken in jest--ahem!--how +does it go? No matter. You know what I mean. I have not had time to +write in the part for you, Miss Jones, but I shall do so the first +thing in the morning. Now that I see how difficult it is for you to +get around, I have hit upon a wonderful idea. I shall make it a +sitting part. You won't have to do anything with your legs at all. +Most beginners declare that they don't know what to do with their +hands, but I maintain that they know less about what to do with their +legs. Fortunately you are incapacitated--" + +"Perhaps it would be just as well to excuse Miss Jones from rehearsal +in the morning," broke in Barnes hastily. "She is hardly fit to--" + +"Just as you say, old chap. Doesn't matter in the least. Good night, +everybody. Sleep tight." + +"I sha'n't sleep a wink," said Miss Tilly. + +"Homesick already?" demanded Mr. Bacon, fixing her with a pitying +stare. + +"Worrying over my part," she explained. + +"Haven't you committed it yet? Say it now. 'It is half past seven, my +lord.' All you have to do is to remember that it comes in the second +act and not in the first or third." + +"Good night," said Miss Cameron, giving her hand to Barnes at the +door. She was leaning on Miss Thackeray's arm. He never was to forget +the deep, searching look she sent into his eyes. She seemed to be +asking a thousand questions. + +He went down to the dingy lobby. A single, half-hearted electric bulb +shed its feeble light on the desk, in front of which stood a man +registering under the sleepy eye of the night clerk. + +After the late arrival had started upstairs in the wake of the clerk, +Barnes stepped up to inspect the book. The midnight express from the +north did not stop at Crowndale, he had learned upon inquiry, and it +was the only train touching the town between nightfall and dawn. + +The register bore the name of Thomas Moore, Hornville. There was not +the slightest doubt in Barnes's mind that this was the man who had +been detailed to shadow the luckless Peter. Only an imperative demand +by government authorities could have brought about the stopping of the +express at Hornville and later on at Crowndale. + +Barnes smiled grimly. "I've just thought of a way to fool you, my +friend," he said to himself, and was turning away when a familiar +voice assailed him. + +Whirling, he looked into the face of a man who stood almost at his +elbow,--the sharp, impassive face of Mr. Sprouse. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE FIRST WAYFARER HAS ONE TREASURE THRUST UPON HIM--AND FORTHWITH +CLAIMS ANOTHER + + +That fellow is a rat-catcher," said Sprouse. "What are you doing +here?" demanded Barnes, staring. He seized the man's arm and inquired +eagerly: "Have you got the jewels?" + +"No; but I will have them before morning," replied Sprouse coolly. He +shot a furtive glance around the deserted lobby. "Better not act as +though you knew me. That bull is no fool. He doesn't know me, but by +this time he knows who you are." + +"He is trailing Peter Ames." + +"Ship Peter to-morrow," advised Sprouse promptly. + +"I had already thought of doing so," said Barnes, surprised by the +uncanny promptness of the man in hitting upon the strategy he had +worked out for himself after many harassing hours. "He goes to my +sister's place to-morrow morning." + +"Send him by train. He will be easier to follow. There is a train +leaving for the south at 9:15." + +"You were saying that before morning you would--" + +"Be careful! Don't whisper. People don't whisper to utter strangers. +Step over here by the front door. Would you be surprised if I were to +tell you that his royal nibs is hiding in this town? Well, he +certainly is. He bought a railway ticket for Albany at Hornville the +day he beat it, but he got off at the second station,--which happens +to be this one." + +"How can you be sure of all this?" + +"Simple as falling off a log," said Sprouse, squinting over his +shoulder. "The Baroness Hedlund has been here for a week or ten days. +The Baron wasn't so far wrong in his suspicions, you see. He lost +track of her, that's all. I happened to overhear a conversation at +Hart's Tavern between him and his secretary. I have a way of hearing +things I'm not supposed to hear, you know. By a curious coincidence I +happened to be taking the air late one night just outside his window +at the Tavern,--on the roof of the porch, to be accurate. I told Ugo +what I'd heard and he nearly broke his neck trying to head her off. +O'Dowd and De Soto rushed over to Hornville and telegraphed for her to +leave the train at the first convenient place and return to New York. +She was on her way up here, you see. She got off at Crowndale and +everybody supposed that she had taken the next train home. But she +didn't do anything of the kind. She is a silly, obstinate fool and +she's crazy about Ugo,--and jealous as fury. She hated to think of him +being up here with other women. A day or so later she sent him a +letter. No one saw that letter but Ugo, and--your humble servant. + +"I happened to be the one to go to Spanish Falls for the mail that +day. The postmark excited my curiosity. If I told you what I did to +that letter before delivering it to Mr. Loeb, you could send me to a +federal prison. But that's how I came to know that she had decided to +wait in Crowndale until he sent word that the coast was clear. She +went to the big sanatorium outside the town and has been there ever +since, incognito, taking a cure for something or other. She goes by +the name of Mrs. Hasselwein. I popped down here this afternoon and +found out that she is still at the sanatorium but expects to leave +early to-morrow morning. Her trunks are over at the station now, to be +expressed to Buffalo. I made another trip out there this evening and +waited. About eight o'clock Mr. Hasselwein strolled up. He sat on the +verandah with her for half an hour or so and then left. I followed +him. He went to one of the little cottages that belong to the +sanatorium. I couldn't get close enough to hear what they said, but I +believe he expects to take her away in an automobile early in the +morning. It is a seventy mile ride from here to the junction where +they catch the train for the west. I'm going up now to make a call on +Mr. Hasselwein. Would you like to join me?" + +Barnes eyed him narrowly. "There is only one reason why I feel that I +ought to accompany you," he said. "If you have it in your mind to kill +him, I certainly shall do everything in my power to prevent--" + +"Possess your soul in peace. I'm not going to do anything foolish. +Time enough left for that sort of thing. I will get him some day, but +not now. By the way, what is the number of your room?" + +"Twenty-two,--on the next floor." + +"Good. Go upstairs now and I'll join you in about ten minutes. I will +tap three times on your door." + +"Why should you come to my room, Sprouse? We can say all that is to be +said--" + +"If you will look on the register you will discover that Mr. J. H. +Prosser registered here about half an hour ago. He is in room 30. He +left a call for five o'clock. Well, Prosser is another name for Ugo." + +"Here in this hotel? In room 30?" cried Barnes, incredulously. + +"Sure as you're alive. Left the cottage an hour ago. Came in a jitney +or I could have got to him on the way over." + +Barnes, regardless of consequences, dashed over to inspect the +register. Sprouse followed leisurely, shooting anxious glances up the +stairs at the end of the lobby. + +"See!" cried Barnes, excitedly, putting his finger on the name "Miss +Jones." "She's in room 32,--next to his. By gad, Sprouse, do you +suppose he knows that she is here? Would the dog undertake anything--" + +"You may be sure he doesn't know she's here, or you either, for that +matter. The country's full of Joneses and Barneses. Go on upstairs. +Leave everything to me." + +He strolled away as the clerk came shuffling down the steps. As Barnes +mounted them, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Sprouse take up a +suitcase near the door and return to the desk, evidently for the +purpose of engaging a room for the night. + +Before going to his room, he strode lightly down the hall in the +direction of room 30. There was no light in the transom. Stepping +close to the door, he listened intently for sounds from within. He +started back almost instantly. The occupant was snoring with extreme +heartiness. + +A glance revealed a light in the transom of room 32. As he looked, +however, it disappeared. Abashed, he turned and went swiftly away. She +was going to bed. He felt like a snooping, despicable "peeping Tom" +caught in the act. + +He had been in his room for twenty minutes before he heard the tapping +on his door. He opened it and Sprouse slid into the room. The instant +the door closed behind him, he threw open his coat and coolly produced +a long, shallow metal box, such as one finds in safety vaults. + +"With my compliments," he said drily, thrusting the box into Barnes's +hands. "You'd better have the Countess check them up and see if +they're all there. I am not well enough acquainted with the collection +to be positive." + +Barnes was speechless. He could only stare, open-mouthed, at this +amazing man. + +"Grip 'em tight," went on Sprouse, grinning. "I may relieve you of +them if you get too careless. My advice to you is to hide them and +keep your lips closed--" + +"My God, Sprouse, have you been in that man's room since I saw you +down--" + +"I forgot to say that no questions were to be asked," broke in the +other. + +"But I insist upon having everything cleared up. Here am I with a box +of jewels stolen from a lodger's room, God knows how, and in danger of +being slapped into jail if they catch me with the--" + +"All you have to do is to keep quiet and look innocent. Stay out of +the hall to-night. Don't go near the door of No. 30. Act like a man +with brains. I said I would square myself with you and with him, too. +Well, I've done both. Maybe you think it is easy to give up this +stuff. There is a half million dollars' worth of nice little things in +that box, small as it is. I went to a lot of trouble to get 'em, and +all I'll receive for my pains is a thank you from Mr. Thomas K. +Barnes, New York." + +"I cannot begin to thank you enough," said Barnes. "See here, you must +allow me to reward you in some way commensurate with your--" + +"Cut that out," said Sprouse darkly. "I'm not so damned virtuous that +I have to be rewarded. I like the game. It's the breath of life to +me." + +"The time will surely come when I can do you a good turn, Sprouse, and +you will not find me reluctant," said Barnes, lamely. He was +completely at a loss in the presence of the master-crook. He felt very +small, and stupid, and inadequate,--as one always feels when +confronted by genius. Moreover, he was utterly stupefied. + +"That's different. If I ever need a friendly hand I'll call on you. +It's only fair that I should give you a tip, Barnes, just to put you +on your guard. I've lived up to my word in this business, and I've +done all that I said I would. From now on, I'm a free agent. I want to +advise you to put that stuff in a safe place. I'll give you two days' +start. After that, if I can get 'em away from you, or whoever may have +them, I'm going to do it. They will be fair plunder from then on. +Notwithstanding the fact that I put them in your hands to-night,--and +so wash my own of them temporarily,--I haven't a single scruple about +relieving you of them on some later occasion. I may have to crack you +over the head to do it,--so a word to the wise ought to be sufficient. +If you don't guard them pretty closely, my friend, you will regain +consciousness some day and find you haven't got them any longer. Good +night--and good-bye for the present. Stick close to your room till +morning and--then beat it with her for New York. I give you two days' +start, remember." + +He switched off the light suddenly. Barnes gasped and prepared to +defend himself. Sprouse chuckled. + +"Don't be nervous. I'm merely getting ready to leave you with your +ill-gotten gains. It isn't wise, you see, to peep out of a door with a +light in the room behind you. Keep cool. I sha'n't be more than a +minute." + +There was no sound for many seconds, save the deep breathing of the +two men. Then, with infinite caution, Sprouse turned the knob and +opened the door a half inch or so. He left the room so abruptly that +Barnes never quite got over the weird impression that he squeezed +through that slender crack, and pulled it after him! + +Many minutes passed before he turned on the light. The key of the box +was tied to the wire grip. With trembling fingers he inserted it in +the lock and opened the lid.... "A half-million dollars' worth of nice +little things," Sprouse had said! + +He did not close his eyes that night. Daybreak found him lying in bed, +with the box under his pillow, a pistol at hand, and his eyes wide- +open. He was in a graver quandary than ever. Now that he had the +treasure in his possession, what was he to do with it? He did not dare +to leave it in the room, nor was it advisable to carry it about with +him. The discovery of the burglary in room 30 would result in a search +of the house, from top to bottom. + +Cold perspiration started out on his brow. The situation was far from +being the happy one that he had anticipated. + +He solved the breakfast problem by calling downstairs for a waiter and +ordering coffee and rolls and eggs sent up to his room. Singularly +enough the waiter solved the other and more disturbing problem for +him. + +"SOME robbery last night," said that worthy, as he re-appeared with +the tray. Barnes was thankful that the waiter was not looking at him +when he hurled the bomb, figuratively speaking. He had a moment's time +to recover. + +"What robbery?" he enquired, feigning indifference. + +"Feller up in one of the cottages at the sanatorium. All beat up, +something fierce they say." + +"Up in--Where?" almost shouted Barnes, starting up. + +The man explained where the cottages were situated, Barnes listening +as one completely bereft of intelligence. + +"Seems he was to leave by auto early this mornin', and they didn't +know anything was wrong till Joe Keep--he's driving a Fierce-Arrow +that Mr. Norton has for rent--till Joe'd been settin' out in front for +nearly half an hour. The man's wife was waitin' fer him up at the main +buildin' and she got so tired waitin' that she sent one of the clerks +down to see what was keeping her husband. Well, sir, him and Joe +couldn't wake the feller, so they climb in an open winder, an' by +gosh, Joe says it was terrible. The feller was layin' on the bed, feet +an' hands tied and gagged, and blood from head to foot. He was +inconscious, Joe says, an'--my God, how his wife took on! Joe says he +couldn't stand it, so he snook out, shakin' like a leaf. He says she's +a pippin, too. Never seen a purtier--" + +"Is--is the man dead?" cried Barnes, aghast. He felt that his face was +as white as chalk. + +"Nope! Seems like it's nothing serious: just beat up, that's all. +Terrible cuts on his head and--" + +"What is his name?" demanded Barnes. + +"Something like Hackensack." + +"Have they caught the thief?" + +"I should say not. The police never ketch anything but drunks in this +burg, and they wouldn't ketch them if they could keep from stumblin'." + +"What time did all this happen?" Barnes was having great difficulty in +keeping his coffee from splashing over. + +"Doc Smith figgers it was long about midnight, judgin' by the way the +blood co'gulated." + +"Did they get away with much?" + +"Haven't heard. Joe says the stove pipe in the feller's room was +knocked down and they's soot all over everything. Looks like they must +have been a struggle. Seems as though the burglar,--must ha' been +more'n one of 'em, I say,--wasn't satisfied with cracking him over the +head. He stuck the point of a knife or something into him,--just a +little way, Joe says--in more'n a dozen places. What say?" + +"I--I didn't say anything." + +"I thought you did. Well, if I hear anything more I'll let you know." + +"Anything for a little excitement," said Barnes casually. + +He listened at the door until he heard the waiter clattering down the +stairway, and then went swiftly down the hall to No. 30. Mr. Prosser +was sleeping just as soundly and as resoundingly as at midnight! + +"By gad!" he muttered, half aloud. Everything was as clear as day to +him now. Bolting into his own room, he closed the door and stood +stock-still for many minutes, trying to picture the scene in the +cottage. + +No stretch of the imagination was required to establish the facts. +Sprouse had come to him during the night with Prince Ugo's blood on +the hands that bore the treasure. He had surprised and overpowered the +pseudo Mr. Hasselwein, and had actually tortured him into revealing +the hiding place of the jewels. The significance of the scattered +stove pipe was not lost on Barnes; it had not been knocked down in a +struggle between the two men. Prince Ugo was not, and never had been, +in a position to defend himself against his wily assailant. Barnes's +blood ran cold as he went over in his mind the pitiless method +employed by Sprouse in subduing his royal victim. And the coolness, +the unspeakable bravado of the man in coming direct to him with the +booty! His amazingly clever subterfuge in allowing Barnes to think +that room No. 30 was the scene of his operations, thereby forcing him +to remain inactive through fear of consequences to himself and the +Countess if he undertook to investigate! + +He found a letter in his box when he went downstairs, after stuffing +the tin box deep into his pack,--a risky thing to do he realised, but +no longer perilous in the light of developments. It was no longer +probable that his effects would be subjected to inspection by the +police. He walked over to a window to read the letter. Before he slit +the envelope he knew that Sprouse was the writer. The message was +brief. + +"After due consideration, I feel that it would be a mistake for you to +abandon your present duties at this time. It might be misunderstood. +Stick to the company until something better turns up. With this +thought in view I withdraw the two days' limit mentioned recently to +you, and extend the time to one week. Yours very truly, J. H. Wilson." + +"Gad, the fellow thinks of everything," said Barnes to himself. "He is +positively uncanny." + +He read between the lines, and saw there a distinct warning. It had +not occurred to him that his plan to leave for New York that day with +Miss Cameron might be attended by disastrous results. + +On reflection, he found the prospect far from disagreeable. A week or +so with the Rushcroft company was rather attractive under the +circumstances. The idea appealed to him. + +But the jewels? What of them? He could not go gallivanting about the +country with a half million dollars' worth of precious stones in his +possession. A king's ransom strapped on his back! He would not be able +to sleep a wink. Indeed, he could see himself wasting away to a mere +shadow through worry and dread. Precious stones? They would develop +into millstones, he thought, with an inward groan. + +He questioned the advisability of informing Miss Cameron that the +crown jewels were in his possession. Her anxiety would be far greater +than his own. There was nothing to be gained by telling her in any +case; so he decided to bear the burden alone. + +The play was not to open in Crowndale until Tuesday night, three full +days off. He revelled in the thought of sitting "out front" in the +empty little theatre, watching the rehearsals. At such times he was +confident that his thoughts would not be solely of the jewels. He +would at least have surcease during these periods of forgetfulness. + +He spent the early part of the forenoon in wandering nervously about +the hotel,--upstairs and down. The jewels were locked in his pack +upstairs. He went up to his room half a dozen times and almost +instantly walked down again, after satisfying himself that the pack +had not been rifled. + +Exasperation filled his soul. Ten o'clock came and still no sign of +the lazy actors. Rehearsal at eleven, and not one of them out of bed. + +Peter came to the hotel soon after ten. He had forgotten Peter and his +decision to send him down to the Berkshires that day, and was sharply +reminded of the necessity for doing so by the appearance of the man +who had registered just before midnight. This individual strolled +casually into the lobby a few seconds behind Peter. + +He acted at once and with decision. The stranger took a seat in the +window not far away. Barnes, in a brisk and business-like tone, +informed Peter that he was to leave on the one o'clock train for the +south, and to go direct to his sister's place near Stockbridge. He was +to leave the automobile in Crowndale for the present. + +"Here is the money for your railroad fare," he announced in +conclusion. "I have telegraphed Mrs. Courtney's man that you will +arrive this evening. He will start you in on your duties to-morrow. I +understand they are short-handed on the place. And now let me impress +upon you, Peter, the importance of holding yourself ready to report +when needed. You know what I mean. Remember, I have guaranteed that +you will appear." + +The stranger drank in every word that passed between the two men. When +the one o'clock train pulled out of Crowndale, it carried Peter Ames +in one of the forward coaches, and a late guest of the Grand Palace +Hotel in the next car behind. Barnes took the time to assure himself +of these facts, and smiled faintly as he drove away from the railway +station after the departure of the train. Miss Cameron, her veil +lowered, sat beside him in the "hack." + +For the next three days and nights rehearsals were in full swing, with +scarcely a moment's let-up. The Rushcroft company was increased by the +arrival of three new members and several pieces of baggage. The dingy +barn of a theatre was the scene of ceaseless industry, both peaceful +and otherwise. The actors quarrelled and fumed and all but fought over +their grievances. Only the presence of the "backer" and the extremely +pretty and cultured "friend of the family" in "front" prevented +sanguinary encounters among the male contenders for the centre of the +stage. The usually placid Mr. Dillingford was transformed into a +snarling beast every time one of his "lines" was cut out by the +relentless Rushcroft, and there were times when Mr. Bacon loudly +accused his fiancee of "crabbing" his part. Everybody called everybody +else a "hog," and God was asked a hundred times a day to bear witness +to as many atrocities. + +Each day the bewildered, distressed young woman who sat with Barnes in +the dim "parquet," whispered in his ear: + +"Can they ever be friendly again?" + +And every night at supper she rejoiced to find them all on the best of +terms, calling each other "dearie," and "old chap," and "honey," and +declaring that no such company had ever been gotten together in the +history of the stage! Such words as "slob," "fat-head," "boob" or "you +poor nut" never found their way outside the sacred precincts of the +theatre. + +Mr. Rushcroft magnanimously offered to coach "Miss Jones" in the part +he was going to write in for her just as soon as he could get around +to it. + +"No use writing a part for her, Mr. Barnes, until I get through +beating the parts we already have into the heads of these poor fools +up here. I've got trouble enough on my hands." + +And so the time crept by, up to the night of the performance. Miss +Cameron remained in ignorance of the close proximity of the jewels, +and the police of Crowndale remained in even denser ignorance as to +the whereabouts of the man who robbed Mr. Hasselwein of all his spare +cash and an excellent gold watch. + +Hasselwein's story was brief but dramatic. He was recovering rapidly +from his experience and the local newspaper, on Tuesday, announced +that he would be strong enough to accompany his wife when she left the +"city" toward the end of the week. (Considerable space was employed by +the reporter in "writing up" the wonderful devotion of Mrs. +Hasselwein, who, despite the fact that she was quite an invalid, +conducted herself with rare fortitude, seldom leaving her husband's +room in the hospital.) + +According to the injured man, his assailant was a huge, powerful +individual, wearing a mask and armed to the teeth. He came in through +an open window and attacked him while he was asleep in bed. +Notwithstanding the stunning blow he received while prostrate, Mr. +Hasselwein struggled to his feet and engaged the miscreant--(while the +word was used at least twenty times in the newspaper account, I +promise to use it but once)--in a desperate conflict. Loss of blood +weakened him and he soon fell exhausted upon the bed. To make the +story even shorter than Prince Ugo made it, not a word was said about +the jewels, and that, after all, is the only feature of the case in +which we are interested. + +Barnes smiled grimly over Ugo's failure to mention the jewels, and the +misleading description of the thief. He was thankful, however, and +relieved to learn that the one man who might recognise Miss Cameron +was not likely to leave the hospital short of a week's time. + +No time was lost by the Countess in getting word to her compatriots in +New York. Barnes posted a dozen letters for her; each contained the +tidings of her safety and the assurance that she would soon follow in +person. + +Those three days and nights were full of joy and enchantment for +Barnes. True, he did not sleep very well,--indeed, scarcely at all,-- +but it certainly was not a hardship to lie awake and think of her +throughout the whole of each blessed night. He recalled and secretly +dilated upon every sign of decreasing reserve on her part. He shamed +himself more than once for deploring the fact that her ankle was +mending with uncommon rapidity, and that in a few days she would be +quite able to walk without support. And he actually debased himself by +wishing that the Rushcroft company might find it imperative to go on +rehearsing for weeks in that dim, enchanted temple. + +It was not a "barn of a place" to him. It was paradise. He sat for +hours in one of the most uncomfortable seats he had ever known, +devouring with hungry eyes the shadowy, interested face so close to +his own,--and never tired. + +And then came a time at last when conversation became difficult +between them; when there were long silences fraught with sweet peril, +exceeding shyness, and a singular form of deafness that defied even +the roars of the players and yet permitted them to hear, with amazing +clearness, the faintest of heart-beats. + +On the afternoon of the dress rehearsal, he led her, after an hour of +almost insupportable repression, to the rear of the auditorium, in the +region made gloomy by the shelving gallery overhead. Dropping into the +seat beside her, he blurted out, almost in anguish: + +"I can't stand it any longer. I cannot be near you without--why, I--I +--well, it is more than I can struggle against, that's all. You've +either got to send me away altogether or--or--let me love you without +restraint. I tell you, I can't go on as I am now. I must speak, I must +tell you all that has been in my heart for days. I love you--I love +you! You know I love you, don't you? You know I worship you. Don't be +frightened. I just had to tell you to-day. I could not have held it +back another hour. I should have gone mad if I had tried to keep it up +any longer." He waited breathlessly for her to speak. She sat silent +and rigid, looking straight before her. "Is it hopeless?" he went on +at last, huskily. "Must I ask your forgiveness for my presumption and +--and go away from you?" + +She turned to him and laid her hand upon his arm. + +"Am I not like other women? Have you forgotten that you once said that +I was not different? Why should I forgive you for loving me? Doesn't +every woman want to be loved? No, no, my friend! Wait! A moment ago I +was so weak and trembly that I thought I--Oh, I was afraid for myself. +Now I am quite calm and sensible. See how well I have myself in hand? +I do not tremble, I am strong. We may now discuss ourselves calmly, +sensibly. A moment ago--Ah, then it was different! I was being drawn +into--Oh! What are you doing?" + +"I too am strong," he whispered. "I am sure of my ground now, and I am +not afraid." + +He had clasped the hand that rested on his sleeve and, as he pressed +it to his heart, his other arm stole over her shoulders and drew her +close to his triumphant body. For an instant she resisted, and then +relaxed into complete submission. Her head sank upon his shoulder. + +"Oh!" she sighed, and there was wonder, joy--even perplexity, in the +tremulous sign of capitulation. "Oh," came softly from her parted lips +again at the end of the first long, passionate kiss. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE END IN SIGHT + + +Barnes, soaring beyond all previous heights of exaltation, ranged +dizzily between "front" and "back" at the Grand Opera House that +evening. He was supposed to remain "out front" until the curtain went +up on the second act. But the presence of the Countess in Miss +Thackeray's barren, sordid little dressing-room rendered it +exceedingly difficult for him to remain in any fixed spot for more +than five minutes at a stretch. He was in the "wings" with her, +whispering in her delighted ear; in the dressing-room, listening to +her soft words of encouragement to the excited leading-lady; on the +narrow stairs leading up to the stage, assisting her to mount them,-- +and not in the least minding the narrowness; out in front for a jiffy, +and then back again; and all the time he was dreading the moment when +he would awake and find it all a dream. + +There was an annoying fly in the ointment, however. Her languorous +surrender to love, her physical confession of defeat at the hands of +that inexorable power, her sweet submission to the conquering arms of +the besieger, left nothing to be desired; and yet there was something +that stood between him and utter happiness: her resolute refusal to +bind herself to any promise for the future. + +"I love you," she had said simply. "I want more than anything else in +all the world to be your wife. But I cannot promise now. I must have +time to think, time to--" + +"Why should you require more time than I?" he persisted. "Have we not +shown that there is nothing left for either of us but to make the +other happy? What is time to us? Why make wanton waste of it?" + +"I know that I cannot find happiness except with you," she replied. +"No matter what happens to me, I shall always love you, I shall never +forget the joy of THIS. But--" She shook her head sadly. + +"Would you go back to your people and marry--" he swallowed hard and +went on--"marry some one you could never love, not even respect, with +the memory of--" + +"Stop! I shall never marry a man I do not love. Oh, please be patient, +be good to me. Give me a little time. Can you not see that you are +asking me to alter destiny, to upset the teachings and traditions of +ages, and all in one little minute of weakness?" + +"We cannot alter destiny," he said stubbornly. "We may upset +tradition, but what does that amount to? We have but one life to live. +I think our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren will be quite as +well pleased with their ancestors as their royal contemporaries will +be with theirs a hundred years from now." + +"I cannot promise now," she said gently, and kissed him. + +The first performance of "The Duke's Revenge" was incredibly bad. The +little that Barnes saw of it, filled him with dismay. Never had he +witnessed anything so hopeless as the play, unless it was the actors +themselves. But more incredible than anything else in connection with +the performance was the very palpable enjoyment of the audience. He +could hardly believe his ears. The ranting, the shouting, the howling +of the actors sent shivers to the innermost recesses of his being. +Then suddenly he remembered that he was in the heart of the "barn- +stormer's" domain. The audience revelled in "The Duke's Revenge" +because they had never seen anything better! + +Between the second and third acts Tommy Gray rushed back with the box- +office statement. The gross was $359. The instant that fact became +known to Mr. Rushcroft he informed Barnes that they had a "knockout," +a gold mine, and that never in all his career had he known a season to +start off so auspiciously as this one. + +"It's good for forty weeks solid," he exclaimed. Both Barnes and the +wide-eyed Countess became infused with the spirit of jubilation that +filled the souls of these time-worn, hand-to-mouth stragglers. They +rejoiced with them in their sudden elevation to happiness, and +overlooked the vain-glorious claims of each individual in the matter +of personal achievement. Even the bewildered Tilly bleated out her +little cry for distinction. + +"Did you hear them laugh at the way I got off my speech?" she cried +excitedly. + +"I certainly did," said Mr. Bacon amiably. "By gad, I laughed at it +myself." + +"Parquet $217.50, dress circle $105, gallery $36.50," announced Tommy +Gray, as he donned his wig and false beard for the third act. "Sixty- +forty gives us $215.40 on the night. Thank God, we won't have to worry +about the sheriff this week." + +In Miss Thackeray's dressing-room that level-headed young woman broke +down and wept like a child. + +"Oh, Lord," she stuttered, "is it possible that we're going to stay +above water at last? I thought we had gone down for the last time, and +here we are bobbing up again as full of ginger as if we'd never hit +the bottom." + +The Countess kissed her and told her that she was the rarest girl she +had ever known, the pluckiest and the best. + +"If I had your good looks, Miss Cameron," said Mercedes, "added to my +natural ability, I'd make Julia Marlowe look like an old-fashioned +one-ring circus. Send Mr. Bacon to me, Mr. Barnes. I want to +congratulate him." + +"He gave a fine performance," said Barnes promptly. + +"I don't want to congratulate him on his acting," said she, smiling +through her tears. "He's going to be married to-morrow. And I am going +to have Miss Cameron for my bridesmaid," she added, throwing an arm +about the astonished Countess. "Mr. Bacon will want Dilly for his best +man, but he ought to think more of the general effect than that. Dilly +only comes to his shoulder." She measured the stalwart figure of +Thomas Barnes with an appraising eye. "What do you say, Mr. Barnes?" + +"I'll do it with the greatest pleasure," he declared. + +The next afternoon in the town of Bittler the Countess Mara-Dafanda, +daughter of royalty, and Thomas Kingsbury Barnes "stood up" with the +happy couple during a lull in the hastily called rehearsal on the +stage of Fisher's Imperial Theatre, and Lyndon Rushcroft gave the +bride away. There was $107 in the house that night, but no one was +down-hearted. + +"You could do worse, dear heart, than to marry one of us care-free +Americans," whispered Barnes to the girl who clung to his arm so +tightly as they entered the wings in the wake of the bride and groom. + +And she said something in reply that brought a flush of mortification +to his cheek. + +"Oh, it would be wonderful to marry a man who will never have to go to +war. A brave man who will not have to be a soldier." + +The unintentional reflection on the fighting integrity of his country +struck a raw spot in Barnes's pride. He knew what all Europe was +saying about the pussy-willow attitude of the United States, and he +squirmed inwardly despite the tribute she tendered him as an +individual. He was not a "peace at any price" citizen. + +He gave the wedding breakfast at one o'clock that night. + +Three days later he and "Miss Jones" said farewell to the strollers +and boarded a day train for New York City. They left the company in a +condition of prosperity. The show was averaging two hundred dollars +nightly, and Mr. Rushcroft was already booking return engagements for +the early fall. He was looking forward to a tour of Europe at the +close of the war. + +"My boy," he said to Barnes on the platform of the railway station, "I +trust you will forgive me for not finding a place in our remarkably +well-balanced cast for your friend. I have been thinking a great deal +about her in the past few days, and it has occurred to me that she +might find it greatly to her advantage to accept a brief New York +engagement before tackling the real proposition. It won't take her +long to find out whether she really likes it, and whether she thinks +it worth while to go on with it. Let me give you one bit of advice, my +dear Miss Jones. This is very important. The name of Jones will not +get you anywhere. It is a nice old family, fireside name, but it lacks +romance. Chuck it. Start your new life with another name, my dear. God +bless you! Good luck and--good-bye till we meet on the Rialto." + +"I wonder how he could possibly have known," she mused aloud, the pink +still in her cheeks as the train pulled out. + +"You darling," cried Barnes, "he doesn't know. But taking it by and +large, it was excellent advice. The brief New York engagement meets +with my approval, and so does the change of name. I am in a position +to supply you with both." + +"Do you regard Barnes as an especially attractive name?" she inquired, +dimpling. + +"It has the virtue of beginning with B, entitling it to a place well +toward the top of alphabetical lists. A very handy name for +patronesses at charity bazaars, and so forth. People never look below +B unless to make sure that their own names haven't been omitted. You +ought to take that into consideration. If you can't be an A, take the +next best thing offered. Be a B." + +"You almost persuade me," she smiled. + +His sister met them at the Grand Central Terminal. + +"It's now a quarter to five," said Barnes, after the greeting and +presentation. "Drop me at the Fifth Avenue Bank, Edith. I want to +leave something in my safety box downstairs. Sha'n't be more than five +minutes." + +He got down from the automobile at 44th Street and shot across the +sidewalk into the bank, casting quick, apprehensive glances through +the five o'clock crowd on the avenue as he sprinted. In his hand he +lugged the heavy, weatherbeaten pack. His sister and the Countess +stared after him in amazement. + +Presently he emerged from the bank, still carrying the bag. He was +beaming. A certain worried, haggard expression had vanished from his +face and for the first time in eight hours he treated his travelling +wardrobe with scorn and indifference. He tossed it carelessly into the +seat beside the chauffeur, and, springing nimbly into the car, sank +back with a prodigious sigh of relief. + +"Thank God, they're off my mind at last," he cried. "That is the first +good, long breath I've had in a week. No, not now. It's a long story +and I can't tell it in Fifth Avenue. It would be extremely annoying to +have both of you die of heart failure with all these people looking +on." + +He felt her hand on his arm, and knew that she was looking at him with +wide, incredulous eyes, but he faced straight ahead. After a moment or +two, she snuggled back in the seat and cried out tremulously: + +"Oh, how wonderful--how wonderful!" + +Mrs. Courtney, in utter ignorance, inquired politely: + +"Isn't it? Have you never been in New York before, Miss Cameron? +Strangers always find it quite wonderful at the--" + +"How are all the kiddies, Edith, and old Bill?" broke in her brother +hastily. + +He was terribly afraid that the girl beside him was preparing to shed +tears of joy and relief. He could feel her searching in her jacket +pocket for a handkerchief. + +Mrs. Courtney was not only curious but apprehensive. She hadn't the +faintest idea who Miss Cameron was, nor where her brother had picked +her up. But she saw at a glance that she was lovely, and her soul was +filled with strange misgivings. She was like all sisters who have pet +bachelor brothers. She hoped that poor Tom hadn't gone and made a fool +of himself. The few minutes' conversation she had had with the +stranger only served to increase her alarm. Miss Cameron's voice and +smile--and her eyes!--were positively alluring. + +She had had a night letter from Tom that morning in which he said that +he was bringing a young lady friend down from the north,--and would +she meet them at the station and put her up for a couple of days? That +was all she knew of the dazzling stranger up to the moment she saw +her. Immediately after that, she knew, by intuition, a great deal more +about her than Tom could have told in volumes of correspondence. She +knew, also, that Tom was lost forever! + +"Now, tell me," said the Countess, the instant they entered the +Courtney apartment. She gripped both of his arms with her firm little +hands, and looked straight into his eyes, eagerly, hopefully. She had +forgotten Mrs. Courtney's presence, she had not taken the time to +remove her hat or jacket. + +"Let's all sit down," said he. "My knees are unaccountably weak. Come +along, Ede. Listen to the romance of my life." + +And when the story was finished, the Countess took his hand in hers +and held it to her cool cheek. The tears were still drowning her eyes. + +"Oh, you poor dear! Was that why you grew so haggard, and pale, and +hollow-eyed?" + +"Partly," said he, with great significance. + +"And you had them in your pack all the time? You--!" + +"I had Sprouse's most solemn word not to touch them for a week. He is +the only man I feared. He is the only one who could have--" + +"May I use your telephone, Mrs. Courtney?" cried she, suddenly. She +sprang to her feet, quivering with excitement. "Pray forgive me for +being so ill-mannered, but I--I must call up one or two people at +once. They are my friends. I have written them, but--but I know they +are waiting to see me in the flesh or to hear my voice. You will +understand, I am sure." + +Barnes was pacing the floor nervously when his sister returned after +conducting her new guest to the room prepared for her. The Countess +was at the telephone before the door closed behind her hostess. + +"I wish you had been a little more explicit in your telegram, Tom," +she said peevishly. "If I had known who she is I wouldn't have put her +in that room. Now, I shall have to move Aunt Kate back into it to- +morrow, and give Miss Cameron the big one at the end of the hall." +Which goes to prove that Tom's sister was a bit of a snob in her way. +"Stop walking like that, and come here." She faced him accusingly. +"Have you told me ALL there is to tell, sir?" + +"Can't you see for yourself, Ede, that I'm in love with her? +Desperately, horribly, madly in love with her. Don't giggle like that! +I couldn't have told you while she was present, could I?" + +"That isn't what I want to know. Is she in love with YOU? That's what +I'm after." + +"Yes," said he, but frowned anxiously. + +"She is perfectly adorable," said she, and was at once aware of a +guilty, nagging impression that she would not have said it to him half +an hour earlier for anything in the world. + +The Countess was strangely white and subdued when she rejoined them +later on. She had removed her hat. The other woman saw nothing but the +wealth of sun-kissed hair that rippled. Barnes went forward to meet +her, filled with a sudden apprehension. + +"What is it? You are pale and--what have you heard?" + +She stopped and looked searchingly into his eyes. A warm flush rose to +her cheeks; her own eyes grew soft and tender and wistful. + +"They all believe that the war will last two or three years longer," +she said huskily. "I cannot go back to my own country till it is all +over. They implore me to remain here with them until--until my +fortunes are mended." She turned to Mrs. Courtney and went on without +the slightest trace of indecision or embarrassment in her manner. "You +see, Mrs. Courtney, I am very, very poor. They have taken everything. +I--I fear I shall have to accept the kind, the generous proffer of a--" +her voice shook slightly--"of a home with my friends until the Huns +are driven out." + +Barnes's silence was more eloquent than words. Her eyes fell. Mrs. +Courtney's words of sympathy passed unheard; her bitter excoriation of +the Teutons and Turks was but dimly registered on the inattentive mind +of the victim of their ruthless greed; not until she expressed the +hope that Miss Cameron would condescend to accept the hospitality of +her home until plans for the future were definitely fixed was there a +sign that the object of her concern had given a thought to what she +was saying. + +"You are so very kind," stammered the Countess. "But I cannot think of +imposing upon--" + +"Leave it to me, Ede," said Barnes gently, and, laying his hand upon +his sister's arm, he led her from the room. Then he came swiftly back +to the outstretched arms of the exile. + +"A very brief New York engagement," he whispered in her ear, he knew +not how long afterward. Her head was pressed against his shoulder, her +eyes were closed, her lips parted in the ecstasy of passion. + +"Yes," she breathed, so faintly that he barely heard the strongest +word ever put into the language of man. + +Half-an-hour later he was speeding down the avenue in a taxi. His +blood was singing, his heart was bursting with joy,--his head was +light, for the feel of her was still in his arms, the voice of her in +his enraptured ears. + +He was hurrying homeward to the "diggings" he was soon to desert +forever. Poor, wretched, little old "diggings"! As he passed the +Plaza, the St. Regis and the Gotham, he favoured the great hostelries +with contemplative, calculating eyes; he even looked with speculative +envy upon the mansions of the Astors, the Vanderbilts and the +Huntingtons. She was born and reared in a house of vast dimensions. +Even the Vanderbilt places were puny in comparison. His reflections +carried him back to the Plaza. There, at least, was something +comparable in size. At any rate, it would do until he could look +around for something larger! He laughed at his conceit,--and pinched +himself again. + +He was to spend the night at his sister's apartment. When he issued +forth from his "diggings" at half-past seven, he was attired in +evening clothes, and there was not a woman in all New York, young or +old, who would have denied him a second glance. + +Later on in the evening three of the Countess's friends arrived at the +Courtney home to pay their respects to their fair compatriot, and to +discuss the crown jewels. They came and brought with them the +consoling information that arrangements were practically completed for +the delivery of the jewels into the custody of the French Embassy at +Washington, through whose intervention they were to be allowed to +leave the United States without the formalities usually observed in +cases of suspected smuggling. Upon the arrival in America of trusted +messengers from Paris, headed by no less a personage than the +ambassador himself, the imperial treasure was to pass into hands that +would carry it safely to France. Prince Sebastian, still in Halifax, +had been apprised by telegraph of the recovery of the jewels, and was +expected to sail for England by the earliest steamer. + +And while the visitors at the Courtney house were lifting their +glasses to toast the prince they loved, and, in turn, the beautiful +cousin who had braved so much and fared so luckily, and the tall +wayfarer who had come into her life, a small man was stooping over a +rifled knapsack in a room far down-town, glumly regarding the result +of an unusually hazardous undertaking, even for one who could perform, +such miracles as he. Scratching his chin, he grinned,--for he was the +kind who bears disappointment with a grin,--and sat himself down at +the big library table in the centre of the room. Carefully selecting a +pen-point, he wrote: + +"It will be quite obvious to you that I called unexpectedly to-night. +The week was up, you see. I take the liberty of leaving under the +paperweight at my elbow a two dollar bill. It ought to be ample +payment for the damage done to your faithful traveling companion. Have +the necessary stitches taken in the gash, and you will find the kit as +good as new. I was more or less certain not to find what I was after, +but as I have done no irreparable injury, I am sure you will forgive +my love of adventure and excitement. It was really quite difficult to +get from the fire escape to your window, but it was a delightful +experience. Try crawling along that ten inch ledge yourself some day, +and see if it isn't productive of a pleasant thrill. I shall not +forget your promise to return good for evil some day. God knows I hope +I may never be in a position to test your sincerity. We may meet +again, and I hope under agreeable circumstances. Kindly pay my deepest +respects to the Countess Ted, and believe me to be, "Yours VERY +respectfully, + +"Sprouse. + +"P.S.--I saw O'Dowd to-day. He left a message for you and the +Countess. Tell them, said he, that I ask God's blessing for them +forever. He is off to-morrow for Brazil. He was very much relieved +when he heard that I did not get the jewels the first time I went +after them, and immensely entertained by my jolly description of how I +went after them the second. By the way, you will be interested to +learn that he has cut loose from the crowd he was trailing with. +Mostly nuts, he says. Dynamiting munition plants in Canada was a grand +project, says he, and it would have come to something if the damned +women had only left the damned men alone. The expletives are +O'Dowd's." + +Ten hours before Barnes found this illuminating message on his library +table, he stood at the window of a lofty Park Avenue apartment +building, his arm about the slender, yielding figure of the only other +occupant of the room. Pointing out over the black house-tops, he +directed her attention to the myriad lights in the upper floors of a +great hostelry to the south and west, and said, + +"THAT is where you are going to live, darling." + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Green Fancy, by George Barr McCutcheon + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREEN FANCY *** + +This file should be named grnfn10.txt or grnfn10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, grnfn11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, grnfn10a.txt + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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