CHAPTER XVIII.
DEB AT THE MILL
The apartments which the kind-hearted Miss Parks allowed Deb to havewere small but pleasant, and the bright sunshine that strolled in theback windows did much toward brightening up Deb's naturally livelydisposition.
By the aid of the energetic elderly maiden the furniture from the formerWillington rooms was quickly set to rights, a good part of it beingstored in the garret until--when?
Deb asked herself that question many times as she sat on the edge of thebed, after Miss Parks had gone below.
"If Jack was only here," she sighed. "Where can he have gone? I willnever, never believe he has run away, no matter what Mr. Benton or theothers say. Something has surely happened to him."
It was not long before she decided to start on a regular search for herbrother, and going down stairs she told Miss Parks of her intention.
"Well, dear, do just as you think best," was that lady's reply. "Wheredo you intend to go?"
"I shall visit that farmer's place first," replied the girl. "Perhapsthey can give me some information."
"I hope so. But have a cup of tea before you leave?"
"Thank you; I really don't care for it."
"Oh, but you must," insisted the good lady. "It will do you a heap ofgood. Just the thing to quiet your nerves."
Rather than displease her friend, Deb finally consented; and spent tenminutes in the back parlor, sipping the elderly maiden's favorite YoungHyson.
The girl was soon on her way. Farmer Farrell was well known throughoutthe district, and it did not take her long to reach his place.
She was thoroughly dismayed to learn that Jack had started for home atsundown the day before.
Not knowing where to go or what to do next, she retraced her stepstoward Corney. She was in no hurry, and wandered in deep and painfulcontemplation, to one side of the road.
Near the old mill she stumbled over a bundle that lay in the grass neara tree. Without thinking, she was about to step over it, when somethingabout the cloth covering attracted her attention, and picking it up, shewas amazed to find that it was Jack's kit, wrapped in his overalls!
"How in the world did that get here!" she exclaimed, and then turneddeathly white, as a horrible suspicion crossed her mind: "Oh, it couldnever be! no, no, no, no!"
She dropped the bundle and ran down to the water's edge. The spot wasjust below the mill, and in a little cove, where the river wascomparatively quiet.
Nothing was to be seen--nothing but the sparkle of the sun, and thewaving shadows cast by the trees overhead.
"It's awfully lonely here," she said to herself. "If Jack came here----"
She was startled to see the shadow of a man close beside her. Lookingup she gave a slight scream as she recognized the tall form of Corrigan.
She did not know that the man had been watching her for some time,revolving in his mind what he should say about Jack if asked anyquestions.
He advanced to her with a smiling face, ignoring entirely the way he hadtreated her the previous evening.
"Got tired of waiting for Jack to get back?" he asked.
Deb was too much alarmed to offer a reply at once.
"Yes--I am," she stammered.
"Thought you would be. He ought to have sent you word," continuedCorrigan. "He sold the model I took, just as I told you he would," headded.
"Where is he?" asked the girl, thrown off her guard by the villain'scool manner.
"Around here somewhere. He's been here and over to Redrock twice sinceyesterday. He got the contract to fix up the machinery in this oldmill. The man who bought it wants the job done as soon as possible, sohe went right to work. I'm helping him on the drawing. I'm adraughtsman, you know."
Deb did not know, nor was she aware that Corrigan's statement was purelyfictitious.
"Where is Jack now?" she asked, turning over the plausibility of thestory in her mind.
"Just went up the stream a ways, to catch the true drift of the tide,"replied Corrigan. "He thinks they will get more power if the wheel isshifted around. Better come in the place and wait for him."
Deb hesitated. In spite of all the man was saying, she hated to trusthim. Yet, if he was speaking the truth, certainly her treatment of himthe previous evening had not been right at all.
"There are some benches inside," continued the fellow; "you are tired, Ican see, and the rest will do you good. Jack will land at the bottomroom."
Rather reluctantly Deb followed the man into the building.
"Here you are," he said, pulling a bench from the wall, and motioningher to a seat. "You mustn't think I bear you a grudge for what you didlast night," he continued, pleasantly.
The girl sat down without replying. The spot was near an open window,and she strained her eyes to catch sight of any craft that might becoming toward the mill.
"Perhaps after all, it's all right, and I'm a silly goose to be soworried," she thought; "it's just like Jack to take hold of the firstjob that comes to hand. For all I know his silence may be caused by hisgood luck."
Yet when she remembered about being locked in and, later, turned out oftheir home, she concluded it was a serious matter, and wondered what herbrother would say to that.
It was fast turning to twilight, and the evening sun cast longflickering rays across the rapid stream. Had her mind been tranquil, Debwould have enjoyed the scene greatly, but now her one thought was uponthe boat she hoped would speedily appear.
"Object to smoking?" asked Corrigan, after a brief spell of silence.
"Oh, no, smoke as much as you please," replied the girl.
Corrigan filled his pipe, and lighting it, sat down. He was by no meansa dull man, and to carry out his hastily formed deception, he beganmaking a few apparent calculations on a bit of paper which he held uponhis knee.
He was waiting for Mosey to return from Blackbird Island. He expectedthat his brother-in-law would see Max Pooler, and transact some privatebusiness that interested the three, and from which he expected toreceive a neat sum of money. Several times Deb turned to watch Corrigan.
"He seems sincere enough," she kept saying to herself, yet at the bottomof her heart her uneasiness increased. The man hardly knew what to do.On the impulse of the moment he had detained Deb, thinking that he mightin some way make her shield him from the punishment he knew he richlydeserved, yet now he was not sure he could manage her.
A quarter of an hour, a very long quarter to Deb, passed.
"My brother ought to be in sight," she said. "He ought to stop working.It is getting late."
"Maybe he's struck a new idea," replied Corrigan. "You know he hates togive up unless a point is settled."
Deb knew that this was true of Jack. But might not her brother gostraight home, without returning to the mill?
"I guess I'll go up the road to meet him," she said, rising.
Corrigan stepped over to the door. "No, you must stay here," hereplied, decidedly.
"Why--why, what do you mean!" exclaimed Deb, turning pale.
"I mean just this," replied Corrigan, catching her by the arm, "you aremy prisoner, and must do as I say."
"I MEAN JUST THIS," REPLIED CORRIGAN, CATCHING HER BY THEARM, "YOU ARE MY PRISONER AND MUST DO AS I SAY."]