CHAPTER XIV
UNCLE JOHN DISAPPEARS
Uncle John grew to love Taormina. Its wildness and ruggedness somehowreminded him of the Rockies in the old pioneer days, and he wanderedthrough all the lanes of the quaint old town until he knew every corniceand cobblestone familiarly, and the women who sat weaving or mendingbefore their squalid but picturesque hovels all nodded a greeting to thecheery little American as he passed by.
He climbed Malo, too, a high peak crowned by a ruined castle; and alsoMt. Venere, on the plateau of which an ancient city had once stood. Hiswalking tours did him good, and frequently while the girls lay stretchedupon the grass that lined the theatre enclosure, to idle the time orread or write enthusiastic letters home, Uncle John, scorning suchlaziness, would take his stick and climb mountains, or follow the roughpaths that diverged from the highway just beyond the Catania Gate.
The tax gatherer whose tiny office was just inside the gate came to knowthe little gentleman very well, and although he could speak no Englishhe would bob his grizzled head and murmur: "_Buon giorno, signore!_" asthe stranger passed out on his daily stroll.
One afternoon Mr. Merrick went down the hill path leading from theCastello-a-Mare to Capo di San Andrea, and as he passed around a narrowledge of rock came full upon two men seated upon a flat stone. One wasValdi and the other Ferralti, and they seemed engaged in earnestconversation when he interrupted them. The Count smiled frankly anddoffed his hat; the Duke frowned grimly, but also nodded.
Uncle John passed on. The path was wild and little frequented. He feltin his side pocket and grasped the handle of his revolver; but there wasno attempt to follow or molest him. Nevertheless, when he returned fromthe beach he came up the longer winding roadway and was glad of thecompany of a ragged goatherd who, having no English, entertained "IlSignore" by singing ditties as he drove his goats before him.
The misgivings Uncle John had originally conceived concerning CountFerralti returned in full force with this incident; but he resolved tosay nothing of it to his nieces. Silas Watson would be with them in acouple of days more and he would consult the shrewd lawyer before hetook any decisive action.
Next morning after breakfast he left his nieces in the garden and saidhe would take a walk through the town and along the highway west, towardKaggi.
"I'll be back in an hour or so," he remarked, "for I have some lettersto write and I want them to catch the noon mail."
So the girls sat on the terrace overlooking the sea and Etna, andbreathed the sweet air and enjoyed the caressing sunshine, until theynoticed the portiere coming hastily toward them.
"Pardon, signorini," he said, breathlessly, "but it will be to oblige megreatly if you will tell me where Signor Ferralti is."
"He is not of our party," answered Patsy, promptly; but Louise looked upas if startled, and said: "I have been expecting him to join us here."
"Then you do not know?" exclaimed the portiere, in an anxious tone.
"Know what, sir?" asked the girl.
"That Signor Ferralti is gone. He has not been seen by any after lastevening. He did not occupy his room. But worse, far worse, will I breakyou the news gently--his baggage is gone with him!"
"His baggage gone!" echoed Louise, greatly disturbed. "And he did nottell you? You did not see him go?"
"Alas, no, signorina. His bill is still unsettled. He possessed twolarge travelling cases, which must have been carried out at the sideentrance with stealth most deplorable. The padrone is worried. SignorFerralti is American, and Americans seldom treat us wrongfully."
"Signor Ferralti is Italian," answered Louise, stiffly.
"The name is Italian, perhaps; but he speaks only the English," declaredthe portiere.
"He is not a rogue, however. Assure your master of that fact. When Mr.Merrick returns he will settle Count Ferralti's bill."
"Oh, Louise!" gasped Patsy.
"I don't understand it in the least," continued Louise, looking at hercousins as if she were really bewildered. "I left him in the courtyardlast evening to finish his cigar, and he said he would meet us in thegarden after breakfast. I am sure he had no intention of going away. Andfor the honor of American travellers his account here must be taken careof."
"One thing is singular," observed Beth, calmly. "There has been no trainsince last you saw him. If Count Ferralti has left the hotel, wherecould he be?"
The portiere brightened.
"_Gia s'intende!_" he exclaimed, "he must still be inTaormina--doubtless at some other hotel."
"Will you send and find out?" asked Louise.
"I will go myself, and at once," he answered. "And thank you,signorina, for the kind assurance regarding the account. It will relievethe padrone very much."
He hurried away again, and an uneasy silence fell upon the nieces.
"Do you care for this young man. Louise?" asked Beth, pointedly, afterthe pause had become awkward.
"He is very attentive and gentlemanly, and I feel you have all wrongedhim by your unjust suspicions," she replied, with spirit.
"That does not answer my question, dear," persisted her cousin. "Are youespecially fond of him?"
"What right have you to question me in this way, Beth?"
"No right at all, dear. I am only trying to figure out our doubtfulposition in regard to this young man--a stranger to all of us but you."
"It is really none of our business," observed Patsy, quickly. "We'rejust a lot of gossips to be figuring on Count Ferralti at all. Andalthough this sudden disappearance looks queer, on the face of it, thegentleman may simply have changed his boarding place."
"I do not think so," said Louise. "He liked this hotel very much."
"And he may have liked some of its guests," added Patsy, smiling. "Well,Uncle John will soon be back, and then we will talk it over with him."
Uncle John was late. The portiere returned first. He had been to everyhotel in the little town, but none of them had received a guest sincethe afternoon train of yesterday. Count Ferralti had disappeared as ifby magic, and no one could account for it.
Noon arrived, but no Uncle John. The girls became dispirited andanxious, for the little man was usually very prompt in keeping hisengagements, and always had returned at the set time.
They waited until the last moment and then entered the _salle a manger_and ate their luncheon in gloomy silence, hoping every moment to hearthe sound of their uncle's familiar tread.
After luncheon they held a hurried consultation and decided to go intotown and search for him. So away they trooped, asking eager questionsin their uncertain Italian but receiving no satisfactory reply untilthey reached the little office of the tax gatherer at the Catania Gate.
"_Ah, si, signorini mia_," he answered, cheerfully, "_il poco signorepassato da stamattini._"
But he had not returned?
Not yet.
They looked at one another blankly.
"See here," said Patsy; "Uncle John must have lost his way or met withan accident. You go back to the hotel, Louise, and wait there in case hereturns home another way. Beth and I will follow some of these paths andsee if we can find him."
"He may have sprained an ankle, and be unable to walk," suggested Beth."I think Patsy's advice is good."
So Louise returned through the town and the other girls began exploringthe paths that led into the mountains from every turn of the highway.But although they searched eagerly and followed each path a mile or moreof its length, no sign of life did they encounter--much less a sight oftheir missing uncle. The paths were wild and unfrequented, only on theCatania road itself a peasant now and then being found patientlytrudging along or driving before him a donkey laden with panniers oforanges or lemons for the markets of Taormina.
On some of the solitary rocky paths they called to Uncle John by name,hoping that their voices might reach him; but only the echoes replied.Finally they grew discouraged.
"It will be sunset before we get back, even if we start this minute,"said Beth, finally. "Let us
return, and get some one to help us."
Patsy burst into tears.
"Oh, I'm sure he's lost, or murdered, or kidnapped!" she wailed. "Dear,dear Uncle John! Whatever shall we do, Beth?"
"Why, he may be at home, waiting for us to get back. Don't give way,Patsy; it will do no good, you know."
They were thoroughly tired when, just at sunset, they reached the hotel.Louise came to meet them, and by the question in her eyes they knewtheir uncle had not returned.
"Something must be done, and at once," said Beth, decidedly. She was theyounger of the three girls, but in this emergency took the lead becauseof her calm and unruffled disposition and native good sense. "IsFrascatti in the courtyard?"
Patsy ran to see, and soon brought the vetturino into their sittingroom. He could speak English and knew the neighborhood thoroughly. Heought to be able to advise them.
Frascatti listened intently to their story. He was very evidentlyimpressed.
"Tell me, then, signorini," he said, thoughtfully; "is Senor Merreekvery rich?"
"Why do you ask?" returned Beth, suspiciously. She remembered thewarning conveyed in Mr. Watson's letter.
"Of course, I know that all the Americans who travel are rich,"continued Frascatti. "I have myself been in Chicago, which is America.But is Signor Merreek a very rich and well acquainted man in his owncountry? Believe me, it is well that you answer truly."
"I think he is."
The man looked cautiously around, and then came nearer and dropped hisvoice to a whisper.
"Are you aware that Il Duca knows this?" he asked.
Beth thought a moment.
"We met the man you call Il Duca, but who told us he was Signor VictorValdi, on board the ship, where many of the passengers knew my unclewell. If he listened to their conversation he would soon know all aboutJohn Merrick, of course."
Frascatti wagged his head solemnly.
"Then, signorina," he said, still speaking very softly, "I assure youthere is no need to worry over your uncle's safety."
"What do you mean?" demanded Beth.
"People do not lose their way in our mountains," he replied. "The pathsare straight, and lead all to the highways. And there is little dangerof falling or of being injured. But--I regret to say it, signorini--itis a reflection upon our advanced civilization and the good name of ourpeople--but sometimes a man who is rich disappears for a time, and noone knows how it is, or where he may be. He always returns; but then heis not so rich."
"I understand. My uncle is captured by brigands, you think."
"There are no brigands, signorina."
"Or the Mafia, then."
"I do not know the Mafia. All I know is that the very rich should keeptheir riches secret when they travel. In Chicago, which is America, theywill knock you upon the head for a few miserable dollars; here mycountrymen scorn to attack or to rob the common people. But when a manis so very rich that he does not need all of his money, there are, Iregret to say, some lawless ones in Sicily who insist that he dividewith them. But the prisoner is always well treated, and when he pays heis sent away very happy."
"Suppose he does not pay?"
"Ah, signorina, will not a drowning man clutch the raft that floats by?And the lawless ones do not take his all--merely a part."
The girls looked at one another helplessly.
"What must we do, Frascatti?" asked Patsy.
"Wait. In a day--two days, perhaps--you will hear from your uncle. Hewill tell you how to send money to the lawless ones. You will follow hisinstructions, and he will come home with smiles and singing. I know. Itis very regrettable, but it is so."
"It will not be so in this case," said Beth, indignantly. "I will seethe American consul--"
"I am sorry, but there is none here."
"I will telegraph to Messina for the military. They will search themountains, and bring your brigands to justice."
Frascatti smiled sadly.
"Oh, yes; perhaps they will come. But the military is Italian--notSicilian--and has no experience in these parts. The search will findnothing, except perhaps a dead body thrown upon the rocks to defyjustice. It is very regrettable, signorina; but it is so."
Patsy was wringing her hands, frantic with terror. Louise was white andstaring. Beth puckered her pretty brow in a frown and tried to think.
"Ferralti is also gone," murmured Louise, in a hoarse voice. "They willrob or murder him with Uncle John!"
"I am quite convinced," said Beth, coldly, "that your false count is afellow conspirator of the brigand called Il Duca. He has been followingus around to get a chance to ensnare Uncle John."
"Oh, no, no, Beth! It is not so! I know better than that."
"He would lie to you, of course," returned the girl bitterly. "As soonas the trap was set he disappeared, bag and baggage, and left the simplegirl he had fooled to her own devices."
"You do not know what you are saying," retorted Louise, turning her backto Beth and walking to a window. From where they stood they could hearher sobbing miserably.
"Whether Frascatti is right or not," said Patsy, drying her eyes andtrying to be brave, "we ought to search for Uncle John at once."
"I think so, too," agreed Beth. Then, turning to the Sicilian, she said:"Will you get together as many men as possible and search the hills,with lanterns, for my uncle? You shall be well paid for all you do."
"Most certainly, signorina, if it will please you," he replied. "Howlong do you wish us to search?"
"Until you find him."
"Then must we grow old in your service. _Non fa niente!_ It isregrettable, but--"
"Will you go at once?" stamping her foot angrily.
"Most certainly, signorina."
"Then lose no time. I will go with you and see you start."
She followed the man out, and kept at his side until he had securedseveral servants with lanterns for the search. The promise of high_caparra_ or earnest money made all eager to join the band, but thepadrone could only allow a half dozen to leave their stations at thehotel. In the town, however, whither Beth accompanied them, a score ofsleepy looking fellows were speedily secured, and under the command ofFrascatti, who had resolved to earn his money by energy and good willbecause there was no chance of success, they marched out of the CataniaGate and scattered along the mountain paths.
"If you find Uncle John before morning I will give you a thousand liraadditional," promised Beth.
"We will search faithfully," replied her captain, "but the signorinamust not be disappointed if the lawless ones evade us. They have a wayof hiding close in the caves, where none may find them. It isregrettable, very; but it is so."
Then he followed his men to the mountains, and as the last glimmer fromhis lantern died away the girl sighed heavily and returned alone throughthe deserted streets to the hotel.
Clouds hid the moon and the night was black and forbidding; but it didnot occur to her to be afraid.