CHAPTER 17 _ACCUSATIONS_
Penny and Louise scrambled into their clothes. As they pulled on theirshoes, they heard Mrs. Lear going down the hall. Fearful lest sheencounter trouble, they hastened to overtake her before she reached thefront door.
"Do you think it's safe to let those men in?" Penny ventured dubiously.
"Why shouldn't I open the door?" Mrs. Lear demanded. "I've nothing tohide."
She gazed sharply at Penny, who suddenly was at a loss for words.
Mrs. Lear swung wide the door to face the group of men on the porch. JoeQuigley was there and so was Silas Malcom. Seeing friends, Penny andLouise felt reassured.
"Well?" demanded Mrs. Lear, though not in an unfriendly tone. "What's themeaning of waking a body up in the middle o' the night?"
"Word just came in by radio," Joe Quigley spoke up. "There's been a bigrain over Goshen way."
"I could have told you that last night," Mrs. Lear replied, undisturbed."Knew it when I seen them big clouds bilin' up."
"You oughter get out o' here right away," added Silas Malcom. "That damat Huntley Lake ain't safe no more, and when all that water comes downfrom Goshen it ain't too likely she'll hold."
"Are the people of Delta leaving for the hills?" Mrs. Lear asked coldly.
"Some are," Quigley assured her. "We're urging everyone who can to takethe morning train. A few stubborn ones like yourself refuse to budge."
"Oh, so I'm stubborn! I suppose you're leaving, Joe Quigley?"
"That's different. I have a job to do and I can't desert my post at thedepot."
"And the Burmasters? Are they leaving?"
"We're on our way up to the estate now to warn them."
"I'll make you a bargain," Mrs. Lear agreed, a hard glint in her eye. "IfMrs. Burmaster goes, then I'll go too. But so long as she stays in thisvalley I'm not stirrin' one inch!"
"You're both as stubborn as one of Silas' mules!" Joe Quigley saidimpatiently. "Don't you realize that your life is in danger?"
"When you've lived as long as I have, young man, life ain't so preciousas some other things."
"If you won't listen to reason yourself, what about these girls?" Quigleyturned toward Penny and Louise.
Mrs. Lear's face became troubled. "They'll have to go at once," shedecided. "What time's that train out o' Delta?"
"Eleven-forty," Joe Quigley replied. "Or they can catch it at Witch Fallsat eleven. Getting on at that station they might find seats."
"We'll pack our things right away," Louise promised, starting for thestairs.
Penny followed reluctantly. Though she realized that it would befoolhardy to remain, she did not want to leave Red Valley. Particularlyshe disliked to desert old Mrs. Lear.
"If Mrs. Lear is determined to stay here, what can we do about it?"Louise argued reasonably. "You know our folks wouldn't want us toremain."
The girls quickly gathered their belongings together and went downstairsagain. To their surprise Mrs. Lear had put on her coat and was preparingto accompany the men to Sleepy Hollow.
"I ain't leavin' fer good," she announced, observing Penny's astonishedgaze. "Leastwise, not unless the Burmasters do. I'm going there now tosee what they've got to say."
"Come along if you like," one of the men invited the girls. "Maybe youcan help persuade them to leave the valley."
Penny and Louise doubted that they would be of any assistance whatsoever.However, it was several hours before train time, so they were very gladindeed to ride in one of the cars to Sleepy Hollow estate. At thecrossroad Joe Quigley turned back to Delta for he was scheduled to go onduty at the railroad station. The others kept on until they reached theestate.
Silas Malcom rapped sharply on the front door. In a moment a light wenton in an upstairs room. A few minutes later a window opened and Mr.Burmaster, clad in pajamas, peered down.
"What's wanted?" he demanded angrily.
"There's been a big rain above us," he was told. "Everyone's beingadvised to get out while there's time."
Mr. Burmaster was silent a moment. Then he said: "Wait a minute until Idress. We'll talk about it."
Ten minutes elapsed before the estate owner opened the front door andbade the group enter. He led the party into a luxuriously furnishedliving room.
"Now what is all this?" Mr. Burmaster asked. "We had one disturbance herelast night and it seems to me that's about enough."
Silas Malcom explained the situation, speaking quietly but with force.
"And who says that the dam won't hold?" Mr. Burmaster interrupted.
"Well, it's the opinion of them that's been workin' on it for the pasttwo weeks. If we'd had money and enough help--"
"So that's why you rooted me out of bed!"
"We came here to do you a favor!" one of the men retorted angrily. "It'stoo late to save the dam unless nature sees fit to spare her. But itain't too late for you and your household to get out of here."
"I have two hundred thousand dollars sunk in this place."
"That's a heap o' money," Silas said thoughtfully. "But it ain't going tomean anything to you if that dam lets go. You ought to leave here withoutwaitin'."
"Perhaps you're right," Mr. Burmaster said, pacing back and forth infront of the fireplace. "It was my judgment that the dam would hold.Naturally no one could predict these heavy, unseasonable rains."
A door opened. Everyone turned to see Mrs. Burmaster on the threshold.Her hair was uncombed and she wore a brilliant red housecoat.
"Who are these people?" she asked her husband in a cold voice.
"Villagers. They've come to warn us that we ought to leave here."
"Warn us, indeed!" Mrs. Burmaster retorted bitterly. "I don't know whatthey've said to you, but it's just another scheme to get us away fromhere! Haven't they tried everything?"
"This ain't no Headless Horseman scare, Ma'am," spoke Silas Malcom. "TheHuntley dam is likely to give way at any minute."
"I've heard that for weeks!" Mrs. Burmaster's gaze was scornful. "Oh, Iknow you've hated us ever since we built this house! You've tried everyimaginable trick to make us leave."
"That ain't true, ma'am," Silas replied soberly.
Mrs. Burmaster's angry gaze swept the group and came to rest on Mrs.Lear.
"That old witch who lives down the road has set you all against me!" shefairly screamed. "She's lied and fought me at every turn!"
Mrs. Lear detached herself from the group. She spoke quietly but withsuppressed fury.
"I've stood a lot from you in the past, Mrs. Burmaster," she retorted."But there ain't no one alive can call me a witch!"
"Oh, I can't?" Mrs. Burmaster mocked. "Well, you're worse than an oldwitch!"
"At least I ain't a sneak thief! I don't go breakin' into folks' housesto steal the deed to their property!"
"How dare you accuse me of such a thing!"
"Because I know you got the deed to my cabin right here in the house!"Mrs. Lear accused. "You've got it hid away!"
"That's a lie!"
"Ladies! Ladies!" remonstrated one of the men from the village.
Mrs. Lear paid not the slightest heed. Advancing toward Mrs. Burmaster,she waved a bony finger at her.
"So it's a lie, is it?" she cackled. "Well, let me tell you this! MaryGibson that worked out here as maid until last Wednesday saw that deed o'mine in your bureau drawer. She told me herself!"
"How dare you say such a thing!" gasped Mrs. Burmaster.
Mr. Burmaster stepped between his wife and Mrs. Lear.
"Enough of this!" he said firmly, "We know nothing about the deed to yourproperty, Mrs. Lear."
"Then prove that it ain't here!" the old lady challenged. "Look in yourwife's bureau drawer and see!"
"Certainly. Since you have made such an accusation we shall by all meansdisprove it."
As Mr. Burmaster started toward the circular stairway, his wife caughtnervously at his arm.
; "No, John! Don't be so weak as to give in to her!"
"Mrs. Lear has made a very serious accusation against you. We must proveto all these people that she misjudged you."
"You can't search--you mustn't! It's insulting to me!"
"But my dear--"
"I'll never speak to you again if you do! Never!"
Mr. Burmaster hesitated, not knowing what to do. "So you're afraid tolook?" Mrs. Lear needled him.
"No, I'm not afraid," the estate owner said with sudden decision."Furthermore, I want someone to accompany me as witness." His gaze sweptthe little group and singled out Penny. "Will you come?"
Penny did not wish to be drawn into the feud, but as the others urged herto accompany Mr. Burmaster, she reluctantly agreed.
Mrs. Burmaster's bedroom was a luxurious chamber directly above theliving room. There was a canopied bed with beautiful hangings and adressing table that fairly took Penny's breath away.
"There's the bureau," said Mr. Burmaster, pointing to another massivepiece of furniture. "Suppose you search."
Rather reluctantly, Penny opened the top drawer. It was filled with lacehandkerchiefs, and neat boxes of stockings. The second drawer containedsilk lingerie while the third was filled with odds and ends.
"So it's not there!" Mr. Burmaster exclaimed in relief as Pennystraightened from her task. "I was sure it wouldn't be!"
From the tone of his voice it was evident that he had been very muchafraid the deed would be found. Penny's eyes wandered toward the dressingtable.
"You may as well search there too," Mr. Burmaster said. "Then there canbe no further accusations."
One by one Penny opened the drawers of the dressing table. Mrs.Burmaster's jewel box caught her eye. It was filled to overflowing withbracelets, pins, and valuable necklaces. Just behind the big silver box,another object drew her attention. At a glance she knew that it was alegal document. As she picked it up she saw that it was the deed to Mrs.Lear's property.
"What's that?" Mr. Burmaster demanded sharply when Penny did not speak.
Without answering, she gave him the document.
"It is the deed!" he exclaimed, dumbfounded. "Then my wife did steal itfrom Mrs. Lear! But why--why would she do such a thing?"
"I'm sure she didn't realize--"
"Mrs. Burmaster is a sick woman, a very sick woman," the estate ownersaid unhappily. "But what must I do?"
"What can you do except go downstairs and tell the truth?"
"Face them all? Admit that my wife is a thief?"
"It seems to me that the only honorable thing is to return the deed toMrs. Lear."
"The deed must be returned," Mr. Burmaster acknowledged. "But nottonight--later."
"I realize that you wish to protect your wife," Penny said quietly. "It'snatural. But Mrs. Lear has to be considered."
"I'll pay you handsomely to keep quiet about this," Mr. Burmaster said."Furthermore, I'll promise to return the deed to Mrs. Lear tomorrow."
Penny shook her head.
"Very well then," Mr. Burmaster sighed. "I suppose I must face them. Idon't mind for myself. It's my wife I'm worried about. She's apt to gointo hysterics."
Tramping down the stairs, the estate owner confronted the little group ofvillagers. In a few words he acknowledged that the deed had been found,apologized to Mrs. Lear, and placed the document in her hands. Throughoutthe speech Mrs. Burmaster stood as one stricken. Her face flushed as redas the robe she wore, then became deathly white.
"I thank you, Mr. Burmaster, you're an honorable man," Mrs. Lear saidstiffly. "I feel mighty sorry fer the way things turned out. Maybe--"
"Oh, yes, everyone can see that you're sorry!" Mrs. Burmaster broke inshrilly. "You're a hateful, scheming old hag. Now get out of my house!Get out all of you and never come back!"
"About the dam--" Silas Malcom started to say.
"The dam!" Mrs. Burmaster screamed. "Let it break! I wish it would! ThenI'd never see any of you again! Go on--get out! Do you hear me? Get out!"
The little group retreated toward the door. Mrs. Burmaster did not waitto see the villagers leave. Weeping hysterically, she ran from the room.