CHAPTER XXIII
DIAMONDS
During the early morning hours of that summer day that Sidney wasdestined never to forget, the girl passed through every emotion that afifteen-year-old heart can suffer.
First, to her dismay no one at the cottage had seemed to rejoice, asthe crowd on the wharf had rejoiced, at her rescue. When Mr. Dugald ledher in Miss Vine was making coffee at the stove and all she said was:"Well, you're all right! Better go to bed now as quick as you can andkeep out from under foot." Then Mr. Dugald had taken Pola back to thehotel. Aunt Achsa was with Doctor Blackwell and Lavender. Sidney hadtried to summon sufficient courage to ask Miss Vine's forbidding backfor some word of Lavender, but the words failed in her throat. Cold,forlorn, hungry, she crept to her room, threw off her clothes andhuddled down into the bed-clothes.
They would all blame her--Miss Vine and Mr. Dugald, Aunt Achsa, DoctorBlackwell. Probably now Pola would have more complexes to suffer;Pola's mother would be angry and they could never be friends again. AndMart--Aunt Achsa had said old Mrs. Calkins could be terrible when shewas "worked up!" Even if Lavender lived Aunt Achsa would never forgiveher and if he _didn't_ live--Mr. Dugald had said he was fighting. Thoseboards creaking faintly meant that Doctor Blackwell and Aunt Achsa werehelping Lavender fight. Dear old Lav with his fine dreams!
The desperate longing for Trude shook her. She sobbed into her pillow.And yet the longing brought only added remorse. Trude would scold her.Trude would take her home. That meant stinging humiliation. How Vickwould laugh at her when everything was over. A case of rum! Sidneywrithed under the soft covers.
Somewhere boards creaked again--Lavender's fight. Sidney pictured thedoctor and Aunt Achsa bending over him. And outside everything was soquiet and gray. That was the way death probably came, Sidney thought.
On the morrow they would send her home--in disgrace. She might not evenbe allowed to see Lavender, or Mart, or Pola--or Mr. Dugald. Someonewould telegraph to Trude and Trude would meet her back at Middletown.She would live a long, sad life of penance behind the crumbing stonewall she had so detested.
But the thought of the wall and the shelter of the old house broughtsuch a surcease of torment that the girl had fallen into a heavy sleep.When she wakened it was to a consciousness of bright sunshine--andsomeone looking at her, someone different, and someone smiling.
She sat bolt upright and rubbed her eyes. Then she flung out her armswith a low glad cry that was half sob.
"Trude--_Oh, Trude!_"
Trude held her long and close, stroking the shorn head, murmuringsoothing words. Finally Sidney wriggled from her.
"Have you come to take me home? But how could they send for you soquickly? How long have I been asleep? Oh, Lavender--is he--is he--"
"One question at a time, Sid. Lavender is better. He'll be all right,the doctor says, after a good rest. Yes, I think I'd better take youhome. No, they did not send for me." Briefly, as though now thatearlier concern was of little consequence, Trude told of the sketchthat had so bewildered and alarmed her.
"I couldn't understand," she finished.
"I couldn't either, at first. You see the boarder--the man who hasboarded here so long and is dreadfully fond of Aunt Achsa wrote thatletter to me and wrote it _nice_ so as to please her, and, atfirst--but, oh, Trude, Aunt Achsa _is_ wonderful and so is Lavender,really, truly, even though they are poor--"
"Hush, Sidney." Trude's eyes darkened with feeling. "You do not have totell me that. I have learned _that_ in only a few hours. Oh, I haveseen straight into souls--those kind men on the street, as concerned asthough you belonged to them, and here--Aunt Achsa with her greatcourage and her love. And that Miss Vine--they're so _simple_--and sofine--it made me ashamed of my silly standards, my fears."
"And Lavender is best of all--"
Now quick tears shone like stars in Trude Romley's eyes. She reachedout her hands and caught Sidney's.
"Oh, Lavender--when I think what _he_ did I--I--" She could not finish,but Sidney understood the gratitude that was in her heart. She leanedher face against Trude's shoulder with a long sigh.
"I'm cured of lots of things, Trude. I wanted something different but Ididn't want all _this_ to happen! You see I _made_ Lavender and Martbelieve it was diamonds Jed Starrow was hiding when it was probablyonly a case of rum--"
Suddenly Trude straightened. "I almost forgot. A boy came here and saida Captain Davies wanted you to come down to Rockman's wharf as soon asyou could. That was two hours ago. You see it is nearly noon now. You'dbetter dress quickly and I'll go out and fix you some breakfast."
Sidney obeyed reluctantly. In her mingled remorse and humiliation sheshrank from facing the world. She was not even curious as to why Cap'nPhin wanted to see her.
By the time she had dressed Trude had a poached egg and a glass of milkready for her. Miss Letty was with Lavender and Aunt Achsa had gone tobed.
Sidney begged so hard that Trude accompany her to Rockman's that Trudeput on her hat and went with her. And poor Sidney needed Trude'ssupport for Sunset Lane was thronged with curious men and women; asthey walked along the waterfront fishermen and tourists and boys andgirls stared and nodded and Sidney's sensitive soul mistook theirobvious interest for ridicule. She walked with lowered eyes lest sheencounter Mrs. Calkins or Pola's mother.
Cap'n Phin was waiting outside the door of the shed on Rockman's wharf.He nodded to Sidney and Trude and beckoned them inside. At any othertime, in any other state of mind, Sidney would have thrilled to his airof mystery.
Four men sat in wooden chairs tipped at various angles and on the floorbefore them stood the wooden box from the _Arabella_. The men noddedand smiled at Sidney and brought their chairs to the floor as though toattention.
Cap'n Davies solemnly motioned Sidney and Trude to two vacant chairsand then cleared his throat.
"I cal'late, Miss Sidney, that you've a sort o' interest in this cargowe brought in on the _Sally_ so we stood by 'til you hove in sight.Now, mebbe it's what we think it is and mebbe it isn't. Si, give a handand unload."
One of the men knelt down by the box and proceeded to open it with ahammer and a chisel. The others leaned forward with interest. Sidneyheld her breath.
The man Si, having torn off the cover, put his hands into the paperwrappings and drew forth yards and yards of magnificently embroideredfabric that made Sidney and Trude gasp in admiration and astonishment.But the others were plainly disappointed. A low murmur of disgust wentaround the room.
"Give it here," one of the men asked. And as Si handed over thecontraband it slipped from his hands. He caught at it quickly to saveit from the dirt of the floor. Suddenly something small and gleamingfell from the folds and rolled upon the floor.
"I'll be ding-blasted!" roared Cap'n Phin. Someone swore softly. Theman Si dropped to his knees. Sidney blinked.
Cap'n Phin seized the silk and unwound it. And among the countlessfolds he found a cunningly contrived pocket filled with hundreds of thepriceless gems.
For a moment no one spoke. The daring of it all, the wealth of theglistening jewels, held each man in the room. Cap'n Phin folded thegorgeous silk and passed it to one of the men.
"I guess this belongs to you in trust for Uncle Sam," he said gravely."Our business is with one Jed Starrow." He turned to Sidney who wastrembling violently. "Now, matie, will you tell these men how youhappened to ship aboard the _Arabella_ last night?"
Sidney's story tumbled out in quick, eager words and in careful detail.The men listened closely. The one who had taken the diamonds "in trustfor Uncle Sam" made notes in a small black book. When she had finishedCap'n Phin nodded, his face serious.
"Reckon we'd better not question Lav Green just yet, he's pullin' outof the fog. We got enough as 'tis to hold Jed Starrow. If I ain't muchmistaken he'll turn yellow when we face him and squeal on the folkshigher up what's paid him to hurt the name of the Cape. That'll do fornow, little gal."
Walking
homeward Sidney could not speak for excitement. It had _not_been rum! It _had_ been the diamonds they had sought! Theirrecklessness had not been in vain. Her disgrace had a sweeter flavor.
As they turned in to Sunset Lane Sidney spied Mr. Dugald ahead. He musthear the news! And he could tell her of Pola! She ran toward him,calling. At the sound of her voice he lifted his head.
"Oh, Mr. Dugald, it _was_ diamonds--in that box, you know, why--" Buthere Sidney stopped. For Mr. Dugald was not even hearing her, he wasstaring over her head at Trude.
"Oh, I forgot--this is my sister, Trude. Trude, this is Mr. Dugald,Aunt Achsa's--"
But her introduction went no farther. At sight of Trude's face shebroke off abruptly. And Mr. Dugald was saying quietly:
"I know your sister, Sidney. Trude, I am more glad to see you than youcan ever know!"
Sidney's brain whirled. Mr. Dugald _knew_ Trude! And Trude--only oncebefore had she seen that look on Trude's face and that had been whenshe had watched Trude reading a letter to Issy.
"Why--why--why--" she gasped, a great enlightenment slowly dawning overher. "You're--you're--why, you're Trude's _lost love_!"
"_Sidney!_" cried Trude, scarlet-faced.
Dugald Allan laughed. "Sidney, go in and see Lav. He's been calling foryou and Miss Letty says you can see him for five minutes if you won'tlet him do any of the talking. I want to tell your sister a few thingsabout you that I think she ought to know." He caught Trude's arm in amasterful way, wheeled her about and led her down the lane.
Sidney stared after them; even the excitement of the diamonds faded tonothing by the side of this amazing revelation. Mr. Dugald had knownTrude all the time! He was the man who had made Trude so unhappy! Hehad let her talk of Trude and had never betrayed by so much as a blushtheir acquaintance!
Sidney had no choice but to go on alone to the cottage. Her elation andher delight at seeing Lavender were shadowed by a growing apprehension.Mr. Dugald had promised to forget what she had told him of Trude'sbroken heart, but perhaps he hadn't! And he might tell Trude that heknew!
SHE SPIED APPROACHING FIGURES--TRUDE AND MR. DUGALD,WALKING SLOWLY]