CHAPTER XXVII.
AN ANGRY HEIRESS.
Very soon after Jim's departure, the first visitors arrived at thecottage, and most welcome ones they were.
Miss Barnard, who seemed capable of wise thought in the midst of hergrief and anxiety, had dispatched her own servant with a message to Mr.Harris, and, early as was the hour, that good man had hastened to thecottage, with his wife at his side. Their presence was comforting toMiss Barnard and myself. Mr. Harris was the right man to assumeresponsibilities, which I, for various reasons, had no desire to takeupon myself, and Mrs. Harris was the very companion and assistant neededby the anxious girl. They were soon in possession of all the facts, aswe knew them, concerning the previous night, and its calamity.
I say, as we knew them; Miss Barnard had heard nothing concerning thepart Jim's gun was believed to have played in the sad affair, and I didnot think it necessary to enlighten either her or Mr. Harris on thatsubject, at that time.
Leaving Bethel in such good hands, I went back to the hotel. But beforeI could breakfast or rest, I was called upon to repeat again and againall that I could or would tell concerning this new calamity that hadbefallen Dr. Bethel, for the news of the night was there before me.
As I re-entered the office, after quitting the breakfast table, I founda considerable crowd assembled, and was again called upon to rehearse mystory.
"It looks sorter queerish to me," commented a hook-nosed old Traftonite,who had listened very intently to my words. "It's sorter _queerish_! Whywarn't folks told of this sooner? Why warn't the alarm given, so'atcitizens could agone and seen for theirselves how things was?"
I recognized the speaker as one who had been boisterously andvindictively active on the day of the raid upon Bethel's cottage, and Ifixed my eye upon his face with a look which he seemed to comprehend, asI retorted:
"Dr. Bethel has received one visit from a delegation of 'citizens whowere desirous to see for theirselves how things was,' and if he sufferedno harm from it, it was not owing to the tender mercies of the'citizens' aforesaid. The attendance of a mob last night would not havebenefited Bethel. What he needed was a doctor and good nursing. These hehad and will have," and I turned upon my heel to leave the room.
"I should say," spoke up another voice, "that there was a detectiveneeded around there, too."
"Nothing shall be lacking that is needed," I retorted, over myshoulder, and then ascended the stairs, wishing heartily, as I enteredmy room, that Trafton and a large majority of its inhabitants weresafely buried under an Alpine avalanche.
Two hours later I awoke, and being in a more amiable mood, felt lessinclined to consign all Trafton to annihilation.
Going below I found the office comparatively quiet, and Dimber Joe andthe new operator socially conversing on the porch.
Gerald's presence was a relief to me. I felt sure that he would keep asharp eye upon the movements of Dimber, and, being anxious about thesituation of Bethel I returned to the cottage.
Dr. Hess stood in the doorway, in conversation with Mr. Harris.
"How is the patient?" asked I, approaching them.
"Much the same," replied the doctor. "But there will be a change soon."
"Has he spoken?"
"No; he will hardly do that yet, and should not be allowed to talk evenif he could. When the change comes there will be fever, and perhapsdelirium."
I passed them and entered the sick-room.
Mrs. Harris sat by the bed. Louise Barnard was not there.
"We have sent Louise home," Mrs. Harris whispered, seeing me glanceabout inquiringly. "The doctor told her that if she insisted uponremaining she would soon be sick herself, and unable to help us at all.That frightened her a little. The poor child is really worn out, withher father's sickness and death, her mother's poor health, and nowthis," nodding toward the bed.
"Have you had any visitors?"
"Oh, yes. But we knew that the house must be kept quiet, and Mr. Harrishas received the most of them out in the yard. Dr. Hess says it will bebest to admit none but personal friends."
"Dr. Hess is very sensible."
Going back to join the two gentlemen, I saw that Dr. Hess was hasteningtoward the gate with considerable alacrity, and that a pony phaeton hadjust halted there.
Swinging the gate wide open, the doctor assisted the occupant to alight.
It was Miss Manvers.
There was an anxious look upon her face, and in her eyes a shadow ofwhat I had once discovered there, when, myself unseen, I had witnessedher interview with Arch Brookhouse on the day of the garden party. Shewas pale, and exceedingly nervous.
She said very little. Indeed her strongest effort to preserve herself-control seemed almost a failure, and was very evident to each ofus. She listened with set lips to the doctor's description and opinionof the case, and then entered the inner room, and stood looking down atthe figure lying there, so stalwart, yet so helpless. For a moment herfeatures were convulsed, and her hands clenched each other fiercely. Herform was shaken with emotion so strong as to almost overmaster her. Itwas a splendid picture of fierce passion held in check by an iron will.
She came out presently, and approached me.
"You were one of the first to know this, I am told," she said, in a low,constrained tone. "Please tell me about it."
I told her how I was called to the rescue by Jim, and gave a briefoutline of after events.
"And has all been done that can be?" she asked, after a moment ofsilence.
"Not quite all, Miss Manvers. We have yet to find this would-be murdererand bring him to justice." I spoke with my eyes fixed on her face.
She started, flushed, and a new excited eagerness leaped to her eyes.
"Will you do that? _Can_ you?"
"It shall be done," I replied, still watching her face.
She gave a little fluttering sigh, drew her veil across her arm, andturned to go.
"If I can be of service, in any way," she began, hesitatingly.
"We shall not hesitate to ask for your services," I interrupted,walking beside her to the door, and from thence to the gate, a little tothe annoyance of Dr. Hess, I fancied.
As I assisted her to her seat in the phaeton, and put the reins in herhands, I saw Arch Brookhouse galloping rapidly from the direction oftown. And, just as she had turned her ponies homeward, and I paused atthe gate to nod a final good-bye, he reined his horse up sharply besideher vehicle.
"How is the doctor, Adele?" he asked, in a tone evidently meant for myears.
"Don't speak to me," she replied, vehemently, and utterly regardless ofmy proximity. "Don't speak to me. I wish it were _you_ in his place."
She snatched up her whip, as though her first instinct was to draw thelash across his face, but she struck the ponies instead, and they flewup the hill at a reckless gait.
As Brookhouse turned in the saddle to look after the flying phaeton, Isaw a dark frown cross his face.
But the next instant his brow cleared, and he turned again to bestow onme a look of sharp scrutiny.
Springing from his horse, and throwing the bridle across his arm, heapproached the gate.
"Did you hear her?" he exclaimed. "That is what I get for being anamiable fellow. My friend is not amiable to-day."
"Evidently not," I responded, carelessly. "Lovers' quarrels are fierceaffairs, but very fleeting."
He smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"I have been so unfortunate as to offend her," he said. "By to-morrowshe will have forgotten the circumstances."
"Will she, indeed?" thought I. "We shall see, my friend."
But I made no audible comment, and he dismissed the subject to ask thestereotyped questions, "How was Dr. Bethel? Could he be of any service?How did it happen?"
While I was answering these questions with the best grace I couldmuster, there came the patter of horse's hoofs, and Jim Long rode up tothe side gate, dismounted with a careless swing, nodded to me, and,opening the gate, led the doctor's horse stable
ward.
The look of surprise on my companion's face was instantly followed by amalicious smile, which, in its turn, was banished to give place to amore proper expression.
"Long has been giving the doctor's horse some exercise," he said, halfinquiringly.
"I believe he has been executing some commission for Miss Barnard," Ifabricated, unblushingly. "Long has been very useful here."
"Indeed," carelessly; then glancing at his watch, "nearly noon, I see."
He turned, vaulted into his saddle, and touched his hat. "Good-morning.In case of necessity, command me;" and with a second application of hisfinger-tip to the brim of his hat, he shook the reins and cantered away.
As soon as he was out of sight I went straight to the stable where Jimwas bountifully feeding the tired horse.
"Well, Long?"
"It's all right, captain. I've had a hard ride, but it's _done_."
"And the men?"
"Will be at the cabin to-night."