CHAPTER XLVI
"BUST 'EM OUT"
"Jinnie, ain't we ever goin' back to Peggy?" Bobbie asked one day, hiseyes rolling upward. His small face was seamed with questioninganxiety.
The girl drew him to her lap.
How many times Jinnie had asked that question of herself! How shelonged for Paradise Road, with its row of shacks, Peggy and the baby!Bobby knew how she felt by the way she squeezed his hand.
"Ain't we?" he asked again.
"Some time," answered Jinnie limply.
"Did the black man say we could go, Jinnie?" the boy demanded.
Jinnie patted his head comfortingly.
"I hope he'll take us home soon," she remarked, trying to put fullassurance into her tones.
Bobbie zigzagged back to the divan, drew himself upon it, and Jinnieknew by his abstracted manner that he was turning the matter over inhis busy little brain.
Two hours later, when Jordan Morse came in, the child was stillsitting in the same position, and the man beckoned the girl into theother room.
"Grandoken's trial is to start this afternoon within an hour," heinformed her. "You'll be here to-day and to-morrow. You see the courtwon't be long in proving the cobbler's guilt."
If he had expected her to cry, he was mistaken. She was past crying,seemingly having shed all of her tears.
"He didn't do it," she averred stubbornly. "I know he didn't."
In justice to Lafe, she always reiterated this.
Morse gave a sinister laugh.
"What you know or don't know won't matter," he responded, and lookingat the angry, beautiful face, he ejaculated, "Thank God for that!"
Jinnie turned her back, but he requested her sharply to look at him.
"Have you told the boy where I'm going to take you?" he demanded, whenshe was eyeing him disdainfully.
"No."
"I never knew a woman before who could hold her tongue," he commentedin sarcasm.
Jinnie didn't heed the compliment.
"When he asks you questions, what do you tell him?"
"That you will come for us soon."
"I will, all right."
Jinnie went nearer him.
"Where are you going to take him?"
Morse shrugged his shoulders.
"You'll know in time," said he.
How ominous his words were, and how his eyes narrowed as he looked ather! She was thoroughly afraid of that tone in his voice. Her own fateshe was sure of, but Bobbie--desperation filled her soul. She wouldbeg Morse to let him go back to Peggy.
Lifting clasped hands, she walked very close to him.
"You're going to have all my money," she said with emphasis. "I'vedone everything I can, and I'll make Bobbie promise not to say a wordto any one if you'll take him to Mrs. Grandoken."
Morse shook his head.
"Too dangerous," he replied, and he went out without a glance at theblind boy on the divan.
Once more alone with Bobbie, Jinnie sat down to think. How could sherescue him from this awful position? How get him back to Peggy?Somehow she felt that if she could be sure the little boy was safe,she could go away to the place Morse had described with at least alittle relief. That day Lafe's accusers were to try him before ajury----. She had almost lost hope for the cobbler--he was lame, hadno friends, and was a Jew, one of the hated race. She knew how thepeople of Bellaire despised the Jews. For Peggy she didn't worry somuch. Jordan Morse had given his solemn promise that, if Lafe died inthe electric chair--and she died to the world--he would be offinancial assistance to Peggy.
She sat studying Bobbie attentively. The child's face was patheticallywhite and she could see the quick palpitation of his heart under hisjacket.
"I heard what the black man said, Jinnie," Bobbie blurted presently,sinking in a little heap. "I mean when he had you in the other room alittle while ago. You was beggin' him to help me; wasn't you,Jinnie?"
Jinnie went to him quickly and gathered him into her arms.
"Bobbie," she implored, "you must never let him know, never, never,that you heard him talking. He might hurt you worse than he has."
Bobbie flashed his eyes questioningly in evident terror.
"What'd he hurt me more for? I ain't done nothin' to him."
"I guess because he's bad, dear," said Jinnie sadly.
"Then if he's bad, why do you stay here?" He clung to her tremulously."Take me away, Jinnie!"
"I can't!" lamented Jinnie. "I've told you, Bobbie, the door'slocked."
She could lovingly deceive him no longer.
How the little body trembled! How the fluttering hands sought her aidin vain!
"My stars're all gone, Jinnie," sobbed Bobbie. "My beautiful stars! Ican't see any of 'em if I try. I'm awful 'fraid, honey dear. It's sodark."
Jinnie tightened her arms about him, racking her brain for soothingwords.
"But Lafe's God is above the dark, Bobbie," she whispered reverently."We've got to believe it, dearie! God is back up there ... just upthere."
She took his slender forefinger and pointed upward.
"How does God look, Jinnie? Just how does he look?"
"I've never seen him," admitted the girl, "but I think, Bobbie, Ithink he looks like Lafe. I know he smiles like him anyway."
"I'm glad," sighed the boy. "Then He'll help us, won't He? Lafe wouldif he could. If you say He will, He will, Jinnie!"
Five tense minutes passed in silence. Then: "Sure we couldn't get outof the window, dearie?" asked Bobbie.
"They're locked, too," answered the girl, low-toned.
"I'd bust 'em out," volunteered the boy, with sudden enthusiasm.
"But there's a deep gorge in front of every one, honey," repliedJinnie sadly.
Yet Bobbie's words--"bust 'em out"--took hold of her grippingly, andthe thought of leaving that unbearable place was like a tonic to thefrantic girl. She crossed the room rapidly and examined the windowpanes. But even if she could break them, as Bobbie suggested, thewater below would receive their bodies, and death would follow. If itwere a street, she might manage. Yet the sight of the flowing water,the dark depths between the ragged rocks, did not send Bobbie's words,"bust 'em out," from her mind. If they fell together, the boy wouldnever be tortured any more. To-morrow Jordan Morse would be in thecourtroom all day. To-morrow----God, dear God! She seemed to hearLafe's monotone, "There's always to-morrow, Jinnie."
She was called upon to think, to act alone in a tragic way. Of courseshe would be killed if she jumped into the deep gorge with the childand Happy Pete. She tried to think, to plan, but after the manner ofall believing sufferers, could only pray.
Bobbie need fear no evil! "Angels have been given charge over him, andBobbie shall not want," Jinnie whispered, her mind spinning aroundlike a child's top. A sudden faith boomed at the portals of her soul.What was the use of asking help for Bobbie if she didn't have faith inan answer?
To-day would bring forth a plan for to-morrow. To-morrow Bobbie wouldbe saved from Jordan Morse. To-morrow would end his terror in thegorge house. To-morrow--she would be eighteen years old!
"Bobbie," she entreated, going to the child swiftly, "Bobbie, do youremember any prayers Lafe taught you?"
The child bobbed his head.
"Sure," he concurred. "'Now I lay me' and 'Our Father which art inHeaven.'... I know them, Jinnie."
"Then sit upon the divan again and say them over and over, and prayfor Lafe, and that you'll get out of here and be happy. You mustn'ttell Mr. Morse if he comes, but I'm going to try to get you out of thewindow."
As she stood in the gathering gloom and peered into the water below,Jinnie could hear the child lisping his small petitions.
At that moment a new faith came for herself. Lafe's angels would saveher, too, from Jordan Morse's revenge.
At ten-thirty the next morning Morse came. With trepidation Jinnieheard him open the door. He was extremely nervous and stayed only afew moments.
"I've got to be in court at eleven," he explained, "and
I'll come foryou both about ten this evening. Be ready, you and the boy, andremember what I told you!"
When they were alone once more, she sat down beside the blind childand placed her arm around him.
"Bobbie, will you do exactly what I tell you?"
"Sure," responded Bobbie, cheerfully. "Are we goin' home?"
Without answering him, Jinnie said:
"Then take Happy Pete and don't move until I get back. Just pray andpray and pray! That's all."
Happy Pete snuggled his head under Bobbie's arm and they both sat verystill. The boy scarcely dared to breathe, he was so anxious to pleasehis Jinnie.
The farthest window in the inner room door seemed to be the best oneto attack. If Morse surprised her, it would be easier to cover up herwork. With a frantic prayer on her lips, she took off her shoe andgave the pane of glass one large, resounding blow. It cracked in two,splinters not only flying into the room, but tumbling into the gorgebelow. Then she hastily hammered away every particle of glass from theframe, and, shoving her shoulders through, looked out and down. Thevery air seemed filled with angels. They could and would save her andBobbie even in the water--even if they were within the suction of thefalls there, some distance below and beyond. Then her eyes swept overthe side of the building, and she discovered a stone ledge wide enoughfor a human being to crawl along. Would she dare try it with her lovedones? She distinctly remembered seeing a painter's paraphernalia inthe front, and they might be there still! The more she thought, thegreater grew her hope, and with this growing hope came a larger faith.At least she'd find what was at the end of the building away off thereto the east.
To-day, yes, now!... She couldn't wait, for her uncle was comingto-night. It must be now, this minute. She went back to Bobbie.
"I'm going to try it, darling," she told him, kissing his cheek. "Sitright here until I get back. Hang to Petey. He might follow me."
Then cautiously she dragged her body through the hole in the window,and began to crawl along the stone ledge. The roar of the water on therocks below made her dizzy. But over and over did she cry into God'sever listening ear:
"He has given--he has given his angels--angels charge over thee."
Jinnie reached the corner of the building, and looked out over thecity. The ledge extended around the other side of the building, andshe turned the corner and went slowly onward. At the south end shestopped still, glancing about.
Only one thing of any value was in the range of her vision. The twolong ropes she had seen long before were still hanging from the roofand fastened securely to a large plank almost on the ground. Itbrought to Jinnie's mind what Lafe had told her,--of Jimmie Malliganwho had been killed, and of how he himself had lost his legs.
Could she, by means of the rope, save the three precious things backin that awful room--Bobbie, Happy Pete, and her fiddle?
To be once more under God's sun with the blue above gave her newstrength. Then she turned and crawled slowly back.
At the corner she grew faint-hearted. It must have been the gorgebelow that made her breath come in catching sobs. But on and on shewent until through the window she could see Bobbie with Happy Peteasleep in his arms. The child was still muttering over his littleprayers, his blind eyes rolling in bewildered anxiety.
Jinnie was very white when she sat down beside him. Putting her faceclose to his, she brushed his cheek lovingly.
"Bobbie," she said, touching his hair with her lips, "how much do youlove Jinnie?"
"More'n all the world," replied Bobbie without hesitation.
"Then if you love me _that_ much, you'll do just what I tell you."
"Yes," Bobbie assured her under his breath.
Jinnie took a towel--she couldn't find a rope--and strapped the violinto Bobbie's back.
"I've got to take my fiddle with me, dearie," she explained, "and Ican't carry it because I've got you. You can't carry it because you'vegot to hold Happy Pete.... Now, then, come on!"
Jinnie drew the reluctant, trembling child to his feet and permittedhim to feel around the window-sash; she also held him tightly while hemeasured the stone ledge with his fingers.
"I'm awful 'fraid," he moaned, drooping.
Jinnie feared he was going to have another fainting spell. To ward itoff, she said firmly:
"Bobbie, you want to see Lafe, don't you?"
"S'awful much," groaned Bobbie.
"Then don't hold your breath." She saw him stagger, and grasping him,cried out "Breathe, Bobbie, breathe! We're going to Peggy."
Bobbie began to breathe naturally, and a beatific smile touched thecorners of his lips.
"I got so many stars to-day, Jinnie," he quavered, "one slipped rightdown my throat."
"But you mustn't be scared again, Bobbie! If we stay, the black man'llcome back and shake you again and take us to some place that'll makeus both sick. You just keep on praying, and I will, too.... Now, then,I'm going out, and when I say, 'Ready,' you crawl after me."
"What's that noise?" shivered Bobbie, clutching Happy Pete.
"It's water," answered Jinnie, "water in the gorge."
Bobbie's teeth chattered. "Do we have to jump in it?"
"No, I'm going to take you down a rope."
With that she crawled through the hole, and when once on the stoneledge, she put her hand in on the boy's head.
"Lift up your leg and hang tight to Petey," she shuddered, and theblind boy did as he was bidden, and Jinnie pulled him, with the dogand fiddle, through the opening. She put him on his knees in front ofher with her arms tightly about him.
"Jinnie, Jinnie!" moaned Bobbie. "My heart's jumpin' out of mymouth!"
Jinnie pressed her teeth together with all her might and main,shivering so in terror that she almost lost the strength of her arms.
"Don't think about your heart," she implored, "and don't shake so!Just think that you're going to Lafe and Peg."
Then they began their long, perilous journey to the corner of thebuilding. It must have taken twenty minutes. Jinnie had no means bywhich to mark the time. She only knew how difficult it was to keep theblind child moving, with the water below bellowing its stormy way downthe rock-hill to the lake. Happy Pete gave a weird little cry now andthen. But on and on they went, and at the corner Jinnie spoke:
"Bobbie, we've got to turn here. Let your body go just as I shoveit."
Limp was no word for Bobbie's body. He was dreadfully tired. His heartthumped under Jinnie's arms like a battering-ram.
"Bobbie, don't breathe that way, don't!" she entreated.
"I can't help it, honey! my side hurts," he whispered. "But I'll gowhere you take me, Jinnie dear."
The girl turned him carefully around the sharp ledge corner, and theywent on again. Her arms seemed almost paralyzed, but they clung to thechild ahead, and the child ahead clung to the little dog, who hungvery straight and inert in front of his body.
When they reached the south corner, Jinnie explained their next moveto Bobbie in this way:
"Now listen," she told him. "You get on my back with your legs undermy arms, hang to me like dear life, and keep Happy Pete between us.Don't hurt him if you can help it."
They were within touch of one of the dangling ropes and far belowJinnie saw the swaying plank to which it was fastened. Once on thatboard, she could get to the ground.
Then she continued: "Now while I lean over, you get on my back."
As she guided his slender hands, she felt them cold within her own,but in obedience to her command, Bobbie put his legs about her, onearm around her neck, and with the other held Happy Pete.
"We won't fall, will we, Jinnie?" quavered the boy.
"No," said Jinnie, helping to settle him on her back.
Then she crawled closer to the rope, took up her skirt and placed itabout the rough hemp. She was afraid to use her bare hands. The ropemight cut and burn them so dreadfully that she'd have to let go. Witha wild inward prayer, she swung off into the air, with the boy, thedog and the fiddle on her back, and began her
downward slide. Shecounted the windows as they passed, one, two, three, and then four.Only a little distance more before she would be upon firm ground. Asher feet touched the plank, she glanced into the street and in thatawful moment saw Jordan Morse crossing the corner diagonally, withinbut a few yards of where she stood, terrified.
Rose O'Paradise Page 48
