Harry Blount, the Detective; Or, The Martin Mystery Solved
Page 15
CHAPTER XV.
The trip to Naas was made quickly and without any incident worthy ofnote, except that the rough passage across the channel caused Mr.Stafford to become sea-sick as they neared Dublin, and having escaped itup to that time and become boastful of it, he now blamed his sickness onthe Irish air which they must by this time be breathing--which air hedeclared never agreed with an Englishman's stomach.
Arriving at the Blessert Arms, Mr. Stafford inquired about Martin andwas told he was still very ill.
"He's been out of his head entirely for the last few days," said Mrs.Moran, "but the doctor says there is a chance for him yit. Would ye liketo see him? The doctor says if we could only find out who it is he'stalkin' about and askin' for all the time, it'd do him all the good inthe world. But it's nothin' but Kate, Kate, all the time, an' surethere's thousands of Kates!"
Without waiting to see the effect of her speech Mrs. Moran led the wayto Martin's room, and knocked softly on the door. Getting no responseshe knocked a little louder, and then opened the door.
"Look!" she said. "Poor Julia's asleep. She has not laid down once sincehe was brought in."
Julia was sitting near Martin's bed, with her head resting on her hand,sound asleep.
"Poor girl! It's time she had some rest," said Kate, and quietlystepping across the room awakened her, but Julia would not leave theroom until Mrs. Moran beckoned to her to do so.
Kate quietly took her place. Carden gave her an approving nod, andturning to Mr. Stafford, said:
"There is no use in our going in now. Better come down and wait for thedoctor. Meantime we can get something up to Kate."
"Faith, that's sinsible, anyhow!" commented Mrs. Moran. "Come down tothe dining-room an' I'll give ye the best in the house."
After the others had gone Kate arose and closed the door. As shereturned she heard Martin murmur her name, at the same time stretchingforth his hand as though seeking her. On the impulse of the moment sheplaced her hand in his and this seemed to satisfy him. In a few minuteshe sank into a peaceful slumber and his grasp relaxed. Gently placinghis hand under the cover Kate picked up a book which Julia had evidentlybeen reading when she feel asleep. As she picked up the book she noticeda letter lying on the table. Truly feminine, she looked to see theaddress and found it to be for herself.
It was the letter Martin had given O'Brien on the morning of the duel,and he had laid it there to await developments.
Naturally supposing it was about to be mailed to her, Kate was going toopen it, when hearing a knock at the door she slipped it into her pocketand went to answer the knock.
It was Mrs. Moran with a tray containing some of the various ediblesembraced in "the best in the house," and some excellent tea, for whichlatter Kate felt truly thankful.
Mrs. Moran had brought up the tray herself for two reasons. First,because Kate had won her heart by her sympathy for the tired-out Julia,and secondly, because she had heard Carden speak of her as Kate, and shewanted to have a chat with her.
Setting down the tray on the little table, she said in a whisper:
"Doctor Fox was right I see. 'Twas Kate he wanted, an' now that yezcome there's no fear but he'll get well!"
Kate smiled a little and blushed a little.
"Why do you think I'm the Kate that is wanted? As you say yourself,there are thousands of the name."
"True for ye! But did any one ever see him restin' like that before,quiet and peaceful as a child?" and Mrs. Moran pointed triumphantly atMartin.
Having delivered this unanswerable argument, Mrs. Moran shook her headknowingly and stole out of the room as softly as though she weighed 120pounds instead of "14 stone"--as she put it herself.
Down-stairs she confidently informed Mr. Stafford and Carden that nowthat Kate had arrived, there was no need of worrying, as Martin wouldcertainly be all right again in a few days.
Even Carden, anxious as he was regarding Martin, to whom he owed bothhis life and fortune, could not avoid smiling at the simple yet sublimeconfidence with which Mrs. Moran made this assertion. Yet when Dr. Foxcome down from the sick chamber he bore her out to a great extent. Whileup-stairs he had heard Martin call Kate, had seen her take hisoutstretched hand and then drop into an easy sleep. So that whenquestioned he replied that he had no doubt now of Martin'srecovery--"provided the lady up-stairs could stand the strain of nursinghim," and the doctor left them.
Mrs. Moran, who neither could nor would be shut out from hearing thedoctor's report, looked somewhat triumphantly at her two guests, who inturn looked rather dumbfounded at this unexpected confirmation of heropinion.
Neither Mr. Stafford nor his nephew spoke for a few minutes. Neitherdeemed it wise to mention the thoughts which had actually occurred toboth on hearing the doctor's opinion.
At length Carden suggested a game of billiards, and they adjourned tothe table which made the "Blessert Arms" the preeminent of the two innsin Naas.