XV
THE GLOVE
Pete arrived in the evening when it was getting dark, and after a meal,which they ate together, Foster moved his chair back from the table andsat opposite his companions. A lamp was burning and the red glow fromthe peat fire fell on their rough clothing and quiet brown faces asthey waited for him to speak. He admitted that what he was about to dowas rash. He had no logical reason for trusting these people andperhaps no right to involve them in his difficulties, while thesensible course would be to put the matter in the hands of the police.But this was a course he did not mean to take.
"I sent for you because I want your help and I'm willing to pay for itwell," he said to Pete.
"Just that!" Pete answered quietly. "In an ordinar' way, I'm no' verraparticular, but before I take the money I'd like to ken how it's to beearned."
"As a matter of fact, you won't get all of it until it is earned and Isee how much the job is worth. In the meantime, you can judge, and ifnecessary go to the police."
Pete grinned. "They're no' the kin' o' gentry I hae mony dealingswith."
"What for are ye hiding frae them?" the woman asked.
Foster saw the others' eyes were fixed on him and he must, to someextent, satisfy their curiosity. He did not think he could haveconvinced conventional Englishmen, or perhaps Canadians, but theseScots were different. They were certainly not less shrewd than theothers, but while sternly practical in many ways they had imagination;moreover, they were descendants of the Border cattle-thieves.
"I'm not really hiding from the police, but from people who have bettergrounds for fearing them. I owe nobody anything and, so far as I know,have done nobody wrong."
There was silence for a moment or two and he recognized that hisstatement was very incomplete, but somehow thought the others did notdiscredit it.
"If I could tell you the whole story, I would, but that's impossiblejust now," he resumed. "Other people, honorable, upright people, areinvolved. Of course, the thing looks suspicious, and you know nothingabout me, but what I mean to do is not against the law."
They were silent yet, but after a few moments Foster saw his hostglance at the woman.
"What is it ye mean to do?" she asked.
"I'm going to Newcastle to try to get some information and papers thatwill help me to save a friend from serious trouble. That's my firstobject, but I hope to find out something about a crime in Canada, bywhich another friend of mine suffered terribly. I may have to stealthe papers, and if I get them, expect I shall have to deal with a gangof dangerous men, who will try to take them back. That's why I wantPete; but he'll probably find it a risky business."
Foster waited anxiously for a reply. He was not justified in expectingit to be favorable, but he did so. The woman seemed to ponder, butpresently turned to Pete.
"Ye had better gang."
Pete laughed, a reckless laugh that hinted at a love of excitement anddanger.
"Aye," he said, "that's what I was thinking!"
After this the matter was soon arranged, and next morning Foster andPete set off. They went south by hill-tracks, for Foster meant tovisit the Garth, but preferred to arrive when dusk was falling. He didnot want his visit to be marked, but must see Alice before he embarkedupon his new adventure.
The sun was setting behind the moors when they came down the waterside,and leaving Pete in the gloom of the fir wood, he walked through ashrubbery to the house. He had seen nothing to indicate that he waswatched and could trust Pete to see that nobody followed him from theroad, but he meant to take precautions and did not want to meetFeatherstone. When he left the shrubbery he had only a few yards ofopen lawn to cross and the light was dim beside the house, but he keptoff the graveled terrace until he was abreast of the door. He was nowfaced by a difficulty, but must leave something to chance and feltrelieved when John answered his quiet knock. The man showed nosurprise at seeing him.
"Mr. Featherstone is out, sir, and Mrs. Featherstone occupied, but MissFeatherstone is at home," he said.
"Will you ask her if she can meet me for a few minutes in the orchard?"
"Very good, sir; I will take your message."
Foster turned away. He had given John no hint to keep his visitsecret, because this would be useless. If the old fellow thought ithis duty to tell his master, he would do so; if not, one could trust tohis discretion. Entering the orchard by an arch in a mossy wall, hewaited where a soft light shone into it from the west. Outside thearch, the smooth sweep of lawn ran back into deepening shadow and thebare trees behind it rose, sharp and black, against the sky. Abovethere was a heavy bank of gray-blue clouds.
Then his heart began to beat as Alice appeared in the arch. Her figurewas silhouetted against the light and he noted how finely she heldherself and moved. Still he could not see her face and waited withsome uneasiness until she advanced and gave him her hand.
"I hoped you would come," he said. "But I was half afraid----"
Alice smiled and as she turned her head the fading glow touched herface. It gave no hint of resentment or surprise.
"That I would not come?" she suggested. "After all, I really think menare more conventional than we are. But why did you not let John bringyou in?"
"When I was last here, I noted a change in your father's manner. Thatis one reason, though there are others. Then I must go in two or threeminutes."
Alice looked at him steadily and he knew that frankness was best.
"You mean you thought he had lost his confidence in you?"
"I was afraid he might find it getting strained. He seemed disturbed."
"He is disturbed," Alice said quietly. "We have heard nothing from mybrother yet."
"One can sympathize with you, but I don't think you have much groundfor uneasiness. Lawrence was told he must be careful, but that wasall, and there's no likelihood of his health's suddenly breaking down.Then I understand he was rather irregular about writing home; he forgotnow and then."
"He did forget," Alice agreed and fixed her eyes on Foster while aslight flush crept into her face. "Perhaps I had better say I do notaltogether share my father's anxiety."
Foster felt a thrill, for he thought she meant she had not lost herconfidence in him.
"I'd like to go back and look for Lawrence, but can't do so yet," hesaid. "For one thing, it might put Daly on his track and it's nowimportant that he shouldn't meet Lawrence in Canada. There have beendevelopments; in fact, I have come to think Daly had something to dowith sending the packet I took to Newcastle."
"Then Miss Austin was in the plot against my brother and made use ofyou?"
"No; she certainly made use of me, but I imagine others made use ofher. There is a plot, but I don't relieve she knew anything about it."
"I suppose you feel you must defend the girl?"
"In a way," Foster agreed. "Carmen Austin is a friend of mine; but I'mnot sure she really needs defending. Anyhow, if I'd known what was inthe packet, I wouldn't have taken it."
"Then you have found out what was in it?"
"I have a suspicion. I'm going to see how far it's justified, and ifI'm fortunate, rather think the people who sent me to Newcastle will besorry."
Alice said nothing for a few moments, but he thought she grasped thesignificance of his hint that he was willing to spoil the plans ofCarmen's friends. He did not know if this gave her any satisfaction,but did not expect her to show her feelings.
"Can you tell me anything more?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "I feel I ought to tell somebody, because it may turnout rather a serious undertaking. One reason for choosing you is thatit's a complicated and unlikely tale."
"And you thought I would believe where others might doubt?"
Foster bowed. "I did hope something of the kind. I don't know if Iwas too venturesome. But if you'll listen----"
She gave him a curious look and he began by telling her of the tragedyat the Hulton mill and Lawrence's meeting the supposit
itious watchman.Then he related how he had been tracked through the hills, andexplained the conclusions he had arrived at when the light first dawnedon him as he puzzled out the matter by the peat stack. She saidnothing until he finished, but he thought she looked somewhat moved.
"But wouldn't it be better to leave the thing to the police?" she asked.
"No," said Foster, smiling. "To begin with, they might suspect me; oneunderstands they're not very credulous people and it would take sometime to prove my statements. Then, if they weren't very careful,they'd frighten the Newcastle man away, while I might, so to speak,catch him off his guard."
"It sounds plausible; but I think you have a better reason."
"If I have, it's to some extent temperamental; a natural reaction afterleading a sober life," Foster said humorously. "There's a charm intrying to do something that's really beyond your mark and ought to beleft to somebody else."
"It's possible; but I'm not satisfied yet."
Foster hesitated. "After all, it might be better to keep the policeoff Daly's track until I've seen him. He might make trouble forLawrence if he was arrested, but I don't think this counts for much.You would be nearer the mark if you took it for granted that I'mnaturally rash and can't resist a chance of adventure."
They had walked round the orchard, and reached the arch again, butAlice stopped.
"So it seems," she said in a quiet voice that nevertheless gave aFoster a thrill. "The charm of rashness is a favorite subject ofyours."
"It's better that your friends should understand you," Foster repliedmodestly.
"One must admit that you live up to the character you give yourself.First you plunged into difficulties to keep a promise you should nothave made, then you undertook to baffle a dangerous man because yourpartner needed help, and now I think you are going to face a veryserious risk."
Foster, who felt embarrassed, said nothing, and Alice gave him her hand.
"I am glad you have been frank with me, and if my wish can bring yougood fortune, it will be yours. You will do your best, I know; but becareful and come back safe!"
Foster had kissed her hand on another occasion, but durst not do sonow. He was conscious of a keen emotional stirring and thought thegirl felt some strain. There was a hint of suppressed feeling in hervoice that sapped his self-control, and he thought it was because shetrusted and liked him her manner had a certain touch of pride.
"After all, I don't think I run much risk," he answered. "But if therewas a risk, it would be well worth while."
It was nearly dark, but he thought he saw some color in her face.
"Good luck! But wait in the road for a minute or two," she said andturned away.
He watched her cross the lawn until her figure faded into the gloom,after which he went back to the gate and waited until John came up witha small packet.
"Miss Featherstone sends you this, sir, but hopes you won't open ituntil you are in the train."
Foster thanked him and went back with Pete up the waterside. The airwas keen and a light mist hung about the rough track that took them tothe moors. There was a beat of wings as a flock of wild duck passedoverhead when they skirted a reedy pool, and once or twice the wild cryof a curlew came out of the dark. Except for this, the moor was silentand desolate, but Foster felt a strange poignant elation as he stumbledamong the ruts and splashed across boggy grass. They walked for two orthree hours and he was muddy and rather wet when the lights of a smallstation began to twinkle in the gloom ahead.
Half an hour later they caught a train to Hexham, and Foster, who sentPete to a smoking compartment, was alone when he opened the packet Johnhad brought. Then the blood rushed to his face and his heart beat, forwhen he unfolded the thin paper he saw a small white glove.Remembering how they had once talked about Border chivalry, he knewwhat Alice meant. She believed his tale and knew the risks he ran, andhad sent him her glove that he might carry it as her badge. He foldedthe piece of delicate kid carefully and put it in a pocket where itrested upon his heart.
"After this, I've got to put my job over, whatever it costs," he said.
Carmen's Messenger Page 15
