Carmen's Messenger

by Harold Bindloss

  XIX

  ALICE'S CONFIDENCE

  Foster got up late and after breakfast sat by the kitchen fire,studying his map. He imagined that his pursuers, believing him to bein front, had crossed the low ground towards the cultivated valley ofthe Esk, where they would not have trouble in finding shelter for thenight. Then, if they thought he was making for the Garth, the railwaywould take them up Liddesdale.

  He meant to visit the Garth, although this might prove dangerous ifGraham and his companion watched the neighborhood. So long as Pete wasclose at hand, the risk might not be great, but Pete could not be withhim always and he thought Graham would stick at nothing to get hispapers back. One of the gang had killed Fred Hulton, and Foster didnot suppose the others would hesitate about getting rid of him, if itcould be done without putting the police on their track. A shot orstab in the dark would effectually prevent his betraying them, and itmight be made to look like an accident, or perhaps as if he had killedhimself. Foster, as a rule, distrusted anything that looked abnormalor theatrical, but admitted that he might be in some danger. For allthat, he was going. There was no need for an early start, because hedid not want to arrive in daylight and the distance was not great.Then he meant to avoid the high roads, and after a talk with Petepicked out his route across the hills. It was eleven o'clock when theyset off, and they spent an hour sheltering behind a dyke while asnowstorm broke upon the moor. The snow was wet and did not lie, butthe soaked grass and ling afterwards clung about their feet and madewalking laborious. The sky was gray and lowering and there was abitter wind, but they pushed on across the high moors, and when thelight was going saw a gap in a long ridge in front. Foster thoughtthis marked the way down to the Garth.

  It was nearly dark when they reached the gap, through which a brownstream flowed, and he could see nothing except dim hillsides and theblack trough of the hollow. Pete said they must follow the water, andthey stumbled downhill among the stones beside the burn. As theydescended, a valley opened up and a rough track began near a sheepfold.Although it was dark, Foster saw that they were now crossing rushypasture, and they had to stop every now and then to open a gate. Thestream was swelling with tributaries from the hills and began to roaramong the stones. Birches clustered in the hollows, the track became aroad, and at length a group of lights twinkled across a fir wood and heknew the Garth was not far ahead.

  Now he had got there, he almost wished he had kept away. He was notsure of his welcome and did not know what line to take if Featherstoneshowed his doubts. For one thing, he did not mean to talk about hisadventures in Newcastle and on Spadeadam waste. The affair was tootheatrical for the unimaginative country gentleman to believe, and forthat matter, when Foster went up the drive past the well-keptshrubberies and lawn he found it hard to realize that he had beenhunted by determined men and was now perhaps in danger of his life.Featherstone, living in his quiet house, could not be expected tocredit such a romantic tale. Graham's letters would to some extentcorroborate his statements, but not unless Featherstone accepted hissurmises as correct; but Foster admitted that after all pride was hisstrongest motive for saying nothing. If Featherstone distrusted him,he must continue to do so until Foster's efforts to help Lawrence weresuccessful.

  He braced his courage when he rang the bell, but John, who let him in,did not seem to find anything remarkable in his choice of a companion.Pete looked very big and rather truculent in his rough, wet clothes,but he was not embarrassed.

  "This is a friend of mine," said Foster. "I should be obliged if youwill look after him."

  John showed no surprise at his statement. "Very good, sir; I think Ican promise that. Will you give me your coat, sir?" Then he beckonedPete. "If you please, come with me."

  He took Pete away and Foster wondered with some amusement what theythought of one another. A few moments afterwards Alice came in,dressed with a curious elegant plainness that he thought suited her.Alice needed no ornaments, and fripperies would have struck a jarringnote. Foster sometimes called her stately, though he felt that thiswas not quite what he meant. She had a certain quiet grace, touchedwith pride, that he had never noticed about anybody else, although headmitted that his knowledge of girls like Alice Featherstone was small.Now, however, she was not as calm as usual, for her eyes had a keensparkle and her look was animated. He wondered whether he couldbelieve this was because she was glad to see him.

  "You have not been long," she said with a welcoming smile. "Have yousucceeded?"

  "On the whole, I think so," Foster answered modestly.

  "That's splendid!" she exclaimed and he could not doubt the approval inher voice. It sounded as if she meant to applaud him as well as showher satisfaction with the consequences of his exploit.

  "Well, I haven't got very far yet, although I imagine I'm on the rightline. But have you heard from Lawrence?"

  "No," she replied and her satisfaction vanished. Indeed, Foster wassomewhat puzzled by the change. "I must confess that I'm gettinganxious now."

  Foster nodded, "Then I must go and look for him as soon as I've had areckoning with Daly."

  "Daly has been here----" she said and stopped as Mrs. Featherstone camein.

  The latter looked at Foster rather curiously, but gave him her hand andseemed to take it for granted that he meant to resume his stay. Shesaid her husband had gone to dine with a neighbor and would not be backfor an hour or two, and then let Foster go to his room.

  Dinner was served soon after he came down, but while they talked freelyabout matters of no importance Foster noted a subtle difference in Mrs.Featherstone's manner. She was not less friendly than usual, but sheasked no questions about his journey and avoided mentioning Lawrence.It looked as if she knew her husband's doubts, but Foster somehowthought she did not altogether share them. In the meantime, he triedto act as if their relations were perfectly normal, but found it hard,and now and then glanced at the clock. It was a long way to thenearest inn and he wondered when Featherstone would return, because hecould not accept the hospitality of a man who distrusted him.

  When dinner was over, he went with the others to the drawing-room anddid his best to engage them in careless talk. Alice supported him whenhis efforts flagged, as they sometimes did, and once or twice gave hima half-amused, half-sympathetic glance. He did not know if he wasgrateful for this or not, but saw that she knew what he felt. If Mrs.Featherstone guessed, she made no sign; she treated him with thegraciousness one would expect from a well-bred hostess, but went nofurther.

  It was a relief when Featherstone came in. He made a little abruptmovement when he saw Foster, to whom he did not give his hand. Thelatter thought he looked disturbed.

  "I am sorry I was not at home when you arrived," Featherstone said."Still, I had no reason for thinking you would be here."

  "In fact, you were rather surprised to see me," Foster suggested.

  Featherstone looked at him as if he thought he had been blunter thanwas necessary, but replied: "Well, I suppose that's true, but I have nodoubt Mrs. Featherstone has made up for my absence, and since you havecome, we would like to talk to you about Lawrence. I dare say you willgive us a few minutes."

  He opened the door as Mrs. Featherstone rose, and Foster went with themto the library, where Featherstone sat down at a big table. It washere he wrote his business letters and occasionally attended tomagisterial duties, and Foster thought this was why he had chosen theplace. It, no doubt, gave him a feeling of authority. Mrs.Featherstone sat by the fire, but Foster was surprised when Alice camein. Featherstone glanced at her with a frown.

  "It might have been better if you had stayed downstairs and left thismatter to your mother and me," he remarked and waited, as if heexpected his wife to support him, but she did not.

  "No," said Alice; "I am beginning to get anxious about Lawrence, and ifMr. Foster can tell us anything fresh, I ought to hear it. But I don'tthink he can. I believe he told us all he knew before."

  Featherstone looked di
sturbed by her boldness, but Foster felt athrill. Alice was on his side and meant to show the others herconfidence in his honesty. He wondered what Featherstone would do, andwas not surprised when he made a gesture of resignation. Foster knewhis comrade well, and imagined that Featherstone was very likeLawrence. The latter was physically brave, but sometimes gave way tomoral pressure and vacillated when he should be firm. Both showed acertain lack of rude stamina; they were, so to speak, too fine in thegrain. Foster, however, had other things to think about, and indeedfelt rather like a culprit brought before his judges. Then Mrs.Featherstone relieved the unpleasant tension.

  "We have not heard from Lawrence yet and do not understand it. Can youdo anything to set our fears at rest?"

  "I'm sorry I can't," said Foster, and seeing he must deal with thematter boldly, asked Featherstone: "Have you any ground for believing Ihave not been frank?"

  "It is an awkward question. You are our guest and my son sent you tous. I must add that we had begun to like you for your own sake; but Ihave grounds for supposing that you kept something back. To beginwith, Daly, whom you told us you meant to mislead, was here againyesterday."

  "Did you give way to his demands? It's important that I should know."

  Featherstone hesitated, and Foster saw where his suspicions led, butfor the next moment or two was absorbed by speculations about Daly'svisit. Then Alice looked at her father with a smile.

  "You can tell Mr. Foster. It's obvious that if he was in league withthe fellow he would have no need to ask."

  "I did not give way," said Featherstone. "He must have seen that I wasdetermined, because after the first I thought he did not press me veryhard."

  "Ah!" said Foster; "that was curious, but we'll let it go in themeantime. I suppose there is something else?"

  "Since you left, the police have paid me another visit. They askedsome rather strange questions, besides inquiring where you were."

  "Which you couldn't tell them!"

  "I didn't know," Featherstone rejoined pointedly, and Foster saw thatAlice had said nothing about his recent visit. She gave him aninquiring glance, as if she wondered why he did not state his reasonsfor going to Newcastle, but he looked as unobservant as he could. Hecould not signal her, because while this might escape his host's noticehe was afraid of Mrs. Featherstone.

  "Well," he said, "it might be better if you, so to speak, formulatedyour suspicions and made a definite charge. After all, I'm entitled tohear it."

  "I do so most unwillingly, but feel an explanation is needed. To beginwith, we had one short letter from my son, stating that he could notcome home but you would tell us how he was getting on. This was all;he said nothing about Daly, or his starting east with you. You arrivedwith his portmanteau and what I now think is a rather curious story.Then, after Daly wrote, you suggested an extraordinary plan, which, asthe fellow came here, has not worked very well. Besides, the policehave made inquiries about you and there's something mysterious aboutyour journeys. I do not think they were all intended to mislead Daly."

  "All this is true," Foster admitted. "But you haven't stated theconclusions you draw from it."

  "The conclusions are vague but disturbing. Lawrence trusted you and,you tell us, started with you for a place he did not intend to reach.Since then he has vanished. It is possible that you have deceived bothhim and us."

  "That's rather absurd," Alice remarked. "I really don't think Mr.Foster would make a very dangerous plotter, and you admitted thatLawrence trusted him."

  "I did," Featherstone rejoined sharply, as if he resented theinterruption. "Still I don't see your argument."

  "She means that Lawrence is not a simpleton," Mrs. Featherstoneinterposed. "For myself, I doubt if Mr. Foster could deceive him."

  "We'll go on," Featherstone resumed, turning to Foster. "There was avery mysterious affair at Gardner's Crossing shortly before you leftand some valuable bonds were missing."

  Foster's face got red, but he laughed. "This is too much, sir! Ifyour suspicions went so far, why did you not tell the police?"

  "Ah!" said Featherstone with some awkwardness, "there you have me at adisadvantage! While Daly has the power to injure Lawrence, I must keepthe police in the dark." He paused and added: "I cannot say I believedyou reckoned on this."

  "Thank you," said Foster, but Alice broke in: "Why don't you tell myfather why you went to Newcastle?"

  Featherstone gave her a surprised glance and then turned to Foster."It looks as if my daughter were better informed than I. There isobviously something I do not know about."

  "There is; but I must ask Miss Featherstone to respect my confidence inthe meantime," Foster answered, and getting up, stood silent for a fewmoments, resting his hand on his chair.

  He saw restrained curiosity in Mrs. Featherstone's face and herhusband's anger, while he thought Alice knew how significant the lineshe had taken looked. She had boldly admitted that he knew her wellenough to trust her with his secrets, and declared herself on his side.In the meantime, he was conscious of a strain that he thought theothers felt and was sorry for Featherstone. He could not resent theman's anxiety about his son. For all that, he did not mean to tell himwhy he had gone to Newcastle. It would not make a plausible tale.

  "I must own that things look bad for me," he said. "I can't offer anyexplanation that would satisfy you and could not expect you to take myword that I mean well. All I can do is to frighten off Daly and thenfind Lawrence, and I'm going to try."

  "It doesn't matter much about Daly now. But if you can find Lawrence,you will clear yourself."

  Alice turned to her father with an angry sparkle in her eyes. "That'sa very grudging concession for us to make. We will not blame Mr.Foster when he has proved that it's impossible for him to be guilty!"

  The tension was too great for any of them to be much surprised by heroutbreak and Featherstone said dully, "It's logical."

  "Logical!" Alice exclaimed in a scornful tone. "Do you expect Mr.Foster to be satisfied with that, after what he has borne and the riskshe has run for us? Now, when things look bad for him, is the time foryou to show your trust and knowledge of character."

  "You imply that your judgment is better than mine?" Featherstonerejoined, but without heat.

  "I know an honest man," Alice said quietly, with some color in her face.

  There was silence for a few moments and by an effort of self-controlFoster kept his face unmoved. He did not mean to let the others seethe exultant satisfaction the girl's statement had given him.Featherstone brooded with knitted brows and a troubled look. Then hesaid:

  "You will understand, Mr. Foster, that this has been a painfulinterview to my wife and me. You were our guest and my son's friend;but I do not know what has happened and we have no news of him. If youcan bring him back, I will ask your forgiveness for all that I havesaid."

  "I will do my best and get to work to-morrow," Foster answered. Thenhe bowed to Mrs. Featherstone and Alice, and the girl gave him a lookthat made his heart beat as he went out of the room.

  Shortly afterwards he entered the hall, wearing his damp walkingclothes, and met Mrs. Featherstone, who protested against his leavingthem at night. Foster answered that he had no time to lose andbeckoning Pete, who was waiting, went out. Alice had not come down tobid him good-by, but after all he had not expected this; the meetingwould not have been free from embarrassment. He had much to say toher, but must wait until he had kept his promise.

  He did not blame Featherstone and rather sympathized with him, butcould not stay at the Garth or come back there until he had cleared upthe mystery about his comrade's silence. Pete did not grumble muchwhen they went down the drive, but said he had no friends in theneighborhood and it was a long way to the nearest inn.