With that he fell silent, paying strict attention to his rowing. Doris and Kitty were too sleepy to chat, so they, too, lapsed into a moody contemplation of the distant shore. Presently Doris became aware that the miser was studying her face intently again. As she turned toward Mr. Jay, he quickly looked away.
“Why does he stare at me so?” she asked herself. “Of whom is it that I remind him?”
Upon impulse she put this thought into the form of a question.
“I—I beg your pardon,” the miser mumbled. “I was just looking—that is, my mind was a blank.”
Doris did not press the matter further, yet she was more firmly convinced than ever that Mr. Jay had been studying her face. Had he not mentioned that she resembled someone he once knew?
She could think of a dozen questions that she would like to ask the man, curious questions about his past and why he had chosen to live the life of a hermit. Yet she felt that the miser’s apparent desire for secrecy must be respected. His past was his own. She had no right to pry into his private affairs.
In spite of Mr. Jay’s appearance, Doris was convinced that he was an educated man. His speech was good and his manners those of a gentleman. She had noticed that the books in his cabin were anything but frivolous.
“Well, here we are,” Mr. Jay announced, breaking in upon her thoughts.
Anchoring off a promising-looking spot, they began to try their luck at fishing. For some reason Doris had lost most of her enthusiasm for the sport, yet it really was a pleasure to her to see Mr. Jay cast with unerring precision.
The sun rose higher over the water and, as the miser had predicted, the mist gradually disappeared. The sky cleared, save for a few dark clouds near the horizon, but the air seemed sultry. Before the party had been out an hour the wind died.
“Fish’ll probably stop biting now,” Mr. Jay complained, scowling at the smooth surface of the water.
After a few minutes he proposed that they change to a new location. As they rowed slowly up the channel, Kitty sat in the back of the boat, gently moving the troll line to and fro. Suddenly she felt a hard tug on the line.
“Stop!” she cried. “The hook’s caught on the bottom!”
“Caught nothing!” Mr. Jay returned. “You’ve hooked a fish. Now land him yourself.”
Kitty gave a squeal of terror, for it was her first fish. At the miser’s command she endeavored to reel in, but it required all of her strength. When at length she brought the fish to the side of the boat, she would have lost it, had not the others come to her aid.
“Mercy me!” she exclaimed as she beheld her catch. “He must weigh all of six pounds!”
“A nice one,” Mr. Jay smiled, “but I’d say it would weigh nearer three.”
“I believe i might get so I’d like fishing,” Kitty went on, not at all crushed by the correction. “That is, if I don’t have to bait a hook or take the fish off.”
After that she was induced to try her luck with a pole, Mr. Jay attending to the unpleasant detail of bait. The morning passed quickly. The girls were so absorbed that they did not notice that the sky had become partially overcast.
“There’s going to be a storm,” the miser observed, scanning the horizon anxiously. “I think we’d better be getting back home, if we don’t want to get wet.”
He pulled up the anchor and slid into his place at the oars. The opposite shore was fully a half mile away, and as they headed for it, Doris wondered if they could beat the storm, for it was rolling up quickly. Already the water had taken on an inky hue.
“Storms come up without much warning here at Cloudy Cove,” the miser muttered, pulling steadily at the oars. “We’ll have a close race.”
The little boat fairly leaped through the water, causing tiny waves to lap high up against the bow. At first Kitty and Doris did not notice that their feet were resting in an inch of water, and when they became aware of it, they assumed that the waves had washed over the side. A few minutes later Doris realized that the water had crept higher in the bottom of the boat.
“The boat’s sprung a leak!” she cried.
The miser nodded grimly.
“I noticed it right off, but I didn’t want to alarm you, if I could help it. The water’s not coming in very fast. We’ll make shore, but I’m afraid you girls will have to bail.”
Doris seized the minnow bucket and began scooping water with frantic haste. Although the old man had spoken reassuringly, she felt that the danger was more grave than he cared to have them realize. Kitty found a tin can under the seat, and while it was not worth a great deal, she did her best to help bail. In spite of their efforts the water seeped into the boat faster than they could pour it out.
“We’re sinking!” Kitty panted, without letting up on her work.
“Don’t be frightened,” Mr. Jay said calmly. “We’ll make it, if the storm doesn’t strike us.”
As she bailed, Doris scarcely dared glance at the sky, so ominous had it become. The wind, which had steadily freshened, suddenly descended upon the tiny craft, sending huge waves pounding against it. Water flooded over the side. Doris and Kitty worked madly, feeling that they were fighting a losing battle.
“We’re almost there!” Mr. Jay cried encouragingly. “Don’t give up!”
A jagged ribbon of lightning illuminated the black sky and for an instant Doris caught a glimpse of the shore ahead. It gave her hope and she bailed with renewed strength.
Then the very clouds seemed to split, pouring down a deluge of rain. Everything was blotted from view, and the girls lost all sense of direction. Would they ever reach shore?
“We’ve made it!” the miser cried jubilantly a moment later.
At first the girls could see nothing; then gradually they began to distinguish the shoreline. The moment shallow water was reached they stepped from the boat and helped drag it up on the beach.
Without stopping to make the craft fast to the old log, the three set off through the woods at a run. The rain was now coming down in torrents and even the branches of the trees did not afford protection.
“What sights we must be!” Doris gasped.
Scarcely were the words out of her mouth, when there came a dazzling flash of lightning, accompanied by a deafening crash of thunder. So close was the charge, that Doris and Kitty involuntarily halted, huddling together as though for protection.
Before they could express their fright in words, they heard the splitting of a tree limb. Terrified, they gazed upward to see the large branch of an oak falling toward the path!
Kitty emitted a terrified scream, but was too frightened to move. Doris saw at a glance that the falling limb would not strike where the girls were standing, but that Mr. Jay was directly in its path.
“Look out!” she cried frantically.
Too late came the warning. The branch struck the ground with a loud crash, sweeping the old miser beneath the debris!
CHAPTER XIX
A Hint of the Past
As Doris saw the old man fall heavily to the ground, she rushed forward with Kitty close behind her. Frantically they pulled at the branches, trying to reach the miser. He lay on his back, white and motionless.
“Mr. Jay, are you hurt?” Doris cried.
There was no response, no movement of the body.
“Oh, he’s been killed!” Kitty wailed. “The limb struck him on the head. I saw itl”
By this time the girls had succeeded in dragging aside the branch. Doris knelt down, unmindful of the rain and mud, and took the old man’s limp wrist in her hand. She could feel his pulse; the beat was weak but regular.
“He’s still alive,” she murmured in relief. “We must get him to the cabin.”
It was only a short distance farther down the path, but the girls were not at all sure that they could carry the limp form. As they were trying to lift him from the ground, he revived slightly. They managed to get him to his feet, supporting him on either side.
“Are you badly hurt?” Doris demanded
anxiously.
The old man mumbled something, but the words were unintelligible.
“He’s stunned,” Kitty said. “Thank goodness he wasn’t killed.”
They half-carried, half-dragged him down the path to the cabin. At their approach the dog came growling at them, but a sharp command from Doris silenced him.
Entering the cabin the girls placed Mr. Jay carefully upon the tiny cot. He groaned and uttered a few words which they could not distinguish. Doris quickly lighted the oil lamp, for it had grown very dark. As its rays fell upon the miser’s face, they could see that he was deathly pale; a small gash had been cut in his forehead.
“I’m afraid he is badly hurt,” Doris said quietly. “One of us must go for help.”
“I’ll go,” Kitty offered. “I’d be afraid to stay here alone.”
She slipped out of the cabin and vanished into the storm. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Jay stirred slightly and groaned again. Doris crossed over to his bedside, trying to arrange the pillows more comfortably.
“Are you in great pain?” she asked.
The old man’s eyes fluttered open, but he stared at her without recognition.
Doris removed his wet boots and set a pan of water on the stove to heat. The room was chilly and damp, so she added several sticks to the smoldering coals. When the water was warm, she took a clean cloth and gently bathed Mr. Jay’s forehead. She searched the cupboards for antiseptic, but could find nothing. As Mr. Jay became more restless, she took up her vigil at his bedside.
“Don’t try to move,” she murmured, as the old man tore at the covers. “You must lie still.”
Doris glanced nervously toward the door. Why did Kitty not come with aid? Surely she had been gone hours. She felt so helpless. If the man became violent, she feared she could not control him.
She gazed anxiously down at the white face and thought again that Mr. Jay had once been a handsome man. She saw the thin lips move ever so slightly, and bent nearer.
“The Gates—the Gates,” she heard him mutter.
Doris placed a soothing hand upon his forehead and for a moment he remained quiet. Then he moved restlessly, plucking at the blankets.
“The ring—” he murmured. “The ring—I have it. I have it with me.”
Just at that moment the door opened and Kitty, followed by Mrs. Mallow and Dave, hurried to the bedside. Doris turned in relief to them.
“He’s delirious,” she said quietly. “I’m afraid his skull may be fractured.”
“We’ve sent Marshall to town for a doctor,” Mrs. Mallow told her.
In her competent way she took charge, but there was really nothing more to be done until the doctor arrived. The old miser tossed restlessly several times, but did not speak again.
All were relieved when at last Marshmallow arrived with the physician. Anxiously they awaited the verdict. After a brief examination the doctor declared that Mr. Jay had only been stunned and in a short time would be as well as before. He dressed the head wound and soon took his departure, but not until the miser had recovered sufficiently to sit up.
“Mr. Jay, you must come up to our cabin, where we can look after you properly,” Mrs. Mallow insisted.
The old man shook his head, forcing a smile.
“Thank you, but I am quite all right now. I was only stunned. I feel as fit as a fiddle.”
“Marshmallow and I will stay with you, then,” Dave offered.
“There’s no need.” To demonstrate that he had regained his strength, Mr. Jay arose and walked halfway across the room.
In spite of his protests Mrs. Mallow and the others insisted upon remaining until after he had partaken of his noonday meal. Then they reluctantly left, determining, however, to keep close watch of the cabin during the day. Mr. Jay was profuse in his thanks for what they had done, particularly expressing his gratitude to Kitty and Doris.
“I think we owe our lives to you,” Doris returned gravely. “We never would have reached shore, if you hadn’t been along.”
Again the Old Miser of Cloudy Cove gave Doris that long, searching look which had made her feel uncomfortable on other occasions. To direct attention away from herself, Doris said:
“Perhaps Mr. Jay would like to rest for a while all alone. We better go.”
The elderly man looked grateful, and was profuse in his thanks. “It was very kind of you people to take so much trouble.”
“We hope to do so again,” Doris added.
Leaving the cabin, Dave fell into step with her, and the two lagged a short distance behind the others. The rain had ceased to fall and the sun was showing signs of breaking through the scattered clouds.
“I’ve been an awful chump!” Dave began accusingly. “I’m very sorry for the way I acted.”
“You mean about Ollie Weiser?” Doris asked, smiling.
“Yes, I know it was silly to be jealous, but I couldn’t help it. When you and Kitty were out there on the water and that storm came up so suddenly—well, you’ll never know how worried I was!”
“Really?” Doris demanded, rather thrilled at the tender note which had crept into Dave’s voice. She decided it would not do to allow him to become sentimental, so she deftly changed the subject. “Well, Kitty and I were worried, too, but Mr. Jay was a wonder. It was due to him that we reached shore safely. You know, I like that man more every day. There’s something about him that makes me feel sure he must have had a fascinating past.”
Dave was not interested in Mr. Jay at the moment, but when Doris had that far-away look in her eyes he knew it was useless to attempt to talk personalities. At least he felt assured that he had been forgiven.
“When I was waiting for help to come, I distinctly heard Mr. Jay say, ‘The ring. I have it with me.’ What do you think he could have meant by that?”
“Search me,” Dave returned, lapsing into slang. “Probably just nonsense. Or perhaps it was some ring he bought.”
“I wish I knew.”
“I shouldn’t worry about it, if I were you. What he said probably has no significance. You’d better hurry to the cabin now and change your wet clothing or you’ll catch a bad cold.”
Doris permitted the subject to drop, and did not mention it again that day. Yet the time was to come when the significance of those strangely muttered words was to force itself upon her consciousness.
CHAPTER XX
Dave and Marshmallow
True to the doctor’s prediction, Mr. Jay was soon up and about. Several times during the day Doris or one of the others dropped in at his cabin, but as these calls seemed to bother him, they gave up trying to be of service.
“I think he’s fully recovered, anyway,” Mrs. Mallow declared. “He doesn’t like to have us make a fuss over him, so we had, better stay away.”
Dave and Marshmallow remained close to camp, scarcely permitting the girls out of their sight. The former completely forgot his jealousy, and Marshmallow was particularly attentive to Kitty.
Late in the afternoon Silas Baker called to inquire if everything was satisfactory at the camp, and was impressed with the story of the narrow escape which the girls had experienced.
“It’s not often that Mr. Jay is caught out in a storm,” he informed them. “That man knows more about weather than any other person I ever knew. He should at that, having lived on this cove for so many years.”
“How many?” Doris asked curiously.
“Now bless me, I’ve forgotten. When I bought this piece of ground he was living in that same cabin.”
“When was it you purchased the camp?” Kitty inquired.
“It must have been six years ago. No, I’ve had it longer than that.”
“I wonder if by any chance he could have known my uncle?” Doris questioned.
Mr. Baker looked blank.
“Your uncle?”
“Don’t you remember I told you about him?” Doris reminded him a trifle impatiently. “My Uncle John Trent.”
“Oh, yes, yes,” Mr. Ba
ker said hastily. “It’s barely possible he might know something about him. Mr. Jay is a quiet sort, but when you get him to talking, he seems to have an amazing knowledge of Cloudy Cove.”
“The problem is to get him to talk.”
“Yes, but if he takes a fancy to you, he’ll likely tell you anything you want to know. Folks talk against him quite a bit around here, but it’s because they don’t really know him. I’ve always found Mr. Jay to be a kind and generous man.” After her conversation with Mr. Baker, Doris was determined to interview the miser at the first opportunity. She would have returned to the cabin late that afternoon, but she felt it would not be fair to trouble Mr. Jay so soon after his accident. At supper time Mrs. Mallow sent her son to invite him to dine with them, but Marshmallow returned to say that the old man had already eaten.
“Didn’t look like he had much, either,” he added.
“I’m afraid he’s very proud,” Mrs. Mallow said, frowning slightly. “I wonder if someone ought not to stay with him tonight?”
“I offered,” Marshmallow informed her, “but he said he wouldn’t think of it. Anyway, he has only the one cot, so I don’t see how I could have stayed, unless I’d wanted to sleep on the floor.”
“He seemed all right when you left?”
“Sure. That rap on the head just stunned him for a few minutes. He’ll be O. K. by himself, but he promised that if he should need help, he’d send that hound of his,”
While Doris and her friends disliked to leave Mr. Jay alone, his desire for isolation made it difficult for them to help him. The morning’s adventure had convinced the girls that the old miser was the master of his environment; sufficient unto himself, he took life as he found it, asking no favors and expecting to give few in return. Yet, if Doris and Kitty had been drawn a bit closer to him, they actually knew no more about him than before. His past life remained a closed book.
“I wonder if he could have known my uncle?” Doris asked herself. “It would mean so much to me, if he could furnish me with the information I must have! Since coming to Cloudy Cove I’ve made very little progress. Luck has been against me!”
Doris did not really believe in luck. For that reason she determined to investigate every thread which offered the slightest hope of leading to her goal. Twice she had called at Frank McDermott’s office, only to be informed that the lawyer was still out of the city. Until he returned, there was nothing to do but mark time.
The Second Girl Detective Megapack: 23 Classic Mystery Novels for Girls Page 23
