CHAPTER V.
ELLISTON'S REBUFF.
A mad cry fell from the lips of the Professor when he felt himselfunceremoniously scalped. The next instant his right hand drew forth agleaming knife.
"Oh! Ah! MURDER!"
A dark form went backward over the dock; a splash followed, and theProfessor stood alone. He peered into the muddy water to note the factthat it flowed on calmly as before.
Then Ruggles picked up his hat and wig, and readjusted them on hishead.
"My soul! that was a narrow escape."
At this moment another form was seen approaching, and the Professor,deeming it prudent to move away, was soon striding from the spot, histall form disappearing in the shadows before the third person reachedthe edge of the dock.
* * * * *
On the day following the events last narrated, a man ran up the stepsat the Darrel cottage in Woodburg, and rang the bell.
Nell answered, and met the gentlemanly Mr. Elliston. She led the wayat once to a room opening from the hall, where preparations had beenmade for a lunch.
"Where is Dyke?" questioned the gentleman the moment he was seated.
"I haven't seen him since he left for Chicago to look into the expressrobbery," returned Nell. "Haven't you met him?"
"No. Strange he did not write if he meant to be gone long," remarkedElliston. "You were about to dine, I see."
"Yes; will you keep me company?"
"With pleasure."
"I thought Dyke would be with me ere this," proceeded Nell, as theydiscussed the edibles. "When he goes for a long stay she usually dropsme a line."
After the lunch, Mr. Elliston left his chair and crossed the room toglance from the window, at the same time plucking at his short beardin an apparently nervous manner.
Nell was on the point of removing the ware from the table, when Mr.Elliston turned suddenly, and resumed his seat at the table.
"Sit down, Nell, I wish a word with you."
The girl sank once more into a chair, wondering what was coming.
Laying both hands on her shoulders, Harper Elliston looked her in theeyes and said:
"You must have guessed the object of my visit to-day, Nellie Darrel."
She blushed under his gaze, and looked away nervously.
"N--oo, I can't say that I do. I suppose you came to see my brother."
"Not so. It is you I wished to see, Nell. Why have I come here sooften? I know you must have guessed before this. I love you, deargirl, and want you to be mine--"
He could say no more then, for Nell Darrel started sharply to herfeet, pressing her hands to her burning face.
"No, no, not that." she murmured. "I never suspected that, Mr.Elliston."
"But listen to me, Nell," he pleaded, reaching up and attempting todraw her hands aside. "I can give you a handsome home in New York. Ifyou will be my wife, I will return there at once."
She tore herself from his hands, and her confusion vanished, a feelingof indignation taking its place.
"Mr. Elliston, I tell you I do not love you, and never can. I wasnever more surprised in my life than now. You are old enough to be myfather, sir."
He came to his feet also, and leaned with his hands clinching the topof a chair. There was a frown on his brow and a glitter in his blackeyes unpleasant to see.
"Must I call you coquette?" he said, in an undertone of concentratedfeeling. "You certainly have encouraged me."
"Never, sir," was the indignant response.
"Then our paths must lie apart hereafter, I suppose, Miss Darrel?"
"That is as you shall determine," she answered. "As my brother'sfriend, I have tolerated you, and can do so in the future."
"Ah! It was only TOLERATION then. I did not think this of you, NellDarrel. Do you know that many of the wealthiest, most beautifulmaidens of Gotham would jump at the offer you have just spurned solightly?"
"I will not deny it."
"I could have long ago taken a partner to share my life in my eleganthome on Fifth avenue, but do you know the reason of my not doing so? Ican tell you. I had not seen a girl to my taste. Until I came West Ibelieved I should never marry. From the moment of meeting you,however, I changed my mind. To see was to love, and--"
"Please cease, Mr. Elliston," pleaded Nell Darrel, putting out herhand deprecatingly. "This is a most painful subject to me."
"Very well."
With a sigh he crossed the floor and stood by the window once more. Heseemed struggling to keep down his emotions. At that moment thedetective's sister pitied the man, and felt really sorry that she hadunintentionally been the means of making him miserable.
"Mr. Elliston, please do not feel so badly. I respect you, and hope wemay ever be friends."
She approached him and held out her hand. He turned and regarded herwith a queer glow in his eyes.
"I accept your proffer of continued friendship," he said with a forcedsmile. "It is better so than open war between us."
"It would avail nothing to make war on a friend," she said simply. "Irespect you very highly, Mr. Elliston, and as Dyke's friend, shallalways hope to retain your good opinion."
"Whatever may happen, you will have that," he returned.
Soon after the gentleman departed. The moment he was gone Nell Darrelsank to a chair, and, bowing her head on the table, began to cry.
Strange proceeding, was it not, after what had taken place? Women areenigmas that man, after ages of study, has been unable to solve.
Another face came before the girl's mind at that moment, the face ofone to whom her heart had been given in the past, and who, for someunaccountable reason, had failed to put in an appearance or writeduring the past six months.
"If Harry were only here," murmured the girl, as she raised her headand wiped the tears from her pretty eyes. "I know something hashappened to him--something terrible."
At this moment Aunt Jule, the colored housekeeper, the only otherresident of the cottage, aside from Nell Barrel and her brother,entered the room, and her appearance at once put an end to Nell'sweeping.
"Marse Elliston done gone. What did he want, honey?"
"To see Dyke," answered Nell, with a slight twinge at uttering such amonstrous falsehood.
"Marse Dyke don't come yet. 'Deed but he's full of business desetimes. Marse Dyke a great man, honey."
If the old negress noticed traces of tears on the face of her youngmistress, she was sharp enough to keep the discovery to herself.
In the meantime, Mr. Elliston made his way to the principal hotel inthe little city and sought his room. He was a regular boarder, but,like other men of leisure, he was not regular at meals or room.Nevertheless, he paid his board promptly, and that was the desideratumwith the landlord.
The man's teeth gleamed above his short, gray-streaked beard, as hesat down and meditated on the situation.
"So, I can be her friend still. Well, that is something. I don't meanto give up so. Dark clouds are gathering over your life, Nell Darrel,and when the blackest shadow of the storm bends above and howls aboutyou, in that hour you may conclude that even an elderly gentleman likemyself will DO."
Again the man's teeth gleamed and the black eyes glittered.
"I have set my heart on winning that girl. A mock marriage will do aswell as anything, and such beauty and freshness will bring money inNew York."
Harper Elliston remained in his room until a late lour. After theshades of evening fell he left the room and hotel with a small grip inhis hand. He turned his steps in the direction of the railway station.Arrived at the depot, he purchased a ticket for St. Louis. Then hesauntered outside and stood leaning against the depot in a shadedspot.
It would be five minutes only until the departure of the train. Therewere troubled thoughts in the brain of Harper Elliston that night.
A touch on his hand caused him to start. At thin fold of paper waspassed into his palm. Turning quickly, Elliston saw a shadowy formdisappear in the gloom.
"Confound it, who are you?" growled the tall man, angrily. Then,remembering the paper, he went to a light, and opening it, held it upto his gaze.
"HARPER ELLISTON: Go slow in your plot against Nell Darrel. She has afriend who will see that her enemies are punished. Beware! The volcanoon which you tread is about to burst."
No name was signed to the paper.
At this moment the express came thundering in; the conductor's "allaboard" sounded, and, crunching the paper in his hands, Elliston hadhardly time to spring on board ere the train went rushing away intothe darkness.
Dyke Darrel the Railroad Detective; Or, The Crime of the Midnight Express Page 5
