“There may be a good deal you can do to help me in the thing,” he said.
“But, blast it! after what you once did to me, I ain’t sure I can trust
you!” He squinted his eyes and sized me up shrewdly. “You’re a Sidney,
and the old rat did dirt to you before you left this town. If you ain’t
willing to rise up now and swoop on him, there’s a reason. You ain’t
stuck on that girl of his, are you?”
The blood surged into my face. I couldn’t help it. I was thinking hard
about her all through that talk. That was the last thing I would have
looked for from my uncle. He had jumped me in fine shape, and he saw it.
“Yah-h-h!” he snarled. “You fool! You devilish fool! It had to be a girl
to keep you from doing your plain duty--and I knew it. Nothing but a
girl would be putting a twist-bit into your mouth right now!”
“You’re wrong! You’re all wrong!” I protested, but I didn’t sound real
convincing.
Nor did he, either, when he started to give me hints about her. His
eyes shifted and he stammered. I took him by the arm with a good, hearty
clutch and he shut up.
There did not seem to be anything more to say just then, on the part of
either of us; plainly, we had squared off at each other!
So I walked out.
I was glad because my first session with my uncle was over. But while
I felt relief I knew I had pretty well done for myself where he was
concerned. Of course, I had not intended to confess to him my financial
condition, but deep down I had felt until then that if worse came to the
worst he would see me out of a hole. He would have done something,
at least, for my father’s sake. But I had been the one to deal family
loyalty the first kick. Now my uncle would see me starve and enjoy my
sufferings; his grudges followed just such grooves.
Whatever else was ahead, it was pretty much up to me!
I went back to the tavern, for it was some comfort just to look on
Dodovah Vose’s kindly face.
“Let’s see! You’ve been dropping a word or two about doing business
here,” he prodded in friendly fashion. “Hope so. It’s quiet in town.
We’re all climbing ‘March Hill,’ you know--dull time in the country.”
“I’m here to start something, sir.” I was telling him the truth then.
I had just started something over in the town office. I sat down and
picked up a newspaper from the table and began to show great interest
in reading so that I would not be obliged to talk. I was afraid he would
get me cornered. I hung onto that paper as if it were a life-buoy--I
read it from title to last line, advertisements and all. It was the
_Mechanicsville Herald_, printed in a manufacturing city about thirty
miles from Levant, and because I did not miss anything which was
printed in it I noted that two concerns wanted cord-wood--and I had
just mentioned the matter of cord-wood to my uncle. At all events, I was
traveling on a singletrack lie in old Levant!
I laid down that paper and did some mighty lively thinking. Then, to
reassure myself, I gave my silk hat the least bit of a cock and marched
to Judge Kingsley’s mansion.
Celene herself opened the door so promptly after my ring that I had a
cozy little suspicion that she had seen me coming and had hurried to
meet me. She was very pretty in her morning gown.
“Oh, your ankle is so much better, isn’t it?” she cried. “I watched you
coming across the square.”
She stepped back, inviting me to enter by her manner, and I walked in.
“I knew just what to do for it. It’s pretty nigh all right.”
She led me to the sitting-room, and her mother rose and met me; Mrs.
Kingsley was distantly polite, that was all. I was glad even for that
much in the case of a Sidney, for I knew that Judge Kingsley’s obedient
wife was as careful in matching her opinions to his as she was in
matching colors at the store.
“I ask to be excused for calling so early in the day,” I said, with my
hat in the hook of my arm, and putting on my best manners. “But this is
a business call and I’m in somewhat of a hurry. You heard me speak to
your father, Miss Kingsley, about the wood-lot. Now--”
“I never presume to interfere in my husband’s business matters,” said
Mrs. Kingsley, looking half scared. “I know nothing whatever about his
business.”
“Oh, I am not asking you to do so--certainly not,” I hurried to tell
her. “I shall do all my business directly with him. But to do so I need
his address in the city. I have come to ask you for it. I suppose he
left it.”
“Oh yes--so that I may send his mail.” She looked relieved and gave me
the name of a hotel.
I had not presumed to sit down, though I was sure that Celene’s eyes had
asked me. I bowed and backed toward the door.
“I thank you. That’s all I wanted. I am sorry I was obliged to intrude.”
I felt that I was certainly doing that little thing well. “I may be
obliged to call again, if you will allow me.”
Mrs. Kingsley hesitated.
“Of course you may call,” blurted Celene.
“I may have to consult with you in a matter similar to this errand
to-day,” I explained. “I’m sorry the judge is not here; in that case I
would not be bothering you.”
“I tried to prevail on my husband to stay at home--he is not at
all well--there are so many matters which need his attention here,”
complained Mrs. Kingsley. “If we can help you with any information we’ll
be glad to doit.”
I went away on that, and I guess I left a good impression that I was
strictly business!
Feeling sure that the two of them were watching me, I put a lot of
business snap into my gait when I returned to the tavern.
“Mr. Vose,” I asked, briskly, “how many hitches have you in your
livery-stable?”
“Eight,” he said, “if I include two road-carts.”
“The road-carts are all right, too. I want to use all of ’em, if you
can furnish drivers.”
“It’s easy enough to find men in these slack times.”
“And probably farmers and day’s-work men in the back districts of the
town would like a job.”
“You can bet on it!”
“Start eight men going, then, as soon as you can get the horses hitched
in. Have the messengers pass the word that I can use two hundred husky
men. Each man to report here in the tavern yard to-morrow morning at
six-thirty with a sharp ax on his shoulder.”
“And what else--tell ’em what else?”
“Nothing.”
“But about wages--and what they’re to do?”
“Tell ’em nothing. They’ll come running in here to find out what it’s
all about, Mr. Vose. Don’t even tell ’em who wants ’em. You and I
both know how curiosity itches in this town till it has been properly
scratched.”
“Guess you’re right,” agreed the landlord. “If you set out to hire ’em
regular style they’d want to hem and haw and haggle about so long and so
much!”
“If you want a deposit for--” I suggested, reaching toward a breast
pocket which was empty.
“Godfrey domino, no!” he protested, flapping his hands. “If you have had
to handle business in those suspicious ways down in the city I’m sorry
for you. Now forget money talk between us till it’s time to talk.”