THE TRAITOR
The _Columbia_ slowly and steadily made her way down the coast,
keeping within a mile or so of the shore. Speed was certainly not her
long suit, but she rode the choppy sea more easily than most boats so
small would have done, and, since she was not intended for speed, the
usual traffic din of the motor was absent. Altogether, she seemed an
ideal pleasure boat.
As they went along, Trenwith pointed out the various places of interest
along the shore.
"Down this way we get to a part where a lot of rich men have built
summer homes," he said. "You see there's a good beach, and they can buy
enough land to have it to themselves. It's pretty lonely, in a way,
because they're a good long way from the railroad, but they don't seem
to mind that."
"I suppose not. They've got money enough to keep all the automobiles and
yachts they want, so they wouldn't use the railroad anyhow. I never
would if I could get around any other way."
As they went on, the coast changed considerably from the familiar
character it had at Plum Beach. Cliffs took the place of the bluff, and
while the beach was still fine and level, there were rocky stretches at
more and more frequent intervals.
"What's the nearest town in this direction?" asked Eleanor.
"Rock Haven," said Trenwith. "That's more of a place than Bay City,
because it's quite a seaport. Up at Bay City, you see, we don't amount
to much except in the summer time. But Rock Haven is a big place, and
most of the people who live there are there all the year round instead
of only for three months or so in the summer. You haven't any idea of
what a dull old place Bay City is in winter."
"If it's so dull, I shouldn't think you'd stay there."
"Oh, it was a good place for me to get a start, you know. I've been able
to get along in politics, and I've done better there than I would have
in the city, I suppose. And it's all right for a bachelor, anyhow. He
can always get away. If I were married--well, it would be very different
then."
"I should think you'd like it much better in the city, though, even if
you are a bachelor. Why don't you come there this winter?"
"Perhaps--I'd like--do you want me to come?"
He leaned forward, as if her answer were the most important thing in the
world, and, seeing Dolly's mischievous glance at Bessie, Eleanor blushed
slightly.
"I think it would be better for you to be in the city," she said, with
dignity.
"Well, I'll tell you a secret then--I'm really bursting with a whole lot
of others that I mustn't tell. Charlie's been at me for months to come
and be his partner, and I've promised to think it over."
"I think that would be splendid."
"Well, I'm glad to hear you say so, because it really depends on you
whether I shall come or not."
"Hush!" she said, blushing again, and speaking in so low a tone that
only he could hear her. "You mustn't talk like that here--and now.
It--it isn't right."
She looked helplessly at Dolly, and Trenwith, understanding, looked as
if she had said something that delighted him. Perhaps she had--perhaps
she had even meant to do so.
"I'll attend to getting supper ready now, sir, Mr. Trenwith, if you'll
take the wheel," said Bates, just then.
"All right," said Trenwith, nodding. "Now make a good job of it, Bates.
I've been praising you up to the skies."
Bates grinned widely, and disappeared.
No apologies were needed when they came to eat the supper which had been
so well heralded. A table was set up in the after part of the boat, and
the awning was drawn back so that the stars shone down on them. The
_Columbia's_ engine was stopped, and she lay under the lee of
Humber Island, a long, wooded islet that sheltered them from the strong
breeze, making the sea as smooth as a mill pond. On shore twinkling
lights began to appear, and, some distance away, a glare of lights in
the sky betrayed the location of Rock Haven.
"Oh, this is lovely!" said Eleanor. "I'm so glad you brought us here,
Mr. Trenwith! But tell me, doesn't anyone live on this island? It's so
beautiful that I should think someone would surely have built a summer
home there long ago."
"I believe there are people there," said Trenwith. "But they are on the
other side."
"I'm sorry we have to go home, but I suppose we really must be
starting," said Eleanor, after supper. "It's such a heavenly night that
it seems to me it would be perfect just to stay here."
"Wouldn't it? But you're right--we must be starting back. We'll go on
and come around the other side of this island. You should see it from
all points of view. Scenically, it's our show place for this whole
stretch of coast."
And so as soon as Bates had finished clearing off the table he went back
to his engine, and the _Columbia_ slipped along smoothly in the
shadow of the island. But a few minutes later, as they were gliding
along on the seaward side, where the water was far rougher, there was a
sudden jar, and the next moment the engine stopped.
"Why, what's the matter!" asked Eleanor, surprised.
"Nothing much, probably," said Trenwith "Bates will have it fixed in a
few minutes. The best engine in the world is apt to get balky at
times--and I must say that mine has chosen a very good time to
misbehave."
Eleanor chose to ignore the meaning he so plainly implied, but she was
perfectly content with the explanation, and sat there dreamily,
expecting to hear the reassuring whir of the motor at any moment. But
the minutes dragged themselves out, and the only sound that came from
the engine was the tapping of the tools Bates was using. Trenwith
frowned.
"This is very strange," he said. "We've never been delayed as long as
this since I've had Bates. He usually keeps the motor in perfect running
order. I'll just step forward and see what's wrong."
He returned in a few moments, his face grave.
"Bates has some highly technical explanation of what is wrong," he said,
seriously. "It seems that he needs some tools he hasn't got, in order to
grind the valves. I'm afraid we'll have to get ashore somehow--he seems
to be sure that he can find what he is looking for there."
Eleanor looked rather dismayed.
"It's going to make us terribly late in getting ashore, isn't it?" she
asked. "I'm afraid the others will be worried about us."
"No. Bates says that as soon as he gets the tools he wants he will have
things fixed up, and he's quite certain that he can get them on the
island. He says anyone who has a motor boat will be able to help him
out--and they certainly couldn't live here without one."
"But how on earth are you going to get ashore if the engine won't work?"
asked Dolly. "It seems to me that we're stuck out here."
"Oh, you leave that to us!" said Trenwith, cheerfully. "I'm sorry this
has happened, but please believe me when I say that it isn't a bit
serious."
They soon saw the _Columbia_ was to be rescued from her
predicament. She was fairly near the shore, and now Bates dropped an
anchor, and she remained still, swinging slowly on the chain.
"He'll row ashore, you see, hunt up the people, and tell them what he
wants," said Trenwith. "Hurry up, Bates! Remember, we've promised to get
these young ladies home in good time."
"Right, sir," said Bates, as he lowered the dinghy and dropped into her.
"Won't take me long when I find the people on shore--and about five
minutes will fix that engine when I get back here again."
He rowed off into the darkness, making for a point of light that showed
on shore, and they settled back to wait as patiently as they could for
his return.
"Suppose Charlie turns up at the camp while we're gone, and wants you
for something important?" asked Eleanor. "Oh, I'm afraid we did wrong in
coming!"
"Not a bit of it! Old Charlie will understand. And I know his plans
pretty well, so there isn't any danger of this causing any trouble."
It seemed to take longer for Bates to find help than he had expected. At
any rate, the greater part of half an hour slipped away before they
heard the sound of oars coming toward them.
"Why, there are two men rowing!" said Dolly, curiously. "And that dinghy
only has room for one man with oars."
"Probably they decided to send someone out with him to lend him a hand,"
said Trenwith. "People around these parts are pretty nice to you if you
have a breakdown, and I guess it's partly because they never know when
they're going to have one themselves."
"Well, that ought to make it easier to make the repairs that are
needed," said Eleanor, somewhat relieved. "I really am getting worried
about what they'll think at the beach. I'm afraid they'll be sure that
something has happened to us."
"Good evening, Miss Mercer," said a mocking voice behind her, and she
turned with a start to see Holmes!
"You're late," said Holmes, reproachfully. "I expected you an hour
earlier. But then better late than, never! Ah, I see both of them are
with you! Silas Weeks will be very glad to see you two, I have no
doubt!"
He spoke then to Bessie and Zara, who, terrified by his sodden
appearance, were staring at him.
"Mr. Trenwith!" said Eleanor, sharply. "You know who this man is, do you
not? And what our feelings are concerning him? Are you going to let him
stay here?"
"He has no choice, Miss Mercer. Better not ask him too many questions
about how you happened to break down right off my island; he would have
a hard time convincing you with any story he told. Eh, Trenwith?"
"Shut up!" growled Trenwith. "What does all this nonsense mean? Get off
my boat!"
"Oh, are you trying to make them believe you didn't know about this? I
beg your pardon, Trenwith, I really do! Of course, Miss Mercer, he knows
as well as I do that I am within my rights. You are now in a state where
certain court orders applying to Bessie King and her little friend Zara
ate valid--and, knowing that these two girls, who have run away from the
courts of this state, are here, I have taken steps to see that they are
taken into court. I am a law abiding citizen--I do not like to see the
law insulted."
Eleanor was dazed by the suddenness of the blow. To her it seemed an
accident; she could not believe that Trenwith could be guilty of such
treachery as Holmes was charging. But in a moment her faith in him was
shattered.
"I'd like to help out your pose, Trenwith," Holmes said to him. "But I
need you, so you'll have to come off your perch. You'll have to come
ashore with the others, in case you should change your mind. I only want
two of these girls, but the others will have to come, too, of course,
because if they got away they might make trouble. You shall be perfectly
comfortable, Miss Mercer, however."
The look in Trenwith's eyes, and the sheepish, hangdog expression of his
whole face made Eleanor gasp. So he had betrayed them! After all,
despite his fine talk, he had been tempted by the money that Holmes
seemed prepared to spend so lavishly! And he had led Bessie and Zara
right into a trap--a merciless trap, as she knew, from which escape
would be most difficult, if not utterly impossible.
And in a moment the lingering remnants of her faith were shattered. For
Holmes called out, in a loud tone, at Bates:
"Bates!" he cried. "Come aboard and start that engine! Then you can take
your tub right up to the landing pier in front of the house."
"Yes, yes!" said Bates. He sprang aboard, and a moment later the engine,
perfectly restored, was started, although nothing had been done to it
since Bates went ashore, and, the anchor lifted, the _Columbia_
began her brief voyage to the pier.
There had been no accident at all! The breakdown had been a deception,
pure and simple, intended to give Bates a chance to go ashore and warn
Holmes that his prey was within his reach.
"Oh, how I despise you!" said Eleanor to Trenwith. "Go away, please, so
that I won't have to look at you!"
"Eleanor, listen!" he said, in a low whisper, pleadingly. "I can
explain--"
"If you think I'm such a fool as to believe anything you tell me now,"
she said, furiously, "you are very much mistaken!"
He saw that to argue with her was hopeless, and went forward gloomily.
In a few minutes they were ashore. Resistance, as Eleanor saw, was
hopeless; the only thing to do was to act sensibly, and hope for a
chance to escape.
"I have had three rooms arranged for you," said Holmes, when they
reached a great rambling house. "They're on the second floor. I think
you girls will be comfortable and you would rather, I am sure, have the
girls with you. You are in no danger."