HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1921-12-16, Page 7DECEMBER 16, 1921.
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THE HURON EVOSITOR
Tembarom
Frances Widgeon Bina*
'rotento—William Briggs.
,
(Continued from last \week)
"Ina going to Lincoln's bin Field
to have an interview with Palford &
Grinaby."
"Tat's a good enough move," com-
mented Timbal -am, "if you think you
can prove what you say. You've got
to prove things, you know. I couldn't
eo 1 lay low mail waited, just like I
told you."
"Of course, of course," Palliser him-
self almost grinned- in his derisien.
"You have only been waiting."
"When you've got to prove a thing
and havent-cmuch to go on, you've gat
to welt," said T. Tembaroni—"to
wait and keep your mouth shut what -
ed. "James baa tt bore beam* inv. "It le quite unix *yes fixed themselvee ow her with web
be thought -you corm Up, and I Spoke to Mr. Temple Bar kn about a touch of finely amused maiicet
didn't send it down bemuse 1 imard it test liiiiC" 4"1 offered bins the of last night,
-you on the at,airs." Perhaps the Unexpectedeesa, per. but itsrather upset ",ilie asid.
-"ThaVe right. Thank you, Pear- halm le certain magma= of coMek "He thought Ito one new but liba-
tion," bin master said. • • eauaed a* ichisi side sing- self, and he was not, enellned to tell
He tore the yellow envelop and read Meta io 'appear momentarily- Stoma- the world. He was upset because 1
the message. In a moment Pearson Jou.. • said 1 had seen the men and could
knew it wee not an ordinary mes- "The perhaps we had better go in swear to big Identity, 'il'hat was why
Gage, and therefore remained more to brealefaat at otice," tibe said. I be went away eo hillkstedly. He no
' than ordinarily Impassive ef expres- "Is Mr. Temple Batholni down?" doubt went to he Stinstegeways and
sion.. He did not even ask of him.. he inquired as they seated themselves talk it over."
self What it snight convey. at 'the breakfast -table. .1 este ev.. 'oteasgetvila? But M.
Mr. Temple Barholm stood still a ' . 9e la not here," she anewered. Ilitrongeavay` Miss lid* retie and
few seconds, with the took of eman "IN, too, was called swat unexpect. rag the bell.
Whomust think and think rap illy. idly. Me went to London y the mid- ; MI Pearson / whet eo see idea
'`.What is the next train to London, night trite.", • ' once," she said to the 'footman.
Pearson?" he tusked.She had never been so aware of her Palliser took in her ..etooil without
"There is one -at twelve thirty,-elx, unchristian lack of liking for Captain comment. He had no 'objeetion to be -
sir," he answered. "It'e the last tillPalliser* as she was when -he paused Mg Present when she Stade enquiriee
six in the morning. You have to -a moment before he made any cern- of Pearson.
s change et Crowley." nient. Ilia pause was as marked as "I hear the wheels of the dog-ear,"
"You're always ready, Person," re- ' a start,- and the smile 'he indulged in he reenarked "You es I
turned Mr. Temple Barholm. " I was, she felt, most eingularly
want to get that train." • agreeable. It was a smile of the
Pearson was always ready. Before der which conceals an unpleasant
the last word was quite spoken he !Planation of itself.
had turned and opened the bedroom "Oh," he remarked, " be has g
door. first, has he?"
"I'll order the dog -cart; that's "Yes?' she_ answered, pouring
quickeet, air," he said. He was out bis coffee for hint "Ile evidently
of the room and- in again almost im- bueiness of importance,
inediately. Then be was at the ward- They were quite alone, and she
robe and taking out what M. Temple not one of the women one need
Bar:halm called Ilia "grip," but what turb oneself about. She had
Pearson knew as a Gladstone bag. It browbeaten into hypereensipive timi
was -always kept ready packed for un- ity early•in life and did not Imo h
ever happens, and to let yourself be
taken for a fool or a horse -thief ant
as grilt-ed a job as it seems But ,,_
proors t it's beet to have before
you ring up the curtain. You'd have
to have it yourself. So would Pafford
& Grimby before it'd be stone-cold 1
wife to rush things and accuse a nien
of a penitentiary offense."
He took nis unconventional half
seat on the edge of the table, with G
one foot on this floor and the other
one lightly swinging. "Pafford and ,n
Grinaby are clever old ducks, and they
know that anuch. Thing they'd know "
best mould be that to set a raft of
lies going about a man who's got
money enough to defend ,hiniself, and
to make them pay big damages for it ri
afterward, would be pretty bum busi-
ness. I geese they know all about t
what proof ttande for. They may
have to wait; so may you, same as I T
have."
Palliser realized that he was in the
posititm of a mart striking at an ad- 7.„
versary 'whose construction was of at
indiaarubber. He struek home, but .
left no bruise and drew no blood, in
which was an irritating thing. He en
lost his 'temper.
Proof!" he jerked out. "Phase Will h.
be proof enough, and when it is made le
public, you will not control the money ei
you threaten to twat'
"W'hen you get Proof, just you let ri
me hear .about it," T. Tembaram said. a
"And all the money I'm threatening v(
- on shall po where it belongs, and I'll
go back trt New York and sell papers
if I have- to. It won't came as hard al
as you think." th
The flippant insolence with which we
he brazened out his pretense that he
had not Nei that his ridiculous ro- s
mance was actual and simple truth, *a,r
suggested dangerous readiness of de- I
vine and secret knowledge of power
which multi he adroitly used.
"You are merely marking time," S'9
said Palliser, rising, with cold de- el
termination to be juggled with no
!anger. "You have hidden him away ar
where you think you can do as you ,
please with a man who is an invalid. tn
That is your dodge. You've got him
bidden some -Where, and his friends fu,
had better get at him before it is -
too late." rhu
"Pm not simmering questions this th
evening, and I'm not giving address- Co
4401-- es, though there are no witnesses to 1 -
take them down. If he's hidden a-
way, he's where he won't be disturb- t"
was T. Tertnbarom's rejoinder.
"You may lay your bottom dollar en nu
that" Ro
Palliser walked toward the door m
without spealdtrtg. He had almost ve
reached it when he whirled about in- wh
voluntarily, arrested by a shout of
laughter. tel
"Say," announced Temberam, "you sr
mayn't- know it, but this lay -out eh
would •make a -first-rate turn in a He
raudeville. You think Pni lying, I lea
'look like I'm lying, I guess every ed
word I say sounds like Pm dying. To tu
a fellow like you, I guess it couldn't me
help but sound that way. Arid Pan rig
not lying. That'e where the joke
collies in. I'm not lying. I've not MI
told you all I know because it's none 'gin
of your business and wouldn't help; be
but what I have told you is the stone- reli
cold truth."
He was keeping it np to tie very ele
end with a desperate determination De
not to let go his hold of his pose until
lie had made his private shrewd, as
whatsoever it was. At least, Lao it to
struck Palliser, who merely said: th1
"I'm leaving the house by the first Wh
train to-mornow maiming. He fixed don
a cold gray eye '001 the fool's grin.
"Six forty-five," said T. Tembarom.
"I'll orderthecarriage. I might go
dim- ray train." •
s , :met catch
er• Pearson stood at the door.
et- "Is not Mr. Strangeways bis
room, Pearson?" Miss Alicia aeked.
one "Mr. Temple Ballwin' took him to
London when he last went, ma'am,"
out answered Pearson. "Yoe remember
had he went at night. The doctor thought
it best."
was "He did not tell you that, either?"
dis- said'Palliser casually.
been . "The dog.eart'is at the door, air,"
d- announced Pearson.
tea i a a hand vase unsteady
when the departing guest took it.
"Don't be disturbed," he said, con-
derately, hut a most singular thing
aa happened. When I asked ao many
Man with the Iron Mal I asked them
uestions about Temce Barhohn's
or curious reasons. T at must be
y apology. You will hear all about
t later, probably from Palford &
Grimby."
When he had left the room Miss
Alicia stood upon the 'hearth rug as
the dog -cart drove away, and she was
pale. Her simple and easily disturbed
brain was in a whirl. She could
scarcely remember what she had
heard, and could not in the least com-
prehend what it had seemed to imply,
except that there had been concealed
in the suggvetionic some disparage-
ment of her best be -loved.
Singular as it was that Pearson
Should return without being summon-
ed, when she turned and found that
he myeteriously stood inside the
threshold again, as if she had called
trim, she felt a great sen•sc of relief.
"Pearson," *she faltered, "I am rath-
er upset by certain things whicli Cap-
tain Palliser has said. I am afraid I
de not understand."(
She looked at hian helplessly, not
knowing what more to a4. She wls'••
ed extremely that she coull think is!
something definite.
The masterly finish of Pearson's re-
ply lay in its neatly restrained hint
of unobtrusively perceptive sympathy.
"Yes, Miss. I was afraid so. Which
is why I -took the liberty of stepping
expected emergenciee of travel. to resent cleverly managed polite b
Mr. Temple Barholm sat at the lying. She would always feel hers
tab/e and drew pen and paper toward', at fault if she was tempted to critic
im. He looked excited; he looked any one. She was innocent and n
more troubled than Pearson had eeen oua enough to betray henteff to a
him look before. extent, because she would feel t ru
"The wire's from Sir Ormaby Gal- to refuse to answer questions, ho
oway, Pearson," he aaid. "It's a- aoever far they exceeded the lin
bout Mr. Strangeways. Hieb done of polite curiosity. He had learned
What I used to be always watching
rt against: he's disappeared."
"Disappeared, sir!" cried Pearson,
nd almost dropped the Gladstone bag.
I beg pardon, air. I know there's
o time to lase." He steadied the
bag and went on with his task with-
ut even turning round_ .. ..„
ilia •Twister was in some difficulty.
e began to write, and after dashing
ff a few words, stopped, and tore
hem up.
"ND," he muttered, "that won't do.
iteres no time to explain," Then
e began again, but tore up his next
nes also. "That says too much and
at enough. It'd frighten the life out
her."
He wrote again, and ended by fold -
g the sheet and putting it into an
velop.
"This is a message for Misa
e said to Pearson. "Give it to her
the morning. I don't want her to
arry because I had to go in a hurry.
ell her everything's going to be all
ght; but you needn't mention that
nything's happened to Mr. Strange -
aye."
"Yes sir," answered Pearson.
,141r. Temple Barholm was already
ovine about the room, doing odd
ings for himself rapidly, and he
nt on speaking.
"I want you and Rose to know," he
arid, 'that whatever happens, you
e both Axed all right—both of you.
ve seen to that."
"Thanks you, sir," Pearson faltered
ade uneasy by something new in his
ne. "You .said Whatever happened,
0—"
"Whatever old thing hannene," his
aster took him np.
"Not to you, sir Oh, I hope, sir,
svt nothing—"
Mr. Temple Barholm put a cheer -
1 hand on his shoulder.• • • •
'Nothing's going to happen that'll
rt any one. Things may change,
RCS all. You and Rose are all right,
iss Alicia's all right, I'm all right.
me along. Got to catch that train."
In this manner he took kis depar-
IN".
Miss Alicia had from necessity ac-
hed the habit af early rising at
vocroft vicarage, and as the next
orning was bright, she was clipping -
see on a terrace before breakfast
en Pearson brought her the note.
'Mr, Tern -ole Barholm received a
egram from London last night,
a'am." he explained, "and he was
liged to take the midnight train.
hadn't time to do any more than
ve a few lines for you, but he ask -
• to tell you that nothing dis-
rbing bad accurred. He specially
ntioned.... that everything was all
ht."
But how very midden!" exclaimed
ss Alicia, opening ,her note and he-
rring to read it Plainly It had
en written hurriedly indeed. It
d as though he had been in such
ste that he hadn't had time to be
ar.
ar little Miss Alkia:
've got to light out of here as quick
I can make it. I can't even stop
tell you why. There's just one
ng—don't get rattled, Miss Alicia.
atever any 0110 says or does, just
• let yourself get rattled.
Yount affectionately,
T. TBMBAROM.
ul-
lf
ize
ere- h
ny q
do
w-
its
a
up myself."
__ ..
The door cloeed.
Tembarom was looking cheerful
enough when he went into his bed- alral
rocmh Ile had become used to its eve
size and had learnecriefeel that it
. , . was a good sort of place. It had the 'Ai
hall bedroom at Mrs. Bowseh beard-
Pearson," Miss Alicia exclaimed,
n looking up,"are you sure
rything is all right?"
1havim m
t what he said, a'am.
'1right,' ina'am."
7,'
haak you, Pearson I am glad
hear it."
he walked to and fro in the sun-
ne, reading the note and rereading
ing-bouse "beaten to a frazzle." There to
was about everything in it that any S
man could hatch up an idea he'd like sili
to have. He had slept luxuriously on it.
the splendid carved bed through long
nights, he had lain awake and thought rig
out things *son It, he had lain and ed.
watched the fire -light flickering on
the ceiling, as he thought about Ann
and made plane, and "fixed up" the
Harlem fiat which could be run on
fltfteen per. Ile had picked out the
pieces of furniture from the Sunday
Sart)" advertisement sheet, and bad
set them in their places. H. always
eaw the six -dollar mahogany -stained
table set for supper, with Ann at one
mid and 'himself at the other.He
had groWn actually fond of the old
room beesume-af the silence and COM -
tort of At, which tended to give re-
alitr to ins dreams. Pearson, who
had ceased to look anxious, and who
bad spoked freeli accomplishments
in the form of an entirely sew set
of duties, wait wetting, and banded
hint a 'telegram.
ammhmod, AN" be Arillair-
Of course if he said it was all
ht, it was all right," she murmur -
*It is only the phrasing that
good deal from her in the past. Why
not try what could be startled out of
her now? Thus Captain Palliser
aaid:
"I dare say you feel a little anxious
at such an extnaordinarily sudden de-
parture," 'he suggested amiably.
"Bolting off in the middle a the
night waa sudden, if he did not ex-
plain 'himself."
"He had no time to explain," she
answered.
"That makes it appear all the more
eudden. But no doubt he lett you a
message. I saw you were reading a
note when I joined you on the ter-
race."
Lightly casual as he chose to make
the words sound, they were an au-
dacity he would have known better
than to allow himself with any one
but a timid early -Victorian spinster
whose politeness was hypersensitive
in its quality.
"He particularly desired that I
should not be anxious," she aaid. "Ile
is always considerate."
"He would, of course, have explain-
ed everything if be had not been so
hurried?"
"Of course, if it had been neces-
sary," answered Miss Alicia, nerv-
ously sipping cher tea.
"Naturally," said Captain Palliser.
"His note no doubt mentioned that
he went away on business connected
with his friend Mr. Strangeways?"
There was no question of the fact
that she was startled.
"He had not time enough," she said.
"He could only write a few lines..
Mr. Strangeways?"
"We had a long talk about him last
night He told me a remarkable
story," Captain Pal -Neer went -on. "I
suppose you are quite familiar with
all the details of it?"
- "I knew how he found him in New
York, and I know how generous he
has been to lrim."
"Have you been told nothing
more?"
"There was nothing more to tell.
If there was anything, I am sure he
had some good reason for not telling
me," &aid Miss Alicia, loyally. "His
-reasons are always good."
Palliser's air of losing a shade ar
so of discretion as a result of aston-
ishment was really well done.
"I)o you mean to say that he has
not even hinted that ever since he
arrived at Temple Barholm he has
strongly suspected Strangeway's
identity—that he has even known
who he is?" lieexclaimed.
Miss Alicia's small hands clung to
the table -cloth.
"He has not known' at all. He has
been most anxious to discover. He
has used every endeavor," she brought
out with some difficulty.
"You say he has been trying to
find out?" Palliser interposed.
"He has been more than anxious,"
she protested. "He has been to Lon-
don again and again; 'ke has gone to
great expense; he has even eeen peo-
ple from Scotland Yard. I have
sometimes almost thought he was
assuming more responsibility than
wan just to himselt In the case of
a relative or an old friend, but for
an entire stranger—. Oh, really, I
ought not to seem to criticize. I do
not presume to criticize Iris wonder-
ful -generosity and determination and
goodness. No one should presume to
question him."
"If he knows that you feel like
this—" Palliser began.
"Ile knowS all that I feel," Miss
Alicia took him up with a pretty,
rising spirit. "He knows that L am
full of unspeakable 'gratitude to him.
for his beautiful kindness to me; he
knows that I admire and respect and
love 'him in a way I could never ex-
press, and that I would db anything
in the world he could wish me to do."
"Naturally," said Captain Palliser.
"I was only about to express any -sur-
prise that since he is aware of all this
makes me slightly nervous. Why be has not told you who he has proved
should he ask me not to get rattled?" Strangeways to be. It is a little odd,
The term was by this time as familiar you know."
"I think"—Mess Alicia was even
gently firm in her reply—"that you
are a little mistaken in believing Mr.
Temple Barholm has proved Mr.
Strangeways to be anybody. When
be has proof, be will no doubt think
proper to tell me about it. Until then
I should prefer--"
Palliser laughed as he finished her
sentessce.
"Nat to know. / was not going te
betray Itim, Miss Alicia. He evidently
has one of his excellent reasons for
keeping things to himself. I may men-
tion, however, that it is not so much
he who has proof as I myself."
"Your How could she help quite
iltarthig in her met When his swaj.
to her as any in Dr. Johnsons dic-
tionary. "Of course 'he knows r do
get rattled mtioirt too easily; but why
should I be in danger of getting rat-
tled now if nothing has happened?"
She tave a very small start as she
remembered something. "Could it be
that Captain Palliser— But how
could he? Though I do not like Cap-
tain Palliser."
Captain Palliser, her distaste for
whom at the moment quite agitated
her, was thio morning an early diger
also, and ss she turned in tier leek
aim found him coming toward ken
"I4Ind Tara obliged to take an early
train to London this morning," be
said, after Absir szokang• cgrissA-
into the
undershust 4:tlfl'clarlfdtInt
expect to. j I may be so hold sa to
litY it, Milk whatever W8 don't un-
derstand, *e both understand
'Temple liarbolm. My instruction*
were iv remind you, Miss, that every- •
ting would be all right."
Mae Alioia took up her letter from
the table where she had laid it down.
"Thank you, Pearson," she .*4d5 her •
forehead beginning to clear itself W ,Ask..
not to— He told me not to -- get is I, la real Green Tea
little. "Of course, of course. 1 oeght .
tattled," she added with plaintive in •
edetiousriese, "and I ought not to, a -
all •
hove all things."
"Yes, Miss. It is most Itoportant The rich yet delicate flavour of the per- •
that you should not," fectly prepared 'green' leaf will always
• be found in the sealed Salads. packet. • .4,
Is
7
CHAPTER XXXV ,
The story of the argentures, experi-
ences, and journeyings of Mr. Joseph
Hutchinson, his daughter, and the -in-
vention, if related in detail, would
prove reading of interest; but as
this is merely a study of the manner
in 'which the untrained character-
istics and varied limitations of one
MOO adjusted or failed to adjust
themselves to incongruous surround-
ings and totally unprepared -for cir-
cumstances such details, whatsoever
their potential picturesqueness, can
be touched upon but lightly. No new
idea of value to the world of practi-
cal requirements is presented to the
public at large without the waking
of many sleeping dogs, and the stir-
ring of many snapping fish, floating
with open ears and eyes in many
pools. An uneducated, bluetening,
obstinate man of one idea having re-
sentfully borne dicouragement apd
wounded egotism for yeare, and sud-
denly confronting immense promise
of success, is not unlikely to be prey
easily harpooned. Joseph Hutchirn-
son's rebound from despair to high
and well-founded hope made of him
exactly what such a man is always
made by such rebound. The testi-
mony to his genius and judgment
Which acknowledgment of the value
of his work implied was naturally, in
his opinion, only a proper tribute
which the public had been a bull-
headed fool not to lay at his feet
years before. So much time lost, and
so much money for it, as well as for
him, and served 'em all damned well
right, he said. If Temple Barholm
hadn't come into his money, and
hadn't had more sense than the rest
of them, where would they all have
been? Perhaps they'd never have had
the benefit of the thing he'd been tell-
ing them about for years. He prided
himself immensely on the possession
of a business shrewdness which was
an absolute defense against any de-
sire on the part of the iniquitous to
overreaeh him. He believed it to be
a peculiarly Lancashire cbaracteris-
tie, and kept it in view constantly.
"Lancashire's not may to do," he
would say hilarioutdy. ,"Them that
can do a Laneashire chap has got to
look out that they get up early in
the morning and don't go to :bed till
late."
Smooth -mannered and astute men
of business who knew how to make a
man talk were given diffuse and loud -
voiced explanations of his methods and
ng-unackhowledged merits and
characteristics. His life, 'his morals,
and his training, or rather lack of it,
were laid 'before them es examples
of what a 10101 might work himself
up to if °he had it in kim." Educa-
tion didn't do ide had ne,ver been
to naught but a village school, where
he'd picked up precious Tittle but the
three R's. It had to be born in a
man. Look at 'him! His invention
promised to bring -him in a fortune
like a duke's, if he managed it right
-and kept his eyes open for sharpers.
This company and that company were
after him, but Lancashire didn't snap
up things without -gding into 'ece, and
under 'em, and through 'em, for the
matter of that.
The weli-mannered gentlemen of
business stimulated him greatly by
their appreciative attention. He
sometimes lost his bead a trifle and
almost bullied them, but they did not
seem to mind it. Their apparently
old-time knowledge of and repeat for
Lancashire business sagacity seemed
invariably a marked thing. Men of
genius and powerful character COTO-
bined with practical shrewdness of
outlook they intimated, were of en-
ormous value to the business world.
They were to be counted upon an im-
portant factors. They could see and
deal with both aides of a proposal
as those of weaker rtnind could not.
"That they can," Hutchinson would
admit, rolling about in his chair and
thrusting his hands in his pockets.
"They've got some bottom to stand
on." And he would feel amenable to
reason.
iLittle Ann found her duties and ser -
eponsibilities increasing daily. Man)"
persons seemed to think it necessary
to come and talk bi.aMese and father
• a
had so much to think of and reason
out, so that he could be sure,that li
didn't make any mistakes. In a Mast,
remote, and darkened corner of her
mind, in winch were stored all such,
thing's as it was well to say little or
nothing about, there was discreetly
kept for reference the secretly acquir-
ed knowledge that father did net
know so much about burdening wa
and business people as he the
he did. Mother had learned
somewhat important fact, and • had
secluded it in her own private men-
tal store -room with much affectionate .
delicacy.
"Father's a great num and a good'
man, Ann love," she had confided to
her, choosing tat occasion when her .1'..,/,••„
husband was a hundred mike ',way, •
"and he is right -down Lancashire its
ti s clever way of seeing through pee-
ple that think themselves Warp; bat
when a man is a genius and noble -
minded he sometimes can't see the
right people's faults' and wickedness.
fle thinks they mean as 'honest as
he does. And there's times .when he
may get taken in if some one, per-
haps not half as clever as his is,.
doesn't look after him. When the in-
vention's taken up, and everybody's.
running after him to try to cheat
him out of his rights, if I'm not there
Ann you must just keep with hien,
and watch every minute. I've seen
these sharp, tricky ones right-dovni
flinch and quail when there was a
r.ice, quiet -behaved woman in , the
room, and she just fixed her ere
steady and clear -like on them, and •
showed she'd took in every word ma
was like to remenrber. You know
what I mean, Ann; you've got thatt
look in your own eye."
Continued next week.
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14