Part 36 (1/2)

The girl took a bud of La Rosiere, dark, velvety, fragrant, perfect.

”I'm in love with them all,” she said, ”but this is my favourite.”

She handed the bud to Jack, who put it in the b.u.t.ton-hole of his worn and shabby coat.

”Thanks,” he said, ”I'm more than repaid.”

Sartoris burst out laughing.

”Don't you feel a bit in the way, Summerhayes?” he said. ”I do. When these young things exchange love-tokens, it's time we went into the next room.”

”No,” laughed the Pilot, ”we won't budge. The gal gets twenty-pound worth of gold, and offers a rose in return. It's a beautiful flower, no doubt; but how would a slice of mutton go, after 'damper' and 'billy'

tea? Rosebud, my gal, go and get Mr. Scarlett something to eat.”

Joining in the laugh, Rose went into her kitchen, and Jack commenced to pack up his gold, in order that the table might be laid for dinner.

But if you come to think of it, there may have been a great deal in his request, and even more in the girl's frank bestowal.

CHAPTER XXI.

The Foundation of the Gold League.

Mr. Crewe sat in the Timber Town Club with his satellite, Cathro, beside him. The old gentleman was smoking a well-seasoned briar pipe, from which he puffed clouds of smoke contemplatively, as he watched the gesticulations of a little man who was arguing with a gentleman who wore riding-breeches and leggings.

”I tell you, sir,” said the little man, ”that there is not the vestige of proof that the mails were stolen, not the slightest scintilla of truth in the suspicion.”

”Then what became of them?” asked the other, as he fixed a gold horse-shoe pin more securely in his tie.

”What became of them?” exclaimed the little man. ”They were washed overboard, washed overboard and lost.”

”But,” said the man of horses, ”I happened to be riding home late that night, and, I a.s.sure you, there was not a breath of wind; the sea was as smooth as gla.s.s.”

”That might be,” retorted the little man, who was now pacing up and down in front of his adversary in a most excited fas.h.i.+on. ”That might be, but there is a lot of surge and swell about a steamer, especially in the neighbourhood of the screw, and it is very possible, I may say highly probable, that the missing bags were lost as the mail was being pa.s.sed up the side.”

”But how would that affect the incoming mail?” asked the other. ”Did that drop over the side, too?”

”No, sir,” said the diminutive man, drawing himself up to his full height. ”There is nothing to prove that the incoming mail was anything but complete. We are honest people in Timber Town, sir. I do not believe we have in the entire community men capable of perpetrating so vile a crime.” He turned to the Father of Timber Town for corroboration. ”I appeal to you, Mr. Crewe; to you, sir, who have known the town from its inception.”

Mr. Crewe drew his pipe from his mouth, and said, with great deliberation, ”Well, that is, ah--that is a very difficult question. I may say that though Timber Town is remarkably free from crime, still I have known rascals here, and infernal dam' rascals, too.”

The little man fairly bristled with indignation at this remark. He was about to refute the stigma laid on his little pet town, when the door opened and in walked Scarlett, dressed still in his travel-stained clothes, and with his beard unshorn.

His appearance was so strange, that the little argumentative man believed an intruder, of low origin and objectionable occupation, had invaded the sacred precincts of his club.

”I beg your pardon, but what does this mean, sir?” he asked; immense importance in his bearing, gesture, and tone. ”You have made some mistake, sir. I should like to know if your name has been duly entered in the visitors' book, and by whom, sir?”

Taking no notice of these remarks, Jack walked straight across the room, and held out his hand to Mr. Crewe. The white-haired old gentleman was on his feet in a moment. He took the proffered hand, and said, with a politeness which was as easy as it was natural, ”What is it I can do for you, sir? If you will step this way, we can talk quite comfortably in the ante-room.”

Jack laughed. ”I don't believe you know me,” he said.