Part 45 (1/2)

Janice left Nelson in the car at the door, and ran into the cottage with the anxious father. Mrs. Narnay sat with the child on her lap, rocking herself slowly to and fro, and weeping. The children--even Sophie--made a scared little group in the corner.

The woman looked up and saw her husband. ”Oh, Jim!” she said. ”Ain't it too bad? She--she didn't know you was comin'. She--she's jest died.”

Janice was crying frankly when she came out of the house a few minutes afterward. Nelson, seeing her tears, sprang out of the car and hastened up the ragged walk to meet her.

”Janice!” he exclaimed and put his arm around her shoulders, stooping a little to see into her face. ”Don't cry, child! Is--is it dead?”

Janice nodded. Jim Narnay came to the door. His bloated, bearded face was working with emotion. He saw the tenderness with which Nelson Haley led the girl to the car.

The heavy tread of the man sounded behind the young folk as Nelson helped Janice into the car, preparing himself to drive her home.

”I say--I say, Miss Janice,” stammered Narnay.

She wiped her eyes and turned quickly, in sympathy, to the broken man.

”I will surely see Mr. Middler, Mr. Narnay. And tell your wife there will be a few flowers sent down--and some other things. I--I know you will remain and be--be helpful to her, Mr. Narnay?”

”Yes, I will, Miss,” said Narnay. His bleared eyes gazed first on the young girl and then on Haley. ”I beg your pardon, Miss,” he added.

”What is it, Mr. Narnay?” asked Janice.

”Mebbe I'd better tell it ter schoolmaster,” said the man, his lips working. He drew the back of his hand across them to hide their quivering. ”I know something mebbe Mr. Haley would like to hear.”

”What is it, Narnay?” asked Nelson, kindly.

”I--I----I hear folks says ye stole them gold coins out of the schoolhouse.”

Nelson looked startled, but Janice almost sprang out of her seat. ”Oh, Jim Narnay!” she cried, ”can you clear Mr. Haley? Do you know who did it?”

”I see you--you and schoolmaster air fond of each other,” said the man.

”I never before went back on a pal; but you've been mighty good to me an' mine, Miss Janice, and--and I'm goin' to tell.”

Nelson could not speak. Janice, however, wanted to cry aloud in her delight. ”I knew you could explain it all, Mr. Narnay, but I didn't know that you _would_,” she said.

”You knowed I could tell it?” demanded the startled Narnay.

”Ever since that five dollar gold piece rolled out of your pocket--yes,” she said, and no more to Narnay's amazement than to Nelson's, for she had told the schoolmaster nothing about that incident.

”My mercy, Miss! Did _you_ git that five dollar coin?” demanded Narnay.

”Yes. Right here on your porch. The Sunday you were at home.”

”And I thought I'd lost it. I didn't take the whiskey back to the boys, and Jack's been sayin' all the time I double-crossed him. Says I must ha' spent the money for booze and drunk it meself. And mebbe I would of--if I hadn't lost the five,” admitted Narnay, wagging his head.

”But I don't understand,” broke in Nelson Haley.

Janice touched his arm warningly. ”But you didn't lose the ten dollar coin he gave you before that to change at Lem Parraday's, Mr. Narnay?”

she said slyly.

”I guess ye do know about it,” said the man, eyeing Janice curiously.