Part 49 (1/2)
”It's fine weather and not quite so cold,” he said. ”Suppose we go to the settlement and get supper there? I've no doubt there's something you or Muriel would like to buy.”
”As it happens, there is,” Mrs. Colston replied. ”But I don't think that's all you have in your mind.”
”The fact is, I'm disturbed about Jernyngham,” Colston admitted. ”He has been in an extremely restless mood since Prescott disappeared.”
”I have noticed that. But do you know why he has gone to Sebastian to-day?”
”He told me. One of the police authorities, whom he has seen already, is staying at the hotel to-night. Jernyngham means to get hold of him and insist upon an explanation of what they are doing.”
Muriel leaned forward in her chair. She looked anxious, for no news of anything that had happened since Wandle's flight had reached the neighborhood. It was only known that the police were in pursuit of him; and local opinion was divided as to whether Prescott was also a fugitive or, knowing more about the matter than anybody else, had offered Curtis his a.s.sistance.
”I think you ought to go,” she said. ”And you may hear something.”
”Well,” Colston replied, ”I'll confess that I'm curious, though I'm going mainly on Jernyngham's account.” He turned to his wife. ”Don't you think it's advisable?”
”I do, and it would be better if we all went. Then you will have an excuse for following Jernyngham and can watch him without making the thing too marked. It's a pity you didn't succeed in getting the pistol away from him.”
”I've done what I could. I had another try this morning, but he caught me looking for it and I believe he guessed what I was after, because he was unusually short with me. It's my opinion that he has taken to wearing the thing; so far as I can discover, it's nowhere in the house. One hesitates about ransacking his room.”
”It is not in the house, and he is not to be trusted with it,” Muriel said quietly.
Colston cast a surprised glance at her.
”Oh! You seem to know. I've no doubt you are cleverer with your fingers than I am and wouldn't be so afraid of leaving your tracks.”
”Gertrude knows where the pistol is and she thought it necessary to go with her father,” Mrs. Colston said significantly. ”We'll get off as soon as you have asked Leslie for the buggy; I wish it had been the sleigh.”
They drove away in half an hour; but Jernyngham reached the settlement some time before they did. Leaving Gertrude at a drygoods store, he went to the hotel, where the commissioned officer of police had a room. The officer was acquainted with all that Prescott had told Curtis about his absence in search of the missing man, and had been advised by telegraph of the a.s.sistance he had rendered in Wandle's arrest. This was, however, a matter that must stand in abeyance until he saw Curtis, for he had come down to investigate some complaints about the reservation Indians, who were in a restless, discontented state, and the business demanded careful thought and handling. He was studying the report of a local constable when there was a knock at the door, and he looked up with annoyance as Jernyngham came in. The man had his sympathy, but he was troublesome.
”I'm afraid I can't spare you more than a minute or two,” he said. ”I'm expecting a constable I've sent for.”
”One would have imagined that my business was of the first importance,”
Jernyngham rejoined. ”Have you any news of the fugitives?”
”Wandle has been arrested.”
”Ah! That's satisfactory, though I don't think it will carry us very far.
His attempt to escape with Prescott, however, makes it obvious that they were confederates.”
The officer let this remark pa.s.s, for he was anxious to get rid of his visitor. Jernyngham was piqued by his silence.
”I suppose you have not apprehended Prescott yet?” he resumed.
”No,” answered the other shortly. ”He will remain at liberty.”
There was a knock at the door and a trooper looked in and withdrew.