Part 34 (2/2)
”'Burrill,' he exclaimed; 'who the mischief _is_ the fellow, Ray?'
”'He is Mr. Lamotte's son-in-law,' I answered.
”'Ah,' he mused; 'so Jasper Lamotte has married his daughter to a blackmailer;' and after that, he said never a word more on the subject.
I had it in my mind to tell him of the hints and insinuations, Burrill, in his unguarded moments, was putting into circulation, but his reticence closed my lips.”
He paused, and looked to his auditor for some comment, but she sat with her eyes fixed upon the carpet, and a troubled look on her face.
”Don't think, Conny, that I am one of those who construe this against Heath,” said the loyal fellow. ”He is the best fellow in the world. The whole thing, for me, lies in a nutsh.e.l.l. Heath is not a man to disturb himself about his neighbor's concerns, and he don't expect his neighbors to interest themselves in his. This Burrill has picked up, somehow, a little information; something concerning Heath, or his past life, that is not known to W----, and he is trying to make capital of it. The secret in itself may be a mere nothing, but Heath is the first man to resent impertinences, and the last man to make explanations. And he's right, too, especially under the present circ.u.mstances. I like him all the better for his pluck, and his reticence; let him keep his secrets, so long as he gives me his friends.h.i.+p, I am quite content.”
Constance felt a thrill of satisfaction, and a return of courage, as she listened. Here was a friend, loyal, enthusiastic, not to be alienated by slander or suspicion. She had known Ray from his childhood, and they had always been the best of friends, but she had never admired and honored him, never valued his friends.h.i.+p so much, as she did at this moment.
His enthusiasm was contagious; she forgot all her fears, of a personal nature, and became in an instant the true woman and unselfish friend.
”Ah, Ray,” she exclaimed, lifting two admiring gray eyes to meet his, ”you are a friend indeed! a friend to be proud of; but tell me, did you hear nothing more of Burrill after that second encounter?”
”He made some pretty loud threats,” replied Ray, ”and a fellow named Brooks, a sort of crony of Burrill's, took it upon himself to call upon Heath the next day, and advise him to keep a pretty close lookout for Burrill, as he was quite likely, in one of his drunken rages, to make an a.s.sault upon him. Heath thanked the fellow, and a.s.sured him that he was quite capable of taking care of himself, and Burrill, too, if need be; and Brooks backed out, declaring that he 'meant no 'arm by intrudin'.'”
”Ray,” said Constance, earnestly, ”John Burrill is not the only man Doctor Heath has to fear. I may have acted hastily in sending for you, but I was so troubled by certain facts that have just come to my knowledge, that I could not rest without doing something. It's almost an abuse of confidence to ask so much of you and tell you so little, but in a few days I hope to be mistress of my own tongue, and then you shall have all the particulars. For the present, Ray, promise to follow my instructions blindly.”
”I have promised that, Conny.”
”And, Ray, you will keep this all a secret; you will do your part without hinting to Doctor Heath your true motive, unless circ.u.mstances compel an explanation?”
”I promise that, too.”
”When I sent for you, it was to ask you to warn Doctor Heath, in the most delicate way you could devise, that he was menaced by an enemy, and under hourly surveillance; but, since you have told me of this, Burrill, it occurs to me that in some way he may be mixed up in this matter, and--I have thought of a better plan.”
Ray nodded, and looked full of interest.
”Your description of his manner of receiving Burrill's interference, and of his reticence throughout, makes me feel that it might be only precipitating a catastrophe if we warned him, and so, Ray, I want you, for three days, to be his constant shadow. Devise some excuse for remaining in town; thrust yourself upon his hospitality; observe any strangers who may approach him. If possible, do not let him get out of your sight, even for a short time; in three days you shall be relieved.”
”By whom?”
She lifted her hand, warningly. ”No questions, Ray. Can you manage all this?”
He pondered a while, then said: ”I think I can; I am a pretty good actor, Conny. What do you say to my feigning illness?”
”He would find you out.”
”Not if I did it well, perhaps. I think I could manage for a few days.”
”It won't do, Ray. He would send you to bed and walk away and leave you.”
Ray groaned.
”Tell him your room is undergoing repairs, and throw yourself on his mercy; then feign low spirits, and make him think it is his duty to entertain and cheer you up.”
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