Part 8 (1/2)
”Probably not. If it had been any longer, judgin' by the way they worked, they'd have dug out the underpinnin' and had the house down by this time.
How did you happen to come? Did you hear the--er--broadsides?”
”Why, no, I--But that reminds me. Have you seen a tramp around here?”
”A tramp? What sort of a tramp?”
”I don't know. Elvira--I mean Miss Snowden--said he was a tall, dark man and Aurora thought he was rather thick-set and sandy. But they both agree that he was a dreadful, rough-looking creature who carried a big club and had a queer slouchy walk. And he came in this direction, so they thought.”
”He did, eh? Humph! Odd I didn't see him. I've been here all the time.
Where was he when they saw him first?”
”Over on our property. In the Fair Harbor grounds, I mean. He came out of the bushes, so Elvira and Aurora say, and spoke to them. Insulted them, Elvira says.”
”Sho! Well, well! I wonder where he went.”
”I can't think. I supposed of course you must have seen him. It was only a little while ago, not more than an hour. Have you been here all that time?”
”Yes, I've been here for the last two hours. What part of your grounds was it? Would you like to have me go over there and look around?”
”No, thank you. You are very kind, but I am sure it won't be necessary.
He has gone by now, of course.”
”I should be glad to try.” Then, noticing her glance at his limp, he added: ”Oh, I can navigate after a fas.h.i.+on, well enough for a short cruise like that. But it is funny that, if there was a tramp there such a little while ago, I didn't run afoul of him. Why, I was over there myself.”
”You were?”
”Yes, you see, I----”
He stopped short. He had been about to tell of his short walk and how he had inadvertently trespa.s.sed within the Fair Harbor boundaries. But before he could speak the words a sudden and amazing thought flashed upon him.
”Eh?” he cried. ”Why--why, I wonder----”
His visitor was leaning forward. Judging by her expression, she, too, was experiencing a similar sensation of startled surmise.
”Why----” repeated the captain.
”Oh!” exclaimed the young woman.
”You don't suppose----”
”It couldn't possibly be that----”
”Wait a minute, please. Just a minute.” Sears held up his hand. ”Where did those folks of yours see this tramp? Were they in a--in a kind of roundhouse--summer-house, you might call it?”
”Why, yes. They were in the Eyrie.”
”That's it, the Eyrie. And is one of the--er--ladies rather tall and narrow in the beam, gray-haired, and speaks quick and--school-marmy?”
”Yes. That is Miss Elvira Snowden.”