Part 30 (1/2)
Kent hesitated. ”Why--why, yes, I suppose there are,” he admitted. ”But it seems mean to take advantage of you, you know. To leave you standing here and waiting while she and I----”
”That's all right. I'm better fitted for waiting than I am for anything else nowadays. Don't argue any more. She'll be here in a minute.”
”Well ... well. You're sure you don't mind, really?”
”Not a bit. And she'd rather ride with you, of course.”
”Oh, I wouldn't say that. Of course she did tell me she came with you because I--because we had that--that little row--and---- But she likes you, Cap'n. Honest, she does, a lot. By George, n.o.body could help liking you, you know.”
Sears' smile was gray, but his companion did not notice. He was too full of his own happiness.
”I'll run up and tell her,” he said. ”It's mighty good of you, Cap'n Kendrick. Sure you don't care? You _are_ a brick.”
He hastened up the stairs. Sears was left once more with the black wetness to look at. It looked blacker than ever.
Elizabeth, accompanied by George, came down soon afterward. She was still protesting.
”Really, I don't think this is right at all, Cap'n Kendrick,” she declared. ”Why should you wait here? If you insist upon George's going in the buggy, why don't you come too? I'm sure there will be room enough. Won't there, George?”
Kent said, ”Yes, of course,” but there might have been more enthusiasm in his tone. Sears spoke next.
”I can't go now,” he lied, calmly. ”I want to see Ase Tidditt and he's gone to see Cap'n Orrin's wife home. Won't be back for twenty minutes or so. No, no, you and George heave right ahead and go, and then send Judah and the Foam Flake back for me.”
So, after a few more protests on Elizabeth's part, it was settled in that way. She and her packages and bags were tucked in the buggy and George unhitched the placid Foam Flake. On his way he stopped to whisper in the captain's ear.
”Cap'n Kendrick,” he whispered, ”I shan't forget this. And, say, if ever I get into real trouble I'll know who to come to.”
The ”plash-plash” of the Foam Flake's hoofs and the squeak and grind of buggy wheels died away along the invisible main road. Captain Sears stared at the ropes of rain laced diagonally across the lighted window of the town hall.
After a time, a surprisingly short time, he heard the hoofs returning.
It seemed almost incredible that George could have driven to the Harbor, then to the Minot place, and started Judah on the return trip so soon.
It was not Judah. It was Mike, Judge Knowles' man, and he was driving Doctor Sheldon's horse attached to the doctor's chaise.
”Cap'n Kendrick,” he hailed, as the equipage splashed up to the platform, ”is that you there?”
”Yes, Mike. What's the matter?”
”I was just after goin' to the Minot place after ye and I met Cahoon and he tould me you was down here. Git in, git in; the doctor says you must come.”
”Come? Come where?”
”Home. To the judge's house. The ould man is dyin' and he wants to see you afore he goes. Ye'll have to hurry. The doctor says it's a matter of any time now.”
CHAPTER IX
Sears Kendrick never forgot that drive from the town hall. The pouring rain, the lurch and roll and bounce of the old chaise, the alternate thud and splash of the horse's hoofs, the black darkness--and the errand upon which he was going. Mike told him a little concerning the seizure.
Judge Knowles had been, so Emmeline Tidditt and the doctor thought, appreciably easier during the day.