Part 66 (1/2)
”Don't think of it, papa. See, I'm over the shock of it already.
Now don't you be hysterical as I was yesterday.”
He made a great effort to rally, but it was evident that the strong man was deeply agitated. They all, however, soon regained self-control and composure, and spent a genial half-hour together, Merwyn often going to the parlor, that he might scan the street.
After a brief discussion of plans for the morrow they separated for the night, Merwyn resuming his bivouac in the parlor. After listening for a time he was satisfied that even mobs must rest, and, as the soldiers slept on their arms, he slumbered, his rifle in hand.
When Marian bade her father good-night he took her face in his hands and gazed earnestly down upon it. The girl understood his expression, and the color came into her fair countenance like a June dawn.
”Do you remember, darling, my words when I said, 'I do not know how much it might cost you in the end to dismiss Mr. Merwyn finally'?”
”Yes, papa.”
”Are you not learning how much it might have cost you?”
”Yes, papa,” with drooping eyes.
He kissed her, and nothing more was said.
CHAPTER L.
ZEB.
MERWYN awoke early, and, as soon as he heard the German servant coming down-stairs, wrote a line to Mr. Vosburgh saying that he would call on his way to headquarters, and then hastened through the almost deserted streets to his own home. To his great satisfaction he found everything unchanged there. After luxuriating in a bath and a bountiful breakfast he again instructed his man to be on the watch, and to keep up a fire throughout the coming night, so that a hot meal might be had speedily at any time.
More than once the thought had crossed his mind: ”Unless we make greater headway with the riot, that attack on Mr. Vosburgh's house will be repeated. Vengeance alone would now prompt the act, and besides he is undoubtedly a marked man. There's no telling what may happen. Our best course is to fight, fight, knock the wretches on the head. With the quelling of the mob comes safety;” and, remembering the danger that threatened Marian, he was in a savage mood.
On this occasion, he went directly to Mr. Vosburgh's residence, resolving to take no risks out of the line of duty. His first thought now was the securing of Marian's safety. He had learned that there was no longer any special need for personal effort on his part to gain information, since the police authorities had wires stretching to almost every part of the city. An account of the risks taken to keep up this telegraphic communication would make a strange, thrilling chapter in itself. Moreover, police detectives were busy everywhere, and Mr. Vosburgh at headquarters and with the aid of his own agents could now obtain all the knowledge essential. Therefore the young fellow's plan was simple, and he indicated his course at once after a cordial greeting from Mr. Vosburgh and Marian.
”Hard fighting appears to me to be the way to safety,” said he. ”I can scarcely believe that the rioters will endure more than another day of such punishment as they received yesterday. Indeed, I should not be surprised if to-day was comparatively quiet.”
”I agree with you,” said Mr. Vosburgh, ”unless the signals I saw last night indicate a more general uprising than has yet taken place. The best elements of the city are arming and organizing.
There is a deep and terrible anger rising against the mob and all its abettors and sympathizers.”
”I know it,” cried Merwyn; ”I feel it myself. When I think of the danger which threatened your home and especially Miss Vosburgh, I feel an almost ungovernable desire to be at the wretches.”
”But that means greater peril for you,” faltered the young girl.
”No, it means the shortest road to safety for us all. A mob is like fire: it must be stamped out of existence as soon as possible.”
”I think Merwyn is right,” resumed Mr. Vosburgh. ”Another day of successful fighting will carry us to safety, for the general government is moving rapidly in our behalf, and our militia regiments are on their way home. I'll be ready to go to headquarters with you in a minute.”
”Oh, please do not be rash to-day. If you had fallen yesterday think what might have happened,” said Marian.
”Every blow I strike to-day, Miss Vosburgh, will be nerved by the thought that you have one enemy, one danger, the less; and I shall esteem it the greatest of privileges if I can remain here to-night again as one of your protectors.”