Part 24 (1/2)

Miss Sartoris took the furnace and ran down to the lake, whence she presently returned empty-handed.

”Did you drown the creature?”

”Not exactly, but I gave an ancient fisherman whom I found there a quarter to commit the crime for me. I told him that it was something which we were tired of, and never wished to see again, and he promised me, in rather a mixed manner, that 'human hand should never find hide nor hair of it, nor human eye set foot on it again.'”

A general laugh followed this announcement. How should we know that the man's suspicions were excited by Miss Sartoris's anxiety to get rid of the object, and that instead of sinking it in the middle of ”the Bowl”

he wrapped it carefully in brown paper, and labeling it ”To be kept till called for,” hid it under the bank! ”Somebody will come for that object,” he said to himself; ”shouldn't wonder if it was wanted at court as circ.u.mstantial evidence of somethin' or 'nother.”

Another event occurred while we were resting at ”the Bowl.” Miss Sartoris remarked that a view which she had obtained as she returned from the lake was the most enchanting that she had seen on the trip.

”How I wish that I had time to sketch it!” she said.

”I will photograph it for you,” Mr. Stillman exclaimed, with alacrity, ”if you will kindly show me just where you would like to have the view taken.”

They walked back together, a turn in the road hiding them from our view.

We waited for them a long time, and at length father became impatient and drove on, leaving me to hold Mr. Stillman's horses. When they came back there was an expression on their faces which told everything. I should have known it even if Mr. Stillman had been able to keep the words back, but he was too happy to be silent. ”You were lamenting, this morning,” he said to me as he took the reins, ”that we had only two more days to journey together.”

”That is all,” I replied, ”unless Miss Sartoris and you have decided to make a longer trip.”

”Yes,” he replied, ”you have guessed it exactly: Miss Sartoris has just consented to journey on through life with me.”

I was surprised, and yet, when I came to think of it, I saw that I ought to have suspected it from the time they first met; and, all things considered, they were admirably suited to each other. So I could only rejoice in their happiness, though I wondered, a little selfishly, what Madame's would be without Miss Sartoris, and whether I should ever have a teacher whom I should love as well.

When we caught up with the other cart father asked whether he got a successful negative.

”No,” replied Mr. Stillman, ”I didn't get a very decided negative, and I confess I didn't want one.”

There was a look of blank astonishment on all their faces, and then a peal of laughter as his meaning dawned upon them. After the storm of congratulations and exclamations had ceased, Miss Sartoris suddenly exclaimed, ”You left your detective camera!”

”That is so,” Mr. Stillman replied, ”Shall we drive back after it?”

”Not unless you want to catch that shower,” father remarked, pointing to a threatening cloud.

”I'll get you ladies under shelter first, and then I really think I must look it up,” said Mr. Stillman. But before we reached Stockbridge we met a coaching-party conducted by a nattily dressed young man of slender build, who managed his spirited four-in-hand with considerable skill, and who reined them in as we approached, exclaiming, ”Stillman! by all that's odd!” Mr. Stillman introduced the gentleman as a Mr. Van Silver, an old friend from the city, and mutual explanations followed. He was now on his way to Lenox, and agreed to stop at the spot which Mr.

Stillman indicated, and if he could find the camera express it to Mr.

Stillman at Scup Harbor.

Very little more of interest to the reader occurred until we reached home. We followed the Housatonic for the greater part of our way, and when we had nearly reached its mouth, drove across to New Haven, from which port, having completed our round-trip, we took the steamer for home. Father found a letter from Mr. Armstrong in relation to the thieves taken in Montague, who were proved to be the criminals of Rickett's Court, whose retribution shall be related in the next chapter.

The little boys left in mother's care had conducted themselves in as exemplary a manner as could be expected, there having been no cases of really bad conduct, and only two slight accidents.

Miss Prillwitz took them under her wing and left with them for the Home, all looking happier, browner, and rounder for their stay in the country.

Winnie regretted that our scheme for filling the treasury of the Home had not been a success, since the aggregate of money made by peddling tinware and rockets, and by taking tintypes, did not meet the expenses of the trip. Mr. Stillman, however, insisted on presenting the inst.i.tution with a handsome check, ”as an inadequate thank-offering,” so he said, for the great blessing which had come to him in our journeying ”over the hills and far away.”

Miss Sartoris left almost immediately for her own home, and Mr. Stillman followed her soon after. Two express packages came to him before he left us. One was the bearskin, handsomely mounted, the other was preceded by a note from his friend Mr. Van Silver, which said that he had overtaken a venerable fisherman walking off with his camera, and that it required considerable persuasion of a ”sterling quality” to rescue it from him.

Mr. Stillman opened the package with grateful antic.i.p.ation, and found--the soldering furnace!

CHAPTER XV.