Part 22 (1/2)

CHAPTER X

INTO THE SWAMP

In spite of the fact that they received but lukewarm encouragement from Charity, both Holmes and Creighton lingered on in New Orleans. Mr.

Creighton made several attempts to get in touch with Jeems, whom he seemed to suspect of concealing vast literary treasures. And he spent one hot morning going through the trunk of papers which the Ralestones had found in the storage-room. Ricky commented upon the fact that being a publisher's scout was almost like being an antique buyer.

Holmes was a perfect foil for his laboring friend. He lounged away his days draped across the settee on Charity's gallery or sitting down on the bayou levee--after she had chased him away--pitching pebbles into the water. He told all of them that it was his vacation, the first one he had had in five years, and that he was going to make the most of it.

Companioned by Creighton, he usually enlarged the family circle in the evenings. And the tales he could tell about the far corners of the earth were as wildly romantic as Rupert's--though he did a.s.sure his listeners that even Tibet was very tame and well behaved nowadays.

Charity had finished the first ill.u.s.tration and had started another.

This time Ricky and Val appeared polished and combed as if they had just stepped out of a ball-room of a governor's palace--which they had, according to the story. It was during her second morning's work upon this that she threw down her brush with a snort of disgust.

”It's no use,” she told her models, ”I simply can't work on this now.

All I can see is that scene where the hero's mulatto half-brother watches the ball from the underbrush. I've got to do that one first.”

”Why don't you then?” Ricky stretched to relieve cramped muscles.

”I would if I could get Jeems. He's my model for the brother. He's enough like you, Val, for the resemblance, and his darker tan is just right for color. But he won't come back while Creighton's here. I could wring that man's neck!”

”But Creighton left for Milneburg this morning,” Val reminded her.

”Rupert told him about the old voodoo rites which used to be celebrated there on June 24th, St. John's Eve, and he wanted to see if there were any records--”

”Yes. But Jeems doesn't know he's gone. If we could only get in touch with him--Jeems, I mean.”

”Miss 'Chanda!”

Sam Two, as they had come to call Sam's eldest son and heir, was standing on the lowest step of the terrace, holding a small covered basket in his hands.

”Yes?”

”Letty-Lou done say dis am fo' yo'all, Miss 'Chanda.”

”For me?” Ricky looked at the offering in surprise. ”But what in the world--Bring it here, Sam.”

”Yas'm.”

He laid the basket in Ricky's outstretched hands.

”I've never seen anything like this before.” She turned it around. ”It seems to be woven of some awfully fine gra.s.s--”

”That's swamp work.” Charity was peering over Ricky's shoulder. ”Open it.”

Inside on a nest of raw wild cotton lay a bracelet of polished wood carved with an odd design of curling lines which reminded Val of Spanish moss. And with the circlet was a small purse of scaled hide.

”Swamp oak and baby alligator,” burst out Charity. ”Aren't they beauties?”

”But who--” began Ricky.