Part 24 (2/2)
”Yes,” the man answered. ”He's in town the noo.”
”Did Mr. Staffer bring him in his car?”
”She's no' in the yard, and Mr. Williamson's for Castle Douglas.” The man indicated the motorcycle on which he was working. ”I'm tightening her up for the run; no' that she needs it much. Mr. Williamson kens a good machine and always asks for her.”
”Is there anything doing at Castle Douglas to-day?”
”No' that I've heard of. He's for the moors, I'm thinking. There's a gun-case to be strapped on the carrier; but if ye're wanting to see him ye must leave word at the office. I'll be away at another job before he comes in.”
”It doesn't matter; we may meet him,” Whitney answered carelessly; and he and Andrew strolled away.
”Well,” he said, ”we have learned something! It seems Williamson's in the habit of hiring a motorcycle here. Has he any friends in Galloway who might give him some shooting?”
”None that I know of,” Andrew replied with a puzzled look.
”I guess you noted that he makes a curious choice of a machine. She's good--I know that make--but I can't see why he picks a single-cylinder lightweight when they've several full-powered machines on the stand.
Looks as if he expected he'd have to wheel her. What's the Castle Douglas road like?”
”It's the highway to the west, and we keep our main roads in good order.”
”You certainly do,” Whitney agreed. ”But I stick to my opinion that he has some particular reason for choosing a light machine.” He hesitated a moment. ”I don't want to b.u.t.t in, and as the fellow's a family friend, it's delicate ground; but if you feel you'd like a run through Galloway--”
”Perhaps we'd better go; but we'll see first what Mackellar has to say.”
They walked down to the bridge foot, to pa.s.s the time; and in the meanwhile Mackellar received Williamson.
”You wished to see me?” he said.
Williamson took out the bills and the lawyer's letters and put them on Mackellar's desk.
”I wonder whether you know anything about these?”
”I know the gentleman who seems to have charge of the matter. Why do you ask?”
”Because I prefer to deal with the princ.i.p.al instead of an agent. It saves time, and one arrives at an understanding easier.”
”In this case there's no great difficulty. Ye have only to pay the bills.”
”Precisely,” agreed Williamson. ”They can be paid--that's worth noting--but not just yet.”
Mackellar understood this as a hint that the power Williamson's debts gave his antagonist was only temporary.
”In the meantime, ye might be put to some inconvenience,” he replied.
”One cannot proceed against a man for debt without publicity, which is apt to be damaging, and unpleasant to his friends.”
”Exactly. That is what I want to avoid.”
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