Part 36 (2/2)
”It isn't that.” Elsie hesitated. ”I imagine they want to make some use of you.”
d.i.c.k gave her a curious glance.
”I suppose you mean Williamson does?”
”No,” said Elsie, with a touch of color in her face; ”I mean both.”
”Ah!” d.i.c.k looked at her keenly for a moment. ”You're generally frank, Elsie; open as the suns.h.i.+ne, in fact; and I'm not clever at hiding what I think. Suppose you tell me what you really do mean?”
”I can't, d.i.c.k; but I want you to be careful in Edinburgh, for my sake.”
”Very well. I'll promise that; and I think I can manage not to let others see I've had a hint. It's a funny thing, but although I am a bit of a fool, I really have more sense than people imagine.”
Elsie was puzzled by his manner. The hardness in his tone was not like d.i.c.k; but she let the matter drop.
”Who is Rankine? Do you know him?” she asked.
”Yes; he's a friend of Whitney's people, a navy officer. Struck me as a remarkably good type.”
”Where is he now?”
”I don't know. Somewhere between here and Ireland, surveying for charts.”
”Perhaps Mr. Whitney will bring him to Appleyard when his s.h.i.+p's in port.”
”I'll ask him to, if you like. But I don't know you as a plotter.
What's the scheme?”
”I can't tell you,” Elsie answered with a careless smile. ”You'll have to trust me, d.i.c.k.”
”That's easy,” he said in a different tone. ”Anybody who knew you well would trust you with his life.”
Elsie gave him a quick, affectionate glance, and they went into the house.
CHAPTER XXII
STAFFER'S MESSENGER
d.i.c.k spent several exhilarating days in Edinburgh, although on the whole he conducted himself with a sobriety that surprised his companions, who were thus encouraged to leave him alone.
As they were getting breakfast on the morning they left Edinburgh, Staffer said to d.i.c.k:
”We must start back as soon as we can, but there's an adjustment to be made on the car that may keep me half an hour at the garage. I don't suppose you'll mind doing an errand for me in the meantime?”
”Certainly not,” said d.i.c.k.
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