Part 43 (1/2)

There was a touch of frost in the still air and the light was fading.

A yellow glow lingered in the southwest beyond Criffell's sloping shoulder, which ran up against it, tinged a deep violet. Ma.s.ses of soft, gray cloud floated above the mountain's summit; but the sky was clear overhead, and a thin new moon grew brighter in the east This was why the murmur of the sea came out of the distance in a m.u.f.fled roar, for the tides run fast when the moon is young.

Elsie, walking homeward, vacantly noticed how bright the crescent gleamed above the dusky firs, as she entered the gloom of a straggling wood at the foot of the hill on which Appleyard was built. She had been out all the afternoon and now she shrank from going home, for she felt that a shadow rested upon the house. d.i.c.k had returned from a cruise with Andrew, looking dejected and unwell; and she was glad that Whitney had taken both away again, on his motorcycle, because d.i.c.k had lately had fits of moody restlessness when he was at home. Still, she missed them badly, for her mother was silent and preoccupied; and when Andrew was away, she found it hard to banish the troubles that seemed to be gathering round. They were worse for being very vaguely defined, but she felt convinced that something sinister was going on.

As she thought of Andrew, her face grew gentle and she smiled. She knew his worth and his limitations, and loved him for both. He had his suspicions, too, and would follow where they led. Andrew was not the man to s.h.i.+rk a painful duty, but she could not openly help him yet.

That might come, and in the meanwhile she would at least put no obstacle in his way. Still, if her fears were justified, the situation was daunting and she might need all her courage.

As she neared the lodge, she saw a man loitering in the shadow.

”Are you waiting for somebody, Jock?” she asked.

Marshall, the fisherman, turned and looked at her thoughtfully.

”Weel,” he said, ”they telt me Mr. Andrew's no' at home.”

”Did you want to see him about the yacht?”

”It wasna' that, a'thegither.”

”No?”

”Ye see, I've missed him twice and I'm for Stranraer the morn. We're gaun west to try the herring fis.h.i.+ng.”

”And you wanted to tell Mr. Johnstone something before you left? Can I give him a message when he comes back?”

Marshall hesitated.

”Weel,” he said, ”ye can tell him that the _Nance_ cam' up the Firth the night before he started for Edinbro'; that's a while ago, ye mind.

Last night she cam' up again, wi' the same crew; the Edinbro' man I telt him o', anither wha keeps a trawl boat doon the Colvend sh.o.r.e, and yin who has a reid mustache.”

Elsie started, and then wondered whether she had betrayed her surprise.

”I'll try to remember. I suppose this is for Mr. Johnstone alone?”

”Just that,” said Marshall. ”I'm thinking it would be better that ye telt naebody else.”

He moved off, and Elsie, looking round a moment afterward, saw that he had vanished. It was nearly dark among the trees, but she knew that she could have seen him had he kept on the road; besides, his heavy, tacketed boots would have made some noise, and she had heard nothing.

Then she saw a figure coming from the lodge and her brain acted quickly, because she recognized Staffer.

Marshall had hinted it was important that his message should be kept secret; and fishermen had good sight. He must have noticed Staffer before she did, and did not want to be seen talking to her. Then she remembered that the night before Andrew started for Edinburgh was when Williamson and the man with the red mustache had entered the house.

The stranger had come up the Firth in one of the salmon boats shortly before his visit to Appleyard, and had been there again without her seeing him.

She felt a thrill that was half apprehension and half excitement as she went on slowly. The lodge was about a hundred yards away when she met Staffer.

”There's something I want to ask you,” he said. ”Have you any reason to doubt the honesty of our servants?”

Elsie saw at once where his question led, and tried to nerve herself.

He was a clever man and she was young and inexperienced.