Part 15 (2/2)
”But I don't understand--”
”That's what I came to tell you about, Jimmie boy! Now just keep quiet and listen!”
Thereupon Amy went on to relate all that had happened when she sought out the fisherman at the trout brook--how she had been cared for by him and s.h.a.g after her faint, and how, after some persuasion, the great detective had agreed to take up the matter of seeking out the real murderer of Mrs. Darcy.
”He came here under a different name,” Amy continued, ”for he did not want to be bothered with work. But Tom--he's the little jockey dad got a place for as train-boy--met him on the express and learned that the colonel was the great detective. Then Tom came and told me when he read of your--of your--”
”Oh, say _arrest_, Amy! I'm getting hardened to it by now.”
”Well, then, your--arrest. I hate the word! Tom came and told me and said we must get Colonel Brentnall at once. That was the name he used, but, now he has consented to take your case, he's Colonel Ashley again.”
”And what am I to do, Amy?”
”Just what he tells you--nothing more or less. Tell him everything from the beginning to the end. All about your quarrel with Mrs.
Darcy--I read in the papers you had one. Was that so?”
”Yes, and, I am sorry to say, it was partly about you.”
”I don't mind, Jimmie boy. I know it couldn't have been very bad.”
”It wasn't. She--well, she sneered at you for thinking of marrying me--a poor man--and--”
”As if money counted, Jimmie boy!” cried the girl fondly.
”I know. But it angered me, I admit. However, nothing more came of that. And as for her finding fault with me about my electric lathe, and about the money she owed me--well, that was a sort of periodic disagreement.”
”Tell the colonel all about it.”
”I will. And are you sure your father--”
”Dad's with me in this--with me and you! He'd have come to see you himself to-day, but I said I wanted to see you first. He'll be along soon. So you see, Jimmie boy, things aren't so bad as they seem, though I hate it that you should be in this horrible place.”
”It is horrible, Amy. But now that I know you--you haven't given me up--”
”Don't _dare_ say such a thing, Jimmie boy!” and the girl's eyes sparkled with a new light.
”Well, it won't be so horrible from now on. And is the colonel really going to take my case?”
”Really and truly! I told him he _had_ to if he wanted to fish in dad's trout stream,” and she laughed--a strange sound in that gloomy place.
Then they talked about many things. James Darcy had read much of Colonel Ashley's achievements in detective work, and the very magic of the name was enough to give a prisoner courage.
Soon it was time to leave, after Kenneth had conferred briefly with his client. The prisoner went back to his little cell with a happier look on his face than when he had left it.
As for Colonel Ashley, after he had revived Amy from her faint at the stream, he had told s.h.a.g to take apart the fis.h.i.+ng rod.
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