Part 28 (1/2)

”She said he was about the size of Thomas, that he came from your direction, that he ran when our dogs barked, but he kept beside the fences, and climbed over where there were trees. He crossed our barnyard and went toward the northwest. Mother saw him distinctly as he reached the road, and she said he was not a large man, he stooped when he ran, and she thought he moved like a slinking, city thief. She is sure he's the man who took your money; she says he acted exactly as if he were trying to escape pursuit; but I was to be SURE to tell you that he didn't carry a gun. If your gun is gone, there must have been two, and the other man took that and went a different way. Did two men stop here?”

”No,” said father. ”Only one.”

The Princess looked at him thoughtfully.

”Do you think, Mr. Stanton,” she said, ”that the man who took the money would burden himself with a gun? Isn't a rifle heavy for one in flight to carry?”

”It is,” said father. ”Your mother saw nothing of two men?”

”Only one, and she knows he didn't carry a gun. Except the man you took in, no stranger has been noticed around here lately?”

”No one. We are quite careful. Even the gun was not loaded as it stood; whoever took it carried the ammunition also, but he couldn't fire until he loaded.”

Father turned to the corner where the gun always stood and then he stooped and picked up two little white squares from the floor.

They were bits of unbleached muslin in which he wrapped the bullets he made.

”The rifle was loaded before starting, and in a hurry,” he said, as he held up the squares of muslin. Then he scratched a match, bent, and ran it back and forth over the floor, and at one place there was a flash, and the flame went around in funny little fizzes as it caught a grain of powder here and there. ”You see the measure was overrun.”

”Wouldn't the man naturally think the gun was loaded, and take it as it stood?”

”That would be a reasonable conclusion,” said father.

”But he looked!” I cried. ”That first night when you and the boys went to the barn, and the girls were getting supper, he looked at the gun, and he LIKED it when he saw it wasn't loaded. He smiled. And he didn't limp a mite when I was the only one in the room. He and Leon knew it wasn't loaded, and I guess he didn't load it, for he liked having it empty so well.”

”Ummmm!” said father. ”What it would save in this world if a child only knew when to talk and when to keep still. Little Sister, the next time you see a stranger examine my gun when I'm not in the room, suppose you take father out alone and whisper to him about it.”

”Yes, sir,” I said.

The way I wished I had told that at the right time made me dizzy, but then there were several good switchings I'd had for telling things, besides what Sally did to me about her and Peter. I would have enjoyed knowing how one could be sure. Hereafter, it will be all right about the gun, anyway.

”Could I take my horse and carry a message anywhere for you? Are both your sons riding to tell the neighbours?”

Father hesitated, but it seemed as if he stopped to think, so I just told her: ”Laddie is riding. Leon didn't take a horse.”

Father said there was nothing she could do, so she took my hand and we started for the gate.

”I do hope they will find him, and get back the money, and give him what he deserves!” she cried.

”Yes, father and mother are praying that they'll find him,” I said.

”It doesn't seem to make the least difference to them about the money.

Father didn't even look at a big paper piece I found where it was hidden. But they are anxious about the man. Mother says he is so young, we just must find him, and keep this a secret, and give him another chance. You won't tell, will you?”

The Princess stood still on our walk, and then of all things! if she didn't begin to go Sabethany-like. The colour left her cheeks and lips and she s.h.i.+vered and shook and never said one word. I caught her arm.

”Say, what ails you?” I cried. ”You haven't gone and got heart trouble too, have you?”

She stood there trembling, and then, wheeling suddenly, ran back into the house, and went to my mother. On her knees, the Princess buried her face in mother's breast and said: ”Oh Mrs. Stanton! Oh, if I only could help you!”

She began to cry as if something inside her had broken, and she'd shake to pieces.