Part 34 (1/2)

”The poor young man. He's surely up against it!” she exclaimed. ”I like Jimmy. If I was a mountain clubman, I'd feel I'd got a call.”

Stannard said nothing and Laura was quiet. She was disturbed about Jimmy, but she knew her father. Besides, she thought Stevens curious. By and by she looked at Dillon, who began to talk about something else.

When dinner was over Mrs. Dillon joined another lady and Stannard went off. Laura and Dillon remained at the table and Stevens saw they did not want his society. He went away and Laura asked: ”Do you think Jimmy can escape?”

”If he stops at his hut, I expect the police will get him,” Dillon replied.

Laura frowned and looked about. The table was decorated by flowers from the coast, and the electric light was reflected by good china and gla.s.s.

In the background were polished hardwood panels and carved pillars. The s.p.a.cious room was warm; all struck a note of luxurious refinement, but Laura thought about Jimmy, cut off from his supplies, in the snow.

Had Jimmy gone back to Lancas.h.i.+re, she admitted she might have married him. He had refused and for a time his obstinacy had hurt, but she was not revengeful and, since she had rather weighed his advantages than loved him, she could let it go. She liked Jimmy and was moved by a gentle sentimental tenderness.

”Are you willing to help Jimmy, Frank?” she asked.

”Why, of course! I thought you knew I mean to help,” Dillon declared.

”Perhaps I was jealous about Jimmy, but now I'm sorry for him. All the same, your father puzzles me. He's not keen.”

”I expect he knows the risk,” said Laura thoughtfully, for Stannard's hesitation was obvious. ”Since he must lead the party, he feels he ought not to be rash. Then if Jimmy got away across the mountains, I expect the police would make you all accountable.”

”Oh, well, the job is awkward, although I expect we could put it over.

Suppose we look for Mr. Stannard?”

Stannard was in the rotunda, and when Laura and Dillon advanced he smiled.

”You are young and romantic, but I am not. When one gets old one uses caution.”

”I doubt if I am romantic, but I think Mrs. Dillon did not exaggerate,”

Laura rejoined. ”Jimmy is our friend and trusts us. His note is a call.”

”Sometimes deafness is not a drawback. I own I'd sooner not hear the call.”

”But you mean to go?”

”It looks as if I might be forced. Frank's resolve is rather obvious,”

said Stannard with a resigned shrug.

Dillon gave him a keen glance. Somehow he felt Stannard did mean to go, but wanted to be forced. Frank thought it strange.

”I feel we ought to help, and now Deering is not about, n.o.body but you can lead us.”

For a few moments Stannard was quiet. Then he said, ”Very well, but if we are going, we must start soon. We want packers to carry food and a tent as far as possible, and I'd like a good mountaineer to help on the rocks. The hotel guides are gone, but I expect the clerk knows where to find them.”

”Grant lives at Calgary.”

”I think the fellow I want's at Revelstoke and he could get the train that arrives in the morning,” said Stannard, and pulled out his watch.

”We can send a night-letter and needn't use economy. I'll telephone the station agent and give him the message.”

Frank knew Grant of Calgary was a good mountaineer, but he said nothing and Stannard gave Laura a smile.