Part 8 (2/2)
Mrs. Yocomb glanced at her daughter reprovingly, but Miss Warren's eyes were dancing, and I saw she was enjoying my rather blank look immensely.
T decided, however, that honesty and audacity would be my best allies, and at the same time I hoped to punish Adah a little through her curiosity.
”I must admit that it is a dreadful business. Deeds of darkness occupy much of my time; and when good, honest men, like your father, are asleep, my brain, and hand are busiest. Now you see what a suspicious character your father and mother have harbored in their unquestioning hospitality.”
The young lady looked at me with a thoroughly perplexed and half alarmed expression.
”My gracious!” she exclaimed. ”What do you do?”
”You do not look as if 'inclined to mercy,'” I replied. ”Mr. Yocomb and Miss Warren believe in the terrors of the law, so I have decided to make a full confession to Mrs. Yocomb after supper. I think that I am one of the 'transgressors' that she could 'coax.'”
After a momentary and puzzled glance at my laughing critic, Mrs. Yocomb said:
”Emily Warren knows thy secret.”
”So you have told Emily Warren, but will not tell us,” Adah complained, in a piqued tone and manner.
”Indeed, you are mistaken. Miss Warren found me out by intuition. I am learning that there is no occasion to tell her things: she sees them.”
Mr. Yocomb's face wore a decidedly puzzled look, and contained also the suggestion of an apt guess.
”Well,” he said, ”thee has shown the shrewdness of an editor, and a Yankee one at that.”
Miss Warren now laughed outright.
”Thee thinks,” he continued, ”that if thee gets mother on thy side thee's safe. I guess I'll adopt a common editorial policy, and sit safely on the fence till I hear what mother says to thy confession.”
”Are you laughing at me?” I asked Miss Warren, with an injured air.
”To think that one of your calling should have got into such a dilemma!” she said, in a low tone. ”It's delicious!”
”My cheeks may become bronzed, but never brazen, Miss Warren. My guilelessness should touch your sympathies.”
”Well,” said Adah, with rather a spiteful look at Miss Warren, ”I'm glad I've not got a prying disposition. I talked with you half the afternoon and did not find you out.”
Even Mrs. Yocomb laughed at this.
”Now, Miss Warren,” I said, turning to her with a triumphant look, ”I hope you feel properly quenched.”
”Is there any record of your crime, or misfortune, or whatever it may be, in Miss Warren's newspaper?” asked Silas Jones, with a slight sneer.
”Yes, sir, of both, if the truth must be told,” I replied. ”That is the way she found me out.”
This unexpected admission increased the perplexity all around, and also added to Miss Warren's merriment.
”Where is the paper?” said Adah, quickly.
At this peculiar proof of his daughter's indifference Mr. Yocomb fairly exploded with laughter. He seemingly shared his wife's confidence in Miss Warren to that degree that the young lady's knowledge of my business, combined with her manner, was a guarantee against anything seriously wrong. Moreover, the young girl's laugh was singularly contagious. Its spontaneity and heartiness were irresistible, and I feared that her singing would not be half so musical.
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