Part 19 (1/2)

”But take care, John. Go further round by the path.”

Both boys ran along the bluff until they came to a path that led down to the river. ”Do be careful, boys!” called Mary.

”Now, let me see that again, my dear,” and Mary untied the handkerchief.

”Yes, it is what I thought. That belonged to Larry Kildene. He got it in India, although he said it was Chinese. He was a year in the British service in India. I've often examined it. I should have known it anywhere. He must have left it with Hester for the boy.”

”Poor Larry! And it has come to this. I remember it on Richard's chain when he came out there to meet us in the grove. Bertrand, what shall we do? They must have been here--and have quarreled--and what has happened! I'm going back to ask Betty.”

”Ask Betty! My dear! What can Betty know about it?”

”Something upset her terribly yesterday morning. She was ill and with no cause that I could see, and I believe she had had a nervous shock.”

”But she seemed all right this morning,--a little pale, but otherwise quite herself.” Bertrand turned the little charm over in his hand.

”He thought it was Chinese because it is jade, but this carving is Egyptian. I don't think it is jade, and I don't think it is Chinese.”

”But whatever it is, it was on Richard's chain Sat.u.r.day,” said Mary, sadly. ”And now, what can we do? On second thought I'll say nothing to Betty. If a tragedy has come upon the Craigmiles, it will also fall on her now, and we must spare her all of it we can, until we know.”

A call came to them from below, and Bertrand hastily handed the charm back to his wife, and she tied it again in her handkerchief.

”Oh, Bertrand, don't go near that terrible brink. It might give way.

I'm sure this has been an accident.”

”But the stick, Mary, and the marks of blood on Peter Junior's hat.

I'm afraid--afraid.”

”But they were always fond of each other. They have been like brothers.”

”And quarrels between brothers are often the bitterest.”

”But we have never heard of their quarreling, and they were so glad to see each other Sat.u.r.day. And you know Peter Junior was always possessed to do whatever Richard planned. They were that way about enlisting, you remember, and everything else. What cause could Richard have against Peter Junior?”

”We can't say it was Richard against Peter. You see the stick was b.l.o.o.d.y, and it was Peter's. We must offer no opinion, no matter what we think, for the world may turn against the wrong one, and only time will tell.”

They both were silent as the boys came panting up the bank. ”Here's a handkerchief. It was what I saw. It was caught on a thorn bush, and here--here's Peter Junior's little notebook, with his name--”

”This is Peter's handkerchief. P. C. J. Hester Craigmile embroidered those letters.” Mary's eyes filled with tears. ”Bertrand, we must go to her. She may hear in some terrible way.”

”And the book, where was that, John?”

”It was lying on that flat rock. John had to crawl along the ledge on his belly to get it; and here, I found this lead pencil,” cried Charlie, excited and important.

”'Faber No. 2.' Yes, this was also Peter's.” Bertrand shut it in the notebook. ”Mary, this looks sinister. We'd better go down. There's nothing more to learn here.”

”Maybe we'll find the young men both safely at home.”

”Richard was to leave early this morning.”

”I remember.”