The Man Who Fell Through the Earth Page 7

  CHAPTER VII Hudson's Errand

  For a day or two I moped around, decidedly out of sorts. I didn't feelsufficiently acquainted with Miss Raynor to call on her,--though she hadonce asked me to do so,--but I greatly longed to find out if the policehad yet acquainted her with their suspicions. I thought perhaps they werewaiting for further proofs, or it might be, waiting until after thefuneral of Mr. Gately. There had been, so far, nothing in the papersimplicating Olive, and I hoped against hope there would not be. But Ifelt sure she was being closely watched, and I didn't know what newevidence might be cooking up against her.

  The funeral of the great capitalist was on Saturday evening.

  I attended, and this being my first visit to the house, I was allunprepared for the wealth of art treasures it held.

  I sat in the great salon, lost in admiration of the pictures and bronzes,as well as the beautiful architecture and mural decorations.

  A throng of people attended the services and the oppressive fragrance ofmassed flowers and the continuous click of folding-chairs, combined withthe whispers and subdued rustling of the audience, produced thatunmistakable funeral atmosphere so trying to sensitive nerves.

  Then, a single clear, sweet soprano voice, raised in a solemn anthem,broke the tension, and soon the brief obsequies were over, and I foundmyself moving along with the crush of people slowly surging toward thedoor.

  I walked home, the clear, frosty air feeling grateful after the crowdedrooms.

  And I wondered. Wondered what would be the next scene in the awful drama.Would they accuse Miss Raynor,--lovely Olive Raynor, of the crime? Howcould they? That delicate, high-bred girl!

  And yet, she was independent of thought and fearless of action.

  Though I knew her but slightly, I had heard more or less about her, and Ihad learned she was by no means of a yielding or easily swayeddisposition. She deeply resented her guardian's tyrannical treatment ofher and had not infrequently told him so. While they were not outwardlyat odds, they were uncongenial natures, and of widely divergent tastes.

  Olive, as is natural for a young girl, wanted guests and gayety. Mr.Gately, a thoroughly selfish man, preferred quiet and freedom fromcompany. Her insistence met with refusal and the results were oftendistressing to both of them. In fact, Miss Raynor had threatened to leaveher guardian's home and live by herself, but this by no means suited hisconvenience. The comfort of his home and the proper administration of hishousehold depended largely on Olive's capable and efficient management,and without her presence and care he would miss many pleasant details ofhis daily existence. He rarely allowed her to go away on a visit, andalmost never permitted her to have a friend to stay with her.

  I learned of these intimate matters from Norah,--who, in turn, had themfrom Jenny.

  Jenny had not been with Mr. Gately long, but she had managed to pick upbits of information regarding his home life with surprising quickness,and when quizzed by the police had told all she knew,--and, Isuspected,--_more_ than she knew,--about Miss Raynor.

  Now, I don't suppose the police went so far as to assume that OliveRaynor had killed Mr. Gately because he would not indulge her wishes, butthey seemed to think they really had grounds for suspecting.

  I was in despair. On Sunday, I could think of nothing but the matter andI wondered if it would be too presumptuous of me to offer Miss Raynor myhelp or advice. Doubtless she had hordes of advisers, but she might needsuch a legal friend as I could be to her.

  On the impulse, I telephoned and asked if she cared to see me. To mydelighted surprise she welcomed the suggestion and begged me to call thatafternoon, as she had real need of legal advice.

  And so four o'clock found me again at the house of the late president ofthe Trust Company.

  This time I was shown to a small reception room, where Olive soonappeared.

  "It's this way, Mr. Brice," she said after a few moments' conversation."I don't like Mr. Pond,--he's Uncle's lawyer,--I just can't bear theman!"

  "For any definite reason, Miss Raynor?" I asked.

  "N--no,--well, that is--oh, he's a horrid old thing, and he wants tomarry me!"

  "Are you quite sure you want to confide these personal matters to me?" Ifelt I ought to say this, for the girl was nervously excited, and I wasby no means sure she would not later regret her outspokenness.

  "Yes, I do. I want a lawyer, Mr. Brice, and I will not have Mr. Pond. SoI ask you here and now to take my affairs in charge, look after myfinancial matters, and advise me in many ways when I need your help. Youmay suppose I have many friends,"--the big brown eyes were patheticallyimploring, "but I haven't. Uncle Amos,--of course, you know he was not myuncle, but I called him that,--would not allow me to make many friendsand his own acquaintances are all elderly people and he hadn't very manyof those. My money is in my own right. Mr. Gately was punctilious in hiscare of my accounts,--and I want it all taken out of the hands of Mr.Pond and transferred to your care. This can be done, of course."

  Olive looked imperious and seemed to think the matter all settled.

  "Doubtless it can be arranged, Miss Raynor; I will consider it."

  "Don't consider,--just say yes! If you don't I must hunt up anotherlawyer, and--I'd rather have you."

  I wasn't proof against her pretty, dictatorial ways, and I agreed to takethe steps she desired.

  She went on to tell me how she was placed:

  Not only in possession of a considerable fortune of her own, AmosGately's will left her a goodly additional sum, and also the house inwhich they had lived.

  "So you see," Olive said, "I shall continue to live here,--for thepresent. I have Mrs. Vail now with me,--as a duenna, for propriety'ssake. She is a dear old lady, and is of a pliable, manageable sort. Ichose her for that reason, largely. Also, she is pleasant and cheerful,and I like to have her about. I was fond of Uncle Amos, Mr. Brice, but wehad many dissensions. If he had allowed me a little more freedom, I couldhave got along with him beautifully,--but he treated me as a child. Yousee, he took me to live with him when I _was_ a child, and he neverrealized that I had grown up and had an individuality and a will of myown. I am twenty-two years old, and he acted as if I were twelve!"

  "And now, absolutely your own mistress?"

  "Yes; doesn't it seem strange? And it is _all_ so strange! This house,without him, is like a different house. And the dreadfulness of hisdeath! Sometimes I think I can't stay here,--I must get into othersurroundings. But the thought of moving out of here is too much for me,at present, anyway. Oh, I don't know _what_ to do! I can't realize thathe is gone!"

  Olive did not cry. She sat, dry-eyed and tearless, looking sopathetically lonely and so unable to cope with her new responsibilities,that I gladly promised her all possible assistance that I could give,both in legal matters and in any personal or friendly ways.

  "Don't think me helpless," she said, reading my thoughts; "I shall riseto the situation, I shall adapt myself to my changed circumstances, butit will take a little time, of course."

  "Yes, indeed," I agreed, "and don't attempt to do too much at first. Takeplenty of time to rest and to let yourself react from the shock and theawful scenes you have been through."

  It was clear to me that the girl had no thought that she was suspected,or that the police were watching her. I wondered whether it would bekinder to give her a hint of this or to leave her in ignorance, when justthen a servant entered, saying Mr. Hudson wished an interview with MissRaynor.

  Hudson! Foxy Jim Hudson! Of course, this could mean but one thing.

  "Let me stay!" I said, impulsively, and, "Oh, do!" she returned, and inanother minute Hudson came in.

  There was something about the man's manner that I couldn't help likingand if Olive had to be questioned I felt sure he would do it as gently asanybody could.

  Though uncultured, his voice was kindly, and as he put some preliminaryquestions Olive answered straightforwardly and without objection.

  But when he
asked her where she had been on the afternoon of Mr. Gately'sdeath, she looked at him haughtily, and said:

  "I told all that to the man who questioned me downtown,--that Mr.Martin."

  "Did you tell him the truth, Miss Raynor?"

  "Sir?"

  Into the one word, Olive put a world of scornful pride, but I could notealso a look of fear in her eyes.

  "Now, let me give you a bit of friendly advice," Hudson said, "you're avery young lady, and you prob'ly think you can tell a little whitefalsehood and get away with it, but you can't do it to the police. Yousee, miss, we know where you were on Wednesday afternoon, and you may aswell be frank about it."

  "Very well, then, where was I?"

  "At the house of Mrs. Russell,--the sister of Mr. Manning."

  Olive looked at him in amazement. Then her manner changed.

  "Since you know," she said, "I may as well own up. I _was_ at Mrs.Russell's. What of it?"

  "Only that if you prevaricated in one instance, Miss Raynor, you may havedone so in others. Will you tell me why you said you were at the house ofyour friend, Miss Clark?"

  "Of course I will. My guardian was unwilling to have me go to Mrs.Russell's house, because of a personal matter. Therefore, when I wishedto go there I sometimes told him that I was going to Miss Clark's. Thissmall falsehood I considered justifiable, because Mr. Gately had no rightto say where I should go and where not! If I was untruthful it wasbecause his unjust rules and regulations made me so! I am not astory-teller, ordinarily. If I was forced to be one, in order to enjoysome simple pleasures or diversions, it is no one's business but my own."

  "That's true, Hudson," I interposed, "why constitute yourself MissRaynor's Sunday-School teacher?"

  "Sorry I am to do so," and the good-natured face showed real regret; "butI've orders. Now, Miss Raynor, I must put you a few straight questions.Where's Mr. Amory Manning?"

  "I don't know! I only wish I did!"

  "Now, now, that won't do! I guess you can think up some hint of hiswhereabouts for me. You can't deceive us, you know."

  "Nor do I want to!" Olive's eyes blazed. "Because I found it necessary toevade my guardian's espionage now and then you needn't think I am unableto tell the truth! I have no idea where Mr. Manning is, and I amexceedingly anxious lest some harm has befallen him. If you can find himyou will be doing me a great favor."

  "Are you engaged to him, Miss Raynor?"

  "No, I am not, though I do not concede your right to ask that question.Mr. Manning and I are good friends, that is all."

  "Mr. Gately did not approve of his attentions to you?"

  "He did not, and that was why I refrained from telling of occasions whenI saw or might see Mr. Manning at his sister's house. If that is ofinterest to you, I've no objections to your knowing it."

  "Can you fire a pistol, Miss Raynor?"

  I perceived it was Hudson's method to take her by surprise, and so,perhaps, learn something from an answer given off her guard.

  "Yes," she replied, promptly, "I am a good shot; why?"

  Her wondering eyes were fearless, now, and to me it seemed a proof of herentire innocence that she showed no embarrassment at this inquiry.

  But Hudson evidently thought differently. He looked accusingly at her,and continued, "Do you own a pistol?"

  "Yes; Mr. Gately gave me one a few years ago."

  "Where is it?"

  "Down at our country-place, on Long Island. I am afraid of burglarsthere, but not nearly so much so in the city."

  "H'm. Now, Miss Raynor, you are the last one known to have seen AmosGately alive."

  "Why, Mr. Brice saw the shooting!"

  "Only in shadow. I mean you are the last one known to have talked withhim in his office. Was your interview--er,--amicable?"

  "Entirely so. I went there for some money, as I occasionally did. Myguardian gave me a check and I cashed it at the Trust Company Bank."

  "Yes, we know that; and that the check was given to you, and was latercashed, all at about the time Mr. Gately was killed."

  "Earlier Mr. Hudson. I was in the bank about half-past two."

  "No, Miss Raynor. We have the teller's statement that you were thereabout three o'clock."

  "He is mistaken," Olive's voice was confident, and had in it a ring ofindignation, "by three o'clock, or very little after, I was at Mrs.Russell's."

  "Was Mr. Manning there?"

  "No; he expected to come later, after he had attended to some business."

  "What was the business?"

  "I do not know, but it must have been somewhere in the vicinity of thePuritan Building, for he was near there when I arrived."

  "At what time was that?"

  "I don't know exactly, perhaps half-past three or a little later. I hadbeen at Mrs. Russell's but a few moments when Mr. Talcott telephoned methere."

  "How did he know you were there?"

  "He called up Miss Clark first, and she told him."

  "Your friends, then, aided and abetted you in deceiving your guardian?"

  "I resent the way you put that, Mr. Hudson," Olive looked at himhaughtily, "but I answer, yes. My friends agreed with me that Mr. Gatelywas unreasonable in his commands and that I was not bound to obey them."

  "But you are now freed from his injustice."

  "That is a brutal speech and unworthy of any man! My freedom is toodearly purchased at such a fearful price!"

  "Are you _sure_ you think so?"

  "What are you implying, Mr. Hudson? Speak out! Do you think I killed myguardian?"

  "There are people that do think that, Miss Raynor."

  "Leave this house!" cried Olive, rising. "Such words can not be spokenhere!"

  "Now, now, miss, dramatics won't get you anywheres! There is evidenceagainst you, or so the police think, and it's up to me to tell you thatwe must ask you not to go out of town without acquainting us of the fact.We do not accuse you, but we do want you where we can communicate withyou at will. I am going now Miss Raynor. I came only to make sure on afew points,--which I have done,--and to tell you to remain within call.Indeed, I may as well tell you that any attempt to get away will befrustrated."

  "You mean I am under surveillance!"

  "That's about it, miss."

  Olive looked at him as one might regard a worm of the dust.

  "Go!" she said, quietly but forcefully. "I shall not leave town, I shallprobably not leave this house. Your suspicion is beneath contempt.However, it has taught me one thing,--I shall engage someoneelse--someone quite outside the stupid police, to discover the murdererof my uncle! And also to trace my friend, Mr. Manning."

  Hudson smiled. He looked at Olive almost tolerantly, as if she were awilful child.

  "All right. Miss Raynor. I'll take your word as to your staying here, andI rather guess the police force will yet round up the murderer and willalso discover the hiding-place of Amory Manning. Good day."

  Hudson went away, and Olive turned to me in a passion of rage.

  "What insolence!" she exclaimed. "Are such things permitted? To come hereand practically accuse me of my uncle's murder!"

  "He wasn't your uncle, you know."

  "That doesn't matter. I loved him as I would a relative. His sternnessand his unreasonable commands were distasteful to me, but that didn'talter my real love and affection for the man. He has been everything tome for the greater part of my life. He has been kindness itself in mostmatters. He indulged me in all possible ways as to creature comforts andluxuries. He never criticized the ways in which I spent my money, or inwhich I entertained myself, save in the matter of having guests or makingvisits."

  "And allowing admirers?"

  "There were some men he approved of,--you may as well know, Mr. Brice, myguardian wished me to marry his friend and lawyer, Mr. Pond."

  "Why, when that gentleman is so greatly your senior?"

  "Merely because Uncle was so fond of him. And, too, Uncle never seemed torealize that I was of a different generation from himself. He couldn'tunderstan
d,--he really couldn't--why I wanted young company and gayparties. _He_ didn't, and he really assumed that _I_ didn't. I think henever realized how greatly he was depriving me when he forbade mesociety."

  "Did it really amount to that?"

  "Practically. Or, if I succeeded in persuading him to let me have a houseguest or a small party, he made things so unpleasant that I was glad whenthey were gone."

  "Unpleasant, how?"

  "Oh, fussing around, as if his comfort were interfered with,--as if hewere terribly incommoded by their presence, and by demanding my time andattention for himself, instead of allowing me to entertain my guestsproperly."

  "Doubtless so you wouldn't do it again."

  "Yes, of course. But all that was uncomfortable for me,--almostunbearable,--yet one doesn't kill one's people for such things."

  To me this simple statement of Olive Raynor's was more convincing than astorm of denial. She had stormed, with indignation, at the hint ofsuspicion, but her quiet, dignified refutation went far to assure me ofher entire innocence.

  "Of course, one doesn't," I agreed, "and now to find out who did do it.Have you any suspicion,--Miss Raynor, even the slightest?"

  "No; except that it seems to me it must have been some man who knew Unclein a business way. Though a generous and charitable man, Amos Gately wasscrupulously just, and if he had enemies, they were men whom he haddiscovered in some wrong-doing and he had exposed or punished them. Noman had a cause for righteous enmity against him,--of that I'm sure!"