^^'S^^WSVv \^&^&w~Jj&*& f * x'^ri-.-/^-,^**^ " ^" .i Lap n. " Meester McGlory, she haf geef us orders, ya-as ? " " What's that got to do with it ? " But the two Swedes shook their heads. They were slow of body and mind ; the idea of rowing off without the mate was too daring. " You won't do it, then ? " They looked at each other. "All right," said Harper, pulling off his coat, "all right. Have it your way. But I'm goin' back, an' I'm goin' now." He tossed his coat into the boat, pulled off his boots and threw them after, let himself down into the water, waded a few steps, and struck out for the schooner. It was but a little way. He swam around to the stern, and drew himself up by the boat tackle, which had been left hanging down close to the water. Rushing down into the cabin, where a single lantern burned dimly, he bent over the Captain, who lay dressed in his bunk, and shook him. " Wake up, Cap'n, wake up ! " " Lemme be, will you ? " " Wake up ! It's me Harper." BURNT COVE 127 " I don't care if it is. You needn't drown me." " But, Cap'n ! " "Well, what's the row?" Slowly Dick raised his head and looked around. " Good Lord ! What time is it ? " "Twelve o'clock." "Twelve o'clock what I " " Midnight." " Midnight your gran'rna ! " " But it is. Mr. McGlory, he " " Just let go o' me, will you ? Go over there and drip on the steps." Dick was slowly swinging his feet around and sitting up. "You've soaked my bedding now. What's the matter with you anyhow ? Been trying to swim home ? " " No, Cap'n, but Ole says we're up at " " See here, why haven't I been waked up ? " " Mr. McGlory wouldn't let me wake you." " Wouldn't let you ? " "No, he " " What's the matter with your lip ? " " McGlory hit me." " Hit you ! " Dick sprang to his feet. "What in thunder are you talking about?" 128 THE MERRT ANNE " I'm tryin' to tell you, Cap'n, if you'll just listen " " Go on, be quick about it." "You've been sleepin' ever since we left Middle Island. Ole an' me we seen that the course was nor'east instead o' nor' west, an' I was goin' to wake you, but he wouldn't let me, an' I hollered loud but it didn't wake you, an' now we're in a place Ole thinks is Burnt Cove on Manitoulin Island, an' an' Mr. McGlory's made me row him ashore, an' told us to wait there for him, an' I swum back to wake you " Dick was standing close to Harper, staring at him with a mixture of astonishment and in credulity. Now he brushed him aside and ran up the steps. Sure enough, on every side were trees and the shadows of trees. The Lake was not to be seen. He turned again to Harper who was close at his elbow. "Where's the boat?" " Right over there not a hundred yards." " Ole ! " called Dick. "Ya-as." " Bring that boat back and hustle about it." In a moment they heard the clanking of BURNT COVE 129 oars, and soon the boat appeared in the moon light and ran alongside. " What are you doing there ? " said Dick. " Mees' McGlory, she say to wait." " Oh, she does, does she ! Well, we'll see about it." He leaped down to the boat and took the stern. " Pull ashore." " Cap'n," said Harper, " will you let me go?" " Sure, if you want to. Take Linding's place. Linding, you stay on the schooner. And mind, there's nobody but me giving orders around here. Pull away, boys." The landing pier was deserted when they ran alongside. " Which way did he go ? " asked Dick, as he stepped out. Harper pointed at the dim path. " How long ago was it ? " "Just a few minutes." "All right. We'll wait here." He sat down with his back against a post, and filled his pipe. " Got a match, Pink ? Oh, I for got, you're wet. Ole, give me a match." He lighted up and settled back to smoke and think. McGlory had evidently walked some little 130 THE MERRY ANNE distance back from the Cove, for nearly ten minutes passed before they heard his step in the brush. Dick sat still until he saw the mate coming down the bluff, then he said, " Get aboard, McGlory." At the first word McGlory stopped short. " Well," Dick added, rising, " how long are you going to keep us waiting? " Still there was no word from the motionless figure. Not until Dick stepped to the stern of the boat did he speak. " Come up here a minute, will you, Cap'n ? I want to speak to you." " You can do any speaking you have to do on the schooner. Swing around, Pink. I'll hold her." "Just a minute, Cap'n, you know what I mean." " All I know about you is that you can't be trusted." " Seems to me you're gettin' mighty innocent all to once." " You can have your choice, McGlory, of getting aboard or staying behind. For my part, I'd a heap sight rather leave you behind." " You needn't talk that way. I know what BURNT COVE 131 I'm doin' I know I'm not to talk to you " " All right, Pink," Dick stepped into the boat, "let her go." McGlory turned and looked back up the path, as if listening. Then suddenly he ran out on the landing and got aboard just as the men were pushing off. He took the bow thwart, and settled down without a word. When they reached the schooner, he got out the boat-hook, and held her steady while Dick climbed out. "That'll do there," said Dick, when Mc Glory and Larsen were hoisting the boat up to the davits. " Let her down again. Pink, you'd better take Linding and sound the channel ahead of us. We'll start right out." " That ain't necessary," put in the mate, hurriedly ; " I can take her out." Dick turned and looked him over sharply. " How do I know you wouldn't run her aground ? You seem to be raising the devil generally." " I ain't a fool," replied the mate, with an impatient gesture. " I'd feel a little safer if you were. Well, i 3 2 THE MERRY ANNE all right, Pink, make her fast. We'll let him try it." McGlory took the wheel, and Dick sat by him on the cabin trunk. They went out as they had come in, gaining a rod here and a yard there, as the vagrant night breezes stirred the trees and faintly rippled the water. Up forward the men settled down as quietly as if working out of Burnt Cove after midnight were a part of the daily routine. Dick smoked in silence. The mate alone was nervous. For some reason he seemed as anxious now to get out of the Cove as he had been to get into it. Occasionally his eyes wandered back toward the darker spot where the landing was. Once he seemed to hear something, they were then in sight of the open lake, and he swung her off quickly to gain headway. Finally Dick asked : " Got another o* your lady friends stowed away up here ? " The mate grunted. " Maybe you thought you'd just drop around for a little call. That the idea ? " " No, that ain't the idea." " I didn't know you were a Mormon." BURNT COVE 133 Another grunt. " Case o' temporary mental aberration, per haps. You thought you owned the schooner. Or maybe you dreamed I was going to give it to you not for its intrinsic value, but as a token of affection and esteem. That it ? " " No, that ain't it, an' you know it ain't." " Oh, I'm in the secret, am I ? " McGlory leaned across the wheel and looked at him. " Are you a-tryin' to make me think you don't know why I come here ? " " I certainly am." " Well, you beat me." " Then we're in the same condition. It isn't exactly usual, you know, to take another man's schooner off for a summer cruise without asking him if he don't mind. Of course, be tween friends, it's all right only there are some little formalities that are customary. But I suppose you aren't going to tell me anything about it why you did it." The mate said nothing. They were now slipping out into deep water, where the breeze could fill the sails, and the schooner began to heel and to nose through the ripples with a grateful sound. The light was stronger out 134 THE MERRY ANNE here, and the mate could see the Captain's face more plainly. What he saw there answered several questions that lay, unspoken, in his mind. "I'll take the wheel now," said Dick. " Hold on, don't you go forward. Wait here till I get through with you." He raised his voice and called to the others. " Come back here, boys, all o' you." And when the crew was grouped about the wheel : " Pink, here, is going to be my mate for the rest o' this trip. I want you to take his orders the same as if they were mine. McGlory has nothing more to say on this schooner. That's all." The men looked at each other. The Swedes were slow to grasp what was said. McGlory stood back in the shadow, and his face told nothing. Harper was excited. " That's all, I tell you. You can go back." They went at this all but Pink, who lingered. Cap'n " "Well, what is it?" " I was just goin' to say it's more'n square you've been more'n white to me " " Hold on there. You needn't bother about BURNT COVE 135 engrossing any resolutions. You'll find it hard enough." "Well I'm mighty obliged for " Not at all." Thirty-six hours later, when the Merry Anne was slipping through the islands west of the straits and heading southward for the run down Lake Michigan, McGlory slipped aft and addressed Harper, who had the wheel. " I was sort o' hasty awhile ago, Pink, when I hit you that time. I hope you ain't a-layin' it up against me." Pink stared at him, but offered no reply. " I was a little excited. You see, Cap'n Smiley's a good sailor, but he don't know where his own interest is." " I ain't got nothin' to say to you about Cap'n Smiley." " I know. Say, you ain't got no objections to turnin' an honest penny, have you ? " That depends." " Or say maybe it was a neat little five hundred good hard stuff." " Where's it comin' from ? " " You know where we was over in Canada ? " 136 THE MERRY ANNE " I ought to." " Well, Smiley knows all about that." The he does ! " " Sure thing. He's been there before, more'n once." " Funny he didn't know the channel then. There ain't a place around the Lakes he couldn't sail the Anne through if he'd smelled it once." " I know. That's the queer part of it. He knows it with his eyes shut. He had some reason or other for puttin' up the bluff he did, an' I'd give just about ten round dollars to know what it was." " Better ask him." " Watch me. This ain't the kind o' thing you can talk out about. I know he knows, an' he knows I know ; but he's down on me an' there's nothin' I can say here, any- way. " What do you want o' me ? " "You're the right sort you've got nerve an' a head on you. Help me carry this business through, an' I'll divvy up with you five hundred, sure, to start with." " What am I to do ? " BURNT COVE 137 " Nothin' hard. You've got a good stand in with Smiley. Just put in a word for me, so's he won't fire me before another trip, any way. You fellows made a mistake this time in not standin' by me. I can do better by you than he can a lot better. Help me to stay aboard for the next trip, an' I'll hand you fifty right now for a sweetener." " Well, I'll see what I can do." " I've got the fifty down below. I'll get it." " Hold on don't be in a hurry. You'd better see what I can do for you before you do any sweetenin'." McGlory nodded and slipped back to his station. When the watch was changed, he went below and settled down to writing a letter on crumpled paper with a pencil. He seemed to be thinking hard. Three times he made a start, only to hold the paper up to the lantern, shake his head over it, tear it up, and stuff the pieces into his pocket. But the fourth attempt, which follows, suited him better. " DEAR ESTELLE : I ain't done the trick I was going to do this trip. The Captain 138 THE MERRY ANNE woke up too soon and stoped me. But I've got a fellow here on bord that's going to see me threw next trip so don't you go down to Saginaw yet. Wait til you see me at Spencer's and He tell you al about the scheme itll be worth a thousand cool anyway I should say its worth waiting for. I'm doing it for you you know so don't you get impatent but just wait a litle longer and we'll have a gay old time. "JOE." When he gave the wheel to Dick, Harper repeated to him the whole conversation and asked him what he made of it. " Give it up." " You don't think he's layin' for you, do you ? I couldn't tell what he was up to. Of course he wouldn't hardly let me see into his game the first time we talked." "Oh, no, hardly." " Will I go on lettin' him talk to me ? " " If you see any fun in it." "It ain't that I thought maybe we could find out what he's after." " I don't want to know about it." BURNT COVE 139 " But you don't think he'll try to stick it into you anyway ? " " Let him try. He can't do much harm." "Well " " Take my advice, Pink, and quit thinking about him. I don't like this business any more than you do, but the worse it is the less I want to know about it. When we get back we'll fire him, and that will end it." " Don't you think we'd better tie him up, or somethin' ? " "That wouldn't do any good. You'd better tumble below and get some sleep. There's nothing like it when you're a little worked up." Dick had indeed something else to think of than his rascal of a mate. Only four days of sailing, if the wind should hold, lay between the Merry Anne and the Annie for whom she had been named. These days would slip away before he knew it, and then ? The uncertainty was hard, but still he dreaded the meeting that might be harder still. Off Waukegan on the last day the wind swung around to the south, nearly dead ahead ; and as the schooner lost headway and was forced i 4 o THE MERRY ANNE into beating to windward, the dread suddenly gave place to impatience. So variable were his thoughts indeed, as the miles slipped astern and the long green bluff that ends in Grosse Pointe grew nearer and plainer, that his courage oozed away. Far down the Lake, between the Lake View crib and the horizon, was a speck of a sail. Dick's heart sank he knew as if he could make out the painted name that it was the Captain. He watched it hungrily as the Merry Anne y headed in close to the waterworks pier, swept easily around, and started on the last outward tack. Then he called to Pink, and had the sheets hauled close ; and he laughed softly and nervously as the schooner responded with a list to port and a merry little fling of spray. He could at least come in with a rush, with all his colors flying. He was waiting for the tiny sail to swing around and point northward. He was dis appointed. He reached for the glass and took a long look then lowered it, and smiled bit terly. There were two figures seated in the stern of the Captain. The Schmidt was lying on the south side of BURNT COVE 141 the pier ; and the wind enabled Dick to come easily up on the opposite side and make fast. It was late in the afternoon, and Dick released the two Swedes, both of whom had families on shore. Then he crossed the pier, between the high piles of lumber, and found Henry sitting quietly, as usual, in his cabin. To the older man's greeting Dick responded moodily. " I want to talk to you, Henry. What's my reputation, anyhow, among the boys ? Do they call me mean, or a driver, or hard to get along with ? " Henry looked at him curiously, and shook his head. " I never heard anything of that sort. Your row with Roche was the only thing, and I guess he was a poor stick." " Well, I'm through with McGlory, too." " Through with him ? " Henry was startled. " You haven't discharged him ? " " No, but I'm going to to-night. I've brought him back here, and he wants to stay, but I won't have him aboard another minute." " What's the trouble ? " Dick gave him the whole story, including the conversation between McGlory and Harper up in the straits. i 4 2 THE MERRY ANNE " I don't like the sound of it very well," said Henry, when he had finished. " Couldn't you get on with him a little longer ? " "After that?" " I know there is some deviltry behind it. But still he is a good man. You'll have hard work finding a better. And honest, I would kind of hate to face Cap'n Stenzenberger myself with this story." " Why ? I can't have a man around that's going to steal my schooner in my sleep." " Oh, well, he could never do that again. I can't see what he was thinking of. Do you see into it at all ? " Dick had been staring at the cabin table. At this question he raised his eyes, for an instant, with an odd expression. " I know all I want to. The whole thing is so outrageous that I am not going to try to follow it up." "He talked to your man about a rake-off, didn't he ? " Dick nodded. "What do you suppose he was going to rake ? " Dick, whose eyes were lowered, and who BURNT COVE was therefore unconscious of the pallor of his cousin's face, said nothing. " I know we don't look at some things quite the same, Dick," Henry went on. " But if anybody on my schooner is going to do any raking, he has got to see me first. A dollar's a dollar, my boy. When you are my age, you will think so too." " I don't mix in this business." " No more would I. But it seems to me, if McGlory's got some way of his own of making a little pile, and if you could have your share for just letting him stay aboard, you'd be sort of a fool not to do it." "Excuse me!" Henry smiled indulgently. " There's noth ing very bad in what you have told me. Of course, if there are things you haven't told me, it might make a difference." " You have the whole story." " Do you know, Dick, you make me think of the folks up at the college here. You know that brewer that died repentant and left five hundred thousand dollars to the Biblical School ? Well, a lot of the old preachers got stirred up over it and made them refuse the money i 4 4 THE MERRY ANNE made 'em refuse five hundred thousand cash ! Good Lord! if these particular folks would look into the private history of all the dollars in the country, they'd never touch one of them, not one. There isn't a dollar of the lot that hasn't got a bad spot somewhere, like the rest of us. The main thing is, are your own hands clean when you take it ? If they are, the dollar can't hurt you." " But look here, Henry, my mind's made up about this. I won't have that fellow on my schooner." " Going to turn him off to-night ? " "Yes, right now." " All right. You can send him over here. I'll give him a bunk till morning. But what are you going to do for a mate ? " " Pink is all right. I could go farther and do worse." "All right. Tell Joe to bring his things along." CHAPTER VI THE RED SEAL LABEL CHAPTER VI THE RED SEAL LABEL IT was on Friday morning that the Merry Anne had sailed away from Lakeville for her first trip to Spencer's. On this same Friday another set of persons were passing through a series of events which concern this story. Dick had sailed out at daybreak. A few hours later, when the morning was still young, Roche, who had come down by train from Manistee, was hanging about near " The Teamster's Friend." now standing on the cor ner by the lumber office looking stealthily up and down the street, now passing by on the opposite sidewalk, closely watching the screened windows. Finally he crossed over and entered the saloon to ask for McGlory. Murphy, the senior partner in the business, who lived a few blocks away, came in for his day's work and 147 148 THE MERRY ANNE found Roche there. " McGlory," said Mur phy, " won't be back for a week or so." At this, with an angry exclamation, Roche went out. The quantity of bad whiskey he had taken in since his discharge from the Merry Anne at the Manistee pier, had not worked to change his humor or to calm his faculties. He was plunging around the lumber office into a side street when Beveridge, who had been watching his every movement, accosted him. " Beg pardon, have you got a match? " " Hey ? What's that ? " " Have you got a match ? " "A match? Why, sure." " Much obliged. I've got the cigars. Better make a fair trade. You'll find 'em a good smoke." " Well, don't care 'f I do. Here, you can't light in this wind." " Oh, yes, I'm Irish. Say, haven't I seen you somewhere ? " " Couldn't say." " Why, sure I have. Isn't your name Roche ? " " That's what it is." THE RED SEAL LABEL 149 " And you're mate of the Merry Anne, sail ing out of Lakeville ? " " You're wrong there." " No, I'm sure of it. I've seen you too many times." " Why, do you b'long out there ? " " Yes, I live at Lakeville." " Well, look here ; I'll tell you how it is. I was on the Merry Anne^ but I ain't any more." " Oh, you quit Smiley ? " " You're right, I quit him. No more Smiley for me." "What's the trouble?" " What ain't the trouble, you'd better say. But I ain't tellin'. Smiley's done me dirt, an' I know 'im for just what he is, but I ain't tellin'." They were passing another saloon, and Roche accepted an invitation to step in. " I've seen Smiley a good deal around the piers," said the young fellow, when they were seated. " Likes to swagger some, doesn't he ? " " Oh, he's no good." " Mean to work for ? Those conceited fellows generally are." 150 THE MERRY ANNE " He's mean, yes. But that ain't the worst thing about him." Roche paused guardedly, and glanced around the empty room. " I don't know much about him myself, just seen him now and then. But of course I've heard things. " I'll tell you right here, you am't the only one that'll be hearin' things before much longer." Another cautious glance around. "You don't happen to know anythin' about law, do you ? " " I've studied it some." "Well, look here. I know some things about Dick Smiley, and if it was worth my while, I'd tell 'em. But you see, I am an honest man, an' I've got my livin' to make, an' he's just cute enough to lie about me an' try to drag me down with 'im. Folks might say I didn't quit him the first minute I found 'im out. I can't run no risks, you see." " I can tell you this much but, of course, it's none of my business." " Go on." " Well, it depends on the case. But if he has done anything serious, and if the authori ties find it hard to get evidence against him, THE RED SEAL LABEL 151 you probably wouldn't have any trouble, even if you were right in with him. A man can turn state's evidence, you know." "But I wasn't in with 'im. When I'd found him out, I quit him the first good chance I got." "Yes, of course. But it all depends. I couldn't tell you anything more, because I don't know the case. It all depends on how bad they want him." " They want him bad enough." He dropped his voice, and leaned across the table. " Did you ever hear o' Whiskey Jim ? " " You don't mean to say " Roche nodded. " Why, man, you're rich." " How do you make that out ? " " Haven't you seen the papers ? " Roche shook his head. "There's a reward of five thousand up for Whiskey Jim," " Who'll give it ? " " The Consolidated Dealers. You see, there has been a counterfeit label, of the Red Seal brand, on the market ; and I understand the liquor men have been running it down and 152 THE MERRY ANNE putting the Treasury Agents on the track to protect their business." " Fi' thousand, eh ? An' do you think we could make it ? " " If you have the evidence to convict this Whiskey Jim, we can. But now, before we go into this, what sort of an arrangement will you make with me if I steer it through for you ? " " What would you want ? " " Well I should go at it something like this. I should go to the United States Treas ury officials and tell them I could get them the evidence they want if they would agree not to prosecute us. It would take some managing, but it can be done. But I can't do it for nothing." " What do you want ? " " Say one thousand. That's twenty per cent." " Too much." " Not for the work to be done. Remember, I agree to get you off without any more trouble than just giving in your evidence." " But I don't need to get off. I ain't done nothin'." " No, I understand. Of course not." THE RED SEAL LABEL 153 " Say five hundred, and it's a go." " No, sir. I can't do it for that. I might take seven hundred and fifty, but " "It's too much, a sight too much. You'd ought to do it for less." " Couldn't think of it." "Well " " Is it a go ? " " I suppose so." "All right. That's understood. If I can get the five thousand for you, you will hand me seven hundred and fifty. Now, I suppose the sooner we get at this, the better for both of us. When can I see you and talk it over?" " You might come around this afternoon." "Say two o'clock?" " That's all right." " Where do you live ? " " I'm stoppin' over on North Clark. Forty- two-seventy-two an* a half, third floor. You'll be around, then, will you, Mr. Mr. " " Bedloe's my name. Yes, I'll be there at two sharp." But at two o'clock, when Beveridge called at the boarding-house on North Clark Street he 154 THE MERRY ANNE found that Roche was gons. " He only stopped here a day," said the landlady. " This noon he paid me and said he was called out of town by a telegram." " Did he say when he would be back ? " " He didn't know." " Did he leave his things ? " " No. What little he had he took along." Beveridge turned thoughtfully away and walked around the corner, where Wilson was awaiting him. He had no means of knowing that Roche was already well on the way to Spencer, where Smiley saw him a few days later. " Not there, Bill ? " asked Wilson. No, skipped." " Lost his nerve, eh ? " " I guess so." " Well, what now ? " " Nothing, until I see Madge to-night." " Do you really expect anything there ? " " I don't know. It's a chance, that's all." " Do you think she'll keep her promise ? " " Couldn't say. I'll give her a chance, any how." She did keep it. Very shortly after five, THE RED SEAL LABEL 155 while Beveridge was riding slowly up and down near the meeting-place, he saw her com ing, and his eyes lighted up with surprise. He could not know how much thought had been given to the effect which pleased him so ; he only observed that she looked like a young girl in her short wheeling skirt and leggings, and with her natty little cap and well-arranged hair. They found St. Paul's Park gay with lights and music when they arrived. Dancing had been going on all the afternoon on the open- air platform. The ring-the-cane booth, the every- time-you-knock-the-baby-down-you-get- a-five-cent-cigar booth, were surrounded by uproarious country folk, with only here and there a city face among them. A little way down the slope, through the grove, ran the sluggish North Branch, a really inviting spot in the twilight ; and to this spot it was that Beveridge led the way after checking the wheels. " The boats don't amount to much," he said to Madge, as he helped her down the bank, " but I guess we can have a good time, anyhow." She did not reply to this, but there was a 156 THE MERRT 4NNE sparkle in her eyes and a flush on her cheek, as she stepped lightly into the boat, that drew an admiring glance from Beveridge. He took the clumsy oars, and pulled up stream, under the railroad bridge, past all the other boats, on into the farming country, where the banks were green and shaded. " Pretty nice, isn't it ? " said he. She nodded. They could hear the music in the distance, and occasionally the voices ; but around them was nothing but the cool depths of an oak copse. She was half reclin ing in the stern, looking lazily at the dim muscular outlines of her oarsman. " You row well," she said. " I ought to. I was brought up on water." " You don't know how this takes me back," said Madge, dreamily. " I couldn't tell you how long it is since I have been out in the country like this." He pulled a few strokes before replying, " Didn't McGlory ever take you out ? " " I don't like to think about him now. Let's talk of something else." "I'm glad you don't like to. That's the only thing that bothers me." THE RED SEAL LABEL 157 Joe?" "Yes." " Oh, he needn't bother you." " I can't help it. You see, you're " " His wife ? Yes, so I am. But I'm " " What, Madge ? " " I don't know what you would think if I said it." " Say it, please." She glanced into his face. He saw with sur prise that her eyes were shining. " Well I was going to say that that I'm about through with him." " Do you mean that, Madge ? " She was silent ; perhaps she had not meant to say so much. " Has he been ugly to you ? " " It isn't his meanness altogether. If that were all, I could have stood it. I have tried hard enough to love him all the while. Even after he first struck me " " You don't mean " She smiled, half bitterly, and rolled her sleeve up above her elbow. Even in that faint light he could see the discoloration on her forearm. " He meant it for my head," she said. 158 THE MERRT ANNE " Why, he's a brute." She smiled again. " Didn't you know that a woman can love a brute ? It wasn't that. Even when he made me live in the saloon, and when I found out what his business really was " she paused. " I was brought up a little better than this, you know." " Yes, I have always thought that/' "And when I learned that he wasn't well, honest, I don't believe I should have cared very much." " Oh, I guess he is not dishonest, is he ? " "He is bad enough, I'm afraid. He I don't know I don't believe it would do any good to tell you " " No, don't, if you'd rather not, Madge." "I don't care I'd just as soon. You don't know what a relief it is to have some body I can talk out with. I have guarded my tongue so long. And I suppose, even after all that is past, that if he hadn't left me " " You don't mean that he has gone ? " She nodded. " It comes to the same thing. He will drop in once in a while, I sup pose. But he has gone back to the Lake with THE RED SEAL LABEL 159 Captain Smiley, and that means that he wants to see " she turned toward the shadow of the oaks " there's somebody up in Michigan that that he " " Oh," said Beveridge. " Yes, I have known it a long while." She turned, looked at him, and spoke impetuously : " Do you think I haven't been fair to him ? Do you think he anybody could say I hadn't stood all a woman ought to stand ? " Her real emotion caught Beveridge off his guard. For an instant he hesitated ; then he said gently : " Don't let it disturb you now, Madge. I don't think he can bother you much more. There is no reason why that shouldn't all slip into the past." " I wish it could." Beveridge was silent for a moment. He wished to lead her into telling all she knew about McGlory and his ways, yet he hesitated to abuse the confidence so frankly offered. But, however " There is one thing about it, though, Madge," he said quietly. " If he is on the Lake, he will have to go where his boat goes, and there isn't much chance for him to get into bad ways. Even if, as you 160 THE MERRY ANNE think, he is dishonest, he will have to behave himself until he gets back to town." " You don't understand," she cried. " It is just there, on the water, that he can do the most harm. I'm going to tell you, any way. I don't care. He is a smuggler, or a moonshiner, or something, I don't know what you would call it." "A moonshiner here in Chicago!" She nodded nervously. " He is only one of them. I have known it for a long time, and sometimes I have thought I ought to speak out, but then he oh, you don't know what a place he has put me into what he has dragged me to ! There is one thing I will say for Joe, he is not the worst of them. The rest are smarter than he is, and I believe they have used him for a cat's-paw. But he is bad enough." "You don't know how hard this is to be lieve, Madge. That a man sailing on a decent lumber schooner can manage to do enough moonshining or even smuggling to hurt anybody " " But that is just it ! It is in the lumber." " In the lumber ! " He had stopped row- THE RED SEAL LABEL 161 ing, and was leaning forward. Had her own excitement been less, she could hardly have failed to observe the eager note in his voice. "Yes oh, I know about it. But it's no use saying anything. They will never catch the head man he is too smart for them " Beveridge took her hand, and held it gently in both his own. " Don't let's think any more about any of them, Madge. I don't wonder it excites you it would anybody. But you are through with them all now." She sat up, rigid, and looked at him. " Are you sure I am ? " "Yes." " But how ? Joe is my husband. Tell me what you mean. What am I to think ? You see what I have done. I have let you bring me out here ; I have I have told you things that could put Joe in prison. Do you do you mean that you can help me that I can get free from him ? " For a moment Beveridge thought of turn ing and rowing back. But he was not yet through. The conversation had taken an unexpected turn, but he would not retreat now. 1 62 THE MERRY ANNE " You are willing to be free ? " he whispered. Oh yes." " To leave him forever ? " " Yes." " Then we understand each other, Madge. It may take some time." " I don't care I don't care for anything now." " I shall have to do some thinking." " Do you think it will be hard ? " " No, but we shall see. Shall we start back I'm afraid you won't get home till pretty late, now." "It doesn't matter; I'm alone there now, you know. But still, perhaps we'd better." As they rowed down the stream, and later, on the ride back to the city, Beveridge could not but be fascinated by Madge, in the flow of spirits that had come with the freedom of this evening. She liked to look at him and to laugh at his little jokes. She caressed him in a hundred ways with her voice and her eyes. She rode her wheel with the light ness of youth, and led the way flying down the paved streets of the city. And when at last she dismounted at " The Teamster's THE RED SEAL LABEL 163 Friend," and unlocked the side door, she was in a merry glow. " Come in," she said. " Don't you want to get to sleep ? It is late." " I'm not tired. We must have something to eat after that ride. Wasn't it fine ? " So he went in with her, and they sat down to a cold lunch in the dining room. When he rose to go, and they were both lingering in the dining-room door, he said, smiling, " By the way, Madge, while I think of it, I want an empty bottle." " Come out into the bar-room. You can help yourself." She lighted the gas for him, and he went in behind the bar and rummaged among some bottles and flasks that stood on the floor. At length he found one that seemed to suit him, and stood a moment looking intently at the label. " Do you find what you want ? " " Yes, this will do first-rate." She followed him to the door, and said, as he stood on the step, " When am I to see you again ? " i6 4 THE MERRY ANNE " In a few days." " Not to-morrow ? " " No, I'm afraid not. I expect to be out of the city over Sunday. I have to go where I'm sent, you know." " Do you know," she said, with a smile, "you have not told me anything about your business ? Why, I hardly think I know any thing about you." " You will soon know enough." She smiled again. " Wait, you will have to be a little careful about coming. Mr. Murphy goes away about ten o'clock every night. You might come a little later, and then if Joe isn't here, I will be down. If you don't see me, you mustn't ask any questions." " I won't." " And you will be thinking about " " Yes. We'll talk it over next time. Good night." " Good night," she replied. And when he had walked a little way, he heard her humming a tune to herself in the doorway. Wilson was sitting in the shadow on the steps of the lumber office. He rose and came forward. THE RED SEAL LABEL 165 " Hello, Bill ! " " That you, Bert ? " "What's left of me. If I'd known you were going to be gone half the night, I'd have brought a blanket." " Couldn't help it." " I suppose not. Not even if she'd been fifty-five, with red hair and a squint, eh ? " Beveridge, instead of laughing, made an im patient gesture. " Come out here in the light, Bert. Nobody around, is there ? " " No. Our friend the policeman went by ten minutes ago. Just as well he didn't see you with your friend. They say he's a chum of McGlory's." " See what you think of this," said Bedloe, drawing the bottle from under his coat. " Hello, you don't mean to say you've got it?" " Take a good look." "Yes, sir. Well, I'll be ! There's the red seal, and the left foot a little out of drawing, and the right hand turned out in stead of in, and is it ? yes, an imperfec tion in the capital C. Yes, sir, you've got it ! I won't say another word, Bill. You're 1 66 THE MERRY ANNE a wizard. You must have hypnotized her." " Well, I got it. No matter how. And I got something else, too. Here, step into the lumber yard before we're seen. Stenzenber- ger doesn't keep a private watchman, does he?" " No. He doesn't need it, with his friendly hold on the police." A board was loose in the rear fence. Within a very few minutes the two men were stepping cautiously between the piles of lumber, Bever- idge peering eagerly into the shadows, his com panion watching him and following close behind. " Wish we'd brought a lantern, Bill." " I thought of it. But it would hardly be safe." " Come this way over by the Murphy and McGlory shed. That's where it would have to be handled." Silently they tiptoed forward, reaching out with their hands to avoid a collision with the projecting timbers. Once Beveridge tripped and would have fallen if Wilson had not caught his arm. " Wait keep still, Bert ! " THE RED SEAL LABEL 167 " It's all right. We're way back from the street here." " It isn't the street I'm watching. See that light ? " He pointed up to a second-story window in the adjoining building. " She's still up ; and it's awful quiet around here." A moment later Beveridge stopped and sniffed. " What is it, Bill ? " " Don't you smell anything ? " "Ye-yes, guess I do, a little. But there are a lot of old kegs and bottles on the other side of the fence." "There are no old kegs about this." He moved forward, feeling and sniffing his way along a pile of twelve-by-twelve timbers. " Here, have you that big jack-knife on you, Bert?" " Yes ; here it is." Cautiously, very cautiously, Beveridge began prying at the end of one of the big sticks. " Shall I lend a hand, Bill ? " " No ; it's got to be done without leaving any signs of our being here. It may take time the thing is in for keeps, all right." During fully a quarter of an hour they stood 1 68 THE MERRY ANNE there, Beveridge prying with the long blade of the knife, his companion watching him with out a word. Finally Beveridge gave a sup pressed exclamation. "Fetched her?" " Yes. Take hold easy now." Together they pulled a long, circular plug from the end of the timber, and set it on the ground. "Just put your arm in there, Bert." Well, I'll be ! Did she tell you about this ? " " She certainly did." " But how did you do it, man, without let ting on ? " " Never mind about that," replied Beveridge, shortly. " Yes, sir. It's all there no end of it." " All right now ; that's enough. Let's put the plug back. Now's the time for us to go slow." " You're right there. Even with this it will be awful hard to bring it home. The next thing to get is the man. I wish we knew where that fellow Roche went. What do you think ? " THE RED SEAL LABEL 169 " I'd be willing to buy him a new hat if he isn't on the train for northern Michigan just about now. But we don't need him very bad. We want a bigger man than him." CHAPTER VII DRAWING TOGETHER CHAPTER VII DRAWING TOGETHER THE eleven days Dick had given her for considering were going faster than any other days Annie had known. To make it worse, she had to pass them alone, for Bever- idge, who was always diverting, hardly appeared after Dick sailed away. It was now the after noon of the tenth day, a bright, cool afternoon with a southerly breeze and a rippling lake. She was in her room, looking out at the pier, where the Schmidt lay, when a voice caught her ear. She stepped nearer to the window and then could see Beveridge and his friend Wilson standing on the beach. While she looked, Wilson said good-by, and strolled over to the pier ; and Beveridge turned irresolutely toward the house on stilts, looking up at the flowering balcony. Annie remembered that she had not watered 173 174 THE MERRY ANNE her flowers. She always waited until the shadows crept around to the eastern side of the house ; they were here now, so, filling her pitcher, she stepped out. Beveridge, fully re covered from the odd sensations of his evening with Madge, raised his cap, but found that she had turned her back on him and was absorbed in her forget-me-nots. " Annie," he called, " aren't you going to speak to me ? " " Oh," she came to the railing, " oh, how do you do ? " " Won't you come out ? " "Why I suppose I might." " All right. I'll wait down here." When she appeared on the steps, he suggested a sail. "I don't mind if the wind holds. It's not very strong, and it may go down with the sun." She was looking about from lake to sky with the easy air of a veteran mariner ; and he was looking at her. " Let's chance it." So they pushed out ; and at the moment when Dick and the Merry Anne were coasting along the bluffs above Grosse Pointe the Cap tain was skimming out on a long tack for the Lake View reef. DRAWING TOGETHER 175 Little was said until they were entering on the second mile, then this from Beveridge, lounging on the windward rail, " Have you been thinking about our talk that evening, Annie ? " " Oh, dear ! " thought she ; but she said nothing. " You haven't forgotten what I said ? " " Oh, the evening you came up for me ? " " Yes, and Smiley came later." "But you don't you don't want me to think that you meant " " But I did, Annie. Do you remember I told you I thought I had a fair chance to be something in the world? Well, I'm nearer it than I thought, even then. There are a good many things I'm going to tell you some day, not just yet, but when you know them, you'll understand why I've dared to talk this way. If I didn't believe I was going to be able to do for you all you could want, and more ; if I didn't feel pretty sure I could help you to grow up away from this beach, to get into surroundings that will set you off as you de serve, I'd never have said a word. But I can do these things, Annie. And if I could only 176 THE MERRY ANNE know that I had the right to do them for you I want to take you away from here." " But I don't want to leave the beach." "I know I think I understand just how you feel. It's natural you were born here you've never seen anything else. But I can't stay here, and I can't go without you. I can't get along anywhere without you." "But " What, Annie ? " " You've got along very very well, lately." "No that's just it, I haven't. My work has kept me out of town." "Your work?" "Yes, I've " " Mr. Beveridge, are you a student, or aren't you?" K T " Tell me, please. Some of the things you have said I don't understand." "Well no, I' m not." "Then what you have said hasn't been true?" "No some of it hasn't." " And yet you " She hesitated. "In a very little while, Annie, maybe DRAWING TOGETHER 177 only a day or two, some surprising things are going to happen. I wish I could tell you, but I can't. I have been perfectly honest with you, no, don't look at me that way ; it is true, and if I have misled you in one or two little things, it was only because I couldn't honestly tell you the whole truth yet. A few days more, and you shall know everything. I'm not a student. If I were, I could never offer you what I do offer you now." He straightened up, his eyes lighted, and an eager note in his voice compelled her attention. " I have made a big strike, Annie, or so near it that it can't get away from me now. I have no earthly business to tell you this, I never talked so to any one before, but I have offered you everything, myself and all I have, and it would be poor business not to trust you with part of my secrets, too. I want you to know, because I trust you; and because I I'm going to be able to spare you some disagree able scenes." He leaned forward. " Tell me, Annie, when does Dick Smiley come back ? " She turned and looked up the Lake. His eyes followed hers ; there, on the horizon, were the white sails of the Merry Anne. 178 THE MERRY ANNE " Then I can tell you sooner than I thought tc-morrow. To-morrow night I'll tell you everything. And maybe you will tell me too everything. Will you, Annie ? If I come for you to-morrow night and tell you all about myself, will you give me your answer ? " She was still looking northward ; to-morrow was Dick's eleventh day. " I can't," she said slowly ; " I have an engagement for to-morrow evening." " Not not with him ? " She nodded. " Break it, Annie, break it. Or no, wait I won't say that. We'll just leave it. I'm willing to let it work itself out. I think, maybe, when to-morrow comes, you won't want to see him any more than I want you to. I won't tell you he's a rascal; I'd rather let you find it out for yourself. I want you to know why I've spoken out this way, and how hard I have tried to save you from doing something you would regret all your life." She was bewildered. " Tell me this, Annie, haven't you an aunt or anything here in town ? " Yes," her voice was hardly audible, c DRAWING TOGETHER 179 " Aunt Lizzie lives up by the water works." " Do you go up there much ? " " Sometimes." " Won't you go to-day, and stay over till to-morrow about this time ? " "Why?" " It may save you annoyance. I think some disagreeable things are going to happen here I'd rather not have you at home. It's only on your own account." " I don't see what can happen to me at home." " Nothing will happen to you, but don't ask me to tell you now. To-morrow evening I'll come up for you and bring you down, and then I'll tell everything. You see, I must have your answer to-morrow. I shall probably have to go right away, and I couldn't go think ing I had left this the one thing of all that I care about unsettled. I want you to know that everything in the world I have to offer you is yours forever. I want you to know this, and then, when you've thought it over and realized what it means for both of us, I want you to come to me and give me your i8o THE MERRY ANNE hand and tell me that that it's all right that you give me everything, too." A long silence. " Let's sail up toward the water works now, Annie. I can drop you off there at the pier, and bring the Captain down alone." She looked again toward the Merry Anne. He read her thoughts. " We needn't pass near her. We'll run in close to the shore." She shook her head. " I'm going to turn back." And back they turned. In vain he urged her, reproached her, pleaded with her ; hardly a word could he get during all the run back to the beach. He pulled up the boat for her, and walked by her side to the steps. There, with an odd pressure of the lips, she shook her head at him, as if afraid to trust her voice, and mounted the steps. " Annie, you haven't told me. Will you go?" She shook her head again, and entered the house. Beveridge, motionless, looked after her. Finally he turned, and glanced with a troubled air at the approaching schooner, then at the sleepy pier, where he could see Wilson stretched out flat holding out a bamboo fish- DRAWING TOGETHER 181 pole over the water. Behind the house Cap tain Fargo was mending his nets. Beveridge heard him humming a song as he worked, and after hesitating a moment longer walked around and greeted him. " How do you do, Captain." "How are you ? " The fisherman straight ened his spare old figure and looked at the young man. His face was brown above the beard, and crisscrossed with innumerable fine wrinkles. Beveridge knew, in meeting those faded blue eyes with their patient, subdued expression, that he was facing a man whom he could trust. " I have something to say to you, Captain, that may be a surprise, I want Annie." " You want her ? " " Yes. You may think I've not known her very long, but it has been long enough to show me that I can't go on any longer without her." Captain Fargo stood for a moment without replying, then asked simply, " What does she say? " " It isn't settled ; I have told her how I feel, and asked her for an answer to-morrow night." 1 82 THE MERRY ANNE " Isn't she a little young ? " " I don't think so." " And you you're a student ? " " No, I'm not." " Do you think you could support her ? I'm afraid we have taught her to expect more than our position would seem to make right." " Yes, I can support her comfortably. You see, I " " Hasn't Annie told me you were a student ? " "Yes, I told her that, myself. There was a reason for it, Captain. The situation is unusual, and my only chance of keeping her out of what is to come lies in talking it out plainly with you." He swept the beach with a swift glance, stepped close to the older man, and spoke rapidly and eagerly in a subdued voice. The Captain removed his hat, and looked out over the water with a distressed expression. " Are you sure you are right about this ? " he asked, when Beveridge had finished. " Perfectly." " You know, it is generally easy to prove a thing when your mind's set on it." DRAWING TOGETHER 183 " There is no doubt whatever. My mind is set on nothing but carrying out my orders. Do you think I would tell you this if I didn't have the whole case right in my hands cold ? I tell you, I've got it. It's the end of one of the worst cases in fifty years." "Well, I don't know. I hate to think it." "In my business we learn not to think any thing. I always thought Maxwell would live and die in the work. If there was a clean man and a good friend to me anywhere on earth, it was Tommy Maxwell. But he had this work before me, and they paid him I don't know how much to cover the scent and skip to Mexico. After all his experience, Tommy couldn't walk by that offer, and now he must end up in Mexico for it. If I told you about the men and the methods that I have had to fight in this business, you would find it hard to believe me. In some ways it has been even a dangerous case." This was Beveridge's first opportunity to free his mind, and his tongue was threatening to run loose. He was speak ing with a certain pride. " You know there is one of us shot, on the average, every year, in this work." 1 84 THE MERRY ANNE " I don't know," said Fargo again. " Maybe you are right about her going. It wouldn't be pleasant for her. I'll speak to her mother about it." " Of course, the sooner the better." "Yes. I'll go in now." " One minute, Captain. You understand, don't you, my putting it before you ? It's just to spare Annie. There may be rough work." "Yes, I understand." "You'll hardly find it necessary to tell Mrs. Fargo what I have told you." " No, I suppose not. Though it would be perfectly safe with her." " If you don't mind, I'd rather not." " Very well." The Captain went into the house ; and Bev- eridge walked away. The Merry Anne was at the moment coming slowly in toward the north side of the pier. When he had nearly reached the pier, Bev- eridge turned and stood frowning and snapping his fingers. A glance told him that Wilson had just hauled out a fine perch and was bait ing his hook for another. He turned toward DRAWING TOGETHER 185 the house, and found that the Captain was approaching him. " Well," said Beveridge, " will she go ? " " I haven't said anything yet. I thought I'd turn it over in my mind. Aren't you pretty young for this work, Mr. Beveridge?" " Not so very. Do as you like about it. I have said all I can." "Oh, it's all right, of course; well, I'll step in and see how Annie feels about going." A second time they parted, and a second time Beveridge walked away. He looked over his shoulder, and saw Annie running down the beach for something she had left in the Captain. He hurried back and intercepted her. " Annie." "Yes." " I don't know if you understand you see, I have gone a good way in telling you what I have " " Oh, of course, if you want to take it back " "But I don't. Not a word of it. I was only going to say " he hesitated again. She waited. " It isn't what I have asked you for myself; that stands, Annie, and always will. 1 86 THE MERRY ANNE It's the other. Don't you see how I have put myself in your hands ? I never did such a thing before in my life. Just by letting you know that there's going to be something going on here to-night, and by asking you to be away, I have put a lot of power in your hands. You won't mind you won't be offended if I ask you not to breathe a word of it to a soul?" He waited, hoping for some reassuring word or sign, but she only looked at him with wide eyes. " You see a chance word might undo every thing. If " he glanced out toward the two schooners "if a hint of the facts gets out there to him don't you see? It simply can't happen. You know why I've told you. It was because I love you, because I want to save you from it all, that's why I've put myself in your hands." But all she said was, " Don't say any more ; I must go in." He was silent. But with one foot on the first step, she turned. "Wait, tell me " "Yes?" " Tell me have you anything to do with DRAWING TOGETHER 187 that revenue cutter that was in here the other day ? " " Oh, dear Annie, you mustn't ask me that." Then she hurried into the house. In the kitchen Captain Fargo was trying to tell his wife some half-truths, never an easy thing for him to do. " But what is it ? What's the trouble ? I don't see that anything could happen here that it would hurt her to see." " It wouldn't hurt her, but it really would be better to take her up to Lizzie's. You and she could come back together to-morrow." " Oh, it's me too ! Now what is all this about, anyway ? " The Captain, instead of replying, spoke to himself: " I can't believe it. There has been a mistake made. They never should have sent a boy of his age to do such work." " What work ? Is there something you have promised not to tell me ? " " Yes, there is. Don't ask me what it is. Just talk it over with Annie, and see if she won't go with you up to Lizzie's." Mrs. Fargo threw a glance at her husband, hesitated, then went up to Annie's room. 1 88 THE MERRY ANNE " Let me in, dear." Annie obeyed. " I want you to put on your things and go out with me." " Not to Aunt Lizzie's ? " " Yes. Your father thinks " " Has he been talking to father, then ? " "Your father and I have been talking it over. He hasn't told me just why he asks it " " But I know." " Oh, do you ? " There was a note of burn ing curiosity in these three words. " Yes, I do. And I don't believe a word of it." " It's nothing very bad, I hope ? " " Oh, I don't mean that I understand it all, but I know something about it. Mr. Bever- idge had no right to go to father." " Oh, it was Mr. Beveridge ? " " Yes, it was. Tell me, mother, did he do you know what else he said ? " " No, I haven't asked him. But he wants us to go very much, and I don't think we had better say anything." " He wants you to go, too ? " "Yes." DRAWING TOGETHER 189 "Now, mother, you won't think I'm very bad if I don't go ? " " I'm afraid your father " " Father doesn't understand it himself, I'm sure. It is all a mistake " " Your father thinks that, too." " Oh, does he ? Then he won't mind if I don't go ! " " I don't know. I'll tell him what you say." The mother slipped out, and returned to the kitchen. " She doesn't want to go, father." " But I have asked her to. I can't explain to you, or her " " She seems to know more than you do. She says it's a mistake." " It is ; it must be. But I said " " Now, father, don't you think we'd just better not say anything more ? Nobody is going to hurt us in our own home." rt No, he said that himself." " Well, now, suppose we just let her have her way. I could see something was troubling her, and I think she'd best be let alone." The Captain had done what he could, so now he returned to his nets and left his wife to begin getting supper. i 9 o THE MERRY ANNE Beveridge was standing at the shore end of the pier waiting for Wilson, fish-pole on shoulder, to approach. " Well, what luck, Bert?" Wilson held up a small string of perch. " Fair. It's too late in the day to catch many." " Going up to the house ? " " Yes, I guess so." Then their voices dropped. " Where will you be, Bill ? " "In the park here, by the road. You'll be back early ? " " Yes, soon as I can make the arrangements." "You have spoken to them at head quarters ? " "Yes." " All right. So long." " So long." At seven o'clock, after supper, Captain Fargo was hailed by Henry Smiley. " How are you, Henry ? Glad to see you. You haven't been around much lately." " No, too busy." " On your way up-town ? '* DRAWING TOGETHER 191 " No, just been. I ran out of tobacco and went up to get some. I generally live on the schooner, you know. I have no other place to go to. That's the devil of it, Cap'n, when you get to be my age without a home or a near relation. There isn't a soul that cares anything about me." " I guess you need some supper. Come in with us, 'tain't all cold yet." " That wouldn't help any. I've had enough to eat." " What do you mean by talking about your age ? You're young yet." " Do you call forty-five young ? " " What do you think of me ? I'm most sixty." " That's another story. When you go, you'll leave something behind to show that your life was worth living. ' " I wasn't much younger than you when I married." " None o' that for me," said Henry, with a sort of smile. " I never was minded to it. If you have seen anything worth while about living, you're lucky, I never could." " Look here, Henry, I don't like to hear 192 THE MERRY ANNE you talking that way. What's the matter with you ? " Another questionable smile. " I'll tell you how it looks to me. We have to live with a pack of rascals, and heaven help the fools ! " " Henry, you're enough to give a man the blues." " I've had enough to-day to give 'em to me. To tell the truth, Cap'n, I don't know what to make of Dick. I'm afraid he is one of the fools." " There isn't anything serious the matter, is there ? " This was said nervously. " He's young, and independent. He has no idea of easing off his own notions so as to keep things running smooth with other peo ple. I've done everything a man could to help him get on, but it's no use ; he antago nizes the only people who can help him. He's bristling all the time. A couple of weeks ago he just naturally got sick of his mate and fired him. I smoothed things over and got the Cap'n to suggest another. And now he's fired this one, and won't have him on his schooner at all, and I've had to take him in for the night." DRAWING TOGETHER 193 " Wasn't there any reason ? " " Reason yes. I know he means to tell the whole story, but he has no idea how hasty he is sometimes. McGlory's so ugly I could hardly trust my own self with him. I thought the best thing would be to walk off for a while, and maybe we'd both cool off." " Dick's all right, though, isn't he ? No no trouble, or anything ? " " Why ? Been hearing anything ? " "I I've thought he wasn't quite himself lately." " Why did you think that? " " Oh, I couldn't say, exactly." " Why, no, I don't think he's in any trouble." Henry smiled again. " I suppose you know as much as I do what's bothering him." "No. What is it?" " Well now, see here, if it's that way, I oughtn't to say anything. But you don't quite follow. Surely, you know. Just about the little girl." "My Annie?" " Yes. Of course we all know how Dick feels there." 194 THE MERRY ANNE "Well, I've thought of it, of course." " That's another thing that's been bothering me. He's got no earthly business to think of such a thing. I don't know what to make of him, anyhow. I used to think I under stood him, but Lord ! he has new sides to him every day you might as well try to organize a volcano. It's kind of discourag ing. He's the nearest approach to some thing to care about I've got, and if he would only let me, I'd like to sort o' push him along. But I don't know I don't know." " I'm afraid I misled you a little just now, Henry." "How's that?" "What I said about not having heard I have heard something." " About Dick ? " "Yes. I can't tell you what. I know it isn't so, but it has bothered me." " What sort of thing about his char acter ? " " In a way yes." Henry looked sharply at the Captain with an expression of doubt and uncertainty. Then he half turned away. DRAWING TOGETHER 195 " You aren't going, Henry ? " "Yes, guess I'd better, and see what Mc- Glory's up to. I'd let him go back to the city, but I want to see Cap'n Stenzenberger before he does. Good night." Henry walked out on the pier to his schooner. The evening came slowly on and settled over the lake. The breeze, instead of drop ping with the sun, had freshened, and now was stirring up little waves that lapped the two schooners and the piling under the pier. Annie, sitting out on her balcony in an in conspicuous dress, her arms on the railing, was listening and watching and waiting. She had heard Henry say good night to her father, and had seen him walk out on the pier until he was lost among the lumber piles. She saw the afterglow die in the north, the red-gold lake fade to amber, to gray-blue, almost to black, while the twinkle of the lighthouse on the point grew into a powerful beacon and sent an arrow of light deep into the water. She watched the horizon line grow dimmer and dimmer until it disappeared, and sky and lake blended in 196 THE MERRY ANNE i darkness. All was quiet on the pier. The lights of the schooners swayed lazily ; occa sionally a voice floated in over the water, a quiet, matter-of-fact voice. She looked up the beach, down the beach ; all was peace ful. But there was no quiet in Annie's heart. She was rigid ; her hands were clasped ; her eyes shifted nervously from point to point. Once she got up and went into her room and tried to read; but in a few moments she was back. And there she sat until the late twilight had darkened into night. Then she rose, passed through the room, leaving the light burning, stepped out into the hall, and softly, very softly, closed the door. She stood motionless, still holding the knob. Her father and mother were in the sitting room quietly talking. She went slowly down the stairs, stepping cautiously over the one squeaky step, and slipped through the hall. The sitting-room door was closed. " Annie ? " "Yes, mother." " Is that you ? " "Yes, I'm out here." DRAWING TOGETHER 197 "What is it?" " Nothing. I'm going out for a breath of air." " Where are you going ? " " Oh, not far." " Come in soon, won't you ? " "Yes, of course. I'm not going off any where." There was apparently no further need for quiet, yet she was half a minute closing the front door after her. Again she looked up and down the beach. She could see the street now on the low bluff; but no one appeared within the light of the corner gas lamp. Then she hurried along the beach, climbed up on the pier by some rough steps that she knew, and walked rapidly out toward the schooner, stepping on the balls of her feet, and avoiding loose planks. CHAPTER VIII THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY CHAPTER VIII THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY ONCE within the shadow of the lumber Annie paused. Not a sound came from the two schooners. She knew that the Merry Anne lay to leeward, on the north side, and after a moment of listening and a glance behind she turned toward it, making her way by feeling the lumber until she found an opening. In another moment she stood at the edge of the pier, looking down on the schooner. At first she thought Dick must be asleep, for there was no light in the cabin ; then she saw him sitting on the cabin trunk, his hands clasped about his knees, his pipe between his teeth, his eyes fixed on the dark water. The night was still, the lapping of the ripples was the only sound. " Dick," she whispered. He turned with a start and removed his pipe. Though he looked directly toward her, 201 202 THE MERRY ANNE he evidently could not see her, for her black dress blended with the shadows. " Dick," she said again. This time he ducked under the boom and came across to the rail. " Who's there ? " " It's me, Dick. I'm coming down." " No, wait." He stepped up beside her, and added, in a low, uncertain voice, " You might wake Pink; he's sleeping below." And before she knew it, his pipe lay on a plank and he had taken both her hands. " You came out to see me, Annie ? " " Yes, but wait, Dick ; I don't know how to tell you- I couldn't help coming " He waited for her to go on, but she could not. She could not even withdraw her hands, but stood motionless, her wits fluttering. ' O Finally he spoke : " You said you came to tell me " " Not that, Dick not what you think. It's something else." He released her hands. He even, in his bewilderment, took up his pipe again. " I've found something out, Dick. I couldn't let it go by without telling you. It's about Mr. Beveridge." THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY 203 " Oh," said Dick. " Did you think he was a student ? " " Yes, I thought so." "Well, he isn't at all." " Oh," said Dick again. And then, " Isn't he?" " No, he has something to do with don't you understand what I'm getting at, Dick ? " He shook his head. " Are you going to make me tell you ? " "You needn't tell me anything you don't want to, Annie." " O dear, I don't understand it myself, much of it ; but I thought you would if what he says is true." " It's something about me, then ? " " Yes, Dick, and the revenue cutter." "The revenue cutter?" " Yes, the Foote. He has something to do with her." " He's a revenue officer, then ? " " Yes, or something. I don't know just what he is. But you understand it now, don't you? " " Not a bit." " But you must, Dick. He says something is going to happen, right here." 204 THE MERRY ANNE " On the pier ? " "Yes." " When ? " " Now to-night. I was afraid it would be before I could get out here. And I had to wait till dark, you know." " But how do you know all this, Annie ? " " Mr. Beveridge Mr. Beveridge told me more than he meant to, I guess. And then he talked with father. And father and mother both tried to make me go up to Aunt Lizzie's early this evening, so I wouldn't be here. It was to save me from something, they said." " But I don't see, Annie " " Why don't you go, Dick. I've come out here to tell you, so you can sail away before he comes. Then you won't have any trouble. There's a mistake, I know ; and when they have found it out, you can come back." " Oh, I couldn't do that, Annie. I have no reason to go away. If anybody wants to see me, he knows where he can find me." This silenced Annie. She looked at Dick, and then looked away from him, out over the Lake, not knowing what to say or think. " You came out just to warn me, Annie ? " THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY 205 She nodded. " There must be something more then something you haven't told me." "No only he Mr. Beveridge said a good deal he tried to make me believe you were dishonest, or something." " And you didn't believe it ? " She made no reply to this. She was be ginning to think about getting back to the house. When Dick spoke again, it was in a gentler voice. " I'm glad you came out, Annie, mighty glad. And I know you'll be glad to find out that he is wrong." "Oh, I know that " " But there must have been some things I don't understand at all. I don't know but what it's a good thing he is here. If he can clear it up, it will be better for all of us. So I'll stay right here, and if he wants me, he can have me. That's no reason why I should dodge any man living." "I knew it I'm glad " Then Dick's reserve broke down. He caught her hands again. " But you can't tell me your coming out here doesn't mean 206 THE MERRY ANNE anything, Annie. You've told me already what I didn't dare to ask you." " No, Dick, let me go. I'm going back." " But after this you can't put me off now, Annie. Don't you see? It's no use trying to make me think you would have done this for anybody, because you wouldn't. I know it, and you know it." "Now, Dick, please! I'm afraid " " If you only knew how I've felt this trip, what a regular hell it has been, you wouldn't keep me waiting any longer. I know to-morrow's the time ; and I wouldn't have said a word to-night if you hadn't come out here. But you are here, and you have let me know so much that it's only a matter of saying a word. You can't blame me if I take your coming that way." Annie was struggling, and Dick in his eagerness was holding her tightly. But she got her hands free now and turned away. " Let me go back with you, Annie. I I'll try not to bother you. I didn't mean to just now. Hang it, I never can trust myself when " " No, you mustn't come." THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY 207 " Not even good night, Annie ? " But sne hurried off without a word into the shadows, and felt her way nervously until she reached the central roadway, where it was lighter. It was now getting on toward nine o'clock, and nothing had happened. Per haps nothing was going to happen, after all. What with her hope that it all might be a mistake, and her fear that she had come on a fool's errand, Annie was in a pretty state of mind. She did not know what to make of Beveridge ; she did not know what to make of herself; the natural thing, apparently, was to get angry with Dick, and this she was rapidly doing. When she was passing the last but one of the lumber piles, hurrying along with less caution than she had used in coming out, a man appeared out of the shadow and blocked the way. She stepped aside and tried to run by, but he, as quick as she, stepped aside too and caught her wrist. Then she saw that it was Beveridge. " Let me go ! " she said breathlessly. " No, Annie, wait. You decided to warn him, did you ? " 208 THE MERRY 4NNE " Let me go. You have no right to hold me." " Yes I have, more right than you know. Now tell me, why did you do it ? " "Mr. Beveridge " " You must wait, Annie. No one is going to hurt you. If you had known what you were doing, you never would have come. It's no place for a woman. But now that you have done this, now that you are here, I think you had better stay and see with your own eyes what you have done. Then per haps you will believe me." Poor Annie could say nothing more. Her head whirled. She let him lead her back along the roadway. Close to the spot where she had turned off to reach the schooner Beveridge stopped. In a moment he was joined by another man. " Bert ? " " Yes. What is it ? Want me to take her home?'/ " No. Wait here, in case I call. And have an eye on the other boat." cc You aren't going to take her back there ? " " Never you mind what I'm going to do." THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY 209 " But look here, Bill ! This is no place for " " Do what you're told and keep still." Annie heard this muttered conversation with out taking it in. Beveridge still held her wrist, held it tighter than he knew, but she was hardly conscious of this either. She was caught up and whirled along on the high wind of events. She was conscious only of Beveridge, of a new side to his char acter. The young man she had known on the beach and aboard the Captain had van ished. This Beveridge was hard, irresistible ; his manner, the atmosphere about him, spoke of some object that must be reached without regard to obstacles. Her Beveridge had been friendly, considerate ; there was nothing con siderate about this man. And yet, a part of his object was to convince her that he was right and that Dick was wrong ; and she knew why. Dick had gone back to his seat on the cabin trunk. Beveridge, gripping Annie's wrist, stood at the pier edge, and looked down. " Smiley," he said. Dick crossed the deck. " I'm Smiley. What is it ? " 210 THE MERRY ANNE " I shall have to ask you to come away with me." " Who are you ? " " Beveridge, special agent of the United States Treasury Department." " Well, what do you want me for ? " Dick was peering forward, trying to make out the figure in the background. " I guess it isn't necessary to tell you that ; I'll give you a minute to get what things you need." " Who have you got there ? " " It's me, Dick." " Annie ! " Dick leaped up to the pier. " Have you dragged her out here to see " " Get back there on your schooner, Smiley. It won't be necessary to do any talking. Any thing you say is likely to be used against you. Get back there." Dick looked at him a moment, then jumped down. Beveridge followed, helping Annie, none too gently. " Where's your man Harper ? " "Pink," called Dick. "Pink, come up here." In a moment the sleepy mate appeared. THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY 211 "Harper," said Beveridge, "get an axe. Be quick about it." Pink looked at Dick, who said, " Go ahead. Do whatever he tells you." The axe was brought and handed to Beveridge. " Now, Smiley, you and your man go below, please." "Below?" "To the hold. I'll follow." " Pink," said Dick, " get a lantern." They had to wait a minute, while Pink was lighting the lantern. There they stood, with out speaking, each watching the other. Finally Pink led the way to the open hatch, and de scended the ladder. Dick followed. Bever idge led Annie to the opening. " Wait," he said ; " I'll go first, and help you down." Dick, standing below on the timbers, looked up like a flash. " I wouldn't try to bring her down here if I were you." " I'm not talking to you, Smiley." " No, but you will be if you bully her much longer. Just try to make her go down that ladder. Try it ! " Beveridge, without heeding, turned to Annie. 212 THE MERRY ANNE When he turned back, Dick, with itching fingers, stood on the deck beside him. "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to go below ? " "Annie," said Dick, "just say the word just look at me if you want look here, Mister Beveridge, I don't know much about law, but it seems to me you haven't shown me any papers, and, until you do, you can have your choice of letting go of her hand or losing your front teeth. Just whichever you like." But Beveridge did neither. " No, Smiley," said he, " we won't get into that sort o' talk." After which remark, he stooped over and looked down at Pink and his lantern, and at the timbers on which Pink was standing. " I guess maybe you can see without going down, Annie. Sit down here, and watch what I do. Go ahead, Smiley." Dick again descended the ladder, and the special agent followed, axe in hand. Annie, with horrified eyes, sat limp against the hatch and took in every motion in that dimly lighted group below. She saw Dick and Harper stand aside ; she saw Beveridge raise the axe a little way and bring it down sharply Gazing into the square black hole." THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY 213 on the end of a stick of timber, an end that was marked with a circular groove ; she saw the timber split open, and a plug fall out ; she saw Beveridge stoop and dip his fingers in a brown liquid that was flowing from some sort of a broken receptacle ; she smelled whiskey. She was confused, she had only a half understand ing of what it meant, but she shivered as if a cold wind were blowing upon her ; and when they had all three mounted to the deck and were standing about her, she was still sitting there, holding to something, she knew not what, and gazing with fascinated eyes into the square black hole, blacker than at first, now that Harper was holding the lantern before her on the deck. But she knew when Beveridge stepped forward to help her up, only to be brushed aside by Dick, who raised her gently, with a low exclamation of pity, and helped her across the deck. The three men gathered about her at the rail. " Before we go any farther," said the agent, in a conversational tone, " will you men walk into Cap'n Fargo's house with me and sit down while we talk this over a little ? If you 214 THE MERRY ANNE say you will, I'm willing to take your word. But if not, I have men on the pier and on the bank that might help you to make up your minds." " That's not necessary. We'll go with you. Just a step up, Annie. Put your hand on my shoulder." " All right, Mister Smiley. Come, Harper." In passing his assistant, Beveridge paused to whisper: "I'll be at the house. See that McGlory doesn't try to get ashore. If he gives you any trouble, whistle." A few moments more, and they were seated around Mrs. Fargo's dining table, Beveridge, Dick, Pink Harper, and the old fisherman. Annie was shut in her room, refusing admit tance even to her mother. " There's one question that comes up right here, Mr. Smiley," began Beveridge, " before we go any farther. Is this man Harper one of your accomplices ? " " What do you mean by that ? '* " Don't take my time by evasions. You have given me trouble enough now. If you will tell me he has had little or nothing to do with this business, and if he can give a good THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY 215 account of himself, I'll let him go. What do you say ? " " Will you tell me what you mean ? " " That's enough. I won't waste any more time on it. We'll hold him. Cap'n," turn ing to Fargo, " there's one thing I guess you can understand my position I shall have to call on Annie for a witness, a little later." Here Dick broke out. " So that's why you dragged her into this, is it ? " " Be careful what you say, Mr. Smiley." Dick looked hard at him, then glanced around the group, then settled back in his chair. After a short silence, Captain Fargo spoke. " This isn't all settled, is it, Mr. Beveridge ? Dick hasn't told you that what you thought was so ? " " It was hardly necessary. I found the proofs right there on his schooner." " Is that right, Dick ? " " It seems to be." "You don't mean to say right out that you're a smuggler, Dick ? " " No, I'm not." 216 THE MERRY ANNE Captain Fargo was puzzled. He looked from one to the other of the two men, until Beveridge, with an air of settling the matter, rose. "You'd better not throw away any sympathy there, Cap'n. You can be thankful to find out in time that he's a bad one. I'm only sorry to have to draw your family into it. I tried hard enough not to." " Yes, I know that." There was a shout outside, a noise on the steps, and a hammering on the door. Then before the fisherman could get out of his chair, the outer door burst open, and down the hall and into the dining room came Wilson, breath less, his hat still on his head. "Well, Bert " " He's skipped ! " " McGlory ? What were you thinking of? Where'd he go ? " Beveridge was on his feet. " No use, Bill ; sit down. It'll take a steamer to catch him." " You didn't stand there and let him sail off"." " Wait'll I tell you. I was back a little way, where the pier narrows, so's he couldn't slip by through the lumber. The schooner he was on, the the " THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY 217 " Schmidt" put in Pink. " The Schmidt was on the south side, the the " " Merry Anne" said Pink. " was on the north. There's a south wind, you see. And the first thing I knew I heard the tackle creaking off to the left. Thinks I, that's from the Merry Anne, only there ain't a soul aboard her. I ran out and looked, and sure enough, there she was, with two or three men hauling away on the sails." " And you didn't stop 'em ? " " How could I, Bill ? You see, they'd cut the ropes and let her drift off down the wind. She was a hundred feet out before they made a move." " But what were they doing on the Merry Anne?" " Don't you see ? " said Pink ; " she can beat the old Schmidt hands down." " They'd sneaked across out by the end," added Wilson, " while I was nearer shore." Beveridge sat down again, and tapped the table nervously as his eyes shifted from one to another of the faces before him. " How're they sailing, Bert ? " 218 THE MERRY ANNE " Right off north." " Before the wind ? " "Yes, sure," said Pink; "how could they help it with a south wind ? " " Smiley," Beveridge had turned on Dick, and was speaking in a keen, hard voice, " where are they going ? " " I couldn't tell you." " Think a little. Your memory's poor, maybe." But Dick was stubborn. Pink, however, was struck by a flash of intelligence. " I'll bet I know." " Where, Harper ? " " Why, to Spencer's, where we just come from." "Where's that?" " Around in Lake Huron. If I had a chart here Cap'n, ain't you got a chart o' Lake Huron ? " Except for Pink's eager voice, the room was still. The four other men sat like statues, leaning forward. As he waited for the reply, the boy became suddenly conscious of the odd expres sion of their faces. He had meant to help both Dick and himself was he helping? THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY 219 The thought that had already found a place in Dick's mind, the thought that they were in the hands of a merciless agent, whose whole object was to prove them guilty, whose own advan tage, whose future perhaps, lay in proving them guilty and that the course to be fol lowed was not a matter for offhand decision, came now to him, and he faltered. Captain Fargo shook his head. " No," said he, huskily,