initials only-第28部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃I　begin　to　see。〃

〃No；　you　don't；　Sweetwater。　　The　affair　is　as　blind　as　your　hat；　nobody　sees。　　We're　just　feeling　along　a　thread。　　O。　B。's　letters　　…　the　real　O。　B。；　I　mean；　are　the　manliest　effusions　possible。　He's　no　more　of　a　milksop　than　this　Brotherson；　and　unlike　your　indomitable　friend　he　seems　to　have　some　heart。　　I　only　wish　he'd　given　us　some　facts；　they　would　have　been　serviceable。　　But　the　letters　reveal　nothing　except　that　he　knew　Doris。　　He　writes　in　one　of　them：　'Doris　is　learning　to　embroider。　　It's　like　a　fairy　weaving　a　cobweb！'　　Doris　isn't　a　very　common　name。　　She　must　be　the　same　little　girl　to　whom　Miss　Challoner　wrote　from　time　to　time。〃

〃Was　this　letter　signed　O。　B。？〃

〃Yes；　they　all　are。　　The　only　difference　between　his　letters　and　Brotherson's　is　this：　Brotherson's　retain　the　date　and　address；　the　second　O。　B。's　do　not。〃

〃How　not？　　Torn　off；　do　you　mean？〃

〃Yes；　or　rather；　neatly　cut　away；　and　as　none　of　the　envelopes　were　kept；　the　only　means　by　which　we　can　locate　the　writer　is　through　this　girl　Doris。〃

〃If　I　remember　rightly　Miss　Challoner's　letter　to　this　child　was　free　from　all　mystery。〃

〃Quite　so。　　It　is　as　open　as　the　day。　　That　is　why　it　has　been　mentioned　as　showing　the　freedom　of　Miss　Challoner's　mind　five　minutes　before　that　fatal　thrust。〃

Sweetwater　took　up　the　sheet　Mr。　Gryce　pushed　towards　him　and　re…read　these　lines：

　　〃Dear　Little　Doris：

　　〃It　is　a　snowy　night；　but　it　is　all　bright　inside　and　I　feel　no　　　chill　in　mind　or　body。　　I　hope　it　is　so　in　the　little　cottage　in　　　Derby；　that　my　little　friend　is　as　happy　with　harsh　winds　blowing　　　from　the　mountains　as　she　was　on　the　summer　day　she　came　to　see　　　me　at　this　hotel。　　I　like　to　think　of　her　as　cheerful　and　beaming；　　　rejoicing　in　tasks　which　make　her　so　womanly　and　sweet。　　She　is　　　often；　often　in　my　mind。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Affectionately　your　friend；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃EDITH　A。　　CHALLONER。〃


〃That　to　a　child　of　sixteen！〃

〃Just　so。〃

〃D…o…r…i…s　spells　something　besides　Doris。〃

〃Yet　there　is　a　Doris。　　Remember　that　O。　B。　says　in　one　of　his　letters；　'　Doris　is　learning　to　embroider。'

〃Yes；　I　remember　that。〃

〃So　you　must　first　find　Doris。〃

〃Very　good；　sir。〃

〃And　as　Miss　Challoner's　letter　was　directed　to　Derby；　Pennsylvania；　you　will　go　to　Derby。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Anything　more？〃

〃I've　been　reading　this　letter　again。〃

〃It's　worth　it。〃

〃The　last　sentence　expresses　a　hope。〃

〃That　has　been　noted。〃

Sweetwater's　eyes　slowly　rose　till　they　rested　on　Mr。　Gryce's　face：　〃I'll　cling　to　the　thread　you've　given　me。　　I'll　work　myself　through　the　labyrinth　before　us　till　I　reach　HIM。〃

Mr。　Gryce　smiled；　but　there　was　more　age；　wisdom　and　sympathy　for　youthful　enthusiasm　in　that　smile　than　there　was　confidence　or　hope。



BOOK　III


THE　HEART　OF　MAN



XXIII

DORIS


〃A　young　girl　named　Doris　Scott？〃

The　station…master　looked　somewhat　sharply　at　the　man　he　was　addressing；　and　decided　to　give　the　direction　asked。

〃There　is　but　one　young　girl　in　town　of　that　name；〃　he　declared；　〃and　she　lives　in　that　little　house　you　see　just　beyond　the　works。　But　let　me　tell　you；　stranger；〃　he　went　on　with　some　precipitation　

But　here　he　was　called　off；　and　Sweetwater　lost　the　conclusion　of　his　warning；　if　warning　it　was　meant　to　be。　　This　did　not　trouble　the　detective。　　He　stood　a　moment；　taking　in　the　prospect；　decided　that　the　Works　and　the　Works　alone　made　the　town；　and　started　for　the　house　which　had　been　pointed　out　to　him。　　His　way　lay　through　the　chief　business　street；　and　greatly　preoccupied　by　his　errand；　he　gave　but　a　passing　glance　to　the　rows　on　rows　of　workmen's　dwellings　stretching　away　to　the　left　in　seemingly　endless　perspective。　　Yet　in　that　glance　he　certainly　took　in　the　fact　　hat　the　sidewalks　were　blocked　with　people　and　wondered　if　it　were　a　holiday。　　If　so；　it　must　be　an　enforced　one；　for　the　faces　showed　little　joy。　　Possibly　a　strike　was　on。　　The　anxiety　he　everywhere　saw　pictured　on　young　faces　and　old；　argued　some　trouble；　but　if　the　trouble　was　that；　why　were　all　heads　turned　indifferently　from　the　Works；　and　why　were　the　Works　themselves　in　full　blast？

These　questions　he　may　have　asked　himself　and　he　may　not。　　His　attention　was　entirely　centred　on　the　house　he　saw　before　him　and　on　the　possible　developments　awaiting　him　there。　　Nothing　else　mattered。　　Briskly　he　stepped　out　along　the　sandy　road；　and　after　a　turn　or　two　which　led　him　quite　away　from　the　Works　and　its　surrounding　buildings；　he　came　out　upon　the　highway　and　this　house。

It　was　a　low　and　unpretentious　one；　and　had　but　one　distinguishing　feature。　　The　porch　which　hung　well　over　the　doorstep　was　unique　in　shape　and　gave　an　air　of　picturesqueness　to　an　otherwise　simple　exterior；　a　picturesqueness　which　was　much　enhanced　in　its　effect　by　the　background　of　illimitable　forest；　which　united　the　foreground　of　this　pleasing　picture　with　the　great　chain　of　hills　which　held　the　Works　and　town　in　its　ample　basin。

As　he　approached　the　doorstep；　his　mind　involuntarily　formed　an　anticipatory　image　of　the　child　whose　first　stitches　in　embroidery　were　like　a　fairy's　weaving　to　the　strong　man　who　worked　in　ore　and　possibly　figured　out　bridges。　　That　she　would　prove　to　be　of　the　anemic　type；　common　among　working　girls　gifted　with　an　imagination　they　have　but　scant　opportunity　to　exercise；　he　had　little　doubt。

He　was　therefore　greatly　taken　aback；　when　at　his　first　step　upon　the　porch；　the　door　before　him　flew　open　and　he　beheld　in　the　dark　recess　beyond　a　young　woman　of　such　bright　and　blooming　beauty　that　he　hardly　noticed　her　expression　of　extreme　anxiety；　till　she　lifted　her　hand　and　laid　an　admonitory　finger　softly　on　her　lip：

〃Hush！　she　whispered；　with　an　earnestness　which　roused　him　from　his　absorption　and　restored　him　to　the　full　meaning　of　this　encounter。　〃There　is　sickness　in　the　house　and　we　are　very　anxious。　　Is　your　errand　an　important　one？　　If　not　　…　〃The　faltering　break　in　the　fresh；　young　voice；　the　look　she　cast　behind　her　into　the　darkened　interior；　were　eloquent　with　the　hope　that　he　would　recognise　her　impatience　and　pass　on。

And　so　he　might　have　done；　…　so　he　would　have　done　under　all　ordinary　circumstances。　　But　if　this　was　Doris　…　and　he　did　not　doubt　the　fact　after　the　first　moment　of　startled　surprise　…　how　dare　he　forego　this　opportunity　of　settling　the　question　which　had　brought　him　here。

With　a　slight　stammer　but　otherwise　giving　no　evidence　of　the　effect　made　upon　him　by　the　passionate　intensity　with　which　she　had　urged　this　plea；　he　assured　her　that　his　errand　was　important；　but　one　so　quickly　told　that　it　would　delay　her　but　a　moment。　　〃But　first；　said　he；　with　very　natural　caution；　〃let　me　make　sure　that　it　is　to　Miss　Doris　Scott　I　am　speaking。　　My　errand　is　to　her　and　her　only。

Without　showing　any　surprise；　perhaps　too　engrossed　in　her　own　thoughts　to　feel　any；　she　answered　with　simple　directness；　〃Yes；　I　am　Doris　Scott。　　Whereupon　he　became　his　most　persuasive　self；　and　pulling　out　a　folded　paper　from　his　pocket；　opened　it　and　held　it　before　her；　with　these　words：

〃Then　will　you　be　so　good　as　to　glance　at　this　letter　and　tell　me　if　the　person　whose　initials　you　will　find　at　the　bottom　happens　to　be　in　town　at　the　present　moment？

In　some　astonishment　now；　she　glanced　down　at　the　sheet　thus　boldly　thrust　before　her；　and　recognising　the　0　and　the　B　of　a　well…known　signature；　she　flashed　a　look　back　at　Sweetwater　in　which　he　read　a　confusion　of　emotions　for　which　he　was　hardly　prepared。

〃Ah；　thought　he；　〃　it's　coming。　　In　another　moment　I　shall　hear　what　will　repay　me　for　the　trials　and　disappointments　of　all　these　months。

But　the　moment　passed　and　he　had　heard　nothing。　　Instead；　she　dropped　her　hands　from　the　door…jamb　and　gave　such　unmistakable　evidences　of　intended　flight；　that　but　one　alternative　remained　to　him；　he　became　abrupt。

Thrusting　the　paper　still　nearer；　he　said；　with　an　emphasis　which　could　not　fail　of　making　an　impression；　〃Read　it。　　Read　the　whole　letter。　　You　will　find　your　name　there。　　This　communication　was　addressed　to　Miss　Challoner；　but　　…〃

Oh；　now　she　found　words！　　With　a　low　cry；　she　put　out　her　hand　in　quick　entreaty；　begging　him　to　desist　and　not　speak　that　name　on　any　pretext　or　for　any　purpose。　　〃He　may　rouse　and　hear；　she　explained；　with　another　quick　look　behind　her。　　〃The　doctor　says　that　this　is　the　critical　day。　　He　may　become　conscious　any　minute。　If　he　should　and　were　to　hear　that　name；　it　might　kill　him。〃

〃He！〃　Sweetwater　perked　up　his　ears。　　〃Who　do　you　mean　by　he？〃

〃Mr。　Brotherson；　my　patient；　he　whose　letter　　…〃　　But　here　her　impatience　rose　above　every　other　consideration。　　Without　attempting　to　finish　her　sentence；　or　yielding　in　the　least　to　her　curiosity　or　interest　in　this　man's　errand；　she　cried　out　with　smothered　intensity；　〃Go！　　go！　　I　cannot　stay　another　moment　from　his　bedside。〃

But　a　thunderbolt　could　not　have　moved　Sweetwater　after　the　hearing　of　that　name。　　〃Mr。　Brotherson！　he　echoed。　　〃Brotherson！　　Not　Orlando？〃

〃No；　no；　his　name　is　Oswald。　　He's　the　manager　of　these　Works。　　He's　sick　with　typhoid。　　We　are　caring　for　him。　　If　you　belonged　here　you　would　know　that　much。　　There！　　that's　his　voice　you　hear。　　Go；　if　you　have　any　mercy。〃　And　she　began　to　push　to　the　door。

But　Sweetwater　was　impervious　to　all　hint。　　With　eager　eyes　straining　into　the　shadowy　depths　just　visible　over　her　shoulder；　he　listened　eagerly　for　the　disjointed　words　now　plainly　to　be　heard　in　some　near…by　but　unseen　chamber。

〃The　second　0。　B。！　he　inwardly　declared。　　〃And　he's　a　Brotherson　also；　and　　…　sick！　　Miss　Scott；〃　he　whisperingly　entreated　as　her　hand　fell　in　manifest　despair　from　the　door；　〃don't　send　me　away　yet。　　I've　a　question　of　the　greatest　importance　to　put　you；　and　one　minute　more　cannot　make　any　difference　to　him。　　Listen！　　those　cries　are　the　cries　of　delirium；　he　cannot　miss　you；　he's　not　even　conscious。〃

〃He's　calling　out　in　his　sleep。　　He's　calling　her；　just　as　he　has　called　for　the　last　two　weeks。　　But　he　will　wake　conscious　…　or　he　will　not　wake　at　all。

The　anguish　trembling　in　that　latter　phrase　would　have　attracted　Sweetwater's