At the Crossroads Part 19

"I want to see her," he said angrily. "Get out of the way."

"She ain't no great sight, and I'm cleaning up!" Jan-an scowled and her energy suggested that Larry might soon be included among the things she was getting rid of.

"See here"--Larry's eyes darkened--"if you don't stand aside----"

But at this juncture Peneluna loomed in the doorway. She regarded Larry with a tightening of the mouth muscles. Inwardly she thought of him as a bad son of a good father, but intuitions were not proofs and because Doctor Rivers had been good, and Mary-Clare was always to be considered, the old woman kept her feelings to herself.

She was still in her rusty black, the rakish bonnet set awry on her head.

"Come in!" she said quietly. "And you, Jan-an, you trundle over to my old place and clean up."

Larry went inside and sat down in the chair nearest the door. The neatness and order of the room struck even his indifferent eyes, so unexpected was it on the Point.

"Well?" Peneluna looked at her visitor coolly. Larry did not speak at once--he was going to get the house next door; he must have it and he did not want to make any mistakes with the grim, silent woman near him. He was not considering the truth, but he was selecting the best lies that occurred to him; the ones most likely to appeal to his future landlady.

"Miss Peneluna," he began finally, but the stiff lips interrupted him:

"_Mrs. Sniff_."

"Good Lord! Mrs. Sniff, then. You see, I didn't know you were married."

"Didn't you? You might not know everything that goes on. You don't trouble us much. Your goings and comings leave us strangers."

Larry did not reply. He was manufacturing tears, and presently, to Peneluna's amazement, they glistened on his cheeks.

"I wonder"--Larry's voice trembled--"I wonder if I can speak openly to you, Mrs.--Mrs. Sniff? You were in my father's house; he trusted you.

I do not seem to have any one but you at this crisis."

Peneluna sneezed. She had a terrible habit of sneezing at will--it was positively shocking.

"I guess there ain't any reason for you not speaking out your ideas to me," she said cautiously. "I ain't much of a fount of wisdom, but I ain't a babbling brook, neither."

She was thinking that it would be safer to handle Rivers than to let others use him, and she knew something of the trouble at the yellow house. Jan-an had regaled her with some rare tidbits.

"Peneluna, Mary-Clare and I have had some words; I've left home."

There was no answer to this. Larry moistened his lips and went on:

"Perhaps Mary-Clare has told you?"

"No, she ain't blabbed none."

This was disconcerting.

"She wouldn't, and I am not going to, either. It's just a misunderstanding, Mrs. Sniff. I could go away and let it rest there, but I fear I've been away too much and things have got snarled.

Mary-Clare doesn't rightly see things."

"Yes she does, Larry Rivers! She's terrible seeing." Peneluna's eyes flashed.

"All right then, Mrs. Sniff. _I want her to see!_ I want her to see me here, looking after her interests. I cannot explain; you'll all know soon enough. Danger's threatening and I'm going to be on the spot!

You've all got a wrong line on Maclin, so he's side-stepped and listened to me at last; I'm going to show up this man Northrup who is hanging round. I want to hire your house, Mrs. Sniff, and live on here until----"

Peneluna sneezed l.u.s.tily; it made Larry wince.

"Until Mary-Clare turns you out?" she asked harshly. "And gets talked about for doing it--or lets you stay on reflecting upon her what can't tell her side? Larry Rivers, you always was a thorn in your good father's side and I reckon you've been one in Mary-Clare's."

Larry winced again and recalled sharply the old vacations and this woman's silent att.i.tude toward him. It all came back clearly. He could always cajole Aunt Polly Heathcote, but Peneluna had explained her att.i.tude toward him in the past by briefly stating that she "internally and eternally hated boys."

"You're hard on me, Mrs. Sniff. You'll be sorry some day."

"Then I'll be sorry!" Peneluna sneezed.

Presently her mood, however, changed. She regarded Larry with new interest.

"How much will you give me for my place?" Peneluna leaned forward suddenly and quite took Larry off his guard. He had succeeded so unexpectedly that it had the effect of shock.

"Five dollars a month, Mrs. Sniff."

"I'm wanting ten."

This was a staggering demand.

"How bad does he want it?" Peneluna was thinking.

"How far had I best give in?" Larry estimated.

"Make it seven," he ventured.

"Seven and then three dollars a week more if I cook and serve for you."

Larry had overlooked this very important item.

"All right!" he agreed. "When can I come?"

"Right off." Peneluna felt that she must get him under her eye as soon as possible. She moved to the door.

"You'll make it straight with Mary-Clare?"

Larry was following the rigid form out into the gathering dark--a storm was rising; the bell on the distant island was ringing gleefully like a wicked little imp set free.

"I'll tell her that you're here and that she best let you stay on, if that's what you mean." Peneluna led the way over the well-worn path she had often trod before. "And, Larry Rivers, I don't rightly know as I'm doing fair and square, but look at it as you will, it's better me than another if anything is wrong. I served yer good father and I set a store by yer wife and child--and I want to hang hold of you all.

I've let you have yer way down here, but I don't want any ructions and I ain't going to have Maclin's crowd hinting and defiling anybody."

"I'll never forget this, Mrs. Sniff." In the gathering gloom, behind Peneluna's striding form, Larry's voice almost broke again and undoubtedly the tears were on his cheeks. "Some day, when you know all, you'll understand."

"I'm a good setter and waiter, Larry Rivers, and as to understanding, that is as it may be. I can only see just so far! I can't turn my back on the old doctor's son nor Mary-Clare's husband but I don't want any tricks. You better not forget that! There's a bed in yonder." The two had entered the house next door. Jan-an had done good work. The place was in order and a fire burned in the stove. "I'll fetch food later."

With this Peneluna, followed by Jan-an, a trifle more vague than usual, left the house.

The rain was already falling and the wind rising--it was the haunted wind; the bell sounded in the distance sharply. Jan-an paused in the gathering darkness and spoke tremblingly: