Captain Pott's Minister Part 30

Mr. McGowan gave the fire another vigorous poke before continuing. The Captain slid to the edge of his chair, holding on to the sides.

"Do you know of all the movements of Mr. Fox after he left here?" came the disappointing question from near the fireplace.

"No, I don't. But you was speaking of the case from Sydney, Mack. Who was the feller whose name hit Jim so hard?"

"Was Mr. Fox a sailor?"

"Lordie!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the Captain. "Jim Fox a sailor? Why, he couldn't sail a tub in a flooded cellar."

"You mean he never crossed the ocean as a trader?"

"He done that, I cal'late, but as far as him being a sailor----" He sniffed a contemptuous conclusion.

"How many years ago was it that he followed the seas?"

"I ain't able to say, exactly, but it wa'n't long after Adoniah left home."

"Cap'n Pott, Mr. Fox knew your half-brother after they had both left this country."

"How do you know that?"

"Just by putting two and two together."

The seaman took the yellow bit of paper from his pocket, and in his excitement crumpled it into a wad. "But Adoniah went to Australia, and Jim says he was in Africa," he said, testing out the other's fund of information.

"I know all about that story, but I don't believe one word of it. Mr.

Fox did not make his money in Africa, and he knew your half-brother."

"What's all this got to do with that there client Harold spoke of the last night you ate up there?"

"Everything. The man he mentioned was a trader in Sydney. He had married an only daughter of an older trader, and then something happened. The younger man disappeared very suddenly. The old trader searched for years, but in vain. Recently, he died, leaving a large estate. His wife has taken up the search for the lost daughter. It was the name of the old trader's son-in-law that crumpled up Mr. Fox like an autumn leaf.

The young trader's name was Adoniah Phillips."

Though he had been antic.i.p.ating this, the Captain fell back into his chair and stared blankly at the minister. "But why did he act like the devil toward you, Mack? That's what I want to know."

"I don't know. That is the thing that puzzles me."

"What more do you know?"

"Harold said that Mr. Phillips came over to this country."

The Captain again sprang from his chair as though hurled out by a strong spring. Mr. McGowan rose to face him.

"My brother in America? Mack, it's a lie! He'd have looked me up!"

"Perhaps he had reasons for not wishing you to know about him. He may have been an outlaw."

The minister then asked abruptly, "What connection was there between him and Mr. Fox? That is the thing we must find out."

The Captain was trembling. "Have you seen Harold since he come back?"

"Not yet. But I intend to."

"No you don't! For G.o.d's sake, boy, don't do it!"

"But I must. I want to help you and Miss Pipkin. Then, for some unknown reason, I seem to be a part of all this mystery, and I intend to ferret it out."

"Mack, please don't!"

"Is it because you fear disgrace to your family name?"

"That's it!" shouted the seaman, seizing the minister by the arms with a crushing grip. "I'll tell you the hull miserable yarn some day, when I get to the bottom of it. But keep your hands off now! Them's orders!"

"And if I break them?"

"Then, by the Lord Harry, I'll break----" The Captain stopped abruptly.

"Mack, what be you doing in Little River?"

Miss Pipkin had been disturbed by the noise, and now opened the study door. She looked alarmed. The swarthy face of the Captain was a sickly green where the white reflected through the deep tan.

"Of all things!" exclaimed the housekeeper. "I s'pose I should pity the two of you if you feel the way you look. But, for the lan' sakes, Josiah, let go the minister's arms this very minute. You're crushing them."

The Captain's hands relaxed and fell limply to his sides. The tense muscles of his face eased into a silly grin.

"We was having a friendly little argument, hey, Mack?"

The minister a.s.sented.

"Then, I'd hate to see you in a real fight. Things must be going to your head, Josiah."

"That's a fact, Clemmie, they be, but they're clearing it up."

"You need some of that liniment. Your worrying has put your stomach out.

I'll fix up a dose for you."

"No you won't neither. It ain't liniment I want, it's something for the outside." He started for his hat and coat.

"Josiah! You're clean off in your head, going out a night like this!

It's raining pitchforks, and is past ten o'clock."

"Don't you worry, Clemmie. I ain't crazy. I've just got back what little sense I was born with. I'm sailing my _Jennie P._ to the city.

Good-bye." Before she could enter any protest, he stooped and kissed her.

Miss Pipkin stood as one paralyzed while the Captain s.n.a.t.c.hed his rubber hat from the nail behind the kitchen door, and slipped into his slicker.

He was out of the house before the coat was fastened about his neck.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Miss Pipkin had been disturbed by the noise.--_Page 261._]

"Now, ain't that a caution to saints! And us a-standing here and not trying to stop him. He's gone plumb off in his head!" lamented the housekeeper, dropping limply into a chair. "What ever shall I do, Mr.