Captain Pott's Minister Part 31

McGowan? I know he's coming down with that terrible fever again. I know it! I know it!" She wept bitterly. "There ain't been no one so kind to me, and that cares for me like him! And I ain't never give him any chance!"

"Do you really care for the Captain?"

She straightened, and dabbed her ap.r.o.n into the corners of her eyes, attempting at the same time to marshal a legion of denials. But the legion refused to be marshaled. She gave up, and admitted that she did care for Captain Josiah, very much.

"Then, he'll come back, have no fear. A twenty-mule team couldn't keep him away."

"What good will it be if he does come back, if he ain't got his senses?"

"In my opinion he was never more sane than he is to-night. He has not taken leave of his senses; he is not a man so easily dethroned. He has merely taken a leave of absence from town, and all his five senses have gone with him."

After Miss Pipkin had gone to her room somewhat comforted, Mr. McGowan spied the yellow piece of paper which the Captain had dropped. He stooped down, picked it up, smoothed the crumpled page, and began to read. His eyes widened with each additional line.

"Jim and I are going into partnership over here in Sydney. It isn't just what I'd like, but there are certain advantages. He is a keen fellow, and I'll have to watch him pretty close. There is an older man who has taken us into his firm, so Jim can't have his own way. There is loads of money here, and I mean to get my share of it.

"Jim and I are both fighting for the same girl. She is the daughter of the old man who heads up the firm. May the best man win, providing I'm the best man. I'll give him some run for his money, anyway. I think I'm on the inside track for the present.

"I guess you'd better not say anything about Jim being over here. He isn't using his own name, and says he wants it kept a dead secret. Just what his game is, I don't know. But there are lots just like him who are hiding behind a.s.sumed names.

"I'm too harum-scarum a sailor for a quiet home-loving woman like you, so just forget me. Be good to----"

Here the page ended, and the remainder of the letter was in Miss Pipkin's trunk.

Before he had finished reading, the chug-chug from the Captain's power-boat floated in from the harbor, and the minister longed to be with him.

CHAPTER XIV

Elizabeth Fox was sitting alone in her room when the familiar chug from the exhaust of the _Jennie P._ fell on her ears. She raised her window-curtain, and watched the dim lights move out of the harbor in the direction of the Sound. An unreasoning fear seized her, and it steadily grew more and more acute as the exhaust from the engine exploded less and less distinctly. As the lights went out of view into the rain-soaked night, resentment replaced fear. The minister had doubtless heard of the plans that were being laid by Sim Hicks for his forceful ejection from Little River, and rather than face further trouble was slinking away like a coward under cover of night and storm.

Her better judgment soon began to form excuses for his action. The Athletic Club, thoroughly reorganized, had been placed under good leadership, and Mr. McGowan doubtless thought that the members could get on without his further aid. In all probability, he feared that his presence might interfere with the promised consummation of fellowship between the club and the church, and was leaving quietly so another man less aggressive than he might accomplish the thing he had so well begun.

Had he remained, he would have been compelled to fight his way through by brute force. He had been forsaken by all those who should have stood by him. He was not a coward! He was taking the most difficult course.

His going was the most heroic act of all.

Why had every man's hand been against him? Why had her father not so much as lifted a finger to stay the persecutors? She drew in her lip between her teeth, and mercilessly bit the pretty Cupid's arch. She kicked her foot against a stool till the piece of furniture lay beyond reach of her toe. Her father had not made a single effort to prevent one action of those who had set themselves against the minister. Instead, he had aided them, and in many instances had even led in the opposition against the young man.

One thought at length inhibited all others. She drew back from the window, and sinking into a deep chair, covered her face with her arm.

Mack McGowan had gone out of her life! Suddenly, she knew that she loved him, loved him as pa.s.sionately as he had declared his love for her. Why had she been unable to understand him that night on the beach? Had she really tried? She cla.s.sed herself with all the others who had been so blind as to force this man to leave their village.

She jerked the pins from her hair, letting the fair ma.s.s fall over her shoulders. The stand she had taken had been because of the att.i.tude of her father. He had no right to come between her and the man she loved.

Why had he done it? Her fingers paused in the act of delving for a buried hairpin, and her arm fell limply over the wing of the chair. A vision of her father's face had come before her, startling her imagination. She saw him again as she had seen him that night when Harold had announced his intended trip to Australia. She recalled his ghostly features on the night of Harold's return from abroad. Could there be some unknown reason for her father's actions against the young minister? And did that reason justify his action?

Her conjectures were cut short by the sound of footfalls on the stair.

The tread was heavy, as though the climber were dragging himself up by main force. On the top landing he halted, and turned toward her door.

What caprices emotion plays with judgment! One moment judgment may map out a course as clear as the noonday, and the next moment emotion may lead judgment into a blind alley. Thus did the emotions of Elizabeth suddenly halt her judgment, leaving all her reason deaf, dumb, and blind.

"Beth, are you asleep?" whispered a tired, husky voice.

"No, Father. I haven't retired yet. Come in."

She blindly felt that her father had need of her, and although she could not understand the meaning of the battle he had been called upon to general, she must give him her aid.

Mr. Fox entered and felt his way across the dark room. He found a chair and dropped into it.

"You're in the dark, dear," he observed.

"Yes, Father. I've been thinking here since twilight. Lights always interfere with my thoughts, and so I did not turn them on."

"Why, my dear, how long you have been sitting like this! It is now nearly eleven o'clock. Your thoughts must have been pretty active."

"I had no idea it was that late!" she exclaimed. "I have been thinking a great deal."

He stirred uneasily. Since the Captain's visit the Elder had been on the verge of collapse.

"Pretty bad storm," he commented, and his voice trembled.

Elizabeth reached out into the darkness and took his hand. As she pressed it to her lips she felt it shake.

"Thank you, Beth."

"Are you well, Father?"

"Not very. But it is nothing serious. At least, the doctor so a.s.sures me. I presume he ought to know."

"Why don't you go to the city and consult a specialist? These country doctors may not understand how to diagnose your case fully."

"All the specialists in Christendom couldn't help me."

"Father!"

"Don't grow alarmed," he said, with a short nervous laugh. "The only thing any doctor ever removes from his patient is what is worth the doctor's while. Present day physicians get away with a lot that is no credit to their profession. The main thing that interests them is not the disease, but the sufferer's pocketbook. If they can remove the latter, they will keep coaxing the former along."

"I suppose it is the spirit of the age to want to get all the money one can. Others, besides doctors, do that."

"Yes. Yes. There are still others who are grossly misjudged simply because they have money, too."

"Of course there are. But let's forget both those cla.s.ses and talk about you. Please, tell me all about your troubles. It hurts me to see you suffering so, and I want to help you. I'll try very hard."

"I can't tell you everything, Beth."

"Oh! Yes, you can. I'll be your doctor, and I'll promise not to remove more of your money than is absolutely necessary for a new frock. Try me this once, and see how well I'll prescribe."

"Money is not troubling me, and I'll see that you get all the new frocks you wish. But I fear you would not understand if I should tell you all."

"I shall try most awfully hard, Father. You have told me lots of times that for a girl I have excellent ideas about business dealings. Please, tell me. It will at least help you to unburden your mind."