The Parson O' Dumford Part 48

"What time did she go out?" said Joe, trying to recall the past night.

"About eight, and I expected her back every minute after ten."

"Here, give me my hat," cried Joe; and he was off to the main street, where, in answer to inquiries, he found that Daisy had been seen in the High Street soon after eight.

"What's wrong?" said Tom Podmore, coming out of his house.

"Daisy! hev you seen my Daisy?" said Joe, furiously.

"Yes, I see her go up the street last night at about eight," said Tom, "as if going up the hill by the chalk pit."

"Did you folly her?"

"No," said Tom, sadly; "I never folly her now. But what's it mean-- isn't she at home?"

"No," said Joe, sharply. "She's not been at home all night. Wheer can she be?"

"Better ask Master d.i.c.k Glaire," said Tom, uttering a groan. "He can tell ye."

"Howd thee tongue, thee silly fool," cried Joe, angrily. "How should he know owt about where she is? Here, come along. I'll soon show thee thou'rt wrong."

He led the way to the Big House, where one of the maids was just opening the shutters; and, on being beckoned to, she came to the door.

"Where's Master Richard?" said Joe.

"Fast asleep in bed," said the girl.

"Art sure?" said Joe.

"Yes, certain," said the girl.

"Was he out last night?"

"Yes," said the girl; "but he came home early, and then went out for a bit; but he was in very soon, and sat up to let missus in, while I went to bed."

"What time will he be up?" said Joe.

"Not before nine," said the girl. "Shall I tell him you want him?"

"No," said Joe. "I'll come on again soon."

Tom seemed surprised and troubled, for he had fully expected to find that Richard Glaire was from home.

"Thou'rt wrong, lad," said Joe, drawing his breath through his teeth.

"Some ill has fallen to the poor la.s.s."

"What's up, Joe Banks?" said Harry, the big hammerman, straddling slowly up.

"Did'st see owt o' my Daisy last night?" said Joe.

Harry pulled off his cap, and gave his head a rub before answering.

"Yes, I see her go up ta hill, 'bout eight it weer."

"Did you see her come back?" asked Tom, eagerly.

"No, lad, no. I see Master Richard Glaire come along though," said the big fellow, under the impression that that might act as a clue.

"Yes," said Tom, bitterly. "I saw him, and again at about ten, talking to Sim Slee, and then the lads followed him up street, and he ran into the house."

"Sim Slee!" said Joe, thinking. "We'll ask him; but let's go to the police."

At the station no news could be heard, and as time went on, plenty of neighbours could be found to say that they had seen Daisy Banks go up the hill; and amongst these was the chattering old woman at the public-house. But no one had seen her return.

"Come along o' me, lad," said Joe Banks; and they strode up the hill, a heavy sense of dread gathering over each of the men, as they thought of the chalk pit, and the possibility of Daisy having fallen in, to lie there dead or dying, on the rough, hard blocks at the bottom.

The morning was bright and beautiful, and the sun made the dew-sprinkled strands and twigs glitter like gems; but to those who sought Daisy Banks, all seemed gloomy, and in spite of all his bitter feelings, Tom Podmore's heart was terribly stirred within him, so that he uttered a wild cry when just at the top, and ran ahead to pick up something soaked and wet with the night dew.

"It's her basket," he cried.

Joe staggered, and seemed to turn sick; but recovering himself, he ran up to the younger man.

"Yes, it's her basket," he said, huskily. "Tom, lad, look over the rail--I--I can't."

Joe Banks sank down on his knees, and covered his face with his rough hands, while Tom shuddered, and then calling up his fort.i.tude, looked over the rail down the steep-sided pit, and uttered a cry as he drew back, ran down the lane to the end of the slope, leaped the gate across the track where the carts descended, and running over the scattered lumps of chalk, made his way down into the deepest part of the pit, where to him it had seemed that Daisy was lying at the bottom of the wall of grey rock.

But, no, it was only her dew-soaked shawl; and though he looked in all directions, he found nothing else but a glove.

"She must have been here," he said to himself, and in an agitated way he clambered about over the blocks of chalk, and the _debris_ fallen from above; but nothing was visible, and he stood at last looking round.

There was the face of the chalk before him, and he was shut in by it right and left, the walls gradually falling lower as he turned back and pa.s.sed the extinct lime-kiln, till they sloped down to the level of the track--the pit having been gradually dug in the side of the hill, every load taken out cutting farther into the side, and making the princ.i.p.al wall of chalk more precipitous and high.

Still, not satisfied, Tom Podmore ran back and hunted in all directions; but as far as he could see nothing was visible, and he turned once more to find the father coming to join him, trembling, and looking ashy pale.

"Hev you found her, Tom? hev you found her?" he gasped, and on Tom shaking his head, he caught him by the arm. "Yes," he exclaimed, in a piteous voice, "that's her shawl. Where is she gone?"

"I heven't found her," said the young man, hoa.r.s.ely. "She's not there."

"Not there? Not fallen in? Thank G.o.d, thank G.o.d! But are ye sure, lad? are ye sure?"

"I've hunted the place all over," said Tom, sadly; and then Joe Banks clutched his arm tightly, and they went straight back to the town, where Joe stopped at the Big House and was admitted, Tom Podmore following.

"Wheer's the master?" said Joe, hastily.

"Just come down and gone out," said the girl. "Shall I tell missus?"

"Yes," said Joe. "No;" and then to himself, "I can't meet her now."