The Protector Part 32

It was a shock to Evelyn; one she found it hard to face, though she was not convinced. The last piece of information agreed with something Mrs.

Nairn had told her; but although she had on one occasion had the testimony of her eyes in support of it, Jessie's first statement sounded incredible.

"It's impossible," she declared.

Jessie smiled in a bitter manner. "It's unpleasant, but it can't be denied. He undoubtedly pays the rent of a shack in the neighbourhood I mentioned."

Evelyn sat tensely still for a moment or two. She dared not give rein to her feelings, she would not betray herself; but composure was extremely difficult.

"If that is so, how is it that he is received everywhere--at your house and by Mrs. Nairn?" she asked.

Jessie shrugged her shoulders. "People in general are the more or less charitable in the case of a successful man. Apart from that, Mr. Vane has a good many excellent qualities. As I said, one has to make allowances."

Just then, to Evelyn's relief, Mrs. Nairn came in, and though the girl suffered during the time, it was half an hour before she could find an excuse for slipping away alone. Then, sitting in the gathering darkness, in her own room, she set herself to consider, as dispa.s.sionately as possible, what she had heard. It was exceedingly difficult to believe the charge; but Jessie's a.s.sertion was definite enough, and one which, if incorrect, could be readily disproved. n.o.body would say such a thing unless it could be substantiated, and that led Evelyn to consider why Jessie had given her the information. She had obviously done so with at least a trace of malice; but this could hardly have sprung from jealousy, because Evelyn could not think that a woman would vilify a man for whom she had any tenderness. Besides, she had seen Vane entering the part of the town indicated, where he could not have had any legitimate business. Hateful as the suspicion was, it could not be contemptuously dismissed. Then she granted that she had no right to censure the man; he was not accountable to her for his conduct; but calm reasoning carried her no farther. She was once more filled with intolerable disgust and burning indignation. Somehow she had come to believe in Vane, and he had turned out an impostor.

It was about an hour later when Vane and Carroll entered the house with Nairn and proceeded to the latter's room, where he offered them cigars.

"So ye're all ready to sail the morn?" he said.

Vane, who nodded, handed him some papers. "There's your authority to act in my name if it's required. I expect to be back before there's much change in the situation; but I'll call at Nanaimo, where you can wire me if anything turns up during the three days it may take us to get there."

"I suppose there's no use in my saying anything more now; but I can't help pointing out that, as head of the concern, you have a certain duty to the shareholders which you seem inclined to disregard," Carroll remarked.

"I've no doubt their interests will be as safe in Nairn's hands as in mine," Vane rejoined.

"I fail to see why ye could no have let the whole thing stand over until the spring," said Nairn. "The spruce winna run away."

"I'd have done so had it been a few years earlier, but the whole country is overrun with mineral prospectors and timber-righters now. Every month's delay gives somebody else a chance of getting in ahead of me."

"Weel," said Nairn resignedly. "I can only wish ye luck, but should ye be detained up yonder, if one of ye could sail across to Comox to see if there's any mail there, it would be wise to do so." He waved his hand.

"No more of that; we'll consider what tactics I had better adopt in case of delay."

An hour had pa.s.sed before they went down to join the guests who were arriving for the evening meal. As a rule, the Western business man, who is more or less engrossed in his occupation, except when he is asleep, enjoys little privacy; and his friends sometimes compared Nairn's dwelling to the rotunda of an hotel. The point of this was that people of all descriptions who have nothing better to do are addicted to strolling into the combined bazaar and lounge which is attached to many Canadian hostelries.

As it happened, Vane sat next to Evelyn at table; but after a quiet reply to his first observation, she turned and talked to the man on her other side. Since the latter, who was elderly and dull, had only two topics--the most efficient means of desiccating fruit and the lack of railroad facilities--Vane was somewhat astonished that she appeared interested in his conversation, and by and by he tried again. He was not more successful this time, and his face grew warm as he realised that Evelyn was not inclined to talk to him. Being a very ordinary mortal and not particularly patient, he was sensible of some indignation, which was not diminished when, on looking round, Jessie Horsfield, who sat opposite, favoured him with a compa.s.sionate smile. He took his part in the general conversation, however, and the meal was over and the guests were scattered about the adjoining rooms, when, after impatiently waiting for the opportunity, he found Evelyn alone. She was standing with one hand on a table, looking rather thoughtful.

"I've come to ask what I've done," he began.

Evelyn, who was not prepared for this blunt directness, felt disconcerted, but she broke into a chilly smile.

"The question's rather indefinite, isn't it?" she said. "Do you expect me to be acquainted with all your recent actions?"

"Then I'll put the thing in another way--do you mind telling me how I have offended you?"

The girl almost wished that she could do so. Appearances were badly against him, but she felt that if he declared himself innocent she could take his word in the face of overwhelming testimony to the contrary, Unfortunately, however, it was unthinkable that she should plainly state the charge.

"Do you suppose I should feel warranted in forming any opinion upon your conduct?" she retorted.

"But you have formed one, and it isn't favourable."

The girl hesitated a moment, but she had the courage of her convictions, and she felt impelled to make some protest.

"That," she said, looking him in the eyes, "is perfectly true."

He looked more puzzled than guilty, and once more she chafed against the fact that she could give him no opportunity of defending himself.

"Well," he said, "I'm sorry; but it brings us back to my first question."

The situation was becoming painful as well as embarra.s.sing, and Evelyn, perhaps unreasonably, grew more angry with the man.

"I'm afraid," she said "you are either clever at dissembling or have no imagination."

Vane held himself in hand with an effort, "I dare say you're right on the latter point," he informed her. "It's a fact I'm sometimes thankful for. It leaves one more free to go straight ahead. Now, as I see the dried-fruit man coming in search of you, and you evidently don't mean to answer me, I can't urge the matter."

He turned away and left her wondering why he had abandoned his usual persistency, unless it was that an uneasy conscience had driven him from the field. It did not occur to her that the man had, under strong provocation, merely yielded to the prompting of a somewhat hasty temper.

In the meanwhile, he crossed the room in an absent-minded manner, and presently found himself near Jessie, who made room for him at her side.

"It looks as if you were in disgrace to-night," she said, and waited with concealed impatience for his answer. If Evelyn had been clever or bold enough to give him a hint as to what he was suspected of, Jessie foresaw undesirable complications.

"I think I am," he owned without reflection. "The trouble is, that while I may deserve it on general grounds, I'm unconscious of having done anything very reprehensible in particular."

Jessie was sensible of considerable relief. The man was sore and resentful; he would not press Evelyn for an explanation, and the breach would widen. In the meanwhile she must play her cards skilfully.

"Then that fact should sustain you," she rejoined. "We shall miss you after to-morrow; more than one of us. Of course, it's too late to tell you that you were not altogether wise in resolving to go."

"Everybody has been telling me the same thing for the last few weeks,"

Vane informed her.

"Then I'll only wish you every success. It's a pity Bendle and the other man haven't paid up yet."

She met his surprised look with an engaging smile. "You needn't be astonished. There's not very much goes on in the city that I don't hear about--you know how men talk business here; and it's interesting to look on, even when one can't actually take a hand in the game. It's said the watchers sometimes see most of it."

"To tell the truth, it's the uncertainty as to what those two men might do that has been chiefly worrying me."

"I believe I understand the position; they've been hanging fire, haven't they? But I've reasons for believing they'll come to a decision before very long."

Vane looked troubled, "That's interesting, but I ought to warn you that your brother----"

"I've no intention of giving him away, and, as a matter of fact, I think you are a little prejudiced against him. After all, he's not your greatest danger. There's a cabal against you among your shareholders."

She knew by the way he looked at her that he admired her ac.u.men. "Yes,"

he agreed; "I've suspected that."

"There are two courses open to you; the first is to put off your expedition."

The answer was to the effect she had antic.i.p.ated. "I can't do so, for several reasons."

"The other is to call at Nanaimo and wait until, we'll say, next Thursday. If there's need for you to come back, I think it will arise by then; but it might be better if you called at Comox too--after you leave the latter you'll be unreachable. Well, if it seems necessary, I'll send you a warning. If you hear nothing, you can go on."