The Scarecrow and Other Stories Part 6

"Later?"

Kurz nodded his great, s.h.a.ggy head up and down.

"How did you come in here, Charlie?"

He was surprised at the question.

"How? Why, with my latch key, of course!"

He glanced over at the windows. The blinds were up. He could see the dark pressing against the gla.s.s; pressing tightly so that it spread. He started for the window. Kurz's voice stopped him.

"And your family? You have then seen your family, Charlie?"

He smiled.

"No. Not yet. They weren't here when you came in, were they?"

"No--no!--I--have--seen--no--one. I could not bring myself to go before any one. There was an old man. He was going down the hall. I waited till he pa.s.sed. He must have come to light your lamp."

"Well, old Otto--They're not here. I've hunted all through the house for them. I rather think they must have gone down to Surrey. They've taken the servants with them. After a bit we'll walk over to the lodge and ask Bennet where my people are. That must have been Bennet you saw up here."

"Then you do not know?"

"Know what?"

"About your family?"

"But I just told you, Otto; they must've run down to our place in Surrey. I only came up here to get a look at the old room. I'll go down and ask Bennet presently."

A quick moan escaped through Kurz's set lips.

A sudden thought flashed to him.

"You, Otto--How did you get in here?--With them all away?--With the servants gone?"

He saw the muscles of Kurz's face twitch horribly.

"Ach--! You must not ask, Charlie. A little time, Charlie. There are things I do not myself know. Later--I--will--try--to--tell--you."

"Things you do not know, Otto?"

Kurz's mouth twisted itself into a distorted grin.

"I do not blame you for ridiculing me, Charlie. I always thought I knew everything. Later--; you will see."

"Why not tell me now?"

"No--no--!" Kurz's voice whined frantically. "I do not know if you yourself understand."

"I was only trying to help you, old chap."

"Help--! It is that I want. It is that which brought me here. It is because I must have you help me."

"You've only to say what you want."

"Your help--"

"You know I'll do whatever I can for you."

"Yes--; I hoped that. I counted--on--your--help."

He waited for Kurz to go on. Kurz sat there silent. The long, shaking fingers fumbled at each other.

"Well?"

"Later."

"All right--I don't know what you're driving at."

"Are--you--sure--you--do--not--know--?"

"But--If you don't want to tell me now; why, tell me in your own good time, old fellow."

"Yes. You are not angry? You do not care if I say it later?"

"Of course I don't care."

"Not--care--If--you--knew--; if--it--is--true--; you will care!"

He could not make out what Kurz meant.

"It's mighty nice seeing you," he said after a second's silence. "It's been a long time. Years since I've seen you."

"I came though, Charlie;--I had to come, Charlie."

"I'm jolly well glad you did!"

"You knew I would come."

He drew his brows together in a perplexed frown.

"I knew we would meet sometime."

"Yes. Sometime."

"And the sometime's now. Eh, Otto?"

"Now?" Kurz's big body strained forward. "What--is--it, Charlie--; this--now--?"