The Secret of the Reef Part 48

He rang the bell, and when Jimmy left him he sat down with knitted brows. He wondered where Clay had got the gold. Then suddenly his fist clenched tightly and his frown grew deeper: he remembered that somebody had worked out the alluvial mine before they reached it. There was cause for grave suspicion there, particularly as the case had been put on board secretly, without appearing on the ship's papers, which would have brought it to Osborne's knowledge.

The box of gold, however, was not of the first importance. Clay, on his deathbed, perhaps by way of making reparation, had sent him a gift which had banished the apprehensions that had haunted him for years. Whatever Clay had done, Osborne could forgive him now. At last he was a free man: the only evidence against him was in his hands, and he meant to destroy it at once. After all, he had bitterly regretted his one great offense; and his partner's last act had been to save him from its consequences.

CHAPTER x.x.xII-THE BARRIERS GO DOWN

When Jimmy was shown into the large, cool drawing-room, he stood awkwardly still, with a thrill of keen satisfaction and an effort for self-control. He had so far seen little of Osborne's house, and the beauty of the room had its effect on him. Curtains, rugs, furniture and pictures formed harmonies of soft color and delicate design, which seemed to him a fitting environment for the occupant of the room.

Ruth wore a clinging evening dress, and Jimmy had hitherto seen her only in traveling and outing clothes. He could not have told how the dress was cut, nor have described its shade, but he knew it was exactly what she ought to wear. The way it hung about her hinted at the graceful lines of her figure; it matched the purity of her coloring and showed up the gloss of her hair. But although the effect was admirable, it was daunting, in a sense. She was wonderfully beautiful and in her proper place; he felt himself rough and awkward, and was conscious of his disadvantages.

Then, as she came toward him, his heart began beating hard. He thought of their last meeting with embarra.s.sment. He had expected to find some change of manner in her that would, so to speak, keep him at a distance.

There was, however, no hint of this. It looked as if she had not forgotten how he had helped her from the launch, but had somehow recognized it and its consequences. He was not a clever reader of other people's minds, but he knew that they were nearer than they had ever been before.

As she gave him her hand Ruth smiled up at him, but she spoke in a very matter-of-fact voice.

"I am glad you have come at last. It is pleasant to know that you have got back safely." She pouted prettily. "No doubt you had some business with my father, which explains the visit."

"It gave me an excuse for doing what I wished."

"Did you need an excuse? We gave you an open invitation."

"I felt that I did," Jimmy answered slowly; and Ruth understood. He was diffident but proud, and shrank from entering her circle by favor. She preferred that he should regard her, however, not as the daughter of a rich man but as an attractive woman.

"You are too retiring," she rebuked him smilingly. "But I shall not begin by finding fault. I want you to tell me some of your exciting adventures. Aynsley Clay was here, but he could not tell us much about you-and he was, of course, in trouble."

"Yes," said Jimmy softly. "I'm sorry for him. He's a man you soon feel a strong liking for; and there was a good deal to admire in his father. In fact, we were on very friendly terms during the last few days we spent at the wreck."

Ruth was silent for a moment. Then:

"Tell me about the wreck," she requested.

"It's rather a long story, and you may find it tiresome."

"I've asked you to tell it."

Jimmy was glad of the opportunity, because he was determined that she should have no cause to doubt her father. There was much still unexplained, but she must not suspect this, for it was unthinkable that she should bear any trouble from which he could save her. Still, he saw that he must be careful, for there were points which needed delicate handling.

While he began the narrative Ruth studied him carefully. He looked very virile and handsome with his bronzed skin, his steady eyes, and his figure fined down by privation and toil. Indeed, he had somehow an air of distinction; but he had changed and developed since she first met him. This was a different man from the pleasant, easy-going steamship officer. He had grown alert and determined, but he had lost nothing of his sincerity. He could be trusted without reserve, and she felt that she liked him even better than before.

His story of their adventures in the North was deeply interesting to the girl; and she prompted him with leading questions now and then, for she was keenly anxious to learn the truth about the wreck. For the last few months she had been troubled by dark suspicions.

"But, in spite of everything, you reached the gold!" she exclaimed at last.

"Yes," said Jimmy, seizing the opening he had waited for. "We got it all."

"All!" For a moment Ruth was thrown off her guard by a shock of relief that was poignant in its intensity.

"I believe so," Jimmy answered. "Anyway, we got every case that was insured. The underwriters seemed perfectly satisfied."

A wave of color flushed Ruth's face. She had, it seemed, tormented herself without a cause. Her father, whom she had suspected, was innocent. There was no dark secret attached to the wreck, as she had unjustly thought. Jimmy had banished her fears. The hardships he had borne had bought her release from a haunting dread.

She realized that he might wonder at her agitation, but, after all, this did not count. She was carried away by grat.i.tude to him.

"Thank you for telling me," she said, feeling the inadequacy of the words. "It makes a thrilling tale."

"If it has pleased you, I'm content."

"Pleased me! Well, I can a.s.sure you that it has done so."

"Then I'm rewarded," said Jimmy boldly, losing his head as he saw the grat.i.tude in her eyes. "That's all I wanted; finding the gold is less important."

Ruth saw what was happening; his restraint was breaking down, and she meant to give it the last blow.

"And yet you must have been determined to get the gold, since all you had to face didn't daunt you."

"Yes," said Jimmy with a steady look, "I wanted it badly, for a purpose."

"Didn't you want it for itself? That would have been a very natural thing." Ruth hesitated. "But you haven't mentioned your real reason."

He gathered courage from the glance she gave him, though the next moment she turned her head.

"I'm half afraid, but it must be told. I was a steamboat mate without a ship, a laborer about the wharves and mills, and all the time I had a mad ambition locked up in my heart. Then my partner, Bethune, showed me a chance of realizing it, and I took that chance."

"It must have been a strong ambition that sent you up to fight with the gales and ice."

"It was. In fact, it was stronger than my judgment. I knew it was a forlorn hope, but I couldn't give it up. You see, I had fallen in love with a girl."

"Ah! I wonder when that happened? Was it one night when you met the Sound steamer with your launch?"

"Oh, no; long before that. It began one afternoon at Yokohama, when a girl in a dust-veil and the prettiest dress I'd ever seen came up the _Empress's_ gangway."

"Then it must have been very sudden," Ruth answered with a blush and a smile. "The veil was rather thick, and she didn't speak to you."

"That didn't matter. She smiled her thanks, when I drew away a rope, and I'd never got so sweet and gracious a look. After that there were calm evenings when the _Empress_ swung gently over the smooth heave and the girl left her friends and walked up and down the deck with me. I knew I was a presumptuous fool, but as soon as my watch was over I used to wait with an anxious heart, hoping that she might come."

"And sometimes she didn't."

"Those were black nights," said Jimmy. "While I waited I tried to think it would be better if I saw no more of her. But I knew all the time that I couldn't take that prudent course." He paused with an appealing gesture. "Ruth, haven't I said enough?"

"Not quite. Did you think, when you went to find the wreck, that your success would make me think of you with more favor?"

"If the wreck had been full of gold, it would not have made me your equal; but I knew what your friends would think. It would have been insufferable that you should have had to apologize to them for me."

Ruth gave him a smile that sent a thrill through him.