sally dows-第29章

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packages　of　herbs；losing　itself　in　upper　darkness。　　By　the　aid　of
a　candle　she　managed　to　grope　and　pick　her　way　up　step　by　step。
Then　she　paused。　　The　staircase　had　abruptly　ended　on　the　level　of
the　study；　now　cut　off　from　it　by　the　new　partition。　　She　was　in　a
stifling　inclosure；　formed　by　the　walls；　scarcely　eighteen　inches
wide。　　It　was　made　narrower　by　a　singular　excrescence　on　the　old
wall；　which　seemed　to　have　been　a　bricked　closet；　now　half
destroyed　and　in　ruins。　　She　turned　to　descend；　when　a　strange
sound　from　Uncle　Sylvester's　room　struck　her　ear。　　It　was　the　sound
of　tapping　on　the　floor　close　to　the　partition；　within　a　foot　of
where　she　was　standing。　　At　the　same　moment　there　was　a　decided
movement　of　the　plank　of　the　flooring　beneath　the　partition：　it
began　to　slide　slowly；　and　then　was　gradually　withdrawn　into　the
room。　　With　prompt　presence　of　mind；　she　instantly　extinguished　her
candle　and　drew　herself　breathlessly　against　the　partition。

When　the　plank　was　entirely　withdrawn；　a　ray　of　light　slipped
through　the　opening；　revealing　the　bare　rafters　of　the　floor；　and　a
hand　and　arm　inserted　under　the　partition；　groping　as　if　towards
the　bricked　closet。　　As　the　fingers　of　the　exploring　hand　were
widely　extended；　Marie　had　no　difficulty　in　recognizing　on　one　of
them　a　peculiar　signet　ring　which　Uncle　Sylvester　wore。　　A　swift
impulse　seized　her。　　To　the　audacious　Marie　impulse　and　action　were
the　same　thing。　　Bending　stealthily　over　the　aperture；　she　suddenly
snatched　the　ring　from　the　extended　finger。　　The　hand　was　quickly
withdrawn　with　a　start　and　uncontrolled　exclamation；　and　she
availed　herself　of　that　instant　to　glide　rapidly　down　the　stairs。

She　regained　her　room　stealthily；　having　the　satisfaction　a　moment
later　of　hearing　Uncle　Sylvester's　door　open　and　the　sound　of　his
footsteps　in　the　corridor。　　But　he　was　evidently　unable　to　discover
any　outer　ingress　to　the　inclosure；　or　believed　the　loss　of　his
ring　an　accident；　for　he　presently　returned。　　Meantime；　what　was
she　to　do？

Tell　Kitty　of　her　discovery；　and　show　the　ring？　　Nonot　yet！
Oddly　enough；　now　that　she　had　the　ring；　taken　from　his　wicked
finger　in　the　very　act；　she　found　it　as　difficult　as　ever　to
believe　in　his　burglarious　design。　　She　must　wait。　　The　mischief
if　there　had　been　mischiefwas　done；　the　breaking　in　of　the
bricked　closet　was；　from　the　appearance　of　the　ruins；　a　bygone　act。
Could　it　have　been　some　youthful　escapade　of　Uncle　Sylvester's；　the
scene　of　which　he　was　revisiting　as　criminals　are　compelled　to　do？
And　had　there　been　anything　taken　from　the　closetor　was　its
destruction　a　part　of　the　changes　in　the　old　house？　　How　could　she
find　out　without　asking　Kitty？　　There　was　one　way。　　She　remembered
that　Mr。　Gunn　had　once　shown　a　great　deal　of　interest　to　Kitty
about　the　old　homestead；　and　even　of　old　Mr。　Lane's　woodland　cabin。
She　would　ask　HIM。　　It　was　a　friendly　act；　for　Kitty　had　not　of
late　been　very　kind　to　him。

The　opportunity　presented　itself　at　dusk；　as　Mr。　Gunn；　somewhat
abstracted；　stood　apart　at　the　drawing…room　window。　　Marie　hoped
he　had　enjoyed　himself　while　skating；　her　stupid　cold　had　kept　her
indoors。　　She　had　amused　herself　rambling　about　the　old　homestead；
it　was　such　a　queer　place；　so　full　of　old　nooks　and　corners　and
unaccountable　spaces。　　Just　the　place；　she　would　think；　where　old
treasures　might　have　been　stored。　　Eh？

Mr。　Gunn　had　not　spokenhe　had　only　coughed。　　But　in　the　darkness
his　eyes　were　fixed　angrily　on　her　face。　　Without　observing　it；　she
went　on。　　She　knew　he　was　interested　in　the　old　house；　she　had
heard　him　talk　to　Kitty　about　it：　had　Kitty　ever　said　anything
about　some　old　secret　hoarding　place？

No；　certainly　not！　　And　she　was　mistaken；　he　never　was　interested
in　the　house！　　He　could　not　understand　what　had　put　that　idea　in
her　head！　　Unless　it　was　this　ridiculous；　shady　stranger　in　the
guise　of　an　uncle　whom　they　had　got　there。　　It　was　like　his
affectation！

〃Oh；　dear；　no；〃　said　Marie；　with　unmistakable　truthfulness；　〃HE　did
not　say　anything。　　But；〃　with　sudden　inconsistent　aggression；　〃is
THAT　the　way　you　speak　to　Kitty　of　her　uncle？〃

Really　he　didn't　knowhe　was　joking　only；　and　he　was　afraid　he
must　just　now　ask　her　to　excuse　him。　　He　had　received　letters　that
made　it　possible　that　he　might　be　called　suddenly　to　New　York　at
any　moment。　　Marie　stared。　　It　was　evident　that　he　had　proposed　to
Kitty　and　been　rejected！　　But　she　was　no　nearer　her　discovery。

Nor　was　there　the　least　revelation　in　the　calm；　half…bored；
yet　good…humored　presence　of　the　wicked　uncle　at　dinner。　　So
indifferent　did　he　seem；　not　only　to　his　own　villainy　but　even　to
the　loss　it　had　entailed；　that　she　had　a　wild　impulse　to　take　the
ring　from　her　pocket　and　display　it　on　her　own　finger　before　him
then　and　there。　　But　the　conviction　that　he　would　in　some　way　be
equal　to　the　occasion　prevented　her。　　The　dinner　passed　off　with
some　constraint；　no　doubt　emanating　from　the　conscious　Kitty　and
Gunn。　　Nevertheless；　when　they　had　returned　to　the　drawing…room；
Gabriel　rubbed　his　hands　expectantly。

〃I　prevailed　on　Sylvester　this　morning　to　promise　to　tell　us　some
of　his　experiencessomething　COMPLETE　and　satisfactory　this　time。
Eh？〃

Uncle　Sylvester；　warming　his　cold　blood　before　the　fire；　looked
momentarily　forgetful　anddisappointing。　　Cousins　Jane　and　Emma
shrugged　their　shoulders。

〃Eh；〃　said　Uncle　Sylvester　absently；　〃ereroh　yes！　　Well〃　（more
cheerfully）；　〃about　what；　eh？〃

〃Let　it　be；〃　said　Marie　pointedly；　fixing　her　black　magnetic　eyes
on　the　wicked　stranger；　〃let　it　be　something　about　the　DISCOVERY　of
gold；　or　a　buried　TREASURE　HOARD；　or　a　robbery。〃

To　her　intense　disgust　Uncle　Sylvester；　far　from　being　discomfited
or　confused；　actually　looked　pleased；　and　his　gray　eyes　thawed
slightly。

〃Certainly；〃　he　said。　　〃Well；　then！　　Down　on　the　San　Joaquin　River
there　was　an　old　chapone　of　the　earliest　settlersin　fact；　he'd
come　on　from　Oregon　before　the　gold　discovery。　　His　name；　dear
me！〃continued　Uncle　Sylvester；　with　an　effort　of　memory　and
apparently　beginning　already　to　lose　his　interest　in　the　story
〃waserFlint。〃

As　Uncle　Sylvester　paused　here；　Cousin　Jane　broke　in　impatiently。
〃Well；　that's　not　an　uncommon　name。　　There　was　an　old　carpenter
here　in　your　father's　time　who　was　called　Flint。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Uncle　Sylvester　languidly。　　〃But　there　is；　or　was；
something　uncommon　about　itand　that's　the　point　of　the　story；　for
in　the　old　time　Flint　and　Gunn　were　of　the　same　stock。〃

〃Is　this　a　Californian　joke？〃　said　Gunn；　with　a　forced　smile　on　his
flushed　face。　　〃If　so；　spare　me；　for　it's　an　old　one。〃

〃It's　much　older　HISTORY；　Mr。　Gunn；〃　said　Uncle　Sylvester　blandly；
〃which　I　remember　from　a　boy。　　When　the　first　Flint　traded　near
Sault　Sainte　Marie；　the　Canadian　voyageurs　literally　translated　his
name　into　Pierre　a　Fusil；　and　he　went　by　that　name　always。　　But
when　the　English　superseded　the　French　in　numbers　and　language　the
name　was　literally　translated　back　again　into　'Peter　Gunn；'　which
his　descendants　bear。〃

〃A　labored　form　of　the　old　joke；〃　said　Gunn；　turning　contemptuously
away。

〃But　the　story；〃　said　Cousins　Jane　and　Emma。　　〃The　story　of　the
gold　discoverynever　mind　the　names。〃

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　Uncle　Sylvester；　placing　his　hand　in　the　breast
of　his　coat　with　a　delightful　exaggeration　of　offended　dignity。
〃But；　doubts　having　been　cast　upon　my　preliminary　statement；　I　fear
I　must　decline　proceeding　further。〃　　Nevertheless；　he　smiled
unblushingly　at　Miss　Du　Page　as　he　followed　Gunn　from　the　room。

The　next　morning　those　who　had　noticed　the　strained　relations　of
Miss　Kitty　and　Mr。　Gunn　were　not　surprised　that　the　latter　was
recalled　on　pressing　business　to　New　York　by　the　first　train；　but
it　was　a　matter　of　some　astonishment　to　Gabriel　Lane　and　Marie　du
Page　that　Uncle　Sylvester　should　have　been　up　early；　and　actually
accompanied　that　gentleman　as　far　as　the　station！　　Indeed；　the
languid　explorer　and　gold…seeker　exhibited　remarkable　activity；
and；　clad　in　a　rough　tourist　suit；　announced；　over　the　breakfast…
table；　his　intention　of　taking　a　long　tramp　through　the　woods；
which　he　had　not　revisited　since　a　boy。　　To　this　end　he　had　even
provided　himself　with　a　small　knapsack；　and　for　once　realized
Kitty's　ideal　of　his　character。

〃Don't　go　too　far；〃　said　Gabriel；　〃for；　although　the　cold　has
moderated；　the　barometer　is　falling　fast；　and　there　is　every
appearance　of　snow。　　Take　care　you　are　not　caught　in　one　of　our
blizzards。〃

〃But　YOU　are　all　going　on　the　lake　to　skate！〃　protested　Uncle
Sylvester。

〃Yes；　for　the　very　reason　that　it　may　be　our　last　chance；　but
should　it　snow　we　shall　be　nearer　home　than　you　may　be。〃

Nevertheless；　when　it　came　on　to　snow；　as　Gabriel　had　predicted；
the　skating　party　was　by　no　means　so　near　home　as　he　had　imagined。
A　shrewd　keenness　and　some　stimulating　electric　condition　of　the
atmosphere　had　tempted　the　young　people　far　out　on　the　lake；　and
they　had　ignored　the　first　fall　of　fine　grayish　granulations　that
swept　along　the　icy　surface　like　little　puffs　of　dust　or　smoke。
Then　the　fall　grew　thicker；　the　gray　sky　contracted；　the　hurrying
flakes；　dashed　against　them　by　a　fierce　northwester；　were　larger；
heavier；　and　seemed　an　almost　palpable　force　that　held　them　back。
Their　skates；　already　clogged　with　drift；　were　beginning　to　be
useless。　　The　bare　wind…swept　spaces　were　becoming　rarer；　they
could　only　stumble　on　blindly　towards　the　nearest　shore。　　Nor　when
they　reached　it　were　they　yet　safe；　they　could　scarcely　stand
against　the　still　increasing　storm　that　was　fast　obliterating　the
banks　and　stretch　of　meadow　beyond。　　Their　only　hope　of　shelter　was
the　range　of　woods　that　joined　the　hill。　　Holding　hands　in　single
file；　the　little　party；　consisting　of　Kitty；　Marie；　and　Cousins
Jane　and　Emmastout…hearted　Gabriel　leading　and　Cousin　John
bringing　up　the　rearat　last　succeeded　in　reaching　it；　and　were
rejoiced　to　find　themselves　near　old　Lane's　half…ruined　cabin。　　To
their　added　joy　and　astonishment；　whiffs　of　whirling　smoke　were
issuing　from　the　crumbling　chimney。　　They　ran　to　the　crazy　door；
pushed　aside　its　weak　fastening；　and　foundUncle　Sylvester　calmly
enjoying　a　pipe　before　a　blazing　fire。　　A　small　pickaxe　and　crowbar
were　lying　upon　a　mound　of　freshly　turned　earth　beside　the　chimney；
where　the　rotten　flooring　had　been　torn　up。

The　tumultuous　entrance　of　the　skating　party　required　no　explanation；
but　when　congratulations　had　been　exchanged；　the　wet　snow　shaken
off；　and　they　had　drawn　round　the　fire；　curious　eyes　were　cast　upon
the　solitary　occupant　and　the　pile　of　earth　and　debris　before　him。

〃I　believe；〃　said　Gabriel　laughingly；　〃that　you　have　been　so　bored
here　that　you　have　actually　played　at　gold…hunting　for　amusement。〃

Uncle　Sylvester　took　the　pipe　from　his　mouth　and　nodded。

〃It's　a　common　diversion　of　yours；〃　said　Marie　audaciously。

Uncle　Sylvester　smiled　sweetly。

〃And　have　you　been　successful　THIS　TIME？〃　asked　Marie。

〃I　got　the　color。〃

〃Eh？〃

Uncle　Sylvester　rose　and　placed　himself　with　his　back　to　the　fire；
gently　surveying　the　assembled　group。

〃I　was　interrupted　in　a　story　of　gold…digging