CHAPTER XIV
A DEMAND IS MADE
Helen had gone to bed when Ruth went into their bedroom that morning, andeither she was asleep or did not want to speak to her chum. Ruth feltthat, after what had gone on at the ball at Alexandria Bay, she hadbetter not wake Helen up to tell her about the strange launch that hadlanded at the Kingdom of the Pipes.
And in the morning the attitude of both Helen and Tom closed Ruth's lipson all subjects. The twins were plainly offended. Why? Because Ruth hadshown ordinary interest in other people besides themselves!
At least, that is how Ruth saw it. She thought it very silly for Helen tobe jealous. Tom's jealousy was another matter; but he had brought thesituation on himself.
For once Ruth was determined not to give in, as she so often did whenHelen showed spleen. Fortunately, Ruth was busy with her picture work, soshe had good reason to excuse herself from much association with theCameron twins during the next two days.
Then something happened to give them all an entirely different topic ofthought and conversation. That day had been spent in taking close-ups andscenes under the canvas and glass roof of the make-shift studio that hadbeen built at the camp. The great pageant of historical times along theSt. Lawrence was moving swiftly on its way. The scenes of a picture areseldom taken in any sequence at all, but Mr. Hooley had gone so far nowthat the bulk of the scenes had been filmed; and as they had been run offin the little projection room, both Mr. Hammond and Ruth had expressedtheir approval of almost every finished length of celluloid.
The work was practically over for the day at four o'clock and the actorsin their costumes--especially the Indians, including Wonota and herfather--made a brilliant picture as they wandered about the lawns and inand out of the several bungalows on the island.
From the direction of Chippewa Bay appeared a chugging motor-launch thatcame directly to the dock. It was not one of the hired launches used bythe picture company, nor were those in the launch men who had anything todo with Mr. Hammond's corporation.
But when Ruth idly looked into the launch from her seat with Helen andMiss Keith and Mrs. Paisley on the porch of their house, the girl of theRed Mill got up suddenly, uttering an astonished exclamation:
"That horrid man again!"
"Hoity-toity!" exclaimed Mrs. Paisley. "What man deserves such a title asthat, Miss Fielding?"
"That Bilby!" exclaimed Ruth. "I just felt it in my bones--like AuntAlvirah--that that creature would annoy us again."
"Then you are not disappointed," said Helen drily. "Is that thefellow--that big gawk in the blue suit?"
"No, no! I don't know him," said Ruth. "The little fat man tagging afterthe big fellow."
For two men from the launch had now stepped ashore. In accordance withorders from Mr. Hammond, the visitors were stopped at the head of thedock. Nobody was allowed on the island without invitation or a permit.
"Let me tell you," said the man in blue pompously, "that I am a countyofficer. You'd better have a care, young fellow."
"Say! I don't care if you are the King of the Yaps," said Willie, theboatman. "I have my orders. This is private property. Stay where youare--right where you are, mind!--till I send for the boss."
"You send for them two Injuns--that is who our business is with," put inBilby. "That Totantora and Wonota. I want to see them--not that Hammond."
Ruth had run to another house to warn those very individuals to get outof the way and to keep out of sight until Bilby's visit was over. She didnot know, of course, who the big man in blue was.
The latter was inclined to be pompous and commanding, even when Mr.Hammond came down to the head of the dock to see him. It was evident thatBilby's money felt warm in the deputy sheriff's pocket, and he wasdetermined to give the little fat man full weight for his cash.
"This here business is something that can be settled without any row, Mr.Hammond--if that's your name," said the officer, puffingly.
"It is my name, all right," returned the president of the AlectrionCorporation. "And I don't expect any row. What do you want--and thatfellow behind you?"
Horatio Bilby grinned rather sheepishly. "Well, you know, Mr. Hammond,all's fair in love and war."
"This is certainly not love," said the moving picture man. "Now, what doyou both want?"
"You are ordered to bring two people into court," said the deputysheriff, "and show cause why they shouldn't be handed over to Mr. Bilbypending certain proceedings to break their contract with you."
"Blunt enough," admitted Mr. Hammond, but without excitement. "Let's see:You have a paper of some kind, I suppose, to serve on me?"
"I've a summons for you," said the officer, drawing forth some papers,"and I propose to take the two Indians back to the Bay with me."
"You can serve me, and I will arrange for my representative to appear forme in your court," said Hammond. "But Totantora, to whom I suppose yourefer, is a citizen of the United States, and you will have to find himto serve him."
"He's nothing but an Injun!" squealed Bilby, in wrath.
"Being an Osage Indian, and owning properly surveyed oil lands inOklahoma, the Government has acknowledged his citizenship," was the quietreply. "He certainly is a good American and will doubtless answer to anycourt demand--if you can serve him legally."
"You got him hid away somewhere?" demanded the deputy sheriff.
"And the girl, too!" cried Bilby. "I want the girl more than I do thecrazy old Indian."
"You'll think he's crazy if he ever sets eyes on you again, Mr. Bilby,"was Mr. Hammond's warning. "He hasn't forgotten you."
Bilby drew back--and he looked frightened, too. "I--I don't want himright now," he muttered.
Hammond accepted the summons of the local court, glanced at it, and putit in his pocket.
"I see I have five days' grace," he remarked. "All right. I will see thatproper representation is made before the court."
"But we want them Indians," said the deputy.
"This island is private property. I have hired its use for a certainterm. I will allow you on it only under proper legal motion. Have you asearch warrant?" Hammond asked the deputy.
"I ain't got a warrant. I don't need a warrant for a couple of Indians.They ain't got any standing in this community. I know Indians all right.You give 'em over."
"I do not even acknowledge that the two individuals you demand are undermy control. At least, I know very well that no United States court cantouch the young woman, Wonota, except through her guardian. That guardianis her father. I don't see him here--do you?"
"You'd better produce him," threatened the deputy.
"You can't make me. Go back and get proper authority--if you can,"advised Mr. Hammond. "And don't come here again--either of you--withoutproper authority. Willie!"
"On the job," said the boatman, grinning.
"Don't let these fellows upon the island again--not even on the dock. Notunless they are armed with a proper warrant."
He turned his back on the visitors and started toward the nearestbungalow.
"You'll be sorry for this, Hammond!" shouted Horatio Bilby. "I'll get youyet, and don't you forget it."
"To get me, as you call it, you will have to have both right and might onyour side, Bilby. And just now you do not seem to have either," was theParthian shot the president of the Alectrion Corporation sent over hisshoulder.
Willie hustled the deputy and the fat man back into their launch.
"Go on away from here," advised Willie. "I know you, Tom Satchett--knownyou all my life. All you are fit for is to jump a few fishermen and gamehunters that break the law. This job is too big for you. You're upagainst money and influence, both, this time."
"I won't forget you, Willie," growled the deputy. "You'll want somethingof me some time----"
"I want something of you right now," put in the boatman. "A good reasonfor punching you. Go on into your boat before I find it."
So the pair retreated. But Ruth came to Mr. Hammond in some littledisturbance.
"What shall we do?" she demanded. "Suppose they take Wonota away beforethe picture is finished?"
"They won't. At least, I don't believe the court will allow it. I willtelegraph to a good lawyer and have him come up here and watchproceedings."
"But, if it should happen, we would be in a bad fix, Mr. Hammond. Mr.Hooley says nobody could double for Wonota."
"Let's not cross bridges until we come to them," returned her friend.
But perhaps Mr. Hammond felt less confidence than he managed to get intohis voice and appearance at that moment.
Ruth Fielding on the St. Lawrence; Or, The Queer Old Man of the Thousand Islands Page 14