CHAPTER VI
APPEARANCES AGAINST HER
"Who trusts himself to woman, or to waves, Should never hazard what he fears to lose."
--_Oldmixon._.
During the evening Peggy congratulated herself more than once thatClifford was well away from the house; for the sheriff, in companywith her father, again went over the dwelling. Every nook that mightafford a hiding-place was examined thoroughly, and, as Fairfax hadforeseen, another man was sent up to search the kitchen chamber. Atlength, all his joviality gone, Sheriff Will sat down by thesitting-room fire in puzzled perplexity.
"I can't understand it," he said more to himself than to Mr. Owen. "Wehave found no track going away. His boots make an impression thatcould not be mistaken. Unless he hath taken wings unto himself heshould be somewhere in the house."
"Nay, friend; it cannot be," replied Mr. Owen, shaking his headpositively. "We have searched every place that 'twould be possible fora man to be concealed. We have even gone into places where no one, nota member of the family, would think of hiding."
"That's just it," exclaimed the officer. "Some member of the familyhelped him. Were it not so we could not have missed the fellow."
"In that, friend, thou art mistaken. I believe that I could give anaccount of the actions and whereabouts of each member, yea, I willinclude our guests also, since my arrival home."
"What time was that, sir?"
"About one of the clock, I should judge."
"Well, the matter is beyond me," responded the sheriff rising. "Thereis naught to do but to go home and think it over."
And to Peggy's great relief he left, taking his men with him. Theoccurrence seemed to have thrown a damper over the spirits of theparty, even Betty being unusually silent, so the household soonseparated for the night.
It was not until the afternoon of the next day that Peggy found anopportunity of going to Sally's. By that time, accompanied by RobertDale, Betty had left for home; Mr. Owen had taken Fairfax with himinto the city, the two ladies were deep in conversation on themysteries of preserve making, and Peggy was at liberty. With a word ofexplanation to her mother the girl slipped on her wraps, and startedfor Sally's house.
Though still cold the day was clear and bright. The footways had notbeen cleared of snow, but paths had been beaten by the impact of manyfeet, and Peggy found walking not at all difficult. As she turned intoFourth Street she was astonished to encounter Sheriff Will. Hereturned her courteous greeting with an abrupt bow, and passed on.
"I wonder if he is going to the house again," she mused, stopping tolook after him. "He must be," she concluded as she saw that he turnedinto Chestnut Street. "He is not satisfied about not finding Clifford.Oh, dear! what would have happened if Sally had not taken my cousinhome with her? Well, I must hasten."
A brisk walk soon brought her to Sally's house on Little Dock Street.The dwelling was of stone. It was two stories in height, with ahigh-pitched roof, and with a garret room lighted in front by threedormer windows, and in the rear by a dormer on each side. Sallyherself came to the door in answer to the knocker.
"I have been watching for thee all day, Peggy," she cried, drawing herinto the room. The front door did not open into an entry, but directlyinto a large room occupied as a sitting-room. "I thought thee wouldnever come. Thy cousin hath worried lest some ill had befallen thee.Come in, and tell me all that happened after we left. Was it not finein Robert to speak as he did? Does thee think that he knew what wewere about? And oh, Peggy! I do like thy cousin so much. Theeremembers how we used to laugh at Harriet because she was alwaysextolling her brother at the expense of any youth she met? Well, Iblame her no longer. Mother, too, is charmed with him. Well, whydoesn't thee talk, and tell me all that hath occurred?"
Peggy laughed outright.
"I was just waiting for a chance, Sally," she replied. "Let me see.About Robert first: How could he have known anything anent Clifford,yet what he said was so opportune? It hath puzzled me. I know not whatwe should have done had he not so spoken. I could think of naught tosay, and I saw that thee was affected in the same manner. Where is mycousin? Let us go to him at once, for I must not stay long. I willtell ye both what hath occurred."
"Come," quoth Sally, leading the way to the staircase, which was atthe back of the house, and approached from a side entrance. "We haveput him in the front chamber, which contains the 'Auger Hole.' Theeremembers it, Peggy? For further safety we have drawn the bedstead infront of the door. Unless 'twas known no one would think of looking inthat closet for a hiding-place. There is also an old loom in a cornerup attic which might serve right well for concealment, but motherthought the chamber with the 'Auger Hole' best; although we showedClifford both places."
"Thee has done thy best, Sally," remarked Peggy approvingly. The"Auger Hole," as it was playfully called, had been built, for whatreason was not known, as a place of concealment. It was a small room,entirely dark, which could be approached only through a linen closet.In order to get at it, the linen had to be taken from the shelves, theshelves drawn out, and a small door opened at the back of the closet,quite low down, so that the room could be entered only by stooping.Its existence was known to but few people. So Peggy smiled withsatisfaction, as she added: "I dare say that he will not need to useeither. Thee would never be suspected of having a British prisoner inhiding."
"True," answered Sally, "but 'tis as well to be prepared for anemergency. Here we are, Peggy."
"And how does thee do to-day, my cousin?" cried Peggy as her friendopened the door.
Clifford Owen rose from the easy chair drawn up before the fire, andturned toward her beamingly. Peggy reflected that she had never seenhim appear to better advantage. His fine eyes were glowing, his formwas erect, and his manner held a graciousness that was charming.
"Well, my little cousin! well indeed," he responded. "Methought thatfur rug yesterday was sumptuous after my experience with the wind andsnow, but your friends have lodged me like a king. Yon tester bedfeels as though 'twere meant for royalty. I doubt if King George restsupon one so easy."
"It wouldn't rest easy if I had the making of it," spoke Sally pertly.
"The sheriff made another search after thee left, my cousin,"interposed Peggy hastily. "And, just as Fairfax thought, he sentanother man to explore the kitchen chamber. What if thee had beenthere?"
"'Twould have been all up with me," remarked Clifford easily. "Howseemed he, Peggy? Suspicious?"
"He was greatly dissatisfied," returned Peggy, a troubled lookclouding her eyes. "He said that some member of the family must havehelped in the escape, though father insisted that it could not be. Andoh! I met him as I was coming here."
"Who? The sheriff?" questioned Clifford startled.
"Yes; he was going to our house, I think. At least I saw him turninto Chestnut Street."
"Did he turn to watch you, Peggy?" inquired her cousin with someanxiety.
"Why no; why should he?" asked she simply.
"Because----" he began, when a loud peal of the knocker brought theremark to an abrupt stop.
Sally arose with precipitancy.
"Mother is busy in the kitchen," she said. "'Twill be best for me tosee who it is. I don't believe that 'tis any one who will wish to comeup here, but if it should be thy cousin must run for the closet,Peggy. I will leave the door ajar, and should I be saying anythingwhen I come to the stairway thee will know that 'tis some one whoinsists upon coming up."
The two cousins sat in silence as Sally went down-stairs, fearful ofwhat the visit might portend. Peggy was openly anxious, and Clifford,too, seemed uneasy. The murmur of voices could be heard, and while thewords could not be distinguished it seemed to Peggy that the toneswere those of command. A slight commotion followed as though severalpersons had entered the dwelling, and presently the stairway dooropened and closed quickly.
"Peggy!" came in a shrill whisper from the foot of the stairs. Peggywas out of the chamber and at the head of the stairs in an instant
.Sally stood below, and though the stairway was so dimly lighted thatPeggy could scarcely distinguish the outlines of her form, she knewthat her friend was greatly excited. She was telling her something inso low a tone that Peggy could hardly hear what it was, but shegathered enough to send her flying back to her cousin.
"'Tis the sheriff," she cried. "Get into the closet, quick."
Clifford Owen stayed not for a second bidding. He darted into thecloset back of the great tester bed, and the door of the concealedroom clicked softly. In anticipation of such an emergency the shelveshad been removed, and Peggy now replaced them. Hurriedly she tossedsome piles of linen on them, and then resumed her seat before thefire. She had barely done so when the door opened, and Sally,followed by Sheriff Will and two of his men, appeared on thethreshold. To Peggy's amazement the girl was laughing.
"What does thee think, Peggy?" she cried gaily. "The sheriff insiststhat he must look here for that escaped prisoner. He hath almostscared mother out of her wits, and now he is trying to fright us. Ihave told him to search all he wishes."
"I hope that you are as innocent as you appear, Miss Sally," spokeSheriff Will gruffly. "I've a suspicion that you two fooled me nicelylast night, but 'twon't happen again. I said down-stairs that I wasaware that the closet in this room concealed a hiding-place."
"La, la!" laughed Sally saucily. "So thee did. And how will thee findit, friend?"
"Sam, give a hand with this bed, will you?" ordered the sheriff.
To Peggy's consternation the men moved the heavy bedstead out into theroom, and Sheriff Will opened the door of the closet. Deliberately hethrew the linen on the floor, and began to draw out the shelves. Amist swam before her eyes. She felt her senses going, and then sat upsuddenly as Sally ran to the door, now fully exposed to view.
"Doesn't thee want me to open it for thee, Friend Will?" she askedmerrily. "Behold what thee will behold!" With this she flung wide thedoor.
"Sally!" gasped Peggy in agonized tones. "Oh, Sally, how could thee?"For the open door revealed Clifford Owen sitting on the floor of theconcealed room.
All the color faded from Sally's face at sight of him. She stood apicture of consternation, looking from one cousin to the otherseemingly unable to speak.
"Thank you, Miss Sally," spoke Sheriff Will sarcastically. "'Twas wellplayed, but I think you overreached yourself for the nonce. Somethingwent awry. Come out, young fellow! 'Tis a pretty chase you've givenme. Come out, or I'll shoot."
"I yield, sir," answered Clifford Owen crawling out. "I yield--totreachery. I congratulate you, Mistress Sally. The dungeon of whichyou spoke was not so much of a myth as I had supposed."
But at that Sally regained her tongue.
"Peggy," she cried flinging herself down beside her friend, "didn'tthee hear me? I said the loom. I said the loom, Peggy. Oh, I nevermeant--I didn't think he was there. Tell him, Peggy! Make him believeme. Thee knows that I wouldn't do such a thing. Tell him, Peggy."
"'Thus do all traitors,'" quoted Clifford with an upward curl of hislip. "'If their purgation did consist in words, they are as innocentas grace itself.' I was a fool to trust a woman. Officer, take mewhere you must. Any place is preferable to breathing the same air withtreachery."
"Clifford, Clifford!" cried Peggy going to him. "I am so sorry that ithath come out so. Oh, Clifford, what can I do for thee now? And Sally!I know that it happened as she hath said. She would not----"
"You can do naught, my cousin," answered he, his eyes softening asthey rested upon her. "You, at least, are guiltless of overt acttoward me."
"And Sally also," she began eagerly, but the boy's lips set in astraight line.
"We will not discuss it," he answered loftily. "I hope that notrouble will come to you, Peggy."
"Trouble," echoed Sheriff Will "They shall both be indicted for this.'Twas a neat trick, but ye won't find the Supreme Executive Council soeasily deluded. Was your father concerned in this, Miss Peggy?"
"No," replied she quickly. "He knows no more of it than thee does,Friend Will. I alone am to blame for all that hath occurred. Sallyonly helped for friendship sake."
"You shall hear of it," spoke the sheriff grimly. "Come on, young man.We have wasted too much time on you already."
"Don't hurry him away, Friend Will," pleaded Sally sobbing. "Let metell him how it was. Do let me talk to him a moment."
"Lead on," commanded Clifford, turning his back upon her decidedly."Why dally longer?"
Without another glance at the weeping Sally he was led away betweentwo of the men.
Peggy Owen and Liberty Page 8