by Holman Day
XXX ~ THE MATTER OP A MONOGRAM IN WAX
O come list awhile and you soon shall hear. By the rolling sea lived a maiden fair. Her father followed the sum-muggling trade Like a warlike he-ro, Like a warlike he-ro that never was aff-er-aid! --The Female Smuggler.
Captain Mayo carried only doubts and discouragement back to the wreck onRazee. His doubts were mostly concerned with the matter of the documentswhich Mr. Fogg was seeking so insistently. Mayo himself had done alittle seeking. He inquired at the post-office, but there was no mailfor him. If no papers had been abstracted from the Marston archives,if this affair were some new attempt at guile on the part of Fogg, thepromoter had certainly done a masterly bit of acting, Mayo told himself.He determined to keep his own counsel and wait for developments.
Two days later the developments arrived at Razee in the person ofCaptain Zoradus Wass, who came a-visiting in a chartered motor-boat. Heclimbed the ladder, greeted his _protege_ with sailor heartiness, andwent on a leisurely tour of inspection.
"Something like a tinker's job on an iron kittle, son," he commented."You must have been born with some of the instincts of a plumber. Keepon the way you're operating and you'll get her off."
"I'll never get her off by operating as I am just now, Captain Wass. Weare standing still. No money, no credit, no grub. I made a raise offive thousand and have spent it. I don't dare to go to the old skinflintagain."
"Well, why not try the heiress?" inquired the old skipper. "You know Ihave always advised you strong about the heiress."
"Look here, Captain Wass, I don't want to hear any more jokes on thatsubject," objected the young roan, curtly.
"No joke to this," stated the captain, with serenity. "Let's step intothis stateroom." He led the way and locked the door.
"There's no joke, son," he repeated, "and I don't like to have you showany tartness in the matter. Seeing what friends we have been, I ain'ttaking it very kindly because you have been so mighty close-mouthed.I'm a man to be trusted. You made a mistake in not telling me. The thing'most fell down between me and her!"
He frowned reproachfully at the astonished Mayo.
"She came expecting, of course, that I was about your closest friend,and when I had to own up that you have never mentioned her to me shethought she had made a mistake in me, and wasn't going to give me thething!"
"What thing, and what are you talking about?"
Captain Wass patted his coat pocket.
"I convinced her, and it was lucky that I was able to, for it's a matterwhere only a close and careful friend ought to be let in. But after thisyou mustn't keep any secrets away from me if you expect me to help you.However, you have shown that you can take good advice when I give it toyou. I advised you to grab Julius Marston's daughter and, by thunder!you went and done it. Now--"
Mayo impatiently interrupted. Captain Wass was drawling, with manifestenjoyment of the part he was taking in this romance.
"You have brought something for me, have you?"
"She is a keen one, son," proceeded the captain, making no move to showthe object he was patting. "Hunted me up, remembering that I had youwith me on the old _Nequasset_, and put questions to me smart, I cantell you! You ought to have been more confidential with me."
"Captain Wass, I can't stand any more of this nonsense. If you haveanything for me, hand it over!"
"I have taken pains for you, traveled down here, four or five hundredmiles, taking--"
"Yes, taking your time for the trip and for this conversation," declaredMayo, with temper. "I have been put in a mighty mean position by notknowing you had these papers."
"Safe and sure has always been my motto! And I had a little business ofmy own to tend to on the way. I have been finding out how that fat Foggsnapped himself in as general manager of the Vose line. Of course, itwas known well enough how he did it, but I have located the chap thatdone it for him--that critter we took along as steward, you remember."
In spite of his anxiety to get into his hands the parcel in the oldskipper's pocket, Mayo listened with interest to this information; itrelated to his own affairs with Fogg.
"I'm going to help the honest crowd in the Vose line management to tipover that sale that was made, and when the right time comes I'll havethat white-livered clerk in the witness-box if I have to lug him thereby the ears. Now, Mayo, that girl didn't say what was in this packet."He pulled out a small parcel which had been carefully tied with cords."She is in love with you, because she must be in love to go to so muchtrouble in order to get word to you. If this is a love-letter, it'sa big one. Seems to be all paper! I have hefted it and felt of itconsid'able."
He held it away from Mayo's eager reach and investigated still more withprodding fingers.
"Hope she isn't sending back your love-letters, son. But by the look shehad on her face when she was talking about you to me I didn't reckon shewas doing that. Well, here's comfort for you!" He placed the packet inMayo's hands.
The parcel was sealed with three neat patches of wax, and on each blobwas imprinted the letters "A M" in a monogram. Mayo turned the packetover and over.
"If you want me to step out, not feeling as confidential toward me asyou used to, I'll do it," proffered Captain Wass, after a polite wait.
"I'm not going to open this thing--not yet," declared the young man."That's for reasons of my own--quite private ones, sir."
"But I'd just as soon step out."
"No, sir. Your being here has nothing whatever to do with the matter."He buttoned the packet into his coat pocket. He had little respect forFletcher Fogg's delicacy in any question of procedure; the promoter'sanimus in the matter of those papers was clear. Nevertheless, the agenthad crystallized in bitter words an idea which was deterring Mayo: wouldhe take advantage of a girl's rash betrayal of her father? Somehowthose seals with her monogram made sacred precincts of the inside of thepacket; he touched them and withdrew his hand as if he were intruding atthe door which was closed upon family privacy.
"I suppose you'd rather keep your mind wholly on straight business,seeing what a bad position you're in," suggested Captain Wass. "Verywell, we'll put love-letters away and talk about something that'ssensible. It's too bad there isn't some tool we could have to pry openthat Vose line sell-out. The stockholders got cold feet and slid outfrom under Vose after the _Montana_ was laid up."
"What has been done with her?"
"Nothing, up to now. Cashed in with the underwriters and are probablyusing the money to play checkers with on Wall Street. Maybe they'reusing her for a horrible example till they scare the rest of theindependents into the combination."
"Have the underwriters sold?"
"Yes. She has been bid in--probably by some tinder-strapper of the bigpirates. It's a wonder they let you get hold of this one."
"They thought she was spoken for. When they found that she wasn't, theysent Burkett out here to blow her up."
Captain Wass was not astonished by that information.
"Probably! All the talk which has been circulated says that you werejunking her. I didn't have any idea you were trying to save her."
"We have been blocked by some busy talkers," admitted the young man.
"It's too bad the other folks can't do some talking and have the factsto back 'em up, son. Do you know what could be done if that syndicatecould be busted? The old Vose crowd would probably hitch up with theBee line folks. The Bee-liners are discouraged, but they haven't letgo their charter. You wouldn't have to worry, then, about getting yourmoney to finish this job, and you'd have a blamed quick market for thissteamer as soon as she was off this reef."
The bulging packet seemed to press against Mayo's ribs, insistentlyhinting at its power to help.
"I am going back and have a talk with old man Vose about this steamer,"said Captain Wass. "Now, son, a last word. I don't want to pry intoany delicate matters. But I sort of smell a rat in those papers in yourpocket. When she took 'em out of her muff all I co
uld smell was violet.Do you think you've got anything about you that would help me--helpus--help yourself?"
"No, sir; only what you see for yourself in this steamer'spossibilities."
"Very well; then I'll do the best I can. But confound this girl businesswhen it's mixed into man's matters!" It was heartfelt echo of Mr. Fogg'ssentiments.
Captain Wass departed on his chartered motor-boat, after eating someof the boiled fish and potatoes which made up the humble fare of theworkers on Razee.
Mayo based no hopes on the promised intervention of the old skipper. Hehad been so thoroughly discouraged by all the callous interests on shorethat he felt sure his project was generally considered a failure. Whenhe was on shore himself the whole thing seemed to be more or less adream. {*}
* When the steamer _Carolyn_ was wrecked on Metinic Rock a few years ago a venturesome young man, without money or experience in salvaging, managed to raise a few thousand dollars, bought the steamer for $1,000 from a frightened junk concern, and after many months of toil, during which he was mocked at by experienced men, managed to float her. She was sold recently for $180,000, and is now carrying cargoes to Europe.
They were reduced to extremities on board the _Conomo_. There was nomore coal for the lighter's engine, equipment was disabled, parts wereneeded for worn machinery, Smut-nosed Dolph was pounding Hungryman'stattoo on the bottom of the flour-barrel, trying to knock out enoughdust for another batch of biscuit.
Mayo had kept his promise and had not confided to Captain Candage thesource of the loan which had enabled them to do what they had done.After a few days of desperate consideration Mayo sailed on the _Etheland May_ for Maquoit.
He avoided the eyes of the villagers as much as was possible; he landedfar down the beach from the house which was the refuge for the folksfrom Hue and Cry. In his own heart he knew the reason for this slinkingapproach: he did not want Polly Candage to see him in this plight. Hertrust had been so absolute! Her confidence in him so supreme! In hismental distress he was not thinking of his rags or his physicalunsightliness. He went straight to the store of Deacon Rowley and hislooks startled that gentleman into some rather unscripturalejaculations.
However, Deacon Rowley promptly recovered his presence of mind when Mayosolicited an additional loan. The refusal was sharp and conclusive.
"But you may as well follow your hand in the thing," insisted Mayo."That's why I have come to you. I hated to come, sir. I have tried allother means. You can see how I have worked!" He spread his torturedhands. "Come out and see for yourself!"
"I don't like the water."
"But you can see that we are going to succeed if we get more money. Youhave five thousand in the project; you can't afford to drop where youare."
"I know what I can afford to do. I have always said, from the first,that you'd never make a go of it."
At this statement Mayo displayed true amazement.
"But, confound it all, you lent us money! What do you mean bycrawfishing in this way?"
Deacon Rowley was visibly embarrassed; he had dropped to this vitallyinterested party a damaging admission of his real sentiments.
"I mean that I ain't going to dump any more money in, now that you ain'tmaking good! I might have believed you the first time you came. I reckonI must have. But you can't fool me again. No use to coax! Not anothercent."
"Aren't you worried about how you're going to get back what you havealready lent?" demanded Mayo, with exasperation.
"The Lord will provide," declared Deacon Rowley, devoutly.
The young man stared at this amazing creditor, worked his jaws a fewmoments wordlessly, found no speech adequate, and stamped out of thestore. He no longer dreaded to meet Polly Candage. He felt that heneeded to see her. He was seeking the comfort of sanity in that shoreworld of incomprehensible lunacy; he had had experience with PollyCandage's soothing calmness.
She came out from her little school and controlled her emotions withdifficulty when she saw his piteous condition.
"Let's walk where I can feel the comfort of green grass under my feet,"he pleaded; "that may seem real! Nothing else does!"
By her matter-of-fact acceptance of him and his appearance and his moodshe calmed him as they walked along.
"And even Rowley," he added, after his blunt confession of failure, "hehas just turned me down. He won't follow his five thousand with anothercent. The old rascal deserves to be cheated if we fail. He is tellingme that he always believed we would never make good in the job. Is hecrazy, or am I?"
"Make all allowances for Deacon Rowley," she pleaded. "Keep away fromhim. He is not a consoling man. But there must be some way for you,Boyd. Let us think! You have been keeping too close to the thing--toyour work--and there are other places besides Limeport."
"There's New York--and there's a way," he growled.
"You must try every chance; it means so much to you!"
"Is that your advice?"
"Certainly, Boyd!"
He stopped and pulled the sealed packet from his coat. In the stress ofhis despair and resentment he was brutal rather than considerate.
"There are papers in there with which I can club Julius Marston untilhe squeals. I haven't seen them, but I know well enough what they are. Ican scare him into giving back all he has taken away from me. I can makehim give back a lot to other folks. And from those other folks I can getmoney to finish our work on the _Conomo_. Look at the monogram on thatseal, Polly!" He pointed grimy finger and held the packet close.
"From--Miss Marston?" she asked, tremulously.
"Yes, Polly."
"And she is helping you?"
"I suppose she is trying to."
"Well, it's what a girl should do when she loves a man," she returned.But she did not look at him and her lips were white.
"And you think I ought to use her help?"
"Yes." She evidently realized that her tone was a mere quaver of assent,for she repeated the word more firmly.
"But these papers are not hers, Polly. She stole them--or somebody stolethem for her--from her own father," he went on, relentlessly.
"She must love you very much, Boyd."
They turned away from each other and gazed in opposite directions. Hewas wondering, as he had through many agonized hours, just what motivewas influencing Alma Marston in those later days. With all his soulhe wanted to question Polly Candage--to get the light of her woman'sinstinct on his troubled affairs; but the nature of the secret he washiding put effective stopper on his tongue.
"Under those circumstances, no matter what kind of a sacrifice she hasmade for you, you ought to accept it, Boyd."
"I want to accept it; every impulse in me says to go in and grab. Polly,hell-fire is blazing inside of me. I want to tear them down--the wholeof them. I do! You needn't jump! But if I use those papers which thatgirl has stolen from her father I'll be a dirty whelp. You know it, andI know it! Suppose you should tell me some secret about your own fatherso I could use it to cheat him out of his share of our partnership? Youmight mean all right, but after I had used it you would hate me! Nowwouldn't you?"
"Perhaps--probably I wouldn't hate you," she stammered. "But I'd thinkmore of you if you--yes, I'm sure I'd think more of you if you didn'ttake advantage of my foolishness."
"That's it, exactly! Any man, if I told him about this situation, wouldsay that I'm a fool not to use every tool I can get hold of. Butyou understand better! I'm glad I came to talk with you. I have beendreadfully tempted. Your advice is keeping me straight!"
"I have not advised you, Boyd!"
"You don't need to use words! It's your instinct telling me what isright to do. You wouldn't think it was a square deal for me to use thesepapers, would you?"
"If you love her so much that you're willing to sacrifice yourself andyour work and--"
"Say it, Polly! I'm sacrificing your father, too! It's for a notion--notmuch else!"
"No, it must be because you love her so much. You are afraid
she willthink less of you if you take advantage of her. I think your stand isnoble, Boyd!"
"I don't! I think it's infernal foolishness, and I wish the Mayo breeddidn't have so much of that cursed stiff-necked conscience! Our familywouldn't be where it is to-day." He spoke with so much heat that sheturned-wondering eyes on him.
"But it's for her sake, Boyd! It's--"
"Nothing of the sort! That is, it isn't as you think it is."
"I only think you love her."
"I don't want you to say that--or believe it!" he raved. "If you onlyknew--if I could tell you--you'd see that it's insulting my common senseto say that I'm in love with Alma Marston. I don't love her! I--I don'tknow just where I stand. I don't know what's the matter with me. I'm inthe most damnable position a man can be in. And I'm talking like a fool.Isn't that so?"
"I don't understand you," she faltered.
"Of course you don't. I reckon I'm a lunatic. I'll be rolling over hereand biting the grass next!"
His passion puzzled her. His flaming eyes, his rough beard, his rage,and all the uncouth personality of him shocked her.
"Boyd, what--whatever is the matter? I'm afraid."
"I don't blame you. I'm afraid of myself these days!" He shook hisswollen fists over his head.
"It ought to encourage you because she is trying to help you!"
"Be still!" he roared. "You don't know what you're talking about. Helpme! There are women who can help a man--do help a man, every turn hemakes. There are other women who keep kicking him down into damnationeven when they think they are helping. I'm not going to stay here anylonger. I mustn't stay, Polly. I'll be saying things worse than what Ihave said. What I said about women doesn't refer to you! You are trueand good, and I envy that man, whoever he is."
He started down the slope toward the beach.
"Are you going back to the wreck?" she asked, plaintively.
"To the wreck!"
"But wait!" She could not control either her feelings or her voice.
"I can't wait. I don't dare to stay another minute!"
She called again and he halted at a little distance and faced her. Hewas absolutely savage in demeanor and tone.
"Remember what I said about her! Don't insult my common sense! Sheis--Oh, no matter!" He shook his fists again and went on his way.
She stood on the hillside and watched him row out to the littleschooner. And through her tears she did not know whether he waved saluteto her with those poor, work-worn hands, or again shook his fists. Hemade some sort of a flourish over the rail of the quarter-deck. Thegrieving and mystified girl was somberly certain that his troubles hadtouched Mayo's wits.