Selma at the Abbey

by Elsie J. Oxenham

  For one crazy moment, Joy wondered if it had all been arranged; if Selma had been introduced into the household, and had forced her way into friendship, as part of a deeply-laid scheme to find out where the jewels were kept and to get hold of them. After all, they were worth a fortune!

  Then she thought of Selma and Angus, and knew it was not so. Selma was honest; and so, now, was Angus.

  Then who was down there? For there was certainly somebody in the lower room.

  She took her torch and the special stick she kept for tramps on the hills, and opened her door. All was quiet; no one else seemed to have heard.

  Then Joy caught her breath, for Angus’s door was open. She looked in, flashing her torch about; the room was empty.

  Suspicion swept over her again. In flaming anger, she turned to go down and confront him.

  “Joy! What’s up?”

  Joy swung round, to find Jen following her.

  “Did you hear something?” Joy hissed, her face scarlet with wrath.

  Jen pulled her into her own room. “Don’t wake Selma. I heard a door open, so I looked out.” And she nodded at the empty room.

  “Angus. He’s downstairs after the jewels. I expect Selma’s there too.”

  Jen stared at her. “No,” she said. “Oh, no, Joy! I don’t know what it is, but it’s not that. Angus never would; not again! And Selma couldn’t possibly. We’d better go down; perhaps there are burglars and Angus went to see. We must help him. But he’s not the burglar this time.”

  “I’m not so sure of it,” Joy retorted.

  “Well, I am. I may have to jump on somebody again, to save the jewels, but the somebody won’t be Angus. Come on, Joy! He’s all alone with the burglars. Shall I call Joan? It’s mean to leave her out.”

  “Joan and you left me out last time. No, don’t call anybody—yet. We’ll see what’s up.”

  “Joy still isn’t sure. It’s awfully like her!” Jen said to herself, as they crept down the great staircase.

  The drawing-room door stood open. A hoarse voice from within growled, “Shut that door! Who opened it?”

  “Angus opened it,” Jen whispered, shivering. “Oh, Joy, he’s in there with them all alone! He went to save the jewels!”

  “Got them?” asked another voice, as they crept to the door.

  Then from the shadows a slight figure launched itself upon the speakers, as Angus leapt towards the man stooping over the cabinet. “Come awa’ frae there, ye dirty thief!” There was no mistaking the Scottish voice.

  The second man sprang upon the two of them as they struggled on the floor. “Leave go, you young ass!” muttered one. “Leave hold, or I’ll break your arm!”

  “I’ll no’ let him go!” Angus gasped.

  A shrill cry broke from him, as the girls rushed in, both brandishing sticks, and Joy switched on the lights.

  In a moment all was confusion. The men dashed for the open window, one of them giving a vicious kick at Angus as he lay fainting. How many assailants there were they did not stop to find out; the alarm was given and their chance was lost. They were through the window and racing across the lawn in a flash.

  “I’ll phone the police,” Joy gasped, and she ran to the telephone, bumping into Joan as she went.

  “Men—after the jewels—Angus saved them—he’s hurt. Police!” she jerked, and raced on.

  Joan ran into the room to join Jen, who knelt by Angus, tears raining down her cheeks. “No, he’s not dead. But they knocked him down and kicked him, the brutes. And—and—they said they’d break his arm, if he didn’t let go, and he hung on. And I think they did it. Oh, Joan, his right arm! He won’t be able to play any more!”

  “Nonsense!” Joan said briskly. “Arms will mend. But that was very brave.” She bent over Angus. “He’s fainted. We must have the doctor. Run to Joy and ask her to ring him.”

  Joy met Jen at the door. “Line’s dead,” she said in disgust. “They’ve cut the wire. I’ll put on some things and get out the car and race to the station in the village.”

  Joan kept her head. “The phone in the Abbey will be quicker. We must have the doctor for Angus. Jen, you run best. Sprint to the Abbey and ring up the doctor.”

  “I’ll do it,” Joy insisted. “I must get on to the police,” and she rushed to the window and sprang through, on to the terrace.

  “Joy! The keys!” Joan cried. “Fetch them, Jen!”

  Jen ran for the keys and thrust them into Joy’s hand. “Be quick! Get the doctor first. Angus—oh, Joy! Fetch the doctor quickly! But don’t fall over the Curate! We don’t want any more broken arms.”

  “Here, Jen!” Joan called urgently.

  Jen ran to her. “What can I do? Oh, Joan, he’s not dead, is he?”

  “Is who dead?” a terrified voice cried from the doorway. “What’s happened? I heard noises. Oh, Angus! Angus, what’s the matter? Oh, he’s dead! He’s dead!”

  “He’s not dead,” Joan said sharply. “Jen, bring water; he cut his head when he fell. Then run up to Mother’s room and tell her all about it; she must have been wakened by the row. Tell her gently, with no nonsense about anyone being dead. Nobody’s dead, nor going to be. But first fetch water, and bandages; you know where I keep them. Selma! Go with Jen and bring the things when she finds them. Then you shall help me with Angus.”

  “Come on!” Selma turned to Jen and they ran like the wind.

  “Here you are!” Selma’s voice was steady when she returned. “I’d like to help; I’m not afraid. I’ve done First Aid—just a little. Tell me what to do!”

  Joan gave her a swift smile. “Bathe his head gently. Don’t touch that arm. The doctor will be here soon.”

  “His arm?” Selma whispered. “Did he break it when he fell? Oh, Joan, it’s his right arm! Will he—will it get better?”

  “Oh yes, I’m sure it will. But he won’t be able to use it for some time. Now don’t cry! That’s the first way to help; keep quiet and don’t make things harder for us.”

  “I’ll try.” Selma’s lips were trembling. “What happened, please?”

  “I don’t know exactly. I think Angus has been very brave. I heard sounds and came down, and then Angus called out, and Joy dashed past me to the phone, saying there had been burglars and she must ring for the police. Jen told me that the men threatened to break Angus’s arm, if he didn’t let them go, and that he hung on. It sounds as if he had saved the jewels. I’m afraid to do anything to his arm till the doctor comes, but we can see to this cut. He must have hit his head when he fell.”

  Selma was crying, but very quietly, her head bent. “He’d do anything for you,” she whispered. “If he heard men in here he’d come down to try to stop them.”

  “That’s what must have happened,” Joan agreed. “But he should have called us, and not have tried to do it all alone.”

  “He’d no’ want to bring you into it; or me. Will he no’ wake up soon?”

  “He probably has slight concussion. It’s not dangerous, Selma; it will soon pass off. You poor kid, it’s very hard on you! Try to be proud of Angus and remember how brave he must have been! You must be brave too.”

  “Should we no’ cover him with something, to keep him warm? He’s only got his coat over his pyjamas,” Selma half sobbed.

  “Yes, find something quickly. I forgot that,” Joan said in dismay.

  “At classes they keep on saying, ‘Protect from shock.’ It seemed to me this was the right time.” Selma brought a rug and ran to find another.

  “Yes, well done! I was an idiot to forget that. It’s very important.” Joan covered Angus gently. “Be careful not to touch his arm; we don’t know how bad it is.”

  “I wish he’d wake up,” Selma said unsteadily.

  “It may be better not, until after the doctor has taken him up to bed and set his arm. It will be easier for Angus, if he’s still like this.”

  The startled maids were crowding round the door. Joan waved them off. “Don’t come in; you can’t do anyth
ing here. Have lots of hot water ready; Mr. Reekie has had an accident. The doctor may want help from some of you presently. Wait in the kitchen till we call you, and have kettles boiling. You might fill bottles and take them up to his bed. That can’t be wrong and it will keep them busy,” she whispered to Selma, as the girls vanished.

  Jen crept in. “How is he? Just the same? Aunty Shirley’s all right, Joan. She’d wakened up, so she was glad to see me. She knows what’s happened, and she’s promised to stay in bed and not be frightened, but she wants you to go and tell her about Angus as soon as you can.”

  “Thanks for going to her, Jen. We can’t do any more now till the doctor comes.”

  Jen glanced at her. Then she went to Selma and crouched beside her and held her hand.

  Joan nodded. To comfort Selma was the only thing anyone could do at the moment. It was like Jen to have seen that and acted on it.

  Selma sat, very white and quiet, and gazed at Angus’s still face.

  CHAPTER 26

  A HORRIBLE NIGHT

  Joy came in by the window. “Doc. will come at once. The police are on the job; they’ll be here later to ask questions, but as we never saw the men we can’t tell them much.”

  “Angus saw the men,” Jen said.

  “They want to question him—when he can talk,” Joy added, with a glance at Angus. “It won’t be for a little while, poor chap! But he can’t tell them a lot; it was almost dark—only a torch, till I switched on the lights. I told the police he was a visitor, who only arrived late on Friday night. He couldn’t possibly know the wretches.”

  Joan looked up quickly. “Do you think it was somebody from the village?”

  “Must have been,” Joy said definitely. “It was somebody who knew about the jewels and could go straight to them. The house hasn’t been ransacked. They knew where to find the stones. Somebody has been talking.”

  Joan looked at Jen and nodded.

  “I told you that,” Jen said. “I said people in the village knew you’d brought the jewels to the house.”

  “Susie, perhaps. She isn’t always very sensible,” Joan began.

  “Maybe. But Ann Watson’s in floods of tears.”

  “Ann!” Joan and Jen stared at Joy.

  “I had to tell her why I wanted the Abbey phone at midnight. I just said, ‘Burglars, after the jewels,’ and she stared as if I’d hit her and then collapsed. I bet you she’s the culprit.”

  “She’d go telling people she was so glad she hadn’t to worry over them any longer,” Jen exclaimed.

  “Very natural,” Joan agreed. “She wouldn’t mean any harm. I know she was glad when we took the stones away.”

  “And somebody heard and saw his chance,” Jen added.

  “I’m afraid Ann will have to see the police,” Joan said. “Someone from the village has found an accomplice. How many men were there?”

  “Two. And Angus was all alone, but he went for them. He was a hero!”

  “He was jolly plucky.” Joy’s face was grave, as she stood looking down at Angus.

  Jen glanced up at her quickly, about to speak. She held back the words, but patted Selma’s hand gently, as if to reassure her.

  “I may as well own up!” Joy exclaimed. “Jen knows, but she won’t give me away. Decent kid, Jen! Joan, I thought at first it was Angus who was after the stones; then I knew it couldn’t be”—at a sharp, hurt cry from Selma—“and then when I found he wasn’t in his room I was sure it was. Jen was mad and said he never would, but I wasn’t sure. We came racing down and were just in time to see him leap out of the dark on to the chap with the torch. The other fellow told him to clear out or he’d break his arm, but Angus hung on.” She gazed at them with wide brown eyes full of horror. “I feel a worm. I’d like to tell him so. Joan, do you think they really did it—broke his arm, I mean? Won’t he be able to play? Oh, Joan, his career! He’d made such a good start! Is it ruined, just for our wretched jewels? And I thought—I can’t bear it!”

  “Joy, pull yourself together!” Joan said sharply. “The doctor will set the arm. It will take some time to get strong, but unless there’s anything odd or unusual about it, it will be all right. Don’t panic, when there’s no need. You’re terrifying Selma. Do keep your head!”

  Selma was staring at Joy, white and tense. She looked at Joan. “He will get better, won’t he?”

  “Of course he’ll get better. Don’t mind Joy! She’s very silly sometimes.”

  “I’m an idiot,” Joy said abjectly. “Of course he’ll get better! What’s a broken arm? We’ll take care of him till he’s all right again, kid. There’s a car; it will be Doc. I’ll let him in,” and she ran to unlock the front door.

  “We can’t have doctors coming in by windows,” Joan said cheerfully. “It will be all right now, Selma. We’ll soon have Angus comfortable in bed, and then you shall sit beside him.”

  The doctor hurried in. “What have you young people been up to? An accident?”

  “A burglar alarm; they were after those jewels.” Joan rose to meet him. “Mr. Reekie is staying with us, and he very bravely went to the rescue. But I’m afraid his arm is broken, and they knocked him down and kicked him as he lay on the ground. Can we help you, Doctor?”

  Dr. Brown knelt by Angus and ran practised hands over his body. “A broken rib here. Kicked him, you say? Brutes! Now the arm. Yes, a bad fracture. I’ll see to his head; he struck it when he fell. Out of the way, all you youngsters! Miss Joan may stay to help me. Miss Joy, take those two away.”

  Selma stood, her eyes wide with fear. “He won’t die?”

  The doctor glanced at her, wondering why this girl should be in such a panic. “Die? Certainly not! Why should he die? Out of the way, my dear. You’re keeping me from the patient.”

  Jen took Selma’s arm. “Come along! I’ve had an idea. Come on, Joy!”

  “Call us, if there’s anything we can do,” Joy said, as she followed the younger girls. “Good old Joan is more use at this sort of thing than all the rest of us put together.” She looked at Selma. “I say, you’re not going to faint, are you?”

  “No, she’s going to have some strong tea. That was my idea,” Jen said vigorously. “Hi, Susie! Susie Spindle! Ask Cook to make a pot of tea; we all need it. I’ll carry a cup up to Mrs. Shirley. You’ll be all right, Selma! There, squat on the stairs till you feel better. It’s been a horrible night for all of us. Joy, couldn’t you go up to Aunty Shirley and tell her the doctor’s here? Tell her about Mrs. Watson too; she’ll have to know. And say there are tea and biscuits coming in two minutes.”

  Joy ran off upstairs, and Jen sat by Selma and slipped an arm round her. “I hope she won’t say anything silly, but you never know with Joy. Aunty Shirley will be glad to see she’s all right; she fusses over Joy.”

  “Will Angus get better?” Selma half sobbed.

  “Of course he will. We keep on telling you so. There’s nothing very deadly the matter with him.”

  “Will he be able to play again?”

  “I’m quite certain he will. You care about him a jolly lot, don’t you?”

  “He’s mine.” Selma quivered. “I didn’t know how much I cared till I thought he was dead. I thought I’d die too.”

  “Well, he cares an awful lot about you, so that’s all right, and very nice too,” Jen said briskly. “Are you better? Can you walk? Then let’s park ourselves in the library and have the tea there. We’re rather in the way here; sort of holding up the traffic. Doc. will want to put Angus to bed.”

  “How will he do it? Could I no’ be any use?”

  “Annie will help Dr. Brown to carry him. She’s a big hefty girl; it won’t hurt her. Then you’ll sit and hold his hand and look at him, and you’ll know he’s begun to get better.”

  Selma allowed herself to be led to the library without protest. She dropped into a chair and laid her head on her arms on the big table, and was silent.

  Jen glanced at her, but left her alone. The tea was brought, and sh
e busied herself with the tray for Mrs. Shirley and carried it upstairs, with an extra cup for Joy. Then she went back to Selma and poked her gently. “Here you are! I’ve put a lot of sugar in; it’s good for you. There! Feel better now?”

  Selma sat up and pushed back her hair from her face. “Ever so much! You are nice, Jen! You look after people beautifully.”

  “I love doing it,” Jen admitted. “But I don’t very often get the chance.”

  “Please take care of Angus and me.” Selma gave her a shaky smile.

  Joy came in presently, fully dressed. “No use my going to bed! The police may be here any time and I’ll have to see them. They may want you too, Jen; you saw as much as I did. Selma came down after it was all over, so she can go back to bed.”

  Selma looked at her incredulously. “But Joan promised I should be with Angus.”

  “Of course you’re going to be with Angus!” Jen exclaimed. “That’s Selma’s job, Joy. You can see to the bobbies, and if they want me I’ll be delighted to have a chat with them. We’ll leave Angus to Joan and Selma. Joy, will you go on keeping those wretched jewels in the house?”

  “I haven’t had time to think about them. We’ll see what Joan says.”

  “I should bury them in the garden.”

  “Oh, Jen! They’re too beautiful,” Selma wailed.

  “It’s quite a good idea, but I hope we can think of something better than that,” Joy said. “They’ve been unlucky for us. But they’d have been safe enough here, if Ann Watson hadn’t been such an ass.”

  She opened the door and then closed it quickly. “They’re carrying Angus upstairs; Annie is helping Dr. Brown. No, you can’t go, Selma. Wait here till they’ve put him safely to bed. Joan!” and she opened the door again and called gently. “Joan, come in here! They don’t need you now. Come and have some tea!”

  Joan came wearily. “Tea? What a good plan! Your idea, Jenny-Wren?”

  Jen nodded. “I always give you cups of tea at night, don’t I? Aunty Shirley has had some, and she’s quite all right; Joy has been talking to her.”