Sons and Fathers

by Harry Stillwell Edwards

  CHAPTER XLVI.

  WHAT THE SHEET HID.

  Slippery Dick was puzzled as well as frightened. He knew Gen. Evan bysight, and his terror lost some of its wildness; the general was notlikely to be out upon a lynching expedition. But for what was he wanted?He could not protest until he knew that, and in his past were many darkdeeds, for which somebody was wanted. So he was silent.

  His attention was chiefly directed to Edward; he could not account forhim, nor could he remember to have seen him. Royson had long sincetrained him to silence; most men convict themselves while under arrest.

  Evan stood in deep thought, but presently he prepared for action.

  "What is your name, boy?" The negro answered promptly:

  "Dick, sah."

  "Dick who?"

  "Just Dick, sah."

  "Your other name?"

  "Slippery Dick." The general was interested instantly.

  "Oh, Slippery Dick." The career of the notorious negro was partiallyknown to him. Dick had been the reporter's friend for many years and indull times more than the truth had been told of Slippery Dick. "Well,this begins to look probable, Edward; I begin to think you may beright."

  "I am not mistaken, general. If there is a mistake, it is not mine."

  "What dey want me for, Marse Evan? I ain't done nothin'."

  "A house has been broken into, Dick, and you are the man who did it."

  "Who, me? Fo' Gawd, Marse Evan, I ain't broke inter no man's house. Itwarn't me--no sah, no sah."

  "We will see about that. Now I will give you your choice, Dick; you cango with me, Gen. Evan and I will protect you. If the person who accusesyou says you are innocent I will turn you loose; if you are not willingto go there I will take you to jail; but, willing or unwilling, if youmake a motion to escape, I will put a bullet through you before you cantake three steps."

  "I'll go with you, Marse Evan; I ain't de man. I'll go whar you want meto go."

  "Get your dogs together and take the road to town. I will show you whenwe get there." They went with him to where his dogs, great and small,were loudly baying at the root of a small persimmon tree. Dick looked upwistfully.

  "Marse Evan, deir he sots; you don't spect me ter leave dat possum updere?" The old man laughed silently.

  "The ruling passion strong in death," he quoted to Edward, and thensternly to Dick: "Get him and be quick about it." A moment more and theywere on the way to the horses.

  "I had an object," said Evan, "in permitting this. As we pass throughthe city we present the appearance of a hunting party. Turn up your coatcollar and turn down your hat to avoid the possibility of recognition."

  They reached the city, passed through the deserted streets, the negrocarrying his 'possum and surrounded by the dogs preceding the riders,and, without attracting more than the careless notice of a policeman ortwo, they reached the limits beyond.

  Still Dick was not suspicious; the road was his own way home; but whenfinally he was ordered to turn up the long route to Ilexhurst, hestopped. This was anticipated; the general spurted his horse almostagainst him.

  "Go on!" he said, sternly, "or by the Eternal you are a dead man!Edward, if he makes a break, you have the ex----"

  "Marse Evan, you said breakin' in 'er house." Dick still hesitated.

  "I did; but it was the house of the dead."

  The 'possum came suddenly to the ground, and away went Dick into an openfield, the expectation of a bullet lending speed to his legs. But he wasnot in the slightest danger from bullets; he was the last man, almost,that either of his captors would have slain, nor was it necessary. Thegreat roan came thundering upon him; he lifted his arm to ward off theexpected blow and looked up terrified. The next instant a hand was onhis coat collar, and he was lifted off his feet. Dragging his prisonerinto the road, Evan held his pistol over his wet forehead, while, withthe rein, Edward lashed his elbows behind his back. The dogs werefighting over the remains of the unfortunate 'possum. They left themthere.

  The three men arrived at Ilexhurst thoroughly tired; the white men moreso than the negro. Tying their animals, Edward led the way around to theglass-room, where a light was burning, but to his disappointment onentering he found no occupant. Slippery Dick was placed in a chair andthe door locked. Evan stood guard over him, while Edward searched thehouse. The wing-room was dark and Gerald was not to be found. From thedoor of the professor's room came the cadenced breathing of a profoundsleeper. Returning, Edward communicated these facts to his companion.They discussed the situation.

  Evan, oppressed by the memory of his last two visits to these scenes,was silent and distrait. The eyes of the negro were moving restlesslyfrom point to point, taking in every detail of his surroundings. Thescene, the hour, the situation and the memory of that shriveled face inits coffin all combined to reduce Dick to a state of abject terror. Hadhe not been tied he would have plunged through the glass into the night;the pistol in the hands of the old man standing over him would have beenforgotten.

  What was to be done? Edward went into the wing-room and lighted thelamps preparatory to making better arrangements for all parties.Suddenly his eyes fell upon the lounge. Extended upon it was a formoutlined through a sheet that covered it from head to foot. So still, soimmovable and breathless it seemed, he drew back in horror. Anindefinable fear seized him. White, with unexpressed horror, he stood inthe door of the glass-room and beckoned to the general. The silence ofhis appearance, the inexpressible terror that shone in his face andmanner, sent a thrill to the old man's heart and set the negrotrembling.

  Driving the negro before him, Evan entered. At sight of the covered formDick made a violent effort to break away, but, with nerves now at theirhighest tension and muscles drawn responsive, the general successfullyresisted. Enraged at last he stilled his captive by a savage blow withhis weapon.

  Edward now approached the apparition and lifted the cloth. Prepared ashe was for the worst, he could not restrain the cry of horror that roseto his lips. Before him was the face of Gerald, white with the hue ofdeath, the long lashes drooped over half-closed eyes, the black hairdrawn back from the white forehead and clustering about his neck andshoulders. He fell almost fainting against the outstretched arm of hisfriend, who, pale and shocked, stood with eyes riveted upon the fatalbeauty of the dead face.

  It was but an instant; then the general was jerked with irresistibleforce and fell backward into the room, Edward going nearly prostrateover him. There was the sound of shattered glass and the negro was gone.

  Stunned and hurt, the old man rose to his feet and rushed to theglass-room. Then a pain seized him; he drew his bruised limb from thefloor and caught the lintel.

  "Stop that man! Stop that man!" he said in a stentorian voice; "he isyour only witness now!" Edward looked into his face a moment andcomprehended. For the third time that night he plunged into the darknessafter Slippery Dick. But where? Carlo was telling! Down the hill hisshrill voice was breaking the night. Abandoned by the negro's dogsaccustomed to seek their home and that not far away, he had followed themaster's footsteps with unerring instinct and whined about the glassdoor. The bursting glass, the fleeing form of a strange negro, wereenough for his excitable nature; he gave voice and took the trail.

  The desperate effort of the negro might have succeeded, but the humanarms were made for many things; when a man stumbles he needs them in theair and overhead or extended. Slippery Dick went down with a crash in amass of blackberry bushes, and when Edward reached him he was kickingwildly at the excited puppy, prevented from rising by his efforts andhis bonds. The excited and enraged white man dragged him out of thebushes by his collar and brought reason to her throne by savage kicks.The prisoner gave up and begged for mercy.

  He was marched back, all breathless, to the general, who had limped tothe gate to meet him.

  Edward was now excited beyond control; he forced the prisoner, shiveringwith horror, into the presence of the corpse, and with the axe in handconfronted him.

  "You infamous villa
in!" he cried; "tell me here, in the presence of mydead friend, who it was that put you up to opening the grave of RitaMorgan and breaking her skull, or I will brain you! You have ten secondsto speak!" He meant it, and the axe flashed in the air. Gen. Evan caughtthe upraised arm.

  "Softly, softly, Edward; this won't do; this won't do! You defeat yourown purpose!" It was timely; the blow might have descended, for thereckless man was in earnest, and the negro was by this time dumb.

  "Dick," said the general, "I promised to protect you on conditions, andI will. But you have done this gentleman an injury and endangered hislife. You opened Rita Morgan's grave and broke her skull--an act forwhich the law has no adequate punishment; but my young friend here isdesperate. You can save yourself but I cannot save you except over mydead body. If you refuse I will stand aside, and when I do you are adead man." He was during this hurried speech still struggling with theyoung man.

  "I'll tell, Marse Evan! Hold 'im. I'll tell!"

  "Who, then?" said Edward, white with his passion; "who was the infamousvillain that paid you for the deed?"

  "Mr. Royson, Mr. Royson, he hired me." The men looked at each other. Arevulsion came over Edward; a horror, a hatred of the human race, ofanything that bore the shape of man--but no; the kind, sad face of theold gentleman was beaming in triumph upon him.

  And then from somewhere into the scene came the half-dressed form ofVirdow, his face careworn and weary, amazed and alarmed.

  Virdow wrote the confession in all its details, and the generalwitnessed the rude cross made by the trembling hand of the negro. Andthen they stood sorrowful and silent before the still, dead face ofGerald Morgan!