The Cryptogram: A Story of Northwest Canada
Page 43
CHAPTER XLIII.
A DRAMATIC INTERRUPTION.
It need not be said that Christopher Burley and myself accepted thefactor's invitation with alacrity, though, indeed, the mere sight of themissing man's trunk promised to be but poor game. On the contrary,should the trunk not be found, it would amount to a certainty thatOsmund Maiden had returned to claim his property, but I did not look forthis contingency, which would throw the law clerk off the trail oncemore.
On the way from the office we had occasion to cross the house, and inthe lower hall we came upon Flora, attired in her outdoor costume offurs. She looked at us with some surprise, standing so that we could notpass her.
"I am going for a short walk, Denzil," she said, "and I hoped you wouldaccompany me."
"Yes, if you will wait just few moments," I replied. "We are on our wayto the room where the unclaimed trunks are stored. It is a matter ofsome importance to Mr. Burley and I wish to see the end of it myself."
"Oh, has Mr. Burley's search been successful at last?" Flora exclaimedeagerly. "He was telling me of his fresh hopes this morning, and I wasdeeply interested."
"Yes, Miss Hatherton, it seems that I was on the right track," the lawclerk replied. "Osmund Maiden passed through Fort Garry nearlytwenty-eight years ago. He left a trunk here--"
"And you are going to look for it?" Flora interrupted. "How curious!Please take me with you, Denzil, if Mr. Macdonald does not object."
"Not in the least," the factor answered gallantly. "Come with us, if youlike, but I warn you it will be a dusty undertaking."
"I am not afraid of dust or cobwebs," Flora said laughingly.
She slipped a hand under my arm, and as we followed Macdonald and Burleyupstairs I told her in a few hurried words what we had discovered.
"It is not much," she replied. "And what good can the trunk do Mr.Burley unless he can open it?"
"I'm afraid the factor won't permit that," said I. "He could do it onlywith a legal order of some sort."
By this time Macdonald had led us through two empty rooms on the upperfloor, and now he stopped at the door of a third.
"This is the place," he said fitting a key in the lock.
An instant later the door swung open, revealing darkness within, andletting a musty, ancient odor escape. Christopher Burley stumbled overthe threshold, and the rest of us followed him.
"This is worse than the underground passage at Fort Royal," said Flora."The room needs airing badly. Are you going to give us any light, Mr.Macdonald?"
"At once," the factor replied.
He groped his way into the darkness, fumbled a moment at a closedwindow, and flung the shutters wide open. The cold wintry air blew inour faces, and the rays of the sinking sun brightened every nook andcorner. It was a good-sized room, and on three sides of it--except wherea space was left for the window--trunks and boxes were neatly stacked tothe ceiling. Dust and cobwebs lent a disreputable and ruinous effect tothem.
"All unclaimed," Macdonald said significantly, "and none of recentdate."
For a moment the four of us stood in silence, as though under theinfluence of a strange spell. It was indeed an impressive and athoughtful sight, this array of boxes and trunks, chests and cases, ofall sizes and all kinds. Could these mute witnesses only have spoken! Aswe stared at them we wondered what had been the fate of their owners--ofthe daring men, young and old, who had gone forth years ago into theuntrodden wilderness and never been heard of since.
"Where is his trunk?" demanded Christopher Burley, breaking the spell."Show it to me! I don't believe it is here!"
"We shall find it presently, I assure you," the factor answered.
With that we fell to searching, two of us at one side of the room andtwo at the other. Its proper number was painted in white on each box ortrunk, but as the numbers were not in order, and some of them werepartly obscured by dust, we were not successful at once. When we came tothe stack at the end of the room, however, Flora's sharp eyes quicklydiscovered what we were seeking.
"There it is!" she cried, "Number 409!"
Yes, there it was--the fateful characters staring us in the face fromthe end of a small black trunk, next but one to the top of the heap, Ifelt a pang of disappointment, I had half-hoped that this mysteriousOsmund Maiden had returned to claim his property, and that by anoversight the black line had not been drawn through his name. But herewas evidence that strongly suggested his death in the wilderness.
"Get it down," Christopher Burley said hoarsely. "Let me see it!"
Macdonald assented half-reluctantly. I helped him to drag the trunk fromthe one resting on top of it, and we placed it on the floor. It was asmall affair and it seemed very light. It was low and narrow,brass-bound, and covered with decaying leather. In addition to beinglocked it was wrapped about with rope.
"Nothing in it but spare clothing, I should say," remarked the factor."It's a common enough type and was made and sold in Quebec. I know thebrand."
"You are right, sir; the trunk did not come from England," said the lawclerk.
"But you will surely open it, so that all doubt may be set at rest."
"I shall do nothing of the sort," Macdonald answered curtly. "Yourrequest is impossible. I have no right to touch the trunk. How do I knowthat Osmund Maiden is not alive--that he will not turn up with thereceipt some day?"
"I admit the possibility of that," said Christopher Burley. "Indeed, Iprefer to take that view of the matter myself. But consider myperplexing situation, sir. I have reason to think that the trunkcontains papers--not only documents to prove Osmund Maiden's identity,but a statement of what his future plans were when he left Fort Garry.And by that means I will learn where to search for him--how to trace hisafterlife. I can't return to England until I have either proved him deador found him alive."
Macdonald shook his head.
"I must be true to my trust," he replied. "Only legal measures canempower me to open this trunk, and you can take steps to that effect ifyou please. You know better than I if such a remedy is within yourreach. In the eyes of the law I admit Osmund Maiden would probably beaccounted dead."
"But my dear sir, the plan you suggest would involve a journey toEngland and back, not to mention the delay in the Quebec courts."
"It is the only course, Mr. Burley. And you must remember, for my sideof the case, that you have not let me into your confidence. Why are yousearching for this man?"
"I could speedily satisfy you on that point," the law clerk saidslowly; "but this is not the time to do so. I am acting for myemployers--Parchmont & Tolliver, of Lincoln's Inn, London. They are awell-known and honorable firm of solicitors, and it is of importance tothem that Osmund Maiden should be found."
"Then find him," the factor replied. "Find him, but don't ask me tobreak into this trunk."
Mr. Burley agitatedly wiped his brow.
"Sir, I beg of you to reconsider your determination," he pleaded."Permit me to see what is in the trunk. Open it in my presence, let mehastily examine the contents, and then seal it up intact. It is a simplematter for you--a most important one for me."
At first Macdonald made no reply, but he was clearly moved by the lawclerk's earnestness and importunity. He hesitated a moment, and thensaid coldly:
"I will do this much for you, sir: I will take the rope from the trunkand if it can be picked open without breaking the lock, well and good;if not, you must be content."
"Try it, sir, at once," exclaimed Mr. Burley.
Taking a knife from his pocket, the factor knelt beside the trunk. Hebegan to sever, one by one, the tightly-knotted strands of rope; theyhad been tied so many years that they could not be picked open. The lawclerk fairly trembled with excitement as he bent over him; Flora and Iwatched the operation calmly.
Just then we heard soft footsteps, and looking up we were surprised tosee Captain Rudstone standing within a yard of us. There was a peculiargleam in his eyes, and a half-amused, half-mocking expr
ession lurked onhis inscrutable features. His glance swept about the room, then settledkeenly on our little group.
"Pardon me for interrupting you, Mr. Macdonald," he said inwell-modulated tones. "I heard you were here, and as my businesshappened to lie in the same direction, I took the liberty of followingyou uninvited. I could not have arrived at a more opportune time. Ithink that is my trunk you are trying to open. May I relieve you of thetrouble?"
"Your trunk, sir?" gasped the factor, letting the knife drop from hisfingers.
"Yes, mine. I am Osmund Maiden!"