“Of course he didn’t!” Kitty contradicted. “Really, it isn’t fair of you to involve us in the affair of a chance acquaintance,” Doris declared impatiently. “If we knew what caused the fire, we should tell you.”
McDermott turned toward the door.
“I see you’ve made up your minds not to talk, so I’ll go. I warn you we’re not through with the investigation. You may be Called upon to testify.” With that he left them and walked swiftly toward the car, where Weiser and Edgar Morehouse were waiting.
“How I detest that man!” Doris breathed, when he was beyond hearing distance. “You can see he doesn’t really care to get at the facts in the case. He’s made up his mind to prove Weiser guilty at all costs.”
“It looks bad for the snake-man, doesn’t it?”
“I’m afraid so,” Doris admitted.
“Well, we probably won’t be bothered with him hanging around here any more.”
“That’s so,” Doris smiled, “but it will be a shame if McDermott convicts him when he isn’t guilty. I wish we really knew something about the affair.”
“Strange he sold his snakes so soon after the fire,” Kitty commented thoughtfully. “If McDermott knew that, he’d be certain he had his man.”
“I know, it does look suspicious.”
The two girls stood in the open doorway watching McDermott as he made his way to the automobile. They saw him speak curtly to the other two and then get in beside Weiser.
“Wonder what they intend to do with him?” Kitty asked.
Doris did not answer, for her attention was attracted by a loud cry from the woods.
“Wait!” a voice called.
To the surprise of the girls Mr. Jay emerged from the timber, and carrying a glittering object in his hand hurried toward the automobile.
CHAPTER XIV
Meeting Mr. Jay
“It’s the old miser!” Kitty exclaimed. “What ails him, anyway?”
“Maybe he knows something that will clear Ollie Weiser,” Doris returned quickly. “Let’s go see!”
Motivated by curiosity, the girls left the cabin and walked over toward the automobile. They were just in time to hear McDermott impatiently ask the old man what he wanted.
Mr. Jay held up a gold watch and chain for their inspection.
“I found this on the path,” he said, addressing Ollie Weiser. “I thought maybe you dropped it, when my dog chased you.”
“Yes, it’s mine,” the magician responded, reaching out his hand to take the watch. “Didn’t know I’d lost it. Thanks!”
“Hold on there,” McDermott interposed, taking the watch before the magician had an opportunity. “Let me see it.”
“Say, what’s the big idea? That’s my watch. Hand it over!”
“All in good time,” the lawyer returned. “Ah, just as I suspected! This watch has the initials ‘R. H.’ on the case. Now how do you explain that?”
“The watch belonged to my uncle. It’s an heirloom.”
The lawyer regarded him with grudging admiration.
“You can certainly think of them fast.”
“It’s the truth. My Uncle Rawley—”
“Never mind elaborating,” McDermott interrupted, handing him the watch. “Take it. You’ll have an opportunity to prove all of your yarns, before we get through with you.”
With only a careless look directed at the miser, who stood at the side of the car, the lawyer started the motor and drove off. Mr. Jay shook his head in a baffled sort of way and turned to leave. Doris, thinking she saw an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the old man, ventured to speak.
“Your dog doesn’t seem to like strangers.”
“What’s that?” Mr. Jay glanced up quickly, a ftrifle startled. “Oh, his bark’s worse than his bite. I’ve trained him to run tramps off the place, but he won’t hurt a soul. Rip hasn’t a vicious hair on his back!”
The miser’s voice was low pitched and surprisingly cultured, not at all in keeping with his appearance. He did not look directly at the girls as he spoke, and started to move away. Doris was unwilling to see him go, for she wished to know him better.
“Perhaps you can tell us where we might rent a boat,” she said, using that as a pretext for continuing the conversation.
“What sort of boat do you want?”
“Oh, anything that doesn’t leak. We’ll want it for fishing.”
“I have a boat I can let you have tomorrow, if you like.”
“That’s very kind, I’m sure,” Doris returned gratefully. “Of course, we’ll pay you for it.”
“You may have it for nothing, if you’ll promise to take good care of it.”
“Oh, thank you!” both girls said together, and Doris added, “We’ll be careful in using it.”
Kitty ventured a question. “Is there good fishing here, Mr. Jay?”
“Yes—yes indeed. Very good.”
“I suppose,” Doris said, “that one could fish at any time of year in this place.”
“I go out myself in all the seasons,” the elderly man answered her. “Sometimes there are bad storms—especially in the winter.”
“Oh,” Kitty murmured, hunching her shoulders up as if she were cold, “I shouldn’t like to go out on that water in wintertime.”
Mr. Jay allowed a smile to play across his face, and turned to leave the girls.
“Perhaps,” Doris offered, “you would come with us on our fishing trip. We should like you to.”
“Oh, no. Thank you. No. I could not.”
The old man walked slowly away, but paused after he had taken a few steps.
“I’ll show you where the boat is hidden, when you’re ready for it.” He gazed hard at Doris, searching every line of her face. “You look like someone I once knew,” he muttered, so indistinctly that the girls scarcely caught the words.
Doris did not know what to reply, and while she was groping for words, she heard the rumble of Marshmallow’s car. It wheezed to a standstill near the cabin and Dave helped Mrs. Mallow to alight.
“We bought enough groceries to feed an army!” Marshmallow shouted boisterously. He was always in a good humor when a meal was in prospect.
Mrs. Mallow came over to where the girls were standing, and Doris turned to introduce Mr. Jay. To her surprise she saw that he had retreated at sight of the party. She caught a fleeting glimpse through the trees, as the old man walked rapidly toward his cabin.
“I guess I frightened him,” Mrs. Mallow laughed. “We’ve been hearing a lot about Mr. Jky at the stores.”
“What did you learn?” Doris questioned eagerly.
“Oh, nothing of consequence. The tradespeople haven’t much time for him, because he seldom buys anything at the stores. They say he’s very miserly.”
“Miserly! Well, perhaps, but he didn’t show it just now, did he, Kitty?”
“I should say not. He offered to let us use his boat tomorrow and he refused to accept money.”
“Hurrah!” shouted Marshmallow.
“That doesn’t sound miserly,” Mrs. Mallow admitted. “He may be a nice old man, but his appearance is positively disreputable. I wonder if he’s entirely safe?”
Doris and Kitty laughed outright.
“I thought the same until I talked with him,” Doris confessed. “In spite of his clothing you can tell he is a gentleman.”
“He must have been handsome when he was young,” Kitty added. “If only he would spruce up a bit.”
Mrs. Mallow and the girls returned to the cabin, while Marshmallow and Dave brought in the groceries. As they sorted the packages and placed them on the kitchen shelves, Doris and Kitty related what had befallen Ollie Weiser.
“It doesn’t surprise me greatly,” Mrs. Mallow declared. “I can’t bear the sight of him.”
“Say, who is this fellow I hear so much about?” Dave demanded somewhat jealously, although he grinned as he asked the question. “How old is he?”
“Oh, a little older than you, I�
�d judge,” Doris told him, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.
“Good looking?”
“Fair.”
“Hmm, I’ll have to look into this. Can’t have anyone cutting in on me.”
“Sure, better look him up,” Marshmallow advised. “A fellow that can charm a snake can probably fascinate the fair sex, too.”
“What a backhanded compliment!” Kitty protested.
Everyone lent a hand to help Mrs. Mallow with the luncheon, and soon the kitchen was filled with savory odors. Kitty kept close watch of Marshmallow, for when the others turned their backs, he was inclined to “sample” the various dishes, until she feared there would be nothing left on the table but empty dishes.
After luncheon the boys unpacked their bags, Mrs. Mallow and the girls helping them to get settled in the cabin next door. The afternoon was spent rather indolently, for everyone was tired. Several times Doris glanced curiously in the direction of Mr. Jay’s cabin, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“He doesn’t like people,” she told herself.
That night, long after Kitty had fallen asleep, Doris lay awake thinking of many things. For some reason she felt strangely excited, and yet she knew that the sensation had not been occasioned by the many events of the day.
“Tomorrow I intend to talk with Mr. Jay again,” she assured herself just before she dropped off to sleep. “There’s something about him—can’t define it—that intrigues my interest. What could he have meant by saying I looked like someone he once knew?,”
CHAPTER XV
A Fishing Trip
Doris and her friends were abroad early the next morning. After a refreshing dip in the waters of Cloudy Cove, they all did justice to the breakfast Mrs. Mallow had prepared, and talked over the plans for the day.
“I can’t see the bank president until Monday, so in the meantime I may as well play around,” Doris declared. “I vote we go fishing. Next week I may be so involved in financial affairs I’ll not have the chance.”
Marshmallow and Dave enthusiastically agreed to the suggestion, and Kitty promised that she would go for the boat ride, since she could never bring herself to bait a hook.
“You said Mr. Jay would let us have his boat?” Dave inquired.
“Yes, I’ll ask him about it right away,” Doris returned, arising from the breakfast table. “I wish I had some excuse for going over to his cabin. I hate to ask a favor the first thing.”
“I baked a cake yesterday afternoon,” Mrs. Mallow informed her. “Why not take that as an offering?”
“A splendid idea!” Doris approved. “The poor man probably hasn’t tasted home cooking in years.”
“Or any other kind, if what the tradespeople say is true,” Dave interposed.
“Why not take half a cake?” Marshmallow suggested a trifle wistfully.
“Greedy boy!” Mrs. Mallow laughed good-naturedly. “Never fear, you shall have your cake for luncheon. I’ll bake another while you are fishing.”
As soon as the breakfast dishes were cleared away, Doris and Kitty set forth with the chocolate cake carefully wrapped in waxed paper. They approached the cabin in the woods somewhat timidly, wondering if the dog would take offense at their visit.
Doris knocked firmly on the door and after a minute or two the miser opened it.
“We’ve brought you a cake,” Kitty announced.
“A cake?” the old man repeated in surprise, running a grimy hand through his unkempt locks of gray hair. “Well, that’s nice of you, I’m sure.”
He accepted the package rather awkwardly, and shifted from one foot to another as though at a loss to know what more to say. Yet as he unwrapped the cake, he gazed at it hungrily.
“Were you aiming to go out on the lake today?” he inquired after a little hesitation.
“Why, yes, if we may use your boat,” Doris said with a smile.
“It’s a little late in the day for good fishin’, but there’s a west wind, so maybe you’ll have luck. Step inside while I get my hat and coat and I’ll show you where the boat’s hidden.”
The girls entered the shack, glancing about with more than casual interest. It was quite bare of furniture, but was much cleaner than they had expected. A cot occupied one side of the room; there were two chairs, a desk, a battered table with a drawer, a small chest, and a cook stove. The walls were lined with built-in shelves, scantily stocked with groceries. A pair of snowshoes, a rack of books, and a bear skin completed the wall decoration.
Mr. Jay placed the cake in a covered box, and took his hat and jacket from one of the nails behind the door. Then, calling his dog, he bade the girls follow him to the waterfront. Halfway to the shore they met Marshmallow and Dave, who by this time had rounded up their fishing tackle and bait.
The old man led them to an old log which was nearly hidden by overhanging tree branches. The boat was chained to the log, and after unlocking the padlock, he handed Dave the key.
“I wish you’d fasten it again when you get through fishing,” he requested. “The boys hereabouts cause me trouble sometimes. They seem to think it’s smart to set my boat adrift.”
“We’ll take good care of it,” Dave promised Mr.
Jay.
“How are you fixed for bait?”
“We have a plug, some worms and minnows,” Marshmallow informed him.
Mr. Jay took a queer feathered object from his pocket and offered it to the youths.
“I don’t know whether you go in much for artificial bait or not, but I’ve found this jigger mighty useful. For some reason the fish rise to it, when they won’t touch another bait.”
“Why, thanks,” Dave stammered, taken by surprise at the old man’s generosity.
“I guess you have everything you need,” Mr. Jay went on quietly, tossing the anchor rope into the bottom of the boat. “Be careful you don’t upset!”
Without waiting to see the young people off, he turned and walked hurriedly back to his cabin.
“Say, he doesn’t act very miserly!” Marshmallow burst out after the old man was lost to view. “He’s given us his boat and everything. Guess the townsfolk were crazy when they called him a miser.”
“I thought he was aloof at first,” Doris added, “but he seems to want to be friendly with us. He looked so grateful when we took him that cake.”
“I’ll bet he doesn’t get enough to eat!” Marshmallow declared.
The fishing tackle and the minnow bucket were loaded into the boat, and the girls took their places. Marshmallow and Dave pushed off and assumed the burden of rowing. The boat skimmed lightly over the water. Crossing to the far shore, the party dropped anchor and Doris, Marshmallow, and Dave brought out their rods. Kitty refused to take a hand but sat contentedly in the middle of the boat, watching the ripples on the water.
Apparently the fish were not in a hungry mood, for they declined to partake of the appetizing bait which was dangled before them. After perhaps half an hour Marshmallow hauled in the anchor and the party moved on to another spot.
Scarcely had Doris dropped her line over the side of the boat, when she felt a sharp tug. A large fish flashed out of the water like a streak of silver, and the battle was on. Marshmallow and Dave had no time to offer advice, for very shortly they, too, were rewarded with strikes. Kitty squealed with delight and nervous dread, as fish after fish was neatly landed.
“We have a dozen nice ones now,” Dave observed presently, surveying the string. “What do you Say we journey homeward?”
The others were beginning to tire under the hot sun, and the thought of luncheon made them willing to end the sport for the day. Marshmallow seized the oars and struck out for the distant shore. After he had rowed steadily for ten minutes, the sweat trickled from his forehead, but still the shore appeared as far away as ever.
“This old boat doesn’t make much headway,” he puffed, resting on his oars.
“You might go faster, if you’d take up the anchor!” Doris laughed.
“Jumping
toads! Have I been hauling that rock all this time? No wonder I thought the boat was heavy.”
Sheepishly Marshmallow hauled in the anchor and again took up the oars. This time the boat shot smoothly across the water.
“What shall we do with all these fish?” Dave questioned, as he helped Doris alight a few minutes later. “We can’t eat them all.”
“Let’s take Mr. Jay a few,” she suggested. “He gave us the boat and we owe it to him.”
While the boys were making the craft fast to the log, Doris and Kitty took four of the largest fish to the cabin. They found the so-called miser sitting outside the door, smoking his pipe with the indolent ease of one who did not have a care in the world. He politely arose as the girls came up, and after a slight hesitation accepted the fish which they offered him. Yet, as before, it seemed difficult for him to put his appreciation into words.
“Keep the padlock key,” he insisted, “and use the boat any time you like.”
The girls did not remain to talk, for they saw that their presence embarrassed him.
“You can tell that the man once knew a better life,” Doris said in a low tone, as they went back to the shore to join their friends. “Did you notice how he instinctively arose, when we came up?”
“Yes, and that wasn’t all I noticed. Doris, he’s especially interested in you.”
“What makes you think so?”
“He keeps looking at you in such a queer, intent way.”
“Oh, I guess that’s just his way,” Doris passed it off.
They found Marshmallow and Dave waiting for them on the path, and the four made their way to the cabin. As they approached, they caught the appetizing odor of meat cooking.
“Guess Ma didn’t have any confidence in our ability to bring back a mess of fish,” Marshmallow laughed. “I sure am hungry!”
“So say we all of us,” echoed Dave.
“Fish are all right to eat,” Kitty added, “but I don’t like the idea of putting them into my mouth so soon after they’re caught. I kind of want to forget the struggle of the poor things for a little while, before cooking them.”
The Second Girl Detective Megapack: 23 Classic Mystery Novels for Girls Page 21