Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville

by L. Frank Baum

  CHAPTER XIV.

  THE MAJOR IS PUZZLED.

  Ethel came frequently to visit the girls at the Wegg farm, and at suchtimes Uncle John treated her with the same affectionate consideration hebestowed upon his nieces, and made her so cordially welcome that thelittle school teacher felt entirely at her ease. The girls did notconfide to Ethel their investigation of the Wegg mystery, but in allother matters gave her their full confidence. Together they madeexcursions to the Falls, to the natural caves on the rocky hill calledMount Parnassus, or rowed on the lake, or walked or drove, as the moodseized them. But mostly they loved the shade of the pines and the broadgreen beside the quaint mansion Captain Wegg had built, and which nowcontained all the elements of a modern summer home.

  Once Louise asked Ethel, casually, if she knew what "great trouble" hadcome to Hucks and his wife in their early life, but the girl franklyanswered that the old people had never referred to anything of the kindin her presence.

  Finally a telegram announced the arrival of Major Doyle to join theparty at the farm. Patsy was in the seventh heaven of delight, and droveJoe over to the Junction to meet her father on the arrival of themorning train.

  The Major was a prime favorite with all the party and his coming infusednew life into the household. He was the type of educated, polished,open-hearted Irish gentleman it is always a delight to meet, and UncleJohn beamed upon his brother-in-law in a way that betokened a heartywelcome. It was a source of much satisfaction to lug the Major over thefarm and prove to him how wise Mr. Merrick had been in deciding to spendthe summer on his own property; and the Major freely acknowledged thathe had been in error and the place was as charming as anyone could wish.It was a great treat to the grizzled old warrior to find himself in thecountry, away from every responsibility of work, and he promised himselfa fortnight of absolute rest, with the recreation of beholding hisbeloved Patsy as often as he pleased.

  Of course, the girl would tell her father about the Wegg mystery, forPatsy had a habit of telling him everything; therefore the cousinsdecided to take the Major freely into their confidence, so as to obtainthe benefit of his opinion. That could not be done the first day, ofcourse, for on that day Uncle John insisted on displaying the farm andafterward carrying the Major a willing prisoner to watch him fish in thebrook. But on the following morning the girls surrounded Patsy's fatherand with solemn faces recounted their suspicions, the important cluesthey had unearthed, and their earnest desire to right the great wrongthat had been done by apprehending the criminal.

  The Major smoked his after breakfast cigar and listened attentively. Thestory, told consecutively, was quite impressive. In spite of his longexperience in buffeting the world, the old soldier's heart was still assimple as that of a child, and the recital awakened his sympathiesat once.

  "'Tis evident, me children," said he, in his quaint way, "that you'veshtumbled on the inside of a crime that doesn't show on the outside.Many of the things you mention are so plain that he who runs may read;but I've remarked that it's just the things ye don't suspect in reallife that prove to be the most important."

  "That is true, Major," commented Louise. "At first it was just to amuseourselves that we became amateur detectives, but the developments are sostartling and serious that we now consider it our duty to uncover thewhole dreadful crime, in the interests of justice."

  "Just so," he said, nodding.

  "But I'm sure Old Hucks is innocent!" declared Patsy, emphatically.

  "Then he is," asserted the Major; "for Patsy's always right, even whenshe's wrong. I've had me eye on that man Hucks already, for he's themerriest faced villain I ever encountered. Do you say he's shy withyou girls?"

  "He seems afraid of us, or suspicious, and won't let us talk to him,"answered Beth.

  "Leave him to me," proposed the Major, turning a stern face buttwinkling eyes upon the group. "'Twill be my task to detect him. Leavehim to me, young women, an' I'll put the thumb-screws on him inshort order."

  Here was the sort of energetic confederate they had longed for. TheMajor's assurance of co-operation was welcome indeed, and while heentered heartily into their campaign he agreed that no mention of theaffair ought to reach Uncle John's ears until the case was complete andthey could call upon the authorities to arrest the criminal.

  "It's me humble opinion," he remarked, "that the interesting individualyou call the 'avenger' was put on the trail by someone here--eitherThomas Hucks, or the timber-toed book agent, or the respectable hardwareman. Being invited to come and do his worst, he passed himself as adocther on a fishing excursion, and having with deliberate intentmurthered Captain Wegg, got himself called by the coroner to testifythat the victim died of heart disease. A very pretty bit ofscoundrelism; eh, me dears?"

  "But the robber--who do you think he was?" asked Louise.

  "That I've still to discover. You inform me that Hucks is eager formoney and acts like a miser. I've seen the time I was eager for moneymeself, and there's not a miserly hair on me bald head. But exceptionsprove the rule. I'll watch our smiling Thomas and make a report later."

  Within half an hour he was telling Hucks a funny story and slapping theold man upon the back as familiarly as if he had known him for years. Hefound an opportunity that same day to give Thomas a dollar in return fora slight service, and was amazed at the eagerness with which the coinwas clutched and the earnestness of the thanks expressed. It really didseem as if the man was fond of money. But when the Major tried to drawHucks into speaking of his past history and of Captain Wegg's singularlife and death, the old fellow became reserved at once and evaded theinquiries most skillfully.

  That night, as the Major strolled in the orchard to smoke his last cigarafter all the others had retired to bed, he noticed Hucks leave the backdoor of the lean-to with a parcel under his arm and pass hurriedlyaround the barn. After a little hesitation he decided to follow the man,and crept stealthily along in the shadow of the trees and buildingsuntil he found himself at the edge of the berry-patch that was in therear of the outbuildings. But there he paused irresolutely, for Thomashad completely disappeared.

  The Major was puzzled, but decided to watch for the man's return. So hetook a position where he could watch the rear door of the house andsmoked patiently for nearly an hour before Hucks returned and lethimself quietly in.

  He said nothing to the girls next day of this mysterious proceeding, buton the following night again took his station in the orchard to watch.

  Sure enough, as soon as the house was quiet the old servant came outwith a bundle underneath his arm; but this time he led his blind wife bythe other hand.

  The Major gave a low whistle and threw away his cigar. The night was sodark that he had little difficulty in following the aged pair closelyenough to keep their shadowy forms in sight, without the risk of beingdiscovered. They passed around the barn and along a path that ledthrough the raspberry bushes back of the yard. There were several acresof these bushes, and just now they were full-leaved and almost shoulderhigh. The path wound this way and that, and branched in severaldirections. Twice the Major thought he had lost his quarry, but wasguided aright by their soft footfalls. The ground dipped here and there,and as they entered one of the hollows Major Doyle was startled toobserve the twinkle of a dim light ahead. A minute later he saw theoutlines of a little frame building, and within this Old Hucks and Norapresently disappeared.