the woman-haters-第26节

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did　when　I　first　happened　into　this　forsakthis　place。　　If　you've
got　any　more　hideous　secrets　up　your　sleeve　I'm　going　to　quit。〃

〃Secrets！〃　Atkins　laughed；　or　tried　to。　　〃I　ain't　got　any　secrets；〃
he　declared；　〃any　more　than　you　have。〃

The　latter　half　of　this　speech　shut　off　further　questioning。　　Brown
turned　hastily　away；　and　the　lightkeeper　went　into　his　bedroom　and
finished　dressing。

〃Find　your　shirt？〃　asked　the　young　man　an　hour　or　so　later。

〃Hey？　　Yes；　yes；　I　found　it。〃

〃In　your　room？　　That's　odd。　　I　could　have　sworn　I　saw　it　out　here。
Is　that　it　you're　wearing？〃

〃Hey？　　No。　　That　waswas　sort　of　s'iled；　so　I　put　on　my　other　one。
II　cal'late　I'll　go　over　and　work　on　the　Daisy　M。　a　spell；　unless
you　need　me。〃

〃I　don't　need　you。　　Go　ahead。〃

The　time　dragged　for　John　Brown　after　his　superior's　departure。
There　was　work　enough　to　be　done；　but　he　did　not　feel　like　doing　it。
He　wandered　around　the　house　and　lights；　gloomy；　restless　and
despondent。　　Occasionally　he　glanced　at　the　clock。

It　was　a　beautiful　afternoon；　just　the　afternoon　for　a　swim；　and　he
was　debarred　from　swimming；　not　only　that　day；　but　for　all　the
summer　days　to　come。　　No　matter　what　Seth's　new　secret　might　be；　it
was　surely　not　connected　with　the　female　sex；　and　Brown　would　be
true　to　the　solemn　compact　between　them。　　He　could　not　bathe　in　the
cove　because　Miss　Graham　would　be　there。

At　four　o'clock　he　stood　in　the　shadow　of　the　light　tower　looking
across　the　cove。　　As　he　looked　he　saw　Miss　Graham；　in　bathing
attire；　emerge　from　the　bungalow　and　descend　the　bluff。　　She　did　not
see　him　and；　to　make　sure　that　she　might　not；　he　dodged　back　out　of
sight。　　Then　he　saw　something　else。

Out　on　the　dunes　back　of　the　barn　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　figure
darting　to　cover　behind　a　clump　of　bushes。　　The　figure　was　a
familiar　one；　but　what　was　it　doing　there？　　He　watched　the　bushes；
but　they　did　not　move。　　Then　he　entered　the　house；　went　upstairs；
and　cautiously　peered　from　the　back　attic　window。

The　bushes　remained　motionless　for　some　minutes。　　Then　they　stirred
ever　so　slightly；　and　above　them　appeared　the　head　of　Seth　Atkins。
Seth　seemed　to　be　watching　the　cove　and　the　lights。　　For　another
minute　he　peered　over　the　bushes；　first　at　the　bathing　waters　below
and　then　at　his　own　dwelling。　　Brown　ground　his　teeth。　　The　light…
keeper　was　〃spying〃　again；　was　watching　to　see　if　he　violated　his
contract。

But　no；　that　could　not　be；　for　now　Seth；　apparently　sure　that　the
coast　was　clear；　emerged　from　his　hiding　place　and　ran　in　a　stooping
posture　until　he　reached　another　clump　further　off　and　nearer　the
end　of　the　cove。　　He　remained　there　an　instant　and　then　ran；　still
crouching；　until　he　disappeared　behind　a　high　dune　at　the　rear　of
the　bungalow。　　And　there　he　stayed；　at　least　Brown　did　not　see　him
come　out。

What　he　did　see；　however；　was　just　as　astonishing。　　The　landward
door　of　the　bungalow　opened；　and　Mrs。　Bascom；　the　housekeeper；
stepped　out　into　the　yard。　　She　seemed　to　be　listening　and　looking。
Apparently　she　must　have　heard　something；　for　she　moved　away　for
some　little　distance　and　stood　still。　　Then；　above　the　edge　of　the
dune；　showed　Seth's　head　and　arm。　　He　beckoned　to　her。　　She　walked
briskly　across　the　intervening　space；　turned　the　ragged；　grass…grown
corner　of　the　knoll　and　disappeared；　also。　　Brown；　scarcely
believing　his　eyes；　waited　and　watched；　but　he　saw　no　more。　　Neither
Seth　nor　the　housekeeper　came　out　from　behind　that　dune。

But　the　substitute　assistant　had　seen　enoughquite　enough。　　Seth
Atkins；　Seth；　the　woman…hater；　the　man　who　had　threatened　him　with
all　sorts　of　penalties　if　he　ever　so　much　as　looked　at　a　female；　was
meeting　one　of　the　sex　himself；　meeting　her　on　the　sly。　　What　it
meant　Brown　could　not　imagine。　　Probably　it　explained　the　clay
smears　on　the　boots　and　Seth's　discomfiture　of　the　morning；　but　that
was　immaterial。　　The　fact；　the　one　essential　fact；　was　this：　the
compact　was　broken。　　Seth　had　broken　it。　　Brown　was　relieved　of　all
responsibility。　　If　he　wished　to　swim　in　that　cove；　no　matter　who
might　be　there；　he　was　perfectly　free　to　do　it。　　And　he　would　do　it；
by　George！　　He　had　been　betrayed；　scandalously；　meanly　betrayed；　and
it　would　serve　the　betrayer　right　if　he　paid　him　in　his　own　coin。
He　darted　down　the　attic　stairs；　ran　down　the　path　to　the　boathouse；
hurriedly　changed　his　clothes　for　his　bathing　suit；　ran　along　the
shore　of　the　creek　and　plunged　in。

Miss　Graham　waved　a　hand　to　him　as　he　shook　the　water　from　his　eyes。

Over　behind　the　sand　dune　a　more　or　less　interesting　interview　was
taking　place。　　Seth；　having　made　sure　that　his　whistles　were　heard
and　his　signals　seen；　sank　down　in　the　shadow　and　awaited
developments。　　They　were　not　long　in　coming。　　A　firm　footstep
crunched　the　sand；　and　Mrs。　Bascom　appeared。

〃Well；〃　she　inquired　coldly；　〃what's　the　matter　now？〃

Mr。　Atkins　waved　an　agitated　hand。

〃Set　down；〃　he　begged。　　〃Scooch　down　out　of　sight；　Emeline；　for　the
land　sakes。　　Don't　stand　up　there　where　everybody　can　see　you。〃

The　lady　refused　to　〃scooch。〃

〃If　I　ain't　ashamed　of　bein'　seen；〃　she　observed；　〃I　don't　know　why
you　should　be。　　What　are　you　doin'　over　here　anyhow；　skippin'　'round
in　the　sand　like　a　hoptoad？〃

The　lightkeeper　repeated　his　plea。

〃Do　set　down；　Emeline；　please；〃　he　urged。　　〃I　thought　you　and　me'd
agreed　that　nobody'd　ought　to　see　us　together。〃

Mrs。　Bascom　gathered　her　skirts　about　her　and　with　great
deliberation　seated　herself　upon　a　hummock。

〃We　did　have　some　such　bargain；〃　she　replied。　　〃That's　why　I　can't
understand　your　hidin'　at　my　back　door　and　whistlin'　and　wavin'　like
a　young　one。　　What　did　you　come　here　for；　anyway？〃

Seth　answered　with　righteous　indignation。

〃I　come　for　my　shirt；〃　he　declared。

〃Your　shirt？〃

〃Yes；　my　other　shirt。　　I　left　it　in　the　kitchen　this　mornin'；　and
thatthat　helper　of　mine　says　you　was　in　the　chair　along　with　it。〃

〃Humph！　　Did　he　have　the　impudence　to　say　I　took　it？〃

〃Noo。　　No；　course　he　didn't。　　But　it's　gone　andand〃

〃What　would　I　want　of　your　shirt？　　Didn't　think　I　was　cal'latin'　to
wear　it；　did　you？〃

〃No；　but〃

〃I　should　hope　not。　　I　ain't　a　Doctor　Mary　Walker；　or　whatever　her
name　is。〃

〃But　you　did　take　it；　just　the　same。　　I'm　sartin　you　did。　　You　must
have。〃

The　lady's　mouth　relaxed；　and　there　was　a　twinkle　in　her　eye。

〃All　right；　Seth；〃　she　said。　　〃Suppose　I　did；　what　then？〃

〃I　want　it　back；　that's　all。〃

〃You　can　have　it。　　Now　what　do　you　s'pose　I　took　it　for？〃

〃III　don't　know。〃

〃You　don't　know？　　Humph！　　Did　you　think　I　wanted　to　keep　it　as　a
souveneer　of　last　night's　doin's？〃

Her　companion　looked　rather　foolish。　　He　picked　up　a　handful　of　sand
and　sifted　it　through　his　fingers。

〃Noo；〃　he　stammered。　　〃II　know　how　partic'lar　you　areyou　used
to　be　about　such　things；　and　I　thought　maybe　you　didn't　like　the　way
that　button　was　sewed　on。〃

He　glanced　up　at　her　with　an　embarrassed　smile；　which　broadened　as
he　noticed　her　expression。

〃Well；〃　she　admitted；　〃you　guessed　right。　　There's　some　things　I
can't　bear　to　have　in　my　neighborhood；　and　your　kind　of　sewin'　is
one　of　'em。　　Besides；　I　owed　you　that　much　for　keepin'　me　out　of　the
wet　last　night。〃

〃Oh！　　I　judged　by　the　way　you　lit　into　me　for　luggin'　you　acrost
that　marsh　that　all　you　owed　me　was　a　grudge。　　I　DID　lug　you；
though；　in　spite　of　your　kickin'；　didn't　I？〃

He　nodded　with　grim　triumph。　　She　smiled。

〃You　did；　that's　a　fact；〃　she　said。　　〃I　was　pretty　mad　at　the　time；
but　when　I　come　to　think　it　over　I　felt　diff'rent。　　Anyhow　I've
sewed　on　those　buttons　the　way　they'd　ought　to　be。〃

〃Much　obliged。　　I　guess　they'll　stay　now　for　a　spell。　　You　always
could　sew　on　buttons　better'n　anybody　ever　I　see。〃

〃Humph！〃　。　。　。　　Then；　after　an　interval　of　silence：　〃What　are　you
grinnin'　to　yourself　about？〃

〃Hey？　。　。　。　　Oh；　I　was　just　thinkin'　how　you　mended　up　that　Rogers
young　one's　duds　when　he　fell　out　of　our　Bartlett　pear　tree。　　He　was
the　raggedest　mess　ever　I　come　acrost　when　I　picked　him　up。　　Yellin'
like　a　wild　thing　he　was；　and　his　clothes　half　tore　off。〃

〃No　wonder　he　yelled。　　Caught　stealin'　pearshe　expected　to　be
thrashed　for　thatand　he　KNEW　Melindy　Rogers　would　whip　him；　for
tearin'　his　Sunday　suit。　　Poor　little　thing！　　Least　I　could　do　was
to　make　his　clothes　whole。　　I　always　pity　a　child　with　a　stepmother；
special　when　she's　Melindy's　kind。〃

〃What's　become　of　them　Rogerses？　　Still　livin'　in　the　Perry　house；
are　they？〃

〃No。　　Old　Abel　Perry　turned　'em　out　of　that　when　the　rent　got
behind。　　He's　the　meanest　skinflint　that　ever　strained　skim　milk。
He　got　married　again　a　year　ago。〃

〃NO！　　Who　was　the　victim？　　Somebody　from　the　Feeble…Minded　Home？〃

She　gave　the　name　of　Mr。　Perry's　bride；　and　before　they　knew　it　the
pair　were　deep　in　village　gossip。　　For　many　minutes　they　discussed
the　happenings　in　the　Cape　Ann　hamlet；　and　then　Seth　was　recalled　to
the　present　by　a　casual　glance　at　his　watch。

〃Land！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Look　at　the　time！　　This　talk　with　you　has
seemed　soso　natural　and　old…timey；　that　。　。　。　　Well；　I've　got　to
go。〃

He　was　scrambling　to　his　feet。　　She　also　attempted