the woman-haters-第27节

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seemed　soso　natural　and　old…timey；　that　。　。　。　　Well；　I've　got　to
go。〃

He　was　scrambling　to　his　feet。　　She　also　attempted　to　rise；　but
found　it　difficult。

〃Here；〃　he　cried；　〃give　me　your　hand。　　I'll　help　you　up。〃

〃I　don't　want　any　help。　　Let　me　alone。　　Let　me　ALONE；　I　tell　you。〃

His　answer　was　to　seize　her　about　the　waist　and　swing　her　bodily　to
her　feet。　　She　was　flushed　and　embarrassed。　　Then　she　laughed
shortly　and　shook　her　head。

〃What　are　you　laughin'　at？〃　he　demanded；　peering　over　the　knoll　to
make　sure　that　neither　John　Brown　nor　Miss　Graham　was　in　sight。

〃Oh；　not　much；〃　she　answered。　　〃You　kind　of　surprise　me；　Seth。〃

〃Why？〃

〃'Cause　you've　changed　so。〃

〃Changed？　　How？〃

〃Oh；　changed；　that's　all。　　You　seem　to　have　more　spunk　than　you　used
to　have。〃

〃Humph！　　Think　so；　do　you？〃

〃Yes；　I　do。　　I　think　bein'　a　lightkeeper　must　be　good　for　some
folkssome　kind　of　folks。〃

〃I　want　to　know！〃

〃Yes；　you　better　be　careful；　or　you'll　be　a　real　man　some　day。〃

His　answer　was　an　angry　stare　and　a　snort。　　Then　he　turned　on　his
heel　and　was　striding　off。

〃Wait！〃　she　called。　　〃Hold　on！　　Don't　you　want　your　shirt？　　Stay
here；　and　I'll　go　into　the　house　and　fetch　it。〃

He　waited；　sullen　and　reluctant；　until　she　returned　with　the　article
of　apparel　in　one　hand　and　the　other　concealed　beneath　her　apron。

〃Here　it　is；〃　she　said；　presenting　the　shirt　to　him。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　grumbled；　taking　it。　　〃Much　obliged　for　sewin'　on
the　button。〃

〃You're　welcome。　　It　squares　us　for　your　pilotin'　me　over　the　marsh；
that's　all。　　'Twa'n't　any　favor；　I　owed　it　to　you。〃

He　was　turning　the　shirt　over　in　his　hands。

〃Well；〃　he　began；　then　stopped　and　looked　fixedly　at　the　garment。

〃I　see　you've　mended　that　hole　in　the　sleeve；〃　he　said。　　〃You　didn't
owe　me　that；　did　you？〃

She　changed　color　slightly。

〃Oh；〃　she　said；　with　a　toss　of　her　head；　〃that's　nothin'。　　Just　for
good　measure。　　I　never　could　abide　rags　on　anybody　thatthat　I　had
to　look　at　whether　I　wanted　to　or　not。〃

〃'Twas　real　good　of　you　to　mend　it；　Emeline。　　Say；〃　he　stirred　the
sand　with　his　boot；　〃you　mentioned　that　you　cal'lated　I'd　changed
some；　was　more　of　a　man　than　I　used　to　be。　　Do　you　know　why？〃

〃No。　　Unless；〃　with　sarcasm；　〃it　was　because　I　wa'n't　around。〃

〃It　ain't　that。　　It's　because；　Emeline；　it's　because　down　here　I'm
nigher　bein'　where　I　belong　than　anywheres　else　but　one　place。　　That
place　is　at　sea。　　When　I'm　on　salt　water　I'm　a　manyou　don't
believe　it；　but　I　am。　　On　land　II　don't　seem　to　fit　in　right。
Keepin'　a　light　like　this　is　next　door　to　bein'　at　sea。〃

〃Seth；　I　want　to　ask　you　a　question。　　Why　didn't　you　go　to　sea　when
you　ranwhen　you　left　me？　　I　s'posed　of　course　you　had。　　Why　didn't
you？〃

He　looked　at　her　in　surprise。

〃Go　to　sea？〃　he　repeated。　　〃Go　to　SEA？　　How　could　I？　　Didn't　I
promise　you　I'd　never　go　to　sea　again？〃

〃Was　that　the　reason？〃

〃Sartin。　　What　else？〃

She　did　not　answer。　　There　was　an　odd　expression　on　her　face。　　He
turned　to　go。

〃Well；　good…by；〃　he　said。

〃Good…by。　　ErSeth。〃

〃Yes；　what　is　it？〃

〃II　want　to　tell　you；〃　she　stammered；　〃that　I　appreciated　your
leavin'　that　money　and　stocks　at　the　bank　in　my　name。　　I　couldn't
take　'em；　of　course；　but　'twas　good　of　you。　　I　appreciated　it。〃

〃That's　all　right。〃

〃Wait。　　Here！　　Maybe　you'd　like　these。〃　　She　took　the　hand　from
beneath　her　apron　and　extended　it　toward　him。　　It　held　a　pan　heaped
with　objects　flat；　brown；　and　deliciously　fragrant。　　He　looked　at
the　pan　and　its　contents　uncomprehendingly。

〃What's　them？〃　he　demanded。

〃They're　molasses　cookies。　　I've　been　bakin'；　and　these　are　some
extry　ones　I　had　left　over。　　You　can　have　'em　if　you　want　'em。〃

〃Whywhy；　Emeline！　this　is　mighty　kind　of　you。〃

〃Not　a　mite；〃　sharply。　　〃I　baked　a　good　many　more'n　Miss　Ruth　and　I
can　dispose　of；　and　that　poor　helper　man　of　yours　ought　to　be　glad
to　get　'em　after　the　cast…iron　pound…weights　that　you　and　he　have
been　tryin'　to　live　on。　　Mercy　on　us！　the　thoughts　of　the　cookies　he
showed　me　this　mornin'　have　stayed　in　my　head　ever　since。　　Made　me
feel　as　if　I　was　partly　responsible　for　murder。〃

〃But　it's　kind　of　you；　just　the　same。〃

〃Rubbish！　　I'd　do　as　much　for　a　pig　any　day。　　There！　you've　got　your
shirt；　now　you'd　better　go　home。〃

She　forced　the　pan　of　cookies　into　his　hand　and　moved　off。　　The
lightkeeper　hesitated。

〃II'll　fetch　the　pan　back　to…morrer；〃　he　called　after　her　in　a
loud　whisper。


CHAPTER　XII

THE　LETTER　AND　THE　'PHONE


The　cookies　appeared　on　the　table　that　evening。　　Brown　noticed　them
at　once。

〃When　did　you　bake　these？〃　he　asked。

Atkins　made　no　reply；　so　the　question　was　repeated　with　a　variation。

〃Did　you　bake　these　this　afternoon？〃　inquired　the　substitute
assistant。

〃Humph？　　Hey？　　Oh；　yes；　I　guess　so。　　Why？　　Anything　the　matter　with
'em？〃

〃Matter　with　them？　　No。　　They're　the　finest　things　I've　tasted　since
I　came　here。　　New　receipt；　isn't　it？〃

〃Cal'late　so。〃

〃I　thought　it　must　be。　　I'll　take　another。〃

He　took　another；　and　many　others　thereafter。　　He　and　his　superior
cleared　the　plate　between　them。

Brown　was　prepared　for　questions　concerning　his　occupation　of　the
afternoon　and　was　ready　with　some　defiant　queries　of　his　own。　　But
no　occasion　arose　for　either　defiance　or　cross…examination。　　Seth
never　hinted　at　a　suspicion　nor　mentioned　the　young　lady　at　the
bungalow。　　Brown　therefore　remained　silent　concerning　what　he　had
seen　from　the　attic　window。　　He　would　hold　that　in　reserve；　and　if
Atkins　ever　did　accuse　him　of　bad　faith　or　breach　of　contract　he
could　retort　in　kind。　　His　conscience　was　clear　nowhe　was　no　more
of　a　traitor　than　Seth　himselfand；　this　being　so；　he　felt
delightfully　independent。　　If　trouble　came　he　was　ready　for　it；　and
in　the　meantime　he　should　do　as　he　pleased。

But　no　trouble　came。　　That　day；　and　for　many　days　thereafter；　the
lightkeeper　was　sweetness　itself。　　He　and　his　helper　had　never　been
more　anxious　to　please　each　other；　and　the　house　at　Twin…Lights　was
to　all　appearancesan　abode　of　perfect　trust　and　peace。　　Every
day；　when　Seth　was　asleep　or　out　of　the　way；　〃working　on　the　Daisy
M。；〃　the　assistant　swam　to　the　cove；　and　every　day　he　met　Miss
Graham　there！　　During　the　first　week　he　returned　from　his　dips
expecting　to　be　confronted　by　his　superior；　and　ready　with　counter
accusations　of　his　own。　　After　this　he　ceased　to　care。　　Seth　did　not
ask　a　question　and　was　so　trustful　and　unsuspecting　that　Brown
decided　his　secret　was　undiscovered。　　In　fact；　the　lightkeeper　was
so　innocent　that　the　young　man　felt　almost　wicked；　as　if　he　were
deceiving　a　child。　　He　very　nearly　forgot　the　meeting　behind　the
sand　dune；　having　other　and　much　more　important　things　to　think　of。

July　passed；　and　the　first　three　weeks　of　August　followed　suit。　　The
weather；　which　had　been　glorious；　suddenly　gave　that　part　of　the
coast　a　surprise　party　in　the　form　of　a　three　days'　storm。　　It　was
an　offshore　gale；　but　fierce；　and　the　lighthouse　buildings　rocked　in
its　grasp。　　Bathing　was　out　of　the　question；　and　one　of　Seth's
dories　broke　its　anchor　rope　and　went　to　pieces　in　the　breakers。
Atkins　and　Brown　slept　but　little　during　the　storm；　both　being　on
duty　the　greater　part　of　the　time。

The　fourth　day　broke　clear；　but　the　wind　had　changed　to　the　east　and
the　barometer　threatened　more　bad　weather　to　come。　　When　Seth　came
in　to　breakfast　he　found　his　helper　sound　asleep　in　a　kitchen　chair；
his　head　on　the　table。　　The　young　man　was　pretty　well　worn　out。
Atkins　insisted　upon　his　going　to　bed　for　the　forenoon。

〃Of　course　I　sha'n't；〃　protested　Brown。　　〃It's　my　watch；　and　you
need　sleep　yourself。〃

〃No；　I　don't；　neither；〃　was　the　decided　answer。　　〃I　slept　between
times　up　in　the　tower；　off　and　on。　　You　go　and　turn　in。　　I've　got　to
drive　over　to　Eastboro　by　and　by；　and　I　want　you　to　be　wide　awake
while　I'm　away。　　We　ain't　done　with　this　spell　of　weather　yet。
We'll　have　rain　and　an　easterly　blow　by　night；　see　if　we　don't。　　You
go　right　straight　to　bed。〃

〃I　shall　do　nothing　of　the　sort。〃

〃Yes；　you　will。　　I'm　your　boss　and　I　order　you　to　do　it。　　No　back
talk；　now。　　Go！〃

So　Brown　went；　unwilling　but　very　tired。　　He　was　sound　asleep　in　ten
minutes。

Seth　busied　himself　about　the　house；　occasionally　stepping　to　the
window　to　look　out　at　the　weather。　　An　observer　would　have　noticed
that　before　leaving　the　window　on　each　of　these　occasions；　his　gaze
invariably　turned　toward　the　bungalow。　　His　thoughts　were　more
constant　than　his　gaze；　they　never　left　his　little　cottage　across
the　cove。　　In　fact；　they　had　scarcely　left　it　for　the　past　month。
He　washed　the　breakfast　dishes；　set　the　room　in　order；　and　was
turning　once　more　toward　the　window；　when　he　heard　a　footstep
approaching　the　open　door。　　He　knew　the　step；　it　was　one　with　which
he　had　been　familiar　during　other　and　happier　days；　and　now；　once
moreafter　all　the　years　and　his　savage　determination　to　forget　and
to　hateit　had　the　power　to　awaken　strange　emotions　in　his　breast。
Yet　his　first　move　was　to　run　into　the　living　room　and　close　his
helper's　chamber　door。　　When　he　came　back　to　the　kitchen；　shutting
the　living…room　door　c