to him that hath-第49节

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community　should　be　submitted　to　intelligent　study　and　control。



CHAPTER　XVII

SHALL　BE　GIVEN


For　one　long　week　of　seven　long　days　and　seven　long　nights　Annette
fought　out　her　gallant　fight　for　life；　fought　and　won。　　Throughout
the　week　at　her　side　Adrien　waited　day　and　night；　except　for　a　few
hours　snatched　for　rest；　when　Patricia　took　her　place；　for　there
was　not　a　nurse　to　be　had　in　all　that　time　and　Patricia　begged　for
the　privilege　of　sharing　her　vigil　with　her。

Every　day　and　in　the　darkest　days　all　day　long；　it　seemed　to
Adrien；　McNish　haunted　the　Maitland　homefor　he　had　abandoned　all
pretence　of　workhis　gaunt；　grey　face　and　hollow　eyes　imploring　a
word　of　hope。

But　it　was　chiefly　to　Jack　throughout　that　week　that　Adrien's　heart
went　out　in　compassionate　pity；　for　in　his　face　there　dwelt　a
misery　so　complete；　so　voiceless　that　no　comfort　of　hers　appeared
to　be　able　to　bring　relief。　　Often　through　those　days　did　Annette
ask　to　see　him；　but　the　old　doctor　was　relentless。　　There　must　be
absolute　quiet　and　utter　absence　of　all　excitement。　　No　visitors
were　to　be　permitted；　especially　no　men　visitors。

But　the　day　came　when　the　ban　was　lifted　and　with　smiling　face；
Adrien　came　for　Jack。

〃You　have　been　such　a　good　boy；〃　she　cried　gaily；　〃that　I　am　going
to　give　you　a　great　treat。　　You　are　to　come　in　with　me。〃

With　face　all　alight　Jack　followed　her　into　the　sick　room。

〃Here　he　is；　Annette；〃　cried　Adrien。　　〃Now；　remember；　no　fussing；
no　excitement；　and　just　one　quarter　of　an　houror　perhaps　a　little
longer；〃　she　added。

For　a　moment　or　two　Jack　stood　looking　at　the　girl　lying　upon　the
bed。

〃Oh；　Annette；　my　dear；　dear　girl；〃　he　cried　in　a　breaking　voice　as
he　knelt　down　by　her　side　and　took　her　hand　in　his。

So　much　reached　Adrien's　ears　as　she　closed　the　door　and　passed　to
her　room　with　step　weary　and　lifeless。

〃Why；　Adrien；〃　cried　her　sister；　who　was　waiting　to　relieve　her；
〃you　are　like　a　ghost！　　You　poor　dear。　　You　are　horribly　done　out。〃

〃I　believe　I　am；　Patricia；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃I　believe　I　shall　rest
awhile。〃　　She　lay　down　on　the　bed；　her　face　turned　toward　the　wall；
and　so　remained　till　Patricia　went　softly　away；　leaving　her；　as　she
thought；　to　sleep。

Downstairs　Patricia　found　Victor　Forsythe　awaiting　her。

〃Poor　Adrien　is　really　used　up；〃　she　said。　　〃She　has　a　deathly　look
in　her　face。　　Just　the　same　look　as　she　had　that　night　of　the
hockey　match。　　Do　you　remember？〃

〃The　night　of　the　hockey　dance？　　Do　I　remember？　　A　ghastly　nighta
horrid　nighta　night　of　unspeakable　wretchedness。〃

As　Vic　was　speaking；　Patricia　kept　her　eyes　steadily　upon　him　with
a　pondering；　puzzled　look。

〃What　is　it；　Patricia？　　I　know　you　want　to　ask　me　something。　　Is　it
about　that　night？〃

〃I　wonder　if　you　would　really　mind　very　much；　Vic；　if　I　asked　you？〃

〃Not　in　the　very　least。　　I　shall　doubtless　enjoy　it　after　it's　out。
Painless　dentistry　effect。　　Go　to　it；　Patsy。〃

〃It　is　very　serious；　Vic。　　I　always　think　people　in　books　are　so
stupid。　　They　come　near　to　the　truth　and　then　just　miss　getting
it。〃

〃The　truth。　　Ah！　　Go　on；　Pat。〃

〃Well；　Vic；〃　said　Patricia　with　an　air　of　one　taking　a　desperate
venture；　〃why　did　you　not　give　Adrien　her　note　that　night？　　It
would　have　saved　her　and　me　such　pain。　　I　cried　all　night　long。　　I
had　so　counted　on　a　dance　with　Jackand　then　never　a　word　from
him。　　But　he　did　send　a　note。　　He　told　me　so。　　I　never　told　Adrien
that；　for　she　forbade　me；　oh；　so　terribly；　never　to　speak　of　it
again。　　Why　didn't　you　give　her　or　me　the　note；　Vic？〃　　Patricia's
voice　was　very　pathetic　and　her　eyes　very　gentle　but　very　piercing。

All　the　laughter　died　out　of　Victor's　face。　　〃Pat；　I　lied　to　you
once；　only　once；　and　that　lie　has　cost　me　many　an　hour's　misery。
But　now　I　shall　tell　you　the　truth　and　the　whole　truth。〃　　And　he
proceeded　to　recount　the　tribulations　which　he　endured　on　the　night
of　the　hockey　dance。　　〃I　did　it　to　help　you　both　out；　Pat。　　I
thought　I　could　make　it　easy　for　you。　　It　was　all　a　sheer　guess；
but　it　turned　out　to　be　pretty　well　right。〃

Patricia　nodded　her　head。　　〃But　you　received　no　note？〃

〃Not　a　scrap；　Patricia；　so　help　me。　　Not　a　scrap。　　Patricia；　you
believe　me？〃

The　girl　looked　straight　into　Vic's　honest　eyes。　　〃Yes；　Vic；〃　she
said；　〃I　believe　you。　　But　Jack　sent　a　note。〃

Vic　sprang　to　his　feet。　　〃Good…bye；　Watson。　　You　shall　hear　from　me
within　an　hour。〃

〃Whatever　do　you　mean？　　Where　are　you　going？〃

〃Dear　lady；　ask　no　questions。　　I　am　about　to　Sherlock。　　Farewell。〃

At　the　door　he　overtook　Jack。　　〃Aha！　　The　first　link　in　the　chain。
Hello；　old　chap；　a　word　with　you。　　May　I　get　into　your　car？〃

〃Certainly。　　Get　in。〃

〃Now　then；　about　that　note。　　Nothing　like　diplomacy。　　The　night　of
the　hockey　dance　you　sent　a　note　to　a　lady？〃

Jack　glanced　at　him　in　amazement。

〃Don't　be　an　ass；　Vic。　　I　don't　feel　like　that　stuff　just　now。〃

〃This　is　serious。　　Did　you　send　a　note　by　me　that　night　of　the
hockey　dance？〃

〃By　you？　　No。　　Who　said　I　did？〃

〃Aha！　　The　mystery　deepens。　　By　whom？　　Nothing　like　finesse。〃

〃It　is　none　of　your　business；〃　said　Jack　crossly。

〃Check；〃　cried　Vic。

〃What　are　you　talking　about；　anyway？〃　inquired　Jack。

〃A　note　was　sent　by　you；〃　said　Vic　impressively；　〃through　some
agency　at　present　unknown。　　So　far；　so　good。〃

〃Unknown？　　What　rubbish。　　I　sent　a　note　by　Sam　Wigglesworth；　who
gave　it　to　some　of　you　for　Adrien。　　What　about　it？〃

As　they　approached　the　entrance　to　the　Maitland　Mills　Vic　saw　a
stream　of　employees　issue　from　the　gate。

〃Nothing　more　at　present；〃　he　said。　　〃This　is　my　corner。　　Let　me
out。　　I　am　in　an　awful　hurry；　Jack。〃

〃Will　you　tell　me；　please；　what　all　this　means？〃　said　Jack　angrily。

〃Sorry；　old　chap。　　Awfully　hurried　just　now。　　See　you　later。〃

〃You　are　a　vast　idiot；〃　grumbled　Jack；　as　Vic　ran　down　the　street。

He　took　his　place　at　the　corner　which　commanded　the　entrance　to　the
Maitland　works。　　〃Here　I　shall　wait；　abstractedly　gazing　at　the
passers…by；　until　the　unhappy　Sam　makes　his　appearance；〃　mused　Vic
to　himself。　　〃And　by　the　powers；　here　Sam　is　now。〃

From　among　the　employees　as　they　poured　from　the　gate　Victor
pounced　upon　his　victim　and　bore　him　away　down　a　side　street。

〃Sam；〃　he　said；　〃it　may　be　you　are　about　to　die；　so　tell　me　the
truth。　　I　hate　to　take　your　young　life。〃　　Sam　grinned　at　his
captor；　unafraid。　　〃Cast　your　mind　back　to　the　occasion　of　the
hockey　dance。　　You　remember　that？〃

〃You　bet　I　do；　Mister。　　I　made　a　dollar　that　night。〃

〃Ah！　　A　dollar。　　Yes；　you　did；　for　delivering　a　note　given　you　by
Captain　Jack　Maitland；〃　hissed　Vic；　gripping　his　arm。

〃Huh…huh；〃　said　Sam。　　〃Look　out；　Mister；　that's　me。〃

〃Villain！〃　cried　Vic。　　〃Boy；　I　mean。　　Now；　Sam；　did　you　deliver
that　note？〃

〃Of　course　I　did。　　Didn't　Captain　Jack　give　me　a　dollar　for　it？　　I
didn't　want　his　dollar。〃

〃The　last　question；　Sam；〃　said　Vic　solemnly；　〃to　whom　did　you
deliver　the　note？〃

〃To　that　chap；　the　son　of　the　storekeeper。〃

〃Rupert　Stillwell？〃　suggested　Vic。

〃Huh…huh；　that's　his　name。　　That's　him　now；〃　cried　Sam。　　〃In　that
Hudson　carseetherequick！〃

〃Boy；〃　said　Vic　solemnly；　〃you　have　saved　your　life。　　Here's　a
dollar。　　Now；　remember；　not　a　word　about　this。〃

〃All　right；　sir；〃　grinned　Sam　delightedly；　as　he　made　off　down　the
street。

〃Now　then；　what？〃　said　Vic　to　himself。　　〃This　thing　has　got　past
the　joke　stage。　　I　must　do　some　thinking。　　Shall　I　tell　Pat　or　not？
By　Jove；　by　Jove；　that's　not　the　question。　　When　that　young　lady
gets　those　big　eyes　of　hers　on　me　the　truth　will　flow　in　a　limpid
stream。　　I　must　make　sure　of　my　ground。　　Meantime　I　shall　do　the
Kamerad　act。〃

That　afternoon　Annette　had　another　visitor。　　Her　nurse；　though
somewhat　dubious　as　to　the　wisdom　of　this　indulgence；　could　not
bring　herself　to　refuse　her　request　that　McNish　should　be　allowed
to　see　her。

〃But　you　must　be　tired。　　Didn't　Jack　tire　you？〃　inquired　Adrien。

A　soft　and　tender　light　stole　into　the　girl's　dark　eyes。

〃Ah；　Jack。　　He　could　not　tire　me；〃　she　murmured。　　〃He　makes　so　much
of　what　I　did。　　How　gladly　would　I　do　it　again。　　Jack　is　wonderful
to　me。　　Wonderful　to　me；〃　she　repeated　softly。　　Her　lip　trembled
and　she　lay　back　upon　her　pillow　and　from　her　closed　eyes　two　tears
ran　down　her　cheek。

〃Now；〃　said　Adrien　briskly；　〃you　are　too　tired。　　We　shall　wait　till
to…morrow。〃

〃No；　no；　please；〃　cried　Annette。　　〃Jack　didn't　tire　me。　　He
comforts　me。〃

〃But　Malcolm　will　tire　you；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃Do　you　really　want　to
see　him？〃

A　faint　colour　came　up　into　the　beautiful　face　of　her　patient。

〃Yes；　Adrien；　I　really　want　to　see　him。　　I　am　sure　he　will　do　me
good。　　You　will　let　him　come；　please？〃　　The　dark　eyes　were　shining
with　another　light；　more　wistful；　more　tender。

〃Is　he　here；　Adrien？〃

〃Is　he　here？〃　echoed　Adrien　scornfully。　　〃Has　he　been　anywhere　else
the　last　seven　days？〃

〃Poor　Malcolm；〃　said　the　girl；　the　tenderness　in　her　voice　becoming
protective。　　〃I　have　been　very　bad　to　him；　and　he　loves　me　so。　　Oh；
he　is　just　mad　about　me！〃　　A　little　smile　stole　round　the　corners
of　her　mouth。

〃Oh；　you　needn't　tell　me　that；　Annette；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃It　is　easy