Merry-Garden and Other StoriesQuiller-Couch, Arthur
General
Merry-Garden and Other Stories
Quiller-Couch, Arthur
Cornwall (England : County) -- Fiction; France -- Fiction; Short stories
"As it happens," said he, "you're doing me a cruel injustice; but we
needn't talk of that. A man o' my savings--though you've sneezed at 'em--
doesn't want to be searching the country for two-hundred-and-fifty
pound."
He swung on his heel and walked off towards St. Ives. Amelia Sanders
watched him round the next bend, and turning, began to run homewards for
dear life, when, just at the corner, she fell into the arms of Tummels.
"A nice dance you've led me," grunted Tummels, as she fought down her
hysterics. "I've been pulling hot-foot after the man all the way from
Penzance. I tracked him there; but you and he between you gave me the
slip in the crowd. 'Tis the Lord's mercy you didn' lead him all the way
to Stack's Folly: for if I'd a-caught up with him there I must have
committed murder upon him."
"Oh, take me home!" sobbed Amelia Sanders.
"Take you home? How the dickens be I to take you home?" Tummels demanded.
"I've got to follow that villain into St. Ives if he goes so far, and
stick to him like a shadow."
So Amelia Sanders trudged it back to Porthleven, calling herself every
name but what she was christened: and Phoby Geen trudged it fore to St.
Ives, cursing his luck, but working out a problem in his wicked little
mind. At the top of the hill over the town he stood quiet for a minute
and snapped his fingers again. Since 'twas near St. Ives that Dan'l lay
in hiding, what could the hiding-place be but Stack's Folly! Tummels had
hidden him: Tummels' brother-in-law rented the farm of Stack's Folly and
kept the keys of the house. Why, the thing fitted in like a child's
puzzle! Why hadn't he thought of it before?
None the less he did not turn aside towards the great desolate barrack,
though he eyed it as he went down the slope between it and the sea.
He had not yet begun to think out a plan of action. He wanted Dan'l
disposed of without showing his hand in the business. As it was, the girl
(and he cursed her) had guessed him to blame for the loss of the lugger.
Was it more than a guess of hers? He couldn't say. He had told her at
parting that he was walking to St. Ives on business. On a sudden thought
he halted in the main street and turned to walk up towards Tregenna, the
great house overlooking the town. Its owner, Squire Stephens, was an old
client of his.
Squire Stephens was at home, and Phoby Geen sat closeted with him for an
hour and more. Nothing was talked of save business, and when the Squire
mentioned Dan'l Leggo and the price on his head, Phoby waved a hand
mute-like, as much as to beg off being questioned.
Twilight was falling as he took the road back to Porthleah; and Tummels,
who had been waiting behind a hedge above the town, dogged him home
through the dusk and through the dark.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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