Читать книгу Shadowed Gold - Alice Fox Parry - Страница 4

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It was not such a simple procedure as they had imagined. There were certainly plenty of farms but these were either too small or too large, too remote from civilisation, or too expensive.

At last, however, they succeeded in finding something which they thought would fit their needs. Situated in a fruit-growing district in the heart of mountainous country about 120 miles from Melbourne, the property had come on the market owing to the death of the owner, whose heir was disinclined to continue working the place, and was prepared to lease it with an option to purchase at the end of six months.

They made hurried preparations for departure. Furniture had to be sold, suitable clothing bought and numerous articles for kitchen and household use, which had not been necessary in a flat, but which they considered would be essential for the country. The boys proved but broken reeds. Their heads in the clouds, their pockets stuffed with literature supplied by a benevolent if somewhat indiscriminate Government bureau.

Their heavy baggage had been sent on in advance, and they had decided to motor up in the Austin car which they had jointly acquired about a year previously. It was a clear autumn day when Allan brought the car to the door of the flat and sounded the horn impatiently. A moment later Gerald came downstairs with a suitcase in each hand. These he roped, carefully to the sides of the car and returned for a third when Katherine, radiantly pretty in a warm red motoring coat appealed on the threshold.

"Allan, isn't Val with you?"

"No; I haven't seen her this morning."

"Neither have I. I was sure she had gone with you to the garage."

"I bet she's in mischief." Gerald thoughtfully tested the ropes that bound the cases. "I wonder just what?"

"I wouldn't venture to prophesy; but now you come to mention it, I have noticed a certain—er—gleam in her eye, which, being correctly interpreted means——-"

"Oh dear!" sighed Katherine. "I wonder when she'll be back. I particularly wanted to start early. There'll be such a lot to do when we get there."

"Well that's all the luggage." Her brother surveyed his handiwork proudly.

"Looks like a battle-ship goin' into action." Allan was fond of the car. "However, I don't suppose it would be worse. Talk about knights of the road—Kath, haven't you a frying pan or two to stick into that bundle or a billy to hang over the back? I like to be thorough, you know."

"Do it yourself, then," retorted Gerald. "It's Kath's fault. Quite a lot of this dunnage could have gone up in the big cases.

"Supposing they don't arrive—the cases, I mean?"

"Isn't that like a woman? Have you no confidence in that inestimable servant of the public—the Railways department?"

"Not much. As it is, against my better judgment, I let all the linen go and went to the hotel for the night."

A taxi swerved suddenly round the corner and came to an abrupt halt at the kerb, not 10 yards distant. The driver, with a broad grin on his face, got down and opened the door, whereupon there emerged something in the nature of an avalanche. A large reddish dog leapt out. He was about the size of a young calf and not altogether dissimilar to that animal in his ungainly and awkward movements. The three were regarding his evolutions with interested amusement when, to their amazement, Valerie's small figure appeared in the doorway of the taxi.

"Good lord Val, what is it?" cried Allan anxiously.

"A dog of course. Pay the taxi-man for me Ger, please. I haven't got a free hand. Do lie down, Augustus. I'm sorry I'm so late, but Augustus got sort of excited and I had an awful bother finding a taxi-driver who would be sport enough to take us."

"I don't blame the taxi-drivers," observed Gerald, eyeing the animal with extreme disfavour. "Where on earth did you find it?"

"At the Lost Dogs' Home, of course," returned Val triumphantly. "It's an Irish setter."

"Having it, what do you propose to do with it?" Allan asked.

The other two remained expectantly silent, fearing the worst. It came.

"Why, take him with us, of course," was the reply, with just that air of innocent surprise which made Valerie so attractive. "I bought him for the farm."

Gerald choked, "Val, you don't mean to say you were inveigled into paying money for that animal?"

"If he goes, I don't," said Katherine decisively, who entrenched in the comparative safety of the car, was regarding the woebegone Augustus with suspicion.

"Val, it's impossible, you know that," Allan said sedately. "Where do you suppose the animal shall travel?"

"In the back with Ger and me. He likes motoring. He was awfully good in the taxi."

"But the thing's a mongrel——"

"Hush!" pleaded Valerie, "you might hurt his feelings. I—I know he isn't very beautiful, but really he has an awfully kind heart."

The animal under discussion returned to the group round the car, sat down upon his haunches, and gazed upward into their faces with liquid brown eyes, as if inquiring with gentle melancholy just how this condition of affairs had come about.

"You see," pursued Valerie, quick to follow up her advantage. "He's so big that he looked quite out of place among the little dogs there, and you can just imagine him bounding over the green fields, chasing rabbits. He loves chasing things."

"But, Val——" Allan was beginning, acutely conscious that the prolonged altercation was causing some comment, when the dog, evidently an animal with a sensitive disposition, flung back his head, opened his huge mouth, and gave vent to a mournful howl, which he followed up by a second, and a third, each rising in cadence until the quiet street resounded.

"Great Scott, we'll have the police here next," cried Gerald, while Allan, flushing darkly, opened the door of the car, saying forcibly. "Here, get in Val, and the brute too. Be quick. I've had as much of this as I can stand."

And so it befell that the "team" received a new recruit, and Augustus was formally, if not willingly, adopted into the band.

For the first hour things went smoothly enough. They left Melbourne behind them, and bowled swiftly and easily along the country road until, according to the road map, they had a full 13 miles to go before they reached the town where they proposed to lunch, when trouble came upon them in the simplest form—a puncture.

Gerald sighed wearily. "What a bore! I hate to see you working, Allan."

Allan took out a cigarette and lit it with deliberation, "So do I," he replied, "that's why you're going to change that tyre."

Gerald raised his eyes to the heavens. "However, as I was always brow-beaten, I suppose there's no reason why I should expect kindlier treatment, even in my infirmity."

"If you're reciting something, I'd advise you to stop. If you're merely trying to delay us, you'll suffer most, having the largest appetite," said Allan.

Gerald shook his fist at his cousin, whereupon Augustus, who had slept very soundly during the journey, opened his eyes and, perceiving Gerald's gestures, decided that a game was in progress, and leapt upon him so suddenly that he overbalanced and slipped to the floor of the car, while the delighted Augustus obtained possession of his cap and proceeded to worry it with every appearance of excited amusement, resolutely declining to return it to its owner, who cast wild looks about him.

"Call him off, Val, do you hear? He's ruining it. I may never get another. Here, you beast, drop it."

"I'm going for a walk." Valerie, who could never sit still for more than two consecutive minutes, sprang up, and called Augustus, who shambled toward them, laying a tattered remnant at Gerald's feet and wagged his tail, evidently expecting applause.

"Thanks," said Gerald shortly to the animal, "your kindness exceeds your good looks by I can't say how much. Are you sure you can spare it?"

"Come, Gussie dear." Valerie laid a hand on his collar. "I'm off up the road. It looks interesting. When you're ready, come on slowly and toot loudly. I shan't be far away."

She turned at the comer to wave her hand to the three. Then, with a smile that was wholly carefree, she tramped forward briskly, Augustus gambolling in her wake, making little runs at the bushes, as if expecting to unearth a stray rabbit, and then returning to his companion with every symptom of happy enjoyment. Then at last a real rabbit presented itself, and he was off, crashing through the bushes with ungainly strides, leaving Valerie helpless with laughter beside the road. Breathless she sank down upon the low bank that bordered it, and was beginning to expect the others when she became aware that she was not alone.

An exceedingly ill-looking tramp was gazing down upon her with the air of having suddenly materialised out of nowhere. He was a tall fellow, with a lank, unshaven face, and bloodshot, protruding eyes. His ragged suit was soiled and travel-stained, his swag a mere bundle and untidy. Valerie regarded him with a quiet, unwavering glance. It never occurred to her to feel frightened. His shifty stare fell before her inquiring eyes.

"G'd mornin', miss."

"Good morning." She regarded him with interest. "Where did you come from?"

"Me? I were just takin' a sleep in the bushes when an animal like a calf bolted clean over me.'"

"That," said Valerie calmly, "was Augustus."

"Who?" He looked pained. "See 'ere, miss. If it's your'n it shouldn't be allowed off the chain. It near killed me—a 'ard-workin' man can't even lie down for a nap."

"You don't look as if you worked hard." Val's dispassionate scrutiny had a singularly irritating effect.

"Ho! Don't I? That's all you know about it." He spat vigorously, and scientifically at a tree stump, and then, emboldened by Valerie's quiescence, came a step nearer.

"Ain't you got nothin' to give a poor man that's out of a job?" he whined. "You wouldn't like to 'ave to 'oof it through these 'ere 'ills."

"I think I would," she replied calmly. "You don't appreciate the joys of the road," she added severely.

"Joys be——" he growled. "You're talkin' through your hat. Look 'ere, I'm a poor man, and you wouldn't miss a bob now, would you?"

"I left my purse in the car," replied the girl, suddenly realising that he had drawn very much nearer.

"That watch'll do." He indicated a dainty gold wristlet on a narrow band of ribbon that had been the team's gift to her on her last birthday.

"Why, I couldn't give you that," she exclaimed. "Go away at once."

"Then I guess I'll take it." The large grimy paw closed suddenly on the slender white wrist, and Valerie screamed, struggling vigorously. Although very small, she was wiry and strong, and had no thought of submission, but the fellow laughed an ugly laugh, and caught her other hand.

"I'll teach'yer——" he began hoarsely, when there was a sound of rending bushes behind him. With an oath he released her, and Valerie eagerly hailed her rescuer.

"Augustus, good dog! Go for him!"

Augustus, however, was perfectly indiscriminating, and he sprang upon the tramp with every expression of demonstrative affection.

"Get off—curse yer!" The fellow wrestled vainly, and Valerie, with a little cry, turned and fled blindly into the bushes.

For some minutes she stumbled on heedless of direction, an unreasoning terror in her heart. She did not even stop to listen for pursuit, but when at last, with bursting lungs and trembling gait, she leaned against a gum tree for support, she could hear nothing.

The noon-day silence of the bush encircled her. All was still, and yet through the stillness small sounds came to her with startling completeness. Unable to go farther she flung herself on the dry sward, and lay face downwards. In the distance a motor horn sounded very faintly, but she did not hear.

Half an hour later she sat up and looked about her, then at her torn coat and stockings, and her bruised wrists, where the mark of cruel fingers showed blue and angry. Worst of all came the realisation that she was utterly and completely lost. She had no notion where the road lay. She pictured her companions' anxiety, and frowned with annoyance.

"This," she observed to herself, "is the limit. If only Augustus were here. Anyhow, he did save my life in his own way. Ugh!"

She stepped out lightly but steadily in the direction she had chosen, quietly confident that she would arrive somewhere, some time. But it was more than an hour later before she emerged upon a narrow country road, deeply grooved by wheel tracks, rough and overgrown, but nevertheless a road, and so a path to civilisation.

For several minutes she hesitated. It was now long past noon, and the afternoon sun was very warm. She was thirsty and almost unbearably tired. She had lost the heel of one of her shoes, and her stockings were in ribbons. Altogether, she looked as forlorn a maiden as any wandering knight errant would wish to meet.

The silence unnerved her. The road seemed endless, and in addition to her other troubles a strange weakness came upon her. She had gone past the stage of expecting help, and therefore it was with a stare of almost incredulity that she greeted the sight of a small grey single seater roadster, drawn up beside the bank. Then relief gave her added strength, and she hurried towards it.

It was a very complete little car, shining with newness, and with much bright nickel about it, well polished. She regarded it with interest and approval, noting its points with an almost professional eye. Then, having made a thorough inspection, she began to wonder where the owner was.

"Cars don't grow like mushrooms," she told herself. "I suppose he's somewhere about, but I wish he would hurry."

After a moment's hesitation, she got in and sat down. The car was drawn up in the shade, and soon a comfortable drowsiness fell upon her. So it happened that the car's owner, a tall young man, returning after a protracted search for water, received such a surprise that he felt constrained to express it rather forcibly. It is not given to everyone to abandon temporarily an empty car, and to return to find a small red-haired girl, looking decidedly the worse for wear, soundly asleep therein, so he had every excuse for staring. His involuntary exclamation, however, awakened Valerie, who became suddenly conscious of a pair of interesting masculine eyes, and also of her somewhat dishevelled appearance. Her hands went to her hair instinctively, and as the young man remained silent, possibly from amazement, she said very calmly:

"You've been gone an awfully long time."

He gravely consulted his wristlet watch before replying in a matter-of-fact tone: "Yes, I believe I have, nearly an hour. I was looking for water."

"Did you say water?" Her eyes fixed themselves on the can he was carrying.

"Yes, would you——"

"Please! I want a drink more than anything else on earth."

"But this is a petrol tin and——"

"That doesn't matter. I've never been so thirsty."

"If that's the case," he returned, "we can do better than this."

She watched him eagerly, as he went to the back and extracted a thermos flask. He poured its contents into a cup and handed it to her.

"Iced coffee," he said. "I'm glad I didn't drink it all at lunch time. It's better than water from a petrol tin. Are you hungry too, by any chance?"

"Rather."

He laid the remains of his lunch on the seat beside her, and she attacked it with enthusiasm. When she had finished she smiled, and Valerie's smile was as a ray of sunshine. "I suppose," she said wistfully, "you haven't got such a thing as a mirror and a comb, have you, and some hairpins?"

"I've a comb, and there's the driving mirror. I'm awfully sorry about the hairpins. Of course, if I'd known I was going to meet you—— Hold on though, I've a better mirror than that in my suitcase."

She stopped him with a gesture. "It doesn't matter. I'd probably never survive the shock if I saw myself just at present. Am I very awful?"

He eyed her thoughtfully. "We—el. You apparently have been in the wars, but with the exception of taking that curl out of your left eye, I can suggest no improvement."

She hastily tucked in the offending curl, and did mysterious but skilful things with her few remaining hairpins.

"That better?" she asked guilelessly.

"If possible," he replied readily. "That's what I should have said, isn't it?"

She babbled over with ready laughter. "Ye—es. Rather. You know the rules awfully well, don't you?"

"And now——" he removed the remains of Valerie's impromptu meal. "Where can I drive your ladyship?"

"I don't know," she frowned.

"You've got me this time," he replied, as he took his seat beside her. "I don't know what comes next."

"You see, I'm lost," Valerie explained.

"But at least you know where you came from?"

She sighed. "I don't. That's the difficulty. It was a road between Melbourne and Rockwood, and we were to lunch somewhere. I've forgotten the name of the place."

"You're not exactly explicit, are you?" He leaned back and regarded her with amused eyes.

"I've put it quite clearly," she replied with dignify. "You see, when I met the tramp—but I've told you all about that."

"Which is precisely what you have not done. Suppose you begin at the beginning."

"Well, I met the tramp. Augustus loved him, but I—-by the way, I wonder where Augustus is."

"Do you mind," he queried meekly, "telling me who Augustus is or was?"

"My dog, of course. He loved the tramp, but I ran away, and Allan and Kath and Gerald will be in an awful state. We must go and find them at once."

"Well, that's something to go on." He let in the clutch. "I gather that you were on your way from Melbourne to Rockwood, and owing to some mysterious agency remotely connected with the tramp and Augustus you became separated from your party. Am I correct?"

"Of course, I've just told you that." Valerie's tone was innocence itself.

"You probably were intending to lunch at Cortelyon."

"That's the place. I remember Gerald showing it to me on the map."

"Then the best thing we can do is to get on the main road as soon as possible, and make for there. Your friends will probably be looking for you along that road."

"Yes. It's very likely they will. I don't suppose they'll worry much. You see, they're used to my doing stupid things, and they're rather patient, considering."

"I see. Look, I'm not inquisitive usually, but I would like to know how you got in this mess."

"But I've told you. Allan had a puncture, and he made Gerald mend it. Gerald always takes ages, so I went for a walk with Augustus, and I met the tramp. He tried to steal my watch, so I ran away."

"Now, we have it at last. I suppose you wouldn't tell me your name as well?"

"I seem to have been telling you lots of things, don't I? But, as it's your car, I suppose I'd better. It's Valerie Raymond. I live with my step-brother, Allan Linton, and his cousins, Katherine and Gerald Starr."

"Linton and Starr!" To her amazement he leaned back and laughed softly, but sobered somewhat under her inquiring glance. "It's just the long arm of coincidence, Miss Raymond. Mr. Linton has leased one of the properties that my uncle left me. My name is Kenneth Gardiner. I am your landlord."

They made a sweeping turn onto the main road, and Valerie screamed and clutched her companion's arm so violently that he swerved and almost ran into the bank. Fifty yards farther up the road the Austin was standing at rest by the roadside, and grouped around it were Gerald, and two uniformed policemen, all arguing vehemently. Gardiner took in the situation at a glance, and brought his car to rest not five yards away. Lying back in his seat, an expectant gleam in his eyes he awaited developments.

Gerald noticed them first and uttered a loud yell. "I might have known it," he said. "Here have we been tearing about the country half-distracted, and she turns up alive and unworried. I told you there was no need for all this fuss."

The boy's strained face belied his words, but Allan also spoke seriously. "Where have you been, Val? It isn't a joke, you know. We've been terribly anxious."

Gardiner became aware that there were tears trembling beneath her dark lashes, and that the tiny figure beside him was strangely rigid. He guessed that the nervous strain of the past hours was beginning to tell, so he interposed swiftly.

"Miss Raymond had an unfortunate experience with a tramp, and in escaping lost herself. I found her hungry and tired not an hour ago, and was bringing her to you."

"Val, dear!" Allan opened the car door, Gerald close behind him. "You poor kid. I'm so sorry I was cross." He put an affectionate arm about her, and she wept unashamedly on his shoulder.

"You—you shouldn't have thought I'd do it on purpose," she wailed. "I——-"

"Of course not."

"But Ger said——"

"Gerald's been nearly out of his mind, and Kath's at the hotel Cortelyon worrying terribly. We thought you might turn up there. You see, we found Augustus," he talked on gently and soothingly giving the girl time to recover her self-possession. Then—-"We must get back to Kath at once," and he said to Gardiner. "I can't tell you how grateful we are to you."

"You're welcome." The two men regarded each other frankly. "But I'm making for Cortelyon, too. Won't you let Miss Raymond stay where she is?"

"You're very kind." Allan glanced at the two policemen who were regarding the scene with some curiosity. "Perhaps it would be best. I'll have to satisfy the constables with some sort of an explanation. We don't want to be held up at Cortelyon while they hunt for tramps. Cheer up, Val, dear. It's all over now." With a reassuring pat on her shoulder he strode over to the other car.

Gerald lingered for a moment, his eager eyes noting her torn stockings and soiled frock. Then he swore quietly to himself under his breath, and followed his cousin.

Half an hour later the two cars arrived at Cortelyon, and drew up before the hotel where quite a crowd had collected to witness their arrival. Acutely conscious of the curious gaze of these onlookers, Val hurried indoors closely followed by the man, and on the staircase she met Katherine, white and anxious, her arms outstretched. Val gave a little sob and ran straight into them.

Kenneth Gardiner, entering a moment later, paused on the threshold, a sudden light of recognition in his eyes. He moved forward towards Katherine as if he would have spoken, but at that moment something in the nature of an avalanche seemed to strike him as Augustus, in a state of wild personal excitement, burst into the hall and flung himself bodily upon the two girls. By the time Gardiner had recovered his balance and his self-possession they were gone.