Part 26 (1/2)

”Sit down, Nan, and tell me what you have heard.”

In a few words Nan told her the story that was in circulation around the village. It was the same that Jake had related to Douglas.

”And is every one blaming Mr. Handyman?” Nell asked when Nan had finished.

”Oh, yes. And they are saying what a dangerous man he is, and should be driven out of the place. I heard the storekeeper tell another man that he stole Tom Oakes' coat last night, and that he believed that Mr.

Handyman is a noted thief.”

”Why, how did he get Tom's coat?” Nell asked in surprise.

”No one seemed to know for sure. But people think that he knocked Tom down and took his coat, thinking there might be money in it.”

”Where did this happen, Nan?”

”On the main road, according to Billy and Tom. They said that they were walking quietly along when they were set upon by Mr. Handyman, and knocked down with a big stick. I don't believe it, do you?”

But Nell did not answer. She stood in the middle of the room gazing thoughtfully out of the window which faced the main highway.

”Come with me, Nan,” she at length ordered. ”Let us go for a short walk.”

Somewhat surprised, but asking no questions, Nan accompanied her sister out of the house, through the garden and along the road leading to the highway. Nell kept a careful watch on both sides of the road, and when they at last came to the spot where the fight had taken place, she espied two hats lying in the ditch. Near by were two stout cudgels.

”This is where the fight took place,” Nell quietly remarked, as she pointed to the hats and the sticks. ”They belong to Tom and Billy, if I am not much mistaken.”

”But they said it was on the main road where they were attacked,” Nan replied.

”Then they must be lying. There is the proof where the fight took place. And why was it here?” she asked.

”I don't know, do you?”

”I think I do. Billy and Tom were lying in wait for Mr. Handyman last night, and attacked him as he was coming from our house.”

”Oh, do you think so? What would they do that for?”

”Perhaps they were obeying orders. But we shall find out later. Let us take those hats and sticks and keep them; they may be needed later.”

”Oh, I believe I know,” Nan exclaimed, now much excited. ”They are Si Stubbles' men, and he got them to attack my musician. Wasn't it mean of him! And then to think that Billy and Tom would lie and throw the blame on an innocent man.”

Nell was very quiet during the rest of the day. She went about her work as usual, but her mind was upon other things. At times she found herself standing and looking absently out of the window. She felt quite sure who was the man responsible for the trouble the previous night. Her face was paler than it had been for some time and an occasional nervous tremor shook her body. She found herself mentally comparing two men, one, mean and contemptible, with no apparent aim in life but the satisfaction of self; the other, self-reliant, n.o.ble, and working for an honest wage. She knew that one was a miserable cad, while the other was a true gentleman.

As evening drew near, she became restless and worked with a feverish haste about the house and at times in the garden. When supper was over, she drew Nan out upon the verandah.

”Something is going to happen to-night,” she told her, ”and I wish you would take father to his room and read him to sleep.”

”Is it that old tree affair again to-night?” Nan impatiently asked.

”Yes.”

”And Ben will be there, I suppose.”