Part 43 (1/2)
”That's about all, I guess,” Douglas replied, as he flicked off the end of his cigar into the ash-tray.
”Have they driven you out?” Garton eagerly questioned.
”It hasn't come to that yet, though attempts have been made to do so.
But I fear they will succeed unless you come to my rescue.”
”Why, what can I do?” and Garton looked his surprise. ”Surely you are not going to get me into any trouble up there!”
”Lawyers generally like trouble, don't they? More trouble, more money, is their motto, so I understand.”
”Yes, as a rule. But, you see, this has to do with Church matters, and I like to keep out of them.”
”Too little money in the parsons' pockets, eh? Well, I don't blame you. But I want your advice. You told me to come to you whenever I needed help, and here I am. I want it now as never before.”
”And you shall have it. Give me your story, and then I shall see what can be done. I hope to goodness you haven't killed anybody.”
”Not exactly killed with my hands, though perhaps I have with my heart, which is just as bad, according to Scripture.”
As briefly and as concisely as possible Douglas related his experiences at Rixton. He told about his work on the farm, his conflict with the Stubbles, the sorrow of the shoemaker and his wife over their daughter, of Mrs. Dempster and Empty, and the professor and his daughters. He was as cautious as possible when speaking about Nell, and from his words the lawyer received not the slightest idea of his love for her.
Douglas told his story well, and before he was through Garton was pacing up and down the study. He was unusually excited and at times he found it difficult to restrain his feelings.
”Good heavens, man!” he exclaimed when Douglas had finished, ”you've been having a wild west show up there. You might have called upon your neighbours to see the fun.”
”I am calling upon one now to see the finish,” was the laconic reply.
”If he doesn't take a hand in the matter at once there'll soon be a finish to the chief actor. You can't do anything when British justice is perverted through cowardice and partiality. Simon Stubbles rules the parish, and will continue to rule it in his own way unless he is checked.”
”And checked he shall be,” Garton emphatically replied, bringing his fist down hard upon the study table. ”I am glad you have come to see me to-night, for your story has solved a problem which has been perplexing me all day. Simon Stubbles is on the rocks and has appealed to me for help.”
”On the rocks!” Douglas vaguely repeated.
”Yes, on the rocks. He is financially embarra.s.sed, and has signalled to me for a.s.sistance.”
”That's news to me. I thought he was very wealthy.”
”And so did every one. But here is his letter,” and the lawyer picked it up from the stand. ”I received it this morning, and in it he tells me that unless he has ten thousand dollars immediately he will go under. He wishes to mortgage the whole of his property, mill, house and timber lands.”
”This is certainly remarkable news to me,” Douglas replied. ”I am sure that the people of Rixton have no knowledge of this. They consider him very wealthy, and not without reason for he does a big business. Have you any idea as to the cause of his embarra.s.sment? He seems to live very quietly, and attends strictly to business.”
”The letter does not say what it is. But since hearing your story I have formed my own conclusion.”
”And what is that?”
”It is his son. From what you have told me, that young man has been leading a very fast life. He does not work at all, and therefore his father must have been providing the money for his headlong career. I do not think I am far astray as cases similar to this have come to my notice. There are too many such young men abroad to-day, doing nothing for themselves, a menace to society, and wretched parasites upon their fathers. I always get furious whenever I think of them. That must be the trouble with Stubbles senior.”
”Do you intend to help him?” Douglas asked as calmly as possible. He would have been more than human had he not thrilled at the news he had just heard. Here was a chance, perhaps, to get even for his harsh treatment at Simon Stubbles' hands.
”That is the trouble which has been perplexing me all day,” Garton replied. ”Before you came I had about made up my mind to do so. I did not know anything about that reckless son of his then. Neither had I any idea that he is such a tyrant at Rixton, nor how he has treated the clergymen who have been there. I thought he was an active and an earnest Church worker, and that was one of the reasons in his favour.
But now I see things in a different light.”