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Man Who Fell Through the Earth

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<h2 id="c7">CHAPTER VII Hudson’s Errand</h2> For a day or two I moped around, decidedly out of sorts. I didn’t feel sufficiently acquainted with Miss Raynor to call on her,—though she had once asked me to do so,—but I greatly longed to find out if the police had yet acquainted her with their suspicions. I thought perhaps they were waiting for further proofs, or it might be, waiting until after the funeral of Mr. Gately. There had been, so far, nothing in the papers implicating Olive, and I hoped against hope there would not be. But I felt sure she was being closely watched, and I didn’t know what new evidence might be cooking up against her. The funeral of the great capitalist was on Saturday evening. I attended, and this being my first visit to the house, I was all unprepared for the wealth of art treasures it held. I sat in the great salon, lost in admiration of the pictures and bronzes, as well as the beautiful architecture and mural decorations. <div class="pb" id="Page_108">[108]</div> A throng of people attended the services and the oppressive fragrance of massed flowers and the continuous click of folding-chairs, combined with the whispers and subdued rustling of the audience, produced that unmistakable funeral atmosphere so trying to sensitive nerves. Then, a single clear, sweet soprano voice, raised in a solemn anthem, broke the tension, and soon the brief obsequies were over, and I found myself moving along with the crush of people slowly surging toward the door. I walked home, the clear, frosty air feeling grateful after the crowded rooms. And I wondered. Wondered what would be the next scene in the awful drama. Would they accuse Miss Raynor,—lovely Olive Raynor, of the crime? How could they? That delicate, high-bred girl! And yet, she was independent of thought and fearless of action. Though I knew her but slightly, I had heard more or less about her, and I had learned she was by no means of a yielding or easily swayed disposition. She deeply resented her guardian’s tyrannical treatment of her and had not infrequently told him so. While they were not outwardly at odds, they were uncongenial natures, and of widely divergent tastes. <div class="pb" id="Page_109">[109]</div> Olive, as is natural for a young girl, wanted guests and gayety. Mr. Gately, a thoroughly selfish man, preferred quiet and freedom from company. Her insistence met with refusal and the results were often distressing to both of them. In fact, Miss Raynor had threatened to leave her guardian’s home and live by herself, but this by no means suited his convenience. The comfort of his home and the proper administration of his household depended largely on Olive’s capable and efficient management, and without her presence and care he would miss many pleasant details of his daily existence. He rarely allowed her to go away on a visit, and almost never permitted her to have a friend to stay with her. I learned of these intimate matters from Norah,—who, in turn, had them from Jenny. Jenny had not been with Mr. Gately long, but she had managed to pick up bits of information regarding his home life with surprising quickness, and when quizzed by the police had told all she knew,—and, I suspected,—more than she knew,—about Miss Raynor. Now, I don’t suppose the police went so far as to assume that Olive Raynor had killed Mr. Gately because he would not indulge her wishes, but they seemed to think they really had grounds for suspecting. I was in despair. On Sunday, I could think of nothing but the matter and I wondered if it would be too presumptuous of me to offer Miss Raynor my help or advice. Doubtless she had hordes of advisers, but she might need such a legal friend as I could be to her. <div class="pb" id="Page_110">[110]</div> On the impulse, I telephoned and asked if she cared to see me. To my delighted surprise she welcomed the suggestion and begged me to call that afternoon, as she had real need of legal advice. And so four o’clock found me again at the house of the late president of the Trust Company. This time I was shown to a small reception room, where Olive soon appeared. “It’s this way, Mr. Brice,” she said after a few moments’ conversation. “I don’t like Mr. Pond,—he’s Uncle’s lawyer,—I just can’t bear the man!” “For any definite reason, Miss Raynor?” I asked. “N—no,—well, that is—oh, he’s a horrid old thing, and he wants to marry me!” “Are you quite sure you want to confide these personal matters to me?” I felt I ought to say this, for the girl was nervously excited, and I was by no means sure she would not later regret her outspokenness. “Yes, I do. I want a lawyer, Mr. Brice, and I will not have Mr. Pond. So I ask you here and now to take my affairs in charge, look after my financial matters, and advise me in many ways when I need your help. You may suppose I have many friends,”—the big brown eyes were pathetically imploring, “but I haven’t. Uncle Amos,—of course, you know he was not my uncle, but I called him that,—would not allow me to make many friends and his own acquaintances are all elderly people and he hadn’t very many of those. My money is in my own right. Mr. Gately was punctilious in his care of my accounts,—and I want it all taken out of the hands of Mr. Pond and transferred to your care. This can be done, of course.” <div class="pb" id="Page_111">[111]</div> Olive looked imperious and seemed to think the matter all settled. “Doubtless it can be arranged, Miss Raynor; I will consider it.” “Don’t consider,—just say yes! If you don’t I must hunt up another lawyer, and—I’d rather have you.” I wasn’t proof against her pretty, dictatorial ways, and I agreed to take the steps she desired. She went on to tell me how she was placed: Not only in possession of a considerable fortune of her own, Amos Gately’s will left her a goodly additional sum, and also the house in which they had lived. “So you see,” Olive said, “I shall continue to live here,—for the present. I have Mrs. Vail now with me,—as a duenna, for propriety’s sake. She is a dear old lady, and is of a pliable, manageable sort. I chose her for that reason, largely. Also, she is pleasant and cheerful, and I like to have her about. I was fond of Uncle Amos, Mr. Brice, but we had many dissensions. If he had allowed me a little more freedom, I could have got along with him beautifully,—but he treated me as a child. You see, he took me to live with him when I was a child, and he never realized that I had grown up and had an individuality and a will of my own. I am twenty-two years old, and he acted as if I were twelve!” <div class="pb" id="Page_112">[112]</div> “And now, absolutely your own mistress?” “Yes; doesn’t it seem strange? And it is all so strange! This house, without him, is like a different house. And the dreadfulness of his death! Sometimes I think I can’t stay here,—I must get into other surroundings. But the thought of moving out of here is too much for me, at present, anyway. Oh, I don’t know what to do! I can’t realize that he is gone!” Olive did not cry. She sat, dry-eyed and tearless, looking so pathetically lonely and so unable to cope with her new responsibilities, that I gladly promised her all possible assistance that I could give, both in legal matters and in any personal or friendly ways. “Don’t think me helpless,” she said, reading my thoughts; “I shall rise to the situation, I shall adapt myself to my changed circumstances, but it will take a little time, of course.” “Yes, indeed,” I agreed, “and don’t attempt to do too much at first. Take plenty of time to rest and to let yourself react from the shock and the awful scenes you have been through.” <div class="pb" id="Page_113">[113]</div> It was clear to me that the girl had no thought that she was suspected, or that the police were watching her. I wondered whether it would be kinder to give her a hint of this or to leave her in ignorance, when just then a servant entered, saying Mr. Hudson wished an interview with Miss Raynor. Hudson! Foxy Jim Hudson! Of course, this could mean but one thing. “Let me stay!” I said, impulsively, and, “Oh, do!” she returned, and in another minute Hudson came in. There was something about the man’s manner that I couldn’t help liking and if Olive had to be questioned I felt sure he would do it as gently as anybody could. Though uncultured, his voice was kindly, and as he put some preliminary questions Olive answered straightforwardly and without objection. But when he asked her where she had been on the afternoon of Mr. Gately’s death, she looked at him haughtily, and said: “I told all that to the man who questioned me downtown,—that Mr. Martin.” “Did you tell him the truth, Miss Raynor?” “Sir?” Into the one word, Olive put a world of scornful pride, but I could note also a look of fear in her eyes. <div class="pb" id="Page_114">[114]</div> “Now, let me give you a bit of friendly advice,” Hudson said, “you’re a very young lady, and you prob’ly think you can tell a little white falsehood and get away with it, but you can’t do it to the police. You see, miss, we know where you were on Wednesday afternoon, and you may as well be frank about it.” “Very well, then, where was I?” “At the house of Mrs. Russell,—the sister of Mr. Manning.” Olive looked at him in amazement. Then her manner changed. “Since you know,” she said, “I may as well own up. I was at Mrs. Russell’s. What of it?” “Only that if you prevaricated in one instance, Miss Raynor, you may have done so in others. Will you tell me why you said you were at the house of your friend, Miss Clark?” “Of course I will. My guardian was unwilling to have me go to Mrs. Russell’s house, because of a personal matter. Therefore, when I wished to go there I sometimes told him that I was going to Miss Clark’s. This small falsehood I considered justifiable, because Mr. Gately had no right to say where I should go and where not! If I was untruthful it was because his unjust rules and regulations made me so! I am not a story-teller, ordinarily. If I was forced to be one, in order to enjoy some simple pleasures or diversions, it is no one’s business but my own.” “That’s true, Hudson,” I interposed, “why constitute yourself Miss Raynor’s Sunday-School teacher?” <div class="pb" id="Page_115">[115]</div> “Sorry I am to do so,” and the good-natured face showed real regret; “but I’ve orders. Now, Miss Raynor, I must put you a few straight questions. Where’s Mr. Amory Manning?” “I don’t know! I only wish I did!” “Now, now, that won’t do! I guess you can think up some hint of his whereabouts for me. You can’t deceive us, you know.” “Nor do I want to!” Olive’s eyes blazed. “Because I found it necessary to evade my guardian’s espionage now and then you needn’t think I am unable to tell the truth! I have no idea where Mr. Manning is, and I am exceedingly anxious lest some harm has befallen him. If you can find him you will be doing me a great favor.” “Are you engaged to him, Miss Raynor?” “No, I am not, though I do not concede your right to ask that question. Mr. Manning and I are good friends, that is all.” “Mr. Gately did not approve of his attentions to you?” “He did not, and that was why I refrained from telling of occasions when I saw or might see Mr. Manning at his sister’s house. If that is of interest to you, I’ve no objections to your knowing it.” “Can you fire a pistol, Miss Raynor?” I perceived it was Hudson’s method to take her by surprise, and so, perhaps, learn something from an answer given off her guard. “Yes,” she replied, promptly, “I am a good shot; why?” <div class="pb" id="Page_116">[116]</div> Her wondering eyes were fearless, now, and to me it seemed a proof of her entire innocence that she showed no embarrassment at this inquiry. But Hudson evidently thought differently. He looked accusingly at her, and continued, “Do you own a pistol?” “Yes; Mr. Gately gave me one a few years ago.” “Where is it?” “Down at our country-place, on Long Island. I am afraid of burglars there, but not nearly so much so in the city.” “H’m. Now, Miss Raynor, you are the last one known to have seen Amos Gately alive.” “Why, Mr. Brice saw the shooting!” “Only in shadow. I mean you are the last one known to have talked with him in his office. Was your interview—er,—amicable?” “Entirely so. I went there for some money, as I occasionally did. My guardian gave me a check and I cashed it at the Trust Company Bank.” “Yes, we know that; and that the check was given to you, and was later cashed, all at about the time Mr. Gately was killed.” “Earlier Mr. Hudson. I was in the bank about half-past two.” “No, Miss Raynor. We have the teller’s statement that you were there about three o’clock.” “He is mistaken,” Olive’s voice was confident, and had in it a ring of indignation, “by three o’clock, or very little after, I was at Mrs. Russell’s.” “Was Mr. Manning there?” <div class="pb" id="Page_117">[117]</div> “No; he expected to come later, after he had attended to some business.” “What was the business?” “I do not know, but it must have been somewhere in the vicinity of the Puritan Building, for he was near there when I arrived.” “At what time was that?” “I don’t know exactly, perhaps half-past three or a little later. I had been at Mrs. Russell’s but a few moments when Mr. Talcott telephoned me there.” “How did he know you were there?” “He called up Miss Clark first, and she told him.” “Your friends, then, aided and abetted you in deceiving your guardian?” “I resent the way you put that, Mr. Hudson,” Olive looked at him haughtily, “but I answer, yes. My friends agreed with me that Mr. Gately was unreasonable in his commands and that I was not bound to obey them.” “But you are now freed from his injustice.” “That is a brutal speech and unworthy of any man! My freedom is too dearly purchased at such a fearful price!” “Are you sure you think so?” “What are you implying, Mr. Hudson? Speak out! Do you think I killed my guardian?” “There are people that do think that, Miss Raynor.” <div class="pb" id="Page_118">[118]</div> “Leave this house!” cried Olive, rising. “Such words can not be spoken here!” “Now, now, miss, dramatics won’t get you anywheres! There is evidence against you, or so the police think, and it’s up to me to tell you that we must ask you not to go out of town without acquainting us of the fact. We do not accuse you, but we do want you where we can communicate with you at will. I am going now Miss Raynor. I came only to make sure on a few points,—which I have done,—and to tell you to remain within call. Indeed, I may as well tell you that any attempt to get away will be frustrated.” “You mean I am under surveillance!” “That’s about it, miss.” Olive looked at him as one might regard a worm of the dust. “Go!” she said, quietly but forcefully. “I shall not leave town, I shall probably not leave this house. Your suspicion is beneath contempt. However, it has taught me one thing,—I shall engage someone else—someone quite outside the stupid police, to discover the murderer of my uncle! And also to trace my friend, Mr. Manning.” Hudson smiled. He looked at Olive almost tolerantly, as if she were a wilful child. <div class="pb" id="Page_119">[119]</div> “All right. Miss Raynor. I’ll take your word as to your staying here, and I rather guess the police force will yet round up the murderer and will also discover the hiding-place of Amory Manning. Good day.” Hudson went away, and Olive turned to me in a passion of rage. “What insolence!” she exclaimed. “Are such things permitted? To come here and practically accuse me of my uncle’s murder!” “He wasn’t your uncle, you know.” “That doesn’t matter. I loved him as I would a relative. His sternness and his unreasonable commands were distasteful to me, but that didn’t alter my real love and affection for the man. He has been everything to me for the greater part of my life. He has been kindness itself in most matters. He indulged me in all possible ways as to creature comforts and luxuries. He never criticized the ways in which I spent my money, or in which I entertained myself, save in the matter of having guests or making visits.” “And allowing admirers?” “There were some men he approved of,—you may as well know, Mr. Brice, my guardian wished me to marry his friend and lawyer, Mr. Pond.” “Why, when that gentleman is so greatly your senior?” <div class="pb" id="Page_120">[120]</div> “Merely because Uncle was so fond of him. And, too, Uncle never seemed to realize that I was of a different generation from himself. He couldn’t understand,—he really couldn’t—why I wanted young company and gay parties. He didn’t, and he really assumed that I didn’t. I think he never realized how greatly he was depriving me when he forbade me society.” “Did it really amount to that?” “Practically. Or, if I succeeded in persuading him to let me have a house guest or a small party, he made things so unpleasant that I was glad when they were gone.” “Unpleasant, how?” “Oh, fussing around, as if his comfort were interfered with,—as if he were terribly incommoded by their presence, and by demanding my time and attention for himself, instead of allowing me to entertain my guests properly.” “Doubtless so you wouldn’t do it again.” “Yes, of course. But all that was uncomfortable for me,—almost unbearable,—yet one doesn’t kill one’s people for such things.” To me this simple statement of Olive Raynor’s was more convincing than a storm of denial. She had stormed, with indignation, at the hint of suspicion, but her quiet, dignified refutation went far to assure me of her entire innocence. “Of course, one doesn’t,” I agreed, “and now to find out who did do it. Have you any suspicion,—Miss Raynor, even the slightest?” <div class="pb" id="Page_121">[121]</div> “No; except that it seems to me it must have been some man who knew Uncle in a business way. Though a generous and charitable man, Amos Gately was scrupulously just, and if he had enemies, they were men whom he had discovered in some wrong-doing and he had exposed or punished them. No man had a cause for righteous enmity against him,—of that I’m sure!” <div class="pb" id="Page_122">[122]</div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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