"There was an eggsterrordinary noise from where my missis was standing; like the gurgling water makes sometimes running down the kitchen sink at "ome, only worse. Then they all started talking together, and "arf-a- dozen times or more Miss Lamb called me to back "er up in wot she was saying, but I only shook my "ead, and at last, arter tossing her "ead at Cap"n Tarbell and telling "im she wouldn"t "ave "im if he"d got fifty million a year, the five of "em "eld my missis while she went off.
"They gave "er ten minutes" start, and then Cap"n Tarbell, arter looking at me and shaking his "ead, said he was afraid they must be going.
""And I "ope this night"ll be a lesson to you," he ses. "Don"t neglect your dooty again. I shall keep my eye on you, and if you be"ave yourself I sha"n"t say anything. Why, for all you know or could ha" done the wharf might ha" been burnt to the ground while you was away!"
"He nodded to his crew, and they all walked out laughing and left me alone--with the missis."
[Ill.u.s.tration: Mr. Chase, with his friend in his powerful grasp, was doing his best, as he expressed it, to shake the life out of him]
FAIRY GOLD
"Come and have a pint and talk it over," said Mr. Augustus Teak. "I"ve got reasons in my "ead that you don"t dream of, Alf."
Mr. Chase grunted and stole a side-glance at the small figure of his companion. "All brains, you are, Gussie," he remarked. "That"s why it is you"re so well off."
"Come and have a pint," repeated the other, and with surprising ease pushed his bulky friend into the bar of the "Ship and Anchor." Mr.
Chase, mellowed by a long draught, placed his mug on the counter and eyeing him kindly, said--
"I"ve been in my lodgings thirteen years."
"I know," said Mr. Teak; "but I"ve got a partikler reason for wanting you. Our lodger, Mr. Dunn, left last week, and I only thought of you yesterday. I mentioned you to my missis, and she was quite pleased. You see, she knows I"ve known you for over twenty years, and she wants to make sure of only "aving honest people in the "ouse. She has got a reason for it."
He closed one eye and nodded with great significance at his friend.
"Oh!" said Mr. Chase, waiting.
"She"s a rich woman," said Mr. Teak, pulling the other"s ear down to his mouth. "She--"
"When you"ve done tickling me with your whiskers," said Mr. Chase, withdrawing his head and rubbing his ear vigorously, "I shall be glad."
Mr. Teak apologized. "A rich woman," he repeated. "She"s been stinting me for twenty-nine years and saving the money--my money!--money that I "ave earned with the sweat of my brow. She "as got over three "undred pounds!"
""Ow much?" demanded Mr. Chase.
"Three "undred pounds and more," repeated the other; "and if she had "ad the sense to put it in a bank it would ha" been over four "undred by this time. Instead o" that she keeps it hid in the "Ouse."
"Where?" inquired the greatly interested Mr. Chase.
Mr. Teak shook his head. "That"s just what I want to find out," he answered. "She don"t know I know it; and she mustn"t know, either.
That"s important."
"How did you find out about it, then?" inquired his friend.
"My wife"s sister"s husband, Bert Adams, told me. His wife told "im in strict confidence; and I might "ave gone to my grave without knowing about it, only she smacked his face for "im the other night."
"If it"s in the house you ought to be able to find it easy enough," said Mr. Chase.
"Yes, it"s all very well to talk," retorted Mr. Teak. "My missis never leaves the "ouse unless I"m with her, except when I"m at work; and if she thought I knew of it she"d take and put it in some bank or somewhere unbeknown to me, and I should be farther off it than ever."
"Haven"t you got no idea?" said Mr. Chase.
"Not the leastest bit," said the other. "I never thought for a moment she was saving money. She"s always asking me for more, for one thing; but, then women alway do. And look "ow bad it is for her--saving money like that on the sly. She might grow into a miser, pore thing. For "er own sake I ought to get hold of it, if it"s only to save her from "erself."
Mr. Chase"s face reflected the gravity of his own.
"You"re the only man I can trust," continued Mr. Teak, "and I thought if you came as lodger you might be able to find out where it is hid, and get hold of it for me."
"Me steal it, d"ye mean?" demanded the gaping Mr. Chase. "And suppose she got me locked up for it? I should look pretty, shouldn"t I?"
"No; you find out where it is hid," said the other; "that"s all you need do. I"ll find someway of getting hold of it then."
"But if you can"t find it, how should I be able to?" inquired Mr. Chase.
""Cos you"ll "ave opportunities," said the other. "I take her out some time when you"re supposed to be out late; you come "ome, let yourself in with your key, and spot the hiding-place. I get the cash, and give you ten-golden-sovereigns--all to your little self. It only occurred to me after Bert told me about it, that I ain"t been in the house alone for years."
He ordered some more beer, and, drawing Mr. Chase to a bench, sat down to a long and steady argument. It shook his faith in human nature to find that his friend estimated the affair as a twenty-pound job, but he was in no position to bargain. They came out smoking twopenny cigars whose strength was remarkable for their age, and before they parted Mr. Chase was pledged to the hilt to do all that he could to save Mrs. Teak from the vice of avarice.
It was a more difficult undertaking than he had supposed. The house, small and compact, seemed to offer few opportunities for the concealment of large sums of money, and after a fortnight"s residence he came to the conclusion that the treasure must have been hidden in the garden. The unalloyed pleasure, however, with which Mrs. Teak regarded the efforts of her husband to put under cultivation land that had lain fallow for twenty years convinced both men that they were on a wrong scent. Mr.
Teak, who did the digging, was the first to realize it, but his friend, pointing out the suspicions that might be engendered by a sudden cessation of labour, induced him to persevere.
"And try and look as if you liked it," he said, severely. "Why, from the window even the back view of you looks disagreeable."
"I"m fair sick of it," declared Mr. Teak. "Anybody might ha" known she wouldn"t have buried it in the garden. She must "ave been saving for pretty near thirty years, week by week, and she couldn"t keep coming out here to hide it. "Tain"t likely."
Mr. Chase pondered. "Let her know, casual like, that I sha"n"t be "ome till late on Sat.u.r.day," he said, slowly. "Then you come "ome in the afternoon and take her out. As soon as you"re gone I"ll pop in and have a thorough good hunt round. Is she fond of animals?"
"I b"lieve so," said the other, staring. "Why?"
"Take "er to the Zoo," said Mr. Chase, impressively. "Take two-penn"orth o" nuts with you for the monkeys, and some stale buns for--for--for animals as likes "em. Give "er a ride on the elephant and a ride on the camel."
"Anything else?" inquired Mr. Teak disagreeably. "Any more ways you can think of for me to spend my money?"
"You do as I tell you," said his friend. "I"ve got an idea now where it is. If I"m able to show you where to put your finger on three "undred pounds when you come "ome it"ll be the cheapest outing you have ever "ad.
Won"t it?"
Mr. Teak made no reply, but, after spending the evening in deliberation, issued the invitation at the supper-table. His wife"s eyes sparkled at first; then the light slowly faded from them and her face fell.
"I can"t go," she said, at last. "I"ve got nothing to go in."
"Rubbish!" said her husband, starting uneasily.