"I know all that you with your big heart would do for me," he declared earnestly, "but honestly there is nothing possible. My worry will cure itself. I can see the end of it even now."
"Will the end of it come within a month?"
"Within a week."
"Perhaps," she said, "I could hasten the end to a day."
"No," he smiled, "I "d rather you would n"t. I "d rather you would prolong it if you could."
"Is that a riddle?"
"To you."
"Then I can"t answer it for I never guessed one in my life."
So with his knuckles kneading the gra.s.s by his side, he made light of it until she turned away from the subject to admire the blue seen through the pine needles above their heads.
Soon he heard the distant low whistle of the engine which was coming for them like a sheriff with a warrant.
He was not conscious of very much more until they were back again in the house and he heard Arsdale"s voice,
"I "ve rented the offices, old man! Swellest in the city. To-morrow you must come down and see them!"
CHAPTER XXII
_Clouds_
Arsdale was somewhere about the house and Elaine had gone up-stairs when Donaldson, who had come out-doors to smoke, saw a man with broad shoulders and a round unshaven face step from a cab, push through the hedge gate, and come quickly up the path. He watched him with indifferent interest, until in the dusk he recognized the stubborn mouth which gripped a cigar as a bull-dog hangs to a rag. Then he hurried forward with hand extended.
"Good Lord, Saul," he exclaimed, "where did you drop from?"
"h.e.l.lo, Don. I rather hoped that I might run across you here."
"I "m ashamed of myself," answered Donaldson guiltily. "I did n"t notify you that we had found him. But the last I heard of you, you were out of town."
"Oh, that"s all right. Tung gave me the whole story."
"The rat! He made a lot of trouble for us."
"And for me, too."
"Still working on the Riverside robberies?"
Saul glanced up quickly. Then looking steadily into Donaldson"s eyes as though the reply had some significance he answered,
"Yes."
"I wish you luck. And say, old man, I "ve worried since for fear lest you lost a good opportunity for a hot scent the time I kept you out."
"I did. But I picked it up again by chance."
"You did? Have you caught the man?"
"No," answered Saul abstractedly. "Not yet."
He chewed the stub of his cigar a moment, glancing frequently at the house.
"Say," he asked abruptly, "come down the road here a piece with me, will you?"
Saul led him to the street and far enough away from the cab so that their conversation could not be overheard, yet near enough to the electric light for him to see Donaldson"s face clearly.
"I want you to tell me something about young Arsdale," he began. "Is he in the house there now?"
"Yes. And happy as a clam at high water."
"Has he talked any since he came back?"
"Talked? He"s clear-headed enough, if that is what you mean?"
"Has he appeared at all worried--as though he had something on his mind?"
"Not in the slightest He"s taken such a new grip on himself that the last few days are almost blotted out. You "d never know him for the same boy, Saul. He"s quit the dope for good."
"So? Remorse!"
"Not the kind of remorse you mean, Beefy. This is the real thing."
Saul thought a moment. Then he asked,
"You told me, did n"t you, that he had no money with him that night?"
"Not more than a dollar or so."
"He spent a lot at Tung"s."
"The heathen probably robbed him of it!"
"Yes, but where did Arsdale get it?"
Donaldson started. There was something ominous in the question. But he could n"t recount to Saul that disgraceful attack the boy had made upon his sister when returning for funds. It wouldn"t be fair to the present Arsdale.
"I don"t know," he answered. "What have you up your sleeve, Beefy?"
"Something bad," replied Saul bluntly. He lowered his voice: "It is beginning to look as though your young friend might know something about the robberies that have been taking place around here."
"What!"