The Adventures of a Modest Man Read online

  CHAPTER III

  TROUBLE FOR TWO

  _A Note Found by Young Harroll on his Dresser the Evening of his Arrivalat Palm Beach._

  "11.30 A.M.

  "DEAR JIM--Everything is spoiled, after all! Father's failing health has suddenly become a serious matter, and we are going to try the 'nature cure,' or whatever they call it, at Avalon Island. I had no idea he was really ill. Evidently he is alarmed, for we have only been here six days, and in a few minutes we are to start for Avalon. Isn't it perfectly horrid? And to think that you are coming this evening and expecting to find us here!

  "Father says you can't come to Avalon; that only invalids are received (I didn't know I was one, but it seems I'm to take the treatment, too!), and he says that nobody is received for less than a month's treatment, so I suppose that bars you even if you were self-sacrificing enough to endure a 'nature cure' for the pleasure of spending two weeks with [_me_, crossed out] us.

  "I'm actually on the verge of tears when I think of all we had planned to do together! And there's my maid at the door, knocking. Good-by. You will write, won't you?

  "CATHARINE DELANCY."

  * * * * *

  _Mr. James Harroll to Miss Catharine Delancy, Avalon, Balboa County,Florida._

  "HOLY CROSS LIGHT, FEBRUARY 15.

  "DEAR CATHARINE--Your father was right: they refuse to take me at Avalon. As soon as I found your note I telegraphed to Avalon for accommodations. It seems Avalon is an island, and they have to wait for the steamers to carry telegrams over from the mainland. So the reply has just reached me that they won't take me for less than a month; and my limit from business is two weeks or give up my position with your father.

  "Yesterday I came out here to Holy Cross Spring to shoot ducks. I'd scarcely begun shooting, at dawn, when along came a couple of men through the fog, rowing like the mischief plump into my decoys, and I shouted out, 'What the deuce are you about?' and they begged my pardon, and said they had thought the point unoccupied, and that the fog was thicker than several things--which was true.

  "So I invited them into the blind to--oh, the usual ceremony--and they came, and they turned out to be Jack Selden--the chap I told you about who was so decent to me in Paris--and his guide.

  "So we had--ceremonies--several of them--and Selden stayed to shoot with me over my decoys, and our bag was fifty-three, all big duck except fifteen bluebills.

  "Selden is a godsend to me. We're going to stay out here to-night at the lighthouse, and shoot all to-morrow if it doesn't blow too hard. It's blowing great guns now. I'm here in the lighthouse, writing in the glow of a lamp in the keeper's living-room, with his good little wife sewing by the fire and a half-dozen of his kids tumbling about on the floor. It's a pretty sight; I love children and firesides and that sort of thing. They've got hold of Selden now, and are making him tell stories of adventure. He's been all over the world, and is perfectly crazy to get married. Says he would prefer a widow with yellow hair and blue eyes. Do you know any? He's a nice chap."

  "Catharine, I wish I were in Avalon. They could put me in a strait-jacket and I wouldn't care as long as [_you were_, crossed out] I could be with [_you_, crossed out] your father and you in Avalon.

  "It's growing late, and Selden and I should be on the ducking-grounds to-morrow before dawn. The keeper's wife says it will blow too hard, but Selden only smiles. He's a cool one, and if he has the nerve to go out I'll go, too.

  "With sincere regards to your father and every wish for his speedy recovery, I remain

  "Yours faithfully, "JAMES HARROLL."

  * * * * *

  _Lines Scribbled on the Leaf of a Note-book and Found in a Bottle in thePocket of an old Shooting-coat a Year Later._

  "ATLANTIC OCEAN, "MILES SOUTH OF HOLY CROSS LIGHT, "FEBRUARY 16.

  "CATHARINE--I think this is the end. Selden and I have been blown out to sea in a rowboat, and it's leaking. I only want to say good-by. Telegraph Selden's mother, Lenox, Massachusetts. I have nobody to notify. Good-by.

  "JAMES HARROLL."

  * * * * *

  _Telegram to James Harroll, Received and Opened by the Keeper whileSearch-boats Were still Out after Mr. Harroll and Mr. Selden, Two DaysMissing._

  "JAMES HARROLL, HOLY CROSS LIGHT, FLORIDA, EAST COAST:

  "Don't run any risks. Be careful for our sakes. Terrible storm on the coast reported here. Wire me that you are safe.

  "CATHARINE DELANCY, "Avalon, Florida."

  * * * * *

  _Telegrams Addressed to Young Harroll, and Opened by the Keeper of theLighthouse after the Search-boats Had Returned._

  No. 1.

  "Why don't you telegraph us? Your silence and the reports of the storm alarm us. Reply at once.

  "CATHARINE."

  No. 2.

  "Wire Catharine, Jim. You surely were not ass enough to go out in such a storm.

  "S. DELANCY."

  No. 3.

  "For pity's sake telegraph to me that you are safe. I cannot sleep.

  "CATHARINE."

  * * * * *

  _Telegram to Miss Catharine Delancy, Avalon, Florida._

  "HOLY CROSS LIGHT.

  "MISS CATHARINE DELANCY:

  "Rowboat containing Mr. Harroll and Mr. Selden blown out to sea. Search-boats returned without finding any trace of them.

  "CASWELL, _Keeper_."

  * * * * *

  _Telegram from Mr. Delancy to Keeper of Holy Cross Light._

  "CASWELL:

  "Charter a fast ocean-going tug and as many launches as necessary. Don't give up the search. Spare no expense. Check mailed to you to-day.

  "I will give ten thousand dollars to the man who rescues James Harroll. You may draw on me for any amount necessary. Keep me constantly informed of your progress by wire.

  "STEPHEN DELANCY."

  * * * * *

  In from the open sea drifted the castaways, the sun rising in tropicsplendor behind them, before them a far strip of snowy surf edging greenshores.

  Selden sat in the bow, bailing; Harroll dug vigorously into the Atlanticwith both oars; a heavy flood-tide was doing the rest. Presently Seldenpicked up the ducking-glass and examined the shore.

  Harroll rested his oars, took a pull at the mineral water, and sigheddeeply. "Except for the scare and the confounded leak it's been ratheramusing, hasn't it?" he said.

  "It's all right.... Hope you didn't set that farewell message afloat."

  "What message?"

  "Oh--I thought I saw you scribbling in your notebook and----"

  "And what?"

  "And stick the leaf into the bottle of gun-oil. If I was mistaken,kindly give me my bottle of gun-oil."

  "Pooh!" said Harroll. "The storm was magnificent. Can't a man jot downimpressions? Open a can of sardines, will you? And pass me the bread,you idiot!"

  Selden constructed a sandwich and passed it aft. "When we near thoseducks," he said, "we'd better give them a broadside--our larder'sgetting low. I'll load for us both."

  He fished about among the cartridge-sacks for some dry shells, loadedthe guns, and laid them ready.

  "Bluebills," observed Harroll, as the boat drew near. "How tame theyare! Look, Selden! It would be murder to shoot."

  The boat, drifting rapidly, passed in among the raft of ducks; here andthere a glistening silver-breasted bird paddled lazily out of the way,but the bulk of the flock floated serenely on either side, riding theswell, bright golden eyes
fearlessly observing the intruders.

  "Oh, a man can't shoot at things that act like that!" exclaimed Seldenpetulantly. "Shoo! Shoo--o!" he cried, waving his gun in hopes that ascurry and rise might justify assassination. But the birds only watchedhim in perfect confidence. The boat drove on; the young men sat staringacross the waves, guns idly balanced across their knees. PresentlyHarroll finished his sandwich and resumed the oars.

  "Better bail some more," he said. "What are you looking at?"--forSelden, using the ducking-glass, had begun to chuckle.

  "Well, upon my word!" he said slowly--"of all luck! Where do you supposewe are?"

  "Well, where the devil are we?"

  "Off Avalon!"

  "Avalon!" repeated Harroll, stupidly. "Why, man, it's a hundred milessouth of Holy Cross!"

  "Well, we've made it, I tell you. I can see one of their dinky littletemples shining among the trees. Hark! There go the bells ringing formeditation!"

  A mellow chime came across the water.

  "It can't be Avalon," repeated Harroll, not daring to hope for suchfortune. "What do you know about Avalon, anyway?"

  "What I've heard."

  "What's that?"

  "Why, it's a resort for played-out people who've gone the pace. When agirl dances herself into the fidgets, or a Newport matron goes topieces, or a Wall Street man begins to talk to himself, hither theytoddle. It's the fashionable round-up for smashed nerves andwibbly-wobbly intellects--a sort of "back-to-nature" enterprise run by a"doctor." He makes 'em all wear garments cut in the style of the humblebed-sheet, and then he turns 'em out to grass; and they may roll on itor frisk on it or eat it if they like. Incidentally, I believe, they'reobliged to wallow in the ocean several times a day, run races afoot,chuck the classic discus, go barefooted and sandal-shod, wear wreaths offlowers instead of hats, meditate in silence when the temple bellsring, eat grain and fruit and drink milk, and pay enormous bills to thequack who runs the place. It must be a merry life, Harroll. No tobacco,no billiards, no bridge. And hit the downy at nine-thirty by thecurfew!"

  "Good Lord!" muttered Harroll.

  "That's Avalon," repeated Selden. "And we're almost there. Look sharp!Stand by for a ducking! This surf means trouble ahead!"

  It certainly did; the boat soared skyward on the crest of the swell; asmashing roller hurled it into the surf, smothering craft and crew inhissing foam. A second later two heads appeared, and two half-suffocatedyoung men floundered up the beach and dropped, dripping and speechless,on the sand.

  They lay inert for a while, salt water oozing at every pore. Harroll wasthe first to sit up.

  "Right?" he inquired.

  "All right. Where's the boat?"

  "Ashore below us." He rose, dripping, and made off toward the batteredboat, which lay in the shoals, heeled over. Selden followed; togetherthey dragged the wreck up high and dry; then they sat down on the sand,eying one another.

  "It's a fine day," said Selden, with a vacant grin. He rolled over onhis back, clutching handfuls of hot sand. "Isn't this immense?" hesaid. "My! how nice and dry and solid everything is! Roll on your back,Harroll! You'll enjoy it more that way."

  But Harroll got up and began dragging the guns and cartridge-sacks fromthe boat.

  "I've some friends here," he said briefly. "Come on."

  "Are your friends hospitably inclined to the shipwrecked? I'm aboutready to be killed with hospitality," observed Selden, shouldering gunand sack and slopping along in his wet boots.

  They entered a thicket of sweet-bay and palmetto, breast-high, andforced a path through toward a bit of vivid green lawn, which gaveunderfoot like velvet.

  "There's a patient now--in his toga," said Selden, in a low voice."Better hit him with a piteous tale of shipwreck, hadn't we?"

  The patient was seated on a carved bench of marble under the shade of alive oak. His attitude suggested _ennui_; he yawned at intervals; atintervals he dug in the turf with idle bare toes.

  "The back of that gentleman's head," said Harroll, "resembles the backof a head I know."

  "Oh! One of those friends you mentioned?"

  "Well--I never saw him in toga and sandals, wearing a wreath of flowerson his head. Let's take a front view."

  The squeaky, sloppy sound of Selden's hip boots aroused the gentleman inthe toga from his attitude of bored meditation.

  "How do you do, sir?" said Harroll, blandly, "I thought I'd come toAvalon."

  The old gentleman fumbled in his toga, found a monocle, screwed itfirmly into his eye, and inspected Harroll from head to heel.

  "You're rather wet, Jim," he said, steadying his voice.

  Harroll admitted it. "This is my old friend, Jack Selden--the LenoxSeldens, you know, sir." And, to Selden, he reverently named Mr.Delancy.

  "How do?" said Mr. Delancy. "You're wet, too."

  There was a silence. Mr. Delancy executed a facial contortion whichreleased the monocle. Then he touched his faded eyes with the hem of hishandkerchief. The lashes and furrowed cheeks were moist.

  "You're so devilish abrupt, Jim," he said. "Did you get any telegramsfrom us?"

  "Telegrams? No, sir. When?"

  "No matter," said Mr. Delancy.

  Another silence, and Harroll said: "Fact is, sir, we were blown out tosea, and that's how we came here. I fancy Selden wouldn't mind aninvitation to dinner and a chance to dry his clothes."

  Selden smiled hopefully and modestly as Mr. Delancy surveyed him.

  "Pray accept my hospitality, gentlemen," said Mr. Delancy, with a grimsmile. "I've been ass enough to take a villa in this forsaken place. Thefood I have to offer you might be relished by squirrels, perhaps; theclothing resembles my own, and can be furnished you by the simpleprocess of removing the sheets from your beds."

  He rose, flung the flap of his toga over one shoulder, and passed hisarm through Harroll's.

  "Don't you like it here?" asked Harroll.

  "_Like_ it!" repeated Mr. Delancy.

  "But--why did you come?"

  "I came," said Mr. Delancy slowly, "because I desired to be rid of you."

  Selden instinctively fell back out of earshot. Harroll reddened.

  "I thought your theory was----"

  "You smashed that theory--now you've shattered this--you and Catharinebetween you."

  Harroll looked thoughtfully at Selden, who stood watching two prettygirls playing handball on the green.

  "Young man," said Mr. Delancy, "do you realize what I've been through inone week? I have been obliged to wear this unspeakable garment, I'vebeen obliged to endure every species of tomfoolery, I've been fed onbird seed, deprived of cigars, and sent to bed at half past nine. AndI'm as sound in limb and body as you are. And all because I desired tobe rid of you. I had two theories! both are smashed. I refuse toentertain any more theories concerning anything!"

  Harroll laughed; then his attention became concentrated on the exquisitelandscape, where amid green foliage white villas of Georgia marbleglimmered, buried in blossoming thickets of oleander, wistaria, andCherokee roses--where through the trees a placid lake lay reflecting theviolet sky--where fallow-deer wandered, lipping young maple buds--wherebeneath a pergola heavily draped with golden jasmine a white-robedfigure moved in the shade--a still, sunny world of green and gold andviolet exhaling incense under a cloudless sky.

  "I would like to see Catharine," he said, slowly, "with yourpermission--and in view of the fate of the theories."

  "Jim," said Mr. Delancy, "you are doubtless unconscious of the troubleyou have created in my family."

  "Trouble, sir?" repeated the young man, flushing up.

  "Trouble for two. My daughter and I believed you drowned."

  Harroll stood perfectly still. Mr. Delancy took a step or two forward,turned, and came back across the lawn. "She is sitting under thatpergola yonder, looking out to sea, and I'm afraid she's crying her eyesout for something she wants. It's probably not good for her, either.But--such as it is--she may have it."

  The two men looked at one an
other steadily.

  "I'm rather glad you were not drowned," said Mr. Delancy, "but I'm notinfatuated with you."

  They shook hands solemnly, then Mr. Delancy walked over and joinedSelden, who appeared to be fascinated by an attractive girl in Greekrobes and sandals who was playing handball on the green.

  "Young man," said Mr. Delancy, "there's always trouble for two in thisworld. That young woman with yellow hair and violet eyes who is playinghandball with her sister, and who appears to hypnotize you, is here torecuperate from the loss of an elderly husband."

  "A widow with yellow hair and blue eyes!" murmured Selden, entranced.

  "Precisely. Your train, however, leaves to-night--unless you mean toremain here on a diet of bird-seed."

  Selden smiled absently. Bird-seed had no terror for him.

  "Besides," he said, "I'm rather good at handball."

  A moment later he looked around, presumably for Harroll. That young manwas already half-way to the jasmine-covered arbor, where a young girlsat, dry-eyed, deathly pale, staring out to sea.

  The sea was blue and smiling; the soft thunder of the surf came up toher. She heard the gulls mewing in the sky and the hum of bees in thewind-stirred blossoms; she saw a crested osprey plunge into the shallowsand a great tarpon fling its mass of silver into the sun. Paroquetsgleaming like living jewels rustled and preened in the china-trees;black and gold butterflies, covered with pollen, crawled over and overthe massed orange bloom. Ah, the mask of youth that the sly world woreto mock her! Ah, the living lie of the sky, and the false, smooth seafawning at her feet!

  Little persuasive breezes came whispering, plucking at the white hem ofher robe to curry favor; the ingratiating surf purred, blinking with amillion iridescent bubbles. The smug smile of nature appalled her; itshypocrisy sickened her; and she bent her dark eyes fiercely on the seaand clinched her little hands.

  "'Give up my dead!' she whispered. 'Give up my dead!'"]

  "Give up my dead!" she whispered. "Give up my dead!"

  "Catharine!"

  Dazed, she rose to her sandalled feet, the white folds of her robefalling straight and slim.

  "Catharine!"

  Her voiceless lips repeated his name; she swayed, steadying herself bythe arm around her waist.

  Then trouble for two began.

  * * * * *

  As Williams ended, I looked at him with indignation.

  "As far as I can see," I said, "you are acting as attorney for thedefense. That's a fine story to tell a father of two attractivedaughters. You needn't repeat it to them."

  "But it happened, old man----"

  "Don't call me 'old man,' either. I'll explain to you why." And I did,peevishly.

  After that I saw less of Williams, from choice. He has a literary waywith him in telling a story--and I didn't wish Alida and Dulcima tosympathize with young Harroll and that little ninny, Catharine Delancy.So I kept clear of Williams until we arrived in Paris.