CHAPTER XXII.
CAUGHT.
"We're early," said Beth, as they came to the edge of the woods andsighted the farm house; "but that is better than being late."
Then she stopped suddenly with a low cry and pointed to the right wing,which directly faced them. Bob West turned the corner of the house,tried the door of Uncle John's room, and then walked to one of theFrench windows. The sash was not fastened, so he deliberately opened itand stepped inside.
"What shall we do?" gasped Patsy, clasping her hands excitedly.
Beth was always cool in an emergency.
"You creep up to the window, dear, and wait till you hear me open theinside door," said she. "I'll run through the house and enter from theliving-room. The key is under the mat, you know."
"But what can we do? Oughtn't we to wait until Uncle John and fathercome?" Patsy asked, in a trembling voice.
"Of course not. West might rob the cupboard and be gone by that time.We've got to act promptly, Patsy; so don't be afraid."
Without further words Beth ran around the back of the house anddisappeared, while Patsy, trying to control the beating of her heart,stole softly over the lawn to the open window of Uncle John's room.
She could not help looking in, at the risk of discovery. Bob West--tall,lean and composed as ever--was standing beside the cupboard, the doorsof which were wide open. The outer doors were of wood, panelled andcarved; the inner ones were plates of heavy steel, and in the lock thatsecured these latter doors were the keys that had so long been missing.Both were attached to a slender silver chain.
As Patsy peered in at the man West was engaged in deliberately examiningpacket after packet of papers, evidently striving to find the missingstock certificates. He was in no hurry, believing he would have thehouse to himself for several hours; so he tumbled Captain Wegg'ssouvenirs of foreign lands in a heap on the floor beside him, thrustinghis hand into every corner of the cupboard in order that the searchmight be thorough. He had once before examined the place in vain; thistime he intended to succeed.
Presently West drew a cigar from his pocket, lighted it, and was aboutto throw the match upon the floor when the thought that it might laterbetray his presence made him pause and then walk to the open window. Ashe approached, Patsy became panic-stricken and, well knowing that sheought to run or hide, stood rooted to the spot, gazing half appealinglyand half defiantly into the startled eyes of the man who suddenlyconfronted her.
So for a moment they stood motionless. West was thinking rapidly. Bysome error be had miscounted the picnic party and this girl had beenleft at home. She had discovered his intrusion, had seen him at thecupboard, and would report the matter to John Merrick. This being thecase, it would do him no good to retreat without accomplishing hispurpose. If once he secured the stock certificates he could afford tolaugh at his accusers, and secure them he must while he had theopportunity.
So clearly did these thoughts follow one another that West's hesitationseemed only momentary. Without a word to the girl he tossed the matchupon the grass, calmly turned his back, and started for thecupboard again.
But here a new surprise awaited him. Brief as had been his absence,another girl had entered the room. Beth opened the door even as Westturned toward the window, and, taking in the situation at a glance, shetiptoed swiftly to the cupboard, withdrew the keys from the lock anddropped them noiselessly into a wide-mouthed vase that stood on thetable and was partially filled with flowers. The next instant Westturned and saw her, but she smiled at him triumphantly. "Good afternoon,sir," said the girl, sweetly; "can I do anything to assist you?"
West uttered an impatient exclamation and regarded Beth savagely.
"Is the house full of girls?" he demanded.
"Oh, no; Patsy and I are quite alone," she replied, with a laugh. "Comein, Patsy dear, and help me to entertain our guest," she added.
Patsy came through the window and stood beside her cousin. The manstared at them, bit his lip, and then turned again to the cupboard. Ifhe noted the absence of the keys he did not remark upon the fact, butwith hurried yet thorough examination began anew to turn over thebundles of papers.
Beth sat down and watched him, but Patsy remained standing behind herchair. West emptied all the shelves, and then after a pause took out hispocket knife and began tapping with its end the steel sides of thecupboard. There was no doubt he suspected the existence of a secretaperture, and Beth began to feel uneasy.
Slowly the man worked his way downward, from shelf to shelf, and beganto sound the bottom plates, wholly oblivious of the fascinated gaze ofthe two young girls. Then a sudden gruff ejaculation startled them all,and West swung around to find a new group of watchers outside thewindow. In the foreground appeared the stern face of John Merrick.
The scene was intensely dramatic to all but the singular man who hadbeen battling to retain a fortune. West knew in an instant that hisattempt to secure the certificates was a failure. He turned from thecupboard, dusted his hands, and nodded gravely to the last arrivals.
"Come in, Mr. Merrick," said he, seating himself in a chair and removinghis hat, which he had been wearing. "I owe you an apology for intrudingupon your premises in your absence."
Uncle John strode into the room angry and indignant at the fellow's coolimpertinence. The Major and Louise followed, and all eyes centered uponthe face of Bob West.
"The contents of this cupboard," remarked the hardware merchant, calmly,"belong to the estate of Captain Wegg, and can scarcely be claimed byyou because you have purchased the house. You falsely accused me theother day, sir, and I have been searching for proof that the AlmaquoTimber Tract stock is entirely my property."
"Have you found such proof?" inquired Mr. Merrick.
"Not yet."
"And you say the stock was all issued to you?"
West hesitated.
"It was all transferred to me by Captain Wegg and Will Thompson."
"Does the transfer appear upon the stock itself?"
"Of course, sir."
"In that case," said Uncle John, "I shall be obliged to ask your pardon.But the fact can be easily proved."
He walked to the open cupboard, felt for the slide Joe had described tohim, and drew it forward. A small drawer was behind the orifice, andfrom this Mr. Merrick drew a packet of papers.
West gave a start and half arose. Then he settled back into his chairagain.
"H-m. This appears to be the stock in question," said Uncle John. Hedrew a chair to the table, unfolded the documents and examined them withdeliberate care.
The nieces watched his face curiously. Mr. Merrick first frowned, thenturned red, and finally a stern, determined look settled upon hisrugged features.
"Take your stock, Mr. West," he said, tossing it toward the man; "andtry to forgive us for making fools of ourselves!"