CHAPTER XXXII
JORDAN MORSE'S PLAN
The next morning Jordan Morse rose after a sleepless night, his facedrawn in long, deep-set lines. The hours had been spent in futileplanning. To save himself from the dire consequences of his misdeeds,to procure the money which would come to Jinnie when she was eighteenyears old, was the one idea that dinned constantly at his brain. Sheand the cobbler would have to be put out of the way, and this must bedone before Theodore announced publicly his intention of marrying thegirl. Jordan had no wish to break his friendship with Theodore, so hecould do nothing openly. If it were a mere case of filching whatlittle he could from Jinnie's estate before she became of age, itwould be an easy matter, but the girl must disappear. How? Where?There was finality in one of his decisions that moment. He must getpossession of her that very day. Theodore would let no grass growunder his feet. He would marry her offhand, and educate herafterwards.
Jordan wondered vaguely if the Jewish cobbler had an enemy among theshortwood gatherers. If so, and the man could be found, it would bringhis own salvation.
With this desire uppermost in his mind, Jordan wended his way to thelower part of the town, passed into Paradise Road, and paused a secondin front of Lafe Grandoken's shop to read the sign:
"Lafe Grandoken: Cobbler of Folks' and Children's Shoes and Boots."
His lips curled at the crude printing, and he went on past theremaining shanties to the entrance to the marsh. At the path whereJinnie had so many times brought forth her load of wood, he pausedagain and glanced about. As far north as he could see, the marshstretched out in misty greenness. The place seemed to be without ahuman being, until Jordan suddenly heard the crackling of branches,and there appeared before him a young man with deep-set, evil eyes,and large, pouting mouth. Upon his shoulders was a shortwood strap.
At the sight of Mr. Morse, the wood gatherer hesitated, made a sort ofobeisance, and proceeded to move on. Jordan stopped him with a motionof his hand.
"In a hurry?" he asked good-naturedly.
"Got to sell my wood," growled the man.
Morse appraised him with an analytical glance.
"What's your name?" he demanded.
"Maudlin Bates. What's yours?"
"Jordan Morse.... Just wait a minute. I want to talk to you."
Down came the shortwood strap on the ground. Maudlin scented somethinginteresting.
"I got to sell my wood," he repeated, surly-toned. However, he noddedhis head when Jordan explained that it might be to his advantage totarry a while.
"I'll pay you for your time," agreed Morse eagerly.
Side by side they seated themselves on a fallen tree. The young woodgatherer looked wicked enough to do anything that might be requestedof him.
"Are you married?" asked Morse.
Maudlin's face darkened.
"No," he grunted moodily.
"Ha! In love? I see!" laughed the other.
Maudlin turned sheepish eyes on his interrogator; then looked down,flushed, and finished:
"I'd a been married all right if it hadn't been for a damn bloke alongParadise Road," he explained.
"Yes? Tell me about it."
"Oh, what's the use! Everybody's stickin' their noses in my business,and it ain't nothin' to do with 'em uther."
"I might help you," suggested Jordan, seemingly interested.
"Ain't anybody c'n help me," sulked Maudlin. "Got the richest man intown 'gainst me, and money's what makes the mare go."
The words "richest man" startled Morse, but he only said, "That's so!But tell me just the same."
"Aw, it's only a wench I wanted! A mutt by the name of King butted inon me."
Jordan Morse mentally congratulated himself that he had struck theright nail on the head the very first whack.
To gain possession of Jinnie's money meant finding his boy, and thatwas the dearest wish of his heart.
"You might tell me about it," he reiterated slowly. "I ought to beable to help you."
"Naw, you can't!" scoffed Maudlin. "My pa and me's tried for a longtime, but there ain't nothin' doin' with Jinnie. She's a sure devil,Jinnie is."
Jordan's blood tingled in anticipation.
"Is that the girl's name?" he queried.
"Yes, she's a niece of a cobbler up the track yonder, and as pretty alittle minx as walks Paradise Road. If I had 'er I'd fix her. I'd beather till she minded me, I c'n tell y' that!"
"I believe beating's the way to subdue most women," said Morse,lighting a cigarette. But as he said this, a slight smile passed overhis face. He thought of Molly Merriweather in connection with theman's logic.
"It's the way pa done to my stepmother," observed Maudlin presently."She was a onery woman as ever you see, but pa one day just lickedher, and then licked 'er every day till now she don't dast but mind'im.... I'd do that with Jinnie if I had 'er."
Morse watched rings of smoke curl upward in the summer air, breakingamong the branches of the trees.
"Why don't you steal 'er?" he demanded at length.
Bates' lower jaw fell down, showing discolored teeth. He stared at hisinquisitor in consternation. Then he dropped back into his formerslovenly attitude.
"I never thought o' that," said he.
"I'll help you," offered Morse, carelessly, brushing ashes from hiscoat lapel.
Maudlin turned his eyes slowly from their straight ahead positionuntil they came directly upon the handsome face of the other man. Thenthe two looked long and steadily at each other.
"What're you drivin' at?" blurted Bates.
"Only that I'm also interested in getting Jinnie away from Grandoken.The fact is I hate King, and I think it's a good way to get even withhim."
He refrained, however, from mentioning he was Jinnie's relative.
"D'you have me in mind when you come here?" questioned Bates.
"No! But I felt sure there'd be some young buck round here who'dfallen in love with the girl before this. And I found you withoutasking----"
"I'd make her beg me to marry her after I'd had 'er a week or two,"interrupted Maudlin, with dilating pupils. "How could we steal 'er?"
"Just steal 'er, I said," replied Morse.
"And I said, 'How?'"
Morse waited a minute until Bates repeated once more, "How, mister?"then he asked:
"Can you run a motor car?"
"No, but my pa can."
"My God! You musn't mention this to any one, not even your father.I'll run the car myself. You go to the cobbler and by some excuse getthe girl in the car--after that I'll see to her."
Bates narrowed his eyes.
"No, you won't see to nothin'," he growled surlily. "I don't take astep till I know I get 'er. I'll marry 'er all right, but she's got towant to marry me first."
"I don't care what you do with 'er," replied Morse morosely. "Marry'er or not, just get her, that's all!"
"The cobbler's got a vixen of a wife," complained Maudlin at length.
"Persuade her to go somewhere, can't you?" snapped Morse.
"Yes, that's easy," drawled Maudlin, wobbling his head.
For a long time they sat talking and planning, until at length Morseput his hand in his pocket and handed the other man some money.Maudlin tucked it away with a grin.
"Easy cash, eh? What'd you say the dame's name was?"
"Merriweather--Molly Merriweather. She's companion to Mr. King'smother."
"Jinnie fiddles all the afternoon.... Mebbe she won't go."
"Yes, she will. Tell her Miss Merriweather wants her to arrange asurprise for Theodore King. Tell 'er Miss Merriweather wants her toplay."
Bates laughed evilly.
"That'll fix the huzzy. Anything about that damn fiddle'll fetch 'erevery time! When I get 'er I'll bust it up for kindlin' wood."
"Then it's settled," said Morse, rising. "You go this afternoon atthree o'clock to Grandoken's, tell Jinnie what I told you to, get thecobbler into an argument, and I'll do the rest."
"You'll be sure to be there?"
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"Of course! What'd you think I am? Keep your mouth shut! Be sure ofthat."
"Three o'clock, then," said Maudlin, getting up. "So long!" andlifting his wood, he went on his way rejoicing.