CHAPTER XVII
THREE TETE-A-TETES
"It's a rum start!" said Mr. John Aymer.
"It certainly is queer!" said Mrs. John Aymer. "I don't like it one bit,John. I do wish Lawrence was back."
"Sent for him over there, did they? One of his pet lambs in trouble?Well, he'll be back on the night train, for to-morrow is the finalcakewalk of his old Conference. But as far as immediate plans areconcerned, I'm afraid, my dear, you will have to put up with yourstruly. Now, this--what's his name? Lippitt? Pippit?"
"Something like that! I didn't quite make it out."
"Say Pippit! Certainly _seems_ to be a decent chap. Tells a straightstory, too. Knows this fellow Brown for a crook. We didn't ask him _how_he knew--"
"It wasn't necessary, John. I have _never_ liked the man's looks. Ispoke to Babbitt about him, and he said he had taken him on trial forthree months, and he seemed a smart fellow, and that was all he knew. Ofcourse I couldn't ask Babbitt to discharge him because I didn't like hislooks, now could I?"
"--but we can find out about that later!" Mr. Aymer went on calmly. "Hasseen Brown chinning with a pal--"
"John! I do wish you were not so slangy!"
"Has seen Brown holding sweet converse with a comrade tried and true, ofspecially obnoxious character. Look here, Lucy!" Mr. Aymer blew a smokering and looked inquiringly at his wife, knitting briskly in her cornerby the rose-shaded lamp. "How _does_ your friend Nippitt know all this?I want to go a little bit slow here."
"Oh, John! you _are_ so tiresome! I am sure, and so is Mary, that Pippitis perfectly truthful. Why, you have only to look at him! When hesmiles--John, you needn't laugh! I would believe anything that boy said.And here he offers of his own free will to watch the house at night fora week, or as long as is necessary, if we will just give him a shakedownin the shed. I am sure the least we can do is to accept such an offer asthat. The old night watchman would never offer to do such a thing."
"The night watchman is not paid to sleep in people's sheds, my dear!"
"Well, he might as well. He never comes through this street at all, thatI know of. _Well_, John, did you tell Lippitt--Pippit--he was to come? Ishall feel _so_ safe if he is there!"
"Yes!" said Mr. Aymer slowly. "I told him he might come, and now thequestion is whether I am only a plain fool, or a--"
"And now we need not lose our sleep!" Mrs. Aymer laid down her knitting,and came forward to rumple her John's hair affectionately, and deposit akiss on his forehead. "You ought not to lose one wink of sleep just now,John, with stock-taking just coming on, and if I lie awake I am such a_fright_ next day, and you don't like me to be a fright, do you, dear?"
"Neither to be nor to have!" said John. "Sooner shall Pippit occupy theshed for life."
"The loft could be made into a perfectly good bedroom if ever--" Mrs.Aymer cast a guilty glance at her husband, and went to fetch thecribbage board.
While this conversation was going on in the parlor with its rose chintzhangings, another dialogue was being held in the kitchen. Mary admiredthe parlor, dusted reverentially its _bibelots_, plumped its cushions toperfection; but for coziness, she must say, give her her kitchen!
It certainly was cozy this evening, with the red half-curtains drawn,and the lamplight shining on white enamel and blue crockery; shining onMary, too, sitting in her low rocking-chair, knitting as swiftly andsteadily as was the lady in the parlor. They were fast friends, mistressand maid, and it was a race between them which should produce the moresocks and mufflers in this year when all the world was knitting.
Pippin, sitting as near as he thought manners would allow, watched theflying fingers and glittering needles, and wished that he might be asock, just for a minute, to feel how soft her hands would be. Now Mary'shands were not soft; she would have been ashamed if they had been: firm,strong little hands, used to work ever since she could remember.
The two had just been preparing Pippin's shakedown in the shed, shedeprecating, fearing he would sleep but poorly on a straw mattress, heglowing with praise of as dandy an outfit as anyone would want to see.
"Straw mattress!" he repeated. "Straw'll do for me, Miss Flower. Why,come to think of it, I don't know as I hardly ever slep' on anything_but_ straw except while I was to Mis' Baxter's, over to Kingdom. Shehad wool tops to her beds, and they were surely elegant. I have heardof folks havin' curled hair, horses' hair, in their beds; did ever youhear of that?"
Yes, Mary had heard of that. She forbore to say that her own neat whitebed upstairs boasted a hair mattress. As Mrs. Aymer said, it was realeconomy, but still--and in her heart she was wondering how and wherethis young man had grown up. Of course they had wool top mattresses atthe Home--and mother had had nothing but straw--poor mother! Maryshivered a little. She too saw visions sometimes; one came upon her now,of the straw mattress being taken away, with its scanty coverings, andsold by Him for drink. 'Twas summer, he said; no need of beds andbedclothes in summer. "Sleep floor, nice 'n' cool!" It was after thatthat mother left him, and took her to the Home. Poor mother!
Mary became aware that a silence had fallen. Looking up, she metPippin's bright eyes fixed on her with a look half eager, halfappealing.
"What is it?" she asked involuntarily. "Did you ask me something, Mr.Pippin? I--I was just thinking--"
"I didn't!" Pippin spoke slowly, and his voice had not its usual joyousring. "But I'd like to ask you something, Miss Flower; or perhaps tellyou would be more what I mean. But maybe I'm keepin' you up?" He made asif to rise.
Mary glanced at the clock.
"No indeed!" she said. "It's only nine, Mr. Pippin. I don't hardly evergo up before half past. I'd be glad to hear anything you have to tellme."
"I don't know as you will!" Pippin spoke rather ruefully. "Be glad, Imean. I--I haven't been quite square with your Boss, Miss Flower. Ihaven't, that's a fact. No!" as Mary looked up, startled. "I don't meanI've told him anything that wasn't so. I believe it's all as I think andmore so; but what I would say is, there's a heap I haven't told him. Yousee I--I dunno just how to put it--I felt to help him through this dealthat I knew them fellers was puttin' up; and--and--what I would say--ifI'd told him the whole of what there was to tell, mebbe he wouldn't havelet me help. I'm doin' the right thing, young lady, no fears of that;the Lord showed me; but I'm scared, fear mebbe I ain't doin' it theright way. So I thought if I might tell you the way I was fixed--whatsay?"
"Certainly, Mr. Pippin! I'll be pleased to hear, as I said."
Mary laid down her work, and looked straight at Pippin with her honestblue eyes. That made Pippin blush and feel as if a blue knife had gonethrough him. To cover his confusion, he felt for his file, drew it outand whistled softly on it; then, seeing Mary's look change to one ofopen amazement, he fell into still deeper confusion.
"It's a file!" he explained. "I always carry it. It's handy--" He brokeoff short, and made a desperate plunge. "I wondered if--if _you_wondered--how I come to be so cocksure of that guy's bein' a crook. Didyou?"
"Well!" Mary hesitated a moment. "Yes! I didn't doubt but you did know,but--yes, I did wonder some."
"That's what I've got to tell you. I've knowed that guy ever since wewas little shavers. We was--you may say--raised together, for a spell;that is, we was learned together, anyway."
"You mean--you went to school together?"
Pippin leaned forward, his eyes very bright.
"Bashford's school!" he said. "Bashford's gang. Sneak-thievin',pocket-pickin', breakin' and enterin'. Instruction warranted _com_plete.That's the school we went to, young lady. I know Nosey Bashford becauseI was a crook like him--only I will say I could do a better job--"Pippin's chin lifted a little--"till the Lord took holt of me. Now youknow where I stand! And gorry to 'Liza!'" he added silently; "do yous'pose I've got to git off this song and dance every time I meet anyperson that I value their good opinion? I want you to understand theLord ain't lettin' me off any too easy, now I tell you!"
"But think," he assured himself, "how much easier
you breathe when it'soff your chest! I expect the Lord knows full well just who ought to betold things, and plans accordin'."
But Pippin had never heard of the _Ancient Mariner_.
Mary Flower had gone very pale, and her sweet face was grave; but hereyes still met Pippin's frankly. "Go on!" she said. "You've said toomuch, or you've said too little; either way you'll have to finish now.But be careful, for I shall believe everything you say."
"Now wouldn't that--" murmured Pippin; then he was silent for a little,fingering his file absently. Mary thought he must hear the beating ofher heart, but he did not, for his own was sounding trip hammers in hisears. She would believe everything--she would _believe_! Lord make himworthy--at least not leave him be more un-so than--Pippin drew a long,sobbing breath. At last he lifted his head.
"I left that gang when I was eighteen years old. I'd broke Nosey's beakfor him long before that, fightin' when we was kids. He was a mean kid.I see he has it in for me still, and though I'm sorry, in the way of aChristian, that I broke it, still I'm kind o' glad too."
"So am I!" Mary spoke impulsively.
Pippin looked up in surprise, and a smile broke over his anxious face."Is that so?" he said. "Well, Nosey never was real attractive, any timethat I remember. Anyhow, come to grow to my stren'th, I quit. I didn'tlike them nor their ways; low-down is what I call Bashford's. But yet Ididn't quit the trade: no, ma'am! Not then. The Lord didn't judge meready by then. I stayed in it, and I done well in it--"
"Excuse me!" Mary's voice faltered a little. "What trade? I don't quiteunderstand--"
Pippin stared at her.
"Like I said. Sneakin', breakin' and enterin'--burglary, to say the realword. There! I wasn't ashamed to do it then, nor I won't be afraid tosay it now. I told you I was a crook, and I was--till goin' on four yearago. Then--" a curious softness always came into Pippin's voice when hereached this part of his story--"I found the Lord! Yes, young lady, Ifound the Lord, for keeps. I--" he glanced at the clock. "'Twould taketoo long to tell you all about it to-night; some day I will, if you'lltake time to listen. I was in prison, and He visited me. All along of agood man who _cared_, and took holt of me and raised me up where I couldsee and hear, and know it _was_ the Lord. If ever you hear of a mannamed Elder Hadley--"
"_What!_" said Mary Flower.
Had Pippin seen her face at that moment, he might have stopped; but hestooped to pick up the ball she dropped. Mary opened her lips,hesitated, seemed to reflect, finally thanked him for the ball and wenton with her work.
"That's his name!" Pippin was looking at the table now, his chin proppedin his hands. "Best man the Lord ever made, bar none. I was in darkness,and he brought me out. He brought me out. Amen!"
There was another pause, while the clock ticked and the kettle purredgently on the stove. Presently Pippin pushed his chair back and rose tohis feet, his shoulders very square, his chin well up.
"I'll ask you to believe that I've kep' straight since then!" he saidgravely.
"I do believe it!" said Mary Flower. Again brown eyes and blue met in along earnest look; again Pippin drew a long breath.
"That sounds good to me!" he said simply. "I thank the Lord for that,Miss Flower. I don't know what I'd have done if you--had felt otherways.Now--" he glanced at the clock--"I mustn't stay another moment, keepin'you up like this. It's nigh on ten o'clock. There's more to it, a heapmore. I'd like you to know why I come here to the city, and what I'mtryin' to do, and all about it. You--you'll try to--I'd like to regardyou as a friend, if I might take the liberty. I've never had a ladyfriend, except Mis' Baxter, and though she is a wonder, and more thankind, yet she's--"
Married and stout, and middle-aged, and altogether aunt-like; speak out,Pippin. But Pippin did not speak out; he stood and looked with bright,asking eyes, at once brave and timid. Mary held out her hand frankly.
"Sure, we will be friends!" she said. "I haven't ever--that is--I'll beglad of your friendship, I am sure, Mr. Pippin. And now I will say goodnight, and hoping you will sleep well and no disturbance for anyone."
* * * * *
Having witnessed two _tete-a-tetes_, we may as well glance at a third,which was held about the same time, though in a place wholly unlikeeither rose-shaded parlor or shining kitchen.
A back room in a slum grog shop: dingy, dirty, reeking with staletobacco, steeped in fumes of vilest liquor. Some of the liquor is on thetable now, in two glasses; some of the tobacco is in the pipes, whichtwo men are smoking as they sit, one sprawling, the other hunched, intheir respective chairs. An elderly man, low-browed, heavy-jawed, thebrutal-criminal type that every prison knows; the other young, slight,narrow-chested, with a crooked nose and small eyes set too neartogether.
"All ready for to-night?" the elder was saying, in a hoarse, whisperingvoice, that matched his face. "What's your hurry, Bill? I'm takin'things easy these days. I'm gettin' on in years, and when I take on anight job, I want to be sure it's all slick as grease. What's yourhurry?"
The other clenched his fist and brought it down on the table with anoath.
"I want Pippin!" he said. "That's what I'm after. You can have the swag,Dad; it's all straight, I tell you--silver locked up nights in thesideboard, locks that a kid could pick. No money kep' in the house, butgood silver; you can have the whole bag, but let--me--get--my hands onPippin!"
The elder ruffian looked at him curiously. The little eyes were aflamewith something more than greed and cunning.
"Go slow, Bill!" said the affectionate father. "Go slow and easy! Youdon't want to get twenty years for a job like this."
"I'd take hell," said the other, "to smash his face for him!"
"That's it, is it?" the older man whistled, and a grim smile broke overhis countenance. "He did maul you bad, Bill, no mistake. Not that youever were a beauty!" he added musingly. "Your mother's folks is allhomely. Well, if that's all you want, to get even with Pippin, why nothappen on him in that lane some night and--hey? Then we could take ourtime about gettin' the swag, and he be out of the way, see?"
"That ain't all!" The young man's face flamed with passion as he bentforward. "I want to get him _there_, Dad! I want to show her--to showthem folks--that he's a crook from way back. Didn't I tell you he'd gotold Nipper Crewe's wheel? Goin' about smilin' and singin'--damnhim!--workin' his way in smooth as oil, and all the time fitted out withthe best set of tools in the city. He's ben watchin' the house all theweek, an' I've a hunch he's there to-night. I want to show him up! Iwant they should see his face when I do it--see it before I smash--" Hechoked with passion; his upper lip curled back, and his breath hissedthrough the bared teeth.
The older Bashford laughed outright. "Boys is boys!" he said. "You'rereally mad, ain't you, Bill? Well, I shan't stand in your way. I owePippin one myself, ---- ---- him! But--hell! he is a slick one, no twoways about that. Joshin' on the pious, is he? And Nipper's kit handy by?That's good, that is! We'll get in ahead of him, Bill, sure thing wewill. Now le's go home and get a mou'ful of sleep before we start in."
And all this time, while these three couples were spinning theirunconscious threads for the Shuttle, under the quiet starlit sky thenight train was drawing nearer and nearer, bringing among itshundred-odd passengers a quiet, bright-eyed man in clerical dress.