The Unknown Wrestler Part 43

"That's about all, I guess," Douglas replied, as he flicked off the end of his cigar into the ash-tray.

"Have they driven you out?" Garton eagerly questioned.

"It hasn't come to that yet, though attempts have been made to do so.

But I fear they will succeed unless you come to my rescue."

"Why, what can I do?" and Garton looked his surprise. "Surely you are not going to get me into any trouble up there!"

"Lawyers generally like trouble, don't they? More trouble, more money, is their motto, so I understand."

"Yes, as a rule. But, you see, this has to do with Church matters, and I like to keep out of them."

"Too little money in the parsons' pockets, eh? Well, I don't blame you. But I want your advice. You told me to come to you whenever I needed help, and here I am. I want it now as never before."

"And you shall have it. Give me your story, and then I shall see what can be done. I hope to goodness you haven't killed anybody."

"Not exactly killed with my hands, though perhaps I have with my heart, which is just as bad, according to Scripture."

As briefly and as concisely as possible Douglas related his experiences at Rixton. He told about his work on the farm, his conflict with the Stubbles, the sorrow of the shoemaker and his wife over their daughter, of Mrs. Dempster and Empty, and the professor and his daughters. He was as cautious as possible when speaking about Nell, and from his words the lawyer received not the slightest idea of his love for her.

Douglas told his story well, and before he was through Garton was pacing up and down the study. He was unusually excited and at times he found it difficult to restrain his feelings.

"Good heavens, man!" he exclaimed when Douglas had finished, "you've been having a wild west show up there. You might have called upon your neighbours to see the fun."

"I am calling upon one now to see the finish," was the laconic reply.

"If he doesn't take a hand in the matter at once there'll soon be a finish to the chief actor. You can't do anything when British justice is perverted through cowardice and partiality. Simon Stubbles rules the parish, and will continue to rule it in his own way unless he is checked."

"And checked he shall be," Garton emphatically replied, bringing his fist down hard upon the study table. "I am glad you have come to see me to-night, for your story has solved a problem which has been perplexing me all day. Simon Stubbles is on the rocks and has appealed to me for help."

"On the rocks!" Douglas vaguely repeated.

"Yes, on the rocks. He is financially embarra.s.sed, and has signalled to me for a.s.sistance."

"That's news to me. I thought he was very wealthy."

"And so did every one. But here is his letter," and the lawyer picked it up from the stand. "I received it this morning, and in it he tells me that unless he has ten thousand dollars immediately he will go under. He wishes to mortgage the whole of his property, mill, house and timber lands."

"This is certainly remarkable news to me," Douglas replied. "I am sure that the people of Rixton have no knowledge of this. They consider him very wealthy, and not without reason for he does a big business. Have you any idea as to the cause of his embarra.s.sment? He seems to live very quietly, and attends strictly to business."

"The letter does not say what it is. But since hearing your story I have formed my own conclusion."

"And what is that?"

"It is his son. From what you have told me, that young man has been leading a very fast life. He does not work at all, and therefore his father must have been providing the money for his headlong career. I do not think I am far astray as cases similar to this have come to my notice. There are too many such young men abroad to-day, doing nothing for themselves, a menace to society, and wretched parasites upon their fathers. I always get furious whenever I think of them. That must be the trouble with Stubbles senior."

"Do you intend to help him?" Douglas asked as calmly as possible. He would have been more than human had he not thrilled at the news he had just heard. Here was a chance, perhaps, to get even for his harsh treatment at Simon Stubbles' hands.

"That is the trouble which has been perplexing me all day," Garton replied. "Before you came I had about made up my mind to do so. I did not know anything about that reckless son of his then. Neither had I any idea that he is such a tyrant at Rixton, nor how he has treated the clergymen who have been there. I thought he was an active and an earnest Church worker, and that was one of the reasons in his favour.

But now I see things in a different light."

"But his reign will soon be over, though, if you do not help him,"

Douglas replied. "I had no idea that a.s.sistance would come to me in such an unexpected manner. But, say," and he leaned suddenly forward, "now I understand something. Strange that it never occurred to me before."

"What is it?"

Douglas then told about the mortgage on Professor Strong's place, and how Stubbles was about to foreclose as he needed money. He said nothing, however, about Ben's part in the affair with Nell. He could not trust himself to mention this.

"Who is this Strong?" Garton asked. "The name sounds familiar. There was a professor by that name at Pa.s.sdale."

"He is the same man, but he is blind now, and helpless, depending upon his daughter for support. He lost what money he had saved, so I understand."

"You don't tell me that Professor Strong is living in Rixton!" Garton exclaimed in astonishment. "Why, he was considered a very able man when he was at Pa.s.sdale I have heard a great deal about him. But how did he come to lose his money?"

"He invested it, like so many other simpletons, in that Big Chief mining concern. I did the same, and so lost what little I had."

"No, you haven't," and Garton picked up one of the letters by his side.

"I have good news for you and the professor. The Big Chief has revived and is going stronger than ever. This is a letter I received to-day telling me about it. I invested largely in that concern, and so am greatly interested."

Douglas made no reply to this most gratifying information. His mind had gone back to Rixton and the little cottage by the river-side. He pictured to himself the expression upon Nell's face and the look of joy in her eyes when she heard the good news. How he longed to start right off and tell her. What a relief it would be to her to know that the little place would be saved from Simon Stubbles' grasp, and that all the gnawing financial cares would be ended. It seemed almost too good to be true.

"How much did the professor invest?" Garton at length enquired.

"I do not know. But it must have been quite a sum. Anyway, it was his all, and the failure meant so much to him and his daughters."

"He can sell now at a good profit, as the stock is higher than ever it was before. You can tell him to come to me if he wishes to dispose of his interest."

"I can hardly believe that what you have told me is true," Douglas replied, "as it will mean so much for the Strongs. Simon Stubbles won't be able to worry them any longer."

"Indeed he won't. He's got his own troubles to attend to, and they will be much heavier than they are now, if he isn't careful."

"What do you propose to do? Help him out?"

"That all depends upon you, Stanton."

"Upon me! Why, what can I do?"

"Say the word, and I will refuse to a.s.sist him. He can go under, and the parish will be rid of him. Isn't that what you want?"

For a while Douglas was silent. It would be a choice revenge to see the bl.u.s.tering and impudent bully crushed by a single word. He thought of Ben and the haughty and sarcastic sisters. How delightful it would be to see them wince under the blow of financial failure. This temptation was only of short duration, however, for it was succeeded by a n.o.bler feeling. He must not allow the spirit of revenge to affect him in the least. All that he wanted was justice, and freedom for Church work in Rixton. The Stubbles were in the way, and if pressure could now be brought to bear, either to bring them to their senses or to force them out of the parish, then it was right to do so.

"Is it hard to decide?" the lawyer asked, noting his hesitation and preoccupied air.

"Yes, it is. I wish to do what is fair. The tempter's advice is to get even now for the injury that has been done. But a n.o.bler voice bids me to rise above such a feeling and do nothing in the spirit of revenge, but merely for the welfare of Rixton."

"But should not the Stubbles be taught a severe lesson? Is it right that they should escape all punishment?"

"I suppose not, but punishment should not be carried out in the spirit of revenge. When the State punishes a man, say with imprisonment, for some crime, it is not done in the spirit of revenge, but in order to safeguard society in general, as well as to teach a severe lesson. The same applies to parental authority over children. Now, I want to do something similar to that in this affair. I wish to do it without any vindictiveness on my part."

"You are quite right, Stanton," the lawyer replied. "I see your point, and I admire you for it. But we must do something."