The Parson O' Dumford Part 49

He hurried out and down the street, head after head being thrust out, while the people outside their doors gave him looks of condolence, and shook their heads by way of sympathy.

"Tom, lad," said Joe, "I can't kinder understand this; it's amairzin.

But look here, lad; go and ask the boys to come and help you, and mebbe you'll get a hundred of 'em ready to search for my bairn. Get the police, too. I'm off to find the young master."

Tom started off on his recruiting expedition, while Daisy's father hurried down the street to try and find Richard Glaire, though not with the most remote idea of coupling him with the girl's disappearance.

He had nearly reached the vicarage, and was pa.s.sing one of the side lanes, when he heard voices in altercation, and on glancing round it was to see the man he sought holding Sim Slee by the throat, and shaking him violently.

"You treacherous hound!" he was saying, "and after the way I've trusted you."

"Joe Banks, here, Joe Banks, help!" yelled Sim; but before Daisy's father could reach the couple, Richard Glaire threw the democrat off, so that he staggered against the wall.

"You dog!" cried Richard, grinding his teeth.

"All right," whimpered Sim. "All right, Mr Richard Glaire, Esquire.

I've stood up for you enew lately; now tak' care of yoursen."

"I'll break your head, you scoundrel, if you don't go," roared Richard.

Sim rubbed the dust from his person and shook himself straight, looking side-wise the while at his a.s.sailant before sidling off, shaking his fist; and then, when about fifty yards away, turning round and shouting:

"I'll be even with you for this, d.i.c.k Glaire."

Richard made a rush at him, when Sim took to his heels and ran, while the young man turned back to where Joe Banks stood holding poor Daisy's basket and shawl.

"Master d.i.c.k," said the old man sternly, "I want to ask thee a question, and I want yow, as your father's son, to give me a straightforward answer."

"But what does this all mean, Joe? what's this about Daisy?"

"Answer my question," said the old man, sternly; and then he paused for a moment, as he fixed his clear eyes on the young man's s.h.i.+fty face, before saying hoa.r.s.ely:

"Were you out walking wi' my la.s.s, Daisy, last night?"

"No," said Richard, firmly; "certainly not."

"And thee didn't see her last night at all?"

"Yes, oh yes," said Richard, eagerly. "I did see her, and said, 'How d'ye do.'"

"Wheer?" said Joe Banks, without moving a muscle.

"Up by the chalk pit, at the top of the hill. I'd been having a round."

"What time?" said Joe, shortly.

"Well, let me see," said Richard, hesitating. "I came straight down home, and it was about half-past eight when I got in."

Joe stood thinking: the servant-girl had said that her master had come in early.

"And you didn't see my bairn after?" said Joe, gazing full in the young man's eyes.

"Certainly not," said Richard.

"Will yow swear it?" said Joe.

Richard hesitated for a moment, and then, with a half-laugh, said:

"Oh, yes, if you like."

"Perhaps I shall like, my lad; but I don't ask you to sweer now. You've heerd, I s'pose?"

"I've heard something, Joe, but can't quite make it out," said the young man.

"It's easy," said Joe, hoa.r.s.ely. "My poor bairn came up town last night, and she hasn't been back. We foun' these here up by the chalk pit."

"But she hadn't fallen in?"

"No, my lad, no," said the old man, quietly, for he was thinking deeply.

"But thankye, thankye. They wanted to make me believe as you meant harm to the la.s.s--all on 'em; but I knew you, lad, well, as your poor owd father's son."

"Mr Banks!"

"Aw raight, my lad, aw raight. I never thowt it of you, never; but the tongues would wag; and I said if thee loved the bairn thee should'st hev her. You do her harm! Not you, lad; you cared too much for her. But harm's come to her some way. Let's find her."

"But how could they say such things of me?" said Richard, with virtuous indignation s.h.i.+ning out of his eyes.

"Oh, they're a chithering lot," exclaimed Joe. "They'd seen thee talk to the bairn, or mebbe seen thee heving a walk wi' her, and that weer enew to set their tongues clacking. But we must be going, mun, for we're losing time; and if any one's done wrong by my bairn--"

Richard shrank away, startled at the lurid flash from the old man's eyes, as setting his teeth, and clenching his ma.s.sive fist, he shook it at vacancy, and then, without another word, strode on, accompanied by Richard, who was trembling now like a leaf.

"Let me go in here for a moment or two," said Richard, as they came abreast of the House; and as the door was thrown open, it was to show Mrs Glaire and Eve both standing dressed in the hall.

"Oh, Mr Banks," exclaimed the latter, running to the old foreman, "this is very dreadful," and she caught one of his hands in hers.

"Thanky'e, dear bairn, thanky'e," he said, smiling upon her with quivering lip.

"But I saw her last night," cried Eve.

"Ay? What time, miss, what time?" said Joe, eagerly.

"About eight," said Eve, quickly. "She said, I think, that she was going to meet Richard."

"She said that?" said the old man, starting, while Richard turned pale.

"No, I remember," said Eve, piteously; "I told her she was going to meet him."

"Yes, yes," said Joe, thoughtfully. "You were jealous of the poor bairn."

Eve started back, blus.h.i.+ng crimson.