The Parson O' Dumford Part 55

"D'ye hear, Tom? Speak out," cried Joe.

"I'd rather not speak," said Tom, quietly.

"But thou must, lad, thou must," cried Sim. "Are you going to see a man a martyr for a holy cause, when you can save him?"

"Speak! speak!" cried Joe, panting with rage and emotion; "tell 'em you know it's a lie, Tom."

"I can't," said Tom, who was driven to bay, "for I believe Richard Glaire has got her away."

"Theer, I telled you," said Sim. "He wanted me to help him, only you wean't believe."

"No, no, no," roared Joe; "and I wean't believe it now. He wouldn't, he couldn't do it. He told me he hadn't; and he wouldn't tell me a lie."

The little crowd opened as the true-hearted old fellow strode away, without turning his head, and Tom Podmore followed him towards his home, and at last spoke to him.

Joe turned upon him savagely.

"Go away," he cried. "I've done wi' you. I thowt as Tom Podmore were a man, instead o' one o' them chattering maulkin-led fools; but thou'rt like the rest."

Tom Podmore stopped short, with his brow knit, while Joe Banks pa.s.sed on out of sight.

"He'll find out, and believe different some day," said Tom, slowly.

"Poor old man, it's enough to break his heart. But I wean't break mine."

As he stood, the noise of cheering came from where he had left Sim Slee talking, and he stood listening and thinking.

"They'll be doing him a mischief 'fore they've done, and then they'll end the old works. d.a.m.n him! I hate him," he cried, grinding his teeth; "but I can't stand still and let Sim Slee's lot bruise and batter his face as they would till they'd 'most killed him. He's soft, and smooth, and good-looking, and I'm--well, I'm a rough un," he continued, smiling with contemptuous pity on himself. "It's no wonder she should love him best, poor la.s.s; but she'd better hev been a honest lad's wife--missus to a man as wouldn't hev said an unkind thing to her to save his life. But they say it's womankind-like: they takes most to him as don't keer for 'em."

He stood thinking irresolutely, as the noise and cheering continued: and once he turned to go; but the next moment he was himself, and saying softly:

"Daisy, my poor little la.s.s, it's for thee--it's for thee;" he strode hastily to the Big House, knocked, and was admitted.

"Tell Mr Richard I want to see him," said Tom; and the servant-girl smiled pleasantly at the fine, st.u.r.dy young fellow.

"I don't think he'll see thee, Mr Podmore," said the girl, "because he's so cross about the foundry people. I'll tell him a gentleman wants to see him."

She tripped away, and in a few minutes Richard came down to stand scowling at him.

"What do you want?" he said, glaring at his rival.

Tom Podmore writhed mentally, and his nerves tingled with the desire to take Richard Glaire by the throat, and shake him till he could not breathe; but he controlled himself, and said st.u.r.dily:

"I come to tell thee some ill news."

"What is it?" said Richard, thrusting his hand into his breast, for his visitor had taken a step forward.

Tom Podmore saw the motion and smiled, but he paid no further heed, and went on bluntly:

"Thou wast going away by train to-night."

"Who says so?" cried Richard, turning pale.

"The lads out there--Sim Slee's gang," said Tom; "and I come to warn thee."

"Warn me of what?" said Richard.

"To warn thee as they mean to lay wait for thee, and do thee a mischief."

"Who says so?"

"I know it," said Tom: "so if you'll tak' a good bit of advice thou'lt stay at home, and not go out."

"It's a trick--a trap," cried Richard. "If it were true, you're not the man to come and tell me."

"Why not?" said Tom bluntly.

"Because you hate me, and believe I've taken away your wretched wench."

"d.a.m.n thee!" cried Tom, seizing him by the arm and throat; and as he brought the young fellow to his knees, quite paralysing his effort to get his hand into Iiis breast; "thou may'st say what thee likes again me; but if thee speaks ill of her I can't bear it; so I warn thee. Hate thee I do, and yet I come to tell thee of danger, and--"

A faint shriek made Tom start, for, pale as death, Eve Pelly rushed to Richard's help, and clutched at Tom Podmore's st.u.r.dy arms, which dropped at her touch as if those of Eve had been talismanic.

"Aw raight, Miss," he said smiling. "I wean't hurt him; but I come to do him good, and he made me mad."

"Mad, yes," cried Richard, who had regained his feet, and now drew a pistol. "You were mad to come here; but I'm ready for you and the rest of your rascally crew, and for all your malicious traps and plans."

"Richard!" shrieked Eve, who tried to catch his arm; but she was flung off, and would have fallen, but for Tom Podmore, before whom she stood, screening him as she begged him to leave the house.

"Yes, Miss, I'll go," said Tom, smiling; "not as I'm afraid of him and his pistol. What I did he browt upon himself. I've done what I thowt was raight, so he must tak' his chance. I on'y come to warn him as there's a dozen or two of the lads as listen to Sim Slee made themselves into a gang agen him."

"What, our workmen?" cried Eve.

"Well, only some o' the outsiders, Miss; t'others wean't have nowt to do wi' it. That's all."

As he spoke he smiled sadly at the poor pale face before him, and then was gone.

Volume 2, Chapter XIII.

PODMORE SEEKS AN ALLY.

Tom Podmore walked straight away from the Big House, listening to the noise and shouting as he went to the Vicarage, where Murray Selwood was in conference with Jacky Budd, respecting certain improvements to be made in the shrubbery, when the season suited for planting.

"And what would you plant here, Budd?" he said to the thirsty soul.

"Oh, I should put a few laurels there, sir."

"And in that corner?"