Part 2

"There is so much remarkable about it, to me," returned Miss Katherine. "There is unusual strength in every feature, it seems to me, and the face is a most interesting and attractive one."

The stranger's hand crept to his face where it went through the motions of clutching a beard, an adornment which he lacked. He gazed stupidly from the portrait to Miss Katherine and back again to the portrait. He spoke in a very hesitating and uncertain way.

"Did you say--that you--er--found the portrait in a closet--er--and went to the trouble of framing it?"

"Yes, that is quite correct. But it was no trouble, only a pleasure and the contemplation of those features has amply repaid me," replied Miss Katherine.

"It--er--will naturally be very gratifying to--er--the Captain--ah--when he returns--ah--to find his portrait so--er--highly valued," observed the man.

"I'm sure I couldn't say about that as the poor Captain was drowned, at least he is supposed to have been lost at sea. But I believe him to have been a very modest man, and I doubt whether it would really gratify him to see his portrait there."

The stranger's hand again went to his face, and as it was a large hand almost covered the features.

"I hadn't heard," he began in a very throaty voice, "I--I--didn't know that the Captain--ah--wasn't--er--what you just said, you know."

Miss Katherine observed the stranger sympathetically. He had evidently been a friend of the Captain and felt his loss.

"Sit down, sir," she said kindly, "I see you feel this, and no wonder. Of course in cases like this one is never sure just what has happened; but it is believed that Captain Shannon must have met with some misfortune as he has not been heard from for seven years."

"Oh! seven years!" repeated the man. "Ah, I see."

"It is a pity that such a man as Captain Shannon should be cut off in his prime," sighed Miss Katherine.

"Ah, you think that the late Captain was--er--a--ah--some good in the world?" inquired the stranger.

"I am very sure he was that and a most charming man besides," replied Miss Katherine, her eyes dwelling admiringly and wistfully on the portrait.

"The Captain should be hap--ah, I mean--er--it is pleasant--er--I should say, madam, that--ah--in fact I am detaining you," he lucidly concluded.

"Not at all," returned Miss Katherine affably. "If you would explain your business I might serve in place of my brother, or I can tell him you called, Mr. ----"

"Oh--a--Murphy," supplied the stranger hastily. "I knew this place was for rent but didn't know whether it had been taken or not so I thought I'd see about it. It would suit me splendidly. Would you--ah--could you consider a lodger, madam?"

"Well, really," replied Miss Katherine very pleasantly--the man was very gentlemanly and not at all ordinary--"really, I'm afraid not, although I should very much like to accommodate you."

"Oh, that's alright," Mr. Murphy assured her. "It's a nice healthy spot and I think I'll spend a few months here--to--er--recover my health."

Miss Katherine looked at his fresh face and vigorous frame in some surprise, whereupon Mr. Murphy made haste to explain:

"I am feeling very much better now, but not quite right. I--ah--should be able to lift five hundred pounds. Well now, I'll just say good morning and I'll see if I can get suitable lodgings somewhere near. I feel--er--that our common friendship for the late Captain Shannon should be--ah--a sort of bond, so to speak, between us, so I shall drop in to see you again."

Miss Katherine gave him a very cordial invitation to come and see her brother and herself frequently.

When the door had closed upon Mr. Murphy, a shade passed over her face and she betook herself again to the library. Could it be that this stranger was a spy? Had he really known the Captain and suspected the existence of the treasure? Was he going to stay in the vicinity to keep watch upon them? Miss Katherine trembled as she thought of what might have become of Joseph and herself if she had taken him as a lodger. But here poor Miss Katherine's heart suffered a pang, for she thought of the gentlemanly deportment and attractive appearance of her visitor. He had seemed quite impressed with her, too. There was no denying it. She rose from the chair with a sigh and walked about the room.

"I must hide the book, anyway," she exclaimed aloud. "There's no telling what that man was after and I'd better put it in a safe place."

She took the treasured volume--Capt. Shannon's diary--and, after glancing out of the window to make sure she was not watched, she stole cautiously from the room as if the house were full of spies. When she reached the floor above she stood still, wondering what hiding places the house afforded. There were not many, she knew, but now she could think of none. Downstairs was out of the question. Anyone could come in there at night and carry it off. The second floor was little better for the windows were all open and anyone could enter them by means of a ladder. The attic! Yes, that was the only place and Miss Katherine flew up the steep stairs to the attic.

There was a very little light admitted through a small window, and when her eyes became accustomed to the dim light, she saw a trap door in the ceiling. Of all places in the world this was the most desirable. As luck would have it she found an old ladder among the rubbish. One end of this she placed against the trap door, then, pushing with all her might at the other end, she succeeded in raising the door and liberating clouds of dust, spiders, dead flies and cob-webs. Though half choked and blinded she proceeded to execute her scheme. Placing an end of the ladder in the opening she endeavored to make it secure from slipping. Of its strength she was fairly satisfied, but she could not feel confident of its equilibrium. She did the best she could and then began the perilous ascent. She held the book in one hand and with the other clung fearfully to the rickety ladder. She stood in need of another prehensile member for the rungs of the ladder were worn smooth as glass and every upward step was fraught with danger. The ladder creaked ominously beneath a weight that was far from trifling. However, she made a steady progress, and when she had climbed as far as she dared, she very cautiously reached upward and placed the book upon the rafters. In her relief at having placed the book in safety she forgot caution and gave the ladder the excuse it was looking for. She felt the ladder going and frantically grabbed the side of the trap door. It was well her arms were not slender ones for they had to support her entire weight. The very ceiling creaked. A severe fall was to be preferred to bringing the roof down upon her, so she suddenly let go her hold and came crashing down upon the floor that quivered to receive its burden. But it was only a moment before Miss Katherine was sufficiently recovered to assure herself that, as the book was securely hidden nothing else was of consequence.

Poor Miss Katherine was bruised all over and had considerable difficulty in hiding her physical sufferings from Mrs. White, who was a native of Ocean View, and therefore it would never do to arouse her suspicions. When that lady asked Miss Katherine how she got such a bruise on her arm, she replied that her flesh bruised at a touch and she must have struck it against something. But when Mrs. White inadvertently touched Miss Katherine upon quite another part of her body and she flinched before she recollected caution, the aforementioned lady began to wonder, and when a woman begins to wonder she soon has something to tell.

When Joseph returned his sister related all that had occurred during his absence.

His evident uneasiness concerning Mr. Murphy's motives was quite comforting. It is so gloomy to be the only anxious one in the house.

"He can't set foot on the property if we forbid him," said Joseph with a determined countenance.

"But we can't do that, at least it wouldn't be wise," remonstrated his sister gently. It was soothing to her bruises to note Joseph's anxiety. "He is a perfect gentleman, a man we couldn't treat rudely. He mightn't be spying at all and then we'd look ridiculous, or we might arouse suspicions in him by over caution. Now my plan is to let him call if he cares to, but never to leave him alone and to watch all his movements very carefully. He might unconsciously give us a clew if he has any exact knowledge of the whereabouts of the treasure. Now don't you think that's the wisest course to pursue?"

Joseph had no wile in his makeup, so would have preferred a pugilistic encounter at the gate, as the best way of dealing with a spy, but his sister was undeniably the leader in this affair, so he agreed to remain passive while she matured her plan.

It was well that they made their decision concerning the stranger when they did for the next day, in the afternoon, as Joseph was digging among the flowers in the front garden, Mr. Murphy appeared at the gate. Joseph's interest in his work had driven all thoughts of treasure and treasure seekers out of his mind. He supposed it to be one of his neighbors and merely looked up and nodded to the caller to enter.

"Good afternoon neighbor," said Joseph with what breath his unwonted exertions allowed him, "could you tell me whether it's too late to separate these roots and transplant them? I think they're too thick, but I don't want to spoil 'em for blossoming this year. I think a piny is as pretty a flower as grows."

"Why, now, I'd think this was about the right time to separate the roots, but you want to do it right. Now, if you'd just give me the spade I'll show you how to handle it and not cut the roots and I'll separate them, too," replied Joseph's neighbor, throwing off his coat and seizing the spade.

Joseph stood by and watched for a few moments and then trotted off to get himself a spade. The two men spaded and puffed until all the peony roots lay on the fresh earth. Then the work of separation began. The supposed neighbor acted as teacher and Joseph was an interested pupil.

"Bless my soul!" exclaimed Miss Katherine, as she looked out of the window. "Mr. Murphy!"

For almost the first time in her life she experienced a pang of jealousy and pique. When she had advocated tolerancy towards the suspect, it must be confessed that Miss Katherine was influenced by more than one consideration. She had been inclined to think that if the stranger came again, she would be the magnet and not the treasure. And now here he was pottering around with Joseph!

She didn't stay vexed long, for soon she thought he might have been coming to see her and Joseph in his stupid way had stopped him with questions about his flowers. And then he very likely was fond of flowers and gardening. All nice men were. The Captain had been passionately fond of them.

Finally Miss Katherine sallied out with her most engaging countenance.

"So you have pressed Mr. Murphy into service, Joseph?" she asked brightly.

"Eh?" returned Joseph. How did Kate know this neighbor's name?

"I haven't even introduced myself to your brother, Miss Boulby," explained Mr. Murphy. "We have been working so hard I clear forgot."

"I mentioned Mr. Murphy's calling, if you remember," said Miss Katherine to her brother, nudging him sharply.

"Oh, Mr. Murphy," repeated Joseph. He recollected it all now, and being no actor, dared do nothing but stare.

"You must come in to tea," said Miss Katherine to Mr. Murphy, who accepted promptly.

When his sister became leader in this scene, Joseph retired to the background and subsequently to the back yard. Miss Katherine conducted her guest to the library. Supper would soon be ready.

"You remind me somewhat of Captain Shannon," remarked Miss Katherine.

Mr. Murphy looked rather startled.

"I mean that you are fond of gardening. I have been told that it was a passion with the Captain," explained Miss Katherine.

"I heard something like that, too, about the Captain," returned Mr. Murphy, who seemed more fluent than upon his first visit.

"How are you feeling to-day, Mr. Murphy?" inquired Miss Katherine kindly.

"Feeling,--feeling?" repeated her guest in a puzzled way.

"Do you think Ocean View will completely restore your health?" explained Miss Katherine.

"Oh! Ah, yes!" hastily began Mr. Murphy. "To tell you the truth I have been so hearty lately that I forget I came here for my health."

"Isn't that lovely!" exclaimed Miss Katherine delightedly.

"Ah--er--yes, it is," replied her guest helplessly. He was unaccustomed to feminine effusiveness.

"I--ah--really I find that Captain Shannon interests me. Would you tell me something more about him?" asked Mr. Murphy.

"I suppose it is some years since you knew him?" interrogated Miss Katherine, and, as her guest made a rather unintelligible reply, she continued:

"I have gathered very little from others concerning Captain Shannon, but I have deduced a great deal. I don't think there is any class of people so interesting as sailors, and especially captains. They are daring, picturesque, romantic, don't you think?"--Mr. Murphy scratched his head as if he would make an inlet for these new ideas.--"Paul Jones, Long Tom and even Captain Kidd were such captivating characters."--Mr. Murphy changed off to the other hand.--"On this account I was disposed to admire Captain Shannon, and when I noticed the books he had read and loved I admired him much more. I have always told my brother that a man is charming in proportion to his love of tales of daring and chivalry and romance."

Here the tide of Miss Katherine's eloquence was interrupted by an eager gesture from her listener.

"If Captain Shannon set such store by those books, I believe I'll have a try at them," he said.

Miss Katherine's face glowed. Here was a man! She went to the shelves and read over the names. Seeing Mr. Murphy's lips moving as if he were committing them to memory she offered to make a list for him. This was too great a kindness! How much he would value it!

All this and more that followed on the same lines raised Mr. Murphy to a great height in Miss Katherine's estimation. Through strict vigilance he succeeded in maintaining this exalted position.

* * * * *

Though other matters might temporarily thrust aside her central subject of interest, Miss Katherine invariably returned to it. The morning after Mr. Murphy's second visit she set to work in earnest to obtain a clew to the hiding place of Captain Shannon's treasure. Where was she to begin? She was well informed on the subject of secret drawers and closets and she knew that one was apt to stumble upon them unawares. An inadvertent touch upon a panel, the slightest pressure on some bit of carving might expose the most cleverly concealed hiding place.

For this reason Miss Katherine experienced more or less uneasiness when Mrs. White was not directly under her eye. She found excuses to follow her about constantly, until that honest woman, being of ordinary penetration, concluded that she was not thought strictly trustworthy. As she was a very sensible being she decided that it was not unreasonable for Miss Boulby, an entire stranger, to keep an eye on her. She had heard of such substantials as butter, meat and flour disappearing through the back door, through the agency of the domestic, so she offered to get a testimonial from the minister. Miss Katherine saw her mistake at once and lied glibly but not well. She explained that since coming to that house she had been strangely timid and didn't like to be alone, and if Mrs. White had noticed her following her about it was for that reason and no other. To give weight to her assertion, she threw in a ghost or two that she had suspected the house of harboring. Miss Katherine would not have congratulated herself upon the success of her explanation had she known that Mrs. White was saying to herself that perhaps all that was true and perhaps it wasn't, but it would be wise for her to keep an eye on Miss Boulby.

Miss Katherine had not yet made a sufficiently exhaustive study of Poe's Prose tales and was thus employed in the library the next morning, when, happening to glance up from her book, her eyes fell upon the great fireplace that occupied almost the entire end of the room. Miss Katherine received an inspiration. She sat up, straight and alert.

"It is a most likely place," she said aloud.

She went over to the fireplace, looked at it carefully and began a careful examination of the old-fashioned iron ornamentations. In the centre of the mantle was a dog's head in gilded iron. She pinched and pushed him, trying to find a spring in his eyes, nose, ears or tail. He remained immovable, however, as did everything else pertaining to the mantle. But there was still hope. She lightly tapped the brick walls for she had been reading Poe's frightful tale of the black cat, and she had learned that an unusual space in a wall could be detected by a light rap upon it. Miss Katherine's ear was not trained to this sort of divination, but she persevered, testing first a wall she was certain was solid and then working on a suspected area.

Mrs. White had not forgotten her suspicions of the previous day and was on the alert. She knew Miss Boulby was in the library and when she caught the sound of a gently repeated, mysterious rapping in that room, she tiptoed to the door and applied her eye to the keyhole. What she saw would have made anyone inquire whether Miss Boulby were in possession of her senses or if she never had had any. She was down upon her knees before the hearth, gently tapping the bricks and listening intently to the sound she produced.

"My stars alive!" whispered Mrs. White to herself as she rose on trembling limbs, "what's she after or is she crazy? It's my belief she's stark crazy."

Unable to satisfactorily answer her own query she crept back to the kitchen, where she sat down and faced the situation. Was she not in danger by remaining there with a lunatic? She shivered when she thought that she very likely had been within an inch of death when Miss Boulby had taken to following her around. Thank goodness, she had taken to tearing the house to bits and not her! Mrs. White resolved to have a bad attack of sciatica that very night and to leave the next morning. Meanwhile she would be constantly on guard.

All unsuspecting this attitude on Mrs. White's part, Miss Katherine was preparing for bed that night and thinking about the unfortunate impression she had made upon Mrs. White.

"She is a good and sensible woman," said Miss Katherine to herself. "I should be very sorry to hurt her feelings or awaken any suspicions in her, but--I declare to goodness I've never searched the cellar and that's one of the likeliest places. I can't possibly do it in the daytime for she goes there so frequently. I'd just better slip down now and have a look."

So saying, Miss Katherine slipped a heavy wrapper over her night dress, drew on her stockings and slippers, and with the extreme caution that makes every board in a floor creak and every joint in one's body crack, she proceeded down the stairs.

Now this stealthy tread was just what Mrs. White's ears was expecting.

"She's prowling round the house," whispered that lady to herself. "It's a mercy I didn't fall asleep."

Having located the enemy, Mrs. White slipped out in cautious pursuit. She heard Miss Katherine enter into the kitchen and open the cellar door and start down the stairs. She stole out the front way and went round the house to a cellar window. When she arrived at that vantage point she beheld Miss Katherine standing in the centre of the cellar, holding a lamp above her head that she might first get a good general view before beginning particular investigations.

"This is a difficult task," she said aloud, "the cellar is so large that it would take me all night to sound all the walls. Now, would there be an old iron-bound sea-chest, the kind sailors hide things in, in a corner here?"

Holding her lamp well above her head, she slowly turned herself about that she might see every corner.

Now it happened that old Tabby had just presented the thankless household with a family of kittens. She had thought that some straw that lay in a corner of the cellar would be a soft, safe bed for her babies, and as a broken window provided ingress and egress for herself, she had taken possession of the corner. Old Tabby's guard over her family was most vigilant, but she had not been disturbed until this strange figure made its appearance in the centre of the cellar.

As Miss Katherine brought her light to bear upon Tabby's corner, the watcher at the window, who knew nothing of the family in the cellar, beheld the lamp dashed to the ground and heard a terrified but half-suppressed shriek and then flying footsteps. She did not wait to see or hear more but stole upstairs as fast as she could in a panic, not knowing but that she might meet the maniac on the stairs.

"I'll be crazy, too, if I stay here any longer," she said to herself. "If I'm spared till morning I'll get out of this."

She put all the movable furniture in her room against the door, sent up a fervent prayer for protection and got into bed, but not with the intention of sleeping.

The next morning she informed Miss Boulby that she was far from well, was all crippled with sciatica and would have to leave. Her pale face corroborated her words and reluctantly Miss Katherine let her go.

* * * * *

I should like now to turn the reader's attention to our friend, Mr. Murphy. That gentleman had found comfortable lodgings and seemed to be getting much attached to Ocean View. By watching rather closely one might suspect that he wished to avoid the adults of Ocean View, excepting Mr. and Miss Boulby. He called upon them pretty frequently. The boys of the neighborhood found his society very entertaining and followed in a pack at his heels. He did not always welcome this following, however, for he often put a book in his pocket and rambled along the shore until he found just the right spot where he could sit and read undisturbed. He had taken to doing this immediately after his second call at the Boulbys'. The books he carried at first bore the mark of Ocean View Public Library. But one afternoon when he had found his favored spot, he drew from his pocket a glistening new volume.

"Gosh darn it!" muttered Mr. Murphy, as he regarded the book, "if I'd ever thought I'd come to this I suppose I'd 've drowned myself."

He leafed over the book and looked at the illustrations.

"It ain't dull reading anyway. It might be worse. They say Cooper was a clever man so I guess it won't spoil my intellect to read 'em. But it does beat all how tenants use things. To think of those brand new books looking like that!"

Mr. Murphy turned to the first chapter and began "The Pilot." He became very much interested therein and read on till the greyness of the page told him that it was growing late. He closed the book, put it in his pocket, stretched out his legs and gazed across the water.

"I'll be damned if it isn't the best of any of 'em, and I've read upwards of two dozen now. Well, I'd never have believed it. You'll come to almost anything in this world, that's my belief. But it does take a woman to give you the push that starts you down."