Mr Chester

“ Even Mr Tappertit, though occupied as we have seen in gazing at his heart’s delight, could not wholly divert his thoughts from the voice of the other charmer. Mrs Varden, to her own private thinking, had never been so improved in all her life; and when Mr Chester, rising and craving permission to speak with her apart, took her by the hand and led her at arm’s length upstairs to the best sitting-room, she almost deemed him something more than human. ”

“ He was continuing in this strain, when Mr Chester with a most beneficent and patronising air cut him short by saying:
‘My good fellow, you have my promise, my word, my sealed bond (for a verbal pledge with me is quite as good) , that I will always protect you so long as you deserve it. Now, do set your mind at rest. Keep it at ease, I beg of you. When a man puts himself in my power so thoroughly as you have done, I really feel as though he had a kind of claim upon me. I am more disposed to mercy and forbearance under such circumstances than I can tell you, Hugh. ”

“ Chester. “If he had any hand in hiding them he did it so [Pg 94] well that they won’t be found till he finds them himself!”
“I don’t believe he knows,” I burst out, at last. “If he knew, he wouldn’t have read the key when he picked it up after I let it fall. If he knew what it was, he’d have handed it back to us without looking at it.”
Mr. Chester nodded.
“You may be right,” he said. “That’s a good point.”
“But whether he knows or not,” I went on, “the thing for us to do is to solve the puzzle. ”

“ Mrs. Chester threw off her widow's bonnet and black silk mantle. Her well-formed face was pale in general, but the hot August sun made it red now.
She was a little, restless woman, inclined to be stout, with shrewd grey eyes and brown hair, and a nose sharp at the end. The deep crape on her merino gown looked worn and shabby; her muslin collar and cuffs were tumbled. She told everybody she was twenty-eight; Mr. Lake knew her to be four-and-thirty.
"Such a mess it makes of one, travelling in this heat and dust!" ”

“ Mr Chester was not the kind of man to be by any means dim-sighted to Mr Willet’s motives, but he thanked him as graciously as if he had been one of the most disinterested martyrs that ever shone on earth ”

“ Close came as near to smiling as those cast-iron creases would allow.
"Want to give the Fourth National as a reference," returned Johnny cheerfully.
"I see," assented Mr. Close, immediately ceasing to smile; for now approached the daily agony of life—the grudging of credit. "I see; I see. Do you propose engaging in a new venture?"
"Just as often as I can find one," stated Johnny briskly.
Mr. Close looked at him with stern disapproval.
"That does not sound like a very stable frame of mind," he chided. "What do you propose to do first?"
"A twenty-story hotel." ”

“ Only Mrs. Sargent felt no restraint. An automobile honked at the door as if it were stopping, and she half arose; then the same honk sounded half way down the block, and she sat down again.
“I’m so worried about Gail!” she stated, holding her thumb.
32“We all are,” supplemented Mrs. Davies quickly. “She has been dining with a party of friends, and the streets are so slippery.”
“I should judge Mr. Allison to be a very capable driver,” said the Reverend Smith Boyd; and the ladies glared at Jim. “I envy them their drive on a night like this. I wonder if there will be good coasting.” ”

“ No! Oh, Captain Chester! what does it mean? Who was shot? Tell me!"
And now, with paling face and wild apprehension in her eyes, she turned and gazed beyond him, past the vines and the shady veranda, across the sunshine of the parade and under the old piazza, searching that still closed and darkened window.
"Who?" she implored, her hands clasping nervously, her eyes returning eagerly to his face.
"It was not Mr. Jerrold," he answered, coldly. "He is unhurt, so far as shot is concerned."
"Then how is he hurt? Is he hurt at all?" she persisted ”

“ Chester passed Sunday pleasantly, going to church in the forenoon, and taking a walk with Mr. Conrad in the afternoon. He wrote a short letter to his mother, informing her of his safe arrival in the city, but not mentioning his engagement by Prof. Hazlitt. He preferred to wait till he had an interview with the professor, and decided whether he could do the work satisfactorily.
“Your future employer is Clement Fairchild,” said the artist. “His office is on West Fourteenth Street, between Seventh and Eight Avenues.”
“What sort of a man is he?” asked Chester. ”

“ A month or two afterward Johnny threw a stone at the victoria and involuntarily Mr. Smith glanced in the direction from which [28] it came. But, of course, human nature being like story books, he did finally notice his grandson. At intervals he spoke to Miss Lydia, and when Johnny was six years old he even stopped one day long enough to give the child a quarter. Mr. Smith had aged very much after his daughter's marriage—and no wonder, Old Chester said, for he must be lonely in that big house, and Mary never coming to see him! Such behavior on the part of a daughter puzzled Old Chester. ”

“ Chester did so.
“I will send for you if I need you. I think you can help me materially. You seem to have a clear head, and are observing.”
It was the evening for Chester to call at Prof. Hazlitt’s.
“I passed your office this morning, Chester,” said Arthur Burks, “and thought of calling in, but I was in haste.”
“You wouldn’t have found me, Arthur. I am discharged.”
“What!” exclaimed Arthur, in surprise. “What complaint does Mr. Fairchild make of you?”
“None at all. He is out of the city. The bookkeeper, who dislikes me, discharged me, and gave the place to his cousin.” ”

“ Courtney's snow-white Albatross in which a couple with many important things to say could be free from prying observation, Johnny and Constance behaved like normal human beings who were profoundly happy. They mingled with the gaiety all the way out through the harbor to the open sea, and then they drifted unconsciously farther and farther to the edge of the hilarity, until they found themselves sitting in the very prow of the foredeck with Mr. Courtney and his friend from the West. If they could not exchange important confidences they could at least sit very quietly, touching elbows. ”

“ Chester choked. Where were the burning words of denunciation which came so easily to his tongue on other occasions? It is difficult to denounce a man who insists upon drinking coffee.
“Set right down, Chester,” said Mrs. Northcutt, behind him.
Chester sat down, and to this day he cannot account for that action. Once seated, habit asserted itself; and he attacked the boiled dinner with a ferocity which should have been exercised against Jethro.
“I suppose the stores down to the capital is finer than ever, Mr. Bass,” remarked Mrs. Northcutt. ”

“ As they went downstairs, Chester observed, “I will ask you as a favor, Mr. Perkins, not to refer to my work in Puck, as it is not known at the office that I do any work outside.”
“All right, my boy. By the way, how much do they pay you at the office?”
“Five dollars a week.”
“Evidently it isn’t as good a business as drawing.”
“No, sir; but it is more reliable. I can’t always satisfy the comic papers, and I am likely to have sketches left on my hands.”
“Yes; that is a practical way of looking at it, and shows that you are a boy of sense. What sort of a man is Mr. Fairchild?” ”

“ Johnny, glancing contentedly about the big inclosure, saw Jim Guff waiting impatiently for a chance to speak with him.
"It's a bargain," he agreed, and pretty little Mrs. Slosher nodded her head vehemently with innocent joy.
Gresham passed them by and tipped his hat to Mrs. Slosher, including Mr. Slosher in the greeting. A pleasant idea struck Johnny.
"You scarcely intend to build your colored apartment-house under your own name?" he suggested.
"Indeed, no!" laughed Mrs. Slosher happily. "All we wish is the result. We ask for no credit." ”

“ Chester went home and told Lady Ellis of the promised visit. That lady, who had been fit to die of weariness since the departure of Mr. Lake, welcomed it eagerly; on the principle that even an old professor with seventeen letters beyond his name was of the man species, and consequently better than nobody. ”

“ Chester remarked, after consulting the bill of fare and the prices set down opposite the different dishes.
“No; it will be better for you to secure a boarding place. You want to be economical for the present. How did you leave your mother?”
“Very well, thank you, Mr. Conrad. We have been very fortunate in securing a boarder who pays eight dollars a week, so that mother thinks she can get along for the present without help from me.”
“That is famous. Where did you get such a boarder in Wyncombe?”
“It is a lady, the cousin of Mr. Gardener, the lawyer. She will be company for mother.” ”

“ He bowed his frigid adieus to the ladies, and marched into the hall for his hat.
“Rector?” guessed Mr. Clemmens, when the outer door had closed.
“Of Market Square Church,” proudly asserted Aunt Grace. “He is a wonderfully gifted young man. The rectory is right next door.”
“Oh yes,” responded Mr. Clemmens perfunctorily, and he turned slowly to Gail. “Fine looking chap, isn’t he?”
Gail bridled a trifle. She knew that trick of jealous interrogation quite well. Howard was trying to surprise her into some facial expression which would betray her attitude toward the Reverend Smith Boyd. ”

“ Chester answered at once:
“Dear Mother: Don’t feel any anxiety about your loss of income through Miss Dolby’s departure, and don’t try to earn any money by sewing. My income is larger than you suppose, and I will send you weekly as much as you have been accustomed to receive from your boarder. Should it be more than you need, you can lay aside any surplus for future use.
“Tell Mr. Tripp I prefer New York to Wyncombe as a place of business, and I am obliged to decline his generous offer. ”

“ ‘Industry,’ said Mr Chester, ‘is the soul of business, and the keystone of prosperity. ”

“ Chester brightened up at once. So his friend had not forgotten him after all.
“Mr. Conrad couldn’t come to meet you, as he had an important engagement, so he sent me to bring you to his room. I am Rob Fisher.”
“I suppose that means Robert Fisher?”
“Yes, but everybody calls me Rob.”
“Are you a relation of Mr. Conrad?”
“Yes, I am his cousin. I live just outside of the city, but I am visiting my cousin for the day. I suppose you don’t know much about New York?”
“I know nothing at all.”
“I am pretty well posted, and I come into the city pretty often. Just follow me. Shall I carry your valise?” ”

“ Both Constance and Johnny gave Polly a silent but sincere vote of thanks.
Willis Lofty, who continued the progressive fortune of his father by prowling about the vast establishment with a microscopic eye, approached Polly with more than a shopkeeper's alacrity.
"You promised to send for me to be your clerk the next time you came in," he chided her.
"I didn't come in this time," she gaily returned. "Mr. Gamble is the customer," and she introduced Constance and the two gentlemen. "Mr. Gamble wants to buy a silk shawl for a blue-eyed mother with gray wavy hair and baby-pink cheeks." ”

“ He’s dreadful awkward, that boy!”
“Poor Abel!” thought Chester. “I am afraid he won’t have much salary coming to him at the end of the week.”
“You never broke no eggs while you was here, Chester.”
“No; I don’t think I did.”
“You’d ought to have stayed.”
“I couldn’t stay on the salary you offered. But, Mr. Tripp, I’ve come here on business.”
“Hey? What about?”
“Your nephew, Walter Bruce, is staying at our house.”
“Is he?” returned Silas Tripp, indifferently.
“And he is sick.”
“I don’t feel no interest in him,” said Silas, doggedly.
“Are you willing to pay his expenses? He has no money.” ”

“ Fairchild’s interests.
Chester called on the detective and was fortunate enough to find him in. He expected to see a large man of impressive manners and imposing presence, and was rather disappointed when he found a small personage under the average height, exceedingly plain and unpretentious, who might easily have been taken for an humble clerk on a salary of ten or twelve dollars a week.
Mr. Sharpleigh listened attentively to Chester’s communication, and then proceeded to ask questions.
“Do you know anything of Mr. Mullins outside of the office?” he asked. ”

“ His library phone rang.
“Mr. Allison?” a woman’s voice. Gail Sargent, Mrs. Sargent, Mrs. Davies, or Lucile Teasdale. No other ladies were on his list. The voice was not that of Gail. “Are you busy to-night?” Oh, yes, Lucile Teasdale.
“Free as air,” he gaily told her.
“I’m so glad,” rattled Lucile. “Ted’s just telephoned that he has tickets for ‘The Lady’s Maid.’ Can you join us?”
50“With pleasure.” No hesitation whatever; prompt and agreeable; even pleased.
“That’s jolly. I think six makes such a nice crowd. Besides you and ourselves, there’ll be Arly and Dick Rodley and Gail.” ”

“ It is an old desk and can not possibly be of much use. You may charge its value to my account, please.”
“Nonsense!” said Mr. Trimmer. “I’ll have it sent out with pleasure. Is there anything else?”
“Nothing whatever at present,” said Bobby, trembling with the task of holding himself steady, and walked out, unable to analyze the bitter emotions that surged within him.
On the sidewalk, standing beside his automobile, he found Johnson and Applerod waiting for him, and the moment he saw Johnson, cumbered with the big index-file that he carried beneath his arm, he knew why. ”

“ Gresham made a desperate grab for the bag, but Johnny gave him a shove with one strong forearm, opened the bag and, diving into it, felt a tight square bundle of papers near the bottom. Giving them one hasty glance he rushed back, closely followed by Gresham, to the taxi where his friends sat quivering with excitement.
"Hide these," he ordered. "Get out of here, quick!" he told the chauffeur. "Mr. Loring will tell you where to drive."
"They're hid all right," Polly assured him. "What are they?" ”