Mrs. Falchion, Volume 2_

lin was introduced to Mrs. Falchion by his daughter, who was sweetly solicitous concerning Mrs. Falchion and Justine Caron, and seemed surprised at finding them abroad after the accident of

ught at something in her presence threatening Roscoe's peace; whilst she, from the beginning, had, with her more tra

ion for them; to the young girl because a shadow was trailing across the light of her first love; to Roscoe because the shadow came out of his past; to Mrs. Falchion because she was the shadow. I felt that trouble was at hand. In this trouble I knew that I was to play a part; for, if Roscoe had his secret and Mrs. Falchion had the key to it, I also held a secret which, in case of desperate

ad only to be wickedly aroused to wreck her own and others' happiness. Hers was one of those volcanic natures, defying calculation and ordinary conceptions of life; having the fullest capacity for all the elementary passions-hatred, love, cruelty, delight, loyalty, revolt, jealousy. She had never from her birth until now fel

passively indifferent to the sufferings of others. She seemed to regard results more than means. All she did not like she could empty into the mill of the destroying gods: just as General Grant poured hundreds of tho

ide. Presently she turned to Mr. Devlin, having, as it seemed to me, made Roscoe and Ruth sufficiently uncomfortable. With that cheerful insouciance which was always possible to her on the most trying

as plenty in the valley which would interest her; for he was a frank, bluff man, who would as quic

go first?" he sa

eve this is very fine. Then," she added, with a little wave of the hand towards the cable running down

t many tricks, but what it does it

s. Falchion, still loo

now, is ve

ied Mr. Devlin, who was not keen enoug

than clever. I have been told that he was once very brave. I have been

st be to Galt Roscoe's credit. Mrs. Falchion turned idly upon Ruth and saw the look in her face. An almost imperceptible smile came upon her lips. She looked again at the cable and Phil Boldrick

on board. On one of the other vessels was an officer who had years before explored this harbour. It was the hurricane season. He advised the admiral not to enter the harbour, for the indicatio

the open sea there was safety. He brought his vessel down the coast a little distance, put a rope about him and in the wild surf made for the shore. I believe he could have been court-martialled for leaving his ship, but he was a man who had taken a great many risks of one kind and another in his time. It was one chance out of a hundred; but he made it-he got to the shore, travelled down to the harbour where the men-of-war were c

he air of one who wished not to be taken with too great a seriousness: "And, ladies and gentlemen, the name of the ship that led

particular self-consciousness. I am not sure but he was a little glad that such evidence should have been given at the moment, when a kind of restraint had come between him and Ruth,

s inexplicable: at this moment the evil genius of us all, at that doi

emember the circumstance as told in the newspapers. But I

to save an admiral and a fleet. But the ways of the English Admiralty are wonderful. They go out of

oe walked ahead with Ruth Devlin. Mr. Devlin, Mrs.

ed, talking, as it seemed to me

wife. But I never knew the Admiralty to court-martial an officer because he did not marry a native

he said over his shoulder at her: "Your memory and your ph

not lost your old gif

still a

thing even more amusing than Mr. Roscoe in Viking. I will show you, Mrs.

d and ran her ungloved hand into the sawdust, as sweet before the sun has dried it as the scent of a rose. The rich smell of the fresh-cut lumber filled the air, and suggested all kinds of remote and pleasant things. The industry itself is one of the first that comes with the invasion of new territory, and mak

of enterprises, but never anything like this. It

t added something to the mill

We all gathered round

evlin, and Roscoe b

ings all round, and this is a masterpiece, I guess. Now, I'll let you hear it if you like. I didn't expect to use it until to-night at nine o'clock, when, also for the first t

u indebted to Mr. Roscoe in these thing

the sort of thing I would propose-to blow my trumpet, as it were; bu

Porcupine', and that you were fond of electricity. Do you ever use search-lights here? I should think they might be of use

he sardonic touch beneath the smiling surface. This innuendo seemed so gratuitous. I sa

ghtly to Mr. Devlin. Roscoe was cool, but I could see now in his eyes a kind of

e the whistle is blown? Then you can get a better first impression. And if Mrs. Falchion will come over to o

No, thank you. When all is seen now, I will go to the hotel, and then will join you all here in the evening

liciously smiling, "to guide y

arm, and, looking archly at him, nodded backward

so unrestrained. She disarmed one by what would have been, i

evening, there is one thing I must have: and that is your remarkable Phil Boldrick, who s

Roscoe, with a touch of dry humour, his eye o

I will call on him immediately,"-here she turned towar

"Besides, the cage will only hold

there any danger?" q

re's an idiot a

you to manage i

man has ev

." And, turning to Ruth

e her own skill was called in question, such as mountain-climbing, or even puma- hunting, she did not joyfully anticipate swinging be

chion there was a subterranean rivalry. However it was, he gave a quick, quizzical look at both of them, then glanced at Roscoe, and

e perfectly willing that Ruth should go. Maybe he was as keen that she s

moment Mr. Devlin and Roscoe seemed apprehensive, but the women were cool and determined. I noticed Mrs. Falchion look at Ruth curiously once or twice after they entered the cage, and b

the air to the mountain-side. What Boldrick thought when he saw the two ascending towards him, he expressed to Mr. Devlin later in the day in vigorous language: what occurred at his but Ruth Devlin told

w, or the waters under the earth; but when you get swinging there over the world, and not high enough to get a hold on heaven,

twice across his forehead. After a moment he said: "Strange, now, ma'am, how your name strikes me. It isn't a common name, and I've heerd it before somewhere-somewhere. It i

er, and it will come to you in good time. But show us every

h were cups and a few bottles. In reference to this, Boldrick said: "Temperance drinks for the muleteers, tobacco and tea a

and waved their handkerchiefs to us, who were still watching from below. Then Boldrick hoisted a flag on his hut, which he used on gala occasions, to celebrate the event, and, not content with this, fired a 'feu de joie', managed in this way: He took two anvils used by the muleteers and expre

oldrick, and said: "You have not been trying to remember wher

haps you will recall it befor

id so, Mrs. Falchion sa

"Were you ever in

d loudly, as the cage swung down the incline: "By Jingo! No,

ell me of him when we meet

med even more adventurous than the ascent, and, in spite of myself, I could not help a thrill of ke

eception, and a very singular man is

nd his limits. He is about the most curious character I ever knew, and doe

ck and I would be very g

urpose visiting him aga

have had mutual acquai

he said this, but he

scoe said to Ruth. "Was i

he cage swings on the cable, and it makes you uncom

able and call on Mr. Boldrick again, and see the mills and the electric light, and hear your whistle, from up there. Then, of course,

that will be impossible, Mrs. Falchion," he said: "much obliged to you all the same. But I am going to b

another time," sa

en I started I thought I'd build my mills at Sunburst, so I pitched my tent down there. My wife and the girls got attached to the place, and though the mills were built at Viking, and I made all my money up here, I live at Sunburst and spend my shekels there. I guess if I didn't happen to live at Sunburst, people would be trailing their coats and making Donnybrook fairs every other day between these two towns. But that's neither here nor there. Take my adv

re amusing. And, to be perfectly frank with you, I am very weary of try

was in her mind then) that she could bring back to her self Roscoe's old allegiance. That she believed this, I was convinced; that she would never carry it out, was just as strong: for I, though only the chorus in the

. Devlin and Ruth rode away towards Sunburst. Mrs. Falchion, Justine, and myself travelled slowly up the hillside, talking chiefly upon the events of the morning. Mrs. Falchion appeared to admire greatly the stalwart character of Mr. Devlin; in a few swift, complimentary words disposed of Ruth; and th

nd, during this hour I was with her, was the tactful, accomplished woman of the world, with the one present object: to make her conversation agreeable, and to keep things on the surface. Justine Caron scarcely spoke during the whole of our walk, although I addressed myself to her frequent

ere was nothing eventful in our talk as we came down the mountain-side towards Viking-Justine Caron's presence prevented that. It was dusk when we reached the valley. As yet the mills were all dark. The only lights visible were in the low houses lining the banks of the river. Against t

I guess you'll see a transformation scene pretty quick. Come out," he continued, "and let us get the

ls, but from the box in the flies. Therefore, during the first act, I shall be here

ords-" bega

ee the valley and hear your great horn blow from up the

e if I say that I don't particularly want anybody to

ed-a fairy palace, just as the mud barges in the Suez Canal had been transformed by the search-light of the 'Fulvia'. For the moment, in the wonder of change from darkness to light, the valley became the picture of a dream. Every man was at his

e a great animal in pai

ve got one mo

ad a chance to get the burs out of its throat. It will be v

down would do it good- it is shaking the windo

d I guess they'll know if ever there's a fire in the tow

ick. With a cry and a smothered oath, Mr. Devlin sprang towards the machinery, Roscoe with him. There was nobody near it, but they saw a boy whose duty it was that night to manage the cable, running towards it. Roscoe was t

Boldrick was lying i

one by the board, the pilot from the captain's side. Only the man's "unconquerable soul" is on the

his life. "My boy," he said, "you played an ugly game. It was a big mistake. I haven't any grudge agen you, but be

coe, The Padre-he's all right, you understand!-Are you there? . . . Why don't you speak?"

ver mind. I'm dying, but it isn't what I expected. It doesn't smart nor tear much;

that first corridor of death-darkness. Roscoe stooped over him, took his hand, and spoke quietly to him. Phil knew

l," said Mr. Devlin fro

"You think that nobody'll k

one,

ey-Lights out, as it were: and blow the big

d the whistle, Phil-if y

vl

n the reply came musingl

see the corporation r

rust th

aid in a deep voice: "By the

d like to be alone with The Padre for a little-not for religion, you under

lchion and Ruth and I with them-for I could do nothing now for him-he

id to Roscoe,

alone

the business isn't weighty; but I hev

, Ph

n's Bay fort, and stayed there. It was a roughish spot, but we didn't mind that. Every place isn't Viking. One night we had a difference-not a quarrel, mind you, but a difference. He was for lynchin' a fellow called Piccadilly, a swell that'd come down in the world, bringin' the worst tricks of his tribe with him. He'd never been a bony fidy gentleman-just an imitation. He played sneak wi

his recital must have been swords at his heart. The whole occurrence is

r pain, and, after Roscoe had ad

. . Well, I went to Piccadilly, and give him the benefit. He left, and skipped the rope. Not, p'r'aps, that he ought to hev got away, but once he'd showed me a letter from his

one time in my life. And I'd like it to go to my old pal-though we had that difference, and parted. I guess we res

d paper and said: "Wh

Tonga

isn't all

yarn about them. Put 'Tonga Sam, Phil Boldrick's Pal at Danger Mountain, ult'-add the 'ult,' it's c'rrect.-That'll find him

itten, Roscoe read it al

he battered hand

hil said: "I'd like to be in the open. I was born

oor, and silently becko

t, and put him be

er the white pine, Phil." "That

e saw was heard, and the welting of the river. "Padre," h

was

in' the b

es

ght is burnin' in the mill and in th

es

ch the stuff, though!" He laughed a little. "Mr. Dev

s the biggest thing in cables. . . . Stand close in the cage. . .

eam of living, and he said slowly