The Little Nugget

t Miss Benjafield, stately as ever, relaxi

o just left, Miss B

ce with a shapely

weren't you in here, Mr Burns

Amer

back, and I haven't seen him since. Nor want. Tonight up he turns again lik

y dissolve. She prided herself, as she fre

staying

rs". We're particul

beer for the good of the house, and, lighting a

in, Buck without, it was quite like old times, with the differ

ormation of Mr Ford's movements. It would be easy for him to discover that the millionaire had been called away to

e from the list of active combatants. Broke

pistol lost its absurdity and appeared in the light of an acute strategic move. With Sam the only menace, I had been prepared to play a pur

frontal attack, in the field, there was only one place for

t Mr MacGinnis, that he was not subtle. He could be counted on with fair certainty to do the direct thing. Sooner or later he would make another of his vigorous fr

ed matters in one way, it had simplified them in another, for there was no more need for the secrecy which had been, till now, the basis of my plan of action. Buck's arrival made it possible for me to come out and fight in the open,

ay before a reply came. It was Mr Fisher's voice that spoke. Audrey, a

!' sai

ening, M

oung fellow-me-lad?

nd

at the "

ckled

ring? Say, what's the use? Why not turn it

ep lightly,

't get

o tonight. Buck MacG

Then I heard him swear softly. The significance

at str

t

not stri

ainly

sure it

e sort of fac

ore a

disturbe

you see him

athers", looking very

the MacGinnises is up

s means an all-nigh

sh

had put him o

what querulous n

did my best, but he w

aw

. I gathered that he was pond

sonny. It's a thing worth

ve you, Samue

ng. It was a day to hearten a man for great deeds, one of those days of premature summer which comes sometimes to help us bear the chill winds of early sprin

y to end this interlude of peace and embark on w

would be time enough to

y way to the school. The light-heartedness of the morning still lingered with me. I was am

udrey in the distance, walking with the Nugg

ndoors was even more insistent. I had grown so accustomed to the never-ending noise and bustle of the boys' q

d out before me from the depths of a wicker-work armchair. His portly middle section, rising beyond like a small hill, heaved rhythmically. His face was covered with a silk handkerchief, from beneath which came, in even succession, faint and comfortable snores. It was a peaceful picture-the good man taking his res

sing territory beyond the black trousers. He grunted discontentedly and sat up. The handkerchief fell from his face, and he blinked at me, first with t

, youn

noon. You s

ed cave

What a

uck dr

my eyes for a minute. Have you ever stayed awake all night, waiting for the go

s heart into it, as if life held no other tasks for

upheaval had spent itsel

sher. You must make up for it this afternoo

's t

re you. The charges are quite reasonable, and

get you

t to move from this house. Now. At once. Take your last g

at me in

rds appear to be fluttering from you;

not room for both of us. So, if you do not see your way to going quietly, I shall

himself a r

there are moments when one wants to be alone. I have a whole heap of arrears of sleep to make up

e settled his stout body. He

am physically stronger than you. I mean to turn you out. How can you prevent it? Mr Abney is away. You can't appeal to him.

ion in his face, but I knew that the significance of my remarks had sunk in. I could a

t was to accept

y set on my going? Say no more. I'll go. After all, it's quiet

the garden to

ennis-lawn. The Nugget, lounging in

trees, and stopped. I had the trying experience of w

rt and self-confident. I felt no e

If you wait, you will see him passing away down th

ing

onveyed no meaning. It was so that Sam had spoken. Her mi

wake to my mean

s widened. The flush d

I tol

ion has changed since I spoke to you last night. Last night I was ready to let you have your way. I intended to keep an eye on things from the inn. But it's different now. It is not a ca

he drive. I followed her gaze. A stout figure,

ack of them flash out. Her chin went up with the old defiant tilt. I was sorr

ou!' she cried. 'I

abandoning of Cynthia's cause in favour of Audrey's, with a clear idea of why I was doing it. I had set myself to resist the various forces which were trying to take Ogden from Audrey, for one simple reason, because I loved Audrey and wished to help her. That motive, if it still existed at all, did so only in the form of abstract

lp her never wavered. The guarding of Ogden might be-primari

ed all that. There's no need to go over old ground. T

tay, I suppose I

act

lowly and pensively, as one retreating from his Mos

e with Mrs Ford and am here to steal Ogden for her, it is natural for me to do all I can to prevent Buck

t working

e. Buck will not let another nig

lieve that

and walked away. What did it m

broke suddenly, after the fashion of spring in

arly ten o'clock whe

s Mr

s that yo

you want

ith you. Busines

ou wi

art righ

es, and presently the car swept round the bend of the drive and drew up at the front door. A portly figure got down and rang the be

you, Mr

away fro

e are

at you

to a frien

you meant to

us. Me, the chauffeur,

k and forming an alliance had occurred to me, and I was prepare

Fish

el

good enough to step into the ligh

ng speech from Mr Fisher. I could not distinguish the words, but I gathered that he was pointing out to him that, on this occasion only, the visit being for the purposes of parley and

u a moment. Just feel in your pockets and shed a few of your guns, and then you can come in out of th

t got n

no time for airy pers

and a small black pis

mo

I'm a r

l take your word for it. You will com

or, holding my pistol in read