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This time it was the tenant Carder had expected, and Geraldine left the office and went back to the house. At the moment when she stepped out of the yellow building, Pete ceased mowing the grass. Looking back when she had traversed half the distance, she saw that he was following her, the mower clicking after him. "Poor slaves," she thought heavily. "Poor slaves, he and I!" A Midnight Message
Carder was also at the table, so the old woman wiped her hands on her apron and took her place between her son and the beautiful girl, and Geraldine jumped up and fetched and carried when anything was needed. Rufus watched this proceeding discontentedly. "We've got to start in new, Ma," he said.
He had never seen faucets except the one in the Carder kitchen.
Well, I have come to help you, Mrs. Carder." The speaker released the wrinkled hands and the old woman rose in relief. "I have come to work for you, not for your son, and I am not going to be afraid of him." The mother shook her head. "We all work for him, my dear. He holds the purse-strings."
I've got Carder in a box, and, believe me, he won't try to lift up the lid and let anybody see him." "He was here soon after you left," said Mrs. Barry calmly. Ben looked surprised and alert. "What did he want?" "Pete; and he was going to have him or put you in the lock-up. Also he wanted Miss Melody. He's a wretch, Ben. I'm glad you went after him."
Her excited eyes met his. "I've come for you," he called gayly, and her face glorified with amazed joy. "He'll kill you!" she gasped in sudden terror. "Hurry!" Ben was already taking off the crêpe shawl and putting her arms into the sleeves of a leather coat. A shout came from the top of the hill. Rufus Carder appeared, yelling and running. His gun was in his hand.
Not a vestige of fear assailed the heart which had so recently wondered if the cranberry pond was deep enough to still its misery. She rejoiced to be near the low-lying, fleecy clouds which a little while ago had aroused her apprehensions for the morrow. Let come what would, she was safe from Rufus Carder and she was free.
Nevertheless" she made a gesture of despair "if I went through with it if I married Mr. Carder, I'm sure I should lose all control and kill myself. I'm sure of it." Here Ben gave rein to the dastardly instinct which occasionally causes a poor mortal to fling all conscience to the winds when he sees an unexpected opportunity to attain a longed-for prize.
She believed Pete must have written to her, and was greatly touched by the thought that the poor boy might wish to express to her his sympathy or his gratitude. It had been a brave soul who stood stolidly before Rufus Carder and refused to give up Miss Upton's letter.
Rufus Carder was still in fear that he had pushed matters too fast, and the next morning, when his captive came downstairs to help get the breakfast, he contented himself with devouring her with his eyes. She felt that she must guard her every look lest he observe a vestige of her reviving hope and courage. She must return to the thought of becoming a "trusty."
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