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Updated: June 4, 2025
Merrick," advised West, gravely. "When the owner comes he will need servants, and Hucks is a very capable old fellow. Let that problem rest until the time comes for solution. If the old folks are to be turned out, make John Merrick do it; it will put the responsibility on his shoulders." "By dum, yer right, Bob!" exclaimed McNutt. slapping the counter with his usual impulsiveness.
After a weary day's work shelter was found in a house close by the sea, on the shores of Price's Inlet; where, in company with a young fisherman, who was in the employ of Mr. Magwood, of Charleston, I slept upon the floor in my blankets. Charles Hucks, the fisherman, asserted that three albino deer were killed on Caper's Island the previous winter.
There's old Hucks." "Hucks!" "To be sure. No one knew so well as he the money affairs of the two men who were robbed." "I'm ashamed of you," said Patsy. "And the man's smile is a mask!" exclaimed Louise. "Oh, no!" protested Patsy. "My dear, no person who ever lived could smile every minute, winter and summer, rain or shine, day and night, and always have a reason for the smile."
He struck it upon the iron cover of the manhole, and thus made opportunity to assure himself that the cover was still removable. Satisfied of this, he lit his pipe and stood for a minute puffing at it, and staring, now at the stagnant canal water, now after the retreating figures of Miss Sally and Mr. Hucks, as without a backward look they passed down the towpath to the Iron Bridge.
So he took a position where he could watch the rear door of the house and smoked patiently for nearly an hour before Hucks returned and let himself quietly in. He said nothing to the girls next day of this mysterious proceeding, but on the following night again took his station in the orchard to watch.
"He don't properly belong to me," explained Tilda. "He belongs to Bill, that works the engine on Gavel's roundabouts; but he larned his tricks off me. That'll do, 'Dolph; go an' lie down." "He's a clever dog, and I beg his pardon for kicking him," said Mr. Hucks with a twinkle. "He's better 'n clever. Why, 'twas 'Dolph that got us out." "What, from the Orph'nage?" "Yes."
Surely there was enough here to excite the curiosity and warrant an effort to untangle the mystery. And as instruments to the end there were several people available who could be of use to her; McNutt, the agent, who evidently knew more than he had cared to tell; Old Hucks and his wife and Ethel Thompson, the school-teacher.
While Mr. Mortimer yet reeled under this news the door of the courtyard rattled and creaked open in the darkness. A lantern showed in the opening, and the bearer of it, catching sight of the lit caravan, approached with quick, determined strides. "Can you inform me," asked a high clerical voice, "where I can find Mr. Christopher Hucks?"
Lib'ral an' good-natured, but able to hold their own with the natives. We missed 'em, last year; but t'other day I seen ol' Hucks, that keeps their house for 'em he 'n' his wife an' Hucks said they was cumin' to spend this summer at the farm an' he was lookin' fer 'em any day. The way they togged up thet farmhouse is somethin' won'erful, I'm told.
"You are getting keen, I see. No, I have no right to be sure, except that I rely on the girl and on Hucks. "I propose to see this affair through," he said deliberately. Miss Sally gave him a sharp look, and once again nodded approval. "And, moreover, so sure," she went on, "that I have not wired to send Chichester in search.
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