Produced by David Widger
By Winston Churchill
Mr. Brinsmade and the Doctor were the first to leave the little roomwhere Silas Whipple had lived and worked and died, Mr. Brinsmade bentupon one of those errands which claimed him at all times. He tookShadrach with him. Virginia sat on, a vague fear haunting her,—a fearfor her father's safety. Where was Clarence? What had he seen? Was theplace watched? These questions, at first intruding upon her sorrow,remained to torture her.
Softly she stirred from the chair where she had sat before the piano, andopened the door of the outer office. A clock in a steeple near by wasstriking twelve. The Colonel did not raise his head. Only Stephen saw hergo; she felt his eyes following her, and as she slipped out lifted hersto meet them for a brief instant through the opening of the door. Then itclosed behind her.
First of all she knew that the light in the outer office was burningdimly, and the discovery gave her a shock. Who had turned it down? HadClarence? Was he here? Fearfully searching the room for him, her gaze washeld by a figure in the recess of the window at the back of the room. Asolid, bulky figure it was, and, though uncertainly outlined in thesemi-darkness, she knew it. She took a step nearer, and a cry escapedher.
The man was Eliphalet Hopper. He got down from the sill with a motion atonce sheepish and stealthy. Her breath caught, and instinctively she gaveback toward the door, as if to open it again.
"Hold on!" he said. "I've got something I want to say to you, Miss
Virginia."
His tones seemed strangely natural. They were not brutal. But sheshivered and paused, horrified at the thought of what she was about todo. Her father was in that room—and Stephen. She must keep them there,and get this man away. She must not show fright before him, and yet shecould not trust her voice to speak just then. She must not let him knowthat she was afraid of him—this she kept repeating to herself. But howto act? Suddenly an idea flashed upon her.
Virginia never knew how she gathered the courage to pass him, evenswiftly, and turn up the gas. He started back, blinking as the jetflared. For a moment she stood beside it, with her head high; confrontinghim and striving to steady herself for speech.
"Why have you come here?" she said. "Judge Whipple—died—to-night."
The dominating note in his answer was a whine, as if, in spite ofhimself, he were awed.
"I ain't here to see the Judge."
She was pale, and quite motionless. And she faltered now. She felt herlips moving, but knew not whether the words had come.
"What do you mean?"
He gained confidence. The look in his little eyes was the filmy look ofthose of an animal feasting.
"I came here to see you," he said, "—you." She was staring at him now, inhorror. "And if you don't give me what I want, I cal'late to see some oneelse—in there," said Mr. Hopper.
He smiled, for she was swaying, her lids half closed. By a supreme effortshe conquered her terror and looked at him. The look was in his eyesstill, intensified now.
"How dare you speak to me after what has happened! she said. If Colonel
Carvel were here, he would—kill you."
He flinched at the name and the word, involuntarily. He wiped hisforehead, hot at the very thought.