Brandon of the Engineers

"He stopped Jake from coming here," Clare rejoined with a blush.

"That is so," Ida agreed. "He has done a number of other things that got

him into difficulties, because he thought it right. That's the kind of

man he is. Then I understand he was out of work and feeling desperate

when my father engaged him, he got promotion in his employment, and I

asked him to see that Jake came to no harm. I don't know if he kept his

promise too conscientiously, and you can judge better than me. But I

think you ought to read the letters your father gave him."

She first put down Kenwardine's statement about the theft of the plans,

and Clare was conscious of overwhelming relief as she read it. Dick knew

now that she was not the thief. Then Ida said: "If you will read the

next, you will see that your father doesn't feel much of a grievance

against Brandon."

The note was short, but Kenwardine stated clearly that if Clare wished to

marry Brandon he would be satisfied and advised her to do so. The girl's

face flushed as she read and her hands trembled. Kenwardine certainly

seemed to bear Dick no ill will. But since the latter had his formal

consent, why had he not used it?

"Did Mr. Brandon send you with these letters?" she asked as calmly as she

could.

"No, I brought them without telling him, because it seemed the best thing

to do."

"You knew what they said?"

"I did," Ida admitted. "They were open."

Clare noted her confession; but she must deal with matters of much

greater importance.

"Then do you know why he kept the letters back?"

Ida hesitated. If Clare were not the girl she thought, she might, by

appealing to her compassion, supply her with a reason for giving Dick up,

but if this happened, it would be to his advantage in the end. Still she

did not think she was mistaken and she must take the risk.

"Yes," she said. "I feel that you ought to understand his reasons; that

is really why I came. It looks as if you had not heard that shortly after

he met your father Dick fell down the steamer's hold."

Clare made an abrupt movement and her face got anxious. "Was he hurt?"

"Very badly. He broke two ribs and the fever he got soon afterwards

stopped his getting better; but that is not the worst. One of his eyes

was injured, and there is some danger that he may lose his sight."

It was plain that Clare had got a shock, for she sat in a tense attitude

and the color left her face; but Ida saw that she had read her character

right and taken the proper course. Indeed, she wondered whether she had

not unnecessarily harrowed the girl's feelings.