Maclin just then was the hub from which the spokes of curiosity led.
“He couldn’t be for Maclin,” Polly had said to Peter. “You know that as well as I do, Peter Heathcote. And getting facts signed and witnessed is an awful waste of time. The Lord gave women a sixth sense and it’s a powerful sight surer than affidavits.”
Peter grunted. So long as Polly hinted and made no statements he was content. He believed she was partly right. He thought Northrup might be on Maclin’s trail, and from appearances Peter had confidence in his guest’s ability to run his quarry to earth where, heretofore, others of the Forest had failed.
He liked Northrup, believed in him, and while he sat and nursed his leg, he let Polly do her hinting.
It was the evening of Northrup’s third day at the inn when the three, with Ginger blinking contentedly, sat by the fire. Polly knitted and smiled happily. She had drifted that day into calling Northrup “Brace” and that betokened surrender. Peter puffed and regarded his bandaged leg––he had taken a few steps during the afternoon, leaning on Northrup’s arm, and his mood was one of supreme satisfaction.
Breaking the silence, now and again, an irritating sound of a bell intruded. It was a disconcerting note for it had a wild quality as if it were being run away with and was sending forth an appeal. Loud; soft; near; distant.
“Is there a church around here?” Northrup asked at last.
“There is,” Heathcote replied, taking the pipe from his lips. “It’s the half-built church I mentioned to you. A bit down the line you come to a bridge across an arm of the lake. On a little island is the chapel. It ain’t ever used now. Remember, Polly,” Heathcote turned to his sister, “the last time the Bishop came here? Mary-Clare was about as high as nothing, and just getting over the mumps. She got panicky when she heard of the Bishop, asked ole Doc if she could catch it. I guess the Bishop wasn’t catching! Yes, sir, the church is there, but it’s deserted.”
“What is the bell ringing for?” Northrup roused, more because 18 the name of Mary-Clare had been introduced than because the bell interested him.