He did not have long to wait.
[CHAPTER IX]
A POINTED WARNING
Burton did not know exactly what he expected to happen, or what he would gain by staying, but something more than a sense of his responsibility to Rachel made him want to see the thing through. That suspicion should have buzzed so long about Henry Underwood and nothing yet be proved could only be due to a combination of luck and circumstances which could not be expected to continue indefinitely. With Selby hot on the trail, the police were likely to have some effective assistance. Malevolence is a great sharpener of the wits.
Wouldn't it be possible to get Henry out of town? Had he gone far enough in his hint to the doctor? Possibly if he saw Henry alone he could convey a warning that would be understood. He determined to see Henry.
But Henry was not at home. His disappointment in this information might have been greater if it had not been conveyed by Miss Underwood. He found it very easy to extend his inquiry into a call, and when he finally rose to take his leave he was surprised to find how time had flown. Philip was justified. The only thing to wonder at was Philip's discrimination. He must have been caught merely by her beauty, but even to appreciate her beauty at its right value was more than he had given Philip credit for. But what was the outcome to be? If the family were involved in a scandal, Philip was not the man to stand by her. He would be dominated by Rachel's prejudices, and Rachel would think the whole thing simply unspeakable. Yet things had gone so far that it would be impossible for Philip to withdraw without humiliating the girl,--and that, Burton now saw clearly, was the one impossible thing. No, the only way out was to stop the scandal from going further. Henry must be suppressed.
He had been revolving these thoughts as he walked the streets back to the hotel, when all at once his eye was caught by the sign:
ORTON SELBY
CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER
It swung above the door of a prosperous looking place, and he looked at the premises with interest. So this was where Mr. Selby did business! As he looked, Mrs. Bussey came out of the office door, and scuttled off down the street like a frightened animal finding itself out of bounds. Possibly she was bringing some of her crippled son's carving to his employer. The connection was obvious and the relation was well understood, but somehow he did not like the idea of an inmate of the Underwood house having this side relation with a man who was an enemy. If anything were to be done to save Henry, it must be done skilfully and promptly. The atmosphere of the place was not favorable.
"There's a letter for you," the clerk said, as he handed Burton his key.