Ambrotox and Limping Dick Read online

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  AMBROTOX

  AND

  LIMPING DICK

  BY OLIVER FLEMING

  1920

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER

  I.--THE VISITOR'S SHADOW

  II.--THE HEN WITH ONE CHICK

  III.--"HUMMIN' BIRD'S WESKIT"

  IV.--COFFEE

  V.--AMBROTOX

  VI.--AMARYLLIS

  VII.--PERFUME

  VIII.--THE SWINE THAT STANK

  IX.--THE POLITICAL COVES

  X.--THE GREEN FROCK

  XI.--THE WINDOW

  XII.--THE STAIRS

  XIII.--THE KNIFE-THROWER

  XIV.--PENNY PANSY

  XV.--THE LIZARD

  XVI.--"THE GOAT IN BOOTS"

  XVII.--THE UNICORN

  XVIII.--THE SERANG

  XIX.--SAPPHIRE AND EMERALD

  XX.--A ROPE OR SOMETHING

  XXI.--THE BAAG-NOUK

  XXII.--LORD LABRADOR

  XXIII.--FALLING OUT

  XXIV.--KUK-KUK-KUK-KATIE

  XXV.--WAITERS

  XXVI.--PRISONER AND ESCORT

  XXVII.--AN INTERIM REPORT

  AMBROTOX AND LIMPING DICK.

  CHAPTER I.

  THE VISITOR'S SHADOW.

  Randal Bellamy's country house was a place of pleasant breakfasts. Fromthe dining room the outlook was delightful; grass, flowers and sunshine,with the host's easy charm, made it almost as easy for TheophilusCaldegard to drink his tea fresh, as for his daughter Amaryllis not tokeep her host, Sir Randal, waiting for his coffee.

  This morning, while she waited for the two men, the girl, rememberingthat this was the eighteenth of June, was surprised by the ease withwhich the five weeks of her stay had slipped by; and she wondered,without anxiety, at what point the guest merges into the inmate.

  "I can't live here for ever," she thought; "but as long as there's roomfor his test-tubes, and his dinner's good, dad thinks it's all right fora girl."

  And, as if it was all right, she laughed--just in time for RandalBellamy to get full benefit of the pleasant sound.

  "Laughing all alone?" he said.

  "That's when the funny things happen," replied Amaryllis.

  Bellamy looked down at her, as if asking a share in her merriment.

  "After all, I don't know why I laughed," she said. "I was only thinkingit's five whole weeks since we came here, and----"

  "And you want to go somewhere else?"

  Amaryllis shook her head. "And it's gone like five days, I was going tosay."

  She took her seat at the table and poured out his coffee. "I'm not goingto let you wait a moment for father this morning; it was two o'clockwhen he went to bed."

  "How do you know that, you bad girl?" said Bellamy.

  "Because dad can't get out of the habit of putting his boots outside hisdoor," she replied. "And when he's pleased with his work, he throws 'emout."

  "I've heard them," he said, laughing. "But last night I was in bedbefore twelve; I suppose he took advantage of that and sneaked back tothe laboratory again."

  "But I thought," said Amaryllis, after a pause, "that Ambrotox wasfinished and ready to make its bow to the public."

  "God forbid!" said Bellamy, in a tone of such intensity that the girlwas astonished.

  "But surely you've been helping him to finish it--you wanted itfinished," she exclaimed.

  "Yes, but not published," said the man.

  The girl's next eager question was cut short by the entrance of theparlour-maid with the morning's letters; and after her came TheophilusCaldegard.

  His person was as unlike the popular conception of a man of science ascan well be imagined. His sturdy figure, thick white hair, and the ruddycomplexion of his face, where the benevolence of the mouth attractedattention before the keenness of the eyes, suggested rather the countrygentleman than the man of genius whose discoveries might move a world.

  He kissed his daughter, and, "Tea quick--the kettle's boiling, Amy," hesaid. "Morning, Bellamy."

  And, as Bellamy made no response, "First time I ever saw him absorbed bya letter," he remarked:

  "Best one I've had for six months," said Bellamy, looking up. "Thatyoung brother of mine's coming down by the three-ten."

  "Rolling down, you mean," said Caldegard.

  "Can't roll any longer--covered with moss," retorted Bellamy. "AuntJenny died and didn't leave me a cent."

  "Why didn't he come before?" asked Caldegard.

  "Been looking for something to do," said the brother. "Now he's been asoldier, I don't believe there's anything left."

  "How long was he in the Army?"

  "Twelve months in the trenches, two years in the Air Force, and, onetime with another, ten months in hospital," replied Bellamy.

  "And as soon as he's clear of the Army, he finds he's got money toburn," chuckled Caldegard. "No wonder it's six months before he pays avisit to his respectable big brother."

  Amaryllis gathered up her half-read letters, and walked absent-mindedlyto the open french-window.

  "Oh well," continued her father, "I'm afraid there aren't manysensations left for your rolling stone."

  Amaryllis went slowly down the steps into the garden, Bellamy watchingher until she was out of sight.

  "Look here, Caldegard," he said, turning quickly. "Your daughter knowsit's a secret, but she does not know it's a deadly one."

  "Well?" said Caldegard.

  "My brother," continued Bellamy, "doesn't know there is a secret, and iscoming to live in the middle of it. I think that your daughter shouldknow the whole story; and, when you've met him, I hope you'll think itgood business to trust my young 'un as completely as I trust yours."