The Meadow-Brook Girls in the Hills | Page 6

below who wishes to speak with you," the clerk
informed her.
"It must be Mr. Grubb," guessed the guardian, and left her packing to
go downstairs. She glanced into the lobby of the hotel; then, not seeing
Janus there, stepped into the parlor. A man, a stranger, was sitting near
a door that led out to the hotel veranda. In the light of the kerosene
lamp that hung suspended from the ceiling she was not able to make
out his features at first. She saw that he wore a heavy black beard, that
he was rather roughly dressed, but that his hands were white.

"Are you the man who wished to speak with Miss Elting?" she asked,
confessing to herself that she did not wholly like the appearance of the
man.
"Yes," he answered, rising. Now that the light fell on his face she noted
that he had a low, receding forehead. His beard covered the greater part
of his face.
"About what do you wish to speak with me?"
"Well, it's rather a delicate matter, Miss," the man made reply, gazing
down at the carpet, twisting his soft felt hat awkwardly. "I--I wanted to
ask if you needed any assistance."
"What do you mean?"
"You are going into the mountains?"
"Yes, sir."
"You will need to have some one to show you the way and look after
you and your party."
"We already have engaged some one to do that. You mean a guide, I
suppose?"
He nodded.
"May I ask your name?"
"John Collins."
"Do you live here?" she asked, curious to know more about the man,
whom she began to distrust.
"Not now. I live over in the next village. I was in town and heard that
you folks wanted a guide. I know more about the White Mountains
than any other man in the State of New Hampshire. I can show you
more, and take better care of your party, than anybody else you could

find."
"Do you know Janus Grubb?"
"Ye--yes," Collins twisted uneasily, "I know him."
"He is to be our guide. The arrangements were made some time ago by
the father of one of our young women. Mr. Grubb starts with us
tomorrow morning, unless there should be some change in the
arrangements."
"I'm sorry, Miss."
"I'm sorry, too, since you have been so kind as to offer your services,"
replied the guardian politely.
"I didn't just mean it that way, Miss. I meant about Janus."
"How so?"
"I don't just like to say. Yes, I will, too. Do you know anything about
Jan Grubb?"
"No," admitted Miss Elting.
"Then you'd better ask. I am afraid you are putting too much
confidence in him."
"Mr. Collins, please be more explicit. What do you mean?"
"You'll find out after you've got out into the hills. He doesn't know any
more about the hills than a little yellow dog that's spent all its life in
town. He'll get you into all kinds of trouble, and then he'll leave you to
get out of it as best you can. You remember what I tell you."
"Of course, I thank you for telling me," answered the guardian rather
stiffly. "However, we are quite satisfied with Mr. Grubb. As I
understand it, he is a highly respected citizen of Compton and an
efficient mountain guide. That will be quite sufficient for us."

"I need this job. I--I need the money, Miss," whined the stranger.
"I am satisfied with the arrangements I have already made." Miss
Elting turned to leave the room.
"My family needs it. I've been out of work a long time, and----"
"I am very sorry. I wish it were in my power to assist you, but I have
very little voice in the matter. Another person--the one who is paying
the expenses of this trip--attended to all that. You will see that it is
quite useless to plead, deep as my sympathy is for you."
The man rose and eyed her with an expression that was particularly
unpleasant to behold. Miss Elting returned her strange visitor's gaze.
Something other than his looks repelled her, yet there was nothing in
either manner or words to account for this feeling of repulsion on the
part of the guardian.
"In case anything should occur to make it necessary for us to look
further for a guide I shall remember you," she said slowly. "I suppose I
can reach you here at Compton?"
"N--n--no," was the hesitating answer. "But if you need me, I'll he
about. Mark what I tell you, Jan Grubb is going to get you into a fine
mess! You will be sorry you ever engaged him; that's all I've got to say
about it. Good night, lady."
"Good night, Mr. Collins," replied the woman coldly. His final words,