Ride the River (1983) Read online

  Pendleton was a cheerful man with a bald head and muttonchop whiskers. He glanced up as Chantry approached.

  “Finian! Come and sit down! We don’t see much of you these days!”

  “Busy, George, busy! Reading a lot, too. This fellow Dickens, you know? The Englishman?”

  “Indeed, I do know! My wife and daughter can scarcely wait for the ship to get in with the next installment. Pity we don’t have such writers here!”

  Chantry seated himself. “George, do you know anything about a lawyer named White? James White?”

  “I know him.” He twisted in his seat and spoke to the black waiter who was approaching.

  “Archie? Get Mr. Chantry something, will you? And bring us some cigars.”

  “Calvados, sir?”

  “Please.”

  “White’s a scoundrel. Be disbarred one of these days. Mixes in all sorts of shady dealings. Nothing we can do about it, but we’re watching the man.”

  When the calvados arrived, Finian took but a sip before putting down his glass.

  He drank rarely, but the apple brandy from Normandy seemed about right. He accepted a cigar, bit off the end, and accepted a light from Archie.

  “He is handling an estate in which a client of mine is interested.”

  “Your client should be careful. The man’s a shyster. If not an actual criminal.” Pendleton drew on his cigar. “Some of Adam Brunn’s business, I suspect. When Adam died, his widow put the business in White’s hands - why, I can’t imagine.

  “Adam was a nice old gentleman, but when he died, his widow asked White to handle his affairs. I heard her housekeeper recommended White.”

  Pendleton glanced at Chantry. “A client of yours, you say? I didn’t know you handled cases of that sort.”

  “The client is a young lady who walked in out of nowhere.”

  “With White involved? I’d be careful, Finian. You are a wealthy man, you know.”

  “Nothing like that. She recognized my nameplate and came for advice, as she did not trust White. She had recognized the name, and as soon as she mentioned hers, it took me back. I knew her grandfather, George, knew him in the war, and had it not been for him, I’d not be here at all.”

  “The war?”

  “The Revolution. He was from Tennessee. The greatest woodsman I ever met or expect to meet. We met by accident, but he had known my older brother, had dealings with him. In fact, there’s been a shadowy connection between our families for many years. I expect it happens more often than we realize, but our families have rubbed elbows a dozen times.”

  “What is the nature of her problem?”

  “She did not trust the man. Instinct, I guess, although one of the boarders at Mrs. Sulky’s warned her.”

  Chantry tasted the calvados again. “The Sacketts are an odd lot, George. No sooner did they get ashore in this country than they headed for the hills. Like homing pigeons. Once there, they took to the wilderness as if born to it.

  “This young lady comes from a place called Tuckalucky Cove. Never been out of the hills except for one short trip to visit relatives in Charleston. But she’s no fool. Canny little thing, and afraid of nothing.”

  “A little fear might do her good.”

  Chantry chuckled. “Might, but I doubt it. If she is like the other Sacketts I’ve known, it is the others who should have a little fear.”

  “White’s a bad actor. Remember Felix Horst? Involved in some killings down along the river a few years ago? Escaped from prison while awaiting trial? White was suspected of arranging his escape.”

  “Ah? Yes, I do recall something of the kind. Well, I am glad she came to me. I doubt if he will attempt anything if she arrives at his office with me.”

  “You are going with her?”

  “She’s a child, George. Only sixteen. Of course I shall go.” He brushed the ash from his cigar. “By the way, George, that clerk of yours who is reading law? I believe his name is Gibbons?”

  “Johnny Gibbons?” Pendleton was surprised. “What about him?”

  “Did he not work for Adam Brunn before he came to you? I would like to talk to him.”

  “Well, I suppose it could be arranged. Come to think of it, he did work for Brunn.” He glanced up. “Imagine you remembering that.”

  “Tonight, George? I would like to see him tonight.”

  Pendleton glanced at his watch. “Finian, you are a most difficult man. I should have known you had something on your mind.”

  Reluctantly Pendleton got to his feet. “I don’t know. I could send a messenger - “

  “We shall go ourselves. Or rather, I shall. I do not wish to interrupt your dinner.”

  “But - “

  “Don’t worry about it. I shall go myself, if you will just tell me where to find him.”

  “Sir, you cannot consider such a thing! Gibbons fancies himself as a writer. Oh, he’s reading law, all right, and a very astute young man he is, but he is also planning a book on Philadelphia’s history as a seaport. He will not be in his room tonight, but in some dive on the waterfront.”

  “Very well, then that is where I shall go. I must see him. He will certainly know something of the Sackett case, and I must have the information before calling upon White.”

  “Sir?” Chantry turned at Archie’s voice. “I could go with you, sir. I shall be finished here in a few minutes, and I know the waterfront well. I went to sea at one time.”

  “Thank you, Archie, I shall appreciate the company.”

  The big black man hesitated. “You know, sir, it is very rough down there?”

  “Archie, I am an old man now, but I, too, spent time at sea.”

  “Very well, sir.”

  “Do you know Johnny Gibbons?”

  “I do sir. There are only a few places he might be, where seamen gather and he can pick up the stories.”

  Finian Chantry waited at the door for his carriage and for Archie to join him. He felt oddly exhilarated. How many years since he had walked the waterfront? Too many years, far too many.

  “You are eighty-six years old, Finian,” he said to himself, “of no age to go to the sort of places you will be going tonight. I wonder just how much is left of that young man who commanded his own vessel? Have the years carried it all down the drain? Or is there something left?”

  He wore the long trousers that had come in shortly after the beginning of the century, and a top hat. He carried a cane … was never without it.

  “Sir?” Archie spoke quietly. “We must be careful. There are men down there who would murder you for a shilling, a guilder, or a dollar.”

  “I have met them before, Archie, when I was younger. I am an old man now, but I wonder how old.”

  Chapter 4

  They found Johnny Gibbons seated over a mug of ale in the Dutchman’s, on Dock Street. The room was crowded with a sweating, smoking, drinking melange of seafaring men from Copenhagen to Cape Town and all the ports between. They were men from ships which came in with the tide and would be off again in a day or a week. They came ashore for the women, the whiskey, rum, or gin, and some even made it back to their own vessels. Others were shanghaied by crimps and awakened in a dirty bunk aboard a ship strange to them, their belongings lost to them, their future in doubt.

  Finian Chantry pushed the door open with his cane and stepped into the room, recognizing Gibbons at once. That young man glanced up, his eyes riveted, and his mouth dropped open in astonishment. Archie led the way through the crowded room. Finian glanced around, enjoying himself, then seated himself opposite Johnny Gibbons.

  Johnny was embarrassed and worried. “Sir? With all due respect, you shouldn’t have come to this place! It is dangerous, sir. There are a lot of honest seamen here, but almost as many crimps and thieves.”

  “Johnny, 1 spent my youth in such places. In and out of them, at least. I commanded my own ship with crews who were more than half of them pirates.”

  “I know, sir, but - “

  “Johnny, you
worked for Adam Brunn? Do you remember the O’Hara case?”

  “Of course, sir. It was the last case on which I was employed. One of the O’Haras, the last of that line, I believe, was a friend of Mr. Brunn. It seems the first of their family had been beholden to Barnabas Sackett, and very close to Barnabas’s son, Kin. Several times over the years there was contact between the families, but the last O’Hara willed what was left to the last descendant of Kin Sackett.”

  “The sum?”

  “Something over three thousand dollars. Nowadays that’s quite a sum, but the money was the least of it. There was an iron cube, some sort of a Chinese puzzle. He opened it and showed us what was inside. It was a sapphire, a big one, couldn’t have weighed less than twenty carats. He showed it to Mr. Brunn and me and then returned it to the box, made a few deft twists concealed by his palms, and handed it over to Brunn.

  “When Adam Brunn died, his widow turned his business over to White. I protested, but Mrs. Brunn listened to this woman who worked for her who was always telling her what a wonderful man White was.

  “I had given my notice before the old man died, as I wanted to set up for myself, and she would not listen to me. She resented the fact that I was going on my own, although Mr. Brunn did not. You see, I did not want to practice the kind of law he did. He had a very quiet, secure sort of business, but I wanted to be where things were happening. And I wished to write.”

  “Thank you. I believe you have told me what I need to know. I think we should go now.”

  “May I come with you? I’ve noticed, sir, some very rough characters have been watching you. You dress too well to be walking around down here.”

  “Come, if you will. It is only a few blocks to where my carriage waits, and I have Archie with me.”

  As they left the Dutchman’s, Finian saw a side door back of the bar open and close, and he smiled a little to himself. You are an old fool, Finian, he told himself, to be thinking such thoughts at your age!

  When they reached the corner a block from the Dutchman’s, they saw three men under the gaslight. The three glanced their way, then turned and walked along ahead of them.

  “Did you see them, Archie?”

  “I did, sir. There may be trouble.”

  “It has been a long time since I have had that kind of trouble, Archie. I have often wondered how I would react.”

  “Sir?” Gibbons said. “One of those men up ahead is Bully Benson - he’s a thug and a murderer. If I am not mistaken, there will be others behind us.”

  “Of course, Johnny. Be careful, now. I grew up on this sort of thing. There was that night in Bombay - “

  “There they are, sir. They are waiting for us.”

  “Johnny, you and Archie take care of those behind us. Leave the three in front to me. I shall take it as a favor.”

  “Sir, you are eighty-six years old! Please, sir - “

  “Years of experience, Johnny. I think we shall surprise them.”

  “He fences every day at the club,” Archie said. “There’s nobody there can handle him. Not even those young naval officers.”

  They rounded the corner and three rough-looking characters were spread across the walk before them.

  Finian smiled. “Good evening, gentlemen! Is there something we can do for you?”

  “You can hand over d’ gelt, d’ coin! An’ quick!”

  Finian Chantry held his cane in two hands and smiled. “Ah? You hear him, Johnny? The man’s threatening me!” His eyes went from one to the other. “And if I don’t choose to?”

  “We’ll bust your damn skull!”

  “You’re Benson, I take it? Well, Benson, I’ll give you a chance. Turn about now and run. Get away from here while you can, and we’ll make believe this never happened.”

  “Blimey! Would y’ listen to that? The old gent’s balmy! He’s off his bloody course, he is!”

  “You’re a pack of bilge-swilling swine!” Chantry said. “I’ve money enough in my pockets to keep you drunk for a month of Sundays, but if you come for it, you’ll be wearing your guts for neckties!”

  One of the men started to back off. “Listen t’ him, Bully! This one’s no gent! Let’s get out of here!”

  “If I had the lot of you aboard a ship of mine,” Finian said cheerfully, “I’d have you kissing the gunner’s daughter! You’d be bent over a starb’rd gun getting fifty good ones on the backside from a Penang lawyer!”

  “Bully? Let’s get out of here! This one’s walked a deck of his own!”

  “Don’t be a damn fool! S’pose he has? I want that …All right !Take him !”

  The shout was accompanied by a lunge. The second man leaped, swinging a cudgel. Bully Benson held a knife.

  Finian Chantry’s brain was icy. He took a half-step back and the cane seemed to spring apart in his hands. A blade leaped from the cane like a whip of dancing light. Benson caught the flash of the blade and tried to pull up, his eyes bulging with sheer horror. The next moment, where his mouth had been there was an ugly gash as the blade cut ear to ear. The second man swung his cudgel, but the sweeping blade had never stopped moving, slicing his cheek and nicking his nose.

  He screamed and dropped his club, both hands going to his face. Bully Benson was already in a staggering run, choking on his own blood. The third and wiser man had never closed, and he was maintaining a fair lead as he ran.

  Turning quickly, Finian saw Johnny Gibbons had a man against the wall and was slugging him with both fists. Archie had put one man down, and the third was running away.

  Finian Chantry’s heart was pounding as he watched them go; then, taking a handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped clean the sword blade and returned it to the cane. “A pack of scoundrels,” he commented as Johnny Gibbons came up beside him. “This will give them something to consider before they try it again.”

  When they reached the carriage, Chantry got in and Johnny followed. “Archie?” he invited.

  “Thank you, sir, your coachman is a friend, I shall ride out with him.”

  “Back there,” Gibbons commented, “you spoke of giving that chap fifty good ones with a ‘Penang lawyer.’ I had never heard the phrase.”

  “A Penang lawyer is a strip of rattan. It was used to influence discipline aboard craft in the Indian Ocean.”

  “You were a ship’s officer?”

  “Briefly. Like my brother, I was a merchant venturer, investing in cargoes and often going along to handle the trading myself. I had read for the law, as had he, so I finally settled for that. It was a fortunate choice.”

  “In the O’Hara affair, if I can be of any assistance, you have only to ask.”

  “No, it is a small matter. What you have told me is sufficient.”

  Alone in his bedroom, Finian Chantry looked down upon his hands. “Useful,” he muttered, “useful still. And there was no fear, that is important.”

  He felt no sympathy for Bully Benson. They had chosen the time, the place, and their weapons. What they got was less than what they deserved.

  At supper I was seated in the same place, and discovered that in boardinghouses as at home, most people wanted to sit in the same seats. The bald-headed man who sat across from me was named Prescott. He nodded and smiled when I came in. “How are you enjoying Philadelphia?” he asked.

  “There’s so much to see! After I saw Mr. White and Mr. Chantry - “

  The fat man farther down the table looked up from his food long enough to give me a sharp, somewhat impatient glance. He clutched his knife and fork as if prepared for battle. “Chantry, did you say? Yousaw Finian Chantry?”

  “I did. He was very nice.”

  “Young lady” - he spoke with authority - “you must be mistaken. Nobody, but no body just walks in and sees Finian Chantry.”

  “I saw him. I shall see him again in the morning. He is coming with me to see Mr. White.”

  Very patiently the man said, “Miss Sackett, I know very important men who have tried forweeks to see Mr. Chantry. He is a bu
sy man and accepts no new clients. You must have met somebody else who you assumed was Finian Chantry.”

  He resumed eating and for a moment I thought of replying, then thought it was no use. And what did it matter, anyway?

  Amy Sulky came in and seated herself. “Echo, there’s a man in the sitting room who wishes to speak to you. His name is White. He said you would know him, but I told him we were at supper and he could not see you until it was over.”

  Mr. Prescott said, “Miss Sackett? If I can be of service? A witness or something?”

  “Thank you. I cannot imagine why Mr. White is here. We were to meet in the morning, when Mr. Chantry can be there.”

  The man down the table gave me an exasperated glance, but his mouth was full as usual and he said nothing. I am sure he wished to. He was called Mr. Butts, and judging by the size of his stomach, he was a very important man. He mopped the gravy from his plate with a piece of bread and looked enviously across the table at the skinny young man’s plate whose meal was only half-eaten.

  Amy Sulky arose. “If I can help in any way … ?” she paused, lifting her eyebrows in question.

  “No, ma’am. I have met him before. It will be all right.”

  White got quickly to his feet when I came into the room. “Ah! Miss Sackett! How good of you to see me! Knowing how anxious you were to return to your mountains, I thought I had best do as much as possible to expedite your trip.

  “I have the money here, and you’ve only to sign a release and you can be on your way. A receipt, that is.”

  Taking from his pocket a small sack, he began counting out gold pieces on the table. For a moment I could only stare. Never before in my life had I seen even one gold piece, and here they were in shining stacks, and all mine. It was unbelievable.