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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17598-8.txt b/17598-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..025b2d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/17598-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9921 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Beth Norvell, by Randall Parrish, Illustrated +by N. C. Wyeth + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Beth Norvell + A Romance of the West + + +Author: Randall Parrish + + + +Release Date: January 24, 2006 [eBook #17598] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETH NORVELL*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 17598-h.htm or 17598-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/5/9/17598/17598-h/17598-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/5/9/17598/17598-h.zip) + + + + + +BETH NORVELL + +A Romance of the West + +by + +RANDALL PARRISH + +Author of "When Wilderness Was King," "My Lady of the North," "Bob +Hampton of Placer," Etc. + +With Frontispiece in Color by N. C. Wyeth + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: The woman never changed her posture, never seemed to +realize the approach of dawn; but Winston roused up, lifting his head +to gaze wearily forward.] + + + + +A. L. Burt Company +Publishers -------- New York +Copyright +A. C. McClurg & Co. +1907 +Entered at Stationers' Hall, London +All Rights Reserved + Published September 21, 1907 + Second Edition October 5, 1907 + Third Edition, October 10, 1907 + Fourth Edition, December 2, 1907 + Fifth Edition, December 12, 1907 + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + I A CHANCE MEETING + II OUT WITH A ROAD COMPANY + III A BREAKING OF ICE + IV A NEW DEAL OF THE CARDS + V IN OPEN REBELLION + VI THE "LITTLE YANKEE" MINE + VII A DISMISSAL + VIII "HE MEANS FIGHT" + IX THE FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCES + X A NEW ALLIANCE + XI HALF-CONFIDENCES + XII THE COVER OF DARKNESS + XIII TWO WOMEN + XIV UNDERGROUND + XV THE PROOF OF CRIME + XVI A RETURN TO THE DAY + XVII A COUNCIL OF WAR + XVIII THE CONFESSION + XIX THE POINT OF VIEW + XX THE GAME OF FOILS + XXI UNDER ARREST + XXII THE INTERVENTION OF SWANSON + XXIII A NEW VOLUNTEER + XXIV AN AVOWAL OF LOVE + XXV THE PROOF OF LOVE + XXVI BENEATH THE DARKNESS + XXVII THE SHADOW OF CRIME + XXVIII ACROSS THE DESERT TO THE END + XXIX THE SUMMIT OF SUCCESS + XXX THE MISSION OF A LETTER + + + + +BETH NORVELL + +A TALE OF THE WEST + + +CHAPTER I + +A CHANCE MEETING + +There were nine altogether in the party registering. This number +included the manager, who, both on and off the stage, quite +successfully impersonated the villain--a rather heavy-jawed, +middle-aged fellow, of foreign appearance, with coarse, gruff voice; +three representatives of the gentler sex; a child of eight, exact +species unknown, wrapped up like a mummy; and four males. Beyond doubt +the most notable member of the troupe was the comedian "star," Mr. T. +Macready Lane, whose well-known cognomen must even now awaken happy +histrionic memories throughout the western circuit. The long night's +ride from their previous stand, involving as it did two changes of +trains, had proven exceedingly wearisome; and the young woman in the +rather natty blue toque, the collar of her long gray coat turned up in +partial concealment of her face, was so utterly fatigued that she +refused to wait for a belated breakfast, and insisted upon being at +once directed to her room. There was a substantial bolt decorating the +inside of the door, but, rendered careless by sheer exhaustion of both +mind and body, she forgot everything except her desire for immediate +rest, dropped her wraps upon the only chair visible, and flung herself, +fully dressed, upon the bed. Her cheek had barely pressed the hard +pillow before she was sleeping like a tired child. + +It must have been an hour later when Winston drove in from Flat Rock, +shook the powdery snow from off his long fur overcoat, his cheeks still +tingling from the sharp wind, and, with fingers yet stiffened by cold, +wrote his name carelessly across the lower line of the dilapidated +hotel register. + +"Can you let me have the same room, Tom?" he questioned familiarly of +the man ornamenting the high stool behind the desk. + +The latter, busy with some figures, nodded carelessly, and the last +arrival promptly picked up his valise from the floor and began climbing +the stairs, whistling softly. He was a long-limbed, broad-chested +young fellow, with clean-shaven face, and a pair of dark-gray eyes that +looked straight ahead of him; and he ran up the somewhat steep steps as +though finding such exercise a pleasure. Rounding the upper railing, +he stopped abruptly before Number Twenty-seven, flung open the door, +took a single step within, and came to a sudden pause, his careless +whistling suspended in breathless surprise. With that single glance +the complete picture became indelibly photographed upon his +memory,--the narrow, sparsely furnished room with roughly plastered +walls; the small, cheap mirror; the faded-green window curtain, torn +half in two; the sheet-iron wash-stand; the wooden chair, across which +rested the gray coat with the blue toque on top; and the single cot bed +bearing its unconscious occupant. + +Somehow as he gazed, his earliest conscious emotion was that of +sympathy--it all appeared so unspeakably pathetic, so homesick, so +dismally forlorn and barren. Then that half-upturned face riveted his +attention and seemed to awaken a vague, dreamy memory he found himself +unable to localize; it reminded him of some other face he had known, +tantalizing from its dim indistinctness. Then this earlier impression +slightly faded away, and he merely beheld her alone, a perfect stranger +appropriating little by little her few claims to womanly beauty. There +was no certain guessing at her age as she lay thus, one hand pressed +beneath her cheek, her eyes closed, the long, dark lashes clearly +outlined against the white flesh, her bosom rising and falling with the +steady breathing of absolute exhaustion. She appeared so extremely +tired, discouraged, unhappy, that the young man involuntarily closed +his teeth tightly, as though some wrong had been personally done to +himself. He marked the dense blackness of her heavy mass of hair; the +perfect clearness of her skin; the shapeliness of the slender, +outstretched figure; the narrow boot, with its high-arched instep, +peeping shyly beneath the blue skirt; the something rarely interesting, +yet which scarcely made for beauty, revealed unconsciously in the +upturned face with its rounded chin and parted lips. + +There was no distinct regularity of features, but there was +unquestionably character, such character as we recognize vaguely in a +sculptured face, lacking that life-like expression which the opened +eyes alone are capable of rendering. All this swept across his mind in +that instant during which he remained irresolute from surprise. Yet +Winston was by nature a gentleman; almost before he had grasped the +full significance of it all he stepped silently backward, and gently +closed the door. For an uncertain moment he remained there staring +blankly at the wood, that haunting memory once again mocking every vain +attempt to associate this girl-face with some other he had known +before. Finally, leaving valise and overcoat lying in the hall, he +retraced his way slowly down the stairs. + +"Tom," and the young man leaned against the rough counter, his voice +grown graver, "there chances to be a woman at present occupying that +room you just assigned me." + +"No! Is that so?" and the clerk swung easily down from his high stool, +drawing the register toward him. "Must be one of the troupe, then. +Let's see--Number Twenty-seven, was n't it? Twenty-seven--oh, yes, +here it is. That's a fact," and his finger slowly traced the line as +he spelled out the name, "'Miss Beth Norvell.' Oh, I remember her +now--black hair, and a long gray coat; best looker among 'em. Manager +said she 'd have to be given a room all to herself; but I clean forgot +I assigned her to Twenty-seven. Make much of a row?" + +The other shook his head, bending down so as to read the name with his +own eyes. There was nothing in the least familiar about the sound of +it, and he became faintly conscious of an undefined feeling of +disappointment. Still, if she was upon the stage, the name quite +probably was an assumed one; the very utterance of it left that +impression. He walked over toward the cigar stand and picked out a +weed, thinking gravely while he held a flaming match to the tip. +Somehow he was not altogether greatly pleased with this information; he +should have preferred to discover her to be some one else. He glanced +at the clerk through the slight haze of blue smoke, his increasing +curiosity finding reluctant utterance. + +"What troupe is it?" he questioned with seeming carelessness. + +"'Heart of the World,'" answered Tom with some considerable increase of +enthusiasm. "A dandy play, and a blamed good company, they tell me. +Got some fine press notices anyhow, an' a carload o' scenery. Played +in Denver a whole month; and it costs a dollar and a half to buy a +decent seat even in this measly town, so you can bet it ain't no slouch +of a show. House two-thirds sold out in advance, but I know where I +can get you some good seats for just a little extra. Lane is the star. +You 've heard of Lane, have n't you? Funniest fellow you ever saw; +makes you laugh just to look at him. And this--this Miss Norvell, why +she's the leadin' lady, and the travellin' men tell me she's simply +immense. There's one of their show bills hanging over there back of +the stove." + +Winston sauntered across to the indicated red and yellow abomination, +and dumbly stood staring at it through the blue rings of his cigar. It +represented a most thrilling stage picture, while underneath, and in +type scarcely a shade less pronounced than that devoted to the eminent +comedian T. Macready Lane, appeared the announcement of the great +emotional actress, Miss Beth Norvell, together with several quite +flattering Western press notices. The young man read these slowly, +wondering why they should particularly interest him, and on a sudden +his rather grave face brightened into a smile, a whimsical thought +flashing into his mind. + +"By Jove, why not?" he muttered, as if arguing the matter out with +himself. "The report has gone East, and there is nothing more to be +accomplished in Flat Rock for at least a month. This snow will have to +melt away before they can hope to put any miners to work, and in the +meanwhile I might just as well be laying up experiences on the road as +wasting my substance in riotous living at Denver. It ought to prove a +great lark, and I 've always had ambition to have a try at something of +the kind. Well, here 's my chance; and besides, I can't help believing +that that girl might prove interesting; her face is, anyhow." + +He walked back to where Tom still hung idly over the cigar case. + +"Who is running this show outfit?" + +"That big fellow writing at the table. His name 's Albrecht," +suspiciously. "But see here, I tell you there ain't any use of your +hittin' him for 'comps'; he 's tighter than a drum." + +"'Comps'? Oh, ye of little faith!" exclaimed Winston genially. "It is +n't 'comps' I 'm after, Tommy, it's a job." + +Albrecht looked up from his writing, scowling somewhat under his +heavily thatched brows, and revealing a coarse face, with little +glinting eyes filled with low cunning. At that first glance Winston +instinctively disliked the fellow; yet he put his case in a few brief +sentences of explanation, and, as the other listened, the managerial +frown slightly relaxed. + +"Actor?" he questioned laconically, when the younger man paused, his +glance wandering appreciatively over the sturdy, erect figure. + +"Well, hardly that; at least, merely in an amateur way," and the +applicant laughed lightly. "You see, I imagined you might possibly +make use of me in some minor capacity until I learn more about the +business. I don't care very much regarding pay, but I desire to get a +taste of the life." + +"Oxactly, mein frient." And the worthy Albrecht became almost briskly +cordial in manner. Perhaps here was an "angel" waiting to be plucked +in the holy name of art; at least, he appeared well dressed, looked +intellectually promising, and expressed himself as totally indifferent +regarding salary. Such visitors were indeed few and far between, and +the astute manager sufficiently understood his business to permit his +heavy features to relax into a hearty, welcoming smile. "Oxactly, +young man. Sit down, und I vill see yoost vat vos pest for us both. +You vould be an actor; you haf the ambition. Ah! I see it in your +eyes, and it gif me great bleasure. But, young man, it vos unfortunate +dot I haf not mooch just now to gif you, yet the vay vill open if you +only stays mit me. Sure; yaw, I, Samuel Albrecht, vill make of you a +great actor. I can see dot in your face, und for dot reason I vill now +gif you the chance. You begin at the pottom, but not for long; all I +vants now vos a utility man--some one to take small barts, understudy, +und be ready to help out mit der scenery und der trunks. I could not +bay moch monies for dot," and he spread his beringed hands +deprecatingly, "but it vos only der first step on der ladder of fame. +Every day I teach you de great art of de actor. You come with me dot +way, mein frient?" + +"Certainly; that will be perfectly satisfactory." + +"Ah," delightedly, "you vos a goot poy, villin' to learn, I see. Next +season, who knows, you might be leading man if you vork hardt. I bay +you now after one veek's trial, when I know petter vot you are vort, +hey?" + +Winston carelessly nodded his acceptance of these rather indefinite +terms, his hands thrust into his pockets, his gray eyes smiling their +appreciation of the situation. Albrecht was deliberately looking him +over, as he might a horse he had just purchased. + +"You are kinder slim to look at," he confessed at last, thoughtfully. +"Are you bretty strong?" + +The younger man silently held forth his right arm to the inspection of +the other, who fingered the iron rigidity of muscle under the cloth +with evident respect. + +"God of Yacob!" the manager muttered in unconcealed surprise, "it is +vonderful, and you such a slender young man to look at. I vos most +afraidt you could not do mein vork, but it is all right. You vill eat +mit us at the long table," he waved his hand indefinitely toward the +dining-room, "at 12:30, and then I valk mit you over py der Obera +House, und show you vat der is to be done mit dot scenery und dem +trunks. Mein Gott! it vos vonderful dot muscles vot you haf got--you +vould make a great Davy Crockett ven I learns you de business, mein +frient." + +The manager's appreciation of his new acquisition was so clearly +evident that Winston felt compelled to notice it. + +"I am rejoiced you appear so well satisfied," he said, rising to his +feet. + +"Satisfied! Mein Gott," and the overjoyed Albrecht cordially clasped +the hand of his new recruit. "It vos a great season of luck for me, +mein frient. Dot Meess Norvell, she makes me mooch monies vile I shows +her how to be an actress,--oh, it vos yoost beautiful to see her +act,--und now you comes mit me also, und cares nottings for vot I bay +you, und I can see you haf der actor genius. Mein Gott! it vos too +goot to be true." + +Winston broke away gladly, and drifted back toward the cigar stand, +where the mystified Tommy yet stood staring at him. + +"Well, did you get it?" the latter questioned, grinning. + +"Thomas," returned the other loftily. "You can hand me out another +cigar, and I will thank you not to be quite so familiar in the future. +I am now general utility man with the 'Heart of the World' company, and +consequently entitled to greater respect." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +OUT WITH A ROAD COMPANY + +Miss Norvell failed to appear at the noon meal, though Winston met the +other members of the company. He found them genial enough, even +somewhat boisterous, with the single exception of Mr. Lane, who +maintained a dignified and rather gloomy silence, such as became one of +his recognized professional standing, after having favored the newcomer +with a long, impertinent stare, apparently expressing disapproval. The +manager was outwardly in most excellent humor, narrating several +stories, at which all, excepting the reserved comedian, laughed quite +heartily. At the conclusion of the repast, Albrecht condescended to +purchase his new recruit a cigar, and then walked beside him toward the +Opera House, where the necessary instructions in new duties promptly +began. If Winston had previously imagined his earlier steps toward +histrionic honors were destined to be easy ones, he was very soon +undeceived under the guidance of the enthusiastic manager. It proved a +strenuous afternoon, yet the young fellow had the right stuff in him to +make good, that stubborn pride which never surrenders before +difficulties; he shut his teeth, rolled up his shirt-sleeves, and went +earnestly to work. + +It was a small, cheaply built theatre, having restricted stage space, +while a perfect riff-raff of trunks and detached pieces of canvas +scenery littered the wings. At first sight it appeared a confused +medley of odds and ends, utterly impossible to bring into any +conformity to order, but Albrecht recognized each separate piece of +luggage, every detached section of canvas, recalling exactly where it +properly belonged during the coming performance. For more than an hour +he pranced about the dirty stage, shouting minute directions, and +giving due emphasis to them by growling German oaths; while Winston, +aided by two local assistants, bore trunks into the various +dressing-rooms, hung drop curtains in designated positions, placed set +pieces conveniently at hand, and arranged the various required +properties where they could not possibly be overlooked during the rush +of the evening's performance. Thus, little by little, order was +evolved from chaos, and the astute manager chuckled happily to himself +in quick appreciation of the unusual rapidity with which the newly +engaged utility man grasped the situation and mastered the confusing +details. Assuredly he had discovered a veritable jewel in this fresh +recruit. At last, the affairs of principal importance having been +attended to, Albrecht left some final instructions, and departed for +the hotel, feeling serenely confident that this young man would carry +out his orders to the letter. + +And Winston did. He was of that determined nature which performs +thoroughly any work once deliberately undertaken; and, although the +merest idle whim had originally brought him to this position of utility +man in the "Heart of the World" company, he was already beginning to +experience a slight degree of interest in the success of the coming +show, and to feel a faint _esprit de corps_, which commanded his best +efforts. Indeed, his temporary devotion to the preparation of the +stage proved sufficiently strong to obscure partially for the time +being all recollection of that first incentive which had suggested his +taking such a step--the young lady discovered asleep in Number +Twenty-seven. The remembrance of her scarcely recurred to him all +through the afternoon, yet it finally returned in overwhelming rush +when, in the course of his arduous labors, he raised up a small leather +trunk and discovered her name painted plainly upon the end of it. The +chalk mark designating where it belonged read "Dressing-room No. 2," +and, instead of rolling it roughly in that direction, as he had rolled +numerous others, the new utility man lifted it carefully upon his +shoulder and deposited it gently against the farther wall. He glanced +with curiosity about the restricted apartment to which Miss Beth +Norvell had been assigned. It appeared the merest hole of a place, +narrow and ill-ventilated, the side walls and ceiling composed of rough +lumber, and it was evidently designed to be lit at night by a single +gas jet, inclosed within a wire netting. This apartment contained +merely a single rude chair, of the kitchen variety, and an exceedingly +small mirror cracked across one corner and badly fly-specked. Numerous +rusty spikes, intended to hold articles of discarded clothing, +decorated both side walls and the back of the door. It was dismally +bare, and above all, it was abominably dirty, the dust lying thick +everywhere, the floor apparently unswept for weeks. With an +exclamation of disgust Winston hunted up broom and dust-rag, and gave +the gloomy place such a cleansing as it probably had not enjoyed since +the house was originally erected. At the end of these arduous labors +he looked the scene over critically, the honest perspiration streaming +down his face, glancing, with some newly awakened curiosity, into the +surrounding dressing-rooms. They were equally filthy and unfit for +occupancy, yet he did not feel called upon to invade them with his +cleansing broom. By four o'clock everything was in proper position, +the stage set in perfect order for the opening act, and Winston +returned with his report to the hotel, and to the glowing Albrecht. + +Miss Norvell joined the company at the supper table, sitting between +the manager and Mr. T. Macready Lane, although Winston was quick to +observe that she gave slight attention to either, except when addressed +directly. She met the others present with all necessary cordiality and +good-fellowship, yet there appeared a certain undefined reserve about +her manner which led to an immediate hush in the rather free +conversation of what Albrecht was pleased to term the "training table," +and when the murmur of voices was resumed after her entrance, a +somewhat better choice of subjects became immediately noticeable. +Without so much as either word or look, the silent influence of the +actress was plainly for refinement, while her mere presence at the +table gave a new tone to Bohemianism. Winston, swiftly realizing this, +began observing the lady with a curiosity which rapidly developed into +deeper interest. He became more and more attracted by her unique +personality, which persistently appealed to his aroused imagination, +even while there continued to haunt him a dim tantalizing remembrance +he was unable wholly to master. He assuredly had never either seen or +heard of this young woman before, yet she constantly reminded him of +the past. Her eyes, the peculiar contour of her face, the rather odd +trick she had of shaking back the straying tresses of her dark, glossy +hair, and, above all, that quick smile with which she greeted any flash +of humor, and which produced a fascinating dimple in her cheek, all +served to puzzle and stimulate him; while admiration of her so apparent +womanliness began as instantly to replace the vague curiosity he had +felt toward her as an actress. She was different from what he had +imagined, with absolutely nothing to suggest the glare and glitter of +the footlights. Until this time he had scarcely been conscious that +she possessed any special claim to beauty; yet now, her face, illumined +by those dark eyes filled with quick intelligence, became most +decidedly attractive, peculiarly lovable and womanly. Besides, she +evidently possessed a rare taste in dress, which met with his masculine +approval. Much of this, it is true, he reasoned out later and slowly, +for during that first meal only two circumstances impressed him +clearly--the depth of feeling glowing within those wonderfully +revealing eyes, and her complete ignoring of his presence. If she +recognized any addition to their number, there was not the slightest +sign given. Once their eyes met by merest accident; but hers +apparently saw nothing, and Winston returned to his disagreeable labors +at the Opera House, nursing a feeling akin to disappointment. + +Concealed within the gloomy shadows of the wings, he stood entranced +that night watching her depict the character of a wife whose previous +happy life had been irretrievably ruined by deceit; and the force, the +quiet originality of her depiction, together with its marvellous +clearness of detail and its intense realism, held him captive. The +plot of the play was ugly, melodramatic, and entirely untrue to nature; +against it Winston's cultivated taste instantly revolted; yet this +woman interpreted her own part with the rare instinct of a true artist, +picturing to the very life the particular character intrusted to her, +and holding the house to a breathless realization of what real artistic +portrayal meant. In voice, manner, action, in each minute detail of +face and figure, she was truly the very woman she represented. It was +an art so fine as to make the auditors forget the artist, forget even +themselves. Her perfect workmanship, clear-cut, rounded, complete, +stood forth like a delicate cameo beside the rude buffoonery of T. +Macready Lane, the coarse villany of Albrecht, and the stiff mannerisms +of the remainder of the cast. They were automatons as compared with a +figure instinct with life animated by intelligence. She seemed to +redeem the common clay of the coarse, unnatural story, and give to it +some vital excuse for existence, the howls of laughter greeting the +cheap wit of the comedian changed to a sudden hush of expectancy at her +mere entrance upon the stage, while her slightest word, or action, +riveted the attention. It was a triumph beyond applause, beyond any +mere outward demonstration of approval. Winston felt the spell deeply, +his entire body thrilling to her marvellous delineation of this common +thing, her uplifting of it out of the vile ruck of its surroundings and +giving unto it the abundant life of her own interpretation. Never once +did he question the real although untrained genius back of those +glowing eyes, that expressive face, those sincere, quiet tones which so +touched and swayed the heart. In other days he had seen the stage at +its best, and now he recognized in this woman that subtle power which +must conquer all things, and eventually "arrive." + +Early the following morning, tossing uneasily upon a hard cot-bed in +the next town listed in their itinerary, he discovered himself totally +unable to divorce this memory from his thoughts. She even mingled with +his dreams,--a rounded, girlish figure, her young face glowing with the +emotions dominating her, her dark eyes grave with thoughtfulness,--and +he awoke, at last, facing another day of servile toil, actually +rejoicing to remember that he was part of the "Heart of the World." +That which he had first assumed from a mere spirit of play, the veriest +freak of boyish adventure, had suddenly developed into a real impulse +to which his heart gave complete surrender. + +To all outward appearances Miss Beth Norvell remained serenely +unconscious regarding either his admiration or his presence. It was +impossible to imagine that in so small a company he could continually +pass and repass without attracting notice, yet neither word nor look +passed between them; no introduction had been accorded, and she merely +ignored him, under the natural impression, without doubt, that he was +simply an ignorant roustabout of the stage, a wielder of trunks, a +manipulator of scenery, in whom she could feel no possible interest. A +week passed thus, the troupe displaying their talents to fair business, +and constantly penetrating into more remote regions, stopping at all +manner of hotels, travelling in every species of conveyance, and +exhibiting their ability, or lack of it, upon every makeshift of a +stage. Sometimes this was a bare hall; again it was an armory, with an +occasional opera house--like an oasis in the vast desert--to yield them +fresh professional courage. Small cities, straggling towns, boisterous +mining camps welcomed and speeded them on, until sameness became +routine, and names grew meaningless. It was the sort of life to test +character thoroughly, and the "Heart of the World" troupe of strollers +began very promptly to exhibit its kind. Albrecht, who was making +money, retained his coarse good-nature unruffled by the hardships of +travel; but the majority of the stage people grew morose and +fretful,--the eminent comedian, glum and unapproachable as a bear; the +leading gentleman swearing savagely over every unusual worry, and +acting the boor generally; the _ingénue_, snappy and cat-like. Miss +Norvell alone among them all appeared as at first, reserved, quiet, +uncomplaining, forming no intimate friendships, yet performing her +nightly work with constantly augmenting power. Winston, ever observing +her with increasing interest, imagined that the strain of such a life +was telling upon her health, exhibiting its baleful effect in the +whitening of her cheeks, in those darker shadows forming beneath her +eyes, as well as in a shade less of animation in her manner. Yet he +saw comparatively little of her, his own work proving sufficiently +onerous; the quick jumps from town to town leaving small opportunity +for either rest or reflection. He had been advanced to a small +speaking part, but the remainder of his waking hours, while he was +attired in working-clothes, was diligently devoted to the strenuous +labor of his muscles. The novelty of the life had long since vanished, +the so eagerly expected experience had already become amply sufficient; +again and again, flinging his wearied body upon a cot in some strange +room, he had called himself an unmitigated ass, and sworn loudly that +he would certainly quit in the morning. Yet the girl held him. He did +not completely realize how or why, yet some peculiar, indefinite +fascination appeared to bind his destinies to her; he ever desired to +see her once again, to be near her, to feel the charm of her work, to +listen to the sound of her voice, to experience the thrill of her +presence. So strong and compelling became this influence over him that +day after day he held on, actually afraid to sever that slight bond of +professional companionship. + +This was most assuredly through no fault of hers. It was at +Shelbyville that she first spoke to him, first gave him the earliest +intimation that she even so much as recognized his presence in the +company. The house that particular night was crowded to the doors, and +she, completing a piece of work which left her cheeks flushed, her +slender form trembling from intense emotion, while the prolonged +applause thundered after her from the front, stepped quickly into the +gloomy shadows of the wings, and thus came face to face with Winston. +His eyes were glowing with unconcealed appreciation of her art. +Perhaps the quick reaction had partially unstrung her nerves, for she +spoke with feverish haste at sight of his uprolled sleeves and coarse +woollen shirt. + +"How does it occur that you are always standing directly in my passage +whenever I step from the stage?" she questioned impetuously. "Is there +no other place where you can wait to do your work except in my exit?" + +For a brief moment the surprised man stood hesitating, hat in hand. + +"I certainly regret having thus unintentionally offended you, Miss +Norvell," he explained at last, slowly. "Yet, surely, the occasion +should bring you pleasure rather than annoyance." + +"Indeed! Why, pray?" + +"Because I so greatly enjoy your work. I stood here merely that I +might observe the details more carefully." + +She glanced directly at him with suddenly aroused interest. + +"You enjoy my work?" she exclaimed, slightly smiling. "How extremely +droll! Yet without doubt you do, precisely as those others, out +yonder, without the slightest conception of what it all means. +Probably you are equally interested in the delicate art of Mr. T. +Macready Lane?" + +Winston permitted his cool gray eyes to brighten, his firmly set lips +slightly to relax. + +"Lane is the merest buffoon," he replied quietly. "You are an artist. +There is no comparison possible, Miss Norvell. The play itself is +utterly unworthy of your talent, yet you succeed in dignifying it in a +way I can never cease to admire." + +She stood staring straight at him, her lips parted, apparently so +thoroughly startled by these unexpected words as to be left speechless. + +"Why," she managed to articulate at last, her cheeks flushing, "I +supposed you like the others we have had with us--just--just a common +stage hand. You speak with refinement, with meaning." + +"Have you not lived sufficiently long in the West to discover that men +of education are occasionally to be found in rough clothing?" + +"Oh, yes," doubtfully, her eyes still on his face, "miners, stockmen, +engineers, but scarcely in your present employment." + +"Miss Norvell," and Winston straightened up, "possibly I may be +employed here for a reason similar to that which has induced you to +travel with a troupe of barn-stormers." + +She shrugged her shoulders, her lips smiling, the seductive dimple +showing in her cheeks. + +"And what was that?" + +"The ambition of an amateur to attain a foothold upon the professional +stage." + +"Who told you so?" + +"Mr. Samuel Albrecht was guilty of the suggestion. + +"It was extremely nice of him to discuss my motives thus freely with a +stranger. But he told you only a very small portion of the truth. In +my case it was rather the imperative necessity of an amateur to earn +her own living--a deliberate choice between the professional stage and +starvation." + +"Without ambition?" + +She hesitated slightly, yet there was a depth of respect slumbering +within those gray eyes gazing so directly into her darker ones, +together with a strength she felt. + +"Without very much at first, I fear," she confessed, as though +admitting it rather to herself alone, "yet I acknowledge it has since +grown upon me, until I have determined to succeed." + +His eyes brightened, the admiration in them unconcealed, his lips +speaking impulsively. + +"And what is more, Miss Norvell, you 'll make it." + +"Do you truly believe so?" She had already forgotten that the man +before her was a mere stage hand, and her cheeks burned eagerly to the +undoubted sincerity of his utterance. "No one else has ever said that +to me--only the audiences have appeared to care and appreciate. +Albrecht and all those others have scarcely offered me a word of +encouragement." + +"Albrecht and the others are asses," ejaculated Winston, with sudden +indignation. "They imagine they are actors because they prance and +bellow on a stage, and they sneer at any one who is not in their class. +But I can tell you this, Miss Norvell, the manager considers you a +treasure; he said as much to me." + +She stood before him, the glare of the stage glinting in her hair, her +hands clasped, her dark eyes eagerly reading his face as though these +unexpected words of appreciation had yielded her renewed courage, like +a glass of wine. + +"Really, is that true? Oh, I am so glad. I thought, perhaps, they +were only making fun of me out in front, although I have always tried +so hard to do my very best. You have given me a new hope that I may +indeed master the art. Was that my cue?" + +She stepped quickly backward, listening to the voices droning on the +stage, but there remained still a moment of liberty, and she glanced +uncertainly about at Winston. + +"Am I to thank you for giving me such immaculate dressing-rooms of +late?" she questioned, just a little archly. + +"I certainly wielded the broom." + +"It was thoughtful of you," and her clear voice hesitated an instant. +"Was--was it you, also, who placed those flowers upon my trunk last +evening?" + +He bowed, feeling slightly embarrassed by the swift returning restraint +in her manner. + +"They were most beautiful. Where did you get them?" + +"From Denver; they were forwarded by express, and I am only too glad if +they brought you pleasure." + +"Miracle of miracles! A stage-hand ordering roses from Denver! It +must have cost you a week's salary." + +He smiled: + +"And, alas, the salary has not even been paid." + +Her eyes were uplifted to his face, yet fell as suddenly, shadowed +behind the long lashes. + +"I thank you very much," she said, her voice trembling, "only please +don't do it again; I would rather not have you." + +Before he could frame a satisfactory answer to so unexpected a +prohibition she had stepped forth upon the stage. + +This brief interview did not prove as prolific of results as Winston +confidently expected. Miss Norvell evidently considered such casual +conversation no foundation for future friendship, and although she +greeted him when they again met, much as she acknowledged +acquaintanceship with the others of the troupe, there remained a quiet +reserve about her manner, which effectually barred all thought of +possible familiarity. Indeed, that she ever again considered him as in +any way differing from the others about her did not once occur to +Winston until one evening at Bluffton, when by chance he stood resting +behind a piece of set scenery and thus overheard the manager as he +halted the young lady on the way to her dressing room. + +"Meess Norvell," and Albrecht stood rubbing his hands and smiling +genially, "at Gilchrist we are pilled to blay for dwo nights, und der +second blay vill be der 'Man from der Vest'--you know dot bart, Ida +Somers?" + +"Yes," she acknowledged, "I am perfectly acquainted with the lines, but +who is to play Ralph Wilde?" + +"Mister Mooney, of course. You tink dot I import some actors venever I +change der pill?" + +She lifted her dark, expressive eyes to his mottled face, slowly +gathering up her skirts in one hand. + +"As you please," she said quietly, "but I shall not play Ida Somers to +Mr. Mooney's Ralph Wilde. I told you as much plainly before we left +Denver, and it was for that special reason the 'Heart of the World' was +substituted. The more I have seen of Mr. Mooney since we took the +road, the less I am inclined to yield in this matter." + +Albrecht laughed coarsely, his face reddening. + +"Oh, bah!" he exclaimed, gruffly derisive. "Ven you begome star then +you can have dem tantrums, but not now, not mit me. You blay vat I +say, or I send back after some von else. You bedder not get too gay, +or you lose your job damn quick. You don't vant Mooney to make lofe to +you? You don't vant him to giss you?--hey, vos dot it?" + +"Yes, that was exactly it." + +"Ach!--you too nice to be brofessional; you like to choose your lofer, +hey? You forget you earn a livin' so. Vot you got against Mooney?" + +Miss Norvell, her cheeks burning indignantly, her eyes already ablaze, +did not mince words. + +"Nothing personally just so long as he keeps away from me," she +retorted clearly. "He is coarse, vulgar, boorish, and I have far too +much respect for myself to permit such a man to touch me, either upon +the stage or off; to have him kiss me would be an unbearable insult." + +Albrecht, totally unable to comprehend the feelings of the girl, +shifted uneasily beneath the sharp sting of her words, yet continued to +smile idiotically. + +"Dot is very nice, quite melodramatic, but it is not brofessional, +Meess," he stammered, striving to get hold of some satisfactory +argument. "Vy, Mooney vos not so pad. Meess Lyle she act dot bart mit +him all der last season, and make no kick. Dunder! vat you vant--an +angel? You don't hafe to take dot bart mit me, or Meester Lane either, +don 't it, hey?" + +Miss Norvell turned contemptuously away from him, her face white with +determination. + +"If you really want to know, there is only one man in all your troupe I +would consent to play it with," she declared calmly. + +"Und dot is?" + +"I do not even know his name," and she turned her head just +sufficiently to look directly into Albrecht's surprised face; "but I +refer to your new utility man; he, at least, possesses some of the +ordinary attributes of a gentleman." + +The door of her dressing-room opened and closed, leaving the startled +manager standing alone without, gasping for breath, his thick lips +gurgling impotent curses, while Winston discreetly drew farther back +amid the intricacy of scenery. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A BREAKING OF ICE + +The troupe in its wandering arrived at Bolton Junction early on a +Saturday afternoon, and Winston, lingering a moment in the hotel +office, overheard Miss Norvell ask the manager if they would probably +spend Sunday there; and later question the hotel clerk regarding any +Episcopalian services in the town. Their rather late arrival, however, +kept him so exceedingly busy with stage preparation for the evening's +performance that this conversation scarcely recurred to mind until his +night's labor had been completed. Then, in the silence of his room, he +resolved upon an immediate change in conditions, or else the deliberate +giving up of further experiment altogether. He was long since tired +enough of it, yet a strange, almost unaccountable attraction for this +young woman continued binding him to disagreeable servitude. + +He came down stairs the following morning, his plans completely +determined upon. He was carefully dressed in the neat business suit +which had been packed away ever since his first reckless plunge into +theatrical life, and thus attired he felt more like his old self than +at any moment since his surrender to the dictation of Albrecht. In +some degree self-confidence, audacity, hope, came promptly trooping +back with the mere donning of clean linen and semi-fashionable attire, +so that Winston "utility" became Winston gentleman, in the twinkling of +an eye. The other members of the troupe slept late, leaving him to +breakfast alone after vainly loitering about the office in the hope +that Miss Norvell might by some chance appear and keep him company. It +was almost mortifying to behold that young woman enter the deserted +dining-room soon after he had returned to the lonely office, but she +gave no sign of recognition in passing, and his returned audacity +scarcely proved sufficient to permit his encroachment upon her privacy. +He could only linger a moment at the desk in an effort to catch a +better view of her through the partially open door. + +Nervously gripping a freshly lighted cigar, Winston finally strolled +forth upon the wide porch to await, with all possible patience, the +opportunity he felt assured was fast approaching. It was a bright +spring morning, sufficiently warm to be comfortable without in the +sunshine, although the mountains overshadowing the town were yet white +with snow. The one long, straggling business street appeared +sufficiently lonely, being almost deserted, the shops closed. The +notable contrast between its present rather dreary desolation and the +wild revelry of the previous night seemed really painful, while the +solemn prevailing stillness served to weaken Winston's bold resolutions +and brought him a strange timidity. He slowly strolled a block or +more, peering in at the shop windows, yet never venturing beyond easy +view of the hotel steps. Then he sauntered as deliberately back again. +Lane and Mooney were now stationed upon the porch, tipping far back in +their chairs, their feet deposited on the convenient railing, smoking +and conversing noisily with a group of travelling men. Winston, to his +disgust, caught little scraps of the coarse stories exchanged, +constantly greeted by roars of laughter, but drew as far away from +their immediate vicinity as possible, leaning idly against the rail. +Far down the street, from some unseen steeple, a church bell rang +solemnly. Listening, he wondered if she would come alone, and a dread +lest she might not set his heart throbbing. + +Albrecht, looking not unlike a fat hog newly shaven, sauntered out of +the open office door, and stared idly about. He spoke a gracious word +or two to his rather silent utility man, viewing his well-cut clothing +with some apparent misgiving, finally drifting over to join the more +congenial group beyond. Winston did not alter his chosen position, but +remained with watchful eyes never long straying from off the ladies' +entrance, a few steps to his left. All at once that slightly used door +opened, and the hot blood leaped through his veins as Miss Norvell +stepped forth unaccompanied. She appeared well groomed, looking dainty +enough in her blue skirt and jacket, her dark hair crowned by the +tasteful blue toque, a prayer-book clasped in one neatly gloved hand. +As she turned unconsciously toward the steps, Winston lifted his hat +and bowed. With a quick upward glance of surprise the girl recognized +him, a sudden flush crimsoning her cheeks, her eyes as instantly +dropping before his own. In that sudden revelation the young man +appeared to her an utterly different character from what she had +formerly considered him; the miracle of good clothing, of environment, +had suddenly placed them upon a level of companionship. That Winston +likewise experienced something of this same exaltation was plainly +evident, although his low voice trembled in momentary excitement. + +"I trust you will pardon my presumption," he said, taking the single +step necessary to face her, "but I confess having been deliberately +waiting here to request the privilege of walking to church beside you." + +"Beside me? Indeed!" and both lips and eyes smiled unreservedly back +at him. "And how did you chance to guess it was my intention to +attend? Is it a peculiarity of leading ladies?" + +"As to that I cannot safely say, my acquaintance among them being +limited." He was acquiring fresh confidence from her cordial manner. +"But I chanced to overhear your questioning the clerk last night, and +the bold project at once took possession of me. Am I granted such +permission?" + +Her dark eyes wandered from their early scrutiny of his eager face +toward that small group of interested smokers beyond. What she may +have beheld there was instantly reflected in a pursing of the lips, a +swift decision. + +"I shall be delighted to have your company," she responded, frankly +meeting his eyes, "but longer delay will probably make us late, and I +abominate that." + +As they passed down the steps to the street Winston caught a glimpse of +the others. They were all intently gazing after them, while Mooney had +even risen to his feet and taken a step forward, his cigar still in his +mouth. Then the group behind laughed loudly, and the younger man set +his teeth, his cheeks flushed from sudden anger. He would have enjoyed +dashing back up the steps, and giving those grinning fools a +much-needed lesson, but he glanced aside at his companion, her eyes +downcast, seemingly utterly unconscious of it all, and gripped himself, +walking along beside her, erect and silent. They traversed the entire +deserted block without speaking, each busied indeed with the +intricacies of the board walk. Then Winston sought to break the +somewhat embarrassing silence, his first words sounding strangely +awkward and constrained. + +"It was exceedingly kind of you to grant such privilege when we have +scarcely even spoken to each other before." + +She glanced aside at his grave face, a certain coquettish smile making +her appear suddenly girlish. + +"Possibly if you realized the exact cause of my complete surrender you +might not feel so highly flattered," she confessed, shyly. + +"Indeed! You mean why it was you consented so easily? Then possibly +you had better inform me at once, for I acknowledge feeling quite +conceited already at my good fortune." + +She lifted her eyes questioningly, and for the first time he looked +directly down into their unveiled depths. + +"Then I must certainly make confession. What if I should say, I merely +accepted the lesser of two evils--in short, preferred your company to +something I considered infinitely worse?" + +"You refer to Mooney?" + +She nodded, her dark eyes once again shadowed, her cheeks slightly +reddening beneath his steady gaze. + +"Why, I can scarcely feel greatly flattered at being made the subject +of such a choice," Winston acknowledged with frankness. "The very +conception brings me uneasiness in fear lest my presence may be +unwelcome now that Mooney has been safely left behind. Yet it yields +me boldness also, and I venture to ask Miss Norvell what she would +probably have answered had Mooney been left out of the problem +entirely?" + +His low voice held a ring of subdued earnestness, and the face of the +woman as quickly lost its smile. An instant she hesitated, her eyes +downcast, fully conscious he was anxiously searching her countenance +for the exact truth. + +"And under those conditions," she responded finally, "Miss Norvell +would very probably have answered yes, only it would have been more +deliberately uttered, so that you should have realized the measure of +her condescension." + +Winston laughed. + +"You can have small conception of the intense relief brought me by that +last acknowledgment," he explained cheerfully. "Now I can proceed with +clear conscience, and shall undoubtedly discover in the church service +an expression of my own devout gratitude." + +It was an exceedingly alert exchange of words which followed, each +cautiously exploring a way in toward a somewhat clearer understanding +of the other, yet both becoming quickly convinced that they were not +destined for ordinary acquaintanceship. To Miss Norvell observing her +companion with shy intentness, this erect, manly young fellow with +weather-browned, clean-shaven face and straightforward gray eyes seemed +to evince a power of manhood she instinctively felt and surrendered to. +His were those elements which a woman of her nature must instantly +recognize--physical strength and daring, combined with mental acuteness +and indomitable will. The fact of his present unworthy employment +added the fascination of mystery to his personality, for it was +manifestly impossible to conceive that such a position was all this man +had ever achieved in life. And Winston wondered likewise at her, his +earlier admiration for the bright attractiveness of face and manner +broadening as her mind gave quick response to his leadership. Here was +certainly no commonplace girl of the stage, but an educated, refined, +ambitious woman, matured beyond her years by experience, her +conversation exhibiting a wide range of reading, interwoven, with a +deep knowledge of life. They spoke of ideals, of art, of literature, +of secret aspirations, not often mentioned during such early +acquaintanceship, breaking through that mental barrenness which had +characterized their living for weeks, this common ground of thought and +interest awakening between them an immediate friendliness and frankness +of utterance delightfully inspiring. Almost without comprehending how +it occurred they were chatting together as if the eventful years had +already cemented their acquaintanceship. With cheeks flushed and eyes +glowing from aroused interest Miss Norvell increased in beauty, and +Winston observed her with an admiration finding frank expression in his +eyes. + +It was a small chapel they sought, situated at the extreme end of the +straggling street, and the worshippers were few. At the conclusion of +the ritual and the sermon the two walked forth together in silence, +their former brief intimacy a mere memory, neither realizing exactly +how best to resume a conversation which had been interrupted by so +solemn a service. It was Miss Norvell who first broke the constraint. + +"You are evidently well acquainted with the intricacies of the +prayer-book," she remarked quietly, "and hence I venture to inquire if +you are a churchman." + +"Not exactly, although my parents are both communicants, and I was +brought up to attend service." + +"Do you know, I am glad even of that? It is a little additional bond +between us merely to feel interested in the same church, isn't it? I +was guilty during the service of thinking how exceedingly odd it was +for us to talk so frankly together this morning when we knew absolutely +nothing regarding each other. Would you mind if I questioned you just +a little about yourself?" + +He glanced aside at her in surprise, all remembrance that they were +comparatively strangers having deserted his mind. It seemed as if he +had already known her for years. + +"Most certainly question; I had no thought of any concealment." + +She smiled at the confusedness of his words, yet her own speech was not +entirely devoid of embarrassment. + +"It does appear almost ridiculous, but really I do not even know your +name." + +"It is Ned Winston." + +"Not so bad a name, is it? Do you mind telling me where your home is?" + +"I can scarcely lay claim to such a spot, but my people live in Denver." + +She drew a quick, surprised breath, her eyes instantly falling, as +though she would thus conceal some half-revealed secret. For a moment +her parted lips trembled to a question she hesitated asking. + +"I--I believe I have heard of a Colonel Daniel Winston in Denver, a +banker," she said finally. "I--I have seen his house." + +"He is my father." + +Her shadowing lashes suddenly uplifted, the color once again flooding +the clear cheeks. + +"You are, indeed, becoming a man of mystery," she exclaimed, affecting +lightness of utterance. "The son of Colonel Winston acting as utility +for a troupe of strollers! I can hardly believe it true." + +Winston laughed. + +"It does seem a trifle out of proportion," he confessed, "and I can +hardly hope to make the situation entirely clear. Yet I am not quite +so unworthy my birthright as would appear upon the surface. I will +trust you with a portion of the story, at least, Miss Norvell. I am by +profession a mining engineer, and was sent out, perhaps a month ago, by +a syndicate of Denver capitalists to examine thoroughly into some +promising claims at Shell Rock. I made the examination, completed and +mailed my report, and finally, on the same day your company arrived +there, I discovered myself in Rockton with nothing to do and several +weeks of idleness on my hands. I had intended returning to Denver, but +a sudden temptation seized me to try the experiment of a week or two in +wandering theatrical life. I had always experienced a boyish hankering +that way, and have a natural inclination to seek new experiences. +Albrecht was favorably impressed with my application, and hence I +easily attained to my present exalted position upon the stage." + +"And is that all?" + +"Not entirely; there yet remains a chapter to be added to my +confessions. I acknowledge I should have long since tired of the life +and its hardships, had you not chanced to be a member of the same +troupe." + +"I, Mr. Winston? Why, we have scarcely spoken to each other until +to-day." + +"True, yet I strenuously deny that it was my fault. In fact, I had +firmly determined that we should, and, having been a spoiled child, I +am accustomed to having my own way. This, perhaps, will partially +account for my persistency and for my still being with 'The Heart of +the World.' But all else aside, I early became intensely interested in +your work, Miss Norvell, instantly recognizing that it required no +common degree of ability to yield dignity to so poor a thing as the +play in which you appear. I began to study you and your +interpretation; I never tired of noting those little fresh touches with +which you constantly succeeded in embellishing your lines and your +'business,' and how clearly your conception of character stood forth +against the crude background of those mummers surrounding you. It was +a lesson in interpretative art to me, and one I never wearied of. +Then, I must likewise confess, something else occurred." + +He paused, looking aside at her, and, as though she felt the spell of +that glance, she turned her own face, brightened by such earnest words +of praise, their eyes meeting frankly. + +"What?" + +"The most natural thing in the world--my admiration for the art only +served to increase my early interest in the artist. I began to feel +drawn not only to the actress but to the woman," he said gravely. + +Her eyes never faltered, but faced him bravely, although her cheeks +were like poppies, and her lips faltered in their first bold effort at +swift reply. + +"I am so glad you honestly think that about my work; so glad you told +me. It is a wonderful encouragement, for I know now that you speak as +a man of education, of cultivation. You must have seen the highest +class of stage interpretation, and, I am sure, have no desire merely to +flatter me. You do not speak as if you meant an idle compliment. Oh, +you can scarcely conceive how much success will spell to me, Mr. +Winston," her voice growing deeper from increasing earnestness, her +eyes more thoughtful, "but I am going to tell you a portion of my +life-story in order that you may partially comprehend. This is my +first professional engagement; but I was no stage-struck girl when I +first applied for the position. Rather, the thought was most repugnant +to me. My earlier life had been passed under conditions which held me +quite aloof from anything of the kind. While I always enjoyed +interpreting character as a relaxation, and even achieved, while at +school in the East, a rather enviable reputation as an amateur, I +nevertheless had a distinct prejudice against the professional stage, +even while intensely admiring its higher exponents. My turning to it +for a livelihood was a grim necessity, my first week on the road a +continual horror. I abhorred the play, the making of a nightly +spectacle of myself, the rudeness and freedom of the audiences, the +coarse, common-place people with whom I was constantly compelled to +consort. You know them, and can therefore realize to some extent what +daily association with them must necessarily mean to one of my early +training and familiarity with quieter social customs. But my position +in the troupe afforded me certain privileges of isolation, while my +necessities compelled me to persevere. As a result, the dormant +art-spirit within apparently came to life; ambition began to usurp the +place of indifference; I became more and more disgusted with +mediocrity, and began an earnest struggle toward higher achievements. +I had little to guide me other than my own natural instincts, yet I +persevered. I insisted on living my own life while off the stage, and, +to kill unhappy thought, I devoted all my spare moments to hard study. +Almost to my surprise, the very effort brought with it happiness. I +began to forget the past and its crudities, to blot out the present +with its dull, unpleasant realities, and to live for the future. My +ideals, at first but vague dreams, took form and substance. I +determined to succeed, to master my art, to develop whatever of talent +I might possess to its highest possibility, to become an actress worthy +of the name. This developing ideal has already made me a new woman--it +has given me something to live for, to strive toward." + +She came to a sudden pause, perceiving in the frank gray eyes scanning +her animated face a look which caused her own to droop. Then her lips +set in firmer resolution, and she continued as though in utter +indifference to his presence. + +"You may not comprehend all this, but I do. It was the turning-point +in my life. And I began right where I was. I endeavored to make the +utmost possible out of that miserable melodramatic part which had been +assigned to me. I elected to play it quietly, with an intensity to be +felt and not heard, the very opposite from the interpretation given by +Miss Lyle last season, and I felt assured my efforts were appreciated +by the audiences. It encouraged me to discover them so responsive; but +Albrecht, Lane, and Mooney merely laughed and winked at each other, and +thus hurt me cruelly, although I had little respect for their +criticisms. Still, they were professional actors of experience, and I +was not yet certain that my judgment might not be wrong. Miss Head, +the _ingénue_, a girl of sweet disposition but little education, +praised my efforts warmly, but otherwise your evident appreciation is +my only real reward. I spoke to you that evening in the wings not so +much to scold you for being in the way, as from a hungry, despairing +hope that you might speak some word of encouragement. I was not +disappointed, and I have felt stronger ever since." + +"I should never have suspected any such purpose. We have never so much +as exchanged speech since, until to-day, and then I forced it." + +She shook her head, a vagrant tress of her black hair loosening. + +"You must be a very young and inexperienced man to expect to comprehend +all that any woman feels merely by what she says or does." + +"No," smilingly, "I have advanced beyond that stage of development, +although the mystery of some womanly natures may always remain beyond +me. But can I ask you a somewhat personal question, also?" + +"Most assuredly, yet I expressly reserve the privilege of refusing a +direct reply." + +"Is Beth Norvell your real, or merely your stage name?" + +"Why do you ask? That is a secret which, I believe, an actress is +privileged to keep inviolate." + +"For one particular reason--because I cannot escape a vague impression +that somewhere we have met before." + +She did not respond immediately, her gloved fingers perceptibly +tightening about the prayer-book, her eyes carefully avoiding his own. + +"You are mistaken in that, for we have never met," she said slowly, and +with emphasis. "Moreover, Beth Norvell is my stage name, but in part +it is my true name also." Suddenly she paused and glanced aside at +him. "I have spoken with unusual frankness to you this morning, Mr. +Winston. Most people, I imagine, find me diffident and +uncommunicative--perhaps I appear according to my varying moods. But I +have been lonely, and in some way you have inspired my confidence and +unlocked my life. I believe you to be a man worthy of trust, and +because I thus believe I am now going to request you not to ask me any +more. My past life has not been so bright that I enjoy dwelling upon +it. I have chosen rather to forget it entirely, and live merely for +the future." + +They were standing before the door of the ladies' entrance to the hotel +by this time, and the young man lifted his hat gravely. + +"Your wish shall certainly be respected," he said with courtesy, "yet +that does not necessarily mean that our friendship is to end here." + +Her face became transfigured by a sudden smile, and she impulsively +extended her hand. + +"Assuredly not, if you can withstand my vagaries. I have never made +friends easily, and am the greater surprised at my unceremonious +frankness with you. Yet that only makes it harder to yield up a +friendship when once formed. Do you intend, then, to remain with the +company? I have no choice, but you have the whole world." + +"Yet, my intense devotion to the art of the Thespian holds me captive." + +Their eyes met smilingly, and the next instant the door closed quietly +between them. + +Winston turned aside and entered the gloomy hotel office, feeling +mentally unsettled, undetermined in regard to his future conduct. Miss +Norvell had proven frankly intimate, delightfully cordial, yet +overshadowing it all there remained unquestionably a certain constraint +about both words and actions which continued to perplex and tantalize. +She had something in her past life to conceal; she did not even pretend +to deceive him in this regard, but rather held him off with deliberate +coolness. The very manner in which this had been accomplished merely +served to stimulate his eagerness to penetrate the mystery of her +reserve, and caused him to consider her henceforth as altogether +differing from other girls. She had become a problem, an enigma, which +he would try to solve; and her peculiar nature, baffling, changeable, +full of puzzling moods, served to fascinate his imagination, to invite +his dreaming. A strange thrill swept him when he caught a fleeting +glimpse of white skirt and well-turned ankle as she ran swiftly up the +steep staircase, yet, almost at the same instant, he returned to earth +with a sudden shock, facing Mooney, when the latter turned slowly away +from the window and sneeringly confronted him. The mottled face was +unpleasantly twisted, a half-smoked cigar tilted between his lips. An +instant the half-angry eyes of the two men met. + +"Must have made a conquest, from all appearances," ventured the leading +man with a knowing wink. "Not so damned hard to catch on with, is she, +when the right man tries it?" + +There was a swift, passionate blow, a crash among the overturned +chairs, and Mooney, dazed and trembling, gazed up from the floor at the +rigid, erect figure towering threateningly above him, with squared +shoulders and clenched fists. + +"Utter another word like that, you cur," said Winston, sternly, "and I +'ll break your head. Don't you dare doubt that I 'll keep my word." + +For a breathless moment he stood there, glowering down at the shrinking +wretch on the floor. Then, his face, still set and white with passion, +he turned contemptuously away. Mooney, cursing cowardly behind his +teeth, watched him ascend the stairs, but the younger man never so much +as glanced below. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A NEW DEAL OF THE CARDS + +For the two performances following there occurred an enforced shift of +actors, owing to Mr. Mooney's being somewhat indisposed; and Winston, +aided by considerable prompting from the others, succeeded in getting +through his lines, conscious of much good-natured guying out in front, +and not altogether insensible to Miss Norvell's efforts not to appear +amused. This experience left him in no pleasanter frame of mind, while +a wish to throw over the whole thing returned with renewed temptation. +Why not? What was he continuing to make such a fool of himself for, +anyhow? He was assuredly old enough to be done with chasing after +will-o'-the-wisps; and besides, there was his constant liability to +meet some old acquaintance who would blow the whole confounded story +through the Denver clubs. The thought of the probable sarcasm of his +fellows made him wince. Moreover, he was himself ashamed of his +actions. This actress was nothing to him; he thoroughly convinced +himself of that important fact at least twenty times a day. She was a +delightful companion, bright, witty, full of captivating character, +attractively winsome, to be sure, yet it was manifestly impossible for +him ever to consider her in any more serious way. This became +sufficiently clear to his reasoning, yet, at the same time, he could +never quite break free. She seldom appeared to him twice the +same--proving as changeable as the winds, her very nature seeming to +vary with a suddenness which never permitted his complete escape from +her fascinations, but left him to surmise how she would greet him next. +Frank or distant, filled with unrestrained gayety or dignified by +womanly reserve, smiling or grave, the changeable vagaries of Miss +Norvell were utterly beyond his guessing, while back of all these +outward manifestations of tantalizing personality, there continually +lurked a depth of hidden womanhood, which as constantly baffled his +efforts at fathoming. It piqued him to realize his own helplessness, +to comprehend how completely this girl turned aside his most daring +efforts at uncovering the true trend of her heart and life. She +refused to be read, wearing her various masks with a cool defiance +which apparently bespoke utter indifference to his good opinion, while +constantly affording him brief, tantalizing glimpses into half-revealed +depths that caused his heart to throb with anticipation never entirely +realized. + +It did not once occur to his mind that such artifices might be directed +as much toward herself as him; he lacked the conceit which could have +convinced him that they merely marked a secret struggle for mastery, a +desperate effort to crush an inclination to surrender before the +temptation of the moment. It was a battle for deliverance being fought +silently behind a mask of smiles, an exchange of sparkling commonplace; +yet ever beneath this surface play she was breathing a fervent prayer +that he would go away of his own volition and leave her free. Far more +clearly than he, the woman recognized the utter impossibility of any +serious purpose between them, and she fought his advances with every +weapon in her armory, her very soul trembling behind the happy smiling +of her lips. It was bravely attempted, and yet those dull weapons of +defence served merely to increase his interest, to awaken his passion, +and thus bind him more strongly to her. Safe once again from general +observation, he returned to the obscurity of the wings and to the +routine handling of trunks and scenery, feeling totally unable to +permit her to pass entirely out of his life. Within her own room she +dampened her pillow with tears of regret and remorse, yet finally she +sank to sleep strangely happy because he lingered. It was the way of a +woman; it was no less the way of a man. + +It was thus that the "Heart of the World" players came to fulfil their +engagement at San Juan upon a Saturday night. This was the liveliest +camp in all that mountain region, a frantic, feverish, mushroom city of +tents and shacks, sprawling frame business blocks, and a few ugly brick +abominations, perched above the golden rocks of the Vila Valley, +bounded on one side by the towering cliffs, on the other by the +pitiless desert. In those days San Juan recognized no material +distinction between midnight and noon-day. All was glitter, glow, +life, excitement along the streets; the gloomy overhanging mountains +were pouring untold wealth into her lap, while vice and crime, +ostentation and lawlessness, held high carnival along the crowded, +straggling byways. The exultant residents existed to-day in utter +carelessness of the morrow, their one dominant thought gold, their sole +acknowledged purpose those carnal pleasures to be purchased with it. +Everything was primitive, the animal yet in full control, the drinking, +laughing, fighting animal, filled with passion and blood-lust, +worshipping bodily strength, and governed by the ideals of a frontier +society wherein the real law hung dangling at the hip. Saloons, +gambling halls, dance halls, and brothels flaunted themselves +shamelessly upon every hand; the streets exhibited one continual riot, +while all higher life was seemingly rendered inactive by inordinate +grasping after wealth, and reckless squandering of it on appetite and +vice; over all, as if blazoned across the blue sky, appeared the +ever-recurring motto of careless humanity, "Eat, drink, and be merry, +for to-morrow ye die." Hardly a week before a short railroad spur had +been constructed up the narrow, rock-guarded valley from Bolton +Junction, eighteen miles to the northward, and over those uneven rails +the "Heart of the World" troupe of adventurous strollers arrived at San +Juan, to find lodgment in that ramshackle pile of boards known locally +as the "Occidental Hotel." + +The San Juan Opera House, better known as the Gayety, was in truth +merely an adjunct to the Poodle-Dog Saloon, the side-doors from the +main floor opening directly into the inviting bar-room, while those in +the gallery afforded an equally easy egress into the spacious gambling +apartments directly above. It was a monstrous ugly building, +constructed entirely of wood most hastily prepared; the stage was +utilized both night and day for continuous variety entertainments of +the kind naturally demanded by the motley gathering. These, however, +were occasionally suspended to make room for some adventurous +travelling company to appear in the legitimate drama, but at the close +of every evening performance the main floor was promptly cleared, the +rows of chairs pushed hastily back from the centre, and the space thus +vacated utilized for a general dance, which invariably continued until +dawn. + +When the drop-curtain slowly rose that Saturday evening fully three +thousand people crowded the hall, eager for any fresh excitement; and +ready enough either to taunt or applaud a performer, as the whim moved +them. Bearded miners conspicuous in red shirts; cattlemen wearing wide +sombreros and hairy "chaps"; swarthy Mexicans lazily puffing the +inseparable cigarette; gamblers attired in immaculate linen, together +with numerous women gaudy of cheek and attire, composed a frontier +audience full of possibilities. The result might easily prove good or +evil, according to the prevailing temper, but fortunately the "Heart of +the World" quickly caught the men's fancy, the laughter ringing loud in +appreciation of Mr. Lane's ardent buffoonery, while the motley crowd +sat in surprised silence evincing respect, as Miss Norvell drove home +to their minds the lesson of a woman's sorrow and struggle against +temptation. It was well worth while looking out across the oil-lamp +footlights upon those hard-faced, bearded men, those gaudily attired +women, thus held and controlled by perfectly depleted emotion, the vast +audience so silent that the click of the wheel, the rattle of ivory +chips in the rooms beyond, became plainly audible. There was +inspiration in it likewise, and never before did Beth Norvell more +clearly exhibit her native power, her spark of real genius. + +Winston found little to do in his department that night, either on or +off the stage, as the company expected to spend Sunday in the place. +Consequently, he was only slightly behind the other members of the +troupe in attaining the hotel at the conclusion of the evening's +performance. Indeed, he was earlier than many, for most of the male +members had promptly adjourned to the convenient bar-room, with +whatsoever small sums of money they could wring from out the reluctant +palm of Albrecht. Winston chanced to pause for a moment at the cigar +stand to exchange a pleasant good-night word with the seemingly genial +clerk. + +"You one of the actors?" questioned the latter, exhibiting some slight +interest. + +The young man nodded indifferently, not feeling unduly proud of the +distinction. + +"Sorry I couldn't have been there," the other went on cordially. "The +boys tell me you gave 'em a mighty fine show, but I 'm here to bet that +some of your people wish they 'd steered clear of San Juan." + +"How's that?" + +"Why, that fat fellow--what's his name?--oh, yes, Albrecht--the sheriff +was in here hunting him with some papers he had to serve, and it would +have made you laugh just to see that duck climb out when I met him +yonder on the street a few minutes ago, and gave him the highball. +Guest of the house, you know, and we did n't want him pinched in here; +besides, we understood he carried the scads for the rest of your bunch, +and we naturally wanted our share. The sheriff's out tryin' to find +him now; but Lord! the fellow 's safe enough out of the county by this +time, if he skipped the way I advised him he 'd better. There was an +extra ore train goin' down to Bolton to-night, and he just had time to +catch it on the run." + +The dramatic situation slowly dawned on Winston while the clerk was +speaking. + +"Do you mean to tell me Albrecht has actually skipped out?" he +questioned, anxiously. "Did he leave any money?" + +"Sure; he paid your folks' board till Monday. You bet I looked after +that." + +"Board till Monday!" and Winston totally forgot himself. "That is n't +salary, man; there is something infernally dirty about this whole deal. +Why, he took in over three thousand dollars to-night, and he's got all +of that, and at least a week's receipts besides--the infernal cur! Was +he alone?" + +"Tall fellow with clipped black moustache, and bald head." + +"Lane; I expected as much; they're birds of a feather. When can they +get out of the Junction?" + +"Well, the first train scheduled goes east at four o'clock, but it 's +generally late." + +Winston walked twice across the floor, alternately swearing and +thinking. + +"Is there any way I could get there before that time?" he questioned, +finally, his square jaw setting firm. + +"Well, I reckon you might, by goin' hossback across the old trail, but +you 'd need to have a guide in the dark, and you 'd find it a hell of a +hard ride." + +The young engineer stood a moment staring out of the window into the +night. The street was well illumined by the numerous saloon lights, +and he could perceive scattering flakes of snow in the air, blown about +by the gusty wind. He no longer felt the slightest doubt regarding +Albrecht's desertion, and a wave of indignation swept over him. He did +not greatly care himself regarding the small amount of money due for +his services, but it was a dirty, contemptible trick, and he resented +being so easily made the victim of such a scheme. Suddenly he wondered +how this unexpected occurrence might affect the others. With one of +them alone in mind he strode back to the counter, his teeth clinched +savagely. + +"What is the number of Miss Norvell's room?" + +"Fifty-four--first door to the right of the stairs." + +He took the steep flight of steps at a run, caught a glimpse of dimly +reflected light shining through the closed transom, and rapped sharply. +There was a hurried movement within, and her voice spoke. + +"What is wanted?" + +"I am Mr. Winston, and I must speak with you at once." + +His tone was sufficiently low and earnest to make her realize instantly +some grave emergency. Without hesitation the door was held open, and +she stood before him in the faint light of the single lamp, wearing a +fleecy white wrapper, her dark hair partially disarranged, her eyes +seeking his own in bewilderment. + +"What is it?" + +"Are you aware that both Albrecht and Lane have skipped out?" + +"Why, no," her cheeks suddenly paling, her fingers clasping the edge of +the door. "Do you mean they have deserted us here to--to take care of +ourselves?" + +He nodded. "Yes, that's about it. What I came to ask was, does that +fellow owe you any money?" + +For an instant she hesitated, as if in lingering distrust of his exact +purpose, her lips parted, her face still plainly picturing the shock of +discovery. + +"What difference can that possibly make now? Why do you require to +know?" + +"Because I half believe you have been left penniless. Albrecht has not +even spoken about any pay to me since I joined the company; and when I +learned he had deliberately left us stalled here, my first thought was +of your unpleasant situation if my suspicions proved true." + +"If they were, what is there you can do?" + +"The hotel clerk says it is possible to reach the Junction on horseback +before any trains leave there on the main line. I propose to make him +disgorge, but I must know first exactly how things stand. Have you any +money?" + +She stood gazing at him, her anger, shame, all forgotten in the +fascination of Winston's determined face. For the first time she +thoroughly comprehended the cool, compelling power of this man, and it +mastered her completely. She felt no longer the slightest doubt of +what he purposed doing, and her woman heart swelled responsively to his +masculine strength. + +"I--I have n't got a dollar," she confessed simply, her lashes drooping +over her lowered eyes. + +"What does that fellow owe you?" + +"Two hundred and sixty dollars; he has merely dribbled out what little +I have been actually compelled to ask for." + +A moment he remained standing there, breathing hard. Once she ventured +to glance up inquiringly, only to catch his stern eyes, and as +instantly lower her own. + +"All right, Miss Norvell," he said finally, the words seeming fairly to +explode from between his lips. "I understand the situation now, and +you are to remain here until I come back. I 'll get your money, don't +fear, if I have to trail him clear to Denver, but I 'll take what +little the miserable thief owes me out of his hide." + +The next moment he was down below in the office rapidly preparing for +action, and Miss Norvell, leaning far out across the banister, listened +to his quick, nervous words of instruction with an odd thrill of pride +that left her cheeks crimson. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +IN OPEN REBELLION + +"It wus about the durndest fight as ever I see," explained Bill Hicks +confidentially to a group of his cronies in the bar-room of the +Poodle-Dog, while he tossed down a glass of red liquor, and shook the +powdered snowflakes from his bearskin coat. "He wus a sorter slim, +long-legged chap, thet young actor feller I showed the trail down ter +Bolton ter, an' he scurcely spoke a word all durin' thet whol' blame +ride. Search me, gents, if I c'd git either head er tail outer jist +whut he wus up to, only thet he proposed ter knock ther block off some +feller if he had the good luck ter ketch 'im. Somehow, I reckoned he +'d be mighty likely ter perform the job, the way his jaw set an' his +eyes flared. Leastwise, I didn't possess no rip-roarin' ambition fer +ter be thet other feller. Still, I didn't suppose he was no whirlwind." + +Bill mechanically held out his drained glass, and, warming up somewhat, +flung his discarded overcoat across a vacant bench, his eyes beginning +to glow with reawakened enthusiasm. + +"But, by gory, he wus! He wus simply chain lightnin', thet kid, an' +the way he handed out his dukes wus a sight fer sore eyes. I got onto +the facts sorter slow like, neither of us bein' much on the converse, +but afore we hed reached Bolton I managed to savvy the most of it. It +seems thet feller Albrecht--the big, cock-eyed cuss who played Damon, +ye recollect, gents--wus the boss of the show. He wus the Grand Moke, +an' held the spuds. Well, he an' thet one they call Lane jumped the +ore train last night, carryin' with 'em 'bout all the specie they'd +been corrallin' fer a week past, and started hot-foot fer Denver, +intendin' ter leave all them other actor people in the soup. This yere +lad hed got onter the racket somehow, an' say, he wus plumb mad; he wus +too damn mad ter talk, an' when they git thet fur gone it's 'bout time +fer the innocent spectator ter move back outen range. So he lassoed me +down at Gary's barn fer ter show him the ol' trail, an' we had one hell +of a night's ride of it. But, gents, I would n't o' missed bein' thar +fer a heap. It was a great scrape let me tell you. We never see hide +ner hair of thet Albrecht or his partner till jist afore the main-line +train pulled in goin' north. The choo-choo wus mighty nigh two hours +late, so it wus fair daylight by then, an' we got a good sight o' them +two fellers a-leggin' it toward the station from out the crick bottom, +whar they 'd been layin' low. They wus both husky-lookin' bucks, an' I +was sufficient interested by then ter offer ter sorter hold one of 'em +while the kid polished off the other. But Lord! that wan't his style, +no how, and he just politely told me ter go plumb ter hell, an' then +waltzed out alone without nary a gun in his fist. He wus purty white +round the lips, but I reckon it wus only mad, fur thar wus n't nothin' +weak about his voice, an' the way he lambasted thet thief wus a caution +ter snakes. Say, I 've heerd some considerable ornate language in my +time, but thet kid had a cinch on the dictionary all right, an' he read +them two ducks the riot act good an' plenty. Thet long-legged Lane, he +did n't have no sand, an' hung back and did n't say much, but the other +feller tried every sneakin' trick a thief knows, only he bucked up agin +a stone wall every time. Thet young feller just simply slathered him; +he called him every name I ever heerd, an' some considerable others, +an' finally, when the train was a-pullin' in, the cuss unlimbered his +wad, an' began peelin' off the tens an' twenties till I thought the +whole show wus over fer sure. But Lord! I didn't know thet kid--no +more did thet Albrecht." + +Hicks wet his lips with his tongue, pausing, after the manner of a good +_raconteur_, to gaze calmly about upon the faces of his auditors. + +"I could n't see jist how much the feller disgorged, but he wus +almighty reluctant an' nifty about it; an' then I heerd him say, +sneerin'-like, 'Now, damn yer, how much more do _you_ want?' An', +gents, what do yer think thet actor kid did? Cop ther whole blame +pile? Not on yer whiskers, he didn't. He jist shoved them scads +what hed been given him careless-like down inter his coat pocket, an' +faced Mister Manager. 'Not a dirty penny, Albrecht,' he said, sorter +soft-like; 'I 'm a-goin' to take whut yer owe me out of yer right now.' +An', by gory, gents, he sure did. I can't say as how I see much o' the +fracas, 'ceptin' the dust, but when thet long-legged Lane jerked out a +pearl-handled pop-gun I jist naturally rapped him over the knuckles +with my '45.' an' then tossed him over inter the bunch. Say, thet beat +any three-ringed circus ever I see. The kid he pounded Albrecht's head +on the platform, occasionally interestin' Lane by kickin' him in the +stomick, while I jist waltzed 'round promiscous-like without seein' no +special occasion to take holt anywhar. I reckon they 'd a been thar +yit, if the train hands had n't pried 'em apart, an' loaded the remains +onter a keer. An' then thet actor kid he stood thar lookin' fust at +me, an' then after them keers. 'Hicks,' he panted, 'did I git fifty +dollars' worth?' 'I rather reckon ye did,' I said, thoughtfully, 'en +maybe it mought be a hundred.' An' then he laughed, an' brushed the +dust off his clothes. 'All right, then,' says he; 'let's eat.' An' I +never see no nicer feller after he got thet load offen his mind." + +Winston, totally unconscious that he had thus achieved an enviable +reputation in certain rather exclusive social circles of San Juan, +proceeded straight to the hotel, pausing merely a moment in the +wash-room to make himself a trifle more presentable, tramped up the +stairs, and rapped briskly at Miss Norvell's door. He was still +flushed with victory, while the natural confidence felt in her +appreciation of his efforts yielded him a sense of exhilaration not +easily concealed. The door was promptly opened, and, with her first +glance, she read the success of his mission pictured within his face. +As instantly her eyes smiled, and her hand was extended in the +cordiality of welcome. + +"I can perceive without a word being spoken that you discovered your +man," she exclaimed, "and I am so glad!" + +"Yes," he returned, stepping past, and emptying his pockets on the +white coverlet of the bed. "There is the money." + +She glanced at the pile doubtfully. + +"What money?" + +"Why, yours, of course. The money you told me Albrecht owed you." + +She turned, somewhat embarrassed, her eyes upon his surprised face. + +"Do you mean that was all you got?" she questioned finally. "Did he +send nothing for the others? Did n't you know he was equally in debt +to every member of the company?" + +With these words the entire situation dawned upon him for the first +time. He had been thinking only about Miss Norvell, and had permitted +the rascally manager to escape with the greater portion of his stolen +goods. The realization of how easily he had been tricked angered him, +his face darkening. She read the truth as quickly, and, before he +found speech in explanation, had swept the little pile of loose bills +into her lap. + +"Wait here a moment, please," she exclaimed quickly; "I shall be right +back." + +He remained as bidden, wondering dimly as to her purpose, yet her brief +absence yielded but little opportunity for thought. He met her at the +door with an indignantly suspicious question: + +"What have you been doing? Surely, you have n't given all that money +away?" + +The girl smiled, a gleam of defiance visible in the uplifted eyes. + +"Every cent of it. Why, what else could I do? They actually have +nothing, and must get back to Denver or starve." + +For an instant he completely lost his self-control. + +"Why did n't you tell me first?" he asked sharply. "Did you suppose I +collected my own money, and could therefore meet your expenses?" + +He never forgot the expression which swept instantly into her face--the +quick indignation that leaped from the depths of those dark eyes. + +"I was not aware I had ever requested any help from Mr. Winston," she +returned clearly, her slight form held erect. "Your following after +Albrecht was entirely voluntary, but I naturally presumed the money you +brought back belonged to me. You said it did, and hence I supposed it +could be disposed of at my own discretion." + +"You have exhibited none." + +"That would seem to depend entirely upon the point of view. Until I +request your aid, however, your criticism is not desired." + +Both voice and manner were so cold that they were equivalent to +dismissal, but Winston hesitated, already beginning to regret the +bitter harshness of his speech. Beneath his steady gaze her cheeks +flamed hotly. + +"We have been friends," he began more humbly. "Would you mind telling +me something regarding your plans? Just now I feel unable to offer you +either aid or advice." + +Her face perceptibly brightened, as if this new mood quickly appealed +to her. + +"That sounds ever so much better," she admitted, glancing up into his +face. "I have never enjoyed being scolded, as though I were a child +who had done wrong. Besides, I am quite convinced in this case I have +done precisely right. I think you would admit it also if you only had +patience to hear my story. I know exactly what I intend doing, or I +should never have given all that money away. I have an engagement." + +"An engagement? Where? Is there another troupe playing here?" + +She shrugged her shoulders, her hands clasped. + +"No, not in the sense you mean; not the legitimate. I am going to +appear at the Gayety." + +Winston stood grasping the back of the chair, staring straight at her, +his body motionless. For an instant he was conscious of a sudden +revulsion of feeling, a vague distrust of her true character, a doubt +of the real nature of this perverse personality. Such a resolution on +her part shocked him with its recklessness. Either she did not in the +least appreciate what such action meant, or else she woefully lacked in +moral judgment. Slowly, those shadowed dark eyes were uplifted to his +face, as if his very silence had awakened alarm. Yet she merely smiled +at the gravity of his look, shaking her dark hair in coquettish disdain. + +"Again you apparently disapprove," she said with pretence of +carelessness. "How easily I succeed in shocking you to-day! Really, a +stranger might imagine I was under particular obligations to ask your +permission for the mere privilege of living. We have known each other +by sight for all of two weeks, and yet your face already speaks of +dictation. Evidently you do not like the Gayety." + +"No; do you?" + +"I?" she replied doubtfully, with a slight movement of the body more +expressive than words. "There are times when necessity, rather than +taste, must control the choice. But truly, since you ask the question, +I do not like the Gayety. It is far too noisy, too dirty, too gaudy, +and too decidedly primitive. But then, beggars may not always be +choosers, you know. I am no bright, scintillating 'star'; I am not +even a mining engineer possessing a bank account in Denver; I am merely +an unknown professional actress, temporarily stranded, and the good +angel of the Gayety offers me twenty dollars a week. That is my +answer." + +The young man flushed to the roots of his fair hair, his teeth meeting +firmly. + +"There is no 'good angel' of the Gayety--the very atmosphere of that +place would soil an angel's wing," he exclaimed hotly. "Besides, you +are not driven by necessity to any such choice. There is another way +out. As you gently suggested, I am a mining engineer possessing a bank +account at Denver. I will most gladly draw a sight draft to-morrow, +and pay your expenses back to that city, if you will only accept my +offer. Is this fair?" + +"Perfectly so; yet supposing I refuse?" + +"And deliberately choose the Gayety instead?" + +"Yes, and deliberately choose the Gayety instead--what then?" + +She asked the momentous question calmly enough, her mouth rigid, her +eyes challenging him to speak the whole truth. He moistened his dry +lips, realizing that he was being forced into an apparently brutal +bluntness he had sincerely hoped to avoid. + +"Then," he replied, with quiet impressiveness, "I fear such deliberate +action would forfeit my respect." + +She went instantly white before the blow of these unexpected words, her +fingers clasping the door, her eyes as full of physical pain as if he +had struck her with clinched hand. + +"Forfeit your respect!" she echoed, the slender figure quivering, the +voice tremulous. "Rather should I forever forfeit my own, were I to +accept your proffer of money." Her form straightened, a slight tinge +of color rising to the cheeks. "You totally mistake my character. I +have never been accustomed to listening to such words, Mr. Winston, nor +do I now believe I merit them. I choose to earn my own living, and I +retain my own self-respect, even although while doing this I am +unfortunate enough to forfeit yours." + +"But, Miss Norvell, do you realize what the Gayety is?" + +"Not being deprived of all my natural powers of observation, I most +certainly believe I do--we were there together last evening." + +She puzzled, confused him, outwardly appearing to trifle with those +matters which seemed to his mind most gravely serious. Yet, his was a +dogged resolution that would not easily confess defeat. + +"Miss Norvell," he began firmly, and in the depth of his earnestness he +touched her hand where it yet clung to the door, "I may, indeed, be +presuming upon an exceedingly brief friendship, but my sole excuse must +be the very serious interest I feel in you, especially in your +undoubted ability and future as an actress. It is always a great +misfortune for any man to repose trust and confidence in the character +of a woman, and then suddenly awaken to discover himself deceived. +Under these circumstances I should be unworthy of friendship did I fail +in plain speaking. To me, your reckless acceptance of this chance +engagement at the Gayety seems inexpressibly degrading; it is a +lowering of every ideal with which my imagination has heretofore +invested your character. I am not puritanical, but I confess having +held you to a higher plane than others of my acquaintance, and I find +it hard to realize my evident mistake. Yet, surely, you cannot fully +comprehend what it is you are choosing, I was with you last night, +true, but I considered it no honor to appear upon _that_ stage, even +with the 'Heart of the World,' and it hurt me even then to behold you +in the midst of such surroundings. But deliberately to take part in +the regular variety bill is a vastly more serious matter. It is almost +a total surrender to evil, and involves a daily and nightly association +with vice which cannot but prove most repugnant to true womanhood. +Surely, you do not know the true nature of this place?" + +"Then tell it to me." + +"I will, and without any mincing of words. The Gayety is a mere +adjunct to the Poodle-Dog saloon and the gambling hell up-stairs. They +are so closely connected that on the stage last evening I could easily +hear the click of ivory chips and the clatter of drinking glasses. One +man owns and controls the entire outfit, and employs for his variety +stage any kind of talent which will please the vicious class to which +he caters. All questioning as to morality is thoroughly eliminated. +Did you comprehend this?" + +The young girl bowed slightly, her face as grave as his own, and again +colorless, the whiteness of her cheeks a marked contrast to her dark +hair. + +"I understood those conditions fully." + +"And yet consented to appear there?" + +She shook back her slightly disarranged hair, and looked him directly +in the eyes, every line of her face stamped with resolve. + +"Mr. Winston, in the first place, I deny your slightest right to +question me in this manner, or to pass moral judgment upon my motives. +I chance to possess a conscience of my own, and your presumption is +almost insulting. While you were absent in pursuit of Albrecht, the +manager of the Gayety, having chanced to learn the straits we were in, +called upon me here with his proposal. It appeared an honorable one, +and the offer was made in a gentlemanly manner. However, I did not +accept at the time, for the plain reason that I had no desire whatever +to appear upon that stage, and in the midst of that unpleasant +environment. I decided to await your return, and learn whether such a +personal sacrifice of pride would be necessary. Now, I believe I +recognize my duty, and am not afraid to perform it, even in the face of +your displeasure. I am going to deliver the parting scene from the +'Heart of the World,' and I do not imagine my auditors will be any the +worse for hearing it. I certainly regret that the Gayety is an adjunct +to a saloon; I should greatly prefer not to appear there, but, +unfortunately, it is the only place offering me work. I may be +compelled to sink a certain false pride in order to accept, but I shall +certainly not sacrifice one iota of my womanhood. You had no cause +even to intimate such a thing." + +"Possibly not; yet had you been my sister I should have said the same." + +"Undoubtedly, for you view this matter entirely from the standpoint of +the polite world, from the outlook of social respectability, where self +rules every action with the question, 'What will others say?' So +should I two years ago, but conditions have somewhat changed my views. +Professional necessity can never afford to be quite so punctilious, +cannot always choose the nature of its environments: the nurse must +care for the injured, however disagreeable the task; the newspaper +woman must cover her assignment, although it takes her amid filth; and +the actress must thoroughly assume her character, in spite of earlier +prejudices. The woman who deliberately chooses this life must, sooner +or later, adjust herself to its unpleasant requirements; and if her +womanhood remain true, the shallow criticism of others cannot greatly +harm her. I had three alternatives in this case--I could selfishly +accept my handful of money, go to Denver, and leave these other +helpless people here to suffer; I could accept assistance from you, a +comparative stranger; or I could aid them and earn my own way by +assuming an unpleasant task. I chose the last, and my sense of right +upholds me." + +Winston watched her earnestly as she spoke, his gray eyes brightening +with unconscious appreciation, his face gradually losing its harshness +of disapproval. A spirit of independence always made quick appeal to +his favor, and this girl's outspoken defiance of his good opinion set +his heart throbbing. Back of her outward quietness of demeanor there +was an untamed spirit flashing into life. + +"We may never exactly agree as to this question of proprieties," he +acknowledged slowly. "Yet I can partially comprehend your position as +viewed professionally. Am I, then, to understand that your future is +definitely decided upon? You really purpose dedicating your life to +dramatic art?" + +She hesitated, her quickly lowered eyes betraying a moment of +embarrassment. + +"Yes," she answered finally. "I am beginning to find myself, to +believe in myself." + +"You expect to find complete satisfaction in this way?" + +"Complete? Oh, no; one never does that, you know, unless, possibly, +the ideals are very low; but more than I can hope to find elsewhere. +Even now I am certainly happier in the work than I have been for +years." She looked up at him quickly, her eyes pleading. "It is not +the glitter, the sham, the applause," she hastened to explain, "but the +real work itself, that attracts and rewards me--the hidden labor of +fitly interpreting character--the hard, secret study after details. +This has become a positive passion, an inspiration. I may never become +the perfected artist of which I sometimes dream, yet it must be that I +have within me a glimmering of that art. I feel it, and cannot remain +false to it." + +"Possibly love may enter to change your plans," he ventured to suggest, +influenced by the constantly changing expression of her face. + +She flushed to the roots of her hair, yet her lips laughed lightly. + +"I imagine such an unexpected occurrence would merely serve to +strengthen them," she replied quickly. "I cannot conceive of any love +so supremely selfish as to retard the development of a worthy ideal. +But really, there is small need yet of discussing such a possibility." + +She stood aside as he made a movement toward the open door, yet, when +he had stepped forth into the hall, she halted him with a sudden +question: + +"Do you intend returning at once to Denver?" + +"No, I shall remain here." + +She said nothing, but he clearly read a farther unasked question in her +face. + +"I remain here, Miss Norvell, while you do. I shall be among your +audiences at the Gayety. I do not altogether agree that your choice +has been a correct one, but I do sincerely believe in you,--in your +motives,--and, whether you desire it or not, I propose to constitute +myself your special guardian. There is likely to be trouble at the +Gayety, if any drunken fool becomes too gay." + +With flushed cheeks she watched him go slowly down the stairway, and +there were tears glistening within those dark eyes as she drew back +into the room and locked the door. A moment she remained looking at +her reflected face in the little mirror, her fingers clinched as if in +pain. + +"Oh, why does n't he go away without my having to tell him?" she cried, +unconsciously aloud. "I--I thought he surely would, this time." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE "LITTLE YANKEE" MINE + +A wide out-jutting wall of rock, uneven and precipitous, completely +shut off all view toward the broader valley of the Vila, as well as of +the town of San Juan, scarcely three miles distant. Beyond its stern +guardianship Echo Canyon stretched grim and desolate, running far back +into the very heart of the gold-ribbed mountains. The canyon, a mere +shapeless gash in the side of the great hills, was deep, long, +undulating, ever twisting about like some immense serpent, its sides +darkened by clinging cedars and bunches of chaparral, and rising in +irregular terraces of partially exposed rock toward a narrow strip of +blue sky. It was a fragment of primitive nature, as wild, gloomy, +desolate, and silent as though never yet explored by man. + +A small clear stream danced and sang over scattered stones at the +bottom of this grim chasm, constantly twisting and curving from wall to +wall, generally half concealed from view by the dense growth of +overhanging bushes shadowing its banks. High up along the brown rock +wall the gleam of the afternoon sun rested warm and golden, but deeper +down within those dismal, forbidding depths there lingered merely a +purple twilight, while patches of white snow yet clung desperately to +the steep surrounding hills, or showered in powdery clouds from off the +laden cedars whenever the disturbing wind came soughing up the gorge. +Early birds were beginning to flit from tree to tree, singing their +welcome to belated Springtime; a fleecy cloud lazily floating far +overhead gave deeper background to the slender strip of over-arching +blue. It all combined to form a nature picture of primeval peace, +rendered peculiarly solemn by those vast ranges of overshadowing +mountains, and more deeply impressive by the grim silence and +loneliness, the seemingly total absence of human life. + +Yet in this the scene was most deceptive. Neither peace nor loneliness +lurked amid those sombre rock shadows; over all was the dominance of +men--primitive, fighting men, rendered almost wholly animal by the +continued hardships of existence, the ceaseless struggle after gold. +The vagrant trail, worn deep between rocks by the constant passage of +men and mules, lay close beside the singing water, while here and there +almost imperceptible branches struck off to left or right, running as +directly as possible up the terraced benches until the final dim traces +were completely lost amid the low-growing cedars. Each one of these +led as straight as nature would permit to some specific spot where men +toiled incessantly for the golden dross, guarding their claims with +loaded rifles, while delving deeper and deeper beneath the mysterious +rocks, ever seeking to make their own the secret hoards of the world's +great storehouse. Countless centuries were being rudely unlocked +through the ceaseless toil of pick and shovel, the green hillsides torn +asunder and disfigured by ever-increasing piles of debris, while +eager-eyed men struggled frantically to obtain the hidden riches of the +rocks. Here and there a rudely constructed log hut, perched with +apparent recklessness upon the brink of the precipice, told the silent +story of a claim, while in other places the smouldering remains of a +camp-fire alone bespoke primitive living. Yet every where along that +upper terrace, where in places the seductive gold streak lay half +uncovered to the sun, were those same yawning holes leading far down +beneath the surface; about them grouped the puny figures of men +performing the labors of Hercules under the galling spur of hope. + +On this higher ledge, slightly beyond a shallow intersecting gorge +shadowed by low-growing cedars, two men reclined upon a rock-dump, +gazing carelessly off six hundred feet sheer down into the gloomy +depths of the canyon below. Just beyond them yawned the black opening +of their shaft-hole, the rude windlass outlined against the gray +background of rock, while somewhat to the left, seemingly overhanging +the edge of the cliff, perched a single-roomed cabin of logs +representing home. This was the "Little Yankee" claim, owners William +Hicks and "Stutter" Brown. The two partners were sitting silent and +idle, a single rifle lying between them on the dump. Hicks was tall, +lank, seamed of face, with twinkling gray eyes, a goat's beard dangling +at his chin to the constant motion of his nervous jaws; and Brown, +twenty years his junior, was a young, sandy-haired giant, limited of +speech, of movement, of thought, with freckled cheeks and a downy +little moustache of decidedly red hue. They had been laboriously +deciphering a letter of considerable length and peculiar illegibility, +and the slow but irascible Stutter had been swearing in disjointed +syllables, his blue eyes glaring angrily across the gully, where +numerous moving figures, conspicuous in blue and red shirts, were +plainly visible about the shaft-hole of the "Independence," the next +claim below them on the ledge. Yet for the moment neither man spoke +otherwise. Finally, shifting uneasily, yet with mind evidently made up +for definite action, Hicks broke the prolonged silence. + +"I was thinkin' it over, Stutter, all the way hoofin' it out yere," he +said, chewing continually on his tobacco, "but sorter reckoned ez how +yer ought ter see the writin' furst, considerin' ez how you're a full +partner in this yere claim. It sorter strikes me thet the lawyer hes +give us the straight tip all right, an' thar 's no other way fer +gittin' the cinch on them ornary fellers over thar," and the speaker +waved his hand toward the distant figures. "Yer see, it's this yere +way, Stutter. You an' I could swar, of course, thet the damned cusses +hed changed the stakes on us more 'n onct, an' thar 's no doubt in our +two minds but what they 're a-followin' out our ore-lead right now, +afore we kin git down ter it. Hell! of course they are--they got the +fust start, an' the men, an' the money back of 'em. We ain't got a +darn thing but our own muscle, an' the rights of it, which latter don't +amount ter two bumps on a log. Fer about three weeks we 've been +watchin' them measly skunks take out our mineral, an' for one I 'm +a-goin' ter quit. I never did knuckle down ter thet sort, an' I 'm too +old now ter begin. The lawyer says ez how we ain't got no legal proof, +an' I reckon it's so. But I 'm damned if I don't git some. Thar ain't +a minin' engineer in San Juan that 'll come up yere fer us. Them +fellers hes got 'em all on the hip; but I reckon, if we hunt long +'nough, we kin find some feller in Colorado with nerve 'nough to tackle +this yere job, an' I 'm a-goin' out gunnin' for jist that man." + +He got to his feet, his obstinate old eyes wandering across the gully, +and the younger man watched him with slow curiosity. + +"How f-f-far you g-g-going, Bill?" he burst forth stutteringly. + +"Denver, if I need to," was the elder's resolute, response. "I 'll +tell ye what I 'm a-goin' ter do, Stutter. I 'm a-goin' ter draw out +every blamed cent we 've got in the bank down at San Juan. 'T ain't +much of a pile, but I reckon it's got ter do the business. Then I 'll +strike out an' hunt till I find a minin' engineer thet 's got a soul of +his own, an' grit 'nough behind it ter root out the facts. I 've been +a-prospecttn' through these here mountings fer thirty years, an' now +thet I 've hit somethin' worth havin', I 'm hanged if I 'm a-goin' ter +lie down meek ez Moses an' see it stole out plumb from under me by a +parcel o' tin-horn gamblers. Not me, by God! If I can't git a cinch +on sich a feller ez I want, then I 'll come back an' blow a hole +through that Farnham down at San Juan. I reckon I 'll go in an' tell +him so afore I start." + +The old man's square jaws set ominously, his gnarled hand dropping +heavily on the butt of the Colt dangling at his hip. + +"You stay right yere, Stutter, on the dump, and don't yer let one o' +them measly sneaks put nary foot on our claim, if yer have ter blow 'em +plumb ter hell. You an' Mike kin tend ter thet all right, an' you bet +I 'm goin' ter have some news fer yer when I git home, my boy." + +He swung around, and strode back along the ledge to the door of the +cabin, reappearing scarcely a moment later with a small bundle in his +hand. + +"Thar 's 'nough grub in thar ter last you an' Mike fer a week yit, an' +I 'll be back afore then, er else planted. _Adios_." + +Brown sat up, his gun resting between his knees, and in silence watched +his partner scrambling down the steep trail. It was not easy for him +to converse, and he therefore never uttered a word unless the situation +demanded the sacrifice. He could swear, however, with considerable +fluency, but just now even that relief seemed inadequate. Finally, the +older man disappeared behind the scrub, and, except for those more +distant figures about the dump of the "Independence," the blond giant +remained apparently alone. But Stutter had long ago become habituated +to loneliness; the one condition likely to worry him was lack of +occupation. He scrambled to his feet and climbed the dump, until able +to lean far over and look down into the black mouth of the uncovered +shaft. + +"Got yer b-b-bucket full, M-M-Mike?" he questioned, sending his deep, +sputtering voice far down into the depths below. + +"Oi have thot," came the disgusted response from out the darkness. "Ye +measly spalpeen, ain't Oi bin shakin' of the rope fer twinty minutes? +Oi tought maybe ye'd run off an' left me to rot down in the hole. Whut +'s up now, ye freckled-face ilephant, yer?" + +Brown indulged in a cautious glance about, then stuck his almost boyish +face farther down within the safety of the hole before venturing an +explanation. + +"B-B-Bill's g-gone to find s-s-some engi-n-neer w-with nerve 'nough ter +r-r-run our lines," he managed to spit out disjointedly. "S-s-says +he'll go plumb ter Denver 'fore he 'll g-g-give up, an' if he d-don't +f-find any sich he 'll c-c-come back an' p-p-perforate F-F-Farnham." + +"Bedad!" a tinge of unrestrained delight apparent in the sudden roar, +"an' was he hot?" + +"H-he sure was. He m-m-m-meant business all r-right, an' hed f-f-forty +rounds b-b-buckled on him. H-here goes, Mike," and Brown grasped the +warped handle of the windlass and began to grind slowly, coiling the +heavy rope, layer upon layer, around the straining drum. He brought +the huge ore-bucket to the surface, dumped its load of rock over the +edge of the shaft-hole, and had permitted it to run down swiftly to the +waiting Mike, when a slight noise behind sent the man whirling suddenly +about, his hand instinctively reaching forth toward the discarded but +ready rifle. A moment he stared, incredulous, at the strange vision +fronting him, his face quickly reddening from embarrassment, his eyes +irresolute and puzzled. Scarcely ten feet away, a woman, rather +brightly attired and apparently very much at her ease, sat upon a +rather diminutive pony, her red lips curved in lines of laughter, +evidently no little amused at thus startling him. Brown realized that +she was young and pretty, with jet black, curling hair, and eyes of the +same color, her skin peculiarly white and clear, while she rode man +fashion, her lower limbs daintily encased within leggings of buckskin. +She had carelessly dropped her reins upon the high pommel of the +saddle, and as their glances fairly met, she laughed outright. + +"You mooch frighten, seńor, and you so ver' big. It make me joy." Her +broken English was oddly attractive. "Poof! los Americanos not all +find me so ver' ter'ble." + +Stutter Brown ground his white teeth together savagely, his short red +moustache bristling. He was quite young, never greatly accustomed to +companionship with the gentler sex, and of a disposition strongly +opposed to being laughed at. Besides, he felt seriously his grave +deficiencies of speech. + +"I-I-I was s-sorter expectin' a-a-another kind of c-c-caller," he +stuttered desperately, in explanation, every freckle standing out in +prominence, "an' th-th-thought m-m-maybe somebody 'd g-g-got the d-drop +on me." + +The girl only laughed again, her black eyes sparkling. Yet beneath his +steady, questioning gaze her face slightly sobered, a faint flush +becoming apparent in either cheek. + +"You talk so ver' funny, seńor; you so big like de tree, an' say vords +dat vay; it make me forget an' laf. You moost not care just for me. +Pah! but it vas fight all de time vid you, was n't it, seńor? Biff, +bang, kill; ver' bad," and she clapped her gauntleted hands together +sharply. "But not me; I vas only girl; no gun, no knife--see. I just +like know more 'bout mine--Americano's mine; you show me how it vork. +_Sabe_?" + +Stutter appeared puzzled, doubtful. + +"Mexicana?" he questioned, kicking a piece of rock with his heavy boot. + +"Si, seńor, but I speak de English ver' good. I Mercedes Morales, an' +I like ver' much de brav' Americanos. I like de red hair, too, +seńor--in Mexico it all de same color like dis," and she shook out her +own curling ebon locks in sudden shower. "I tink de red hair vas more +beautiful." + +Mr. Brown was not greatly accustomed to having his rather fiery +top-knot thus openly referred to in tones of evident admiration. It +was a subject he naturally felt somewhat sensitive about, and in spite +of the open honesty of the young girl's face, he could not help +doubting for a moment the sincerity of her speech. + +"L-l-like f-fun yer do," he growled uneasily. "A-a-anyhow, whut are +yer d-d-doin' yere?" + +For answer she very promptly swung one neatly booted foot over and +dropped lightly to the ground, thus revealing her slender figure. Her +most notable beauty was the liquid blackness of her eyes. + +"Si, I tell you all dat ver' quick, seńor," she explained frankly, +nipping the rock-pile with her riding whip, and bending over to peer, +with undisguised curiosity, into the yawning shaft-hole. "I ride out +from San Juan for vat you call constitutional--mercy, such a vord, +seńor!--an' I stray up dis trail. See? It vas most steep, my, so +steep, like I slide off; but de mustang he climb de hill, all right, +an' den I see you, seńor, an' know dere vas a mine here. Not de big +mine--bah! I care not for dat kind--but just one leetle mine, vere I +no be 'fraid to go down. Den I look at you, so big, vid de beautiful +red hair, an' de kin' face, an' I sink he vood let me see how dey do +such tings--he vas nice fellow, if he vas all mud on de clothes. Si, +for I know nice fellow, do I not, _amigo_? _Si, bueno_. So you vill +show to me how de brav' Americanos dig out de yellow gold, seńor?" + +She flashed her tempting glance up into the man's face, and Brown +stamped his feet nervously, endeavoring to appear stern. + +"C-c-could n't h-hardly do it, m-m-miss. It 's t-too blame dirty +d-d-down below fer y-your sort. B-b-besides, my p-pardner ain't yere, +an' he m-m-might not l-like it." + +"You haf de pardner? Who vas de pardner?" + +"H-h-his name's H-H-Hicks." + +She clasped her hands in an ecstasy of unrestrained delight. + +"Beell Heeks? Oh, seńor, I know Beell Heeks. He vas ver' nice fellow, +too--but no so pretty like you; he old man an' swear--Holy Mother, how +he swear! He tol' me once come out any time an' see hees mine. I not +know vere it vas before. Maybe de angels show me. You vas vat Beell +call Stutter Brown, I tink maybe? Ah, now it be all right, seńor. +_Bueno_!" + +She laid her gauntleted hand softly on the rough sleeve of his woollen +shirt, her black, appealing eyes flashing suddenly up into his troubled +face. + +"I moost laugh, seńor; such a brav' Americano 'fraid of de girl. Why +not you shoot me?" + +"A-a-afraid nothin'," and Stutter's freckled face became instantly as +rosy as his admired hair, "b-but I t-tell ye, miss, it's a-a-all d-dirt +down th-there, an' not f-f-fit fer no lady ter t-t-traipse round in." + +The temptress, never once doubting her power, smiled most bewitchingly, +her hands eloquent. + +"You vas good boy, just like I tink; I wear dis ol' coat--see; an' den +I turn up de skirt, so. I no 'fraid de dirt. Now, vat you say, seńor? +_Bueno_?" + +Thus speaking, she seized upon the discarded and somewhat disreputable +garment, flung it carelessly about her shapely shoulders, shrugging +them coquettishly, her great eyes shyly uplifting to his relenting +face, and began swiftly to fasten up her already short dress in +disregard of the exposure of trim ankles. The agitated Mr. Brown +coughed, his uneasy glances straying down the open shaft. He would +gladly, and with extreme promptness, have shoved the cold muzzle of his +Colt beneath the nose of any man at such moment of trial; but this +young girl, with a glance and a laugh, had totally disarmed him. +Disturbed conscience, a feeling akin to disloyalty, pricked him, but +the temptation left him powerless to resist--those black eyes held him +already captive; and yet in this moment of wavering indecision, that +teasing hand once again rested lightly upon his shirt-sleeve. + +"Please do dat, seńor," the voice low and pleading. "It vas not ver' +mooch just to let a girl see your leetle mine. What harm, seńor? But +maybe it's so because you no like me?" + +Startled by so unjust a suspicion, the eyes of the young giant +instantly revealed a degree of interest which caused her own to light +up suddenly, her red lips parting in a quick, appreciative smile which +disclosed the white teeth. + +"Ah, I see it vas not dat. Eet make glad de heart--make eet to sing +like de birds. Now I know eet vill be as I vish. How do I get down, +seńor?" + +Thus easily driven from his last weak entrenchments, his heart +fluttering to the seduction of her suggestive glance, the embarrassed +Stutter made unconditional surrender, a gruff oath growling in his +throat. He leaned out over the dark shaft, his supporting hand on the +drum. + +"Come u-u-up, M-M-Mike," he called, rattling his letters like +castanets. "I w-w-want to g-go d-d-down." + +There followed a sound of falling rocks below, a fierce shaking of the +suspended rope, and then a muffled voice sang out an order, "H'ist +away, and be dommed ter yer." Brown devoted himself assiduously to the +creaking windlass, although never able entirely to remove his attention +from that bright-robed, slender figure standing so closely at his side. +For one brief second he vaguely wondered if she could be a witch, and +he looked furtively aside, only to perceive her bright eyes smiling +happily at him. Then suddenly a totally bald head shot up through the +opening, a seamed face the color of parchment, with squinting gray +eyes, peered suspiciously about, while a gnarled hand reached forth, +grasped a post in support, and dragged out into the sunlight a short, +sturdy body. Mike straightened up, with a peculiar jerk, on the dump, +spat viciously over the edge of the canyon, and drew a short, black +pipe from out a convenient pocket in his shirt. He made no audible +comment, but stood, his back planted to the two watchers; and Stutter +cleared his throat noisily. + +"Th-th-this l-l-lady wants ter s-s-see how we m-m-mine," he explained +in painful embarrassment, "a-an' I th-th-thought I 'd t-take her +d-d-down if you 'd w-work the w-w-windlass a b-bit." + +Old Mike turned slowly around and fronted the two, his screwed-up eyes +on the girl, while with great deliberation he drew a match along the +leg of his canvas trousers. + +"Onything to oblige ye," he said gruffly. "Always ready to hilp the +ladies--be me sowl, Oi've married three of thim already. An' wus this +Hicks's orthers, Stutter?" + +"N-n-no, not exactly," Brown admitted, with evident reluctance. "B-but +ye s-s-see, she's a g-great friend o' B-B-Bill's, an' so I reckon it +'ll be all r-right. Don't s-see how n-no harm kin be d-d-done." + +The pessimistic Michael slowly blew a cloud of pungent smoke into the +air, sucking hard at his pipe-stem, and laid his rough hands on the +windlass handle. + +"None o' my dommed funeral, beggin' yer pardon, miss," he condescended +to mutter in slight apology. "Long as the pay goes on, Oi 'd jist as +soon work on top as down below. H'ist the female into the bucket, ye +overgrown dood!" + +Stutter Brown, still nervous from recurring doubts, awkwardly assisted +his vivacious charge to attain safe footing, anxiously bade her hold +firmly to the swaying rope, and stood, carefully steadying the line as +it slowly disappeared, hypnotized still by those marvellous black eyes, +which continued to peer up at him until they vanished within the +darkness. Leaning far over to listen, the young miner heard the bucket +touch bottom, and then, with a quick word of warning to the man +grasping the handle, he swung himself out on the taut rope, and went +swiftly down, hand over hand. Mike, still grumbling huskily to +himself, waited until the windlass ceased vibrating, securely anchored +the handle with a strip of raw-hide, and composedly sat down, his teeth +set firmly on the pipe-stem, his eyes already half closed. It was an +obstinate, mulish old face, seamed and creased, the bright sunlight +rendering more manifest the leather-like skin, the marvellous network +of wrinkles about eyes and mouth. Not being paid for thought, the old +fellow now contented himself with dozing, quite confident of not being +quickly disturbed. + +In this he was right. The two were below for fully an hour, while +above them Mike leaned with back comfortably propped against the +windlass in perfect contentment, and the hobbled pony peacefully +cropped the short grass along the ledge. Then the brooding silence was +abruptly broken by a voice rising from out the depths of the shaft, +while a vigorous shaking of the dangling rope caused the windlass to +vibrate sharply. Old Mike, with great deliberation stowing away his +pipe, unslipped the raw-hide, and, calmly indifferent to all else +except his necessary labor, slowly hauled the girl to the surface. She +was radiant, her eyes glowing from the excitement of unusual adventure, +and scrambled forth from the dangling bucket without awaiting +assistance. Before Brown attained to the surface, the lady had safely +captured the straying pony and swung herself lightly into the saddle. +Squaring his broad shoulders with surprise as he came out, his face +flushed, his lips set firm, the young giant laid restraining fingers on +her gloved hand. + +"Y-y-you really m-mean it?" he asked, eagerly, as though fearing the +return to daylight might already have altered her decision. "C-can I +c-call on you wh-wh-where you s-s-said?" + +She smiled sweetly down at him, her eyes picturing undisguised +admiration of his generous proportions, and frank, boyish face. + +"Si, si, seńor. _Sapristi_, why not? 'T is I, rather, who 'fraid you +forget to come." + +"Y-you n-need n't be," he stammered, coloring. "S-seńorita, I sh-shall +never f-f-forget this day." + +"_Quien sabe_?--poof! no more vill I; but now, _adios_, seńor." + +She touched her pony's side sharply with the whip, and, standing +motionless, Stutter watched them disappear over the abrupt ledge. Once +she glanced shyly back, with a little seductive wave of the gauntleted +hand, and then suddenly dropped completely out of view down the steep +descent of the trail. Old Mike struck another match, and held the tiny +flame to his pipe-bowl. + +"An' it's hell ye played the day," he remarked reflectively, his eyes +glowing gloomily. + +The younger man wheeled suddenly about and faced him. + +"Wh-what do ye m-m-mean?" + +"Jist the same whut I said, Stutter. Ye 're a broight one, ye are. +That's the Mexican dancer down at the Gayety at San Juan, no less; and +it's dollars to doughnuts, me bye, that that dom Farnham sint her out +here to take a peek at us. It wud be loike the slippery cuss, an' I +hear the two of thim are moighty chummy." + +And Stutter Brown, his huge fists clinched in anger, looked off into +the dark valley below, and, forgetting his affliction of speech, swore +like a man. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A DISMISSAL + +The far from gentle orchestra at the Gayety was playing with a vivacity +which set the pulses leaping, while the densely packed audience, +scarcely breathing from intensity of awakened interest, were focussing +their eager eyes upon a slender, scarlet-robed figure, an enveloping +cloud of gossamer floating mistily about her, her black hair and eyes +vividly contrasting against the clear whiteness of her skin, as she +yielded herself completely to the strange convolutions of her weird +dance. The wide stage was a yellow flood of light, and she the very +witch of motion. This was her third encore, but, as wildly grotesque +as ever, her full skirts shimmering in the glare of the foot-lights, +her tripping feet barely touching the sanded floor, her young, supple +figure, light as a fairy, weaving in the perfect rhythm of music, the +tireless child of Mexico leaped and spun, wheeled and twirled,--at +times apparently floated upon the very air, her bare white arms +extended, her wonderful eyes blazing from the exhilaration of this +moment of supreme triumph. + +Beth Norvell, neatly gowned for the street, her own more sedate +performance already concluded, had paused for a single curious instant +in the shadow of the wings, and remained looking out upon that scarlet +figure, flitting here and there like some tropical bird, through the +gaudy glare of the stage. Winston, waiting patiently for twenty +minutes amid the denser gloom just inside the stage door, watched the +young girl's unconsciously interested face, wondering alike at both +himself and her. This entire adventure remained an unsolved problem to +his mystified mind--how it was she yet continued to retain his +interest; why it was he could never wholly succeed in divorcing her +from his life. He endeavored now to imagine her a mere ordinary woman +of the stage, whom he might idly flirt with to-night, and quite as +easily forget to-morrow. Yet from some cause the mind failed to +respond to such suggestion. There was something within the calm, +womanly face as revealed beneath the reflection of garish light, +something in the very poise of the slender figure bending slightly +forward in aroused enthusiasm, which compelled his respect, aroused his +admiration. She was not a common woman, and he could not succeed in +blinding himself to that fact. Even the garish, cheap environments, +the glitter and tinsel, the noise and brutality, had utterly failed to +tarnish Beth Norvell. She stood forth different, distinct, a perfectly +developed flower, rarely beautiful, although blooming in muck that was +overgrown with noxious weeds. Winston remained clearly conscious that +some peculiar essence of her native character had mysteriously perfumed +the whole place--it glorified her slight bit of stage work, and had +already indelibly impressed itself upon those rough, boisterous Western +spirits out in front. Before her parting lips uttered a line she had +thoroughly mastered them, the innate purity of her perfected womanhood, +the evident innocence of her purpose, shielding her against all +indecency and insult. The ribald scoffing, the insolent shuffling of +feet, the half-drunken uneasiness, ceased as if by magic; and as her +simple act proceeded, the stillness out in front became positively +solemn, the startled faces picturing an awakening to higher things. It +was a triumph far exceeding the noisy outburst that greeted the +Mexican--a moral victory over unrestrained lawlessness won simply by +true womanliness, unaided and alone. That earlier scene had brought to +Winston a deeper realization of this girl's genius, a fresher +appreciation of the true worth of her esteem. No struggle of heart or +head could ever again lower her in his secret thought to the common +level. + +The swinging strains of the dancer's accompaniment concluded with a +blare of noisy triumph, the mad enthusiasts out in front wildly +shouting her name above the frantic din of applause, while, flushed and +panting, the agile Mexican dancer swept into the darkened wings like a +scarlet bird. + +"Ah, de Americana!" she exclaimed, her eyes yet blazing from +excitement, poising herself directly in front of her silent watcher. +"Seńorita, it ees not de same as yours--dey like you, si; but dey lofe +Mercedes." + +Miss Norvell smiled gently, her gaze on the other's flushed, childish +face, and extended her hand. + +"There seems ample room for both of us," she replied, pleasantly, "yet +your dancing is truly wonderful. It is an art, and you must let me +thank you." + +It is difficult to understand why, but the untamed, passionate girl, +stung in some mysterious manner by these quietly spoken words of +appreciation, instantly drew her slight form erect. + +"You nevar forget you not one of us, do you?" she questioned in sudden +bitterness of spirit. "Pah! maybe you tink I care what you like. I +dance because I lofe to; because it sets my blood on fire. I no care +for all your airs of fine lady." + +"I exceedingly regret you should feel so. I certainly spoke in +kindness and appreciation. Would you permit me to pass?" + +The angry young Mexican swept back her scarlet skirts as though in +disdain, her white shoulders uplifted. She did not know why she felt +thus vindictive; to save her soul she could not have told the reason, +yet deep down within her passionate heart there existed a hatred for +this white, silent American, whose slightest word sounded to her like +rebuke. She stood there still, watching suspiciously, smouldering +dislike burning in her black eyes, when Winston suddenly stepped from +the concealing shadows with a word of unexpected greeting. She noticed +the sudden flush sweep into Miss Norvell's cheek, the quick uplifting +of her eyes, the almost instant drooping again of veiling lashes, and, +quickly comprehending it all, stepped promptly forward just far enough +to obtain a clear view of the young man's face. The next moment the +two had vanished into the night without. Mercedes laughed unpleasantly +to herself, her white teeth gleaming. + +"Ah, Merciful Mother! so my ver' fine lady has found herself a lofer +here already. _Sapristi_, an' he is well worth lookin' at! I vill ask +of de stage manager his name." + +Outside, beneath the faint glimmer of the stars, Winston offered his +arm, and Miss Norvell accepted it silently. It was no more than a +short stroll to the hotel, and the street at that particular hour was +sufficiently deserted, so the young man rather keenly felt the evident +constraint of his companion. It impressed him as unnatural, and he +felt inclined to attribute her state of mind to the unpleasant scene he +had just beheld. + +"Seńorita Mercedes does not appear very kindly disposed toward you," he +ventured. "Have you quarrelled already?" + +"You refer to the Mexican dancer?" she questioned, glancing aside at +him curiously. "Really, I did not remember having heard the girl's +name mentioned before. Do you know her?" + +"Only as she is announced on the bills, and having seen her dance from +the front of the house. She is certainly a true artist in her line, +the most expert I recall ever having seen. What has ever made her your +enemy?" + +"I am sure I do not know. Her words were a complete surprise; I was +too greatly astonished even to resent them. I have never spoken to the +girl until to-night, and then merely uttered a sentence of sincere +congratulation. She is extremely pretty, and it seems quite too bad +she should be compelled to lead such a life. She does not appear older +than seventeen." + +He glanced about at her in surprise. + +"Such a life," he echoed, recklessly. "So then you actually pity +others while remaining totally unconcerned regarding yourself?" + +"Oh, no; you greatly mistake, or else wilfully misconstrue. I am not +unconcerned, yet there is a very wide difference, I am sure. This girl +is at the Gayety from deliberate choice; she as much as told me so. +She is in love with that sort of life. Probably she has never known +anything better, while I am merely fighting out a bit of hard luck, +and, within two weeks, at the longest, shall again be free. Surely, +you cannot hint that we stand upon the same level." + +"God forbid!" fervently. "Yet just as sincerely I wish you did not +deem it necessary to remain for even that brief length of time. It is +a shock to me to realize your intimate association with such depraved +characters. You are surely aware that my purse remains at your +disposal, if you will only cut the whole thing." + +She lifted her eyes reproachfully to his face. + +"Yes, I know; and possibly you are justified according to your code for +feeling in that way. But I do not believe I am becoming in the least +contaminated by evil associations, nor do I feel any lowering of moral +ideals. I am doing what I imagine to be right under the circumstances, +and have already given you my final decision, as well as my reason for +it. You say 'such depraved characters.' Can you refer to this +Mercedes? Strange as it may seem, I confess feeling an interest in +this beautiful Mexican girl. What is it you know regarding her?" + +The young man impulsively started to speak, but as instantly paused. +An instinctive dread of uttering those plain words he would much prefer +she should never hear served to soften his language. + +"There is not a great deal of reserve about the Gayety," he explained +lightly, "and indiscriminate gossip is a part of its advertising +equipment. As to Seńorita Mercedes, my only informant is common rumor +out in front. That connects her name quite familiarly with one of the +proprietors of the gambling rooms." + +"You have no reason to know this?" + +"None whatever. As I say, it has come to me in the form of common +rumor. The man referred to is the special faro expert, a fellow named +Farnham." + +Miss Norvell started violently, her fingers clutching his arm as if to +keep her body from falling, her face grown suddenly white. + +"Farnham, did you say? What--what Farnham?" + +"I believe I have heard him familiarly spoken of as 'Biff.'" + +"Here? Here in San Juan? 'Biff' Farnham here?" The startled words +appeared to stick in the swelling white throat, and she stood staring +at him, her slender figure swaying as though he had struck her a +physical blow. "Oh, I never knew that!" + +Winston, shocked and surprised by this unexpected outburst, did not +speak, his face slowly hardening to the dim suspicion thus suddenly +aroused by her agitation and her impetuous exclamation. She must have +taken instant warning from the expression of his eyes, for, with an +effort, she faced him in regained calmness, a slight tremor in her low +voice alone betraying the lack of complete self-control. + +"Your information certainly startled me greatly," she exclaimed slowly. +"It was so unexpected, and so much has happened of late to affect my +nerves." + +They walked on in silence, and as he ventured to glance aside at her, +uncertain regarding his future course, her eyes were lowered and hidden +behind the drooping lashes. + +"And is that all?" he asked. + +"All? Why, what more is there?" + +He compressed his lips, striving not to exhibit openly his impatience. + +"Nothing, of course," he acquiesced quietly, "if the lady prefers +keeping silent. Only, as matters now stand, the result may prove an +unpleasant misunderstanding." + +They were now at the bottom of the few steps leading up toward the +hotel entrance, and Miss Norvell, removing her hand from the support of +his arm, stood before him outwardly calm. + +"Beyond doubt, you refer to my apparent surprise at first hearing Mr. +Farnham's name mentioned?" + +He bowed quietly, again fascinated and disarmed by the revelation in +those dark eyes. + +"The explanation is quite simple," and the voice exhibited a touch of +coolness easily perceptible. "I chanced to be somewhat acquainted with +this man in the East before--well, before he became a gambler. Of +course, I do not know him now, have not the slightest desire to do so, +but the sudden information that he was actually here, and--and all the +rest--came to me with a shock. Is that sufficient?" + +The young man was unsatisfied, and, without doubt, his face quite +clearly exhibited his true feeling. Yet there was that about her +constrained manner which held him to respectful silence, so that for a +moment the hesitation between them grew almost painful. Miss Norvell, +realizing this new danger, struggled weakly against sudden temptation +to throw herself unreservedly upon the mercy of this new friend, +confide wholly in him, accept his proffered aid, and flee from possible +coming trouble. But pride proved even stronger than fear, and her lips +closed in firm resolution. + +"Mr. Winston," she said, and now her eyes were uplifted unfaltering to +his own. "I find myself obliged to speak with a frankness I have hoped +to avoid. It was never my desire that you should call for me at the +theatre to-night." + +"Indeed?" His surprised tone clearly exhibited the sudden hurt of the +wound. + +"Yes; yet, pray do not misunderstand me. I find it exceedingly +difficult to say this, and I confess I have even prayed that you would +be led to go away voluntarily, and without its being necessary for me +to appear discourteous. I appreciate your kindness, your gentlemanly +conduct. I--I greatly value your friendship, prize it more highly, +possibly, than you will ever be able to realize; yet, believe me, there +are reasons why I cannot permit you to--to be with me any longer in +this way. It is for your sake, as well as my own, that I am driven to +speak thus frankly, and I am certain you will not add to my pain, my +embarrassment, by asking more definite explanation." + +His heart beating like a trip-hammer, Winston stood motionless, staring +into the girl's appealing face, suddenly aroused to her full meaning, +and as thoroughly awakened to a conception of what she really had +become to him. The thought of losing her, losing her perhaps to +another, seemed to chill his very soul. + +"Assuredly, I will respect your secret," he answered, mastering his +voice with an effort. "I understand when I am bowled out. What is it +you desire me to do?" + +He could not perceive in that dim light the sudden mist of tears +clouding her eyes, but she lifted her gloved hand and swept them aside. + +"It is not easy to say such things, yet I must. I wish you to go away; +go back to Denver," she exclaimed; then, all at once, her strained +voice broke into a little sob. "I cannot stand your presence here!" + +That last impetuous sentence burst through his armor of constraint, and +for the instant he forgot everything but that thoughtless confession. +She read it in his face, and as quickly flung forth her hand in +warning, but he only grasped it tightly within his own. + +"You cannot stand it!" he cried in passionate eagerness. "Then you +must care for me? You must love me, Beth?" + +"No, no!" Her eyes were full of agony, and she sought to free her +imprisoned hand. "Oh, hush! I beg of you, hush! You--you hurt me so. +I will not permit you to speak such words. Please release my hand." + +He loosened his grasp, feeling bewildered, ashamed, dimly conscious +that he had been guilty of an ungentlemanly action, yet deep within his +own heart assured that he felt no regret. + +"Do you mean that?" he questioned vaguely. + +"Yes," and all the previous tremor had left her clear voice. "I did +not suppose you would ever say such a thing to me. I gave you no right +to speak those words." + +"My own heart gave me the right." + +Possibly the woman in her conquered; perhaps there was a nameless +hunger within her soul which made her long to hear the forbidden words +just once from his lips. + +"The right, you say? What right?" + +"To tell you that I love you." + +She drew a quick, quivering breath, the rich color surging into her +cheeks, her gloved hands clasped across her heaving bosom as though to +still the fierce throbbing of her heart. An instant she stood as if +palsied, trembling, from head to foot, although he could perceive +nothing. Her lips smiled. + +"Oh, indeed," she said archly, "and how very prettily you said it! The +only son of Colonel Winston, the wealthy banker of Denver, honors Miss +Norvell, actress, and she, of course, feels highly grateful!" + +"Beth, stop!" His voice was indignantly earnest. "It is not that; you +must know it is not that!" + +"I only know it is supremely ridiculous," she returned, more coldly; +"yet if I did not believe you spoke with some degree of honesty I +should deem your words a deliberate insult, and treat them accordingly. +As it is, I prefer regarding your speech merely as an evidence of +temporary insanity. Ned Winston making love to Beth Norvell! Why, you +do not even know my true name, the story of my life, or that I am in +any way worthy of your mere friendship. Love! You love me, an actress +in a fly-by-night company, a variety artist at the Gayety! What would +they say at home?" + +"I know you." + +"Ah, but you do not in the least," her voice grown steady and serious. +"That is the whole trouble. You do not in the least know me. I am not +even what you imagine me to be. I am a fraud, a cheat, a masquerader. +Know me! Why, if you did, instead of speaking words of love you would +despise; instead of seeking, you would run away. Oh, let us end this +farce forever; it is as painful to myself as to you. Promise me, Ned +Winston, that you will return to Denver." + +She tantalized, tempted him even while she thus openly renounced. He +struggled madly with an almost overmastering desire to burst forth in +strenuous denial, to lay his whole life unreservedly at her feet. Yet +something within the girl's resolute face steadied him, made him feel +her decision as unchangeable. + +"Beth--you--you will not listen?" + +"No--not to another word." + +"You do not believe me?" + +He marked the quick restraining pressure of her lips, the tumultuous +rise and fall of her breast. + +"Yes, I believe you," she admitted, almost wearily. "You mean it--now; +but--but it is impossible. I wish you to go." + +An instant Winston stood looking straight into those dark, glowing +eyes, and all his inherited strength of manhood came trooping back to +aid him. He comprehended in that moment of intense resolution that +this woman had become the whole world to him. That one fact never +would change. It came over him as a distinct revelation untinged by +either despair or hope. It was merely an unalterable truth, which he +must henceforth face as fate willed. He was of fighting blood, and the +seeming obstacles in the way of success did not dismay; they merely +served to inspire him to greater efforts. + +"Unfortunately, I am not at present free to go," he replied, more +quietly, "for the reason that I have already accepted some professional +work here. However, I agree not to trouble you again with my presence +until--" + +He paused in uncertainty as to his next word. + +"What?" + +"You give me welcome." + +She extended her hand. + +"You certainly speak with sufficient confidence." + +"'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,'" he quoted lightly; "and I +herewith announce myself a firm believer in miracles." + +"Then your faith is about to be put to a most severe test." + +"I welcome that. Yet, if parting is insisted upon, we can, at least, +remain friends. You certainly do not hold my words against me?" + +The flush, although fainter, again crept into the clear cheeks, and her +eyes fell before this questioning. + +"No true woman ever remains wholly indifferent," she acknowledged with +swift frankness, "or neglects to think kindly in her secret heart of +any one who has told her that story; and I am a woman." + +For a brief moment her hand rested warm and throbbing within his own, +and there passed an electric flash of the eyes between them. Then she +withdrew her fingers and opened the door. + +"Good-bye," she whispered, the word lingering like perfume, and +vanished, even as he took a step toward her. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +"HE MEANS FIGHT" + +Winston remained staring blankly at the closed door behind which she +had so swiftly vanished, his mind a chaos of doubt. He assuredly never +purposed saying what he had said under the spur of deprivation, yet he +regretted no single word that he had uttered. That he earnestly +worshipped this briefly known woman was a fact borne in upon him +suddenly; yet now, the fact once completely realized, he surrendered +unconditionally to the inevitable. For a moment his thought of her +obscured all lesser things; he saw nothing else in the wide world +really worth striving after--every aroused impulse thrilled to the fair +face, the soft voice of Beth Norvell. He was no "quitter," no +faint-heart either in love or in war, and he was now far too deeply in +earnest to accept as final a stingless rejection spoken by lips that +were so openly contradicted by the smiling eyes above. Whatever of +stern necessity might have inspired the utterance of such words of cold +renunciation, it was assuredly neither indifference nor dislike. He +forgave the lips, recalling only the eyes. + +With his hand still pressed against the porch railing, the young man +suddenly recalled Biff Farnham, his cool gray eyes as instantly +hardening, his lips pressed together. What possible part in the dusk +of the shadowed past did that disreputable gambler play? What +connection could he hold, either in honor or dishonor, with the +previous life history of Beth Norvell? He did not in the least doubt +her, for it was Winston's nature to be entirely loyal, to be +unsuspicious of those he once trusted. Yet he could not continue +completely blind. That there once existed some connection it was +impossible to ignore entirely. Her laughing, yet clearly embarrassed, +attempt at explanation had not in the slightest deceived him, for +beyond it remained her quick surprise at that earliest unexpected +mention of the man's name, the suddenly blanched cheeks, the +unconcealed fright revealed by the dark eyes. The full truth was to be +read there, and not in her later more deliberate attempt at leading his +suspicions astray. There was nothing pleasant about this thought, and +Winston's sensitive face flushed, his glance wandering uneasily down +the midnight street. For the space of a block, or more, where numerous +tents and low wooden buildings stood deserted of tenants, all remained +dark and silent; but just beyond glowed brilliantly the many-hued +lights of the wide-awake Poodle-Dog, and he could even hear the band +playing noisily within the still more distant dance hall. This +combined sight and sound served to arouse him to action and a cool +resolve. If he really intended to play out this game successfully he +must learn something of its conditions. Besides, he had now two most +excellent reasons for desiring to form an early acquaintance with this +man Farnham--the fellow had come across his line of life twice within +the past twelve hours. For the purpose there could be no time better +than the present. He struck a match against the rough railing and +lighted for himself a fresh cigar, his clear-cut, manly features +showing calmly determined in that instant glare of sputtering flame. +Almost unconsciously, following the instinct of his long Western +training, he slipped a revolver from its customary resting-place at the +hip, and dropped the weapon conveniently into the side pocket of his +loose sack coat. He had heard some tales of this man he purposed +seeking, and it might prove well to be prepared for emergencies. + +The bar-room of the blazing Poodle-Dog was thronged with men--men +standing before the long, sloppy bar, men seated around rough tables, +and men lounging here and there in groups about the heavily sanded +floor. Uninterestedly glancing at these, Winston paused for an idle +moment, his eyes fastened upon a whirling spectacle of dancers in the +hall beyond. It formed a scene of mad revelry; yet in his present +state of mind, he cared little for its frontier picturesqueness, and +soon turned away, mounting the broad stairway down which, like an +invitation, echoed the sharp click of ivory chips, and the excited +voices of those absorbed in play. In both size and gorgeousness of +decoration the rooms above were a surprise--a glitter of lights, a +babel of noises, a continuous jumble of figures, while over all +trembled a certain tension of excitement, terrible in its enchaining +power. The very atmosphere seemed electric, filled with a deadly +charm. The dull roar of undistinguishable voices sounded incessantly, +occasionally punctuated by those sharp, penetrating tones with which +the scattered dealers called varied turns of play, or by some deep oath +falling unnoted from desperate lips as the unhappy end came. Winston, +who had seen many similar scenes, glanced with his usual cool +indifference at the various groups of players, careless except in his +search, and pressing straight through the vibrating, excited throng, +regardless of the many faces fronting him. He understood that Farnham +dealt faro, and consequently moved directly down the long main room +totally indifferent to all else. He discovered his particular goal at +last, almost at the farther end of the great apartment, the crowd +gathered about the faro table dense and silent. He succeeded in +pressing in slowly through the outer fringe of players until he +attained a position within ten feet of the dealer. There he halted, +leaning against the wall, the narrow space between them unoccupied. + +He saw before him a slenderly built, fashionably dressed figure, +surmounted by clear-cut, smooth-shaven features--a man of thirty, +possibly, decidedly aristocratic, perfectly self-controlled, his eyes +cool, calculating, his hands swift, unhesitating in play. From some +mysterious cause this masterful repose of the absorbed dealer began +immediately to exercise a serious fascination over the man watching +him. He did not appear altogether human, he seemed rather like some +perfectly adjusted machine, able to think and plan, yet as unemotional +as so much tempered steel. There was no perceptible change passing in +that utterly impassive face, no brightening of those cold, observant +eyes, no faintest movement of the tightly compressed lips. It was as +though he wore a mask completely eclipsing every natural human feeling. +Twice Winston, observing closely from his post of vantage slightly to +the rear the swift action of those slender white fingers, could have +sworn the dealer faced the wrong card, yet the dangerous trick was +accomplished so quickly, so coolly, with never a lowering of the eyes, +the twitching of a muscle, that a moment later the half-jealous watcher +doubted the evidence of his own keen eyesight. As the final fateful +card came silently gliding forth and was deliberately turned, face +upward, amid bitter curses telling the disappointment of that +breathless crowd, a young woman suddenly swept around the lower edge of +the long table, brushing Winston with her flapping skirt as she passed, +bent down, and whispered a half-dozen rapid sentences into the +gambler's ear. The hands, already deftly shuffling the cards for +another deal, scarcely paused in their operations, nor did those cool, +observant eyes once desert the sea of excited faces before him. He +asked a single brief question, nodded carelessly to the hastily spoken +reply, and then, as the woman drew noiselessly away, Winston gazed +directly into the startled black eyes of Seńorita Mercedes. Instantly +she smiled merrily, exhibiting her white teeth. + +"Ah, seńor," and she bent toward him in seductive whisper, "so my lady, +de Americana, let you escape early to-night!" + +Surprised at her recognition, he failed to answer immediately, and the +girl touched him gently with her hand. + +"De girls of my race never so cold, seńor. Try me some time, an' see." + +With a happy laugh and coquettish uplifting of the dark eyes, the +dancer was as quickly gone, vanishing into the throng like a flash of +red flame. For a breathless moment Winston's admiring gaze followed, +conscious merely of her dark beauty, her slender, graceful figure. He +was young, impressionable, and there was rare witchery about the girl +which momentarily fascinated him. His attention shifted back to +Farnham with a swift remembrance of the stern purpose which had brought +him there. The gambler was playing out his case silently, emotionless +as ever. If he had observed anything unusual, if he considered +anything beyond his card-play, no eye could have detected it in that +impassive countenance, those cold, expressionless eyes. Apparently he +was a mere automaton, the sole symbol of life showing in the white +fingers so deftly dealing the fateful pasteboards from the box. The +impatient, excited crowd facing him moved restlessly, cursing or +laughing with each swift turn of play; but he who wrought the spell +neither spoke nor smiled, his face remaining fixed, immutable, as +emotionless as carven granite. Suddenly he glanced meaningly aside, +and, nodding silently to a black-moustached fellow lounging beside the +croupier, rose quickly from his chair. The other as instantly slipped +into it, his hands guarding the few remaining cards, while Farnham +stood for a moment behind the chair, idly looking on. There was no +noticeable interruption to the game, and when the final card came +gliding forth from the silver box, the imperturbable gamester turned +deliberately away from the table, heedless of the desperate struggle +about him, the curses and uproar, and faced the younger man still +leaning against the wall. + +"Mr. Winston?" he questioned quietly. + +Surprised by this unexpected notice, the other bowed in silent +acknowledgment of his name. + +A faint sarcastic smile curved the thin, compressed lips, while Farnham +ran one hand carelessly through his slightly curling hair. + +"I should like a few words with you in private," he explained politely. +"There is a vacant room we can use--this way." + +Astonished into yielding without protest, and at the same time feeling +sufficiently eager to learn the cause for such a request, Winston +unhesitatingly followed the other through the press, marking as he did +so the slender erectness of that figure in advance, the square set of +the broad shoulders, the easy air of authority with which he cleared +the way. Without ceremony Farnham flung aside a heavy brocaded +curtain, glancing inquiringly into the smaller room thus revealed. It +contained a square table and half a dozen chairs. Three men sat +within, their feet elevated, quietly smoking. The gambler coolly ran +his eyes over their uplifted faces. + +"I desire to use this room, gents," he announced quietly. "You 'll +find plenty of vacant space outside." + +Whether the lounging trio knew the speaker of old, or were sufficiently +satisfied from his stern face of the probable results should they long +hesitate to comply, the three pairs of feet came down together, their +owners passing out in single file. Farnham waved his hand politely +toward the vacated interior, a slight measure of deference apparent in +his modulated voice. + +"Help yourself to a chair, Mr. Winston, and permit me to offer you a +fresh cigar; a fairly good one I imagine, as I chance to be somewhat +particular regarding the weed." + +A moment they sat thus furtively studying each other's face across the +table through the increasing clouds of blue smoke, the younger man +puzzled and filled with vague suspicion, the elder still rather +uncertain of his present ground, as well as of the exact sort of +character opposing him. He was somewhat expert in judging human +nature; and the full, square chin, the frank, open look in those steady +gray eyes across the table left him doubtful of the final outcome. + +"No doubt, my addressing you by name was something of a surprise," he +began, leaning slightly forward, his cigar between his fingers; "but as +it chanced, you were pointed out to me on the street a few hours since. +May I inquire in this connection if, by any freak of fortune, you can +be Ned Winston, of Denver?" + +"I am." + +Farnham permitted his lips to smile genially, although his eyes +remained utterly devoid of humor. He was skating upon rather thin ice +now, realizing it to be far safer to make the venture in all boldness. +What he might need to say later would altogether depend upon how much +this man really knew. + +"I was not previously assured of that fact," he explained, pleasantly. +"It was my pleasure at one time to be quite intimately associated with +an old friend of yours, a college chum, I believe--Robert Craig, of +Chicago." + +The swift light of pleasant remembrance glowed instantly within the +other's watchful eyes. For the moment he dropped his guard in the +surprise of this avowal. + +"Bob Craig! Indeed; why, I do not recall his ever having mentioned +your name to me." + +Farnham's suspended breath burst through his compressed lips in sudden +relief. + +"Very probably not," he admitted, quietly, yet having the grace to +lower his eyes slightly. "My own intimacy with Craig occurred since +his college days. However, he has spoken to me regarding you quite +frequently, and I naturally esteem it a pleasure to meet with you +personally." + +Winston did not immediately reply, puzzling his confused mind in a +wholly useless attempt at recalling his ever having heard this man's +name before. But Farnham, placed completely at his ease regarding +possible recognition, proceeded coolly. + +"Yet, that does not sufficiently account for my inviting you here." +And he leaned farther across the table, slightly lowering his voice. +"My important reason for speaking is entirely a business one. You are, +I understand, a mining engineer?" + +Winston permitted his eyes to acquiesce, fully determined now to allow +this man to exhibit his own hand completely before making any return +play. Farnham, watching the face of the other closely, paused to +relight his cigar. + +"The simple fact is," he resumed, carelessly, "we are having some +little difficulty at present regarding certain mining claims we are +operating up in Echo Canyon. Nothing at all serious, you understand, +but there 's plenty of bad blood, and we naturally prefer keeping the +entire controversy out of the courts, if possible. A lawsuit, whatever +its final result, would be quite certain to tie up the property for an +indefinite period. Besides, lawsuits in this country cost money. The +man who has been making the greater part of the existing trouble, a +drunken, quarrelsome old mountain shell-back, named Hicks, came in here +to see me this afternoon. He was in blamed bad humor, and threatened +to blow my brains out unless I came to his terms. No doubt he meant +it, and consequently I got rid of him the easiest way I could, and that +was by lying. I 've always preferred to lie rather than get shot. +Hard to account for tastes, you know. However among other things the +fellow chanced to mention while here was that you had been employed to +look after their interests. I presume that statement was merely a +bluff?" + +"Well, not precisely," admitted Winston, when the other paused. "I +agreed to go out there, and look over the ground." + +Farnham smiled deprecatingly, his cigar gripped tightly between his +white teeth. + +"Just about as I supposed. No particular harm done as yet, and no +contract made; time enough left to draw out of a bad bargain. Well, +Winston, I am here to tell you that outfit is not the kind you want to +associate yourself with if you desire to stand well in this camp. That +'s the straight goods. They 're simply a lot of blackmailers and +irresponsible thieves. Why, damn it, man, the actual fact is, they +can't get a single reputable mining engineer in all this whole district +to take hold of their dirty work. That 's why they 've had to hunt up +a new man, and got track of you." + +"So Hicks admitted," interposed the younger man gravely, "although he +put it in rather different form. He said it was because you had the +money, and your crowd bought them all up." + +"Oh, he did, did he?" and the gambler laughed outright. "Well, that +sort of a job would n't be very costly--to outbid that measly outfit. +It would be a sight cheaper than litigation, I reckon. What did he +offer you, by the way?" + +The young engineer hesitated slightly, his cheeks flushing at the cool +impudence of the other's direct question. + +"I do not recall that any positive offer was made," he replied finally. +"At least, the question of payment was not broached." + +"The old cuss proved more honest than I had supposed," and Farnham +dropped his clinched hand on the table. "Now, see here, Winston, I +propose giving you this thing right out from the shoulder. There is no +use beating around the bush. Those fellows have n't got so much as a +leg to stand on; their claim is no good, and never will be. They 're +simply making a bluff to wring some good money out of us, and I don't +want to see you get tangled up in that sort of a skin game. You 're +Bob Craig's friend, and therefore mine. Now, listen. There are two +fellows concerned in that 'Little Yankee' claim, this whiskey-soaked +Hicks and his partner, a big, red-headed, stuttering fool named +Brown--'Stutter' Brown, I believe they call him--and what have they got +between them? A damned hole in the ground, that's all. Oh, I know; I +'ve had them looked after from A to Z. I always handle my cards over +before I play. They had exactly two hundred dollars between them +deposited in a local bank here last week. That 's their total cash +capital. Yesterday one of my people managed to get down in their dinky +mine. It was a girl who did the job, but she 's a bright one, and that +fellow Brown proved dead easy when she once got her black eyes playing +on him. He threw up both hands and caved. Well, say, they 're down +less than fifty feet, and their vein actually is n't paying them +grub-stakes. That's the exact state of the case. Now, Winston, you do +n't propose to tie yourself professionally with that sort of a beggarly +outfit, do you?" + +The younger man had been sitting motionless, his arm resting easily on +the back of the chair, his eyes slowly hardening as the other proceeded. + +"I never before clearly understood that poverty was necessarily a +crime," he remarked thoughtfully, as Farnham came to a pause. +"Besides, I am not tied up with that special outfit. I have merely +agreed to examine into the matter." + +"Of course, I understand that; but what's the use? You 'll only come +to exactly the same conclusion all the others have. Besides, I have +been especially authorized to offer you a thousand dollars simply to +drop the thing. It's worth that much to us just now to be let alone." + +Winston's eyes half closed, his fingers gripping nervously into the +palm of his hand. + +"It occurs to me you place my selling-out price at rather low figures," +he said contemptuously. + +Farnham straightened up in his chair, instantly realizing he had been +guilty of playing the wrong card, and for the moment totally unable to +perceive how safely to withdraw it. Even then he utterly failed to +comprehend the deeper meaning in the other's words. + +"I was thinking rather of what it was directly worth to us," he +explained, "and had no conception you would look at it that way. +However, we are perfectly willing to be liberal--how much do you want?" + +For a moment Winston stared straight at him, his lips firmly set, his +gray eyes grown hard as steel. Then he deliberately pushed back his +chair, and rose to his feet, one clinched hand resting on the table. + +"You may not fully understand my position," he began quietly, "for in +all probability such a conception is utterly beyond you, but I do n't +want a dollar, nor a cent. Good-night." + +He turned deliberately toward the entrance, but the thoroughly +astounded gambler leaped to his feet with one hand extended in sudden +protest. He was angry, yet believed he perceived a great light shining +through the darkness. + +"Hold on, Winston," he exclaimed anxiously; "just a moment. I 'd +totally forgotten that you were the son of a millionaire, and therefore +possessed no desire for money like the rest of us more ordinary +mortals. Now, let's be sensible. By God, you must want something! +What is it?" + +"You have received my final answer. I am not in the market." + +Farnham crushed a bitter oath between his gleaming teeth, and flung his +sodden cigar-butt to the floor. + +"Do you actually mean you are crazy enough to go with Hicks, after all +I 've told you?" + +"I propose to discover for myself whether his claim is just. If it is, +I 'm with him." + +The gambler caught his breath sharply, for an instant utterly +speechless, his face pallid with rage. Then the fierce, angry words +burst forth in unrestrained torrent through the calm of his accustomed +self-control. + +"Oh, you 'll play hell, you infernal cur. Do it, and I 'll guarantee +you 'll get a bullet in the brain, even if you are old Winston's son. +We 've got a way of taking care of your kind out here when you get too +gay. You 're with him, are you? Well, I 'm damned if you ever get any +chance even to sit in the game. We 'll get you, and get you early, see +if we don't. There are other things besides money in this world, and +you 've got your price, just as well as every other man. Perhaps it's +silk, perhaps it's calico; but you bet it's something, for you 're no +angel. By God, I believe I could name it, even now." + +Winston wheeled, his right hand thrust deeply into his coat pocket, his +face sternly set. + +"What, for instance?" + +"Well,--just to take a chance,--Beth Norvell," + +Farnham never forgot the flame of those gray eyes, or the sharp sting +of the indignant voice. + +"What do you know regarding her? Speak out, damn you!" + +The gambler laughed uneasily; he had seen that look in men's faces +before, and knew its full, deadly meaning. He had already gone to the +very limit of safety. + +"Oh, nothing, I assure you. I never even saw the lady," he explained +coldly. "But I have been told that she was _the_ attraction for you in +this camp; and I rather guess I hit the bull's-eye that time, even if +it was a chance shot." + +Winston moistened his dry lips, his eyes never wavering from off the +sneering face of the other. + +"Farnham," the voice sounding low and distinct, "I have got something +to say to you, and you are going to listen to the end. You see that?" +He thrust sharply forward the skirt of his short coat. "Well, that's a +thirty-eight, cocked and loaded, and I 've got you covered. I know +your style, and if you make a single move toward your hip I 'll uncork +the whole six shots into your anatomy. Understand? Now, see here--I +'m not on the bargain counter for money or anything else. I had not +the slightest personal interest in this affair an hour ago, but I have +now, and, what is more, I am going directly after the facts. Neither +you, nor all of your crowd put together, can stop me with either money, +bullets, or women. I don't bully worth a cent, and I don't scare. You +took the wrong track, and you 've got me ready now to fight this out to +a finish. And the first pointer I desire to give you is this--if your +lips ever again besmirch the name of Beth Norvell to my knowledge, I +'ll hunt you down as I would a mad dog. I believe you are a dirty liar +and thief, and now I 'm going after the facts to prove it. Good-night." + +He backed slowly toward the curtained doorway, his gaze never wavering +from off the surprised countenance of the other, his hidden hand +grasping the masked revolver. Then he stepped through the opening and +disappeared. Farnham remained motionless, his face like iron, his +teeth gripping savagely. Then he dropped his hand heavily on the +table, still staring, as if fascinated, at the quivering curtains. + +"By God, the fellow actually means fight," he muttered slowly. "He +means fight." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCES + +She had expected the probability of such a happening, yet her face +perceptibly paled while perusing the brief note handed her by the stage +manager upon coming forth from her dressing-room. Her first impulse +was to refuse compliance, to trust fortune in an endeavor to keep +beyond reach, to turn and run from this new, threatening danger like a +frightened deer. But she recalled the financial necessity which held +her yet a prisoner at the Gayety. This writer was partner in the +gambling rooms, possibly in the theatre also; her chance for escaping +him would be very slender. Besides, it might be far better to face the +man boldly and have it over. Undoubtedly a meeting must occur some +time; as well now as later so that the haunting shadow would not remain +ever before her. The color stole slowly back into her cheeks as she +stood twisting the paper between her fingers, her eyes darkening with +returning courage. + +"Where is the gentleman, Ben?" she asked, steadying herself slightly +against a fly. + +"First box, Miss; right through that narrow door, yonder," and the man +smiled, supposing he understood. "Very convenient arrangement for the +stage ladies." + +She paused, her hand resting upon the latch, in a final effort to quiet +her rapid breathing and gain firmer control over her nerves. This was +to be a struggle for which she must steel herself. She stepped quietly +within, and stood, silent and motionless, amid the shadows of the drawn +curtains, gazing directly at the sole occupant of the box, her dark +eyes filled with contemptuous defiance. Farnham lounged in the second +chair, leaning back in affected carelessness with one arm resting +negligently upon the railing, but there came into his pale face a +sudden glow of appreciation as he swept his cool eyes over the trim +figure, the flushed countenance there confronting him. A realization +of her fresh womanly fairness came over him with such suddenness as to +cause the man to draw his breath quickly, his eyes darkening with +passion. + +"By thunder, Lizzie, but you are actually developing into quite a +beauty!" he exclaimed with almost brutal frankness. "Life on the stage +appears to agree with you; or was it joy at getting rid of me?" + +She did not move from where she had taken her first stand against the +background of curtains, nor did the expression upon her face change. + +"I presume you did not send for me merely for the purpose of +compliment," she remarked, quietly. + +"Well, no; not exactly," and the man laughed with assumed recklessness +in an evident effort to appear perfectly at ease. "I was simply +carried away by the enthusiasm of the moment. I was always, as you +will remember, something of a connoisseur regarding the charms of the +sex, and you have certainly improved wonderfully. Why, I actually +believe I might fall in love with you again if I were to receive the +slightest encouragement." + +"I do not think I am offering you any." + +"Hardly; even my egotism will not permit me to believe so. An iceberg +would seem warm in comparison. Yet, at least, there is no present +occasion for our quarrelling. Sit down." + +"Thank you, I prefer to remain standing. I presume whatever you may +desire to say will not require much time?" + +Farnham leaned forward, decidedly jarred from out his assumed mood of +cold sarcasm. He had expected something different, and his face +hardened with definite purpose. + +"That depends," he said soberly, "on your frame of mind. You do not +appear extremely delighted to meet me again. Considering that it is +now fully three years since our last conversation, you might strive to +be, at least outwardly, cordial." + +She gathered up her skirts within her left hand, and turned calmly +toward the door. + +"Is that all?" + +The man leaped impulsively to his feet, his cheeks burning with sudden +animation, his previous mask of reckless indifference entirely torn +away. + +"Hell, no!" he exclaimed warmly, as instantly pausing when she wheeled +swiftly about and faced him firmly. "No, it is not all. Of course, I +had a special purpose in sending for you. Yet I cannot help feeling a +natural curiosity. Tell me, what are you doing here?" + +"That is quite easily seen; I am endeavoring to earn a living." + +"A nice, quiet, respectable sort of a place you have chosen, certainly. +It is about the last spot I should ever have expected to discover you +in, knowing as I do your former puritanical morals. Your tastes must +have greatly changed under the spur," and he laughed lightly, in +mockery. + +Miss Norvell's lips curled in unconcealed contempt, her eyes darkening +with indignation. + +"My present associations were not entered into from choice but from +necessity. With you, I understand, it is deliberate choice." + +The man stood undecided, fingering the edge of the curtain, vaguely +realizing that he was merely injuring his own cause by continuing to +anger her, yet far too deeply hit to remain entirely silent. + +"You seem inclined to strike out as hard as ever," he retorted, yet in +tones of manifest regret. "But just now there is not the slightest +occasion for any bitterness. I am perfectly prepared to do the square +thing, and if we can only pull together pleasantly for a little while, +it will prove far better for both of us." + +"In plainer words, you chance just now to have some special use for me?" + +"Well, I hope you will look at the situation from my viewpoint. But +the actual truth is, that when I first came up here to-night, I had not +the faintest suspicion that it was you I was seeking." + +"No?" doubtfully. + +"That is an actual fact, Lizzie. I did n't suppose you were within a +thousand miles of this place," and Farnham quietly settled himself +again in his chair. "I came up here merely intending to get a glimpse +of an actress named Beth Norvell. I was never more thoroughly +surprised in my life than when you first came out on the stage. For a +moment it knocked me silly. Say, you're an artist all right, my girl. +That was a great stunt. Why, those boys down below hardly breathed +until you disappeared. You ought to get a chance in Chicago; you 'd be +wearing diamonds. Damned if I was n't honestly proud of you myself." + +The girl caught her breath sharply, her hand pressed tightly against +her side. + +"What--what was it you desired of Beth Norvell?" she questioned. + +Farnham's white teeth gleamed in a sudden smile of appreciation. + +"Hope you are not becoming jealous," he said insinuatingly. +"Positively no occasion, I assure you, for it was not to make love to +the girl, I wanted to see her. Lord, no! This was purely a business +deal. The truth is, I chanced to hear she had a lover already, and he +was the fellow I was really after." + +"A lover?" she stepped toward him, her eyes blazing, her cheeks aflame. +"I? How dare you? What can you mean by so false an insinuation?" + +"Oh, don't flare up so, Lizzie," and the complacent gambler looked at +her with eyes not entirely devoid of admiration. "It really makes you +prettier than ever, but that sort of thing cuts no ice with me. +However, what I have just said stands: the story flying around here is +that you have captured old Winston's boy, and a damned good catch it +is, too." + +She went instantly white as a sheet, her body trembling like an aspen, +her quivering lips faltering forth words she could not wholly restrain. + +"The story, you say--the story! Do--do you believe that of me?" + +"Oh, that does n't make any difference," the brute in him frankly +enjoying her evident pain. "Lord, what do you care about my belief? +That was all passed and over with long ago. All I know is, the fellow +is gone on you, all right. Why, he pulled a gun on me last night +merely because I chanced to mention your name in his presence." + +The telltale color swept back into her cheeks in swift wave. For an +instant her eyes wavered, then came back to the man's sneering face. + +"Did--did you dare tell him?" + +He laughed lightly, softly patting his hand on the railing, his own +eyes partially veiled by lowered lids. + +"Torn off the mask of unimpeachable virtue, have I?" he chuckled, well +pleased. "Rather prefer not to have our late affair blowed to this +particular young man, hey? Well, I suspected as much; and really, +Lizzie, you ought to know I am not that sort of a cur. I 've held my +tongue all right so far, and consequently I expect you to do me a good +deed in return. That's a fair enough proposition, is n't it?" + +She did not immediately answer, gazing upon him as she might at some +foul snake which had fascinated her, her breath coming in half-stifled +sobs, her hand clutching the heavy curtain for support. + +"Oh, good God!" she faltered at last, speaking as though half dazed. +"You must possess the spirit of a demon. Why do you continue to +torture me so? You have no right--no right; you forfeited all you ever +possessed years ago. Under Heaven, I am nothing to you; and in your +heart you know I have done nothing wrong, nothing to awaken even the +foul suspicions of jealousy. Mr. Winston has been my friend, yet even +that friendship--innocent and unsullied--is already past; we have +parted for all time." + +"Indeed! You are such a consummate actress, Lizzie, I scarcely know +what really to believe. Probably, then, you no longer object to my +telling the gentleman the story?" + +Her lips closed firmly. + +"I shall tell him myself." + +"Oh! Then, after all your fine words of renunciation, you will see him +again! Your reform is soon ended. Well, my girl, there is really no +necessity for any such sacrifice on your part. No one here suspects +anything regarding our little affair excepting you and me. You do what +I desire with this Winston, and I 'm mum. What do you say?" + +She sank back into a chair, utterly unable to stand longer, hiding her +face in her hands. + +"What--what is it you wish?" she questioned wearily. + +He leaned forward and placed his hand, almost in caress, upon her +skirt, but she drew the cloth hastily away, a sudden sob shaking her +voice. + +"Oh, please, don't touch me! I cannot stand it--only tell me what it +is you wish." + +"I want you to exercise your influence over that fellow, and prevent +his taking professional employment at the 'Little Yankee' mine." + +"Why?" she lifted her head again, facing him with questioning eyes. + +"Simply because his doing so will interfere seriously with some of my +business plans--that's all." + +"Then why don't you act the part of a man, and go to him yourself? +Why, in this, do you prefer hiding behind the skirts of a woman?" + +Farnham laughed grimly, in no way embarrassed by the query. + +"Good Lord, Lizzie! I 've been to him, all right, but the fellow is +like a stubborn mule. He has n't got but one selling-out price, so far +as I can learn, and that chances to be Beth Norvell. You see the +point? Well, that's exactly why I came here to-night. I wanted to be +able to tender him the goods." + +For a moment her eyes remained pitifully pleading; then they suddenly +appeared to harden into resolute defiance. As though moving in a +dream, she arose slowly to her feet, taking a single step away from him +toward the closed door. + +"As I have already explained," she paused to say coldly, "Mr. Winston +is no more to me than any other gentleman whom I may have chanced to +meet in friendship. I have not the faintest reason to suppose I could +influence his decision in any matter appertaining to his professional +work. Moreover, I have not the slightest inclination to try." + +"Do you dare refuse, in spite of all I can say to your injury?" he +asked, even then doubtful of her meaning. + +"I definitely decline to be your catspaw,--yes. Nothing you can relate +truthfully will ever harm me in the estimation of a gentleman, and I +shall certainly know how to combat falsehood." + +"Quite pretty. Injured innocence, I perceive, is to be the line of +defence. What! are you already going?" + +"I am." + +"Where?" + +She turned again, standing erect, her face flushing, her hand upon the +latch of the door. + +"If it is imperative that you know, I will tell you. I intend seeking +Mr. Winston, and informing him exactly who and what I am." + +"Now? at this hour of the night?" + +"Better now, and at this hour of the night, than venture waiting until +after you have had an inning. I am not at all ashamed to confess the +truth, if I can only be the first to tell my story." + +She pressed the latch of the door, her breathing so rapid as to be +positively painful. With an ill-repressed oath, Farnham sprang to his +feet, his rising anger putting an end to all prudence. + +"Wait!" he exclaimed gruffly. "Wait where you are until I am done. +You have heard only a part of this thing so far. My God, girl! don't +you know me well enough by this time to comprehend that I always have +my way, whatever the cost may be to others? Lord! what do I care for +this fellow? or, for the matter of that, what do I care for you? I +don't permit people to stand in my path; and I supposed you had +thoroughly learned that lesson, if no other. Faith, you had cause +enough, surely. So you refuse all endeavor to keep Winston out of this +affair, do you? Perhaps you had better pause a minute, and remember +who it is you are dealing with. I reckon you never saw any signs of +the quitter about me. Now, it 's true I 'd rather have you do this +business up quietly; but if you refuse, don't forget there are other +means fully as effective, and a damn sight quicker." He reached out +suddenly, grasping her hand. "Did you ever hear the adage, 'Dead men +tell no tales'?" he questioned savagely. + +She drew her hand sharply back from its instant of imprisonment, with a +smothered cry, her eyes filled with undisguised horror. + +"You threaten--you threaten murder?" + +"Oh, we never use that word out in this country--it is considered far +too coarse, my dear," and Farnham's thin lips curled sardonically. "We +merely 'silence' our enemies in Colorado. It is an extremely simple +matter; nothing at all disagreeable or boorish about it, I can assure +you. A stick of dynamite dropped quietly down a shaft-hole, or pushed +beneath a bunk house--that's all. The coroner calls it an accident; +the preachers, a dispensation of Providence; while the fellows who +really know never come back to tell. If merely one is desired, a +well-directed shot from out a cedar thicket affords a most gentlemanly +way of shuffling off this mortal coil." + +"You would not! You dare not!" + +"I? Why, such a thought is preposterous, of course, for the risk would +be entirely unnecessary. Quite evidently you are not well acquainted +with one of the flourishing industries of this section, my dear. There +are always plenty of men out of a job in this camp; conscience does n't +come high, and the present market price for that sort of work is only +about twenty-five dollars a head. Not unreasonable, all things +considered, is it?" + +If she had not thoroughly known this man, had not previously sounded +his depths, she might have doubted his meaning, deceived by the lazy +drawl in his soft voice, the glimmer of grim humor in his eyes. But +she did know him; she comprehended fully the slumbering tiger within, +the lurking spirit of vindictiveness of his real nature, and that +knowledge overcame her, left her weak and trembling like a frightened +child. For an instant she could not articulate, staring at him with +white face and horrified eyes. + +"You--you mean that?" and for the first time she clasped his loose coat +between her clutching fingers. + +"It is hardly a subject to be deliberately selected for jest," he +replied coolly, "but if you prefer you might wait and see." + +She stepped back from him, leaning heavily against the frame of the +door, her face again hidden behind uplifted hands. The man did not +move, his face emotionless, his lips tightly set. He was watching her +with the intentness of a hawk, absolutely certain now of his victim. +Suddenly she looked up, her eyes picturing the courage of desperation. +One glance into his face and the woman stood transformed, at bay, the +fierce spirit of battle flaming into her face. + +"Have it so, then," she exclaimed sharply. "I pledge myself to do +everything possible to prevent his remaining here." She drew herself +up, her eyes darkening from sudden, uncontrollable anger. "Oh, how I +despise you, you coward, you cur! I know you, what you are capable of, +and I do this to preserve the life of a friend; but my detestation of +you is beyond expression in words. My one and greatest shame is that I +ever trusted you; that I once believed you to be a man. Good God! how +could I ever have been so blind!" + +She opened the door with her hand extended behind her, and backed +slowly away, facing him where he stood motionless, smiling still as +though her sudden outburst of passion merely served to feed his conceit. + +"Then I may trust you in this?" + +Her eyes shone fairly black with the depth of scorn glowing in them. + +"Have--have you ever known me to lie?" she asked, her voice faltering +from reaction. + +The door closed. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A NEW ALLIANCE + +Her eyes blinded by a strange mist of tears, Beth Norvell clung to the +latch of the closed door, fearful lest the man within might decide to +follow, endeavoring to gaze about, while gaining control over her +sorely shattered nerves. Strong as she had appeared when nerved by +indignation and despair, that stormy interview with Farnham--his +scarcely veiled threats, his heartless scoffing--had left her a wreck, +for the moment scarcely mistress of her own mind. One thing alone +stood forth as a rallying point for all her benumbed energies--she must +save Winston from a real danger, the nature of which she did not in the +least doubt. The gambler's boast was no idle one; she, who had before +tasted of his depravity, felt fully convinced of his intention now. +Yet what could she hope to do? How best might she accomplish that +imperative duty of rescue? + +There occurred to her only one feasible plan--a complete surrender of +her womanly pride, an immediate acceptance of the young man's proffered +aid to Denver, with an insistence that he also accompany her. Woman +enough to realize her power, she could not but have faith in the +results. The color crept back in her cheeks at this daring conception, +for, after those hastily uttered words of the previous night, what +construction would he be likely to put on this sudden yielding? An +instant she hesitated, afraid, shrinking back before the sacrifice as +from fire. Then her fine eyes darkened, the clinging tears vanishing +while her fingers clinched in passionate resolve. Do it? Why, of +course she must do it! What was her pitiful pride in the balance +against his life? He might never dream what so great a sacrifice cost +her; might even despise her for such an exhibition of weakness; but she +would know, and be the stronger in her own soul from the brave +performance of duty. Besides, she intended to tell him the whole +miserable story of her wrecked life--not now, not even to-night, but +some time, on their way back into the world,--as they were nearing +Denver, perhaps, and at the moment of final parting. It almost seemed +easy as she faced the stern necessity, so easy that her parted lips +smiled sarcastically when she heard Farnham rise and leave the darkened +box through the opposite entrance. Perhaps, when he comprehended it +all, this other, who had spoken love words to her, would understand +where the real blame lay, and so prove manly enough to absolve her from +any conception of evil. This hope was sweet, strengthening, yet it +faded immediately away. Ah, no; such result was not natural, as she +understood the world--it was always the woman who bore the burden of +condemnation. Far safer to expect nothing, but do the right simply +because it was right. She no longer questioned what that would be. It +stood there before her like a blazing cross of flame; she must hold +those two men apart, even though they both trampled her heart beneath +their feet. This was her destiny, the payment she must return the +world for having once made a mistake. One out of the multitude, she +felt strong enough in the crisis to choose deliberately the straight +and narrow path leading through Gethsemane. + +And this very choosing gave back her womanhood, cleared her dazed brain +for action, and sent the red blood throbbing through her veins. Her +immediate surroundings began to take definite form. To the left the +great, deserted stage extended, wrapped in total darkness, silent, +forsaken, the heavy drop-curtain lowered to the floor. Through its +obscuring folds resounded noisily a crash of musical instruments, the +incessant shuffling of feet, a mingled hum of voices, evidencing that +the dance was already on in full volume. Far back, behind much +protruding scenery, a single light flickered like a twinkling star, its +dim, uncertain radiance the sole guide through the intricacies of +cluttered passageways leading toward the distant stage entrance. Half +frightened at this gloomy loneliness, the girl moved gingerly forward, +her skirts gathered closely about her slender figure, with anxious eyes +scanning the gloomy shadows in vague suspicion. Suddenly a hand +gripped her extended wrist, and she gazed for a startled instant into +fiercely burning eyes, her own heart throbbing with nervous excitement. + +"Vat vas he to you? Answer me! Answer me quick!" + +The blood came back into her blanched cheeks with a sudden rush of +anger. Instantly indignation swept back the mists of fear. With +unnatural strength she wrenched free her captured hand, and sternly +fronted the other, a barely recognized shadow in the gloom. + +"Permit me to pass," she exclaimed, clearly. "How dare you hide here +to halt me?" + +The other exhibited her teeth, gleaming white and savage behind parted +lips, yet she never stirred. + +"Dare? Pah! you vaste time to talk so," she cried brokenly, her voice +trembling from passion. "You no such fine lady now, seńorita. You see +dis knife; I know how use eet quick. Bah! you go to him like all de +rest, but I vill know de truth first, if I have to cut eet out you. So +vat ees de Seńor Farnham to you? Say quick!" + +The American remained silent, motionless, her breath quickening under +the threat, her eyes striving to see clearly the face of the one +confronting her. + +"Do you expect to frighten me?" she asked, coldly, her earlier anger +strangely changing to indifference. "It is you who wastes time, +seńorita, for I care little for your knife. Only it would be an +extremely foolish thing for you to do, as I have not come between you +and your lover." + +The impulsive Mexican dancer laughed, but with no tone of joy +perceptible. + +"My lofer! Mother of God! sometime I think I hate, not lofe. He vas +like all you Americanos, cold as de ice. He play vis Mercedes, and +hurt--gracious, how he hurt! But I must be told. Vat vas he to you? +Answer me dat." + +Beth Norvell's eyes softened in sudden pity. The unconscious appeal +within that broken voice, which had lost all semblance of threat, +seemed to reveal instantly the whole sad story, and her heart gave +immediate response. She reached out, touching gently the hand in which +she saw the gleam of the knife-blade. There was no fear in her now, +nothing but an infinite womanly sympathy. + +"He is nothing to me," she said, earnestly, "absolutely nothing. I +despise him--that is all. He is unworthy the thought of any woman." + +The slender figure of the Mexican swayed as though stricken by a blow, +the fierce, tigerish passion dying out of her face, her free hand +seeking her throat as though choking. + +"Nothing?" she gasped, incredulously. "_Sapristi_, I think you lie, +seńorita. Nothing? Vy you go to him in secret? Vy you stay and talk +so long? I not understand." + +"He sent for me; he wished me to aid him in a business matter." + +The other stared incredulous, her form growing rigid with gathering +suspicion that this fair American was only endeavoring to make her a +fool through the use of soft speech. The white teeth gleamed again +maliciously. + +"You speak false to Mercedes," she cried hotly, her voice trembling. +"Vy he send for you, seńorita? You know him?" + +There was a bare instant of seeming hesitation, then the quiet, better +controlled voice answered soberly: + +"Yes, in the East, three years ago." + +Like a flash of powder, the girl of the hot-blooded South burst into +fresh flame of passion, her foot stamping the floor, her black eyes +glowing with unrestrained anger. + +"_Dios de Dios_! Eet ees as I thought. He lofe you, not Mercedes. Vy +I not kill you?--hey?" + +Miss Norvell met her fiercely threatening look, her single step of +advance, without tremor or lowering of the eyes. She even released her +grasp upon the uplifted knife, as if in utter contempt. For a moment +they confronted each other, and then, as suddenly as she had broken +into flame, the excitable young Mexican burst into tears. As though +this unexpected exhibition of feeling had inspired the action, the +other as quickly decided upon her course. + +"Listen to me, girl," she exclaimed gravely, again grasping the lowered +knife hand. "I am going to trust you implicitly. You feel deeply; you +will understand when I tell you all. You call me a fine lady because I +hold myself aloof from the senseless revelry of this mining camp; and +you believe you hate me because you suppose I feel above you. But you +are a woman, and, whatever your past life may have been, your heart +will respond to the story of a woman's trouble. I 'm going to tell you +mine, not so much for my sake as for your own. I am not afraid of your +knife; why, its sharp point would be almost welcome, were it not that I +have serious work to do in the world before I die. And you are going +to aid me in accomplishing it. You say you do not really know now +whether you truly love or hate this man, this Farnham. But I know for +myself beyond all doubt. All that once might have blossomed into love +in my heart has been withered into hatred, for I know him to be a moral +leper, a traitor to honor, a remorseless wretch, unworthy the tender +remembrance, of any woman. You suppose I went to him this night +through any deliberate choice of my own? Almighty God, no! I went +because I was compelled; because there was no possible escape. Now, I +am going to tell you why." + +Mercedes, the tears yet clinging to her long, black lashes, stood +motionless, gazing at the other with fascination, her slender, +scarlet-draped figure quivering to the force of these impetuous words. +She longed, yet dreaded, to hear, her own lips refusing utterance. But +Beth Norvell gave little opportunity; her determination made, she swept +forward unhesitatingly. As though fearful of being overheard, even in +the midst of that loneliness, she leaned forward, whispering one quick, +breathless sentence of confession. The startled dancer swayed backward +at the words, clutching at her breast, the faint glimmer of light +revealing her staring eyes and pallid cheeks. + +"Mother of God!" she sobbed convulsively. "No, no! not dat! He could +not lie to me like dat!" + +"Lie?" in bitter scornfulness. "Lie! Why, it is his very life to +lie--to women. God pity us! This world seems filled with just such +men, and we are their natural victims. Love? Their only conception of +it is passion, and, that once satiated, not even ordinary kindness is +left with which to mock the memory. In Heaven's name, girl, in your +life have you not long since learned this? Now, I will tell you what +this monster wanted of me to-night." She paused, scarcely knowing how +best to proceed, or just how much of the plot this other might already +comprehend. + +"Have you ever heard of the 'Little Yankee' mine?" she questioned. + +"Si, seńorita," the voice faltering slightly, the black eyes drooping. +"Eet is up in de deep canyon yonder; I know eet." + +"He told me about it," Miss Norvell continued more calmly. "He is +having trouble with those people out there. There is something wrong, +and he is afraid of exposure. You remember the young man who walked +home with me last night: Well, he is a mining engineer. He has agreed +to examine into the claims of the 'Little Yankee' people, and +this--this Farnham wants him stopped. You understand? He sent for me +to use my influence and make him go away. I refused, and then +this--this creature threatened to kill Mr. Winston if he remained in +camp, and--and I know he will." + +The Mexican's great black eyes widened, but not with horror. Suddenly +in the silent pause she laughed. + +"Si, si; now I know all--you lofe dis man. _Bueno_! I see eet as eet +vas." + +The telltale red blood swept to the roots of Miss Norvell's hair, but +her indignant reply came swift and vehement. + +"No, stop! Never dare to speak such words. I am not like that! Can +you think of nothing except the cheap masquerade of love? Have you +never known any true, pure friendship existing between man and woman? +This mining engineer has been good to me; he has proved himself a +gentleman. It is not love which makes me so anxious now to serve him, +to warn him of imminent danger--it is gratitude, friendship, common +humanity. Is it impossible for you to comprehend such motives?" + +The other touched her for the first time with extended hand, her face +losing much of its previous savagery. + +"I know so ver' leettle 'bout such kinds of peoples, seńorita," she +explained regretfully, her voice low, "de kind vat are good and gentle +and vidout vantin' somting for eet. Eet ees not de kinds I meet vis +ver' much. Dey be all alike vis me--lofe, lofe, lofe, till I get seek +of de vord--only de one, an' I not know him ver' vell yet. Maybe he +teach me vat you mean some day. He talk better, not like a fool, an' +he not try to make me bad. Is dat eet, seńorita?" + +"Yes; who is it you mean?" + +"He? Oh! it vas most odd, yet I do not laugh, seńorita, I know not +vy, but he make me to feel--vat you calls eet?--si, de respect; I tink +him to be de good man, de gentle. He was at de 'Little Yankee' too. I +vonder vas all good out at de 'Little Yankee'? _Sapristi_! he vas such +a funny man to talk--he sputter like de champagne ven it uncorked. I +laugh at him, but I like him just de same, for he act to me like I vas +de lady, de ver' fine lady. I never forget dat. You know him, +seńorita? So big like a great bear, vis de beautiful red hair like de +color of dis dress. No? He so nice I just hate to have to fool him, +but maybe I get chance to make eet all up some day--you tink so? +Merciful saints! Ve are queer, ve vomens! Eet vas alvays de voman vat +does like de vay you do, hey? Ve vas mooch fools all de time." + +"Yes, we are 'much fools'; that seems ordained. Yet there are true, +noble men in this world, Mercedes, and blessed is she who can boast of +such a friendship. This Mr. Winston is one, and, perhaps, your +stuttering giant may prove another." She caught at a straw of hope in +thus interesting the girl. "So he is at the 'Little Yankee'? and you +wish to serve him? Then listen; he is in danger also if this scheme of +revenge carries--in danger of his life. Dynamite does not pick out one +victim, and permit all others to escape." + +"Dynamite?" + +"That was Farnham's threat, and God knows he is perfectly capable of +it. Now, will you aid me?" + +The young Mexican girl stood staring with parted lips. + +"Help you how? Vat you mean?" + +"Warn the men of the 'Little Yankee.'" + +The other laughed behind her white teeth, yet with no mirth in the +sound. + +"Ah, maybe I see, seńorita; you try make a fool out me. No, I not play +your game. You try turn me against Seńor Farnham. I tink you not +catch Mercedes so." + +"You do not believe me?" + +"_Sapristi_! I know not for sure. Maybe I help, maybe I not. First I +talk vis Seńor Farnham, an' den I know vether you lie, or tell true. +Vatever ees right I do." + +"Then permit me to pass." + +Miss Norvell took a resolute step forward, clasping her skirts closely +to keep them from contact with the dusty scenery crowding the narrow +passage. The jealous flame within the black eyes of the Mexican dimmed. + +"You can no pass dat vay," she explained swiftly, touching the other's +sleeve. + +"Not through the stage door?" + +The other shook her head doggedly. + +"Eet is alvay locked, seńorita." + +Beth Norvell turned about in dismay, her eyes pleading, her breath +quickening. + +"You mean we are shut in here for the night? Is n't there any way +leading out?" + +"Oh, si, si," and Mercedes smiled, waving her hands. "Zar is vay +yonder vare de orchestra goes. Eet leads to de hall; I show you." + +"Did he know?" + +"Vat? Seńor Farnham? No doubt, seńorita. Come, eet ees but de step." + +The bewildered American hung back, her eyes filled with dread resting +upon the black shadow of the curtain, from behind which clearly arose +the strains of a laboring orchestra, mingling with the discordant noise +of a ribald crowd. Farnham understood she was locked in; knew she +might hope to escape only through that scene of pollution; beyond +doubt, he waited in its midst to gloat over her degradation, possibly +even to accost her. She shrank from such an ordeal as though she +fronted pestilence. + +"Oh, not that way; not through the dance hall!" she exclaimed. + +Mercedes clapped her hands with delight. To her it appeared amusing. + +"Holy Mother! Vy not? Eet make me laugh to see you so ver' nice. Vat +you 'fraid 'bout? Vas eet de men? Pah! I snap my fingers at all of +dem dis vay. Dey not say boo! But come, now, Mercedes show you vay +out vere you no meet vis de men, no meet vis anybody. Poof, eet ees +easy." + +She danced lightly away, her hand beckoning, her black eyes aglow with +aroused interest. Reluctantly the puzzled American slowly followed, +dipping down into the black labyrinth leading beneath the stage. Amid +silence and darkness Mercedes grasped her arm firmly, leading +unhesitatingly forward. Standing within the glare of light streaming +through the partially open door. Miss Norvell drew a sudden breath of +relief. The chairs and benches, piled high along the side of the great +room, left a secluded passageway running close against the wall. Along +this the two young women moved silently, catching merely occasional +glimpses of the wild revelry upon the other side of that rude barrier, +unseen themselves until within twenty feet of the street door. There +Miss Norvell hesitated her anxious eyes searching the mixed crowd of +dancers now for the first time fully revealed. Even as she gazed upon +the riot, shocked into silence at the inexpressible profligacy +displayed, and ashamed of her presence in the midst of it, a merry peal +of laughter burst through the parted lips of the Mexican dancer. + +"_Dios de Dios_, but I had all forgot dis vas your night for de dance, +seńor. But you no so easy forget Mercedes, hey?" + +He stood directly before them, plainly embarrassed, gripping his +disreputable hat in both hands like a great bashful boy, his face +reddening under her smiling eyes, his voice appearing to catch within +his throat. Mercedes laughed again, patting his broad shoulder with +her white hand as though she petted a great, good-natured dog. Then +her sparkling black eyes caught sight of something unexpected beyond, +and, in an instant, grew hard with purpose. + +"Holy Mother! but eet 's true he ees here, seńorita--see yonder by de +second vindow," she whispered fiercely. "Maybe it vas so he tink to +get you once more, but he not looked dis vay yet. _Bueno_! I make him +dance vis me. Dis man Stutter Brown, an' he go vis you to de hotel; +ees eet not so, _amigo_?" + +"I-I have no t-t-time," he stuttered, totally confused. "Y-you see, I +'m in a h-hell of a h-h-hurry." + +"Pah; eet vill not take five minute, an' I be here ven you come back. +Si, seńor, I vait for you for de dance, sure." She turned eagerly to +Miss Norvell. "You go vis him, seńorita; he ver' good man, I, +Mercedes, know." + +The American looked at them both, her eyes slightly smiling in +understanding. + +"Yes," she assented quietly, "I believe he is." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HALF-CONFIDENCES + +Whatever Stutter Brown may secretly have thought concerning this new +arrangement of his affairs, he indulged in no outward manifestations. +Not greatly gifted in speech, he was nevertheless sufficiently prompt +in action. The swift, nervous orders of the impulsive Mexican dancer +had sufficiently impressed him with one controlling idea, that +something decidedly serious was in the air; and, as she flitted across +the room, looking not unlike a red bird, he watched her make directly +toward a man who was leaning negligently back in a chair against the +farther wall. For a moment he continued to gaze through the obscuring +haze of tobacco smoke, uncertain as to the other's identity, his eyes +growing angry, his square jaw set firm. + +"W-who is the f-f-feller?" he questioned gruffly. "Wh-what 's she +m-mean l-leavin' me to go over th-thar ter h-him?" + +Beth Norvell glanced up frankly into his puzzled face. + +"She has gone to keep him away from me," she explained quietly. "His +name is Farnham." + +Brown's right hand swung back to his belt, his teeth gripped like those +of a fighting dog. + +"Hell!" he ejaculated, forgetting to stutter. "Is that him? Biff +Farnham? An' he 's after you is he, the damned Mormon?" + +She nodded, her cheeks growing rosy from embarrassment. Brown cast a +quick, comprehensive glance from the face of the woman to where the man +was now leaning lazily against the wall. + +"All r-right, little g-girl," he said slowly, and with grave +deliberation. "I-I reckon I n-never went b-back on any p-pard yet. +B-blamed if y-y-you hate thet c-cuss any worse th-than I do. Y-you +bet, I 'll take you out o' h-h-here safe 'nough." + +He drew her more closely against his side, completely shielding her +slender figure from observation by the intervention of his giant body, +and thus they passed out together into the gloomy but still riotous +street. A block or more down, under the glaring light of a noisy +saloon, the girl looked up questioningly into his boyish face. + +"Are you Stutter Brown, of the 'Little Yankee'?" she asked doubtfully. + +"I-I reckon you've c-c-called the t-turn, Miss." + +She hesitated a moment, but there was something about this big, awkward +fellow, with his sober eyes and good-natured face, which gave her +confidence. + +"Do--do you know a Mr. Ned Winston?" + +He shook his head, the locks of red hair showing conspicuously under +the wide hat-brim. + +"I r-reckon not. Leastwise, don't s-s-sorter seem to r-recall no such +n-name, Miss. Was the g-gent a f-friend o' your 'n?" + +"Y-yes. He is a mining engineer, and, I have been told, is under +engagement at the 'Little Yankee.'" + +Brown's eyes hardened, looking down into the upturned face, and his +hands clinched in sudden awakening suspicion. + +"You d-did, hey?" he questioned sullenly. "Wh-who told you that r-rot?" + +"Farnham." + +The man uttered an unrestrained oath, fully believing now that he was +being led into a cunningly devised trap. His mental operations were +slow, but he was swift and tenacious enough in prejudice. He stopped +still, and the two stood silently facing each other, the same vague +spectre of suspicion alive in the minds of both. + +"Farnham," the man muttered, for one instant thrown off his guard from +surprise. "How th-the hell d-d-did he g-git hold o' that?" + +"I don't know; but is n't it true?" + +He turned her face around toward the light, not roughly, yet with an +unconscious strength which she felt irresistible, and looked at her +searchingly, his own eyes perceptibly softening. + +"Y-you sure l-l-look all right, little g-girl," he admitted, slowly, +"but I 've h-heard th-th-that feller was hell with w-women. I-I reckon +you b-better go b-back to Farnham an' find out." + +He paused, wiping his perspiring face with the back of his hand, his +cheeks reddening painfully under her unfaltering gaze. Finally he +blurted out: + +"Say, w-who are you, anyhow?" + +"Beth Norvell, an actress." + +"You kn-kn-know Farnham?" + +She bent her head in regretful acknowledgment. + +"An' you kn-kn-know the seńorita?" + +"Yes, a very little." + +Stutter Brown wet his lips, shifting awkwardly. + +"Well, y-you 'll excuse me, M-Miss," he stuttered in an excess of +embarrassment, yet plunging straight ahead with manly determination to +have it out. "I-I ain't much used t-t-to this sorter th-thing, an' +maybe I-I ain't got no r-r-right ter be a-botherin' you with m-my +affairs, nohow. But you s-see it's th-this way. I 've sorter t-took a +big l-l-likin' to that dancin' girl. Sh-she 's a darn sight n-n-nearer +my s-style than anything I 've been up a-against fer s-some time. I-I +don't just kn-know how it h-h-happened, it was so blame s-sudden, b-but +she 's got her l-l-lasso 'bout me all r-right. But Lord! sh-she 's all +fun an' laugh; sh-sh-she don't seem to take n-nothin' serious like, an' +you c-can't make much ou-ou-out o' that kind; you n-never know just how +to t-take 'em; leastwise, I don't. N-now, I 'm a plain s-s-sorter man, +an' I m-make bold ter ask ye a m-mighty plain sorter qu-question--is +that there M-M-Mercedes on the squar?" + +He stood there motionless before her, a vast, uncertain bulk in the dim +light, but he was breathing hard, and the deep earnestness of his voice +had impressed her strongly. + +"Why do you ask me that?" she questioned, for the moment uncertain how +to answer him. "I scarcely know her; I know almost nothing regarding +her life." + +"Y-you, you are a w-woman, Miss," he insisted, doggedly, "an', I t-take +it, a woman who will u-understand such th-th-things. T-tell me, is she +on the squar?" + +"Yes," she responded, warmly. "She has not had much chance, I think, +and may have made a mistake, perhaps many of them, but I believe she 's +on the square." + +"Did--did sh-she come out t-to our m-m-mine spying for Farnham?" + +"Really, I don't know." + +His grave face darkened anxiously; she could perceive the change even +in that shadow, and distinguish the sharp grind of his teeth. + +"Damn him," he muttered, his voice bitter with hate. "It w-would be +l-l-like one of his l-low-lived tricks. Wh-what is that g-girl to him, +anyhow?" + +It was no pleasant task to hurt this man deliberately, yet, perhaps, it +would be best. Anyway, it was not in Beth Norvell's nature either to +lie or to be afraid. + +"He has been her friend; there are some who say her lover." + +He stared fixedly at her, as though she had struck him a stinging, +unexpected blow. + +"Him? A-an' you s-s-say she 's on the squar?" + +"Yes; I say she is on the square, because I think so. It's a hard life +she 's had to live, and no one has any right to judge her by strict +rules of propriety. I may not approve, neither do I condemn. Good +women have been deceived before now--have innocently done wrong in the +eyes of the world--and this Mercedes is a woman. I know him also, know +him to be a cold-blooded, heartless brute. She is merely a girl, +pulsating with the fiery blood of the South, an artist to her fingers' +tips, wayward and reckless. It would not be very difficult for one of +that nature to be led astray by such a consummate deceiver as he is. I +pity her, but I do not reproach. Yet God have mercy on him when she +awakes from her dream, for that time is surely coming, perhaps is here +already; and the girl is on the square. I believe it, she is on the +square." + +For a silent, breathless moment Brown did not stir, did not once take +his eyes from off her face. She saw his hand slip down and close hard +over the butt of his dangling revolver. Then he drew a deep breath, +his head thrown back, his great shoulders squared. + +"D-damn, but that helps me," he said soberly. "It--it sure does. +G-good-night, little g-girl." + +"Are you going to leave me now?" + +"Why, sure. Th-this yere is the h-h-hotel, ain 't it? W-well, I 've +got t-to be back to th-the 'Little Yankee' afore d-d-daylight, or thar +'ll be h-hell to pay, an' I sure m-mean to see her first, +an'--an'--maybe h-him." + +She stood there in thoughtful perplexity, oblivious to all else in her +strange surroundings, watching the dark shadow of his burly figure +disappear through the dim light. There was a strength of purpose, a +grim, unchangeable earnestness about the man which impressed her +greatly, which won her admiration. He was like some great faithful +dog, ready to die at his master's bidding. Down in her heart she +wondered what would be the tragic end of this night's confidence. + +"There goes a good friend," she said slowly, under her breath, "and a +bad enemy." Then she turned away, aroused to her own insistent mission +of warning, and entered the silent hotel. + +The night clerk, a mere boy with pallid cheeks and heavy eyes +bespeaking dissipation, reclined on a couch behind the rough counter, +reading a Denver paper. He was alone in the room, excepting a drunken +man noisily slumbering in an arm-chair behind the stove. Miss Norvell, +clasping her skirts tightly, picked her way forward across the littered +floor, the necessity for immediate action rendering her supremely +callous to all ordinary questions of propriety. + +"Can you inform me if Mr. Winston is in his room?" she questioned, +leaning across the counter until she could see the clerk's surprised +face. + +The young fellow smiled knowingly, rising instantly to his feet. + +"Not here at all," he returned pleasantly. "He left just before noon +on horseback. Heard him say something 'bout an engineering job he had +up Echo Canyon. Reckon that 's where he 's gone. Anything important, +Miss Norvell?" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE COVER OF DARKNESS + +Beth Norvell did not remember ever having fainted in her life, yet for +a moment after these words reached her, all around grew dark, and she +was compelled to grasp the counter to keep from falling. The strain of +the long night, coupled with such unexpected news proving she had +arrived too late with her warning, served to daze her brain, to leave +her utterly unable either to think or plan. The clerk, alarmed by the +sudden pallor of her face, was at her side instantly, holding eagerly +forth that panacea for all fleshly ills in the West, a bottle of +whiskey. + +"Good Lord, Miss, don't faint away!" he cried excitedly. "Here, just +take a swig of this; there 's plenty of water in it, and it's the stuff +to pull you through. There, that's better. Great Scott, but I sure +thought you was goin' to flop over that time." He assisted her to a +convenient chair, then stepped back, gazing curiously into her face, +the black bottle still in his hand. "What's the trouble, anyhow?" he +questioned, his mind filled with sudden suspicion. "That--that fellow +did n't throw you, did he?" + +Miss Norvell, her fingers clasping the chair arm for support, rose +hurriedly to her feet, a red flush sweeping into her pallid cheeks. +For an instant her intense indignation held her speechless. + +"'Throw' me? What is it you mean?" she exclaimed, her voice faltering. +"Do you rank me with those shameless creatures out yonder? It is for +Mr. Winston's sake I sought word with him; it has nothing whatever to +do with myself. I chanced to learn news of the utmost importance, news +which he must possess before morning; yet it is not a message I can +trust to any one else. My God! what can I do?" She paused irresolute, +her hands pressing her temples. The boy, his interest aroused, took a +step forward. + +"Can I be of service?" + +"Oh, I hardly know; I scarcely seem able to think. Could--could you +leave here for just ten minutes--long enough to go to the dance hall at +the Gayety?" + +"Sure thing; there 's nothin' doin'." + +"Then please go; find a big, red-headed miner there named +Brown--'Stutter' Brown they call him--and bring him back here to me. +If--if he is n't there any longer, then get Mercedes, the Mexican +dancer. You know her, don't you?" + +The clerk nodded, reaching for his hat. + +"Get one of those two; oh, you must get one of them. Tell them I say +it is most important." + +There was a terrible earnestness about the girl's words and manner, +which instantly impressed the lad with the necessity for immediate +haste. He was off at a run, slamming the door heavily behind him, and +plunging headlong into the black street. As he disappeared, Miss +Norvell sank back into the vacated chair, and sat there breathing +heavily, her eyes fastened upon the drunken man opposite, her natural +coolness and resource slowly emerging from out the haze of +disappointment. Brown could surely be trusted in this emergency, for +his interest was only second to her own. But why had she not told him +the entire story before? Why, when she had opportunity, did she fail +to reveal to him Farnham's threats, and warn him against impending +danger? She realized fully now the possible injury wrought by her +secrecy. She felt far too nervous, too intensely anxious, to remain +long quiet; her eyes caught the ticking timepiece hanging above the +clerk's desk, and noted the hour with a start of surprise. It was +already after two. Once, twice, thrice she paced across the floor of +the office and stood for a moment striving to peer through the dirty +window-glass into the blackness without, faintly splotched with gleams +of yellow light. Finally, she flung back the door and ventured forth +upon the shadowed porch, standing behind the low railing, where those +passing below were little likely to notice her presence. Her head +throbbed and ached, and she loosened her heavy hair, pressing her palms +to the temples. The boy returned at last hurriedly, bare-headed, but +unaccompanied, and she met him at the top of the steps, realizing, even +before he spoke, that those she sought had not been found. + +"Not there? Neither there?" + +"No, Miss." The clerk was breathing hard from his run, but his tone +was sympathetic. "Darned if I did n't hustle that outfit from pit to +boxes, but nobody there seemed to sabe this yere Brown. Mercedes, she +was there all right, 'bout ten minutes ago, but just naturally faded +away before I hit the shebang. Doorkeeper piped it she had a guy with +her when she broke loose, an' he reckoned she must have lit out fer +home." + +"For home?" a faint ray of light breaking from the word. "Where does +the girl live? Do you know?" + +"Sure; I 'm wise; she has a couple of dandy rooms over at the old fort, +just across the creek; you know where that is, don't you?" + +She nodded silently, her eyes brightening with resolution. + +"It 's a blame tough bit of hiking to take alone on a dark night like +this," he commented gravely. "You was n't plannin' to try any such +trip as that, was you, Miss?" + +"Oh, no; certainly not. I'm going upstairs to wait for daylight. But +I thank you so much," and she cordially extended her hand. "You see, +I--I could hardly go to the Gayety myself at such an hour." + +The boy colored, still clasping the extended hand. Something in her +low tone had served to recall to his mind those hasty words uttered in +the office. + +"Sure not, Miss Norvell; it's a bit tough, all right, for anybody like +you down there at this time o' night." + +She opened the door, the bright light from within shining about her +slender figure, yet leaving her face still in shadow. + +"Did--did you chance to notice if Mr. Farnham remained in the dance +hall?" + +"Biff Farnham?" in sudden, choking surprise. "Great guns, do you know +him, too? No, he was n't there, but I can tell you where he is, all +the same. He 's at the Palace Livery, saddling up, along with half a +dozen other fellows. I saw 'em as I come trottin' along back, and +wondered what the dickens was on tap at this time o' night." + +The girl made no attempt to answer. She stood clutching the edge of +the door for support, her lips tightly compressed, feeling as if her +heart would rise up and choke her. She realized instantly that the +crisis had arrived, that Winston's life probably hung upon her next +decision. Twice she endeavored bravely to speak, and when she finally +succeeded, the strange calmness other voice made her doubt her own +sanity. + +"Thank you," she said gravely, "you have been most kind,--good-night," +and vanished up the stairs. + +Within the privacy of her own securely locked room Beth Norvell flung +herself upon the narrow bed, not to sleep, not even to rest, but in an +earnest effort to clarify her brain, to gain fresh conception of this +grim reality which fronted her. She realized now precisely what Ned +Winston stood for in her life--must ever stand for until the bitter +end. There was no upbraiding, no reviling. Not in the slightest +degree did she even attempt to deceive herself; with set, tearless +eyes, and without a sigh of regret, she simply faced the naked truth. +She had made the mistake herself; now she must bear the burden of +discovery. It was not the dull inertia of fatalism, but rather the +sober decision of a woman who had been tried in the fire, who +understood her own heart, and comprehended the strength of her own +will. Personal suffering and sacrifice were no new chapters written in +her life; these had been met before, and now, in yet another guise, +they could be courageously met again. She sat up quickly upon the edge +of the bed, her hands pressing back the heavy hair from off her hot +forehead. What right had she to lie there shuddering at destiny when +lives--his life--might be trembling in the balance? She could at least +serve, and, whatever else of weakness may have lurked in Beth Norvell, +there was no germ of cowardice. Clearer and more clear she perceived +duty, until it overshadowed love and brought her upon her feet in +active preparation, in burning desire for action. + +Standing before the little mirror, she wondered dimly at those dark +circles beneath her eyes, the unusually sharp lines visible at the +corners of her mouth. She felt hot, feverish, and in hope of thus +relieving the painful throbbing of her temples she buried her face in +the bowl of cool water. Rapidly, almost carelessly, she gathered up +her dishevelled locks, fastening them in some simple, yet secure +fashion back out of the way. From the open trunk standing against the +wall, she caught up a plain, soft hat, one she had used in character +upon the stage, and drew it down firmly over the mass of soft hair, +never noting how coquettishly the wide brim swept up in front, or what +witchery of archness it gave to her dark eyes. She took a quick step +toward the door, and then, her hand already on the latch, she paused in +uncertainty; finally, she drew a small, pearl-handled revolver from the +bottom tray, and placed it carefully in a pocket of her jacket. + +"I--I hardly believe I could ever use it," she thought, "but maybe I +might." + +Outside, in the narrow, deserted hall, she stood at the head of the +steep flight of stairs and listened. The snoring of the drunken man in +the office below was the only disturbing sound. Out through the open +office door a dull bar of yellow light streamed across the lower steps. +Like a ghost she stole silently down, treading so softly not a stair +creaked beneath her cautious footfalls. The next moment she had opened +the door, and was alone in the dark street. + +Dark it was, but neither deserted nor silent. The unleashed evil of +San Juan was now in full control, more madly riotous than ever beneath +the cloak of so late an hour. Nothing short of complete return of +daylight would bring semblance of peace to that carnival of saloons, +gambling dens, and dance halls. Through the shadows stalked unrebuked, +uncontrolled, the votaries of dissipation and recklessness, of "easy +money" and brutal lust. Yellow rays of light streamed from out dirty, +uncurtained windows, leaving the narrow street weirdly illuminated, +with here and there patches of dense shadows. Shifting figures, often +unsteady of step, appeared and disappeared like disembodied spirits, +distorted from all human semblance by that uncertain radiance; on every +side the discordant sounds of violins and pianos commingled in one +hideous din, punctuated by drunken shouts and every species of noise of +which civilized savagery is capable. + +Yet this was not what she feared, this saturnalia of unbridled passion, +for the way was comparatively well lighted, and in traversing it she +was reasonably certain to be within call of some one sober enough to +protect her from insult or injury. Even in drink these men remained +courteous to women of the right sort. No, she had travelled that path +alone at night before, again and again, returning from her work. She +shrank, womanlike, from the sights and sounds, but was conscious of no +personal fear. What she dreaded beyond expression was that long, black +stretch of narrow, desolate alley-way leading down toward the creek +bridge and the old fort beyond. She had been over that path once in +broad daylight, and it made her shudder to think she must now feel her +way there alone through the dark. The growing fear of it got upon her +nerves as she stood hesitating; then, almost angry with herself, she +advanced swiftly down toward the distant glowing lights of the Gayety. +It was just beyond there that the alley turned off toward the +foothills, a mere thread of a path wandering amid a maze of unlighted +tents and disreputable shacks; she remembered this, and the single +rotten strip of plank which answered for a sidewalk. + +There was an unusually boisterous, quarrelsome crowd congregated in +front of the Poodle-Dog, and she turned aside into the middle of the +street in order to get past undisturbed. Some one called noisily for +her to wait and have a drink, but she never glanced about, or gave +slightest heed. At the curb a drunken woman reeled against her, +peering sneeringly into her face with ribald laugh, but Beth Norvell +pushed silently past, and vanished into the protecting shadows beyond. + +The wide doors of the brilliantly illuminated Gayety were flung open, +the bright light from within streaming far across the road. Many of +its patrons, heated with liquor and the dance, had swarmed forth upon +the broad platform outside in search of fresher air. To avoid pushing +her way through this noisy crowd the girl swiftly crossed the street +into the darkness opposite. As she paused there for an instant, +scarcely conscious that the glow of the lamps reflected full upon her +face, there sounded a sudden clatter of horses' hoofs to her right, and +a half-dozen riders swept around the sharp corner, dashing forward into +the glare. She had barely time in which to leap backward out of their +direct path, when one of the horsemen jerked his mount upon its +haunches, and, uttering an oath of astonishment, leaned forward across +his pommel, staring down into her startled face. Then he laughed. + +"Go on, boys," he cried, sitting erect, with a wave of his hand to the +others. "I 'll catch up within half a mile. I 've got a word to say +first to this precious dove fluttering here." He struck the flank of +his horse, causing the sensitive beast to quiver, his own lips curling +maliciously. The girl, panting between parted lips, never lowered her +eyes from his face, and the steady look angered him. + +"Still hunting for Winston?" he questioned, sneeringly. "Well, I can +inform you where he may very easily be found." + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes, out at the 'Little Yankee.' It seems you were a trifle late in +getting him word, or else your fascinations failed to move him. You +must be losing your grip." + +She neither moved nor spoke, her eyes--dark, unwinking beneath the wide +hat-brim--telling him nothing. Yet her hand closed upon the pearl +handle hidden away in the jacket pocket, and her lips formed a straight +line. + +"I 'm damned sorry you did n't land the fellow, Lizzie," he went on +brutally. "He 's about the best catch you 're liable to get, and +besides, it leaves me a rather unpleasant job. Still, I thought I 'd +better tell you, so you would n't feel it necessary to hang around the +streets here any longer. Fact is, I 'm anxious to shield your +reputation, you know." He looked about carelessly, his glance settling +on the open doors of the Gayety. "Don't strike me this is exactly the +sort of place for one of your moral respectability to be discovered in. +Lord! but what would the old man or that infernal prig of a brother of +yours say, if they could only see you now? A monologue artist at the +Gayety was bad enough, but this, this is the limit." + +There was a flash of something white and glittering within six inches +of his face, a sharp click, and an eye looked directly into his own +across a short steel barrel. + +"Go!" The word was like the spat of a bullet. + +"But, Lizzie--" + +"Go, you cur! or, as God is my witness, if you stay I'll kill you!" + +With a sharp dig of the spur his horse sprang half-way across the road, +a black, prancing shadow against the glare of light. She saw the rider +fling up one arm, and bring down the stinging quirt on the animal's +flank; the next instant, with a bound, they were swallowed up in the +darkness. A moment she leaned against the shack, nerveless, half +fainting from reaction, her face deathly white. Then she inhaled a +long, deep breath, gathered her skirts closely within one hand, and +plunged boldly into the black alley. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +TWO WOMEN + +Mercedes stood in the shade of the towering hillside, the single beam +of light shining from an uncurtained window alone faintly revealing her +slenderness of figure in its red drapery. No other gleam anywhere +cleft the prevailing darkness of the night, and the only perceptible +sound was that of horses' hoofs dying away in the distance. The girl +was not crying, although one of her hands was held across her eyes, and +her bosom rose and fell tumultuously to labored breathing. She stood +silent, motionless, the strange radiance causing her to appear unreal, +some divinely moulded statue, an artist's dream carven in colored +stone. Suddenly she sprang backward from out that revealing tongue of +light and crouched low at the angle of the house, not unlike some +affrighted wild animal, her head bent forward intently listening. +There was a plainly perceptible movement in the gloom, the sound of an +approaching footstep and of rapid breathing, and finally a shadow +became visible. The watcher leaped to her feet half angrily. + +"Ah! so eet vas you, seńorita!" she exclaimed, her voice betraying her +emotion,--"you, who come so dis night. _Sapristi_! vy you follow me +dis vay? By all de saints, I make you tell me dat! You vant him, too? +You vant rob me of all thing?" + +The visitor, startled by this sudden challenge, stood before her +trembling from head to foot with the nervous excitement of her journey, +yet her eyes remained darkly resolute. + +"You recognize me," she responded quickly, reaching out and touching +the other with one hand, as if to make certain of her actual presence. +"Then for God's sake do not waste time now in quarrelling. I did not +make this trip without a purpose. 'He,' you say? Who is he? Who was +it that rode away from here just now? Not Farnham?" + +Mercedes laughed a trifle uneasily, her eyes suddenly lowered before +the other's anxious scrutiny. + +"Ah, no, seńorita," she answered softly. "Eet surprises me mooch you +not know; eet vas Seńor Brown." + +Miss Norvell grasped her firmly by the shoulder. + +"Brown?" she exclaimed eagerly. "Stutter Brown? Oh, call him back; +cannot you call him back?" + +The young Mexican shook her head, her white teeth gleaming, as she drew +her shoulder free from the fingers clasping it. + +"You vas too late, seńorita," she replied, sweetly confident. "He vas +already gone to de 'Little Yankee.' But he speak mooch to me first." + +"Much about what?" + +"Vel, he say he lofe me--he say eet straight, like eet vas vat he +meant." + +"Oh!" + +"Si, seńorita; he not even talk funny, maybe he so excited he forgot +how, hey? An' vat you tink dat he say den to Mercedes--vat?" + +The other shook her head, undecided, hesitating as to her own purpose. + +"He ask me vould I marry him. Si, si, vat you tink of dat--me, +Mercedes Morales, de dancer at de Gayety--he ask me vould I marry him. +Oh, Mother of God!" + +The young American stared at her upturned animated face, suddenly +aroused to womanly interest. + +"And what did you say?" + +Mercedes stamped her foot savagely on the hard ground, her eyes glowing +like coals of fire. + +"You ask vat I say? Saints of God! vat could I say? He vas a good +man, dat Seńor Brown, but I--I vas not a good voman. I no tell him +dat--no! no! I vas shamed; I get red, vite; I hardly speak at all; my +heart thump so I tink maybe eet choke me up here, but I say no. I say +no once, tvice, tree time. I tell him he big fool to tink like dat of +me. I tell him go vay an' find voman of his own race--good voman. I +tell him eet could nevah be me, no, nevah." + +"Then you do not love him?" + +The puzzled dancer hesitated, her long lashes lowered, and outlined +against her cheeks. + +"Lofe? Dat vas not nice vord as eet come to me. I know not ver' vell +just vat. Maybe if I not lofe him I marry him--si; I no care den. I +make him to suffer, but not care; ees eet not so? Anyhow, I--vat you +call dat?--respect dis Seńor Brown mooch, ver' mooch. Maybe dat last +longer as lofe--_quien sabe_?" + +Scarcely comprehending this peculiar explanation, Beth Norvell's first +conception was that the girl had chosen wrong, that she had allied +herself upon the side of evil. + +"You mean you--you will go back to Biff Farnham?" she asked, her tone +full of horror. + +Mercedes straightened up quickly, her young, expressive face filled +with a new passion, which struggled almost vainly for utterance through +her lips. + +"Go back to dat man!" she panted. "Me? _Sapristi_! and you tink I do +dat after Seńor Brown ask me be hees vife! Blessed Mary! vat you tink +I am? You tink I not feel, not care? I go back to dat Farnham? Eet +vould not be, no! no! I tol' him dat mooch, an' he got mad. I no +care, I like dat. I no lofe him, nevah; I vas sold to him for money, +like sheep, but I learn to hate him to kill." The deep glow of the +black eyes softened, and her head slowly dropped until it touched the +other's extended arm. "But dis Seńor Brown he vas not dat kind--he ask +me to marry him; he say he not care vat I been, only he lofe me, an' he +be good to me alvays. I vas hungry for dat, seńorita, but I say no, +no, no! Eet vas not for me, nevah. I send him avay so sorry, an' den +I cry ven I hear his horse go out yonder. Eet vas like he tread on me, +eet hurt dat vay. Maybe I no lofe him, but I know he vas good man an' +he lofe me. Eet vas de honor ven he ask me dat, an' now I be good +voman because a good man lofes me. Holy Mother! eet vill be easy now +dat he vanted to marry me." + +Impulsively Beth Norvell, her own eyes moist, held the other, sobbing +like a child within the clasp of sympathetic arms. There was instantly +formed between them a new bond, a new feeling of awakened womanhood. +Yet, even as her fingers continued to stroke the dishevelled hair +softly, there flashed across her mind a recurring memory of her +purpose, the necessity for immediate action. Not for an instant longer +did she doubt the complete honesty of the other's frank avowal, or +question the propriety of requesting her aid in thwarting Farnham. She +held the slight, quivering figure back, so that she might gaze into the +uplifted, questioning face. + +"Mercedes, yes, yes, I understand it all," she cried eagerly. "But we +cannot talk about it any longer now. It is a wonderful thing, this +love of a good man; but we are wasting time that may mean life or death +to others, perhaps even to him. Listen to what I say--Farnham has +already gone to the 'Little Yankee,' and taken a gang of roughs with +him. They left San Juan on horseback more than half an hour ago. He +threatened me first, and boasted that Mr. Winston was out there, and +that I was too late to warn him of danger. Oh, girl, you understand +what that means; you know him well, you must realize what he is capable +of doing. I came here as fast as I could in the dark," she shuddered, +glancing backward across her shoulder. "Every step was a way of +horrors, but I did n't know any one who could help me. But you--you +know the way to the 'Little Yankee,' and we--we must get there before +daylight, if we have to crawl." + +All that was savagely animal in the other's untamed nature flamed into +her face. + +"He say vat? Seńor Farnham he say vat he do?" + +"He said dynamite told no tales, but sometimes killed more than the one +intended." + +Mercedes' hand went to her head as though a pain had smitten her, and +she stepped back, half crouching in the glow like a tiger cat. + +"He say dat? De man say dat? Holy Angels! he vas de bad devil, but he +find me de bad devil too. Ah, now I play him de game, an' ve see who +vin! De 'Leetle Yankee,' eet tree mile, seńorita, an' de road rough, +mooch rough, but I know eet--si, I know eet, an' ve get dare before de +day come; sure ve do eet, _bueno_." She grasped the arm of the other, +now fully aroused, her slight form quivering from intense excitement. +"Come, I show you. See! he vas my pony--ah! eet makes me to laugh to +know de Seńor Farnham give him me; now I make him to upset de Seńor +Farnham. _Sapristi_! eet vas vat you call de vay of de vorld, de +verligig; vas eet not so? You ride de pony, seńorita; I valk an' lead +him--si, si, you more tired as Mercedes; I danseuse, no tire ever in de +legs. Den I find de vay more easy on foot in de dark, see? You ride +good, hey? He jump little, maybe, but he de ver' nice pony, an' I no +let him run. No, no, de odder vay, seńorita, like de man ride. Poof! +it no harm in de dark. _Bueno_, now ve go to surprise de Seńor +Farnham." + +She led promptly forth as she spoke, moving with perfect confidence +down the irregular trail skirting the bank of the creek, her left hand +grasping the pony's bit firmly, the other shading her eyes as though to +aid in the selection of a path through the gloom. It was a rough, +uneven, winding road they followed, apparently but little used, +littered with loose stones and projecting roots; yet, after a moment of +fierce but useless rebellion, the lively mustang sobered down into a +cautious picking of his passage amid the debris, obedient as a dog to +the soft voice of his mistress. The problems of advance were far too +complicated to permit of much conversation, and little effort at speech +was made by either, the principal thought in each mind being the +necessity for haste. + +Swaying on the saddleless back of the pony, her anxious gaze on the +dimly revealed, slender figure trudging sturdily in front, Beth Norvell +began to dread the necessity of again having to meet Winston under such +conditions. What would he naturally think? He could scarcely fail to +construe such action on his behalf as one inspired by deep personal +interest, and she instinctively shrank from such revealment, fearing +his glance, his word of welcome, his expressions of surprised +gratitude. The awkwardness, the probable embarrassment involved, +became more and more apparent as she looked forward to that meeting. +If possible, she would gladly drop out, and so permit the other to bear +on the message of warning alone. But, even with Mercedes' undoubted +interest in Brown, and her increasing dislike of Farnham, Beth could +not as yet entirely trust her unaccompanied. Besides, there was no +excuse to offer for such sudden withdrawal, no reason she durst even +whisper into the ear of another. No, there was nothing left her but to +go on; let him think what he might of her action, she would not fail to +do her best to serve him, and beneath the safe cover of darkness she +blushed scarlet, her long lashes moist with tears that could not be +restrained. They were at the bottom of the black canyon now, the high, +uplifting rock walls on either side blotting out the stars and +rendering the surrounding gloom intense. The young Mexican girl seemed +to have the eyes of a cat, or else was guided by some instinct of the +wild, feeling her passage slowly yet surely forward, every nerve alert, +and occasionally pausing to listen to some strange night sound. It was +a weird, uncanny journey, in which the nerves tingled to uncouth shapes +and the wild echoing of mountain voices. Once, at such a moment of +continued suspense, Beth Norvell bent forward and whispered a sentence +into her ear. The girl started, impulsively pressing her lips against +the white hand grasping the pony's mane. + +"No, no, seńorita," she said softly. "Not dat; not because he lofe me; +because he ask me dat. Si, I make him not so sorry." + +She remembered that vast overhanging rock about which the dim trail +circled as it swept upward toward where the "Little Yankee" perched +against the sky-line. Undaunted by the narrowness of the ledge, the +willing, sure-footed mustang began climbing the steep grade. Step by +step they crept up, cautiously advancing from out the bottom of the +cleft, the path followed winding in and out among bewildering cedars, +and skirting unknown depths of ravines. Mercedes was breathing +heavily, her unoccupied hand grasping the trailing skirt which +interfered with her climbing. Miss Norvell, from her higher perch on +the pony's back, glanced behind apprehensively. Far away to the east a +faint, uncertain tinge of gray was shading into the sky. Suddenly a +detached stone rattled in their front; there echoed the sharp click of +a rifle hammer, mingled with the sound of a gruff, unfamiliar voice: + +"You come another step, an' I 'll blow hell out o' yer. _Sabe_?" + +It all occurred so quickly that neither spoke; they caught their breath +and waited in suspense. A shadow, dim, ill-defined, seemed to take +partial form in their front. + +"Well, can't yer speak?" questioned the same voice, growlingly. "What +yer doin' on this yere trail?" + +Mercedes released the pony's bit, and leaned eagerly forward. + +"Vas dat you, Beell Heeks?" she questioned, doubtfully. + +The man swore, the butt of his quickly lowered rifle striking sharply +against the rock at his feet. + +"I 'm damned if it ain't that Mexican agin," he exclaimed, angrily. +"Now, you get out o' yere; you hear me? I 'm blamed if I kin shoot at +no female, but you got in one measly spyin' job on this outfit, an' I +'ll not put up with another if I have ter pitch ye out inter the +canyon. So you git plum out o' yere, an' tell yer friend Farnham he +better take more care o' his females, or some of 'em are liable ter get +hurt." + +There was the harsh crunch of a footstep in the darkness, another +figure suddenly slid down the smooth surface of rock, dropping almost +at the pony's head. The animal shied with a quick leap, but a heavy +hand held him captive. + +"Y-you sh-sh-shut up, B-Bill," and the huge form of Stutter Brown +loomed up directly between them, and that menacing rifle. "I-I reckon +as how I'll t-t-take a h-hand in this yere g-g-game. Sh-she ain't no +s-spy fer Farnham, er I 'm a l-l-liar." He touched her softly with his +great hand, bending down to look into her face, half hidden beneath the +ruffled black hair. "C-come, little g-g-girl, what's up?" + +She made no response, her lips faltering as though suddenly stricken +dumb. Beth Norvell dropped down from the pony's back, and stood with +one hand resting on Mercedes' shoulder. + +"She only came to show me the way," she explained bravely. "I-I have a +most important message for Mr. Winston. Where is he?" + +"Important, d-did you s-s-say?" + +"Yes, its delivery means life or death--for Heaven's sake, take me to +him!" + +For a single breathless moment Brown hesitated, his eyes on the girl's +upturned face, evidently questioning her real purpose. + +"I c-can't right n-now, Miss," he finally acknowledged, gravely; +"that's s-straight; fer ye s-s-see, he 's down the 'I-I-Independence' +shaft." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +UNDERGROUND + +It was a daring ruse that had taken Ned Winston down the shaft of the +"Independence" mine with the midnight shift. Not even the professional +enthusiasm of a young engineer could serve to justify so vast a risk, +but somehow this battle of right and wrong had become a personal +struggle between himself and Farnham; he felt, without understanding +clearly why, that the real stake involved was well worth the venture, +and would prove in the end of infinitely more value to him than any +settlement of the mere mining claims at issue. For several hours he +had been below in the tunnel of the "Little Yankee," measuring +distances, and sampling the grade of ore. All the afternoon and much +of the early night had been utilized in a careful exploration of the +surface ledges; creeping in, under protection of the low-growing +cedars, as closely as a vigilant rifle-guard would permit, to the great +ore dump of the busy "Independence"; diligently studying their system +of labor, and slowly crystallizing into shape his later plan of action. +He was already morally convinced that the Farnham people were actively +engaged in stealing the "Little Yankee" ore; that they were running +their tunnel along the lead of the latter; that they were doing this +systematically, and fully conscious of the danger of discovery. His +lines of survey, the nature of the ore bodies, the muffled sound of +picks, plainly discernible in the silent breast of the "Little Yankee" +while he lay listening with ear to the rock, as well as the close +secrecy, all combined to convince him fully of the fact. Yet such +vague suspicions were perfectly useless. He must have absolute, +convincing proof, and such proof could be obtained nowhere excepting at +the bottom of the "Independence" shaft. + +He talked over the situation frankly with the two partners in the +little single-roomed cabin perched on the cliff edge, while the +obedient though grumbling Mike, rifle in hand, sat solemnly on the dump +pile without. Little by little the three conspirators worked out a +fairly feasible plan. There were numerous chances for failure in it, +yet the very recklessness of the conception was an advantage. Winston, +his face darkened as a slight disguise, and dressed in the rough +garments of a typical miner, was to hide beside the footpath leading +between the "Independence" bunk-house and the shaft. Should one of the +men chance to loiter behind the others when the working shift changed +at midnight, Brown was to attend to him silently, relying entirely upon +his giant strength to prevent alarm, while Winston was promptly to take +the vacated place among the descending workmen. By some grim fate this +crudely devised scheme worked like a well-oiled piece of machinery. A +sleepy-headed lout, endeavoring to draw on his coat as he ran blindly +after the others, stumbled in the rocky path and fell heavily. Almost +at the instant Stutter Brown had the fellow by the throat, dragging him +back into the security of the cedars, and Winston, lamp and dinner-pail +in hand, was edging his way into the crowded cage, his face turned to +the black wall. + +That was five hours before. At the very edge of the black, concealing +chaparral, within easy rifle range of the "Independence" shaft-house, +Hicks and Brown lay flat on their faces, waiting and watching for some +occasion to take a hand. Back behind the little cabin old Mike sat +calmly smoking his black dudheen, apparently utterly oblivious to all +the world save the bound and cursing Swede he was vigilantly guarding, +and whose spirits he occasionally refreshed with some choice bit of +Hibernian philosophy. Beneath the flaring gleam of numerous gasoline +torches, half a dozen men constantly passed and repassed between +shaft-house and dump heap, casting weird shadows along the rough +planking, and occasionally calling to each other, their gruff voices +clear in the still night. Every now and then those two silent watchers +could hear the dismal clank of the windlass chain, and a rattle of ore +on the dump, when the huge buckets were hoisted to the surface and +emptied of their spoil. Once--it must have been after three +o'clock--other men seemed suddenly to mingle among those perspiring +surface workers and the unmistakable neigh of a horse came faintly from +out the blackness of a distant thicket. The two lying in the chaparral +rose to their knees, bending anxiously forward. Brown drew back the +hammer of his rifle, while Hicks swore savagely under his breath. But +those new figures vanished in some mysterious way before either could +decide who they might be--into the shaft-house, or else beyond, where +denser shadows intervened. The two watchers sank back again into their +cover, silently waiting, ever wondering what was happening beyond their +ken, down below in the heart of the hill. + +Some of this even Winston never knew, although he was a portion of it. +He had gone down with the descending cage, standing silent among the +grimy workmen crowding it, and quickly discerning from their speech +that they were largely Swedes and Poles, of a class inclined to ask few +questions, provided their wages were promptly paid. There was a +deserted gallery opening from the shaft-hole some forty feet below the +surface; he saw the glimmer of light reflected along its wall as they +passed, but the cage dropped to a considerably lower level before it +stopped, and the men stepped forth into the black entry. Winston went +with them, keeping carefully away from the fellow he supposed to be +foreman of the gang, and hanging back, under pretence of having +difficulty in lighting his lamp, until the others had preceded him some +distance along the echoing gallery. The yellow flaring of their lights +through the intense darkness proved both guidance and warning, so he +moved cautiously forward, counting his steps, his hand feeling the +trend of the side wall, his lamp unlit. The floor was rough and +uneven, but dry, the tunnel apparently having been blasted through +solid rock, for no props supporting the roof were discernible. For +quite an extended distance this entry ran straight away from the foot +of the shaft--directly south he made it--into the heart of the +mountain; then those twinkling lights far in advance suddenly winked +out, and Winston groped blindly forward until he discovered a sharp +turn in the tunnel. + +He lingered for a moment behind the protection of that angle of rock +wall, struck a safety match, and held the tiny flame down close against +the face of his pocket compass. Exactly; this new advance extended +southeast by east. He snuffed out the glowing splinter between his +fingers, crossed over to the opposite side, and watchfully rounded the +corner to where he could again perceive the twinkling lights ahead. +His foot met some obstacle along the floor, and he bent down, feeling +for it with his fingers in the dark; it proved to be a rude scrap-iron +rail, evidence that they carried out their ore by means of mules and a +tram-car. A few yards farther this new tunnel began to ascend +slightly, and he again mysteriously lost his view of the miners' lamps, +and was compelled to grope his way more slowly, yet ever carefully +counting his steps. The roof sank with the advance until it became so +low he was compelled to stoop. The sound of picks smiting the rock was +borne to him, made faint by distance, but constantly growing clearer. +There he came to another curve in the tunnel. + +He crouched upon one knee, peering cautiously around the edge in an +effort to discover what was taking place in front. The scattered +lights on the hats of the miners rendered the whole weird scene fairly +visible. There were two narrow entries branching off from the main +gallery not more than thirty feet from where he lay. One ran, as +nearly as he could judge, considerably to the east of south, but the +second had its trend directly to the eastward. Along the first of +these tunnels there was no attempt at concealment, a revealing twinkle +of light showing where numerous miners were already at work. But the +second was dark, and would have remained unnoticed entirely had not +several men been grouped before the entrance, their flaring lamps +reflected over the rock wall. Winston's eyes sparkled, his pulse +leaped, as he marked the nature of their task--they were laboriously +removing a heavy mask, built of wood and canvas, which had been snugly +fitted over the hole, making it resemble a portion of the solid rock +wall. + +There were four workmen employed at this task, while the foreman, a +broad-jawed, profane-spoken Irishman, his moustache a bristling red +stubble, stood a little back, noisily directing operations, the yellow +light flickering over him. The remainder of the fellows composing the +party had largely disappeared farther down, although the sound of their +busy picks was clearly audible. + +"Where the hell is Swanson?" blurted out the foreman suddenly. "He +belongs in this gang. Here you, Ole, what 's become o' Nelse Swanson?" + +The fellow thus directly addressed drew his hand across his mouth, +straightening up slightly to answer. + +"Eet iss not sumtings dot I know, Meester Burke. He seems not here." + +"Not here; no, I should say not, ye cross-oied Swade. But Oi 'm dommed +if he did n't come down in the cage wid' us, for Oi counted the lot o' +yez. Don't any o' you lads know whut 's become o' the drunken lout?" + +There was a universal shaking of heads, causing the lights to dance +dizzily, forming weird shadows in the gloom, and the irritated foreman +swore aloud, his eyes wandering back down the tunnel. + +"No doubt he's dhrunk yet, an' laid down to slape back beyant in the +passage," he growled savagely. "Be all the powers, but Oi 'll tache +that humpin' fool a lesson this day he 'll not be apt to fergit fer a +while. I will that, or me name 's not Jack Burke. Here you, Peterson, +hand me over that pick-helve." He struck the tough hickory handle +sharply against the wall to test its strength, his ugly red moustache +bristling. "Lave the falsework sthandin' where it is till I git back," +he ordered, with an authoritative wave of the hand; "an' you fellers go +in beyant, an' help out on Number Wan till Oi call ye. Dom me sowl, +but Oi'll make that Swanson think the whole dom mounting has slid down +on top o' him--the lazy, dhrunken Swade." + +The heavy pick-handle swinging in his hand his grim, red face glowing +angrily beneath the sputtering flame of the lamp stuck in his hat, the +irate Burke strode swiftly back into the gloomy passage, muttering +gruffly. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE PROOF OF CRIME + +Winston sprang to his feet and ran back along the deserted tunnel, +bending low to avoid collision with the sloping roof, striving to move +rapidly, yet in silence. The intense darkness blinded him, but one +hand touching the wall acted as safeguard. For a moment the +bewildering surprise of this new situation left his brain in a whirl of +uncertainty. He could remember no spot in which he might hope to +secrete himself safely; the rock wall of that narrow passageway +afforded no possible concealment against the reflection of the +foreman's glaring lamp. But he must get beyond sight and sound of +those others before the inevitable meeting and the probable struggle +occurred. This became the one insistent thought which sent him +scurrying back into the gloom, recklessly accepting every chance of +encountering obstacles in his haste. At the second curve he paused, +panting heavily from the excitement of his hard run, and leaned against +the face of the rock, peering anxiously back toward that fast +approaching flicker of light. The angry foreman came crunching +savagely along, his heavy boots resounding upon the hard floor, the +hickory club in his hand occasionally striking against the wall as +though he imagined himself already belaboring the recreant Swanson. +About him, causing his figure to appear gigantic, his shadow grotesque, +the yellow gleam of the light shone in spectral coloring. Winston set +his teeth determinedly, and noiselessly cocked his revolver. The man +was already almost upon him, a black, shapeless bulk, like some unreal +shadow. Then the younger stepped suddenly forth into the open, the two +meeting face to face. The startled foreman stared incredulous, bending +forward as though a ghost confronted him, his teeth showing between +parted lips. + +"Drop that club!" commanded Winston coldly, the gleam of an uplifted +steel barrel in the other's eyes. "Lively, my man; this is a +hair-trigger." + +"What the hell--" + +"Drop that club! We 'll discuss this case later. There--no, up with +your hands; both of them. Turn around slowly; ah, I see you don 't +tote a gun down here. So much the better, for now we can get along to +business with fewer preliminaries." + +He kicked the released pick-helve to one side out of sight in the +darkness, his watchful eyes never straying from the Irishman's face. +Burke stood sputtering curses, his hands held high, his fighting face +red from impotent passion. The trembling light gave to the scene a +fantastic effect, grimly humorous. + +"Who--who the divil be ye?" The surprised man thrust his head yet +farther forward in an effort to make the flame more clearly reveal the +other's features. Winston drew the peak of his miner's cap lower. + +"That will make very little difference to you, Jack Burke," he said +quietly, "if I have any occasion to turn loose this arsenal. However, +stand quiet, and it will afford me pleasure to give you all necessary +information. Let us suppose, for instance, that I am a person to whom +Biff Farnham desires to sell some stock in this mine; becoming +interested, I seek to discover its real value for myself, and come down +with the night shift. Quite a natural proceeding on my part, is n't +it? Now, under such circumstances, I presume you, as foreman, would be +perfectly willing to show me exactly what is being accomplished down +here?" + +He paused, his lips smiling pleasantly, and Burke stared at him, with +mouth wide open, his eyes mere black slits in the gloom. It was a full +minute before he regained control of his voice. + +"Ye think Oi 'm a dommed fool?" he ejaculated, hoarsely. + +"No; that is exactly what I do not think, Burke," and Winston smiled +again beneath his stern gray eyes. "That is precisely why I know you +will show me all I desire to see. A damn fool might possibly be +tempted to take chances with this gun, and get hurt, but you are smart +enough to understand that I 've got the drop all right, and that I mean +business--I mean business." These words were uttered slowly, +deliberately, and the foreman involuntarily dropped his lids as though +feeling them physically, the fingers of his uplifted hands clinching. + +"What--what is it ye want to see?" + +"That tunnel you 've got concealed by falsework." + +Burke spat against the rock wall, the perspiration standing forth on +his forehead. But Irish pugnacity made him stubborn. + +"Who tould ye that loie? Shure, an' it's not here ye 'll be apt to +foind the loikes o' that, me man." + +Winston eyed him scornfully. + +"You lie, Burke; I saw it with my own eyes just beyond that second turn +yonder. You cannot play with me, and the sooner you master that fact +the better. Now, you can take your choice--lead on as I order, and +keep your men away, or eat lead. It's one or the other within the next +sixty seconds. Turn around!" + +No man in his senses would ever doubt the determined purpose lying +behind those few low-spoken, earnest words. Whoever this man might be, +whatever his purpose, he was assuredly not there in sport, and Burke +wheeled about as though some concealed spring controlled his action. + +"Good," commented Winston, briefly. "You can lower your hands. Now, +walk straight forward, speaking only when I tell you, and never forget +there is a gun-barrel within two feet of your back. The slightest +movement of treachery, and, God helping me, Burke, I 'll turn loose +every cartridge into your body. I don 't want to do it, but I will." + +They moved slowly forward along the deserted tunnel, not unlike two +convicts in lock-step. Burke sullenly growling, a burly, shapeless +figure under the light in his hat; Winston alert, silent, watchful for +treachery, the glimmer of the lamp full on his stern face. Their +shadows glided, ever changing in conformation, along the walls, their +footfalls resounding hollow from the echoing passage. There were no +words wasted in either command or explanation. Without doubt, the +foreman understood fairly well the purpose of this unknown invader; but +he realized, also, that the man had never lightly assumed such risk of +discovery, and he had lived long enough among desperate men to +comprehend all that a loaded gun meant when the eye behind was hard and +cool. The persuasive eloquence of "the drop" was amply sufficient to +enforce obedience. Farnham be hanged! He felt slight inclination at +that moment to die for the sake of Farnham. Winston, accustomed to +gauging men, easily comprehended this mental attitude of his prisoner, +his eyes smiling in appreciation of the other's promptness, although +his glance never once wavered, his guarding hand never fell. Burke was +safe enough now, yet he was not to be trifled with, not to be trusted +for an instant, in the playing out of so desperate a game. At the +angle the two halted, while the engineer cautiously reconnoitred the +dimly revealed regions in front. He could perceive but little evidence +of life, excepting the faint radiance of constantly moving lights down +Number One tunnel. Burke stood sullenly silent, venturing upon no +movement except under command. + +"Anybody down that other entry?" + +The foreman shook his head, without glancing around, his jaws moving +steadily on the tobacco that swelled his cheek. + +"Then lead on down it." + +Winston stretched forth his unused left hand as they proceeded, his +fingers gliding along the wall, his observant eyes wandering slightly +from off the broad back of his prisoner toward the sides and roof of +the tunnel. To his experience it was at once plainly evident this +preliminary cutting had been made through solid rock, not in the +following of any seam, but crossways. Here alone was disclosed +evidence in plenty of deliberate purpose, of skilfully planned +depredation. He halted Burke, with one hand gripping his shoulder. + +"Are you people following an ore-lead back yonder?" he asked sharply. + +The Irishman squirmed, glancing back at his questioner. He saw nothing +in that face to yield any encouragement to deceit. + +"Sure," he returned gruffly, "we're follyin' it all down that Number +Wan." + +"What 's the nature of the ore body?" + +"A bit low grade, wid a thrifle of copper, an' the vein is n't overly +tick." + +"How far have you had to cut across here before striking color?" + +"'Bout thirty fate o' rock work." + +"Hike on, you thief," commanded the engineer, his jaw setting +threateningly. + +It proved a decidedly crooked passage, the top uneven in height, +clearly indicating numerous faults in the vein, although none of these +were sufficiently serious to necessitate the solution of any difficult +mining problem. In spite of the turns the general direction could be +ascertained easily. The walls were apparently of some soft stone, +somewhat disintegrated by the introduction of air, and the engineer +quickly comprehended that pick and lever alone had been required to +dislodge the interlying vein of ore. At the extreme end of this tunnel +the pile of broken rock lying scattered about clearly proclaimed recent +labor, although no discarded mining tools were visible. Winston +examined the exposed ore-vein, now clearly revealed by Burke's +flickering lamp, and dropped a few detached specimens into his pocket. +Then he sat down on an outcropping stone, the revolver still gleaming +within his fingers, and ordered the sullen foreman to a similar seat +opposite. The yellow rays of the light sparkled brilliantly from off +the outcropping mass, and flung its radiance across the faces of the +two men. For a moment the silence was so intense they could hear water +drip somewhere afar off. + +"Burke," asked the engineer suddenly, "how long have you fellows been +in here?" + +The uneasy Irishman shifted his quid, apparently considering whether to +speak the truth or take the chances of a lie. Something within +Winston's face must have decided him against the suggested falsehood. + +"Well, sorr, Oi 've only been boss over this gang for a matter o' three +months," he said slowly, "an' they was well into this vein be then." + +"How deep are we down?" + +"Between sixty an' siventy fate, countin' it at the shaft." + +"And this tunnel--how long do you make it?" + +"Wan hundred an' forty-six fate, from the rock yonder." + +Winston's gray eyes, grave with thought, were upon the man's face, but +the other kept his own concealed, lowered to the rock floor. + +"Who laid out this work, do you know? Who did the engineering?" + +"Oi think ut was the ould man hisself. Annyhow, that 's how thim +Swades tell ut." + +Winston drew a deep breath. + +"Well, he knew his business, all right; it's a neat job," he admitted, +a sudden note of admiration in his voice. His glance wandered toward +the dull sparkle of the exposed ore. "I suppose you know who all this +rightly belongs to, don 't you, Burke?" + +The foreman spat reflectively into the dark, a grim smile bristling his +red moustache. + +"Well, sorr, Oi 'm not mooch given up to thinkin'," he replied calmly. +"If it's them ide's yer afther, maybe it wud be Farnham ye'd betther +interview, sure, an he 's the lad whut 'tinds to that end o' it for +this outfit. Oi 'm jist bossin' me gang durin' workin' hours, an' +slapin' the rist o' the toime in the bunk-house. Oi 'm dommed if Oi +care who owns the rock." + +The two men sat in silence. Burke indifferently chewing on his quid. +Winston shifted the revolver into his left hand, and began slowly +tracing lines, and marking distances, on the back of an old envelope. +The motionless foreman steadily watched him through cautiously lowered +lashes, holding the lamp in his hat perfectly steady. Slowly, with no +other muscle moving, both his hands stole upward along his body; inch +by inch attaining to a higher position without awakening suspicion. +His half-concealed eyes, as watchful as those of a cat, gleamed +feverishly beneath his hat-brim, never deserting Winston's partially +lowered face. Then suddenly his two palms came together, the +sputtering flame of the lamp between them. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A RETURN TO THE DAY + +Burke knew better than to attempt running; three steps in the midst of +such blinding darkness would have dashed him against unyielding rock. +Instantly, his teeth gripped like those of a bulldog, he clutched at +Winston's throat, trusting to his great strength for victory. +Instinctively, as one without knowing why closes the eyes to avoid +injury, the engineer dodged sideways, Burke's gripping fingers missed +their chosen mark, and the two men went crashing down together in +desperate struggle. + +His revolver knocked from his grasp in the first impetus of assault, +his cheek bleeding from forcible contact with a rock edge, Winston +fought in silent ferocity, one hand holding back the Irishman's +searching fingers, the other firmly twisting itself into the soft +collar of his antagonist's shirt. Twice Burke struck out heavily, +driving his clinched fist into the other's body, unable to reach the +protected face; then Winston succeeded in getting one groping foot +braced firmly against a surface of rock, and whirled the surprised +miner over upon his back with a degree of violence that caused his +breath to burst forth in a great sob. A desperate struggle ensued, mad +and merciless--arms gripping, bodies straining, feet rasping along the +loose stones, muttered curses, the dull impact of blows. Neither could +see the other, neither could feel assured his antagonist possessed no +weapon; yet both fought furiously,--Burke enraged and merciless, +Winston intoxicated with the lust of fight. Twice they reversed +positions, the quickness of the one fairly offsetting the burly +strength of the other, their sinews straining, the hot breath hissing +between set teeth. Pain was unfelt, mercy unknown. + +In the midst of the blind _męlée_, following some savage instinct, +Winston clinched his fingers desperately in the Irishman's hair, and +began jamming him back against the irregularities of the rock floor. +Suddenly Burke went limp, and the engineer, panting painfully, lay +outstretched upon him, his whole body quivering, barely conscious that +he had gained the victory. The miner did not move, apparently he had +ceased breathing, and Winston, shrinking away from contact with the +motionless body, grasped a rock support and hauled himself to his feet. + +The intense blackness all about dazed him; he retained no sense of +direction, scarcely any memory of where he was. His body, bruised and +strained, pained him severely; his head throbbed as from fever. Little +by little the exhausted breath came back, and with it a slow +realization of his situation. Had he killed Burke? He stared down +toward the spot where he knew the body lay, but could perceive nothing. +The mystery of the dark suddenly unnerved him; he could feel his hands +tremble violently as he groped cautiously along the smooth surface of +the rock. He experienced a shrinking, nervous dread of coming into +contact with that man lying there beneath the black mantle, that +hideous, silent form, perhaps done to death by his hands. It was a +revolt of the soul. A moment he actually thought he was losing his +mind, feverish fancies playing grim tricks before his strained, +agonized vision, imagination peopling the black void with a riot of +grotesque figures. + +He gripped himself slowly and sternly, his jaws set, his tingling +nerves mastered by the resolute dominance of an aroused will. +Compelling himself to the act, he bent down, feeling along the ground +for the foreman's hat having the extinguished lamp fixed on it. He was +a long time discovering his object, yet the continued effort brought +back a large measure of self-control, and gave birth to a certain +clearness of perception. He held the recovered lamp in his hands, +leaning against the side of the tunnel, listening. The very intensity +of silence seemed to press against him from every direction as though +it had weight. He was still breathing heavily, but his strained ears +could not distinguish the slightest sound where he knew Burke lay +shrouded In the darkness. Nothing reached him to break the dread, +horrible silence, excepting that far-off, lonely trickle of dripping +water. He hesitated, match in hand, shrinking childishly from the +coming revealment of his victim. Yet why should he? Fierce as the +struggle had proved, on his part the fight had been entirely one of +defence. He had been attacked, and had fought back only in +self-preservation. Winston harbored no animosity; the fierceness of +actual combat past, he dreaded now beyond expression the thought that +through his savagery a human life might have been sacrificed. The tiny +flame of the ignited match played across his white face, caught the +wick of the lamp, and flared up in faint radiance through the gloom. +Burke, huddled into the rock shadow, never stirred, and the anxious +engineer bent over his motionless form in a horrid agony of fear. The +man rested partially upon one side, his hands still gripped as in +struggle, an ugly wound, made by a jagged edge of rock, showing plainly +in the side of his head. Blood had flowed freely, crimsoning the stone +beneath, but was already congealing amid the thick mass of hair, +serving somewhat to conceal the nature of the injury. + +Winston, his head lowered upon the other's breast, felt confident he +detected breath, even a slight, spasmodic twitching of muscles, and +hastily arose to his feet, his mind already aflame with expedients. +The foreman yet lived; perhaps would not prove even seriously injured, +if assistance only reached him promptly. Yet what could he do? What +ought he to attempt doing? In his present physical condition Winston +realized the utter impossibility of transporting that burly body; +water, indeed, might serve to revive him, yet that faint trickle of +falling drops probably came from some distant fault in the rock which +would require much patient search to locate. The engineer had assumed +grave chances in this venture underground; in this moment of victory he +felt little inclination to surrender his information, or to sacrifice +himself in any quixotic devotion to his assailant. Yet he must give +the fellow a fair chance. There seemed only one course practicable, +the despatching to the helpless man's assistance of some among that +gang of workmen down in Number One. But could this be accomplished +without danger of his own discovery? Without any immediate revealment +of his part in the tragedy? First of all, he must make sure regarding +his own safety; he must reach the surface before the truth became known. + +Almost mechanically he picked up his revolver where it lay glittering +upon the floor, and stood staring at that recumbent form, slowly +maturing a plan of action. Little by little it assumed shape within +his mind. Swanson was the name of the missing miner, the one Burke had +gone back to seek,--a Swede beyond doubt, and, from what slight glimpse +he had of the fellow before Brown grappled with him in the path above, +a sturdily built fellow, awkwardly galled. In all probability such a +person would have a deep voice, gruff from the dampness of long working +hours below. Well, he might not succeed in duplicating that exactly, +but he could imitate Swedish dialect, and, amid the excitement and +darkness, trust to luck. Let us see; Burke had surely called one of +those miners yonder Ole, another Peterson; it would probably help in +throwing the fellows off their guard to hear their own names spoken, +and they most naturally would expect Swanson to be with the foreman. +It appeared feasible enough, and assuredly was the only plan possible; +it must be risked, the earlier the better. The thought never once +occurred to him of thus doing injury to a perfectly innocent man. + +He looked once more anxiously at the limp figure of the prostrate +Burke, and then, holding the lamp out before him, moved cautiously down +the passage toward the main tunnel. Partially concealing himself amid +the denser shadows behind the displaced falsework, he was enabled to +look safely down the opening of Number One, and could perceive numerous +dark figures moving about under flickering rays of light, while his +ears distinguished a sound of voices between the strokes of the picks. +He crept still closer, shadowing his lamp between his hands, and +crouching uneasily in the shadows. The group of men nearest him were +undoubtedly Swedes, as they were conversing in that language, working +with much deliberation in the absence of the boss. Winston rose up, +his shadow becoming plainly visible on the rock wall, one hand held +before his mouth to better muffle the sound of his voice. The hollow +echoing along those underground caverns tended to make all noise +unrecognizable. + +"Yust two of you fellars bettar come by me, an' gif a leeft," he +ventured, doubtfully. + +Those nearer faces down the tunnel were turned toward the voice in +sudden, bewildered surprise, the lights flickering as the heads +uplifted. + +"Vas it you, Nels Swanson?" + +"Yas, I tank so; I yust want Peterson an' Ole. Meester Burke vas got +hurt in the new level, an' I couldn't leeft him alone." + +He saw the two start promptly, dropping their picks, their heavy boots +crunching along the floor, the flapping hat-brims hiding their eyes and +shadowing their faces. For a moment he lingered beside the falsework, +permitting the light from his lamp to flicker before them as a beacon; +then he hid the tiny flame within his cap, and ran swiftly down the +main tunnel. Confident now of Burke's early rescue, he must grasp this +opportunity for an immediate escape from the mine. A hundred feet from +the foot of the shaft he suddenly came upon the advancing tram-car, a +diminutive mule pulling lazily in the rope traces, the humping figure +of a boy hanging on behind. The two gazed at each other through the +smoke of a sputtering wick. + +"Hurry up," spoke Winston, sharply. "Burke's hurt, and they'll need +your car to carry him out in. What's the signal for the cage?" + +The boy stood silent, his mouth wide open, staring at him stupidly. + +"Do you hear, you lunk-head? I 'm after a doctor; how do you signal +the cage?" + +"Twa yanks on the cord, meester," was the grudging reply. "Wha was ye, +onyhow?" But Winston, unheeding the question, was already off, his +only thought the necessity of immediately attaining the surface in +safety, ahead of the spreading of an alarm. + +The cage shot speedily upward through the intense darkness, past the +deserted forty-foot gallery, and emerged into the gray light of dawn +flooding the shafthouse. Blinking from those long hours passed in the +darkness below, Winston distinguished dimly a number of strange figures +grouped before him. An instant he paused in uncertainty, his hand +shading his eyes; then, as he stepped almost blindly forward he came +suddenly face to face with Biff Farnham. A second their glances met, +both alike startled, bewildered, doubtful--then the jaw of the gambler +set firm, his hand dropped like lightning toward his hip, and Winston, +every ounce of strength thrown into the swift blow, struck him squarely +between the eyes. The man went over as though shot, yet before he even +hit the floor, the other had leaped across the reeling body, and +dashed, stumbling and falling, down the steep slope of the dump-pile, +crashing head first into the thick underbrush below. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A COUNCIL OF WAR + +In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the +shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses. +Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly +to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not +all of it wasted. But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as +completely as though he had dropped into the sea. When he finally +emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his +breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion. Brown, the spell of battle +upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; +but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of +hearty welcome. + +"Damn it," he exclaimed, his old eyes twinkling with admiration, "but +you 're a man!" + +The engineer smiled, his hand pressed hard against his side. "Maybe I +am," he gasped, "but I 'm mighty near all in just now. Say, that was a +lively spin, and it's got to be an eat and a rest for me next." + +Hicks shaded his forehead, leaning on his rifle. + +"Sometimes I reckon maybe I don't see quite as good as I used to," he +explained regretfully. "Put five shots inter that measly bunch over +thar just now, an' never saw even one o' 'em hop 'round like they got +stung. They look sorter misty-like ter me from here; say, Stutter, +what is a-happenin' over thar now, anyway?" + +Brown wiped his face deliberately, sputtering fiercely as he strove to +get firm grip on his slow thought. + +"A-a-ain't much o' n-nuthing, so f-f-fur's I kin s-see," he replied +gravely. "C-couple o' fellars w-with g-guns h-h-hidin' back o' ther +d-dump. C-c-carried two b-bucks 'hind ther sh-shaft-house; h-h-hurt +some, I 'speck. R-reckon I must a' g-got both on 'em. Y-y-you shore +ought t-ter wear t-t-telescopes, Bill." + +Hicks stared at his partner, his gray goat-beard sticking straight out, +his teeth showing. + +"So yer got 'em, hey?" he retorted, savagely. "Oh, ye 're +chain-lightnin', yer are, Stutter. Ye 're the 'riginal Doctor Carver, +yer long-legged, sputtering lunk-head. Yer crow like a rooster thet 's +just found its voice. Now, look yere; I reckon it's brain-work what's +got ter git us out o' this yere hole, an' I 'll shore have ter furnish +most o' that, fer yer ain 't got none ter spare, as ever I noticed. +Shoot! hell, yes, yer kin shoot all right, an' make love ter Greasers; +but when thet's over with, yer all in. That's when it's up ter old +Bill Hicks ter do the thinkin' act, and make good. Lord! yer leave me +plumb tired." The old man peered out across the vacant space toward +the apparently deserted dump, the anger slowly fading away from his +eyes. "I sorter imagine, gents, it will take them fellers a while ter +git over ther sudden shock we 've given 'em," he continued. "Maybe we +better take this yere rest spell ter git somethin' ter eat in, and talk +over how we 're fixed fer when the curtain goes up again. Them fellers +never won't be happy till after they git another dose into their +systems, an' thar 's liable ter be some considerable lead eat afore +night. When they does git braced up, an' they reckon up all this yere +means, they 'll shore be an ugly bunch." + +Behind the safe protection of the low-growing cedars the three men +walked slowly toward the cabin of the "Little Yankee," seemingly +utterly oblivious to any danger lurking behind. As they thus advanced +Winston related briefly his discoveries in the lower levels of the +"Independence," referring to his personal adventures merely as the +needs of the simple narrative required. Brown, his rifle at trail, his +boyish face sober with thought, indulged in no outward comment, but +Hicks burst forth with words of fervent commendation. + +"By cracky, are yer shore that was Farnham yer hit?" he exclaimed, his +old eyes gleaming in appreciation. "Blame me, Stutter, what do yer +think o' that? Punched him afore he cud even pull his gun; never heerd +o' no sich miracle afore in this yere camp. Why, Lord, that fellar 's +quicker 'n chain-lightnin'; I 've seen him onlimber more 'n once." + +"I-I reckon h-h-he won't be v-very likely ter l-let up on yer now, +M-m-mister W-Winston," put in the young giant cautiously. "H-he ain't +ther kind t-ter fergit no sich d-d-deal." + +"Him let up!--hell!" and Hicks stopped suddenly, and stared behind. +"He 'll never let up on nothin', that fellar. He 'll be down after us +all right, as soon as he gits his second wind, an' Winston here is +a-goin' ter git plugged for this night's shindy, if Farnham ever fair +gits the drop on him. He ain't got no more mercy 'n a tiger. Yer kin +gamble on that, boys. He 'll git ther whole parcel o' us if he kin, +'cause he knows now his little game is up if he does n't; but he 'll +aim ter git Winston, anyhow. Did ye make any tracin's while yer was +down thar?" + +"Yes, I've got the plans in detail; my distances may not be exactly +correct, but they are approximately, and I would be willing to go on +the stand with them." + +"Good boy! That means we 've shore got 'em on the hip. They're +a-keepin' quiet over there yet, ain't they, Stutter? Well, let 's have +our chuck out yere in the open, whar' we kin keep our eyes peeled, an' +while we 're eatin' we 'll talk over what we better do next." + +The kitchen of the "Little Yankee" was situated out of doors, a small +rift in the face of the bluff forming a natural fireplace, while a +narrow crevice between rocks acted as chimney, and carried away the +smoke. The preparation of an ordinary meal under such primitive +conditions was speedily accomplished, the menu not being elaborate nor +the service luxurious. Winston barely found time in which to wash the +grime from his hands and face, and hastily shift out of his ragged +working clothes to the suit originally worn, when Hicks announced the +spread ready, and advised a lively falling to. The dining-room was a +large, flat stone on the very edge of the bluff, sufficiently elevated +to command a practically unobstructed view of the distant shaft-house +of the "Independence." Hicks brought from the cabin an extra rifle, +with belt filled with ammunition, which he gravely held out to the +engineer. + +"These yere fixings will come in handy pretty soon, I reckon," he +remarked significantly, and stood quietly on the edge of the rock, +holding a powerful field-glass to his eyes. + +"They 've brought ther night-shift up ter the top," he commented +finally, "an they 're 'rousin' them others outer ther bunk-house. Hell +'ll be piping hot presently. 'Bout half them fellers are a-totin' +guns, too. Ah, I thought so--thar goes a lad horseback, +hell-bent-fer-'lection down the trail, huntin' after more roughs, I +reckon. Well, ther more ther merrier, as ther ol' cat said when she +counted her kittens. Darned ef they ain't got a reg'lar skirmish line +thrown out 'long ther gulch yonder. Yer bet they mean business for +shore, Stutter, ol' boy." + +Brown, deliberately engaged in pouring the coffee, contented himself +with a slight grunt, and a quick glance in the direction indicated. +Hicks slowly closed his glasses, and seated himself comfortably on the +edge of the rock. Winston, already eating, but decidedly anxious, +glanced at the two emotionless faces with curiosity. + +"The situation does n't seem to worry either of you very much," he said +at last. "If you really expect an attack from those fellows over +there, is n't it about time we were arranging for some defence?" + +Hicks looked over at him across the rim of his tin cup. + +"Defence? Hell! here 's our defence--four o' us, countin' Mike." + +"Where is Mike?" + +"Oh, out yonder in ther back yard amusin' that Swede Stutter yere +brought in ter him fer a playthin'. Them foreigners seem ter all be +gittin' mighty chummy o' late. Stutter yere is a-takin' up with +Greasers, an' Mike with Swedes. I reckon I 'll have ter be lookin' +round fer an Injun, er else play a lone hand purty soon." + +Brown, his freckled face hotly flushed, his eyes grown hard, struck the +rock with clinched hand. + +"D-d-damn you, B-Bill," he stuttered desperately, his great chest +heaving. "I-I 've had jist 'nough o' th-th-thet sorter talk. Yer +s-s-spit out 'nuther word 'bout her, an' th-th-thar 'll be somethin' +e-else a-doin'." + +Old Hicks laughed, his gray goat-beard waggling, yet it was clearly +evident he appreciated the temper of his partner, and realized the +limit of patience. + +"Oh, I 'll pass," he confessed genially. "Lord! I hed a touch o' that +same disease oncet myself. But thar ain't no sense in yer fightin' me, +Stutter; I bet yer git practice 'nough arter awhile, 'less them thar +black eyes o' hern be mighty deceivin'. But that thar may keep. Jist +now we 've got a few other p'ints ter consider. You was askin' about +our defence, Mr. Winston, when this yere love-sick kid butted in?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, it 's ther lay o' ther ground, an' four good rifles. Thet 's +ther whole o' it; them fellers over yonder can't get in, an' I 'm +damned if we kin git out. Whichever party gits tired first is the one +what's goin' ter git licked." + +"I scarcely understand, Hicks; do you mean you propose standing a +siege?" + +"Don't clearly perceive nothin' else ter do," and the man's half-closed +eyes glanced about questioningly. "We ain't strong enough to assault; +Farnham 's got more 'n five men ter our one over thar right now. He 's +sent a rider inter San Juan arter another bunch o' beauties. We've +corralled the evidence, an' we've got ther law back o' us, ter send him +ter the penitentiary. Shore, thar's no doubt o' it. He knows it; an' +he knows, moreover, thar ain't no way out fer him except ter plant us +afore we kin ever git inter ther courts. Thet's his game jist now. Do +yer think Mr. Biff Farnham under them circumstances is liable ter do +the baby act? Not ter no great extent, let me tell yer. He ain't +built thet way. Besides, he hates me like pizen; I reckon by this time +he don't harbor no great love for you; an' yer bet he means ter git us +afore we kin squeal, if he has ter h'ist the whole damned mounting. +Anyhow, that's how it looks ter me an' Stutter yere. What was it you +was goin' ter advise, Mr. Winston?" + +The engineer set down his tin coffee cup. + +"The immediate despatching of a messenger to San Juan, the swearing out +of a warrant for Farnham on a criminal charge, and getting the sheriff +up here with a posse." + +Hicks smiled grimly, his glance wandering over toward Stutter, who sat +staring open-eyed at the engineer. + +"Ye're a young man, sir, an' I rather reckon yer don't precisely +onderstan' ther exact status o' things out yere in Echo Canyon," he +admitted, gravely. "I'm law-abidin', an' all that; law's all right in +its place, an' whar it kin be enforced, but Echo Canyon ain't Denver, +an' out yere ther rifle, an' occasionally a chunk o' dynamite, hes got +ter be considered afore ther courts git any chance ter look over ther +evidence. It's ginerally lead first, an' lawyers later. Thet 's what +makes the game interestin', an' gives sich chaps as Farnham a run fer +their money. Well, just now we 've got the law an' ther evidence with +us all right, but, damn ther luck, them other fellers hes got the +rifles. It 's his play first, an' it sorter looks ter me as if the man +knew how ter handle his cards. He ain't no bluffer, either. Just take +a squint through them glasses down the trail, an' tell me what yer see." + +Winston did so, rising to his feet, standing at the edge of the rock +fairly overhanging the valley. + +"Wal, do yer make out anythin' in partic'lar?" + +"There is a small party of men clustered near the big boulder." + +"Exactly; wal, them thar fellars ain't thar altergether fer ther +health. Thar 's three more o' ther same kind a'squattin' in the bushes +whar the path branches toward ther 'Independence,' an' another bunch +lower down 'side ther crick. It's easy 'nough ter talk about law, an' +ther sendin' o' a messenger down ter San Juan after the sheriff, but I +'d hate some ter be that messenger. He 'd have some considerable +excitement afore he got thar. Farnham 's a dirty villain, all right, +but he ain't no fool. He's got us bottled up yere, and ther cork druv +in." + +"You mean we are helpless?" + +"Wal, not precisely; not while our grub and ammunition holds out. I +merely intimate thet this yere difficulty hes naturally got ter be +thrashed out with guns--good, honest fightin'--afore any courts will +git a chance even ter sit inter ther game. We ain't got no time jist +now ter fool with lawyers. Clubs is trumps this deal in Echo Canyon, +an' we 're goin' ter play a lone hand. Ther one thing what's botherin' +me is, how soon ther damned fracas is goin' ter begin. I reckon as how +them fellers is only waitin' fer reinforcements." + +Winston sat motionless, looking at the two men, his mind rapidly +grasping the salient points of the situation. He was thoroughly +puzzled at their apparent indifference to its seriousness. He was +unused to this arbitrament of the rifle, and the odds against them +seemed heavy. Old Hicks easily comprehended the expression upon his +face, and solemnly stroked his goat-beard. + +"Ain't used ter that sort o' thing, hey?" he asked at last, his +obstinate old eyes contracting into mere slits. "Reckon we're in a +sort o' pickle, don't ye? Wal, I don't know 'bout that. Yer see, me +an' Stutter have bin sort o' lookin' fer somethin' like this ter occur +fer a long time, an' we 've consequently got it figgered out ter a +purty fine p'int. When Farnham an' his crowd come moseying up yere, +they ain't goin' ter have it all their own way, let me tell yer, +pardner. Do yer see that straight face o' rock over yonder?" he rose +to his feet, pointing across his shoulder. "Wal, that 's got a front +o' thirty feet, an' slopes back 'bout as fur, with a shelf hangin' over +it like a roof. Best nat'ral fort ever I see, an' only one way o' +gittin' inter it, an' that the devil o' a crooked climb. Wal, we 've +stocked that place fer a siege with chuck an' ammunition, an' I reckon +four men kin 'bout hold it agin the whole county till hell freezes +over. It's in easy rifle shot o' both ther cabin an' ther shaft, an' +that Biff Farnham is mighty liable ter git another shock when he comes +traipsin' up yere fer ter wipe out ther 'Little Yankee.' Ol' Bill +Hicks ain't bin prospectin' fer thirty years, an' holdin' down claims +with a gun, without learnin' somethin' about ther business. I 'm ready +to buck this yere Farnham at any game he wants ter play; damned if he +can't take his chice, law er rifles, an' I 'll give him a bellyful +either way." + +No one spoke for a long while, the three men apparently occupied with +their own thoughts. To Winston it was a tragedy, picturesque, heroic, +the wild mountain setting furnishing a strange dignity. Brown finally +cleared his throat, preparing to speak, his great hand slowly rubbing +his chin. + +"I-I sorter w-w-wish them w-wimmen wan't y-yere," he stuttered, +doubtfully. + +The engineer glanced up in sudden astonishment. + +"Women!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say you have women with you?" + +Hicks chuckled behind his beard. + +"Shore we have thet--all ther comforts o' home. Nice place fer a +picnic, ain't it? But I reckon as how them gals will have ter take +pot-luck with the rest o' us. Leastways, I don't see no chance now ter +get shuck o' 'em. I 'll tell ye how it happened, Mr. Winston; it 'd +take Stutter, yere, too blame long ter relate ther story, only I hope +he won't fly off an' git mad if I chance ter make mention o' his gal +'long with the other. He 's gittin' most damn touchy, is Stutter, an' +I 'm all a-tremble fer fear he 'll blow a hole cl'ar through me. It's +hell, love is, whin it gits a good hol' on a damn fool. Wal, these +yere two bloomin' females came cavortin' up the trail this mornin', +just afore daylight. Nobody sent 'em no invite, but they sorter +conceived they had a mission in ther wilderness. I wa'nt nowise +favorable ter organizin' a reception committee, an' voted fer shovin' +'em back downhill, bein' a bit skeery o' that sex, but it seems that, +all unbeknownst ter me, Stutter, yere, hed bin gittin' broke ter +harness. An' what did he do but come prancin' inter the argument with +a gun, cussin' an' swearin', and insistin' they be received yere as +honored guests. Oh, he 's got it bad. He 'll likely 'nough go down +ter San Juan soon as ever ther road is cl'ar, an' buy one o' them +motters 'God Bless Our Home' ter hang on ther cabin wall, an' a +door-mat with 'Welcome' on it. That's Stutter--gone cl'ar bug-house +jist 'cause a little black-haired, slim sort o' female made eyes at +him. Blame a fool, anyhow. Wal, one o' them two was Stutter's catch, +a high-kickin' Mexican dancin' gal down ter San Juan. I ain't goin' +ter tell yer what I think o' her fer fear o' gittin' perforated. She +hed 'long with her another performer, a darn good-looker, too, as near +as I could make out in the dark. Wal, them two gals was purtendin' ter +be huntin' arter you; wanted ter warn yer agin Farnham, er some sich +rot. You was down ther mine, jist then, so that's the whole o' it up +ter date." + +"Where are they now?" + +"In the cabin yonder, sleepin' I reckon." + +Winston turned hastily toward Brown, his lips quivering, his eyes grown +stern. + +"Who was it with Mercedes?" he questioned sharply. "Did you learn her +name?" + +"Sh-she told me d-d-down at San Juan," replied Stutter, striving hard +to recollect. "It w-w-was N-N-Nor-vell." + +With the utterance of the word the young engineer was striding rapidly +toward the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE CONFESSION + +Through the single unglazed window Beth Norvell saw him coming, and +clutched at the casing, trembling violently, half inclined to turn and +fly. This was the moment she had so greatly dreaded, yet the moment +she could not avoid unless she failed to do her duty to this man. In +another instant the battle had been fought and won, the die cast. She +turned hastily toward her unconscious companion, grasping her arm. + +"Mr. Winston is coming, Mercedes; I--I must see him this time alone." + +The Mexican's great black eyes flashed up wonderingly into the flushed +face bending over her, marking the heightened color, the visible +embarrassment. She sprang erect, her quick glance through the window +revealing the figure of the engineer striding swiftly toward them. + +"Oh, si, seńorita; dat iss all right. I go see Mike; he more fun as +dose vat make lofe." + +There was a flutter of skirts and sudden vanishment, even as Miss +Norvell's ears caught the sound of a low rap on the outer door. She +stood breathing heavily, her hands clasped upon her breast, until the +knock had been repeated twice. Her voice utterly failing her, she +pressed the latch, stepping backward to permit his entrance. The first +swift, inquiring glance into his face frightened her into an impulsive +explanation. + +"I was afraid I arrived here too late to be of any service. It seems, +however, you did not even need me." + +He grasped the hand which, half unconsciously, she had extended toward +him; he was startled by its unresponsive coldness, striving vainly to +perceive the truth hidden away beneath her lowered lids. + +"I fear I do not altogether understand," he returned gravely. "They +merely said that you were here with a message of warning for me. I +knew that much only a moment ago. I cannot even guess the purport of +your message, yet I thank you for a very real sacrifice for my sake." + +"Oh, no; truly it was nothing," the excitement bewildering her. "It +was no more than I would have done for any friend; no one could have +done less." + +"You, at least, confess friendship?" + +"Have I ever denied it?" almost indignantly, and looking directly at +him for the first time. "Whatever else I may seem, I can certainly +claim loyalty to those who trust me. I wear no mask off the stage." + +Even as she spoke the hasty words she seemed to realize their full +import, to read his doubt of their truth revealed within his eyes. + +"Then," he said slowly, weighing each word as though life depended on +the proper choice, "there is nothing being concealed from me? Nothing +between you and this Farnham beyond what I already know?" + +She stood clinging to the door, with colorless cheeks, and parted lips, +her form quivering. This was when she had intended to speak in all +bravery, to pour forth the whole miserable story, trusting to this man +for mercy. But, O God, she could not; the words choked in her throat, +the very breath seemed to strangle her. + +"That--that is something different," she managed to gasp desperately. +"It--it belongs to the past; it cannot be helped now." + +"Yet you came here to warn me against him?" + +"Yes." + +"How did you chance to learn that my life was threatened?" + +She uplifted her eyes to his for just one instant, her face like marble. + +"He told me." + +"What? Farnham himself? You have been with him?" + +She bowed, a half-stifled sob shaking her body, which at any other time +would have caused him to pause in sympathy. Now it was merely a new +spur to his awakened suspicion. He had no thought of sparing her. + +"Where? Did he call upon you at the hotel?" + +She threw back her shoulders in indignation at his tone of censure. + +"I met him, after the performance, in a private box at the Gayety, last +evening," she replied more calmly. "He sent for me, and I was alone +with him for half an hour." + +Winston stood motionless, almost breathless, looking directly into the +girl's face. He durst not speak the words of rebuke trembling upon his +lips. He felt that the slightest mistake now would never be forgiven. +There was a mystery here unsolved; in some way he failed to understand +her, to appreciate her motives. In the brief pause Beth Norvell came +back to partial self-control, to a realization of what this man must +think of her. With a gesture almost pleading she softly touched his +sleeve. + +"Mr. Winston, I truly wish you to believe me, to believe in me," she +began, her low voice vibrating with emotion. "God alone knows how +deeply I appreciate your friendship, how greatly I desire to retain it +unsullied. Perhaps I have not done right; it is not always easy, +perhaps not always possible. I may have been mistaken in my conception +of duty, yet have tried to do what seemed best. There is that in the +pages of my past life which I intended to tell you fully and frankly +before our final parting. I thought when I came here I had sufficient +courage to relate it to you to-day, but I cannot--I cannot." + +"At least answer me one question without equivocation--do you love that +man?" He must ask that, know that; all else could wait. + +An instant she stood before him motionless, a slight color creeping +back into her cheeks under his intense scrutiny. Then she uplifted her +eyes frankly to his own, and he looked down into their revealed depth. + +"I do not," the low voice hard with decision. "I despise him." + +"Have you ever loved him?" + +"As God is my witness--no." + +There was no possible disbelieving her; the absolute truthfulness of +that utterance was evidenced by trembling lips, by the upturned face. +Winston drew a deep breath of relief, his contracted brows +straightening. For one hesitating moment he remained speechless, +struggling for self-control. Merciful Heavens! would he ever +understand this woman? Would he ever fathom her full nature? ever rend +the false from the true? The deepening, baffling mystery served merely +to stimulate ambition, to strengthen his unwavering purpose. He +possessed the instinct that assured him she cared; it was for his sake +that she had braved the night and Farnham's displeasure. What, then, +was it that was holding them apart? What was the nature of this +barrier beyond all surmounting? The man in him rebelled at having so +spectral an adversary; he longed to fight it out in the open, to +grapple with flesh and blood. In spite of promise, his heart found +words of protest. + +"Beth, please tell me what all this means," he pleaded simply, his +hands outstretched toward her. "Tell me, because I love you; tell me, +because I desire to help you. It is true we have not known each other +long; yet, surely, the time and opportunity have been sufficient for +each to learn much regarding the character of the other. You trust me, +you believe in my word; down in the secret depths of your heart you are +beginning to love me. I believe that, little girl; I believe that, +even while your lips deny its truth. It is the instinct of love which +teaches me, for I love you. I may not know your name, the story of +your life, who or what you are, but I love you, Beth Norvell, with the +life-love of a man. What is it, then, between us? What is it? God +help me! I could battle against realities, but not against ghosts. Do +you suppose I cannot forgive, cannot excuse, cannot blot out a past +mistake? Do you imagine my love so poor a thing as that? Do not wrong +me so. I am a man of the world, and comprehend fully those temptations +which come to all of us. I can let the dead past bury its dead, +satisfied with the present and the future. Only tell me the truth, the +naked truth, and let me combat in the open against whatever it is that +stands between us. Beth, Beth, this is life or death to me!" + +She stood staring at him, her face gone haggard, her eyes full of +misery. Suddenly she sank upon her knees beside a chair, and, with a +moan, buried her countenance within her hands. + +"Beth," he asked, daring to touch her trembling hair, "have I hurt you? +Have I done wrong to speak thus?" + +A single sob shook the slender, bowed figure, the face still hidden. + +"Yes," she whispered faintly, "you have hurt me; you have done wrong." + +"But why?" he insisted. "Is not my love worthy?" + +She lifted her head then, resting one hand against the dishevelled +hair, her eyes misty from tears. + +"Worthy? O God, yes! but so useless; so utterly without power." + +Winston strode to the window and back again, his hands clenched, the +veins showing across his forehead. Suddenly he dropped upon his knees +beside her, clasping her one disengaged hand within both his own. + +"Beth, I refuse to believe," he exclaimed firmly. "Love is never +useless, never without power, either in this world or the next. Tell +me, then, once for all, here before God, do you love me?" + +She swept the clinging tears from her lashes, the soft clasp of her +fingers upon his hand unconsciously tightening. + +"You may read an answer within my face," she replied, slowly. "It must +be that my eyes tell the truth, although I cannot speak it with my +lips." + +"Cannot? In God's name, why?" + +She choked, yet the voice did not wholly fail her. + +"Because I have no right. I--I am the wife of another." + +The head drooped lower, the hair shadowing the face, and Winston, his +lips set and white, stared at her, scarcely comprehending. A moment +later he sprang to his feet, one hand pressed across his eyes, slowly +grasping the full measure of her confession. + +"The wife of another!" he burst forth, his voice shaking. "Great God! +You? What other? Farnham?" + +The bowed head sank yet lower, as though in mute answer, and his ears +caught the echo of a single muffled sob. Suddenly she glanced up at +him, and then rose unsteadily to her feet clinging to the back of the +chair for support. + +"Mr. Winston," her voice strengthening with each word spoken, "it hurts +me to realize that you feel so deeply. I--I wish I might bear the +burden of this mistake all alone. But I cannot stand your contempt, or +have you believe me wholly heartless, altogether unworthy. We--we must +part, now and forever; there is no other honorable way. I tried so +hard to compel you to leave me before; I accepted that engagement at +the Gayety, trusting such an act would disgust you with me. I am not +to blame for this; truly, I am not--no woman could have fought against +Fate more faithfully; only--only I couldn't find sufficient courage to +confess to you the whole truth. Perhaps I might have done so at first; +but it was too late before I learned the necessity, and then my heart +failed me. There was another reason I need not mention now, why I +hesitated, why such a course became doubly hard. But I am going to +tell you it all now, for--for I wish you to go away at least respecting +my womanhood." + +He made no reply, no comment, and the girl dropped her questioning eyes +to the floor. + +"You asked me if I had ever loved him," she continued, speaking more +slowly, "and I told you no. That was the truth as I realize it now, +although there was a time when the man fascinated, bewildered me, as I +imagine the snake fascinates a bird. I have learned since something of +what love truly is, and can comprehend that my earlier feeling toward +him was counterfeit, a mere bit of dross. Be patient, please, while I +tell you how it all happened. It--it is a hard task, yet, perhaps, you +may think better of me from a knowledge of the whole truth. I am a +Chicago girl. There are reasons why I shall not mention my family +name, and it is unnecessary; but my parents are wealthy and of good +position. All my earlier education was acquired through private +tutors; so that beyond my little, narrow circle of a world--fashionable +and restricted--all of real life remained unknown, unexplored, until +the necessity for a wider development caused my being sent to a +well-known boarding-school for girls in the East. I think now the +choice made was unfortunate. The school being situated close to a +large city, and the discipline extremely lax, temptation which I was +not in any way fitted to resist surrounded me from the day of entrance. +In a fashionable drawing-room, in the home of my mother's friends, I +first became acquainted with Mr. Farnham." + +She paused with the mention of his name, as though its utterance pained +her, yet almost immediately resumed her story, not even glancing up at +her listener. + +"I was at an age to be easily flattered by the admiration of a man of +mature years. He was considerably older than I, always well dressed, +versed in social forms, liberal with money, exhibiting a certain +dashing recklessness which proved most attractive to all the girls I +knew. Indeed, I think it was largely because of their envy that I was +first led to accept his attentions. However, I was very young, utterly +inexperienced, while he was thoroughly versed in every trick by which +to interest one of my nature. He claimed to be a successful dramatist +and author, thus adding materially to my conception of his character +and capability. Little by little the man succeeded in weaving about me +the web of his fascination, until I was ready for any sacrifice he +might propose. Naturally ardent, easily impressed by outward +appearances, assured as to my own and his social position, ignorant of +the wiles of the world, I was an easy victim. Somewhere he had formed +the acquaintance of my brother, which fact merely increased my +confidence in him. I need not dwell in detail upon what followed--the +advice of romantic girls, the false counsel of a favorite teacher, the +specious lies and explanations accounting for the necessity for +secrecy, the fervent pleadings, the protestations, the continual +urging, that finally conquered my earlier resolves. I yielded before +the strain, the awakened imagination of a girl of sixteen seeing +nothing in the rose-tinted future except happiness. We were married in +Christ Church, Boston, two of my classmates witnessing the ceremony. +Three months later I awoke fully from dreaming, and faced the darkness." + +She leaned against the wall, her face, half hidden, pressed against her +arm. Speaking no word of interruption, Winston clasped her hand and +waited, his gray eyes moist. + +"He was a professional gambler, a brute, a cruel, cold-blooded coward," +the words dropping from her lips as though they burned in utterance. +"Only at the very first did he make any effort to disguise his nature, +or conceal the object of his marriage. He endeavored to wring money +from my people, and--and struck me when I refused him aid. He failed +because I blocked him; tried blackmail and failed again, although I +saved him from exposure. If he had ever cared for me, by this time his +love had changed to dislike or indifference. He left me for weeks at a +time, often alone and in poverty. My father sought in vain to get me +away from him, but--but I was too proud to confess the truth. I should +have been welcome at home, without him; but I refused to go. I had +made my own choice, had committed the mistake, had done the wrong; I +could not bring myself to flee from the result. I burrowed in the +slums where he took me, hiding from all who sought me out. Yet I lived +in an earthly hell, my dream of love dispelled, the despair of life +constantly deepening. I no longer cared for the man--I despised him, +shrank from his presence; yet something more potent than pride kept me +loyal. I believed then, I believe now, in the sacredness of marriage; +it was the teaching of my church, of my home; it had become part of my +very soul. To me that formal church wedding typified the solemnity of +religion; I durst not prove untrue to vows thus taken; divorce was a +thought impossible." + +"And now?" he interrupted gently. + +She lifted her head, with one swift glance upward. + +"You will think me wrong, quixotic, unnatural," she acknowledged +soberly. "Yet I am not absolved, not free--this man remains my +husband, wedded to me by the authority of the church. I--I must bear +the burden of my vows; not even love would long compensate for +unfaithfulness in the sight of God." + +In the intense silence they could hear each other's strained breathing +and the soft notes of a bird singing gleefully without. Winston, his +lips compressed, his eyes stern with repressed feeling, neither moved +nor spoke. Beth Norvell's head sank slowly back upon her arm. + +"He took me with him from city to city," she went on wearily, as though +unconsciously speaking to herself, "staying, I think, in each as long +as the police would permit. He was seldom with me, seldom gave me +money. We did not quarrel, for I refused to be drawn into any exchange +of words. He never struck me excepting twice, but there are other ways +of hurting a woman, and he knew them all. I was hungry at times and +ill clad. I was driven to provide for myself, and worked in factories +and stores. Whenever he knew I had money he took it. Money was always +the cause of controversy between us. It was his god, not to hoard up, +but to spend upon himself. My steady refusal to permit his bleeding my +father enraged him; it was at such times he lost all control, and--and +struck me. God! I could have killed him! There were times when I +could, when I wonder I did not. Yet in calm deliberation I durst not +break my vows. Three years ago he left me in Denver without a word, +without a suggestion that the desertion was final. We had just reached +there, and I had nothing. Friends of my family lived there, but I +could not seek them for help. I actually suffered, until finally I +found employment in a large department store. I expected he would +return, and kept my rooms where he left me. I wrote home twice, +cheerful letters, saying nothing to lower him in the estimation of my +people, yet concealing my address for fear they might seek me out. +Then there unexpectedly came to me an opportunity to go out with +Albrecht, and I accepted it most thankfully. It gave me a chance to +think of other things, to work hard, to forget myself in a growing +ambition. I had already thrown off the old, and was laying ever firmer +hands upon the new, when you came into my life, and then he came back +also. It is such a small world, such a little world, all shadowed and +full of heartaches!" + +In the silence she glanced aside at him, her eyes clear, her hair held +back by one hand. + +"Please do not look at me like that," she pleaded. "Surely, you cannot +blame me; you must forgive." + +"There is nothing to blame, or forgive, Beth; apparently there is +nothing for me to say, nothing for me to do." + +She swayed slowly toward him, resting one hand upon his shoulder. + +"But am I right? Won't you tell me if I am right?" + +He stood hesitating for a moment, looking down upon that upturned, +questioning face, his gray eyes filled with a loyalty that caused her +heart to throb wildly. + +"I do not know, Beth," he said at last, "I do not know; I cannot be +your conscience. I must go out where I can be alone and think; but +never will I come between you and your God." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE POINT OF VIEW + +She sank back upon the chair, her face completely hidden within her +arms. Winston, his hand already grasping the latch of the door, paused +and glanced around at her, a sudden revulsion of feeling leaving him +unnerved and purposeless. He had been possessed by but one thought, a +savage determination to seek out Farnham and kill him. The brute was +no more than a mad dog who had bitten one he loved; he was unworthy of +mercy. But now, in a revealing burst of light, he realized the utter +futility of such an act. Coward, brutal as the man unquestionably was, +he yet remained her husband, bound to her by ties she held +indissoluble. Any vengeful blow which should make her a widow would as +certainly separate the slayer from her forever. Unavoidably though it +might occur, the act was one never to be forgiven by Beth Norvell, +never to be blotted from her remembrance. Winston appreciated this as +though a sudden flash-light had been turned upon his soul. He had +looked down into her secret heart, he had had opened before him the +religious depth of her nature--this bright-faced, brown-eyed woman +would do what was right although she walked a pathway of self-denying +agony. Never once did he doubt this truth, and the knowledge gripped +him with fingers of steel. Even as he stood there, looking back upon +her quivering figure, it was no longer hate of Farnham which +controlled; it was love for her. He took a step toward her, hesitant, +uncertain, his heart a-throb with sympathy; yet what could he say? +What could he do? Utterly helpless to comfort, unable to even suggest +a way out, he drew back silently, closed the door behind him, and shut +her in. He felt one clear, unalterable conviction--under God, it +should not be for long. + +He stood there in the brilliant sunlight, bareheaded still; looking +dreamily off across the wide reach of the canyon. How peaceful, how +sublimely beautiful, it all appeared; how delicately the tints of those +distant trees blended and harmonized with the brown rocks beyond! The +broad, spreading picture slowly impressed itself upon his brain, +effacing and taking the place of personal animosity. In so fair a +world Hope is ever a returning angel with healing in his wings; and +Winston's face brightened, the black frown deserting his forehead, all +sternness gone from his eyes. There surely must be a way somewhere, +and he would discover it; only the weakling and the coward can sit down +in despair. Out of the prevailing silence he suddenly distinguished +voices at hand, and the sound awoke him to partial interest. Just +before the door where he stood a thick growth of bushes obstructed the +view. The voices he heard indistinctly came from beyond, and he +stepped cautiously forward, peering in curiosity between the parted +branches. + +It was a narrow section of the ledge, hemmed in by walls of rock and +thinly carpeted with grass, a small fire burning near its centre. +There was an appetizing smell of cookery in the air, and three figures +were plainly discernible. The old miner, Mike, sat next the embers, a +sizzling frying-pan not far away, his black pipe in one oratorically +uplifted hand, a tin plate in his lap, his grouchy, seamed old face +screwed up into argumentative ugliness, his angry eyes glaring at the +Swede opposite, who was loungingly propped against a convenient stone. +The latter looked a huge, ungainly, raw-boned fellow, possessing a red +and white complexion, with a perfect shock of blond hair wholly +unaccustomed to the ministrations of a comb. He had a long, peculiarly +solemn face, rendered yet more lugubrious by unwinking blue eyes and a +drooping moustache of straw color. Altogether, he composed a picture +of unutterable woe, his wide mouth drawn mournfully down at the +corners, his forehead wrinkled in perplexity. Somewhat to the right of +these two more central figures, the young Mexican girl contributed a +touch of brightness, lolling against the bank in graceful relaxation, +her black eyes aglow with scarcely repressed merriment. However the +existing controversy may have originated, it had already attained a +stage for the display of considerable temper. + +"Now, ye see here, Swanska," growled the thoroughly aroused Irishman +vehemently. "It's 'bout enough Oi 've heard from ye on that now. Thar +'s r'ason in all things, Oi 'm tould, but Oi don't clarely moind iver +havin' met any in a Swade, bedad. Oi say ye 're nothin' betther than a +dommed foreigner, wid no business in this counthry at all, at all, +takin' the bread out o' the mouths of honest min. Look at the Oirish, +now; they was here from the very beginnin'; they 've fought, bled, an' +died for the counthry, an' the loikes o' ye comes in an' takes their +jobs. Be hivins, it 's enough to rile the blood. What's the name of +ye, anny how?" + +"Ay ban Nels Swanson." + +"Huh! Well, it's little the loikes o' ye iver railly knows about +names, Oi 'm thinkin'. They tell me ye don't have no proper, dacent +names of yer own over in Sweden,--wherever the divil that is, I +dunno,--but jist picks up annything handy for to dhraw pay on." + +"It ban't true." + +"It's a loiar ye are! Bad cess to ye, ain't Oi had to be bunk-mate wid +some o' ye dhirty foreigners afore now? Ye 're _sons_, the whole kit +and caboodle o' ye--Nelsons, an' Olesons, an' Swansons, an' Andersons. +Blissed Mary! an' ye call them things names? If ye have anny other +cognomen, it's somethin' ye stole from some Christian all unbeknownst +to him. Holy Mother! but ye ought to be 'shamed to be a Swade, ye +miserable, slab-sided haythen." + +"My name ban Swanson; it ban all right, hey?" + +"Swanson! Swanson! Oh, ye poor benighted, ignorant foreigner!" and +Mike straightened up, slapping his chest proudly. "Jist ye look at me, +now! Oi'm an O'Brien, do ye moind that? An O'Brien! Mother o' God! +we was O'Briens whin the Ark first landed; we was O'Briens whin yer +ancestors--if iver ye had anny--was wigglin' pollywogs pokin' in the +mud. We was kings in ould Oireland, begorry, whin ye was a mollusk, or +maybe a poi-faced baboon swingin' by the tail. The gall of the loikes +of ye to call yerselves min, and dhraw pay wid that sort of thing +ferninst ye for a name! Oi 'll bet ye niver had no grandfather; ye 're +nothin' but a it, a son of a say-cook, be the powers! An' ye come over +here to work for a thafe--a dhirty, low-down thafe. Do ye moind that, +yer lanthern-jawed spalpeen? What was it yer did over beyant?" + +"Ay ban shovel-man fer Meester Burke--hard vork." + +"Ye don't look that intilligent from here. Work!" with a snort, and +waving his pipe in the air. "Work, is it? Sure, an' it's all the +loikes of ye are iver good for. It 's not brains ye have at all, or ye +'d take it a bit aisier. Oi had a haythen Swade foreman oncet over at +the 'Last Chance.' God forgive me for workin' undher the loikes of +him. Sure he near worked me to death, he did that, the ignorant +furriner. Work! why, Oi 'm dommed if a green Swade did n't fall the +full length of the shaft one day, an' whin we wint over to pick him up, +what was it ye think the poor haythen said? He opened his oies an' +asked, 'Is the boss mad?' afeared he 'd lose his job! An' so ye was +workin' for a thafe, was ye? An' what for?" + +"Two tollar saxty cint." + +Mike leaped to his feet as though a spring had suddenly uncoiled +beneath him, waving his arms in wild excitement, and dancing about on +his short legs. + +"Two dollars an' sixty cints! Did ye hear that, now? For the love of +Hivin! an' the union wages three sixty! Ye 're a dommed scab, an' it's +meself that 'll wallup ye just for luck. It's crazy Oi am to do the +job. What wud the loikes of ye work for Misther Hicks for?" + +Swanson's impassive face remained imperturbable; he stroked the +moustaches dangling over the corners of his dejected mouth. + +"Two tollar saxty cint." + +Mike glared at him, and then at the girl, his own lips puckering. + +"Bedad, Oi belave the poor cr'ater do n't know anny betther. Shure, 't +is not for an O'Brien to be wastin' his toime thryin' to tache the +loikes of him the great sacrets of thrade. It wud be castin' pearls +afore swine, as Father Kinny says. Did iver ye hear tell of the +Boible, now?" + +"Ay ban Lutheran." + +"An' what's that? It's a Dimocrat Oi am, an' dom the O'Brien that's +annything else. But Oi niver knew thar was anny of thim other things +hereabout. It's no prohibitioner ye are, annyhow, fer that stuff in +yer bottle wud cook a snake. Sufferin' ages! but it had an edge to it +that wud sharpen a saw. What do ye think of ther blatherin' baste +annyhow, seeńorita?" + +The little Mexican gave sudden vent to her pent-up laughter, clapping +her hands in such an ecstasy of delight as to cause the unemotional +Swanson to open his mild blue eyes in solemn wonder. + +"He all right, I rink," she exclaimed eagerly. "He no so mooch fool as +you tink him--no, no. See, seńor, he busy eat all de time dat you +talk; he has de meal, you has de fin' air. Vich ees de bettair, de air +or de meat, seńor? _Bueno_, I tink de laugh vas vid him." + +Mr. O'Brien, his attention thus suddenly recalled to practical affairs, +gazed into the emptied frying-pan, a decided expression of bewildered +despair upon his wizened face. For the moment even speech failed him +as he confronted that scene of total devastation. Then he dashed +forward to face the victim of his righteous wrath. + +"Ye dom Swade, ye!" He shook a dirty fist beneath the other's nose. +"Shmell o' that! It's now Oi know ye 're a thafe, a low-down haythen +thafe. What are ye sittin' thar for, grinnin' at yer betthers?" + +"Two tollar saxty cint." + +The startled Irishman stared at him with mouth wide open. + +"An' begorry, did ye hear that, seeńorita? For the love of Hivin, it's +only a poll-parrot sittin' there ferninst us, barrin' the appetite of +him. Saints aloive! but Oi 'd love to paste the crature av it was n't +a mortal sin to bate a dumb baste. An' he 's a Lutheran! God be +marciful an' keep me from iver ketchin' that same dis'ase, av it wud +lave me loike this wan. What's that? What was it the haythen said +then, seeńorita?" + +"Not von vord, seńor; he only vink von eye like maybe he flirt vid me." + +"The Swade did that! Holy Mother! an' wid an O'Brien here to take the +part of any dacent gurl. Wait till I strip the coat off me. It's an +O'Brien that'll tache him how to trate a lady. Say, Swanson, ye son of +a gun, ye son of a say-cook, ye son--Sure, Oi 'd loike to tell ye what +ye are av it was n't for the prisince of the seeńorita. It's Michael +O'Brien who 's about to paste ye in the oye fer forgittin' yer manners, +an' growin' too gay in good company. Whoop! begorry, it's the grane +above the red!" + +There was a dull noise of a heavily struck blow. A pair of short legs, +waving frantically, traversed a complete semicircle, coming down with a +crash at the edge of the bushes. Through a rapidly swelling and badly +damaged optic the pessimistic O'Brien gazed up in dazed bewilderment at +the man already astride of his prostrate body. It was a regenerated +Norseman, the fierce battle-lust of the Vikings glowing in his blue +eyes. With fingers like steel claws he gripped the Irishman's shirt +collar, driving his head back against the earth with every mad +utterance. + +"Ay ban Nels Swanson!" he exploded defiantly. "Ay ban Nels Swanson! +Ay ban Nels Swanson! Ay ban shovel-man by Meester Burke! Ay ban +Lutheran! Ay ban work two tollar saxty cint! You hear dose tings? +Tamn the Irish--Ay show you!" + +With the swift, noiseless motion of a bird Mercedes flitted across the +narrow space, forcing her slender figure in between the two +contestants, her white teeth gleaming merrily, the bright sunshine +shimmering across her black hair. Like two stars her great eyes +flashed up imploringly into the Swede's angry face. + +"No, no, seńors! You no fight like de dogs vid me here. I not like +dat, I not let you. See! you strike him, you strike me. _Dios de +Dios_! I not have eet so--nevah." + +A strong, compelling hand fell suddenly on Winston's shoulder, and he +glanced about into the grave, boyish countenance of Stutter Brown. + +"Th-thar 's quite c-c-consid'able of a c-crowd comin' up the t-t-trail +t-ter the 'Independence,' an' B-Bill wants yer," he announced, his calm +eyes on the controversy being waged beyond in the open. "Th-thar 'll +be somethin' d-doin' presently, but I r-reckon I better s-s-straighten +out t-this yere i-i-international fracas first." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE GAME OF FOILS + +The grave-faced, yet good-natured giant pressed his way through the +tangled mass of obstructing bushes, and unceremoniously proceeded to +proclaim peace. His methods were characteristic of one slow of speech, +yet swift of action. With one great hand gripping the Swede, he +suddenly swung that startled individual at full length backward into +the still smouldering embers of the fire, holding the gasping Mike down +to earth with foot planted heavily upon his chest. It was over in an +instant, Swanson sputtering unintelligible oaths while beating sparks +from his overalls, the Irishman profanely conscious of the damage +wrought to his eye, and the overwhelming odds against him. Seńorita +Mercedes clapped her little hands in delight at the spectacle, her +steps light as those of the dance, the girlish joy in her eyes frank +and unreserved. + +"Ah, de Seńor Brown--_bueno_! Dey vas just children to you even ven +dey fight, hey? It vas good to see such tings doin', just like de +play." + +She circled swiftly up toward him, a happy bird of gay, fluttering +plumage, pressing her fingers almost caressingly along the swelling +muscle of his arm, and gazing with earnest admiration up into his face. +Beneath the witching spell of her eyes the man's cheeks reddened. He +took the way of savagery out of unexpected embarrassment. + +"Th-that 's enough, now, Swanson," he commanded, the stutter largely +vanishing before the requirement of deeds. "Th-this is no c-continuous +vaudeville, an' ther curtain's rung d-down on yer act. Mike, yer ol' +varmint, if yer do any more swearin' while ther lady's yere I 'll knock +ther words back down yer throat. Yer know me, so shut up. Th-thar'll +be fightin' in p-plenty fer both o' yer presently, the way things look. +Now, vamoose, the two o' yer, an' be quiet about it. Mike, y-yer +better do something fer yer eyes if yer wanter see well 'nough ter take +a pot-shot at Farnham's gang." + +The two discomfited combatants slouched off unwillingly enough, but the +slender white fingers of the Mexican remained clasping the speaker's +arm, her upturned face filled with undisguised enthusiasm. Brown, +after pretending to watch the fighters disappear, glanced uneasily down +into her wondrous dark eyes, shuffling his feet awkwardly, his +appearance that of a bashful boy. Mercedes laughed out of the depths +of a heart apparently untroubled. + +"My, but eet vas so ver' big, seńor. See! I cannot make de fingers to +go round--no, no. I nevah see such arm--nevah. But you no care? You +vas dat great big all over, hey? _Sapristi_! who de woman help like +such a big Americano?" + +"B-but that ain't it, M-M-M-Mercedes," blurted out the perturbed giant, +in desperation. "I-I want yer t-t-ter love me." + +"_No comprende, seńor_." + +"O-oh, yes yer do. L-Lord! didn't I t-tell it all ter yer s-s-straight +'nough last n-night? Maybe I ain't m-much on ther t-talk, but I +r-reckon I sh-sh-shot that all right. C-can't yer make over th-that +like inter l-love somehow?" + +She released her clasp upon his arm, her eyes drooping behind their +long lashes, the merry laughter fading from her lips. + +"Dat vas not von bit nice of you, seńor. Vy you ever keep bodder me +so, ven I good to you? No, I tol' you not ask me dat so quick soon +again. Did I not do dis? I tol' you den I know not; I meet you only +de twice--how I lofe ven I meet you only de twice?" + +"You 've m-m-met me as often a-as I h-h-have you," he interrupted, "an' +I kn-know I l-love you all right." + +"Oh, dat vas diff'rent, ver' different," and she tripped back from him, +with a coquettish toss of the black head. "Vy not? of course. I vas +Mercedes--_si_; vas dat not enough? All de _caballeros_ say dat to me; +dey say me ver' pretty girl. You tink dat too, seńor?" + +The perplexed Brown, fully conscious that his great strength was +useless here, looked an answer, although his lips merely sputtered in +vain attempt at speech. + +"So; I read dat in de eyes. Den of course you lofe me. It vas de +nature. But vis me it vas not so easy; no, not near so easy. I tink +maybe you ver' nice man," she tipped it off upon her finger ends half +playfully, constantly flashing her eyes up into his puzzled face. "I +tink you ver' good man; I tink you ver' strong man; I tink maybe you be +ver' nice to Mercedes. 'T is for all dose tings dat I like you, seńor, +like you ver' mooch; but lofe, dat means more as like, an' I know not +for sure. Maybe so, maybe not so; how I tell yet for true? I tink de +best ting be I not say eet, but just tink 'bout eet; just keep eet in +mine own heart till some odder time ven I sure know. Vas eet not so?" + +Brown set his teeth half savagely, the little witch tantalizing him +with the swiftness of her speech, the coy archness of her manner. To +his slower mentality she was like a humming-bird darting about from +flower to flower, yet ever evading him. + +"M-maybe yer think I ain't in e-e-earnest?" he persisted, doggedly. +"M-maybe yer imagine I d-did n't m-m-mean what I s-said when I asked +yer ter m-marry me?" + +She glanced up quickly into his serious eyes, half shrinking away as if +she suddenly comprehended the dumb, patient strength of the man, his +rugged, changeless resolution. There was a bit of falter in the quick +response, yet this was lost to him. + +"No, seńor, I no make fun. I no dat kind. I do de right, dat all; I +do de right for both of us. I no vant to do de wrong. You +_comprende_, seńor? Maybe you soon grow ver' tire Mercedes, she marry +you?" + +The infatuated miner shook his head emphatically, and flung out one +hand toward her. + +"No! Oh, you tink so now; you tink so ver' mooch now, but eet better +ve vait an' see. I know de men an' de vay dey forget after vile. +Maybe I not such good voman like you tink me; maybe I cross, scold, get +qvick mad; maybe I no like live widout de stage, de lights, de dance, +an' de fun, hey? Vat you do den? You be ver' sorry you marry. I no +like dat, no, no. I want de man to lofe me always--nevah to vish he +not marry me. You not know me yet; I not know you. Maybe ve vait, ve +know." + +He caught her gesticulating hands, prisoning them strongly within both +his own, but she shook forward her loosened hair until it fell +partially across her face, hiding it thus from his eager eyes bent in +passion upon her. + +"B-but tell me y-you love me! T-tell me th-th-that, an' I 'll let the +o-other go!" + +"You vould make me to say de untrue, seńor?" + +"Of course not. I w-want ter kn-kn-know. Only if you d-do n't, I 'm +a-goin' t-ter git out o' yere." + +She remained silent, motionless, her telltale face shadowed, only the +quick rise and fall of the bosom evidencing emotion. The man looked at +her helplessly, his mouth setting firm, his eyes becoming filled with +sudden doubt. + +"W-well, Mercedes," he stuttered, unable to restrain himself, "wh-what +is it?" + +She lifted her lowered head ever so slightly, so that he saw her +profile, the flush on the cheek turned toward him. + +"Maybe eet better you stay, seńor. Anyhow, I no vant you go just now." + +For once he proved the more swift of the two, clasping her instantly +within his arms, drawing her slender form close against him with a +strength he failed to realize in that sudden excess of passion. +Holding her thus in helpless subjection he flung aside the obstructing +veil of hair, and covered the flushed cheeks with kisses. The next +moment, breathless, but not with indignation, the girl had pushed his +burning face aside, although she still lay quivering within the +remorseless clasp of his arms. + +"I no said all dat, seńor; I no said all dat. You so ver' strong, you +hurt Mercedes. Please, seńor--eet vas not dat I meant eet should be +dis vay--no, no. I no said I lofe you; I just say stay till maybe I +know vich--please, seńor." + +"N-not till yer k-kiss me yourself," and Brown, intensely conscious of +triumph, held back the mass of black hair, his eager eyes devouring the +fair face pressing his shoulder. "O-one kiss w-with ther l-l-lips, an' +I 'll let yer g-go." + +"No, no, seńor." + +"Th-then I h-hold yer here till some one comes." + +"Eet vas not lofe; eet vas just to get avay." + +"I-I-I take ch-chances on that, l-little girl." + +Their lips met and clung; all unconsciously the free arm of the girl +stole upward, clasping the man's broad shoulder. For that one instant +she forgot all excepting the new joy of that embrace, the crowning +faith that this man loved her as no other ever had--truly, nobly, and +forever. Her face was aglow as she drew reluctantly back from him, her +eyes upon his, her cheeks flushed, her lips trembling. Yet with the +parting came as swiftly back the resolution which made her strong. + +"Eh, seńor; eet shame me, but you promise--please, seńor!" + +Like a flash, in some mysterious manner, she had slipped free, evaded +his effort to grasp her dress, and, with quick, whirling motion, was +already half-way across the open space, daring to mock him even while +flinging back her long hair, the sunlight full upon her. Never could +she appear more delicately attractive, more coquettishly charming. + +"Ah, see--you tink me de prisoner. Eet vas not all de strength, seńor, +not all. You no can catch me again till I lofe you; not de once till I +lofe you, seńor." + +He started toward her blindly, taunted by these unexpected words of +renunciation. But she danced away, ever managing to keep well beyond +reach, until she disappeared within the narrow path leading to the +cabin. He could see her through the vista of branches, pausing to look +back and watch if he followed. + +"B-but you do," he called out, "I-I know you d-do. Won't yer just +s-s-say it for me onct?" + +"Say dat I marry you?" + +"Y-yes, for it means ther same. Anyhow, s-say yer love me." + +She laughed, shaking her head so hard the black hair became a whirling +cloud about her. + +"No, no! eet not de same, seńor. Maybe I lofe you, maybe not yet. Dat +ees vat you must fin' out. But marry? Dat no show I lofe you. Oh, de +men! to tink eet vas de only vay to prove lofe to marry. No, no! maybe +I show you some day eef I lofe you; si, some day I show you ven I know +true. But dat not mean I marry you. Dat mean more as dat--you see. +_Adios_, seńor." + +And he stood alone, staring at the blank door, strangely happy, +although not content. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +UNDER ARREST + +When Brown emerged from behind the protection of the cabin, his +freckled face yet burning red in memory of his strenuous love-making, +he discovered both Hicks and Winston standing upon the rock which +shortly before had formed their breakfast table, gazing watchfully off +into the purple depths of the canyon, occasionally lifting their eyes +to search carefully the nearer surroundings about the hostile +"Independence." Something serious was in the air, and all three men +felt its mysterious presence. Hicks held the field-glasses in his +hands, outwardly calm, yet his old face already beginning to exhibit +the excitement of rapidly culminating events. That they were not to be +long left undisturbed was promised by an increasing number of figures +distinctly visible around the distant shaft-house and dump, as well as +the continuous shouting, indistinguishable as to words but pronounced +in volume, borne through the clear air to their ears. + +"I 'm a liar if ther was n't twenty in that last bunch," Hicks +muttered, just a trifle uneasily. "Good Lord boys! it 's an army they +'re organizin' over yonder. Blame me if I onderstan' that sorter +scheme at all. It don't look nat'ral. I never thought Farnham was no +coward when ther time come fer fightin', but this kind o' fixin' shore +looks as if we had him skeered stiff. Wal, it 'll take more 'n a bunch +o' San Juan toughs to skeer me. I reckon ther present plan must be ter +try rushin' ther 'Little Yankee.'" + +He wheeled about, driving the extended tubes of his glass together, his +gray beard forking out in front of his lean, brown face like so many +bristles. + +"Oh, is thet you come back, Stutter? Thought I heerd somebody walkin' +behind me. I reckon, judgin' from ther outlook over thar, thet the +dance is 'bout ter begin; leastwise, the fiddlers is takin' their +places," and he waved his gnarled hand toward the distant crowd. "Got +somethin' like a reg'ment thar now, hoss and fut, an' it's safe ter bet +thar 's more a-comin'. This yere fracas must be gittin' some +celebrated, an' bids fair ter draw bigger 'n a three-ringed circus. +All ther scum o' San Juan must 'a got a private tip thet we was easy +marks. They 're out yere like crows hopin' ter pick our bones clean +afore the law kin git any show at all. Wal, it 'll be a tough meal all +right, an' some of 'em are mighty liable ter have trouble with their +digestion, fer thar 's goin' ter be considerable lead eat first. Now +see yere, Stutter, the safest thing we kin do is git ready. You chase +that whole bunch yonder back behind them rocks, where they 'll be out +o' the way--the Swede an' the women. Do it lively, an' you an' Mike +stay up thar with 'em, with your guns handy. Keep under cover as much +as ye kin, for some o' them lads out thar will have glasses with 'em, +and be watchin' of us almighty close. Hurry 'long now; me an' Winston +will stop yere until we find out just what their little game is likely +ter be." + +He turned away from his partner, facing once again toward the +"Independence." Then he readjusted the tubes, and passed them over to +his silent companion. + +"Just see what you make out o' it, Mr. Winston; ye 're some younger, +an' yer eyes ought ter be a heap better 'n mine." + +The young engineer, his heart already beginning to throb with the +excitement of an unaccustomed position of danger, ran the lenses +carefully back and forth from the half-concealed bunk-house to the +nearer ore-dump, searching for every sign of life. Whatever emotion +swayed him, there was not the slightest tremor to the steady hands +supporting the levelled tubes. + +"They have certainly got together a considerable number of men," he +reported, the glass still at his eyes. "Roughs the most of them look +to be, from their clothes. The largest number are grouped in between +the shaft-house and the dump, but there must be a dozen or fifteen down +below at the edge of those cedars. Farnham is at the shaft-house--no, +he and another fellow have just started down the dump, walking this +way. Now they have gone into the cedars, and are coming straight +through. What's up, do you suppose--negotiations?" + +"I 'm damned if I know," returned the old miner, staring blankly. +"This whole thing kinder jiggers me. Maybe he thinks he kin skeer us +out by a good brand o' talk. He 's a bit o' a bluffer, that Farnham." + +The two watchers waited in breathless expectancy, leaning on their +loaded Winchesters, their eyes eagerly fastened on the concealing +cedars. Behind where they remained in the open, yet within easy +rifle-shot, the heads of Brown and Old Mike rose cautiously above the +rock rampart of their natural fort. Suddenly two men, walking abreast, +emerged from out the shadow of the wood, and came straight toward them +across the open ridge of rocks. They advanced carelessly, making no +effort to pick their path, and in apparently utter indifference to any +possible peril. The one was Farnham, his slender form erect, his +shoulders squared, his hat pushed jauntily back so as to reveal fully +the smoothly shaven face. The other bent slightly forward as he +walked, his wide brim drawn low over his eyes, leaving little visible +except the point of a closely trimmed beard. He was heavily built, and +a "45" dangled conspicuously at his hip. If Farnham bore arms they +were concealed beneath the skirt of his coat. Watching them approach, +Winston's eyes became threatening, his hands involuntarily clinching, +but Hicks remained motionless, his lean jaws continuously munching on +the tobacco in his cheek. + +"Who the hell is that with him?" he questioned, wonderingly. "Do you +know the feller?" + +Winston shook his head, his own steady gaze riveted upon Farnham. +Deliberately the two climbed the low ore-dump side by side, and came +forth on top into the full glare of the sun. Hicks's Winchester sank +to a level, his wicked old eye peering along the polished barrel. + +"I 'll have to ask ye ter stop right thar, gents," he said, genially, +drawing back the hammer with a sharp click. "Ye 're trespassin' on my +property." + +The two men came to an instant halt, Farnham smiling unpleasantly, his +hands buried in his pockets. His companion hastily shoved back his +hat, as though in surprise at the summons, revealing a broad, ruddy +face, shadowed by iron-gray whiskers. Hicks half lowered his gun, +giving vent to a smothered oath. + +"By God, it's the sheriff!" he muttered, in complete bewilderment. +"What the hell are we up against?" + +There was an interval of intense silence, both parties gazing at each +other, the one side startled, unnerved, the other cool, contemptuous. +It was the sheriff who first spoke, standing firmly on his short legs, +and quietly stroking his beard. + +"You probably recognize me, Bill Hicks," he said, calmly, "and it might +be just as healthy for you to lower that gun. I ain't here hunting any +trouble, but if it begins I 've got a posse over yonder big enough to +make it mighty interesting. You sabe?" + +Old Hicks hesitated, his finger yet hovering about the trigger, his +eyes filled with doubt. There was some mystery in this affair he could +not in the least fathom, but he was obstinate and hard-headed. + +"Yes, I know you all right, Mr. Sheriff," he returned, yet speaking +half angrily. "But I don't know what ye 're dippin' inter this yere +affair fer. I haven't any quarrel with you, ner any cause fer one. +But I have with that grinnin' cuss alongside o' yer. I 'll talk with +you all right, but Farnham will either mosey back ter his own den o' +thieves, 'er I 'll blow a hole plumb through him--that's flat. I don't +talk ter his kind." + +The sheriff held up one hand, taking a single step forward, his face +grown sternly resolute. + +"Mr. Farnham chances to be present as my deputy," he announced gravely. +"I don't know anything about a quarrel between you two men, and I care +less. I 'm here to enforce the law and arrest law-breakers. If you +decide to interfere between me and my duty I 'll know how to act. I +'ve smelt of the business end of a gun before to-day, and I guess +nobody ever saw Sam Hayes play baby when there was a fight on tap. If +there 's trouble between you and Farnham, have it out, and git done +with it in proper fashion, but just now he 's a sworn officer of the +law, and when you threaten him you threaten all Gulpin County. Do you +manage to digest that fact, Hicks?" + +The sturdy old prospector, his face white with rage under the tan, +uncocked his rifle and dropped the butt heavily upon the earth, his +eyes wandering from the face of the sheriff to that of Winston. + +"What the hell is it yer want, then?" he asked sullenly. Hayes smiled, +shifting easily so as to rest his weight on one leg. + +"Got anybody in your bunch named Winston?" he questioned, "Ned Winston, +mining engineer?" + +The younger man started in surprise. + +"That is my name," he replied, before Hicks could speak. The sheriff +looked toward him curiously, noting the square jaw, the steady gray +eyes; then he glanced aside at Farnham. The latter nodded carelessly. + +"So far, so good. By the same luck, have you a Swede here called Nels +Swanson?" + +Hicks shook his head in uncertainty. + +"There 's a Swede here, all right, who belongs ter the 'Independence' +gang. I don 't know his name." + +"It's Swanson," put in Farnham, cheerfully. "Those are the two birds +you 're after, sheriff." + +The latter official, as though fascinated by what he read there, never +ventured to remove his watchfulness from the face of the engineer, yet +he smiled grimly. + +"Then I 'll have to trouble you to trot out the Swede, Hicks," he said, +a distinct command in his voice. "After he 's here we 'll get down to +business." + +It was fully five minutes before the fellow arrived, his movements slow +and reluctant. From his language, expressing his feelings freely to +Mike and Brown, who were engaged in urging him forward, it was evident +he experienced no ambition to appear in the limelight. The four men +waiting his coming remained motionless, intently watchful of one +another. As the slowly moving Swede finally approached, Hayes ventured +to remove his eyes from Winston just long enough to scan swiftly the +mournful countenance, that single glance revealing to him the character +of the man. The latter gazed uneasily from one face to another, his +mild blue eyes picturing distress, his fingers pulling aimlessly at his +moustache. + +"Ay ban yere by you fellers," he confessed sorrowfully, unable to +determine which person it was that wanted him. + +"So I see," admitted the sheriff laconically. "Are you Nels Swanson?" + +The fellow swallowed something in his throat that seemed to choke him. +This question sounded familiar; it brought back in a rush a +recollection of his late controversy with Mr. O'Brien. His face +flushed, his eyes hardening. + +"Ay ban Nels Swanson!" he exploded, beating the air with clenched fist. +"Ay ban Lutheran! Ay ban shovel-man by Meester Burke. Ay get two +tollar saxty cint! Ay not give won tamn for you! Ay lick de fellar +vot ask me dot again!" + +The sheriff stared at him, much as he might have examined a new and +peculiar specimen of bug. + +"I don't recall having asked you anything about your family history," +he said quietly, dropping one hand in apparent carelessness on the butt +of his "45." "Your name was all I wanted." He tapped the breast of +his coat suggestively, his gaze returning to Winston. + +"Well, gents, we might as well bring this affair to a focus, although +no doubt you two understand the meaning of it pretty well already. I +'ve got warrants here for the arrest of Winston and Swanson. I hope +neither of you intend to kick up any row." + +The white teeth of the young mining engineer set like a trap, his gray +eyes gleaming dangerously beneath frowning brows. Instinctively he +took a quick step forward. + +"Warrants?" he exclaimed, breathlessly. "In God's name, for what?" + +Hayes tightened his grip on the gun butt, drawing it half from the +sheath, his eyes narrowing. + +"For the murder of Jack Burke," he said tersely. "Don't you move, +young man!" + +There was a long moment of intense, strained silence, in which the five +men could hear nothing but their own quick breathing. Before Winston +everything grew indistinct, unreal, the faces fronting him a phantasy +of imagination. He felt the fierce throb of his own pulses, a sudden +dull pain shooting through his temples. _Murder_! The terrible word +struck like a blow, appearing to paralyze all his faculties. In front +of him, as if painted, he saw that fierce struggle in the dark, the +limp figure lying huddled among the rocks. _Murder_! Aye, and how +could he prove it otherwise? How could he hope to clear himself from +the foul charge? Even as he yet swayed unsteadily upon his feet, a +hand pressed across his eyes as if shielding them from that horrible +vision, a voice, deep and strident, rang out: + +"Mike an' me have got the two cusses covered Mr. Winston. If they +move, or you give us the highball, we 'll plug 'em dead centre!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE INTERVENTION OF SWANSON + +Hayes never changed his position, nor removed his eyes from Winston, +his right hand still resting upon the butt of his "45," his lips set in +rigid line. The engineer, the mist partially clearing from his brain, +retained no thought except for Farnham, who remained motionless, +staring over his head into the black, threatening muzzle of Stutter +Brown's levelled gun. These were Western men; they recognized +instantly the potency of "the drop," the absolute certainty of death if +they stirred a muscle. They could only wait, breathless, uncertain, +the next move in this desperate game. To Winston it seemed an hour he +hesitated, his mind a chaos, temptation buffeting him remorselessly. +He saw the sheriff's face set hard, and resolute behind its iron-gray +beard; he marked the reckless sneer curling Farnham's lips, the livid +mark under his eye where he had struck him. The intense hatred he felt +for this man swept across him fiercely, for an instant driving out of +his heart all thought of mercy. As suddenly he remembered the helpless +woman yonder, within easy view, possibly even then upon her knees in +supplication. It was this conception that aroused him. He withdrew +his dull gaze from off that hateful, mocking face, his clenched hands +opening, his mind responding to a new-born will. "Vengeance is mine; I +will repay, saith the Lord"--like an echo, perhaps from the very prayer +her lips were speaking, the solemn words came into his consciousness. +With face white, and lips trembling, he stepped suddenly back, and +flung up one hand. + +"Don't fire, boys!" he commanded, his voice ringing clear and +purposeful. "Drop your guns; it's all right. This is my game, and I +intend to play it out alone." + +Farnham laughed, the quick reaction possibly affecting even his iron +nerves. Winston whirled and fronted him, the gray eyes blazing. + +"Damn you, you sneaking, sneering brute!" he burst forth. "You thief, +you woman-beater, you unspeakable cur! I surrender to the sheriff of +Gulpin County, not to you. I 've got the evidence to send you to the +penitentiary, and I 'll do it, even though I stand myself in the shadow +of death while I bear witness to your infamy. You think this arrest +will shut my mouth! You imagine this will render me harmless! But, by +God, it will not! I 'll fight you until the last breath leaves my +body. I 'll tear you out from the protection of law; I 'll show you +the kind of a man you have stacked up against. I don't know whether +this murder charge is all a trick or not; I don't more than half +believe Jack Burke is dead. But be that as it may, I 'll pull you +down, Biff Farnham, not in any revenge for wrong done me, but to save a +woman whom you know. I 'll do it, damn you, though it cost me my life!" + +The sheriff's iron hand fell in restraint upon his shoulder, the burly +body interposed between them. + +"You're all right," Hayes said quietly, his eyes pleasantly interested. +"You 've been squar' with me, young fellow, an' I 'm goin' ter be +squar' with you. You kin bet on that. They 'll give you a chance down +below to fight out your quarrel with Farnham." + +Winston, his quick rage as instantly fading, drew one hand across his +face, the real danger of his present situation flowing back suddenly to +mind. + +"Where do you mean to take us?" he questioned. + +"San Juan." + +"Right away?" + +"Wal, 'bout as soon as we kin git you back ter whar the hosses are, +yonder." + +"You promise us protection from that 'Independence' outfit?" + +The sheriff nodded decisively. + +"Never lost no prisoner yet to a mob," he replied confidently. "I +reckon thar'll be one hell of a fight before I do now. However, you +don't need to worry, young man. On second thought, I 'll have the +hosses brought over here, an' we 'll go down this trail." + +Winston glanced about into the faces of Hicks and the Swede. There was +no help forthcoming from either, but he had already reached a definite +decision for himself. + +"Very well," he said calmly, "I 'll go with you quietly, sheriff, only +I don't need any hand-cuffing." + +"Never use 'em," and Hayes affectionately patted his gun. "I reckon +this yere instrument will do the business all right if any +misunderstandin' should arise atween us goin' down. However, I 'll +trouble yer to discard them weapons for the sake o' peace." + +Without a word the engineer unbuckled his belt, tossed it over to +Hicks, and then slowly turned his body about to prove himself entirely +disarmed. Then he smiled, and extended his hand. The sheriff grasped +it cordially. + +"There need be no hard feeling between us, Hayes," he said pleasantly. +"You 're only doing your sworn duty; I understand that. But there 's +something rotten in this affair somewhere. All I ask is a square deal." + +"An' yer kin bet you'll git it, Mr. Winston, er Sam Hayes will find out +why. This yere 'Independence' outfit is no favorites o' mine, an' if +the whole difficulty turns out ter be nothin' but a minin' squabble, +the jury ain't likely ter be very hard on yer. That's my way o' +figgerin' on it, from what little I know." He glanced keenly about, +seeking to gain a clearer idea of their immediate surroundings. "Maybe +you an' Swanson better mosey back yonder to the cabin, where I can keep +an eye on you easy, while I send after the hosses. Farnham, climb back +on top of the dump there, an' give them boys the signal to come on." + +The gambler removed his hat, running one hand carelessly through his +hair, his thin lips sufficiently parted to reveal his white teeth. + +"I hardly think we are exactly done yet, Mr. Sheriff," he said +sarcastically. "I 'm not very much worried regarding your suddenly +expressed sympathy for this fellow, or your desire to get him off +unscratched; but I feel compelled to insist upon receiving all the law +allows me in this game we 're playing. There 's another warrant in +your pocket for Winston." + +"By thunder, yes; I 'd clear forgot it," fumbling at his papers. + +"Well, I had n't; matter of some personal importance to me," the voice +taking on a lazy, insolent drawl. "Of course, the fellow is under +arrest all right, but that murder business is only part of it--I want +my wife." + +Winston started forward, crouching as though he would spring directly +at the other's throat. + +"Your wife?" he exclaimed madly, his voice choking. "Your wife? You +'ve sworn out a warrant for me on account of your wife?" + +"Something of that nature, I believe," gazing at him insolently. +"Abduction I think the lawyers call it, and I notice you 've got the +lady hidden away back yonder now." He pointed across the other's +shoulder. "Caught with the goods. Oh, you 're a fine preacher of +morals, but I 've got you dead to rights this time." + +Winston stood as though carven from stone, his face deathly white, his +lips compressed, his gray eyes burning, never wavering from that +mocking face. With all his strength of will he battled back the first +mad impulse to throttle the man, to crush him into shapeless pulp. For +one awful moment his mind became a chaos, his blood throbbing fire. To +kill would be joy, a relief inexpressible. Farnham realized the +impulse, and drew back, not shrinking away, but bracing for the +contest. But the engineer gripped himself in time. + +"Hayes," he ejaculated hoarsely, "let the lady decide this. If she +says no, then, by God, I 'll fight you all single-handed before he ever +puts touch upon her!" + +Old Bill Hicks was beside him in a single stride, his face blazing. + +"I 'm damned if yer will!" he growled madly. "I 'm in on this deal, +law er no law. The whole blame thing is a bluff, an' I 'll not stan' +fer it no longer. Yer step back thar, Sam Hayes, er else Gulpin County +will be lookin' 'round fer another sheriff. I 've got plumb ter the +limit o' patience in this game." + +Winston grasped the old man's uplifted arm, whirling him sharply around. + +"No," he exclaimed almost wearily, "it 's not to be a fight yet; +let--let her decide between us." + +She was already coming, walking alone directly across the open space +toward them. The eyes of the bewildered men were upon her, marking the +white face, rendered more noticeable by its frame of dark, uncovered +hair, the firm, womanly chin, the tightly compressed lips, the +resolute, unwavering eyes. She walked firmly, confidently forward, her +head proudly uplifted, a stately dignity about her bearing which could +not be ignored. If she perceived either Winston or Farnham in that +group she gave no sign, never halting until she stood directly before +Sam Hayes. Involuntarily, unconscious of the act, the sheriff pulled +off his hat, and stood twirling it in his hands. + +"Is it indeed true," she asked, her voice thrilling with suppressed +feeling, "that you possess a warrant sworn out by Biff Farnham, +charging Mr. Winston with the abduction of his wife?" + +"Yes, ma'am," and the man changed the weight of his body to the other +foot. "I 'm sorry ter say it 's true." + +She lifted one hand suddenly to her forehead as though in pain. + +"And you intend to serve it?" + +"I have no choice, ma'am; I 'm an officer of the law." + +There followed a pause, seemingly endless, the eyes of the men turned +away. She lifted her head, sweeping her gaze swiftly across the faces, +and a flush crept into the white cheeks. + +"Gentlemen," her voice low and clear, but with a slight falter +occasionally yielding peculiar power to the words, "it is true I am +that man's wife." She looked directly at him, apparently oblivious of +his attempt at smiling indifference. "By the laws of God and men I am +his wife. I neither deny this, nor have ever sought to escape from its +obligations. To me, the vows of marriage were sacred when first +assumed; they remain no less sacred now. This man is fully aware of +how I feel in this regard; he knows I have proved true in spirit and +letter to my vows; he knows exactly why I am not living with him; why I +am earning my own living in the world; why I am here in this position +to-day. He knows it all, I say, because the desertion was his, not +mine; and his present deliberate, cowardly attempt to besmirch my +character by doing an injury to another is an unbearable insult, an +outrage more serious than if he had struck me a physical blow. The one +I might forgive, as I have before forgiven, but the other is beyond the +limits of pardon, if I would retain my own self-respect. I am a woman, +an honorable woman, and my reputation is more to me than life." + +She paused, breathing heavily, her head flung back, Her hands clenched +as though in desperate effort at self-control. + +"You--you!" the words seemed fairly forced from between her lips, +"there has never been a time when I would not have gone to you at a +word, at your slightest expressed desire. However I may have despised +you in my secret heart, I remained loyal outwardly, and would have gone +to you in response to the call of duty. There is no such duty now. +You have openly insulted and degraded me; you have accused me before +the world; you have dragged my name in the muck; you have attempted to +dethrone my womanhood. The past is over; it is over forever. The law +may continue to hold me as your wife, but I am not your wife. The +records of the church may so name me, but they are false. A God of +love could never have linked me to such a brute--the very thought is +infamy. Do not touch me! Do not speak to me! I believe I could kill +you easier than I could ever again yield to you so much as a word." + +She reeled as though about to fall, her hand pressed against her heart. +Before an arm could be out-stretched in support, she had rallied, and +turned away. With head lowered, her face shadowed by her hair she +walked slowly toward the cabin. No man in the group stirred until she +had disappeared. Then the sheriff fumblingly replaced his hat, his +eyes wandering in uncertainty from Farnham to Winston. + +"By God!" he exclaimed, as though in relief, catching his breath +quickly and wiping his forehead. "By God! but that was fierce." +Recalling his own duty he reached out his hand and laid it heavily upon +the shoulder of the man standing next him. It chanced to be the Swede. + +"Go on into the cabin," he commanded, a returning sternness in the +order. + +The surprised man stared at him in dull bewilderment. + +"Vat for Ay go--hey?" + +"Because you 're under arrest." + +"Vat dot you say? I vas arrest? Maybe you not know me, hey? Ay tells +you vat Ay vas mighty quick. Ay ban Nels Swanson; Ay ban Lutheran; Ay +ban shovel--" + +"Oh, shut up; ye 're under arrest, I tell you--move on now." + +"Vat vas dis under arrest?" the blue eyes losing their mildness, the +drooping moustache beginning to bristle. "Ay no understand 'bout dis +arrest. Vat Ay do, hey?" + +"Helped to kill Jack Burke." + +The startled Norseman stared at him, gulping, his eyes fairly +protruding from his face, his breath hissing between his gritted teeth. +The wild berserker blood was surging hot through his veins. + +"Ut vas von lie! You kill me so! By tamn, no!" + +That instant, insane with fright, he grasped the astonished officer in +the vise of his great hands, swung him into the air, and dashed him +down headlong upon the rocks. Uttering a yell like that of some wild +animal, the fellow was off, striking against Winston with his body as +he passed, leaping recklessly across the rocks, heading straight toward +the nearest thicket. It was all the work of a moment. Farnham whirled +and sent one shot after him; then, as suddenly remembering his own +peril, wheeled back to face the others, the smoking revolver in his +hand. Amid the quick turmoil old Mike sprang to the summit of the rock +rampart, his face flaming with enthusiasm. + +"Go it, Swanska!" he yelled, encouragingly. "Go it, ye crazy +white-head! Be the powers, but it's the foinest runnin' Oi 've sane +fer a whoile. Saints aloive! but wud ye moind thim legs! 'Twas a +kangaroo, begorry, an' not a monkey he come from, or Oi 'm a loiar. Go +it, Swanny, ould bye! Howly St. Patrick! but he 'll be out o' the +State afore dhark, if he only kapes it up. It 's money Oi 'm bettin' +on the Swade!" + +Winston stepped swiftly across to the motionless sheriff, and knelt +down beside him, his face gravely anxious. The unfortunate man lay +huddled up, breathing heavily, his head bleeding freely from two +plainly visible wounds. The engineer turned him over, one hand feeling +for his heart. Slowly the young man rose to his feet, standing beside +the body, his gray eyes fastened upon Farnham. Here was a condition of +affairs he must decide upon for himself, decide instantly, decide in +spite of law, in spite of everything. + +"He appears to be rather badly hurt; not seriously, I think, but the +man is unconscious, and in no condition to be removed," he said, +managing to hold his voice to a strange quiet. "I consider myself his +prisoner, and shall remain with him until he becomes fit to travel. +Farnham, I do not acknowledge your deputyship, and if you attempt to +arrest me it will be at your peril. There are four of us here against +you, but we 'll give you a chance--go back to your own! Not a word, if +you care to live! Go, damn you--go!" + +They stood and watched him, until his slender figure disappeared behind +the fringe of cedars. Then Hicks and Winston, neither man speaking a +word, tenderly lifted the wounded sheriff from off the rocks, and bore +him back into the shelter of the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A NEW VOLUNTEER + +The desperate seriousness of their situation was only too evident. +Both men recognized this, yet had no opportunity then to reflect over +its possibilities, or plan for relief. Without exchanging a word, +except as related to their present labor, the two at once began +ministering to the relief of Hayes, confident that Brown, stationed +without, would guard vigorously against any surprise attack. The two +wounds upon the sheriff's head were extremely ugly in appearance, being +both deep and jagged, and having bled profusely. However, when +carefully washed and probed, neither proved particularly severe or +dangerous. In less than an hour, conscious yet exceedingly weak and +becoming somewhat feverish, the injured man, dazed in mind but fairly +comfortable in body, had been safely stowed away in a bunk, with every +prospect of an early recovery. + +Not until all this had been accomplished did his anxious nurses venture +to look thoughtfully into each others' faces and take direct cognizance +of their own perilous position. Hicks stepped outside into the +sunlight, wiping the perspiration from off his face, and a moment later +Winston joined him, the two standing in grave silence, gazing off +toward the apparently deserted "Independence." The strain of the past +night and day had plainly marked them both, yet it was not exposure and +toil alone that gave such anxiety to their faces. Finally Hicks turned +from his long scrutiny and glanced back toward the younger man, +stroking his goat's beard solemnly. + +"Looks ter me like we'd managed ter drop into a mighty bad hole, an' +was up agin the real thing," he began gloomily, yet hastening to add in +explanation, "not as I have any notion o' cavin', you onderstand, only +I ain't overly pleased with the situation, an' thet 's a fact. I never +yit objected in particular ter no fair fight, not o' any kind, free fer +all, or stan' up, but I ain't used ter buckin' agin the law nohow, an' +someway thet seems ter be 'bout what we 're up agin this trip. Beats +hell the way things turned out, don't it?" + +Winston nodded without opening his lips. He was thinking more +earnestly about Miss Norvell's unpleasant position than of their own, +yet compelled himself to attention. + +"Now, this yere Farnham is a gambler an' a thief; he 's all round +crooked, an' we 've got a cinch on him fer the penitentiary. But we +ain't got the right holt," the old miner continued, squinting his eyes +as if thus endeavoring to get the thought firmly lodged in his brain. +"He 's ben made a deputy sheriff. He kin turn that crowd o' toughs +over thar into a posse, an' come over here with the whole law o' the +State backin' them in any deviltry they decide on, even ter killin' off +the lot o' us for resistin' officers. Es Sam Hayes said, if we shoot, +we 'll be a-shootin' up Gulpin County. An' yet, by thunder, we 've +plumb got ter do it, er git off the earth. I jest don't see no other +way. Biff, he won't care a damn how he gits us, so he gits us afore we +have any chance ter turn the tables on him, an' shift the law over ter +our side. Hayes can't help any, fer he 's out o' his head. +Consequent, it's up ter us. Thet warrant business, an' deputy sheriff +racket, was a blame smart trick, all right. It would 'a' corralled us +good an' proper if thet fool Swede had n't run amuck. Not that he left +us in no bed o' roses, but, at least, we got a fightin' chance now, an' +afore we did n't have even that. I was inclined ter let yer surrender +to the sheriff, fer Sam Hayes is a squar' man, but not ter Farnham an' +his gang--not much, Mary Ann! Thet would mean lynchin', an' I know it. +So, I reckon we jest got to plug it out, an' trust ter luck. Thet 's +my view-point, but ye 're a more higher edycated man ner me, Mr. +Winston, an' maybe you kin see some other way out." + +The old man sat down on an outcropping stone, pulled out his pipe and +lit it, puffing thick rings of smoke into the air with manifest +enjoyment. Winston did not answer until the other again turned his +eyes upon him questioningly. + +"I was busy thinking," explained the engineer, "but must confess the +situation looks about as bad to me as it does to you. The silver +lining of this cloud is not apparent. Of course, we 've got the right +of it, but in some way Fate has managed to leave us set square against +the law. We 're outlaws without having done a thing to warrant it. +There is n't but one possible way out, and that is for us to get on the +right side again. Now, how can it be done? Some one of us will have +to go down to San Juan, before those fellows get over here in force, +swear out warrants against Farnham and his partners, and have this +whole affair probed to the bottom. We 've got them, if we can only get +the ear of the District Attorney, and shift this fight into the courts. +The trouble is, Farnham was smart enough to get there ahead of us, and +he 'll win out if we don't move quick and block him. I can't go +myself, for I 'm a prisoner, and must remain with the sheriff, or will +be considered a fugitive. The only question is, Can any one hope to +get through?" + +Hicks permitted his gaze to stray out across the dim valley below, then +up toward the ragged summit of the overhanging crest of rocks. Through +the smoke of his pipe he deliberately surveyed Stutter Brown, perched +motionless at the edge of his watchtower, a Winchester silhouetted +black against the stone. + +"Not down thet way, anyhow," he announced, finally, pointing with his +pipe-stem. "I reckon a mosquiter could n't git through along thet +trail ternight. Ever hear tell o' Daggett Station?" + +Winston rubbed his chin, endeavoring to recall the name. + +"I 'm not sure. Is it the water-tank and section-house, next stop +below Bolton Junction, on the main line?" + +"You 've called the tarn. Wal, it's over thar," pointing apparently +into the heart of the mountain, "straight south, twenty miles as ther +crow flies from the foot o' this rise, across as barren a sand waste as +ever broke a man's heart--nary drop o' water from start ter finish, an' +hot--oh, hell!" He paused, thinking. "But I hardly reckon them people +would ever think 'bout guardin' thet way out, an' a good rider could +make it easy afore daylight, an' catch the train East." + +"How do you get down?" + +"Through a long, twistin' ravine; it's a mean place fer travellin', an' +you have ter lead the hoss till yer strike the sand." + +"Ever cross there yourself?" + +"Wal, no," stroking his beard; "but Stutter come back thet way onct, +from a hunt or something. He never said nothin' when he struck in, but +yer could 'a' scraped alkali off him with a hoe, an' he drunk a whole +bucket o' water without takin' breath. So I reckon it wa'n't no +pleasure jaunt." + +"Then it's got to be Stutter," decided Winston, rising to his feet, +"for we must get word to San Juan. I 'm going inside to see how Hayes +is feeling." + +"I reckon thet's the ticket," agreed Hicks, gloomily, "but I 'm blamed +if I like losin' him. He 's a fightin' man, thet Stutter, after he +onct gits his blood stirred up, an' I 'm sorter expectin' a lively time +yere when it gits dark. It 'll be Farnham's last chance ter put us out +o' the way, an' he 's likely ter take it. I 'll bet Stutter won't go, +leastwise without the gal; he 's natural bull-headed, besides bein' in +love. Thet makes an ornery combination." + +Within the cabin, the door closed behind him, the single small window +shedding a dim light across the apartment, Winston turned, his hand +still upon the latch, and confronted Beth Norvell and Mercedes. Their +presence there was so unexpected that the young man paused in sudden +embarrassment, ready words failing him. The two were seated close +together on rude stools beneath the window, where they had evidently +been in intimate conversation. The former, her gaze lowered upon the +floor, did not glance up; but Mercedes flashed her black eyes into his +face, recognizing his confusion, and hastening to relieve it. +Warm-hearted, impulsive, already beginning to experience the value of +true love, the young Mexican was eager to bring these two into a better +understanding. Her quick smile of welcome swept away for an instant +all memory of the other's apparent indifference. + +"Ah, eet vas good you come, seńor. See, ve shut up here like +prisoners; ve see nottings, ve hear nottings, ve know nottings. Now ve +make you tell us eet all, de whole story. Miladi here, she tink eet +all ver' bad; she cry, de tear yet in her eye, an' I know not vat to +tell to make her feel bettah. She 'fraid for ever'ting, but most I +tink, she 'fraid for you, seńor." + +Miss Norvell hastily laid her hand upon the girl's sleeve in +remonstrance, her face showing grave in the dim light. + +"No, no, Mercedes; you must not say too much, or Mr. Winston will think +us both very foolish." + +"Eet vas not foolish for us to vant to know, vas eet, seńor?" + +"Assuredly not." He walked across the narrow room, glanced into the +face of the sleeping sheriff, came back beside them, and leaned against +the wall. The movement served to yield him confidence and +self-control, to decide him as to his future course. "What is it you +are so desirous of knowing?" + +"Vy, de whole ting, seńor, de whole ting." + +He gazed directly into the partially upturned face of the other, as +though urging her also to speak. + +"We do not in the least comprehend the situation here, Mr. Winston," +she responded, her voice low and steady. "No one has taken the trouble +to explain. We realize, of course, it must be serious, but possibly +the strain would prove less if we understood clearly what must be met." + +The engineer bowed, drawing toward him an empty cracker-box, and sat +down facing them both. + +"I will relate the circumstances to you in all their unpleasantness," +he began quietly. "Perhaps your woman wit may discover some loophole +which has escaped us." Clearly, yet rapidly, he reviewed the salient +points of the controversy between Farnham and the "Little Yankee," his +own brief connection with it, the discoveries made in the lower levels +of the "Independence," his desperate struggle with Burke, the swearing +out and serving of warrants, the sudden change in situation which had +placed them legally in the wrong, the accident to the sheriff, the curt +dismissal of his deputy, and the probable consequences. His voice grew +deep as he proceeded, marking the intense interest with which they +followed his recital. Then he unfolded briefly the plan adopted for +relief. It was the impulsive Mexican who broke the silence that +followed his conclusion. + +"Si, I see dat!" she exclaimed, leaning eagerly forward, her head +between her hands. "Eet vas ver' good vay. But you tink dar be fight +soon? You tink so? Beell, he tink so? Den you no like dat de Seńor +Brown be avay? No, no, you no like be lef' alone ven de fight come? +He big, strong, brav'; he bettah as ten men, hey? Eet vas so, I tell +you. I go vis de message, si; Seńor Brown he stay here. Vould not dat +be de bettah?" + +Winston shifted uneasily upon his cracker-box, his gaze wandering from +the animated face confronting him to that of the other farther back +amid the shadows, still grave and full of doubt. + +"You?" he exclaimed in surprise. "Surely you do not suppose we would +ever permit you to attempt such a thing." + +"No? An' vy not, seńor?" springing impulsively to her feet, her eyes +opening wide. "Maybe you tink I not know how ride? Maybe you tink I +vas 'fraid of de dark? or dat I lose my vay? You tink me leetle girl," +and she snapped her fingers indignantly. "Do dat? Of course I do dat! +_Sapristi_! Eet vas easy. Just ride twenty mile. Bah! I do dat lots +o' times. My pony he take me in tree, four hour sure. He nice pony, +an' he lofe Mercedes." + +"But you do not know the way, girl, and the ride must be made at night." + +"De vay--poof! You speak ver' foolish. De vay?--you tink I cannot +find de vay! Vy, I Mexicana, seńor; I know de vay of de desert; I read +de sign here, dar, everyvere, like miladi does de book. I know how; +si, si. Seńor Brown he show me how get down de side of de mountain, +den I know de res'. Twenty mile south to de rail; I read de stars, I +feel de wind, I give de pony de quirt, and it vas done--_bueno_!" + +Winston sat silently watching her, impressed by the earnestness of her +broken English, the eloquent energy of her gesticulations. + +"Vas dat not de bettah vay, seńor? I no good here; I just girl in de +vay, an' ven de fight come maybe I be 'fraid. But Seńor Brown he not +git 'fraid; he fight hard, more as ten men. So I help too; I just ride +de pony, but I help. I go San Juan; I see de Distric' Attorney." She +clapped her hands, laughing at the thought. "Si, I know de Distric' +Attorney ver' veil. He tink Mercedes ver' nice girl; he tink I dance +bettah as any he ever saw; he say so to me. He do vat Mercedes vant, +vat she say vas de right ting--sure he do. Vas dat not de bettah, +seńor?" + +"Possibly," yet secretly questioning her motives, "but--but really, you +know, I always supposed you to be a friend of Farnham's!" + +The girl instantly flushed crimson to the roots of her black hair, +bringing her hands together sharply, her eyes straying from Winston to +the suddenly uplifted face of Miss Norvell. + +"No, no," she said, at last, her voice softer. "He vas not to me +anyting! She know how it vas; maybe she tell you sometime. Not now, +but sometime. I jus' vant do right. I vant serve Seńor Brown, not dat +Farnham no more. No, no! once, maybe, I tink dat man ver' nice; I tink +him good friend; he say much promise Mercedes. Now I tink dat no +more--I know he lie all de time; I see tings as dey vas right, an' I +try be good girl. You sabe all dat, seńor?" + +"I understand some of it at least," and he smiled back into her +pleading eyes, "enough to trust you. If Hicks and Brown consent, your +going will be all right with me." + +"_Bueno_!" and she dropped him a deep Spanish courtesy, executing a +quick dancing step toward the door. "Den eet vill be so. I no 'fraid. +I go see dem both. _Adios_." + +The door opened, and she flashed forth into the fading sunlight; it +closed behind her, and left the two alone among the shadows. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +AN AVOWAL OF LOVE + +Winston sat gazing at the delicate contour of her face, partially +turned away from him, the long, silken lashes shading eyes lowered upon +the floor. A single gleam of the westering sun rested in golden beauty +across her dark hair, stirred by the slight breeze blowing through the +open window. In the silence he could hear his heart beat, and +distinguish the faint sound of her breathing. She was the first to +speak, yet without moving her head. + +"Is it true that you are now under arrest?" she questioned, her voice +scarcely audible. + +"Technically yes, although, as you may perceive, the sheriff is +powerless to prevent an escape if I desired to attempt one." + +"Is it because of that--that charge he made?" + +He arose to his feet in brave attempt at self-control. + +"Oh, no, certainly not! I think that was merely a threat, a cowardly +threat, utterly without provocation, without purpose, unless he sought +in that way to work you a serious injury. The real charge against me +is murder. It appears that the man I fought with in the mine later +died from his injuries." + +She turned both face and body toward him, her eyes filled with agony. + +"The man died? Will it be possible for you to prove yourself innocent?" + +"It may be possible, but it does not appear easy. I hope to show that +all I did was in self-defence. I did not strike the man a deadly blow; +in the struggle he fell and was injured on the sharp rocks. In every +sense his death was unintentional, yet there is nothing to sustain me +but my own testimony. But I shall not flee from the issue. If I have +taken human life I will abide the judgment. God knows I never dreamed +of killing the man; never once supposed him seriously injured. You, at +least, believe this?" + +"I believe all you tell me." + +The man's grasp on the casing of the window tightened, his eyes upon +the mass of black hair. + +"Strangely enough," he continued, "this whole affair has gone wrong +from the start; nothing has turned out in the natural way. Criminals +have been made into officers of the law, and honest men changed into +outlaws. Now it seems impossible to conjecture how the adventure will +terminate." + +She sat looking up at him, scarcely seeing his face, her hands clasped +in her lap. + +"'All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players,'" +she said, quoting the familiar words as if in a dream. "We are such +puppets in the great play! How strange it all is! How dangerously +close real life is, always skirting the precipice of tragedy! Plans +fail, lines tangle, and lives are changed forever by events seemingly +insignificant. To-morrow is always mystery. I wonder, is it not a dim +consciousness of this that renders the stage so attractive to the +multitude? Even its burlesques, its lurid melodramas, are never +utterly beyond the possible. Everywhere are found stranger stories +than any romancer can invent; and yet we sometimes term our lives +commonplace." She leaned back against the wall, a sob coming into her +voice. "What--what is going to be the end of this--for me?" + +"Whatever you will," he exclaimed passionately, forgetful of all but +her power over him. "It is you who must choose." + +"Yes, it is I who must choose," her face still uplifted. "Because I am +not a leaf to float on the air, my destiny decided by a breath of wind, +I must choose; yet how can I know I decide rightly? When heart and +conscience stand opposed, any decision means sacrifice and pain. I +meant those hasty words wrung out of me in shame, and spoken yonder; I +meant them then, and yet they haunt me like so many sheeted ghosts. +'Tis not their untruth, but the thought will not down that the real +cause of their utterance was not the wrong done me. It had other +birth." + +"In what?" + +She did not in the least hesitate to answer, her eyes clear and honest +upon his own. + +"In my love for you," she answered, quietly, her cheeks reddening to +the frank avowal. + +He grasped her hands, drawing her, unresisting, toward him. + +"You confess this to me?" + +"Yes, to you; but to you only because I trust you, because I know you +as an honorable man," she said, speaking with an earnest simplicity +irresistible. "I am not ashamed of the truth, not afraid to +acknowledge it frankly. If there be wrong in this; that wrong has +already been accomplished; the mere uttering of it cannot harm either +of us. We know the fact without words. I love you; with all my heart +I love you. I can say this to you here in the silence, yet I could not +speak it openly before the world. Why? Because such love is wrong? +Under God I do not know; only, the world would misunderstand, would +question my motives, would misjudge my faith. By the code I am not the +mistress of my heart; it has been legally surrendered. But you will +not misjudge, or question. If I could not trust, I could not love you; +I do both. Now and here, I put my hands in yours, I place my life, my +conscience, in your keeping. For good or evil, for heaven or hell, I +yield to you my faith. Tell me what I am utterly unable to decide for +myself alone: What is my duty, the duty of a woman situated as I am?" + +He held her hands still, crushing them within his own, yet the color, +the hope which had brightened his face, faded. A moment the two sat +silent, their eyes meeting, searching the depths. + +"Beth," he asked at last, "is this right?" + +"Is what right?" + +"That you should cast such a burden upon me. I told you I could not be +your conscience. All my desire, all my hope tends in one direction. +That which to you appears wrong, to me seems the only right course. My +heart responded eagerly to every word of renunciation spoken out there +in your indignation. They were just and true. They gave me courage to +believe the battle was over; that in soul and heart you were at last +free." + +She lowered her eyes in confusion to the floor, her bosom rising and +falling to quick breathing. + +"And now you discover me hesitating, undecided," she whispered, her +lips trembling. "I know I am; there are moments when I hold myself +unworthy of love. Yet believe me, I am honest, sincere, unselfish in +all my thought regarding you. Perhaps the trouble is that I know +myself, my nature, far too well; I dare not trust it to bring you +happiness, unless I can come to you with unsullied conscience." + +"Is it thought of divorce which yet remains so repugnant?" + +She glanced up into his questioning face, her own cheeks flushing. + +"I shrink from it in actual pain," she confessed, in instant frankness. +"My whole nature revolts. Believe me, I am not blind, not insensible; +I recognize the truth--all you would tell me--of the inalienable rights +of womanhood. Neglect, distrust, brutality, open insult have all been +my portion. The thousands all over the world accept these as worthy +reasons for breaking their marriage vows. But can I? Can I who have +ever condemned those others for doing so? Can I, who have ever held +that sacrament to be sacred and enduring? And I realize that the +temptation has not come because of the wrongs done to me. He has been +all this before, many, many times, yet I have remained true and loyal, +not questioning my duty. It is the birth of a new love--God alone +knows if I should say a guilty love--which has thus changed me, which +has brought to my mind dreams of release. I pray you, try to +understand me! How could happiness ever prove my portion, or yours +through me, while such questionings continued to haunt my soul like +ghosts?" + +He released her clinging hands, turning away from her, his eyes staring +unseeing out of the window. A moment she continued looking at him, her +dry eyes anxiously pleading. Then she buried her face within her hands +and waited, her whole body trembling. Twice Winston sought to speak, +before sufficient courage came to him to allow of his turning back, and +looking down upon her bowed figure. + +"Beth," he said at last, his struggle revealed in his voice, "I should +not be worthy that love you have given me so unreservedly, did I stoop +now to its abuse. I could never forgive myself were I to urge you to +do that which your conscience so clearly condemns. To me there is a +marriage far more sacred and enduring than any witnessed by man, or +solemnized by formal service--the secret union of hearts. We are one +in this, and nothing can ever come between us. Then let all else wait; +let it wait until God shall open a way along which we may walk in +honor. Mutual sacrifice can never make us any less dear to each other. +This condition may serve to separate us for a while, yet I believe the +path will open, and that you will learn to perceive your duty from a +broader view-point--one that will permit you to find happiness in true +love, unhaunted by any memory of the false." + +She arose slowly to her feet, the tears clinging to her lashes, both +hands outstretched. + +"Oh, I thank you! I thank you!" she exclaimed with deep fervor. +"Those words prove you all I ever believed you to be. They give me +hope, courage, patience to remain true to myself, true to my lifelong +ideals of womanhood. I am certain you trust me, comprehend my motives, +and will think no less of me because of my unwillingness to forfeit a +conception of right. He is absolutely nothing to me--nothing. He +never could be. There are times when I feel that his death even could +not fitly atone for the evil he has wrought me. Never again will his +influence touch my life to change its purpose. It is not he that keeps +us apart; it is a solemn, sacred pledge made by a trusting girl in +God's presence--a pledge I cannot forget, cannot break without +forfeiting my self-respect, my honor." + +He drew her gently to him, his eyes no longer filled with passion, yet +containing a depth of love that left her helpless to resist his will. + +"Beth, dear," he whispered, his lips almost pressing her cheek, "I will +not think of him, but only of you. If you love me I am content. The +mere knowledge itself is happiness. Tell me once again that this is +true." + +"It is true, forever true; I love you." + +"May I have for this one time the pledge of your lips?" + +A single instant she seemed to hesitate, her cheeks flushing hotly, her +dark eyes lowered before his. But she lifted her face, and their lips +met and clung, as though parting must be forever. Amid the closely +gathering shadows he led her back to the vacated stool, and stood +beside her, gently stroking the soft dark hair of the bowed head. + +"You have plans?" he questioned quietly. "You have decided how you are +to live while we await each other?" + +"Yes," half timidly, as though fearful he might oppose her decision. +"I believe I had better return to my work upon the stage." She glanced +up at him anxiously. "You do not care, do you? It seems to me I am +best fitted for that; I have ambition to succeed, and--and it affords +me something worthy to think about." + +"I recall you said once it would be a poor love which should interfere +with the ideals of another." + +"Yes, I remember. How long ago that seems, and what a change has since +come over my conceptions of the power of love! I believe it still, yet +in so different a way. Now I would surrender gladly all ambition, all +dream of worldly success, merely to fee alone with the man I love, and +bring him happiness. That--that is all I want; it is everything." + +"And some day it shall be yours," he declared stoutly. "Some day when +you comprehend that divorce is not always the evil that some delight to +proclaim it; some day when you realize that it must be a far greater +sin to wreck irretrievably your own life for a brute than to break +those man-made bonds which bind you to him. It cannot be long until +you learn this, for all nature condemns so unholy an alliance. Until +then let it be the stage; only I ask you to strive for the very best it +offers. Have confidence in yourself, little girl, in your ability, +your power, your spark of genius touched by suffering. Every hour you +pass now in hideous, misshapen melodrama is worse than wasted. You +have that within you well worthy of better setting, nobler environment, +and you wrong yourself to remain content with less. You are mine now +wherever you go, whatever triumphs you win; mine in spite of the law, +because I possess your heart. I should doubt myself far sooner than +ever question your loyalty. I can lend you to the stage for a +while--until I come for you in that glad hour when your lips shall bid +me--but in the meantime I want you to be true to yourself, to the +spirit of art within you. I want you to accomplish the highest +purposes of your dreams; to interpret that in life which is worthy of +interpretation." + +"You believe I can?" + +"I know you can. Never from that first night, when I stood in the +wings and watched, have I ever questioned the possibilities of your +future. You have art, emotion, depth of true feeling, application, a +clear understanding of character--all that ever made any actress great. +I love you, Beth; yet mine is a love too unselfish not to tell you this +truth and stand aside rather than block your future." + +She lifted her eyes to him, now cleared of their tears, and shining +with eagerness. + +"I will do all you say," she said earnestly, "do it because I love you. +It shall not be for the people, the applause, the glitter and display, +but alone for you. Whenever a triumph comes to me, I shall meet it +whispering your name in my heart, knowing that you rejoice because I am +proving worthy of your faith. It will be as if we worked together; the +memory must help to make us both strong." + +He bent lower, drew her closer to him, and held her thus in silence. + +"Yes," he spoke at last, as though in thought, "I shall try to remember +and be patient, so long as you feel it must be so." + +They were sitting there still, the barest glimmer of twilight +brightening the window above, their hands clasped, when Mercedes came +back, overflowing with light-heartedness. + +"Si, si, sure I did eet," she announced happily, dancing forward into +the centre of the darkened room, and seemingly blind to the two before +her. "Eet ees I that am to ride. _Bueno_! eet vill be mooch fun! +Seńor Brown he not like let me go; he tink I do all eet for him. Oh, +de conceit of de men, ven I care not for anyting but de fun, de good +time! But I talk him long vile, an' Beell he talk, an' maybe he say +_si_ for to git us rid of. Tink you not eet vas so, seńor?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE PROOF OF LOVE + +The dreaded night settled down dark but clear, a myriad of stars +gloriously bright in the vast vault overhead, the clinging shadows +black and gloomy along the tree-fringed ridge. Nature, hushed into +repose, appeared alone in possession, the solemn silence of peaceful +night enveloping the vast canyon and its overhanging mountains. Amid +the gathering gloom all animate life seemed to have sought rest, to +have found covert. The last glimpse which the watchful guardians of +the "Little Yankee" gained of the surroundings of the "Independence" +revealed nothing to awaken immediate alarm. A few men idly came and +went about the shaft-house and ore-dump, but otherwise the entire claim +appeared deserted. No hostile demonstration of any kind had been +attempted since Farnham's retreat, and now no sign of contemplated +attack was to be perceived. The large number of men visible earlier in +the day had mysteriously disappeared; not even the searching +field-glasses served to reveal their whereabouts. In the gathering +darkness no lights bore witness to the slightest activity; everywhere +it remained black and silent. + +To those wearied men on guard this secrecy seemed ominous of +approaching evil. They comprehended too clearly the vengeful nature of +their enemy to be lulled thus into any false security. Such skulking +could be accepted only as a symptom of treachery, of some deep-laid +plan for surprise. But what? Would Farnham, in his desperation, his +anxiety to cover up all evidences of crime, resort to strategy, or to +force? Would he utilize the law, behind which he was now firmly +entrenched, or would he rely entirely upon the numbers he controlled to +achieve a surer, quicker victory? That he possessed men in plenty to +work his will the defenders of the "Little Yankee" knew from +observation. These were of the kind to whom fighting was a trade. +They must be there yet, hiding somewhere in the chaparral, for none had +retreated down the trail. Backed by the mandates of law, convinced +that they had nothing to fear legally, that they were merely executing +the decrees of court, they would hardly be likely to hesitate at the +committal of any atrocity under such a leader. But where would they +strike, and how? What could be the purpose of their delay? the object +of their secrecy? That there must be both purpose and object could not +be doubted; yet nothing remained but to watt for their revelation. + +An obscuring mist hung over the canyon, stretching from wall to wall. +Beneath the revealing starlight it was like looking down upon a +restless, silent expanse of gray sea. A stray breath of air came +sucking up the gorge, causing the many spectral trees outlined against +the lighter sky to wave their branches, the leaves rustling as though +swept by rain. There was a faint moaning among the distant rocks as if +hidden caverns were filled with elves at play. It was weird, lonely, +desolate,--straining eyes beholding everywhere the same scene of +deserted wilderness. + +Old Hicks lay flat under protection of the ore-dump, his ear pressed +close to the earth, his contracted eyes searching anxiously those dark +hollows in front, a Winchester, cocked and ready, within the grasp of +his hand. Above, Irish Mike, sniffing the air as though he could smell +danger like a pointer dog, hung far out across the parapet of rock, +every eager nerve tingling in the hope of coming battle. Winston +remained in the cabin door, behind him the open room black and silent, +his loaded Winchester between his feet, gamely struggling to overcome a +vague foreboding of impending trouble, yet alert and ready to bear his +part. It was then that Stutter Brown led the saddled pony forward from +out the concealment of bushes. The long awaited moment had come for +action. To his whispered word, Mercedes fluttered promptly forth +through the shadowed doorway, and pressed her face lovingly against the +pony's quickly uplifted nose. + +"See," she whispered, patting Brown's brawny arm even while she +continued toying playfully with the silken mane, "he know me, he lofe +me. He bettah as any man, for he nevah tell lie,--nevah,--only be nice +all de time. He ride me till he drop dead, swift, quick, like de bird +fly. So I make eet all right, seńor. You see ven de daylight come I +be San Juan. Den I make mooch fun for de Seńor Farnham--sure I do." + +"I-I reckon you 'll m-make it all right, l-l-little girl," answered the +man regretfully, his voice hushed to a low growl, "b-but jest the same +I a-ain't so darn g-g-glad ter l-let yer go. H-hanged ef I would, +either, if I d-did n't th-think the toughest part o' it wus g-goin' ter +be right yere." + +She glanced almost shyly up into his shadowed face, her black eyes like +stars. + +"Si--dat vas eet. I vas de coward; I just runs avay so 'fraid of de +fight. I no like de fight von leetle bit. But I know you, seńor; you +vant to stay here, an' have de fun. You Americano an' like dat ver' +mooch. I feel of de big arm, so, an' I know eet ees bettah dat you be +here. I mooch like please you, seńor." + +He clasped her hand where it rested small and white against his sleeve, +hiding it completely within his own great fist; when he spoke she could +mark the tremble in the deep voice. + +"Y-you 're a m-mighty fine girl," he managed to say, simply, "but we +g-got ter go now. I-I reckon yer b-b-better walk fer a ways, as the +p-pony will step lighter." + +"I not care, seńor," softly. "Eet be nice to valk; I nevah 'fraid vid +you." + +Brown led the way forward cautiously across the open space, one strong +hand firm on the pony's bit, the other barely touching her dress as +though it were something sacred. She endeavored to discern his face in +the faint starlight, but the low-drawn hat brim shaded it into black +lines, revealing nothing. The light, easy words she sought to speak, +hoping thus to keep him from more serious talk, would not come to her +lips. There was so much of silence and mystery on every side, so much +of doubt in this venture, that, in spite of her gay manner, every nerve +tingled with excitement. Glancing up at him she bit her lips in +embarrassment. It was Stutter who finally found voice, his mind +drifting back to what she had lately said in carelessness. + +"Y-yer said that the p-p-pony never l-lied like a man," he began +doubtfully. "Yer d-did n't mean that f-fer me, did yer?" + +There was something so deeply pathetic about the tone in which he asked +this as to hurt her, and the slender fingers still clasping his sleeve +suddenly closed more tightly. + +"Seńor, you mus' not say dat; you mus' not tink dat. No, no! I speak +that only in fun, seńor--nevah I believe dat, nevah. You good man, +more good as Mercedes; she not vort' von leetle bit de lofe you say to +her, but she feel mooch shame to have you tink dat she mean you ven she +speak such ting in fun." + +He halted suddenly, all remembrance of their surroundings, their +possible peril, as instantly erased from his mind. He merely saw that +girl face upturned to his in the starlight, so fair and pleading, he +merely heard that soft voice urging her unworthiness, her sorrow. A +great, broad-shouldered giant he towered above her, yet his voice +trembled like that of a frightened child. + +"An' d-don't yer say that n-no more," he stuttered in awkwardness. +"Somehow it hurts. L-Lord! yer don't h-have ter be s-s-so blame good +ter be u-up ter my level. Th-they don't b-breed no a-angels back in +ol' M-Missouri, whar I come from. It's m-mostly mules thar, an' I +r-reckon we all g-git a bit mulish an' ornery. B-but I 'spect I 'm +d-decent 'nough ter know the r-right sort o' girl when I s-stack up +agin her. So I don't w-want ter hear no m-more 'bout yer not b-bein' +good. Ye 're sure g-good 'nough fer me, an' th-that 's all thar is to +it. Now, yer w-won't say that no more, w-will yer?" + +"No, seńor," she answered simply, "I no say dat no more." + +He remained standing before her, shifting uneasily from one foot to the +other, a great hulk in the gloom. + +"Mercedes," he managed to say finally, "Ye're a-g-goin' ter ride away, +an' m-maybe thar'll be o-one hell o' a fracas up yere afore the rest o' +us g-g-git out o' this scrape. I d-don't reckon as it'll b-be me as +will git h-hurt, but somehow I 'd f-feel a heap better if you 'd j-jest +say them words what I a-asked yer to afore yer g-go, little g-girl; I +would that." + +She put her hands to her face, and then hid it against the pony's neck, +her slight form trembling violently beneath the touch of his fingers. +The strange actions of the girl, her continued silence, half frightened +him. + +"Maybe yer a-ain't ready yit?" he questioned, his manner full of +apology. + +"Oh, seńor, I cannot say dat--sure I cannot," she sobbed, her face yet +hidden. "Maybe I say so some time ven I know eet bettah how eet ought +to be; si, maybe so. But not now; I not tink it be jus' right to say +now. I not angry--no, no! I ver' glad you tink so of Mercedes--it +make me mooch joy. I not cry for dat, seńor; I cry for odder tings. +Maybe you know some time, an' be ver' sorry vid me. But I not cry any +more. See, I stan' up straight, an' look you in de face dis vay." She +drew her hand swiftly across her eyes. "Dar, de tear all gone; now I +be brav', now I not be 'fraid. You not ask me dat now--not now; +to-morrow, nex' veek, maybe I know better how to say de trut' vat vas +in my heart--maybe I know den; now eet all jumble up. I tink I know, +but de vord not come like I vant eet." + +He turned silently away from her, leading the pony forward, his head +bent low, his shoulders stooped. There was a dejection apparent about +the action which her eyes could not mistake. She touched him +pleadingly. + +"You no ver' angry Mercedes, seńor?" + +Brown half turned about, and rested one great hand upon her soft hair +in mute caress. + +"N-no, little girl, it a-ain't that," he admitted slowly. "Only I 'm +b-blamed if I jest e-exactly grasp yer s-style. I reckon I 'll kn-know +what yer mean s-sometime." + +Could he have seen clearly he might have marked the swift, hot tears +dimming her eyes, but he never dreamed of their presence, for her lips +were laughing. + +"Maybe so, seńor, maybe. I glad you not angry, for I no like dat. Eet +vas nice I fool you so; dat vas vat make de men lofe, ven dey not know +everyting. Ven day know dem maybe eet all be over vid. So maybe I +show you sometime, maybe not--_quien sabe_?" + +If her lightly spoken words hurt, he realized the utter futility of +striving then to penetrate their deeper meaning. They advanced slowly, +moving in more closely against the great ridge of rocks where the +denser shadows clung, the man's natural caution becoming apparent as +his mind returned to a consideration of the dangerous mission upon +which they were embarked. To-morrow would leave him free from all +this, but now he must conduct her in safety to that mist-shrouded plain +below. + +They had moved forward for perhaps a dozen yards, the obedient pony +stepping as silently as themselves, Mercedes a foot or two to the rear, +when Brown suddenly halted, staring fixedly at something slightly at +one side of their path. There, like a huge baleful eye glaring angrily +at him, appeared a dull red glow. An instant he doubted, wondered, his +mind confused. Tiny sparks sputtered out into the darkness, and the +miner understood. He had blindly stumbled upon a lighted fuse, a train +of destruction leading to some deed of hell. With an oath he leaped +recklessly forward, stamping the creeping flame out beneath his feet, +crushing it lifeless between his heavy boots and the rock. + +There was an angry shout, the swift rush of feet, the red flare of a +rifle cleaving the night with burst of flame. In the sudden, unearthly +glare Brown caught dim sight of faces, of numerous dark figures leaping +toward him, but he merely crouched low. The girl! he must protect the +girl! That was all he knew, all he considered, excepting a passionate +hatred engendered by one of those faces he had just seen. They were +upon him in mass, striking, tearing like so many wild beasts in the +first fierceness of attack. His revolver jammed in its holster, but he +struck out with clenched fists, battering at the black figures, his +teeth ground together, his every instinct bidding him fight hard till +he died. Once they pounded him to his knees, but he struggled up, +shaking loose their gripping hands, and hurling them back like so many +children. He was crazed by then with raging battle-fury, his hot blood +lusting, every great muscle strained to the uttermost. He realized +nothing, saw nothing, but those dim figures facing him; insensible to +the blood trickling down the front of his shirt, unconscious of wound, +he flung himself forward a perfect madman, jerking a rifle from the +helpless fingers of an opponent, and smiting to right and left, the +deadly-iron bar whirling through the air. He struck once, twice; he +saw bodies whirl sidewise and fall to the ground. Then suddenly he +seemed alone, panting fiercely, the smashed rifle-stock uplifted for a +blow. + +"It's the big fellow," roared a voice at his left. "Why don't you +fools shoot?" + +He sprang backward, crouching lower, his one endeavor to draw their +fire, so as to protect her lying hidden among the rock shadows. He +felt nothing except contempt for those fellows, but he could not let +them hurt her. He stood up full in the starlight, shading his eyes in +an attempt to see. Somebody cried, "There he is, damn him!" A slender +figure swept flying across the open space like some dim night vision. +A red flame leaped forth from the blackness. The two stood silhouetted +against the glare, reeled backward as it faded, and went down together +in the dark. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +BENEATH THE DARKNESS + +Running blindly through the darkness toward the sound of struggle came +Hicks and Winston. They caught no more than faint glimpses of +scattering, fleeing figures, but promptly opened fire, scarcely +comprehending as yet what it all meant. Hicks, dashing recklessly +forward, tripped over a recumbent figure in the darkness, and the two +paused irresolutely, perceiving no more of the enemy. Then it was that +Stutter Brown struggled slowly up upon his knees, still closely +clasping the slender figure of the stricken girl within his arms. She +neither moved nor moaned, but beneath the revealing starlight her eyes +were widely opened, gazing up into his face, appearing marvellously +brilliant against the unusual pallor of her cheeks. Her breath came +short and sharp as if in pain, yet the lips smiled up at him. + +"Oh, God!" he sobbed, "it was you!" + +"Si, seńor," the words faltering forth, almost as if in mockery of his +own hesitating speech. "Once I said maybe I show you. I not know how +den--now I know." + +"Sh-show me, little girl--in God's n-name, show me wh-what?" + +"Eef eet vas true dat I lofe you, seńor. Now you tink eet vas so; now +you all'ays know vat vas in de heart of Mercedes. Dis bettah vay as +talk, seńor--nevah you doubt no more." + +He could only continue to look at her, the intense agony within his +eyes beyond all expression of speech, his words caught helpless in the +swelling throat. She lifted one hand in weak caress, gently touching +his cheek with her white fingers. + +"Oh, please don't, seńor. Eet hurt me mooch to see you feel dat bad. +Sure eet does. Eet vas not de balls vat hurt--no, no! I know dey not +reach to you eef dey hit me de first. Eet joys me to do dat--sure eet +does." + +"Little g-girl, little g-girl," he faltered, helplessly, his great +hands trembling as he touched her. "It w-was you I t-tried ter save. +I-I ran th-th-this way so th-they wouldn't sh-shoot toward yer." + +She smiled happily up at him, softly stroking his hair, even while the +lines of her face twitched from pain. + +"Sure I know, seńor. You von brav', good man--maybe now you all'ays +tink I brav', good also. Dat be 'nough for Mercedes. Oh, dis be de +bettar vay--de great God knows; sure He knows. Now, seńor, I be yours +all'ays, forever. I so happy to be lofed by good man. I just look in +your face, seńor, and tink, He lofe me, he ask me marry him. Maybe I +not nevah do dat, for fear he tire, for fear he hear tings not nice +about Mercedes. Dat make me sorrow, make me shame before him. Si, I +know how it vould be. I know de Americanos; dey ver' proud of dare +vives, dey fight for de honor. So eet make me mooch 'fraid, I no vort' +eet--no, no! I know not den de bettar vay. But de good Mother of God +she show me, she tell me vat do--I run quick; I die for de man I lofe, +an' den he all'ays know dat I lofe him; he know den bettar as eef I +marry him. Si, si, eet vas all joy for Mercedes, now, my seńor. Eet +not hurt, eet make me glad to know." + +Brown bent ever lower as he listened, his great body shaking in the +effort to repress his sobs, his lips pressing against her white cheek. + +"I kiss you now, seńor," she whispered, faintly. "Just de once, like I +vas your vife." + +Their lips met, the very soul of each seemingly in the soft, clinging +contact. Suddenly the poor girl sank backward, her head falling +heavily upon his supporting arm, a peculiar shudder twitching her +slender form. + +"Mercedes!" he cried in alarm. + +"Si, seńor," the black eyes still wide open, but her words scarcely +audible. "Eet is so hard to see you; maybe de stars hide behin' de +cloud, but, but I lofe--" + +"Yes, y-yes, I kn-know." + +She lifted her arms, then dropped them heavily upon his bowed shoulders. + +"Dar is such a brightness come, seńor. Eet light everyting like eet +vas de day. Maybe I be good too, now dat a good man lofe me; maybe de +God forgif all de bad because I lofe. You tink so? Oh, eet--eet joys +me so--seńor! seńor!" + +Motionless, almost breathless, but for the sobs shaking his great +figure, he held her tightly, bending low, her white cheek against his +own, her head pillowed upon his arm. About them was the silence, the +solemn night shadows, amid which waited Hicks and Winston earnestly +watching. Finally, the latter spoke gently, striving to arouse the +man; but Stutter Brown never lifted his head, never removed his eyes +from the death-white face upheld by his arm. As though stricken to +stone he remained motionless, seemingly lifeless, his face as pallid as +the dead he guarded. Hicks bent over and placed one hand upon his +shoulder. + +"Stutter, ol' pard," he said, pleadingly. "I know it's mighty hard, +but don't take on so; don't act that way. It can't do her no manner o' +good now. It's all--all over with, an' you ain't helpin' her none +a-settin' thar that way." + +The smitten man drew a deep breath, glancing up into the kindly, seamed +face bending over him, and about at the surrounding darkness. He +acted like one suddenly aroused from sleep, unable to comprehend his +situation. Slowly, with all the tenderness of love, he crumpled his +old hat into the semblance of a pillow, placed it upon the rock, and +lowered the girl's head until it rested softly upon it. Gently he +passed his great hand in caress across the ruffled black hair, pressing +it back from her forehead. He arose to his knees, to his feet, swaying +slightly, one hand pressed against his head as he stared blankly into +the faces of the two men. + +"W-which way d-did he go?" he asked, almost stupidly. "Th-the feller +w-who told 'em ter f-f-fire?" + +Old Hicks, his eyes filled with misery, shook his head. + +"Back ter the 'Independence,' I reckon," he admitted. "Most o' 'em I +saw started that way." + +Brown roughly jerked his gun from out its holster, holding the shining +weapon up into the starlight. + +"No, he didn't; not that one," he growled fiercely, his glance falling +again upon the upturned features of the dead girl. "I saw him out thar +runnin' toward our shaft-hole; h-he's up t-ter more d-deviltry. Y-you +take k-keer o' her." His voice broke, then rang out strong. "By +G-God, I 'll git the murderer!" + +He pushed past between the two, shouldering them aside as though +failing to see them, and, with the leap of a tiger, disappeared in the +night. Each man had caught a glimpse of his face, drawn, white, every +line picturing savagery, and shrank back from the memory. It was as if +they had looked upon something too horrible for thought. A moment they +stared after him, clutching their rifles as though in an agony of fear. +Hicks first found words of expression. + +"He 's gone mad! God pity him, he 's gone mad!" + +Winston drew himself together sharply, one hand grasping the other's +arm. + +"Then leave it to him," he said, quickly. "Whoever did this deed +deserves his punishment. Let us do what he bade us--look to the body +of this poor girl." + +They turned back, dreading their task, moving still as though half +dazed. As they advanced, a dark body just beyond suddenly rose to its +knees, and began crawling away. With a bound Hicks succeeded in laying +hands upon the fellow, and flung him over, face upward to the stars. +With gun at his head he held the man prostrate, staring down upon the +revealed features in manifest astonishment. + +"Damn me!" he cried, a new note of surprise in his voice, "Winston, +look yere!" + +"What is it?" and the younger man pressed forward, his rifle ready. + +"Ain't that Burke? Ain't that the same feller they had you pinched fer +murderin'?" + +The helpless man lying upon the ground frowned savagely up at them, a +dirty bandage bound about his head giving him a ghastly, unnatural +appearance. For a long moment the startled engineer gazed down at him +in incredulity, unable to distinguish the features clearly, his own +heart beating rapidly in suspense. + +"I half believe it is. Are you Jack Burke?" + +The man attempted a grin, but there was little of merriment in the +result. + +"Oi think loikely ye 're as liable as any wan to know. Ye 're the lad +that put this head on me, but that other divil it was that broke me +arm. Let me up from here. Begorry! Oi 've had 'nough fightin' fer +wan toime." + +"Did you know I had been put under arrest on the charge of killing you?" + +Burke grinned, this time in earnest. + +"Divil a bit did Oi know anything about it. Farnham he tould me to +keep damn quiet in the bunkhouse, out o' sight, but whin they wanted +for to set this fuse off, it seems Oi was the only lad that could do +the job, an' so they brought me out here along wid 'em. It 's a busted +head an' a broken arm Oi 've got for me share o' the fun. Be the +powers, now, let me git up!" + +The two men, watching him closely, exchanged glances. + +"All right, Burke," and Winston held up his rifle suggestively. "You +can get up, only stay close to us, wid no tricks. I want you, and I +want you bad. If you make any break, there 'll be a dead Irishman this +time sure. Is that you, Mike?" + +"Sure, sor." + +"Good; you've come just in time. Drop your muzzle on this native son, +and if the fellow makes a suspicious move, plug him, you understand?" + +"Ye bet Oi do, sor. Sthep out there, Burke, yer slab-sided boss o' +Swades, or Oi 'll show ye what a dacent Oirishman--an O'Brien, +bedad,--thinks o' the loikes of ye; Oi will that." + +With sympathetic gentleness, and in all the tenderness possible, their +eyes moist, and everything else forgotten excepting their sad task, +Hicks and Winston kneeled on the hard rock and lifted the slender +figure of Mercedes in their arms. Slowly, without the exchange of a +word, the little concourse turned in the darkness, and advanced in the +direction of the cabin, bearing the silent burden. They walked with +bowed heads and careful steps, their hearts heavy. With a faint whinny +the girl's deserted pony trotted forward from out the shadow where he +had been left, sniffed at her trailing skirt with outstretched nose, +and fell in behind, walking with head bent almost to the ground as +though he also understood and mourned. Winston glanced, marvelling, +back at the animal, hastily brushing a tear from out his own eye; yet +his lips remained set and rigid. He felt no doubt about who it was +Brown was seeking through the black night. When they met, it would be +a battle to the death. + +Before the still open door of the cabin they silently lowered their +burden in the shadow of the building. An instant they stood there +listening intently for any sound to reach them from out the surrounding +night. Then Winston, assuming the duty, stepped reluctantly forward +endeavoring to peer within. His heart throbbed from the pain of that +sudden message of death he brought. + +"Beth," he called, perceiving no movement within, and compelling his +voice to calmness. "Miss Norvell." + +There was a slight movement near the farther wall, but it was the voice +of the wounded sheriff which answered. + +"Who are yer? What was all that firin' about just now? Damn if I ain +'t too weak ter git up, but I got a gun yere, an' reckon I kin pull the +trigger." + +"It's Winston and Hicks. We 've had a skirmish out beyond the dump. +Those fellows tried to blow up our shaft, and we caught them at it. Is +Miss Norvell here?" + +"No, I reckon not; she was sittin' yere talkin' to me when that +shootin' begun, an' then she ran out the door thar. Anybody git hurt?" + +"The little Mexican girl was killed. We have brought her body here." + +"Good God!" + +"And we 've also got a prisoner, sheriff. It 's that same Jack Burke +you arrested me for killing. He seems very much alive." + +There was a rustling back in the darkness, as if the man within was +endeavoring to draw his body into a sitting posture. Then he swore +savagely, pounding his fist into the side of the bunk, as though +seeking thus to relieve his feelings. + +"Burke!" he fairly exploded at last, his anger appearing to stifle +utterance. "Jack Burke! Hell! Is that true? Oh, Lord! but I wish I +could git out o' yere. That damn Farnham swore out that warrant down +in San Juan, ther blame, ornery cur. It was a low-down, measly trick, +an' he actually had the nerve ter use me ter play out his game fer him. +Lord! if ever I git my hand on him I 'll shut down hard." + +No one answered him, the thought of all recurring reverently to the +motionless, silent dead without. Bareheaded, the two men, groping +through the darkness, bore Mercedes within in all tenderness, and +placed the slender form upon the bed, covering it with the single +sheet. Hicks remained motionless, bending over her, the kindly +darkness veiling the mist of tears dimming his old eyes and the +trembling of his lips as he sought, for the first time in years, to +pray. But Winston turned instantly and walked over toward Hayes, his +heart already filled with fresh anxiety. + +"Where did she go, do you know?" + +"Who? the young actress woman? I could n't see exactly, only she went +outside. I thought I heard voices talkin' out thar later on, over +beyond toward the window, but maybe I imagined it. Darn this ol' head +o' mine! It keeps whirlin' round every time I move, like it was all +wheels." + +The engineer, his face white with determination, strode to the door. +Beyond doubt it was Biff Farnham whose voice Brown had recognized, +commanding his men to fire; it was Farnham who had disappeared in the +direction of the "Little Yankee" shaft-house. What fresh deviltry was +the desperate gambler engaged upon? What other tragedy was impending +out there in the black night? + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE SHADOW OF CRIME + +Winston could never afterward recall having heard any report, yet as he +stepped across the threshold a sharp flare of red fire cleft the +blackness to his left. As though this was a signal he leaped +recklessly forward, running blindly along the narrow path toward the +ore-dump. Some trick of memory led him to remember a peculiar swerve +in the trail just beneath the upper rim of the canyon. It must have +been about there that he saw the flash, and he plunged over the edge, +both hands outstretched in protection of his eyes from injury should he +collide with any obstacle in the darkness. The deep shadows blinded +him, but there was no hesitancy, some instinct causing him to feel the +urgent need of haste. Once he stumbled and fell headlong, but was as +instantly up again, bruised yet not seriously hurt. His revolver was +jerked loose from his belt, but the man never paused to search for it. +Even as he regained his feet, his mind bewildered by the shock, his +ears distinguished clearly the cry of a woman, the sound of heavy feet +crushing through underbrush. It was to his right, and he hurled +himself directly into the thick chaparral in the direction from whence +the sound came. + +He knew not what new terror awaited him, what peril lurked in the path. +At that moment he cared nothing. Bareheaded, pushing desperately aside +the obstructing branches, his heart throbbing, his clothing torn, his +face white with determination, he struggled madly forward, stumbling, +creeping, fighting a passage, until he finally emerged, breathless but +resolute, into a little cove extending back into the rock wall. From +exertion and excitement he trembled from head to foot, the perspiration +dripping from his face. + +He stopped. The sight which met him for the moment paralyzed both +speech and motion. Halfway across the open space, only dimly revealed +in the star-light, her long hair dislodged and flying wildly about her +shoulders, the gleam of the weapon in her hand, apparently stopped in +the very act of flight, her eyes filled with terror staring back toward +him, stood Beth Norvell. In that first instant he saw nothing else, +thought only of her; of the intense peril that had so changed the girl. +With hands outstretched he took a quick step toward her, marvelling why +she crouched and shrank back before him as if in speechless fright. +Then he saw. There between them, at his very feet, the face upturned +and ghastly, the hands yet clinched as if in struggle, lay the lifeless +body of Biff Farnham. As though fascinated by the sight, Winston +stared at it, involuntarily drawing away as the full measure of this +awful horror dawned upon him: she had killed him. Driven to the deed +by desperation, goaded to it by insult and injury, tried beyond all +power of human endurance, she had taken the man's life. This fact was +all he could grasp, all he could comprehend. It shut down about him +like a great blackness. In the keen agony of that moment of +comprehension Winston recalled how she had once confessed temptation to +commit the deed; how she had even openly threatened it in a tempest of +sudden passion, if this man should ever seek her again. He had done +so, and she had redeemed her pledge. He had dared, and she had struck. +Under God, no one could justly blame her; yet the man's heart sank, +leaving him faint and weak, reeling like a drunken man, as he realized +what this must mean--to her, to him, to all the world. Right or wrong, +justified or unjustified, the verdict of law spelled murder; the +verdict of society, ostracism. It seemed to him that he must stifle; +his brain was whirling dizzily. He saw it all as in a flash of +lightning--the arrest, the pointing fingers, the bitterness of +exposure, the cruel torture of the court, the broken-hearted woman +cowering before her judges. Oh, God! it was too much! Yet what could +he do? How might he protect, shield her from the consequences of this +awful act? The law! What cared he for the law, knowing the story of +her life, knowing still that he loved her? For a moment the man +utterly forgot himself in the intensity of his agony for her. This +must inevitably separate them more widely than ever before; yet he +would not think of that--only of what he could do now to aid her. He +tore open his shirt, that he might have air, his dull gaze uplifting +piteously from the face of the dead to the place where she stood, her +hands pressed against her head, her great eyes staring at him as though +she confronted a ghost. Her very posture shocked him, it was so filled +with speechless horror, so wild with undisguised terror. Suddenly she +gave utterance to a sharp cry, that was half a sob, breaking in her +throat. + +"Oh, my God! my God!--you!" + +The very sound of her voice, unnatural, unhuman as it was, served to +bring him to himself. + +"Yes, Beth, yes," he exclaimed hoarsely through dry lips, stepping +across the body toward her. "You need not fear me." + +She drew hastily back from before him, holding forth her hands as +though pressing him away, upon her face that same look of unutterable +horror. + +"You! You! Oh, my God!" she kept repeating. "See! see there!--he is +dead, dead, dead! I--I found him there; I--I found him there. Oh, my +God!--that face so white in the starlight! I--I heard the words, +and--and the shot." She pressed both hands across her eyes as though +seeking to blot it out. "I swear I heard it! I--I do not know why I +came here, but I--I found him there dead, dead! I--I was all alone in +the dark. I--I had to touch him to make sure, and--and then it was +you." + +"Yes, yes," he said, realizing she was blindly endeavoring to clear +herself, yet thinking only how he might soothe her, inexpressibly +shocked by both words and manner. "I know, I understand--you found him +there in the dark, and it has terrified you." + +He approached closer, holding forth his own hands, believing she would +come to him. But instead she shrank away as a child might, expecting +punishment, her arms uplifted, shielding her face. + +"No, no; do not touch me; do not touch me," she moaned. "I am not +afraid of you, only I could not bear it." + +"Beth!" He compelled his voice to sternness, confident now that this +hysteria could be controlled only through the exercise of his own will. +"You must listen to me, and be guided by my judgment. You must, you +shall, do as I say. This is a most terrible happening, but it is now +too late to remedy. We cannot restore life once taken. We must face +the fact and do the very best we can for the future. This man is dead. +How he died can make no difference to us now. You must go away from +here; you must go away from here at once." + +"And--and leave him alone?" + +The whispered words stung him, his distressed mind placing wrong +construction on the utterance. + +"Has he been so much to you that now you must sacrifice yourself +needlessly for him?" he questioned quickly. + +"No, not that--not that," a shudder ran through her body, "but he--he +was my husband. You forget." + +"I do not forget. God knows it has been burden enough for me. But you +have no further duty here, none to him. You have to yourself and to +me." + +"To--to you?" + +"Yes, to me. I will put it that way, if it will only stir you to +action. I can not, will not, leave you here alone to suffer for this. +If you stay, I stay. In Heaven's name, Beth, I plead with you to go; I +beg you to be guided in this by me." + +"You--you will go with me?" her voice trembling, yet for the first time +exhibiting a trace of interest. "If I go, you will go?" + +"Yes, yes; can you suppose I would ever permit you to go alone? Do you +give me your promise?" + +She still held her head pressed between the palms of her hands, her +dishevelled hair hanging far below the waist, her dark eyes, wild and +filled with terror, roving about as though seeking to pierce the +surrounding darkness. + +"Oh, my God! I don't know!" she cried in a breathless sob. "I don't +know! Why won't you go? Why won't you go, and leave me here with him, +until some one else comes? I cannot understand; my brain is on fire. +But that would be better--yes, yes! Do that. I--I am not afraid of +him." + +He caught her outflung hand firmly within his own grasp. She +shuddered, as if the contact were painful, yet made no effort to +escape, her eyes widening as she looked at him. + +"No, I will not go one step without you." He held her helpless, his +face grown stern, seeing in this his only hope of influencing her +action. "Can it be you believe me such a cur? Beth, we both +comprehend the wrong this man has done, the evil of his life the +provocation given for such an act as this. He deserved it all. This +is no time for blame. If we desired to aid him, our remaining here now +would accomplish nothing. Others will discover the body and give it +proper care. But, oh, God! do you realize what it will inevitably mean +for us to be discovered here?--the disgrace, the stigma, the +probability of arrest and conviction, the ruthless exposure of +everything? I plead with you to think of all this, and no longer +hesitate. We have no time for that. Leave here with me before it +becomes too late. I believe I know a way out, and there is opportunity +if we move quickly. But the slightest delay may close every avenue for +escape. Beth, Beth, blot out all else, and tell me you will go!" + +The intense agony apparent in his voice seemed to break her down +utterly. The tears sprang blinding to her dry eyes, her head bent +forward. + +"And," she asked, as if the thought had not yet reached her +understanding, "you will not go without--without me?" + +"No; whatever the result, no." + +She lifted her face, white, haggard, and looked at him through the mist +obscuring her eyes, no longer wide opened in wildness. + +"Then I must go; I must go," she exclaimed, a shudder shaking her from +head to foot; "God help me, I must go!" + +A moment she gazed blankly back toward the motionless body on the +ground, the ghastly countenance upturned to the stars, her own face as +white as the dead, one hand pressing back her dark hair. She reeled +from sudden faintness, yet, before he could touch her in support, she +had sunk upon her knees, with head bowed low, the long tresses trailing +upon the ground. + +"Beth! Beth!" he cried in an agony of fear. + +She looked up at him, her expression that of earnest pleading. + +"Yes, yes, I will go," she said, the words trembling; "but--but let me +pray first." + +He stood motionless above her, his heart throbbing, his own eyes +lowered upon the ground. He was conscious of the movement of her lips, +yet could never afterward recall even a broken sentence of that prayer. +Possibly it was too sacred even for his ears, only to be measured by +the infinite love of God. She ceased to speak at last, the low voice +sinking into an inarticulate whisper, yet she remained kneeling there +motionless, no sound audible excepting her repressed sobbing. Driven +by the requirements of haste, Winston touched her gently upon the +shoulder. + +"Come, my girl," he said, the sight of her suffering almost more than +he could bear. "You have done all you can here now." + +She arose to her feet slowly, never looking toward him, never appearing +to heed his presence. He noticed the swelling of her throat as though +the effort to breathe choked her, the quick spasmodic heaving of her +bosom, and set his teeth, struggling against the strain upon his own +nerves. + +"You will go with me now?" + +She glanced about at him, her eyes dull, unseeing. + +"Oh, yes--now," she answered, as if the words were spoken +automatically. He led her away, ignoring the constant efforts she +made, as they climbed the bank, to gaze back across his shoulder. +Finally the intervening branches completely hid that white, dead face +below, and, as if with it had vanished all remaining strength of will, +or power of body, the girl drooped her head against him, swaying +blindly as she walked. Without a word he drew her close within his +arm, her hair blowing across his face, her hand gripping his shoulder. +It was thus they came forth amid the clearer starlight upon the ridge +summit. Again and again as they moved slowly he strove to speak, to +utter some word of comfort, of sympathy. But he could not--the very +expression of her partially revealed face, as he caught glimpses of it, +held him speechless. Deep within his heart he knew her trouble was +beyond the ministration of words. Some one was standing out in front +of the cabin. His eyes perceived the figure as they approached, and he +could not bring himself to speak of this thing of horror in her +presence. + +"Beth," he said gently, but had to touch her to attract attention, "I +want you to sit here and wait while I arrange for our journey. You are +not afraid?" + +"No," her voice utterly devoid of emotion, "I am not afraid." + +"You will remain here?" + +She looked at him, her face expressionless, as though she failed to +understand. Yet when he pointed to the stone she sat down. + +"Yes," she answered, speaking those common words hesitatingly as if +they were from some unfamiliar foreign tongue, "I am to do what you +say." + +She bent wearily down, her head buried within her hands. For a moment +Winston stood hesitating, scarcely daring to leave her. But she did +not move, and finally he turned away, walking directly toward that +indistinct figure standing beside the cabin door. As he drew closer he +recognized the old miner, his rifle half-raised in suspicion of his +visitor. It must be done, and the engineer went at his task directly. + +"Has Brown come back?" + +"Shore; he 's in thar now," and Hicks peered cautiously into the face +of his questioner, even while pointing back into the dark cabin. "He +come in a while ago; never said no word ter me, but just pushed past in +thar ter the bed, an' kneeled down with his face in the bed-clothes. +He ain't moved ner spoke since. I went in onct, an' tried ter talk ter +him, but he never so much as stirred, er looked at me. I tell yer, Mr. +Winston, it just don't seem nat'ral; 't ain't a bit like Stutter fer +ter act in that way. I just could n't stand it no longer, an' had ter +git out yere into the open air. Damn, but it makes me sick." + +"This has been a terrible night," the younger man said gravely, laying +his hand upon the other's shoulder. "I hope never to pass through such +another. But we are not done with it yet. Hicks, Farnham has been +killed--shot. His body lies over yonder in that little cove, just +beyond the trail. You will have to attend to it, for I am going to get +his wife away from here at once." + +"You are what?" + +"I am going to take Miss Norvell away--now, to-night. I am going to +take her across to Daggett Station, to catch the east-bound train." + +Hicks stared at him open-eyed, the full meaning of all this coming to +his mind by degrees. + +"Good God! Do yer think she did it?" he questioned incredulously. + +Winston shook him, his teeth grinding together savagely. + +"Damn you! it makes no difference what I think!" he exclaimed fiercely, +his nerves throbbing. "All you need to know is that she is going; +going to-night; going to Daggett Station, to Denver, to wherever she +will be beyond danger of ever being found. You understand that? She +'s going with me, and you are going to help us, and you are going to do +your part without asking any more fool questions." + +"What is it you want?" + +"Your horse, and the pony Mercedes was riding." + +Hicks uttered a rasping oath, that seemed to catch, growling, in his +lean throat. + +"But, see yere, Winston," he protested warmly. "Just look at the shape +your goin' now will leave us in yere at the 'Little Yankee.' We need +yer testimony, an' need it bad." + +Winston struck his hand against the log, as slight vent to his feelings. + +"Hicks, I never supposed you were a fool. You know better than that, +if you will only stop and think. This claim matter is settled already. +The whole trouble originated with Farnham, and he is dead. Tomorrow +you 'll bury him. The sheriff is here, and he's already beginning to +understand this affair. He stands to help you. Now, all you 've got +to do is to swear out warrants for Farnham's partners, and show up in +evidence that tunnel running along your lead. It's simple as A B C, +now that you know it's there. They can't beat you, and you don't +require a word of testimony from me. But that poor girl needs +me,--she's almost crazed by this thing,--and I 'm going with her, if I +have to fight my way out from here with a rifle. That's the whole of +it--either you give me those horses, or I 'll take them." + +Old Hicks looked into the grim face fronting him so threateningly, the +complete situation slowly revealing itself to his mind. + +"Great Guns!" he said at last, almost apologetically. "Yer need n't do +nothin' like that. Lord, no! I like yer first rate, an' I like the +girl. Yer bet I do, an' I 'm damn glad that Farnham 's knocked out. +Shore, I 'll help the both o' yer. I reckon Stutter 'd be no good as a +guide ter-night, but I kin show yer the way down the ravine. The rest +is just ridin'. Yer kin leave them hosses with the section-boss at +Daggett till I come fer 'em." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +ACROSS THE DESERT TO THE END + +Never in the after years could Winston clearly recall the incidents of +that night's ride across the sand waste. The haze which shrouded his +brain would never wholly lift. Except for a few detached details the +surroundings of that journey remained vague, clouded, indistinct. He +remembered the great, burning desert; the stars gleaming down above +them like many eyes; the ponderous, ragged edge of cloud in the west; +the irregular, castellated range of hills at their back; the dull +expanse of plain ever stretching away in front, with no boundary other +than that southern sky. The weird, ghostly shadows of cactus and +Spanish bayonet were everywhere; strange, eerie noises were borne to +them out of the void--the distant cries of prowling wolves, the +mournful sough of the night wind, the lonely hoot of some far-off owl. +Nothing greeted the roving eyes but desolation,--a desolation utter and +complete, a mere waste of tumbled sand, by daylight whitened here and +there by irregular patches of alkali, but under the brooding night +shadows lying brown, dull, forlorn beyond all expression, a trackless, +deserted ocean of mystery, oppressive in its drear sombreness. + +He rode straight south, seeking no trail, but guiding their course by +the stars, his right hand firmly grasping the pony's bit, and +continually urging his own mount to faster pace. The one thought +dominating his mind was the urgent necessity for haste--a savage +determination to intercept that early train eastward. Beyond this +single idea his brain seemed in hopeless turmoil, seemed failing him. +Any delay meant danger, discovery, the placing of her very life in +peril. He could grasp that; he could plan, guide, act in every way the +part of a man under its inspiration, but all else appeared chaos. The +future?--there was no future; there never again could be. The chasm of +a thousand years had suddenly yawned between him and this woman. It +made his head reel merely to gaze down into those awful depths. It +could not be bridged; no sacrifice, no compensation might ever undo +that fatal death-shot. He did not blame her, he did not question her +justification, but he understood--together they faced the inevitable. +There was no escape, no clearing of the record. There was nothing left +him to do except this, this riding through the night--absolutely +nothing. Once he had guided her into safety all was done,--done +forever; there remained to him no other hope, ambition, purpose, in all +this world. The desert about them typified that forthcoming +existence--barren, devoid of life, dull, and dead. He set his teeth +savagely to keep back the moan of despair that rose to his lips, half +lifting himself in the stirrups to glance back toward her. + +If she perceived anything there was not the slightest reflection of it +within her eyes. Lustreless, undeviating, they were staring directly +ahead into the gloom, her face white and almost devoid of expression. +The sight of it turned him cold and sick, his unoccupied hand gripping +the saddle-pommel as though he would crush the leather. Yet he did not +speak, for there was nothing to say. Between these two was a fact, +grim, awful, unchangeable. Fronting it, words were meaningless, +pitiable. + +He had never before known that she could ride, but he knew it now. His +eye noted the security of her seat in the saddle, the easy swaying of +her slender form to the motion of the pony, in apparent unconsciousness +of the hard travelling or the rapidity of their progress. She had +drawn back the long tresses of her hair and fastened them in place by +some process of mystery, so that now her face was revealed unshadowed, +clearly defined in the starlight. Dazed, expressionless, as it +appeared, looking strangely deathlike in that faint radiance, he loved +it, his moistened eyes fondly tracing every exposed lineament. God! +but this fair woman was all the world to him! In spite of everything, +his heart went forth to her unchanged. It was Fate, not lack of love +or loyalty, that now set them apart, that had made of their future a +path of bitterness. In his groping mind he rebelled against it, vainly +searching for some way out, urging blindly that love could even blot +out this thing in time, could erase the crime, leaving them as though +it had never been. Yet he knew better. Once she spoke out of the +haunting silence, her voice sounding strange, her eyes still fixed in +that same vacant stare ahead into the gloom. + +"Isn't this Mercedes' pony? I--I thought she rode away on him herself?" + +With the words the recollection recurred to him that she did not yet +know about that other tragedy. It was a hard task, but he met it +bravely. Quietly as he might, he told the sad story in so far as he +understood it--the love, the sacrifice, the suffering. As she listened +her head drooped ever lower, and he saw the glitter of tears falling +unchecked. He was glad she could cry; it was better than that dull, +dead stare. As he made an end, picturing the sorrowing Stutter +kneeling in his silent watch at the bedside, she looked gravely across +to him, the moisture clinging to the long lashes. + +"It was better so--far better. I know how she felt, for she has told +me. God was merciful to her;" the soft voice broke into a sob; "for +me, there is no mercy." + +"Beth, don't say that! Little woman, don't say that! The future is +long; it may yet lead to happiness. A true love can outlast even the +memory of this night." + +She shook her head wearily, sinking back into the saddle. + +"Yes," she said soberly, "love may, and I believe will, outlast all. +It is immortal. But even love cannot change the deed; nothing ever +can, nothing--no power of God or man." + +He did not attempt to answer, knowing in the depths of his own heart +that her words were true. For an instant she continued gazing at him, +as though trustful he might speak, might chance to utter some word of +hope that had not come to her. Then the uplifted head drooped wearily, +the searching eyes turning away to stare once again straight ahead. +His very silence was acknowledgment of the truth, the utter +hopelessness of the future. Although living, there lay between them +the gulf of death. + +Gray, misty, and silent came the dawn, stealing across the wide +desolation like some ghostly presence--the dawn of a day which held for +these two nothing except despair. They greeted its slow coming with +dulled, wearied eyes, unwelcoming. Drearier amid that weird twilight +than in the concealing darkness stretched the desolate waste of +encircling sand, its hideous loneliness rendered more apparent, its +scars of alkali disfiguring the distance, its gaunt cacti looking +deformed and merciless. The horses moved forward beneath the constant +urging of the spur, worn from fatigue, their heads drooping, their +flanks wet, their dragging hoofs ploughing the sand. The woman never +changed her posture, never seemed to realize the approach of dawn; but +Winston roused up, lifting his head to gaze wearily forward. Beneath +the gray, out-spreading curtain of light he saw before them the dingy +red of a small section-house, with a huge, rusty water-tank outlined +against the sky. Lower down a little section of vividly green grass +seemed fenced about by a narrow stream of running water. At first +glimpse he deemed it a mirage, and rubbed his half-blinded eyes to make +sure. Then he knew they had ridden straight through the night, and +that this was Daggett Station. + +He helped her down from the saddle without a word, without the exchange +of a glance, steadying her gently as she stood trembling, and finally +half carried her in his arms across the little platform to the rest of +a rude bench. The horses he turned loose to seek their own pasturage +and water, and then came back, uncertain, filled with vague misgiving, +to where she sat, staring wide-eyed out into the desolation of sand. +He brought with him a tin cup filled with water, and placed it in her +hand. She drank it down thirstily. + +"Thank you," she said, her voice sounding more natural. + +"Is there nothing else, Beth? Could you eat anything?" + +"No, nothing. I am just tired--oh, so tired in both body and brain. +Let me sit here in quiet until the train comes. Will that be long?" + +He pointed far off toward the westward, along those parallel rails now +beginning to gleam in the rays of the sun. On the outer rim of the +desert a black spiral of smoke was curling into the horizon. + +"It is coming now; we had but little time to spare." + +"Is that a fast train? Are you certain it will stop here?" + +"To both questions, yes," he replied, relieved to see her exhibit some +returning interest. "They all stop here for water; it is a long run +from this place to Bolton Junction." + +She said nothing in reply, her gaze far down the track where those +spirals of smoke were constantly becoming more plainly visible. In the +increasing light of the morning he could observe how the long night had +marked her face with new lines of weariness, had brought to it new +shadows of care. It was not alone the dulled, lustreless eyes, but +also those hollows under them, and the drawn lips, all combining to +tell the story of physical fatigue, and a heart-sickness well-nigh +unendurable. Unable to bear the sight, Winston turned away, walking to +the end of the short platform, staring off objectless into the grim +desert, fighting manfully in an effort to conquer himself. This was a +struggle, a remorseless struggle, for both of them; he must do nothing, +say nothing, which should weaken her, or add an ounce to her burden. +He came back again, his lips firmly closed in repression. + +"Our train is nearly here," he said in lack of something better with +which to break the constrained silence. + +She glanced about doubtfully, first toward the yet distant train, then +up into his face. + +"When is the local east due here? Do you know?" + +"Probably an hour later than the express. At least, I judge so from +the time of its arrival at Bolton," he responded, surprised at the +question. "Why do you ask?" + +She did not smile, or stir, except to lean slightly forward, her eyes +falling from his face to the platform. + +"Would--would it be too much if I were to ask you to permit me to take +this first train alone?" she asked, her voice faltering, her hands +trembling where they were clasped in her lap. + +His first bewildered surprise precluded speech; he could only look at +her in stupefied amazement. Then something within her lowered face +touched him with pity. + +"Beth," he exclaimed, hardly aware of the words used, "do you mean +that? Is it your wish that we part here? + +"Oh, no, not that!" and she rose hastily, holding to the back of the +bench with one hand, and extending the other. "Do not put it in that +way. Such an act would be cruel, unwarranted. But I am so tired, so +completely broken down. It has seemed all night long as though my +brain were on fire; every step of the horse has been torture. Oh, I +want so to be alone--alone! I want to think this out; I want to face +it all by myself. Merciful God! it seems to me I shall be driven +insane unless I can be alone, unless I can find a way into some peace +of soul. Do not blame me; do not look at me like that, but be +merciful--if you still love me, let me be alone." + +He grasped the extended hand, bending low over it, unwilling in that +instant that she should look upon his face. Again and again he pressed +his dry lips upon the soft flesh. + +"I do love you, Beth," he said at last, chokingly, "love you always, in +spite of everything. I will do now as you say. Your train is already +here. You know my address in Denver. Don't make this forever, +Beth--don't do that." + +She did not answer him; her lips quivered, her eyes meeting his for a +single instant. In their depths he believed he read the answer of her +heart, and endeavored to be content. As the great overland train +paused for a moment to quench its thirst, the porter of the Pullman, +who, to his surprise, had been called to place his carpeted step on the +platform of this desert station, gazed in undisguised amazement at +those two figures before him--a man bareheaded, his clothing tattered +and disreputable, half supporting a woman who was hatless, white-faced, +and trembling like a frightened child. + +"Yas, sah; whole section vacant, sah, Numbah Five. Denvah; yas, sah, +suttinly. Oh, I'll look after de lady all right. You ain't a-goin' +'long wid us, den, dis trip? Oh, yas; thank ye, sah. Sure, I'll see +dat she gits dere, don't you worry none 'bout dat." + +Winston walked restlessly down the platform, gazing up at the +car-windows, every ounce of his mustered resolve necessary to hold him +outwardly calm. The curtains were many of them closed, but at last he +distinguished her, leaning against the glass, that same dull, listless +look in her eyes as she stared out blindly across the waste of sand. +As the train started he touched the window, and she turned and saw him. +There was a single moment when life came flashing back into her eyes, +when he believed her lips even smiled at him. Then he was alone, +gazing down the track after the fast disappearing train. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE SUMMIT OF SUCCESS + +There followed three years of silence, three years of waiting for that +message which never came. As though she had dropped into an ocean of +oblivion, Beth Norvell disappeared. Winston had no longer the +slightest hope that a word from her would ever come, and there were +times when he wondered if it was not better so--if, after all, she had +not chosen rightly. Love untarnished lived in his heart; yet, as she +had told him out in the desert, love could never change the deed. That +remained--black, grim, unblotted, the unalterable death stain. Why, +then, should they meet? Why seek even to know of each other? Close +together, or far apart, there yawned a bottomless gulf between. +Silence was better; silence, and the mercy of partial forgetfulness. + +Winston had toiled hard during those years, partly from a natural +liking, partly to forget his heartaches. Feverishly he had taken up +the tasks confronting him, sinking self in the thought of other things. +Such work had conquered success, for he did his part in subjecting +nature to man, thus winning a reputation already ranking him high among +the mining experts of the West. His had become a name to conjure with +in the mountains and mining camps. During the long months he had hoped +fiercely. Yet he had made no endeavor to seek her out, or to uncover +her secret. Deep within his heart lay a respect for her choice, and he +would have held it almost a crime to invade the privacy that her +continued silence had created. So he resolutely locked the secret +within his own soul, becoming more quiet in manner, more reserved in +speech, with every long month of waiting, constantly striving to forget +the past amid a multitude of business and professional cares. + +It was at the close of a winter's day in Chicago. Snow clouds were +scurrying in from over the dun-colored waters of the lake, bringing +with them an early twilight. Already myriads of lights were twinkling +in the high office buildings, and showing brilliant above the smooth +asphalt of Michigan Avenue. The endless stream of vehicles homeward +bound began to thicken, the broad highway became a scene of continuous +motion and display. After hastily consulting the ponderous pages of a +city directory in an adjacent drug store, a young man, attired in dark +business suit, his broad shoulders those of an athlete, his face +strongly marked and full of character, and bronzed even at this season +by out-of-door living, hurried across the street and entered the busy +doorway of the Railway Exchange Building. On the seventh floor he +unceremoniously flung open a door bearing the number sought, and +stepped within to confront the office boy, who as instantly frowned his +disapproval. + +"Office hours over," the latter announced shortly. "Just shuttin' up." + +"I am not here on business, my lad," was the good-natured reply, "but +in the hope of catching Mr. Craig before he got away." + +The boy, still somewhat doubtful, jerked his hand back across his +shoulder toward an inner apartment. + +"Well, his nibs is in there, but he 's just a-goin'." + +The visitor swung aside the gate and entered. The man within, engaged +in closing down his roll-top desk for the day, wheeled about in his +chair, quite evidently annoyed by so late a caller. An instant he +looked at the face, partially shadowed in the dim light, then sprang to +his feet, both hands cordially extended. + +"Ned Winston, by all the gods!" he exclaimed, his voice full of +heartiness. "Say, but I 'm glad to see you, old man. Supposed it was +some bore wanting to talk business, and this happens to be my busy +night. By Jove, thought I never was going to break away from this +confounded desk--always like that when a fellow has a date. How are +you, anyhow? Looking fine as a fiddle. In shape to kick the pigskin +at this minute, I 'll bet a hundred. Denver yet, I suppose? Must be a +great climate out there, if you 're a specimen. Must like it, anyhow; +why, you 've simply buried yourself in the mountains. Some of the old +fellows were in here talking about it the other day. Have n't been +East before for a couple of years, have you, Ned?" + +"Considerably over three, Bob, and only on urgent business now. Have +been hard at it all day, but thought I would take a chance at finding +you in, even at this hour. Knew your natural inclination to grind, you +know. I take a train for the West at midnight." + +"Well, I rather guess not," and Craig picked up his hat from the top of +the desk. "Do you imagine I 'll let go of you that easily, now that +you are here? Well, hardly. You 've got to give up that excursion for +one night at least, even if I 'm compelled to get you jugged in order +to hold you safe. I can do it, too; I have a pull with the police +department. My automobile fines are making them rich." + +"But you just mentioned having an engagement, or rather a date, which I +suppose means the same thing." + +Craig smiled indulgently, his dark eyes filled with humor. + +"That's exactly the ticket. Glad to see you keep up with the slang of +the day; proof you live in the real world, possess a normal mind, and +feel an interest in current events. Altogether most commendable. That +engagement of mine happens to be the very thing I want you for. Most +glorious event in our family history, at least within my remembrance. +My birth probably transcended even this in importance, but the details +are not clear. You will add _éclat_ to the occasion. By Jove, it will +be immense; paterfamilias and mater-ditto will welcome you with open +arms. They often speak of you; 'pon my word they do, and I don't know +of another fellow anywhere they 'd rather have join in our little +family celebration. Oh, this is a great night for Old Ireland. Stay? +Why, confound it, of course you 'll stay!" + +"But see here, Bob, at least give me the straight of all this. What 's +happening? What is it you are stacking me up against?" + +"Box party at the Grand. Here, have a cigar. Just a family affair, +you know. First night; certain to be a swell crowd there; everything +sold out in advance. Supper afterwards, private dining-room at the +Annex--just ourselves; no guests, except only the Star and her manager." + +"The Star? I never heard that you people went in for theatricals?" + +"Lord! they never did; but they 've experienced a change of heart. You +see, Lizzie took to it like a duck to water--she was the baby, the kid, +you know--and, by thunder, the little girl made good. She 's got 'em +coming and going, and the pater is so proud of her he wears a smile on +him that won't come off. It 's simply great just to see him beau her +around downtown, shedding real money at every step. Nothing is too +good for Lizzie just now." + +"And she is the Star?" + +"Sure, and the lassie is going to have an ovation, unless all signs +fail. Society has got a hunch, and that means a gorgeous turnout. The +horse-show will be a back number. Lord, man, you can't afford to miss +it! Why, you 'd never see anything like it in Denver in a thousand +years." + +Winston laughed, unable to resist entirely the contagious enthusiasm of +his friend. + +"You certainly make a strong bid, Bob; but really if I did remain +overnight I 'd much prefer putting in the hours talking over old times. +With all due respect to your sister, old boy, I confess I have n't very +much heart for the stage. I 've grown away from it; have n't even +looked into a playhouse for years." + +"Thought as much; clear over the head in business. Big mistake at your +age. A night such as Lizzie can give you will be a revelation. Say, +Ned, that girl is an actress. I don't say it because she 's my sister, +but she actually is; they 're all raving over her, even the critics. +That's one reason why I want you to stay. I 'm blame proud of my +little sister." + +"But I have n't my evening dress within a thousand miles of here." + +"What of that? I have no time now to run out to the house and get into +mine. I 'm no lightning change artist. Lizzie won't care; she 's got +good sense, and the others can go hang. Come on, Ned; we 'll run over +to the Chicago Club and have a bite, then a smoke and chat about Alma +Mater; after that, the Grand." + + * * * * * * + +The great opera house was densely crowded from pit to dome, the boxes +and parquet brilliant with color and fashion, the numberless tiers of +seats rising above, black with packed, expectant humanity. Before +eight o'clock late comers had been confronted in the lobby with the +"Standing Room Only" announcement; and now even this had been turned to +the wall, while the man at the ticket window shook his head to +disappointed inquirers. And that was an audience to be remembered, to +be held notable, to be editorially commented upon by the press the next +morning. + +There was reason for it. A child of Chicago, daughter in a family of +standing and exclusiveness, after winning notable successes in San +Francisco, in London, in New York, had, at last, consented to return +home, and appear for the first time in her native city. Endowed with +rare gifts of interpretation, earnest, sincere, forceful, loving her +work fervently, possessing an attractive presence and natural capacity +for study, she had long since won the appreciation of the critics and +the warm admiration of those who care for the highest in dramatic art. +The reward was assured. Already her home-coming had been heralded +broadcast as an event of consequence to the great city. Her name was +upon the lips of the multitude, and upon the hearts of those who really +care for such things, the devotees of art, of high endeavor, of a stage +worthy the traditions of its past. And in her case, in addition to all +these helpful elements, Society grew suddenly interested and +enthralled. The actress became a fashion, a fad, about which revolved +the courtier and the butterfly. Once, it was remembered, she had been +one of them, one of their own set, and out of the depths of their +little pool they rose clamorously to the surface, imagining, as ever, +that they were the rightful leaders of it all. Thus it came about, +that first night--the stage brilliant, the house a dense mass of mad +enthusiasts, jewelled heads nodding from boxes to parquet in +recognition of friends, opera glasses insolently staring, voices +humming in ceaseless conversation, and, over all, the frantic efforts +of the orchestra to attract attention to itself amid the glitter and +display. + +Utterly indifferent to all of it, Ned Winston leaned his elbow on the +brass rail of the first box, and gazed idly about over that sea of +unknown faces. He would have much preferred not being there. To him, +the theatre served merely as a stimulant to unpleasant memory. It was +in this atmosphere that the ghost walked, and those hidden things of +life came back to mock him. He might forget, sometimes, bending above +his desk, or struggling against the perplexing problems of his +profession in the field, but not here; not in the glare of the +footlights, amid the hum of the crowd. He crushed the unread programme +within his hand, striving to converse carelessly with the lady sitting +next to him, whom he was expected to entertain. But his thoughts were +afar off, his eyes seeing a gray, misty, silent expanse of desert, +growing constantly clearer in its hideous desolation before the +advancing dawn. + +The vast steel curtain arose with apparent reluctance to the top of the +proscenium arch, the chatter of voices ceased, somewhat permitting the +struggling orchestra to make itself felt and heard. Winston shut his +teeth, and waited uneasily, the hand upon the rail clenched. Even more +than he had ever expected, awakened memory tortured. He would have +gone out into the solitude of the street, except for the certainty of +disturbing others. The accompanying music became faster as the inner +curtain slowly rose, revealing the great stage set for the first act. +He looked at it carelessly, indifferently, his thoughts elsewhere, yet +dimly conscious of the sudden hush all about him, the leaning forward +of figures intent upon catching the opening words. The scene portrayed +was that of a picturesque Swiss mountain village. It was brilliant in +coloring, and superbly staged. For a moment the scenery; with great +snow-capped peaks for background, caught his attention. If was +realistic, beautifully faithful to nature, and he felt his heart throb +with sudden longing to be home, to be once more in the shadow of the +Rockies. But the actors did not interest him, and his thoughts again +drifted far afield. + +The act was nearly half finished before the Star made her appearance. +Suddenly the door of the chalet opened, and a young woman emerged, +attired in peasant costume, carelessly swinging a hat in her hand, her +bright face smiling, her slender figure perfectly poised. She advanced +to the very centre of the wide stage. The myriad of lights rippled +over her, revealing the deep brown of her abundant hair, the dark, +earnest eyes, the sweet winsomeness of expression. This was the moment +for which that vast audience had been waiting. Like an instantaneous +explosion of artillery came the thunder of applause. Her first +attempted speech lost in that outburst of acclaim, the actress stood +before them bowing and smiling, the red blood surging into her unrouged +cheeks, her dark eyes flashing like two diamonds. Again and again the +house rose to her, the noise of greeting was deafening, and a perfect +avalanche of flowers covered the stage. From boxes, from parquet, from +crowded balcony, from top-most gallery the enthusiastic outburst came, +spontaneous, ever growing in volume of sound, apparently never ending. +She looked out upon them almost appealingly, her hands outstretched in +greeting, her eyes filling with tears. Slowly, as if drawn toward them +by some impulse of gratitude, she came down to the footlights, and +stood there bowing to left and right, the deep swelling of her bosom +evidencing her agitation. + +As though some sudden remembrance had occurred to her in the midst of +that turmoil, of what all this must mean to others, to those of her own +blood, she turned to glance lovingly toward that box in which they sat. +Instantly she went white, her hands pressing her breast, her round +throat swelling as though the effort of breathing choked her. Possibly +out in front they thought it acting, perhaps a sudden nervous collapse, +for as she half reeled backward to the support of a bench, the clamor +died away into dull murmur. Almost with the ceasing of tumult she was +upon her feet again, her lips still white, her face drawn as if in +pain. Before the startled audience could awaken and realize the truth, +she had commenced the speaking of her lines, forcing them into silence, +into a hushed and breathless expectancy. + +Winston sat leaning forward, his hand gripping the rail, staring at +her. But for that one slender figure the entire stage before him was a +blank. Suddenly he caught Craig by the arm. + +"Who is that?" he questioned, sharply. "The one in the costume of a +peasant girl?" + +"Who is it? Are you crazy? Why, that 's Lizzie; read your programme, +man. She must have had a faint spell just now. By Jove, I thought for +a moment she was going to flop. You 're looking pretty white about the +lips yourself, ain't sick, are you?" + +He shook his head, sinking back into his seat. Hastily he opened the +pages of the crushed programme, his hand shaking so he was scarcely +able to decipher the printed lines. Ah! there it was in black-faced +type: "Renee la Roux--_Miss Beth Norvell_." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE MISSION OF A LETTER + +All through the remainder of the play he sat as one stunned, scarcely +removing his eyes from the glittering stage, yet seeing nothing there +excepting her. He could not later have recalled a single scene. +Between the acts he conversed rationally enough with those about him, +congratulating her people upon the brilliant success of the evening, +and warmly commending the work of the Star. Yet this was all +mechanical, automatic, his mind scarcely realizing its own action. + +She never glanced in that direction again; during all the four acts not +once did she permit her eyes to rest upon their box. The others may +not have noticed the omission, but he did, his interpretation of the +action becoming a pain. It served to strengthen the resolve which was +taking possession of him. He noticed, also, that she played +feverishly, vehemently, not with that quiet restraint, that promise of +reserve power, always so noticeable in the old days. It caused him to +realize that she was working upon her nerves, holding herself up to the +strain by the sheer strength of will. The papers the next day +commented upon this, hinting at nervousness, at exhilaration consequent +upon so notable a greeting. But Winston knew the cause better--he knew +the spectre which had so suddenly risen before her, turning her white +and frightened at the very moment of supreme triumph. There, in front +of them all, under the full glare of the lights, herself the very focus +of thousands of eyes, she had been compelled to fight down her heart, +and win a victory greater than that of the actress. In that instant +she had conquered herself, had trodden, smiling and confident, over the +awakened memories of the past. + +After the curtain had fallen--fallen and lifted, again and again, to +permit of her standing in the glare, smiling happily, and kissing her +hands toward the enthusiastic multitude--he passed out with the others, +still partially dazed, his mind remaining undecided, irresolute. With +the cool night air fanning his cheeks as their car rolled southward, +clearer consciousness came back, bringing with it firmer resolve. She +had not wanted him; in all those years there had not come from her a +single word. Now, on this night of her triumph, in the midst of family +rejoicing, he had no part. It had all been a mistake, a most unhappy +mistake, yet he would do now everything in his power to remedy it. His +further presence should not be allowed to detract from her happiness, +should not continue to embarrass her. The past between them was dead; +undoubtedly she wished it dead. Very well, then, he would help her to +bury it, now and forever. Not through any neglect on his part should +that past ever again rise up to haunt her in the hour of success. She +had discovered her ideal, she had attained to the height of her +ambition. She should be left to enjoy the victory undisturbed. Within +the hotel rotunda, under the multicolored lights, he halted Craig, +hurrying forward to a conference with the steward. + +"I am awfully sorry, old man," he explained apologetically, "but the +fact is, I do not feel well enough to remain down here to the spread. +Nothing serious, you know--indigestion or something like that. I 'll +run up to my room and lie down for a while; if I feel better I may +wander in later." + +Craig looked concerned. + +"Thought you were mighty white about the gills all the evening, +Ned--the lobster salad, likely. I hate letting you go, awfully; upon +my word, I do. I wanted Lizzie to meet you; she 's always heard me +singing your praises, and your not being there will prove quite a +disappointment to her. But Lord! if you 're sick, why, of course, +there's no help for it. Come down later, if you can, and I 'll run up +there as soon as I can break away from the bunch. Sure you don't need +the house physician?" + +"Perfectly sure; all I require is rest and a bit of sleep. Been +working too hard, and am dead tired." + +He sank down within the great arm-chair in the silence of his own room, +not even taking trouble to turn on the lights; mechanically lit a +cigar, and sat staring out of the window. Before him the black, +threatening cloud-shadows hung over the dark water of the lake; far +below resounded the ceaseless clatter of hoofs along the fashionable +avenue. He neither saw nor heard. Over and over again he reviewed the +past, bringing back to memory each word and glance which had ever, +passed between them. He was again with the "Heart of the World" +strollers, he was struggling with Burke in the depths of the mine, he +was passing through that day and night of misfortune on the ridge +overlooking Echo Canyon, he was riding for life--her life--across the +trackless desert. It all came before him in unnatural vividness, +seemingly as though each separate scene had been painted across that +black sky without. Then he perceived the great playhouse he had just +left, the glorious glitter of lights, the reverberation of applause, +the cheering mob of men and women, and her--her bowing and smiling at +them, her dark eyes dancing with happiness and ignoring him utterly, +her whole body trembling to the intoxication of success. Oh, it was +all over; even if there had been no gulf of death between them, it was +all over. She had deliberately chosen to forget, under the inspiration +of her art she had forgotten. It had usurped her thought, her +ambition, her every energy. She had won her way through the throng, +yet the very struggle of such winning had sufficed to crowd him out +from memory had left the past as barren as was the desert amid the +dreariness of which they had parted. He set his teeth hard, striking +his clenched fist against the cushioned arm of the chair. Then he sat +silent, his cigar extinguished. Once he glanced at his watch, but +already the hour was too late for any hope of catching the west-bound +train, and he dropped it back in his pocket, and sat motionless. +Suddenly some one rapped upon the outside door. It would be Craig, +probably, and he called out a regretful "Come in." A bell-boy stood +there, his buttoned-up figure silhouetted against the lights in the +hall. + +"Lady in Parlor D asked me to hand you this, sir," the boy said. + +He accepted the slight bit of paper, scarcely comprehending what it +could all mean, turned on an electric bulb over the dresser, and looked +at it. A single line of delicate writing confronted him, so faint that +he was compelled to bend closer to decipher: "_If you are waiting my +word, I send it._" + +He caught at the dresser-top as though some one had struck him, staring +down at the card in his hand, and then around the silent room, his +breath grown rapid. At first the words were almost meaningless; then +the blood came surging up into his face, and he walked toward the door. +There he paused, his hand already upon the knob. What use? What use? +Why should he seek her, even although she bade him come? She might no +longer care, but he did; to her such a meeting might be only a mere +incident, an experience to be lightly talked over, but to him such an +interview could only prove continual torture. But no! The thought +wronged her; such an action would not be possible to Beth Norvell. If +she despatched this message it had been done honestly, done graciously. +He would show himself a craven if he failed to face whatever awaited +him below. With tightly compressed lips, he closed the door, and +walked to the elevator. + +She stood waiting him alone, slightly within the parlor door, her +cheeks flushed, her red lips parted in an attempt to smile. With a +single glance he saw her as of old, supremely happy, her dark eyes +clear, her slender form swaying slightly toward him as if in welcome. +For an instant their gaze met, his full of uncertainty, hers of +confidence; then she stretched out to him her two ungloved hands. + +"You gave me a terrible scare to-night," she said, endeavoring to speak +lightly, "and then, to make matters worse, you ran away. It was not +like you to do that." + +"I could not bring myself to mar the further happiness of your night," +he explained, feeling the words choke in his throat as he uttered them. +"My being present at the Opera House was all a mistake; I did not dream +it was you until too late. But the supper was another thing." + +She looked intently at him, her expression clearly denoting surprise. + +"I really cannot believe you to be as indifferent as you strive to +appear," she said at last, her breath quickening. "One does not forget +entirely in three short years, and I--I caught that one glimpse of you +in the box. It was that--that look upon your face which gave me +courage to send my card to your room." She paused, dropping her eyes +to the carpet, her fingers nervously playing with the trimming of her +waist. "It may, perhaps, sound strange, yet in spite of my exhibit of +feeling at first discovering your presence, I had faith all day that +you would come." + +"Is it possible you mean that you wished me there?" + +"Quite possible; only it would have been ever so much better had I +known before. It actually seemed when I saw your face to-night as if +God had brought you--it was like a miracle. Do you know why? Because, +for the first time in three years, I can welcome you with all my heart." + +"Beth, Beth," utterly forgetting everything but the mystery of her +words, his gray eyes darkening from eagerness, "what is it you mean? +For God's sake tell me! These years have been centuries; through them +all I have been waiting your word." + +She drew in her breath sharply, reaching out one hand to grasp the back +of a chair. + +"It--it could not be spoken," she said, her voice faltering. "Not +until to-day was it possible for me to break the silence." + +"And now--to-day?" + +She smiled suddenly up at him, her eyes filled with promise. + +"God has been good," she whispered, drawing from within the lace of her +waist a crumpled envelope,--"oh, so good, even when I doubted Him. +See, I have kept this hidden there every moment since it first came, +even on the stage in my changes of costume. I dared not part with it +for a single instant--it was far too precious." She sank back upon the +chair, holding out toward him the paper. "Read that yourself, if my +tears have not made the lines illegible." + +He took it from her, his hands trembling, and drew forth the enclosure, +a single sheet of rough yellow paper. Once he paused, glancing toward +where she sat, her face buried in her arms across the chair-back. Then +he smoothed out the wrinkles, and read slowly, studying over each +pencil-written, ill-spelled word, every crease and stain leaving an +impression upon his brain: + + +"SAN JUAN, COL., DEC. 12, 1904. + +"Deer Miss: I see your name agin in a Denver paper what Bill brought +out frum town ternight, an read thar that you wus goin ter play a piece +in Chicago. I aint seen yer name in ther papers afore fer a long time. +So I thot I 'd write yer a line, cause Bill thinks yer never got it +straight bout ther way Biff Farnham died. He ses thet you an Mister +Winston hes got ther whol affair all mixed up, an that maybe it's a +keepin ther two of yer sorter sore on each other. Now, I dont wanter +butt in none in yer affairs, an then agin it aint overly plisent fer me +to make a clean breast ov it this way on paper. Not that I 'm afeard, +er nothin, only it dont just look nice. No more do I want enything +whut I did ter be makin you fokes a heep o trouble. That aint my +style. I reckon I must a bin plum crazy whin I did it, fer I wus +mighty nigh that fer six months after--et least Bill ses so. But it +wus me all right whut killed Farnham. It wan't no murder es I see it, +tho I was huntin him all right, fer he saw me furst, an hed his gun +out, when I let drive. Enyhow, he got whut wus comin ter him, an I +aint got no regrets. We're a doin all right out yere now, me an +Bill--ther claim is payin big, but I never aint got over thinkin bout +Mercedes. I shore loved her, an I do yit. You was awful good to her, +an I reckon she 'd sorter want me to tell you jist how it wus. Hopin +this will clar up som ov them troubles between you an Mister Winston, I +am Yours with respects, + +"WILLIAM BROWN." + + +Winston stood there in silence, yet holding the paper in his hand. +Almost timidly she glanced up at him across the back of the chair. + +"And you have never suspected who I was until to-night?" + +"No, never; I had always thought of Bob's sister as a mere child." + +She arose to her feet, taking a single step toward him. + +"I can only ask you to forgive me," she pleaded anxiously, her eyes +uplifted. "That is all I can ask. I ought to be ashamed, I am +ashamed, that I could ever have believed it possible for you to commit +such a deed. It seems incredible now that I have so believed. Yet how +could I escape such conviction? I heard the voices, the shot, and then +a man rushed past me through the darkness. Some rash impulse, a desire +to aid, sent me hastily forward. Scarcely had I bent over the dead +body, when some one came toward me from the very direction in which +that man had fled. I supposed he was coming back to make sure of his +work, and--and--it was you. Oh, I did not want to believe, but I had +to believe. You acted so strangely toward me, I accepted that as a +sign of guilt; it was a horror unspeakable." + +"You thought--you actually thought I did that?" he asked, hardly +trusting his own ears. + +"What else could I think? What else could I think?" + +This new conception stunned him, left him staring at her, utterly +unable to control his speech. Should he tell her? Should he confess +his own equally mad mistake? the reason why all these years had passed +without his seeking her? It would be useless; it would only add to her +pain, her sense of wounded pride. Silence now would be mercy. + +"Beth," he said, controlling his voice with an effort, "let us think of +all this as passed away forever. Let us not talk about it, let us not +think about it any more. You have reached the height which you set out +to gain; or, possibly you have not yet fully attained to your ideal, +yet you have travelled far toward it. Has it satisfied? Has it filled +the void in your life?" + +She returned his questioning look frankly. + +"Do you remember what I once said in a cabin out in Colorado?" + +"I think so; yet, to avoid mistake, repeat it now." + +"I told you I would give up gladly all ambition, all dreams of worldly +success, just to be alone with the man I loved, and bring him +happiness. To-night, as then, that is all I wish--everything." + +A moment neither moved nor spoke. + +"Beth," he whispered, as though half afraid even yet to put the +question, "am I all you wish--everything?" + +"Yes, everything--only you must wait, Ned. I belong still to the +public, and must play out my engagement. After that it shall be home, +and you." + +They stood there facing each other, the soft light from the shaded +globes overhead sparkling in her dark hair, her cheeks flushed, her +eyes smiling at him through a mist of tears. Unresisted, he drew her +to him. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETH NORVELL*** + + +******* This file should be named 17598-8.txt or 17598-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/5/9/17598 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/17598-8.zip b/17598-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5fa0fb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/17598-8.zip diff --git a/17598-h.zip b/17598-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d29f30c --- /dev/null +++ b/17598-h.zip diff --git a/17598-h/17598-h.htm b/17598-h/17598-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e746c07 --- /dev/null +++ b/17598-h/17598-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13484 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Beth Norvell, by Randall Parrish</title> +<style type="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: medium; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify; } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; margin-left: 10%; font-size: small } + +P.letter {font-size: small } + + hr.full { width: 100%; + height: 5px; } + a:link { color:blue; + text-decoration:none; } + link { color:blue; + text-decoration:none; } + a:visited { color:blue; + text-decoration:none; } + a:hover { color:red; + text-decoration: underline; } + pre { font-size: 70%; } +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 align="center">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Beth Norvell, by Randall Parrish, Illustrated +by N. C. Wyeth</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Beth Norvell</p> +<p> A Romance of the West</p> +<p>Author: Randall Parrish</p> +<p>Release Date: January 24, 2006 [eBook #17598]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETH NORVELL***</p> +<br><br><center><h3>E-text prepared by Al Haines</h3></center><br><br> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="The woman never changed her posture, never seemed to realize the approach of dawn; but Winston roused up, lifting his head +to gaze wearily forward." BORDER="2" WIDTH="443" HEIGHT="680"> +<H4> +Frontispiece: The woman never changed her posture,<br> +never seemed to realize the approach of dawn; but<br> +Winston roused up, lifting his head to gaze wearily forward. +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +BETH NORVELL +</H1> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +A ROMANCE OF THE WEST +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +By RANDALL PARRISH +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AUTHOR OF "WHEN WILDERNESS WAS KING," <BR> +"MY LADY OF THE NORTH," "BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER," <BR> +ETC. +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +With Frontispiece in Color +<BR><BR> +BY N. C. WYETH +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +<BR><BR> +PUBLISHERS ———— NEW YORK +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +COPYRIGHT +<BR> +A. C. MCCLURG & CO. +<BR> +1907 +<BR><BR> +Entered at Stationers' Hall, London +<BR><BR> +All Rights Reserved +</H5> + +<BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"><small> +Published September 21, 1907<BR> +Second Edition October 5, 1907<BR> +Third Edition, October 10, 1907<BR> +Fourth Edition, December 2, 1907<BR> +Fifth Edition, December 12, 1907</small> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H3> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> + +<TABLE WIDTH="80%"> +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAPTER</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">A CHANCE MEETING</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">OUT WITH A ROAD COMPANY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">A BREAKING OF ICE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">A NEW DEAL OF THE CARDS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">IN OPEN REBELLION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">THE "LITTLE YANKEE" MINE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">A DISMISSAL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">"HE MEANS FIGHT"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">THE FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCES</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">A NEW ALLIANCE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">HALF-CONFIDENCES</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">THE COVER OF DARKNESS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">TWO WOMEN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">UNDERGROUND</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">THE PROOF OF CRIME</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">A RETURN TO THE DAY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">A COUNCIL OF WAR</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">THE CONFESSION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">THE POINT OF VIEW</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">THE GAME OF FOILS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">UNDER ARREST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">THE INTERVENTION OF SWANSON</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">A NEW VOLUNTEER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">AN AVOWAL OF LOVE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">THE PROOF OF LOVE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap26">BENEATH THE DARKNESS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap27">THE SHADOW OF CRIME</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap28">ACROSS THE DESERT TO THE END</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap29">THE SUMMIT OF SUCCESS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap30">THE MISSION OF A LETTER</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +BETH NORVELL +</H1> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +A TALE OF THE WEST +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A CHANCE MEETING +</H3> + +<P> +There were nine altogether in the party registering. This number +included the manager, who, both on and off the stage, quite +successfully impersonated the villain—a rather heavy-jawed, +middle-aged fellow, of foreign appearance, with coarse, gruff voice; +three representatives of the gentler sex; a child of eight, exact +species unknown, wrapped up like a mummy; and four males. Beyond doubt +the most notable member of the troupe was the comedian "star," Mr. T. +Macready Lane, whose well-known cognomen must even now awaken happy +histrionic memories throughout the western circuit. The long night's +ride from their previous stand, involving as it did two changes of +trains, had proven exceedingly wearisome; and the young woman in the +rather natty blue toque, the collar of her long gray coat turned up in +partial concealment of her face, was so utterly fatigued that she +refused to wait for a belated breakfast, and insisted upon being at +once directed to her room. There was a substantial bolt decorating the +inside of the door, but, rendered careless by sheer exhaustion of both +mind and body, she forgot everything except her desire for immediate +rest, dropped her wraps upon the only chair visible, and flung herself, +fully dressed, upon the bed. Her cheek had barely pressed the hard +pillow before she was sleeping like a tired child. +</P> + +<P> +It must have been an hour later when Winston drove in from Flat Rock, +shook the powdery snow from off his long fur overcoat, his cheeks still +tingling from the sharp wind, and, with fingers yet stiffened by cold, +wrote his name carelessly across the lower line of the dilapidated +hotel register. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you let me have the same room, Tom?" he questioned familiarly of +the man ornamenting the high stool behind the desk. +</P> + +<P> +The latter, busy with some figures, nodded carelessly, and the last +arrival promptly picked up his valise from the floor and began climbing +the stairs, whistling softly. He was a long-limbed, broad-chested +young fellow, with clean-shaven face, and a pair of dark-gray eyes that +looked straight ahead of him; and he ran up the somewhat steep steps as +though finding such exercise a pleasure. Rounding the upper railing, +he stopped abruptly before Number Twenty-seven, flung open the door, +took a single step within, and came to a sudden pause, his careless +whistling suspended in breathless surprise. With that single glance +the complete picture became indelibly photographed upon his +memory,—the narrow, sparsely furnished room with roughly plastered +walls; the small, cheap mirror; the faded-green window curtain, torn +half in two; the sheet-iron wash-stand; the wooden chair, across which +rested the gray coat with the blue toque on top; and the single cot bed +bearing its unconscious occupant. +</P> + +<P> +Somehow as he gazed, his earliest conscious emotion was that of +sympathy—it all appeared so unspeakably pathetic, so homesick, so +dismally forlorn and barren. Then that half-upturned face riveted his +attention and seemed to awaken a vague, dreamy memory he found himself +unable to localize; it reminded him of some other face he had known, +tantalizing from its dim indistinctness. Then this earlier impression +slightly faded away, and he merely beheld her alone, a perfect stranger +appropriating little by little her few claims to womanly beauty. There +was no certain guessing at her age as she lay thus, one hand pressed +beneath her cheek, her eyes closed, the long, dark lashes clearly +outlined against the white flesh, her bosom rising and falling with the +steady breathing of absolute exhaustion. She appeared so extremely +tired, discouraged, unhappy, that the young man involuntarily closed +his teeth tightly, as though some wrong had been personally done to +himself. He marked the dense blackness of her heavy mass of hair; the +perfect clearness of her skin; the shapeliness of the slender, +outstretched figure; the narrow boot, with its high-arched instep, +peeping shyly beneath the blue skirt; the something rarely interesting, +yet which scarcely made for beauty, revealed unconsciously in the +upturned face with its rounded chin and parted lips. +</P> + +<P> +There was no distinct regularity of features, but there was +unquestionably character, such character as we recognize vaguely in a +sculptured face, lacking that life-like expression which the opened +eyes alone are capable of rendering. All this swept across his mind in +that instant during which he remained irresolute from surprise. Yet +Winston was by nature a gentleman; almost before he had grasped the +full significance of it all he stepped silently backward, and gently +closed the door. For an uncertain moment he remained there staring +blankly at the wood, that haunting memory once again mocking every vain +attempt to associate this girl-face with some other he had known +before. Finally, leaving valise and overcoat lying in the hall, he +retraced his way slowly down the stairs. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom," and the young man leaned against the rough counter, his voice +grown graver, "there chances to be a woman at present occupying that +room you just assigned me." +</P> + +<P> +"No! Is that so?" and the clerk swung easily down from his high stool, +drawing the register toward him. "Must be one of the troupe, then. +Let's see—Number Twenty-seven, was n't it? Twenty-seven—oh, yes, +here it is. That's a fact," and his finger slowly traced the line as +he spelled out the name, "'Miss Beth Norvell.' Oh, I remember her +now—black hair, and a long gray coat; best looker among 'em. Manager +said she 'd have to be given a room all to herself; but I clean forgot +I assigned her to Twenty-seven. Make much of a row?" +</P> + +<P> +The other shook his head, bending down so as to read the name with his +own eyes. There was nothing in the least familiar about the sound of +it, and he became faintly conscious of an undefined feeling of +disappointment. Still, if she was upon the stage, the name quite +probably was an assumed one; the very utterance of it left that +impression. He walked over toward the cigar stand and picked out a +weed, thinking gravely while he held a flaming match to the tip. +Somehow he was not altogether greatly pleased with this information; he +should have preferred to discover her to be some one else. He glanced +at the clerk through the slight haze of blue smoke, his increasing +curiosity finding reluctant utterance. +</P> + +<P> +"What troupe is it?" he questioned with seeming carelessness. +</P> + +<P> +"'Heart of the World,'" answered Tom with some considerable increase of +enthusiasm. "A dandy play, and a blamed good company, they tell me. +Got some fine press notices anyhow, an' a carload o' scenery. Played +in Denver a whole month; and it costs a dollar and a half to buy a +decent seat even in this measly town, so you can bet it ain't no slouch +of a show. House two-thirds sold out in advance, but I know where I +can get you some good seats for just a little extra. Lane is the star. +You 've heard of Lane, have n't you? Funniest fellow you ever saw; +makes you laugh just to look at him. And this—this Miss Norvell, why +she's the leadin' lady, and the travellin' men tell me she's simply +immense. There's one of their show bills hanging over there back of +the stove." +</P> + +<P> +Winston sauntered across to the indicated red and yellow abomination, +and dumbly stood staring at it through the blue rings of his cigar. It +represented a most thrilling stage picture, while underneath, and in +type scarcely a shade less pronounced than that devoted to the eminent +comedian T. Macready Lane, appeared the announcement of the great +emotional actress, Miss Beth Norvell, together with several quite +flattering Western press notices. The young man read these slowly, +wondering why they should particularly interest him, and on a sudden +his rather grave face brightened into a smile, a whimsical thought +flashing into his mind. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove, why not?" he muttered, as if arguing the matter out with +himself. "The report has gone East, and there is nothing more to be +accomplished in Flat Rock for at least a month. This snow will have to +melt away before they can hope to put any miners to work, and in the +meanwhile I might just as well be laying up experiences on the road as +wasting my substance in riotous living at Denver. It ought to prove a +great lark, and I 've always had ambition to have a try at something of +the kind. Well, here 's my chance; and besides, I can't help believing +that that girl might prove interesting; her face is, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +He walked back to where Tom still hung idly over the cigar case. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is running this show outfit?" +</P> + +<P> +"That big fellow writing at the table. His name 's Albrecht," +suspiciously. "But see here, I tell you there ain't any use of your +hittin' him for 'comps'; he 's tighter than a drum." +</P> + +<P> +"'Comps'? Oh, ye of little faith!" exclaimed Winston genially. "It is +n't 'comps' I 'm after, Tommy, it's a job." +</P> + +<P> +Albrecht looked up from his writing, scowling somewhat under his +heavily thatched brows, and revealing a coarse face, with little +glinting eyes filled with low cunning. At that first glance Winston +instinctively disliked the fellow; yet he put his case in a few brief +sentences of explanation, and, as the other listened, the managerial +frown slightly relaxed. +</P> + +<P> +"Actor?" he questioned laconically, when the younger man paused, his +glance wandering appreciatively over the sturdy, erect figure. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, hardly that; at least, merely in an amateur way," and the +applicant laughed lightly. "You see, I imagined you might possibly +make use of me in some minor capacity until I learn more about the +business. I don't care very much regarding pay, but I desire to get a +taste of the life." +</P> + +<P> +"Oxactly, mein frient." And the worthy Albrecht became almost briskly +cordial in manner. Perhaps here was an "angel" waiting to be plucked +in the holy name of art; at least, he appeared well dressed, looked +intellectually promising, and expressed himself as totally indifferent +regarding salary. Such visitors were indeed few and far between, and +the astute manager sufficiently understood his business to permit his +heavy features to relax into a hearty, welcoming smile. "Oxactly, +young man. Sit down, und I vill see yoost vat vos pest for us both. +You vould be an actor; you haf the ambition. Ah! I see it in your +eyes, and it gif me great bleasure. But, young man, it vos unfortunate +dot I haf not mooch just now to gif you, yet the vay vill open if you +only stays mit me. Sure; yaw, I, Samuel Albrecht, vill make of you a +great actor. I can see dot in your face, und for dot reason I vill now +gif you the chance. You begin at the pottom, but not for long; all I +vants now vos a utility man—some one to take small barts, understudy, +und be ready to help out mit der scenery und der trunks. I could not +bay moch monies for dot," and he spread his beringed hands +deprecatingly, "but it vos only der first step on der ladder of fame. +Every day I teach you de great art of de actor. You come with me dot +way, mein frient?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly; that will be perfectly satisfactory." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah," delightedly, "you vos a goot poy, villin' to learn, I see. Next +season, who knows, you might be leading man if you vork hardt. I bay +you now after one veek's trial, when I know petter vot you are vort, +hey?" +</P> + +<P> +Winston carelessly nodded his acceptance of these rather indefinite +terms, his hands thrust into his pockets, his gray eyes smiling their +appreciation of the situation. Albrecht was deliberately looking him +over, as he might a horse he had just purchased. +</P> + +<P> +"You are kinder slim to look at," he confessed at last, thoughtfully. +"Are you bretty strong?" +</P> + +<P> +The younger man silently held forth his right arm to the inspection of +the other, who fingered the iron rigidity of muscle under the cloth +with evident respect. +</P> + +<P> +"God of Yacob!" the manager muttered in unconcealed surprise, "it is +vonderful, and you such a slender young man to look at. I vos most +afraidt you could not do mein vork, but it is all right. You vill eat +mit us at the long table," he waved his hand indefinitely toward the +dining-room, "at 12:30, and then I valk mit you over py der Obera +House, und show you vat der is to be done mit dot scenery und dem +trunks. Mein Gott! it vos vonderful dot muscles vot you haf got—you +vould make a great Davy Crockett ven I learns you de business, mein +frient." +</P> + +<P> +The manager's appreciation of his new acquisition was so clearly +evident that Winston felt compelled to notice it. +</P> + +<P> +"I am rejoiced you appear so well satisfied," he said, rising to his +feet. +</P> + +<P> +"Satisfied! Mein Gott," and the overjoyed Albrecht cordially clasped +the hand of his new recruit. "It vos a great season of luck for me, +mein frient. Dot Meess Norvell, she makes me mooch monies vile I shows +her how to be an actress,—oh, it vos yoost beautiful to see her +act,—und now you comes mit me also, und cares nottings for vot I bay +you, und I can see you haf der actor genius. Mein Gott! it vos too +goot to be true." +</P> + +<P> +Winston broke away gladly, and drifted back toward the cigar stand, +where the mystified Tommy yet stood staring at him. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, did you get it?" the latter questioned, grinning. +</P> + +<P> +"Thomas," returned the other loftily. "You can hand me out another +cigar, and I will thank you not to be quite so familiar in the future. +I am now general utility man with the 'Heart of the World' company, and +consequently entitled to greater respect." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +OUT WITH A ROAD COMPANY +</H3> + + +<P> +Miss Norvell failed to appear at the noon meal, though Winston met the +other members of the company. He found them genial enough, even +somewhat boisterous, with the single exception of Mr. Lane, who +maintained a dignified and rather gloomy silence, such as became one of +his recognized professional standing, after having favored the newcomer +with a long, impertinent stare, apparently expressing disapproval. The +manager was outwardly in most excellent humor, narrating several +stories, at which all, excepting the reserved comedian, laughed quite +heartily. At the conclusion of the repast, Albrecht condescended to +purchase his new recruit a cigar, and then walked beside him toward the +Opera House, where the necessary instructions in new duties promptly +began. If Winston had previously imagined his earlier steps toward +histrionic honors were destined to be easy ones, he was very soon +undeceived under the guidance of the enthusiastic manager. It proved a +strenuous afternoon, yet the young fellow had the right stuff in him to +make good, that stubborn pride which never surrenders before +difficulties; he shut his teeth, rolled up his shirt-sleeves, and went +earnestly to work. +</P> + +<P> +It was a small, cheaply built theatre, having restricted stage space, +while a perfect riff-raff of trunks and detached pieces of canvas +scenery littered the wings. At first sight it appeared a confused +medley of odds and ends, utterly impossible to bring into any +conformity to order, but Albrecht recognized each separate piece of +luggage, every detached section of canvas, recalling exactly where it +properly belonged during the coming performance. For more than an hour +he pranced about the dirty stage, shouting minute directions, and +giving due emphasis to them by growling German oaths; while Winston, +aided by two local assistants, bore trunks into the various +dressing-rooms, hung drop curtains in designated positions, placed set +pieces conveniently at hand, and arranged the various required +properties where they could not possibly be overlooked during the rush +of the evening's performance. Thus, little by little, order was +evolved from chaos, and the astute manager chuckled happily to himself +in quick appreciation of the unusual rapidity with which the newly +engaged utility man grasped the situation and mastered the confusing +details. Assuredly he had discovered a veritable jewel in this fresh +recruit. At last, the affairs of principal importance having been +attended to, Albrecht left some final instructions, and departed for +the hotel, feeling serenely confident that this young man would carry +out his orders to the letter. +</P> + +<P> +And Winston did. He was of that determined nature which performs +thoroughly any work once deliberately undertaken; and, although the +merest idle whim had originally brought him to this position of utility +man in the "Heart of the World" company, he was already beginning to +experience a slight degree of interest in the success of the coming +show, and to feel a faint <I>esprit de corps</I>, which commanded his best +efforts. Indeed, his temporary devotion to the preparation of the +stage proved sufficiently strong to obscure partially for the time +being all recollection of that first incentive which had suggested his +taking such a step—the young lady discovered asleep in Number +Twenty-seven. The remembrance of her scarcely recurred to him all +through the afternoon, yet it finally returned in overwhelming rush +when, in the course of his arduous labors, he raised up a small leather +trunk and discovered her name painted plainly upon the end of it. The +chalk mark designating where it belonged read "Dressing-room No. 2," +and, instead of rolling it roughly in that direction, as he had rolled +numerous others, the new utility man lifted it carefully upon his +shoulder and deposited it gently against the farther wall. He glanced +with curiosity about the restricted apartment to which Miss Beth +Norvell had been assigned. It appeared the merest hole of a place, +narrow and ill-ventilated, the side walls and ceiling composed of rough +lumber, and it was evidently designed to be lit at night by a single +gas jet, inclosed within a wire netting. This apartment contained +merely a single rude chair, of the kitchen variety, and an exceedingly +small mirror cracked across one corner and badly fly-specked. Numerous +rusty spikes, intended to hold articles of discarded clothing, +decorated both side walls and the back of the door. It was dismally +bare, and above all, it was abominably dirty, the dust lying thick +everywhere, the floor apparently unswept for weeks. With an +exclamation of disgust Winston hunted up broom and dust-rag, and gave +the gloomy place such a cleansing as it probably had not enjoyed since +the house was originally erected. At the end of these arduous labors +he looked the scene over critically, the honest perspiration streaming +down his face, glancing, with some newly awakened curiosity, into the +surrounding dressing-rooms. They were equally filthy and unfit for +occupancy, yet he did not feel called upon to invade them with his +cleansing broom. By four o'clock everything was in proper position, +the stage set in perfect order for the opening act, and Winston +returned with his report to the hotel, and to the glowing Albrecht. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell joined the company at the supper table, sitting between +the manager and Mr. T. Macready Lane, although Winston was quick to +observe that she gave slight attention to either, except when addressed +directly. She met the others present with all necessary cordiality and +good-fellowship, yet there appeared a certain undefined reserve about +her manner which led to an immediate hush in the rather free +conversation of what Albrecht was pleased to term the "training table," +and when the murmur of voices was resumed after her entrance, a +somewhat better choice of subjects became immediately noticeable. +Without so much as either word or look, the silent influence of the +actress was plainly for refinement, while her mere presence at the +table gave a new tone to Bohemianism. Winston, swiftly realizing this, +began observing the lady with a curiosity which rapidly developed into +deeper interest. He became more and more attracted by her unique +personality, which persistently appealed to his aroused imagination, +even while there continued to haunt him a dim tantalizing remembrance +he was unable wholly to master. He assuredly had never either seen or +heard of this young woman before, yet she constantly reminded him of +the past. Her eyes, the peculiar contour of her face, the rather odd +trick she had of shaking back the straying tresses of her dark, glossy +hair, and, above all, that quick smile with which she greeted any flash +of humor, and which produced a fascinating dimple in her cheek, all +served to puzzle and stimulate him; while admiration of her so apparent +womanliness began as instantly to replace the vague curiosity he had +felt toward her as an actress. She was different from what he had +imagined, with absolutely nothing to suggest the glare and glitter of +the footlights. Until this time he had scarcely been conscious that +she possessed any special claim to beauty; yet now, her face, illumined +by those dark eyes filled with quick intelligence, became most +decidedly attractive, peculiarly lovable and womanly. Besides, she +evidently possessed a rare taste in dress, which met with his masculine +approval. Much of this, it is true, he reasoned out later and slowly, +for during that first meal only two circumstances impressed him +clearly—the depth of feeling glowing within those wonderfully +revealing eyes, and her complete ignoring of his presence. If she +recognized any addition to their number, there was not the slightest +sign given. Once their eyes met by merest accident; but hers +apparently saw nothing, and Winston returned to his disagreeable labors +at the Opera House, nursing a feeling akin to disappointment. +</P> + +<P> +Concealed within the gloomy shadows of the wings, he stood entranced +that night watching her depict the character of a wife whose previous +happy life had been irretrievably ruined by deceit; and the force, the +quiet originality of her depiction, together with its marvellous +clearness of detail and its intense realism, held him captive. The +plot of the play was ugly, melodramatic, and entirely untrue to nature; +against it Winston's cultivated taste instantly revolted; yet this +woman interpreted her own part with the rare instinct of a true artist, +picturing to the very life the particular character intrusted to her, +and holding the house to a breathless realization of what real artistic +portrayal meant. In voice, manner, action, in each minute detail of +face and figure, she was truly the very woman she represented. It was +an art so fine as to make the auditors forget the artist, forget even +themselves. Her perfect workmanship, clear-cut, rounded, complete, +stood forth like a delicate cameo beside the rude buffoonery of T. +Macready Lane, the coarse villany of Albrecht, and the stiff mannerisms +of the remainder of the cast. They were automatons as compared with a +figure instinct with life animated by intelligence. She seemed to +redeem the common clay of the coarse, unnatural story, and give to it +some vital excuse for existence, the howls of laughter greeting the +cheap wit of the comedian changed to a sudden hush of expectancy at her +mere entrance upon the stage, while her slightest word, or action, +riveted the attention. It was a triumph beyond applause, beyond any +mere outward demonstration of approval. Winston felt the spell deeply, +his entire body thrilling to her marvellous delineation of this common +thing, her uplifting of it out of the vile ruck of its surroundings and +giving unto it the abundant life of her own interpretation. Never once +did he question the real although untrained genius back of those +glowing eyes, that expressive face, those sincere, quiet tones which so +touched and swayed the heart. In other days he had seen the stage at +its best, and now he recognized in this woman that subtle power which +must conquer all things, and eventually "arrive." +</P> + +<P> +Early the following morning, tossing uneasily upon a hard cot-bed in +the next town listed in their itinerary, he discovered himself totally +unable to divorce this memory from his thoughts. She even mingled with +his dreams,—a rounded, girlish figure, her young face glowing with the +emotions dominating her, her dark eyes grave with thoughtfulness,—and +he awoke, at last, facing another day of servile toil, actually +rejoicing to remember that he was part of the "Heart of the World." +That which he had first assumed from a mere spirit of play, the veriest +freak of boyish adventure, had suddenly developed into a real impulse +to which his heart gave complete surrender. +</P> + +<P> +To all outward appearances Miss Beth Norvell remained serenely +unconscious regarding either his admiration or his presence. It was +impossible to imagine that in so small a company he could continually +pass and repass without attracting notice, yet neither word nor look +passed between them; no introduction had been accorded, and she merely +ignored him, under the natural impression, without doubt, that he was +simply an ignorant roustabout of the stage, a wielder of trunks, a +manipulator of scenery, in whom she could feel no possible interest. A +week passed thus, the troupe displaying their talents to fair business, +and constantly penetrating into more remote regions, stopping at all +manner of hotels, travelling in every species of conveyance, and +exhibiting their ability, or lack of it, upon every makeshift of a +stage. Sometimes this was a bare hall; again it was an armory, with an +occasional opera house—like an oasis in the vast desert—to yield them +fresh professional courage. Small cities, straggling towns, boisterous +mining camps welcomed and speeded them on, until sameness became +routine, and names grew meaningless. It was the sort of life to test +character thoroughly, and the "Heart of the World" troupe of strollers +began very promptly to exhibit its kind. Albrecht, who was making +money, retained his coarse good-nature unruffled by the hardships of +travel; but the majority of the stage people grew morose and +fretful,—the eminent comedian, glum and unapproachable as a bear; the +leading gentleman swearing savagely over every unusual worry, and +acting the boor generally; the <I>ingénue</I>, snappy and cat-like. Miss +Norvell alone among them all appeared as at first, reserved, quiet, +uncomplaining, forming no intimate friendships, yet performing her +nightly work with constantly augmenting power. Winston, ever observing +her with increasing interest, imagined that the strain of such a life +was telling upon her health, exhibiting its baleful effect in the +whitening of her cheeks, in those darker shadows forming beneath her +eyes, as well as in a shade less of animation in her manner. Yet he +saw comparatively little of her, his own work proving sufficiently +onerous; the quick jumps from town to town leaving small opportunity +for either rest or reflection. He had been advanced to a small +speaking part, but the remainder of his waking hours, while he was +attired in working-clothes, was diligently devoted to the strenuous +labor of his muscles. The novelty of the life had long since vanished, +the so eagerly expected experience had already become amply sufficient; +again and again, flinging his wearied body upon a cot in some strange +room, he had called himself an unmitigated ass, and sworn loudly that +he would certainly quit in the morning. Yet the girl held him. He did +not completely realize how or why, yet some peculiar, indefinite +fascination appeared to bind his destinies to her; he ever desired to +see her once again, to be near her, to feel the charm of her work, to +listen to the sound of her voice, to experience the thrill of her +presence. So strong and compelling became this influence over him that +day after day he held on, actually afraid to sever that slight bond of +professional companionship. +</P> + +<P> +This was most assuredly through no fault of hers. It was at +Shelbyville that she first spoke to him, first gave him the earliest +intimation that she even so much as recognized his presence in the +company. The house that particular night was crowded to the doors, and +she, completing a piece of work which left her cheeks flushed, her +slender form trembling from intense emotion, while the prolonged +applause thundered after her from the front, stepped quickly into the +gloomy shadows of the wings, and thus came face to face with Winston. +His eyes were glowing with unconcealed appreciation of her art. +Perhaps the quick reaction had partially unstrung her nerves, for she +spoke with feverish haste at sight of his uprolled sleeves and coarse +woollen shirt. +</P> + +<P> +"How does it occur that you are always standing directly in my passage +whenever I step from the stage?" she questioned impetuously. "Is there +no other place where you can wait to do your work except in my exit?" +</P> + +<P> +For a brief moment the surprised man stood hesitating, hat in hand. +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly regret having thus unintentionally offended you, Miss +Norvell," he explained at last, slowly. "Yet, surely, the occasion +should bring you pleasure rather than annoyance." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed! Why, pray?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because I so greatly enjoy your work. I stood here merely that I +might observe the details more carefully." +</P> + +<P> +She glanced directly at him with suddenly aroused interest. +</P> + +<P> +"You enjoy my work?" she exclaimed, slightly smiling. "How extremely +droll! Yet without doubt you do, precisely as those others, out +yonder, without the slightest conception of what it all means. +Probably you are equally interested in the delicate art of Mr. T. +Macready Lane?" +</P> + +<P> +Winston permitted his cool gray eyes to brighten, his firmly set lips +slightly to relax. +</P> + +<P> +"Lane is the merest buffoon," he replied quietly. "You are an artist. +There is no comparison possible, Miss Norvell. The play itself is +utterly unworthy of your talent, yet you succeed in dignifying it in a +way I can never cease to admire." +</P> + +<P> +She stood staring straight at him, her lips parted, apparently so +thoroughly startled by these unexpected words as to be left speechless. +</P> + +<P> +"Why," she managed to articulate at last, her cheeks flushing, "I +supposed you like the others we have had with us—just—just a common +stage hand. You speak with refinement, with meaning." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you not lived sufficiently long in the West to discover that men +of education are occasionally to be found in rough clothing?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes," doubtfully, her eyes still on his face, "miners, stockmen, +engineers, but scarcely in your present employment." +</P> + +<P> +"Miss Norvell," and Winston straightened up, "possibly I may be +employed here for a reason similar to that which has induced you to +travel with a troupe of barn-stormers." +</P> + +<P> +She shrugged her shoulders, her lips smiling, the seductive dimple +showing in her cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +"And what was that?" +</P> + +<P> +"The ambition of an amateur to attain a foothold upon the professional +stage." +</P> + +<P> +"Who told you so?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Samuel Albrecht was guilty of the suggestion. +</P> + +<P> +"It was extremely nice of him to discuss my motives thus freely with a +stranger. But he told you only a very small portion of the truth. In +my case it was rather the imperative necessity of an amateur to earn +her own living—a deliberate choice between the professional stage and +starvation." +</P> + +<P> +"Without ambition?" +</P> + +<P> +She hesitated slightly, yet there was a depth of respect slumbering +within those gray eyes gazing so directly into her darker ones, +together with a strength she felt. +</P> + +<P> +"Without very much at first, I fear," she confessed, as though +admitting it rather to herself alone, "yet I acknowledge it has since +grown upon me, until I have determined to succeed." +</P> + +<P> +His eyes brightened, the admiration in them unconcealed, his lips +speaking impulsively. +</P> + +<P> +"And what is more, Miss Norvell, you 'll make it." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you truly believe so?" She had already forgotten that the man +before her was a mere stage hand, and her cheeks burned eagerly to the +undoubted sincerity of his utterance. "No one else has ever said that +to me—only the audiences have appeared to care and appreciate. +Albrecht and all those others have scarcely offered me a word of +encouragement." +</P> + +<P> +"Albrecht and the others are asses," ejaculated Winston, with sudden +indignation. "They imagine they are actors because they prance and +bellow on a stage, and they sneer at any one who is not in their class. +But I can tell you this, Miss Norvell, the manager considers you a +treasure; he said as much to me." +</P> + +<P> +She stood before him, the glare of the stage glinting in her hair, her +hands clasped, her dark eyes eagerly reading his face as though these +unexpected words of appreciation had yielded her renewed courage, like +a glass of wine. +</P> + +<P> +"Really, is that true? Oh, I am so glad. I thought, perhaps, they +were only making fun of me out in front, although I have always tried +so hard to do my very best. You have given me a new hope that I may +indeed master the art. Was that my cue?" +</P> + +<P> +She stepped quickly backward, listening to the voices droning on the +stage, but there remained still a moment of liberty, and she glanced +uncertainly about at Winston. +</P> + +<P> +"Am I to thank you for giving me such immaculate dressing-rooms of +late?" she questioned, just a little archly. +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly wielded the broom." +</P> + +<P> +"It was thoughtful of you," and her clear voice hesitated an instant. +"Was—was it you, also, who placed those flowers upon my trunk last +evening?" +</P> + +<P> +He bowed, feeling slightly embarrassed by the swift returning restraint +in her manner. +</P> + +<P> +"They were most beautiful. Where did you get them?" +</P> + +<P> +"From Denver; they were forwarded by express, and I am only too glad if +they brought you pleasure." +</P> + +<P> +"Miracle of miracles! A stage-hand ordering roses from Denver! It +must have cost you a week's salary." +</P> + +<P> +He smiled: +</P> + +<P> +"And, alas, the salary has not even been paid." +</P> + +<P> +Her eyes were uplifted to his face, yet fell as suddenly, shadowed +behind the long lashes. +</P> + +<P> +"I thank you very much," she said, her voice trembling, "only please +don't do it again; I would rather not have you." +</P> + +<P> +Before he could frame a satisfactory answer to so unexpected a +prohibition she had stepped forth upon the stage. +</P> + +<P> +This brief interview did not prove as prolific of results as Winston +confidently expected. Miss Norvell evidently considered such casual +conversation no foundation for future friendship, and although she +greeted him when they again met, much as she acknowledged +acquaintanceship with the others of the troupe, there remained a quiet +reserve about her manner, which effectually barred all thought of +possible familiarity. Indeed, that she ever again considered him as in +any way differing from the others about her did not once occur to +Winston until one evening at Bluffton, when by chance he stood resting +behind a piece of set scenery and thus overheard the manager as he +halted the young lady on the way to her dressing room. +</P> + +<P> +"Meess Norvell," and Albrecht stood rubbing his hands and smiling +genially, "at Gilchrist we are pilled to blay for dwo nights, und der +second blay vill be der 'Man from der Vest'—you know dot bart, Ida +Somers?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she acknowledged, "I am perfectly acquainted with the lines, but +who is to play Ralph Wilde?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mister Mooney, of course. You tink dot I import some actors venever I +change der pill?" +</P> + +<P> +She lifted her dark, expressive eyes to his mottled face, slowly +gathering up her skirts in one hand. +</P> + +<P> +"As you please," she said quietly, "but I shall not play Ida Somers to +Mr. Mooney's Ralph Wilde. I told you as much plainly before we left +Denver, and it was for that special reason the 'Heart of the World' was +substituted. The more I have seen of Mr. Mooney since we took the +road, the less I am inclined to yield in this matter." +</P> + +<P> +Albrecht laughed coarsely, his face reddening. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, bah!" he exclaimed, gruffly derisive. "Ven you begome star then +you can have dem tantrums, but not now, not mit me. You blay vat I +say, or I send back after some von else. You bedder not get too gay, +or you lose your job damn quick. You don't vant Mooney to make lofe to +you? You don't vant him to giss you?—hey, vos dot it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that was exactly it." +</P> + +<P> +"Ach!—you too nice to be brofessional; you like to choose your lofer, +hey? You forget you earn a livin' so. Vot you got against Mooney?" +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell, her cheeks burning indignantly, her eyes already ablaze, +did not mince words. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing personally just so long as he keeps away from me," she +retorted clearly. "He is coarse, vulgar, boorish, and I have far too +much respect for myself to permit such a man to touch me, either upon +the stage or off; to have him kiss me would be an unbearable insult." +</P> + +<P> +Albrecht, totally unable to comprehend the feelings of the girl, +shifted uneasily beneath the sharp sting of her words, yet continued to +smile idiotically. +</P> + +<P> +"Dot is very nice, quite melodramatic, but it is not brofessional, +Meess," he stammered, striving to get hold of some satisfactory +argument. "Vy, Mooney vos not so pad. Meess Lyle she act dot bart mit +him all der last season, and make no kick. Dunder! vat you vant—an +angel? You don't hafe to take dot bart mit me, or Meester Lane either, +don 't it, hey?" +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell turned contemptuously away from him, her face white with +determination. +</P> + +<P> +"If you really want to know, there is only one man in all your troupe I +would consent to play it with," she declared calmly. +</P> + +<P> +"Und dot is?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do not even know his name," and she turned her head just +sufficiently to look directly into Albrecht's surprised face; "but I +refer to your new utility man; he, at least, possesses some of the +ordinary attributes of a gentleman." +</P> + +<P> +The door of her dressing-room opened and closed, leaving the startled +manager standing alone without, gasping for breath, his thick lips +gurgling impotent curses, while Winston discreetly drew farther back +amid the intricacy of scenery. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A BREAKING OF ICE +</H3> + + +<P> +The troupe in its wandering arrived at Bolton Junction early on a +Saturday afternoon, and Winston, lingering a moment in the hotel +office, overheard Miss Norvell ask the manager if they would probably +spend Sunday there; and later question the hotel clerk regarding any +Episcopalian services in the town. Their rather late arrival, however, +kept him so exceedingly busy with stage preparation for the evening's +performance that this conversation scarcely recurred to mind until his +night's labor had been completed. Then, in the silence of his room, he +resolved upon an immediate change in conditions, or else the deliberate +giving up of further experiment altogether. He was long since tired +enough of it, yet a strange, almost unaccountable attraction for this +young woman continued binding him to disagreeable servitude. +</P> + +<P> +He came down stairs the following morning, his plans completely +determined upon. He was carefully dressed in the neat business suit +which had been packed away ever since his first reckless plunge into +theatrical life, and thus attired he felt more like his old self than +at any moment since his surrender to the dictation of Albrecht. In +some degree self-confidence, audacity, hope, came promptly trooping +back with the mere donning of clean linen and semi-fashionable attire, +so that Winston "utility" became Winston gentleman, in the twinkling of +an eye. The other members of the troupe slept late, leaving him to +breakfast alone after vainly loitering about the office in the hope +that Miss Norvell might by some chance appear and keep him company. It +was almost mortifying to behold that young woman enter the deserted +dining-room soon after he had returned to the lonely office, but she +gave no sign of recognition in passing, and his returned audacity +scarcely proved sufficient to permit his encroachment upon her privacy. +He could only linger a moment at the desk in an effort to catch a +better view of her through the partially open door. +</P> + +<P> +Nervously gripping a freshly lighted cigar, Winston finally strolled +forth upon the wide porch to await, with all possible patience, the +opportunity he felt assured was fast approaching. It was a bright +spring morning, sufficiently warm to be comfortable without in the +sunshine, although the mountains overshadowing the town were yet white +with snow. The one long, straggling business street appeared +sufficiently lonely, being almost deserted, the shops closed. The +notable contrast between its present rather dreary desolation and the +wild revelry of the previous night seemed really painful, while the +solemn prevailing stillness served to weaken Winston's bold resolutions +and brought him a strange timidity. He slowly strolled a block or +more, peering in at the shop windows, yet never venturing beyond easy +view of the hotel steps. Then he sauntered as deliberately back again. +Lane and Mooney were now stationed upon the porch, tipping far back in +their chairs, their feet deposited on the convenient railing, smoking +and conversing noisily with a group of travelling men. Winston, to his +disgust, caught little scraps of the coarse stories exchanged, +constantly greeted by roars of laughter, but drew as far away from +their immediate vicinity as possible, leaning idly against the rail. +Far down the street, from some unseen steeple, a church bell rang +solemnly. Listening, he wondered if she would come alone, and a dread +lest she might not set his heart throbbing. +</P> + +<P> +Albrecht, looking not unlike a fat hog newly shaven, sauntered out of +the open office door, and stared idly about. He spoke a gracious word +or two to his rather silent utility man, viewing his well-cut clothing +with some apparent misgiving, finally drifting over to join the more +congenial group beyond. Winston did not alter his chosen position, but +remained with watchful eyes never long straying from off the ladies' +entrance, a few steps to his left. All at once that slightly used door +opened, and the hot blood leaped through his veins as Miss Norvell +stepped forth unaccompanied. She appeared well groomed, looking dainty +enough in her blue skirt and jacket, her dark hair crowned by the +tasteful blue toque, a prayer-book clasped in one neatly gloved hand. +As she turned unconsciously toward the steps, Winston lifted his hat +and bowed. With a quick upward glance of surprise the girl recognized +him, a sudden flush crimsoning her cheeks, her eyes as instantly +dropping before his own. In that sudden revelation the young man +appeared to her an utterly different character from what she had +formerly considered him; the miracle of good clothing, of environment, +had suddenly placed them upon a level of companionship. That Winston +likewise experienced something of this same exaltation was plainly +evident, although his low voice trembled in momentary excitement. +</P> + +<P> +"I trust you will pardon my presumption," he said, taking the single +step necessary to face her, "but I confess having been deliberately +waiting here to request the privilege of walking to church beside you." +</P> + +<P> +"Beside me? Indeed!" and both lips and eyes smiled unreservedly back +at him. "And how did you chance to guess it was my intention to +attend? Is it a peculiarity of leading ladies?" +</P> + +<P> +"As to that I cannot safely say, my acquaintance among them being +limited." He was acquiring fresh confidence from her cordial manner. +"But I chanced to overhear your questioning the clerk last night, and +the bold project at once took possession of me. Am I granted such +permission?" +</P> + +<P> +Her dark eyes wandered from their early scrutiny of his eager face +toward that small group of interested smokers beyond. What she may +have beheld there was instantly reflected in a pursing of the lips, a +swift decision. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be delighted to have your company," she responded, frankly +meeting his eyes, "but longer delay will probably make us late, and I +abominate that." +</P> + +<P> +As they passed down the steps to the street Winston caught a glimpse of +the others. They were all intently gazing after them, while Mooney had +even risen to his feet and taken a step forward, his cigar still in his +mouth. Then the group behind laughed loudly, and the younger man set +his teeth, his cheeks flushed from sudden anger. He would have enjoyed +dashing back up the steps, and giving those grinning fools a +much-needed lesson, but he glanced aside at his companion, her eyes +downcast, seemingly utterly unconscious of it all, and gripped himself, +walking along beside her, erect and silent. They traversed the entire +deserted block without speaking, each busied indeed with the +intricacies of the board walk. Then Winston sought to break the +somewhat embarrassing silence, his first words sounding strangely +awkward and constrained. +</P> + +<P> +"It was exceedingly kind of you to grant such privilege when we have +scarcely even spoken to each other before." +</P> + +<P> +She glanced aside at his grave face, a certain coquettish smile making +her appear suddenly girlish. +</P> + +<P> +"Possibly if you realized the exact cause of my complete surrender you +might not feel so highly flattered," she confessed, shyly. +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed! You mean why it was you consented so easily? Then possibly +you had better inform me at once, for I acknowledge feeling quite +conceited already at my good fortune." +</P> + +<P> +She lifted her eyes questioningly, and for the first time he looked +directly down into their unveiled depths. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I must certainly make confession. What if I should say, I merely +accepted the lesser of two evils—in short, preferred your company to +something I considered infinitely worse?" +</P> + +<P> +"You refer to Mooney?" +</P> + +<P> +She nodded, her dark eyes once again shadowed, her cheeks slightly +reddening beneath his steady gaze. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I can scarcely feel greatly flattered at being made the subject +of such a choice," Winston acknowledged with frankness. "The very +conception brings me uneasiness in fear lest my presence may be +unwelcome now that Mooney has been safely left behind. Yet it yields +me boldness also, and I venture to ask Miss Norvell what she would +probably have answered had Mooney been left out of the problem +entirely?" +</P> + +<P> +His low voice held a ring of subdued earnestness, and the face of the +woman as quickly lost its smile. An instant she hesitated, her eyes +downcast, fully conscious he was anxiously searching her countenance +for the exact truth. +</P> + +<P> +"And under those conditions," she responded finally, "Miss Norvell +would very probably have answered yes, only it would have been more +deliberately uttered, so that you should have realized the measure of +her condescension." +</P> + +<P> +Winston laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"You can have small conception of the intense relief brought me by that +last acknowledgment," he explained cheerfully. "Now I can proceed with +clear conscience, and shall undoubtedly discover in the church service +an expression of my own devout gratitude." +</P> + +<P> +It was an exceedingly alert exchange of words which followed, each +cautiously exploring a way in toward a somewhat clearer understanding +of the other, yet both becoming quickly convinced that they were not +destined for ordinary acquaintanceship. To Miss Norvell observing her +companion with shy intentness, this erect, manly young fellow with +weather-browned, clean-shaven face and straightforward gray eyes seemed +to evince a power of manhood she instinctively felt and surrendered to. +His were those elements which a woman of her nature must instantly +recognize—physical strength and daring, combined with mental acuteness +and indomitable will. The fact of his present unworthy employment +added the fascination of mystery to his personality, for it was +manifestly impossible to conceive that such a position was all this man +had ever achieved in life. And Winston wondered likewise at her, his +earlier admiration for the bright attractiveness of face and manner +broadening as her mind gave quick response to his leadership. Here was +certainly no commonplace girl of the stage, but an educated, refined, +ambitious woman, matured beyond her years by experience, her +conversation exhibiting a wide range of reading, interwoven, with a +deep knowledge of life. They spoke of ideals, of art, of literature, +of secret aspirations, not often mentioned during such early +acquaintanceship, breaking through that mental barrenness which had +characterized their living for weeks, this common ground of thought and +interest awakening between them an immediate friendliness and frankness +of utterance delightfully inspiring. Almost without comprehending how +it occurred they were chatting together as if the eventful years had +already cemented their acquaintanceship. With cheeks flushed and eyes +glowing from aroused interest Miss Norvell increased in beauty, and +Winston observed her with an admiration finding frank expression in his +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +It was a small chapel they sought, situated at the extreme end of the +straggling street, and the worshippers were few. At the conclusion of +the ritual and the sermon the two walked forth together in silence, +their former brief intimacy a mere memory, neither realizing exactly +how best to resume a conversation which had been interrupted by so +solemn a service. It was Miss Norvell who first broke the constraint. +</P> + +<P> +"You are evidently well acquainted with the intricacies of the +prayer-book," she remarked quietly, "and hence I venture to inquire if +you are a churchman." +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly, although my parents are both communicants, and I was +brought up to attend service." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know, I am glad even of that? It is a little additional bond +between us merely to feel interested in the same church, isn't it? I +was guilty during the service of thinking how exceedingly odd it was +for us to talk so frankly together this morning when we knew absolutely +nothing regarding each other. Would you mind if I questioned you just +a little about yourself?" +</P> + +<P> +He glanced aside at her in surprise, all remembrance that they were +comparatively strangers having deserted his mind. It seemed as if he +had already known her for years. +</P> + +<P> +"Most certainly question; I had no thought of any concealment." +</P> + +<P> +She smiled at the confusedness of his words, yet her own speech was not +entirely devoid of embarrassment. +</P> + +<P> +"It does appear almost ridiculous, but really I do not even know your +name." +</P> + +<P> +"It is Ned Winston." +</P> + +<P> +"Not so bad a name, is it? Do you mind telling me where your home is?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can scarcely lay claim to such a spot, but my people live in Denver." +</P> + +<P> +She drew a quick, surprised breath, her eyes instantly falling, as +though she would thus conceal some half-revealed secret. For a moment +her parted lips trembled to a question she hesitated asking. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I believe I have heard of a Colonel Daniel Winston in Denver, a +banker," she said finally. "I—I have seen his house." +</P> + +<P> +"He is my father." +</P> + +<P> +Her shadowing lashes suddenly uplifted, the color once again flooding +the clear cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +"You are, indeed, becoming a man of mystery," she exclaimed, affecting +lightness of utterance. "The son of Colonel Winston acting as utility +for a troupe of strollers! I can hardly believe it true." +</P> + +<P> +Winston laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"It does seem a trifle out of proportion," he confessed, "and I can +hardly hope to make the situation entirely clear. Yet I am not quite +so unworthy my birthright as would appear upon the surface. I will +trust you with a portion of the story, at least, Miss Norvell. I am by +profession a mining engineer, and was sent out, perhaps a month ago, by +a syndicate of Denver capitalists to examine thoroughly into some +promising claims at Shell Rock. I made the examination, completed and +mailed my report, and finally, on the same day your company arrived +there, I discovered myself in Rockton with nothing to do and several +weeks of idleness on my hands. I had intended returning to Denver, but +a sudden temptation seized me to try the experiment of a week or two in +wandering theatrical life. I had always experienced a boyish hankering +that way, and have a natural inclination to seek new experiences. +Albrecht was favorably impressed with my application, and hence I +easily attained to my present exalted position upon the stage." +</P> + +<P> +"And is that all?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not entirely; there yet remains a chapter to be added to my +confessions. I acknowledge I should have long since tired of the life +and its hardships, had you not chanced to be a member of the same +troupe." +</P> + +<P> +"I, Mr. Winston? Why, we have scarcely spoken to each other until +to-day." +</P> + +<P> +"True, yet I strenuously deny that it was my fault. In fact, I had +firmly determined that we should, and, having been a spoiled child, I +am accustomed to having my own way. This, perhaps, will partially +account for my persistency and for my still being with 'The Heart of +the World.' But all else aside, I early became intensely interested in +your work, Miss Norvell, instantly recognizing that it required no +common degree of ability to yield dignity to so poor a thing as the +play in which you appear. I began to study you and your +interpretation; I never tired of noting those little fresh touches with +which you constantly succeeded in embellishing your lines and your +'business,' and how clearly your conception of character stood forth +against the crude background of those mummers surrounding you. It was +a lesson in interpretative art to me, and one I never wearied of. +Then, I must likewise confess, something else occurred." +</P> + +<P> +He paused, looking aside at her, and, as though she felt the spell of +that glance, she turned her own face, brightened by such earnest words +of praise, their eyes meeting frankly. +</P> + +<P> +"What?" +</P> + +<P> +"The most natural thing in the world—my admiration for the art only +served to increase my early interest in the artist. I began to feel +drawn not only to the actress but to the woman," he said gravely. +</P> + +<P> +Her eyes never faltered, but faced him bravely, although her cheeks +were like poppies, and her lips faltered in their first bold effort at +swift reply. +</P> + +<P> +"I am so glad you honestly think that about my work; so glad you told +me. It is a wonderful encouragement, for I know now that you speak as +a man of education, of cultivation. You must have seen the highest +class of stage interpretation, and, I am sure, have no desire merely to +flatter me. You do not speak as if you meant an idle compliment. Oh, +you can scarcely conceive how much success will spell to me, Mr. +Winston," her voice growing deeper from increasing earnestness, her +eyes more thoughtful, "but I am going to tell you a portion of my +life-story in order that you may partially comprehend. This is my +first professional engagement; but I was no stage-struck girl when I +first applied for the position. Rather, the thought was most repugnant +to me. My earlier life had been passed under conditions which held me +quite aloof from anything of the kind. While I always enjoyed +interpreting character as a relaxation, and even achieved, while at +school in the East, a rather enviable reputation as an amateur, I +nevertheless had a distinct prejudice against the professional stage, +even while intensely admiring its higher exponents. My turning to it +for a livelihood was a grim necessity, my first week on the road a +continual horror. I abhorred the play, the making of a nightly +spectacle of myself, the rudeness and freedom of the audiences, the +coarse, common-place people with whom I was constantly compelled to +consort. You know them, and can therefore realize to some extent what +daily association with them must necessarily mean to one of my early +training and familiarity with quieter social customs. But my position +in the troupe afforded me certain privileges of isolation, while my +necessities compelled me to persevere. As a result, the dormant +art-spirit within apparently came to life; ambition began to usurp the +place of indifference; I became more and more disgusted with +mediocrity, and began an earnest struggle toward higher achievements. +I had little to guide me other than my own natural instincts, yet I +persevered. I insisted on living my own life while off the stage, and, +to kill unhappy thought, I devoted all my spare moments to hard study. +Almost to my surprise, the very effort brought with it happiness. I +began to forget the past and its crudities, to blot out the present +with its dull, unpleasant realities, and to live for the future. My +ideals, at first but vague dreams, took form and substance. I +determined to succeed, to master my art, to develop whatever of talent +I might possess to its highest possibility, to become an actress worthy +of the name. This developing ideal has already made me a new woman—it +has given me something to live for, to strive toward." +</P> + +<P> +She came to a sudden pause, perceiving in the frank gray eyes scanning +her animated face a look which caused her own to droop. Then her lips +set in firmer resolution, and she continued as though in utter +indifference to his presence. +</P> + +<P> +"You may not comprehend all this, but I do. It was the turning-point +in my life. And I began right where I was. I endeavored to make the +utmost possible out of that miserable melodramatic part which had been +assigned to me. I elected to play it quietly, with an intensity to be +felt and not heard, the very opposite from the interpretation given by +Miss Lyle last season, and I felt assured my efforts were appreciated +by the audiences. It encouraged me to discover them so responsive; but +Albrecht, Lane, and Mooney merely laughed and winked at each other, and +thus hurt me cruelly, although I had little respect for their +criticisms. Still, they were professional actors of experience, and I +was not yet certain that my judgment might not be wrong. Miss Head, +the <I>ingénue</I>, a girl of sweet disposition but little education, +praised my efforts warmly, but otherwise your evident appreciation is +my only real reward. I spoke to you that evening in the wings not so +much to scold you for being in the way, as from a hungry, despairing +hope that you might speak some word of encouragement. I was not +disappointed, and I have felt stronger ever since." +</P> + +<P> +"I should never have suspected any such purpose. We have never so much +as exchanged speech since, until to-day, and then I forced it." +</P> + +<P> +She shook her head, a vagrant tress of her black hair loosening. +</P> + +<P> +"You must be a very young and inexperienced man to expect to comprehend +all that any woman feels merely by what she says or does." +</P> + +<P> +"No," smilingly, "I have advanced beyond that stage of development, +although the mystery of some womanly natures may always remain beyond +me. But can I ask you a somewhat personal question, also?" +</P> + +<P> +"Most assuredly, yet I expressly reserve the privilege of refusing a +direct reply." +</P> + +<P> +"Is Beth Norvell your real, or merely your stage name?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you ask? That is a secret which, I believe, an actress is +privileged to keep inviolate." +</P> + +<P> +"For one particular reason—because I cannot escape a vague impression +that somewhere we have met before." +</P> + +<P> +She did not respond immediately, her gloved fingers perceptibly +tightening about the prayer-book, her eyes carefully avoiding his own. +</P> + +<P> +"You are mistaken in that, for we have never met," she said slowly, and +with emphasis. "Moreover, Beth Norvell is my stage name, but in part +it is my true name also." Suddenly she paused and glanced aside at +him. "I have spoken with unusual frankness to you this morning, Mr. +Winston. Most people, I imagine, find me diffident and +uncommunicative—perhaps I appear according to my varying moods. But I +have been lonely, and in some way you have inspired my confidence and +unlocked my life. I believe you to be a man worthy of trust, and +because I thus believe I am now going to request you not to ask me any +more. My past life has not been so bright that I enjoy dwelling upon +it. I have chosen rather to forget it entirely, and live merely for +the future." +</P> + +<P> +They were standing before the door of the ladies' entrance to the hotel +by this time, and the young man lifted his hat gravely. +</P> + +<P> +"Your wish shall certainly be respected," he said with courtesy, "yet +that does not necessarily mean that our friendship is to end here." +</P> + +<P> +Her face became transfigured by a sudden smile, and she impulsively +extended her hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Assuredly not, if you can withstand my vagaries. I have never made +friends easily, and am the greater surprised at my unceremonious +frankness with you. Yet that only makes it harder to yield up a +friendship when once formed. Do you intend, then, to remain with the +company? I have no choice, but you have the whole world." +</P> + +<P> +"Yet, my intense devotion to the art of the Thespian holds me captive." +</P> + +<P> +Their eyes met smilingly, and the next instant the door closed quietly +between them. +</P> + +<P> +Winston turned aside and entered the gloomy hotel office, feeling +mentally unsettled, undetermined in regard to his future conduct. Miss +Norvell had proven frankly intimate, delightfully cordial, yet +overshadowing it all there remained unquestionably a certain constraint +about both words and actions which continued to perplex and tantalize. +She had something in her past life to conceal; she did not even pretend +to deceive him in this regard, but rather held him off with deliberate +coolness. The very manner in which this had been accomplished merely +served to stimulate his eagerness to penetrate the mystery of her +reserve, and caused him to consider her henceforth as altogether +differing from other girls. She had become a problem, an enigma, which +he would try to solve; and her peculiar nature, baffling, changeable, +full of puzzling moods, served to fascinate his imagination, to invite +his dreaming. A strange thrill swept him when he caught a fleeting +glimpse of white skirt and well-turned ankle as she ran swiftly up the +steep staircase, yet, almost at the same instant, he returned to earth +with a sudden shock, facing Mooney, when the latter turned slowly away +from the window and sneeringly confronted him. The mottled face was +unpleasantly twisted, a half-smoked cigar tilted between his lips. An +instant the half-angry eyes of the two men met. +</P> + +<P> +"Must have made a conquest, from all appearances," ventured the leading +man with a knowing wink. "Not so damned hard to catch on with, is she, +when the right man tries it?" +</P> + +<P> +There was a swift, passionate blow, a crash among the overturned +chairs, and Mooney, dazed and trembling, gazed up from the floor at the +rigid, erect figure towering threateningly above him, with squared +shoulders and clenched fists. +</P> + +<P> +"Utter another word like that, you cur," said Winston, sternly, "and I +'ll break your head. Don't you dare doubt that I 'll keep my word." +</P> + +<P> +For a breathless moment he stood there, glowering down at the shrinking +wretch on the floor. Then, his face, still set and white with passion, +he turned contemptuously away. Mooney, cursing cowardly behind his +teeth, watched him ascend the stairs, but the younger man never so much +as glanced below. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A NEW DEAL OF THE CARDS +</H3> + + +<P> +For the two performances following there occurred an enforced shift of +actors, owing to Mr. Mooney's being somewhat indisposed; and Winston, +aided by considerable prompting from the others, succeeded in getting +through his lines, conscious of much good-natured guying out in front, +and not altogether insensible to Miss Norvell's efforts not to appear +amused. This experience left him in no pleasanter frame of mind, while +a wish to throw over the whole thing returned with renewed temptation. +Why not? What was he continuing to make such a fool of himself for, +anyhow? He was assuredly old enough to be done with chasing after +will-o'-the-wisps; and besides, there was his constant liability to +meet some old acquaintance who would blow the whole confounded story +through the Denver clubs. The thought of the probable sarcasm of his +fellows made him wince. Moreover, he was himself ashamed of his +actions. This actress was nothing to him; he thoroughly convinced +himself of that important fact at least twenty times a day. She was a +delightful companion, bright, witty, full of captivating character, +attractively winsome, to be sure, yet it was manifestly impossible for +him ever to consider her in any more serious way. This became +sufficiently clear to his reasoning, yet, at the same time, he could +never quite break free. She seldom appeared to him twice the +same—proving as changeable as the winds, her very nature seeming to +vary with a suddenness which never permitted his complete escape from +her fascinations, but left him to surmise how she would greet him next. +Frank or distant, filled with unrestrained gayety or dignified by +womanly reserve, smiling or grave, the changeable vagaries of Miss +Norvell were utterly beyond his guessing, while back of all these +outward manifestations of tantalizing personality, there continually +lurked a depth of hidden womanhood, which as constantly baffled his +efforts at fathoming. It piqued him to realize his own helplessness, +to comprehend how completely this girl turned aside his most daring +efforts at uncovering the true trend of her heart and life. She +refused to be read, wearing her various masks with a cool defiance +which apparently bespoke utter indifference to his good opinion, while +constantly affording him brief, tantalizing glimpses into half-revealed +depths that caused his heart to throb with anticipation never entirely +realized. +</P> + +<P> +It did not once occur to his mind that such artifices might be directed +as much toward herself as him; he lacked the conceit which could have +convinced him that they merely marked a secret struggle for mastery, a +desperate effort to crush an inclination to surrender before the +temptation of the moment. It was a battle for deliverance being fought +silently behind a mask of smiles, an exchange of sparkling commonplace; +yet ever beneath this surface play she was breathing a fervent prayer +that he would go away of his own volition and leave her free. Far more +clearly than he, the woman recognized the utter impossibility of any +serious purpose between them, and she fought his advances with every +weapon in her armory, her very soul trembling behind the happy smiling +of her lips. It was bravely attempted, and yet those dull weapons of +defence served merely to increase his interest, to awaken his passion, +and thus bind him more strongly to her. Safe once again from general +observation, he returned to the obscurity of the wings and to the +routine handling of trunks and scenery, feeling totally unable to +permit her to pass entirely out of his life. Within her own room she +dampened her pillow with tears of regret and remorse, yet finally she +sank to sleep strangely happy because he lingered. It was the way of a +woman; it was no less the way of a man. +</P> + +<P> +It was thus that the "Heart of the World" players came to fulfil their +engagement at San Juan upon a Saturday night. This was the liveliest +camp in all that mountain region, a frantic, feverish, mushroom city of +tents and shacks, sprawling frame business blocks, and a few ugly brick +abominations, perched above the golden rocks of the Vila Valley, +bounded on one side by the towering cliffs, on the other by the +pitiless desert. In those days San Juan recognized no material +distinction between midnight and noon-day. All was glitter, glow, +life, excitement along the streets; the gloomy overhanging mountains +were pouring untold wealth into her lap, while vice and crime, +ostentation and lawlessness, held high carnival along the crowded, +straggling byways. The exultant residents existed to-day in utter +carelessness of the morrow, their one dominant thought gold, their sole +acknowledged purpose those carnal pleasures to be purchased with it. +Everything was primitive, the animal yet in full control, the drinking, +laughing, fighting animal, filled with passion and blood-lust, +worshipping bodily strength, and governed by the ideals of a frontier +society wherein the real law hung dangling at the hip. Saloons, +gambling halls, dance halls, and brothels flaunted themselves +shamelessly upon every hand; the streets exhibited one continual riot, +while all higher life was seemingly rendered inactive by inordinate +grasping after wealth, and reckless squandering of it on appetite and +vice; over all, as if blazoned across the blue sky, appeared the +ever-recurring motto of careless humanity, "Eat, drink, and be merry, +for to-morrow ye die." Hardly a week before a short railroad spur had +been constructed up the narrow, rock-guarded valley from Bolton +Junction, eighteen miles to the northward, and over those uneven rails +the "Heart of the World" troupe of adventurous strollers arrived at San +Juan, to find lodgment in that ramshackle pile of boards known locally +as the "Occidental Hotel." +</P> + +<P> +The San Juan Opera House, better known as the Gayety, was in truth +merely an adjunct to the Poodle-Dog Saloon, the side-doors from the +main floor opening directly into the inviting bar-room, while those in +the gallery afforded an equally easy egress into the spacious gambling +apartments directly above. It was a monstrous ugly building, +constructed entirely of wood most hastily prepared; the stage was +utilized both night and day for continuous variety entertainments of +the kind naturally demanded by the motley gathering. These, however, +were occasionally suspended to make room for some adventurous +travelling company to appear in the legitimate drama, but at the close +of every evening performance the main floor was promptly cleared, the +rows of chairs pushed hastily back from the centre, and the space thus +vacated utilized for a general dance, which invariably continued until +dawn. +</P> + +<P> +When the drop-curtain slowly rose that Saturday evening fully three +thousand people crowded the hall, eager for any fresh excitement; and +ready enough either to taunt or applaud a performer, as the whim moved +them. Bearded miners conspicuous in red shirts; cattlemen wearing wide +sombreros and hairy "chaps"; swarthy Mexicans lazily puffing the +inseparable cigarette; gamblers attired in immaculate linen, together +with numerous women gaudy of cheek and attire, composed a frontier +audience full of possibilities. The result might easily prove good or +evil, according to the prevailing temper, but fortunately the "Heart of +the World" quickly caught the men's fancy, the laughter ringing loud in +appreciation of Mr. Lane's ardent buffoonery, while the motley crowd +sat in surprised silence evincing respect, as Miss Norvell drove home +to their minds the lesson of a woman's sorrow and struggle against +temptation. It was well worth while looking out across the oil-lamp +footlights upon those hard-faced, bearded men, those gaudily attired +women, thus held and controlled by perfectly depleted emotion, the vast +audience so silent that the click of the wheel, the rattle of ivory +chips in the rooms beyond, became plainly audible. There was +inspiration in it likewise, and never before did Beth Norvell more +clearly exhibit her native power, her spark of real genius. +</P> + +<P> +Winston found little to do in his department that night, either on or +off the stage, as the company expected to spend Sunday in the place. +Consequently, he was only slightly behind the other members of the +troupe in attaining the hotel at the conclusion of the evening's +performance. Indeed, he was earlier than many, for most of the male +members had promptly adjourned to the convenient bar-room, with +whatsoever small sums of money they could wring from out the reluctant +palm of Albrecht. Winston chanced to pause for a moment at the cigar +stand to exchange a pleasant good-night word with the seemingly genial +clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"You one of the actors?" questioned the latter, exhibiting some slight +interest. +</P> + +<P> +The young man nodded indifferently, not feeling unduly proud of the +distinction. +</P> + +<P> +"Sorry I couldn't have been there," the other went on cordially. "The +boys tell me you gave 'em a mighty fine show, but I 'm here to bet that +some of your people wish they 'd steered clear of San Juan." +</P> + +<P> +"How's that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, that fat fellow—what's his name?—oh, yes, Albrecht—the sheriff +was in here hunting him with some papers he had to serve, and it would +have made you laugh just to see that duck climb out when I met him +yonder on the street a few minutes ago, and gave him the highball. +Guest of the house, you know, and we did n't want him pinched in here; +besides, we understood he carried the scads for the rest of your bunch, +and we naturally wanted our share. The sheriff's out tryin' to find +him now; but Lord! the fellow 's safe enough out of the county by this +time, if he skipped the way I advised him he 'd better. There was an +extra ore train goin' down to Bolton to-night, and he just had time to +catch it on the run." +</P> + +<P> +The dramatic situation slowly dawned on Winston while the clerk was +speaking. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean to tell me Albrecht has actually skipped out?" he +questioned, anxiously. "Did he leave any money?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sure; he paid your folks' board till Monday. You bet I looked after +that." +</P> + +<P> +"Board till Monday!" and Winston totally forgot himself. "That is n't +salary, man; there is something infernally dirty about this whole deal. +Why, he took in over three thousand dollars to-night, and he's got all +of that, and at least a week's receipts besides—the infernal cur! Was +he alone?" +</P> + +<P> +"Tall fellow with clipped black moustache, and bald head." +</P> + +<P> +"Lane; I expected as much; they're birds of a feather. When can they +get out of the Junction?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the first train scheduled goes east at four o'clock, but it 's +generally late." +</P> + +<P> +Winston walked twice across the floor, alternately swearing and +thinking. +</P> + +<P> +"Is there any way I could get there before that time?" he questioned, +finally, his square jaw setting firm. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I reckon you might, by goin' hossback across the old trail, but +you 'd need to have a guide in the dark, and you 'd find it a hell of a +hard ride." +</P> + +<P> +The young engineer stood a moment staring out of the window into the +night. The street was well illumined by the numerous saloon lights, +and he could perceive scattering flakes of snow in the air, blown about +by the gusty wind. He no longer felt the slightest doubt regarding +Albrecht's desertion, and a wave of indignation swept over him. He did +not greatly care himself regarding the small amount of money due for +his services, but it was a dirty, contemptible trick, and he resented +being so easily made the victim of such a scheme. Suddenly he wondered +how this unexpected occurrence might affect the others. With one of +them alone in mind he strode back to the counter, his teeth clinched +savagely. +</P> + +<P> +"What is the number of Miss Norvell's room?" +</P> + +<P> +"Fifty-four—first door to the right of the stairs." +</P> + +<P> +He took the steep flight of steps at a run, caught a glimpse of dimly +reflected light shining through the closed transom, and rapped sharply. +There was a hurried movement within, and her voice spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"What is wanted?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am Mr. Winston, and I must speak with you at once." +</P> + +<P> +His tone was sufficiently low and earnest to make her realize instantly +some grave emergency. Without hesitation the door was held open, and +she stood before him in the faint light of the single lamp, wearing a +fleecy white wrapper, her dark hair partially disarranged, her eyes +seeking his own in bewilderment. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Are you aware that both Albrecht and Lane have skipped out?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, no," her cheeks suddenly paling, her fingers clasping the edge of +the door. "Do you mean they have deserted us here to—to take care of +ourselves?" +</P> + +<P> +He nodded. "Yes, that's about it. What I came to ask was, does that +fellow owe you any money?" +</P> + +<P> +For an instant she hesitated, as if in lingering distrust of his exact +purpose, her lips parted, her face still plainly picturing the shock of +discovery. +</P> + +<P> +"What difference can that possibly make now? Why do you require to +know?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because I half believe you have been left penniless. Albrecht has not +even spoken about any pay to me since I joined the company; and when I +learned he had deliberately left us stalled here, my first thought was +of your unpleasant situation if my suspicions proved true." +</P> + +<P> +"If they were, what is there you can do?" +</P> + +<P> +"The hotel clerk says it is possible to reach the Junction on horseback +before any trains leave there on the main line. I propose to make him +disgorge, but I must know first exactly how things stand. Have you any +money?" +</P> + +<P> +She stood gazing at him, her anger, shame, all forgotten in the +fascination of Winston's determined face. For the first time she +thoroughly comprehended the cool, compelling power of this man, and it +mastered her completely. She felt no longer the slightest doubt of +what he purposed doing, and her woman heart swelled responsively to his +masculine strength. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I have n't got a dollar," she confessed simply, her lashes drooping +over her lowered eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"What does that fellow owe you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Two hundred and sixty dollars; he has merely dribbled out what little +I have been actually compelled to ask for." +</P> + +<P> +A moment he remained standing there, breathing hard. Once she ventured +to glance up inquiringly, only to catch his stern eyes, and as +instantly lower her own. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Miss Norvell," he said finally, the words seeming fairly to +explode from between his lips. "I understand the situation now, and +you are to remain here until I come back. I 'll get your money, don't +fear, if I have to trail him clear to Denver, but I 'll take what +little the miserable thief owes me out of his hide." +</P> + +<P> +The next moment he was down below in the office rapidly preparing for +action, and Miss Norvell, leaning far out across the banister, listened +to his quick, nervous words of instruction with an odd thrill of pride +that left her cheeks crimson. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN OPEN REBELLION +</H3> + + +<P> +"It wus about the durndest fight as ever I see," explained Bill Hicks +confidentially to a group of his cronies in the bar-room of the +Poodle-Dog, while he tossed down a glass of red liquor, and shook the +powdered snowflakes from his bearskin coat. "He wus a sorter slim, +long-legged chap, thet young actor feller I showed the trail down ter +Bolton ter, an' he scurcely spoke a word all durin' thet whol' blame +ride. Search me, gents, if I c'd git either head er tail outer jist +whut he wus up to, only thet he proposed ter knock ther block off some +feller if he had the good luck ter ketch 'im. Somehow, I reckoned he +'d be mighty likely ter perform the job, the way his jaw set an' his +eyes flared. Leastwise, I didn't possess no rip-roarin' ambition fer +ter be thet other feller. Still, I didn't suppose he was no whirlwind." +</P> + +<P> +Bill mechanically held out his drained glass, and, warming up somewhat, +flung his discarded overcoat across a vacant bench, his eyes beginning +to glow with reawakened enthusiasm. +</P> + +<P> +"But, by gory, he wus! He wus simply chain lightnin', thet kid, an' +the way he handed out his dukes wus a sight fer sore eyes. I got onto +the facts sorter slow like, neither of us bein' much on the converse, +but afore we hed reached Bolton I managed to savvy the most of it. It +seems thet feller Albrecht—the big, cock-eyed cuss who played Damon, +ye recollect, gents—wus the boss of the show. He wus the Grand Moke, +an' held the spuds. Well, he an' thet one they call Lane jumped the +ore train last night, carryin' with 'em 'bout all the specie they'd +been corrallin' fer a week past, and started hot-foot fer Denver, +intendin' ter leave all them other actor people in the soup. This yere +lad hed got onter the racket somehow, an' say, he wus plumb mad; he wus +too damn mad ter talk, an' when they git thet fur gone it's 'bout time +fer the innocent spectator ter move back outen range. So he lassoed me +down at Gary's barn fer ter show him the ol' trail, an' we had one hell +of a night's ride of it. But, gents, I would n't o' missed bein' thar +fer a heap. It was a great scrape let me tell you. We never see hide +ner hair of thet Albrecht or his partner till jist afore the main-line +train pulled in goin' north. The choo-choo wus mighty nigh two hours +late, so it wus fair daylight by then, an' we got a good sight o' them +two fellers a-leggin' it toward the station from out the crick bottom, +whar they 'd been layin' low. They wus both husky-lookin' bucks, an' I +was sufficient interested by then ter offer ter sorter hold one of 'em +while the kid polished off the other. But Lord! that wan't his style, +no how, and he just politely told me ter go plumb ter hell, an' then +waltzed out alone without nary a gun in his fist. He wus purty white +round the lips, but I reckon it wus only mad, fur thar wus n't nothin' +weak about his voice, an' the way he lambasted thet thief wus a caution +ter snakes. Say, I 've heerd some considerable ornate language in my +time, but thet kid had a cinch on the dictionary all right, an' he read +them two ducks the riot act good an' plenty. Thet long-legged Lane, he +did n't have no sand, an' hung back and did n't say much, but the other +feller tried every sneakin' trick a thief knows, only he bucked up agin +a stone wall every time. Thet young feller just simply slathered him; +he called him every name I ever heerd, an' some considerable others, +an' finally, when the train was a-pullin' in, the cuss unlimbered his +wad, an' began peelin' off the tens an' twenties till I thought the +whole show wus over fer sure. But Lord! I didn't know thet kid—no +more did thet Albrecht." +</P> + +<P> +Hicks wet his lips with his tongue, pausing, after the manner of a good +<I>raconteur</I>, to gaze calmly about upon the faces of his auditors. +</P> + +<P> +"I could n't see jist how much the feller disgorged, but he wus +almighty reluctant an' nifty about it; an' then I heerd him say, +sneerin'-like, 'Now, damn yer, how much more do <I>you</I> want?' An', +gents, what do yer think thet actor kid did? Cop ther whole blame +pile? Not on yer whiskers, he didn't. He jist shoved them scads +what hed been given him careless-like down inter his coat pocket, an' +faced Mister Manager. 'Not a dirty penny, Albrecht,' he said, sorter +soft-like; 'I 'm a-goin' to take whut yer owe me out of yer right now.' +An', by gory, gents, he sure did. I can't say as how I see much o' the +fracas, 'ceptin' the dust, but when thet long-legged Lane jerked out a +pearl-handled pop-gun I jist naturally rapped him over the knuckles +with my '45.' an' then tossed him over inter the bunch. Say, thet beat +any three-ringed circus ever I see. The kid he pounded Albrecht's head +on the platform, occasionally interestin' Lane by kickin' him in the +stomick, while I jist waltzed 'round promiscous-like without seein' no +special occasion to take holt anywhar. I reckon they 'd a been thar +yit, if the train hands had n't pried 'em apart, an' loaded the remains +onter a keer. An' then thet actor kid he stood thar lookin' fust at +me, an' then after them keers. 'Hicks,' he panted, 'did I git fifty +dollars' worth?' 'I rather reckon ye did,' I said, thoughtfully, 'en +maybe it mought be a hundred.' An' then he laughed, an' brushed the +dust off his clothes. 'All right, then,' says he; 'let's eat.' An' I +never see no nicer feller after he got thet load offen his mind." +</P> + +<P> +Winston, totally unconscious that he had thus achieved an enviable +reputation in certain rather exclusive social circles of San Juan, +proceeded straight to the hotel, pausing merely a moment in the +wash-room to make himself a trifle more presentable, tramped up the +stairs, and rapped briskly at Miss Norvell's door. He was still +flushed with victory, while the natural confidence felt in her +appreciation of his efforts yielded him a sense of exhilaration not +easily concealed. The door was promptly opened, and, with her first +glance, she read the success of his mission pictured within his face. +As instantly her eyes smiled, and her hand was extended in the +cordiality of welcome. +</P> + +<P> +"I can perceive without a word being spoken that you discovered your +man," she exclaimed, "and I am so glad!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," he returned, stepping past, and emptying his pockets on the +white coverlet of the bed. "There is the money." +</P> + +<P> +She glanced at the pile doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +"What money?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yours, of course. The money you told me Albrecht owed you." +</P> + +<P> +She turned, somewhat embarrassed, her eyes upon his surprised face. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean that was all you got?" she questioned finally. "Did he +send nothing for the others? Did n't you know he was equally in debt +to every member of the company?" +</P> + +<P> +With these words the entire situation dawned upon him for the first +time. He had been thinking only about Miss Norvell, and had permitted +the rascally manager to escape with the greater portion of his stolen +goods. The realization of how easily he had been tricked angered him, +his face darkening. She read the truth as quickly, and, before he +found speech in explanation, had swept the little pile of loose bills +into her lap. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait here a moment, please," she exclaimed quickly; "I shall be right +back." +</P> + +<P> +He remained as bidden, wondering dimly as to her purpose, yet her brief +absence yielded but little opportunity for thought. He met her at the +door with an indignantly suspicious question: +</P> + +<P> +"What have you been doing? Surely, you have n't given all that money +away?" +</P> + +<P> +The girl smiled, a gleam of defiance visible in the uplifted eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Every cent of it. Why, what else could I do? They actually have +nothing, and must get back to Denver or starve." +</P> + +<P> +For an instant he completely lost his self-control. +</P> + +<P> +"Why did n't you tell me first?" he asked sharply. "Did you suppose I +collected my own money, and could therefore meet your expenses?" +</P> + +<P> +He never forgot the expression which swept instantly into her face—the +quick indignation that leaped from the depths of those dark eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"I was not aware I had ever requested any help from Mr. Winston," she +returned clearly, her slight form held erect. "Your following after +Albrecht was entirely voluntary, but I naturally presumed the money you +brought back belonged to me. You said it did, and hence I supposed it +could be disposed of at my own discretion." +</P> + +<P> +"You have exhibited none." +</P> + +<P> +"That would seem to depend entirely upon the point of view. Until I +request your aid, however, your criticism is not desired." +</P> + +<P> +Both voice and manner were so cold that they were equivalent to +dismissal, but Winston hesitated, already beginning to regret the +bitter harshness of his speech. Beneath his steady gaze her cheeks +flamed hotly. +</P> + +<P> +"We have been friends," he began more humbly. "Would you mind telling +me something regarding your plans? Just now I feel unable to offer you +either aid or advice." +</P> + +<P> +Her face perceptibly brightened, as if this new mood quickly appealed +to her. +</P> + +<P> +"That sounds ever so much better," she admitted, glancing up into his +face. "I have never enjoyed being scolded, as though I were a child +who had done wrong. Besides, I am quite convinced in this case I have +done precisely right. I think you would admit it also if you only had +patience to hear my story. I know exactly what I intend doing, or I +should never have given all that money away. I have an engagement." +</P> + +<P> +"An engagement? Where? Is there another troupe playing here?" +</P> + +<P> +She shrugged her shoulders, her hands clasped. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not in the sense you mean; not the legitimate. I am going to +appear at the Gayety." +</P> + +<P> +Winston stood grasping the back of the chair, staring straight at her, +his body motionless. For an instant he was conscious of a sudden +revulsion of feeling, a vague distrust of her true character, a doubt +of the real nature of this perverse personality. Such a resolution on +her part shocked him with its recklessness. Either she did not in the +least appreciate what such action meant, or else she woefully lacked in +moral judgment. Slowly, those shadowed dark eyes were uplifted to his +face, as if his very silence had awakened alarm. Yet she merely smiled +at the gravity of his look, shaking her dark hair in coquettish disdain. +</P> + +<P> +"Again you apparently disapprove," she said with pretence of +carelessness. "How easily I succeed in shocking you to-day! Really, a +stranger might imagine I was under particular obligations to ask your +permission for the mere privilege of living. We have known each other +by sight for all of two weeks, and yet your face already speaks of +dictation. Evidently you do not like the Gayety." +</P> + +<P> +"No; do you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I?" she replied doubtfully, with a slight movement of the body more +expressive than words. "There are times when necessity, rather than +taste, must control the choice. But truly, since you ask the question, +I do not like the Gayety. It is far too noisy, too dirty, too gaudy, +and too decidedly primitive. But then, beggars may not always be +choosers, you know. I am no bright, scintillating 'star'; I am not +even a mining engineer possessing a bank account in Denver; I am merely +an unknown professional actress, temporarily stranded, and the good +angel of the Gayety offers me twenty dollars a week. That is my +answer." +</P> + +<P> +The young man flushed to the roots of his fair hair, his teeth meeting +firmly. +</P> + +<P> +"There is no 'good angel' of the Gayety—the very atmosphere of that +place would soil an angel's wing," he exclaimed hotly. "Besides, you +are not driven by necessity to any such choice. There is another way +out. As you gently suggested, I am a mining engineer possessing a bank +account at Denver. I will most gladly draw a sight draft to-morrow, +and pay your expenses back to that city, if you will only accept my +offer. Is this fair?" +</P> + +<P> +"Perfectly so; yet supposing I refuse?" +</P> + +<P> +"And deliberately choose the Gayety instead?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and deliberately choose the Gayety instead—what then?" +</P> + +<P> +She asked the momentous question calmly enough, her mouth rigid, her +eyes challenging him to speak the whole truth. He moistened his dry +lips, realizing that he was being forced into an apparently brutal +bluntness he had sincerely hoped to avoid. +</P> + +<P> +"Then," he replied, with quiet impressiveness, "I fear such deliberate +action would forfeit my respect." +</P> + +<P> +She went instantly white before the blow of these unexpected words, her +fingers clasping the door, her eyes as full of physical pain as if he +had struck her with clinched hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Forfeit your respect!" she echoed, the slender figure quivering, the +voice tremulous. "Rather should I forever forfeit my own, were I to +accept your proffer of money." Her form straightened, a slight tinge +of color rising to the cheeks. "You totally mistake my character. I +have never been accustomed to listening to such words, Mr. Winston, nor +do I now believe I merit them. I choose to earn my own living, and I +retain my own self-respect, even although while doing this I am +unfortunate enough to forfeit yours." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Miss Norvell, do you realize what the Gayety is?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not being deprived of all my natural powers of observation, I most +certainly believe I do—we were there together last evening." +</P> + +<P> +She puzzled, confused him, outwardly appearing to trifle with those +matters which seemed to his mind most gravely serious. Yet, his was a +dogged resolution that would not easily confess defeat. +</P> + +<P> +"Miss Norvell," he began firmly, and in the depth of his earnestness he +touched her hand where it yet clung to the door, "I may, indeed, be +presuming upon an exceedingly brief friendship, but my sole excuse must +be the very serious interest I feel in you, especially in your +undoubted ability and future as an actress. It is always a great +misfortune for any man to repose trust and confidence in the character +of a woman, and then suddenly awaken to discover himself deceived. +Under these circumstances I should be unworthy of friendship did I fail +in plain speaking. To me, your reckless acceptance of this chance +engagement at the Gayety seems inexpressibly degrading; it is a +lowering of every ideal with which my imagination has heretofore +invested your character. I am not puritanical, but I confess having +held you to a higher plane than others of my acquaintance, and I find +it hard to realize my evident mistake. Yet, surely, you cannot fully +comprehend what it is you are choosing, I was with you last night, +true, but I considered it no honor to appear upon <I>that</I> stage, even +with the 'Heart of the World,' and it hurt me even then to behold you +in the midst of such surroundings. But deliberately to take part in +the regular variety bill is a vastly more serious matter. It is almost +a total surrender to evil, and involves a daily and nightly association +with vice which cannot but prove most repugnant to true womanhood. +Surely, you do not know the true nature of this place?" +</P> + +<P> +"Then tell it to me." +</P> + +<P> +"I will, and without any mincing of words. The Gayety is a mere +adjunct to the Poodle-Dog saloon and the gambling hell up-stairs. They +are so closely connected that on the stage last evening I could easily +hear the click of ivory chips and the clatter of drinking glasses. One +man owns and controls the entire outfit, and employs for his variety +stage any kind of talent which will please the vicious class to which +he caters. All questioning as to morality is thoroughly eliminated. +Did you comprehend this?" +</P> + +<P> +The young girl bowed slightly, her face as grave as his own, and again +colorless, the whiteness of her cheeks a marked contrast to her dark +hair. +</P> + +<P> +"I understood those conditions fully." +</P> + +<P> +"And yet consented to appear there?" +</P> + +<P> +She shook back her slightly disarranged hair, and looked him directly +in the eyes, every line of her face stamped with resolve. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Winston, in the first place, I deny your slightest right to +question me in this manner, or to pass moral judgment upon my motives. +I chance to possess a conscience of my own, and your presumption is +almost insulting. While you were absent in pursuit of Albrecht, the +manager of the Gayety, having chanced to learn the straits we were in, +called upon me here with his proposal. It appeared an honorable one, +and the offer was made in a gentlemanly manner. However, I did not +accept at the time, for the plain reason that I had no desire whatever +to appear upon that stage, and in the midst of that unpleasant +environment. I decided to await your return, and learn whether such a +personal sacrifice of pride would be necessary. Now, I believe I +recognize my duty, and am not afraid to perform it, even in the face of +your displeasure. I am going to deliver the parting scene from the +'Heart of the World,' and I do not imagine my auditors will be any the +worse for hearing it. I certainly regret that the Gayety is an adjunct +to a saloon; I should greatly prefer not to appear there, but, +unfortunately, it is the only place offering me work. I may be +compelled to sink a certain false pride in order to accept, but I shall +certainly not sacrifice one iota of my womanhood. You had no cause +even to intimate such a thing." +</P> + +<P> +"Possibly not; yet had you been my sister I should have said the same." +</P> + +<P> +"Undoubtedly, for you view this matter entirely from the standpoint of +the polite world, from the outlook of social respectability, where self +rules every action with the question, 'What will others say?' So +should I two years ago, but conditions have somewhat changed my views. +Professional necessity can never afford to be quite so punctilious, +cannot always choose the nature of its environments: the nurse must +care for the injured, however disagreeable the task; the newspaper +woman must cover her assignment, although it takes her amid filth; and +the actress must thoroughly assume her character, in spite of earlier +prejudices. The woman who deliberately chooses this life must, sooner +or later, adjust herself to its unpleasant requirements; and if her +womanhood remain true, the shallow criticism of others cannot greatly +harm her. I had three alternatives in this case—I could selfishly +accept my handful of money, go to Denver, and leave these other +helpless people here to suffer; I could accept assistance from you, a +comparative stranger; or I could aid them and earn my own way by +assuming an unpleasant task. I chose the last, and my sense of right +upholds me." +</P> + +<P> +Winston watched her earnestly as she spoke, his gray eyes brightening +with unconscious appreciation, his face gradually losing its harshness +of disapproval. A spirit of independence always made quick appeal to +his favor, and this girl's outspoken defiance of his good opinion set +his heart throbbing. Back of her outward quietness of demeanor there +was an untamed spirit flashing into life. +</P> + +<P> +"We may never exactly agree as to this question of proprieties," he +acknowledged slowly. "Yet I can partially comprehend your position as +viewed professionally. Am I, then, to understand that your future is +definitely decided upon? You really purpose dedicating your life to +dramatic art?" +</P> + +<P> +She hesitated, her quickly lowered eyes betraying a moment of +embarrassment. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she answered finally. "I am beginning to find myself, to +believe in myself." +</P> + +<P> +"You expect to find complete satisfaction in this way?" +</P> + +<P> +"Complete? Oh, no; one never does that, you know, unless, possibly, +the ideals are very low; but more than I can hope to find elsewhere. +Even now I am certainly happier in the work than I have been for +years." She looked up at him quickly, her eyes pleading. "It is not +the glitter, the sham, the applause," she hastened to explain, "but the +real work itself, that attracts and rewards me—the hidden labor of +fitly interpreting character—the hard, secret study after details. +This has become a positive passion, an inspiration. I may never become +the perfected artist of which I sometimes dream, yet it must be that I +have within me a glimmering of that art. I feel it, and cannot remain +false to it." +</P> + +<P> +"Possibly love may enter to change your plans," he ventured to suggest, +influenced by the constantly changing expression of her face. +</P> + +<P> +She flushed to the roots of her hair, yet her lips laughed lightly. +</P> + +<P> +"I imagine such an unexpected occurrence would merely serve to +strengthen them," she replied quickly. "I cannot conceive of any love +so supremely selfish as to retard the development of a worthy ideal. +But really, there is small need yet of discussing such a possibility." +</P> + +<P> +She stood aside as he made a movement toward the open door, yet, when +he had stepped forth into the hall, she halted him with a sudden +question: +</P> + +<P> +"Do you intend returning at once to Denver?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I shall remain here." +</P> + +<P> +She said nothing, but he clearly read a farther unasked question in her +face. +</P> + +<P> +"I remain here, Miss Norvell, while you do. I shall be among your +audiences at the Gayety. I do not altogether agree that your choice +has been a correct one, but I do sincerely believe in you,—in your +motives,—and, whether you desire it or not, I propose to constitute +myself your special guardian. There is likely to be trouble at the +Gayety, if any drunken fool becomes too gay." +</P> + +<P> +With flushed cheeks she watched him go slowly down the stairway, and +there were tears glistening within those dark eyes as she drew back +into the room and locked the door. A moment she remained looking at +her reflected face in the little mirror, her fingers clinched as if in +pain. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, why does n't he go away without my having to tell him?" she cried, +unconsciously aloud. "I—I thought he surely would, this time." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE "LITTLE YANKEE" MINE +</H3> + + +<P> +A wide out-jutting wall of rock, uneven and precipitous, completely +shut off all view toward the broader valley of the Vila, as well as of +the town of San Juan, scarcely three miles distant. Beyond its stern +guardianship Echo Canyon stretched grim and desolate, running far back +into the very heart of the gold-ribbed mountains. The canyon, a mere +shapeless gash in the side of the great hills, was deep, long, +undulating, ever twisting about like some immense serpent, its sides +darkened by clinging cedars and bunches of chaparral, and rising in +irregular terraces of partially exposed rock toward a narrow strip of +blue sky. It was a fragment of primitive nature, as wild, gloomy, +desolate, and silent as though never yet explored by man. +</P> + +<P> +A small clear stream danced and sang over scattered stones at the +bottom of this grim chasm, constantly twisting and curving from wall to +wall, generally half concealed from view by the dense growth of +overhanging bushes shadowing its banks. High up along the brown rock +wall the gleam of the afternoon sun rested warm and golden, but deeper +down within those dismal, forbidding depths there lingered merely a +purple twilight, while patches of white snow yet clung desperately to +the steep surrounding hills, or showered in powdery clouds from off the +laden cedars whenever the disturbing wind came soughing up the gorge. +Early birds were beginning to flit from tree to tree, singing their +welcome to belated Springtime; a fleecy cloud lazily floating far +overhead gave deeper background to the slender strip of over-arching +blue. It all combined to form a nature picture of primeval peace, +rendered peculiarly solemn by those vast ranges of overshadowing +mountains, and more deeply impressive by the grim silence and +loneliness, the seemingly total absence of human life. +</P> + +<P> +Yet in this the scene was most deceptive. Neither peace nor loneliness +lurked amid those sombre rock shadows; over all was the dominance of +men—primitive, fighting men, rendered almost wholly animal by the +continued hardships of existence, the ceaseless struggle after gold. +The vagrant trail, worn deep between rocks by the constant passage of +men and mules, lay close beside the singing water, while here and there +almost imperceptible branches struck off to left or right, running as +directly as possible up the terraced benches until the final dim traces +were completely lost amid the low-growing cedars. Each one of these +led as straight as nature would permit to some specific spot where men +toiled incessantly for the golden dross, guarding their claims with +loaded rifles, while delving deeper and deeper beneath the mysterious +rocks, ever seeking to make their own the secret hoards of the world's +great storehouse. Countless centuries were being rudely unlocked +through the ceaseless toil of pick and shovel, the green hillsides torn +asunder and disfigured by ever-increasing piles of debris, while +eager-eyed men struggled frantically to obtain the hidden riches of the +rocks. Here and there a rudely constructed log hut, perched with +apparent recklessness upon the brink of the precipice, told the silent +story of a claim, while in other places the smouldering remains of a +camp-fire alone bespoke primitive living. Yet every where along that +upper terrace, where in places the seductive gold streak lay half +uncovered to the sun, were those same yawning holes leading far down +beneath the surface; about them grouped the puny figures of men +performing the labors of Hercules under the galling spur of hope. +</P> + +<P> +On this higher ledge, slightly beyond a shallow intersecting gorge +shadowed by low-growing cedars, two men reclined upon a rock-dump, +gazing carelessly off six hundred feet sheer down into the gloomy +depths of the canyon below. Just beyond them yawned the black opening +of their shaft-hole, the rude windlass outlined against the gray +background of rock, while somewhat to the left, seemingly overhanging +the edge of the cliff, perched a single-roomed cabin of logs +representing home. This was the "Little Yankee" claim, owners William +Hicks and "Stutter" Brown. The two partners were sitting silent and +idle, a single rifle lying between them on the dump. Hicks was tall, +lank, seamed of face, with twinkling gray eyes, a goat's beard dangling +at his chin to the constant motion of his nervous jaws; and Brown, +twenty years his junior, was a young, sandy-haired giant, limited of +speech, of movement, of thought, with freckled cheeks and a downy +little moustache of decidedly red hue. They had been laboriously +deciphering a letter of considerable length and peculiar illegibility, +and the slow but irascible Stutter had been swearing in disjointed +syllables, his blue eyes glaring angrily across the gully, where +numerous moving figures, conspicuous in blue and red shirts, were +plainly visible about the shaft-hole of the "Independence," the next +claim below them on the ledge. Yet for the moment neither man spoke +otherwise. Finally, shifting uneasily, yet with mind evidently made up +for definite action, Hicks broke the prolonged silence. +</P> + +<P> +"I was thinkin' it over, Stutter, all the way hoofin' it out yere," he +said, chewing continually on his tobacco, "but sorter reckoned ez how +yer ought ter see the writin' furst, considerin' ez how you're a full +partner in this yere claim. It sorter strikes me thet the lawyer hes +give us the straight tip all right, an' thar 's no other way fer +gittin' the cinch on them ornary fellers over thar," and the speaker +waved his hand toward the distant figures. "Yer see, it's this yere +way, Stutter. You an' I could swar, of course, thet the damned cusses +hed changed the stakes on us more 'n onct, an' thar 's no doubt in our +two minds but what they 're a-followin' out our ore-lead right now, +afore we kin git down ter it. Hell! of course they are—they got the +fust start, an' the men, an' the money back of 'em. We ain't got a +darn thing but our own muscle, an' the rights of it, which latter don't +amount ter two bumps on a log. Fer about three weeks we 've been +watchin' them measly skunks take out our mineral, an' for one I 'm +a-goin' ter quit. I never did knuckle down ter thet sort, an' I 'm too +old now ter begin. The lawyer says ez how we ain't got no legal proof, +an' I reckon it's so. But I 'm damned if I don't git some. Thar ain't +a minin' engineer in San Juan that 'll come up yere fer us. Them +fellers hes got 'em all on the hip; but I reckon, if we hunt long +'nough, we kin find some feller in Colorado with nerve 'nough to tackle +this yere job, an' I 'm a-goin' out gunnin' for jist that man." +</P> + +<P> +He got to his feet, his obstinate old eyes wandering across the gully, +and the younger man watched him with slow curiosity. +</P> + +<P> +"How f-f-far you g-g-going, Bill?" he burst forth stutteringly. +</P> + +<P> +"Denver, if I need to," was the elder's resolute, response. "I 'll +tell ye what I 'm a-goin' ter do, Stutter. I 'm a-goin' ter draw out +every blamed cent we 've got in the bank down at San Juan. 'T ain't +much of a pile, but I reckon it's got ter do the business. Then I 'll +strike out an' hunt till I find a minin' engineer thet 's got a soul of +his own, an' grit 'nough behind it ter root out the facts. I 've been +a-prospecttn' through these here mountings fer thirty years, an' now +thet I 've hit somethin' worth havin', I 'm hanged if I 'm a-goin' ter +lie down meek ez Moses an' see it stole out plumb from under me by a +parcel o' tin-horn gamblers. Not me, by God! If I can't git a cinch +on sich a feller ez I want, then I 'll come back an' blow a hole +through that Farnham down at San Juan. I reckon I 'll go in an' tell +him so afore I start." +</P> + +<P> +The old man's square jaws set ominously, his gnarled hand dropping +heavily on the butt of the Colt dangling at his hip. +</P> + +<P> +"You stay right yere, Stutter, on the dump, and don't yer let one o' +them measly sneaks put nary foot on our claim, if yer have ter blow 'em +plumb ter hell. You an' Mike kin tend ter thet all right, an' you bet +I 'm goin' ter have some news fer yer when I git home, my boy." +</P> + +<P> +He swung around, and strode back along the ledge to the door of the +cabin, reappearing scarcely a moment later with a small bundle in his +hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Thar 's 'nough grub in thar ter last you an' Mike fer a week yit, an' +I 'll be back afore then, er else planted. <I>Adios</I>." +</P> + +<P> +Brown sat up, his gun resting between his knees, and in silence watched +his partner scrambling down the steep trail. It was not easy for him +to converse, and he therefore never uttered a word unless the situation +demanded the sacrifice. He could swear, however, with considerable +fluency, but just now even that relief seemed inadequate. Finally, the +older man disappeared behind the scrub, and, except for those more +distant figures about the dump of the "Independence," the blond giant +remained apparently alone. But Stutter had long ago become habituated +to loneliness; the one condition likely to worry him was lack of +occupation. He scrambled to his feet and climbed the dump, until able +to lean far over and look down into the black mouth of the uncovered +shaft. +</P> + +<P> +"Got yer b-b-bucket full, M-M-Mike?" he questioned, sending his deep, +sputtering voice far down into the depths below. +</P> + +<P> +"Oi have thot," came the disgusted response from out the darkness. "Ye +measly spalpeen, ain't Oi bin shakin' of the rope fer twinty minutes? +Oi tought maybe ye'd run off an' left me to rot down in the hole. Whut +'s up now, ye freckled-face ilephant, yer?" +</P> + +<P> +Brown indulged in a cautious glance about, then stuck his almost boyish +face farther down within the safety of the hole before venturing an +explanation. +</P> + +<P> +"B-B-Bill's g-gone to find s-s-some engi-n-neer w-with nerve 'nough ter +r-r-run our lines," he managed to spit out disjointedly. "S-s-says +he'll go plumb ter Denver 'fore he 'll g-g-give up, an' if he d-don't +f-find any sich he 'll c-c-come back an' p-p-perforate F-F-Farnham." +</P> + +<P> +"Bedad!" a tinge of unrestrained delight apparent in the sudden roar, +"an' was he hot?" +</P> + +<P> +"H-he sure was. He m-m-m-meant business all r-right, an' hed f-f-forty +rounds b-b-buckled on him. H-here goes, Mike," and Brown grasped the +warped handle of the windlass and began to grind slowly, coiling the +heavy rope, layer upon layer, around the straining drum. He brought +the huge ore-bucket to the surface, dumped its load of rock over the +edge of the shaft-hole, and had permitted it to run down swiftly to the +waiting Mike, when a slight noise behind sent the man whirling suddenly +about, his hand instinctively reaching forth toward the discarded but +ready rifle. A moment he stared, incredulous, at the strange vision +fronting him, his face quickly reddening from embarrassment, his eyes +irresolute and puzzled. Scarcely ten feet away, a woman, rather +brightly attired and apparently very much at her ease, sat upon a +rather diminutive pony, her red lips curved in lines of laughter, +evidently no little amused at thus startling him. Brown realized that +she was young and pretty, with jet black, curling hair, and eyes of the +same color, her skin peculiarly white and clear, while she rode man +fashion, her lower limbs daintily encased within leggings of buckskin. +She had carelessly dropped her reins upon the high pommel of the +saddle, and as their glances fairly met, she laughed outright. +</P> + +<P> +"You mooch frighten, seńor, and you so ver' big. It make me joy." Her +broken English was oddly attractive. "Poof! los Americanos not all +find me so ver' ter'ble." +</P> + +<P> +Stutter Brown ground his white teeth together savagely, his short red +moustache bristling. He was quite young, never greatly accustomed to +companionship with the gentler sex, and of a disposition strongly +opposed to being laughed at. Besides, he felt seriously his grave +deficiencies of speech. +</P> + +<P> +"I-I-I was s-sorter expectin' a-a-another kind of c-c-caller," he +stuttered desperately, in explanation, every freckle standing out in +prominence, "an' th-th-thought m-m-maybe somebody 'd g-g-got the d-drop +on me." +</P> + +<P> +The girl only laughed again, her black eyes sparkling. Yet beneath his +steady, questioning gaze her face slightly sobered, a faint flush +becoming apparent in either cheek. +</P> + +<P> +"You talk so ver' funny, seńor; you so big like de tree, an' say vords +dat vay; it make me forget an' laf. You moost not care just for me. +Pah! but it vas fight all de time vid you, was n't it, seńor? Biff, +bang, kill; ver' bad," and she clapped her gauntleted hands together +sharply. "But not me; I vas only girl; no gun, no knife—see. I just +like know more 'bout mine—Americano's mine; you show me how it vork. +<I>Sabe</I>?" +</P> + +<P> +Stutter appeared puzzled, doubtful. +</P> + +<P> +"Mexicana?" he questioned, kicking a piece of rock with his heavy boot. +</P> + +<P> +"Si, seńor, but I speak de English ver' good. I Mercedes Morales, an' +I like ver' much de brav' Americanos. I like de red hair, too, +seńor—in Mexico it all de same color like dis," and she shook out her +own curling ebon locks in sudden shower. "I tink de red hair vas more +beautiful." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Brown was not greatly accustomed to having his rather fiery +top-knot thus openly referred to in tones of evident admiration. It +was a subject he naturally felt somewhat sensitive about, and in spite +of the open honesty of the young girl's face, he could not help +doubting for a moment the sincerity of her speech. +</P> + +<P> +"L-l-like f-fun yer do," he growled uneasily. "A-a-anyhow, whut are +yer d-d-doin' yere?" +</P> + +<P> +For answer she very promptly swung one neatly booted foot over and +dropped lightly to the ground, thus revealing her slender figure. Her +most notable beauty was the liquid blackness of her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Si, I tell you all dat ver' quick, seńor," she explained frankly, +nipping the rock-pile with her riding whip, and bending over to peer, +with undisguised curiosity, into the yawning shaft-hole. "I ride out +from San Juan for vat you call constitutional—mercy, such a vord, +seńor!—an' I stray up dis trail. See? It vas most steep, my, so +steep, like I slide off; but de mustang he climb de hill, all right, +an' den I see you, seńor, an' know dere vas a mine here. Not de big +mine—bah! I care not for dat kind—but just one leetle mine, vere I +no be 'fraid to go down. Den I look at you, so big, vid de beautiful +red hair, an' de kin' face, an' I sink he vood let me see how dey do +such tings—he vas nice fellow, if he vas all mud on de clothes. Si, +for I know nice fellow, do I not, <I>amigo</I>? <I>Si, bueno</I>. So you vill +show to me how de brav' Americanos dig out de yellow gold, seńor?" +</P> + +<P> +She flashed her tempting glance up into the man's face, and Brown +stamped his feet nervously, endeavoring to appear stern. +</P> + +<P> +"C-c-could n't h-hardly do it, m-m-miss. It 's t-too blame dirty +d-d-down below fer y-your sort. B-b-besides, my p-pardner ain't yere, +an' he m-m-might not l-like it." +</P> + +<P> +"You haf de pardner? Who vas de pardner?" +</P> + +<P> +"H-h-his name's H-H-Hicks." +</P> + +<P> +She clasped her hands in an ecstasy of unrestrained delight. +</P> + +<P> +"Beell Heeks? Oh, seńor, I know Beell Heeks. He vas ver' nice fellow, +too—but no so pretty like you; he old man an' swear—Holy Mother, how +he swear! He tol' me once come out any time an' see hees mine. I not +know vere it vas before. Maybe de angels show me. You vas vat Beell +call Stutter Brown, I tink maybe? Ah, now it be all right, seńor. +<I>Bueno</I>!" +</P> + +<P> +She laid her gauntleted hand softly on the rough sleeve of his woollen +shirt, her black, appealing eyes flashing suddenly up into his troubled +face. +</P> + +<P> +"I moost laugh, seńor; such a brav' Americano 'fraid of de girl. Why +not you shoot me?" +</P> + +<P> +"A-a-afraid nothin'," and Stutter's freckled face became instantly as +rosy as his admired hair, "b-but I t-tell ye, miss, it's a-a-all d-dirt +down th-there, an' not f-f-fit fer no lady ter t-t-traipse round in." +</P> + +<P> +The temptress, never once doubting her power, smiled most bewitchingly, +her hands eloquent. +</P> + +<P> +"You vas good boy, just like I tink; I wear dis ol' coat—see; an' den +I turn up de skirt, so. I no 'fraid de dirt. Now, vat you say, seńor? +<I>Bueno</I>?" +</P> + +<P> +Thus speaking, she seized upon the discarded and somewhat disreputable +garment, flung it carelessly about her shapely shoulders, shrugging +them coquettishly, her great eyes shyly uplifting to his relenting +face, and began swiftly to fasten up her already short dress in +disregard of the exposure of trim ankles. The agitated Mr. Brown +coughed, his uneasy glances straying down the open shaft. He would +gladly, and with extreme promptness, have shoved the cold muzzle of his +Colt beneath the nose of any man at such moment of trial; but this +young girl, with a glance and a laugh, had totally disarmed him. +Disturbed conscience, a feeling akin to disloyalty, pricked him, but +the temptation left him powerless to resist—those black eyes held him +already captive; and yet in this moment of wavering indecision, that +teasing hand once again rested lightly upon his shirt-sleeve. +</P> + +<P> +"Please do dat, seńor," the voice low and pleading. "It vas not ver' +mooch just to let a girl see your leetle mine. What harm, seńor? But +maybe it's so because you no like me?" +</P> + +<P> +Startled by so unjust a suspicion, the eyes of the young giant +instantly revealed a degree of interest which caused her own to light +up suddenly, her red lips parting in a quick, appreciative smile which +disclosed the white teeth. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, I see it vas not dat. Eet make glad de heart—make eet to sing +like de birds. Now I know eet vill be as I vish. How do I get down, +seńor?" +</P> + +<P> +Thus easily driven from his last weak entrenchments, his heart +fluttering to the seduction of her suggestive glance, the embarrassed +Stutter made unconditional surrender, a gruff oath growling in his +throat. He leaned out over the dark shaft, his supporting hand on the +drum. +</P> + +<P> +"Come u-u-up, M-M-Mike," he called, rattling his letters like +castanets. "I w-w-want to g-go d-d-down." +</P> + +<P> +There followed a sound of falling rocks below, a fierce shaking of the +suspended rope, and then a muffled voice sang out an order, "H'ist +away, and be dommed ter yer." Brown devoted himself assiduously to the +creaking windlass, although never able entirely to remove his attention +from that bright-robed, slender figure standing so closely at his side. +For one brief second he vaguely wondered if she could be a witch, and +he looked furtively aside, only to perceive her bright eyes smiling +happily at him. Then suddenly a totally bald head shot up through the +opening, a seamed face the color of parchment, with squinting gray +eyes, peered suspiciously about, while a gnarled hand reached forth, +grasped a post in support, and dragged out into the sunlight a short, +sturdy body. Mike straightened up, with a peculiar jerk, on the dump, +spat viciously over the edge of the canyon, and drew a short, black +pipe from out a convenient pocket in his shirt. He made no audible +comment, but stood, his back planted to the two watchers; and Stutter +cleared his throat noisily. +</P> + +<P> +"Th-th-this l-l-lady wants ter s-s-see how we m-m-mine," he explained +in painful embarrassment, "a-an' I th-th-thought I 'd t-take her +d-d-down if you 'd w-work the w-w-windlass a b-bit." +</P> + +<P> +Old Mike turned slowly around and fronted the two, his screwed-up eyes +on the girl, while with great deliberation he drew a match along the +leg of his canvas trousers. +</P> + +<P> +"Onything to oblige ye," he said gruffly. "Always ready to hilp the +ladies—be me sowl, Oi've married three of thim already. An' wus this +Hicks's orthers, Stutter?" +</P> + +<P> +"N-n-no, not exactly," Brown admitted, with evident reluctance. "B-but +ye s-s-see, she's a g-great friend o' B-B-Bill's, an' so I reckon it +'ll be all r-right. Don't s-see how n-no harm kin be d-d-done." +</P> + +<P> +The pessimistic Michael slowly blew a cloud of pungent smoke into the +air, sucking hard at his pipe-stem, and laid his rough hands on the +windlass handle. +</P> + +<P> +"None o' my dommed funeral, beggin' yer pardon, miss," he condescended +to mutter in slight apology. "Long as the pay goes on, Oi 'd jist as +soon work on top as down below. H'ist the female into the bucket, ye +overgrown dood!" +</P> + +<P> +Stutter Brown, still nervous from recurring doubts, awkwardly assisted +his vivacious charge to attain safe footing, anxiously bade her hold +firmly to the swaying rope, and stood, carefully steadying the line as +it slowly disappeared, hypnotized still by those marvellous black eyes, +which continued to peer up at him until they vanished within the +darkness. Leaning far over to listen, the young miner heard the bucket +touch bottom, and then, with a quick word of warning to the man +grasping the handle, he swung himself out on the taut rope, and went +swiftly down, hand over hand. Mike, still grumbling huskily to +himself, waited until the windlass ceased vibrating, securely anchored +the handle with a strip of raw-hide, and composedly sat down, his teeth +set firmly on the pipe-stem, his eyes already half closed. It was an +obstinate, mulish old face, seamed and creased, the bright sunlight +rendering more manifest the leather-like skin, the marvellous network +of wrinkles about eyes and mouth. Not being paid for thought, the old +fellow now contented himself with dozing, quite confident of not being +quickly disturbed. +</P> + +<P> +In this he was right. The two were below for fully an hour, while +above them Mike leaned with back comfortably propped against the +windlass in perfect contentment, and the hobbled pony peacefully +cropped the short grass along the ledge. Then the brooding silence was +abruptly broken by a voice rising from out the depths of the shaft, +while a vigorous shaking of the dangling rope caused the windlass to +vibrate sharply. Old Mike, with great deliberation stowing away his +pipe, unslipped the raw-hide, and, calmly indifferent to all else +except his necessary labor, slowly hauled the girl to the surface. She +was radiant, her eyes glowing from the excitement of unusual adventure, +and scrambled forth from the dangling bucket without awaiting +assistance. Before Brown attained to the surface, the lady had safely +captured the straying pony and swung herself lightly into the saddle. +Squaring his broad shoulders with surprise as he came out, his face +flushed, his lips set firm, the young giant laid restraining fingers on +her gloved hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Y-y-you really m-mean it?" he asked, eagerly, as though fearing the +return to daylight might already have altered her decision. "C-can I +c-call on you wh-wh-where you s-s-said?" +</P> + +<P> +She smiled sweetly down at him, her eyes picturing undisguised +admiration of his generous proportions, and frank, boyish face. +</P> + +<P> +"Si, si, seńor. <I>Sapristi</I>, why not? 'T is I, rather, who 'fraid you +forget to come." +</P> + +<P> +"Y-you n-need n't be," he stammered, coloring. "S-seńorita, I sh-shall +never f-f-forget this day." +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Quien sabe</I>?—poof! no more vill I; but now, <I>adios</I>, seńor." +</P> + +<P> +She touched her pony's side sharply with the whip, and, standing +motionless, Stutter watched them disappear over the abrupt ledge. Once +she glanced shyly back, with a little seductive wave of the gauntleted +hand, and then suddenly dropped completely out of view down the steep +descent of the trail. Old Mike struck another match, and held the tiny +flame to his pipe-bowl. +</P> + +<P> +"An' it's hell ye played the day," he remarked reflectively, his eyes +glowing gloomily. +</P> + +<P> +The younger man wheeled suddenly about and faced him. +</P> + +<P> +"Wh-what do ye m-m-mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Jist the same whut I said, Stutter. Ye 're a broight one, ye are. +That's the Mexican dancer down at the Gayety at San Juan, no less; and +it's dollars to doughnuts, me bye, that that dom Farnham sint her out +here to take a peek at us. It wud be loike the slippery cuss, an' I +hear the two of thim are moighty chummy." +</P> + +<P> +And Stutter Brown, his huge fists clinched in anger, looked off into +the dark valley below, and, forgetting his affliction of speech, swore +like a man. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A DISMISSAL +</H3> + + +<P> +The far from gentle orchestra at the Gayety was playing with a vivacity +which set the pulses leaping, while the densely packed audience, +scarcely breathing from intensity of awakened interest, were focussing +their eager eyes upon a slender, scarlet-robed figure, an enveloping +cloud of gossamer floating mistily about her, her black hair and eyes +vividly contrasting against the clear whiteness of her skin, as she +yielded herself completely to the strange convolutions of her weird +dance. The wide stage was a yellow flood of light, and she the very +witch of motion. This was her third encore, but, as wildly grotesque +as ever, her full skirts shimmering in the glare of the foot-lights, +her tripping feet barely touching the sanded floor, her young, supple +figure, light as a fairy, weaving in the perfect rhythm of music, the +tireless child of Mexico leaped and spun, wheeled and twirled,—at +times apparently floated upon the very air, her bare white arms +extended, her wonderful eyes blazing from the exhilaration of this +moment of supreme triumph. +</P> + +<P> +Beth Norvell, neatly gowned for the street, her own more sedate +performance already concluded, had paused for a single curious instant +in the shadow of the wings, and remained looking out upon that scarlet +figure, flitting here and there like some tropical bird, through the +gaudy glare of the stage. Winston, waiting patiently for twenty +minutes amid the denser gloom just inside the stage door, watched the +young girl's unconsciously interested face, wondering alike at both +himself and her. This entire adventure remained an unsolved problem to +his mystified mind—how it was she yet continued to retain his +interest; why it was he could never wholly succeed in divorcing her +from his life. He endeavored now to imagine her a mere ordinary woman +of the stage, whom he might idly flirt with to-night, and quite as +easily forget to-morrow. Yet from some cause the mind failed to +respond to such suggestion. There was something within the calm, +womanly face as revealed beneath the reflection of garish light, +something in the very poise of the slender figure bending slightly +forward in aroused enthusiasm, which compelled his respect, aroused his +admiration. She was not a common woman, and he could not succeed in +blinding himself to that fact. Even the garish, cheap environments, +the glitter and tinsel, the noise and brutality, had utterly failed to +tarnish Beth Norvell. She stood forth different, distinct, a perfectly +developed flower, rarely beautiful, although blooming in muck that was +overgrown with noxious weeds. Winston remained clearly conscious that +some peculiar essence of her native character had mysteriously perfumed +the whole place—it glorified her slight bit of stage work, and had +already indelibly impressed itself upon those rough, boisterous Western +spirits out in front. Before her parting lips uttered a line she had +thoroughly mastered them, the innate purity of her perfected womanhood, +the evident innocence of her purpose, shielding her against all +indecency and insult. The ribald scoffing, the insolent shuffling of +feet, the half-drunken uneasiness, ceased as if by magic; and as her +simple act proceeded, the stillness out in front became positively +solemn, the startled faces picturing an awakening to higher things. It +was a triumph far exceeding the noisy outburst that greeted the +Mexican—a moral victory over unrestrained lawlessness won simply by +true womanliness, unaided and alone. That earlier scene had brought to +Winston a deeper realization of this girl's genius, a fresher +appreciation of the true worth of her esteem. No struggle of heart or +head could ever again lower her in his secret thought to the common +level. +</P> + +<P> +The swinging strains of the dancer's accompaniment concluded with a +blare of noisy triumph, the mad enthusiasts out in front wildly +shouting her name above the frantic din of applause, while, flushed and +panting, the agile Mexican dancer swept into the darkened wings like a +scarlet bird. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, de Americana!" she exclaimed, her eyes yet blazing from +excitement, poising herself directly in front of her silent watcher. +"Seńorita, it ees not de same as yours—dey like you, si; but dey lofe +Mercedes." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell smiled gently, her gaze on the other's flushed, childish +face, and extended her hand. +</P> + +<P> +"There seems ample room for both of us," she replied, pleasantly, "yet +your dancing is truly wonderful. It is an art, and you must let me +thank you." +</P> + +<P> +It is difficult to understand why, but the untamed, passionate girl, +stung in some mysterious manner by these quietly spoken words of +appreciation, instantly drew her slight form erect. +</P> + +<P> +"You nevar forget you not one of us, do you?" she questioned in sudden +bitterness of spirit. "Pah! maybe you tink I care what you like. I +dance because I lofe to; because it sets my blood on fire. I no care +for all your airs of fine lady." +</P> + +<P> +"I exceedingly regret you should feel so. I certainly spoke in +kindness and appreciation. Would you permit me to pass?" +</P> + +<P> +The angry young Mexican swept back her scarlet skirts as though in +disdain, her white shoulders uplifted. She did not know why she felt +thus vindictive; to save her soul she could not have told the reason, +yet deep down within her passionate heart there existed a hatred for +this white, silent American, whose slightest word sounded to her like +rebuke. She stood there still, watching suspiciously, smouldering +dislike burning in her black eyes, when Winston suddenly stepped from +the concealing shadows with a word of unexpected greeting. She noticed +the sudden flush sweep into Miss Norvell's cheek, the quick uplifting +of her eyes, the almost instant drooping again of veiling lashes, and, +quickly comprehending it all, stepped promptly forward just far enough +to obtain a clear view of the young man's face. The next moment the +two had vanished into the night without. Mercedes laughed unpleasantly +to herself, her white teeth gleaming. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, Merciful Mother! so my ver' fine lady has found herself a lofer +here already. <I>Sapristi</I>, an' he is well worth lookin' at! I vill ask +of de stage manager his name." +</P> + +<P> +Outside, beneath the faint glimmer of the stars, Winston offered his +arm, and Miss Norvell accepted it silently. It was no more than a +short stroll to the hotel, and the street at that particular hour was +sufficiently deserted, so the young man rather keenly felt the evident +constraint of his companion. It impressed him as unnatural, and he +felt inclined to attribute her state of mind to the unpleasant scene he +had just beheld. +</P> + +<P> +"Seńorita Mercedes does not appear very kindly disposed toward you," he +ventured. "Have you quarrelled already?" +</P> + +<P> +"You refer to the Mexican dancer?" she questioned, glancing aside at +him curiously. "Really, I did not remember having heard the girl's +name mentioned before. Do you know her?" +</P> + +<P> +"Only as she is announced on the bills, and having seen her dance from +the front of the house. She is certainly a true artist in her line, +the most expert I recall ever having seen. What has ever made her your +enemy?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure I do not know. Her words were a complete surprise; I was +too greatly astonished even to resent them. I have never spoken to the +girl until to-night, and then merely uttered a sentence of sincere +congratulation. She is extremely pretty, and it seems quite too bad +she should be compelled to lead such a life. She does not appear older +than seventeen." +</P> + +<P> +He glanced about at her in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Such a life," he echoed, recklessly. "So then you actually pity +others while remaining totally unconcerned regarding yourself?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no; you greatly mistake, or else wilfully misconstrue. I am not +unconcerned, yet there is a very wide difference, I am sure. This girl +is at the Gayety from deliberate choice; she as much as told me so. +She is in love with that sort of life. Probably she has never known +anything better, while I am merely fighting out a bit of hard luck, +and, within two weeks, at the longest, shall again be free. Surely, +you cannot hint that we stand upon the same level." +</P> + +<P> +"God forbid!" fervently. "Yet just as sincerely I wish you did not +deem it necessary to remain for even that brief length of time. It is +a shock to me to realize your intimate association with such depraved +characters. You are surely aware that my purse remains at your +disposal, if you will only cut the whole thing." +</P> + +<P> +She lifted her eyes reproachfully to his face. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know; and possibly you are justified according to your code for +feeling in that way. But I do not believe I am becoming in the least +contaminated by evil associations, nor do I feel any lowering of moral +ideals. I am doing what I imagine to be right under the circumstances, +and have already given you my final decision, as well as my reason for +it. You say 'such depraved characters.' Can you refer to this +Mercedes? Strange as it may seem, I confess feeling an interest in +this beautiful Mexican girl. What is it you know regarding her?" +</P> + +<P> +The young man impulsively started to speak, but as instantly paused. +An instinctive dread of uttering those plain words he would much prefer +she should never hear served to soften his language. +</P> + +<P> +"There is not a great deal of reserve about the Gayety," he explained +lightly, "and indiscriminate gossip is a part of its advertising +equipment. As to Seńorita Mercedes, my only informant is common rumor +out in front. That connects her name quite familiarly with one of the +proprietors of the gambling rooms." +</P> + +<P> +"You have no reason to know this?" +</P> + +<P> +"None whatever. As I say, it has come to me in the form of common +rumor. The man referred to is the special faro expert, a fellow named +Farnham." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell started violently, her fingers clutching his arm as if to +keep her body from falling, her face grown suddenly white. +</P> + +<P> +"Farnham, did you say? What—what Farnham?" +</P> + +<P> +"I believe I have heard him familiarly spoken of as 'Biff.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Here? Here in San Juan? 'Biff' Farnham here?" The startled words +appeared to stick in the swelling white throat, and she stood staring +at him, her slender figure swaying as though he had struck her a +physical blow. "Oh, I never knew that!" +</P> + +<P> +Winston, shocked and surprised by this unexpected outburst, did not +speak, his face slowly hardening to the dim suspicion thus suddenly +aroused by her agitation and her impetuous exclamation. She must have +taken instant warning from the expression of his eyes, for, with an +effort, she faced him in regained calmness, a slight tremor in her low +voice alone betraying the lack of complete self-control. +</P> + +<P> +"Your information certainly startled me greatly," she exclaimed slowly. +"It was so unexpected, and so much has happened of late to affect my +nerves." +</P> + +<P> +They walked on in silence, and as he ventured to glance aside at her, +uncertain regarding his future course, her eyes were lowered and hidden +behind the drooping lashes. +</P> + +<P> +"And is that all?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"All? Why, what more is there?" +</P> + +<P> +He compressed his lips, striving not to exhibit openly his impatience. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing, of course," he acquiesced quietly, "if the lady prefers +keeping silent. Only, as matters now stand, the result may prove an +unpleasant misunderstanding." +</P> + +<P> +They were now at the bottom of the few steps leading up toward the +hotel entrance, and Miss Norvell, removing her hand from the support of +his arm, stood before him outwardly calm. +</P> + +<P> +"Beyond doubt, you refer to my apparent surprise at first hearing Mr. +Farnham's name mentioned?" +</P> + +<P> +He bowed quietly, again fascinated and disarmed by the revelation in +those dark eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"The explanation is quite simple," and the voice exhibited a touch of +coolness easily perceptible. "I chanced to be somewhat acquainted with +this man in the East before—well, before he became a gambler. Of +course, I do not know him now, have not the slightest desire to do so, +but the sudden information that he was actually here, and—and all the +rest—came to me with a shock. Is that sufficient?" +</P> + +<P> +The young man was unsatisfied, and, without doubt, his face quite +clearly exhibited his true feeling. Yet there was that about her +constrained manner which held him to respectful silence, so that for a +moment the hesitation between them grew almost painful. Miss Norvell, +realizing this new danger, struggled weakly against sudden temptation +to throw herself unreservedly upon the mercy of this new friend, +confide wholly in him, accept his proffered aid, and flee from possible +coming trouble. But pride proved even stronger than fear, and her lips +closed in firm resolution. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Winston," she said, and now her eyes were uplifted unfaltering to +his own. "I find myself obliged to speak with a frankness I have hoped +to avoid. It was never my desire that you should call for me at the +theatre to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed?" His surprised tone clearly exhibited the sudden hurt of the +wound. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; yet, pray do not misunderstand me. I find it exceedingly +difficult to say this, and I confess I have even prayed that you would +be led to go away voluntarily, and without its being necessary for me +to appear discourteous. I appreciate your kindness, your gentlemanly +conduct. I—I greatly value your friendship, prize it more highly, +possibly, than you will ever be able to realize; yet, believe me, there +are reasons why I cannot permit you to—to be with me any longer in +this way. It is for your sake, as well as my own, that I am driven to +speak thus frankly, and I am certain you will not add to my pain, my +embarrassment, by asking more definite explanation." +</P> + +<P> +His heart beating like a trip-hammer, Winston stood motionless, staring +into the girl's appealing face, suddenly aroused to her full meaning, +and as thoroughly awakened to a conception of what she really had +become to him. The thought of losing her, losing her perhaps to +another, seemed to chill his very soul. +</P> + +<P> +"Assuredly, I will respect your secret," he answered, mastering his +voice with an effort. "I understand when I am bowled out. What is it +you desire me to do?" +</P> + +<P> +He could not perceive in that dim light the sudden mist of tears +clouding her eyes, but she lifted her gloved hand and swept them aside. +</P> + +<P> +"It is not easy to say such things, yet I must. I wish you to go away; +go back to Denver," she exclaimed; then, all at once, her strained +voice broke into a little sob. "I cannot stand your presence here!" +</P> + +<P> +That last impetuous sentence burst through his armor of constraint, and +for the instant he forgot everything but that thoughtless confession. +She read it in his face, and as quickly flung forth her hand in +warning, but he only grasped it tightly within his own. +</P> + +<P> +"You cannot stand it!" he cried in passionate eagerness. "Then you +must care for me? You must love me, Beth?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, no!" Her eyes were full of agony, and she sought to free her +imprisoned hand. "Oh, hush! I beg of you, hush! You—you hurt me so. +I will not permit you to speak such words. Please release my hand." +</P> + +<P> +He loosened his grasp, feeling bewildered, ashamed, dimly conscious +that he had been guilty of an ungentlemanly action, yet deep within his +own heart assured that he felt no regret. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean that?" he questioned vaguely. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," and all the previous tremor had left her clear voice. "I did +not suppose you would ever say such a thing to me. I gave you no right +to speak those words." +</P> + +<P> +"My own heart gave me the right." +</P> + +<P> +Possibly the woman in her conquered; perhaps there was a nameless +hunger within her soul which made her long to hear the forbidden words +just once from his lips. +</P> + +<P> +"The right, you say? What right?" +</P> + +<P> +"To tell you that I love you." +</P> + +<P> +She drew a quick, quivering breath, the rich color surging into her +cheeks, her gloved hands clasped across her heaving bosom as though to +still the fierce throbbing of her heart. An instant she stood as if +palsied, trembling, from head to foot, although he could perceive +nothing. Her lips smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, indeed," she said archly, "and how very prettily you said it! The +only son of Colonel Winston, the wealthy banker of Denver, honors Miss +Norvell, actress, and she, of course, feels highly grateful!" +</P> + +<P> +"Beth, stop!" His voice was indignantly earnest. "It is not that; you +must know it is not that!" +</P> + +<P> +"I only know it is supremely ridiculous," she returned, more coldly; +"yet if I did not believe you spoke with some degree of honesty I +should deem your words a deliberate insult, and treat them accordingly. +As it is, I prefer regarding your speech merely as an evidence of +temporary insanity. Ned Winston making love to Beth Norvell! Why, you +do not even know my true name, the story of my life, or that I am in +any way worthy of your mere friendship. Love! You love me, an actress +in a fly-by-night company, a variety artist at the Gayety! What would +they say at home?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know you." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, but you do not in the least," her voice grown steady and serious. +"That is the whole trouble. You do not in the least know me. I am not +even what you imagine me to be. I am a fraud, a cheat, a masquerader. +Know me! Why, if you did, instead of speaking words of love you would +despise; instead of seeking, you would run away. Oh, let us end this +farce forever; it is as painful to myself as to you. Promise me, Ned +Winston, that you will return to Denver." +</P> + +<P> +She tantalized, tempted him even while she thus openly renounced. He +struggled madly with an almost overmastering desire to burst forth in +strenuous denial, to lay his whole life unreservedly at her feet. Yet +something within the girl's resolute face steadied him, made him feel +her decision as unchangeable. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth—you—you will not listen?" +</P> + +<P> +"No—not to another word." +</P> + +<P> +"You do not believe me?" +</P> + +<P> +He marked the quick restraining pressure of her lips, the tumultuous +rise and fall of her breast. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I believe you," she admitted, almost wearily. "You mean it—now; +but—but it is impossible. I wish you to go." +</P> + +<P> +An instant Winston stood looking straight into those dark, glowing +eyes, and all his inherited strength of manhood came trooping back to +aid him. He comprehended in that moment of intense resolution that +this woman had become the whole world to him. That one fact never +would change. It came over him as a distinct revelation untinged by +either despair or hope. It was merely an unalterable truth, which he +must henceforth face as fate willed. He was of fighting blood, and the +seeming obstacles in the way of success did not dismay; they merely +served to inspire him to greater efforts. +</P> + +<P> +"Unfortunately, I am not at present free to go," he replied, more +quietly, "for the reason that I have already accepted some professional +work here. However, I agree not to trouble you again with my presence +until—" +</P> + +<P> +He paused in uncertainty as to his next word. +</P> + +<P> +"What?" +</P> + +<P> +"You give me welcome." +</P> + +<P> +She extended her hand. +</P> + +<P> +"You certainly speak with sufficient confidence." +</P> + +<P> +"'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,'" he quoted lightly; "and I +herewith announce myself a firm believer in miracles." +</P> + +<P> +"Then your faith is about to be put to a most severe test." +</P> + +<P> +"I welcome that. Yet, if parting is insisted upon, we can, at least, +remain friends. You certainly do not hold my words against me?" +</P> + +<P> +The flush, although fainter, again crept into the clear cheeks, and her +eyes fell before this questioning. +</P> + +<P> +"No true woman ever remains wholly indifferent," she acknowledged with +swift frankness, "or neglects to think kindly in her secret heart of +any one who has told her that story; and I am a woman." +</P> + +<P> +For a brief moment her hand rested warm and throbbing within his own, +and there passed an electric flash of the eyes between them. Then she +withdrew her fingers and opened the door. +</P> + +<P> +"Good-bye," she whispered, the word lingering like perfume, and +vanished, even as he took a step toward her. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +"HE MEANS FIGHT" +</H3> + + +<P> +Winston remained staring blankly at the closed door behind which she +had so swiftly vanished, his mind a chaos of doubt. He assuredly never +purposed saying what he had said under the spur of deprivation, yet he +regretted no single word that he had uttered. That he earnestly +worshipped this briefly known woman was a fact borne in upon him +suddenly; yet now, the fact once completely realized, he surrendered +unconditionally to the inevitable. For a moment his thought of her +obscured all lesser things; he saw nothing else in the wide world +really worth striving after—every aroused impulse thrilled to the fair +face, the soft voice of Beth Norvell. He was no "quitter," no +faint-heart either in love or in war, and he was now far too deeply in +earnest to accept as final a stingless rejection spoken by lips that +were so openly contradicted by the smiling eyes above. Whatever of +stern necessity might have inspired the utterance of such words of cold +renunciation, it was assuredly neither indifference nor dislike. He +forgave the lips, recalling only the eyes. +</P> + +<P> +With his hand still pressed against the porch railing, the young man +suddenly recalled Biff Farnham, his cool gray eyes as instantly +hardening, his lips pressed together. What possible part in the dusk +of the shadowed past did that disreputable gambler play? What +connection could he hold, either in honor or dishonor, with the +previous life history of Beth Norvell? He did not in the least doubt +her, for it was Winston's nature to be entirely loyal, to be +unsuspicious of those he once trusted. Yet he could not continue +completely blind. That there once existed some connection it was +impossible to ignore entirely. Her laughing, yet clearly embarrassed, +attempt at explanation had not in the slightest deceived him, for +beyond it remained her quick surprise at that earliest unexpected +mention of the man's name, the suddenly blanched cheeks, the +unconcealed fright revealed by the dark eyes. The full truth was to be +read there, and not in her later more deliberate attempt at leading his +suspicions astray. There was nothing pleasant about this thought, and +Winston's sensitive face flushed, his glance wandering uneasily down +the midnight street. For the space of a block, or more, where numerous +tents and low wooden buildings stood deserted of tenants, all remained +dark and silent; but just beyond glowed brilliantly the many-hued +lights of the wide-awake Poodle-Dog, and he could even hear the band +playing noisily within the still more distant dance hall. This +combined sight and sound served to arouse him to action and a cool +resolve. If he really intended to play out this game successfully he +must learn something of its conditions. Besides, he had now two most +excellent reasons for desiring to form an early acquaintance with this +man Farnham—the fellow had come across his line of life twice within +the past twelve hours. For the purpose there could be no time better +than the present. He struck a match against the rough railing and +lighted for himself a fresh cigar, his clear-cut, manly features +showing calmly determined in that instant glare of sputtering flame. +Almost unconsciously, following the instinct of his long Western +training, he slipped a revolver from its customary resting-place at the +hip, and dropped the weapon conveniently into the side pocket of his +loose sack coat. He had heard some tales of this man he purposed +seeking, and it might prove well to be prepared for emergencies. +</P> + +<P> +The bar-room of the blazing Poodle-Dog was thronged with men—men +standing before the long, sloppy bar, men seated around rough tables, +and men lounging here and there in groups about the heavily sanded +floor. Uninterestedly glancing at these, Winston paused for an idle +moment, his eyes fastened upon a whirling spectacle of dancers in the +hall beyond. It formed a scene of mad revelry; yet in his present +state of mind, he cared little for its frontier picturesqueness, and +soon turned away, mounting the broad stairway down which, like an +invitation, echoed the sharp click of ivory chips, and the excited +voices of those absorbed in play. In both size and gorgeousness of +decoration the rooms above were a surprise—a glitter of lights, a +babel of noises, a continuous jumble of figures, while over all +trembled a certain tension of excitement, terrible in its enchaining +power. The very atmosphere seemed electric, filled with a deadly +charm. The dull roar of undistinguishable voices sounded incessantly, +occasionally punctuated by those sharp, penetrating tones with which +the scattered dealers called varied turns of play, or by some deep oath +falling unnoted from desperate lips as the unhappy end came. Winston, +who had seen many similar scenes, glanced with his usual cool +indifference at the various groups of players, careless except in his +search, and pressing straight through the vibrating, excited throng, +regardless of the many faces fronting him. He understood that Farnham +dealt faro, and consequently moved directly down the long main room +totally indifferent to all else. He discovered his particular goal at +last, almost at the farther end of the great apartment, the crowd +gathered about the faro table dense and silent. He succeeded in +pressing in slowly through the outer fringe of players until he +attained a position within ten feet of the dealer. There he halted, +leaning against the wall, the narrow space between them unoccupied. +</P> + +<P> +He saw before him a slenderly built, fashionably dressed figure, +surmounted by clear-cut, smooth-shaven features—a man of thirty, +possibly, decidedly aristocratic, perfectly self-controlled, his eyes +cool, calculating, his hands swift, unhesitating in play. From some +mysterious cause this masterful repose of the absorbed dealer began +immediately to exercise a serious fascination over the man watching +him. He did not appear altogether human, he seemed rather like some +perfectly adjusted machine, able to think and plan, yet as unemotional +as so much tempered steel. There was no perceptible change passing in +that utterly impassive face, no brightening of those cold, observant +eyes, no faintest movement of the tightly compressed lips. It was as +though he wore a mask completely eclipsing every natural human feeling. +Twice Winston, observing closely from his post of vantage slightly to +the rear the swift action of those slender white fingers, could have +sworn the dealer faced the wrong card, yet the dangerous trick was +accomplished so quickly, so coolly, with never a lowering of the eyes, +the twitching of a muscle, that a moment later the half-jealous watcher +doubted the evidence of his own keen eyesight. As the final fateful +card came silently gliding forth and was deliberately turned, face +upward, amid bitter curses telling the disappointment of that +breathless crowd, a young woman suddenly swept around the lower edge of +the long table, brushing Winston with her flapping skirt as she passed, +bent down, and whispered a half-dozen rapid sentences into the +gambler's ear. The hands, already deftly shuffling the cards for +another deal, scarcely paused in their operations, nor did those cool, +observant eyes once desert the sea of excited faces before him. He +asked a single brief question, nodded carelessly to the hastily spoken +reply, and then, as the woman drew noiselessly away, Winston gazed +directly into the startled black eyes of Seńorita Mercedes. Instantly +she smiled merrily, exhibiting her white teeth. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, seńor," and she bent toward him in seductive whisper, "so my lady, +de Americana, let you escape early to-night!" +</P> + +<P> +Surprised at her recognition, he failed to answer immediately, and the +girl touched him gently with her hand. +</P> + +<P> +"De girls of my race never so cold, seńor. Try me some time, an' see." +</P> + +<P> +With a happy laugh and coquettish uplifting of the dark eyes, the +dancer was as quickly gone, vanishing into the throng like a flash of +red flame. For a breathless moment Winston's admiring gaze followed, +conscious merely of her dark beauty, her slender, graceful figure. He +was young, impressionable, and there was rare witchery about the girl +which momentarily fascinated him. His attention shifted back to +Farnham with a swift remembrance of the stern purpose which had brought +him there. The gambler was playing out his case silently, emotionless +as ever. If he had observed anything unusual, if he considered +anything beyond his card-play, no eye could have detected it in that +impassive countenance, those cold, expressionless eyes. Apparently he +was a mere automaton, the sole symbol of life showing in the white +fingers so deftly dealing the fateful pasteboards from the box. The +impatient, excited crowd facing him moved restlessly, cursing or +laughing with each swift turn of play; but he who wrought the spell +neither spoke nor smiled, his face remaining fixed, immutable, as +emotionless as carven granite. Suddenly he glanced meaningly aside, +and, nodding silently to a black-moustached fellow lounging beside the +croupier, rose quickly from his chair. The other as instantly slipped +into it, his hands guarding the few remaining cards, while Farnham +stood for a moment behind the chair, idly looking on. There was no +noticeable interruption to the game, and when the final card came +gliding forth from the silver box, the imperturbable gamester turned +deliberately away from the table, heedless of the desperate struggle +about him, the curses and uproar, and faced the younger man still +leaning against the wall. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Winston?" he questioned quietly. +</P> + +<P> +Surprised by this unexpected notice, the other bowed in silent +acknowledgment of his name. +</P> + +<P> +A faint sarcastic smile curved the thin, compressed lips, while Farnham +ran one hand carelessly through his slightly curling hair. +</P> + +<P> +"I should like a few words with you in private," he explained politely. +"There is a vacant room we can use—this way." +</P> + +<P> +Astonished into yielding without protest, and at the same time feeling +sufficiently eager to learn the cause for such a request, Winston +unhesitatingly followed the other through the press, marking as he did +so the slender erectness of that figure in advance, the square set of +the broad shoulders, the easy air of authority with which he cleared +the way. Without ceremony Farnham flung aside a heavy brocaded +curtain, glancing inquiringly into the smaller room thus revealed. It +contained a square table and half a dozen chairs. Three men sat +within, their feet elevated, quietly smoking. The gambler coolly ran +his eyes over their uplifted faces. +</P> + +<P> +"I desire to use this room, gents," he announced quietly. "You 'll +find plenty of vacant space outside." +</P> + +<P> +Whether the lounging trio knew the speaker of old, or were sufficiently +satisfied from his stern face of the probable results should they long +hesitate to comply, the three pairs of feet came down together, their +owners passing out in single file. Farnham waved his hand politely +toward the vacated interior, a slight measure of deference apparent in +his modulated voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Help yourself to a chair, Mr. Winston, and permit me to offer you a +fresh cigar; a fairly good one I imagine, as I chance to be somewhat +particular regarding the weed." +</P> + +<P> +A moment they sat thus furtively studying each other's face across the +table through the increasing clouds of blue smoke, the younger man +puzzled and filled with vague suspicion, the elder still rather +uncertain of his present ground, as well as of the exact sort of +character opposing him. He was somewhat expert in judging human +nature; and the full, square chin, the frank, open look in those steady +gray eyes across the table left him doubtful of the final outcome. +</P> + +<P> +"No doubt, my addressing you by name was something of a surprise," he +began, leaning slightly forward, his cigar between his fingers; "but as +it chanced, you were pointed out to me on the street a few hours since. +May I inquire in this connection if, by any freak of fortune, you can +be Ned Winston, of Denver?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am." +</P> + +<P> +Farnham permitted his lips to smile genially, although his eyes +remained utterly devoid of humor. He was skating upon rather thin ice +now, realizing it to be far safer to make the venture in all boldness. +What he might need to say later would altogether depend upon how much +this man really knew. +</P> + +<P> +"I was not previously assured of that fact," he explained, pleasantly. +"It was my pleasure at one time to be quite intimately associated with +an old friend of yours, a college chum, I believe—Robert Craig, of +Chicago." +</P> + +<P> +The swift light of pleasant remembrance glowed instantly within the +other's watchful eyes. For the moment he dropped his guard in the +surprise of this avowal. +</P> + +<P> +"Bob Craig! Indeed; why, I do not recall his ever having mentioned +your name to me." +</P> + +<P> +Farnham's suspended breath burst through his compressed lips in sudden +relief. +</P> + +<P> +"Very probably not," he admitted, quietly, yet having the grace to +lower his eyes slightly. "My own intimacy with Craig occurred since +his college days. However, he has spoken to me regarding you quite +frequently, and I naturally esteem it a pleasure to meet with you +personally." +</P> + +<P> +Winston did not immediately reply, puzzling his confused mind in a +wholly useless attempt at recalling his ever having heard this man's +name before. But Farnham, placed completely at his ease regarding +possible recognition, proceeded coolly. +</P> + +<P> +"Yet, that does not sufficiently account for my inviting you here." +And he leaned farther across the table, slightly lowering his voice. +"My important reason for speaking is entirely a business one. You are, +I understand, a mining engineer?" +</P> + +<P> +Winston permitted his eyes to acquiesce, fully determined now to allow +this man to exhibit his own hand completely before making any return +play. Farnham, watching the face of the other closely, paused to +relight his cigar. +</P> + +<P> +"The simple fact is," he resumed, carelessly, "we are having some +little difficulty at present regarding certain mining claims we are +operating up in Echo Canyon. Nothing at all serious, you understand, +but there 's plenty of bad blood, and we naturally prefer keeping the +entire controversy out of the courts, if possible. A lawsuit, whatever +its final result, would be quite certain to tie up the property for an +indefinite period. Besides, lawsuits in this country cost money. The +man who has been making the greater part of the existing trouble, a +drunken, quarrelsome old mountain shell-back, named Hicks, came in here +to see me this afternoon. He was in blamed bad humor, and threatened +to blow my brains out unless I came to his terms. No doubt he meant +it, and consequently I got rid of him the easiest way I could, and that +was by lying. I 've always preferred to lie rather than get shot. +Hard to account for tastes, you know. However among other things the +fellow chanced to mention while here was that you had been employed to +look after their interests. I presume that statement was merely a +bluff?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, not precisely," admitted Winston, when the other paused. "I +agreed to go out there, and look over the ground." +</P> + +<P> +Farnham smiled deprecatingly, his cigar gripped tightly between his +white teeth. +</P> + +<P> +"Just about as I supposed. No particular harm done as yet, and no +contract made; time enough left to draw out of a bad bargain. Well, +Winston, I am here to tell you that outfit is not the kind you want to +associate yourself with if you desire to stand well in this camp. That +'s the straight goods. They 're simply a lot of blackmailers and +irresponsible thieves. Why, damn it, man, the actual fact is, they +can't get a single reputable mining engineer in all this whole district +to take hold of their dirty work. That 's why they 've had to hunt up +a new man, and got track of you." +</P> + +<P> +"So Hicks admitted," interposed the younger man gravely, "although he +put it in rather different form. He said it was because you had the +money, and your crowd bought them all up." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he did, did he?" and the gambler laughed outright. "Well, that +sort of a job would n't be very costly—to outbid that measly outfit. +It would be a sight cheaper than litigation, I reckon. What did he +offer you, by the way?" +</P> + +<P> +The young engineer hesitated slightly, his cheeks flushing at the cool +impudence of the other's direct question. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not recall that any positive offer was made," he replied finally. +"At least, the question of payment was not broached." +</P> + +<P> +"The old cuss proved more honest than I had supposed," and Farnham +dropped his clinched hand on the table. "Now, see here, Winston, I +propose giving you this thing right out from the shoulder. There is no +use beating around the bush. Those fellows have n't got so much as a +leg to stand on; their claim is no good, and never will be. They 're +simply making a bluff to wring some good money out of us, and I don't +want to see you get tangled up in that sort of a skin game. You 're +Bob Craig's friend, and therefore mine. Now, listen. There are two +fellows concerned in that 'Little Yankee' claim, this whiskey-soaked +Hicks and his partner, a big, red-headed, stuttering fool named +Brown—'Stutter' Brown, I believe they call him—and what have they got +between them? A damned hole in the ground, that's all. Oh, I know; I +'ve had them looked after from A to Z. I always handle my cards over +before I play. They had exactly two hundred dollars between them +deposited in a local bank here last week. That 's their total cash +capital. Yesterday one of my people managed to get down in their dinky +mine. It was a girl who did the job, but she 's a bright one, and that +fellow Brown proved dead easy when she once got her black eyes playing +on him. He threw up both hands and caved. Well, say, they 're down +less than fifty feet, and their vein actually is n't paying them +grub-stakes. That's the exact state of the case. Now, Winston, you do +n't propose to tie yourself professionally with that sort of a beggarly +outfit, do you?" +</P> + +<P> +The younger man had been sitting motionless, his arm resting easily on +the back of the chair, his eyes slowly hardening as the other proceeded. +</P> + +<P> +"I never before clearly understood that poverty was necessarily a +crime," he remarked thoughtfully, as Farnham came to a pause. +"Besides, I am not tied up with that special outfit. I have merely +agreed to examine into the matter." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, I understand that; but what's the use? You 'll only come +to exactly the same conclusion all the others have. Besides, I have +been especially authorized to offer you a thousand dollars simply to +drop the thing. It's worth that much to us just now to be let alone." +</P> + +<P> +Winston's eyes half closed, his fingers gripping nervously into the +palm of his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"It occurs to me you place my selling-out price at rather low figures," +he said contemptuously. +</P> + +<P> +Farnham straightened up in his chair, instantly realizing he had been +guilty of playing the wrong card, and for the moment totally unable to +perceive how safely to withdraw it. Even then he utterly failed to +comprehend the deeper meaning in the other's words. +</P> + +<P> +"I was thinking rather of what it was directly worth to us," he +explained, "and had no conception you would look at it that way. +However, we are perfectly willing to be liberal—how much do you want?" +</P> + +<P> +For a moment Winston stared straight at him, his lips firmly set, his +gray eyes grown hard as steel. Then he deliberately pushed back his +chair, and rose to his feet, one clinched hand resting on the table. +</P> + +<P> +"You may not fully understand my position," he began quietly, "for in +all probability such a conception is utterly beyond you, but I do n't +want a dollar, nor a cent. Good-night." +</P> + +<P> +He turned deliberately toward the entrance, but the thoroughly +astounded gambler leaped to his feet with one hand extended in sudden +protest. He was angry, yet believed he perceived a great light shining +through the darkness. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold on, Winston," he exclaimed anxiously; "just a moment. I 'd +totally forgotten that you were the son of a millionaire, and therefore +possessed no desire for money like the rest of us more ordinary +mortals. Now, let's be sensible. By God, you must want something! +What is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"You have received my final answer. I am not in the market." +</P> + +<P> +Farnham crushed a bitter oath between his gleaming teeth, and flung his +sodden cigar-butt to the floor. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you actually mean you are crazy enough to go with Hicks, after all +I 've told you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I propose to discover for myself whether his claim is just. If it is, +I 'm with him." +</P> + +<P> +The gambler caught his breath sharply, for an instant utterly +speechless, his face pallid with rage. Then the fierce, angry words +burst forth in unrestrained torrent through the calm of his accustomed +self-control. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you 'll play hell, you infernal cur. Do it, and I 'll guarantee +you 'll get a bullet in the brain, even if you are old Winston's son. +We 've got a way of taking care of your kind out here when you get too +gay. You 're with him, are you? Well, I 'm damned if you ever get any +chance even to sit in the game. We 'll get you, and get you early, see +if we don't. There are other things besides money in this world, and +you 've got your price, just as well as every other man. Perhaps it's +silk, perhaps it's calico; but you bet it's something, for you 're no +angel. By God, I believe I could name it, even now." +</P> + +<P> +Winston wheeled, his right hand thrust deeply into his coat pocket, his +face sternly set. +</P> + +<P> +"What, for instance?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well,—just to take a chance,—Beth Norvell," +</P> + +<P> +Farnham never forgot the flame of those gray eyes, or the sharp sting +of the indignant voice. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you know regarding her? Speak out, damn you!" +</P> + +<P> +The gambler laughed uneasily; he had seen that look in men's faces +before, and knew its full, deadly meaning. He had already gone to the +very limit of safety. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, nothing, I assure you. I never even saw the lady," he explained +coldly. "But I have been told that she was <I>the</I> attraction for you in +this camp; and I rather guess I hit the bull's-eye that time, even if +it was a chance shot." +</P> + +<P> +Winston moistened his dry lips, his eyes never wavering from off the +sneering face of the other. +</P> + +<P> +"Farnham," the voice sounding low and distinct, "I have got something +to say to you, and you are going to listen to the end. You see that?" +He thrust sharply forward the skirt of his short coat. "Well, that's a +thirty-eight, cocked and loaded, and I 've got you covered. I know +your style, and if you make a single move toward your hip I 'll uncork +the whole six shots into your anatomy. Understand? Now, see here—I +'m not on the bargain counter for money or anything else. I had not +the slightest personal interest in this affair an hour ago, but I have +now, and, what is more, I am going directly after the facts. Neither +you, nor all of your crowd put together, can stop me with either money, +bullets, or women. I don't bully worth a cent, and I don't scare. You +took the wrong track, and you 've got me ready now to fight this out to +a finish. And the first pointer I desire to give you is this—if your +lips ever again besmirch the name of Beth Norvell to my knowledge, I +'ll hunt you down as I would a mad dog. I believe you are a dirty liar +and thief, and now I 'm going after the facts to prove it. Good-night." +</P> + +<P> +He backed slowly toward the curtained doorway, his gaze never wavering +from off the surprised countenance of the other, his hidden hand +grasping the masked revolver. Then he stepped through the opening and +disappeared. Farnham remained motionless, his face like iron, his +teeth gripping savagely. Then he dropped his hand heavily on the +table, still staring, as if fascinated, at the quivering curtains. +</P> + +<P> +"By God, the fellow actually means fight," he muttered slowly. "He +means fight." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCES +</H3> + + +<P> +She had expected the probability of such a happening, yet her face +perceptibly paled while perusing the brief note handed her by the stage +manager upon coming forth from her dressing-room. Her first impulse +was to refuse compliance, to trust fortune in an endeavor to keep +beyond reach, to turn and run from this new, threatening danger like a +frightened deer. But she recalled the financial necessity which held +her yet a prisoner at the Gayety. This writer was partner in the +gambling rooms, possibly in the theatre also; her chance for escaping +him would be very slender. Besides, it might be far better to face the +man boldly and have it over. Undoubtedly a meeting must occur some +time; as well now as later so that the haunting shadow would not remain +ever before her. The color stole slowly back into her cheeks as she +stood twisting the paper between her fingers, her eyes darkening with +returning courage. +</P> + +<P> +"Where is the gentleman, Ben?" she asked, steadying herself slightly +against a fly. +</P> + +<P> +"First box, Miss; right through that narrow door, yonder," and the man +smiled, supposing he understood. "Very convenient arrangement for the +stage ladies." +</P> + +<P> +She paused, her hand resting upon the latch, in a final effort to quiet +her rapid breathing and gain firmer control over her nerves. This was +to be a struggle for which she must steel herself. She stepped quietly +within, and stood, silent and motionless, amid the shadows of the drawn +curtains, gazing directly at the sole occupant of the box, her dark +eyes filled with contemptuous defiance. Farnham lounged in the second +chair, leaning back in affected carelessness with one arm resting +negligently upon the railing, but there came into his pale face a +sudden glow of appreciation as he swept his cool eyes over the trim +figure, the flushed countenance there confronting him. A realization +of her fresh womanly fairness came over him with such suddenness as to +cause the man to draw his breath quickly, his eyes darkening with +passion. +</P> + +<P> +"By thunder, Lizzie, but you are actually developing into quite a +beauty!" he exclaimed with almost brutal frankness. "Life on the stage +appears to agree with you; or was it joy at getting rid of me?" +</P> + +<P> +She did not move from where she had taken her first stand against the +background of curtains, nor did the expression upon her face change. +</P> + +<P> +"I presume you did not send for me merely for the purpose of +compliment," she remarked, quietly. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, no; not exactly," and the man laughed with assumed recklessness +in an evident effort to appear perfectly at ease. "I was simply +carried away by the enthusiasm of the moment. I was always, as you +will remember, something of a connoisseur regarding the charms of the +sex, and you have certainly improved wonderfully. Why, I actually +believe I might fall in love with you again if I were to receive the +slightest encouragement." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not think I am offering you any." +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly; even my egotism will not permit me to believe so. An iceberg +would seem warm in comparison. Yet, at least, there is no present +occasion for our quarrelling. Sit down." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, I prefer to remain standing. I presume whatever you may +desire to say will not require much time?" +</P> + +<P> +Farnham leaned forward, decidedly jarred from out his assumed mood of +cold sarcasm. He had expected something different, and his face +hardened with definite purpose. +</P> + +<P> +"That depends," he said soberly, "on your frame of mind. You do not +appear extremely delighted to meet me again. Considering that it is +now fully three years since our last conversation, you might strive to +be, at least outwardly, cordial." +</P> + +<P> +She gathered up her skirts within her left hand, and turned calmly +toward the door. +</P> + +<P> +"Is that all?" +</P> + +<P> +The man leaped impulsively to his feet, his cheeks burning with sudden +animation, his previous mask of reckless indifference entirely torn +away. +</P> + +<P> +"Hell, no!" he exclaimed warmly, as instantly pausing when she wheeled +swiftly about and faced him firmly. "No, it is not all. Of course, I +had a special purpose in sending for you. Yet I cannot help feeling a +natural curiosity. Tell me, what are you doing here?" +</P> + +<P> +"That is quite easily seen; I am endeavoring to earn a living." +</P> + +<P> +"A nice, quiet, respectable sort of a place you have chosen, certainly. +It is about the last spot I should ever have expected to discover you +in, knowing as I do your former puritanical morals. Your tastes must +have greatly changed under the spur," and he laughed lightly, in +mockery. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell's lips curled in unconcealed contempt, her eyes darkening +with indignation. +</P> + +<P> +"My present associations were not entered into from choice but from +necessity. With you, I understand, it is deliberate choice." +</P> + +<P> +The man stood undecided, fingering the edge of the curtain, vaguely +realizing that he was merely injuring his own cause by continuing to +anger her, yet far too deeply hit to remain entirely silent. +</P> + +<P> +"You seem inclined to strike out as hard as ever," he retorted, yet in +tones of manifest regret. "But just now there is not the slightest +occasion for any bitterness. I am perfectly prepared to do the square +thing, and if we can only pull together pleasantly for a little while, +it will prove far better for both of us." +</P> + +<P> +"In plainer words, you chance just now to have some special use for me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I hope you will look at the situation from my viewpoint. But +the actual truth is, that when I first came up here to-night, I had not +the faintest suspicion that it was you I was seeking." +</P> + +<P> +"No?" doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +"That is an actual fact, Lizzie. I did n't suppose you were within a +thousand miles of this place," and Farnham quietly settled himself +again in his chair. "I came up here merely intending to get a glimpse +of an actress named Beth Norvell. I was never more thoroughly +surprised in my life than when you first came out on the stage. For a +moment it knocked me silly. Say, you're an artist all right, my girl. +That was a great stunt. Why, those boys down below hardly breathed +until you disappeared. You ought to get a chance in Chicago; you 'd be +wearing diamonds. Damned if I was n't honestly proud of you myself." +</P> + +<P> +The girl caught her breath sharply, her hand pressed tightly against +her side. +</P> + +<P> +"What—what was it you desired of Beth Norvell?" she questioned. +</P> + +<P> +Farnham's white teeth gleamed in a sudden smile of appreciation. +</P> + +<P> +"Hope you are not becoming jealous," he said insinuatingly. +"Positively no occasion, I assure you, for it was not to make love to +the girl, I wanted to see her. Lord, no! This was purely a business +deal. The truth is, I chanced to hear she had a lover already, and he +was the fellow I was really after." +</P> + +<P> +"A lover?" she stepped toward him, her eyes blazing, her cheeks aflame. +"I? How dare you? What can you mean by so false an insinuation?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't flare up so, Lizzie," and the complacent gambler looked at +her with eyes not entirely devoid of admiration. "It really makes you +prettier than ever, but that sort of thing cuts no ice with me. +However, what I have just said stands: the story flying around here is +that you have captured old Winston's boy, and a damned good catch it +is, too." +</P> + +<P> +She went instantly white as a sheet, her body trembling like an aspen, +her quivering lips faltering forth words she could not wholly restrain. +</P> + +<P> +"The story, you say—the story! Do—do you believe that of me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that does n't make any difference," the brute in him frankly +enjoying her evident pain. "Lord, what do you care about my belief? +That was all passed and over with long ago. All I know is, the fellow +is gone on you, all right. Why, he pulled a gun on me last night +merely because I chanced to mention your name in his presence." +</P> + +<P> +The telltale color swept back into her cheeks in swift wave. For an +instant her eyes wavered, then came back to the man's sneering face. +</P> + +<P> +"Did—did you dare tell him?" +</P> + +<P> +He laughed lightly, softly patting his hand on the railing, his own +eyes partially veiled by lowered lids. +</P> + +<P> +"Torn off the mask of unimpeachable virtue, have I?" he chuckled, well +pleased. "Rather prefer not to have our late affair blowed to this +particular young man, hey? Well, I suspected as much; and really, +Lizzie, you ought to know I am not that sort of a cur. I 've held my +tongue all right so far, and consequently I expect you to do me a good +deed in return. That's a fair enough proposition, is n't it?" +</P> + +<P> +She did not immediately answer, gazing upon him as she might at some +foul snake which had fascinated her, her breath coming in half-stifled +sobs, her hand clutching the heavy curtain for support. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, good God!" she faltered at last, speaking as though half dazed. +"You must possess the spirit of a demon. Why do you continue to +torture me so? You have no right—no right; you forfeited all you ever +possessed years ago. Under Heaven, I am nothing to you; and in your +heart you know I have done nothing wrong, nothing to awaken even the +foul suspicions of jealousy. Mr. Winston has been my friend, yet even +that friendship—innocent and unsullied—is already past; we have +parted for all time." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed! You are such a consummate actress, Lizzie, I scarcely know +what really to believe. Probably, then, you no longer object to my +telling the gentleman the story?" +</P> + +<P> +Her lips closed firmly. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall tell him myself." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! Then, after all your fine words of renunciation, you will see him +again! Your reform is soon ended. Well, my girl, there is really no +necessity for any such sacrifice on your part. No one here suspects +anything regarding our little affair excepting you and me. You do what +I desire with this Winston, and I 'm mum. What do you say?" +</P> + +<P> +She sank back into a chair, utterly unable to stand longer, hiding her +face in her hands. +</P> + +<P> +"What—what is it you wish?" she questioned wearily. +</P> + +<P> +He leaned forward and placed his hand, almost in caress, upon her +skirt, but she drew the cloth hastily away, a sudden sob shaking her +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, please, don't touch me! I cannot stand it—only tell me what it +is you wish." +</P> + +<P> +"I want you to exercise your influence over that fellow, and prevent +his taking professional employment at the 'Little Yankee' mine." +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" she lifted her head again, facing him with questioning eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Simply because his doing so will interfere seriously with some of my +business plans—that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"Then why don't you act the part of a man, and go to him yourself? +Why, in this, do you prefer hiding behind the skirts of a woman?" +</P> + +<P> +Farnham laughed grimly, in no way embarrassed by the query. +</P> + +<P> +"Good Lord, Lizzie! I 've been to him, all right, but the fellow is +like a stubborn mule. He has n't got but one selling-out price, so far +as I can learn, and that chances to be Beth Norvell. You see the +point? Well, that's exactly why I came here to-night. I wanted to be +able to tender him the goods." +</P> + +<P> +For a moment her eyes remained pitifully pleading; then they suddenly +appeared to harden into resolute defiance. As though moving in a +dream, she arose slowly to her feet, taking a single step away from him +toward the closed door. +</P> + +<P> +"As I have already explained," she paused to say coldly, "Mr. Winston +is no more to me than any other gentleman whom I may have chanced to +meet in friendship. I have not the faintest reason to suppose I could +influence his decision in any matter appertaining to his professional +work. Moreover, I have not the slightest inclination to try." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you dare refuse, in spite of all I can say to your injury?" he +asked, even then doubtful of her meaning. +</P> + +<P> +"I definitely decline to be your catspaw,—yes. Nothing you can relate +truthfully will ever harm me in the estimation of a gentleman, and I +shall certainly know how to combat falsehood." +</P> + +<P> +"Quite pretty. Injured innocence, I perceive, is to be the line of +defence. What! are you already going?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am." +</P> + +<P> +"Where?" +</P> + +<P> +She turned again, standing erect, her face flushing, her hand upon the +latch of the door. +</P> + +<P> +"If it is imperative that you know, I will tell you. I intend seeking +Mr. Winston, and informing him exactly who and what I am." +</P> + +<P> +"Now? at this hour of the night?" +</P> + +<P> +"Better now, and at this hour of the night, than venture waiting until +after you have had an inning. I am not at all ashamed to confess the +truth, if I can only be the first to tell my story." +</P> + +<P> +She pressed the latch of the door, her breathing so rapid as to be +positively painful. With an ill-repressed oath, Farnham sprang to his +feet, his rising anger putting an end to all prudence. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait!" he exclaimed gruffly. "Wait where you are until I am done. +You have heard only a part of this thing so far. My God, girl! don't +you know me well enough by this time to comprehend that I always have +my way, whatever the cost may be to others? Lord! what do I care for +this fellow? or, for the matter of that, what do I care for you? I +don't permit people to stand in my path; and I supposed you had +thoroughly learned that lesson, if no other. Faith, you had cause +enough, surely. So you refuse all endeavor to keep Winston out of this +affair, do you? Perhaps you had better pause a minute, and remember +who it is you are dealing with. I reckon you never saw any signs of +the quitter about me. Now, it 's true I 'd rather have you do this +business up quietly; but if you refuse, don't forget there are other +means fully as effective, and a damn sight quicker." He reached out +suddenly, grasping her hand. "Did you ever hear the adage, 'Dead men +tell no tales'?" he questioned savagely. +</P> + +<P> +She drew her hand sharply back from its instant of imprisonment, with a +smothered cry, her eyes filled with undisguised horror. +</P> + +<P> +"You threaten—you threaten murder?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we never use that word out in this country—it is considered far +too coarse, my dear," and Farnham's thin lips curled sardonically. "We +merely 'silence' our enemies in Colorado. It is an extremely simple +matter; nothing at all disagreeable or boorish about it, I can assure +you. A stick of dynamite dropped quietly down a shaft-hole, or pushed +beneath a bunk house—that's all. The coroner calls it an accident; +the preachers, a dispensation of Providence; while the fellows who +really know never come back to tell. If merely one is desired, a +well-directed shot from out a cedar thicket affords a most gentlemanly +way of shuffling off this mortal coil." +</P> + +<P> +"You would not! You dare not!" +</P> + +<P> +"I? Why, such a thought is preposterous, of course, for the risk would +be entirely unnecessary. Quite evidently you are not well acquainted +with one of the flourishing industries of this section, my dear. There +are always plenty of men out of a job in this camp; conscience does n't +come high, and the present market price for that sort of work is only +about twenty-five dollars a head. Not unreasonable, all things +considered, is it?" +</P> + +<P> +If she had not thoroughly known this man, had not previously sounded +his depths, she might have doubted his meaning, deceived by the lazy +drawl in his soft voice, the glimmer of grim humor in his eyes. But +she did know him; she comprehended fully the slumbering tiger within, +the lurking spirit of vindictiveness of his real nature, and that +knowledge overcame her, left her weak and trembling like a frightened +child. For an instant she could not articulate, staring at him with +white face and horrified eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"You—you mean that?" and for the first time she clasped his loose coat +between her clutching fingers. +</P> + +<P> +"It is hardly a subject to be deliberately selected for jest," he +replied coolly, "but if you prefer you might wait and see." +</P> + +<P> +She stepped back from him, leaning heavily against the frame of the +door, her face again hidden behind uplifted hands. The man did not +move, his face emotionless, his lips tightly set. He was watching her +with the intentness of a hawk, absolutely certain now of his victim. +Suddenly she looked up, her eyes picturing the courage of desperation. +One glance into his face and the woman stood transformed, at bay, the +fierce spirit of battle flaming into her face. +</P> + +<P> +"Have it so, then," she exclaimed sharply. "I pledge myself to do +everything possible to prevent his remaining here." She drew herself +up, her eyes darkening from sudden, uncontrollable anger. "Oh, how I +despise you, you coward, you cur! I know you, what you are capable of, +and I do this to preserve the life of a friend; but my detestation of +you is beyond expression in words. My one and greatest shame is that I +ever trusted you; that I once believed you to be a man. Good God! how +could I ever have been so blind!" +</P> + +<P> +She opened the door with her hand extended behind her, and backed +slowly away, facing him where he stood motionless, smiling still as +though her sudden outburst of passion merely served to feed his conceit. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I may trust you in this?" +</P> + +<P> +Her eyes shone fairly black with the depth of scorn glowing in them. +</P> + +<P> +"Have—have you ever known me to lie?" she asked, her voice faltering +from reaction. +</P> + +<P> +The door closed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A NEW ALLIANCE +</H3> + + +<P> +Her eyes blinded by a strange mist of tears, Beth Norvell clung to the +latch of the closed door, fearful lest the man within might decide to +follow, endeavoring to gaze about, while gaining control over her +sorely shattered nerves. Strong as she had appeared when nerved by +indignation and despair, that stormy interview with Farnham—his +scarcely veiled threats, his heartless scoffing—had left her a wreck, +for the moment scarcely mistress of her own mind. One thing alone +stood forth as a rallying point for all her benumbed energies—she must +save Winston from a real danger, the nature of which she did not in the +least doubt. The gambler's boast was no idle one; she, who had before +tasted of his depravity, felt fully convinced of his intention now. +Yet what could she hope to do? How best might she accomplish that +imperative duty of rescue? +</P> + +<P> +There occurred to her only one feasible plan—a complete surrender of +her womanly pride, an immediate acceptance of the young man's proffered +aid to Denver, with an insistence that he also accompany her. Woman +enough to realize her power, she could not but have faith in the +results. The color crept back in her cheeks at this daring conception, +for, after those hastily uttered words of the previous night, what +construction would he be likely to put on this sudden yielding? An +instant she hesitated, afraid, shrinking back before the sacrifice as +from fire. Then her fine eyes darkened, the clinging tears vanishing +while her fingers clinched in passionate resolve. Do it? Why, of +course she must do it! What was her pitiful pride in the balance +against his life? He might never dream what so great a sacrifice cost +her; might even despise her for such an exhibition of weakness; but she +would know, and be the stronger in her own soul from the brave +performance of duty. Besides, she intended to tell him the whole +miserable story of her wrecked life—not now, not even to-night, but +some time, on their way back into the world,—as they were nearing +Denver, perhaps, and at the moment of final parting. It almost seemed +easy as she faced the stern necessity, so easy that her parted lips +smiled sarcastically when she heard Farnham rise and leave the darkened +box through the opposite entrance. Perhaps, when he comprehended it +all, this other, who had spoken love words to her, would understand +where the real blame lay, and so prove manly enough to absolve her from +any conception of evil. This hope was sweet, strengthening, yet it +faded immediately away. Ah, no; such result was not natural, as she +understood the world—it was always the woman who bore the burden of +condemnation. Far safer to expect nothing, but do the right simply +because it was right. She no longer questioned what that would be. It +stood there before her like a blazing cross of flame; she must hold +those two men apart, even though they both trampled her heart beneath +their feet. This was her destiny, the payment she must return the +world for having once made a mistake. One out of the multitude, she +felt strong enough in the crisis to choose deliberately the straight +and narrow path leading through Gethsemane. +</P> + +<P> +And this very choosing gave back her womanhood, cleared her dazed brain +for action, and sent the red blood throbbing through her veins. Her +immediate surroundings began to take definite form. To the left the +great, deserted stage extended, wrapped in total darkness, silent, +forsaken, the heavy drop-curtain lowered to the floor. Through its +obscuring folds resounded noisily a crash of musical instruments, the +incessant shuffling of feet, a mingled hum of voices, evidencing that +the dance was already on in full volume. Far back, behind much +protruding scenery, a single light flickered like a twinkling star, its +dim, uncertain radiance the sole guide through the intricacies of +cluttered passageways leading toward the distant stage entrance. Half +frightened at this gloomy loneliness, the girl moved gingerly forward, +her skirts gathered closely about her slender figure, with anxious eyes +scanning the gloomy shadows in vague suspicion. Suddenly a hand +gripped her extended wrist, and she gazed for a startled instant into +fiercely burning eyes, her own heart throbbing with nervous excitement. +</P> + +<P> +"Vat vas he to you? Answer me! Answer me quick!" +</P> + +<P> +The blood came back into her blanched cheeks with a sudden rush of +anger. Instantly indignation swept back the mists of fear. With +unnatural strength she wrenched free her captured hand, and sternly +fronted the other, a barely recognized shadow in the gloom. +</P> + +<P> +"Permit me to pass," she exclaimed, clearly. "How dare you hide here +to halt me?" +</P> + +<P> +The other exhibited her teeth, gleaming white and savage behind parted +lips, yet she never stirred. +</P> + +<P> +"Dare? Pah! you vaste time to talk so," she cried brokenly, her voice +trembling from passion. "You no such fine lady now, seńorita. You see +dis knife; I know how use eet quick. Bah! you go to him like all de +rest, but I vill know de truth first, if I have to cut eet out you. So +vat ees de Seńor Farnham to you? Say quick!" +</P> + +<P> +The American remained silent, motionless, her breath quickening under +the threat, her eyes striving to see clearly the face of the one +confronting her. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you expect to frighten me?" she asked, coldly, her earlier anger +strangely changing to indifference. "It is you who wastes time, +seńorita, for I care little for your knife. Only it would be an +extremely foolish thing for you to do, as I have not come between you +and your lover." +</P> + +<P> +The impulsive Mexican dancer laughed, but with no tone of joy +perceptible. +</P> + +<P> +"My lofer! Mother of God! sometime I think I hate, not lofe. He vas +like all you Americanos, cold as de ice. He play vis Mercedes, and +hurt—gracious, how he hurt! But I must be told. Vat vas he to you? +Answer me dat." +</P> + +<P> +Beth Norvell's eyes softened in sudden pity. The unconscious appeal +within that broken voice, which had lost all semblance of threat, +seemed to reveal instantly the whole sad story, and her heart gave +immediate response. She reached out, touching gently the hand in which +she saw the gleam of the knife-blade. There was no fear in her now, +nothing but an infinite womanly sympathy. +</P> + +<P> +"He is nothing to me," she said, earnestly, "absolutely nothing. I +despise him—that is all. He is unworthy the thought of any woman." +</P> + +<P> +The slender figure of the Mexican swayed as though stricken by a blow, +the fierce, tigerish passion dying out of her face, her free hand +seeking her throat as though choking. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing?" she gasped, incredulously. "<I>Sapristi</I>, I think you lie, +seńorita. Nothing? Vy you go to him in secret? Vy you stay and talk +so long? I not understand." +</P> + +<P> +"He sent for me; he wished me to aid him in a business matter." +</P> + +<P> +The other stared incredulous, her form growing rigid with gathering +suspicion that this fair American was only endeavoring to make her a +fool through the use of soft speech. The white teeth gleamed again +maliciously. +</P> + +<P> +"You speak false to Mercedes," she cried hotly, her voice trembling. +"Vy he send for you, seńorita? You know him?" +</P> + +<P> +There was a bare instant of seeming hesitation, then the quiet, better +controlled voice answered soberly: +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, in the East, three years ago." +</P> + +<P> +Like a flash of powder, the girl of the hot-blooded South burst into +fresh flame of passion, her foot stamping the floor, her black eyes +glowing with unrestrained anger. +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Dios de Dios</I>! Eet ees as I thought. He lofe you, not Mercedes. Vy +I not kill you?—hey?" +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell met her fiercely threatening look, her single step of +advance, without tremor or lowering of the eyes. She even released her +grasp upon the uplifted knife, as if in utter contempt. For a moment +they confronted each other, and then, as suddenly as she had broken +into flame, the excitable young Mexican burst into tears. As though +this unexpected exhibition of feeling had inspired the action, the +other as quickly decided upon her course. +</P> + +<P> +"Listen to me, girl," she exclaimed gravely, again grasping the lowered +knife hand. "I am going to trust you implicitly. You feel deeply; you +will understand when I tell you all. You call me a fine lady because I +hold myself aloof from the senseless revelry of this mining camp; and +you believe you hate me because you suppose I feel above you. But you +are a woman, and, whatever your past life may have been, your heart +will respond to the story of a woman's trouble. I 'm going to tell you +mine, not so much for my sake as for your own. I am not afraid of your +knife; why, its sharp point would be almost welcome, were it not that I +have serious work to do in the world before I die. And you are going +to aid me in accomplishing it. You say you do not really know now +whether you truly love or hate this man, this Farnham. But I know for +myself beyond all doubt. All that once might have blossomed into love +in my heart has been withered into hatred, for I know him to be a moral +leper, a traitor to honor, a remorseless wretch, unworthy the tender +remembrance, of any woman. You suppose I went to him this night +through any deliberate choice of my own? Almighty God, no! I went +because I was compelled; because there was no possible escape. Now, I +am going to tell you why." +</P> + +<P> +Mercedes, the tears yet clinging to her long, black lashes, stood +motionless, gazing at the other with fascination, her slender, +scarlet-draped figure quivering to the force of these impetuous words. +She longed, yet dreaded, to hear, her own lips refusing utterance. But +Beth Norvell gave little opportunity; her determination made, she swept +forward unhesitatingly. As though fearful of being overheard, even in +the midst of that loneliness, she leaned forward, whispering one quick, +breathless sentence of confession. The startled dancer swayed backward +at the words, clutching at her breast, the faint glimmer of light +revealing her staring eyes and pallid cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +"Mother of God!" she sobbed convulsively. "No, no! not dat! He could +not lie to me like dat!" +</P> + +<P> +"Lie?" in bitter scornfulness. "Lie! Why, it is his very life to +lie—to women. God pity us! This world seems filled with just such +men, and we are their natural victims. Love? Their only conception of +it is passion, and, that once satiated, not even ordinary kindness is +left with which to mock the memory. In Heaven's name, girl, in your +life have you not long since learned this? Now, I will tell you what +this monster wanted of me to-night." She paused, scarcely knowing how +best to proceed, or just how much of the plot this other might already +comprehend. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you ever heard of the 'Little Yankee' mine?" she questioned. +</P> + +<P> +"Si, seńorita," the voice faltering slightly, the black eyes drooping. +"Eet is up in de deep canyon yonder; I know eet." +</P> + +<P> +"He told me about it," Miss Norvell continued more calmly. "He is +having trouble with those people out there. There is something wrong, +and he is afraid of exposure. You remember the young man who walked +home with me last night: Well, he is a mining engineer. He has agreed +to examine into the claims of the 'Little Yankee' people, and +this—this Farnham wants him stopped. You understand? He sent for me +to use my influence and make him go away. I refused, and then +this—this creature threatened to kill Mr. Winston if he remained in +camp, and—and I know he will." +</P> + +<P> +The Mexican's great black eyes widened, but not with horror. Suddenly +in the silent pause she laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"Si, si; now I know all—you lofe dis man. <I>Bueno</I>! I see eet as eet +vas." +</P> + +<P> +The telltale red blood swept to the roots of Miss Norvell's hair, but +her indignant reply came swift and vehement. +</P> + +<P> +"No, stop! Never dare to speak such words. I am not like that! Can +you think of nothing except the cheap masquerade of love? Have you +never known any true, pure friendship existing between man and woman? +This mining engineer has been good to me; he has proved himself a +gentleman. It is not love which makes me so anxious now to serve him, +to warn him of imminent danger—it is gratitude, friendship, common +humanity. Is it impossible for you to comprehend such motives?" +</P> + +<P> +The other touched her for the first time with extended hand, her face +losing much of its previous savagery. +</P> + +<P> +"I know so ver' leettle 'bout such kinds of peoples, seńorita," she +explained regretfully, her voice low, "de kind vat are good and gentle +and vidout vantin' somting for eet. Eet ees not de kinds I meet vis +ver' much. Dey be all alike vis me—lofe, lofe, lofe, till I get seek +of de vord—only de one, an' I not know him ver' vell yet. Maybe he +teach me vat you mean some day. He talk better, not like a fool, an' +he not try to make me bad. Is dat eet, seńorita?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; who is it you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"He? Oh! it vas most odd, yet I do not laugh, seńorita, I know not +vy, but he make me to feel—vat you calls eet?—si, de respect; I tink +him to be de good man, de gentle. He was at de 'Little Yankee' too. I +vonder vas all good out at de 'Little Yankee'? <I>Sapristi</I>! he vas such +a funny man to talk—he sputter like de champagne ven it uncorked. I +laugh at him, but I like him just de same, for he act to me like I vas +de lady, de ver' fine lady. I never forget dat. You know him, +seńorita? So big like a great bear, vis de beautiful red hair like de +color of dis dress. No? He so nice I just hate to have to fool him, +but maybe I get chance to make eet all up some day—you tink so? +Merciful saints! Ve are queer, ve vomens! Eet vas alvays de voman vat +does like de vay you do, hey? Ve vas mooch fools all de time." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we are 'much fools'; that seems ordained. Yet there are true, +noble men in this world, Mercedes, and blessed is she who can boast of +such a friendship. This Mr. Winston is one, and, perhaps, your +stuttering giant may prove another." She caught at a straw of hope in +thus interesting the girl. "So he is at the 'Little Yankee'? and you +wish to serve him? Then listen; he is in danger also if this scheme of +revenge carries—in danger of his life. Dynamite does not pick out one +victim, and permit all others to escape." +</P> + +<P> +"Dynamite?" +</P> + +<P> +"That was Farnham's threat, and God knows he is perfectly capable of +it. Now, will you aid me?" +</P> + +<P> +The young Mexican girl stood staring with parted lips. +</P> + +<P> +"Help you how? Vat you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Warn the men of the 'Little Yankee.'" +</P> + +<P> +The other laughed behind her white teeth, yet with no mirth in the +sound. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, maybe I see, seńorita; you try make a fool out me. No, I not play +your game. You try turn me against Seńor Farnham. I tink you not +catch Mercedes so." +</P> + +<P> +"You do not believe me?" +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Sapristi</I>! I know not for sure. Maybe I help, maybe I not. First I +talk vis Seńor Farnham, an' den I know vether you lie, or tell true. +Vatever ees right I do." +</P> + +<P> +"Then permit me to pass." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell took a resolute step forward, clasping her skirts closely +to keep them from contact with the dusty scenery crowding the narrow +passage. The jealous flame within the black eyes of the Mexican dimmed. +</P> + +<P> +"You can no pass dat vay," she explained swiftly, touching the other's +sleeve. +</P> + +<P> +"Not through the stage door?" +</P> + +<P> +The other shook her head doggedly. +</P> + +<P> +"Eet is alvay locked, seńorita." +</P> + +<P> +Beth Norvell turned about in dismay, her eyes pleading, her breath +quickening. +</P> + +<P> +"You mean we are shut in here for the night? Is n't there any way +leading out?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, si, si," and Mercedes smiled, waving her hands. "Zar is vay +yonder vare de orchestra goes. Eet leads to de hall; I show you." +</P> + +<P> +"Did he know?" +</P> + +<P> +"Vat? Seńor Farnham? No doubt, seńorita. Come, eet ees but de step." +</P> + +<P> +The bewildered American hung back, her eyes filled with dread resting +upon the black shadow of the curtain, from behind which clearly arose +the strains of a laboring orchestra, mingling with the discordant noise +of a ribald crowd. Farnham understood she was locked in; knew she +might hope to escape only through that scene of pollution; beyond +doubt, he waited in its midst to gloat over her degradation, possibly +even to accost her. She shrank from such an ordeal as though she +fronted pestilence. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, not that way; not through the dance hall!" she exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +Mercedes clapped her hands with delight. To her it appeared amusing. +</P> + +<P> +"Holy Mother! Vy not? Eet make me laugh to see you so ver' nice. Vat +you 'fraid 'bout? Vas eet de men? Pah! I snap my fingers at all of +dem dis vay. Dey not say boo! But come, now, Mercedes show you vay +out vere you no meet vis de men, no meet vis anybody. Poof, eet ees +easy." +</P> + +<P> +She danced lightly away, her hand beckoning, her black eyes aglow with +aroused interest. Reluctantly the puzzled American slowly followed, +dipping down into the black labyrinth leading beneath the stage. Amid +silence and darkness Mercedes grasped her arm firmly, leading +unhesitatingly forward. Standing within the glare of light streaming +through the partially open door. Miss Norvell drew a sudden breath of +relief. The chairs and benches, piled high along the side of the great +room, left a secluded passageway running close against the wall. Along +this the two young women moved silently, catching merely occasional +glimpses of the wild revelry upon the other side of that rude barrier, +unseen themselves until within twenty feet of the street door. There +Miss Norvell hesitated her anxious eyes searching the mixed crowd of +dancers now for the first time fully revealed. Even as she gazed upon +the riot, shocked into silence at the inexpressible profligacy +displayed, and ashamed of her presence in the midst of it, a merry peal +of laughter burst through the parted lips of the Mexican dancer. +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Dios de Dios</I>, but I had all forgot dis vas your night for de dance, +seńor. But you no so easy forget Mercedes, hey?" +</P> + +<P> +He stood directly before them, plainly embarrassed, gripping his +disreputable hat in both hands like a great bashful boy, his face +reddening under her smiling eyes, his voice appearing to catch within +his throat. Mercedes laughed again, patting his broad shoulder with +her white hand as though she petted a great, good-natured dog. Then +her sparkling black eyes caught sight of something unexpected beyond, +and, in an instant, grew hard with purpose. +</P> + +<P> +"Holy Mother! but eet 's true he ees here, seńorita—see yonder by de +second vindow," she whispered fiercely. "Maybe it vas so he tink to +get you once more, but he not looked dis vay yet. <I>Bueno</I>! I make him +dance vis me. Dis man Stutter Brown, an' he go vis you to de hotel; +ees eet not so, <I>amigo</I>?" +</P> + +<P> +"I-I have no t-t-time," he stuttered, totally confused. "Y-you see, I +'m in a h-hell of a h-h-hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"Pah; eet vill not take five minute, an' I be here ven you come back. +Si, seńor, I vait for you for de dance, sure." She turned eagerly to +Miss Norvell. "You go vis him, seńorita; he ver' good man, I, +Mercedes, know." +</P> + +<P> +The American looked at them both, her eyes slightly smiling in +understanding. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she assented quietly, "I believe he is." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HALF-CONFIDENCES +</H3> + + +<P> +Whatever Stutter Brown may secretly have thought concerning this new +arrangement of his affairs, he indulged in no outward manifestations. +Not greatly gifted in speech, he was nevertheless sufficiently prompt +in action. The swift, nervous orders of the impulsive Mexican dancer +had sufficiently impressed him with one controlling idea, that +something decidedly serious was in the air; and, as she flitted across +the room, looking not unlike a red bird, he watched her make directly +toward a man who was leaning negligently back in a chair against the +farther wall. For a moment he continued to gaze through the obscuring +haze of tobacco smoke, uncertain as to the other's identity, his eyes +growing angry, his square jaw set firm. +</P> + +<P> +"W-who is the f-f-feller?" he questioned gruffly. "Wh-what 's she +m-mean l-leavin' me to go over th-thar ter h-him?" +</P> + +<P> +Beth Norvell glanced up frankly into his puzzled face. +</P> + +<P> +"She has gone to keep him away from me," she explained quietly. "His +name is Farnham." +</P> + +<P> +Brown's right hand swung back to his belt, his teeth gripped like those +of a fighting dog. +</P> + +<P> +"Hell!" he ejaculated, forgetting to stutter. "Is that him? Biff +Farnham? An' he 's after you is he, the damned Mormon?" +</P> + +<P> +She nodded, her cheeks growing rosy from embarrassment. Brown cast a +quick, comprehensive glance from the face of the woman to where the man +was now leaning lazily against the wall. +</P> + +<P> +"All r-right, little g-girl," he said slowly, and with grave +deliberation. "I-I reckon I n-never went b-back on any p-pard yet. +B-blamed if y-y-you hate thet c-cuss any worse th-than I do. Y-you +bet, I 'll take you out o' h-h-here safe 'nough." +</P> + +<P> +He drew her more closely against his side, completely shielding her +slender figure from observation by the intervention of his giant body, +and thus they passed out together into the gloomy but still riotous +street. A block or more down, under the glaring light of a noisy +saloon, the girl looked up questioningly into his boyish face. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you Stutter Brown, of the 'Little Yankee'?" she asked doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +"I-I reckon you've c-c-called the t-turn, Miss." +</P> + +<P> +She hesitated a moment, but there was something about this big, awkward +fellow, with his sober eyes and good-natured face, which gave her +confidence. +</P> + +<P> +"Do—do you know a Mr. Ned Winston?" +</P> + +<P> +He shook his head, the locks of red hair showing conspicuously under +the wide hat-brim. +</P> + +<P> +"I r-reckon not. Leastwise, don't s-s-sorter seem to r-recall no such +n-name, Miss. Was the g-gent a f-friend o' your 'n?" +</P> + +<P> +"Y-yes. He is a mining engineer, and, I have been told, is under +engagement at the 'Little Yankee.'" +</P> + +<P> +Brown's eyes hardened, looking down into the upturned face, and his +hands clinched in sudden awakening suspicion. +</P> + +<P> +"You d-did, hey?" he questioned sullenly. "Wh-who told you that r-rot?" +</P> + +<P> +"Farnham." +</P> + +<P> +The man uttered an unrestrained oath, fully believing now that he was +being led into a cunningly devised trap. His mental operations were +slow, but he was swift and tenacious enough in prejudice. He stopped +still, and the two stood silently facing each other, the same vague +spectre of suspicion alive in the minds of both. +</P> + +<P> +"Farnham," the man muttered, for one instant thrown off his guard from +surprise. "How th-the hell d-d-did he g-git hold o' that?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know; but is n't it true?" +</P> + +<P> +He turned her face around toward the light, not roughly, yet with an +unconscious strength which she felt irresistible, and looked at her +searchingly, his own eyes perceptibly softening. +</P> + +<P> +"Y-you sure l-l-look all right, little g-girl," he admitted, slowly, +"but I 've h-heard th-th-that feller was hell with w-women. I-I reckon +you b-better go b-back to Farnham an' find out." +</P> + +<P> +He paused, wiping his perspiring face with the back of his hand, his +cheeks reddening painfully under her unfaltering gaze. Finally he +blurted out: +</P> + +<P> +"Say, w-who are you, anyhow?" +</P> + +<P> +"Beth Norvell, an actress." +</P> + +<P> +"You kn-kn-know Farnham?" +</P> + +<P> +She bent her head in regretful acknowledgment. +</P> + +<P> +"An' you kn-kn-know the seńorita?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, a very little." +</P> + +<P> +Stutter Brown wet his lips, shifting awkwardly. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, y-you 'll excuse me, M-Miss," he stuttered in an excess of +embarrassment, yet plunging straight ahead with manly determination to +have it out. "I-I ain't much used t-t-to this sorter th-thing, an' +maybe I-I ain't got no r-r-right ter be a-botherin' you with m-my +affairs, nohow. But you s-see it's th-this way. I 've sorter t-took a +big l-l-likin' to that dancin' girl. Sh-she 's a darn sight n-n-nearer +my s-style than anything I 've been up a-against fer s-some time. I-I +don't just kn-know how it h-h-happened, it was so blame s-sudden, b-but +she 's got her l-l-lasso 'bout me all r-right. But Lord! sh-she 's all +fun an' laugh; sh-sh-she don't seem to take n-nothin' serious like, an' +you c-can't make much ou-ou-out o' that kind; you n-never know just how +to t-take 'em; leastwise, I don't. N-now, I 'm a plain s-s-sorter man, +an' I m-make bold ter ask ye a m-mighty plain sorter qu-question—is +that there M-M-Mercedes on the squar?" +</P> + +<P> +He stood there motionless before her, a vast, uncertain bulk in the dim +light, but he was breathing hard, and the deep earnestness of his voice +had impressed her strongly. +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you ask me that?" she questioned, for the moment uncertain how +to answer him. "I scarcely know her; I know almost nothing regarding +her life." +</P> + +<P> +"Y-you, you are a w-woman, Miss," he insisted, doggedly, "an', I t-take +it, a woman who will u-understand such th-th-things. T-tell me, is she +on the squar?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she responded, warmly. "She has not had much chance, I think, +and may have made a mistake, perhaps many of them, but I believe she 's +on the square." +</P> + +<P> +"Did—did sh-she come out t-to our m-m-mine spying for Farnham?" +</P> + +<P> +"Really, I don't know." +</P> + +<P> +His grave face darkened anxiously; she could perceive the change even +in that shadow, and distinguish the sharp grind of his teeth. +</P> + +<P> +"Damn him," he muttered, his voice bitter with hate. "It w-would be +l-l-like one of his l-low-lived tricks. Wh-what is that g-girl to him, +anyhow?" +</P> + +<P> +It was no pleasant task to hurt this man deliberately, yet, perhaps, it +would be best. Anyway, it was not in Beth Norvell's nature either to +lie or to be afraid. +</P> + +<P> +"He has been her friend; there are some who say her lover." +</P> + +<P> +He stared fixedly at her, as though she had struck him a stinging, +unexpected blow. +</P> + +<P> +"Him? A-an' you s-s-say she 's on the squar?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I say she is on the square, because I think so. It's a hard life +she 's had to live, and no one has any right to judge her by strict +rules of propriety. I may not approve, neither do I condemn. Good +women have been deceived before now—have innocently done wrong in the +eyes of the world—and this Mercedes is a woman. I know him also, know +him to be a cold-blooded, heartless brute. She is merely a girl, +pulsating with the fiery blood of the South, an artist to her fingers' +tips, wayward and reckless. It would not be very difficult for one of +that nature to be led astray by such a consummate deceiver as he is. I +pity her, but I do not reproach. Yet God have mercy on him when she +awakes from her dream, for that time is surely coming, perhaps is here +already; and the girl is on the square. I believe it, she is on the +square." +</P> + +<P> +For a silent, breathless moment Brown did not stir, did not once take +his eyes from off her face. She saw his hand slip down and close hard +over the butt of his dangling revolver. Then he drew a deep breath, +his head thrown back, his great shoulders squared. +</P> + +<P> +"D-damn, but that helps me," he said soberly. "It—it sure does. +G-good-night, little g-girl." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going to leave me now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, sure. Th-this yere is the h-h-hotel, ain 't it? W-well, I 've +got t-to be back to th-the 'Little Yankee' afore d-d-daylight, or thar +'ll be h-hell to pay, an' I sure m-mean to see her first, +an'—an'—maybe h-him." +</P> + +<P> +She stood there in thoughtful perplexity, oblivious to all else in her +strange surroundings, watching the dark shadow of his burly figure +disappear through the dim light. There was a strength of purpose, a +grim, unchangeable earnestness about the man which impressed her +greatly, which won her admiration. He was like some great faithful +dog, ready to die at his master's bidding. Down in her heart she +wondered what would be the tragic end of this night's confidence. +</P> + +<P> +"There goes a good friend," she said slowly, under her breath, "and a +bad enemy." Then she turned away, aroused to her own insistent mission +of warning, and entered the silent hotel. +</P> + +<P> +The night clerk, a mere boy with pallid cheeks and heavy eyes +bespeaking dissipation, reclined on a couch behind the rough counter, +reading a Denver paper. He was alone in the room, excepting a drunken +man noisily slumbering in an arm-chair behind the stove. Miss Norvell, +clasping her skirts tightly, picked her way forward across the littered +floor, the necessity for immediate action rendering her supremely +callous to all ordinary questions of propriety. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you inform me if Mr. Winston is in his room?" she questioned, +leaning across the counter until she could see the clerk's surprised +face. +</P> + +<P> +The young fellow smiled knowingly, rising instantly to his feet. +</P> + +<P> +"Not here at all," he returned pleasantly. "He left just before noon +on horseback. Heard him say something 'bout an engineering job he had +up Echo Canyon. Reckon that 's where he 's gone. Anything important, +Miss Norvell?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE COVER OF DARKNESS +</H3> + + +<P> +Beth Norvell did not remember ever having fainted in her life, yet for +a moment after these words reached her, all around grew dark, and she +was compelled to grasp the counter to keep from falling. The strain of +the long night, coupled with such unexpected news proving she had +arrived too late with her warning, served to daze her brain, to leave +her utterly unable either to think or plan. The clerk, alarmed by the +sudden pallor of her face, was at her side instantly, holding eagerly +forth that panacea for all fleshly ills in the West, a bottle of +whiskey. +</P> + +<P> +"Good Lord, Miss, don't faint away!" he cried excitedly. "Here, just +take a swig of this; there 's plenty of water in it, and it's the stuff +to pull you through. There, that's better. Great Scott, but I sure +thought you was goin' to flop over that time." He assisted her to a +convenient chair, then stepped back, gazing curiously into her face, +the black bottle still in his hand. "What's the trouble, anyhow?" he +questioned, his mind filled with sudden suspicion. "That—that fellow +did n't throw you, did he?" +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell, her fingers clasping the chair arm for support, rose +hurriedly to her feet, a red flush sweeping into her pallid cheeks. +For an instant her intense indignation held her speechless. +</P> + +<P> +"'Throw' me? What is it you mean?" she exclaimed, her voice faltering. +"Do you rank me with those shameless creatures out yonder? It is for +Mr. Winston's sake I sought word with him; it has nothing whatever to +do with myself. I chanced to learn news of the utmost importance, news +which he must possess before morning; yet it is not a message I can +trust to any one else. My God! what can I do?" She paused irresolute, +her hands pressing her temples. The boy, his interest aroused, took a +step forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Can I be of service?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I hardly know; I scarcely seem able to think. Could—could you +leave here for just ten minutes—long enough to go to the dance hall at +the Gayety?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sure thing; there 's nothin' doin'." +</P> + +<P> +"Then please go; find a big, red-headed miner there named +Brown—'Stutter' Brown they call him—and bring him back here to me. +If—if he is n't there any longer, then get Mercedes, the Mexican +dancer. You know her, don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +The clerk nodded, reaching for his hat. +</P> + +<P> +"Get one of those two; oh, you must get one of them. Tell them I say +it is most important." +</P> + +<P> +There was a terrible earnestness about the girl's words and manner, +which instantly impressed the lad with the necessity for immediate +haste. He was off at a run, slamming the door heavily behind him, and +plunging headlong into the black street. As he disappeared, Miss +Norvell sank back into the vacated chair, and sat there breathing +heavily, her eyes fastened upon the drunken man opposite, her natural +coolness and resource slowly emerging from out the haze of +disappointment. Brown could surely be trusted in this emergency, for +his interest was only second to her own. But why had she not told him +the entire story before? Why, when she had opportunity, did she fail +to reveal to him Farnham's threats, and warn him against impending +danger? She realized fully now the possible injury wrought by her +secrecy. She felt far too nervous, too intensely anxious, to remain +long quiet; her eyes caught the ticking timepiece hanging above the +clerk's desk, and noted the hour with a start of surprise. It was +already after two. Once, twice, thrice she paced across the floor of +the office and stood for a moment striving to peer through the dirty +window-glass into the blackness without, faintly splotched with gleams +of yellow light. Finally, she flung back the door and ventured forth +upon the shadowed porch, standing behind the low railing, where those +passing below were little likely to notice her presence. Her head +throbbed and ached, and she loosened her heavy hair, pressing her palms +to the temples. The boy returned at last hurriedly, bare-headed, but +unaccompanied, and she met him at the top of the steps, realizing, even +before he spoke, that those she sought had not been found. +</P> + +<P> +"Not there? Neither there?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Miss." The clerk was breathing hard from his run, but his tone +was sympathetic. "Darned if I did n't hustle that outfit from pit to +boxes, but nobody there seemed to sabe this yere Brown. Mercedes, she +was there all right, 'bout ten minutes ago, but just naturally faded +away before I hit the shebang. Doorkeeper piped it she had a guy with +her when she broke loose, an' he reckoned she must have lit out fer +home." +</P> + +<P> +"For home?" a faint ray of light breaking from the word. "Where does +the girl live? Do you know?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sure; I 'm wise; she has a couple of dandy rooms over at the old fort, +just across the creek; you know where that is, don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +She nodded silently, her eyes brightening with resolution. +</P> + +<P> +"It 's a blame tough bit of hiking to take alone on a dark night like +this," he commented gravely. "You was n't plannin' to try any such +trip as that, was you, Miss?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no; certainly not. I'm going upstairs to wait for daylight. But +I thank you so much," and she cordially extended her hand. "You see, +I—I could hardly go to the Gayety myself at such an hour." +</P> + +<P> +The boy colored, still clasping the extended hand. Something in her +low tone had served to recall to his mind those hasty words uttered in +the office. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure not, Miss Norvell; it's a bit tough, all right, for anybody like +you down there at this time o' night." +</P> + +<P> +She opened the door, the bright light from within shining about her +slender figure, yet leaving her face still in shadow. +</P> + +<P> +"Did—did you chance to notice if Mr. Farnham remained in the dance +hall?" +</P> + +<P> +"Biff Farnham?" in sudden, choking surprise. "Great guns, do you know +him, too? No, he was n't there, but I can tell you where he is, all +the same. He 's at the Palace Livery, saddling up, along with half a +dozen other fellows. I saw 'em as I come trottin' along back, and +wondered what the dickens was on tap at this time o' night." +</P> + +<P> +The girl made no attempt to answer. She stood clutching the edge of +the door for support, her lips tightly compressed, feeling as if her +heart would rise up and choke her. She realized instantly that the +crisis had arrived, that Winston's life probably hung upon her next +decision. Twice she endeavored bravely to speak, and when she finally +succeeded, the strange calmness other voice made her doubt her own +sanity. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," she said gravely, "you have been most kind,—good-night," +and vanished up the stairs. +</P> + +<P> +Within the privacy of her own securely locked room Beth Norvell flung +herself upon the narrow bed, not to sleep, not even to rest, but in an +earnest effort to clarify her brain, to gain fresh conception of this +grim reality which fronted her. She realized now precisely what Ned +Winston stood for in her life—must ever stand for until the bitter +end. There was no upbraiding, no reviling. Not in the slightest +degree did she even attempt to deceive herself; with set, tearless +eyes, and without a sigh of regret, she simply faced the naked truth. +She had made the mistake herself; now she must bear the burden of +discovery. It was not the dull inertia of fatalism, but rather the +sober decision of a woman who had been tried in the fire, who +understood her own heart, and comprehended the strength of her own +will. Personal suffering and sacrifice were no new chapters written in +her life; these had been met before, and now, in yet another guise, +they could be courageously met again. She sat up quickly upon the edge +of the bed, her hands pressing back the heavy hair from off her hot +forehead. What right had she to lie there shuddering at destiny when +lives—his life—might be trembling in the balance? She could at least +serve, and, whatever else of weakness may have lurked in Beth Norvell, +there was no germ of cowardice. Clearer and more clear she perceived +duty, until it overshadowed love and brought her upon her feet in +active preparation, in burning desire for action. +</P> + +<P> +Standing before the little mirror, she wondered dimly at those dark +circles beneath her eyes, the unusually sharp lines visible at the +corners of her mouth. She felt hot, feverish, and in hope of thus +relieving the painful throbbing of her temples she buried her face in +the bowl of cool water. Rapidly, almost carelessly, she gathered up +her dishevelled locks, fastening them in some simple, yet secure +fashion back out of the way. From the open trunk standing against the +wall, she caught up a plain, soft hat, one she had used in character +upon the stage, and drew it down firmly over the mass of soft hair, +never noting how coquettishly the wide brim swept up in front, or what +witchery of archness it gave to her dark eyes. She took a quick step +toward the door, and then, her hand already on the latch, she paused in +uncertainty; finally, she drew a small, pearl-handled revolver from the +bottom tray, and placed it carefully in a pocket of her jacket. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I hardly believe I could ever use it," she thought, "but maybe I +might." +</P> + +<P> +Outside, in the narrow, deserted hall, she stood at the head of the +steep flight of stairs and listened. The snoring of the drunken man in +the office below was the only disturbing sound. Out through the open +office door a dull bar of yellow light streamed across the lower steps. +Like a ghost she stole silently down, treading so softly not a stair +creaked beneath her cautious footfalls. The next moment she had opened +the door, and was alone in the dark street. +</P> + +<P> +Dark it was, but neither deserted nor silent. The unleashed evil of +San Juan was now in full control, more madly riotous than ever beneath +the cloak of so late an hour. Nothing short of complete return of +daylight would bring semblance of peace to that carnival of saloons, +gambling dens, and dance halls. Through the shadows stalked unrebuked, +uncontrolled, the votaries of dissipation and recklessness, of "easy +money" and brutal lust. Yellow rays of light streamed from out dirty, +uncurtained windows, leaving the narrow street weirdly illuminated, +with here and there patches of dense shadows. Shifting figures, often +unsteady of step, appeared and disappeared like disembodied spirits, +distorted from all human semblance by that uncertain radiance; on every +side the discordant sounds of violins and pianos commingled in one +hideous din, punctuated by drunken shouts and every species of noise of +which civilized savagery is capable. +</P> + +<P> +Yet this was not what she feared, this saturnalia of unbridled passion, +for the way was comparatively well lighted, and in traversing it she +was reasonably certain to be within call of some one sober enough to +protect her from insult or injury. Even in drink these men remained +courteous to women of the right sort. No, she had travelled that path +alone at night before, again and again, returning from her work. She +shrank, womanlike, from the sights and sounds, but was conscious of no +personal fear. What she dreaded beyond expression was that long, black +stretch of narrow, desolate alley-way leading down toward the creek +bridge and the old fort beyond. She had been over that path once in +broad daylight, and it made her shudder to think she must now feel her +way there alone through the dark. The growing fear of it got upon her +nerves as she stood hesitating; then, almost angry with herself, she +advanced swiftly down toward the distant glowing lights of the Gayety. +It was just beyond there that the alley turned off toward the +foothills, a mere thread of a path wandering amid a maze of unlighted +tents and disreputable shacks; she remembered this, and the single +rotten strip of plank which answered for a sidewalk. +</P> + +<P> +There was an unusually boisterous, quarrelsome crowd congregated in +front of the Poodle-Dog, and she turned aside into the middle of the +street in order to get past undisturbed. Some one called noisily for +her to wait and have a drink, but she never glanced about, or gave +slightest heed. At the curb a drunken woman reeled against her, +peering sneeringly into her face with ribald laugh, but Beth Norvell +pushed silently past, and vanished into the protecting shadows beyond. +</P> + +<P> +The wide doors of the brilliantly illuminated Gayety were flung open, +the bright light from within streaming far across the road. Many of +its patrons, heated with liquor and the dance, had swarmed forth upon +the broad platform outside in search of fresher air. To avoid pushing +her way through this noisy crowd the girl swiftly crossed the street +into the darkness opposite. As she paused there for an instant, +scarcely conscious that the glow of the lamps reflected full upon her +face, there sounded a sudden clatter of horses' hoofs to her right, and +a half-dozen riders swept around the sharp corner, dashing forward into +the glare. She had barely time in which to leap backward out of their +direct path, when one of the horsemen jerked his mount upon its +haunches, and, uttering an oath of astonishment, leaned forward across +his pommel, staring down into her startled face. Then he laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"Go on, boys," he cried, sitting erect, with a wave of his hand to the +others. "I 'll catch up within half a mile. I 've got a word to say +first to this precious dove fluttering here." He struck the flank of +his horse, causing the sensitive beast to quiver, his own lips curling +maliciously. The girl, panting between parted lips, never lowered her +eyes from his face, and the steady look angered him. +</P> + +<P> +"Still hunting for Winston?" he questioned, sneeringly. "Well, I can +inform you where he may very easily be found." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, out at the 'Little Yankee.' It seems you were a trifle late in +getting him word, or else your fascinations failed to move him. You +must be losing your grip." +</P> + +<P> +She neither moved nor spoke, her eyes—dark, unwinking beneath the wide +hat-brim—telling him nothing. Yet her hand closed upon the pearl +handle hidden away in the jacket pocket, and her lips formed a straight +line. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm damned sorry you did n't land the fellow, Lizzie," he went on +brutally. "He 's about the best catch you 're liable to get, and +besides, it leaves me a rather unpleasant job. Still, I thought I 'd +better tell you, so you would n't feel it necessary to hang around the +streets here any longer. Fact is, I 'm anxious to shield your +reputation, you know." He looked about carelessly, his glance settling +on the open doors of the Gayety. "Don't strike me this is exactly the +sort of place for one of your moral respectability to be discovered in. +Lord! but what would the old man or that infernal prig of a brother of +yours say, if they could only see you now? A monologue artist at the +Gayety was bad enough, but this, this is the limit." +</P> + +<P> +There was a flash of something white and glittering within six inches +of his face, a sharp click, and an eye looked directly into his own +across a short steel barrel. +</P> + +<P> +"Go!" The word was like the spat of a bullet. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Lizzie—" +</P> + +<P> +"Go, you cur! or, as God is my witness, if you stay I'll kill you!" +</P> + +<P> +With a sharp dig of the spur his horse sprang half-way across the road, +a black, prancing shadow against the glare of light. She saw the rider +fling up one arm, and bring down the stinging quirt on the animal's +flank; the next instant, with a bound, they were swallowed up in the +darkness. A moment she leaned against the shack, nerveless, half +fainting from reaction, her face deathly white. Then she inhaled a +long, deep breath, gathered her skirts closely within one hand, and +plunged boldly into the black alley. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TWO WOMEN +</H3> + + +<P> +Mercedes stood in the shade of the towering hillside, the single beam +of light shining from an uncurtained window alone faintly revealing her +slenderness of figure in its red drapery. No other gleam anywhere +cleft the prevailing darkness of the night, and the only perceptible +sound was that of horses' hoofs dying away in the distance. The girl +was not crying, although one of her hands was held across her eyes, and +her bosom rose and fell tumultuously to labored breathing. She stood +silent, motionless, the strange radiance causing her to appear unreal, +some divinely moulded statue, an artist's dream carven in colored +stone. Suddenly she sprang backward from out that revealing tongue of +light and crouched low at the angle of the house, not unlike some +affrighted wild animal, her head bent forward intently listening. +There was a plainly perceptible movement in the gloom, the sound of an +approaching footstep and of rapid breathing, and finally a shadow +became visible. The watcher leaped to her feet half angrily. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! so eet vas you, seńorita!" she exclaimed, her voice betraying her +emotion,—"you, who come so dis night. <I>Sapristi</I>! vy you follow me +dis vay? By all de saints, I make you tell me dat! You vant him, too? +You vant rob me of all thing?" +</P> + +<P> +The visitor, startled by this sudden challenge, stood before her +trembling from head to foot with the nervous excitement of her journey, +yet her eyes remained darkly resolute. +</P> + +<P> +"You recognize me," she responded quickly, reaching out and touching +the other with one hand, as if to make certain of her actual presence. +"Then for God's sake do not waste time now in quarrelling. I did not +make this trip without a purpose. 'He,' you say? Who is he? Who was +it that rode away from here just now? Not Farnham?" +</P> + +<P> +Mercedes laughed a trifle uneasily, her eyes suddenly lowered before +the other's anxious scrutiny. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, no, seńorita," she answered softly. "Eet surprises me mooch you +not know; eet vas Seńor Brown." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell grasped her firmly by the shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"Brown?" she exclaimed eagerly. "Stutter Brown? Oh, call him back; +cannot you call him back?" +</P> + +<P> +The young Mexican shook her head, her white teeth gleaming, as she drew +her shoulder free from the fingers clasping it. +</P> + +<P> +"You vas too late, seńorita," she replied, sweetly confident. "He vas +already gone to de 'Little Yankee.' But he speak mooch to me first." +</P> + +<P> +"Much about what?" +</P> + +<P> +"Vel, he say he lofe me—he say eet straight, like eet vas vat he +meant." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh!" +</P> + +<P> +"Si, seńorita; he not even talk funny, maybe he so excited he forgot +how, hey? An' vat you tink dat he say den to Mercedes—vat?" +</P> + +<P> +The other shook her head, undecided, hesitating as to her own purpose. +</P> + +<P> +"He ask me vould I marry him. Si, si, vat you tink of dat—me, +Mercedes Morales, de dancer at de Gayety—he ask me vould I marry him. +Oh, Mother of God!" +</P> + +<P> +The young American stared at her upturned animated face, suddenly +aroused to womanly interest. +</P> + +<P> +"And what did you say?" +</P> + +<P> +Mercedes stamped her foot savagely on the hard ground, her eyes glowing +like coals of fire. +</P> + +<P> +"You ask vat I say? Saints of God! vat could I say? He vas a good +man, dat Seńor Brown, but I—I vas not a good voman. I no tell him +dat—no! no! I vas shamed; I get red, vite; I hardly speak at all; my +heart thump so I tink maybe eet choke me up here, but I say no. I say +no once, tvice, tree time. I tell him he big fool to tink like dat of +me. I tell him go vay an' find voman of his own race—good voman. I +tell him eet could nevah be me, no, nevah." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you do not love him?" +</P> + +<P> +The puzzled dancer hesitated, her long lashes lowered, and outlined +against her cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +"Lofe? Dat vas not nice vord as eet come to me. I know not ver' vell +just vat. Maybe if I not lofe him I marry him—si; I no care den. I +make him to suffer, but not care; ees eet not so? Anyhow, I—vat you +call dat?—respect dis Seńor Brown mooch, ver' mooch. Maybe dat last +longer as lofe—<I>quien sabe</I>?" +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely comprehending this peculiar explanation, Beth Norvell's first +conception was that the girl had chosen wrong, that she had allied +herself upon the side of evil. +</P> + +<P> +"You mean you—you will go back to Biff Farnham?" she asked, her tone +full of horror. +</P> + +<P> +Mercedes straightened up quickly, her young, expressive face filled +with a new passion, which struggled almost vainly for utterance through +her lips. +</P> + +<P> +"Go back to dat man!" she panted. "Me? <I>Sapristi</I>! and you tink I do +dat after Seńor Brown ask me be hees vife! Blessed Mary! vat you tink +I am? You tink I not feel, not care? I go back to dat Farnham? Eet +vould not be, no! no! I tol' him dat mooch, an' he got mad. I no +care, I like dat. I no lofe him, nevah; I vas sold to him for money, +like sheep, but I learn to hate him to kill." The deep glow of the +black eyes softened, and her head slowly dropped until it touched the +other's extended arm. "But dis Seńor Brown he vas not dat kind—he ask +me to marry him; he say he not care vat I been, only he lofe me, an' he +be good to me alvays. I vas hungry for dat, seńorita, but I say no, +no, no! Eet vas not for me, nevah. I send him avay so sorry, an' den +I cry ven I hear his horse go out yonder. Eet vas like he tread on me, +eet hurt dat vay. Maybe I no lofe him, but I know he vas good man an' +he lofe me. Eet vas de honor ven he ask me dat, an' now I be good +voman because a good man lofes me. Holy Mother! eet vill be easy now +dat he vanted to marry me." +</P> + +<P> +Impulsively Beth Norvell, her own eyes moist, held the other, sobbing +like a child within the clasp of sympathetic arms. There was instantly +formed between them a new bond, a new feeling of awakened womanhood. +Yet, even as her fingers continued to stroke the dishevelled hair +softly, there flashed across her mind a recurring memory of her +purpose, the necessity for immediate action. Not for an instant longer +did she doubt the complete honesty of the other's frank avowal, or +question the propriety of requesting her aid in thwarting Farnham. She +held the slight, quivering figure back, so that she might gaze into the +uplifted, questioning face. +</P> + +<P> +"Mercedes, yes, yes, I understand it all," she cried eagerly. "But we +cannot talk about it any longer now. It is a wonderful thing, this +love of a good man; but we are wasting time that may mean life or death +to others, perhaps even to him. Listen to what I say—Farnham has +already gone to the 'Little Yankee,' and taken a gang of roughs with +him. They left San Juan on horseback more than half an hour ago. He +threatened me first, and boasted that Mr. Winston was out there, and +that I was too late to warn him of danger. Oh, girl, you understand +what that means; you know him well, you must realize what he is capable +of doing. I came here as fast as I could in the dark," she shuddered, +glancing backward across her shoulder. "Every step was a way of +horrors, but I did n't know any one who could help me. But you—you +know the way to the 'Little Yankee,' and we—we must get there before +daylight, if we have to crawl." +</P> + +<P> +All that was savagely animal in the other's untamed nature flamed into +her face. +</P> + +<P> +"He say vat? Seńor Farnham he say vat he do?" +</P> + +<P> +"He said dynamite told no tales, but sometimes killed more than the one +intended." +</P> + +<P> +Mercedes' hand went to her head as though a pain had smitten her, and +she stepped back, half crouching in the glow like a tiger cat. +</P> + +<P> +"He say dat? De man say dat? Holy Angels! he vas de bad devil, but he +find me de bad devil too. Ah, now I play him de game, an' ve see who +vin! De 'Leetle Yankee,' eet tree mile, seńorita, an' de road rough, +mooch rough, but I know eet—si, I know eet, an' ve get dare before de +day come; sure ve do eet, <I>bueno</I>." She grasped the arm of the other, +now fully aroused, her slight form quivering from intense excitement. +"Come, I show you. See! he vas my pony—ah! eet makes me to laugh to +know de Seńor Farnham give him me; now I make him to upset de Seńor +Farnham. <I>Sapristi</I>! eet vas vat you call de vay of de vorld, de +verligig; vas eet not so? You ride de pony, seńorita; I valk an' lead +him—si, si, you more tired as Mercedes; I danseuse, no tire ever in de +legs. Den I find de vay more easy on foot in de dark, see? You ride +good, hey? He jump little, maybe, but he de ver' nice pony, an' I no +let him run. No, no, de odder vay, seńorita, like de man ride. Poof! +it no harm in de dark. <I>Bueno</I>, now ve go to surprise de Seńor +Farnham." +</P> + +<P> +She led promptly forth as she spoke, moving with perfect confidence +down the irregular trail skirting the bank of the creek, her left hand +grasping the pony's bit firmly, the other shading her eyes as though to +aid in the selection of a path through the gloom. It was a rough, +uneven, winding road they followed, apparently but little used, +littered with loose stones and projecting roots; yet, after a moment of +fierce but useless rebellion, the lively mustang sobered down into a +cautious picking of his passage amid the debris, obedient as a dog to +the soft voice of his mistress. The problems of advance were far too +complicated to permit of much conversation, and little effort at speech +was made by either, the principal thought in each mind being the +necessity for haste. +</P> + +<P> +Swaying on the saddleless back of the pony, her anxious gaze on the +dimly revealed, slender figure trudging sturdily in front, Beth Norvell +began to dread the necessity of again having to meet Winston under such +conditions. What would he naturally think? He could scarcely fail to +construe such action on his behalf as one inspired by deep personal +interest, and she instinctively shrank from such revealment, fearing +his glance, his word of welcome, his expressions of surprised +gratitude. The awkwardness, the probable embarrassment involved, +became more and more apparent as she looked forward to that meeting. +If possible, she would gladly drop out, and so permit the other to bear +on the message of warning alone. But, even with Mercedes' undoubted +interest in Brown, and her increasing dislike of Farnham, Beth could +not as yet entirely trust her unaccompanied. Besides, there was no +excuse to offer for such sudden withdrawal, no reason she durst even +whisper into the ear of another. No, there was nothing left her but to +go on; let him think what he might of her action, she would not fail to +do her best to serve him, and beneath the safe cover of darkness she +blushed scarlet, her long lashes moist with tears that could not be +restrained. They were at the bottom of the black canyon now, the high, +uplifting rock walls on either side blotting out the stars and +rendering the surrounding gloom intense. The young Mexican girl seemed +to have the eyes of a cat, or else was guided by some instinct of the +wild, feeling her passage slowly yet surely forward, every nerve alert, +and occasionally pausing to listen to some strange night sound. It was +a weird, uncanny journey, in which the nerves tingled to uncouth shapes +and the wild echoing of mountain voices. Once, at such a moment of +continued suspense, Beth Norvell bent forward and whispered a sentence +into her ear. The girl started, impulsively pressing her lips against +the white hand grasping the pony's mane. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, seńorita," she said softly. "Not dat; not because he lofe me; +because he ask me dat. Si, I make him not so sorry." +</P> + +<P> +She remembered that vast overhanging rock about which the dim trail +circled as it swept upward toward where the "Little Yankee" perched +against the sky-line. Undaunted by the narrowness of the ledge, the +willing, sure-footed mustang began climbing the steep grade. Step by +step they crept up, cautiously advancing from out the bottom of the +cleft, the path followed winding in and out among bewildering cedars, +and skirting unknown depths of ravines. Mercedes was breathing +heavily, her unoccupied hand grasping the trailing skirt which +interfered with her climbing. Miss Norvell, from her higher perch on +the pony's back, glanced behind apprehensively. Far away to the east a +faint, uncertain tinge of gray was shading into the sky. Suddenly a +detached stone rattled in their front; there echoed the sharp click of +a rifle hammer, mingled with the sound of a gruff, unfamiliar voice: +</P> + +<P> +"You come another step, an' I 'll blow hell out o' yer. <I>Sabe</I>?" +</P> + +<P> +It all occurred so quickly that neither spoke; they caught their breath +and waited in suspense. A shadow, dim, ill-defined, seemed to take +partial form in their front. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, can't yer speak?" questioned the same voice, growlingly. "What +yer doin' on this yere trail?" +</P> + +<P> +Mercedes released the pony's bit, and leaned eagerly forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Vas dat you, Beell Heeks?" she questioned, doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +The man swore, the butt of his quickly lowered rifle striking sharply +against the rock at his feet. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm damned if it ain't that Mexican agin," he exclaimed, angrily. +"Now, you get out o' yere; you hear me? I 'm blamed if I kin shoot at +no female, but you got in one measly spyin' job on this outfit, an' I +'ll not put up with another if I have ter pitch ye out inter the +canyon. So you git plum out o' yere, an' tell yer friend Farnham he +better take more care o' his females, or some of 'em are liable ter get +hurt." +</P> + +<P> +There was the harsh crunch of a footstep in the darkness, another +figure suddenly slid down the smooth surface of rock, dropping almost +at the pony's head. The animal shied with a quick leap, but a heavy +hand held him captive. +</P> + +<P> +"Y-you sh-sh-shut up, B-Bill," and the huge form of Stutter Brown +loomed up directly between them, and that menacing rifle. "I-I reckon +as how I'll t-t-take a h-hand in this yere g-g-game. Sh-she ain't no +s-spy fer Farnham, er I 'm a l-l-liar." He touched her softly with his +great hand, bending down to look into her face, half hidden beneath the +ruffled black hair. "C-come, little g-g-girl, what's up?" +</P> + +<P> +She made no response, her lips faltering as though suddenly stricken +dumb. Beth Norvell dropped down from the pony's back, and stood with +one hand resting on Mercedes' shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"She only came to show me the way," she explained bravely. "I-I have a +most important message for Mr. Winston. Where is he?" +</P> + +<P> +"Important, d-did you s-s-say?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, its delivery means life or death—for Heaven's sake, take me to +him!" +</P> + +<P> +For a single breathless moment Brown hesitated, his eyes on the girl's +upturned face, evidently questioning her real purpose. +</P> + +<P> +"I c-can't right n-now, Miss," he finally acknowledged, gravely; +"that's s-straight; fer ye s-s-see, he 's down the 'I-I-Independence' +shaft." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +UNDERGROUND +</H3> + + +<P> +It was a daring ruse that had taken Ned Winston down the shaft of the +"Independence" mine with the midnight shift. Not even the professional +enthusiasm of a young engineer could serve to justify so vast a risk, +but somehow this battle of right and wrong had become a personal +struggle between himself and Farnham; he felt, without understanding +clearly why, that the real stake involved was well worth the venture, +and would prove in the end of infinitely more value to him than any +settlement of the mere mining claims at issue. For several hours he +had been below in the tunnel of the "Little Yankee," measuring +distances, and sampling the grade of ore. All the afternoon and much +of the early night had been utilized in a careful exploration of the +surface ledges; creeping in, under protection of the low-growing +cedars, as closely as a vigilant rifle-guard would permit, to the great +ore dump of the busy "Independence"; diligently studying their system +of labor, and slowly crystallizing into shape his later plan of action. +He was already morally convinced that the Farnham people were actively +engaged in stealing the "Little Yankee" ore; that they were running +their tunnel along the lead of the latter; that they were doing this +systematically, and fully conscious of the danger of discovery. His +lines of survey, the nature of the ore bodies, the muffled sound of +picks, plainly discernible in the silent breast of the "Little Yankee" +while he lay listening with ear to the rock, as well as the close +secrecy, all combined to convince him fully of the fact. Yet such +vague suspicions were perfectly useless. He must have absolute, +convincing proof, and such proof could be obtained nowhere excepting at +the bottom of the "Independence" shaft. +</P> + +<P> +He talked over the situation frankly with the two partners in the +little single-roomed cabin perched on the cliff edge, while the +obedient though grumbling Mike, rifle in hand, sat solemnly on the dump +pile without. Little by little the three conspirators worked out a +fairly feasible plan. There were numerous chances for failure in it, +yet the very recklessness of the conception was an advantage. Winston, +his face darkened as a slight disguise, and dressed in the rough +garments of a typical miner, was to hide beside the footpath leading +between the "Independence" bunk-house and the shaft. Should one of the +men chance to loiter behind the others when the working shift changed +at midnight, Brown was to attend to him silently, relying entirely upon +his giant strength to prevent alarm, while Winston was promptly to take +the vacated place among the descending workmen. By some grim fate this +crudely devised scheme worked like a well-oiled piece of machinery. A +sleepy-headed lout, endeavoring to draw on his coat as he ran blindly +after the others, stumbled in the rocky path and fell heavily. Almost +at the instant Stutter Brown had the fellow by the throat, dragging him +back into the security of the cedars, and Winston, lamp and dinner-pail +in hand, was edging his way into the crowded cage, his face turned to +the black wall. +</P> + +<P> +That was five hours before. At the very edge of the black, concealing +chaparral, within easy rifle range of the "Independence" shaft-house, +Hicks and Brown lay flat on their faces, waiting and watching for some +occasion to take a hand. Back behind the little cabin old Mike sat +calmly smoking his black dudheen, apparently utterly oblivious to all +the world save the bound and cursing Swede he was vigilantly guarding, +and whose spirits he occasionally refreshed with some choice bit of +Hibernian philosophy. Beneath the flaring gleam of numerous gasoline +torches, half a dozen men constantly passed and repassed between +shaft-house and dump heap, casting weird shadows along the rough +planking, and occasionally calling to each other, their gruff voices +clear in the still night. Every now and then those two silent watchers +could hear the dismal clank of the windlass chain, and a rattle of ore +on the dump, when the huge buckets were hoisted to the surface and +emptied of their spoil. Once—it must have been after three +o'clock—other men seemed suddenly to mingle among those perspiring +surface workers and the unmistakable neigh of a horse came faintly from +out the blackness of a distant thicket. The two lying in the chaparral +rose to their knees, bending anxiously forward. Brown drew back the +hammer of his rifle, while Hicks swore savagely under his breath. But +those new figures vanished in some mysterious way before either could +decide who they might be—into the shaft-house, or else beyond, where +denser shadows intervened. The two watchers sank back again into their +cover, silently waiting, ever wondering what was happening beyond their +ken, down below in the heart of the hill. +</P> + +<P> +Some of this even Winston never knew, although he was a portion of it. +He had gone down with the descending cage, standing silent among the +grimy workmen crowding it, and quickly discerning from their speech +that they were largely Swedes and Poles, of a class inclined to ask few +questions, provided their wages were promptly paid. There was a +deserted gallery opening from the shaft-hole some forty feet below the +surface; he saw the glimmer of light reflected along its wall as they +passed, but the cage dropped to a considerably lower level before it +stopped, and the men stepped forth into the black entry. Winston went +with them, keeping carefully away from the fellow he supposed to be +foreman of the gang, and hanging back, under pretence of having +difficulty in lighting his lamp, until the others had preceded him some +distance along the echoing gallery. The yellow flaring of their lights +through the intense darkness proved both guidance and warning, so he +moved cautiously forward, counting his steps, his hand feeling the +trend of the side wall, his lamp unlit. The floor was rough and +uneven, but dry, the tunnel apparently having been blasted through +solid rock, for no props supporting the roof were discernible. For +quite an extended distance this entry ran straight away from the foot +of the shaft—directly south he made it—into the heart of the +mountain; then those twinkling lights far in advance suddenly winked +out, and Winston groped blindly forward until he discovered a sharp +turn in the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +He lingered for a moment behind the protection of that angle of rock +wall, struck a safety match, and held the tiny flame down close against +the face of his pocket compass. Exactly; this new advance extended +southeast by east. He snuffed out the glowing splinter between his +fingers, crossed over to the opposite side, and watchfully rounded the +corner to where he could again perceive the twinkling lights ahead. +His foot met some obstacle along the floor, and he bent down, feeling +for it with his fingers in the dark; it proved to be a rude scrap-iron +rail, evidence that they carried out their ore by means of mules and a +tram-car. A few yards farther this new tunnel began to ascend +slightly, and he again mysteriously lost his view of the miners' lamps, +and was compelled to grope his way more slowly, yet ever carefully +counting his steps. The roof sank with the advance until it became so +low he was compelled to stoop. The sound of picks smiting the rock was +borne to him, made faint by distance, but constantly growing clearer. +There he came to another curve in the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +He crouched upon one knee, peering cautiously around the edge in an +effort to discover what was taking place in front. The scattered +lights on the hats of the miners rendered the whole weird scene fairly +visible. There were two narrow entries branching off from the main +gallery not more than thirty feet from where he lay. One ran, as +nearly as he could judge, considerably to the east of south, but the +second had its trend directly to the eastward. Along the first of +these tunnels there was no attempt at concealment, a revealing twinkle +of light showing where numerous miners were already at work. But the +second was dark, and would have remained unnoticed entirely had not +several men been grouped before the entrance, their flaring lamps +reflected over the rock wall. Winston's eyes sparkled, his pulse +leaped, as he marked the nature of their task—they were laboriously +removing a heavy mask, built of wood and canvas, which had been snugly +fitted over the hole, making it resemble a portion of the solid rock +wall. +</P> + +<P> +There were four workmen employed at this task, while the foreman, a +broad-jawed, profane-spoken Irishman, his moustache a bristling red +stubble, stood a little back, noisily directing operations, the yellow +light flickering over him. The remainder of the fellows composing the +party had largely disappeared farther down, although the sound of their +busy picks was clearly audible. +</P> + +<P> +"Where the hell is Swanson?" blurted out the foreman suddenly. "He +belongs in this gang. Here you, Ole, what 's become o' Nelse Swanson?" +</P> + +<P> +The fellow thus directly addressed drew his hand across his mouth, +straightening up slightly to answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Eet iss not sumtings dot I know, Meester Burke. He seems not here." +</P> + +<P> +"Not here; no, I should say not, ye cross-oied Swade. But Oi 'm dommed +if he did n't come down in the cage wid' us, for Oi counted the lot o' +yez. Don't any o' you lads know whut 's become o' the drunken lout?" +</P> + +<P> +There was a universal shaking of heads, causing the lights to dance +dizzily, forming weird shadows in the gloom, and the irritated foreman +swore aloud, his eyes wandering back down the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +"No doubt he's dhrunk yet, an' laid down to slape back beyant in the +passage," he growled savagely. "Be all the powers, but Oi 'll tache +that humpin' fool a lesson this day he 'll not be apt to fergit fer a +while. I will that, or me name 's not Jack Burke. Here you, Peterson, +hand me over that pick-helve." He struck the tough hickory handle +sharply against the wall to test its strength, his ugly red moustache +bristling. "Lave the falsework sthandin' where it is till I git back," +he ordered, with an authoritative wave of the hand; "an' you fellers go +in beyant, an' help out on Number Wan till Oi call ye. Dom me sowl, +but Oi'll make that Swanson think the whole dom mounting has slid down +on top o' him—the lazy, dhrunken Swade." +</P> + +<P> +The heavy pick-handle swinging in his hand his grim, red face glowing +angrily beneath the sputtering flame of the lamp stuck in his hat, the +irate Burke strode swiftly back into the gloomy passage, muttering +gruffly. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE PROOF OF CRIME +</H3> + + +<P> +Winston sprang to his feet and ran back along the deserted tunnel, +bending low to avoid collision with the sloping roof, striving to move +rapidly, yet in silence. The intense darkness blinded him, but one +hand touching the wall acted as safeguard. For a moment the +bewildering surprise of this new situation left his brain in a whirl of +uncertainty. He could remember no spot in which he might hope to +secrete himself safely; the rock wall of that narrow passageway +afforded no possible concealment against the reflection of the +foreman's glaring lamp. But he must get beyond sight and sound of +those others before the inevitable meeting and the probable struggle +occurred. This became the one insistent thought which sent him +scurrying back into the gloom, recklessly accepting every chance of +encountering obstacles in his haste. At the second curve he paused, +panting heavily from the excitement of his hard run, and leaned against +the face of the rock, peering anxiously back toward that fast +approaching flicker of light. The angry foreman came crunching +savagely along, his heavy boots resounding upon the hard floor, the +hickory club in his hand occasionally striking against the wall as +though he imagined himself already belaboring the recreant Swanson. +About him, causing his figure to appear gigantic, his shadow grotesque, +the yellow gleam of the light shone in spectral coloring. Winston set +his teeth determinedly, and noiselessly cocked his revolver. The man +was already almost upon him, a black, shapeless bulk, like some unreal +shadow. Then the younger stepped suddenly forth into the open, the two +meeting face to face. The startled foreman stared incredulous, bending +forward as though a ghost confronted him, his teeth showing between +parted lips. +</P> + +<P> +"Drop that club!" commanded Winston coldly, the gleam of an uplifted +steel barrel in the other's eyes. "Lively, my man; this is a +hair-trigger." +</P> + +<P> +"What the hell—" +</P> + +<P> +"Drop that club! We 'll discuss this case later. There—no, up with +your hands; both of them. Turn around slowly; ah, I see you don 't +tote a gun down here. So much the better, for now we can get along to +business with fewer preliminaries." +</P> + +<P> +He kicked the released pick-helve to one side out of sight in the +darkness, his watchful eyes never straying from the Irishman's face. +Burke stood sputtering curses, his hands held high, his fighting face +red from impotent passion. The trembling light gave to the scene a +fantastic effect, grimly humorous. +</P> + +<P> +"Who—who the divil be ye?" The surprised man thrust his head yet +farther forward in an effort to make the flame more clearly reveal the +other's features. Winston drew the peak of his miner's cap lower. +</P> + +<P> +"That will make very little difference to you, Jack Burke," he said +quietly, "if I have any occasion to turn loose this arsenal. However, +stand quiet, and it will afford me pleasure to give you all necessary +information. Let us suppose, for instance, that I am a person to whom +Biff Farnham desires to sell some stock in this mine; becoming +interested, I seek to discover its real value for myself, and come down +with the night shift. Quite a natural proceeding on my part, is n't +it? Now, under such circumstances, I presume you, as foreman, would be +perfectly willing to show me exactly what is being accomplished down +here?" +</P> + +<P> +He paused, his lips smiling pleasantly, and Burke stared at him, with +mouth wide open, his eyes mere black slits in the gloom. It was a full +minute before he regained control of his voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Ye think Oi 'm a dommed fool?" he ejaculated, hoarsely. +</P> + +<P> +"No; that is exactly what I do not think, Burke," and Winston smiled +again beneath his stern gray eyes. "That is precisely why I know you +will show me all I desire to see. A damn fool might possibly be +tempted to take chances with this gun, and get hurt, but you are smart +enough to understand that I 've got the drop all right, and that I mean +business—I mean business." These words were uttered slowly, +deliberately, and the foreman involuntarily dropped his lids as though +feeling them physically, the fingers of his uplifted hands clinching. +</P> + +<P> +"What—what is it ye want to see?" +</P> + +<P> +"That tunnel you 've got concealed by falsework." +</P> + +<P> +Burke spat against the rock wall, the perspiration standing forth on +his forehead. But Irish pugnacity made him stubborn. +</P> + +<P> +"Who tould ye that loie? Shure, an' it's not here ye 'll be apt to +foind the loikes o' that, me man." +</P> + +<P> +Winston eyed him scornfully. +</P> + +<P> +"You lie, Burke; I saw it with my own eyes just beyond that second turn +yonder. You cannot play with me, and the sooner you master that fact +the better. Now, you can take your choice—lead on as I order, and +keep your men away, or eat lead. It's one or the other within the next +sixty seconds. Turn around!" +</P> + +<P> +No man in his senses would ever doubt the determined purpose lying +behind those few low-spoken, earnest words. Whoever this man might be, +whatever his purpose, he was assuredly not there in sport, and Burke +wheeled about as though some concealed spring controlled his action. +</P> + +<P> +"Good," commented Winston, briefly. "You can lower your hands. Now, +walk straight forward, speaking only when I tell you, and never forget +there is a gun-barrel within two feet of your back. The slightest +movement of treachery, and, God helping me, Burke, I 'll turn loose +every cartridge into your body. I don 't want to do it, but I will." +</P> + +<P> +They moved slowly forward along the deserted tunnel, not unlike two +convicts in lock-step. Burke sullenly growling, a burly, shapeless +figure under the light in his hat; Winston alert, silent, watchful for +treachery, the glimmer of the lamp full on his stern face. Their +shadows glided, ever changing in conformation, along the walls, their +footfalls resounding hollow from the echoing passage. There were no +words wasted in either command or explanation. Without doubt, the +foreman understood fairly well the purpose of this unknown invader; but +he realized, also, that the man had never lightly assumed such risk of +discovery, and he had lived long enough among desperate men to +comprehend all that a loaded gun meant when the eye behind was hard and +cool. The persuasive eloquence of "the drop" was amply sufficient to +enforce obedience. Farnham be hanged! He felt slight inclination at +that moment to die for the sake of Farnham. Winston, accustomed to +gauging men, easily comprehended this mental attitude of his prisoner, +his eyes smiling in appreciation of the other's promptness, although +his glance never once wavered, his guarding hand never fell. Burke was +safe enough now, yet he was not to be trifled with, not to be trusted +for an instant, in the playing out of so desperate a game. At the +angle the two halted, while the engineer cautiously reconnoitred the +dimly revealed regions in front. He could perceive but little evidence +of life, excepting the faint radiance of constantly moving lights down +Number One tunnel. Burke stood sullenly silent, venturing upon no +movement except under command. +</P> + +<P> +"Anybody down that other entry?" +</P> + +<P> +The foreman shook his head, without glancing around, his jaws moving +steadily on the tobacco that swelled his cheek. +</P> + +<P> +"Then lead on down it." +</P> + +<P> +Winston stretched forth his unused left hand as they proceeded, his +fingers gliding along the wall, his observant eyes wandering slightly +from off the broad back of his prisoner toward the sides and roof of +the tunnel. To his experience it was at once plainly evident this +preliminary cutting had been made through solid rock, not in the +following of any seam, but crossways. Here alone was disclosed +evidence in plenty of deliberate purpose, of skilfully planned +depredation. He halted Burke, with one hand gripping his shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you people following an ore-lead back yonder?" he asked sharply. +</P> + +<P> +The Irishman squirmed, glancing back at his questioner. He saw nothing +in that face to yield any encouragement to deceit. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure," he returned gruffly, "we're follyin' it all down that Number +Wan." +</P> + +<P> +"What 's the nature of the ore body?" +</P> + +<P> +"A bit low grade, wid a thrifle of copper, an' the vein is n't overly +tick." +</P> + +<P> +"How far have you had to cut across here before striking color?" +</P> + +<P> +"'Bout thirty fate o' rock work." +</P> + +<P> +"Hike on, you thief," commanded the engineer, his jaw setting +threateningly. +</P> + +<P> +It proved a decidedly crooked passage, the top uneven in height, +clearly indicating numerous faults in the vein, although none of these +were sufficiently serious to necessitate the solution of any difficult +mining problem. In spite of the turns the general direction could be +ascertained easily. The walls were apparently of some soft stone, +somewhat disintegrated by the introduction of air, and the engineer +quickly comprehended that pick and lever alone had been required to +dislodge the interlying vein of ore. At the extreme end of this tunnel +the pile of broken rock lying scattered about clearly proclaimed recent +labor, although no discarded mining tools were visible. Winston +examined the exposed ore-vein, now clearly revealed by Burke's +flickering lamp, and dropped a few detached specimens into his pocket. +Then he sat down on an outcropping stone, the revolver still gleaming +within his fingers, and ordered the sullen foreman to a similar seat +opposite. The yellow rays of the light sparkled brilliantly from off +the outcropping mass, and flung its radiance across the faces of the +two men. For a moment the silence was so intense they could hear water +drip somewhere afar off. +</P> + +<P> +"Burke," asked the engineer suddenly, "how long have you fellows been +in here?" +</P> + +<P> +The uneasy Irishman shifted his quid, apparently considering whether to +speak the truth or take the chances of a lie. Something within +Winston's face must have decided him against the suggested falsehood. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, sorr, Oi 've only been boss over this gang for a matter o' three +months," he said slowly, "an' they was well into this vein be then." +</P> + +<P> +"How deep are we down?" +</P> + +<P> +"Between sixty an' siventy fate, countin' it at the shaft." +</P> + +<P> +"And this tunnel—how long do you make it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Wan hundred an' forty-six fate, from the rock yonder." +</P> + +<P> +Winston's gray eyes, grave with thought, were upon the man's face, but +the other kept his own concealed, lowered to the rock floor. +</P> + +<P> +"Who laid out this work, do you know? Who did the engineering?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oi think ut was the ould man hisself. Annyhow, that 's how thim +Swades tell ut." +</P> + +<P> +Winston drew a deep breath. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he knew his business, all right; it's a neat job," he admitted, +a sudden note of admiration in his voice. His glance wandered toward +the dull sparkle of the exposed ore. "I suppose you know who all this +rightly belongs to, don 't you, Burke?" +</P> + +<P> +The foreman spat reflectively into the dark, a grim smile bristling his +red moustache. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, sorr, Oi 'm not mooch given up to thinkin'," he replied calmly. +"If it's them ide's yer afther, maybe it wud be Farnham ye'd betther +interview, sure, an he 's the lad whut 'tinds to that end o' it for +this outfit. Oi 'm jist bossin' me gang durin' workin' hours, an' +slapin' the rist o' the toime in the bunk-house. Oi 'm dommed if Oi +care who owns the rock." +</P> + +<P> +The two men sat in silence. Burke indifferently chewing on his quid. +Winston shifted the revolver into his left hand, and began slowly +tracing lines, and marking distances, on the back of an old envelope. +The motionless foreman steadily watched him through cautiously lowered +lashes, holding the lamp in his hat perfectly steady. Slowly, with no +other muscle moving, both his hands stole upward along his body; inch +by inch attaining to a higher position without awakening suspicion. +His half-concealed eyes, as watchful as those of a cat, gleamed +feverishly beneath his hat-brim, never deserting Winston's partially +lowered face. Then suddenly his two palms came together, the +sputtering flame of the lamp between them. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A RETURN TO THE DAY +</H3> + + +<P> +Burke knew better than to attempt running; three steps in the midst of +such blinding darkness would have dashed him against unyielding rock. +Instantly, his teeth gripped like those of a bulldog, he clutched at +Winston's throat, trusting to his great strength for victory. +Instinctively, as one without knowing why closes the eyes to avoid +injury, the engineer dodged sideways, Burke's gripping fingers missed +their chosen mark, and the two men went crashing down together in +desperate struggle. +</P> + +<P> +His revolver knocked from his grasp in the first impetus of assault, +his cheek bleeding from forcible contact with a rock edge, Winston +fought in silent ferocity, one hand holding back the Irishman's +searching fingers, the other firmly twisting itself into the soft +collar of his antagonist's shirt. Twice Burke struck out heavily, +driving his clinched fist into the other's body, unable to reach the +protected face; then Winston succeeded in getting one groping foot +braced firmly against a surface of rock, and whirled the surprised +miner over upon his back with a degree of violence that caused his +breath to burst forth in a great sob. A desperate struggle ensued, mad +and merciless—arms gripping, bodies straining, feet rasping along the +loose stones, muttered curses, the dull impact of blows. Neither could +see the other, neither could feel assured his antagonist possessed no +weapon; yet both fought furiously,—Burke enraged and merciless, +Winston intoxicated with the lust of fight. Twice they reversed +positions, the quickness of the one fairly offsetting the burly +strength of the other, their sinews straining, the hot breath hissing +between set teeth. Pain was unfelt, mercy unknown. +</P> + +<P> +In the midst of the blind <I>męlée</I>, following some savage instinct, +Winston clinched his fingers desperately in the Irishman's hair, and +began jamming him back against the irregularities of the rock floor. +Suddenly Burke went limp, and the engineer, panting painfully, lay +outstretched upon him, his whole body quivering, barely conscious that +he had gained the victory. The miner did not move, apparently he had +ceased breathing, and Winston, shrinking away from contact with the +motionless body, grasped a rock support and hauled himself to his feet. +</P> + +<P> +The intense blackness all about dazed him; he retained no sense of +direction, scarcely any memory of where he was. His body, bruised and +strained, pained him severely; his head throbbed as from fever. Little +by little the exhausted breath came back, and with it a slow +realization of his situation. Had he killed Burke? He stared down +toward the spot where he knew the body lay, but could perceive nothing. +The mystery of the dark suddenly unnerved him; he could feel his hands +tremble violently as he groped cautiously along the smooth surface of +the rock. He experienced a shrinking, nervous dread of coming into +contact with that man lying there beneath the black mantle, that +hideous, silent form, perhaps done to death by his hands. It was a +revolt of the soul. A moment he actually thought he was losing his +mind, feverish fancies playing grim tricks before his strained, +agonized vision, imagination peopling the black void with a riot of +grotesque figures. +</P> + +<P> +He gripped himself slowly and sternly, his jaws set, his tingling +nerves mastered by the resolute dominance of an aroused will. +Compelling himself to the act, he bent down, feeling along the ground +for the foreman's hat having the extinguished lamp fixed on it. He was +a long time discovering his object, yet the continued effort brought +back a large measure of self-control, and gave birth to a certain +clearness of perception. He held the recovered lamp in his hands, +leaning against the side of the tunnel, listening. The very intensity +of silence seemed to press against him from every direction as though +it had weight. He was still breathing heavily, but his strained ears +could not distinguish the slightest sound where he knew Burke lay +shrouded In the darkness. Nothing reached him to break the dread, +horrible silence, excepting that far-off, lonely trickle of dripping +water. He hesitated, match in hand, shrinking childishly from the +coming revealment of his victim. Yet why should he? Fierce as the +struggle had proved, on his part the fight had been entirely one of +defence. He had been attacked, and had fought back only in +self-preservation. Winston harbored no animosity; the fierceness of +actual combat past, he dreaded now beyond expression the thought that +through his savagery a human life might have been sacrificed. The tiny +flame of the ignited match played across his white face, caught the +wick of the lamp, and flared up in faint radiance through the gloom. +Burke, huddled into the rock shadow, never stirred, and the anxious +engineer bent over his motionless form in a horrid agony of fear. The +man rested partially upon one side, his hands still gripped as in +struggle, an ugly wound, made by a jagged edge of rock, showing plainly +in the side of his head. Blood had flowed freely, crimsoning the stone +beneath, but was already congealing amid the thick mass of hair, +serving somewhat to conceal the nature of the injury. +</P> + +<P> +Winston, his head lowered upon the other's breast, felt confident he +detected breath, even a slight, spasmodic twitching of muscles, and +hastily arose to his feet, his mind already aflame with expedients. +The foreman yet lived; perhaps would not prove even seriously injured, +if assistance only reached him promptly. Yet what could he do? What +ought he to attempt doing? In his present physical condition Winston +realized the utter impossibility of transporting that burly body; +water, indeed, might serve to revive him, yet that faint trickle of +falling drops probably came from some distant fault in the rock which +would require much patient search to locate. The engineer had assumed +grave chances in this venture underground; in this moment of victory he +felt little inclination to surrender his information, or to sacrifice +himself in any quixotic devotion to his assailant. Yet he must give +the fellow a fair chance. There seemed only one course practicable, +the despatching to the helpless man's assistance of some among that +gang of workmen down in Number One. But could this be accomplished +without danger of his own discovery? Without any immediate revealment +of his part in the tragedy? First of all, he must make sure regarding +his own safety; he must reach the surface before the truth became known. +</P> + +<P> +Almost mechanically he picked up his revolver where it lay glittering +upon the floor, and stood staring at that recumbent form, slowly +maturing a plan of action. Little by little it assumed shape within +his mind. Swanson was the name of the missing miner, the one Burke had +gone back to seek,—a Swede beyond doubt, and, from what slight glimpse +he had of the fellow before Brown grappled with him in the path above, +a sturdily built fellow, awkwardly galled. In all probability such a +person would have a deep voice, gruff from the dampness of long working +hours below. Well, he might not succeed in duplicating that exactly, +but he could imitate Swedish dialect, and, amid the excitement and +darkness, trust to luck. Let us see; Burke had surely called one of +those miners yonder Ole, another Peterson; it would probably help in +throwing the fellows off their guard to hear their own names spoken, +and they most naturally would expect Swanson to be with the foreman. +It appeared feasible enough, and assuredly was the only plan possible; +it must be risked, the earlier the better. The thought never once +occurred to him of thus doing injury to a perfectly innocent man. +</P> + +<P> +He looked once more anxiously at the limp figure of the prostrate +Burke, and then, holding the lamp out before him, moved cautiously down +the passage toward the main tunnel. Partially concealing himself amid +the denser shadows behind the displaced falsework, he was enabled to +look safely down the opening of Number One, and could perceive numerous +dark figures moving about under flickering rays of light, while his +ears distinguished a sound of voices between the strokes of the picks. +He crept still closer, shadowing his lamp between his hands, and +crouching uneasily in the shadows. The group of men nearest him were +undoubtedly Swedes, as they were conversing in that language, working +with much deliberation in the absence of the boss. Winston rose up, +his shadow becoming plainly visible on the rock wall, one hand held +before his mouth to better muffle the sound of his voice. The hollow +echoing along those underground caverns tended to make all noise +unrecognizable. +</P> + +<P> +"Yust two of you fellars bettar come by me, an' gif a leeft," he +ventured, doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +Those nearer faces down the tunnel were turned toward the voice in +sudden, bewildered surprise, the lights flickering as the heads +uplifted. +</P> + +<P> +"Vas it you, Nels Swanson?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yas, I tank so; I yust want Peterson an' Ole. Meester Burke vas got +hurt in the new level, an' I couldn't leeft him alone." +</P> + +<P> +He saw the two start promptly, dropping their picks, their heavy boots +crunching along the floor, the flapping hat-brims hiding their eyes and +shadowing their faces. For a moment he lingered beside the falsework, +permitting the light from his lamp to flicker before them as a beacon; +then he hid the tiny flame within his cap, and ran swiftly down the +main tunnel. Confident now of Burke's early rescue, he must grasp this +opportunity for an immediate escape from the mine. A hundred feet from +the foot of the shaft he suddenly came upon the advancing tram-car, a +diminutive mule pulling lazily in the rope traces, the humping figure +of a boy hanging on behind. The two gazed at each other through the +smoke of a sputtering wick. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurry up," spoke Winston, sharply. "Burke's hurt, and they'll need +your car to carry him out in. What's the signal for the cage?" +</P> + +<P> +The boy stood silent, his mouth wide open, staring at him stupidly. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you hear, you lunk-head? I 'm after a doctor; how do you signal +the cage?" +</P> + +<P> +"Twa yanks on the cord, meester," was the grudging reply. "Wha was ye, +onyhow?" But Winston, unheeding the question, was already off, his +only thought the necessity of immediately attaining the surface in +safety, ahead of the spreading of an alarm. +</P> + +<P> +The cage shot speedily upward through the intense darkness, past the +deserted forty-foot gallery, and emerged into the gray light of dawn +flooding the shafthouse. Blinking from those long hours passed in the +darkness below, Winston distinguished dimly a number of strange figures +grouped before him. An instant he paused in uncertainty, his hand +shading his eyes; then, as he stepped almost blindly forward he came +suddenly face to face with Biff Farnham. A second their glances met, +both alike startled, bewildered, doubtful—then the jaw of the gambler +set firm, his hand dropped like lightning toward his hip, and Winston, +every ounce of strength thrown into the swift blow, struck him squarely +between the eyes. The man went over as though shot, yet before he even +hit the floor, the other had leaped across the reeling body, and +dashed, stumbling and falling, down the steep slope of the dump-pile, +crashing head first into the thick underbrush below. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A COUNCIL OF WAR +</H3> + + +<P> +In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the +shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses. +Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly +to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not +all of it wasted. But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as +completely as though he had dropped into the sea. When he finally +emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his +breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion. Brown, the spell of battle +upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; +but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of +hearty welcome. +</P> + +<P> +"Damn it," he exclaimed, his old eyes twinkling with admiration, "but +you 're a man!" +</P> + +<P> +The engineer smiled, his hand pressed hard against his side. "Maybe I +am," he gasped, "but I 'm mighty near all in just now. Say, that was a +lively spin, and it's got to be an eat and a rest for me next." +</P> + +<P> +Hicks shaded his forehead, leaning on his rifle. +</P> + +<P> +"Sometimes I reckon maybe I don't see quite as good as I used to," he +explained regretfully. "Put five shots inter that measly bunch over +thar just now, an' never saw even one o' 'em hop 'round like they got +stung. They look sorter misty-like ter me from here; say, Stutter, +what is a-happenin' over thar now, anyway?" +</P> + +<P> +Brown wiped his face deliberately, sputtering fiercely as he strove to +get firm grip on his slow thought. +</P> + +<P> +"A-a-ain't much o' n-nuthing, so f-f-fur's I kin s-see," he replied +gravely. "C-couple o' fellars w-with g-guns h-h-hidin' back o' ther +d-dump. C-c-carried two b-bucks 'hind ther sh-shaft-house; h-h-hurt +some, I 'speck. R-reckon I must a' g-got both on 'em. Y-y-you shore +ought t-ter wear t-t-telescopes, Bill." +</P> + +<P> +Hicks stared at his partner, his gray goat-beard sticking straight out, +his teeth showing. +</P> + +<P> +"So yer got 'em, hey?" he retorted, savagely. "Oh, ye 're +chain-lightnin', yer are, Stutter. Ye 're the 'riginal Doctor Carver, +yer long-legged, sputtering lunk-head. Yer crow like a rooster thet 's +just found its voice. Now, look yere; I reckon it's brain-work what's +got ter git us out o' this yere hole, an' I 'll shore have ter furnish +most o' that, fer yer ain 't got none ter spare, as ever I noticed. +Shoot! hell, yes, yer kin shoot all right, an' make love ter Greasers; +but when thet's over with, yer all in. That's when it's up ter old +Bill Hicks ter do the thinkin' act, and make good. Lord! yer leave me +plumb tired." The old man peered out across the vacant space toward +the apparently deserted dump, the anger slowly fading away from his +eyes. "I sorter imagine, gents, it will take them fellers a while ter +git over ther sudden shock we 've given 'em," he continued. "Maybe we +better take this yere rest spell ter git somethin' ter eat in, and talk +over how we 're fixed fer when the curtain goes up again. Them fellers +never won't be happy till after they git another dose into their +systems, an' thar 's liable ter be some considerable lead eat afore +night. When they does git braced up, an' they reckon up all this yere +means, they 'll shore be an ugly bunch." +</P> + +<P> +Behind the safe protection of the low-growing cedars the three men +walked slowly toward the cabin of the "Little Yankee," seemingly +utterly oblivious to any danger lurking behind. As they thus advanced +Winston related briefly his discoveries in the lower levels of the +"Independence," referring to his personal adventures merely as the +needs of the simple narrative required. Brown, his rifle at trail, his +boyish face sober with thought, indulged in no outward comment, but +Hicks burst forth with words of fervent commendation. +</P> + +<P> +"By cracky, are yer shore that was Farnham yer hit?" he exclaimed, his +old eyes gleaming in appreciation. "Blame me, Stutter, what do yer +think o' that? Punched him afore he cud even pull his gun; never heerd +o' no sich miracle afore in this yere camp. Why, Lord, that fellar 's +quicker 'n chain-lightnin'; I 've seen him onlimber more 'n once." +</P> + +<P> +"I-I reckon h-h-he won't be v-very likely ter l-let up on yer now, +M-m-mister W-Winston," put in the young giant cautiously. "H-he ain't +ther kind t-ter fergit no sich d-d-deal." +</P> + +<P> +"Him let up!—hell!" and Hicks stopped suddenly, and stared behind. +"He 'll never let up on nothin', that fellar. He 'll be down after us +all right, as soon as he gits his second wind, an' Winston here is +a-goin' ter git plugged for this night's shindy, if Farnham ever fair +gits the drop on him. He ain't got no more mercy 'n a tiger. Yer kin +gamble on that, boys. He 'll git ther whole parcel o' us if he kin, +'cause he knows now his little game is up if he does n't; but he 'll +aim ter git Winston, anyhow. Did ye make any tracin's while yer was +down thar?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I've got the plans in detail; my distances may not be exactly +correct, but they are approximately, and I would be willing to go on +the stand with them." +</P> + +<P> +"Good boy! That means we 've shore got 'em on the hip. They're +a-keepin' quiet over there yet, ain't they, Stutter? Well, let 's have +our chuck out yere in the open, whar' we kin keep our eyes peeled, an' +while we 're eatin' we 'll talk over what we better do next." +</P> + +<P> +The kitchen of the "Little Yankee" was situated out of doors, a small +rift in the face of the bluff forming a natural fireplace, while a +narrow crevice between rocks acted as chimney, and carried away the +smoke. The preparation of an ordinary meal under such primitive +conditions was speedily accomplished, the menu not being elaborate nor +the service luxurious. Winston barely found time in which to wash the +grime from his hands and face, and hastily shift out of his ragged +working clothes to the suit originally worn, when Hicks announced the +spread ready, and advised a lively falling to. The dining-room was a +large, flat stone on the very edge of the bluff, sufficiently elevated +to command a practically unobstructed view of the distant shaft-house +of the "Independence." Hicks brought from the cabin an extra rifle, +with belt filled with ammunition, which he gravely held out to the +engineer. +</P> + +<P> +"These yere fixings will come in handy pretty soon, I reckon," he +remarked significantly, and stood quietly on the edge of the rock, +holding a powerful field-glass to his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"They 've brought ther night-shift up ter the top," he commented +finally, "an they 're 'rousin' them others outer ther bunk-house. Hell +'ll be piping hot presently. 'Bout half them fellers are a-totin' +guns, too. Ah, I thought so—thar goes a lad horseback, +hell-bent-fer-'lection down the trail, huntin' after more roughs, I +reckon. Well, ther more ther merrier, as ther ol' cat said when she +counted her kittens. Darned ef they ain't got a reg'lar skirmish line +thrown out 'long ther gulch yonder. Yer bet they mean business for +shore, Stutter, ol' boy." +</P> + +<P> +Brown, deliberately engaged in pouring the coffee, contented himself +with a slight grunt, and a quick glance in the direction indicated. +Hicks slowly closed his glasses, and seated himself comfortably on the +edge of the rock. Winston, already eating, but decidedly anxious, +glanced at the two emotionless faces with curiosity. +</P> + +<P> +"The situation does n't seem to worry either of you very much," he said +at last. "If you really expect an attack from those fellows over +there, is n't it about time we were arranging for some defence?" +</P> + +<P> +Hicks looked over at him across the rim of his tin cup. +</P> + +<P> +"Defence? Hell! here 's our defence—four o' us, countin' Mike." +</P> + +<P> +"Where is Mike?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, out yonder in ther back yard amusin' that Swede Stutter yere +brought in ter him fer a playthin'. Them foreigners seem ter all be +gittin' mighty chummy o' late. Stutter yere is a-takin' up with +Greasers, an' Mike with Swedes. I reckon I 'll have ter be lookin' +round fer an Injun, er else play a lone hand purty soon." +</P> + +<P> +Brown, his freckled face hotly flushed, his eyes grown hard, struck the +rock with clinched hand. +</P> + +<P> +"D-d-damn you, B-Bill," he stuttered desperately, his great chest +heaving. "I-I 've had jist 'nough o' th-th-thet sorter talk. Yer +s-s-spit out 'nuther word 'bout her, an' th-th-thar 'll be somethin' +e-else a-doin'." +</P> + +<P> +Old Hicks laughed, his gray goat-beard waggling, yet it was clearly +evident he appreciated the temper of his partner, and realized the +limit of patience. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I 'll pass," he confessed genially. "Lord! I hed a touch o' that +same disease oncet myself. But thar ain't no sense in yer fightin' me, +Stutter; I bet yer git practice 'nough arter awhile, 'less them thar +black eyes o' hern be mighty deceivin'. But that thar may keep. Jist +now we 've got a few other p'ints ter consider. You was askin' about +our defence, Mr. Winston, when this yere love-sick kid butted in?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it 's ther lay o' ther ground, an' four good rifles. Thet 's +ther whole o' it; them fellers over yonder can't get in, an' I 'm +damned if we kin git out. Whichever party gits tired first is the one +what's goin' ter git licked." +</P> + +<P> +"I scarcely understand, Hicks; do you mean you propose standing a +siege?" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't clearly perceive nothin' else ter do," and the man's half-closed +eyes glanced about questioningly. "We ain't strong enough to assault; +Farnham 's got more 'n five men ter our one over thar right now. He 's +sent a rider inter San Juan arter another bunch o' beauties. We've +corralled the evidence, an' we've got ther law back o' us, ter send him +ter the penitentiary. Shore, thar's no doubt o' it. He knows it; an' +he knows, moreover, thar ain't no way out fer him except ter plant us +afore we kin ever git inter ther courts. Thet's his game jist now. Do +yer think Mr. Biff Farnham under them circumstances is liable ter do +the baby act? Not ter no great extent, let me tell yer. He ain't +built thet way. Besides, he hates me like pizen; I reckon by this time +he don't harbor no great love for you; an' yer bet he means ter git us +afore we kin squeal, if he has ter h'ist the whole damned mounting. +Anyhow, that's how it looks ter me an' Stutter yere. What was it you +was goin' ter advise, Mr. Winston?" +</P> + +<P> +The engineer set down his tin coffee cup. +</P> + +<P> +"The immediate despatching of a messenger to San Juan, the swearing out +of a warrant for Farnham on a criminal charge, and getting the sheriff +up here with a posse." +</P> + +<P> +Hicks smiled grimly, his glance wandering over toward Stutter, who sat +staring open-eyed at the engineer. +</P> + +<P> +"Ye're a young man, sir, an' I rather reckon yer don't precisely +onderstan' ther exact status o' things out yere in Echo Canyon," he +admitted, gravely. "I'm law-abidin', an' all that; law's all right in +its place, an' whar it kin be enforced, but Echo Canyon ain't Denver, +an' out yere ther rifle, an' occasionally a chunk o' dynamite, hes got +ter be considered afore ther courts git any chance ter look over ther +evidence. It's ginerally lead first, an' lawyers later. Thet 's what +makes the game interestin', an' gives sich chaps as Farnham a run fer +their money. Well, just now we 've got the law an' ther evidence with +us all right, but, damn ther luck, them other fellers hes got the +rifles. It 's his play first, an' it sorter looks ter me as if the man +knew how ter handle his cards. He ain't no bluffer, either. Just take +a squint through them glasses down the trail, an' tell me what yer see." +</P> + +<P> +Winston did so, rising to his feet, standing at the edge of the rock +fairly overhanging the valley. +</P> + +<P> +"Wal, do yer make out anythin' in partic'lar?" +</P> + +<P> +"There is a small party of men clustered near the big boulder." +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly; wal, them thar fellars ain't thar altergether fer ther +health. Thar 's three more o' ther same kind a'squattin' in the bushes +whar the path branches toward ther 'Independence,' an' another bunch +lower down 'side ther crick. It's easy 'nough ter talk about law, an' +ther sendin' o' a messenger down ter San Juan after the sheriff, but I +'d hate some ter be that messenger. He 'd have some considerable +excitement afore he got thar. Farnham 's a dirty villain, all right, +but he ain't no fool. He's got us bottled up yere, and ther cork druv +in." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean we are helpless?" +</P> + +<P> +"Wal, not precisely; not while our grub and ammunition holds out. I +merely intimate thet this yere difficulty hes naturally got ter be +thrashed out with guns—good, honest fightin'—afore any courts will +git a chance even ter sit inter ther game. We ain't got no time jist +now ter fool with lawyers. Clubs is trumps this deal in Echo Canyon, +an' we 're goin' ter play a lone hand. Ther one thing what's botherin' +me is, how soon ther damned fracas is goin' ter begin. I reckon as how +them fellers is only waitin' fer reinforcements." +</P> + +<P> +Winston sat motionless, looking at the two men, his mind rapidly +grasping the salient points of the situation. He was thoroughly +puzzled at their apparent indifference to its seriousness. He was +unused to this arbitrament of the rifle, and the odds against them +seemed heavy. Old Hicks easily comprehended the expression upon his +face, and solemnly stroked his goat-beard. +</P> + +<P> +"Ain't used ter that sort o' thing, hey?" he asked at last, his +obstinate old eyes contracting into mere slits. "Reckon we're in a +sort o' pickle, don't ye? Wal, I don't know 'bout that. Yer see, me +an' Stutter have bin sort o' lookin' fer somethin' like this ter occur +fer a long time, an' we 've consequently got it figgered out ter a +purty fine p'int. When Farnham an' his crowd come moseying up yere, +they ain't goin' ter have it all their own way, let me tell yer, +pardner. Do yer see that straight face o' rock over yonder?" he rose +to his feet, pointing across his shoulder. "Wal, that 's got a front +o' thirty feet, an' slopes back 'bout as fur, with a shelf hangin' over +it like a roof. Best nat'ral fort ever I see, an' only one way o' +gittin' inter it, an' that the devil o' a crooked climb. Wal, we 've +stocked that place fer a siege with chuck an' ammunition, an' I reckon +four men kin 'bout hold it agin the whole county till hell freezes +over. It's in easy rifle shot o' both ther cabin an' ther shaft, an' +that Biff Farnham is mighty liable ter git another shock when he comes +traipsin' up yere fer ter wipe out ther 'Little Yankee.' Ol' Bill +Hicks ain't bin prospectin' fer thirty years, an' holdin' down claims +with a gun, without learnin' somethin' about ther business. I 'm ready +to buck this yere Farnham at any game he wants ter play; damned if he +can't take his chice, law er rifles, an' I 'll give him a bellyful +either way." +</P> + +<P> +No one spoke for a long while, the three men apparently occupied with +their own thoughts. To Winston it was a tragedy, picturesque, heroic, +the wild mountain setting furnishing a strange dignity. Brown finally +cleared his throat, preparing to speak, his great hand slowly rubbing +his chin. +</P> + +<P> +"I-I sorter w-w-wish them w-wimmen wan't y-yere," he stuttered, +doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +The engineer glanced up in sudden astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"Women!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say you have women with you?" +</P> + +<P> +Hicks chuckled behind his beard. +</P> + +<P> +"Shore we have thet—all ther comforts o' home. Nice place fer a +picnic, ain't it? But I reckon as how them gals will have ter take +pot-luck with the rest o' us. Leastways, I don't see no chance now ter +get shuck o' 'em. I 'll tell ye how it happened, Mr. Winston; it 'd +take Stutter, yere, too blame long ter relate ther story, only I hope +he won't fly off an' git mad if I chance ter make mention o' his gal +'long with the other. He 's gittin' most damn touchy, is Stutter, an' +I 'm all a-tremble fer fear he 'll blow a hole cl'ar through me. It's +hell, love is, whin it gits a good hol' on a damn fool. Wal, these +yere two bloomin' females came cavortin' up the trail this mornin', +just afore daylight. Nobody sent 'em no invite, but they sorter +conceived they had a mission in ther wilderness. I wa'nt nowise +favorable ter organizin' a reception committee, an' voted fer shovin' +'em back downhill, bein' a bit skeery o' that sex, but it seems that, +all unbeknownst ter me, Stutter, yere, hed bin gittin' broke ter +harness. An' what did he do but come prancin' inter the argument with +a gun, cussin' an' swearin', and insistin' they be received yere as +honored guests. Oh, he 's got it bad. He 'll likely 'nough go down +ter San Juan soon as ever ther road is cl'ar, an' buy one o' them +motters 'God Bless Our Home' ter hang on ther cabin wall, an' a +door-mat with 'Welcome' on it. That's Stutter—gone cl'ar bug-house +jist 'cause a little black-haired, slim sort o' female made eyes at +him. Blame a fool, anyhow. Wal, one o' them two was Stutter's catch, +a high-kickin' Mexican dancin' gal down ter San Juan. I ain't goin' +ter tell yer what I think o' her fer fear o' gittin' perforated. She +hed 'long with her another performer, a darn good-looker, too, as near +as I could make out in the dark. Wal, them two gals was purtendin' ter +be huntin' arter you; wanted ter warn yer agin Farnham, er some sich +rot. You was down ther mine, jist then, so that's the whole o' it up +ter date." +</P> + +<P> +"Where are they now?" +</P> + +<P> +"In the cabin yonder, sleepin' I reckon." +</P> + +<P> +Winston turned hastily toward Brown, his lips quivering, his eyes grown +stern. +</P> + +<P> +"Who was it with Mercedes?" he questioned sharply. "Did you learn her +name?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sh-she told me d-d-down at San Juan," replied Stutter, striving hard +to recollect. "It w-w-was N-N-Nor-vell." +</P> + +<P> +With the utterance of the word the young engineer was striding rapidly +toward the cabin. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CONFESSION +</H3> + + +<P> +Through the single unglazed window Beth Norvell saw him coming, and +clutched at the casing, trembling violently, half inclined to turn and +fly. This was the moment she had so greatly dreaded, yet the moment +she could not avoid unless she failed to do her duty to this man. In +another instant the battle had been fought and won, the die cast. She +turned hastily toward her unconscious companion, grasping her arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Winston is coming, Mercedes; I—I must see him this time alone." +</P> + +<P> +The Mexican's great black eyes flashed up wonderingly into the flushed +face bending over her, marking the heightened color, the visible +embarrassment. She sprang erect, her quick glance through the window +revealing the figure of the engineer striding swiftly toward them. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, si, seńorita; dat iss all right. I go see Mike; he more fun as +dose vat make lofe." +</P> + +<P> +There was a flutter of skirts and sudden vanishment, even as Miss +Norvell's ears caught the sound of a low rap on the outer door. She +stood breathing heavily, her hands clasped upon her breast, until the +knock had been repeated twice. Her voice utterly failing her, she +pressed the latch, stepping backward to permit his entrance. The first +swift, inquiring glance into his face frightened her into an impulsive +explanation. +</P> + +<P> +"I was afraid I arrived here too late to be of any service. It seems, +however, you did not even need me." +</P> + +<P> +He grasped the hand which, half unconsciously, she had extended toward +him; he was startled by its unresponsive coldness, striving vainly to +perceive the truth hidden away beneath her lowered lids. +</P> + +<P> +"I fear I do not altogether understand," he returned gravely. "They +merely said that you were here with a message of warning for me. I +knew that much only a moment ago. I cannot even guess the purport of +your message, yet I thank you for a very real sacrifice for my sake." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no; truly it was nothing," the excitement bewildering her. "It +was no more than I would have done for any friend; no one could have +done less." +</P> + +<P> +"You, at least, confess friendship?" +</P> + +<P> +"Have I ever denied it?" almost indignantly, and looking directly at +him for the first time. "Whatever else I may seem, I can certainly +claim loyalty to those who trust me. I wear no mask off the stage." +</P> + +<P> +Even as she spoke the hasty words she seemed to realize their full +import, to read his doubt of their truth revealed within his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Then," he said slowly, weighing each word as though life depended on +the proper choice, "there is nothing being concealed from me? Nothing +between you and this Farnham beyond what I already know?" +</P> + +<P> +She stood clinging to the door, with colorless cheeks, and parted lips, +her form quivering. This was when she had intended to speak in all +bravery, to pour forth the whole miserable story, trusting to this man +for mercy. But, O God, she could not; the words choked in her throat, +the very breath seemed to strangle her. +</P> + +<P> +"That—that is something different," she managed to gasp desperately. +"It—it belongs to the past; it cannot be helped now." +</P> + +<P> +"Yet you came here to warn me against him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"How did you chance to learn that my life was threatened?" +</P> + +<P> +She uplifted her eyes to his for just one instant, her face like marble. +</P> + +<P> +"He told me." +</P> + +<P> +"What? Farnham himself? You have been with him?" +</P> + +<P> +She bowed, a half-stifled sob shaking her body, which at any other time +would have caused him to pause in sympathy. Now it was merely a new +spur to his awakened suspicion. He had no thought of sparing her. +</P> + +<P> +"Where? Did he call upon you at the hotel?" +</P> + +<P> +She threw back her shoulders in indignation at his tone of censure. +</P> + +<P> +"I met him, after the performance, in a private box at the Gayety, last +evening," she replied more calmly. "He sent for me, and I was alone +with him for half an hour." +</P> + +<P> +Winston stood motionless, almost breathless, looking directly into the +girl's face. He durst not speak the words of rebuke trembling upon his +lips. He felt that the slightest mistake now would never be forgiven. +There was a mystery here unsolved; in some way he failed to understand +her, to appreciate her motives. In the brief pause Beth Norvell came +back to partial self-control, to a realization of what this man must +think of her. With a gesture almost pleading she softly touched his +sleeve. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Winston, I truly wish you to believe me, to believe in me," she +began, her low voice vibrating with emotion. "God alone knows how +deeply I appreciate your friendship, how greatly I desire to retain it +unsullied. Perhaps I have not done right; it is not always easy, +perhaps not always possible. I may have been mistaken in my conception +of duty, yet have tried to do what seemed best. There is that in the +pages of my past life which I intended to tell you fully and frankly +before our final parting. I thought when I came here I had sufficient +courage to relate it to you to-day, but I cannot—I cannot." +</P> + +<P> +"At least answer me one question without equivocation—do you love that +man?" He must ask that, know that; all else could wait. +</P> + +<P> +An instant she stood before him motionless, a slight color creeping +back into her cheeks under his intense scrutiny. Then she uplifted her +eyes frankly to his own, and he looked down into their revealed depth. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not," the low voice hard with decision. "I despise him." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you ever loved him?" +</P> + +<P> +"As God is my witness—no." +</P> + +<P> +There was no possible disbelieving her; the absolute truthfulness of +that utterance was evidenced by trembling lips, by the upturned face. +Winston drew a deep breath of relief, his contracted brows +straightening. For one hesitating moment he remained speechless, +struggling for self-control. Merciful Heavens! would he ever +understand this woman? Would he ever fathom her full nature? ever rend +the false from the true? The deepening, baffling mystery served merely +to stimulate ambition, to strengthen his unwavering purpose. He +possessed the instinct that assured him she cared; it was for his sake +that she had braved the night and Farnham's displeasure. What, then, +was it that was holding them apart? What was the nature of this +barrier beyond all surmounting? The man in him rebelled at having so +spectral an adversary; he longed to fight it out in the open, to +grapple with flesh and blood. In spite of promise, his heart found +words of protest. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth, please tell me what all this means," he pleaded simply, his +hands outstretched toward her. "Tell me, because I love you; tell me, +because I desire to help you. It is true we have not known each other +long; yet, surely, the time and opportunity have been sufficient for +each to learn much regarding the character of the other. You trust me, +you believe in my word; down in the secret depths of your heart you are +beginning to love me. I believe that, little girl; I believe that, +even while your lips deny its truth. It is the instinct of love which +teaches me, for I love you. I may not know your name, the story of +your life, who or what you are, but I love you, Beth Norvell, with the +life-love of a man. What is it, then, between us? What is it? God +help me! I could battle against realities, but not against ghosts. Do +you suppose I cannot forgive, cannot excuse, cannot blot out a past +mistake? Do you imagine my love so poor a thing as that? Do not wrong +me so. I am a man of the world, and comprehend fully those temptations +which come to all of us. I can let the dead past bury its dead, +satisfied with the present and the future. Only tell me the truth, the +naked truth, and let me combat in the open against whatever it is that +stands between us. Beth, Beth, this is life or death to me!" +</P> + +<P> +She stood staring at him, her face gone haggard, her eyes full of +misery. Suddenly she sank upon her knees beside a chair, and, with a +moan, buried her countenance within her hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth," he asked, daring to touch her trembling hair, "have I hurt you? +Have I done wrong to speak thus?" +</P> + +<P> +A single sob shook the slender, bowed figure, the face still hidden. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she whispered faintly, "you have hurt me; you have done wrong." +</P> + +<P> +"But why?" he insisted. "Is not my love worthy?" +</P> + +<P> +She lifted her head then, resting one hand against the dishevelled +hair, her eyes misty from tears. +</P> + +<P> +"Worthy? O God, yes! but so useless; so utterly without power." +</P> + +<P> +Winston strode to the window and back again, his hands clenched, the +veins showing across his forehead. Suddenly he dropped upon his knees +beside her, clasping her one disengaged hand within both his own. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth, I refuse to believe," he exclaimed firmly. "Love is never +useless, never without power, either in this world or the next. Tell +me, then, once for all, here before God, do you love me?" +</P> + +<P> +She swept the clinging tears from her lashes, the soft clasp of her +fingers upon his hand unconsciously tightening. +</P> + +<P> +"You may read an answer within my face," she replied, slowly. "It must +be that my eyes tell the truth, although I cannot speak it with my +lips." +</P> + +<P> +"Cannot? In God's name, why?" +</P> + +<P> +She choked, yet the voice did not wholly fail her. +</P> + +<P> +"Because I have no right. I—I am the wife of another." +</P> + +<P> +The head drooped lower, the hair shadowing the face, and Winston, his +lips set and white, stared at her, scarcely comprehending. A moment +later he sprang to his feet, one hand pressed across his eyes, slowly +grasping the full measure of her confession. +</P> + +<P> +"The wife of another!" he burst forth, his voice shaking. "Great God! +You? What other? Farnham?" +</P> + +<P> +The bowed head sank yet lower, as though in mute answer, and his ears +caught the echo of a single muffled sob. Suddenly she glanced up at +him, and then rose unsteadily to her feet clinging to the back of the +chair for support. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Winston," her voice strengthening with each word spoken, "it hurts +me to realize that you feel so deeply. I—I wish I might bear the +burden of this mistake all alone. But I cannot stand your contempt, or +have you believe me wholly heartless, altogether unworthy. We—we must +part, now and forever; there is no other honorable way. I tried so +hard to compel you to leave me before; I accepted that engagement at +the Gayety, trusting such an act would disgust you with me. I am not +to blame for this; truly, I am not—no woman could have fought against +Fate more faithfully; only—only I couldn't find sufficient courage to +confess to you the whole truth. Perhaps I might have done so at first; +but it was too late before I learned the necessity, and then my heart +failed me. There was another reason I need not mention now, why I +hesitated, why such a course became doubly hard. But I am going to +tell you it all now, for—for I wish you to go away at least respecting +my womanhood." +</P> + +<P> +He made no reply, no comment, and the girl dropped her questioning eyes +to the floor. +</P> + +<P> +"You asked me if I had ever loved him," she continued, speaking more +slowly, "and I told you no. That was the truth as I realize it now, +although there was a time when the man fascinated, bewildered me, as I +imagine the snake fascinates a bird. I have learned since something of +what love truly is, and can comprehend that my earlier feeling toward +him was counterfeit, a mere bit of dross. Be patient, please, while I +tell you how it all happened. It—it is a hard task, yet, perhaps, you +may think better of me from a knowledge of the whole truth. I am a +Chicago girl. There are reasons why I shall not mention my family +name, and it is unnecessary; but my parents are wealthy and of good +position. All my earlier education was acquired through private +tutors; so that beyond my little, narrow circle of a world—fashionable +and restricted—all of real life remained unknown, unexplored, until +the necessity for a wider development caused my being sent to a +well-known boarding-school for girls in the East. I think now the +choice made was unfortunate. The school being situated close to a +large city, and the discipline extremely lax, temptation which I was +not in any way fitted to resist surrounded me from the day of entrance. +In a fashionable drawing-room, in the home of my mother's friends, I +first became acquainted with Mr. Farnham." +</P> + +<P> +She paused with the mention of his name, as though its utterance pained +her, yet almost immediately resumed her story, not even glancing up at +her listener. +</P> + +<P> +"I was at an age to be easily flattered by the admiration of a man of +mature years. He was considerably older than I, always well dressed, +versed in social forms, liberal with money, exhibiting a certain +dashing recklessness which proved most attractive to all the girls I +knew. Indeed, I think it was largely because of their envy that I was +first led to accept his attentions. However, I was very young, utterly +inexperienced, while he was thoroughly versed in every trick by which +to interest one of my nature. He claimed to be a successful dramatist +and author, thus adding materially to my conception of his character +and capability. Little by little the man succeeded in weaving about me +the web of his fascination, until I was ready for any sacrifice he +might propose. Naturally ardent, easily impressed by outward +appearances, assured as to my own and his social position, ignorant of +the wiles of the world, I was an easy victim. Somewhere he had formed +the acquaintance of my brother, which fact merely increased my +confidence in him. I need not dwell in detail upon what followed—the +advice of romantic girls, the false counsel of a favorite teacher, the +specious lies and explanations accounting for the necessity for +secrecy, the fervent pleadings, the protestations, the continual +urging, that finally conquered my earlier resolves. I yielded before +the strain, the awakened imagination of a girl of sixteen seeing +nothing in the rose-tinted future except happiness. We were married in +Christ Church, Boston, two of my classmates witnessing the ceremony. +Three months later I awoke fully from dreaming, and faced the darkness." +</P> + +<P> +She leaned against the wall, her face, half hidden, pressed against her +arm. Speaking no word of interruption, Winston clasped her hand and +waited, his gray eyes moist. +</P> + +<P> +"He was a professional gambler, a brute, a cruel, cold-blooded coward," +the words dropping from her lips as though they burned in utterance. +"Only at the very first did he make any effort to disguise his nature, +or conceal the object of his marriage. He endeavored to wring money +from my people, and—and struck me when I refused him aid. He failed +because I blocked him; tried blackmail and failed again, although I +saved him from exposure. If he had ever cared for me, by this time his +love had changed to dislike or indifference. He left me for weeks at a +time, often alone and in poverty. My father sought in vain to get me +away from him, but—but I was too proud to confess the truth. I should +have been welcome at home, without him; but I refused to go. I had +made my own choice, had committed the mistake, had done the wrong; I +could not bring myself to flee from the result. I burrowed in the +slums where he took me, hiding from all who sought me out. Yet I lived +in an earthly hell, my dream of love dispelled, the despair of life +constantly deepening. I no longer cared for the man—I despised him, +shrank from his presence; yet something more potent than pride kept me +loyal. I believed then, I believe now, in the sacredness of marriage; +it was the teaching of my church, of my home; it had become part of my +very soul. To me that formal church wedding typified the solemnity of +religion; I durst not prove untrue to vows thus taken; divorce was a +thought impossible." +</P> + +<P> +"And now?" he interrupted gently. +</P> + +<P> +She lifted her head, with one swift glance upward. +</P> + +<P> +"You will think me wrong, quixotic, unnatural," she acknowledged +soberly. "Yet I am not absolved, not free—this man remains my +husband, wedded to me by the authority of the church. I—I must bear +the burden of my vows; not even love would long compensate for +unfaithfulness in the sight of God." +</P> + +<P> +In the intense silence they could hear each other's strained breathing +and the soft notes of a bird singing gleefully without. Winston, his +lips compressed, his eyes stern with repressed feeling, neither moved +nor spoke. Beth Norvell's head sank slowly back upon her arm. +</P> + +<P> +"He took me with him from city to city," she went on wearily, as though +unconsciously speaking to herself, "staying, I think, in each as long +as the police would permit. He was seldom with me, seldom gave me +money. We did not quarrel, for I refused to be drawn into any exchange +of words. He never struck me excepting twice, but there are other ways +of hurting a woman, and he knew them all. I was hungry at times and +ill clad. I was driven to provide for myself, and worked in factories +and stores. Whenever he knew I had money he took it. Money was always +the cause of controversy between us. It was his god, not to hoard up, +but to spend upon himself. My steady refusal to permit his bleeding my +father enraged him; it was at such times he lost all control, and—and +struck me. God! I could have killed him! There were times when I +could, when I wonder I did not. Yet in calm deliberation I durst not +break my vows. Three years ago he left me in Denver without a word, +without a suggestion that the desertion was final. We had just reached +there, and I had nothing. Friends of my family lived there, but I +could not seek them for help. I actually suffered, until finally I +found employment in a large department store. I expected he would +return, and kept my rooms where he left me. I wrote home twice, +cheerful letters, saying nothing to lower him in the estimation of my +people, yet concealing my address for fear they might seek me out. +Then there unexpectedly came to me an opportunity to go out with +Albrecht, and I accepted it most thankfully. It gave me a chance to +think of other things, to work hard, to forget myself in a growing +ambition. I had already thrown off the old, and was laying ever firmer +hands upon the new, when you came into my life, and then he came back +also. It is such a small world, such a little world, all shadowed and +full of heartaches!" +</P> + +<P> +In the silence she glanced aside at him, her eyes clear, her hair held +back by one hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Please do not look at me like that," she pleaded. "Surely, you cannot +blame me; you must forgive." +</P> + +<P> +"There is nothing to blame, or forgive, Beth; apparently there is +nothing for me to say, nothing for me to do." +</P> + +<P> +She swayed slowly toward him, resting one hand upon his shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"But am I right? Won't you tell me if I am right?" +</P> + +<P> +He stood hesitating for a moment, looking down upon that upturned, +questioning face, his gray eyes filled with a loyalty that caused her +heart to throb wildly. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not know, Beth," he said at last, "I do not know; I cannot be +your conscience. I must go out where I can be alone and think; but +never will I come between you and your God." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE POINT OF VIEW +</H3> + + +<P> +She sank back upon the chair, her face completely hidden within her +arms. Winston, his hand already grasping the latch of the door, paused +and glanced around at her, a sudden revulsion of feeling leaving him +unnerved and purposeless. He had been possessed by but one thought, a +savage determination to seek out Farnham and kill him. The brute was +no more than a mad dog who had bitten one he loved; he was unworthy of +mercy. But now, in a revealing burst of light, he realized the utter +futility of such an act. Coward, brutal as the man unquestionably was, +he yet remained her husband, bound to her by ties she held +indissoluble. Any vengeful blow which should make her a widow would as +certainly separate the slayer from her forever. Unavoidably though it +might occur, the act was one never to be forgiven by Beth Norvell, +never to be blotted from her remembrance. Winston appreciated this as +though a sudden flash-light had been turned upon his soul. He had +looked down into her secret heart, he had had opened before him the +religious depth of her nature—this bright-faced, brown-eyed woman +would do what was right although she walked a pathway of self-denying +agony. Never once did he doubt this truth, and the knowledge gripped +him with fingers of steel. Even as he stood there, looking back upon +her quivering figure, it was no longer hate of Farnham which +controlled; it was love for her. He took a step toward her, hesitant, +uncertain, his heart a-throb with sympathy; yet what could he say? +What could he do? Utterly helpless to comfort, unable to even suggest +a way out, he drew back silently, closed the door behind him, and shut +her in. He felt one clear, unalterable conviction—under God, it +should not be for long. +</P> + +<P> +He stood there in the brilliant sunlight, bareheaded still; looking +dreamily off across the wide reach of the canyon. How peaceful, how +sublimely beautiful, it all appeared; how delicately the tints of those +distant trees blended and harmonized with the brown rocks beyond! The +broad, spreading picture slowly impressed itself upon his brain, +effacing and taking the place of personal animosity. In so fair a +world Hope is ever a returning angel with healing in his wings; and +Winston's face brightened, the black frown deserting his forehead, all +sternness gone from his eyes. There surely must be a way somewhere, +and he would discover it; only the weakling and the coward can sit down +in despair. Out of the prevailing silence he suddenly distinguished +voices at hand, and the sound awoke him to partial interest. Just +before the door where he stood a thick growth of bushes obstructed the +view. The voices he heard indistinctly came from beyond, and he +stepped cautiously forward, peering in curiosity between the parted +branches. +</P> + +<P> +It was a narrow section of the ledge, hemmed in by walls of rock and +thinly carpeted with grass, a small fire burning near its centre. +There was an appetizing smell of cookery in the air, and three figures +were plainly discernible. The old miner, Mike, sat next the embers, a +sizzling frying-pan not far away, his black pipe in one oratorically +uplifted hand, a tin plate in his lap, his grouchy, seamed old face +screwed up into argumentative ugliness, his angry eyes glaring at the +Swede opposite, who was loungingly propped against a convenient stone. +The latter looked a huge, ungainly, raw-boned fellow, possessing a red +and white complexion, with a perfect shock of blond hair wholly +unaccustomed to the ministrations of a comb. He had a long, peculiarly +solemn face, rendered yet more lugubrious by unwinking blue eyes and a +drooping moustache of straw color. Altogether, he composed a picture +of unutterable woe, his wide mouth drawn mournfully down at the +corners, his forehead wrinkled in perplexity. Somewhat to the right of +these two more central figures, the young Mexican girl contributed a +touch of brightness, lolling against the bank in graceful relaxation, +her black eyes aglow with scarcely repressed merriment. However the +existing controversy may have originated, it had already attained a +stage for the display of considerable temper. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, ye see here, Swanska," growled the thoroughly aroused Irishman +vehemently. "It's 'bout enough Oi 've heard from ye on that now. Thar +'s r'ason in all things, Oi 'm tould, but Oi don't clarely moind iver +havin' met any in a Swade, bedad. Oi say ye 're nothin' betther than a +dommed foreigner, wid no business in this counthry at all, at all, +takin' the bread out o' the mouths of honest min. Look at the Oirish, +now; they was here from the very beginnin'; they 've fought, bled, an' +died for the counthry, an' the loikes o' ye comes in an' takes their +jobs. Be hivins, it 's enough to rile the blood. What's the name of +ye, anny how?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ay ban Nels Swanson." +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! Well, it's little the loikes o' ye iver railly knows about +names, Oi 'm thinkin'. They tell me ye don't have no proper, dacent +names of yer own over in Sweden,—wherever the divil that is, I +dunno,—but jist picks up annything handy for to dhraw pay on." +</P> + +<P> +"It ban't true." +</P> + +<P> +"It's a loiar ye are! Bad cess to ye, ain't Oi had to be bunk-mate wid +some o' ye dhirty foreigners afore now? Ye 're <I>sons</I>, the whole kit +and caboodle o' ye—Nelsons, an' Olesons, an' Swansons, an' Andersons. +Blissed Mary! an' ye call them things names? If ye have anny other +cognomen, it's somethin' ye stole from some Christian all unbeknownst +to him. Holy Mother! but ye ought to be 'shamed to be a Swade, ye +miserable, slab-sided haythen." +</P> + +<P> +"My name ban Swanson; it ban all right, hey?" +</P> + +<P> +"Swanson! Swanson! Oh, ye poor benighted, ignorant foreigner!" and +Mike straightened up, slapping his chest proudly. "Jist ye look at me, +now! Oi'm an O'Brien, do ye moind that? An O'Brien! Mother o' God! +we was O'Briens whin the Ark first landed; we was O'Briens whin yer +ancestors—if iver ye had anny—was wigglin' pollywogs pokin' in the +mud. We was kings in ould Oireland, begorry, whin ye was a mollusk, or +maybe a poi-faced baboon swingin' by the tail. The gall of the loikes +of ye to call yerselves min, and dhraw pay wid that sort of thing +ferninst ye for a name! Oi 'll bet ye niver had no grandfather; ye 're +nothin' but a it, a son of a say-cook, be the powers! An' ye come over +here to work for a thafe—a dhirty, low-down thafe. Do ye moind that, +yer lanthern-jawed spalpeen? What was it yer did over beyant?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ay ban shovel-man fer Meester Burke—hard vork." +</P> + +<P> +"Ye don't look that intilligent from here. Work!" with a snort, and +waving his pipe in the air. "Work, is it? Sure, an' it's all the +loikes of ye are iver good for. It 's not brains ye have at all, or ye +'d take it a bit aisier. Oi had a haythen Swade foreman oncet over at +the 'Last Chance.' God forgive me for workin' undher the loikes of +him. Sure he near worked me to death, he did that, the ignorant +furriner. Work! why, Oi 'm dommed if a green Swade did n't fall the +full length of the shaft one day, an' whin we wint over to pick him up, +what was it ye think the poor haythen said? He opened his oies an' +asked, 'Is the boss mad?' afeared he 'd lose his job! An' so ye was +workin' for a thafe, was ye? An' what for?" +</P> + +<P> +"Two tollar saxty cint." +</P> + +<P> +Mike leaped to his feet as though a spring had suddenly uncoiled +beneath him, waving his arms in wild excitement, and dancing about on +his short legs. +</P> + +<P> +"Two dollars an' sixty cints! Did ye hear that, now? For the love of +Hivin! an' the union wages three sixty! Ye 're a dommed scab, an' it's +meself that 'll wallup ye just for luck. It's crazy Oi am to do the +job. What wud the loikes of ye work for Misther Hicks for?" +</P> + +<P> +Swanson's impassive face remained imperturbable; he stroked the +moustaches dangling over the corners of his dejected mouth. +</P> + +<P> +"Two tollar saxty cint." +</P> + +<P> +Mike glared at him, and then at the girl, his own lips puckering. +</P> + +<P> +"Bedad, Oi belave the poor cr'ater do n't know anny betther. Shure, 't +is not for an O'Brien to be wastin' his toime thryin' to tache the +loikes of him the great sacrets of thrade. It wud be castin' pearls +afore swine, as Father Kinny says. Did iver ye hear tell of the +Boible, now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ay ban Lutheran." +</P> + +<P> +"An' what's that? It's a Dimocrat Oi am, an' dom the O'Brien that's +annything else. But Oi niver knew thar was anny of thim other things +hereabout. It's no prohibitioner ye are, annyhow, fer that stuff in +yer bottle wud cook a snake. Sufferin' ages! but it had an edge to it +that wud sharpen a saw. What do ye think of ther blatherin' baste +annyhow, seeńorita?" +</P> + +<P> +The little Mexican gave sudden vent to her pent-up laughter, clapping +her hands in such an ecstasy of delight as to cause the unemotional +Swanson to open his mild blue eyes in solemn wonder. +</P> + +<P> +"He all right, I rink," she exclaimed eagerly. "He no so mooch fool as +you tink him—no, no. See, seńor, he busy eat all de time dat you +talk; he has de meal, you has de fin' air. Vich ees de bettair, de air +or de meat, seńor? <I>Bueno</I>, I tink de laugh vas vid him." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. O'Brien, his attention thus suddenly recalled to practical affairs, +gazed into the emptied frying-pan, a decided expression of bewildered +despair upon his wizened face. For the moment even speech failed him +as he confronted that scene of total devastation. Then he dashed +forward to face the victim of his righteous wrath. +</P> + +<P> +"Ye dom Swade, ye!" He shook a dirty fist beneath the other's nose. +"Shmell o' that! It's now Oi know ye 're a thafe, a low-down haythen +thafe. What are ye sittin' thar for, grinnin' at yer betthers?" +</P> + +<P> +"Two tollar saxty cint." +</P> + +<P> +The startled Irishman stared at him with mouth wide open. +</P> + +<P> +"An' begorry, did ye hear that, seeńorita? For the love of Hivin, it's +only a poll-parrot sittin' there ferninst us, barrin' the appetite of +him. Saints aloive! but Oi 'd love to paste the crature av it was n't +a mortal sin to bate a dumb baste. An' he 's a Lutheran! God be +marciful an' keep me from iver ketchin' that same dis'ase, av it wud +lave me loike this wan. What's that? What was it the haythen said +then, seeńorita?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not von vord, seńor; he only vink von eye like maybe he flirt vid me." +</P> + +<P> +"The Swade did that! Holy Mother! an' wid an O'Brien here to take the +part of any dacent gurl. Wait till I strip the coat off me. It's an +O'Brien that'll tache him how to trate a lady. Say, Swanson, ye son of +a gun, ye son of a say-cook, ye son—Sure, Oi 'd loike to tell ye what +ye are av it was n't for the prisince of the seeńorita. It's Michael +O'Brien who 's about to paste ye in the oye fer forgittin' yer manners, +an' growin' too gay in good company. Whoop! begorry, it's the grane +above the red!" +</P> + +<P> +There was a dull noise of a heavily struck blow. A pair of short legs, +waving frantically, traversed a complete semicircle, coming down with a +crash at the edge of the bushes. Through a rapidly swelling and badly +damaged optic the pessimistic O'Brien gazed up in dazed bewilderment at +the man already astride of his prostrate body. It was a regenerated +Norseman, the fierce battle-lust of the Vikings glowing in his blue +eyes. With fingers like steel claws he gripped the Irishman's shirt +collar, driving his head back against the earth with every mad +utterance. +</P> + +<P> +"Ay ban Nels Swanson!" he exploded defiantly. "Ay ban Nels Swanson! +Ay ban Nels Swanson! Ay ban shovel-man by Meester Burke! Ay ban +Lutheran! Ay ban work two tollar saxty cint! You hear dose tings? +Tamn the Irish—Ay show you!" +</P> + +<P> +With the swift, noiseless motion of a bird Mercedes flitted across the +narrow space, forcing her slender figure in between the two +contestants, her white teeth gleaming merrily, the bright sunshine +shimmering across her black hair. Like two stars her great eyes +flashed up imploringly into the Swede's angry face. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, seńors! You no fight like de dogs vid me here. I not like +dat, I not let you. See! you strike him, you strike me. <I>Dios de +Dios</I>! I not have eet so—nevah." +</P> + +<P> +A strong, compelling hand fell suddenly on Winston's shoulder, and he +glanced about into the grave, boyish countenance of Stutter Brown. +</P> + +<P> +"Th-thar 's quite c-c-consid'able of a c-crowd comin' up the t-t-trail +t-ter the 'Independence,' an' B-Bill wants yer," he announced, his calm +eyes on the controversy being waged beyond in the open. "Th-thar 'll +be somethin' d-doin' presently, but I r-reckon I better s-s-straighten +out t-this yere i-i-international fracas first." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE GAME OF FOILS +</H3> + + +<P> +The grave-faced, yet good-natured giant pressed his way through the +tangled mass of obstructing bushes, and unceremoniously proceeded to +proclaim peace. His methods were characteristic of one slow of speech, +yet swift of action. With one great hand gripping the Swede, he +suddenly swung that startled individual at full length backward into +the still smouldering embers of the fire, holding the gasping Mike down +to earth with foot planted heavily upon his chest. It was over in an +instant, Swanson sputtering unintelligible oaths while beating sparks +from his overalls, the Irishman profanely conscious of the damage +wrought to his eye, and the overwhelming odds against him. Seńorita +Mercedes clapped her little hands in delight at the spectacle, her +steps light as those of the dance, the girlish joy in her eyes frank +and unreserved. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, de Seńor Brown—<I>bueno</I>! Dey vas just children to you even ven +dey fight, hey? It vas good to see such tings doin', just like de +play." +</P> + +<P> +She circled swiftly up toward him, a happy bird of gay, fluttering +plumage, pressing her fingers almost caressingly along the swelling +muscle of his arm, and gazing with earnest admiration up into his face. +Beneath the witching spell of her eyes the man's cheeks reddened. He +took the way of savagery out of unexpected embarrassment. +</P> + +<P> +"Th-that 's enough, now, Swanson," he commanded, the stutter largely +vanishing before the requirement of deeds. "Th-this is no c-continuous +vaudeville, an' ther curtain's rung d-down on yer act. Mike, yer ol' +varmint, if yer do any more swearin' while ther lady's yere I 'll knock +ther words back down yer throat. Yer know me, so shut up. Th-thar'll +be fightin' in p-plenty fer both o' yer presently, the way things look. +Now, vamoose, the two o' yer, an' be quiet about it. Mike, y-yer +better do something fer yer eyes if yer wanter see well 'nough ter take +a pot-shot at Farnham's gang." +</P> + +<P> +The two discomfited combatants slouched off unwillingly enough, but the +slender white fingers of the Mexican remained clasping the speaker's +arm, her upturned face filled with undisguised enthusiasm. Brown, +after pretending to watch the fighters disappear, glanced uneasily down +into her wondrous dark eyes, shuffling his feet awkwardly, his +appearance that of a bashful boy. Mercedes laughed out of the depths +of a heart apparently untroubled. +</P> + +<P> +"My, but eet vas so ver' big, seńor. See! I cannot make de fingers to +go round—no, no. I nevah see such arm—nevah. But you no care? You +vas dat great big all over, hey? <I>Sapristi</I>! who de woman help like +such a big Americano?" +</P> + +<P> +"B-but that ain't it, M-M-M-Mercedes," blurted out the perturbed giant, +in desperation. "I-I want yer t-t-ter love me." +</P> + +<P> +"<I>No comprende, seńor</I>." +</P> + +<P> +"O-oh, yes yer do. L-Lord! didn't I t-tell it all ter yer s-s-straight +'nough last n-night? Maybe I ain't m-much on ther t-talk, but I +r-reckon I sh-sh-shot that all right. C-can't yer make over th-that +like inter l-love somehow?" +</P> + +<P> +She released her clasp upon his arm, her eyes drooping behind their +long lashes, the merry laughter fading from her lips. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat vas not von bit nice of you, seńor. Vy you ever keep bodder me +so, ven I good to you? No, I tol' you not ask me dat so quick soon +again. Did I not do dis? I tol' you den I know not; I meet you only +de twice—how I lofe ven I meet you only de twice?" +</P> + +<P> +"You 've m-m-met me as often a-as I h-h-have you," he interrupted, "an' +I kn-know I l-love you all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dat vas diff'rent, ver' different," and she tripped back from him, +with a coquettish toss of the black head. "Vy not? of course. I vas +Mercedes—<I>si</I>; vas dat not enough? All de <I>caballeros</I> say dat to me; +dey say me ver' pretty girl. You tink dat too, seńor?" +</P> + +<P> +The perplexed Brown, fully conscious that his great strength was +useless here, looked an answer, although his lips merely sputtered in +vain attempt at speech. +</P> + +<P> +"So; I read dat in de eyes. Den of course you lofe me. It vas de +nature. But vis me it vas not so easy; no, not near so easy. I tink +maybe you ver' nice man," she tipped it off upon her finger ends half +playfully, constantly flashing her eyes up into his puzzled face. "I +tink you ver' good man; I tink you ver' strong man; I tink maybe you be +ver' nice to Mercedes. 'T is for all dose tings dat I like you, seńor, +like you ver' mooch; but lofe, dat means more as like, an' I know not +for sure. Maybe so, maybe not so; how I tell yet for true? I tink de +best ting be I not say eet, but just tink 'bout eet; just keep eet in +mine own heart till some odder time ven I sure know. Vas eet not so?" +</P> + +<P> +Brown set his teeth half savagely, the little witch tantalizing him +with the swiftness of her speech, the coy archness of her manner. To +his slower mentality she was like a humming-bird darting about from +flower to flower, yet ever evading him. +</P> + +<P> +"M-maybe yer think I ain't in e-e-earnest?" he persisted, doggedly. +"M-maybe yer imagine I d-did n't m-m-mean what I s-said when I asked +yer ter m-marry me?" +</P> + +<P> +She glanced up quickly into his serious eyes, half shrinking away as if +she suddenly comprehended the dumb, patient strength of the man, his +rugged, changeless resolution. There was a bit of falter in the quick +response, yet this was lost to him. +</P> + +<P> +"No, seńor, I no make fun. I no dat kind. I do de right, dat all; I +do de right for both of us. I no vant to do de wrong. You +<I>comprende</I>, seńor? Maybe you soon grow ver' tire Mercedes, she marry +you?" +</P> + +<P> +The infatuated miner shook his head emphatically, and flung out one +hand toward her. +</P> + +<P> +"No! Oh, you tink so now; you tink so ver' mooch now, but eet better +ve vait an' see. I know de men an' de vay dey forget after vile. +Maybe I not such good voman like you tink me; maybe I cross, scold, get +qvick mad; maybe I no like live widout de stage, de lights, de dance, +an' de fun, hey? Vat you do den? You be ver' sorry you marry. I no +like dat, no, no. I want de man to lofe me always—nevah to vish he +not marry me. You not know me yet; I not know you. Maybe ve vait, ve +know." +</P> + +<P> +He caught her gesticulating hands, prisoning them strongly within both +his own, but she shook forward her loosened hair until it fell +partially across her face, hiding it thus from his eager eyes bent in +passion upon her. +</P> + +<P> +"B-but tell me y-you love me! T-tell me th-th-that, an' I 'll let the +o-other go!" +</P> + +<P> +"You vould make me to say de untrue, seńor?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not. I w-want ter kn-kn-know. Only if you d-do n't, I 'm +a-goin' t-ter git out o' yere." +</P> + +<P> +She remained silent, motionless, her telltale face shadowed, only the +quick rise and fall of the bosom evidencing emotion. The man looked at +her helplessly, his mouth setting firm, his eyes becoming filled with +sudden doubt. +</P> + +<P> +"W-well, Mercedes," he stuttered, unable to restrain himself, "wh-what +is it?" +</P> + +<P> +She lifted her lowered head ever so slightly, so that he saw her +profile, the flush on the cheek turned toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe eet better you stay, seńor. Anyhow, I no vant you go just now." +</P> + +<P> +For once he proved the more swift of the two, clasping her instantly +within his arms, drawing her slender form close against him with a +strength he failed to realize in that sudden excess of passion. +Holding her thus in helpless subjection he flung aside the obstructing +veil of hair, and covered the flushed cheeks with kisses. The next +moment, breathless, but not with indignation, the girl had pushed his +burning face aside, although she still lay quivering within the +remorseless clasp of his arms. +</P> + +<P> +"I no said all dat, seńor; I no said all dat. You so ver' strong, you +hurt Mercedes. Please, seńor—eet vas not dat I meant eet should be +dis vay—no, no. I no said I lofe you; I just say stay till maybe I +know vich—please, seńor." +</P> + +<P> +"N-not till yer k-kiss me yourself," and Brown, intensely conscious of +triumph, held back the mass of black hair, his eager eyes devouring the +fair face pressing his shoulder. "O-one kiss w-with ther l-l-lips, an' +I 'll let yer g-go." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, seńor." +</P> + +<P> +"Th-then I h-hold yer here till some one comes." +</P> + +<P> +"Eet vas not lofe; eet vas just to get avay." +</P> + +<P> +"I-I-I take ch-chances on that, l-little girl." +</P> + +<P> +Their lips met and clung; all unconsciously the free arm of the girl +stole upward, clasping the man's broad shoulder. For that one instant +she forgot all excepting the new joy of that embrace, the crowning +faith that this man loved her as no other ever had—truly, nobly, and +forever. Her face was aglow as she drew reluctantly back from him, her +eyes upon his, her cheeks flushed, her lips trembling. Yet with the +parting came as swiftly back the resolution which made her strong. +</P> + +<P> +"Eh, seńor; eet shame me, but you promise—please, seńor!" +</P> + +<P> +Like a flash, in some mysterious manner, she had slipped free, evaded +his effort to grasp her dress, and, with quick, whirling motion, was +already half-way across the open space, daring to mock him even while +flinging back her long hair, the sunlight full upon her. Never could +she appear more delicately attractive, more coquettishly charming. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, see—you tink me de prisoner. Eet vas not all de strength, seńor, +not all. You no can catch me again till I lofe you; not de once till I +lofe you, seńor." +</P> + +<P> +He started toward her blindly, taunted by these unexpected words of +renunciation. But she danced away, ever managing to keep well beyond +reach, until she disappeared within the narrow path leading to the +cabin. He could see her through the vista of branches, pausing to look +back and watch if he followed. +</P> + +<P> +"B-but you do," he called out, "I-I know you d-do. Won't yer just +s-s-say it for me onct?" +</P> + +<P> +"Say dat I marry you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Y-yes, for it means ther same. Anyhow, s-say yer love me." +</P> + +<P> +She laughed, shaking her head so hard the black hair became a whirling +cloud about her. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no! eet not de same, seńor. Maybe I lofe you, maybe not yet. Dat +ees vat you must fin' out. But marry? Dat no show I lofe you. Oh, de +men! to tink eet vas de only vay to prove lofe to marry. No, no! maybe +I show you some day eef I lofe you; si, some day I show you ven I know +true. But dat not mean I marry you. Dat mean more as dat—you see. +<I>Adios</I>, seńor." +</P> + +<P> +And he stood alone, staring at the blank door, strangely happy, +although not content. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +UNDER ARREST +</H3> + + +<P> +When Brown emerged from behind the protection of the cabin, his +freckled face yet burning red in memory of his strenuous love-making, +he discovered both Hicks and Winston standing upon the rock which +shortly before had formed their breakfast table, gazing watchfully off +into the purple depths of the canyon, occasionally lifting their eyes +to search carefully the nearer surroundings about the hostile +"Independence." Something serious was in the air, and all three men +felt its mysterious presence. Hicks held the field-glasses in his +hands, outwardly calm, yet his old face already beginning to exhibit +the excitement of rapidly culminating events. That they were not to be +long left undisturbed was promised by an increasing number of figures +distinctly visible around the distant shaft-house and dump, as well as +the continuous shouting, indistinguishable as to words but pronounced +in volume, borne through the clear air to their ears. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm a liar if ther was n't twenty in that last bunch," Hicks +muttered, just a trifle uneasily. "Good Lord boys! it 's an army they +'re organizin' over yonder. Blame me if I onderstan' that sorter +scheme at all. It don't look nat'ral. I never thought Farnham was no +coward when ther time come fer fightin', but this kind o' fixin' shore +looks as if we had him skeered stiff. Wal, it 'll take more 'n a bunch +o' San Juan toughs to skeer me. I reckon ther present plan must be ter +try rushin' ther 'Little Yankee.'" +</P> + +<P> +He wheeled about, driving the extended tubes of his glass together, his +gray beard forking out in front of his lean, brown face like so many +bristles. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, is thet you come back, Stutter? Thought I heerd somebody walkin' +behind me. I reckon, judgin' from ther outlook over thar, thet the +dance is 'bout ter begin; leastwise, the fiddlers is takin' their +places," and he waved his gnarled hand toward the distant crowd. "Got +somethin' like a reg'ment thar now, hoss and fut, an' it's safe ter bet +thar 's more a-comin'. This yere fracas must be gittin' some +celebrated, an' bids fair ter draw bigger 'n a three-ringed circus. +All ther scum o' San Juan must 'a got a private tip thet we was easy +marks. They 're out yere like crows hopin' ter pick our bones clean +afore the law kin git any show at all. Wal, it 'll be a tough meal all +right, an' some of 'em are mighty liable ter have trouble with their +digestion, fer thar 's goin' ter be considerable lead eat first. Now +see yere, Stutter, the safest thing we kin do is git ready. You chase +that whole bunch yonder back behind them rocks, where they 'll be out +o' the way—the Swede an' the women. Do it lively, an' you an' Mike +stay up thar with 'em, with your guns handy. Keep under cover as much +as ye kin, for some o' them lads out thar will have glasses with 'em, +and be watchin' of us almighty close. Hurry 'long now; me an' Winston +will stop yere until we find out just what their little game is likely +ter be." +</P> + +<P> +He turned away from his partner, facing once again toward the +"Independence." Then he readjusted the tubes, and passed them over to +his silent companion. +</P> + +<P> +"Just see what you make out o' it, Mr. Winston; ye 're some younger, +an' yer eyes ought ter be a heap better 'n mine." +</P> + +<P> +The young engineer, his heart already beginning to throb with the +excitement of an unaccustomed position of danger, ran the lenses +carefully back and forth from the half-concealed bunk-house to the +nearer ore-dump, searching for every sign of life. Whatever emotion +swayed him, there was not the slightest tremor to the steady hands +supporting the levelled tubes. +</P> + +<P> +"They have certainly got together a considerable number of men," he +reported, the glass still at his eyes. "Roughs the most of them look +to be, from their clothes. The largest number are grouped in between +the shaft-house and the dump, but there must be a dozen or fifteen down +below at the edge of those cedars. Farnham is at the shaft-house—no, +he and another fellow have just started down the dump, walking this +way. Now they have gone into the cedars, and are coming straight +through. What's up, do you suppose—negotiations?" +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm damned if I know," returned the old miner, staring blankly. +"This whole thing kinder jiggers me. Maybe he thinks he kin skeer us +out by a good brand o' talk. He 's a bit o' a bluffer, that Farnham." +</P> + +<P> +The two watchers waited in breathless expectancy, leaning on their +loaded Winchesters, their eyes eagerly fastened on the concealing +cedars. Behind where they remained in the open, yet within easy +rifle-shot, the heads of Brown and Old Mike rose cautiously above the +rock rampart of their natural fort. Suddenly two men, walking abreast, +emerged from out the shadow of the wood, and came straight toward them +across the open ridge of rocks. They advanced carelessly, making no +effort to pick their path, and in apparently utter indifference to any +possible peril. The one was Farnham, his slender form erect, his +shoulders squared, his hat pushed jauntily back so as to reveal fully +the smoothly shaven face. The other bent slightly forward as he +walked, his wide brim drawn low over his eyes, leaving little visible +except the point of a closely trimmed beard. He was heavily built, and +a "45" dangled conspicuously at his hip. If Farnham bore arms they +were concealed beneath the skirt of his coat. Watching them approach, +Winston's eyes became threatening, his hands involuntarily clinching, +but Hicks remained motionless, his lean jaws continuously munching on +the tobacco in his cheek. +</P> + +<P> +"Who the hell is that with him?" he questioned, wonderingly. "Do you +know the feller?" +</P> + +<P> +Winston shook his head, his own steady gaze riveted upon Farnham. +Deliberately the two climbed the low ore-dump side by side, and came +forth on top into the full glare of the sun. Hicks's Winchester sank +to a level, his wicked old eye peering along the polished barrel. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'll have to ask ye ter stop right thar, gents," he said, genially, +drawing back the hammer with a sharp click. "Ye 're trespassin' on my +property." +</P> + +<P> +The two men came to an instant halt, Farnham smiling unpleasantly, his +hands buried in his pockets. His companion hastily shoved back his +hat, as though in surprise at the summons, revealing a broad, ruddy +face, shadowed by iron-gray whiskers. Hicks half lowered his gun, +giving vent to a smothered oath. +</P> + +<P> +"By God, it's the sheriff!" he muttered, in complete bewilderment. +"What the hell are we up against?" +</P> + +<P> +There was an interval of intense silence, both parties gazing at each +other, the one side startled, unnerved, the other cool, contemptuous. +It was the sheriff who first spoke, standing firmly on his short legs, +and quietly stroking his beard. +</P> + +<P> +"You probably recognize me, Bill Hicks," he said, calmly, "and it might +be just as healthy for you to lower that gun. I ain't here hunting any +trouble, but if it begins I 've got a posse over yonder big enough to +make it mighty interesting. You sabe?" +</P> + +<P> +Old Hicks hesitated, his finger yet hovering about the trigger, his +eyes filled with doubt. There was some mystery in this affair he could +not in the least fathom, but he was obstinate and hard-headed. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know you all right, Mr. Sheriff," he returned, yet speaking +half angrily. "But I don't know what ye 're dippin' inter this yere +affair fer. I haven't any quarrel with you, ner any cause fer one. +But I have with that grinnin' cuss alongside o' yer. I 'll talk with +you all right, but Farnham will either mosey back ter his own den o' +thieves, 'er I 'll blow a hole plumb through him—that's flat. I don't +talk ter his kind." +</P> + +<P> +The sheriff held up one hand, taking a single step forward, his face +grown sternly resolute. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Farnham chances to be present as my deputy," he announced gravely. +"I don't know anything about a quarrel between you two men, and I care +less. I 'm here to enforce the law and arrest law-breakers. If you +decide to interfere between me and my duty I 'll know how to act. I +'ve smelt of the business end of a gun before to-day, and I guess +nobody ever saw Sam Hayes play baby when there was a fight on tap. If +there 's trouble between you and Farnham, have it out, and git done +with it in proper fashion, but just now he 's a sworn officer of the +law, and when you threaten him you threaten all Gulpin County. Do you +manage to digest that fact, Hicks?" +</P> + +<P> +The sturdy old prospector, his face white with rage under the tan, +uncocked his rifle and dropped the butt heavily upon the earth, his +eyes wandering from the face of the sheriff to that of Winston. +</P> + +<P> +"What the hell is it yer want, then?" he asked sullenly. Hayes smiled, +shifting easily so as to rest his weight on one leg. +</P> + +<P> +"Got anybody in your bunch named Winston?" he questioned, "Ned Winston, +mining engineer?" +</P> + +<P> +The younger man started in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"That is my name," he replied, before Hicks could speak. The sheriff +looked toward him curiously, noting the square jaw, the steady gray +eyes; then he glanced aside at Farnham. The latter nodded carelessly. +</P> + +<P> +"So far, so good. By the same luck, have you a Swede here called Nels +Swanson?" +</P> + +<P> +Hicks shook his head in uncertainty. +</P> + +<P> +"There 's a Swede here, all right, who belongs ter the 'Independence' +gang. I don 't know his name." +</P> + +<P> +"It's Swanson," put in Farnham, cheerfully. "Those are the two birds +you 're after, sheriff." +</P> + +<P> +The latter official, as though fascinated by what he read there, never +ventured to remove his watchfulness from the face of the engineer, yet +he smiled grimly. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I 'll have to trouble you to trot out the Swede, Hicks," he said, +a distinct command in his voice. "After he 's here we 'll get down to +business." +</P> + +<P> +It was fully five minutes before the fellow arrived, his movements slow +and reluctant. From his language, expressing his feelings freely to +Mike and Brown, who were engaged in urging him forward, it was evident +he experienced no ambition to appear in the limelight. The four men +waiting his coming remained motionless, intently watchful of one +another. As the slowly moving Swede finally approached, Hayes ventured +to remove his eyes from Winston just long enough to scan swiftly the +mournful countenance, that single glance revealing to him the character +of the man. The latter gazed uneasily from one face to another, his +mild blue eyes picturing distress, his fingers pulling aimlessly at his +moustache. +</P> + +<P> +"Ay ban yere by you fellers," he confessed sorrowfully, unable to +determine which person it was that wanted him. +</P> + +<P> +"So I see," admitted the sheriff laconically. "Are you Nels Swanson?" +</P> + +<P> +The fellow swallowed something in his throat that seemed to choke him. +This question sounded familiar; it brought back in a rush a +recollection of his late controversy with Mr. O'Brien. His face +flushed, his eyes hardening. +</P> + +<P> +"Ay ban Nels Swanson!" he exploded, beating the air with clenched fist. +"Ay ban Lutheran! Ay ban shovel-man by Meester Burke. Ay get two +tollar saxty cint! Ay not give won tamn for you! Ay lick de fellar +vot ask me dot again!" +</P> + +<P> +The sheriff stared at him, much as he might have examined a new and +peculiar specimen of bug. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't recall having asked you anything about your family history," +he said quietly, dropping one hand in apparent carelessness on the butt +of his "45." "Your name was all I wanted." He tapped the breast of +his coat suggestively, his gaze returning to Winston. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, gents, we might as well bring this affair to a focus, although +no doubt you two understand the meaning of it pretty well already. I +'ve got warrants here for the arrest of Winston and Swanson. I hope +neither of you intend to kick up any row." +</P> + +<P> +The white teeth of the young mining engineer set like a trap, his gray +eyes gleaming dangerously beneath frowning brows. Instinctively he +took a quick step forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Warrants?" he exclaimed, breathlessly. "In God's name, for what?" +</P> + +<P> +Hayes tightened his grip on the gun butt, drawing it half from the +sheath, his eyes narrowing. +</P> + +<P> +"For the murder of Jack Burke," he said tersely. "Don't you move, +young man!" +</P> + +<P> +There was a long moment of intense, strained silence, in which the five +men could hear nothing but their own quick breathing. Before Winston +everything grew indistinct, unreal, the faces fronting him a phantasy +of imagination. He felt the fierce throb of his own pulses, a sudden +dull pain shooting through his temples. <I>Murder</I>! The terrible word +struck like a blow, appearing to paralyze all his faculties. In front +of him, as if painted, he saw that fierce struggle in the dark, the +limp figure lying huddled among the rocks. <I>Murder</I>! Aye, and how +could he prove it otherwise? How could he hope to clear himself from +the foul charge? Even as he yet swayed unsteadily upon his feet, a +hand pressed across his eyes as if shielding them from that horrible +vision, a voice, deep and strident, rang out: +</P> + +<P> +"Mike an' me have got the two cusses covered Mr. Winston. If they +move, or you give us the highball, we 'll plug 'em dead centre!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE INTERVENTION OF SWANSON +</H3> + + +<P> +Hayes never changed his position, nor removed his eyes from Winston, +his right hand still resting upon the butt of his "45," his lips set in +rigid line. The engineer, the mist partially clearing from his brain, +retained no thought except for Farnham, who remained motionless, +staring over his head into the black, threatening muzzle of Stutter +Brown's levelled gun. These were Western men; they recognized +instantly the potency of "the drop," the absolute certainty of death if +they stirred a muscle. They could only wait, breathless, uncertain, +the next move in this desperate game. To Winston it seemed an hour he +hesitated, his mind a chaos, temptation buffeting him remorselessly. +He saw the sheriff's face set hard, and resolute behind its iron-gray +beard; he marked the reckless sneer curling Farnham's lips, the livid +mark under his eye where he had struck him. The intense hatred he felt +for this man swept across him fiercely, for an instant driving out of +his heart all thought of mercy. As suddenly he remembered the helpless +woman yonder, within easy view, possibly even then upon her knees in +supplication. It was this conception that aroused him. He withdrew +his dull gaze from off that hateful, mocking face, his clenched hands +opening, his mind responding to a new-born will. "Vengeance is mine; I +will repay, saith the Lord"—like an echo, perhaps from the very prayer +her lips were speaking, the solemn words came into his consciousness. +With face white, and lips trembling, he stepped suddenly back, and +flung up one hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't fire, boys!" he commanded, his voice ringing clear and +purposeful. "Drop your guns; it's all right. This is my game, and I +intend to play it out alone." +</P> + +<P> +Farnham laughed, the quick reaction possibly affecting even his iron +nerves. Winston whirled and fronted him, the gray eyes blazing. +</P> + +<P> +"Damn you, you sneaking, sneering brute!" he burst forth. "You thief, +you woman-beater, you unspeakable cur! I surrender to the sheriff of +Gulpin County, not to you. I 've got the evidence to send you to the +penitentiary, and I 'll do it, even though I stand myself in the shadow +of death while I bear witness to your infamy. You think this arrest +will shut my mouth! You imagine this will render me harmless! But, by +God, it will not! I 'll fight you until the last breath leaves my +body. I 'll tear you out from the protection of law; I 'll show you +the kind of a man you have stacked up against. I don't know whether +this murder charge is all a trick or not; I don't more than half +believe Jack Burke is dead. But be that as it may, I 'll pull you +down, Biff Farnham, not in any revenge for wrong done me, but to save a +woman whom you know. I 'll do it, damn you, though it cost me my life!" +</P> + +<P> +The sheriff's iron hand fell in restraint upon his shoulder, the burly +body interposed between them. +</P> + +<P> +"You're all right," Hayes said quietly, his eyes pleasantly interested. +"You 've been squar' with me, young fellow, an' I 'm goin' ter be +squar' with you. You kin bet on that. They 'll give you a chance down +below to fight out your quarrel with Farnham." +</P> + +<P> +Winston, his quick rage as instantly fading, drew one hand across his +face, the real danger of his present situation flowing back suddenly to +mind. +</P> + +<P> +"Where do you mean to take us?" he questioned. +</P> + +<P> +"San Juan." +</P> + +<P> +"Right away?" +</P> + +<P> +"Wal, 'bout as soon as we kin git you back ter whar the hosses are, +yonder." +</P> + +<P> +"You promise us protection from that 'Independence' outfit?" +</P> + +<P> +The sheriff nodded decisively. +</P> + +<P> +"Never lost no prisoner yet to a mob," he replied confidently. "I +reckon thar'll be one hell of a fight before I do now. However, you +don't need to worry, young man. On second thought, I 'll have the +hosses brought over here, an' we 'll go down this trail." +</P> + +<P> +Winston glanced about into the faces of Hicks and the Swede. There was +no help forthcoming from either, but he had already reached a definite +decision for himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," he said calmly, "I 'll go with you quietly, sheriff, only +I don't need any hand-cuffing." +</P> + +<P> +"Never use 'em," and Hayes affectionately patted his gun. "I reckon +this yere instrument will do the business all right if any +misunderstandin' should arise atween us goin' down. However, I 'll +trouble yer to discard them weapons for the sake o' peace." +</P> + +<P> +Without a word the engineer unbuckled his belt, tossed it over to +Hicks, and then slowly turned his body about to prove himself entirely +disarmed. Then he smiled, and extended his hand. The sheriff grasped +it cordially. +</P> + +<P> +"There need be no hard feeling between us, Hayes," he said pleasantly. +"You 're only doing your sworn duty; I understand that. But there 's +something rotten in this affair somewhere. All I ask is a square deal." +</P> + +<P> +"An' yer kin bet you'll git it, Mr. Winston, er Sam Hayes will find out +why. This yere 'Independence' outfit is no favorites o' mine, an' if +the whole difficulty turns out ter be nothin' but a minin' squabble, +the jury ain't likely ter be very hard on yer. That's my way o' +figgerin' on it, from what little I know." He glanced keenly about, +seeking to gain a clearer idea of their immediate surroundings. "Maybe +you an' Swanson better mosey back yonder to the cabin, where I can keep +an eye on you easy, while I send after the hosses. Farnham, climb back +on top of the dump there, an' give them boys the signal to come on." +</P> + +<P> +The gambler removed his hat, running one hand carelessly through his +hair, his thin lips sufficiently parted to reveal his white teeth. +</P> + +<P> +"I hardly think we are exactly done yet, Mr. Sheriff," he said +sarcastically. "I 'm not very much worried regarding your suddenly +expressed sympathy for this fellow, or your desire to get him off +unscratched; but I feel compelled to insist upon receiving all the law +allows me in this game we 're playing. There 's another warrant in +your pocket for Winston." +</P> + +<P> +"By thunder, yes; I 'd clear forgot it," fumbling at his papers. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I had n't; matter of some personal importance to me," the voice +taking on a lazy, insolent drawl. "Of course, the fellow is under +arrest all right, but that murder business is only part of it—I want +my wife." +</P> + +<P> +Winston started forward, crouching as though he would spring directly +at the other's throat. +</P> + +<P> +"Your wife?" he exclaimed madly, his voice choking. "Your wife? You +'ve sworn out a warrant for me on account of your wife?" +</P> + +<P> +"Something of that nature, I believe," gazing at him insolently. +"Abduction I think the lawyers call it, and I notice you 've got the +lady hidden away back yonder now." He pointed across the other's +shoulder. "Caught with the goods. Oh, you 're a fine preacher of +morals, but I 've got you dead to rights this time." +</P> + +<P> +Winston stood as though carven from stone, his face deathly white, his +lips compressed, his gray eyes burning, never wavering from that +mocking face. With all his strength of will he battled back the first +mad impulse to throttle the man, to crush him into shapeless pulp. For +one awful moment his mind became a chaos, his blood throbbing fire. To +kill would be joy, a relief inexpressible. Farnham realized the +impulse, and drew back, not shrinking away, but bracing for the +contest. But the engineer gripped himself in time. +</P> + +<P> +"Hayes," he ejaculated hoarsely, "let the lady decide this. If she +says no, then, by God, I 'll fight you all single-handed before he ever +puts touch upon her!" +</P> + +<P> +Old Bill Hicks was beside him in a single stride, his face blazing. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm damned if yer will!" he growled madly. "I 'm in on this deal, +law er no law. The whole blame thing is a bluff, an' I 'll not stan' +fer it no longer. Yer step back thar, Sam Hayes, er else Gulpin County +will be lookin' 'round fer another sheriff. I 've got plumb ter the +limit o' patience in this game." +</P> + +<P> +Winston grasped the old man's uplifted arm, whirling him sharply around. +</P> + +<P> +"No," he exclaimed almost wearily, "it 's not to be a fight yet; +let—let her decide between us." +</P> + +<P> +She was already coming, walking alone directly across the open space +toward them. The eyes of the bewildered men were upon her, marking the +white face, rendered more noticeable by its frame of dark, uncovered +hair, the firm, womanly chin, the tightly compressed lips, the +resolute, unwavering eyes. She walked firmly, confidently forward, her +head proudly uplifted, a stately dignity about her bearing which could +not be ignored. If she perceived either Winston or Farnham in that +group she gave no sign, never halting until she stood directly before +Sam Hayes. Involuntarily, unconscious of the act, the sheriff pulled +off his hat, and stood twirling it in his hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it indeed true," she asked, her voice thrilling with suppressed +feeling, "that you possess a warrant sworn out by Biff Farnham, +charging Mr. Winston with the abduction of his wife?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, ma'am," and the man changed the weight of his body to the other +foot. "I 'm sorry ter say it 's true." +</P> + +<P> +She lifted one hand suddenly to her forehead as though in pain. +</P> + +<P> +"And you intend to serve it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have no choice, ma'am; I 'm an officer of the law." +</P> + +<P> +There followed a pause, seemingly endless, the eyes of the men turned +away. She lifted her head, sweeping her gaze swiftly across the faces, +and a flush crept into the white cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +"Gentlemen," her voice low and clear, but with a slight falter +occasionally yielding peculiar power to the words, "it is true I am +that man's wife." She looked directly at him, apparently oblivious of +his attempt at smiling indifference. "By the laws of God and men I am +his wife. I neither deny this, nor have ever sought to escape from its +obligations. To me, the vows of marriage were sacred when first +assumed; they remain no less sacred now. This man is fully aware of +how I feel in this regard; he knows I have proved true in spirit and +letter to my vows; he knows exactly why I am not living with him; why I +am earning my own living in the world; why I am here in this position +to-day. He knows it all, I say, because the desertion was his, not +mine; and his present deliberate, cowardly attempt to besmirch my +character by doing an injury to another is an unbearable insult, an +outrage more serious than if he had struck me a physical blow. The one +I might forgive, as I have before forgiven, but the other is beyond the +limits of pardon, if I would retain my own self-respect. I am a woman, +an honorable woman, and my reputation is more to me than life." +</P> + +<P> +She paused, breathing heavily, her head flung back, Her hands clenched +as though in desperate effort at self-control. +</P> + +<P> +"You—you!" the words seemed fairly forced from between her lips, +"there has never been a time when I would not have gone to you at a +word, at your slightest expressed desire. However I may have despised +you in my secret heart, I remained loyal outwardly, and would have gone +to you in response to the call of duty. There is no such duty now. +You have openly insulted and degraded me; you have accused me before +the world; you have dragged my name in the muck; you have attempted to +dethrone my womanhood. The past is over; it is over forever. The law +may continue to hold me as your wife, but I am not your wife. The +records of the church may so name me, but they are false. A God of +love could never have linked me to such a brute—the very thought is +infamy. Do not touch me! Do not speak to me! I believe I could kill +you easier than I could ever again yield to you so much as a word." +</P> + +<P> +She reeled as though about to fall, her hand pressed against her heart. +Before an arm could be out-stretched in support, she had rallied, and +turned away. With head lowered, her face shadowed by her hair she +walked slowly toward the cabin. No man in the group stirred until she +had disappeared. Then the sheriff fumblingly replaced his hat, his +eyes wandering in uncertainty from Farnham to Winston. +</P> + +<P> +"By God!" he exclaimed, as though in relief, catching his breath +quickly and wiping his forehead. "By God! but that was fierce." +Recalling his own duty he reached out his hand and laid it heavily upon +the shoulder of the man standing next him. It chanced to be the Swede. +</P> + +<P> +"Go on into the cabin," he commanded, a returning sternness in the +order. +</P> + +<P> +The surprised man stared at him in dull bewilderment. +</P> + +<P> +"Vat for Ay go—hey?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because you 're under arrest." +</P> + +<P> +"Vat dot you say? I vas arrest? Maybe you not know me, hey? Ay tells +you vat Ay vas mighty quick. Ay ban Nels Swanson; Ay ban Lutheran; Ay +ban shovel—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, shut up; ye 're under arrest, I tell you—move on now." +</P> + +<P> +"Vat vas dis under arrest?" the blue eyes losing their mildness, the +drooping moustache beginning to bristle. "Ay no understand 'bout dis +arrest. Vat Ay do, hey?" +</P> + +<P> +"Helped to kill Jack Burke." +</P> + +<P> +The startled Norseman stared at him, gulping, his eyes fairly +protruding from his face, his breath hissing between his gritted teeth. +The wild berserker blood was surging hot through his veins. +</P> + +<P> +"Ut vas von lie! You kill me so! By tamn, no!" +</P> + +<P> +That instant, insane with fright, he grasped the astonished officer in +the vise of his great hands, swung him into the air, and dashed him +down headlong upon the rocks. Uttering a yell like that of some wild +animal, the fellow was off, striking against Winston with his body as +he passed, leaping recklessly across the rocks, heading straight toward +the nearest thicket. It was all the work of a moment. Farnham whirled +and sent one shot after him; then, as suddenly remembering his own +peril, wheeled back to face the others, the smoking revolver in his +hand. Amid the quick turmoil old Mike sprang to the summit of the rock +rampart, his face flaming with enthusiasm. +</P> + +<P> +"Go it, Swanska!" he yelled, encouragingly. "Go it, ye crazy +white-head! Be the powers, but it's the foinest runnin' Oi 've sane +fer a whoile. Saints aloive! but wud ye moind thim legs! 'Twas a +kangaroo, begorry, an' not a monkey he come from, or Oi 'm a loiar. Go +it, Swanny, ould bye! Howly St. Patrick! but he 'll be out o' the +State afore dhark, if he only kapes it up. It 's money Oi 'm bettin' +on the Swade!" +</P> + +<P> +Winston stepped swiftly across to the motionless sheriff, and knelt +down beside him, his face gravely anxious. The unfortunate man lay +huddled up, breathing heavily, his head bleeding freely from two +plainly visible wounds. The engineer turned him over, one hand feeling +for his heart. Slowly the young man rose to his feet, standing beside +the body, his gray eyes fastened upon Farnham. Here was a condition of +affairs he must decide upon for himself, decide instantly, decide in +spite of law, in spite of everything. +</P> + +<P> +"He appears to be rather badly hurt; not seriously, I think, but the +man is unconscious, and in no condition to be removed," he said, +managing to hold his voice to a strange quiet. "I consider myself his +prisoner, and shall remain with him until he becomes fit to travel. +Farnham, I do not acknowledge your deputyship, and if you attempt to +arrest me it will be at your peril. There are four of us here against +you, but we 'll give you a chance—go back to your own! Not a word, if +you care to live! Go, damn you—go!" +</P> + +<P> +They stood and watched him, until his slender figure disappeared behind +the fringe of cedars. Then Hicks and Winston, neither man speaking a +word, tenderly lifted the wounded sheriff from off the rocks, and bore +him back into the shelter of the cabin. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A NEW VOLUNTEER +</H3> + + +<P> +The desperate seriousness of their situation was only too evident. +Both men recognized this, yet had no opportunity then to reflect over +its possibilities, or plan for relief. Without exchanging a word, +except as related to their present labor, the two at once began +ministering to the relief of Hayes, confident that Brown, stationed +without, would guard vigorously against any surprise attack. The two +wounds upon the sheriff's head were extremely ugly in appearance, being +both deep and jagged, and having bled profusely. However, when +carefully washed and probed, neither proved particularly severe or +dangerous. In less than an hour, conscious yet exceedingly weak and +becoming somewhat feverish, the injured man, dazed in mind but fairly +comfortable in body, had been safely stowed away in a bunk, with every +prospect of an early recovery. +</P> + +<P> +Not until all this had been accomplished did his anxious nurses venture +to look thoughtfully into each others' faces and take direct cognizance +of their own perilous position. Hicks stepped outside into the +sunlight, wiping the perspiration from off his face, and a moment later +Winston joined him, the two standing in grave silence, gazing off +toward the apparently deserted "Independence." The strain of the past +night and day had plainly marked them both, yet it was not exposure and +toil alone that gave such anxiety to their faces. Finally Hicks turned +from his long scrutiny and glanced back toward the younger man, +stroking his goat's beard solemnly. +</P> + +<P> +"Looks ter me like we'd managed ter drop into a mighty bad hole, an' +was up agin the real thing," he began gloomily, yet hastening to add in +explanation, "not as I have any notion o' cavin', you onderstand, only +I ain't overly pleased with the situation, an' thet 's a fact. I never +yit objected in particular ter no fair fight, not o' any kind, free fer +all, or stan' up, but I ain't used ter buckin' agin the law nohow, an' +someway thet seems ter be 'bout what we 're up agin this trip. Beats +hell the way things turned out, don't it?" +</P> + +<P> +Winston nodded without opening his lips. He was thinking more +earnestly about Miss Norvell's unpleasant position than of their own, +yet compelled himself to attention. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, this yere Farnham is a gambler an' a thief; he 's all round +crooked, an' we 've got a cinch on him fer the penitentiary. But we +ain't got the right holt," the old miner continued, squinting his eyes +as if thus endeavoring to get the thought firmly lodged in his brain. +"He 's ben made a deputy sheriff. He kin turn that crowd o' toughs +over thar into a posse, an' come over here with the whole law o' the +State backin' them in any deviltry they decide on, even ter killin' off +the lot o' us for resistin' officers. Es Sam Hayes said, if we shoot, +we 'll be a-shootin' up Gulpin County. An' yet, by thunder, we 've +plumb got ter do it, er git off the earth. I jest don't see no other +way. Biff, he won't care a damn how he gits us, so he gits us afore we +have any chance ter turn the tables on him, an' shift the law over ter +our side. Hayes can't help any, fer he 's out o' his head. +Consequent, it's up ter us. Thet warrant business, an' deputy sheriff +racket, was a blame smart trick, all right. It would 'a' corralled us +good an' proper if thet fool Swede had n't run amuck. Not that he left +us in no bed o' roses, but, at least, we got a fightin' chance now, an' +afore we did n't have even that. I was inclined ter let yer surrender +to the sheriff, fer Sam Hayes is a squar' man, but not ter Farnham an' +his gang—not much, Mary Ann! Thet would mean lynchin', an' I know it. +So, I reckon we jest got to plug it out, an' trust ter luck. Thet 's +my view-point, but ye 're a more higher edycated man ner me, Mr. +Winston, an' maybe you kin see some other way out." +</P> + +<P> +The old man sat down on an outcropping stone, pulled out his pipe and +lit it, puffing thick rings of smoke into the air with manifest +enjoyment. Winston did not answer until the other again turned his +eyes upon him questioningly. +</P> + +<P> +"I was busy thinking," explained the engineer, "but must confess the +situation looks about as bad to me as it does to you. The silver +lining of this cloud is not apparent. Of course, we 've got the right +of it, but in some way Fate has managed to leave us set square against +the law. We 're outlaws without having done a thing to warrant it. +There is n't but one possible way out, and that is for us to get on the +right side again. Now, how can it be done? Some one of us will have +to go down to San Juan, before those fellows get over here in force, +swear out warrants against Farnham and his partners, and have this +whole affair probed to the bottom. We 've got them, if we can only get +the ear of the District Attorney, and shift this fight into the courts. +The trouble is, Farnham was smart enough to get there ahead of us, and +he 'll win out if we don't move quick and block him. I can't go +myself, for I 'm a prisoner, and must remain with the sheriff, or will +be considered a fugitive. The only question is, Can any one hope to +get through?" +</P> + +<P> +Hicks permitted his gaze to stray out across the dim valley below, then +up toward the ragged summit of the overhanging crest of rocks. Through +the smoke of his pipe he deliberately surveyed Stutter Brown, perched +motionless at the edge of his watchtower, a Winchester silhouetted +black against the stone. +</P> + +<P> +"Not down thet way, anyhow," he announced, finally, pointing with his +pipe-stem. "I reckon a mosquiter could n't git through along thet +trail ternight. Ever hear tell o' Daggett Station?" +</P> + +<P> +Winston rubbed his chin, endeavoring to recall the name. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'm not sure. Is it the water-tank and section-house, next stop +below Bolton Junction, on the main line?" +</P> + +<P> +"You 've called the tarn. Wal, it's over thar," pointing apparently +into the heart of the mountain, "straight south, twenty miles as ther +crow flies from the foot o' this rise, across as barren a sand waste as +ever broke a man's heart—nary drop o' water from start ter finish, an' +hot—oh, hell!" He paused, thinking. "But I hardly reckon them people +would ever think 'bout guardin' thet way out, an' a good rider could +make it easy afore daylight, an' catch the train East." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you get down?" +</P> + +<P> +"Through a long, twistin' ravine; it's a mean place fer travellin', an' +you have ter lead the hoss till yer strike the sand." +</P> + +<P> +"Ever cross there yourself?" +</P> + +<P> +"Wal, no," stroking his beard; "but Stutter come back thet way onct, +from a hunt or something. He never said nothin' when he struck in, but +yer could 'a' scraped alkali off him with a hoe, an' he drunk a whole +bucket o' water without takin' breath. So I reckon it wa'n't no +pleasure jaunt." +</P> + +<P> +"Then it's got to be Stutter," decided Winston, rising to his feet, +"for we must get word to San Juan. I 'm going inside to see how Hayes +is feeling." +</P> + +<P> +"I reckon thet's the ticket," agreed Hicks, gloomily, "but I 'm blamed +if I like losin' him. He 's a fightin' man, thet Stutter, after he +onct gits his blood stirred up, an' I 'm sorter expectin' a lively time +yere when it gits dark. It 'll be Farnham's last chance ter put us out +o' the way, an' he 's likely ter take it. I 'll bet Stutter won't go, +leastwise without the gal; he 's natural bull-headed, besides bein' in +love. Thet makes an ornery combination." +</P> + +<P> +Within the cabin, the door closed behind him, the single small window +shedding a dim light across the apartment, Winston turned, his hand +still upon the latch, and confronted Beth Norvell and Mercedes. Their +presence there was so unexpected that the young man paused in sudden +embarrassment, ready words failing him. The two were seated close +together on rude stools beneath the window, where they had evidently +been in intimate conversation. The former, her gaze lowered upon the +floor, did not glance up; but Mercedes flashed her black eyes into his +face, recognizing his confusion, and hastening to relieve it. +Warm-hearted, impulsive, already beginning to experience the value of +true love, the young Mexican was eager to bring these two into a better +understanding. Her quick smile of welcome swept away for an instant +all memory of the other's apparent indifference. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, eet vas good you come, seńor. See, ve shut up here like +prisoners; ve see nottings, ve hear nottings, ve know nottings. Now ve +make you tell us eet all, de whole story. Miladi here, she tink eet +all ver' bad; she cry, de tear yet in her eye, an' I know not vat to +tell to make her feel bettah. She 'fraid for ever'ting, but most I +tink, she 'fraid for you, seńor." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Norvell hastily laid her hand upon the girl's sleeve in +remonstrance, her face showing grave in the dim light. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, Mercedes; you must not say too much, or Mr. Winston will think +us both very foolish." +</P> + +<P> +"Eet vas not foolish for us to vant to know, vas eet, seńor?" +</P> + +<P> +"Assuredly not." He walked across the narrow room, glanced into the +face of the sleeping sheriff, came back beside them, and leaned against +the wall. The movement served to yield him confidence and +self-control, to decide him as to his future course. "What is it you +are so desirous of knowing?" +</P> + +<P> +"Vy, de whole ting, seńor, de whole ting." +</P> + +<P> +He gazed directly into the partially upturned face of the other, as +though urging her also to speak. +</P> + +<P> +"We do not in the least comprehend the situation here, Mr. Winston," +she responded, her voice low and steady. "No one has taken the trouble +to explain. We realize, of course, it must be serious, but possibly +the strain would prove less if we understood clearly what must be met." +</P> + +<P> +The engineer bowed, drawing toward him an empty cracker-box, and sat +down facing them both. +</P> + +<P> +"I will relate the circumstances to you in all their unpleasantness," +he began quietly. "Perhaps your woman wit may discover some loophole +which has escaped us." Clearly, yet rapidly, he reviewed the salient +points of the controversy between Farnham and the "Little Yankee," his +own brief connection with it, the discoveries made in the lower levels +of the "Independence," his desperate struggle with Burke, the swearing +out and serving of warrants, the sudden change in situation which had +placed them legally in the wrong, the accident to the sheriff, the curt +dismissal of his deputy, and the probable consequences. His voice grew +deep as he proceeded, marking the intense interest with which they +followed his recital. Then he unfolded briefly the plan adopted for +relief. It was the impulsive Mexican who broke the silence that +followed his conclusion. +</P> + +<P> +"Si, I see dat!" she exclaimed, leaning eagerly forward, her head +between her hands. "Eet vas ver' good vay. But you tink dar be fight +soon? You tink so? Beell, he tink so? Den you no like dat de Seńor +Brown be avay? No, no, you no like be lef' alone ven de fight come? +He big, strong, brav'; he bettah as ten men, hey? Eet vas so, I tell +you. I go vis de message, si; Seńor Brown he stay here. Vould not dat +be de bettah?" +</P> + +<P> +Winston shifted uneasily upon his cracker-box, his gaze wandering from +the animated face confronting him to that of the other farther back +amid the shadows, still grave and full of doubt. +</P> + +<P> +"You?" he exclaimed in surprise. "Surely you do not suppose we would +ever permit you to attempt such a thing." +</P> + +<P> +"No? An' vy not, seńor?" springing impulsively to her feet, her eyes +opening wide. "Maybe you tink I not know how ride? Maybe you tink I +vas 'fraid of de dark? or dat I lose my vay? You tink me leetle girl," +and she snapped her fingers indignantly. "Do dat? Of course I do dat! +<I>Sapristi</I>! Eet vas easy. Just ride twenty mile. Bah! I do dat lots +o' times. My pony he take me in tree, four hour sure. He nice pony, +an' he lofe Mercedes." +</P> + +<P> +"But you do not know the way, girl, and the ride must be made at night." +</P> + +<P> +"De vay—poof! You speak ver' foolish. De vay?—you tink I cannot +find de vay! Vy, I Mexicana, seńor; I know de vay of de desert; I read +de sign here, dar, everyvere, like miladi does de book. I know how; +si, si. Seńor Brown he show me how get down de side of de mountain, +den I know de res'. Twenty mile south to de rail; I read de stars, I +feel de wind, I give de pony de quirt, and it vas done—<I>bueno</I>!" +</P> + +<P> +Winston sat silently watching her, impressed by the earnestness of her +broken English, the eloquent energy of her gesticulations. +</P> + +<P> +"Vas dat not de bettah vay, seńor? I no good here; I just girl in de +vay, an' ven de fight come maybe I be 'fraid. But Seńor Brown he not +git 'fraid; he fight hard, more as ten men. So I help too; I just ride +de pony, but I help. I go San Juan; I see de Distric' Attorney." She +clapped her hands, laughing at the thought. "Si, I know de Distric' +Attorney ver' veil. He tink Mercedes ver' nice girl; he tink I dance +bettah as any he ever saw; he say so to me. He do vat Mercedes vant, +vat she say vas de right ting—sure he do. Vas dat not de bettah, +seńor?" +</P> + +<P> +"Possibly," yet secretly questioning her motives, "but—but really, you +know, I always supposed you to be a friend of Farnham's!" +</P> + +<P> +The girl instantly flushed crimson to the roots of her black hair, +bringing her hands together sharply, her eyes straying from Winston to +the suddenly uplifted face of Miss Norvell. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no," she said, at last, her voice softer. "He vas not to me +anyting! She know how it vas; maybe she tell you sometime. Not now, +but sometime. I jus' vant do right. I vant serve Seńor Brown, not dat +Farnham no more. No, no! once, maybe, I tink dat man ver' nice; I tink +him good friend; he say much promise Mercedes. Now I tink dat no +more—I know he lie all de time; I see tings as dey vas right, an' I +try be good girl. You sabe all dat, seńor?" +</P> + +<P> +"I understand some of it at least," and he smiled back into her +pleading eyes, "enough to trust you. If Hicks and Brown consent, your +going will be all right with me." +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Bueno</I>!" and she dropped him a deep Spanish courtesy, executing a +quick dancing step toward the door. "Den eet vill be so. I no 'fraid. +I go see dem both. <I>Adios</I>." +</P> + +<P> +The door opened, and she flashed forth into the fading sunlight; it +closed behind her, and left the two alone among the shadows. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +AN AVOWAL OF LOVE +</H3> + + +<P> +Winston sat gazing at the delicate contour of her face, partially +turned away from him, the long, silken lashes shading eyes lowered upon +the floor. A single gleam of the westering sun rested in golden beauty +across her dark hair, stirred by the slight breeze blowing through the +open window. In the silence he could hear his heart beat, and +distinguish the faint sound of her breathing. She was the first to +speak, yet without moving her head. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it true that you are now under arrest?" she questioned, her voice +scarcely audible. +</P> + +<P> +"Technically yes, although, as you may perceive, the sheriff is +powerless to prevent an escape if I desired to attempt one." +</P> + +<P> +"Is it because of that—that charge he made?" +</P> + +<P> +He arose to his feet in brave attempt at self-control. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, certainly not! I think that was merely a threat, a cowardly +threat, utterly without provocation, without purpose, unless he sought +in that way to work you a serious injury. The real charge against me +is murder. It appears that the man I fought with in the mine later +died from his injuries." +</P> + +<P> +She turned both face and body toward him, her eyes filled with agony. +</P> + +<P> +"The man died? Will it be possible for you to prove yourself innocent?" +</P> + +<P> +"It may be possible, but it does not appear easy. I hope to show that +all I did was in self-defence. I did not strike the man a deadly blow; +in the struggle he fell and was injured on the sharp rocks. In every +sense his death was unintentional, yet there is nothing to sustain me +but my own testimony. But I shall not flee from the issue. If I have +taken human life I will abide the judgment. God knows I never dreamed +of killing the man; never once supposed him seriously injured. You, at +least, believe this?" +</P> + +<P> +"I believe all you tell me." +</P> + +<P> +The man's grasp on the casing of the window tightened, his eyes upon +the mass of black hair. +</P> + +<P> +"Strangely enough," he continued, "this whole affair has gone wrong +from the start; nothing has turned out in the natural way. Criminals +have been made into officers of the law, and honest men changed into +outlaws. Now it seems impossible to conjecture how the adventure will +terminate." +</P> + +<P> +She sat looking up at him, scarcely seeing his face, her hands clasped +in her lap. +</P> + +<P> +"'All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players,'" +she said, quoting the familiar words as if in a dream. "We are such +puppets in the great play! How strange it all is! How dangerously +close real life is, always skirting the precipice of tragedy! Plans +fail, lines tangle, and lives are changed forever by events seemingly +insignificant. To-morrow is always mystery. I wonder, is it not a dim +consciousness of this that renders the stage so attractive to the +multitude? Even its burlesques, its lurid melodramas, are never +utterly beyond the possible. Everywhere are found stranger stories +than any romancer can invent; and yet we sometimes term our lives +commonplace." She leaned back against the wall, a sob coming into her +voice. "What—what is going to be the end of this—for me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Whatever you will," he exclaimed passionately, forgetful of all but +her power over him. "It is you who must choose." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is I who must choose," her face still uplifted. "Because I am +not a leaf to float on the air, my destiny decided by a breath of wind, +I must choose; yet how can I know I decide rightly? When heart and +conscience stand opposed, any decision means sacrifice and pain. I +meant those hasty words wrung out of me in shame, and spoken yonder; I +meant them then, and yet they haunt me like so many sheeted ghosts. +'Tis not their untruth, but the thought will not down that the real +cause of their utterance was not the wrong done me. It had other +birth." +</P> + +<P> +"In what?" +</P> + +<P> +She did not in the least hesitate to answer, her eyes clear and honest +upon his own. +</P> + +<P> +"In my love for you," she answered, quietly, her cheeks reddening to +the frank avowal. +</P> + +<P> +He grasped her hands, drawing her, unresisting, toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"You confess this to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, to you; but to you only because I trust you, because I know you +as an honorable man," she said, speaking with an earnest simplicity +irresistible. "I am not ashamed of the truth, not afraid to +acknowledge it frankly. If there be wrong in this; that wrong has +already been accomplished; the mere uttering of it cannot harm either +of us. We know the fact without words. I love you; with all my heart +I love you. I can say this to you here in the silence, yet I could not +speak it openly before the world. Why? Because such love is wrong? +Under God I do not know; only, the world would misunderstand, would +question my motives, would misjudge my faith. By the code I am not the +mistress of my heart; it has been legally surrendered. But you will +not misjudge, or question. If I could not trust, I could not love you; +I do both. Now and here, I put my hands in yours, I place my life, my +conscience, in your keeping. For good or evil, for heaven or hell, I +yield to you my faith. Tell me what I am utterly unable to decide for +myself alone: What is my duty, the duty of a woman situated as I am?" +</P> + +<P> +He held her hands still, crushing them within his own, yet the color, +the hope which had brightened his face, faded. A moment the two sat +silent, their eyes meeting, searching the depths. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth," he asked at last, "is this right?" +</P> + +<P> +"Is what right?" +</P> + +<P> +"That you should cast such a burden upon me. I told you I could not be +your conscience. All my desire, all my hope tends in one direction. +That which to you appears wrong, to me seems the only right course. My +heart responded eagerly to every word of renunciation spoken out there +in your indignation. They were just and true. They gave me courage to +believe the battle was over; that in soul and heart you were at last +free." +</P> + +<P> +She lowered her eyes in confusion to the floor, her bosom rising and +falling to quick breathing. +</P> + +<P> +"And now you discover me hesitating, undecided," she whispered, her +lips trembling. "I know I am; there are moments when I hold myself +unworthy of love. Yet believe me, I am honest, sincere, unselfish in +all my thought regarding you. Perhaps the trouble is that I know +myself, my nature, far too well; I dare not trust it to bring you +happiness, unless I can come to you with unsullied conscience." +</P> + +<P> +"Is it thought of divorce which yet remains so repugnant?" +</P> + +<P> +She glanced up into his questioning face, her own cheeks flushing. +</P> + +<P> +"I shrink from it in actual pain," she confessed, in instant frankness. +"My whole nature revolts. Believe me, I am not blind, not insensible; +I recognize the truth—all you would tell me—of the inalienable rights +of womanhood. Neglect, distrust, brutality, open insult have all been +my portion. The thousands all over the world accept these as worthy +reasons for breaking their marriage vows. But can I? Can I who have +ever condemned those others for doing so? Can I, who have ever held +that sacrament to be sacred and enduring? And I realize that the +temptation has not come because of the wrongs done to me. He has been +all this before, many, many times, yet I have remained true and loyal, +not questioning my duty. It is the birth of a new love—God alone +knows if I should say a guilty love—which has thus changed me, which +has brought to my mind dreams of release. I pray you, try to +understand me! How could happiness ever prove my portion, or yours +through me, while such questionings continued to haunt my soul like +ghosts?" +</P> + +<P> +He released her clinging hands, turning away from her, his eyes staring +unseeing out of the window. A moment she continued looking at him, her +dry eyes anxiously pleading. Then she buried her face within her hands +and waited, her whole body trembling. Twice Winston sought to speak, +before sufficient courage came to him to allow of his turning back, and +looking down upon her bowed figure. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth," he said at last, his struggle revealed in his voice, "I should +not be worthy that love you have given me so unreservedly, did I stoop +now to its abuse. I could never forgive myself were I to urge you to +do that which your conscience so clearly condemns. To me there is a +marriage far more sacred and enduring than any witnessed by man, or +solemnized by formal service—the secret union of hearts. We are one +in this, and nothing can ever come between us. Then let all else wait; +let it wait until God shall open a way along which we may walk in +honor. Mutual sacrifice can never make us any less dear to each other. +This condition may serve to separate us for a while, yet I believe the +path will open, and that you will learn to perceive your duty from a +broader view-point—one that will permit you to find happiness in true +love, unhaunted by any memory of the false." +</P> + +<P> +She arose slowly to her feet, the tears clinging to her lashes, both +hands outstretched. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I thank you! I thank you!" she exclaimed with deep fervor. +"Those words prove you all I ever believed you to be. They give me +hope, courage, patience to remain true to myself, true to my lifelong +ideals of womanhood. I am certain you trust me, comprehend my motives, +and will think no less of me because of my unwillingness to forfeit a +conception of right. He is absolutely nothing to me—nothing. He +never could be. There are times when I feel that his death even could +not fitly atone for the evil he has wrought me. Never again will his +influence touch my life to change its purpose. It is not he that keeps +us apart; it is a solemn, sacred pledge made by a trusting girl in +God's presence—a pledge I cannot forget, cannot break without +forfeiting my self-respect, my honor." +</P> + +<P> +He drew her gently to him, his eyes no longer filled with passion, yet +containing a depth of love that left her helpless to resist his will. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth, dear," he whispered, his lips almost pressing her cheek, "I will +not think of him, but only of you. If you love me I am content. The +mere knowledge itself is happiness. Tell me once again that this is +true." +</P> + +<P> +"It is true, forever true; I love you." +</P> + +<P> +"May I have for this one time the pledge of your lips?" +</P> + +<P> +A single instant she seemed to hesitate, her cheeks flushing hotly, her +dark eyes lowered before his. But she lifted her face, and their lips +met and clung, as though parting must be forever. Amid the closely +gathering shadows he led her back to the vacated stool, and stood +beside her, gently stroking the soft dark hair of the bowed head. +</P> + +<P> +"You have plans?" he questioned quietly. "You have decided how you are +to live while we await each other?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," half timidly, as though fearful he might oppose her decision. +"I believe I had better return to my work upon the stage." She glanced +up at him anxiously. "You do not care, do you? It seems to me I am +best fitted for that; I have ambition to succeed, and—and it affords +me something worthy to think about." +</P> + +<P> +"I recall you said once it would be a poor love which should interfere +with the ideals of another." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I remember. How long ago that seems, and what a change has since +come over my conceptions of the power of love! I believe it still, yet +in so different a way. Now I would surrender gladly all ambition, all +dream of worldly success, merely to fee alone with the man I love, and +bring him happiness. That—that is all I want; it is everything." +</P> + +<P> +"And some day it shall be yours," he declared stoutly. "Some day when +you comprehend that divorce is not always the evil that some delight to +proclaim it; some day when you realize that it must be a far greater +sin to wreck irretrievably your own life for a brute than to break +those man-made bonds which bind you to him. It cannot be long until +you learn this, for all nature condemns so unholy an alliance. Until +then let it be the stage; only I ask you to strive for the very best it +offers. Have confidence in yourself, little girl, in your ability, +your power, your spark of genius touched by suffering. Every hour you +pass now in hideous, misshapen melodrama is worse than wasted. You +have that within you well worthy of better setting, nobler environment, +and you wrong yourself to remain content with less. You are mine now +wherever you go, whatever triumphs you win; mine in spite of the law, +because I possess your heart. I should doubt myself far sooner than +ever question your loyalty. I can lend you to the stage for a +while—until I come for you in that glad hour when your lips shall bid +me—but in the meantime I want you to be true to yourself, to the +spirit of art within you. I want you to accomplish the highest +purposes of your dreams; to interpret that in life which is worthy of +interpretation." +</P> + +<P> +"You believe I can?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know you can. Never from that first night, when I stood in the +wings and watched, have I ever questioned the possibilities of your +future. You have art, emotion, depth of true feeling, application, a +clear understanding of character—all that ever made any actress great. +I love you, Beth; yet mine is a love too unselfish not to tell you this +truth and stand aside rather than block your future." +</P> + +<P> +She lifted her eyes to him, now cleared of their tears, and shining +with eagerness. +</P> + +<P> +"I will do all you say," she said earnestly, "do it because I love you. +It shall not be for the people, the applause, the glitter and display, +but alone for you. Whenever a triumph comes to me, I shall meet it +whispering your name in my heart, knowing that you rejoice because I am +proving worthy of your faith. It will be as if we worked together; the +memory must help to make us both strong." +</P> + +<P> +He bent lower, drew her closer to him, and held her thus in silence. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," he spoke at last, as though in thought, "I shall try to remember +and be patient, so long as you feel it must be so." +</P> + +<P> +They were sitting there still, the barest glimmer of twilight +brightening the window above, their hands clasped, when Mercedes came +back, overflowing with light-heartedness. +</P> + +<P> +"Si, si, sure I did eet," she announced happily, dancing forward into +the centre of the darkened room, and seemingly blind to the two before +her. "Eet ees I that am to ride. <I>Bueno</I>! eet vill be mooch fun! +Seńor Brown he not like let me go; he tink I do all eet for him. Oh, +de conceit of de men, ven I care not for anyting but de fun, de good +time! But I talk him long vile, an' Beell he talk, an' maybe he say +<I>si</I> for to git us rid of. Tink you not eet vas so, seńor?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE PROOF OF LOVE +</H3> + + +<P> +The dreaded night settled down dark but clear, a myriad of stars +gloriously bright in the vast vault overhead, the clinging shadows +black and gloomy along the tree-fringed ridge. Nature, hushed into +repose, appeared alone in possession, the solemn silence of peaceful +night enveloping the vast canyon and its overhanging mountains. Amid +the gathering gloom all animate life seemed to have sought rest, to +have found covert. The last glimpse which the watchful guardians of +the "Little Yankee" gained of the surroundings of the "Independence" +revealed nothing to awaken immediate alarm. A few men idly came and +went about the shaft-house and ore-dump, but otherwise the entire claim +appeared deserted. No hostile demonstration of any kind had been +attempted since Farnham's retreat, and now no sign of contemplated +attack was to be perceived. The large number of men visible earlier in +the day had mysteriously disappeared; not even the searching +field-glasses served to reveal their whereabouts. In the gathering +darkness no lights bore witness to the slightest activity; everywhere +it remained black and silent. +</P> + +<P> +To those wearied men on guard this secrecy seemed ominous of +approaching evil. They comprehended too clearly the vengeful nature of +their enemy to be lulled thus into any false security. Such skulking +could be accepted only as a symptom of treachery, of some deep-laid +plan for surprise. But what? Would Farnham, in his desperation, his +anxiety to cover up all evidences of crime, resort to strategy, or to +force? Would he utilize the law, behind which he was now firmly +entrenched, or would he rely entirely upon the numbers he controlled to +achieve a surer, quicker victory? That he possessed men in plenty to +work his will the defenders of the "Little Yankee" knew from +observation. These were of the kind to whom fighting was a trade. +They must be there yet, hiding somewhere in the chaparral, for none had +retreated down the trail. Backed by the mandates of law, convinced +that they had nothing to fear legally, that they were merely executing +the decrees of court, they would hardly be likely to hesitate at the +committal of any atrocity under such a leader. But where would they +strike, and how? What could be the purpose of their delay? the object +of their secrecy? That there must be both purpose and object could not +be doubted; yet nothing remained but to watt for their revelation. +</P> + +<P> +An obscuring mist hung over the canyon, stretching from wall to wall. +Beneath the revealing starlight it was like looking down upon a +restless, silent expanse of gray sea. A stray breath of air came +sucking up the gorge, causing the many spectral trees outlined against +the lighter sky to wave their branches, the leaves rustling as though +swept by rain. There was a faint moaning among the distant rocks as if +hidden caverns were filled with elves at play. It was weird, lonely, +desolate,—straining eyes beholding everywhere the same scene of +deserted wilderness. +</P> + +<P> +Old Hicks lay flat under protection of the ore-dump, his ear pressed +close to the earth, his contracted eyes searching anxiously those dark +hollows in front, a Winchester, cocked and ready, within the grasp of +his hand. Above, Irish Mike, sniffing the air as though he could smell +danger like a pointer dog, hung far out across the parapet of rock, +every eager nerve tingling in the hope of coming battle. Winston +remained in the cabin door, behind him the open room black and silent, +his loaded Winchester between his feet, gamely struggling to overcome a +vague foreboding of impending trouble, yet alert and ready to bear his +part. It was then that Stutter Brown led the saddled pony forward from +out the concealment of bushes. The long awaited moment had come for +action. To his whispered word, Mercedes fluttered promptly forth +through the shadowed doorway, and pressed her face lovingly against the +pony's quickly uplifted nose. +</P> + +<P> +"See," she whispered, patting Brown's brawny arm even while she +continued toying playfully with the silken mane, "he know me, he lofe +me. He bettah as any man, for he nevah tell lie,—nevah,—only be nice +all de time. He ride me till he drop dead, swift, quick, like de bird +fly. So I make eet all right, seńor. You see ven de daylight come I +be San Juan. Den I make mooch fun for de Seńor Farnham—sure I do." +</P> + +<P> +"I-I reckon you 'll m-make it all right, l-l-little girl," answered the +man regretfully, his voice hushed to a low growl, "b-but jest the same +I a-ain't so darn g-g-glad ter l-let yer go. H-hanged ef I would, +either, if I d-did n't th-think the toughest part o' it wus g-goin' ter +be right yere." +</P> + +<P> +She glanced almost shyly up into his shadowed face, her black eyes like +stars. +</P> + +<P> +"Si—dat vas eet. I vas de coward; I just runs avay so 'fraid of de +fight. I no like de fight von leetle bit. But I know you, seńor; you +vant to stay here, an' have de fun. You Americano an' like dat ver' +mooch. I feel of de big arm, so, an' I know eet ees bettah dat you be +here. I mooch like please you, seńor." +</P> + +<P> +He clasped her hand where it rested small and white against his sleeve, +hiding it completely within his own great fist; when he spoke she could +mark the tremble in the deep voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Y-you 're a m-mighty fine girl," he managed to say, simply, "but we +g-got ter go now. I-I reckon yer b-b-better walk fer a ways, as the +p-pony will step lighter." +</P> + +<P> +"I not care, seńor," softly. "Eet be nice to valk; I nevah 'fraid vid +you." +</P> + +<P> +Brown led the way forward cautiously across the open space, one strong +hand firm on the pony's bit, the other barely touching her dress as +though it were something sacred. She endeavored to discern his face in +the faint starlight, but the low-drawn hat brim shaded it into black +lines, revealing nothing. The light, easy words she sought to speak, +hoping thus to keep him from more serious talk, would not come to her +lips. There was so much of silence and mystery on every side, so much +of doubt in this venture, that, in spite of her gay manner, every nerve +tingled with excitement. Glancing up at him she bit her lips in +embarrassment. It was Stutter who finally found voice, his mind +drifting back to what she had lately said in carelessness. +</P> + +<P> +"Y-yer said that the p-p-pony never l-lied like a man," he began +doubtfully. "Yer d-did n't mean that f-fer me, did yer?" +</P> + +<P> +There was something so deeply pathetic about the tone in which he asked +this as to hurt her, and the slender fingers still clasping his sleeve +suddenly closed more tightly. +</P> + +<P> +"Seńor, you mus' not say dat; you mus' not tink dat. No, no! I speak +that only in fun, seńor—nevah I believe dat, nevah. You good man, +more good as Mercedes; she not vort' von leetle bit de lofe you say to +her, but she feel mooch shame to have you tink dat she mean you ven she +speak such ting in fun." +</P> + +<P> +He halted suddenly, all remembrance of their surroundings, their +possible peril, as instantly erased from his mind. He merely saw that +girl face upturned to his in the starlight, so fair and pleading, he +merely heard that soft voice urging her unworthiness, her sorrow. A +great, broad-shouldered giant he towered above her, yet his voice +trembled like that of a frightened child. +</P> + +<P> +"An' d-don't yer say that n-no more," he stuttered in awkwardness. +"Somehow it hurts. L-Lord! yer don't h-have ter be s-s-so blame good +ter be u-up ter my level. Th-they don't b-breed no a-angels back in +ol' M-Missouri, whar I come from. It's m-mostly mules thar, an' I +r-reckon we all g-git a bit mulish an' ornery. B-but I 'spect I 'm +d-decent 'nough ter know the r-right sort o' girl when I s-stack up +agin her. So I don't w-want ter hear no m-more 'bout yer not b-bein' +good. Ye 're sure g-good 'nough fer me, an' th-that 's all thar is to +it. Now, yer w-won't say that no more, w-will yer?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, seńor," she answered simply, "I no say dat no more." +</P> + +<P> +He remained standing before her, shifting uneasily from one foot to the +other, a great hulk in the gloom. +</P> + +<P> +"Mercedes," he managed to say finally, "Ye're a-g-goin' ter ride away, +an' m-maybe thar'll be o-one hell o' a fracas up yere afore the rest o' +us g-g-git out o' this scrape. I d-don't reckon as it'll b-be me as +will git h-hurt, but somehow I 'd f-feel a heap better if you 'd j-jest +say them words what I a-asked yer to afore yer g-go, little g-girl; I +would that." +</P> + +<P> +She put her hands to her face, and then hid it against the pony's neck, +her slight form trembling violently beneath the touch of his fingers. +The strange actions of the girl, her continued silence, half frightened +him. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe yer a-ain't ready yit?" he questioned, his manner full of +apology. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, seńor, I cannot say dat—sure I cannot," she sobbed, her face yet +hidden. "Maybe I say so some time ven I know eet bettah how eet ought +to be; si, maybe so. But not now; I not tink it be jus' right to say +now. I not angry—no, no! I ver' glad you tink so of Mercedes—it +make me mooch joy. I not cry for dat, seńor; I cry for odder tings. +Maybe you know some time, an' be ver' sorry vid me. But I not cry any +more. See, I stan' up straight, an' look you in de face dis vay." She +drew her hand swiftly across her eyes. "Dar, de tear all gone; now I +be brav', now I not be 'fraid. You not ask me dat now—not now; +to-morrow, nex' veek, maybe I know better how to say de trut' vat vas +in my heart—maybe I know den; now eet all jumble up. I tink I know, +but de vord not come like I vant eet." +</P> + +<P> +He turned silently away from her, leading the pony forward, his head +bent low, his shoulders stooped. There was a dejection apparent about +the action which her eyes could not mistake. She touched him +pleadingly. +</P> + +<P> +"You no ver' angry Mercedes, seńor?" +</P> + +<P> +Brown half turned about, and rested one great hand upon her soft hair +in mute caress. +</P> + +<P> +"N-no, little girl, it a-ain't that," he admitted slowly. "Only I 'm +b-blamed if I jest e-exactly grasp yer s-style. I reckon I 'll kn-know +what yer mean s-sometime." +</P> + +<P> +Could he have seen clearly he might have marked the swift, hot tears +dimming her eyes, but he never dreamed of their presence, for her lips +were laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe so, seńor, maybe. I glad you not angry, for I no like dat. Eet +vas nice I fool you so; dat vas vat make de men lofe, ven dey not know +everyting. Ven day know dem maybe eet all be over vid. So maybe I +show you sometime, maybe not—<I>quien sabe</I>?" +</P> + +<P> +If her lightly spoken words hurt, he realized the utter futility of +striving then to penetrate their deeper meaning. They advanced slowly, +moving in more closely against the great ridge of rocks where the +denser shadows clung, the man's natural caution becoming apparent as +his mind returned to a consideration of the dangerous mission upon +which they were embarked. To-morrow would leave him free from all +this, but now he must conduct her in safety to that mist-shrouded plain +below. +</P> + +<P> +They had moved forward for perhaps a dozen yards, the obedient pony +stepping as silently as themselves, Mercedes a foot or two to the rear, +when Brown suddenly halted, staring fixedly at something slightly at +one side of their path. There, like a huge baleful eye glaring angrily +at him, appeared a dull red glow. An instant he doubted, wondered, his +mind confused. Tiny sparks sputtered out into the darkness, and the +miner understood. He had blindly stumbled upon a lighted fuse, a train +of destruction leading to some deed of hell. With an oath he leaped +recklessly forward, stamping the creeping flame out beneath his feet, +crushing it lifeless between his heavy boots and the rock. +</P> + +<P> +There was an angry shout, the swift rush of feet, the red flare of a +rifle cleaving the night with burst of flame. In the sudden, unearthly +glare Brown caught dim sight of faces, of numerous dark figures leaping +toward him, but he merely crouched low. The girl! he must protect the +girl! That was all he knew, all he considered, excepting a passionate +hatred engendered by one of those faces he had just seen. They were +upon him in mass, striking, tearing like so many wild beasts in the +first fierceness of attack. His revolver jammed in its holster, but he +struck out with clenched fists, battering at the black figures, his +teeth ground together, his every instinct bidding him fight hard till +he died. Once they pounded him to his knees, but he struggled up, +shaking loose their gripping hands, and hurling them back like so many +children. He was crazed by then with raging battle-fury, his hot blood +lusting, every great muscle strained to the uttermost. He realized +nothing, saw nothing, but those dim figures facing him; insensible to +the blood trickling down the front of his shirt, unconscious of wound, +he flung himself forward a perfect madman, jerking a rifle from the +helpless fingers of an opponent, and smiting to right and left, the +deadly-iron bar whirling through the air. He struck once, twice; he +saw bodies whirl sidewise and fall to the ground. Then suddenly he +seemed alone, panting fiercely, the smashed rifle-stock uplifted for a +blow. +</P> + +<P> +"It's the big fellow," roared a voice at his left. "Why don't you +fools shoot?" +</P> + +<P> +He sprang backward, crouching lower, his one endeavor to draw their +fire, so as to protect her lying hidden among the rock shadows. He +felt nothing except contempt for those fellows, but he could not let +them hurt her. He stood up full in the starlight, shading his eyes in +an attempt to see. Somebody cried, "There he is, damn him!" A slender +figure swept flying across the open space like some dim night vision. +A red flame leaped forth from the blackness. The two stood silhouetted +against the glare, reeled backward as it faded, and went down together +in the dark. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap26"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BENEATH THE DARKNESS +</H3> + + +<P> +Running blindly through the darkness toward the sound of struggle came +Hicks and Winston. They caught no more than faint glimpses of +scattering, fleeing figures, but promptly opened fire, scarcely +comprehending as yet what it all meant. Hicks, dashing recklessly +forward, tripped over a recumbent figure in the darkness, and the two +paused irresolutely, perceiving no more of the enemy. Then it was that +Stutter Brown struggled slowly up upon his knees, still closely +clasping the slender figure of the stricken girl within his arms. She +neither moved nor moaned, but beneath the revealing starlight her eyes +were widely opened, gazing up into his face, appearing marvellously +brilliant against the unusual pallor of her cheeks. Her breath came +short and sharp as if in pain, yet the lips smiled up at him. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, God!" he sobbed, "it was you!" +</P> + +<P> +"Si, seńor," the words faltering forth, almost as if in mockery of his +own hesitating speech. "Once I said maybe I show you. I not know how +den—now I know." +</P> + +<P> +"Sh-show me, little girl—in God's n-name, show me wh-what?" +</P> + +<P> +"Eef eet vas true dat I lofe you, seńor. Now you tink eet vas so; now +you all'ays know vat vas in de heart of Mercedes. Dis bettah vay as +talk, seńor—nevah you doubt no more." +</P> + +<P> +He could only continue to look at her, the intense agony within his +eyes beyond all expression of speech, his words caught helpless in the +swelling throat. She lifted one hand in weak caress, gently touching +his cheek with her white fingers. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, please don't, seńor. Eet hurt me mooch to see you feel dat bad. +Sure eet does. Eet vas not de balls vat hurt—no, no! I know dey not +reach to you eef dey hit me de first. Eet joys me to do dat—sure eet +does." +</P> + +<P> +"Little g-girl, little g-girl," he faltered, helplessly, his great +hands trembling as he touched her. "It w-was you I t-tried ter save. +I-I ran th-th-this way so th-they wouldn't sh-shoot toward yer." +</P> + +<P> +She smiled happily up at him, softly stroking his hair, even while the +lines of her face twitched from pain. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure I know, seńor. You von brav', good man—maybe now you all'ays +tink I brav', good also. Dat be 'nough for Mercedes. Oh, dis be de +bettar vay—de great God knows; sure He knows. Now, seńor, I be yours +all'ays, forever. I so happy to be lofed by good man. I just look in +your face, seńor, and tink, He lofe me, he ask me marry him. Maybe I +not nevah do dat, for fear he tire, for fear he hear tings not nice +about Mercedes. Dat make me sorrow, make me shame before him. Si, I +know how it vould be. I know de Americanos; dey ver' proud of dare +vives, dey fight for de honor. So eet make me mooch 'fraid, I no vort' +eet—no, no! I know not den de bettar vay. But de good Mother of God +she show me, she tell me vat do—I run quick; I die for de man I lofe, +an' den he all'ays know dat I lofe him; he know den bettar as eef I +marry him. Si, si, eet vas all joy for Mercedes, now, my seńor. Eet +not hurt, eet make me glad to know." +</P> + +<P> +Brown bent ever lower as he listened, his great body shaking in the +effort to repress his sobs, his lips pressing against her white cheek. +</P> + +<P> +"I kiss you now, seńor," she whispered, faintly. "Just de once, like I +vas your vife." +</P> + +<P> +Their lips met, the very soul of each seemingly in the soft, clinging +contact. Suddenly the poor girl sank backward, her head falling +heavily upon his supporting arm, a peculiar shudder twitching her +slender form. +</P> + +<P> +"Mercedes!" he cried in alarm. +</P> + +<P> +"Si, seńor," the black eyes still wide open, but her words scarcely +audible. "Eet is so hard to see you; maybe de stars hide behin' de +cloud, but, but I lofe—" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, y-yes, I kn-know." +</P> + +<P> +She lifted her arms, then dropped them heavily upon his bowed shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"Dar is such a brightness come, seńor. Eet light everyting like eet +vas de day. Maybe I be good too, now dat a good man lofe me; maybe de +God forgif all de bad because I lofe. You tink so? Oh, eet—eet joys +me so—seńor! seńor!" +</P> + +<P> +Motionless, almost breathless, but for the sobs shaking his great +figure, he held her tightly, bending low, her white cheek against his +own, her head pillowed upon his arm. About them was the silence, the +solemn night shadows, amid which waited Hicks and Winston earnestly +watching. Finally, the latter spoke gently, striving to arouse the +man; but Stutter Brown never lifted his head, never removed his eyes +from the death-white face upheld by his arm. As though stricken to +stone he remained motionless, seemingly lifeless, his face as pallid as +the dead he guarded. Hicks bent over and placed one hand upon his +shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"Stutter, ol' pard," he said, pleadingly. "I know it's mighty hard, +but don't take on so; don't act that way. It can't do her no manner o' +good now. It's all—all over with, an' you ain't helpin' her none +a-settin' thar that way." +</P> + +<P> +The smitten man drew a deep breath, glancing up into the kindly, seamed +face bending over him, and about at the surrounding darkness. He +acted like one suddenly aroused from sleep, unable to comprehend his +situation. Slowly, with all the tenderness of love, he crumpled his +old hat into the semblance of a pillow, placed it upon the rock, and +lowered the girl's head until it rested softly upon it. Gently he +passed his great hand in caress across the ruffled black hair, pressing +it back from her forehead. He arose to his knees, to his feet, swaying +slightly, one hand pressed against his head as he stared blankly into +the faces of the two men. +</P> + +<P> +"W-which way d-did he go?" he asked, almost stupidly. "Th-the feller +w-who told 'em ter f-f-fire?" +</P> + +<P> +Old Hicks, his eyes filled with misery, shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Back ter the 'Independence,' I reckon," he admitted. "Most o' 'em I +saw started that way." +</P> + +<P> +Brown roughly jerked his gun from out its holster, holding the shining +weapon up into the starlight. +</P> + +<P> +"No, he didn't; not that one," he growled fiercely, his glance falling +again upon the upturned features of the dead girl. "I saw him out thar +runnin' toward our shaft-hole; h-he's up t-ter more d-deviltry. Y-you +take k-keer o' her." His voice broke, then rang out strong. "By +G-God, I 'll git the murderer!" +</P> + +<P> +He pushed past between the two, shouldering them aside as though +failing to see them, and, with the leap of a tiger, disappeared in the +night. Each man had caught a glimpse of his face, drawn, white, every +line picturing savagery, and shrank back from the memory. It was as if +they had looked upon something too horrible for thought. A moment they +stared after him, clutching their rifles as though in an agony of fear. +Hicks first found words of expression. +</P> + +<P> +"He 's gone mad! God pity him, he 's gone mad!" +</P> + +<P> +Winston drew himself together sharply, one hand grasping the other's +arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Then leave it to him," he said, quickly. "Whoever did this deed +deserves his punishment. Let us do what he bade us—look to the body +of this poor girl." +</P> + +<P> +They turned back, dreading their task, moving still as though half +dazed. As they advanced, a dark body just beyond suddenly rose to its +knees, and began crawling away. With a bound Hicks succeeded in laying +hands upon the fellow, and flung him over, face upward to the stars. +With gun at his head he held the man prostrate, staring down upon the +revealed features in manifest astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"Damn me!" he cried, a new note of surprise in his voice, "Winston, +look yere!" +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" and the younger man pressed forward, his rifle ready. +</P> + +<P> +"Ain't that Burke? Ain't that the same feller they had you pinched fer +murderin'?" +</P> + +<P> +The helpless man lying upon the ground frowned savagely up at them, a +dirty bandage bound about his head giving him a ghastly, unnatural +appearance. For a long moment the startled engineer gazed down at him +in incredulity, unable to distinguish the features clearly, his own +heart beating rapidly in suspense. +</P> + +<P> +"I half believe it is. Are you Jack Burke?" +</P> + +<P> +The man attempted a grin, but there was little of merriment in the +result. +</P> + +<P> +"Oi think loikely ye 're as liable as any wan to know. Ye 're the lad +that put this head on me, but that other divil it was that broke me +arm. Let me up from here. Begorry! Oi 've had 'nough fightin' fer +wan toime." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you know I had been put under arrest on the charge of killing you?" +</P> + +<P> +Burke grinned, this time in earnest. +</P> + +<P> +"Divil a bit did Oi know anything about it. Farnham he tould me to +keep damn quiet in the bunkhouse, out o' sight, but whin they wanted +for to set this fuse off, it seems Oi was the only lad that could do +the job, an' so they brought me out here along wid 'em. It 's a busted +head an' a broken arm Oi 've got for me share o' the fun. Be the +powers, now, let me git up!" +</P> + +<P> +The two men, watching him closely, exchanged glances. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Burke," and Winston held up his rifle suggestively. "You +can get up, only stay close to us, wid no tricks. I want you, and I +want you bad. If you make any break, there 'll be a dead Irishman this +time sure. Is that you, Mike?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sure, sor." +</P> + +<P> +"Good; you've come just in time. Drop your muzzle on this native son, +and if the fellow makes a suspicious move, plug him, you understand?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ye bet Oi do, sor. Sthep out there, Burke, yer slab-sided boss o' +Swades, or Oi 'll show ye what a dacent Oirishman—an O'Brien, +bedad,—thinks o' the loikes of ye; Oi will that." +</P> + +<P> +With sympathetic gentleness, and in all the tenderness possible, their +eyes moist, and everything else forgotten excepting their sad task, +Hicks and Winston kneeled on the hard rock and lifted the slender +figure of Mercedes in their arms. Slowly, without the exchange of a +word, the little concourse turned in the darkness, and advanced in the +direction of the cabin, bearing the silent burden. They walked with +bowed heads and careful steps, their hearts heavy. With a faint whinny +the girl's deserted pony trotted forward from out the shadow where he +had been left, sniffed at her trailing skirt with outstretched nose, +and fell in behind, walking with head bent almost to the ground as +though he also understood and mourned. Winston glanced, marvelling, +back at the animal, hastily brushing a tear from out his own eye; yet +his lips remained set and rigid. He felt no doubt about who it was +Brown was seeking through the black night. When they met, it would be +a battle to the death. +</P> + +<P> +Before the still open door of the cabin they silently lowered their +burden in the shadow of the building. An instant they stood there +listening intently for any sound to reach them from out the surrounding +night. Then Winston, assuming the duty, stepped reluctantly forward +endeavoring to peer within. His heart throbbed from the pain of that +sudden message of death he brought. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth," he called, perceiving no movement within, and compelling his +voice to calmness. "Miss Norvell." +</P> + +<P> +There was a slight movement near the farther wall, but it was the voice +of the wounded sheriff which answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Who are yer? What was all that firin' about just now? Damn if I ain +'t too weak ter git up, but I got a gun yere, an' reckon I kin pull the +trigger." +</P> + +<P> +"It's Winston and Hicks. We 've had a skirmish out beyond the dump. +Those fellows tried to blow up our shaft, and we caught them at it. Is +Miss Norvell here?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I reckon not; she was sittin' yere talkin' to me when that +shootin' begun, an' then she ran out the door thar. Anybody git hurt?" +</P> + +<P> +"The little Mexican girl was killed. We have brought her body here." +</P> + +<P> +"Good God!" +</P> + +<P> +"And we 've also got a prisoner, sheriff. It 's that same Jack Burke +you arrested me for killing. He seems very much alive." +</P> + +<P> +There was a rustling back in the darkness, as if the man within was +endeavoring to draw his body into a sitting posture. Then he swore +savagely, pounding his fist into the side of the bunk, as though +seeking thus to relieve his feelings. +</P> + +<P> +"Burke!" he fairly exploded at last, his anger appearing to stifle +utterance. "Jack Burke! Hell! Is that true? Oh, Lord! but I wish I +could git out o' yere. That damn Farnham swore out that warrant down +in San Juan, ther blame, ornery cur. It was a low-down, measly trick, +an' he actually had the nerve ter use me ter play out his game fer him. +Lord! if ever I git my hand on him I 'll shut down hard." +</P> + +<P> +No one answered him, the thought of all recurring reverently to the +motionless, silent dead without. Bareheaded, the two men, groping +through the darkness, bore Mercedes within in all tenderness, and +placed the slender form upon the bed, covering it with the single +sheet. Hicks remained motionless, bending over her, the kindly +darkness veiling the mist of tears dimming his old eyes and the +trembling of his lips as he sought, for the first time in years, to +pray. But Winston turned instantly and walked over toward Hayes, his +heart already filled with fresh anxiety. +</P> + +<P> +"Where did she go, do you know?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who? the young actress woman? I could n't see exactly, only she went +outside. I thought I heard voices talkin' out thar later on, over +beyond toward the window, but maybe I imagined it. Darn this ol' head +o' mine! It keeps whirlin' round every time I move, like it was all +wheels." +</P> + +<P> +The engineer, his face white with determination, strode to the door. +Beyond doubt it was Biff Farnham whose voice Brown had recognized, +commanding his men to fire; it was Farnham who had disappeared in the +direction of the "Little Yankee" shaft-house. What fresh deviltry was +the desperate gambler engaged upon? What other tragedy was impending +out there in the black night? +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap27"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SHADOW OF CRIME +</H3> + + +<P> +Winston could never afterward recall having heard any report, yet as he +stepped across the threshold a sharp flare of red fire cleft the +blackness to his left. As though this was a signal he leaped +recklessly forward, running blindly along the narrow path toward the +ore-dump. Some trick of memory led him to remember a peculiar swerve +in the trail just beneath the upper rim of the canyon. It must have +been about there that he saw the flash, and he plunged over the edge, +both hands outstretched in protection of his eyes from injury should he +collide with any obstacle in the darkness. The deep shadows blinded +him, but there was no hesitancy, some instinct causing him to feel the +urgent need of haste. Once he stumbled and fell headlong, but was as +instantly up again, bruised yet not seriously hurt. His revolver was +jerked loose from his belt, but the man never paused to search for it. +Even as he regained his feet, his mind bewildered by the shock, his +ears distinguished clearly the cry of a woman, the sound of heavy feet +crushing through underbrush. It was to his right, and he hurled +himself directly into the thick chaparral in the direction from whence +the sound came. +</P> + +<P> +He knew not what new terror awaited him, what peril lurked in the path. +At that moment he cared nothing. Bareheaded, pushing desperately aside +the obstructing branches, his heart throbbing, his clothing torn, his +face white with determination, he struggled madly forward, stumbling, +creeping, fighting a passage, until he finally emerged, breathless but +resolute, into a little cove extending back into the rock wall. From +exertion and excitement he trembled from head to foot, the perspiration +dripping from his face. +</P> + +<P> +He stopped. The sight which met him for the moment paralyzed both +speech and motion. Halfway across the open space, only dimly revealed +in the star-light, her long hair dislodged and flying wildly about her +shoulders, the gleam of the weapon in her hand, apparently stopped in +the very act of flight, her eyes filled with terror staring back toward +him, stood Beth Norvell. In that first instant he saw nothing else, +thought only of her; of the intense peril that had so changed the girl. +With hands outstretched he took a quick step toward her, marvelling why +she crouched and shrank back before him as if in speechless fright. +Then he saw. There between them, at his very feet, the face upturned +and ghastly, the hands yet clinched as if in struggle, lay the lifeless +body of Biff Farnham. As though fascinated by the sight, Winston +stared at it, involuntarily drawing away as the full measure of this +awful horror dawned upon him: she had killed him. Driven to the deed +by desperation, goaded to it by insult and injury, tried beyond all +power of human endurance, she had taken the man's life. This fact was +all he could grasp, all he could comprehend. It shut down about him +like a great blackness. In the keen agony of that moment of +comprehension Winston recalled how she had once confessed temptation to +commit the deed; how she had even openly threatened it in a tempest of +sudden passion, if this man should ever seek her again. He had done +so, and she had redeemed her pledge. He had dared, and she had struck. +Under God, no one could justly blame her; yet the man's heart sank, +leaving him faint and weak, reeling like a drunken man, as he realized +what this must mean—to her, to him, to all the world. Right or wrong, +justified or unjustified, the verdict of law spelled murder; the +verdict of society, ostracism. It seemed to him that he must stifle; +his brain was whirling dizzily. He saw it all as in a flash of +lightning—the arrest, the pointing fingers, the bitterness of +exposure, the cruel torture of the court, the broken-hearted woman +cowering before her judges. Oh, God! it was too much! Yet what could +he do? How might he protect, shield her from the consequences of this +awful act? The law! What cared he for the law, knowing the story of +her life, knowing still that he loved her? For a moment the man +utterly forgot himself in the intensity of his agony for her. This +must inevitably separate them more widely than ever before; yet he +would not think of that—only of what he could do now to aid her. He +tore open his shirt, that he might have air, his dull gaze uplifting +piteously from the face of the dead to the place where she stood, her +hands pressed against her head, her great eyes staring at him as though +she confronted a ghost. Her very posture shocked him, it was so filled +with speechless horror, so wild with undisguised terror. Suddenly she +gave utterance to a sharp cry, that was half a sob, breaking in her +throat. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my God! my God!—you!" +</P> + +<P> +The very sound of her voice, unnatural, unhuman as it was, served to +bring him to himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Beth, yes," he exclaimed hoarsely through dry lips, stepping +across the body toward her. "You need not fear me." +</P> + +<P> +She drew hastily back from before him, holding forth her hands as +though pressing him away, upon her face that same look of unutterable +horror. +</P> + +<P> +"You! You! Oh, my God!" she kept repeating. "See! see there!—he is +dead, dead, dead! I—I found him there; I—I found him there. Oh, my +God!—that face so white in the starlight! I—I heard the words, +and—and the shot." She pressed both hands across her eyes as though +seeking to blot it out. "I swear I heard it! I—I do not know why I +came here, but I—I found him there dead, dead! I—I was all alone in +the dark. I—I had to touch him to make sure, and—and then it was +you." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes," he said, realizing she was blindly endeavoring to clear +herself, yet thinking only how he might soothe her, inexpressibly +shocked by both words and manner. "I know, I understand—you found him +there in the dark, and it has terrified you." +</P> + +<P> +He approached closer, holding forth his own hands, believing she would +come to him. But instead she shrank away as a child might, expecting +punishment, her arms uplifted, shielding her face. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no; do not touch me; do not touch me," she moaned. "I am not +afraid of you, only I could not bear it." +</P> + +<P> +"Beth!" He compelled his voice to sternness, confident now that this +hysteria could be controlled only through the exercise of his own will. +"You must listen to me, and be guided by my judgment. You must, you +shall, do as I say. This is a most terrible happening, but it is now +too late to remedy. We cannot restore life once taken. We must face +the fact and do the very best we can for the future. This man is dead. +How he died can make no difference to us now. You must go away from +here; you must go away from here at once." +</P> + +<P> +"And—and leave him alone?" +</P> + +<P> +The whispered words stung him, his distressed mind placing wrong +construction on the utterance. +</P> + +<P> +"Has he been so much to you that now you must sacrifice yourself +needlessly for him?" he questioned quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not that—not that," a shudder ran through her body, "but he—he +was my husband. You forget." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not forget. God knows it has been burden enough for me. But you +have no further duty here, none to him. You have to yourself and to +me." +</P> + +<P> +"To—to you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, to me. I will put it that way, if it will only stir you to +action. I can not, will not, leave you here alone to suffer for this. +If you stay, I stay. In Heaven's name, Beth, I plead with you to go; I +beg you to be guided in this by me." +</P> + +<P> +"You—you will go with me?" her voice trembling, yet for the first time +exhibiting a trace of interest. "If I go, you will go?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes; can you suppose I would ever permit you to go alone? Do you +give me your promise?" +</P> + +<P> +She still held her head pressed between the palms of her hands, her +dishevelled hair hanging far below the waist, her dark eyes, wild and +filled with terror, roving about as though seeking to pierce the +surrounding darkness. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my God! I don't know!" she cried in a breathless sob. "I don't +know! Why won't you go? Why won't you go, and leave me here with him, +until some one else comes? I cannot understand; my brain is on fire. +But that would be better—yes, yes! Do that. I—I am not afraid of +him." +</P> + +<P> +He caught her outflung hand firmly within his own grasp. She +shuddered, as if the contact were painful, yet made no effort to +escape, her eyes widening as she looked at him. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I will not go one step without you." He held her helpless, his +face grown stern, seeing in this his only hope of influencing her +action. "Can it be you believe me such a cur? Beth, we both +comprehend the wrong this man has done, the evil of his life the +provocation given for such an act as this. He deserved it all. This +is no time for blame. If we desired to aid him, our remaining here now +would accomplish nothing. Others will discover the body and give it +proper care. But, oh, God! do you realize what it will inevitably mean +for us to be discovered here?—the disgrace, the stigma, the +probability of arrest and conviction, the ruthless exposure of +everything? I plead with you to think of all this, and no longer +hesitate. We have no time for that. Leave here with me before it +becomes too late. I believe I know a way out, and there is opportunity +if we move quickly. But the slightest delay may close every avenue for +escape. Beth, Beth, blot out all else, and tell me you will go!" +</P> + +<P> +The intense agony apparent in his voice seemed to break her down +utterly. The tears sprang blinding to her dry eyes, her head bent +forward. +</P> + +<P> +"And," she asked, as if the thought had not yet reached her +understanding, "you will not go without—without me?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; whatever the result, no." +</P> + +<P> +She lifted her face, white, haggard, and looked at him through the mist +obscuring her eyes, no longer wide opened in wildness. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I must go; I must go," she exclaimed, a shudder shaking her from +head to foot; "God help me, I must go!" +</P> + +<P> +A moment she gazed blankly back toward the motionless body on the +ground, the ghastly countenance upturned to the stars, her own face as +white as the dead, one hand pressing back her dark hair. She reeled +from sudden faintness, yet, before he could touch her in support, she +had sunk upon her knees, with head bowed low, the long tresses trailing +upon the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth! Beth!" he cried in an agony of fear. +</P> + +<P> +She looked up at him, her expression that of earnest pleading. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes, I will go," she said, the words trembling; "but—but let me +pray first." +</P> + +<P> +He stood motionless above her, his heart throbbing, his own eyes +lowered upon the ground. He was conscious of the movement of her lips, +yet could never afterward recall even a broken sentence of that prayer. +Possibly it was too sacred even for his ears, only to be measured by +the infinite love of God. She ceased to speak at last, the low voice +sinking into an inarticulate whisper, yet she remained kneeling there +motionless, no sound audible excepting her repressed sobbing. Driven +by the requirements of haste, Winston touched her gently upon the +shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, my girl," he said, the sight of her suffering almost more than +he could bear. "You have done all you can here now." +</P> + +<P> +She arose to her feet slowly, never looking toward him, never appearing +to heed his presence. He noticed the swelling of her throat as though +the effort to breathe choked her, the quick spasmodic heaving of her +bosom, and set his teeth, struggling against the strain upon his own +nerves. +</P> + +<P> +"You will go with me now?" +</P> + +<P> +She glanced about at him, her eyes dull, unseeing. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes—now," she answered, as if the words were spoken +automatically. He led her away, ignoring the constant efforts she +made, as they climbed the bank, to gaze back across his shoulder. +Finally the intervening branches completely hid that white, dead face +below, and, as if with it had vanished all remaining strength of will, +or power of body, the girl drooped her head against him, swaying +blindly as she walked. Without a word he drew her close within his +arm, her hair blowing across his face, her hand gripping his shoulder. +It was thus they came forth amid the clearer starlight upon the ridge +summit. Again and again as they moved slowly he strove to speak, to +utter some word of comfort, of sympathy. But he could not—the very +expression of her partially revealed face, as he caught glimpses of it, +held him speechless. Deep within his heart he knew her trouble was +beyond the ministration of words. Some one was standing out in front +of the cabin. His eyes perceived the figure as they approached, and he +could not bring himself to speak of this thing of horror in her +presence. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth," he said gently, but had to touch her to attract attention, "I +want you to sit here and wait while I arrange for our journey. You are +not afraid?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," her voice utterly devoid of emotion, "I am not afraid." +</P> + +<P> +"You will remain here?" +</P> + +<P> +She looked at him, her face expressionless, as though she failed to +understand. Yet when he pointed to the stone she sat down. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she answered, speaking those common words hesitatingly as if +they were from some unfamiliar foreign tongue, "I am to do what you +say." +</P> + +<P> +She bent wearily down, her head buried within her hands. For a moment +Winston stood hesitating, scarcely daring to leave her. But she did +not move, and finally he turned away, walking directly toward that +indistinct figure standing beside the cabin door. As he drew closer he +recognized the old miner, his rifle half-raised in suspicion of his +visitor. It must be done, and the engineer went at his task directly. +</P> + +<P> +"Has Brown come back?" +</P> + +<P> +"Shore; he 's in thar now," and Hicks peered cautiously into the face +of his questioner, even while pointing back into the dark cabin. "He +come in a while ago; never said no word ter me, but just pushed past in +thar ter the bed, an' kneeled down with his face in the bed-clothes. +He ain't moved ner spoke since. I went in onct, an' tried ter talk ter +him, but he never so much as stirred, er looked at me. I tell yer, Mr. +Winston, it just don't seem nat'ral; 't ain't a bit like Stutter fer +ter act in that way. I just could n't stand it no longer, an' had ter +git out yere into the open air. Damn, but it makes me sick." +</P> + +<P> +"This has been a terrible night," the younger man said gravely, laying +his hand upon the other's shoulder. "I hope never to pass through such +another. But we are not done with it yet. Hicks, Farnham has been +killed—shot. His body lies over yonder in that little cove, just +beyond the trail. You will have to attend to it, for I am going to get +his wife away from here at once." +</P> + +<P> +"You are what?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am going to take Miss Norvell away—now, to-night. I am going to +take her across to Daggett Station, to catch the east-bound train." +</P> + +<P> +Hicks stared at him open-eyed, the full meaning of all this coming to +his mind by degrees. +</P> + +<P> +"Good God! Do yer think she did it?" he questioned incredulously. +</P> + +<P> +Winston shook him, his teeth grinding together savagely. +</P> + +<P> +"Damn you! it makes no difference what I think!" he exclaimed fiercely, +his nerves throbbing. "All you need to know is that she is going; +going to-night; going to Daggett Station, to Denver, to wherever she +will be beyond danger of ever being found. You understand that? She +'s going with me, and you are going to help us, and you are going to do +your part without asking any more fool questions." +</P> + +<P> +"What is it you want?" +</P> + +<P> +"Your horse, and the pony Mercedes was riding." +</P> + +<P> +Hicks uttered a rasping oath, that seemed to catch, growling, in his +lean throat. +</P> + +<P> +"But, see yere, Winston," he protested warmly. "Just look at the shape +your goin' now will leave us in yere at the 'Little Yankee.' We need +yer testimony, an' need it bad." +</P> + +<P> +Winston struck his hand against the log, as slight vent to his feelings. +</P> + +<P> +"Hicks, I never supposed you were a fool. You know better than that, +if you will only stop and think. This claim matter is settled already. +The whole trouble originated with Farnham, and he is dead. Tomorrow +you 'll bury him. The sheriff is here, and he's already beginning to +understand this affair. He stands to help you. Now, all you 've got +to do is to swear out warrants for Farnham's partners, and show up in +evidence that tunnel running along your lead. It's simple as A B C, +now that you know it's there. They can't beat you, and you don't +require a word of testimony from me. But that poor girl needs +me,—she's almost crazed by this thing,—and I 'm going with her, if I +have to fight my way out from here with a rifle. That's the whole of +it—either you give me those horses, or I 'll take them." +</P> + +<P> +Old Hicks looked into the grim face fronting him so threateningly, the +complete situation slowly revealing itself to his mind. +</P> + +<P> +"Great Guns!" he said at last, almost apologetically. "Yer need n't do +nothin' like that. Lord, no! I like yer first rate, an' I like the +girl. Yer bet I do, an' I 'm damn glad that Farnham 's knocked out. +Shore, I 'll help the both o' yer. I reckon Stutter 'd be no good as a +guide ter-night, but I kin show yer the way down the ravine. The rest +is just ridin'. Yer kin leave them hosses with the section-boss at +Daggett till I come fer 'em." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap28"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ACROSS THE DESERT TO THE END +</H3> + + +<P> +Never in the after years could Winston clearly recall the incidents of +that night's ride across the sand waste. The haze which shrouded his +brain would never wholly lift. Except for a few detached details the +surroundings of that journey remained vague, clouded, indistinct. He +remembered the great, burning desert; the stars gleaming down above +them like many eyes; the ponderous, ragged edge of cloud in the west; +the irregular, castellated range of hills at their back; the dull +expanse of plain ever stretching away in front, with no boundary other +than that southern sky. The weird, ghostly shadows of cactus and +Spanish bayonet were everywhere; strange, eerie noises were borne to +them out of the void—the distant cries of prowling wolves, the +mournful sough of the night wind, the lonely hoot of some far-off owl. +Nothing greeted the roving eyes but desolation,—a desolation utter and +complete, a mere waste of tumbled sand, by daylight whitened here and +there by irregular patches of alkali, but under the brooding night +shadows lying brown, dull, forlorn beyond all expression, a trackless, +deserted ocean of mystery, oppressive in its drear sombreness. +</P> + +<P> +He rode straight south, seeking no trail, but guiding their course by +the stars, his right hand firmly grasping the pony's bit, and +continually urging his own mount to faster pace. The one thought +dominating his mind was the urgent necessity for haste—a savage +determination to intercept that early train eastward. Beyond this +single idea his brain seemed in hopeless turmoil, seemed failing him. +Any delay meant danger, discovery, the placing of her very life in +peril. He could grasp that; he could plan, guide, act in every way the +part of a man under its inspiration, but all else appeared chaos. The +future?—there was no future; there never again could be. The chasm of +a thousand years had suddenly yawned between him and this woman. It +made his head reel merely to gaze down into those awful depths. It +could not be bridged; no sacrifice, no compensation might ever undo +that fatal death-shot. He did not blame her, he did not question her +justification, but he understood—together they faced the inevitable. +There was no escape, no clearing of the record. There was nothing left +him to do except this, this riding through the night—absolutely +nothing. Once he had guided her into safety all was done,—done +forever; there remained to him no other hope, ambition, purpose, in all +this world. The desert about them typified that forthcoming +existence—barren, devoid of life, dull, and dead. He set his teeth +savagely to keep back the moan of despair that rose to his lips, half +lifting himself in the stirrups to glance back toward her. +</P> + +<P> +If she perceived anything there was not the slightest reflection of it +within her eyes. Lustreless, undeviating, they were staring directly +ahead into the gloom, her face white and almost devoid of expression. +The sight of it turned him cold and sick, his unoccupied hand gripping +the saddle-pommel as though he would crush the leather. Yet he did not +speak, for there was nothing to say. Between these two was a fact, +grim, awful, unchangeable. Fronting it, words were meaningless, +pitiable. +</P> + +<P> +He had never before known that she could ride, but he knew it now. His +eye noted the security of her seat in the saddle, the easy swaying of +her slender form to the motion of the pony, in apparent unconsciousness +of the hard travelling or the rapidity of their progress. She had +drawn back the long tresses of her hair and fastened them in place by +some process of mystery, so that now her face was revealed unshadowed, +clearly defined in the starlight. Dazed, expressionless, as it +appeared, looking strangely deathlike in that faint radiance, he loved +it, his moistened eyes fondly tracing every exposed lineament. God! +but this fair woman was all the world to him! In spite of everything, +his heart went forth to her unchanged. It was Fate, not lack of love +or loyalty, that now set them apart, that had made of their future a +path of bitterness. In his groping mind he rebelled against it, vainly +searching for some way out, urging blindly that love could even blot +out this thing in time, could erase the crime, leaving them as though +it had never been. Yet he knew better. Once she spoke out of the +haunting silence, her voice sounding strange, her eyes still fixed in +that same vacant stare ahead into the gloom. +</P> + +<P> +"Isn't this Mercedes' pony? I—I thought she rode away on him herself?" +</P> + +<P> +With the words the recollection recurred to him that she did not yet +know about that other tragedy. It was a hard task, but he met it +bravely. Quietly as he might, he told the sad story in so far as he +understood it—the love, the sacrifice, the suffering. As she listened +her head drooped ever lower, and he saw the glitter of tears falling +unchecked. He was glad she could cry; it was better than that dull, +dead stare. As he made an end, picturing the sorrowing Stutter +kneeling in his silent watch at the bedside, she looked gravely across +to him, the moisture clinging to the long lashes. +</P> + +<P> +"It was better so—far better. I know how she felt, for she has told +me. God was merciful to her;" the soft voice broke into a sob; "for +me, there is no mercy." +</P> + +<P> +"Beth, don't say that! Little woman, don't say that! The future is +long; it may yet lead to happiness. A true love can outlast even the +memory of this night." +</P> + +<P> +She shook her head wearily, sinking back into the saddle. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she said soberly, "love may, and I believe will, outlast all. +It is immortal. But even love cannot change the deed; nothing ever +can, nothing—no power of God or man." +</P> + +<P> +He did not attempt to answer, knowing in the depths of his own heart +that her words were true. For an instant she continued gazing at him, +as though trustful he might speak, might chance to utter some word of +hope that had not come to her. Then the uplifted head drooped wearily, +the searching eyes turning away to stare once again straight ahead. +His very silence was acknowledgment of the truth, the utter +hopelessness of the future. Although living, there lay between them +the gulf of death. +</P> + +<P> +Gray, misty, and silent came the dawn, stealing across the wide +desolation like some ghostly presence—the dawn of a day which held for +these two nothing except despair. They greeted its slow coming with +dulled, wearied eyes, unwelcoming. Drearier amid that weird twilight +than in the concealing darkness stretched the desolate waste of +encircling sand, its hideous loneliness rendered more apparent, its +scars of alkali disfiguring the distance, its gaunt cacti looking +deformed and merciless. The horses moved forward beneath the constant +urging of the spur, worn from fatigue, their heads drooping, their +flanks wet, their dragging hoofs ploughing the sand. The woman never +changed her posture, never seemed to realize the approach of dawn; but +Winston roused up, lifting his head to gaze wearily forward. Beneath +the gray, out-spreading curtain of light he saw before them the dingy +red of a small section-house, with a huge, rusty water-tank outlined +against the sky. Lower down a little section of vividly green grass +seemed fenced about by a narrow stream of running water. At first +glimpse he deemed it a mirage, and rubbed his half-blinded eyes to make +sure. Then he knew they had ridden straight through the night, and +that this was Daggett Station. +</P> + +<P> +He helped her down from the saddle without a word, without the exchange +of a glance, steadying her gently as she stood trembling, and finally +half carried her in his arms across the little platform to the rest of +a rude bench. The horses he turned loose to seek their own pasturage +and water, and then came back, uncertain, filled with vague misgiving, +to where she sat, staring wide-eyed out into the desolation of sand. +He brought with him a tin cup filled with water, and placed it in her +hand. She drank it down thirstily. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," she said, her voice sounding more natural. +</P> + +<P> +"Is there nothing else, Beth? Could you eat anything?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, nothing. I am just tired—oh, so tired in both body and brain. +Let me sit here in quiet until the train comes. Will that be long?" +</P> + +<P> +He pointed far off toward the westward, along those parallel rails now +beginning to gleam in the rays of the sun. On the outer rim of the +desert a black spiral of smoke was curling into the horizon. +</P> + +<P> +"It is coming now; we had but little time to spare." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that a fast train? Are you certain it will stop here?" +</P> + +<P> +"To both questions, yes," he replied, relieved to see her exhibit some +returning interest. "They all stop here for water; it is a long run +from this place to Bolton Junction." +</P> + +<P> +She said nothing in reply, her gaze far down the track where those +spirals of smoke were constantly becoming more plainly visible. In the +increasing light of the morning he could observe how the long night had +marked her face with new lines of weariness, had brought to it new +shadows of care. It was not alone the dulled, lustreless eyes, but +also those hollows under them, and the drawn lips, all combining to +tell the story of physical fatigue, and a heart-sickness well-nigh +unendurable. Unable to bear the sight, Winston turned away, walking to +the end of the short platform, staring off objectless into the grim +desert, fighting manfully in an effort to conquer himself. This was a +struggle, a remorseless struggle, for both of them; he must do nothing, +say nothing, which should weaken her, or add an ounce to her burden. +He came back again, his lips firmly closed in repression. +</P> + +<P> +"Our train is nearly here," he said in lack of something better with +which to break the constrained silence. +</P> + +<P> +She glanced about doubtfully, first toward the yet distant train, then +up into his face. +</P> + +<P> +"When is the local east due here? Do you know?" +</P> + +<P> +"Probably an hour later than the express. At least, I judge so from +the time of its arrival at Bolton," he responded, surprised at the +question. "Why do you ask?" +</P> + +<P> +She did not smile, or stir, except to lean slightly forward, her eyes +falling from his face to the platform. +</P> + +<P> +"Would—would it be too much if I were to ask you to permit me to take +this first train alone?" she asked, her voice faltering, her hands +trembling where they were clasped in her lap. +</P> + +<P> +His first bewildered surprise precluded speech; he could only look at +her in stupefied amazement. Then something within her lowered face +touched him with pity. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth," he exclaimed, hardly aware of the words used, "do you mean +that? Is it your wish that we part here? +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, not that!" and she rose hastily, holding to the back of the +bench with one hand, and extending the other. "Do not put it in that +way. Such an act would be cruel, unwarranted. But I am so tired, so +completely broken down. It has seemed all night long as though my +brain were on fire; every step of the horse has been torture. Oh, I +want so to be alone—alone! I want to think this out; I want to face +it all by myself. Merciful God! it seems to me I shall be driven +insane unless I can be alone, unless I can find a way into some peace +of soul. Do not blame me; do not look at me like that, but be +merciful—if you still love me, let me be alone." +</P> + +<P> +He grasped the extended hand, bending low over it, unwilling in that +instant that she should look upon his face. Again and again he pressed +his dry lips upon the soft flesh. +</P> + +<P> +"I do love you, Beth," he said at last, chokingly, "love you always, in +spite of everything. I will do now as you say. Your train is already +here. You know my address in Denver. Don't make this forever, +Beth—don't do that." +</P> + +<P> +She did not answer him; her lips quivered, her eyes meeting his for a +single instant. In their depths he believed he read the answer of her +heart, and endeavored to be content. As the great overland train +paused for a moment to quench its thirst, the porter of the Pullman, +who, to his surprise, had been called to place his carpeted step on the +platform of this desert station, gazed in undisguised amazement at +those two figures before him—a man bareheaded, his clothing tattered +and disreputable, half supporting a woman who was hatless, white-faced, +and trembling like a frightened child. +</P> + +<P> +"Yas, sah; whole section vacant, sah, Numbah Five. Denvah; yas, sah, +suttinly. Oh, I'll look after de lady all right. You ain't a-goin' +'long wid us, den, dis trip? Oh, yas; thank ye, sah. Sure, I'll see +dat she gits dere, don't you worry none 'bout dat." +</P> + +<P> +Winston walked restlessly down the platform, gazing up at the +car-windows, every ounce of his mustered resolve necessary to hold him +outwardly calm. The curtains were many of them closed, but at last he +distinguished her, leaning against the glass, that same dull, listless +look in her eyes as she stared out blindly across the waste of sand. +As the train started he touched the window, and she turned and saw him. +There was a single moment when life came flashing back into her eyes, +when he believed her lips even smiled at him. Then he was alone, +gazing down the track after the fast disappearing train. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap29"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SUMMIT OF SUCCESS +</H3> + + +<P> +There followed three years of silence, three years of waiting for that +message which never came. As though she had dropped into an ocean of +oblivion, Beth Norvell disappeared. Winston had no longer the +slightest hope that a word from her would ever come, and there were +times when he wondered if it was not better so—if, after all, she had +not chosen rightly. Love untarnished lived in his heart; yet, as she +had told him out in the desert, love could never change the deed. That +remained—black, grim, unblotted, the unalterable death stain. Why, +then, should they meet? Why seek even to know of each other? Close +together, or far apart, there yawned a bottomless gulf between. +Silence was better; silence, and the mercy of partial forgetfulness. +</P> + +<P> +Winston had toiled hard during those years, partly from a natural +liking, partly to forget his heartaches. Feverishly he had taken up +the tasks confronting him, sinking self in the thought of other things. +Such work had conquered success, for he did his part in subjecting +nature to man, thus winning a reputation already ranking him high among +the mining experts of the West. His had become a name to conjure with +in the mountains and mining camps. During the long months he had hoped +fiercely. Yet he had made no endeavor to seek her out, or to uncover +her secret. Deep within his heart lay a respect for her choice, and he +would have held it almost a crime to invade the privacy that her +continued silence had created. So he resolutely locked the secret +within his own soul, becoming more quiet in manner, more reserved in +speech, with every long month of waiting, constantly striving to forget +the past amid a multitude of business and professional cares. +</P> + +<P> +It was at the close of a winter's day in Chicago. Snow clouds were +scurrying in from over the dun-colored waters of the lake, bringing +with them an early twilight. Already myriads of lights were twinkling +in the high office buildings, and showing brilliant above the smooth +asphalt of Michigan Avenue. The endless stream of vehicles homeward +bound began to thicken, the broad highway became a scene of continuous +motion and display. After hastily consulting the ponderous pages of a +city directory in an adjacent drug store, a young man, attired in dark +business suit, his broad shoulders those of an athlete, his face +strongly marked and full of character, and bronzed even at this season +by out-of-door living, hurried across the street and entered the busy +doorway of the Railway Exchange Building. On the seventh floor he +unceremoniously flung open a door bearing the number sought, and +stepped within to confront the office boy, who as instantly frowned his +disapproval. +</P> + +<P> +"Office hours over," the latter announced shortly. "Just shuttin' up." +</P> + +<P> +"I am not here on business, my lad," was the good-natured reply, "but +in the hope of catching Mr. Craig before he got away." +</P> + +<P> +The boy, still somewhat doubtful, jerked his hand back across his +shoulder toward an inner apartment. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, his nibs is in there, but he 's just a-goin'." +</P> + +<P> +The visitor swung aside the gate and entered. The man within, engaged +in closing down his roll-top desk for the day, wheeled about in his +chair, quite evidently annoyed by so late a caller. An instant he +looked at the face, partially shadowed in the dim light, then sprang to +his feet, both hands cordially extended. +</P> + +<P> +"Ned Winston, by all the gods!" he exclaimed, his voice full of +heartiness. "Say, but I 'm glad to see you, old man. Supposed it was +some bore wanting to talk business, and this happens to be my busy +night. By Jove, thought I never was going to break away from this +confounded desk—always like that when a fellow has a date. How are +you, anyhow? Looking fine as a fiddle. In shape to kick the pigskin +at this minute, I 'll bet a hundred. Denver yet, I suppose? Must be a +great climate out there, if you 're a specimen. Must like it, anyhow; +why, you 've simply buried yourself in the mountains. Some of the old +fellows were in here talking about it the other day. Have n't been +East before for a couple of years, have you, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"Considerably over three, Bob, and only on urgent business now. Have +been hard at it all day, but thought I would take a chance at finding +you in, even at this hour. Knew your natural inclination to grind, you +know. I take a train for the West at midnight." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I rather guess not," and Craig picked up his hat from the top of +the desk. "Do you imagine I 'll let go of you that easily, now that +you are here? Well, hardly. You 've got to give up that excursion for +one night at least, even if I 'm compelled to get you jugged in order +to hold you safe. I can do it, too; I have a pull with the police +department. My automobile fines are making them rich." +</P> + +<P> +"But you just mentioned having an engagement, or rather a date, which I +suppose means the same thing." +</P> + +<P> +Craig smiled indulgently, his dark eyes filled with humor. +</P> + +<P> +"That's exactly the ticket. Glad to see you keep up with the slang of +the day; proof you live in the real world, possess a normal mind, and +feel an interest in current events. Altogether most commendable. That +engagement of mine happens to be the very thing I want you for. Most +glorious event in our family history, at least within my remembrance. +My birth probably transcended even this in importance, but the details +are not clear. You will add <I>éclat</I> to the occasion. By Jove, it will +be immense; paterfamilias and mater-ditto will welcome you with open +arms. They often speak of you; 'pon my word they do, and I don't know +of another fellow anywhere they 'd rather have join in our little +family celebration. Oh, this is a great night for Old Ireland. Stay? +Why, confound it, of course you 'll stay!" +</P> + +<P> +"But see here, Bob, at least give me the straight of all this. What 's +happening? What is it you are stacking me up against?" +</P> + +<P> +"Box party at the Grand. Here, have a cigar. Just a family affair, +you know. First night; certain to be a swell crowd there; everything +sold out in advance. Supper afterwards, private dining-room at the +Annex—just ourselves; no guests, except only the Star and her manager." +</P> + +<P> +"The Star? I never heard that you people went in for theatricals?" +</P> + +<P> +"Lord! they never did; but they 've experienced a change of heart. You +see, Lizzie took to it like a duck to water—she was the baby, the kid, +you know—and, by thunder, the little girl made good. She 's got 'em +coming and going, and the pater is so proud of her he wears a smile on +him that won't come off. It 's simply great just to see him beau her +around downtown, shedding real money at every step. Nothing is too +good for Lizzie just now." +</P> + +<P> +"And she is the Star?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sure, and the lassie is going to have an ovation, unless all signs +fail. Society has got a hunch, and that means a gorgeous turnout. The +horse-show will be a back number. Lord, man, you can't afford to miss +it! Why, you 'd never see anything like it in Denver in a thousand +years." +</P> + +<P> +Winston laughed, unable to resist entirely the contagious enthusiasm of +his friend. +</P> + +<P> +"You certainly make a strong bid, Bob; but really if I did remain +overnight I 'd much prefer putting in the hours talking over old times. +With all due respect to your sister, old boy, I confess I have n't very +much heart for the stage. I 've grown away from it; have n't even +looked into a playhouse for years." +</P> + +<P> +"Thought as much; clear over the head in business. Big mistake at your +age. A night such as Lizzie can give you will be a revelation. Say, +Ned, that girl is an actress. I don't say it because she 's my sister, +but she actually is; they 're all raving over her, even the critics. +That's one reason why I want you to stay. I 'm blame proud of my +little sister." +</P> + +<P> +"But I have n't my evening dress within a thousand miles of here." +</P> + +<P> +"What of that? I have no time now to run out to the house and get into +mine. I 'm no lightning change artist. Lizzie won't care; she 's got +good sense, and the others can go hang. Come on, Ned; we 'll run over +to the Chicago Club and have a bite, then a smoke and chat about Alma +Mater; after that, the Grand." +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="60%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +The great opera house was densely crowded from pit to dome, the boxes +and parquet brilliant with color and fashion, the numberless tiers of +seats rising above, black with packed, expectant humanity. Before +eight o'clock late comers had been confronted in the lobby with the +"Standing Room Only" announcement; and now even this had been turned to +the wall, while the man at the ticket window shook his head to +disappointed inquirers. And that was an audience to be remembered, to +be held notable, to be editorially commented upon by the press the next +morning. +</P> + +<P> +There was reason for it. A child of Chicago, daughter in a family of +standing and exclusiveness, after winning notable successes in San +Francisco, in London, in New York, had, at last, consented to return +home, and appear for the first time in her native city. Endowed with +rare gifts of interpretation, earnest, sincere, forceful, loving her +work fervently, possessing an attractive presence and natural capacity +for study, she had long since won the appreciation of the critics and +the warm admiration of those who care for the highest in dramatic art. +The reward was assured. Already her home-coming had been heralded +broadcast as an event of consequence to the great city. Her name was +upon the lips of the multitude, and upon the hearts of those who really +care for such things, the devotees of art, of high endeavor, of a stage +worthy the traditions of its past. And in her case, in addition to all +these helpful elements, Society grew suddenly interested and +enthralled. The actress became a fashion, a fad, about which revolved +the courtier and the butterfly. Once, it was remembered, she had been +one of them, one of their own set, and out of the depths of their +little pool they rose clamorously to the surface, imagining, as ever, +that they were the rightful leaders of it all. Thus it came about, +that first night—the stage brilliant, the house a dense mass of mad +enthusiasts, jewelled heads nodding from boxes to parquet in +recognition of friends, opera glasses insolently staring, voices +humming in ceaseless conversation, and, over all, the frantic efforts +of the orchestra to attract attention to itself amid the glitter and +display. +</P> + +<P> +Utterly indifferent to all of it, Ned Winston leaned his elbow on the +brass rail of the first box, and gazed idly about over that sea of +unknown faces. He would have much preferred not being there. To him, +the theatre served merely as a stimulant to unpleasant memory. It was +in this atmosphere that the ghost walked, and those hidden things of +life came back to mock him. He might forget, sometimes, bending above +his desk, or struggling against the perplexing problems of his +profession in the field, but not here; not in the glare of the +footlights, amid the hum of the crowd. He crushed the unread programme +within his hand, striving to converse carelessly with the lady sitting +next to him, whom he was expected to entertain. But his thoughts were +afar off, his eyes seeing a gray, misty, silent expanse of desert, +growing constantly clearer in its hideous desolation before the +advancing dawn. +</P> + +<P> +The vast steel curtain arose with apparent reluctance to the top of the +proscenium arch, the chatter of voices ceased, somewhat permitting the +struggling orchestra to make itself felt and heard. Winston shut his +teeth, and waited uneasily, the hand upon the rail clenched. Even more +than he had ever expected, awakened memory tortured. He would have +gone out into the solitude of the street, except for the certainty of +disturbing others. The accompanying music became faster as the inner +curtain slowly rose, revealing the great stage set for the first act. +He looked at it carelessly, indifferently, his thoughts elsewhere, yet +dimly conscious of the sudden hush all about him, the leaning forward +of figures intent upon catching the opening words. The scene portrayed +was that of a picturesque Swiss mountain village. It was brilliant in +coloring, and superbly staged. For a moment the scenery; with great +snow-capped peaks for background, caught his attention. If was +realistic, beautifully faithful to nature, and he felt his heart throb +with sudden longing to be home, to be once more in the shadow of the +Rockies. But the actors did not interest him, and his thoughts again +drifted far afield. +</P> + +<P> +The act was nearly half finished before the Star made her appearance. +Suddenly the door of the chalet opened, and a young woman emerged, +attired in peasant costume, carelessly swinging a hat in her hand, her +bright face smiling, her slender figure perfectly poised. She advanced +to the very centre of the wide stage. The myriad of lights rippled +over her, revealing the deep brown of her abundant hair, the dark, +earnest eyes, the sweet winsomeness of expression. This was the moment +for which that vast audience had been waiting. Like an instantaneous +explosion of artillery came the thunder of applause. Her first +attempted speech lost in that outburst of acclaim, the actress stood +before them bowing and smiling, the red blood surging into her unrouged +cheeks, her dark eyes flashing like two diamonds. Again and again the +house rose to her, the noise of greeting was deafening, and a perfect +avalanche of flowers covered the stage. From boxes, from parquet, from +crowded balcony, from top-most gallery the enthusiastic outburst came, +spontaneous, ever growing in volume of sound, apparently never ending. +She looked out upon them almost appealingly, her hands outstretched in +greeting, her eyes filling with tears. Slowly, as if drawn toward them +by some impulse of gratitude, she came down to the footlights, and +stood there bowing to left and right, the deep swelling of her bosom +evidencing her agitation. +</P> + +<P> +As though some sudden remembrance had occurred to her in the midst of +that turmoil, of what all this must mean to others, to those of her own +blood, she turned to glance lovingly toward that box in which they sat. +Instantly she went white, her hands pressing her breast, her round +throat swelling as though the effort of breathing choked her. Possibly +out in front they thought it acting, perhaps a sudden nervous collapse, +for as she half reeled backward to the support of a bench, the clamor +died away into dull murmur. Almost with the ceasing of tumult she was +upon her feet again, her lips still white, her face drawn as if in +pain. Before the startled audience could awaken and realize the truth, +she had commenced the speaking of her lines, forcing them into silence, +into a hushed and breathless expectancy. +</P> + +<P> +Winston sat leaning forward, his hand gripping the rail, staring at +her. But for that one slender figure the entire stage before him was a +blank. Suddenly he caught Craig by the arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is that?" he questioned, sharply. "The one in the costume of a +peasant girl?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who is it? Are you crazy? Why, that 's Lizzie; read your programme, +man. She must have had a faint spell just now. By Jove, I thought for +a moment she was going to flop. You 're looking pretty white about the +lips yourself, ain't sick, are you?" +</P> + +<P> +He shook his head, sinking back into his seat. Hastily he opened the +pages of the crushed programme, his hand shaking so he was scarcely +able to decipher the printed lines. Ah! there it was in black-faced +type: "Renee la Roux—<I>Miss Beth Norvell</I>." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap30"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE MISSION OF A LETTER +</H3> + + +<P> +All through the remainder of the play he sat as one stunned, scarcely +removing his eyes from the glittering stage, yet seeing nothing there +excepting her. He could not later have recalled a single scene. +Between the acts he conversed rationally enough with those about him, +congratulating her people upon the brilliant success of the evening, +and warmly commending the work of the Star. Yet this was all +mechanical, automatic, his mind scarcely realizing its own action. +</P> + +<P> +She never glanced in that direction again; during all the four acts not +once did she permit her eyes to rest upon their box. The others may +not have noticed the omission, but he did, his interpretation of the +action becoming a pain. It served to strengthen the resolve which was +taking possession of him. He noticed, also, that she played +feverishly, vehemently, not with that quiet restraint, that promise of +reserve power, always so noticeable in the old days. It caused him to +realize that she was working upon her nerves, holding herself up to the +strain by the sheer strength of will. The papers the next day +commented upon this, hinting at nervousness, at exhilaration consequent +upon so notable a greeting. But Winston knew the cause better—he knew +the spectre which had so suddenly risen before her, turning her white +and frightened at the very moment of supreme triumph. There, in front +of them all, under the full glare of the lights, herself the very focus +of thousands of eyes, she had been compelled to fight down her heart, +and win a victory greater than that of the actress. In that instant +she had conquered herself, had trodden, smiling and confident, over the +awakened memories of the past. +</P> + +<P> +After the curtain had fallen—fallen and lifted, again and again, to +permit of her standing in the glare, smiling happily, and kissing her +hands toward the enthusiastic multitude—he passed out with the others, +still partially dazed, his mind remaining undecided, irresolute. With +the cool night air fanning his cheeks as their car rolled southward, +clearer consciousness came back, bringing with it firmer resolve. She +had not wanted him; in all those years there had not come from her a +single word. Now, on this night of her triumph, in the midst of family +rejoicing, he had no part. It had all been a mistake, a most unhappy +mistake, yet he would do now everything in his power to remedy it. His +further presence should not be allowed to detract from her happiness, +should not continue to embarrass her. The past between them was dead; +undoubtedly she wished it dead. Very well, then, he would help her to +bury it, now and forever. Not through any neglect on his part should +that past ever again rise up to haunt her in the hour of success. She +had discovered her ideal, she had attained to the height of her +ambition. She should be left to enjoy the victory undisturbed. Within +the hotel rotunda, under the multicolored lights, he halted Craig, +hurrying forward to a conference with the steward. +</P> + +<P> +"I am awfully sorry, old man," he explained apologetically, "but the +fact is, I do not feel well enough to remain down here to the spread. +Nothing serious, you know—indigestion or something like that. I 'll +run up to my room and lie down for a while; if I feel better I may +wander in later." +</P> + +<P> +Craig looked concerned. +</P> + +<P> +"Thought you were mighty white about the gills all the evening, +Ned—the lobster salad, likely. I hate letting you go, awfully; upon +my word, I do. I wanted Lizzie to meet you; she 's always heard me +singing your praises, and your not being there will prove quite a +disappointment to her. But Lord! if you 're sick, why, of course, +there's no help for it. Come down later, if you can, and I 'll run up +there as soon as I can break away from the bunch. Sure you don't need +the house physician?" +</P> + +<P> +"Perfectly sure; all I require is rest and a bit of sleep. Been +working too hard, and am dead tired." +</P> + +<P> +He sank down within the great arm-chair in the silence of his own room, +not even taking trouble to turn on the lights; mechanically lit a +cigar, and sat staring out of the window. Before him the black, +threatening cloud-shadows hung over the dark water of the lake; far +below resounded the ceaseless clatter of hoofs along the fashionable +avenue. He neither saw nor heard. Over and over again he reviewed the +past, bringing back to memory each word and glance which had ever, +passed between them. He was again with the "Heart of the World" +strollers, he was struggling with Burke in the depths of the mine, he +was passing through that day and night of misfortune on the ridge +overlooking Echo Canyon, he was riding for life—her life—across the +trackless desert. It all came before him in unnatural vividness, +seemingly as though each separate scene had been painted across that +black sky without. Then he perceived the great playhouse he had just +left, the glorious glitter of lights, the reverberation of applause, +the cheering mob of men and women, and her—her bowing and smiling at +them, her dark eyes dancing with happiness and ignoring him utterly, +her whole body trembling to the intoxication of success. Oh, it was +all over; even if there had been no gulf of death between them, it was +all over. She had deliberately chosen to forget, under the inspiration +of her art she had forgotten. It had usurped her thought, her +ambition, her every energy. She had won her way through the throng, +yet the very struggle of such winning had sufficed to crowd him out +from memory had left the past as barren as was the desert amid the +dreariness of which they had parted. He set his teeth hard, striking +his clenched fist against the cushioned arm of the chair. Then he sat +silent, his cigar extinguished. Once he glanced at his watch, but +already the hour was too late for any hope of catching the west-bound +train, and he dropped it back in his pocket, and sat motionless. +Suddenly some one rapped upon the outside door. It would be Craig, +probably, and he called out a regretful "Come in." A bell-boy stood +there, his buttoned-up figure silhouetted against the lights in the +hall. +</P> + +<P> +"Lady in Parlor D asked me to hand you this, sir," the boy said. +</P> + +<P> +He accepted the slight bit of paper, scarcely comprehending what it +could all mean, turned on an electric bulb over the dresser, and looked +at it. A single line of delicate writing confronted him, so faint that +he was compelled to bend closer to decipher: "<I>If you are waiting my +word, I send it.</I>" +</P> + +<P> +He caught at the dresser-top as though some one had struck him, staring +down at the card in his hand, and then around the silent room, his +breath grown rapid. At first the words were almost meaningless; then +the blood came surging up into his face, and he walked toward the door. +There he paused, his hand already upon the knob. What use? What use? +Why should he seek her, even although she bade him come? She might no +longer care, but he did; to her such a meeting might be only a mere +incident, an experience to be lightly talked over, but to him such an +interview could only prove continual torture. But no! The thought +wronged her; such an action would not be possible to Beth Norvell. If +she despatched this message it had been done honestly, done graciously. +He would show himself a craven if he failed to face whatever awaited +him below. With tightly compressed lips, he closed the door, and +walked to the elevator. +</P> + +<P> +She stood waiting him alone, slightly within the parlor door, her +cheeks flushed, her red lips parted in an attempt to smile. With a +single glance he saw her as of old, supremely happy, her dark eyes +clear, her slender form swaying slightly toward him as if in welcome. +For an instant their gaze met, his full of uncertainty, hers of +confidence; then she stretched out to him her two ungloved hands. +</P> + +<P> +"You gave me a terrible scare to-night," she said, endeavoring to speak +lightly, "and then, to make matters worse, you ran away. It was not +like you to do that." +</P> + +<P> +"I could not bring myself to mar the further happiness of your night," +he explained, feeling the words choke in his throat as he uttered them. +"My being present at the Opera House was all a mistake; I did not dream +it was you until too late. But the supper was another thing." +</P> + +<P> +She looked intently at him, her expression clearly denoting surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"I really cannot believe you to be as indifferent as you strive to +appear," she said at last, her breath quickening. "One does not forget +entirely in three short years, and I—I caught that one glimpse of you +in the box. It was that—that look upon your face which gave me +courage to send my card to your room." She paused, dropping her eyes +to the carpet, her fingers nervously playing with the trimming of her +waist. "It may, perhaps, sound strange, yet in spite of my exhibit of +feeling at first discovering your presence, I had faith all day that +you would come." +</P> + +<P> +"Is it possible you mean that you wished me there?" +</P> + +<P> +"Quite possible; only it would have been ever so much better had I +known before. It actually seemed when I saw your face to-night as if +God had brought you—it was like a miracle. Do you know why? Because, +for the first time in three years, I can welcome you with all my heart." +</P> + +<P> +"Beth, Beth," utterly forgetting everything but the mystery of her +words, his gray eyes darkening from eagerness, "what is it you mean? +For God's sake tell me! These years have been centuries; through them +all I have been waiting your word." +</P> + +<P> +She drew in her breath sharply, reaching out one hand to grasp the back +of a chair. +</P> + +<P> +"It—it could not be spoken," she said, her voice faltering. "Not +until to-day was it possible for me to break the silence." +</P> + +<P> +"And now—to-day?" +</P> + +<P> +She smiled suddenly up at him, her eyes filled with promise. +</P> + +<P> +"God has been good," she whispered, drawing from within the lace of her +waist a crumpled envelope,—"oh, so good, even when I doubted Him. +See, I have kept this hidden there every moment since it first came, +even on the stage in my changes of costume. I dared not part with it +for a single instant—it was far too precious." She sank back upon the +chair, holding out toward him the paper. "Read that yourself, if my +tears have not made the lines illegible." +</P> + +<P> +He took it from her, his hands trembling, and drew forth the enclosure, +a single sheet of rough yellow paper. Once he paused, glancing toward +where she sat, her face buried in her arms across the chair-back. Then +he smoothed out the wrinkles, and read slowly, studying over each +pencil-written, ill-spelled word, every crease and stain leaving an +impression upon his brain: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"SAN JUAN, COL., DEC. 12, 1904. +<BR><BR> +"Deer Miss: I see your name agin in a Denver paper what Bill brought +out frum town ternight, an read thar that you wus goin ter play a piece +in Chicago. I aint seen yer name in ther papers afore fer a long time. +So I thot I 'd write yer a line, cause Bill thinks yer never got it +straight bout ther way Biff Farnham died. He ses thet you an Mister +Winston hes got ther whol affair all mixed up, an that maybe it's a +keepin ther two of yer sorter sore on each other. Now, I dont wanter +butt in none in yer affairs, an then agin it aint overly plisent fer me +to make a clean breast ov it this way on paper. Not that I 'm afeard, +er nothin, only it dont just look nice. No more do I want enything +whut I did ter be makin you fokes a heep o trouble. That aint my +style. I reckon I must a bin plum crazy whin I did it, fer I wus +mighty nigh that fer six months after—et least Bill ses so. But it +wus me all right whut killed Farnham. It wan't no murder es I see it, +tho I was huntin him all right, fer he saw me furst, an hed his gun +out, when I let drive. Enyhow, he got whut wus comin ter him, an I +aint got no regrets. We're a doin all right out yere now, me an +Bill—ther claim is payin big, but I never aint got over thinkin bout +Mercedes. I shore loved her, an I do yit. You was awful good to her, +an I reckon she 'd sorter want me to tell you jist how it wus. Hopin +this will clar up som ov them troubles between you an Mister Winston, I +am Yours with respects, +<BR><BR> +"WILLIAM BROWN." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Winston stood there in silence, yet holding the paper in his hand. +Almost timidly she glanced up at him across the back of the chair. +</P> + +<P> +"And you have never suspected who I was until to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, never; I had always thought of Bob's sister as a mere child." +</P> + +<P> +She arose to her feet, taking a single step toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"I can only ask you to forgive me," she pleaded anxiously, her eyes +uplifted. "That is all I can ask. I ought to be ashamed, I am +ashamed, that I could ever have believed it possible for you to commit +such a deed. It seems incredible now that I have so believed. Yet how +could I escape such conviction? I heard the voices, the shot, and then +a man rushed past me through the darkness. Some rash impulse, a desire +to aid, sent me hastily forward. Scarcely had I bent over the dead +body, when some one came toward me from the very direction in which +that man had fled. I supposed he was coming back to make sure of his +work, and—and—it was you. Oh, I did not want to believe, but I had +to believe. You acted so strangely toward me, I accepted that as a +sign of guilt; it was a horror unspeakable." +</P> + +<P> +"You thought—you actually thought I did that?" he asked, hardly +trusting his own ears. +</P> + +<P> +"What else could I think? What else could I think?" +</P> + +<P> +This new conception stunned him, left him staring at her, utterly +unable to control his speech. Should he tell her? Should he confess +his own equally mad mistake? the reason why all these years had passed +without his seeking her? It would be useless; it would only add to her +pain, her sense of wounded pride. Silence now would be mercy. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth," he said, controlling his voice with an effort, "let us think of +all this as passed away forever. Let us not talk about it, let us not +think about it any more. You have reached the height which you set out +to gain; or, possibly you have not yet fully attained to your ideal, +yet you have travelled far toward it. Has it satisfied? Has it filled +the void in your life?" +</P> + +<P> +She returned his questioning look frankly. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you remember what I once said in a cabin out in Colorado?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think so; yet, to avoid mistake, repeat it now." +</P> + +<P> +"I told you I would give up gladly all ambition, all dreams of worldly +success, just to be alone with the man I loved, and bring him +happiness. To-night, as then, that is all I wish—everything." +</P> + +<P> +A moment neither moved nor spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"Beth," he whispered, as though half afraid even yet to put the +question, "am I all you wish—everything?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, everything—only you must wait, Ned. I belong still to the +public, and must play out my engagement. After that it shall be home, +and you." +</P> + +<P> +They stood there facing each other, the soft light from the shaded +globes overhead sparkling in her dark hair, her cheeks flushed, her +eyes smiling at him through a mist of tears. Unresisted, he drew her +to him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETH NORVELL***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 17598-h.txt or 17598-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/5/9/17598">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/5/9/17598</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/17598-h/images/img-front.jpg b/17598-h/images/img-front.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0764672 --- /dev/null +++ b/17598-h/images/img-front.jpg diff --git a/17598.txt b/17598.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dee398d --- /dev/null +++ b/17598.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9921 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Beth Norvell, by Randall Parrish, Illustrated +by N. C. Wyeth + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Beth Norvell + A Romance of the West + + +Author: Randall Parrish + + + +Release Date: January 24, 2006 [eBook #17598] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETH NORVELL*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 17598-h.htm or 17598-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/5/9/17598/17598-h/17598-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/5/9/17598/17598-h.zip) + + + + + +BETH NORVELL + +A Romance of the West + +by + +RANDALL PARRISH + +Author of "When Wilderness Was King," "My Lady of the North," "Bob +Hampton of Placer," Etc. + +With Frontispiece in Color by N. C. Wyeth + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: The woman never changed her posture, never seemed to +realize the approach of dawn; but Winston roused up, lifting his head +to gaze wearily forward.] + + + + +A. L. Burt Company +Publishers -------- New York +Copyright +A. C. McClurg & Co. +1907 +Entered at Stationers' Hall, London +All Rights Reserved + Published September 21, 1907 + Second Edition October 5, 1907 + Third Edition, October 10, 1907 + Fourth Edition, December 2, 1907 + Fifth Edition, December 12, 1907 + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + I A CHANCE MEETING + II OUT WITH A ROAD COMPANY + III A BREAKING OF ICE + IV A NEW DEAL OF THE CARDS + V IN OPEN REBELLION + VI THE "LITTLE YANKEE" MINE + VII A DISMISSAL + VIII "HE MEANS FIGHT" + IX THE FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCES + X A NEW ALLIANCE + XI HALF-CONFIDENCES + XII THE COVER OF DARKNESS + XIII TWO WOMEN + XIV UNDERGROUND + XV THE PROOF OF CRIME + XVI A RETURN TO THE DAY + XVII A COUNCIL OF WAR + XVIII THE CONFESSION + XIX THE POINT OF VIEW + XX THE GAME OF FOILS + XXI UNDER ARREST + XXII THE INTERVENTION OF SWANSON + XXIII A NEW VOLUNTEER + XXIV AN AVOWAL OF LOVE + XXV THE PROOF OF LOVE + XXVI BENEATH THE DARKNESS + XXVII THE SHADOW OF CRIME + XXVIII ACROSS THE DESERT TO THE END + XXIX THE SUMMIT OF SUCCESS + XXX THE MISSION OF A LETTER + + + + +BETH NORVELL + +A TALE OF THE WEST + + +CHAPTER I + +A CHANCE MEETING + +There were nine altogether in the party registering. This number +included the manager, who, both on and off the stage, quite +successfully impersonated the villain--a rather heavy-jawed, +middle-aged fellow, of foreign appearance, with coarse, gruff voice; +three representatives of the gentler sex; a child of eight, exact +species unknown, wrapped up like a mummy; and four males. Beyond doubt +the most notable member of the troupe was the comedian "star," Mr. T. +Macready Lane, whose well-known cognomen must even now awaken happy +histrionic memories throughout the western circuit. The long night's +ride from their previous stand, involving as it did two changes of +trains, had proven exceedingly wearisome; and the young woman in the +rather natty blue toque, the collar of her long gray coat turned up in +partial concealment of her face, was so utterly fatigued that she +refused to wait for a belated breakfast, and insisted upon being at +once directed to her room. There was a substantial bolt decorating the +inside of the door, but, rendered careless by sheer exhaustion of both +mind and body, she forgot everything except her desire for immediate +rest, dropped her wraps upon the only chair visible, and flung herself, +fully dressed, upon the bed. Her cheek had barely pressed the hard +pillow before she was sleeping like a tired child. + +It must have been an hour later when Winston drove in from Flat Rock, +shook the powdery snow from off his long fur overcoat, his cheeks still +tingling from the sharp wind, and, with fingers yet stiffened by cold, +wrote his name carelessly across the lower line of the dilapidated +hotel register. + +"Can you let me have the same room, Tom?" he questioned familiarly of +the man ornamenting the high stool behind the desk. + +The latter, busy with some figures, nodded carelessly, and the last +arrival promptly picked up his valise from the floor and began climbing +the stairs, whistling softly. He was a long-limbed, broad-chested +young fellow, with clean-shaven face, and a pair of dark-gray eyes that +looked straight ahead of him; and he ran up the somewhat steep steps as +though finding such exercise a pleasure. Rounding the upper railing, +he stopped abruptly before Number Twenty-seven, flung open the door, +took a single step within, and came to a sudden pause, his careless +whistling suspended in breathless surprise. With that single glance +the complete picture became indelibly photographed upon his +memory,--the narrow, sparsely furnished room with roughly plastered +walls; the small, cheap mirror; the faded-green window curtain, torn +half in two; the sheet-iron wash-stand; the wooden chair, across which +rested the gray coat with the blue toque on top; and the single cot bed +bearing its unconscious occupant. + +Somehow as he gazed, his earliest conscious emotion was that of +sympathy--it all appeared so unspeakably pathetic, so homesick, so +dismally forlorn and barren. Then that half-upturned face riveted his +attention and seemed to awaken a vague, dreamy memory he found himself +unable to localize; it reminded him of some other face he had known, +tantalizing from its dim indistinctness. Then this earlier impression +slightly faded away, and he merely beheld her alone, a perfect stranger +appropriating little by little her few claims to womanly beauty. There +was no certain guessing at her age as she lay thus, one hand pressed +beneath her cheek, her eyes closed, the long, dark lashes clearly +outlined against the white flesh, her bosom rising and falling with the +steady breathing of absolute exhaustion. She appeared so extremely +tired, discouraged, unhappy, that the young man involuntarily closed +his teeth tightly, as though some wrong had been personally done to +himself. He marked the dense blackness of her heavy mass of hair; the +perfect clearness of her skin; the shapeliness of the slender, +outstretched figure; the narrow boot, with its high-arched instep, +peeping shyly beneath the blue skirt; the something rarely interesting, +yet which scarcely made for beauty, revealed unconsciously in the +upturned face with its rounded chin and parted lips. + +There was no distinct regularity of features, but there was +unquestionably character, such character as we recognize vaguely in a +sculptured face, lacking that life-like expression which the opened +eyes alone are capable of rendering. All this swept across his mind in +that instant during which he remained irresolute from surprise. Yet +Winston was by nature a gentleman; almost before he had grasped the +full significance of it all he stepped silently backward, and gently +closed the door. For an uncertain moment he remained there staring +blankly at the wood, that haunting memory once again mocking every vain +attempt to associate this girl-face with some other he had known +before. Finally, leaving valise and overcoat lying in the hall, he +retraced his way slowly down the stairs. + +"Tom," and the young man leaned against the rough counter, his voice +grown graver, "there chances to be a woman at present occupying that +room you just assigned me." + +"No! Is that so?" and the clerk swung easily down from his high stool, +drawing the register toward him. "Must be one of the troupe, then. +Let's see--Number Twenty-seven, was n't it? Twenty-seven--oh, yes, +here it is. That's a fact," and his finger slowly traced the line as +he spelled out the name, "'Miss Beth Norvell.' Oh, I remember her +now--black hair, and a long gray coat; best looker among 'em. Manager +said she 'd have to be given a room all to herself; but I clean forgot +I assigned her to Twenty-seven. Make much of a row?" + +The other shook his head, bending down so as to read the name with his +own eyes. There was nothing in the least familiar about the sound of +it, and he became faintly conscious of an undefined feeling of +disappointment. Still, if she was upon the stage, the name quite +probably was an assumed one; the very utterance of it left that +impression. He walked over toward the cigar stand and picked out a +weed, thinking gravely while he held a flaming match to the tip. +Somehow he was not altogether greatly pleased with this information; he +should have preferred to discover her to be some one else. He glanced +at the clerk through the slight haze of blue smoke, his increasing +curiosity finding reluctant utterance. + +"What troupe is it?" he questioned with seeming carelessness. + +"'Heart of the World,'" answered Tom with some considerable increase of +enthusiasm. "A dandy play, and a blamed good company, they tell me. +Got some fine press notices anyhow, an' a carload o' scenery. Played +in Denver a whole month; and it costs a dollar and a half to buy a +decent seat even in this measly town, so you can bet it ain't no slouch +of a show. House two-thirds sold out in advance, but I know where I +can get you some good seats for just a little extra. Lane is the star. +You 've heard of Lane, have n't you? Funniest fellow you ever saw; +makes you laugh just to look at him. And this--this Miss Norvell, why +she's the leadin' lady, and the travellin' men tell me she's simply +immense. There's one of their show bills hanging over there back of +the stove." + +Winston sauntered across to the indicated red and yellow abomination, +and dumbly stood staring at it through the blue rings of his cigar. It +represented a most thrilling stage picture, while underneath, and in +type scarcely a shade less pronounced than that devoted to the eminent +comedian T. Macready Lane, appeared the announcement of the great +emotional actress, Miss Beth Norvell, together with several quite +flattering Western press notices. The young man read these slowly, +wondering why they should particularly interest him, and on a sudden +his rather grave face brightened into a smile, a whimsical thought +flashing into his mind. + +"By Jove, why not?" he muttered, as if arguing the matter out with +himself. "The report has gone East, and there is nothing more to be +accomplished in Flat Rock for at least a month. This snow will have to +melt away before they can hope to put any miners to work, and in the +meanwhile I might just as well be laying up experiences on the road as +wasting my substance in riotous living at Denver. It ought to prove a +great lark, and I 've always had ambition to have a try at something of +the kind. Well, here 's my chance; and besides, I can't help believing +that that girl might prove interesting; her face is, anyhow." + +He walked back to where Tom still hung idly over the cigar case. + +"Who is running this show outfit?" + +"That big fellow writing at the table. His name 's Albrecht," +suspiciously. "But see here, I tell you there ain't any use of your +hittin' him for 'comps'; he 's tighter than a drum." + +"'Comps'? Oh, ye of little faith!" exclaimed Winston genially. "It is +n't 'comps' I 'm after, Tommy, it's a job." + +Albrecht looked up from his writing, scowling somewhat under his +heavily thatched brows, and revealing a coarse face, with little +glinting eyes filled with low cunning. At that first glance Winston +instinctively disliked the fellow; yet he put his case in a few brief +sentences of explanation, and, as the other listened, the managerial +frown slightly relaxed. + +"Actor?" he questioned laconically, when the younger man paused, his +glance wandering appreciatively over the sturdy, erect figure. + +"Well, hardly that; at least, merely in an amateur way," and the +applicant laughed lightly. "You see, I imagined you might possibly +make use of me in some minor capacity until I learn more about the +business. I don't care very much regarding pay, but I desire to get a +taste of the life." + +"Oxactly, mein frient." And the worthy Albrecht became almost briskly +cordial in manner. Perhaps here was an "angel" waiting to be plucked +in the holy name of art; at least, he appeared well dressed, looked +intellectually promising, and expressed himself as totally indifferent +regarding salary. Such visitors were indeed few and far between, and +the astute manager sufficiently understood his business to permit his +heavy features to relax into a hearty, welcoming smile. "Oxactly, +young man. Sit down, und I vill see yoost vat vos pest for us both. +You vould be an actor; you haf the ambition. Ah! I see it in your +eyes, and it gif me great bleasure. But, young man, it vos unfortunate +dot I haf not mooch just now to gif you, yet the vay vill open if you +only stays mit me. Sure; yaw, I, Samuel Albrecht, vill make of you a +great actor. I can see dot in your face, und for dot reason I vill now +gif you the chance. You begin at the pottom, but not for long; all I +vants now vos a utility man--some one to take small barts, understudy, +und be ready to help out mit der scenery und der trunks. I could not +bay moch monies for dot," and he spread his beringed hands +deprecatingly, "but it vos only der first step on der ladder of fame. +Every day I teach you de great art of de actor. You come with me dot +way, mein frient?" + +"Certainly; that will be perfectly satisfactory." + +"Ah," delightedly, "you vos a goot poy, villin' to learn, I see. Next +season, who knows, you might be leading man if you vork hardt. I bay +you now after one veek's trial, when I know petter vot you are vort, +hey?" + +Winston carelessly nodded his acceptance of these rather indefinite +terms, his hands thrust into his pockets, his gray eyes smiling their +appreciation of the situation. Albrecht was deliberately looking him +over, as he might a horse he had just purchased. + +"You are kinder slim to look at," he confessed at last, thoughtfully. +"Are you bretty strong?" + +The younger man silently held forth his right arm to the inspection of +the other, who fingered the iron rigidity of muscle under the cloth +with evident respect. + +"God of Yacob!" the manager muttered in unconcealed surprise, "it is +vonderful, and you such a slender young man to look at. I vos most +afraidt you could not do mein vork, but it is all right. You vill eat +mit us at the long table," he waved his hand indefinitely toward the +dining-room, "at 12:30, and then I valk mit you over py der Obera +House, und show you vat der is to be done mit dot scenery und dem +trunks. Mein Gott! it vos vonderful dot muscles vot you haf got--you +vould make a great Davy Crockett ven I learns you de business, mein +frient." + +The manager's appreciation of his new acquisition was so clearly +evident that Winston felt compelled to notice it. + +"I am rejoiced you appear so well satisfied," he said, rising to his +feet. + +"Satisfied! Mein Gott," and the overjoyed Albrecht cordially clasped +the hand of his new recruit. "It vos a great season of luck for me, +mein frient. Dot Meess Norvell, she makes me mooch monies vile I shows +her how to be an actress,--oh, it vos yoost beautiful to see her +act,--und now you comes mit me also, und cares nottings for vot I bay +you, und I can see you haf der actor genius. Mein Gott! it vos too +goot to be true." + +Winston broke away gladly, and drifted back toward the cigar stand, +where the mystified Tommy yet stood staring at him. + +"Well, did you get it?" the latter questioned, grinning. + +"Thomas," returned the other loftily. "You can hand me out another +cigar, and I will thank you not to be quite so familiar in the future. +I am now general utility man with the 'Heart of the World' company, and +consequently entitled to greater respect." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +OUT WITH A ROAD COMPANY + +Miss Norvell failed to appear at the noon meal, though Winston met the +other members of the company. He found them genial enough, even +somewhat boisterous, with the single exception of Mr. Lane, who +maintained a dignified and rather gloomy silence, such as became one of +his recognized professional standing, after having favored the newcomer +with a long, impertinent stare, apparently expressing disapproval. The +manager was outwardly in most excellent humor, narrating several +stories, at which all, excepting the reserved comedian, laughed quite +heartily. At the conclusion of the repast, Albrecht condescended to +purchase his new recruit a cigar, and then walked beside him toward the +Opera House, where the necessary instructions in new duties promptly +began. If Winston had previously imagined his earlier steps toward +histrionic honors were destined to be easy ones, he was very soon +undeceived under the guidance of the enthusiastic manager. It proved a +strenuous afternoon, yet the young fellow had the right stuff in him to +make good, that stubborn pride which never surrenders before +difficulties; he shut his teeth, rolled up his shirt-sleeves, and went +earnestly to work. + +It was a small, cheaply built theatre, having restricted stage space, +while a perfect riff-raff of trunks and detached pieces of canvas +scenery littered the wings. At first sight it appeared a confused +medley of odds and ends, utterly impossible to bring into any +conformity to order, but Albrecht recognized each separate piece of +luggage, every detached section of canvas, recalling exactly where it +properly belonged during the coming performance. For more than an hour +he pranced about the dirty stage, shouting minute directions, and +giving due emphasis to them by growling German oaths; while Winston, +aided by two local assistants, bore trunks into the various +dressing-rooms, hung drop curtains in designated positions, placed set +pieces conveniently at hand, and arranged the various required +properties where they could not possibly be overlooked during the rush +of the evening's performance. Thus, little by little, order was +evolved from chaos, and the astute manager chuckled happily to himself +in quick appreciation of the unusual rapidity with which the newly +engaged utility man grasped the situation and mastered the confusing +details. Assuredly he had discovered a veritable jewel in this fresh +recruit. At last, the affairs of principal importance having been +attended to, Albrecht left some final instructions, and departed for +the hotel, feeling serenely confident that this young man would carry +out his orders to the letter. + +And Winston did. He was of that determined nature which performs +thoroughly any work once deliberately undertaken; and, although the +merest idle whim had originally brought him to this position of utility +man in the "Heart of the World" company, he was already beginning to +experience a slight degree of interest in the success of the coming +show, and to feel a faint _esprit de corps_, which commanded his best +efforts. Indeed, his temporary devotion to the preparation of the +stage proved sufficiently strong to obscure partially for the time +being all recollection of that first incentive which had suggested his +taking such a step--the young lady discovered asleep in Number +Twenty-seven. The remembrance of her scarcely recurred to him all +through the afternoon, yet it finally returned in overwhelming rush +when, in the course of his arduous labors, he raised up a small leather +trunk and discovered her name painted plainly upon the end of it. The +chalk mark designating where it belonged read "Dressing-room No. 2," +and, instead of rolling it roughly in that direction, as he had rolled +numerous others, the new utility man lifted it carefully upon his +shoulder and deposited it gently against the farther wall. He glanced +with curiosity about the restricted apartment to which Miss Beth +Norvell had been assigned. It appeared the merest hole of a place, +narrow and ill-ventilated, the side walls and ceiling composed of rough +lumber, and it was evidently designed to be lit at night by a single +gas jet, inclosed within a wire netting. This apartment contained +merely a single rude chair, of the kitchen variety, and an exceedingly +small mirror cracked across one corner and badly fly-specked. Numerous +rusty spikes, intended to hold articles of discarded clothing, +decorated both side walls and the back of the door. It was dismally +bare, and above all, it was abominably dirty, the dust lying thick +everywhere, the floor apparently unswept for weeks. With an +exclamation of disgust Winston hunted up broom and dust-rag, and gave +the gloomy place such a cleansing as it probably had not enjoyed since +the house was originally erected. At the end of these arduous labors +he looked the scene over critically, the honest perspiration streaming +down his face, glancing, with some newly awakened curiosity, into the +surrounding dressing-rooms. They were equally filthy and unfit for +occupancy, yet he did not feel called upon to invade them with his +cleansing broom. By four o'clock everything was in proper position, +the stage set in perfect order for the opening act, and Winston +returned with his report to the hotel, and to the glowing Albrecht. + +Miss Norvell joined the company at the supper table, sitting between +the manager and Mr. T. Macready Lane, although Winston was quick to +observe that she gave slight attention to either, except when addressed +directly. She met the others present with all necessary cordiality and +good-fellowship, yet there appeared a certain undefined reserve about +her manner which led to an immediate hush in the rather free +conversation of what Albrecht was pleased to term the "training table," +and when the murmur of voices was resumed after her entrance, a +somewhat better choice of subjects became immediately noticeable. +Without so much as either word or look, the silent influence of the +actress was plainly for refinement, while her mere presence at the +table gave a new tone to Bohemianism. Winston, swiftly realizing this, +began observing the lady with a curiosity which rapidly developed into +deeper interest. He became more and more attracted by her unique +personality, which persistently appealed to his aroused imagination, +even while there continued to haunt him a dim tantalizing remembrance +he was unable wholly to master. He assuredly had never either seen or +heard of this young woman before, yet she constantly reminded him of +the past. Her eyes, the peculiar contour of her face, the rather odd +trick she had of shaking back the straying tresses of her dark, glossy +hair, and, above all, that quick smile with which she greeted any flash +of humor, and which produced a fascinating dimple in her cheek, all +served to puzzle and stimulate him; while admiration of her so apparent +womanliness began as instantly to replace the vague curiosity he had +felt toward her as an actress. She was different from what he had +imagined, with absolutely nothing to suggest the glare and glitter of +the footlights. Until this time he had scarcely been conscious that +she possessed any special claim to beauty; yet now, her face, illumined +by those dark eyes filled with quick intelligence, became most +decidedly attractive, peculiarly lovable and womanly. Besides, she +evidently possessed a rare taste in dress, which met with his masculine +approval. Much of this, it is true, he reasoned out later and slowly, +for during that first meal only two circumstances impressed him +clearly--the depth of feeling glowing within those wonderfully +revealing eyes, and her complete ignoring of his presence. If she +recognized any addition to their number, there was not the slightest +sign given. Once their eyes met by merest accident; but hers +apparently saw nothing, and Winston returned to his disagreeable labors +at the Opera House, nursing a feeling akin to disappointment. + +Concealed within the gloomy shadows of the wings, he stood entranced +that night watching her depict the character of a wife whose previous +happy life had been irretrievably ruined by deceit; and the force, the +quiet originality of her depiction, together with its marvellous +clearness of detail and its intense realism, held him captive. The +plot of the play was ugly, melodramatic, and entirely untrue to nature; +against it Winston's cultivated taste instantly revolted; yet this +woman interpreted her own part with the rare instinct of a true artist, +picturing to the very life the particular character intrusted to her, +and holding the house to a breathless realization of what real artistic +portrayal meant. In voice, manner, action, in each minute detail of +face and figure, she was truly the very woman she represented. It was +an art so fine as to make the auditors forget the artist, forget even +themselves. Her perfect workmanship, clear-cut, rounded, complete, +stood forth like a delicate cameo beside the rude buffoonery of T. +Macready Lane, the coarse villany of Albrecht, and the stiff mannerisms +of the remainder of the cast. They were automatons as compared with a +figure instinct with life animated by intelligence. She seemed to +redeem the common clay of the coarse, unnatural story, and give to it +some vital excuse for existence, the howls of laughter greeting the +cheap wit of the comedian changed to a sudden hush of expectancy at her +mere entrance upon the stage, while her slightest word, or action, +riveted the attention. It was a triumph beyond applause, beyond any +mere outward demonstration of approval. Winston felt the spell deeply, +his entire body thrilling to her marvellous delineation of this common +thing, her uplifting of it out of the vile ruck of its surroundings and +giving unto it the abundant life of her own interpretation. Never once +did he question the real although untrained genius back of those +glowing eyes, that expressive face, those sincere, quiet tones which so +touched and swayed the heart. In other days he had seen the stage at +its best, and now he recognized in this woman that subtle power which +must conquer all things, and eventually "arrive." + +Early the following morning, tossing uneasily upon a hard cot-bed in +the next town listed in their itinerary, he discovered himself totally +unable to divorce this memory from his thoughts. She even mingled with +his dreams,--a rounded, girlish figure, her young face glowing with the +emotions dominating her, her dark eyes grave with thoughtfulness,--and +he awoke, at last, facing another day of servile toil, actually +rejoicing to remember that he was part of the "Heart of the World." +That which he had first assumed from a mere spirit of play, the veriest +freak of boyish adventure, had suddenly developed into a real impulse +to which his heart gave complete surrender. + +To all outward appearances Miss Beth Norvell remained serenely +unconscious regarding either his admiration or his presence. It was +impossible to imagine that in so small a company he could continually +pass and repass without attracting notice, yet neither word nor look +passed between them; no introduction had been accorded, and she merely +ignored him, under the natural impression, without doubt, that he was +simply an ignorant roustabout of the stage, a wielder of trunks, a +manipulator of scenery, in whom she could feel no possible interest. A +week passed thus, the troupe displaying their talents to fair business, +and constantly penetrating into more remote regions, stopping at all +manner of hotels, travelling in every species of conveyance, and +exhibiting their ability, or lack of it, upon every makeshift of a +stage. Sometimes this was a bare hall; again it was an armory, with an +occasional opera house--like an oasis in the vast desert--to yield them +fresh professional courage. Small cities, straggling towns, boisterous +mining camps welcomed and speeded them on, until sameness became +routine, and names grew meaningless. It was the sort of life to test +character thoroughly, and the "Heart of the World" troupe of strollers +began very promptly to exhibit its kind. Albrecht, who was making +money, retained his coarse good-nature unruffled by the hardships of +travel; but the majority of the stage people grew morose and +fretful,--the eminent comedian, glum and unapproachable as a bear; the +leading gentleman swearing savagely over every unusual worry, and +acting the boor generally; the _ingenue_, snappy and cat-like. Miss +Norvell alone among them all appeared as at first, reserved, quiet, +uncomplaining, forming no intimate friendships, yet performing her +nightly work with constantly augmenting power. Winston, ever observing +her with increasing interest, imagined that the strain of such a life +was telling upon her health, exhibiting its baleful effect in the +whitening of her cheeks, in those darker shadows forming beneath her +eyes, as well as in a shade less of animation in her manner. Yet he +saw comparatively little of her, his own work proving sufficiently +onerous; the quick jumps from town to town leaving small opportunity +for either rest or reflection. He had been advanced to a small +speaking part, but the remainder of his waking hours, while he was +attired in working-clothes, was diligently devoted to the strenuous +labor of his muscles. The novelty of the life had long since vanished, +the so eagerly expected experience had already become amply sufficient; +again and again, flinging his wearied body upon a cot in some strange +room, he had called himself an unmitigated ass, and sworn loudly that +he would certainly quit in the morning. Yet the girl held him. He did +not completely realize how or why, yet some peculiar, indefinite +fascination appeared to bind his destinies to her; he ever desired to +see her once again, to be near her, to feel the charm of her work, to +listen to the sound of her voice, to experience the thrill of her +presence. So strong and compelling became this influence over him that +day after day he held on, actually afraid to sever that slight bond of +professional companionship. + +This was most assuredly through no fault of hers. It was at +Shelbyville that she first spoke to him, first gave him the earliest +intimation that she even so much as recognized his presence in the +company. The house that particular night was crowded to the doors, and +she, completing a piece of work which left her cheeks flushed, her +slender form trembling from intense emotion, while the prolonged +applause thundered after her from the front, stepped quickly into the +gloomy shadows of the wings, and thus came face to face with Winston. +His eyes were glowing with unconcealed appreciation of her art. +Perhaps the quick reaction had partially unstrung her nerves, for she +spoke with feverish haste at sight of his uprolled sleeves and coarse +woollen shirt. + +"How does it occur that you are always standing directly in my passage +whenever I step from the stage?" she questioned impetuously. "Is there +no other place where you can wait to do your work except in my exit?" + +For a brief moment the surprised man stood hesitating, hat in hand. + +"I certainly regret having thus unintentionally offended you, Miss +Norvell," he explained at last, slowly. "Yet, surely, the occasion +should bring you pleasure rather than annoyance." + +"Indeed! Why, pray?" + +"Because I so greatly enjoy your work. I stood here merely that I +might observe the details more carefully." + +She glanced directly at him with suddenly aroused interest. + +"You enjoy my work?" she exclaimed, slightly smiling. "How extremely +droll! Yet without doubt you do, precisely as those others, out +yonder, without the slightest conception of what it all means. +Probably you are equally interested in the delicate art of Mr. T. +Macready Lane?" + +Winston permitted his cool gray eyes to brighten, his firmly set lips +slightly to relax. + +"Lane is the merest buffoon," he replied quietly. "You are an artist. +There is no comparison possible, Miss Norvell. The play itself is +utterly unworthy of your talent, yet you succeed in dignifying it in a +way I can never cease to admire." + +She stood staring straight at him, her lips parted, apparently so +thoroughly startled by these unexpected words as to be left speechless. + +"Why," she managed to articulate at last, her cheeks flushing, "I +supposed you like the others we have had with us--just--just a common +stage hand. You speak with refinement, with meaning." + +"Have you not lived sufficiently long in the West to discover that men +of education are occasionally to be found in rough clothing?" + +"Oh, yes," doubtfully, her eyes still on his face, "miners, stockmen, +engineers, but scarcely in your present employment." + +"Miss Norvell," and Winston straightened up, "possibly I may be +employed here for a reason similar to that which has induced you to +travel with a troupe of barn-stormers." + +She shrugged her shoulders, her lips smiling, the seductive dimple +showing in her cheeks. + +"And what was that?" + +"The ambition of an amateur to attain a foothold upon the professional +stage." + +"Who told you so?" + +"Mr. Samuel Albrecht was guilty of the suggestion. + +"It was extremely nice of him to discuss my motives thus freely with a +stranger. But he told you only a very small portion of the truth. In +my case it was rather the imperative necessity of an amateur to earn +her own living--a deliberate choice between the professional stage and +starvation." + +"Without ambition?" + +She hesitated slightly, yet there was a depth of respect slumbering +within those gray eyes gazing so directly into her darker ones, +together with a strength she felt. + +"Without very much at first, I fear," she confessed, as though +admitting it rather to herself alone, "yet I acknowledge it has since +grown upon me, until I have determined to succeed." + +His eyes brightened, the admiration in them unconcealed, his lips +speaking impulsively. + +"And what is more, Miss Norvell, you 'll make it." + +"Do you truly believe so?" She had already forgotten that the man +before her was a mere stage hand, and her cheeks burned eagerly to the +undoubted sincerity of his utterance. "No one else has ever said that +to me--only the audiences have appeared to care and appreciate. +Albrecht and all those others have scarcely offered me a word of +encouragement." + +"Albrecht and the others are asses," ejaculated Winston, with sudden +indignation. "They imagine they are actors because they prance and +bellow on a stage, and they sneer at any one who is not in their class. +But I can tell you this, Miss Norvell, the manager considers you a +treasure; he said as much to me." + +She stood before him, the glare of the stage glinting in her hair, her +hands clasped, her dark eyes eagerly reading his face as though these +unexpected words of appreciation had yielded her renewed courage, like +a glass of wine. + +"Really, is that true? Oh, I am so glad. I thought, perhaps, they +were only making fun of me out in front, although I have always tried +so hard to do my very best. You have given me a new hope that I may +indeed master the art. Was that my cue?" + +She stepped quickly backward, listening to the voices droning on the +stage, but there remained still a moment of liberty, and she glanced +uncertainly about at Winston. + +"Am I to thank you for giving me such immaculate dressing-rooms of +late?" she questioned, just a little archly. + +"I certainly wielded the broom." + +"It was thoughtful of you," and her clear voice hesitated an instant. +"Was--was it you, also, who placed those flowers upon my trunk last +evening?" + +He bowed, feeling slightly embarrassed by the swift returning restraint +in her manner. + +"They were most beautiful. Where did you get them?" + +"From Denver; they were forwarded by express, and I am only too glad if +they brought you pleasure." + +"Miracle of miracles! A stage-hand ordering roses from Denver! It +must have cost you a week's salary." + +He smiled: + +"And, alas, the salary has not even been paid." + +Her eyes were uplifted to his face, yet fell as suddenly, shadowed +behind the long lashes. + +"I thank you very much," she said, her voice trembling, "only please +don't do it again; I would rather not have you." + +Before he could frame a satisfactory answer to so unexpected a +prohibition she had stepped forth upon the stage. + +This brief interview did not prove as prolific of results as Winston +confidently expected. Miss Norvell evidently considered such casual +conversation no foundation for future friendship, and although she +greeted him when they again met, much as she acknowledged +acquaintanceship with the others of the troupe, there remained a quiet +reserve about her manner, which effectually barred all thought of +possible familiarity. Indeed, that she ever again considered him as in +any way differing from the others about her did not once occur to +Winston until one evening at Bluffton, when by chance he stood resting +behind a piece of set scenery and thus overheard the manager as he +halted the young lady on the way to her dressing room. + +"Meess Norvell," and Albrecht stood rubbing his hands and smiling +genially, "at Gilchrist we are pilled to blay for dwo nights, und der +second blay vill be der 'Man from der Vest'--you know dot bart, Ida +Somers?" + +"Yes," she acknowledged, "I am perfectly acquainted with the lines, but +who is to play Ralph Wilde?" + +"Mister Mooney, of course. You tink dot I import some actors venever I +change der pill?" + +She lifted her dark, expressive eyes to his mottled face, slowly +gathering up her skirts in one hand. + +"As you please," she said quietly, "but I shall not play Ida Somers to +Mr. Mooney's Ralph Wilde. I told you as much plainly before we left +Denver, and it was for that special reason the 'Heart of the World' was +substituted. The more I have seen of Mr. Mooney since we took the +road, the less I am inclined to yield in this matter." + +Albrecht laughed coarsely, his face reddening. + +"Oh, bah!" he exclaimed, gruffly derisive. "Ven you begome star then +you can have dem tantrums, but not now, not mit me. You blay vat I +say, or I send back after some von else. You bedder not get too gay, +or you lose your job damn quick. You don't vant Mooney to make lofe to +you? You don't vant him to giss you?--hey, vos dot it?" + +"Yes, that was exactly it." + +"Ach!--you too nice to be brofessional; you like to choose your lofer, +hey? You forget you earn a livin' so. Vot you got against Mooney?" + +Miss Norvell, her cheeks burning indignantly, her eyes already ablaze, +did not mince words. + +"Nothing personally just so long as he keeps away from me," she +retorted clearly. "He is coarse, vulgar, boorish, and I have far too +much respect for myself to permit such a man to touch me, either upon +the stage or off; to have him kiss me would be an unbearable insult." + +Albrecht, totally unable to comprehend the feelings of the girl, +shifted uneasily beneath the sharp sting of her words, yet continued to +smile idiotically. + +"Dot is very nice, quite melodramatic, but it is not brofessional, +Meess," he stammered, striving to get hold of some satisfactory +argument. "Vy, Mooney vos not so pad. Meess Lyle she act dot bart mit +him all der last season, and make no kick. Dunder! vat you vant--an +angel? You don't hafe to take dot bart mit me, or Meester Lane either, +don 't it, hey?" + +Miss Norvell turned contemptuously away from him, her face white with +determination. + +"If you really want to know, there is only one man in all your troupe I +would consent to play it with," she declared calmly. + +"Und dot is?" + +"I do not even know his name," and she turned her head just +sufficiently to look directly into Albrecht's surprised face; "but I +refer to your new utility man; he, at least, possesses some of the +ordinary attributes of a gentleman." + +The door of her dressing-room opened and closed, leaving the startled +manager standing alone without, gasping for breath, his thick lips +gurgling impotent curses, while Winston discreetly drew farther back +amid the intricacy of scenery. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A BREAKING OF ICE + +The troupe in its wandering arrived at Bolton Junction early on a +Saturday afternoon, and Winston, lingering a moment in the hotel +office, overheard Miss Norvell ask the manager if they would probably +spend Sunday there; and later question the hotel clerk regarding any +Episcopalian services in the town. Their rather late arrival, however, +kept him so exceedingly busy with stage preparation for the evening's +performance that this conversation scarcely recurred to mind until his +night's labor had been completed. Then, in the silence of his room, he +resolved upon an immediate change in conditions, or else the deliberate +giving up of further experiment altogether. He was long since tired +enough of it, yet a strange, almost unaccountable attraction for this +young woman continued binding him to disagreeable servitude. + +He came down stairs the following morning, his plans completely +determined upon. He was carefully dressed in the neat business suit +which had been packed away ever since his first reckless plunge into +theatrical life, and thus attired he felt more like his old self than +at any moment since his surrender to the dictation of Albrecht. In +some degree self-confidence, audacity, hope, came promptly trooping +back with the mere donning of clean linen and semi-fashionable attire, +so that Winston "utility" became Winston gentleman, in the twinkling of +an eye. The other members of the troupe slept late, leaving him to +breakfast alone after vainly loitering about the office in the hope +that Miss Norvell might by some chance appear and keep him company. It +was almost mortifying to behold that young woman enter the deserted +dining-room soon after he had returned to the lonely office, but she +gave no sign of recognition in passing, and his returned audacity +scarcely proved sufficient to permit his encroachment upon her privacy. +He could only linger a moment at the desk in an effort to catch a +better view of her through the partially open door. + +Nervously gripping a freshly lighted cigar, Winston finally strolled +forth upon the wide porch to await, with all possible patience, the +opportunity he felt assured was fast approaching. It was a bright +spring morning, sufficiently warm to be comfortable without in the +sunshine, although the mountains overshadowing the town were yet white +with snow. The one long, straggling business street appeared +sufficiently lonely, being almost deserted, the shops closed. The +notable contrast between its present rather dreary desolation and the +wild revelry of the previous night seemed really painful, while the +solemn prevailing stillness served to weaken Winston's bold resolutions +and brought him a strange timidity. He slowly strolled a block or +more, peering in at the shop windows, yet never venturing beyond easy +view of the hotel steps. Then he sauntered as deliberately back again. +Lane and Mooney were now stationed upon the porch, tipping far back in +their chairs, their feet deposited on the convenient railing, smoking +and conversing noisily with a group of travelling men. Winston, to his +disgust, caught little scraps of the coarse stories exchanged, +constantly greeted by roars of laughter, but drew as far away from +their immediate vicinity as possible, leaning idly against the rail. +Far down the street, from some unseen steeple, a church bell rang +solemnly. Listening, he wondered if she would come alone, and a dread +lest she might not set his heart throbbing. + +Albrecht, looking not unlike a fat hog newly shaven, sauntered out of +the open office door, and stared idly about. He spoke a gracious word +or two to his rather silent utility man, viewing his well-cut clothing +with some apparent misgiving, finally drifting over to join the more +congenial group beyond. Winston did not alter his chosen position, but +remained with watchful eyes never long straying from off the ladies' +entrance, a few steps to his left. All at once that slightly used door +opened, and the hot blood leaped through his veins as Miss Norvell +stepped forth unaccompanied. She appeared well groomed, looking dainty +enough in her blue skirt and jacket, her dark hair crowned by the +tasteful blue toque, a prayer-book clasped in one neatly gloved hand. +As she turned unconsciously toward the steps, Winston lifted his hat +and bowed. With a quick upward glance of surprise the girl recognized +him, a sudden flush crimsoning her cheeks, her eyes as instantly +dropping before his own. In that sudden revelation the young man +appeared to her an utterly different character from what she had +formerly considered him; the miracle of good clothing, of environment, +had suddenly placed them upon a level of companionship. That Winston +likewise experienced something of this same exaltation was plainly +evident, although his low voice trembled in momentary excitement. + +"I trust you will pardon my presumption," he said, taking the single +step necessary to face her, "but I confess having been deliberately +waiting here to request the privilege of walking to church beside you." + +"Beside me? Indeed!" and both lips and eyes smiled unreservedly back +at him. "And how did you chance to guess it was my intention to +attend? Is it a peculiarity of leading ladies?" + +"As to that I cannot safely say, my acquaintance among them being +limited." He was acquiring fresh confidence from her cordial manner. +"But I chanced to overhear your questioning the clerk last night, and +the bold project at once took possession of me. Am I granted such +permission?" + +Her dark eyes wandered from their early scrutiny of his eager face +toward that small group of interested smokers beyond. What she may +have beheld there was instantly reflected in a pursing of the lips, a +swift decision. + +"I shall be delighted to have your company," she responded, frankly +meeting his eyes, "but longer delay will probably make us late, and I +abominate that." + +As they passed down the steps to the street Winston caught a glimpse of +the others. They were all intently gazing after them, while Mooney had +even risen to his feet and taken a step forward, his cigar still in his +mouth. Then the group behind laughed loudly, and the younger man set +his teeth, his cheeks flushed from sudden anger. He would have enjoyed +dashing back up the steps, and giving those grinning fools a +much-needed lesson, but he glanced aside at his companion, her eyes +downcast, seemingly utterly unconscious of it all, and gripped himself, +walking along beside her, erect and silent. They traversed the entire +deserted block without speaking, each busied indeed with the +intricacies of the board walk. Then Winston sought to break the +somewhat embarrassing silence, his first words sounding strangely +awkward and constrained. + +"It was exceedingly kind of you to grant such privilege when we have +scarcely even spoken to each other before." + +She glanced aside at his grave face, a certain coquettish smile making +her appear suddenly girlish. + +"Possibly if you realized the exact cause of my complete surrender you +might not feel so highly flattered," she confessed, shyly. + +"Indeed! You mean why it was you consented so easily? Then possibly +you had better inform me at once, for I acknowledge feeling quite +conceited already at my good fortune." + +She lifted her eyes questioningly, and for the first time he looked +directly down into their unveiled depths. + +"Then I must certainly make confession. What if I should say, I merely +accepted the lesser of two evils--in short, preferred your company to +something I considered infinitely worse?" + +"You refer to Mooney?" + +She nodded, her dark eyes once again shadowed, her cheeks slightly +reddening beneath his steady gaze. + +"Why, I can scarcely feel greatly flattered at being made the subject +of such a choice," Winston acknowledged with frankness. "The very +conception brings me uneasiness in fear lest my presence may be +unwelcome now that Mooney has been safely left behind. Yet it yields +me boldness also, and I venture to ask Miss Norvell what she would +probably have answered had Mooney been left out of the problem +entirely?" + +His low voice held a ring of subdued earnestness, and the face of the +woman as quickly lost its smile. An instant she hesitated, her eyes +downcast, fully conscious he was anxiously searching her countenance +for the exact truth. + +"And under those conditions," she responded finally, "Miss Norvell +would very probably have answered yes, only it would have been more +deliberately uttered, so that you should have realized the measure of +her condescension." + +Winston laughed. + +"You can have small conception of the intense relief brought me by that +last acknowledgment," he explained cheerfully. "Now I can proceed with +clear conscience, and shall undoubtedly discover in the church service +an expression of my own devout gratitude." + +It was an exceedingly alert exchange of words which followed, each +cautiously exploring a way in toward a somewhat clearer understanding +of the other, yet both becoming quickly convinced that they were not +destined for ordinary acquaintanceship. To Miss Norvell observing her +companion with shy intentness, this erect, manly young fellow with +weather-browned, clean-shaven face and straightforward gray eyes seemed +to evince a power of manhood she instinctively felt and surrendered to. +His were those elements which a woman of her nature must instantly +recognize--physical strength and daring, combined with mental acuteness +and indomitable will. The fact of his present unworthy employment +added the fascination of mystery to his personality, for it was +manifestly impossible to conceive that such a position was all this man +had ever achieved in life. And Winston wondered likewise at her, his +earlier admiration for the bright attractiveness of face and manner +broadening as her mind gave quick response to his leadership. Here was +certainly no commonplace girl of the stage, but an educated, refined, +ambitious woman, matured beyond her years by experience, her +conversation exhibiting a wide range of reading, interwoven, with a +deep knowledge of life. They spoke of ideals, of art, of literature, +of secret aspirations, not often mentioned during such early +acquaintanceship, breaking through that mental barrenness which had +characterized their living for weeks, this common ground of thought and +interest awakening between them an immediate friendliness and frankness +of utterance delightfully inspiring. Almost without comprehending how +it occurred they were chatting together as if the eventful years had +already cemented their acquaintanceship. With cheeks flushed and eyes +glowing from aroused interest Miss Norvell increased in beauty, and +Winston observed her with an admiration finding frank expression in his +eyes. + +It was a small chapel they sought, situated at the extreme end of the +straggling street, and the worshippers were few. At the conclusion of +the ritual and the sermon the two walked forth together in silence, +their former brief intimacy a mere memory, neither realizing exactly +how best to resume a conversation which had been interrupted by so +solemn a service. It was Miss Norvell who first broke the constraint. + +"You are evidently well acquainted with the intricacies of the +prayer-book," she remarked quietly, "and hence I venture to inquire if +you are a churchman." + +"Not exactly, although my parents are both communicants, and I was +brought up to attend service." + +"Do you know, I am glad even of that? It is a little additional bond +between us merely to feel interested in the same church, isn't it? I +was guilty during the service of thinking how exceedingly odd it was +for us to talk so frankly together this morning when we knew absolutely +nothing regarding each other. Would you mind if I questioned you just +a little about yourself?" + +He glanced aside at her in surprise, all remembrance that they were +comparatively strangers having deserted his mind. It seemed as if he +had already known her for years. + +"Most certainly question; I had no thought of any concealment." + +She smiled at the confusedness of his words, yet her own speech was not +entirely devoid of embarrassment. + +"It does appear almost ridiculous, but really I do not even know your +name." + +"It is Ned Winston." + +"Not so bad a name, is it? Do you mind telling me where your home is?" + +"I can scarcely lay claim to such a spot, but my people live in Denver." + +She drew a quick, surprised breath, her eyes instantly falling, as +though she would thus conceal some half-revealed secret. For a moment +her parted lips trembled to a question she hesitated asking. + +"I--I believe I have heard of a Colonel Daniel Winston in Denver, a +banker," she said finally. "I--I have seen his house." + +"He is my father." + +Her shadowing lashes suddenly uplifted, the color once again flooding +the clear cheeks. + +"You are, indeed, becoming a man of mystery," she exclaimed, affecting +lightness of utterance. "The son of Colonel Winston acting as utility +for a troupe of strollers! I can hardly believe it true." + +Winston laughed. + +"It does seem a trifle out of proportion," he confessed, "and I can +hardly hope to make the situation entirely clear. Yet I am not quite +so unworthy my birthright as would appear upon the surface. I will +trust you with a portion of the story, at least, Miss Norvell. I am by +profession a mining engineer, and was sent out, perhaps a month ago, by +a syndicate of Denver capitalists to examine thoroughly into some +promising claims at Shell Rock. I made the examination, completed and +mailed my report, and finally, on the same day your company arrived +there, I discovered myself in Rockton with nothing to do and several +weeks of idleness on my hands. I had intended returning to Denver, but +a sudden temptation seized me to try the experiment of a week or two in +wandering theatrical life. I had always experienced a boyish hankering +that way, and have a natural inclination to seek new experiences. +Albrecht was favorably impressed with my application, and hence I +easily attained to my present exalted position upon the stage." + +"And is that all?" + +"Not entirely; there yet remains a chapter to be added to my +confessions. I acknowledge I should have long since tired of the life +and its hardships, had you not chanced to be a member of the same +troupe." + +"I, Mr. Winston? Why, we have scarcely spoken to each other until +to-day." + +"True, yet I strenuously deny that it was my fault. In fact, I had +firmly determined that we should, and, having been a spoiled child, I +am accustomed to having my own way. This, perhaps, will partially +account for my persistency and for my still being with 'The Heart of +the World.' But all else aside, I early became intensely interested in +your work, Miss Norvell, instantly recognizing that it required no +common degree of ability to yield dignity to so poor a thing as the +play in which you appear. I began to study you and your +interpretation; I never tired of noting those little fresh touches with +which you constantly succeeded in embellishing your lines and your +'business,' and how clearly your conception of character stood forth +against the crude background of those mummers surrounding you. It was +a lesson in interpretative art to me, and one I never wearied of. +Then, I must likewise confess, something else occurred." + +He paused, looking aside at her, and, as though she felt the spell of +that glance, she turned her own face, brightened by such earnest words +of praise, their eyes meeting frankly. + +"What?" + +"The most natural thing in the world--my admiration for the art only +served to increase my early interest in the artist. I began to feel +drawn not only to the actress but to the woman," he said gravely. + +Her eyes never faltered, but faced him bravely, although her cheeks +were like poppies, and her lips faltered in their first bold effort at +swift reply. + +"I am so glad you honestly think that about my work; so glad you told +me. It is a wonderful encouragement, for I know now that you speak as +a man of education, of cultivation. You must have seen the highest +class of stage interpretation, and, I am sure, have no desire merely to +flatter me. You do not speak as if you meant an idle compliment. Oh, +you can scarcely conceive how much success will spell to me, Mr. +Winston," her voice growing deeper from increasing earnestness, her +eyes more thoughtful, "but I am going to tell you a portion of my +life-story in order that you may partially comprehend. This is my +first professional engagement; but I was no stage-struck girl when I +first applied for the position. Rather, the thought was most repugnant +to me. My earlier life had been passed under conditions which held me +quite aloof from anything of the kind. While I always enjoyed +interpreting character as a relaxation, and even achieved, while at +school in the East, a rather enviable reputation as an amateur, I +nevertheless had a distinct prejudice against the professional stage, +even while intensely admiring its higher exponents. My turning to it +for a livelihood was a grim necessity, my first week on the road a +continual horror. I abhorred the play, the making of a nightly +spectacle of myself, the rudeness and freedom of the audiences, the +coarse, common-place people with whom I was constantly compelled to +consort. You know them, and can therefore realize to some extent what +daily association with them must necessarily mean to one of my early +training and familiarity with quieter social customs. But my position +in the troupe afforded me certain privileges of isolation, while my +necessities compelled me to persevere. As a result, the dormant +art-spirit within apparently came to life; ambition began to usurp the +place of indifference; I became more and more disgusted with +mediocrity, and began an earnest struggle toward higher achievements. +I had little to guide me other than my own natural instincts, yet I +persevered. I insisted on living my own life while off the stage, and, +to kill unhappy thought, I devoted all my spare moments to hard study. +Almost to my surprise, the very effort brought with it happiness. I +began to forget the past and its crudities, to blot out the present +with its dull, unpleasant realities, and to live for the future. My +ideals, at first but vague dreams, took form and substance. I +determined to succeed, to master my art, to develop whatever of talent +I might possess to its highest possibility, to become an actress worthy +of the name. This developing ideal has already made me a new woman--it +has given me something to live for, to strive toward." + +She came to a sudden pause, perceiving in the frank gray eyes scanning +her animated face a look which caused her own to droop. Then her lips +set in firmer resolution, and she continued as though in utter +indifference to his presence. + +"You may not comprehend all this, but I do. It was the turning-point +in my life. And I began right where I was. I endeavored to make the +utmost possible out of that miserable melodramatic part which had been +assigned to me. I elected to play it quietly, with an intensity to be +felt and not heard, the very opposite from the interpretation given by +Miss Lyle last season, and I felt assured my efforts were appreciated +by the audiences. It encouraged me to discover them so responsive; but +Albrecht, Lane, and Mooney merely laughed and winked at each other, and +thus hurt me cruelly, although I had little respect for their +criticisms. Still, they were professional actors of experience, and I +was not yet certain that my judgment might not be wrong. Miss Head, +the _ingenue_, a girl of sweet disposition but little education, +praised my efforts warmly, but otherwise your evident appreciation is +my only real reward. I spoke to you that evening in the wings not so +much to scold you for being in the way, as from a hungry, despairing +hope that you might speak some word of encouragement. I was not +disappointed, and I have felt stronger ever since." + +"I should never have suspected any such purpose. We have never so much +as exchanged speech since, until to-day, and then I forced it." + +She shook her head, a vagrant tress of her black hair loosening. + +"You must be a very young and inexperienced man to expect to comprehend +all that any woman feels merely by what she says or does." + +"No," smilingly, "I have advanced beyond that stage of development, +although the mystery of some womanly natures may always remain beyond +me. But can I ask you a somewhat personal question, also?" + +"Most assuredly, yet I expressly reserve the privilege of refusing a +direct reply." + +"Is Beth Norvell your real, or merely your stage name?" + +"Why do you ask? That is a secret which, I believe, an actress is +privileged to keep inviolate." + +"For one particular reason--because I cannot escape a vague impression +that somewhere we have met before." + +She did not respond immediately, her gloved fingers perceptibly +tightening about the prayer-book, her eyes carefully avoiding his own. + +"You are mistaken in that, for we have never met," she said slowly, and +with emphasis. "Moreover, Beth Norvell is my stage name, but in part +it is my true name also." Suddenly she paused and glanced aside at +him. "I have spoken with unusual frankness to you this morning, Mr. +Winston. Most people, I imagine, find me diffident and +uncommunicative--perhaps I appear according to my varying moods. But I +have been lonely, and in some way you have inspired my confidence and +unlocked my life. I believe you to be a man worthy of trust, and +because I thus believe I am now going to request you not to ask me any +more. My past life has not been so bright that I enjoy dwelling upon +it. I have chosen rather to forget it entirely, and live merely for +the future." + +They were standing before the door of the ladies' entrance to the hotel +by this time, and the young man lifted his hat gravely. + +"Your wish shall certainly be respected," he said with courtesy, "yet +that does not necessarily mean that our friendship is to end here." + +Her face became transfigured by a sudden smile, and she impulsively +extended her hand. + +"Assuredly not, if you can withstand my vagaries. I have never made +friends easily, and am the greater surprised at my unceremonious +frankness with you. Yet that only makes it harder to yield up a +friendship when once formed. Do you intend, then, to remain with the +company? I have no choice, but you have the whole world." + +"Yet, my intense devotion to the art of the Thespian holds me captive." + +Their eyes met smilingly, and the next instant the door closed quietly +between them. + +Winston turned aside and entered the gloomy hotel office, feeling +mentally unsettled, undetermined in regard to his future conduct. Miss +Norvell had proven frankly intimate, delightfully cordial, yet +overshadowing it all there remained unquestionably a certain constraint +about both words and actions which continued to perplex and tantalize. +She had something in her past life to conceal; she did not even pretend +to deceive him in this regard, but rather held him off with deliberate +coolness. The very manner in which this had been accomplished merely +served to stimulate his eagerness to penetrate the mystery of her +reserve, and caused him to consider her henceforth as altogether +differing from other girls. She had become a problem, an enigma, which +he would try to solve; and her peculiar nature, baffling, changeable, +full of puzzling moods, served to fascinate his imagination, to invite +his dreaming. A strange thrill swept him when he caught a fleeting +glimpse of white skirt and well-turned ankle as she ran swiftly up the +steep staircase, yet, almost at the same instant, he returned to earth +with a sudden shock, facing Mooney, when the latter turned slowly away +from the window and sneeringly confronted him. The mottled face was +unpleasantly twisted, a half-smoked cigar tilted between his lips. An +instant the half-angry eyes of the two men met. + +"Must have made a conquest, from all appearances," ventured the leading +man with a knowing wink. "Not so damned hard to catch on with, is she, +when the right man tries it?" + +There was a swift, passionate blow, a crash among the overturned +chairs, and Mooney, dazed and trembling, gazed up from the floor at the +rigid, erect figure towering threateningly above him, with squared +shoulders and clenched fists. + +"Utter another word like that, you cur," said Winston, sternly, "and I +'ll break your head. Don't you dare doubt that I 'll keep my word." + +For a breathless moment he stood there, glowering down at the shrinking +wretch on the floor. Then, his face, still set and white with passion, +he turned contemptuously away. Mooney, cursing cowardly behind his +teeth, watched him ascend the stairs, but the younger man never so much +as glanced below. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A NEW DEAL OF THE CARDS + +For the two performances following there occurred an enforced shift of +actors, owing to Mr. Mooney's being somewhat indisposed; and Winston, +aided by considerable prompting from the others, succeeded in getting +through his lines, conscious of much good-natured guying out in front, +and not altogether insensible to Miss Norvell's efforts not to appear +amused. This experience left him in no pleasanter frame of mind, while +a wish to throw over the whole thing returned with renewed temptation. +Why not? What was he continuing to make such a fool of himself for, +anyhow? He was assuredly old enough to be done with chasing after +will-o'-the-wisps; and besides, there was his constant liability to +meet some old acquaintance who would blow the whole confounded story +through the Denver clubs. The thought of the probable sarcasm of his +fellows made him wince. Moreover, he was himself ashamed of his +actions. This actress was nothing to him; he thoroughly convinced +himself of that important fact at least twenty times a day. She was a +delightful companion, bright, witty, full of captivating character, +attractively winsome, to be sure, yet it was manifestly impossible for +him ever to consider her in any more serious way. This became +sufficiently clear to his reasoning, yet, at the same time, he could +never quite break free. She seldom appeared to him twice the +same--proving as changeable as the winds, her very nature seeming to +vary with a suddenness which never permitted his complete escape from +her fascinations, but left him to surmise how she would greet him next. +Frank or distant, filled with unrestrained gayety or dignified by +womanly reserve, smiling or grave, the changeable vagaries of Miss +Norvell were utterly beyond his guessing, while back of all these +outward manifestations of tantalizing personality, there continually +lurked a depth of hidden womanhood, which as constantly baffled his +efforts at fathoming. It piqued him to realize his own helplessness, +to comprehend how completely this girl turned aside his most daring +efforts at uncovering the true trend of her heart and life. She +refused to be read, wearing her various masks with a cool defiance +which apparently bespoke utter indifference to his good opinion, while +constantly affording him brief, tantalizing glimpses into half-revealed +depths that caused his heart to throb with anticipation never entirely +realized. + +It did not once occur to his mind that such artifices might be directed +as much toward herself as him; he lacked the conceit which could have +convinced him that they merely marked a secret struggle for mastery, a +desperate effort to crush an inclination to surrender before the +temptation of the moment. It was a battle for deliverance being fought +silently behind a mask of smiles, an exchange of sparkling commonplace; +yet ever beneath this surface play she was breathing a fervent prayer +that he would go away of his own volition and leave her free. Far more +clearly than he, the woman recognized the utter impossibility of any +serious purpose between them, and she fought his advances with every +weapon in her armory, her very soul trembling behind the happy smiling +of her lips. It was bravely attempted, and yet those dull weapons of +defence served merely to increase his interest, to awaken his passion, +and thus bind him more strongly to her. Safe once again from general +observation, he returned to the obscurity of the wings and to the +routine handling of trunks and scenery, feeling totally unable to +permit her to pass entirely out of his life. Within her own room she +dampened her pillow with tears of regret and remorse, yet finally she +sank to sleep strangely happy because he lingered. It was the way of a +woman; it was no less the way of a man. + +It was thus that the "Heart of the World" players came to fulfil their +engagement at San Juan upon a Saturday night. This was the liveliest +camp in all that mountain region, a frantic, feverish, mushroom city of +tents and shacks, sprawling frame business blocks, and a few ugly brick +abominations, perched above the golden rocks of the Vila Valley, +bounded on one side by the towering cliffs, on the other by the +pitiless desert. In those days San Juan recognized no material +distinction between midnight and noon-day. All was glitter, glow, +life, excitement along the streets; the gloomy overhanging mountains +were pouring untold wealth into her lap, while vice and crime, +ostentation and lawlessness, held high carnival along the crowded, +straggling byways. The exultant residents existed to-day in utter +carelessness of the morrow, their one dominant thought gold, their sole +acknowledged purpose those carnal pleasures to be purchased with it. +Everything was primitive, the animal yet in full control, the drinking, +laughing, fighting animal, filled with passion and blood-lust, +worshipping bodily strength, and governed by the ideals of a frontier +society wherein the real law hung dangling at the hip. Saloons, +gambling halls, dance halls, and brothels flaunted themselves +shamelessly upon every hand; the streets exhibited one continual riot, +while all higher life was seemingly rendered inactive by inordinate +grasping after wealth, and reckless squandering of it on appetite and +vice; over all, as if blazoned across the blue sky, appeared the +ever-recurring motto of careless humanity, "Eat, drink, and be merry, +for to-morrow ye die." Hardly a week before a short railroad spur had +been constructed up the narrow, rock-guarded valley from Bolton +Junction, eighteen miles to the northward, and over those uneven rails +the "Heart of the World" troupe of adventurous strollers arrived at San +Juan, to find lodgment in that ramshackle pile of boards known locally +as the "Occidental Hotel." + +The San Juan Opera House, better known as the Gayety, was in truth +merely an adjunct to the Poodle-Dog Saloon, the side-doors from the +main floor opening directly into the inviting bar-room, while those in +the gallery afforded an equally easy egress into the spacious gambling +apartments directly above. It was a monstrous ugly building, +constructed entirely of wood most hastily prepared; the stage was +utilized both night and day for continuous variety entertainments of +the kind naturally demanded by the motley gathering. These, however, +were occasionally suspended to make room for some adventurous +travelling company to appear in the legitimate drama, but at the close +of every evening performance the main floor was promptly cleared, the +rows of chairs pushed hastily back from the centre, and the space thus +vacated utilized for a general dance, which invariably continued until +dawn. + +When the drop-curtain slowly rose that Saturday evening fully three +thousand people crowded the hall, eager for any fresh excitement; and +ready enough either to taunt or applaud a performer, as the whim moved +them. Bearded miners conspicuous in red shirts; cattlemen wearing wide +sombreros and hairy "chaps"; swarthy Mexicans lazily puffing the +inseparable cigarette; gamblers attired in immaculate linen, together +with numerous women gaudy of cheek and attire, composed a frontier +audience full of possibilities. The result might easily prove good or +evil, according to the prevailing temper, but fortunately the "Heart of +the World" quickly caught the men's fancy, the laughter ringing loud in +appreciation of Mr. Lane's ardent buffoonery, while the motley crowd +sat in surprised silence evincing respect, as Miss Norvell drove home +to their minds the lesson of a woman's sorrow and struggle against +temptation. It was well worth while looking out across the oil-lamp +footlights upon those hard-faced, bearded men, those gaudily attired +women, thus held and controlled by perfectly depleted emotion, the vast +audience so silent that the click of the wheel, the rattle of ivory +chips in the rooms beyond, became plainly audible. There was +inspiration in it likewise, and never before did Beth Norvell more +clearly exhibit her native power, her spark of real genius. + +Winston found little to do in his department that night, either on or +off the stage, as the company expected to spend Sunday in the place. +Consequently, he was only slightly behind the other members of the +troupe in attaining the hotel at the conclusion of the evening's +performance. Indeed, he was earlier than many, for most of the male +members had promptly adjourned to the convenient bar-room, with +whatsoever small sums of money they could wring from out the reluctant +palm of Albrecht. Winston chanced to pause for a moment at the cigar +stand to exchange a pleasant good-night word with the seemingly genial +clerk. + +"You one of the actors?" questioned the latter, exhibiting some slight +interest. + +The young man nodded indifferently, not feeling unduly proud of the +distinction. + +"Sorry I couldn't have been there," the other went on cordially. "The +boys tell me you gave 'em a mighty fine show, but I 'm here to bet that +some of your people wish they 'd steered clear of San Juan." + +"How's that?" + +"Why, that fat fellow--what's his name?--oh, yes, Albrecht--the sheriff +was in here hunting him with some papers he had to serve, and it would +have made you laugh just to see that duck climb out when I met him +yonder on the street a few minutes ago, and gave him the highball. +Guest of the house, you know, and we did n't want him pinched in here; +besides, we understood he carried the scads for the rest of your bunch, +and we naturally wanted our share. The sheriff's out tryin' to find +him now; but Lord! the fellow 's safe enough out of the county by this +time, if he skipped the way I advised him he 'd better. There was an +extra ore train goin' down to Bolton to-night, and he just had time to +catch it on the run." + +The dramatic situation slowly dawned on Winston while the clerk was +speaking. + +"Do you mean to tell me Albrecht has actually skipped out?" he +questioned, anxiously. "Did he leave any money?" + +"Sure; he paid your folks' board till Monday. You bet I looked after +that." + +"Board till Monday!" and Winston totally forgot himself. "That is n't +salary, man; there is something infernally dirty about this whole deal. +Why, he took in over three thousand dollars to-night, and he's got all +of that, and at least a week's receipts besides--the infernal cur! Was +he alone?" + +"Tall fellow with clipped black moustache, and bald head." + +"Lane; I expected as much; they're birds of a feather. When can they +get out of the Junction?" + +"Well, the first train scheduled goes east at four o'clock, but it 's +generally late." + +Winston walked twice across the floor, alternately swearing and +thinking. + +"Is there any way I could get there before that time?" he questioned, +finally, his square jaw setting firm. + +"Well, I reckon you might, by goin' hossback across the old trail, but +you 'd need to have a guide in the dark, and you 'd find it a hell of a +hard ride." + +The young engineer stood a moment staring out of the window into the +night. The street was well illumined by the numerous saloon lights, +and he could perceive scattering flakes of snow in the air, blown about +by the gusty wind. He no longer felt the slightest doubt regarding +Albrecht's desertion, and a wave of indignation swept over him. He did +not greatly care himself regarding the small amount of money due for +his services, but it was a dirty, contemptible trick, and he resented +being so easily made the victim of such a scheme. Suddenly he wondered +how this unexpected occurrence might affect the others. With one of +them alone in mind he strode back to the counter, his teeth clinched +savagely. + +"What is the number of Miss Norvell's room?" + +"Fifty-four--first door to the right of the stairs." + +He took the steep flight of steps at a run, caught a glimpse of dimly +reflected light shining through the closed transom, and rapped sharply. +There was a hurried movement within, and her voice spoke. + +"What is wanted?" + +"I am Mr. Winston, and I must speak with you at once." + +His tone was sufficiently low and earnest to make her realize instantly +some grave emergency. Without hesitation the door was held open, and +she stood before him in the faint light of the single lamp, wearing a +fleecy white wrapper, her dark hair partially disarranged, her eyes +seeking his own in bewilderment. + +"What is it?" + +"Are you aware that both Albrecht and Lane have skipped out?" + +"Why, no," her cheeks suddenly paling, her fingers clasping the edge of +the door. "Do you mean they have deserted us here to--to take care of +ourselves?" + +He nodded. "Yes, that's about it. What I came to ask was, does that +fellow owe you any money?" + +For an instant she hesitated, as if in lingering distrust of his exact +purpose, her lips parted, her face still plainly picturing the shock of +discovery. + +"What difference can that possibly make now? Why do you require to +know?" + +"Because I half believe you have been left penniless. Albrecht has not +even spoken about any pay to me since I joined the company; and when I +learned he had deliberately left us stalled here, my first thought was +of your unpleasant situation if my suspicions proved true." + +"If they were, what is there you can do?" + +"The hotel clerk says it is possible to reach the Junction on horseback +before any trains leave there on the main line. I propose to make him +disgorge, but I must know first exactly how things stand. Have you any +money?" + +She stood gazing at him, her anger, shame, all forgotten in the +fascination of Winston's determined face. For the first time she +thoroughly comprehended the cool, compelling power of this man, and it +mastered her completely. She felt no longer the slightest doubt of +what he purposed doing, and her woman heart swelled responsively to his +masculine strength. + +"I--I have n't got a dollar," she confessed simply, her lashes drooping +over her lowered eyes. + +"What does that fellow owe you?" + +"Two hundred and sixty dollars; he has merely dribbled out what little +I have been actually compelled to ask for." + +A moment he remained standing there, breathing hard. Once she ventured +to glance up inquiringly, only to catch his stern eyes, and as +instantly lower her own. + +"All right, Miss Norvell," he said finally, the words seeming fairly to +explode from between his lips. "I understand the situation now, and +you are to remain here until I come back. I 'll get your money, don't +fear, if I have to trail him clear to Denver, but I 'll take what +little the miserable thief owes me out of his hide." + +The next moment he was down below in the office rapidly preparing for +action, and Miss Norvell, leaning far out across the banister, listened +to his quick, nervous words of instruction with an odd thrill of pride +that left her cheeks crimson. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +IN OPEN REBELLION + +"It wus about the durndest fight as ever I see," explained Bill Hicks +confidentially to a group of his cronies in the bar-room of the +Poodle-Dog, while he tossed down a glass of red liquor, and shook the +powdered snowflakes from his bearskin coat. "He wus a sorter slim, +long-legged chap, thet young actor feller I showed the trail down ter +Bolton ter, an' he scurcely spoke a word all durin' thet whol' blame +ride. Search me, gents, if I c'd git either head er tail outer jist +whut he wus up to, only thet he proposed ter knock ther block off some +feller if he had the good luck ter ketch 'im. Somehow, I reckoned he +'d be mighty likely ter perform the job, the way his jaw set an' his +eyes flared. Leastwise, I didn't possess no rip-roarin' ambition fer +ter be thet other feller. Still, I didn't suppose he was no whirlwind." + +Bill mechanically held out his drained glass, and, warming up somewhat, +flung his discarded overcoat across a vacant bench, his eyes beginning +to glow with reawakened enthusiasm. + +"But, by gory, he wus! He wus simply chain lightnin', thet kid, an' +the way he handed out his dukes wus a sight fer sore eyes. I got onto +the facts sorter slow like, neither of us bein' much on the converse, +but afore we hed reached Bolton I managed to savvy the most of it. It +seems thet feller Albrecht--the big, cock-eyed cuss who played Damon, +ye recollect, gents--wus the boss of the show. He wus the Grand Moke, +an' held the spuds. Well, he an' thet one they call Lane jumped the +ore train last night, carryin' with 'em 'bout all the specie they'd +been corrallin' fer a week past, and started hot-foot fer Denver, +intendin' ter leave all them other actor people in the soup. This yere +lad hed got onter the racket somehow, an' say, he wus plumb mad; he wus +too damn mad ter talk, an' when they git thet fur gone it's 'bout time +fer the innocent spectator ter move back outen range. So he lassoed me +down at Gary's barn fer ter show him the ol' trail, an' we had one hell +of a night's ride of it. But, gents, I would n't o' missed bein' thar +fer a heap. It was a great scrape let me tell you. We never see hide +ner hair of thet Albrecht or his partner till jist afore the main-line +train pulled in goin' north. The choo-choo wus mighty nigh two hours +late, so it wus fair daylight by then, an' we got a good sight o' them +two fellers a-leggin' it toward the station from out the crick bottom, +whar they 'd been layin' low. They wus both husky-lookin' bucks, an' I +was sufficient interested by then ter offer ter sorter hold one of 'em +while the kid polished off the other. But Lord! that wan't his style, +no how, and he just politely told me ter go plumb ter hell, an' then +waltzed out alone without nary a gun in his fist. He wus purty white +round the lips, but I reckon it wus only mad, fur thar wus n't nothin' +weak about his voice, an' the way he lambasted thet thief wus a caution +ter snakes. Say, I 've heerd some considerable ornate language in my +time, but thet kid had a cinch on the dictionary all right, an' he read +them two ducks the riot act good an' plenty. Thet long-legged Lane, he +did n't have no sand, an' hung back and did n't say much, but the other +feller tried every sneakin' trick a thief knows, only he bucked up agin +a stone wall every time. Thet young feller just simply slathered him; +he called him every name I ever heerd, an' some considerable others, +an' finally, when the train was a-pullin' in, the cuss unlimbered his +wad, an' began peelin' off the tens an' twenties till I thought the +whole show wus over fer sure. But Lord! I didn't know thet kid--no +more did thet Albrecht." + +Hicks wet his lips with his tongue, pausing, after the manner of a good +_raconteur_, to gaze calmly about upon the faces of his auditors. + +"I could n't see jist how much the feller disgorged, but he wus +almighty reluctant an' nifty about it; an' then I heerd him say, +sneerin'-like, 'Now, damn yer, how much more do _you_ want?' An', +gents, what do yer think thet actor kid did? Cop ther whole blame +pile? Not on yer whiskers, he didn't. He jist shoved them scads +what hed been given him careless-like down inter his coat pocket, an' +faced Mister Manager. 'Not a dirty penny, Albrecht,' he said, sorter +soft-like; 'I 'm a-goin' to take whut yer owe me out of yer right now.' +An', by gory, gents, he sure did. I can't say as how I see much o' the +fracas, 'ceptin' the dust, but when thet long-legged Lane jerked out a +pearl-handled pop-gun I jist naturally rapped him over the knuckles +with my '45.' an' then tossed him over inter the bunch. Say, thet beat +any three-ringed circus ever I see. The kid he pounded Albrecht's head +on the platform, occasionally interestin' Lane by kickin' him in the +stomick, while I jist waltzed 'round promiscous-like without seein' no +special occasion to take holt anywhar. I reckon they 'd a been thar +yit, if the train hands had n't pried 'em apart, an' loaded the remains +onter a keer. An' then thet actor kid he stood thar lookin' fust at +me, an' then after them keers. 'Hicks,' he panted, 'did I git fifty +dollars' worth?' 'I rather reckon ye did,' I said, thoughtfully, 'en +maybe it mought be a hundred.' An' then he laughed, an' brushed the +dust off his clothes. 'All right, then,' says he; 'let's eat.' An' I +never see no nicer feller after he got thet load offen his mind." + +Winston, totally unconscious that he had thus achieved an enviable +reputation in certain rather exclusive social circles of San Juan, +proceeded straight to the hotel, pausing merely a moment in the +wash-room to make himself a trifle more presentable, tramped up the +stairs, and rapped briskly at Miss Norvell's door. He was still +flushed with victory, while the natural confidence felt in her +appreciation of his efforts yielded him a sense of exhilaration not +easily concealed. The door was promptly opened, and, with her first +glance, she read the success of his mission pictured within his face. +As instantly her eyes smiled, and her hand was extended in the +cordiality of welcome. + +"I can perceive without a word being spoken that you discovered your +man," she exclaimed, "and I am so glad!" + +"Yes," he returned, stepping past, and emptying his pockets on the +white coverlet of the bed. "There is the money." + +She glanced at the pile doubtfully. + +"What money?" + +"Why, yours, of course. The money you told me Albrecht owed you." + +She turned, somewhat embarrassed, her eyes upon his surprised face. + +"Do you mean that was all you got?" she questioned finally. "Did he +send nothing for the others? Did n't you know he was equally in debt +to every member of the company?" + +With these words the entire situation dawned upon him for the first +time. He had been thinking only about Miss Norvell, and had permitted +the rascally manager to escape with the greater portion of his stolen +goods. The realization of how easily he had been tricked angered him, +his face darkening. She read the truth as quickly, and, before he +found speech in explanation, had swept the little pile of loose bills +into her lap. + +"Wait here a moment, please," she exclaimed quickly; "I shall be right +back." + +He remained as bidden, wondering dimly as to her purpose, yet her brief +absence yielded but little opportunity for thought. He met her at the +door with an indignantly suspicious question: + +"What have you been doing? Surely, you have n't given all that money +away?" + +The girl smiled, a gleam of defiance visible in the uplifted eyes. + +"Every cent of it. Why, what else could I do? They actually have +nothing, and must get back to Denver or starve." + +For an instant he completely lost his self-control. + +"Why did n't you tell me first?" he asked sharply. "Did you suppose I +collected my own money, and could therefore meet your expenses?" + +He never forgot the expression which swept instantly into her face--the +quick indignation that leaped from the depths of those dark eyes. + +"I was not aware I had ever requested any help from Mr. Winston," she +returned clearly, her slight form held erect. "Your following after +Albrecht was entirely voluntary, but I naturally presumed the money you +brought back belonged to me. You said it did, and hence I supposed it +could be disposed of at my own discretion." + +"You have exhibited none." + +"That would seem to depend entirely upon the point of view. Until I +request your aid, however, your criticism is not desired." + +Both voice and manner were so cold that they were equivalent to +dismissal, but Winston hesitated, already beginning to regret the +bitter harshness of his speech. Beneath his steady gaze her cheeks +flamed hotly. + +"We have been friends," he began more humbly. "Would you mind telling +me something regarding your plans? Just now I feel unable to offer you +either aid or advice." + +Her face perceptibly brightened, as if this new mood quickly appealed +to her. + +"That sounds ever so much better," she admitted, glancing up into his +face. "I have never enjoyed being scolded, as though I were a child +who had done wrong. Besides, I am quite convinced in this case I have +done precisely right. I think you would admit it also if you only had +patience to hear my story. I know exactly what I intend doing, or I +should never have given all that money away. I have an engagement." + +"An engagement? Where? Is there another troupe playing here?" + +She shrugged her shoulders, her hands clasped. + +"No, not in the sense you mean; not the legitimate. I am going to +appear at the Gayety." + +Winston stood grasping the back of the chair, staring straight at her, +his body motionless. For an instant he was conscious of a sudden +revulsion of feeling, a vague distrust of her true character, a doubt +of the real nature of this perverse personality. Such a resolution on +her part shocked him with its recklessness. Either she did not in the +least appreciate what such action meant, or else she woefully lacked in +moral judgment. Slowly, those shadowed dark eyes were uplifted to his +face, as if his very silence had awakened alarm. Yet she merely smiled +at the gravity of his look, shaking her dark hair in coquettish disdain. + +"Again you apparently disapprove," she said with pretence of +carelessness. "How easily I succeed in shocking you to-day! Really, a +stranger might imagine I was under particular obligations to ask your +permission for the mere privilege of living. We have known each other +by sight for all of two weeks, and yet your face already speaks of +dictation. Evidently you do not like the Gayety." + +"No; do you?" + +"I?" she replied doubtfully, with a slight movement of the body more +expressive than words. "There are times when necessity, rather than +taste, must control the choice. But truly, since you ask the question, +I do not like the Gayety. It is far too noisy, too dirty, too gaudy, +and too decidedly primitive. But then, beggars may not always be +choosers, you know. I am no bright, scintillating 'star'; I am not +even a mining engineer possessing a bank account in Denver; I am merely +an unknown professional actress, temporarily stranded, and the good +angel of the Gayety offers me twenty dollars a week. That is my +answer." + +The young man flushed to the roots of his fair hair, his teeth meeting +firmly. + +"There is no 'good angel' of the Gayety--the very atmosphere of that +place would soil an angel's wing," he exclaimed hotly. "Besides, you +are not driven by necessity to any such choice. There is another way +out. As you gently suggested, I am a mining engineer possessing a bank +account at Denver. I will most gladly draw a sight draft to-morrow, +and pay your expenses back to that city, if you will only accept my +offer. Is this fair?" + +"Perfectly so; yet supposing I refuse?" + +"And deliberately choose the Gayety instead?" + +"Yes, and deliberately choose the Gayety instead--what then?" + +She asked the momentous question calmly enough, her mouth rigid, her +eyes challenging him to speak the whole truth. He moistened his dry +lips, realizing that he was being forced into an apparently brutal +bluntness he had sincerely hoped to avoid. + +"Then," he replied, with quiet impressiveness, "I fear such deliberate +action would forfeit my respect." + +She went instantly white before the blow of these unexpected words, her +fingers clasping the door, her eyes as full of physical pain as if he +had struck her with clinched hand. + +"Forfeit your respect!" she echoed, the slender figure quivering, the +voice tremulous. "Rather should I forever forfeit my own, were I to +accept your proffer of money." Her form straightened, a slight tinge +of color rising to the cheeks. "You totally mistake my character. I +have never been accustomed to listening to such words, Mr. Winston, nor +do I now believe I merit them. I choose to earn my own living, and I +retain my own self-respect, even although while doing this I am +unfortunate enough to forfeit yours." + +"But, Miss Norvell, do you realize what the Gayety is?" + +"Not being deprived of all my natural powers of observation, I most +certainly believe I do--we were there together last evening." + +She puzzled, confused him, outwardly appearing to trifle with those +matters which seemed to his mind most gravely serious. Yet, his was a +dogged resolution that would not easily confess defeat. + +"Miss Norvell," he began firmly, and in the depth of his earnestness he +touched her hand where it yet clung to the door, "I may, indeed, be +presuming upon an exceedingly brief friendship, but my sole excuse must +be the very serious interest I feel in you, especially in your +undoubted ability and future as an actress. It is always a great +misfortune for any man to repose trust and confidence in the character +of a woman, and then suddenly awaken to discover himself deceived. +Under these circumstances I should be unworthy of friendship did I fail +in plain speaking. To me, your reckless acceptance of this chance +engagement at the Gayety seems inexpressibly degrading; it is a +lowering of every ideal with which my imagination has heretofore +invested your character. I am not puritanical, but I confess having +held you to a higher plane than others of my acquaintance, and I find +it hard to realize my evident mistake. Yet, surely, you cannot fully +comprehend what it is you are choosing, I was with you last night, +true, but I considered it no honor to appear upon _that_ stage, even +with the 'Heart of the World,' and it hurt me even then to behold you +in the midst of such surroundings. But deliberately to take part in +the regular variety bill is a vastly more serious matter. It is almost +a total surrender to evil, and involves a daily and nightly association +with vice which cannot but prove most repugnant to true womanhood. +Surely, you do not know the true nature of this place?" + +"Then tell it to me." + +"I will, and without any mincing of words. The Gayety is a mere +adjunct to the Poodle-Dog saloon and the gambling hell up-stairs. They +are so closely connected that on the stage last evening I could easily +hear the click of ivory chips and the clatter of drinking glasses. One +man owns and controls the entire outfit, and employs for his variety +stage any kind of talent which will please the vicious class to which +he caters. All questioning as to morality is thoroughly eliminated. +Did you comprehend this?" + +The young girl bowed slightly, her face as grave as his own, and again +colorless, the whiteness of her cheeks a marked contrast to her dark +hair. + +"I understood those conditions fully." + +"And yet consented to appear there?" + +She shook back her slightly disarranged hair, and looked him directly +in the eyes, every line of her face stamped with resolve. + +"Mr. Winston, in the first place, I deny your slightest right to +question me in this manner, or to pass moral judgment upon my motives. +I chance to possess a conscience of my own, and your presumption is +almost insulting. While you were absent in pursuit of Albrecht, the +manager of the Gayety, having chanced to learn the straits we were in, +called upon me here with his proposal. It appeared an honorable one, +and the offer was made in a gentlemanly manner. However, I did not +accept at the time, for the plain reason that I had no desire whatever +to appear upon that stage, and in the midst of that unpleasant +environment. I decided to await your return, and learn whether such a +personal sacrifice of pride would be necessary. Now, I believe I +recognize my duty, and am not afraid to perform it, even in the face of +your displeasure. I am going to deliver the parting scene from the +'Heart of the World,' and I do not imagine my auditors will be any the +worse for hearing it. I certainly regret that the Gayety is an adjunct +to a saloon; I should greatly prefer not to appear there, but, +unfortunately, it is the only place offering me work. I may be +compelled to sink a certain false pride in order to accept, but I shall +certainly not sacrifice one iota of my womanhood. You had no cause +even to intimate such a thing." + +"Possibly not; yet had you been my sister I should have said the same." + +"Undoubtedly, for you view this matter entirely from the standpoint of +the polite world, from the outlook of social respectability, where self +rules every action with the question, 'What will others say?' So +should I two years ago, but conditions have somewhat changed my views. +Professional necessity can never afford to be quite so punctilious, +cannot always choose the nature of its environments: the nurse must +care for the injured, however disagreeable the task; the newspaper +woman must cover her assignment, although it takes her amid filth; and +the actress must thoroughly assume her character, in spite of earlier +prejudices. The woman who deliberately chooses this life must, sooner +or later, adjust herself to its unpleasant requirements; and if her +womanhood remain true, the shallow criticism of others cannot greatly +harm her. I had three alternatives in this case--I could selfishly +accept my handful of money, go to Denver, and leave these other +helpless people here to suffer; I could accept assistance from you, a +comparative stranger; or I could aid them and earn my own way by +assuming an unpleasant task. I chose the last, and my sense of right +upholds me." + +Winston watched her earnestly as she spoke, his gray eyes brightening +with unconscious appreciation, his face gradually losing its harshness +of disapproval. A spirit of independence always made quick appeal to +his favor, and this girl's outspoken defiance of his good opinion set +his heart throbbing. Back of her outward quietness of demeanor there +was an untamed spirit flashing into life. + +"We may never exactly agree as to this question of proprieties," he +acknowledged slowly. "Yet I can partially comprehend your position as +viewed professionally. Am I, then, to understand that your future is +definitely decided upon? You really purpose dedicating your life to +dramatic art?" + +She hesitated, her quickly lowered eyes betraying a moment of +embarrassment. + +"Yes," she answered finally. "I am beginning to find myself, to +believe in myself." + +"You expect to find complete satisfaction in this way?" + +"Complete? Oh, no; one never does that, you know, unless, possibly, +the ideals are very low; but more than I can hope to find elsewhere. +Even now I am certainly happier in the work than I have been for +years." She looked up at him quickly, her eyes pleading. "It is not +the glitter, the sham, the applause," she hastened to explain, "but the +real work itself, that attracts and rewards me--the hidden labor of +fitly interpreting character--the hard, secret study after details. +This has become a positive passion, an inspiration. I may never become +the perfected artist of which I sometimes dream, yet it must be that I +have within me a glimmering of that art. I feel it, and cannot remain +false to it." + +"Possibly love may enter to change your plans," he ventured to suggest, +influenced by the constantly changing expression of her face. + +She flushed to the roots of her hair, yet her lips laughed lightly. + +"I imagine such an unexpected occurrence would merely serve to +strengthen them," she replied quickly. "I cannot conceive of any love +so supremely selfish as to retard the development of a worthy ideal. +But really, there is small need yet of discussing such a possibility." + +She stood aside as he made a movement toward the open door, yet, when +he had stepped forth into the hall, she halted him with a sudden +question: + +"Do you intend returning at once to Denver?" + +"No, I shall remain here." + +She said nothing, but he clearly read a farther unasked question in her +face. + +"I remain here, Miss Norvell, while you do. I shall be among your +audiences at the Gayety. I do not altogether agree that your choice +has been a correct one, but I do sincerely believe in you,--in your +motives,--and, whether you desire it or not, I propose to constitute +myself your special guardian. There is likely to be trouble at the +Gayety, if any drunken fool becomes too gay." + +With flushed cheeks she watched him go slowly down the stairway, and +there were tears glistening within those dark eyes as she drew back +into the room and locked the door. A moment she remained looking at +her reflected face in the little mirror, her fingers clinched as if in +pain. + +"Oh, why does n't he go away without my having to tell him?" she cried, +unconsciously aloud. "I--I thought he surely would, this time." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE "LITTLE YANKEE" MINE + +A wide out-jutting wall of rock, uneven and precipitous, completely +shut off all view toward the broader valley of the Vila, as well as of +the town of San Juan, scarcely three miles distant. Beyond its stern +guardianship Echo Canyon stretched grim and desolate, running far back +into the very heart of the gold-ribbed mountains. The canyon, a mere +shapeless gash in the side of the great hills, was deep, long, +undulating, ever twisting about like some immense serpent, its sides +darkened by clinging cedars and bunches of chaparral, and rising in +irregular terraces of partially exposed rock toward a narrow strip of +blue sky. It was a fragment of primitive nature, as wild, gloomy, +desolate, and silent as though never yet explored by man. + +A small clear stream danced and sang over scattered stones at the +bottom of this grim chasm, constantly twisting and curving from wall to +wall, generally half concealed from view by the dense growth of +overhanging bushes shadowing its banks. High up along the brown rock +wall the gleam of the afternoon sun rested warm and golden, but deeper +down within those dismal, forbidding depths there lingered merely a +purple twilight, while patches of white snow yet clung desperately to +the steep surrounding hills, or showered in powdery clouds from off the +laden cedars whenever the disturbing wind came soughing up the gorge. +Early birds were beginning to flit from tree to tree, singing their +welcome to belated Springtime; a fleecy cloud lazily floating far +overhead gave deeper background to the slender strip of over-arching +blue. It all combined to form a nature picture of primeval peace, +rendered peculiarly solemn by those vast ranges of overshadowing +mountains, and more deeply impressive by the grim silence and +loneliness, the seemingly total absence of human life. + +Yet in this the scene was most deceptive. Neither peace nor loneliness +lurked amid those sombre rock shadows; over all was the dominance of +men--primitive, fighting men, rendered almost wholly animal by the +continued hardships of existence, the ceaseless struggle after gold. +The vagrant trail, worn deep between rocks by the constant passage of +men and mules, lay close beside the singing water, while here and there +almost imperceptible branches struck off to left or right, running as +directly as possible up the terraced benches until the final dim traces +were completely lost amid the low-growing cedars. Each one of these +led as straight as nature would permit to some specific spot where men +toiled incessantly for the golden dross, guarding their claims with +loaded rifles, while delving deeper and deeper beneath the mysterious +rocks, ever seeking to make their own the secret hoards of the world's +great storehouse. Countless centuries were being rudely unlocked +through the ceaseless toil of pick and shovel, the green hillsides torn +asunder and disfigured by ever-increasing piles of debris, while +eager-eyed men struggled frantically to obtain the hidden riches of the +rocks. Here and there a rudely constructed log hut, perched with +apparent recklessness upon the brink of the precipice, told the silent +story of a claim, while in other places the smouldering remains of a +camp-fire alone bespoke primitive living. Yet every where along that +upper terrace, where in places the seductive gold streak lay half +uncovered to the sun, were those same yawning holes leading far down +beneath the surface; about them grouped the puny figures of men +performing the labors of Hercules under the galling spur of hope. + +On this higher ledge, slightly beyond a shallow intersecting gorge +shadowed by low-growing cedars, two men reclined upon a rock-dump, +gazing carelessly off six hundred feet sheer down into the gloomy +depths of the canyon below. Just beyond them yawned the black opening +of their shaft-hole, the rude windlass outlined against the gray +background of rock, while somewhat to the left, seemingly overhanging +the edge of the cliff, perched a single-roomed cabin of logs +representing home. This was the "Little Yankee" claim, owners William +Hicks and "Stutter" Brown. The two partners were sitting silent and +idle, a single rifle lying between them on the dump. Hicks was tall, +lank, seamed of face, with twinkling gray eyes, a goat's beard dangling +at his chin to the constant motion of his nervous jaws; and Brown, +twenty years his junior, was a young, sandy-haired giant, limited of +speech, of movement, of thought, with freckled cheeks and a downy +little moustache of decidedly red hue. They had been laboriously +deciphering a letter of considerable length and peculiar illegibility, +and the slow but irascible Stutter had been swearing in disjointed +syllables, his blue eyes glaring angrily across the gully, where +numerous moving figures, conspicuous in blue and red shirts, were +plainly visible about the shaft-hole of the "Independence," the next +claim below them on the ledge. Yet for the moment neither man spoke +otherwise. Finally, shifting uneasily, yet with mind evidently made up +for definite action, Hicks broke the prolonged silence. + +"I was thinkin' it over, Stutter, all the way hoofin' it out yere," he +said, chewing continually on his tobacco, "but sorter reckoned ez how +yer ought ter see the writin' furst, considerin' ez how you're a full +partner in this yere claim. It sorter strikes me thet the lawyer hes +give us the straight tip all right, an' thar 's no other way fer +gittin' the cinch on them ornary fellers over thar," and the speaker +waved his hand toward the distant figures. "Yer see, it's this yere +way, Stutter. You an' I could swar, of course, thet the damned cusses +hed changed the stakes on us more 'n onct, an' thar 's no doubt in our +two minds but what they 're a-followin' out our ore-lead right now, +afore we kin git down ter it. Hell! of course they are--they got the +fust start, an' the men, an' the money back of 'em. We ain't got a +darn thing but our own muscle, an' the rights of it, which latter don't +amount ter two bumps on a log. Fer about three weeks we 've been +watchin' them measly skunks take out our mineral, an' for one I 'm +a-goin' ter quit. I never did knuckle down ter thet sort, an' I 'm too +old now ter begin. The lawyer says ez how we ain't got no legal proof, +an' I reckon it's so. But I 'm damned if I don't git some. Thar ain't +a minin' engineer in San Juan that 'll come up yere fer us. Them +fellers hes got 'em all on the hip; but I reckon, if we hunt long +'nough, we kin find some feller in Colorado with nerve 'nough to tackle +this yere job, an' I 'm a-goin' out gunnin' for jist that man." + +He got to his feet, his obstinate old eyes wandering across the gully, +and the younger man watched him with slow curiosity. + +"How f-f-far you g-g-going, Bill?" he burst forth stutteringly. + +"Denver, if I need to," was the elder's resolute, response. "I 'll +tell ye what I 'm a-goin' ter do, Stutter. I 'm a-goin' ter draw out +every blamed cent we 've got in the bank down at San Juan. 'T ain't +much of a pile, but I reckon it's got ter do the business. Then I 'll +strike out an' hunt till I find a minin' engineer thet 's got a soul of +his own, an' grit 'nough behind it ter root out the facts. I 've been +a-prospecttn' through these here mountings fer thirty years, an' now +thet I 've hit somethin' worth havin', I 'm hanged if I 'm a-goin' ter +lie down meek ez Moses an' see it stole out plumb from under me by a +parcel o' tin-horn gamblers. Not me, by God! If I can't git a cinch +on sich a feller ez I want, then I 'll come back an' blow a hole +through that Farnham down at San Juan. I reckon I 'll go in an' tell +him so afore I start." + +The old man's square jaws set ominously, his gnarled hand dropping +heavily on the butt of the Colt dangling at his hip. + +"You stay right yere, Stutter, on the dump, and don't yer let one o' +them measly sneaks put nary foot on our claim, if yer have ter blow 'em +plumb ter hell. You an' Mike kin tend ter thet all right, an' you bet +I 'm goin' ter have some news fer yer when I git home, my boy." + +He swung around, and strode back along the ledge to the door of the +cabin, reappearing scarcely a moment later with a small bundle in his +hand. + +"Thar 's 'nough grub in thar ter last you an' Mike fer a week yit, an' +I 'll be back afore then, er else planted. _Adios_." + +Brown sat up, his gun resting between his knees, and in silence watched +his partner scrambling down the steep trail. It was not easy for him +to converse, and he therefore never uttered a word unless the situation +demanded the sacrifice. He could swear, however, with considerable +fluency, but just now even that relief seemed inadequate. Finally, the +older man disappeared behind the scrub, and, except for those more +distant figures about the dump of the "Independence," the blond giant +remained apparently alone. But Stutter had long ago become habituated +to loneliness; the one condition likely to worry him was lack of +occupation. He scrambled to his feet and climbed the dump, until able +to lean far over and look down into the black mouth of the uncovered +shaft. + +"Got yer b-b-bucket full, M-M-Mike?" he questioned, sending his deep, +sputtering voice far down into the depths below. + +"Oi have thot," came the disgusted response from out the darkness. "Ye +measly spalpeen, ain't Oi bin shakin' of the rope fer twinty minutes? +Oi tought maybe ye'd run off an' left me to rot down in the hole. Whut +'s up now, ye freckled-face ilephant, yer?" + +Brown indulged in a cautious glance about, then stuck his almost boyish +face farther down within the safety of the hole before venturing an +explanation. + +"B-B-Bill's g-gone to find s-s-some engi-n-neer w-with nerve 'nough ter +r-r-run our lines," he managed to spit out disjointedly. "S-s-says +he'll go plumb ter Denver 'fore he 'll g-g-give up, an' if he d-don't +f-find any sich he 'll c-c-come back an' p-p-perforate F-F-Farnham." + +"Bedad!" a tinge of unrestrained delight apparent in the sudden roar, +"an' was he hot?" + +"H-he sure was. He m-m-m-meant business all r-right, an' hed f-f-forty +rounds b-b-buckled on him. H-here goes, Mike," and Brown grasped the +warped handle of the windlass and began to grind slowly, coiling the +heavy rope, layer upon layer, around the straining drum. He brought +the huge ore-bucket to the surface, dumped its load of rock over the +edge of the shaft-hole, and had permitted it to run down swiftly to the +waiting Mike, when a slight noise behind sent the man whirling suddenly +about, his hand instinctively reaching forth toward the discarded but +ready rifle. A moment he stared, incredulous, at the strange vision +fronting him, his face quickly reddening from embarrassment, his eyes +irresolute and puzzled. Scarcely ten feet away, a woman, rather +brightly attired and apparently very much at her ease, sat upon a +rather diminutive pony, her red lips curved in lines of laughter, +evidently no little amused at thus startling him. Brown realized that +she was young and pretty, with jet black, curling hair, and eyes of the +same color, her skin peculiarly white and clear, while she rode man +fashion, her lower limbs daintily encased within leggings of buckskin. +She had carelessly dropped her reins upon the high pommel of the +saddle, and as their glances fairly met, she laughed outright. + +"You mooch frighten, senor, and you so ver' big. It make me joy." Her +broken English was oddly attractive. "Poof! los Americanos not all +find me so ver' ter'ble." + +Stutter Brown ground his white teeth together savagely, his short red +moustache bristling. He was quite young, never greatly accustomed to +companionship with the gentler sex, and of a disposition strongly +opposed to being laughed at. Besides, he felt seriously his grave +deficiencies of speech. + +"I-I-I was s-sorter expectin' a-a-another kind of c-c-caller," he +stuttered desperately, in explanation, every freckle standing out in +prominence, "an' th-th-thought m-m-maybe somebody 'd g-g-got the d-drop +on me." + +The girl only laughed again, her black eyes sparkling. Yet beneath his +steady, questioning gaze her face slightly sobered, a faint flush +becoming apparent in either cheek. + +"You talk so ver' funny, senor; you so big like de tree, an' say vords +dat vay; it make me forget an' laf. You moost not care just for me. +Pah! but it vas fight all de time vid you, was n't it, senor? Biff, +bang, kill; ver' bad," and she clapped her gauntleted hands together +sharply. "But not me; I vas only girl; no gun, no knife--see. I just +like know more 'bout mine--Americano's mine; you show me how it vork. +_Sabe_?" + +Stutter appeared puzzled, doubtful. + +"Mexicana?" he questioned, kicking a piece of rock with his heavy boot. + +"Si, senor, but I speak de English ver' good. I Mercedes Morales, an' +I like ver' much de brav' Americanos. I like de red hair, too, +senor--in Mexico it all de same color like dis," and she shook out her +own curling ebon locks in sudden shower. "I tink de red hair vas more +beautiful." + +Mr. Brown was not greatly accustomed to having his rather fiery +top-knot thus openly referred to in tones of evident admiration. It +was a subject he naturally felt somewhat sensitive about, and in spite +of the open honesty of the young girl's face, he could not help +doubting for a moment the sincerity of her speech. + +"L-l-like f-fun yer do," he growled uneasily. "A-a-anyhow, whut are +yer d-d-doin' yere?" + +For answer she very promptly swung one neatly booted foot over and +dropped lightly to the ground, thus revealing her slender figure. Her +most notable beauty was the liquid blackness of her eyes. + +"Si, I tell you all dat ver' quick, senor," she explained frankly, +nipping the rock-pile with her riding whip, and bending over to peer, +with undisguised curiosity, into the yawning shaft-hole. "I ride out +from San Juan for vat you call constitutional--mercy, such a vord, +senor!--an' I stray up dis trail. See? It vas most steep, my, so +steep, like I slide off; but de mustang he climb de hill, all right, +an' den I see you, senor, an' know dere vas a mine here. Not de big +mine--bah! I care not for dat kind--but just one leetle mine, vere I +no be 'fraid to go down. Den I look at you, so big, vid de beautiful +red hair, an' de kin' face, an' I sink he vood let me see how dey do +such tings--he vas nice fellow, if he vas all mud on de clothes. Si, +for I know nice fellow, do I not, _amigo_? _Si, bueno_. So you vill +show to me how de brav' Americanos dig out de yellow gold, senor?" + +She flashed her tempting glance up into the man's face, and Brown +stamped his feet nervously, endeavoring to appear stern. + +"C-c-could n't h-hardly do it, m-m-miss. It 's t-too blame dirty +d-d-down below fer y-your sort. B-b-besides, my p-pardner ain't yere, +an' he m-m-might not l-like it." + +"You haf de pardner? Who vas de pardner?" + +"H-h-his name's H-H-Hicks." + +She clasped her hands in an ecstasy of unrestrained delight. + +"Beell Heeks? Oh, senor, I know Beell Heeks. He vas ver' nice fellow, +too--but no so pretty like you; he old man an' swear--Holy Mother, how +he swear! He tol' me once come out any time an' see hees mine. I not +know vere it vas before. Maybe de angels show me. You vas vat Beell +call Stutter Brown, I tink maybe? Ah, now it be all right, senor. +_Bueno_!" + +She laid her gauntleted hand softly on the rough sleeve of his woollen +shirt, her black, appealing eyes flashing suddenly up into his troubled +face. + +"I moost laugh, senor; such a brav' Americano 'fraid of de girl. Why +not you shoot me?" + +"A-a-afraid nothin'," and Stutter's freckled face became instantly as +rosy as his admired hair, "b-but I t-tell ye, miss, it's a-a-all d-dirt +down th-there, an' not f-f-fit fer no lady ter t-t-traipse round in." + +The temptress, never once doubting her power, smiled most bewitchingly, +her hands eloquent. + +"You vas good boy, just like I tink; I wear dis ol' coat--see; an' den +I turn up de skirt, so. I no 'fraid de dirt. Now, vat you say, senor? +_Bueno_?" + +Thus speaking, she seized upon the discarded and somewhat disreputable +garment, flung it carelessly about her shapely shoulders, shrugging +them coquettishly, her great eyes shyly uplifting to his relenting +face, and began swiftly to fasten up her already short dress in +disregard of the exposure of trim ankles. The agitated Mr. Brown +coughed, his uneasy glances straying down the open shaft. He would +gladly, and with extreme promptness, have shoved the cold muzzle of his +Colt beneath the nose of any man at such moment of trial; but this +young girl, with a glance and a laugh, had totally disarmed him. +Disturbed conscience, a feeling akin to disloyalty, pricked him, but +the temptation left him powerless to resist--those black eyes held him +already captive; and yet in this moment of wavering indecision, that +teasing hand once again rested lightly upon his shirt-sleeve. + +"Please do dat, senor," the voice low and pleading. "It vas not ver' +mooch just to let a girl see your leetle mine. What harm, senor? But +maybe it's so because you no like me?" + +Startled by so unjust a suspicion, the eyes of the young giant +instantly revealed a degree of interest which caused her own to light +up suddenly, her red lips parting in a quick, appreciative smile which +disclosed the white teeth. + +"Ah, I see it vas not dat. Eet make glad de heart--make eet to sing +like de birds. Now I know eet vill be as I vish. How do I get down, +senor?" + +Thus easily driven from his last weak entrenchments, his heart +fluttering to the seduction of her suggestive glance, the embarrassed +Stutter made unconditional surrender, a gruff oath growling in his +throat. He leaned out over the dark shaft, his supporting hand on the +drum. + +"Come u-u-up, M-M-Mike," he called, rattling his letters like +castanets. "I w-w-want to g-go d-d-down." + +There followed a sound of falling rocks below, a fierce shaking of the +suspended rope, and then a muffled voice sang out an order, "H'ist +away, and be dommed ter yer." Brown devoted himself assiduously to the +creaking windlass, although never able entirely to remove his attention +from that bright-robed, slender figure standing so closely at his side. +For one brief second he vaguely wondered if she could be a witch, and +he looked furtively aside, only to perceive her bright eyes smiling +happily at him. Then suddenly a totally bald head shot up through the +opening, a seamed face the color of parchment, with squinting gray +eyes, peered suspiciously about, while a gnarled hand reached forth, +grasped a post in support, and dragged out into the sunlight a short, +sturdy body. Mike straightened up, with a peculiar jerk, on the dump, +spat viciously over the edge of the canyon, and drew a short, black +pipe from out a convenient pocket in his shirt. He made no audible +comment, but stood, his back planted to the two watchers; and Stutter +cleared his throat noisily. + +"Th-th-this l-l-lady wants ter s-s-see how we m-m-mine," he explained +in painful embarrassment, "a-an' I th-th-thought I 'd t-take her +d-d-down if you 'd w-work the w-w-windlass a b-bit." + +Old Mike turned slowly around and fronted the two, his screwed-up eyes +on the girl, while with great deliberation he drew a match along the +leg of his canvas trousers. + +"Onything to oblige ye," he said gruffly. "Always ready to hilp the +ladies--be me sowl, Oi've married three of thim already. An' wus this +Hicks's orthers, Stutter?" + +"N-n-no, not exactly," Brown admitted, with evident reluctance. "B-but +ye s-s-see, she's a g-great friend o' B-B-Bill's, an' so I reckon it +'ll be all r-right. Don't s-see how n-no harm kin be d-d-done." + +The pessimistic Michael slowly blew a cloud of pungent smoke into the +air, sucking hard at his pipe-stem, and laid his rough hands on the +windlass handle. + +"None o' my dommed funeral, beggin' yer pardon, miss," he condescended +to mutter in slight apology. "Long as the pay goes on, Oi 'd jist as +soon work on top as down below. H'ist the female into the bucket, ye +overgrown dood!" + +Stutter Brown, still nervous from recurring doubts, awkwardly assisted +his vivacious charge to attain safe footing, anxiously bade her hold +firmly to the swaying rope, and stood, carefully steadying the line as +it slowly disappeared, hypnotized still by those marvellous black eyes, +which continued to peer up at him until they vanished within the +darkness. Leaning far over to listen, the young miner heard the bucket +touch bottom, and then, with a quick word of warning to the man +grasping the handle, he swung himself out on the taut rope, and went +swiftly down, hand over hand. Mike, still grumbling huskily to +himself, waited until the windlass ceased vibrating, securely anchored +the handle with a strip of raw-hide, and composedly sat down, his teeth +set firmly on the pipe-stem, his eyes already half closed. It was an +obstinate, mulish old face, seamed and creased, the bright sunlight +rendering more manifest the leather-like skin, the marvellous network +of wrinkles about eyes and mouth. Not being paid for thought, the old +fellow now contented himself with dozing, quite confident of not being +quickly disturbed. + +In this he was right. The two were below for fully an hour, while +above them Mike leaned with back comfortably propped against the +windlass in perfect contentment, and the hobbled pony peacefully +cropped the short grass along the ledge. Then the brooding silence was +abruptly broken by a voice rising from out the depths of the shaft, +while a vigorous shaking of the dangling rope caused the windlass to +vibrate sharply. Old Mike, with great deliberation stowing away his +pipe, unslipped the raw-hide, and, calmly indifferent to all else +except his necessary labor, slowly hauled the girl to the surface. She +was radiant, her eyes glowing from the excitement of unusual adventure, +and scrambled forth from the dangling bucket without awaiting +assistance. Before Brown attained to the surface, the lady had safely +captured the straying pony and swung herself lightly into the saddle. +Squaring his broad shoulders with surprise as he came out, his face +flushed, his lips set firm, the young giant laid restraining fingers on +her gloved hand. + +"Y-y-you really m-mean it?" he asked, eagerly, as though fearing the +return to daylight might already have altered her decision. "C-can I +c-call on you wh-wh-where you s-s-said?" + +She smiled sweetly down at him, her eyes picturing undisguised +admiration of his generous proportions, and frank, boyish face. + +"Si, si, senor. _Sapristi_, why not? 'T is I, rather, who 'fraid you +forget to come." + +"Y-you n-need n't be," he stammered, coloring. "S-senorita, I sh-shall +never f-f-forget this day." + +"_Quien sabe_?--poof! no more vill I; but now, _adios_, senor." + +She touched her pony's side sharply with the whip, and, standing +motionless, Stutter watched them disappear over the abrupt ledge. Once +she glanced shyly back, with a little seductive wave of the gauntleted +hand, and then suddenly dropped completely out of view down the steep +descent of the trail. Old Mike struck another match, and held the tiny +flame to his pipe-bowl. + +"An' it's hell ye played the day," he remarked reflectively, his eyes +glowing gloomily. + +The younger man wheeled suddenly about and faced him. + +"Wh-what do ye m-m-mean?" + +"Jist the same whut I said, Stutter. Ye 're a broight one, ye are. +That's the Mexican dancer down at the Gayety at San Juan, no less; and +it's dollars to doughnuts, me bye, that that dom Farnham sint her out +here to take a peek at us. It wud be loike the slippery cuss, an' I +hear the two of thim are moighty chummy." + +And Stutter Brown, his huge fists clinched in anger, looked off into +the dark valley below, and, forgetting his affliction of speech, swore +like a man. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A DISMISSAL + +The far from gentle orchestra at the Gayety was playing with a vivacity +which set the pulses leaping, while the densely packed audience, +scarcely breathing from intensity of awakened interest, were focussing +their eager eyes upon a slender, scarlet-robed figure, an enveloping +cloud of gossamer floating mistily about her, her black hair and eyes +vividly contrasting against the clear whiteness of her skin, as she +yielded herself completely to the strange convolutions of her weird +dance. The wide stage was a yellow flood of light, and she the very +witch of motion. This was her third encore, but, as wildly grotesque +as ever, her full skirts shimmering in the glare of the foot-lights, +her tripping feet barely touching the sanded floor, her young, supple +figure, light as a fairy, weaving in the perfect rhythm of music, the +tireless child of Mexico leaped and spun, wheeled and twirled,--at +times apparently floated upon the very air, her bare white arms +extended, her wonderful eyes blazing from the exhilaration of this +moment of supreme triumph. + +Beth Norvell, neatly gowned for the street, her own more sedate +performance already concluded, had paused for a single curious instant +in the shadow of the wings, and remained looking out upon that scarlet +figure, flitting here and there like some tropical bird, through the +gaudy glare of the stage. Winston, waiting patiently for twenty +minutes amid the denser gloom just inside the stage door, watched the +young girl's unconsciously interested face, wondering alike at both +himself and her. This entire adventure remained an unsolved problem to +his mystified mind--how it was she yet continued to retain his +interest; why it was he could never wholly succeed in divorcing her +from his life. He endeavored now to imagine her a mere ordinary woman +of the stage, whom he might idly flirt with to-night, and quite as +easily forget to-morrow. Yet from some cause the mind failed to +respond to such suggestion. There was something within the calm, +womanly face as revealed beneath the reflection of garish light, +something in the very poise of the slender figure bending slightly +forward in aroused enthusiasm, which compelled his respect, aroused his +admiration. She was not a common woman, and he could not succeed in +blinding himself to that fact. Even the garish, cheap environments, +the glitter and tinsel, the noise and brutality, had utterly failed to +tarnish Beth Norvell. She stood forth different, distinct, a perfectly +developed flower, rarely beautiful, although blooming in muck that was +overgrown with noxious weeds. Winston remained clearly conscious that +some peculiar essence of her native character had mysteriously perfumed +the whole place--it glorified her slight bit of stage work, and had +already indelibly impressed itself upon those rough, boisterous Western +spirits out in front. Before her parting lips uttered a line she had +thoroughly mastered them, the innate purity of her perfected womanhood, +the evident innocence of her purpose, shielding her against all +indecency and insult. The ribald scoffing, the insolent shuffling of +feet, the half-drunken uneasiness, ceased as if by magic; and as her +simple act proceeded, the stillness out in front became positively +solemn, the startled faces picturing an awakening to higher things. It +was a triumph far exceeding the noisy outburst that greeted the +Mexican--a moral victory over unrestrained lawlessness won simply by +true womanliness, unaided and alone. That earlier scene had brought to +Winston a deeper realization of this girl's genius, a fresher +appreciation of the true worth of her esteem. No struggle of heart or +head could ever again lower her in his secret thought to the common +level. + +The swinging strains of the dancer's accompaniment concluded with a +blare of noisy triumph, the mad enthusiasts out in front wildly +shouting her name above the frantic din of applause, while, flushed and +panting, the agile Mexican dancer swept into the darkened wings like a +scarlet bird. + +"Ah, de Americana!" she exclaimed, her eyes yet blazing from +excitement, poising herself directly in front of her silent watcher. +"Senorita, it ees not de same as yours--dey like you, si; but dey lofe +Mercedes." + +Miss Norvell smiled gently, her gaze on the other's flushed, childish +face, and extended her hand. + +"There seems ample room for both of us," she replied, pleasantly, "yet +your dancing is truly wonderful. It is an art, and you must let me +thank you." + +It is difficult to understand why, but the untamed, passionate girl, +stung in some mysterious manner by these quietly spoken words of +appreciation, instantly drew her slight form erect. + +"You nevar forget you not one of us, do you?" she questioned in sudden +bitterness of spirit. "Pah! maybe you tink I care what you like. I +dance because I lofe to; because it sets my blood on fire. I no care +for all your airs of fine lady." + +"I exceedingly regret you should feel so. I certainly spoke in +kindness and appreciation. Would you permit me to pass?" + +The angry young Mexican swept back her scarlet skirts as though in +disdain, her white shoulders uplifted. She did not know why she felt +thus vindictive; to save her soul she could not have told the reason, +yet deep down within her passionate heart there existed a hatred for +this white, silent American, whose slightest word sounded to her like +rebuke. She stood there still, watching suspiciously, smouldering +dislike burning in her black eyes, when Winston suddenly stepped from +the concealing shadows with a word of unexpected greeting. She noticed +the sudden flush sweep into Miss Norvell's cheek, the quick uplifting +of her eyes, the almost instant drooping again of veiling lashes, and, +quickly comprehending it all, stepped promptly forward just far enough +to obtain a clear view of the young man's face. The next moment the +two had vanished into the night without. Mercedes laughed unpleasantly +to herself, her white teeth gleaming. + +"Ah, Merciful Mother! so my ver' fine lady has found herself a lofer +here already. _Sapristi_, an' he is well worth lookin' at! I vill ask +of de stage manager his name." + +Outside, beneath the faint glimmer of the stars, Winston offered his +arm, and Miss Norvell accepted it silently. It was no more than a +short stroll to the hotel, and the street at that particular hour was +sufficiently deserted, so the young man rather keenly felt the evident +constraint of his companion. It impressed him as unnatural, and he +felt inclined to attribute her state of mind to the unpleasant scene he +had just beheld. + +"Senorita Mercedes does not appear very kindly disposed toward you," he +ventured. "Have you quarrelled already?" + +"You refer to the Mexican dancer?" she questioned, glancing aside at +him curiously. "Really, I did not remember having heard the girl's +name mentioned before. Do you know her?" + +"Only as she is announced on the bills, and having seen her dance from +the front of the house. She is certainly a true artist in her line, +the most expert I recall ever having seen. What has ever made her your +enemy?" + +"I am sure I do not know. Her words were a complete surprise; I was +too greatly astonished even to resent them. I have never spoken to the +girl until to-night, and then merely uttered a sentence of sincere +congratulation. She is extremely pretty, and it seems quite too bad +she should be compelled to lead such a life. She does not appear older +than seventeen." + +He glanced about at her in surprise. + +"Such a life," he echoed, recklessly. "So then you actually pity +others while remaining totally unconcerned regarding yourself?" + +"Oh, no; you greatly mistake, or else wilfully misconstrue. I am not +unconcerned, yet there is a very wide difference, I am sure. This girl +is at the Gayety from deliberate choice; she as much as told me so. +She is in love with that sort of life. Probably she has never known +anything better, while I am merely fighting out a bit of hard luck, +and, within two weeks, at the longest, shall again be free. Surely, +you cannot hint that we stand upon the same level." + +"God forbid!" fervently. "Yet just as sincerely I wish you did not +deem it necessary to remain for even that brief length of time. It is +a shock to me to realize your intimate association with such depraved +characters. You are surely aware that my purse remains at your +disposal, if you will only cut the whole thing." + +She lifted her eyes reproachfully to his face. + +"Yes, I know; and possibly you are justified according to your code for +feeling in that way. But I do not believe I am becoming in the least +contaminated by evil associations, nor do I feel any lowering of moral +ideals. I am doing what I imagine to be right under the circumstances, +and have already given you my final decision, as well as my reason for +it. You say 'such depraved characters.' Can you refer to this +Mercedes? Strange as it may seem, I confess feeling an interest in +this beautiful Mexican girl. What is it you know regarding her?" + +The young man impulsively started to speak, but as instantly paused. +An instinctive dread of uttering those plain words he would much prefer +she should never hear served to soften his language. + +"There is not a great deal of reserve about the Gayety," he explained +lightly, "and indiscriminate gossip is a part of its advertising +equipment. As to Senorita Mercedes, my only informant is common rumor +out in front. That connects her name quite familiarly with one of the +proprietors of the gambling rooms." + +"You have no reason to know this?" + +"None whatever. As I say, it has come to me in the form of common +rumor. The man referred to is the special faro expert, a fellow named +Farnham." + +Miss Norvell started violently, her fingers clutching his arm as if to +keep her body from falling, her face grown suddenly white. + +"Farnham, did you say? What--what Farnham?" + +"I believe I have heard him familiarly spoken of as 'Biff.'" + +"Here? Here in San Juan? 'Biff' Farnham here?" The startled words +appeared to stick in the swelling white throat, and she stood staring +at him, her slender figure swaying as though he had struck her a +physical blow. "Oh, I never knew that!" + +Winston, shocked and surprised by this unexpected outburst, did not +speak, his face slowly hardening to the dim suspicion thus suddenly +aroused by her agitation and her impetuous exclamation. She must have +taken instant warning from the expression of his eyes, for, with an +effort, she faced him in regained calmness, a slight tremor in her low +voice alone betraying the lack of complete self-control. + +"Your information certainly startled me greatly," she exclaimed slowly. +"It was so unexpected, and so much has happened of late to affect my +nerves." + +They walked on in silence, and as he ventured to glance aside at her, +uncertain regarding his future course, her eyes were lowered and hidden +behind the drooping lashes. + +"And is that all?" he asked. + +"All? Why, what more is there?" + +He compressed his lips, striving not to exhibit openly his impatience. + +"Nothing, of course," he acquiesced quietly, "if the lady prefers +keeping silent. Only, as matters now stand, the result may prove an +unpleasant misunderstanding." + +They were now at the bottom of the few steps leading up toward the +hotel entrance, and Miss Norvell, removing her hand from the support of +his arm, stood before him outwardly calm. + +"Beyond doubt, you refer to my apparent surprise at first hearing Mr. +Farnham's name mentioned?" + +He bowed quietly, again fascinated and disarmed by the revelation in +those dark eyes. + +"The explanation is quite simple," and the voice exhibited a touch of +coolness easily perceptible. "I chanced to be somewhat acquainted with +this man in the East before--well, before he became a gambler. Of +course, I do not know him now, have not the slightest desire to do so, +but the sudden information that he was actually here, and--and all the +rest--came to me with a shock. Is that sufficient?" + +The young man was unsatisfied, and, without doubt, his face quite +clearly exhibited his true feeling. Yet there was that about her +constrained manner which held him to respectful silence, so that for a +moment the hesitation between them grew almost painful. Miss Norvell, +realizing this new danger, struggled weakly against sudden temptation +to throw herself unreservedly upon the mercy of this new friend, +confide wholly in him, accept his proffered aid, and flee from possible +coming trouble. But pride proved even stronger than fear, and her lips +closed in firm resolution. + +"Mr. Winston," she said, and now her eyes were uplifted unfaltering to +his own. "I find myself obliged to speak with a frankness I have hoped +to avoid. It was never my desire that you should call for me at the +theatre to-night." + +"Indeed?" His surprised tone clearly exhibited the sudden hurt of the +wound. + +"Yes; yet, pray do not misunderstand me. I find it exceedingly +difficult to say this, and I confess I have even prayed that you would +be led to go away voluntarily, and without its being necessary for me +to appear discourteous. I appreciate your kindness, your gentlemanly +conduct. I--I greatly value your friendship, prize it more highly, +possibly, than you will ever be able to realize; yet, believe me, there +are reasons why I cannot permit you to--to be with me any longer in +this way. It is for your sake, as well as my own, that I am driven to +speak thus frankly, and I am certain you will not add to my pain, my +embarrassment, by asking more definite explanation." + +His heart beating like a trip-hammer, Winston stood motionless, staring +into the girl's appealing face, suddenly aroused to her full meaning, +and as thoroughly awakened to a conception of what she really had +become to him. The thought of losing her, losing her perhaps to +another, seemed to chill his very soul. + +"Assuredly, I will respect your secret," he answered, mastering his +voice with an effort. "I understand when I am bowled out. What is it +you desire me to do?" + +He could not perceive in that dim light the sudden mist of tears +clouding her eyes, but she lifted her gloved hand and swept them aside. + +"It is not easy to say such things, yet I must. I wish you to go away; +go back to Denver," she exclaimed; then, all at once, her strained +voice broke into a little sob. "I cannot stand your presence here!" + +That last impetuous sentence burst through his armor of constraint, and +for the instant he forgot everything but that thoughtless confession. +She read it in his face, and as quickly flung forth her hand in +warning, but he only grasped it tightly within his own. + +"You cannot stand it!" he cried in passionate eagerness. "Then you +must care for me? You must love me, Beth?" + +"No, no!" Her eyes were full of agony, and she sought to free her +imprisoned hand. "Oh, hush! I beg of you, hush! You--you hurt me so. +I will not permit you to speak such words. Please release my hand." + +He loosened his grasp, feeling bewildered, ashamed, dimly conscious +that he had been guilty of an ungentlemanly action, yet deep within his +own heart assured that he felt no regret. + +"Do you mean that?" he questioned vaguely. + +"Yes," and all the previous tremor had left her clear voice. "I did +not suppose you would ever say such a thing to me. I gave you no right +to speak those words." + +"My own heart gave me the right." + +Possibly the woman in her conquered; perhaps there was a nameless +hunger within her soul which made her long to hear the forbidden words +just once from his lips. + +"The right, you say? What right?" + +"To tell you that I love you." + +She drew a quick, quivering breath, the rich color surging into her +cheeks, her gloved hands clasped across her heaving bosom as though to +still the fierce throbbing of her heart. An instant she stood as if +palsied, trembling, from head to foot, although he could perceive +nothing. Her lips smiled. + +"Oh, indeed," she said archly, "and how very prettily you said it! The +only son of Colonel Winston, the wealthy banker of Denver, honors Miss +Norvell, actress, and she, of course, feels highly grateful!" + +"Beth, stop!" His voice was indignantly earnest. "It is not that; you +must know it is not that!" + +"I only know it is supremely ridiculous," she returned, more coldly; +"yet if I did not believe you spoke with some degree of honesty I +should deem your words a deliberate insult, and treat them accordingly. +As it is, I prefer regarding your speech merely as an evidence of +temporary insanity. Ned Winston making love to Beth Norvell! Why, you +do not even know my true name, the story of my life, or that I am in +any way worthy of your mere friendship. Love! You love me, an actress +in a fly-by-night company, a variety artist at the Gayety! What would +they say at home?" + +"I know you." + +"Ah, but you do not in the least," her voice grown steady and serious. +"That is the whole trouble. You do not in the least know me. I am not +even what you imagine me to be. I am a fraud, a cheat, a masquerader. +Know me! Why, if you did, instead of speaking words of love you would +despise; instead of seeking, you would run away. Oh, let us end this +farce forever; it is as painful to myself as to you. Promise me, Ned +Winston, that you will return to Denver." + +She tantalized, tempted him even while she thus openly renounced. He +struggled madly with an almost overmastering desire to burst forth in +strenuous denial, to lay his whole life unreservedly at her feet. Yet +something within the girl's resolute face steadied him, made him feel +her decision as unchangeable. + +"Beth--you--you will not listen?" + +"No--not to another word." + +"You do not believe me?" + +He marked the quick restraining pressure of her lips, the tumultuous +rise and fall of her breast. + +"Yes, I believe you," she admitted, almost wearily. "You mean it--now; +but--but it is impossible. I wish you to go." + +An instant Winston stood looking straight into those dark, glowing +eyes, and all his inherited strength of manhood came trooping back to +aid him. He comprehended in that moment of intense resolution that +this woman had become the whole world to him. That one fact never +would change. It came over him as a distinct revelation untinged by +either despair or hope. It was merely an unalterable truth, which he +must henceforth face as fate willed. He was of fighting blood, and the +seeming obstacles in the way of success did not dismay; they merely +served to inspire him to greater efforts. + +"Unfortunately, I am not at present free to go," he replied, more +quietly, "for the reason that I have already accepted some professional +work here. However, I agree not to trouble you again with my presence +until--" + +He paused in uncertainty as to his next word. + +"What?" + +"You give me welcome." + +She extended her hand. + +"You certainly speak with sufficient confidence." + +"'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,'" he quoted lightly; "and I +herewith announce myself a firm believer in miracles." + +"Then your faith is about to be put to a most severe test." + +"I welcome that. Yet, if parting is insisted upon, we can, at least, +remain friends. You certainly do not hold my words against me?" + +The flush, although fainter, again crept into the clear cheeks, and her +eyes fell before this questioning. + +"No true woman ever remains wholly indifferent," she acknowledged with +swift frankness, "or neglects to think kindly in her secret heart of +any one who has told her that story; and I am a woman." + +For a brief moment her hand rested warm and throbbing within his own, +and there passed an electric flash of the eyes between them. Then she +withdrew her fingers and opened the door. + +"Good-bye," she whispered, the word lingering like perfume, and +vanished, even as he took a step toward her. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +"HE MEANS FIGHT" + +Winston remained staring blankly at the closed door behind which she +had so swiftly vanished, his mind a chaos of doubt. He assuredly never +purposed saying what he had said under the spur of deprivation, yet he +regretted no single word that he had uttered. That he earnestly +worshipped this briefly known woman was a fact borne in upon him +suddenly; yet now, the fact once completely realized, he surrendered +unconditionally to the inevitable. For a moment his thought of her +obscured all lesser things; he saw nothing else in the wide world +really worth striving after--every aroused impulse thrilled to the fair +face, the soft voice of Beth Norvell. He was no "quitter," no +faint-heart either in love or in war, and he was now far too deeply in +earnest to accept as final a stingless rejection spoken by lips that +were so openly contradicted by the smiling eyes above. Whatever of +stern necessity might have inspired the utterance of such words of cold +renunciation, it was assuredly neither indifference nor dislike. He +forgave the lips, recalling only the eyes. + +With his hand still pressed against the porch railing, the young man +suddenly recalled Biff Farnham, his cool gray eyes as instantly +hardening, his lips pressed together. What possible part in the dusk +of the shadowed past did that disreputable gambler play? What +connection could he hold, either in honor or dishonor, with the +previous life history of Beth Norvell? He did not in the least doubt +her, for it was Winston's nature to be entirely loyal, to be +unsuspicious of those he once trusted. Yet he could not continue +completely blind. That there once existed some connection it was +impossible to ignore entirely. Her laughing, yet clearly embarrassed, +attempt at explanation had not in the slightest deceived him, for +beyond it remained her quick surprise at that earliest unexpected +mention of the man's name, the suddenly blanched cheeks, the +unconcealed fright revealed by the dark eyes. The full truth was to be +read there, and not in her later more deliberate attempt at leading his +suspicions astray. There was nothing pleasant about this thought, and +Winston's sensitive face flushed, his glance wandering uneasily down +the midnight street. For the space of a block, or more, where numerous +tents and low wooden buildings stood deserted of tenants, all remained +dark and silent; but just beyond glowed brilliantly the many-hued +lights of the wide-awake Poodle-Dog, and he could even hear the band +playing noisily within the still more distant dance hall. This +combined sight and sound served to arouse him to action and a cool +resolve. If he really intended to play out this game successfully he +must learn something of its conditions. Besides, he had now two most +excellent reasons for desiring to form an early acquaintance with this +man Farnham--the fellow had come across his line of life twice within +the past twelve hours. For the purpose there could be no time better +than the present. He struck a match against the rough railing and +lighted for himself a fresh cigar, his clear-cut, manly features +showing calmly determined in that instant glare of sputtering flame. +Almost unconsciously, following the instinct of his long Western +training, he slipped a revolver from its customary resting-place at the +hip, and dropped the weapon conveniently into the side pocket of his +loose sack coat. He had heard some tales of this man he purposed +seeking, and it might prove well to be prepared for emergencies. + +The bar-room of the blazing Poodle-Dog was thronged with men--men +standing before the long, sloppy bar, men seated around rough tables, +and men lounging here and there in groups about the heavily sanded +floor. Uninterestedly glancing at these, Winston paused for an idle +moment, his eyes fastened upon a whirling spectacle of dancers in the +hall beyond. It formed a scene of mad revelry; yet in his present +state of mind, he cared little for its frontier picturesqueness, and +soon turned away, mounting the broad stairway down which, like an +invitation, echoed the sharp click of ivory chips, and the excited +voices of those absorbed in play. In both size and gorgeousness of +decoration the rooms above were a surprise--a glitter of lights, a +babel of noises, a continuous jumble of figures, while over all +trembled a certain tension of excitement, terrible in its enchaining +power. The very atmosphere seemed electric, filled with a deadly +charm. The dull roar of undistinguishable voices sounded incessantly, +occasionally punctuated by those sharp, penetrating tones with which +the scattered dealers called varied turns of play, or by some deep oath +falling unnoted from desperate lips as the unhappy end came. Winston, +who had seen many similar scenes, glanced with his usual cool +indifference at the various groups of players, careless except in his +search, and pressing straight through the vibrating, excited throng, +regardless of the many faces fronting him. He understood that Farnham +dealt faro, and consequently moved directly down the long main room +totally indifferent to all else. He discovered his particular goal at +last, almost at the farther end of the great apartment, the crowd +gathered about the faro table dense and silent. He succeeded in +pressing in slowly through the outer fringe of players until he +attained a position within ten feet of the dealer. There he halted, +leaning against the wall, the narrow space between them unoccupied. + +He saw before him a slenderly built, fashionably dressed figure, +surmounted by clear-cut, smooth-shaven features--a man of thirty, +possibly, decidedly aristocratic, perfectly self-controlled, his eyes +cool, calculating, his hands swift, unhesitating in play. From some +mysterious cause this masterful repose of the absorbed dealer began +immediately to exercise a serious fascination over the man watching +him. He did not appear altogether human, he seemed rather like some +perfectly adjusted machine, able to think and plan, yet as unemotional +as so much tempered steel. There was no perceptible change passing in +that utterly impassive face, no brightening of those cold, observant +eyes, no faintest movement of the tightly compressed lips. It was as +though he wore a mask completely eclipsing every natural human feeling. +Twice Winston, observing closely from his post of vantage slightly to +the rear the swift action of those slender white fingers, could have +sworn the dealer faced the wrong card, yet the dangerous trick was +accomplished so quickly, so coolly, with never a lowering of the eyes, +the twitching of a muscle, that a moment later the half-jealous watcher +doubted the evidence of his own keen eyesight. As the final fateful +card came silently gliding forth and was deliberately turned, face +upward, amid bitter curses telling the disappointment of that +breathless crowd, a young woman suddenly swept around the lower edge of +the long table, brushing Winston with her flapping skirt as she passed, +bent down, and whispered a half-dozen rapid sentences into the +gambler's ear. The hands, already deftly shuffling the cards for +another deal, scarcely paused in their operations, nor did those cool, +observant eyes once desert the sea of excited faces before him. He +asked a single brief question, nodded carelessly to the hastily spoken +reply, and then, as the woman drew noiselessly away, Winston gazed +directly into the startled black eyes of Senorita Mercedes. Instantly +she smiled merrily, exhibiting her white teeth. + +"Ah, senor," and she bent toward him in seductive whisper, "so my lady, +de Americana, let you escape early to-night!" + +Surprised at her recognition, he failed to answer immediately, and the +girl touched him gently with her hand. + +"De girls of my race never so cold, senor. Try me some time, an' see." + +With a happy laugh and coquettish uplifting of the dark eyes, the +dancer was as quickly gone, vanishing into the throng like a flash of +red flame. For a breathless moment Winston's admiring gaze followed, +conscious merely of her dark beauty, her slender, graceful figure. He +was young, impressionable, and there was rare witchery about the girl +which momentarily fascinated him. His attention shifted back to +Farnham with a swift remembrance of the stern purpose which had brought +him there. The gambler was playing out his case silently, emotionless +as ever. If he had observed anything unusual, if he considered +anything beyond his card-play, no eye could have detected it in that +impassive countenance, those cold, expressionless eyes. Apparently he +was a mere automaton, the sole symbol of life showing in the white +fingers so deftly dealing the fateful pasteboards from the box. The +impatient, excited crowd facing him moved restlessly, cursing or +laughing with each swift turn of play; but he who wrought the spell +neither spoke nor smiled, his face remaining fixed, immutable, as +emotionless as carven granite. Suddenly he glanced meaningly aside, +and, nodding silently to a black-moustached fellow lounging beside the +croupier, rose quickly from his chair. The other as instantly slipped +into it, his hands guarding the few remaining cards, while Farnham +stood for a moment behind the chair, idly looking on. There was no +noticeable interruption to the game, and when the final card came +gliding forth from the silver box, the imperturbable gamester turned +deliberately away from the table, heedless of the desperate struggle +about him, the curses and uproar, and faced the younger man still +leaning against the wall. + +"Mr. Winston?" he questioned quietly. + +Surprised by this unexpected notice, the other bowed in silent +acknowledgment of his name. + +A faint sarcastic smile curved the thin, compressed lips, while Farnham +ran one hand carelessly through his slightly curling hair. + +"I should like a few words with you in private," he explained politely. +"There is a vacant room we can use--this way." + +Astonished into yielding without protest, and at the same time feeling +sufficiently eager to learn the cause for such a request, Winston +unhesitatingly followed the other through the press, marking as he did +so the slender erectness of that figure in advance, the square set of +the broad shoulders, the easy air of authority with which he cleared +the way. Without ceremony Farnham flung aside a heavy brocaded +curtain, glancing inquiringly into the smaller room thus revealed. It +contained a square table and half a dozen chairs. Three men sat +within, their feet elevated, quietly smoking. The gambler coolly ran +his eyes over their uplifted faces. + +"I desire to use this room, gents," he announced quietly. "You 'll +find plenty of vacant space outside." + +Whether the lounging trio knew the speaker of old, or were sufficiently +satisfied from his stern face of the probable results should they long +hesitate to comply, the three pairs of feet came down together, their +owners passing out in single file. Farnham waved his hand politely +toward the vacated interior, a slight measure of deference apparent in +his modulated voice. + +"Help yourself to a chair, Mr. Winston, and permit me to offer you a +fresh cigar; a fairly good one I imagine, as I chance to be somewhat +particular regarding the weed." + +A moment they sat thus furtively studying each other's face across the +table through the increasing clouds of blue smoke, the younger man +puzzled and filled with vague suspicion, the elder still rather +uncertain of his present ground, as well as of the exact sort of +character opposing him. He was somewhat expert in judging human +nature; and the full, square chin, the frank, open look in those steady +gray eyes across the table left him doubtful of the final outcome. + +"No doubt, my addressing you by name was something of a surprise," he +began, leaning slightly forward, his cigar between his fingers; "but as +it chanced, you were pointed out to me on the street a few hours since. +May I inquire in this connection if, by any freak of fortune, you can +be Ned Winston, of Denver?" + +"I am." + +Farnham permitted his lips to smile genially, although his eyes +remained utterly devoid of humor. He was skating upon rather thin ice +now, realizing it to be far safer to make the venture in all boldness. +What he might need to say later would altogether depend upon how much +this man really knew. + +"I was not previously assured of that fact," he explained, pleasantly. +"It was my pleasure at one time to be quite intimately associated with +an old friend of yours, a college chum, I believe--Robert Craig, of +Chicago." + +The swift light of pleasant remembrance glowed instantly within the +other's watchful eyes. For the moment he dropped his guard in the +surprise of this avowal. + +"Bob Craig! Indeed; why, I do not recall his ever having mentioned +your name to me." + +Farnham's suspended breath burst through his compressed lips in sudden +relief. + +"Very probably not," he admitted, quietly, yet having the grace to +lower his eyes slightly. "My own intimacy with Craig occurred since +his college days. However, he has spoken to me regarding you quite +frequently, and I naturally esteem it a pleasure to meet with you +personally." + +Winston did not immediately reply, puzzling his confused mind in a +wholly useless attempt at recalling his ever having heard this man's +name before. But Farnham, placed completely at his ease regarding +possible recognition, proceeded coolly. + +"Yet, that does not sufficiently account for my inviting you here." +And he leaned farther across the table, slightly lowering his voice. +"My important reason for speaking is entirely a business one. You are, +I understand, a mining engineer?" + +Winston permitted his eyes to acquiesce, fully determined now to allow +this man to exhibit his own hand completely before making any return +play. Farnham, watching the face of the other closely, paused to +relight his cigar. + +"The simple fact is," he resumed, carelessly, "we are having some +little difficulty at present regarding certain mining claims we are +operating up in Echo Canyon. Nothing at all serious, you understand, +but there 's plenty of bad blood, and we naturally prefer keeping the +entire controversy out of the courts, if possible. A lawsuit, whatever +its final result, would be quite certain to tie up the property for an +indefinite period. Besides, lawsuits in this country cost money. The +man who has been making the greater part of the existing trouble, a +drunken, quarrelsome old mountain shell-back, named Hicks, came in here +to see me this afternoon. He was in blamed bad humor, and threatened +to blow my brains out unless I came to his terms. No doubt he meant +it, and consequently I got rid of him the easiest way I could, and that +was by lying. I 've always preferred to lie rather than get shot. +Hard to account for tastes, you know. However among other things the +fellow chanced to mention while here was that you had been employed to +look after their interests. I presume that statement was merely a +bluff?" + +"Well, not precisely," admitted Winston, when the other paused. "I +agreed to go out there, and look over the ground." + +Farnham smiled deprecatingly, his cigar gripped tightly between his +white teeth. + +"Just about as I supposed. No particular harm done as yet, and no +contract made; time enough left to draw out of a bad bargain. Well, +Winston, I am here to tell you that outfit is not the kind you want to +associate yourself with if you desire to stand well in this camp. That +'s the straight goods. They 're simply a lot of blackmailers and +irresponsible thieves. Why, damn it, man, the actual fact is, they +can't get a single reputable mining engineer in all this whole district +to take hold of their dirty work. That 's why they 've had to hunt up +a new man, and got track of you." + +"So Hicks admitted," interposed the younger man gravely, "although he +put it in rather different form. He said it was because you had the +money, and your crowd bought them all up." + +"Oh, he did, did he?" and the gambler laughed outright. "Well, that +sort of a job would n't be very costly--to outbid that measly outfit. +It would be a sight cheaper than litigation, I reckon. What did he +offer you, by the way?" + +The young engineer hesitated slightly, his cheeks flushing at the cool +impudence of the other's direct question. + +"I do not recall that any positive offer was made," he replied finally. +"At least, the question of payment was not broached." + +"The old cuss proved more honest than I had supposed," and Farnham +dropped his clinched hand on the table. "Now, see here, Winston, I +propose giving you this thing right out from the shoulder. There is no +use beating around the bush. Those fellows have n't got so much as a +leg to stand on; their claim is no good, and never will be. They 're +simply making a bluff to wring some good money out of us, and I don't +want to see you get tangled up in that sort of a skin game. You 're +Bob Craig's friend, and therefore mine. Now, listen. There are two +fellows concerned in that 'Little Yankee' claim, this whiskey-soaked +Hicks and his partner, a big, red-headed, stuttering fool named +Brown--'Stutter' Brown, I believe they call him--and what have they got +between them? A damned hole in the ground, that's all. Oh, I know; I +'ve had them looked after from A to Z. I always handle my cards over +before I play. They had exactly two hundred dollars between them +deposited in a local bank here last week. That 's their total cash +capital. Yesterday one of my people managed to get down in their dinky +mine. It was a girl who did the job, but she 's a bright one, and that +fellow Brown proved dead easy when she once got her black eyes playing +on him. He threw up both hands and caved. Well, say, they 're down +less than fifty feet, and their vein actually is n't paying them +grub-stakes. That's the exact state of the case. Now, Winston, you do +n't propose to tie yourself professionally with that sort of a beggarly +outfit, do you?" + +The younger man had been sitting motionless, his arm resting easily on +the back of the chair, his eyes slowly hardening as the other proceeded. + +"I never before clearly understood that poverty was necessarily a +crime," he remarked thoughtfully, as Farnham came to a pause. +"Besides, I am not tied up with that special outfit. I have merely +agreed to examine into the matter." + +"Of course, I understand that; but what's the use? You 'll only come +to exactly the same conclusion all the others have. Besides, I have +been especially authorized to offer you a thousand dollars simply to +drop the thing. It's worth that much to us just now to be let alone." + +Winston's eyes half closed, his fingers gripping nervously into the +palm of his hand. + +"It occurs to me you place my selling-out price at rather low figures," +he said contemptuously. + +Farnham straightened up in his chair, instantly realizing he had been +guilty of playing the wrong card, and for the moment totally unable to +perceive how safely to withdraw it. Even then he utterly failed to +comprehend the deeper meaning in the other's words. + +"I was thinking rather of what it was directly worth to us," he +explained, "and had no conception you would look at it that way. +However, we are perfectly willing to be liberal--how much do you want?" + +For a moment Winston stared straight at him, his lips firmly set, his +gray eyes grown hard as steel. Then he deliberately pushed back his +chair, and rose to his feet, one clinched hand resting on the table. + +"You may not fully understand my position," he began quietly, "for in +all probability such a conception is utterly beyond you, but I do n't +want a dollar, nor a cent. Good-night." + +He turned deliberately toward the entrance, but the thoroughly +astounded gambler leaped to his feet with one hand extended in sudden +protest. He was angry, yet believed he perceived a great light shining +through the darkness. + +"Hold on, Winston," he exclaimed anxiously; "just a moment. I 'd +totally forgotten that you were the son of a millionaire, and therefore +possessed no desire for money like the rest of us more ordinary +mortals. Now, let's be sensible. By God, you must want something! +What is it?" + +"You have received my final answer. I am not in the market." + +Farnham crushed a bitter oath between his gleaming teeth, and flung his +sodden cigar-butt to the floor. + +"Do you actually mean you are crazy enough to go with Hicks, after all +I 've told you?" + +"I propose to discover for myself whether his claim is just. If it is, +I 'm with him." + +The gambler caught his breath sharply, for an instant utterly +speechless, his face pallid with rage. Then the fierce, angry words +burst forth in unrestrained torrent through the calm of his accustomed +self-control. + +"Oh, you 'll play hell, you infernal cur. Do it, and I 'll guarantee +you 'll get a bullet in the brain, even if you are old Winston's son. +We 've got a way of taking care of your kind out here when you get too +gay. You 're with him, are you? Well, I 'm damned if you ever get any +chance even to sit in the game. We 'll get you, and get you early, see +if we don't. There are other things besides money in this world, and +you 've got your price, just as well as every other man. Perhaps it's +silk, perhaps it's calico; but you bet it's something, for you 're no +angel. By God, I believe I could name it, even now." + +Winston wheeled, his right hand thrust deeply into his coat pocket, his +face sternly set. + +"What, for instance?" + +"Well,--just to take a chance,--Beth Norvell," + +Farnham never forgot the flame of those gray eyes, or the sharp sting +of the indignant voice. + +"What do you know regarding her? Speak out, damn you!" + +The gambler laughed uneasily; he had seen that look in men's faces +before, and knew its full, deadly meaning. He had already gone to the +very limit of safety. + +"Oh, nothing, I assure you. I never even saw the lady," he explained +coldly. "But I have been told that she was _the_ attraction for you in +this camp; and I rather guess I hit the bull's-eye that time, even if +it was a chance shot." + +Winston moistened his dry lips, his eyes never wavering from off the +sneering face of the other. + +"Farnham," the voice sounding low and distinct, "I have got something +to say to you, and you are going to listen to the end. You see that?" +He thrust sharply forward the skirt of his short coat. "Well, that's a +thirty-eight, cocked and loaded, and I 've got you covered. I know +your style, and if you make a single move toward your hip I 'll uncork +the whole six shots into your anatomy. Understand? Now, see here--I +'m not on the bargain counter for money or anything else. I had not +the slightest personal interest in this affair an hour ago, but I have +now, and, what is more, I am going directly after the facts. Neither +you, nor all of your crowd put together, can stop me with either money, +bullets, or women. I don't bully worth a cent, and I don't scare. You +took the wrong track, and you 've got me ready now to fight this out to +a finish. And the first pointer I desire to give you is this--if your +lips ever again besmirch the name of Beth Norvell to my knowledge, I +'ll hunt you down as I would a mad dog. I believe you are a dirty liar +and thief, and now I 'm going after the facts to prove it. Good-night." + +He backed slowly toward the curtained doorway, his gaze never wavering +from off the surprised countenance of the other, his hidden hand +grasping the masked revolver. Then he stepped through the opening and +disappeared. Farnham remained motionless, his face like iron, his +teeth gripping savagely. Then he dropped his hand heavily on the +table, still staring, as if fascinated, at the quivering curtains. + +"By God, the fellow actually means fight," he muttered slowly. "He +means fight." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCES + +She had expected the probability of such a happening, yet her face +perceptibly paled while perusing the brief note handed her by the stage +manager upon coming forth from her dressing-room. Her first impulse +was to refuse compliance, to trust fortune in an endeavor to keep +beyond reach, to turn and run from this new, threatening danger like a +frightened deer. But she recalled the financial necessity which held +her yet a prisoner at the Gayety. This writer was partner in the +gambling rooms, possibly in the theatre also; her chance for escaping +him would be very slender. Besides, it might be far better to face the +man boldly and have it over. Undoubtedly a meeting must occur some +time; as well now as later so that the haunting shadow would not remain +ever before her. The color stole slowly back into her cheeks as she +stood twisting the paper between her fingers, her eyes darkening with +returning courage. + +"Where is the gentleman, Ben?" she asked, steadying herself slightly +against a fly. + +"First box, Miss; right through that narrow door, yonder," and the man +smiled, supposing he understood. "Very convenient arrangement for the +stage ladies." + +She paused, her hand resting upon the latch, in a final effort to quiet +her rapid breathing and gain firmer control over her nerves. This was +to be a struggle for which she must steel herself. She stepped quietly +within, and stood, silent and motionless, amid the shadows of the drawn +curtains, gazing directly at the sole occupant of the box, her dark +eyes filled with contemptuous defiance. Farnham lounged in the second +chair, leaning back in affected carelessness with one arm resting +negligently upon the railing, but there came into his pale face a +sudden glow of appreciation as he swept his cool eyes over the trim +figure, the flushed countenance there confronting him. A realization +of her fresh womanly fairness came over him with such suddenness as to +cause the man to draw his breath quickly, his eyes darkening with +passion. + +"By thunder, Lizzie, but you are actually developing into quite a +beauty!" he exclaimed with almost brutal frankness. "Life on the stage +appears to agree with you; or was it joy at getting rid of me?" + +She did not move from where she had taken her first stand against the +background of curtains, nor did the expression upon her face change. + +"I presume you did not send for me merely for the purpose of +compliment," she remarked, quietly. + +"Well, no; not exactly," and the man laughed with assumed recklessness +in an evident effort to appear perfectly at ease. "I was simply +carried away by the enthusiasm of the moment. I was always, as you +will remember, something of a connoisseur regarding the charms of the +sex, and you have certainly improved wonderfully. Why, I actually +believe I might fall in love with you again if I were to receive the +slightest encouragement." + +"I do not think I am offering you any." + +"Hardly; even my egotism will not permit me to believe so. An iceberg +would seem warm in comparison. Yet, at least, there is no present +occasion for our quarrelling. Sit down." + +"Thank you, I prefer to remain standing. I presume whatever you may +desire to say will not require much time?" + +Farnham leaned forward, decidedly jarred from out his assumed mood of +cold sarcasm. He had expected something different, and his face +hardened with definite purpose. + +"That depends," he said soberly, "on your frame of mind. You do not +appear extremely delighted to meet me again. Considering that it is +now fully three years since our last conversation, you might strive to +be, at least outwardly, cordial." + +She gathered up her skirts within her left hand, and turned calmly +toward the door. + +"Is that all?" + +The man leaped impulsively to his feet, his cheeks burning with sudden +animation, his previous mask of reckless indifference entirely torn +away. + +"Hell, no!" he exclaimed warmly, as instantly pausing when she wheeled +swiftly about and faced him firmly. "No, it is not all. Of course, I +had a special purpose in sending for you. Yet I cannot help feeling a +natural curiosity. Tell me, what are you doing here?" + +"That is quite easily seen; I am endeavoring to earn a living." + +"A nice, quiet, respectable sort of a place you have chosen, certainly. +It is about the last spot I should ever have expected to discover you +in, knowing as I do your former puritanical morals. Your tastes must +have greatly changed under the spur," and he laughed lightly, in +mockery. + +Miss Norvell's lips curled in unconcealed contempt, her eyes darkening +with indignation. + +"My present associations were not entered into from choice but from +necessity. With you, I understand, it is deliberate choice." + +The man stood undecided, fingering the edge of the curtain, vaguely +realizing that he was merely injuring his own cause by continuing to +anger her, yet far too deeply hit to remain entirely silent. + +"You seem inclined to strike out as hard as ever," he retorted, yet in +tones of manifest regret. "But just now there is not the slightest +occasion for any bitterness. I am perfectly prepared to do the square +thing, and if we can only pull together pleasantly for a little while, +it will prove far better for both of us." + +"In plainer words, you chance just now to have some special use for me?" + +"Well, I hope you will look at the situation from my viewpoint. But +the actual truth is, that when I first came up here to-night, I had not +the faintest suspicion that it was you I was seeking." + +"No?" doubtfully. + +"That is an actual fact, Lizzie. I did n't suppose you were within a +thousand miles of this place," and Farnham quietly settled himself +again in his chair. "I came up here merely intending to get a glimpse +of an actress named Beth Norvell. I was never more thoroughly +surprised in my life than when you first came out on the stage. For a +moment it knocked me silly. Say, you're an artist all right, my girl. +That was a great stunt. Why, those boys down below hardly breathed +until you disappeared. You ought to get a chance in Chicago; you 'd be +wearing diamonds. Damned if I was n't honestly proud of you myself." + +The girl caught her breath sharply, her hand pressed tightly against +her side. + +"What--what was it you desired of Beth Norvell?" she questioned. + +Farnham's white teeth gleamed in a sudden smile of appreciation. + +"Hope you are not becoming jealous," he said insinuatingly. +"Positively no occasion, I assure you, for it was not to make love to +the girl, I wanted to see her. Lord, no! This was purely a business +deal. The truth is, I chanced to hear she had a lover already, and he +was the fellow I was really after." + +"A lover?" she stepped toward him, her eyes blazing, her cheeks aflame. +"I? How dare you? What can you mean by so false an insinuation?" + +"Oh, don't flare up so, Lizzie," and the complacent gambler looked at +her with eyes not entirely devoid of admiration. "It really makes you +prettier than ever, but that sort of thing cuts no ice with me. +However, what I have just said stands: the story flying around here is +that you have captured old Winston's boy, and a damned good catch it +is, too." + +She went instantly white as a sheet, her body trembling like an aspen, +her quivering lips faltering forth words she could not wholly restrain. + +"The story, you say--the story! Do--do you believe that of me?" + +"Oh, that does n't make any difference," the brute in him frankly +enjoying her evident pain. "Lord, what do you care about my belief? +That was all passed and over with long ago. All I know is, the fellow +is gone on you, all right. Why, he pulled a gun on me last night +merely because I chanced to mention your name in his presence." + +The telltale color swept back into her cheeks in swift wave. For an +instant her eyes wavered, then came back to the man's sneering face. + +"Did--did you dare tell him?" + +He laughed lightly, softly patting his hand on the railing, his own +eyes partially veiled by lowered lids. + +"Torn off the mask of unimpeachable virtue, have I?" he chuckled, well +pleased. "Rather prefer not to have our late affair blowed to this +particular young man, hey? Well, I suspected as much; and really, +Lizzie, you ought to know I am not that sort of a cur. I 've held my +tongue all right so far, and consequently I expect you to do me a good +deed in return. That's a fair enough proposition, is n't it?" + +She did not immediately answer, gazing upon him as she might at some +foul snake which had fascinated her, her breath coming in half-stifled +sobs, her hand clutching the heavy curtain for support. + +"Oh, good God!" she faltered at last, speaking as though half dazed. +"You must possess the spirit of a demon. Why do you continue to +torture me so? You have no right--no right; you forfeited all you ever +possessed years ago. Under Heaven, I am nothing to you; and in your +heart you know I have done nothing wrong, nothing to awaken even the +foul suspicions of jealousy. Mr. Winston has been my friend, yet even +that friendship--innocent and unsullied--is already past; we have +parted for all time." + +"Indeed! You are such a consummate actress, Lizzie, I scarcely know +what really to believe. Probably, then, you no longer object to my +telling the gentleman the story?" + +Her lips closed firmly. + +"I shall tell him myself." + +"Oh! Then, after all your fine words of renunciation, you will see him +again! Your reform is soon ended. Well, my girl, there is really no +necessity for any such sacrifice on your part. No one here suspects +anything regarding our little affair excepting you and me. You do what +I desire with this Winston, and I 'm mum. What do you say?" + +She sank back into a chair, utterly unable to stand longer, hiding her +face in her hands. + +"What--what is it you wish?" she questioned wearily. + +He leaned forward and placed his hand, almost in caress, upon her +skirt, but she drew the cloth hastily away, a sudden sob shaking her +voice. + +"Oh, please, don't touch me! I cannot stand it--only tell me what it +is you wish." + +"I want you to exercise your influence over that fellow, and prevent +his taking professional employment at the 'Little Yankee' mine." + +"Why?" she lifted her head again, facing him with questioning eyes. + +"Simply because his doing so will interfere seriously with some of my +business plans--that's all." + +"Then why don't you act the part of a man, and go to him yourself? +Why, in this, do you prefer hiding behind the skirts of a woman?" + +Farnham laughed grimly, in no way embarrassed by the query. + +"Good Lord, Lizzie! I 've been to him, all right, but the fellow is +like a stubborn mule. He has n't got but one selling-out price, so far +as I can learn, and that chances to be Beth Norvell. You see the +point? Well, that's exactly why I came here to-night. I wanted to be +able to tender him the goods." + +For a moment her eyes remained pitifully pleading; then they suddenly +appeared to harden into resolute defiance. As though moving in a +dream, she arose slowly to her feet, taking a single step away from him +toward the closed door. + +"As I have already explained," she paused to say coldly, "Mr. Winston +is no more to me than any other gentleman whom I may have chanced to +meet in friendship. I have not the faintest reason to suppose I could +influence his decision in any matter appertaining to his professional +work. Moreover, I have not the slightest inclination to try." + +"Do you dare refuse, in spite of all I can say to your injury?" he +asked, even then doubtful of her meaning. + +"I definitely decline to be your catspaw,--yes. Nothing you can relate +truthfully will ever harm me in the estimation of a gentleman, and I +shall certainly know how to combat falsehood." + +"Quite pretty. Injured innocence, I perceive, is to be the line of +defence. What! are you already going?" + +"I am." + +"Where?" + +She turned again, standing erect, her face flushing, her hand upon the +latch of the door. + +"If it is imperative that you know, I will tell you. I intend seeking +Mr. Winston, and informing him exactly who and what I am." + +"Now? at this hour of the night?" + +"Better now, and at this hour of the night, than venture waiting until +after you have had an inning. I am not at all ashamed to confess the +truth, if I can only be the first to tell my story." + +She pressed the latch of the door, her breathing so rapid as to be +positively painful. With an ill-repressed oath, Farnham sprang to his +feet, his rising anger putting an end to all prudence. + +"Wait!" he exclaimed gruffly. "Wait where you are until I am done. +You have heard only a part of this thing so far. My God, girl! don't +you know me well enough by this time to comprehend that I always have +my way, whatever the cost may be to others? Lord! what do I care for +this fellow? or, for the matter of that, what do I care for you? I +don't permit people to stand in my path; and I supposed you had +thoroughly learned that lesson, if no other. Faith, you had cause +enough, surely. So you refuse all endeavor to keep Winston out of this +affair, do you? Perhaps you had better pause a minute, and remember +who it is you are dealing with. I reckon you never saw any signs of +the quitter about me. Now, it 's true I 'd rather have you do this +business up quietly; but if you refuse, don't forget there are other +means fully as effective, and a damn sight quicker." He reached out +suddenly, grasping her hand. "Did you ever hear the adage, 'Dead men +tell no tales'?" he questioned savagely. + +She drew her hand sharply back from its instant of imprisonment, with a +smothered cry, her eyes filled with undisguised horror. + +"You threaten--you threaten murder?" + +"Oh, we never use that word out in this country--it is considered far +too coarse, my dear," and Farnham's thin lips curled sardonically. "We +merely 'silence' our enemies in Colorado. It is an extremely simple +matter; nothing at all disagreeable or boorish about it, I can assure +you. A stick of dynamite dropped quietly down a shaft-hole, or pushed +beneath a bunk house--that's all. The coroner calls it an accident; +the preachers, a dispensation of Providence; while the fellows who +really know never come back to tell. If merely one is desired, a +well-directed shot from out a cedar thicket affords a most gentlemanly +way of shuffling off this mortal coil." + +"You would not! You dare not!" + +"I? Why, such a thought is preposterous, of course, for the risk would +be entirely unnecessary. Quite evidently you are not well acquainted +with one of the flourishing industries of this section, my dear. There +are always plenty of men out of a job in this camp; conscience does n't +come high, and the present market price for that sort of work is only +about twenty-five dollars a head. Not unreasonable, all things +considered, is it?" + +If she had not thoroughly known this man, had not previously sounded +his depths, she might have doubted his meaning, deceived by the lazy +drawl in his soft voice, the glimmer of grim humor in his eyes. But +she did know him; she comprehended fully the slumbering tiger within, +the lurking spirit of vindictiveness of his real nature, and that +knowledge overcame her, left her weak and trembling like a frightened +child. For an instant she could not articulate, staring at him with +white face and horrified eyes. + +"You--you mean that?" and for the first time she clasped his loose coat +between her clutching fingers. + +"It is hardly a subject to be deliberately selected for jest," he +replied coolly, "but if you prefer you might wait and see." + +She stepped back from him, leaning heavily against the frame of the +door, her face again hidden behind uplifted hands. The man did not +move, his face emotionless, his lips tightly set. He was watching her +with the intentness of a hawk, absolutely certain now of his victim. +Suddenly she looked up, her eyes picturing the courage of desperation. +One glance into his face and the woman stood transformed, at bay, the +fierce spirit of battle flaming into her face. + +"Have it so, then," she exclaimed sharply. "I pledge myself to do +everything possible to prevent his remaining here." She drew herself +up, her eyes darkening from sudden, uncontrollable anger. "Oh, how I +despise you, you coward, you cur! I know you, what you are capable of, +and I do this to preserve the life of a friend; but my detestation of +you is beyond expression in words. My one and greatest shame is that I +ever trusted you; that I once believed you to be a man. Good God! how +could I ever have been so blind!" + +She opened the door with her hand extended behind her, and backed +slowly away, facing him where he stood motionless, smiling still as +though her sudden outburst of passion merely served to feed his conceit. + +"Then I may trust you in this?" + +Her eyes shone fairly black with the depth of scorn glowing in them. + +"Have--have you ever known me to lie?" she asked, her voice faltering +from reaction. + +The door closed. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A NEW ALLIANCE + +Her eyes blinded by a strange mist of tears, Beth Norvell clung to the +latch of the closed door, fearful lest the man within might decide to +follow, endeavoring to gaze about, while gaining control over her +sorely shattered nerves. Strong as she had appeared when nerved by +indignation and despair, that stormy interview with Farnham--his +scarcely veiled threats, his heartless scoffing--had left her a wreck, +for the moment scarcely mistress of her own mind. One thing alone +stood forth as a rallying point for all her benumbed energies--she must +save Winston from a real danger, the nature of which she did not in the +least doubt. The gambler's boast was no idle one; she, who had before +tasted of his depravity, felt fully convinced of his intention now. +Yet what could she hope to do? How best might she accomplish that +imperative duty of rescue? + +There occurred to her only one feasible plan--a complete surrender of +her womanly pride, an immediate acceptance of the young man's proffered +aid to Denver, with an insistence that he also accompany her. Woman +enough to realize her power, she could not but have faith in the +results. The color crept back in her cheeks at this daring conception, +for, after those hastily uttered words of the previous night, what +construction would he be likely to put on this sudden yielding? An +instant she hesitated, afraid, shrinking back before the sacrifice as +from fire. Then her fine eyes darkened, the clinging tears vanishing +while her fingers clinched in passionate resolve. Do it? Why, of +course she must do it! What was her pitiful pride in the balance +against his life? He might never dream what so great a sacrifice cost +her; might even despise her for such an exhibition of weakness; but she +would know, and be the stronger in her own soul from the brave +performance of duty. Besides, she intended to tell him the whole +miserable story of her wrecked life--not now, not even to-night, but +some time, on their way back into the world,--as they were nearing +Denver, perhaps, and at the moment of final parting. It almost seemed +easy as she faced the stern necessity, so easy that her parted lips +smiled sarcastically when she heard Farnham rise and leave the darkened +box through the opposite entrance. Perhaps, when he comprehended it +all, this other, who had spoken love words to her, would understand +where the real blame lay, and so prove manly enough to absolve her from +any conception of evil. This hope was sweet, strengthening, yet it +faded immediately away. Ah, no; such result was not natural, as she +understood the world--it was always the woman who bore the burden of +condemnation. Far safer to expect nothing, but do the right simply +because it was right. She no longer questioned what that would be. It +stood there before her like a blazing cross of flame; she must hold +those two men apart, even though they both trampled her heart beneath +their feet. This was her destiny, the payment she must return the +world for having once made a mistake. One out of the multitude, she +felt strong enough in the crisis to choose deliberately the straight +and narrow path leading through Gethsemane. + +And this very choosing gave back her womanhood, cleared her dazed brain +for action, and sent the red blood throbbing through her veins. Her +immediate surroundings began to take definite form. To the left the +great, deserted stage extended, wrapped in total darkness, silent, +forsaken, the heavy drop-curtain lowered to the floor. Through its +obscuring folds resounded noisily a crash of musical instruments, the +incessant shuffling of feet, a mingled hum of voices, evidencing that +the dance was already on in full volume. Far back, behind much +protruding scenery, a single light flickered like a twinkling star, its +dim, uncertain radiance the sole guide through the intricacies of +cluttered passageways leading toward the distant stage entrance. Half +frightened at this gloomy loneliness, the girl moved gingerly forward, +her skirts gathered closely about her slender figure, with anxious eyes +scanning the gloomy shadows in vague suspicion. Suddenly a hand +gripped her extended wrist, and she gazed for a startled instant into +fiercely burning eyes, her own heart throbbing with nervous excitement. + +"Vat vas he to you? Answer me! Answer me quick!" + +The blood came back into her blanched cheeks with a sudden rush of +anger. Instantly indignation swept back the mists of fear. With +unnatural strength she wrenched free her captured hand, and sternly +fronted the other, a barely recognized shadow in the gloom. + +"Permit me to pass," she exclaimed, clearly. "How dare you hide here +to halt me?" + +The other exhibited her teeth, gleaming white and savage behind parted +lips, yet she never stirred. + +"Dare? Pah! you vaste time to talk so," she cried brokenly, her voice +trembling from passion. "You no such fine lady now, senorita. You see +dis knife; I know how use eet quick. Bah! you go to him like all de +rest, but I vill know de truth first, if I have to cut eet out you. So +vat ees de Senor Farnham to you? Say quick!" + +The American remained silent, motionless, her breath quickening under +the threat, her eyes striving to see clearly the face of the one +confronting her. + +"Do you expect to frighten me?" she asked, coldly, her earlier anger +strangely changing to indifference. "It is you who wastes time, +senorita, for I care little for your knife. Only it would be an +extremely foolish thing for you to do, as I have not come between you +and your lover." + +The impulsive Mexican dancer laughed, but with no tone of joy +perceptible. + +"My lofer! Mother of God! sometime I think I hate, not lofe. He vas +like all you Americanos, cold as de ice. He play vis Mercedes, and +hurt--gracious, how he hurt! But I must be told. Vat vas he to you? +Answer me dat." + +Beth Norvell's eyes softened in sudden pity. The unconscious appeal +within that broken voice, which had lost all semblance of threat, +seemed to reveal instantly the whole sad story, and her heart gave +immediate response. She reached out, touching gently the hand in which +she saw the gleam of the knife-blade. There was no fear in her now, +nothing but an infinite womanly sympathy. + +"He is nothing to me," she said, earnestly, "absolutely nothing. I +despise him--that is all. He is unworthy the thought of any woman." + +The slender figure of the Mexican swayed as though stricken by a blow, +the fierce, tigerish passion dying out of her face, her free hand +seeking her throat as though choking. + +"Nothing?" she gasped, incredulously. "_Sapristi_, I think you lie, +senorita. Nothing? Vy you go to him in secret? Vy you stay and talk +so long? I not understand." + +"He sent for me; he wished me to aid him in a business matter." + +The other stared incredulous, her form growing rigid with gathering +suspicion that this fair American was only endeavoring to make her a +fool through the use of soft speech. The white teeth gleamed again +maliciously. + +"You speak false to Mercedes," she cried hotly, her voice trembling. +"Vy he send for you, senorita? You know him?" + +There was a bare instant of seeming hesitation, then the quiet, better +controlled voice answered soberly: + +"Yes, in the East, three years ago." + +Like a flash of powder, the girl of the hot-blooded South burst into +fresh flame of passion, her foot stamping the floor, her black eyes +glowing with unrestrained anger. + +"_Dios de Dios_! Eet ees as I thought. He lofe you, not Mercedes. Vy +I not kill you?--hey?" + +Miss Norvell met her fiercely threatening look, her single step of +advance, without tremor or lowering of the eyes. She even released her +grasp upon the uplifted knife, as if in utter contempt. For a moment +they confronted each other, and then, as suddenly as she had broken +into flame, the excitable young Mexican burst into tears. As though +this unexpected exhibition of feeling had inspired the action, the +other as quickly decided upon her course. + +"Listen to me, girl," she exclaimed gravely, again grasping the lowered +knife hand. "I am going to trust you implicitly. You feel deeply; you +will understand when I tell you all. You call me a fine lady because I +hold myself aloof from the senseless revelry of this mining camp; and +you believe you hate me because you suppose I feel above you. But you +are a woman, and, whatever your past life may have been, your heart +will respond to the story of a woman's trouble. I 'm going to tell you +mine, not so much for my sake as for your own. I am not afraid of your +knife; why, its sharp point would be almost welcome, were it not that I +have serious work to do in the world before I die. And you are going +to aid me in accomplishing it. You say you do not really know now +whether you truly love or hate this man, this Farnham. But I know for +myself beyond all doubt. All that once might have blossomed into love +in my heart has been withered into hatred, for I know him to be a moral +leper, a traitor to honor, a remorseless wretch, unworthy the tender +remembrance, of any woman. You suppose I went to him this night +through any deliberate choice of my own? Almighty God, no! I went +because I was compelled; because there was no possible escape. Now, I +am going to tell you why." + +Mercedes, the tears yet clinging to her long, black lashes, stood +motionless, gazing at the other with fascination, her slender, +scarlet-draped figure quivering to the force of these impetuous words. +She longed, yet dreaded, to hear, her own lips refusing utterance. But +Beth Norvell gave little opportunity; her determination made, she swept +forward unhesitatingly. As though fearful of being overheard, even in +the midst of that loneliness, she leaned forward, whispering one quick, +breathless sentence of confession. The startled dancer swayed backward +at the words, clutching at her breast, the faint glimmer of light +revealing her staring eyes and pallid cheeks. + +"Mother of God!" she sobbed convulsively. "No, no! not dat! He could +not lie to me like dat!" + +"Lie?" in bitter scornfulness. "Lie! Why, it is his very life to +lie--to women. God pity us! This world seems filled with just such +men, and we are their natural victims. Love? Their only conception of +it is passion, and, that once satiated, not even ordinary kindness is +left with which to mock the memory. In Heaven's name, girl, in your +life have you not long since learned this? Now, I will tell you what +this monster wanted of me to-night." She paused, scarcely knowing how +best to proceed, or just how much of the plot this other might already +comprehend. + +"Have you ever heard of the 'Little Yankee' mine?" she questioned. + +"Si, senorita," the voice faltering slightly, the black eyes drooping. +"Eet is up in de deep canyon yonder; I know eet." + +"He told me about it," Miss Norvell continued more calmly. "He is +having trouble with those people out there. There is something wrong, +and he is afraid of exposure. You remember the young man who walked +home with me last night: Well, he is a mining engineer. He has agreed +to examine into the claims of the 'Little Yankee' people, and +this--this Farnham wants him stopped. You understand? He sent for me +to use my influence and make him go away. I refused, and then +this--this creature threatened to kill Mr. Winston if he remained in +camp, and--and I know he will." + +The Mexican's great black eyes widened, but not with horror. Suddenly +in the silent pause she laughed. + +"Si, si; now I know all--you lofe dis man. _Bueno_! I see eet as eet +vas." + +The telltale red blood swept to the roots of Miss Norvell's hair, but +her indignant reply came swift and vehement. + +"No, stop! Never dare to speak such words. I am not like that! Can +you think of nothing except the cheap masquerade of love? Have you +never known any true, pure friendship existing between man and woman? +This mining engineer has been good to me; he has proved himself a +gentleman. It is not love which makes me so anxious now to serve him, +to warn him of imminent danger--it is gratitude, friendship, common +humanity. Is it impossible for you to comprehend such motives?" + +The other touched her for the first time with extended hand, her face +losing much of its previous savagery. + +"I know so ver' leettle 'bout such kinds of peoples, senorita," she +explained regretfully, her voice low, "de kind vat are good and gentle +and vidout vantin' somting for eet. Eet ees not de kinds I meet vis +ver' much. Dey be all alike vis me--lofe, lofe, lofe, till I get seek +of de vord--only de one, an' I not know him ver' vell yet. Maybe he +teach me vat you mean some day. He talk better, not like a fool, an' +he not try to make me bad. Is dat eet, senorita?" + +"Yes; who is it you mean?" + +"He? Oh! it vas most odd, yet I do not laugh, senorita, I know not +vy, but he make me to feel--vat you calls eet?--si, de respect; I tink +him to be de good man, de gentle. He was at de 'Little Yankee' too. I +vonder vas all good out at de 'Little Yankee'? _Sapristi_! he vas such +a funny man to talk--he sputter like de champagne ven it uncorked. I +laugh at him, but I like him just de same, for he act to me like I vas +de lady, de ver' fine lady. I never forget dat. You know him, +senorita? So big like a great bear, vis de beautiful red hair like de +color of dis dress. No? He so nice I just hate to have to fool him, +but maybe I get chance to make eet all up some day--you tink so? +Merciful saints! Ve are queer, ve vomens! Eet vas alvays de voman vat +does like de vay you do, hey? Ve vas mooch fools all de time." + +"Yes, we are 'much fools'; that seems ordained. Yet there are true, +noble men in this world, Mercedes, and blessed is she who can boast of +such a friendship. This Mr. Winston is one, and, perhaps, your +stuttering giant may prove another." She caught at a straw of hope in +thus interesting the girl. "So he is at the 'Little Yankee'? and you +wish to serve him? Then listen; he is in danger also if this scheme of +revenge carries--in danger of his life. Dynamite does not pick out one +victim, and permit all others to escape." + +"Dynamite?" + +"That was Farnham's threat, and God knows he is perfectly capable of +it. Now, will you aid me?" + +The young Mexican girl stood staring with parted lips. + +"Help you how? Vat you mean?" + +"Warn the men of the 'Little Yankee.'" + +The other laughed behind her white teeth, yet with no mirth in the +sound. + +"Ah, maybe I see, senorita; you try make a fool out me. No, I not play +your game. You try turn me against Senor Farnham. I tink you not +catch Mercedes so." + +"You do not believe me?" + +"_Sapristi_! I know not for sure. Maybe I help, maybe I not. First I +talk vis Senor Farnham, an' den I know vether you lie, or tell true. +Vatever ees right I do." + +"Then permit me to pass." + +Miss Norvell took a resolute step forward, clasping her skirts closely +to keep them from contact with the dusty scenery crowding the narrow +passage. The jealous flame within the black eyes of the Mexican dimmed. + +"You can no pass dat vay," she explained swiftly, touching the other's +sleeve. + +"Not through the stage door?" + +The other shook her head doggedly. + +"Eet is alvay locked, senorita." + +Beth Norvell turned about in dismay, her eyes pleading, her breath +quickening. + +"You mean we are shut in here for the night? Is n't there any way +leading out?" + +"Oh, si, si," and Mercedes smiled, waving her hands. "Zar is vay +yonder vare de orchestra goes. Eet leads to de hall; I show you." + +"Did he know?" + +"Vat? Senor Farnham? No doubt, senorita. Come, eet ees but de step." + +The bewildered American hung back, her eyes filled with dread resting +upon the black shadow of the curtain, from behind which clearly arose +the strains of a laboring orchestra, mingling with the discordant noise +of a ribald crowd. Farnham understood she was locked in; knew she +might hope to escape only through that scene of pollution; beyond +doubt, he waited in its midst to gloat over her degradation, possibly +even to accost her. She shrank from such an ordeal as though she +fronted pestilence. + +"Oh, not that way; not through the dance hall!" she exclaimed. + +Mercedes clapped her hands with delight. To her it appeared amusing. + +"Holy Mother! Vy not? Eet make me laugh to see you so ver' nice. Vat +you 'fraid 'bout? Vas eet de men? Pah! I snap my fingers at all of +dem dis vay. Dey not say boo! But come, now, Mercedes show you vay +out vere you no meet vis de men, no meet vis anybody. Poof, eet ees +easy." + +She danced lightly away, her hand beckoning, her black eyes aglow with +aroused interest. Reluctantly the puzzled American slowly followed, +dipping down into the black labyrinth leading beneath the stage. Amid +silence and darkness Mercedes grasped her arm firmly, leading +unhesitatingly forward. Standing within the glare of light streaming +through the partially open door. Miss Norvell drew a sudden breath of +relief. The chairs and benches, piled high along the side of the great +room, left a secluded passageway running close against the wall. Along +this the two young women moved silently, catching merely occasional +glimpses of the wild revelry upon the other side of that rude barrier, +unseen themselves until within twenty feet of the street door. There +Miss Norvell hesitated her anxious eyes searching the mixed crowd of +dancers now for the first time fully revealed. Even as she gazed upon +the riot, shocked into silence at the inexpressible profligacy +displayed, and ashamed of her presence in the midst of it, a merry peal +of laughter burst through the parted lips of the Mexican dancer. + +"_Dios de Dios_, but I had all forgot dis vas your night for de dance, +senor. But you no so easy forget Mercedes, hey?" + +He stood directly before them, plainly embarrassed, gripping his +disreputable hat in both hands like a great bashful boy, his face +reddening under her smiling eyes, his voice appearing to catch within +his throat. Mercedes laughed again, patting his broad shoulder with +her white hand as though she petted a great, good-natured dog. Then +her sparkling black eyes caught sight of something unexpected beyond, +and, in an instant, grew hard with purpose. + +"Holy Mother! but eet 's true he ees here, senorita--see yonder by de +second vindow," she whispered fiercely. "Maybe it vas so he tink to +get you once more, but he not looked dis vay yet. _Bueno_! I make him +dance vis me. Dis man Stutter Brown, an' he go vis you to de hotel; +ees eet not so, _amigo_?" + +"I-I have no t-t-time," he stuttered, totally confused. "Y-you see, I +'m in a h-hell of a h-h-hurry." + +"Pah; eet vill not take five minute, an' I be here ven you come back. +Si, senor, I vait for you for de dance, sure." She turned eagerly to +Miss Norvell. "You go vis him, senorita; he ver' good man, I, +Mercedes, know." + +The American looked at them both, her eyes slightly smiling in +understanding. + +"Yes," she assented quietly, "I believe he is." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HALF-CONFIDENCES + +Whatever Stutter Brown may secretly have thought concerning this new +arrangement of his affairs, he indulged in no outward manifestations. +Not greatly gifted in speech, he was nevertheless sufficiently prompt +in action. The swift, nervous orders of the impulsive Mexican dancer +had sufficiently impressed him with one controlling idea, that +something decidedly serious was in the air; and, as she flitted across +the room, looking not unlike a red bird, he watched her make directly +toward a man who was leaning negligently back in a chair against the +farther wall. For a moment he continued to gaze through the obscuring +haze of tobacco smoke, uncertain as to the other's identity, his eyes +growing angry, his square jaw set firm. + +"W-who is the f-f-feller?" he questioned gruffly. "Wh-what 's she +m-mean l-leavin' me to go over th-thar ter h-him?" + +Beth Norvell glanced up frankly into his puzzled face. + +"She has gone to keep him away from me," she explained quietly. "His +name is Farnham." + +Brown's right hand swung back to his belt, his teeth gripped like those +of a fighting dog. + +"Hell!" he ejaculated, forgetting to stutter. "Is that him? Biff +Farnham? An' he 's after you is he, the damned Mormon?" + +She nodded, her cheeks growing rosy from embarrassment. Brown cast a +quick, comprehensive glance from the face of the woman to where the man +was now leaning lazily against the wall. + +"All r-right, little g-girl," he said slowly, and with grave +deliberation. "I-I reckon I n-never went b-back on any p-pard yet. +B-blamed if y-y-you hate thet c-cuss any worse th-than I do. Y-you +bet, I 'll take you out o' h-h-here safe 'nough." + +He drew her more closely against his side, completely shielding her +slender figure from observation by the intervention of his giant body, +and thus they passed out together into the gloomy but still riotous +street. A block or more down, under the glaring light of a noisy +saloon, the girl looked up questioningly into his boyish face. + +"Are you Stutter Brown, of the 'Little Yankee'?" she asked doubtfully. + +"I-I reckon you've c-c-called the t-turn, Miss." + +She hesitated a moment, but there was something about this big, awkward +fellow, with his sober eyes and good-natured face, which gave her +confidence. + +"Do--do you know a Mr. Ned Winston?" + +He shook his head, the locks of red hair showing conspicuously under +the wide hat-brim. + +"I r-reckon not. Leastwise, don't s-s-sorter seem to r-recall no such +n-name, Miss. Was the g-gent a f-friend o' your 'n?" + +"Y-yes. He is a mining engineer, and, I have been told, is under +engagement at the 'Little Yankee.'" + +Brown's eyes hardened, looking down into the upturned face, and his +hands clinched in sudden awakening suspicion. + +"You d-did, hey?" he questioned sullenly. "Wh-who told you that r-rot?" + +"Farnham." + +The man uttered an unrestrained oath, fully believing now that he was +being led into a cunningly devised trap. His mental operations were +slow, but he was swift and tenacious enough in prejudice. He stopped +still, and the two stood silently facing each other, the same vague +spectre of suspicion alive in the minds of both. + +"Farnham," the man muttered, for one instant thrown off his guard from +surprise. "How th-the hell d-d-did he g-git hold o' that?" + +"I don't know; but is n't it true?" + +He turned her face around toward the light, not roughly, yet with an +unconscious strength which she felt irresistible, and looked at her +searchingly, his own eyes perceptibly softening. + +"Y-you sure l-l-look all right, little g-girl," he admitted, slowly, +"but I 've h-heard th-th-that feller was hell with w-women. I-I reckon +you b-better go b-back to Farnham an' find out." + +He paused, wiping his perspiring face with the back of his hand, his +cheeks reddening painfully under her unfaltering gaze. Finally he +blurted out: + +"Say, w-who are you, anyhow?" + +"Beth Norvell, an actress." + +"You kn-kn-know Farnham?" + +She bent her head in regretful acknowledgment. + +"An' you kn-kn-know the senorita?" + +"Yes, a very little." + +Stutter Brown wet his lips, shifting awkwardly. + +"Well, y-you 'll excuse me, M-Miss," he stuttered in an excess of +embarrassment, yet plunging straight ahead with manly determination to +have it out. "I-I ain't much used t-t-to this sorter th-thing, an' +maybe I-I ain't got no r-r-right ter be a-botherin' you with m-my +affairs, nohow. But you s-see it's th-this way. I 've sorter t-took a +big l-l-likin' to that dancin' girl. Sh-she 's a darn sight n-n-nearer +my s-style than anything I 've been up a-against fer s-some time. I-I +don't just kn-know how it h-h-happened, it was so blame s-sudden, b-but +she 's got her l-l-lasso 'bout me all r-right. But Lord! sh-she 's all +fun an' laugh; sh-sh-she don't seem to take n-nothin' serious like, an' +you c-can't make much ou-ou-out o' that kind; you n-never know just how +to t-take 'em; leastwise, I don't. N-now, I 'm a plain s-s-sorter man, +an' I m-make bold ter ask ye a m-mighty plain sorter qu-question--is +that there M-M-Mercedes on the squar?" + +He stood there motionless before her, a vast, uncertain bulk in the dim +light, but he was breathing hard, and the deep earnestness of his voice +had impressed her strongly. + +"Why do you ask me that?" she questioned, for the moment uncertain how +to answer him. "I scarcely know her; I know almost nothing regarding +her life." + +"Y-you, you are a w-woman, Miss," he insisted, doggedly, "an', I t-take +it, a woman who will u-understand such th-th-things. T-tell me, is she +on the squar?" + +"Yes," she responded, warmly. "She has not had much chance, I think, +and may have made a mistake, perhaps many of them, but I believe she 's +on the square." + +"Did--did sh-she come out t-to our m-m-mine spying for Farnham?" + +"Really, I don't know." + +His grave face darkened anxiously; she could perceive the change even +in that shadow, and distinguish the sharp grind of his teeth. + +"Damn him," he muttered, his voice bitter with hate. "It w-would be +l-l-like one of his l-low-lived tricks. Wh-what is that g-girl to him, +anyhow?" + +It was no pleasant task to hurt this man deliberately, yet, perhaps, it +would be best. Anyway, it was not in Beth Norvell's nature either to +lie or to be afraid. + +"He has been her friend; there are some who say her lover." + +He stared fixedly at her, as though she had struck him a stinging, +unexpected blow. + +"Him? A-an' you s-s-say she 's on the squar?" + +"Yes; I say she is on the square, because I think so. It's a hard life +she 's had to live, and no one has any right to judge her by strict +rules of propriety. I may not approve, neither do I condemn. Good +women have been deceived before now--have innocently done wrong in the +eyes of the world--and this Mercedes is a woman. I know him also, know +him to be a cold-blooded, heartless brute. She is merely a girl, +pulsating with the fiery blood of the South, an artist to her fingers' +tips, wayward and reckless. It would not be very difficult for one of +that nature to be led astray by such a consummate deceiver as he is. I +pity her, but I do not reproach. Yet God have mercy on him when she +awakes from her dream, for that time is surely coming, perhaps is here +already; and the girl is on the square. I believe it, she is on the +square." + +For a silent, breathless moment Brown did not stir, did not once take +his eyes from off her face. She saw his hand slip down and close hard +over the butt of his dangling revolver. Then he drew a deep breath, +his head thrown back, his great shoulders squared. + +"D-damn, but that helps me," he said soberly. "It--it sure does. +G-good-night, little g-girl." + +"Are you going to leave me now?" + +"Why, sure. Th-this yere is the h-h-hotel, ain 't it? W-well, I 've +got t-to be back to th-the 'Little Yankee' afore d-d-daylight, or thar +'ll be h-hell to pay, an' I sure m-mean to see her first, +an'--an'--maybe h-him." + +She stood there in thoughtful perplexity, oblivious to all else in her +strange surroundings, watching the dark shadow of his burly figure +disappear through the dim light. There was a strength of purpose, a +grim, unchangeable earnestness about the man which impressed her +greatly, which won her admiration. He was like some great faithful +dog, ready to die at his master's bidding. Down in her heart she +wondered what would be the tragic end of this night's confidence. + +"There goes a good friend," she said slowly, under her breath, "and a +bad enemy." Then she turned away, aroused to her own insistent mission +of warning, and entered the silent hotel. + +The night clerk, a mere boy with pallid cheeks and heavy eyes +bespeaking dissipation, reclined on a couch behind the rough counter, +reading a Denver paper. He was alone in the room, excepting a drunken +man noisily slumbering in an arm-chair behind the stove. Miss Norvell, +clasping her skirts tightly, picked her way forward across the littered +floor, the necessity for immediate action rendering her supremely +callous to all ordinary questions of propriety. + +"Can you inform me if Mr. Winston is in his room?" she questioned, +leaning across the counter until she could see the clerk's surprised +face. + +The young fellow smiled knowingly, rising instantly to his feet. + +"Not here at all," he returned pleasantly. "He left just before noon +on horseback. Heard him say something 'bout an engineering job he had +up Echo Canyon. Reckon that 's where he 's gone. Anything important, +Miss Norvell?" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE COVER OF DARKNESS + +Beth Norvell did not remember ever having fainted in her life, yet for +a moment after these words reached her, all around grew dark, and she +was compelled to grasp the counter to keep from falling. The strain of +the long night, coupled with such unexpected news proving she had +arrived too late with her warning, served to daze her brain, to leave +her utterly unable either to think or plan. The clerk, alarmed by the +sudden pallor of her face, was at her side instantly, holding eagerly +forth that panacea for all fleshly ills in the West, a bottle of +whiskey. + +"Good Lord, Miss, don't faint away!" he cried excitedly. "Here, just +take a swig of this; there 's plenty of water in it, and it's the stuff +to pull you through. There, that's better. Great Scott, but I sure +thought you was goin' to flop over that time." He assisted her to a +convenient chair, then stepped back, gazing curiously into her face, +the black bottle still in his hand. "What's the trouble, anyhow?" he +questioned, his mind filled with sudden suspicion. "That--that fellow +did n't throw you, did he?" + +Miss Norvell, her fingers clasping the chair arm for support, rose +hurriedly to her feet, a red flush sweeping into her pallid cheeks. +For an instant her intense indignation held her speechless. + +"'Throw' me? What is it you mean?" she exclaimed, her voice faltering. +"Do you rank me with those shameless creatures out yonder? It is for +Mr. Winston's sake I sought word with him; it has nothing whatever to +do with myself. I chanced to learn news of the utmost importance, news +which he must possess before morning; yet it is not a message I can +trust to any one else. My God! what can I do?" She paused irresolute, +her hands pressing her temples. The boy, his interest aroused, took a +step forward. + +"Can I be of service?" + +"Oh, I hardly know; I scarcely seem able to think. Could--could you +leave here for just ten minutes--long enough to go to the dance hall at +the Gayety?" + +"Sure thing; there 's nothin' doin'." + +"Then please go; find a big, red-headed miner there named +Brown--'Stutter' Brown they call him--and bring him back here to me. +If--if he is n't there any longer, then get Mercedes, the Mexican +dancer. You know her, don't you?" + +The clerk nodded, reaching for his hat. + +"Get one of those two; oh, you must get one of them. Tell them I say +it is most important." + +There was a terrible earnestness about the girl's words and manner, +which instantly impressed the lad with the necessity for immediate +haste. He was off at a run, slamming the door heavily behind him, and +plunging headlong into the black street. As he disappeared, Miss +Norvell sank back into the vacated chair, and sat there breathing +heavily, her eyes fastened upon the drunken man opposite, her natural +coolness and resource slowly emerging from out the haze of +disappointment. Brown could surely be trusted in this emergency, for +his interest was only second to her own. But why had she not told him +the entire story before? Why, when she had opportunity, did she fail +to reveal to him Farnham's threats, and warn him against impending +danger? She realized fully now the possible injury wrought by her +secrecy. She felt far too nervous, too intensely anxious, to remain +long quiet; her eyes caught the ticking timepiece hanging above the +clerk's desk, and noted the hour with a start of surprise. It was +already after two. Once, twice, thrice she paced across the floor of +the office and stood for a moment striving to peer through the dirty +window-glass into the blackness without, faintly splotched with gleams +of yellow light. Finally, she flung back the door and ventured forth +upon the shadowed porch, standing behind the low railing, where those +passing below were little likely to notice her presence. Her head +throbbed and ached, and she loosened her heavy hair, pressing her palms +to the temples. The boy returned at last hurriedly, bare-headed, but +unaccompanied, and she met him at the top of the steps, realizing, even +before he spoke, that those she sought had not been found. + +"Not there? Neither there?" + +"No, Miss." The clerk was breathing hard from his run, but his tone +was sympathetic. "Darned if I did n't hustle that outfit from pit to +boxes, but nobody there seemed to sabe this yere Brown. Mercedes, she +was there all right, 'bout ten minutes ago, but just naturally faded +away before I hit the shebang. Doorkeeper piped it she had a guy with +her when she broke loose, an' he reckoned she must have lit out fer +home." + +"For home?" a faint ray of light breaking from the word. "Where does +the girl live? Do you know?" + +"Sure; I 'm wise; she has a couple of dandy rooms over at the old fort, +just across the creek; you know where that is, don't you?" + +She nodded silently, her eyes brightening with resolution. + +"It 's a blame tough bit of hiking to take alone on a dark night like +this," he commented gravely. "You was n't plannin' to try any such +trip as that, was you, Miss?" + +"Oh, no; certainly not. I'm going upstairs to wait for daylight. But +I thank you so much," and she cordially extended her hand. "You see, +I--I could hardly go to the Gayety myself at such an hour." + +The boy colored, still clasping the extended hand. Something in her +low tone had served to recall to his mind those hasty words uttered in +the office. + +"Sure not, Miss Norvell; it's a bit tough, all right, for anybody like +you down there at this time o' night." + +She opened the door, the bright light from within shining about her +slender figure, yet leaving her face still in shadow. + +"Did--did you chance to notice if Mr. Farnham remained in the dance +hall?" + +"Biff Farnham?" in sudden, choking surprise. "Great guns, do you know +him, too? No, he was n't there, but I can tell you where he is, all +the same. He 's at the Palace Livery, saddling up, along with half a +dozen other fellows. I saw 'em as I come trottin' along back, and +wondered what the dickens was on tap at this time o' night." + +The girl made no attempt to answer. She stood clutching the edge of +the door for support, her lips tightly compressed, feeling as if her +heart would rise up and choke her. She realized instantly that the +crisis had arrived, that Winston's life probably hung upon her next +decision. Twice she endeavored bravely to speak, and when she finally +succeeded, the strange calmness other voice made her doubt her own +sanity. + +"Thank you," she said gravely, "you have been most kind,--good-night," +and vanished up the stairs. + +Within the privacy of her own securely locked room Beth Norvell flung +herself upon the narrow bed, not to sleep, not even to rest, but in an +earnest effort to clarify her brain, to gain fresh conception of this +grim reality which fronted her. She realized now precisely what Ned +Winston stood for in her life--must ever stand for until the bitter +end. There was no upbraiding, no reviling. Not in the slightest +degree did she even attempt to deceive herself; with set, tearless +eyes, and without a sigh of regret, she simply faced the naked truth. +She had made the mistake herself; now she must bear the burden of +discovery. It was not the dull inertia of fatalism, but rather the +sober decision of a woman who had been tried in the fire, who +understood her own heart, and comprehended the strength of her own +will. Personal suffering and sacrifice were no new chapters written in +her life; these had been met before, and now, in yet another guise, +they could be courageously met again. She sat up quickly upon the edge +of the bed, her hands pressing back the heavy hair from off her hot +forehead. What right had she to lie there shuddering at destiny when +lives--his life--might be trembling in the balance? She could at least +serve, and, whatever else of weakness may have lurked in Beth Norvell, +there was no germ of cowardice. Clearer and more clear she perceived +duty, until it overshadowed love and brought her upon her feet in +active preparation, in burning desire for action. + +Standing before the little mirror, she wondered dimly at those dark +circles beneath her eyes, the unusually sharp lines visible at the +corners of her mouth. She felt hot, feverish, and in hope of thus +relieving the painful throbbing of her temples she buried her face in +the bowl of cool water. Rapidly, almost carelessly, she gathered up +her dishevelled locks, fastening them in some simple, yet secure +fashion back out of the way. From the open trunk standing against the +wall, she caught up a plain, soft hat, one she had used in character +upon the stage, and drew it down firmly over the mass of soft hair, +never noting how coquettishly the wide brim swept up in front, or what +witchery of archness it gave to her dark eyes. She took a quick step +toward the door, and then, her hand already on the latch, she paused in +uncertainty; finally, she drew a small, pearl-handled revolver from the +bottom tray, and placed it carefully in a pocket of her jacket. + +"I--I hardly believe I could ever use it," she thought, "but maybe I +might." + +Outside, in the narrow, deserted hall, she stood at the head of the +steep flight of stairs and listened. The snoring of the drunken man in +the office below was the only disturbing sound. Out through the open +office door a dull bar of yellow light streamed across the lower steps. +Like a ghost she stole silently down, treading so softly not a stair +creaked beneath her cautious footfalls. The next moment she had opened +the door, and was alone in the dark street. + +Dark it was, but neither deserted nor silent. The unleashed evil of +San Juan was now in full control, more madly riotous than ever beneath +the cloak of so late an hour. Nothing short of complete return of +daylight would bring semblance of peace to that carnival of saloons, +gambling dens, and dance halls. Through the shadows stalked unrebuked, +uncontrolled, the votaries of dissipation and recklessness, of "easy +money" and brutal lust. Yellow rays of light streamed from out dirty, +uncurtained windows, leaving the narrow street weirdly illuminated, +with here and there patches of dense shadows. Shifting figures, often +unsteady of step, appeared and disappeared like disembodied spirits, +distorted from all human semblance by that uncertain radiance; on every +side the discordant sounds of violins and pianos commingled in one +hideous din, punctuated by drunken shouts and every species of noise of +which civilized savagery is capable. + +Yet this was not what she feared, this saturnalia of unbridled passion, +for the way was comparatively well lighted, and in traversing it she +was reasonably certain to be within call of some one sober enough to +protect her from insult or injury. Even in drink these men remained +courteous to women of the right sort. No, she had travelled that path +alone at night before, again and again, returning from her work. She +shrank, womanlike, from the sights and sounds, but was conscious of no +personal fear. What she dreaded beyond expression was that long, black +stretch of narrow, desolate alley-way leading down toward the creek +bridge and the old fort beyond. She had been over that path once in +broad daylight, and it made her shudder to think she must now feel her +way there alone through the dark. The growing fear of it got upon her +nerves as she stood hesitating; then, almost angry with herself, she +advanced swiftly down toward the distant glowing lights of the Gayety. +It was just beyond there that the alley turned off toward the +foothills, a mere thread of a path wandering amid a maze of unlighted +tents and disreputable shacks; she remembered this, and the single +rotten strip of plank which answered for a sidewalk. + +There was an unusually boisterous, quarrelsome crowd congregated in +front of the Poodle-Dog, and she turned aside into the middle of the +street in order to get past undisturbed. Some one called noisily for +her to wait and have a drink, but she never glanced about, or gave +slightest heed. At the curb a drunken woman reeled against her, +peering sneeringly into her face with ribald laugh, but Beth Norvell +pushed silently past, and vanished into the protecting shadows beyond. + +The wide doors of the brilliantly illuminated Gayety were flung open, +the bright light from within streaming far across the road. Many of +its patrons, heated with liquor and the dance, had swarmed forth upon +the broad platform outside in search of fresher air. To avoid pushing +her way through this noisy crowd the girl swiftly crossed the street +into the darkness opposite. As she paused there for an instant, +scarcely conscious that the glow of the lamps reflected full upon her +face, there sounded a sudden clatter of horses' hoofs to her right, and +a half-dozen riders swept around the sharp corner, dashing forward into +the glare. She had barely time in which to leap backward out of their +direct path, when one of the horsemen jerked his mount upon its +haunches, and, uttering an oath of astonishment, leaned forward across +his pommel, staring down into her startled face. Then he laughed. + +"Go on, boys," he cried, sitting erect, with a wave of his hand to the +others. "I 'll catch up within half a mile. I 've got a word to say +first to this precious dove fluttering here." He struck the flank of +his horse, causing the sensitive beast to quiver, his own lips curling +maliciously. The girl, panting between parted lips, never lowered her +eyes from his face, and the steady look angered him. + +"Still hunting for Winston?" he questioned, sneeringly. "Well, I can +inform you where he may very easily be found." + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes, out at the 'Little Yankee.' It seems you were a trifle late in +getting him word, or else your fascinations failed to move him. You +must be losing your grip." + +She neither moved nor spoke, her eyes--dark, unwinking beneath the wide +hat-brim--telling him nothing. Yet her hand closed upon the pearl +handle hidden away in the jacket pocket, and her lips formed a straight +line. + +"I 'm damned sorry you did n't land the fellow, Lizzie," he went on +brutally. "He 's about the best catch you 're liable to get, and +besides, it leaves me a rather unpleasant job. Still, I thought I 'd +better tell you, so you would n't feel it necessary to hang around the +streets here any longer. Fact is, I 'm anxious to shield your +reputation, you know." He looked about carelessly, his glance settling +on the open doors of the Gayety. "Don't strike me this is exactly the +sort of place for one of your moral respectability to be discovered in. +Lord! but what would the old man or that infernal prig of a brother of +yours say, if they could only see you now? A monologue artist at the +Gayety was bad enough, but this, this is the limit." + +There was a flash of something white and glittering within six inches +of his face, a sharp click, and an eye looked directly into his own +across a short steel barrel. + +"Go!" The word was like the spat of a bullet. + +"But, Lizzie--" + +"Go, you cur! or, as God is my witness, if you stay I'll kill you!" + +With a sharp dig of the spur his horse sprang half-way across the road, +a black, prancing shadow against the glare of light. She saw the rider +fling up one arm, and bring down the stinging quirt on the animal's +flank; the next instant, with a bound, they were swallowed up in the +darkness. A moment she leaned against the shack, nerveless, half +fainting from reaction, her face deathly white. Then she inhaled a +long, deep breath, gathered her skirts closely within one hand, and +plunged boldly into the black alley. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +TWO WOMEN + +Mercedes stood in the shade of the towering hillside, the single beam +of light shining from an uncurtained window alone faintly revealing her +slenderness of figure in its red drapery. No other gleam anywhere +cleft the prevailing darkness of the night, and the only perceptible +sound was that of horses' hoofs dying away in the distance. The girl +was not crying, although one of her hands was held across her eyes, and +her bosom rose and fell tumultuously to labored breathing. She stood +silent, motionless, the strange radiance causing her to appear unreal, +some divinely moulded statue, an artist's dream carven in colored +stone. Suddenly she sprang backward from out that revealing tongue of +light and crouched low at the angle of the house, not unlike some +affrighted wild animal, her head bent forward intently listening. +There was a plainly perceptible movement in the gloom, the sound of an +approaching footstep and of rapid breathing, and finally a shadow +became visible. The watcher leaped to her feet half angrily. + +"Ah! so eet vas you, senorita!" she exclaimed, her voice betraying her +emotion,--"you, who come so dis night. _Sapristi_! vy you follow me +dis vay? By all de saints, I make you tell me dat! You vant him, too? +You vant rob me of all thing?" + +The visitor, startled by this sudden challenge, stood before her +trembling from head to foot with the nervous excitement of her journey, +yet her eyes remained darkly resolute. + +"You recognize me," she responded quickly, reaching out and touching +the other with one hand, as if to make certain of her actual presence. +"Then for God's sake do not waste time now in quarrelling. I did not +make this trip without a purpose. 'He,' you say? Who is he? Who was +it that rode away from here just now? Not Farnham?" + +Mercedes laughed a trifle uneasily, her eyes suddenly lowered before +the other's anxious scrutiny. + +"Ah, no, senorita," she answered softly. "Eet surprises me mooch you +not know; eet vas Senor Brown." + +Miss Norvell grasped her firmly by the shoulder. + +"Brown?" she exclaimed eagerly. "Stutter Brown? Oh, call him back; +cannot you call him back?" + +The young Mexican shook her head, her white teeth gleaming, as she drew +her shoulder free from the fingers clasping it. + +"You vas too late, senorita," she replied, sweetly confident. "He vas +already gone to de 'Little Yankee.' But he speak mooch to me first." + +"Much about what?" + +"Vel, he say he lofe me--he say eet straight, like eet vas vat he +meant." + +"Oh!" + +"Si, senorita; he not even talk funny, maybe he so excited he forgot +how, hey? An' vat you tink dat he say den to Mercedes--vat?" + +The other shook her head, undecided, hesitating as to her own purpose. + +"He ask me vould I marry him. Si, si, vat you tink of dat--me, +Mercedes Morales, de dancer at de Gayety--he ask me vould I marry him. +Oh, Mother of God!" + +The young American stared at her upturned animated face, suddenly +aroused to womanly interest. + +"And what did you say?" + +Mercedes stamped her foot savagely on the hard ground, her eyes glowing +like coals of fire. + +"You ask vat I say? Saints of God! vat could I say? He vas a good +man, dat Senor Brown, but I--I vas not a good voman. I no tell him +dat--no! no! I vas shamed; I get red, vite; I hardly speak at all; my +heart thump so I tink maybe eet choke me up here, but I say no. I say +no once, tvice, tree time. I tell him he big fool to tink like dat of +me. I tell him go vay an' find voman of his own race--good voman. I +tell him eet could nevah be me, no, nevah." + +"Then you do not love him?" + +The puzzled dancer hesitated, her long lashes lowered, and outlined +against her cheeks. + +"Lofe? Dat vas not nice vord as eet come to me. I know not ver' vell +just vat. Maybe if I not lofe him I marry him--si; I no care den. I +make him to suffer, but not care; ees eet not so? Anyhow, I--vat you +call dat?--respect dis Senor Brown mooch, ver' mooch. Maybe dat last +longer as lofe--_quien sabe_?" + +Scarcely comprehending this peculiar explanation, Beth Norvell's first +conception was that the girl had chosen wrong, that she had allied +herself upon the side of evil. + +"You mean you--you will go back to Biff Farnham?" she asked, her tone +full of horror. + +Mercedes straightened up quickly, her young, expressive face filled +with a new passion, which struggled almost vainly for utterance through +her lips. + +"Go back to dat man!" she panted. "Me? _Sapristi_! and you tink I do +dat after Senor Brown ask me be hees vife! Blessed Mary! vat you tink +I am? You tink I not feel, not care? I go back to dat Farnham? Eet +vould not be, no! no! I tol' him dat mooch, an' he got mad. I no +care, I like dat. I no lofe him, nevah; I vas sold to him for money, +like sheep, but I learn to hate him to kill." The deep glow of the +black eyes softened, and her head slowly dropped until it touched the +other's extended arm. "But dis Senor Brown he vas not dat kind--he ask +me to marry him; he say he not care vat I been, only he lofe me, an' he +be good to me alvays. I vas hungry for dat, senorita, but I say no, +no, no! Eet vas not for me, nevah. I send him avay so sorry, an' den +I cry ven I hear his horse go out yonder. Eet vas like he tread on me, +eet hurt dat vay. Maybe I no lofe him, but I know he vas good man an' +he lofe me. Eet vas de honor ven he ask me dat, an' now I be good +voman because a good man lofes me. Holy Mother! eet vill be easy now +dat he vanted to marry me." + +Impulsively Beth Norvell, her own eyes moist, held the other, sobbing +like a child within the clasp of sympathetic arms. There was instantly +formed between them a new bond, a new feeling of awakened womanhood. +Yet, even as her fingers continued to stroke the dishevelled hair +softly, there flashed across her mind a recurring memory of her +purpose, the necessity for immediate action. Not for an instant longer +did she doubt the complete honesty of the other's frank avowal, or +question the propriety of requesting her aid in thwarting Farnham. She +held the slight, quivering figure back, so that she might gaze into the +uplifted, questioning face. + +"Mercedes, yes, yes, I understand it all," she cried eagerly. "But we +cannot talk about it any longer now. It is a wonderful thing, this +love of a good man; but we are wasting time that may mean life or death +to others, perhaps even to him. Listen to what I say--Farnham has +already gone to the 'Little Yankee,' and taken a gang of roughs with +him. They left San Juan on horseback more than half an hour ago. He +threatened me first, and boasted that Mr. Winston was out there, and +that I was too late to warn him of danger. Oh, girl, you understand +what that means; you know him well, you must realize what he is capable +of doing. I came here as fast as I could in the dark," she shuddered, +glancing backward across her shoulder. "Every step was a way of +horrors, but I did n't know any one who could help me. But you--you +know the way to the 'Little Yankee,' and we--we must get there before +daylight, if we have to crawl." + +All that was savagely animal in the other's untamed nature flamed into +her face. + +"He say vat? Senor Farnham he say vat he do?" + +"He said dynamite told no tales, but sometimes killed more than the one +intended." + +Mercedes' hand went to her head as though a pain had smitten her, and +she stepped back, half crouching in the glow like a tiger cat. + +"He say dat? De man say dat? Holy Angels! he vas de bad devil, but he +find me de bad devil too. Ah, now I play him de game, an' ve see who +vin! De 'Leetle Yankee,' eet tree mile, senorita, an' de road rough, +mooch rough, but I know eet--si, I know eet, an' ve get dare before de +day come; sure ve do eet, _bueno_." She grasped the arm of the other, +now fully aroused, her slight form quivering from intense excitement. +"Come, I show you. See! he vas my pony--ah! eet makes me to laugh to +know de Senor Farnham give him me; now I make him to upset de Senor +Farnham. _Sapristi_! eet vas vat you call de vay of de vorld, de +verligig; vas eet not so? You ride de pony, senorita; I valk an' lead +him--si, si, you more tired as Mercedes; I danseuse, no tire ever in de +legs. Den I find de vay more easy on foot in de dark, see? You ride +good, hey? He jump little, maybe, but he de ver' nice pony, an' I no +let him run. No, no, de odder vay, senorita, like de man ride. Poof! +it no harm in de dark. _Bueno_, now ve go to surprise de Senor +Farnham." + +She led promptly forth as she spoke, moving with perfect confidence +down the irregular trail skirting the bank of the creek, her left hand +grasping the pony's bit firmly, the other shading her eyes as though to +aid in the selection of a path through the gloom. It was a rough, +uneven, winding road they followed, apparently but little used, +littered with loose stones and projecting roots; yet, after a moment of +fierce but useless rebellion, the lively mustang sobered down into a +cautious picking of his passage amid the debris, obedient as a dog to +the soft voice of his mistress. The problems of advance were far too +complicated to permit of much conversation, and little effort at speech +was made by either, the principal thought in each mind being the +necessity for haste. + +Swaying on the saddleless back of the pony, her anxious gaze on the +dimly revealed, slender figure trudging sturdily in front, Beth Norvell +began to dread the necessity of again having to meet Winston under such +conditions. What would he naturally think? He could scarcely fail to +construe such action on his behalf as one inspired by deep personal +interest, and she instinctively shrank from such revealment, fearing +his glance, his word of welcome, his expressions of surprised +gratitude. The awkwardness, the probable embarrassment involved, +became more and more apparent as she looked forward to that meeting. +If possible, she would gladly drop out, and so permit the other to bear +on the message of warning alone. But, even with Mercedes' undoubted +interest in Brown, and her increasing dislike of Farnham, Beth could +not as yet entirely trust her unaccompanied. Besides, there was no +excuse to offer for such sudden withdrawal, no reason she durst even +whisper into the ear of another. No, there was nothing left her but to +go on; let him think what he might of her action, she would not fail to +do her best to serve him, and beneath the safe cover of darkness she +blushed scarlet, her long lashes moist with tears that could not be +restrained. They were at the bottom of the black canyon now, the high, +uplifting rock walls on either side blotting out the stars and +rendering the surrounding gloom intense. The young Mexican girl seemed +to have the eyes of a cat, or else was guided by some instinct of the +wild, feeling her passage slowly yet surely forward, every nerve alert, +and occasionally pausing to listen to some strange night sound. It was +a weird, uncanny journey, in which the nerves tingled to uncouth shapes +and the wild echoing of mountain voices. Once, at such a moment of +continued suspense, Beth Norvell bent forward and whispered a sentence +into her ear. The girl started, impulsively pressing her lips against +the white hand grasping the pony's mane. + +"No, no, senorita," she said softly. "Not dat; not because he lofe me; +because he ask me dat. Si, I make him not so sorry." + +She remembered that vast overhanging rock about which the dim trail +circled as it swept upward toward where the "Little Yankee" perched +against the sky-line. Undaunted by the narrowness of the ledge, the +willing, sure-footed mustang began climbing the steep grade. Step by +step they crept up, cautiously advancing from out the bottom of the +cleft, the path followed winding in and out among bewildering cedars, +and skirting unknown depths of ravines. Mercedes was breathing +heavily, her unoccupied hand grasping the trailing skirt which +interfered with her climbing. Miss Norvell, from her higher perch on +the pony's back, glanced behind apprehensively. Far away to the east a +faint, uncertain tinge of gray was shading into the sky. Suddenly a +detached stone rattled in their front; there echoed the sharp click of +a rifle hammer, mingled with the sound of a gruff, unfamiliar voice: + +"You come another step, an' I 'll blow hell out o' yer. _Sabe_?" + +It all occurred so quickly that neither spoke; they caught their breath +and waited in suspense. A shadow, dim, ill-defined, seemed to take +partial form in their front. + +"Well, can't yer speak?" questioned the same voice, growlingly. "What +yer doin' on this yere trail?" + +Mercedes released the pony's bit, and leaned eagerly forward. + +"Vas dat you, Beell Heeks?" she questioned, doubtfully. + +The man swore, the butt of his quickly lowered rifle striking sharply +against the rock at his feet. + +"I 'm damned if it ain't that Mexican agin," he exclaimed, angrily. +"Now, you get out o' yere; you hear me? I 'm blamed if I kin shoot at +no female, but you got in one measly spyin' job on this outfit, an' I +'ll not put up with another if I have ter pitch ye out inter the +canyon. So you git plum out o' yere, an' tell yer friend Farnham he +better take more care o' his females, or some of 'em are liable ter get +hurt." + +There was the harsh crunch of a footstep in the darkness, another +figure suddenly slid down the smooth surface of rock, dropping almost +at the pony's head. The animal shied with a quick leap, but a heavy +hand held him captive. + +"Y-you sh-sh-shut up, B-Bill," and the huge form of Stutter Brown +loomed up directly between them, and that menacing rifle. "I-I reckon +as how I'll t-t-take a h-hand in this yere g-g-game. Sh-she ain't no +s-spy fer Farnham, er I 'm a l-l-liar." He touched her softly with his +great hand, bending down to look into her face, half hidden beneath the +ruffled black hair. "C-come, little g-g-girl, what's up?" + +She made no response, her lips faltering as though suddenly stricken +dumb. Beth Norvell dropped down from the pony's back, and stood with +one hand resting on Mercedes' shoulder. + +"She only came to show me the way," she explained bravely. "I-I have a +most important message for Mr. Winston. Where is he?" + +"Important, d-did you s-s-say?" + +"Yes, its delivery means life or death--for Heaven's sake, take me to +him!" + +For a single breathless moment Brown hesitated, his eyes on the girl's +upturned face, evidently questioning her real purpose. + +"I c-can't right n-now, Miss," he finally acknowledged, gravely; +"that's s-straight; fer ye s-s-see, he 's down the 'I-I-Independence' +shaft." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +UNDERGROUND + +It was a daring ruse that had taken Ned Winston down the shaft of the +"Independence" mine with the midnight shift. Not even the professional +enthusiasm of a young engineer could serve to justify so vast a risk, +but somehow this battle of right and wrong had become a personal +struggle between himself and Farnham; he felt, without understanding +clearly why, that the real stake involved was well worth the venture, +and would prove in the end of infinitely more value to him than any +settlement of the mere mining claims at issue. For several hours he +had been below in the tunnel of the "Little Yankee," measuring +distances, and sampling the grade of ore. All the afternoon and much +of the early night had been utilized in a careful exploration of the +surface ledges; creeping in, under protection of the low-growing +cedars, as closely as a vigilant rifle-guard would permit, to the great +ore dump of the busy "Independence"; diligently studying their system +of labor, and slowly crystallizing into shape his later plan of action. +He was already morally convinced that the Farnham people were actively +engaged in stealing the "Little Yankee" ore; that they were running +their tunnel along the lead of the latter; that they were doing this +systematically, and fully conscious of the danger of discovery. His +lines of survey, the nature of the ore bodies, the muffled sound of +picks, plainly discernible in the silent breast of the "Little Yankee" +while he lay listening with ear to the rock, as well as the close +secrecy, all combined to convince him fully of the fact. Yet such +vague suspicions were perfectly useless. He must have absolute, +convincing proof, and such proof could be obtained nowhere excepting at +the bottom of the "Independence" shaft. + +He talked over the situation frankly with the two partners in the +little single-roomed cabin perched on the cliff edge, while the +obedient though grumbling Mike, rifle in hand, sat solemnly on the dump +pile without. Little by little the three conspirators worked out a +fairly feasible plan. There were numerous chances for failure in it, +yet the very recklessness of the conception was an advantage. Winston, +his face darkened as a slight disguise, and dressed in the rough +garments of a typical miner, was to hide beside the footpath leading +between the "Independence" bunk-house and the shaft. Should one of the +men chance to loiter behind the others when the working shift changed +at midnight, Brown was to attend to him silently, relying entirely upon +his giant strength to prevent alarm, while Winston was promptly to take +the vacated place among the descending workmen. By some grim fate this +crudely devised scheme worked like a well-oiled piece of machinery. A +sleepy-headed lout, endeavoring to draw on his coat as he ran blindly +after the others, stumbled in the rocky path and fell heavily. Almost +at the instant Stutter Brown had the fellow by the throat, dragging him +back into the security of the cedars, and Winston, lamp and dinner-pail +in hand, was edging his way into the crowded cage, his face turned to +the black wall. + +That was five hours before. At the very edge of the black, concealing +chaparral, within easy rifle range of the "Independence" shaft-house, +Hicks and Brown lay flat on their faces, waiting and watching for some +occasion to take a hand. Back behind the little cabin old Mike sat +calmly smoking his black dudheen, apparently utterly oblivious to all +the world save the bound and cursing Swede he was vigilantly guarding, +and whose spirits he occasionally refreshed with some choice bit of +Hibernian philosophy. Beneath the flaring gleam of numerous gasoline +torches, half a dozen men constantly passed and repassed between +shaft-house and dump heap, casting weird shadows along the rough +planking, and occasionally calling to each other, their gruff voices +clear in the still night. Every now and then those two silent watchers +could hear the dismal clank of the windlass chain, and a rattle of ore +on the dump, when the huge buckets were hoisted to the surface and +emptied of their spoil. Once--it must have been after three +o'clock--other men seemed suddenly to mingle among those perspiring +surface workers and the unmistakable neigh of a horse came faintly from +out the blackness of a distant thicket. The two lying in the chaparral +rose to their knees, bending anxiously forward. Brown drew back the +hammer of his rifle, while Hicks swore savagely under his breath. But +those new figures vanished in some mysterious way before either could +decide who they might be--into the shaft-house, or else beyond, where +denser shadows intervened. The two watchers sank back again into their +cover, silently waiting, ever wondering what was happening beyond their +ken, down below in the heart of the hill. + +Some of this even Winston never knew, although he was a portion of it. +He had gone down with the descending cage, standing silent among the +grimy workmen crowding it, and quickly discerning from their speech +that they were largely Swedes and Poles, of a class inclined to ask few +questions, provided their wages were promptly paid. There was a +deserted gallery opening from the shaft-hole some forty feet below the +surface; he saw the glimmer of light reflected along its wall as they +passed, but the cage dropped to a considerably lower level before it +stopped, and the men stepped forth into the black entry. Winston went +with them, keeping carefully away from the fellow he supposed to be +foreman of the gang, and hanging back, under pretence of having +difficulty in lighting his lamp, until the others had preceded him some +distance along the echoing gallery. The yellow flaring of their lights +through the intense darkness proved both guidance and warning, so he +moved cautiously forward, counting his steps, his hand feeling the +trend of the side wall, his lamp unlit. The floor was rough and +uneven, but dry, the tunnel apparently having been blasted through +solid rock, for no props supporting the roof were discernible. For +quite an extended distance this entry ran straight away from the foot +of the shaft--directly south he made it--into the heart of the +mountain; then those twinkling lights far in advance suddenly winked +out, and Winston groped blindly forward until he discovered a sharp +turn in the tunnel. + +He lingered for a moment behind the protection of that angle of rock +wall, struck a safety match, and held the tiny flame down close against +the face of his pocket compass. Exactly; this new advance extended +southeast by east. He snuffed out the glowing splinter between his +fingers, crossed over to the opposite side, and watchfully rounded the +corner to where he could again perceive the twinkling lights ahead. +His foot met some obstacle along the floor, and he bent down, feeling +for it with his fingers in the dark; it proved to be a rude scrap-iron +rail, evidence that they carried out their ore by means of mules and a +tram-car. A few yards farther this new tunnel began to ascend +slightly, and he again mysteriously lost his view of the miners' lamps, +and was compelled to grope his way more slowly, yet ever carefully +counting his steps. The roof sank with the advance until it became so +low he was compelled to stoop. The sound of picks smiting the rock was +borne to him, made faint by distance, but constantly growing clearer. +There he came to another curve in the tunnel. + +He crouched upon one knee, peering cautiously around the edge in an +effort to discover what was taking place in front. The scattered +lights on the hats of the miners rendered the whole weird scene fairly +visible. There were two narrow entries branching off from the main +gallery not more than thirty feet from where he lay. One ran, as +nearly as he could judge, considerably to the east of south, but the +second had its trend directly to the eastward. Along the first of +these tunnels there was no attempt at concealment, a revealing twinkle +of light showing where numerous miners were already at work. But the +second was dark, and would have remained unnoticed entirely had not +several men been grouped before the entrance, their flaring lamps +reflected over the rock wall. Winston's eyes sparkled, his pulse +leaped, as he marked the nature of their task--they were laboriously +removing a heavy mask, built of wood and canvas, which had been snugly +fitted over the hole, making it resemble a portion of the solid rock +wall. + +There were four workmen employed at this task, while the foreman, a +broad-jawed, profane-spoken Irishman, his moustache a bristling red +stubble, stood a little back, noisily directing operations, the yellow +light flickering over him. The remainder of the fellows composing the +party had largely disappeared farther down, although the sound of their +busy picks was clearly audible. + +"Where the hell is Swanson?" blurted out the foreman suddenly. "He +belongs in this gang. Here you, Ole, what 's become o' Nelse Swanson?" + +The fellow thus directly addressed drew his hand across his mouth, +straightening up slightly to answer. + +"Eet iss not sumtings dot I know, Meester Burke. He seems not here." + +"Not here; no, I should say not, ye cross-oied Swade. But Oi 'm dommed +if he did n't come down in the cage wid' us, for Oi counted the lot o' +yez. Don't any o' you lads know whut 's become o' the drunken lout?" + +There was a universal shaking of heads, causing the lights to dance +dizzily, forming weird shadows in the gloom, and the irritated foreman +swore aloud, his eyes wandering back down the tunnel. + +"No doubt he's dhrunk yet, an' laid down to slape back beyant in the +passage," he growled savagely. "Be all the powers, but Oi 'll tache +that humpin' fool a lesson this day he 'll not be apt to fergit fer a +while. I will that, or me name 's not Jack Burke. Here you, Peterson, +hand me over that pick-helve." He struck the tough hickory handle +sharply against the wall to test its strength, his ugly red moustache +bristling. "Lave the falsework sthandin' where it is till I git back," +he ordered, with an authoritative wave of the hand; "an' you fellers go +in beyant, an' help out on Number Wan till Oi call ye. Dom me sowl, +but Oi'll make that Swanson think the whole dom mounting has slid down +on top o' him--the lazy, dhrunken Swade." + +The heavy pick-handle swinging in his hand his grim, red face glowing +angrily beneath the sputtering flame of the lamp stuck in his hat, the +irate Burke strode swiftly back into the gloomy passage, muttering +gruffly. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE PROOF OF CRIME + +Winston sprang to his feet and ran back along the deserted tunnel, +bending low to avoid collision with the sloping roof, striving to move +rapidly, yet in silence. The intense darkness blinded him, but one +hand touching the wall acted as safeguard. For a moment the +bewildering surprise of this new situation left his brain in a whirl of +uncertainty. He could remember no spot in which he might hope to +secrete himself safely; the rock wall of that narrow passageway +afforded no possible concealment against the reflection of the +foreman's glaring lamp. But he must get beyond sight and sound of +those others before the inevitable meeting and the probable struggle +occurred. This became the one insistent thought which sent him +scurrying back into the gloom, recklessly accepting every chance of +encountering obstacles in his haste. At the second curve he paused, +panting heavily from the excitement of his hard run, and leaned against +the face of the rock, peering anxiously back toward that fast +approaching flicker of light. The angry foreman came crunching +savagely along, his heavy boots resounding upon the hard floor, the +hickory club in his hand occasionally striking against the wall as +though he imagined himself already belaboring the recreant Swanson. +About him, causing his figure to appear gigantic, his shadow grotesque, +the yellow gleam of the light shone in spectral coloring. Winston set +his teeth determinedly, and noiselessly cocked his revolver. The man +was already almost upon him, a black, shapeless bulk, like some unreal +shadow. Then the younger stepped suddenly forth into the open, the two +meeting face to face. The startled foreman stared incredulous, bending +forward as though a ghost confronted him, his teeth showing between +parted lips. + +"Drop that club!" commanded Winston coldly, the gleam of an uplifted +steel barrel in the other's eyes. "Lively, my man; this is a +hair-trigger." + +"What the hell--" + +"Drop that club! We 'll discuss this case later. There--no, up with +your hands; both of them. Turn around slowly; ah, I see you don 't +tote a gun down here. So much the better, for now we can get along to +business with fewer preliminaries." + +He kicked the released pick-helve to one side out of sight in the +darkness, his watchful eyes never straying from the Irishman's face. +Burke stood sputtering curses, his hands held high, his fighting face +red from impotent passion. The trembling light gave to the scene a +fantastic effect, grimly humorous. + +"Who--who the divil be ye?" The surprised man thrust his head yet +farther forward in an effort to make the flame more clearly reveal the +other's features. Winston drew the peak of his miner's cap lower. + +"That will make very little difference to you, Jack Burke," he said +quietly, "if I have any occasion to turn loose this arsenal. However, +stand quiet, and it will afford me pleasure to give you all necessary +information. Let us suppose, for instance, that I am a person to whom +Biff Farnham desires to sell some stock in this mine; becoming +interested, I seek to discover its real value for myself, and come down +with the night shift. Quite a natural proceeding on my part, is n't +it? Now, under such circumstances, I presume you, as foreman, would be +perfectly willing to show me exactly what is being accomplished down +here?" + +He paused, his lips smiling pleasantly, and Burke stared at him, with +mouth wide open, his eyes mere black slits in the gloom. It was a full +minute before he regained control of his voice. + +"Ye think Oi 'm a dommed fool?" he ejaculated, hoarsely. + +"No; that is exactly what I do not think, Burke," and Winston smiled +again beneath his stern gray eyes. "That is precisely why I know you +will show me all I desire to see. A damn fool might possibly be +tempted to take chances with this gun, and get hurt, but you are smart +enough to understand that I 've got the drop all right, and that I mean +business--I mean business." These words were uttered slowly, +deliberately, and the foreman involuntarily dropped his lids as though +feeling them physically, the fingers of his uplifted hands clinching. + +"What--what is it ye want to see?" + +"That tunnel you 've got concealed by falsework." + +Burke spat against the rock wall, the perspiration standing forth on +his forehead. But Irish pugnacity made him stubborn. + +"Who tould ye that loie? Shure, an' it's not here ye 'll be apt to +foind the loikes o' that, me man." + +Winston eyed him scornfully. + +"You lie, Burke; I saw it with my own eyes just beyond that second turn +yonder. You cannot play with me, and the sooner you master that fact +the better. Now, you can take your choice--lead on as I order, and +keep your men away, or eat lead. It's one or the other within the next +sixty seconds. Turn around!" + +No man in his senses would ever doubt the determined purpose lying +behind those few low-spoken, earnest words. Whoever this man might be, +whatever his purpose, he was assuredly not there in sport, and Burke +wheeled about as though some concealed spring controlled his action. + +"Good," commented Winston, briefly. "You can lower your hands. Now, +walk straight forward, speaking only when I tell you, and never forget +there is a gun-barrel within two feet of your back. The slightest +movement of treachery, and, God helping me, Burke, I 'll turn loose +every cartridge into your body. I don 't want to do it, but I will." + +They moved slowly forward along the deserted tunnel, not unlike two +convicts in lock-step. Burke sullenly growling, a burly, shapeless +figure under the light in his hat; Winston alert, silent, watchful for +treachery, the glimmer of the lamp full on his stern face. Their +shadows glided, ever changing in conformation, along the walls, their +footfalls resounding hollow from the echoing passage. There were no +words wasted in either command or explanation. Without doubt, the +foreman understood fairly well the purpose of this unknown invader; but +he realized, also, that the man had never lightly assumed such risk of +discovery, and he had lived long enough among desperate men to +comprehend all that a loaded gun meant when the eye behind was hard and +cool. The persuasive eloquence of "the drop" was amply sufficient to +enforce obedience. Farnham be hanged! He felt slight inclination at +that moment to die for the sake of Farnham. Winston, accustomed to +gauging men, easily comprehended this mental attitude of his prisoner, +his eyes smiling in appreciation of the other's promptness, although +his glance never once wavered, his guarding hand never fell. Burke was +safe enough now, yet he was not to be trifled with, not to be trusted +for an instant, in the playing out of so desperate a game. At the +angle the two halted, while the engineer cautiously reconnoitred the +dimly revealed regions in front. He could perceive but little evidence +of life, excepting the faint radiance of constantly moving lights down +Number One tunnel. Burke stood sullenly silent, venturing upon no +movement except under command. + +"Anybody down that other entry?" + +The foreman shook his head, without glancing around, his jaws moving +steadily on the tobacco that swelled his cheek. + +"Then lead on down it." + +Winston stretched forth his unused left hand as they proceeded, his +fingers gliding along the wall, his observant eyes wandering slightly +from off the broad back of his prisoner toward the sides and roof of +the tunnel. To his experience it was at once plainly evident this +preliminary cutting had been made through solid rock, not in the +following of any seam, but crossways. Here alone was disclosed +evidence in plenty of deliberate purpose, of skilfully planned +depredation. He halted Burke, with one hand gripping his shoulder. + +"Are you people following an ore-lead back yonder?" he asked sharply. + +The Irishman squirmed, glancing back at his questioner. He saw nothing +in that face to yield any encouragement to deceit. + +"Sure," he returned gruffly, "we're follyin' it all down that Number +Wan." + +"What 's the nature of the ore body?" + +"A bit low grade, wid a thrifle of copper, an' the vein is n't overly +tick." + +"How far have you had to cut across here before striking color?" + +"'Bout thirty fate o' rock work." + +"Hike on, you thief," commanded the engineer, his jaw setting +threateningly. + +It proved a decidedly crooked passage, the top uneven in height, +clearly indicating numerous faults in the vein, although none of these +were sufficiently serious to necessitate the solution of any difficult +mining problem. In spite of the turns the general direction could be +ascertained easily. The walls were apparently of some soft stone, +somewhat disintegrated by the introduction of air, and the engineer +quickly comprehended that pick and lever alone had been required to +dislodge the interlying vein of ore. At the extreme end of this tunnel +the pile of broken rock lying scattered about clearly proclaimed recent +labor, although no discarded mining tools were visible. Winston +examined the exposed ore-vein, now clearly revealed by Burke's +flickering lamp, and dropped a few detached specimens into his pocket. +Then he sat down on an outcropping stone, the revolver still gleaming +within his fingers, and ordered the sullen foreman to a similar seat +opposite. The yellow rays of the light sparkled brilliantly from off +the outcropping mass, and flung its radiance across the faces of the +two men. For a moment the silence was so intense they could hear water +drip somewhere afar off. + +"Burke," asked the engineer suddenly, "how long have you fellows been +in here?" + +The uneasy Irishman shifted his quid, apparently considering whether to +speak the truth or take the chances of a lie. Something within +Winston's face must have decided him against the suggested falsehood. + +"Well, sorr, Oi 've only been boss over this gang for a matter o' three +months," he said slowly, "an' they was well into this vein be then." + +"How deep are we down?" + +"Between sixty an' siventy fate, countin' it at the shaft." + +"And this tunnel--how long do you make it?" + +"Wan hundred an' forty-six fate, from the rock yonder." + +Winston's gray eyes, grave with thought, were upon the man's face, but +the other kept his own concealed, lowered to the rock floor. + +"Who laid out this work, do you know? Who did the engineering?" + +"Oi think ut was the ould man hisself. Annyhow, that 's how thim +Swades tell ut." + +Winston drew a deep breath. + +"Well, he knew his business, all right; it's a neat job," he admitted, +a sudden note of admiration in his voice. His glance wandered toward +the dull sparkle of the exposed ore. "I suppose you know who all this +rightly belongs to, don 't you, Burke?" + +The foreman spat reflectively into the dark, a grim smile bristling his +red moustache. + +"Well, sorr, Oi 'm not mooch given up to thinkin'," he replied calmly. +"If it's them ide's yer afther, maybe it wud be Farnham ye'd betther +interview, sure, an he 's the lad whut 'tinds to that end o' it for +this outfit. Oi 'm jist bossin' me gang durin' workin' hours, an' +slapin' the rist o' the toime in the bunk-house. Oi 'm dommed if Oi +care who owns the rock." + +The two men sat in silence. Burke indifferently chewing on his quid. +Winston shifted the revolver into his left hand, and began slowly +tracing lines, and marking distances, on the back of an old envelope. +The motionless foreman steadily watched him through cautiously lowered +lashes, holding the lamp in his hat perfectly steady. Slowly, with no +other muscle moving, both his hands stole upward along his body; inch +by inch attaining to a higher position without awakening suspicion. +His half-concealed eyes, as watchful as those of a cat, gleamed +feverishly beneath his hat-brim, never deserting Winston's partially +lowered face. Then suddenly his two palms came together, the +sputtering flame of the lamp between them. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A RETURN TO THE DAY + +Burke knew better than to attempt running; three steps in the midst of +such blinding darkness would have dashed him against unyielding rock. +Instantly, his teeth gripped like those of a bulldog, he clutched at +Winston's throat, trusting to his great strength for victory. +Instinctively, as one without knowing why closes the eyes to avoid +injury, the engineer dodged sideways, Burke's gripping fingers missed +their chosen mark, and the two men went crashing down together in +desperate struggle. + +His revolver knocked from his grasp in the first impetus of assault, +his cheek bleeding from forcible contact with a rock edge, Winston +fought in silent ferocity, one hand holding back the Irishman's +searching fingers, the other firmly twisting itself into the soft +collar of his antagonist's shirt. Twice Burke struck out heavily, +driving his clinched fist into the other's body, unable to reach the +protected face; then Winston succeeded in getting one groping foot +braced firmly against a surface of rock, and whirled the surprised +miner over upon his back with a degree of violence that caused his +breath to burst forth in a great sob. A desperate struggle ensued, mad +and merciless--arms gripping, bodies straining, feet rasping along the +loose stones, muttered curses, the dull impact of blows. Neither could +see the other, neither could feel assured his antagonist possessed no +weapon; yet both fought furiously,--Burke enraged and merciless, +Winston intoxicated with the lust of fight. Twice they reversed +positions, the quickness of the one fairly offsetting the burly +strength of the other, their sinews straining, the hot breath hissing +between set teeth. Pain was unfelt, mercy unknown. + +In the midst of the blind _melee_, following some savage instinct, +Winston clinched his fingers desperately in the Irishman's hair, and +began jamming him back against the irregularities of the rock floor. +Suddenly Burke went limp, and the engineer, panting painfully, lay +outstretched upon him, his whole body quivering, barely conscious that +he had gained the victory. The miner did not move, apparently he had +ceased breathing, and Winston, shrinking away from contact with the +motionless body, grasped a rock support and hauled himself to his feet. + +The intense blackness all about dazed him; he retained no sense of +direction, scarcely any memory of where he was. His body, bruised and +strained, pained him severely; his head throbbed as from fever. Little +by little the exhausted breath came back, and with it a slow +realization of his situation. Had he killed Burke? He stared down +toward the spot where he knew the body lay, but could perceive nothing. +The mystery of the dark suddenly unnerved him; he could feel his hands +tremble violently as he groped cautiously along the smooth surface of +the rock. He experienced a shrinking, nervous dread of coming into +contact with that man lying there beneath the black mantle, that +hideous, silent form, perhaps done to death by his hands. It was a +revolt of the soul. A moment he actually thought he was losing his +mind, feverish fancies playing grim tricks before his strained, +agonized vision, imagination peopling the black void with a riot of +grotesque figures. + +He gripped himself slowly and sternly, his jaws set, his tingling +nerves mastered by the resolute dominance of an aroused will. +Compelling himself to the act, he bent down, feeling along the ground +for the foreman's hat having the extinguished lamp fixed on it. He was +a long time discovering his object, yet the continued effort brought +back a large measure of self-control, and gave birth to a certain +clearness of perception. He held the recovered lamp in his hands, +leaning against the side of the tunnel, listening. The very intensity +of silence seemed to press against him from every direction as though +it had weight. He was still breathing heavily, but his strained ears +could not distinguish the slightest sound where he knew Burke lay +shrouded In the darkness. Nothing reached him to break the dread, +horrible silence, excepting that far-off, lonely trickle of dripping +water. He hesitated, match in hand, shrinking childishly from the +coming revealment of his victim. Yet why should he? Fierce as the +struggle had proved, on his part the fight had been entirely one of +defence. He had been attacked, and had fought back only in +self-preservation. Winston harbored no animosity; the fierceness of +actual combat past, he dreaded now beyond expression the thought that +through his savagery a human life might have been sacrificed. The tiny +flame of the ignited match played across his white face, caught the +wick of the lamp, and flared up in faint radiance through the gloom. +Burke, huddled into the rock shadow, never stirred, and the anxious +engineer bent over his motionless form in a horrid agony of fear. The +man rested partially upon one side, his hands still gripped as in +struggle, an ugly wound, made by a jagged edge of rock, showing plainly +in the side of his head. Blood had flowed freely, crimsoning the stone +beneath, but was already congealing amid the thick mass of hair, +serving somewhat to conceal the nature of the injury. + +Winston, his head lowered upon the other's breast, felt confident he +detected breath, even a slight, spasmodic twitching of muscles, and +hastily arose to his feet, his mind already aflame with expedients. +The foreman yet lived; perhaps would not prove even seriously injured, +if assistance only reached him promptly. Yet what could he do? What +ought he to attempt doing? In his present physical condition Winston +realized the utter impossibility of transporting that burly body; +water, indeed, might serve to revive him, yet that faint trickle of +falling drops probably came from some distant fault in the rock which +would require much patient search to locate. The engineer had assumed +grave chances in this venture underground; in this moment of victory he +felt little inclination to surrender his information, or to sacrifice +himself in any quixotic devotion to his assailant. Yet he must give +the fellow a fair chance. There seemed only one course practicable, +the despatching to the helpless man's assistance of some among that +gang of workmen down in Number One. But could this be accomplished +without danger of his own discovery? Without any immediate revealment +of his part in the tragedy? First of all, he must make sure regarding +his own safety; he must reach the surface before the truth became known. + +Almost mechanically he picked up his revolver where it lay glittering +upon the floor, and stood staring at that recumbent form, slowly +maturing a plan of action. Little by little it assumed shape within +his mind. Swanson was the name of the missing miner, the one Burke had +gone back to seek,--a Swede beyond doubt, and, from what slight glimpse +he had of the fellow before Brown grappled with him in the path above, +a sturdily built fellow, awkwardly galled. In all probability such a +person would have a deep voice, gruff from the dampness of long working +hours below. Well, he might not succeed in duplicating that exactly, +but he could imitate Swedish dialect, and, amid the excitement and +darkness, trust to luck. Let us see; Burke had surely called one of +those miners yonder Ole, another Peterson; it would probably help in +throwing the fellows off their guard to hear their own names spoken, +and they most naturally would expect Swanson to be with the foreman. +It appeared feasible enough, and assuredly was the only plan possible; +it must be risked, the earlier the better. The thought never once +occurred to him of thus doing injury to a perfectly innocent man. + +He looked once more anxiously at the limp figure of the prostrate +Burke, and then, holding the lamp out before him, moved cautiously down +the passage toward the main tunnel. Partially concealing himself amid +the denser shadows behind the displaced falsework, he was enabled to +look safely down the opening of Number One, and could perceive numerous +dark figures moving about under flickering rays of light, while his +ears distinguished a sound of voices between the strokes of the picks. +He crept still closer, shadowing his lamp between his hands, and +crouching uneasily in the shadows. The group of men nearest him were +undoubtedly Swedes, as they were conversing in that language, working +with much deliberation in the absence of the boss. Winston rose up, +his shadow becoming plainly visible on the rock wall, one hand held +before his mouth to better muffle the sound of his voice. The hollow +echoing along those underground caverns tended to make all noise +unrecognizable. + +"Yust two of you fellars bettar come by me, an' gif a leeft," he +ventured, doubtfully. + +Those nearer faces down the tunnel were turned toward the voice in +sudden, bewildered surprise, the lights flickering as the heads +uplifted. + +"Vas it you, Nels Swanson?" + +"Yas, I tank so; I yust want Peterson an' Ole. Meester Burke vas got +hurt in the new level, an' I couldn't leeft him alone." + +He saw the two start promptly, dropping their picks, their heavy boots +crunching along the floor, the flapping hat-brims hiding their eyes and +shadowing their faces. For a moment he lingered beside the falsework, +permitting the light from his lamp to flicker before them as a beacon; +then he hid the tiny flame within his cap, and ran swiftly down the +main tunnel. Confident now of Burke's early rescue, he must grasp this +opportunity for an immediate escape from the mine. A hundred feet from +the foot of the shaft he suddenly came upon the advancing tram-car, a +diminutive mule pulling lazily in the rope traces, the humping figure +of a boy hanging on behind. The two gazed at each other through the +smoke of a sputtering wick. + +"Hurry up," spoke Winston, sharply. "Burke's hurt, and they'll need +your car to carry him out in. What's the signal for the cage?" + +The boy stood silent, his mouth wide open, staring at him stupidly. + +"Do you hear, you lunk-head? I 'm after a doctor; how do you signal +the cage?" + +"Twa yanks on the cord, meester," was the grudging reply. "Wha was ye, +onyhow?" But Winston, unheeding the question, was already off, his +only thought the necessity of immediately attaining the surface in +safety, ahead of the spreading of an alarm. + +The cage shot speedily upward through the intense darkness, past the +deserted forty-foot gallery, and emerged into the gray light of dawn +flooding the shafthouse. Blinking from those long hours passed in the +darkness below, Winston distinguished dimly a number of strange figures +grouped before him. An instant he paused in uncertainty, his hand +shading his eyes; then, as he stepped almost blindly forward he came +suddenly face to face with Biff Farnham. A second their glances met, +both alike startled, bewildered, doubtful--then the jaw of the gambler +set firm, his hand dropped like lightning toward his hip, and Winston, +every ounce of strength thrown into the swift blow, struck him squarely +between the eyes. The man went over as though shot, yet before he even +hit the floor, the other had leaped across the reeling body, and +dashed, stumbling and falling, down the steep slope of the dump-pile, +crashing head first into the thick underbrush below. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A COUNCIL OF WAR + +In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the +shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses. +Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly +to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not +all of it wasted. But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as +completely as though he had dropped into the sea. When he finally +emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his +breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion. Brown, the spell of battle +upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; +but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of +hearty welcome. + +"Damn it," he exclaimed, his old eyes twinkling with admiration, "but +you 're a man!" + +The engineer smiled, his hand pressed hard against his side. "Maybe I +am," he gasped, "but I 'm mighty near all in just now. Say, that was a +lively spin, and it's got to be an eat and a rest for me next." + +Hicks shaded his forehead, leaning on his rifle. + +"Sometimes I reckon maybe I don't see quite as good as I used to," he +explained regretfully. "Put five shots inter that measly bunch over +thar just now, an' never saw even one o' 'em hop 'round like they got +stung. They look sorter misty-like ter me from here; say, Stutter, +what is a-happenin' over thar now, anyway?" + +Brown wiped his face deliberately, sputtering fiercely as he strove to +get firm grip on his slow thought. + +"A-a-ain't much o' n-nuthing, so f-f-fur's I kin s-see," he replied +gravely. "C-couple o' fellars w-with g-guns h-h-hidin' back o' ther +d-dump. C-c-carried two b-bucks 'hind ther sh-shaft-house; h-h-hurt +some, I 'speck. R-reckon I must a' g-got both on 'em. Y-y-you shore +ought t-ter wear t-t-telescopes, Bill." + +Hicks stared at his partner, his gray goat-beard sticking straight out, +his teeth showing. + +"So yer got 'em, hey?" he retorted, savagely. "Oh, ye 're +chain-lightnin', yer are, Stutter. Ye 're the 'riginal Doctor Carver, +yer long-legged, sputtering lunk-head. Yer crow like a rooster thet 's +just found its voice. Now, look yere; I reckon it's brain-work what's +got ter git us out o' this yere hole, an' I 'll shore have ter furnish +most o' that, fer yer ain 't got none ter spare, as ever I noticed. +Shoot! hell, yes, yer kin shoot all right, an' make love ter Greasers; +but when thet's over with, yer all in. That's when it's up ter old +Bill Hicks ter do the thinkin' act, and make good. Lord! yer leave me +plumb tired." The old man peered out across the vacant space toward +the apparently deserted dump, the anger slowly fading away from his +eyes. "I sorter imagine, gents, it will take them fellers a while ter +git over ther sudden shock we 've given 'em," he continued. "Maybe we +better take this yere rest spell ter git somethin' ter eat in, and talk +over how we 're fixed fer when the curtain goes up again. Them fellers +never won't be happy till after they git another dose into their +systems, an' thar 's liable ter be some considerable lead eat afore +night. When they does git braced up, an' they reckon up all this yere +means, they 'll shore be an ugly bunch." + +Behind the safe protection of the low-growing cedars the three men +walked slowly toward the cabin of the "Little Yankee," seemingly +utterly oblivious to any danger lurking behind. As they thus advanced +Winston related briefly his discoveries in the lower levels of the +"Independence," referring to his personal adventures merely as the +needs of the simple narrative required. Brown, his rifle at trail, his +boyish face sober with thought, indulged in no outward comment, but +Hicks burst forth with words of fervent commendation. + +"By cracky, are yer shore that was Farnham yer hit?" he exclaimed, his +old eyes gleaming in appreciation. "Blame me, Stutter, what do yer +think o' that? Punched him afore he cud even pull his gun; never heerd +o' no sich miracle afore in this yere camp. Why, Lord, that fellar 's +quicker 'n chain-lightnin'; I 've seen him onlimber more 'n once." + +"I-I reckon h-h-he won't be v-very likely ter l-let up on yer now, +M-m-mister W-Winston," put in the young giant cautiously. "H-he ain't +ther kind t-ter fergit no sich d-d-deal." + +"Him let up!--hell!" and Hicks stopped suddenly, and stared behind. +"He 'll never let up on nothin', that fellar. He 'll be down after us +all right, as soon as he gits his second wind, an' Winston here is +a-goin' ter git plugged for this night's shindy, if Farnham ever fair +gits the drop on him. He ain't got no more mercy 'n a tiger. Yer kin +gamble on that, boys. He 'll git ther whole parcel o' us if he kin, +'cause he knows now his little game is up if he does n't; but he 'll +aim ter git Winston, anyhow. Did ye make any tracin's while yer was +down thar?" + +"Yes, I've got the plans in detail; my distances may not be exactly +correct, but they are approximately, and I would be willing to go on +the stand with them." + +"Good boy! That means we 've shore got 'em on the hip. They're +a-keepin' quiet over there yet, ain't they, Stutter? Well, let 's have +our chuck out yere in the open, whar' we kin keep our eyes peeled, an' +while we 're eatin' we 'll talk over what we better do next." + +The kitchen of the "Little Yankee" was situated out of doors, a small +rift in the face of the bluff forming a natural fireplace, while a +narrow crevice between rocks acted as chimney, and carried away the +smoke. The preparation of an ordinary meal under such primitive +conditions was speedily accomplished, the menu not being elaborate nor +the service luxurious. Winston barely found time in which to wash the +grime from his hands and face, and hastily shift out of his ragged +working clothes to the suit originally worn, when Hicks announced the +spread ready, and advised a lively falling to. The dining-room was a +large, flat stone on the very edge of the bluff, sufficiently elevated +to command a practically unobstructed view of the distant shaft-house +of the "Independence." Hicks brought from the cabin an extra rifle, +with belt filled with ammunition, which he gravely held out to the +engineer. + +"These yere fixings will come in handy pretty soon, I reckon," he +remarked significantly, and stood quietly on the edge of the rock, +holding a powerful field-glass to his eyes. + +"They 've brought ther night-shift up ter the top," he commented +finally, "an they 're 'rousin' them others outer ther bunk-house. Hell +'ll be piping hot presently. 'Bout half them fellers are a-totin' +guns, too. Ah, I thought so--thar goes a lad horseback, +hell-bent-fer-'lection down the trail, huntin' after more roughs, I +reckon. Well, ther more ther merrier, as ther ol' cat said when she +counted her kittens. Darned ef they ain't got a reg'lar skirmish line +thrown out 'long ther gulch yonder. Yer bet they mean business for +shore, Stutter, ol' boy." + +Brown, deliberately engaged in pouring the coffee, contented himself +with a slight grunt, and a quick glance in the direction indicated. +Hicks slowly closed his glasses, and seated himself comfortably on the +edge of the rock. Winston, already eating, but decidedly anxious, +glanced at the two emotionless faces with curiosity. + +"The situation does n't seem to worry either of you very much," he said +at last. "If you really expect an attack from those fellows over +there, is n't it about time we were arranging for some defence?" + +Hicks looked over at him across the rim of his tin cup. + +"Defence? Hell! here 's our defence--four o' us, countin' Mike." + +"Where is Mike?" + +"Oh, out yonder in ther back yard amusin' that Swede Stutter yere +brought in ter him fer a playthin'. Them foreigners seem ter all be +gittin' mighty chummy o' late. Stutter yere is a-takin' up with +Greasers, an' Mike with Swedes. I reckon I 'll have ter be lookin' +round fer an Injun, er else play a lone hand purty soon." + +Brown, his freckled face hotly flushed, his eyes grown hard, struck the +rock with clinched hand. + +"D-d-damn you, B-Bill," he stuttered desperately, his great chest +heaving. "I-I 've had jist 'nough o' th-th-thet sorter talk. Yer +s-s-spit out 'nuther word 'bout her, an' th-th-thar 'll be somethin' +e-else a-doin'." + +Old Hicks laughed, his gray goat-beard waggling, yet it was clearly +evident he appreciated the temper of his partner, and realized the +limit of patience. + +"Oh, I 'll pass," he confessed genially. "Lord! I hed a touch o' that +same disease oncet myself. But thar ain't no sense in yer fightin' me, +Stutter; I bet yer git practice 'nough arter awhile, 'less them thar +black eyes o' hern be mighty deceivin'. But that thar may keep. Jist +now we 've got a few other p'ints ter consider. You was askin' about +our defence, Mr. Winston, when this yere love-sick kid butted in?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, it 's ther lay o' ther ground, an' four good rifles. Thet 's +ther whole o' it; them fellers over yonder can't get in, an' I 'm +damned if we kin git out. Whichever party gits tired first is the one +what's goin' ter git licked." + +"I scarcely understand, Hicks; do you mean you propose standing a +siege?" + +"Don't clearly perceive nothin' else ter do," and the man's half-closed +eyes glanced about questioningly. "We ain't strong enough to assault; +Farnham 's got more 'n five men ter our one over thar right now. He 's +sent a rider inter San Juan arter another bunch o' beauties. We've +corralled the evidence, an' we've got ther law back o' us, ter send him +ter the penitentiary. Shore, thar's no doubt o' it. He knows it; an' +he knows, moreover, thar ain't no way out fer him except ter plant us +afore we kin ever git inter ther courts. Thet's his game jist now. Do +yer think Mr. Biff Farnham under them circumstances is liable ter do +the baby act? Not ter no great extent, let me tell yer. He ain't +built thet way. Besides, he hates me like pizen; I reckon by this time +he don't harbor no great love for you; an' yer bet he means ter git us +afore we kin squeal, if he has ter h'ist the whole damned mounting. +Anyhow, that's how it looks ter me an' Stutter yere. What was it you +was goin' ter advise, Mr. Winston?" + +The engineer set down his tin coffee cup. + +"The immediate despatching of a messenger to San Juan, the swearing out +of a warrant for Farnham on a criminal charge, and getting the sheriff +up here with a posse." + +Hicks smiled grimly, his glance wandering over toward Stutter, who sat +staring open-eyed at the engineer. + +"Ye're a young man, sir, an' I rather reckon yer don't precisely +onderstan' ther exact status o' things out yere in Echo Canyon," he +admitted, gravely. "I'm law-abidin', an' all that; law's all right in +its place, an' whar it kin be enforced, but Echo Canyon ain't Denver, +an' out yere ther rifle, an' occasionally a chunk o' dynamite, hes got +ter be considered afore ther courts git any chance ter look over ther +evidence. It's ginerally lead first, an' lawyers later. Thet 's what +makes the game interestin', an' gives sich chaps as Farnham a run fer +their money. Well, just now we 've got the law an' ther evidence with +us all right, but, damn ther luck, them other fellers hes got the +rifles. It 's his play first, an' it sorter looks ter me as if the man +knew how ter handle his cards. He ain't no bluffer, either. Just take +a squint through them glasses down the trail, an' tell me what yer see." + +Winston did so, rising to his feet, standing at the edge of the rock +fairly overhanging the valley. + +"Wal, do yer make out anythin' in partic'lar?" + +"There is a small party of men clustered near the big boulder." + +"Exactly; wal, them thar fellars ain't thar altergether fer ther +health. Thar 's three more o' ther same kind a'squattin' in the bushes +whar the path branches toward ther 'Independence,' an' another bunch +lower down 'side ther crick. It's easy 'nough ter talk about law, an' +ther sendin' o' a messenger down ter San Juan after the sheriff, but I +'d hate some ter be that messenger. He 'd have some considerable +excitement afore he got thar. Farnham 's a dirty villain, all right, +but he ain't no fool. He's got us bottled up yere, and ther cork druv +in." + +"You mean we are helpless?" + +"Wal, not precisely; not while our grub and ammunition holds out. I +merely intimate thet this yere difficulty hes naturally got ter be +thrashed out with guns--good, honest fightin'--afore any courts will +git a chance even ter sit inter ther game. We ain't got no time jist +now ter fool with lawyers. Clubs is trumps this deal in Echo Canyon, +an' we 're goin' ter play a lone hand. Ther one thing what's botherin' +me is, how soon ther damned fracas is goin' ter begin. I reckon as how +them fellers is only waitin' fer reinforcements." + +Winston sat motionless, looking at the two men, his mind rapidly +grasping the salient points of the situation. He was thoroughly +puzzled at their apparent indifference to its seriousness. He was +unused to this arbitrament of the rifle, and the odds against them +seemed heavy. Old Hicks easily comprehended the expression upon his +face, and solemnly stroked his goat-beard. + +"Ain't used ter that sort o' thing, hey?" he asked at last, his +obstinate old eyes contracting into mere slits. "Reckon we're in a +sort o' pickle, don't ye? Wal, I don't know 'bout that. Yer see, me +an' Stutter have bin sort o' lookin' fer somethin' like this ter occur +fer a long time, an' we 've consequently got it figgered out ter a +purty fine p'int. When Farnham an' his crowd come moseying up yere, +they ain't goin' ter have it all their own way, let me tell yer, +pardner. Do yer see that straight face o' rock over yonder?" he rose +to his feet, pointing across his shoulder. "Wal, that 's got a front +o' thirty feet, an' slopes back 'bout as fur, with a shelf hangin' over +it like a roof. Best nat'ral fort ever I see, an' only one way o' +gittin' inter it, an' that the devil o' a crooked climb. Wal, we 've +stocked that place fer a siege with chuck an' ammunition, an' I reckon +four men kin 'bout hold it agin the whole county till hell freezes +over. It's in easy rifle shot o' both ther cabin an' ther shaft, an' +that Biff Farnham is mighty liable ter git another shock when he comes +traipsin' up yere fer ter wipe out ther 'Little Yankee.' Ol' Bill +Hicks ain't bin prospectin' fer thirty years, an' holdin' down claims +with a gun, without learnin' somethin' about ther business. I 'm ready +to buck this yere Farnham at any game he wants ter play; damned if he +can't take his chice, law er rifles, an' I 'll give him a bellyful +either way." + +No one spoke for a long while, the three men apparently occupied with +their own thoughts. To Winston it was a tragedy, picturesque, heroic, +the wild mountain setting furnishing a strange dignity. Brown finally +cleared his throat, preparing to speak, his great hand slowly rubbing +his chin. + +"I-I sorter w-w-wish them w-wimmen wan't y-yere," he stuttered, +doubtfully. + +The engineer glanced up in sudden astonishment. + +"Women!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say you have women with you?" + +Hicks chuckled behind his beard. + +"Shore we have thet--all ther comforts o' home. Nice place fer a +picnic, ain't it? But I reckon as how them gals will have ter take +pot-luck with the rest o' us. Leastways, I don't see no chance now ter +get shuck o' 'em. I 'll tell ye how it happened, Mr. Winston; it 'd +take Stutter, yere, too blame long ter relate ther story, only I hope +he won't fly off an' git mad if I chance ter make mention o' his gal +'long with the other. He 's gittin' most damn touchy, is Stutter, an' +I 'm all a-tremble fer fear he 'll blow a hole cl'ar through me. It's +hell, love is, whin it gits a good hol' on a damn fool. Wal, these +yere two bloomin' females came cavortin' up the trail this mornin', +just afore daylight. Nobody sent 'em no invite, but they sorter +conceived they had a mission in ther wilderness. I wa'nt nowise +favorable ter organizin' a reception committee, an' voted fer shovin' +'em back downhill, bein' a bit skeery o' that sex, but it seems that, +all unbeknownst ter me, Stutter, yere, hed bin gittin' broke ter +harness. An' what did he do but come prancin' inter the argument with +a gun, cussin' an' swearin', and insistin' they be received yere as +honored guests. Oh, he 's got it bad. He 'll likely 'nough go down +ter San Juan soon as ever ther road is cl'ar, an' buy one o' them +motters 'God Bless Our Home' ter hang on ther cabin wall, an' a +door-mat with 'Welcome' on it. That's Stutter--gone cl'ar bug-house +jist 'cause a little black-haired, slim sort o' female made eyes at +him. Blame a fool, anyhow. Wal, one o' them two was Stutter's catch, +a high-kickin' Mexican dancin' gal down ter San Juan. I ain't goin' +ter tell yer what I think o' her fer fear o' gittin' perforated. She +hed 'long with her another performer, a darn good-looker, too, as near +as I could make out in the dark. Wal, them two gals was purtendin' ter +be huntin' arter you; wanted ter warn yer agin Farnham, er some sich +rot. You was down ther mine, jist then, so that's the whole o' it up +ter date." + +"Where are they now?" + +"In the cabin yonder, sleepin' I reckon." + +Winston turned hastily toward Brown, his lips quivering, his eyes grown +stern. + +"Who was it with Mercedes?" he questioned sharply. "Did you learn her +name?" + +"Sh-she told me d-d-down at San Juan," replied Stutter, striving hard +to recollect. "It w-w-was N-N-Nor-vell." + +With the utterance of the word the young engineer was striding rapidly +toward the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE CONFESSION + +Through the single unglazed window Beth Norvell saw him coming, and +clutched at the casing, trembling violently, half inclined to turn and +fly. This was the moment she had so greatly dreaded, yet the moment +she could not avoid unless she failed to do her duty to this man. In +another instant the battle had been fought and won, the die cast. She +turned hastily toward her unconscious companion, grasping her arm. + +"Mr. Winston is coming, Mercedes; I--I must see him this time alone." + +The Mexican's great black eyes flashed up wonderingly into the flushed +face bending over her, marking the heightened color, the visible +embarrassment. She sprang erect, her quick glance through the window +revealing the figure of the engineer striding swiftly toward them. + +"Oh, si, senorita; dat iss all right. I go see Mike; he more fun as +dose vat make lofe." + +There was a flutter of skirts and sudden vanishment, even as Miss +Norvell's ears caught the sound of a low rap on the outer door. She +stood breathing heavily, her hands clasped upon her breast, until the +knock had been repeated twice. Her voice utterly failing her, she +pressed the latch, stepping backward to permit his entrance. The first +swift, inquiring glance into his face frightened her into an impulsive +explanation. + +"I was afraid I arrived here too late to be of any service. It seems, +however, you did not even need me." + +He grasped the hand which, half unconsciously, she had extended toward +him; he was startled by its unresponsive coldness, striving vainly to +perceive the truth hidden away beneath her lowered lids. + +"I fear I do not altogether understand," he returned gravely. "They +merely said that you were here with a message of warning for me. I +knew that much only a moment ago. I cannot even guess the purport of +your message, yet I thank you for a very real sacrifice for my sake." + +"Oh, no; truly it was nothing," the excitement bewildering her. "It +was no more than I would have done for any friend; no one could have +done less." + +"You, at least, confess friendship?" + +"Have I ever denied it?" almost indignantly, and looking directly at +him for the first time. "Whatever else I may seem, I can certainly +claim loyalty to those who trust me. I wear no mask off the stage." + +Even as she spoke the hasty words she seemed to realize their full +import, to read his doubt of their truth revealed within his eyes. + +"Then," he said slowly, weighing each word as though life depended on +the proper choice, "there is nothing being concealed from me? Nothing +between you and this Farnham beyond what I already know?" + +She stood clinging to the door, with colorless cheeks, and parted lips, +her form quivering. This was when she had intended to speak in all +bravery, to pour forth the whole miserable story, trusting to this man +for mercy. But, O God, she could not; the words choked in her throat, +the very breath seemed to strangle her. + +"That--that is something different," she managed to gasp desperately. +"It--it belongs to the past; it cannot be helped now." + +"Yet you came here to warn me against him?" + +"Yes." + +"How did you chance to learn that my life was threatened?" + +She uplifted her eyes to his for just one instant, her face like marble. + +"He told me." + +"What? Farnham himself? You have been with him?" + +She bowed, a half-stifled sob shaking her body, which at any other time +would have caused him to pause in sympathy. Now it was merely a new +spur to his awakened suspicion. He had no thought of sparing her. + +"Where? Did he call upon you at the hotel?" + +She threw back her shoulders in indignation at his tone of censure. + +"I met him, after the performance, in a private box at the Gayety, last +evening," she replied more calmly. "He sent for me, and I was alone +with him for half an hour." + +Winston stood motionless, almost breathless, looking directly into the +girl's face. He durst not speak the words of rebuke trembling upon his +lips. He felt that the slightest mistake now would never be forgiven. +There was a mystery here unsolved; in some way he failed to understand +her, to appreciate her motives. In the brief pause Beth Norvell came +back to partial self-control, to a realization of what this man must +think of her. With a gesture almost pleading she softly touched his +sleeve. + +"Mr. Winston, I truly wish you to believe me, to believe in me," she +began, her low voice vibrating with emotion. "God alone knows how +deeply I appreciate your friendship, how greatly I desire to retain it +unsullied. Perhaps I have not done right; it is not always easy, +perhaps not always possible. I may have been mistaken in my conception +of duty, yet have tried to do what seemed best. There is that in the +pages of my past life which I intended to tell you fully and frankly +before our final parting. I thought when I came here I had sufficient +courage to relate it to you to-day, but I cannot--I cannot." + +"At least answer me one question without equivocation--do you love that +man?" He must ask that, know that; all else could wait. + +An instant she stood before him motionless, a slight color creeping +back into her cheeks under his intense scrutiny. Then she uplifted her +eyes frankly to his own, and he looked down into their revealed depth. + +"I do not," the low voice hard with decision. "I despise him." + +"Have you ever loved him?" + +"As God is my witness--no." + +There was no possible disbelieving her; the absolute truthfulness of +that utterance was evidenced by trembling lips, by the upturned face. +Winston drew a deep breath of relief, his contracted brows +straightening. For one hesitating moment he remained speechless, +struggling for self-control. Merciful Heavens! would he ever +understand this woman? Would he ever fathom her full nature? ever rend +the false from the true? The deepening, baffling mystery served merely +to stimulate ambition, to strengthen his unwavering purpose. He +possessed the instinct that assured him she cared; it was for his sake +that she had braved the night and Farnham's displeasure. What, then, +was it that was holding them apart? What was the nature of this +barrier beyond all surmounting? The man in him rebelled at having so +spectral an adversary; he longed to fight it out in the open, to +grapple with flesh and blood. In spite of promise, his heart found +words of protest. + +"Beth, please tell me what all this means," he pleaded simply, his +hands outstretched toward her. "Tell me, because I love you; tell me, +because I desire to help you. It is true we have not known each other +long; yet, surely, the time and opportunity have been sufficient for +each to learn much regarding the character of the other. You trust me, +you believe in my word; down in the secret depths of your heart you are +beginning to love me. I believe that, little girl; I believe that, +even while your lips deny its truth. It is the instinct of love which +teaches me, for I love you. I may not know your name, the story of +your life, who or what you are, but I love you, Beth Norvell, with the +life-love of a man. What is it, then, between us? What is it? God +help me! I could battle against realities, but not against ghosts. Do +you suppose I cannot forgive, cannot excuse, cannot blot out a past +mistake? Do you imagine my love so poor a thing as that? Do not wrong +me so. I am a man of the world, and comprehend fully those temptations +which come to all of us. I can let the dead past bury its dead, +satisfied with the present and the future. Only tell me the truth, the +naked truth, and let me combat in the open against whatever it is that +stands between us. Beth, Beth, this is life or death to me!" + +She stood staring at him, her face gone haggard, her eyes full of +misery. Suddenly she sank upon her knees beside a chair, and, with a +moan, buried her countenance within her hands. + +"Beth," he asked, daring to touch her trembling hair, "have I hurt you? +Have I done wrong to speak thus?" + +A single sob shook the slender, bowed figure, the face still hidden. + +"Yes," she whispered faintly, "you have hurt me; you have done wrong." + +"But why?" he insisted. "Is not my love worthy?" + +She lifted her head then, resting one hand against the dishevelled +hair, her eyes misty from tears. + +"Worthy? O God, yes! but so useless; so utterly without power." + +Winston strode to the window and back again, his hands clenched, the +veins showing across his forehead. Suddenly he dropped upon his knees +beside her, clasping her one disengaged hand within both his own. + +"Beth, I refuse to believe," he exclaimed firmly. "Love is never +useless, never without power, either in this world or the next. Tell +me, then, once for all, here before God, do you love me?" + +She swept the clinging tears from her lashes, the soft clasp of her +fingers upon his hand unconsciously tightening. + +"You may read an answer within my face," she replied, slowly. "It must +be that my eyes tell the truth, although I cannot speak it with my +lips." + +"Cannot? In God's name, why?" + +She choked, yet the voice did not wholly fail her. + +"Because I have no right. I--I am the wife of another." + +The head drooped lower, the hair shadowing the face, and Winston, his +lips set and white, stared at her, scarcely comprehending. A moment +later he sprang to his feet, one hand pressed across his eyes, slowly +grasping the full measure of her confession. + +"The wife of another!" he burst forth, his voice shaking. "Great God! +You? What other? Farnham?" + +The bowed head sank yet lower, as though in mute answer, and his ears +caught the echo of a single muffled sob. Suddenly she glanced up at +him, and then rose unsteadily to her feet clinging to the back of the +chair for support. + +"Mr. Winston," her voice strengthening with each word spoken, "it hurts +me to realize that you feel so deeply. I--I wish I might bear the +burden of this mistake all alone. But I cannot stand your contempt, or +have you believe me wholly heartless, altogether unworthy. We--we must +part, now and forever; there is no other honorable way. I tried so +hard to compel you to leave me before; I accepted that engagement at +the Gayety, trusting such an act would disgust you with me. I am not +to blame for this; truly, I am not--no woman could have fought against +Fate more faithfully; only--only I couldn't find sufficient courage to +confess to you the whole truth. Perhaps I might have done so at first; +but it was too late before I learned the necessity, and then my heart +failed me. There was another reason I need not mention now, why I +hesitated, why such a course became doubly hard. But I am going to +tell you it all now, for--for I wish you to go away at least respecting +my womanhood." + +He made no reply, no comment, and the girl dropped her questioning eyes +to the floor. + +"You asked me if I had ever loved him," she continued, speaking more +slowly, "and I told you no. That was the truth as I realize it now, +although there was a time when the man fascinated, bewildered me, as I +imagine the snake fascinates a bird. I have learned since something of +what love truly is, and can comprehend that my earlier feeling toward +him was counterfeit, a mere bit of dross. Be patient, please, while I +tell you how it all happened. It--it is a hard task, yet, perhaps, you +may think better of me from a knowledge of the whole truth. I am a +Chicago girl. There are reasons why I shall not mention my family +name, and it is unnecessary; but my parents are wealthy and of good +position. All my earlier education was acquired through private +tutors; so that beyond my little, narrow circle of a world--fashionable +and restricted--all of real life remained unknown, unexplored, until +the necessity for a wider development caused my being sent to a +well-known boarding-school for girls in the East. I think now the +choice made was unfortunate. The school being situated close to a +large city, and the discipline extremely lax, temptation which I was +not in any way fitted to resist surrounded me from the day of entrance. +In a fashionable drawing-room, in the home of my mother's friends, I +first became acquainted with Mr. Farnham." + +She paused with the mention of his name, as though its utterance pained +her, yet almost immediately resumed her story, not even glancing up at +her listener. + +"I was at an age to be easily flattered by the admiration of a man of +mature years. He was considerably older than I, always well dressed, +versed in social forms, liberal with money, exhibiting a certain +dashing recklessness which proved most attractive to all the girls I +knew. Indeed, I think it was largely because of their envy that I was +first led to accept his attentions. However, I was very young, utterly +inexperienced, while he was thoroughly versed in every trick by which +to interest one of my nature. He claimed to be a successful dramatist +and author, thus adding materially to my conception of his character +and capability. Little by little the man succeeded in weaving about me +the web of his fascination, until I was ready for any sacrifice he +might propose. Naturally ardent, easily impressed by outward +appearances, assured as to my own and his social position, ignorant of +the wiles of the world, I was an easy victim. Somewhere he had formed +the acquaintance of my brother, which fact merely increased my +confidence in him. I need not dwell in detail upon what followed--the +advice of romantic girls, the false counsel of a favorite teacher, the +specious lies and explanations accounting for the necessity for +secrecy, the fervent pleadings, the protestations, the continual +urging, that finally conquered my earlier resolves. I yielded before +the strain, the awakened imagination of a girl of sixteen seeing +nothing in the rose-tinted future except happiness. We were married in +Christ Church, Boston, two of my classmates witnessing the ceremony. +Three months later I awoke fully from dreaming, and faced the darkness." + +She leaned against the wall, her face, half hidden, pressed against her +arm. Speaking no word of interruption, Winston clasped her hand and +waited, his gray eyes moist. + +"He was a professional gambler, a brute, a cruel, cold-blooded coward," +the words dropping from her lips as though they burned in utterance. +"Only at the very first did he make any effort to disguise his nature, +or conceal the object of his marriage. He endeavored to wring money +from my people, and--and struck me when I refused him aid. He failed +because I blocked him; tried blackmail and failed again, although I +saved him from exposure. If he had ever cared for me, by this time his +love had changed to dislike or indifference. He left me for weeks at a +time, often alone and in poverty. My father sought in vain to get me +away from him, but--but I was too proud to confess the truth. I should +have been welcome at home, without him; but I refused to go. I had +made my own choice, had committed the mistake, had done the wrong; I +could not bring myself to flee from the result. I burrowed in the +slums where he took me, hiding from all who sought me out. Yet I lived +in an earthly hell, my dream of love dispelled, the despair of life +constantly deepening. I no longer cared for the man--I despised him, +shrank from his presence; yet something more potent than pride kept me +loyal. I believed then, I believe now, in the sacredness of marriage; +it was the teaching of my church, of my home; it had become part of my +very soul. To me that formal church wedding typified the solemnity of +religion; I durst not prove untrue to vows thus taken; divorce was a +thought impossible." + +"And now?" he interrupted gently. + +She lifted her head, with one swift glance upward. + +"You will think me wrong, quixotic, unnatural," she acknowledged +soberly. "Yet I am not absolved, not free--this man remains my +husband, wedded to me by the authority of the church. I--I must bear +the burden of my vows; not even love would long compensate for +unfaithfulness in the sight of God." + +In the intense silence they could hear each other's strained breathing +and the soft notes of a bird singing gleefully without. Winston, his +lips compressed, his eyes stern with repressed feeling, neither moved +nor spoke. Beth Norvell's head sank slowly back upon her arm. + +"He took me with him from city to city," she went on wearily, as though +unconsciously speaking to herself, "staying, I think, in each as long +as the police would permit. He was seldom with me, seldom gave me +money. We did not quarrel, for I refused to be drawn into any exchange +of words. He never struck me excepting twice, but there are other ways +of hurting a woman, and he knew them all. I was hungry at times and +ill clad. I was driven to provide for myself, and worked in factories +and stores. Whenever he knew I had money he took it. Money was always +the cause of controversy between us. It was his god, not to hoard up, +but to spend upon himself. My steady refusal to permit his bleeding my +father enraged him; it was at such times he lost all control, and--and +struck me. God! I could have killed him! There were times when I +could, when I wonder I did not. Yet in calm deliberation I durst not +break my vows. Three years ago he left me in Denver without a word, +without a suggestion that the desertion was final. We had just reached +there, and I had nothing. Friends of my family lived there, but I +could not seek them for help. I actually suffered, until finally I +found employment in a large department store. I expected he would +return, and kept my rooms where he left me. I wrote home twice, +cheerful letters, saying nothing to lower him in the estimation of my +people, yet concealing my address for fear they might seek me out. +Then there unexpectedly came to me an opportunity to go out with +Albrecht, and I accepted it most thankfully. It gave me a chance to +think of other things, to work hard, to forget myself in a growing +ambition. I had already thrown off the old, and was laying ever firmer +hands upon the new, when you came into my life, and then he came back +also. It is such a small world, such a little world, all shadowed and +full of heartaches!" + +In the silence she glanced aside at him, her eyes clear, her hair held +back by one hand. + +"Please do not look at me like that," she pleaded. "Surely, you cannot +blame me; you must forgive." + +"There is nothing to blame, or forgive, Beth; apparently there is +nothing for me to say, nothing for me to do." + +She swayed slowly toward him, resting one hand upon his shoulder. + +"But am I right? Won't you tell me if I am right?" + +He stood hesitating for a moment, looking down upon that upturned, +questioning face, his gray eyes filled with a loyalty that caused her +heart to throb wildly. + +"I do not know, Beth," he said at last, "I do not know; I cannot be +your conscience. I must go out where I can be alone and think; but +never will I come between you and your God." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE POINT OF VIEW + +She sank back upon the chair, her face completely hidden within her +arms. Winston, his hand already grasping the latch of the door, paused +and glanced around at her, a sudden revulsion of feeling leaving him +unnerved and purposeless. He had been possessed by but one thought, a +savage determination to seek out Farnham and kill him. The brute was +no more than a mad dog who had bitten one he loved; he was unworthy of +mercy. But now, in a revealing burst of light, he realized the utter +futility of such an act. Coward, brutal as the man unquestionably was, +he yet remained her husband, bound to her by ties she held +indissoluble. Any vengeful blow which should make her a widow would as +certainly separate the slayer from her forever. Unavoidably though it +might occur, the act was one never to be forgiven by Beth Norvell, +never to be blotted from her remembrance. Winston appreciated this as +though a sudden flash-light had been turned upon his soul. He had +looked down into her secret heart, he had had opened before him the +religious depth of her nature--this bright-faced, brown-eyed woman +would do what was right although she walked a pathway of self-denying +agony. Never once did he doubt this truth, and the knowledge gripped +him with fingers of steel. Even as he stood there, looking back upon +her quivering figure, it was no longer hate of Farnham which +controlled; it was love for her. He took a step toward her, hesitant, +uncertain, his heart a-throb with sympathy; yet what could he say? +What could he do? Utterly helpless to comfort, unable to even suggest +a way out, he drew back silently, closed the door behind him, and shut +her in. He felt one clear, unalterable conviction--under God, it +should not be for long. + +He stood there in the brilliant sunlight, bareheaded still; looking +dreamily off across the wide reach of the canyon. How peaceful, how +sublimely beautiful, it all appeared; how delicately the tints of those +distant trees blended and harmonized with the brown rocks beyond! The +broad, spreading picture slowly impressed itself upon his brain, +effacing and taking the place of personal animosity. In so fair a +world Hope is ever a returning angel with healing in his wings; and +Winston's face brightened, the black frown deserting his forehead, all +sternness gone from his eyes. There surely must be a way somewhere, +and he would discover it; only the weakling and the coward can sit down +in despair. Out of the prevailing silence he suddenly distinguished +voices at hand, and the sound awoke him to partial interest. Just +before the door where he stood a thick growth of bushes obstructed the +view. The voices he heard indistinctly came from beyond, and he +stepped cautiously forward, peering in curiosity between the parted +branches. + +It was a narrow section of the ledge, hemmed in by walls of rock and +thinly carpeted with grass, a small fire burning near its centre. +There was an appetizing smell of cookery in the air, and three figures +were plainly discernible. The old miner, Mike, sat next the embers, a +sizzling frying-pan not far away, his black pipe in one oratorically +uplifted hand, a tin plate in his lap, his grouchy, seamed old face +screwed up into argumentative ugliness, his angry eyes glaring at the +Swede opposite, who was loungingly propped against a convenient stone. +The latter looked a huge, ungainly, raw-boned fellow, possessing a red +and white complexion, with a perfect shock of blond hair wholly +unaccustomed to the ministrations of a comb. He had a long, peculiarly +solemn face, rendered yet more lugubrious by unwinking blue eyes and a +drooping moustache of straw color. Altogether, he composed a picture +of unutterable woe, his wide mouth drawn mournfully down at the +corners, his forehead wrinkled in perplexity. Somewhat to the right of +these two more central figures, the young Mexican girl contributed a +touch of brightness, lolling against the bank in graceful relaxation, +her black eyes aglow with scarcely repressed merriment. However the +existing controversy may have originated, it had already attained a +stage for the display of considerable temper. + +"Now, ye see here, Swanska," growled the thoroughly aroused Irishman +vehemently. "It's 'bout enough Oi 've heard from ye on that now. Thar +'s r'ason in all things, Oi 'm tould, but Oi don't clarely moind iver +havin' met any in a Swade, bedad. Oi say ye 're nothin' betther than a +dommed foreigner, wid no business in this counthry at all, at all, +takin' the bread out o' the mouths of honest min. Look at the Oirish, +now; they was here from the very beginnin'; they 've fought, bled, an' +died for the counthry, an' the loikes o' ye comes in an' takes their +jobs. Be hivins, it 's enough to rile the blood. What's the name of +ye, anny how?" + +"Ay ban Nels Swanson." + +"Huh! Well, it's little the loikes o' ye iver railly knows about +names, Oi 'm thinkin'. They tell me ye don't have no proper, dacent +names of yer own over in Sweden,--wherever the divil that is, I +dunno,--but jist picks up annything handy for to dhraw pay on." + +"It ban't true." + +"It's a loiar ye are! Bad cess to ye, ain't Oi had to be bunk-mate wid +some o' ye dhirty foreigners afore now? Ye 're _sons_, the whole kit +and caboodle o' ye--Nelsons, an' Olesons, an' Swansons, an' Andersons. +Blissed Mary! an' ye call them things names? If ye have anny other +cognomen, it's somethin' ye stole from some Christian all unbeknownst +to him. Holy Mother! but ye ought to be 'shamed to be a Swade, ye +miserable, slab-sided haythen." + +"My name ban Swanson; it ban all right, hey?" + +"Swanson! Swanson! Oh, ye poor benighted, ignorant foreigner!" and +Mike straightened up, slapping his chest proudly. "Jist ye look at me, +now! Oi'm an O'Brien, do ye moind that? An O'Brien! Mother o' God! +we was O'Briens whin the Ark first landed; we was O'Briens whin yer +ancestors--if iver ye had anny--was wigglin' pollywogs pokin' in the +mud. We was kings in ould Oireland, begorry, whin ye was a mollusk, or +maybe a poi-faced baboon swingin' by the tail. The gall of the loikes +of ye to call yerselves min, and dhraw pay wid that sort of thing +ferninst ye for a name! Oi 'll bet ye niver had no grandfather; ye 're +nothin' but a it, a son of a say-cook, be the powers! An' ye come over +here to work for a thafe--a dhirty, low-down thafe. Do ye moind that, +yer lanthern-jawed spalpeen? What was it yer did over beyant?" + +"Ay ban shovel-man fer Meester Burke--hard vork." + +"Ye don't look that intilligent from here. Work!" with a snort, and +waving his pipe in the air. "Work, is it? Sure, an' it's all the +loikes of ye are iver good for. It 's not brains ye have at all, or ye +'d take it a bit aisier. Oi had a haythen Swade foreman oncet over at +the 'Last Chance.' God forgive me for workin' undher the loikes of +him. Sure he near worked me to death, he did that, the ignorant +furriner. Work! why, Oi 'm dommed if a green Swade did n't fall the +full length of the shaft one day, an' whin we wint over to pick him up, +what was it ye think the poor haythen said? He opened his oies an' +asked, 'Is the boss mad?' afeared he 'd lose his job! An' so ye was +workin' for a thafe, was ye? An' what for?" + +"Two tollar saxty cint." + +Mike leaped to his feet as though a spring had suddenly uncoiled +beneath him, waving his arms in wild excitement, and dancing about on +his short legs. + +"Two dollars an' sixty cints! Did ye hear that, now? For the love of +Hivin! an' the union wages three sixty! Ye 're a dommed scab, an' it's +meself that 'll wallup ye just for luck. It's crazy Oi am to do the +job. What wud the loikes of ye work for Misther Hicks for?" + +Swanson's impassive face remained imperturbable; he stroked the +moustaches dangling over the corners of his dejected mouth. + +"Two tollar saxty cint." + +Mike glared at him, and then at the girl, his own lips puckering. + +"Bedad, Oi belave the poor cr'ater do n't know anny betther. Shure, 't +is not for an O'Brien to be wastin' his toime thryin' to tache the +loikes of him the great sacrets of thrade. It wud be castin' pearls +afore swine, as Father Kinny says. Did iver ye hear tell of the +Boible, now?" + +"Ay ban Lutheran." + +"An' what's that? It's a Dimocrat Oi am, an' dom the O'Brien that's +annything else. But Oi niver knew thar was anny of thim other things +hereabout. It's no prohibitioner ye are, annyhow, fer that stuff in +yer bottle wud cook a snake. Sufferin' ages! but it had an edge to it +that wud sharpen a saw. What do ye think of ther blatherin' baste +annyhow, seenorita?" + +The little Mexican gave sudden vent to her pent-up laughter, clapping +her hands in such an ecstasy of delight as to cause the unemotional +Swanson to open his mild blue eyes in solemn wonder. + +"He all right, I rink," she exclaimed eagerly. "He no so mooch fool as +you tink him--no, no. See, senor, he busy eat all de time dat you +talk; he has de meal, you has de fin' air. Vich ees de bettair, de air +or de meat, senor? _Bueno_, I tink de laugh vas vid him." + +Mr. O'Brien, his attention thus suddenly recalled to practical affairs, +gazed into the emptied frying-pan, a decided expression of bewildered +despair upon his wizened face. For the moment even speech failed him +as he confronted that scene of total devastation. Then he dashed +forward to face the victim of his righteous wrath. + +"Ye dom Swade, ye!" He shook a dirty fist beneath the other's nose. +"Shmell o' that! It's now Oi know ye 're a thafe, a low-down haythen +thafe. What are ye sittin' thar for, grinnin' at yer betthers?" + +"Two tollar saxty cint." + +The startled Irishman stared at him with mouth wide open. + +"An' begorry, did ye hear that, seenorita? For the love of Hivin, it's +only a poll-parrot sittin' there ferninst us, barrin' the appetite of +him. Saints aloive! but Oi 'd love to paste the crature av it was n't +a mortal sin to bate a dumb baste. An' he 's a Lutheran! God be +marciful an' keep me from iver ketchin' that same dis'ase, av it wud +lave me loike this wan. What's that? What was it the haythen said +then, seenorita?" + +"Not von vord, senor; he only vink von eye like maybe he flirt vid me." + +"The Swade did that! Holy Mother! an' wid an O'Brien here to take the +part of any dacent gurl. Wait till I strip the coat off me. It's an +O'Brien that'll tache him how to trate a lady. Say, Swanson, ye son of +a gun, ye son of a say-cook, ye son--Sure, Oi 'd loike to tell ye what +ye are av it was n't for the prisince of the seenorita. It's Michael +O'Brien who 's about to paste ye in the oye fer forgittin' yer manners, +an' growin' too gay in good company. Whoop! begorry, it's the grane +above the red!" + +There was a dull noise of a heavily struck blow. A pair of short legs, +waving frantically, traversed a complete semicircle, coming down with a +crash at the edge of the bushes. Through a rapidly swelling and badly +damaged optic the pessimistic O'Brien gazed up in dazed bewilderment at +the man already astride of his prostrate body. It was a regenerated +Norseman, the fierce battle-lust of the Vikings glowing in his blue +eyes. With fingers like steel claws he gripped the Irishman's shirt +collar, driving his head back against the earth with every mad +utterance. + +"Ay ban Nels Swanson!" he exploded defiantly. "Ay ban Nels Swanson! +Ay ban Nels Swanson! Ay ban shovel-man by Meester Burke! Ay ban +Lutheran! Ay ban work two tollar saxty cint! You hear dose tings? +Tamn the Irish--Ay show you!" + +With the swift, noiseless motion of a bird Mercedes flitted across the +narrow space, forcing her slender figure in between the two +contestants, her white teeth gleaming merrily, the bright sunshine +shimmering across her black hair. Like two stars her great eyes +flashed up imploringly into the Swede's angry face. + +"No, no, senors! You no fight like de dogs vid me here. I not like +dat, I not let you. See! you strike him, you strike me. _Dios de +Dios_! I not have eet so--nevah." + +A strong, compelling hand fell suddenly on Winston's shoulder, and he +glanced about into the grave, boyish countenance of Stutter Brown. + +"Th-thar 's quite c-c-consid'able of a c-crowd comin' up the t-t-trail +t-ter the 'Independence,' an' B-Bill wants yer," he announced, his calm +eyes on the controversy being waged beyond in the open. "Th-thar 'll +be somethin' d-doin' presently, but I r-reckon I better s-s-straighten +out t-this yere i-i-international fracas first." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE GAME OF FOILS + +The grave-faced, yet good-natured giant pressed his way through the +tangled mass of obstructing bushes, and unceremoniously proceeded to +proclaim peace. His methods were characteristic of one slow of speech, +yet swift of action. With one great hand gripping the Swede, he +suddenly swung that startled individual at full length backward into +the still smouldering embers of the fire, holding the gasping Mike down +to earth with foot planted heavily upon his chest. It was over in an +instant, Swanson sputtering unintelligible oaths while beating sparks +from his overalls, the Irishman profanely conscious of the damage +wrought to his eye, and the overwhelming odds against him. Senorita +Mercedes clapped her little hands in delight at the spectacle, her +steps light as those of the dance, the girlish joy in her eyes frank +and unreserved. + +"Ah, de Senor Brown--_bueno_! Dey vas just children to you even ven +dey fight, hey? It vas good to see such tings doin', just like de +play." + +She circled swiftly up toward him, a happy bird of gay, fluttering +plumage, pressing her fingers almost caressingly along the swelling +muscle of his arm, and gazing with earnest admiration up into his face. +Beneath the witching spell of her eyes the man's cheeks reddened. He +took the way of savagery out of unexpected embarrassment. + +"Th-that 's enough, now, Swanson," he commanded, the stutter largely +vanishing before the requirement of deeds. "Th-this is no c-continuous +vaudeville, an' ther curtain's rung d-down on yer act. Mike, yer ol' +varmint, if yer do any more swearin' while ther lady's yere I 'll knock +ther words back down yer throat. Yer know me, so shut up. Th-thar'll +be fightin' in p-plenty fer both o' yer presently, the way things look. +Now, vamoose, the two o' yer, an' be quiet about it. Mike, y-yer +better do something fer yer eyes if yer wanter see well 'nough ter take +a pot-shot at Farnham's gang." + +The two discomfited combatants slouched off unwillingly enough, but the +slender white fingers of the Mexican remained clasping the speaker's +arm, her upturned face filled with undisguised enthusiasm. Brown, +after pretending to watch the fighters disappear, glanced uneasily down +into her wondrous dark eyes, shuffling his feet awkwardly, his +appearance that of a bashful boy. Mercedes laughed out of the depths +of a heart apparently untroubled. + +"My, but eet vas so ver' big, senor. See! I cannot make de fingers to +go round--no, no. I nevah see such arm--nevah. But you no care? You +vas dat great big all over, hey? _Sapristi_! who de woman help like +such a big Americano?" + +"B-but that ain't it, M-M-M-Mercedes," blurted out the perturbed giant, +in desperation. "I-I want yer t-t-ter love me." + +"_No comprende, senor_." + +"O-oh, yes yer do. L-Lord! didn't I t-tell it all ter yer s-s-straight +'nough last n-night? Maybe I ain't m-much on ther t-talk, but I +r-reckon I sh-sh-shot that all right. C-can't yer make over th-that +like inter l-love somehow?" + +She released her clasp upon his arm, her eyes drooping behind their +long lashes, the merry laughter fading from her lips. + +"Dat vas not von bit nice of you, senor. Vy you ever keep bodder me +so, ven I good to you? No, I tol' you not ask me dat so quick soon +again. Did I not do dis? I tol' you den I know not; I meet you only +de twice--how I lofe ven I meet you only de twice?" + +"You 've m-m-met me as often a-as I h-h-have you," he interrupted, "an' +I kn-know I l-love you all right." + +"Oh, dat vas diff'rent, ver' different," and she tripped back from him, +with a coquettish toss of the black head. "Vy not? of course. I vas +Mercedes--_si_; vas dat not enough? All de _caballeros_ say dat to me; +dey say me ver' pretty girl. You tink dat too, senor?" + +The perplexed Brown, fully conscious that his great strength was +useless here, looked an answer, although his lips merely sputtered in +vain attempt at speech. + +"So; I read dat in de eyes. Den of course you lofe me. It vas de +nature. But vis me it vas not so easy; no, not near so easy. I tink +maybe you ver' nice man," she tipped it off upon her finger ends half +playfully, constantly flashing her eyes up into his puzzled face. "I +tink you ver' good man; I tink you ver' strong man; I tink maybe you be +ver' nice to Mercedes. 'T is for all dose tings dat I like you, senor, +like you ver' mooch; but lofe, dat means more as like, an' I know not +for sure. Maybe so, maybe not so; how I tell yet for true? I tink de +best ting be I not say eet, but just tink 'bout eet; just keep eet in +mine own heart till some odder time ven I sure know. Vas eet not so?" + +Brown set his teeth half savagely, the little witch tantalizing him +with the swiftness of her speech, the coy archness of her manner. To +his slower mentality she was like a humming-bird darting about from +flower to flower, yet ever evading him. + +"M-maybe yer think I ain't in e-e-earnest?" he persisted, doggedly. +"M-maybe yer imagine I d-did n't m-m-mean what I s-said when I asked +yer ter m-marry me?" + +She glanced up quickly into his serious eyes, half shrinking away as if +she suddenly comprehended the dumb, patient strength of the man, his +rugged, changeless resolution. There was a bit of falter in the quick +response, yet this was lost to him. + +"No, senor, I no make fun. I no dat kind. I do de right, dat all; I +do de right for both of us. I no vant to do de wrong. You +_comprende_, senor? Maybe you soon grow ver' tire Mercedes, she marry +you?" + +The infatuated miner shook his head emphatically, and flung out one +hand toward her. + +"No! Oh, you tink so now; you tink so ver' mooch now, but eet better +ve vait an' see. I know de men an' de vay dey forget after vile. +Maybe I not such good voman like you tink me; maybe I cross, scold, get +qvick mad; maybe I no like live widout de stage, de lights, de dance, +an' de fun, hey? Vat you do den? You be ver' sorry you marry. I no +like dat, no, no. I want de man to lofe me always--nevah to vish he +not marry me. You not know me yet; I not know you. Maybe ve vait, ve +know." + +He caught her gesticulating hands, prisoning them strongly within both +his own, but she shook forward her loosened hair until it fell +partially across her face, hiding it thus from his eager eyes bent in +passion upon her. + +"B-but tell me y-you love me! T-tell me th-th-that, an' I 'll let the +o-other go!" + +"You vould make me to say de untrue, senor?" + +"Of course not. I w-want ter kn-kn-know. Only if you d-do n't, I 'm +a-goin' t-ter git out o' yere." + +She remained silent, motionless, her telltale face shadowed, only the +quick rise and fall of the bosom evidencing emotion. The man looked at +her helplessly, his mouth setting firm, his eyes becoming filled with +sudden doubt. + +"W-well, Mercedes," he stuttered, unable to restrain himself, "wh-what +is it?" + +She lifted her lowered head ever so slightly, so that he saw her +profile, the flush on the cheek turned toward him. + +"Maybe eet better you stay, senor. Anyhow, I no vant you go just now." + +For once he proved the more swift of the two, clasping her instantly +within his arms, drawing her slender form close against him with a +strength he failed to realize in that sudden excess of passion. +Holding her thus in helpless subjection he flung aside the obstructing +veil of hair, and covered the flushed cheeks with kisses. The next +moment, breathless, but not with indignation, the girl had pushed his +burning face aside, although she still lay quivering within the +remorseless clasp of his arms. + +"I no said all dat, senor; I no said all dat. You so ver' strong, you +hurt Mercedes. Please, senor--eet vas not dat I meant eet should be +dis vay--no, no. I no said I lofe you; I just say stay till maybe I +know vich--please, senor." + +"N-not till yer k-kiss me yourself," and Brown, intensely conscious of +triumph, held back the mass of black hair, his eager eyes devouring the +fair face pressing his shoulder. "O-one kiss w-with ther l-l-lips, an' +I 'll let yer g-go." + +"No, no, senor." + +"Th-then I h-hold yer here till some one comes." + +"Eet vas not lofe; eet vas just to get avay." + +"I-I-I take ch-chances on that, l-little girl." + +Their lips met and clung; all unconsciously the free arm of the girl +stole upward, clasping the man's broad shoulder. For that one instant +she forgot all excepting the new joy of that embrace, the crowning +faith that this man loved her as no other ever had--truly, nobly, and +forever. Her face was aglow as she drew reluctantly back from him, her +eyes upon his, her cheeks flushed, her lips trembling. Yet with the +parting came as swiftly back the resolution which made her strong. + +"Eh, senor; eet shame me, but you promise--please, senor!" + +Like a flash, in some mysterious manner, she had slipped free, evaded +his effort to grasp her dress, and, with quick, whirling motion, was +already half-way across the open space, daring to mock him even while +flinging back her long hair, the sunlight full upon her. Never could +she appear more delicately attractive, more coquettishly charming. + +"Ah, see--you tink me de prisoner. Eet vas not all de strength, senor, +not all. You no can catch me again till I lofe you; not de once till I +lofe you, senor." + +He started toward her blindly, taunted by these unexpected words of +renunciation. But she danced away, ever managing to keep well beyond +reach, until she disappeared within the narrow path leading to the +cabin. He could see her through the vista of branches, pausing to look +back and watch if he followed. + +"B-but you do," he called out, "I-I know you d-do. Won't yer just +s-s-say it for me onct?" + +"Say dat I marry you?" + +"Y-yes, for it means ther same. Anyhow, s-say yer love me." + +She laughed, shaking her head so hard the black hair became a whirling +cloud about her. + +"No, no! eet not de same, senor. Maybe I lofe you, maybe not yet. Dat +ees vat you must fin' out. But marry? Dat no show I lofe you. Oh, de +men! to tink eet vas de only vay to prove lofe to marry. No, no! maybe +I show you some day eef I lofe you; si, some day I show you ven I know +true. But dat not mean I marry you. Dat mean more as dat--you see. +_Adios_, senor." + +And he stood alone, staring at the blank door, strangely happy, +although not content. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +UNDER ARREST + +When Brown emerged from behind the protection of the cabin, his +freckled face yet burning red in memory of his strenuous love-making, +he discovered both Hicks and Winston standing upon the rock which +shortly before had formed their breakfast table, gazing watchfully off +into the purple depths of the canyon, occasionally lifting their eyes +to search carefully the nearer surroundings about the hostile +"Independence." Something serious was in the air, and all three men +felt its mysterious presence. Hicks held the field-glasses in his +hands, outwardly calm, yet his old face already beginning to exhibit +the excitement of rapidly culminating events. That they were not to be +long left undisturbed was promised by an increasing number of figures +distinctly visible around the distant shaft-house and dump, as well as +the continuous shouting, indistinguishable as to words but pronounced +in volume, borne through the clear air to their ears. + +"I 'm a liar if ther was n't twenty in that last bunch," Hicks +muttered, just a trifle uneasily. "Good Lord boys! it 's an army they +'re organizin' over yonder. Blame me if I onderstan' that sorter +scheme at all. It don't look nat'ral. I never thought Farnham was no +coward when ther time come fer fightin', but this kind o' fixin' shore +looks as if we had him skeered stiff. Wal, it 'll take more 'n a bunch +o' San Juan toughs to skeer me. I reckon ther present plan must be ter +try rushin' ther 'Little Yankee.'" + +He wheeled about, driving the extended tubes of his glass together, his +gray beard forking out in front of his lean, brown face like so many +bristles. + +"Oh, is thet you come back, Stutter? Thought I heerd somebody walkin' +behind me. I reckon, judgin' from ther outlook over thar, thet the +dance is 'bout ter begin; leastwise, the fiddlers is takin' their +places," and he waved his gnarled hand toward the distant crowd. "Got +somethin' like a reg'ment thar now, hoss and fut, an' it's safe ter bet +thar 's more a-comin'. This yere fracas must be gittin' some +celebrated, an' bids fair ter draw bigger 'n a three-ringed circus. +All ther scum o' San Juan must 'a got a private tip thet we was easy +marks. They 're out yere like crows hopin' ter pick our bones clean +afore the law kin git any show at all. Wal, it 'll be a tough meal all +right, an' some of 'em are mighty liable ter have trouble with their +digestion, fer thar 's goin' ter be considerable lead eat first. Now +see yere, Stutter, the safest thing we kin do is git ready. You chase +that whole bunch yonder back behind them rocks, where they 'll be out +o' the way--the Swede an' the women. Do it lively, an' you an' Mike +stay up thar with 'em, with your guns handy. Keep under cover as much +as ye kin, for some o' them lads out thar will have glasses with 'em, +and be watchin' of us almighty close. Hurry 'long now; me an' Winston +will stop yere until we find out just what their little game is likely +ter be." + +He turned away from his partner, facing once again toward the +"Independence." Then he readjusted the tubes, and passed them over to +his silent companion. + +"Just see what you make out o' it, Mr. Winston; ye 're some younger, +an' yer eyes ought ter be a heap better 'n mine." + +The young engineer, his heart already beginning to throb with the +excitement of an unaccustomed position of danger, ran the lenses +carefully back and forth from the half-concealed bunk-house to the +nearer ore-dump, searching for every sign of life. Whatever emotion +swayed him, there was not the slightest tremor to the steady hands +supporting the levelled tubes. + +"They have certainly got together a considerable number of men," he +reported, the glass still at his eyes. "Roughs the most of them look +to be, from their clothes. The largest number are grouped in between +the shaft-house and the dump, but there must be a dozen or fifteen down +below at the edge of those cedars. Farnham is at the shaft-house--no, +he and another fellow have just started down the dump, walking this +way. Now they have gone into the cedars, and are coming straight +through. What's up, do you suppose--negotiations?" + +"I 'm damned if I know," returned the old miner, staring blankly. +"This whole thing kinder jiggers me. Maybe he thinks he kin skeer us +out by a good brand o' talk. He 's a bit o' a bluffer, that Farnham." + +The two watchers waited in breathless expectancy, leaning on their +loaded Winchesters, their eyes eagerly fastened on the concealing +cedars. Behind where they remained in the open, yet within easy +rifle-shot, the heads of Brown and Old Mike rose cautiously above the +rock rampart of their natural fort. Suddenly two men, walking abreast, +emerged from out the shadow of the wood, and came straight toward them +across the open ridge of rocks. They advanced carelessly, making no +effort to pick their path, and in apparently utter indifference to any +possible peril. The one was Farnham, his slender form erect, his +shoulders squared, his hat pushed jauntily back so as to reveal fully +the smoothly shaven face. The other bent slightly forward as he +walked, his wide brim drawn low over his eyes, leaving little visible +except the point of a closely trimmed beard. He was heavily built, and +a "45" dangled conspicuously at his hip. If Farnham bore arms they +were concealed beneath the skirt of his coat. Watching them approach, +Winston's eyes became threatening, his hands involuntarily clinching, +but Hicks remained motionless, his lean jaws continuously munching on +the tobacco in his cheek. + +"Who the hell is that with him?" he questioned, wonderingly. "Do you +know the feller?" + +Winston shook his head, his own steady gaze riveted upon Farnham. +Deliberately the two climbed the low ore-dump side by side, and came +forth on top into the full glare of the sun. Hicks's Winchester sank +to a level, his wicked old eye peering along the polished barrel. + +"I 'll have to ask ye ter stop right thar, gents," he said, genially, +drawing back the hammer with a sharp click. "Ye 're trespassin' on my +property." + +The two men came to an instant halt, Farnham smiling unpleasantly, his +hands buried in his pockets. His companion hastily shoved back his +hat, as though in surprise at the summons, revealing a broad, ruddy +face, shadowed by iron-gray whiskers. Hicks half lowered his gun, +giving vent to a smothered oath. + +"By God, it's the sheriff!" he muttered, in complete bewilderment. +"What the hell are we up against?" + +There was an interval of intense silence, both parties gazing at each +other, the one side startled, unnerved, the other cool, contemptuous. +It was the sheriff who first spoke, standing firmly on his short legs, +and quietly stroking his beard. + +"You probably recognize me, Bill Hicks," he said, calmly, "and it might +be just as healthy for you to lower that gun. I ain't here hunting any +trouble, but if it begins I 've got a posse over yonder big enough to +make it mighty interesting. You sabe?" + +Old Hicks hesitated, his finger yet hovering about the trigger, his +eyes filled with doubt. There was some mystery in this affair he could +not in the least fathom, but he was obstinate and hard-headed. + +"Yes, I know you all right, Mr. Sheriff," he returned, yet speaking +half angrily. "But I don't know what ye 're dippin' inter this yere +affair fer. I haven't any quarrel with you, ner any cause fer one. +But I have with that grinnin' cuss alongside o' yer. I 'll talk with +you all right, but Farnham will either mosey back ter his own den o' +thieves, 'er I 'll blow a hole plumb through him--that's flat. I don't +talk ter his kind." + +The sheriff held up one hand, taking a single step forward, his face +grown sternly resolute. + +"Mr. Farnham chances to be present as my deputy," he announced gravely. +"I don't know anything about a quarrel between you two men, and I care +less. I 'm here to enforce the law and arrest law-breakers. If you +decide to interfere between me and my duty I 'll know how to act. I +'ve smelt of the business end of a gun before to-day, and I guess +nobody ever saw Sam Hayes play baby when there was a fight on tap. If +there 's trouble between you and Farnham, have it out, and git done +with it in proper fashion, but just now he 's a sworn officer of the +law, and when you threaten him you threaten all Gulpin County. Do you +manage to digest that fact, Hicks?" + +The sturdy old prospector, his face white with rage under the tan, +uncocked his rifle and dropped the butt heavily upon the earth, his +eyes wandering from the face of the sheriff to that of Winston. + +"What the hell is it yer want, then?" he asked sullenly. Hayes smiled, +shifting easily so as to rest his weight on one leg. + +"Got anybody in your bunch named Winston?" he questioned, "Ned Winston, +mining engineer?" + +The younger man started in surprise. + +"That is my name," he replied, before Hicks could speak. The sheriff +looked toward him curiously, noting the square jaw, the steady gray +eyes; then he glanced aside at Farnham. The latter nodded carelessly. + +"So far, so good. By the same luck, have you a Swede here called Nels +Swanson?" + +Hicks shook his head in uncertainty. + +"There 's a Swede here, all right, who belongs ter the 'Independence' +gang. I don 't know his name." + +"It's Swanson," put in Farnham, cheerfully. "Those are the two birds +you 're after, sheriff." + +The latter official, as though fascinated by what he read there, never +ventured to remove his watchfulness from the face of the engineer, yet +he smiled grimly. + +"Then I 'll have to trouble you to trot out the Swede, Hicks," he said, +a distinct command in his voice. "After he 's here we 'll get down to +business." + +It was fully five minutes before the fellow arrived, his movements slow +and reluctant. From his language, expressing his feelings freely to +Mike and Brown, who were engaged in urging him forward, it was evident +he experienced no ambition to appear in the limelight. The four men +waiting his coming remained motionless, intently watchful of one +another. As the slowly moving Swede finally approached, Hayes ventured +to remove his eyes from Winston just long enough to scan swiftly the +mournful countenance, that single glance revealing to him the character +of the man. The latter gazed uneasily from one face to another, his +mild blue eyes picturing distress, his fingers pulling aimlessly at his +moustache. + +"Ay ban yere by you fellers," he confessed sorrowfully, unable to +determine which person it was that wanted him. + +"So I see," admitted the sheriff laconically. "Are you Nels Swanson?" + +The fellow swallowed something in his throat that seemed to choke him. +This question sounded familiar; it brought back in a rush a +recollection of his late controversy with Mr. O'Brien. His face +flushed, his eyes hardening. + +"Ay ban Nels Swanson!" he exploded, beating the air with clenched fist. +"Ay ban Lutheran! Ay ban shovel-man by Meester Burke. Ay get two +tollar saxty cint! Ay not give won tamn for you! Ay lick de fellar +vot ask me dot again!" + +The sheriff stared at him, much as he might have examined a new and +peculiar specimen of bug. + +"I don't recall having asked you anything about your family history," +he said quietly, dropping one hand in apparent carelessness on the butt +of his "45." "Your name was all I wanted." He tapped the breast of +his coat suggestively, his gaze returning to Winston. + +"Well, gents, we might as well bring this affair to a focus, although +no doubt you two understand the meaning of it pretty well already. I +'ve got warrants here for the arrest of Winston and Swanson. I hope +neither of you intend to kick up any row." + +The white teeth of the young mining engineer set like a trap, his gray +eyes gleaming dangerously beneath frowning brows. Instinctively he +took a quick step forward. + +"Warrants?" he exclaimed, breathlessly. "In God's name, for what?" + +Hayes tightened his grip on the gun butt, drawing it half from the +sheath, his eyes narrowing. + +"For the murder of Jack Burke," he said tersely. "Don't you move, +young man!" + +There was a long moment of intense, strained silence, in which the five +men could hear nothing but their own quick breathing. Before Winston +everything grew indistinct, unreal, the faces fronting him a phantasy +of imagination. He felt the fierce throb of his own pulses, a sudden +dull pain shooting through his temples. _Murder_! The terrible word +struck like a blow, appearing to paralyze all his faculties. In front +of him, as if painted, he saw that fierce struggle in the dark, the +limp figure lying huddled among the rocks. _Murder_! Aye, and how +could he prove it otherwise? How could he hope to clear himself from +the foul charge? Even as he yet swayed unsteadily upon his feet, a +hand pressed across his eyes as if shielding them from that horrible +vision, a voice, deep and strident, rang out: + +"Mike an' me have got the two cusses covered Mr. Winston. If they +move, or you give us the highball, we 'll plug 'em dead centre!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE INTERVENTION OF SWANSON + +Hayes never changed his position, nor removed his eyes from Winston, +his right hand still resting upon the butt of his "45," his lips set in +rigid line. The engineer, the mist partially clearing from his brain, +retained no thought except for Farnham, who remained motionless, +staring over his head into the black, threatening muzzle of Stutter +Brown's levelled gun. These were Western men; they recognized +instantly the potency of "the drop," the absolute certainty of death if +they stirred a muscle. They could only wait, breathless, uncertain, +the next move in this desperate game. To Winston it seemed an hour he +hesitated, his mind a chaos, temptation buffeting him remorselessly. +He saw the sheriff's face set hard, and resolute behind its iron-gray +beard; he marked the reckless sneer curling Farnham's lips, the livid +mark under his eye where he had struck him. The intense hatred he felt +for this man swept across him fiercely, for an instant driving out of +his heart all thought of mercy. As suddenly he remembered the helpless +woman yonder, within easy view, possibly even then upon her knees in +supplication. It was this conception that aroused him. He withdrew +his dull gaze from off that hateful, mocking face, his clenched hands +opening, his mind responding to a new-born will. "Vengeance is mine; I +will repay, saith the Lord"--like an echo, perhaps from the very prayer +her lips were speaking, the solemn words came into his consciousness. +With face white, and lips trembling, he stepped suddenly back, and +flung up one hand. + +"Don't fire, boys!" he commanded, his voice ringing clear and +purposeful. "Drop your guns; it's all right. This is my game, and I +intend to play it out alone." + +Farnham laughed, the quick reaction possibly affecting even his iron +nerves. Winston whirled and fronted him, the gray eyes blazing. + +"Damn you, you sneaking, sneering brute!" he burst forth. "You thief, +you woman-beater, you unspeakable cur! I surrender to the sheriff of +Gulpin County, not to you. I 've got the evidence to send you to the +penitentiary, and I 'll do it, even though I stand myself in the shadow +of death while I bear witness to your infamy. You think this arrest +will shut my mouth! You imagine this will render me harmless! But, by +God, it will not! I 'll fight you until the last breath leaves my +body. I 'll tear you out from the protection of law; I 'll show you +the kind of a man you have stacked up against. I don't know whether +this murder charge is all a trick or not; I don't more than half +believe Jack Burke is dead. But be that as it may, I 'll pull you +down, Biff Farnham, not in any revenge for wrong done me, but to save a +woman whom you know. I 'll do it, damn you, though it cost me my life!" + +The sheriff's iron hand fell in restraint upon his shoulder, the burly +body interposed between them. + +"You're all right," Hayes said quietly, his eyes pleasantly interested. +"You 've been squar' with me, young fellow, an' I 'm goin' ter be +squar' with you. You kin bet on that. They 'll give you a chance down +below to fight out your quarrel with Farnham." + +Winston, his quick rage as instantly fading, drew one hand across his +face, the real danger of his present situation flowing back suddenly to +mind. + +"Where do you mean to take us?" he questioned. + +"San Juan." + +"Right away?" + +"Wal, 'bout as soon as we kin git you back ter whar the hosses are, +yonder." + +"You promise us protection from that 'Independence' outfit?" + +The sheriff nodded decisively. + +"Never lost no prisoner yet to a mob," he replied confidently. "I +reckon thar'll be one hell of a fight before I do now. However, you +don't need to worry, young man. On second thought, I 'll have the +hosses brought over here, an' we 'll go down this trail." + +Winston glanced about into the faces of Hicks and the Swede. There was +no help forthcoming from either, but he had already reached a definite +decision for himself. + +"Very well," he said calmly, "I 'll go with you quietly, sheriff, only +I don't need any hand-cuffing." + +"Never use 'em," and Hayes affectionately patted his gun. "I reckon +this yere instrument will do the business all right if any +misunderstandin' should arise atween us goin' down. However, I 'll +trouble yer to discard them weapons for the sake o' peace." + +Without a word the engineer unbuckled his belt, tossed it over to +Hicks, and then slowly turned his body about to prove himself entirely +disarmed. Then he smiled, and extended his hand. The sheriff grasped +it cordially. + +"There need be no hard feeling between us, Hayes," he said pleasantly. +"You 're only doing your sworn duty; I understand that. But there 's +something rotten in this affair somewhere. All I ask is a square deal." + +"An' yer kin bet you'll git it, Mr. Winston, er Sam Hayes will find out +why. This yere 'Independence' outfit is no favorites o' mine, an' if +the whole difficulty turns out ter be nothin' but a minin' squabble, +the jury ain't likely ter be very hard on yer. That's my way o' +figgerin' on it, from what little I know." He glanced keenly about, +seeking to gain a clearer idea of their immediate surroundings. "Maybe +you an' Swanson better mosey back yonder to the cabin, where I can keep +an eye on you easy, while I send after the hosses. Farnham, climb back +on top of the dump there, an' give them boys the signal to come on." + +The gambler removed his hat, running one hand carelessly through his +hair, his thin lips sufficiently parted to reveal his white teeth. + +"I hardly think we are exactly done yet, Mr. Sheriff," he said +sarcastically. "I 'm not very much worried regarding your suddenly +expressed sympathy for this fellow, or your desire to get him off +unscratched; but I feel compelled to insist upon receiving all the law +allows me in this game we 're playing. There 's another warrant in +your pocket for Winston." + +"By thunder, yes; I 'd clear forgot it," fumbling at his papers. + +"Well, I had n't; matter of some personal importance to me," the voice +taking on a lazy, insolent drawl. "Of course, the fellow is under +arrest all right, but that murder business is only part of it--I want +my wife." + +Winston started forward, crouching as though he would spring directly +at the other's throat. + +"Your wife?" he exclaimed madly, his voice choking. "Your wife? You +'ve sworn out a warrant for me on account of your wife?" + +"Something of that nature, I believe," gazing at him insolently. +"Abduction I think the lawyers call it, and I notice you 've got the +lady hidden away back yonder now." He pointed across the other's +shoulder. "Caught with the goods. Oh, you 're a fine preacher of +morals, but I 've got you dead to rights this time." + +Winston stood as though carven from stone, his face deathly white, his +lips compressed, his gray eyes burning, never wavering from that +mocking face. With all his strength of will he battled back the first +mad impulse to throttle the man, to crush him into shapeless pulp. For +one awful moment his mind became a chaos, his blood throbbing fire. To +kill would be joy, a relief inexpressible. Farnham realized the +impulse, and drew back, not shrinking away, but bracing for the +contest. But the engineer gripped himself in time. + +"Hayes," he ejaculated hoarsely, "let the lady decide this. If she +says no, then, by God, I 'll fight you all single-handed before he ever +puts touch upon her!" + +Old Bill Hicks was beside him in a single stride, his face blazing. + +"I 'm damned if yer will!" he growled madly. "I 'm in on this deal, +law er no law. The whole blame thing is a bluff, an' I 'll not stan' +fer it no longer. Yer step back thar, Sam Hayes, er else Gulpin County +will be lookin' 'round fer another sheriff. I 've got plumb ter the +limit o' patience in this game." + +Winston grasped the old man's uplifted arm, whirling him sharply around. + +"No," he exclaimed almost wearily, "it 's not to be a fight yet; +let--let her decide between us." + +She was already coming, walking alone directly across the open space +toward them. The eyes of the bewildered men were upon her, marking the +white face, rendered more noticeable by its frame of dark, uncovered +hair, the firm, womanly chin, the tightly compressed lips, the +resolute, unwavering eyes. She walked firmly, confidently forward, her +head proudly uplifted, a stately dignity about her bearing which could +not be ignored. If she perceived either Winston or Farnham in that +group she gave no sign, never halting until she stood directly before +Sam Hayes. Involuntarily, unconscious of the act, the sheriff pulled +off his hat, and stood twirling it in his hands. + +"Is it indeed true," she asked, her voice thrilling with suppressed +feeling, "that you possess a warrant sworn out by Biff Farnham, +charging Mr. Winston with the abduction of his wife?" + +"Yes, ma'am," and the man changed the weight of his body to the other +foot. "I 'm sorry ter say it 's true." + +She lifted one hand suddenly to her forehead as though in pain. + +"And you intend to serve it?" + +"I have no choice, ma'am; I 'm an officer of the law." + +There followed a pause, seemingly endless, the eyes of the men turned +away. She lifted her head, sweeping her gaze swiftly across the faces, +and a flush crept into the white cheeks. + +"Gentlemen," her voice low and clear, but with a slight falter +occasionally yielding peculiar power to the words, "it is true I am +that man's wife." She looked directly at him, apparently oblivious of +his attempt at smiling indifference. "By the laws of God and men I am +his wife. I neither deny this, nor have ever sought to escape from its +obligations. To me, the vows of marriage were sacred when first +assumed; they remain no less sacred now. This man is fully aware of +how I feel in this regard; he knows I have proved true in spirit and +letter to my vows; he knows exactly why I am not living with him; why I +am earning my own living in the world; why I am here in this position +to-day. He knows it all, I say, because the desertion was his, not +mine; and his present deliberate, cowardly attempt to besmirch my +character by doing an injury to another is an unbearable insult, an +outrage more serious than if he had struck me a physical blow. The one +I might forgive, as I have before forgiven, but the other is beyond the +limits of pardon, if I would retain my own self-respect. I am a woman, +an honorable woman, and my reputation is more to me than life." + +She paused, breathing heavily, her head flung back, Her hands clenched +as though in desperate effort at self-control. + +"You--you!" the words seemed fairly forced from between her lips, +"there has never been a time when I would not have gone to you at a +word, at your slightest expressed desire. However I may have despised +you in my secret heart, I remained loyal outwardly, and would have gone +to you in response to the call of duty. There is no such duty now. +You have openly insulted and degraded me; you have accused me before +the world; you have dragged my name in the muck; you have attempted to +dethrone my womanhood. The past is over; it is over forever. The law +may continue to hold me as your wife, but I am not your wife. The +records of the church may so name me, but they are false. A God of +love could never have linked me to such a brute--the very thought is +infamy. Do not touch me! Do not speak to me! I believe I could kill +you easier than I could ever again yield to you so much as a word." + +She reeled as though about to fall, her hand pressed against her heart. +Before an arm could be out-stretched in support, she had rallied, and +turned away. With head lowered, her face shadowed by her hair she +walked slowly toward the cabin. No man in the group stirred until she +had disappeared. Then the sheriff fumblingly replaced his hat, his +eyes wandering in uncertainty from Farnham to Winston. + +"By God!" he exclaimed, as though in relief, catching his breath +quickly and wiping his forehead. "By God! but that was fierce." +Recalling his own duty he reached out his hand and laid it heavily upon +the shoulder of the man standing next him. It chanced to be the Swede. + +"Go on into the cabin," he commanded, a returning sternness in the +order. + +The surprised man stared at him in dull bewilderment. + +"Vat for Ay go--hey?" + +"Because you 're under arrest." + +"Vat dot you say? I vas arrest? Maybe you not know me, hey? Ay tells +you vat Ay vas mighty quick. Ay ban Nels Swanson; Ay ban Lutheran; Ay +ban shovel--" + +"Oh, shut up; ye 're under arrest, I tell you--move on now." + +"Vat vas dis under arrest?" the blue eyes losing their mildness, the +drooping moustache beginning to bristle. "Ay no understand 'bout dis +arrest. Vat Ay do, hey?" + +"Helped to kill Jack Burke." + +The startled Norseman stared at him, gulping, his eyes fairly +protruding from his face, his breath hissing between his gritted teeth. +The wild berserker blood was surging hot through his veins. + +"Ut vas von lie! You kill me so! By tamn, no!" + +That instant, insane with fright, he grasped the astonished officer in +the vise of his great hands, swung him into the air, and dashed him +down headlong upon the rocks. Uttering a yell like that of some wild +animal, the fellow was off, striking against Winston with his body as +he passed, leaping recklessly across the rocks, heading straight toward +the nearest thicket. It was all the work of a moment. Farnham whirled +and sent one shot after him; then, as suddenly remembering his own +peril, wheeled back to face the others, the smoking revolver in his +hand. Amid the quick turmoil old Mike sprang to the summit of the rock +rampart, his face flaming with enthusiasm. + +"Go it, Swanska!" he yelled, encouragingly. "Go it, ye crazy +white-head! Be the powers, but it's the foinest runnin' Oi 've sane +fer a whoile. Saints aloive! but wud ye moind thim legs! 'Twas a +kangaroo, begorry, an' not a monkey he come from, or Oi 'm a loiar. Go +it, Swanny, ould bye! Howly St. Patrick! but he 'll be out o' the +State afore dhark, if he only kapes it up. It 's money Oi 'm bettin' +on the Swade!" + +Winston stepped swiftly across to the motionless sheriff, and knelt +down beside him, his face gravely anxious. The unfortunate man lay +huddled up, breathing heavily, his head bleeding freely from two +plainly visible wounds. The engineer turned him over, one hand feeling +for his heart. Slowly the young man rose to his feet, standing beside +the body, his gray eyes fastened upon Farnham. Here was a condition of +affairs he must decide upon for himself, decide instantly, decide in +spite of law, in spite of everything. + +"He appears to be rather badly hurt; not seriously, I think, but the +man is unconscious, and in no condition to be removed," he said, +managing to hold his voice to a strange quiet. "I consider myself his +prisoner, and shall remain with him until he becomes fit to travel. +Farnham, I do not acknowledge your deputyship, and if you attempt to +arrest me it will be at your peril. There are four of us here against +you, but we 'll give you a chance--go back to your own! Not a word, if +you care to live! Go, damn you--go!" + +They stood and watched him, until his slender figure disappeared behind +the fringe of cedars. Then Hicks and Winston, neither man speaking a +word, tenderly lifted the wounded sheriff from off the rocks, and bore +him back into the shelter of the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A NEW VOLUNTEER + +The desperate seriousness of their situation was only too evident. +Both men recognized this, yet had no opportunity then to reflect over +its possibilities, or plan for relief. Without exchanging a word, +except as related to their present labor, the two at once began +ministering to the relief of Hayes, confident that Brown, stationed +without, would guard vigorously against any surprise attack. The two +wounds upon the sheriff's head were extremely ugly in appearance, being +both deep and jagged, and having bled profusely. However, when +carefully washed and probed, neither proved particularly severe or +dangerous. In less than an hour, conscious yet exceedingly weak and +becoming somewhat feverish, the injured man, dazed in mind but fairly +comfortable in body, had been safely stowed away in a bunk, with every +prospect of an early recovery. + +Not until all this had been accomplished did his anxious nurses venture +to look thoughtfully into each others' faces and take direct cognizance +of their own perilous position. Hicks stepped outside into the +sunlight, wiping the perspiration from off his face, and a moment later +Winston joined him, the two standing in grave silence, gazing off +toward the apparently deserted "Independence." The strain of the past +night and day had plainly marked them both, yet it was not exposure and +toil alone that gave such anxiety to their faces. Finally Hicks turned +from his long scrutiny and glanced back toward the younger man, +stroking his goat's beard solemnly. + +"Looks ter me like we'd managed ter drop into a mighty bad hole, an' +was up agin the real thing," he began gloomily, yet hastening to add in +explanation, "not as I have any notion o' cavin', you onderstand, only +I ain't overly pleased with the situation, an' thet 's a fact. I never +yit objected in particular ter no fair fight, not o' any kind, free fer +all, or stan' up, but I ain't used ter buckin' agin the law nohow, an' +someway thet seems ter be 'bout what we 're up agin this trip. Beats +hell the way things turned out, don't it?" + +Winston nodded without opening his lips. He was thinking more +earnestly about Miss Norvell's unpleasant position than of their own, +yet compelled himself to attention. + +"Now, this yere Farnham is a gambler an' a thief; he 's all round +crooked, an' we 've got a cinch on him fer the penitentiary. But we +ain't got the right holt," the old miner continued, squinting his eyes +as if thus endeavoring to get the thought firmly lodged in his brain. +"He 's ben made a deputy sheriff. He kin turn that crowd o' toughs +over thar into a posse, an' come over here with the whole law o' the +State backin' them in any deviltry they decide on, even ter killin' off +the lot o' us for resistin' officers. Es Sam Hayes said, if we shoot, +we 'll be a-shootin' up Gulpin County. An' yet, by thunder, we 've +plumb got ter do it, er git off the earth. I jest don't see no other +way. Biff, he won't care a damn how he gits us, so he gits us afore we +have any chance ter turn the tables on him, an' shift the law over ter +our side. Hayes can't help any, fer he 's out o' his head. +Consequent, it's up ter us. Thet warrant business, an' deputy sheriff +racket, was a blame smart trick, all right. It would 'a' corralled us +good an' proper if thet fool Swede had n't run amuck. Not that he left +us in no bed o' roses, but, at least, we got a fightin' chance now, an' +afore we did n't have even that. I was inclined ter let yer surrender +to the sheriff, fer Sam Hayes is a squar' man, but not ter Farnham an' +his gang--not much, Mary Ann! Thet would mean lynchin', an' I know it. +So, I reckon we jest got to plug it out, an' trust ter luck. Thet 's +my view-point, but ye 're a more higher edycated man ner me, Mr. +Winston, an' maybe you kin see some other way out." + +The old man sat down on an outcropping stone, pulled out his pipe and +lit it, puffing thick rings of smoke into the air with manifest +enjoyment. Winston did not answer until the other again turned his +eyes upon him questioningly. + +"I was busy thinking," explained the engineer, "but must confess the +situation looks about as bad to me as it does to you. The silver +lining of this cloud is not apparent. Of course, we 've got the right +of it, but in some way Fate has managed to leave us set square against +the law. We 're outlaws without having done a thing to warrant it. +There is n't but one possible way out, and that is for us to get on the +right side again. Now, how can it be done? Some one of us will have +to go down to San Juan, before those fellows get over here in force, +swear out warrants against Farnham and his partners, and have this +whole affair probed to the bottom. We 've got them, if we can only get +the ear of the District Attorney, and shift this fight into the courts. +The trouble is, Farnham was smart enough to get there ahead of us, and +he 'll win out if we don't move quick and block him. I can't go +myself, for I 'm a prisoner, and must remain with the sheriff, or will +be considered a fugitive. The only question is, Can any one hope to +get through?" + +Hicks permitted his gaze to stray out across the dim valley below, then +up toward the ragged summit of the overhanging crest of rocks. Through +the smoke of his pipe he deliberately surveyed Stutter Brown, perched +motionless at the edge of his watchtower, a Winchester silhouetted +black against the stone. + +"Not down thet way, anyhow," he announced, finally, pointing with his +pipe-stem. "I reckon a mosquiter could n't git through along thet +trail ternight. Ever hear tell o' Daggett Station?" + +Winston rubbed his chin, endeavoring to recall the name. + +"I 'm not sure. Is it the water-tank and section-house, next stop +below Bolton Junction, on the main line?" + +"You 've called the tarn. Wal, it's over thar," pointing apparently +into the heart of the mountain, "straight south, twenty miles as ther +crow flies from the foot o' this rise, across as barren a sand waste as +ever broke a man's heart--nary drop o' water from start ter finish, an' +hot--oh, hell!" He paused, thinking. "But I hardly reckon them people +would ever think 'bout guardin' thet way out, an' a good rider could +make it easy afore daylight, an' catch the train East." + +"How do you get down?" + +"Through a long, twistin' ravine; it's a mean place fer travellin', an' +you have ter lead the hoss till yer strike the sand." + +"Ever cross there yourself?" + +"Wal, no," stroking his beard; "but Stutter come back thet way onct, +from a hunt or something. He never said nothin' when he struck in, but +yer could 'a' scraped alkali off him with a hoe, an' he drunk a whole +bucket o' water without takin' breath. So I reckon it wa'n't no +pleasure jaunt." + +"Then it's got to be Stutter," decided Winston, rising to his feet, +"for we must get word to San Juan. I 'm going inside to see how Hayes +is feeling." + +"I reckon thet's the ticket," agreed Hicks, gloomily, "but I 'm blamed +if I like losin' him. He 's a fightin' man, thet Stutter, after he +onct gits his blood stirred up, an' I 'm sorter expectin' a lively time +yere when it gits dark. It 'll be Farnham's last chance ter put us out +o' the way, an' he 's likely ter take it. I 'll bet Stutter won't go, +leastwise without the gal; he 's natural bull-headed, besides bein' in +love. Thet makes an ornery combination." + +Within the cabin, the door closed behind him, the single small window +shedding a dim light across the apartment, Winston turned, his hand +still upon the latch, and confronted Beth Norvell and Mercedes. Their +presence there was so unexpected that the young man paused in sudden +embarrassment, ready words failing him. The two were seated close +together on rude stools beneath the window, where they had evidently +been in intimate conversation. The former, her gaze lowered upon the +floor, did not glance up; but Mercedes flashed her black eyes into his +face, recognizing his confusion, and hastening to relieve it. +Warm-hearted, impulsive, already beginning to experience the value of +true love, the young Mexican was eager to bring these two into a better +understanding. Her quick smile of welcome swept away for an instant +all memory of the other's apparent indifference. + +"Ah, eet vas good you come, senor. See, ve shut up here like +prisoners; ve see nottings, ve hear nottings, ve know nottings. Now ve +make you tell us eet all, de whole story. Miladi here, she tink eet +all ver' bad; she cry, de tear yet in her eye, an' I know not vat to +tell to make her feel bettah. She 'fraid for ever'ting, but most I +tink, she 'fraid for you, senor." + +Miss Norvell hastily laid her hand upon the girl's sleeve in +remonstrance, her face showing grave in the dim light. + +"No, no, Mercedes; you must not say too much, or Mr. Winston will think +us both very foolish." + +"Eet vas not foolish for us to vant to know, vas eet, senor?" + +"Assuredly not." He walked across the narrow room, glanced into the +face of the sleeping sheriff, came back beside them, and leaned against +the wall. The movement served to yield him confidence and +self-control, to decide him as to his future course. "What is it you +are so desirous of knowing?" + +"Vy, de whole ting, senor, de whole ting." + +He gazed directly into the partially upturned face of the other, as +though urging her also to speak. + +"We do not in the least comprehend the situation here, Mr. Winston," +she responded, her voice low and steady. "No one has taken the trouble +to explain. We realize, of course, it must be serious, but possibly +the strain would prove less if we understood clearly what must be met." + +The engineer bowed, drawing toward him an empty cracker-box, and sat +down facing them both. + +"I will relate the circumstances to you in all their unpleasantness," +he began quietly. "Perhaps your woman wit may discover some loophole +which has escaped us." Clearly, yet rapidly, he reviewed the salient +points of the controversy between Farnham and the "Little Yankee," his +own brief connection with it, the discoveries made in the lower levels +of the "Independence," his desperate struggle with Burke, the swearing +out and serving of warrants, the sudden change in situation which had +placed them legally in the wrong, the accident to the sheriff, the curt +dismissal of his deputy, and the probable consequences. His voice grew +deep as he proceeded, marking the intense interest with which they +followed his recital. Then he unfolded briefly the plan adopted for +relief. It was the impulsive Mexican who broke the silence that +followed his conclusion. + +"Si, I see dat!" she exclaimed, leaning eagerly forward, her head +between her hands. "Eet vas ver' good vay. But you tink dar be fight +soon? You tink so? Beell, he tink so? Den you no like dat de Senor +Brown be avay? No, no, you no like be lef' alone ven de fight come? +He big, strong, brav'; he bettah as ten men, hey? Eet vas so, I tell +you. I go vis de message, si; Senor Brown he stay here. Vould not dat +be de bettah?" + +Winston shifted uneasily upon his cracker-box, his gaze wandering from +the animated face confronting him to that of the other farther back +amid the shadows, still grave and full of doubt. + +"You?" he exclaimed in surprise. "Surely you do not suppose we would +ever permit you to attempt such a thing." + +"No? An' vy not, senor?" springing impulsively to her feet, her eyes +opening wide. "Maybe you tink I not know how ride? Maybe you tink I +vas 'fraid of de dark? or dat I lose my vay? You tink me leetle girl," +and she snapped her fingers indignantly. "Do dat? Of course I do dat! +_Sapristi_! Eet vas easy. Just ride twenty mile. Bah! I do dat lots +o' times. My pony he take me in tree, four hour sure. He nice pony, +an' he lofe Mercedes." + +"But you do not know the way, girl, and the ride must be made at night." + +"De vay--poof! You speak ver' foolish. De vay?--you tink I cannot +find de vay! Vy, I Mexicana, senor; I know de vay of de desert; I read +de sign here, dar, everyvere, like miladi does de book. I know how; +si, si. Senor Brown he show me how get down de side of de mountain, +den I know de res'. Twenty mile south to de rail; I read de stars, I +feel de wind, I give de pony de quirt, and it vas done--_bueno_!" + +Winston sat silently watching her, impressed by the earnestness of her +broken English, the eloquent energy of her gesticulations. + +"Vas dat not de bettah vay, senor? I no good here; I just girl in de +vay, an' ven de fight come maybe I be 'fraid. But Senor Brown he not +git 'fraid; he fight hard, more as ten men. So I help too; I just ride +de pony, but I help. I go San Juan; I see de Distric' Attorney." She +clapped her hands, laughing at the thought. "Si, I know de Distric' +Attorney ver' veil. He tink Mercedes ver' nice girl; he tink I dance +bettah as any he ever saw; he say so to me. He do vat Mercedes vant, +vat she say vas de right ting--sure he do. Vas dat not de bettah, +senor?" + +"Possibly," yet secretly questioning her motives, "but--but really, you +know, I always supposed you to be a friend of Farnham's!" + +The girl instantly flushed crimson to the roots of her black hair, +bringing her hands together sharply, her eyes straying from Winston to +the suddenly uplifted face of Miss Norvell. + +"No, no," she said, at last, her voice softer. "He vas not to me +anyting! She know how it vas; maybe she tell you sometime. Not now, +but sometime. I jus' vant do right. I vant serve Senor Brown, not dat +Farnham no more. No, no! once, maybe, I tink dat man ver' nice; I tink +him good friend; he say much promise Mercedes. Now I tink dat no +more--I know he lie all de time; I see tings as dey vas right, an' I +try be good girl. You sabe all dat, senor?" + +"I understand some of it at least," and he smiled back into her +pleading eyes, "enough to trust you. If Hicks and Brown consent, your +going will be all right with me." + +"_Bueno_!" and she dropped him a deep Spanish courtesy, executing a +quick dancing step toward the door. "Den eet vill be so. I no 'fraid. +I go see dem both. _Adios_." + +The door opened, and she flashed forth into the fading sunlight; it +closed behind her, and left the two alone among the shadows. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +AN AVOWAL OF LOVE + +Winston sat gazing at the delicate contour of her face, partially +turned away from him, the long, silken lashes shading eyes lowered upon +the floor. A single gleam of the westering sun rested in golden beauty +across her dark hair, stirred by the slight breeze blowing through the +open window. In the silence he could hear his heart beat, and +distinguish the faint sound of her breathing. She was the first to +speak, yet without moving her head. + +"Is it true that you are now under arrest?" she questioned, her voice +scarcely audible. + +"Technically yes, although, as you may perceive, the sheriff is +powerless to prevent an escape if I desired to attempt one." + +"Is it because of that--that charge he made?" + +He arose to his feet in brave attempt at self-control. + +"Oh, no, certainly not! I think that was merely a threat, a cowardly +threat, utterly without provocation, without purpose, unless he sought +in that way to work you a serious injury. The real charge against me +is murder. It appears that the man I fought with in the mine later +died from his injuries." + +She turned both face and body toward him, her eyes filled with agony. + +"The man died? Will it be possible for you to prove yourself innocent?" + +"It may be possible, but it does not appear easy. I hope to show that +all I did was in self-defence. I did not strike the man a deadly blow; +in the struggle he fell and was injured on the sharp rocks. In every +sense his death was unintentional, yet there is nothing to sustain me +but my own testimony. But I shall not flee from the issue. If I have +taken human life I will abide the judgment. God knows I never dreamed +of killing the man; never once supposed him seriously injured. You, at +least, believe this?" + +"I believe all you tell me." + +The man's grasp on the casing of the window tightened, his eyes upon +the mass of black hair. + +"Strangely enough," he continued, "this whole affair has gone wrong +from the start; nothing has turned out in the natural way. Criminals +have been made into officers of the law, and honest men changed into +outlaws. Now it seems impossible to conjecture how the adventure will +terminate." + +She sat looking up at him, scarcely seeing his face, her hands clasped +in her lap. + +"'All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players,'" +she said, quoting the familiar words as if in a dream. "We are such +puppets in the great play! How strange it all is! How dangerously +close real life is, always skirting the precipice of tragedy! Plans +fail, lines tangle, and lives are changed forever by events seemingly +insignificant. To-morrow is always mystery. I wonder, is it not a dim +consciousness of this that renders the stage so attractive to the +multitude? Even its burlesques, its lurid melodramas, are never +utterly beyond the possible. Everywhere are found stranger stories +than any romancer can invent; and yet we sometimes term our lives +commonplace." She leaned back against the wall, a sob coming into her +voice. "What--what is going to be the end of this--for me?" + +"Whatever you will," he exclaimed passionately, forgetful of all but +her power over him. "It is you who must choose." + +"Yes, it is I who must choose," her face still uplifted. "Because I am +not a leaf to float on the air, my destiny decided by a breath of wind, +I must choose; yet how can I know I decide rightly? When heart and +conscience stand opposed, any decision means sacrifice and pain. I +meant those hasty words wrung out of me in shame, and spoken yonder; I +meant them then, and yet they haunt me like so many sheeted ghosts. +'Tis not their untruth, but the thought will not down that the real +cause of their utterance was not the wrong done me. It had other +birth." + +"In what?" + +She did not in the least hesitate to answer, her eyes clear and honest +upon his own. + +"In my love for you," she answered, quietly, her cheeks reddening to +the frank avowal. + +He grasped her hands, drawing her, unresisting, toward him. + +"You confess this to me?" + +"Yes, to you; but to you only because I trust you, because I know you +as an honorable man," she said, speaking with an earnest simplicity +irresistible. "I am not ashamed of the truth, not afraid to +acknowledge it frankly. If there be wrong in this; that wrong has +already been accomplished; the mere uttering of it cannot harm either +of us. We know the fact without words. I love you; with all my heart +I love you. I can say this to you here in the silence, yet I could not +speak it openly before the world. Why? Because such love is wrong? +Under God I do not know; only, the world would misunderstand, would +question my motives, would misjudge my faith. By the code I am not the +mistress of my heart; it has been legally surrendered. But you will +not misjudge, or question. If I could not trust, I could not love you; +I do both. Now and here, I put my hands in yours, I place my life, my +conscience, in your keeping. For good or evil, for heaven or hell, I +yield to you my faith. Tell me what I am utterly unable to decide for +myself alone: What is my duty, the duty of a woman situated as I am?" + +He held her hands still, crushing them within his own, yet the color, +the hope which had brightened his face, faded. A moment the two sat +silent, their eyes meeting, searching the depths. + +"Beth," he asked at last, "is this right?" + +"Is what right?" + +"That you should cast such a burden upon me. I told you I could not be +your conscience. All my desire, all my hope tends in one direction. +That which to you appears wrong, to me seems the only right course. My +heart responded eagerly to every word of renunciation spoken out there +in your indignation. They were just and true. They gave me courage to +believe the battle was over; that in soul and heart you were at last +free." + +She lowered her eyes in confusion to the floor, her bosom rising and +falling to quick breathing. + +"And now you discover me hesitating, undecided," she whispered, her +lips trembling. "I know I am; there are moments when I hold myself +unworthy of love. Yet believe me, I am honest, sincere, unselfish in +all my thought regarding you. Perhaps the trouble is that I know +myself, my nature, far too well; I dare not trust it to bring you +happiness, unless I can come to you with unsullied conscience." + +"Is it thought of divorce which yet remains so repugnant?" + +She glanced up into his questioning face, her own cheeks flushing. + +"I shrink from it in actual pain," she confessed, in instant frankness. +"My whole nature revolts. Believe me, I am not blind, not insensible; +I recognize the truth--all you would tell me--of the inalienable rights +of womanhood. Neglect, distrust, brutality, open insult have all been +my portion. The thousands all over the world accept these as worthy +reasons for breaking their marriage vows. But can I? Can I who have +ever condemned those others for doing so? Can I, who have ever held +that sacrament to be sacred and enduring? And I realize that the +temptation has not come because of the wrongs done to me. He has been +all this before, many, many times, yet I have remained true and loyal, +not questioning my duty. It is the birth of a new love--God alone +knows if I should say a guilty love--which has thus changed me, which +has brought to my mind dreams of release. I pray you, try to +understand me! How could happiness ever prove my portion, or yours +through me, while such questionings continued to haunt my soul like +ghosts?" + +He released her clinging hands, turning away from her, his eyes staring +unseeing out of the window. A moment she continued looking at him, her +dry eyes anxiously pleading. Then she buried her face within her hands +and waited, her whole body trembling. Twice Winston sought to speak, +before sufficient courage came to him to allow of his turning back, and +looking down upon her bowed figure. + +"Beth," he said at last, his struggle revealed in his voice, "I should +not be worthy that love you have given me so unreservedly, did I stoop +now to its abuse. I could never forgive myself were I to urge you to +do that which your conscience so clearly condemns. To me there is a +marriage far more sacred and enduring than any witnessed by man, or +solemnized by formal service--the secret union of hearts. We are one +in this, and nothing can ever come between us. Then let all else wait; +let it wait until God shall open a way along which we may walk in +honor. Mutual sacrifice can never make us any less dear to each other. +This condition may serve to separate us for a while, yet I believe the +path will open, and that you will learn to perceive your duty from a +broader view-point--one that will permit you to find happiness in true +love, unhaunted by any memory of the false." + +She arose slowly to her feet, the tears clinging to her lashes, both +hands outstretched. + +"Oh, I thank you! I thank you!" she exclaimed with deep fervor. +"Those words prove you all I ever believed you to be. They give me +hope, courage, patience to remain true to myself, true to my lifelong +ideals of womanhood. I am certain you trust me, comprehend my motives, +and will think no less of me because of my unwillingness to forfeit a +conception of right. He is absolutely nothing to me--nothing. He +never could be. There are times when I feel that his death even could +not fitly atone for the evil he has wrought me. Never again will his +influence touch my life to change its purpose. It is not he that keeps +us apart; it is a solemn, sacred pledge made by a trusting girl in +God's presence--a pledge I cannot forget, cannot break without +forfeiting my self-respect, my honor." + +He drew her gently to him, his eyes no longer filled with passion, yet +containing a depth of love that left her helpless to resist his will. + +"Beth, dear," he whispered, his lips almost pressing her cheek, "I will +not think of him, but only of you. If you love me I am content. The +mere knowledge itself is happiness. Tell me once again that this is +true." + +"It is true, forever true; I love you." + +"May I have for this one time the pledge of your lips?" + +A single instant she seemed to hesitate, her cheeks flushing hotly, her +dark eyes lowered before his. But she lifted her face, and their lips +met and clung, as though parting must be forever. Amid the closely +gathering shadows he led her back to the vacated stool, and stood +beside her, gently stroking the soft dark hair of the bowed head. + +"You have plans?" he questioned quietly. "You have decided how you are +to live while we await each other?" + +"Yes," half timidly, as though fearful he might oppose her decision. +"I believe I had better return to my work upon the stage." She glanced +up at him anxiously. "You do not care, do you? It seems to me I am +best fitted for that; I have ambition to succeed, and--and it affords +me something worthy to think about." + +"I recall you said once it would be a poor love which should interfere +with the ideals of another." + +"Yes, I remember. How long ago that seems, and what a change has since +come over my conceptions of the power of love! I believe it still, yet +in so different a way. Now I would surrender gladly all ambition, all +dream of worldly success, merely to fee alone with the man I love, and +bring him happiness. That--that is all I want; it is everything." + +"And some day it shall be yours," he declared stoutly. "Some day when +you comprehend that divorce is not always the evil that some delight to +proclaim it; some day when you realize that it must be a far greater +sin to wreck irretrievably your own life for a brute than to break +those man-made bonds which bind you to him. It cannot be long until +you learn this, for all nature condemns so unholy an alliance. Until +then let it be the stage; only I ask you to strive for the very best it +offers. Have confidence in yourself, little girl, in your ability, +your power, your spark of genius touched by suffering. Every hour you +pass now in hideous, misshapen melodrama is worse than wasted. You +have that within you well worthy of better setting, nobler environment, +and you wrong yourself to remain content with less. You are mine now +wherever you go, whatever triumphs you win; mine in spite of the law, +because I possess your heart. I should doubt myself far sooner than +ever question your loyalty. I can lend you to the stage for a +while--until I come for you in that glad hour when your lips shall bid +me--but in the meantime I want you to be true to yourself, to the +spirit of art within you. I want you to accomplish the highest +purposes of your dreams; to interpret that in life which is worthy of +interpretation." + +"You believe I can?" + +"I know you can. Never from that first night, when I stood in the +wings and watched, have I ever questioned the possibilities of your +future. You have art, emotion, depth of true feeling, application, a +clear understanding of character--all that ever made any actress great. +I love you, Beth; yet mine is a love too unselfish not to tell you this +truth and stand aside rather than block your future." + +She lifted her eyes to him, now cleared of their tears, and shining +with eagerness. + +"I will do all you say," she said earnestly, "do it because I love you. +It shall not be for the people, the applause, the glitter and display, +but alone for you. Whenever a triumph comes to me, I shall meet it +whispering your name in my heart, knowing that you rejoice because I am +proving worthy of your faith. It will be as if we worked together; the +memory must help to make us both strong." + +He bent lower, drew her closer to him, and held her thus in silence. + +"Yes," he spoke at last, as though in thought, "I shall try to remember +and be patient, so long as you feel it must be so." + +They were sitting there still, the barest glimmer of twilight +brightening the window above, their hands clasped, when Mercedes came +back, overflowing with light-heartedness. + +"Si, si, sure I did eet," she announced happily, dancing forward into +the centre of the darkened room, and seemingly blind to the two before +her. "Eet ees I that am to ride. _Bueno_! eet vill be mooch fun! +Senor Brown he not like let me go; he tink I do all eet for him. Oh, +de conceit of de men, ven I care not for anyting but de fun, de good +time! But I talk him long vile, an' Beell he talk, an' maybe he say +_si_ for to git us rid of. Tink you not eet vas so, senor?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE PROOF OF LOVE + +The dreaded night settled down dark but clear, a myriad of stars +gloriously bright in the vast vault overhead, the clinging shadows +black and gloomy along the tree-fringed ridge. Nature, hushed into +repose, appeared alone in possession, the solemn silence of peaceful +night enveloping the vast canyon and its overhanging mountains. Amid +the gathering gloom all animate life seemed to have sought rest, to +have found covert. The last glimpse which the watchful guardians of +the "Little Yankee" gained of the surroundings of the "Independence" +revealed nothing to awaken immediate alarm. A few men idly came and +went about the shaft-house and ore-dump, but otherwise the entire claim +appeared deserted. No hostile demonstration of any kind had been +attempted since Farnham's retreat, and now no sign of contemplated +attack was to be perceived. The large number of men visible earlier in +the day had mysteriously disappeared; not even the searching +field-glasses served to reveal their whereabouts. In the gathering +darkness no lights bore witness to the slightest activity; everywhere +it remained black and silent. + +To those wearied men on guard this secrecy seemed ominous of +approaching evil. They comprehended too clearly the vengeful nature of +their enemy to be lulled thus into any false security. Such skulking +could be accepted only as a symptom of treachery, of some deep-laid +plan for surprise. But what? Would Farnham, in his desperation, his +anxiety to cover up all evidences of crime, resort to strategy, or to +force? Would he utilize the law, behind which he was now firmly +entrenched, or would he rely entirely upon the numbers he controlled to +achieve a surer, quicker victory? That he possessed men in plenty to +work his will the defenders of the "Little Yankee" knew from +observation. These were of the kind to whom fighting was a trade. +They must be there yet, hiding somewhere in the chaparral, for none had +retreated down the trail. Backed by the mandates of law, convinced +that they had nothing to fear legally, that they were merely executing +the decrees of court, they would hardly be likely to hesitate at the +committal of any atrocity under such a leader. But where would they +strike, and how? What could be the purpose of their delay? the object +of their secrecy? That there must be both purpose and object could not +be doubted; yet nothing remained but to watt for their revelation. + +An obscuring mist hung over the canyon, stretching from wall to wall. +Beneath the revealing starlight it was like looking down upon a +restless, silent expanse of gray sea. A stray breath of air came +sucking up the gorge, causing the many spectral trees outlined against +the lighter sky to wave their branches, the leaves rustling as though +swept by rain. There was a faint moaning among the distant rocks as if +hidden caverns were filled with elves at play. It was weird, lonely, +desolate,--straining eyes beholding everywhere the same scene of +deserted wilderness. + +Old Hicks lay flat under protection of the ore-dump, his ear pressed +close to the earth, his contracted eyes searching anxiously those dark +hollows in front, a Winchester, cocked and ready, within the grasp of +his hand. Above, Irish Mike, sniffing the air as though he could smell +danger like a pointer dog, hung far out across the parapet of rock, +every eager nerve tingling in the hope of coming battle. Winston +remained in the cabin door, behind him the open room black and silent, +his loaded Winchester between his feet, gamely struggling to overcome a +vague foreboding of impending trouble, yet alert and ready to bear his +part. It was then that Stutter Brown led the saddled pony forward from +out the concealment of bushes. The long awaited moment had come for +action. To his whispered word, Mercedes fluttered promptly forth +through the shadowed doorway, and pressed her face lovingly against the +pony's quickly uplifted nose. + +"See," she whispered, patting Brown's brawny arm even while she +continued toying playfully with the silken mane, "he know me, he lofe +me. He bettah as any man, for he nevah tell lie,--nevah,--only be nice +all de time. He ride me till he drop dead, swift, quick, like de bird +fly. So I make eet all right, senor. You see ven de daylight come I +be San Juan. Den I make mooch fun for de Senor Farnham--sure I do." + +"I-I reckon you 'll m-make it all right, l-l-little girl," answered the +man regretfully, his voice hushed to a low growl, "b-but jest the same +I a-ain't so darn g-g-glad ter l-let yer go. H-hanged ef I would, +either, if I d-did n't th-think the toughest part o' it wus g-goin' ter +be right yere." + +She glanced almost shyly up into his shadowed face, her black eyes like +stars. + +"Si--dat vas eet. I vas de coward; I just runs avay so 'fraid of de +fight. I no like de fight von leetle bit. But I know you, senor; you +vant to stay here, an' have de fun. You Americano an' like dat ver' +mooch. I feel of de big arm, so, an' I know eet ees bettah dat you be +here. I mooch like please you, senor." + +He clasped her hand where it rested small and white against his sleeve, +hiding it completely within his own great fist; when he spoke she could +mark the tremble in the deep voice. + +"Y-you 're a m-mighty fine girl," he managed to say, simply, "but we +g-got ter go now. I-I reckon yer b-b-better walk fer a ways, as the +p-pony will step lighter." + +"I not care, senor," softly. "Eet be nice to valk; I nevah 'fraid vid +you." + +Brown led the way forward cautiously across the open space, one strong +hand firm on the pony's bit, the other barely touching her dress as +though it were something sacred. She endeavored to discern his face in +the faint starlight, but the low-drawn hat brim shaded it into black +lines, revealing nothing. The light, easy words she sought to speak, +hoping thus to keep him from more serious talk, would not come to her +lips. There was so much of silence and mystery on every side, so much +of doubt in this venture, that, in spite of her gay manner, every nerve +tingled with excitement. Glancing up at him she bit her lips in +embarrassment. It was Stutter who finally found voice, his mind +drifting back to what she had lately said in carelessness. + +"Y-yer said that the p-p-pony never l-lied like a man," he began +doubtfully. "Yer d-did n't mean that f-fer me, did yer?" + +There was something so deeply pathetic about the tone in which he asked +this as to hurt her, and the slender fingers still clasping his sleeve +suddenly closed more tightly. + +"Senor, you mus' not say dat; you mus' not tink dat. No, no! I speak +that only in fun, senor--nevah I believe dat, nevah. You good man, +more good as Mercedes; she not vort' von leetle bit de lofe you say to +her, but she feel mooch shame to have you tink dat she mean you ven she +speak such ting in fun." + +He halted suddenly, all remembrance of their surroundings, their +possible peril, as instantly erased from his mind. He merely saw that +girl face upturned to his in the starlight, so fair and pleading, he +merely heard that soft voice urging her unworthiness, her sorrow. A +great, broad-shouldered giant he towered above her, yet his voice +trembled like that of a frightened child. + +"An' d-don't yer say that n-no more," he stuttered in awkwardness. +"Somehow it hurts. L-Lord! yer don't h-have ter be s-s-so blame good +ter be u-up ter my level. Th-they don't b-breed no a-angels back in +ol' M-Missouri, whar I come from. It's m-mostly mules thar, an' I +r-reckon we all g-git a bit mulish an' ornery. B-but I 'spect I 'm +d-decent 'nough ter know the r-right sort o' girl when I s-stack up +agin her. So I don't w-want ter hear no m-more 'bout yer not b-bein' +good. Ye 're sure g-good 'nough fer me, an' th-that 's all thar is to +it. Now, yer w-won't say that no more, w-will yer?" + +"No, senor," she answered simply, "I no say dat no more." + +He remained standing before her, shifting uneasily from one foot to the +other, a great hulk in the gloom. + +"Mercedes," he managed to say finally, "Ye're a-g-goin' ter ride away, +an' m-maybe thar'll be o-one hell o' a fracas up yere afore the rest o' +us g-g-git out o' this scrape. I d-don't reckon as it'll b-be me as +will git h-hurt, but somehow I 'd f-feel a heap better if you 'd j-jest +say them words what I a-asked yer to afore yer g-go, little g-girl; I +would that." + +She put her hands to her face, and then hid it against the pony's neck, +her slight form trembling violently beneath the touch of his fingers. +The strange actions of the girl, her continued silence, half frightened +him. + +"Maybe yer a-ain't ready yit?" he questioned, his manner full of +apology. + +"Oh, senor, I cannot say dat--sure I cannot," she sobbed, her face yet +hidden. "Maybe I say so some time ven I know eet bettah how eet ought +to be; si, maybe so. But not now; I not tink it be jus' right to say +now. I not angry--no, no! I ver' glad you tink so of Mercedes--it +make me mooch joy. I not cry for dat, senor; I cry for odder tings. +Maybe you know some time, an' be ver' sorry vid me. But I not cry any +more. See, I stan' up straight, an' look you in de face dis vay." She +drew her hand swiftly across her eyes. "Dar, de tear all gone; now I +be brav', now I not be 'fraid. You not ask me dat now--not now; +to-morrow, nex' veek, maybe I know better how to say de trut' vat vas +in my heart--maybe I know den; now eet all jumble up. I tink I know, +but de vord not come like I vant eet." + +He turned silently away from her, leading the pony forward, his head +bent low, his shoulders stooped. There was a dejection apparent about +the action which her eyes could not mistake. She touched him +pleadingly. + +"You no ver' angry Mercedes, senor?" + +Brown half turned about, and rested one great hand upon her soft hair +in mute caress. + +"N-no, little girl, it a-ain't that," he admitted slowly. "Only I 'm +b-blamed if I jest e-exactly grasp yer s-style. I reckon I 'll kn-know +what yer mean s-sometime." + +Could he have seen clearly he might have marked the swift, hot tears +dimming her eyes, but he never dreamed of their presence, for her lips +were laughing. + +"Maybe so, senor, maybe. I glad you not angry, for I no like dat. Eet +vas nice I fool you so; dat vas vat make de men lofe, ven dey not know +everyting. Ven day know dem maybe eet all be over vid. So maybe I +show you sometime, maybe not--_quien sabe_?" + +If her lightly spoken words hurt, he realized the utter futility of +striving then to penetrate their deeper meaning. They advanced slowly, +moving in more closely against the great ridge of rocks where the +denser shadows clung, the man's natural caution becoming apparent as +his mind returned to a consideration of the dangerous mission upon +which they were embarked. To-morrow would leave him free from all +this, but now he must conduct her in safety to that mist-shrouded plain +below. + +They had moved forward for perhaps a dozen yards, the obedient pony +stepping as silently as themselves, Mercedes a foot or two to the rear, +when Brown suddenly halted, staring fixedly at something slightly at +one side of their path. There, like a huge baleful eye glaring angrily +at him, appeared a dull red glow. An instant he doubted, wondered, his +mind confused. Tiny sparks sputtered out into the darkness, and the +miner understood. He had blindly stumbled upon a lighted fuse, a train +of destruction leading to some deed of hell. With an oath he leaped +recklessly forward, stamping the creeping flame out beneath his feet, +crushing it lifeless between his heavy boots and the rock. + +There was an angry shout, the swift rush of feet, the red flare of a +rifle cleaving the night with burst of flame. In the sudden, unearthly +glare Brown caught dim sight of faces, of numerous dark figures leaping +toward him, but he merely crouched low. The girl! he must protect the +girl! That was all he knew, all he considered, excepting a passionate +hatred engendered by one of those faces he had just seen. They were +upon him in mass, striking, tearing like so many wild beasts in the +first fierceness of attack. His revolver jammed in its holster, but he +struck out with clenched fists, battering at the black figures, his +teeth ground together, his every instinct bidding him fight hard till +he died. Once they pounded him to his knees, but he struggled up, +shaking loose their gripping hands, and hurling them back like so many +children. He was crazed by then with raging battle-fury, his hot blood +lusting, every great muscle strained to the uttermost. He realized +nothing, saw nothing, but those dim figures facing him; insensible to +the blood trickling down the front of his shirt, unconscious of wound, +he flung himself forward a perfect madman, jerking a rifle from the +helpless fingers of an opponent, and smiting to right and left, the +deadly-iron bar whirling through the air. He struck once, twice; he +saw bodies whirl sidewise and fall to the ground. Then suddenly he +seemed alone, panting fiercely, the smashed rifle-stock uplifted for a +blow. + +"It's the big fellow," roared a voice at his left. "Why don't you +fools shoot?" + +He sprang backward, crouching lower, his one endeavor to draw their +fire, so as to protect her lying hidden among the rock shadows. He +felt nothing except contempt for those fellows, but he could not let +them hurt her. He stood up full in the starlight, shading his eyes in +an attempt to see. Somebody cried, "There he is, damn him!" A slender +figure swept flying across the open space like some dim night vision. +A red flame leaped forth from the blackness. The two stood silhouetted +against the glare, reeled backward as it faded, and went down together +in the dark. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +BENEATH THE DARKNESS + +Running blindly through the darkness toward the sound of struggle came +Hicks and Winston. They caught no more than faint glimpses of +scattering, fleeing figures, but promptly opened fire, scarcely +comprehending as yet what it all meant. Hicks, dashing recklessly +forward, tripped over a recumbent figure in the darkness, and the two +paused irresolutely, perceiving no more of the enemy. Then it was that +Stutter Brown struggled slowly up upon his knees, still closely +clasping the slender figure of the stricken girl within his arms. She +neither moved nor moaned, but beneath the revealing starlight her eyes +were widely opened, gazing up into his face, appearing marvellously +brilliant against the unusual pallor of her cheeks. Her breath came +short and sharp as if in pain, yet the lips smiled up at him. + +"Oh, God!" he sobbed, "it was you!" + +"Si, senor," the words faltering forth, almost as if in mockery of his +own hesitating speech. "Once I said maybe I show you. I not know how +den--now I know." + +"Sh-show me, little girl--in God's n-name, show me wh-what?" + +"Eef eet vas true dat I lofe you, senor. Now you tink eet vas so; now +you all'ays know vat vas in de heart of Mercedes. Dis bettah vay as +talk, senor--nevah you doubt no more." + +He could only continue to look at her, the intense agony within his +eyes beyond all expression of speech, his words caught helpless in the +swelling throat. She lifted one hand in weak caress, gently touching +his cheek with her white fingers. + +"Oh, please don't, senor. Eet hurt me mooch to see you feel dat bad. +Sure eet does. Eet vas not de balls vat hurt--no, no! I know dey not +reach to you eef dey hit me de first. Eet joys me to do dat--sure eet +does." + +"Little g-girl, little g-girl," he faltered, helplessly, his great +hands trembling as he touched her. "It w-was you I t-tried ter save. +I-I ran th-th-this way so th-they wouldn't sh-shoot toward yer." + +She smiled happily up at him, softly stroking his hair, even while the +lines of her face twitched from pain. + +"Sure I know, senor. You von brav', good man--maybe now you all'ays +tink I brav', good also. Dat be 'nough for Mercedes. Oh, dis be de +bettar vay--de great God knows; sure He knows. Now, senor, I be yours +all'ays, forever. I so happy to be lofed by good man. I just look in +your face, senor, and tink, He lofe me, he ask me marry him. Maybe I +not nevah do dat, for fear he tire, for fear he hear tings not nice +about Mercedes. Dat make me sorrow, make me shame before him. Si, I +know how it vould be. I know de Americanos; dey ver' proud of dare +vives, dey fight for de honor. So eet make me mooch 'fraid, I no vort' +eet--no, no! I know not den de bettar vay. But de good Mother of God +she show me, she tell me vat do--I run quick; I die for de man I lofe, +an' den he all'ays know dat I lofe him; he know den bettar as eef I +marry him. Si, si, eet vas all joy for Mercedes, now, my senor. Eet +not hurt, eet make me glad to know." + +Brown bent ever lower as he listened, his great body shaking in the +effort to repress his sobs, his lips pressing against her white cheek. + +"I kiss you now, senor," she whispered, faintly. "Just de once, like I +vas your vife." + +Their lips met, the very soul of each seemingly in the soft, clinging +contact. Suddenly the poor girl sank backward, her head falling +heavily upon his supporting arm, a peculiar shudder twitching her +slender form. + +"Mercedes!" he cried in alarm. + +"Si, senor," the black eyes still wide open, but her words scarcely +audible. "Eet is so hard to see you; maybe de stars hide behin' de +cloud, but, but I lofe--" + +"Yes, y-yes, I kn-know." + +She lifted her arms, then dropped them heavily upon his bowed shoulders. + +"Dar is such a brightness come, senor. Eet light everyting like eet +vas de day. Maybe I be good too, now dat a good man lofe me; maybe de +God forgif all de bad because I lofe. You tink so? Oh, eet--eet joys +me so--senor! senor!" + +Motionless, almost breathless, but for the sobs shaking his great +figure, he held her tightly, bending low, her white cheek against his +own, her head pillowed upon his arm. About them was the silence, the +solemn night shadows, amid which waited Hicks and Winston earnestly +watching. Finally, the latter spoke gently, striving to arouse the +man; but Stutter Brown never lifted his head, never removed his eyes +from the death-white face upheld by his arm. As though stricken to +stone he remained motionless, seemingly lifeless, his face as pallid as +the dead he guarded. Hicks bent over and placed one hand upon his +shoulder. + +"Stutter, ol' pard," he said, pleadingly. "I know it's mighty hard, +but don't take on so; don't act that way. It can't do her no manner o' +good now. It's all--all over with, an' you ain't helpin' her none +a-settin' thar that way." + +The smitten man drew a deep breath, glancing up into the kindly, seamed +face bending over him, and about at the surrounding darkness. He +acted like one suddenly aroused from sleep, unable to comprehend his +situation. Slowly, with all the tenderness of love, he crumpled his +old hat into the semblance of a pillow, placed it upon the rock, and +lowered the girl's head until it rested softly upon it. Gently he +passed his great hand in caress across the ruffled black hair, pressing +it back from her forehead. He arose to his knees, to his feet, swaying +slightly, one hand pressed against his head as he stared blankly into +the faces of the two men. + +"W-which way d-did he go?" he asked, almost stupidly. "Th-the feller +w-who told 'em ter f-f-fire?" + +Old Hicks, his eyes filled with misery, shook his head. + +"Back ter the 'Independence,' I reckon," he admitted. "Most o' 'em I +saw started that way." + +Brown roughly jerked his gun from out its holster, holding the shining +weapon up into the starlight. + +"No, he didn't; not that one," he growled fiercely, his glance falling +again upon the upturned features of the dead girl. "I saw him out thar +runnin' toward our shaft-hole; h-he's up t-ter more d-deviltry. Y-you +take k-keer o' her." His voice broke, then rang out strong. "By +G-God, I 'll git the murderer!" + +He pushed past between the two, shouldering them aside as though +failing to see them, and, with the leap of a tiger, disappeared in the +night. Each man had caught a glimpse of his face, drawn, white, every +line picturing savagery, and shrank back from the memory. It was as if +they had looked upon something too horrible for thought. A moment they +stared after him, clutching their rifles as though in an agony of fear. +Hicks first found words of expression. + +"He 's gone mad! God pity him, he 's gone mad!" + +Winston drew himself together sharply, one hand grasping the other's +arm. + +"Then leave it to him," he said, quickly. "Whoever did this deed +deserves his punishment. Let us do what he bade us--look to the body +of this poor girl." + +They turned back, dreading their task, moving still as though half +dazed. As they advanced, a dark body just beyond suddenly rose to its +knees, and began crawling away. With a bound Hicks succeeded in laying +hands upon the fellow, and flung him over, face upward to the stars. +With gun at his head he held the man prostrate, staring down upon the +revealed features in manifest astonishment. + +"Damn me!" he cried, a new note of surprise in his voice, "Winston, +look yere!" + +"What is it?" and the younger man pressed forward, his rifle ready. + +"Ain't that Burke? Ain't that the same feller they had you pinched fer +murderin'?" + +The helpless man lying upon the ground frowned savagely up at them, a +dirty bandage bound about his head giving him a ghastly, unnatural +appearance. For a long moment the startled engineer gazed down at him +in incredulity, unable to distinguish the features clearly, his own +heart beating rapidly in suspense. + +"I half believe it is. Are you Jack Burke?" + +The man attempted a grin, but there was little of merriment in the +result. + +"Oi think loikely ye 're as liable as any wan to know. Ye 're the lad +that put this head on me, but that other divil it was that broke me +arm. Let me up from here. Begorry! Oi 've had 'nough fightin' fer +wan toime." + +"Did you know I had been put under arrest on the charge of killing you?" + +Burke grinned, this time in earnest. + +"Divil a bit did Oi know anything about it. Farnham he tould me to +keep damn quiet in the bunkhouse, out o' sight, but whin they wanted +for to set this fuse off, it seems Oi was the only lad that could do +the job, an' so they brought me out here along wid 'em. It 's a busted +head an' a broken arm Oi 've got for me share o' the fun. Be the +powers, now, let me git up!" + +The two men, watching him closely, exchanged glances. + +"All right, Burke," and Winston held up his rifle suggestively. "You +can get up, only stay close to us, wid no tricks. I want you, and I +want you bad. If you make any break, there 'll be a dead Irishman this +time sure. Is that you, Mike?" + +"Sure, sor." + +"Good; you've come just in time. Drop your muzzle on this native son, +and if the fellow makes a suspicious move, plug him, you understand?" + +"Ye bet Oi do, sor. Sthep out there, Burke, yer slab-sided boss o' +Swades, or Oi 'll show ye what a dacent Oirishman--an O'Brien, +bedad,--thinks o' the loikes of ye; Oi will that." + +With sympathetic gentleness, and in all the tenderness possible, their +eyes moist, and everything else forgotten excepting their sad task, +Hicks and Winston kneeled on the hard rock and lifted the slender +figure of Mercedes in their arms. Slowly, without the exchange of a +word, the little concourse turned in the darkness, and advanced in the +direction of the cabin, bearing the silent burden. They walked with +bowed heads and careful steps, their hearts heavy. With a faint whinny +the girl's deserted pony trotted forward from out the shadow where he +had been left, sniffed at her trailing skirt with outstretched nose, +and fell in behind, walking with head bent almost to the ground as +though he also understood and mourned. Winston glanced, marvelling, +back at the animal, hastily brushing a tear from out his own eye; yet +his lips remained set and rigid. He felt no doubt about who it was +Brown was seeking through the black night. When they met, it would be +a battle to the death. + +Before the still open door of the cabin they silently lowered their +burden in the shadow of the building. An instant they stood there +listening intently for any sound to reach them from out the surrounding +night. Then Winston, assuming the duty, stepped reluctantly forward +endeavoring to peer within. His heart throbbed from the pain of that +sudden message of death he brought. + +"Beth," he called, perceiving no movement within, and compelling his +voice to calmness. "Miss Norvell." + +There was a slight movement near the farther wall, but it was the voice +of the wounded sheriff which answered. + +"Who are yer? What was all that firin' about just now? Damn if I ain +'t too weak ter git up, but I got a gun yere, an' reckon I kin pull the +trigger." + +"It's Winston and Hicks. We 've had a skirmish out beyond the dump. +Those fellows tried to blow up our shaft, and we caught them at it. Is +Miss Norvell here?" + +"No, I reckon not; she was sittin' yere talkin' to me when that +shootin' begun, an' then she ran out the door thar. Anybody git hurt?" + +"The little Mexican girl was killed. We have brought her body here." + +"Good God!" + +"And we 've also got a prisoner, sheriff. It 's that same Jack Burke +you arrested me for killing. He seems very much alive." + +There was a rustling back in the darkness, as if the man within was +endeavoring to draw his body into a sitting posture. Then he swore +savagely, pounding his fist into the side of the bunk, as though +seeking thus to relieve his feelings. + +"Burke!" he fairly exploded at last, his anger appearing to stifle +utterance. "Jack Burke! Hell! Is that true? Oh, Lord! but I wish I +could git out o' yere. That damn Farnham swore out that warrant down +in San Juan, ther blame, ornery cur. It was a low-down, measly trick, +an' he actually had the nerve ter use me ter play out his game fer him. +Lord! if ever I git my hand on him I 'll shut down hard." + +No one answered him, the thought of all recurring reverently to the +motionless, silent dead without. Bareheaded, the two men, groping +through the darkness, bore Mercedes within in all tenderness, and +placed the slender form upon the bed, covering it with the single +sheet. Hicks remained motionless, bending over her, the kindly +darkness veiling the mist of tears dimming his old eyes and the +trembling of his lips as he sought, for the first time in years, to +pray. But Winston turned instantly and walked over toward Hayes, his +heart already filled with fresh anxiety. + +"Where did she go, do you know?" + +"Who? the young actress woman? I could n't see exactly, only she went +outside. I thought I heard voices talkin' out thar later on, over +beyond toward the window, but maybe I imagined it. Darn this ol' head +o' mine! It keeps whirlin' round every time I move, like it was all +wheels." + +The engineer, his face white with determination, strode to the door. +Beyond doubt it was Biff Farnham whose voice Brown had recognized, +commanding his men to fire; it was Farnham who had disappeared in the +direction of the "Little Yankee" shaft-house. What fresh deviltry was +the desperate gambler engaged upon? What other tragedy was impending +out there in the black night? + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE SHADOW OF CRIME + +Winston could never afterward recall having heard any report, yet as he +stepped across the threshold a sharp flare of red fire cleft the +blackness to his left. As though this was a signal he leaped +recklessly forward, running blindly along the narrow path toward the +ore-dump. Some trick of memory led him to remember a peculiar swerve +in the trail just beneath the upper rim of the canyon. It must have +been about there that he saw the flash, and he plunged over the edge, +both hands outstretched in protection of his eyes from injury should he +collide with any obstacle in the darkness. The deep shadows blinded +him, but there was no hesitancy, some instinct causing him to feel the +urgent need of haste. Once he stumbled and fell headlong, but was as +instantly up again, bruised yet not seriously hurt. His revolver was +jerked loose from his belt, but the man never paused to search for it. +Even as he regained his feet, his mind bewildered by the shock, his +ears distinguished clearly the cry of a woman, the sound of heavy feet +crushing through underbrush. It was to his right, and he hurled +himself directly into the thick chaparral in the direction from whence +the sound came. + +He knew not what new terror awaited him, what peril lurked in the path. +At that moment he cared nothing. Bareheaded, pushing desperately aside +the obstructing branches, his heart throbbing, his clothing torn, his +face white with determination, he struggled madly forward, stumbling, +creeping, fighting a passage, until he finally emerged, breathless but +resolute, into a little cove extending back into the rock wall. From +exertion and excitement he trembled from head to foot, the perspiration +dripping from his face. + +He stopped. The sight which met him for the moment paralyzed both +speech and motion. Halfway across the open space, only dimly revealed +in the star-light, her long hair dislodged and flying wildly about her +shoulders, the gleam of the weapon in her hand, apparently stopped in +the very act of flight, her eyes filled with terror staring back toward +him, stood Beth Norvell. In that first instant he saw nothing else, +thought only of her; of the intense peril that had so changed the girl. +With hands outstretched he took a quick step toward her, marvelling why +she crouched and shrank back before him as if in speechless fright. +Then he saw. There between them, at his very feet, the face upturned +and ghastly, the hands yet clinched as if in struggle, lay the lifeless +body of Biff Farnham. As though fascinated by the sight, Winston +stared at it, involuntarily drawing away as the full measure of this +awful horror dawned upon him: she had killed him. Driven to the deed +by desperation, goaded to it by insult and injury, tried beyond all +power of human endurance, she had taken the man's life. This fact was +all he could grasp, all he could comprehend. It shut down about him +like a great blackness. In the keen agony of that moment of +comprehension Winston recalled how she had once confessed temptation to +commit the deed; how she had even openly threatened it in a tempest of +sudden passion, if this man should ever seek her again. He had done +so, and she had redeemed her pledge. He had dared, and she had struck. +Under God, no one could justly blame her; yet the man's heart sank, +leaving him faint and weak, reeling like a drunken man, as he realized +what this must mean--to her, to him, to all the world. Right or wrong, +justified or unjustified, the verdict of law spelled murder; the +verdict of society, ostracism. It seemed to him that he must stifle; +his brain was whirling dizzily. He saw it all as in a flash of +lightning--the arrest, the pointing fingers, the bitterness of +exposure, the cruel torture of the court, the broken-hearted woman +cowering before her judges. Oh, God! it was too much! Yet what could +he do? How might he protect, shield her from the consequences of this +awful act? The law! What cared he for the law, knowing the story of +her life, knowing still that he loved her? For a moment the man +utterly forgot himself in the intensity of his agony for her. This +must inevitably separate them more widely than ever before; yet he +would not think of that--only of what he could do now to aid her. He +tore open his shirt, that he might have air, his dull gaze uplifting +piteously from the face of the dead to the place where she stood, her +hands pressed against her head, her great eyes staring at him as though +she confronted a ghost. Her very posture shocked him, it was so filled +with speechless horror, so wild with undisguised terror. Suddenly she +gave utterance to a sharp cry, that was half a sob, breaking in her +throat. + +"Oh, my God! my God!--you!" + +The very sound of her voice, unnatural, unhuman as it was, served to +bring him to himself. + +"Yes, Beth, yes," he exclaimed hoarsely through dry lips, stepping +across the body toward her. "You need not fear me." + +She drew hastily back from before him, holding forth her hands as +though pressing him away, upon her face that same look of unutterable +horror. + +"You! You! Oh, my God!" she kept repeating. "See! see there!--he is +dead, dead, dead! I--I found him there; I--I found him there. Oh, my +God!--that face so white in the starlight! I--I heard the words, +and--and the shot." She pressed both hands across her eyes as though +seeking to blot it out. "I swear I heard it! I--I do not know why I +came here, but I--I found him there dead, dead! I--I was all alone in +the dark. I--I had to touch him to make sure, and--and then it was +you." + +"Yes, yes," he said, realizing she was blindly endeavoring to clear +herself, yet thinking only how he might soothe her, inexpressibly +shocked by both words and manner. "I know, I understand--you found him +there in the dark, and it has terrified you." + +He approached closer, holding forth his own hands, believing she would +come to him. But instead she shrank away as a child might, expecting +punishment, her arms uplifted, shielding her face. + +"No, no; do not touch me; do not touch me," she moaned. "I am not +afraid of you, only I could not bear it." + +"Beth!" He compelled his voice to sternness, confident now that this +hysteria could be controlled only through the exercise of his own will. +"You must listen to me, and be guided by my judgment. You must, you +shall, do as I say. This is a most terrible happening, but it is now +too late to remedy. We cannot restore life once taken. We must face +the fact and do the very best we can for the future. This man is dead. +How he died can make no difference to us now. You must go away from +here; you must go away from here at once." + +"And--and leave him alone?" + +The whispered words stung him, his distressed mind placing wrong +construction on the utterance. + +"Has he been so much to you that now you must sacrifice yourself +needlessly for him?" he questioned quickly. + +"No, not that--not that," a shudder ran through her body, "but he--he +was my husband. You forget." + +"I do not forget. God knows it has been burden enough for me. But you +have no further duty here, none to him. You have to yourself and to +me." + +"To--to you?" + +"Yes, to me. I will put it that way, if it will only stir you to +action. I can not, will not, leave you here alone to suffer for this. +If you stay, I stay. In Heaven's name, Beth, I plead with you to go; I +beg you to be guided in this by me." + +"You--you will go with me?" her voice trembling, yet for the first time +exhibiting a trace of interest. "If I go, you will go?" + +"Yes, yes; can you suppose I would ever permit you to go alone? Do you +give me your promise?" + +She still held her head pressed between the palms of her hands, her +dishevelled hair hanging far below the waist, her dark eyes, wild and +filled with terror, roving about as though seeking to pierce the +surrounding darkness. + +"Oh, my God! I don't know!" she cried in a breathless sob. "I don't +know! Why won't you go? Why won't you go, and leave me here with him, +until some one else comes? I cannot understand; my brain is on fire. +But that would be better--yes, yes! Do that. I--I am not afraid of +him." + +He caught her outflung hand firmly within his own grasp. She +shuddered, as if the contact were painful, yet made no effort to +escape, her eyes widening as she looked at him. + +"No, I will not go one step without you." He held her helpless, his +face grown stern, seeing in this his only hope of influencing her +action. "Can it be you believe me such a cur? Beth, we both +comprehend the wrong this man has done, the evil of his life the +provocation given for such an act as this. He deserved it all. This +is no time for blame. If we desired to aid him, our remaining here now +would accomplish nothing. Others will discover the body and give it +proper care. But, oh, God! do you realize what it will inevitably mean +for us to be discovered here?--the disgrace, the stigma, the +probability of arrest and conviction, the ruthless exposure of +everything? I plead with you to think of all this, and no longer +hesitate. We have no time for that. Leave here with me before it +becomes too late. I believe I know a way out, and there is opportunity +if we move quickly. But the slightest delay may close every avenue for +escape. Beth, Beth, blot out all else, and tell me you will go!" + +The intense agony apparent in his voice seemed to break her down +utterly. The tears sprang blinding to her dry eyes, her head bent +forward. + +"And," she asked, as if the thought had not yet reached her +understanding, "you will not go without--without me?" + +"No; whatever the result, no." + +She lifted her face, white, haggard, and looked at him through the mist +obscuring her eyes, no longer wide opened in wildness. + +"Then I must go; I must go," she exclaimed, a shudder shaking her from +head to foot; "God help me, I must go!" + +A moment she gazed blankly back toward the motionless body on the +ground, the ghastly countenance upturned to the stars, her own face as +white as the dead, one hand pressing back her dark hair. She reeled +from sudden faintness, yet, before he could touch her in support, she +had sunk upon her knees, with head bowed low, the long tresses trailing +upon the ground. + +"Beth! Beth!" he cried in an agony of fear. + +She looked up at him, her expression that of earnest pleading. + +"Yes, yes, I will go," she said, the words trembling; "but--but let me +pray first." + +He stood motionless above her, his heart throbbing, his own eyes +lowered upon the ground. He was conscious of the movement of her lips, +yet could never afterward recall even a broken sentence of that prayer. +Possibly it was too sacred even for his ears, only to be measured by +the infinite love of God. She ceased to speak at last, the low voice +sinking into an inarticulate whisper, yet she remained kneeling there +motionless, no sound audible excepting her repressed sobbing. Driven +by the requirements of haste, Winston touched her gently upon the +shoulder. + +"Come, my girl," he said, the sight of her suffering almost more than +he could bear. "You have done all you can here now." + +She arose to her feet slowly, never looking toward him, never appearing +to heed his presence. He noticed the swelling of her throat as though +the effort to breathe choked her, the quick spasmodic heaving of her +bosom, and set his teeth, struggling against the strain upon his own +nerves. + +"You will go with me now?" + +She glanced about at him, her eyes dull, unseeing. + +"Oh, yes--now," she answered, as if the words were spoken +automatically. He led her away, ignoring the constant efforts she +made, as they climbed the bank, to gaze back across his shoulder. +Finally the intervening branches completely hid that white, dead face +below, and, as if with it had vanished all remaining strength of will, +or power of body, the girl drooped her head against him, swaying +blindly as she walked. Without a word he drew her close within his +arm, her hair blowing across his face, her hand gripping his shoulder. +It was thus they came forth amid the clearer starlight upon the ridge +summit. Again and again as they moved slowly he strove to speak, to +utter some word of comfort, of sympathy. But he could not--the very +expression of her partially revealed face, as he caught glimpses of it, +held him speechless. Deep within his heart he knew her trouble was +beyond the ministration of words. Some one was standing out in front +of the cabin. His eyes perceived the figure as they approached, and he +could not bring himself to speak of this thing of horror in her +presence. + +"Beth," he said gently, but had to touch her to attract attention, "I +want you to sit here and wait while I arrange for our journey. You are +not afraid?" + +"No," her voice utterly devoid of emotion, "I am not afraid." + +"You will remain here?" + +She looked at him, her face expressionless, as though she failed to +understand. Yet when he pointed to the stone she sat down. + +"Yes," she answered, speaking those common words hesitatingly as if +they were from some unfamiliar foreign tongue, "I am to do what you +say." + +She bent wearily down, her head buried within her hands. For a moment +Winston stood hesitating, scarcely daring to leave her. But she did +not move, and finally he turned away, walking directly toward that +indistinct figure standing beside the cabin door. As he drew closer he +recognized the old miner, his rifle half-raised in suspicion of his +visitor. It must be done, and the engineer went at his task directly. + +"Has Brown come back?" + +"Shore; he 's in thar now," and Hicks peered cautiously into the face +of his questioner, even while pointing back into the dark cabin. "He +come in a while ago; never said no word ter me, but just pushed past in +thar ter the bed, an' kneeled down with his face in the bed-clothes. +He ain't moved ner spoke since. I went in onct, an' tried ter talk ter +him, but he never so much as stirred, er looked at me. I tell yer, Mr. +Winston, it just don't seem nat'ral; 't ain't a bit like Stutter fer +ter act in that way. I just could n't stand it no longer, an' had ter +git out yere into the open air. Damn, but it makes me sick." + +"This has been a terrible night," the younger man said gravely, laying +his hand upon the other's shoulder. "I hope never to pass through such +another. But we are not done with it yet. Hicks, Farnham has been +killed--shot. His body lies over yonder in that little cove, just +beyond the trail. You will have to attend to it, for I am going to get +his wife away from here at once." + +"You are what?" + +"I am going to take Miss Norvell away--now, to-night. I am going to +take her across to Daggett Station, to catch the east-bound train." + +Hicks stared at him open-eyed, the full meaning of all this coming to +his mind by degrees. + +"Good God! Do yer think she did it?" he questioned incredulously. + +Winston shook him, his teeth grinding together savagely. + +"Damn you! it makes no difference what I think!" he exclaimed fiercely, +his nerves throbbing. "All you need to know is that she is going; +going to-night; going to Daggett Station, to Denver, to wherever she +will be beyond danger of ever being found. You understand that? She +'s going with me, and you are going to help us, and you are going to do +your part without asking any more fool questions." + +"What is it you want?" + +"Your horse, and the pony Mercedes was riding." + +Hicks uttered a rasping oath, that seemed to catch, growling, in his +lean throat. + +"But, see yere, Winston," he protested warmly. "Just look at the shape +your goin' now will leave us in yere at the 'Little Yankee.' We need +yer testimony, an' need it bad." + +Winston struck his hand against the log, as slight vent to his feelings. + +"Hicks, I never supposed you were a fool. You know better than that, +if you will only stop and think. This claim matter is settled already. +The whole trouble originated with Farnham, and he is dead. Tomorrow +you 'll bury him. The sheriff is here, and he's already beginning to +understand this affair. He stands to help you. Now, all you 've got +to do is to swear out warrants for Farnham's partners, and show up in +evidence that tunnel running along your lead. It's simple as A B C, +now that you know it's there. They can't beat you, and you don't +require a word of testimony from me. But that poor girl needs +me,--she's almost crazed by this thing,--and I 'm going with her, if I +have to fight my way out from here with a rifle. That's the whole of +it--either you give me those horses, or I 'll take them." + +Old Hicks looked into the grim face fronting him so threateningly, the +complete situation slowly revealing itself to his mind. + +"Great Guns!" he said at last, almost apologetically. "Yer need n't do +nothin' like that. Lord, no! I like yer first rate, an' I like the +girl. Yer bet I do, an' I 'm damn glad that Farnham 's knocked out. +Shore, I 'll help the both o' yer. I reckon Stutter 'd be no good as a +guide ter-night, but I kin show yer the way down the ravine. The rest +is just ridin'. Yer kin leave them hosses with the section-boss at +Daggett till I come fer 'em." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +ACROSS THE DESERT TO THE END + +Never in the after years could Winston clearly recall the incidents of +that night's ride across the sand waste. The haze which shrouded his +brain would never wholly lift. Except for a few detached details the +surroundings of that journey remained vague, clouded, indistinct. He +remembered the great, burning desert; the stars gleaming down above +them like many eyes; the ponderous, ragged edge of cloud in the west; +the irregular, castellated range of hills at their back; the dull +expanse of plain ever stretching away in front, with no boundary other +than that southern sky. The weird, ghostly shadows of cactus and +Spanish bayonet were everywhere; strange, eerie noises were borne to +them out of the void--the distant cries of prowling wolves, the +mournful sough of the night wind, the lonely hoot of some far-off owl. +Nothing greeted the roving eyes but desolation,--a desolation utter and +complete, a mere waste of tumbled sand, by daylight whitened here and +there by irregular patches of alkali, but under the brooding night +shadows lying brown, dull, forlorn beyond all expression, a trackless, +deserted ocean of mystery, oppressive in its drear sombreness. + +He rode straight south, seeking no trail, but guiding their course by +the stars, his right hand firmly grasping the pony's bit, and +continually urging his own mount to faster pace. The one thought +dominating his mind was the urgent necessity for haste--a savage +determination to intercept that early train eastward. Beyond this +single idea his brain seemed in hopeless turmoil, seemed failing him. +Any delay meant danger, discovery, the placing of her very life in +peril. He could grasp that; he could plan, guide, act in every way the +part of a man under its inspiration, but all else appeared chaos. The +future?--there was no future; there never again could be. The chasm of +a thousand years had suddenly yawned between him and this woman. It +made his head reel merely to gaze down into those awful depths. It +could not be bridged; no sacrifice, no compensation might ever undo +that fatal death-shot. He did not blame her, he did not question her +justification, but he understood--together they faced the inevitable. +There was no escape, no clearing of the record. There was nothing left +him to do except this, this riding through the night--absolutely +nothing. Once he had guided her into safety all was done,--done +forever; there remained to him no other hope, ambition, purpose, in all +this world. The desert about them typified that forthcoming +existence--barren, devoid of life, dull, and dead. He set his teeth +savagely to keep back the moan of despair that rose to his lips, half +lifting himself in the stirrups to glance back toward her. + +If she perceived anything there was not the slightest reflection of it +within her eyes. Lustreless, undeviating, they were staring directly +ahead into the gloom, her face white and almost devoid of expression. +The sight of it turned him cold and sick, his unoccupied hand gripping +the saddle-pommel as though he would crush the leather. Yet he did not +speak, for there was nothing to say. Between these two was a fact, +grim, awful, unchangeable. Fronting it, words were meaningless, +pitiable. + +He had never before known that she could ride, but he knew it now. His +eye noted the security of her seat in the saddle, the easy swaying of +her slender form to the motion of the pony, in apparent unconsciousness +of the hard travelling or the rapidity of their progress. She had +drawn back the long tresses of her hair and fastened them in place by +some process of mystery, so that now her face was revealed unshadowed, +clearly defined in the starlight. Dazed, expressionless, as it +appeared, looking strangely deathlike in that faint radiance, he loved +it, his moistened eyes fondly tracing every exposed lineament. God! +but this fair woman was all the world to him! In spite of everything, +his heart went forth to her unchanged. It was Fate, not lack of love +or loyalty, that now set them apart, that had made of their future a +path of bitterness. In his groping mind he rebelled against it, vainly +searching for some way out, urging blindly that love could even blot +out this thing in time, could erase the crime, leaving them as though +it had never been. Yet he knew better. Once she spoke out of the +haunting silence, her voice sounding strange, her eyes still fixed in +that same vacant stare ahead into the gloom. + +"Isn't this Mercedes' pony? I--I thought she rode away on him herself?" + +With the words the recollection recurred to him that she did not yet +know about that other tragedy. It was a hard task, but he met it +bravely. Quietly as he might, he told the sad story in so far as he +understood it--the love, the sacrifice, the suffering. As she listened +her head drooped ever lower, and he saw the glitter of tears falling +unchecked. He was glad she could cry; it was better than that dull, +dead stare. As he made an end, picturing the sorrowing Stutter +kneeling in his silent watch at the bedside, she looked gravely across +to him, the moisture clinging to the long lashes. + +"It was better so--far better. I know how she felt, for she has told +me. God was merciful to her;" the soft voice broke into a sob; "for +me, there is no mercy." + +"Beth, don't say that! Little woman, don't say that! The future is +long; it may yet lead to happiness. A true love can outlast even the +memory of this night." + +She shook her head wearily, sinking back into the saddle. + +"Yes," she said soberly, "love may, and I believe will, outlast all. +It is immortal. But even love cannot change the deed; nothing ever +can, nothing--no power of God or man." + +He did not attempt to answer, knowing in the depths of his own heart +that her words were true. For an instant she continued gazing at him, +as though trustful he might speak, might chance to utter some word of +hope that had not come to her. Then the uplifted head drooped wearily, +the searching eyes turning away to stare once again straight ahead. +His very silence was acknowledgment of the truth, the utter +hopelessness of the future. Although living, there lay between them +the gulf of death. + +Gray, misty, and silent came the dawn, stealing across the wide +desolation like some ghostly presence--the dawn of a day which held for +these two nothing except despair. They greeted its slow coming with +dulled, wearied eyes, unwelcoming. Drearier amid that weird twilight +than in the concealing darkness stretched the desolate waste of +encircling sand, its hideous loneliness rendered more apparent, its +scars of alkali disfiguring the distance, its gaunt cacti looking +deformed and merciless. The horses moved forward beneath the constant +urging of the spur, worn from fatigue, their heads drooping, their +flanks wet, their dragging hoofs ploughing the sand. The woman never +changed her posture, never seemed to realize the approach of dawn; but +Winston roused up, lifting his head to gaze wearily forward. Beneath +the gray, out-spreading curtain of light he saw before them the dingy +red of a small section-house, with a huge, rusty water-tank outlined +against the sky. Lower down a little section of vividly green grass +seemed fenced about by a narrow stream of running water. At first +glimpse he deemed it a mirage, and rubbed his half-blinded eyes to make +sure. Then he knew they had ridden straight through the night, and +that this was Daggett Station. + +He helped her down from the saddle without a word, without the exchange +of a glance, steadying her gently as she stood trembling, and finally +half carried her in his arms across the little platform to the rest of +a rude bench. The horses he turned loose to seek their own pasturage +and water, and then came back, uncertain, filled with vague misgiving, +to where she sat, staring wide-eyed out into the desolation of sand. +He brought with him a tin cup filled with water, and placed it in her +hand. She drank it down thirstily. + +"Thank you," she said, her voice sounding more natural. + +"Is there nothing else, Beth? Could you eat anything?" + +"No, nothing. I am just tired--oh, so tired in both body and brain. +Let me sit here in quiet until the train comes. Will that be long?" + +He pointed far off toward the westward, along those parallel rails now +beginning to gleam in the rays of the sun. On the outer rim of the +desert a black spiral of smoke was curling into the horizon. + +"It is coming now; we had but little time to spare." + +"Is that a fast train? Are you certain it will stop here?" + +"To both questions, yes," he replied, relieved to see her exhibit some +returning interest. "They all stop here for water; it is a long run +from this place to Bolton Junction." + +She said nothing in reply, her gaze far down the track where those +spirals of smoke were constantly becoming more plainly visible. In the +increasing light of the morning he could observe how the long night had +marked her face with new lines of weariness, had brought to it new +shadows of care. It was not alone the dulled, lustreless eyes, but +also those hollows under them, and the drawn lips, all combining to +tell the story of physical fatigue, and a heart-sickness well-nigh +unendurable. Unable to bear the sight, Winston turned away, walking to +the end of the short platform, staring off objectless into the grim +desert, fighting manfully in an effort to conquer himself. This was a +struggle, a remorseless struggle, for both of them; he must do nothing, +say nothing, which should weaken her, or add an ounce to her burden. +He came back again, his lips firmly closed in repression. + +"Our train is nearly here," he said in lack of something better with +which to break the constrained silence. + +She glanced about doubtfully, first toward the yet distant train, then +up into his face. + +"When is the local east due here? Do you know?" + +"Probably an hour later than the express. At least, I judge so from +the time of its arrival at Bolton," he responded, surprised at the +question. "Why do you ask?" + +She did not smile, or stir, except to lean slightly forward, her eyes +falling from his face to the platform. + +"Would--would it be too much if I were to ask you to permit me to take +this first train alone?" she asked, her voice faltering, her hands +trembling where they were clasped in her lap. + +His first bewildered surprise precluded speech; he could only look at +her in stupefied amazement. Then something within her lowered face +touched him with pity. + +"Beth," he exclaimed, hardly aware of the words used, "do you mean +that? Is it your wish that we part here? + +"Oh, no, not that!" and she rose hastily, holding to the back of the +bench with one hand, and extending the other. "Do not put it in that +way. Such an act would be cruel, unwarranted. But I am so tired, so +completely broken down. It has seemed all night long as though my +brain were on fire; every step of the horse has been torture. Oh, I +want so to be alone--alone! I want to think this out; I want to face +it all by myself. Merciful God! it seems to me I shall be driven +insane unless I can be alone, unless I can find a way into some peace +of soul. Do not blame me; do not look at me like that, but be +merciful--if you still love me, let me be alone." + +He grasped the extended hand, bending low over it, unwilling in that +instant that she should look upon his face. Again and again he pressed +his dry lips upon the soft flesh. + +"I do love you, Beth," he said at last, chokingly, "love you always, in +spite of everything. I will do now as you say. Your train is already +here. You know my address in Denver. Don't make this forever, +Beth--don't do that." + +She did not answer him; her lips quivered, her eyes meeting his for a +single instant. In their depths he believed he read the answer of her +heart, and endeavored to be content. As the great overland train +paused for a moment to quench its thirst, the porter of the Pullman, +who, to his surprise, had been called to place his carpeted step on the +platform of this desert station, gazed in undisguised amazement at +those two figures before him--a man bareheaded, his clothing tattered +and disreputable, half supporting a woman who was hatless, white-faced, +and trembling like a frightened child. + +"Yas, sah; whole section vacant, sah, Numbah Five. Denvah; yas, sah, +suttinly. Oh, I'll look after de lady all right. You ain't a-goin' +'long wid us, den, dis trip? Oh, yas; thank ye, sah. Sure, I'll see +dat she gits dere, don't you worry none 'bout dat." + +Winston walked restlessly down the platform, gazing up at the +car-windows, every ounce of his mustered resolve necessary to hold him +outwardly calm. The curtains were many of them closed, but at last he +distinguished her, leaning against the glass, that same dull, listless +look in her eyes as she stared out blindly across the waste of sand. +As the train started he touched the window, and she turned and saw him. +There was a single moment when life came flashing back into her eyes, +when he believed her lips even smiled at him. Then he was alone, +gazing down the track after the fast disappearing train. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE SUMMIT OF SUCCESS + +There followed three years of silence, three years of waiting for that +message which never came. As though she had dropped into an ocean of +oblivion, Beth Norvell disappeared. Winston had no longer the +slightest hope that a word from her would ever come, and there were +times when he wondered if it was not better so--if, after all, she had +not chosen rightly. Love untarnished lived in his heart; yet, as she +had told him out in the desert, love could never change the deed. That +remained--black, grim, unblotted, the unalterable death stain. Why, +then, should they meet? Why seek even to know of each other? Close +together, or far apart, there yawned a bottomless gulf between. +Silence was better; silence, and the mercy of partial forgetfulness. + +Winston had toiled hard during those years, partly from a natural +liking, partly to forget his heartaches. Feverishly he had taken up +the tasks confronting him, sinking self in the thought of other things. +Such work had conquered success, for he did his part in subjecting +nature to man, thus winning a reputation already ranking him high among +the mining experts of the West. His had become a name to conjure with +in the mountains and mining camps. During the long months he had hoped +fiercely. Yet he had made no endeavor to seek her out, or to uncover +her secret. Deep within his heart lay a respect for her choice, and he +would have held it almost a crime to invade the privacy that her +continued silence had created. So he resolutely locked the secret +within his own soul, becoming more quiet in manner, more reserved in +speech, with every long month of waiting, constantly striving to forget +the past amid a multitude of business and professional cares. + +It was at the close of a winter's day in Chicago. Snow clouds were +scurrying in from over the dun-colored waters of the lake, bringing +with them an early twilight. Already myriads of lights were twinkling +in the high office buildings, and showing brilliant above the smooth +asphalt of Michigan Avenue. The endless stream of vehicles homeward +bound began to thicken, the broad highway became a scene of continuous +motion and display. After hastily consulting the ponderous pages of a +city directory in an adjacent drug store, a young man, attired in dark +business suit, his broad shoulders those of an athlete, his face +strongly marked and full of character, and bronzed even at this season +by out-of-door living, hurried across the street and entered the busy +doorway of the Railway Exchange Building. On the seventh floor he +unceremoniously flung open a door bearing the number sought, and +stepped within to confront the office boy, who as instantly frowned his +disapproval. + +"Office hours over," the latter announced shortly. "Just shuttin' up." + +"I am not here on business, my lad," was the good-natured reply, "but +in the hope of catching Mr. Craig before he got away." + +The boy, still somewhat doubtful, jerked his hand back across his +shoulder toward an inner apartment. + +"Well, his nibs is in there, but he 's just a-goin'." + +The visitor swung aside the gate and entered. The man within, engaged +in closing down his roll-top desk for the day, wheeled about in his +chair, quite evidently annoyed by so late a caller. An instant he +looked at the face, partially shadowed in the dim light, then sprang to +his feet, both hands cordially extended. + +"Ned Winston, by all the gods!" he exclaimed, his voice full of +heartiness. "Say, but I 'm glad to see you, old man. Supposed it was +some bore wanting to talk business, and this happens to be my busy +night. By Jove, thought I never was going to break away from this +confounded desk--always like that when a fellow has a date. How are +you, anyhow? Looking fine as a fiddle. In shape to kick the pigskin +at this minute, I 'll bet a hundred. Denver yet, I suppose? Must be a +great climate out there, if you 're a specimen. Must like it, anyhow; +why, you 've simply buried yourself in the mountains. Some of the old +fellows were in here talking about it the other day. Have n't been +East before for a couple of years, have you, Ned?" + +"Considerably over three, Bob, and only on urgent business now. Have +been hard at it all day, but thought I would take a chance at finding +you in, even at this hour. Knew your natural inclination to grind, you +know. I take a train for the West at midnight." + +"Well, I rather guess not," and Craig picked up his hat from the top of +the desk. "Do you imagine I 'll let go of you that easily, now that +you are here? Well, hardly. You 've got to give up that excursion for +one night at least, even if I 'm compelled to get you jugged in order +to hold you safe. I can do it, too; I have a pull with the police +department. My automobile fines are making them rich." + +"But you just mentioned having an engagement, or rather a date, which I +suppose means the same thing." + +Craig smiled indulgently, his dark eyes filled with humor. + +"That's exactly the ticket. Glad to see you keep up with the slang of +the day; proof you live in the real world, possess a normal mind, and +feel an interest in current events. Altogether most commendable. That +engagement of mine happens to be the very thing I want you for. Most +glorious event in our family history, at least within my remembrance. +My birth probably transcended even this in importance, but the details +are not clear. You will add _eclat_ to the occasion. By Jove, it will +be immense; paterfamilias and mater-ditto will welcome you with open +arms. They often speak of you; 'pon my word they do, and I don't know +of another fellow anywhere they 'd rather have join in our little +family celebration. Oh, this is a great night for Old Ireland. Stay? +Why, confound it, of course you 'll stay!" + +"But see here, Bob, at least give me the straight of all this. What 's +happening? What is it you are stacking me up against?" + +"Box party at the Grand. Here, have a cigar. Just a family affair, +you know. First night; certain to be a swell crowd there; everything +sold out in advance. Supper afterwards, private dining-room at the +Annex--just ourselves; no guests, except only the Star and her manager." + +"The Star? I never heard that you people went in for theatricals?" + +"Lord! they never did; but they 've experienced a change of heart. You +see, Lizzie took to it like a duck to water--she was the baby, the kid, +you know--and, by thunder, the little girl made good. She 's got 'em +coming and going, and the pater is so proud of her he wears a smile on +him that won't come off. It 's simply great just to see him beau her +around downtown, shedding real money at every step. Nothing is too +good for Lizzie just now." + +"And she is the Star?" + +"Sure, and the lassie is going to have an ovation, unless all signs +fail. Society has got a hunch, and that means a gorgeous turnout. The +horse-show will be a back number. Lord, man, you can't afford to miss +it! Why, you 'd never see anything like it in Denver in a thousand +years." + +Winston laughed, unable to resist entirely the contagious enthusiasm of +his friend. + +"You certainly make a strong bid, Bob; but really if I did remain +overnight I 'd much prefer putting in the hours talking over old times. +With all due respect to your sister, old boy, I confess I have n't very +much heart for the stage. I 've grown away from it; have n't even +looked into a playhouse for years." + +"Thought as much; clear over the head in business. Big mistake at your +age. A night such as Lizzie can give you will be a revelation. Say, +Ned, that girl is an actress. I don't say it because she 's my sister, +but she actually is; they 're all raving over her, even the critics. +That's one reason why I want you to stay. I 'm blame proud of my +little sister." + +"But I have n't my evening dress within a thousand miles of here." + +"What of that? I have no time now to run out to the house and get into +mine. I 'm no lightning change artist. Lizzie won't care; she 's got +good sense, and the others can go hang. Come on, Ned; we 'll run over +to the Chicago Club and have a bite, then a smoke and chat about Alma +Mater; after that, the Grand." + + * * * * * * + +The great opera house was densely crowded from pit to dome, the boxes +and parquet brilliant with color and fashion, the numberless tiers of +seats rising above, black with packed, expectant humanity. Before +eight o'clock late comers had been confronted in the lobby with the +"Standing Room Only" announcement; and now even this had been turned to +the wall, while the man at the ticket window shook his head to +disappointed inquirers. And that was an audience to be remembered, to +be held notable, to be editorially commented upon by the press the next +morning. + +There was reason for it. A child of Chicago, daughter in a family of +standing and exclusiveness, after winning notable successes in San +Francisco, in London, in New York, had, at last, consented to return +home, and appear for the first time in her native city. Endowed with +rare gifts of interpretation, earnest, sincere, forceful, loving her +work fervently, possessing an attractive presence and natural capacity +for study, she had long since won the appreciation of the critics and +the warm admiration of those who care for the highest in dramatic art. +The reward was assured. Already her home-coming had been heralded +broadcast as an event of consequence to the great city. Her name was +upon the lips of the multitude, and upon the hearts of those who really +care for such things, the devotees of art, of high endeavor, of a stage +worthy the traditions of its past. And in her case, in addition to all +these helpful elements, Society grew suddenly interested and +enthralled. The actress became a fashion, a fad, about which revolved +the courtier and the butterfly. Once, it was remembered, she had been +one of them, one of their own set, and out of the depths of their +little pool they rose clamorously to the surface, imagining, as ever, +that they were the rightful leaders of it all. Thus it came about, +that first night--the stage brilliant, the house a dense mass of mad +enthusiasts, jewelled heads nodding from boxes to parquet in +recognition of friends, opera glasses insolently staring, voices +humming in ceaseless conversation, and, over all, the frantic efforts +of the orchestra to attract attention to itself amid the glitter and +display. + +Utterly indifferent to all of it, Ned Winston leaned his elbow on the +brass rail of the first box, and gazed idly about over that sea of +unknown faces. He would have much preferred not being there. To him, +the theatre served merely as a stimulant to unpleasant memory. It was +in this atmosphere that the ghost walked, and those hidden things of +life came back to mock him. He might forget, sometimes, bending above +his desk, or struggling against the perplexing problems of his +profession in the field, but not here; not in the glare of the +footlights, amid the hum of the crowd. He crushed the unread programme +within his hand, striving to converse carelessly with the lady sitting +next to him, whom he was expected to entertain. But his thoughts were +afar off, his eyes seeing a gray, misty, silent expanse of desert, +growing constantly clearer in its hideous desolation before the +advancing dawn. + +The vast steel curtain arose with apparent reluctance to the top of the +proscenium arch, the chatter of voices ceased, somewhat permitting the +struggling orchestra to make itself felt and heard. Winston shut his +teeth, and waited uneasily, the hand upon the rail clenched. Even more +than he had ever expected, awakened memory tortured. He would have +gone out into the solitude of the street, except for the certainty of +disturbing others. The accompanying music became faster as the inner +curtain slowly rose, revealing the great stage set for the first act. +He looked at it carelessly, indifferently, his thoughts elsewhere, yet +dimly conscious of the sudden hush all about him, the leaning forward +of figures intent upon catching the opening words. The scene portrayed +was that of a picturesque Swiss mountain village. It was brilliant in +coloring, and superbly staged. For a moment the scenery; with great +snow-capped peaks for background, caught his attention. If was +realistic, beautifully faithful to nature, and he felt his heart throb +with sudden longing to be home, to be once more in the shadow of the +Rockies. But the actors did not interest him, and his thoughts again +drifted far afield. + +The act was nearly half finished before the Star made her appearance. +Suddenly the door of the chalet opened, and a young woman emerged, +attired in peasant costume, carelessly swinging a hat in her hand, her +bright face smiling, her slender figure perfectly poised. She advanced +to the very centre of the wide stage. The myriad of lights rippled +over her, revealing the deep brown of her abundant hair, the dark, +earnest eyes, the sweet winsomeness of expression. This was the moment +for which that vast audience had been waiting. Like an instantaneous +explosion of artillery came the thunder of applause. Her first +attempted speech lost in that outburst of acclaim, the actress stood +before them bowing and smiling, the red blood surging into her unrouged +cheeks, her dark eyes flashing like two diamonds. Again and again the +house rose to her, the noise of greeting was deafening, and a perfect +avalanche of flowers covered the stage. From boxes, from parquet, from +crowded balcony, from top-most gallery the enthusiastic outburst came, +spontaneous, ever growing in volume of sound, apparently never ending. +She looked out upon them almost appealingly, her hands outstretched in +greeting, her eyes filling with tears. Slowly, as if drawn toward them +by some impulse of gratitude, she came down to the footlights, and +stood there bowing to left and right, the deep swelling of her bosom +evidencing her agitation. + +As though some sudden remembrance had occurred to her in the midst of +that turmoil, of what all this must mean to others, to those of her own +blood, she turned to glance lovingly toward that box in which they sat. +Instantly she went white, her hands pressing her breast, her round +throat swelling as though the effort of breathing choked her. Possibly +out in front they thought it acting, perhaps a sudden nervous collapse, +for as she half reeled backward to the support of a bench, the clamor +died away into dull murmur. Almost with the ceasing of tumult she was +upon her feet again, her lips still white, her face drawn as if in +pain. Before the startled audience could awaken and realize the truth, +she had commenced the speaking of her lines, forcing them into silence, +into a hushed and breathless expectancy. + +Winston sat leaning forward, his hand gripping the rail, staring at +her. But for that one slender figure the entire stage before him was a +blank. Suddenly he caught Craig by the arm. + +"Who is that?" he questioned, sharply. "The one in the costume of a +peasant girl?" + +"Who is it? Are you crazy? Why, that 's Lizzie; read your programme, +man. She must have had a faint spell just now. By Jove, I thought for +a moment she was going to flop. You 're looking pretty white about the +lips yourself, ain't sick, are you?" + +He shook his head, sinking back into his seat. Hastily he opened the +pages of the crushed programme, his hand shaking so he was scarcely +able to decipher the printed lines. Ah! there it was in black-faced +type: "Renee la Roux--_Miss Beth Norvell_." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE MISSION OF A LETTER + +All through the remainder of the play he sat as one stunned, scarcely +removing his eyes from the glittering stage, yet seeing nothing there +excepting her. He could not later have recalled a single scene. +Between the acts he conversed rationally enough with those about him, +congratulating her people upon the brilliant success of the evening, +and warmly commending the work of the Star. Yet this was all +mechanical, automatic, his mind scarcely realizing its own action. + +She never glanced in that direction again; during all the four acts not +once did she permit her eyes to rest upon their box. The others may +not have noticed the omission, but he did, his interpretation of the +action becoming a pain. It served to strengthen the resolve which was +taking possession of him. He noticed, also, that she played +feverishly, vehemently, not with that quiet restraint, that promise of +reserve power, always so noticeable in the old days. It caused him to +realize that she was working upon her nerves, holding herself up to the +strain by the sheer strength of will. The papers the next day +commented upon this, hinting at nervousness, at exhilaration consequent +upon so notable a greeting. But Winston knew the cause better--he knew +the spectre which had so suddenly risen before her, turning her white +and frightened at the very moment of supreme triumph. There, in front +of them all, under the full glare of the lights, herself the very focus +of thousands of eyes, she had been compelled to fight down her heart, +and win a victory greater than that of the actress. In that instant +she had conquered herself, had trodden, smiling and confident, over the +awakened memories of the past. + +After the curtain had fallen--fallen and lifted, again and again, to +permit of her standing in the glare, smiling happily, and kissing her +hands toward the enthusiastic multitude--he passed out with the others, +still partially dazed, his mind remaining undecided, irresolute. With +the cool night air fanning his cheeks as their car rolled southward, +clearer consciousness came back, bringing with it firmer resolve. She +had not wanted him; in all those years there had not come from her a +single word. Now, on this night of her triumph, in the midst of family +rejoicing, he had no part. It had all been a mistake, a most unhappy +mistake, yet he would do now everything in his power to remedy it. His +further presence should not be allowed to detract from her happiness, +should not continue to embarrass her. The past between them was dead; +undoubtedly she wished it dead. Very well, then, he would help her to +bury it, now and forever. Not through any neglect on his part should +that past ever again rise up to haunt her in the hour of success. She +had discovered her ideal, she had attained to the height of her +ambition. She should be left to enjoy the victory undisturbed. Within +the hotel rotunda, under the multicolored lights, he halted Craig, +hurrying forward to a conference with the steward. + +"I am awfully sorry, old man," he explained apologetically, "but the +fact is, I do not feel well enough to remain down here to the spread. +Nothing serious, you know--indigestion or something like that. I 'll +run up to my room and lie down for a while; if I feel better I may +wander in later." + +Craig looked concerned. + +"Thought you were mighty white about the gills all the evening, +Ned--the lobster salad, likely. I hate letting you go, awfully; upon +my word, I do. I wanted Lizzie to meet you; she 's always heard me +singing your praises, and your not being there will prove quite a +disappointment to her. But Lord! if you 're sick, why, of course, +there's no help for it. Come down later, if you can, and I 'll run up +there as soon as I can break away from the bunch. Sure you don't need +the house physician?" + +"Perfectly sure; all I require is rest and a bit of sleep. Been +working too hard, and am dead tired." + +He sank down within the great arm-chair in the silence of his own room, +not even taking trouble to turn on the lights; mechanically lit a +cigar, and sat staring out of the window. Before him the black, +threatening cloud-shadows hung over the dark water of the lake; far +below resounded the ceaseless clatter of hoofs along the fashionable +avenue. He neither saw nor heard. Over and over again he reviewed the +past, bringing back to memory each word and glance which had ever, +passed between them. He was again with the "Heart of the World" +strollers, he was struggling with Burke in the depths of the mine, he +was passing through that day and night of misfortune on the ridge +overlooking Echo Canyon, he was riding for life--her life--across the +trackless desert. It all came before him in unnatural vividness, +seemingly as though each separate scene had been painted across that +black sky without. Then he perceived the great playhouse he had just +left, the glorious glitter of lights, the reverberation of applause, +the cheering mob of men and women, and her--her bowing and smiling at +them, her dark eyes dancing with happiness and ignoring him utterly, +her whole body trembling to the intoxication of success. Oh, it was +all over; even if there had been no gulf of death between them, it was +all over. She had deliberately chosen to forget, under the inspiration +of her art she had forgotten. It had usurped her thought, her +ambition, her every energy. She had won her way through the throng, +yet the very struggle of such winning had sufficed to crowd him out +from memory had left the past as barren as was the desert amid the +dreariness of which they had parted. He set his teeth hard, striking +his clenched fist against the cushioned arm of the chair. Then he sat +silent, his cigar extinguished. Once he glanced at his watch, but +already the hour was too late for any hope of catching the west-bound +train, and he dropped it back in his pocket, and sat motionless. +Suddenly some one rapped upon the outside door. It would be Craig, +probably, and he called out a regretful "Come in." A bell-boy stood +there, his buttoned-up figure silhouetted against the lights in the +hall. + +"Lady in Parlor D asked me to hand you this, sir," the boy said. + +He accepted the slight bit of paper, scarcely comprehending what it +could all mean, turned on an electric bulb over the dresser, and looked +at it. A single line of delicate writing confronted him, so faint that +he was compelled to bend closer to decipher: "_If you are waiting my +word, I send it._" + +He caught at the dresser-top as though some one had struck him, staring +down at the card in his hand, and then around the silent room, his +breath grown rapid. At first the words were almost meaningless; then +the blood came surging up into his face, and he walked toward the door. +There he paused, his hand already upon the knob. What use? What use? +Why should he seek her, even although she bade him come? She might no +longer care, but he did; to her such a meeting might be only a mere +incident, an experience to be lightly talked over, but to him such an +interview could only prove continual torture. But no! The thought +wronged her; such an action would not be possible to Beth Norvell. If +she despatched this message it had been done honestly, done graciously. +He would show himself a craven if he failed to face whatever awaited +him below. With tightly compressed lips, he closed the door, and +walked to the elevator. + +She stood waiting him alone, slightly within the parlor door, her +cheeks flushed, her red lips parted in an attempt to smile. With a +single glance he saw her as of old, supremely happy, her dark eyes +clear, her slender form swaying slightly toward him as if in welcome. +For an instant their gaze met, his full of uncertainty, hers of +confidence; then she stretched out to him her two ungloved hands. + +"You gave me a terrible scare to-night," she said, endeavoring to speak +lightly, "and then, to make matters worse, you ran away. It was not +like you to do that." + +"I could not bring myself to mar the further happiness of your night," +he explained, feeling the words choke in his throat as he uttered them. +"My being present at the Opera House was all a mistake; I did not dream +it was you until too late. But the supper was another thing." + +She looked intently at him, her expression clearly denoting surprise. + +"I really cannot believe you to be as indifferent as you strive to +appear," she said at last, her breath quickening. "One does not forget +entirely in three short years, and I--I caught that one glimpse of you +in the box. It was that--that look upon your face which gave me +courage to send my card to your room." She paused, dropping her eyes +to the carpet, her fingers nervously playing with the trimming of her +waist. "It may, perhaps, sound strange, yet in spite of my exhibit of +feeling at first discovering your presence, I had faith all day that +you would come." + +"Is it possible you mean that you wished me there?" + +"Quite possible; only it would have been ever so much better had I +known before. It actually seemed when I saw your face to-night as if +God had brought you--it was like a miracle. Do you know why? Because, +for the first time in three years, I can welcome you with all my heart." + +"Beth, Beth," utterly forgetting everything but the mystery of her +words, his gray eyes darkening from eagerness, "what is it you mean? +For God's sake tell me! These years have been centuries; through them +all I have been waiting your word." + +She drew in her breath sharply, reaching out one hand to grasp the back +of a chair. + +"It--it could not be spoken," she said, her voice faltering. "Not +until to-day was it possible for me to break the silence." + +"And now--to-day?" + +She smiled suddenly up at him, her eyes filled with promise. + +"God has been good," she whispered, drawing from within the lace of her +waist a crumpled envelope,--"oh, so good, even when I doubted Him. +See, I have kept this hidden there every moment since it first came, +even on the stage in my changes of costume. I dared not part with it +for a single instant--it was far too precious." She sank back upon the +chair, holding out toward him the paper. "Read that yourself, if my +tears have not made the lines illegible." + +He took it from her, his hands trembling, and drew forth the enclosure, +a single sheet of rough yellow paper. Once he paused, glancing toward +where she sat, her face buried in her arms across the chair-back. Then +he smoothed out the wrinkles, and read slowly, studying over each +pencil-written, ill-spelled word, every crease and stain leaving an +impression upon his brain: + + +"SAN JUAN, COL., DEC. 12, 1904. + +"Deer Miss: I see your name agin in a Denver paper what Bill brought +out frum town ternight, an read thar that you wus goin ter play a piece +in Chicago. I aint seen yer name in ther papers afore fer a long time. +So I thot I 'd write yer a line, cause Bill thinks yer never got it +straight bout ther way Biff Farnham died. He ses thet you an Mister +Winston hes got ther whol affair all mixed up, an that maybe it's a +keepin ther two of yer sorter sore on each other. Now, I dont wanter +butt in none in yer affairs, an then agin it aint overly plisent fer me +to make a clean breast ov it this way on paper. Not that I 'm afeard, +er nothin, only it dont just look nice. No more do I want enything +whut I did ter be makin you fokes a heep o trouble. That aint my +style. I reckon I must a bin plum crazy whin I did it, fer I wus +mighty nigh that fer six months after--et least Bill ses so. But it +wus me all right whut killed Farnham. It wan't no murder es I see it, +tho I was huntin him all right, fer he saw me furst, an hed his gun +out, when I let drive. Enyhow, he got whut wus comin ter him, an I +aint got no regrets. We're a doin all right out yere now, me an +Bill--ther claim is payin big, but I never aint got over thinkin bout +Mercedes. I shore loved her, an I do yit. You was awful good to her, +an I reckon she 'd sorter want me to tell you jist how it wus. Hopin +this will clar up som ov them troubles between you an Mister Winston, I +am Yours with respects, + +"WILLIAM BROWN." + + +Winston stood there in silence, yet holding the paper in his hand. +Almost timidly she glanced up at him across the back of the chair. + +"And you have never suspected who I was until to-night?" + +"No, never; I had always thought of Bob's sister as a mere child." + +She arose to her feet, taking a single step toward him. + +"I can only ask you to forgive me," she pleaded anxiously, her eyes +uplifted. "That is all I can ask. I ought to be ashamed, I am +ashamed, that I could ever have believed it possible for you to commit +such a deed. It seems incredible now that I have so believed. Yet how +could I escape such conviction? I heard the voices, the shot, and then +a man rushed past me through the darkness. Some rash impulse, a desire +to aid, sent me hastily forward. Scarcely had I bent over the dead +body, when some one came toward me from the very direction in which +that man had fled. I supposed he was coming back to make sure of his +work, and--and--it was you. Oh, I did not want to believe, but I had +to believe. You acted so strangely toward me, I accepted that as a +sign of guilt; it was a horror unspeakable." + +"You thought--you actually thought I did that?" he asked, hardly +trusting his own ears. + +"What else could I think? What else could I think?" + +This new conception stunned him, left him staring at her, utterly +unable to control his speech. Should he tell her? Should he confess +his own equally mad mistake? the reason why all these years had passed +without his seeking her? It would be useless; it would only add to her +pain, her sense of wounded pride. Silence now would be mercy. + +"Beth," he said, controlling his voice with an effort, "let us think of +all this as passed away forever. Let us not talk about it, let us not +think about it any more. You have reached the height which you set out +to gain; or, possibly you have not yet fully attained to your ideal, +yet you have travelled far toward it. Has it satisfied? Has it filled +the void in your life?" + +She returned his questioning look frankly. + +"Do you remember what I once said in a cabin out in Colorado?" + +"I think so; yet, to avoid mistake, repeat it now." + +"I told you I would give up gladly all ambition, all dreams of worldly +success, just to be alone with the man I loved, and bring him +happiness. To-night, as then, that is all I wish--everything." + +A moment neither moved nor spoke. + +"Beth," he whispered, as though half afraid even yet to put the +question, "am I all you wish--everything?" + +"Yes, everything--only you must wait, Ned. I belong still to the +public, and must play out my engagement. After that it shall be home, +and you." + +They stood there facing each other, the soft light from the shaded +globes overhead sparkling in her dark hair, her cheeks flushed, her +eyes smiling at him through a mist of tears. Unresisted, he drew her +to him. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETH NORVELL*** + + +******* This file should be named 17598.txt or 17598.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/5/9/17598 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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