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diff --git a/2560-h/2560-h.htm b/2560-h/2560-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b5fdce --- /dev/null +++ b/2560-h/2560-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8035 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Three Partners, by Bret Harte + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Three Partners, by Bret Harte + +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: The Three Partners + +Author: Bret Harte + +Release Date: May 18, 2006 [EBook #2560] +Last Updated: March 5, 2018 + + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THREE PARTNERS *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE THREE PARTNERS + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Bret Harte + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PROL"> <b>PROLOGUE.</b> </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PROL" id="link2H_PROL"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PROLOGUE. + </h2> + <p> + The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range. The red light it had + kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing + through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken + boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in + burnt-up paper. Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, + and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, + only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering + darkness. Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill + murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole + upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, + a complete silence followed. Only the sky remained visible—a vast + concave mirror of dull steel, in which the stars did not seem to be set, + but only reflected. + </p> + <p> + A single cabin door on the crest of Heavy Tree Hill had remained open to + the wind and darkness. Then it was slowly shut by an invisible figure, + afterwards revealed by the embers of the fire it was stirring. At first + only this figure brooding over the hearth was shown, but as the flames + leaped up, two other figures could be seen sitting motionless before it. + When the door was shut, they acknowledged that interruption by slightly + changing their position; the one who had risen to shut the door sank back + into an invisible seat, but the attitude of each man was one of profound + reflection or reserve, and apparently upon some common subject which made + them respect each other's silence. However, this was at last broken by a + laugh. It was a boyish laugh, and came from the youngest of the party. The + two others turned their profiles and glanced inquiringly towards him, but + did not speak. + </p> + <p> + “I was thinking,” he began in apologetic explanation, “how mighty queer it + was that while we were working like niggers on grub wages, without the + ghost of a chance of making a strike, how we used to sit here, night after + night, and flapdoodle and speculate about what we'd do if we ever DID make + one; and now, Great Scott! that we HAVE made it, and are just wallowing in + gold, here we are sitting as glum and silent as if we'd had a washout! + Why, Lord! I remember one night—not so long ago, either—that + you two quarreled over the swell hotel you were going to stop at in + 'Frisco, and whether you wouldn't strike straight out for London and Rome + and Paris, or go away to Japan and China and round by India and the Red + Sea.” + </p> + <p> + “No, we didn't QUARREL over it,” said one of the figures gently; “there + was only a little discussion.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but you did, though,” returned the young fellow mischievously, “and + you told Stacy, there, that we'd better learn something of the world + before we tried to buy it or even hire it, and that it was just as well to + get the hayseed out of our hair and the slumgullion off our boots before + we mixed in polite society.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I don't see what's the matter with that sentiment now,” returned + the second speaker good-humoredly; “only,” he added gravely, “we didn't + quarrel—God forbid!” + </p> + <p> + There was something in the speaker's tone which seemed to touch a common + chord in their natures, and this was voiced by Barker with sudden and + almost pathetic earnestness. “I tell you what, boys, we ought to swear + here to-night to always stand by each other—in luck and out of it! + We ought to hold ourselves always at each other's call. We ought to have a + kind of password or signal, you know, by which we could summon each other + at any time from any quarter of the globe!” + </p> + <p> + “Come off the roof, Barker,” murmured Stacy, without lifting his eyes from + the fire. But Demorest smiled and glanced tolerantly at the younger man. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but look here, Stacy,” continued Barker, “comrades like us, in the + old days, used to do that in times of trouble and adventures. Why + shouldn't we do it in our luck?” + </p> + <p> + “There's a good deal in that, Barker boy,” said Demorest, “though, as a + general thing, passwords butter no parsnips, and the ordinary, every-day, + single yelp from a wolf brings the whole pack together for business about + as quick as a password. But you cling to that sentiment, and put it away + with your gold-dust in your belt.” + </p> + <p> + “What I like about Barker is his commodiousness,” said Stacy. “Here he is, + the only man among us that has his future fixed and his preemption lines + laid out and registered. He's already got a girl that he's going to marry + and settle down with on the strength of his luck. And I'd like to know + what Kitty Carter, when she's Mrs. Barker, would say to her husband being + signaled for from Asia or Africa. I don't seem to see her tumbling to any + password. And when he and she go into a new partnership, I reckon she'll + let the old one slide.” + </p> + <p> + “That's just where you're wrong!” said Barker, with quickly rising color. + “She's the sweetest girl in the world, and she'd be sure to understand our + feelings. Why, she thinks everything of you two; she was just eager for + you to get this claim, which has put us where we are, when I held back, + and if it hadn't been for her, by Jove! we wouldn't have had it.” + </p> + <p> + “That was only because she cared for YOU,” returned Stacy, with a + half-yawn; “and now that you've got YOUR share she isn't going to take a + breathless interest in US. And, by the way, I'd rather YOU'D remind us + that we owe our luck to her than that SHE should ever remind YOU of it.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” said Barker quickly. But Demorest here rose lazily, + and, throwing a gigantic shadow on the wall, stood between the two with + his back to the fire. “He means,” he said slowly, “that you're talking + rot, and so is he. However, as yours comes from the heart and his from the + head, I prefer yours. But you're both making me tired. Let's have a fresh + deal.” + </p> + <p> + Nobody ever dreamed of contradicting Demorest. Nevertheless, Barker + persisted eagerly: “But isn't it better for us to look at this cheerfully + and happily all round? There's nothing criminal in our having made a + strike! It seems to me, boys, that of all ways of making money it's the + squarest and most level; nobody is the poorer for it; our luck brings no + misfortune to others. The gold was put there ages ago for anybody to find; + we found it. It hasn't been tarnished by man's touch before. I don't know + how it strikes you, boys, but it seems to me that of all gifts that are + going it is the straightest. For whether we deserve it or not, it comes to + us first-hand—from God!” + </p> + <p> + The two men glanced quickly at the speaker, whose face flushed and then + smiled embarrassedly as if ashamed of the enthusiasm into which he had + been betrayed. But Demorest did not smile, and Stacy's eyes shone in the + firelight as he said languidly, “I never heard that prospecting was a + religious occupation before. But I shouldn't wonder if you're right, + Barker boy. So let's liquor up.” + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless he did not move, nor did the others. The fire leaped higher, + bringing out the rude rafters and sternly economic details of the rough + cabin, and making the occupants in their seats before the fire look + gigantic by contrast. + </p> + <p> + “Who shut the door?” said Demorest after a pause. + </p> + <p> + “I did,” said Barker. “I reckoned it was getting cold.” + </p> + <p> + “Better open it again, now that the fire's blazing. It will light the way + if any of the men from below want to drop in this evening.” + </p> + <p> + Stacy stared at his companion. “I thought that it was understood that we + were giving them that dinner at Boomville tomorrow night, so that we might + have the last evening here by ourselves in peace and quietness?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but if any one DID want to come it would seem churlish to shut him + out,” said Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon you're feeling very much as I am,” said Stacy, “that this good + fortune is rather crowding to us three alone. For myself, I know,” he + continued, with a backward glance towards a blanketed, covered pile in the + corner of the cabin, “that I feel rather oppressed by—by its + specific gravity, I calculate—and sort of crampy and twitchy in the + legs, as if I ought to 'lite' out and do something, and yet it holds me + here. All the same, I doubt if anybody will come up—except from + curiosity. Our luck has made them rather sore down the hill, for all + they're coming to the dinner to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “That's only human nature,” said Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “But,” said Barker eagerly, “what does it mean? Why, only this afternoon, + when I was passing the 'Old Kentuck' tunnel, where those Marshalls have + been grubbing along for four years without making a single strike, I felt + ashamed to look at them, and as they barely nodded to me I slinked by as + if I had done them an injury. I don't understand it.” + </p> + <p> + “It somehow does not seem to square with this 'gift of God' idea of yours, + does it?” said Stacy. “But we'll open the door and give them a show.” + </p> + <p> + As he did so it seemed as if the night were their only guest, and had been + waiting on the threshold to now enter bodily and pervade all things with + its presence. With that cool, fragrant inflow of air they breathed freely. + The red edge had gone from Black Spur, but it was even more clearly + defined against the sky in its towering blackness. The sky itself had + grown lighter, although the stars still seemed mere reflections of the + solitary pin-points of light scattered along the concave valley below. + Mingling with the cooler, restful air of the summit, yet penetratingly + distinct from it, arose the stimulating breath of the pines below, still + hot and panting from the day-long sun. The silence was intense. The + far-off barking of a dog on the invisible river-bar nearly a mile beneath + them came to them like a sound in a dream. They had risen, and, standing + in the doorway, by common consent turned their faces to the east. It was + the frequent attitude of the home-remembering miner, and it gave him the + crowning glory of the view. For, beyond the pine-hearsed summits, rarely + seen except against the evening sky, lay a thin, white cloud like a + dropped portion of the Milky Way. Faint with an indescribable pallor, + remote yet distinct enough to assert itself above and beyond all + surrounding objects, it was always there. It was the snow-line of the + Sierras. + </p> + <p> + They turned away and silently reseated themselves, the same thought in the + minds of each. Here was something they could not take away, something to + be left forever and irretrievably behind,—left with the healthy life + they had been leading, the cheerful endeavor, the undying hopefulness + which it had fostered and blessed. Was what they WERE taking away worth + it? And oddly enough, frank and outspoken as they had always been to each + other, that common thought remained unuttered. Even Barker was silent; + perhaps he was also thinking of Kitty. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly two figures appeared in the very doorway of the cabin. The effect + was startling upon the partners, who had only just reseated themselves, + and for a moment they had forgotten that the narrow band of light which + shot forth from the open door rendered the darkness on either side of it + more impenetrable, and that out of this darkness, although themselves + guided by the light, the figures had just emerged. Yet one was familiar + enough. It was the Hill drunkard, Dick Hall, or, as he was called, + “Whiskey Dick,” or, indicated still more succinctly by the Hill humorists, + “Alky Hall.” + </p> + <p> + Everybody had seen that sodden, puffy, but good-humored face; everybody + had felt the fiery exhalations of that enormous red beard, which always + seemed to be kept in a state of moist, unkempt luxuriance by liquor; + everybody knew the absurd dignity of manner and attempted precision of + statement with which he was wont to disguise his frequent excesses. Very + few, however, knew, or cared to know, the pathetic weariness and chilling + horror that sometimes looked out of those bloodshot eyes. + </p> + <p> + He was evidently equally unprepared for the three silent seated figures + before the door, and for a moment looked at them blankly with the doubts + of a frequently deceived perception. Was he sure that they were quite + real? He had not dared to look at his companion for verification, but + smiled vaguely. + </p> + <p> + “Good-evening,” said Demorest pleasantly. + </p> + <p> + Whiskey Dick's face brightened. “Good-evenin', good-evenin' yourselves, + boys—and see how you like it! Lemme interdrush my ole frien' William + J. Steptoe, of Red Gulch. Stepsho—Steptoe—is shtay—ish + stay—” He stopped, hiccupped, waved his hand gravely, and with an + air of reproachful dignity concluded, “sojourning for the present on the + Bar. We wish to offer our congrashulashen and felish—felish—” + He paused again, and, leaning against the door-post, added severely, “—itations.” + </p> + <p> + His companion, however, laughed coarsely, and, pushing past Dick, entered + the cabin. He was a short, powerful man, with a closely cropped crust of + beard and hair that seemed to adhere to his round head like moss or + lichen. He cast a glance—furtive rather than curious around the + cabin, and said, with a familiarity that had not even good humor to excuse + it, “So you're the gay galoots who've made the big strike? Thought I'd + meander up the Hill with this old bloat Alky, and drop in to see the show. + And here you are, feeling your oats, eh? and not caring any particular G-d + d—n if school keeps or not.” + </p> + <p> + “Show Mr. Steptoe—the whiskey,” said Demorest to Stacy. Then quietly + addressing Dick, but ignoring Steptoe as completely as Steptoe had ignored + his unfortunate companion, he said, “You quite startled us at first. We + did not see you come up the trail.” + </p> + <p> + “No. We came up the back trail to please Steptoe, who wanted to see round + the cabin,” said Dick, glancing nervously yet with a forced indifference + towards the whiskey which Stacy was offering to the stranger. + </p> + <p> + “What yer gettin' off there?” said Steptoe, facing Dick almost brutally. + “YOU know your tangled legs wouldn't take you straight up the trail, and + you had to make a circumbendibus. Gosh! if you hadn't scented this licker + at the top you'd have never found it.” + </p> + <p> + “No matter! I'm glad you DID find it, Dick,” said Demorest, “and I hope + you'll find the liquor good enough to pay you for the trouble.” + </p> + <p> + Barker stared at Demorest. This extraordinary tolerance of the drunkard + was something new in his partner. But at a glance from Demorest he led + Dick to the demijohn and tin cup which stood on a table in the corner. And + in another moment Dick had forgotten his companion's rudeness. + </p> + <p> + Demorest remained by the door, looking out into the darkness. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Steptoe, putting down his emptied cup, “trot out your strike. + I reckon our eyes are strong enough to bear it now.” Stacy drew the + blanket from the vague pile that stood in the corner, and discovered a + deep tin prospecting-pan. It was heaped with several large fragments of + quartz. At first the marble whiteness of the quartz and the glittering + crystals of mica in its veins were the most noticeable, but as they drew + closer they could see the dull yellow of gold filling the decomposed and + honeycombed portion of the rock as if still liquid and molten. The eyes of + the party sparkled like the mica—even those of Barker and Stacy, who + were already familiar with the treasure. + </p> + <p> + “Which is the richest chunk?” asked Steptoe in a thickening voice. + </p> + <p> + Stacy pointed it out. + </p> + <p> + “Why, it's smaller than the others.” + </p> + <p> + “Heft it in your hand,” said Barker, with boyish enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + The short, thick fingers of Steptoe grasped it with a certain aquiline + suggestion; his whole arm strained over it until his face grew purple, but + he could not lift it. + </p> + <p> + “Thar useter be a little game in the 'Frisco Mint,” said Dick, restored to + fluency by his liquor, “when thar war ladies visiting it, and that was to + offer to give 'em any of those little boxes of gold coin, that contained + five thousand dollars, ef they would kindly lift it from the counter and + take it away! It wasn't no bigger than one of these chunks; but Jiminy! + you oughter have seed them gals grip and heave on it, and then hev to give + it up! You see they didn't know anything about the paci—(hic) the + speshif—” He stopped with great dignity, and added with painful + precision, “the specific gravity of gold.” + </p> + <p> + “Dry up!” said Steptoe roughly. Then turning to Stacy he said abruptly, + “But where's the rest of it? You've got more than that.” + </p> + <p> + “We sent it to Boomville this morning. You see we've sold out our claim to + a company who take it up to-morrow, and put up a mill and stamps. In fact, + it's under their charge now. They've got a gang of men on the claim + already.” + </p> + <p> + “And what mout ye hev got for it, if it's a fair question?” said Steptoe, + with a forced smile. + </p> + <p> + Stacy smiled also. “I don't know that it's a business question,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Five hundred thousand dollars,” said Demorest abruptly from the doorway, + “and a treble interest.” + </p> + <p> + The eyes of the two men met. There was no mistaking the dull fire of envy + in Steptoe's glance, but Demorest received it with a certain cold + curiosity, and turned away as the sound of arriving voices came from + without. + </p> + <p> + “Five hundred thousand's a big figger,” said Steptoe, with a coarse laugh, + “and I don't wonder it makes you feel so d——d sassy. But it + WAS a fair question.” + </p> + <p> + Unfortunately it here occurred to the whiskey-stimulated brain of Dick + that the friend he had introduced was being treated with scant courtesy, + and he forgot his own treatment by Steptoe. Leaning against the wall he + waved a dignified rebuke. “I'm sashified my ole frien' is akshuated by + only businesh principles.” He paused, recollected himself, and added with + great precision: “When I say he himself has a valuable claim in Red Gulch, + and to my shertain knowledge has received offers—I have said + enough.” + </p> + <p> + The laugh that broke from Stacy and Barker, to whom the infelicitous + reputation of Red Gulch was notorious, did not allay Steptoe's irritation. + He darted a vindictive glance at the unfortunate Dick, but joined in the + laugh. “And what was ye goin' to do with that?” he said, pointing to the + treasure. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, we're taking that with us. There's a chunk for each of us as a + memento. We cast lots for the choice, and Demorest won,—that one + which you couldn't lift with one hand, you know,” said Stacy. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, couldn't I? I reckon you ain't goin' to give me the same chance that + they did at the Mint, eh?” + </p> + <p> + Although the remark was accompanied with his usual coarse, familiar laugh, + there was a look in his eye so inconsequent in its significance that Stacy + would have made some reply, but at this moment Demorest re-entered the + cabin, ushering in a half dozen miners from the Bar below. They were, + although youngish men, some of the older locators in the vicinity, yet, + through years of seclusion and uneventful labors, they had acquired a + certain childish simplicity of thought and manner that was alternately + amusing and pathetic. They had never intruded upon the reserve of the + three partners of Heavy Tree Hill before; nothing but an infantine + curiosity, a shy recognition of the partners' courtesy in inviting them + with the whole population of Heavy Tree to the dinner the next day, and + the never-to-be-resisted temptation of an evening of “free liquor” and + forgetfulness of the past had brought them there now. Among them, and yet + not of them, was a young man who, although speaking English without + accent, was distinctly of a different nationality and race. This, with a + certain neatness of dress and artificial suavity of address, had gained + him the nickname of “the Count” and “Frenchy,” although he was really of + Flemish extraction. He was the Union Ditch Company's agent on the Bar, by + virtue of his knowledge of languages. + </p> + <p> + Barker uttered an exclamation of pleasure when he saw him. Himself the + incarnation of naturalness, he had always secretly admired this young + foreigner, with his lacquered smoothness, although a vague consciousness + that neither Stacy nor Demorest shared his feelings had restricted their + acquaintance. Nevertheless, he was proud now to see the bow with which + Paul Van Loo entered the cabin as if it were a drawing-room, and perhaps + did not reflect upon that want of real feeling in an act which made the + others uncomfortable. + </p> + <p> + The slight awkwardness their entrance produced, however, was quickly + forgotten when the blanket was again lifted from the pan of treasure. + Singularly enough, too, the same feverish light came into the eyes of each + as they all gathered around this yellow shrine. Even the polite Paul + rudely elbowed his way between the others, though his artificial “Pardon” + seemed to Barker to condone this act of brutal instinct. But it was more + instructive to observe the manner in which the older locators received + this confirmation of the fickle Fortune that had overlooked their weary + labors and years of waiting to lavish her favors on the new and + inexperienced amateurs. Yet as they turned their dazzled eyes upon the + three partners there was no envy or malice in their depths, no reproach on + their lips, no insincerity in their wondering satisfaction. Rather there + was a touching, almost childlike resumption of hope as they gazed at this + conclusive evidence of Nature's bounty. The gold had been there—THEY + had only missed it! And if there, more could be found! Was it not a proof + of the richness of Heavy Tree Hill? So strongly was this reflected on + their faces that a casual observer, contrasting them with the thoughtful + countenances of the real owners, would have thought them the lucky ones. + It touched Barker's quick sympathies, it puzzled Stacy, it made Demorest + more serious, it aroused Steptoe's active contempt. Whiskey Dick alone + remained stolid and impassive in a desperate attempt to pull himself once + more together. Eventually he succeeded, even to the ambitious achievement + of mounting a chair and lifting his tin cup with a dangerously unsteady + hand, which did not, however, affect his precision of utterance, and said:— + </p> + <p> + “Order, gentlemen! We'll drink success to—to”— + </p> + <p> + “The next strike!” said Barker, leaping impetuously on another chair and + beaming upon the old locators—“and may it come to those who have so + long deserved it!” + </p> + <p> + His sincere and generous enthusiasm seemed to break the spell of silence + that had fallen upon them. Other toasts quickly followed. In the general + good feeling Barker attached himself to Van Loo with his usual boyish + effusion, and in a burst of confidence imparted the secret of his + engagement to Kitty Carter. Van Loo listened with polite attention, formal + congratulations, but inscrutable eyes, that occasionally wandered to Stacy + and again to the treasure. A slight chill of disappointment came over + Barker's quick sensitiveness. Perhaps his enthusiasm had bored this + superior man of the world. Perhaps his confidences were in bad taste! With + a new sense of his inexperience he turned sadly away. Van Loo took that + opportunity to approach Stacy. + </p> + <p> + “What's all this I hear of Barker being engaged to Miss Carter?” he said, + with a faintly superior smile. “Is it really true?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. Why shouldn't it be?” returned Stacy bluntly. + </p> + <p> + Van Loo was instantly deprecating and smiling. “Why not, of course? But + isn't it sudden?” + </p> + <p> + “They have known each other ever since he's been on Heavy Tree Hill,” + responded Stacy. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, yes! True,” said Van Loo. “But now”— + </p> + <p> + “Well—he's got money enough to marry, and he's going to marry.” + </p> + <p> + “Rather young, isn't he?” said Van Loo, still deprecatingly. “And she's + got nothing. Used to wait on the table at her father's hotel in Boomville, + didn't she?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. What of that? We all know it.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course. It's an excellent thing for her—and her father. He'll + have a rich son-in-law. About two hundred thousand is his share, isn't it? + I suppose old Carter is delighted?” + </p> + <p> + Stacy had thought this before, but did not care to have it corroborated by + this superfine young foreigner. “And I don't reckon that Barker is + offended if he is,” he said curtly as he turned away. Nevertheless, he + felt irritated that one of the three superior partners of Heavy Tree Hill + should be thought a dupe. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the conversation dropped, the laughter ceased. Every one turned + round, and, by a common instinct, looked towards the door. From the + obscurity of the hill slope below came a wonderful tenor voice, modulated + by distance and spiritualized by the darkness:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “When at some future day + I shall be far away, + Thou wilt be weeping, + Thy lone watch keeping.” + </pre> + <p> + The men looked at one another. “That's Jack Hamlin,” they said. “What's he + doing here?” + </p> + <p> + “The wolves are gathering around fresh meat,” said Steptoe, with his + coarse laugh and a glance at the treasure. “Didn't ye know he came over + from Red Dog yesterday?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, give Jack a fair show and his own game,” said one of the old + locators, “and he'd clean out that pile afore sunrise.” + </p> + <p> + “And lose it next day,” added another. + </p> + <p> + “But never turn a hair or change a muscle in either case,” said a third. + “Lord! I've heard him sing away just like that when he's been leaving the + board with five thousand dollars in his pocket, or going away stripped of + his last red cent.” + </p> + <p> + Van Loo, who had been listening with a peculiar smile, here said in his + most deprecating manner, “Yes, but did you never consider the influence + that such a man has on the hard-working tunnelmen, who are ready to gamble + their whole week's earnings to him? Perhaps not. But I know the + difficulties of getting the Ditch rates from these men when he has been in + camp.” + </p> + <p> + He glanced around him with some importance, but only a laugh followed his + speech. “Come, Frenchy,” said an old locator, “you only say that because + your little brother wanted to play with Jack like a grown man, and when + Jack ordered him off the board and he became sassy, Jack scooted him outer + the saloon.” + </p> + <p> + Van Loo's face reddened with an anger that had the apparent effect of + removing every trace of his former polished repose, and leaving only a + hard outline beneath. At which Demorest interfered:— + </p> + <p> + “I can't say that I see much difference in gambling by putting money into + a hole in the ground and expecting to take more from it than by putting it + on a card for the same purpose.” + </p> + <p> + Here the ravishing tenor voice, which had been approaching, ceased, and + was succeeded by a heart-breaking and equally melodious whistling to + finish the bar of the singer's song. And the next moment Jack Hamlin + appeared in the doorway. + </p> + <p> + Whatever was his present financial condition, in perfect self-possession + and charming sang-froid he fully bore out his previous description. He was + as clean and refreshing looking as a madrono-tree in the dust-blown + forest. An odor of scented soap and freshly ironed linen was wafted from + him; there was scarcely a crease in his white waistcoat, nor a speck upon + his varnished shoes. He might have been an auditor of the previous + conversation, so quickly and completely did he seem to take in the whole + situation at a glance. Perhaps there was an extra tilt to his + black-ribboned Panama hat, and a certain dancing devilry in his brown eyes—which + might also have been an answer to adverse criticism. + </p> + <p> + “When I, his truth to prove, would trifle with my love,” he warbled in + general continuance from the doorway. Then dropping cheerfully into + speech, he added, “Well, boys, I am here to welcome the little stranger, + and to trust that the family are doing as well as can be expected. Ah! + there it is! Bless it!” he went on, walking leisurely to the treasure. + “Triplets, too!—and plump at that. Have you had 'em weighed?” + </p> + <p> + Frankness was an essential quality of Heavy Tree Hill. “We were just + saying, Jack,” said an old locator, “that, giving you a fair show and your + own game, you could manage to get away with that pile before daybreak.” + </p> + <p> + “And I'm just thinking,” said Jack cheerfully, “that there were some of + you here that could do that without any such useless preliminary.” His + brown eyes rested for a moment on Steptoe, but turning quite abruptly to + Van Loo, he held out his hand. Startled and embarrassed before the others, + the young man at last advanced his, when Jack coolly put his own, as if + forgetfully, in his pocket. “I thought you might like to know what that + little brother of yours is doing,” he said to Van Loo, yet looking at + Steptoe. “I found him wandering about the Hill here quite drunk.” + </p> + <p> + “I have repeatedly warned him”—began Van Loo, reddening. + </p> + <p> + “Against bad company—I know,” suggested Jack gayly; “yet in spite of + all that, I think he owes some of his liquor to Steptoe yonder.” + </p> + <p> + “I never supposed the fool would get drunk over a glass of whiskey offered + in fun,” said Steptoe harshly, yet evidently quite as much disconcerted as + angry. + </p> + <p> + “The trouble with Steptoe,” said Hamlin, thoughtfully spanning his slim + waist with both hands as he looked down at his polished shoes, “is that he + has such a soft-hearted liking for all weaknesses. Always wanting to + protect chaps that can't look after themselves, whether it's Whiskey Dick + there when he has a pull on, or some nigger when he's made a little + strike, or that straying lamb of Van Loo's when he's puppy drunk. But + you're wrong about me, boys. You can't draw me in any game to-night. This + is one of my nights off, which I devote exclusively to contemplation and + song. But,” he added, suddenly turning to his three hosts with a + bewildering and fascinating change of expression, “I couldn't resist + coming up here to see you and your pile, even if I never saw the one or + the other before, and am not likely to see either again. I believe in + luck! And it comes a mighty sight oftener than a fellow thinks it does. + But it doesn't come to stay. So I'd advise you to keep your eyes skinned, + and hang on to it while it's with you, like grim death. So long!” + </p> + <p> + Resisting all attempts of his hosts—who had apparently fallen as + suddenly and unaccountably under the magic of his manner—to detain + him longer, he stepped lightly away, his voice presently rising again in + melody as he descended the hill. Nor was it at all remarkable that the + others, apparently drawn by the same inevitable magnetism, were impelled + to follow him, naturally joining their voices with his, leaving Steptoe + and Van Loo so markedly behind them alone that they were compelled at last + in sheer embarrassment to close up the rear of the procession. In another + moment the cabin and the three partners again relapsed into the peace and + quiet of the night. With the dying away of the last voices on the hillside + the old solitude reasserted itself. + </p> + <p> + But since the irruption of the strangers they had lost their former + sluggish contemplation, and now busied themselves in preparation for their + early departure from the cabin the next morning. They had arranged to + spend the following day and night at Boomville and Carter's Hotel, where + they were to give their farewell dinner to Heavy Tree Hill. They talked + but little together: since the rebuff his enthusiastic confidences had + received from Van Loo, Barker had been grave and thoughtful, and Stacy, + with the irritating recollection of Van Loo's criticisms in his mind, had + refrained from his usual rallying of Barker. Oddly enough, they spoke + chiefly of Jack Hamlin,—till then personally a stranger to them, on + account of his infelix reputation,—and even the critical Demorest + expressed a wish they had known him before. “But you never know the real + value of anything until you're quitting it or it's quitting you,” he added + sententiously. + </p> + <p> + Barker and Stacy both stared at their companion. It was unlike Demorest to + regret anything—particularly a mere social diversion. + </p> + <p> + “They say,” remarked Stacy, “that if you had known Jack Hamlin earlier and + professionally, a great deal of real value would have quitted you before + he did.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't repeat that rot flung out by men who have played Jack's game and + lost,” returned Demorest derisively. “I'd rather trust him than”—He + stopped, glanced at the meditative Barker, and then concluded abruptly, + “the whole caboodle of his critics.” + </p> + <p> + They were silent for a few moments, and then seemed to have fallen into + their former dreamy mood as they relapsed into their old seats again. At + last Stacy drew a long breath. “I wish we had sent those nuggets off with + the others this morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Why?” said Demorest suddenly. + </p> + <p> + “Why? Well, d—n it all! they kind of oppress me, don't you see. I + seem to feel 'em here, on my chest—all the three,” returned Stacy + only half jocularly. “It's their d——d specific gravity, I + suppose. I don't like the idea of sleeping in the same room with 'em. + They're altogether too much for us three men to be left alone with.” + </p> + <p> + “You don't mean that you think that anybody would attempt”—said + Demorest. + </p> + <p> + Stacy curled a fighting lip rather superciliously. “No; I don't think THAT—I + rather wish I did. It's the blessed chunks of solid gold that seem to have + got US fast, don't you know, and are going to stick to us for good or ill. + A sort of Frankenstein monster that we've picked out of a hole from + below.” + </p> + <p> + “I know just what Stacy means,” said Barker breathlessly, rounding his + gray eyes. “I've felt it, too. Couldn't we make a sort of cache of it—bury + it just outside the cabin for to-night? It would be sort of putting it + back into its old place, you know, for the time being. IT might like it.” + </p> + <p> + The other two laughed. “Rather rough on Providence, Barker boy,” said + Stacy, “handing back the Heaven-sent gift so soon! Besides, what's to keep + any prospector from coming along and making a strike of it? You know + that's mining law—if you haven't preempted the spot as a claim.” + </p> + <p> + But Barker was too staggered by this material statement to make any reply, + and Demorest arose. “And I feel that you'd both better be turning in, as + we've got to get up early.” He went to the corner of the cabin, and threw + the blanket back over the pan and its treasure. “There that'll keep the + chunks from getting up to ride astride of you like a nightmare.” He shut + the door and gave a momentary glance at its cheap hinges and the absence + of bolt or bar. Stacy caught his eye. “We'll miss this security in San + Francisco—perhaps even in Boomville,” he sighed. + </p> + <p> + It was scarcely ten o'clock, but Stacy and Barker had begun to undress + themselves with intervals of yawning and desultory talk, Barker continuing + an amusing story, with one stocking off and his trousers hanging on his + arm, until at last both men were snugly curled up in their respective + bunks. Presently Stacy's voice came from under the blankets:— + </p> + <p> + “Hallo! aren't you going to turn in too?” + </p> + <p> + “Not yet,” said Demorest from his chair before the fire. “You see it's the + last night in the old shanty, and I reckon I'll see the rest of it out.” + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” said the impulsive Barker, struggling violently with his + blankets. “I tell you what, boys: we just ought to make a watch-night of + it—a regular vigil, you know—until twelve at least. Hold on! + I'll get up, too!” But here Demorest arose, caught his youthful partner's + bare foot which went searching painfully for the ground in one hand, + tucked it back under the blankets, and heaping them on the top of him, + patted the bulk with an authoritative, paternal air. + </p> + <p> + “You'll just say your prayers and go to sleep, sonny. You'll want to be + fresh as a daisy to appear before Miss Kitty to-morrow early, and you can + keep your vigils for to-morrow night, after dinner, in the back + drawing-room. I said 'Good-night,' and I mean it!” + </p> + <p> + Protesting feebly, Barker finally yielded in a nestling shiver and a + sudden silence. Demorest walked back to his chair. A prolonged snore came + from Stacy's bunk; then everything was quiet. Demorest stirred up the + fire, cast a huge root upon it, and, leaning back in his chair, sat with + half-closed eyes and dreamed. + </p> + <p> + It was an old dream that for the past three years had come to him daily, + sometimes even overtaking him under the shade of a buckeye in his noontide + rest on his claim,—a dream that had never yet failed to wait for him + at night by the fireside when his partners were at rest; a dream of the + past, but so real that it always made the present seem the dream through + which he was moving towards some sure awakening. + </p> + <p> + It was not strange that it should come to him to-night, as it had often + come before, slowly shaping itself out of the obscurity as the vision of a + fair young girl seated in one of the empty chairs before him. Always the + same pretty, childlike face, fraught with a half-frightened, + half-wondering trouble; always the same slender, graceful figure, but + always glimmering in diamonds and satin, or spiritual in lace and pearls, + against his own rude and sordid surroundings; always silent with parted + lips, until the night wind smote some chord of recollection, and then + mingled a remembered voice with his own. For at those times he seemed to + speak also, albeit with closed lips, and an utterance inaudible to all but + her. + </p> + <p> + “Well?” he said sadly. + </p> + <p> + “Well?” the voice repeated, like a gentle echo blending with his own. + </p> + <p> + “You know it all now,” he went on. “You know that it has come at last,—all + that I had worked for, prayed for; all that would have made us happy here; + all that would have saved you to me has come at last, and all too late!” + </p> + <p> + “Too late!” echoed the voice with his. + </p> + <p> + “You remember,” he went on, “the last day we were together. You remember + your friends and family would have you give me up—a penniless man. + You remember when they reproached you with my poverty, and told you that + it was only your wealth that I was seeking, that I then determined to go + away and never to return to claim you until that reproach could be + removed. You remember, dearest, how you clung to me and bade me stay with + you, even fly with you, but not to leave you alone with them. You wore the + same dress that day, darling; your eyes had the same wondering childlike + fear and trouble in them; your jewels glittered on you as you trembled, + and I refused. In my pride, or rather in my weakness and cowardice, I + refused. I came away and broke my heart among these rocks and ledges, yet + grew strong; and you, my love, YOU, sheltered and guarded by those you + loved, YOU”—He stopped and buried his face in his hands. The night + wind breathed down the chimney, and from the stirred ashes on the hearth + came the soft whisper, “I died.” + </p> + <p> + “And then,” he went on, “I cared for nothing. Sometimes my heart awoke for + this young partner of mine in his innocent, trustful love for a girl that + even in her humble station was far beyond his hopes, and I pitied myself + in him. Home, fortune, friends, I no longer cared for—all were + forgotten. And now they are returning to me—only that I may see the + hollowness and vanity of them, and taste the bitterness for which I have + sacrificed you. And here, on this last night of my exile, I am confronted + with only the jealousy, the doubt, the meanness and selfishness that is to + come. Too late! Too late!” + </p> + <p> + The wondering, troubled eyes that had looked into his here appeared to + clear and brighten with a sweet prescience. Was it the wind moaning in the + chimney that seemed to whisper to him: “Too late, beloved, for ME, but not + for you. I died, but Love still lives. Be happy, Philip. And in your + happiness I too may live again”? + </p> + <p> + He started. In the flickering firelight the chair was empty. The wind that + had swept down the chimney had stirred the ashes with a sound like the + passage of a rustling skirt. There was a chill in the air and a smell like + that of opened earth. A nervous shiver passed over him. Then he sat + upright. There was no mistake; it was no superstitious fancy, but a faint, + damp current of air was actually flowing across his feet towards the + fireplace. He was about to rise when he stopped suddenly and became + motionless. + </p> + <p> + He was actively conscious now of a strange sound which had affected him + even in the preoccupation of his vision. It was a gentle brushing of some + yielding substance like that made by a soft broom on sand, or the sweep of + a gown. But to his mountain ears, attuned to every woodland sound, it was + not like the gnawing of gopher or squirrel, the scratching of wildcat, nor + the hairy rubbing of bear. Nor was it human; the long, deep respirations + of his sleeping companions were distinct from that monotonous sound. He + could not even tell if it were IN the cabin or without. Suddenly his eye + fell upon the pile in the corner. The blanket that covered the treasure + was actually moving! + </p> + <p> + He rose quickly, but silently, alert, self-contained, and menacing. For + this dreamer, this bereaved man, this scornful philosopher of riches had + disappeared with that midnight trespass upon the sacred treasure. The + movement of the blanket ceased; the soft, swishing sound recommenced. He + drew a glittering bowie-knife from his boot-leg, and in three noiseless + strides was beside the pile. There he saw what he fully expected to see,—a + narrow, horizontal gap between the log walls of the cabin and the adobe + floor, slowly widening and deepening by the burrowing of unseen hands from + without. The cold outer air which he had felt before was now plainly + flowing into the heated cabin through the opening. The swishing sound + recommenced, and stopped. Then the four fingers of a hand, palm downwards, + were cautiously introduced between the bottom log and the denuded floor. + Upon that intruding hand the bowie-knife of Demorest descended like a + flash of lightning. There was no outcry. Even in that supreme moment + Demorest felt a pang of admiration for the stoicism of the unseen + trespasser. But the maimed hand was quickly withdrawn, and as quickly + Demorest rushed to the door and dashed into the outer darkness. + </p> + <p> + For an instant he was dazed and bewildered by the sudden change. But the + next moment he saw a dodging, doubling figure running before him, and + threw himself upon it. In the shock both men fell, but even in that + contact Demorest felt the tangled beard and alcoholic fumes of Whiskey + Dick, and felt also that the hands which were thrown up against his + breast, the palms turned outward with the instinctive movement of a timid, + defenseless man, were unstained with soil or blood. With an oath he threw + the drunkard from him and dashed to the rear of the cabin. But too late! + There, indeed, was the scattered earth, there the widened burrow as it had + been excavated apparently by that mutilated hand—but nothing else! + </p> + <p> + He turned back to Whiskey Dick. But the miserable man, although still + retaining a look of dazed terror in his eyes, had recovered his feet in a + kind of angry confidence and a forced sense of injury. What did Demorest + mean by attacking “innoshent” gentlemen on the trail outside his cabin? + Yes! OUTSIDE his cabin, he would swear it! + </p> + <p> + “What were you doing here at midnight?” demanded Demorest. + </p> + <p> + What was he doing? What was any gentleman doing? He wasn't any + molly-coddle to go to bed at ten o'clock! What was he doing? Well—he'd + been with men who didn't shut their doors and turn the boys out just in + the shank of the evening. He wasn't any Barker to be wet-nursed by + Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Some one else was here!” said Demorest sternly, with his eyes fixed on + Whiskey Dick. The dull glaze which seemed to veil the outer world from the + drunkard's pupils shifted suddenly with such a look of direct horror that + Demorest was fain to turn away his own. But the veil mercifully returned, + and with it Dick's worked-up sense of injury. Nobody was there—not + “a shole.” Did Demorest think if there had been any of his friends there + they would have stood by like “dogsh” and seen him insulted? + </p> + <p> + Demorest turned away and re-entered the cabin as Dick lurched heavily + forward, still muttering, down the trail. The excitement over, a sickening + repugnance to the whole incident took the place of Demorest's resentment + and indignation. There had been a cowardly attempt to rob them of their + miserable treasure. He had met it and frustrated it in almost as brutal a + fashion: the gold was already tarnished with blood. To his surprise, yet + relief, he found his partners unconscious of the outrage, still sleeping + with the physical immobility of over-excited and tired men. Should he + awaken them? No! He should have to awaken also their suspicions and desire + for revenge. There was no danger of a further attack; there was no fear + that the culprit would disclose himself, and to-morrow they would be far + away. Let oblivion rest upon that night's stain on the honor of Heavy Tree + Hill. + </p> + <p> + He rolled a small barrel before the opening, smoothed the dislodged earth, + replaced the pan with its treasure, and trusted that in the bustle of the + early morning departure his partners might not notice any change. Stopping + before the bunk of Stacy he glanced at the sleeping man. He was lying on + his back, but breathing heavily, and his hands were moving towards his + chest as if, indeed, his strange fancy of the golden incubus were being + realized. Demorest would have wakened him, but presently, with a sigh of + relief, the sleeper turned over on his side. It was pleasanter to look at + Barker, whose damp curls were matted over his smooth, boyish forehead, and + whose lips were parted in a smile under the silken wings of his brown + mustache. He, too, seemed to be trying to speak, and remembering some + previous revelations which had amused them, Demorest leaned over him + fraternally with an answering smile, waiting for the beloved one's name to + pass the young man's lips. But he only murmured, “Three—hundred—thousand + dollars!” The elder man turned away with a grave face. The influence of + the treasure was paramount. + </p> + <p> + When he had placed one of the chairs against the unprotected door at an + angle which would prevent any easy or noiseless intrusion, Demorest threw + himself on his bunk without undressing, and turned his face towards the + single window of the cabin that looked towards the east. He did not + apprehend another covert attempt against the gold. He did not fear a + robbery with force and arms, although he was satisfied that there was more + than one concerned in it, but this he attributed only to the encumbering + weight of their expected booty. He simply waited for the dawn. It was some + time before his eyes were greeted with the vague opaline brightness of the + firmament which meant the vanishing of the pallid snow-line before the + coming day. A bird twittered on the roof. The air was chill; he drew his + blanket around him. Then he closed his eyes, he fancied only for a moment, + but when he opened them the door was standing open in the strong daylight. + He sprang to his feet, but the next moment he saw it was only Stacy who + had passed out, and was returning fully dressed, bringing water from the + spring to fill the kettle. But Stacy's face was so grave that, recalling + his disturbed sleep, Demorest laughingly inquired if he had been haunted + by the treasure. But to his surprise Stacy put down the kettle, and, with + a hurried glance at the still sleeping Barker, said in a low voice:— + </p> + <p> + “I want you to do something for me without asking why. Later I will tell + you.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest looked at him fixedly. “What is it?” he said. + </p> + <p> + “The pack-mules will be here in a few moments. Don't wait to close up or + put away anything here, but clap that gold in the saddle-bags, and take + Barker with you and 'lite' out for Boomville AT ONCE. I will overtake you + later.” + </p> + <p> + “Is there no time to discuss this?” asked Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Stacy bluntly. “Call me a crank, say I'm in a blue funk”—his + compressed lips and sharp black eyes did not lend themselves much to that + hypothesis—“only get out of this with that stuff, and take Barker + with you! I'm not responsible for myself while it's here.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest knew Stacy to be combative, but practical. If he had not been + assured of his partner's last night slumbers he might have thought he knew + of the attempt. Or if he had discovered the turned-up ground in the rear + of the cabin his curiosity would have demanded an explanation. Demorest + paused only for a moment, and said, “Very well, I will go.” + </p> + <p> + “Good! I'll rouse out Barker, but not a word to him—except that he + must go.” + </p> + <p> + The rousing out of Barker consisted of Stacy's lifting that young + gentleman bodily from his bunk and standing him upright in the open + doorway. But Barker was accustomed to this Spartan process, and after a + moment's balancing with closed lids like an unwrapped mummy, he sat down + in the doorway and began to dress. He at first demurred to their departure + except all together—it was so unfraternal; but eventually he allowed + himself to be persuaded out of it and into his clothes. For Barker had + also had HIS visions in the night, one of which was that they should build + a beautiful villa on the site of the old cabin and solemnly agree to come + every year and pass a week in it together. “I thought at first,” he said, + sliding along the floor in search of different articles of his dress, or + stopping gravely to catch them as they were thrown to him by his partners, + “that we'd have it at Boomville, as being handier to get there; but I've + concluded we'd better have it here, a little higher up the hill, where it + could be seen over the whole Black Spur Range. When we weren't here we + could use it as a Hut of Refuge for broken-down or washed-out miners or + weary travelers, like those hospices in the Alps, you know, and have + somebody to keep it for us. You see I've thought even of THAT, and Van Loo + is the very man to take charge of it for us. You see he's got such good + manners and speaks two languages. Lord! if a German or Frenchman came + along, poor and distressed, Van Loo would just chip in his own language. + See? You've got to think of all these details, you see, boys. And we might + call it 'The Rest of the Three Partners,' or 'Three Partners' Rest.'” + </p> + <p> + “And you might begin by giving us one,” said Stacy. “Dry up and drink your + coffee.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll draw out the plans. I've got it all in my head,” continued the + enthusiastic Barker, unheeding the interruption. “I'll just run out and + take a look at the site, it's only right back of the cabin.” But here + Stacy caught him by his dangling belt as he was flying out of the door + with one boot on, and thrust him down in a chair with a tin cup of coffee + in his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Keep the plans in your head, Barker boy,” said Demorest, “for here are + the pack mules and packer.” This was quite enough to divert the + impressionable young man, who speedily finished his dressing, as a mule + bearing a large pack-saddle and two enormous saddle-bags or pouches drove + up before the door, led by a muleteer on a small horse. The transfer of + the treasure to the saddle-bags was quickly made by their united efforts, + as the first rays of the sun were beginning to paint the hillside. Shading + his keen eyes with his hand, Stacy stood in the doorway and handed + Demorest the two rifles. Demorest hesitated. “Hadn't YOU better keep one?” + he said, looking in his partner's eyes with his first challenge of + curiosity. The sun seemed to put a humorous twinkle into Stacy's glance as + he returned, “Not much! And you'd better take my revolver with you, too. + I'm feeling a little better now,” he said, looking at the saddlebags, “but + I'm not fit to be trusted yet with carnal weapons. When the other mule + comes and is packed I'll overtake you on the horse.” + </p> + <p> + A little more satisfied, although still wondering and perplexed, Demorest + shouldered one rifle, and with Barker, who was carrying the other, + followed the muleteer and his equipage down the trail. For a while he was + a little ashamed of his part in this unusual spectacle of two armed men + convoying a laden mule in broad daylight, but, luckily, it was too early + for the Bar miners to be going to work, and as the tunnelmen were now at + breakfast the trail was free of wayfarers. At the point where it crossed + the main road Demorest, however, saw Steptoe and Whiskey Dick emerge from + the thicket, apparently in earnest conversation. Demorest felt his + repugnance and half-restrained suspicions suddenly return. Yet he did not + wish to betray them before Barker, nor was he willing, in case of an + emergency, to allow the young man to be entirely unprepared. Calling him + to follow, he ran quickly ahead of the laden mule, and was relieved to + find that, looking back, his companion had brought his rifle to a “ready,” + through some instinctive feeling of defense. As Steptoe and Whiskey Dick, + a moment later discovering them, were evidently surprised, there seemed, + however, to be no reason for fearing an outbreak. Suddenly, at a whisper + from Steptoe, he and Whiskey Dick both threw up their hands, and stood + still on the trail a few yards from them in a burlesque of the usual + recognized attitude of helplessness, while a hoarse laugh broke from + Steptoe. + </p> + <p> + “D——d if we didn't think you were road-agents! But we see + you're only guarding your treasure. Rather fancy style for Heavy Tree + Hill, ain't it? Things must be gettin' rough up thar to hev to take out + your guns like that!” + </p> + <p> + Demorest had looked keenly at the four hands thus exhibited, and was more + concerned that they bore no trace of wounds or mutilation than at the + insult of the speech, particularly as he had a distinct impression that + the action was intended to show him the futility of his suspicions. + </p> + <p> + “I am glad to see that if you haven't any arms in your hands you're not + incapable of handling them,” said Demorest coolly, as he passed by them + and again fell into the rear of the muleteer. + </p> + <p> + But Barker had thought the incident very funny, and laughed effusively at + Whiskey Dick. “I didn't know that Steptoe was up to that kind of fun,” he + said, “and I suppose we DID look rather rough with these guns as we ran on + ahead of the mule. But then you know that when you called to me I really + thought you were in for a shindy. All the same, Whiskey Dick did that + 'hands up' to perfection: how he managed it I don't know, but his knees + seemed to knock together as if he was in a real funk.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest had thought so too, but he made no reply. How far that miserable + drunkard was a forced or willing accomplice of the events of last night + was part of a question that had become more and more repugnant to him as + he was leaving the scene of it forever. It had come upon him, desecrating + the dream he had dreamt that last night and turning its hopeful climax to + bitterness. Small wonder that Barker, walking by his side, had his quick + sympathies aroused, and as he saw that shadow, which they were all + familiar with, but had never sought to penetrate, fall upon his + companion's handsome face, even his youthful spirits yielded to it. They + were both relieved when the clatter of hoofs behind them, as they reached + the valley, announced the approach of Stacy. “I started with the second + mule and the last load soon after you left,” he explained, “and have just + passed them. I thought it better to join you and let the other load + follow. Nobody will interfere with THAT.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you are satisfied?” said Demorest, regarding him steadfastly. + </p> + <p> + “You bet! Look!” + </p> + <p> + He turned in his saddle and pointed to the crest of the hill they had just + descended. Above the pines circling the lower slope above the bare ledges + of rock and outcrop, a column of thick black smoke was rising straight as + a spire in the windless air. + </p> + <p> + “That's the old shanty passing away,” said Stacy complacently. “I reckon + there won't be much left of it before we get to Boomville.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest and Barker stared. “You fired it?” said Barker, trembling with + excitement. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Stacy. “I couldn't bear to leave the old rookery for coyotes + and wild-cats to gather in, so I touched her off before I left.” + </p> + <p> + “But”—said Barker. + </p> + <p> + “But,” repeated Stacy composedly. “Hallo! what's the matter with that new + plan of 'The Rest' that you're going to build, eh? You don't want them + BOTH.” + </p> + <p> + “And you did this rather than leave the dear old cabin to strangers?” said + Barker, with kindling eyes. “Stacy, I didn't think you had that poetry in + you!” + </p> + <p> + “There's heaps in me, Barker boy, that you don't know, and I don't exactly + sabe myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Only,” continued the young fellow eagerly, “we ought to have ALL been + there! We ought to have made a solemn rite of it, you know,—a kind + of sacrifice. We ought to have poured a kind of libation on the ground!” + </p> + <p> + “I did sprinkle a little kerosene over it, I think,” returned Stacy, “just + to help things along. But if you want to see her flaming, Barker, you just + run back to that last corner on the road beyond the big red wood. That's + the spot for a view.” + </p> + <p> + As Barker—always devoted to a spectacle—swiftly disappeared + the two men faced each other. “Well, what does it all mean?” said Demorest + gravely. + </p> + <p> + “It means, old man,” said Stacy suddenly, “that if we hadn't had nigger + luck, the same blind luck that sent us that strike, you and I and that + Barker over there would have been swirling in that smoke up to the sky + about two hours ago!” He stopped and added in a lower, but earnest voice, + “Look here, Phil! When I went out to fetch water this morning I smelt + something queer. I went round to the back of the cabin and found a hole + dug under the floor, and piled against the corner wall a lot of brush-wood + and a can of kerosene. Some of the kerosene had been already poured on the + brush. Everything was ready to light, and only my coming out an hour + earlier had frightened the devils away. The idea was to set the place on + fire, suffocate us in the smoke of the kerosene poured into the hole, and + then to rush in and grab the treasure. It was a systematic plan!” + </p> + <p> + “No!” said Demorest quietly. + </p> + <p> + “No?” repeated Stacy. “I told you I saw the whole thing and took away the + kerosene, which I hid, and after you had gone used it to fire the cabin + with, to see if the ones I suspected would gather to watch their work.” + </p> + <p> + “It was no part of their FIRST plan”' said Demorest, “which was only + robbery. Listen!” He hurriedly recounted his experience of the preceding + night to the astonished Stacy. “No, the fire was an afterthought and + revenge,” he added sternly. + </p> + <p> + “But you say you cut the robber in the hand; there would be no difficulty + in identifying him by that.” + </p> + <p> + “I wounded only a HAND,” said Demorest. “But there was a HEAD in that + attempt that I never saw.” He then revealed his own half-suspicions, but + how they were apparently refuted by the bravado of Steptoe and Whiskey + Dick. + </p> + <p> + “Then that was the reason THEY didn't gather at the fire,” said Stacy + quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said Demorest, “then YOU too suspected them?” + </p> + <p> + Stacy hesitated, and then said abruptly, “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest was silent for a moment. + </p> + <p> + “Why didn't you tell me this this morning?” he said gently. + </p> + <p> + Stacy pointed to the distant Barker. “I didn't want you to tell him. I + thought it better for one partner to keep a secret from two than for the + two to keep it from one. Why didn't you tell me of your experience last + night?” + </p> + <p> + “I am afraid it was for the same reason,” said Demorest, with a faint + smile. “And it sometimes seems to me, Jim, that we ought to imitate + Barker's frankness. In our dread of tainting him with our own knowledge of + evil we are sending him out into the world very poorly equipped, for all + his three hundred thousand dollars.” + </p> + <p> + “I reckon you're right,” said Stacy briefly, extending his hand. “Shake on + that!” + </p> + <p> + The two men grasped each other's hands. + </p> + <p> + “And he's no fool, either,” continued Demorest. “When we met Steptoe on + the road, without a word from me, he closed up alongside, with his hand on + the lock of his rifle. And I hadn't the heart to praise him or laugh it + off.” + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless they were both silent as the object of their criticism + bounded down the trail towards them. He had seen the funeral pyre. It was + awfully sad, it was awfully lovely, but there was something grand in it! + Who could have thought Stacy could be so poetic? But he wanted to tell + them something else that was mighty pretty. + </p> + <p> + “What was it?” said Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Barker, “don't laugh! But you know that Jack Hamlin? Well, + boys, he's been hovering around us on his mustang, keeping us and that + pack-mule in sight ever since we left. Sometimes he's on a side trail off + to the right, sometimes off to the left, but always at the same distance. + I didn't like to tell you, boys, for I thought you'd laugh at me; but I + think, you know, he's taken a sort of shine to us since he dropped in last + night. And I fancy, you see, he's sort of hanging round to see that we get + along all right. I'd have pointed him out before only I reckoned you and + Stacy would say he was making up to us for our money.” + </p> + <p> + “And we'd have been wrong, Barker boy,” said Stacy, with a heartiness that + surprised Demorest, “for I reckon your instinct's the right one.” + </p> + <p> + “There he is now,” said the gratified Barker, “just abreast of us on the + cut-off. He started just after we did, and he's got a horse that could + have brought him into Boomville hours ago. It's just his kindness.” + </p> + <p> + He pointed to a distant fringe of buckeye from which Jack Hamlin had just + emerged. Although evidently holding in a powerful mustang, nothing could + be more unconscious and utterly indifferent than his attitude. He did not + seem to know of the proximity of any other traveler, and to care less. His + handsome head was slightly thrown back, as if he was caroling after his + usual fashion, but the distance was too great to make his melody audible + to them, or to allow Barker's shout of invitation to reach him. Suddenly + he lowered his tightened rein, the mustang sprang forward, and with a + flash of silver spurs and bridle fripperies he had disappeared. But as the + trail he was pursuing crossed theirs a mile beyond, it seemed quite + possible that they should again meet him. + </p> + <p> + They were now fairly into the Boomville valley, and were entering a narrow + arroyo bordered with dusky willows which effectually excluded the view on + either side. It was the bed of a mountain torrent that in winter descended + the hillside over the trail by which they had just come, but was now sunk + into the thirsty plain between banks that varied from two to five feet in + height. The muleteer had advanced into the narrow channel when he suddenly + cast a hurried glance behind him, uttered a “Madre de Dios!” and backed + his mule and his precious freight against the bank. The sound of hoofs on + the trail in their rear had caught his quicker ear, and as the three + partners turned they beheld three horsemen thundering down the hill + towards them. They were apparently Mexican vaqueros of the usual common + swarthy type, their faces made still darker by the black silk handkerchief + tied round their heads under their stiff sombreros. Either they were + unable or unwilling to restrain their horses in their headlong speed, and + a collision in that narrow passage was imminent, but suddenly, before + reaching its entrance, they diverged with a volley of oaths, and dashing + along the left bank of the arroyo, disappeared in the intervening willows. + Divided between relief at their escape and indignation at what seemed to + be a drunken, feast-day freak of these roystering vaqueros, the little + party re-formed, when a cry from Barker arrested them. He had just + perceived a horseman motionless in the arroyo who, although unnoticed by + them, had evidently been seen by the Mexicans. He had apparently leaped + into it from the bank, and had halted as if to witness this singular + incident. As the clatter of the vaqueros' hoofs died away he lightly + leaped the bank again and disappeared. But in that single glimpse of him + they recognized Jack Hamlin. When they reached the spot where he had + halted, they could see that he must have approached it from the trail + where they had previously seen him, but which they now found crossed it at + right angles. Barker was right. He had really kept them at easy distance + the whole length of the journey. + </p> + <p> + But they were now reaching its end. When they issued at last from the + arroyo they came upon the outskirts of Boomville and the great stage-road. + Indeed, the six horses of the Pioneer coach were just panting along the + last half mile of the steep upgrade as they approached. They halted + mechanically as the heavy vehicle swayed and creaked by them. In their + ordinary working dress, sunburnt with exposure, covered with dust, and + carrying their rifles still in their hands, they, perhaps, presented a + sufficiently characteristic appearance to draw a few faces—some of + them pretty and intelligent—to the windows of the coach as it + passed. The sensitive Barker was quickest to feel that resentment with + which the Pioneer usually met the wide-eyed criticism of the Eastern + tourist or “greenhorn,” and reddened under the bold scrutiny of a pair of + black inquisitive eyes behind an eyeglass. That annoyance was + communicated, though in a lesser degree, even to the bearded Demorest and + Stacy. It was an unexpected contact with that great world in which they + were so soon to enter. They felt ashamed of their appearance, and yet + ashamed of that feeling. They felt a secret satisfaction when Barker said, + “They'd open their eyes wider if they knew what was in that pack-saddle,” + and yet they corrected him for what they were pleased to call his + “snobbishness.” They hurried a little faster as the road became more + frequented, as if eager to shorten their distance to clean clothes and + civilization. + </p> + <p> + Only Demorest began to linger in the rear. This contact with the + stagecoach had again brought him face to face with his buried past. He + felt his old dream revive, and occasionally turned to look back upon the + dark outlines of Black Spur, under whose shadow it had returned so often, + and wondered if he had left it there forever, and it were now slowly + exhaling with the thinned and dying smoke of their burning cabin. + </p> + <p> + His companions, knowing his silent moods, had preceded him at some + distance, when he heard the soft sound of ambling hoofs on the thick dust, + and suddenly the light touch of Jack Hamlin's gauntlet on his shoulder. + The mustang Jack bestrode was reeking with grime and sweat, but Jack + himself was as immaculate and fresh as ever. With a delightful affectation + of embarrassment and timidity he began flicking the side buttons of his + velvet vaquero trousers with the thong of his riata. “I reckoned to sling + a word along with you before you went,” he said, looking down, “but I'm so + shy that I couldn't do it in company. So I thought I'd get it off on you + while you were alone.” + </p> + <p> + “We've seen you once or twice before, this morning,” said Demorest + pleasantly, “and we were sorry you didn't join us.” + </p> + <p> + “I reckon I might have,” said Jack gayly, “if my horse had only made up + his mind whether he was a bird or a squirrel, and hadn't been so various + and promiscuous about whether he wanted to climb a tree or fly. He's not a + bad horse for a Mexican plug, only when he thinks there is any devilment + around he wants to wade in and take a hand. However, I reckoned to see the + last of you and your pile into Boomville. And I DID. When I meet three + fellows like you that are clean white all through I sort of cotton to 'em, + even if I'M a little of a brunette myself. And I've got something to give + you.” + </p> + <p> + He took from a fold of his scarlet sash a small parcel neatly folded in + white paper as fresh and spotless as himself. Holding it in his fingers, + he went on: “I happened to be at Heavy Tree Hill early this morning before + sun-up. In the darkness I struck your cabin, and I reckon—I struck + somebody else! At first I thought it was one of you chaps down on your + knees praying at the rear of the cabin, but the way the fellow lit out + when he smelt me coming made me think it wasn't entirely fasting and + prayer. However, I went to the rear of the cabin, and then I reckoned some + kind friend had been bringing you kindlings and firewood for your early + breakfast. But that didn't satisfy me, so I knelt down as he had knelt, + and then I saw—well, Mr. Demorest, I reckon I saw JUST WHAT YOU HAVE + SEEN! But even then I wasn't quite satisfied, for that man had been + grubbing round as if searching for something. So I searched too—and + I found IT. I've got it here. I'm going to give it to you, for it may some + day come in handy, and you won't find anything like it among the folks + where you're going. It's something unique, as those fine-art-collecting + sharps in 'Frisco say—something quite matchless, unless you try to + match it one day yourself! Don't open the paper until I run on and say 'So + long' to your partners. Good-by.” + </p> + <p> + He grasped Demorest's hand and then dropped the little packet into his + palm, and ambled away towards Stacy and Barker. Holding the packet in his + hand with an amused yet puzzled smile, Demorest watched the gambler give + Stacy's hand a hearty farewell shake and a supplementary slap on the back + to the delighted Barker, and then vanish in a flash of red sash and silver + buttons. At which Demorest, walking slowly towards his partners, opened + the packet, and stood suddenly still. It contained the dried and bloodless + second finger of a human hand cut off at the first joint! + </p> + <p> + For an instant he held it at arm's length, as if about to cast it away. + Then he grimly replaced it in the paper, put it carefully in his pocket, + and silently walked after his companions. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I + </h2> + <p> + A strong southwester was beating against the windows and doors of Stacy's + Bank in San Francisco, and spreading a film of rain between the regular + splendors of its mahogany counters and sprucely dressed clerks and the + usual passing pedestrian. For Stacy's new banking-house had long since + received the epithet of “palatial” from an enthusiastic local press fresh + from the “opening” luncheon in its richly decorated directors' rooms, and + it was said that once a homely would-be depositor from One Horse Gulch was + so cowed by its magnificence that his heart failed him at the last moment, + and mumbling an apology to the elegant receiving teller, fled with his + greasy chamois pouch of gold-dust to deposit his treasure in the dingy + Mint around the corner. Perhaps there was something of this feeling, + mingled with a certain simple-minded fascination, in the hesitation of a + stranger of a higher class who entered the bank that rainy morning and + finally tendered his card to the important negro messenger. + </p> + <p> + The card preceded him through noiselessly swinging doors and across + heavily carpeted passages until it reached the inner core of Mr. James + Stacy's private offices, and was respectfully laid before him. He was not + alone. At his side, in an attitude of polite and studied expectancy, stood + a correct-looking young man, for whom Mr. Stacy was evidently writing a + memorandum. The stranger glanced furtively at the card with a curiosity + hardly in keeping with his suggested good breeding; but Stacy did not look + at it until he had finished his memorandum. + </p> + <p> + “There,” he said, with business decision, “you can tell your people that + if we carry their new debentures over our limit we will expect a larger + margin. Ditches are not what they were three years ago when miners were + willing to waste their money over your rates. They don't gamble THAT WAY + any more, and your company ought to know it, and not gamble themselves + over that prospect.” He handed the paper to the stranger, who bowed over + it with studied politeness, and backed towards the door. Stacy took up the + waiting card, read it, said to the messenger, “Show him in,” and in the + same breath turned to his guest: “I say, Van Loo, it's George Barker! You + know him.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Van Loo, with a polite hesitation as he halted at the door. + “He was—I think—er—in your employ at Heavy Tree Hill.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense! He was my partner. And you must have known him since at + Boomville. Come! He got forty shares of Ditch stock—through you—at + 110, which were worth about 80! SOMEBODY must have made money enough by it + to remember him.” + </p> + <p> + “I was only speaking of him socially,” said Van Loo, with a deprecating + smile. “You know he married a young woman—the hotel-keeper's + daughter, who used to wait at the table—and after my mother and + sister came out to keep house for me at Boomville it was quite impossible + for me to see much of him, for he seldom went out without his wife, you + know.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Stacy dryly, “I think you didn't like his marriage. But I'm + glad your disinclination to see him isn't on account of that deal in + stocks.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh no,” said Van Loo. “Good-by.” + </p> + <p> + But, unfortunately, in the next passage he came upon Barker, who with a + cry of unfeigned pleasure, none the less sincere that he was feeling a + little alien in these impressive surroundings, recognized him. Nothing + could exceed Van Loo's protest of delight at the meeting; nothing his + equal desolation at the fact that he was hastening to another engagement. + “But your old partner,” he added, with a smile, “is waiting for you; he + has just received your card, and I should be only keeping you from him. So + glad to see you; you're looking so well. Good-by! Good-by!” + </p> + <p> + Reassured, Barker no longer hesitated, but dashed with his old + impetuousness into his former partner's room. Stacy, already deeply + absorbed in other business, was sitting with his back towards him, and + Barker's arms were actually encircling his neck before the astonished and + half-angry man looked up. But when his eyes met the laughing gray ones of + Barker above him he gently disengaged himself with a quick return of the + caress, rose, shut the door of an inner office, and returning pushed + Barker into an armchair in quite the old suppressive fashion of former + days. Yes; it was the same Stacy that Barker looked at, albeit his brown + beard was now closely cropped around his determined mouth and jaw in a + kind of grave decorum, and his energetic limbs already attuned to the + rigor of clothes of fashionable cut and still more rigorous sombreness of + color. + </p> + <p> + “Barker boy,” he began, with the familiar twinkle in his keen eyes which + the younger partner remembered, “I don't encourage stag dancing among my + young men during bank hours, and you'll please to remember that we are not + on Heavy Tree Hill”— + </p> + <p> + “Where,” broke in Barker enthusiastically, “we were only overlooked by the + Black Spur Range and the Sierran snow-line; where the nearest voice that + came to you was quarter of a mile away as the crow flies and nearly a mile + by the trail.” + </p> + <p> + “And was generally an oath!” said Stacy. “But you're in San Francisco NOW. + Where are you stopping?” He took up a pencil and held it over a memorandum + pad awaitingly. + </p> + <p> + “At the Brook House. It's”— + </p> + <p> + “Hold on! 'Brook House,'” Stacy repeated as he jotted it down. “And for + how long?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, a day or two. You see, Kitty”— + </p> + <p> + Stacy checked him with a movement of his pencil in the air, and then wrote + down, “'Day or two.' Wife with you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; and oh, Stacy, our boy! Ah!” he went on, with a laugh, knocking + aside the remonstrating pencil, “you must listen! He's just the sweetest, + knowingest little chap living. Do you know what we're going to christen + him? Well, he'll be Stacy Demorest Barker. Good names, aren't they? And + then it perpetuates the dear old friendship.” + </p> + <p> + Stacy picked up the pencil again, wrote “Wife and child S. D. B.,” and + leaned back in his chair. “Now, Barker,” he said briefly, “I'm coming to + dine with you tonight at 7.30 sharp. THEN we'll talk Heavy Tree Hill, + wife, baby, and S. D. B. But here I'm all for business. Have you any with + me?” + </p> + <p> + Barker, who was easily amused, had extracted a certain entertainment out + of Stacy's memorandum, but he straightened himself with a look of eager + confidence and said, “Certainly; that's just what it is—business. + Lord! Stacy, I'm ALL business now. I'm in everything. And I bank with you, + though perhaps you don't know it; it's in your Branch at Marysville. I + didn't want to say anything about it to you before. But Lord! you don't + suppose that I'd bank anywhere else while you are in the business—checks, + dividends, and all that; but in this matter I felt you knew, old chap. I + didn't want to talk to a banker nor to a bank, but to Jim Stacy, my old + partner.” + </p> + <p> + “Barker,” said Stacy curtly, “how much money are you short of?” + </p> + <p> + At this direct question Barker's always quick color rose, but, with an + equally quick smile, he said, “I don't know yet that I'm short at all.” + </p> + <p> + “But I do!” + </p> + <p> + “Look here, Jim: why, I'm just overloaded with shares and stocks,” said + Barker, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Not one of which you could realize on without sacrifice. Barker, three + years ago you had three hundred thousand dollars put to your account at + San Francisco.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Barker, with a quiet reminiscent laugh. “I remember I wanted + to draw it out in one check to see how it would look.” + </p> + <p> + “And you've drawn out all in three years, and it looks d——d + bad.” + </p> + <p> + “How did you know it?” asked Barker, his face beaming only with admiration + of his companion's omniscience. + </p> + <p> + “How did I know it?” retorted Stacy. “I know YOU, and I know the kind of + people who have unloaded to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, Stacy,” said Barker, “I've only invested in shares and stocks like + everybody else, and then only on the best advice I could get: like Van + Loo's, for instance,—that man who was here just now, the new manager + of the Empire Ditch Company; and Carter's, my own Kitty's father. And when + I was offered fifty thousand Wide West Extensions, and was hesitating over + it, he told me YOU were in it too—and that was enough for me to buy + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but we didn't go into it at his figures.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Barker, with an eager smile, “but you SOLD at his figures, for + I knew that when I found that YOU, my old partner, was in it; don't you + see, I preferred to buy it through your bank, and did at 110. Of course, + you wouldn't have sold it at that figure if it wasn't worth it then, and + neither I nor you are to blame if it dropped the next week to 60, don't + you see?” + </p> + <p> + Stacy's eyes hardened for a moment as he looked keenly into his former + partner's bright gray ones, but there was no trace of irony in Barker's. + On the contrary, a slight shade of sadness came over them. “No,” he said + reflectively, “I don't think I've ever been foolish or followed out my OWN + ideas, except once, and that was extravagant, I admit. That was my idea of + building a kind of refuge, you know, on the site of our old cabin, where + poor miners and played-out prospectors waiting for a strike could stay + without paying anything. Well, I sunk twenty thousand dollars in that, and + might have lost more, only Carter—Kitty's father—persuaded me—he's + an awful clever old fellow—into turning it into a kind of branch + hotel of Boomville, while using it as a hotel to take poor chaps who + couldn't pay, at half prices, or quarter prices, PRIVATELY, don't you see, + so as to spare their pride,—awfully pretty, wasn't it?—and + make the hotel profit by it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well?” said Stacy as Barker paused. + </p> + <p> + “They didn't come,” said Barker. + </p> + <p> + “But,” he added eagerly, “it shows that things were better than I had + imagined. Only the others did not come, either.” + </p> + <p> + “And you lost your twenty thousand dollars,” said Stacy curtly. + </p> + <p> + “FIFTY thousand,” said Barker, “for of course it had to be a larger hotel + than the other. And I think that Carter wouldn't have gone into it except + to save me from losing money.” + </p> + <p> + “And yet made you lose fifty thousand instead of twenty. For I don't + suppose HE advanced anything.” + </p> + <p> + “He gave his time and experience,” said Barker simply. + </p> + <p> + “I don't think it worth thirty thousand dollars,” said Stacy dryly. “But + all this doesn't tell me what your business is with me to-day.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Barker, brightening up, “but it is business, you know. + Something in the old style—as between partner and partner—and + that's why I came to YOU, and not to the 'banker.' And it all comes out of + something that Demorest once told us; so you see it's all us three again! + Well, you know, of course, that the Excelsior Ditch Company have abandoned + the Bar and Heavy Tree Hill. It didn't pay.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; nor does the company pay any dividends now. You ought to know, with + fifty thousand of their stock on your hands.” + </p> + <p> + Barker laughed. “But listen. I found that I could buy up their whole plant + and all the ditching along the Black Spur Range for ten thousand dollars.” + </p> + <p> + “And Great Scott! you don't think of taking up their business?” said + Stacy, aghast. + </p> + <p> + Barker laughed more heartily. “No. Not their business. But I remember that + once Demorest told us, in the dear old days, that it cost nearly as much + to make a water ditch as a railroad, in the way of surveying and + engineering and levels, you know. And here's the plant for a railroad. + Don't you see?” + </p> + <p> + “But a railroad from Black Spur to Heavy Tree Hill—what's the good + of that?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Black Spur will be in the line of the new Divide Railroad they're + trying to get a bill for in the legislature.” + </p> + <p> + “An infamous piece of wildcat jobbing that will never pass,” said Stacy + decisively. + </p> + <p> + “They said BECAUSE it was that, it would pass,” said Barker simply. “They + say that Watson's Bank is in it, and is bound to get it through. And as + that is a rival bank of yours, don't you see, I thought that if WE could + get something real good or valuable out of it,—something that would + do the Black Spur good,—it would be all right.” + </p> + <p> + “And was your business to consult me about it?” said Stacy bluntly. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Barker, “it's too late to consult you now, though I wish I had. + I've given my word to take it, and I can't back out. But I haven't the ten + thousand dollars, and I came to you.” + </p> + <p> + Stacy slowly settled himself back in his chair, and put both hands in his + pockets. “Not a cent, Barker, not a cent.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not asking it of the BANK,” said Barker, with a smile, “for I could + have gone to the bank for it. But as this was something between us, I am + asking you, Stacy, as my old partner.” + </p> + <p> + “And I am answering you, Barker, as your old partner, but also as the + partner of a hundred other men, who have even a greater right to ask me. + And my answer is, not a cent!” + </p> + <p> + Barker looked at him with a pale, astonished face and slightly parted + lips. Stacy rose, thrust his hands deeper in his pockets, and standing + before him went on:— + </p> + <p> + “Now look here! It's time you should understand me and yourself. Three + years ago, when our partnership was dissolved by accident, or mutual + consent, we will say, we started afresh, each on our own hook. Through + foolishness and bad advice you have in those three years hopelessly + involved yourself as you never would have done had we been partners, and + yet in your difficulty you ask me and my new partners to help you out of a + difficulty in which they have no concern.” + </p> + <p> + “Your NEW partners?” stammered Barker. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, my new partners; for every man who has a share, or a deposit, or an + interest, or a dollar in this bank is my PARTNER—even you, with your + securities at the Branch, are one; and you may say that in THIS I am + protecting you against yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “But you have money—you have private means.” + </p> + <p> + “None to speculate with as you wish me to—on account of my position; + none to give away foolishly as you expect me to—on account of + precedent and example. I am a soulless machine taking care of capital + intrusted to me and my brains, but decidedly NOT to my heart nor my + sentiment. So my answer is, not a cent!” + </p> + <p> + Barker's face had changed; his color had come back, but with an older + expression. Presently, however, his beaming smile returned, with the + additional suggestion of an affectionate toleration which puzzled Stacy. + </p> + <p> + “I believe you're right, old chap,” he said, extending his hand to the + banker, “and I wish I had talked to you before. But it's too late now, and + I've given my word.” + </p> + <p> + “Your WORD!” said Stacy. “Have you no written agreement?” + </p> + <p> + “No. My word was accepted.” He blushed slightly as if conscious of a great + weakness. + </p> + <p> + “But that isn't legal nor business. And you couldn't even hold the Ditch + Company to it if THEY chose to back out.” + </p> + <p> + “But I don't think they will,” said Barker simply. “And you see my word + wasn't given entirely to THEM. I bought the thing through my wife's + cousin, Henry Spring, a broker, and he makes something by it, from the + company, on commission. And I can't go back on HIM. What did you say?” + </p> + <p> + Stacy had only groaned through his set teeth. “Nothing,” he said briefly, + “except that I'm coming, as I said before, to dine with you to-night; but + no more BUSINESS. I've enough of that with others, and there are some + waiting for me in the outer office now.” + </p> + <p> + Barker rose at once, but with the same affectionate smile and tender + gravity of countenance, and laid his hand caressingly on Stacy's shoulder. + “It's like you to give up so much of your time to me and my foolishness + and be so frank with me. And I know it's mighty rough on you to have to be + a mere machine instead of Jim Stacy. Don't you bother about me. I'll sell + some of my Wide West Extension and pull the thing through myself. It's all + right, but I'm sorry for you, old chap.” He glanced around the room at the + walls and rich paneling, and added, “I suppose that's what you have to pay + for all this sort of thing?” + </p> + <p> + Before Stacy could reply, a waiting visitor was announced for the second + time, and Barker, with another hand-shake and a reassuring smile to his + old partner, passed into the hall, as if the onus of any infelicity in the + interview was upon himself alone. But Stacy did not seem to be in a + particularly accessible mood to the new caller, who in his turn appeared + to be slightly irritated by having been kept waiting over some irksome + business. “You don't seem to follow me,” he said to Stacy after reciting + his business perplexity. “Can't you suggest something?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, why don't you get hold of one of your board of directors?” said + Stacy abstractedly. “There's Captain Drummond; you and he are old friends. + You were comrades in the Mexican War, weren't you?” + </p> + <p> + “That be d——d!” said his visitor bitterly. “All his interests + are the other way, and in a trade of this kind, you know, Stacy, that a + man would sacrifice his own brother. Do you suppose that he'd let up on a + sure thing that he's got just because he and I fought side by side at + Cerro Gordo? Come! what are you giving us? You're the last man I ever + expected to hear that kind of flapdoodle from. If it's because your bank + has got some other interest and you can't advise me, why don't you say + so?” Nevertheless, in spite of Stacy's abrupt disclaimer, he left a few + minutes later, half convinced that Stacy's lukewarmness was due to some + adverse influence. Other callers were almost as quickly disposed of, and + at the end of an hour Stacy found himself again alone. + </p> + <p> + But not apparently in a very satisfied mood. After a few moments of purely + mechanical memoranda-making, he rose abruptly and opened a small drawer in + a cabinet, from which he took a letter still in its envelope. It bore a + foreign postmark. Glancing over it hastily, his eyes at last became fixed + on a concluding paragraph. “I hope,” wrote his correspondent, “that even + in the rush of your big business you will sometimes look after Barker. Not + that I think the dear old chap will ever go wrong—indeed, I often + wish I was as certain of myself as of him and his insight; but I am afraid + we were more inclined to be merely amused and tolerant of his wonderful + trust and simplicity than to really understand it for his own good and + ours. I know you did not like his marriage, and were inclined to believe + he was the victim of a rather unscrupulous father and a foolish, unequal + girl; but are you satisfied that he would have been the happier without + it, or lived his perfect life under other and what you may think wiser + conditions? If he WROTE the poetry that he LIVES everybody would think him + wonderful; for being what he is we never give him sufficient credit.” + Stacy smiled grimly, and penciled on his memorandum, “He wants it to the + amount of ten thousand dollars.” “Anyhow,” continued the writer, “look + after him, Jim, for his sake, your sake, and the sake of—PHIL + DEMOREST.” + </p> + <p> + Stacy put the letter back in its envelope, and tossing it grimly aside + went on with his calculations. Presently he stopped, restored the letter + to his cabinet, and rang a bell on his table. “Send Mr. North here,” he + said to the negro messenger. In a few moments his chief book-keeper + appeared in the doorway. + </p> + <p> + “Turn to the Branch ledger and bring me a statement of Mr. George Barker's + account.” + </p> + <p> + “He was here a moment ago,” said North, essaying a confidential look + towards his chief. + </p> + <p> + “I know it,” said Stacy coolly, without looking up. + </p> + <p> + “He's been running a good deal on wildcat lately,” suggested North. + </p> + <p> + “I asked for his account, and not your opinion of it,” said Stacy shortly. + </p> + <p> + The subordinate withdrew somewhat abashed but still curious, and returned + presently with a ledger which he laid before his chief. Stacy ran his eyes + over the list of Barker's securities; it seemed to him that all the + wildest schemes of the past year stared him in the face. His finger, + however, stopped on the Wide West Extension. “Mr. Barker will be wanting + to sell some of this stock. What is it quoted at now?” + </p> + <p> + “Sixty.” + </p> + <p> + “But I would prefer that Mr. Barker should not offer in the open market at + present. Give him seventy for it—private sale; that will be ten + thousand dollars paid to his credit. Advise the Branch of this at once, + and to keep the transaction quiet.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” responded the clerk as he moved towards the door. But he + hesitated, and with another essay at confidence said insinuatingly, “I + always thought, sir, that Wide West would recover.” + </p> + <p> + Stacy, perhaps not displeased to find what had evidently passed in his + subordinate's mind, looked at him and said dryly, “Then I would advise you + also to keep that opinion to yourself.” But, clever as he was, he had not + anticipated the result. Mr. North, though a trusted employee, was human. + On arriving in the outer office he beckoned to one of the lounging + brokers, and in a low voice said, “I'll take two shares of Wide West, if + you can get it cheap.” + </p> + <p> + The broker's face became alert and eager. “Yes, but I say, is anything + up?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not here to give the business of the bank away,” retorted North + severely; “take the order or leave it.” + </p> + <p> + The man hurried away. Having thus vindicated his humanity by also passing + the snub he had received from Stacy to an inferior, he turned away to + carry out his master's instructions, yet secure in the belief that he had + profited by his superior discernment of the real reason of that master's + singular conduct. But when he returned to the private room, in hopes of + further revelations, Mr. Stacy was closeted with another financial + magnate, and had apparently divested his mind of the whole affair. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. + </h2> + <p> + When George Barker returned to the outer ward of the financial stronghold + he had penetrated, with its curving sweep of counters, brass railings, and + wirework screens defended by the spruce clerks behind them, he was again + impressed with the position of the man he had just quitted, and for a + moment hesitated, with an inclination to go back. It was with no idea of + making a further appeal to his old comrade, but—what would have been + odd in any other nature but his—he was affected by a sense that HE + might have been unfair and selfish in his manner to the man panoplied by + these defenses, and who was in a measure forced to be a part of them. He + would like to have returned and condoled with him. The clerks, who were + heartlessly familiar with the anxious bearing of the men who sought + interviews with their chief, both before and after, smiled with the + whispered conviction that the fresh and ingenuous young stranger had been + “chucked” like others until they met his kindly, tolerant, and even + superior eyes, and were puzzled. Meanwhile Barker, who had that sublime, + natural quality of abstraction over small impertinences which is more + exasperating than studied indifference, after his brief hesitation passed + out unconcernedly through the swinging mahogany doors into the blowy + street. Here the wind and rain revived him; the bank and its curt refusal + were forgotten; he walked onward with only a smiling memory of his partner + as in the old days. He remembered how Stacy had burned down their old + cabin rather than have it fall into sordid or unworthy hands—this + Stacy who was now condemned to sink his impulses and become a mere + machine. He had never known Stacy's real motive for that act,—both + Demorest and Stacy had kept their knowledge of the attempted robbery from + their younger partner,—it always seemed to him to be a precious + revelation of Stacy's inner nature. Facing the wind and rain, he recalled + how Stacy, though never so enthusiastic about his marriage as Demorest, + had taken up Van Loo sharply for some foolish sneer about his own + youthfulness. He was affectionately tolerant of even Stacy's dislike to + his wife's relations, for Stacy did not know them as he did. Indeed, + Barker, whose own father and mother had died in his infancy, had accepted + his wife's relations with a loving trust and confidence that was supreme, + from the fact that he had never known any other. + </p> + <p> + At last he reached his hotel. It was a new one, the latest creation of a + feverish progress in hotel-building which had covered five years and as + many squares with large showy erections, utterly beyond the needs of the + community, yet each superior in size and adornment to its predecessor. It + struck him as being the one evidence of an abiding faith in the future of + the metropolis that he had seen in nothing else. As he entered its + frescoed hall that afternoon he was suddenly reminded, by its challenging + opulency, of the bank he had just quitted, without knowing that the bank + had really furnished its capital and its original design. The gilded + bar-rooms, flashing with mirrors and cut glass; the saloons, with their + desert expanse of Turkey carpet and oasis of clustered divans and gilded + tables; the great dining-room, with porphyry columns, and walls and + ceilings shining with allegory—all these things which had attracted + his youthful wonder without distracting his correct simplicity of taste he + now began to comprehend. It was the bank's money “at work.” In the clatter + of dishes in the dining-room he even seemed to hear again the chinking of + coin. + </p> + <p> + It was a short cut to his apartments to pass through a smaller public + sitting-room popularly known as “Flirtation Camp,” where eight or ten + couples generally found refuge on chairs and settees by the windows, half + concealed by heavy curtains. But the occupants were by no means youthful + spinsters or bachelors; they were generally married women, guests of the + hotel, receiving other people's husbands whose wives were “in the States,” + or responsible middle-aged leaders of the town. In the elaborate toilettes + of the women, as compared with the less formal business suits of the men, + there was an odd mingling of the social attitude with perhaps more + mysterious confidences. The idle gossip about them had never affected + Barker; rather he had that innate respect for the secrets of others which + is as inseparable from simplicity as it is from high breeding, and he + scarcely glanced at the different couples in his progress through the + room. He did not even notice a rather striking and handsome woman, who, + surrounded by two or three admirers, yet looked up at Barker as he passed + with self-conscious lids as if seeking a return of her glance. But he + moved on abstractedly, and only stopped when he suddenly saw the familiar + skirt of his wife at a further window, and halted before it. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it's YOU,” said Mrs. Barker, with a half-nervous, half-impatient + laugh. “Why, I thought you'd certainly stay half the afternoon with your + old partner, considering that you haven't met for three years.” + </p> + <p> + There was no doubt she HAD thought so; there was equally no doubt that the + conversation she was carrying on with her companion—a good-looking, + portly business man—was effectually interrupted. But Barker did not + notice it. “Captain Heath, my husband,” she went on, carelessly rising and + smoothing her skirts. The captain, who had risen too, bowed vaguely at the + introduction, but Barker extended his hand frankly. “I found Stacy busy,” + he said in answer to his wife, “but he is coming to dine with us + to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “If you mean Jim Stacy, the banker,” said Captain Heath, brightening into + greater ease, “he's the busiest man in California. I've seen men standing + in a queue outside his door as in the old days at the post-office. And he + only gives you five minutes and no extension. So you and he were partners + once?” he said, looking curiously at the still youthful Barker. + </p> + <p> + But it was Mrs. Barker who answered, “Oh yes! and always such good + friends. I was awfully jealous of him.” Nevertheless, she did not respond + to the affectionate protest in Barker's eyes nor to the laugh of Captain + Heath, but glanced indifferently around the room as if to leave further + conversation to the two men. It was possible that she was beginning to + feel that Captain Heath was as de trop now as her husband had been a + moment before. Standing there, however, between them both, idly tracing a + pattern on the carpet with the toe of her slipper, she looked prettier + than she had ever looked as Kitty Carter. Her slight figure was more fully + developed. That artificial severity covering a natural virgin coyness with + which she used to wait at table in her father's hotel at Boomville had + gone, and was replaced by a satisfied consciousness of her power to + please. Her glance was freer, but not as frank as in those days. Her dress + was undoubtedly richer and more stylish; yet Barker's loyal heart often + reverted fondly to the chintz gown, coquettishly frilled apron, and + spotless cuffs and collar in which she had handed him his coffee with a + faint color that left his own face crimson. + </p> + <p> + Captain Heath's tact being equal to her indifference, he had excused + himself, although he was becoming interested in this youthful husband. But + Mrs. Barker, after having asserted her husband's distinction as the equal + friend of the millionaire, was by no means willing that the captain should + be further interested in Barker for himself alone, and did not urge him to + stay. As he departed she turned to her husband, and, indicating the group + he had passed the moment before, said:— + </p> + <p> + “That horrid woman has been staring at us all the time. I don't see what + you see in her to admire.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Barker's admiration had been limited to a few words of civility in + the enforced contact of that huge caravansary and in his quiet, youthful + recognition of her striking personality. But he was just then too + preoccupied with his interview with Stacy to reply, and perhaps he did not + quite understand his wife. It was odd how many things he did not quite + understand now about Kitty, but that he knew must be HIS fault. But Mrs. + Barker apparently did not require, after the fashion of her sex, a reply. + For the next moment, as they moved towards their rooms, she said + impatiently, “Well, you don't tell what Stacy said. Did you get the + money?” + </p> + <p> + I grieve to say that this soul of truth and frankness lied—only to + his wife. Perhaps he considered it only lying to HIMSELF, a thing of which + he was at times miserably conscious. “It wasn't necessary, dear,” he said; + “he advised me to sell my securities in the bank; and if you only knew how + dreadfully busy he is.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Barker curled her pretty lip. “It doesn't take very long to lend ten + thousand dollars!” she said. “But that's what I always tell you. You have + about made me sick by singing the praises of those wonderful partners of + yours, and here you ask a favor of one of them and he tells you to sell + your securities! And you know, and he knows, they're worth next to + nothing.” + </p> + <p> + “You don't understand, dear”—began Barker. + </p> + <p> + “I understand that you've given your word to poor Harry,” said Mrs. Barker + in pretty indignation, “who's responsible for the Ditch purchase.” + </p> + <p> + “And I shall keep it. I always do,” said Barker very quietly, but with + that same singular expression of face that had puzzled Stacy. But Mrs. + Barker, who, perhaps, knew her husband better, said in an altered voice:— + </p> + <p> + “But HOW can you, dear?” + </p> + <p> + “If I'm short a thousand or two I'll ask your father.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Barker was silent. “Father's so very much harried now, George. Why + don't you simply throw the whole thing up?” + </p> + <p> + “But I've given my word to your cousin Henry.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but only your WORD. There was no written agreement. And you couldn't + even hold him to it.” + </p> + <p> + Barker opened his frank eyes in astonishment. Her own cousin, too! And + they were Stacy's very words! + </p> + <p> + “Besides,” added Mrs. Barker audaciously, “he could get rid of it + elsewhere. He had another offer, but he thought yours the best. So don't + be silly.” + </p> + <p> + By this time they had reached their rooms. Barker, apparently dismissing + the subject from his mind with characteristic buoyancy, turned into the + bedroom and walked smilingly towards a small crib which stood in the + corner. “Why, he's gone!” he said in some dismay. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Mrs. Barker a little impatiently, “you didn't expect me to + take him into the public parlor, where I was seeing visitors, did you? I + sent him out with the nurse into the lower hall to play with the other + children.” + </p> + <p> + A shade momentarily passed over Barker's face. He always looked forward to + meeting the child when he came back. He had a belief, based on no grounds + whatever, that the little creature understood him. And he had a father's + doubt of the wholesomeness of other people's children who were born into + the world indiscriminately and not under the exceptional conditions of his + own. “I'll go and fetch him,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “You haven't told me anything about your interview; what you did and what + your good friend Stacy said,” said Mrs. Barker, dropping languidly into a + chair. “And really if you are simply running away again after that child, + I might just as well have asked Captain Heath to stay longer.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, as to Stacy,” said Barker, dropping beside her and taking her hand; + “well, dear, he was awfully busy, you know, and shut up in the innermost + office like the agate in one of the Japanese nests of boxes. But,” he + continued, brightening up, “just the same dear old Jim Stacy of Heavy Tree + Hill, when I first knew you. Lord! dear, how it all came back to me! That + day I proposed to you in the belief that I was unexpectedly rich and even + bought a claim for the boys on the strength of it, and how I came back to + them to find that they had made a big strike on the very claim. Lord! I + remember how I was so afraid to tell them about you—and how they + guessed it—that dear old Stacy one of the first.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Mrs. Barker, “and I hope your friend Stacy remembered that but + for ME, when you found out that you were not rich, you'd have given up the + claim, but that I really deceived my own father to make you keep it. I've + often worried over that, George,” she said pensively, turning a diamond + bracelet around her pretty wrist, “although I never said anything about + it.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Kitty darling,” said Barker, grasping his wife's hand, “I gave my + note for it; you know you said that was bargain enough, and I had better + wait until the note was due, and until I found I couldn't pay, before I + gave up the claim. It was very clever of you, and the boys all said so, + too. But you never deceived your father, dear,” he said, looking at her + gravely, “for I should have told him everything.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course, if you look at it in that way,” said his wife languidly, “it's + nothing; only I think it ought to be remembered when people go about + saying papa ruined you with his hotel schemes.” + </p> + <p> + “Who dares say that?” said Barker indignantly. + </p> + <p> + “Well, if they don't SAY it they look it,” said Mrs. Barker, with a toss + of her pretty head, “and I believe that's at the bottom of Stacy's + refusal.” + </p> + <p> + “But he never said a word, Kitty,” said Barker, flushing. + </p> + <p> + “There, don't excite yourself, George,” said Mrs. Barker resignedly, “but + go for the baby. I know you're dying to go, and I suppose it's time Norah + brought it upstairs.” + </p> + <p> + At any other time Barker would have lingered with explanations, but just + then a deeper sense than usual of some misunderstanding made him anxious + to shorten this domestic colloquy. He rose, pressed his wife's hand, and + went out. But yet he was not entirely satisfied with himself for leaving + her. “I suppose it isn't right my going off as soon as I come in,” he + murmured reproachfully to himself, “but I think she wants the baby back as + much as I; only, womanlike, she didn't care to let me know it.” + </p> + <p> + He reached the lower hall, which he knew was a favorite promenade for the + nurses who were gathered at the farther end, where a large window looked + upon Montgomery Street. But Norah, the Irish nurse, was not among them; he + passed through several corridors in his search, but in vain. At last, + worried and a little anxious, he turned to regain his rooms through the + long saloon where he had found his wife previously. It was deserted now; + the last caller had left—even frivolity had its prescribed limits. + He was consequently startled by a gentle murmur from one of the heavily + curtained window recesses. It was a woman's voice—low, sweet, + caressing, and filled with an almost pathetic tenderness. And it was + followed by a distinct gurgling satisfied crow. + </p> + <p> + Barker turned instantly in that direction. A step brought him to the + curtain, where a singular spectacle presented itself. + </p> + <p> + Seated on a lounge, completely absorbed and possessed by her treasure, was + the “horrid woman” whom his wife had indicated only a little while ago, + holding a baby—Kitty's sacred baby—in her wanton lap! The + child was feebly grasping the end of the slender jeweled necklace which + the woman held temptingly dangling from a thin white jeweled finger above + it. But its eyes were beaming with an intense delight, as if trying to + respond to the deep, concentrated love in the handsome face that was bent + above it. + </p> + <p> + At the sudden intrusion of Barker she looked up. There was a faint rise in + her color, but no loss of sell-possession. + </p> + <p> + “Please don't scold the nurse,” she said, “nor say anything to Mrs. + Barker. It is all my fault. I thought that both the nurse and child looked + dreadfully bored with each other, and I borrowed the little fellow for a + while to try and amuse him. At least I haven't made him cry, have I, + dear?” The last epithet, it is needless to say, was addressed to the + little creature in her lap, but in its tender modulation it touched the + father's quick sympathies as if he had shared it with the child. “You + see,” she said softly, disengaging the baby fingers from her necklace, + “that OUR sex is not the only one tempted by jewelry and glitter.” + </p> + <p> + Barker hesitated; the Madonna-like devotion of a moment ago was gone; it + was only the woman of the world who laughingly looked up at him. + Nevertheless he was touched. “Have you—ever—had a child, Mrs. + Horncastle?” he asked gently and hesitatingly. He had a vague recollection + that she passed for a widow, and in his simple eyes all women were virgins + or married saints. + </p> + <p> + “No,” she said abruptly. Then she added with a laugh, “Or perhaps I should + not admire them so much. I suppose it's the same feeling bachelors have + for other people's wives. But I know you're dying to take that boy from + me. Take him, then, and don't be ashamed to carry him yourself just + because I'm here; you know you would delight to do it if I weren't.” + </p> + <p> + Barker bent over the silken lap in which the child was comfortably + nestling, and in that attitude had a faint consciousness that Mrs. + Horncastle was mischievously breathing into his curls a silent laugh. + Barker lifted his firstborn with proud skillfulness, but that sagacious + infant evidently knew when he was comfortable, and in a paroxysm of + objection caught his father's curls with one fist, while with the other he + grasped Mrs. Horncastle's brown braids and brought their heads into + contact. Upon which humorous situation Norah, the nurse, entered. + </p> + <p> + “It's all right, Norah,” said Mrs. Horncastle, laughing, as she disengaged + herself from the linking child. “Mr. Barker has claimed the baby, and has + agreed to forgive you and me and say nothing to Mrs. Barker.” Norah, with + the inscrutable criticism of her sex on her sex, thought it extremely + probable, and halted with exasperating discretion. “There,” continued Mrs. + Horncastle, playfully evading the child's further advances, “go with papa, + that's a dear. Mr. Barker prefers to carry him back, Norah.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” said the ingenuous and persistent Barker, still lingering in hopes + of recalling the woman's previous expression, “you DO love children, and + you think him a bright little chap for his age?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Mrs. Horncastle, putting back her loosened braid, “so round + and fat and soft. And such a discriminating eye for jewelry. Really you + ought to get a necklace like mine for Mrs. Barker—it would please + both, you know.” She moved slowly away, the united efforts of Norah and + Barker scarcely sufficing to restrain the struggling child from leaping + after her as she turned at the door and blew him a kiss. + </p> + <p> + When Barker regained his room he found that Mrs. Barker had dismissed + Stacy from her mind except so far as to invoke Norah's aid in laying out + her smartest gown for dinner. “But why take all this trouble, dear?” said + her simple-minded husband; “we are going to dine in a private room so that + we can talk over old times all by ourselves, and any dress would suit him. + And, Lord, dear!” he added, with a quick brightening at the fancy, “if you + could only just rig yourself up in that pretty lilac gown you used to wear + at Boomville—it would be too killing, and just like old times. I put + it away myself in one of our trunks—I couldn't bear to leave it + behind; I know just where it is. I'll”—But Mrs. Barker's restraining + scorn withheld him. + </p> + <p> + “George Barker, if you think I am going to let you throw away and utterly + WASTE Mr. Stacy on us, alone, in a private room with closed doors—and + I dare say you'd like to sit in your dressing-gown and slippers—you + are entirely mistaken. I know what is due, not to your old partner, but to + the great Mr. Stacy, the financier, and I know what is due FROM HIM TO US! + No! We dine in the great dining-room, publicly, and, if possible, at the + very next table to those stuck-up Peterburys and their Eastern friends, + including that horrid woman, which, I'm sure, ought to satisfy you. Then + you can talk as much as you like, and as loud as you like, about old + times,—and the louder and the more the better,—but I don't + think HE'LL like it.” + </p> + <p> + “But the baby!” expostulated Barker. “Stacy's just wild to see him—and + we can't bring him down to the table—though we MIGHT,” he added, + momentarily brightening. + </p> + <p> + “After dinner,” said Mrs. Barker severely, “we will walk through the big + drawing-rooms, and THEN Mr. Stacy may come upstairs and see him in his + crib; but not before. And now, George, I do wish that to-night, FOR ONCE, + you would not wear a turn-down collar, and that you would go to the + barber's and have him cut your hair and smooth out the curls. And, for + Heaven's sake! let him put some wax or gum or SOMETHING on your mustache + and twist it up on your cheek like Captain Heath's, for it positively + droops over your mouth like a girl's ringlet. It's quite enough for me to + hear people talk of your inexperience, but really I don't want you to look + as if I had run away with a pretty schoolboy. And, considering the size of + that child, it's positively disgraceful. And, one thing more, George. When + I'm talking to anybody, please don't sit opposite to me, beaming with + delight, and your mouth open. And don't roar if by chance I say something + funny. And—whatever you do—don't make eyes at me in company + whenever I happen to allude to you, as I did before Captain Heath. It is + positively too ridiculous.” + </p> + <p> + Nothing could exceed the laughing good humor with which her husband + received these cautions, nor the evident sincerity with which he promised + amendment. Equally sincere was he, though a little more thoughtful, in his + severe self-examination of his deficiencies, when, later, he seated + himself at the window with one hand softly encompassing his child's chubby + fist in the crib beside him, and, in the instinctive fashion of all + loneliness, looked out of the window. The southern trades were whipping + the waves of the distant bay and harbor into yeasty crests. Sheets of rain + swept the sidewalks with the regularity of a fusillade, against which a + few pedestrians struggled with flapping waterproofs and slanting + umbrellas. He could look along the deserted length of Montgomery Street to + the heights of Telegraph Hill and its long-disused semaphore. It seemed + lonelier to him than the mile-long sweep of Heavy Tree Hill, writhing + against the mountain wind and its aeolian song. He had never felt so + lonely THERE. In his rigid self-examination he thought Kitty right in + protesting against the effect of his youthfulness and optimism. Yet he was + also right in being himself. There is an egoism in the highest simplicity; + and Barker, while willing to believe in others' methods, never abandoned + his own aims. He was right in loving Kitty as he did; he knew that she was + better and more lovable than she could believe herself to be; but he was + willing to believe it pained and discomposed her if he showed it before + company. He would not have her change even this peculiarity—it was + part of herself—no more than he would have changed himself. And + behind what he had conceived was her clear, practical common sense, all + this time had been her belief that she had deceived her father! Poor dear, + dear Kitty! And she had suffered because stupid people had conceived that + her father had led him away in selfish speculations. As if he—Barker—would + not have first discovered it, and as if anybody—even dear Kitty + herself—was responsible for HIS convictions and actions but himself. + Nevertheless, this gentle egotist was unusually serious, and when the + child awoke at last, and with a fretful start and vacant eyes pushed his + caressing hand away, he felt lonelier than before. It was with a slight + sense of humiliation, too, that he saw it stretch its hands to the mere + hireling, Norah, who had never given it the love that he had seen even in + the frivolous Mrs. Horncastle's eyes. Later, when his wife came in, + looking very pretty in her elaborate dinner toilette, he had the same + conflicting emotions. He knew that they had already passed that phase of + their married life when she no longer dressed to please him, and that the + dictates of fashion or the rivalry of another woman she held superior to + his tastes; yet he did not blame her. But he was a little surprised to see + that her dress was copied from one of Mrs. Horncastle's most striking + ones, and that it did not suit her. That which adorned the maturer woman + did not agree with the demure and slightly austere prettiness of the young + wife. + </p> + <p> + But Barker forgot all this when Stacy—reserved and somewhat + severe-looking in evening dress—arrived with business punctuality. + He fancied that his old partner received the announcement that they would + dine in the public room with something of surprise, and he saw him glance + keenly at Kitty in her fine array, as if he had suspected it was her + choice, and understood her motives. Indeed, the young husband had found + himself somewhat nervous in regard to Stacy's estimate of Kitty; he was + conscious that she was not looking and acting like the old Kitty that + Stacy had known; it did not enter his honest heart that Stacy had, + perhaps, not appreciated her then, and that her present quality might + accord more with his worldly tastes and experience. It was, therefore, + with a kind of timid delight that he saw Stacy apparently enter into her + mood, and with a still more timorous amusement to notice that he seemed to + sympathize not only with her, but with her half-rallying, half-serious + attitude towards his (Barker's) inexperience and simplicity. He was glad + that she had made a friend of Stacy, even in this way. Stacy would + understand, as he did, her pretty willfulness at last; she would + understand what a true friend Stacy was to him. It was with unfeigned + satisfaction that he followed them in to dinner as she leaned upon his + guest's arm, chatting confidentially. He was only uneasy because her + manner had a slight ostentation. + </p> + <p> + The entrance of the little party produced a quick sensation throughout the + dining-room. Whispers passed from table to table; all heads were turned + towards the great financier as towards a magnet; a few guests even + shamelessly faced round in their chairs as he passed. Mrs. Barker was + pink, pretty, and voluble with excitement; Stacy had a slight mask of + reserve; Barker was the only one natural and unconscious. + </p> + <p> + As the dinner progressed Barker found that there was little chance for him + to invoke his old partner's memories of the past. He found, however, that + Stacy had received a letter from Demorest, and that he was coming home + from Europe. His letters were still sad; they both agreed upon that. And + then for the first time that day Stacy looked intently at Barker with the + look that he had often worn on Heavy Tree Hill. + </p> + <p> + “Then you think it is the same old trouble that worries him?” said Barker + in an awed and sympathetic voice. + </p> + <p> + “I believe it is,” said Stacy, with an equal feeling. Mrs. Barker pricked + up her pretty ears; her husband's ready sympathy was familiar enough; but + that this cold, practical Stacy should be moved at anything piqued her + curiosity. + </p> + <p> + “And you believe that he has never got over it?” continued Barker. + </p> + <p> + “He had one chance, but he threw it away,” said Stacy energetically. “If, + instead of going off to Europe by himself to brood over it, he had joined + me in business, he'd have been another man.” + </p> + <p> + “But not Demorest,” said Barker quickly. + </p> + <p> + “What dreadful secret is this about Demorest?” said Mrs. Barker + petulantly. “Is he ill?” + </p> + <p> + Both men were silent by their old common instinct. But it was Stacy who + said “No” in a way that put any further questioning at an end, and Barker + was grateful and for the moment disloyal to his Kitty. + </p> + <p> + It was with delight that Mrs. Barker had seen that the attention of the + next table was directed to them, and that even Mrs. Horncastle had glanced + from time to time at Stacy. But she was not prepared for the evident equal + effect that Mrs. Horncastle had created upon Stacy. His cold face warmed, + his critical eye softened; he asked her name. Mrs. Barker was voluble, + prejudiced, and, it seemed, misinformed. + </p> + <p> + “I know it all,” said Stacy, with didactic emphasis. “Her husband was as + bad as they make them. When her life had become intolerable WITH HIM, he + tried to make it shameful WITHOUT HIM by abandoning her. She could get a + divorce a dozen times over, but she won't.” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose that's what makes her so very attractive to gentlemen,” said + Mrs. Barker ironically. + </p> + <p> + “I have never seen her before,” continued Stacy, with business precision, + “although I and two other men are guardians of her property, and have + saved it from the clutches of her husband. They told me she was handsome—and + so she is.” + </p> + <p> + Pleased with the sudden human weakness of Stacy, Barker glanced at his + wife for sympathy. But she was looking studiously another way, and the + young husband's eyes, still full of his gratification, fell upon Mrs. + Horncastle's. She looked away with a bright color. Whereupon the sanguine + Barker—perfectly convinced that she returned Stacy's admiration—was + seized with one of his old boyish dreams of the future, and saw Stacy + happily united to her, and was only recalled to the dinner before him by + its end. Then Stacy duly promenaded the great saloon with Mrs. Barker on + his arm, visited the baby in her apartments, and took an easy leave. But + he grasped Barker's hand before parting in quite his old fashion, and + said, “Come to lunch with me at the bank any day, and we'll talk of Phil + Demorest,” and left Barker as happy as if the appointment were to confer + the favor he had that morning refused. But Mrs. Barker, who had overheard, + was more dubious. + </p> + <p> + “You don't suppose he asks you to talk with you about Demorest and his + stupid secret, do you?” she said scornfully. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps not only about that,” said Barker, glad that she had not demanded + the secret. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” returned Mrs. Barker as she turned away, “he might just as well + lunch here and talk about HER—and see her, too.” + </p> + <p> + Meantime Stacy had dropped into his club, only a few squares distant. His + appearance created the same interest that it had produced at the hotel, + but with less reserve among his fellow members. + </p> + <p> + “Have you heard the news?” said a dozen voices. Stacy had not; he had been + dining out. + </p> + <p> + “That infernal swindle of a Divide Railroad has passed the legislature.” + </p> + <p> + Stacy instantly remembered Barker's absurd belief in it and his reasons. + He smiled and said carelessly, “Are you quite sure it's a swindle?” + </p> + <p> + There was a dead silence at the coolness of the man who had been most + outspoken against it. + </p> + <p> + “But,” said a voice hesitatingly, “you know it goes nowhere and to no + purpose.” + </p> + <p> + “But that does not prevent it, now that it's a fact, from going anywhere + and to some purpose,” said Stacy, turning away. He passed into the + reading-room quietly, but in an instant turned and quickly descended by + another staircase into the hall, hurriedly put on his overcoat, and + slipping out was a moment later re-entering the hotel. Here he hastily + summoned Barker, who came down, flushed and excited. Laying his hand on + Barker's arm in his old dominant way, he said:— + </p> + <p> + “Don't delay a single hour, but get a written agreement for that Ditch + property.” + </p> + <p> + Barker smiled. “But I have. Got it this afternoon.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you know?” ejaculated Stacy in surprise. + </p> + <p> + “I only know,” said Barker, coloring, “that you said I could back out of + it if it wasn't signed, and that's what Kitty said, too. And I thought it + looked awfully mean for me to hold a man to that kind of a bargain. And so—you + won't be mad, old fellow, will you?—I thought I'd put it beyond any + question of my own good faith by having it in black and white.” He + stopped, laughing and blushing, but still earnest and sincere. “You don't + think me a fool, do you?” he said pathetically. + </p> + <p> + Stacy smiled grimly. “I think, Barker boy, that if you go to the Branch + you'll have no difficulty in paying for the Ditch property. Good-night.” + </p> + <p> + In a few moments he was back at the club again before any one knew he had + even left the building. As he again re-entered the smoking-room he found + the members still in eager discussion about the new railroad. One was + saying, “If they could get an extension, and carry the road through Heavy + Tree Hill to Boomville they'd be all right.” + </p> + <p> + “I quite agree with you,” said Stacy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. + </h2> + <p> + The swaying, creaking, Boomville coach had at last reached the level + ridge, and sank forward upon its springs with a sigh of relief and the + slow precipitation of the red dust which had hung in clouds around it. The + whole coach, inside and out, was covered with this impalpable powder; it + had poured into the windows that gaped widely in the insufferable heat; it + lay thick upon the novel read by the passenger who had for the third or + fourth time during the ascent made a gutter of the half-opened book and + blown the dust away in a single puff, like the smoke from a pistol. It lay + in folds and creases over the yellow silk duster of the handsome woman on + the back seat, and when she endeavored to shake it off enveloped her in a + reddish nimbus. It grimed the handkerchiefs of others, and left sanguinary + streaks on their mopped foreheads. But as the coach had slowly climbed the + summit the sun was also sinking behind the Black Spur Range, and with its + ultimate disappearance a delicious coolness spread itself like a wave + across the ridge. The passengers drew a long breath, the reader closed his + book, the lady lifted the edge of her veil and delicately wiped her + forehead, over which a few damp tendrils of hair were clinging. Even a + distinguished-looking man who had sat as impenetrable and remote as a + statue in one of the front seats moved and turned his abstracted face to + the window. His deeply tanned cheek and clearly cut features harmonized + with the red dust that lay in the curves of his brown linen dust-cloak, + and completed his resemblance to a bronze figure. Yet it was Demorest, + changed only in coloring. Now, as five years ago, his abstraction had a + certain quality which the most familiar stranger shrank from disturbing. + But in the general relaxation of relief the novel-reader addressed him. + </p> + <p> + “Well, we ain't far from Boomville now, and it's all down-grade the rest + of the way. I reckon you'll be as glad to get a 'wash up' and a 'shake' as + the rest of us.” + </p> + <p> + “I am afraid I won't have so early an opportunity,” said Demorest, with a + faint, grave smile, “for I get off at the cross-road to Heavy Tree Hill.” + </p> + <p> + “Heavy Tree Hill!” repeated the other in surprise. “You ain't goin' to + Heavy Tree Hill? Why, you might have gone there direct by railroad, and + have been there four hours ago. You know there's a branch from the Divide + Railroad goes there straight to the hotel at Hymettus.” + </p> + <p> + “Where?” said Demorest, with a puzzled smile. + </p> + <p> + “Hymettus. That's the fancy name they've given to the watering-place on + the slope. But I reckon you're a stranger here?” + </p> + <p> + “For five years,” said Demorest. “I fancy I've heard of the railroad, + although I prefer to go to Heavy Tree this way. But I never heard of a + watering-place there before.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, it's the biggest boom of the year. Folks that are tired of the fogs + of 'Frisco and the heat of Sacramento all go there. It's four thousand + feet up, with a hotel like Saratoga, dancing, and a band plays every + night. And it all sprang out of the Divide Railroad and a crank named + George Barker, who bought up some old Ditch property and ran a branch line + along its levels, and made a junction with the Divide. You can come all + the way from 'Frisco or Sacramento by rail. It's a mighty big thing!” + </p> + <p> + “Yet,” said Demorest, with some animation, “you call the man who + originated this success a crank. I should say he was a genius.” + </p> + <p> + The other passenger shook his head. “All sheer nigger luck. He bought the + Ditch plant afore there was a ghost of a chance for the Divide Railroad, + just out o' pure d——d foolishness. He expected so little from + it that he hadn't even got the agreement done in writin', and hadn't paid + for it, when the Divide Railroad passed the legislature, as it never + oughter done! For, you see, the blamedest cur'ous thing about the whole + affair was that this 'straw' road of a Divide, all pure wildcat, was only + gotten up to frighten the Pacific Railroad sharps into buying it up. And + the road that nobody ever calculated would ever have a rail of it laid was + pushed on as soon as folks knew that the Ditch plant had been bought up, + for they thought there was a big thing behind it. Even the hotel was, at + first, simply a kind of genteel alms-house that this yer Barker had built + for broken-down miners!” + </p> + <p> + “Nevertheless,” continued Demorest, smiling, “you admit that it is a great + success?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the other, a little irritated by some complacency in + Demorest's smile, “but the success isn't HIS'N. Fools has ideas, and wise + men profit by them, for that hotel now has Jim Stacy's bank behind it, and + is even a kind of country branch of the Brook House in 'Frisco. Barker's + out of it, I reckon. Anyhow, HE couldn't run a hotel, for all that his + wife—she that's one of the big 'Frisco swells now—used to help + serve in her father's. No, sir, it's just a fool's luck, gettin' the first + taste and leavin' the rest to others.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not sure that it's the worst kind of luck,” returned Demorest, with + persistent gravity; “and I suppose he's satisfied with it.” But so + heterodox an opinion only irritated his antagonist the more, especially as + he noticed that the handsome woman in the back seat appeared to be + interested in the conversation, and even sympathetic with Demorest. The + man was in the main a good-natured fellow and loyal to his friends; but + this did not preclude any virulent criticism of others, and for a moment + he hated this bronze-faced stranger, and even saw blemishes in the + handsome woman's beauty. “That may be YOUR idea of an Eastern man,” he + said bluntly, “but I kin tell ye that Californy ain't run on those lines. + No, sir.” Nevertheless, his curiosity got the better of his ill humor, and + as the coach at last pulled up at the cross-road for Demorest to descend + he smiled affably at his departing companion. + </p> + <p> + “You allowed just now that you'd bin five years away. Whar mout ye have + bin?” + </p> + <p> + “In Europe,” said Demorest pleasantly. + </p> + <p> + “I reckoned ez much,” returned his interrogator, smiling significantly at + the other passengers. “But in what place?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, many,” said Demorest, smiling also. + </p> + <p> + “But what place war ye last livin' at?” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Demorest, descending the steps, but lingering for a moment + with his hand on the door of the coach, “oddly enough, now you remind me + of it—at Hymettus!” + </p> + <p> + He closed the door, and the coach rolled on. The passenger reddened, + glanced indignantly after the departing figure of Demorest and + suspiciously at the others. The lady was looking from the window with a + faint smile on her face. + </p> + <p> + “He might hev given me a civil answer,” muttered the passenger, and + resumed his novel. + </p> + <p> + When the coach drew up before Carter's Hotel the lady got down, and the + curiosity of her susceptible companions was gratified to the extent of + learning from the register that her name was Horncastle. + </p> + <p> + She was shown to a private sitting-room, which chanced to be the one which + had belonged to Mrs. Barker in the days of her maidenhood, and was the + sacred, impenetrable bower to which she retired when her daily duties of + waiting upon her father's guests were over. But the breath of custom had + passed through it since then, and but little remained of its former maiden + glories, except a few schoolgirl crayon drawings on the wall and an + unrecognizable portrait of herself in oil, done by a wandering artist and + still preserved as a receipt for his unpaid bill. Of these facts Mrs. + Horncastle knew nothing; she was evidently preoccupied, and after she had + removed her outer duster and entered the room, she glanced at the clock on + the mantel-shelf and threw herself with an air of resigned abstraction in + an armchair in the corner. Her traveling-dress, although unostentatious, + was tasteful and well-fitting; a slight pallor from her fatiguing journey, + and, perhaps, from some absorbing thought, made her beauty still more + striking. She gave even an air of elegance to the faded, worn adornments + of the room, which it is to be feared it never possessed in Miss Kitty's + occupancy. Again she glanced at the clock. There was a tap at the door. + </p> + <p> + “Come in.” + </p> + <p> + The door opened to a Chinese servant bearing a piece of torn paper with a + name written on it in lieu of a card. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle took it, glanced at the name, and handed the paper back. + </p> + <p> + “There must be some mistake,” she said, “it do not know Mr. Steptoe.” + </p> + <p> + “No, but you know ME all the same,” said a voice from the doorway as a man + entered, coolly took the Chinese servant by the elbows and thrust him into + the passage, closing the door upon him. “Steptoe and Horncastle are the + same man, only I prefer to call myself Steptoe HERE. And I see YOU'RE down + on the register as 'Horncastle.' Well, it's plucky of you, and it's not a + bad name to keep; you might be thankful that I have always left it to you. + And if I call myself Steptoe here it's a good blind against any of your + swell friends knowing you met your HUSBAND here.” + </p> + <p> + In the half-scornful, half-resigned look she had given him when he entered + there was no doubt that she recognized him as the man she had come to see. + He had changed little in the five years that had elapsed since he entered + the three partners' cabin at Heavy Tree Hill. His short hair and beard + still clung to his head like curled moss or the crisp flocculence of + Astrakhan. He was dressed more pretentiously, but still gave the same idea + of vulgar strength. She listened to him without emotion, but said, with + even a deepening of scorn in her manner:— + </p> + <p> + “What new shame is this?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing NEW,” he replied. “Only five years ago I was livin' over on the + Bar at Heavy Tree Hill under the name of Steptoe, and folks here might + recognize me. I was here when your particular friend, Jim Stacy, who only + knew me as Steptoe, and doesn't know me as Horncastle, your HUSBAND,—for + all he's bound up my property for you,—made his big strike with his + two partners. I was in his cabin that very night, and drank his whiskey. + Oh, I'm all right there! I left everything all right behind me—only + it's just as well he doesn't know I'm Horncastle. And as the boy happened + to be there with me”—He stopped, and looked at her significantly. + </p> + <p> + The expression of her face changed. Eagerness, anxiety, and even fear came + into it in turn, but always mingling with some scorn that dominated her. + “The boy!” she said in a voice that had changed too; “well, what about + him? You promised to tell me all,—all!” + </p> + <p> + “Where's the money?” he said. “Husband and wife are ONE, I know,” he went + on with a coarse laugh, “but I don't trust MYSELF in these matters.” + </p> + <p> + She took from a traveling-reticule that lay beside her a roll of notes and + a chamois leather bag of coin, and laid them on the table before him. He + examined both carefully. + </p> + <p> + “All right,” he said. “I see you've got the checks made out 'to bearer.' + Your head's level, Conny. Pity you and me can't agree.” + </p> + <p> + “I went to the bank across the way as soon as I arrived,” she said, with + contemptuous directness. “I told them I was going over to Hymettus and + might want money.” + </p> + <p> + He dropped into a chair before her with his broad heavy hands upon his + knees, and looked at her with an equal, though baser, contempt: for his + was mingled with a certain pride of mastery and possession. + </p> + <p> + “And, of course, you'll go to Hymettus and cut a splurge as you always do. + The beautiful Mrs. Horncastle! The helpless victim of a wretched, + dissipated, disgraced, gambling husband. So dreadfully sad, you know, and + so interesting! Could get a divorce from the brute if she wanted, but + won't, on account of her religious scruples. And so while the brute is + gambling, swindling, disgracing himself, and dodging a shot here and a + lynch committee there, two or three hundred miles away, you're splurging + round in first-class hotels and watering-places, doing the injured and + abused, and run after by a lot of men who are ready to take my place, and, + maybe, some of my reputation along with it.” + </p> + <p> + “Stop!” she said suddenly, in a voice that made the glass chandelier ring. + He had risen too, with a quick, uneasy glance towards the door. But her + outbreak passed as suddenly, and sinking back into her chair, she said, + with her previous scornful resignation, “Never mind. Go on. You KNOW + you're lying!” + </p> + <p> + He sat down again and looked at her critically. “Yes, as far as you're + concerned I WAS lying! I know your style. But as you know, too, that I'd + kill you and the first man I suspected, and there ain't a judge or a jury + in all Californy that wouldn't let me go free for it, and even consider, + too, that it had wiped off the whole slate agin me—it's to my + credit!” + </p> + <p> + “I know what you men call chivalry,” she said coldly, “but I did not come + here to buy a knowledge of that. So now about the child?” she ended + abruptly, leaning forward again with the same look of eager solicitude in + her eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Well, about the child—our child—though, perhaps, I prefer to + say MY child,” he began, with a certain brutal frankness. “I'll tell you. + But first, I don't want you to talk about BUYING your information of me. + If I haven't told you anything before, it's because I didn't think you + oughter know. If I didn't trust the child to YOU, it's because I didn't + think you could go shashaying about with a child that was three years old + when I”—he stopped and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand—“made + an honest woman of you—I think that's what they call it.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” she said eagerly, ignoring the insult, “I could have hidden it + where no one but myself would have known it. I could have sent it to + school and visited it as a relation.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he said curtly, “like all women, and then blurted it out some day + and made it worse.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” she said desperately, “even THEN, suppose I had been willing to + take the shame of it! I have taken more!” + </p> + <p> + “But I didn't intend that you should,” he said roughly. + </p> + <p> + “You are very careful of my reputation,” she returned scornfully. + </p> + <p> + “Not by a d——d sight,” he burst out; “but I care for HIS! I'm + not goin' to let any man call him a bastard!” + </p> + <p> + Callous as she had become even under this last cruel blow, she could not + but see something in his coarse eyes she had never seen before; could not + but hear something in his brutal voice she had never heard before! Was it + possible that somewhere in the depths of his sordid nature he had his own + contemptible sense of honor? A hysterical feeling came over her hitherto + passive disgust and scorn, but it disappeared with his next sentence in a + haze of anxiety. “No!” he said hoarsely, “he had enough wrong done him + already.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” she said imploringly. “Or are you again lying? You + said, four years ago, that he had 'got into trouble;' that was your excuse + for keeping him from me. Or was that a lie, too?” + </p> + <p> + His manner changed and softened, but not for any pity for his companion, + but rather from some change in his own feelings. “Oh, that,” he said, with + a rough laugh, “that was only a kind o' trouble any sassy kid like him was + likely to get into. You ain't got no call to hear that, for,” he added, + with a momentary return to his previous manner, “the wrong that was done + him is MY lookout! You want to know what I did with him, how he's been + looked arter, and where he is? You want the worth of your money. That's + square enough. But first I want you to know, though you mayn't believe it, + that every red cent you've given me to-night goes to HIM. And don't you + forget it.” + </p> + <p> + For all his vulgar frankness she knew he had lied to her many times + before,—maliciously, wantonly, complacently, but never evasively; + yet there was again that something in his manner which told her he was now + telling the truth. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” he began, settling himself back in his chair, “I told you I + brought him to Heavy Tree Hill. After I left you I wasn't going to trust + him to no school; he knew enough for me; but when I left those parts where + nobody knew you, and got a little nearer 'Frisco, where people might have + known us both, I thought it better not to travel round with a kid o' that + size as his FATHER. So I got a young fellow here to pass him off as HIS + little brother, and look after him and board him; and I paid him a big + price for it, too, you bet! You wouldn't think it was a man who's now + swelling around here, the top o' the pile, that ever took money from a + brute like me, and for such schoolmaster work, too; but he did, and his + name was Van Loo, a clerk of the Ditch Company.” + </p> + <p> + “Van Loo!” said the woman, with a movement of disgust; “THAT man!” + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter with Van Loo?” he said, with a coarse laugh, enjoying + his wife's discomfiture. “He speaks French and Spanish, and you oughter + hear the kid roll off the lingo he's got from him. He's got style, and + knows how to dress, and you ought to see the kid bow and scrape, and how + he carries himself. Now, Van Loo wasn't exactly my style, and I reckon I + don't hanker after him much, but he served my purpose.” + </p> + <p> + “And this man knows”—she said, with a shudder. + </p> + <p> + “He knows Steptoe and the boy, but he don't know Horncastle nor YOU. Don't + you be skeert. He's the last man in the world who would hanker to see me + or the kid again, or would dare to say that he ever had! Lord! I'd like to + see his fastidious mug if me and Eddy walked in upon him and his + high-toned mother and sister some arternoon.” He threw himself back and + laughed a derisive, spasmodic, choking laugh, which was so far from being + genial that it even seemed to indicate a lively appreciation of pain in + others rather than of pleasure in himself. He had often laughed at her in + the same way. + </p> + <p> + “And where is he now?” she said, with a compressed lip. + </p> + <p> + “At school. Where, I don't tell you. You know why. But he's looked after + by me, and d——d well looked after, too.” + </p> + <p> + She hesitated, composed her face with an effort, parted her lips, and + looked out of the window into the gathering darkness. Then after a moment + she said slowly, yet with a certain precision:— + </p> + <p> + “And his mother? Do you ever talk to him of HER? Does—does he ever + speak of ME?” + </p> + <p> + “What do you think?” he said comfortably, changing his position in the + chair, and trying to read her face in the shadow. “Come, now. You don't + know, eh? Well—no! NO! You understand. No! He's MY friend—MINE! + He's stood by me through thick and thin. Run at my heels when everybody + else fled me. Dodged vigilance committees with me, laid out in the brush + with me with his hand in mine when the sheriff's deputies were huntin' me; + shut his jaw close when, if he squealed, he'd have been called another + victim of the brute Horncastle, and been as petted and canoodled as you.” + </p> + <p> + It would have been difficult for any one but the woman who knew the man + before her to have separated his brutish delight in paining her from + another feeling she had never dreamt him capable of,—an intense and + fierce pride in his affection for his child. And it was the more hopeless + to her that it was not the mere sentiment of reciprocation, but the + material instinct of paternity in its most animal form. And it seemed + horrible to her that the only outcome of what had been her own wild, + youthful passion for this brute was this love for the flesh of her flesh, + for she was more and more conscious as he spoke that her yearning for the + boy was the yearning of an equally dumb and unreasoning maternity. They + had met again as animals—in fear, contempt, and anger of each other; + but the animal had triumphed in both. + </p> + <p> + When she spoke again it was as the woman of the world,—the woman who + had laughed two years ago at the irrepressible Barker. “It's a new thing,” + she said, languidly turning her rings on her fingers, “to see you in the + role of a doting father. And may I ask how long you have had this amiable + weakness, and how long it is to last?” + </p> + <p> + To her surprise and the keen retaliating delight of her sex, a conscious + flush covered his face to the crisp edges of his black and matted beard. + For a moment she hoped that he had lied. But, to her greater surprise, he + stammered in equal frankness: “It's growed upon me for the last five years—ever + since I was alone with him.” He stopped, cleared his throat, and then, + standing up before her, said in his former voice, but with a more settled + and intense deliberation: “You wanter know how long it will last, do ye? + Well, you know your special friend, Jim Stacy—the big millionaire—the + great Jim of the Stock Exchange—the man that pinches the money + market of Californy between his finger and thumb and makes it squeal in + New York—the man who shakes the stock market when he sneezes? Well, + it will go on until that man is a beggar; until he has to borrow a dime + for his breakfast, and slump out of his lunch with a cent's worth of rat + poison or a bullet in his head! It'll go on until his old partner—that + softy George Barker—comes to the bottom of his d——d fool + luck and is a penny-a-liner for the papers and a hanger-round at free + lunches, and his scatter-brained wife runs away with another man! It'll go + on until the high-toned Demorest, the last of those three little tin gods + of Heavy Tree Hill, will have to climb down, and will know what I feel and + what he's made me feel, and will wish himself in hell before he ever made + the big strike on Heavy Tree! That's me! You hear me! I'm shoutin'! It'll + last till then! It may be next week, next month, next year. But it'll + come. And when it does come you'll see me and Eddy just waltzin' in and + takin' the chief seats in the synagogue! And you'll have a free pass to + the show!” + </p> + <p> + Either he was too intoxicated with his vengeful vision, or the shadows of + the room had deepened, but he did not see the quick flush that had risen + to his wife's face with this allusion to Barker, nor the after-settling of + her handsome features into a dogged determination equal to his own. His + blind fury against the three partners did not touch her curiosity; she was + only struck with the evident depth of his emotion. He had never been a + braggart; his hostility had always been lazy and cynical. Remembering + this, she had a faint stirring of respect for the undoubted courage and + consciousness of strength shown in this wild but single-handed crusade + against wealth and power; rather, perhaps, it seemed to her to condone her + own weakness in her youthful and inexplicable passion for him. No wonder + she had submitted. + </p> + <p> + “Then you have nothing more to tell me?” she said after a pause, rising + and going towards the mantel. + </p> + <p> + “You needn't light up for me,” he returned, rising also. “I am going. + Unless,” he added, with his coarse laugh, “you think it wouldn't look well + for Mrs. Horncastle to have been sitting in the dark with—a + stranger!” He paused as she contemptuously put down the candlestick and + threw the unlit match into the grate. “No, I've nothing more to tell. He's + a fancy-looking pup. You'd take him for twenty-one, though he's only + sixteen—clean-limbed and perfect—but for one thing”—He + stopped. He met her quick look of interrogation, however, with a lowering + silence that, nevertheless, changed again as he surveyed her erect figure + by the faint light of the window with a sardonic smile. “He favors you, I + think, and in all but one thing, too.” + </p> + <p> + “And that?” she queried coldly, as he seemed to hesitate. + </p> + <p> + “He ain't ashamed of ME,” he returned, with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + The door closed behind him; she heard his heavy step descend the creaking + stairs; he was gone. She went to the window and threw it open, as if to + get rid of the atmosphere charged with his presence,—a presence + still so potent that she now knew that for the last five minutes she had + been, to her horror, struggling against its magnetism. She even recoiled + now at the thought of her child, as if, in these new confidences over it, + it had revived the old intimacy in this link of their common flesh. She + looked down from her window on the square shoulders, thick throat, and + crisp matted hair of her husband as he vanished in the darkness, and drew + a breath of freedom,—a freedom not so much from him as from her own + weakness that he was bearing away with him into the exonerating night. + </p> + <p> + She shut the window and sank down in her chair again, but in the + encompassing and compassionate obscurity of the room. And this was the man + she had loved and for whom she had wrecked her young life! Or WAS it love? + and, if NOT, how was she better than he? Worse; for he was more loyal to + that passion that had brought them together and its responsibilities than + she was. She had suffered the perils and pangs of maternity, and yet had + only the mere animal yearning for her offspring, while he had taken over + the toil and duty, and even the devotion, of parentage himself. But then + she remembered also how he had fascinated her—a simple schoolgirl—by + his sheer domineering strength, and how the objections of her parents to + this coarse and common man had forced her into a clandestine intimacy that + ended in her complete subjection to him. She remembered the birth of an + infant whose concealment from her parents and friends was compassed by his + low cunning; she remembered the late atonement of marriage preferred by + the man she had already begun to loathe and fear, and who she now believed + was eager only for her inheritance. She remembered her abject compliance + through the greater fear of the world, the stormy scenes that followed + their ill-omened union, her final abandonment of her husband, and the + efforts of her friends and family who had rescued the last of her property + from him. She was glad she remembered it; she dwelt upon it, upon his + cruelty, his coarseness and vulgarity, until she saw, as she honestly + believed, the hidden springs of his affection for their child. It was HIS + child in nature, however it might have favored her in looks; it was HIS + own brutal SELF he was worshiping in his brutal progeny. How else could it + have ignored HER—its own mother? She never doubted the truth of what + he had told her—she had seen it in his own triumphant eyes. And yet + she would have made a kind mother; she remembered with a smile and a + slight rising of color the affection of Barker's baby for her; she + remembered with a deepening of that color the thrill of satisfaction she + had felt in her husband's fulmination against Mrs. Barker, and, more than + all, she felt in his blind and foolish hatred of Barker himself a + delicious condonation of the strange feeling that had sprung up in her + heart for Barker's simple, straightforward nature. How could HE + understand, how could THEY understand (by the plural she meant Mrs. Barker + and Horncastle), a character so innately noble. In her strange attraction + towards him she had felt a charming sense of what she believed was a + superior and even matronly protection; in the utter isolation of her life + now—and with her husband's foolish abuse of him ringing in her ears—it + seemed a sacred duty. She had lost a son. Providence had sent her an ideal + friend to replace him. And this was quite consistent, too, with a faint + smile that began to play about her mouth as she recalled some instances of + Barker's delightful and irresistible youthfulness. + </p> + <p> + There was a clatter of hoofs and the sound of many voices from the street. + Mrs. Horncastle knew it was the down coach changing horses; it would be + off again in a few moments, and, no doubt, bearing her husband away with + it. A new feeling of relief came over her as she at last heard the warning + “All aboard!” and the great vehicle clattered and rolled into the + darkness, trailing its burning lights across her walls and ceiling. But + now she heard steps on the staircase, a pause before her room, a whisper + of voices, the opening of the door, the rustle of a skirt, and a little + feminine cry of protest as a man apparently tried to follow the figure + into the room. “No, no! I tell you NO!” remonstrated the woman's voice in + a hurried whisper. “It won't do. Everybody knows me here. You must not + come in now. You must wait to be announced by the servant. Hush! Go!” + </p> + <p> + There was a slight struggle, the sound of a kiss, and the woman succeeded + in finally shutting the door. Then she walked slowly, but with a certain + familiarity towards the mantel, struck a match and lit the candle. The + light shone upon the bright eyes and slightly flushed face of Mrs. Barker. + But the motionless woman in the chair had recognized her voice and the + voice of her companion at once. And then their eyes met. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Barker drew back, but did not utter a cry. Mrs. Horncastle, with eyes + even brighter than her companion's, smiled. The red deepened in Mrs. + Barker's cheek. + </p> + <p> + “This is my room!” she said indignantly, with a sweeping gesture around + the walls. + </p> + <p> + “I should judge so,” said Mrs. Horncastle, following the gesture; “but,” + she added quietly, “they put ME into it. It appears, however, they did not + expect you.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Barker saw her mistake. “No, no,” she said apologetically, “of course + not.” Then she added, with nervous volubility, sitting down and tugging at + her gloves, “You see, I just ran down from Marysville to take a look at my + father's old house on my way to Hymettus. I hope I haven't disturbed you. + Perhaps,” she said, with sudden eagerness, “you were asleep when I came + in!” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Mrs. Horncastle, “I was not sleeping nor dreaming. I heard you + come in.” + </p> + <p> + “Some of these men are such idiots,” said Mrs. Barker, with a + half-hysterical laugh. “They seem to think if a woman accepts the least + courtesy from them they've a right to be familiar. But I fancy that fellow + was a little astonished when I shut the door in his face.” + </p> + <p> + “I fancy he WAS,” returned Mrs. Horncastle dryly. “But I shouldn't call + Mr. Van Loo an idiot. He has the reputation of being a cautious business + man.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Barker bit her lip. Her companion had been recognized. She rose with + a slight flirt of her skirt. “I suppose I must go and get a room; there + was nobody in the office when I came. Everything is badly managed here + since my father took away the best servants to Hymettus.” She moved with + affected carelessness towards the door, when Mrs. Horncastle, without + rising from her seat, said:— + </p> + <p> + “Why not stay here?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Barker brightened for a moment. “Oh,” she said, with polite + deprecation, “I couldn't think of turning you out.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't intend you shall,” said Mrs. Horncastle. “We will stay here + together until you go with me to Hymettus, or until Mr. Van Loo leaves the + hotel. He will hardly attempt to come in here again if I remain.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Barker, with a half-laugh, sat down irresolutely. Mrs. Horncastle + gazed at her curiously; she was evidently a novice in this sort of thing. + But, strange to say,—and I leave the ethics of this for the sex to + settle,—the fact did not soften Mrs. Horncastle's heart, nor in the + least qualify her attitude towards the younger woman. After an awkward + pause Mrs. Barker rose again. “Well, it's very good of you, and—and—-I'll + just run out and wash my hands and get the dust off me, and come back.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Mrs. Barker,” said Mrs. Horncastle, rising and approaching her, “you + will first wash your hands of this Mr. Van Loo, and get some of the dust + of the rendezvous off you before you do anything else. You CAN do it by + simply telling him, SHOULD YOU MEET HIM IN THE HALL, that I was sitting + here when he came in, and heard EVERYTHING! Depend upon it, he won't + trouble you again.” + </p> + <p> + But Mrs. Barker, though inexperienced in love, was a good fighter. The + best of the sex are. She dropped into the rocking-chair, and began rocking + backwards and forwards while still tugging at her gloves, and said, in a + gradually warming voice, “I certainly shall not magnify Mr. Van Loo's + silliness to that importance. And I have yet to learn what you mean by + talking about a rendezvous! And I want to know,” she continued, suddenly + stopping her rocking and tilting the rockers impertinently behind her, as, + with her elbows squared on the chair arms, she tilted her own face + defiantly up into Mrs. Horncastle's, “how a woman in your position—who + doesn't live with her husband—dares to talk to ME!” + </p> + <p> + There was a lull before the storm. Mrs. Horncastle approached nearer, and, + laying her hand on the back of the chair, leaned over her, and, with a + white face and a metallic ring in her voice, said: “It is just because I + am a woman IN MY POSITION that I do! It is because I don't live with my + husband that I can tell you what it will be when you no longer live with + yours—which will be the inevitable result of what you are now doing. + It is because I WAS in this position that the very man who is pursuing + you, because he thinks you are discontented with YOUR husband, once + thought he could pursue me because I had left MINE. You are here with him + alone, without the knowledge of your husband; call it folly, caprice, + vanity, or what you like, it can have but one end—to put you in my + place at last, to be considered the fair game afterwards for any man who + may succeed him. You can test him and the truth of what I say by telling + him now that I heard all.” + </p> + <p> + “Suppose he doesn't care what you have heard,” said Mrs. Barker sharply. + “Suppose he says nobody would believe you, if 'telling' is your game. + Suppose he is a friend of my husband and he thinks him a much better + guardian of my reputation than a woman like you. Suppose he should be the + first one to tell my husband of the foul slander invented by you!” + </p> + <p> + For an instant Mrs. Horncastle was taken aback by the audacity of the + woman before her. She knew the simple confidence and boyish trust of + Barker in his wife in spite of their sometimes strained relations, and she + knew how difficult it would be to shake it. And she had no idea of + betraying Mrs. Barker's secret to him, though she had made this scene in + his interest. She had wished to save Mrs. Barker from a compromising + situation, even if there was a certain vindictiveness in her exposing her + to herself. Yet she knew it was quite possible now, if Mrs. Barker had + immediate access to her husband, that she would convince him of her + perfect innocence. Nevertheless, she had still great confidence in Van + Loo's fear of scandal and his utter unmanliness. She knew he was not in + love with Mrs. Barker, and this puzzled her when she considered the + evident risk he was running now. Her face, however, betrayed nothing. She + drew back from Mrs. Barker, and, with an indifferent and graceful gesture + towards the door, said, as she leaned against the mantel, “Go, then, and + see this much-abused gentleman, and then go together with him and make + peace with your husband—even on those terms. If I have saved you + from the consequences of your folly I shall be willing to bear even HIS + blame.” + </p> + <p> + “Whatever I do,” said Mrs. Barker, rising hotly, “I shall not stay here + any longer to be insulted.” She flounced out of the room and swept down + the staircase into the office. Here she found an overworked clerk, and + with crimson cheeks and flashing eyes wanted to know why in her own + father's hotel she had found her own sitting-room engaged, and had been + obliged to wait half an hour before she could be shown into a decent + apartment to remove her hat and cloak in; and how it was that even the + gentleman who had kindly escorted her had evidently been unable to procure + her any assistance. She said this in a somewhat high voice, which might + have reached the ears of that gentleman had he been in the vicinity. But + he was not, and she was forced to meet the somewhat dazed apologies of the + clerk alone, and to accompany the chambermaid to a room only a few paces + distant from the one she had quitted. Here she hastily removed her outer + duster and hat, washed her hands, and consulted her excited face in the + mirror, with the door ajar and an ear sensitively attuned to any step in + the corridor. But all this was effected so rapidly that she was at last + obliged to sit down in a chair near the half-opened door, and wait. She + waited five minutes—ten—but still no footstep. Then she went + out into the corridor and listened, and then, smoothing her face, she + slipped downstairs, past the door of that hateful room, and reappeared + before the clerk with a smiling but somewhat pale and languid face. She + had found the room very comfortable, but it was doubtful whether she would + stay over night or go on to Hymettus. Had anybody been inquiring for her? + She expected to meet friends. No! And her escort—the gentleman who + came with her—was possibly in the billiard-room or the bar? + </p> + <p> + “Oh no! He was gone,” said the clerk. + </p> + <p> + “Gone!” echoed Mrs. Barker. “Impossible! He was—he was here only a + moment ago.” + </p> + <p> + The clerk rang a bell sharply. The stableman appeared. + </p> + <p> + “That tall, smooth-faced man, in a high hat, who came with the lady,” said + the clerk severely and concisely,—“didn't you tell me he was gone?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” said the stableman. + </p> + <p> + “Are you sure?” interrupted Mrs. Barker, with a dazzling smile that, + however, masked a sudden tightening round her heart. + </p> + <p> + “Quite sure, miss,” said the stableman, “for he was in the yard when + Steptoe came, after missing the coach. He wanted a buggy to take him over + to the Divide. We hadn't one, so he went over to the other stables, and he + didn't come back, so I reckon he's gone. I remember it, because Steptoe + came by a minute after he'd gone, in another buggy, and as he was going to + the Divide, too, I wondered why the gentleman hadn't gone with him.” + </p> + <p> + “And he left no message for me? He said nothing?” asked Mrs. Barker, quite + breathless, but still smiling. + </p> + <p> + “He said nothin' to me but 'Isn't that Steptoe over there?' when Steptoe + came in. And I remember he said it kinder suddent—as if he was + reminded o' suthin' he'd forgot; and then he asked for a buggy. Ye see, + miss,” added the man, with a certain rough consideration for her + disappointment, “that's mebbe why he clean forgot to leave a message.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Barker turned away, and ascended the stairs. Selfishness is quick to + recognize selfishness, and she saw in a flash the reason of Van Loo's + abandonment of her. Some fear of discovery had alarmed him; perhaps + Steptoe knew her husband; perhaps he had heard of Mrs. Horncastle's + possession of the sitting-room; perhaps—for she had not seen him + since their playful struggle at the door—he had recognized the woman + who was there, and the selfish coward had run away. Yes; Mrs. Horncastle + was right: she had been only a miserable dupe. + </p> + <p> + Her cheeks blazed as she entered the room she had just quitted, and threw + herself in a chair by the window. She bit her lip as she remembered how + for the last three months she had been slowly yielding to Van Loo's + cautious but insinuating solicitation, from a flirtation in the San + Francisco hotel to a clandestine meeting in the street; from a ride in the + suburbs to a supper in a fast restaurant after the theatre. Other women + did it who were fashionable and rich, as Van Loo had pointed out to her. + Other fashionable women also gambled in stocks, and had their private + broker in a “Charley” or a “Jack.” Why should not Mrs. Barker have + business with a “Paul” Van Loo, particularly as this fast craze permitted + secret meetings?—for business of this kind could not be conducted in + public, and permitted the fair gambler to call at private offices without + fear and without reproach. Mrs. Barker's vanity, Mrs. Barker's love of + ceremony and form, Mrs. Barker's snobbishness, were flattered by the + attentions of this polished gentleman with a foreign name, which even had + the flavor of nobility, who never picked up her fan and handed it to her + without bowing, and always rose when she entered the room. Mrs. Barker's + scant schoolgirl knowledge was touched by this gentleman, who spoke French + fluently, and delicately explained to her the libretto of a risky opera + bouffe. And now she had finally yielded to a meeting out of San Francisco—and + an ostensible visit—still as a speculator—to one or two mining + districts—with HER BROKER. This was the boldest of her steps—an + original idea of the fashionable Van Loo—which, no doubt, in time + would become a craze, too. But it was a long step—and there was a + streak of rustic decorum in Mrs. Barker's nature—the instinct that + made Kitty Carter keep a perfectly secluded and distinct sitting-room in + the days when she served her father's guests—that now had impelled + her to make it a proviso that the first step of her journey should be from + her old home in her father's hotel. It was this instinct of the + proprieties that had revived in her suddenly at the door of the old + sitting-room. + </p> + <p> + Then a new phase of the situation flashed upon her. It was hard for her + vanity to accept Van Loo's desertion as voluntary and final. What if that + hateful woman had lured him away by some trick or artfully designed + message? She was capable of such meanness to insure the fulfillment of her + prophecy. Or, more dreadful thought, what if she had some hold on his + affections—she had said that he had pursued her; or, more infamous + still, there were some secret understanding between them, and that she—Mrs. + Barker—was the dupe of them both! What was she doing in the hotel at + such a moment? What was her story of going to Hymettus but a lie as + transparent as her own? The tortures of jealousy, which is as often the + incentive as it is the result of passion, began to rack her. She had + probably yet known no real passion for this man; but with the thought of + his abandoning her, and the conception of his faithlessness, came the wish + to hold and keep him that was dangerously near it. What if he were even + then in that room, the room where she had said she would not stay to be + insulted, and they, thus secured against her intrusion, were laughing at + her now? She half rose at the thought, but a sound of a horse's hoofs in + the stable-yard arrested her. She ran to the window which gave upon it, + and, crouching down beside it, listened eagerly. The clatter of hoofs + ceased; the stableman was talking to some one; suddenly she heard the + stableman say, “Mrs. Barker is here.” Her heart leaped,—Van Loo had + returned. + </p> + <p> + But here the voice of the other man which she had not yet heard arose for + the first time clear and distinct. “Are you quite sure? I didn't know she + left San Francisco.” + </p> + <p> + The room reeled around her. The voice was George Barker's, her husband! + “Very well,” he continued. “You needn't put up my horse for the night. I + may take her back a little later in the buggy.” + </p> + <p> + In another moment she had swept down the passage, and burst into the other + room. Mrs. Horncastle was sitting by the table with a book in her hand. + She started as the half-maddened woman closed the door, locked it behind + her, and cast herself on her knees at her feet. + </p> + <p> + “My husband is here,” she gasped. “What shall I do? In heaven's name help + me!” + </p> + <p> + “Is Van Loo still here?” said Mrs. Horncastle quickly. + </p> + <p> + “No; gone. He went when I came.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle caught her hand and looked intently into her frightened + face. “Then what have you to fear from your husband?” she said abruptly. + </p> + <p> + “You don't understand. He didn't know I was here. He thought me in San + Francisco.” + </p> + <p> + “Does he know it now?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. I heard the stableman tell him. Couldn't you say I came here with + you; that we were here together; that it was just a little freak of ours? + Oh, do!” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle thought a moment. “Yes,” she said, “we'll see him here + together.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh no! no!” said Mrs. Barker suddenly, clinging to her dress and looking + fearfully towards the door. “I couldn't, COULDN'T see him now. Say I'm + sick, tired out, gone to my room.” + </p> + <p> + “But you'll have to see him later,” said Mrs. Horncastle wonderingly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but he may go first. I heard him tell them not to put up his horse.” + </p> + <p> + “Good!” said Mrs. Horncastle suddenly. “Go to your room and lock the door, + and I'll come to you later. Stop! Would Mr. Barker be likely to disturb + you if I told him you would like to be alone?” + </p> + <p> + “No, he never does. I often tell him that.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle smiled faintly. “Come, quick, then,” she said, “for he may + come HERE first.” + </p> + <p> + Opening the door she passed into the half-dark and empty hall. “Now run!” + She heard the quick rustle of Mrs. Barker's skirt die away in the + distance, the opening and shutting of a door—silence—and then + turned back into her own room. + </p> + <p> + She was none too soon. Presently she heard Barker's voice saying, “Thank + you, I can find the way,” his still buoyant step on the staircase, and + then saw his brown curls rising above the railing. The light streaming + through the open door of the sitting room into the half-lit hall had + partially dazzled him, and, already bewildered, he was still more dazzled + at the unexpected apparition of the smiling face and bright eyes of Mrs. + Horncastle standing in the doorway. + </p> + <p> + “You have fairly caught us,” she said, with charming composure; “but I had + half a mind to let you wander round the hotel a little longer. Come in.” + Barker followed her in mechanically, and she closed the door. “Now, sit + down,” she said gayly, “and tell me how you knew we were here, and what + you mean by surprising us at this hour.” + </p> + <p> + Barker's ready color always rose on meeting Mrs. Horncastle, for whom he + entertained a respectful admiration, not without some fear of her worldly + superiority. He flushed, bowed, and stared somewhat blankly around the + room, at the familiar walls, at the chair from which Mrs. Horncastle had + just risen, and finally at his wife's glove, which Mrs. Horncastle had a + moment before ostentatiously thrown on the table. Seeing which she pounced + upon it with assumed archness, and pretended to conceal it. + </p> + <p> + “I had no idea my wife was here,” he said at last, “and I was quite + surprised when the man told me, for she had not written to me about it.” + As his face was brightening, she for the first time noticed that his frank + gray eyes had an abstracted look, and there was a faint line of + contraction on his youthful forehead. “Still less,” he added, “did I look + for the pleasure of meeting you. For I only came here to inquire about my + old partner, Demorest, who arrived from Europe a few days ago, and who + should have reached Hymettus early this afternoon. But now I hear he came + all the way by coach instead of by rail, and got off at the cross-road, + and we must have passed each other on the different trails. So my journey + would have gone for nothing, only that I now shall have the pleasure of + going back with you and Kitty. It will be a lovely drive by moonlight.” + </p> + <p> + Relieved by this revelation, it was easy work for Mrs. Horncastle to + launch out into a playful, tantalizing, witty—but, I grieve to say, + entirely imaginative—account of her escapade with Mrs. Barker. How, + left alone at the San Francisco hotel while their gentlemen friends were + enjoying themselves at Hymettus, they resolved upon a little trip, partly + for the purpose of looking into some small investments of their own, and + partly for the fun of the thing. What funny experiences they had! How, in + particular, one horrid inquisitive, vulgar wretch had been boring a + European fellow passenger who was going to Hymettus, finally asking him + where he had come from last, and when he answered “Hymettus,” thought the + man was insulting him— + </p> + <p> + “But,” interrupted the laughing Barker, “that passenger may have been + Demorest, who has just come from Greece, and surely Kitty would have + recognized him.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle instantly saw her blunder, and not only retrieved it, but + turned it to account. Ah, yes! but by that time poor Kitty, unused to long + journeys and the heat, was utterly fagged out, was asleep, and perfectly + unrecognizable in veils and dusters on the back seat of the coach. And + this brought her to the point—which was, that she was sorry to say, + on arriving, the poor child was nearly wild with a headache from fatigue + and had gone to bed, and she had promised not to disturb her. + </p> + <p> + The undisguised amusement, mingled with relief, that had overspread + Barker's face during this lively recital might have pricked the conscience + of Mrs. Horncastle, but for some reason I fear it did not. But it + emboldened her to go on. “I said I promised her that I would see she + wasn't disturbed; but, of course, now that YOU, her HUSBAND, have come, + if”— + </p> + <p> + “Not for worlds,” interrupted Barker earnestly. “I know poor Kitty's + headaches, and I never disturb her, poor child, except when I'm + thoughtless.” And here one of the most thoughtful men in the world in his + sensitive consideration of others beamed at her with such frank and + wonderful eyes that the arch hypocrite before him with difficulty + suppressed a hysterical desire to laugh, and felt the conscious blood + flush her to the root of her hair. “You know,” he went on, with a sigh, + half of relief and half of reminiscence, “that I often think I'm a great + bother to a clear-headed, sensible girl like Kitty. She knows people so + much better than I do. She's wonderfully equipped for the world, and, you + see, I'm only 'lucky,' as everybody says, and I dare say part of my luck + was to have got her. I'm very glad she's a friend of yours, you know, for + somehow I fancied always that you were not interested in her, or that you + didn't understand each other until now. It's odd that nice women don't + always like nice women, isn't it? I'm glad she was with you; I was quite + startled to learn she was here, and couldn't make it out. I thought at + first she might have got anxious about our little Sta, who is with me and + the nurse at Hymettus. But I'm glad it was only a lark. I shouldn't + wonder,” he added, with a laugh, “although she always declares she isn't + one of those 'doting, idiotic mothers,' that she found it a little dull + without the boy, for all she thought it was better for ME to take him + somewhere for a change of air.” + </p> + <p> + The situation was becoming more difficult for Mrs. Horncastle than she had + conceived. There had been a certain excitement in its first direct appeal + to her tact and courage, and even, she believed, an unselfish desire to + save the relations between husband and wife if she could. But she had not + calculated upon his unconscious revelations, nor upon their effect upon + herself. She had concluded to believe that Kitty had, in a moment of + folly, lent herself to this hare-brained escapade, but it now might be + possible that it had been deliberately planned. Kitty had sent her husband + and child away three weeks before. Had she told the whole truth? How long + had this been going on? And if the soulless Van Loo had deserted her now, + was it not, perhaps, the miserable ending of an intrigue rather than its + beginning? Had she been as great a dupe of this woman as the husband + before her? A new and double consciousness came over her that for a moment + prevented her from meeting his honest eyes. She felt the shame of being an + accomplice mingled with a fierce joy at the idea of a climax that might + separate him from his wife forever. + </p> + <p> + Luckily he did not notice it, but with a continued sense of relief threw + himself back in his chair, and glancing familiarly round the walls broke + into his youthful laugh. “Lord! how I remember this room in the old days. + It was Kitty's own private sitting-room, you know, and I used to think it + looked just as fresh and pretty as she. I used to think her crayon drawing + wonderful, and still more wonderful that she should have that unnecessary + talent when it was quite enough for her to be just 'Kitty.' You know, + don't you, how you feel at those times when you're quite happy in being + inferior”—He stopped a moment with a sudden recollection that Mrs. + Horncastle's marriage had been notoriously unhappy. “I mean,” he went on + with a shy little laugh and an innocent attempt at gallantry which the + very directness of his simple nature made atrociously obvious,—“I + mean what you've made lots of young fellows feel. There used to be a + picture of Colonel Brigg on the mantelpiece, in full uniform, and signed + by himself 'for Kitty;' and Lord! how jealous I was of it, for Kitty never + took presents from gentlemen, and nobody even was allowed in here, though + she helped her father all over the hotel. She was awfully strict in those + days,” he interpolated, with a thoughtful look and a half-sigh; “but then + she wasn't married. I proposed to her in this very room! Lord! I remember + how frightened I was.” He stopped for an instant, and then said with a + certain timidity, “Do you mind my telling you something about it?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle was hardly prepared to hear these ingenuous domestic + details, but she smiled vaguely, although she could not suppress a + somewhat impatient movement with her hands. Even Barker noticed it, but to + her surprise moved a little nearer to her, and in a half-entreating way + said, “I hope I don't bore you, but it's something confidential. Do you + know that she first REFUSED me?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle smiled, but could not resist a slight toss of her head. “I + believe they all do when they are sure of a man.” + </p> + <p> + “No!” said Barker eagerly, “you don't understand. I proposed to her + because I thought I was rich. In a foolish moment I thought I had + discovered that some old stocks I had had acquired a fabulous value. She + believed it, too, but because she thought I was now a rich man and she + only a poor girl—a mere servant to her father's guests—she + refused me. Refused me because she thought I might regret it in the + future, because she would not have it said that she had taken advantage of + my proposal only when I was rich enough to make it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well?” said Mrs. Horncastle incredulously, gazing straight before her; + “and then?” + </p> + <p> + “In about an hour I discovered my error, that my stocks were worthless, + that I was still a poor man. I thought it only honest to return to her and + tell her, even though I had no hope. And then she pitied me, and cried, + and accepted me. I tell it to you as her friend.” He drew a little nearer + and quite fraternally laid his hand upon her own. “I know you won't betray + me, though you may think it wrong for me to have told it; but I wanted you + to know how good she was and true.” + </p> + <p> + For a moment Mrs. Horncastle was amazed and discomfited, although she saw, + with the inscrutable instinct of her sex, no inconsistency between the + Kitty of those days and the Kitty now shamefully hiding from her husband + in the same hotel. No doubt Kitty had some good reason for her chivalrous + act. But she could see the unmistakable effect of that act upon the more + logically reasoning husband, and that it might lead him to be more + merciful to the later wrong. And there was a keener irony that his first + movement of unconscious kindliness towards her was the outcome of his + affection for his undeserving wife. + </p> + <p> + “You said just now she was more practical than you,” she said dryly. + “Apart from this evidence of it, what other reasons have you for thinking + so? Do you refer to her independence or her dealings in the stock market?” + she added, with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Barker seriously, “for I do not think her quite practical + there; indeed, I'm afraid she is about as bad as I am. But I'm glad you + have spoken, for I can now talk confidentially with you, and as you and + she are both in the same ventures, perhaps she will feel less compunction + in hearing from you—as your own opinion—what I have to tell + you than if I spoke to her myself. I am afraid she trusts implicitly to + Van Loo's judgment as her broker. I believe he is strictly honorable, but + the general opinion of his business insight is not high. They—perhaps + I ought to say HE—have been at least so unlucky that they might have + learned prudence. The loss of twenty thousand dollars in three months”— + </p> + <p> + “Twenty thousand!” echoed Mrs. Horncastle. + </p> + <p> + “Yes. Why, you knew that; it was in the mine you and she visited; or, + perhaps,” he added hastily, as he flushed at his indiscretion, “she didn't + tell you that.” + </p> + <p> + But Mrs. Horncastle as hastily said, “Yes—yes—of course, only + I had forgotten the amount;” and he continued:— + </p> + <p> + “That loss would have frightened any man; but you women are more daring. + Only Van Loo ought to have withdrawn. Don't you think so? Of course I + couldn't say anything to him without seeming to condemn my own wife; I + couldn't say anything to HER because it's her own money.” + </p> + <p> + “I didn't know that Mrs. Barker had any money of her own,” said Mrs. + Horncastle. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I gave it to her,” said Barker, with sublime simplicity, “and that + would make it all the worse for me to speak about it.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle was silent. A new theory flashed upon her which seemed to + reconcile all the previous inconsistencies of the situation. Van Loo, + under the guise of a lover, was really possessing himself of Mrs. Barker's + money. This accounted for the risks he was running in this escapade, which + were so incongruous to the rascal's nature. He was calculating that the + scandal of an intrigue would relieve him of the perils of criminal + defalcation. It was compatible with Kitty's innocence, though it did not + relieve her vanity of the part it played in this despicable comedy of + passion. All that Mrs. Horncastle thought of now was the effect of its + eventful revelation upon the man before her. Of course, he would overlook + his wife's trustfulness and business ignorance—it would seem so like + his own unselfish faith! That was the fault of all unselfish goodness; it + even took the color of adjacent evil, without altering the nature of + either. Mrs. Horncastle set her teeth tightly together, but her beautiful + mouth smiled upon Barker, though her eyes were bent upon the tablecloth + before her. + </p> + <p> + “I shall do all I can to impress your views upon her,” she said at last, + “though I fear they will have little weight if given as my own. And you + overrate my general influence with her.” + </p> + <p> + Her handsome head drooped in such a thoughtful humility that Barker + instinctively drew nearer to her. Besides, she had not lifted her dark + lashes for some moments, and he had the still youthful habit of looking + frankly into the eyes of those he addressed. + </p> + <p> + “No,” he said eagerly; “how could I? She could not help but love you and + do as you would wish. I can't tell you how glad and relieved I am to find + that you and she have become such friends. You know I always thought you + beautiful, I always thought you so clever—I was even a little + frightened of you; but I never until now knew you were so GOOD. No, stop! + Yes, I DID know it. Do you remember once in San Francisco, when I found + you with Sta in your lap in the drawing-room? I knew it then. You tried to + make me think it was a whim—the fancy of a bored and worried woman. + But I knew better. And I knew what you were thinking then. Shall I tell + you?” + </p> + <p> + As her eyes were still cast down, although her mouth was still smiling, in + his endeavors to look into them his face was quite near hers. He fancied + that it bore the look she had worn once before. + </p> + <p> + “You were thinking,” he said in a voice which had grown suddenly quite + hesitating and tremulous,—he did not know why,—“that the poor + little baby was quite friendless and alone. You were pitying it—you + know you were—because there was no one to give it the loving care + that was its due, and because it was intrusted to that hired nurse in that + great hotel. You were thinking how you would love it if it were yours, and + how cruel it was that Love was sent without an object to waste itself + upon. You were: I saw it in your face.” + </p> + <p> + She suddenly lifted her eyes and looked full into his with a look that + held and possessed him. For a moment his whole soul seemed to tremble on + the verge of their lustrous depths, and he drew back dizzy and frightened. + What he saw there he never clearly knew; but, whatever it was, it seemed + to suddenly change his relations to her, to the room, to his wife, to the + world without. It was a glimpse of a world of which he knew nothing. He + had looked frankly and admiringly into the eyes of other pretty women; he + had even gazed into her own before, but never with this feeling. A sudden + sense that what he had seen there he had himself evoked, that it was an + answer to some question he had scarcely yet formulated, and that they were + both now linked by an understanding and consciousness that was + irretrievable, came over him. He rose awkwardly and went to the window. + She rose also, but more leisurely and easily, moved one of the books on + the table, smoothed out her skirts, and changed her seat to a little sofa. + It is the woman who always comes out of these crucial moments unruffled. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose you will be glad to see your friend Mr. Demorest when you go + back,” she said pleasantly; “for of course he will be at Hymettus awaiting + you.” + </p> + <p> + He turned eagerly, as he always did at the name. But even then he felt + that Demorest was no longer of such importance to him. He felt, too, that + he was not yet quite sure of his voice or even what to say. As he + hesitated she went on half playfully: “It seems hard that you had to come + all the way here on such a bootless errand. You haven't even seen your + wife yet.” + </p> + <p> + The mention of his wife recalled him to himself, oddly enough, when + Demorest's name had failed. But very differently. Out of his whirling + consciousness came the instinctive feeling that he could not see her now. + He turned, crossed the room, sat down on the sofa beside Mrs. Horncastle, + and without, however, looking at her, said, with his eyes on the floor, + “No; and I've been thinking that it's hardly worth while to disturb her so + early to-morrow as I should have to go. So I think it's a good deal better + to let her have a good night's rest, remain here quietly with you + to-morrow until the stage leaves, and that both of you come over together. + My horse is still saddled, and I will be back at Hymettus before Demorest + has gone to bed.” + </p> + <p> + He was obliged to look up at her as he rose. Mrs. Horncastle was sitting + erect, beautiful and dazzling as even he had never seen her before. For + his resolution had suddenly lifted a great weight from her shoulders,—the + dangerous meeting of husband and wife the next morning, and its results, + whatever they might be, had been quietly averted. She felt, too, a + half-frightened joy even in the constrained manner in which he had + imparted his determination. That frankness which even she had sometimes + found so crushing was gone. + </p> + <p> + “I really think you are quite right,” she said, rising also, “and, + besides, you see, it will give me a chance to talk to her as you wished.” + </p> + <p> + “To talk to her as I wished?” echoed Barker abstractedly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, about Van Loo, you know,” said Mrs. Horncastle, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, certainly—about Van Loo, of course,” he returned hurriedly. + </p> + <p> + “And then,” said Mrs. Horncastle brightly, “I'll tell her. Stay!” she + interrupted herself hurriedly. “Why need I say anything about your having + been here AT ALL? It might only annoy her, as you yourself suggest.” She + stopped breathlessly with parted lips. + </p> + <p> + “Why, indeed?” said Barker vaguely. Yet all this was so unlike his usual + truthfulness that he slightly hesitated. + </p> + <p> + “Besides,” continued Mrs. Horncastle, noticing it, “you know you can + always tell her later, if necessary.” And she added with a charming + mischievousness, “As she didn't tell you she was coming, I really don't + see why you are bound to tell her that you were here.” + </p> + <p> + The sophistry pleased Barker, even though it put him into a certain + retaliating attitude towards his wife which he was not aware of feeling. + But, as Mrs. Horncastle put it, it was only a playful attitude. + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” he said. “Don't say anything about it.” + </p> + <p> + He moved to the door with his soft, broad-brimmed hat swinging between his + fingers. She noticed for the first time that he looked taller in his long + black serape and riding-boots, and, oddly enough, much more like the hero + of an amorous tryst than Van Loo. “I know,” she said brightly, “you are + eager to get back to your old friend, and it would be selfish for me to + try to keep you longer. You have had a stupid evening, but you have made + it pleasant to me by telling me what you thought of me. And before you go + I want you to believe that I shall try to keep that good opinion.” She + spoke frankly in contrast to the slight worldly constraint of Barker's + manner; it seemed as if they had changed characters. And then she extended + her hand. + </p> + <p> + With a low bow, and without looking up, he took it. Again their pulses + seemed to leap together with one accord and the same mysterious + understanding. He could not tell if he had unconsciously pressed her hand + or if she had returned the pressure. But when their hands unclasped it + seemed as if it were the division of one flesh and spirit. + </p> + <p> + She remained standing by the open door until his footsteps passed down the + staircase. Then she suddenly closed and locked the door with an instinct + that Mrs. Barker might at once return now that he was gone, and she wished + to be a moment alone to recover herself. But she presently opened it again + and listened. There was a noise in the courtyard, but it sounded like the + rattle of wheels more than the clatter of a horseman. Then she was + overcome—a sudden sense of pity for the unfortunate woman still + hiding from her husband—and felt a momentary chivalrous exaltation + of spirit. Certainly she had done “good” to that wretched “Kitty;” perhaps + she had earned the epithet that Barker had applied to her. Perhaps that + was the meaning of all this happiness to her, and the result was to be + only the happiness and reconciliation of the wife and husband. This was to + be her reward. I grieve to say that the tears had come into her beautiful + eyes at this satisfactory conclusion, but she dashed them away and ran out + into the hall. It was quite dark, but there was a faint glimmer on the + opposite wall as if the door of Mrs. Barker's bedroom were ajar to an + eager listener. She flew towards the glimmer, and pushed the door open: + the room was empty. Empty of Mrs. Barker, empty of her dressing-box, her + reticule and shawl. She was gone. + </p> + <p> + Still, Mrs. Horncastle lingered; the woman might have got frightened and + retreated to some further room at the opening of the door and the coming + out of her husband. She walked along the passage, calling her name softly. + She even penetrated the dreary, half-lit public parlor, expecting to find + her crouching there. Then a sudden wild idea took possession of her: the + miserable wife had repented of her act and of her concealment, and had + crept downstairs to await her husband in the office. She had told him some + new lie, had begged him to take her with him, and Barker, of course, had + assented. Yes, she now knew why she had heard the rattling wheels instead + of the clattering hoofs she had listened for. They had gone together, as + he first proposed, in the buggy. + </p> + <p> + She ran swiftly down the stairs and entered the office. The overworked + clerk was busy and querulously curt. These women were always asking such + idiotic questions. Yes, Mr. Barker had just gone. + </p> + <p> + “With Mrs. Barker in the buggy?” asked Mrs. Horncastle. + </p> + <p> + “No, as he came—on horseback. Mrs. Barker left HALF AN HOUR AGO.” + </p> + <p> + “Alone?” + </p> + <p> + This was apparently too much for the long-suffering clerk. He lifted his + eyes to the ceiling, and then, with painful precision, and accenting every + word with his pencil on the desk before him, said deliberately, “Mrs. + George Barker—left—here—with her—escort—the—man + she—was—always—asking—for—in—the—buggy—at + exactly—9.35.” And he plunged into his work again. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle turned, ran up the staircase, re-entered the sitting-room, + and slamming the door behind her, halted in the centre of the room, + panting, erect, beautiful, and menacing. And she was alone in this empty + room—this deserted hotel. From this very room her husband had left + her with a brutality on his lips. From this room the fool and liar she had + tried to warn had gone to her ruin with a swindling hypocrite. And from + this room the only man in the world she ever cared for had gone forth + bewildered, wronged, and abused, and she knew now she could have kept and + comforted him. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. + </h2> + <p> + When Philip Demorest left the stagecoach at the cross-roads he turned into + the only wayside house, the blacksmith's shop, and, declaring his + intention of walking over to Hymettus, asked permission to leave his + hand-bag and wraps until they could be sent after him. The blacksmith was + surprised that this “likely mannered,” distinguished-looking “city man” + should WALK eight miles when he could ride, and tried to dissuade him, + offering his own buggy. But he was still more surprised when Demorest, + laying aside his duster, took off his coat, and, slinging it on his arm, + prepared to set forth with the good-humored assurance that he would do the + distance in a couple of hours and get in in time for supper. “I wouldn't + be too sure of that,” said the blacksmith grimly, “or even of getting a + room. They're a stuck-up lot over there, and they ain't goin' to hump + themselves over a chap who comes traipsin' along the road like any tramp, + with nary baggage.” But Demorest laughingly accepted the risk, and taking + his stout stick in one hand, pressed a gold coin into the blacksmith's + palm, which was, however, declined with such reddening promptness that + Demorest as promptly reddened and apologized. The habits of European + travel had been still strong on him, and he felt a slight patriotic thrill + as he said, with a grave smile, “Thank you, then; and thank you still more + for reminding me that I am among my own 'people,'” and stepped lightly out + into the road. + </p> + <p> + The air was still deliciously cool, but warmer currents from the heated + pines began to alternate with the wind from the summit. He found himself + sometimes walking through a stratum of hot air which seemed to exhale from + the wood itself, while his head and breast were swept by the mountain + breeze. He felt the old intoxication of the balmy-scented air again, and + the five years of care and hopelessness laid upon his shoulders since he + had last breathed its fragrance slipped from them like a burden. There had + been but little change here; perhaps the road was wider and the dust lay + thicker, but the great pines still mounted in serried ranks on the slopes + as before, with no gaps in their unending files. Here was the spot where + the stagecoach had passed them that eventful morning when they were coming + out of their camp-life into the world of civilization; a little further + back, the spot where Jack Hamlin had forced upon him that grim memento of + the attempted robbery of their cabin, which he had kept ever since. He + half smiled again at the superstitious interest that had made him keep it, + with the intention of some day returning to bury it, with all + recollections of the deed, under the site of the old cabin. As he went on + in the vivifying influence of the air and scene, new life seemed to course + through his veins; his step seemed to grow as elastic as in the old days + of their bitter but hopeful struggle for fortune, when he had gayly + returned from his weekly tramp to Boomville laden with the scant provision + procured by their scant earnings and dying credit. Those were the days + when HER living image still inspired his heart with faith and hope; when + everything was yet possible to youth and love, and before the irony of + fate had given him fortune with one hand only to withdraw HER with the + other. It was strange and cruel that coming back from his quest of rest + and forgetfulness he should find only these youthful and sanguine dreams + revive with his reviving vigor. He walked on more hurriedly as if to + escape them, and was glad to be diverted by one or two carryalls and + char-a-bancs filled with gayly dressed pleasure parties—evidently + visitors to Hymettus—which passed him on the road. Here were the + first signs of change. He recalled the train of pack-mules of the old + days, the file of pole-and-basket carrying Chinese, the squaw with the + papoose strapped to her shoulder, or the wandering and foot-sore + prospector, who were the only wayfarers he used to meet. He contrasted + their halts and friendly greetings with the insolent curiosity or + undisguised contempt of the carriage folk, and smiled as he thought of the + warning of the blacksmith. But this did not long divert him; he found + himself again returning to his previous thought. Indeed, the face of a + young girl in one of the carriages had quite startled him with its + resemblance to an old memory of his lost love as he saw her,—her + frail, pale elegance encompassed in laces as she leaned back in her drive + through Fifth Avenue, with eyes that lit up and became transfigured only + as he passed. He tried to think of his useless quest in search of her last + resting-place abroad; how he had been baffled by the opposition of her + surviving relations, already incensed by the thought that her decline had + been the effect of her hopeless passion. He tried to recall the few frigid + lines that reconveyed to him the last letter he had sent her, with the + announcement of her death and the hope that “his persecutions” would now + cease. A wild idea had sometimes come to him out of the very insufficiency + of his knowledge of this climax, but he had always put it aside as a + precursor of that madness which might end his ceaseless thought. And now + it was returning to him, here, thousands of miles away from where she was + peacefully sleeping, and even filling him with the vigor of youthful hope. + </p> + <p> + The brief mountain twilight was giving way now to the radiance of the + rising moon. He endeavored to fix his thoughts upon his partners who were + to meet him at Hymettus after these long years of separation. + </p> + <p> + Hymettus! He recalled now the odd coincidence that he had mischievously + used as a gag to his questioning fellow traveler; but now he had really + come from a villa near Athens to find his old house thus classically + rechristened after it, and thought of it with a gravity he had not felt + before. He wondered who had named it. There was no suggestion of the soft, + sensuous elegance of the land he had left in those great heroics of nature + before him. Those enormous trees were no woods for fauns or dryads; they + had their own godlike majesty of bulk and height, and as he at last + climbed the summit and saw the dark-helmeted head of Black Spur before + him, and beyond it the pallid, spiritual cloud of the Sierras, he did not + think of Olympus. Yet for a moment he was startled, as he turned to the + right, by the Doric-columned facade of a temple painted by the moonbeams + and framed in an opening of the dark woods before him. It was not until he + had reached it that he saw that it was the new wooden post-office of Heavy + Tree Hill. + </p> + <p> + And now the buildings of the new settlement began to faintly appear. But + the obscurity of the shadow and the equally disturbing unreality of the + moonlight confused him in his attempts to recognize the old landmarks. A + broad and well-kept winding road had taken the place of the old steep, but + direct trail to his cabin. He had walked for some moments in uncertainty, + when a sudden sweep of the road brought the full crest of the hill above + and before him, crowned with a tiara of lights, overtopping a long base of + flashing windows. That was all that was left of Heavy Tree Hill. The old + foreground of buckeye and odorous ceanothus was gone. Even the great grove + of pines behind it had vanished. + </p> + <p> + There was already a stir of life in the road, and he could see figures + moving slowly along a kind of sterile, formal terrace spread with a few + dreary marble vases and plaster statues which had replaced the natural + slope and the great quartz buttresses of outcrop that supported it. + Presently he entered a gate, and soon found himself in the carriage drive + leading to the hotel veranda. A number of fair promenaders were facing the + keen mountain night wind in wraps and furs. Demorest had replaced his + coat, but his boots were red with dust, and as he ascended the steps he + could see that he was eyed with some superciliousness by the guests and + with considerable suspicion by the servants. One of the latter was + approaching him with an insolent smile when a figure darted from the + vestibule, and, brushing the waiter aside, seized Demorest's two hands in + his and held him at arm's length. + </p> + <p> + “Demorest, old man!” + </p> + <p> + “Stacy, old chap!” + </p> + <p> + “But where's your team? I've had all the spare hostlers and hall-boys + listening for you at the gate. And where's Barker? When he found you'd + given the dead-cut to the railroad—HIS railroad, you know—he + loped over to Boomville after you.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest briefly explained that he had walked by the old road and probably + missed him. But by this time the waiters, crushed by the spectacle of this + travel-worn stranger's affectionate reception by the great financial + magnate, were wildly applying their brushes and handkerchiefs to his + trousers and boots until Stacy again swept them away. + </p> + <p> + “Get off, all of you! Now, Phil, you come with me. The house is full, but + I've made the manager give you a lady's drawing-room suite. When you + telegraphed you'd meet us HERE there was no chance to get anything else. + It's really Mrs. Van Loo's family suite; but they were sent for to go to + Marysville yesterday, and so we'll run you in for the night.” + </p> + <p> + “But”—protested Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense!” said Stacy, dragging him away. “We'll pay for it; and I reckon + the old lady won't object to taking her share of the damage either, or she + isn't Van Loo's mother. Come.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest felt himself hurried forward by the energetic Stacy, preceded by + the obsequious manager, through a corridor to a handsomely furnished + suite, into whose bathroom Stacy incontinently thrust him. + </p> + <p> + “There! Wash up; and by the time you're ready Barker ought to be back, and + we'll have supper. It's waiting for us in the other room.” + </p> + <p> + “But how about Barker, the dear boy?” persisted Demorest, holding open the + door. “Tell me, is he well and happy?” + </p> + <p> + “About as well as we all are,” said Stacy quickly, yet with a certain dry + significance. “Never mind now; wait until you see him.” + </p> + <p> + The door closed. When Demorest had finished washing, and wiped away the + last red stain of the mountain road, he found Stacy seated by the window + of the larger sitting-room. In the centre a table was spread for supper. A + bright fire of hickory logs burnt on a marble hearth between two large + windows that gave upon the distant outline of Black Spur. As Stacy turned + towards him, by the light of the shaded lamp and flickering fire, Demorest + had a good look at the face of his old friend and partner. It was as keen + and energetic as ever, with perhaps an even more hawk-like activity + visible in the eye and nostril; but it was more thoughtful and reticent in + the lines of the mouth under the closely clipped beard and mustache, and + when he looked up, at first there were two deep lines or furrows across + his low broad forehead. Demorest fancied, too, that there was a little of + the old fighting look in his eye, but it softened quickly as his friend + approached, and he burst out with his curt but honest single-syllabled + laugh. “Ha! You look a little less like a roving Apache than you did when + you came. I really thought the waiters were going to chuck you. And you + ARE tanned! Darned if you don't look like the profile stamped on a + Continental penny! But here's luck and a welcome back, old man!” + </p> + <p> + Demorest passed his arm around the neck of his seated partner, and + grasping his upraised hand said, looking down with a smile, “And now about + Barker.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Parker, d—n him! He's the same unshakable, unchangeable, + ungrow-upable Barker! With the devil's own luck, too! Waltzing into risks + and waltzing out of 'em. With fads enough to put him in the insane asylum + if people did not prefer to keep him out of it to help 'em. Always + believing in everybody, until they actually believe in themselves, and + shake him! And he's got a wife that's making a fool of herself, and I + shouldn't wonder in time—of him!” + </p> + <p> + Demorest pressed his hand over his partner's mouth. “Come, Jim! You know + you never really liked that marriage, simply because you thought that old + man Carter made a good thing of it. And you never seem to have taken into + consideration the happiness Barker got out of it, for he DID love the + girl. And he still is happy, is he not?” he added quickly, as Stacy + uttered a grunt. + </p> + <p> + “As happy as a man can be who has his child here with a nurse while his + wife is gallivanting in San Francisco, and throwing her money—and + Lord knows what else—away at the bidding of a smooth-tongued, shady + operator.” + </p> + <p> + “Does HE complain of it?” asked Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Not he; the fool trusts her!” said Stacy curtly. + </p> + <p> + Demorest laughed. “That is happiness! Come, Jim! don't let us begrudge him + that. But I've heard that his affairs have again prospered.” + </p> + <p> + “He built this railroad and this hotel. The bank owns both now. He didn't + care to keep money in them after they were a success; said he wasn't an + engineer nor a hotel-keeper, and drew it out to find something new. But + here he comes,” he added, as a horseman dashed into the drive before the + hotel. “Question him yourself. You know you and he always get along best + without me.” + </p> + <p> + In another moment Barker had burst into the room, and in his first + tempestuous greeting of Demorest the latter saw little change in his + younger partner as he held him at arm's length to look at him. “Why, + Barker boy, you haven't got a bit older since the day when—you + remember—you went over to Boomville to cash your bonds, and then + came back and burst upon us like this to tell us you were a beggar.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” laughed Barker, “and all the while you fellows were holding four + aces up your sleeve in the shape of the big strike.” + </p> + <p> + “And you, Georgy, old boy,” returned Demorest, swinging Barker's two hands + backwards and forwards, “were holding a royal flush up yours in the shape + of your engagement to Kitty.” + </p> + <p> + The fresh color died out of Barker's cheek even while the frank laugh was + still on his mouth. He turned his face for a moment towards the window, + and a swift and almost involuntary glance passed between the others. But + he almost as quickly turned his glistening eyes back to Demorest again, + and said eagerly, “Yes, dear Kitty! You shall see her and the baby + to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + Then they fell upon the supper with the appetites of the Past, and for + some moments they all talked eagerly and even noisily together, all at the + same time, with even the spirits of the Past. They recalled every detail + of their old life; eagerly and impetuously recounted the old struggles, + hopes, and disappointments, gave the strange importance of schoolboys to + unimportant events, and a mystic meaning to a shibboleth of their own; + roared over old jokes with a delight they had never since given to new; + reawakened idiotic nicknames and bywords with intense enjoyment; grew + grave, anxious, and agonized over forgotten names, trifling dates, useless + distances, ineffective records, and feeble chronicles of their domestic + economy. It was the thoughtful and melancholy Demorest who remembered the + exact color and price paid for a certain shirt bought from a Greaser + peddler amidst the envy of his companions; it was the financial magnate, + Stacy, who could inform them what were the exact days they had saleratus + bread and when flapjacks; it was the thoughtless and mercurial Barker who + recalled with unheard-of accuracy, amidst the applause of the others, the + full name of the Indian squaw who assisted at their washing. Even then + they were almost feverishly loath to leave the subject, as if the Past, at + least, was secure to them still, and they were even doubtful of their own + free and full accord in the Present. Then they slipped rather reluctantly + into their later experiences, but with scarcely the same freedom or + spontaneity; and it was noticeable that these records were elicited from + Barker by Stacy or from Stacy by Barker for the information of Demorest, + often with chaffing and only under good-humored protest. “Tell Demorest + how you broke the 'Copper Ring,'” from the admiring Barker, or, “Tell + Demorest how your d——d foolishness in buying up the right and + plant of the Ditch Company got you control of the railroad,” from the + mischievous Stacy, were challenges in point. Presently they left the + table, and, to the astonishment of the waiters who removed the cloth, + common brier-wood pipes, thoughtfully provided by Barker in commemoration + of the Past, were lit, and they ranged themselves in armchairs before the + fire quite unconsciously in their old attitudes. The two windows on either + side of the hearth gave them the same view that the open door of the old + cabin had made familiar to them, the league-long valley below the shadowy + bulk of the Black Spur rising in the distance, and, still more remote, the + pallid snow-line that soared even beyond its crest. + </p> + <p> + As in the old time, they were for many moments silent; and then, as in the + old time, it was the irrepressible Barker who broke the silence. “But + Stacy does not tell you anything about his friend, the beautiful Mrs. + Horncastle. You know he's the guardian of one of the finest women in + California—a woman as noble and generous as she is handsome. And + think of it! He's protecting her from her brute of a husband, and looking + after her property. Isn't it good and chivalrous of him?” + </p> + <p> + The irrepressible laughter of the two men brought only wonder and + reproachful indignation into the widely opened eyes of Barker. HE was + perfectly sincere. He had been thinking of Stacy's admiration for Mrs. + Horncastle in his ride from Boomville, and, strange to say, yet + characteristic of his nature, it was equally the natural outcome of his + interview with her and the singular effect she had upon him. That he + (Barker) thoroughly sympathized with her only convinced him that Stacy + must feel the same for her, and that, no doubt, she must respond to him + equally. And how noble it was in his old partner, with his advantages of + position in the world and his protecting relations to her, not to avail + himself of this influence upon her generous nature. If he himself—a + married man and the husband of Kitty—was so conscious of her charm, + how much greater it must be to the free and INEXPERIENCED Stacy. + </p> + <p> + The italics were in Barker's thought; for in those matters he felt that + Stacy and even Demorest, occupied in other things, had not his knowledge. + There was no idea or consciousness of heroically sacrificing himself or + Mrs. Horncastle in this. I am afraid there was not even an idea of a + superior morality in himself in giving up the possibility of loving her. + Ever since Stacy had first seen her he had fancied that Stacy liked her,—indeed, + Kitty fancied it, too,—and it seemed almost providential now that he + should know how to assist his old partner to happiness. For it was + inconceivable that Stacy should not be able to rescue this woman from her + shameful bonds, or that she should not consent to it through his + (Barker's) arguments and entreaties. To a “champion of dames” this seemed + only right and proper. In his unfailing optimism he translated Stacy's + laugh as embarrassment and Demorest's as only ignorance of the real + question. But Demorest had noticed, if he had not, that Stacy's laugh was + a little nervously prolonged for a man of his temperament, and that he had + cast a very keen glance at Barker. A messenger arriving with a telegram + brought from Boomville called Stacy momentarily away, and Barker was not + slow to take advantage of his absence. + </p> + <p> + “I wish, Phil,” he said, hitching his chair closer to Demorest, “that you + would think seriously of this matter, and try to persuade Stacy—who, + I believe, is more interested in Mrs. Horncastle than he cares to show—to + put a little of that determination in love that he has shown in business. + She's an awfully fine woman, and in every way suited to him, and he is + letting an absurd sense of pride and honor keep him from influencing her + to get rid of her impossible husband. There's no reason,” continued Barker + in a burst of enthusiastic simplicity, “that BECAUSE she has found some + one she likes better, and who would treat her better, that she should + continue to stick to that beast whom all California would gladly see her + divorced from. I never could understand that kind of argument, could you?” + </p> + <p> + Demorest looked at his companion's glowing cheek and kindling eye with a + smile. “A good deal depends upon the side from which you argue. But, + frankly, Barker boy, though I think I know you in all your phases, I am + not prepared yet to accept you as a match-maker! However, I'll think it + over, and find out something more of this from your goddess, who seems to + have bewitched you both. But what does Mistress Kitty say to your + admiration?” + </p> + <p> + Barker's face clouded, but instantly brightened. “Oh, they're the best of + friends; they're quite like us, you know, even to larks they have + together.” He stopped and colored at his slip. But Demorest, who had + noticed his change of expression, was more concerned at the look of half + incredulity and half suspicion with which Stacy, who had re-entered the + room in time to hear Barker's speech, was regarding his unconscious + younger partner. + </p> + <p> + “I didn't know that Mrs. Horncastle and Mrs. Barker were such friends,” he + said dryly as he sat down again. But his face presently became so + abstracted that Demorest said gayly:— + </p> + <p> + “Well, Jim, I'm glad I'm not a Napoleon of Finance! I couldn't stand it to + have my privacy or my relaxation broken in upon at any moment, as yours + was just now. What confounded somersault in stocks has put that face on + you?” + </p> + <p> + Stacy looked up quickly with his brief laugh. “I'm afraid you'd be none + the wiser if I told you. That was a pony express messenger from New York. + You remember how Barker, that night of the strike, when we were sitting + together here, or very near here, proposed that we ought to have a + password or a symbol to call us together in case of emergency, for each + other's help? Well, let us say I have two partners, one in Europe and one + in New York. That was my password.” + </p> + <p> + “And, I hope, no more serious than ours,” added Demorest. + </p> + <p> + Stacy laughed his short laugh. Nevertheless, the conversation dragged + again. The feverish gayety of the early part of the evening was gone, and + they seemed to be suffering from the reaction. They fell into their old + attitudes, looking from the firelight to the distant bulk of Black Spur + without a word. The occasional sound of the voices of promenaders on the + veranda at last ceased; there was the noise of the shutting of heavy doors + below, and Barker rose. + </p> + <p> + “You'll excuse me, boys; but I must go and say good-night to little Sta, + and see that he's all right. I haven't seen him since I got back. But”—to + Demorest—“you'll see him to-morrow, when Kitty comes. It is as much + as my life is worth to show him before she certifies him as being + presentable.” He paused, and then added: “Don't wait up, you fellows, for + me; sometimes the little chap won't let me go. It's as if he thought, now + Kitty's away, I was all he had. But I'll be up early in the morning and + see you. I dare say you and Stacy have a heap to say to each other on + business, and you won't miss me. So I'll say good-night.” He laughed + lightly, pressed the hands of his partners in his usual hearty fashion, + and went out of the room, leaving the gloom a little deeper than before. + It was so unusual for Barker to be the first to leave anybody or anything + in trouble that they both noticed it. “But for that,” said Demorest, + turning to Stacy as the door closed, “I should say the dear fellow was + absolutely unchanged. But he seemed a little anxious to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “I shouldn't wonder. He's got two women on his mind,—as if one was + not enough.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't understand. You say his wife is foolish, and this other”— + </p> + <p> + “Never mind that now,” interrupted Stacy, getting up and putting down his + pipe. “Let's talk a little business. That other stuff will keep.” + </p> + <p> + “By all means,” said Demorest, with a smile, settling down into his chair + a little wearily, however. “I forgot business. And I forgot, my dear Jim, + to congratulate you. I've heard all about you, even in New York. You're + the man who, according to everybody, now holds the finances of the Pacific + Slope in his hands. And,” he added, leaning affectionately towards his old + partner, “I don't know any one better equipped in honesty, + straightforwardness, and courage for such a responsibility than you.” + </p> + <p> + “I only wish,” said Stacy, looking thoughtfully at Demorest, “that I + didn't hold nearly a million of your money included in the finances of the + Pacific Slope.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said the smiling Demorest, “as long as I am satisfied?” + </p> + <p> + “Because I am not. If you're satisfied, I'm a wretched idiot and not fit + for my position. Now, look here, Phil. When you wrote me to sell out your + shares in the Wheat Trust I was a little staggered. I knew your gait, my + boy, and I knew, too, that, while you didn't know enough to trust your own + opinions or feeling, you knew too much to trust any one's opinion that + wasn't first-class. So I reckoned you had the straight tip; but I didn't + see it. Now, I ought not to have been staggered if I was fit for your + confidence, or, if I was staggered, I ought to have had enough confidence + in myself not to mind you. See?” + </p> + <p> + “I admit your logic, old man,” said Demorest, with an amused face, “but I + don't see your premises. WHEN did I tell you to sell out?” + </p> + <p> + “Two days ago. You wrote just after you arrived.” + </p> + <p> + “I have never written to you since I arrived. I only telegraphed to you to + know where we should meet, and received your message to come here.” + </p> + <p> + “You never wrote me from San Francisco?” + </p> + <p> + “Never.” + </p> + <p> + Stacy looked concernedly at his friend. Was he in his right mind? He had + heard of cases where melancholy brooding on a fixed idea had affected the + memory. He took from his pocket a letter-case, and selecting a letter + handed it to Demorest without speaking. + </p> + <p> + Demorest glanced at it, turned it over, read its contents, and in a grave + voice said, “There is something wrong here. It is like my handwriting, but + I never wrote the letter, nor has it been in my hand before.” + </p> + <p> + Stacy sprang to his side. “Then it's a forgery!” + </p> + <p> + “Wait a moment.” Demorest, who, although very grave, was the more + collected of the two, went to a writing-desk, selected a sheet of paper, + and took up a pen. “Now,” he said, “dictate that letter to me.” + </p> + <p> + Stacy began, Demorest's pen rapidly following him:— + </p> + <p> + “DEAR JIM,—On receipt of this get rid of my Wheat Trust shares at + whatever figure you can. From the way things pointed in New York”— + </p> + <p> + “Stop!” interrupted Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Well?” said Stacy impatiently. + </p> + <p> + “Now, my dear Jim,” said Demorest plaintively, “when did you ever know me + to write such a sentence as 'the way things pointed'?” + </p> + <p> + “Let me finish reading,” said Stacy. This literary sensitiveness at such a + moment seemed little short of puerility to the man of business. + </p> + <p> + “From the way things pointed in New York,” continued Stacy, “and from + private advices received, this seems to be the only prudent course before + the feathers begin to fly. Longing to see you again and the dear old + stamping-ground at Heavy Tree. Love to Barker. Has the dear old boy been + at any fresh crank lately? + </p> + <p> + “Yours, PHIL DEMOREST.” + </p> + <p> + The dictation and copy finished together. Demorest laid the freshly + written sheet beside the letter Stacy had produced. They were very much + alike and yet quite distinct from each other. Only the signature seemed + identical. + </p> + <p> + “That's the invariable mistake with the forger,” said Demorest; “he always + forgets that signatures ought to be identical with the text rather than + with each other.” + </p> + <p> + But Stacy did not seem to hear this or require further proof. His face was + quite gray and his lips compressed until lost in his closely set beard as + he gazed fixedly out of the window. For the first time, really concerned + and touched, Demorest laid his hand gently on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, Jim, how much does this mean to you apart from me? Don't think + of me.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know yet,” said Stacy slowly. “That's the trouble. And I won't + know until I know who's at the bottom of it. Does anybody know of your + affairs with me?” + </p> + <p> + “No one.” + </p> + <p> + “No confidential friend, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “None.” + </p> + <p> + “No one who has access to your secrets? No—no—woman? Excuse + me, Phil,” he said, as a peculiar look passed over Demorest's face, “but + this is business.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” he returned, with that gentleness that used to frighten them in the + old days, “it's ignorance. You fellows always say 'Cherchez la femme' when + you can't say anything else. Come now,” he went on more brightly, “look at + the letter. Here's a man, commercially educated, for he has used the usual + business formulas, 'on receipt of this,' and 'advices received,' which I + won't merely say I don't use, but which few but commercial men use. Next, + here's a man who uses slang, not only ineptly, but artificially, to give + the letter the easy, familiar turn it hasn't from beginning to end. I need + only say, my dear Stacy, that I don't write slang to you, but that nobody + who understands slang ever writes it in that way. And then the knowledge + of my opinion of Barker is such as might be gained from the reading of my + letters by a person who couldn't comprehend my feelings. Now, let me play + inquisitor for a few moments. Has anybody access to my letters to YOU?” + </p> + <p> + “No one. I keep them locked up in a cabinet. I only make memorandums of + your instructions, which I give to my clerks, but never your letters.” + </p> + <p> + “But your clerks sometimes see you make memorandums from them?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but none of them have the ability to do this sort of thing, nor the + opportunity of profiting by it.” + </p> + <p> + “Has any woman—now this is not retaliation, my dear Jim, for I fancy + I detect a woman's cleverness and a woman's stupidity in this forgery—any + access to your secrets or my letters? A woman's villainy is always + effective for the moment, but always defective when probed.” + </p> + <p> + The look of scorn which passed over Stacy's face was quite as distinct as + Demorest's previous protest, as he said contemptuously, “I'm not such a + fool as to mix up petticoats with my business, whatever I do.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, one thing more. I have told you that in my opinion the forger has a + commercial education or style, that he doesn't know me nor Barker, and + don't understand slang. Now, I have to add what must have occurred to you, + Jim, that the forger is either a coward, or his object is not altogether + mercenary: for the same ability displayed in this letter would on the + signature alone—had it been on a check or draft—have drawn + from your bank twenty times the amount concerned. Now, what is the actual + loss by this forgery?” + </p> + <p> + “Very little; for you've got a good price for your stocks, considering the + depreciation in realizing suddenly on so large an amount. I told my broker + to sell slowly and in small quantities to avoid a panic. But the real loss + is the control of the stock.” + </p> + <p> + “But the amount I had was not enough to affect that,” said Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “No, but I was carrying a large amount myself, and together we controlled + the market, and now I have unloaded, too.” + </p> + <p> + “You sold out! and with your doubts?” said Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “That's just it,” said Stacy, looking steadily at his companion's face, + “because I HAD doubts, and it won't do for me to have them. I ought either + to have disobeyed your letter and kept your stock and my own, or have done + just what I did. I might have hedged on my own stock, but I don't believe + in hedging. There is no middle course to a man in my business if he wants + to keep at the top. No great success, no great power, was ever created by + it.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest smiled. “Yet you accept the alternative also, which is ruin?” + </p> + <p> + “Precisely,” said Stacy. “When you returned the other day you were bound + to find me what I was or a beggar. But nothing between. However,” he + added, “this has nothing to do with the forgery, or,” he smiled grimly, + “everything to do with it. Hush! Barker is coming.” + </p> + <p> + There was a quick step along the corridor approaching the room. The next + moment the door flew open to the bounding step and laughing face of + Barker. Whatever of thoughtfulness or despondency he had carried from the + room with him was completely gone. With his amazing buoyancy and power of + reaction he was there again in his usual frank, cheerful simplicity. + </p> + <p> + “I thought I'd come in and say goodnight,” he began, with a laugh. “I got + Sta asleep after some high jinks we had together, and then I reckoned it + wasn't the square thing to leave just you two together, the first night + you came. And I remembered I had some business to talk over, too, so I + thought I'd chip in again and take a hand. It's only the shank of the + evening yet,” he continued gayly, “and we ought to sit up at least long + enough to see the old snow-line vanish, as we did in old times. But I + say,” he added suddenly, as he glanced from the one to the other, “you've + been having it pretty strong already. Why, you both look as you did that + night the backwater of the South Fork came into our cabin. What's up?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing,” said Demorest hastily, as he caught a glance of Stacy's + impatient face. “Only all business is serious, Barker boy, though you + don't seem to feel it so.” + </p> + <p> + “I reckon you're right there,” said Barker, with a chuckle. “People always + laugh, of course, when I talk business, so it might make it a little + livelier for you and more of a change if I chipped in now. Only I don't + know which you'll do. Hand me a pipe. Well,” he continued, filling the + pipe Demorest shoved towards him, “you see, I was in Sacramento yesterday, + and I went into Van Loo's branch office, as I heard he was there, and I + wanted to find out something about Kitty's investments, which I don't + think he's managing exactly right. He wasn't there, however, but as I was + waiting I heard his clerks talk about a drop in the Wheat Trust, and that + there was a lot of it put upon the market. They seemed to think that + something had happened, and it was going down still further. Now I knew it + was your pet scheme, and that Phil had a lot of shares in it, too, so I + just slipped out and went to a broker's and told him to buy all he could + of it. And, by Jove! I was a little taken aback when I found what I was in + for, for everybody seemed to have unloaded, and I found I hadn't money + enough to pay margins, but I knew that Demorest was here, and I reckoned + on his seeing me through.” He stopped and colored, but added hopefully, “I + reckon I'm safe, anyway, for just as the thing was over those same clerks + of Van Loo's came bounding into the office to buy up everything. And + offered to take it off my hands and pay the margins.” + </p> + <p> + “And you?” said both men eagerly, and in a breath. + </p> + <p> + Barker stared at them, and reddened and paled by turns. “I held on,” he + stammered. “You see, boys”— + </p> + <p> + Both men had caught him by the arms. “How much have you got?” they said, + shaking him as if to precipitate the answer. + </p> + <p> + “It's a heap!” said Barker. “It's a ghastly lot now I think of it. I'm + afraid I'm in for fifty thousand, if a cent.” + </p> + <p> + To his infinite astonishment and delight he was alternately hugged and + tossed backwards and forwards between the two men quite in the fashion of + the old days. Breathless but laughing, he at length gasped out, “What does + it all mean?” + </p> + <p> + “Tell him everything, Jim,—EVERYTHING,” said Demorest quickly. + </p> + <p> + Stacy briefly related the story of the forgery, and then laid the letter + and its copy before him. But Barker only read the forgery. + </p> + <p> + “How could YOU, Stacy—one of the three partners of Heavy Tree—be + deceived! Don't you see it's Phil's handwriting—but it isn't PHIL!” + </p> + <p> + “But have you any idea WHO it is?” said Stacy. + </p> + <p> + “Not me,” said Barker, with widely opened eyes. “You see it must be + somebody whom we are familiar with. I can't imagine such a scoundrel.” + </p> + <p> + “How did YOU know that Demorest had stock?” asked Stacy. + </p> + <p> + “He told me in one of his letters and advised me to go into it. But just + then Kitty wanted money, I think, and I didn't go in.” + </p> + <p> + “I remember it,” struck in Demorest. “But surely it was no secret. My name + would be on the transfer books for any one to see.” + </p> + <p> + “Not so,” said Stacy quickly. “You were one of the original shareholders; + there was no transfer, and the books as well as the shares of the company + were in my hands.” + </p> + <p> + “And your clerks?” added Demorest. + </p> + <p> + Stacy was silent. After a pause he asked, “Did anybody ever see that + letter, Barker?” + </p> + <p> + “No one but myself and Kitty.” + </p> + <p> + “And would she be likely to talk of it?” continued Stacy. + </p> + <p> + “Of course not. Why should she? Whom could she talk to?” Yet he stopped + suddenly, and then with his characteristic reaction added, with a laugh, + “Why no, certainly not.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course, everybody knew that you had bought the shares at Sacramento?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. Why, you know I told you the Van Loo clerks came to me and wanted to + take it off my hands.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I remember; the Van Loo clerks; they knew it, of course,” said Stacy + with a grim smile. “Well, boys,” he said, with sudden alacrity, “I'm going + to turn in, for by sun-up to-morrow I must be on my way to catch the first + train at the Divide for 'Frisco. We'll hunt this thing down together, for + I reckon we're all concerned in it,” he added, looking at the others, “and + once more we're partners as in the old times. Let us even say that I've + given Barker's signal or password,” he added, with a laugh, “and we'll + stick together. Barker boy,” he went on, grasping his younger partner's + hand, “your instinct has saved us this time; d——d if I don't + sometimes think it better than any other man's sabe; only,” he dropped his + voice slightly, “I wish you had it in other things than FINANCE. Phil, + I've a word to say to you alone before I go. I may want you to follow me.” + </p> + <p> + “But what can I do?” said Barker eagerly. “You're not going to leave me + out.” + </p> + <p> + “You've done quite enough for us, old man,” said Stacy, laying his hand on + Barker's shoulder. “And it may be for US to do something for YOU. Trot off + to bed now, like a good boy. I'll keep you posted when the time comes.” + </p> + <p> + Shoving the protesting and leave-taking Barker with paternal familiarity + from the room, he closed the door and faced Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “He's the best fellow in the world,” said Stacy quietly, “and has saved + the situation; but we mustn't trust too much to him for the present—not + even seem to.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, man!” said Demorest impatiently. “You're letting your + prejudices go too far. Do you mean to say that you suspect his wife.” + </p> + <p> + “D—n his wife!” said Stacy almost savagely. “Leave her out of this. + It's Van Loo that I suspect. It was Van Loo who I knew was behind it, who + expected to profit by it, and now we have lost him.” + </p> + <p> + “But how?” said Demorest, astonished. + </p> + <p> + “How?” repeated Stacy impatiently. “You know what Barker said? Van Loo, + either through stupidity, fright, or the wish to get the lowest prices, + was too late to buy up the market. If he had, we might have openly + declared the forgery, and if it was known that he or his friends had + profited by it, even if we could not have proven his actual complicity, we + could at least have made it too hot for him in California. But,” said + Stacy, looking intently at his friend, “do you know how the case stands + now?” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Demorest, a little uneasily under his friend's keen eyes, + “we've lost that chance, but we've kept control of the stock.” + </p> + <p> + “You think so? Well, let me tell you how the case stands and the price we + pay for it,” said Stacy deliberately, as he folded his arms and gazed at + Demorest. “You and I, well known as old friends and former partners, for + no apparent reason—for we cannot prove the forgery now—have + thrown upon the market all our stock, with the usual effect of + depreciating it. Another old friend and former partner has bought it in + and sent up the price. A common trick, a vulgar trick, but not a trick + worthy of James Stacy or Stacy's Bank!” + </p> + <p> + “But why not simply declare the forgery without making any specific charge + against Van Loo?” + </p> + <p> + “Do you imagine, Phil, that any man would believe it, and the story of a + providentially appointed friend like Barker who saved us from loss? Why, + all California, from Cape Mendocino to Los Angeles, would roar with + laughter over it! No! We must swallow it and the reputation of 'jockeying' + with the Wheat Trust, too. That Trust's as good as done for, for the + present! Now you know why I didn't want poor Barker to know it, nor have + much to do with our search for the forger.” + </p> + <p> + “It would break the dear fellow's heart if he knew it,” said Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Well, it's to save him from having his heart broken further that I intend + to find out this forger,” said Stacy grimly. “Good-night, Phil! I'll + telegraph to you when I want you, and then COME!” + </p> + <p> + With another grip of the hand he left Demorest to his thoughts. In the + first excitement of meeting his old partners, and in the later discovery + of the forgery, Demorest had been diverted from his old sorrow, and for + the time had forgotten it in sympathetic interest with the present. But, + to his horror, when alone again, he found that interest growing as remote + and vapid as the stories they had laughed over at the table, and even the + excitement of the forged letter and its consequences began to be as + unreal, as impotent, as shadowy, as the memory of the attempted robbery in + the old cabin on that very spot. He was ashamed of that selfishness which + still made him cling to this past, so much his own, that he knew it + debarred him from the human sympathy of his comrades. And even Barker, in + whose courtship and marriage he had tried to resuscitate his youthful + emotions and condone his selfish errors—even the suggestion of his + unhappiness only touched him vaguely. He would no longer be a slave to the + Past, or the memory that had deluded him a few hours ago. He walked to the + window; alas, there was the same prospect that had looked upon his dreams, + had lent itself to his old visions. There was the eternal outline of the + hills; there rose the steadfast pines; there was no change in THEM. It was + this surrounding constancy of nature that had affected him. He turned away + and entered the bedroom. Here he suddenly remembered that the mother of + this vague enemy, Van Loo,—for his feeling towards him was still + vague, as few men really hate the personality they don't know,—had + only momentarily vacated it, and to his distaste of his own intrusion was + now added the profound irony of his sleeping in the same bed lately + occupied by the mother of the man who was suspected of having forged his + name. He smiled faintly and looked around the apartment. It was handsomely + furnished, and although it still had much of the characterlessness of the + hotel room, it was distinctly flavored by its last occupant, and still + brightened by that mysterious instinct of the sex which is inevitable. + Where a man would have simply left his forgotten slippers or collars there + was a glass of still unfaded flowers; the cold marble top of the + dressing-table was littered with a few linen and silk toilet covers; and + on the mantel-shelf was a sheaf of photographs. He walked towards them + mechanically, glanced at them abstractedly, and then stopped suddenly with + a beating heart. Before him was the picture of his past, the photograph of + the one woman who had filled his life! + </p> + <p> + He cast a hurried glance around the room as if he half expected to see the + original start up before him, and then eagerly seized it and hurried with + it to the light. Yes! yes! It was SHE,—she as she had lived in his + actual memory; she as she had lived in his dream. He saw her sweet eyes, + but the frightened, innocent trouble had passed from them; there was the + sensitive elegance of her graceful figure in evening dress; but the figure + was fuller and maturer. Could he be mistaken by some wonderful resemblance + acting upon his too willing brain? He turned the photograph over. No; + there on the other side, written in her own childlike hand, endeared and + familiar to his recollection, was her own name, and the date! It was + surely she! + </p> + <p> + How did it come there? Did the Van Loos know her? It was taken in Venice; + there was the address of the photographers. The Van Loos were foreigners, + he remembered; they had traveled; perhaps had met her there in 1858: that + was the date in her handwriting; that was the date on the photographer's + address—1858. Suddenly he laid the photograph down, took with + trembling fingers a letter-case from his pocket, opened it, and laid his + last letter to her, indorsed with the cruel announcement of her death, + before him on the table. He passed his hand across his forehead and opened + the letter. It was dated 1856! The photograph must have been taken two + years AFTER her alleged death! + </p> + <p> + He examined it again eagerly, fixedly, tremblingly. A wild impulse to + summon Barker or Stacy on the spot was restrained with difficulty and only + when he remembered that they could not help him. Then he began to + oscillate between a joy and a new fear, which now, for the first time, + began to dawn upon him. If the news of her death had been a fiendish trick + of her relations, why had SHE never sought him? It was not ill health, + restraint, nor fear; there was nothing but happiness and the strength of + youth and beauty in that face and figure. HE had not disappeared from the + world; he was known of men; more, his memorable good fortune must have + reached her ears. Had he wasted all these miserable years to find himself + abandoned, forgotten, perhaps even a dupe? For the first time the sting of + jealousy entered his soul. Perhaps, unconsciously to himself, his strange + and varying feelings that afternoon had been the gathering climax of his + mental condition; at all events, in the sudden revulsion there was a + shaking off of his apathetic thought; there was activity, even if it was + the activity of pain. Here was a mystery to be solved, a secret to be + discovered, a past wrong to be exposed, an enemy or, perhaps, even a + faithless love to be punished. Perhaps he had even saved his reason at the + expense of his love. He quickly replaced the photograph on the + mantel-shelf, returned the letter carefully to his pocket-book,—no + longer a souvenir of the past, but a proof of treachery,—and began + to mechanically undress himself. He was quite calm now, and went to bed + with a strange sense of relief, and slept as he had not slept since he was + a boy. + </p> + <p> + The whole hotel had sunk to rest by this time, and then began the usual + slow, nightly invasion and investment of it by nature. For all its broad + verandas and glaring terraces, its long ranges of windows and glittering + crest of cupola and tower, it gradually succumbed to the more potent + influences around it, and became their sport and playground. The mountain + breezes from the distant summit swept down upon its flimsy structure, + shook the great glass windows as with a strong hand, and sent the balm of + bay and spruce through every chink and cranny. In the great hall and + corridors the carpets billowed with the intruding blast along the floors; + there was the murmur of the pines in the passages, and the damp odor of + leaves in the dining-room. There was the cry of night birds in the + creaking cupola, and the swift rush of dark wings past bedroom windows. + Lissome shapes crept along the terraces between the stolid wooden statues, + or, bolder, scampered the whole length of the great veranda. In the + lulling of the wind the breath of the woods was everywhere; even the aroma + of swelling sap—as if the ghastly stumps on the deforested slope + behind the hotel were bleeding afresh in the dewless night—stung the + eyes and nostrils of the sleepers. + </p> + <p> + It was, perhaps, from such cause as this that Barker was awakened suddenly + by the voice of the boy from the crib beside him, crying, “Mamma! mamma!” + Taking the child in his arms, he comforted him, saying she would come that + morning, and showed him the faint dawn already veiling with color the + ghostly pallor of the Sierras. As they looked at it a great star shot + forth from its brethren and fell. It did not fall perpendicularly, but + seemed for some seconds to slip along the slopes of Black Spur, gleaming + through the trees like a chariot of fire. It pleased the child to say that + it was the light of mamma's buggy that was fetching her home, and it + pleased the father to encourage the boy's fancy. And talking thus in + confidential whispers they fell asleep once more, the father—himself + a child in so many things—holding the smaller and frailer hand in + his. + </p> + <p> + They did not know that on the other side of the Divide the wife and + mother, scared, doubting, and desperate, by the side of her scared, + doubting, and desperate accomplice, was flying down the slope on her + night-long road to ruin. Still less did they know that, with the early + singing birds, a careless horseman, emerging from the trail as the + dust-stained buggy dashed past him, glanced at it with a puzzled air, + uttered a quiet whistle of surprise, and then, wheeling his horse, gayly + cantered after it. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. + </h2> + <p> + In the exercise of his arduous profession, Jack Hamlin had sat up all + night in the magnolia saloon of the Divide, and as it was rather early to + go to bed, he had, after his usual habit, shaken off the sedentary + attitude and prepared himself for sleep by a fierce preliminary gallop in + the woods. Besides, he had been a large winner, and on those occasions he + generally isolated himself from his companions to avoid foolish + altercations with inexperienced players. Even in fighting Jack was + fastidious, and did not like to have his stomach for a real difficulty + distended and vitiated by small preliminary indulgences. + </p> + <p> + He was just emerging from the wood into the highroad when a buggy dashed + past him, containing a man and a woman. The woman wore a thick veil; the + man was almost undistinguishable from dust. The glimpse was momentary, but + dislike has a keen eye, and in that glimpse Mr. Hamlin recognized Van Loo. + The situation was equally clear. The bent heads and averted faces, the + dust collected in the heedlessness of haste, the early hour,—indicating + a night-long flight,—all made it plain to him that Van Loo was + running away with some woman. Mr. Hamlin had no moral scruples, but he had + the ethics of a sportsman, which he knew Mr. Van Loo was not. Whether the + woman was an innocent schoolgirl or an actress, he was satisfied that Van + Loo was doing a mean thing meanly. Mr. Hamlin also had a taste for + mischief, and whether the woman was or was not fair game, he knew that for + HIS purposes Van Loo was. With the greatest cheerfulness in the world he + wheeled his horse and cantered after them. + </p> + <p> + They were evidently making for the Divide and a fresh horse, or to take + the coach due an hour later. It was Mr. Hamlin's present object to + circumvent this, and, therefore, it was quite in his way to return. + Incidentally, however, the superior speed of his horse gave him the + opportunity of frequently lunging towards them at a furious pace, which + had the effect of frantically increasing their own speed, when he would + pull up with a silent laugh before he was fairly discovered, and allow the + sound of his rapid horse's hoofs to die out. In this way he amused himself + until the straggling town of the Divide came in sight, when, putting his + spurs to his horse again, he managed, under pretense of the animal + becoming ungovernable, to twice “cross the bows” of the fugitives, + compelling them to slacken speed. At the second of these passages Van Loo + apparently lost prudence, and slashing out with his whip, the lash caught + slightly on the counter of Hamlin's horse. Mr. Hamlin instantly + acknowledged it by lifting his hat gravely, and speeded on to the hotel, + arriving at the steps and throwing himself from the saddle exactly as the + buggy drove up. With characteristic audacity, he actually assisted the + frightened and eager woman to alight and run into the hotel. But in this + action her veil was accidentally lifted. Mr. Hamlin instantly recognized + the pretty woman who had been pointed out to him in San Francisco as Mrs. + Barker, the wife of one of the partners whose fortunes had interested him + five years ago. It struck him that this was an additional reason for his + interference on Barker's account, although personally he could not + conceive why a man should ever try to prevent a woman from running away + from him. But then Mr. Hamlin's personal experiences had been quite the + other way. + </p> + <p> + It was enough, however, to cause him to lay his hand lightly on Van Loo's + arm as the latter, leaping down, was about to follow Mrs. Barker into the + hotel. “You'll have time enough now,” said Hamlin. + </p> + <p> + “Time for what?” said Van Loo savagely. + </p> + <p> + “Time to apologize for having cut my horse with your whip,” said Jack + sweetly. “We don't want to quarrel before a woman.” + </p> + <p> + “I've no time for fooling!” said Van Loo, endeavoring to pass. + </p> + <p> + But Jack's hand had slipped to Van Loo's wrist, although he still smiled + cheerfully. “Ah! Then you DID mean it, and you propose to give me + satisfaction?” + </p> + <p> + Van Loo paled slightly; he knew Jack's reputation as a duelist. But he was + desperate. “You see my position,” he said hurriedly. “I'm in a hurry; I + have a lady with me. No man of honor”— + </p> + <p> + “You do me wrong,” interrupted Jack, with a pained expression,—“you + do, indeed. You are in a hurry—well, I have plenty of time. If you + cannot attend to me now, why I will be glad to accompany you and the lady + to the next station. Of course,” he added, with a smile, “at a proper + distance, and without interfering with the lady, whom I am pleased to + recognize as the wife of an old friend. It would be more sociable, + perhaps, if we had some general conversation on the road; it would prevent + her being alarmed. I might even be of some use to YOU. If we are overtaken + by her husband on the road, for instance, I should certainly claim the + right to have the first shot at you. Boy!” he called to the hostler, “just + sponge out Pancho's mouth, will you, to be ready when the buggy goes?” + And, loosening his grip of Van Loo's wrist, he turned away as the other + quickly entered the hotel. + </p> + <p> + But Mr. Van Loo did not immediately seek Mrs. Barker. He had already some + experience of that lady's nerves and irascibility on the drive, and had + begun to see his error in taking so dangerous an impediment to his flight + from the country. And another idea had come to him. He had already + effected his purpose of compromising her with him in that flight, but it + was still known only to few. If he left her behind for the foolish, doting + husband, would not that devoted man take her back to avoid a scandal, and + even forbear to pursue HIM for his financial irregularities? What were + twenty thousand dollars of Mrs. Barker's money to the scandal of Mrs. + Barker's elopement? Again, the failure to realize the forgery had left him + safe, and Barker was sufficiently potent with the bank and Demorest to + hush up that also. Hamlin was now the only obstacle to his flight; but + even he would scarcely pursue HIM if Mrs. Barker were left behind. And it + would be easier to elude him if he did. + </p> + <p> + In his preoccupation Van Loo did not see that he had entered the bar-room, + but, finding himself there, he moved towards the bar; a glass of spirits + would revive him. As he drank it he saw that the room was full of rough + men, apparently miners or packers—some of them Mexican, with here + and there a Kanaka or Australian. Two men more ostentatiously clad, though + apparently on equal terms with the others, were standing in the corner + with their backs towards him. From the general silence as he entered he + imagined that he had been the subject of conversation, and that his + altercation with Hamlin had been overheard. Suddenly one of the two men + turned and approached him. To his consternation he recognized Steptoe,—Steptoe, + whom he had not seen for five years until last night, when he had avoided + him in the courtyard of the Boomville Hotel. His first instinct was to + retreat, but it was too late. And the spirits had warmed him into + temporary recklessness. + </p> + <p> + “You ain't goin' to be backed down by a short-card gambler, are yer?” said + Steptoe, with coarse familiarity. + </p> + <p> + “I have a lady with me, and am pressed for time,” said Van Loo quickly. + “He knows it, otherwise he would not have dared”— + </p> + <p> + “Well, look here,” said Steptoe roughly. “I ain't particularly sweet on + you, as you know; but I and these gentlemen,” he added, glancing around + the room, “ain't particularly sweet on Mr. Jack Hamlin neither, and we + kalkilate to stand by you if you say so. Now, I reckon you want to get + away with the woman, and the quicker the better, as you're afraid there'll + be somebody after you afore long. That's the way it pans out, don't it? + Well, when you're ready to go, and you just tip us the wink, we'll get in + a circle round Jack and cover him, and if he starts after you we'll send + him on a little longer journey!—eh, boys?” + </p> + <p> + The men muttered their approval, and one or two drew their revolvers from + their belts. Van Loo's heart, which had leaped at first at this proposal + of help, sank at this failure of his little plan of abandoning Mrs. + Barker. He hesitated, and then stammered, “Thank you! Haste is everything + with us now; but I shouldn't mind leaving the lady among CHIVALROUS + GENTLEMEN like yourselves for a few hours only, until I could communicate + with my friends and return to properly chastise this scoundrel.” + </p> + <p> + Steptoe drew in his breath with a slight whistle, and gazed at Van Loo. He + instantly understood him. But the plea did not suit Steptoe, who, for + purposes of his own, wished to put Mrs. Barker beyond her husband's + possible reach. He smiled grimly. “I think you'd better take the woman + with you,” he said. “I don't think,” he added in a lower voice, “that the + boys would like your leaving her. They're very high-toned, they are!” he + concluded ironically. + </p> + <p> + “Then,” said Van Loo, with another desperate idea, “could you not let us + have saddle-horses instead of the buggy? We could travel faster, and in + the event of pursuit and anything happening to ME,” he added loftily, “SHE + at least could escape her pursuer's vengeance.” + </p> + <p> + This suited Steptoe equally well, as long as the guilty couple fled + TOGETHER, and in the presence of witnesses. But he was not deceived by Van + Loo's heroic suggestion of self-sacrifice. “Quite right,” he said + sarcastically, “it shall be done, and I've no doubt ONE of you will + escape. I'll send the horses round to the back door and keep the buggy in + front. That will keep Jack there, TOO,—with the boys handy.” + </p> + <p> + But Mr. Hamlin had quite as accurate an idea of Mr. Van Loo's methods and + of his OWN standing with Steptoe's gang of roughs as Mr. Steptoe himself. + More than that, he also had a hold on a smaller but more devoted and loyal + following than Steptoe's. The employees and hostlers of the hotel + worshiped him. A single word of inquiry revealed to him the fact that the + buggy was NOT going on, but that Mr. Van Loo and Mrs. Barker WERE—on + two horses, a temporary side-saddle having been constructed out of a + mule's pack-tree. At which Mr. Hamlin, with his usual audacity, walked + into the bar-room, and going to the bar leaned carelessly against it. Then + turning to the lowering faces around him, he said, with a flash of his + white teeth, “Well, boys, I'm calculating to leave the Divide in a few + minutes to follow some friends in the buggy, and it seems to me only the + square thing to stand the liquor for the crowd, without prejudice to any + feeling or roughness there may be against me. Everybody who knows me knows + that I'm generally there when the band plays, and I'm pretty sure to turn + up for THAT sort of thing. So you'll just consider that I've had a good + game on the Divide, and I'm reckoning it's only fair to leave a little of + it behind me here, to 'sweeten the pot' until I call again. I only ask + you, gentlemen, to drink success to my friends in the buggy as early and + as often as you can.” He flung two gold pieces on the counter and paused, + smiling. + </p> + <p> + He was right in his conjecture. Even the men who would have willingly + “held him up” a moment after, at the bidding of Steptoe, saw no reason for + declining a free drink “without prejudice.” And it was a part of the irony + of the situation that Steptoe and Van Loo were also obliged to participate + to keep in with their partisans. It was, however, an opportune diversion + to Van Loo, who managed to get nearer the door leading to the back + entrance of the hotel, and to Mr. Jack Hamlin, who was watching him, as + the men closed up to the bar. + </p> + <p> + The toast was drunk with acclamation, followed by another and yet another. + Steptoe and Van Loo, who had kept their heads cool, were both wondering if + Hamlin's intention were to intoxicate and incapacitate the crowd at the + crucial moment, and Steptoe smiled grimly over his superior knowledge of + their alcoholic capacity. But suddenly there was the greater diversion of + a shout from the road, the on-coming of a cloud of red dust, and the halt + of another vehicle before the door. This time it was no jaded single horse + and dust-stained buggy, but a double team of four spirited trotters, whose + coats were scarcely turned with foam, before a light station wagon + containing a single man. But that man was instantly recognized by every + one of the outside loungers and stable-boys as well as the staring crowd + within the saloon. It was James Stacy, the millionaire and banker. No one + but himself knew that he had covered half the distance of a night-long + ride from Boomville in two hours. But before they could voice their + astonishment Stacy had thrown a letter to the obsequious landlord, and + then gathering up the reins had sped away to the railroad station half a + mile distant. + </p> + <p> + “Looks as if the Boss of Creation was in a hurry,” said one of the eager + gazers in the doorway. “Somebody goin' to get smashed, sure.” + </p> + <p> + “More like as if he was just humpin' himself to keep from getting + smashed,” said Steptoe. “The bank hasn't got over the effect of their + smart deal in the Wheat Trust. Everything they had in their hands tumbled + yesterday in Sacramento. Men like me and you ain't goin' to trust their + money to be 'jockeyed' with in that style. Nobody but a man with a swelled + head like Stacy would have even dared to try it on. And now, by G-d! he's + got to pay for it.” + </p> + <p> + The harsh, exultant tone of the speaker showed that he had quite forgotten + Van Loo and Hamlin in his superior hatred of the millionaire, and both men + noticed it. Van Loo edged still nearer to the door, as Steptoe continued, + “Ever since he made that big strike on Heavy Tree five years ago, the + country hasn't been big enough to hold him. But mark my words, gentlemen, + the time ain't far off when he'll find a two-foot ditch again and a pick + and grub wages room enough and to spare for him and his kind of cattle.” + </p> + <p> + “You're not drinking,” said Jack Hamlin cheerfully. + </p> + <p> + Steptoe turned towards the bar, and then started. “Where's Van Loo?” he + demanded of Jack sharply. + </p> + <p> + Jack jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Gone to hurry up his girl, I + reckon. I calculate he ain't got much time to fool away here.” + </p> + <p> + Steptoe glanced suspiciously at Jack. But at the same moment they were all + startled—even Jack himself—at the apparition of Mrs. Barker + passing hurriedly along the veranda before the windows in the direction of + the still waiting buggy. “D—n it!” said Steptoe in a fierce whisper + to the man next him. “Tell her not THERE—at the back door!” But + before the messenger reached the door there was a sudden rattle of wheels, + and with one accord all except Hamlin rushed to the veranda, only to see + Mrs. Barker driving rapidly away alone. Steptoe turned back into the room, + but Jack also had disappeared. + </p> + <p> + For in the confusion created at the sight of Mrs. Barker, he had slipped + to the back door and found, as he suspected, only one horse, and that with + a side-saddle on. His intuitions were right. Van Loo, when he disappeared + from the saloon, had instantly fled, taking the other horse and abandoning + the woman to her fate. Jack as instantly leaped upon the remaining saddle + and dashed after him. Presently he caught a glimpse of the fugitive in the + distance, heard the half-angry, half-ironical shouts of the crowd at the + back door, and as he reached the hilltop saw, with a mingling of + satisfaction and perplexity, Mrs. Barker on the other road, still driving + frantically in the direction of the railroad station. At which Mr. Hamlin + halted, threw away his encumbering saddle, and, good rider that he was, + remounted the horse, barebacked but for his blanket-pad, and thrusting his + knees in the loose girths, again dashed forwards,—with such good + results that, as Van Loo galloped up to the stagecoach office, at the next + station, and was about to enter the waiting coach for Marysville, the soft + hand of Mr. Hamlin was laid on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “I told you,” said Jack blandly, “that I had plenty of time. I would have + been here BEFORE and even overtaken you, only you had the better horse and + the only saddle.” + </p> + <p> + Van Loo recoiled. But he was now desperate and reckless. Beckoning Jack + out of earshot of the other passengers, he said with tightened lips, “Why + do you follow me? What is your purpose in coming here?” + </p> + <p> + “I thought,” said Hamlin dryly, “that I was to have the pleasure of + getting satisfaction from you for the insult you gave me.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, and if I apologize for it, what then?” he said quickly. + </p> + <p> + Hamlin looked at him quietly. “Well, I think I also said something about + the lady being the wife of a friend of mine.” + </p> + <p> + “And I have left her BEHIND. Her husband can take her back without + disgrace, for no one knows of her flight but you and me. Do you think your + shooting me will save her? It will spread the scandal far and wide. For I + warn you, that as I have apologized for what you choose to call my + personal insult, unless you murder me in cold blood without witness, I + shall let them know the REASON of your quarrel. And I can tell you more: + if you only succeed in STOPPING me here, and make me lose my chance of + getting away, the scandal to your friend will be greater still.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Hamlin looked at Van Loo curiously. There was a certain amount of + conviction in what he said. He had never met this kind of creature before. + He had surpassed even Hamlin's first intuition of his character. He amused + and interested him. But Mr. Hamlin was also a man of the world, and knew + that Van Loo's reasoning might be good. He put his hands in his pockets, + and said gravely, “What IS your little game?” + </p> + <p> + Van Loo had been seized with another inspiration of desperation. Steptoe + had been partly responsible for this situation. Van Loo knew that Jack and + Steptoe were not friends. He had certain secrets of Steptoe's that might + be of importance to Jack. Why should he not try to make friends with this + powerful free-lance and half-outlaw? + </p> + <p> + “It's a game,” he said significantly, “that might be of interest to your + friends to hear.” + </p> + <p> + Hamlin took his hands out of his pockets, turned on his heel, and said, + “Come with me.” + </p> + <p> + “But I must go by that coach now,” said Van Loo desperately, “or—I've + told you what would happen.” + </p> + <p> + “Come with me,” said Jack coolly. “If I'm satisfied with what you tell me, + I'll put you down at the next station an hour before that coach gets + there.” + </p> + <p> + “You swear it?” said Van Loo hesitatingly. + </p> + <p> + “I've SAID it,” returned Jack. “Come!” and Van Loo followed Mr. Hamlin + into the station hotel. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. + </h2> + <p> + The abrupt disappearance of Jack Hamlin and the strange lady and gentleman + visitor was scarcely noticed by the other guests of the Divide House, and + beyond the circle of Steptoe and his friends, who were a distinct party + and strangers to the town, there was no excitement. Indeed, the hotel + proprietor might have confounded them together, and, perhaps, Van Loo was + not far wrong in his belief that their identity had not been suspected. + Nor were Steptoe's followers very much concerned in an episode in which + they had taken part only at the suggestion of their leader, and which had + terminated so tamely. That they would have liked a “row,” in which Jack + Hamlin would have been incidentally forced to disgorge his winnings, there + was no doubt, but that their interference was asked solely to gratify some + personal spite of Steptoe's against Van Loo was equally plain to them. + There was some grumbling and outspoken criticism of his methods. + </p> + <p> + This was later made more obvious by the arrival of another guest for whom + Steptoe and his party were evidently waiting. He was a short, stout man, + whose heavy red beard was trimmed a little more carefully than when he was + first known to Steptoe as Alky Hall, the drunkard of Heavy Tree Hill. His + dress, too, exhibited a marked improvement in quality and style, although + still characterized in the waist and chest by the unbuttoned freedom of + portly and slovenly middle age. Civilization had restricted his potations + or limited them to certain festivals known as “sprees,” and his face was + less puffy and sodden. But with the accession of sobriety he had lost his + good humor, and had the irritability and intolerance of virtuous + restraint. + </p> + <p> + “Ye needn't ladle out any of your forty-rod whiskey to me,” he said + querulously to Steptoe, as he filed out with the rest of the party through + the bar-room into the adjacent apartment. “I want to keep my head level + till our business is over, and I reckon it wouldn't hurt you and your gang + to do the same. They're less likely to blab; and there are few doors that + whiskey won't unlock,” he added, as Steptoe turned the key in the door + after the party had entered. + </p> + <p> + The room had evidently been used for meetings of directors or political + caucuses, and was roughly furnished with notched and whittled armchairs + and a single long deal table, on which were ink and pens. The men sat down + around it with a half-embarrassed, half-contemptuous attitude of + formality, their bent brows and isolated looks showing little community of + sentiment and scarcely an attempt to veil that individual selfishness that + was prominent. Still less was there any essay of companionship or sympathy + in the manner of Steptoe as he suddenly rapped on the table with his + knuckles. + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen,” he said, with a certain deliberation of utterance, as if he + enjoyed his own coarse directness, “I reckon you all have a sort of + general idea what you were picked up for, or you wouldn't be here. But you + may or may not know that for the present you are honest, hard-working + miners,—the backbone of the State of Californy,—and that you + have formed yourselves into a company called the 'Blue Jay,' and you've + settled yourselves on the Bar below Heavy Tree Hill, on a deserted claim + of the Marshall Brothers, not half a mile from where the big strike was + made five years ago. That's what you ARE, gentlemen; that's what you'll + continue TO BE until the job's finished; and,” he added, with a sudden + dominance that they all felt, “the man who forgets it will have to reckon + with me. Now,” he continued, resuming his former ironical manner, “now, + what are the cold facts of the case? The Marshalls worked this claim ever + since '49, and never got anything out of it; then they dropped off or died + out, leaving only one brother, Tom Marshall, to work what was left of it. + Well, a few days ago HE found indications of a big lead in the rock, and + instead of rushin' out and yellin' like an honest man, and callin' in the + boys to drink, he sneaks off to 'Frisco, and goes to the bank to get 'em + to take a hand in it. Well, you know, when Jim Stacy takes a hand in + anything, IT'S BOTH HANDS, and the bank wouldn't see it until he promised + to guarantee possession of the whole abandoned claim,—'dips, spurs, + and angles,'—and let them work the whole thing, which the d——d + fool DID, and the bank agreed to send an expert down there to-morrow to + report. But while he was away some one on our side, who was an expert + also, got wind of it, and made an examination all by himself, and found it + was a vein sure enough and a big thing, and some one else on our side + found out, too, all that Marshall had promised the bank and what the bank + had promised him. Now, gentlemen, when the bank sends down that expert + to-morrow I expect that he will find YOU IN POSSESSION of every part of + the deserted claim except the spot where Tom is still working.” + </p> + <p> + “And what good is that to us?” asked one of the men contemptuously. + </p> + <p> + “Good?” repeated Steptoe harshly. “Well, if you're not as d——d + a fool as Marshall, you'll see that if he has struck a lead or vein it's + bound to run across OUR CLAIMS, and what's to keep us from sinking for it + as long as Marshall hasn't worked the other claims for years nor + pre-empted them for this lead?” + </p> + <p> + “What'll keep him from preempting now?” + </p> + <p> + “Our possession.” + </p> + <p> + “But if he can prove that the brothers left their claims to him to keep, + he'll just send the sheriff and his posse down upon us,” persisted the + first speaker. + </p> + <p> + “It will take him three months to do that by law, and the sheriff and his + posse can't do it before as long as we're in peaceable possession of it. + And by the time that expert and Marshall return they'll find us in + peaceful possession, unless we're such blasted fools as to stay talking + about it here!” + </p> + <p> + “But what's to prevent Marshall from getting a gang of his own to drive us + off?” + </p> + <p> + “Now your talkin' and not yelpin',” said Steptoe, with slow insolence. “D——d + if I didn't begin to think you kalkilated I was goin' to employ you as + lawyers! Nothing is to prevent him from gettin' up HIS gang, and we hope + he'll do it, for you see it puts us both on the same level before the law, + for we're both BREAKIN' IT. And we kalkilate that we're as good as any + roughs they can pick up at Heavy Tree.” + </p> + <p> + “I reckon!” “Ye can count us in!” said half a dozen voices eagerly. + </p> + <p> + “But what's the job goin' to pay us?” persisted a Sydney man. “An' arter + we've beat off this other gang, are we going to scrub along on grub wages + until we're yanked out by process-sarvers three months later? If that's + the ticket I'm not in it. I aren't no b—y quartz miner.” + </p> + <p> + “We ain't going to do no more MINING there than the bank,” said Steptoe + fiercely. “And the bank ain't going to wait no three months for the end of + the lawsuit. They'll float the stock of that mine for a couple of + millions, and get out of it with a million before a month. And they'll + have to buy us off to do that. What they'll pay will depend upon the lead; + but we don't move off those claims for less than five thousand dollars, + which will be two hundred and fifty dollars to each man. But,” said + Steptoe in a lower but perfectly distinct voice, “if there should be a + row,—and they BEGIN it,—and in the scuffle Tom Marshall, their + only witness, should happen to get in the way of a revolver or have his + head caved in, there might be some difficulty in their holdin' ANY OF THE + MINE against honest, hardworking miners in possession. You hear me?” + </p> + <p> + There was a breathless silence for the moment, and a slight movement of + the men in their chairs, but never in fear or protest. Every one had heard + the speaker distinctly, and every man distinctly understood him. Some of + them were criminals, one or two had already the stain of blood on their + hands; but even the most timid, who at other times might have shrunk from + suggested assassination, saw in the speaker's words only the fair removal + of a natural enemy. + </p> + <p> + “All right, boys. I'm ready to wade in at once. Why ain't we on the road + now? We might have been but for foolin' our time away on that man Van + Loo.” + </p> + <p> + “Van Loo!” repeated Hall eagerly,—“Van Loo! Was he here?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Steptoe shortly, administering a kick under the table to Hall, + as he had no wish to revive the previous irritability of his comrades. + “He's gone, but,” turning to the others, “you'd have had to wait for Mr. + Hall's arrival, anyhow. And now you've got your order you can start. Go in + two parties by different roads, and meet on the other side of the hotel at + Hymettus. I'll be there before you. Pick up some shovels and drills as you + go; remember you're honest miners, but don't forget your shootin'-irons + for all that. Now scatter.” + </p> + <p> + It was well that they did, vacating the room more cheerfully and + sympathetically than they had entered it, or Hall's manifest disturbance + over Van Loo's visit would have been noticed. When the last man had + disappeared Hall turned quickly to Steptoe. “Well, what did he say? Where + has he gone?” + </p> + <p> + “Don't know,” said Steptoe, with uneasy curtness. “He was running away + with a woman—well, Mrs. Barker, if you want to know,” he added, with + rising anger, “the wife of one of those cursed partners. Jack Hamlin was + here, and was jockeying to stop him, and interfered. But what the devil + has that job to do with our job?” He was losing his temper; everything + seemed to turn upon this infernal Van Loo! + </p> + <p> + “He wasn't running away with Mrs. Barker,” gasped Hall,—“it was with + her MONEY! and the fear of being connected with the Wheat Trust swindle + which he organized, and with our money which I lent him for the same + purpose. And he knows all about that job, for I wanted to get him to go + into it with us. Your name and mine ain't any too sweet-smelling for the + bank, and we ought to have a middleman who knows business to arrange with + them. The bank daren't object to him, for they've employed him in even + shadier transactions than this when THEY didn't wish to appear. I knew he + was in difficulties along with Mrs. Barker's speculations, but I never + thought him up to this. And,” he added, with sudden desperation, “YOU + trusted him, too.” + </p> + <p> + In an instant Steptoe caught the frightened man by the shoulders and was + bearing him down on the table. “Are you a traitor, a liar, or a besotted + fool?” he said hoarsely. “Speak. WHEN and WHERE did I trust him?” + </p> + <p> + “You said in your note—I was—to—help him,” gasped Hall. + </p> + <p> + “My note,” repeated Steptoe, releasing Hall with astonished eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Hall, tremblingly searching in his vest pocket. “I brought it + with me. It isn't much of a note, but there's your signature plain + enough.” + </p> + <p> + He handed Steptoe a torn piece of paper folded in a three-cornered shape. + Steptoe opened it. He instantly recognized the paper on which he had + written his name and sent up to his wife at the Boomville Hotel. But, + added to it, in apparently the same hand, in smaller characters, were the + words, “Help Van Loo all you can.” + </p> + <p> + The blood rushed into his face. But he quickly collected himself, and said + hurriedly, “All right, I had forgotten it. Let the d——d sneak + go. We've got what's a thousand times better in this claim at Marshall's, + and it's well that he isn't in it to scoop the lion's share. Only we must + not waste time getting there now. You go there first, and at once, and set + those rascals to work. I'll follow you before Marshall comes up. Get; I'll + settle up here.” + </p> + <p> + His face darkened once more as Hall hurried away, leaving him alone. He + drew out the piece of paper from his pocket and stared at it again. Yes; + it was the one he had sent to his wife. How did Van Loo get hold of it? + Was he at the hotel that night? Had he picked it up in the hall or passage + when the servant dropped it? When Hall handed him the paper and he first + recognized it a fiendish thought, followed by a spasm of more fiendish + rage, had sent the blood to his face. But his crude common sense quickly + dismissed that suggestion of his wife's complicity with Van Loo. But had + she seen him passing through the hotel that night, and had sought to draw + from him some knowledge of his early intercourse with the child, and + confessed everything, and even produced the paper with his signature as a + proof of identity? Women had been known to do such desperate things. + Perhaps she disbelieved her son's aversion to her, and was trying to sound + Van Loo. As for the forged words by Van Loo, and the use he had put them + to, he cared little. He believed the man was capable of forgery; indeed, + he suddenly remembered that in the old days his son had spoken innocently, + but admiringly, of Van Loo's wonderful chirographical powers and his + faculty of imitating the writings of others, and how he had even offered + to teach him. A new and exasperating thought came into his feverish + consciousness. What if Van Loo, in teaching the boy, had even made use of + him as an innocent accomplice to cover up his own tricks! The suggestion + was no question of moral ethics to Steptoe, nor of his son's possible + contamination, although since the night of the big strike he had held + different views; it was simply a fierce, selfish jealousy that ANOTHER + might have profited by the lad's helplessness and inexperience. He had + been tormented by this jealousy before in his son's liking for Van Loo. He + had at first encouraged his admiration and imitative regard for this + smooth swindler's graces and accomplishments, which, though he scorned + them himself, he was, after the common parental infatuation, willing that + the boy should profit by. Incapable, through his own consciousness, of + distinguishing between Van Loo's superficial polish and the true breeding + of a gentleman, he had only looked upon it as an equipment for his son + which might be serviceable to himself. He had told his wife the truth when + he informed her of Van Loo's fears of being reminded of their former + intimacy; but he had not told her how its discontinuance after they had + left Heavy Tree Hill had affected her son, and how he still cherished his + old admiration for that specious rascal. Nor had he told her how this had + stung him, through his own selfish greed of the boy's affection. Yet now + that it was possible that she had met Van Loo that evening, she might have + become aware of Van Loo's power over her child. How she would exult, for + all her pretended hatred of Van Loo! How, perhaps, they had plotted + together! How Van Loo might have become aware of the place where his son + was kept, and have been bribed by the mother to tell her! He stopped in a + whirl of giddy fancies. His strong common sense in all other things had + been hitherto proof against such idle dreams or suggestions; but the very + strength of his parental love and jealousy had awakened in him at last the + terrors of imagination. + </p> + <p> + His first impulse had been to seek his wife, regardless of discovery or + consequences, at Hymettus, where she had said she was going. It was on his + way to the rendezvous at Marshall's claim. But this he as instantly set + aside, it was his SON he must find; SHE might not confess, or might + deceive him—the boy would not; and if his fears were correct, she + could be arraigned afterwards. It was possible for him to reach the little + Mission church and school, secluded in a remote valley by the old + Franciscan fathers, where he had placed the boy for the last few years + unknown to his wife. It would be a long ride, but he could still reach + Heavy Tree Hill afterwards before Marshall and the expert arrived. And he + had a feeling he had never felt before on the eve of a desperate + adventure,—that he must see the boy first. He remembered how the + child had often accompanied him in his flight, and how he had gained + strength, and, it seemed to him, a kind of luck, from the touch of that + small hand in his. Surely it was necessary now that at least his mind + should be at rest regarding HIM on the eve of an affair of this moment. + Perhaps he might never see him again. At any other time, and under the + influence of any other emotion, he would have scorned such a + sentimentalism—he who had never troubled himself either with + preparation for the future or consideration for the past. But at that + moment he felt both. He drew a long breath. He could catch the next train + to the Three Boulders and ride thence to San Felipe. He hurriedly left the + room, settled with the landlord, and galloped to the station. By the irony + of circumstances the only horse available for that purpose was Mr. + Hamlin's own. + </p> + <p> + By two o'clock he was at the Three Boulders, where he got a fast horse and + galloped into San Felipe by four. As he descended the last slope through + the fastnesses of pines towards the little valley overlooked in its + remoteness and purely pastoral simplicity by the gold-seeking immigrants,—its + seclusion as one of the furthest northern Californian missions still + preserved through its insignificance and the efforts of the remaining + Brotherhood, who used it as an infirmary and a school for the few + remaining Spanish families,—he remembered how he once blundered upon + it with the boy while hotly pursued by a hue and cry from one of the + larger towns, and how he found sanctuary there. He remembered how, when + the pursuit was over, he had placed the boy there under the padre's + charge. He had lied to his wife regarding the whereabouts of her son, but + he had spoken truly regarding his free expenditure for the boy's + maintenance, and the good fathers had accepted, equally for the child's + sake as for the Church's sake, the generous “restitution” which this + coarse, powerful, ruffianly looking father was apparently seeking to make. + He was quite aware of it at the time, and had equally accepted it with + grim cynicism; but it now came back to him with a new and smarting + significance. Might THEY, too, not succeed in weaning the boy's affection + from him, or if the mother had interfered, would they not side with her in + claiming an equal right? He had sometimes laughed to himself over the + security of this hiding-place, so unknown and so unlikely to be discovered + by her, yet within easy reach of her friends and his enemies; he now + ground his teeth over the mistake which his doting desire to keep his son + accessible to him had caused him to make. He put spurs to his horse, + dashed down the little, narrow, ill-paved street, through the deserted + plaza, and pulled up in a cloud of dust before the only remaining tower, + with its cracked belfry, of the half-ruined Mission church. A new + dormitory and school-building had been extended from its walls, but in a + subdued, harmonious, modest way, quite unlike the usual glaring white-pine + glories of provincial towns. Steptoe laughed to himself bitterly. Some of + his money had gone in it. + </p> + <p> + He seized the horsehair rope dangling from a bell by the wall and rang it + sharply. A soft-footed priest appeared,—Father Dominico. “Eddy + Horncastle? Ah! yes. Eddy, dear child, is gone.” + </p> + <p> + “Gone!” shouted Steptoe in a voice that startled the padre. “Where? When? + With whom?” + </p> + <p> + “Pardon, senor, but for a time—only a pasear to the next village. It + is his saint's day—he has half-holiday. He is a good boy. It is a + little pleasure for him and for us.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” said Steptoe, softened into a rough apology. “I forgot. All right. + Has he had any visitors lately—lady, for instance?” + </p> + <p> + Father Dominico cast a look half of fright, half of reproval upon his + guest. + </p> + <p> + “A lady HERE!” + </p> + <p> + In his relief Steptoe burst into a coarse laugh. “Of course; you see I + forgot that, too. I was thinking of one of his woman folks, you know—relatives—aunts. + Was there any other visitor?” + </p> + <p> + “Only one. Ah! we know the senor's rules regarding his son.” + </p> + <p> + “One?” repeated Steptoe. “Who was it?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, quite an hidalgo—an old friend of the child's—most + polite, most accomplished, fluent in Spanish, perfect in deportment. The + Senor Horncastle surely could find nothing to object to. Father Pedro was + charmed with him. A man of affairs, and yet a good Catholic, too. It was a + Senor Van Loo—Don Paul the boy called him, and they talked of the + boy's studies in the old days as if—indeed, but for the stranger + being a caballero and man of the world—as if he had been his + teacher.” + </p> + <p> + It was a proof of the intensity of the father's feelings that they had + passed beyond the power of his usual coarse, brutal expression, and he + only stared at the priest with a dull red face in which the blood seemed + to have stagnated. Presently he said thickly, “When did he come?” + </p> + <p> + “A few days ago.” + </p> + <p> + “Which way did Eddy go?” + </p> + <p> + “To Brown's Mills, scarcely a league away. He will be here—even now—on + the instant. But the senor will come into the refectory and take some of + the old Mission wine from the Catalan grape, planted one hundred and fifty + years ago, until the dear child returns. He will be so happy.” + </p> + <p> + “No! I'm in a hurry. I will go on and meet him.” He took off his hat, + mopped his crisp, wet hair with his handkerchief, and in a thick, slow, + impeded voice, more suggestive than the outburst he restrained, said, “And + as long as my son remains here that man, Van Loo, must not pass this gate, + speak to him, or even see him. You hear me? See to it, you and all the + others. See to it, I say, or”—He stopped abruptly, clapped his hat + on the swollen veins of his forehead, turned quickly, passed out without + another word through the archway into the road, and before the good priest + could cross himself or recover from his astonishment the thud of his + horse's hoofs came from the dusty road. + </p> + <p> + It was ten minutes before his face resumed its usual color. But in that + ten minutes, as if some of the struggle of his rider had passed into him, + his horse was sweating with exhaustion and fear. For in that ten minutes, + in this new imagination with which he was cursed, he had killed both Van + Loo and his son, and burned the refectory over the heads of the + treacherous priests. Then, quite himself again, a voice came to him from + the rocky trail above the road with the hail of “Father!” He started + quickly as a lad of fifteen or sixteen came bounding down the hillside, + and ran towards him. + </p> + <p> + “You passed me and I called to you, but you did not seem to hear,” said + the boy breathlessly. “Then I ran after you. Have you been to the + Mission?” + </p> + <p> + Steptoe looked at him quite as breathlessly, but from a deeper emotion. He + was, even at first sight, a handsome lad, glowing with youth and the + excitement of his run, and, as the father looked at him, he could see the + likeness to his mother in his clear-cut features, and even a resemblance + to himself in his square, compact chest and shoulders and crisp, black + curls. A thrill of purely animal paternity passed over him, the fierce joy + of his flesh over his own flesh! His own son, by God! They could not take + THAT from him; they might plot, swindle, fawn, cheat, lie, and steal away + his affections, but there he was, plain to all eyes, his own son, his very + son! + </p> + <p> + “Come here,” he said in a singular, half-weary and half-protesting voice, + which the boy instantly recognized as his father's accents of affection. + </p> + <p> + The boy hesitated as he stood on the edge of the road and pointed with + mingled mischief and fastidiousness to the depths of impalpable red dust + that lay between him and the horseman. Steptoe saw that he was very + smartly attired in holiday guise, with white duck trousers and patent + leather shoes, and, after the Spanish fashion, wore black kid gloves. He + certainly was a bit of a dandy, as he had said. The father's whole face + changed as he wheeled and came before the lad, who lifted up his arms + expectantly. They had often ridden together on the same horse. + </p> + <p> + “No rides to-day in that toggery, Eddy,” he said in the same voice. “But + I'll get down and we'll go and sit somewhere under a tree and have some + talk. I've got a bit of a job that's hurrying me, and I can't waste time.” + </p> + <p> + “Not one of your old jobs, father? I thought you had quite given that up?” + </p> + <p> + The boy spoke more carelessly than reproachfully, or even wonderingly; + yet, as he dismounted and tethered his horse, Steptoe answered evasively, + “It's a big thing, sonny; maybe we'll make our eternal fortune, and then + we'll light out from this hole and have a gay time elsewhere. Come along.” + </p> + <p> + He took the boy's gloved right hand in his own powerful grasp, and + together they clambered up the steep hillside to a rocky ledge on which a + fallen pine from above had crashed, snapped itself in twain, and then left + its withered crown to hang half down the slope, while the other half + rested on the ledge. On this they sat, looking down upon the road and the + tethered horse. A gentle breeze moved the treetops above their heads, and + the westering sun played hide-and-seek with the shifting shadows. The + boy's face was quick and alert with all that moved round him, but without + thought the father's face was heavy, except for the eyes that were fixed + upon his son. + </p> + <p> + “Van Loo came to the Mission,” he said suddenly. + </p> + <p> + The boy's eyes glittered quickly, like a steel that pierced the father's + heart. “Oh,” he said simply, “then it was the padre told you?” + </p> + <p> + “How did he know you were here?” asked Steptoe. + </p> + <p> + “I don't know,” said the boy quietly. “I think he said something, but I've + forgotten it. But it was mighty good of him to come, for I thought, you + know, that he did not care to see me after Heavy Tree, and that he'd gone + back on us.” + </p> + <p> + “What did he tell you?” continued Steptoe. “Did he talk of me or of your + mother?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the boy, but without any show of interest or sympathy; “we + talked mostly about old times.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell ME about those old times, Eddy. You never told me anything about + them.” + </p> + <p> + The boy, momentarily arrested more by something in the tone of his + father's voice—a weakness he had never noticed before—than by + any suggestion of his words, said with a laugh, “Oh, only about what we + used to do when I was very little and used to call myself his 'little + brother,'—don't you remember, long before the big strike on Heavy + Tree? They were gay times we had then.” + </p> + <p> + “And how he used to teach you to imitate other people's handwriting?” said + Steptoe. + </p> + <p> + “What made you think of that, pop?” said the boy, with a slight wonder in + his eyes. “Why, that's the very thing we DID talk about.” + </p> + <p> + “But you didn't do it again; you ain't done it since,” said Steptoe + quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Lord! no,” said the boy contemptuously. “There ain't no chance now, and + there wouldn't be any fun in it. It isn't like the old times when him and + me were all alone, and we used to write letters as coming from other + people to all the boys round Heavy Tree and the Bar, and sometimes as far + as Boomville, to get them to do things, and they'd think the letters were + real, and they'd do 'em. And there'd be the biggest kind of a row, and + nobody ever knew who did it.” + </p> + <p> + Steptoe stared at this flesh of his own flesh half in relief, half in + frightened admiration. Sitting astride the log, his elbows on his knees + and his gloved hands supporting his round cheeks, the boy's handsome face + became illuminated with an impish devilry which the father had never seen + before. With dancing eyes he went on. “It was one of those very games we + played so long ago that he wanted to see me about and wanted me to keep + mum about, for some of the folks that he played it on were around here + now. It was a game we got off on one of the big strike partners long + before the strike. I'll tell YOU, dad, for you know what happened + afterwards, and you'll be glad. Well, that partner—Demorest—was + a kind of silly, you remember—a sort of Miss Nancyish fellow—always + gloomy and lovesick after his girl in the States. Well, we'd written lots + of letters to girls from their chaps before, and got lots of fun out of + it; but we had even a better show for a game here, for it happened that + Van Loo knew all about the girl—things that even the man's own + partners didn't, for Van Loo's mother was a sort of a friend of the girl's + family, and traveled about with her, and knew that the girl was spoony + over this Demorest, and that they corresponded. So, knowing that Van Loo + was employed at Heavy Tree, she wrote to him to find out all about + Demorest and how to stop their foolish nonsense, for the girl's parents + didn't want her to marry a broken-down miner like him. So we thought we'd + do it our own way, and write a letter to her as if it was from him, don't + you see? I wanted to make him call her awful names, and say that he hated + her, that he was a murderer and a horse-thief, and that he had killed a + policeman, and that he was thinking of becoming a Digger Injin, and having + a Digger squaw for a wife, which he liked better than her. Lord! dad, you + ought to have seen what stuff I made up.” The boy burst into a shrill, + half-feminine laugh, and Steptoe, catching the infection, laughed loudly + in his own coarse, brutal fashion. + </p> + <p> + For some moments they sat there looking in each other's faces, shaking + with sympathetic emotion, the father forgetting the purpose of his coming + there, his rage over Van Loo's visit, and even the rendezvous to which his + horse in the road below was waiting to bring him; the son forgetting their + retreat from Heavy Tree Hill and his shameful vagabond wanderings with + that father in the years that followed. The sinking sun stared blankly in + their faces; the protecting pines above them moved by a stronger gust + shook a few cones upon them; an enormous crow mockingly repeated the + father's coarse laugh, and a squirrel scampered away from the strangely + assorted pair as Steptoe, wiping his eyes and forehead with his + pocket-handkerchief, said:— + </p> + <p> + “And did you send it?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! Van Loo thought it too strong. Said that those sort of love-sick + fools made more fuss over little things than they did over big things, and + he sort of toned it down, and fixed it up himself. But it told. For there + were never any more letters in the post-office in her handwriting, and + there wasn't any posted to her in his.” + </p> + <p> + They both laughed again, and then Steptoe rose. “I must be getting along,” + he said, looking curiously at the boy. “I've got to catch a train at Three + Boulders Station.” + </p> + <p> + “Three Boulders!” repeated the boy. “I'm going there, too, on Friday, to + meet Father Cipriano.” + </p> + <p> + “I reckon my work will be all done by Friday,” said Steptoe musingly. + Standing thus, holding his boy's hand, he was thinking that the real fight + at Marshall's would not take place at once, for it might take a day or two + for Marshall to gather forces. But he only pressed his son's hand gently. + </p> + <p> + “I wish you would sometimes take me with you as you used to,” said the boy + curiously. “I'm bigger now, and wouldn't be in your way.” + </p> + <p> + Steptoe looked at the boy with a choking sense of satisfaction and pride. + But he said, “No;” and then suddenly with simulated humor, “Don't you be + taken in by any letters from ME, such as you and Van Loo used to write. + You hear?” + </p> + <p> + The boy laughed. + </p> + <p> + “And,” continued Steptoe, “if anybody says I sent for you, don't you + believe them.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the boy, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “And don't you even believe I'm dead till you see me so. You understand. + By the way, Father Pedro has some money of mine kept for you. Now hurry + back to school and say you met me, but that I was in a great hurry. I + reckon I may have been rather rough to the priests.” + </p> + <p> + They had reached the lower road again, and Steptoe silently unhitched his + horse. “Good-by,” he said, as he laid his hand on the boy's arm. + </p> + <p> + “Good-by, dad.” + </p> + <p> + He mounted his horse slowly. “Well,” he said smilingly, looking down the + road, “you ain't got anything more to say to me, have you?” + </p> + <p> + “No, dad.” + </p> + <p> + “Nothin' you want?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothin', dad.” + </p> + <p> + “All right. Good-by.” + </p> + <p> + He put spurs to his horse and cantered down the road without looking back. + The boy watched him with idle curiosity until he disappeared from sight, + and then went on his way, whistling and striking off the heads of the + wayside weeds with his walking-stick. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. + </h2> + <p> + The sun arose so brightly over Hymettus on the morning after the meeting + of the three partners that it was small wonder that Barker's + impressionable nature quickly responded to it, and, without awakening the + still sleeping child, he dressed hurriedly, and was the first to greet it + in the keen air of the slope behind the hotel. To his pantheistic spirit + it had always seemed as natural for him to early welcome his returning + brothers of the woods and hills as to say good-morning to his fellow + mortals. And, in the joy of seeing Black Spur rising again to his level in + the distance before him, he doffed his hat to it with a return of his old + boyish habit, laid his arm caressingly around the great girth of the + nearest pine, clapped his hands to the scampering squirrels in his path, + and whistled to the dipping jays. In this way he quite forgot the more + serious affairs of the preceding night, or, rather, saw them only in the + gilding of the morning, until, looking up, he perceived the tall figure of + Demorest approaching him; and then it struck him with his first glance at + his old partner's face that his usual suave, gentle melancholy had been + succeeded by a critical cynicism of look and a restrained bitterness of + accent. Barker's loyal heart smote him for his own selfishness; Demorest + had been hard hit by the discovery of the forgery and Stacy's concern in + it, and had doubtless passed a restless night, while he (Barker) had + forgotten all about it. “I thought of knocking at your door, as I passed,” + he said, with sympathetic apology, “but I was afraid I might disturb you. + Isn't it glorious here? Quite like the old hill. Look at that lizard; he + hasn't moved since he first saw me. Do you remember the one who used to + steal our sugar, and then stiffen himself into stone on the edge of the + bowl until he looked like an ornamental handle to it?” he continued, + rebounding again into spirits. + </p> + <p> + “Barker,” said Demorest abruptly, “what sort of woman is this Mrs. Van + Loo, whose rooms I occupy?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said Barker, with optimistic innocence, “a most proper woman, old + chap. White-haired, well-dressed, with a little foreign accent and a still + more foreign courtesy. Why, you don't suppose we'd”— + </p> + <p> + “But what is she like?” said Demorest impatiently. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Barker thoughtfully, “she's the kind of woman who might be + Van Loo's mother, I suppose.” + </p> + <p> + “You mean the mother of a forger and a swindler?” asked Demorest sharply. + </p> + <p> + “There are no mothers of swindlers and forgers,” said Barker gravely, “in + the way you mean. It's only those poor devils,” he said, pointing, + nevertheless, with a certain admiration to a circling sparrow-hawk above + him, “who have inherited instincts. What I mean is that she might be Van + Loo's mother, because he didn't SELECT her.” + </p> + <p> + “Where did she come from? and how long has she been here?” asked Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “She came from abroad, I believe. And she came here just after you left. + Van Loo, after he became secretary of the Ditch Company, sent for her and + her daughter to keep house for him. But you'll see her to-day or to-morrow + probably, when she returns. I'll introduce you; she'll be rather glad to + meet some one from abroad, and all the more if he happens to be rich and + distinguished, and eligible for her daughter.” He stopped suddenly in his + smile, remembering Demorest's lifelong secret. But to his surprise his + companion's face, instead of darkening as it was wont to do at any such + allusion, brightened suddenly with a singular excitement as he answered + dryly, “Ah well, if the girl is pretty, who knows!” + </p> + <p> + Indeed, his spirits seemed to have returned with strange vivacity as they + walked back to the hotel, and he asked many other questions regarding Mrs. + Van Loo and her daughter, and particularly if the daughter had also been + abroad. When they reached the veranda they found a few early risers + eagerly reading the Sacramento papers, which had just arrived, or, in + little knots, discussing the news. Indeed, they would probably have + stopped Barker and his companion had not Barker, anxious to relieve his + friend's curiosity, hurried with him at once to the manager's office. + </p> + <p> + “Can you tell me exactly when you expect Mrs. Van Loo to return?” asked + Barker quickly. + </p> + <p> + The manager with difficulty detached himself from the newspaper which he, + too, was anxiously perusing, and said, with a peculiar smile, “Well no! + she WAS to return to-day, but if you're wanting to keep her rooms, I + should say there wouldn't be any trouble about it, as she'll hardly be + coming back here NOW. She's rather high and mighty in style, I know, and a + determined sort of critter, but I reckon she and her daughter wouldn't + care much to be waltzing round in public after what has happened.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't understand you,” said Demorest impatiently. “WHAT has happened?” + </p> + <p> + “Haven't you heard the news?” said the manager in surprise. “It's in all + the Sacramento papers. Van Loo is a defaulter—has hypothecated + everything he had and skedaddled.” + </p> + <p> + Barker started. He was not thinking of the loss of his wife's money—only + of HER disappointment and mortification over it. Poor girl! Perhaps she + was also worrying over his resentment,—as if she did not know him! + He would go to her at once at Boomville. Then he remembered that she was + coming with Mrs. Horncastle, and might be already on her way here by rail + or coach, and he would miss her. Demorest in the meantime had seized a + paper, and was intently reading it. + </p> + <p> + “There's bad news, too, for your friend, your old partner,” said the + manager half sympathetically, half interrogatively. “There has been a drop + out in everything the bank is carrying, and everybody is unloading. Two + firms failed in 'Frisco yesterday that were carrying things for the bank, + and have thrown everything back on it. There was an awful panic last + night, and they say none of the big speculators know where they stand. + Three of our best customers in the hotel rushed off to the bay this + morning, but Stacy himself started before daylight, and got the through + night express to stop for him on the Divide on signal. Shall I send any + telegrams that may come to your room?” + </p> + <p> + Demorest knew that the manager suspected him of being interested in the + bank, and understood the purport of the question. He answered, with calm + surprise, that he was expecting no telegrams, and added, “But if Mrs. Van + Loo returns I beg you to at once let me know,” and taking Barker's arm he + went in to breakfast. Seated by themselves, Demorest looked at his + companion. “I'm afraid, Barker boy, that this thing is more serious to Jim + than we expected last night, or than he cared to tell us. And you, old + man, I fear are hurt a little by Van Loo's flight. He had some money of + your wife's, hadn't he?” + </p> + <p> + Barker, who knew that the bulk of Demorest's fortune was in Stacy's hands, + was touched at this proof of his unselfish thought, and answered with + equal unselfishness that he was concerned only by the fear of Mrs. + Barker's disappointment. “Why, Lord! Phil, whether she's lost or saved her + money it's nothing to me. I gave it to her to do what she liked with it, + but I'm afraid she'll be worrying over what I think of it,—as if she + did not know me! And I'm half a mind, if it were not for missing her, to + go over to Boomville, where she's stopping.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought you said she was in San Francisco?” said Demorest abstractedly. + </p> + <p> + Barker colored. “Yes,” he answered quickly. “But I've heard since that she + stopped at Boomville on the way.” + </p> + <p> + “Then don't let ME keep you here,” returned Demorest. “For if Jim + telegraphs to me I shall start for San Francisco at once, and I rather + think he will. I did not like to say so before those panic-mongers outside + who are stampeding everything; so run along, Barker boy, and ease your + mind about the wife. We may have other things to think about soon.” + </p> + <p> + Thus adjured, Barker rose from his half-finished breakfast and slipped + away. Yet he was not quite certain what to do. His wife must have heard + the news at Boomville as quickly as he had, and, if so, would be on her + way with Mrs. Horncastle; or she might be waiting for him—knowing, + too, that he had heard the news—in fear and trembling. For it was + Barker's custom to endow all those he cared for with his own + sensitiveness, and it was not like him to reflect that the woman who had + so recklessly speculated against his opinion would scarcely fear his + reproaches in her defeat. In the fullness of his heart he telegraphed to + her in case she had not yet left Boomville: “All right. Have heard news. + Understand perfectly. Don't worry. Come to me.” Then he left the hotel by + the stable entrance in order to evade the guests who had congregated on + the veranda, and made his way to a little wooded crest which he knew + commanded a view of the two roads from Boomville. Here he determined to + wait and intercept her before she reached the hotel. He knew that many of + the guests were aware of his wife's speculations with Van Loo, and that he + was her broker. He wished to spare her running the gauntlet of their + curious stares and comments as she drove up alone. As he was climbing the + slope the coach from Sacramento dashed past him on the road below, but he + knew that it had changed horses at Boomville at four o'clock, and that his + tired wife would not have availed herself of it at that hour, particularly + as she could not have yet received the fateful news. He threw himself + under a large pine, and watched the stagecoach disappear as it swept round + into the courtyard of the hotel. + </p> + <p> + He sat there for some moments with his eyes bent upon the two forks of the + red road that diverged below him, but which appeared to become whiter and + more dazzling as he searched their distance. There was nothing to be seen + except an occasional puff of dust which eventually revealed a horseman or + a long trailing cloud out of which a solitary mule, one of a pack-train of + six or eight, would momentarily emerge and be lost again. Then he suddenly + heard his name called, and, looking up, saw Mrs. Horncastle, who had + halted a few paces from him between two columns of the long-drawn aisle of + pines. + </p> + <p> + In that mysterious half-light she seemed such a beautiful and goddess-like + figure that his consciousness at first was unable to grasp anything else. + She was always wonderfully well dressed, but the warmth and seclusion of + this mountain morning had enabled her to wear a light gown of some + delicate fabric which set off the grace of her figure, and even pardoned + the rural coquetry of a silken sash around her still slender waist. An + open white parasol thrown over her shoulder made a nimbus for her charming + head and the thick coils of hair under her lace-edged hat. He had never + seen her look so beautiful before. And that thought was so plainly in his + frank face and eyes as he sprang to his feet that it brought a slight rise + of color to her own cheek. + </p> + <p> + “I saw you climbing up here as I passed in the coach a few minutes ago,” + she said, with a smile, “and as soon as I had shaken the dust off I + followed you.” + </p> + <p> + “Where's Kitty?” he stammered. + </p> + <p> + The color faded from her face as it had come, and a shade of something + like reproach crept into her dark eyes. And whatever it had been her + purpose to say, or however carefully she might have prepared herself for + this interview, she was evidently taken aback by the sudden directness of + the inquiry. Barker saw this as quickly, and as quickly referred it to his + own rudeness. His whole soul rushed in apology to his face as he said, + “Oh, forgive me! I was anxious about Kitty; indeed, I had thought of + coming again to Boomville, for you've heard the news, of course? Van Loo + is a defaulter, and has run away with the poor child's money.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle had heard the news at the hotel. She paused a moment to + collect herself, and then said slowly and tentatively, with a watchful + intensity in her eyes, “Mrs. Barker went, I think, to the Divide”— + </p> + <p> + But she was instantly interrupted by the eager Barker. “I see. I thought + of that at once. She went directly to the company's offices to see if she + could save anything from the wreck before she saw me. It was like her, + poor girl! And you—you,” he went on eagerly, his whole face beaming + with gratitude,—“you, out of your goodness, came here to tell me.” + He held out both hands and took hers in his. + </p> + <p> + For a moment Mrs. Horncastle was speechless and vacillating. She had often + noticed before that it was part of the irony of the creation of such a + simple nature as Barker's that he was not only open to deceit, but + absolutely seemed to invite it. Instead of making others franker, people + were inclined to rebuke his credulity by restraint and equivocation on + their own part. But the evasion thus offered to her, although only + temporary, was a temptation she could not resist. And it prolonged an + interview that a ruthless revelation of the truth might have shortened. + </p> + <p> + “She did not tell me she was going there,” she replied still evasively; + “and, indeed,” she added, with a burst of candor still more dangerous, “I + only learned it from the hotel clerk after she was gone. But I want to + talk to you about her relations to Van Loo,” she said, with a return of + her former intensity of gaze, “and I thought we would be less subject to + interruption here than at the hotel. Only I suppose everybody knows this + place, and any of those flirting couples are likely to come here. + Besides,” she added, with a little half-hysterical laugh and a slight + shiver, as she looked up at the high interlacing boughs above her head, + “it's as public as the aisles of a church, and really one feels as if one + were 'speaking out' in meeting. Isn't there some other spot a little more + secluded, where we could sit down,” she went on, as she poked her parasol + into the usual black gunpowdery deposit of earth which mingled with the + carpet of pine-needles beneath her feet, “and not get all sticky and + dirty?” + </p> + <p> + Barker's eyes sparkled. “I know every foot of this hill, Mrs. Horncastle,” + he said, “and if you will follow me I'll take you to one of the loveliest + nooks you ever dreamed of. It's an old Indian spring now forgotten, and I + think known only to me and the birds. It's not more than ten minutes from + here; only”—he hesitated as he caught sight of the smart French + bronze buckled shoe and silken ankle which Mrs. Horncastle's gathering up + of her dainty skirts around her had disclosed—“it may be a little + rough and dusty going to your feet.” + </p> + <p> + But Mrs. Horncastle pointed out that she had already irretrievably ruined + her shoes and stockings in climbing up to him,—although Barker could + really distinguish no diminution of their freshness,—and that she + might as well go on. Whereat they both passed down the long aisle of slope + to a little hollow of manzanita, which again opened to a view of Black + Spur, but left the hotel hidden. + </p> + <p> + “What time did Kitty go?” began Barker eagerly, when they were half down + the slope. + </p> + <p> + But here Mrs. Horncastle's foot slipped upon the glassy pine-needles, and + not only stopped an answer, but obliged Barker to give all his attention + to keep his companion from falling again until they reached the open. Then + came the plunge through the manzanita thicket, then a cool wade through + waist-deep ferns, and then they emerged, holding each other's hand, + breathless and panting before the spring. + </p> + <p> + It did not belie his enthusiastic description. A triangular hollow, niched + in a shelf of the mountain-side, narrowed to a point from which the + overflow of the spring percolated through a fringe of alder, to fall in + what seemed from the valley to be a green furrow down the whole length of + the mountain-side. Overhung by pines above, which met and mingled with the + willows that everywhere fringed it, it made the one cooling shade in the + whole basking expanse of the mountain, and yet was penetrated throughout + by the intoxicating spice of the heated pines. Flowering reeds and long + lush grasses drew a magic circle round an open bowl-like pool in the + centre, that was always replenished to the slow murmur of an unseen + rivulet that trickled from a white-quartz cavern in the mountain-side like + a vein opened in its flank. Shadows of timid wings crossed it, quick + rustlings disturbed the reeds, but nothing more. It was silent, but + breathing; it was hidden to everything but the sky and the illimitable + distance. + </p> + <p> + They threaded their way around it on the spongy carpet, covered by + delicate lace-like vines that seemed to caress rather than trammel their + moving feet, until they reached an open space before the pool. It was + cushioned and matted with disintegrated pine bark, and here they sat down. + Mrs. Horncastle furled her parasol and laid it aside; raised both hands to + the back of her head and took two hat-pins out, which she placed in her + smiling mouth; removed her hat, stuck the hat-pins in it, and handed it to + Barker, who gently placed it on the top of a tall reed, where during the + rest of that momentous meeting it swung and drooped like a flower; removed + her gloves slowly; drank still smilingly and gratefully nearly a + wineglassful of the water which Barker brought her in the green twisted + chalice of a lily leaf; looked the picture of happiness, and then burst + into tears. + </p> + <p> + Barker was astounded, dismayed, even terror-stricken. Mrs. Horncastle + crying! Mrs. Horncastle, the imperious, the collected, the coldly + critical, the cynical, smiling woman of the world, actually crying! Other + women might cry—Kitty had cried often—but Mrs. Horncastle! + Yet, there she was, sobbing; actually sobbing like a schoolgirl, her + beautiful shoulders rising and falling with her grief; crying unmistakably + through her long white fingers, through a lace pocket-handkerchief which + she had hurriedly produced and shaken from behind her like a conjurer's + trick; her beautiful eyes a thousand times more lustrous for the sparkling + beads that brimmed her lashes and welled over like the pool before her. + </p> + <p> + “Don't mind me,” she murmured behind her handkerchief. “It's very foolish, + I know. I was nervous—worried, I suppose; I'll be better in a + moment. Don't notice me, please.” + </p> + <p> + But Barker had drawn beside her and was trying, after the fashion of his + sex, to take her handkerchief away in apparently the firm belief that this + action would stop her tears. “But tell me what it is. Do Mrs. Horncastle, + please,” he pleaded in his boyish fashion. “Is it anything I can do? Only + say the word; only tell me SOMETHING!” + </p> + <p> + But he had succeeded in partially removing the handkerchief, and so caught + a glimpse of her wet eyes, in which a faint smile struggled out like + sunshine through rain. But they clouded again, although she didn't cry, + and her breath came and went with the action of a sob, and her hands still + remained against her flushed face. + </p> + <p> + “I was only going to talk to you of Kitty” (sob)—“but I suppose I'm + weak” (sob)—“and such a fool” (sob) “and I got to thinking of myself + and my own sorrows when I ought to be thinking only of you and Kitty.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind Kitty,” said Barker impulsively. “Tell me about yourself—your + own sorrows. I am a brute to have bothered you about her at such a moment; + and now until you have told me what is paining you so I shall not let you + speak of her.” He was perfectly sincere. What were Kitty's possible and + easy tears over the loss of her money to the unknown agony that could + wrench a sob from a woman like this? “Dear Mrs. Horncastle,” he went on as + breathlessly, “think of me now not as Kitty's husband, but as your true + friend. Yes, as your BEST and TRUEST friend, and speak to me as you would + speak to him.” + </p> + <p> + “You will be my friend?” she said suddenly and passionately, grasping his + hand, “my best and truest friend? and if I tell you all,—everything, + you will not cast me from you and hate me?” + </p> + <p> + Barker felt the same thrill from her warm hand slowly possess his whole + being as it had the evening before, but this time he was prepared and + answered the grasp and her eyes together as he said breathlessly, “I will + be—I AM your friend.” + </p> + <p> + She withdrew her hand and passed it over her eyes. After a moment she + caught his hand again, and, holding it tightly as if she feared he might + fly from her, bit her lip, and then slowly, without looking at him, said, + “I lied to you about myself and Kitty that night; I did not come with her. + I came alone and secretly to Boomville to see—to see the man who is + my husband.” + </p> + <p> + “Your husband!” said Barker in surprise. He had believed, with the rest of + the world, that there had been no communication between them for years. + Yet so intense was his interest in her that he did not notice that this + revelation was leaving now no excuse for his wife's presence at Boomville. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle went on with dogged bitterness, “Yes, my husband. I went + to him to beg and bribe him to let me see my child. Yes, MY child,” she + said frantically, tightening her hold upon his hand, “for I lied to you + when I once told you I had none. I had a child, and, more than that, a + child who at his birth I did not dare to openly claim.” + </p> + <p> + She stopped breathlessly, stared at his face with her former intensity as + if she would pluck the thought that followed from his brain. But he only + moved closer to her, passed his arm over her shoulders with a movement so + natural and protecting that it had a certain dignity in it, and, looking + down upon her bent head with eyes brimming with sympathy, whispered, + “Poor, poor child!” + </p> + <p> + Whereat Mrs. Horncastle again burst into tears. And then, with her head + half drawn towards his shoulder, she told him all,—all that had + passed between her and her husband,—even all that they had then but + hinted at. It was as if she felt she could now, for the first time, voice + all these terrible memories of the past which had come back to her last + night when her husband had left her. She concealed nothing, she veiled + nothing; there were intervals when her tears no longer flowed, and a cruel + hardness and return of her old imperiousness of voice and manner took + their place, as if she was doing a rigid penance and took a bitter + satisfaction in laying bare her whole soul to him. “I never had a friend,” + she whispered; “there were women who persecuted me with their jealous + sneers; there were men who persecuted me with their selfish affections. + When I first saw YOU, you seemed something so apart and different from all + other men that, although I scarcely knew you, I wanted to tell you, even + then, all that I have told you now. I wanted you to be my friend; + something told me that you could,—that you could separate me from my + past; that you could tell me what to do; that you could make me think as + you thought, see life as YOU saw it, and trust always to some goodness in + people as YOU did. And in this faith I thought that you would understand + me now, and even forgive me all.” + </p> + <p> + She made a slight movement as if to disengage his arm, and, possibly, to + look into his eyes, which she knew instinctively were bent upon her + downcast head. But he only held her the more tightly until her cheek was + close against his breast. “What could I do?” she murmured. “A man in + sorrow and trouble may go to a woman for sympathy and support and the + world will not gainsay or misunderstand him. But a woman—weaker, + more helpless, credulous, ignorant, and craving for light—must not + in her agony go to a man for succor and sympathy.” + </p> + <p> + “Why should she not?” burst out Barker passionately, releasing her in his + attempt to gaze into her face. “What man dare refuse her?” + </p> + <p> + “Not THAT,” she said slowly, but with still averted eyes, “but because the + world would say she LOVED him.” + </p> + <p> + “And what should she care for the opinion of a world that stands aside and + lets her suffer? Why should she heed its wretched babble?” he went on in + flashing indignation. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” she said faintly, lifting her moist eyes and moist and parted + lips towards him,—“because it would be TRUE!” + </p> + <p> + There was a silence so profound that even the spring seemed to withhold + its song as their eyes and lips met. When the spring recommenced its + murmur, and they could hear the droning of a bee above them and the + rustling of the reed, she was murmuring, too, with her face against his + breast: “You did not think it strange that I should follow you—that + I should risk everything to tell you what I have told you before I told + you anything else? You will never hate me for it, George?” + </p> + <p> + There was another silence still more prolonged, and when he looked again + into the flushed face and glistening eyes he was saying, “I have ALWAYS + loved you. I know now I loved you from the first, from the day when I + leaned over you to take little Sta from your lap and saw your tenderness + for him in your eyes. I could have kissed you THEN, dearest, as I do now.” + </p> + <p> + “And,” she said, when she had gained her smiling breath again, “you will + always remember, George, that you told me this BEFORE I told you anything + of her.” + </p> + <p> + “HER? Of whom, dearest?” he asked, leaning over her tenderly. + </p> + <p> + “Of Kitty—of your wife,” she said impatiently, as she drew back + shyly with her former intense gaze. + </p> + <p> + He did not seem to grasp her meaning, but said gravely, “Let us not talk + of her NOW. Later we shall have MUCH to say of her. For,” he added + quietly, “you know I must tell her all.” + </p> + <p> + The color faded from her cheek. “Tell her all!” she repeated vacantly; + then suddenly she turned upon him eagerly, and said, “But what if she is + gone?” + </p> + <p> + “Gone?” he repeated. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; gone. What if she has run away with Van Loo? What if she has + disgraced you and her child?” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” he said, seizing both her hands and gazing at her + fixedly. + </p> + <p> + “I mean,” she said, with a half-frightened eagerness, “that she has + already gone with Van Loo. George! George!” she burst out suddenly and + passionately, falling upon her knees before him, “do you think that I + would have followed you here and told you what I did if I thought that she + had now the slightest claim upon your love or honor? Don't you understand + me? I came to tell you of her flight to Boomville with that man; how I + accidentally intercepted them there; how I tried to save her from him, and + even lied to you to try to save her from your indignation; but how she + deceived me as she has you, and even escaped and joined her lover while + you were with me. I came to tell you that and nothing more, George, I + swear it. But when you were kind to me and pitied me, I was mad—wild! + I wanted to win you first out of your own love. I wanted you to respond to + MINE before you knew your wife was faithless. Yet I would have saved her + if I could. Listen, George! A moment more before you speak!” + </p> + <p> + Then she hurriedly told him all; the whole story of his wife's dishonor, + from her entrance into the sitting-room with Van Loo, her later appeal for + concealment from her husband's unexpected presence, to the use she made of + that concealment to fly with her lover. She spared no detail, and even + repeated the insult Mrs. Barker had cast upon her with the triumphant + reproach that her husband would not believe her. “Perhaps,” she added + bitterly, “you may not believe me now. I could even stand that from you, + George, if it could make you happier; but you would still have to believe + it from others. The people at the Boomville Hotel saw them leave it + together.” + </p> + <p> + “I do believe you,” he said slowly, but with downcast eyes, “and if I did + not love you before you told me this I could love you now for the part you + have taken; but”—He stopped. + </p> + <p> + “You love her still,” she burst out, “and I might have known it. Perhaps,” + she went on distractedly, “you love her the more that you have lost her. + It is the way of men—and women.” + </p> + <p> + “If I had loved her truly,” said Barker, lifting his frank eyes to hers, + “I could not have touched YOUR lips. I could not even have wished to—as + I did three years ago—as I did last night. Then I feared it was my + weakness, now I know it was my love. I have thought of it ever since, even + while waiting my wife's return here, knowing that I did not and never + could have loved her. But for that very reason I must try to save her for + her own sake, if I cannot save her for mine; and if I fail, dearest, it + shall not be said that we climbed to happiness over her back bent with the + burden of her shame. If I loved you and told you so, thinking her still + guiltless and innocent, how could I profit now by her fault?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle saw too late her mistake. “Then you would take her back?” + she said frenziedly. + </p> + <p> + “To my home—which is hers—yes. To my heart—no. She never + was there.” + </p> + <p> + “And I,” said Mrs. Horncastle, with a quivering lip,—“where do I go + when you have settled this? Back to my past again? Back to my husbandless, + childless life?” + </p> + <p> + She was turning away, but Barker caught her in his arms again. “No!” he + said, his whole face suddenly radiating with hope and youthful enthusiasm. + “No! Kitty will help us; we will tell her all. You do not know her, + dearest, as I do—how good and kind she is, in spite of all. We will + appeal to her; she will devise some means by which, without the scandal of + a divorce, she and I may be separated. She will take dear little Sta with + her—it is only right, poor girl; but she will let me come and see + him. She will be a sister to us, dearest. Courage! All will come right + yet. Trust to me.” + </p> + <p> + An hysterical laugh came to Mrs. Horncastle's lips and then stopped. For + as she looked up at him in his supreme hopefulness, his divine confidence + in himself and others—at his handsome face beaming with love and + happiness, and his clear gray eyes glittering with an almost spiritual + prescience—she, woman of the world and bitter experience, and + perfectly cognizant of her own and Kitty's possibilities, was, + nevertheless, completely carried away by her lover's optimism. For of all + optimism that of love is the most convincing. Dear boy!—for he was + but a boy in experience—only his love for her could work this magic. + So she gave him kiss for kiss, largely believing, largely hoping, that + Mrs. Barker was in love with Van Loo and would NOT return. And in this + hope an invincible belief in the folly of her own sex soothed and + sustained her. + </p> + <p> + “We must go now, dearest,” said Barker, pointing to the sun already near + the meridian. Three hours had fled, they knew not how. “I will bring you + back to the hill again, but there we had better separate, you taking your + way alone to the hotel as you came, and I will go a little way on the road + to the Divide and return later. Keep your own counsel about Kitty for her + sake and ours; perhaps no one else may know the truth yet.” With a + farewell kiss they plunged again hand in hand through the cool bracken and + again through the hot manzanita bushes, and so parted on the hilltop, as + they had never parted before, leaving their whole world behind them. + </p> + <p> + Barker walked slowly along the road under the flickering shade of wayside + sycamore, his sensitive face also alternating with his thought in lights + and shadows. Presently there crept towards him out of the distance a + halting, vacillating, deviating buggy, trailing a cloud of dust after it + like a broken wing. As it came nearer he could see that the horse was + spent and exhausted, and that the buggy's sole occupant—a woman—was + equally exhausted in her monotonous attempt to urge it forward with whip + and reins that rose and fell at intervals with feeble reiteration. Then he + stepped out of the shadow and stood in the middle of the sunlit road to + await it. For he recognized his wife. + </p> + <p> + The buggy came nearer. And then the most exquisite pang he had ever felt + before at his wife's hands shot through him. For as she recognized him she + made a wild but impotent attempt to dash past him, and then as suddenly + pulled up in the ditch. + </p> + <p> + He went up to her. She was dirty, she was disheveled, she was haggard, she + was plain. There were rings of dust round her tear-swept eyes and smudges + of dust-dried perspiration over her fair cheek. He thought of the beauty, + freshness, and elegance of the woman he had just left, and an infinite + pity swept the soul of this weak-minded gentleman. He ran towards her, and + tenderly lifting her in her shame-stained garments from the buggy, said + hurriedly, “I know it all, poor Kitty! You heard the news of Van Loo's + flight, and you ran over to the Divide to try and save some of your money. + Why didn't you wait? Why didn't you tell me?” + </p> + <p> + There was no mistaking the reality of his words, the genuine pity and + tenderness of his action; but the woman saw before her only the familiar + dupe of her life, and felt an infinite relief mingled with a certain + contempt for his weakness and anger at her previous fears of him. + </p> + <p> + “You might have driven over, then, yourself,” she said in a high, + querulous voice, “if you knew it so well, and have spared ME this horrid, + dirty, filthy, hopeless expedition, for I have not saved anything—there! + And I have had all this disgusting bother!” + </p> + <p> + For an instant he was sorely tempted to lift his eyes to her face, but he + checked himself; then he gently took her dust-coat from her shoulders and + shook it out, wiped the dust from her face and eyes with his own + handkerchief, held her hat and blew the dust from it with a vivid memory + of performing the same service for Mrs. Horncastle only an hour before, + while she arranged her hair; and then, lifting her again into the buggy, + said quietly, as he took his seat beside her and grasped the reins:— + </p> + <p> + “I will drive you to the hotel by way of the stables, and you can go at + once to your room and change your clothes. You are tired, you are nervous + and worried, and want rest. Don't tell me anything now until you feel + quite yourself again.” + </p> + <p> + He whipped up the horse, who, recognizing another hand at the reins, + lunged forward in a final effort, and in a few minutes they were at the + hotel. + </p> + <p> + As Mrs. Horncastle sat at luncheon in the great dining-room, a little pale + and abstracted, she saw Mrs. Barker sweep confidently into the room, + fresh, rosy, and in a new and ravishing toilette. With a swift glance of + conscious power towards the other guests she walked towards Mrs. + Horncastle. “Ah, here you are, dear,” she said in a voice that could + easily reach all ears, “and you've arrived only a little before me, after + all. And I've had such an AWFUL drive to the Divide! And only think! poor + George telegraphed to me at Boomville not to worry, and his dispatch has + only just come back here.” + </p> + <p> + And with a glance of complacency she laid Barker's gentle and forgiving + dispatch before the astonished Mrs. Horncastle. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. + </h2> + <p> + As the day advanced the excitement over the financial crisis increased at + Hymettus, until, in spite of its remote and peaceful isolation, it seemed + to throb through all its verandas and corridors with some pulsation from + the outer world. Besides the letters and dispatches brought by hurried + messengers and by coach from the Divide, there was a crowd of guests and + servants around the branch telegraph at the new Heavy Tree post-office + which was constantly augmenting. Added to the natural anxiety of the + deeply interested was the stimulated fever of the few who wished to be “in + the fashion.” It was early rumored that a heavy operator, a guest of the + hotel, who was also a director in the telegraph company, had bought up the + wires for his sole use, that the dispatches were doctored in his interests + as a “bear,” and there was wild talk of lynching by the indignant mob. + Passengers from Sacramento, San Francisco, and Marysville brought + incredible news and the wildest sensations. Firm after firm had failed in + the great cities. Old established houses that dated back to the “spring of + '49,” and had weathered the fires and inundations of their perilous + Californian infancy, collapsed before this mysterious, invisible, + impalpable breath of panic. Companies rooted in respectability and sneered + at for old-fashioned ways were discovered to have shamelessly speculated + with trusts! An eminent deacon and pillar of the church was found dead in + his room with a bullet in his heart and a damning confession on the desk + before him! Foreign bankers were sending their gold out of the country; + government would be appealed to to open the vaults of the Mint; there + would be an embargo on all bullion shipment! Nothing was too wild or + preposterous to be repeated or credited. + </p> + <p> + And with this fever of sordid passion the summer temperature had + increased. For the last two weeks the thermometer had stood abnormally + high during the day-long sunshine; and the metallic dust in the roads over + mineral ranges pricked the skin like red-hot needles. In the deepest woods + the aromatic sap stood in beads on felled logs and splintered tree-shafts; + even the mountain night breeze failed to cool these baked and heated + fastnesses. There were ominous clouds of smoke by day that were pillars of + fire by night along the distant valleys. Some of the nearer crests were + etched against the midnight sky by dull red creeping lines like a dying + firework. The great hotel itself creaked and crackled and warped though + all its painted, blistered, and veneered expanse, and was filled with the + stifling breath of desiccation. The stucco cracked and crumbled away from + the cornices; there were yawning gaps in the boarded floors beneath the + Turkey carpets. Plate-glass windows became hopelessly fixed in their + warped and twisted sashes, and added to the heat; there was a warm incense + of pine sap in the dining-room that flavored all the cuisine. And yet the + babble of stocks and shares went on, and people pricked their ears over + their soup to catch the gossip of the last arrival. + </p> + <p> + Demorest, loathing it all in his new-found bitterness, was nevertheless + impatient in his inaction, and was eagerly awaiting a telegram from Stacy; + Barker had disappeared since luncheon. Suddenly there was a commotion on + the veranda as a carriage drove up with a handsome, gray-haired woman. In + the buzzing of voices around him Demorest heard the name of Mrs. Van Loo. + In further comments, made in more smothered accents, he heard that Van Loo + had been stopped at Canyon Station, but that no warrant had yet been + issued against him; that it was generally believed that the bank dared not + hold him; that others openly averred that he had been used as a scapegoat + to avert suspicion from higher guilt. And certainly Mrs. Van Loo's calm, + confident air seemed to corroborate these assertions. + </p> + <p> + He was still wondering if the strange coincidence which had brought both + mother and son into his own life was not merely a fancy, as far as SHE was + concerned, when a waiter brought a message from Mrs. Van Loo that she + would be glad to see him for a few moments in her room. Last night he + could scarcely have restrained his eagerness to meet her and elucidate the + mystery of the photograph; now he was conscious of an equally strong + revulsion of feeling, and a dull premonition of evil. However, it was no + doubt possible that the man had told her of his previous inquiries, and + she had merely acknowledged them by that message. + </p> + <p> + Demorest found Mrs. Van Loo in the private sitting-room where he and his + old partners had supped on the preceding night. She received him with + unmistakable courtesy and even a certain dignity that might or might not + have been assumed. He had no difficulty in recognizing the son's + mechanical politeness in the first, but he was puzzled at the second. + </p> + <p> + “The manager of this hotel,” she began, with a foreigner's precision of + English, “has just told me that you were at present occupying my rooms at + his invitation, but that you wished to see me at once on my return, and I + believe that I was not wrong in apprehending that you preferred to hear my + wishes from my own lips rather than from an innkeeper. I had intended to + keep these rooms for some weeks, but, unfortunately for me, though + fortunately for you, the present terrible financial crisis, which has most + unjustly brought my son into such scandalous prominence, will oblige me to + return to San Francisco until his reputation is fully cleared of these + foul aspersions. I shall only ask you to allow me the undisturbed + possession of these rooms for a couple of hours until I can pack my trunks + and gather up a few souvenirs that I almost always keep with me.” + </p> + <p> + “Pray, consider that your wishes are my own in respect to that, my dear + madam,” returned Demorest gravely, “and that, indeed, I protested against + even this temporary intrusion upon your apartments; but I confess that now + that you have spoken of your souvenirs I have the greatest curiosity about + one of them, and that even my object in seeking this interview was to + gratify it. It is in regard to a photograph which I saw on the + chimney-piece in your bedroom, which I think I recognized as that of some + one whom I formerly knew.” + </p> + <p> + There was a sudden look of sharp suspicion and even hard aggressiveness + that quite changed the lady's face as he mentioned the word “souvenir,” + but it quickly changed to a smile as she put up her fan with a gesture of + arch deprecation, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I see. Of course, a lady's photograph.” + </p> + <p> + The reply irritated Demorest. More than that, he felt a sudden sense of + the absolute sentimentality of his request, and the consciousness that he + was about to invite the familiar confidence of this strange woman—whose + son had forged his name—in regard to HER! + </p> + <p> + “It was a Venetian picture,” he began, and stopped, a singular disgust + keeping him from voicing the name. + </p> + <p> + But Mrs. Van Loo was less reticent. “Oh, you mean my dearest friend—a + lovely picture, and you know her? Why, yes, surely. You are THE Mr. + Demorest who—Of course, that old love-affair. Well, you are a + marvel! Five years ago, at least, and you have not forgotten! I really + must write and tell her.” + </p> + <p> + “Write and tell her!” Then it was all a lie about her death! He felt not + only his faith, his hope, his future leaving him, but even his + self-control. With an effort he said.— + </p> + <p> + “I think you have already satisfied my curiosity. I was told five years + ago that she was dead. It was because of the date of the photograph—two + years later—that I ventured to intrude upon you. I was anxious only + to know the truth.” + </p> + <p> + “She certainly was very much living and of the world when I saw her last, + two years ago,” said Mrs. Van Loo, with an easy smile. “I dare say that + was a ruse of her relatives—a very stupid one—to break off the + affair, for I think they had other plans. But, dear me! now I remember, + was there not some little quarrel between you before? Some letter from you + that was not very kind? My impression is that there was something of the + sort, and that the young lady was indignant. But only for a time, you + know. She very soon forgot it. I dare say if you wrote something very + charming to her it might not be too late. We women are very forgiving, Mr. + Demorest, and although she is very much sought after, as are all young + American girls whose fathers can give them a comfortable 'dot', her + parents might be persuaded to throw over a poor prince for a rich + countryman in the end. Of course, you know, to you Republicans there is + always something fascinating in titles and blood, and our dear friend is + like other girls. Still, it is worth the risk. And five years of waiting + and devotion really ought to tell. It's quite a romance! Shall I write to + her and tell her I have seen you, looking well and prosperous? Nothing + more. Do let me! I should be delighted.” + </p> + <p> + “I think it hardly worth while for you to give yourself that trouble,” + said Demorest quietly, looking in Mrs. Van Loo's smiling eyes, “now that I + know the story of the young lady's death was a forgery. And I will not + intrude further on your time. Pray give yourself no needless hurry over + your packing. I may go to San Francisco this afternoon, and not even + require the rooms to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “At least, let me make you a present of the souvenir as an acknowledgment + of your courtesy,” said Mrs. Van Loo, passing into her bedroom and + returning with the photograph. “I feel that with your five years of + constancy it is more yours than mine.” As a gentleman Demorest knew he + could not refuse, and taking the photograph from her with a low bow, with + another final salutation he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + Alone by himself in a corner of the veranda he was surprised that the + interview had made so little impression on him, and had so little altered + his conviction. His discovery that the announcement of his betrothed's + death was a fiction did not affect the fact that though living she was yet + dead to him, and apparently by her own consent. The contrast between her + life and his during those five years had been covertly accented by Mrs. + Van Loo, whether intentionally or not, and he saw again as last night the + full extent of his sentimental folly. He could not even condole with + himself that he was the victim of miserable falsehoods that others had + invented. SHE had accepted them, and had even excused her desertion of him + by that last deceit of the letter. + </p> + <p> + He drew out her photograph and again examined it, but not as a lover. Had + she really grown stouter and more self-complacent? Was the spirituality + and delicacy he had worshiped in her purely his own idiotic fancy? Had she + always been like this? Yes. There was the girl who could weakly strive, + weakly revenge herself, and weakly forget. There was the figure that he + had expected to find carved upon the tomb which he had long sought that he + might weep over. He laughed aloud. + </p> + <p> + It was very hot, and he was stifling with inaction. What was Barker doing, + and why had not Stacy telegraphed to him? And what were those people in + the courtyard doing? Were they discussing news of further disaster and + ruin? Perhaps he was even now a beggar. Well, his fortune might go with + his faith. + </p> + <p> + But the crowd was simply looking at the roof of the hotel, and he now saw + that a black smoke was drifting across the courtyard, and was conscious of + a smell of soot and burning. He stepped down from the veranda among the + mingled guests and servants, and saw that the smoke was only pouring from + a chimney. He heard, too, that the chimney had been on fire, and that it + was Mrs. Van Loo's bedroom chimney, and that when the startled servants + had knocked at the locked door she had told them that she was only burning + some old letters and newspapers, the refuse of her trunks. There was + naturally some indignation that the hotel had been so foolishly + endangered, in such scorching weather, and the manager had had a scene + with her which resulted in her leaving the hotel indignantly with her + half-packed boxes. But even after the smoke had died away and the fire + been extinguished in the chimney and hearth, there was an acrid smell of + smouldering pine penetrating the upper floors of the hotel all that + afternoon. + </p> + <p> + When Mrs. Van Loo drove away, the manager returned with Demorest to the + rooms. The marble hearth was smoked and discolored and still littered with + charred ashes of burnt paper. “My belief is,” said the manager darkly, + “that the old hag came here just to burn up a lot of incriminating papers + that her son had intrusted to her keeping. It looks mighty suspicious. You + see she got up an awful lot of side when I told her I didn't reckon to run + a smelting furnace in a wooden hotel with the thermometer at one hundred + in the office, and I reckon it was just an excuse for getting off in a + hurry.” + </p> + <p> + But the continued delay in Stacy's promised telegram had begun to work + upon Demorest's usual equanimity, and he scarcely listened in his anxiety + for his old partner. He knew that Stacy should have arrived in San + Francisco by noon. He had almost determined to take the next train from + the Divide when two horsemen dashed into the courtyard. There was the + usual stir on the veranda and rush for news, but the two new arrivals + turned out to be Barker, on a horse covered with foam, and a dashing, + elegantly dressed stranger on a mustang as carefully groomed and as + spotless as himself. Demorest instantly recognized Jack Hamlin. + </p> + <p> + He had not seen Hamlin since that day, five years before, when the latter + had accompanied the three partners with their treasure to Boomville, and + had handed him the mysterious packet. As the two men dismounted hurriedly + and moved towards him, he felt a premonition of something as fateful and + important as then. In obedience to a sign from Barker he led them to a + more secluded angle of the veranda. He could not help noticing that his + younger partner's face was mobile as ever, but more thoughtful and older; + yet his voice rang with the old freemasonry of the camp, as he said, with + a laugh, “The signal has been given, and it's boot and saddle and away.” + </p> + <p> + “But I have had no dispatch from Stacy,” said Demorest in surprise. “He + was to telegraph to me from San Francisco in any emergency.” + </p> + <p> + “He never got there at all,” said Barker. “Jack ran slap into Van Loo at + the Divide, and sent a dispatch to Jim, which stopped him halfway until + Jack could reach him, which he nearly broke his neck to do; and then Jack + finished up by bringing a message from Stacy to us that we should all meet + together on the slope of Heavy Tree, near the Bar. I met Jack just as I + was riding into the Divide, and came back with him. He will tell you the + rest, and you can swear by what Jack says, for he's white all through,” he + added, laying his hand affectionately on Hamlin's shoulder. + </p> + <p> + Hamlin winced slightly. For he had NOT told Barker that his wife was with + Van Loo, nor his first reason for interfering. But he related how he had + finally overtaken Van Loo at Canyon Station, and how the fugitive had + disclosed the conspiracy of Steptoe and Hall against the bank and Marshall + as the price of his own release. On this news, remembering that Stacy had + passed the Divide on his way to the station, he had first sent a dispatch + to him, and then met him at the first station on the road. “I reckon, + gentlemen,” said Hamlin, with an unusual earnestness in his voice, “that + he'd not only got my telegram, but ALL THE NEWS that had been flying + around this morning, for he looked like a man to whom it was just a + 'toss-up' whether he took his own life then and there or was willing to + have somebody else take it for him, for he said, 'I'll go myself,' and + telegraphed to have the surveyor stopped from coming. Then he told me to + tell you fellows, and ask you to come too.” Jack paused, and added half + mischievously, “He sort of asked ME what I would take to stand by him in + the row, if there was one, and I told him I'd take—whiskey! You see, + boys, it's a kind of off-night with me, and I wouldn't mind for the sake + of old times to finish the game with old Steptoe that I began a matter of + five years ago.” + </p> + <p> + “All right,” said Demorest, with a kindling eye; “I suppose we'd better + start at once. One moment,” he added. “Barker boy, will you excuse me if I + speak a word to Hamlin?” As Barker nodded and walked to the rails of the + veranda, Demorest took Hamlin aside, “You and I,” he said hurriedly, “are + SINGLE men; Barker has a wife and child. This is likely to be no child's + play.” + </p> + <p> + But Jack Hamlin was no fool, and from certain leading questions which + Barker had already put, but which he had skillfully evaded, he surmised + that Barker knew something of his wife's escapade. He answered a little + more seriously than his wont, “I don't think as regards HIS WIFE that + would make much difference to him or her how stiff the work was.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest turned away with his last pang of bitterness. It needed only this + confirmation of all that Stacy had hinted, of what he himself had seen in + his brief interview with Mrs. Barker since his return, to shake his last + remaining faith. “We'll all go together, then,” he said, with a laugh, “as + in the old times, and perhaps it's as well that we have no woman in our + confidence.” + </p> + <p> + An hour later the three men passed quietly out of the hotel, scarcely + noticed by the other guests, who were also oblivious of their absence + during the evening. For Mrs. Barker, quite recovered from her fatiguing + ride, was in high spirits and the most beautiful and spotless of summer + gowns, and was considered quite a heroine by the other ladies as she dwelt + upon the terrible heat of her return journey. “Only I knew Mr. Barker + would be worried—and the poor man actually walked a mile down the + Divide road to meet me—I believe I should have stayed there all + day.” She glanced round the other groups for Mrs. Horncastle, but that + lady had retired early. Possibly she alone had noticed the absence of the + two partners. + </p> + <p> + The guests sat up until quite late, for the heat seemed to grow still more + oppressive, and the strange smell of burning wood revived the gossip about + Mrs. Van Loo and her stupidity in setting fire to her chimney. Some + averred that it would be days before the smell could be got out of the + house; others referred it to the fires in the woods, which were now + dangerously near. One spoke of the isolated position of the hotel as + affording the greatest security, but was met by the assertion of a famous + mountaineer that the forest fires were wont to leap from crest to crest + mysteriously, without any apparent continuous contact. This led to more or + less light-hearted conjecture of present danger and some amusing stories + of hotel fires and their ludicrous revelations. There were also some + entertaining speculations as to what they would do and what they would try + to save in such an emergency. + </p> + <p> + “For myself,” said Mrs. Barker audaciously, “I should certainly let Mr. + Barker look after Sta and confine myself entirely to getting away with my + diamonds. I know the wretch would never think of them.” + </p> + <p> + It was still later when, exhausted by the heat and some reaction from the + excitement of the day, they at last deserted the veranda for their rooms, + and for a while the shadowy bulk of the whole building was picked out with + regularly spaced lights from its open windows, until now these finally + faded and went out one by one. An hour later the whole building had sunk + to rest. It was said that it was only four in the morning when a yawning + porter, having put out the light in a dark, upper corridor, was amazed by + a dull glow from the top of the wall, and awoke to the fact that a red + fire, as yet smokeless and flameless, was creeping along the cornice. He + ran to the office and gave the alarm; but on returning with assistance was + stopped in the corridor by an impenetrable wall of smoke veined with murky + flashes. The alarm was given in all the lower floors, and the occupants + rushed from their beds half dressed to the courtyard, only to see, as they + afterwards averred, the flames burst like cannon discharges from the upper + windows and unite above the crackling roof. So sudden and complete was the + catastrophe, although slowly prepared by a leak in the overheated chimney + between the floors, that even the excitement of fear and exertion was + spared the survivors. There was bewilderment and stupor, but neither + uproar nor confusion. People found themselves wandering in the woods, half + awake and half dressed, having descended from the balconies and leaped + from the windows,—they knew not how. Others on the upper floor + neither awoke nor moved from their beds, but were suffocated without a + cry. From the first an instinctive idea of the hopelessness of combating + the conflagration possessed them all; to a blind, automatic feeling to + flee the building was added the slow mechanism of the somnambulist; + delicate women walked speechlessly, but securely, along ledges and roofs + from which they would have fallen by the mere light of reason and of day. + There was no crowding or impeding haste in their dumb exodus. It was only + when Mrs. Barker awoke disheveled in the courtyard, and with an hysterical + outcry rushed back into the hotel, that there was any sign of panic. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Horncastle, who was standing near, fully dressed as from some + night-long vigil, quickly followed her. The half-frantic woman was making + directly for her own apartments, whose windows those in the courtyard + could see were already belching smoke. Suddenly Mrs. Horncastle stopped + with a bitter cry and clasped her forehead. It had just flashed upon her + that Mrs. Barker had told her only a few hours before that Sta had been + removed with the nurse to the UPPER FLOOR! It was not the forgotten child + that Mrs. Barker was returning for, but her diamonds! Mrs. Horncastle + called her; she did not reply. The smoke was already pouring down the + staircase. Mrs. Horncastle hesitated for a moment only, and then, drawing + a long breath, dashed up the stairs. On the first landing she stumbled + over something—the prostrate figure of the nurse. But this saved + her, for she found that near the floor she could breathe more freely. + Before her appeared to be an open door. She crept along towards it on her + hands and knees. The frightened cry of a child, awakened from its sleep in + the dark, gave her nerve to rise, enter the room, and dash open the + window. By the flashing light she could see a little figure rising from a + bed. It was Sta. There was not a moment to be lost, for the open window + was beginning to draw the smoke from the passage. Luckily, the boy, by + some childish instinct, threw his arms round her neck and left her hands + free. Whispering him to hold tight, she clambered out of the window. A + narrow ledge of cornice scarcely wide enough for her feet ran along the + house to a distant balcony. With her back to the house she zigzagged her + feet along the cornice to get away from the smoke, which now poured + directly from the window. Then she grew dizzy; the weight of the child on + her bosom seemed to be toppling her forward towards the abyss below. She + closed her eyes, frantically grasping the child with crossed arms on her + breast as she stood on the ledge, until, as seen from below through the + twisting smoke, they might have seemed a figure of the Madonna and Child + niched in the wall. Then a voice from above called to her, “Courage!” and + she felt the flap of a twisted sheet lowered from an upper window against + her face. She grasped it eagerly; it held firmly. Then she heard a cry + from below, saw them carrying a ladder, and at last was lifted with her + burden from the ledge by powerful hands. Then only did she raise her eyes + to the upper window whence had come her help. Smoke and flame were pouring + from it. The unknown hero who had sacrificed his only chance of escape to + her remained forever unknown. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Only four miles away that night a group of men were waiting for the dawn + in the shadow of a pine near Heavy Tree Bar. As the sky glowed redly over + the crest between them and Hymettus, Hamlin said:— + </p> + <p> + “Another one of those forest fires. It's this side of Black Spur, and a + big one, I reckon.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you know,” said Barker thoughtfully, “I was thinking of the time the + old cabin burnt up on Heavy Tree. It looks to be about in the same place.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” said Stacy sharply. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. + </h2> + <p> + An abandoned tunnel—an irregular orifice in the mountain flank which + looked like a dried-up sewer that had disgorged through its opening the + refuse of the mountain in red slime, gravel, and a peculiar clay known as + “cement,” in a foul streak down its side; a narrow ledge on either side, + broken up by heaps of quartz, tailings, and rock, and half hidden in + scrub, oak, and myrtle; a decaying cabin of logs, bark, and cobblestones—these + made up the exterior of the Marshall claim. To this defacement of the + mountain, the rude clearing of thicket and underbrush by fire or blasting, + the lopping of tree-boughs and the decapitation of saplings, might be + added the debris and ruins of half-civilized occupancy. The ground before + the cabin was covered with broken boxes, tin cans, the staves and broken + hoops of casks, and the cast-off rags of blankets and clothing. The whole + claim in its unsavory, unpicturesque details, and its vulgar story of + sordid, reckless, and selfish occupancy and abandonment, was a foul blot + on the landscape, which the first rosy dawn only made the more offending. + Surely the last spot in the world that men should quarrel and fight for! + </p> + <p> + So thought George Barker, as with his companions they moved in single file + slowly towards it. The little party consisted only of himself, Demorest, + and Stacy; Marshall and Hamlin—according to a prearranged plan—were + still in ambush to join them at the first appearance of Steptoe and his + gang. The claim was yet unoccupied; they had secured their first success. + Steptoe's followers, unaware that his design had been discovered, and + confident that they could easily reach the claim before Marshall and the + surveyor, had lingered. Some of them had held a drunken carouse at their + rendezvous at Heavy Tree. Others were still engaged in procuring shovels + and picks and pans for their mock equipment as miners, and this, again, + gave Marshall's adherents the advantage. THEY knew that their opponents + would probably first approach the empty claim encumbered only with their + peaceful implements, while they themselves had brought their rifles with + them. + </p> + <p> + Stacy, who by tacit consent led the party, on reaching the claim at once + posted Demorest and Barker each behind a separate heap of quartz tailings + on the ledge, which afforded them a capital breastwork, and stationed + himself at the mouth of the tunnel which was nearest the trail. It had + already been arranged what each man was to do. They were in possession. + For the rest they must wait. What they thought at that moment no one knew. + Their characteristic appearance had slightly changed. The melancholy and + philosophic Demorest was alert and bitter. Barker's changeful face had + become fixed and steadfast. Stacy alone wore his “fighting look,” which + the others had remembered. + </p> + <p> + They had not long to wait. The sounds of rude laughter, coarse skylarking, + and voices more or less still confused with half-spent liquor came from + the rocky trail. And then Steptoe appeared with part of his straggling + followers, who were celebrating their easy invasion by clattering their + picks and shovels and beating loudly upon their tins and prospecting-pans. + The three partners quickly recognized the stamp of the strangers, in spite + of their peaceful implements. They were the waifs and strays of San + Francisco wharves, of Sacramento dens, of dissolute mountain towns; and + there was not, probably, a single actual miner among them. A raging scorn + and contempt took possession of Barker and Demorest, but Stacy knew their + exact value. As Steptoe passed before the opening of the tunnel he heard + the cry of “Halt!” + </p> + <p> + He looked up. He saw Stacy not thirty yards before him with his rifle at + half-cock. He saw Barker and Demorest, fully armed, rise from behind their + breastworks of rock along the ledge and thus fully occupy the claim. But + he saw more. He saw that his plot was known. Outlaw and desperado as he + was, he saw that he had lost his moral power in this actual possession, + and that from that moment he must be the aggressor. He saw he was fighting + no irresponsible hirelings like his own, but men of position and + importance, whose loss would make a stir. Against their rifles the few + revolvers that his men chanced to have slung to them were of little avail. + But he was not cowed, although his few followers stumbled together at this + momentary check, half angrily, half timorously like wolves without a + leader. “Bring up the other men and their guns,” he whispered fiercely to + the nearest. Then he faced Stacy. + </p> + <p> + “Who are YOU to stop peaceful miners going to work on their own claim?” he + said coarsely. “I'll tell you WHO, boys,” he added, suddenly turning to + his men with a hoarse laugh. “It ain't even the bank! It's only Jim Stacy, + that the bank kicked out yesterday to save itself,—Jim Stacy and his + broken-down pals. And what's the thief doing here—in Marshall's + tunnel—the only spot that Marshall can claim? We ain't no particular + friends o' Marshall's, though we're neighbors on the same claim; but we + ain't going to see Marshall ousted by tramps. Are we, boys?” + </p> + <p> + “No, by G-d!” said his followers, dropping the pans and seizing their + picks and revolvers. They understood the appeal to arms if not to their + reason. For an instant the fight seemed imminent. Then a voice from behind + them said:— + </p> + <p> + “You needn't trouble yourselves about that! I'M Marshall! I sent these + gentlemen to occupy the claim until I came here with the surveyor,” and + two men stepped from a thicket of myrtle in the rear of Steptoe and his + followers. The speaker, Marshall, was a thin, slight, overworked, + over-aged man; his companion, the surveyor, was equally slight, but + red-bearded, spectacled, and professional-looking, with a long + traveling-duster that made him appear even clerical. They were scarcely a + physical addition to Stacy's party, whatever might have been their moral + and legal support. + </p> + <p> + But it was just this support that Steptoe strangely clung to in his + designs for the future, and a wild idea seized him. The surveyor was + really the only disinterested witness between the two parties. If Steptoe + could confuse his mind before the actual fighting—from which he + would, of course, escape as a non-combatant—it would go far + afterwards to rehabilitate Steptoe's party. “Very well, then,” he said to + Marshall, “I shall call this gentleman to witness that we have been + attacked here in peaceable possession of our part of the claim by these + armed strangers, and whether they are acting on your order or not, their + blood will be on your head.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I reckon,” said the surveyor, as he tore away his beard, wig, + spectacles, and mustache, and revealed the figure of Jack Hamlin, “that + I'm about the last witness that Mr. Steptoe-Horncastle ought to call, and + about the last witness that he ever WILL call!” + </p> + <p> + But he had not calculated upon the desperation of Steptoe over the failure + of this last hope. For there sprang up in the outlaw's brain the same + hideous idea that he voiced to his companions at the Divide. With a hoarse + cry to his followers, he crashed his pickaxe into the brain of Marshall, + who stood near him, and sprang forward. Three or four shots were + exchanged. Two of his men fell, a bullet from Stacy's rifle pierced + Steptoe's leg, and he dropped forward on one knee. He heard the steps of + his reinforcements with their weapons coming close behind him, and rolled + aside on the sloping ledge to let them pass. But he rolled too far. He + felt himself slipping down the mountain-side in the slimy shoot of the + tunnel. He made a desperate attempt to recover himself, but the + treacherous drift of the loose debris rolled with him, as if he were part + of its refuse, and, carrying him down, left him unconscious, but otherwise + uninjured, in the bushes of the second ledge five hundred feet below. + </p> + <p> + When he recovered his senses the shouts and outcries above him had ceased. + He knew he was safe. The ledge could only be reached by a circuitous route + three miles away. He knew, too, that if he could only reach a point of + outcrop a hundred yards away he could easily descend to the stage road, + down the gentle slope of the mountain hidden in a growth of hazel-brush. + He bound up his wounded leg, and dragged himself on his hands and knees + laboriously to the outcrop. He did not look up; since his pick had crashed + into Marshall's brain he had but one blind thought before him—to + escape at once! That his revenge and compensation would come later he + never doubted. He limped and crept, rolled and fell, from bush to bush + through the sloping thickets, until he saw the red road a few feet below + him. + </p> + <p> + If he only had a horse he could put miles between him and any present + pursuit! Why should he not have one? The road was frequented by solitary + horsemen—miners and Mexicans. He had his revolver with him; what + mattered the life of another man if he escaped from the consequences of + the one he had just taken? He heard the clatter of hoofs; two priests on + mules rode slowly by; he ground his teeth with disappointment. But they + had scarcely passed before another and more rapid clatter came from their + rear. It was a lad on horseback. He started. It was his own son! + </p> + <p> + He remembered in a flash how the boy had said he was coming to meet the + padre at the station on that day. His first impulse was to hide himself, + his wound, and his defeat from the lad, but the blind idea of escape was + still paramount. He leaned over the bank and called to him. The astonished + lad cantered eagerly to his side. + </p> + <p> + “Give me your horse, Eddy,” said the father; “I'm in bad luck, and must + get.” + </p> + <p> + The boy glanced at his father's face, at his tattered garments and + bandaged leg, and read the whole story. It was a familiar page to him. He + paled first and then flushed, and then, with an odd glitter in his eyes, + said, “Take me with you, father. Do! You always did before. I'll bring you + luck.” + </p> + <p> + Desperation is superstitious. Why not take him? They had been lucky + before, and the two together might confound any description of their + identity to the pursuers. “Help me up, Eddy, and then get up before me.” + </p> + <p> + “BEHIND, you mean,” said the boy, with a laugh, as he helped his father + into the saddle. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Steptoe harshly. “BEFORE me,—do you hear? And if anything + happens BEHIND you, don't look! If I drop off, don't stop! Don't get down, + but go on and leave me. Do you understand?” he repeated almost savagely. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the boy tremulously. + </p> + <p> + “All right,” said the father, with a softer voice, as he passed his one + arm round the boy's body and lifted the reins. “Hold tight when we come to + the cross-roads, for we'll take the first turn, for old luck's sake, to + the Mission.” + </p> + <p> + They were the last words exchanged between them, for as they wheeled + rapidly to the left at the cross-roads, Jack Hamlin and Demorest swung as + quickly out of another road to the right immediately behind them. Jack's + challenge to “Halt!” was only answered by Steptoe's horse springing + forward under the sharp lash of the riata. + </p> + <p> + “Hold up!” said Jack suddenly, laying his hand upon the rifle which + Demorest had lifted to his shoulder. “He's carrying some one,—a + wounded comrade, I reckon. We don't want HIM. Swing out and go for the + horse; well forward, in the neck or shoulder.” + </p> + <p> + Demorest swung far out to the right of the road and raised his rifle. As + it cracked Steptoe's horse seemed to have suddenly struck some obstacle + ahead of him rather than to have been hit himself, for his head went down + with his fore feet under him, and he turned a half-somersault on the road, + flinging his two riders a dozen feet away. + </p> + <p> + Steptoe scrambled to his knees, revolver in hand, but the other figure + never moved. “Hands up!” said Jack, sighting his own weapon. The reports + seemed simultaneous, but Jack's bullet had pierced Steptoe's brain even + before the outlaw's pistol exploded harmlessly in the air. + </p> + <p> + The two men dismounted, but by a common instinct they both ran to the + prostrate figure that had never moved. + </p> + <p> + “By God! it's a boy!” said Jack, leaning over the body and lifting the + shoulders from which the head hung loosely. “Neck broken and dead as his + pal.” Suddenly he started, and, to Demorest's astonishment, began + hurriedly pulling off the glove from the boy's limp right hand. + </p> + <p> + “What are you doing?” demanded Demorest in creeping horror. + </p> + <p> + “Look!” said Jack, as he laid bare the small white hand. The first two + fingers were merely unsightly stumps that had been hidden in the padded + glove. + </p> + <p> + “Good God! Van Loo's brother!” said Demorest, recoiling. + </p> + <p> + “No!” said Jack, with a grim face, “it's what I have long suspected,—it's + Steptoe's son!” + </p> + <p> + “His son?” repeated Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Jack; and he added, after looking at the two bodies with a + long-drawn whistle of concern, “and I wouldn't, if I were you, say + anything of this to Barker.” + </p> + <p> + “Why?” said Demorest. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” returned Jack, “when our scrimmage was over down there, and they + brought the news to Barker that his wife and her diamonds were burnt up at + the hotel, you remember that they said that Mrs. Horncastle had saved his + boy.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Demorest; “but what has that to do with it?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing, I reckon,” said Jack, with a slight shrug of his shoulders, + “only Mrs. Horncastle was the mother of the boy that's lying there.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Two years later as Demorest and Stacy sat before the fire in the old cabin + on Marshall's claim—now legally their own—they looked from the + door beyond the great bulk of Black Spur to the pallid snow-line of the + Sierras, still as remote and unchanged to them as when they had gazed upon + it from Heavy Tree Hill. And, for the matter of that, they themselves + seemed to have been left so unchanged that even now, as in the old days, + it was Barker's voice as he greeted them from the darkening trail that + alone broke their reverie. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Demorest cheerfully, “your usual luck, Barker boy!” for they + already saw in his face the happy light they had once seen there on an + eventful night seven years ago. + </p> + <p> + “I'm to be married to Mrs. Horncastle next month,” he said breathlessly, + “and little Sta loves her already as if she was his own mother. Wish me + joy.” + </p> + <p> + A slight shadow passed over Stacy's face; but his hand was the first to + grasp Barker's, and his voice the first to say “Amen!” + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Three Partners, by Bret Harte + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THREE PARTNERS *** + +***** This file should be named 2560-h.htm or 2560-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/6/2560/ + +Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger + +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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