CHAPTER XVII--A GOOD DEAL OF GEE-GEE
"See here," he said rather savagely, "this has got to stop."
Gee-gee stared. "Bless its little heart, what is it talking about?"
"You know," said Bob. The fact that he now saw Gwendoline Geraldrejoined afar by the hammer-thrower did not improve his temper.
"Pardon me," returned Gee-gee, tossing her auburn hair, "if I fail toconnect. Mrs. Ralston has been good enough to treat us as her regularguests. And, indeed, why shouldn't she?" With much dignity. "But if youfeel I ain't good enough to speak to your Lord Highmightiness, except atstage doors and alleys and roof gardens--" Cuttingly.
"This isn't a question of social amenities," said Bob. Gee-gee didn'tknow what "amenities" meant and that made _her_ madder. "You've comedown here to raise a regular hornet's nest."
Gee-gee sat down. She was so mad she had to do something. She wanted toslap Bob's face, but she couldn't do that. As Mrs. Ralston's guest shecouldn't give way to her natural and primitive impulses. Her gown,modishly tight all over, strained almost to bursting point; it seemed toexpress the state of her feelings. A high-heeled shoe, encasing apink-stockinged foot, agitated itself like a flag in a gale.
"I like that," she gasped. "And who are you to talk to me like that?Maybe you think this is a rehearsal."
"For argument's sake, I'll own I'm not much account just at present,"said Bob. "Be that as it may, I'm going to try to stop the mischief youare up to, if I can." He didn't know how he would stop it; he wastalking more to draw Gee-gee out than for any other purpose. Bob's owntestimony, as to certain occurrences on that memorable roof-gardenevening, wouldn't amount to much. The lawyers could impeach it even ifthey let him (Bob) testify at all in those awful divorce cases that werepending. But they probably wouldn't let him take the witness-stand if hewas a prisoner. Bob didn't know quite what was the law governing theadmissibility of testimony in a case like his.
Gee-gee shifted her mental attitude. She was getting her second breathand caution whispered to her to control herself. This handsome younggentleman had been the most indifferent member of the quartet on thatinauspicious occasion on the roof; indeed, he had yawned in the midst offestivities. Bob, in love, cared not for show-girls or ponies. He hadeven tried to discourage Dan and the others in their zest for innocentenjoyment. Gee-gee now eyed Bob more critically. As ayoung-man-sure-of-himself, he had impressed her on that other occasion!Instinct had told her to avoid Bob and select Dan. Now that sameinstinct told her it might be better to temporize with thisblunt-speaking young gentleman--to "sound" him.
"You sure have got me floating," observed Gee-gee in more lady-likeaccents. "I'm way up in the air. Throw out a few sand-bags and let's hitthe earth."
"That's easy," said Bob. "Do you deny you're down here to raise Ned?"
"Do I deny it?" remarked Gee-gee with flashing eyes. "Do I? We are downhere to fill a little professional engagement. We are down here onaccount of our histrionic talents." A sound came from Bob's throat.Gee-gee professed not to notice it. "We are paid a fee--not a smallone--to come down here, to do privately our little turn which was thehit of the piece and the talk of Broadway."
"Bosh!" said Bob coolly. Gee-gee looked dangerous. Once more thepink-stockinged ankle began to swing agitatedly, and again reckless Bobnarrowly escaped a slap in the face. "Mrs. Dan and Mrs. Clarence gotMrs. Ralston to ask you down here," he went on. "You weren't asked onaccount of your histrionic ability. You were asked because it was theonly feasible way to get you beyond other strong, I may even saydesperate, and to them, inimical influences. Mrs. Ralston isn't the onlyone who is financing your little rural expedition. I guess you know whatI mean?"
"Nix!" said Gee-gee. "You've got me up in the air again. Turn the littlewheel around and let the car come down. This ain't Sunday, and if I wastaking a little Coney-Island treat, I wouldn't choose you for myescort."
"It certainly isn't Sunday in the sense of a day of rest," remarked Bobgloomily. By this time the hammer-man and Miss Gerald were beyond hisrange of vision. But he would not think of them; he must not. He had aduty to perform here; maybe it would do no good, but it was his duty totry. "That publicity racket is all right up to a certain point," hesaid, bending his reproachful eyes upon Gee-gee. "But when it comes tosmashing reputations, stretching the truth, and injuring othersirreparably--all for a little cheap nauseating notoriety--Well"--Bob hitstraight from the shoulder--"I tell you it's rotten. And I, for one,shall do what I can to show up the whole conspiracy. That's what it is.It would be different if you were going to tell what was so, but youaren't. It isn't in the cards."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Gee-gee's tight dress nearlyexploded now. The blood had receded from her face and left it a mottledcream while her greenish eyes glowed like opals. Her expression wasanimalistic. It seemed to say she would like to crush something beneaththose high heels and grind them into it.
"Yes, you do," said Bob. "And it will be a frame-up for poor old Dan andClarence, too!" Dickie's description of what was going to happenrecurred to him poignantly. "I tell you it's a wicked cruel thing to do.I repeat, it's rotten."
If he thought he could overwhelm Gee-gee by a display of superiormasculine strength and moral force, he was mistaken. Gee-gee wasn't thatkind of a girl. She had some force herself, though whether of the moralkind is another matter.
"'Wicked!' 'Rotten!' 'Cheap!'" she repeated slowly, but breathing hard."Listen to the infant! 'Rotten!'" She lingered on the word as if it hada familiar sound. "Well, what is life, anyhow?" she flung out suddenlyat the six-foot "infant." "Maybe you think this theater business is likegoing to Sunday-school--that all we have to do is to hold goody-goodyhands and sing those salvation songs! Salvation! Gee!" And Gee-geefolded her arms. She seemed to meditate. "You know what kind ofsalvation a girl gets down on old Broadway?" she scoffed. "Aren't themen nice and kind? Don't they take you by the hand and say: 'Come on,little girl, I'll give you a helping hand.' Oh, yes, they give you ahelping hand. But it isn't 'up.' It's all 'down.' And every one wants tosee how deep they can make it. Say, Infant, I was born in one of thoseavenues with letters. People like these"--looking toward thehouse--"don't know nothing about that kind of an avenue. It ought to becalled a rotten alley. That's where I learned what 'rotten' meant. Niceyoung gentlemen like you who toddled about with nursie in the park can'ttell _me_."
Bob tried not to look small; he endeavored to maintain his dignity. Hewas almost sorry he had got Gee-gee started. The conversation wasleading into unexpected channels. "Why, I toddled about in rottenness,"went on Gee-gee. "Gutters were my playground." Dreamily. She seemed tobe forgetting her resentment in these childhood recollections."Sometimes I slept in cellar doorways, with the rotten cabbages allaround. But they and all the rest of the spoiled things seemed to agreewith me. I've thrived on rottenness, Infant!" Bob winced. "It's all thatsome girls get. Men!" And Gee-gee laughed. Here was a topic she coulddilate on. Again the opal eyes gleamed tigerishly. "I've got a lot ofcause to love 'em. Oh, ain't they particular about _their_ reputations!"Gee-gee's chuckle was fiendish. "Poor, precious little dears! Be carefuland don't get a teeny speck of smudge on their snowy white wings! My!look out! don't splash 'em! Or, if you do, rub it off quick so thepeople in church won't see it. But when it comes to us"--Gee-gee showedher teeth. "I learned when I was in the gutter that I had to fight.Sometimes I had to fight with dogs for a crust. Sometimes with boys whowere worse still. Later, with men who were worst of all. And," saidGee-gee, again tossing her auburn mane, "I'm still fighting, Infant!"
"Which means," said Bob slowly, overlooking these repeated insults tohis dignity, "you aren't here just to exhibit those histrionic talentsyou talked about?"
Gee-gee laughed. She was feeling better-natured now that she hadrelieved herself by speaking of some of those "wrongs" she and her sexhad undoubtedly to endure. There were times when Gee-gee just had tomoralize; it was born in her to do so. And she liked particularly togrill the men, and after the
grilling--usually to the receptive andsympathetic Gid-up--she particularly liked, also, to go out and anglefor one. And after he had taken the hook--the deeper the better--Gee-geedearly loved the piscatorial sport that came later, of watching therushes, the wild turnings, the frenzied leaps.
She even began to eye the infant now with sleepy green eyes. But no hookfor him! He wasn't hungry. He wouldn't even smell of a bait. Gee-geefelt this, having quite an instinct in such matters. Perhaps experience,too, had helped make her a good fisherwoman. So she didn't even bothermaking any casts for Bob. But she answered him sweetly enough, havingnow recovered her poise and being more sure of her ground:
"It doesn't mean anything of the sort. Our act has been praised in anumber of the newspapers, I would have you understand."
"All right," said Bob, as strenuously as he was capable of speaking. "Ionly wanted you to know that between you and me it will be--fight!"
This was sheer bluff, but he thought it might deter Gee-gee a little. Itmight curb just a bit that lurid imagination of hers.
Gee-gee got up now, laughing musically. Also, she showed once more herwhite teeth. Then she stretched somewhat robust arms.
"Fight with you?" she scoffed. "Why, you can't fight, Infant! Youhaven't grown up yet."
Bob had the grace to blush and Gee-gee, about to depart, noticed it. Helooked fresh and big and nice to her at that moment, so nice, indeed,that suddenly she did throw out a bait--one of her most brilliantsmiles, supplemented by a speaking, sleepy glance. But Bob didn't seethe bait. He was like a fish in a pool too deep for her line. Gee-geeshrugged; then she walked away. Snip! That imitation gardener was nowamong the vines, right underneath where Bob was sitting.
* * * * *
Gee-gee's little act was better than Bob expected it would be. She sanga French song with no more vulgarity than would mask as piquancy and themen applauded loudly. Gee-gee was a success. Gid-up put hers "over,"too; then together they did a few new dances not ungracefully. Mrs.Dan's face was rather a study. She was an extremist on the sex questionand would take the woman's side against the man every time.Theoretically, she would invite injured innocence right into camp. Shereversed that old humbug saying, "The woman did tempt me;" according toher philosophy, man, being naturally not so good as a woman, wasentitled to shoulder the bulk of the blame. But when she looked atGee-gee she may have had her doubts.
She may even have regretted being instrumental in bringing her here atall. And it is not unlikely that Mrs. Clarence may have entertained afew secret regrets also, and doubts as to the application of abroad-minded big way of looking at certain things pertaining to her ownsex, when she beheld her of the saucy turned-up nose and brazen freckle.Certain it is, both Mrs. Dan and Mrs. Clarence looked more serious andthoughtful than jubilant. They didn't applaud; they just seemed to,bringing their hands together without making a noise. But both ladieswere now committed to the inevitable. Gee-gee and Gid-up, displayingtheir "histrionic talents," were but calculated to make Mrs. Dan andMrs. Clarence the more determined to pursue the matter to the bitterend. Among the guests now was a certain legal light. His presence thereat this particular time--when the two G's adorned the festivities--mightbe a mere coincidence; on the other hand it might signify much. He hadcertainly spent a long time that afternoon talking to Gee-gee andGid-up. Mrs. Dan and Mrs. Clarence came in contact with them only byproxy.
Bob was a deeply pained spectator of the wordless drama that was beingenacted. He, alone, besides those directly involved, knew the tragedylurking behind the mocking face of comedy. That gay music sounded to Boblike a fugue. He could well believe what it was costing Mrs. Dan andMrs. Clarence to attain their purpose. They weren't enjoying themselves.It was altogether a miserable business, and almost made Bob forget hisown tragedy. A little incident, however, brought the latter once morevividly to mind.
It occurred while Gee-gee, in answer to applause at the conclusion ofher dance with Gid-up, was singing another of those risque, French cafechantant songs. Bob sat next to the temperamental little thing who wasbehaving with exemplary consistency. She had been comporting herself instrictly comrade-fashion ever since their last talk, not once overdoingthe little chum act. She hadn't asked him for a single kiss or to puthis arm about her waist in dark corners. Perhaps she was too anxious onhis account for sentimental considerations. She couldn't understand theway things were going--that is, things pertaining to Bob.
"Why _don't_ they?" once she whispered to Bob.
He knew what she meant--arrest him? He shook his head. "Dallying," heanswered.
"I could just scratch his eyes out," she murmured with excess ofloyalty.
"Whose?"
"That monocle-man. You know what I did this afternoon?"
"No." Bob, however, surmised it would be something interesting.
"I went up to that monocle-man and told him every word I had said to himthe night before wasn't so."
"You did?" Staring at her.
"Yes, I did." Setting her cherry lips firmly. "I told him I was justtrying to fool him and that I would never--never--never testify to suchrubbish, if called on to do so."
"But you'll have to," said Bob. "You've got to tell the truth."
"I'd tell whoppers by the bushel to help you," she confided to himunblushingly. "That's the kind of a friend I am."
"But I wouldn't have you. I wouldn't let you," he murmured in mildconsternation. "Great Scott! they'd have you up for perjury."
"Oh, no, they wouldn't. I'd do it so cleverly."
"But the monocle-man would testify, too."
"Who do you think a jury would rather believe, me or him?" she demandedconfidently. "Especially if I was all dressed up and looked at them, allthe time I was testifying."
"Well," said Bob, "I don't believe you could do it, anyhow. Besides, itwould be stretching friendship too far. Though you're a jolly little palto offer to!" She hunched a dainty little shoulder against his strongarm.
"I'd go through fire and water for you," breathed the jolly little pal.
"It's fine of you to say it," answered Bob fervently. "I haven't manyfriends now, you know. But--but it's impossible, what you propose. Itwould only get you into trouble. I'd be a big brute to allow that. Itwould make me out a fine pal, wouldn't it? Besides, it wouldn't do anygood. Some one else heard me go into your room and knows all about it.Some one else would fortify what the monocle-man would tell. And hertestimony and his would overwhelm yours. And I'd never forgive myselffor your being made a victim of your own loyalty."
"Was that some one else Miss Gerald?" asked the jolly little palquickly.
"Yes," said Bob. As he spoke he glanced toward Miss Gerald.
Gee-gee had now started to sing and nearly every one's head was turnedtoward the vivacious vocalist. Bob saw Miss Gerald's proud profile. Hesaw, too, the hammer-thrower, next to her, as usual. On the other sideof the hammer-thrower--the side nearer where Gee-gee stood--was the ladywho had given Bob the "cold shoulder" a few nights ago at dinner. Thehammer-thrower's eyes were naturally turned toward that cold shouldernow, and, as naturally, his gaze should have been bent over it, towardthe vocal center of attraction for the moment.
But his gaze had stopped at the shoulder, or something on it. Bob notedthat look. For a fraction of a minute, or second, it revealed a suddennew odd intensity as it rested on a lovely string of pearls ornamentingthe cold shoulder. And at the same instant a wave of light seemed tosweep over Bob. For that fraction of a minute he seemed strangely,amazingly, to have been afforded a swift glimpse into a soul.
The whole thing was psychic. Bob couldn't have told just how he came toknow. But he knew. He was sure now who had taken Mrs. Vanderpool'sbrooch. Strangely, too, the hammer-thrower, after that fraction of asecond's relaxation of vigilance over his inner secret self, should haveturned and looked straight toward Bob. His look was now heavy, normal.Bob's was burning.
"You!" his eyes said as plainly as if he had called out the word.
br /> The hammer-thrower's face did not change in the least; nor did his look.He turned his eyes toward the singer with heavy nonchalance and neverhad his face appeared more honest and trustworthy.
"Oh, you beauty!" murmured Bob admiringly.
"Do you really think she is?" asked the jolly little pal. She thoughtBob meant Gee-gee. "Is that the style you like?"
"Thinking of something else," said Bob.
"Some one, you mean?" with slight reproach.
"Pals aren't jealous," he reminded her. "Besides, it was a man."
"Oh!" she said wonderingly.
"For life is but a game of hide-and-seek,"
sang Gee-gee, in the rather execrable French some one had drilled intoher.
"Come and catch me," was the refrain.
Bob shook his head. He didn't want to play at that game. But life was agame of hide-and-seek, all right. He permitted himself the luxury ofsmiling as he once more looked over at the hammer-thrower and applaudedGee-gee. Odd, the idea of the hammer-thrower being that person he (Bob)was supposed to be, had never occurred to the latter! But no one everwould suspect that face! "My face is my fortune, sir," he might havesaid. The hammer-thrower caught Bob's smile.
"'Come and catch me,'" reiterated Gee-gee.
That might be applicable to the hammer-thrower. Bob, for the moment,felt as happy as a child who has discovered the solution of a puzzle. Sothat when Miss Gerald deigned casually to glance at him, she wassurprised at his new expression. It seemed a long while since Bob hadlooked happy, but now he looked almost like his old self. Was it thenear presence of the temperamental young thing that had wrought thischange, Miss Gerald might well have asked herself.
Violet eyes looked now into temperamental dark ones. Gwendoline, too,was smiling--at the song. But it was that cryptic kind of a smile oncemore. Bob's smile was a rather large cryptic counterpart of MissGerald's. The temperamental little thing, though, didn't smile. Sheseemed reading Miss Gerald's soul. She was dropping a plumb-line deepdown into it.
Then Miss Gerald turned again to the hammer-thrower, who talked to herjust as if Bob hadn't seen anything, or imagined he had. Gee-gee satdown, at the same time condescending to bestow upon Bob a triumphallook. He had dared to scoff at her histrionic talent, had he? Well, shehad shown him--and them. Maybe with a little publicity, she would becomea star of dazzling magnitude. At that moment, the world looked bright toGee-gee.