CHAPTER XXI
INSPIRATION
Half an hour later Jim rode into Barnriff. It was getting ontoward noon, and most of the villagers were busy at their variousoccupations. As he rode on to the market-place he glanced quicklyabout him, and, all unconsciously, there was defiance and resentmentin his dark eyes; the look of a man prepared for the accusationswhich he knew were awaiting him. But this attitude was quitewasted, for there were few people about, and those few were either toofar off, or too busy to note his coming, or appreciate his feelings,as expressed in his dark eyes.
It is strange how instinct will so often take the lead in momentscritical in the lives of human beings. Jim had no thought of whitherhis immediate destination lay, yet he was riding straight for thehouse of the friendly gold prospector. Doubtless his action was due toa subconscious realization of a friendliness and trust on the part ofPeter, which was not to be overborne by the first breath ofsuspicion.
He was within fifty yards of that friendly, open door, when he becameaware that a woman's figure was standing before it. Her back wasturned, and she looked to be either peering within the hut, or talkingto some one inside it. Nor, strangely enough, did he recognize thetrim outline of her figure until she abruptly turned away and movedoff in the direction of her own house. It was Eve Henderson. And,without hesitation, he swung his horse in her direction.
She saw him at once and, smiling a welcome, waited for him to come up.He saw the smile and the unhesitating way she stepped forward to greethim. There could have been no doubt of her cordiality, even eagerness,yet with the shadow of his disgrace hanging over him, he tried to lookbeyond it for that something which he was ready to resent even inher.
He saw the shadow on her face, which even her smile had no power tolift out of its troubled lines. He saw dark shadows round her eyes,the tremulous, drooping mouth, once so buoyant and happy, and heselfishly took these signs to himself, and moodily felt that she wastrying vainly to conceal her real thoughts of him behind a display ofloyalty.
There was no verbal greeting between them, and he felt this to be afurther ominous sign. Somehow, he could not force himself to anordinary greeting under the circumstances. She had doubtless heard thestory, so---- But he was quite wrong. Eve was simply wondering at hiscoming. Wondering what it portended. She had truly enough heard thestory of the recovery of the cattle, as who in Barnriff had not? Buther wonder and nervousness were not for him, but for herself. It wasfor herself, and had to do with that fear she had told Annie Gay of,and which now had become a sort of waking nightmare to her.
Jim sprang from the saddle. Linking his arm through the reins, hestood facing the woman he loved. "Well?" he said, in a curious,half-defiant manner, while his glance swept over every detail of herpretty, troubled face. Finally it settled upon the slight scar overher temple, and a less selfish feeling took possession of him. Thechange in her expression suddenly told him its own story. Her eyeswere the eyes of suffering, not of any condemnation of himself.
"I--I've just been over to see if Peter was in," she said hesitatingly.
"Peter? Oh, yes--and, wasn't he?"
Jim was suddenly seized with a feeling of awkwardness such as he hadnever before felt when talking to Eve.
The girl shook her head and began to move in the direction of herhouse. He fell in beside her, and, for a moment, neither spoke.Finally she went on.
"No," she said regretfully. "And I sure wanted to see him so badly.You see," she added hastily, "Elia is away. He's been away for days,and, well, I want to know where he is. I get so anxious when he'saway. You see, he's so----"
"And does Peter know where he is?"
"Yes. At least I'm hoping so. Elia goes with him a deal now, on hisexpeditions. Peter's real good to him. I think he's trying to help himin--in--you know Elia is so--so delicate."
The girl's evident reluctance to put into words her well-lovedbrother's weaknesses roused all Jim's sympathy.
"Yes, yes. And is he supposed to be with Peter now?"
"He went away with him four days ago."
"I see."
Then there was another awkward pause. Again Eve was the one to breakit. They were nearing the gate of her little garden.
"But what has brought you into town, Jim?" she suddenly asked, asthough his presence had only just occurred to her as being unusual.
With a rush the memory of all his disgrace came upon him again. Helaughed bitterly, harshly.
"Another of Dame Fortune's kicks," he said.
"Another?"
"Yes--ah, I forgot. Of course. Well, we'll call it _one_ of DameFortune's kicks."
"You mean the--cattle stealing?" She was staring straight ahead ofher, and into her eyes had leaped a sudden look of fear which shedared not let him see.
But Jim was too busy with himself to even notice her hesitation. Hehad no room to realize her emotions just then.
"Yes," he said, almost viciously. "It's about that--I s'pose I oughtto say 'because' of that." She glanced at him swiftly, but waited forhim to go on. He did so with another nervous laugh. "I'm 'fired,' Eve.Kicked out by Dan McLagan, and branded by him as a suspectedcattle-thief, as surely--as surely as they've found a bunch of hiscattle branded with my brand."
They had reached the gate, and Eve turned facing him. There was acurious look in her eyes. It was almost one of relief. Yet it was notquite. There was something else in it. There was incredulity,resentment; something which suggested a whole world of trust andconfidence in the man before her.
"Nonsense," she cried. "You--you accused of cattle stealing? You? Hemust be mad. They must all be mad."
"They?"
The girl suddenly flushed. She had said more than she intended. Butthere was no use drawing back.
"Oh, yes," she cried hotly. "I didn't mean to let you know. I've heardthe story. Of course I have. Who, living in such a place as Barnriff,wouldn't hear it?" she hurried on bitterly. "Directly they told me Ilaughed at them. But--but they do suspect you. Oh, Jim, I think I hatethese folks. You--you suspected of cattle-duffing. McLagan ought to beashamed of himself. It's cruel in such a country as this. And theevidence is so ridiculous. Oh, Jim, if it weren't so horrible it wouldbe almost--almost laughable."
"Thanks, Eve. And that--is really what you feel?"
She looked him in the face with wide, wondering eyes.
"Why, of course it is."
The man smiled ever so slightly. He felt better. A few more loyalfriends like this and his position would be considerably easier.
"But they are all branded with my '[double star]'s," he went ondoubtfully.
"And what of it? It's a blind. It's to put folks off the real track.I----" She broke off, and her eyelids were suddenly lowered to hidethe fear with which her own words again inspired her. As she did notcontinue Jim seized his opportunity to pour out something of what hefelt at her unquestioning loyalty.
"Eve," he cried, his eyes lighting with the love he was powerless tokeep altogether under. "You don't know what all your words mean to me.You don't know how glad they make me feel. Do you know, when I wasriding up to you just now I was looking for a sign of suspicion inyour eyes? If I'd seen it--if I'd seen it, I can't tell you what itwould have meant to me. I almost thought I did see it, but now I knowI was wrong. There's just about two folks for whose opinion I care inthis village, you and Peter. Well, now I feel I can face the rest. Forthe present I'm an unconvicted cattle rustler to them. There's notmuch difference between that and a rawhide rope with them. But there'sjust a bit of difference, and to that bit I'm going to hold good andtight."
Eve's face suddenly went an ashy gray.
"But, Jim, they'd never--never hang you." Her voice was low. There wasa thrill of horror in it which made the man's heart glow. He felt thather horror was for his safety, and not for the fact of the hanging.Then the feeling swiftly passed. He remembered in time that she wasthe wife of another.
"They would," he said decidedly. "They'd hang me, or anybody else,with very little more proof
than they've already got. You don'trealize what cattle-duffing means to these folks. It's worse thanmurder. But," he went on, struggling to lighten his manner, "they'renot going to hang me, if I know it. It's up to me to run this rustlerto earth. I'm going to. That's what I'm out for. After I'd made up mymind to hunt the devil down McLagan informed me, not in so many words,of course, that to do so was the only way to convince folks of myinnocence--himself included. So I'm going to hunt him down, if ittakes months, and costs me my last cent. And when I find him"--hiseyes lit with a terrible purpose--"may God have mercy on his soul, forI won't."
But the girl had no response for him. Her enthusiastic belief in hisinnocence found no further expression. When he pronounced hisdetermination her eyes were wide and staring, and as he ceasedspeaking she turned them toward the distant hills, lest he shouldwitness the terror she could no longer hide. A shudder passed over herslight figure. She was struggling with herself, with that hauntingfear that was ever dogging her. The thought of the rawhide rope hadset it shuddering through her nerve centres afresh in a way thatbathed her in a cold perspiration.
For a moment she stood battling thus. Then, in the midst of thestruggle something came upon her, and her heart seemed to stand still.It was as though a flash of mental light had illumined her cloudedhorizon. Realization swept in upon her, a full terrible realization ofthe source of her fear.
It was to do with this cattle stealing. Yes, she knew it now. She knewmore. She knew who the cattle-rustler was, for whom Jim was to standthe blame. She needed no words to tell her. She had no evidence. Sheneeded none. Her woman's instinct served her, as though she hadwitnessed his acts. It was Will. It was--her husband.
And, all unconsciously, for so long this had been her fear. Sheremembered now so many things. She remembered his cynical laugh whenhe told her of his gold find, and how easy it was to work. Sheremembered her lack of confidence in his story--knowing the man as shedid. She remembered her repugnance at the sight of the money he hadspent on her, and how she could never bring herself to touch thatwhich he sent to her. She had believed then that her reasons werepersonal. That it was because it came from him, the man who hadstruck her down, and left her to die at his hands, for all he cared;the man whose brutality had so quickly killed her love; the man whomshe had long since admitted to herself that she detested, despised.No, she needed no further evidence. It was her woman's instinct thatguided and convinced her.
She shuddered. She was chilled under a blazing sun that had no powerto warm her. But her terror was not for Will. It was for herself. Forthe hideousness of the disgrace to which he had brought her. In fancyshe saw him food for carrion at the end of a rope; she saw his bodyswaying to the night breeze, an ominous, hideous shadow, a warning toall of the fate awaiting those who sinned against the unwritten lawsof the cattle world. She heard the pitying tones of the village women,she saw their furtive side glances, heard their whispering comments asthey passed her, these women whom she had always lived amongst, whomshe had always counted as friends. Oh, the horror of it all, and shewas utterly--utterly powerless. Worse, she must strive her utmost toshield Will. And, because he was her husband, she must leave Jim tofight his own battle with her added wits pitted against him.
She remembered Jim's words. "May God have mercy on his soul, for Iwon't." Jim--Jim was to be Will's Nemesis--her Nemesis. He must be theman who would drive the sword crashing her to the dust beneath theweight of her husband's crime.
A despairing hope swept her. Ah, no, no. It could not be. That wouldbe too cruel. No, no, she must be wrong. Will was not guilty. He couldnot be. This thing could surely never come upon her. What had sheever done to deserve it? What----? She thought of the man before her.What had he ever done to deserve his fate? And suddenly the momentaryhope slid from under her feet.
Now her thought and terror found expression against her will. It wouldnot be denied. It showed in her shrinking attitude. It was displayedin her horrified eyes. And Jim saw these things and read them in hisown way. He deemed that he had shocked her by his words, nor could heclearly understand that the force of his determination to defendhimself should so shock her. However, he promptly strove to lightenthe impression he had made.
"Don't let us speak of these things. Let us think and speak of othermatters. You see," he went on whimsically, "you were the first personI met, and I s'pose it was only natural you should get all the burdenof--of my nightmare."
But Eve could not rid herself of her terror. She felt she must talk ofthis thing.
"No," she said with an effort to keep calm, "we must talk of it. Wemust think--think----"
"There is no need for you to think, Eve. Put it out of your head. Ishall run him to earth----"
"But, Jim," she broke out, his words driving her to fresh terror, "itmust be some half-breeds. Or--or--some 'toughs' from across theborder. It must be. We are very near the Canadian border, remember.They're always being driven across by the Mounted Police."
"No, it's some one in the locality. Some one nobody would suspect. Yousee, there have been no strangers in the district for months."
"How do you know?" Eve's startled inquiry came almost defiantly.
If the man noticed her tone he gave no sign. He shook his headdecidedly.
"We've had the district hunted, scoured thoroughly, sure." Then heshrugged. "But it don't matter. Psha! I'd sooner it was somehalf-breed or tough. I'd--I'd be less sorry for him." He paused andgazed tenderly into her troubled face. "But you don't need to be soshocked. Why?" he inquired. "This thing can't hurt you."
The girl jumped at the chance of denial.
"No, no, of course not," she exclaimed eagerly. Then, with a pitifuleffort at subterfuge, "But you, Jim. To think that you are blamed."
In an instant his love was uppermost again. Her distress, whatever itscause, appealed to all that was best and manliest in him. Just now hetook it to himself. And, in consequence, he found it hard to keephimself within the bounds of restraint. She was so sweet, so desirablein the pathetic picture she made.
"Never you worry, Eve," he said, with infinite gentleness. "This is upto me, and--I'm going to see it through. But here, I'm so full of myown troubles I'm forgetting all the good things coming your way. Say,I'm mighty glad of your luck. Will's claim is a bonanza, I'm told. Ihear wonderful accounts of it--and of him." Then his voice lowered andhis calm eyes darkened. "He has straightened up, hasn't he? It's agreat thing. You'll be happier--now. You--you won't need my help--Imean for him. They tell me he's hit the right trail, and is busytraveling it." He sighed. "I'm glad, real glad--for you."
But curiously enough his sympathy met with no response. On thecontrary, Eve seemed to freeze up. Every word he uttered lashed heruntil she felt she must blurt out to him the thing she believed to bethe truth. But even in her agony of heart and mind she remembered whatshe conceived to be her duty, and, in self-defense, assumed a coldunresponsiveness.
"They say he'll be a way up millionaire," Jim went on, so busy withhis own thoughts that he did not notice her silence. "Gee, and soeasy, too. It's queer how fortune runs. Some folks work like--likeDagos, and get--mud. Others have gold poured over 'em, whether theywork or not. But he must have worked to find it. Yes, sure. And havingfound it you can't blame him for not letting folks into thesecret--eh?"
But Eve had not spoken. It was only a look, and an inarticulate sound.But it was a look of such abject terror that it could no longer escapethe man's thoughtful eyes. Eve had betrayed herself in her very dreadlest he should suspect. His reference to Will's secret had suggestedsuspicion to her, and the rest was the result of her innate honestyand simplicity.
Jim stared at her. And slowly a curious look crept into his eyes. Herterror was so evident, and--he thought back over the words that hadinspired it. He was talking of Will--of Will's secret. For the momenthe stood dumbfounded at that which flashed through his mind. Then heturned slowly, and mechanically threw the reins over his horse'sneck.
When he looked round again Eve was still staring a
t him. Her terrorwas, if possible, intensified. Suddenly a great pity for her rose upin his heart. All his love was stirred to the almost limitless depthsof his big heart. How he loved this woman! How he longed to take herto his heart, and shelter her from all the cruel buffeting of a harshlife! How he would fight for her, strive for her, work for her--andnow? He thought of the brand that had fallen upon him, and he thoughtof that something which her sudden terrified glance had stirred in hisunsuspicious mind.
"Guess I'll get on to the saloon, as Peter isn't in his hut," he said,in a quiet, unmeaning tone. "I'll see if I can locate Elia for you."He paused, and then swung into the saddle. Glancing down at her, heleaned forward and spoke earnestly. "Eve," he said, "it still standsgood: the old order. When you need me--for anything, mind--you've onlygot to send me word. Wherever I am I'll come." He straightened up. Hesaw the girl make an effort to swallow, and glanced away to give her achance to recover her composure. As he did so he saw a number of womenand some men scattered about at the doorways of various houses. Hepromptly turned to the girl.
"Gee!" he cried, with a slightly forced laugh. "The vultures arearound. They're looking for scandal, and, by the signs, I'd say theyguess they've found it. To a man--or woman--they're staring this way.Say, I'll get going. Good-bye--and don't forget."
He rode off. Eve had not spoken. She knew that he knew, and she wasoverwhelmed at the knowledge. She slowly turned to the house, and withweary steps passed up the narrow pathway.
And Jim? The moment his face was turned from her his smile died out,leaving it stern and hard.