XXIX
ELSIE WARNS CURTIS
Brisbane was early awake, abrupt and harsh in command. "Come! we mustget out o' here," he said. "I don't want to be under the slightestobligation to this young crank. I intend to break him."
She flamed into wrath--a white radiance. "When you break him you breakme," she said.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I've changed my mind. I think he's right and you are wrong."
The entrance of the sheriff prevented a full accounting at the moment,but it was merely deferred. Once in the carriage, Brisbane began todiscredit her lover. "Don't tell me Curtis is disinterested; he isscheming for some fat job. His altruistic plea is too thin."
"You are ill-fitted to understand the motives of a man like CaptainCurtis," Elsie replied, and every word cut. "What have you--or I--everdone that was not selfish?"
"I've given a thousand dollars to charity for every cent of his."
"Yes, and that's the spirit in which you gave--never to help, only toexalt yourself, just as I have done. Captain Curtis is giving himself.He and his sister have made me see myself as I am, and I am not happyover it. But I wish you would not talk to me any more about them; theyare my friends, and I will not listen to your abuse of them."
It was a most fatiguing ride. Brisbane complained of the heat and thedust, and of a mysterious pain in his head; and Elsie, alarmed by hisflushed face, softened. "Poor papa, I'm so sorry you had to come on thislong ride!" Lawson was also genuinely concerned over the Senator'sgrowing incoherency, and privately told the driver to push hard on thereins.
When they rounded the sharp point of the Black Bear Mesa, and came insight of the long, low, half-way house, Lawson sat up with a jerk."There is the mob--camped and waiting for the sheriff."
As Elsie looked at the swarming figures of the cowboys her mindforecasted tragic events. The desperadoes were waiting to lynch CutFinger--that was plain. Curtis had said he would not surrender hisprisoner to be lynched. He was coming; he would be met by this mob.
She clutched Lawson by the arm. "We must warn him!"
He merely nodded; but a look in his eyes gave her to understand that hewould do his duty.
The cattlemen, seeing the wagon whirling round the mesa, mounted andmassed in stern array, believing that the carriage contained the sheriffand his prisoner. They were disappointed and a little uneasy when theyrecognized Brisbane, the great political boss; but with ready witJohnson rode along in front of the gang, saying, with a wink: "Put upyour guns, boys. This is a meeting in honor of Senator Brisbane." Then,as a mutter of laughter ran down the line, he took off his hat andlifted his voice:
"Boys, three cheers for Senator Brisbane--hip, hip, hurrah!"
After the cheers were given the horsemen closed round the carriage withcries for a speech.
Brisbane, practised orator and shrewd manipulator, rose as the carriagestopped, and removed his hat. His eyes were dim and the blood seemedabout to burst through his cheeks, but he was not withoutself-possession.
"Gentlemen, I thank you for this demonstration, but I must ask you towait till I have rested and refreshed myself. With your permission Iwill then address you."
"Right--right!"
"We can wait!" they heartily responded, and opened a way for thecarriage.
Elsie shuddered as she looked into the rude and cruel faces of theleaders of this lynching party. They no longer amused her. She saw themnow from the stand-point of Captain Curtis and his wards, and realizedhow little of mercy they would show to their enemies. On Lawson's lipslay a subtly contemptuous smile, and he uttered no word--did not lift ahand till the carriage was at the door.
Streeter helped the Senator out, and with unexpected grace presented hishand to Elsie. "I do not need help," she said, coldly, and brushed pasthim into the little sitting-room, which swarmed with excited, scrawny,tired, and tearful women.
"What is goin' on out there? Have the soldiers put down the pizencritters?" asked one.
"You're Miss Brisbane--we heerd you was all killed at the agency.Weren't you scared?"
Almost contemptuously Elsie calmed their fears, and by a few questionslearned that this house had been made a rallying-point for the settlersand that the women were just beginning to feel the depressing effects ofbeing so long away from their homes without rest and proper food.
"_Do_ you think we can go home now?"
"Certainly. Captain Curtis will see that you are not harmed," shereplied, and she spoke with all a wife's sense of joy and pride in herhusband.
"We've been camping here for most a week, seems like, an' we're all woreout," wailed one little woman who had three small children to herd andwatch over.
Brisbane, inspirited by an egg-nog and a sandwich, mounted a wash-tub onthe low porch and began a speech--a suave, diplomatic utterance, whereinhe counselled moderation in all things. "We can't afford at this time todo a rash thing," he said, and winked jovially at Johnson. "The electioncoming on is, after all, the best chance for us to get back at thesefool Injun apologists. So go slow, boys--go slow!"
As these smooth words flowed from his lips Elsie burned with shame andanger. Some newly acquired inward light enabled her to read in thehalf-hearted dissuasion of her father's speech a subtle, heartlessencouragement to violence _after_ election. While the cheers were stillringing in her ears, at the close of the address, Elsie felt a touch onher shoulder and turned to face Calvin, standing close beside her, timidand flushed.
She held out her hand with a swift rush of confidence.
"Why, how do you do, Mr. Streeter?"
"I'm pretty well," he said, loudly, and added, in a low voice, "I wantto see you alone." He looked about the room. The corner least crowdedwas occupied by a woman nursing a wailing baby. "Come this way; she'sNorwegian; she can't understand us."
Elsie followed him, and when he spoke it was in a rapid, low mutter. "Isthe Major goin' to come with Cut Finger?"
"I'm afraid so."
"He mustn't. You know what this gang's here for?"
"What can we do? Can't we warn him?"
"Well, I'm goin' to take a sneak and try it. It's all my neck is worthto play it on the boys; but it's got to be done, for the Major is afighter, and if this mob meets him there will be blood on the moon. Nowdon't worry. I'm going to slide right out through the first gate I seeand head him off; mebbe you'd like to write a word or two."
"You are a real hero," she said, as she put a little slip of paper intohis hand, and pressed it there with both of hers.
"Don't do that," he said, hurriedly; "they'll think something's up. I'mdoin' it for the Major; he's treated me white all the way along, andI'll be derned if I let this gang do him."
A pain shot through her heart. Putting her hand to her bosom, she said:"It means everything to me, Calvin. Good-bye. I am trusting you--it'slife or death to me. Good-bye!"