XXXII
AN EVENTFUL NIGHT
At the railway station Curtis alighted. "Go to Paul Ladue's," he said toTwo Horns. "Put the horses in his corral and feed them well. Sit downwith Paul, and to-morrow morning at sunrise come for me at the bighotel. Be careful. Don't go on the street to-night. The white men haveevil hearts."
"We know," said Crow, with a clip of his forefinger. "We will sleep likethe wolf, with one eye open."
As they drove away, Curtis hurried into the station, and calling for ablank, dashed away at a brief telegram to the Commissioner. Whilerevising it he overheard the clerk say, in answer to a question over thetelephone: "No, Senator Brisbane did not get away on 'sixteen.' He isstill at the Sherman House."
Curtis straightened and his heart leaped. "Then I can see Elsie again!"he thought. Hastily pencilling two or three shorter messages, he handedthem in and hurried up the street towards the hotel, eager to relieveher anxiety.
By this time the violet dusk of a peaceful night covered the town. Themoon, low down in the west, was dim, but the stars were beginning toloom large in the wonderful deep blue to the east. The air waswindless. No cloud was to be seen, and yet the soldier had a touch ofuneasiness. "I wish I had brought my faithful men with me to the ShermanHouse. However, there is no real cause to worry. Paul is more Tetongthan borderman--and will protect them--if only they keep off thestreet."
He began to meet men in close-packed groups on the sidewalk--roughlyclad citizens who seemed absorbed in the discussion of some importantevent. A few of them recognized him as he passed, and one called, in abitter tone, "There goes the cur himself!" Curtis did not turn, thoughthe tone, more insulting than the words, made his heart hot with battle.It was plain that the sheriff and his party had already entered andreported their defeat. A saloon emptied a mob of loud-voiced men uponthe sidewalk before him, and though he feared trouble he pushed steadilyforward. The ruffians gave way before his resolute feet, but he felttheir hate beating like flame upon his face. He dared not turn ahair's-breadth to the right nor to the left; nothing was better than towalk straight on. "They will not shoot me in the back," he reasoned, andbeyond a volley of curses he remained unassaulted.
The rotunda of the hotel was filled with a different but not lessdangerous throng of excited politicians and leading citizens, who hadassembled to escort Brisbane to the opera-house. The talk, though lessprofane than that of the saloon loafers, was hardly less bitter againstthe agent. Mingled with these district bosses were a half-dozennewspaper men, who instantly rushed upon Curtis in frank and boyishrivalry. "Captain, what is the news?" they breathlessly asked, with padsand pencils ready for his undoing.
"All quiet!" was his curt reply.
"But--but--how about--"
"All lies!" he interrupted to say, and pushed on to the desk. "IsSenator Brisbane and party still here?" he asked, as he signed his namein the book.
The clerk applied the blotter. "Yes; he is still at supper."
The young soldier took time to wash the dust from his face and hands andsmooth his hair before entering the dining-room. At the threshold hepaused and took account of his enemies. Brisbane and three of his mosttrusted supporters, still sitting at coffee, were holding a low-voicedconsultation at a corner table, while Lawson and Elsie sat waiting somedistance away and near an open window. The Parkers were not in view.
Elsie, at sight of her lover, rose impulsively, and her face, tired andpale, flushed to a beautiful pink. Her lips formed the words "Why, thereis Captain Curtis!" but her voice was inaudible.
He hastened forward with eyes only for her, and she met him with bothhands outstretched--eager, joyous!
"Oh, how good it is to see you! We were so alarmed--Calvin warned you?"
"Yes. He met me just before I left the reservation."
"But I expected you to bring soldiers; how did you escape? Did you findthe cattlemen gone?"
"I flanked them." His face relaxed into humor. "Discretion is a sort ofvalor sometimes. I took the Willow road."
Lawson now joined them, and in his hand-clasp was a brother's regard forthe soldier. His smile was exultant. "Good work! I knew Calvin could betrusted. It looked bad for Cut Finger when we reached the half-wayhouse."
"You must be hungry!" exclaimed Elsie. "Sit here and I will ordersomething for you."
"I _was hungry_ an hour ago," he said, meaningly, "but now I am not. ButI am tired," he added. "Where are the Parkers?"
Elsie laughed. "On their way to civilization. They fled on theup-train."
"The town is aflame," said Lawson. "You and your Tetongs are an issuehere to-night. A big meeting is called, and the Senator is to speak. Hehas just discovered you," he added, glancing towards Brisbane, who hadrisen and was glaring at Curtis, his small eyes hot as those of an angrybear.
"Excuse me, won't you?" pleaded Elsie, rising hastily. "I must go tohim!"
Curtis also rose and looked soberly into her eyes. "May I not see youagain?"
She hesitated. "Yes. I'm not going to the meeting. Come to our parlorwhen you are finished supper."
He remained standing till she joined her father and passed from theroom, then he turned towards Lawson, who said:
"Seriously, my dear Curtis, you are in danger here. I hope you will notgo out this evening. Even Uncle Sam's blue might not prove a protectionin the dark of a night like this. Where did you house your men?"
"At Ladue's, with orders not to leave the corral."
"Quite right. Where is the sheriff?"
This question brought a humorous light into the young soldier's eyes."When I saw him last he was on Sage-hen Flat swinging his revolver andcursing me," and he told the story.
Lawson grew grave. "I'm sorry you had to do that; it will give yourenemies another grip on you. It's a mere technicality, of course, butthey'll use it. You must watch every one of your clerks from this on;they'll trump up a charge against you if they can, and secure acourt-martial. This election is really the last dying struggle of thepolitical banditti of the State, and they will be defeated. Taketo-night as an example. The reckless devils, the loud of mouth are alonein evidence, the better class of citizens dare not protest--dare notappear on the streets. But don't be deceived, you have your supporterseven here, in the midst of this saturnalia of hate. You are an issue."
Curtis grimly smiled. "I accept the challenge! They can only order meback to my regiment."
"As for Brisbane, he is on the point of collapse. He has lost hisself-control. He has attained a fixed notion that you are his mostdangerous enemy; the mention of your name throws him into fury. I lostpatience with him to-day, and opened fire. 'You are doomed to defeat!' Isaid to him. 'You represent the ignoble, greedy, conscienceless hustlerand speculator, not the peaceful, justice-loving citizen of this State.Your dominion is gone; the reign of order and peace is about to begin.'If it were not for Elsie I would publicly denounce him, for his electionwould work incalculable injury to the West. But he can't fill thelegislature with his men as he did twelve years ago. He will fail ofelection by fifty votes."
"I hope so," responded Curtis, with a sigh, as Lawson rose. "But I haveno faith in the courage of the better element; virtue is so timid andevil is always so fully organized."
After Lawson left him Curtis hurriedly finished his supper and went hisway to his room for a moment's rest. Through the open windows he couldhear the cheering which greeted Brisbane's entrance into theopera-house, which faced upon the little square before the hotel. Thestreet was thronging with noisy boys, and at intervals a band of youngherders clattered into the square. Their horses thickened along thehitching-poles, and the saloons swarmed with men already inflamed withdrink. The air seemed heavy, oppressive, electrical, and the shrillcheers which rose above the dull rumble of pounding boot-heels in thehall possessed a savage animal vehemence. Again a sense of impendingdisaster swept over the young officer. "I am tired and nervous," hethought. "Surely law and order rules in a civilized community likethis."
He put away all t
houghts of war as he followed the boy up the stair-wayto the Brisbane private parlor, and became the lover, palpitant with thehope that he was about to see Elsie alone.
She met him at the door, her face a-quiver with feeling, a note of alarmin her voice. "Have you heard the cheering? They are denouncing you overthere!"
"I suppose so. But let's not talk of such unimportant matters; this isour last evening together, and I want to forget the storm outside. SinceI left you last night I have had a most remarkable experience, and I--"
"Oh, you mean catching the murderer; tell me about it!"
"No. Oh no; that is not worth telling. I mean something more intimatelypersonal." Shrill yells from across the way interrupted him, and Elsierose and shut the window. "I hate them; they are worse than savages,"she said. "Please don't mind them."
He went on: "I was about to say I had a deal of time to think on my longride this morning, and I reached some conclusions which I want to tellyou about. When my prisoner was safe in the guard-house, I went over tosee how my little temple of art looked--I mean your studio, of course. Iclosed the door and dropped into one of the big chairs, hoping to gainrest and serenity in the beauty and quiet of the place. But I didn't; Iwas painfully depressed."
She opened her eyes very wide at this. "Why?"
"Because everything I saw there emphasized the irrevocable loss I hadsuffered. I couldn't endure the thought of it, and I fled. I could notremain without weeping, and you know a man is ashamed of his tears; butwhen I got your note of warning I flung conscience to the winds! 'It isnot a crime to love a woman,' I said. 'I will write to her and say toher "I love you, no matter what happens;"' and, now I find you here, Itell it to you instead of writing it."
She was facing him with a look of perplexity and alarm. One hand laidupon her throat seemed to express suffering. When she spoke her voicewas very low.
"What do you expect me to say; you make it so hard for me! Why do youtell me this?"
"Because I could not rest till I had spoken. For a long time I thoughtyou were bound to Lawson, and since then I've tried to keep silentbecause of my poverty and--no one knows better than I the unreason of itall--I do not ask you to speak except to say, 'I am sorry.' When I foundyou were still within reach, the desire to let you know my feelingovercame every other consideration. I can't even do the customary thingand ask you to wait, for my future is as uncertain as my present, but ifyou could say you loved me--a little--" he paused abruptly, as thoughchoked into silence by a merciless hand.
Elsie remained silent, with her eyes turned towards the window, herhands in her lap, and at last he went on:
"If your father is a true prophet, I shall be ordered back to myregiment. That will hurt me, but it won't ruin me exactly. It would be ashameful thing if the department sacrificed me to expediency; butpoliticians are wonderful people! If you were not so much an artist andAndrew Brisbane's daughter, I would ask you to come to me and help me domy work, but I can't quite do that--yet; I can only say you are more tome now than any other soul in the world. I do this because I can't keepfrom it," he repeated, in poor ending.
"I've heard that the best way to make a woman love a man is to persecutethe man," she replied, smiling a little, though her eyes were wet."When you were apparently triumphant I hated you--now--" she hesitatedand a sudden timidity shook her.
He sprang up. "Can you carry out the figure? I dare you to finish thesentence. Do you care for me a little?" His face, suddenly illuminated,moved her powerfully.
"I'm afraid I do--wait, please!" She stopped him with a gesture. "Youmustn't think I mean more than I do. My mind is all in a whirl now; itisn't fair to hurry me; I must take time to consider. Your being poorand an Indian agent wouldn't make any difference to me if I--But I mustbe sure. I respect you--I admire you very much--and last night when Isaid good-bye I felt a sharp pain here." She put her hand to her throat."But I must be sure. There are so many things against it," she ended,covering her eyes with her hand in piteous perplexity.
His eyes were alight, his voice eager. "It would be such a gloriousthing if you could join me in my work."
The mention of his work stung her. "Oh no! It is impossible. I shoulddie here! I have no sense of duty towards these poor vagabonds. I'msorry for them--but to live here--no, no! You must not ask it. You mustgo your way and I will go mine. You are only torturing me needlessly."
"Forgive me," he pleaded. "I did not mean to do so."
She continued, wildly: "Can't you see how crazy, how impossible, it is?I admire you--I believe in your work--it is magnificent; but I can'tlive your life. My friends, my art, mean too much to me."
There was a tremulous, passionate pleading which failed of finality: itperplexed her lover; it did not convince him.
"You are right; of course you are right," he said again; "but that doesnot help me to bear the pain of your loss. I can't let you go out of mylife--utterly--I can't do it--I will not--Hark! What is that?"
A faint, far-off, thundering sound interrupted him. A rushing roar, asof many horsemen rapidly approaching. Hastening to the window, Curtisbent his head to listen. "It sounds like a cavalry charge. Here theycome! Cowboys--a mob of them! Can it be Yarpe's gang? Yes; that isprecisely what it is. Yarpe leading them into some further deviltry."
Whooping and cursing, and urging their tired horses with quirt and spur,the desperadoes, somewhat thinned of ranks, pouring by in clattering,pounding rush--as orderless as a charging squad of Siouxwarriors--turned up a side street and disappeared almost before any onebut Curtis was aware of them.
"They are bent on mischief," said the soldier as he turned upon thegirl, all personal feeling swept away by the passing mob. "They havefollowed me in to force the jail and hang Cut Finger." He caught up hiscap. "I must prevent it!"
"No! No!" cried Elsie, seizing his arm. "You must not go out in thestreet to-night--they will kill you--please don't go--you have done yourduty. Now let the mayor act, I beg of you!"
"Dear girl, I _must_ thwart this lynching party. I would be disgraced!Don't you see? They have seized the moment when the citizens are all inthe hall away from the jail to do this thing. I must alarm the town andprevent them."
Even as he pleaded with her the tumult in the hall broke forth again,roared for a moment in wild crescendo, and then ceased instantly,strangely. A moment's silence followed, and a confused murmur arose,quite different from any sound which had hitherto emanated from thehall. A powerful voice dominated all others, and through the openwindows the words of command could be distinctly heard. "_Keep backthere! Keep your seats!_"
"The meeting is breaking up!" exclaimed Curtis. "Some one has alarmedthem. See, they are pouring out to prevent this crazy mob from carryingout its plan."
The shouting ceased, but the trample of feet and the murmur of voicesthickened to a clamor, and Elsie turned white with a new fear. "They arerushing across the square! Perhaps they are coming for _you_!"
"I don't think so; they would not dare to attack me--they hate me,but--"
Her over-wrought nerves gave way. A panic seized her. "Hide! Hide! Theywill kill you!" she cried out, hoarsely.
"No; I am going to help them defend the jail."
"For my sake!" she pleaded, "don't leave me! Listen! they are coming!"she whispered. The sound of many feet could be heard in the lobby below,the roar of a hundred voices came up the stair-way, but even the excitedgirl could now detect something hushed and solemn in thesound--something mournful in the measured footsteps up the stairs.
"It is father!" she cried, with a flash of divination. "Something hashappened to him!" And with this new terror in her face she hurried outinto the hall.
Curtis reached her side just as the head of the procession topped thestair-way.
Brisbane, up-borne by Lawson and a tall young stranger, first appeared,followed by a dozen men, who walked two and two with bared heads andserious faces, as if following a hearse. The stricken man's face wasflushed and knobby, and his eyelids drooped laxly like those of adrunk
ard. He saw nothing, and his breathing was labored.
"Father, what has happened?" called Elsie. "Tell me--quick!"
"A touch of vertigo," answered Lawson, soothingly. "The doctor saysnothing serious."
"Are you the doctor?" she turned to the young man.
"Yes. Don't be alarmed. The Senator has over-taxed himself a little,that is all, and needs rest. Show me his bed, and we will make himcomfortable."
Elsie led the way to the bedroom, while Curtis stood helplessly facingthe crowd in the hall. Lawson relieved the situation by coming out a fewmoments later to say:
"Gentlemen, the doctor thanks you, and requests you to leave the Senatorto rest as quietly as possible."
After this dismissal had dispersed the on-lookers, Lawson turned toCurtis. "The old man's work as a speaker is done. Rather tragicbusiness, don't you think? He was assailing you with the utmostbitterness. His big, right fist was in the air like a hammer when hefell; but it was his last effort."
Curtis seized his hand and said: "I envy you your chance to go with herand serve her." His voice changed. "The mob! Did you hear Yarpe and hismen pass?"
"No; when?"
"Not ten minutes ago. I fear some mischief."
The doctor appeared. "Mr. Lawson, a moment."
As Lawson hurried into the sick-room a far-off, faint volley ofpistol-shots broke the hush that had settled over the square. Distantyells succeeded, accompanied by a sound as of some giant hammering. Theyoung soldier lifted his head like a young lion listening to abattle-call. "They are beating in the gates!" he said. For a moment hehesitated, but only for a moment. "She is safe!" he thought, with aglance towards Elsie's door. "My man and the poor little wife are not,"and he rushed down the stair-way and out into the street with intent tofind and defend his faithful men.