28
It gave them both a welcome opportunity to laugh, welcome to the girlbecause it broke into an excitement which was rapidly telling upon her,and welcome to Donnegan because the strain of so many distortions of thetruth was telling upon him as well. They laughed together. One hastyglance told Donnegan that half the couples in the room were whisperingabout Donnegan and Nelly Lebrun; but when he looked across the table hesaw that Nelly Lebrun had not a thought for what might be going on inthe minds of others. She was quite content.
"And the girl?" she said.
Donnegan rested his forehead upon his hand in thought. He dared not letNelly see his face at this moment, for the mention of Lou Macon hadpoured the old flood of sorrow back upon him And therefore, when helooked up, he was sneering.
"You know these blond, pretty girls?" he said.
"Oh, they are adorable!"
"With dull eyes," said Donnegan coldly, and a twinkle came into theresponsive eye of Nelly Lebrun. "The sort of a girl who sees a hero insuch a fellow as Jack Landis."
"And Jack is brave."
"I shouldn't have said that."
"Never mind. Brave, but such a boy."
"Are you serious?"
She looked questioningly at Donnegan and they smiled together, slowly.
"I--I'm glad it's that way," and Donnegan sighed.
"And did you really think it could be any other way?"
"I didn't know. I'm afraid I was blind."
"But the poor girl on the hill; I wish I could see her."
She was watching Donnegan very sharply again.
"A good idea. Why don't you?"
"You seem to like her?"
"Yes," said Donnegan judiciously. "She has an appealing way; I'm verysorry for her. But I've done my best; I can't help her."
"Isn't there some way?"
"Of what?"
"Of helping her."
Donnegan laughed. "Go to your father and persuade him to send Landisback to her."
She shook her head.
"Of course, that wouldn't do. There's business mixed up in all this, youknow."
"Business? Well, I guessed at that."
"My part in it wasn't very pleasant," she remarked sadly.
Donnegan was discreetly silent, knowing that silence extracts secrets.
"They made me--flirt with poor Jack. I really liked him!"
How much the past tense may mean!
"Poor fellow," murmured the sympathetic Donnegan. "But why," withgathering heat, "couldn't you help me to do the thing I can't do alone?Why couldn't you get him away from the house?"
"With Joe Rix and the Pedlar guarding him?"
"They'll be asleep in the middle of the night."
"But Jack would wake up and make a noise."
"There are things that would make him sleep through anything."
"But how could he be moved?"
"On a horse litter kept ready outside."
"And how carried to the litter?"
"I would carry him." The girl looked at him with a question and thenwith a faint smile beginning. "Easily," said Donnegan, stiffening in hischair. "Very easily."
It pleased her to find this weakness in the pride of the invincibleDonnegan. It gave her a secure feeling of mastery. So she controlled hersmile and looked with a sort of superior kindliness upon the red-headedlittle man.
"It's no good," Nelly Lebrun said with a sigh. "Even if he were takenaway--and then it would get you into a bad mess."
"Would it? Worse than I'm in?"
"Hush! Lord Nick is coming to The Corner; and no matter what you've doneso far--I think I could quiet him. But if you were to take Landisaway--then nothing could stop him."
Donnegan sneered.
"I begin to think Lord Nick is a bogie," he said. "Everyone whisperswhen they speak of him." He leaned forward. "I should like to meet him,Nelly Lebrun!"
It staggered Nelly. "Do you mean that?" she cried softly.
"I do."
She caught her breath and then a spark of deviltry gleamed. "I wonder!"said Nelly Lebrun, and her glance weighed Donnegan.
"All I ask is a fair chance," he said.
"He is a big man," said the girl maliciously.
The never-failing blush burned in the face of Donnegan.
"A large target is more easily hit," he said through his teeth.
Her thoughts played back and forth in her eyes.
"I can't do it," she said.
Donnegan played a random card.
"I was mistaken," he said darkly. "Jack was not the man I should havefaced. Lord Nick!"
"No, no, no, Mr. Donnegan!"
"You can't persuade me. Well, I was a fool not to guess it!"
"I really think," said the girl gloomily, "that as soon as Lord Nickcomes, you'll hunt him out!"
He bowed to her with cold politeness. "In spite of his size," saidDonnegan through his teeth once more.
And at this the girl's face softened and grew merry.
"I'm going to help you to take Jack away," she said, "on onecondition."
"And that?"
"That you won't make a step toward Lord Nick when he comes."
"I shall not avoid him," said Donnegan.
"You're unreasonable! Well, not avoid him, but simply not provoke him.I'll arrange it so that Lord Nick won't come hunting trouble."
"And he'll let Jack stay with the girl and her father?"
"Perhaps he'll persuade them to let him go of their own free will."
Donnegan thought of the colonel and smiled.
"In that case, of course, I shouldn't care at all." He added: "But doyou mean all this?"
"You shall see."
They talked only a moment longer and then Donnegan left the hall withthe girl on his arm. Certainly the thoughts of all in Milligan'sfollowed that pair; and it was seen that Donnegan took her to the doorof her house and then went away through the town and up the hill. Andbig George followed him like a shadow cast from a lantern behind a manwalking in a fog.
In the hut on the hill, Donnegan put George quickly to work, and with adoor and some bedding, a litter was hastily constructed and swungbetween the two horses. In the meantime, Donnegan climbed higher up thehill and watched steadily over the town until, in a house beneath him,two lights were shown. He came back at that and hurried down the hillwith George behind and around the houses until they came to thepretentious cabin of the gambler, Lebrun.
Once there, Donnegan went straight to an unlighted window, tapped; andit was opened from within, softly. Nelly Lebrun stood within.
"It's done," she said. "Joe and the Pedlar are sound asleep. They dranktoo much."
"Your father."
"Hasn't come home."
"And Jack Landis?"
"No matter what you do, he won't wake up; but be careful of hisshoulder. It's badly torn. How can you carry him?"
She could not see Donnegan's flush, but she heard his teeth grit. Andhe slipped through the window, gesturing to George to come close. It wasstill darker inside the room--far darker than the starlit night outside.And the one path of lighter gray was the bed of Jack Landis. His heavybreathing was the only sound. Donnegan kneeled beside him and worked hisarms under the limp figure.
And while he kneeled there a door in the house was opened and closedsoftly. Donnegan stood up.
"Is the door locked?"
"No," whispered the girl.
"Quick!"
"Too late. It's father, and he'd hear the turning of the key."
They waited, while the light, quick step came down the hall of thecabin. It came to the door, it went past; and then the steps retracedand the door was opened gently.
There was a light in the hall; the form of Lebrun was outlined black anddistinct..
"Jack!" he whispered.
No sound; he made as if to enter, and then he heard the heavy breathingof the sleeper, apparently.
"Asleep, poor fool," murmured the gambler, and closed the door.
The do
or was no sooner closed than Donnegan had raised the body of thesleeper. Once, as he rose, straining, it nearly slipped from his arms;and when he stood erect he staggered. But once he had gained hisequilibrium, he carried the wounded man easily enough to the windowthrough which George reached his long arms and lifted out the burden.
"You see?" said Donnegan, panting, to the girl.
"Yes; it was really wonderful!"
"You are laughing, now."
"I? But hurry. My father has a fox's ear for noises."
"He will not hear this, I think." There was a swift scuffle, very softof movement.
"Nelly!" called a far-off voice.
"Hurry, hurry! Don't you hear?"
"You forgive me?"
"No--yes--but hurry!"
"You will remember me?"
"Mr. Donnegan!"
"Adieu!"
She caught a picture of him sitting in the window for the split part ofa second, with his hat off, bowing to her. Then he was gone. And shewent into the hall, panting with excitement.
"Heavens!" Nelly Lebrun murmured. "I feel as if I had been hunted, and Imust look it. What if he--" Whatever the thought was she did notcomplete it. "It may have been for the best," added Nelly Lebrun.