36
It was fear that Nelly Lebrun felt first of all. It was fear becausethe impossible had happened and the immovable object had been at lastmoved. Going back to her own room, the record of Lord Nick flashedacross her mind; one long series of thrilling deeds. He had been a greatand widely known figure on the mountain desert while she herself was nomore than a girl. When she first met him she had been prepared for thesight of a firebreathing monster; and she had never quite recovered fromthe first thrill of finding him not devil but man.
Quite oddly, now that there seemed another man as powerful as Lord Nickor even more terrible, she felt for the big man more tenderly than ever;for like all women, there was a corner of her heart into which shewished to receive a thing she could cherish and protect. Lord Nick, theinvincible, had seemed without any real need of other human beings. Hislove for her had seemed unreal because his need of her seemed asuperficial thing. Now that he was in sorrow and defeat she suddenlyvisualized a Lord Nick to whom she could truly be a helpmate. Tears cameto her eyes at the thought.
Yet, very contradictorily and very humanly, the moment she was in herroom she began preparing her toilet for that evening at Lebrun's. Let noone think that she was already preparing to cast Lord Nick away and turnto the new star in the sky of the mountain desert. By no means. No doubther own heart was not quite clear to Nelly. Indeed, she put on her mostlovely gown with a desire for revenge. If Lord Nick had been humbled bythis singular Donnegan, would it not be a perfect revenge to bringDonnegan himself to her feet? Would it not be a joy to see him turn paleunder her smile, and then, when he was well-nigh on his knees, spurn thelove which he offered her?
She set her teeth and her eyes gleamed with the thought. Butnevertheless she went on lavishing care in the preparation for thatnight.
As she visioned the scene, the many curious eyes that watched her withDonnegan; the keen envy in the faces of the women; the cold watchfulnessof the men, were what she pictured.
In a way she almost regretted that she was admired by such fighting men,Landis, Lord Nick, and now Donnegan, who frightened away the rank andfile of other would-be admirers. But it was a pang which she couldreadily control and subdue.
To tell the truth the rest of the day dragged through a weary length. Atthe dinner table her father leaned to her and talked in his usualmurmuring voice which could reach her own ear and no other by anychance.
"Nelly, there's going to be the devil to pay around The Corner. You knowwhy. Now, be a good girl and wise girl and play your cards. Donnegan islosing his head; he's losing it over you. So play your cards."
"Turn down Nick and take up Donnegan?" she asked coldly.
"I've said enough already," said her father, and would not speak again.But it was easy to see that he already felt Lord Nick's star to be pastits full glory.
Afterward, Lebrun himself took his daughter over to Milligan's and lefther under the care of the dance-hall proprietor.
"I'm waiting for someone," said Nelly, and Milligan sat willingly at hertable and made talk. He was like the rest of The Corner--full of thesubject of the strange encounter between Lord Nick and Donnegan. Whathad Donnegan done to the big man? Nelly merely smiled and said theywould all know in time: one thing was certain--Lord Nick had not takenwater. But at this Milligan smiled behind his hand.
Ten minutes later there was that stir which announced the arrival ofsome public figures; and Donnegan with big George behind him came intothe room. This evening he went straight to the table to Nelly Lebrun.Milligan, a little uneasy, rose. But Donnegan was gravely polite andregretted that he had interrupted.
"I have only come to ask you for five minutes of your time," he said tothe girl.
She was about to put him off merely to make sure of her hold over him,but something she saw in his face fascinated her. She could not play hergame. Milligan had slipped away before she knew it, and Donnegan was inhis place at the table. He was as much changed as Lord Nick, shethought. Not that his clothes were less carefully arranged than ever,but in the compression of his lips and something behind his eyes shefelt the difference. She would have given a great deal indeed to havelearned what went on behind the door of Donnegan's shack when Lord Nickwas there.
"Last time you asked for one minute and stayed half an hour," she said."This time it's five minutes."
No matter what was on his mind he was able to answer fully as lightly.
"When I talk about myself, I'm always long-winded."
"Tonight it's someone else?"
"Yes."
She was, being a woman, intensely disappointed, but her smile was asbright as ever.
"Of course I'm listening."
"You remember what I told you of Landis and the girl on the hill?"
"She seems to stick in your thoughts, Mr. Donnegan."
"Yes, she's a lovely child."
And by his frankness he very cunningly disarmed her. Even if he hadhesitated an instant she would have been on the track of the truth, buthe had foreseen the question and his reply came back instantly.
He added: "Also, what I say has to do with Lord Nick."
"Ah," said the girl a little coldly.
Donnegan went on. He had chosen frankness to be his role and he playedit to the full.
"It is a rather wonderful story," he went on. "You know that Lord Nickwent up the hill for Landis? And The Corner was standing around waitingfor him to bring the youngster down?"
"Of course."
"There was only one obstacle--which you had so kindly removed--myself."
"For your own sake, Mr. Donnegan."
"Ah, don't you suppose that I know?" And his voice touched her. "He cameto kill me. And no doubt he could have done so."
Such frankness shocked her into a new attention.
Perhaps Donnegan overdid his part a little at this point, for in herheart of hearts she knew that the little man would a thousand timesrather die than give way to any living man.
"But I threw my case bodily before him--the girl--her love forLandis--and the fear which revolved around your own unruly eyes, youknow, if he were sent back to your father's house. I placed it allbefore him. At first he was for fighting at once. But the story appealedto him. He pitied the girl. And in the end he decided to let the matterbe judged by a third person. He suggested a man. But I know that a manwould see in my attitude nothing but foolishness. No man could haveappreciated the position of that girl on the hill. I myself namedanother referee--yourself."
She gasped.
"And so I have come to place the question before you, because I knowthat you will decide honestly."
"Then I shall be honest," said the girl.
She was thinking: Why not have Landis back? It would keep the three menrevolving around her. Landis on his feet and well would have beennothing; either of these men would have killed him. But Landis sick shemight balance in turn against them both. Nelly had the instincts of afencer; she loved balance.
But Donnegan was heaping up his effects. For by the shadow in her eyeshe well knew what was passing through her mind, and he dared not let herspeak too quickly.
"There is more hanging upon it. In the first place, if Landis is leftwith the girl it gives the colonel a chance to work on him, and like asnot the colonel will get the young fool to sign away the mines tohim--frighten him, you see, though I've made sure that the colonel willnot actually harm him."
"How have you made sure? They say the colonel is a devil."
"I have spoken with him. The colonel is not altogether withoutsensibility to fear."
She caught the glint in the little man's eye and she believed.
"So much for that. Landis is safe, but his money may not be. Anotherthing still hangs upon your decision. Lord Nick wanted to know why Itrusted to you? Because I felt you were honest. Why did I feel that?There was nothing to do. Besides, how could I conceal myself from such aman? I spoke frankly and told him that I trusted you because I loveyou."
She closed her hand hard on the edge o
f the table to steady herself.
"And he made no move at you?"
"He restrained himself."
"Lord Nick?" gasped the incredulous girl.
"He is a gentleman," said Donnegan with a singular pride which she couldnot understand.
He went on: "And unfortunately I fear that if you decide in favor of myside of the argument, I fear that Lord Nick will feel that you--thatyou--"
He was apparently unable to complete his sentence.
"He will feel that you no longer care for him," said Donnegan at length.
The girl pondered him with cloudy eyes.
"What is behind all this frankness?" she asked coldly.
"I shall tell you. Hopelessness is behind it. Last night I poured myheart at your feet. And I had hope. Today I have seen Lord Nick and I nolonger hope."
"Ah?"
"He is worthy of a lovely woman's affection; and I--" He called herattention to himself with a deprecatory gesture.
"Do you ask me to hurt him like this?" said the girl. "His pride is thepride of the fiend. Love me? He would hate me!"
"It might be true. Still I know you would risk it, because--" he paused.
"Well?" asked the girl, whispering in her excitement.
"Because you are a lady."
He bowed to her.
"Because you are fair; because you are honest, Nelly Lebrun. PersonallyI think that you can win Lord Nick back with one minute of smiling. Butyou might not. You might alienate him forever. It will be clumsy toexplain to him that you were influenced not by me, but by justice. Hewill make it a personal matter, whereas you and I know that it is onlythe right that you are seeing."
She propped her chin on the tips of her fingers, and her arm was a thingof grace. For the last moments that clouded expression had not cleared.
"If I only could read your mind," she murmured now. "There is somethingbehind it all."
"I shall tell you what it is. It is the restraint that has fallen uponme. It is because I wish to lean closer to you across the table andspeak to you of things which are at the other end of the world fromLandis and the other girl. It is because I have to keep my hands grippedhard to control myself. Because, though I have given up hope, I wouldfollow a forlorn chance, a lost cause, and tell you again and again thatI love you, Nelly Lebrun!"
He had half lowered his eyes as he spoke; he had called up a vision, andthe face of Lou Macon hovered dimly between him and Nelly Lebrun. If allthat he spoke was a lie, let him be forgiven for it; it was thegolden-haired girl whom he addressed, and it was she who gave the tremorand the fiber to his voice. And after all was he not pleading for herhappiness as he believed?
He covered his eyes with his hand; but when he looked up again she couldsee the shadow of the pain which was slowly passing. She had never seensuch emotion in any man's face, and if it was for another, how could sheguess it? Her blood was singing in her veins, and the old, old questionwas flying back and forth through her brain like a shuttle through aloom: Which shall it be?
She called up the picture of Lord Nick, half-broken, but still terrible,she well knew. She pitied him, but when did pity wholly rule the heartof a woman? And as for Nelly Lebrun, she had the ambition of a youngCaesar; she could not fill a second place. He who loved her must standfirst, and she saw Donnegan as the invincible man. She had not believedhalf of his explanation. No, he was shielding Lord Nick; behind thatshield the truth was that the big man had quailed before the small.
Of course she saw that Donnegan, pretending to be constrained by hisagreement with Lord Nick, was in reality cunningly pleading his owncause. But his passion excused him. When has a woman condemned a man forloving her beyond the rules of fair play?
"Whatever you may decide," Donnegan was saying. "I shall be prepared tostand by it without a murmur. Send Landis back to your father's houseand I submit: I leave The Corner and say farewell. But now, thinkquickly. For Lord Nick is coming to receive your answer."