CHAPTER XXV
FULFILMENT OF THE LAW
Louise Dent sank back upon her pillows as Lucy hurried from the room,too amazed and horrified for speech by the girl's declaration of herlove for Curtis Conrad and her determination to reveal to him herfather's identity. Ill in body, distracted in mind almost to the pointof irresponsibility, her thoughts tossed about and took wild shapes inher fevered brain. The one idea looming constantly before her was thatBancroft was in deadly, imminent peril. Her bitter resentment againstConrad and the hate and anger she had nursed so long in secret distortedall her conception of his character. Now, as her thoughts pounded backand forth through her dizzy, aching head, he seemed to her to be capableof any monstrous deed. He would learn from Lucy the secret of herfather's identity, and then nothing would prevent him from rushingforthwith to get his fill of bloody vengeance.
She rose and staggered to the window. Dark clouds were overspreading thesky. It would rain soon, they would turn back from their ride, and hewould bring her home. Then he would hasten to the bank, and into Aleck'sroom--and she covered her eyes as if to conceal what her mental visioninsisted on seeing. If Aleck only knew that Curtis had learned thetruth, if he could be warned in time, he might conceal himself until itwould be possible for him to go away. Leave the town he must, and gofar, far away, where there would be no fear of discovery.
She alone knew his danger. But could she tell him that she was aware ofhis secret? She shrank from making him suffer that humiliation.Furthermore, could she do it without betraying her own secret, withoutlaying bare the love that burned in her heart? Yet--what mattered therest if she could save his life and, perhaps, his future? She followedwith her eye the line of the canyon. Where were they now? The cloudswere black and lowering and a gray veil of rain hid the purple of thedistant mountains and spread an advancing blur over their slopes. If shewas to save Aleck she must go--at once.
Her loud and hurried knocking at the door of Bancroft's private officesent to his heart the quick apprehension to which he had become an easyprey. He sprang to his feet with his hand upon the revolver that of latelay always ready upon his desk. Not only was it a relief to find that itwas nobody but Louise, but the very sight of her was so welcome and soeaseful to his overwrought and desperate mind that unconsciously headdressed her by her Christian name. Her wild eyes and distraught facealarmed him.
"Louise! What is the matter? You have come in all this rain? How wet youare! Has anything happened?"
"No; not now; not yet! Wait, let me get my breath--I will tell you.Aleck, how pale you are! Has anything happened to you?" In theirexcitement neither of them noticed that she also used his Christianname.
"No; nothing has happened to me--no more than usual. I am in deeptrouble, Louise."
"I know, I know," she cried, coming close to him. "I know what it is--Ihave come to warn you. Curtis Conrad--"
"What about him?" Bancroft exclaimed, starting back. "What do you knowabout him?"
"What you know, Aleck--that he means to kill you. He is coming here thisvery afternoon--he will be here soon--he will kill you. You must hidefrom him!"
He drew back as she spoke, and then turned sharply upon her. "Do youknow why? Are you another who knows?"
She moved a step aside and dropped her gaze, but her voice was tenderand compassionate as she replied, "Yes, Aleck; I know."
He looked at her with astonished eyes. "How did you find it out? Howlong have you known?"
"For years," she said softly, stretching her hand impulsively towardhim. "Josephine told me when she died, so I could guard Lucy against allknowledge of it. I have kept it as secret as the grave. Nobody has everhad from me any suspicion of the truth. It has made no difference to me,Aleck! I have only respected you the more, because you could begin overagain and build up a new name and a new life."
He took her hand. It was wet and cold, and he folded it in his, and asshe went on drew her closer to his side. He felt the soothing comfortof her words and manner, but his eyes were on the floor as he muttered,"I thought nobody knew; I thought it was hidden so well!"
The room had grown dark and darker. Outside, the rain was coming down ingray sheets, and dazzling flashes of lightning flooded the heavens. Pealupon peal of thunder smote their ears. She thought, "They are at home bythis time; he will be here soon." Laying her other hand upon Bancroft'sarm she hurried on, in broken, pleading speech: "Aleck, you must notstay here! You must hide somewhere, where he cannot find you! Conrad--Icame to warn you--he knows, by this time--who you are. He will be heresoon."
"Conrad! Does he know? Are you sure?"
"Yes. They went to ride up the canyon, he and Lucy. She said she wasgoing to tell him. Aleck, you must not stay here! He may come anyminute!"
He dropped her hand and started back. "Lucy!" he cried, and again,"Lucy! Does she know, too?" He sank into his chair and buried his facein his arms. Louise stood beside him, her hand upon his shoulder, hervoice soft with loving compassion.
"I don't know how she knew, nor how long she has known. Until thisafternoon I had no idea that she, or any one, knew anything about it.But she came to my room and told me that she was going to ride with him,that she loved him, and that she was going to tell him who you are."
He made no answer; but she guessed by his troubled breathing with whatshame and despair he was struggling. She bent over him, her arm acrosshis shoulder, her cheek upon his hair. Above the pealing, echoingthunder and the rattling boom of some sound which in their absorptionthey had scarcely noted, there came into the room the sudden din ofcries and shouts and pistol shots.
"It's Conrad! He's coming!" cried Louise, running to the window, herexcited mind still dominated by the single idea. Bancroft grasped thepistol. Looking back, she saw him point it at his own temple. Springingto his side, she seized it with both hands, crying out, "Aleck, don't dothat! Don't give up! Give it to me!"
His grasp relaxed and she took the weapon from his hand.
"Aleck! Bancroft! Aleck!" they heard from outside, in Conrad's voice.More words followed, but through the noise of the shouting and thethunder and that rattling roar, now grown louder and nearer, they coulddistinguish only, "your life!" A galloping horse rushed near the window,there was a pistol shot without, and an answering shot from within.
A shriek pierced the clamor, and Bancroft cried, "That was Lucy'svoice!" By a flash of lightning which rent for an instant the graydarkness, they saw the horse wheel into the hill street, and saw Lucy inConrad's arms.
The pistol dropped from Louise's hand as she cried out in a passion ofgrief, "Oh, Aleck! Our little girl! Have I killed her?"
He leaned toward her with compassionate arms.
Conrad glanced over his shoulder as he wheeled his mare into the crossstreet, and saw the towering wall of water at their very heels. BrownBetty was staggering under her burden, but with shout and spur he droveher on up the steep incline. A grinding crash mingled with the roar ofthe flood, and another backward glance let him see the bank buildingtoppling, collapsing, embosomed in the awful avalanche of water. A greatwave rushed after them and swept Brown Betty from her feet. Had themare been less sturdy of spirit they would have been carried back on itsretreating current. But Conrad's persuading, encouraging calls were inher ears and she struck out bravely, swimming against the force of thewaves that swirled about them and buffeted her with the debris theycarried. But the waters that spread up the cross street soon lost theirforce, and she regained her footing. Curtis bent over Lucy, saying, "Weare safe now, sweetheart!" Blood was dripping over her garments, and shelay white and still upon his arm.
At last they reached the door of the Bancroft home, and Curtis carriedLucy, still unconscious, within, and went in search of Miss Dent. Butthe house was deserted. Alone, he ministered to the girl's needs. Helocated the injury, and found that a bullet, as to whose source andintention he made his own secret guess, had pierced her arm, but hadleft merely a flesh wound. Recovered from her swoon, he carried herup-stairs and left her to cha
nge her wet clothing while he went insearch of blankets. Wrapped in these, with her arm bandaged, he left herin bed while he hastened down the hill, hoping to find news of herfather and Miss Dent with which to relieve her anxiety.
The rain had ceased and the flood had passed, leaving in its wake thewreck of a ruined town. Where the bank building had stood were totteringwalls and a shapeless heap of brick and timbers. Beneath the wreckage,where had been the president's office, they found the bodies of Bancroftand Louise, enfolded in each other's arms.
The sky cleared and only in the east did some low-lying clouds, stillwet and angry, give any hint of the storm which had swept over the townand left desolation in its track. As Conrad climbed the hill to tellLucy of her double bereavement, in the tenderest words his love couldmake possible, he faced the glories of a setting sun whose resplendentpageant filled the sky and touched with its glowing colors the pitifuldevastation of the little valley.
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Transcriber's note:
Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwise,every effort has been made to remain true to the author's words andintent.
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