CHAPTER XX
Ozark Briskow, like his sister Allegheny, was studying hard andlearning rapidly, but he had adopted an educational plan, a curriculum,so to speak, far different from hers. Whereas she lived between bookcovers and the thousand and one details of her daily existence weregoverned by a bewildering army of "don'ts," Buddy had devised his ownpeculiar system of acquiring wisdom, and from it the word "don't" hadbeen deliberately dropped. His excursion into the halls of learning,brief as it had been, had convinced him that books could teach him onlywords, whereas he craved experiences, ideas, adventures. Adventurecomes at night; pleasure walks by gaslight. Young Briskow told himselfthat he had missed a lot of late hours and would have to workdiligently to catch up, but he undertook the effort with commendablecourage.
It is said that all wish to possess knowledge, but few are willing topay the price. Buddy was one of the minority. Early he adopted themotto, "Money no object," and it provoked him not at all to learn thatthere is a scale of night prices considerably higher than the scale ofday prices; to find, for instance, that a nocturnal highball coststwice as much as one purchased during daylight hours. That phenomenon,by the way, had nothing to do with the provisions of the EighteenthAmendment, it merely explained why farmers went to bed early--theycouldn't afford to sit up, so Buddy decided.
He had learned a lot since leaving school, not only about prohibition,but also about speed laws, men's fashions, facial massage, the fox trotand the shimmy, caviar, silk pajamas, bromo-seltzer, the language offlowers, and many of the pleasures and displeasures of the higherintellectual life, such as love and insomnia.
His education was progressing apace, for love is the greatest ofeducators, and Buddy was in love--madly, extravagantly in love. Love itwas that accounted for his presence in Dallas, and his occupancy of theGovernor's suite at the Ajax. A fellow in love with the most wonderfulwoman in the world couldn't afford to look cheap in his home town,could he?
Of course Dallas was not Buddy's home town, but it had been his pointof departure into the world, and it was the home of his bank account,hence some pride of proprietorship was pardonable. It gave him such apleasing sense of importance to adopt the city as his own that headopted everything and everybody in it.
In spite of the fact that the train from Wichita Falls was behind time,one morning shortly after Buddy's arrival, he was still abed whenCalvin Gray arrived at the hotel. Instead of disturbing the slumbers ofyouth, Gray went directly to the detective who had telegraphed him, andfor half an hour or more the two talked.
Later, during the course of a leisurely bath and shave, the new arrivalpondered the information he had received. Here was a problem. Havingdressed himself, he strolled around to Coverly's place of business andinterviewed the jeweler.
"Sure! He has bought quite a bit of stuff in the last few days,"Coverly told him. "He was in only yesterday and ordered a fine piecemade up. He wanted a ruby heart pierced with a diamond arrow, but I gothim off that and onto a blue Brazilian solitaire. We're mounting it ina platinum lady's ring."
"What is the price?"
"Forty-five hundred, and the value is there."
"Have you seen the woman?"
Coverly nodded. "The boy is a good picker. I don't blame her much,either, for I've seen a lot of worse-looking fellows than Buddy."
"Hold the ring. He may change his mind."
"I say!" Coverly was in dismay. "Are you going to spoil the best saleI've made in two weeks?"
"Oh, I'll take it off your hands if he doesn't. Make some excuse not todeliver it until I say the word. You don't know the woman, eh?"
"Never saw her before."
Gray knocked several times at the Governor's suite before a sleepyresponse, a succession of yawns and mutterings, told him that he hadbeen heard. The door opened finally and the pride of the Briskowfamily, his eyes all but swelled shut, his muscular figure splendidlyarrayed in futuristic silken pajamas, mumbled:
"What's eatin' you, any--?" The eyes opened wider, Buddy's face brokeinto a slow smile. "Why, Mr. Gray!" He extended a palm, a bit dry andfeverish, and drew his caller inside. "Dawg_-gone!_ I'm glad to seeyou."
Gray entered with a buoyant laugh and a hearty greeting; he clapped theyoung giant heavily upon the back. At the blow Buddy voiced a sharp cryand seized his head.
"Easy over the bumps! I'm carryin' a cargo of nitroglycerine, and I'lllet go if you jar me," he explained.
"Sorry! I know how it feels. But, man alive, it's afternoon! I began tothink you were dead."
Buddy led the way into his bedroom, piled his pillows together andgingerly lowered himself upon them. He showed his strong white teeth ina wide grin and winked meaningly. "I'll be all right directly. It'sthis here sim--sympathetic booze they talk about. Have a drink, Mr.Gray? There's a coupla bottles of real liquor in the closet--not thistiger's milk you get--"
The caller declined the invitation. "Where the devil have you been,Buddy? We were getting worried."
"Who, me? Oh, I been--lookin' around."
"Your mother is nearly frantic."
Buddy stirred uneasily. "Pshaw! I'm fine. I can take keer of myself.Nobody don't need to worry about me."
"Good! Now then, you young scoundrel, I'm going to order you the sortof breakfast that goes with what ails you, and while it is coming up,you are going to jump under the shower."
"Where d'you get that 'jump' stuff?" the youth inquired, faintly."Besides, I'm clean."
But Gray had seized the phone, and as soon as he had given his order hestrode into the bathroom and turned on the water. He was out again in amoment, then laughingly he dragged the aching Texan from his couch."Under you go," he insisted, "or I'll wet down your whole Japaneseflower garden."
"Some pajamas, ain't they? I got a dozen pairs," Buddy said, proudly.
"Quick! If you think I'll consent to hang around a lonesome hotel whileyou sleep, you're mistaken. I can't tell you how glad I am to run intoyou, Buddy. I'm dying to have a riotous time."
"Eh?" Briskow turned an inquiring face to the speaker.
"I've been hibernating in the wilderness, sucking my paw and living offmy fat, like a bear. I want you to shown me this town."
A bath, a brisk rubdown, and breakfast put Buddy in fairly good fettleonce more; so marked was his improvement, in fact, that Gray envied himhis glorious gift of youth.
"Flying pretty high, aren't you?" the elder man inquired, with a waveof the hand that took in the expensive suite.
"Well, I ain't exactly broke."
"True. But I know what these rooms cost. That's going strong for a ladlike you."
"You took 'em, didn't you, when you had less 'n I got?"
"Ahem! It is embarrassing to be held up as an example. I've done a goodmany things, Buddy, that I wouldn't like to see you do."
"If they wouldn't hurt me any more 'n they've hurt you I'd like totry'em."
"Another proof that you are still in short pants. I'm a bad person tocopy. By the way, why did you quit school?"
Buddy considered his reply, then: "I reckon it was because of themshort pants you speak about. I can't stand bein' laughed at, Mr. Gray.It comes hard to stand up in a class along with a bunch of children andmake mistakes and have a little boy in a lace collar and spring heelssnap his fingers and sing out in a sweet soprano, 'Oh, tee-_cher!_'Then have him show you up. They put me in with a lot of nursin' babes.What the hell? I weigh a hundred and ninety and I got a beard!"
"Didn't you learn anything?"
Buddy closed a meaning eye, and his pleasant features wrinkled intothat infectious smile. "I'll tell the world I did! After the whistlin'squabs was asleep in their nests I went out among the whippoorwills an'the bats. Ain't it funny how quick folks can learn to put up with badgrammar when you got a jingle in your jeans? I guess I've got enougheducation to do me; anyhow, I can write Ozark Briskow in the lowerright-hand corner and that seems to get me by."
"You wouldn't consent to go back or--have a tutor, like Allie?"
"Who, _
me?_" Briskow laughed scornfully.
"Um-m! Merely a suggestion. You are the architect of your own career."
"I'm fed up on that kind of schoolin', Mr. Gray. I--" Buddy's facereddened, he dropped his eyes. "I don't mind tellin' _you_--I--It'slike this--I kinda got a girl!"
"_No!_" The speaker was surprised, incredulous.
"Sure have. She's--wonderful. She's right here in this hotel!"
"Buddy, you're developing!" Gray exclaimed, with apparent admiration.
"I been showin' her the sights--that's what ails me this morning. Shelets me take her around to places--trusts me, you understand? Shethinks I'm aces."
"Splendid! I wish you'd ask her to dig up a friend."
"How d'you mean?"
"Why, ask her to find another good-looking girl for me--I assume she_is_ good looking--then we can make it a foursome. I'm a greatentertainer, and, while I don't drink, I haven't the slightestobjection to ladies who do. Dallas, I believe, is a pretty lively--"
"She's a stranger here," Buddy broke in, stiffly. His enthusiasm hadcooled; he regarded Gray with veiled displeasure. "An' besides, sheain't that kind of a girl."
"Oh! Sorry! I thought from what you said--that headache--bottles inyour closet, too! My mistake, Buddy."
"She'll take a drink, with me," the youth confessed. "Anyhow, she'sgettin' so she will. I don't see anything wrong in a woman takin' adrink now an' then with a man she--with a man that's honorable." Thelast words were voiced defiantly.
Hastily Buddy's caller averred: "Nor do I. We sha'n't come to blowsover an abstract moral issue like that. This is an age of tolerance, anage of equality. I flatter myself that I'm quite as lawless and broadminded as the average bachelor of our very smartest set."
"I'm--" the speaker gulped. "I'm goin' to marry her."
"Oh, fine!" Gray's enthusiasm was positively electric. He seizedBuddy's hand and crushed it. "Education, indeed! No use for that now,is there?"
"I mean I'm goin' to, if I can; if she'll let me."
"Let you? With your money? Why, she'll jump at the chance. No doubt youhave already asked her--or she suspects--"
The lad shook his head. "She don't have to marry nobody. She's gotmoney--an _es_-tate. You think it's all right for me to do it?"
"Simpler men than you have asked that question, and wiser men than Ihave refused to answer. As for me, I've never had the courage to takethe plunge. However, the worst you can get is a heartbreak and alifetime of regrets. But, of course, the woman takes some chances, too.Tell me about her."
"Well--" Buddy beamed fatuously. "I dunno hardly where to begin." Intohis voice, as he spoke, there crept a breathless excitement, into hiseyes a dumb adoration. "She's--wonderful! She's too good for me."
"Once and a while they are."
"She's educated, too--more in your class, Mr. Gray. I dunno how shestands for me. She's the smartest, purtiest girl--"
"She's young, eh?"
"She's--older 'n I am. I reckon she's mebbe twenty-five. I never asther."
"Naturally. How did you meet her? When? Where? I'm a terribly romanticold fool." Gray hitched his chair closer and leaned forward, his facekeen with interest.
"Well, sir, it's a regular story, like in a book. I was in a restaurantwith a coupla fellers an' a feller she was with struck her--"
"Struck her?"
"Yep. He was her brother, so she told me. Anyhow, I bounced him. I surespoiled him up a lot. She was cryin' an' she ast me to take her home.That's how I got to know her. I s'pose she cottoned to me for takin'her part that-a-way. She didn't know the sort of place it was herbrother had took her. Pore kid! She's had a hard time, an' every manshe ever knew, but me, done her dirt. Even her husband." Buddy scowled.
After a moment Gray said, quietly, "So, she's married?"
"She was. He's dead, or something. I was bashful about callin' aroundto see her, not havin' anything to talk about but school an' oil wells,but she took an interest right away, 'specially in the wells. You'dought to hear the story of her life, Mr. Gray. It's as sad as anynovel. You see, her folks had lots of money, but her ma died an' her pawas too busy to be bothered, so he sent her off to a convent. Them nunsat the convent was so cruel to her that she run away--"
"And went on the stage."
"How'd you know?"
"I didn't. But--the stage is the usual refuge for convent-bred girlswho are abused. I've met several. Did she--Was the old home inVirginia?"
"Sure! Mebbe you know her!" Buddy cried.
"Perhaps. I seem to remember the story. What is her name?"
"Arline Montague."
The elder man shook his head. "You said something about a marriage. Idare say she married some rich John whose family disapproved of thematch--so many show girls have been deceived like that. You can'timagine the prejudice of those Fifth Avenue parents--"
"That's what she done. An' he went off an' joined the French Legion ofHonor an' was killed."
"Foreign Legion, no doubt."
"Anyhow, he never made no pervision for her. But she wouldn't oftouched a penny of his money if he'd left it to her, she's thathonorable." Now that the lover had fairly launched himself upon theengrossing life story of his sweetheart he was in deep earnest, and hislistener's quick understanding, his sympathy, his grasp of thesituation, was a spur to further confidences. It was a blessing to havea friend so old, so wise, and so worldly.
"What is the estate you mentioned?"
"Oh, that's her own! It's all she had to fall back on. It's bein'settled up now an' she'll have her money before long."
"The old Virginia homestead and the slaves--?"
"Good thing she met me when she did, for them lawyers had it all tiedup in court and wouldn't let go till she paid their fees."
"A providential meeting, truly. You fixed that up, of course, and gotrid of the wretched bloodsuckers. I've done much the same thing, morethan once. Now, one other question--how does she happen to be inDallas? I infer from your account that she is a model of virtue, andthat she accepted your aid only upon the condition that your attentionsto her should be characterized by the deepest respect. So? Well then,'how come'?"
"That was just a lucky chance. She's got some interests here; stocksan' things, belongin' to the _es_-tate. She dunno, herself, howvaluable they are, but me comin' right from Texas an' bein' in oil an'all, she ast me to he'p her out. So I got her to come. All that hadkep' her back was the expense. Mind you"--Buddy's tone became one ofdeeper admiration--"she ain't blue, or anything. No sir-ee! Her life'sbeen sad, but you'd never know it. She's full of pep; allus out forfun, an'--that's what I like about her. Gee! You gotta meet her, Mr.Gray."
"Well, rather! But meanwhile, we must telegraph your parents not onlythat you have been found, but also the further good news."
"I--We better not say anything about my gettin' married."
"Why not? They'd like to know."
"I'd oughta wired 'em long ago, but--you understand! Miss Montagueain't exactly Ma an' Allie's kind."
"You're not ashamed of her?"
"Hunh!" The tone of this exclamation was an eloquent denial.
"Then let's have them come on and get acquainted. They'll probably takeright to her." But when this suggestion met with disapproval, Grayinquired: "Is it because you are ashamed of _them_--of your mother andsister?"
Buddy stirred uneasily. "Pshaw, no!" A sudden thought came to him."Why, it's this way: I haven't ast her yet. Mebbe she won't have me. Ifshe says yes--I'll let 'em know."
"Good! We'll make it, for the time being, a mere message ofreassurance. To-night you and Miss Montague shall dine with me andwe'll go to a theater." This arrangement met with young Briskow'senthusiastic approval, and so it was left.
It was with something more than mere impatience that Calvin Grayawaited the dinner hour; he was angry, restless; his mind was back inWichita Falls, whence the message from his detective had abruptlysummoned him. Matters of moment were at issue there, and with a loveaffair of his own upon his mind he co
uld think of no undertaking lessto his taste than this: of saving a young fool from his folly. He couldexpect no thanks, if he succeeded, and if he failed he would in allprobability incur Buddy's enmity, if not that of the whole Briskowfamily. Families are like that. It would all take time, and meanwhilehis business was bound to suffer. However, he was not one to turn back,and he remembered with a pang the last look he had seen in Ma Briskow'seyes.
Gray was prepared to find his young friend's light o' lovesuperficially attractive, and she was all of that. He was not prepared,however, to find her quite as good an actress as she appeared to be. Inspite of the fact that she probably took less pleasure in the meetingthan did he, she admirably covered her feelings. She was delighted,flattered--Buddy had so often spoken of him that she almost feltacquainted--She was quite excited at knowing the famous ColonelGray--She would have recognized him anywhere from Buddy's glowingdescription.
Gray's heart sank as he studied Miss Montague. She was blond--to hissuspicious eye a trifle too blond--and she wore her hair bobbed. Shewas petite and, both in appearance and in mannerism, she was girlish;nevertheless, she was self-reliant, and there was a certain maturity toher well-rounded figure, a suggestion of weariness about her eyes, thattold a story.
Following his first critical appraisal, Gray was vaguely conscious ofsomething familiar about her; somewhere within him the chords ofremembrance were lightly brushed; but try as he would he could not makehimself believe that he had ever seen her. Probably it was the typethat was familiar. He undertook to make sure by talking "show business"at the first opportunity; she responded with enough spontaneity to givean impression of candor, but her theatrical experience was limited andthat line of exploration led nowhere.
Whatever the pose she had adopted for Buddy's benefit, it was evidentnow that she credited his friend with intelligence equal to her own,and recognized the futility of deceit, therefore she made no attempt topass as anything except an experienced young woman of the world, andGray admired her for it. She smoked a good many cigarettes; her tastein amusements was broad; she had sparkle and enthusiasm. She was, infact, a vibrant young person, and referred gayly to a road housewhither Buddy had taken her on the night before and where they haddanced until all hours. She loved to dance.
The elder man played host in his best and easiest style, both at dinnerand at the theater; then he passed the burden of entertainment over toBuddy, first cheerfully declaring that he would not be sidetracked andthat he intended to impose his company upon the young couple whetherthey wanted him or not. This was precisely to young Briskow's liking,and soon they were speeding out to that road house mentioned earlier inthe evening.
Buddy drove, with Miss Montague by his side, the while Gray sat alonein the back seat of the car quietly objurgating the follies of youthand mournfully estimating his chances of surviving the night. Frankly,those chances appeared pretty slim, for Buddy drove with adeath-defying carelessness. By the time they had arrived at theirdestination, Gray's respect for the girl had increased; she had nervesof steel.
The resort was run on rather liberal principles; a number of flushedand noisy couples were dancing to the music of a colored orchestra. Itwas a "hip-pocket" crowd, and while there was no public drinking, thehigh-pitched volubility of the merrymakers was plainly of alcoholicorigin. Gray realized that he was in for an ordeal, for he had becometoo well known to escape notice. Consternation filled him, therefore,at thought of the effect his presence here might have. But the musicwent straight to Buddy's feet; syncopation intoxicated him much as thethrobbing of midnight drums and the pounding of tom-toms mesmerizes avoodoo worshiper, and he whirled Miss Montague away in his arms withoutso much as an apology to his other guest.
There was nothing conservative about Buddy's dancing. He embellishedhis steps with capricious figures, and when he led his partner back tothe table where he had left Gray, like a sailor marooned upon a thirstyatoll, he was red faced and perspiring; his enthusiasm was boilingover. "Dawg-_gone!_" he cried. "Now, if we had something wet, eh? Thesepants is cut purpose for a brace of form-fittin' flasks, but I left 'emin the room on account of you not drinkin', Mr. Gray."
"Miss Montague," the elder man exclaimed, "I am not a kill-joy and Ihastily resent Buddy's accusation. I have pursued folly as far as anyman of my years."
"I bet him that you were a good fellow," the girl said, with a smile.
"Exactly! Abstinence comes as much from old age as from principle, andI am in my very prime. With all vigor I defend myself against theodious charge of virtuousness. Dyspepsia alone accounts for it."
"You don't object to drinking?"
"A wiser man than I has said, 'There are many things which we canafford to forget which it is yet well to learn.' I have had my day. MayI claim the next dance?"
In spite of the fact that Ozark Briskow was compelled to sit out everyalternate dance in a distressing condition of sobriety, he enjoyedhimself, for he was playing host to the one woman and the one man forwhom he cared most. He had dreaded meeting Gray, fearing the effect ofan open confession, expecting opposition, but Gray was broad minded, hewas a regular guy. In the relief of this hour, Buddy could haveworshiped him except for the fact that he was too darned nice toArline--nobody had the right to show her attentions as marked as hisown--Gray was a man no woman could help loving--
Before long Buddy experienced a new sensation--jealousy. It was mild,to be sure, but it hurt a little.
Once Miss Montague's suspicions had been allayed, she, too, devotedherself to having a good time. She rather enjoyed Gray and her sense ofvictory over him. She retired to the ladies' room, finally, to powderher nose, and when she reappeared it was with added animation and witha new sparkle to her eyes. When next it came the elder man's turn todance with her, he caught upon her breath a faint familiar odor, onlyhalf disguised by the peppermint lozenge that was dissolving upon hertongue, and he smiled. Evidently this charmer maintained herself in astate of constant preparedness, and her vanity bag hid secrets evenfrom Buddy.
Where had he seen her? For the hundredth time he asked himself thatquestion, for amid these hectic surroundings that first hauntingsuggestion of familiarity had become more pronounced. But patientdelving into the dark corners of his memory was unavailing, and herconversation afforded him no clue.
As time passed the young woman made other trips to the dressing room,returning always with an access of brightness and a stronger breath;she assumed with Gray a coquetry which Buddy did not like. Buddy,indeed, strongly disapproved of it, but that only drove her to moredaring lengths. She ventured, at last, to discuss the young millionairewith his friend.
"He's a dear boy, isn't he? And so innocent."
"He's learning."
"I'll say he is. He has learned a lot from me."
"'Delightful task, to rear the tender thought.' But aren't you afraidhe'll learn, for instance, why you are eating peppermints?"
"Oho!" Gray's petite partner lifted her head and eyed him curiously."Do you know why?"
"I have a suspicion," he said, with a smile, "that when a girldeliberately perfumes her breath it is in preparation for the strugglein the cab."
Miss Montague laughed unaffectedly. "Say! I could like you, Mr.Wisenblum, in spite of the fact that I ought to hate you."
"Hate me? But why?"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Because--I'm rather nice; I dance well."
"You are, and you do. You'd be a perfect dear if you'd only mind yourown business. Buddy is of age, and you and I will get along like hamand eggs if you'll remember that."