Beth Norvell: A Romance of the West

  CHAPTER IX

  THE FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCES

  She had expected the probability of such a happening, yet her faceperceptibly paled while perusing the brief note handed her by the stagemanager upon coming forth from her dressing-room. Her first impulsewas to refuse compliance, to trust fortune in an endeavor to keepbeyond reach, to turn and run from this new, threatening danger like afrightened deer. But she recalled the financial necessity which heldher yet a prisoner at the Gayety. This writer was partner in thegambling rooms, possibly in the theatre also; her chance for escapinghim would be very slender. Besides, it might be far better to face theman boldly and have it over. Undoubtedly a meeting must occur sometime; as well now as later so that the haunting shadow would not remainever before her. The color stole slowly back into her cheeks as shestood twisting the paper between her fingers, her eyes darkening withreturning courage.

  "Where is the gentleman, Ben?" she asked, steadying herself slightlyagainst a fly.

  "First box, Miss; right through that narrow door, yonder," and the mansmiled, supposing he understood. "Very convenient arrangement for thestage ladies."

  She paused, her hand resting upon the latch, in a final effort to quiether rapid breathing and gain firmer control over her nerves. This wasto be a struggle for which she must steel herself. She stepped quietlywithin, and stood, silent and motionless, amid the shadows of the drawncurtains, gazing directly at the sole occupant of the box, her darkeyes filled with contemptuous defiance. Farnham lounged in the secondchair, leaning back in affected carelessness with one arm restingnegligently upon the railing, but there came into his pale face asudden glow of appreciation as he swept his cool eyes over the trimfigure, the flushed countenance there confronting him. A realizationof her fresh womanly fairness came over him with such suddenness as tocause the man to draw his breath quickly, his eyes darkening withpassion.

  "By thunder, Lizzie, but you are actually developing into quite abeauty!" he exclaimed with almost brutal frankness. "Life on the stageappears to agree with you; or was it joy at getting rid of me?"

  She did not move from where she had taken her first stand against thebackground of curtains, nor did the expression upon her face change.

  "I presume you did not send for me merely for the purpose ofcompliment," she remarked, quietly.

  "Well, no; not exactly," and the man laughed with assumed recklessnessin an evident effort to appear perfectly at ease. "I was simplycarried away by the enthusiasm of the moment. I was always, as youwill remember, something of a connoisseur regarding the charms of thesex, and you have certainly improved wonderfully. Why, I actuallybelieve I might fall in love with you again if I were to receive theslightest encouragement."

  "I do not think I am offering you any."

  "Hardly; even my egotism will not permit me to believe so. An icebergwould seem warm in comparison. Yet, at least, there is no presentoccasion for our quarrelling. Sit down."

  "Thank you, I prefer to remain standing. I presume whatever you maydesire to say will not require much time?"

  Farnham leaned forward, decidedly jarred from out his assumed mood ofcold sarcasm. He had expected something different, and his facehardened with definite purpose.

  "That depends," he said soberly, "on your frame of mind. You do notappear extremely delighted to meet me again. Considering that it isnow fully three years since our last conversation, you might strive tobe, at least outwardly, cordial."

  She gathered up her skirts within her left hand, and turned calmlytoward the door.

  "Is that all?"

  The man leaped impulsively to his feet, his cheeks burning with suddenanimation, his previous mask of reckless indifference entirely tornaway.

  "Hell, no!" he exclaimed warmly, as instantly pausing when she wheeledswiftly about and faced him firmly. "No, it is not all. Of course, Ihad a special purpose in sending for you. Yet I cannot help feeling anatural curiosity. Tell me, what are you doing here?"

  "That is quite easily seen; I am endeavoring to earn a living."

  "A nice, quiet, respectable sort of a place you have chosen, certainly.It is about the last spot I should ever have expected to discover youin, knowing as I do your former puritanical morals. Your tastes musthave greatly changed under the spur," and he laughed lightly, inmockery.

  Miss Norvell's lips curled in unconcealed contempt, her eyes darkeningwith indignation.

  "My present associations were not entered into from choice but fromnecessity. With you, I understand, it is deliberate choice."

  The man stood undecided, fingering the edge of the curtain, vaguelyrealizing that he was merely injuring his own cause by continuing toanger her, yet far too deeply hit to remain entirely silent.

  "You seem inclined to strike out as hard as ever," he retorted, yet intones of manifest regret. "But just now there is not the slightestoccasion for any bitterness. I am perfectly prepared to do the squarething, and if we can only pull together pleasantly for a little while,it will prove far better for both of us."

  "In plainer words, you chance just now to have some special use for me?"

  "Well, I hope you will look at the situation from my viewpoint. Butthe actual truth is, that when I first came up here to-night, I had notthe faintest suspicion that it was you I was seeking."

  "No?" doubtfully.

  "That is an actual fact, Lizzie. I did n't suppose you were within athousand miles of this place," and Farnham quietly settled himselfagain in his chair. "I came up here merely intending to get a glimpseof an actress named Beth Norvell. I was never more thoroughlysurprised in my life than when you first came out on the stage. For amoment it knocked me silly. Say, you're an artist all right, my girl.That was a great stunt. Why, those boys down below hardly breatheduntil you disappeared. You ought to get a chance in Chicago; you 'd bewearing diamonds. Damned if I was n't honestly proud of you myself."

  The girl caught her breath sharply, her hand pressed tightly againsther side.

  "What--what was it you desired of Beth Norvell?" she questioned.

  Farnham's white teeth gleamed in a sudden smile of appreciation.

  "Hope you are not becoming jealous," he said insinuatingly."Positively no occasion, I assure you, for it was not to make love tothe girl, I wanted to see her. Lord, no! This was purely a businessdeal. The truth is, I chanced to hear she had a lover already, and hewas the fellow I was really after."

  "A lover?" she stepped toward him, her eyes blazing, her cheeks aflame."I? How dare you? What can you mean by so false an insinuation?"

  "Oh, don't flare up so, Lizzie," and the complacent gambler looked ather with eyes not entirely devoid of admiration. "It really makes youprettier than ever, but that sort of thing cuts no ice with me.However, what I have just said stands: the story flying around here isthat you have captured old Winston's boy, and a damned good catch itis, too."

  She went instantly white as a sheet, her body trembling like an aspen,her quivering lips faltering forth words she could not wholly restrain.

  "The story, you say--the story! Do--do you believe that of me?"

  "Oh, that does n't make any difference," the brute in him franklyenjoying her evident pain. "Lord, what do you care about my belief?That was all passed and over with long ago. All I know is, the fellowis gone on you, all right. Why, he pulled a gun on me last nightmerely because I chanced to mention your name in his presence."

  The telltale color swept back into her cheeks in swift wave. For aninstant her eyes wavered, then came back to the man's sneering face.

  "Did--did you dare tell him?"

  He laughed lightly, softly patting his hand on the railing, his owneyes partially veiled by lowered lids.

  "Torn off the mask of unimpeachable virtue, have I?" he chuckled, wellpleased. "Rather prefer not to have our late affair blowed to thisparticular young man, hey? Well, I suspected as much; and really,Lizzie, you ought to know I am not that sort of a cur. I 've held mytongue all right so fa
r, and consequently I expect you to do me a gooddeed in return. That's a fair enough proposition, is n't it?"

  She did not immediately answer, gazing upon him as she might at somefoul snake which had fascinated her, her breath coming in half-stifledsobs, her hand clutching the heavy curtain for support.

  "Oh, good God!" she faltered at last, speaking as though half dazed."You must possess the spirit of a demon. Why do you continue totorture me so? You have no right--no right; you forfeited all you everpossessed years ago. Under Heaven, I am nothing to you; and in yourheart you know I have done nothing wrong, nothing to awaken even thefoul suspicions of jealousy. Mr. Winston has been my friend, yet eventhat friendship--innocent and unsullied--is already past; we haveparted for all time."

  "Indeed! You are such a consummate actress, Lizzie, I scarcely knowwhat really to believe. Probably, then, you no longer object to mytelling the gentleman the story?"

  Her lips closed firmly.

  "I shall tell him myself."

  "Oh! Then, after all your fine words of renunciation, you will see himagain! Your reform is soon ended. Well, my girl, there is really nonecessity for any such sacrifice on your part. No one here suspectsanything regarding our little affair excepting you and me. You do whatI desire with this Winston, and I 'm mum. What do you say?"

  She sank back into a chair, utterly unable to stand longer, hiding herface in her hands.

  "What--what is it you wish?" she questioned wearily.

  He leaned forward and placed his hand, almost in caress, upon herskirt, but she drew the cloth hastily away, a sudden sob shaking hervoice.

  "Oh, please, don't touch me! I cannot stand it--only tell me what itis you wish."

  "I want you to exercise your influence over that fellow, and preventhis taking professional employment at the 'Little Yankee' mine."

  "Why?" she lifted her head again, facing him with questioning eyes.

  "Simply because his doing so will interfere seriously with some of mybusiness plans--that's all."

  "Then why don't you act the part of a man, and go to him yourself?Why, in this, do you prefer hiding behind the skirts of a woman?"

  Farnham laughed grimly, in no way embarrassed by the query.

  "Good Lord, Lizzie! I 've been to him, all right, but the fellow islike a stubborn mule. He has n't got but one selling-out price, so faras I can learn, and that chances to be Beth Norvell. You see thepoint? Well, that's exactly why I came here to-night. I wanted to beable to tender him the goods."

  For a moment her eyes remained pitifully pleading; then they suddenlyappeared to harden into resolute defiance. As though moving in adream, she arose slowly to her feet, taking a single step away from himtoward the closed door.

  "As I have already explained," she paused to say coldly, "Mr. Winstonis no more to me than any other gentleman whom I may have chanced tomeet in friendship. I have not the faintest reason to suppose I couldinfluence his decision in any matter appertaining to his professionalwork. Moreover, I have not the slightest inclination to try."

  "Do you dare refuse, in spite of all I can say to your injury?" heasked, even then doubtful of her meaning.

  "I definitely decline to be your catspaw,--yes. Nothing you can relatetruthfully will ever harm me in the estimation of a gentleman, and Ishall certainly know how to combat falsehood."

  "Quite pretty. Injured innocence, I perceive, is to be the line ofdefence. What! are you already going?"

  "I am."

  "Where?"

  She turned again, standing erect, her face flushing, her hand upon thelatch of the door.

  "If it is imperative that you know, I will tell you. I intend seekingMr. Winston, and informing him exactly who and what I am."

  "Now? at this hour of the night?"

  "Better now, and at this hour of the night, than venture waiting untilafter you have had an inning. I am not at all ashamed to confess thetruth, if I can only be the first to tell my story."

  She pressed the latch of the door, her breathing so rapid as to bepositively painful. With an ill-repressed oath, Farnham sprang to hisfeet, his rising anger putting an end to all prudence.

  "Wait!" he exclaimed gruffly. "Wait where you are until I am done.You have heard only a part of this thing so far. My God, girl! don'tyou know me well enough by this time to comprehend that I always havemy way, whatever the cost may be to others? Lord! what do I care forthis fellow? or, for the matter of that, what do I care for you? Idon't permit people to stand in my path; and I supposed you hadthoroughly learned that lesson, if no other. Faith, you had causeenough, surely. So you refuse all endeavor to keep Winston out of thisaffair, do you? Perhaps you had better pause a minute, and rememberwho it is you are dealing with. I reckon you never saw any signs ofthe quitter about me. Now, it 's true I 'd rather have you do thisbusiness up quietly; but if you refuse, don't forget there are othermeans fully as effective, and a damn sight quicker." He reached outsuddenly, grasping her hand. "Did you ever hear the adage, 'Dead mentell no tales'?" he questioned savagely.

  She drew her hand sharply back from its instant of imprisonment, with asmothered cry, her eyes filled with undisguised horror.

  "You threaten--you threaten murder?"

  "Oh, we never use that word out in this country--it is considered fartoo coarse, my dear," and Farnham's thin lips curled sardonically. "Wemerely 'silence' our enemies in Colorado. It is an extremely simplematter; nothing at all disagreeable or boorish about it, I can assureyou. A stick of dynamite dropped quietly down a shaft-hole, or pushedbeneath a bunk house--that's all. The coroner calls it an accident;the preachers, a dispensation of Providence; while the fellows whoreally know never come back to tell. If merely one is desired, awell-directed shot from out a cedar thicket affords a most gentlemanlyway of shuffling off this mortal coil."

  "You would not! You dare not!"

  "I? Why, such a thought is preposterous, of course, for the risk wouldbe entirely unnecessary. Quite evidently you are not well acquaintedwith one of the flourishing industries of this section, my dear. Thereare always plenty of men out of a job in this camp; conscience does n'tcome high, and the present market price for that sort of work is onlyabout twenty-five dollars a head. Not unreasonable, all thingsconsidered, is it?"

  If she had not thoroughly known this man, had not previously soundedhis depths, she might have doubted his meaning, deceived by the lazydrawl in his soft voice, the glimmer of grim humor in his eyes. Butshe did know him; she comprehended fully the slumbering tiger within,the lurking spirit of vindictiveness of his real nature, and thatknowledge overcame her, left her weak and trembling like a frightenedchild. For an instant she could not articulate, staring at him withwhite face and horrified eyes.

  "You--you mean that?" and for the first time she clasped his loose coatbetween her clutching fingers.

  "It is hardly a subject to be deliberately selected for jest," hereplied coolly, "but if you prefer you might wait and see."

  She stepped back from him, leaning heavily against the frame of thedoor, her face again hidden behind uplifted hands. The man did notmove, his face emotionless, his lips tightly set. He was watching herwith the intentness of a hawk, absolutely certain now of his victim.Suddenly she looked up, her eyes picturing the courage of desperation.One glance into his face and the woman stood transformed, at bay, thefierce spirit of battle flaming into her face.

  "Have it so, then," she exclaimed sharply. "I pledge myself to doeverything possible to prevent his remaining here." She drew herselfup, her eyes darkening from sudden, uncontrollable anger. "Oh, how Idespise you, you coward, you cur! I know you, what you are capable of,and I do this to preserve the life of a friend; but my detestation ofyou is beyond expression in words. My one and greatest shame is that Iever trusted you; that I once believed you to be a man. Good God! howcould I ever have been so blind!"

  She opened the door with her hand extended behind her, and backedslowly away, facing him where he stood motionl
ess, smiling still asthough her sudden outburst of passion merely served to feed his conceit.

  "Then I may trust you in this?"

  Her eyes shone fairly black with the depth of scorn glowing in them.

  "Have--have you ever known me to lie?" she asked, her voice falteringfrom reaction.

  The door closed.