"What is his name?" asked Stanley.
"Burthen, sir, James Burthen," she replied, and fell once more tosobbing helplessly. "Oh, if I were only out of here."
Stanley pressed his weight against the door. He was thinking rapidly. Sothis was the daughter of Benito's partner--the murdered miner of theEldorado tragedy. He recalled the letter from Colton; the hint ofMcTurpin's infatuation and its menace. Things became clear to himsuddenly. The door gave as he pressed his knee against it. Presently theflimsy lock capitulated and he walked into the room. The girl shrankback against the farther wall at his approach.
"Oh, come," he said, a trifle testily, "I'm not going to hurt you. Geton your hat. I'll see you're taken care of. I'll place you in chargeof my wife."
"And my father," she begged. "You'll take me to him?"
"Yes, yes, your father," he agreed in haste. "But first you'll come homewith me."
She snatched up a hat and shawl from the commode, and, with hurriedmovements rearranged her hair; then she followed him submissively intothe gathering dusk, shrinking close as if to efface herself wheneverthey passed anyone. The streets were full of men now, mostly bound fromhotels, lodging houses and tents to the Eldorado and kindred resorts.Many of them ogled her curiously, for a female figure was a rarity innocturnal San Francisco.
They passed dimly lighted tents in which dark figures bulked grotesquelyagainst canvas walls. In one a man seemed to be dancing with a largeanimal which Stanley told her was a grizzly bear.
"They have many queer pets," he said. "One of my neighbors keeps a petcoon, and in another tent there are a bay horse, two dogs, two sheepand a pair of goats. They sleep with their master like a happy family."
"It is all so strange," said the girl, faintly. "In the East my fatherwas a lawyer; we had a good house and a carriage; everything was sodifferent from--this. But after my mother died, he grew restless. Hesold everything and came to this rough, wild country. None of his oldfriends would know him now, with his beard, his boots and the horriblered flannel shirt."
Adrian made no reply. He was thinking of the tragic news which must erelong be told to Burthen's daughter. For a time they strode along insilence--until Stanley paused before an open door. Against the innerlight which streamed through it into the darkness of the street awoman's figure was outlined.
"Well, here we are, at last," said Adrian. "And my wife's in the doorwaywaiting to scold me for being so late."
Inez ran to meet him. "I have been anxious," she declared. She noted herhusband's companion, and stepped back, startled. "Adrian, who is this?"
"A daughter of the mur----" Adrian began. He broke the telltale word intwo: "Of James Burthen--Benito's partner."
"Ah, then you know my brother," Inez hailed her eagerly. She took thegirl's hands in her own and pressed them. "You must tell us all abouthim--quickly. We have waited long for news."
"You are--Mr. Windham's sister?" cried the girl almost incredulously.Then, with a swift abandonment to emotion she threw her arms about theelder woman's neck and sobbed.
Stanley followed them into the house. He saw Inez supporting hercompanion, soothing her in those mysterious ways which only women know.His mind was stirred with grave perplexities.
A peremptory knock aroused him from his cogitations. Could it be thegambler so soon? He thought there were voices. Several men, no doubt.
Inez called out in a whisper, "Who is there?"
"Go back," her husband ordered. "It's all right, dear. They're friendsof mine."
Inez came out quickly and stood beside him, looking up into his face."You're sure? There's no--no danger?"
Again the rat-tat-tat upon the panel, more peremptory than before.Stanley forced a laugh. "Danger! Why, of course not. Just a businesstalk. But go back and look after the girl. I don't want her coming outhere while I've visitors." He patted her hand. His arm about hershoulder he ushered her across the threshold of the inner chamber andclosed the door. Then he extinguished the lamp. Hand on pistol he felthis way toward the outer portal and, with a sudden movement flung itwide. Three men stood on the threshold. They seemed puzzled by thedarkness. Out of it the host's voice spoke: "Who are you? What doyou wish?"
William Henry Brown was first to answer him. "We want you, Adrian, atthe hotel. Can you come now--quickly?"
"What for?" he asked suspiciously. "Who sent you here?"
"Nobody," came the cheery voice of Dr. Jones. "There's a friend of yoursat Brown's who needs you."
"You mean--McTurpin?
"Damn McTurpin!" spoke the third voice. It was Nathan Spear's. "Lightyour lamp. Nobody's going to shoot you, Stanley.... It's young Benitofrom the mines and down with fever. He's calling for you ... and for agirl named Alice.... If you can pacify him--that will help a lot. He'spretty low."
CHAPTER XXI
OUTFACING THE ENEMY
"Wait," said Adrian, hurriedly. He relighted the lamp and, going to theinner door, called softly. There was an agitated rustle; then the doorswung back and Stanley saw the figure of his wife, beside whom stood thelight-haired girl.
"What is it, Adrian?"
"There's someone sick at Brown's Hotel," said Adrian, "a friend of mine.I'm going over there." He made a sign imposing silence on the men.
Inez came close. "You're certain it's no trick," she whispered, "it'snot McTurpin's scheme to--"
"No, no," he assured her hastily. "I'm sure of that." He seized his hatand coat. "Put down the window shades and answer no one's knock till Ireturn." He kissed her and without more ado joined the men outside. Heheard the door shut and lock click into place.
For a time the quartette strode along in silence; then Brown spoke, asif the thought had been long on his lips, "Wasn't that--the girlMcTurpin brought to town?"
"Yes," said Adrian tersely, "it was she."
Brown made no immediate response; he seemed to be digesting Adrian'sremark. Finally he burst out, "If it's any of my business, what's shedoing--there?"
"She asked for help," retorted Stanley. He related the incident of theveranda. Spear laughed meaningly. "That's the second one you've takenfrom McTurpin; he'll be loving you a heap, old man."
"He doesn't know it yet," Brown said. "But keep out of his waytomorrow."
Stanley's teeth met with a little click. "When I've seen Benito, AlecMcTurpin and I will have a showdown. But tell me of the boy. Whatbrought him here?"
"The missing girl, of course," said Dr. James. "He's daft about her.Alice Burthen ... that's her name, isn't it?"
Stanley was about to make some rejoinder when they passed two men, oneof whom looked at them curiously. He was McTurpin's companion of thebar-room episode. "Who's that?" asked Spear as Brown saluted the pair.
"That's Reverend Wheeler, the new Baptist parson."
"Yes, yes, I know. But the other one?"
"Ned Gasket ... he's a friend of Dandy Carter's at the Eldorado."
"And a Sydney Duck, I guess," the doctor added.
"Do your own guessing, friend," said Brown, impatiently.
Spear sighed. "We'll have to do more than guess about that stripe ofcitizen if we want law and order. It will take a rope I fear," hefinished grimly.
Brown led them round the back to a room not far from the one which hadheld Alice Burthen.
"It's quieter here," he explained. "They get noisy sometimes along aboutmidnight." He opened the door and struck a sulphur match by whose weirdflicker they made out a bed with a tossing figure upon it. Adriancrossed over and took the nervous clutching hands within his ownfirm clasp.
"Benito," he said. "Don't you know me? It's Adrian!"
Brown with a lighted lamp came nearer, so that Stanley saw thesufferer's eyes. They were incognizant of realities. The murmuring voicedroned on, fretfully, "I've looked for her everywhere. She'sgone! gone!"
Suddenly he cried out: "Alice! Alice!" half rising. But he tumbled backupon the pillow with a swift collapse of weakness and his words wanedinto mumbled incoherence.
"Benito," Adrian a
ddressed him earnestly, "Alice is with me. With me andInez. She's safe. I'll bring her to you in the morning. Do youunderstand?"
"With you--with Inez?" the sick man repeated. "Then tell her to come. Iwant her. Tell Alice to come--"
"Tomorrow," Dr. Jones said, soothingly, "when you've had a chance torest."
"No, tonight," the fevered eyes stared up at them imploringly. Jonesdrew Adrian aside. "Pretend you'll do it or hell wear himself out. Thengo. I'll give him something that will make him sleep." He emptied apowder in a tumbler of water and held it out to the sick man. "Drinkthis," he ordered, "it'll give you strength to see Miss Burthen."
Benito's lips obediently quaffed the drink. His head lay quieter uponthe pillow. Slowly, as they watched, the eyelids closed.
"And now," said Adrian when he had assured himself that Benito slept,"I'm going for McTurpin."
"Don't be a confounded fool," Dr. Jones said quickly.
But Stanley paid no heed. He went directly into the saloon and lookedabout him. At a table, back toward him, sat a stocky figure, playingcards and reaching for the rum container at his side. Adrian stood amoment, musing; then his right hand slid down to his hip; a forwardstride and the left hand fell on the player's shoulder.
"We meet once more, McTurpin."
The gambler rose so suddenly that the stool on which he sat rolled over.His face was red with wine and rage. His fingers moved toward aninner pocket.
"Don't," said Adrian meaningly. The hand fell back.
"What do you want?" the gambler growled.
"A quiet talk, my friend. Come with me."
"And, suppose I refuse?" the other sneered.
"Oh, if you're afraid--" began Adrian.
McTurpin threw his cards upon the table. Between him and a man acrossthe board flashed a swift, unspoken message. "I'm at your service,Mr.--ah--Stanley."
He led the way out, and Adrian following, gave a quick glance backward,noting that the man across the table had arisen. What he did not see wasthat Spear hovered in the offing, following them with watchful eyes.
Toward the north they strolled, past a huddle of tents, for the mostpart unlighted. From some came snores and through many a windblown flap,the searching moonlight revealed sleeping figures. On a waste ofsand-dunes McTurpin paused.
"Now tell me what ye want," he snarled, "and be damned quick about it.I've small time to waste with meddlers."
"On this occasion," Stanley said, "you'll take the time to note thefollowing facts, Mr. McTurpin, Mr. Pillsworth--or whatever your truename may be--I've had a talk with Dandy Carter. He recognized you andGasket when Burthen was killed, in spite of your beard. So did Rosa, ofcourse, though she skipped the next morning. The Burthen girl is at myhouse." He paused an instant, thinking that he heard a movement in abush nearby. "Well, that's all," he finished, "except this: If I findyou here tomorrow, Alec McTurpin, murderer, card-sharp and abductor,I'll shoot you down like a dog."
And then, with a splendid piece of bravery, he turned his back on thegambler, walking away with never a backward glance. He did not godirectly home, but walked for an indeterminate interval till his spiritwas more calm.
The house was dark. Inez had obeyed him by leaving no trace of light.Doubtless by now they had retired. Suddenly he started, peered moreclosely at the door he was about to enter.
It was slightly ajar. On the threshold, as he threw it open, Adrianfound a lace-edged handkerchief. His wife's.
Filled with quick foreboding, he called her name. His voice soundedhollow, strange, as if an empty house. Tremblingly he struck a light andsearched the inner room. The bed had not been slept in. There was no oneto be seen.
CHAPTER XXII
SHOTS IN THE DARK
Frantically Adrian ran out into the darkness, crying his wife's name.His thought went, with swift apprehension, over the events of recenthours. The villainous face of Ned Gasket passed before his memorymockingly; the meaning look McTurpin gave his henchman at the gamingtable. Finally, with double force, that movement in the bushes as hetold the gambler of his former captive's whereabouts. By what absurdimprudence had he laid himself thus open to the scoundrel's swiftattack? What farther whimsy of an unkind Fate had prompted hislong walk?
Sudden fury flamed in Stanley's heart; it steadied him. The twitchingfingers on the pistol in his pocket relaxed into a calm and settledtension. With long strides he made his way toward Brown's hotel.
There was death in his eyes; men who caught their gleam beneath alamplight, hastily avoided him. That Inez--at this time--should havebeen taken from her home, abducted, frightened or harassed, was the sinunpardonable. For it he meant to exact a capital punishment. The law,just then, meant to him nothing; only the primitive instinct of anoutraged man controlled his mind.
At the bar he paused. "Where's McTurpin, where's Gasket?" he demanded,harshly.
The bartender observed him with suspicion and uneasiness. "Don't know.Haven't seen 'em since they started out with you," he answered.
Stanley left the room without another word.
He struck across the Plaza, entering the Eldorado gambling house. Therehe ordered a drink, gulped it, made, more quietly, a survey of the room.He scanned the players carefully. Spear sat at one of the tables, toyingwith a pile of chips and stroking his chin reflectively as he surveyedthree cards.
"Give me two. Hello, there, Adrian. Good Lord! what's up?"
"Have you seen McTurpin or his friend, Ned Gasket?" He tried to speakquietly.
A miner at another table leaned forward. "Try the stalls, pard," hewhispered, while his left eyelid descended meaningly.
"Wait," cried Spear and laid his cards down hastily. But Adrian wasalready on his way. At the rear were half a dozen small compartmentswhere visitors might drink in semi-privacy with women who frequentedthe place.
Adrian made the round of them, flinging aside each curtain as he went.Some greeted him with curses for intruding; some with invitations. Buthe did not find the men he sought, until the last curtain was thrownback. There sat Gasket and McTurpin opposite Ensenada Rose. She lookedup impudently as Adrian entered. Into the gambler's visage sprang aquick surprise and fear. Instantly he blew out the lamp.
A pistol spoke savagely almost in Adrian's face. He staggered, claspingone hand to his head. Something warm ran down his cheek and the side ofhis neck. He felt giddy, stunned. But a dominant impulse jerked his ownrevolver into position and he shot twice--as rapidly as he could operatethe weapon. The narrow space was chokingly filled with acrid vapor.Somewhere a woman screamed; then came a rush of feet.
It seemed to Adrian he had stood for hours in a kind of stupor when alight was brought. Gasket lay, his head bowed over on the table and anarm flung forward. He was dead. On the floor was a lace mantilla.
Spear reached Adrian's side ahead of the others. "I heard him shootfirst," he said, so that all might hear him. "Are you hit?"
Adrian's hand went once more to his cheek. "Just a furrow," he said andsmiled a trifle dazedly. "He fired straight into my face."
"By Harry! He must have. Your cheek's powder-marked," cried Brannan,running up and holding the lamp for a better view. "See that, gentlemen?They tried to murder Mr. Stanley. This is self-defense. Who firedat you?"
"This fellow!" Adrian indicated the sprawled figure. "Must have been. Ishot at the flash from his gun; then I aimed at McTurpin. I missed him,probably."
"Not so sure of that," said Brown, who had come running from hishostelry across the square. "Look, here's blood on the floor. Atrail--let's follow it. Either McTurpin or the woman was hit."
"I tried to avoid her," Adrian said. "I--hope I didn't--"
"Never mind. You were attacked. They're all of a parcel," cried a manwho wore the badge of a constable. "We've had our eyes on the three ofthem a long time. This fellow," he indicated Gasket, "was one of thecrowd suspected of the Warren murders. He's the one who killed oldBurthen. Dandy Carter let it out tonight; he's half delirious. We'd havestrung him up most probably, if you hadn't--" br />
"Come," urged Brannan, "let us follow this trail to the wounded. Perhapshe or she needs assistance." He held the lamp low, tracing the darkspots across an intervening space to the rear entrance; thence to ahitching rack where several horses still were tethered. "They mountedhere," the constable decided. "One horse probably. No telling which itwas that got the bullet."
Adrian was conscious, suddenly, that his hand still held the pistol. Heflung it from him with a gesture of repulsion.
"My wife!" he said faintly, "Inez!"
"What d'ye mean?" asked Spear.
"Talk up, man. What's wrong?"
"She's gone--abducted," Stanley answered. "Who'll lend me a horse. Imust find McTurpin. He knows--"
Unexpectedly Spear complicated matters. "You're mistaken, Stanley. Ifollowed when you and he took your walk together. I suspectedtreachery--when Gasket sneaked along behind. I had McTurpin covered whenyou turned your back on him. He came here after that. Both of them havebeen here all the evening."
Stanley put his hand to his head with a bewildered gesture.
"Good God! Then where--? What has become of them?"
"Maybe they got wind of Benito's presence. Maybe they're with him. Let'ssee."
They hurried back to the City Hotel.
"The room's dark," Spear lighted a taper and they softly opened thedoor. Benito slept; beside him drowsed a red-shirted miner slumped upona chair. Adrian shook him, whispering, "Where's Doctor Jones?"
"Don't know," muttered the watcher, sleepily. "This yere is his busynight I reckon. Asked me to look after this galoot. Feed him fourfingers of that pizen if he woke."