Bansemer was not losing his courage; it was only the dread of havingGraydon find out. He stuck close to his office, seeing but fewpeople. However, he did saunter into Rigby's office for a friendlychat, but learned nothing from, the manner of that astute youngman. With a boldness that astonished himself--and he was at notime timid--he asked if Harbert intended to remain in Chicago forany length of time. After he had gone away, Rigby rubbed his foreheadin a bewildered sort of way and marvelled at the nerve of the man.
The day passed slowly; but late in the afternoon the suspense becameso keen that he found it difficult to keep himself from makinginquiries of the proper officials as to whether affidavits had beenfiled by Harbert or any other person. His hand did not shake now,but there was a steady pain at the back of his head.
"Droom, I think I'll go home. If I don't appear in the morning,you'll know that I'm at some police station. Good-day!"
"Good-bye!" said Elias, with correcting emphasis. Bansemer laughedheartily.
"I believe you'd like to see me jugged."
"Not unless you could be convicted. I'll have to remain in youremploy until then, I suppose."
"I've often wondered why you don't quit of your own accord--itseems so distasteful to you."
"I'm working for you from force of habit."
"You'll turn State's evidence if I'm arrested, no doubt, curseyou."
"If my word counted for anything," and he raised his hand; "I'dsay--'So help me-I shan't."
"I've never been able to understand you."
"I guess you've always understood my feelings towards you."
"You hate me?"
"I'm no exception to the rule."
"But hang you, you're faithful?"
"Oh, I'll pay for it, never fear. You won't hesitate to sacrificeme if it will help you in any way. But, let me tell you something.Elias Droom has been smart enough to cover every one of his tracks,even if he hasn't been able to cover yours. I can't perform miracles.You don't seem as keen to bring about the family explosion as youwere, I observe."
"By heavens, I can't bear the thought of that boy--oh, well, closeup the office as soon as you like."
After he was safely out of the office Elias Droom glided into theprivate office, drew forth his bunch of keys and opened his employer'sdesk. A big revolver lay in the top drawer. The old clerk quicklyremoved the five cartridges and as deftly substituted a new set ofthem in their stead. The new ones were minus the explosive power.He grinned as he replaced the weapon and closed the desk. Droppingthe cartridges into his coat pocket, he returned to his own desk,chuckling as he set to work on his papers.
"I won't betray him to the law, but I've fixed it so that he can'tescape it in that way."
Bansemer's man informed him upon his arrival home that Mr. Graydonwould not be in for dinner. He had left word that Mrs. Cable wasvery much improved and that he and Miss Cable were going out for along drive-in a hansom. It was his intention to dine with Mr. andMiss Cable, very informally.
Bansemer sat in surly silence for a long time, trying to read.A fierce new jealousy was growing in his heart. It was graduallydawning upon him that the Cables had alienated his son's affectionsto no small degree. The fear grew upon him that Graydon ultimatelywould go over to them, forgetting his father in the love for thegirl. Resentment, strong and savage, flooded his heart. He couldeat no dinner. He was full of curses for the fate which forced himto dine alone while his son was off rejoicing with people whom hewas beginning to hate with a fervour that pained him. Jealousy,envy, malice, fired his blood.
He went out and bought the evening papers. The thought came to himthat Graydon had heard the stories and was deliberately stayingaway from him. Perhaps the Cables had been talking to him.
"By Heaven," he grated as he paused in front of his home, "ifshe's turned him against me I'll turn this city into anything buta paradise for her. What a fool I've been to wait so long. I'vegiven her the chance to tell her side of the case first. She's madethe first impression. What could I have been thinking of? Droomwas right. I should have demanded less of her. A man is never tooold to be a fool about women. Oh, if she's turned that boy againstme, I'll---"
He did not finish the threat, but started off swiftly through thenight toward the Cable home. He had no especial object in view;it was simply impossible for him to conquer the impulse to be nearhis son. Like a thief he lurked about the street in the vicinityof Cable's house, standing in the shadows, crossing and recrossingthe street many times, always watching the lighted windows withhateful eyes. It was after eight o'clock and the night was dampwith the first breath of spring. There was a slight chill in theair, but he did not feel it, although he was without an overcoat.
The lights on the second floor, he knew, were in Mrs. Cable's room.In his mind's eye, he could see Graydon there with the otherslistening to the story as it fell from prejudiced, condemning lips--thepathetic, persuasive lips of a sick woman. He knew the effect onthe chivalrous nature of his son; he could feel the coldness thattook root in his boy's heart.
A light mist began to blow in his face as he paced back and forthalong the short block in which the Cables lived. He was workinghis imagination up to a state bordering on frenzy. In his fancy hecould hear Graydon cursing him in the presence of his accusers. Atthe end of the street he could see the break in the sea wall whereCable and his wife had met, and he could not help wishing that Droomhad not pulled her from the water. Then he found himself wonderingif they had told Jane the story of her origin. The hope that shewas still undeceived flashed through him; it would give him a chancefor sweet revenge.
He confessed to himself that he was reckless. The transactions ofthe past few days had left him at the edge of the abyss; he recognisedhis peril, but could not see beyond his own impulses.
"I believe I'll do it," he was muttering to himself as he pausedacross the street from their door. "Graydon ought to hear bothsides of the story."
He crossed the street with hesitating steps. His thin coat collarwas buttoned close about his neck; his gloveless hands were wet andcold from the mist. As he stopped at the foot of the stone stepsa man came hurrying along, glancing at the house numbers as heapproached.
"Do you know whether this is David Cable's house?" he asked.
Bansemer saw that he was a young man and an eager one.
"I think it is."
The other bounded up the steps and rang the bell. When the servantopened the door Bansemer heard the new arrival ask for Cable, addingthat he was from one of the newspapers, and that he must see himat once.
Bansemer stood stark and dumb at the foot of the steps. The wholesituation had rushed upon him like an avalanche. Harbert had filedhis charges and the hasty visit of the reporter proved that DavidCable was an instrument in them. The blood surged to his head; hestaggered under the shock of increased rage.
"Graydon is against me! They've won him over! Open the door, damnyou! I want my son!" He shouted the demand in the face of thestartled servant as he pushed rudely past him.
"You stay here, young fellow, and you'll hear a story that willfill a whole paper. I am James Bansemer. Where is Cable? You!" tothe servant.
"Sh!" cried the frightened servant, recognising him. "Mrs. Cableis resting, sir."
"What are you doing here?" Bansemer demanded of the reporter, exertingall his crafty resourcefulness in the effort to calm himself.
"Cable has been elected president of the---" began the young manjust as Cable himself started down the stairway.
"Cable, where is my son?" demanded Bansemer loudly, starting towardthe steps. He had not removed his hat and was, indeed, an ominousfigure. Cable clutched the stair rail and glared down at him inamazement. Before he could pull himself together sufficiently toreply, Graydon Bansemer hurried past him and stared in alarm atthe unexpected figure below.
"What's the matter, dad?" he cried. "What has happened?"
"Aha? You think something could have happened, eh? Damn all oftheir souls, you shan't be taken in by them.
Come down here, boy!"
"Father, are you crazy?" gasped Graydon, rushing down the stairs.
"Get him away from here, Graydon, for God's sake," exclaimed Cable."Take him away! He's your father, but if he stays in this house aminute longer I'll kill him!"
The man from the newspaper was shrewd enough to withdraw into aless exposed spot. He saw a great "beat" in prospect.
Graydon stopped as if stunned by a blow. Bobby Rigby came runningto the head of the stairs, followed by Jane and another young woman.James Bansemer could not have been expected to know it, but Rigbyand Miss Clegg had come to tell these friends that they were to bemarried in December.
"Kill me, eh? Not if you can't do a better job than you didthe other night. Here, you reporter, ask Mr. Cable to explain themystery of that affair on the lake front. Oh, I know all about it!You've started in to ruin me, but I'll be in on it myself. We'llhave a general cleaning up."
"Father! What are you talking about?" cried Graydon, aghast.
"They haven't told you about the lake front, eh? I should thinknot! See him cringe!"
Cable had indeed fallen back against the wall, halfway up the steps,white and trembling. His eyes were raised, and he was the first tosee Mrs. Cable as she came from her room.
"Go back!" he whispered hoarsely to her. She reached the banisterand leaned over, her eyes filling with terror after a swift glanceat Jane.
"Take Jane away," she murmured, realising that the blow was tofall.
"I'll stop his infernal tongue!" shouted Cable, leaping down thesteps, his eyes blazing. James Bansemer laughed as he braced himselffor the shock. They did not come together, for Graydon threw hisbig frame in the path of the assailant. For an instant there was afrightful uproar. Rigby and the servant rushed to the young man'sassistance. The women were screaming with terror, the men wereshouting and there was a. violent struggle which played havoc inthe hallway.
"Call the police!" shouted Rigby.
"You infernal traitor!" hissed James Bansemer. "You claim to beGraydon's friend, and yet you are the one who has led the plot toruin me."
"What does it all mean?" cried Graydon, holding; the shaking Cabletightly.
There was a moment of intense silence, except for the heavybreathing of the men. Graydon was staring wide-eyed at his father.He saw the cruel, sardonic smile spread over his face and shuddered.
"I've simply come to take you out of the clutches of these people.I've waited to see if that scheming woman, up there would tellyou of her own accord. She hasn't told you; so I will. You cannotmarry that girl, for your haughty Jane Cable is a child of shame,picked up on a doorstep, cast off by the woman who conceived her!"
The crash had come. The heartless accuser stood like a tragicplayer in the centre of his stage, pouring out his poison withouta touch of pity for the stricken girl who, after the first thrillof indignation and horror, had shrunk back into her mother's arms,bewildered.
"Call the police, if you like," laughed Bansemer, at the end ofhis tirade. "It isn't a criminal offence to tell the truth. It willsound just as well in court, Mr. Rigby."
"Jane, Jane," Mrs Cable was murmuring, "I might have saved you allthis, but I couldn't--oh, I couldn't pay the price."
"You snake!" groaned Cable, weak and hoarse with rage. "Jane, hehas lied! There is not a word of truth in what he says. I swear itto you."
"Ho, ho! By Heaven, she hasn't told you, after all!" cried Bansemer."You still think she is yours!"
"Father!" exclaimed Graydon, standing straight before the other.David Cable had dropped limply into a chair, his hand to his heart."I won't stand by and hear you any longer. Take back what you'vesaid about her, or, damn you, I'll forget that you are my fatherand---"
"Graydon!" exclaimed Bansemer, falling back, his expressionchanging like a flash. The smile of triumph left his face and hislip twitched. "You forget I--I am doing this for your sake. My God,boy, you don't understand. Don't turn from me to them. They have---"
"That's enough, father! Don't say another word! You've talked likea madman. See! Look what you've done! Oh, Jane!" he caught sightof the girl on the landing and rushed up to her.
"Is it true, Graydon--is it true?" she wailed, beating her handsupon his arm.
"No! It can't be true! He's gone mad, dearest."
"Is it true, mother? Tell me, tell me!"
Frances Cable's white lips moved stiffly, but no sound came forth.Her eyes spoke the truth, however. The girl sank limp and helplessin Graydon's arms and knew no more. At the foot of the steps Rigbywas pointing his trembling finger at James Bansemer.
"You'll pay for this to-morrow!" he was saying. "Your day has come!You cutthroat! You blackmailer!"
"Graydon!" called the father. "Come, let us go home. Come, boy!"
"Not now--not now," answered the son hoarsely. "I'll--I'll try tocome home to-night, father. I'm not sure that I can. My place ishere--with her."
Without a word James Bansemer turned and rushed out into the street,tears of rage and disappointment in his eyes. He had not expectedthe gall. Until the break of day he sat in his chill room waitingfor the rasp of his son's night key--but Graydon did not come home.
CHAPTER XX
FATHER AND SON