CHAPTER XI
KATE KEEPS HER PROMISE
One of the things which Mrs. Abram Pantin's worst enemy would have hadto admit in her favor was that, strictly speaking, she was not a gossip,though this virtue was due as much to policy as to principle. It was hercustom, however, to retain in her memory such morsels of commonknowledge news as she accumulated during the day with which to entertainMr. Pantin at evening dinner, for she observed that if his thoughtscould be diverted from business it aided his digestion and he sleptbetter, so she strove always to have some bright topic to introduce atthe table.
Having said a silent grace, Mr. Pantin inquired mechanically:
"Will you have a chop, Prissy?" Since there were only two he did not usethe plural.
Mrs. Pantin looked across the fern centerpiece and made a mouth as sheregarded the chop doubtfully.
"I'm afraid I am eating too much meat lately."
Impaled on a tine of the fork, the chop was of a thinness to haveenabled one to read through it without much difficulty.
Mr. Pantin placed the chop on his own plate with some little alacrity.
As his wife took one of the two dainty rolls concealed in a fringednapkin on the handsome silver bread tray, she endeavored to recall whatit was in particular that she had saved to tell him. Oh, yes!
"What do you think I heard to-day, Abram?"
Abram was figuring interest and murmured absently:
"I have no idea."
"They say," in her sprightliest manner, "that that girl who killed herlover was refused credit at every store in Prouty. No one would trusther for even five dollars' worth of groceries. Rather pathetic, isn'tit?"
Mr. Pantin looked up quickly.
"Who told you that?"
"Everyone seems to know it."
Mr. Pantin frowned slightly.
"If you mean Miss Prentice, I wouldn't speak of her in that fashion,Priscilla."
"Mormon Joe's Kate, then, if you like that better," replied Mrs. Pantin,nettled.
"Or 'Mormon Joe's Kate,' either," curtly.
"So sorry; I didn't know you knew her. Do you?"
Mr. Pantin, who at his own table was given the privilege of taking bonesin his fingers, pointed the chop at her.
"Let me tell you something, Priscilla," impressively. "Someone who iscleverer than I am has said that it is never safe to snub a pretty girl,because there is always the possibility that she'll marry well and beable to retaliate. The same thing applies to one who has brains and isin earnest. I've made it a rule never to disparage the efforts of aperson who had a definite purpose and works to attain it. It's about afifty-to-one shot that he'll land--sometime."
Mrs. Pantin looked at her husband suspiciously. There were times whenshe had a notion that she had not explored the furthermost recesses ofhis nature--when she wondered if it had not ramifications and passagesunknown to her. It had. It was Mr. Pantin's dearest wish to come homeboiling drunk with his hat smashed and his necktie hanging. He longed tokick the front door in and see his wife cower before him. The mentalorgies in which he indulged while sitting placidly in the bow windowautomatically snapping his Romeo against the heel of his foot by amuscular contraction of the toes--would have curdled the blood ofPriscilla Pantin.
It was an interesting case of atavism. There was little doubt but thatMr. Pantin was a throwback to a sportive ancestor who had kept a pacerthat could do a little better than 2.13 when conditions were favorable,but had rendered the family homeless by betting one hundred and sixtyacres of black walnut timber against a horse that left him so far behindthat the spectators urged him to throw something overboard to see if hewas moving. All this was family history. Mr. Pantin fought against hispredilection to gamble on anything or anybody as he would have fought animpulse to take human life.
It did not escape Mrs. Pantin's attention now that her husband had notanswered her question as to whether he knew this notorious character.She repeated it.
Mr. Pantin returned her searching look with one in which she coulddiscern no guile, but his words irritated her still further.
"I happened to be in the bank the other day when the girl was beggingWentz for time on the loan which Mormon Joe had contracted for runningexpenses," Mr. Pantin explained with somewhat elaborate carelessness."It wasn't due, but they were putting the screws on her to serve theirown purpose--or Neifkins' purpose, rather. He wants her leases. It was amistake of judgment, for she would have been a good borrower. Bankersare born, not made, anyway," complacently, "and Vernon isn't one ofthem."
"It seems to me his judgment in this instance is excellent," Mrs. Pantincontradicted tartly. "It's quite evident the business men of Proutyagree with him, since none of them will trust her."
"That doesn't alter my opinion." Mr. Pantin's reply was calm. "It's theperson behind a loan that counts, anyway--not the security. If I hadbeen in Wentz's place when she said she could handle those sheep andmeet the obligation when due, I should have believed her." Again Mr.Pantin waved the chop for emphasis as he added with something very likeenthusiasm: "She has honesty, strength of character, intelligence,personal magnetism--"
"It appears to me that you made rather a close study, considering yourlimited opportunity," Mrs. Pantin interrupted acidly.
"She interested me."
"Evidently. But why this sudden change of opinion? I've heard you say ahundred times that all women are pinheads in business."
"Because she's no ordinary woman," Mr. Pantin defended. "The girl hasn'tstruck her gait yet; her mind is immature, her character undeveloped;but if she doesn't make good--" he paused while he fumbled for aconvincing figure--"I'll eat my panama!"
Mrs. Pantin stared, both at the intemperate language and the raredisplay of animation. From a state of indifference, she felt distincthostility toward Mormon Joe's Kate stirring in her bosom. Mr. Pantinshould have known better--he did know better--but he had felt reckless,somehow. To make amends he said ingratiatingly:
"This mince pie is excellent, Prissy! Did you tell me there was no meatin it?"
"Tomatoes," frigidly. "It's mock mincemeat." A triumph in economy--anachievement! But Mr. Pantin's flattery and conciliating smile were alikefutile. Like many another overzealous partisan, he had made for Kate onemore enemy.
* * * * *
It seemed aeons ago to Mrs. Toomey that Jap had appeared to her in thelight of a handsome conquering daredevil, whose dash and confidentpersonality made all things possible.
The real test of Toomey's character had come with his misfortunes. Solong as he had money to spend and could ride, arrogant and high-handed,over the obsequious shopkeepers who benefited by his prodigality, andthe poor ranchers who had not the means, or often the spirit, to opposehim, he continued to appear to her in the light in which she had firstseen him. She adored his imperious temper, his erratic lavishgenerosity, his Quixotic standards, but with the reversal of theirfortunes she was slowly brought to realize that money had provided mostof the glamor which surrounded him. To be imperious with no one to obeymakes for absurdity, and this trait, in his poverty, made himridiculous, as did the extravagances in which he indulged at the expenseof necessities.
It was not often Mrs. Toomey would admit to herself the real cause ofthe heartsickness which filled her as she watched her husbanddeteriorate, but with every excuse known to a woman who loves she triedto bolster up her waning faith in the man and his ability. With anobstinacy which was pathetic, she endeavored to keep him on thepedestal where she had placed him. She listened with a fixed smile ofinterest to the extraordinary schemes he outlined to her, sometimeshypnotizing herself into believing in them, until he returned with theexaggerated swagger which proclaimed another failure. Then she wouldjoin him in his denunciation of those who could not see the value of hisplan and refused to aid him.
But the conviction that Jap had not the qualities to win materialsuccess did not hurt as did the knowledge that he was not too brave tolie, too proud to borrow from tho
se he considered his social inferiorsand with no notion of repaying the obligation, nor too honest to obtainmoney by any subterfuge that occurred to him.
When she had attempted to borrow money from Abram Pantin, the lightesteem in which that astute person held her husband had been as painfulas her disappointment, for it was her first definite knowledge ofothers' estimate of him. Since then, with her eyes opened, she had cometo see that Jap was regarded in Prouty as something between a joke and apest.
Mrs. Toomey was thinking of Mormon Joe's murder one morning while shedusted, and of Kate--conjecturing as to what would become of the girlwhen the bank foreclosed and she lost everything. She sighed as, withthe corner of her apron, she removed a smudge from her nose before themirror. Wasn't there anything in the world any more but trouble forpeople who had no money?
She glanced casually out of the window and stiffened in something verylike horror.
Kate was in front, tying her horse to a transplanted cottonwood sapling.What if Prissy Pantin should see her! She was visibly agitated, when sheopened the door for Kate--stammering a welcome that had a doubtfulring, but Kate did not appear to notice. She looked older, Mrs. Toomeythought, in swift scrutiny. Yes, she had suffered terribly. Her heartwent out to the girl, even while she glanced furtively through thewindows to see who of the neighbors might be looking.
While Mrs. Toomey wondered what excuse she could make for Kate'spresence, if anyone called, she indicated a chair and said nervously:
"I've been hoping to see you and tell you how sorry I am for all that'shappened."
"I've been disappointed that you haven't," Kate replied, simply, "foryour friendship has loomed like a mountain to me in my trouble."
She was still counting on it! Mrs. Toomey got out a frightened:
"Really?"
"When we shook hands on it up there in the draw," Kate went on, sadly,"I didn't dream how soon or how much I should need you. And women doneed each other in trouble, don't they?" earnestly.
Mrs. Toomey nervously tucked in her "scolding locks."
"Er--of course," constrainedly. Her mind was rambling from Jap to Mrs.Pantin and the vigilant neighbors.
Kate rose suddenly, and crossing the room stooped to lay her gloved handupon Mrs. Toomey's thin shoulders. Looking into her eyes she demanded:
"You don't believe I did it, do you?"
This was a question Mrs. Toomey could answer truthfully and she did,with convincing sincerity:
"No, I don't!"
"I knew it!" There was a joyous note in Kate's voice, and gratitude. "Iwas sure you were true-blue, and I know I'm going to love you!"
Lifting the woman to her feet, with an arm about her shoulders, Katekissed her impulsively. She was so slight, so crushable, that Kateexperienced a sense of shock as one does when he feels the bones of alittle bird through its feathers. Her frailty appealed to somethingwithin the girl that was like masculine chivalry, awakening a desirethat was keener than ever to protect and help her, while, as before,Mrs. Toomey felt the magnetism of the younger woman's health andstrength and courage. Nevertheless, she was panic-stricken at what Katewas taking for granted and her quick little mind was darting about likesome frightened rodent from corner to corner, thinking how she was goingto disentangle herself from the situation with the minimum of hurt tothe girl's feelings.
There was a suggestion of her former buoyancy in Kate's manner. Her eyeshad something of their old-time sparkle as she reached inside theblousing front of her flannel shirt and laid in Mrs. Toomey's hand apacket of crisp banknotes secured by bands of elastic.
"You see--I've kept my promise."
Mrs. Toomey stood motionless, staring.
"Why! Where did you get it?" when speech came back to her.
"That's my secret," Kate replied, gently. "But it's yours to use as longas you need it."
Without warning, Mrs. Toomey burst into tears.
"I c-can't help it!" she sobbed on Kate's shoulder. "It'sso--unexpected."
Relief was paramount to all other emotions, but she vowed as she weptthat she would show her gratitude, and would be Kate's friend as she hadpromised, and she would--the feeling of the money in her hand gave hercourage--defy Prissy Pantin, if necessary.
Kate and Mrs. Toomey separated with the warm handclasp of friendship.
Mrs. Toomey waited in a tremulous state of eagerness for her husband'sreturn. It was months since she had known such a feeling of relief; itwas as though years suddenly had dropped from her. She went about thehouse humming, trying to decide upon the most effective way ofsurprising him, and planning how she would spend the money to derive themost good from it. At intervals she opened the top drawer of the bureauand looked at the banknotes to be sure she was not dreaming. They wouldpay a little on their most urgent bills, to show their good intentions,and then buy supplies enough to render impossible any such experiencesas those they had undergone recently. A goodly portion would be kept foremergencies until Jap got into something.
Mrs. Toomey glowed with gratitude to Kate and the delightful sensationof relaxed nerves after a tension. She felt as peaceful as though shehad taken an opiate, therefore, when Toomey came in swaggering and withthe black brow which told her of disappointment, she smiled at himtranquilly.
The smile irritated him.
"I wish you'd stop grinning."
Too happy to be perturbed, she replied in mock severity:
"If I cry, you resent it; if I smile, you stop me. Really, you know,you're rather difficult."
"You'd be difficult, too, if you had to try to do business with a bunchof tightwads. We've nothing to grin about, let me tell you."
"Haven't we?" archly.
He eyed her radiant face and ejaculated:
"Lord, but you look simple! What ails you?"
"Nothing fatal," she laughed gaily. "But tell me, Jap, what went wrongthis morning?"
The question recalled him to his grievances.
"You know that scheme I told you about last night?"
"Which one?" Mrs. Toomey searched her memory.
"Don't you ever listen when I talk to you?"
"I was so sleepy," apologetically.
"That one to 'glom' all the land between Willow Creek and the mountain."
"Oh, yes," vaguely. "Couldn't you interest anybody?"
"How can you interest clods who have no imagination?"
"What did they say about it?"
"Scales told me to go out and hold my head under the spout and he'd pumpon it. If ever I get a dollar ahead to pay my fine, I'm going to workthat son-of-a-gun over."
Mrs. Toomey sobered. The flippancy of the grocer was additional evidencethat her husband was considered a light-weight, even in Prouty. It hurther inexpressibly. The desire to work her surprise to a dramatic climaxsuddenly left her. She said quietly:
"Our worries are over for the present, Jap." She walked to the bureauand took out the money. "There is five hundred dollars."
He stared at it, at her, and back again incredulously.
"Is this a joke?" finally.
She shook her head.
"Kate Prentice."
He shouted at her.
"What? You borrowed from her?"
"She promised it to me before the--the--"
"You can't keep it."
"But, Jap--"
"I say you can't keep it."
"But, Jap--" she whimpered.
"Do you think I want to be under obligations to that--"
She put her hand over his mouth.
"You shan't say it! She's been generous. She kept her promise whenneither you nor I would have done it, and I'm going to stand by her."
"You'll do nothing of the kind!" savagely.
"Now listen, Jap," she went on pleadingly. "We need this soterribly--we're in no position to consider our feelings--we can pay itback the minute you get into something. I don't understand why you feelso strongly about her, but since you do, I respect you for not wantingto take it. However, the loan isn't to you, it's t
o me; it's a businessproposition, and when we return it we'll pay interest."
He was listening sullenly and she read in his wavering look that he wasweakening.
"You must be sensible, Jap. Be reasonable, for we haven't a dollar, andlook--here are five hundred of them! We simply can't refuse."
She saw the greedy glint in his eyes as she held the money toward him,and knew that the battle was over.
"I'll not have anything to do with it, anyway."
She could have smiled at his continued pretence of reluctance, hisfictitious dignity, if it had not saddened her. As she returned themoney to the bureau drawer and slowly closed it she was conscious thatin her heart she would have been glad and proud if he had not yielded.