CHAPTER XVI
_An Insistent Question_
Had Firmstone been given to the habit of self-congratulation he wouldhave found ample opportunity for approbation in the excellent mannerwith which his plan for the rescue of Elise was working out. Thecompanionship of Elise and Miss Hartwell had become almost constant inspite of the unpropitious denouement of their first meeting. Thispleased Firmstone greatly. But there was another thing which thiscompanionship thrust upon him with renewed interest. At first it had notbeen prominent. In fact, it was quite overshadowed while Miss Hartwell'sunconscious part in his plan was in doubt. Now that the doubt wasremoved, his personal feelings toward Elise came to the front. He wasneither conceited nor a philanthropist with more enthusiasm than sense.He did not attempt to conceal from himself that philanthropy, incarnatedin youth, culture, and a recognised position, directed toward a youngand beautiful girl was in danger of forming entangling alliances, andthat these alliances could be more easily prevented than obviated whenonce formed.
Firmstone was again riding down from the mine. He expected to find Eliseand Miss Hartwell at the Falls, as he had many times of late. He placedthe facts squarely before himself. He was hearing of no one so much asof Elise. Whether this was due to an awakening consciousness on his partor whether his interest in Elise had attracted the attention of othershe could not decide. Certain it was that Miss Hartwell was continuallysinging her praise. Jim, who was rapidly recovering from his wounds andfrom his general shaking up at the wreck of the stage, let pass noopportunity wherein he might express his opinion.
"Hell!" he remarked. "I couldn't do that girl dirt by up and going deadafter all her trouble. Ain't she just fed me and flowered me and coddledme general? Gawd A'mighty! I feel like a delicatessen shop 'n a flowergarden all mixed up with angels."
Bennie was equally enthusiastic, but his shadowing gourd had a devouringworm. His commendation of Elise only aroused a resentful consciousnessof the Blue Goose.
"It's the way of the world," he was wont to remark, "but it's a damnedshame to make a good dog and then worry him with fleas."
There was also Dago Joe, who ran the tram at the mill. Joe had a goodlyflock of graduated dagoes in assorted sizes, but his love embraced themall. That the number was undiminished by disease he credited to Elise,and the company surgeon vouched for the truth of his assertions. OnlyZephyr was persistently silent. This, however, increased Firmstone'sperplexity, if it did not confirm his suspicions that his interest inElise had attracted marked attention. There was only one way in whichhis proposed plan of rescue could be carried out that would noteventually do the girl more harm than good, especially if she wascompelled to remain in Pandora. Here was his problem--one which demandedimmediate solution. He was at the Falls, unconsciously preparing todismount, when he saw that neither Elise nor Miss Hartwell was there. Helooked around a moment; then, convinced that they were absent, he rodeon down the trail.
As he entered the town he noted a group of boys grotesquely attired inminer's clothes. Leading the group was Joe's oldest son, a boy of abouttwelve years. A miner's hat, many sizes too large, was on his head,almost hiding his face. A miner's jacket, reaching nearly to his feet,completed his costume. In his hand he was swinging a lighted candle. Theother boys were similarly attired, and each had candles as well.Firmstone smiled. The boys were playing miner, and were "going onshift." He was startled into more active consciousness by shrill screamsof agony. The boys had broken from their ranks and were flying in everydirection. Young Joe, staggering behind them, was almost hidden by a jetof flame that seemed to spring from one of the pockets of his coat. Theboy was just opposite the Blue Goose. Before Firmstone could spur hishorse to the screaming child Elise darted down the steps, seized the boywith one hand, with the other tore the flames from his coat and threwthem far out on the trail. Firmstone knew what had happened. The minerhad left some sticks of powder in his coat and these had caught firefrom the lighted candle. The flames from the burning powder had scorchedthe boy's hand, licked across his face, and the coat itself had begun toburn, when Elise reached him. She was stripping the coat from thescreaming boy as Firmstone sprang from his horse. He took the boy in hisarms and carried him up the steps of the Blue Goose. Elise, running upthe steps before him, reappeared with oil and bandages, as he laid theboy on one of the tables. Pierre and Morrison came into the bar-room asFirmstone and Elise began to dress the burns. Morrison laid his handroughly on Firmstone's arm.
"You get back to your own. This is our crowd."
"Git hout! You bin kip-still." Pierre in turn thrust Morrison aside."You bin got hall you want, Meestaire Firmstone?"
"Take my horse and go for the doctor."
Pierre hastily left the room. The clatter of hoofs showed thatFirmstone's order had been obeyed. Elise and Firmstone worked busily atthe little sufferer. Oil and laudanum had deadened the pain, and the boywas now sobbing hysterically; Morrison standing by, glaring in helplessrage.
Another clatter of hoofs outside, and Pierre and the company surgeonhurried into the room. The boy's moans were stilled and he lay staringquestioningly with large eyes at the surgeon.
"You haven't left me anything to do." The surgeon turned approvingly toElise.
"Mr. Firmstone did that."
The surgeon laughed.
"That's Elise every time. She's always laying the blame on someone else.Never got her to own up to anything of this kind in my life."
Joe senior and his wife came breathless into the room. Mrs. Joe threwherself on the boy with all the abandon of the genuine Latin. Joe lookedat Elise, then dragged his wife aside.
"The boy's all right now, Joe. You can take him home. I'll be in to seehim later." The surgeon turned to leave the room.
Joe never stirred; only looked at Elise.
"It's all right, Joe."
The surgeon shrugged his shoulders in mock despair.
"There it is again. I'm getting to be of no account."
Something in Elise's face caused him to look again. Then he was at herside. Taking her arm, he glanced at the hand she was trying to hide.
"It doesn't amount to anything." Elise was trying to free her arm.
From the palm up the hand was red and blistered.
"Now I'll show my authority. How did it happen?"
"The powder was burning. I was afraid it might explode."
"What if it had exploded?"
Firmstone asked the question of Elise. She made no reply. He hardlyexpected she would. Nevertheless he did not dismiss the question fromhis mind. As he rode away with the company surgeon, he asked it over andover again. Then he made answer to himself.