CHAPTER III
A MIDNIGHT VISITOR
The snow had thinned a little, though it still blew hard, when, beforeretiring, I borrowed a lantern and made a dash for the stable. The horsewhich had fallen was a valuable one, and, remembering how stiffly he hadmoved, I was anxious about him. Winter should have been over, and thiswas its last effort, but the cold struck through me, and I knew by thedepth of the snow that a horse would be a useless incumbrance to thefugitive, who could not have made a league in any direction. He wasprobably hiding in the ravine, and it appeared certain that he would becaptured on the morrow. I was therefore the less surprised when thestolen mare shuffled towards me. The man had at least kept his promiseto release her when useless; but I was still slightly puzzled as to howthe beast had found her own way to Bonaventure. This meant work for me,and I spent some time in the long, sod-protected building, which wasredolent of peppermint in the prairie hay, before returning to thedwelling. My moccasins made no sound as I came softly through the hall,but it was not my fault that, when I halted to turn out and hang up thelantern, voices reached me through an open door.
"You are in charge here, and will see that the lamps and stoves aresafe, Lucille," one of them said. "What did you think about our guests?"
"I liked them immensely; the sergeant was simply splendid," answeredanother voice. "The young trooper was very nice, too. I did not see muchof Mr. Ormesby. He talked a good deal to you."
There was no mistaking Beatrice Haldane's rippling laugh. "RancherOrmesby is amusing for a change. One grows to long for somethingoriginal after the stereotyped products of the cities. Contact withprimitive men and fashions acts, for a time, as a tonic, although toomuch of it might serve as, say, an emetic."
It was a pity it had not occurred to me to rattle the lantern earlier,for though women do not always mean what they say, this last observationwas not particularly gratifying. Neither was it quite what I hadexpected from Beatrice Haldane. Whether the fair speaker guessed thatshe had been overheard or not, I never knew; but because a ripple ofsubdued laughter reached me as a door swung to, I surmised that hersister had found cause for merriment. Tired as I was, I did not feelimmediately disposed for sleep, and, as Haldane had bidden us do justwhat best pleased us, I looked into the troopers' quarters and foundMackay and one of his subordinates, who had preferred to spend theevening with the hired hands, asleep, and Cotton cleaning his carbine.
"We'll be off before daybreak, and I had not a chance earlier. I wouldnot have missed a minute of this evening for promotion to-morrow. Ofcourse, I'll pay for it later; but that's the usual rule, and partly whyI'm serving the nation as Trooper Cotton now," he said, with a mirthlesssmile.
"You are getting as bad as the sergeant," I answered impatiently. "Comealong when you have finished, if you're not overtired, and we'll smokeone of our host's cigars together. He left the box for us beside the bighearth in the hall."
"I'll be there in ten minutes. Mackay's so confoundedly particular aboutthe arms," said Cotton.
The fire was burning redly in the hall, though the lamps were out, whenI ensconced myself in a deep chair behind a deerhide screen quaintlyembroidered by Indian women. The cigar was a good one, and I had much tothink about; so it was not until a shaft of light streamed athwart thescreen that, looking round it, I noticed that Lucille Haldane, carryinga candle, had entered the long room. She set it down on a table, andstood still, glancing about her, while I effaced myself behind thescreen. The girl had cast her hair loose, and it rippled in glossymasses from her shoulders to the delicate inward curve of her waist,setting forth the lithe shapeliness of her figure. Concluding that shewould withdraw as soon as she was satisfied that all was safe, I decidedit would be better if she remained unaware of my presence, and hopedthat Cotton would delay his coming. To judge by the soft footsteps, shewas returning, when a sudden coldness chilled the room. The light grewuncertain, as though the candle flickered in a draught, and a door I hadnot previously noticed opened noiselessly.
Wondering what this might mean, I sat very still, and then staredblankly, as a snow-whitened object came softly into the room. For a fewseconds I could almost have fancied it was a supernatural visitantrather than a creature of flesh and blood, for the man's face wasghastly, and he brought the chill of the grave with him. He wasbareheaded, his cheeks ashy gray, and clotted brown patches streaked therag bound round his forehead, while the snow was in his hair; but as hemoved forward I had no difficulty in recognizing him. I heard LucilleHaldane draw in her breath with a gasp, and it was that which roused meto action, but the intruder broke the silence first.
"Please don't cry out. You are perfectly safe--and my life is in yourhands," he said.
"Not exactly!" I broke in, and, flinging the screen sideways, steppedbetween him and the girl. The stranger's hand dropped instinctively tothe holster at his waist, then he let it fall to his side.
"You here, Rancher Ormesby! I freed your horse, and you have no furthercause for hunting me down," he said, with a composure which astonishedme. "I am sorry to alarm you, Miss Haldane, but it was the truth I toldyou. I will not be taken, and it rests with you either to call thetroopers or to turn me out to freeze in the snow."
In spite of his terrifying appearance, it was clear that the man was nota ruffian. He spoke with deference, and his voice betrayed considerationfor the girl; and again a sense of compassion came upon me. Still,there was my host's daughter to consider, and I turned towards her.
"Will you go away and leave him to me?" I said.
Lucille Haldane, glancing from one of us to the other, shook her head;and I think we must have formed a striking tableau as we stood where thecandle-light flickered athwart one small portion of the long shadowyroom. The girl's face was pale, but a sudden wave of color swept acrossit when, with a sinuous movement of her neck, she flung back thelustrous masses of her hair. She was dressed as I had last seen her,except that the lace collar was missing, and her full white throatgleamed like ivory. Yet, though her voice trembled a little, she showedsmall sign of fear.
"Will you tell me how you came here?" she asked, and as the questionapplied to either, we both answered it.
"I have been here some little time, and feared to surprise you; but amvery glad it happened so," I said, and the stranger followed me.
"Rancher Ormesby is unjustified in his inference. I came in by theante-room window. Earlier in the evening I lay outside in the lee of thebuilding watching you, and I felt that I might risk trusting you, so Iwaited for an opportunity. I knew the troopers were here; but I wasfreezing in the snow, and I wondered whether, out of charity, you wouldgive me a little food and let me hide in an outbuilding until theblizzard blows over?"
Lucille Haldane's fear, if it ever lasted more than a moment, hadvanished, and her eyes glistened with womanly pity, for the man'sstrength was clearly spent; but she drew herself up a little. "What haveyou done to come to this?" said she.
"I am afraid I should tire you, and somebody might surprise us, before Itold you half," he answered logically. "You must take my word that all Idid was to resist by force the last effort of an extortioner to completemy ruin. He lent me money, and after I had paid it back nearly twiceover he tried to seize the little that remained between me anddestitution. There was a fracas and he was shot--though the wound wasonly trifling."
I believed the terse story, and saw that Lucille Haldane did also. ThenI grew anxious lest Cotton should come in before she had made herdecision. "There is not a minute to lose. Your father at least shouldknow. Had you not better tell him while I stay here?" I said.
"I don't think so. He has told me that I am mistress at Bonaventure, andI might rouse the troopers in calling him," the girl answered steadily,turning from me to the intruder. "I think I can believe you, and youwill find sleigh-robes in the harness-room at the end of the longstable. Slip up the ladder and crawl in among the hay. The sergeantwould never suspect your presence there."
"And Rancher Ormesby?" asked the other, wit
h a glance at me.
"Will accept the mistress of Bonaventure's decision," I answered dryly."But I am expecting one of the troopers, and you are risking yourliberty every second you stay."
"He is starving," said Lucille Haldane. "There is brandy in thatsideboard, Mr. Ormesby, and I can find cold food in the kitchen.Ah!----"
I had forgotten, while I strained my ears, that Cotton's moccasins wouldgive no warning as he came down the passage, and I hurried forward, atthe girl's exclamation, a second too late to bolt the door. He came inbefore I reached it, and halted at sight of the outlaw, gripping theedge of the table as suddenly as though struck by a bullet. He was a ladof spirit, and I saw there was some special cause for his consternation,and that he was also apparently oblivious of the presence of two of theparty.
"Good Lord! Is it you, Boone, we have been chasing all day?" he said.
I seized a chair-back and measured the distance between myself and thefugitive as I noticed the venomous pistol glint in his hand. But helowered the muzzle when he saw Cotton clearly, and, with a glance inMiss Haldane's direction, let the weapon fall out of sight behind histhigh.
"It is," he answered steadily. "What in heaven's name brought--you--toCanada, Charlie Cotton, and thrust you in my way? It was in a verydifferent character from your present one that I last saw you."
Both apparently forgot the spectators in their mutual surprise, thoughLucille Haldane stared at them wide-eyed, which was small wonder,considering that she was a romantic girl forced for the first time toplay a part in what threatened to prove an unpleasantly realistictragedy. It was hardly possible for her not to guess that these two hadbeen friends in very different circumstances.
Cotton leaned heavily on the table, and, I fancied, groaned; thenstraightened himself and answered in a strained voice that sounded verybitter: "It would be useless to return the compliment, though thecontrast is more marked in your case. I didn't see your face, and thename on our warrant suggested nothing. This is Her Majesty's uniform, atleast--though I would give ten years' pay if it weren't. Can't you seethat I'm Trooper Cotton, and must skulk away a deserter unless I arrestyou?"
"There does not seem to be much choice," Boone said grimly. "Heavenknows how little there is to attract any man in the life I have beenleading; but there is one good cause why I should not be Quixotic enoughto give myself up to oblige you. No! Stand back, Charlie Cotton--I don'twant to hurt you."
The pistol barrel glinted as it rose into sight again, and, though noone had spoken in more than a hoarse whisper before, a heavy silencesettled upon the room, through which I thought I could hear the girlcatch at her breath. I stood between her and the two men, but I was atmy wits' end as to what should be done. By this time my sympathies wereenlisted on the side of the unfortunate rancher; but the girl's presencecomplicated the affair. It seemed imperative that she should be safelyout of the way before either an alarm was given or a struggle ensued.Yet she had refused to vacate the position, and I realized that shemeant it. Meantime, Cotton's face was a study of indecision and disgust.The lad was brave enough, but it seemed as though the mental strugglehad partly crippled his physical faculties. With a gesture of dismay heturned suddenly to me.
"It's a horrible combination, Ormesby. Of course, I can't tell anybodyall, but I knew this man well, and was indebted to him in the oldcountry. Now he has somehow broken the laws of the Dominion, and I'mbound by my oath of service to arrest him. There is no other coursepossible. Boone, I can't help it. Will you surrender quietly?"
"No!" was the answer. "My liberty is precious because I have work to do.Move or call out at your peril, Charlie!"
The climax was evidently approaching, and still I could do nothing forfear of jeopardizing Lucille Haldane's safety if I precipitated it. Theyoung lad, unarmed as he was, stiffened himself as for a spring, and Iwondered whether I could reach his opponent's pistol arm with thechair-leg in time when the trooper moved or shouted. Then, becausefeminine wits are often quicker than our own, I saw the girl's eyes werefixed on me, as, unnoticed by the others, she pointed towards thecandle. Another second passed before I understood her; then, for thelight stood on the corner of the table nearest me, I swept one arm out,and there was sudden darkness as I hurled it sideways across the room.The door into the main passage swung to, and Cotton fell over somethingas he groped his way towards it, while, though strung up in a state oftension, I smiled, hearing--what he did not--somebody brush through theother door, which it was evident had escaped his notice.
Next, feeling that the girl was mistress of the position, I stirred thesinking fire until a faint brightness shone out from the hearth. It justsufficed to reveal Lucille Haldane standing with her back to the doorthe fugitive had not passed through. This quick-witted maneuversufficed to deceive the bewildered representative of the law. "Youcannot pass, Trooper Cotton," she said.
The lad positively groaned. "Do you know that you are disgracing meforever, Miss Haldane?" he said, in a hoarse appeal. "You must let mepass!"
The girl resolutely shook her head, and the dying light showed me herslender fingers tightly clenched on the handle of the door. "I will seethat you do not suffer; but I am mistress of this house, and I think youare an English gentleman, Trooper Cotton," she said.
Then, with an air of desperation, the lad turned to me. "Won't you tryto persuade her, Ormesby?"
"No," I said dryly. "I am Miss Haldane's guest, and not a policeofficer. I am sorry for you, Cotton, but you have done your best, andeven if you forget your own traditions I'll certainly see you show herdue respect. It is not your fault that I have twice your strength, butit will be if, while Miss Haldane remains here, you summon your comradesby a shout."
"Confound you! You never thought----" he broke out; but, ceasingabruptly, he left the sentence incomplete; and, feeling that there weretwo sides to the question, I stood aside while he commenced a circuit ofthe room, which he might have done earlier. Still, Lucille Haldane didnot move, for each moment gained might be valuable, until, with anejaculation, he discovered and sprang through the other door. Then,hurrying to her side, I laid my hand reassuringly on the girl's arm andfound she was trembling like a leaf as I drew the door open.
"You must not lose a moment, and I think you should tell your father;but you can trust me to manage Cotton and keep what has passed asecret," I said.
There was a faint "Thank you"; while hardly had she flitted down thepassage than a shout rang out, and hurrying as for my life, I foundCotton pounding on the inner door of the ante-room. Noticing that thewindow was shut, I seized his shoulder and gripped it hard. "Pullyourself together, and remember, that whatever tale you tell, MissHaldane does not figure in it," I said. "A horse would be no use tohim; but I'll make sure by a run to the stable while you acquaint thesergeant."
It was still snowing, and the drifts were deep, but I managed to plungemy feet into the hollows left by somebody who had preceded me, and therewas a bottle of brandy in my pocket. I returned, floundering as heavilyas possible along my outward tracks--for one learns a good deal whentrailing wandering steers or stalking antelope--and met Cotton, who nowcarried his carbine. It was evident that he was bent on discharging hisduty thoroughly, for when I announced that no horses were missing, heanswered shortly: "Thanks; but I'm going myself to see. Mackay and Mr.Haldane are waiting for you."
I smiled to myself. Trooper Cotton had acquired small proficiency in theart of tracking, and I knew that my footprints would not only deceivehim, but that, following them, he would obliterate evidence that mighthave been conclusive to the sergeant's practiced eyes. All the maleinmates of Bonaventure had gathered, half-dressed, in the hall, andSergeant Mackay, who was asking questions, turned to me. "Ye were herewhen he came in, Rancher Ormesby?"
"I was," I answered. "I didn't hear him until he was in the room; but heseemed starving, and presumably ran the risk in the hope of obtainingfood."
"Why did ye not seize him or raise the alarm?" asked the sergeant; and Ishrugged my shoulders.
/> "I was wholly unarmed, and he is a desperate man with a pistol. You mayremember mentioning that his capture was not my business."
"I mind that I have seen ye take as heavy risks when, for a five-dollarwager, ye drove a loaded sledge over the rotten ice," said the sergeant,with a searching glance at me. "While ye did nothing Trooper Cotton camein to help ye?"
"Just so! He had no weapon either, but appeared quite willing to facethe outlaw's pistol, when the candle went out, and the man must haveslipped out by the second door in the dark. I made for the stables atonce, but all the horses were safe. My own, I discovered earlier, hadcome back by itself."
"Ye showed little sense," said Mackay; while Haldane glanced curiouslyat me. "What would he do with a horse in two foot of snow? There arepoints I'm no' clear about; but there'll be time for questions later.Ah! Found ye anything, Trooper Cotton?"
"No," said the lad. "Nothing but the footprints made by Ormesby; and Ican only presume that, there being no lee on that side, the wind wouldfill the horse-thief's track with snow. He would never risk trying theoutbuildings when he knew that we were here."
"No," was the sergeant's answer. "He'll be for the ravine. We'll takeour leave, Mr. Haldane, with thanks for your hospitality, leaving thehorses in the meantime. It is a regret to me we have brought thisdisturbance upon ye."
Two minutes later the police had vanished into the snow, and in anotherten Bonaventure was almost silent again. I went back to my couch andslept soundly, being too wearied to wonder whether I had done well orill. Next morning Haldane called me into a room of his own.
"My daughter has told me what took place last night, and while, in onesense, I'm indebted to you, Ormesby, I really can't decide whether youshowed a lamentable lack of judgment in abetting her," he said. "She isa brave little soul, but does not always spare time to think. Frankly, Iwish this thing had not come about as it did."
He spoke seriously, but there was a kindliness in his eyes, and it waseasy to see that Carson Haldane's younger daughter was his idol, whichslightly puzzled me. There were those who heaped abuse upon his head,and it is possible his financial operations did not benefit everybody,for when men grow rich by speculation somebody must lose. There are,however, many sides to every nature, and I always found him an upright,kindly gentleman, while only those who knew him best could guess that hewas faithful to a memory, and that the gracious influence of one he hadlost still swayed him.
"I am sorry if I acted indiscreetly, sir; but I could think of no othercourse at the time," I said. "Do you know where the man is now?"
"It is sometimes unwise to ask questions, and I have not inquired tooclosely," and Haldane laid his hand on my shoulder. "It must be oursecret, Ormesby, and I should prefer that Miss Haldane did not share it;this--I suppose one must call it an escapade--might trouble her. Ipresume you could rely on that lad's discretion. He was evidently notbrought up for a police trooper."
"I think you could depend on him, sir; and, as you know, a good manyothers in this country follow vocations they were never intended for."
"Well, we will say no more on that subject," he answered. "The doctorstell me I have been working under too great a strain, and as theyrecommend quiet and relaxation, I decided to try six months' practicalranching. My partner will no doubt arrange that other folks pay thebill; but this is hardly a peaceful beginning."
Haldane laughed before he added, significantly: "In one respect I'm dulygrateful, Ormesby, and--in confidence--here is a proof of it. You arestaking high on the future of this region. Well, the railroad will bebuilt, which will naturally make a great difference in the value ofadjacent land. You will, however, remember that, in accordance withmedical advice, I am now ranching for my health."
I remembered it was said that Carson Haldane could anticipate longbefore anybody else what the powers at Ottawa would sanction or veto,and that a hint from him was valuable. "It is good news, and I presumethat Bonaventure will have extended its boundaries by the time yourecover, sir," I said.
That evening Sergeant Mackay returned to requisition provisions, anddeparted again. He was alone, and very much disgusted, having no news ofthe fugitive. He did not revisit Bonaventure during the next day Iremained there, and presumably the man he sought slipped away when thecoast was clear. Perhaps the fact that the whirling drifts wouldobliterate his tracks had deceived the sergeant, and we supposed thecontrabandists who dealt in prohibited liquor had smuggled him acrossthe American frontier. The night before I took my leave Beatrice Haldanelooked across at her sister, who sat sewing near the stove, and then atme.
"Since you recovered your horse I am not altogether sorry the hunted mangot away," she said. "There are, however, two things about the affairwhich puzzle me--how the candlestick my sister carried when she made therounds reached the table in the hall where it is never left; and why Ishould find the candle it contained under the sideboard in the room theintruder entered! Can you suggest any solution, Mr. Ormesby?"
I felt uncomfortable, knowing that Beatrice Haldane was not only cleverherself, but the daughter of a very shrewd man, while her eyes werefixed steadily on me. Lucille's head bent lower over her sewing, and,though I would have given much to answer frankly, I felt that shetrusted me. So I said, as indifferently as I could: "There might beseveral, and the correct one very simple. Somebody must have knocked thecandlestick over in his hurry and forgotten about it. Have you beenstudying detective literature latterly?"
Beatrice Haldane said nothing further; but I realized that I hadincurred her displeasure, and was not greatly comforted by the gratefulglance her sister flashed at me.