CHAPTER XLII
The Aftertime
The crack of doom will never hit Fort Ryan harder. When the thousandpainted Sioux came riding, yelling, wild with joy, shooting their riflesin the air, racing in a vast, appalling hoof tornado down the long trackand then to the lodge of all the stakes, they went as men who arerushing to save their own from some swift flood that threatens. But theygot an unexpected shock. The red sentry and the white sentry werestanding--sullen, for they were forced to miss the race. Still, theresult was clear.
The Sioux were each for claiming the bundle with his name. But thesoldier on guard, with fixed bayonet, ordered all the frenzied rabbleback.
"I don't know anything about your darned race, and here I stand till Iget orders from my officer."
It was the very impudence of his courage that saved him from what theythought righteous vengeance. The Colonel came at once. The guard salutedand withdrew and the Red men seized their spoils. And, strange to say,among themselves they had not one dispute; none tried to overreach; eachknew his mark and claimed his own.
The whites were like men under a gallows doom.
"Stung, stung!" was all the Colonel had to say.
The Adjutant, an erratic officer, had lost half a year's pay. Themagnitude of the disaster was almost national, he felt, and sadly,shyly, he said: "Will you have the flag at half-mast, Colonel?"
"No!" thundered the Colonel. "I'll be darned if the flag shall hang athalf-mast for anything less than the death of an American."
And the Rev. James Hartigan! He stared stonily before him as the racewas won.
Belle was at hand and she watched him closely. He turned deathly pale.
"What is it, Jim?" she said quietly, and laid her hand on his.
"Oh, Belle, this is awful."
"Why, Jim? Why should you care? It isn't as if it were Blazing Star.We're sorry for all those men, of course; but maybe it's the best thingfor them. I think now they'll realize the curse and folly of racetrackgambling."
"Oh, Belle, if you only knew," groaned Jim.
"Knew what, Jim dear? It seems to me those men are getting theirdeserts. I know you and Dr. Jebb did all you could to hold them back,and denounced all racing as it properly should be."
Jim turned his head away and pressing his forehead with his greatpowerful hand, he groaned.
"Jim, dear boy, why do you take it so hard? Why should you worry? I'msorry for the women and children that will suffer for this, but I havelittle pity for the men; the fools, _they_ knew what they were doing."
"Let's ride away," he said; and as he turned, he saw Red Cloud, calm anddignified, on his horse watching wagon after wagon go by filled withplunder, on its way to the Indian camp.
Jim and Belle rode away from the painful scene. She was leading for theFort; but he said, "I must see Higginbotham." She followed as he went tothe tent with the sign, "John & Hannah Higginbotham--Insurance." Anumber of Indians were in and about, laughing merrily and talking intheir own tongue. Jim waited till the tent was clear, then dismounted.Belle was for following, but Jim said, "Would you mind holding thehorses? I won't be a minute." His face was so drawn and sad that she wasdeeply touched. She had meant to prick and lash him for a while yet, butnow in pity she forbore.
He entered. The Deacon was sitting at a little desk. Beside him was asmall safe; it was open, but nearly empty now.
"Well," said Jim gruffly, almost savagely, "what's to do?"
"Nothing," said the Deacon calmly. "You've lost. The Indians have beenhere and got most of their plunder. Your five hundred is now theproperty of a person named 'Two Strikes' who will, doubtless, callpresently and secure the indemnity, less my reasonable 5 per cent.commission."
Jim turned in silence. As he joined Belle, she said, "Here, Jim, help medown; I want a word with the Deacon."
Jim stammered, "I--well--ah----"
She paid no attention, but said, "Now lead the horses over there." Whenhe was safely away, she entered. The Deacon's eyes twinkled. "Goodafternoon, Two Strikes, you people have made a great killing."
"Yes," she said calmly; "I've come for my share."
He opened the safe, took out the last of the packets tied up in aparticular shape, and said in businesslike tone, "Two hundred and fiftydollars premium, five hundred dollars insurance, 5 per cent, onindemnity collected is twenty-five dollars; shall I hold it out?"
"No," she said; "I'll keep that bunch untouched. Here it is." She handedhim his twenty-five dollars, put the seven hundred and fifty dollars inher side bag, and went forth. Jim stared at her in a frightened way asshe came.
"Belle," he said huskily, "what did he say?"
"Oh, nothing special. Judging from his looks, I don't think he's lostany money."
"Did--did he tell you anything?"
"About what?"
"About me?"
"No. Why? Why do you look so terribly upset, Jim?" and mounting, sherode off beside him.
"Oh, Belle, I can't lie to you. I'll tell you all about it. Belle, I putup all I had, the money I got for Blazing Star. All we were to furnishwith. I wanted to hand you the money _you_ wanted. Calling it insuranceblinded me; the temptation was too much. I should have known better. Oh,Belle, will you ever forgive me? I'm nothing but a gambler," and,crushed with shame, he repeated, "I'm nothing but a criminal racetrackgambler."
An overwhelming compassion swamped her. She leaned toward him and saidsoftly, "So am I, Jim, I'm just as bad as you are."
"What--what do you mean?"
"Jim, do you know the name of the Indian that got your stake?"
"Yes. He said it was 'Two Strikes.'"
"Jim, dear, I am 'Two Strikes.' Here is your money back; only it's ourmoney now, Jim darling. Now never a word of this to any human soul"; andscreened by the cottonwood trees, they fell sobbing in each other'sarms.