CHAPTER VI
A BOLD FRONT
It was but a glimpse through the leaf-draped window of dust-cakedhorses, the bronzed faces of their riders, and the gray hair of JudgeMoran, as he hastened down the steps to greet them. I saw one man swingdown from his saddle, and advance toward the house, then a sharpcatching of the girl's breath drew my attention toward her, and oureyes met.
"You--you must not suppose I expected this," she faltered, "--that Ihave betrayed you."
There was no doubting her earnestness, nor her disgust at suchtreachery.
"Not for a moment. But I must get away. Are you acquainted with thehouse?"
"Yes; but two of the men rode around to the well. It would be impossiblenow to slip out the back way without discovery." She ran across theroom, and flung open a door. "Go in there and lie down; pretend to beasleep. If the judge does not inform them of your presence here it maynever be suspected. If he does I must cling to the old story."
I caught her hands, and in the excitement she seemed scarcely aware ofthe act.
"You are willing to do this for me?"
"I don't know what I do it for," a little nervous laugh in her voice."When one once gets started into deceit there seems to be no end--but goquick! the officer is coming now."
The room into which I was thrust was darkened by lowered shades, but thebookcases lining the walls proclaimed it a library. A comfortableleather couch occupied the space between the two windows. The doorremained half an inch ajar, and, before I could close it, some oneentered the dining-room. The first words uttered held me silent,listening. There was a heavy step on the uncarpeted floor, the jingle ofspurs, and a startled exclamation from the girl.
"You! Why, I had no thought of meeting you here."
"Yet I trust you are not sorry," the voice deep, yet so low I lost anoccasional word. "Judge Moran says you bear--"
"Hush," she interrupted quickly. "Yes, and they must go on at once. Whatbrings you here, Gerald? A scouting party?"
"We are Beauregard's advance scouts; he is moving eastward."
"Then these papers must reach him at once. Don't stop to ask questions,Gerald, but send some man; have him kill his horse if necessary. Oh,don't stand there looking at me, but go! I'll explain later."
I heard the rustle of papers, the rapid movement of the man as he leftthe room, the quick breathing of the excited woman. Then she crossed theroom to the window, and the next moment a horse galloped past. My headwhirled--then it was not quinine for the hospitals which had brought herthrough the lines; she had deliberately lied to me, and instead, was abearer of despatches. Sudden anger at the trick banished every otherfeeling; yet what could I do? My hand gripped the knob of the door,every nerve throbbing, when I heard the officer's voice again in thebreakfast room.
"He's off; now let's have the straight of all this, Billie."
Billie! I grasped the full truth of it in an instant. Lord! I had been afool. The woman had played with me as though I were a mere child; hadbeen laughing at me all night; and doubtless intended now to hand meover prisoner to this squad of gray-jackets. Billie! The very person Iwas seeking; the only one who could hope to get through after all othershad failed. And I had supposed "Billie" was a man, never once thinkingof the name as a pet feminine one of the South. The realization of allthis confused me so that I missed a part of what was being said, andonly aroused as the man spoke more sharply.
"That's all right, of course; I understand what brought you here, butwhere is that fellow you had with you?"
"Who?" it was an indignant voice.
"Oh, you understand, Miss Innocence," a slight sneer in the utterance."There was a man in your company when you arrived, dressed as a Yank.Moran told me so. You were breakfasting together--the tableproves that."
"Well, what of it? I explained his presence to the judge. Am I obligedto account for all my actions to every one I meet?"
The officer, evidently acquainted with the lady's disposition, and awarethat driving would never do, changed his tone, crossing the room towardher, and lowering his voice.
"No, not to every one, Billie, but surely you cannot deny I have someright to this information. Would you wish me to be riding the country atnight with a strange woman?"
"If it became part of your duty--yes. I have no remembrance of everinterfering with your freedom, Captain Le Gaire."
I could hear the man's teeth click, as though in an effort to restrainan oath.
"By God, but you are irritating!" he burst forth impetuously. "One wouldthink I were no more to you than a stranger. This is no light affair tobe laughed away. Have you forgotten our engagement already?"
"That is scarcely probable. You remind me of it often enough. Don'tcrush my hand so."
Her provoking coldness was all that was needed to overcome the slightrestraint the captain still exercised. Instantly his real nature cameto the fore.
"Then I'll make him do the explaining," he threatened fiercely. "I knowhow to deal with men. Where is the fellow? In that room?"
There was a brief silence. I could distinguish his rapid breathing, andthe slight rustle of her skirts as she sank back into a chair.
"Well, are you going to tell me? Or must I hunt for myself?"
"Captain Le Gaire," she began quietly, without even a tremor in the softvoice, "possibly you forget whom I am. The gentlemen of my acquaintancehave never been accustomed to question the motives actuating myconduct. You imagine yourself talking to some darky on your Louisianaplantation. Is this the manner in which you propose treating me aftermarriage?"
He laughed uneasily.
"Why, I meant nothing, Billie. Don't take it in that way. Surely youunderstand I have a right to be curious as to your companion."
"Yes; but not to carry your curiosity to the point of discourtesy. Ihave not the slightest objection to answering your questions, if youonly ask with some respect."
"You always hold me at arm's length."
"Do I? Well, this is hardly the best time to discuss that. What was ityou wished to know?"
"Who is the fellow travelling with you?"
"Didn't the judge tell you?"
"He said he was a Confederate spy dressed in the uniform of a Yankeelieutenant whom you had brought through the lines."
"Well, isn't that information sufficient?"
The gallant captain again smothered an oath, evidently tried to thelimit by the girl's cool indifference.
"Of course it isn't. That might answer for Moran, for he has no personalinterest in the affair. But it's altogether different with me. It'smerely accident that I rode in here this morning, and I immediatelydiscover the woman I am engaged to marry was out all night riding aroundwith a stranger, eating breakfast with him when I arrive. Do you supposethat is pleasant?"
"No; yet my explanation ought to be sufficient."
"Explanation! You have made none."
"Oh, yes; Judge Moran told you the circumstances."
I heard him stomp roughly across the floor, his spurs clanking.
"Explanation, nothing! Who is the fellow?"
"Really I don't know."
"Don't know? Do you mean to say you rode with him alone all night, andtook breakfast with him this morning, without even learning his name?"
"He said his name was Galesworth, but I don't know that he told thetruth."
"You pretend indifference well," the man sneered.
"It is no pretence; I am indifferent. Why should I be otherwise? I amnot interested in spies. I may assist one through the lines to serve theConfederacy, but that is no evidence that I feel any personal interestin the man. Anyhow that is the extent of my knowledge in this case, andI haven't the slightest desire to increase it. When are you goingto ride on?"
"Not until I know more than I do now," he retorted savagely. "There issomething hidden here. You are pretending all this indifference so as togive that fellow sufficient time to get away. I'm damned if I putup with it."
"Captain Le Gaire," and she was upon her f
eet, "do you venture toaddress such language to me? Do you dare--"
"I am no dupe of yours or of any other woman," he broke in, too angrynow to restrain his words. "There is something wrong here, and I mean toknow what it is. If you won't tell, I'll find out myself." He strodeacross to the window and called to some one below. "Slade, comein here."
There was a moment of waiting, during which neither stirred, nor spoke.Then the trooper entered, his heels clicking together as he saluted justwithin the doorway.
"Sergeant," said Le Gaire shortly. "I have reason to suspect there is aman hidden in that room yonder. I'll keep an eye on this young lady,while you find out."
Slade took a step forward, and the girl's dress rustled.
"Wait just a minute, Sergeant," she said briefly. "Am I to understandfrom this, Captain Le Gaire, that you are not only a bully, but alsoa coward?"
"A coward!--"
"Yes, a coward. You order the sergeant to open that door--why do younot open it yourself?"
He laughed rather unpleasantly.
"So that's the trouble? Well, it's merely a way we have in the army, butif it will greatly oblige you I'll do the job."
It was useless waiting longer; the room offered me no possiblehiding-place, the two windows looked down on the waiting cavalrymen.Beyond doubt boldness was the best card to play. Before the ratherreluctant captain could take a second step I flung open the concealingdoor, and came forth into the breakfast room.