XVI
LARRY SOLVES THE DIFFICULTY
For the space of several seconds the girls stood staring at the figureoutside the window. Then, the man turned sharply, and Hetty gasped as sheheard the crunch of footsteps in the snow below. There was a little of iton the verandah, and the stars shone brilliantly.
"Catch hold of the frame here, Flo," she said breathlessly. "Now, pushwith all your might."
Miss Schuyler did as she was bidden. The double sashes moved with a sharpcreaking, and while she shivered as the arctic cold struck through her,Hetty stretched out an arm and drew the man in. Then with a tremendouseffort she shut the window and pulled the curtains together. There wasdarkness in the room now, and one of the cow-boys called out below.
"Hear anything, Jake?"
"Somebody shutting a door in the house there," said another man, andHetty, passing between the curtains, could see two figures move across thesnow, and the little scintillation from something that was carried by oneof them, and she realized that they had very narrowly averted a tragedy.
"Flo," she said, with a little quiver in her voice, "light the lamp quick.If they see the room dark they might come up."
Miss Schuyler was unusually clumsy, but at last the light sprang up, andshowed Larry standing just inside the curtain with the dust of snow on hisfur coat and cap. His face looked a little less bronzed than usual, but heshowed no other sign of discomposure. Hetty was very pale as she stood infront of him with the pistol still in her hand. She dropped it on a chairwith a shiver, and broke into a little strained laugh.
"You are quite sure they didn't see you, Larry? You took a terrible riskjust now."
Grant smiled, more with his lips than his eyes. "Yes," he said, "I guess Idid. I taught you to shoot as well as most men, Hetty."
Hetty gasped again and sank limply into the nearest chair. "What broughtyou here?" she said. "Still, you can't get away now. Sit down, Larry."
Grant sat down with a bow to Miss Schuyler, and fumbled in the pocket ofhis big fur coat. "I came to give you something you sent me by mistake,"he said. "I would not have come this way if I could have helped it, but Isaw there was a man with a rifle every here and there as I crept upthrough the bluff, and it was quite a while before I could swing myself upby a pillar on to the verandah. You have been anxious about this, Hetty?"
He laid a packet on the table, and Hetty's eyes shone as she took it up.
"Couldn't you have given it to somebody to bring me? It would have beenever so much safer," she said.
"No," said the man simply, "I don't think I could."
Hetty understood him, and so did Miss Schuyler, while the meaning of theglance her companion cast at her was equally plain. Miss Torrance's facewas still pallid, but there was pride in her eyes.
"I wonder if you guessed what was in that letter, Mr. Grant?" FloraSchuyler asked.
Larry smiled. "I think I have a notion."
"Of course!" said Hetty impulsively. "We knew you had, and that was why wefelt certain you would try to bring it back to me."
"If it could have been managed in a different fashion it would havepleased me better," Grant said, with a little impatient gesture. "I amsorry I frightened you, Hetty."
The colour crept back into Hetty's cheeks. "I was frightened, but onlyjust a little at first," she said. "It was when I saw who it was and heardthe boys below, that I grew really anxious."
She did not look at the man as she spoke; but it was evident to MissSchuyler that he understood the significance of the avowal.
"Then," he said, "I must try to get away again more quietly."
"You can't," said Hetty. "Not until the man by the store goes away. Youhave taken too many chances already. You have driven a long way in thecold. Take off that big coat, and Flo will make you some coffee."
Grant, turning, drew the curtains aside a moment, and let them fall backagain. Then, he took off the big coat and sat down with a little smile ofcontentment beside the glowing stove on which Miss Schuyler was placing akettle.
"Well," he said, "I am afraid you will have to put up with my companyuntil that fellow goes away; and I need not tell you that this is verynice for me. One hasn't much time to feel it, but it's dreadfully lonelyat Fremont now and then."
Hetty nodded sympathetically, for she had seen the great desolate room atFremont where Grant and Breckenridge passed the bitter nights alone. Theman's half-audible sigh was also very expressive, for after his grim lifehe found the brightness and daintiness of the little room very pleasant.It was sparely furnished; but there was taste in everything, and incontrast with Fremont its curtains, rugs, and pictures seemed luxurious.Without were bitter frost and darkness, peril, and self-denial; within,warmth and refinement, and the companionship of two cultured women whowere very gracious to him. He also knew that he had shut himself out fromthe enjoyment of their society of his own will, that he had but to maketerms with Torrance, and all that one side of his nature longed for mightbe restored to him.
Larry was as free from sensuality as he was from asceticism; but therewere times when the bleak discomfort at Fremont palled upon him, as didthe loneliness and half-cooked food. His overtaxed body revolted now andthen from further exposure to Arctic cold and the deprivation of neededsleep, while his heart grew sick with anxiety and the distrust of those hewas toiling for. He was not a fanatic, and had very slight sympathy withthe iconoclast, for he had an innate respect for the law, and vagueaspirations after an ampler life made harmonious by refinement, as well asa half-comprehending reverence for all that was best in art and music.There are many Americans like him, and when such a man turns reformer hehas usually a hard row, indeed, to hoe.
"What do you do up there at nights?" asked Hetty.
Larry laughed. "Sometimes Breckenridge and I sit talking by the stove, andnow and then we quarrel. Breckenridge has taste, and generally smooths onethe right way; but there are times when I feel like throwing things athim. Then we sit quite still for hours together listening to the windmoaning, until one of the boys comes in to tell me we are wanted, and itis a relief to drive until morning with the frost at fifty below. It isvery different from the old days when I was here and at Allonby's two orthree nights every week."
"It must have been hard to give up what you did," said Hetty, with adiffidence that was unusual in her. "Oh, I know you did it willingly, butyou must have found it was very different from what you expected. I meanthat the men you wanted to smooth the way for had their notions too, andmeant to do a good deal that could never please you. Suppose you foundthey didn't want to go along quietly, making this country better, but onlyto trample down whatever was there already?"
Flora Schuyler looked up. "I think you will have to face that question,Mr. Grant," she said. "A good many men of your kind have had to do itbefore you. Isn't a faulty ruler better than wild disorder?"
"Yes," said Hetty eagerly. "That is just what I mean. If you saw theywanted anarchy, Larry, you would come back to us? We should be glad tohave you!"
The man turned his eyes away, and Flora Schuyler saw his hands quiver.
"No," he said. "I and the rest would have to teach them what was good forthem, and if it was needful try to hold them in. Whatever they did, we whobrought them here would have to stand in with them."
Hetty accepted the decision in his tone, and sighed. "Well," she said, "wewill forget it; and Flo has the coffee ready. That is yours, Larry, andhere's a box of crackers. Now, we'll try to think of pleasant things. It'slike our old-time picnics. Doesn't it remind you of the big bluff--only wehad a black kettle then, and you made the fire of sticks? There was theday you shot the willow grouse. It isn't really so very long ago!"
"It seems years," said the man, wistfully. "So much has happened since."
"Well," said Hetty, "I can remember all of it still--the pale blue skybehind the bluff, with the little curl of grey smoke floating up againstit. You sat by the fire, Larry, roasting the grouse, and talking aboutwhat could be done with the prairie
. It was all white in the sunshine, andempty as far as one could see, but you told me it would be a great redwheat-field by and by. I laughed at you for dreaming things that couldn'tbe, but we were very happy that day."
Grant's face was very sad for a moment, but he turned to Miss Schuylerwith a little smile. "Hetty is leaving you out," he said.
"I wasn't there, you see," Miss Schuyler said quickly. "Those days belongto you and Hetty."
Hetty glanced at her sharply, and fancied there was a slightly strainedexpression in the smiling face, but the next moment Miss Schuylerlaughed.
"What are you thinking, Flo?" said Hetty.
"It was scarcely worth mentioning. I was wondering how it was that theonly times we have crossed the bridge we met Mr. Grant."
"That's quite simple," said Larry. "Each time it was on Wednesday, and Igenerally drive round to see if I am wanted anywhere that day. They havehad to do almost without provisions at the homesteads in the hollowlately. Your dollars will be very welcome, Hetty."
Hetty blushed for no especial reason, except that when Grant mentionedWednesday she felt that Flora Schuyler's eyes were upon her. Then, a voicerose up below.
"Hello! All quiet, Jake?"
There were footsteps in the snow outside, and when the sentry answered,the words just reached those who listened in the room.
"I had a kind of notion I saw something moving in the bluff, but Icouldn't be quite sure," he said. "There was a door or window banged upthere on the verandah a while ago, but that must have been done by one ofthe women in the house."
Grant rose and drew back the curtain, when, after a patter of footsteps,the voices commenced again.
"Somebody has come in straight from the bluff," said one of the men. "Youcan see where he has been, but I'm blamed if I can figure where he went tounless it was up the post into the verandah, and he couldn't have donethat without Miss Torrance hearing him. I'll stop right here, any way, andI wish my two hours were up."
"I'm that stiff I can scarcely move," said the man relieved, and there wassilence in the room, until Hetty turned to the others in dismay.
"He is going to stay there two hours, and he would see us the moment weopened the window," she said.
Grant quickly put on his big fur coat, and unnoticed, he fancied, slippedone hand down on something that was girded on the belt beneath it.
"I must get away at once--through the house," he said.
Hetty had, however, seen the swift motion of his hand.
"There's a man with a rifle in the hall," she said, shudderingly. "Flo,can't you think of something?"
Flora Schuyler looked at them quietly. "I fancy it would not be verydifficult for Mr. Grant to get away, but the trouble is that nobody mustknow he has been near the place. That is the one thing your father couldnot forgive, Hetty."
Hetty turned her head a little, but Grant nodded. "Had it been otherwise Ishould have gone an hour ago," he said.
"Well," said Flora Schuyler, with a curious look in her face, "while Ifancy we can get you away unnoticed, if anybody did see you, it needn'tappear quite certain that it was any affair with Hetty that brought you."
"No?" said Hetty, very sharply. "What do you mean, Flo?"
Miss Schuyler smiled a little and looked Grant in the eyes. "What wouldappear base treachery in Hetty's case would be less astonishing in me. Mr.Grant, you must not run risks again to talk to me, but since you have doneit I must see you through. You are sure there is only one cow-boy in thehall, Hetty?"
Hetty turned and looked at them. Flora Schuyler was smiling bravely, theman standing still with grave astonishment in his eyes.
"No," she said, with quick incisiveness, "I can't let you, Flo."
"I don't think I asked your permission," said Miss Schuyler. "Could youexplain this to your father, Hetty? I believe he would not be angry withme. Adventurous gallantry is, I understand, quite approved of on theprairie. Call your maid. Mr. Grant, will you come with me?"
For several seconds Hetty stood silent, recognizing that what Torrancemight smile at in his guest would appear almost a crime in his daughter,but still horribly unwilling. Then, as Flora Schuyler, with ahalf-impatient gesture, signed to Grant, she touched a little gong, and afew moments later her maid met them in the corridor. The girl stoppedsuddenly, gasping a little as she stared at Grant, until Hetty grasped herarm, nipping it cruelly.
"If you scream or do anything silly you will be ever so sorry," she said."Go down into the hall and talk to Jo. Keep him where the stove is, withhis back to the door."
"But how am I to do it?" the girl asked.
"Take him something to eat," Miss Schuyler said impatiently. "Any way, itshould not be hard to fool him--I have seen him looking at you. Now, Iwonder if that grey dress of mine would fit you--I have scarcely had iton, but it's a little too tight for me."
The girl's eyes glistened, she moved swiftly down the corridor, FloraSchuyler laughed, and Grant looked away.
"Larry," said Hetty, "it isn't just what one would like--but I am afraidit is necessary."
Five minutes later Hetty moved across the hall, making a little noise, sothat the cow-boy, who stood near the other end of it, with the maid closeby him, should notice her. She softly opened the outer door, and then cameback and signed to Grant and Flora Schuyler, who stood waiting in thecorridor.
"No," he said, and the lamplight showed a darker hue than the bronze offrost and sun in his face. "Miss Schuyler, I have never felt quite so meanbefore, and you will leave the rest to me."
"It seems to me," she said coolly, "that what you feel does not count formuch. Just now you have to do what is best for everybody. Stoop as low asyou can."
She stretched out her hand with a little imperious gesture, and laid it onhis arm, drawing herself up to her full height as she stood between himand the light. They moved forward together, and Hetty closed her hand asshe watched them pass into the hall. The end was dim and shadowy, for theone big lamp that was lighted stood some distance away by the stove, wherethe man on watch was talking to the maid. Hetty realized that the girl wasplaying her part well as she saw her make a swift step backwards, andheard the man's low laugh.
Flora Schuyler and Grant were not far from the door now, the girl walkingclose to her companion. In another moment they would have passed out ofsight into the shadow, but while Hetty felt her fingers trembling, the manon watch, perhaps hearing their footsteps, turned round.
"Hallo!" he said. "It seems kind of cold. What can Miss Schuyler want withopening the door? Is that Miss Torrance behind her?"
He moved forward a pace, apparently not looking where he was going, buttowards the door, and might have moved further, but that the maid swiftlystretched out one foot, and a chair with the tray laid on it went overwith a crash.
"Now there's going to be trouble. See what you've done," she said.
The man stopped, staring at the wreck upon the floor.
"Well," he said, "I'm blamed if I touched the thing. What made it fallover, any way?"
"Pick them up," the girl said sharply. "You don't want to make trouble forme!"
He stooped, and Hetty gasped with relief as she saw him carefully scrapingsome dainty from the floor, for just then one of the two figures slippedaway from the other, and there was a sound that might have been made by asoftly closing door. The cow-boy looked up quickly, and saw Miss Torranceand Miss Schuyler standing close together, then stood up as they cametowards him. Hetty paused and surveyed the overturned crockery, and then,though her heart was throbbing painfully, gave the man a glance ofironical inquiry. He looked at the maid as if for inspiration, but shestood meekly still, the picture of bashful confusion.
"I'm quite sorry, Miss Torrance," he said. "The concerned thing wentover."
Hetty laughed. "Well," she said, "it's a very cold night, and Lou can getyou some more supper. She is, however, not to stay here a minute after shehas given it you."
She went out with Miss Schuyler, and the two stood very silent by a windowin
the corridor. One of them fancied she saw a shadowy object slip roundthe corner of a barn, but could not be sure, and for five very longminutes they stared at the faintly shining snow. Nothing moved upon it,and save for the maid's voice in the hall, the great building was verystill. Hetty touched Miss Schuyler's arm.
"He has got away," she said. "Come back with me. I don't feel likestanding up any longer."
They sat down limply when they returned to the little room, and thoughMiss Schuyler did not meet her companion's gaze, there was something thatdid not seem to please the latter in her face.
"Flo," she said, "one could almost fancy you felt it as much as I did. Itwas awfully nice of you."
Miss Schuyler smiled, though there was a tension in her voice. "Of courseI felt it," she said. "Hetty, I'd watch that maid of yours. She's tooclever."
Hetty said nothing for a moment, then, suddenly crossing the room, shestooped down and kissed Miss Schuyler.
"I have never met any one who would do as much for me as you would, Flo,"she said. "I don't think there is anything that could come between us."
There was silence for another moment, and during it Miss Schuyler lookedsteadily into Hetty's eyes. "No," she said, "although you do not seemquite sure, I don't think there is."
It was early the next morning when Christopher Allonby arrived at theRange. He smiled as he glanced at the packet Hetty handed him.
"I have never seen your father anything but precise," he said.
"Has anything led you to fancy that he has changed?" asked Hetty.
Allonby laughed as he held out the packet. "The envelope is all creasedand crumpled. It might have been carried round for ever so long insomebody's pocket. Now, I know you don't smoke, Hetty."
"There is no reason why I should not, but, as it happens, I don't," saidMiss Torrance.
"Then, the packet has a most curious, cigar-like smell," said Allonby,smiling. "Now, I don't think Mr. Torrance carries loose cigars and lettersabout with him together. I wonder what deduction one could make fromthis."
Hetty glanced at Miss Schuyler. "You could never make the right one,Chris," she said.
Allonby said nothing further and went out with the letter; a day or twolater he handed it to the Sheriff.
"I guess you know what's inside it?" said the latter.
"Yes," said the lad. "I want to see you count them now."
The Sheriff glanced at him sharply, took out a roll of bills and flickedthem over.
"Yes," he said, "that's quite right; but one piece of what I have to do isgoing to be difficult."
"Which?" said Allonby.
"Well," said the Sheriff, "I guess you know. I mean the getting hold ofLarry."