CHAPTER XVII
When Graham entered the office Shirley came to meet him quietly,without a word of greeting other than to put her little cold hand intohis that he held out to her. She began to speak in a low voice full ofsuppressed excitement. She had a vague fear lest the two men might bestill lingering about the outer office, waiting for Mr. Barnard, and amomentary dread lest Mr. Barnard might enter the room at any minute.She must get the telling over before he came.
"Mr. Graham, two men were sitting in this room waiting for Mr. Barnarda few minutes ago, and I was in my little room just back there. Icould not help hearing what they said, and when I caught the name ofGraham in connection with what sounded like an evil plot I took downtheir words in shorthand. It may not have anything to do with yourfirm, but I thought I ought to let you know. I called you on the phoneas soon as they left the office and would not hear me, and I have madethis copy of their conversation. Read it quickly, please, because ifit does have anything to do with you, you will want to phone yourfather at once, before those men can get there."
Her tone was very cool, and her hand was steady as she handed him thetypewritten paper, but her heart was beating mildly, because there hadbeen a look in his eyes as he greeted her that made her feel that hewas glad to see her, and it touched an answering gladness in her heartand filled her both with delight and with apprehension. What a foolshe was!
She turned sharply away and busied herself with arranging some paperson Mr. Barnard's desk while he read. She must still this excitementand get control of herself before he was through. She _must_ be thecool, impersonal stenographer, and not let him suspect for a momentthat she was so excited about seeing him again.
The young man stood still, reading rapidly, his face growing graver ashe read. The girl snatched a furtive glance at him, and felt convincedthat the matter was a serious one and had to do with him.
Suddenly he looked up.
"Do you know who those men were, Miss Shirley?" he asked, and she sawhis eyes were full of anxiety.
"No," said Shirley. "But I saw them as they passed through the outeroffice, and stopped to speak to Mr. Clegg. I was taking dictation fromMr. Clegg at the time. I came back to my desk through the cloak-room,so they did not know I was within hearing."
"What kind of looking men were they? Do you remember?"
She described them.
Certainty grew in his face as she talked, and grave concern.
"May I use your phone a minute?" he asked after an instant's thought.
She led him to her own desk and handed him the receiver, then steppedback into the office and waited.
"Hello! Is that you, Edward?" she heard him say. "Has father comeyet? Give me his phone, please. Hello, father; this is Sidney.Father, has Kremnitz come in yet? He has? You say he's waiting in theoffice to see you? Well, don't see him, father, till I get there.Something has turned up that I'm afraid is going to alter mattersentirely. Yes, pretty serious, I'm afraid. Don't see him. Keep himwaiting. I'll be there in five minutes, and come in from the back waydirectly to your office. Don't talk with him on any account till I canget there. Good-by."
He hung up the receiver and turned to Shirley.
"Miss Shirley, you were just in time to save us. I haven't time now totell you how grateful I am for this. I must hurry right over. Do yousuppose if we should need you it would be possible for you to come overand identify those men? Thank you. I'll speak to Mr. Clegg about itas I go out, and if we find it necessary we'll phone you. In case youhave to come I'll have an office-boy in the hall to take your hat, andyou can come right into the office as if you were one of ouremployees--just walk over to the bookcase as if you were looking for abook--any book. Select one and look through it, meanwhile glancingaround the room, and see if you find those men. Then walk through intomy office. I'll be waiting there. Good-by, and thank you so much!"
He gave her hand one quick clasp and was gone, and Shirley found shewas trembling from head to foot. She walked quickly into her own roomand sat down, burying her face in her hands and trying to get controlof herself, but the tears would come to her eyes in spite of all shecould do. It was not the excitement of getting the men and stoppingtheir evil plans before they could do any damage, although that hadsomething to do with her nervous state, of course; and it was not justthat she had been able to do a little thing in return for all he haddone for her; nor even his gratitude; it was--she could not deny it toherself--it was a certain quality in his voice, a something in the lookhe gave her, that made her whole soul glow, and seemed to fill thehungry longing that had been in her heart.
It frightened her and made her ashamed, and as she sat with bowed headshe prayed that she might be given strength to act like a sensiblegirl, and crush out such foolish thoughts before they dared lift theirheads and be recognized even by her own heart. Then strengthened, sheresolved to think no more about the matter, but just get her work doneand be ready to enter into that other business if it became necessary.Mr. Barnard would be coming soon, and she must have his work finished.She had lost almost an hour by this matter.
She went at her typewriter pell-mell, and soon had Mr. Clegg's lettersdone. She was nearly through with the addressing that Mr. Barnard leftfor her to do when the telephone called her to Graham's office.
She slipped on her hat and hurried out.
"Will it be all right for me to take my noontime now, Mr. Clegg?" shesaid, stopping by his desk. "Mr. Graham said he spoke to you."
"Yes, he wants you to help him identify some one. That's all right.I'll explain to Mr. Barnard when he comes. There's nothing importantyou have to finish, is there? All done but those envelopes? Well, youneedn't return until one o'clock, anyway. The envelopes can wait tillthe four-o'clock mail, and if Mr. Barnard needs anything in a hurryMiss Dwight can attend to it this time. Just take your time, MissHollister."
Shirley went out bewildered by the unusual generosity of Mr. Clegg, whowas usually taciturn and abrupt. She realized, however, that hiswarmth must be due to Graham's visit, and not to any special desire togive her a holiday. She smiled to think what a difference wealth andposition made in the eyes of the world.
The same office-boy she had met on her first visit to Graham's officewas waiting most respectfully for her now in the hall when she got outof the elevator, and she gave him her hat and walked into the officeaccording to programme, going straight to the big glass bookcase fullof calf-bound volumes, and selecting one after running her finger overtwo rows of them. She was as cool as though her part had beenrehearsed many times, although her heart was pounding mostunmercifully, and it seemed as though the people in the next room musthear it. She stood and opened her book, casting a casual glance aboutthe room.
There, sure enough, quite near to her, sat the two men, fairly burstingwith impatience. The once immaculate hair of the loudly dressed onewas rumpled as if he had run his fingers through it many times, and heplayed nervously with his heavy rings, and caressed half viciously hiselaborate mustache, working his thick, sensuous lips impatiently allthe while. Shirley took a good look at him, necktie, scarf-pin, andall; looked keenly into the face of the gray one also; then coollyclosed the door of the bookcase and carried the book she had selectedinto Sidney Graham's office.
Graham was there, standing to receive her, and just back of him stood akindly-faced elderly man with merry blue eyes, gray hair, and astylishly cut beard. By their attitude and manner Shirley somehowsensed that they had both been watching her. Then Graham introducedher.
"This is my father, Miss Hollister."
The elder man took her hand and shook it heartily, speaking in a gruff,hearty way that won her from the first:
"I'm glad to know you, Miss Hollister. I certainly am! My son hasbeen telling me what you've done for us, and I think you're a greatlittle girl! That was bully work you did, and I appreciate it. I waswatching you out there in the office. You were as cool as a cucumber.You ought to be a detective. Y
ou found your men all right, did you?"
"Yes, sir," said Shirley, much abashed, and feeling the return of thatfoolish trembling in her limbs. "Yes, they are both out there, and theshort one with the rings and the blue necktie is the one that did thetalking."
"Exactly what I thought," drawled the father, with a keen twinkle inhis kindly eyes. "I couldn't somehow trust that chap from the start.That's why I sent my son out to investigate. Well, now, will you juststep into my private office, Miss Hollister, and take your seat by thetypewriter as if you were my stenographer? You'll find paper there inthe drawer, and you can just be writing--write anything, you choose, soit looks natural when the men come in. When we get to talking I'd likeyou to take down in shorthand all that is said by all of us. You'repretty good at that, I judge. Sid, will you phone for those officersnow? I think it's about time for the curtain to rise." And he led theway into his own office.
Shirley sat down at the typewriter as she had been directed and beganto write mechanically. Mr. Graham touched the bell on his desk, andtold the office boy who answered to send in Mr. Kremnitz and hiscompanion.
Shirley was so seated that she could get occasional glimpses of the menwithout being noticed, and she was especially interested in the twinklethat shone in the bright blue eyes of the elder Graham as he surveyedthe men who thought he was their dupe. Her heart warmed to him. Hiskindly, merry face, his hearty, unconventional speech, all showed himto be a big, warm-hearted man without a bit of snobbishness about him.
The son came in, and talk began just as if the matter of the mine weregoing on. Mr. Kremnitz produced some papers which he evidentlyexpected to be signed at once, and sat complacently answeringquestions; keen questions Shirley saw they were afterwards, and in thelight of the revelation she had overheard in Mr. Barnard's officeKremnitz perjured himself hopelessly by his answers. Presently theoffice-boy announced the arrival of some one in the next room. Shirleyhad taken down minutely a great deal of valuable information which theGrahams had together drawn from their victim. She was surprised at thelist of wealthy business men who were to have been involved in thescheme.
Then suddenly the quiet scene changed. The elder Graham gave a signalto his office-boy, which looked merely like waving him away, and thedoor was flung open, revealing four officers of the law, who steppedinto the room without further word. Graham arose and faced his twostartled callers, his hand firmly planted on the papers on his deskwhich he had been supposed to sign.
"Mr. Kremnitz," he said, and even in the midst of this serious businessShirley fancied there was a half-comic drawl to his words. He simplycould not help letting his sense of humor come on top. "Mr. Kremnitz,it is not going to be possible for me to sign these papers thismorning, as you expected. I do not feel satisfied that all things areas you have represented. In fact, I have the best evidence to thecontrary. Officer, these are the gentlemen you have come to arrest,"and he stepped back and waved his hand toward the two conspirators, whosat with startled eyes and blanched faces, appalled at the suddendevelopments where they had thought all was moving happily toward theirdesired end.
"Arrest! Who? On what charge?" flashed the little gaudy Kremnitz,angrily springing to his feet and making a dash toward the door, whilehis companion slid furtively toward the other end of the room,evidently hoping to gain young Graham's office before he was noticed.But two officers blocked their way and the handcuffs clanked in thehands of the other two policemen.
"Why, arrest _you_, my friend," said Graham senior, as if he ratherenjoyed the little man's discomfiture. "And for trying to perpetratethe biggest swindle that has been attempted for ten years. I must sayfor you that you've worked hard, and done the trick rather neatly, butyou made one unfortunate slip that saved all us poor rich men. Itseems a pity that so much elaborate lying should have brought you twonothing but those bracelets you're wearing,--they don't seem to matchwell with your other jewels,--but that's the way things go in thisworld. Now, take them away, officer. I've no more time to waste onthem this morning!" and he turned and walked over by Shirley's desk,while the curtain fell over the brief drama.
"Do you know how much money you've saved for us, little girl,--justplain _saved_? I'll tell you. A clean hundred thousand! That's whatI was going to put into this affair! And as for other men, I expectedto influence a lot of other men to put in a good deal also. Now,little girl, I don't know what you think about it, but I want to shakehands." He put out his hand and Shirley laid her own timid one in it,smiling and blushing rosily, and saying softly with what excited breathshe had, "Oh, I'm so glad I got you in time!" Then she was aware thatthe man had gone on talking. "I don't know what you think about it,"he repeated, "but I feel that you saved me a clean hundred thousanddollars, and I say that a good percentage of that belongs to you as areward of your quickness and keenness."
But Shirley drew away her hand and stepped back, her face white, herhead up, her chin tilted proudly, her eyes very dark with excitementand determination. She spoke clearly and earnestly.
"No, Mr. Graham, nothing whatever belongs to me. I don't want anyreward. I couldn't think of taking it. It is utterly out of thequestion!"
"Well, well, well!" said the elder Graham, sitting down on the edge ofhis desk, watching her in undisguised admiration. "Now that's a newkind of girl that won't take what she's earned,--what rightly belongsto her."
"Mr. Graham, it was a very little thing I did,--anybody would have doneit,--and it was just in the way of simple duty. Please don't sayanything more about it. I am only too glad to have had opportunity togive a little help to people who have helped me so much. I feel that Iam under deep obligation to your son for making it possible for us tolive in the country, where my mother is getting well."
"Well, now I shall have to inquire into this business. I haven't heardanything about obligations, and for my part I feel a big one just now.Perhaps you think it was a very little thing you did, but suppose you_hadn't_ done it. Suppose you'd been too busy, or it hadn't occurredto you to take down that conversation until it was too late; or supposeyou hadn't had the brains to see what it would mean to us. Why, thenit would have become a very big thing indeed, and we should have beenwilling, if we had known, to pay a mighty big sum to get that evidence.You see a hundred thousand dollars isn't exactly a very little thingwhen you're swindled out of it. It's the _swindling_ that hurts morethan the loss of the money. And you saved us from that. Now, younglady, I consider myself under obligation to you, and I intend todischarge it somehow. If I can't do it one way I shall another, but inthe meantime I'm deeply grateful, and please accept our thanks. If youare willing to add one more to your kindness, I shall be glad if youwill make a carbon copy of those shorthand notes you took. I may needthem for evidence. And, by the way, you will probably be called uponto testify in court. I'm sorry. That may be unpleasant, but I guessit can't be helped, so you see before you get through you may not thinkyou did so very small a thing after all. Sid, I think you betterescort this young lady back to her office and explain to Barnard. He'sprobably been on the verge of being buncoed also. You said Kremnitzwas waiting for him when the conversation took place? I guess youbetter go with Miss Hollister and clear the whole thing up. Say,child, have you had your lunch yet? No, of course not. Sidney, youtake her to get some lunch before she goes back to the office. She'shad an exciting morning. Now, good-by, little girl. I sha'n't forgetwhat you've done for us, and I'm coming to see you pretty soon and getthings squared up."
So that was how it came about that in spite of her protests Mr. SidneyGraham escorted Shirley Hollister into one of the most exclusivetea-rooms of the city, and seated her at a little round table set fortwo, while off at a short distance Miss Harriet Hale sat with hermother, eating her lunch and trying in vain to "place" the pretty girlshe did not recognize.
It never occurred to her for a moment that Sidney Graham's companionmight be a stenographer, for Shirley had a knack about her clothes thatmade her always s
eem well dressed. That hat she wore had seen servicefor three summers, and was now a wholly different shape and color fromwhat it had been when it began life. A scrub in hot water had removedthe dust of toil, some judiciously applied dye had settled the matterof color, and a trifling manipulation on her head while the hat wasstill wet had made the shape not only exceedingly stylish but becoming.The chic little rosette and strictly tailored band which were its soletrimming were made from a much-soiled waist-ribbon, washed andstretched around a bottle of hot water to dry it, and teased into thelatest thing in rosettes by Shirley's witching fingers. The simplelinen dress she wore fitted well and at a distance could not have beentold from something better, and neither were gloves and shoes nearenough to be inspected critically, so Miss Hale was puzzled, andjealously watched the pretty color come and go in Shirley's cheek, andthe simple grace of her movements.
Fortunately, Shirley did not see Miss Hale, and would not haverecognized her if she had from that one brief glimpse she had of herpicture on the society page of the newspaper. So she ate herdelectable lunch, ordered by Graham, in terms that she knew not, aboutdishes that she had never seen before. She ate and enjoyed herself sointensely that it seemed to her she would never be able to make therest of her life measure up to the privileges of the hour.
For Shirley was a normal girl. She could not help being pleased to bedoing just for once exactly as other more favored girls did constantly.To be lunching at Blanco's with one of the most-sought-after men in theupper set, to be treated like a queen, and to be talking beautifulthings about travels and pictures and books, it was all too beautifulto be real. Shirley began to feel that if it didn't get over prettysoon and find her back in the office addressing the rest of thoseenvelopes she would think she had died in the midst of a dream and goneto heaven.
There was something else too that brought an undertone of beauty, whichshe was not acknowledging even to her inmost self. That was the wayGraham looked at her, as if she were some fine beautiful angel droppeddown from above that he loved to look at; as if he really cared whatshe thought and did; as if there were somehow a soul-harmony betweenthem that set them apart this day from others, and put them into tunewith one another; as if he were glad, _glad_ to see her once more afterthe absence! All through her being it thrilled like a song that bringstears to the throat and gladness to the eyes, and makes one feel strongand pure. That was how it seemed when she thought about it afterward.At the time she was just living it in wonder and thanksgiving.
At another time her sordid worldliness and pride might have risen andswelled with haughtiness of spirit over the number of people who eyedher enviously as they went out together; over the many bows andsalutations her escort received from people of evident consequence, forshe had the normal human pride somewhere in her nature as we all have.But just then her heart was too humble with a new, strange happiness tofeel it or take it in, and she walked with unconscious grace besidehim, feeling only the joy of being there.
Later, in the quiet of her chamber, her mother's warning came to her,and her cheeks burned with shame in the dark that her heart had daredmake so much of a common little luncheon, just a mere courtesy aftershe had been able to do a favor. Yet through it all Shirley knew therewas something fine and true there that belonged just to her, andpresently she would rise above everything and grasp it and keep it hersforever.
She felt the distinction of her escort anew when she entered Barnardand Clegg's in his company, and saw Mr. Clegg spring to open the doorand to set a chair for his young guest, saw even Mr. Barnard rise andgreet him with almost reverence. And this honor she knew was beingpaid to money, the great demagogue. It was not the man that sheadmired to whom they were paying deference, it was to his money! Shesmiled to herself. It was the _man_ she admired, not his money.
All that afternoon she worked with flying fingers, turning off the workat marvellous speed, amused when she heard the new note of respect inMr. Barnard's voice as he gave her a direction. Mr. Barnard had beengreatly impressed with the story Graham had told him, and was alsodeeply grateful on his own account that Shirley had acted as she had,for he had been on the verge of investing a large trust fund that wasin his keeping in the new mining operation, and it would have meantabsolute failure for him.
When Shirley left the office that night she was almost too tired to seewhich trolley was coming, but some one touched her on the arm, andthere was Sidney Graham waiting for her beside his car,--a littletwo-passenger affair that she had never seen before and that went likethe wind. They took a road they had not travelled together before, andShirley got in joyously, her heart all in a tumult of doubts and joysand questions.