The Dust of Conflict

by Harold Bindloss

  XIV -- APPLEBY PROVES OBDURATE

  THE hot day was over, and the light failing rapidly when Appleby, whohad just finished comida, sat by a window of the hacienda San Cristovalwith an English newspaper upon his knee. The room behind him, whereHarper lay in a cane chair, was already shadowy, but outside the saffronsunset still flamed beyond the cane, and here and there a palm tuft cutagainst it hard and sharp in ebony tracery. Inside the air was hot, andheavy with the smell of garlic-tainted oil; but a faint cool draughtflowed in between the open lattices, and Appleby, who had been busysince sunrise that day, sighed contentedly as he breathed it in. Beneathhim the long white sheds still glimmered faintly, and a troop of menwere plodding home along the little tram-line that wound through thecane; while in the direction they came from the smoke of the crushing-mill floated, a long, dingy smear, athwart the soft blueness, out ofwhich here and there a pale star was peeping.

  Appleby was dressed in spotless duck, with a gray alpaca jacket over it,and the thin garments showed his somewhat spare symmetry as he layrelaxed in mind and body in his chair. He felt the peaceful stillness ofthe evening after the strain of the day, for Harding had left him insole charge for some months now, and the handling of the men who workedfor him had taxed all his nerve and skill. By good-humored patience anduncompromising grimness, when that appeared the more advisable, he hadconvinced his swarthy subordinates that they would gain little bytrifling with him, though he had wondered once or twice when an opendispute appeared imminent why it was that certain peons had so staunchlysupported him against their discontented comrades. It was not, however,his difficulties with the workmen which caused him most concern, but thetask of keeping on good terms with an administration that regardedaliens, and especially Americans, with a jealous eye, and appeasing therapacity of officials whose exactions would, if unduly yielded to, haveabsorbed most of Harding's profits. To hit the happy medium was adelicate business, but hitherto Appleby had accomplished itsuccessfully.

  The cigar he held had gone out, but he had not noticed it for the paperon his knee had awakened memories of the life he had left behind him. Hecould look back upon it without regret, for its trammels had galled him,and the wider scope of the new one appealed to him. In it the qualitiesof foresight, quick decision, daring, and the power of command wereessential, and he had been conscious without vanity that he possessedthem. Also, though that counted for less, his salary and bonus on theresults of the crushing was liberal.

  Still, he was thinking of England, for a paragraph in the paper hadseized his attention. There was nothing to show who had sent it him,though two or three had reached him already, and he knew that NettieHarding was in England. He could scarcely see, but he held up thejournal to the fading light, and with difficulty once more decipheredthe lines:--

  "The electrical manufacturing company have been very busy since theconsummation of their agreement with Mr. Anthony Palliser. Already theirfactory at Dane Cop is in course of construction, and they have an armyof workmen laying the new tramway and excavating the dam. It is alsorumored that negotiations are in progress for the establishment ofsubsidiary industries, and it is evident that Northrop will make astride towards prosperity under the enterprising gentleman who hasrecently succeeded to the estate."

  Appleby smiled curiously as he laid the paper down. Tony, it wasevident, would no longer be hampered by financial embarrassments, andAppleby did not envy him the prosperity he had not hitherto beenaccustomed to. Still, he wondered vaguely why Tony had never written tothe address in Texas, from which letters would have reached him,especially since it appeared that Godfrey Palliser was dead. He was alsocurious as to whether Tony was married yet, and would have liked to haveheard that he was. That, he felt, would have snapped the last tie thatbound him to the post, and made it easier to overcome the longing he wassensible of when he remembered Violet Wayne. It would, he fancied, beless difficult if he could think of her as Tony's wife. Then he brushedaway the fancies as Harper noisily moved his chair.

  "Hallo!" he said. "Another of their blamed officers coming to worry us!"

  Appleby heard a beat of hoofs, and looking down saw a man riding alongthe tramway on a mule. It was too dark to see the stranger clearly, andhe sat still until there was a murmur of voices below, and a patter offeet on the stairway.

  "He is coming up," he said, with a trace of displeasure in his voice. "Ifancied I had made it plain that nobody was to be shown in until I knewhis business. Still, we can't turn him out now. Tell Pancho to bring inthe lights."

  Harper rose, but as he did so the major-domo flung the door open, andstood still with a lamp in his hand as a man walked into the room. Hemade a little gesture of greeting, and Appleby checked a gasp ofastonishment. The major-domo set the lamp on the table, and then slippedout softly, closing the door behind him.

  "Don Maccario!" said Harper, staring at the stranger. "Now, I wonderwhere he got those clothes."

  Maccario smiled, and sat down uninvited. He was dressed in broadclothand very fine linen, and laid a costly Panama hat on the table. Then heheld out a little card towards Appleby.

  "With permission!" he said. "Don Erminio Peralla, merchant in tobacco,of Havana!"

  Harper laughed when he had laid out a bottle and glasses, and the faintrose-like bouquet of Canary moscatel stole into the room.

  "That's a prescription you are fond of," he said. "The tobacco businessis evidently flourishing."

  The last was in Castilian, and Maccario delicately rolled up the brim ofthe hat and let it spring out again to show the beauty of the fabric,while his dark eyes twinkled.

  "It seems that one's efforts for the benefit of his countrymen areappreciated now and then, but my business is the same," he said. "Onedoes not look for the patriot Maccario in the prosperous merchant oftobacco, for those who would make mankind better and freer are usuallypoor. That is all--but I am still a leader of the Sin Verguenza, and assuch I salute you, comrade."

  He made Appleby a little inclination, which the latter understood, as hedrank off his wine. It implied that he, too, was still counted among theSin Verguenza.

  "There is business on hand?" he said quietly, signing to Harper, whomoved towards the door.

  Maccario, somewhat to his astonishment, checked Harper with a gesture."It is not necessary," he said. "There is nobody there. Morales issending his troops away, and by and by we seize the Barremeda districtfor the Revolution."

  "You want me?" asked Appleby very slowly.

  A curious little smile crept into Maccario's eyes. "Where could one getanother teniente to equal you?"

  Appleby sat very still. He had, he fancied, started on the way toprosperity when he became Harding's manager, and while he sympathizedvaguely with the aspirations of the few disinterested Insurgents whoseemed to possess any he had seen sufficient of the Sin Verguenza. If hecould cling to the position it seemed not unlikely that a bright futureawaited him; and while free from avarice, he had his ambitions. On theother hand, there were privations relieved only by the brief revelrythat followed a scene of rapine, weary marches, hungry bivouacs, andanxious days spent hiding in foul morasses from the troops of Spain.Still, he had already surmised that he would sooner or later have tomake the decision, and while he remembered the promise the raggedoutcasts had required of him a vague illogical longing for the stress ofthe conflict awoke in him.

  "Well," he said quietly, "when I am wanted I will be ready."

  Maccario made him a very slight inclination, which was yet almoststately and expressive, as only a Spaniard's gesture could be.

  "It is as one expected, comrade; but perhaps we do not want you to carrythe rifle," he said. "It is the silver we have in the meanwhile the mostneed of."

  "What I have is my friends', to the half of my salary."

  "We do not take so much from you. A little, yes, when the good will goeswith it; but there is more you can do for us."

  "No!" and Appleby's voice, though quiet, had a little ring in it. "Thereis nothing else."
r />   Maccario lifted one hand. "It is arms we want most, my friend, and nowthe patriotic committee are liberal we are getting them. There remainsthe question of distribution and storage for the rifles as they somefrom the coast, which is difficult. Still, I thing Morales would notsearch one place, and that is the hacienda San Cristoval. It is evidenthow you could help us."

  "No," said Appleby grimly. "Not a single rifle shall be hidden here.When the Sin Verguenza send for me I will join them, but in themeanwhile I serve the Senor Harding. That implies a good deal, youunderstand?"

  Maccario appeared reflective. "A little hint sent Morales would, Ithink, be effectual. Arrives a few files of cazadores with bayonets, andthe Senor Harding will want another manager."

  "Oh yes," said Harper dryly as he sprang towards the door. "That's quitesimple, but the hint isn't sent yet. A word from me, and I guess the SinVerguenza would be left without a leader!"

  Maccario looked round, and laughed softly as he saw the Americanstanding grim in face with his back to the door and a pistol glinting inhis hand.

  "It is Don Bernardino I have the honor of talking with," he said.

  "You have heard all I have to tell you," said Appleby. "I cannot embroilthe Senor Harding with Morales."

  Maccario rose, and smiled at Harper. "It saves trouble when one has anunderstanding; and now, my friends, I will show you something. Themajor-domo had orders not to send up anybody without announcing him, buthe admitted me. Will you come out with me into the veranda?"

  "Put your pistol up, Harper," said Appleby; but Maccario shook his head.

  "Not yet, I think," he said. "Open that lattice so the light shinesthrough. Will you send for the men I mention, Don Bernardino?"

  They did as he directed, and when they went out into the veranda Applebyblew a whistle. It was answered by a patter of feet, and Appleby spokeswiftly when a man appeared below.

  "I have sent for the men. They are among the best we have, and supportedme when I had a difference with the rest," he said.

  Maccario smiled. "They did as they were told, my friend."

  Appleby could not see his face because the light from the room wasbehind them, but his tone was significant, and he waited in someastonishment until the patter of feet commenced again, and half-seen menflitted into the patio. The latter could, however, see the men abovethem, for a threatening murmur went up when they caught the glint ofHarper's pistol, and two of them came running to the foot of thestairway. Maccario laughed, and laid his hand on Harper's shoulder. Thenthe murmurs died away, and the men stood still below, while Maccarioturned with a little nod to Appleby.

  "One would fancy they would do what I wished," he said. "The SinVerguenza have, it seems, friends everywhere. It is permissible for oneto change his mind."

  "Yes," said Appleby, who hid his astonishment by an effort. "Still, inthis case you have not been as wise as usual, Don Maccario. There aremen who become more obdurate when you try to intimidate them. You havealready heard my decision."

  Maccario laughed, and waved his hand to the men below. "I commend thesetwo gentlemen to your respect. They are good friends of mine. There isnothing else," he said. "Now we will go back again, Don Bernardino."

  The men apparently went away, and Maccario, who walked back into theroom, smiled when he seated himself again.

  "The Senor Harding is to be congratulated upon his manager," he said."Still, there is a difficulty about the rifles. There are ten cases ofthem here already. They are marked hardware and engine fittings."

  Harper gasped. "Well, I'm blanked!" he said. "I guess it's the only timeany kind of a greaser got ahead of me."

  "Then they must be taken away," said Appleby. "Where are they, DonMaccario? If you do not tell me I shall certainly find them."

  "In the iron store shed, I understand. They would have been sent for atnight to-morrow."

  "Get them out," said Appleby, turning to Harper. "They will be saferlying on the cane trucks in the open than anywhere."

  Harper went out, and Maccario poured out a glass of wine. "It isfortunate you are a friend of mine, and one in whom I have confidence,"he said. "Had it been otherwise you would have run a very serious risk,Don Bernardino."

  Appleby laughed, though he was glad that he sat in the shadow. "I can atleast, let you have four hundred pesetas if the Sin Verguenza want them;but you will remember that if more rifles arrive here I will send themto Morales."

  "In silver?" said Maccario. "I have samples of tobacco to carry, and amule."

  Appleby brought out two bags of silver from the chest in his office, forgolden coin was almost as scarce in Cuba then as it usually is in Spain,and the two talked of different subjects with a frankness that concealedtheir thoughts, until there was a rattle of wheels as Harper passedbelow with several men pushing a little truck along the cane tramway. Byand by he came in and sat down.

  "The cases are marked as he told us, and I've left them on the line," hesaid. "I guess nobody would think of looking for rifles there. When areyour friends coming for them, Maccario?"

  "I think that is better not mentioned," said Maccario. "Those caseswill, however, not be there to-morrow."

  "And your men?" said Appleby. "I cannot have them here."

  "You will listen to reason, my friend. I know you are one who keeps hisword, and we will send no more rifles here. Still, those men work well,and the Senor Harding is not a Loyalist. He is here to make the dollars,and because the Spaniards are masters of Cuba he will not offend them.By and by, however, there is a change, and when it is we who hold thereins it may count much for him that he was also a friend of ours."

  "You know he is not a Loyalist?" said Appleby.

  Maccario laughed a little. "Can you doubt it--while the hacienda of SanCristoval stands? There are many burnt sugar mills in Cuba, my friend."

  "Now," said Harper dryly, "it seems to me he's talking the plainest kindof sense. Make him promise he'll give you warning, and take his men outquietly when he wants them for anything."

  Maccario gave his promise, and they sat talking for awhile until therewas a knocking at the door below, and Pancho, who came up the stairwayin haste, stopped where the light showed the apprehension in his oliveface.

  "Comes the Colonel Morales, and there are cazadores in the cane," hesaid.

  There was a sudden silence, and Maccario, who started to his feet,seized one of the bags of silver. He, however, nodded and sat down againwhen Appleby's hand fell on his shoulder. There was, it was evident, noescaping now, for a quick tread showed that the officer was alreadyascending the stairway. Maccario made a little gesture of resignation.

  "He has never seen me as a merchant of tobacco, and if he notices toomuch it is assuredly unfortunate for him," he said. "Pancho will alreadyhave the affair in hand."

  Appleby said nothing, but he could feel his heart thumping painfully ashe leaned on the table until Morales came in. He carried his kepi in onehand, and though he greeted Appleby punctiliously there was a littlegleam in his eyes, while for just a moment he glanced keenly atMaccario. In the meanwhile Appleby saw Pancho's face at the latticebehind his shoulder, and surmised that Morales was running a heavy riskjust then. He had little esteem for the Spanish colonel, but it seemedto him that the fate of the San Cristoval hacienda, as well as itsmanager, depended upon what happened during the next five minutes.

  "You will take a glass of wine, and these cigars are good," he said.

  Though every nerve in his body seemed to be tingling his voice was even;but while the officer poured out the wine Maccario laid a bundle ofcigars before him, and smiled at Appleby.

  "Your pardon, senor--but this is my affair," he said. "It is not often Ihave the opportunity of offering so distinguished a soldier my poortobacco, though there are men of note in Havana and Madrid whoappreciate its flavor, as well as the Senor Harding."

  Morales glanced at him, and lighted a cigar; but Appleby fancied he wasat least as interested in the bag of silver on the table.

  "The tobacco
is excellent," he said.

  Maccario took out a card. "If you will keep the bundle it would be anhonor," he said. "If you are still pleased when you have smoked themthis will help you to remember where more can be obtained. We"--and hedropped his voice confidentially--"do not insist upon usual prices whensupplying distinguished officers."

  "That is wise," said Morales, who took the cigars. "It is not often theyhave the pesetas to meet such demands with. You will not find businessflourishing in this country, which we have just swept clean of the SinVerguenza. They have a very keen scent for silver."

  "No," said Maccario plaintively. "There are also so many detentions andquestions to be answered that it is difficult to make a businessjourney."

  Morales laughed, "It is as usual--you would ask for something? Still,they are good cigars!"

  "I would venture to ask an endorsement of my cedula. With that one couldtravel with less difficulty."

  He brought out the strip of paper, and Morales turned to Appleby. "Thisgentlemen is a friend of yours?"

  Appleby nodded, and the officer scribbled across the back of the cedula,and then, flinging it on the table, rose with a faint shrug ofimpatience.

  "A word with you in private!" he said.

  Appleby went out with him into the veranda, and set his lips for amoment when he saw, though Morales did not, a stealthy shadow flit outof it. He also surmised there were more men lurking in the patiobeneath, and felt that a disaster was imminent if Maccario'sapprehensions led him to do anything precipitate. Then it seemedscarcely likely that the colonel of cazadores would leave the placealive. Still, his voice did not betray him.

  "I am at your service, senor." he said.

  "The affair is serious," said Morales dryly. "I am informed that thereare arms concealed in your factory. Ten cases of them, I understand, arein your store shed."

  If he had expected any sign of consternation he did not see it, forAppleby smiled incredulously.

  "If so, they were put there without my consent or knowledge, but I fancyyour spies have been mistaken," he said.

  "Will you come with me and search the shed?"

  Morales made a little gesture of assent. "I have men not far away, but Iam a friend of the Senor Harding's, and it seemed to me the affairdemanded discretion," he said. "That is why I left them until I hadspoken with you. Still, if we do not find those arms nobody will bebetter pleased than me."

  They went down the stairway, and Appleby bade a man in the patio summonhis comrades. Then they walked along the tramway towards an iron shed,where there was a delay while one of the men lighted a lantern andopened the door When this was done they went in, and for almost an hourthe peons rolled out barrels and dragged about boxes and cases of whichthey opened one here and there. Still, there was no sign of a rifle, andwhen they had passed through two or three other sheds Morales' face wasexpressionless as he professed himself satisfied. They walked backsilently side by side, until the officer stopped by a cane truck andrubbed off the ash from his cigar on one of the cases that lay upon it.He also moved a little so that he could see Appleby's face in the lightof the lantern a dusky workman held. The latter was eyeing Moralescuriously, and Appleby fancied by the way he bent his right hand thatvery little would bring the wicked, keen-pointed knife flashing from hissleeve.

  "It seems that my informants have been mistaken," said the colonel. "Ican only recommend you the utmost discretion. It is--you understand--necessary."

  He turned with a little formal salutation and walked down the tram-line,while the dusty workman smiled curiously as he straightened his righthand. Appleby gasped and went back slowly, while he flung himself downsomewhat limply into a chair when he reached his living-room, whereHarper sat alone.

  "Where is Maccario?" he asked.

  "Lit out!" said Harper dryly. "He'd had 'bout enough of it, though Iguess his nerves are good. Kind of a strain on your own ones too?"

  Appleby's face showed almost haggard, and he smiled wearily.

  "It is evident that if we have much more of this kind of thing I shallearn my salary, though the Sin Verguenza will apparently get most ofit," he said.