CHAPTER VI.
THE STANDARD OF THE WEST.
Three days after the Seer's letters to Abe and Barbara telling themthat James Greenfield and his associates would finance an expedition tomake the preliminary surveys in The King's Basin Desert, the west-boundoverland dropped a passenger in Rubio City from New York.
The stranger was really a fine looking young man with the appearance ofbeing exceptionally well-bred and well-kept. Indeed the most casual ofobservers would not have hesitated to pronounce him a thoroughbred anda good individual of the best type that the race has produced.
A company of men and women--traveling acquaintances evidently--followedhim from the Pullman to bid him good-by and to look at the Indians, whowith their wealth of curios spread before them, squatted in a long rowbeside the track--objects of never failing interest to travelers fromthe East.
"Ugh!" said a tall blonde, who displayed more bracelets, bangles,chains and charms--both natural and manufactured--than any blanketedsquaw in the party of natives, "I suppose if we ever see you againyou'll be the color of that thing there." She pointed to a smoky,copper-colored Papago in a green head-cloth and decorated shirt, whoposed in a watchful attitude near his thrifty help-meet.
"How perfectly romantic!" gushed a billowy divorcee, clinging to theyoung fellow's athletic arm with little shivers of delight. "To thinkof you in this great, savage, wild land, among these strange people.Aren't you just a little bit frightened?"
"By George, I half wish I was going to stop with you. You'll get somegreat shooting, don't you know!" exclaimed one of the men, while thechorus joined in: "You'll die of loneliness!" "You'll find nothing fitto eat!" "And do take care of yourself!"
Then as the warning, "All aboard!" and the clang of the engine bellcame down the platform, there were quick good-bys and a rush for thecar. The colored porters tossed their steps aboard and followed.Smoothly the long, dust-covered coaches slid past. There was a wavingof handkerchiefs and caps from the rear of the observation car, and theyoung man turned to look curiously about.
"Hotel?"
The stranger glanced doubtfully at the tough-looking citizen whoreached for his suit case, and without replying stepped into thequestionable looking hack standing nearby. The driver threw thesuitcase into the vehicle after his passenger and climbing to his seat,yelled to the team.
There was no rush of brass-buttoned bell-boys to meet the guest at thedoor of the hotel, and the room was well-filled with a group strange tothe eyes of the young man from New York. Bronzed-faced men in flannelshirts and belted trousers talked to men well-dressed in moreconventional business clothes; others in their shirt sleeves satsmoking with companions in blue overalls; two or three wore gunsloosely belted at their hips. Here and there was the pale-faced,white-collared, tied and tailored tourist. In the corner near the bigwindow a group of women, some in white duck, some in khaki or corduroy,sat chatting and enjoying the scene. No one paid the least attention tothe newcomer. The tough-looking driver of the hack dropped the suitcase near the desk with a bang and turned to reply to a good-naturedremark addressed to him by a jovial, well-dressed man standing near.Only the clerk regarded the stranger.
"Have you a room with bath?"
The clerk smiled. "Certainly, sir." Then to a young fellow talking overthe cigar counter to a man in high-heeled boots and spurs: "Jack, showthis gentleman to forty-five."
In the well-furnished room the guide threw open long French windows andpointed to a cot on the screened-porch outside. "Better sleep on theporch," he volunteered.
"Sleep on the porch?"
"Suit yourself," came the answer as the independent one turned away.
"Look here!" The employe of the house paused. "I want my trunk sent upimmediately."
"Sure Mike! Let's have your checks. So-long!"
The stranger stood staring at the door, which the breezy young man, ashe disappeared with a cheery whistle, had shut behind him with avigorous bang.
In the dining room the man from New York found the same easy freedom inthe manner of dress, the same lack of conventionalities and the sameatmosphere of general good-fellowship; yet he could not say that therewas any lack of real courtesy and certainly there was no rude andboisterous talk. It was, to say the least, unsettling to theexceptionally well-bred and well-kept stranger, accustomed to thehotels and restaurants in the East frequented by his class.
Early that evening the Easterner sallied forth, clearly bent onsight-seeing. He had dressed for the occasion. The gray traveling suithad been put aside for a tailor-made outfit of corduroy. The coat--wornwithout a vest over a fine negligee shirt of silk--was Norfolk; thetrousers were riding trousers and above the tan shoes were pig-skinputtees. All this, with the light, soft hat, neat tie and theundeniably fine figure and handsome face, would have made himattractive on any stage. The tourists turned to look after him withexpressions of admiring envy; the natives--white, red, black, yellowand brown--accepted him with no more than a passing glance as a part ofthe strange new life that the railroad was constantly bringing to RubioCity.
Calmly conscious of himself and openly interested, in a mildlycondescending way, the young man strolled down one side of the mainstreet to the end of the business section, then back on the other.Twice he made the round, then, seeking scenes of further interest,pushed open the swinging doors of Rubio City's most popular place ofamusement--the Gold Bar saloon.
At a table in one corner two men--one tall, darkfaced, coatless, withunbuttoned vest, leather wrist-guards, and a heavy gun loosely buckledabout his slim waist; the other thick-set, heavy, red-faced--wereholding animated conversation over their glasses. That is to say: thethick, red-faced man was animated. Glaring at his companion he bangedhis huge, hairy fist on the table until the glasses jumped.
"Ye're a domned owld savage wid yer talk. Fwhat the hell is yercounthry good for as ut is? A thousan' square miles av ut wouldn't feeda jack-rabbit. 'Tis a blistherin', sizzlin', roastin', wilderness avsand an' cactus, fit for nothin' but thim side-winders, horn'-toads,heely-monsters an' all their poisonous relations, includin' yersilf."
The New Yorker, standing at the end of the bar nearest the tableoccupied by Barbara's "uncles," who had just arrived from the GoldCenter mines, heard the words of Pat and turned toward the two friendswith amused interest.
Texas Joe silently lifted his glass and with a look of undisguisedadmiration for his belligerent partner, waited for more. More came withanother thump of the huge fist.
"'Tis civilization that ye need, an' 'tis civilization that we'rebringin' to ye, an' 'tis civilization that ye've got to take whether yelike ut or not. Look at the Seer, now! Wan gintleman wid brains an'education like him is wort' more to this counthry than all thehell-roarin' savages like yersilf between the Coast an' Oklahoma, whichis not so much better than it was. We've brung ye money; we've brung yeschools; we've brung ye railroads; an' we'll kape on bringin' ye theblissin's an' joys av civilization 'til ye mend yer ways an' live likeChristians."
He paused. Texas was staring with child-like simplicity at theimmaculate figure of the stranger in puttees. Pat turned to follow thegaze of his companion just as the plainsman drawled softly: "And you'vebrought us that." The Irishman's heavy jaw dropped. He gasped andgulped like an uncouth monster. Then--speechless--he drained his glass.
The stranger's face flushed but he did not move.
"Pardner," drawled Texas, "your remarks is sure edifyin' a heap an'some convincin'. But I'm still constrained to testify that the realcause an' reason for the declinin' glory of this yere great westerncountry is poor shootin'. That same, in turn, bein' caused by theincomin' herds from the effete East bein' so numerous as to hindergun-practice."
"Guns is ut?" interrupted the other with a roar. "A man--mind ye: aman--should be ashamed to go about all the time wid a cannon tied tohis middle. 'Tis the mark av a child. Look at ye, now, wid all yerartillery an' me wid fingers that niver pushed a thrigger." He held outhis great paws and studied them admiringly. "Why, ye h
errin', wid thimtwo hands I could break ye, gun an' all, like I've--"
He was interrupted by a wild-eyed individual who rushed into the roomfrom the street and, springing toward them, burst forth with: "Give meyour gun, Texas, quick! I ain't got mine on and that damned Red Hoyt isa layin' for me at the corner!"
Texas Joe dropped his slim hand caressingly on the big forty-five athis side, leaned easily back in his chair and eyed the excited citizenin a manner calmly judicial. "Bill, you're comin' is some opportune.You're sure Johnny-on-the-spot."
"Le' me have yer gun, Tex. Jes' loan her to me! I'll be back in aminute."
"Oh, I ain't doubtin' that you'd be back all right, Bill. That's jestthe p'int. When you blew in so promisc'us an' interrupted the meetin',me an' my friend here was jest resolvin' that there's too much badshootin' bein' done in this here Rubio town. It's a spoilin' the fairname an' a ruinin' the reputation of this country. For which saidreason us two undertakes to regulate an' reform some." He turned withelaborate politeness to Pat. "I voices yer sentiments correct, pard?"
The Irishman's fist struck the table and his eyes flashed. "To thethrim av a gnat's heel," he roared.
Texas bowed and continued: "Therefore, Bill, this here's our verdict.You camp right here peaceable while I go out an' fetch this Red Hoytperson what's been annoyin' you. We'll stand you up at fifteen steps,with nothing between to obstruct ceremonies, an' drop the hat. Me an'my friend referees the job an' undertakes to see that the remains isduly and properly planted with all regular honors. Sabe?"
The blood-thirsty one, growling something about attending to his ownfuneral and finding a gun somewhere else, went quietly and quickly out.
Before the pugnacious Pat could voice his disgust and disappointment atthe disappearance of the trouble-hunting citizen, a low, contemptuouslaugh from the well-built stranger at the bar drew the attention of thetwo friends. The young man was watching them with an amused smile.
Texas Joe and the Irishman regarded each other thoughtfully. "Pard,"said Tex in a low, earnest tone, "do you reckon that there hilarity wasin any ways directed toward this corner of the room?"
The stranger, receiving his change from the bartender, was movingleisurely toward the door when his way was barred by the heavy bulk ofPat. There was no misunderstanding the expression on the battle-scarredfeatures of the Irish gladiator. Eyeing the athletic Easternerfiercely, he growled with deliberate meaning: "Ye same to be findin'plenty av amusement in the private affairs av me friend an' mesilf.D'ye think that we are a coople av hoochy-koochy girls to be makin'sphort for all the domned dudes that runs to look at us whin theirmammas don't know they're out?"
The other regarded him with well-bred surprise. "Stand aside," he saidcurtly.
"Oh, ho! ye will lave widout properly apologizin' for yer outrageousconduc' will ye? 'Tis an ambulance that ye'll nade to take ye home whinI've taught ye manners, ye danged yellow-legged cock-a-doodle!"
He lifted his fists and the stranger, without giving back an inch orexhibiting the slightest suggestion of fear, but rather with the calmself-confidence of a trained athlete, squared himself for the encounter.
Eagerly the patrons of the place--miners, cowboys, ranchers,adventurers, Mexicans, Indians--had gathered around the two men,delighted with the prospect of what promised to be no tame exhibition.Already several bets had been placed and critical estimates andcomments on the comparative merits of the two were being made freelywhen a hand fell on Pat's uplifted arm. Turning with an oath of rage atthe interruption, the Irishman faced Abe Lee.
"Hello, Pat! Amusing yourself as usual?" To the angry protests from thecrowd the tall surveyor gave not the slightest heed.
For a moment the Irishman, looking up into that thin, sun-tanned face,was speechless as though he faced some apparition. Then with a yell ofdelight he caught the lank form of the Seer's assistant in a bear-likehug. "For the love av Gawd is ut ye, ye owld sand-rat? Where the helldid ye drop from, an? fwhat are ye doin' in this dishreputable company?Look at Uncle Tex, there! The sentimental owld savage is fairslobberin' wid delight an' eagerness to git at ye. Come, come; we musthave a dhrink."
As quickly as it had risen the storm had passed. The crowd, as if movedby a single impulse, separated and the room was filled with loud talkand laughter. Glancing around, Pat's eye met the still defiant look ofthe stranger who had not moved from his place but stood calmly watchingthe Irishman and Abe as if waiting the pleasure of the man who hadchallenged him.
The Irishman grinned in appreciation. "Howld on a minut," he said toAbe who was moving away with Texas Joe toward a vacant table. Then tothe stranger: "I axe yer pardon, Sorr, for goin' off me head that way.'Tis a habit I have, worse luck to me--bein' sensitive, do ye see,about me personal appearance an' some wishful for a bit av honestenjoyment. Av ye'll have a dhrink wid me an' my friends here I'll takeut kindly until we can find some betther cause for grievance."
The young man's tense figure relaxed. A smile broke over his face. "AndI beg your pardon," he said heartily. "The fact is I was not laughingat you at all but at the way you two men called the bluff of thatfellow who wanted the gun. I should have said so and apologized but I,too, was a little upset and thrown off my guard."
"Faith, ut looked to me that ye were thrown on your guard. 'Tis thescience ye have or I'm a Dutchman." He eyed the athletic limbs, deepchest, broad shoulders and well-set head, with eyes that twinkled hisapproval. "Some day--But niver mind now! Come." He led the way to thetable.
As they seated themselves Pat regarded the surveyor with pleasedinterest. "Well, well! 'tis a most unexpected worrld. Av 'twas the owlddivil himsilf that clapped his hand on me arm I'd be no more surprisedthan I was to see the lad here. Tell us, me bhoy, fwhat 'tis that'sbrung ye here."
"Haven't you two been to see Barbara yet?" the surveyor demanded asthough charging them with some neglected duty.
"We have not; an' by that ye will know that we've been in this townless than an hour by Tex's watch that Barbara give him an' that he lostdown the shaft at Gold Center."
When the surveyor had explained his presence in Rubio City and Texasand Pat had agreed to join the King's Basin party, the stranger said:"I think it is quite time now that I introduce myself. You are Mr. Lee,I believe."
Abe assented and with his two companions regarded him with interest.
Taking a letter from his pocket and handing it to the surveyor, theyoung man continued: "I am a civil engineer. I have instructions fromthe Chief to report to you. My name is Willard Holmes."
The next morning the young engineer from the East presented his card atthe Pioneer Bank and asked for Mr. Worth. The man who received thecorrectly engraved bit of pasteboard merely nodded toward the other endof the long partition of polished wood, plate glass and bronze bars."You'll find him back there, Mr. Holmes."
The New Yorker smiled at the provincialism but sought the bankerwithout further ceremony.
Closing the door with one hand Jefferson Worth with the other indicatedthe chair at the end of his desk. "Sit down."
"You have a letter from Mr. Greenfield relative to my coming?" askedWillard Holmes.
The banker lifted a typewritten sheet from his desk, glanced at it andturned back to his visitor. "Yes," he said.
The involuntary movement was the instinctive act of one who habituallyverifies every statement. Then, as those expressionless blue eyes werefixed on the stranger's face, the engineer's sensation was as thoughfrom behind that gray mask something reached out to grasp his innermostthoughts and emotions. He felt strangely transparent and exposed asone, alone in his lighted chamber at night, might feel someone in thedark without, watching through the window. Presently the colorless,exact voice of Jefferson Worth asked: "This is your first visit West?"
"Yes sir. My work has been altogether in New York and the New Englandstates."
"Five years with the New York Contracting and Construction Company?"said Jefferson Worth exactly, laying his hand again on the letter onhis desk.
"Yes
. For the past two years I have had charge of their more importantoperations." The engineer's tone was a shade impressive.
But there was not the faintest shadow of a hint in the face or mannerof that man in the revolving chair to intimate that he was impressed.The visitor might as well have spoken to the steel door of the big safein the other room. "You are well acquainted with Mr. Greenfield and hisassociates?"
"My father and Mr. Greenfield were boyhood friends and collegeclassmates," the engineer explained. "Since the death of my father whenI was a little chap, I have lived with Uncle Jim. He was my guardianuntil I became of age."
The young man did not think it necessary to add that the death of hisfather had left him penniless and that his father's friend, who hadnever married, had reared and educated the child of his old classmateas his own son. Neither did he explain that his rapid advancement inhis profession was due largely to the powerful influence of thecapitalist and those closely associated with him, together with thestrength of the proud social position to which he was born, rather thanto hard work and experience. Probably Willard Holmes himself did notrealize how much these things had added to his own native ability andtechnical training. He had never known anything else but these thingsand he accepted them as unconsciously as his voice was colored with theaccent of the cultured East.
"How do you size up this King's Basin proposition?" questioned thebanker.
Again Willard Holmes smiled at the western man's words. "Sizing up" and"proposition" were pleasingly novel forms of expression to him."Really," he answered, "I haven't gone into it very thoroughly as yet.Mr. Greenfield asked me to come out because he and his associatesfelt"--he paused; perhaps it would be just as well not to say what Mr.Greenfield and his associates felt--"that with my experience inconnection with large corporations I could be of value to them incertain phases of the work," he finished. He wondered if the man, wholistened with such an air of carefully considering every word andmentally reaching out for whatever lay back of the verbal expression,had grasped what he had been about to say.
Jefferson Worth waited and Holmes continued: "Mr. Greenfield and hisfriends are very anxious that you should come in with them on theorganization of this company, Mr. Worth; that is, of course, providingthe scheme proves to be practicable. They instructed me to urge youpersonally to consider their proposal favorably and to ask you, by allmeans, to represent them on this expedition if possible. They realizethat a man of your recognized ability and standing in the financialworld, particularly in the West, in close touch as you are with Capitaland conditions in this part of the country and no doubt familiar withthe Reclamation work, would be a valuable addition to their strength.In fact I may say they would depend largely upon your judgment as towhether the scheme was practicable from a business standpoint. On yourside I am sure you recognize the advantage of allying yourself withsuch a group of capitalists, who are strong enough to finance anyundertaking, no matter how great. Their interests are already enormous.As you know, they operate only on the largest scale and, if this surveyjustifies the report already made, they will make a big thing out ofthis for everyone interested."
The cold, exact voice of Jefferson Worth came as if from a machineincapable of inflection. "I have written Mr. Greenfield that I wouldlook into the proposition for him. I will go out with the outfit. Haveyou seen Abe Lee?"
"I met him last night and we had a little talk over things. I confess Iwas a little surprised."
"Why?"
"Well--that he is in charge. I was instructed to report to him. I findthat he has had no schooling whatever; that, in fact, he is nothing buta kind of a self-educated surveyor. I have no doubt that he is a good,practical fellow, but it seems to me somewhat reckless to put him insuch a responsible position."
Jefferson Worth did not say that he himself had had no more schoolingthan the Seer's lieutenant. Perhaps that, also, was not necessary toexplain. He did say: "We have only one standard in the West, Mr.Holmes."
"And that?"
"What can you do?" came the words as if spoken by cold iron.
The Winning of Barbara Worth Page 8