by Bret Harte
condition, he himself, however, volunteered anexplanation.
"I don't mind tellin' you, ez an old friend o' mine and Lacy's, thatthe secret of that there attack on me and the 'Guardian' wasperlitikal. Yes, sir! There was a powerful orginization in theinterest o' Halkins for assemblyman ez didn't like our high-tonededitorials on caucus corruption, and hired a bully to kem down here andsuppress us. Why, this yer Lacy spotted the idea to oncet; yer knowhow keen be is."
"Was Lacy present?" I asked as carelessly as I could.
Captain Jim glanced his eyes over his shoulder quite in his old furtivecanine fashion, and then blinked them at me rapidly. "He war! And ifit warn't for HIS pluck and HIS science and HIS strength, I don't knowwhar I'D hev been now! Howsomever, it's all right. I've had a fairoffer to sell the 'Guardian' over at Simpson's Bar, and it's time Iquit throwin' away the work of a man like Lacy Bassett upon it. Andbetween you and me, I've got an idea and suthin' better to put histalens into."
III.
It was not long before it became evident that the "talens" of Mr. LacyBassett, as indicated by Captain Jim, were to grasp at a seat in thestate legislature. An editorial in the "Simpson's Bar Clarion" boldlyadvocated his pretensions. At first it was believed that the articleemanated from the gifted pen of Lacy himself, but the style was sounmistakably that of Colonel Starbottle, an eminent political"war-horse" of the district, that a graver truth was at once suggested,namely, that the "Guardian" had simply been transferred to Simpson'sBar, and merged into the "Clarion" solely on this condition. At leastit was recognized that it was the hand of Captain Jim which guided theeditorial fingers of the colonel, and Captain Jim's money thatdistended the pockets of that gallant political leader.
Howbeit Lacy Bassett was never elected; in fact he was only for onebrief moment a candidate. It was related that upon his first ascendingthe platform at Simpson's Bar a voice in the audience said lazily,"Come down!" That voice was Yuba Bill's. A slight confusion ensued,in which Yuba Bill whispered a few words in the colonel's ear. After amoment's hesitation the "war-horse" came forward, and in his loftiestmanner regretted that the candidate had withdrawn. The next issue ofthe "Clarion" proclaimed with no uncertain sound that a base conspiracygotten up by the former proprietor of the "Guardian" to undermine theprestige of the Great Express Company had been ruthlessly exposed, andthe candidate on learning it HIMSELF for the first time, withdrew hisname from the canvass, as became a high-toned gentleman. Publicopinion, ignoring Lacy Bassett completely, unhesitatingly denouncedCaptain Jim.
During this period I had paid but little heed to Lacy Bassett's socialmovements, or the successes which would naturally attend such acharacter with the susceptible sex. I had heard that he was engaged toPolly Baxter, but that they had quarrelled in consequence of hisflirtations with others, especially a Mrs. Sweeny, a profuselyornamented but reputationless widow. Captain Jim had often alludedwith a certain respectful pride and delicacy to Polly's ardentappreciation of his friend, and had more than half hinted with the samereverential mystery to their matrimonial union later, and his intentionof "doing the square thing" for the young couple. But it was presentlynoticed that these allusions became less frequent during Lacy's amorousaberrations, and an occasional depression and unusual reticence markedCaptain Jim's manner when the subject was discussed in his presence.He seemed to endeavor to make up for his friend's defection by a kindof personal homage to Polly, and not unfrequently accompanied her tochurch or to singing-class. I have a vivid recollection of meeting himone afternoon crossing the fields with her, and looking into her facewith that same wistful, absorbed, and uneasy canine expression that Ihad hitherto supposed he had reserved for Lacy alone. I do not knowwhether Polly was averse to the speechless devotion of these yearningbrown eyes; her manner was animated and the pretty cheek that wasnearest me mantled as I passed; but I was struck for the first timewith the idea that Captain Jim loved her! I was surprised to have thatfancy corroborated in the remark of another wayfarer whom I met, to theeffect, "That now that Bassett was out o' the running it looked ez ifCaptain Jim was makin' up for time!" Was it possible that Captain Jimhad always loved her? I did not at first know whether to be pained orpleased for his sake. But I concluded that whether the unworthyBassett had at last found a RIVAL in Captain Jim or in the girlherself, it was a displacement that was for Captain Jim's welfare. Butas I was about leaving Gilead for a month's transfer to the SanFrancisco office, I had no opportunity to learn more from theconfidences of Captain Jim.
I was ascending the principal staircase of my San Francisco hotel onerainy afternoon, when I was pointedly recalled to Gilead by the passingglitter of Mrs. Sweeny's jewelry and the sudden vanishing behind her ofa gentleman who seemed to be accompanying her. A few moments after Ihad entered my room I heard a tap at my door, and opened it upon LacyBassett. I thought he looked a little confused and agitated.Nevertheless, with an assumption of cordiality and ease he said, "Itappears we're neighbors. That's my room next to yours." He pointed tothe next room, which I then remembered was a sitting-room en suite withmy own, and communicating with it by a second door, which was alwayslocked. It had not been occupied since my tenancy. As I suppose myface did not show any extravagant delight at the news of hiscontiguity, he added, hastily, "There's a transom over the door, and Ithought I'd tell you you kin hear everything from the one room to theother."
I thanked him, and told him dryly that, as I had no secrets to divulgeand none that I cared to hear, it made no difference to me. As thisseemed to increase his confusion and he still hesitated before thedoor, I asked him if Captain Jim was with him.
"No," he said quickly. "I haven't seen him for a month, and don't wantto. Look here, I want to talk to you a bit about him." He walked intothe room, and closed the door behind him. "I want to tell you that meand Captain Jim is played! All this runnin' o' me and interferin' withme is played! I'm tired of it. You kin tell him so from me."
"Then you have quarrelled?"
"Yes. As much as any man can quarrel with a darned fool who can't takea hint."
"One moment. Have you quarrelled about Polly Baxter?"
"Yes," he answered querulously. "Of course I have. What does he meanby interfering?
"Now listen to me, Mr. Bassett," I interrupted. "I have no desire toconcern myself in your association with Captain Jim, but since youpersist in dragging me into it, you must allow me to speak plainly.From all that I can ascertain you have no serious intentions ofmarrying Polly Baxter. You have come here from Gilead to follow Mrs.Sweeny, whom I saw you with a moment ago. Now, why do you not franklygive up Miss Baxter to Captain Jim, who will make her a good husband,and go your own way with Mrs. Sweeny? If you really wish to break offyour connection with Captain Jim, that's the only way to do it."
His face, which had exhibited the weakest and most pitiableconsciousness at the mention of Mrs. Sweeny, changed to an expressionof absolute stupefaction as I concluded.
"Wot stuff are you tryin' to fool me with?" he said at last roughly.
"I mean," I replied sharply, "that this double game of yours isdisgraceful. Your association with Mrs. Sweeny demands the withdrawalof any claim you have upon Miss Baxter at once. If you have no respectfor Captain Jim's friendship, you must at least show common decency toher."
He burst into a half-relieved, half-hysteric laugh. "Are you crazy?"gasped he. "Why, Captain Jim's just huntin' ME down to make ME marryPolly. That's just what the row's about. That's just what he'sinterferin' for--just to carry out his darned fool ideas o' gettin' awife for me; just his vanity to say HE'S made the match. It's ME thathe wants to marry to that Baxter girl--not himself. He's too cursedselfish for that."
I suppose I was not different from ordinary humanity, for in myunexpected discomfiture I despised Captain Jim quite as much as I didthe man before me. Reiterating my remark that I had no desire to mixmyself further in their quarrels, I got rid of him with as littleceremony as possible. But a few minutes later, when the farcical si
deof the situation struck me, my irritation was somewhat mollified,without however increasing my respect for either of the actors. Thewhole affair had assumed a triviality that was simply amusing, nothingmore, and I even looked forward to a meeting with Captain Jim and HISexposition of the matter--which I knew would follow--with pleasurableanticipation. But I was mistaken.
One afternoon, when I was watching the slanting volleys of rain drivenby a strong southwester against the