Fighting Byng: A Novel of Mystery, Intrigue and Adventure

by A. Stone

  CHAPTER XXIX

  As I suggested, Howard took Don, the old darkey, and hurried off toGeorgia to put his reacquired property in working shape, utilizing thewaste stumps, and cleaning the best cotton land in the world. Hisparting injunction was that he would return on an hour's notice, andfor me to see little Jim as soon as I could find time. He would spendChristmas with her, as he had from infancy taught her the significanceof it and had never failed to celebrate. He wanted her to be veryhappy that day.

  I met Charlie Haines. He was still chasing moonshiners. I asked him ifhe had heard anything lately of Mrs. Byng. I knew he would easilyrecall her.

  "Only once, Wood," he replied. "I believe she was on her way toEurope--to study. But for the life of me I can't recall justwhat--music, I think. That was--let me see--yes, it was a year or twobefore the war began and she may have been stuck there. No, she hadnot married, and I wonder why. I believe she was the most beautifulwoman I ever saw. She was simply wonderful."

  In a day or two I started out to see little Jim. I had to coach herfor the witness stand and make good my promise to Howard.

  I had been losing sleep and decided to go in the chair car and have acouple hours' rest while riding, and for the first time I got a fullview of myself in the big mirror in the end of the car. I was quiteunable to recognize myself, and wondered how the change would affectlittle Jim.

  You know it seems a belief among persons who should have better sensethat men in our work can make a lightning change by the use of falsebeards, wigs and the like, when, as a matter of fact, such flimsyattempts to camouflage exist only in the poor minds of story writersand can be practiced only on the stage and in the movies; in life sucha thing would be an advertisement. Even a wig is so rare that itattracts instant attention, and is utterly useless as a disguise.

  When it seems necessary to make a change in our appearance it takesfrom two to three months, and as I had been undergoing such a changepreparatory for something special it was a wonder Howard recognizedme. It was a distinct shock when I saw myself in the mirror at the endof the car, from head to shoes.

  My red wire-grass had been clipped to the skin and a broad-brimmed,low-crowned hat of a Quaker or Mennonite planted there. My beard hadgrown like weeds until I had a three-inch brush on my face, with theexception of my shaven upper lip. A limp, white shirt, celluloidcollar and black tie, and a black Prince Albert covered my bones wellbelow my shins, where baggy black trousers joined rough brogans lacedwith leather strings. Anyone could recognize in me a mountebankmedicine vender, a lying horse trader or horse thief--there is notmuch difference between the two--or leader of some crazy religiouscult, a Greenwich Village Bolsheviki or anyone who at first sightcould be depended on to be tricky and irrational on serious things.

  I was afraid little Jim would not recognize me. She had developedwonderfully fast, and with a sense of humor was able to recall herfirst experience with me as a salesman of ship chandlery. When theysent her to me in the private office of the registrar it was hard totell who was the more surprised. She hesitated at the door with adelightful naivette, thinking some mistake had been made when shefirst saw me.

  "Come in, little Jim, I want to see you."

  Her face changed to mystified interest, as she closed the door andcame toward me, trying her best to recognize a familiar voice who knewher as little Jim.

  "It cannot be--yes, it is--oh, it is you, Mr. Wood. I never would haveknown you without hearing your voice," she said, giving me her handcordially, "but you always come in such a funny way. Why didn't youbring Daddy with you? He has been promising to come for ever so long,but I am almost as glad to see you."

  "How do you like it here, little Jim?" I asked, after she was seatednear me.

  "I never thought there was such a fine place. The girls here are sonice and all the teachers are very kind to me--I am making splendidprogress, but tell me about Daddy--where is he and how did everythingturn out?"

  I took great pains to detail all that happened after she left and thesuccess of her father. By this means I prepared her to testify in anatural way and told her he had bought a big plant in Georgia where hewas now, but that he would return before Christmas. She asked a greatmany questions in open-eyed wonder, her early training in practicalbusiness enabling her to understand easily, but when through shelapsed into manifest disappointment.

  "Then I will never go back to the Keys to live? And I won't have myboat _Titian_, and won't Daddy have the _Sprite_? And Don--what willbecome of old Don?"

  "You will either live in New York or down in Georgia, but he has keptyour _Titian_, and made the _Sprite_ over for his own use. Don wentSouth with him."

  "But, then, I will never see my flowers, or Nereid, or hear the musicamong the beautiful plants and forests at the bottom of the Gulf? Oh,I would like to hear the sweet music of the sea again. Do you knowthat sometimes our music instructress plays for me so delightfully Ican almost go to sleep as I wanted to down in the water? She iswonderful and has been so kind to me; I wonder why I never had amother? I have asked Daddy about my mother, and asked him to take meto where she is buried. All the other girls here have mothers theylove so much, and if I saw where she was buried I would love her,too, as they do their living mothers. You have known Daddy a longtime. Did you know my mother, too?" she asked sorrowfully.

  "Yes, I knew your mother long before you were born."

  "Oh, Mr. Wood, tell me--what was she like. I have always wanted toknow. Daddy never liked to talk about it. One of my teachers, the oneI room with, who is so good to me when I get lonesome, has asked me.Tell me, Mr. Wood," she asked, leaning toward me impulsively, her eyesshining like bright stars.

  "Little Jim," I began, rising and looking out on the beautiful winterscene, "when you were about a year old your father lived here in NewYork and had a great deal of trouble and to get away from it all hetook you and Don in the schooner _Canby_ and went out to sea. Aftermany days you were wrecked on the Keys and went by the name of Canbyever since."

  "Then my real name is not Canby? What is it? Was that when my motherdied?" she asked, all at once, coming to my side at the window andtimidly taking hold of my hand. "And you have not told me what she waslike," she added, though apparently assured there was nothingdishonorable.

  "No--little Jim--I think it is right for you to know that your motherdid not die then, and it is not certain that she is dead. She was avery beautiful woman."

  "But Daddy told me she was dead," looking up confidingly, her eyeslarge with inquiry.

  "He meant she was dead to him, and did not feel able to explain. Canyou understand it?"

  "Daddy is my only wonderful Daddy and would not tell me anything if itwas not best, but I am older now and can know more. Tell me, Mr.Wood."

  "Little Jim, I have told you enough now. You will have to come down toNew York pretty soon to this trial as I explained; then I may tellyou more," I said, laying my hand on her head convincingly.

  "Will Daddy be there, too?"

  "Yes; he will be there, too, and also remember to talk to no one aboutthis matter; the school authorities understand. It is nearly time forme to go and I must see the registrar and bid her good-bye," I said,leading her out of the office into a sort of a big hall or rotunda.She ran at once to someone across the big room who had apparently beenhovering about waiting for her and who scanned me mercilessly. I knewinstantly it was the teacher to whom she referred so often, and thesight of her made my heart jump.

  "Yes," said the registrar when I found him, "I will send her down anytime you want her with this teacher who, under my instructions, hasshared her room ever since she came. They have grown to be greatfriends; she is perfectly safe with her."

  CHAPTER XXX

  The case of "The United States _vs._ Ramund, _et al._," crawled upslowly on the trial calendar until the work of getting the jurybegan--three days before Christmas. I wired Howard when to be there,and made arrangements at the Waldorf Hotel for him, also little Jimand her escort, and sent for them as soon
as I thought the jury wouldbe completed.

  The two suites I engaged at the hotel were entered from a wing off themain hall on that floor. A big front one for little Jim and herescort, a smaller one across the hall I occupied until Howard came. Amaid I brought in saw to it that our witness was not molested.

  The jockeying of the defense for time disgusted the court andeveryone else, though it suited me because our star witness, Howard,was delayed. I knew little Jim had arrived, but did not actually seeher for reasons that will appear.

  Howard did not arrive until the afternoon before Christmas, with thedefense still obstructing the progress of the trial. Pushed hard latein the afternoon they admitted they could not produce a single one ofthe defendants. Their bonds were immediately declared forfeited, andcourt adjourned for the holidays. I had to attend to some detail. Itold Howard to go to the hotel and get cleaned up. I would meet himthere soon. He misunderstood me and before I knew it was assignedrooms in another part of the hotel. Then I went for the first time tosee little Jim, ostensibly to tell her that she would not have toappear as a witness.

  She came to the door at my ring and was very much delighted to see me,leading me to her teacher and escort in the front room of the suiteand introducing me with polite formality.

  Her teacher started visibly at her clear pronunciation of the name andasked me to be seated, her eyes trying to penetrate my incongruousappearance.

  "I--I once knew a Mr. Wood, but it is a long time since I have seenhim. It--it can't be that you--that you know him--I should like verymuch to see him," she said, glancing with a sort of affectionateapprehension at little Jim, who stood near me.

  "Perhaps fifteen years of wear and tear has been more severe on methan it has on yourself. It has laid a kindly hand on you, but if youcan imagine me as divested of this ancient coat and transfer thesewhiskers to the bare spot on my head it may help you some," I said,trying to get into lighter vein.

  "Then you are----" she hesitated, almost devouring me with herastonished eyes, "can it be possible you are the Mr. Wood I once knew,the friend----"

  "Yes; quite the same," I interrupted, in order to allow her plenty oftime in which to control herself.

  "Have you--have you any news? I should like to see you alone, Mr.Wood," she requested, looking at little Jim in a frightened way.

  "It isn't necessary. This little girl and I are very good friends. Shecan hear everything. In fact, I want her to," I replied, drawinglittle Jim down on a hassock beside me, "I have important news foryou," I added, looking full at the wonderful, sweet, earnest andtime-refined Norma Byng.

  "Tell me--tell me quickly. I don't care if the whole world hears--ishe alive and--is he well?" she asked excitedly, her bosom risingspasmodically with the deep breathing of intense excitement.

  "Yes, I will tell you, but you must be calm, and control yourself. Youmay be put to a terrible test with the possibility of failure. Andyou, little girl, must pay close attention and not miss a singleword," said I, laying my hand on little Jim's shoulder, who waswide-eyed in wonder at the turn of things.

  "Your husband, Howard, has returned after having completelyrehabilitated his magnificent self in all ways. He has even regainedcontrol of his property, his plant in Georgia, and completelyrecovered from a state of practical insanity that held him for severalyears--but he has not recovered wholly from the shock given him bythis man Ramund----"

  "And he still believes that I--oh, what shall I do! There has neverbeen a moment that I have not loved him and would now willingly givemy life--but my child, my little Norma, what of her? I have lived inconstant hope she would be restored to me."

  "About two years ago in the course of my employment I learned whereyou were. Afterward I found Howard and little Jim. She had to go toschool, so I conceived and was able to carry out a quiet or rather adeceptive plan to bring all three of you together. You have had yourchild in your care for more than four months. Little Jim, this is yourmother, of whom you wanted me to tell you," I said, raising her toher feet for Norma Byng to embrace passionately in a flood of tears.

  "I knew it--I felt it! From the moment I saw her first I felt a bond;we have loved each other deeply without knowing what we were to eachother!" she exclaimed, holding little Jim so that she could see herface, and who by this time was also in tears of joy.

  "I was afraid you would trace the great resemblance to yourself whenher tan came off and her hair grew out," I said, trying to be calmmyself.

  "Then this is my mother!" screamed the delighted little Jim. "Oh, Ihave wished a hundred times I could call you mother and now I have mywish!" Then she began to dance up and down as though on springs,finally throwing her arms about her mother's neck and kissing herrepeatedly between happy little sobs of joy unconfined.

  Holding tightly to her darling child there came into the face of NormaByng an intense sadness, her lips quivered. Intuitively, I knew whatshe was going to ask.

  "Where is Howard? Is he unrelenting--is he not yet convinced?"

  "No, he is not. His fierce Georgia nature, the hot blood of the South,stands in the way. I have tried and I am going to try again, so youmust be prepared--even for failure. I am not at all sure of success. Iam going out to try and find him now. While I am gone you might telllittle Jim the whole story. She is a big little girl--just like hertruly great mother and father. She will understand and it may help. Heloves little Jim as his only love," I said, starting away from thereunited mother and child. It was time for them to be alone.

  "Shall we wait?" asked Norma Byng, weeping softly.

  "Yes, wait till I return."

  After a lot of telephoning and explaining to clerks and bell boys, Ifinally succeeded in getting Howard's things transferred to the suiteintended for him. He was looking for me and I for him with the resultthat it was late when we got together.

  His first question was of little Jim. I had to be very careful whentelling him how I had informed her about her new name. But he was muchpleased and relieved that she knew. Then he began to talk aboutbusiness. His disappointment at the turn things had taken in court wassomewhat assuaged by the information that two hundred thousand dollarsin cash had been forfeited to the United States by Ramund's default inappearance.

  He then began to tell me of the great progress he had made on hisproperty, the stump pullers were again at work and things were goingvery well at the plant in Georgia.

  "Did you hear of anyone moonshining in the swamps?"

  "Well, I guess they are making a little liquor over there somewhere,but the old gang, the one you and I knew about, is not there," hereplied, smiling.

  "You didn't have time to go up to Alligator Island for a shot, didyou?"

  "No--and I don't believe I ever will go there again," he replied,sobering quickly, his face even saddening. "By the way, did you learnanything--of her? I suppose you have been too busy?"

  "Yes, I have heard--I have some very important news. I know where sheis. She is now, and always has been employed, and she is a morecultured, more wonderful woman than ever, Howard."

  "It's a terrible thing, Wood. I wish that snake Ramund had been sentup for life, or hung, as he should be. It is strange how lifecontinually presents great difficulties and disappointments."

  "Howard, your case is not as bad as others. Your wife still loves you,and I don't believe she has ever wavered a moment. I wish you wouldsee it that way."

  "But, Wood, I may be able to forgive, but such a wrong I could notforget. It's the way of the South. We never forget. I have thoughtthis terrible matter over ten thousand times, but was unable todeceive my own eyes--I saw. Sometimes I wish I had not seen."

  Howard sat at the corner of the table and rested his powerful jaw inhis palm gloomily. He was obstinate and so was I and thus mattersstood when I began to pace the floor. I had become just as determinedas he. Abruptly I stopped and looked him in the eye.

  "Howard," said I, "there is no need of your being deceived. Norma Byngwas then and is now as pure as driven snow--pure as a
n angel."

  "You can only guess at that. You did not see--as I did. I would giveup my hope of a future life not to have seen what I did. I will admitI love her as much as I ever did. I know it now--I wish I didn't," hesaid sadly. "It is one thing I must bear--one of the burdens of life,"he added, depressed, but terribly firm.

  "Howard, my whole life has been spent in learning what people think asmuch as what they do. And you have had plenty of evidence that Isucceed. I tell you Norma Byng is innocent--guilty of nothing exceptone great indiscreet effort to aid you. She was led to believe shecould. Time has not dimmed her ardent love for you one iota."

  "I wish I were sure of it, but I could never be. I am, as I should be,very glad I have little Jim to love, for a man must have someone tolove and work for."

  "Howard, you have got to be bigger than that. You have succeeded asecond time, and you are now more re-established materially; besides,you have done yourself honor--you have been the means of performingfor this country a service that cannot be estimated----"

  "No--Wood, you did it. It was all you, and I offer you again a halfinterest in the business, and this time you have got to take it. It'syours. I would never have regained it without your help."

  "Howard," I said, grabbing him by the arms and raising him to his feetin a supreme determination to break his will, "from the first time Isaw you until this moment you have had plenty of evidence of myfriendship. I have never advised you wrong. I am not doing so now. Asyou stand there, resisting all reason, I spurn your offer and fling itfrom me as I would plunge tempered steel into the enemy. Ourfriendship is now being weighed for real values." My voice shook, forI was terribly in earnest as I continued:

  "I tell you that you are wrong! As she has no one else to defend her,I shall. Hear me when I say that Norma Byng never had an impure orunchaste thought in her life. The Hun's proposal stunned her; shockedher beyond the power to move or speak. You ought to understand such apossibility. I have heard her story. Dissimulation in her isunthinkable. And what I say I know is not guesswork, but the result ofa careful, painstaking search for your happiness, hers, and littleJim's. Howard, it is Christmas eve. Do you hear those bells ringingout to the world--peace and good will to men? Look at these papers,"said I, taking out the original warrants for one Canby. "Take a lookat them and judge for yourself whether or not I was won to your causeby little Jim first--her little Jim as much as yours--because shelooked like, and reminded me of Norma Byng. Suppose I had given thesepapers to the marshall to serve. Can't you see why--it was little Jim,whom she brought into the world. Drop your distrust. Let your lovelight the way and come with me," I said impulsively, taking him by thehand and leading him across the hall.

  Little Jim came to the door again, as soon as she heard my voice.

  "Oh, Daddy, how late you are. We have been waiting for you so long. Iknow everything now. Come in here, Daddy, we have been waiting foryou--my mother and I," she cried, leading her father by the hand justas I had done. I followed them into the front room. Little Jim led himstraight to Norma, took her mother's hand and placed it in his. Myemotions were hard to control. I knew that the child had done more ina moment than I could ever have done. What had been torn asunder wasnow reunited in holy bond.

  Little Jim told me afterward she had seen a wonderful transformationand was thrilled by heavenly voices, just as she had been when shevisited Nereid, at the bottom of the sea. It was then that Norma andHoward Byng became truly great, and sacred to little Jim and me. Wetiptoed out and went over to Howard's room across the hall. Anyone whoin sheer ghoulishness would have desecrated this holy reunion bylistening to their tender words and witness their caresses must indeedstand in need of better manners, to say the least.

  It seemed but a short time until they came to where we were andtogether they placed their hands in mine, with joyous little Jimstanding between us. They were about to speak of their obligation tome when there floated up from the great music room below a gloriouschorus, clear as a bell, and of infinite sweetness----"Peace on EarthGood Will to Men."

  Next morning I found Howard and little Jim in the office looking overtimetables. They both came toward me smiling, Howard a changed man--awonderful transformation had taken place. He took my hand, offered incongratulation, and squeezed it hard. Said he, "Wood, I am going away;no more business for a long time. I am going to celebrate a realwedding."

  Then, in a voice coming from his heart, soft with emotion, he added,"The remainder of my life shall be spent righting a tremendous wrong.I have just commenced to live."

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  Transcribers note:

  Minor spelling inconsistencies, mainly hyphenated and accented words,have been made consistent.

  Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.