by Unknown
"You stay in your room: you have nothing to do with him. Hear me?"
"Yes, Father."
From her infancy he had dominated her; it never occurred to either ofthem that she could disobey. And yet, this time she did; for no soonerwas he asleep that night than she came to my window as I have told.
This next day Jetta dutifully had kept herself secluded. She cookedher own breakfast while I was at the Government House, and was againout of sight by noon.
Jetta was nearly always alone. I can picture her sitting there withinthe narrow walls of her little room. Boy's ragged garb. All possiblefemininity stripped from her. Yet, within her, the woman's instinctswere struggling. She sewed a great deal, she since has told me, therein the cloistered dimness. Making little dresses of silk and bits offinery given her surreptitiously by the neighbor women. Gazing atherself in them with the aid of a tiny mirror. Hiding them away, neverdaring to wear them openly; until at intervals her father would raidthe room, find them and burn them in the kitchen incinerator.
"Instincts of Satan! By damn but I will get these woman's instinctsout of you, Jetta!"
* * * * *
And there were hours when she would try to read hidden books, and lookat pictures of the strange fairy world of the Highlands. She couldread and write a little: she had gone for a few years to the smallNareda government school, and then been snatched from it by herfather.
When Spawn and I had finished that noonday meal, I recall that he leftme for a moment. He had gone to Jetta.
"I am taking that young American to the mine. I will return presently.Stay close, Jetta."
"Yes, Father."
He left with me. Jetta remained in her room, her thoughts upon thecoming night. She trembled at them. She would meet me again, thisevening in the moonlit garden....
The sound of a man walking the garden path aroused her from herreverie. Then came a soft ingratiating voice:
"Jetta, chica Mia!"
It was Perona, standing by the pergola preening his effeminatemustache.
"Jetta, little love bird, come out and talk to me."
Jetta slammed the window slide and sat quiet.
"Jetta, it is your Greko."
"Well do I know it," she muttered.
"Jetta!" He strode down the path and back. "Jetta." His voice beganrising into a strident, peevish anger.
"Jetta, are you in there? Chica, answer me."
No answer.
"Jetta, por Dios--" He fumed, then fell to pleading. "Are you inthere? Please, little love bird, answer your Greko. Are you in there?"
"Yes."
"Come out then. Come to Greko."
* * * * *
She said sweetly. "My father does not want me to talk to men. You knowthat is so, Señor Perona."
It grounded him. "Why--"
"Is it not so?"
"Y-yes, but I am not--"
"A man?" Little imp! She relished impaling him upon the shafts of herridicule. Her sport was interrupted by the arrival of Spawn. He hadleft me at the mine and come directly back home. Jetta heard his heavytread on the garden path, then his voice:
"Ah, Perona."
And Perona: "Jetta will not come out and talk to me." The waxenmustached Minister of Nareda's Internal Affairs was like a sulkychild. But Spawn was unimpressed. Spawn said:
"Well, let her alone. We have more important things to engage us. Ihave the American occupied at the mine. You heard from De Boer?"
"I went last night. All is ready as we planned. But Spawn, this foolof an American, this Grant--"
"Hush! Not so loud, Perona!"
"I am telling you--!" Perona was excited. His voice rose shrilly, butSpawn checked him.
"Shut up: you waste time. Tell me exactly the arrangements with DeBoer. Le grand coup! now; to-night most important of nights--and yourant of your troubles with a girl!"
* * * * *
They were standing by the pergola, quite near Jetta's shaded window.She crouched there, listening to them. None of this was entirely newto Jetta. She had always been aware more or less of her father'ssecret business activities. As a child she had not understood them.Nor did she now, with any clarity. Spawn, had always talked freelywithin her hearing, ignoring her, though occasionally he threatenedher to keep her mouth shut.
She heard now fragments of this discussion between her father andPerona. They moved away from the pergola and sat by the fountain,speaking too low for her to hear. And then they paced the path, comingnearer, and she caught their voices again. And occasionally they grewexcited, or vehement, and then their raised tones were plainly audibleto her.
And this that she heard, with what the knew already, and with whatsubsequently transpired, enables me now to piece together the factsinto a connected explanation.
In the establishment of his cinnabar mine some years before, Spawn wasoriginally financed by Perona. The South American was then newly madeMinister of Nareda's Internal Affairs. He became Spawn's businesspartner. They kept the connection secret. Spawn falsified hisproduction records; and Perona with his governmental position wasenabled to pass these false accounts of the mine's production. Naredawas systematically cheated of a portion of its legal share.
But this, after a time, did not satisfy the ambitious Perona andSpawn. They began to plan how they might engage in smuggling some oftheir quicksilver into the United States.
Perona, during these years, had had ambitions of his own in otherdirections. President Markes, of Nareda, was an honest official. Hehandicapped Perona considerably. There were many ways by which Peronacould have grown rich through a dishonest handling of the governmentaffairs. It was done almost universally in all the small Latingovernments. But Markes as President made it dangerous in Nareda. Eventhe duplicity with the mine was a precarious affair.
* * * * *
There was at this time in Nareda a young adventurer named De Boer. Ahandsome, swaggering fellow in his late twenties. He was a goodtalker; he spoke many languages; he could orate with fluency andskilful guile. His smile, his colorful personality, and his gift fororatory, made it easy for him to stir up dissatisfaction among thepeople.
De Boer became known as a patriot. A revolution in Nareda was brewing.Perona, as Nareda's Minister, was De Boer's political enemy. TheNareda Government ran De Boer out, ending the potential revolution.But Perona and Spawn had always secretly been friends with De Boer. Itwould have been very handy to have this unscrupulous young scoundrelas President.
When De Boer was banished with some of his most loyal followers, hebegan a career of petty banditry in the Lowland's depths. Spawn andPerona kept in communication with him, and, by a method which waspresently made startlingly clear to Jetta and me, De Boer smuggled thequicksilver for Perona and Spawn. It was this activity which hadfinally aroused my department and caused Hanley to send me to Nareda.
This however, was a dangerous, precarious occupation. De Boer did notseem to think so, or care. But Perona and Spawn, with theirestablished positions in Nareda, were always fearful of exposure. Evenwithout my coming, they had planned to disconnect from De Boer.
"And for more than that," as Jetta had one day heard Perona remark toher father. "I'll tell to you that this De Boer is not very straightwith us, Spawn." De Boer would, upon occasion, fail to make properreturn for the smuggled product.
* * * * *
So now they had planned a last coup in which De Boer was to help, andthen they would be done with him: the two of them, Spawn and Perona,would remain as honest citizens of Nareda, and De Boer had agreed totake himself away and pursue his banditry elsewhere.
It was a simple plan; it promised to yield a high stake quickly. Afinal fling at illicit activity; then virtuous reformation, withPerona marrying the little Jetta.
* * * * *
Beneath the strong room at the mine, Perona and Spawn had secretlybuilt a cleverly concealed little vault. De Boer, this night justbefore the midnight hour, was to attack the mine. Spawn and Perona hadbribed the police guards to subm
it to this attack. The guards did notknow the details: they only knew that De Boer and his men would make asham attack, careful to harm none of them--and then De Boer wouldwithdraw. The guards would report that they had been driven away by alarge force. And when the excitement was over, the ingots ofradiumized quicksilver would have vanished!
De Boer, making away into distant Lowland fastnesses, would obviouslybe supposed to have taken the treasure. But Perona, hidden alone inthe strong-room, would merely carry the ingots down into the secretvault, to be disposed of at some future date. The ingots were wellinsured, by an international company, against theft. The Naredagovernment would receive one-third of that insurance as recompense forthe loss of its share. Perona and Spawn would get two-thirds--and havethe treasure as well.
* * * * *
Such was the present plan, into which, all unknown to me, I had beenplunged. And my presence complicated things considerably. So much sothat Perona grew vehement, this afternoon in the garden, explainingwhy. His shrill voice carried clearly to Jetta, in spite of Spawn'sefforts to shut him up.
"I tell to you that Americano agent will undo us."
"How?" demanded the calmer Spawn.
"Already he has made Markes suspicious."
"Chut! You can befool Markes, Perona. You have for years been doingit."
"This meddling fellow, he has met Jetta!"
"I do not believe it." There was a sudden grimness to Spawn's tone atthe thought. "I do not believe it. Jetta would not dare."
"You should have seen him flush when Markes mentioned at theconference this morning that I am to marry Jetta. No one could missit. He has met her--I tell it to you--and it must have been lastnight."
"So, you say?" Jetta could see her father's face, white withsuppressed rage. "You think that? And it is that this Grant might beyour rival, that worries you? Not our plans for to-night, which havereal importance--but worrying over a girl."
"She would not talk to me. She would not come out. He has no doubt putwild ideas into her head. Spawn, you listen to me. I have always beenmore clever than you at scheming. Is it not so? You have always saidit. I have a plan now, it fits our arrangements with De Boer, but itwill rid us of this Americano. When all is done and I have marriedJetta--"
* * * * *
Spawn interrupted impatiently. "You will marry Jetta, never fear. Ihave promised her to you."
And because, as Jetta well knew, Perona had made it part of hisbargaining in financing Spawn. But this they did not now mention.
"To get rid of this Grant--well, that sounds meritorious. He isdangerous around here. To that I agree."
"And with Jetta--"
"Have done, Perona!" With sudden decision Spawn leaped to his feet. "Ido not believe she would have dared talk to Grant. We'll have her outand ask her. If she has, by the gods--"
It fell upon Jetta before she had time to gather her wits. Spawnstrode to her door, and found it fastened on the inside.
"Jetta, open at once!"
He thumped with his heavy fists. Confused and trembling she unsealedit, and he dragged her out into the sunlight of the garden.
"Now then, Jetta, you have heard some of what we have been saying,perhaps?"
"Father--"
"About this young American? This Grant?"
She stood cringing in his grasp. Spawn had never used physicalviolence with Jetta. But he was white with fury now.
"Father, you--you are hurting me."
Perona interposed. "Wait Spawn! Not so rough! Let me talk to her.Jetta, chica mia, your Greko is worried--"
"To the hell with that!" Spawn shouted. But he released the girl andshe sank trembling to the little seat by the pergola.
Spawn stood over her. "Jetta, look at me! Did you meet--did you talkto Grant last night?"
She wanted to deny it. She clung to his angry gaze. But the habit ofall her life of truthfulness with him prevailed.
"Y-yes," she admitted.
CHAPTER IX - Trapped
"Spawn! Hold!"
There was an instant when it seemed that Spawn would strike the girl.The blood drained from his face, leaving his dark eyes blazing liketorches. His hamlike fist went back, but Perona sprang for him andclutched him.
"Hold, Spawn: I will talk to her. Jetta, so you did--"
The torrent of emotion swept Spawn; weakened him so that instead ofstriking Jetta, he yielded to Perona's clutch and dropped his arm. Fora moment he stood gazing at his daughter.
"Is it so? And all my efforts, going for nothing, just like yourmother!" He no more than murmured it, and as Perona pushed him, hesank to the bench beside Jetta. But did not touch her, just satstaring. And she stared back, both of then aghast at the enormity ofthis, her first disobedience.
I never had opportunity to know Spawn, except for the few times whichI have mentioned. Perhaps he was at heart a pathetic figure. I think,looking back on it now that Spawn is dead, that there was a pathos tohim. Spawn had loved his wife, Jetta's mother. As a young man he hadbrought her to the Lowlands to seek his fortune. And when Jetta was aninfant, his wife had left him. Run away, abandoning him and theirchild.
* * * * *
Perhaps Spawn was never mentally normal after that. He had rearedJetta with the belief that sin was inherent in all females. Itobsessed him. Warped and twisted all his outlook as he brooded on itthrough the years. Woman's instincts; woman's love of pleasure, prettyclothes--all could lead only to sin.
And so he had kept Jetta secluded. He had fought what he seemed to seein her as she grew and flowered into girlhood, and denied hereverything which he thought might make her like her mother.
Spawn met his death within a few hours of this afternoon I amdescribing. Perhaps he was no more than a scheming scoundrel. We areinstinctively lenient with our appraisal of the dead. I do not know.
"Jetta," Perona said to her accusingly, "that is true, then: you didtalk with that miserable Americano last night? You sinful, lyinggirl."
The contrition within Jetta at disobeying her father faded before thisattack.
"I am not sinful." The trembling left her and she sat up and faced theaccusing Perona. "I did but talk to him. You speak lies when you say Iam sinful."
"You hear, Spawn? Defiant: already changed from the little Jetta I--"
"Yes, I am changed. I do not love you, Señor Perona. I think I hateyou." Her tears were very close, but she finished: "I--I won't marryyou. I won't!"
It stung Spawn. He leaped to his feet. "So you talk like that! It hasgone so far as this, has it? Get to your room! We will see what youwill and what you won't!"
* * * * *
Again the crafty Perona was calmest of them all. He thrust himself infront of Spawn.
"Jetta, to-night you plan to see him again, no? To-night?--here?"
"No," she stammered.
"You lie!"
"No."
"You lie! Spawn look at her! Lying! She has planned to meet himto-night! That is all we want to know." He broke into a cacklingchuckle. "That fits my new plan, Spawn. A tryst with Jetta, here inthe garden."
"Get to your room," Spawn growled. He dragged her back, and Peronafollowed them.
"You lie there." Spawn flung her to her couch. "After this night'swork is done, we'll see whether you will or you won't."
"She may not stay in here." Perona suggested.
"She will stay."
"You seal her in?"
"I will seal her in."
Perona's eyes roved the little bedroom. One window oval and a door,both overlooking the patio.
"But suppose she should get out? There is no way to seal that windowproperly from outside. A cord!"
A long stout silken tassel-cord had been draped by Jetta at the windowcurtain. Perona snatched it down.
"If her ankles and wrists were tied with this--"
"No!" burst out Jetta. And then a fear for me rushed over her. Arealization, forgotten in the stress of this conflict with herfather, now swept over her. They were planning harm to me.
/> "No, do not bind me."
* * * * *
A sudden caution came to her. She was making it worse for me. Alreadyshe had done me immense harm.
She said suddenly, "Do what you like with me. I was wrong. I have nointerest in that American. It is you, Greko, I--I love."
Spawn did not heed her. Perona insisted, "I would tie her with care."
He helped Spawn rope her ankles, and then her wrists, crossed behindher.
"A little gag, Spawn? She might cry out: we want no interferenceto-night." He was ready with a large silken handkerchief. They thrustit into her mouth and tied it behind her neck.
"There," growled Spawn. "You will and you won't: we shall see aboutthat. Lie still, Jetta. If I have need to come again to you--"
They left her. And this time she heard them less clearly. But therewere fragments:
Perona: "I will meet him again. After dark, to-night. Yes, he expectsme. For his money, Spawn, his pay in advance. This De Boer works notfor nothing."
Spawn: "You will arrange about your police on the streets? He can gethere to my house safely?"
"Oh yes, at the tri-evening hour, certainly before midnight, beforethe attack on the mine. You must stay here, Spawn. Pretend to beasleep: it will lure the fool Americano out in to the moonlight."
* * * * *
Jetta could piece it together fairly well. They would have De Boercome and abduct me. Not tell him I was a government agent, with themicro-safety alarm which they suspected I carried, but just tell DeBoer that I was a rich American, who could be abducted and held for abig ransom.
Perona's voice rose with a fragment: "If he springs his alarm, here inthe moonlight, you can be here, Spawn, and pretend to try and rescuehim. A radio-image of that flashed to Hanley's office will exonerateus of suspicion."
Perona would promise De Boer that the Nareda government would pay theransom quickly, collecting it later from the United States.
Spawn said, "You think De Boer will believe that?"
"Why should he not? I am skilful at persuasion, no? Let him find outlater that the United States Government trackers are after him!"Perona cackled at the thought of it. "What of that? Let him kill thisGrant. All the better."