The Iron Trail

by Rex Beach

  XI

  THE TWO SIDES OF ELIZA VIOLET APPLETON

  Dan Appleton entered the bungalow one evening, wet and tired from hiswork, to find Eliza pacing the floor in agitation.

  "What's the matter, Sis?" he inquired, with quick concern.

  His sister pointed to a copy of The Review which that day's mail hadbrought.

  "Look at that!" she cried. "Read it!"

  "Oh! Your story, eh?"

  "Read it!"

  He read a column, and then glanced up to find her watching him withangry eyes.

  "Gee! That's pretty rough on the chief, Kid. I thought you liked him,"he said, gravely.

  "I do! I do! Don't you understand, dummy? I didn't write that! They'vechanged my story--distorted it. I'm--FURIOUS!"

  Dan whistled softly. "I didn't suppose they'd try anything like that,but--they did a good job while they were at it. Why, you'd think O'Neilwas a grafter and the S. R. & N. nothing but a land-grabbing deal."

  "How DARED they?" the girl cried. "The actual changes aren't somany--just enough to alter the effect of the story--but that's whatmakes it so devilish. For instance, I described the obstacles and thehandicaps Mr. O'Neil has had to overcome in order to show the magnitudeof his enterprise, but Drake has altered it so that the physicalconditions here seem to be insuperable and he makes me say that theroad is doomed to failure. That's the way he changed it all through."

  "It may topple the chief's plans over; they're very insecure. It playsright into the hands of his enemies, too, and of course Gordon's pressbureau will make the most of it."

  "Heavens! I want sympathy, not abuse!" wailed his sister. "It's all dueto the policy of The Review. Drake thinks everybody up here is a thief.I dare say they are, but--How can I face Mr. O'Neil?"

  Dan shook the paper in his fist. "Are you going to stand for this?" hedemanded.

  "Hardly! I cabled the office this morning, and here's Drake's answer."She read:

  "'Stuff colorless. Don't allow admiration warp judgment.' Can you beatthat?"

  "He thinks you've surrendered to Murray, like all the others."

  "I hate him!" cried Eliza. "I detest him!"

  "Who? O'Neil or Drake?"

  "Both. Mr. O'Neil for putting me in the position of a traitor, andDrake for presuming to rewrite my stuff. I'm going to resign, and I'mgoing to leave Omar before Murray O'Neil comes back."

  "Don't be a quitter, Sis. If you throw up the job the paper will sendsomebody who will lie about us to suit the policy of the office. Show'em where they're wrong; show 'em what this country needs. You haveyour magazine stories to write."

  Eliza shook her head. "Bother the magazines and the whole business! I'mthinking about Mr. O'Neil. I--I could cry. I suppose I'll have to stayand explain to him, but--then I'll go home."

  "No! You'll stay right here and go through with this thing. I need you."

  "You? What for?"

  "You can perform a great and a signal service for your loving brother.He's in terrible trouble!"

  "What's wrong, Danny?" Eliza's anger gave instant place to solicitude."You--you haven't STOLEN anything?"

  "Lord, no! What put that into your head?"

  "I don't know--except that's the worst thing that could happen to us. Ilike to start with the worst."

  "I can't sulk in the jungle any more. I'm a rotten loser, Sis."

  "Oh! You mean--Natalie? You--like her?"

  "For a writer you select the most foolish words! Like, love, adore,worship--words are no good, anyway. I'm dippy; I'm out of my head; I'velost my reason. I'm deliriously happy and miserably unhappy. I--"

  "That's enough!" the girl exclaimed. "I can imagine the rest."

  "It was a fatal mistake for her to come to Omar, and to this veryhouse, of all places, where I could see her every day. I might haverecovered from the first jolt if I'd never seen her again, but--" Hewaved his hands hopelessly. "I'm beginning to hate O'Neil."

  "You miserable traitor!" gasped Eliza.

  "Yep! That's me! I'm dead to loyalty, lost to the claims of friendship.I've fought myself until I'm black in the face, but--it's no use. Imust have Natalie!"

  "She's crazy about O'Neil."

  "Seems to be, for a fact, but that doesn't alter my fix. I can't livethis way. You must help me or I'll lose my reason."

  "Nonsense! You haven't any or you wouldn't talk like this. What can Ido?"

  "It's simple! Be nice to Murray and--and win him away from her."

  Eliza stared at him as though she really believed him daft. Then shesaid, mockingly:

  "Is that all? Just make him love me?"

  Dan nodded. "That would be fine, if you could manage it."

  "Why--you--you--I--" She gasped uncertainly for terms in which to voiceher indignant surprise. "Idiot!" she finally exclaimed.

  "Thanks for such glowing praise," Dan said, forlornly. "I feel a lotworse than an idiot. An idiot is not necessarily evil; at heart he maybe likable, and pathetic, and merely unfortunate--"

  "You simply can't be in earnest!"

  "I am, though!" He turned upon her eyes which had grown suddenly oldand weary with longing.

  "You poor, foolish boy! In the first place, Mr. O'Neil will hate me forthis story. In the second place, no man would look at me. I'm ugly--"

  "I think you're beautiful."

  "With my snub nose, and big mouth, and--"

  "You can make him laugh, and when a woman can make a fellow laugh therest is easy."

  "In the third place I'm mannish and--vulgar, and besides--I don't carefor him."

  "Of course you don't, or I wouldn't ask it. You see, we're taking norisks! You can at least take up his attention and--and when you see himmaking for Natalie you can put out your foot and trip him up."

  "It wouldn't be honorable, Danny."

  "Possibly! But that doesn't make any difference with me. You may aswell realize that I've got beyond the point where nice considerationsof that sort weigh with me. If you'd ever been in love you'd understandthat such things don't count at all. It's your chance to save thereason and happiness of an otherwise perfectly good brother."

  "There is nothing I wouldn't do for your happiness--nothing. But--Oh,it's preposterous!"

  Dan relapsed into gloomy silence, and they had a very uncomfortablemeal. Unable to bear his continued lack of spirits, Eliza againreferred to the subject, and tried until late in the evening to arguehim out of his mood. But the longer they talked the more plainly shesaw that his feeling for Natalie was not fanciful, but sincere anddeep. She continued to scout his suggestion that she could help him bycaptivating O'Neil, and stoutly maintained that she had no attractionfor men; nevertheless, when she went to her room she examined herselfcritically in her mirror. This done, she gave herself over to herfavorite relaxation.

  First she exchanged her walking-skirt, her prim shirtwaist and jacket,for a rose-pink wrapper which she furtively brought out of a closet. Itwas a very elaborate wrapper, all fluffy lace and ruffles and bows, andit had cost Eliza a sum which she strove desperately to forget. Shedonned silk stockings and a pair of tiny bedroom slippers; then seatingherself once more at her dresser, she let down her hair. She invariablywore it tightly drawn back--so tightly, in fact, that Dan had more thanonce complained that it pulled her eyebrows out of place. On thisoccasion, however, she crimped it, she curled it, she brought itforward about her face in soft riotous puffs and strands, patting itinto becoming shape with dexterous fingers until it formed a goldenframe for her piquant features.

  Now this was no unusual performance for her. In the midnight solitudeof her chamber she regularly gave rein to the feminine side of hernature. By day she was the severe, matter-of-fact, businesslike ElizaAppleton, deaf to romance, lost to illusion, and unresponsive tomasculine attention; but deep in her heart were all the instincts andlongings of femininity, and at such times as this they came uppermost.Her bedroom had none of the Puritanical primness which marked her habitof dress; it was in no way suggestive of the masculine character whichsh
e so proudly paraded upon the street. On the contrary, it was a bowerof daintiness, and was crowded with all the senseless fripperies of aschool-girl. Carefully hidden away beneath her starched shirtwaists wasmuch lingerie--bewildering creations to match the pink wrapper--andthis she petted and talked to adoringly when no one could hear.

  Eliza read much when she was unobserved--romances and improbable talesof fine ladies and gallant squires. There were times, too, when shewrote, chewing her pencil in the perplexities of vividly colored lovescenes; but she always destroyed these manuscripts before the curioussun could spy upon her labors. In such ecstatic flights of fancy thebeautiful heroine was a languorous brunette with hair of raven hue andsoulful eyes in which slumbered the mystery of a tropic night. She hada Grecian nose, moreover, and her name was Violet.

  From all this it may be gathered that Eliza Appleton was by no meansthe extraordinary person she seemed. Beneath her false exterior she wasshamelessly normal.

  In the days before O'Neil's return she suffered constant misgivings andqualms of conscience, but the sight of her brother reveling, expanding,fairly bursting into bloom beneath the influence of Natalie Gerard ledher to think that perhaps she did have a duty to perform. Dan's causewas hers, and while she had only the faintest hope of aiding it, shewas ready to battle for his happiness with every weapon at her command.The part she would have to play was not exactly nice, she reflected,but--the ties of sisterhood were strong and she would have made anysacrifice for Dan. She knew that Natalie was fond of him in a casual,friendly way, and although it was evident that the girl accorded himnone of that hero-worship with which she favored his chief, Eliza beganto think there still might be some hope for him. Since we are all proneto argue our consciences into agreement with our desires, she finallybrought herself to the belief that O'Neil was not the man for Natalie.He was too old, too confirmed in his ways, and too self-centered tomake a good husband for a girl of her age and disposition. Once herillusions had been rubbed away through daily contact with him, shewould undoubtedly awaken to his human faults, and unhappiness wouldresult for both. What Natalie needed for her lasting contentment was aboy her own age whose life would color to match hers. So argued Elizawith that supreme satisfaction which we feel in arranging the affairsof others to suit ourselves.

  She was greatly embarrassed, nevertheless, when she next met O'Neil andtried to explain that story in The Review. He listened courteously andsmiled his gentle smile.

  "My dear," said he, finally, "I knew there had been some mistake, solet's forget that it ever happened. Now tell me about the smallpoxepidemic. When I heard what Linn was doing with our men I was badlyworried, for I couldn't see how to checkmate him, but it seems you andDoc were equal to the occasion. He cabled me a perfectly properannouncement of Tom's quarantine, and I believed we had been favored bya miracle."

  "It wasn't a miracle at all," Eliza said in a matter-of-fact tone; "itwas croton oil. Nobody has dared tell him the truth. He still believeshe could smell the tuberoses."

  O'Neil seemed to derive great amusement from her account of whatfollowed. He had already heard Dr. Gray's version of the affair, butEliza had a refreshing way of saying things.

  "I brought you a little present," he said when she had finished.

  She took the package he handed her, exclaiming with a slight flush ofembarrassment, "A s'prise! Nobody but Dan ever gave me a present." Thenher eyes darkened with suspicion. "Did you bring me this because ofwhat I did?"

  "Now don't be silly! I knew nothing about your part in the comedy untilDoc told me. You are a most difficult person."

  Slowly she unwrapped the parcel, and then with a gasp lifted asplendidly embroidered kimono from its box.

  "Oh-h!" Her eyes were round and astonished. "Oh-h! It's for ME!"

  It was a regal garment of heavy silk, superbly ornamented with goldendragons, each so cunningly worked that it seemed upon the point oftaking wing. "Why, their eyes glitter! And--they'd breathe fire if Ijabbed them. Oh-h!" She stared at the gift in helpless amazement. "Isit mine, HONESTLY?"

  He nodded. "Won't you put it on?"

  "Over these things? Never!" Again Miss Appleton blushed, for sherecalled that she had prepared for his coming with extraordinary care.Her boots were even stouter than usual, her skirt more plain, her waistmore stiff, and her hair more tightly smoothed back. "It would take afluffy person to wear this. I'll always keep it, of course, and--I'llworship it, but I'm not designed for pretty clothes. I'll let Nataliewear--"

  "Natalie has one of her own, done in butterflies, and I brought one toher mother also."

  "And you bought this for me after you had seen that fiendish story overmy signature?"

  "Certainly!" He quickly forestalled her attempted thanks by changingthe subject. "Now then, Dan tells me you are anxious to begin yourmagazine-work, so I'm going to arrange for you to see the glaciers andthe coal-fields. It will be a hard trip, for the track isn't throughyet, but--"

  "Oh, I'll take care of myself; I won't get in anybody's way," she said,eagerly.

  "I intend to see that you don't, by going with you; so make yourpreparations and we'll leave as soon as I can get away."

  When he had gone the girl said, aloud:

  "Eliza Violet, this is your chance. It's underhanded and mean,but--you're a mean person, and the finger of Providence is directingyou." She snatched up the silken kimono and ran into her room, lockingthe door behind her. Hurriedly she put it on, then posed before themirror. Next down came her hair amid a shower of pins. She arranged itloosely about her face, and, ripping an artificial flower from her"party" hat, placed it over her ear, then swayed grandly to and frowhile the golden dragons writhed and curved as if in joyous admiration.A dozen times she slipped out of the garment and, gathering it to herface, kissed it; a dozen times she donned it, strutting about herlittle room like a peacock. Her tip-tilted nose was red and her eyeswere wet when at last she laid it out upon her bed and knelt with hercheek against it.

  "Gee! If only I were pretty!" she sighed, "I almost believe he--likesme."

  Tom Slater laboriously propelled himself up the hill to the bungalowthat evening, and seated himself on the topmost step near where Elizawas rocking. She had come to occupy a considerable place in histhoughts of late, for she was quite beyond his understanding. Sheaffected him as a mental gad-fly, stinging his mind into an activityquite unusual. At times he considered her a nice girl, thoughundoubtedly insane; then there were other moments when she excited hisdeepest animosity. Again, on rare occasions she completely upset allhis preconceived notions by being so friendly and so sympathetic thatshe made him homesick for his own daughter. In his idle hours,therefore he spent much time at the Appleton cottage.

  "Where have you been lately, Uncle Tom?" she began.

  Slater winced at the appellation, but ignored it.

  "I've been out on the delta hustling supplies ahead. Heard the news?"

  "No."

  "Curtis Gordon has bought the McDermott outfit in Kyak."

  "That tells me nothing. Who is McDermott?"

  "He's a shoe-stringer. He had a wildcat plan to build a railroad fromKyak to the coal-fields, but he never got farther than a row of alderstakes and a book of press clippings."

  "Does that mean that Gordon abandons his Hope route?"

  "Yep! He's swung in behind us and the Heidlemanns. Now it's athree-sided race, with us in the lead. Mellen just brought in the newshalf an hour ago; he was on his way down from the glaciers when he raninto a field party of Gordon's surveyors. Looks like trouble ahead ifthey try to crowd through the canon alongside of us."

  "He must believe Kyak Bay will make a safe harbor."

  "Don't say it! If he's right, we're fried to a nice brown finish onboth sides and it's time to take us off the stove. I'm praying for astorm."

  "'The prayers of the wicked are an abomination unto the Lord,'" quotedEliza.

  "Sure! But I keep right on praying just the same. It's a habit now. Thenews has set the chief to jumping sideway
s."

  "Which, translated, I suppose means that he is disturbed."

  "Or words to that effect! Too bad they changed that newspaper story ofyours."

  "Yes."

  "It put a crimp in him."

  "How--do you mean?"

  "He had some California capitalists tuned up to put in three milliondollars, but when they read that our plan was impracticable theirfountain-pens refused to work."

  "Oh!" Eliza gasped, faintly.

  Slater regarded her curiously, then shook his head. "Funny how a kidlike you can scare a bunch of hard-headed bankers, ain't it?" he said."Doc Gray explained that it wasn't your fault, but--it doesn't takemuch racket to frighten the big fish."

  "What will Mr. O'Neil do?"

  "Oh, he'll fight it out, I s'pose. The first thing is to block Gordon.Say, I brought you a present."

  "This is my lucky day," smiled Eliza as Tom fumbled in his pocket. "I'msure I shall love it."

  "It ain't much, but it was the best in the crate and I shined it up onmy towel." Mr. Slater handed Eliza a fine red apple of prodigious size,at sight of which the girl turned pale.

  "I--don't like apples," she cried, faintly.

  "Never mind; they're good for your complexion."

  "I'd die before I'd eat one."

  "Then I'll eat it for you; my complexion ain't what it was before I hadthe smallpox." When he had carried out this intention and subjected histeeth to a process of vacuum-cleaning, he asked: "Say, what happened toyour friend who chewed gum?"

  "Well, he was hardly a friend," Miss Appleton said, "If he had been areal friend he would have listened to my warning."

  "Gum never hurt anybody," Slater averred, argumentatively.

  "Not ordinary gum. But you see, he chewed nothing except wintergreen--"

  "That's what I chew."

  Eliza's tone was one of shocked amazement. "Not REALLY? Oh, well, somepeople would thrive on it, I dare say, but he had indigestion."

  "Me too! That's why I chew it."

  The girl eyed him during an uncomfortable pause. Finally she inquired:

  "Do you ever feel a queer, gnawing feeling, like hunger, if you gowithout your breakfast?"

  "Unh-hunh! Don't you?"

  "I wouldn't alarm you for the world, Uncle Tom--"

  "I ain't your uncle!"

  "You might chew the stuff for years and not feel any bad effects, butif you wake up some morning feeling tired and listless--"

  "I've done that, too." Slater's gloomy eyes were fixed upon her with alook of vague apprehension. "Is it a symptom?"

  "Certainly! Pepsin-poisoning, it's called. This fellow I told you aboutwas a charming man, and since we had all tried so hard to save him, wefelt terribly at the end."

  "Then he died?"

  "Um-m! Yes and no. Remind me to tell you the story sometime--Here comesDan, in a great hurry."

  Young Appleton came panting up the hill.

  "Good-by, Sis," he said. "I'm off for the front in ten minutes."

  "Anybody hurt?" Slater asked quickly.

  "Not yet, but somebody's liable to be. Gordon is trying to steal thecanon, and Murray has ordered me out with a car of dynamite to hold it."

  "Dynamite! Why, Dan!" his sister exclaimed in consternation.

  "We have poling-boats at the lower crossing and we'll be at the canonin two days. I'm going to load the hillside with shots, and if they tryto come through I'll set 'em off. They'll never dare tackle it." Dan'seyes were dancing; his face was alive with excitement.

  "But suppose they should?" Eliza insisted, quietly.

  "Then send Doc Gray with some stretchers. I owe one to Gordon, and thisis my chance." Drawing her aside, he said in an undertone. "You've gotto hold my ground with Natalie while I'm gone. Don't let her see toomuch of Murray."

  "I'll do the best I can," she answered him, "but if he seems to be inearnest I'll renig, no matter what happens to you, Danny."

  He kissed her affectionately and fled.