The Ne'er-Do-Well

by Rex Beach

  IX

  SPANISH LAW

  Mrs. Cortlandt answered her telephone for the second time, repeatingwith some impatience: "Tell the man I can't see him."

  "But he refuses to leave--says he must see you at once; it'simportant," came the voice of the clerk.

  "Oh, very well. I'll come down." She hung up the receiver with a snap.

  "Why don't they send him up?" queried her husband from the sitting-room.

  "It's a negro, and the clerk says he'd rather not allow him up-stairs.Another sick family, I suppose."

  "They're beginning to impose on you. It's usually that way withcharities," said Cortlandt.

  With unfeminine neglect of the chance for petty discussion, his wifeleft the room without replying, and descended to the hotel lobby. Hereshe was directed toward a very ragged, very woe-begone young black onthe rear porch, who, at sight of her, began to fumble his hat and runhis words together so excitedly that she was forced to calm him.

  "Now, now! I can't understand a word. Who are you?"

  "H'Allan, mistress."

  "You say some one is ill?"

  "Oh yes, he is very h'ill h'indeed, mistress--h'all covered with bloodand his poor 'ands h'all cut."

  "Who--?"

  "And his 'ead--oh, Lard! His 'ead is cut, too, and he suffers a fever."

  "WHO IS IT?"

  "Mr. h'Auntony--"

  "Anthony!" Mrs. Cortlandt started. "What has happened? Quick!"

  Seeing that at last he had found a friend, the Jamaican began to sobwith relief, wailing extravagant praises to God and apparentlyendeavoring to kiss Mrs. Cortlandt's hand, whereat she seized him bythe shoulders and shook him, crying:

  "Stop that! Behave yourself and tell me what is the trouble, quicklynow, from the beginning."

  Without drying his tears, Allan launched himself into the full violenceof his recital, stumbling recklessly over his figures of speech,lapsing into idioms that it taxed his hearer to follow. Had she beenless acquainted with the Caribbean dialects she would have missed muchof the story, but, as it was, she followed him closely, urging him onwith sharp expressions of amazement and nods of understanding. Rapidlyshe gathered the facts of the case, while her cheeks whitened and hereyes grew dark with indignation. The sight renewed Allan's emotion. Hisvoice broke, his black hands shook, he began to sob once more, andgreat tears stole down his ebony cheeks. But he managed to answer herterse, shocked questions with some degree of intelligence, calling uponhis vivid imagination for such details as his memory had lost.

  "I wait an' wait for him to h'emerge, but he does not come. Perhapsthey 'ave killed the poor mon once more."

  "How did you get here?"

  "With my feet, mistress. Sometimes rode I on the train, but the trainpeople are very common; they h'addressed me rudely and threw me by thewayside."

  "Couldn't you telephone?"

  "I do not h'understand 'ow."

  "Why didn't he notify me at once? If I had only known--"

  "Those 'eartless Spiggoties would not h'allow it. Oh, you will h'assistthe poor mon! Say it. Praise be to God, he is bleeding in the prison--"

  "Yes, yes, certainly."

  Allan reached clumsily this time to kiss the hem of her skirt, but shestepped aside quickly, fumbling meanwhile in her purse for a bank-note,while he exclaimed:

  "God bless you, good mistress. He told me to find you and present hisrecital."

  "Here, take this money and go back to Colon by the first train. We mayneed you. Now go! I'll be there ahead of you."

  She picked up her white skirts and ran up the hotel stairs as ifpursued, bursting in upon her husband so impetuously that he rose insurprise, inquiring:

  "What is it?"

  "Young Anthony is in jail in Colon," she panted. "He's been locked upfor three days, and they won't let him out."

  "The devil! You said he'd gone back to New York. What is it about?"

  "I thought he had. They arrested him for some silly thing, and he'shurt." She hurriedly recounted Allan's story, adding, in conclusion,"That black boy came all the way across the Isthmus to tell us!"

  "I'll get the American consul by 'phone--"

  But Mrs. Cortlandt interrupted. "Weeks is a fool! He wouldn't doanything. Wait!" She stepped to the instrument and rang violently."Give me Colonel Jolson's office, quickly. If he is not there, findhim. I don't care where he is, find him; it is important. This is Mrs.Cortlandt speaking.'

  "What do you mean to do?" said Cortlandt.

  "Go to Colon at once. This is young Alfarez's doing--thewhipper-snapper--you must lay him out for this. How dare he!"

  "Better go carefully. Remember, General Alfarez is his father."

  "I understand. But we are bound to come to a breach sooner or later."

  "I hardly think so. I believe we can bring him around allright--anyhow, I haven't lost hope." Then, as his wife made animpatient gesture: "Well, if we precipitate a quarrel now, that willend it." He paced the room feverishly. "Good heavens, Edith! Anthonychose the worst possible time for this escapade. I suppose it will meandiplomatic difficulties and all that, and once we lose old Alfarez--"

  "We will lose him anyhow," snapped the woman. "I've seen it coming,although you could not. I'll break Ramon for this."

  "Then you'll break us." Cortlandt stared gloomily at his wife, who methis gaze squarely. "Do you think Anthony is worth it?"

  "My dear Stephen, they nearly killed that poor boy, and I sha'n't allowit. Don Anibal Alfarez is not the only presidential timber in therepublic. If he breaks with us it will cost him dearly. You think he isfriendly, but I know that deep down in his crafty old heart he despisesall us Americans and is only waiting a chance to gratify his spleen.The moment he dares, he'll turn against us."

  Cortlandt's frosty countenance showed signs of unusual agitation as heanswered: "You're mad! You threaten to ruin everything. You understandperfectly--there's no use of my explaining. Let me call on him thisafternoon. He will instruct his son."

  "No! He would procrastinate, as usual. There would be the customarydelays and excuses, and meanwhile Anthony would be in jail at Colon.They would have a defence all prepared. Besides, if it's to be a fightwe must have all the weapons possible--and this affair may prove a goodone. Anyhow, you mustn't ask a favor of him at this time; he must ask,not you."

  The telephone rang, and the speaker snatched the receiver from its hook.

  "Hello! Colonel Jolson, I'm very glad I caught you. This is Mrs.Cortlandt. Colonel Jolson, young Ramon Alfarez has arrested KirkAnthony, of whom I spoke to you. They have maltreated him, as usual,and have hidden him for three days. Yes, yes! I discovered it quite byaccident while Mr. Cortlandt was down-town. Oh, this is serious, andI'm furious. ... That will do no good; I have reasons for preferring tohandle it myself. ... Thank you for the compliment. We must go to Colonat once, and I thought you might give us a special." There was a slightpause, then: "Good! That will do quite as well. In fifteen minutes.Thank you. Good-bye."

  Turning to her husband, she explained, swiftly: "The Colonel'sautomobile will be waiting at the station in fifteen minutes. Are youready?"

  "I think you are going about this in the wrong way," he said, coldly."When will you learn--?" She checked her crisp words at the flush thatleaped to his cheeks. "I beg your pardon, Stephen. Please do as ColonelJolson has done and trust me to manage this affair."

  He bowed and left her, saying, "I will have a coach waiting at thedoor."

  Fifteen minutes later a gasoline railroad motor-car with two passengersin addition to its driver and flagman rolled out of the yards at PanamaCity and took the main line, running under orders like a special train.As it clanked over the switches with ever-increasing speed, Mrs.Cortlandt leaned forward and spoke to the driver.

  "We will have a clear track, and you may go as fast as you like."

  The next moment the machine was reeling drunkenly around curves and afifty-mile gale was roaring past.

  Senor Ramen Alfarez was considerably nonplussed whe
n his twodistinguished visitors made known the nature of their errand. Cortlandtdid most of the talking, his cold hauteur serving a good purpose andcontrasting strongly with the suppressed excitement of his wife.

  "Pardon me, there is no necessity for delay," he said, as thecommandant endeavored to formulate an excuse. "I trust I need notinsist upon seeing the prisoner?" He raised his brows with a stare ofinquiry that caused the other to reply, hastily:

  "Of a certainty not, senor."

  "Then take us to him."

  "I will spare your lady the painful sight of the prison-house. Theprisoner shall be fetch' with all despatch."

  "We will see him alone."

  Again the commandant hesitated, while his bright eyes searched theirfaces with a sudden uneasy curiosity. "I am fear soch t'ing is notpermit'."

  "Nonsense!" exclaimed Mrs. Cortlandt, unable longer to restrainherself. "We know the law quite as well or perhaps better than you,Senor Alfarez. If you wish, Mr. Cortlandt will get permission from thePresident. You have a telephone?"

  "Oh, soch is farthes' remove' from my thoughts," quickly interposed thecommandant, with his most graceful bow. "If it is in my power tooblige, w'at matter the law? Pouf! W'at I mean is this: Our prisoner isnot what you call seeck, nor is he ver' well. He is resis' the officerby force an' he is injure'--oh, but only a leetle--it is not'ing. Oneis truly foolish for resis' the policemans, yes?" He shook his darkhead sadly. "I am desolate to 'ear of soch t'ing; it is so useless tostroggle wit' the officer in disbursement of duty; but you Americansare so brave! I am force' to admire this prisoner; he is soch a strongfellow."

  "I think we understand the circumstances."

  Instead of ringing for an orderly the commandant excused himself, then,after a seemingly interminable delay returned with Anthony and severalpolicemen.

  At sight of his friends the young man made for them eagerly, crying:"Jove, I'm glad you came! I'd about given you up."

  "Allan only found us to-day," Mrs. Cortlandt replied.

  "Did he tell the truth? Have you been abused?"

  The young man turned a pair of smouldering eyes upon his enemies. Helooked ill and haggard, although, except for the wound half concealedbeneath his hair, he showed no marks. Then he held out his hands with agrim smile, and the woman uttered a low cry at what she saw. "They gaveme another good beating yesterday," he said.

  "While you were in jail?" Cortlandt queried, incredulously. "God!"

  "That's the fellow yonder." Kirk pointed to Alfarez, whose smile haddisappeared.

  "Oh, the man is mistake'," the latter hastened to aver. "He is crazee."

  "I gave you a wetting in public, and--"

  "Si, si! That is correc', Senor Cortlan'. He insolt my person an' fightmy soldiers. He is ver' toff person."

  "Did you know he had been maltreated in prison?" Cortlandt demanded.

  "Oh, senor!" Alfarez raised his hands in horrified disclaimer of thevery thought, but his victim said, quietly:

  "He's a liar. He ordered it, then sat there and enjoyed it."

  The Panamanian's face was yellow as he managed to enunciate:

  "Eempossible! It is terrible to conceive!"

  Kirk made a threatening movement in the Spaniard's direction, despitethe half-dozen soldiers, but Edith Cortlandt checked him.

  "Wait, please," she said. Then to the commandant: "This is a seriousmatter, and if what he says is true, your government will find itselfin trouble."

  "But we 'ave no idea he is frien' of yours. If he should only spik your'osban's name, all would be different. For my part, I can prove he istreat' with the 'ighes' courtesy an' kindness in my presence. Every manin the prison will testify to those fac'. If soch indignity 'ave be'shown, there shall be investigations." The unhappy officer's excitementwas increasing, and he turned upon his men as if to make good his word,when Cortlandt interposed:

  "Why did you keep him locked up so long? Why didn't you try him?"

  "Ah! For that I shall inquire also. I shall conduct investigations inthat respect as well. I am inform', 'owever, that the w'at you calljodge is seeck."

  "We'll look into that later. We're here now to arrange for Mr.Anthony's release."

  "The alcalde will be please' to accommodate at the earlies'. I myselfshall see to it. To-morrow--"

  "There will be no to-morrow about it," Mrs. Cortlandt exclaimed,positively. "If you cannot arrange the bail yourself, my husband willtake up the matter with the Zone Government, and Colonel Jolson willcall upon the President of the republic within an hour. He is waitingword from us now."

  Senor Ramon Alfarez became suddenly galvanized. He broke into effusiveapologies for even so small a delay as had already occurred. He had notunderstood the matter to be so urgent, it seemed; but the wishes of hisdistinguished guests were his law, and perhaps he might hasten thewheels of progress if he tried. While, to be sure, no power was vestedin him, and his willing hands were most miserably tied, nevertheless hewould so far exceed his authority as to promise instant freedom to theprisoner. There were, of course, certain details to be observed, thenecessity of which filled him with unspeakable regret; but if he mightbe excused--He hastened forth to set in motion the proper machinery,and while he was absent Kirk told his story. It left the womanwhite-lipped and incoherent, and roused even the icy Cortlandt togenuine wrath.

  "Of course," the latter said, "Alfarez will prove by his men that it'sall imagination on your part, and that your injuries were sustained atthe time of your arrest. He'll assume a righteous indignation and starta Spiggoty investigation. You see, his father is the Governor of PanamaProvince and one of the strongest men in the republic, so Ramon willprobably make good his position. Even so, you may recover damages."

  "I don't want damages," Kirk replied. "I want to get that Dago outalone some time."

  "For Heaven's sake, don't think of it!" Mrs. Cortlandt exclaimed. "Allthe American influence on the Isthmus wouldn't help you then. Fifty menwould perjure themselves to convict you, and if you succeeded ingetting our government to interfere in time, Ramen has fifty other menwho would lie to any extent to injure an American."

  "No. That method doesn't work here," her husband agreed. "You're luckyto escape so easily. He will arrange bail, never fear, and you willprobably not come to trial. I doubt if you will ever hear anything moreof the matter, provided you keep from further trouble. He'll neverforgive you, of course, but that won't matter to you."

  The first part of Mr. Cortlandt's prediction was soon proved true, forthe sick alcalde recovered sufficiently to appear on the scene withinhalf an hour. Then, after much signing of official documents andcertain other formalities, Kirk Anthony walked out of the Colon jail incompany with his friends.

  Allan was waiting at a safe distance from the municipal building, andon seeing his late companion at large he broke into the wildestrejoicing. He conjured a flow of tears, he fondled Kirk's hand in hisown, he laughed, he sobbed, he sang.

  "Praise be to God!" he cried, loudly. "Free mon you, Master h'Auntony.Glory, glory! My soul was in 'ell, sar. On my knees I h'implored thatfa-ast wretch to release you."

  His emotion appeared so genuine, his service had been so great, thatthe object of his adoration felt himself choke up. Of all the peopleKirk had met since leaving home, this one had most occasion to blamehim; yet the boy was in perfect transports of delight at his delivery.

  "Don't carry on so," Kirk laughed, awkwardly.

  "Oh, boss, I feared they would h'assassinate you again."

  Anthony nodded grimly. "They did."

  "Oh, oh!" Allan gave himself over to a shrill frenzy and shook hisclenched fists at the jail in a splendidly tragic attitude. "Wretches!Murderers! 'Ell-ca-ats!"

  "Sh-h! Don't make a scene on the street," Mrs. Cortlandt cautioned. Butthe Jamaican would not allow the fine effect of his rage to be lost. Heclashed his white teeth, he rolled his eyes fearfully, and twisted hisblack features into the wildest expressions of ferocity, crying:

  "H'Allan will best them for that!
Let 'im tear h'out their 'earts byhis fingers. So!" He made an eloquent gesture. "Blood! Blood!"

  "Not so loud. A little pianissimo on the blood," smiled Kirk.

  "H'Allan would die and kill himself for you," the excited negro ran onin an excess of loyalty. "Master h'Auntony fought those wretches for I;I shall fight them for he."

  When he had finally been prevailed upon to exchange his martial threatsfor a fresh paean of rejoicing, he fell in behind, declaring firmlythat he intended to follow his new-found hero wherever he might go,though the course laid were straight for those infernal regions thatplayed so large a part in his fancy.

  In the midst of Kirk's expressions of gratitude for the timelyintercession of Cortlandt and his wife, the former surprised him bysaying, in a genuinely hearty tone:

  "My wife has told me all about you, Anthony, and I want you to comeover to Panama as my guest until you hear from your father."

  When Kirk informed him of the cablegram that had cast him adrift inPanama, leading indirectly to his entanglement with the dignity ofRamon Alfarez and the Spanish law, Cortlandt replied, reassuringly:

  "Oh, well, your father doesn't understand the facts in the case, that'sall. You sit down like a sensible person and write him fully. It willbe a great pleasure for us to have you at the Tivoli in the mean time."

  Seeing a warm second to this invitation in Mrs. Cortlandt's eyes, Kirkaccepted gracefully, explaining: "You know this is the first time I wasever up against hard luck, and I don't know just how to act."

  "We've missed the four-thirty-five, so we will have to return the waywe came," said Cortlandt. "I'd like to stop at Gatun on a businessmatter of some importance, and if you don't mind a half-hour's delay,we'll do so."

  Kirk expressed entire acquiescence in any plans that suited theconvenience of his rescuers, and the three pursued their way to thestation. But here an unexpected embarrassment arose. As they made readyto board Colonel Jolson's motor-car, they were annoyed to find thatAllan insisted on going, too. He insisted, moreover, in suchextravagant fashion that Mrs. Cortlandt at last was moved to say: "ForHeaven's sake, let the poor thing come along." And thereafter theJamaican boy sat on the step of the machine, his hat in hand, his eyesrolled worshipfully upon the person of his hero, his shining face everready to break into a grin at a glance from Kirk.

  Once more the little automobile took on the dignity of a regular trainand sped out of the network of tracks behind Colon. As it gained speedMrs. Cortlandt, to divert her guest's mind from his recent ordeal,began to explain the points of interest as they passed. She showed himthe old French workings where a nation's hopes lay buried, themechanical ruins that had cost a king's ransom, the Mount HopeCemetery, whither daily trains had borne the sacrifice before sciencehad robbed the fever of its terrors. She told him, also, something ofthe railroad's history, how it had been built to bridge the gap in theroute to the Golden West, the manifold difficulties overcome in itsconstruction, and the stupendous profits it had made. Having the bloodof a railroad-builder in his veins, Anthony could not but feel theinterest of all this, though it failed to take his attention whollyfrom the wonders of the landscape that slipped by on either side. Itwas his first glimpse of tropic vegetation, and he used his eyes togood advantage, while he listened politely to his informant.

  The matted thickets, interlaced with vine and creeper, were all ablazewith blossoms, for this was the wet season, in which nature runs riot.Great trees of strange character rose out of the tangle, their brancheslooped with giant cables and burdened with flowering orchids or halfhidden beneath other parasites. On every hand a vegetable warfare wasin progress--a struggle for existence in which the strong overbore theweak--and every trunk was distorted by the scars of the battle. Birdsof bright plumage flashed in the glades, giant five-foot lizardsscuttled away into the marshes or stared down from the overhangingbranches. A vivid odor of growing, blooming herbage reached thenostrils.

  Just as Kirk had made up his mind that he could sit and watch thisbrilliant panorama forever, the jungle suddenly fell away, and the carsped up through low, grass-clad hills into a scattered city flungagainst the side of a wide valley. There was no sign here of LatinAmerica; this was Yankeeland through and through. The houses, hundredsupon hundreds of them, were of the typical Canal Zone architecture,double-galleried and screened from foundation to eaves, and theyrambled over the undulating pasture land in a magnificent disregard ofdistance. Smooth macadam roads wound back and forth, over whichgovernment wagons rolled, drawn by sleek army mules; flower gardensblazed forth in gorgeous colors; women and children, all clean andwhite and American, were sitting upon the porches or playing in theyards. Everywhere was a military neatness; the town was like theofficers' quarters of a fort, the whole place spick and span and neatlygroomed.

  Colon had been surprisingly clean, but it was an unnatural cleanliness,as if the municipality had been scrubbed against its will. Gatun was tothe manner born.

  "Yonder are the locks." Cortlandt pointed to the west, and Kirk sawbelow him an impressive array of pyramidal steel towers, from thepinnacles of which stretched a spider's web of cables. Beneath this, hehad a glimpse of some great activity, but his view was quickly cut offas the motor-car rumbled into a modern railway station.

  "I'd like to have a. look at what's going on over yonder," he said.

  "You will have time," Cortlandt answered. "Edith will show you aboutwhile I run in on Colonel Bland."

  Out through the station-shed Kirk's hostess led him, then across alevel sward, pausing at length upon the brink of a mighty chasm. Ittook him a moment to grasp the sheer magnitude of the thing; then hebroke into his first real expression of wonder:

  "Why, I had no idea--Really, this is tremendous."

  At his feet the earth opened in a giant, man-made canon, running fromthe valley above, through the low ridge and out below. Within it anarmy was at work. Along the margins of the excavation ran steel tracks,upon which were mounted the movable towers he had seen from a distance.These tapering structures bore aloft long, tautly drawn wire cables,spanning the gorge and supporting great buckets which soared at regularintervals back and forth, bearing concrete for the work below. Up andout of the depths tremendous walls were growing like the massiveramparts of a mediaeval city; tremendous steel forms, braced andtrussed and reinforced to withstand the weight of the countless tons,stood in regular patterns. In the floor of the chasm were mysteriouspits, black tunnel mouths, in and out of which men crept like ants. Faracross on the opposite lip of the hill, little electric trains sped toand fro, apparently without the aid of human hands. Everywhere was asteady, feverish activity.

  From the commanding eminence where the sightseers stood the spectaclewas awe-inspiring; for though the whole vast work lay spread outbeneath them in what looked like a hopeless confusion, yet as theireyes followed it a great and magic system became manifest. The wholeorganism seemed animate with some slow, intricate intelligence. Themetal skips careening across those dizzy heights regulated theircourses to a hand's-breadth, deposited their burdens carefully, thenhurried back for more; the shuttle trains that dodged about sofeverishly, untended and unguided, performed each some vital function.The great conglomerate body was dead, yet it pulsated with a life ofits own. Its effect of being governed by a single indwelling mind ofsuperhuman capacity was overpowering.

  Kirk heard Mrs. Cortlandt explaining: "The ships will steam up from thesea through the dredged channel you see over yonder, then they will beraised to the level of the lake."

  "What lake?"

  "That valley"--she indicated the tropical plain between the hills,wherein floating dredges were at work--"will be an inland sea. Thoseforests will be under water."

  "Where is the Gatun dam I've heard so much about?"

  She pointed out a low, broad ridge or hog-back linking the hillstogether.

  "That is it. It doesn't look much like a dam, does it? But it is allhand-made. Those are rock trains out there, from Culebra."

  "Oh, now I understan
d. Gee whiz, but this job is a whopper! Say, thisis great!" Mrs. Cortlandt smiled. "It does wake up your patriotism,doesn't it? I'm glad to have a hand in building it."

  "Are you helping to dig this canal?" Anthony regarded the womancuriously. She seemed very cool and well-dressed and independent forone engaged in actual work.

  "Of course! Even though I don't happen to run a steam-shovel."

  "Will they really finish it? Won't something happen?"

  "It is already dug. The rest is merely a matter of excavation andconcrete. The engineering difficulties have all been solved, and thebig human machine has been built up. What is more important, thecountry is livable at last. Over at Ancon Hospital there is a quiet,hard-working medical man who has made this thing possible. When the twooceans are joined together, and the job is finished, his will be thename most highly honored."

  "It must be nice to do something worth while," Anthony mused, vaguely.

  "To do anything," his companion observed, with a shade of meaning;then: "It is amusing to look back on the old Spanish statement that itwould be impious to unite two oceans which the Creator of the world hadseparated."

  Noting that the sun was setting beyond the distant jungles and thecanon at his feet was filling with shadows, Kirk remarked, "It must benearly time they quit work."

  "This work doesn't stop. When it grows dark the whole place is lit byelectricity, and the concrete continues to pour in just the same. It iswonderful then--like the mouth of a volcano. Batteries of search-lightsplay upon the men; the whole sky is like a furnace. You can see it formiles. Now I think we had better go back to the car."

  In spite of his bodily misery, that night ride impressed itselfstrongly upon Anthony's mind. The black mystery of the jungles, thehalf-suggested glimpses of river and hill, the towns that flashed pastin an incandescent blaze and were buried again in the velvet blackness,the strange odors of a new land riotous in its time of growth, allcombined to excite his curiosity and desire for closer knowledge. Andthen the crowning luxury of a bath, clean clothes, and a good meal onwhite linen and china! As he dropped asleep that night he reflectedcontentedly that, after all, things have a way of coming right in thisworld for those who accept them cheerfully as they come.