by Rex Beach
XXIV
A BUSINESS PROPOSITION
Edith Cortlandt's interview with the rival candidates for thePanamanian Presidency formed but a part of her plan. She next held along conversation with Colonel Jolson, to the end that on Fridaymorning Runnels heard a rumor that threw him into the greatestconsternation. It was to the effect that instead of his succeeding tothe office of Superintendent, he was to retain his old post, and thatColonel Jolson's brother-in-law was to supersede him. Although the wordwas not authoritative, it came with sufficient directness to leave himaghast. If true, it was, of course, equivalent to his discharge, for itmeant that he could not even continue in his former position withoutputting himself in a light intolerable to any man of spirit. Since hewas entitled to the promotion, had been promised it, in fact, and hadmade his plans accordingly, there was no course open exceptresignation. If he did not resign voluntarily, he knew that his newsuperior would eventually force him to do so, for Blakeley would buildup an organization of his own, and in it there would be no place forone who had aspired to the highest office.
Inasmuch as his assistant was concerned in this threatened calamity,Runnels made haste to lay the matter before him. At first Kirk wasinclined to take it as a joke, but his friend quickly brought him to amore serious frame of mind.
"No," he said, "Blakeley has finally put it over. He's wanted thisposition for a long time, and I guess the Cortlandts weren't strongenough to prevent it--or else they have broken with the Colonel."
"Didn't he promise you the job?"
"Sure! But what are promises? I've been double-crossed, that's all. Itmeans I must quit."
"Of course. I'm trying to figure out what it will mean to me."
Runnels smiled grimly. "The same thing it would mean to me if I stayed,I'd go back to my desk; in a month I'd have a row with Blakeley, nomatter what I did; then I'd be fired and have a tough time getting ajob with another railroad. Of course, the Cortlandts might do more foryou than they would for me, and you might be able to hang on."
"Then this would seem to end our fine hopes, eh?"
"Rather!" Runnels broke out, bitterly. "I've worked like a nigger,Kirk, and I deserve promotion if anybody ever did. This other fellow isa dub--he has proven that. Why, I've forgotten more railroading thanhe'll ever know. Every man on the system hates him and likes me; and ontop of it all I was PROMISED the job. It's tough on the wife and thekid."
He stopped to swallow his emotion. He was a single-purposed, somewhatserious man, a little lacking in resilience, and he could not meetmisfortune with Kirk's careless self-confidence.
"I gave this job the best I had in me," he went on, "for I had the ideathat I was doing something patriotic, something for my country--that'sthe way they used to talk about this Canal, you know. I've put in fouryears of hell; I've lost step with the world; I've lost my businessconnections in the States; and I haven't saved up any money, I CAN'Tquit, and yet I'll have to, for if I'm fired it'll mean I'll have to goback there and start at the bottom again. Those people don't knowanything about these damned politics; they'll think I made a failurehere in government work, and I'll have to live it down. Still, Isuppose I ought not to kick--it's happening all the time to otherfellows who came down here with hopes as high as mine--fellows who havegiven even more to the job than I have. What are YOU going to do?"
Kirk started. "Oh, I don't know. I was thinking about you. This jobdoesn't worry me, for I'm on my feet at last, and I know I have thegoods with me--they can have my position and welcome. Now, about you. Ihaven't spent much of that lottery coin. It's in the bank, all thatAllan hasn't used, and half of it is yours, if you'll take it. You andMrs. Runnels and the kid, and Allan and I--and one other party--willhike back home and get something else to do. What do you say?"
Runnels' voice shook as he answered: "By Jove! You're the--real stuff,Anthony. I'll think it over." He turned away as if ashamed of his showof feeling, only to whirl about with the question, "Who is this 'otherparty'?"
"My wife."
"Good Lord! You're not married?"
"No, but I'm going to be. You talk about YOUR troubles; now listen tomine. I'll make you weep like a fog." Briefly he told his friend of theblow that had so suddenly fallen upon him.
"You ARE up against it, old man," agreed Runnels, when he had heardall. "Garavel has set his heart on the Presidency, and he'll pay anyprice to get it. It's the same all over Central America; these peopleare mad on politics. There are never more than two parties, youknow--the Wanters and the Hasers. The Wanters are out and the Hasersare in; that's what makes these wicked little revolutions at everychange of the moon--it isn't a question of policy at all. Now, if MissGertrudis were an American girl, she might rebel, elope, do somethinglike that, but she's been reared with the Spanish notions of obedience,and I dare say she will submit tamely because she doesn't know how toput up a fight. That's an admirable characteristic in a wife, but notvery helpful in a sweetheart."
"Well, she's half American," said Kirk.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean the game isn't over. I carried the ball forty yards once for atouchdown in the last ten seconds of play, and Yale won. I had good'interference' then, and I need it now. Somebody'll have to run aheadof me."
Runnels smiled. "I guess you can count on me. What is the plan?"
For the next half-hour the two talked earnestly, their heads together,their voices low.
"I don't believe it will work, my boy," Runnels said at last. "I knowthese people better than you, and yet--Lord! if it does come off!" Hewhistled softly. "Well, they may kick the political props out fromunder us, but there will be an awful crash when we hit. Now, don'tmention this rumor about Blakeley. I want to see Steve Cortlandt first."
"Cortlandt! By-the-way, do you happen to remember that he's to be ourguest for supper to-morrow night? Kind of a joke now, trying to thankhim for what he's done, isn't it?"
"Not at all. It may be our one chance of salvation; he may be the oneperson who can help us."
"Well," Kirk reflected, "I have a good deal to thank him for, Isuppose, outside of this, and I'll go through with my part."
He proceeded at once to put his plan into execution, his first stepbeing to rent a room at the Tivoli, taking particular care to selectone on the first floor in the north wing. That evening he and Allanmoved. It was a simple process, yet he felt that he was engaged in themost momentous act of his Hie. As to its outcome much depended uponRunnels and much more upon himself--so much, in fact, that when he cameto look at the matter coldly he confessed the hope of success wasslender. But such as it was he clung to it desperately.
Runnels telephoned during the evening that he had been equal to hispart of the task, so there remained nothing to do but wait for the hourof the dance.
Over and over Anthony asked himself if he were not foolish to pin hisfaith to so slight a chance, but he could find no answer. He sleptlittle amid his new surroundings that night, and awoke Saturday morningthrilled with the certainty that his life's crisis was but a few hoursaway.
It was considerably after dark on Saturday evening that John Weeks,American Consul at Colon, received a caller who came to him direct fromthe Royal Mail steamer just docked. At first sight the stranger did notimpress Mr. Weeks as a man of particular importance. His face wasinsignificant, and his pale-blue eyes showed little force. His onlynoticeable feature was displayed when he removed his hat. Then it couldbe seen that a wide, white scar ran from just over his temple to apoint back of his right ear.
He made his name known as Williams, which, of course, meant nothing tothe consul, and while drinking one of Weeks' high-balls, inquired idlyabout the country, the climate, and the people, as if in no hurry tocome to his point. Weeks watched him shrewdly, convinced at last by hisvisitor's excessive caution that his first judgment had been wrong, andthat the man was more knowing than he seemed. Mr. Williams was likewisestudying the fat man, and when he had satisfied himself, came outopenly with these words:
"I'm looking for a chap named Wellar. He landed here some time late inNovember."
"Friend of yours?"
"Um--m--not exactly." Mr. Williams ran a hand meditatively over theragged scar on his scalp, as if from force of habit.
"Wellar? I never heard of him."
"He may have travelled under another name. Ever hear of a fellow calledLocke?"
The consul's moist lips drew together, his red eyes gleamed watchfully."Maybe I have, and maybe I haven't," said he. "Why do you want him?"
"I heard he was here. I'd enjoy meeting him again."
"What does he look like?"
Mr. Williams rattled off a description of Kirk Anthony so photographicthat the consul suddenly saw a great light.
"Yes, I know him all right," he confessed, warmly. "He's a good friendof mine, too; in fact, he lived with me for a while." Misconstruing theeager expression that came to his caller's face, he rose heavily andthrust out a thick, wet hand. "Don't let's beat about the bush, Mr.Anthony; your son is safe and well and making a name for himself. I'mhappy to say I helped him--not much, to be sure, but all I could--yes,sir, I acknowledge the corn--and I'm glad to meet you at last. I havebeen waiting for you to arrive, and I'm glad you dropped in on me. Ihave a lot of things to talk about."
But the other stared upward impatiently. "No, no! You've got me wrong.I'm a detective, and I'm after your friend Wellar, alias Locke, aliasAnthony. He's wanted for embezzlement and assault and a few otherthings, and I'm going to take him." The indistinctive Mr. Williamsspoke sharply, and his pale blue eyes were suddenly hard and bright.
Weeks stared open-mouthed for an instant. "Then you're really notDarwin K. Anthony?" he gasped.
"Certainly not. Here's the warrant. I'm sorry this chap is your pal,but--"
"My pal! Hell, I hate him like the smallpox. Good thing you spoke orI'd have sold you a cocoanut grove. I KNEW he was wrong. Embezzler, eh?Well, well!"
"Eighty thousand, that's all, and he's got it on him."
"You're wrong there; he was broke when he landed. I ought to know."
"Oh no! He came down on the Santa Cruz; I've seen the purser. Hetravelled under the name of Jefferson Locke. There's no mistake, and hecouldn't have blown it all. No, it's sewed into his shirt, and I'm hereto grab it."
Weeks whistled in amazement. "He IS a shrewd one. Eighty thou--Lord, Iwish I'd known that! He's here, all right, working for the railroad andliving at Panama. He's made good, too, and got some influentialfriends. Oh, this is great!"
"Working, hey? Clever stall! Do you see that?" Williams inclined hishead for a fuller display of the disfiguration over his ear. "He hungthat on me, with a bottle. I damn near died." He laughed disagreeably."He'll go back, and he'll go back quick. How do I get to Panama?"
Weeks consulted his watch hastily.
"You've missed the last train; but we'll go over together in themorning. I want to have a hand in this arrest for reasons of my own; Idon't like him or his influential friends." He began to chuckleponderously. "No, I don't like his influential friends, in particular."
While this scene was being enacted on the north side of the Isthmus,Kirk Anthony, over at the Tivoli Hotel, was making himself ready forthe ball with particular pains. Even his personal appearance might havea bearing upon the outcome of this adventure, and he dared not overlookthe slightest advantage.
Allan regarded him admiringly from many angles.
"Oh, Master h'Auntony," he exclaimed, rapturously, "you are beautiful!"
"Thanks! Again thanks! Now, can you remember to do as I have told you?"
"I would die--"
"DON'T say that again, I'm too nervous. Here are your instructions,once more. Keep both doors to this room locked and stand by the one tothe veranda! Don't let any one in except Mr. Runnels and the man he'llbring. DON'T--LEAVE--THIS--SPOT, no matter what happens. Does thatpenetrate your teakwood dome? Does your ivory cue-ball encompass thatthought?"
"I shall watch this h'apartment carefully, never fear."
"But I do fear. I'm scared to death. My hands are go cold they arebrittle. Remember, when I knock, so, let me in instantly, and keep yourwits about you."
"H'Allan never fails, sar. But what is coming to pahss?"
"Never mind what is coming to pass. This is going to be a big night, myboy--a very big night." Kirk strolled out into the hall and made hisway to the lobby.
Already the orchestra was tuning up, the wide porches were filling withwell-dressed people, while a stream of coaches at the door wasdelivering the arrivals on the special from Colon. It was a veryanimated crowd, sprinkled plentifully with Spanish people--somethingquite unusual, by-the-way--while the presence of many uniforms gave theaffair almost the brilliance of a military function. There were marineofficers from Bas Obispo, straight, trim, brown of cheek; navalofficers from the cruisers in the roadstead, clad in their whitetrousers and bell-boy jackets; army officers detailed from Washingtonon special duty; others from the various parts of the work itself.
Kirk wandered about through the confusion, nodding to his friends,chatting here and there, his eyes fixed anxiously upon the door.
Clifford approached and fell into conversation with him.
"Great doings, eh? I came up from the Central just to see what theseaffairs are like. Did you see to-night's paper?"
"No."
"Garavel is going to run for President. This is a kind of politicalcoming-out party."
"So I believe."
"It looked like a fight between him and General Alfarez, but they'vepatched it up, and the General is going to withdraw. Garavel is to haveUncle Sam's congratulations and co-operation. It's a joke, isn't it,this international good feeling?"
"Excuse me." Anthony saw Runnels searching the room with anxiety. Hehurried toward him and inquired, breathlessly:
"Have you got him?"
"Sure, I showed him your room."
"Did you lock him in?"
"Certainly not."
"He'll get away."
"Oh no, he'll be on the job. Has she come?"
Kirk shook his head. "Gee! I'm nervous." He wiped his brow with ashaking hand.
"Don't weaken," Runnels encouraged. "I'm beginning to believe you'llpull it off. I told my wife all about it--thought we might needher--and she's perfectly crazy. I never saw her so excited. Let me knowas soon as you can which dance it will be. This suspense--Gad! Therethey are now! Go to it, old man."
Into the lobby came a mixed group, in which were Andres Garavel, hisdaughter, Ramon Alfarez, and the Cortlandts. Kirk's face was white ashe went boldly to meet them, but he did his best to smileunconcernedly. He shook hands with Edith and her husband, bowed toGertrudis, then turned to meet her father's stare.
"May I have a word with you, sir?"
Garavel inclined his head silently. As the others moved on he said:"This is hardly a suitable time or place, Mr. Anthony."
"Oh, I'm not going to kick up a fuss. I didn't answer your note,because there was nothing to say. You still wish me to cease myattentions?"
"I do! It is her wish and mine."
"Then I shall do so, of course. If Miss Garavel is dancing to-night Iwould like your permission to place my name on her programme."
"No!" exclaimed the banker.
"Purely to avoid comment. Every one knows I have been calling upon her,and that report of our engagement got about considerably; it would setpeople talking if she snubbed me. That is the only reason I came tothis dance. Believe me, I'd rather have stayed away."
"Perhaps you are right. Let us have no unpleasantness and no gossipabout the affair, by all means. I consent, then." Garavel's voicealtered and he said, with more of his natural geniality, "I am veryglad you take the matter so sensibly, Mr. Anthony; it was, after all,but a dream of youth."
"And permit me to offer my congratulations upon the honor your countryis about to bestow upon you." Conversing in a friendly manner, theyfollowed the rest of the party.
As the banker appeared upon the threshold of
the ballroom a murmur ranthrough the crowd; faces were turned in his direction, whispers wereexchanged, showing that already the news had travelled. Conscious ofthis notice and its reason, Garavel drew himself up; he walked with thetread of an emperor.
Kirk ignored Ramon's scowl as he requested the pleasure of seeingChiquita's programme; then pretended not to notice her start ofsurprise. After a frightened look at her father, she timidly extendedthe card to him, and he wrote his name upon it.
As he finished he found Mrs. Cortlandt regarding him.
"Will you dance with me?" he inquired. "Yes. I saved the fourth and thetenth." As he filled in the allotted spaces, she said, in a low voice,"You are the boldest person! Did Mr. Garavel give you leave to do that,or--"
"Of course! Thank you." He made his way out of the press that hadgathered and toward the open air. He was shaking with nervousness andcursed all government hotels where a man is denied the solace of adrink.
Runnels pounced upon him just outside.
"Well, well, quick! Did you make it?"
"Number nine."
"Good! I was gnawing my finger-nails. Whew! I'm glad that is over. Nowpull yourself together and don't forget you have the first dance withMrs. Runnels. There goes the music. I--I'm too rattled to dance."
Anthony found his friend's wife bubbling with excitement, and scarcelyable to contain herself.
"Oh, I'll never live through it, I know," she cried, as soon as theywere out upon the floor. "How CAN you be so calm?"
"I'm not. I'm as panicky as you are."
"And she, poor little thing! She seems frightened to death."
"But--isn't she beautiful?"
Mrs. Runnels admitted the fact cheerfully, and at the same time notedhow her partner's muscles swelled and hardened as Miss Garavel glidedpast in the arms of Ramon Alfarez. It gave her a thrill to see a realdrama unfolding thus before her very eyes.
To Kirk, Chiquita had never appeared so ravishing, nor so purelySpanish as to-night. She was clad in some mysterious filmy white stuffthat floated about her form like a mist. The strangeness and brillianceof her surroundings had frightened her a little, and the misery at herheart had filled her wide, dark eyes with a plaintive melancholy. Butshe was entirely the fine lady through it all, and she accepted theprominence that was hers as the leading senorita of the Republic withsimple dignity and unconcern. The women began to whisper her name, themen followed her with admiring glances. At every interval betweendances she was besieged by gayly clad officers, civilians in white--theflower of her own people and of the American colony as well--all eagerto claim her attention or to share in her shy, slow smile.
Now and then her eyes strayed to Kirk with a look that made his bloodmove quicker. It boded well for the success of his plans, and filledhim with a fierce, hot gladness. But how the moments dragged!
General Alfarez entered the room amid a buzz of comment. Then, as hegreeted his rival, Garavel, with a smile and a handshake, a round ofapplause broke forth. The members of the Commission sought them bothout, and congratulations were exchanged. At last the Garavel boom waslaunched in earnest.
Mrs. Cortlandt expressed a desire to sit out the fourth dance.
"So, your engagement to Miss Garavel is broken?" she began, when sheand Kirk had seated themselves in two of the big rockers that lined theporch.
"All smashed to pieces, running-gear broken, steering-knuckle bent,gasolene tank punctured. I need a tow."
"You take it calmly."
"What's the use of struggling? I'm no Samson to go around pulling downtemples."
"Did you expect her to yield so tamely?"
"I didn't know she had yielded. In fact, I haven't had a chance to talkto her."
"But she has. Mr. Garavel told me not an hour ago that as soon as heexplained his wishes she consented to marry Ramon without a protest."
"A refusal would have meant the death of the old man's chances, Ipresume. She acted quite dutifully."
"Yes. If she had refused Ramon, I doubt if we could have saved herfather. As it is, the General withdraws and leaves the field clear, thetwo young people are reunited, quite as if you had never appeared, andyou--My dear Kirk, now what about you?"
"Oh, I don't count. I never have counted in anything, you know. That'sthe trouble with good-natured people. But is it true that Garavel ispractically elected?"
"General Alfarez couldn't very well step in after he had publiclystepped out, could he? That would be a trifle too treacherous; he'dlose his support, and our people could then have an excuse to take ahand. I'm tremendously glad it's all settled finally, I assure you. Itwas a strain; and although I'm sorry you got your fingers pinchedbetween the political wheels, I'm relieved that the uncertainty isended."
So far they had been speaking like mere acquaintances, but now Kirkturned upon her a trifle bitterly.
"I think you worked it very cleverly, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said. "Ofcourse, I had no chance to win against a person of your diplomaticgifts. I had my nerve to try."
She regarded him without offence at this candor, then nodded.
"Yes. You see, it meant more to me than to you or to her. With you twoit is but a romance forgotten in a night. I have pretty nearly outlivedromance."
"You think I will forget easily? That's not flattering."
"All men do. You will even forget my part in the affair, and we will bebetter friends than ever."
"Suppose I don't choose to accept what it pleases people to hand me?"
"My dear Kirk!" She smiled. "You will have to in this case. There isnothing else to do."
He shook his head. "I hoped we could be friends, Mrs. Cortlandt, but itseems we can't be."
At this she broke out, imperiously, her eyes flashing.
"I ask nothing you can't give. I have never been denied, and I won't bedenied now. You can't afford to break with me."
"Indeed! Why do you think that?"
"Listen! I've shown you what I can do in a few months. In a year youcan be a great success. That's how big men are made; they know theshort-cuts. You are too inexperienced yet to know what success andpower mean, but you are beginning to learn, and when you have learnedyou will thank me for breaking up this foolish romance. I don't ask youto forget your manhood. I ask nothing. I am content to wait. You wantto become a big man like your father. Well, Runnels will be out of theway soon; Blakeley amounts to nothing. You will be the Superintendent."
"So! That's not merely a rumor about Blakeley? Runnels is fired, eh?"
"Yes."
"If I choose not to give up Chiq--Miss Garavel, then what? It means theend of me here, is that it?"
"If you 'choose'! Why, my dear, you have no choice whatever in thematter. It is practically closed. You can do nothing--although, if youreally intend to make trouble, I shall walk inside when I leave andinform the old gentleman, in which case he will probably send the girlhome at once, and take very good care to give you no furtheropportunity. Ramon is only too anxious to marry her. As to this beingthe end of you here, well, I really don't see how it could beotherwise. No Kirk, it's for you to decide whether you wish to be shownthe secret path up the mountain or to scale the cliffs unaided. Thereare no conditions. You merely mustn't play the fool."
"And if I don't agree you will tell Mr. Garavel that I'm going to maketrouble?" He mused aloud, watching her out of the corner of his eye.She said nothing, so he went on cautiously, sparring for time.
"Well, inasmuch as this seems to be a plain business proposition,suppose I think it over. When it comes time for our next dance, I'llsay yes or no."
"As you please."
"Very well. The music has stopped; we'd better go in."
As they rose she laid her hand upon his arm and he felt it tremble asshe exclaimed:
"Believe me, Kirk, this isn't at all easy for me, but--I can't bear tolose."