by Rex Beach
XXVIII
THE ANSWER
Kirk was roused from a heavy, senseless slumber the next morning by avigorous rapping at his door. He lay still for a time, vaguelyresentful of the noise, then glanced at his watch, and found, with ashock, that it was quite late. Realizing only that he was due at theoffice, he leaped out of bed. He opened the door and Runnels rushed in.
"Have you heard?"
"I heard your infernal pounding; that's what woke me up."
Runnels calmed his excitement, which Kirk now observed was intense.
"Where did you go after I left you last night?"
"I came here, of course." As the memory of the previous night sweptover him he scowled.
"Did you stay here?"
"No. I went out again, and was out nearly all night trying to walk itoff."
Runnels' face blanched, and he drew back.
"Then of course you know?"
"What?"
"About Cortlandt. He's dead!"
It was Kirk's turn to start and grow pale. The last cobweb was sweptfrom his brain, and he gasped:
"DEAD! When? Where? How did it happen?"
"Nobody knows just how. He was found on the sea-wall near Alfarez'house, shot."
"Shot! Good Lord!"
"It happened some time early this morning, and the whole city istalking about it. I came to you the first thing."
"We'd better hurry down there. Mrs. Cortlandt must be all broken up."Kirk began to dress hastily, but paused as his friend stammered:
"Wait! I--I--let's understand each other first. I met Wade just now.The news has rattled him, and he's been talking."
"What do you mean?"
"Did you see Cortlandt again after I left you?" Runnels swallowed hard.
Kirk whirled about and faced him. "Great heavens! No! See here, thatidea is ridiculous."
Runnels sank weakly into a chair and mopped his face. "I'm glad to hearyou say that. It frightened me just the same, for I remembered youacted so queerly when I left you, and Wade seemed to think,perhaps--When you said you'd gone out again, it knocked me flat,understand?"
"I can prove where I was, for Allan was with me. I couldn't sleep, so Itried to walk off my excitement. No, no. I couldn't do a thing likethat. I thought last night that I could, but--I couldn't, really."
"I'm afraid Wade will tell all about the party if we don't stop him."
"Then we'd better hunt him up." Kirk resumed his dressing, whileRunnels consulted his watch.
"No. 5 is due in twenty minutes. We'll probably find him at the office."
Together they hastened to the railroad building, Runnels telling all heknew of the tragedy as they went along. Cortlandt's body, it seemed,had been found about daylight by a Spiggoty policeman, who hadidentified it. Becoming panic-stricken at the importance of hisdiscovery, he had sounded the alarm, then reported directly to theGovernor, whose house was close by. It was General Alfarez himself whohad informed Mrs. Cortlandt over the telephone of her husband's death.The whole city was alive with the news, the police were buzzing likebees. Rumors of suicide, murder, robbery were about, but no one seemedto know anything definite. Colonel Jolson in his motor-car had justcome from Culebra, and Colonel Bland was on No. 5 from Gatun, henceRunnels' desire to be at the station.
"It was suicide," Kirk averred, with conviction. "The man was insanelast night, and that accounts for what he said about me. He's been sickfor a long time."
"If those boys will only keep their mouths shut!" Runnels said,anxiously. "There's no telling what these Spiggoties might do if theyheard about that row."
"Cortlandt was an American."
"But it happened in Panama, and it would be their affair."
Although it was Sunday, the four young fellows who had taken part inthe entertainment on the night before had gathered in the office, andat the appearance of Runnels greeted him eagerly. Toward Kirk, however,they maintained a disheartening constraint.
The Acting Superintendent began to caution them tersely.
"Boys, there's no use to tell you that we must keep still about whathappened last night. Kirk thinks Cortlandt's mind was unbalanced; butwhether it was or not, he left a widow, and what went on at that suppermust never leak out."
"Why do you think he was crazy?" Wade inquired.
"His actions last night would show it," Kirk answered. "The man musthave been out of his mind to believe or to say such a thing."
"You mean, then, that he shot himself?"
Kirk nodded.
"I don't agree with you. I've seen crazy people, but he was as sane asany of us. And I don't believe in secrecy, either. I think we ought tobe entirely frank about the matter. The truth never hurt anybody."
"It's a bad business," said Runnels, "and it's something I for onedon't want to be mixed up in. I've heard rumors already about some sortof a quarrel at our party, so I'm afraid you fellows have been talking."
Wade acknowledged it recklessly. "Yes, I'll answer for my part, and I'mnot going to make any promise of secrecy, either. If that affair hadanything to do with Steve Cortlandt's death, it ought to be known, sothe man who did it can be made to answer."
Into the office behind them came Ramon Alfarez and two Panamanianpolicemen, one evidently a sergeant.
"Eh, there you are!" Alfarez cried, as he caught sight of Kirk. Then hesaid something in Spanish to the sergeant, who advanced and laid handsupon the American. "You are arrest'."
"What for?"
"Gentlemen, you will be so kind as to geeve the names, yes? The jodgewill desire to make inquiries regarding those sopper to Senor Cortlan'las' night."
"What am I arrested for?" Kirk demanded.
"Come! You are arrest'. That is enough."
At that moment the building began to shake and reverberate, as No. 5rolled in from Colon, bearing John Weeks, American Consul, and Mr.Williams, of St. Louis, in one of the forward coaches. As the twohurried out through the turnstiles, they found the street blocked by aconsiderable crowd, evidently interested in something quite apart fromthe arrival of the morning train. But before they could learn thecause, out from the near-by building came Ramon Alfarez, accompanied byseveral policemen and a group of railroad employes, among whom was KirkAnthony.
"There he is!" wheezed the consul, clutching at his companion's arm."Get him now, before his friends." But Williams had been even quickerof eye than his fat guide, and was plunging through the crowd towardhis quarry. He thrust the policemen and the curious onlookers asideand, laying hold of Anthony, cried in triumph:
"Well, Mr. Jefferson Locke, I want you."
"Hello, Williams! You got around finally, didn't you?" Kirk smiled athim.
A little man in blue uniform was attempting to take the prisoner incharge, but the detective disregarded him.
"It won't do you any good to resist," he went on. "I've come to getyou."
Runnels elbowed his way forward with a question.
"Oh, I've got a warrant for him," Williams declared. "What for? Well,for one thing he embezzled eighty thousand dollars, and I'm going totake him back."
"Eh? W'at is this?" Alfarez bustled into the conversation. "Embezzle?He is then a t'ief?"
"Exactly. If you're the inspector I'll ask you to make this arrest forme. I believe we're on foreign ground."
"That's right, Alfarez," came the voice of John Weeks, anxious to havea word in the affair. "I'll vouch for Mr. Williams. This chap is asmooth one, but his name isn't Anthony at all, nor Locke, either; it'sWellar; and he's wanted for other things besides embezzlement." Turninghis triumphant little red eyes upon the prisoner, he puffed, "Got you,didn't we?"
"I regret you 'ave arrive' so late," smirked Alfarez. "The gentleman isalready arrest' for the murder of Senor Cortlan'. He will first answerto that, I assure you."
Kirk nodded. "Too bad, Williams! I'm sorry you didn't come last night."
They went on down the street, leaving the detective staring and Weeksopen-mouthed.
"Cortlandt murdered!" the c
onsul gasped. "Lord! And to think Inourished that viper at my breast."
Williams wheeled and cursed the fat man furiously. It was during thelunch-hour that Ramon Alfarez called at the Garavel home, finding thebanker and his daughter still loitering over their midday meal anddiscussing the topic that had electrified the whole city.
"Ah, Ramon!" the old gentleman began, eagerly. "Be seated and tell usquickly the latest news. A terrible thing, was it not, this death ofour good friend? I have been to see his unfortunate widow, but even yetI cannot believe it to be true."
"Yes. A terrible thing! It was only last night that we saw him well andhappy."
Although Alfarez was trembling with eagerness to tell his news, he alsomeant to extract the greatest possible satisfaction from it, and nowbent an inquiring glance upon Gertrudis. His look turned to one ofmalicious triumph as he saw that he was, indeed, the first to bring thetidings of Anthony's arrest; for the girl's acceptance of his suit hadby no means wiped out the memory of her momentary preference for hisrival, and he had hastened hither straight from the police barracks,delighting in the chance to make her suffer.
"So fine a man," the father was saying. "He was, indeed, my goodfriend. It is shocking."
"Yes, and to think he should have been killed in this cowardly manner!"
"Killed! Is it believed that he was murdered? Caramba! I supposed hehad shot himself. That was the gossip an hour ago." Garavel was deeplyaffected, and motioned for the dishes in front of him to be removed.
Ramon nodded. "There are suspicious circumstances, it seems. Lastnight, after the ball, he had a serious quarrel--one of those Americanfights, almost. That much is known."
Gertrudis, who had remained silent until now, her dark eyes cloudedwith distress, said, sympathetically:
"And the poor lady! She must suffer terribly."
"Ah, perhaps! One cannot always tell!" Ramon shrugged and smiled.
"What do you mean?" cried Garavel. "This quarrel you speak of?Continue, Ramon, I am consumed with eagerness."
"Upon leaving the Tivoli last night, Senor Cortlan' dined with six ofhis friends at the Central. There was drinking. The waiters have beenquestioned; also, one of the men who was present has recounted to mewhat occurred. It seems that for a long time Senor Cortlan' has beenjealous of his wife."
"Impossible! Jealous? My dear Ramon, an admirable lady."
"I--I shall leave you, perhaps?" questioned Gertrudis, modestly, as sherose, but Ramon exclaimed:
"No, no! By all means remain. I have remarkable things to disclose,amazing news that will interest you. There was a serious altercation,and Senor Cortlan' openly accused his enemy before all the others. Itwas most dramatic, it was terrible! There was a scene of violence, theother man made threats."
Garavel breathed an incredulous exclamation.
"Ah, but wait! It was Senor Cortlan's best friend, too, the man forwhom he had accomplished many favors whom he accused." He noted withmingled anger and satisfaction the pallor that was creeping into thegirl's cheeks. "You would never guess. It was--I hesitate, and yet youare bound to learn, my dear friends, it was this Ant'ony."
His moment had indeed been worth waiting for. It even went far to atonefor the sense of injury under which he smarted; for the banker wasstricken speechless, and his daughter went deathly white. Her eyesbegan to fill with horror.
Garavel was the first to recover himself. "Infamous! It isunbelievable! The wretch, then, had betrayed his friend."
"He is indeed a villain. That much I have always known."
"It is a lie!" said the girl, quietly. She had risen and was standingstraight, a tragic little figure.
"Gertrudis!" her father admonished. "You hear what Ramon has said."
"Yes!" said Ramon. "He deceived Senor Cortlan' very nicely; it had beengoing on for months."
"It is a lie!" she repeated. "He loved no one but me."
"Gertrudis!" The banker was shocked beyond measure at what heconsidered his daughter's jealousy. "Those are not nice words. He toldyou so, yes; but if he would betray his best friend, he would deceiveyou also. It was our great good-fortune to be done with him in time.You will see now that I did well in sending him off--eh, Chiquita?"
"No! I do not believe you."
Ramon had not counted upon such a spirit, and, his anger getting thebetter of him, he sneered: "I should not have spoken. I did not knowyou still care."
"She does not care," Garavel declared, loudly.
"Ah, but I do. I love him very dearly."
The two men were upon their feet in an instant, staring at her, theelder in amazement, the younger with rage and resentment blazing fromhis countenance.
"Silence!" thundered the banker. "Yonder stands your affianced husband."
"It is a mistake--" she persisted, gently.
"No, no, no! There is no mistake," chattered Ramon. "Those other menhave told all, and your Ant'ony is now in the Carcel under guard. Itwas I who saw to his arrest." The slender figure swayed, a tiny olivehand fluttered to her breast.
"Ramon, you must not heed her, she is upset. This is but a girl'sfoolish fancy, and it will pass. The man was handsome, and he cast aspell over her."
"Nor is that all," Ramon ran on, excitedly. "He is not at all the manhe pretended to be, even his name is false. This morning there arrivedan American officer of police to arrest him on other charges. He is athief, it seems, having stolen eighty thousand dollars 'gold' from hisemployers. Oh, there is no mistake. Within the hour I have been talkingwith this detective, and he has the papers of proof. It will be in thenewspapers, every one will know shortly. Last night, when SenorCortlan' made his accusation, there was a frightful quarrel, andAnt'ony swore to kill him. At dawn the poor husband is found shot onthe sea wall. Is not that enough?"
"It is indeed!" gasped the father. "You see, then, my child, from whatyou were saved. This should be a day of thanksgiving to you as it is tome. For this deliverance I shall erect a cross of stone on the hill byour house, so that all our lives we may offer a prayer when our eyesrest upon it. Come, now, it is Ramon who has unmasked this person. Haveyou no thanks to give him?"
"But it is not true," maintained the girl, simply, and her eyes were assteady as altar flames.
"Eh? Well! He is in the barracks at this moment," snarled Ramon, "andthere he shall remain, I promise you, until he goes to Chiriqui or--"
Gertrudis turned to her father.
"Take me to him, please. I must go at once to the Carcel."
But he only answered her with a stare of amazement. "Go!" he murmured,after an instant. "Have I lost my senses?" He began to summon hisindignation for a terrific outburst.
"Yes, I must go, for he is my husband. We were wed last night."
There was a moment of absolute silence, during which the clatter of apassing coach sounded loudly in the room. Then--
"Mother of God!" the banker ejaculated, hoarsely, and sank into theseat from which he had arisen. Ramon was staring from one to the other,his head turning jerkily.
The girl raised her face proudly. "Yes! I am his wife, although I hadnot expected to tell you so soon; therefore, you see I must go to himquickly, or he will think I believe these lies."
"You are mad! Do you know what you are saying?"
"Oh yes. The judge from Colon married us during the dance. I would haveliked a church wedding; but that will come later. The Senor Ronnels andhis wife were there also, and they will tell you. It made me veryhappy. You see, I prayed the Virgin that I might be happy, and sheheard. Oh, I offered so many prayers, and all last night I lay awakegiving thanks for my great happiness, which even yet I cannot believe."Her face was transfigured by a look that left the two men no choice butto believe.
"A civil marriage!" stammered Ramen.
"A civil marriage, indeed!" said Garavel, in a choking voice. "So thatis where you were when I believed you to be dancing!" He burst forthviolently, pounding the table with his clenched fist until the dishesdanced, his brilliant black eyes flashing beneath t
heir thatch ofwhite. "But I will not have it, understand! You are betrothed. You havegiven your word to Ramon."
"Ah, but I never loved him. You compelled me to consent, because yousaid you could not be President unless I married him. And that was notso. Ramon deceived you. Now it is all right. You will be President, andI can be happy."
Ramon's suspicion kindled on the instant. He turned upon the banker."So! I begin to see! That was a trick, then, to betray my father."
"But wait!" Gertrudis exclaimed, sharply. "Did you not trick us also?Did you not use the General, your father, to make me give up the man Ilove? Which of us, then, is the better?"
Andres Garavel spoke threateningly, menacingly, to his daughter."Enough! Our word was given, and you have broken it! You have broughtdisgrace to our name. Can a Garavel be President of the Republic withhis daughter wed to a murderer?"
"He is not that!"
"It was no marriage, and it will not stand. I will have it annulled.Such things are easily done, Ramon. She is no wife. The man was acriminal, a fugitive, even when he forced her to marry--"
"No, no! You cannot do that. It was I who asked him to marry me." Thegirl lied tremulously, panic-stricken at the threat. "Before God, I amhis wife!" she maintained. "And if this marriage has a flaw, then Iwill stand beside the prison gates and remarry him as he comes forth."
"He will not come forth," Ramon declared, harshly.
"Oh yes! And now will you take me to him?"
"NO!" her father bellowed. "You are my daughter, you are under my roof,and here you shall stay until you give up this madness and this man."
"That I can never do," she retorted, proudly. "You see, I am not allSpanish, I have in me also the blood of his people, and that makes mesteadfast. I could not doubt him if I wished."
"I forbid you to go near him. Come! Do you promise?" She inclined herdark head. "I must learn more of this affair at once. You will findyour senses, miss, or if you do not you will spend your life inmeditation and prayer--that much I promise you."
"I do not wish to enter a convent," she said, with white lips. "I wishto be happy. When Keerk is free I shall go to him. Now, if you please,I--think I shall go away." She turned and went out of the bighigh-ceilinged room, and not until she had reached the hall did herfeet waver or her head droop.
When the two men were alone, Garavel said, brokenly: "She is the firstto bring disgrace upon our name. Is there absolute proof that the manis guilty, Ramon?"
"Proof?" Alfarez turned dazed eyes from the door through whichGertrudis had gone. "Proof? I believe so. I have not thought much ofthe matter as yet, but--I think there will be proof in plenty. Oh yes!"
"Come then. I must go to see him. Perhaps--oh, God! Perhaps what? Myhead is afire, my heart is broken for you, my poor boy."