The Highgrader

by William MacLeod Raine

  CHAPTER XVII

  A WARNING

  Joyce, a lover of luxury, usually had a roll and coffee in bed as asubstitute for breakfast. Sometimes she varied this by appearing late atthe table and putting the attendants to unnecessary trouble. This shealways paid for with murmurs of apology and sweet smiles of thanks.

  On the second morning after the announcement of her engagement toDobyans Verinder she came down to find the dining-room empty except forthe omnibus.

  She opened wide eyes of surprise. "Dear me! Am I late?"

  "Yes'm."

  She glanced at the watch on her wrist. "How inconsiderate of me! Ididn't realize the time. Would you mind calling a waiter?"

  Meanwhile Joyce began on her grape fruit. Almost simultaneously a soundof voices reached her. Men were coming into the parlor that adjoined thebreakfast room.

  The high-pitched voice of her affianced lover was the first sherecognized. "----to-night! Sure he said to-night?"

  Joyce judged that the rough tones of the answer came from a workingman."That's right. To-night, Bell said. He was to bring his wagon round toKilmeny's at eleven and they were going to haul the ore to UtahJunction."

  A third speaker, evidently Bleyer, the superintendent, cut in quietly."Bell said it was to be a big shipment, didn't he?"

  "Yep. Worth sixty or seventy thousand, he figured."

  "Was Bell drunk?"

  "I wouldn't say drunk. He had been drinking a good deal. Talkative like.He let it out as a secret, y'understand."

  "Anyone there beside you?"

  "A miner by the name of Peale."

  "Know the man?"

  It was Verinder that asked the question and Bleyer that answered.

  "Yes. A bad lot. One of those that insulted the young ladies."

  "Anyhow, he won't warn Kilmeny."

  "Not after the mauling that young man gave him. He's still carrying thescars," Bleyer replied with a low laugh. He added briskly, after amoment, "What do you expect to get out of this, Rollins?"

  The workman seemed to answer with some embarrassment. "Thought you mightgive me that lease in the Mollie Gibson I spoke to you about, Mr.Bleyer."

  "It's yours--if this comes out as you say, my man. I'd give more thanthat to call the turn on Mr. Highgrader Kilmeny," Verinder promised.

  "And, o' course, you won't give it away that I told."

  "Certainly not."

  The arrival of a waiter eliminated Joyce as a listener, for the firstthing the man did was to close the door between the parlor and thedining-room.

  But she had heard enough to know that Jack Kilmeny was in danger offalling into a trap that was being set for him. Verinder had him atlast, just as he had promised that he would get him. No doubt they wouldhave witnesses and would send him to prison as they had threatened.

  No more than forty-eight hours earlier Joyce would have been onKilmeny's side instantly. Now her feelings were mixed. It was stillimpossible for her to think of him without a flare of passion. She wasjealous and resentful because she had lost him, but deeper than theselay the anger born of his scornful surrender of her. It was as if hiseyes for the first time had seen the real woman stripped of the glamourlent by her beauty. His contemptuous withdrawal from the field had cutlike a knife thrust. She wanted to pay him with usury for his cool, harddisdain. And she had the chance. All she had to do was to be silent andhe would fall a victim to his own folly.

  There was a hard glitter in the eyes of the young woman. Perhaps Mr.Highgrader Kilmeny, as Verinder had called him, would not be so prodigalof contempt for other people when he stood in the criminal dock. He hadbeen brutally unkind to her. Was she to blame because he was too poor tosupport her properly? He ought to thank her for having the good sensenot to tie herself like a millstone about his neck. They could not liveon love just because for the moment passion had swept them from theirfeet. Instead of being angry at her, he should sympathize with her forbeing the victim of a pressure which had driven her to a disagreeableduty.

  Her simmering anger received a fillip from an accidental meeting withKilmeny, the first since the night of her engagement. Joyce and Moyawere coming out of a stationer's when they came face to face with theminer.

  The eyes of the young man visibly hardened. He shook hands with themboth and exchanged the usual inane greetings as to the weather. It wasjust as they were parting that he sent his barbed shot into Joyce.

  "I mustn't keep you longer, Miss Seldon. One can guess how keen youmust be to get back to Verinder. Love's young dream, and that sort ofthing, eh?"

  The jeer that ran through his masked insolence brought the angry colorto the cheeks of Joyce. She bit her lip to keep back tears of vexation,but it was not until she was in her room with Moya that the need for aconfidant overflowed into speech.

  "Did you ever hear anything so hateful? He made love to me on thehill.... I let him.... He knows I ... am fond of him. I told him that Iloved him. And now...."

  Moya stared at her in amaze. "Do you mean that you let Mr. Kilmeny makelove to you an hour or two before you became engaged to Mr. Verinder?"

  "For Heaven's sake, don't be a prude, Moya," Joyce snapped irritably. "Itold you I was fond of him, didn't I? How could I help his kissingme ... or help liking to have him? He ought to be glad. Instead, heinsults me." Miss Seldon's self-pity reached the acute stage of sobs."I was in love with him. Why is he so hard?"

  "Perhaps he thinks that since he is in love with you and you with himthat gives him some claim," Moya suggested dryly.

  "Of course that's what he thinks. But it's absurd. I'm not going tomarry Dobyans Verinder because I want to. He knows that as well as youdo. Why does he blame me, then? Goodness knows, it's hard enough tomarry the man without having my friends misunderstand."

  Moya asked an unnecessary question. "Why do you marry him, then?"

  "You know perfectly well," flashed Joyce petulantly. "I'm taking himbecause I must."

  "Like a bad-tasting dose of medicine?"

  Her friend nodded. "I _can't_ let him go. I just _can't_. Jack Kilmenyought to see that."

  "Oh, he sees it, but you can't blame him for being bitter."

  At the recollection of his impudence anger flared up in Joyce.

  "Let him be as bitter as he pleases, then. I happen to know something hewould give a good deal to learn. Mr. Jack Kilmeny is going to get intotrouble this very night. They've laid a plot----"

  She stopped, warned by the tense stillness of Moya.

  "Yes?" asked the Irish girl.

  "Oh, well! It doesn't matter."

  "Who has laid a plot?"

  "I've no business to tell. I just happened to overhear something."

  "What did you overhear?"

  "Nothing much."

  "I want to know just what you heard."

  Against the quiet steadfast determination of this girl Joyce had nochance. A spirit that did not know defeat inhabited the slender body.

  Bit by bit Moya forced out of her the snatch of conversation she hadoverheard while at breakfast.

  "It's a secret. You're not to tell anyone," Joyce protested.

  Her friend drummed on the arm of the chair with the tips of her fingers.She was greatly troubled at what she had learned. She was a young woman,singularly stanch to her friends, and certainly she owed something toVerinder. The whole party were his guests at Goldbanks. He had broughtthem in a private car and taken care of them munificently. There weretimes when Moya disliked him a good deal, but that would not justify anact of treachery. If she warned Jack Kilmeny--and Moya did not pretendto herself for an instant that she was not going to do this--she wouldhave to make confession to Verinder later. This would be humiliating,doubly so because she knew the man believed she was in love with theGoldbanks miner.

  In her heart the Irish girl did not doubt that Jack was guilty, but thiswould not prevent her from saving him if she could. There came to her aswift vision of two helpless girls in a cabin with drinking ruffians, ofthe entry of a man into the picture, of h
is fight against odds to saveher and Joyce from insult. Beside this abstract justice became a paleand misty virtue.

  "Of course you'll not tell anyone," Joyce repeated.

  Moya brought her gaze back from the window. "I shall tell Mr. Kilmeny."

  "But it isn't your secret. You have no right to."

  "Have you forgotten that night in the cabin?" asked Moya in a low, clearvoice. "If you have, I haven't."

  "I don't care," Joyce answered petulantly. "He's so hard. Why can't hebe nice about this? Why can't he understand--instead of sneering at me?It's a good deal harder for me than for him. Think of fifty years ofDobyans Verinder."

  "Would you care to write Mr. Kilmeny a note? I'll take it to him if youlike," Moya suggested gently.

  Joyce considered. "No, I couldn't put it on paper. But--you might tellhim."

  "I don't think I could quite do that."

  "If it came up right; just show him how I'm placed."

  "Perhaps. Shall I tell him that you asked me to warn him?"

  Joyce nodded, eyes shining. She was a young woman capable of changingher mind in the snap of a finger. Dainty and exquisite as appleblossoms, she was like a young plant with delicate tendrils foreverreaching out. Love she must have and ever more of it. To admiration shewas sensitive in every fiber. Whenever she thought of Jack Kilmeny'scontempt tears scorched her eyes.

  It was like Moya that she carried her warning immediately and directly.Kilmeny was not easy to find. He had been seen entering the office of alawyer, but had left before she arrived. The attorney understood Jack tosay that he was going to an assayer's office, and the young womanlearned there that he had not been seen yet by the assayer. From hereshe walked toward his boarding house, thinking that she might catch himat lunch.

  A quick step on the boardwalk behind her caught the girl's attention.Almost at the same moment a voice hailed her.

  "Whither away, Miss Dwight?"

  She turned, heart beating fast. "I was looking for you, Mr. Kilmeny."

  "And you've found me. What luck--for Jack Kilmeny!" His friendlysmile--the same one that had claimed comradeship on the Gunnison--beamedupon her with its hint of irony.

  A miner with a dinner bucket was coming toward them. Moya spoke quickly.

  "I want to see you ... alone. I've something important to tell you."

  His cool eyes searched her face alertly. "Come up with me to the oldPandora dump."

  They took a side street that ran up the hill, presently came to the endof it, and stopped at the foot of a trail leading to the abandonedshaft-house.

  The girl fired her news at him point blank. "Mr. Verinder has found outwhat you mean to do to-night and you are to be trapped."

  "What I mean to do?" he repeated.

  "About the ore--shipping it or something. I don't know exactly--somebodywas drinking and talked, I think."

  Moya, watching Kilmeny's face, saw only the slightest change. The eyesseemed to harden and narrow the least in the world.

  "Tell me all you know about it."

  She repeated what Joyce had overheard, adding that her friend had askedher to tell him.

  The faintest ironic smile touched his face. "Will you thank Miss Seldonfor me, both for this and many other favors?"

  "You don't understand Joyce. You're not fair to her," Moya saidimpulsively.

  "Perhaps not." A sudden warmth kindled in his eyes. "But I know who myreal friends are. I'm fair to them, neighbor."

  The color beat into her face, but she continued loyally. "MayI ... assume you have a kindly interest in Joyce?"

  "I'll listen to anything you care to tell me. I owe my friend, MissDwight, that much."

  "She told me ... a little about you and her. Be fair to her. Rememberhow she has been brought up. All her life it has been drilled into herthat she must make a good match. It's a shameful thing. I hate it.But ... what can a girl like Joyce do?"

  "You justify her?"

  "I understand her. A decision was forced on her. She had no time tochoose. And--if you'll forgive my saying so--I think Joyce did wisely,since she is what she is."

  "Of course she did," he answered bitterly.

  "Think of her. She doesn't love him, but she sacrifices her feeling towhat she considers her duty."

  "Shall we substitute ambition for duty?"

  "If you like. Her position is not a happy one, but she must smile and begay and hide her heartache. You can afford to be generous, Mr. Kilmeny."

  "I've been a fool," he admitted dryly. "The turn that things have takenis the best possible one for me. But I'm not quite prepared to thankMiss Seldon yet for having awakened me."

  She saw that his vanity was stung more than his heart. His infatuationfor her had been of the senses. The young woman shifted to anotherissue.

  "You'll be careful to-night, won't you?"

  "Very. Mr. Verinder will have to wait for his coup, thanks to you."

  "You mean...?" The question hung fire on her lips.

  "Go on, neighbor."

  "No. It was something I had no business to ask." The cheeks beneath thedusky eyes held each a patch of color burning through the tan.

  "Then I'll say it for you. You were going to ask if they would reallyhave caught me with the goods. Wasn't that it?"

  She nodded, looking straight at him with the poise of lithe, slim youthhe knew so well. Her very breathing seemed for the moment suspendedwhile she waited, tremulous lips apart, for his answer.

  "Yes."

  "You mean that ... you are a highgrader?"

  "Yes."

  "I ... was afraid so."

  His eyes would not release her. "You made excuses for Miss Seldon. Canyou find any for me?"

  "You are a man. You are strong. It is different with you."

  "My sin is beyond the pale, I suppose?"

  "How do I know? I'm only a girl. I've never seen anything of real life.Can I judge you?"

  "But you do."

  The troubled virginal sweetness of the girl went to his soul. She washis friend, and her heart ached because of his wrongdoing.

  "I can't make myself think wrong is right."

  "You think the profits from these mines should all go to Verinder andhis friends, that none should belong to the men who do the work?"

  "I don't know.... That doesn't seem fair.... But I'm not wise enough toknow how to make that right. The law is the law. I can't go back ofthat."

  "Can't you? I can. Who makes the laws?" He asked it almost harshly.

  "The people, I suppose."

  "Nothing of the kind. The operators control the legislatures and putthrough whatever bills they please. I went to the legislative assemblyonce and we forced through an eight hour law for underground workers.The state Supreme Court, puppets of capital, declared the statuteunconstitutional. The whole machinery of government is owned by ourmasters. What can we do?"

  "I don't know."

  "Neither do I--except what I am doing. It is against the law, all right,but I try to see that the workmen get some of the profits they earn."

  "Would the operators--what would they do if they proved you guilty ofhighgrading?"

  "It is hard to prove. Ore can't easily be identified."

  "But if they did?" she persisted.

  "I'd go over the road quick as their courts could send me." A sardonicflicker of amusement moved him to add: "Would you obey the Scripturalinjunction and visit me in prison, Miss Dwight?"

  "I wouldn't be here. We're going back to England next week."

  "But if you were. Would your friendship stand the test?"

  Once again she answered, "I don't know," her heart beating wildly as herglance fell away from his.

  "I shan't have to try you out this time, neighbor. I'm not going to thepen if I can help it."

  "Are you sure of that? The mine owners are quite determined to punishsome of the highgraders. Suppose I hadn't come to you to-day. Whatthen?"

  He smiled down upon her with the easy recklessness that distinguishedhim. "I don't thi
nk it would have run quite to a prison sentence. Theburden of proof lies on the accuser. Because I am in possession of richore, it does not follow that I did not come by it legitimately. Orecan't be sworn to like bric-a-brac. I may have shipped this in fromSouth Africa, so far as the law knows. Bleyer knows that. I figure hewould have played his hand in the Goldbanks way."

  "And how would that be?"

  "He would forget the law too, just as we've done on our side. A posseof men would have fallen on me maybe after I had got out of town, andthey would have taken that ore from me. They would have been masked sothat I could not swear to them."

  "Why, that is highway robbery."

  He laughed. "We don't use such big words out here, ma'am. Just ahold-up--a perfectly legitimate one, from Bleyer's viewpoint--and itwould have left me broke."

  "Broke!"

  He nodded. "Dead broke. I've got twenty thousand dollars invested inthat ore--every cent I've got in the world."

  "You paid that to the miners for it?"

  "We pay fifty per cent. of what is coming to the men as soon as a roughassay is made, the other fifty after we get the smelter returns. Thatwagon load of ore is worth--unless I miss my guess badly--about sixtythousand dollars."

  "Dear me. So much as that?" She could not quite keep a note of sarcasmout of her voice. "And have you it in a safety deposit vault?"

  His cool gaze took her in quietly. He was willing to bet his last dollaron her loyalty, and it was like him to back his judgment in one wildthrow. "Not exactly. It is lying in a pile of hay in my barn, all sackedup ready for shipment."

  "Waiting there for anybody that wants it," she suggested.

  "For anybody that wants it worse than I do," he corrected, the fightinggleam in his eyes.

  "I've a right to ask one thing of you--that there will be no bloodshedto-night because of what I have told you."

  "There will be none of my seeking," he replied grimly.

  "No. That's not enough. You must find a way to avoid it."

  "By handing over my hard-earned dishonest profits to the virtuousVerinder?" he asked dryly.

  "I don't care how. But I won't have on my shoulders ... murder."

  "That's a right hard word, neighbor," he said, falling again into theWestern drawl he sometimes used as a mark of his friendship for her."But have it your own way. I'll not even tote a gat."

  "Thank you." She gave him a brisk little nod, suddenly choked up in herthroat, and turned to go.

  Jack fell into step beside her. "Have I lost my little friend--the onewho used to come to me in my dreams and whisper with a lisp that Iwasn't a 'stwanger'?" he asked, very gently.

  She swallowed twice and walked on without looking at him. But everynerve of her was conscious of his stimulating presence. Since the innerman found expression in that lithe body with the undulating flow ofwell-packed muscles, in the spare head set so finely on the perfectshoulders, in the steady eyes so frank and self-reliant, surely he wasnot unworthy the friendship of any woman. But he had just confessedhimself a thief. What right had he to ask or she to give so much?

  Her hand went out in an impetuous little gesture of despair. "How do Iknow? You are doing wrong, but ... Oh, why do you do such things?"

  "It's in my blood not to let prudence stop me when I've made up my mindto a thing. My father was that way. I'm trying in a rough way to rightan injustice--and I like the excitement--and I daresay I like the loottoo," he finished with a reckless laugh.

  "I wish I could show you how wrong you are," she cried in a low voice.

  "You can't. I'll go my own way. But you are still going to let me comeand visit you in your dreams, aren't you?"

  The glow in her quick live eyes was not a reflection of the sun. Shefelt the color flood her cheeks in waves. She dared not look at him, butshe was poignantly aware that his gaze was fixed on her, that it seemedto bore to the soul and read the hidden secret there. A queerlightheadedness affected her. It was as if her body might float awayinto space. She loved him. Whatever he was, the man held her heart inthe hollow of his careless, reckless hand. To him she would always denyit--or would have if he had thought enough of her to ask--but she knewthe truth about herself from many a passionate hour of despair.

  Dry as a whisper came her answer, in a voice which lacked thenonchalance she tried to give it. "I daresay I'll be as friendly ... asyou deserve."

  "You've got to be a heap more friendly than that, partner."

  They had come back to the boardwalk which marked the parting of the waysfor them. She had won control of herself again and offered him a steadyhand.

  "I suppose we'll not see each other again.... Good-by."

  He was suddenly conscious that he desired very greatly her regard andher approval.

  "Is that all you have to say? Are you going to leave me like this?"

  "What more is there to be said?" She asked it quietly, with the calmcourage that had its birth in hopelessness.

  "This much, at least. I don't release you from ... the old tie that usedto bind us. We're still going to be dream friends. I haven't forgottenlittle Moya, who kissed me one night on the deck of the _Victorian_."

  "She was a baby at the time," answered the girl.

  He had not released her hand. Now, as he looked straight into the sweetface with eyes like troubled stars, it came to him on a flood of lightthat he had made a fatal mistake.

  He dropped her fingers abruptly. "Good-by."

  His crisp footfalls seemed to print themselves on a heart of lead. Howcould she know that he carried away with him a vision of sweet youththat was to endure!