Still with the pink glowing in her rounding cheek, and eyes snapping like splintered sapphires, she rose to her feet, with her pretty shoulders lifted, her small hands and white teeth both tightly clenched, and took a step towards him. Even in her attitude there was a reminiscence of her willful childhood, although still blended with the provincial actress whom he had seen on the stage only an hour ago. Thoroughly alarmed at her threat, in his efforts to conceal his feelings he was not above a weak retaliation. Stepping back, he affected to regard her with a critical admiration that was only half simulated, and said with a smile,
Very well donebut you have forgotten the flag.
She did not flinch. Rather accepting the sarcasm as a tribute to her art, she went on with increasing exaggeration: No, it is YOU who have forgotten the flagforgotten your country, your people, your manhoodeverything for that high-toned, double-dyed old spy and traitress! For while you are standing here, your wife is gathering under her roof at Robles a gang of spies and traitors like herselfsecession leaders and their bloated, drunken chivalry! Yes, you may smile your superior smile, but I tell you, Clarence Brant, that with all your smartness and book learning you know no more of what goes on around you than a child. But others do! This conspiracy is known to the government, the Federal officers have been warned; General Sumner has been sent out hereand his first act was to change the command at Fort Alcatraz, and send your wifes Southern friendCaptain Pinckneyto the right about! Yeseverything is known but ONE thing, and that is WHERE and HOW this precious crew meet! That I alone know, and that Ive told you!
And I suppose, said Clarence, with an unchanged smile, that this valuable information came from your husbandmy old friend, Jim Hooker?
No, she answered sharply, it comes from Cenchoone of your own peonswho is more true to you and the old Rancho than YOU have ever been. He saw what was going on, and came to me, to warn you!
But why not to me directly? asked Clarence, with affected incredulity.
Ask him! she said viciously. Perhaps he didnt want to warn the master against the mistress. Perhaps he thought WE are still friends. Perhapsshe hesitated with a lower voice and a forced smileperhaps he used to see us together in the old times.
Very likely, said Clarence quietly. And for the sake of those old times, Susy, he went on, with a singular gentleness that was quite distinct from his paling face and set eyes, I am going to forget all that you have just said of me and mine, in all the old willfulness and impatience that I see you still keepwith all your old prettiness. He took his hat from the table and gravely held out his hand.
She was frightened for a moment with his impassive abstraction. In the old days she had known ithad believed it was his dogged obstinacybut she knew the hopelessness of opposing it. Yet with feminine persistency she again threw herself against it, as against a wall.
You dont believe me! Well, go and see for yourself. They are at Robles NOW. If you catch the early morning stage at Santa Clara you will come upon them before they disperse. Dare you try it?
Whatever I do, he returned smilingly, I shall always be grateful to you for giving me this opportunity of seeing you again AS YOU WERE. Make my excuses to your husband. Good-night.
Clarence!
But he had already closed the door behind him. His face did not relax its expression nor change as he looked again at the tray with its broken viands before the door, the worn, stained hall carpet, or the waiter who shuffled past him. He was apparently as critically conscious of them and of the close odors of the hall, and the atmosphere of listless decay and faded extravagance around him, as before the interview. But if the woman he had just parted from had watched him she would have supposed he still utterly disbelieved her story. Yet he was conscious that all that he saw was a part of his degradation, for he had believed every word she had uttered. Through all her extravagance, envy, and revengefulness he saw the central truththat he had been deceivednot by his wife, but by himself! He had suspected all this before. This was what had been really troubling himthis was what he had put aside, rather than his faith, not in her, but in his ideal. He remembered letters that had passed between her and Captain Pinckneyletters that she had openly sent to notorious Southern leaders; her nervous anxiety to remain at the Rancho; the innuendoes and significant glances of friends which he had put asideas he had this womans message! Susy had told him nothing new of his wifebut the truth of HIMSELF! And the revelation came from people who he was conscious were the inferiors of himself and his wife. To an independent, proud, and self-made man it was the culminating stroke.
In the same abstracted voice he told the coachman to drive home. The return seemed interminablethough he never shifted his position. Yet when he drew up at his own door and looked at his watch he found he had been absent only half an hour. Only half an hour! As he entered the house he turned with the same abstraction towards a mirror in the hall, as if he expected to see some outward and visible change in himself in that time. Dismissing his servants to bed, he went into his dressing-room, completely changed his attire, put on a pair of long riding-boots, and throwing a serape over his shoulders, paused a moment, took a pair of small Derringer pistols from a box, put them in his pockets, and then slipped cautiously down the staircase. A lack of confidence in his own domestics had invaded him for the first time. The lights were out. He silently opened the door and was in the street.
He walked hastily a few squares to a livery stable whose proprietor he knew. His first inquiry was for one Redskin, a particular horse; the second for its proprietor. Happily both were in. The proprietor asked no question of a customer of Clarences condition. The horse, half Spanish, powerful and irascible, was quickly saddled. As Clarence mounted, the man in an impulse of sociability said,
Saw you at the theatre to-night, sir.
Ah, returned Clarence, quietly gathering up the reins.
Rather a smart trick of that woman with the flag, he went on tentatively. Then, with a possible doubt of his customers politics, he added with a forced smile, I reckon its all party fuss, though; there aint any real danger.
But fast as Clarence might ride the words lingered in his ears. He saw through the mans hesitation; he, too, had probably heard that Clarence Brant weakly sympathized with his wifes sentiments, and dared not speak fully. And he understood the cowardly suggestion that there was no real danger. It had been Clarences one fallacy. He had believed the public excitement was only a temporary outbreak of partisan feeling, soon to subside. Even now he was conscious that he was less doubtful of the integrity of the Union than of his own household. It was not the devotion of the patriot, but the indignation of an outraged husband, that was spurring him on.
He knew that if he reached Woodville by five oclock he could get ferried across the bay at the Embarcadero, and catch the down coach to Fair Plains, whence he could ride to the Rancho. As the coach did not connect directly with San Francisco, the chance of his surprising them was greater. Once clear of the city outskirts, he bullied Redskin into irascible speed, and plunged into the rainy darkness of the highroad. The way was familiar. For a while he was content to feel the buffeting, caused by his rapid pace, of wind and rain against his depressed head and shoulders in a sheer brutal sense of opposition and power, or to relieve his pent-up excitement by dashing through overflowed gullies in the road or across the quaggy, sodden edges of meadowland, until he had controlled Redskins rebellious extravagance into a long steady stride. Then he raised his head and straightened himself on the saddle, to think. But to no purpose. He had no plan; everything would depend upon the situation; the thought of forestalling any action of the conspirators, by warning or calling in the aid of the authorities, for an instant crossed his mind, but was as instantly dismissed. He had but an instinctto see with his own eyes what his reason told him was true. Day was breaking through drifting scud and pewter-colored clouds as he reached Woodville ferry, checkered with splashes of the soil and the spume of his horse, from whose neck and flanks the sweat rolled like lather. Yet he was not conscious how intent had been his purpose until he felt a sudden instinctive shock on seeing that the ferryboat was gone. For an instant his wonderful self-possession abandoned him; he could only gaze vacantly at the leaden-colored bay, without a thought or expedient. But in another moment he saw that the boat was returning from the distance. Had he lost his only chance? He glanced hurriedly at his watch; he had come more quickly than he imagined; there would still be time. He beckoned impatiently to the ferryman; the boata ships pinnace, with two men in itcrept in with exasperating slowness. At last the two rowers suddenly leaped ashore.
Ye might have come before, with the other passenger. We dont reckon to run lightnin trips on this ferry.
But Clarence was himself again. Twenty dollars for two more oars in that boat, he said quietly, and fifty if you get me over in time to catch the down stage.
The man glanced at Clarences eyes. Run up and rouse out Jake and Sam, he said to the other boatman; then more leisurely, gazing at his customers travel-stained equipment, he said, There must have been a heap o passengers got left by last nights boat. Youre the second man that took this route in a hurry.
At any other time the coincidence might have struck Clarence. But he only answered curtly, Unless we are under way in ten minutes you will find I am NOT the second man, and that our bargains off.
But here two men emerged from the shanty beside the ferryhouse, and tumbled sleepily into the boat. Clarence seized an extra pair of sculls that were standing against the shed, and threw them into the stern. I dont mind taking a hand myself for exercise, he said quietly.
The ferryman glanced again at Clarences travel-worn figure and determined eyes with mingled approval and surprise. He lingered a moment with his oars lifted, looking at his passenger. It aint no business o mine, young man, he said deliberately, but I reckon you understand me when I say that Ive just taken another man over there.
I do, said Clarence impatiently.
And you still want to go?
Certainly, replied Clarence, with a cold stare, taking up his oars.
The man shrugged his shoulders, bent himself for the stroke, and the boat sprung forward. The others rowed strongly and rapidly, the tough ashen blades springing like steel from the water, the heavy boat seeming to leap in successive bounds until they were fairly beyond the curving inshore current and clearing the placid, misty surface of the bay. Clarence did not speak, but bent abstractedly over his oar; the ferryman and his crew rowed in equal panting silence; a few startled ducks whirred before them, but dropped again to rest. In half an hour they were at the Embarcadero. The time was fairly up. Clarences eyes were eagerly bent for the first appearance of the stage-coach around the little promontory; the ferryman was as eagerly scanning the bare, empty street of the still sleeping settlement.
I dont see him anywhere, said the ferryman with a glance, half of astonishment and half of curiosity, at his solitary passenger.
See whom? asked Clarence carelessly, as he handed the man his promised fee.
The other man I ferried over to catch the stage. He must have gone on without waiting. Youre in luck, young fellow!
I dont understand you, said Clarence impatiently. What has your previous passenger to do with me?
Well, I reckon you know best. Hes the kind of man, ginrally speaking, that other men, in a powful hurry, dont care to meetand, az a rule, dont FOLLER arter. Its ginrally the other way.
What do you mean? inquired Clarence sternly. Of whom are you speaking?
The Chief of Police of San Francisco!
CHAPTER II
The laugh that instinctively broke from Clarences lips was so sincere and unaffected that the man was disconcerted, and at last joined in it, a little shamefacedly. The grotesque blunder of being taken as a fugitive from justice relieved Clarences mind from its acute tension,he was momentarily diverted,and it was not until the boatman had departed, and he was again alone, that it seemed to have any collateral significance. Then an uneasy recollection of Susys threat that she had the power to put his wife in Fort Alcatraz came across him. Could she have already warned the municipal authorities and this man? But he quickly remembered that any action from such a warning could only have been taken by the United States Marshal, and not by a civic official, and dismissed the idea.
Nevertheless, when the stage with its half-spent lamps still burning dimly against the morning light swept round the curve and rolled heavily up to the rude shanty which served as coach-office, he became watchful. A single yawning individual in its doorway received a few letters and parcels, but Clarence was evidently the ONLY waiting passenger. Any hope that he might have entertained that his mysterious predecessor would emerge from some seclusion at that moment was disappointed. As he entered the coach he made a rapid survey of his fellow-travelers, but satisfied himself that the stranger was not among them. They were mainly small traders or farmers, a miner or two, and apparently a Spanish-American of better degree and personality. Possibly the circumstance that men of this class usually preferred to travel on horseback and were rarely seen in public conveyances attracted his attention, and their eyes met more than once in mutual curiosity. Presently Clarence addressed a remark to the stranger in Spanish; he replied fluently and courteously, but at the next stopping-place he asked a question of the expressman in an unmistakable Missouri accent. Clarences curiosity was satisfied; he was evidently one of those early American settlers who had been so long domiciled in Southern California as to adopt the speech as well as the habiliments of the Spaniard.
The conversation fell upon the political news of the previous night, or rather seemed to be lazily continued from some previous, more excited discussion, in which one of the contestantsa red-bearded minerhad subsided into an occasional growl of surly dissent. It struck Clarence that the Missourian had been an amused auditor and even, judging from a twinkle in his eye, a mischievous instigator of the controversy. He was not surprised, therefore, when the man turned to him with a certain courtesy and said,
And what, sir, is the political feeling in YOUR district?
But Clarence was in no mood to be drawn out, and replied, almost curtly, that as he had come only from San Francisco, they were probably as well informed on that subject as himself. A quick and searching glance from the strangers eye made him regret his answer, but in the silence that ensued the red-bearded miner, evidently still rankling at heart, saw his opportunity. Slapping his huge hands on his knees, and leaning far forward until he seemed to plunge his flaming beard, like a firebrand, into the controversy, he said grimly,
Well, I kin tell you, genlmen, THIS. It aint goin to be no matter wots the POLITICAL FEELING here or tharit aint goin to be no matter wots the States rights and wots Fedral rightsit aint goin to be no question whether the govments got the right to relieve its own soldiers that those Secesh is besieging in Fort Sumter or whether they haventbut the first gun thats fired at the flag blows the chains off every dn nigger south of Mason and Dixons line! You hear me! Im shoutin! And whether you call yourselves Secesh or Union or Copperhead or Peace men, youve got to face it!
There was an angry start in one or two of the seats; one man caught at the swinging side-strap and half rose, a husky voice began, Its a ddand then all as suddenly subsided. Every eye was turned to an insignificant figure in the back seat. It was a woman, holding a child on her lap, and gazing out of the window with her sexs profound unconcern in politics. Clarence understood the rude chivalry of the road well enough to comprehend that this unconscious but omnipotent figure had more than once that day controlled the passions of the disputants. They dropped back weakly to their seats, and their mutterings rolled off in the rattle of the wheels. Clarence glanced at the Missourian; he was regarding the red-bearded miner with a singular curiosity.