CHAPTER XIV
DRENNEN MAKES A DISCOVERY
For David Drennen, in whose mouth the husks of life were dry and harshand bitter, a miracle had happened. Nor was that miracle any the lessa golden wonder because to other men in other times it had been thesame. Marshall Sothern had been right; the time had come when awoman's responsibilities were to be greater than those of the head of amonster corporation. Banked and covered as it was in the ashes of theafter years, there was the old living spark of humanity in DavidDrennen. Ygerne Bellaire came in time to fan it into a warming glow.The fire which should come from it should be her affair. It wouldcheer with its warmth; or it should devastate with its flames. Thespark, fanned into love's fire, had in an instant sent its flickeringlight throughout the darker places of a man's being.
A woman, accomplishing that which Ygerne Bellaire had done, issometimes not unlike a child scattering coals in a dry forestland. Theforest, the child itself, may be consumed.
Men who had not called him Drennen the Unlucky had named him HeadlongDrennen. His is that type which, in another environment and taking thegamble of life from another angle, is termed a plunger. There was noroom for half-heartedness in so positive a nature. Where he loved heworshipped. He had had an idol once before, his father. Now, afterhalf a score of years, he made himself another idol. And it, in turn,made of him another man.
Worship must be unquestioning. It is builded upon utter faith. SoDrennen, his slow words spoken to Ygerne, his love for her freed, as itwere, from any restraint he had hitherto tried to put upon it, hiswhole being given over to it, came without question to believe in her.She was the woman meant to be his mate and he had called to her and shehad come to him. His moment of doubt had fled with his declaration.Otherwise he would have been the paler personality which it was not inhim to be, half-hearted. Of her passion and pride he made character.From the look which he had seen in her eyes he made tenderness andtruth. Every attribute of that ideal which is somewhere in the heartof every man, until at last the one woman comes to occupy its placemore sweetly and warmly and intimately, he brought forth from its darkrecess to bestow upon Ygerne.
All night he did not sleep. The sun, rising, found him quite anotherman than that upon which it had set last night. In men like Drennen afew hours and a strong emotion can accomplish results which in othermen would require the passing of years. And the same rising sun showeda new world to the eyes opened eagerly to see it, displayed a freshuniverse to a heart starved for it. He had sought to see only theshadows yesterday; now he looked for the light and it was everywhere.It lay quivering upon the mountain tops, it flooded the valleys, itbrightened his own heart, it touched the bosoms of other men, it shonein their eyes.
He had shaved and dressed himself neatly. On his way to his earlybreakfast he met Marshall Sothern on the street. Drennen came to himswiftly, putting out his hand.
"I have been rather a brute and an unqualified boor," he said quietly."I owe you a very great deal, Mr. Sothern, my life I suppose. I'd liketo shake hands."
Sothern looked at him strangely, both sensing and seeing the change inthe man. He put out his hand and it settled hard about Drennen's.
"My boy," he said simply, "you have my word for it that you owe me notso much as a word of thanks. You are getting along all right?"
"Yes. So well that I'm off to-day for Lebarge to file on my claims.I'll not waste any time in getting back. If then you care to look overthe property . . ."
The buoyancy within him had been speaking through the vibrant tones ofhis voice. Suddenly he broke off, his eyes widening to a look ofgroping wonderment. His jaw had dropped a little, he stood as iffrozen in his place, even the hand which Sothern had just released heldmotionless half way on its brief return journey to his side. In anincredibly short instant he had grown pale; his voice, when he spokethe two words, was harsh and unsteady:
"My God!"
Sothern threw up his hand as though to beat back physically a flow ofwords.
"Not now!" he commanded sharply. "Wait. Later. . . ."
He had turned abruptly and moved away in a haste which carried him withlong strides down the street. Drennen, the rigidity of his body givingway to a little shiver which ran up and down him from shoulders tocalves, stared speechlessly after Sothern. His mouth, closed slowly,now opened suddenly as though he were going to call, but no words came.He took one swift step after Sothern, then stopped in an uneasyindecision.
Far down the open roadway he could see Marc Lemarc with Captain Seftoncoming into the Settlement from the direction of the dugout. In frontof Marquette's, as he glanced swiftly the other way, he could seeCharlie Madden at the doorstep. Joe was at his own door. It seemed toDrennen that they were all looking at him. He turned then, his backtoward Sothern, and went to the lunch counter.
Joe asked twice what he would eat before Drennen heard and gave hisorder. Madden came in while he was stirring the coffee which wasgrowing cold under his vacant eyes, and took a stool near him, studyinghim none the less keenly because the look was so swift.
"Well, Drennen," he said lightly, "you'll be ready to talk businesspretty soon now."
Drennen started.
"Why, good morning, Madden. Yes; yes, I'll be ready to talk businesspretty soon."
"You're not still holding out for that ridiculous proposition you mademe the other day, are you?"
"Yes. And it isn't ridiculous, Madden. It's worth it."
Madden smiled.
"Look here, Drennen," he said easily, "you can bluff all you like now,but you can't go on bluffing much longer. You'll have to get down tobusiness. Whatever your mine is worth is just what you can ask for it.Hasbrook and Sothern are both on the job, and they're both good enoughold ducks. But they haven't got the companies behind them I've gotbehind me. They can't get their fingers on the money as I can. And,"shrugging his shoulders, "they're old guys and too damned cautious tolive. I'll take a gamble. Damn it, I'm always ready for a gamble."
He nipped a check book from his pocket and unscrewed the cap of a pen.
"I'll take a chance," he said sharply. "Right now I'll write you acheck for a thousand dollars. That's just for a ninety days' option.We'll clean out of this, go down to Lebarge and file your title. Thenwe'll see what you've got. Are you on?"
The temptation of the pen against the blue slip of paper was lost toDrennen. While Madden was talking there had again crept into his eyesthat look which tells that a man's mind is wandering to other thoughts.Again, with a start, he brought his gaze back to Madden.
"A thousand dollars? An option?" He shook his head. "No."
"Why, man, are you crazy?" Madden's look hinted that Madden halfbelieved he was. "I'm just chucking a thousand dollars at you,throwing it away for the fun of it . . ."
"I don't want it. And I don't want to be tied up ninety days or nine."
"Have you made a dicker with any one?" queried Madden suspiciously."Old Sothern has had you all to himself. . . . Did you tie up withhim?"
"No."
"Then, can't you see, I'm the man you want to deal with?"
"I don't think so," Drennen replied thoughtfully.
"Why not?" Madden's check book was snapping against the counter asthough its voice cried out with his.
"Because I think I'm going to sell to the Northwestern!"
"But," cried Madden angrily, "you just told me that Sothernhadn't . . ."
"He hasn't!" Drennen grinned. "He doesn't know it yet!"
And that was all that Charlie Madden, though he pleaded and waxedwroth, could get out of him.
Drennen, passing out, nodded pleasantly to Marc Lemarc, coming in.Lemarc stared after him wonderingly. Drennen looked up and down thestreet as though searching for some one. His eyes moved restlessly;his agitation was so obvious that any man, seeing him, might see it,too.
It was far too early to hope to see Ygerne. After a brief hesitationDrennen returned thoughtfully to his dugout. H
is door open, his pipelighted only to die and grow cold, forgotten, he waited. Now and thenwhen a man passed as infrequently happened, Drennen looked up quickly.He frowned each time as the man went on.
A little after nine o'clock a man did stop at his door, carrying a notein his hand. Drennen's thoughts went swiftly to Ygerne, and aquickened beating of his heart sent the blood throbbing through him.But the note was from Sothern and said briefly:
"I have gone on to Lebarge. You were not mistaken. But it is nobody'sbusiness but yours and mine. I shall expect you to come on as soon asyou are able to make the trip."
The man who had brought the message had gone on up the street. Drennensat and stared out through his door, across the river, his face set andinscrutable. The eager light in his eyes was not without its anguish.Suddenly he stood up, his gaunt form straight and rigid, his shoulderssquared, his jaw thrust out, his fist clenched.
"By Heaven!" he cried aloud, as though he were going to voice thepurpose gripping him. Then he broke off, an odd smile upon his lips.And the smile told nothing.
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