Lonesome Town
Page 10
CHAPTER IX--SNUFFED
So unexpected was the girl's attack that Pape felt at a loss how best tomeet it. At his look of confusion, she continued in quick, fierce tones:
"I can't see how my affairs concern you. How dare you question me? Whyare you around, anyhow, here and at the---- How did you happen to openthat safe so easily? Who and what are you--I insist on an answer?"
"My dear, don't let excitement make you unreasonable," Mrs. Sturgisintervened. "Mr. Pape is a detective from the Arsenal. I've told youthat. Jasper brought him over after I----"
"He isn't. I know very much better. He is nothing of the sort." The girlarose and straightened before him, all strength now. "I suppose youexpect me to tell you all about everything like a little--like a ninny.Well, I won't. I won't tell you anything. _You_ tell _me_!"
"Don't mind in the least. Fact, I'd gladly tell you a lot about the whoand what of Peter Stansbury Pape, but you're not in a mood to hear. Outin Montana, where I hail from, we think a lot of straight friendship. Ifyou could trust me, Miss Lauderdale, perhaps I'd be able to demonstratethe sort of friendship I mean."
"Well, I can't trust you."
"Pardon me. Yes, you can."
He faced her with an emphasized look of that sincerity which before hadcompelled her. But she shifted her eyes stubbornly and insisted:
"It's very strange that on this particular night, when I was to berobbed of something that matters more to me than--It does seem verystrange, your forcing your way in as you did."
"He didn't force his way in. I tell you I sent for him," said AuntHelene.
Pape, however, nodded in agreement. "It was and is strange. I ain'tcontradicting you, notice. Everything to-night seems mighty strange--tome, as well as to you. If you'd just stop to consider that all friendsare strangers to start with, if you'd yield to your instinct, whichwon't lead you astray in my case, if you'd tag what's worrying you sothat I could know where we're headed for----"
Again Mrs. Sturgis interrupted, this time from excitement withinherself. She seized Jane's arm by way of claiming that difficult youngrelative's attention.
"It has just occurred to me what--Jane Lauderdale, do you mean for oneminute to tell me that you've found----"
"I don't mean to tell anything."
The click of the girl's voice silenced further importunities. Mrs.Sturgis clasped her hands tightly from nervous suppression, hercontinued mutterings clipped by a knife-like look from Jane.
"I do think you ought to tell if by hook or crook you've found-- Therenow, don't flare up again! I don't wonder, poor dear, that you're upset.Just remember that I'm upset, too. And I can't help feeling a littlehurt that you don't show more confidence in one who has done her best tokeep you from missing the mother who-- But there, we won't speak of thatnow. What do you make of the case Mr. Po--Pape? What does yourprofessional instinct tell you?"
In truth, Why Not Pape's "professional" instinct had not been verycommunicative. But the result of his unprofessionalinvestigation--Jane's distress, climaxing in her suspicion of him--hadbrought him through a conclusive mental process. There had been arobbery and a peculiar one. Money, bonds and valuable jewelry had beenpassed by in the theft of an unnamed something vitally precious to agirl whom he had offered to befriend.
Already much valuable time had been lost through Mrs. Sturgis'incertitude, her summons of Jane and Jane's unwitting summons ofhimself. His impulsive participation was delaying the more expert searchwhich should have been instigated at once. The thief might have escapedthrough his interposition of himself. He felt that he ought to makeamends if the time for such had not already passed.
Through this mental summary, accomplished during the moment thatfollowed the matron's demand, Pape managed the appearance of a man indeep study. At its conclusion----
"Looks like an inside job," he declared.
"By inside you mean-- Please don't suspect any one within my household."Mrs. Sturgis' color rose with the advice.
"I have no right to suspect any one--not yet, madam. I am consideringonly known facts. Your safe has been robbed within the last few hours ofthe contents of this heirloom snuff-box. I assume, Miss Lauderdale, thatyou are ready to swear your treasure was inside the box when youentrusted it to your aunt?"
"You may--" Jane crisply. "I am not given to figments of theimagination."
"I congratulate you, miss. The safe was opened by no ordinary robber, asproved by the valuables left. Somebody who appreciated the contentsof--of Miss Lauderdale's treasure committed the theft and in such ahurry that he or she did not wait to extract the contents, but took boxand all. Later this person, not knowing that Mrs. Sturgis had been tothe safe in the meantime and discovered the loss, found opportunity toreplace the now-empty box and, in the hurry of closing the door, jarredthe mechanism of the lock."
Mrs. Sturgis nodded; looked really quite encouraged. "That could havebeen done while I went up stairs to dress after sending to theMetropolitan for my niece. But I do hope you're not going to make themistake of accusing my servants. They've been with me for years."
"I am not going to accuse any one, although servants have a way ofmaking less honest friends who use them. I simply say that noprofessional turned this trick. The case is one for Central Office men.Even if it were in my line, I could not, under the circumstances, takethe responsibility of it myself."
"Under what circumstances, Mr. Pope--that is, _Pape_? You don't intendto leave us--to desert us just when----"
Pape silenced Aunt Helene's protestations with a creditable gesture."The lack of confidence in me--even suspicion of me--shown by MissLauderdale makes it impossible for me to proceed. I have gone as far asI can in a case where I'm not to be given a hint of the nature of thestolen article which I am asked to replace. Since, however, I've beencalled in, I must discharge my obligation as an officer of the law.Where is--oh, I see it. May I use your phone, Mrs. Sturgis?"
"Certainly. But w-what are you about to do?"
"To call up Headquarters and have a brace of bulls--beg pardon--a spanof detectives sent up at once. We shall hope that they look more worthyof Miss Lauderdale's confidence."
With this dignified declaration Pape strode across the room to atelephone cabinet in the corner; sat down and lifted the receiver. Buthe never heard the response.
One ringless hand brushed past his lips and cupped the mouthpiece,another pressed down the hook. Jane's face, again disagreeable,strained, strange, bent over him. At just that moment he recalled thatthe line was said to be out of commission, a fact which they twoappeared to have forgotten. Deeming the point of distance from AuntHelene an advantage, he decided not to remind Jane, lest he silence whatshe was about to say.
"I've changed my mind," she quavered. "I don't want a detective--anydetectives."
"Oh, yes, you do." Pape spoke in a tone authoritative from his sincerewish to get her the best possible advice in the least possible time. "Ofcourse I'll see it through, too, if you want me to and ask me to. But Imust have help on the case. Just let me get a good man detailed, thendon't worry. We'll get a rope on your petty thief sooner than----"
"_No._ I won't have any one from Central Office. I can't have the mattermade public. When I thought the box stolen among other things I waswilling. But I've changed my mind now I know that only the--that it--Oh, you don't understand and I can't explain! But it isn't a pettytheft, Mr. Pape."
She leaned lower over him. Her voice dropped into a whispered rasp.
"You'd forgive me for not knowing whom to trust if you could realizethat what was in that box means everything to me and that I'd never getit back if its real value became known. Can't you imagine somethingwhose loss means the completest kind of ruin to me and to one who----"
She pressed her teeth into her lower lip, whether to stop its quiveringor its admission he did not care. He felt his sensibilities scorched bythe blue blaze of fears which had burnt the doubt of him from her eyes.His original ideas of how to learn this lady he had self-selected seemedsomehow
thrown into the discard. They were much too slow, much toosteady, much too cool as compared with hot, dizzy, instantaneousrealization like this. One didn't learn _the_ woman. One just knew her.And knowing her as _the_ woman, one served her.
Without superfluous words Pape's lips swore their oath ofallegiance--fervently kissed her hand. The click of the receiver beingreturned to its useless hook punctuated the small ceremony--that and thedistant tintillation of an electric bell.
"Thank goodness, they're back at last, the folks for supper!" exclaimedAunt Helene and started for the stair-head.
Jane started after her. "One minute, Auntie. I want to ask--to beg afavor of you."
Pape followed them to their stand in the hall, glancing hastily aboutfor his hat and overcoat. He decided that he must escape. The returningquartette--Irene especially--could not be expected to play his game ashad the strangely hostile, compliant and altogether enigmatic Jane.Stripped of his professional mask, he would lose the advantage he hadgained with Aunt Helene, even did her niece deign to let him hold it forlong. Perhaps he'd better forget his hat and coat. Yet how to get outwithout passing the party----
"If you'll point the way to the back-stairs, madam--" he began. "Itwould be better if your friends did not see me. As the sleuth on thecase I don't want to be recognized."
Jane interrupted, her one hand grasping his arm, her other Mrs.Sturgis'. Rapidly Jasper could be heard pad-padding through the lowerhall to the street door.
"There's no need for you to be named as a--a sleuth, Mr. Pape. AuntHelene, what I wanted to ask--to implore is that you don't mention thetheft at all. As the only loser, I insist on working it out my own way.Won't you promise, please?"
"But, my dear, there must be some explanation to Harford--my hurryingyou home and all----"
"You won't stop at a white fib for me, Aunt Helene? I'll tell a millionfor you about anything--whenever you say. Listen. You had an attackof--what was it? Headache from your eyes."
"Nothing of the sort. Indigestion. _Why_ do you insist that my eyes----"
"Indigestion, then. Anything you like. You didn't wish to spoil Irene'sevening, but couldn't be alone. You feel better now, but--quick, comeback into the library. Stretch out on the couch. Mr. Pape, help me--helpher!"
There was no time to enquire into the advisability of Jane's plea. Asthe street door thudded shut and light voices waved upward, her tug onthe matron's plump elbow was released in an imperative gesture to Pape.
He, nothing loath, snatched up the surprised lady and deposited her uponthe pillow-piled couch before the library grate. Jane, with rapidmovements, completely enveloped her with the rare old Kiskillum rugwhich had draped its foot, sternly tucking in the dimpled, pearl-adornedhands which _would_ strive upward to smooth a really unruffled coiffure.
"How does making a fright of me help?" Aunt Helene complained.
Pape did not answer. He was looking about for the stray bottle ofsmelling-salts which, for sake of realism, he should be pressing to hernostrils. Before he could locate any such first-aid, however, thedaughter of the house had achieved the second floor and dawdleddelightedly into the room.
Straight for the Westerner she came head-on, soft exclamations floatingfrom her like the sea-foam tulle from about her throat.
"Do you know, I _knew_ you'd stick around until I came! Harfy is_fee_-urious--his mustache does look so bristly when he gets in a rage.But I believe in trusting each other, don't you? Do you or don't you,Why-Not Pape?"
Through his mumbled response Pape realized wretchedly that Mrs. Sturgishad been raised to a sitting posture by strength of her astonishment. Heheard her demand:
"Irene, you know ---- Jane, where in the world could she----"
Also he heard Jane's hurried, low-voiced explanation.
"I was trying to tell you a while ago. Don't you remember that I saidhow strange it all was? You see, he's an acquaintance of mine from theYellowstone. He was at the opera to-night. That's why he is wearingevening clothes. But here come the Allens. Now, _please_----"
Mrs. Sturgis was obliged to take it at a gulp. She sat like some ruffledchicken doctored for the pip in her straw-heap of rug, smoothing herplumage, winking from smart of the idea and greeting her friends.Evidently she was none too taken with the impromptu role thrust uponher--would have preferred the thriller oflady-assailed-in-her-castle--but she played it with all due languor, notforgetting a line, even on Irene's demand that she invite Mr. Pape, whoto her still must look somewhat like a mere operative from the ArsenalPrecinct, to join the supper party.
Pape's first weak thought was to refuse. The patent pincers at themoment gave him a twinge, as they had several times during recentexcitements. Really, he owed it to his feet to go home. But thatwouldn't sound either a legitimate or romantic excuse to a lady exactingas she was young and fair. The fear that if he went now he might neverget back decided him to accept.
Despite his inspirational superiority to all slow-but-sure methods, hefound himself unable to advance one step that night toward the girl towhom he had made a vow of service. Mills Harford was a substantialbarrier, although the "bristles" of his mustache relaxed to showboyishly charming smiles. By everybody, Jasper included, "Harfy" wasaccorded absolute right to seat Miss Lauderdale at table, to serve her,to engage her attention.
Then there was the difficulty of Irene.
"They teased me like everything for letting Cousin Jane snatch you outof the box to-night," she confided to Pape. "You see she took me bysurprise. I won't let her grab like that again. Don't you ever worry.Nothing is impossible to Rene, either."
He did worry, though. In her he caught his first glimpse of theperquisites of "our young ladies to-day," and he couldn't help worrying.Why should he? And yet, looking into ardent Irene's eyes, why not?
When Pape descended the brownstone steps to the sidewalk of FifthAvenue, it was not late from the standpoint of the company to whom hehad said good-by. But he smiled to think how Hellroaring Valley had beenwrapped in slumber hours and hours before.
He crossed the asphalt to the park side and made his way towardFifty-ninth Street. He did not want a cab. A walk to the Astor was justwhat he needed, he felt. It would help him to straighten out some of thetangles which the experiences of the night had left in his brain.
He looked off to his right upon the expanse of bare trees with theirbackground of tall, still-lighted buildings. To him came the memory, asif from some far-away day, of the alone-ness in the midst of citythrongs which had kept him loping his piebald over park bridle paths.
"Strange," she had called this night's experience. Yet she could notappreciate how strange was the fact that he was not lonely now. Heshould never be lonely again. Had he not met her? And did he notrecognize her--Jane?
Probably she did not yet recognize him. She had snuffed his offer ofservice in the finding of that unnamed treasure which she had lost, justas she had snuffed his personal interest in her by her rather rudedismissal of him before the Metropolitan.
But what she did or said or thought was only her side of it--notnecessarily his. He stood committed both by word and wish to accept thesituation as she presented it, to trust her wholly in return for herrefusal to trust him, to help her whether she wished his help or no.
And this because he, Peter, had met her, Jane!