The Man from Brodney's

by George Barr McCutcheon

  CHAPTER XII

  WOMEN AND WOMEN

  The Enemy's office hours were from three to five in the afternoon. Itwas of no especial consequence to his clients that he frequentlytransferred the placard from the front of the company's bank to the morealluring doorway of the "American bar;" all was just and fair so long ashe was to be found where the placard listed. Twice a week, Miss Pelhamcame down from the chateau in a gaily bedecked jinriksha to sit oppositeto him in his stuffy corner of the banking house, his desk between them,her notebook trembling with propinquity. Mr. Britt generously loaned thepert lady to the Enemy in exchange for what he catalogued as "happydays."

  Miss Pelham made it a point to look as fascinating as possible on theoccasion of these interesting trips into the Enemy's territory.

  The Enemy, doing his duty by his clients with a determination thatseemed incontestable, suffered in the end because of his veryzealousness. He took no time to analyse the personal side of his work;he dealt with the situation from the aspect of a man who serves but oneinterest, forgetting that it involved the weal of a thousand units. Forthat reason, he was the last to realise that an intrigue was shapingitself to combat his endeavours. Von Blitz, openly his friend and ally,despite their sad encounter, was the thorn which pricked the nativesinto a state of uneasiness and doubt as to their agent's sincerity.

  Von Blitz, cunning and methodical, sowed the seed of distrust; itsprouted at will in the minds of the uncouth, suspicious islanders. Theybegan to believe that no good could come out of the daily meetings ofthe three lawyers. A thousand little things cropped out to prove thatthe intimacy between their man and the shrewd lawyers for the oppositionwas inimical to their best interests.

  It was Von Blitz who told the leading men of the island that theirwives--the Persians, the Circassians, the Egyptians and the Turkishhouris--were in love with the tall stranger. It was he who advised themto observe the actions, to study the moods of their women.

  If he spoke to one of the women, beautiful or plain, the whole malepopulation knew of it, and smiled derisively upon the husband. Von Blitzhad turned an adder loose among these men; it stung swiftly and returnedto sting again.

  The German knew the condition of affairs in his own household. Hisoverthrow at the hands of the American had cost him more than physicalignominy; his wives openly expressed an admiration for their champion.

  He knew too well the voluptuous nature of these creamy, unloved women,who had come down to the island of Japat in exchange for the baublesthat found their way into the crowns of Persian potentates. He knew toowell that they despised the men who called them wives, even though fearheld them constantly in bond. Rebuffed, unnoticed, scorned, the womenthemselves began to suspect and hate each other. If he spoke kindly toone of them, be she fair and young or old and plain, the eyes of all theothers blazed with jealousy. Every eye in Japat was upon him; every handwas turning against him.

  It was Miss Pelham who finally took it upon herself to warn the lonelyAmerican. The look of surprise and disgust that came into his facebrought her up sharply. She had been "taking" reports at his dictation;it was during an intermission of idleness on his part that she broachedthe subject.

  "Miss Pelham," he said coldly, "will you be kind enough to carry mycondolences to the ladies at court, and say that I recommend reading asan antidote for the poison which idleness produces. I've no doubt thatthey, with all the perspicacity of lonely and honest women, imagine thatI maintain a harem as well as a bar-room. Kindly set them right aboutit. Neither my home nor my bar-room is open to ladies. If you don't mindwe'll go on with this report."

  Miss Pelham flushed and looked very uncomfortable. She had more to say,and yet hesitated about bearding the lion. He noticed the pain anduncertainty in her erstwhile coquettish eyes, and was sorry.

  "I beg your pardon," he said gently.

  "You're wrong about Lady Deppingham and Mrs. Browne," she beganhurriedly. "They've never said anything mean about you. It was just mymiserable way of putting it. The talk comes from the islanders. Mr.Bowles has told Mr. Britt and Mr. Saunders. He thinks Von Blitz isworking against you, and he is sure that all of the men are furiouslyjealous."

  "My dear Miss Pelham, you are very good to warn me," said he easily. "Ihave nothing to fear. The men are quite friendly and--" He stoppedabruptly, his eyes narrowing in thought. A moment later he arose andwalked to the little window overlooking the square. When he turned toher again his face wore a more serious expression. "Perhaps there issomething in what you say. I'm grateful to you for preparing me." It hadsuddenly come to mind that the night before he had seen a man skulkingin the vicinity of the bungalow. His body servant, Selim, had told himthat very morning that this same man, a native, had stood for hoursamong the trees, apparently watching the house.

  "I just thought I'd tell you," murmured Miss Pelham nervously, "I--wedon't want to see you get into trouble--none of us."

  "Thank you," After a long pause, he went on, lowering his voice: "MissPelham, I have had a hard time here, in more ways than I care to speakof. It may interest you to know that I had decided to resign next monthand go home. I'm a living man, and a living man objects to a livingdeath. It's worse than I had thought, I came out here in the hope thatthere would be excitement, life, interest. The only excitement I get iswhen the ships call twice a month. I've even prayed that our beastly oldvolcano might erupt and do all sorts of horrible things. It might, atleast, toss old Mr. Skaggs back into our midst; that would be a relief,even if he came up as a chunk of lava. But nothing happens--nothing!These Persian fairies you talk about--bah! I said I'd decided to resign,to get out of the infernal place. But I've changed my mind. I'll stickmy time out. I've got three months longer to stay and I'll stay. If VonBlitz thinks he can drive me out, he's mistaken. I'll be here after youand your friends up there have sailed away, Miss Pelham--God bless you,you're all white!--and I'll be here when Von Blitz and his wives aredancing to the tunes I play. Now let's get back to work."

  "All right; but please be careful," she urged. "Don't let them catch youunprepared. If you need help, I know the men at the chateau will come atyour call."

  One of those bright, enveloping smiles swept over his face--the smilethat always carried the little stenographer away with it. A merrychuckle escaped his lips. "Thanks, but you forget that I can call outthe American and British navies."

  She looked doubtful. "I know," she said, "but I'm afraid Von Blitz isscuttling your ships."

  "If poor little Bowles can conquer them with a red jacket that's toosmall for him, to say nothing of the fit it would give to the Britisharmy, I think I can scrape up a garment or two that will startle them inanother way. Please don't worry about me. I shall call my clientstogether and have it out with them. If Von Blitz is working in the dark,I'll compel him to show his hand. And, Miss Pelham," he concluded veryslowly, "I'll promise to use a club, if necessary, to drive the Persianladies away. So please rest easy on my account."

  Poor little Miss Pelham left him soon afterward, her head and heartringing with the consciousness that she had at last driven him out ofhis customary reserve. Mr. Saunders was pacing the street in theneighbourhood of the bank. He had been waiting an hour or more, and hewas green with jealousy. She nodded sweetly to him and called him to theside of her conveyance. "Don't you want to walk beside me?" she asked.And he trotted beside her like a faithful dog, all the way to thedistant chateau.

  The next morning the town bustled with a new excitement. A trim,beautiful yacht, flying strange colours, steamed into the little harbourof Aratat.

  She came to anchor much closer in than ships usually ventured, and anofficer put off in the small boat, heading for the pier, which wasalready crowded with the native women and children. Every one knew thatthe yacht brought the Princess who was to visit her ladyship; nothingelse had been talked of among the women since the word first came downfrom the chateau that she was expected.

  The Enemy came down from his bungalow, attracted by the unusual andinspiring spect
acle of a ship at anchor. A line of anxiety marked hisbrow. Two figures had watched his windows all night long, sinistershadows that always met his eye when it penetrated the gloom of themoonlit forest.

  Lord and Lady Deppingham were on the pier before him. Excitement and joyillumined her face; her eyes were sparkling with anticipation; he couldalmost see that she trembled in her eagerness. He came quite close tothem before they saw him. Exhilaration no doubt was responsible for thevery agreeable smile of recognition that she bestowed upon him. Or,perhaps it was inspired by womanly pity for the man whose loneliness waseven greater and graver than her own. The Enemy could do no less than goto them with his pleasantest acknowledgment. His rugged face relaxedinto a most charming, winsome smile, half-diffident, half-assured.

  He passed among the wives of his clients without so much as a sign ofrecognition, coolly indifferent to the admiring glances that sought hisface. The dark, langourous eyes that flashed eager admiration a momentbefore now turned sullen with disappointment. He had ignored theirowners; he had avoided them as if they were dust heaps in the path; hehad spurned them as if they were dogs by the roadside. And yet he smiledupon the Englishwoman, he spoke with her, he admired her! The sharpintake of breath that swept through the crowd told plainer than wordsthe story of the angry eyes that followed him to the end of the pier,where the officer's boat was landing.

  "I have heard that you expect a visitor," said the Enemy in his mostagreeable manner. Lady Deppingham had just told him that she had afriend aboard the yacht.

  "Won't you go aboard with us," asked Deppingham, at a loss for anythingbetter to say. The Enemy shook his head and smiled.

  "You are very good, but I believe my place is here," he said, with aswift, sardonic glance toward his herd of followers. Lady Deppinghamraised her delicate eyebrows and gave him the cool, intimate smile ofcomprehension. He flushed. "I am one of the lowly and the despised," heexplained humbly.

  "The Princess is to be with me for a month. We expect more sunshine thanever at the chateau," ventured her ladyship.

  "I sincerely hope you may be disappointed," said he commiseratingly,fanning himself with his hat. She laughed and understood, but Deppinghamwas half way out to the yacht before it became clear to him that theEnemy hoped literally, not figuratively.

  The Enemy sauntered back toward the town, past and through the staringcrowd of women. Here and there in the curious throng the face of aPersian or an Egyptian stared at him from among the brown Arabians.There was no sign of love in the glittering eyes of these traffickedwomen of Japat. One by one they lifted their veils to their eyes andslowly faded into the side streets, each seeking the home she despised,each filled with a hatred for the man who would not feast upon herbeauty.

  The man, all unconscious of the new force that was to oppose him fromthat hour, saw the English people go aboard. He waited until the owner'slaunch was ready to return to the pier with its merry company, and thenslowly wended his way to the "American bar," lonelier than ever beforein his life. He now knew what it was that he had missed more than allelse--Woman!

  Britt and Saunders were waiting for him under the awning outside. Theywere never permitted to enter, except by the order or invitation of theEnemy. Selim stood guard and Selim loved the tall American, who could beand was kind to him.

  "Hello," called Britt. "We saw you down there, but couldn't get near. Byginger, old man, I had no idea your Persians were so beautiful. They areOriental gems of--"

  "My Persians? What the devil do you mean, Britt? Come in and sit down; Iwant to talk to you fellows. See here, this talk about these women hasgot to be stopped. It's dangerous for you and it's dangerous for me. Itis so full of peril that I don't care to look at them, handsome as yousay they are. Do you know what I was thinking of as I came over here,after leaving one of the most charming of women?--your Lady Deppingham.I was thinking what a wretched famine there is in women. I'm speaking ofwomen like Lady Deppingham and Mrs. Browne--neither of whom I know andyet I've known them all my life. The kind of women we love--not the kindwe despise or pity. Don't you see? I'm hungry for the very sight of awoman."

  "You see Miss Pelham often enough," said Saunders surlily. The Enemy wasmaking a pitcher of lemonade.

  "My dear Saunders, you are quite right. I _do_ see Miss Pelham oftenenough. In my present frame of mind I'd fall desperately in love withher if I saw her oftener." Saunders blinked and glared at him throughhis pale eyes.

  "My word," he said. Then he got up abruptly and stalked out of the room.Britt laughed immoderately.

  "He's a lucky dog," reflected the Enemy. "You see, he loves her,Britt--he loves little Miss Pelham. Do you know what that means? Itmeans everything is worth while. Hello! Here he is back! Come in,Saunders. Here's your lemo!"

  Saunders was excited. He stopped in the doorway, but looked over hisshoulder into the street.

  "Come along," he exclaimed. "They're going up to the chateau--thePrincess and her party. My word, she's ripping!" He was off again,followed more leisurely by the two Americans.

  At the corner they stopped to await the procession of palanquins andjinrikshas, which had started from the pier. The smart English victoriafrom the chateau, drawn by Wyckholme's thoroughbreds, was coming on inadvance of the foot brigade. Half a dozen officers from the yacht, asmany men in civilian flannels, and a small army of servants were beingborne in the palanquins. In the rear seat of the victoria sat LadyDeppingham and one who evidently was the Princess. Opposite to them sattwo older but no less smart-looking women.

  Britt and the Enemy moved over to the open space in front of the mosque.They stood at the edge of and apart from the crowd of curious Moslems,who had moved up in advance of the procession.

  "A gala day in Aratat," observed the stubby Mr. Britt. "We are to havethe whole party over night up at the chateau. Perhaps the advent ofstrangers may heal the new breach between Mrs. Browne and LadyDeppingham. They haven't been on speaking terms since day beforeyesterday. Did Miss Pelham tell you about it? Well, it seems that Mrs.Browne thinks that Lady Agnes is carrying on a flirtation withBrowne--Hello! By thunder, old man, she's--she's speaking to you!" Heturned in astonishment to look at his companion's face.

  The Enemy was staring, transfixed, at the young woman in white who satbeside Lady Deppingham. He seemed paralysed for the moment. Then hishelmet came off with a rush; a dazed smile of recognition lighted hisface. The very pretty young woman in the wide hat was leaning forwardand smiling at him, a startled, uncertain look in her eyes. LadyDeppingham was glancing open-mouthed from one to the other. The Enemystood there in the sun, bareheaded, dazed, unbelieving, while thecarriage whirled past and up the street. Both women turned to look backat him as they rounded the corner into the avenue; both were smiling.

  "I must be dreaming," murmured the Enemy.

  Britt took him by the arm. "Do you know her?" he asked. The Enemy turnedupon him with a radiant gleam in his once sombre disconsolate eyes.

  "Do you think I'd be grinning at her like a damned fool if I didn't? Whythe dickens didn't you tell me that it was the Princess Genevra ofRapp-Thorberg who was coming?"

  "Never thought of it. I didn't know you were interested in princesses,Chase."