The Man from Brodney's

by George Barr McCutcheon

  CHAPTER XXII

  THE CHARITY BALL

  They were not long in finding out what had happened to Saunders. Afterluncheon, while Browne and the three ladies were completing thepreparations for the entertainment. Miss Pelham appeared beforeDeppingham and Chase in the former's headquarters. She had asked for aninterview and was accompanied by Mr. Britt.

  "Lord Deppingham," she began, seating herself coolly before the two men,her eyes dark with decision, "I approach you as the recognised head ofthis establishment. I shan't detain you long. My attorney, Mr. Britt,will explain matters to you after I have retired. He--"

  "Your attorney? What does this mean?" gasped Deppingham, visions ofblackmail in mind. "What's up, Britt? I deny every demmed word of it,whatever it is!"

  "Just a little private affair," murmured Britt, uncomfortably.

  "Private?" sniffed Miss Pelham, involuntarily rearranging her hat. "Ithink it has been quite public, Mr. Britt. That's the trouble." LordDeppingham looked worried and Chase had the feeling that some wretcheddisclosure was about to be made by the sharp-tongued young woman. Helooked at her with a hard light in his eyes. She caught the glance andstared back for a moment defiantly. Then she appeared to remember thatshe always had longed for his good opinion--perhaps, she had dreamed ofsomething more--and her eyes fell; he saw her lip tremble. "I've simplycome to ask Lord Deppingham to stand by me. Mr. Saunders is in hisemploy--or Lady Deppingham's, I should say--"

  "Which is the same thing," interposed Deppingham, drawing a deeperbreath. He had been trying to recollect if he ever had said anything toMiss Pelham that might not appear well if repeated.

  "Mr. Saunders has deceived me," she announced steadily. "I leave it toyou if his attentions have not been most pronounced. Of course, if Iwanted to, I could show you a transcript of everything he has said to mein the last couple of months. He didn't know it, but I managed to getmost everything down in shorthand. I did it at the risk, too, yourlordship, of being considered cold and unresponsive by him. It's mostdifficult to take conversation without the free use of your hands, Imust say. But I've preserved in my own black and white, every promise hemade and--"

  "I'm afraid it won't be good evidence," volunteered her lawyer. "It willhave to be substantiated, my dear."

  "Please don't call me 'my dear,' Mr. Britt. Never you mind about it notbeing good evidence. Thomas Saunders won't enjoy hearing it read incourt, just the same. What I want to ask of you, Lord Deppingham, as afriend, is to give Mr. Britt your deposition regarding Mr. Saunders'sattitude toward me, to the best of your knowledge and belief. I'll takeit verbatim and put it into typewriting, free of charge. I--I don't seeanything to laugh at, Mr. Chase!" she cried, flushing painfully.

  "My dear girl," he said, controlling himself, "I think you aremisjudging the magnitude of a lover's quarrel. Don't you think it israther a poor time to talk breach of promise with the guns of an enemyready to take a pop at us at any moment?"

  "It's no worse than a charity ball, Mr. Chase," she said severely."Charity begins at home, gentlemen, and I'm here to look out for myself.No one else will, let me tell you that. I want to get the deposition ofevery person in the chateau. They can be sworn to before Mr. Bowles, whois a magistrate, I'm told. He can marry people and--"

  "By Jove!" exclaimed Deppingham suddenly. "Can he? Upon my soul!"

  "His manner changed as soon as that horrid little wife of Selim came tothe chateau. I don't like the way she makes eyes at him and I told himso this morning, down in the storerooms. My, but he flew up! He saidhe'd be damned if he'd marry me." She began to use her handkerchiefvigorously. The men smiled as they looked away.

  "I--I intend to sue him for breach of promise," she said thickly.

  "Is it as bad as all that?" asked Deppingham consolingly.

  "What do you mean by 'bad as all that'? He's kissed me time and again,but that's all."

  "I'll send for Saunders," said Deppingham sternly.

  "Not while I'm here," she exclaimed, getting up nervously.

  "Just as you like, Miss Pelham. I'll send for you after we've talked itover with Saunders. We can't afford a scandal in the chateau, don't youknow."

  "No, I should think not," she said pointedly. Then she looked at Chaseand winked, with a meaning nod at the unobserving Deppingham. Chasefollowed her into the hall.

  "None of that, Miss Pelham," he said severely.

  Saunders came in a few minutes later, nervous and uncomfortable.

  "You sent for me, my lord," he said weakly.

  "Sit down, Saunders. Your knees seem to be troubling you. Miss Pelham isgoing to sue you for breach of promise."

  "Good Lord!"

  "What have you promised her, sir?"

  "That I _wouldn't_ marry her, that's all, sir," floundered Saunders."She's got no right to presume, sir. Gentlemen always indulge in littleaffairs--flirtations, I might say, sir--it's most common. Of course, Ithought she'd understand."

  "Don't you love her, Saunders?"

  "Oh, I say, my lord, that's rather a pointed question. My word, it is,sir! There may have been a bit of--er--well, you know--between us, sir,but--that's all, that's quite all. Absurdly all, 'pon my soul."

  "Saunders," said Britt solemnly, "I am her attorney. Be careful what yousay in my presence."

  "Britt," said Saunders distinctly, "you are a blooming traitor! You toldme yourself that she was used to all that sort of thing and wouldn'tmind. Now, see what you do? It's--it's outrageous!" He was half intears. Then turning to Deppingham, he went on fiercely, "I won't bebullyragged by any woman, sir. We got along beautifully until she beganto shy figurative pots at me because Selim's wife looked at meoccasionally. Hang it all, sir, I can't help it if the ladies choose tolook at me. Minnie--Miss Pelham--was perfectly silly about it. GoodLord," he groaned in recollection. "It was a very trying scene she made,sir. More than ever, it made me realise that I can't marry beneath me.You see, my lord, we've got a fairish sort of social position outHammersmith way--as far out as Putney, I might say, where we have ratherswell friends, my mother and I--and I don't think--"

  "Saunders," said Lord Deppingham sternly, "she loves you. I don'tunderstand why or how, but she does. Just because you have obtained anexalted social position at Hammersmith Bridge is no reason you shouldbecome a snob. I daresay she stands just as well at Brooklyn Bridge asyou do at Hammersmith. She's a fine girl and would be an adornment toyou, such as Hammersmith could be proud of. If you want my candidopinion, Saunders, I think you're a silly ass!"

  "Do you really, my lord?" quite humbly.

  "Shall I prove it to you by every man on the place? Miss Pelham is quitegood enough for any one of us. I'd be proud to have her as my wife--if Ilived at Hammersmith Bridge."

  "You amaze me, sir!"

  "She's a very pretty girl," volunteered Chase glibly.

  "Oh, she could marry like a flash in New York," said Britt. "A dozen menI know of are crazy about her. Good-looking chaps, too," The sarcasmescaped Saunders, who was fidgeting uncomfortably.

  "Of course--you know--the breaking of the engagement--I should say therow, wasn't of my doing," he submitted, pulling at his finger jointsnervously.

  "I'm afraid it can't be patched up, either," said Britt dolefully."She's been insulted, you see--"

  "Insulted? My eye! I wouldn't say anything to hurt her for the world. Imay have been agitated--very likely I said a sharp word or two. But asfor insulting her--never! She's told me herself a thousand times thatshe doesn't mind the word 'damn' in the least. That may have misledme--"

  "Saunders, we can't have our only romance marred by a breach of promisesuit," said his lordship resolutely. "There is simply got to be awedding in the end or the whole world will hate us. Every romance musthave its young lovers, and even though it doesn't run smooth, love willtriumph. So far you have been our prize young lover. You are theundisputed hero. Don't spoil everything at the last moment, Saunders.Patch it up, and let's have a wedding in the last chapter. You shouldnot forget that it was you who advo
cated multi-marriage. Try it once foryourself, and, if you like it, by Jove, we'll all come to yoursucceeding marriages and bless you, no matter how many wives you takeunto yourself."

  Saunders, very much impressed by these confidences, bowed himself out ofthe room, followed by Britt, of whom he implored help in the effort tobring about a reconciliation. He was sorely distressed by Britt'sapparent reluctance to compromise the case without mature deliberation.

  "You see, old chap," mused Deppingham, after their departure, "matrimonyis no trifling thing, after all. No matter whether it contemplates agarden in Hammersmith or an island in the South Seas, it has itsdrawbacks."

  The charity ball began at ten o'clock, schedule time. If all of thosewho participated were not in perfect sympathy with the spirit of the madwhim, they at least did not deport themselves after the fashion of wetblankets. To be quite authentic, but two of the promoters were heartilyinvolved in the travesty--Lady Agnes, whose sprightliness was neverdormant, and Bobby Browne, who shone in the glamour of his firstencounter with the nobility. Drusilla Browne, asserting herself as anAmerican matron, insisted that the invitation list should include thelowly as well as the mighty. She had her way, and as a result, the bankemployes, the French maids, Antoine and the two corporals ofRapp-Thorberg's Royal Guard appeared on the floor in the grand marchdirectly behind Mr. Britt, Mr. Saunders, and Miss Pelham.

  "One cannot discriminate at the charity ball," Drusilla had stoutlymaintained. "The _hoi polloi_ and the riff-raff always get in at home.So, why not here? If we're going to have a charity ball, let's give itthe correct atmosphere."

  "I shall feel as if I were dancing with my green grocer," lamented LadyAgnes. Later on, when the dancing was at its height, she exclaimed withall the fervour of a charmed imagination: "I feel as the Duchess deWhat's-her-name must have felt, Bobby, when she danced all night at herown ball, and then dressed for the guillotine instead of going to bed.We may all be shot in the morning."

  The Indian fakirs and showmen gave a performance in the courtyard atmidnight. They were followed by the Bedouin tumblers and the inspiredPersians, who danced with frantic abandon and the ripe lust of joy.There was but one unfortunate accident. Mr. Rivers, formerly of thebank, got very tight and fell down the steps leading to the courtyard,breaking his left arm.

  Lord Deppingham and Chase kept their heads. They saw to it that thewatch over the grounds and about the chateau was strictly maintained.The former led the grand march with the Princess. She was moreravishingly beautiful than ever. Her gown, exquisitely cool and simple,suggested that indefinable, unmistakable touch of class that alwaysmarks the distinction between the woman who subdues the gown and thegown which subdues the woman.

  Hollingsworth Chase was dazzled. He discovered, much to his subsequentamusement, that he was holding his breath as he stared at her from theopposite side of the banquet hall, which had been transformed into aballroom. She had just entered with the Deppinghams. Something seemed toshout coarsely, scoffingly in his ear: "Now, do you realise the distancethat lies between? She was made for kings and princes, not for such asyou!"

  He waited long before presenting himself in quest of the dance hehungered for so greedily--afraid of her! She greeted him with a new,brighter light in her eyes; a quiver of delight, long in restraint, cameinto her voice; he saw and felt the welcome in her manner.

  The blood surged to his head; he mumbled his request. Then, for thefirst time, he was near to holding her close in his arms--he wasclasping her fingers, touching her waist, drawing her gently toward hisheart. Once, as they swept around the almost empty ballroom, she lookedup into his eyes. Neither had spoken. His lips parted suddenly and hisfingers closed down upon hers. She saw the danger light in his eyes andknew the unuttered words that struggled to his lips and stopped there.She never knew why she did it, but she involuntarily shook her headbefore she lowered her eyes. He knew what she meant. His heart turnedcold again and the distance widened once more to the old proportions.

  He left her with Bobby Browne and went out upon the cool, starlitbalcony. There he gently cursed himself for a fool, a dolt, an idiot.

  The shouts of laughter and the clapping of hands on the inside did notdraw him from his unhappy reverie. He did not know until afterward thatthe official announcement of the engagement of Miss Minnie Pelham andThomas Saunders was made by Bobby Browne and the health of the coupledrunk in a series of bumpers.

  Chase's bitter reflections were at last disturbed by a sound that camesharply to his attention. He was staring moodily into the night, hiscigarette drooping dejectedly in his lips. The noise came from directlybelow where he stood. He peered over the stone railing. The terrace wasbarely ten feet below him; a mass of bushes fringed the base of thewall, dark, thick, fragrant. Some one was moving among these stubbornbushes; he could hear him plainly. The next moment a dark figure shotout from the shadows and slunk off into night, followed by another andanother and yet others, seven in all. Chase's mind refused to workquickly. He stood as one petrified for a full minute, unable to at oncegrasp the meaning of the performance.

  Then the truth suddenly dawned upon him. The prisoners had escaped fromthe dungeon!

  He dashed into the ballroom and shouted the alarm. Confusion ensued. Hecalled out sharp commands as he rushed across to where Deppingham waschatting with the Princess.

  "There's been treachery," he explained quickly. "Some one has releasedthe prisoners. We must keep them from reaching the walls. They willoverpower our guards and open the gates to the enemy. Britt, see thatthe searchlight is trained on the gates. We must stop those fellowsbefore it is too late. Time enough to hunt for the traitor later on!"

  Two minutes later, a swarm of armed men forsook the mock charity balland sallied forth to engage in realities. Firing was soon heard at thewestern gate, half a mile away. Thither, the eager pursuers rushed. Thewide ray from the searchlight swung down upon this gate and revealed theforms of struggling men.

  The prisoners had fallen suddenly upon the two Greeks who guarded thewestern gate, surprising them cleverly. The Greeks fought for theirlives, but were overwhelmed in plain view of the relief party whichraced toward them. Both fell under the clubbed guns of theiradversaries.

  Chase and Selim were not more than a hundred yards away when thedesperate Greeks went down. The blinding glare of the searchlight aidedthe pursuers, who kept outside its radius. The fugitives, bewildered,confused by the bright glare in which they found themselves, faced thelight boldly, five of them kneeling with guns raised to protect theirtwo companions who started across the narrow strip which separated themfrom the massive gate. Selim gave a shout and stopped suddenly, throwinghis rifle to his shoulder.

  "They have the keys!" he cried. "Shoot!"

  His rifle cracked a second later and one of the two men leaped into theair and fell like a log. Chase understood the necessity for quick workand fired an instant later. The second man fell in a heap, thirty feetfrom the gate. His companions returned the fire at random in thedirection from which the well-aimed shots had come.

  "Under cover!" shouted Chase. He and Selim dropped into the shrubbery intime to escape a withering fire from outside the gates. The searchlightrevealed a compact mass of men beyond the walls. It was then that theinsiders realised how near they had come to being surprised anddestroyed. A minute more, and the gates would have been opened to thismerciless horde.

  The prisoners, finding themselves trapped, threw themselves upon theground and shrieked for mercy. Lord Deppingham and the others came upand, scattering well, began to fire at the mass outside the wall. Theislanders were at a disadvantage. They could not locate the opposingmarksmen on account of the blinding light in their faces. It was but amoment before they were scampering off into the dark wood, shriekingwith rage.

  The five fugitives were compelled to carry their fallen comrades and thetwo Greeks from the open space in front of the gates to a point where itwas safe for the defenders to approach them without coming in line witha possible volley from the
forest.

  A small force was left to guard the gate; the remainder returned asquickly as possible to the chateau. The Greeks were unconscious, badlybattered by the clubbed guns. Browne, once more the doctor, attendedthem and announced that they would be on their feet in a day or two--"ifcomplications don't set in." One of the prisoners was dead, shot throughthe heart by the deadly Selim. The other had a shattered shoulder.

  Immediately upon the return to the chateau, an inspection of thedungeons was made, prior to an examination of the servants in the effortto apprehend the traitor.

  The three men who went down into the damp, chill regions below groundsoon returned with set, pale faces. There had been no traitor!

  The man whose duty it was to guard the prisoners was found lying insidethe big cell, his throat cut from ear to ear, stone dead!

  There was but one solution. He had been seized from within as he came tothe grating in response to a call. While certain fingers choked him intosilence, others held his hands and still others wrenched the keys fromhis sash. After that it was easy. Deppingham, Chase and Selim looked ateach other in horror--and, strange as it may seem, relief.

  Death was there, but, after all, Death is no traitor.