Lost Pueblo (1992)

by Grey, Zane

  Time passed, however, and upon her return to camp she found all the others there, except Randolph. At first glance they appeared to be friendly enough. There must be some occasion for intimate talk. Then her father spotted her and came running. Janey sighed with relief. Mr. Endicott was not given to overexertion in ordinary movements or when he was gloomy.

  "I've had the very devil of good luck," he announced, as he reached her, and quite forgetful of a former state of mind he put his arm around her and squeezed her.

  "You have? Well, that's fine," replied Janey, yielding to him, as he pulled her to a seat on a rock.

  "Randolph and I have made up," said Mr. Endicott, with great pleasure and satisfaction.

  "Made up! Indeed? I did not imagine it possible that he would ever forgive you--either." Janey added the "either" as an afterthought. It quite escaped Mr. Endicott.

  "Janey, the lucky dog discovered the lost pueblo--Beckyshibeta!" exclaimed her father.

  "Oh!--How wonderful!"

  "It's true. And, well, I don't know when I've been so glad about anything."

  "Tell me about it," said Janey, composedly, although she kept her face half averted.

  "Bennet was showing us the ruins," went on Endicott, wiping his hot face. "We ran into Randolph. I declare I thought he was crazy. So did Bennet. At first we did not take him at all seriously. He convinced us finally. He had discovered Beckyshibeta--the pueblo about which archaeologists have been raving for years. Quite by a strange lucky accident. He was radiant. I never saw a man so completely happy. He was so absurdly grateful to me for sending him out here. Why, the fellow embraced me. I was embarrassed, remembering how he treated me a few hours before... Janey, he had actually forgotten. I declare it upset me--I was so glad. I like Randolph, and when I queered myself with him it hurt. He's one of the finest chaps I ever knew!"

  "I'm glad--for his sake and yours," rejoined Janey. "This discovery must mean a great deal to him?"

  "I didn't understand that until after he rushed off again," replied Endicott. "Bennet told me! It means fame and money to Randolph. In one word--success. Scientifically this is a very important discovery. Beckyshibeta is one of the greatest pueblos, says Bennet. An ancient buried city! Then the best of it is that Randolph was not working for the museum people when he found the pueblo. He was all on his own. That upstage Elliot, you know, fired him. Bennet says Elliot will practically expire. Randolph will have the credit, and everything else that comes with it. The work of excavation will be under his control, instead of Elliot's. I'm just tickled over it."

  "Excavation," mused Janey. "He will undertake that? Won't it be expensive?"

  "I'll back him. It's a big thing," replied Mr. Endicott, heartily.

  "Do you think he would accept that?"

  "Phillip has already accepted," went on her father, happily. "He said he could raise any amount of money. The government would want to help. Patrons of scientific research would want to donate--to have their names connected with Beckyshibeta. But I beat them to it. And Phil was delighted."

  "Where is--he now?" asked Janey, with her glance downcast upon the bunch of sage. It would never have done for her to let anyone see her eyes then.

  "He went back. Bennet and I tried to follow him. But he crossed a terrible place. We'd have broken our necks. So we returned to camp."

  It was night with silvery radiance streaming down over the dark canyon rims. The moon was rising. Janey lay in her blankets, waiting to see the white disk slide up over the black ragged rockline above. She had not cared to trust meeting Randolph at the campfire, and pleading fatigue had retired to her ledge, where her father brought her supper.

  Randolph did not return until the others had finished their meal; and then he quite forgot to eat. His ragged appearance attested to hours of contact with the rough rocks, and his radiant face to the discovery that had made him a changed man. While he talked to Bennet and Endicott his glance went so often toward Janey's perch that she feared she might be caught peeping. But she was in dark shadow there, and could revel in watching and listening. If she had ever seen three happy men it was then.

  The Durlands had thawed considerably. They hovered around Randolph, fascinated, and warming to the man's enthusiasm. When at last they went off to their shack, Bennet said: "Wal, Endicott, can you dig up a drink?"

  "No. I didn't bring any," replied Endicott, regretfully.

  "How aboot you, Randolph?"

  "I had some for possible snakebite, but it leaked out."

  Bennet turned over his saddle and procured a flask. "Heah, friends, we'll drink to Beckyshibeta!"

  What a long time they were in getting ready for bed! At last Randolph was left alone. He sat for what seemed an endless hour, gazing into the ruddy dying fire. What was he thinking about? Fame and fortune, the goddesses of all men's ambitions, thought Janey, jealously. Certainly he did not appear to remember her.

  The moon soared across the narrow opening between the rims of rock above; the dark shadow on one side of the canyon moved magically across to the other. An impenetrable silence enfolded the lonely place. Janey had sat up peeping until her back ached. Several times she lay down again, only to rise up and peep once more. Randolph was a magnet. She laughed happily under her breath as she watched him. If he but knew!

  Endicott and Bennet lay prone in their beds, deep in slumber. It touched Janey to see the silver of her father's hair, bright in the moonlight.

  Randolph glanced rather markedly and long at them. Then stepping noiselessly he entered the zone of shadow and vanished. But soon the outline of his head and shoulders were silhouetted against the moonlight. Janey gave a wild start and shrank back. He was climbing to her ledge.

  The sudden burning of her face and beating of her heart accompanied a panic she could not quell. But she covered herself with the blankets and feigned sleep. To her own eyes it had been almost as bright as day up there.

  But Randolph, coming from the open moonlight, would fmd it dark. Yet if he stayed long enough! A child could read her heart in her face. She heard a slight rustling on the rock, and she began to tremble. Next she felt his presence. He was there, gazing down upon her. How could she lie still? What was his intention? Then she realized that he would surely awaken her, and she sought to still her nerves. Something lightly brushed her hair. His hand or his lips? Another instant she knew, for she caught a slight sound of intense breathing very close to her face. He had kissed her hair. If he dared to kiss her lips her rigid arms would fly up round his neck. She knew it. She waited, surrendering in her heart, ready to end the fight royally.

  But instead he touched her softly and whispered: "Janey!"

  That saved her. She caught at her ebbing self-control; and her conscious swift thought balanced her emotion.

  "Janey," he whispered. "Wake up. It is I--Phil."

  She opened her eyes, not needing to pretend a start. She saw him distinctly--his face pale, rapt. He knelt beside her.

  "Oh!--Who?--What?" she faltered. "Don't be frightened," he said, swiftly and low. "It's Phil. I couldn't wait till tomorrow."

  "You--you startled me. What is it?--Oh, I hope my father--"

  "Don't speak so loud," he interrupted. "There is nothing wrong. I simply could not wait till morning. I had to wake you."

  "Why, may I ask--if all's well?"

  "Janey, it was no dream," he went on with deep feeling. "You were right. You have found Beckyshibeta for me."

  "Of course. Did you wake me to tell me that?"

  He hesitated, and then went on explosively. "No...but--it--they you all go together."

  Janey did not answer.

  "Janey, please don't be--be--" he added, hastily.

  "What?" she asked, not encouragingly.

  "Why, cold," he burst out. "At least don't freeze me to death. Let me tell you--let me unburden myself."

  "It's quite unconventional, to put it mildly. But I haven't ordered you out, have I?" she replied, and put a hand out to lift her pillow.

/>   "Thank you," he said, huskily. "I'll be relieved and happy to get this off my mind... Janey, you've made my fortune. Beckyshibeta is marvelous. I have not had time to gauge its scope, but from what I've discovered already, it is vastly larger and more important than I ever dreamed it would be. In fact, Beckyshibeta is one of the great ancient buried cities. It will take years to excavate, and in a scientific way is a priceless discovery. The fact that Elliot discharged me from the museum staff is particularly fortunate for me. I am all on my own. I can dictate terms. I can raise any amount of capital, but I believe I'll accept your father's aid. It will be a fine thing for him, too."

  "But, Phil," replied Janey, as he paused, "you told me all this before. When you explained what it would mean to you if you discovered the ruin."

  "Yes, but I never dreamed of its magnitude... Janey, I've tried more than once to make you see how my heart was in this work. It appeals to me in so many ways. I like delving into the musty past. But I could not advance because I had neither capital nor luck. You have made my fortune. I'll be famous. I'll make money writing, lecturing, and I'll have a big position offered to me. Expeditions in foreign countries, if I want, or research work all over this desert. I simply cannot think of all the advantages that will come to me. But I think you should release me from my promise not to tell you made the discovery."

  "Certainly not. I am glad it means so much to you. You know I always wanted you to succeed, even if I didn't appear interested. And I can feel that I returned some little good for the--the evil you did me."

  "Janey!"

  "You have ruined my good name," she went on, gravely. "It's Dad's fault, but that does not excuse you."

  "Oh, Janey, it really all amounts to nothing--nothing," he whispered, hoarsely. "In this age! Why, even if the kidnaping had been real, it could not have hurt you vitally."

  "I can't agree with you, and we needn't discuss that."

  "Listen. I loved you from the first moment I saw you. But I had no hopes or delusions. You remember when I saw you in New York... Well, I don't think I'd ever have gotten over it. I'd never have cared for any other girl. But my heart would not have broken. This trip of yours out here--your father's crazy plan--the wonderful hours in the desert--and lastly, your finding Beckyshibeta for me--I can never stand them. I can never get over them. I loved you before, but I worship you now... Janey, will you marry me?"

  Janey tried to withdraw her hand from his warm clasp, for fear that it might betray the true state of her heart.

  "I will no longer be a nonentity," he hastened on. "Nor a poor beggar. I can offer you a home--good enough for any good girl. I can make you happy, Janey. Oh, you never fooled me. That gay idle luxurious life never brought out the best in you. There's a lot in you, Janey. What a wonderful girl to help a man make something out of himself! To make a real American home!"

  "Not long ago you thought me all that was bad," she replied, scornfully.

  "I did not. I never even took you for what you appeared to be on the face of it."

  "I remember what you said, Phil," she returned, sadly.

  "I don't care what I said. God knows I had provocation enough for anything. I don't care what I thought, either. The inspiration of your discovery of Beckyshibeta has given me vision. I see clearly. I know you as you are in your heart. You are deceiving yourself, not me... I beg you, listen to me. I'll never importune you again. I love you. I worship you. If you will only rise to the beauty and splendor of what I see!"

  "Phil, you don't allow for a woman's feelings," she returned, earnestly. "I respected you--liked you. And I proved it by letting you alone. If you had refused Dad's miserable advances. If you had told me. If you had borne with me and been my friend--Quien sabe?--But now it's too late!"

  "Janey, you can't be so little as that," he pleaded, in torture. "If you liked me at all, it might be lasting."

  "You forget you--you beat me!" she whispered, and felt the hot blood move up to her cheeks.

  "No, I don't forget," he said, stubbornly. "I'm sorry, of course. But I'd do it again under the same circumstances. Only I want you to understand I didn't beat you. I spanked you. There is a very great difference."

  "I don't care about the difference... Phil, do you honestly believe I oughtn't hate you for that?"

  "Hate me? Good heavens, no! My love for you robs that terrible humiliation of any hate."

  Janey knew that was true, and just then hated herself for the passion which held her to her pride and revenge. She knew also that she must end this talk abruptly or yield to him.

  "Phil, any moment you may awaken the others," she said, managing a hauteur that must have been sickening to him. "But take my answer. It is all too late for the beautiful thing you vision. Too late!... I shall insist that you take me to Flagerstown at once--and give me the protection of your name. I shall go to New York, and free you there."

  "Oh, Janey!" he cried, in passionate disappointment, and threw her hand from him.

  "You will--do that much--for me?" she asked, unsteadily.

  "Yes, I'll make you Mrs. Phillip Randolph," he answered, bitterly, and went silently down the ledge, disappearing in the shadow.

  Janey lay back with a long sigh. The ordeal was over. She realized that in a few moments she would be gloriously happy. Just the instant she had satisfied her insistent modern mind! As she settled back, and drew the blankets close about her shoulders, she felt the quivering of her body. She was cold and exhausted. But for the darkness she could never have carried on that intimate talk with Phillip to the climax it had attained. She had deceived him. She had tortured him with the hint of what might have been. The assurance of his love had been what she craved. Her breast swelled and her conscience flayed her as she recalled his words, his emotion, his faith. She would take exceeding great care that no word or act of hers would do anything but increase his remorse and love. Nevertheless she would go clear to the very last minute with her revenge. No longer revenge, but fun, simply love itself, something to enhance her surrender to him with the sweetest and most unforgettable turning of the tables.

  A thought flashed by--was this trifling with her happiness--going too far, risking too much? No! If Phillip worshiped her--and how thrillingly she believed it--dared not yield to it!--a few more days on the desert and then that marvelous climax she must devise to follow their marriage in Flagerstown, would make him more miserable, more lovelorn, more wholly hers. How she must rack her brain to make her victory complete--something for which he could only love her more!

  Janey lay long awake. Sleep would have robbed her. The night wore on. The silver gleam on the walls paled, darkened, vanished. And the canyon grew black, mysterious, silent as a tomb. But by intense concentration Janey managed to hear a very low murmur of running water and then the faintest of mournful winds. How wonderful the night, the darkness, the loneliness and wildness, the meaning of these old walls, the echo of past life there, the living powerful love in her heart, and the intimation that nothing died!

  Then, as if by magic, the gray dawn came, the brightening of the canyon.

  Janey lay in bed and thought and dreamed, and smiled, and pinched herself to prove she was awake. Presently she became aware of sounds of camp stirring below. They were early this morning. But she was loath to leave the warm blankets, and would rather have lingered there with her thoughts.

  Then her father appeared on the ledge, carrying her riding habit and boots.

  "Hello, you're awake," he said.

  "Good morning, Father," she replied, demurely peeping from behind the edge of her blanket. He did not look happy and the smile he usually had for her was wanting.

  "We're breaking camp. Randolph acquainted me with your wishes and intentions. We will leave for the post and Flagerstown at once."

  "So soon! Leave Beckyshibeta today?" she exclaimed, in dismay.

  "Assuredly. I daresay you will appreciate this place--and some other things--after you have lost them. Hurry and dress yourself. Breakfast is waiting."<
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  Janey stared after his retreating form rather blankly. "Well!" she soliloquized. Then she laughed. What could she have expected? He was tremendously disappointed in her. All the better! Things were working out magnificently. She would certainly teach him a lesson that would last for life. Yet she was very glad indeed that he was so disappointed. She could endure a little longer that he and Randolph should continue to be sad about her and the mess she was going to make out of her life.

  Janey got into her riding habit and boots with extraordinary pleasure and satisfaction. What a transformation! The scant garb she had been wearing did not harmonize with dignity, and certainly had not enhanced her good looks. All the same she would keep that shrunken skirt and torn blouse and the soiled stockings. She rolled them in the blankets. The worn shoes, too! Some distant future day she would don them to surprise and delight Phil.

  Her little mirror showed a golden-tanned face, with glad eyes and a glorious smile; and shiny rippling hair, all the prettier for being wayward and free. Janey did not need to hide her feelings any longer. She would let Randolph and her father make their own deductions regarding her happiness.

  As she descended the ledge she heard Mrs. Durland squeal with delight. Something had excited her. Randolph and Bennet were busy packing. Breakfast steamed on the fire. The Indians were coming up with the horses. A pang tore Janey's heart. Only an hour more, perhaps less, of these gleaming canyon walls! But she would come back. The gentlemen were not blind to her changed attire and mood, though they did not fuss over her. Indeed she could not catch Randolph's eye.

  Mrs. Durland came up almost running, breathless, triumphant, and radiant. "Oh, my dear, how different--you look!" she panted. "What do you think?--That villain Black Dick forgot to take our money--and jewels. My bag was hanging on a cedar twig. Imagine! I was simply overcome...and here's your diamond ring."