the Hash-Knife Outfit (1985)

by Grey, Zane

  "Sure. I'll fix it boys," Jim assured them. "Slinger, you're going to dance?" asked Jim.

  "I shore ain't hankerin' to make a slidin' fool of myself. Bud promised this mawnin', an' I reckon I cain't back out."

  Curly looked rather fierce, and chewed at his cigarette, something unusual for the cool Texan.

  "Well, come on, you Diamond," said Jim, at length. "Let's go get Glory."

  She was waiting for Jim on the stairway, queenly and beautiful, her great eyes brilliant with excitement and interest.

  "My Gawd! Curly, lemme hold on to you," whispered Bud.

  Curly let out a little gasp, which was not lost on Jim, but Slinger showed no sign of being transfixed by Gloriana's loveliness. She came down to meet them, with just a hint of eager gaiety, and apparently unconscious of the gaping crowd. After a moment of greeting Curly elbowed an entrance for the others into the colourful hall.

  "Pretty nifty, I'll say," observed Bud. "What do you think of the style of Flag's puttin' on, since you come, Miss Glory?"

  "Very different from Jim's letter descriptions of Western dance-halls," laughed Gloriana. "I like this."

  "Jim, hurry an' dance with your sister so we can get a chanct," added Bud, very business-like.

  "Say, don't you gazabos fight over Glory or dance her off her feet," replied Jim. "That happened last time. Glory came West to get well, and not to be buried... Come on, Glory, see if boots and chaps have made me clumsy."

  When he swung his sister out into the eddying throng of dancers she said: "Jim, I saw Molly in the dressing-room. Sue Henderson and her mother cut her dead. Mrs. Henderson, you know, is the leading social light of Flag. Molly looked wonderfully sweet and pretty in her new dress. But scared, and dazed in spite of her nerve. Jim, she won't be able to carry it through. Darnell will fail her. Then your chance will come."

  "Poor crazy kid!" choked Jim. "This'll be a rotten night for her--and sure a tough one for me... Glory, if it wasn't for that, I'd be the proudest escort you ever had at any dance. Even as it is I just want to bust with pride I'll bet you Curly squeezed my arm black and blue, when he saw you on the stairs. And Bud whispered: 'My Gawd! Curly, lemme hold on to you!'"

  "They are dears," replied Gloriana, dreamily. "Only--just too much in earnest... Slinger scares me."

  At the expiration of that waltz they were at the far end of the large room, and had to make their way through a whispering, staring crowd of dancers. Jim espied Jackson Way with a pretty brunette girl. Jack tried to escape in the press, but Jim nailed him gaily. "Where you going, cowboy?" And so the blushing Jack and his fair damsel were captured and led across to Curly and Bud and Slinger.

  "Glory, I'll leave you to the tender mercies of the Diamond," said Jim, after there had been a pleasant interchange of introductions and some gay repartee. "But I'll keep an eye on you..."

  "Jim, there are Ed Darnell and Molly," interrupted Gloriana, suddenly. Her voice had an icy edge.

  Before Jim glanced up he felt a jerk of his whole frame, as released blood swelled along his hot veins. He saw Molly first, and knew her, yet seemed not to know. As he met her dusky eyes, unnaturally large and bright, with almost a wild expression, his passion subsided. He smiled and bowed to her as if nothing untoward had happened. And it pleased him that Gloriana did likewise. The others of Jim's company, however, pointedly snubbed Molly. Then Jim's glance switched to Darnell. In this good-looking and elegant gentleman Jim scarcely recognised the man he had seen with Bambridge in the station at Winslow. At least that was a first impression, which had not the test of proximity or consistence; and he concluded it would be wiser to be deaf to his jealousy and await developments.

  Darnell did precisely what Gloriana had predicted. He neglected Molly for the girls of higher social standing, and it seemed to Jim that when Darnell grasped the significance of the situation he showed his true colours. He left Molly to the cowboys and the clerks. She danced and flirted widely. She was too gay, too indifferent, and before long she broke and went to the other extreme. Jim watched her sit out three dances alone, trying to hide in a corner. But Molly Dunn could not hide at that dance.

  Jim thought it was time to do something, and approaching Gloriana, who sat with Curly, he said, "Come on, you." And he dragged them up.

  "You're going to dance with Molly," replied Gloriana, gladly. "It is high time."

  "Yes, if she will. But, anyway, we can show this crowd where we stand."

  As they approached Molly she appeared to shrink, all except her big dark eyes. Gloriana sat down beside her and said something nice about Molly's new dress and how sweet she looked.

  "Molly, won't you dance the next with me?" asked Jim.

  Curly gazed down upon her, his fair handsome face clouded, and his flashing blue eyes full of sorrow.

  "Molly Dunn, you've shore played hell heah tonight," he said.

  Molly surely was ready to burst into tears when the music started again. Dancers from all sides rushed upon the floor, and Curly, with a gay call to him, drew Gloriana into the thick of the whirling throng. Jim did not wait for Molly's consent; he took her hand, and pulled her to her feet and led her out into the maze. Then when he had her close and tight in his arms, he felt that he had surely understood himself.

  "Oh--Jim," she whispered, "it's been awful!... An' that worst was when Glory came to me jest now--before them all--an' spoke so sweet--as if nothin' had happened... Oh, I wanted the ground to open an' swallow me."

  Jim thought that a strange speech, full of contrition and shame as it was. What about him! But Gloriana had been the great factor in Molly's downfall.

  "Glory is true blue, Molly," Jim whispered back. "That ought to prove it. You've doubted her."

  Jim felt a gradual relaxing of Molly's stiff little hand, and then a sinking of her form against him.

  "I'm ashamed," she replied, huskily. "I'll go drown myself in the Cibeque."

  "Yes, you will!" In the press of the throng it seemed to Jim that he had her alone and hidden safe from the inquisitive eyes. He could hug her without restraint and he did. Molly hid her dusky head on his shoulder and danced as one in a trance.

  Chapter TWELVE

  All too soon that dance ended, and Jim got Molly into an out-of-the-way corner, where a few other couples, evidently lovers, were too concerned with themselves to look at anyone else.

  Jim believed the tide had turned in his favour, though tragic little Molly was unconscious of it. She gazed up at him as if fascinated, with almost a terrible yearning and hopelessness. "Don't do it," whispered Jim, "or I'll kiss you right here."

  "Do--do what?"

  "Look at me like that... Molly, you've sure made a mess of Christmas Eve, but it's not too late."

  "Oh, yes, Jim dear, it is too late," she sighed, mournfully. "They all gave me--the cold shoulder. Except Glory, bless her! I--I cain't realise she didn't take me at my word."

  "Not Glory. And what do you care for the others? You won't have to live with them... Molly, you were mistaken in this Darnell. He's no good. He very nearly ruined Gloriana. What she told you was true. Look how he has treated you--"

  "Jim, I don't need to be told now," she interrupted bitterly. "He's made a fool out of me... But only tonight did I learn he's no good. Before we got here. He--he insulted me, Jim."

  "Did he?--Well, that's not surprising. Just how?" returned Jim, in cool, hard query. "I hope he didn't lay a hand on you."

  "He laid two hands on me," she said frankly. "An' he was 'most as bad as Hack Jocelyn, if you remember, Jim... I was aboot ready to bite when someone came into the hall."

  "Ahuh! Why did you come with him, then?" queried Jim, serenely.

  "I had to come to this dance or die. Besides, I reckon I was some to blame. I told Darnell I wasn't good enough for the Trafts an' their crowd."

  "Molly, you're generous, but you can't save him now."

  "You leave him alone," flashed Molly. "He carries a gun. He might hurt you--an' thet'd shore kill me... I'll tell Sling
er. Honest I will. But Slinger has never even looked at me tonight. He must despise me."

  "No. Slinger is just angry with you... Now, Molly, you must not let Darnell take you home. Promise you won't--or I'll go right out now--"

  "I promise, Jim. Please ask Slinger to take me away. I'm sick of this dance. I want to go home."

  "Out to the ranch?" he asked, hopefully.

  "Home to the Cibeque, where I belong."

  "All right, I'll find Slinger," rejoined Jim, thinking fast and furiously. "But lets dance again. There goes the music."

  Jim did not break the sweet tumultuousness of that dance by a single word. When it was over he asked Molly to wait near the door, and left her back somewhat out of the throng. Then he instituted a wild search for Gloriana, whom he found presently with Curly.

  "Gee! you two must be having the time of your lives!" he exclaimed, surprised at Gloriana's radiance and something indescribable about Curly.

  "Jim, I am enjoying myself," admitted Gloriana, with a blush.

  "Boss, this heah is aboot as near heave as I ever hope to get," drawled Curly.

  "Fine. Then you see Glory home. I'm going to be--engaged... Glory, don't stay late." And Jim rushed away to find Slinger. In this he was also fortunate, as he found him in the smoking-room, alone and watchful. His dark face wore rather a sad expression. He was out of his element at a dance.

  "Slinger, I want you. What're you doing? Dancing any?"

  "I had one with Glory. Thet'll be aboot all fer me. If I wasn't worried about the kid I'd chase myself back to the ranch. I've been hangin' around heah listenin' to this fellar Darnell." Slinger spoke low and indicated a noisy group of young men. They had a flask and were exchanging it. Darnell had here the same ingratiating manner, the same air of good fellowship, which Jim had noted in the dance-hall. He appeared to be a man nearing thirty, well set up, handsome in a full-faced sensual way, and unmistakably egotistical. He would go far with young people.

  "What of him?" whispered Jim.

  "Wal, I shore ain't crazy aboot him. Strikes me ,sort of tincanny... Jim, he's packin' a gun. Can you see thet?"

  "No, Slinger, I'll be hanged if I can."

  "Wal, he is, an' thet's kind of funny. If I could find a reason, I'd mess up this heah place with him. But it'd look all the wuss fer Molly--"

  "Yes, it would. Let Darnell alone. And, Slinger, listen. Molly has had enough of this. She sent me to ask you to take her home. But I've got an idea. You run over to the stable and send a boy with a sleigh. Pronto. I'll let Molly think you're going to take her. But I'll take her myself, and out to the ranch? Savvy, pard?"

  "I shore do. An' damn' if you ain't a good fellar," declared Slinger. "Molly had better sit tight this time... Jim, this heah deal eases my mind."

  "Rustle, then, you Indian."

  Jim saw Slinger glide out with his inimitable step, and then he went to get his overcoat and hat. For the moment he had forgotten the fur coat, which he had folded inside his. But there it was. With these he hurried back to the hall, eager and thrilling, afraid, too, that Molly might have bolted or that Daniell might have come out. To his relief, however, he found her waiting, strained of face, her eyes like burnt holes in a blanket. They leaped at sight of him.

  "Slinger has gone for a sleigh," said Jim, as he reached her, and he tried to be natural. "Here, slip into this. You won't need to go upstairs. I'll get your coat to-morrow. And no one one will see you as you go out."

  "Whose coat is this?... Oh, what lovely fur!--Glory's?"

  "Hurry!" he replied, holding if for her. "Slinger can fetch it right back."

  Jim turned up the high collar of the coat, and against the dark fox fur Molly's eyes shone beautifully. What a difference fine feathers made!

  "Come," he said, taking Molly's arm. He led her out, relieved that but few dancers paid attention to their departure. In the lobby entrance they ran squarely into Darnell, gay, heated of face.

  "Hello, kid!--Where the deuce are you going?" he shot out, and his gaiety suddenly fled. Two men behind him came up, evidently his companions, and curious.

  Jim did not recognise either.

  "Home," replied Molly, and she flashed by.

  Darnell took a step forward to confront Jim.

  "We've met before?" he said, and both voice and look were uncertain.

  "Yes. I happen to be Jim Traft--Miss Dunn's fiancT. And if you don't step aside this meeting will be somewhat like the one you spoke of."

  It was certain that long before Jim completed this deliberate speech Darnell had recognised him. One of the strangers drew him aside, so Jim could pass. And as Jim went out he heard Darnell curse. Molly was already out in the corridor. As Jim joined her Slinger came up the steps.

  "Any ruction heah?" he queried, sharply. "I seen Darnell stop you."

  "No. I got out of it all right, Slinger. Come on," replied Jim, grimly, and he laughed inwardly at the thought of what this Ed Darnell had happened upon. His luck, at least, was out.

  A two-seated sleigh, with a Mexican driver, stood at the curb. Jim bundled Molly into the back seat, and stepping in he tucked the heavy robe round her and himself. Molly uttered an exclamation which was surely amazed protest.

  "Slinger, I'll see Molly--home," said Jim, and for the life of him he could not keep the elation out of his voice.

  "Shore, Jim, you see her home," drawled Slinger, meaningly. And he leaned over the side of the sleigh. "Sister, you've messed up things considerable. But somehow Jim still loves you, an' I reckon I do, too. We jest cain't help it. All the same, don't go triflin' with strange fellars no more. I'll see you in the mawnin'."

  "Slinger, you lay off Darnell," insisted Jim, forcefully.

  "All right, Boss. But I'll jest watch him a little. Shore is an interestin' cuss. I seen him gettin' gay with one of them rich gurls."

  Jim laughed and told the Mexican boy to drive straight out the main street.

  "It's closer, turnin' heah," spoke up Molly, a little alarmed. As yet, however, she had no inkling of the plot.

  "More snow out this way. This bare ground is hard on the runners," replied Jim, and indeed the rasping sound of iron on gravel was irritating to nerves as well.

  Jim felt for Molly's hand under the robe, and found it, an ungloved cold little member. She started and tried to draw it away. In vain! Jim held on as a man gripping some treasure he meant to keep. Soon they were on the snow, and then the sleigh glided smoothly with the merry bells ringing. Soft heavy flakes were falling, wet and cool to the face.

  "Heah--turn down heah," called Molly, as they reached the last side street.

  "Boy, drive straight out to the Traft ranch," ordered Jim.

  Molly stood up, and would have leaped out of the sleigh had not Jim grasped her with no uncertain hands, and hauled her down, almost into his arms. She twisted round to look up at him. The darkness was thick, but he could see a pale little face, with great staring eyes.

  "You--want to get somethin' before takin' me home?" she asked.

  "Why, of course, Molly. This is Christmas, you know," he returned, cheerfully.

  "I--I didn't know you could be like this." And Jim imagined he had more cause to be happy.

  No more was said. Jim endeavoured to secure Molly's hand again, but she had hidden it somewhere. Thwarted thus, Jim put an arm round her. When they reached the big pine trees, black against the snow, Jim knew they were nearing the ranch. He nerved himself for the crisis. There was no use of persuasion or argument or subterfuge. Then the ranch-house loomed dark, with only one light showing. The bells ceased jangling in a crash.

  "Molly, come in for--a minute," said Jim easily, as he stepped out.

  "No, thanks, Jim," she replied, with pathos. "I'll stay heah. Hurry, an' remember--I--I cain't accept no Christmas presents."

  Jim leaned over, as if to rearrange the robe, but he snatched her bodily out of the sleigh.

  "All right, boy, drive back," he ordered, and as the bells clashed again he turned with the ki
cking Molly in his arms. He heard her voice, muffled in the furs, as he pressed her tight, and he feared she used some rather strong language. Up the steps, across the wide veranda and into the dark ranch-house he packed her, fighting all the while, and on into the dim-lighted living-room, where he deposited her in his uncle's big armchair. Then he flew to lock the door. It was done. He felt no remorse--only a keen, throbbing, thick rapture. He turned up the lamp, and then lighted the other one with the red shade. Next he removed the screen from before the smouldering fire, to replenish it with chips of cedar and pine cones.

  "Jim Traft--what've you done?" cried Molly huskily.

  Jim turned then, to see her in the chair, precisely as he had bundled her.

  "Fetched you home, Molly," he said, with emotion.

  "It was a trick."

  "Reckon so."

  "You didn't mean to take me to my boardin'-house?"

  "I'm afraid I never thought of that."

  "An' thet damn Slinger! He was in the deal with you?"

  "Yes. Slinger was implicated--to the extent of getting the sleigh."

  "Wal, now you got me heah--what you think you're goin' to do?" she demanded.

  "Oh, wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year."

  "Jim--honest I wish--you the same," she responded, faltering a little.

  "Thanks. But it's not Christmas yet," rejoined Jim, consulting his watch. "Only eleven o'clock. At midnight I'll give you the other Christmas present."

  "Other?--Jim Traft, are you loony? Or am I dreamin'? You didn't give me nothin'. You tantalised me with thet--thet ring, which was shore low down. But thet's all."

  "Molly, you have one of your presents. You've got it on... That fur coat."

  Uttering a cry of surprise and consternation, she bounced out of the chair to slip out of the rich, dark, fragrant coat. She handled it with awe, almost reverence, stroked it, and then with resignation laid it over the table.

  "Pretty nice, don't you think?" queried Jim, pleasantly. "Becomes you, too."

  "I'm findin' out you're as much of--of a brute as any cowboy," she asserted, tearfully. "How'm I to get back to my boardin' house? When Glory comes? You'll send me then, Jim?"