by Rex Beach
II
Van Dam, being accustomed by this time to a certain obedience, liftedthe girl up to the top of the fence, scrambled over it himself, and heldup his arms to her. He was in another yard, much cleaner than the one hehad just quit. There were trees and flowers in it, and looking down onthem were shuttered windows which seemed empty. As she surrendered herweight to him he gave rein to the license which was in his blood andpressed a warm kiss back of her mask where the hair lay in wispyringlets against her neck.
"_Mon Dieu!_ What a man!" she laughed, struggling gently to freeherself. "You had better put on your mask. We haven't far to go, butthere may be observing eyes."
"Am--I--er--quite the person you pictured?" he queried, as he adjustedthe false face.
"Not at all."
"You have never seen me before to-day?"
"Of course not! How could I?"
"I have seen you often."
"Impossible! Where?"
"Dreams!" said Van Dam, vaguely, yet with some degree of truth. "Thisall seems like a dream, as a matter of fact. I'm afraid I'll turn over,and you'll change into an old lady with hoop-skirts, or a flock ofpurple snowbirds, or a friendly crocodile with gold spectacles."
She pondered this for a moment as they made their way across the yard,being careful in the mean while to see if they were observed. After amoment she halted.
"Wait!" she said. "I--am not sure we dare risk going farther, for thestreets are alarmed and the Wolf is in the neighborhood with all hispack. I had thought to take you straight home, but now they will bewatching. It would be madness to try it." Again she fell silent, only toexclaim: "I have an idea. Come!" She turned abruptly to the right.
"Where are we going now?" he inquired, mildly.
She pointed to a house the back yard of which abutted upon the one thatthey were crossing. "Yonder is your cousin Alfred's house. He is away atbusiness, the servants are out watching the carnival, and so it isempty. Do you dare venture it?"
"Just the thing!" he said, amiably. "I owe Alfred a call."
The girl laughed shortly. "Ah! He would die of rage--or fright--if heknew; but you can wait there while I go--"
"Oh, I say! You're not going to leave me?" queried Roly in genuinealarm.
"Of course, silly! Some one must bring her."
Van Dam fell silent, speculating upon this last remark. After a momenthe said, "You're sure Alfred won't return?"
"Who knows? We must run some hazards. The key will be under the step, Ithink. Come!"
They gained ingress to the next inclosure through a cedar hedge. Then,as they neared the back door, a distant commotion sounded from thestable-yard, warning them that the Spider's friends had stumbled uponhim. But the girl's ready fingers found the key where it was hidden, andan instant later they were in a spotless creole kitchen ornamented withshining pots and pans. A cat rose from a sleepy window-ledge, arched itsback, and stretched.
With a warning gesture Van Dam's guide bade him wait, then disappeared,returning in a moment.
"It is as I thought--the house is empty." She beckoned him, and hefollowed her past a pantry, down a hall, and into a study furnished witha considerable degree of elegance. Drawn blinds shut out the glaringheat; it was dim and cool and restful.
The maiden heaved a sigh of relief and steadied herself against one ofthe massive mahogany chairs, showing by her attitude that the recentstrain had told upon her.
"Heaven be praised! You are safe here, for a time at least," she managedto say.
"Nice, comfy place, this," remarked Van Dam, with an appreciative glanceat the surroundings. "We can sit here and--and get acquainted--eh?"
"Hm-m! I think I have learned to know you quite well in the pasthalf-hour," she laughed.
"True! But we've had very little chance to talk calmly and rationally;now, have we? Of course you're accustomed to such things, perhaps; butit has been a trifle strenuous for a person of my easy ways. I don'tmind telling you that I'm positively winded. Let's rest a bit before youleave."
But the girl shook her head at his suggestion. "You forget how she haswaited and longed for this hour. She has been very ill; nothing seemedto interest her until you promised to come on the last day of the_fiesta_. Since then she has been like another woman. She is countingthe moments now until she feels your arms about her."
Roly stirred uncomfortably, for here was something he had not countedupon. One woman at a time was ample; he had no desire to hold another tohis breast. He was shocked, too, that this girl should suggest such athing after what had passed between them. It was unseemly. He felttempted to confess his deception and to demand an explanation of thewhole affair, but some sense of shame held him back. Besides, hiscompanion was undoubtedly sincere, and he could not bring himself tocause her dismay.
Another reason that urged him to hold his tongue and to let theadventure run its course was that as yet he had not seen her face. Thedesire to do so was becoming insufferable. He was about to claim theprivilege when she changed the current of his thoughts.
"You must not be shocked if she does not recognize you. She has beenill, very ill, since you--proved so great a--trial to her. Youunderstand?"
"Perfectly!" he said, thankful that she could not detect his signs ofbewilderment.
"Very well, then. You will make free of your cousin Alfred's hospitalitywhile I am gone." She laughed nervously. "La! There is irony for you."
"Suppose he should return in the mean time?"
She shrugged. "You seem quite capable of caring for yourself, m'sieu'. Ishould not wish to be in his shoes, that is all. But there is littledanger. And now I must leave you."
"Just a moment," he said, taking her two hands in his. "You have seen myface. Don't you think I wish to see yours?"
Her breath caught at the tone of his voice. "Not yet. Please! When Ireturn--when you have held her in your arms and made your peace. Then,perhaps, if you wish--but not until then." She pressed his fingersmeaningly, and he thrilled.
"You haven't spoken my name, either," said he. "Won't you tell me thatyou--like me?"
"I--like you, Cousin Emile," said she; then, in a voice that told himshe was blushing rosily, "and what name do you give to me?"
Roly's wits came to his rescue barely in time; with an air of deepesttenderness, that was not all assumed, he said: "I haven't daredacknowledge the name my heart has given you, even to myself. It is--"
"No, no!" she laughed, tremulously. "Call me Madelon."
"Madelon, Desire of my Dreams." He raised her hand to his lips. "Untilyou give me leave to lift your mask I kiss these dimpled fingers."
It was plain that his boldness did not altogether displease her, for shepaused reluctantly upon the threshold. Her eyes were shining, althoughher mask smiled at him vacuously as she said:
"You are a most unusual young man. You awaken something strange withinme. I cannot despise you as I should, for you have taken away my reason.That is disturbing, is it not? Now, then, avail yourself of thehospitality of the man who has robbed you. I shall return as fast asever my feet will bring me." She waved him a kiss and was gone.
He heard the front door close. Then he endeavored to piece out sometheory as to the cause of this situation, but the more he considered theclues in his possession the more bewildered he became. One thing onlystood out with alarming certainty--his cousin Madelon had gone to fetcha woman who loved him. So long as the adventure had concerned him onlywith the masked girl herself he had been eager to continue it. Now thatit threatened to involve a second woman, he decided it was time to go.
She would return and find him gone. It would be a disappointment,perhaps, but not so great as his own at parting from her and leavingthis mystery unsolved. He was somewhat proud of his exploits thus far,for in an hour's time he had met and bested two of his enemies and hadchanged a maiden's heart. No mean accomplishment for an idler! But whydid she feel that she ought to despise him? Why had she risked so muchfor a man beloved by another? Why, under these circumstances, had shew
elcomed his advances and promised him a sight of her face--a kiss,perhaps? Above all, who were the Black Wolf, the Spider, and CousinAlfred? He gave up puzzling over the affair and determined to get out ofthis stranger's house without delay.
It was evident that Cousin Alfred was a person of substance, for thestudy was furnished in rich old Santo Domingo mahogany, blood-red andflaming where the light struck it; the books were bound in uniformlevant; the paintings were valuable; the bric-a-brac in irreproachabletaste. An inlaid ivory humidor was filled with coronas at exactly theright degree of moisture. He removed the ground-glass stopper from anetched decanter and sniffed of the contents. The aroma brought a smileto his face, and, reflecting that the owner had robbed him, he took timeto pour out a drink and to light a fragrant cigar. All gentlemanlyhousebreakers did the like, he reflected. Then he yielded to a whimsicalnotion and fumbled in his pocket, thinking to leave the price of hisrefreshments on the tray.
Midway in this purpose he paused. The breath hung in his throat, thehair at the back of his neck seemed to rise. He had heard no one enterthe house, there had been no faintest stir since Madelon had left, hedetected no sound whatever, and yet he was positive that eyes wereboring into his back--that he was no longer alone. It was ridiculous,and yet--A gentle cough sounded behind him!
With a swift gesture he settled his mask back in place and, whirlingaround, beheld the most evil-appearing human being he had ever seen. Theman was little and stooped and undersized, all but his head, which wasunusually large. His face was fleshless and covered with a tight skin ofunusual pallor. He was bowing at Van Dam, but his smile was mocking andhis eyes glittered malignantly.
"Good day, Monsieur Black Wolf," said the stranger, harshly. "Makingyourself at home with my wines, as usual, eh?"
Van Dam felt the cold sweat leap out upon his body; he cursed thedeliberation that had betrayed him. With an assumption of indifferencehe mumbled something and waved his cigar carelessly.
"How often must I tell you to come here only at night?" snarled the oldman. "Already the police are suspicious. Fortunately, it is carnivalday--I dare say no one suspected you in that disguise."
The speaker deposited his hat upon the table with a sour glance; then,when his caller said nothing, he snapped:
"Well, well? What is it?"
Van Dam was at a loss for words; he was panic-stricken; but swift uponhis consternation came a reckless determination to take advantage of theold gentleman's first mistake and to try to brazen the matter through.There was nothing to be gained by explanation; no one would believe hisstory. He spoke out boldly.
"The Wolf is hurt, and the Spider, I think, has his neck very neatlybroken. I came to tell you that your cousin Emile is in the city."
The effect of these words was amazing, electric. Cousin Alfred turned acorpselike green; he froze in his tracks; his eyes rolled in theirsockets.
"Emile! Here!" His teeth chattered, he plucked at his collar as if hewere strangling. "Then--you? Who are you?"
Roly shrugged. "I am one of the others. I was sent to warn you." Herecognized now the character of the old fellow's emotion. It wascowardice, terror, but of such utter foulness as to be disgusting.
Evidently this Emile, whoever he was, had a reputation. Roly multipliedhis host's discomfiture by adding:
"Yes; he struck down the Wolf in the street; then dropped the Spider onhis head from the top of a staircase."
"God help us!" stammered Cousin Alfred. "He will take me next! Oh, hehas threatened me--" He cast a frightened glance over his shoulder, asif expecting the sanguinary Emile to appear at any moment. Then he beganto whine: "I know him, I know him. And the servants gone! I--I am an oldman; he would like nothing better than to find me alone. But how--howdared he come? Wait! It was Felice. Ho! I'll wager she sent for him; andhe would not refuse, the scoundrel!" The speaker's lips were wet andloose, his gaze was very evil as he mumbled along.
Felice must be the other girl, the one for whom Madelon had gone, Rolydecided. In view of Alfred's evident hatred, it did not seem right toallow Madelon to bring the other girl without some warning. One glanceat those working features convinced the young man that such a meetingwould be dangerous; and yet he was quite at a loss how to prevent it.His host was running on.
"It was only yesterday that she appealed to me, she and Madelon, and allthe time they knew he was coming." He ground his teeth. "I have been afool to spare them so long."
"This Felice," Van Dam ventured, groping blindly for some clue, "yourcousin Emile is fond of her, I judge."
"Damnation! He would pass through fire for her. And she would sacrificeher soul for him." Alfred poured himself a drink with shaking hand. Theglass rattled against the decanter; he spilled the wine over hiswaistcoat as he gulped it.
"So they planned to catch me napping, eh? But we shall see. Yes, yes! Weshall see." After a moment, during which he pulled himself together, hecontinued: "You shall remain here with me. When he comes we shall affordhim a surprise." He slid open a drawer in the big desk and took from ita revolver, at which Roly exclaimed:
"I say--whatever makes you think he'll come here?"
"Oh, he will come! There is no doubt of it. He has promised me thatmuch. Those were his last words--"
"Er--why don't you clear out? You don't have to stay and see him."
But the old man's eyes were red and vindictive as he shook his head."You don't understand. So long as he lives we are none of us safe, noteven you. Besides, he would return again; he hangs upon me like a leech.I--I dream about him."
"Well, what are you going to do?"
"If I--if I should kill him, the law would say nothing. I could kill himvery easily and nothing would be said. You understand?" Cousin Alfred'slips were watery; little drops of moisture gleamed upon his sallow face;he eyed the pistol with a shrinking fascination. "I--I--" He fell totrembling weakly, as his first desperation cooled.
Van Dam watched him curiously. He looked up, at length, to meet Roly'sgaze. His own eyes were wavering; his face was distorted with mingledfear and eagerness. He stretched his neck, as if he already felt on itthe fingers of his cousin Emile. When Van Dam did not offer to help himhe whined: "He has always intended to even up the score; but I am an oldman. My hand is unsteady. Perhaps you--It would be worth something toescape those dreams! I could afford to pay well, as you know. You are astrong man. You have no nerves; your hand is sure--" The old villain'sexpression was crafty; he was gnawed by a fierce desire that he wasloath to put into words.
"You mean you'd like to have me make away with him?" queried Van Dam, asif in a dream.
"Yes, yes! The law would say nothing."
"How so? It's not so easy to kill a man and--"
"But the reward--two thousand dollars! You would get that. I will doubleit. Eh? Come now, is it a bargain?" The speaker was trembling, but whenhe received no answer he went on: "I will take the blame upon myself. Iwill say that I did it; and you will get the money--four thousanddollars. Let us say five thousand, eh? A tidy sum for a moment's workwith no risk. We are alone in the house. No one but the Wolf knows youare here. Even I don't know--By the way, I--I haven't seen you yet."
"Under the circumstances, I think I'll keep my mask on," Van Damanswered. "Perhaps the less you know about me, the better."
"Then you agree?" queried the other, all ashake.
Roly declined with a gesture.
"Eh, God! Five thousand dollars! A fortune, indeed! Think of it! Heavenknows I am not a Cr[oe]sus, and yet--I might increase even that alittle. What do you say? Six thousand, then, all cash?"
"This is the money you stole from Emile, I believe," said Van Dam. "Youcould afford even more--"
"Seven thousand five hundred!" chattered Alfred. "Not another cent, or Ishall do it myself."
"Good! You do it!" Roly exclaimed; whereat the tempter writhed andshivered in an ague of fear. With a wail that came like a sob and with afinal wrench of his miserly soul, he exclaimed:
"Wait, then! I will pay you ten
thousand dollars if you kill him. Themoney is there. It will bankrupt me; but--God above! Ten thousanddollars! It is scarcely worth it--such a little job!"
"How do I know you'd make good?" inquired the young man. "You robbedhim. You might rob me."
"I have promised! It is there--in the safe. The moment he is dead--"
"Bah!" Mr. Van Dam managed a mocking laugh, although his heart waspounding. "Your word is worth nothing to me."
Alfred made answer by slipping across the room and kneeling before thesteel safe. He spun the knob swiftly to right and to left, then gave awrench, and the massive door opened.
"Come here!"
Van Dam obeyed.
"Look!"
He saw legal documents, deeds, mortgages, and blue envelopes, all neatlymarked, then a cash-drawer crowded full of symmetrical packages ofcrisp, new ten-dollar bills, each with its bank band plainly labeled"$1000."
"Eh? Are you satisfied?" The owner was staring craftily up at him,careful to keep his body between Van Dam and the treasure.
"Jove!" Roly exclaimed in astonishment. "You'll be robbed some night."
"Is it a bargain?"
"I'm no business man." The masker hesitated with an air of extremesuspicion. "Will you pay in advance?"
At this, Cousin Alfred uttered a bleat of dismay, but Roly was firm.
"I'm not sure you'd open the safe again, don't you see? Besides, itwould take time, and--I'd prefer not to wait; really I would, for I'malways a bit nervous after a job of this kind."
"Listen, then," exclaimed the old man. "I will close the safe, but Iwill leave the combination off. See! We must each run some risk in thismatter, I suppose; but--I trust you. Once it is over, there will be nodelay. A moment and you can be away with ten thousand dollars in yourpocket--and with me to do the explaining."
Why he had allowed the affair to run to so extraordinary a length VanDam hardly knew, except that he wished to gain time. He had no idea thatthe mysterious Emile would really come to the house, for Madelon had asmuch as told him that a far different reason lay behind the young man'spresence in the city.
What did concern Roly, however, the more he considered it, was thepossible consequence if the two girls returned. Thus far he had beenable to meet each new surprise, each fresh situation, with a resourcethat amazed himself, but if they came face to face with him and Alfred,his own masquerade would end at once and disastrous explanations wouldcertainly follow. Nevertheless, he could not run away and leave them inan awkward position. As he looked back over the fantastic occurrences ofthe past hour or more it amused and amazed him to realize how nicely hehad fitted into the puzzle--and puzzle it surely was; for the wholesequence of events that had followed the purchase of the white gardeniathat lay above his heart was now more bewildering than ever.
That there was something more than mere roguery afoot he had ampleproof. He felt himself groping along the edge of something vague andblack and sinister. But what it was, what were the issues, or who werethe people involved, he had not the slightest conception. Of one thingonly was he sure, Madelon had no place in this elaborate web and woof ofcrime. She had impressed him more deeply even than he had realized, andhis main anxiety now, outside of a desire to protect her from the venomof this poisonous old man, was to see her face, to lift with his ownfingers the mask that had so tantalized him.
The owner of the house was busily arranging the plans for Emile'sdestruction when the doorbell rang. He clutched his guest nervously bythe arm and thrust the revolver into his hand, whispering:
"It is he! The scoundrel has arrived! Quickly now--behind the door!"
But Roly stepped to a front window and, cautiously drawing the curtainaside, peered out. He saw what he had feared--the figure of a petiteNorman maid, and beside it that of a masked woman in a long, dark robe.
"Well, now! Who can it be?" he heard Alfred whisper, and discovered thesenile villain peering past his shoulder.
"It is Madelon and Felice," Roly explained.
"_They!_ Here? Wait! I will give them a cursing to remember." But beforethe speaker could move he found his arms pinioned behind him and his ownweapon pointed at his head. He uttered a squeak of amazement and terror."_Mon Dieu!_ What is this?"
"Shut up!" Roly dragged the old man from the window, stripped a thickcurtain cord from its hook, and knotted his wrists together.
Alfred offered no resistance; a horrible fear had him by the throat; hehung like a sack in the younger man's grasp. His eyes alone retainedtheir activity. These followed Van Dam in a horrified stare; they seemedabout to emerge from their sockets.
Roly deposited his limp captive in a chair and, stepping to the window,tapped sharply. When Madelon looked up he signaled her to wait. The hallportieres furnished another cord for Cousin Alfred's ankles, and ahandkerchief served as a gag. As this was being adjusted, however, thecaptive quavered, hoarsely:
"Who--are you?"
"I?" Roly laughed. "Why, I am your cousin Emile!"
The householder voiced a thin shriek and began to plead for his life.Then the remnants of his strength escaped, leaving him a spineless heapin the great leather chair.
Van Dam bore him in his arms down the hall, searching for a place ofconcealment. This he found in a closet, the door of which he closed.Then he hastened back to the front entrance.
"You kept us waiting sufficiently," Madelon said, as he stepped asidefor the two women to enter.
Roly's eyes were glued upon the taller of the two figures, but Feliceseemed to take no heed of him. He heard her murmuring in a sick, eagervoice:
"Emile! My own beloved! Emile!"
Madelon raised her hand in a warning gesture and the young man shrankcloser into the shadows.
"Courage, dear!" she said to her companion. "We have arrived at last. Amoment now and he will come." She half led, half supported the tallerwoman into the library. The next instant she was back at Van Dam's side.Drawing him into the parlor, across the hall, she exclaimed in a voicewhich showed that tears were in her eyes: "Thank Heaven, no onerecognized us! But I was weak with fright. Oh! It was pitiful! I havewept at every step. She has been calling you like that, night and day.Go--quickly!" She removed his mask and thrust him into the hall.
This was the most embarrassing moment Van Dam had experienced thus far.He had been prepared to face eventual discovery, and had decided to makea clean breast of his part in this comedy when the necessary momentarrived, but--this was altogether different. Felice was ill,half-demented. What might be the effect upon her of this disclosure?There was nothing to do, however, but to face it out and to make thetruth known as quickly and as gently as possible.
But as he entered the study he received a surprise that robbed theadventure of all its entertainment, that changed this comedy into atragedy and humbled the man's reckless spirit.
