第3章

"Herearetwostrangers,"saidMr.Grant,withextraordinarygravitylayingdownthecards,"andhereisa"journey;"thisis"unexpectednews,"andthistenofdiamondsmeans"greatwealth"toyou,whichyouseefollowstheadventofthetwostrangersandissomewayconnectedwiththem."

"Oh,indeed,"saidtheyoungladywithgreatpertnessandatossofherhead."Isupposethey"vegotthemoneywiththem."

"No,thoughitreachesyouthroughthem,"heansweredwithunflinchingsolemnity."Waitabit,Ihaveit!Isee,I"vemadeamistakewiththiscard.Itsignifiesajourneyoraroad.Queer!

isn"tit,Steve?It"sTHEROAD."

"Itisqueer,"saidRicewithequalgravity;"butit"sso.Theroad,sure!"NeverthelesshelookedupintothelargeeyesofClementinawithacertainconfidentialairoftruthfulness.

"Yousee,ladies,"continuedthesurveyor,appealingtothemwithunabashedrigidityoffeature,"thecardsdon"tlie!Luckilyweareinapositiontocorroboratethem.TheroadinquestionisasecretknownonlytousandsomecapitalistsinSanFrancisco.InfactevenTHEYdon"tknowthatitisfeasibleuntilWEreporttothem.ButIdon"tmindtellingyounow,asaslightreturnforyourcharminghospitality,thattheroadisaRAILROADfromOaklandtoTasajaraCreekofwhichwe"vejustmadethepreliminarysurvey.

Soyouseewhatthecardsmeanisthis:You"renotfarfromTasajaraCreek;infactwithaverylittleexpenseyourfathercouldconnectthisstreamwiththecreek,andhaveaWATERWAY

STRAIGHTTOTHERAILROADTERMINUS.That"sthewealththecardspromise;andifyourfatherknowshowtotakeahinthecanmakehisfortune!"

Itwasimpossibletosaywhichwasthemostdominantinthefaceofthespeaker,theexpressionofassumedgravityorthetwinklingofhumorinhiseyes.Thetwogirlswithsuperiorfeminineperceptiondivinedthattherewasmuchtruthinwhathesaid,albeittheydidn"tentirelyunderstandit,andwhattheydidunderstand——excepttheman"sgood-humoredmotive——wasnotparticularlyinteresting.

Infacttheywereslightlydisappointed.Whathadpromisedtobeanaudaciouslyflirtatiousdeclaration,andevenamischievoussuggestionofmarriage,hadresolveditselfintosomethingabsurdlypracticalandbusiness-like.

NotsoMr.Harkutt.Hequicklyrosefromhischair,and,leaningoverthetable,withhiseyesfixedonthecardasifitreallysignifiedtherailroad,repeatedquickly:"Railroad,eh!What"sthat?ArailroadtoTasajaraCreek?Yedon"tmeanit!——Thatis——

itain"taSUREthing?"

"Perfectlysure.ThemoneyisreadyinSanFrancisconow,andbythistimenextyear——"

"ArailroadtoTasajaraCreek!"continuedHarkutthurriedly."Whatpartofit?Where?"

"Attheembarcaderonaturally,"respondedGrant."Thereisn"tbuttheoneplacefortheterminus.There"sanoldshantytherenowbelongstosomebody."

"Why,pop!"saidPhemiewithsuddenrecollection,"ain"tit"LigeCurtis"shouse?Thelandheoffered"——

"Hush!"saidherfather.

"Youknow,theonewritteninthatbitofpaper,"continuedtheinnocentPhemie.

"Hush!willyou?GodA"mighty!areyougoin"tomindme?Areyougoin"tokeepupyourjabberwhenI"mspeakin"tothegentlemen?

Isthatyourmanners?Whatnext,Iwonder!"

Thesuddenandunexpectedpassionofthespeaker,theincomprehensiblechangeinhisvoice,andtheutterlydisproportionateexaggerationofhisattitudetowardshisdaughters,enforcedaninstantaneoussilence.Therainbegantodripaudiblyatthewindow,therushoftheriversoundeddistinctlyfromwithout,eventheshakingofthefrontpartofthedwellingbythedistantgalebecameperceptible.

Anangryflashsprangforaninstanttotheyoungassistant"seye,butitmetthecautiousglanceofhisfriend,andtogetherbothdiscreetlysoughtthetable.Thetwogirlsaloneremainedwhiteandcollected."Willyougoonwithmyfortune,Mr.Grant?"saidPhemiequietly.

Acertainrespect,perhapsnotbeforeobservable,wassuggestedinthesurveyor"stoneashesmilinglyreplied,"Certainly,Iwasonlywaitingforyoutoshowyourconfidenceinme,"andtookupthecards.

Mr.Harkuttcoughed."Itlooksasifthatblamedwindhadblownsuthin"looseinthestore,"hesaidaffectedly."IreckonI"llgoandsee."Hehesitatedamomentandthendisappearedinthepassage.Yetevenherehestoodirresolute,lookingatthecloseddoorbehindhim,andpassinghishandoverhisstillflushedface.

Presentlyheslowlyandabstractedlyascendedtheflightofsteps,enteredthesmallerpassagethatledtothebackdooroftheshopandopenedit.

Hewasatfirstalittlestartledatthehalooflightfromthestillglowingstove,whichthegreaterobscurityofthelongroomhadheightenedratherthandiminished.Thenhepassedbehindthecounter,butheretheboxofbiscuitswhichoccupiedthecentreandcastashadowoveritcompelledhimtogropevaguelyforwhathesought.Thenhestoppedsuddenly,thepaperhehadjustfounddroppingfromhisfingers,andsaidsharply,——

"Who"sthere?"

"Me,pop."

"JohnMilton?"

"Yes,sir."

"Whatthedevilareyoudoin"there,sir?"

"Readin"."

Itwastrue.Theboywashalfreclininginamostdistortedpostureontwochairs,hisfigureindeepshadow,buthisbookwasraisedabovehisheadsoastocatchtheredglowofthestoveontheprintedpage.Eventhenhisfather"sangryinterruptionscarcelydivertedhispreoccupation;heraisedhimselfinhischairmechanically,withhiseyesstillfixedonhisbook.Seeingwhichhisfatherquicklyregainedthepaper,butcontinuedhisobjurgation.

"Howdareyou?Clearofftobed,willyou!Doyouhearme?

Prettygoin"son,"headdedasiftojustifyhisindignation.

"Sneakin"inhereand——andlyin""roundatthistimeo"night!

Why,ifIhadn"tcomeinhereto"——

"What?"askedtheboymechanically,catchingvaguelyattheunfinishedsentenceandstaringautomaticallyatthepaperinhisfather"shand.

"Nothin",sir!Gotobed,Itellyou!Willyou?Whatareyoustandin"gawpin"at?"continuedHarkuttfuriously.

Theboyregainedhisfeetslowlyandpassedhisfather,butnotwithoutnoticingwiththesamelistlessyetineffaceableperceptionofchildhoodthathewashurriedlyconcealingthepaperinhispocket.Withthesameyouthfulinconsequence,wonderingatthismorethanattheinterruption,whichwasnonovelevent,hewentslowlyoutoftheroom.

Harkuttlistenedtotheretreatingtreadofhisbarefeetinthepassageandthencarefullylockedthedoor.Takingthepaperfromhispocket,andborrowingtheideahehadjustobjurgatedinhisson,heturnedittowardsthedullglowofthestoveandattemptedtoreadit.Butperhapslackingthepatienceaswellasthekeenersightofyouth,hewasforcedtorelightthecandlewhichhehadleftonthecounter,andreperusedthepaper.Yes!therewascertainlynomistake!Herewastheactualdescriptionofthepropertywhichthesurveyorhadjustindicatedasthefutureterminusofthenewrailroad,andhereitwasconveyedtohim——

DanielHarkutt!Whatwasthat?Somebodyknocking?Whatdidthiscontinualinterruptionmean?Anoddsuperstitiousfearnowmingledwithhisirritation.

Thesoundappearedtocomefromthefrontshutters.Itsuddenlyoccurredtohimthatthelightmightbevisiblethroughthecrevices.Hehurriedlyextinguishedit,andwenttothedoor.

"Who"sthere?"

"Me,——Peters.Wanttospeaktoyou."

Mr.Harkuttwithevidentreluctancedrewthebolts.Thewind,stillboisterousandbesieging,didtherest,andprecipitatelypropelledPetersthroughthecarefullyguardedopening.Buthissurpriseatfindinghimselfinthedarknessseemedtoforestallanyexplanationofhisvisit.

"Well,"hesaidwithanoddminglingofreproachandsuspicion."I

declareIsawalightherejustthisminit!That"squeer."

"Yes,Iputitoutjustnow.Iwasgoin"away,"repliedHarkutt,withill-disguisedimpatience.

"What!beenhereeversince?"

"No,"saidHarkuttcurtly.

"Well,Iwanttospeaktoyeabout"Lige.Seein"thecandleshinin"throughthechinksIthoughthemightbestillwithye.Ifheain"t,itlooksbad.Lightup,can"tye!Iwanttoshowyousomething."

TherewasaperemptorinessinhistonethatstruckHarkuttdisagreeably,butobservingthathewascarryingsomethinginhishand,hesomewhatnervouslyre-litthecandleandfacedhim.

Petershadahatinhishand.Itwas"Lige"s!

""Boutanhourafterwefellerslefthere,"saidPeters,"Iheardtherattlin"ofhoofsontheroad,andthenitseemedtostopjustbymyhouse.Iwentoutwithalantern,and,darnmyskin!iftherewarn"t"Lige"shoss,thesaddleempty,and"Ligenowhere!I

lookedroundandcalledhim——butnothingweretobeseen.Thinkin"

hemighthaveslippedoff——tho"ezageneralruledrunkenmendon"t,andheisagoodrider——Ifolloweddowntheroad,lookin"

forhim.Ikeptonfollerin"itdowntoyourrun,halfamilebelow."

"But,"beganHarkutt,withaquicknervouslaugh,"youdon"treckonthatbecauseofthathe"——

"Holdon!"saidPeters,grimlyproducingarevolverfromhisside-

pocketwiththestockandbarrelcloggedandstreakedwithmud."I

foundTHATtoo,——andlook!onebarreldischarged!And,"headdedhurriedly,asapproachingaclimax,"lookye,——whatInat"rallytookforwetfromtherain——insidethathat——was——blood!"

"Nonsense!"saidHarkutt,puttingthehatasidewithanewfastidiousness."Youdon"tthink"——

"Ithink,"saidPeters,loweringhisvoice,"Ithink,byGod!HE"S

BINANDDONEIT!"

"No!"

"Sure!Oh,it"sallverywellforBillingsandtherestofthatconceitedcrowdtosneerandslingtheirideasof"Ligegen"rallyastheydidjessnowhere,——butI"dlike"emtoseeTHAT."ItwasdifficulttotellifMr.Peters"triumphantdelightinconfutinghislatecompanions"theorieshadnotevenusurpedinhismindtheimportanceofthenewshebrought,asithadofanyhumansympathywithit.

"Lookhere,"returnedHarkuttearnestly,yetwithasingularlyclearedbrowandamorenaturalmanner."YououghttotakethemthingsovertoSquireKerby"s,rightoff,andshow"emtohim.Youkintellhimhowyouleft"Ligehere,andsaythatIcanprovebymydaughterthathewentawayabouttenminutesafter,——atleast,notmorethanfifteen."Likeallunprofessionalhumanity,Mr.

Harkutthadanexaggeratedconceptionofthemajestyofunimportantdetailintheeyeofthelaw."I"dgowithyoumyself,"headdedquickly,"butI"vegotcompany——strangers——here."

"Howdidhelookwhenheleft,——kinderwild?"suggestedPeters.

Harkutthadbeguntofeeltheprudenceofpresentreticence.

"Well,"hesaid,cautiously,"YOUsawhowhelooked."

"Youwasn"troughwithhim?——thatmighthavesenthimoff,youknow,"saidPeters.

"No,"saidHarkutt,forgettinghimselfinaquickindignation,"no,Inotonlytreatedhimtoanotherdrink,butgavehim"——hestoppedsuddenlyandawkwardly.

"Eh?"saidPeters.

"Somegoodadvice,——youknow,"saidHarkutt,hastily."Butcome,you"dbetterhurryovertothesquire"s.YouknowYOU"VEmadethediscovery;YOURevidenceisimportant,andthere"salawthatobligesyoutogiveinformationatonce."

Theexcitementofdiscoveryandthetriumphoverhisdisputantsbeingspent,Peters,aftertheSidonfashion,evidentlydidnotrelishactivityasaduty."Youknow,"hesaiddubiously,"hemightn"tbedead,afterall."

Harkuttbecameatrifledistant."Youknowyourownopinionofthething,"herepliedafterapause."You"vecircumstantialevidenceenoughtoseethesquire,andsetotherstoworkonit;and,"headdedsignificantly,"you"vedoneyoursharethen,andcanwipeyourhandsofit,eh?"

"That"sso,"saidPeters,eagerly."I"lljustrunovertothesquire."

"Andonaccountofthewomenfolks,youknow,andthestrangershere,I"llsaynothin"aboutitto-night,"addedHarkutt.

Petersnoddedhishead,andtakingupthehatoftheunfortunateElijahwithacertainhesitation,asifhefearedithadalreadylostitsdramaticintensityasawitness,disappearedintothestormanddarknessagain.Alurkinggustofwindlyinginambushsomewhereseemedtoswoopdownonhimasiftopreventfurtherindecisionandwhirlhimawayinthedirectionofthejustice"shouse;andMr.Harkuttshutthedoor,boltedit,andwalkedaimlesslybacktothecounter.

Fromaslow,deliberateandcautiousman,heseemedtohavechangedwithinanhourtoanirresoluteandcapriciousone.Hetookthepaperfromhispocket,and,unlockingthemoneydrawerofhiscounter,foldedintoasmallcompassthatwhichnowseemedtobethelasttestamentofElijahCurtis,andplaceditinarecess.

Thenhewenttothebackdoorandpaused,thenreturned,reopenedthemoneydrawer,tookoutthepaperandagainbuttoneditinhishippocket,standingbythestoveandstaringabstractedlyatthedullglowofthefire.Heevenwentthroughthemechanicalprocessofrakingdowntheashes,——solelytogaintimeandasanexcusefordelayingsomeothernecessaryaction.

Hewasthinkingwhatheshoulddo.Hadthequestionofhisrighttoretainandmakeuseofthatpaperbeensquarelyofferedtohimanhourago,hewouldwithoutdoubthavedecidedthatheoughtnottokeepit.Evennow,lookingatitasanabstractprinciple,hedidnotdeceivehimselfintheleast.ButNaturehasthereprehensiblehabitofnotpresentingthesequestionstoussquarelyandfairly,anditisremarkablethatinmostofouroffendingtheabstractprincipleisneverthedirectissue.Mr.

Harkuttwasconsciousofhavingbeenunwillinglyledstepbystepintoadifficult,nottosaydishonest,situation,andagainsthisownseeking.HehadneveraskedElijahtosellhimtheproperty;

hehaddistinctlydeclinedit;ithadevenbeenforceduponhimassecurityforthepittancehesofreelygavehim.Thisproved(tohimself)thathehimselfwashonest;itwasonlythecircumstancesthatwerequeer.OfcourseifElijahhadlived,he,Harkutt,mighthavetriedtodrivesomebargainwithhimbeforethenewsoftherailroadsurveycameout——forTHATwasonlybusiness.ButnowthatElijahwasdead,whowouldbeapennytheworseorbetterbuthimselfifhechosetoconsiderthewholethingasaluckyspeculation,andhisgiftoffivedollarsasthepricehepaidforit?Nobodycouldthinkthathehadcalculatedupon"Lige"ssuicide,anymorethanthatthepropertywouldbecomevaluable.Infactifitcametothat,if"LigehadreallycontemplatedkillinghimselfasahopelessbankruptaftertakingHarkutt"smoneyasaloan,itwasaswindleonhis——Harkutt"s——good-nature.Heworkedhimselfintoarage,whichhefeltwasinnatelyvirtuous,atthistyrannyofcoldprincipleoverhisownwarm-heartedinstincts,butifitcametotheLAW,he"dstandbylawandnotsentiment.He"djustletthem——bywhichhevaguelymeanttheworld,Tasajara,andpossiblyhisownconscience——seethathewasn"tasentimentalfool,andhe"dfreezeontothatpaperandthatproperty!

Onlyheoughttohavespokenoutbefore.Heoughttohavetoldthesurveyoratoncethatheownedtheland.Heoughttohavesaid:

"Why,that"smyland.Iboughtitofthatdrunken"LigeCurtisforasongandoutofcharity."Yes,thatwastheonlyrealtrouble,andthatcamefromhisowngoodness,hisownextravagantsenseofjusticeandright,——hisowncursedgood-nature.Yet,onsecondthoughts,hedidn"tknowwhyhewasobligedtotellthesurveyor.

Timeenoughwhenthecompanywantedtobuytheland.Assoonasitwassettledthat"Ligewasdeadhe"dopenlyclaimtheproperty.

Butwhatifhewasn"tdead?ortheycouldn"tfindhisbody?orhehadonlydisappeared?Hisplain,matter-of-factfacecontractedanddarkened.Ofcoursehecouldn"taskthecompanytowaitforhimtosettlethatpoint.Hehadthepowertodisposeofthepropertyunderthatpaper,and——heshoulddoit.If"Ligeturnedup,thatwasanothermatter,andheand"Ligecouldarrangeitbetweenthem.Hewasquitefirmhere,andoddlyenoughquiterelievedingettingridofwhatappearedonlyasimplequestionofdetail.Heneversuspectedthathewascontemplatingtheoneirretrievablestep,andsummarilydismissingthewholeethicalquestion.

Heturnedawayfromthestove,openedthebackdoor,andwalkedwithamoredeterminedstepthroughthepassagetothesitting-