COUSINS MEET
With the aid of a tiny looking-glass a young woman was powdering her
nose. Lane interrupted her to ask if he might see Mr. Cunningham.
"Name, please?" she parroted pertly, and pressed a button in the
switchboard before her.
Presently she reached for the powder-puff again. "Says to come right
in. Door 't end o' the hall."
Kirby entered. A man sat at a desk telephoning. He was smooth-shaven
and rather heavy-set, a year or two beyond thirty, with thinning hair
on the top of his head. His eyes in repose were hard and chill. From
the conversation his visitor gathered that he was a captain in the Red
Cross drive that was on.
As he hung up the receiver the man rose, brisk and smiling, hand
outstretched. "Glad to meet you, Cousin Kirby. When did you reach
town? And how long are you going to stay?"
"Got in hour an' a half ago. How are you, James?"
"Busy, but not too busy to meet old friends. Let me see. I haven't
seen you since you were ten years old, have I?"
"I was about twelve. It was when my father moved to Wyoming."
"Well, I'm glad to see you. Where you staying? Eat lunch with me
to-morrow, can't you? I'll try to get Jack too."
"Suits me fine," agreed Kirby.
"Anything I can do for you in the meantime?"
"Yes. I want to see Uncle James."
There was a film of wariness in the eyes of the oil broker as he looked
at the straight, clean-built young cattleman. He knew that the strong
face, brown as Wyoming, expressed a pungent personality back of which
was dynamic force. What did Lane want with his uncle? They had
quarreled. His cousin knew that. Did young Lane expect him to back
his side of the quarrel? Or did he want to win back favor with James
Cunningham, Senior, millionaire?
Kirby smiled. He guessed what the other was thinking. "I don't want
to interfere in your friendship with him. All I need is his address
and a little information. I've come to have another row with him, I
reckon."
The interest in Cunningham's eyes quickened. He laughed. "Aren't you
in bad enough already with Uncle? Why another quarrel?"
"This isn't on my own account. There's a girl in his office--"
A rap on the door interrupted Kirby. A young man walked into the room.
He was a good-looking young exquisite, dark-eyed and black-haired. His
clothes had been made by one of the best tailors in New York.
Moreover, he knew how to wear them.
James Cunningham, Junior, introduced him to Kirby as his cousin Jack.
After a few moments of talk the broker reverted to the subject of their
previous talk.
"Kirby was just telling me that he has come to Denver to meet Uncle
James," he explained to his brother. "Some difficulty with him, I
understand."
Jack Cunningham's black eyes fastened on his cousin. He waited for
further information. It was plain he was interested.
"I'm not quite sure of my facts," Lane said. "But there's evidence to
show that he has ruined a young girl in his office. She practically
admits that he's the man. I happen to be a friend of her family, an'
I'm goin' to call him to account. He can't get away with it."
Kirby chanced to be looking at his cousin Jack. What he saw in that
young man's eyes surprised him. There were astonishment, incredulity,
and finally a cunning narrowing of the black pupils.
It was James who spoke. His face was grave. "That's a serious charge,
Kirby," he said. "What is the name of the young woman?"
"I'd rather not give it--except to Uncle James himself."
"Better write it," suggested Jack with a reminiscent laugh. "He's a
bit impetuous. I saw him throw a man down the stairs yesterday.
Picked the fellow up at the foot of the flight. He certainly looked as
though he'd like to murder our dear uncle."
"What I'd like to know is this," said Lane. "What sort of a reputation
has Uncle James in this way? Have you ever heard of his bein' in
anything of this sort before?"
"No, I haven't," James said promptly.
Jack shrugged. "I wouldn't pick nunky for exactly a moral man," he
said flippantly. "His idea of living is to grab all the easy things he
can."
"Where can I see him most easily? At his office?" asked Kirby.
"He drove down to Colorado Springs to-day on business. At least he
told me he was going. Don't know whether he expects to get back
to-night or not. He lives at the Paradox Apartments," Jack said.
"Prob'ly I'd better see him there rather than at his office."
"Hope you have a pleasant time with the old boy," Jack murmured.
"Don't think I'd care to be a champion of dames where he's concerned.
He's a damned cantankerous old brute. I'll say that for him."
James arranged a place of meeting for luncheon next day. The young
cattleman left. He knew from the fidgety manner of Jack that he had
some important business he was anxious to talk over with his brother.