I'm about to blow up. That's all."
"Woman, eh?"
Kirk grinned. "It has taken months, and I'd begun to think I wasn't
wanted. Oh, I've had a battle."
"Anybody I know?"
"Yes, but I can't talk about her. There's a man in the case, see! I'm
going slow to start with."
Runnels, who had never seen Kirk with any woman except Edith Cortlandt,
formed his own conclusions, helped a bit, perhaps, by the memory of
that conversation with John Weeks on the day of their ride across the
Isthmus. That these conclusions were not pleasing to him, he showed
when he returned to his office. He stood an instant in thought, looking
rather stern, then murmured, half aloud: "That's one thing I wouldn't
stand for."
Kirk had hard work to refrain from shaving himself twice that evening,
so overcareful was he about his toilet, yet his excitement was as
nothing compared to that of Allan, who looked on with admiration
tempered by anxious criticism. The boy, it seemed, appropriated to
himself the entire credit for the happy ending of this affair.
"It will be a grand wedding, sar," he exclaimed. "H'Allan will be there
for giving you away."
"You don't know enough about me to give me away," Kirk returned,
lightly.
"I shall be needing some h'expensive garments for the ceremony. I would
h'ahsk you to be so kind--"
"Not too fast. It hasn't gone quite that far yet."
"But I shall need to have those garments made by a tailor, and that
will require time. They will be made precisely to resemble yours, then
nobody can tell h'us apart."
"That's considered genuine flattery, I believe."
"Would you do me a favor, Master h'Auntony?"
"Surest thing you know."
"I shall be waiting in the street to-night. Could you h'arrange to
h'ahsk those fatal questions h'adjoining the window so that I might
h'overhear?"
"NO! And I don't want you prowling around outside, either. You're not
to follow me, understand! I have enough on my mind as it is."
The residence of Senor Garavel is considered one of the show places of
Panama. It is of Spanish architecture, built of brick and stucco, and
embellished with highly ornamental iron balconies. It stands upon a
corner overlooking one of the several public squares, guarded from the
street by a breast-high stone wall crowned with a stout iron fence.
Diagonally opposite and running the full length of the block is a huge
weather-stained cathedral, the front of which is decorated with holy
figures, each standing by itself in a separate niche. In the open
church tower are great chimes which flood the city with melody, and in
the corner fronting upon the intersecting street is a tiny shrine with
an image of the Madonna smiling downward. It is only a little recess in
the wall, with barely room for a few kneeling figures, but at night its
bright radiance illumines the darkness round about and lends the spot a
certain sanctity.
Contrary to the usual custom, the Garavel mansion has a narrow yard,
almost smothered in tropical plants that crowd one another through the
iron bars and nod at the passers-by. Riotous vines half screen the
balconies: great overhanging red-tiled eaves give the place an air of
coziness which the verdure enhances. A subdued light was glowing from
the lower windows when Anthony mounted the steps and rang.
An Indian woman, clad in barbarous colors, her bare feet encased in
sandals, admitted him, and the banker himself met him in the hall. He
led the way into a great barren parlor, where, to Kirk's embarrassment,
he found quite a company gathered. His host formally presented him to
them, one after another. There were Senor Pedro Garavel, a brother of
Andres; Senora Garavel, his wife, who was fat and short of wind; the
two Misses Garavel, their daughters; then a little, wrinkled, brown old
lady in stiff black silk who spoke no English. Kirk gathered that she
was somebody's aunt or grandmother. Last of all, Gertrudis came shyly
forward and put her hand in his, then glided back to a seat behind the
old lady. Just as they were seating themselves another member of the
family appeared--this time a second cousin from Guatemala. Like the
grandmother, he was as ignorant of English as Kirk was of Spanish, but
he had a pair of frightfully intense black eyes with which he devoured
the American. These orbs exercised an unusual effect upon the caller;
they were unwinking, the lids were wide open, and the brilliance of the
pupils was heightened by the startling whiteness surrounding them. They
were like the eyes of a frightened horse.
It was very trying to be the target of so many glances and to know that
he was being studied like a bug beneath a microscope, yet Kirk managed
to keep a degree of self-possession, making up his mind to display a
modest reticence that could not help appearing admirable. But he soon
found that this did not suit. Instead of resuming their conversation,
the entire assemblage of Garavels waited calmly for their caller to
begin, and he realized in a panic that he was expected to make
conversation. He cast about madly for a topic.
His host helped him to get started, and he did fairly well until one of
the Misses Garavel began to translate his remarks to the old lady and
the ferocious cousin from Guatemala. As their replies were not rendered
into English, he was left stranded. He knew that his whole salvation
lay in properly impressing his auditors, so he began again and
floundered through a painful monologue. It was not at all pleasant. It
was like being initiated into some secret order. These strange people
sitting so stiff and watchful formed an inquisitorial body. The night
suddenly turned off swelteringly hot; perspiration began to trickle
down his brow, his collar became a tourniquet, and he cast appealing
glances at the silent figure hidden demurely behind the rustly old lady
in the black harness. The look of mingled pity and understanding she
gave him somewhat revived his fainting spirit, and he determined to
stick it out until the family were ready to retire and allow him a word
with her alone. But, idle hope! Gradually it dawned upon him that they
had no such intention. To relieve the strain, he became facetious and
told funny stories; but this was an unlucky experiment, for his
witticisms fell with a ghastly hollowness. No one laughed save the
grandmother and the Guatemalan cousin, who could not understand, and at
this Kirk fled helter-skelter from the realms of humor.
By now his collar had given up the struggle and lain limply down to
rest. The whole experience was hideous, yet he understood quite well
that these people were not making sport of him. All this was only a
part of their foreign customs. They were gentlefolk, reared to a
different code from his--that was all--and, since he had elected to
come among them, he could only suffer and be strong.
In time he became sufficiently inured to the situation to take in the
details of the room, which were truly markable. To begin with, the
parlor walls entirely lacked the sort of decoration to which he was
used; the furniture, costly and rare in itself, was arranged stiffly in
a square about the room, the precise geometrical centre being occupied
by a great urn of impressive ugliness. A richly carved mahogany
"what-not" against one wall was laden with sea-shells and other curios.
At various points about the room were many statuettes, vases, and
figures, of every conceivable size and shape--some of bisque, others of
common pottery, a few of exquisite marble--all standing upon the floor.
A tremendous French chandelier of sparkling crystal cascaded downward
from an American ceiling of pressed metal; at regular intervals around
the wall were panels painted to resemble marble. Crouched upon a rug in
one corner was a life-size figure of what seemed to be a tiger,
perfectly colored and made of porcelain. It had tremendous glass eyes,
larger even than the cousin's from Guatemala, and they shone with a
hypnotic intensity that was disturbing. Kirk wanted to kick it and cry
"Scat!" Hidden in other desolate quarters of the room were similar
studies in animal life. These anomalous surroundings by turns depressed
him and provoked an insane desire to laugh.
What he ever talked about during that evening he never quite
remembered. At one time the Cholo girl who had admitted him entered
noiselessly, bearing silver plates of fruit, and shortly afterward he
found himself trying to balance upon his knee a plate of pineapple
soaked in spice and wine, a fork, a napkin starched as stiffly as a
sheet of linoleum, and a piece of cake which crumbled at a look. It was
a difficult bit of juggling, but he managed to keep one or two of the
articles in the air almost continuously.
When it came time to leave he expected at least to be allowed a
farewell word or two with Gertrudis, but instead he was bowed out as
ceremoniously as he had been bowed in, and, finding himself at last in
the open, sighed with relief. He felt like a paroled prisoner, but he
thought of the girl's glance of sympathy and was instantly consoled. He
crossed slowly to the Plaza, pausing a moment for a good-night look at
the house, then, as he turned, he caught a glimpse of a figure slinking
into the shadows of the side-street, and smiled indulgently. Evidently
Allan had been unable to resist the temptation to follow, after all,
and had hung about hoping to overhear his hero at his best. But when he
had reached his quarters he was surprised to find the boy there ahead
of him.
"How did you beat me home?" he inquired.
"I have been waiting h'impatiently ever since you went out. To be sure,
I have had one little dream--"
"Didn't you follow me to the Garavels'?"
"Oh, boss! Never would I do such."
Seeing that the negro was honest, Kirk decided that somebody had been
spying upon him, but the matter was of so little consequence that he
dismissed it from his mind.
"And what said your female upon your proposal of marriage?" Allan
inquired. "Praise God, I shall h'expire of suspense if you do not
cha-at me the truth."
"Oh, there was a chorus of her relatives in the room. They sat in my
lap all the evening."
"Perhaps it is fartunate, after all. This senorita is rich 'ooman, and
therefar she would be h'expensive for us."
Kirk managed to drive him forth after some effort, and straightway
retired to dream of timid Spanish girls who peeped at him from behind
old ladies, porcelain tigers that laughed inanely at his jokes, and
Guatemalan gentlemen with huge hypnotic eyes of glass.
XXII
A CHALLENGE AND A CONFESSION
Although Runnels had spoken with confidence of the coming shake-up in
the railroad organization, it was not without a certain surprise that
he awoke one morning to find himself actively in charge of the entire
system. He lost no time in sending for Kirk, who took the news of their
joint advancement with characteristic equanimity.
"Now, there is nothing cinched yet, understand," the Acting
Superintendent cautioned him. "We're all on probation, but if we make
good, I think we'll stick."
"I'll do my best to fill your shoes."
"And I have the inside track on Blakeley, in spite of Colonel Jolson,
so I'm not alarmed. The break came sooner than I expected, and now that
we chaps are in control it's the chance of our lifetimes."
Kirk nodded. "You're entitled to all you get, but I've never quite
understood how I managed to forge ahead so fast. Why, there are dozens
of fellows here who know more than I, and who could do better. I've
been mighty lucky."
"You don't really call it luck, do you?" Runnels looked at him
curiously.
"I'm not conceited enough to think I'm a downright genius."
"Why, the Cortlandts engineered everything. It was they who arranged
your promotion to the office in the first place, and they're behind
this last affair. They have stood back of you at every step, and,
incidentally; back of me and the other boys."
"When you say 'they' you of course mean 'she'."
"Of course. One has to recognize him, though--as the head of the
family. And he really did have a part in it, too; at least, if he had
been against us we never would have won."
"I can't pretend that I didn't suspect," said Kirk slowly, "but I did
hope I'd made good on my own merits."
Runnels laughed. "You have made good all right, or you couldn't go
forward; but this is a government job, and fellows like us aren't big
enough to get through on our own merits. One has to be a real
world-beater to do that. If the Cortlandts hadn't backed us, some other
chaps with influence would have stepped in above us. Take Blakeley, for
instance. He is nothing extra, and he doesn't know half as much about
this business as I do; but he's the brother-in-law of Colonel Jolson,
and he'd have landed the job sure if it hadn't been for our friends.
You'd better let your conscience take a nap."
"I'd like to show the Cortlandts that we appreciate what they've done,
but we can't openly thank her without humiliating him. I'd like to give
him something."
"Suppose we give him a quiet little supper, some night, and tell him
frankly how grateful we are. He's the sort to appreciate a thing like
that, and it would be a delicate way of thanking his wife, too."
"Good! I'll speak to the other fellows, and now the Acting Master of
Transportation is going to shake with the new Acting Superintendent,
and wish him every success."
Runnels grasped the outstretched hand.
"Say, Anthony," he said, "we're young and we have a start. I have what
you lack, and you have what I lack; if we stick together, we'll own a
railroad some day. Is it a go?"
"You bet!"
With a warm glow in his breast, the new Master of Transportation
plunged into his duties. He really was making a success, it seemed,
although it was a bit disappointing to learn that he owed so much of it
to Edith Cortlandt. At the same time he couldn't help thinking that his
efforts had entitled him to reasonable success, and, anyhow, it was
pleasant to feel that at no point in his scramble up the ladder had he
elbowed off some other man more deserving, perhaps, than he. This last
advancement, too, was very timely, for it would surely have its effect
upon Andres Garavel.
But his new work brought new troubles and worries. Runnels helped him
whenever he could, yet Kirk was left largely to his own devices, and
learned for the first time what real responsibility was like. He began
to sleep shorter hours; he concentrated with every atom of
determination in him; he drove himself with an iron hand. He attacked
his task from every angle, and with his fine constitution and unbounded
youthful energy he covered an amazing quantity of work. He covered it
so well, moreover, that Runnels complimented him.
This stress of labor served one purpose for which he was very grateful;
it separated him from Edith Cortlandt and took his mind from that
occurrence in the jungle. Ever since the day of his last ride with her,
he had been tortured with the most unpleasant thoughts. He confessed to
forgetting himself briefly that night at Taboga, but he had believed
that she understood--that she regarded him only as a chum and a
companion. Therefore her open surrender, coming so unexpectedly had
dumfounded him. As he looked back upon the incident now, it seemed
inconceivable, yet her words, her expression, her reckless abandon at
that moment, were too significant to allow of misunderstanding. Still,
by dint of determination and stern attention to his tasks, he was able
to put the matter almost wholly from his mind.
Soon after his promotion he received from Andres Garavel a warmly
worded note of congratulation, and some few days later an invitation to
dine, which he accepted eagerly.
The dinner proved to be another disappointing ordeal, for again he was
allowed no opportunity of speaking with Gertrudis, and had to content
himself with feasting his eyes upon her. But although the family were
present en masse, as on the former occasion, they unbent to a
surprising degree, and he found them truly gracious and delightful. He
realized, nevertheless, that he was under the closest scrutiny and upon
the strictest probation. The Garavels still held him at a noticeable
distance, and he was far from feeling wholly at ease.
Later in the evening he found himself alone with Chiquita and the old
Spanish lady, and, knowing that the latter could not understand a word
of his tongue, he addressed himself to the girl with some degree of
naturalness.
"I was sorry for you the last time, senor," she said, in reply to his
half-humorous complaint, "and yet it was fonny; you were so frightened."
"It was my first memorial service. I thought I was going to see you
alone."
"Oh, that is never allowed."
"Never? How am I going to ask you to marry me?"
Miss Garavel hid her blushing face behind her fan. "Indeed! You seem
capable of asking that absurd question under any circumstances."
"I wish you would straighten me out on some of your customs."
"What, for instance?"
"Why does the whole family sit around and watch me? I don't intend to
steal any bric-a-brac. They could search me just as well when I go out."
"They wish to satisfy themselves as to your character, perhaps."
"Yes, but a fellow feels guilty causing them to lose so much sleep."
She gave him an odd look, smiling timidly.
"As for to-night, do you attribute any meaning to my father's request
that you dine with us?"
"Of course. It means I wasn't blackballed at the first meeting, I
suppose. After I've become a regular member, and there is nothing
missed from the lodgerooms, I'll be allowed to proceed in the ordinary
manner."
She blushed delightfully again. "Since you are so ignorant of our ways
you should inquire at your earliest convenience. I would advise you,
perhaps, to learn Spanish."
"Will you teach me? I'll come every evening."
She did not answer, for the old lady began to show curiosity, and a
conversation in Spanish ensued which Kirk could not follow.
When it came time for their chaperon to leave, she excused herself with
royal dignity, and, going to the door, called Stephanie, the giant St.
Lucian woman. Not until the negress had entered did the grandmother
retire, which showed, so Kirk imagined, that even yet the Garavel
household had no more confidence in him than in a badgeless building
inspector. He was not grateful for the change, for he did not like
Stephanie, and, judging from the sombre suspicion of the black woman's
glances, the feeling was mutual. The conversation took perforce a less
personal nature in her presence, yet Kirk departed with a feeling of
exaltation. Beyond doubt his suit was progressing, slowly, perhaps, but
still progressing.
His understanding of Spanish customs received a considerable
enlargement on the following day, when he met Ramon Alfarez outside the
railroad office. Ramon had evidently waited purposely for him, and now
began to voice some unintelligible protest in the greatest excitement.
"You'll have to play it all over again," Kirk advised him. "I'm only
just learning to conjugate the verb 'amar.' What seems to be the
trouble this time?"
"Ha! For the moment I forgot your ignorance, but onderstan' this,
detestable person, it is time you shall answer to me."
"Cheerfully! Ask your questions slowly."
"Onderstan' further," chattered the Spaniard, "regardless of the
'appenings to me, it shall never come to pass. Soch disgraceful
occurrence shall never transpire; of that be assure', even if it exac'
the las' drops of blood in the veins of me. I 'ave despised you, senor,
an' so I 'ave neglec' to keel you, being busy with important affairs of
government. Bot, 'ow am I reward for those neglec'? Eh!" Alfarez
breathed ferociously through his nostrils.
"I don't know, I'm sure. What is your reward?"
"Very well are you aware, PIG."
"Nix on those pet names," the American ordered, gruffly.
"You 'ave insolt me," cried Ramon, furiously, "and now you 'ave the
insolence to interfere in my affairs." He paused dramatically. "Make it
yourself ready to fight on to-morrow."
"What's the use of putting it off? I couldn't make your weight in that
time. I'll do it now, if you say."
"No, no! Onderstan' we shall fight like gentlemen. I shall keel you
with any weapon you prefer."
"By Jove!" Kirk exclaimed, in amazement. "This is a challenge; you want
to fight a duel! Why, this reads like a book." He began to laugh, at
which Ramon became white and calm. "Listen," Kirk went on, "I'll tell
you what we'll do; we'll fight with fire-hose again. I suppose you want
satisfaction for that ducking."
"I prefer to shoot you, senor," the other declared, quietly. "Those
marriage shall never occur until first I walk upon your dead body. As
matter of honor I offer you this opportunity biffore it is too late."
"I guess you have been drinking. You're a little premature in talking
about my marriage, aren't you?"
"So! You fear to confess the truth! Oh, I am not to be deceive'. All
Panama is speaking of those engagements to Senorita Garavel. Come,
then, must I insolt you further?"
Kirk replied, dryly, looking the Spaniard over with, cold blue eyes.
"No! I think you've gone about far enough."
"You riffuse?" exclaimed Ramon, triumphantly.
"Look here!" said Kirk, "I've had enough of this." He advanced
threateningly, and the Spaniard nervously gave way. "I don't fight
duels; it's against the law. In my country it's a crime to kill a man
in cold blood; and we don't tie a fellow up and beat him when he's
helpless and then offer him the HONORABLE satisfaction of either
committing murder or being killed. They're not wearing duels this
season." His hands clenched involuntarily. "I don't want to hurt you,
Alfarez, but I may not be able to help it if you don't keep out of my
way."
He left the fiery little Panamanian still scowling and muttering
threats, and went his way wondering vaguely how his attentions to
Chiquita had become so quickly known. He was informed later in the
afternoon.
As he left the office for the day he was handed a note from Mrs.
Cortlandt requesting him to call at once, and, summoning a coach, he
was driven directly to her house. Unlike the Garavel home, the house
which the Cortlandts had leased was set upon the water-front, its rear
balcony overlooking the sea where it lapped the foundation of the city
wall. It was a delightful old place, shut off from the street by a yard
filled with flowering plants and shrubs, and, though flanked in true
Spanish fashion by stores and shops, it was roomy and comfortable.
Edith kept him waiting a moment before she descended, dressed for her
afternoon ride.
"You see, I haven't given up my horse in spite of your neglect," she
said, as she gave him her hand, "You got my note?"
"Yes, and I came straight from the office."
"I suppose you know what it is about and are wondering how I heard the
news."
"What news?"
"Your 'engagement.'" She laughed with an amusement that did not ring
quite true.
"You're the second one to speak about that. I'm not engaged."
"Of course not. Don't think for a moment I believed it. I was calling
on some Spanish people this afternoon and heard the report--I admit it
was a shock. When I learned the details I knew at once you ought to be
told before it developed into something embarrassing. Come into the
other room; there is a breeze from the water." She led him into the
parlor, from which the open windows, shielded now by drawn shutters,
gave egress to the rear porch with its chairs and hammock.
"Dear, dear! You foolish boy, you're always in trouble, aren't you? You
really don't deserve to be helped. Why, you have avoided me for weeks."
"The new arrangement has swamped us with work. I have had no time to go
out."
"Indeed! You had time to run after the first pretty Spanish face you
saw. I'm really angry, though I suppose I can't blame you. After all,
she is charming, in her way."
"You mean Miss Garavel?"
"Yes. Didn't you realize what you were doing?"
"I realized what I was trying to do."
"Naughty! But why select her of all people? There are dozens of others
who could amuse you and whose people would not object. Andres Garavel
isn't that sort; he is a rich man, he has political ambitions, he's a
very proud sort. Now, I suppose I must get you out of this difficulty
as best I can. You ought to be more careful."