UNMASKED
All the morning Jasper Randall was busy hoeing potatoes in the large
field near the main highway. He liked the work, for he was alone and
could give himself up to thought as he drove the hoe into the yielding
earth. His task suited him well, and as he tore out innumerable weeds,
slashing down a big one here and another there, he was in reality
overcoming and defeating opponents of the brain. They were all there
between the rows, and he could see them so plainly. The lesser ones he
could sweep away at one stroke, but that quitch grass was more
difficult to conquer. He could cut it off, but its roots would remain
firmly embedded in the ground and would spring forth again. It was a
nasty, persistent weed. Little wonder that he attacked it most
fiercely, for it reminded him of the weed of injustice with which he
had been contending for years. Other enemies, like the smaller weeds,
he could overcome, but injustice, that quitch grass of life, was what
stung him to fury. Little did Simon Squabbles, the tight old
skin-flint, realise that the lone man working in his potato field was
doing the work of two men that morning, and at the same time slaying a
whole battalion of bitter enemies. The contest was continued during
the afternoon. The quitch grass was thicker now, and the struggle
harder. With savage delight Jasper had just torn out a whole handful
and had shaken it free from its earth as a dog would shake a rat, when
the honk of an auto caused him to look toward the road. As he did so,
his face underwent a marvellous transformation. The car was only a few
seconds in passing, but it was sufficient for him to recognise the
occupants, see the amused expression upon their faces, and hear their
salutation of "Spuds," as they sped by. His strong, supple body
trembled as he leaned for a while upon his hoe and gazed down the road
after the rapidly disappearing car. He must have remained thus for
several minutes oblivious to everything else. Neither did he see his
hard taskmaster watching him in the distance. But when he again
resumed his hoeing he worked more fiercely than ever, and there was
danger at times lest the frail hoe should break beneath his tremendous
strokes. Up one row and down another he moved all the afternoon. He
seemed like a giant tearing up the earth, rather than a man performing
a prosaic task. When toward evening the sky darkened, the wind began
to blow and the rain to fall, he hardly noticed it at first. Only when
the earth became mucky and stuck constantly to his hoe, did he leave
his work and go across the field toward the barn. It was time, anyway,
to help with the chores. He was anxious to get through that he might
go home. He was glad that it was Saturday, for he would have the next
day free.
It was dark by the time his tasks were done, and then he went to the
house for his week's pay. He had agreed to work for a dollar and a
half a day, and get his own breakfast and supper at home. Thus he had
nine dollars coming to him for his week's work. He was surprised,
therefore, when Simon Squabbles handed him out only eight dollars and
fifty cents.
"There is some mistake here," Jasper remarked as he counted over the
money. "I want fifty cents more."
"That's all you're goin' to get," Simon replied. "I saw ye loafin'
this afternoon when ye should have been workin', an' 'no work, no pay'
is my motto."
"Loafing, do you say?" Jasper asked, thinking that he had not heard
aright.
"Sure. Didn't I see ye leanin' on yer hoe watchin' that car which went
down the road? An' ye stood there a long time, too."
Into Jasper's eyes leaped an angry fire. He understood now the man he
had to deal with. So he had been watching him, and he had taken no
account of the work he had done all day.
"You were spying upon me, eh?" he retorted. "Didn't you see how I did
the work of two men to-day?"
"All I know is that you were loafin' when I saw ye, an' that was
enough."
"Look here, Simon Squabbles," and Jasper stepped close to his employer,
"if you were not as old as you are, I'd tie you into a bowknot in the
twinkling of an eye. You're not fit to be called a man, and not
another stroke of work do you get from me. Keep the fifty cents, if it
will do you any good. I am trying to make an honest living, but
creatures such as you are the ones who make it almost impossible."
The blood surged through Jasper's veins as he plodded along the muddy
road towards his humble cabin. The rain beat upon him and soaked his
clothes, but he did not seem to heed it, so filled was his mind with
the contemptible meanness of old Squabbles. He was in no pleasant
mood, and his hands often clenched hard together as he moved through
the darkness. What he was to do in the future, he did not know.
Neither did he much care. A reckless spirit was upon him. The whole
world was seething with injustice, so he believed. He had tried to be
honest, to make his way, but he had been foiled at every step. Why
should he try any longer? Simon Squabbles prospered through injustice;
Dick Sinclair could ride along in his car, dressed in the height of
fashion, while he had to eke out a precarious living by hoeing
potatoes. Dick's father had made his money in an unscrupulous manner,
and was held up as a shrewd business man. Would it not be as well for
him to hurl himself into the game and win out, no matter how?
Thinking thus, he came near his cabin, when a light arrested his
attention. He stopped short in his tracks and peered through the
darkness. At first he believed that he must be mistaken. But no, it
shone steadily before him, and he knew that some one was there. The
thought made him angry, and he hurried forward, determined to make an
example of the one who had dared to meddle with his property.
Reaching the building, he peered cautiously through the uncurtained
window. As he did so, his anger suddenly ceased when he beheld the
pathetic scene within, of an old man lying asleep upon the couch and a
young girl patiently watching by his side. Why they were there he did
not know, though he felt certain that great necessity must have driven
them to take refuge in a strange cabin. He recognised old David as the
man he had met that night on the road listening to the voice of Break
Neck Falls. He knew that he had been sold to Jim Goban for one year,
and the transaction had rankled in his soul for days. The girl he did
not know, but she seemed to him like a ministering angel watching over
the slumber of the sleeping man. This thought caused him to study her
more intently, for notwithstanding his strength and independence of
mind, he could not forget the pictures he had seen and the stories he
had heard as a child of angels coming to earth on special deeds of
mercy. He banished this idea, however, in an instant, and even smiled
at his own foolishness as he turned away from the window and moved
around the corner of the cabin.
He was about to push open the door and enter when a sudden notion came
into his mind which caused him to pause. He stood there with the rain
beating upon him as he thought over the idea. Then he stepped toward
the door and gave a gentle tap. In a few seconds Betty stood before
him, peering into the darkness. The sight of the large man standing
there caused her to start and draw somewhat back.
"Excuse me," Jasper began, "but could you give me shelter? It is a
rough night and I am wet and hungry. I am sorry to disturb you, but I
saw the light from the road and knew that some one was living here."
"Come in," the girl at once replied. "We have a good fire and supper
is all ready, such as it is," and she gave a little laugh as she moved
back into the room. "We are strangers, too, and I do not know what the
owner will say when he comes back and finds us here."
"Oh, I shall take care of you," Jasper returned. "He won't make a fuss
when he sees me. If he does, we'll pitch him out of the door, eh?"
"I guess you could do it all right," and Betty smiled as she looked at
him. "Mr. David will be so pleased to see you when he wakes. He likes
good company."
"How do you know I am good company?" Jasper asked. "Maybe I'm as cross
as two sticks."
"Well, then, you can't stay if you are."
"You couldn't put me out, could you?"
"Couldn't I, though? I guess you don't know me. Jim Goban once said
that I could beat the devil with my tongue alone, and I guess Jim ought
to know by this time what I'm like when I get my ginger up. But you're
not that kind of a man. I can tell by your eyes that you're all right.
If you're a little cranky now, it's because you're hungry. As soon as
you get something to eat you'll be as sweet as molasses candy. Most
men are that way."
The sound of voices woke old David, and sitting suddenly up he looked
inquiringly around the room as if uncertain where he was.
"Don't be afraid, Mr. David," Betty assured him. "Supper's all ready,
and we have a visitor as hard up as we are to share it with us. So
come at once and let us get through."
Jasper was greatly amused at the way Betty took full possession of
everything in the place. There was nothing forward about her, for she
seemed more like a grown-up woman than a girl. He admired her
confident and buoyant manner, as well as the thoughtful and deferential
way she looked after the old man. The best on the table was for him
and he had to be served first. She treated him sometimes as a child,
but more often as a superior being. He noted the look of reverential
respect in her eyes as she turned them upon him, and he wondered.
During the meal David acted the part of a perfect gentleman. His
manners could not have been better had he been at a royal banquet
instead of a most humble repast in a rude cabin. He asked Jasper no
questions but talked merely about his experience upon the river that
afternoon. He was somewhat anxious lest the owner of the cabin should
return and resent their intrusion. Jasper endeavoured to allay his
fears, reminding him that no one in his senses would be angry at people
seeking refuge on such a night.
During the meal Betty had been observing Jasper quite closely, and once
the semblance of a twinkle might have been detected in her eyes. She
made no remark, however, as to what she was thinking, but while the men
smoked when supper was over, she busied herself washing up the few
dishes.
Under the soothing influence of the tobacco David became talkative. He
was pleased to have so attentive a listener as Jasper, and unfolded to
him his wonderful secret.
"Mr. David is going to be a very rich man some day," Betty remarked, as
she paused in wiping the dishes.
"I am pleased to hear that," Jasper replied. "Money is the only thing
that counts these days."
"Yes," the girl continued, "he is going to be very rich, and I am going
to look after him. We shall have such a nice little house and be so
very, very happy."
While Betty was talking, the old man fumbled in an inside pocket and
brought forth several papers.
"See," and he held one of them up so the light of the lamp would fall
upon it, "it is all here. You can understand my plan much better from
this. Here is Break Neck Falls, and just below it the plant will be
placed. From there power will radiate throughout the entire country.
The whole thing is so simple that it is a wonder to me that it has not
been thought of before."
"Isn't it great!" Betty exclaimed, looking over the old man's shoulder.
"And to think that Mr. David worked it all out himself."
As Jasper sat and watched the two animated faces before him, he had not
the heart to say a word that would in any way dampen their enthusiasm.
Nevertheless, it seemed to him so ridiculous that old David's scheme
could ever meet with any success. How was he to interest people who
had the means to carry his plan into effect? But if the thought of
doing great things would give him any happiness, he would be the last
one to remove such a hope.
The storm raged outside and the wind beat against the window as the
three sat and talked. The room was warm and cosy, and Jasper was
pleased to have these two visitors on such a lonely night. Simon
Squabbles and his meanness he forgot for awhile as he listened to Betty
as she told him of her home life. It was just what he needed to take
him out of himself, and to make him think of others. But when the girl
spoke of Lois and how she had been with them that afternoon on the
river, he became doubly interested.
"Oh, you must see her," Betty exclaimed. "She is the most wonderful
person I ever saw. Isn't it strange that you have never met her!"
"Why, what chance have I had?" Jasper asked. "Anyway, she wouldn't
want anything to do with such a rough fellow as I am."
"Indeed she would. She's not that kind; there's nothing stuckup about
her. Maybe you'll see her passing some day. She might call, too, for
she is so friendly."
"Call! What do you mean? How could she call upon me if I am miles
away from this place?"
"Oh, but you won't be. You'll be right here where you have been for
some time."
Into Jasper's eyes came a look of surprise, and he felt his face flush
under the girl's keen scrutiny.
"There, I knew I was right," she laughed in glee.
"You thought you could deceive me, did you?"
"Why, how in the world did you know that I live here?" Jasper asked.
"Did anybody tell you?"
"No, certainly not. But the Lord didn't give Betty Bean eyes and a
mind for nothing. Who else would be poking around this place on a
night like this but the owner? And didn't you know where your dry coat
was when you came in? and your slippers? and your pipe and tobacco?
and----"
"There, there, you have produced evidence enough, and I plead guilty,"
Jasper laughed. He was greatly amused at the girl's quickness. "You
are not offended, are you, at the little joke I played upon you?"
"Oh, no, not all. But next time you do anything like that try it upon
a man. A woman's eyes are pretty sharp, and it's hard to deceive her.
Mine are, anyway."
David had listened to this conversation and slowly the truth dawned
upon him that the owner of the cabin was before him.
"I wish to apologise, sir," he began, "for our rudeness in entering
your house. It was only necessity which compelled us to do so, I
assure you, and when I am in a position, I shall recompense you
handsomely for the entertainment to-night."
"Please do not say a word about it," Jasper replied. "I am very
thankful that you have been able to make use of my humble abode. I
have enjoyed your company very much. But I think it is time for us to
retire, as you need rest. The girl can use that room there, while you
can sleep upon that cot."
"But what about yourself?" David inquired.
"Oh, I shall make a place for myself right by the stove. I shall be
very comfortable there."
David at first refused to listen to such an arrangement, but Jasper was
determined and claimed a host's privilege of making his guests as
comfortable as possible. He sat for some time at the little table
after David and Betty had gone to sleep. He dwelt long and carefully
upon the rude plan the old man had shown him. The more he studied it,
the more convinced he became that there was a great deal in it after
all. But it would mean much money, and he sighed as he at length blew
out the light, stretched himself upon the floor, and drew a great coat
over his body.