THE REWARD
“I've heard about you,” said Luella, when on the next evening I made
my bow to her. “But I want to hear all about it from yourself. Tell me,
please.”
“Where shall I begin?” I asked, looking into the most charming of faces,
which shone before me.
“How stupid to ask! At the beginning, of course.”
“I was born of poor but honest parents”--I began.
Luella interrupted me with a laugh.
“How absurd you are! Anyhow, you can tell me about that later. Just
begin with the San Francisco beginning. Tell me why you came and all
about it.”
“Very good,” I said; “though really this part is much longer than the
other.”
Then I told her the story of my coming, of the murder of Henry Wilton,
of the struggles with death and difficulty that had given the spice of
variety to my life since I had come across the continent.
It was an inspiration to have such a listener. Under the encouragement
of her sympathy I found an unwonted flow of words and ideas. Laughter
and tears shone in her eyes as the ludicrous and sorrowful parts of my
experience touched her by turns. And at the end I found--I really don't
know how it happened--I found that I was clasping her hand and looking
up into her eyes in a trance of intoxication from the subtle magnetism
of her lovely presence.
For a minute we were silent.
“Oh,” she cried softly, withdrawing her hand, and looking dreamily
away, “I knew it was right--that it must be right. You have justified my
faith, and more!”
“I am repaid for all by those words,” I said. I am afraid I stared very
hard at her, but it was pleasant, indeed, to look into Luella's eyes
without any reservations or conscientious qualms in thinking of my duty
to hang her father.
“You deserve a much greater reward than that,” said Luella.
“I want a much greater reward than that,” said I boldly.
I did not think the courage was in me. But under the magnetic influence
of the woman before me I forgot what a poor devil I was. Luella looked
at me, and I saw in her eyes that she understood what I would say.
I do not know what I did say. I have no doubt it was very badly put, but
she listened seriously. Then she said:
“That's very nice of you to want me, but I am going to marry the
president of the Omega Company.”
I turned sick with despair at these words so gently said, and a pang of
fierce jealousy, tinged with wonder, shot through me. “Surely she
can't be in love with that red-faced brute we fought with in the Omega
office,” I thought. That was impossible. Besides, we had turned him out.
Doddridge Knapp would be president as soon as the new board of directors
elected its officers. She couldn't, of course, think of marrying her
own father. I could not understand what she meant, but I knew I was
furiously uncomfortable and wished I was rich enough to buy up the
company. Luella saw my distress as I tried to rise and fly from the
place.
“Don't go,” she said gently. “What are you going to do with your men?”
“The free companions are to be disbanded,” I said, recovering myself
with a gulp.
“Are any of them killed?” she asked in solicitous tones.
“No. Porter is pretty badly hurt. We got him down from Livermore to-day.
He was in the jail there, with Abrams and Brown. We gave bail for them,
and all the men are back at the Montgomery Street place. Barkhouse is
getting on all right, and there are a few bruises and cuts scattered
around in my flock. But they'll all be in trim for another fight in two
or three weeks.”
“I suppose you'll be sorry to part with them.”
“They are a faithful set, but I've had enough excitement for a while.”
“And Mrs. Borton?”
“Is to be buried to-morrow.”
“And you, Mr. Dudley?”
This question struck me a little blank. I had really not thought of what
I was going to do.
“It's another case of an occupation gone,” I said rather ruefully. “With
the break-up of the plots and the close of the Omega deal, I am at the
end of my employments.”
With this view of the question before me, I fell into a panic of
regrets, and began to blush furiously at my folly in imagining for an
instant that Luella could think of me for a husband.
“No,” said Luella thoughtfully. “You are just at the beginning.”
The tone, even more than the words, braced my nerves, and once more
there glowed within me a generous courage of the future.
“You are right. I thank you,” I said feelingly. “I have faith in the
opportunities.”
“And I have faith--” said Luella. Then she stopped.
“In the man, I hope,” I ventured.
Luella did not answer, but she gave me a look that meant more than
words. I was a trifle bewildered, wondering where I stood in the eyes of
this capricious young woman, but my speculations were cut short by the
coming of Mrs. Knapp.
There was no reservation in her greeting. Whatever lingering doubts of
me her mind had held, they had all melted away in the fire of that
last journey that had ended the struggle for the life of the boy. As we
talked over the events of the month, I found nothing left of the silent
opposition with which she had watched my growing friendship with the
daughter of the house. At last she cried:
“Oh, I had almost forgotten. Mr. Knapp wishes to see you in his room
before you go.”
“I am at his service,” I said, and went at once to the den of the Wolf.
“Ah, Wilton, I find you're not Wilton,” he growled amiably. The loss of
his brother had not affected his spirits.
“Quite true,” I said.
“You needn't explain,” he said. “The women folks say it's all right,
though I don't quite understand it myself.”
“I can tell you the story,” I said.
“I don't want to hear it,” he growled. “I've tried you, and that's
enough for me.”
I murmured my appreciation and thanks for his good opinion.
The Wolf waved his hand as a disposal of all acknowledgments, and
growled again:
“Have you any engagements that would keep you from taking the place of
president of the Omega Company?”
I fell back on the chair, speechless.
“There'll be a good salary,” he continued. “Well, of course, you needn't
be in a hurry to accept. Take a day to think over it if you like.” The
Wolf actually smiled.
“Oh, I don't need any time,” I gasped. “I'll take it now.”
“Well, you'll have to wait till the directors meet,” he said.
I gave him my hearty thanks for the unlooked-for favor.
“To tell you the truth,” he said, “it was the doing of the women folks.”
My heart gave a leap at the announcement, for it carried a great deal
more with it than Doddridge Knapp knew.
“I am a thousand times obliged to you--and the ladies,” I said.
“Well, I wasn't unwilling,” he said indulgently. “In fact, I intended to
do something handsome for you. But there's one condition I must make.”
I looked my inquiry.
“You must not speculate. You haven't got the head for it.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I'll keep out, except under your orders.”
“Right,” he said. “You've the best head for carrying out orders I ever
found.”
The King of the Street waved me good night, and I went back to the
parlor.
Luella was sitting where I had left her, and no one else was about. She
was looking demurely down and did not glance up till I was beside her.
“I have won a double prize,” I said. “I am the president of Omega.”
And I stooped and kissed her.