H. WHITBY BOOTH IS SHOWN HOW
If any man of the Bar-20 punchers had been brought face to face with
George McAllister he would have suffered the shock of his life.
"Frenchy?" he would have hesitated, "What in--? Why, Frenchy?" And the
shock would have been mutual, since Frenchy McAllister had been dead
some months, a fact of which his brother George was sorrowfully aware.
Yet so alike were they that any of Frenchy's old friends would have
thought the dead come to life.
A distinguishing feature was the eye-glasses which George had long found
necessary. He took them off and laid aside his book as the butler
announced Mr. Booth.
H. Whitby Booth entered the room with the hesitating step of one who has
a favor to ask. A tall, well-set-up man of the blonde type of so many
of his countrymen, his usual movements were slow when compared with the
nervous action of those in the hustling city of Chicago. Hesitation
gave him the appearance of a mechanical figure, about to run down. Mr.
McAllister's hearty welcome did not seem to reassure him.
"Ah--Miss McAllister--ah--is not at home," he volunteered, rather than
questioned.
The other man eyed him quizzically. "No," he agreed, "she and Mrs.
Blake are out somewhere; I am not just sure where. Shall I inquire?"
"No, oh no. I rather wanted to talk to you, you know--that is--ah--"
"Sit down, Whitby, and relieve your mind. Cigars on that table there,
and some whiskey and fizz. Shall I ring for brandy?"
"Awfully good of you, really. No, I--I think I 'll go in as I am. The
fact is I want Margaret--Miss McAllister--and I thought I 'd ask if you
had any objections."
"Margaret has."
"Oh, I say!"
"Fact, she has. Might as well face the music, Whitby. The truth is
just this: It's less than a week ago since Margaret was holding you up
as a horrible example. Margaret comes from a line of hustlers; she has
not had common sense and national pride bred out of her in a fashionable
school; and she looks with extreme disfavor on an idler."
"But I say, Mr. McAllister, you don't think--"
"No, my boy, I don't think where Margaret is concerned--Margaret thinks.
Don't misunderstand me. I like you, Whitby. Confidentially, I believe
Margaret does, too. But I am quite sure she will never marry a man who
does nothing and, as she expressed it herself, lives on an allowance
from his father."
"Then I understand, sir, you have no objections?"
"None in the world--because I believe you will strike your gait before
long and become something of a hustler yourself. But let me tell you,
Margaret does n't deal in futures--I 'm used to it--but she insists on a
fact, not a probability."
Whitby drew a breath which was largely expressive of relief. "In that
case, sir, I 'll try my luck," and he arose to say good-night.
"You know where to find them?"
"Rather! I was going there when I had spoken to you."
"I see," said Mr. McAllister, somewhat grimly, remembering the other's
greeting. "Sit down, Whitby. The night is young, you can't miss them,
and I am so sure of the badness of your luck that I should like to give
you a little encouragement to fall back on." Whitby resumed his seat
and Mr. McAllister puffed thoughtfully at his cigar for a few moments
before speaking.
"Not to go too far back," he began, "my grandfather was a boy when his
father took him from Ireland, the birthplace of the family, to France,
the birthplace of liberty, as the old man thought. Those were stirring
times for that boy and the iron of life entered into him at an early
age. He married and had one son, my father, who thought the liberty of
this country so much better than that of France, that he came here,
bringing his young wife with him; the wife died in giving birth to my
younger brother, John. All that line were hustlers, Whitby. They had
to be, to keep alive. Margaret knows their history better than I do and
glories in it. You see?"
Whitby nodded mournfully. He was beginning to lose confidence again.
"My father would have been alive to-day but for an unfortunate accident
which carried off both him and my mother within a few days. My brother
and myself were found pretty well provided for. My share has not
decreased. In fact I have done very well for a man who is not
avaricious. But I had to fight; and more than once it was a close call,
win or lose. Margaret knows all that, Whitby, and the dear girl is as
proud of her father, I do believe, as of any who went before him. Her
mother left us very soon and Margaret has been my companion ever since
she could talk. Are you beginning to understand?"
"I am, indeed," was the reluctant acknowledgment.
"Very good. Then here is where you come in." His face clouded and he
was silent so long that Whitby looked up inquiringly. The motion
aroused McAllister and he continued:
"My brother was queer. I have always thought his birth had something to
do with it; but however that may be, he was, in my opinion, peculiar in
many of his ways. The choice of his path in life was quite on a par
with his character: he invested every dollar he had in land out West, he
and a partner whom I have never seen; bought and paid for land and stock
at a time when Government land was used by any one without payment of
any kind and when live-stock raising was almost an unknown industry, at
least in that part of the country. But that was n't all. He went out
to the ranch and took his delicate young wife with him, a bride, and
lived in a wild region where they saw only Indians, outlaws, and those
who were worse than either." His face hardened and the hand he laid on
the table trembled as he turned to face to his listener. "Worse than
either, Whitby," he repeated. "The Indians were bad enough at times,
God knows, but there is excuse for their deviltry; there could be no
excuse for those others.
"One reason John gave for going West was that the life would bring
health to his wife. It did so. A few months' time saw her a robust
woman. And then John returned to the ranch one day to come upon a scene
that drove him crazy, I verily believe. No need to go into it, though I
had the details from his partner at the time--John did not write me for
years. They both started out after the murderers and wandered over a
great part of this country before finding the chief fiend. Even his
death brought no peace to John. He would never go back to the old place
nor would his partner, out of feeling for him. After much persuasion I
got them to put matters into my hands, but so many years had passed that
I found the ownership in dispute and it is but lately that I have
succeeded in regaining title. It was too late for John, who died before
I came into possession, but his partner, a man named Peters, has gone up
there from a Texan ranch to run the place. He is half owner and should
be the best man for the job. But--and my experience with those
Westerners places emphasis on that 'but'--I do not really know just what
kind of a man he is. I am putting quite a large sum of money in this
venture, relying upon Peters' knowledge and hoping for a square deal.
And if he is the best man for the place, you are the best man I know to
show me that. Don't interrupt.
"I know right well what Margaret will tell you to-night, and if you want
to make her change her mind, you could have no better opportunity than I
offer. My brother's history is an abiding grief with Margaret, and if
you go out there and make good you will surely make good with her.
"That's all. If I 'm right, come and see me to-morrow at the office. I
will have everything noted down for you in writing. Commit it to memory
and then destroy the notes; because you would be valueless if any one
interested discovered you were acting for me. And don't see Margaret
after to-night before you go."
He arose and held out his hand. Whitby grasped it as he stood up and
looked frankly at him. "It's awfully good of you, Mr. McAllister," he
declared. "You 've left me deuced little hope, I must say, but there 's
no knowing where you are if you don't ask, is there? And if I come a
cropper I 'll try your way and chance it."
"You 'll find my way is right. I 've made mistakes in my life but never
any where Margaret was concerned. Good-night."
* * * * *
Whitby stood at the top of the steps, slowly drawing his right-hand
glove through his gloved left hand, time after time, casting a long look
before he leaped. The driver of his hired _coupe_ eyed him with
calculating patience, observing to himself that if this were a specimen
of the average Englishman, England must be a cinch for a cabman. Whitby
had not yet arrived at the leaping stage when another _coupe_, a private
one with a noticeably fine team, stopped in passing the house, and a
voice hailed him: "Hello, Whit! What are you mooning there for?"
Whitby smiled: for all his consideration he had been pushed in at the
last. He slowly descended the steps while he replied: "Evenin', Wallie.
I was just going to drop in on the Sparrows."
"Good enough! Me, too. Jump in here and let your wagon follow. Do you
hear, you driver? Trail in behind--unless you won't need him, Whit."
"Oh, let him come along. I--ah--I may be leaving rather early, don't
you know."
"That so? Me, too. I'm darned glad I met you, Whit. I 'm in a regular
blue funk--Brown is sulky as a bear. He 's been driving me about for an
hour, I should say, and he does n't understand it. Fact is, Whit, I 'm
going to ask a girl to marry me to-night, and I don't want to, not a
little bit; but if I don't, some other fellow will, and that would
be--well, worse."
"By Jove! Marry you _to-night_! Do you fancy she will?"
"No, you 'bloomin' Britisher.' _Ask_ her, not marry her, to-night. For
the love of Moses! Do you think it's an elopement?"
"Well, I did n't know, you know," and his tone was one of distinct
disappointment. "You seem to be pretty certain she 'll have you."
"Oh! She 'll have me right enough, but I 've got to ask first and make
sure. There 're too many others hanging around to suit me."
"I say, old chap, I hope you won't mind my asking but--it is n't Miss
McAllister, by any chance, is it?"
Wallie turned in his seat and stared at the anxious face of Whitby for a
few moments, then he broke into shouts of laughter. "You, too," he
managed to say; and at last: "No, you trembling aspirant, it isn't, by
any chance, Miss McAllister. Margie and I are good friends, all right,
but not in that way. Oh, you sly Johnnie! Why, I 'll bet a hundred you
're up to the same game, yourself. Own up, now."
"I think a great deal of Miss McAllister, a very great deal. If I
thought she 'd have me I 'd ask her the first opportunity."
"And that will be in a few minutes. She 's bound to be there--and here
we are. Wish me luck, Whit."
"I do, with all my heart, Wallie," and he was very serious in his
earnestness.
"Same to you, Whit, and many--no, not that, of course." They were in
the rooms by this time, both pairs of eyes wandering, searching this way
and that as they moved toward their pretty hostess whose recent marriage
seemed to have increased, if possible, her popularity with the male sex;
she stood so surrounded by a chaffing crowd of men that they found
difficulty in getting near her. They did not linger, however, as each
caught sight of the object of his pursuit at the same time, and their
paths parted from that moment.
The maturity of Margaret McAllister's mind would never have been
suspected from her appearance. The pale green satin gown, overhung with
long draperies of silk-fringed tulle, the low round satin corsage being
partly veiled by a diagonal drapery of the same transparent material,
and ornamented--as was the skirt--with a satin scarf, tied with knots of
ribbon and clusters of water-lilies--this formed a creation that adorned
a perfect figure of medium height, whose symmetry made it seem smaller
than it really was. The Irish temperament and quickness of intelligence
were embodied in a brunette beauty inherited from her French ancestry;
but over all, like the first flush of morning's light on a lovely
garden, lay the delicate charm of her American mother. One of a group
of girls, with several men hovering on the outer circle, she detached
herself upon Whitby's approach and advanced to meet him.
"Good-evening, Mr. Booth. Are n't you late?"
"Yes, rather." Whitby drew comfort from the fact that she had chosen to
notice it.
"Aunt Jessie is over this way. She is complaining of the heat already.
Perhaps you would better mention it."
"Mrs. Blake? I will. I 've a favor to ask of Mrs. Blake. Let's join
her."
Mrs. Blake was of that comfortable age, size, and appearance which
expressed satisfaction with the world and its ways. She affected black
at all times with quite touching consistency; doubly so, since gossip
hinted at a married life not altogether happy. However, her widowhood
did not permit derogatory remarks concerning the late Mr. Blake, who
made up to her in dying all his short-comings when alive; and she had
proven a discreet chaperon for Margaret from the assumption of that
position. Her most conspicuous weakness was endeavoring to overcome a
growing embonpoint with corsets, and the tight lacing undoubtedly had
much to do with her susceptibility to heat. Whitby was a favorite with
her and she greeted him warmly, closing her waving fan to tap him with
it now and again in emphasis.
But Whitby's purpose would not wait; as soon as the chance offered he
begged free, and arose to the occasion with a daring that surprised
himself. "I am going to hide up with Miss McAllister for quite a time,
Mrs. Blake. If any one comes bothering, just put him off, will you?
That is, if Miss McAllister doesn't mind."
"Mind? Of course she doesn't mind. Run along, Margie, and for Heaven's
sake, don't sit in a draft--though I don't believe you can find one in
this house," and the fan was brought into more vigorous action at the
reminding thought.
"Well, I don't know, Mr. Booth," remonstrated Margaret as they moved
away. "They will begin to dance very soon and I promised Wallie Hartman
the opening. You came in together, didn't you?"
"Oh, Wallie! Yes, he was pretty keen on getting here but I rather fancy
he's forgotten about that dance, you know."
"What makes you say that? What mischief are you two brewing?"
"Ah--it's Wallie's secret, you know,--that is, his part of it is--I say,
here 's the very spot."
They had made the turn behind the stairs, where a punch bowl stood; the
space immediately behind the stairs being too low in which to stand
comfortably upright, a mass of foliage was banked in a half circle,
outside of which the stand and punch bowl were placed; inside, a
thoughtful hostess had arranged a _tete-a-tete_, quite unnoticeable from
without. Whitby's attention had been drawn to it by the couple who had
emerged upon their approach, the girl radiant and the man walking on
air, of which details Whitby was entirely oblivious. Margaret was more
observing and she looked after Wallie with a dawning look of
understanding and then at Whitby with a quick glance of apprehension.
There was no time to protest, even if she would, as Whitby had led her
behind the leafy screen before she fully realized the import of his
action.
Like many slow starters, Whitby, when once in movement, set a rapid
pace. He came to the point now with promptitude:
"Miss McAllister, I arrived late because I called on your father before
coming here, to ask his permission to address you. I must say he rather
dashed my hopes, you know. He does n't think I 'm such a bad sort--he
does n't object in the least--but he seemed to fancy his daughter
Margaret would. I--I hope he is mistaken."
She turned to him a face in which the eyes were slowly filling with
tears, nor did she remove the hand upon which his rested, on the curving
back of the seat. It was not her first proposal, by several, but there
was a vibrating earnestness, an unexpected tenderness in this big, slow
Englishman which told her she was going to hurt him seriously when she
spoke. And she did not want to hurt him; with all her heart and soul
she wished she did not have to hurt him.
"I 'm not worthy of you, Margaret. I don't think any man is worthy of a
good woman, and I 'm just an ordinary man. But I 'll _be_ worthy of
you, from to-night.--and that whether you say yes or no.
"You know I love you. You must know I left London and came over here to
follow you. But you don't know how much I care for you--and I can't
tell you. I 'm a duffer at this sort of game--like everything else--I
never did it before--and 'pon my word, I don't know how. But if I could
say what I feel, then perhaps, you might know better. What is it to be,
Margaret? Wait a bit! If you feel doubtful, I 'll wait as long as you
want me to. But--but--I 'm afraid it's no go." He sat looking dumbly
at her, hoping for some sign of encouragement, but there was no
misreading the answer in her face.
It was a long minute before she spoke. She was unnerved by the
hysterical desire to put her arms around him and soothe him as she might
a hurt child. Something of her embarrassment was conveyed to him and
with the wish to save her the pain of refusing in words he started as if
to rise. She stopped him with a gesture.
"Wait. I _will_ say what I want you to know. I like you--no! not in
that way; not the way a woman should--the man she expects to marry.
Perhaps if you had been--I am not sure--but I could _not_ marry a drone.
Oh! why don't you wake up! How _can_ you go on from day to day with no
thought but self-indulgence? You say you love me. Ask yourself: Is not
that merely a form of self-indulgence? Oh, I know you would take care
of me and defer to me and let me have my way in everything--you are that
kind of a man--but to what end? That I might be the more pleasing to
you. Is it your purpose to dawdle through life, taking only such pains
as shall make things more pleasing to you?"
"Is that all, Margaret? Is it only because you fancy I'm a loafer?"
"But you are! You are! Oh! I don't know--I 'm not sure--"
"I 'm sure!" the exulting certainty in his voice startled her. "I 'm
sure!" he repeated. "I may be a bit of an ass in some things but no
woman would care as you care, what a man was or what he did unless she
loved him. You love me, Margaret, thank God! Give me a chance. You
're only a girl, yet. Give me a year and if I go under, or you find I
'm wrong, I 'll thank you for the chance and never blame you. Will
you?"
Her heart was pounding in suffocating throbs and she trembled like a
leaf in the wind before the eager intensity of his gaze. A strong will
held her in check, else she had given way then and there, but she faced
him with a fine bravery. "Yes," she promised, "I will. Go away and
make good."
"Make good! By Jove, that's what your father said. Make good--I 'll
not forget it." His head bent low in an old-fashioned but becoming
salute while her free hand rested unfelt for an instant upon the yellow
hair, a gesture that was at once a blessing and a prayer.