JESSIE STRIKES.
It was the afternoon before Vane's departure for the north, and Evelyn,
sitting alone for the time being in Mrs. Nairn's drawing-room, felt
disturbed by the thought of it. She sympathised with his object, but she
supposed there was a certain risk attached to the journey, and that
troubled her. In addition to this there was another point on which she
was not altogether pleased. She had twice seen Vane acknowledge a bow
from a very pretty girl whose general appearance suggested that she did
not belong to Evelyn's own walk of life, and that very morning she had
noticed him crossing a street in the young woman's company. Vane, as it
happened, had met Kitty Blake by accident and had asked her to accompany
him on a visit to Celia.
Evelyn did not think she was of a jealous disposition, and jealousy
appeared irrational in the case of a man whom she had dismissed as a
suitor; but the thing rankled in her mind. While she considered it,
Jessie Horsfield entered the room.
"I'm here by invitation, to join Vane's other old friends in giving him
a good send-off," she explained.
Evelyn noticed that Jessie laid some stress upon her acquaintance with
Vane, and wondered if she had any motive for doing so.
"I suppose you have known him for some time," she said.
"Oh, yes," was the careless answer. "My brother was one of the first to
take him up when he came to Vancouver."
The phrase jarred on Evelyn. It savoured of patronage; besides, she did
not like to think that Vane owed anything to the Horsfields.
"Though I don't know much about it, I understood they were opposed to
each other," she said coldly.
"Their business interests don't coincide; but it doesn't follow that
they should disagree about anything else. My brother did all he could to
dissuade Vane from going on with his search for the timber until the
winter was over."
"I think it is rather fine of him to persist in it," Evelyn declared.
Jessie smiled, though she felt venomous just then. "Yes," she agreed;
"one undoubtedly feels that. Besides, the thing's so characteristic of
him; the man's impulsively generous and not easily daunted. He possesses
many of the rudimentary virtues, as well as some of the corresponding
weaknesses, which is very much what one would look for."
"What do you mean by that?" Evelyn inquired, suppressing her resentment.
Though she was not prepared to pose as Vane's advocate, she was
conscious of a growing antagonism against her companion.
"It's difficult to explain, and I don't know that the subject's worth
discussing," said Jessie. "However, what I think I meant was
this--Vane's of a type that's not uncommon in the West, and it's a type
one finds interesting. He's forcibly elementary, which is the only way I
can express it; the restraints the rest of us submit to don't bind him;
he breaks through them."
This, so Evelyn fancied, was more or less correct. Indeed, the man's
disregard of hampering customs had pleased her, but she allowed that
some restraints were needful. As it happened, her companion followed up
the same train of thought.
"When one breaks down or gets over fences, it's necessary to
discriminate," she went on lightly. "Men of the Berserker type, however,
are more addicted to going straight through the lot. In a way, they're
consistent--having smashed one barrier, why should they respect the
next?"
Jessie, as she was quite aware, was playing a dangerous game; one that
might afterwards be exposed. Still, the latter possibility was of less
account because detection would come too late if she were successful.
She was acquainted with the salient points of Evelyn's character.
"They're consistent, if not always very logical," she concluded after a
pause. "One endeavours to make allowances for men of that description."
Something in her tone roused Evelyn to sudden imperious anger. It was
intolerable that this woman should offer excuses for Vane.
"What particular allowances do you feel it needful to make in Mr. Vane's
case?" she asked.
Now she was faced by the direct question, Jessie hesitated. As a rule,
she was subtle, but she could be ruthlessly frank, and she was possessed
by a hatred of the girl beside her.
"You have forced me to an explanation," she expostulated. "The fact is
that while he has a room at the hotel he has an--establishment--in a
different neighbourhood. Unfortunately, what you could best describe as
a Latin quarter is a feature of some Western towns."
It was a shock to Evelyn; one she found it hard to face, though she was
not convinced. The last piece of information agreed with something Mrs.
Nairn had told her; but although she had on one occasion had the
testimony of her eyes in support of it, Jessie's first statement sounded
incredible.
"It's impossible," she declared.
Jessie smiled in a bitter manner. "It's unpleasant, but it can't be
denied. He undoubtedly pays the rent of a shack in the neighbourhood I
mentioned."
Evelyn sat tensely still for a moment or two. She dared not give rein to
her feelings, she would not betray herself; but composure was extremely
difficult.
"If that is so, how is it that he is received everywhere--at your house
and by Mrs. Nairn?" she asked.
Jessie shrugged her shoulders. "People in general are the more or less
charitable in the case of a successful man. Apart from that, Mr. Vane
has a good many excellent qualities. As I said, one has to make
allowances."
Just then, to Evelyn's relief, Mrs. Nairn came in, and though the girl
suffered during the time, it was half an hour before she could find an
excuse for slipping away alone. Then, sitting in the gathering darkness,
in her own room, she set herself to consider, as dispassionately as
possible, what she had heard. It was exceedingly difficult to believe
the charge; but Jessie's assertion was definite enough, and one which,
if incorrect, could be readily disproved. Nobody would say such a thing
unless it could be substantiated, and that led Evelyn to consider why
Jessie had given her the information. She had obviously done so with at
least a trace of malice; but this could hardly have sprung from
jealousy, because Evelyn could not think that a woman would vilify a man
for whom she had any tenderness. Besides, she had seen Vane entering the
part of the town indicated, where he could not have had any legitimate
business. Hateful as the suspicion was, it could not be contemptuously
dismissed. Then she granted that she had no right to censure the man; he
was not accountable to her for his conduct; but calm reasoning carried
her no farther. She was once more filled with intolerable disgust and
burning indignation. Somehow she had come to believe in Vane, and he had
turned out an impostor.
It was about an hour later when Vane and Carroll entered the house with
Nairn and proceeded to the latter's room, where he offered them cigars.
"So ye're all ready to sail the morn?" he said.
Vane, who nodded, handed him some papers. "There's your authority to act
in my name if it's required. I expect to be back before there's much
change in the situation; but I'll call at Nanaimo, where you can wire me
if anything turns up during the three days it may take us to get there."
"I suppose there's no use in my saying anything more now; but I can't
help pointing out that, as head of the concern, you have a certain duty
to the shareholders which you seem inclined to disregard," Carroll
remarked.
"I've no doubt their interests will be as safe in Nairn's hands as in
mine," Vane rejoined.
"I fail to see why ye could no have let the whole thing stand over until
the spring," said Nairn. "The spruce winna run away."
"I'd have done so had it been a few years earlier, but the whole country
is overrun with mineral prospectors and timber-righters now. Every
month's delay gives somebody else a chance of getting in ahead of me."
"Weel," said Nairn resignedly. "I can only wish ye luck, but should ye
be detained up yonder, if one of ye could sail across to Comox to see if
there's any mail there, it would be wise to do so." He waved his hand.
"No more of that; we'll consider what tactics I had better adopt in case
of delay."
An hour had passed before they went down to join the guests who were
arriving for the evening meal. As a rule, the Western business man, who
is more or less engrossed in his occupation, except when he is asleep,
enjoys little privacy; and his friends sometimes compared Nairn's
dwelling to the rotunda of an hotel. The point of this was that people
of all descriptions who have nothing better to do are addicted to
strolling into the combined bazaar and lounge which is attached to many
Canadian hostelries.
As it happened, Vane sat next to Evelyn at table; but after a quiet
reply to his first observation, she turned and talked to the man on her
other side. Since the latter, who was elderly and dull, had only two
topics--the most efficient means of desiccating fruit and the lack of
railroad facilities--Vane was somewhat astonished that she appeared
interested in his conversation, and by and by he tried again. He was not
more successful this time, and his face grew warm as he realised that
Evelyn was not inclined to talk to him. Being a very ordinary mortal and
not particularly patient, he was sensible of some indignation, which was
not diminished when, on looking round, Jessie Horsfield, who sat
opposite, favoured him with a compassionate smile. He took his part in
the general conversation, however, and the meal was over and the guests
were scattered about the adjoining rooms, when, after impatiently
waiting for the opportunity, he found Evelyn alone. She was standing
with one hand on a table, looking rather thoughtful.
"I've come to ask what I've done," he began.
Evelyn, who was not prepared for this blunt directness, felt
disconcerted, but she broke into a chilly smile.
"The question's rather indefinite, isn't it?" she said. "Do you expect
me to be acquainted with all your recent actions?"
"Then I'll put the thing in another way--do you mind telling me how I
have offended you?"
The girl almost wished that she could do so. Appearances were badly
against him, but she felt that if he declared himself innocent she could
take his word in the face of overwhelming testimony to the contrary,
Unfortunately, however, it was unthinkable that she should plainly state
the charge.
"Do you suppose I should feel warranted in forming any opinion upon your
conduct?" she retorted.
"But you have formed one, and it isn't favourable."
The girl hesitated a moment, but she had the courage of her convictions,
and she felt impelled to make some protest.
"That," she said, looking him in the eyes, "is perfectly true."
He looked more puzzled than guilty, and once more she chafed against the
fact that she could give him no opportunity of defending himself.
"Well," he said, "I'm sorry; but it brings us back to my first
question."
The situation was becoming painful as well as embarrassing, and Evelyn,
perhaps unreasonably, grew more angry with the man.
"I'm afraid," she said "you are either clever at dissembling or have no
imagination."
Vane held himself in hand with an effort, "I dare say you're right on
the latter point," he informed her. "It's a fact I'm sometimes thankful
for. It leaves one more free to go straight ahead. Now, as I see the
dried-fruit man coming in search of you, and you evidently don't mean to
answer me, I can't urge the matter."
He turned away and left her wondering why he had abandoned his usual
persistency, unless it was that an uneasy conscience had driven him from
the field. It did not occur to her that the man had, under strong
provocation, merely yielded to the prompting of a somewhat hasty temper.
In the meanwhile, he crossed the room in an absent-minded manner, and
presently found himself near Jessie, who made room for him at her side.
"It looks as if you were in disgrace to-night," she said, and waited
with concealed impatience for his answer. If Evelyn had been clever or
bold enough to give him a hint as to what he was suspected of, Jessie
foresaw undesirable complications.
"I think I am," he owned without reflection. "The trouble is, that while
I may deserve it on general grounds, I'm unconscious of having done
anything very reprehensible in particular."
Jessie was sensible of considerable relief. The man was sore and
resentful; he would not press Evelyn for an explanation, and the breach
would widen. In the meanwhile she must play her cards skilfully.
"Then that fact should sustain you," she rejoined. "We shall miss you
after to-morrow; more than one of us. Of course, it's too late to tell
you that you were not altogether wise in resolving to go."
"Everybody has been telling me the same thing for the last few weeks,"
Vane informed her.
"Then I'll only wish you every success. It's a pity Bendle and the other
man haven't paid up yet."
She met his surprised look with an engaging smile. "You needn't be
astonished. There's not very much goes on in the city that I don't hear
about--you know how men talk business here; and it's interesting to look
on, even when one can't actually take a hand in the game. It's said the
watchers sometimes see most of it."
"To tell the truth, it's the uncertainty as to what those two men might
do that has been chiefly worrying me."
"I believe I understand the position; they've been hanging fire, haven't
they? But I've reasons for believing they'll come to a decision before
very long."
Vane looked troubled, "That's interesting, but I ought to warn you that
your brother----"
"I've no intention of giving him away, and, as a matter of fact, I think
you are a little prejudiced against him. After all, he's not your
greatest danger. There's a cabal against you among your shareholders."
She knew by the way he looked at her that he admired her acumen. "Yes,"
he agreed; "I've suspected that."
"There are two courses open to you; the first is to put off your
expedition."
The answer was to the effect she had anticipated. "I can't do so, for
several reasons."
"The other is to call at Nanaimo and wait until, we'll say, next
Thursday. If there's need for you to come back, I think it will arise by
then; but it might be better if you called at Comox too--after you leave
the latter you'll be unreachable. Well, if it seems necessary, I'll send
you a warning. If you hear nothing, you can go on."
Vane reflected hastily. Jessie, as she had told him, had opportunities
of picking up valuable information about the business done in that city,
and he had confidence in her.
"Thank you," he said. "It will be the second service you have done me,
and I appreciate it. Anyway, I promised Nairn I'd call at Nanaimo, in
there was a wire from him."
"It's a bargain, and now we'll talk of something else," said Jessie, and
she drew him into an exchange of badinage, until noticing that Evelyn
once or twice glanced at her with some astonishment she presently got
rid of him. She could understand Evelyn's attitude and did not wish her
friendliness with the offender to appear unnatural after what she had
said about him.
At length the guests began to leave, but most of them had gone when Vane
rose to take his departure. His host and hostess went with him to the
door, but though he once or twice glanced round eagerly, there was no
sign of Evelyn. He lingered a few moments on the threshold after Mrs.
Nairn had given him a kindly send-off; but nobody appeared in the
lighted hall, and after another word with Nairn he went moodily down the
steps to join Jessie and Carroll, who were waiting for him below. As the
group walked down the garden path, Mrs. Nairn looked at her husband.
"I do not know what has come over Evelyn this night," she remarked.
Nairn followed Jessie's retreating figure with distrustful eyes. "Weel,"
he said, "I'm thinking yon besom may have had a hand in the thing."
Then he turned, and they went in.
A few minutes later, Jessie, standing where the light of a big lamp
streamed down upon her through the boughs of a leafless maple, bade Vane
farewell at her brother's gate.
"If my good wishes can bring you success, it will most certainly be
yours," she said; and there was something in her voice which faintly
stirred the man, who was feeling very sore.
"Thank you," he said, and she did not immediately withdraw the hand she
had given him. He was grateful to her, and thought she looked unusually
pretty with the sympathy shining in her eyes.
"You will not forget to wait at Nanaimo and Comox?" she went on.
"No," said Vane. "If you recall me, I'll come back at once; if not, I'll
go on with a lighter heart, knowing that I can safely stay away."
Jessie said nothing further, and he moved on. She felt that she had
scored, and she knew when to stop. The man had given her his full
confidence.