BETTY CARRIES A MESSAGE
The morning was hot and Betty had pulled the curtains across the arch.
She typed an English letter and thought about Kit. Although she knew he
had gone to Mrs. Austin's, it was some days since she had seen him and
his steamer would soon sail. Betty had expected him to say good-bye to
her and was hurt because he had not. Presently she heard Jefferson's
step in the _patio_. He stopped and somebody crossed the flags.
"Come inside, the sun is pretty fierce," he said, and Olivia went
through the arch.
"I think you know Miss Jordan," Jefferson resumed.
Betty stopped her typewriter. She was in the shadow and studied Olivia,
who stood where the strong light shone into the room. Betty thought her
clothes were made in London or Paris; they were in the latest
exaggerated fashion, but she admitted that Miss Brown's beauty justified
her wearing clothes like that. Betty, herself, wore plain white, and a
cheap, Spanish sewing woman had helped her to make the dress.
"It looks as if you had got up before Harry, although you kept him for
some time last night," Olivia said to Jefferson, and took out a small
packet. "He had not begun his breakfast when the mail arrived with some
samples you want for Morocco. Harry thought Mr. Musgrave might leave
them for your agent at Saffi, but our man was not about and I was going
to the shops."
Jefferson pulled out his watch. "Thanks, I'll send the thing on board.
I'm going up town. Will you come along?"
"I'll stop in your cool office for a few minutes," Olivia replied, and
Jefferson turned to Betty.
"Felix will be around soon. Send him off with the packet. I expect
Musgrave will be at the _Commandancia_. You have about half an hour."
He went off and Olivia lighted a cigarette. She threw the match on the
floor, and although people smoke in Spanish offices Betty was annoyed.
She wondered whether Miss Brown's carelessness was studied, but after a
few moments Olivia gave her a thoughtful look.
"I understand Kit Musgrave is an old friend of yours."
"He is my friend," said Betty.
"Then I expect you know he's satisfied with his post. All the same, he
ought to give it up."
Betty said nothing. She thought she saw why Miss Brown had brought the
packet, but did not see where she led. Besides, she was conscious of a
subtle antagonism. The girl was not the type whose friendship was good
for Kit. In the meantime, Olivia occupied herself with her cigarette.
She had meant to make an experiment and satisfy her curiosity, for Kit
had not come to the veranda much since his return and she had missed him
when he was away.
"He ought to go back to the _correillo_," she resumed. "However, I
expect you know he's obstinate."
"Sometimes he's firm," said Betty, quietly, although quietness was hard.
She did know Kit was obstinate, but to allow Miss Brown to talk about it
was another thing. Besides, she was bothered about the other's object
for stating Kit ought to go back.
"Oh, well, it's really not important," Olivia replied as if she were
bored. "I thought perhaps you might persuade Kit to rejoin the
_Campeador_." She paused and smiled carelessly. "I can't, I admit I
tried."
"Why do you want Mr. Musgrave to leave his ship? I understand your
sister got him the post."
Olivia was embarrassed, although her embarrassment was not obvious. She
had begun by wanting to baffle Mrs. Austin, whose object for sending Kit
on board _Mossamedes_ was plain. This, however, was some time since, and
now she did not know what she did want. She would not acknowledge Kit
her lover, but she liked to know he was about. All the same, her efforts
to separate him from Wolf were to some extent unselfish.
"I don't want Kit to leave the _Mossamedes_; I think it better for him
to do so," she rejoined. "It's possible my sister did get him the post.
Jacinta does things like that, but sometimes her plans do not work as
she hoped."
"Then, when Mrs. Austin sent Kit to Africa she had a plan?"
Olivia looked up sharply and threw her cigarette on the floor. She had
not found out much and did not mean to argue with Jefferson's clerk.
"We don't get forward, and I can't stop," she said. "I'll tell you all I
know. I think my sister doubts Wolf; Jefferson frankly distrusts him. He
was talking to Harry on the veranda and I was in the room behind. It was
plain they were puzzled about Wolf. Jefferson said the fellow was
playing a crooked game, and Kit ought to quit. Anyhow, he ought to know
his boss's African scheme was a cover for something else, and he was
going to use the French captain. Wolf meant to give Revillon a part in
the plot."
Olivia got up. "That's all, but I rather agree with Jefferson."
"If you think Mr. Musgrave ought to be warned, why didn't you warn him?"
"For one thing, I imagined you were his friend," Olivia rejoined with a
careless smile. "To write a note is sometimes awkward, the steamer sails
very soon, and it's obvious I can't go on board and ask for the
_sobrecargo_. Well, you are Jefferson's clerk and have the packet of
samples. You can go--if you like!"
The curtain swung back, and for a minute or two Betty pondered. Her
curiosity was excited, and she wondered much how far Olivia's interest
in Kit went; that it went some distance was plain. Betty felt a keen
antagonism for the fashionable and rather scornful girl. Yet to some
extent the other's object was good; Betty thought Kit ought to be warned
about his employer. All the same, Miss Brown's statement that Betty
could warn him was hardly accurate. Spanish conventions were strict and
Betty knew the gossip that marked the English circle. If she went on
board the steamer, people would talk and Mrs. Jefferson would be
annoyed. But Felix, Jefferson's boatman, did not arrive, and Betty
looked at her watch. Something must be risked and perhaps she might meet
Kit outside the _Commandancia_ office. Picking up the packet, she got
her hat.
A _tartana_ waited for passengers at the end of the street, and she got
down at the Catalina mole. _Mossamedes'_ windlass rattled, and her cable
was coming in, but a boat with the African house-flag painted on the bow
lay against the wall, and Betty knew Kit had not gone on board. For all
that, she did not see him, and the steamer's anchor would soon be up. If
he did not come in a minute or two, she would have no time for talk.
Then he ran out of the office, pushing some papers into his pocket, and
stopped.
"Hallo!" he said. "You are kind to see me off."
"I didn't come to see you off. At least, that wasn't all," Betty
replied.
"Oh, well," Kit said, laughing, "you're generally frank. I'd rather have
liked to think you did want to see me off. Anyhow, I'm glad you have
arrived."
Betty gave him the packet and he noted the address.
"All right, I'll land it at Saffi. I wish you had come sooner. They've
broken the anchor out."
She went across the mole with him and stopped at the top of the steps.
He looked keen, alert and handsome. His white clothes were well made,
his thin figure was athletic, and Betty liked his smile. She felt
rewarded; Kit was glad she had come. The trouble was, she could not send
him off like that.
"There's another thing," she said. "Jefferson thinks you ought not to
stop on board _Mossamedes_. He declares Wolf is not to be trusted."
"Ah!" said Kit, rather sharply. "But how do you know?"
Betty braced herself. She must be honest, although it was plain honesty
might cost her something.
"Miss Brown came to the office half an hour since and brought the
packet. She heard Jefferson talk to Austin about Wolf, and thought you
ought to be warned."
"She came to the office!" Kit exclaimed, and Betty saw his satisfaction.
"Well, she's very kind. But she sent a message?"
"Wolf is plotting something in Africa. His business isn't what it looks.
Captain Revillon has some part in it."
Kit laughed. "Miss Brown meant well, you mean well, but you don't
understand. Wolf is cheating the French captain. He'd an object for
asking him to the feast. In fact, I see his plan."
"I don't think Miss Brown was cheated," Betty urged.
_Mossamedes'_ whistle shrieked, foam splashed about her stern and she
began to forge ahead. Kit shouted to the men in the boat and Betty gave
him her hand.
"Don't bother about the thing," he said. "Perhaps Wolf is rather tricky,
but I know him and I won't get hurt. Anyhow, Miss Brown was kind to let
me know, and you're a good sort to carry the message."
"Still, you'll use some caution, Kit," said Betty, but he waved his hand
and ran down the steps.
_Mossamedes_ circled slowly and forged by the end of the mole, her white
deck-houses shining in the sun. Kit's boat vanished round her stern,
smoke rolled from her funnel, and with a white wave breaking at her bows
she steamed out of the harbour. For a time Betty watched the ship and
her thoughts were moody.
She had refused Kit at Liverpool because both were poor. Tired, as she
was, of badly-rewarded labour, she might have been satisfied to occupy
her self with frugal housekeeping, had she not seen that for Kit to
marry meant bondage for him. A married clerk with Kit's pay durst run no
risks, he must stick to his job, indulge his employers and wait for them
to offer him better wages. She might have promised to marry Kit and let
him go to try his luck; but she knew girls whose lovers had gone away.
One had come back another man, and Betty imagined he saw the girl he
dutifully married was not the girl he had thought. The others had not
come back at all.
It was not that Betty doubted Kit. He was staunch and did all he engaged
to do, but he was young. Betty imagined his was a boy's romance and she
did not want him to return for her because he thought he ought. Besides,
he had some talent and might make his mark abroad. If he did so, she was
not going to embarrass him. In fact, she, so to speak, resolved that
Kit must have his chance.
Now he was obviously attracted by Miss Brown, and Betty knew Olivia was
not the girl for him. Moreover, she was persuaded Olivia saw his
drawbacks. Kit was poor, his infatuation was ridiculous, and to find it
out would hurt, but Kit would find out. Betty frowned because she could
not help.
By and by she noted that _Mossamedes'_ masts and funnel were getting
indistinct. The ship's hull had melted to a dark streak, seen for a
moment when she plunged across a roller's crest, and Betty got up. She
had stopped longer than she ought and must hurry back to the office. As
she went along the mole she remembered that she had been willing to risk
something in order to warn Kit, and he had laughed. Sometimes one's fine
resolutions were rewarded like that. Perhaps the thing was amusing, but
her smile was dreary.
At the office she found Jefferson reading a newspaper.
"I see you haven't begun the English letters," he remarked. "Did Olivia
stop long?"
Betty said the boatman had not arrived, and she had taken the packet to
the mole.
"Well, I wanted the thing to go across. I reckon you gave it to
Musgrave?"
"I did so," said Betty and noted Jefferson's twinkle. All the same, she
thought his taking out his watch was unconscious.
"Perhaps you had better go ahead with the letters," he said.
Betty started her typewriter, but her thoughts were not fixed on what
she wrote. She pondered about Wolf and was vaguely disturbed. Kit had
laughed at Olivia's warning, but sometimes Kit was confident and rash.
After all, it was possible Miss Brown was justified. Then Betty glanced
at a letter she took from the machine and tore the sheet across.
Jefferson was not fastidious, but he liked his customers to know what he
meant. She could think about Wolf and Kit again, and in the meantime
must concentrate on her proper duty. Olivia Brown could indulge her
romantic imagination when she liked, but Betty was a merchant's clerk.