KATE KEEPS HER PROMISE
One of the things which Mrs. Abram Pantin's worst enemy would have had
to admit in her favor was that, strictly speaking, she was not a gossip,
though this virtue was due as much to policy as to principle. It was her
custom, however, to retain in her memory such morsels of common
knowledge news as she accumulated during the day with which to entertain
Mr. Pantin at evening dinner, for she observed that if his thoughts
could be diverted from business it aided his digestion and he slept
better, so she strove always to have some bright topic to introduce at
the table.
Having said a silent grace, Mr. Pantin inquired mechanically:
"Will you have a chop, Prissy?" Since there were only two he did not use
the plural.
Mrs. Pantin looked across the fern centerpiece and made a mouth as she
regarded the chop doubtfully.
"I'm afraid I am eating too much meat lately."
Impaled on a tine of the fork, the chop was of a thinness to have
enabled one to read through it without much difficulty.
Mr. Pantin placed the chop on his own plate with some little alacrity.
As his wife took one of the two dainty rolls concealed in a fringed
napkin on the handsome silver bread tray, she endeavored to recall what
it was in particular that she had saved to tell him. Oh, yes!
"What do you think I heard to-day, Abram?"
Abram was figuring interest and murmured absently:
"I have no idea."
"They say," in her sprightliest manner, "that that girl who killed her
lover was refused credit at every store in Prouty. No one would trust
her for even five dollars' worth of groceries. Rather pathetic, isn't
it?"
Mr. Pantin looked up quickly.
"Who told you that?"
"Everyone seems to know it."
Mr. Pantin frowned slightly.
"If you mean Miss Prentice, I wouldn't speak of her in that fashion,
Priscilla."
"Mormon Joe's Kate, then, if you like that better," replied Mrs. Pantin,
nettled.
"Or 'Mormon Joe's Kate,' either," curtly.
"So sorry; I didn't know you knew her. Do you?"
Mr. Pantin, who at his own table was given the privilege of taking bones
in his fingers, pointed the chop at her.
"Let me tell you something, Priscilla," impressively. "Someone who is
cleverer than I am has said that it is never safe to snub a pretty girl,
because there is always the possibility that she'll marry well and be
able to retaliate. The same thing applies to one who has brains and is
in earnest. I've made it a rule never to disparage the efforts of a
person who had a definite purpose and works to attain it. It's about a
fifty-to-one shot that he'll land--sometime."
Mrs. Pantin looked at her husband suspiciously. There were times when
she had a notion that she had not explored the furthermost recesses of
his nature--when she wondered if it had not ramifications and passages
unknown to her. It had. It was Mr. Pantin's dearest wish to come home
boiling drunk with his hat smashed and his necktie hanging. He longed to
kick the front door in and see his wife cower before him. The mental
orgies in which he indulged while sitting placidly in the bow window
automatically snapping his Romeo against the heel of his foot by a
muscular contraction of the toes--would have curdled the blood of
Priscilla Pantin.
It was an interesting case of atavism. There was little doubt but that
Mr. Pantin was a throwback to a sportive ancestor who had kept a pacer
that could do a little better than 2.13 when conditions were favorable,
but had rendered the family homeless by betting one hundred and sixty
acres of black walnut timber against a horse that left him so far behind
that the spectators urged him to throw something overboard to see if he
was moving. All this was family history. Mr. Pantin fought against his
predilection to gamble on anything or anybody as he would have fought an
impulse to take human life.
It did not escape Mrs. Pantin's attention now that her husband had not
answered her question as to whether he knew this notorious character.
She repeated it.
Mr. Pantin returned her searching look with one in which she could
discern no guile, but his words irritated her still further.
"I happened to be in the bank the other day when the girl was begging
Wentz for time on the loan which Mormon Joe had contracted for running
expenses," Mr. Pantin explained with somewhat elaborate carelessness.
"It wasn't due, but they were putting the screws on her to serve their
own purpose--or Neifkins' purpose, rather. He wants her leases. It was a
mistake of judgment, for she would have been a good borrower. Bankers
are born, not made, anyway," complacently, "and Vernon isn't one of
them."
"It seems to me his judgment in this instance is excellent," Mrs. Pantin
contradicted tartly. "It's quite evident the business men of Prouty
agree with him, since none of them will trust her."
"That doesn't alter my opinion." Mr. Pantin's reply was calm. "It's the
person behind a loan that counts, anyway--not the security. If I had
been in Wentz's place when she said she could handle those sheep and
meet the obligation when due, I should have believed her." Again Mr.
Pantin waved the chop for emphasis as he added with something very like
enthusiasm: "She has honesty, strength of character, intelligence,
personal magnetism--"
"It appears to me that you made rather a close study, considering your
limited opportunity," Mrs. Pantin interrupted acidly.
"She interested me."
"Evidently. But why this sudden change of opinion? I've heard you say a
hundred times that all women are pinheads in business."
"Because she's no ordinary woman," Mr. Pantin defended. "The girl hasn't
struck her gait yet; her mind is immature, her character undeveloped;
but if she doesn't make good--" he paused while he fumbled for a
convincing figure--"I'll eat my panama!"
Mrs. Pantin stared, both at the intemperate language and the rare
display of animation. From a state of indifference, she felt distinct
hostility toward Mormon Joe's Kate stirring in her bosom. Mr. Pantin
should have known better--he did know better--but he had felt reckless,
somehow. To make amends he said ingratiatingly:
"This mince pie is excellent, Prissy! Did you tell me there was no meat
in it?"
"Tomatoes," frigidly. "It's mock mincemeat." A triumph in economy--an
achievement! But Mr. Pantin's flattery and conciliating smile were alike
futile. Like many another overzealous partisan, he had made for Kate one
more enemy.
* * * * *
It seemed aeons ago to Mrs. Toomey that Jap had appeared to her in the
light of a handsome conquering daredevil, whose dash and confident
personality made all things possible.
The real test of Toomey's character had come with his misfortunes. So
long as he had money to spend and could ride, arrogant and high-handed,
over the obsequious shopkeepers who benefited by his prodigality, and
the poor ranchers who had not the means, or often the spirit, to oppose
him, he continued to appear to her in the light in which she had first
seen him. She adored his imperious temper, his erratic lavish
generosity, his Quixotic standards, but with the reversal of their
fortunes she was slowly brought to realize that money had provided most
of the glamor which surrounded him. To be imperious with no one to obey
makes for absurdity, and this trait, in his poverty, made him
ridiculous, as did the extravagances in which he indulged at the expense
of necessities.
It was not often Mrs. Toomey would admit to herself the real cause of
the heartsickness which filled her as she watched her husband
deteriorate, but with every excuse known to a woman who loves she tried
to bolster up her waning faith in the man and his ability. With an
obstinacy which was pathetic, she endeavored to keep him on the
pedestal where she had placed him. She listened with a fixed smile of
interest to the extraordinary schemes he outlined to her, sometimes
hypnotizing herself into believing in them, until he returned with the
exaggerated swagger which proclaimed another failure. Then she would
join him in his denunciation of those who could not see the value of his
plan and refused to aid him.
But the conviction that Jap had not the qualities to win material
success did not hurt as did the knowledge that he was not too brave to
lie, too proud to borrow from those he considered his social inferiors
and with no notion of repaying the obligation, nor too honest to obtain
money by any subterfuge that occurred to him.
When she had attempted to borrow money from Abram Pantin, the light
esteem in which that astute person held her husband had been as painful
as her disappointment, for it was her first definite knowledge of
others' estimate of him. Since then, with her eyes opened, she had come
to see that Jap was regarded in Prouty as something between a joke and a
pest.
Mrs. Toomey was thinking of Mormon Joe's murder one morning while she
dusted, and of Kate--conjecturing as to what would become of the girl
when the bank foreclosed and she lost everything. She sighed as, with
the corner of her apron, she removed a smudge from her nose before the
mirror. Wasn't there anything in the world any more but trouble for
people who had no money?
She glanced casually out of the window and stiffened in something very
like horror.
Kate was in front, tying her horse to a transplanted cottonwood sapling.
What if Prissy Pantin should see her! She was visibly agitated, when she
opened the door for Kate--stammering a welcome that had a doubtful
ring, but Kate did not appear to notice. She looked older, Mrs. Toomey
thought, in swift scrutiny. Yes, she had suffered terribly. Her heart
went out to the girl, even while she glanced furtively through the
windows to see who of the neighbors might be looking.
While Mrs. Toomey wondered what excuse she could make for Kate's
presence, if anyone called, she indicated a chair and said nervously:
"I've been hoping to see you and tell you how sorry I am for all that's
happened."
"I've been disappointed that you haven't," Kate replied, simply, "for
your friendship has loomed like a mountain to me in my trouble."
She was still counting on it! Mrs. Toomey got out a frightened:
"Really?"
"When we shook hands on it up there in the draw," Kate went on, sadly,
"I didn't dream how soon or how much I should need you. And women do
need each other in trouble, don't they?" earnestly.
Mrs. Toomey nervously tucked in her "scolding locks."
"Er--of course," constrainedly. Her mind was rambling from Jap to Mrs.
Pantin and the vigilant neighbors.
Kate rose suddenly, and crossing the room stooped to lay her gloved hand
upon Mrs. Toomey's thin shoulders. Looking into her eyes she demanded:
"You don't believe I did it, do you?"
This was a question Mrs. Toomey could answer truthfully and she did,
with convincing sincerity:
"No, I don't!"
"I knew it!" There was a joyous note in Kate's voice, and gratitude. "I
was sure you were true-blue, and I know I'm going to love you!"
Lifting the woman to her feet, with an arm about her shoulders, Kate
kissed her impulsively. She was so slight, so crushable, that Kate
experienced a sense of shock as one does when he feels the bones of a
little bird through its feathers. Her frailty appealed to something
within the girl that was like masculine chivalry, awakening a desire
that was keener than ever to protect and help her, while, as before,
Mrs. Toomey felt the magnetism of the younger woman's health and
strength and courage. Nevertheless, she was panic-stricken at what Kate
was taking for granted and her quick little mind was darting about like
some frightened rodent from corner to corner, thinking how she was going
to disentangle herself from the situation with the minimum of hurt to
the girl's feelings.
There was a suggestion of her former buoyancy in Kate's manner. Her eyes
had something of their old-time sparkle as she reached inside the
blousing front of her flannel shirt and laid in Mrs. Toomey's hand a
packet of crisp banknotes secured by bands of elastic.
"You see--I've kept my promise."
Mrs. Toomey stood motionless, staring.
"Why! Where did you get it?" when speech came back to her.
"That's my secret," Kate replied, gently. "But it's yours to use as long
as you need it."
Without warning, Mrs. Toomey burst into tears.
"I c-can't help it!" she sobbed on Kate's shoulder. "It's
so--unexpected."
Relief was paramount to all other emotions, but she vowed as she wept
that she would show her gratitude, and would be Kate's friend as she had
promised, and she would--the feeling of the money in her hand gave her
courage--defy Prissy Pantin, if necessary.
Kate and Mrs. Toomey separated with the warm handclasp of friendship.
Mrs. Toomey waited in a tremulous state of eagerness for her husband's
return. It was months since she had known such a feeling of relief; it
was as though years suddenly had dropped from her. She went about the
house humming, trying to decide upon the most effective way of
surprising him, and planning how she would spend the money to derive the
most good from it. At intervals she opened the top drawer of the bureau
and looked at the banknotes to be sure she was not dreaming. They would
pay a little on their most urgent bills, to show their good intentions,
and then buy supplies enough to render impossible any such experiences
as those they had undergone recently. A goodly portion would be kept for
emergencies until Jap got into something.
Mrs. Toomey glowed with gratitude to Kate and the delightful sensation
of relaxed nerves after a tension. She felt as peaceful as though she
had taken an opiate, therefore, when Toomey came in swaggering and with
the black brow which told her of disappointment, she smiled at him
tranquilly.
The smile irritated him.
"I wish you'd stop grinning."
Too happy to be perturbed, she replied in mock severity:
"If I cry, you resent it; if I smile, you stop me. Really, you know,
you're rather difficult."
"You'd be difficult, too, if you had to try to do business with a bunch
of tightwads. We've nothing to grin about, let me tell you."
"Haven't we?" archly.
He eyed her radiant face and ejaculated:
"Lord, but you look simple! What ails you?"
"Nothing fatal," she laughed gaily. "But tell me, Jap, what went wrong
this morning?"
The question recalled him to his grievances.
"You know that scheme I told you about last night?"
"Which one?" Mrs. Toomey searched her memory.
"Don't you ever listen when I talk to you?"
"I was so sleepy," apologetically.
"That one to 'glom' all the land between Willow Creek and the mountain."
"Oh, yes," vaguely. "Couldn't you interest anybody?"
"How can you interest clods who have no imagination?"
"What did they say about it?"
"Scales told me to go out and hold my head under the spout and he'd pump
on it. If ever I get a dollar ahead to pay my fine, I'm going to work
that son-of-a-gun over."
Mrs. Toomey sobered. The flippancy of the grocer was additional evidence
that her husband was considered a light-weight, even in Prouty. It hurt
her inexpressibly. The desire to work her surprise to a dramatic climax
suddenly left her. She said quietly:
"Our worries are over for the present, Jap." She walked to the bureau
and took out the money. "There is five hundred dollars."
He stared at it, at her, and back again incredulously.
"Is this a joke?" finally.
She shook her head.
"Kate Prentice."
He shouted at her.
"What? You borrowed from her?"
"She promised it to me before the--the--"
"You can't keep it."
"But, Jap--"
"I say you can't keep it."
"But, Jap--" she whimpered.
"Do you think I want to be under obligations to that--"
She put her hand over his mouth.
"You shan't say it! She's been generous. She kept her promise when
neither you nor I would have done it, and I'm going to stand by her."
"You'll do nothing of the kind!" savagely.
"Now listen, Jap," she went on pleadingly. "We need this so
terribly--we're in no position to consider our feelings--we can pay it
back the minute you get into something. I don't understand why you feel
so strongly about her, but since you do, I respect you for not wanting
to take it. However, the loan isn't to you, it's to me; it's a business
proposition, and when we return it we'll pay interest."
He was listening sullenly and she read in his wavering look that he was
weakening.
"You must be sensible, Jap. Be reasonable, for we haven't a dollar, and
look--here are five hundred of them! We simply can't refuse."
She saw the greedy glint in his eyes as she held the money toward him,
and knew that the battle was over.
"I'll not have anything to do with it, anyway."
She could have smiled at his continued pretence of reluctance, his
fictitious dignity, if it had not saddened her. As she returned the
money to the bureau drawer and slowly closed it she was conscious that
in her heart she would have been glad and proud if he had not yielded.