WAITING FOR HELP
If ever a fellow was bewildered by a single speech, it was
Richard Gordon. I walked up and down that platform till I was
called to breakfast, trying to decide what Miss Cullen had meant
to express, only to succeed in reading fifty different meanings
into her parting six words. I wanted to think that it was her way
of suggesting that I deceived myself in thinking that there was
anything between Lord Ralles and herself; but, though I wished to
believe this, I had seen too much to the contrary to take stock
in the idea. Yet I couldn't believe that Madge was a coquette; I
became angry and hot with myself for even thinking it for a
moment.
Puzzle as I did over the words, I managed to eat a good
breakfast, and then went into the Cullens' car and electrified
the party by telling them of Camp's and Fred's despatches, and
how I had come to overhear the former. Mr. Cullen and Albert
couldn't say enough about my cleverness in what had really been
pure luck, and seemed to think I had sat up all night in order to
hear that telegram. The person for whose opinion I cared the
most--Miss Cullen--didn't say anything, but she gave me a look
that set my heart beating like a trip-hammer and made me put the
most hopeful construction on that speech of hers. It seemed
impossible that she didn't care for Lord Ralles, and that she
might care for me; but, after having had no hope whatsoever, the
smallest crumb of a chance nearly lifted me off my feet.
We had a consultation over what was best to be done, but didn't
reach any definite conclusion till the station-agent brought me a
telegram from the Postmaster-General. Breaking it open, I read
aloud,--
"Do not allow service of writ, and retain possession of letters
according to prior instructions. At the request of this
department, the Secretary of War has directed the commanding
officer at Fort Whipple to furnish you with military protection,
and you will call upon him at once, if in your judgment it is
necessary. On no account surrender United States property to
Territorial authorities. Keep Department notified."
"Oh, splendid!" cried Madge, clapping her hands.
"Mr. Camp will find that other people can give surprise parties
as well as himself," I said cheerfully.
"You'll telegraph at once?" asked Mr. Cullen.
"Instantly," I said, rising, and added, "Don't you want to see
what I say, Miss Cullen?"
"Of course I do," she cried, jumping up eagerly.
Lord Ralles scowled as he said, "Yes; let's see what Mr.
Superintendent has to say."
"You needn't trouble yourself," I remarked, but he followed us
into the station. I was disgusted, but at the same time it seemed
to me that he had come because he was jealous; and that wasn't an
unpleasant thought. Whatever his motive, he was a third party in
the writing of that telegram, and had to stand by while Miss
Cullen and I discussed and draughted it. I didn't try to make it
any too brief, not merely asking for a guard and when I might
expect it, but giving as well a pretty full history of the case,
which was hardly necessary.
"You'll bankrupt yourself," laughed Madge. "You must let us pay."
"I'll let you pay, Miss Cullen, if you want," I offered. "How
much is it, Welply?" I asked, shoving the blanks in to the
operator.
"Nothin' for a lady," said Welply, grinning.
"There, Miss Cullen," I asked, "does the East come up to that in
gallantry?"
"Do you really mean that there is no charge?" demanded Madge,
incredulously, with her purse in her hand.
"That's the size of it," said the operator.
"I'm not going to believe that!" cried Madge. "I know you are
only deceiving me, and I really want to pay."
I laughed as I said, "Sometimes railroad superintendents can send
messages free, Miss Cullen."
"How silly of me!" exclaimed Madge. Then she remarked, "How nice
it is to be a railroad superintendent, Mr. Gordon! I should like
to be one myself."
That speech really lifted me off my feet, but while I was
thinking what response to make, I came down to earth with a
bounce.
"Since the telegram's done," said Lord Ralles to Miss Cullen, in
a cool, almost commanding tone, "suppose we take a walk."
"I don't think I care to this morning," answered Madge.
"I think you had better," insisted his lordship, with such a
manner that I felt inclined to knock him down.
To my surprise, Madge seemed to hesitate, and finally said,
"I'll walk up and down the platform, if you wish."
Lord Ralles nodded, and they went out, leaving me in a state of
mingled amazement and rage at the way he had cut me out. Try as I
would, I wasn't able to hit upon any theory that supplied a
solution to the conduct of either Lord Ralles or Miss Cullen,
unless they were engaged and Miss Cullen displeased him by her
behavior to me. But Madge seemed such an honest, frank girl that
I'd have believed anything sooner than that she was only playing
with me.
If I was perplexed, I wasn't going to give Lord Ralles the right
of way, and as soon as I had made certain that the telegram was
safely started I joined the walkers. I don't think any of us
enjoyed the hour that followed, but I didn't care how miserable I
was myself, so long as I was certain that I was blocking Lord
Ralles; and his grumpiness showed very clearly that my presence
did that. As for Madge, I couldn't make her out. I had always
thought I understood women a little, but her conduct was beyond
understanding.
Apparently Miss Cullen didn't altogether relish her position, for
presently she said she was going to the car. "I'm sure you and
Lord Ralles will be company enough for each other," she
predicted, giving me a flash of her eyes which showed them full
of suppressed merriment, even while her face was grave.
In spite of her prediction, the moment she was gone Lord Ralles
and I pulled apart about as quickly as a yard-engine can split a
couple of cars.
I moped around for an hour, too unsettled mentally to do anything
but smoke, and only waiting for an invitation or for some excuse
to go into 218. About eleven o'clock I obtained the latter in
another telegram, and went into the car at once.
"Telegram received," I read triumphantly. "A detail of two
companies of the Twelfth Cavalry, under the command of Captain
Singer, is ordered to Ash Forks, and will start within an hour,
arriving at five o'clock. C. D. OLMSTEAD, Adjutant."
"That won't do, Gordon," cried Mr. Cullen. "The mandamus will be
here before that."
"Oh, don't say there is something more wrong!" sighed Madge.
"Won't it be safer to run while there is still time?" suggested
Albert, anxiously.
"I was born lazy about running away," I said.
"Oh, but please, just for once," Madge begged. "We know already
how brave you are."
I thought for a moment, not so much objecting, in truth, to the
running away as to the running away from Madge.
"I'd do it for you," I said, looking at Miss Cullen so that she
understood this time what I meant, without my using any emphasis,
"but I don't see any need of making myself uncomfortable, when I
can make the other side so. Come along and see if my method isn't
quite as good."
We went to the station, and I told the operator to call Rock
Butte; then I dictated:
"Direct conductor of Phoenix No. 3 on its arrival at Rock
Butte to hold it there till further orders. RICHARD GORDON,
Superintendent."
"That will save my running and their chasing," I laughed; "though
I'm afraid a long wait in Rock Butte won't improve their
tempers."
The next few hours were pretty exciting ones to all of us, as
can well be imagined. Most of the time was spent, I have to
confess, in manoeuvres and struggles between Lord Ralles and
myself as to which should monopolize Madge, without either of us
succeeding. I was so engrossed with the contest that I forgot
all about the passage of time, and only when the sheriff
strolled up to the station did I realize that the climax was at
hand. As a joke I introduced him to the Cullens, and we all
stood chatting till far out on the hill to the south I saw a
cloud of dust and quietly called Miss Cullen's attention to it.
She and I went to 97 for my field-glasses, and the moment Madge
looked through them she cried,--
"Yes, I can see horses, and, oh, there are the stars and stripes!
I don't think I ever loved them so much before."
"I suppose we civilians will have to take a back seat now, Miss
Cullen?" I said; and she answered me with a demure smile
worth--well, I'm not going to put a value on that smile.
"They'll be here very quickly," she almost sang.
"You forget the clearness of the air," I said, and then asked the
sheriff how far away the dust-cloud was.
"Yer mean that cattle-drive?" he asked. "'Bout ten miles."
"You seem to think of everything," exclaimed Miss Cullen, as if
my knowing that distances are deceptive in Arizona was wonderful.
I sometimes think one gets the most praise in this world for what
least deserves it.
I waited half an hour to be safe, and then released No. 3, just
as we were called to luncheon; and this time I didn't refuse the
invitation to eat mine in 218.
We didn't hurry over the meal, and towards the end I took to
looking at my watch, wondering what could keep the cavalry from
arriving.
"I hope there is no danger of the train arriving first, is
there?" asked Madge.
"Not the slightest," I assured her. "The train won't be here for
an hour, and the cavalry had only five miles to cover forty
minutes ago. I must say, they seem to be taking their time."
"There they are now!" cried Albert.
Listening, we heard the clatter of horses' feet, going at a good
pace, and we all rose and went to the windows, to see the
arrival. Our feelings can be judged when across the tracks came
only a mob of thirty or forty cowboys, riding in their usual
"show-off" style.
"The deuce!" I couldn't help exclaiming, in my surprise. "Are
you sure you saw a flag, Miss Cullen?"
"Why--I--thought--" she faltered. "I saw something red, and--I
supposed of course--"
Not waiting to let her finish, I exclaimed, "There's been a fluke
somewhere, I'm afraid; but we are still in good shape, for the
train can't possibly be here under an hour. I'll get my
field-glasses and have another look before I decide what--"
My speech was interrupted by the entrance of the sheriff and Mr.
Camp!