THE WRECKAGE
The spring floods delayed the Eastern Express, bringing the party
to Chicago nearly a day late. The Cables and the Harbins went
at once to the Annex, where David Cable had taken rooms. They had
given up their North Side home some months before, both he and his
wife retiring into the seclusion that a great hotel can afford when
necessary.
Graydon hurried off to his father's office, eager, yet half fearing
to meet the man who was responsible for the broken link in his
life--this odd year. He recalled, as he drove across town, that a
full year had elapsed since he spent that unforgettable night in
Elias Droom's uncanny home. Was he never to forget that night--that
night when his soul seemed even more squalid than the home of the
recluse?
All of his baggage, except a suit case, had been left at the
station. He did not know what had become of his belongings in the
former home of his father. Nor, for that matter, did he care.
At the U---- Building he ventured a diffident greeting to the
elevator boy, whom he remembered. The boy looked at him quizzically
and nodded with customary aloofness. Graydon found himself hoping
that he would not meet Bobby Rigby. He also wondered, as the car
shot up, how his father had managed to escape from the meshes that
were drawn about him on the eve of his departure. His chances had
looked black and hopeless enough then; yet, he still maintained
the same old offices in the building. His name was on the directory
board downstairs. Graydon's heart gave a quick bound with the
thought that his father had proved the charges false after all.
Elias Droom was busy directing the labours of two able-bodied men
and a charwoman, all of whom were toiling as they had never toiled
before. The woman was dusting law books and the men were packing
them away in boxes. The front room of the suite was in a state of
devastation. A dozen boxes stood about the floor; rugs and furniture
were huddled in the most remote corner awaiting the arrival of the
"second-hand man"; the floor was littered with paper. Droom was
directing operations with a broken umbrella. It seemed like a lash
to the toilers.
"Now, let's get through with this room," he was saying in his most
impelling way. "The men will be here for the boxes at four. I don't
want 'em to wait. This back room stuff we'll put in the trunks.
Look out there! Don't you see that nail?"
Eddie Deever, with his usual indolence, was seated upon the edge
of the writing table in the corner, smoking his cigarette, and
commenting with rash freedom upon the efforts of the perspiring
slaves.
"How long are you going to keep these things in the warehouse?" he
asked of Droom.
"I'm not going to keep them there at all. They belong to Mr.
Bansemer. He'll take them out when he has the time."
"He's getting all the time he wants now, I guess." commented Eddie.
"Say, talking about time, I'll be twenty-one next Tuesday."
"Old enough to marry."
"I don't know about that. I'm getting pretty wise. Do you know,
I've just found out how old Rosie Keating is? She's twenty-nine.
Gee, it's funny how a fellow always gets stuck on a girl older than
himself! Still, she's all right. I'm not saying a word against her.
She wouldn't be twenty-nine if she could help it."
"I suppose it's off between you, then."
"I don't know about that, either. We lunched at Rector's to-day.
That don't look like it's off, does it? Four sixty-five, including
the tip. She don't look twenty-nine, does she?"
"I've never noticed her."
"Never--well, holy mackerel! You must be blind then. She says she's
seen you in the elevator a thousand times. Never noticed HER? Gee!"
"I mean, I've never noticed anyone who looked less than twenty-nine.
By the way, do you ever see Mr. Rigby? I believe she is in his
office."
"I don't go to Rigby's any more," said Eddie, with sudden stiffness.
"He's a cheap skate."
"I HEARD he threw you out of the office one day," with a dry cackle.
"He did not! We couldn't agree in certain things regarding the
Bansemer affair, that's all. I told him to go to the devil, or
words to that effect."
"Something loose about your testimony, I believe, wasn't there?"
"Oh, the whole thing doesn't amount to a whoop. I'm trying to get
Rosie another job. She oughtn't to write in there with that guy."
"Well, you're twenty-one. Why don't you open an office of your own?
Your mother's got plenty of money. She can buy you a library and
a sign, and that is all a young lawyer needs in Chicago."
"Mother wants me to run for alderman in our ward, next spring. I'll
be able to vote at that election."
"You've got as much right in the council as some others, I suppose."
"Sure, mother owns property. The West Side ought to be as well
represented as the North Side. Property interests is what we need
in the council. That's--"
"I don't care to hear a political speech, boy. Are you busy this
afternoon?"
"No. I wouldn't be here if I was."
"Then get up there and hand those books down to me. Nobody loafs
in this office to-day."
"Well, doggone, if that isn't the limit! All right. Don't get mad.
I'll do it." The young gentleman leisurely ascended to the top of
the stepladder and fell into line under the lash.
"Young Mr. Graydon Bansemer will be here this afternoon," said
Droom. "I want to get things cleaned up a bit beforehand."
"How does he feel about his father?"
"He doesn't know about him, I'm afraid."
"Gee! Well, it'll jar him a bit, won't it?"
The office door was opened suddenly and a tall young man strode
into the room, only to stop aghast at the sight before him. Droom's
lank figure swayed uncertainly and his eyes wavered.
"What's all this?" cried Graydon, dropping his bag and coming toward
the old man, his hand outstretched. Droom's clammy fingers rested
lifelessly in the warm clasp.
"How are you, Graydon? I'm--I'm very glad to see you. You are
looking well. Oh, this? We--we are moving," said the old man. The
helpers looked on with interest. "Come into the back office. It
isn't so torn up. I didn't expect you so soon. They said it was
twenty-four hours late. Well, well, how are you, my boy?"
"I'm quite well again, Elias. Hard siege of it, I tell you. Moving,
eh? What's that for?"
"Never mind those books, Eddie. Thank you for helping me. Come in
some other time. You fellows--I mean you--pack the rest of these
and then I'll tell you what to do next. Come in, Graydon."
Eddie Deever took his departure, deeply insulted because he had
not been introduced to the newcomer. Graydon, somewhat bewildered,
followed Droom into his father's consultation room. He looked around
inquiringly.
"Where is father? I telegraphed to him."
An incomprehensible grin came into Droom's face. He twirled the
umbrella in his fingers a moment before replying. His glance at
the closed door was no more significant than his lowered tones.
"It didn't go very well with him, Graydon. He isn't here any more."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the trial. There was a trial, you see. Haven't you heard
anything?"
"Trial? He--he was arrested?" came numbly from the young man's
lips.
"I can't mince matters, Graydon. I'll get it over as quickly as
possible. Your father was tried for blackmail and was convicted.
He is in--he's in the penitentiary."
The son's face became absolutely bloodless; his eyes were full
of comprehension and horror, and his body stiffened as if he were
turning to stone. The word penitentiary fell slowly, mechanically
from his lips. He looked into Droom's eyes, hoping it might be a
joke of the calloused old clerk.
"You--it--it can't be true," he murmured, his trembling hands going
to his temples.
"Yes, my boy, it is true. I didn't write to you about it, because
I wanted to put it off as long as I could. It's for five years."
"God!" burst from the wretched son. A wave of shame and grief sent
the tears flooding to his eyes. "Poor old dad!" He turned and walked
to the window, his shoulders heaving. Droom stood silent for a long
time, watching Bansemer's son, pity and triumph in his face.
"Do you want to hear about it?" he asked at last. Graydon's head
was bent in assent.
"It came the day after you left Chicago with the recruits. I knew
you would not read the newspapers. So did he. Harbert swore out
the papers and he was arrested here in this office. I believe he
would have killed himself if he had been given time. His revolver
was--er--not loaded. Before the officers came he discharged me.
I was at liberty to go or to testify against him. I did neither.
Of course, I was arrested, but they could only prove that I was a
clerk who knew absolutely nothing about the inside workings of the
office. I offered to go on his bond but he would not have me. He
made some arrangement, through his attorney, and bail was secured.
In spite of the fact that he was charged with crime, he insisted on
keeping these offices and trying to do business. It wasn't because
he needed money, Graydon, but because he wanted to lead an honest
life, he said. He has a great deal of money, let me tell you. The
grand jury indicted him last spring but the trial did not come up
until last month--nearly a year later--so swift is justice in this
city. In the meantime, I saw but little of him. I was working on
an invention and, besides, there were detectives watching every
movement I made. I stuck close to my rooms. By the way, I want to
show you a couple of models I have perfected. Don't let me forget
it. They--"
"Yes, yes--but father? Go on!"
"Well, the trial came up at last. That man Harbert is a devil. He
had twenty witnesses, any one of whom could have convicted your
father. How he got onto them, I can't imagine. He uncovered every
deal we've--er--he had in Chicago and--"
"Then he really was guilty!" groaned Graydon.
"Yes, my boy, I knew it, of course. They could not force me to
testify against him, however. I was too smart for them. Well, to
make it short, he was sentenced five weeks ago. The motion for a
new trial was overruled. He went to Joliet. If he had been a popular
alderman or ward boss he would have been out yet on continuances,
spending most of his sentence in some fashionable hotel, to say the
least."
"Is he--wearing stripes?"
"Yes, it's the fashion there."
"For God's sake, don't jest. For five years!" The young man sank
into a chair and covered his face with his hands.
"There'll be something off for good behaviour, my boy. He wanted
to behave well before he went there, so I suppose he'll keep it
up. The whole town was against him. He didn't have a friend."
"How did you escape?" demanded Graydon, looking up suddenly.
"State's evidence?"
"No, not even after he tried to put most of the blame upon me. He
tried that, my boy. I just let him talk. It saved me from prison.
Usually the case with the man who keeps his mouth closed."
"But, Elias--Elias, why have I been kept in the dark? Why did he
not tell me about it? Why has--"
"You forget, Graydon, that you turned from him first. You were
really the first to condemn him. He wanted you to stay away from
this country until he is free. That was his plan. He didn't want
to see you. Now he wants you to come to him. He wants you to bring
Jane Cable to see him."
"What!"
"Yes, that's it. I believe he intends to tell her the names of
her father and mother. I think he wants her to forgive him and he
wants to hear both of you say it to him."
Graydon stared blankly from the window. The old clerk was smiling
to himself, an evil, gloating smile that would have shocked Bansemer
had he turned suddenly.
"He wants both of us to--to come to the penitentiary?" muttered
the son.
"Yes, as soon as possible. Do you think she'll go?" demanded Droom
anxiously.
"I don't know. I'm afraid not."
"Not even to learn who her parents are?"
"It might tempt her. But she hates father."
"Well, she can gloat over him, can't she? That ought to be some
satisfaction. Talk it over with her. She's here, isn't she?"
"Elias, do you know who her parents were?" asked Graydon quickly.
"I've thought you knew as much about it as father."
The old man's eyes shifted.
"It's a silly question to ask of me. I was not a member of the Four
Hundred, my boy."
"Nor was my father. Yet you think he knows."
"He's a much smarter man than I, Graydon. You'll go with me to see
him?"
"Yes. I can't speak for Miss Cable."
"See her to-morrow. Come out to my place to-night, where the reporters
can't find you. Maybe you won't care to sleep with me--I've but
one bed, you see--but you can go to a quiet hotel downtown. I'm
packing these things to store them for your father. Then I'm going
back to New York to live on my income. It's honest money, too."
"Who sent me the draft for five hundred?"
"I did, Graydon. Forgive me. It was just a loan, you know. I thought
you'd need something--"
"I haven't touched it, Elias. Here it is. Thank you. No, I won't
accept it."
"I'm sorry," muttered the old man, taking the slip of paper.
Graydon resumed his seat near the window and watched Droom with
leaden eyes as he turned suddenly to resume charge of the packing.
"We'll soon be through," he said shortly.
For an hour the work went on, and then Droom dismissed the workers
with their pay. The storage van men were there to carry the boxes
away. Graydon sat still and saw the offices divested. Secondhand
dealers hurried off with the furniture, the pictures and the rugs;
an expressman came in for the things that belonged to Elias Droom.
"There," said the clerk, tossing the umbrella into a corner. "It's
finished. There's nothing left to do but remove ourselves."
"Elias, did Mr. Clegg know about father's conviction when he offered
me the place in New York?" asked Graydon as they started away.
"Yes, that's the beauty of it. He admires you. You'll take the
place?"
"Not until I've talked it all over with him--to-morrow."
Droom called a cab and the two drove over to the Wells Street
rooms, Graydon relinquishing himself completely to the will of the
old man. During the supper, which Droom prepared with elaborate
care, and far into the night, the young man sat and listened
without interest to the garrulous talk of his host, who explained
the mechanism and purpose of two models.
One was in the nature of a guillotine by which a person could chop
his own head off neatly without chance of failure, and the other
had to do with the improvement of science in respect to shoelaces.