RIVALS.
Mr. Gurth Egerton, as soon as he had recovered from the astonishment in
which his strange meeting with Ralph’s little daughter had flung him,
became aware of the fact that the beautiful face of Ruth Adrian had
made a considerable impression upon him.
By what strange coincidence, he wondered, did this child cross his path
at the very moment that he was dreaming of a new life—a life from which
all remembrance of the past and all fear of the future were to be
banished?
This little Gertie Heckett, whom he had always avoided seeing, lest
such conscience as he was burdened with might be troubled, had come
upon him not in the den of Josh, not leading the miserable life which
he had imagined she might one day be reduced to, but well dressed,
hearty, and evidently well cared for.
His first thought was one of self-congratulation. He felt inclined to
pat himself on the back and say, ‘See, you have done no harm to the
orphan. If you are enjoying that which may by chance belong to her, she
does not suffer through your act.’
Having at last, by a process of reasoning, worked himself up into the
actual benefactor of his cousin’s child, he began to wonder what the
connection between her and Ruth Adrian might be.
He had two motives for following up the adventure of the charity
bazzar,—first, to find out something about Gertie, and secondly, if
possible, to cultivate the acquaintance of Ruth Adrian. Where Miss
Adrian lived, or who she was, he had not the slightest idea; but he
imagined he could very soon get a link through the child.
The first idea was to look up Heckett and question him about Gertie;
but he had a repugnance to renewing the acquaintance. He had studiously
kept clear of Heckett, and he did not care to mix himself up again with
that portion of the past. He determined to rely upon his usual
diplomatist, and lay the case before Oliver Birnie.
But when he came to tell Birnie where he had met the child, the doctor
was utterly astonished.
‘I haven’t seen Heckett since he was ill,’ he said, ‘and then Gertie
was at Little Queer Street. If she’s left him, he’s either given up the
crib and gone away, or Gertie has taken French leave. But I can soon
find out, if you particularly wish to know.’
Birnie made his inquiries in his own way, and then all he had to tell
Gurth was that Gertie had ‘run away,’ and that the old man had shut up
the Little Queer Street establishment, and had not been seen for some
little time in the neighbourhood.
This information brought Gurth no nearer to an introduction to Miss
Adrian, so he had to set his wits to work again.
But before he could think of a plan, chance did away with the
necessity.
Marston, who now studiously cultivated his acquaintance, was walking
with him one day, when a big dog came round the corner.
Marston looked hard at it, and exclaimed, ‘Hullo! Ruth isn’t far off;
here’s Gertie Heckett’s dog.’
Gurth clutched his arm.
‘Ruth—Gertie Heckett!’ he cried. ‘Good gracious me, how could I have
been so stupid? Why, of course you can tell me all about it. How comes
the child away from Josh?’
Marston looked under his eyes at his companion.
‘How should I know anything about Josh Heckett’s domestic; affairs?’ he
said coldly.
‘Why you see him, I suppose, now and then?’
‘My dear fellow, I thought you knew that I had cut all that crew long
ago. I know no more of him than you do.’
‘Well, at any rate you know Gertie Heckett, for you mentioned her
name.’
‘Of course I know her,’ answered Marston, speaking slowly and
deliberately, ‘but only through her protectress, Miss Adrian. Gertie
has been “rescued”—I believe that is the correct expression—and the
Adrians have adopted her. The Adrians are old friends of mine.’
Gurth said ‘Oh,’ and was silent.
He couldn’t understand that beautiful creature being an old friend of
dare-devil Ned Marston.
Lion had come on well ahead, and it was fully two minutes before Gertie
and Ruth came out of a shop and found themselves face to face with
Marston and Gurth.
Ruth coloured slightly as the two gentlemen lifted their hats, and
Gertie, recognizing Gurth, exclaimed, ‘Oh, it’s the gentleman that
bought the violets.’
Gertie did not seem at all astonished when Marston held out his hand to
Ruth.
It was evident that this was not the first meeting between the old
sweethearts at which she had assisted.
‘Will you allow me to introduce my old friend, Mr. Gurth Egerton?’ said
Marston.
Gurth bowed again, and Ruth honoured him with a sweet smile. And
presently the three were strolling along the street talking together,
Gertie walking on a little way ahead with Lion.
But Ruth cut short the interview by saying that Gertie and she had some
calls to make, and Marston, taking the hint, said ‘Good-day,’ and,
taking Gurth’s arm, left the ladies to finish their business by
themselves.
‘What do you think of her?’ asked Marston, when they were out of
ear-shot.
‘Think of her?’ said Gurth; ‘why, that she’s one of the most charming
women I ever met in my life. I was awfully struck with her at the
bazaar the other day.’
‘Yes, my boy,’ answered Marston; ‘and she’s as good as she is
beautiful.’
‘You know her very well, then?’
Marston looked at Gurth for a moment, and then said quietly, ‘My dear
fellow, I thought I told you we were old friends. I’m glad you like
Ruth, for when we’re married you can come and be our guest.’
Gurth started back as though Marston had struck him a blow.
‘That lady—your wife?’ he stammered.
‘Yes, some day; why not?’ said Marston. ‘I’m doing well, I’m wealthy,
and I shall soon command a good position. Why shouldn’t I marry Ruth
Adrian?’
‘I don’t know,’ stammered Gurth, hardly knowing what he was saying.
‘Why, I always looked upon you as a—as a——’
‘Say it,’ cried Marston fiercely; ‘say it, Gurth Egerton. You always
looked upon me as a scamp, as a penniless adventurer. Bah! Times have
changed for both of us. You are a rich man now; you are ambitious, so
am I. I have wiped out my old past as cleanly as you have yours. Let it
be a race between us now if you like, Gurth Egerton—a race for wealth,
a race for fame, for what you will. I shall beat you though you’ve had
a ten years start of me.’
Gurth Egerton looked at his companion in wonder. His tone was one half
of triumph, half of defiance.
‘As you will, Marston,’ he said quietly; ‘but let us start fair. Is
there any absolute engagement between you and this lady?’
‘No,’ said Marston; ‘but she is perfectly aware of my feelings towards
her. We were engaged before—well, before I went abroad.’
‘Oh, I see; then you merely hope for a renewal of old ties?’
‘That is what I have set my heart on, and I generally accomplish my
ends.’
‘Good, answered Gurth, lighting a cigarette, and offering one to his
companion. ‘We are both men of the world. Now listen. You say, let it
be a race between us for wealth and fame. Well, wealth I have, and fame
I can buy. Wealth you _say_ you have, and Ï have no doubt if you
haven’t it at present you mean to have it. Let us make this race more
exciting.’
What do you mean?’
‘Merely this,’ said Gurth, watching Marston keenly through the smoke,
‘make Ruth Adrian’s hand part of the stakes.’ Marston’s face flushed
angrily.
‘A bad joke, Egerton,’ he said, ‘and one you may be sorry for.
‘No joke, Marston; I mean it. In my quiet way I have fallen in love
with the lady, and I am in want of a wife. All’s fair in love and war,
and I don’t think you have a chance. Therefore why spoil mine?’
Marston was on the point of giving a fierce reply but he suddenly
checked himself. He could fence better if he kept his temper.
‘You were always a laboured joker, Gurth,’ he said, ‘but it won’t do.
You have found it easy enough to get a fortune from Ralph, but I don’t
think you’ll find it so easy to get a sweetheart from me, not even with
Birnie’s assistance.’
Marston laughed an irritating little laugh, nodded his head and walked
away, leaving Gurth with a flushed face and clenched hand.
It was half a threat, and Gurth felt it. In his own mind he believed
that Marston was still an adventurer, and that his house of cards would
soon come to grief. He had an idea that money could do anything, and he
was quite prepared to find Marston throwing ont a hint that he would
leave the field clear for a consideration.
The conversation of the morning had invested Ruth with new charms, and
the sudden opposition which he had encountered in Marston had
concentrated his designs.
Ruth Adrian now became the central figure in his future.
The idea of Marston daring to stop between him and the accomplishment
of his project was too absurd. He would soon put that right.
‘Threaten me, do you!’ he muttered to himself, as he turned towards
home. ‘Mr. Edward Marston, you must be looked after. Birds that want to
fly over their neighbours’ walls must have their wings clipped.’
Pending an opportunity of becoming better acquainted with Ruth Adrian,
Gurth occupied himself by developing his bump of curiosity. He was
particularly anxious to discover the history of Mr. Edward Marston from
the time he went to America, a broken-down adventurer, to the period of
his recognition of Dr. Birnie, and his sudden blooming into the
possessor of a suburban villa, a boundless ambition, and a remarkably
handsome and agreeable sweetheart.
Was she his sweetheart? On mature consideration, Gurth Egerton decided
that he had been taken in by Marston’s brag. The idea of his really
being a man of wealth and engaged to a lady like Ruth was too absurd.
‘Marston’s a clever fellow,’ he said to himself, ‘and as unscrupulous
as any man I ever knew; but I don’t think I need trouble myself much
about his opposition. He always was a braggart, and I dare say he’s
only trying to impose on me for some purpose of his own.’
A week later Gurth Egerton had managed to render Ruth a service, and to
become a welcome guest at the house.
He had heard a portion of Gertie’s story from Ruth, and had undertaken
to see Heckett and secure from him an undertaking to leave the child
unmolested in the care of her new friends.
Ruth was very grateful for this service; she had hesitated to ask
Marston, and she had not dared herself to open negotiations, as that
would have at once revealed the child’s whereabouts.
Gurth had gone himself to Heckett, to the only address he knew, the
Little Queer Street one, and had found the place shut up. He inquired
of Birnie, but that gentleman could tell him nothing. For some reason
or other Mr. Heckett had cut all his old acquaintances.
Gurth was determined to know if possible, so he ascertained Marston’s
address and went round to him.
He was struck with the comfort and taste of Eden Villa, and he began to
think that perhaps, after all, Marston had had a windfall.
He was received with easy courtesy, and Marston rather enjoyed the
astonishment under which his visitor was evidently labouring.
‘By Jove, Ned, I’d no idea you were such a swell as this!’ said Gurth,
looking about him.
‘It isn’t a bad crib,’ answered Marston quietly; ‘but I’m looking about
for an estate in the country; I’m tired of town life. I want to get
among the county families, you know, and run for the House as a Tory
squire.’
Gurth stared first, and then he burst out laughing.
‘What a chap you are, Ned,’ he exclaimed; ‘why you talk as if you were
a millionaire.’
‘All right, my boy,’ answered Marston, rising, and standing with his
back to the fireplace; ‘chaff away. You’ve seen me at the bottom of the
tree, I know, but if you live long enough you’ll see me at the top.’
Something in Marston’s manner checked the smile that came to Gurth’s
lip.
‘I hope so,’ he said. ‘I’m sure I shall be very glad, for the sake of
old times. But while you are climbing up your tree, perhaps you
wouldn’t mind doing me a service.’
‘Name it.’
‘Well, I particularly want Josh Heckett’s present address.’
‘How should I know? I saw him once after I returned, that’s all.’
‘He’s left Little Queer Street.’
‘Has he, indeed?’ said Marston quite unconcernedly. ‘Why are you so
anxious to find him? Do you want to make him a present, or to chat over
old times?’
‘Neither; I want to see him about the child.’
‘Ah,’ said Marston, ‘pricking of conscience, eh? I always thought,
considering all things, you might have done something for Gertie’s
young un.’
‘What do you mean by “considering all things “?’
‘As if you didn’t know that Gertie is Ralph’s child!’
Gurth’s face went suddenly pale, and his lips trembled as he stammered
out some unintelligible words.
Marston was utterly astonished at the effect his remark had produced,
and he instantly suspected there was some secret connected with Gertie
the discovery of which Gurth had reason to dread. Perhaps Ralph had
left her something in his will But whatever Marston thought, he was too
good a diplomatist to say anything. He waited till Gurth had recovered
his composure and pretended not to notice his confusion.
‘That’s all nonsense,’ said Gurth, with an effort. ‘I’m quite sure
you’re wrong.’
‘Very likely,’ answered Marston. ‘It was only an idea of mine—a passing
fancy. What is it you want to know about the child, now?’
Gurth hesitated. He was inclined to believe that Marston’s story about
Ruth was a pure fabrication. Still he hardly liked to say that he
wanted to see Heckett on behalf of Gertie’s new friend.
‘What do I want to know about the child?’ he said, after a pause. ‘Oh,
nothing much. I only wanted to see if I could do anything for her. She
struck me as being a very intelligent little thing.’
‘Very,’ answered Marston; ‘but she in very good hands now. Ruth is as
good as a mother to her.’
The familiar use of the Christian name grated on Gurth’s ears.
‘Yes; but I presume Miss Adrian does not propose to keep her always,
and I thought——’
‘You need not trouble yourself about Gertie Heckett, my dear fellow,’
answered Marston, lighting a cigar. ‘I shall look after her. Her
story’s a very sad one, and I like to do good when I can. I’m going in
for being a friend to the orphan, and I shall begin with Gertie
Heckett.’
‘You don’t mean it?’
‘I do, my boy, seriously. If you want a field for your benevolence you
must look elsewhere. I object to your adopting Gertie—or Ruth. You’ll
excuse me now, won’t you? I’m going out of town by the afternoon
train.’
Gurth Egerton took the hint and his departure, more than ever unable to
make his old comrade out.
Marston went down, by the afternoon train to Dover, where he had an
important appointment; and on the journey he began to think about
Gurth.
‘He’s sweet on Ruth, evidently,’ he thought. ‘If this job comes off
right, I must go in and win at once. With a wife like that it will be
my own fault if I don’t go ahead. Fancy Gurth trying to cut me out
there! How strangely things come about!’
From Gurth and Ruth, Marston’s thoughts wandered to Gertie. He was
morally certain she was Ralph’s child. But of course Gurth was not
responsible for that, and there was no proof. Why was Garth so upset by
what he said? He had at any rate found out a weak point in his rival’s
armour, and he was not the man to lose sight of the fact if it ever
came to fighting.