Hidden Gold Page 5

  CHAPTER V

  TREACHERY

  Overjoyed at the prospect of a peaceful solution of the problem whichconfronted him, Wade walked rapidly toward the hotel, happy, too, in thethought of meeting Helen Rexhill.

  Whether he loved her with the single-hearted devotion which a man shouldfeel toward his future wife, he was not sure; but he was confident thathe did not love any one else. The idea of love in connection withDorothy had never occurred to him; she was his good friend, nothingmore. To Helen, belonged the romance of his life, fostered in otheryears by the distinct preference she had shown for him. At one time,they had been reported engaged, and although the word had never actuallypassed between them, many things more significant than speech hadcontributed to the warm regard which they felt for each other. BeneathHelen's reputed coldness of heart lay intense feeling, and on numerousoccasions she had verged on unwomanliness in baring her moods to Wade,in a way that many other men would have been quicker to fathom, andperhaps to take advantage of, than he had been.

  Now, the knowledge that she was close at hand, and that he might see herat any moment, caused his heart to beat rapidly. If to others she hadbeen cool, to him she had been ardent, and this warmth had been the onething needful to make her physically captivating. Only when some vitalcause impends is a young man likely to distinguish between the impulsesof his body and the cravings of his soul, and no such vital exigency hadas yet appeared in Wade's life. He wondered if she was as beautiful asever, and began to reproach himself for lack of ardor in his recentletters to her, lest he should now be repaid in kind. He wanted to bereceived upon the old, delicious footing, with her in his arms, and herlips trembling beneath his.

  There were dozens of men in Washington and New York who would almosthave bartered their souls for such privilege, and Gordon Wade need notbe decried for his moment of passionate yearning. He was enough of a manto put the thought aside, pending his interview with the Senator, whichwas his first purpose. He felt sure that if Senator Rexhill could bemoved to interest in Crawling Water affairs, his influence would bepotent enough to secure redress for the cattlemen, and Wade meant topull every string that could bear upon so happy a result. He was gladthat Mrs. Rexhill had not made the journey, for he was conscious of herhostility to him, and he felt that his chances of moving her husbandwere better without her.

  When he inquired at the hotel, he was told that the Rexhills were in,and he presently found himself shaking hands with the Senator, whogreeted him with effusive warmth.

  "Helen is changing her gown and will be in shortly," the big manexplained. "I'm mighty glad to see you, Gordon. Only this morning wewere talking of looking you up. How are you? Sit down, my boy, sitdown!"

  "Senator," Wade began, after they had exchanged commonplaces for a fewmoments. "Glad as I am to see you, on my own account, I am more thanglad in behalf of my friends, who have not yet had the pleasure ofmeeting you. Your arrival in Crawling Water could not possibly have beenmore opportune. You have come just in time to save us, most likely, froman internecine strife which might have ruined us all. I was more gladthan I can tell you to learn that you were here."

  "Indeed, Gordon? I--I am much interested. Perhaps, you will...."

  While Wade succinctly sketched the situation, the Senator nervouslytoyed with his eyeglasses, now and then lifting his double chin from theconfinement of his collar, only to let the mass of flesh settle againinto inertness. He thought rapidly. Evidently, Moran had not divulgedthe fact that he, the Senator, was concerned in the Crawling Waterenterprise. Certainly, Moran had done very well in that, and Rexhillalmost wished now that he had been less precipitate in coming toCrawling Water. If he had stayed in the East, his complicity in theaffair might possibly have been concealed to the very end. He hastilyconsidered the advisability of remaining under cover; but now that hewas on the ground he decided that he had better be open and aboveboard, in so far at least as he could be so. It would prove awkward inthe event of subsequent investigation, if he should be made to appear inthe guise of a deliberate conspirator.

  So, presently, as Wade neared the end of his _resume_ of the situation,Rexhill permitted an oleaginous smile to overspread his countenance. Atthe last, he even chuckled.

  "It's really a bit amusing. No, no, not what you have said, my boy; butwhat I am about to say to you. You invoke my influence to stopthese--er--depredations, as you call them, and up to a certain point,you shall have my aid, because I seem to see that matters have gone abit beyond bounds. But when you ask me to go to extremes myself, why,I'm bound to tell you that I, too, have interests at stake. Why do yousuppose I came to Crawling Water?"

  "I'll admit that puzzled me."

  Rexhill looked keenly at Wade, wondering if he were foolish enough tobelieve the trip a sentimental journey, purely. He concluded that theyoung ranchman had too much sense to jump at such a conclusion.

  "Well, the reason is...." The Senator leaned ponderously forward,twiddling his glasses upon his thumb. "The reason is that I, if youplease, am the moving spirit behind the company which Race Moran isrepresenting here. You see...." He chuckled plethorically again atWade's start of surprise. "It really is a bit amusing."

  "Then Moran is your agent?"

  "In a sense, yes."

  "Well, I'll be damned!" The cattleman's tone was rich in disgust, buteven more keen was his intense disappointment at this failure of hishopes. "Would you mind telling me, Senator, just what the purpose ofyour company is?"

  "Certainly not. It's no secret," Rexhill replied briskly. "Certainparties back East, myself included, as I've told you, have reason tobelieve that a railroad will be put through this valley in the nearfuture. This is an extremely rich and productive section, with naturalresources which will make it heard from some day, so we are anxious toobtain a portion of the valley for speculative purposes. If the railroadcomes through we'll probably build a town somewhere nearby and open upan irrigation project we have in mind. If not, we'll use our holdings toraise wheat and livestock. The proposition is a sound investment eitherway you look at it."

  "A few years ago," said Wade, "I and several others leased upwards oftwenty thousand acres of grass land here in the valley for stock grazingpurposes. I, personally, filed a claim on the land I now call my homeranch. Our lease, which is direct from the Government, gives us entirecontrol of the land so long as we pay for it.

  "Besides ourselves, there are a number of ranches in the valley, all ofthem cattle and horse outfits. There has always been a tacit agreementthat sheep should not be grazed here because sheep and cattle can't liveon the same range in large numbers. Until Moran came here, we had notrouble whatever--the sheep ranchers kept to their own side of themountains and we cattlemen kept to ours. Since Moran has arrived,however, the sheep have crossed the Divide in thousands, until theentire valley is being overrun with them.

  "Only this morning, Moran admitted to me that the sheep men are actingwith his authority and backing. Senator Rexhill, this is wrong, and youragent, or manager, is making a big mistake. Since you are the primemover in this matter, your arrival is even more opportune than I atfirst thought, because you have the power to immediately correct yourhired man's mistake. So far as we cattle ranchers can learn, Moran isbringing sheep in here with the deliberate intention of starving us outof our homes. He seems to want our range and he--I'll not sayyou--thinks that such a course is the cheapest way to gain possession.He'll find it the dearest in the end. Unless the sheep are moved mightysoon, we shall be mixed up in one of the bloodiest little wars in thehistory of the range country. Mark you, I'm no firebrand,--some call metoo conservative; but we have about reached the limit, and something isbound to happen before many days."

  Senator Rexhill drummed with his fingers on the table.

  "Um! Does Moran know of this attitude in you and your friends, Gordon?"

  "Yes. I have just finished telling him of it. But he merely laughs atus. We are a long way from the courts here, Senator, and we can't easilyappeal to the authorities.
We are obliged to settle our differencesamong ourselves. Moran knows this as well as I do; but he forgets thatthe thing can work two ways. Each day that the sheep are here in thevalley they spoil more grass than all our cattle could eat in a week; intwo months, if the sheep stay, the range will be as bare as a ball-roomfloor. Can you wonder that we ranchers are becoming desperate?"

  "It's strange," Rexhill commented, apparently much perturbed. "Moran isnot the sort to take useless risks. He's dominant, but he's no fool.Well, my boy, I'll talk this over with him; in fact, I really came outhere to see how things were shaping up. If things can be peacefullyarranged, that's the way we want them. We're not looking for trouble.Certainly, you are quite right to object to sheep being run on yourleased pasture. I'll look into it right away and see what can be done."

  "Thank you." Wade was much relieved and he showed it. "I felt sure thatan appeal to your sense of fair play would not be fruitless. I'm mightyglad you are in town."

  "Gordon!" a girl's voice exclaimed softly behind him.

  "Helen!" He sprang to his feet and turned to seize her hands.

  Those who admired Helen Rexhill at Washington social functions never sawher look more lovely than she did at this moment of meeting with Wade,for the reason that all the skill of the costumer could not beautify herso much as the radiance of love now in her face. The dress she wore wasfar from inexpensive, but it was cut with the art which conceals art,and to Wade it appeared simple.

  Yet his first sensation was one of acute disappointment, which he stroverather ineffectually, to conceal. Doubtless, this was because hisrecollection of her had soared beyond the bounds of human perfection.But the gown, which she had chosen with so keen a wish to impress him,reminded him of the simple frocks which Dorothy Purnell wore, and inHelen Rexhill's face there was not the same sweet simplicity ofexpression which distinguished her rival. Flaming love was there, totransform her from the suggestion of a lily to that of a pomegranate;but it was the love that demands and devours, rather than the constantaffection which, in giving all, seeks nothing but the privilege ofloving in return. Without actually analyzing the impression which Helenmade upon him, Wade felt something of the truth of this, and wasdisappointed in the realization of his dream of her. Materially she wastoo perfect, too exotic, for the setting of Crawling Water.

  "Why, you look just the same," she happily exclaimed. "And I? Have Ichanged? Now, be careful what you say! You're not a bit of a courtier."

  "Everything changes, doesn't it?" he said, slowly feeling his way."Except the heart?" His answer pleased her.

  "Will you listen to that, Father? In the cattle country, too."

  "Very pretty," the Senator observed judicially. "Inspired, perhaps."

  "How long are you going to stay?" asked Wade.

  Helen laughed happily.

  "Perhaps that will depend upon how glad I think you are to have us."

  She gave him an ardent glance, which he was not proof against, nor wouldany other man have been so.

  "No doubt of that." He laughed with her, his disappointment passingbefore the old love spell, which she knew so well how to cast about him."You couldn't have come at a better time, either, for now there is someone here who can be company for you. That is," he added lamely, "whenyou're tired of having me around."

  "Really?" Helen was a bit chilled by this obvious _faux pas_. Truly,despite his worth as a man, Gordon Wade was no courtier. "Who is it?"

  "Of course, you haven't heard of her, but you'll like her. She's MissDorothy Purnell. Everybody does like her."

  Helen affected a gayety which she could scarcely have been expected tofeel. Although she was not socially adept in concealing her realfeeling, Wade saw nothing wrong. Only the Senator twisted his mouth in agrim smile.

  "Oh, but I have heard of her; indeed, I have. Mr. Moran sent me a littlephotograph of you both on horseback. Just see how her fame has crossedthe continent. I shall be charmed to meet her."

  A great light dawned upon Wade.

  "Then that was what he wanted with the picture," he exclaimed. "Wewondered at the time. I thought it pretty impudent of him, but, ofcourse, if he wanted it just to send to you, that was all right."

  Miss Rexhill winced inwardly. In spite of herself, her face expressed acertain amount of pique, for the implication was manifestly that if RaceMoran had wanted the picture for himself, the idea would have beenintolerable to Wade.

  "Oh, yes, quite all right. You seem...." She checked herself, with thereproach upon her tongue, reflecting that, after all, she was most fondof Wade because of his naturalness. Maxwell Frayne, for instance, waswithout a peer in spinning graceful phrases; but he spun little else.

  "But I don't understand why he should send it to you," Wade said, in alow tone, as the Senator turned to bend over an open traveling bag on anearby chair. "Is he--do you--?" A slight rigor of jealousy seemed toseize upon him, under the witchery of her slow smile.

  "Oh, he's been writing to me, and I suppose he thought I'd beinterested. Of course, I was." She leaned toward him a trifle, a mereswaying of her body, like a lily in a breeze, and impulsively he placedhis big hand over hers.

  "He'd better not--he'd better mind his own business!" he said grimly.

  She laughed softly, tantalizingly, and being human, Wade kissed her;the Senator being still busy with the contents of the bag.

  Thus engaged, none of them heard a knock at the door, which finallyopened before Moran, who, even if he did not actually see the kiss,could hardly have failed to suspect it from their embarrassed manner.Helen felt sure from his annoyed expression that he had witnessed thecaress, and she was rather glad of it.

  He exchanged a slightly stiff greeting with the rancher, and then whileWade and Helen continued their talk, the agent spoke in a carefullyguarded undertone with his employer. The news he brought, whatever itwas, seemed significant, for the Senator appeared worried and presentlyturned to Wade.

  "You'll not mind if I go over to the office with Moran, Gordon?"

  "Certainly not, Senator. Don't let me interrupt you. But what's the useof us staying indoors, Helen? The sun has turned now and it's coolerout. I'll show you something of our little metropolis. Or, I tell youwhat we'll do! Why not let me take you over and introduce you to theonly woman you're likely to find congenial in this neighborhood? She'llbe glad to meet you, I know."

  In any other company, Miss Rexhill would probably have resented aninvitation to call upon a rival, even apart from the ethics of socialcalls, but not before Race Moran. Before him, she would not humble Wadein the least degree, if only because to do so would reflect upon herown preference between the men. She could only pretend to welcome theprospect of going to see Miss Purnell, and she played her part well.

  "We may as well stay here now," Rexhill said, when the two young peoplehad left the room. "When did all this happen?"

  "I just got word of it," Moran answered, a bit excitedly. "Don't you seehow it plays right into our hands? It's the greatest thing that couldhave happened for us. It might have been made to order."

  "Are you sure it wasn't? Are you sure you didn't have the man shot,Race?" Senator Rexhill's tone was very dry and he watched his companionkeenly as he asked the question.

  Moran assumed an attitude of indignation.

  "Why, Senator...!"

  "Tush! I want to know where we stand. By God, Race, you mustn't go toofar! We're traveling mighty close to the wind as it is."

  "But these brawls are likely to happen at any time. This one inparticular has been brewing for weeks. Why connect me with it,unnecessarily?"

  "All right. I see your point, of course. The assassin is unknown;suspicion naturally falls upon Wade, who is at the head of the cattlefaction and who, as you say, threatened Jensen only this morning. If wecan jail him for awhile his party is likely to fall down."

  "Exactly!" Moran cried eagerly. "Fortune has placed him right in ourhands."

  "Well, I'm not going to have him arrested," Rexhill announced doggedly,"at least, not o
n any trumped up charge. He's broken my bread, Helenlikes him. We call him a friend, in fact. I always play square with myfriends--as far as possible. Strategy is strategy, nobody can quarrelwith that; but this thing you propose is something more."

  Moran, while listening, had restrained his impatience with difficulty.He not only had reason on his side, but personal hate as well. His senseof triumph in bringing the news to Rexhill had not been for their mutualcause alone; it had seemed to Moran to point toward the end of hisrivalry with Wade for the love of Helen. To have the fruits of victorysnatched from him, because of a sentiment of friendship, was almost morethan the agent could stand for.

  "Good God, Senator," he burst out, "don't throw this chance away! Thinkwhat it means to us! We are running close to the wind, and until thismoment, it's been a toss up whether we'd get out of here with our lives;whether I would, at any rate. I've run a mighty big bluff on thesecattle people, but I did it because it was the only way. I've held myown so far, but when they find out that it's not farm land we're after,but ore--why, Senator, there'll be no holding them at all! With Wade attheir head and forty miles between us and the cars, where would we getoff? We'd be lucky if we didn't swing from the limb of a tree. Do yousuppose Wade would remember then that he'd broken your bread? I'll betdollars to doughnuts he wouldn't.

  "But"--his voice sank to a significant whisper--"if we land him injail...."

  "His friends here would get him out," interposed the Senator, nervouslywiping his glasses.

  "Then Uncle Sam would put him in again, with a troop of cavalry to keeporder here, and _that_ would be another advantage gained for our side.No, sir, once we get him in jail, we've got the law with us and againsthim, don't forget that. Then the cattle party would lay mighty low. Wadehas been their leader right along. I tell you, it's the only way, andyou know what it means to us--to you."

  "You don't have to tell me that," rasped Rexhill. "If we fail to putthis through, I'm a ruined man."

  Moran's eyes gleamed.

  "Well, then, it's the only way, unless--unless...."

  "Unless what?"

  "Unless your daughter marries him, and it all comes into the family."Upon that point, Moran wished to know just where he stood.

  "I've never made a dollar through my daughter yet, and I never will,"said the Senator grimly. "I'm not selling my own flesh and blood. I'llrot in the poor-house first."

  Moran gently breathed his relief. He would have fought to the fullestextent of his power to have aborted such a marriage, but if the Senatorhad favored it, he knew that it would have been difficult to prevent.

  "Wade has a foreman he's mighty fond of, an old man named Santry," theagent remarked, trying another tack.

  "That's a horse of another color." Rexhill appeared aroused, at last. "Iremember the old fellow. He must be nearly ready for the bone yard bythis time anyhow. Saddle it on him, if you can. Wade's devoted to him.He'd do as much for Santry as for himself, maybe more."

  "I've heard about that kind of devotion," the agent sneered, "but I'veyet to see a sample of it."

  "Well, you may before long. Your first proposition's no good anyway. Itwould simply further antagonize Wade's friends. It's quite possible,though, that Santry might have been mixed up in such a brawl. Get himarrested, and then we'll let Wade know, gradually, that our influence isat his command, for a price. I've no objection to that--none at all. ByHeaven, we've got to do something."

  "We'll do it all right. I'll have a warrant sworn out."

  "Meanwhile, Race, go easy with those sheep. Wade was telling me aboutthem, and as a matter of strategy, I had to pretend that I would helphim. Move them across the Divide until we see what comes of this Santryaffair. I can't go too heavy with the boy right at the start."

  "All right." Moran arose. "The sheep don't count much now anyway."

  "I don't mind saying, Race," Senator Rexhill observed, a triflepompously, "that you've done pretty well so far. If you stick to it,you'll not find me ungrateful when the battle is over. You'll beentitled to your reward."

  Moran hesitated, seeming to summon courage to say something.

  "Maybe you've guessed the reward I'll ask, Senator," he said slowly."There are some things that mean more to a man than mere money. I'mthinking of Miss Helen."

  Rexhill found some difficulty in placing his gaze so that it wouldappear to naturally fall elsewhere than on Moran. He was mortified by asense of shame that he could not deal squarely with this aspirant forhis daughter's hand. He had been sincere in saying that he would neverbarter her to further his own interests, but so much hung in the balancehere that until the issue really arose he feared to pass upon it. Hefelt himself stultified by this truth.

  "I haven't spoken to her, Senator, because the time has not come, andjust now she's too much occupied elsewhere, perhaps. But all my hopesare fixed on her, sir, and when the time does come, I trust you'll notoppose them."

  Rexhill coughed to hide what his face might otherwise have shown.

  "Well, Race," he said, with a choking sensation that was new to him,"you know what I think of you. As for the rest, well, that will dependentirely upon Helen."