Jessica Trent: Her Life On A Ranch Part 18

"Certainly."

Samson led the way, if walking closely beside the guest, as a constable walks beside his prisoner, may be termed leading. Nor once did he turn his angry gaze from the gentleman's face, and the riding-crop in his hand swung to and fro, as if longing to test itself against some enemy's body. The walk ended in the ranchmen's messroom, where Wun Lung, released from the cottage kitchen, had already been impressed into service, and was deftly preparing breakfast. Aunt Sally had disappeared, but Jessica was there, perched on a corner of the dresser, by which stood "Forty-niner," with his arm about her. All the other workmen whom Mr. Hale had seen were also present and an air of silent fury pervaded the whole a.s.semblage.

The stranger's glance pa.s.sed swiftly from one face to another and saw no kindness on any. Even the little captain's eyes were bent downward and her lovely face wore a sorrow it made his own heart ache to see.

Joe Dean lounged forward.

"Stranger, have you broke your fast?"

"No."

Another silence, during which the blacksmith poured a cup of inky coffee from the great pot, hacked off a piece of bread from a dusky loaf, and shoved them toward their unwelcome guest across the table by which he had sat down.

"Eat, and be quick about it."

The color rose in the Easterner's cheek, but he made no motion to obey, and after a brief waiting, seeing this, Joe threw the coffee out of the window and tossed the bread to the dogs.

"There's a horse outside. It's for you. The poorest we've got, because once you've bestrode him no decent man'll ever mount him again. He'll answer, though, to carry you beyond this valley, and Samson'll go with you to see you leave it for good. Then he'll turn the beast loose and may the Lord have mercy on your dirty soul. _Get!_"

Mr. Hale did not stir. His own eye gathered fire and the pink in his face grew scarlet, but his voice was calm as he inquired:

"Am I still at Sobrante, the home of gentlefolks? By whose orders, please, this present dramatic scene?"

"Yes; this is Sobrante. The home of gentlefolks--you spoke the truth for once. The home of Ca.s.sius Trent, the truest man, the n.o.blest heart, the whitest gentleman the good Lord ever made. The home of a man! and not a free hotel for whelps! Ugh! If I had promised the captain--Lady Jess, let me off that word! I must at him, I _must_--_I will!_"

Joe's att.i.tude was full of menace, but Mr. Hale neither moved nor took his own cool gaze from his enemy's face. Though Jessica had taken swift alarm and leaped down to place herself beside the smith and clasp his hand with her own.

"No, no. You promised, and I'm your captain. Soldiers obey their captains and you chose me yourself. You are not to hurt him nor abuse him, though, I, too"--here she wheeled about and faced her guest, crying: "hate you, hate you! Oh! that's wicked. That's rude. But, sir, how dared you say my father--the best man ever lived--kept--took--it isn't true, it isn't!"

The lawyer rose, somewhat unsteadily. The sight of the daughter's grief disturbed his calmness more than the affronts offered him by her bearded henchmen. It was to her that he addressed the question:

"Am I permitted to say a word in my own behalf, Captain Jessica?"

A growl ran around the room, but she held up her small hand, protestingly.

"Yes. That's fair. My father always taught me to be fair. I'm sorry I was--I wasn't polite----"

"No, you aren't," shouted Samson. "Don't you dare be sorry for anything but the kindness you've showed that skunk!"

"Samson, it was you made me captain!"

"All right. I give in. Be as fair as you like, I can't help it."

"Tell us all there is to tell. As you told Aunt Sally."

"Thank you, captain. I'll be brief. I came to California, representing a company, a syndicate, which had advanced large sums of money to purchase, improve, and stock a vast tract of land called Paraiso d'Oro.

Though for a time due receipts and reports had been returned to the syndicate for several months these had entirely ceased. Unfortunately, the company had implicit faith in their consignee, and Paraiso d'Oro was but one of their many enterprises. I had been their legal adviser in other matters, and when my health failed from overwork, they suggested that I should come here and investigate their affairs, while I could recuperate at the same time.

"I set out on horseback from Los Angeles, my temporary headquarters, without a guide and with many erroneous notions concerning both the State and its people. You see, though I'd lived at the center of our national civilization----"

"You're forgettin' Californy!" cried somebody.

"I'd led the narrow life of a man absorbed in one sort of business.

I traveled out of my way, and lost it. Then I met your captain in the canyon and she courteously offered me the hospitality of Sobrante. Until I reached this spot I had no idea that it was part and parcel, so to speak, of that Paraiso I'd come to reclaim. Gradually this fact became clear to me and from that moment I have been anxious to get away from a hospitality I have no moral right to enjoy."

"Spoke the truth for once, liar!" grumbled Cromarty.

"You cannot feel it more than I, sir, nor more profoundly regret that it is my misfortune to have undertaken a business which has now become obnoxious to me. But a lawyer must look at facts. One Ca.s.sius Trent----"

"Take care!"

"Be quiet, Marty! Go on, Mr. Hale," ordered the little captain.

"Ca.s.sius Trent was the man whose hitherto probity and enthusiasm had enlisted the interest of his New York friends. He represented that his projected community would not only be an excellent investment for their money, but a benefaction to humanity. They believed him and--well, their money is gone, their community has not even a beginning, and the man is dead. He seems to have been a person----"

"A white gentleman, sir!"

"Who could obtain a strong hold upon the affections and confidence of all who knew him. I admire the qualities which gained your devotion and I admire your loyalty to him. I am charmed with the home he created in this wilderness--_for himself_--and I have the profoundest respect for his afflicted family. I wish I had not undertaken this trust.

But I have so undertaken, I am sworn to my clients' interests, and I must further them to my utmost ability. If the missing money can be recovered I shall recover it, painful as my duty may be. And--that is all. Good-by, little captain. It is my sincere wish that I may find some explanation of this mystery, other than circ.u.mstantial evidence seems to point. If I so find I shall return and tell you.

If not--good-by. Make my respectful regards to your mother, and thank you for my entertainment."

He turned and walked to the doorway, n.o.body interfering; but there he paused and asked:

"That horse you mentioned? Can I purchase him of you? If so I need not trouble Samson for his escort, but will bid you, gentlemen, good-morning."

A significant look ran around the circle of intent and lowering faces.

The lawyer's succinct explanation of affairs had impressed them, but it had not altered one fact which most mattered to those hardy countrymen.

A dead man, their idolized master and friend, had been accused of black dishonesty, and they had pa.s.sed their own promise to their girlish captain not to injure the accuser.

But they had not promised he should go scot-free. To some men shame was worse than a bullet wound. It would have been so to them, and they did the stranger thus much honor that they ascribed him equal manliness.

As he stepped across the threshold Mr. Hale found both Samson and John Benton close beside him, at right hand and left; and when he was about to mount the superannuated beast, which a grinning stable lad held for him, he was pinioned and quietly hoisted into the saddle. Instantly, a brace of straps secured him and Samson's crop cut viciously at the animal's neck. Then the sailor sprang into his own saddle and, amid the insulting shouts and jeers of the a.s.sembled ranchmen, the unfortunate Easterner rode out of the mission courtyard--face backward.

CHAPTER XII

A PROJECTED JOURNEY

Captain Jess screamed and ran forward, but her outstretched hands could not reach her guest, already borne many rods away. Then she faced the jeering men, with an anger she had not believed it possible that she could ever feel toward her beloved "boys."

"Shame on you! Shame on you, every one! How dared you? And I thought--I thought--you were gentlemen!"

With arms tightly folded over her breast, as if to hold back the conflicting emotions within it, her blue eyes flashing, her small foot stamping, she defied and condemned them all.