The Landloper Part 37

"That person who came in, d.i.c.ky! I swear I did not arrange any such thing. He is only an iceman. I don't know the man. It was some accident.

If the matter hadn't been interrupted! It was going along all right."

"What's the matter with your intellect? You know it wasn't going along at all! You simply had us chasing shadows. Good G.o.d! I ought to have made you tell me what you were planning. Think of it! Think of me waltzing down there like a b.o.o.b and thinking you had something real to offer."

"But you frightened her with that jailbird. You should have brought a real clergyman."

"The man I brought has the power to perform marriages! I would have made a nice spectacle towing a clergyman into that mess, wouldn't I?"

She broke in upon his further speech. She wrung her hands, paltering, pleading, trying to explain, trying more desperately to postpone that settlement he was demanding.

"But, honestly, it did seem to be a good plan, d.i.c.ky. I'm her mother. I know her nature. You know how some natures have to be handled! She is so self-centered. She has to be taken by surprise. She has to know that she is making a sacrifice. That is why I arranged it all for Rose Alley and borrowed that house. And I had it all planned out what to say to her at the last moment there."

"Well, what was this great thing you were going to say?" He glared at her, disgust and suspicion in his eyes.

She flushed. She hesitated, unable to meet his gaze.

"It's no use to tell you now, d.i.c.ky. Somehow, now that I come to think it all over, it sounds rather tame. It all did seem so plausible, what I was going to say when I sat down and planned out the thing. And the romance of it--you know even self-centered girls like to feel that a man wants them so much that he gets desperate--and she said once that she would marry you some time--perhaps--and--"

"Oh, you--you--" He broke in and then stopped, lacking words. "What's the use?" he muttered. "You don't even know your own daughter. She has been enduring me because you have been keeping at her. I understand it now. You told me you could hurry it up. You have made me look like a melodrama villain. You have made her hate me. Now own up! Didn't she rave to you after you got home and tell you she hated me? You have nailed me to the cross for ever where she is concerned--now haven't you?

Own up."

"I can win her back, d.i.c.ky. Give me a little time." But she was not able to look at him. "Don't scold me any more. I'm her mother. She will obey her own mother in time. Don't hurt my sensitive nature any more." She began to weep, twisting her rings on her trembling fingers.

He scowled at her, narrowing his eyes. "You haven't been playing square with me, Mrs. Kilgour."

"Call me Mother Kilgour, d.i.c.ky, just as you always have."

"I won't stand for any more bluffing, Mrs. Kilgour. Kate has sworn to you that she will never marry me--now hasn't she?"

"But I can talk her around--you can win her back. I'll tell her it was my plan--I'll have courage to tell her later--"

"So you have been laying that crazy idea all to me?"

"But I'll get up courage to tell her some day--and your devotion will win her back--devotion always wins. You can--"

"Mrs. Kilgour, I know you pretty well. I repeat, I know you have always ducked out from under--that's your nature. But here's a thing you can't dodge. You've got to come to time. You know how I love Kate. There isn't any reason why she shouldn't marry me. There's no excuse for her holding me off the way she does. You've got to fix it for me--quick! Understand?

This fluff talk about 'devotion' and 'some day' doesn't go. I want action. Now hold on! I don't mean to threaten--I've been square with you till now. Good gad, you don't realize what a price I've paid!"

"And now on top of your other insults you are going to twit me again because I have borrowed five thousand dollars from you. Oh, d.i.c.ky, I thought you were more of a gentleman?"

"Mrs. Kilgour, I have simply got to make you understand what I have done for you before you'll wake up and do something for me."

"I appreciate what you did, d.i.c.ky. Honestly, I do. You save me from losing money on my stocks."

"Where are those stocks?"

She did not look at him. "I have them put away--all safe. They are all right. Just as soon as business is better I will get your money for you, d.i.c.ky. You shall have it, every cent."

"Where are those stocks, I say! Mrs. Kilgour, look at me. Were are they?"

"Why are you so particular about knowing where they are?" Protecting herself, she showed a flicker of resentment.

"Because you must sell and hand me that money--at once."

"I--I don't believe I can realize on them just now. They are--are down just at present. They--"

"What are the stocks?"

"I don't care to reveal my private business, Richard."

"It happens to be my business, too. I'm in trouble. I must know. I shall stay here till I find out. You may as well come across."

"As soon as I can arrange it--I will tell you. Very soon now!"

He snapped himself out of his chair and went across the room to her. He put his hands on her shoulders and bent his face to hers.

"You haven't any stocks, Mrs. Kilgour."

"No," she whispered, his eyes dominating her.

"What did you do with that money I loaned you?"

"I paid--a debt."

"What debt? Answer! This thing must be cleared up--_now_!"

She began to weep.

"No more hysterics, Mrs. Kilgour. We are now down to cases. Something bad will happen if you don't confide in me."

Then, cornered, with the impulse of weak natures to seek support from stronger--to appeal to a victor who cannot be eluded--she blurted the truth.

"They got to suspecting me when I was cashier for Dalton & Company. I heard they were going to put experts upon my books, d.i.c.ky. I didn't want to go to jail. I would have disgraced Kate. I knew you loved her and would not want her mother to be arrested. I had to have that money.

I told you the story about the stocks. So I was saved from being disgraced."

"Oh, you were?" His eyes flamed so furiously that she turned her gaze from him.

"And now I feel better, for I have confided in you and you're going to be my good and true friend from now on. It will be made up to you, d.i.c.ky."

"What had you done with all that money you took from Dalton & Company?"

"It costs so much to live--and keep up the position I had when Andrew was alive! A woman needs so many things, Richard. I have always been proud. I was obliged to--"

He swore and swung away from her. "Wasted it on dress and jewelry! You turned the trick on one man and put him underground. And I'm the next victim! I knew I was being played for a sucker, but, oh--"

He battered his fists against the wall in pure ecstasy of rage. Then he sat down and put his face in his hands.

The woman clucked sobs which did not ring true.