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VOL. XXVII.-NO. 50.
CLARENCE.
BY BRET HARTE.
Author of ‘•The Luck of Knarin* Camp.’* "Two Men of Sandy Bar.**
Copyrighted by tbc Author.
CHAPTER If.
The laugh that instinctively broke from
Clarence's lips was so sincere and unaffect
rd that th v man was disconcerted, and at
last joined in it. a little shamefacedly. The
grotesque blu.id. rof being taken as a fugi
tive front justice reiiev.il Clarence's mini
front its acui* tension, he was momentari
ly divert and it was not until the b.wit
man bad d<*|Mrted and he was again alone
that it seemed to have any coll it.r.u sig
nificance.
Then an uneasy recoil?'t i>n of Susy’s
threat that st- had the po*<*r to i ill his
F
Could h- have already warn M the munic
ipal autho it.. * and this man hut he quk-k
--nnh.nb.rri :.ny action from su Is a
warning could only have !• en taken by 1
the r s i. d Std-i marshal, and n t by a
tivi. otli i.il. and dtsmu --<1 the id. a.
N.v.rth le s, when the st <•-.■• with Its
half-spent lamps still burning dimly
against the morning h. ht swept round the
• urve and rolled heavily up to ti • rude
shanty uhi.h served as coach utlice, be
* became watchful.
A single yawning indiv .deal In its <loor
way received a few letters and parcels,
but C'lar. i: - was evidently the om.c . it
iig p-s.-. n-.-i. Any h..|w that h m !;t
have entertained that his mysterious pr- lc
« •. s r would emerge ft >lll s m«- :--iu,-u>u at
th..t moment wa- <Usap>> tilted.
As be entered the e ..u h h- n. I a rapid
survey of bis fell «v travelers. L i: s tisn. I
himself that the stran- -r vva-~ not am.mg
tle-m. They u« re mainly sn.all trail, rs,
or farm rs. a miner or two. ami apperently
a Spar i-h-A.n- ri.au vs belter <!• grte and
p rsonality.
I -ildy the cireumst.ancc that men of
this class usually preferred to trie I on
* ’ horseback at.d were rarely seen in public
conveyances attracted hl.- att» n, and
U.e.r eyes met more than once, tn mutual
nines tiy.
i’re.-ently Clarence addressed a remark to
\ h»m in Spanish. He replied flue ntly-and
•u t oii.-ly, b.it at th- n.-xt st >pp.n-; piece
he asked a question < f the expre.-stnan, in
an unmistakable Missouri aeceat.
Clarence’s curiosity wis satid'-d; he
•• ,!> evidently one of those early Aiiieriean
S- tilers who had been so long dome .led in
*> uihvrn Calif, rma as to adept th- sp-e« li
as well as the habiliments of th • Spaniard.
Th 1 conv. rsation fell upon the political
news of the previous night, or rath, r se-em-
.
v ious more excited discussion, in which one
of the contestants, a i----1-Ih- tr ied miner,
9 ’■' d-i into < u . :i! • : ,-.vl q£
J^’r w . • • V .11.
It struck Clarence thru the Missourian I
had been an ainu-ed auditor, and <?V> n. .
judging from a twinkle in his eye. a mis- !
< hievous instigator of the controversy. He
wag not surpri .-d. then fore, when tnc mar.
tiru.d to him with a certain courtesy and
said:
“An I wh .t. sir, is the political feeling in
your district?”
But Clarence was in no mo «I to b. drawn,
and replied, aim. st curtly, that as he had
come inly from San Francisco. they were
probably as well informed in that subject
as himself.
A qu .-k ..nd searching plane- front the
stranger’s eye made him regrat it. but ia
the su. nee that ensued the r»d-b- tided
Ist. • i-tr. . v d. ntly slid rankling al mart,
-aw his opportunity.
Slappint : ■ huge hands on h‘- kv-• s •
and leaning forward, until he «► to
p.unc* his ihitn.ni, l*eard —like a lir-vu and
int the coistr- v. rsy. he said, srriuily:
■Weil! I kin tell you. gen’i’m :i. t!..s! It
ain’t in" to 1c no matter w -i’s t o p>-
III;, ai t-«din< hr. or thru-- it :i:i’t -:u’ to
i n...'
f-dTal rients—it ain’t gUn’ t- I■no i; to--,
t. .n uh th-r the g-»v aunt’s *.ot the r.al’t ,
i.r.?. ve it o*n soldi-.rs that tho.- s< -sh i
. t> s ..oiict in F.l S inner or wivi’i-.
t».. y havn’t <-’.t the tirst i-.m ihat’o m< d ,
at the flag blow ■ the chains :t .very d-n J
I loier south .1 .Mason ai d Dixons line! j
Y u hear n-e! I’m shoutu. |
Tip-re was an anvsy rt in . ne or two
«‘f t e *#: •“ «.i -4iit at the tmirv-,-
it p sid. strap an I halt rose, and then all
as sud-h nly suied-b-l. ....
J'v.-ry ci v. - turned t- an in-:-' t -ant
t.cu e in the bssek s. at. It was a w man
Id.ng a child •uh- r lap and r ’.i < out
of the w.nd. w with her sex’s prolound un
concern in polllie--.
Clarence ti-.d. r>t «-! the ru.ie chivalry of
* the road well »n«.uah tv <• .s ipr h« nd that
this iinc-.m u; i. It on:ni|K>ivnt liaure liu I. |
more than • %e« that «uy. e.mtr dh i th. pa -
si -ns of th- disputant:-. They dropi* d ikick j
weakly to their s-ats and ti-ir mutterings
tolled off in the rattle o. the w.i-eis. .
Clanixc gli.ne.-d at the Missourian. He |
was regarding the r«-d-b-.»rd- d miner with
a singular curiosity.
Th- rain had <•. ..f d. bit the :.fu n-ooit
shadows w- r- <i «I. mag «»> u they at last
i..< bed Fair I’l wh. re Clar.-r.ee ex
pected to take horse to th. ran h. He was
usi nished. how« ver. to learn that -ill the
horses in th- stable wen- eng- ~-«l. but
rvin.-mbirim; that aome of his own stock
•.. re in pi.stur v.i‘h -« t. n < it nt hair
I’k.m--. and that be should probably have
; t, ter selection, he turned his steps
tbithcr.
p.-asing out of the stable y i.-d .■ rt<og
nlsed the Missourian’s voice ii wiiis|<ered
conversation with the pr-pri tor. but th.-
two r.un withdiew int. Hu- shadow as he
approach xl. .
A.l iil-delimd -aneu -inesa came ov r him:
he lu.ew the proptiet-.r- whoa, n seein.-d to
knov.- the Mt.->■ urian, nnd this . vi-l-tit
uvoidan..- -t him was significant. I'erhaju
h!s :• p.iutti n as a <1 übttiil union! t had
prv*- d- -I Id.w. lut this wo.: i-ui account
for their c .nluct it a d.strlet so strongly
a-utheri. in ►ymp-itl.y as Fair I'l-ons.
More impress I by th- oeeurr. n e than
be e;.r“d t ■ admit, when, at last, after some
de!aj . he had recur, d his h rs. and was
once mor-’ in the saddle, he k- i ' a sharp
knk ut fer his quondam companion.
But here another . in t m t;-i. - ai l- d to
1 . . . th. re was t m in t •
Ing tj Santa In«*. the next town, and th
r -7:« h. and this Claren. e had pun l
tul a tn «.r ler to wat-li the Mi-so i-i.u.-
but there was • cut-off directly to the
ranch, known only to habitues of the
rat-ch.
After a few m m< nK’ rapid riding «-n a ■
mustang mu h s ri -r t - any In ’
stabler, h- was satis wd t.i.lt th .an
il ■ : haw tak. n th. ■ ut- »n. Futti.u- spurs
to l.is h,r> -. Io- :r i-t. i still «“ I;’’ • ' ?»»•«
to the ranch -if ti. t wa* ■>' ’■ t-n
As •• dasil-d al. ng the f iuidiar bj
a strange perversity < i f.’-ncy, .
tbii-kim- of hi« purpose he f ««• ; •
.I'iiv th- Lrst time h- hid ridden that
way in the tlv.-h vs his youtn and hopefal-
n TI»e girl sweetheart he was then going to
rejoin was now the wife of another; the
woman who had been her guardi in was now
bis own wife. He had iccepted without a
pang tae young girl’s dereliction, but it wm
through her revelation that he was now
about tc confront the dereliction of Ids own
wife.
An.| this was the reward of his youthful
trust and loyalty. A bitter laugh broke from
I s ||ps. it was part of his still youthful
M-ii delusion that he believed himself wiser
and stronger for it.
It was unite dark when he reached the
upper ti.-ld or first terrace of the ranch.
H< could see the while walls of the easa
rising dimly out of the green sea of early
wild gras «s. like a phantom island.
It was here that the “cut off” joined the
main road now the only one that led to
‘ the Casa. He w.i> satisfied that no one
<ould have preceded him from Fair Plains
but it was true that he must take precau
tions against his own discovery.
Disniounting u. ar a clump vs willows Ik
un addled and uubridled his horse, and
with a cut of the rtata over its haunches
Ir- Vr'iST
1 ' I
k\' .
' W i •
/• ' >
r 6 u W
/ | . '-S '
’ ■■ ...
“I LEAVE YOV THE MASdEff OF IT."
f.ntjt flying arr is* tbe '■•Jd_.uil.he 'iJ-.‘. ? ,
it presently join. d. Then. keeping well in '
the shadow of a belt of scrub oaks, he kirt- '
el the long lesser terrace of the casa. in- I
tending to approach the house byway of |
the old garden and corral.
A drizzling rain. oc< asionally driven by |
the wind into long, misty, curtain-like i
waves, obscured the prospect and favoreu *
his design, lie reached the low adobe wall I
of the corral in safety. Looking over he ;
couid detect. in spite of the darkness, that j
a number of the horses were of alien brands I
and even recognized one or two from the |
Santa Inez district.
The vague outlines of buggies and carry- j
all* Ailed the long sh. d u. tide the stables.
There was company at the casa—so far
Susy was right.
Xev> rtheless. lingering still by the wall i
of the old gard n, for with the deepening (
of the ni- ‘.t h<. i rvou feverishness wis |
ay.tin i:.v.. I' I and brnunilttl by sullen j
memories. Tic re wa* the opening l< ft by :
the old P t:lh in tin wail, behind which
Mrs. P< yi.n : t.»..d on the morning when I
he ttio e-.it he v.a havL the ranch > for- I
enr-wli te h<- had first <tied her in iiis .
arms. ;I nd st rm, a turn ... the bead, a
mom., id's it.decis: n, a single glance of j
lai . i.a oj: eye had brought this culmina- !
tio::.
And now ho st. oi again I f.-re that ruin- i
«■ 1 grille, hi home and leads, even his [
’..■me mi. it' i to. . iii.i 1. s'e mitig a iveti- [
I turvss. and himself a creeping spy of his j
1 own dishonor.
lie turned with a bitter 'mile again to i
the ga !< A : wda.k-red Castilian roses I
still iegued sow. rd and way. qin the wind i
with dripping leave -. It was her- that, the
first morning of his arrival, tie had kissed
S..sy; the t •flume a.id < .dor ot her pink
■■kin - an., i < k to him with a sudden shock
as l.e stood then-; lie caught at the flower, i
dr. w it toward him and inhaled its odor i
m a long treat It that left him faint and ]
leaning against the wall.
I Then again he smiled, but this time more |
Iwi.kedh in what he t iieved his cynicism I
h •! sprung up the first instinct of re- j
| V.llgel
It w:;. now dark enough for him to ven
ture across the earriige road and make 1
his way to the rear of the house. His first
<•’ mo torist;>• instin t had been to enter
boldly at hi- own front gate, but the terri
ble temptation to overhear and Watch the
conspiracy ; . bs. ved that fascination
common t. de.-, ved humanity to witness
it own sh.-i,:. hid grown uoon him. He
knew that a. word or g-sture of explnia
t'on, sipob gy. app al, or even terror, from
hi- v. if. w< aid ch.- k his rage and weaken
his plillw. e.
IH- ; rto-t knowledge of the house and
th. sc urity of its inmates would enable
from ime obscure landing or gallery to
i .it ti-.pate in any secret conclave they
might hold in the patio—the only place
suit.ilil" for -o numerous a rendezvous. The
ale n light in the few external win
dows j-m.’e-i to this central gathering; and
ii had alt. ady conceived his plan ot en
trance.
Gaining the rear wall of the casa he be
gan < iittiously to skirt its bramidy base,
int I he had reached a long, oven-like win
d..w, half obliterated by a monstrous pas
sion vine.
It wa- the window of what had once boon
Mrs. Peyton's boudoir; the window by
which he had once forced an entrance to
th. house wg ti it was ir. the bands of the
sif.i it i. :s; tie window from which Susy had
11. d h Span! h I•’ • -r; the window
whose grating had broken the neck of
Ju Ige Peyton’s presumed assas in.
But tie sc recollections no longer ibdayed
him: the moment for ict'on had arrived,
lie I t>ew that since the tragedy the bou
doir had b< ui dismantled and shunned; the
servants believed it to be haunted by the
assassin's ghost.
With the aid of the passion vino the in
gress was easy. The interior window was
ofH n; the rustic of dark leaves on the bare
floor as he entered, and the whirr of a
frightened bird by his ear told the story
of its tie.-elation and the source of the
strange noises that had been heard there.
The door leading to the corridor was
lightly bolted, merely to keep it from rat
tling in the wind. Slipping the bolt with
ATLANTA, GA., MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1894 c.
the blade of his pocketknife, he peered into
the dark passage. The light streaming un
der a door to the left and the sound of
voices convinced him that his conjecture
was right, and the meeting was gathered
on the brvad balconies around the patio.
He knew that a narrow gallery, faced
with Venetian blinds to exclude the sun,
looked down upon them. He managed to
gain it without discovery; luckily the blinds
were still down. Between the slats, him
self invisible, he could hear and see every
thing that occurred.
Yet even at this supreme moment the
first thing that struck him was the almost
ludicrous contrast between the appearance
of the mating and its tremendous object.
Whether he was influenced by any pre
vious boyish conception of a cloudy and
gloomy eonspiraev. he did not know, but
he was for an instant almost disconcerted
j by the ipparent b vity and festivity of tin-
Conclave. 1> canters and glasses stood on
small tables before them; nearly all were
I drinking and smoking.
They compris. <1 fifteen or twenty men,
' some whose faces were familiar to him.
j Occupying a characteristically central p>-
, sition was tin- famous Colonel Starbottle,
i of Virginia. Jaunty and youthful looking
In his mask-like, beardless face, expressive
and dignified in his middle-aged port and
, carriage, he alone retained something of
the import, nice illicit slightly theatrical
! and affected -of the occasion.
I Clarence, in his first hurried glance, had
not observed his wife, and for a moment
had felt reiii-Ved.
But an Colonel Starbuttle arose at that
, UlUll'i I'l. .«.«••>.. kJ . 1. .
ne saw mat sin- was sitting at the further
end of the balcony, ami that a man w ho a
h<- recognize.! as Captain Pinckney was
i standing beside her.
The bion I quickly tightened around hfs
heart, but left him cold and observant.
It wa'- • !d< :»i, indeed, remarked Colonel
! Starboitl , placing hi lai white lingers in
the 1 .11 of his shirt front, that a move
! meat like tins was graced with the actual
pres, tie of a lofty, inspiring, yet delicate
I sptr.t a lioadieea inde ii, he might say a
J. an oi Ar. in the person of their charm
ing hostess, Mrs. Brant!
Not oiil,, were th.y favored by her so
cial and hospitable ministration, hat by her
! activ. and eiithu iastie c.i-operation in the
I gio. ions work they had in hand. It was
! through her correspondenee and earnest
■ advocacy licit they were to be favored
i to.light ...u Hie aid and counsel of one
J ul the most d.. tin ,uishe.l and powerful
1 nan in Hie s ut.'e.u < . t it t of Caiifor
i Ilia. Jud; ! lees wh.gi-r, ot wos Angeles.
lb ha'. not the l:o:io.- of that get tle
| m.ni' |. filial in int met.-; he believed
! 1... wa: :i»t l.tr v.ioiig in saying that this
' . ! > ih« ni.sf..rtuae of every gc: tle
i m .‘. I'l' ent, n it the name itself was a
I toA-:- of -.j ! i. He would go i.irther
a: I that Mr . Brant herself was per*
. so: nd,, tnia. <ju ih.ti d w th him, but that it
) w.e through th. fetter, poetry, grace and
• g "in: oi h< ■ corn pon b"i< e with iiiat gon- I
i Heli >n that they were to have the honor I
| of !f pr. • iice that very evi ning. It was I
j understood tint advice.; had ..een te -eived '
t of hi .!■ part lire, .".nd that ho might b- tx
. ported at Bold.' at any moment.
• Hu. what proof hive we of Judge I'.ee
sw insoi 's soundness'.’” said a lazy southern
voice .1 the eoiicllision of Colonel Stllf
l.ot'l | < rio.h . ”Nob >dy here seems to
, know him by sight ; is it not risky to admit
i st .nan to our meeting whom we are unable
] to ith nt ify
*‘l reckon nobody but a fool or some pry
i ing mud-ill of a yankeo would trust his
| skin here,” returned another, “and if lie
I did We’d know what to do with h.m."
But Clarence's attention was dvete.l on
his wife, and the significant speech passed
him as unhoed, d :e had the colonel’s rln t
or e She was looking very handsome and
i giiil.e flusind. with a proud light in her
• • c it he had never seen before.
A > rbed in the discussion she seented to
b [sivii.g little a.t'.ntion to Captain Pinck
ney. as she rose suddenly to her feet.
“Jud-., lb', , winger will be attended here l
by Mr. Mie Neil, of the l-'air Plains hotel,
who will vouch for itim and Introduce him.” ,
she sai I, in i eloar ve.i which rang with '
an impc:i. lusne-- that I'larem e well rcmem- I
bend. "Tlie judge was to arrive by the •
coa it from Martinez to i’air Plains, and |
it is now due.’’
“Bitt is there no gentleman to introduce j
him ' Must wo take him on the word of a
common trader? by Jove, a whi. ky seller!”
continu. .1 the previous t oice, snevrlngl.v.
Dll the word Os a lady. Mr. Brooks,”
stud Captain Pinckney, with a slight ges
ture towaid .Mrs. Brant, “who an.- wet’s for
both."
< inf' tn-- had started slightly at his wife’s
vm and tin- information it conveyed. His
f. .low [.a ent,er and tlie <■ nlidant of Mac-
Neil was the man they were expecting. If
they hud recognized him (Clarence), would
th.-v not wain the company of his prox
imity?
He held his voice as the sound ot voices
< ime I torn the outer gate of the courtyard. ’
Aii . leant ros., but at tlie same moment I
tin- gate swung < pen and a man entered.
It was tiie Missourian.
He tinned witli an old-fashioned courtesy
t the single woman standing on the bal
cony. “Aly fair correspondent, I b lieve! I
j am Jud'.'e Beeswinger. Your agent, Mac-
N'iid passed me through your gards at
th. gate, but 1 did not deem it advisable to
bring him into this assembly of g< ntlemen
without your further consideration. 1 trust
1 was right!"
'l ite quiet dignity and self-possession, the
quaint, old-fashi.mi'd colonial pri*clsion ot
speech, modified by a soft Virginian int na
tion, and, above all. some singular individ
uality in the man himself, produced a pro
found sensation, and seemed to suddenly
give this gathering an impressiveness it had
i lacked before.
For an instant Clarence forgot himself and
his personal wrongs in the shock of indig
nation he felt at this potent addition to the
ranks of bis enemies. He saw his wife’s
eyes sparkle with pride over her acqusition,
and noticed that Pinckney cast a disturbed
glance at tho newcomer.
The stranger ascended the few steps to
the balcony and took Mrs. Brant’s hand
with profound courtesy.
"‘lntroduce me to my colleagues—distinct
, ly and separately. It behooves a man at
I such a moment to know to whom he in
trusts his life and honor, and the life and
■ honor of his cause."
It was evidently no mere formal court-sy
Os the stranger. As he stepped forward
along the balcony, and under Mrs. Brant’s
graceful guidance was introduced to each
of the members, he not only listened "with
, scrupulous < are and attention to the name
, and profession of each man, but bent upon
him a clear, searching glance that seemed
t photograph him in his memory, with two
! exceptons.
U p. sod Colonel Starbottle’s expanding
J shirt Irill with a bow of elaborate precision
and said. "Colonel Starbottle’s fame re
•;or s ncithir introduction nor explana
tion.” lie stopped before Captain Pinckney
and paused.
An i liicer of the United States army, I
believe, sir'.”’
"Yes.”
"Educated at West Point, I think, by th"
government, to whom you have taken the
oath of allegiance?” ,
"Yes.”
"Very good, sir," said the stranger,’turn
ing away.
"You have forgotten one other fact, sir."
sail Pinckney, with a slightly supercilious
air.
“Indeed, what is it?”
"1 am. first of all, a native of the state of
South Carolina.”
A murmur of applause and approval ran
round the balcony. Captain Pinckney
■railed and exchanged glances with Mrs.
F.rant, but the stranger quietly returned
to tile central table beside Colonel Star
bottle.
"1 am not only an unexpected delegate
to this aimust assembly, gentlemen,” he
began gravely, ••but 1 am the bearer of
perhaps equally unexpected news. By my
position in the southern district I am in
possession of dispatches received only this
morning by pony expn ss. J’ort Sumter
has lw-en b< sieged. The United States fiag,
carr.vmg r let to the b< leagu-Ted garrison,
has !. en tired upon by the State of South
Ca rolina!”
A bur. t <•: almost hysteric applause nnd
enthusiasm broke from the assembly an<?
mad-’ the dim vault-like pas ages and corri
dors of the casa ring. Cheer alter"cheer
v. nt up t i the veiled gal! ry and the misty i
sk b.yond. men mounted on tin- tables j
• l! 1 wave i th.er hands frantically, and j
in the midst of this bewildering turbulence |
I
>' 'l'tt on .1 hair, ’ 'Ting ch. eks |
<ndv f'i ■» -i er still ~ !r iing be. i.-
Colonel rttarbottle, n maine*- i fnmoved and
impassive. Then with an I terative ges-
*
”< 'onvine.ng and unanimous as this
demonstration is. gentlemen,” he Legau
quietly. " t i my duty, nevertheless, to
ask you if yon have s -riously considered
th' meaniir; oi tin- news 1 have brought.
It is my duty to tell you that it means
civil war. Il means the clash of arms be
tween two s ctions of a mighty country;
it means the disruption of friends, the
lircuking of family ties, the separation of
fathers and sons, e.t brothers and s:st rs—
even perhaps to the disseverment of hus
band and wife!”
"It means the sovereignty- of the south—
and the hr aking of a covenant with low
born traders and abolitionists,” said Cap
tain rite kney.
“If there are any gentlemen present,”
continued the stranger, without heeding
th interruption, “who have pledged this
state to the support of the south in this
emergency or to the establisnment ot a
Pacific republic in aid and sympathy with
it, whose names are on this paper,"—he
lifted a sh et of paper lying before Colonel
StarLottle "but who now feel that the
gravity of tne news demands a more seri
ous consideration, ol the purpose, they are
ai liixuty to withdraw from the meeting—
giving their honoi as southern gentlemen
to keep the secret intact."
“Not if 1 km.w it.” interrupted a stal
wart Kintuckian as b.e rest to nis f ••■' and '
strode down tae steps to the patio. “For,"
he added, placing hi’ bad; against the
gateway, "l il shoot the tirst coward that
backs out now."
A roar of laughter and approval followed,
but was silenced again by the quiet, unim
passioned voice ot the stranger.
“If on the otner hand,” he went on calm
ly’. “you all feel that this news is the
fitting culmination ami consecration of the
hopes, tvishts, and plans of this meeting,
v. u w ill assert it again, on your own
signatures, to Colonel Starbottle at this
table.”
“When tlie Kentuckian had risen Clar
ence had started from his concealment.
When hi naw saw the eager figures press
ing forw; I to the table he hesitated no
longer.
Slipping along the passage he reached
the staircase which led to the corridor in
the rear of tile balcony. Pescending tl.ts
rapidly he not only came upon the l ai ks
; crowd
I even elbowed one of Hie c >ll ;f>i’atois glide
without being noticed.
His wife, who had risen from liar chair at
the end of the balcony, was ah'" idy mov
ing toward the table. With a quick move
mint he seized her wrist and threw her
back into the chair again.
A e,-y broke from her lips as she itcog
nizel him. bu. still holding her wrist, he
stepped quickly between her and lie aston
ished crowd.
There was a niosent of silence, tl.in tho
erv of "spy!” and “syize him!” rose quickly,
but above al! the voice and figure ol the
Missourian was heard comm Hiding Hum t.> t
stand back. Turning to Clarence, he said
quickly: . !
• I should know your face, sir. tv ho are
you?"
“The husband of this woman, and the
master of this house,” said «’la ■• uo, as i
quickly, but in a voice he hardly reccgnized |
j as his own.
“Stand aside from her. then, »:? 'css >ou
are hoping that her danger ."ay protiet |
vou,” sail the Kentuckian, significantly
I ill awing his revolver.
But Mrs. Bryant sprang su Id >:i'v 'o her |
f,., ; beside Clarence. “We are neither of
us cowards, Mr. I’.rooks -though le tpiaks '
the truth—and, more shame to -ne," she ,
! added, with a look of savage scorn at Clar- I
, vlv . ( —“is my husband.”
“But what is your purpose in coming ;
here?” continued Judge Bceswinger, with .
his eyes fixed on Clarence.
“I have given you all the information,”
said Clarence, quietly, “that is necessary to
make you, as a gentleman, leave this house
at once—and that is my purpose. It is all
the information you will get from me ah
long as you and your friends insult my
wife with your uninvited presence. What
I may have to say to you. and each of you
hereafter—what I may choose to demand
of you, according to your own code of
honor”- he fixed his eyes on Captain Pinck
ney’s—"is another question and one not
usually discussed before a lady.”
“Pardon me. A moment —a single mo.
ment.”
It was the voice of Colonel Starbottle;
it was the frilled shirt front, the lightly
buttoned blue coat with its expanding lapels
like bursting petals and the smiling mask
of that gentleman rising above the table
and lowing to Clarence Brant and his wife
with infinite courtesy.
"The—er—humiliating situation in which
we find ourselves, gentlemen—the reluctant
witnesses of—er—what we trust is only a
temporary disagreement between our
charming hostess and the—er—gentleman
whom she has recognized under the highest
title to our consideration—is distressing to
us all, and would seem to amply justify that
gentleman’s claims to a personal satisfac
tion, which I Know we would all delight to
give. But that situation rests upon th >
supposition that our gathering here was
of a purely social or festival nature!
"It may be," continued the colonel, with
a blandly reflective air, "that the specta
cle of these decanters and glasses, and the
nectar furnished up by our Hebelike hos
tess” —he lifted a glass of whisky and
wafer to his lips while he bowed to Mrs.
Brant, gracefully—"has led the gentleman
to such a deduction. But when
I suggest to him that our meet-
ing w is of a business or private nature,
it strikes me that the question of intru
sion m;i.v be fairly divided h'ctwei n him
and ourselves. We may be even justified
in view of that privacy in asking him if
his—er—entrance to this house was-er—
coincident with his appearance among us."
“With my front door in possession of
strangers?” said Cl irence, more in n piy
to a sedden. contemptuous glance from his
wife than Starbottlc’s insinuation. “1 en
tered tlie house thr ugh the window —’’
“Os my boudoir, where another intruder
once broke his i.eek,” interrupted his wife, |
witli a mocking laugh.
"Where 1 once helped this lady to regain
ssession of her house when tt was hell
by another party of illegal trespassers, who,
hewever, wire content to call themselves
•jump' is’ and did not claim tin privacy of
g< nticinen.”
"Do you mean to imply, sir." began Colo
nel Starbottle haughtily, "that—”
"I mean to imply,” said t'larence with
quiet scorn, "that I have neither the wish
to know nor the slightest concern in any
purp.se that brought you her -, and that
when you quit the liouse jou take your
s. i rets and your ; -iva< y with yon intact,
without let or hindrance f’ in me.”
“Do yell mean to say. Mi. Brant,” said
Judge Bee. wiagi r, suppressing thy angry
interruption of his fellows with a dominant
wave of ilis hand a he fix-- i his cy on
Clarence keenly, "that you have no sympa
thy with your wife’s political sentiments?”
"I have I'l.-i-ndy / /en vou the infcxiwv
returned Clarenct w:th io: .■ d ar.ns.
"But I can answer for him,' sail Mis.
Brant, rising with a quivering toe ■• ,'ti I
c irliag lip. "There is no sympathy between i
W ar ■ as fat apart a the poles. We
have nothing in common but th“ houi.e,
and his name.” .
“But you aie husband and wife —bound
t< nether by a sacred compact!"
“A compact!” Kd.nii Mrs. Brant with a
Litter 1.11 -11. "Yii! the e an- u-t that binds
Soutli Carolina, to M ..-sa- Ina tts! The com
pact that links togetm- white and black. ,
the gentleman and the trail-r- tin plant-r
and the p.mr white—the eompi -t of these
United States-Bah! that has been broken,
and so can this!”
<’!:• retie, ’s face paled. But before he could
sj eaK there was a rapid clattering at the
pate an-l a dismounted v.iqu- ro en’-red er
• itedly. Turning to Mrs. Brant, he said
t.
“Th? easa is surrounded by a rabble of
mounted rn< n. and there is one among them
even now who demands admittance in the
l.:i. 1“ • f the law.”
"This is your work.” said Brooks, facing
Clarence furiously; “you have brought
them with you, but, by God th y shall
not save you!” lie would have clutched
Clarence, but the powerful arm of Judge
Beeswinger inter.em-d. N t •rtheless he
still struggled to reach Ciar i-. -e. appealing
to the others. "Are you tools to stand
there and b-t him triumph” Don’t you
see the cowardly yankee trick he’s play 1
upon us?"
"H ■ has not." said Mrs. B.a.nt, li > ughtilv.
i "1 have no reason to love him or Ixi.-s iriends,
I but 1 know fie does not lie.”
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!” implored Col
onel Starbottle, with unctuous per-uasion.
"may I i r—remark. At we to b - alair.ied
because an awkward rabble, no matter
whence they come, demand e it ranee la-re
in the name of the law? I am not aw re
of any law in the state of California that
W XA
■■■ <O - J
K AsAS.W 1 ; A
I-
%
WHO IS HEBE?
| wo are infringing. By all means admit
' them.” .
The gate was thrown open. A single
thick-set man, apparently unarmed and
' dressed like an ordinary traveler, followed
: by half a dozen other equally unpretentious
' looking men, entered. The leader turned
■ to the balcony.
i "1 am the chief of police of San Francis-
■ co. I have warrants for the arrest of
' Colonel Culpepper Starbottle, J >shua ,
Brooks. Captain Pinckney. Clarence Brant .
! exciting to riot and unlawful practice cal- |
; ciliated to disturb the peace ol the state of i
I California, and its relations with the fed- (
! eral government,” said the leader in a dry
°CI irence started. In spite of its monot-
1 onous utterance it was the voice ot th
red-bearded controversialist ci tm- stage
I coach. But where was his characteristic i
. beard and hair? Involuntarily < larence
glanced at Judge Beeswinger; that gentle
man was quietly regard.ng the stranger
with an impassive save that betrayed no
recognition whatever.
"But the city of San Francisco has no
PfilCE FIVE GEN I S.
jurisdiction here.” said Colonel Starbottle,
turning a bland smile toward his fellow
niembers. "I am—er—sorry to inform you
that you are simply trespassing, sir.”
"I am here also as deputy sheriff.” re
turned the stranger, coolly. "We were un
able to locate the precise place of this
meeting, although we knew of its exist
ence. 1 was sworn in this morning at
Santa Cruz by the judge of this district,
and these gentlemen with tne are my
posse.”
lhere was a quick movement of resist
ance by the members, which was. however,
again waved blandly aside by Colonel Star
bottle. Leaning forward in a slightly foren
sic attitude with his fingers on the table,
and a shirt frill that seemed to have be
come of Itself erectile, he said, with pained
but po!ite precision:
I grieve to have to state, sir, that even
that position is utterly untenable here.
I am a lawyer myself—as my friend here—
•fudge Beeswingi r—eh?—l beg your par
don !—”
The officer of the law had momentarily
started, with his eyes fixed on Judge
Beeswinger, who, however, seemed to be
quietly writing at th • table.
"As Judge Beeswinger,” continued Colo
nel St:.'rbottle, “will probably tell you, . nd,
as a jurist himself, hi- will also probably
agree with me when I also inform you
that, as the I niti-d States government is
an aggrieved party, it :s a ma:'. > for the
federal courts to prosecute and that the
only olficer we can recognize is tl - t’nited
that the marshal. Colonel <’rai-kentiiorp» - ,
is one of niy oldest friends and an active
sympathizer wim the south in tin- present
struggle you will understand that any ac
tion from him m this .natter is ex ■••edingly
improbable.”
The general murmur of laughter, relief
and approval was broken by the quiet voice
of Judge Beeswinger.
"Li- me see your warrant, Mr. Deputy
Sheriff.”
The oflieer approached him with a slight
ly iM-rplexcd and constrained air and ex
| hibited the p ip-r.
i Judge Beeswinger handed the paper back
to him.
"Colonel Starbottb- is quite right in his
contention,” he said quietly; "the only
othcer that thi<- assembly can recognize
is- the i iiite • State.-, marshal or in- legal
deputy. But Colonel Starbottl** is wrong
ia his supposition that t’oli i el Crack?n
thorpe stiu retains th.- fun lions of that
office. He wis removed by the president
of the United States and h’s successor was
appointed and sworn in by the federal judge
early this morning.”
He paused and, folding up the paper on
which lie had Ix-en writing, placed it in
tie hands of the deputy. "And this,” he
continued in his same even voice, -consti
tues you his deputy, and will enable you to
carry out your duty in coming here."
hat the devil does this mean, sir? Who
are you’.'' gm-p. d Colonel St cl. utle. re
coiling suddenly from the man at his side.
“I am the n< w United States marshal for
the southern district of Calif inia.”
I ART 1 ' 1 '
I , . u 11-r .OtT * . . so , tn /•"
astounding. He had st.»r;“d : >rw,.rl, h it
expeetiag that Hie • it.'i.L- • ■ t. si-if-con
f• d spy w ould be ommu! ; I by his in
furiated dupes. But to his surprise th«
shock seemed to have changed their na
tures and given them the dignity they had
lacked.
The excitability, irritation and re -k!«~s
ness wh i h has previously i-haractcrized
them had disappeared The deputy and
his posse, who hat advanced to the a—
simarn- • of their revealed ebi met with
no resistance. They had evidently, as if
with one accord, ilrawn away from Judge
Beeswinger, leaving a cleared space around
him. ami regard, d their eapt >rs with sul
len. contemptuous . ilen • . it was only
broken by Colonel Starbittle:
“Your duty commands you, s r, to use all
possible diligence in bringing us before tho
feder.ll judge of this distr. t. r-.1-ss your
master in Washington has violated ti e
constitution so -to r- nm. ' :m. to-.! ’
"I understand you p. rs <-tly.” returned
Judge B eswinger, with unetm- i i . -
, • ut -, "and as you kn >w- that Ju-—e W.l
fon unfortunately cannot be removed ex
cept through regular ert-ase of impeach
ment. I suppose you may still c unt upon
his southern sympathies to befriend you.
With that 1 have n .thing to . my duty
is complete when my deput) !as brought
you before him and I have stated the cir
cumstances o* the arre-t.’’
"1 congratulate you. -r,” said »->tain
Pinckney, with an iron! -al - 'll ’ m >'• r
prompt reward for your h y to 1 lie
s iu.li. and your eq*;aliy pronce a<! ption
if the peculiar ta -tics of yo.:r f’-i. u m
the way tn which you have ent .ci tris
house.”
"1 am sorry I cannot congratulate you,
sir. ’ returned Judge I;.swinger, “on Break
ing your c.r.th to the government tc.at lias
educated and supported you. and given y u
the epaulets you disgrai e. N-? ill I lis
cuss ’treachery’ with the man who has not
only violated the trust of his country, but.
! even tile integrity of iiis friend’s household.
1 It is for that rea.-nn that I withhold the
action of this warrant in so far as it af
fects Hu- jierson of the master and mistre 1
of this house. I cm satisfied that Mr.
Brant has be. n ignorant of what lias been
do: e here as 1 am that his wife has b • ri
only the foolish dupe of a double traitor.”
"s’ili .i■ •■!’’
Tiie words broke simultaneously from the
lips of Clar.-nce and Captain Pinckney.
They stood staring at ea h other—the one
p>!e, the other crimson—as Mrs. Brant,
apparently oblivious of the significance ot
th«-:r unite! adjuration, turned to Judge
Be swinger in the fury of her still stifled
rage and mortification.
“Ke p j -ur m.-n y for your fellow spy,”
she said, with a contemptuous gesture to
ward her husband. "I go with these gen
tlemen!”
"You will not.” said Cl in n- e. quo tiy,
"until 1 have sa d ;■ word to yo« alone.
He laid nis hand linnly upon her wrist.
The deputy and his prisoners til I slowly
out of the courtyard together, the latter
courteously saluting Mrs. Brant as they
passe.l, but turning from Judge Be.-swin
ger in contemptuous silence. The latter
followed them to the gate, but there he
paused.
Turning to Mrs. Brant, who was still half
struggling it l the strong grip of her hus
uand, he said:
"Any compunction I may have had in
misleading you by accepting your invita
tion here, 1 dismissed after I had entered
this house! And 1 trust.” he added, turn
ing to Clarence, sternly, "I leave you nias
! ter of it!”
j As tho gate clos ed b; hul l h : m Clarence
i locked it. As his wife turned up n him an-
I grilv, he said quietly: "I have no intention
I of restraining yo.tr lib rty a moment alter
| our interview is over, l.at unt.l then 1 do
not intend ta b. d : tu.-oe.l
She threw herself disdainfully hack in
her chair, her hands clasped in her lap,
in half-contemptuous resignation, wi’h -r
I eyes upon her long. slim, arched t et
crossed before her. Even in her attitude
there was something of her old fascination,
which, however, now seemed to sting Clar
ence to the quick.
"1 have nothing to say to you in regard