the three partners-第23章

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had　passed　from　them；　there　was　the　sensitive　elegance　of　her

graceful　figure　in　evening　dress；　but　the　figure　was　fuller　and

maturer。　　Could　he　be　mistaken　by　some　wonderful　resemblance　acting

upon　his　too　willing　brain？　　He　turned　the　photograph　over。　　No；

there　on　the　other　side；　written　in　her　own　childlike　hand；

endeared　and　familiar　to　his　recollection；　was　her　own　name；　and

the　date！　　It　was　surely　she！



How　did　it　come　there？　　Did　the　Van　Loos　know　her？　　It　was　taken　in

Venice；　there　was　the　address　of　the　photographers。　　The　Van　Loos

were　foreigners；　he　remembered；　they　had　traveled；　perhaps　had　met

her　there　in　1858：　that　was　the　date　in　her　handwriting；　that　was

the　date　on　the　photographer's　address1858。　　Suddenly　he　laid　the

photograph　down；　took　with　trembling　fingers　a　letter…case　from　his

pocket；　opened　it；　and　laid　his　last　letter　to　her；　indorsed　with

the　cruel　announcement　of　her　death；　before　him　on　the　table。　　He

passed　his　hand　across　his　forehead　and　opened　the　letter。　　It　was

dated　1856！　　The　photograph　must　have　been　taken　two　years　AFTER

her　alleged　death！



He　examined　it　again　eagerly；　fixedly；　tremblingly。　　A　wild　impulse

to　summon　Barker　or　Stacy　on　the　spot　was　restrained　with

difficulty　and　only　when　he　remembered　that　they　could　not　help

him。　　Then　he　began　to　oscillate　between　a　joy　and　a　new　fear；

which　now；　for　the　first　time；　began　to　dawn　upon　him。　　If　the　news

of　her　death　had　been　a　fiendish　trick　of　her　relations；　why　had

SHE　never　sought　him？　　It　was　not　ill　health；　restraint；　nor　fear；

there　was　nothing　but　happiness　and　the　strength　of　youth　and

beauty　in　that　face　and　figure。　　HE　had　not　disappeared　from　the

world；　he　was　known　of　men；　more；　his　memorable　good　fortune　must

have　reached　her　ears。　　Had　he　wasted　all　these　miserable　years　to

find　himself　abandoned；　forgotten；　perhaps　even　a　dupe？　　For　the

first　time　the　sting　of　jealousy　entered　his　soul。　　Perhaps；

unconsciously　to　himself；　his　strange　and　varying　feelings　that

afternoon　had　been　the　gathering　climax　of　his　mental　condition；　at

all　events；　in　the　sudden　revulsion　there　was　a　shaking　off　of　his

apathetic　thought；　there　was　activity；　even　if　it　was　the　activity

of　pain。　　Here　was　a　mystery　to　be　solved；　a　secret　to　be

discovered；　a　past　wrong　to　be　exposed；　an　enemy　or；　perhaps；　even

a　faithless　love　to　be　punished。　　Perhaps　he　had　even　saved　his

reason　at　the　expense　of　his　love。　　He　quickly　replaced　the

photograph　on　the　mantel…shelf；　returned　the　letter　carefully　to

his　pocket…book；no　longer　a　souvenir　of　the　past；　but　a　proof　of

treachery；and　began　to　mechanically　undress　himself。　　He　was

quite　calm　now；　and　went　to　bed　with　a　strange　sense　of　relief；　and

slept　as　he　had　not　slept　since　he　was　a　boy。



The　whole　hotel　had　sunk　to　rest　by　this　time；　and　then　began　the

usual　slow；　nightly　invasion　and　investment　of　it　by　nature。　　For

all　its　broad　verandas　and　glaring　terraces；　its　long　ranges　of

windows　and　glittering　crest　of　cupola　and　tower；　it　gradually

succumbed　to　the　more　potent　influences　around　it；　and　became　their

sport　and　playground。　　The　mountain　breezes　from　the　distant　summit

swept　down　upon　its　flimsy　structure；　shook　the　great　glass　windows

as　with　a　strong　hand；　and　sent　the　balm　of　bay　and　spruce　through

every　chink　and　cranny。　　In　the　great　hall　and　corridors　the

carpets　billowed　with　the　intruding　blast　along　the　floors；　there

was　the　murmur　of　the　pines　in　the　passages；　and　the　damp　odor　of

leaves　in　the　dining…room。　　There　was　the　cry　of　night　birds　in　the

creaking　cupola；　and　the　swift　rush　of　dark　wings　past　bedroom

windows。　　Lissome　shapes　crept　along　the　terraces　between　the

stolid　wooden　statues；　or；　bolder；　scampered　the　whole　length　of

the　great　veranda。　　In　the　lulling　of　the　wind　the　breath　of　the

woods　was　everywhere；　even　the　aroma　of　swelling　sapas　if　the

ghastly　stumps　on　the　deforested　slope　behind　the　hotel　were

bleeding　afresh　in　the　dewless　nightstung　the　eyes　and　nostrils

of　the　sleepers。



It　was；　perhaps；　from　such　cause　as　this　that　Barker　was　awakened

suddenly　by　the　voice　of　the　boy　from　the　crib　beside　him；　crying；

〃Mamma！　mamma！〃　　Taking　the　child　in　his　arms；　he　comforted　him；

saying　she　would　come　that　morning；　and　showed　him　the　faint　dawn

already　veiling　with　color　the　ghostly　pallor　of　the　Sierras。　　As

they　looked　at　it　a　great　star　shot　forth　from　its　brethren　and

fell。　　It　did　not　fall　perpendicularly；　but　seemed　for　some　seconds

to　slip　along　the　slopes　of　Black　Spur；　gleaming　through　the　trees

like　a　chariot　of　fire。　　It　pleased　the　child　to　say　that　it　was

the　light　of　mamma's　buggy　that　was　fetching　her　home；　and　it

pleased　the　father　to　encourage　the　boy's　fancy。　　And　talking　thus

in　confidential　whispers　they　fell　asleep　once　more；　the　father

himself　a　child　in　so　many　thingsholding　the　smaller　and　frailer

hand　in　his。



They　did　not　know　that　on　the　other　side　of　the　Divide　the　wife　and

mother；　scared；　doubting；　and　desperate；　by　the　side　of　her　scared；

doubting；　and　desperate　accomplice；　was　flying　down　the　slope　on

her　night…long　road　to　ruin。　　Still　less　did　they　know　that；　with

the　early　singing　birds；　a　careless　horseman；　emerging　from　the

trail　as　the　dust…stained　buggy　dashed　past　him；　glanced　at　it　with

a　puzzled　air；　uttered　a　quiet　whistle　of　surprise；　and　then；

wheeling　his　horse；　gayly　cantered　after　it。





CHAPTER　V。





In　the　exercise　of　his　arduous　profession；　Jack　Hamlin　had　sat　up

all　night　in　the　magnolia　saloon　of　the　Divide；　and　as　it　was

rather　early　to　go　to　bed；　he　had；　after　his　usual　habit；　shaken

off　the　sedentary　attitude　and　prepared　himself　for　sleep　by　a

fierce　preliminary　gallop　in　the　woods。　　Besides；　he　had　been　a

large　winner；　and　on　those　occasions　he　generally　isolated　himself

from　his　companions　to　avoid　foolish　altercations　with　inexperienced

players。　　Even　in　fighting　Jack　was　fastidious；　and　did　not　like　to

have　his　stomach　for　a　real　difficulty　distended　and　vitiated　by

small　preliminary　indulgences。



He　was　just　emerging　from　the　wood　into　the　highroad　when　a　buggy

dashed　past　him；　containing　a　man　and　a　woman。　　The　woman　wore　a

thick　veil；　the　man　was　almost　undistinguishable　from　dust。　　The

glimpse　was　momentary；　but　dislike　has　a　keen　eye；　and　in　that

glimpse　Mr。　Hamlin　recognized　Van　Loo。　　The　situation　was　equally

clear。　　The　bent　heads　and　averted　faces；　the　dust　collected　in　the

heedlessness　of　haste；　the　early　hour；indicating　a　night…long

flight；all　made　it　plain　to　him　that　Van　Loo　was　running　away

with　some　woman。　　Mr。　Hamlin　had　no　moral　scruples；　but　he　had　the

ethics　of　a　sportsman；　which　he　knew　Mr。　Van　Loo　was　not。　　Whether

the　woman　was　an　innocent　schoolgirl　or　an　actress；　he　was

satisfied　that　Van　Loo　was　doing　a　mean　thing　meanly。　　Mr。　Hamlin

also　had　a　taste　for　mischief；　and　whether　the　woman　was　or　was　not

fair　game；　he　knew　that　for　HIS　purposes　Van　Loo　was。　　With　the

greatest　cheerfulness　in　the　world　he　wheeled　his　horse　and

cantered　after　them。



They　were　evidently　making　for　the　Divide　and　a　fresh　horse；　or　to

take　the　coach　due　an　hour　later。　　It　was　Mr。　Hamlin's　present

object　to　circumvent　this；　and；　therefore；　it　was　quite　in　his　way

to　return。　　Incidentally；　however；　the　superior　speed　of　his　horse

gave　him　the　opportunity　of　frequently　lunging　towards　them　at　a

furious　pace；　which　had　the　effect　of　frantically　increasing　their

own　speed；　when　he　would　pull　up　with　a　silent　laugh　before　he　was

fairly　discovered；　and　allow　the　sound　of　his　rapid　horse's　hoofs

to　die　out。　　In　this　way　he　amused　himself　until　the　straggling

town　of　the　Divide　came　in　sight；　when；　putting　his　spurs　to　his

horse　again；　he　managed；　under　pretense　of　the　animal　becoming

ungovernable；　to　twice　〃cross　the　bows〃　of　the　fugitives；

compelling　them　to　slacken　speed。　　At　the　second　of　these　passages

Van　Loo　apparently　lost　prudence；　and　slashing　out　with　his　whip；

the　lash　caught　slightly　on　the　counter　of　Hamlin's　horse。　　Mr。

Hamlin　instantly　acknowledged　it　by　lifting　his　hat　gravely；　and

speeded　on　to　the　hotel；　arriving　at　the　steps　and　throwing　himself

from　the　saddle　exactly　as　the　buggy　drove　up。　　With　characteristic

audacity；　he　actually　assisted　the　frightened　and　eager　woman　to

alight　and　run　into　the　hotel。　　But　in　this　action　her　veil　was

accidentally　lifted。　　Mr。　Hamlin　instantly　recognized　the　pretty

woman　who　had　been　pointed　out　to　him　in　San　Francisco　as　Mrs。

Barker；　the　wife　of　one　of　the　partners　whose　fortunes　had

interested　him　five　years　ago。　　It　struck　him　that　this　was　an

additional　reason　for　his　interference　on　Barker's　account；

although　personally　he　could　not　conceive　why　a　man　should　ever　try

to　prevent　a　woman　from　running　away　from　him。　　But　then　Mr。

Hamlin's　personal　experiences　had　been　quite　the　other　way。



It　was　enough；　however；　to　cause　him　to　lay　his　hand　lightly　on　Van

Loo's　arm　as　the　latter；　leaping　down；　was　about　to　follow　Mrs。

Barker　into　the　hotel。　　〃You'll　have　time　enough　now；〃　said　Hamlin。



〃Time　for　what？〃　said　Van　Loo　savagely。



〃Time　to　apologize　for　having　cut　my　horse　with　your　whip；〃　said

Jack　sweetly。　　〃We　don't　want　to　quarrel　before　a　woman。〃



〃I've　no　time　for　fooling！〃　said　Van　Loo；　endeavoring　to　pass。



But　Jack's　hand　had　slipped　to　Van　Loo's　wrist；　although　he　still

smiled　cheerfully。　　〃Ah！　　Then　you　DID　mean　it；　and　you　propose　to

give　me　satisfaction？〃



Van　Loo　paled　slightly；　he　knew　Jack's　reputation　as　a　duelist。

But　he　was　desperate。　　〃You　see　my　position；〃　he　said　hurriedly。

〃I'm　in　a　hurry；　I　have　a　lady　with　me。　　No　man　of　honor〃



〃You　do　me　wrong；〃　interrupted　Jack；　with　a　pained　expression；

〃you　do；　indeed。　　You　are　in　a　hurrywell；　I　have　plenty　of　time。

If　you　cannot　attend　to　me　now；　why　I　will　be　glad　to　accompany　you

and　the　lady　to　the　next　station。　　Of　course；〃　he　added；　with　a

smile；　〃at　a　proper　distance；　and　without　interfering　with　the

lady；　whom　I　am　pleased　to　recognize　as　the　wife　of　an　old　friend。

It　would　be　more　sociable；　perhaps；　if　we　had　some　general

conversation　on　the　road；　it　would　prevent　her　being　alarmed。　　I

might　even　be　of　some　use　to　YOU。　　If　we　are　overtaken　by　her

husband　on　the　road；　for　instance；　I　should　certainly　claim　the

right　to　have　the　first　shot　at　you。　　Boy！〃　he　called　to　the

hostler；　〃just　sponge　out　Pancho's　mouth；　will　you；　to　be　ready

when　the　buggy　goes？〃　　And；　loosening　his　grip　of　Van　Loo's　wrist；

he　turned　away　as　the　other　quickly　entered　the　hotel。



But　Mr。　Van　Loo　did　not　immediately　seek　Mrs。　Barker。　　He　had

already　some　experience　of　that　lady's　nerves　and　irascibility　on

the　drive；　and　had　begun　to　see　his　error　in　taking　so　dangerous　an

impediment　to　his　flight　from　the　country。　　And　another　idea　had

come　to　him。　　He　had　already　effected　his　purpose　of