按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
fact； it was obtrusively open and glassy； nobody would have thought
of leaving a secret there that would have been inevitably
circulated over the counter。 Cass felt an uncomfortable sense of
incongruity in himself； in his story； in his treasure； to this
temple of disenchanting realism。 With the awkwardness of an
embarrassed man he was holding prominently in his hand an envelope
containing the ring and advertisement as a voucher for his
intrusion； when the nearest clerk took the envelope from his hand；
opened it； took out the ring； returned it； said briskly； 〃T'other
shop； next door； young man；〃 and turned to another customer。
Cass stepped to the door； saw that 〃T'other shop〃 was a
pawnbroker's； and returned again with a flashing eye and heightened
color。 〃It's an advertisement I have come to answer；〃 he began
again。
The clerk cast a glance at Cass's scarf and pin。 〃Place taken
yesterdayno room for any more；〃 he said； abruptly。
Cass grew quite white。 But his old experience in Blazing Star
repartee stood him in good stead。 〃If it's YOUR place you mean；〃
he said coolly； 〃I reckon you might put a dozen men in the hole
you're rattlin' round inbut it's this advertisement I'm after。
If Bookham isn't in； maybe you'll send me one of the grown…up
sons。〃 The production of the advertisement and some laughter from
the bystanders had its effect。 The pert young clerk retired； and
returned to lead the way to the bank parlor。 Cass's heart sank
again as he was confronted by a dark； iron…gray manin dress；
features； speech； and actionuncompromisingly opposed to Casshis
ring and his romance。 When the young man had told his story and
produced his treasure he paused。 The banker scarcely glanced at
it； but said； impatiently；
〃Well； your papers？〃
〃My papers？〃
〃Yes。 Proof of your identity。 You say your name is Cass Beard。
Good！ What have you got to prove it？ How can I tell who you are？〃
To a sensitive man there is no form of suspicion that is as
bewildering and demoralizing at the moment as the question of his
identity。 Cass felt the insult in the doubt of his word； and the
palpable sense of his present inability to prove it。 The banker
watched him keenly but not unkindly。
〃Come；〃 he said at length； 〃this is not my affair； if you can
legally satisfy the lady for whom I am only agent； well and good。
I believe you can； I only warn you that you must。 And my present
inquiry was to keep her from losing her time with impostors； a
class I don't think you belong to。 There's her card。 Good day。〃
〃Miss Mortimer。〃 It was NOT the banker's daughter。 The first
illusion of Blazing Star was rudely dispelled。 But the care taken
by the capitalist to shield her from imposture indicated a person
of wealth。 Of her youth and beauty Cass no longer thought。
The address given was not distant。 With a beating heart he rung
the bell of a respectable…looking house； and was ushered into a
private drawing…room。 Instinctively he felt that the room was only
temporarily inhabited； an air peculiar to the best lodgings； and
when the door opened upon a tall lady in deep mourning； he was
still more convinced of an incongruity between the occupant and her
surroundings。 With a smile that vacillated between a habit of
familiarity and ease； and a recent restraint； she motioned him to a
chair。
〃Miss Mortimer〃 was still young； still handsome； still fashionably
dressed； and still attractive。 From her first greeting to the end
of the interview Cass felt that she knew all about him。 This
relieved him from the onus of proving his identity； but seemed to
put him vaguely at a disadvantage。 It increased his sense of
inexperience and youthfulness。
〃I hope you will believe；〃 she began； 〃that the few questions I
have to ask you are to satisfy my own heart； and for no other
purpose。〃 She smiled sadly as she went on。 〃Had it been
otherwise； I should have instituted a legal inquiry； and left this
interview to some one cooler； calmer； and less interested than
myself。 But I think； I KNOW I can trust you。 Perhaps we women are
weak and foolish to talk of an INSTINCT； and when you know my story
you may have reason to believe that but little dependence can be
placed on THAT； but I am not wrong in saying；am I？〃 （with a sad
smile） 〃that YOU are not above that weakness？〃 She paused； closed
her lips tightly； and grasped her hands before her。 〃You say you
found that ring in the road some three months beforethetheyou
know what I meanthe bodywas discovered？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You thought it might have been dropped by some one in passing？〃
〃I thought so； yesit belonged to no one in camp。〃
〃Before your cabin or on the highway？〃
〃Before my cabin。〃
〃You are SURE？〃 There was something so very sweet and sad in her
smile that it oddly made Cass color。
〃But my cabin is near the road；〃 he suggested。
〃I see！ And there was nothing else； no paper nor envelope？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃And you kept it because of the odd resemblance one of the names
bore to yours？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃For no other reason
〃None。〃 Yet Cass felt he was blushing。
〃You'll forgive my repeating a question you have already answered；
but I am so anxious。 There was some attempt to prove at the
inquest that the ring had been found on the body ofthe
unfortunate man。 But you tell me it was not so？〃
〃I can swear it。〃
〃Good Godthe traitor！〃 She took a hurried step forward； turned
to the window； and then came back to Cass with a voice broken with
emotion。 〃I have told you I could trust you。 That ring was mine！〃
She stopped； and then went on hurriedly。 〃Years ago I gave it to a
man who deceived and wronged me； a man whose life since then has
been a shame and disgrace to all who knew him。 A man who； once； a
gentleman； sank so low as to become the associate of thieves and
ruffians； sank so low； that when he died； by violencea traitor
even to themhis own confederates shrunk from him； and left him to
fill a nameless grave。 That man's body you found！〃
Cass started。 〃And his name was？〃
〃Part of your surname。 CassHenry Cass。〃
〃You see why Providence seems to have brought that ring to you；〃
she went on。 〃But you ask me why； knowing this； I am so eager to
know if the ring was found by you in the road； or if it were found
on his body。 Listen！ It is part of my mortification that the
story goes that this man once showed this ring； boasted of it；
staked； and lost it at a gambling table to one of his vile
comrades。〃
〃Kanaka Joe；〃 said Cass； overcome by a vivid recollection of Joe's
merriment at the trial。
〃The same。 Don't you see；〃 she said； hurriedly； 〃if the ring had
been found on him I could believe that somewhere in his heart he
still kept respect for the woman he had wronged。 I am a womana
foolish woman； I knowbut you have crushed that hope forever。〃
〃But why have you sent for me？〃 asked Cass； touched by her emotion。
〃To know it for certain；〃 she said； almost fiercely。 〃Can you not
understand that a woman like me must know a thing once and forever？
But you CAN help me。 I did not send for you only to pour my wrongs
in your ears。 You must take me with you to this placeto the spot
where you found the ringto the spot where you found the bodyto
the spot wherewhere HE lies。 You must do it secretly； that none
shall know me。〃
Cass hesitated。 He was thinking of his companions and the collapse
of their painted bubble。 How could he keep the secret from them？
〃If it is money you need； let not that stop you。 I have no right
to your time without recompense。 Do not misunderstand me。 There
has been a thousand dollars awaiting my order at Bookham's when the
ring should be delivered。 It shall be doubled if you help me in
this last moment。〃
It was possible。 He could convey her secretly there； invent some
story of a reward delayed for want of proofs； and afterward share
that reward with his friends。 He answered promptly； 〃I will take
you there。〃
She took his hands in both of hers； raised them to her lips； and
smiled。 The shadow of grief and restraint seemed to have fallen
from her face； and a half…mischievous； half…coquettish gleam in her
dark eyes touched the susceptible Cass in so subtle a fashion that
he regained the street in some confusion。 He wondered what Miss
Porter would have thought。 But was he not returning to her； a
fortunate man； with one thousand dollars in his pocket！ Why should
he remember he was handicapped； by a pretty woman and a pathetic
episode？ It did not make the proximity less pleasant as he helped
her into the coach that evening； nor did the recollection of
another ride with another woman obtrude itself upon those
consolations which he felt it his duty； from time to time； to
offer。 It was arranged that he should leave her at the 〃Red Chief〃