Part 14 (2/2)

Presently, to get clear of the rush at the doors, he strolled into the lobby and idly stood at one side, watching the people streaming by.

Thus, by sheer luck, he became witness to the crucial episode of the evening. An oily Teutonic voice spoke just at his elbow:

”Id's eight o'clock, I zee. We'd better go back und gif Taylor his speech, I guess.”

The young man turned. He happened to be standing just in front of the little cubby of a box-office. In it stood two men, one large and fat and blonde, the other short and stocky and dark. This latter, looking up from a typewritten ma.n.u.script, spoke briefly:

”No hurry. Find Smith if you can and send him here.”

The fat oily person departed obediently. Immediately there stepped through the door of the box-office a rough-looking man in a slouch hat, with three days' stubble stippling a grimy chin. He shut the door carefully and came near. Varney, from where he stood, could see and hear everything.

”Mr. Ryan?”

The stocky, dark man nodded. _Aha!_ thought Varney.

”Then step outside a minute, will yer? There's a genaman wants to speak to you right away on a matter as concerns you close.”

Ryan coldly looked the man over: ”Then tell him to come in here. No! I ain't got no time to fool with him now. Tell him to go to the devil.”

The stranger never moved a muscle. ”There's a reason w'y he can't come in here--you'll see when you come outside, all right.” Then bringing his dark face sharply a foot nearer, he went on in a hasty undertone: ”Hey, you! Ever hear of a man named Maginnis?”

Ryan had: Peter's fame had traveled far in Hunston that day.

”Well, listen! There's a game on to bust this meetin' to-night and put the hook into you good and hard. Maginnis has spent a thousand to do it.

D'yer savvy? Now will yer step lively?”

The boss considered a moment and then stepped lively. Varney, falling in behind, stepped lively too, his curiosity strongly stirred. But outside, before the theatre, there was no sign of a gentleman awaiting an audience: only the people pouring on into the Academy.

”Around the corner,” whispered the dark man hoa.r.s.ely. ”He da.s.sen't wait here. Quick!”

Around the corner the pair hurried, Varney close in their wake. In the silent alley, half-hidden in the shadows of the building, stood a large carriage with a pair of strapping bays tugging at their traces. They halted before it, and the stranger, who had considerately taken Ryan's arm, flung open the door.

”Here he is, Jim--Mr. Ryan. Now you c'n tell him--”

The sentence died unended. At the same moment the sound of a violent scuffle smote the nocturnal air. It appeared that Jim, presumably laboring under an unfortunate misapprehension, had not received his visitor with that refined hospitality due from one gentleman to another.

Even more inexplicable, it looked in the deceitful darkness, remarkably as though the boss's guide, suddenly dropping that gentleman's arm, had laid forcible hold upon his outraged and madly protesting legs.

It was all over in a minute. There was a faint yell, quickly and violently m.u.f.fled. Then the carriage door banged, leaving n.o.body on the sidewalk, and the horses, responding to an acutely painful lash from the strong arm on the box, sprang forward at the gallop.

Varney stood in the dark alley, looking after the vanis.h.i.+ng carriage with mingled admiration and amazement. Swift footsteps sounded near him; and the next moment a strong hand seized him and pulled him back into the shadow of the wall.

”_Sh-h! It's me_! Anybody see it?”

”_h.e.l.lo!_ Not a soul but me.”

Peter leaned against the wall and drew a deep breath.

”He can never prove it on me--not to save his soul!--_and I hold his meeting in the hollow of my hand_. Do you see that lighted window at the back there? That's my last bridge. Waiting in there are the chairman of the meeting and the mayor, who's the orator of the evening. I'm going in and make 'em take me on as one of the platform speakers. I'll pa.s.s out a few remarks and call on Hare--”

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