Part 50 (1/2)
”That's a lie, Mr. Thornton!”
”It's the truth. He'll marry her if you haven't spoiled it all for him--spoiled his good name and stirred up all this scandal for him just as he was getting ready to amount to something in the world, with a wife that could help him! You get away from here as quickly as you can. You hear me? If his career is spoiled you've done it. Don't stay around here and disgrace him any more. It's bad enough, as it is, for him and Miss Presson!”
She stared at him, stricken and puzzled. Then she left him.
”I don't need any further escort,” she informed him, turning after she had gone a few steps. It was Dennis Kavanagh's girl speaking now. ”I have been escorted by the Thorntons quite enough during the past ten minutes. I tell you again, I believe you lie. But I propose to understand something more about this--and I'll not disgrace you nor your grandson!”
”Go ask some questions!” he called after her. He felt sure that gossip would confirm him. But to make sure that Harlan did not follow her and find her and discredit gossip he turned back down the corridor purposing to keep that belligerent young man under watch and ward for a time.
CHAPTER XXVI
THE WAY OF A MAID WITH A MAID
The Duke found his grandson in an anteroom where the half dozen excited, wondering men had conveyed him.
The old man and the young man stood for a few moments and gazed at each other. Harlan was breathless, disheveled, his knuckles were bleeding.
”Where is she?”
The Duke came close to him. ”She went away. Now keep your mouth closed.
You talk about disgracing a girl,” he muttered in his grandson's ear; ”if you haven't disgraced her and yourself and all of us here to-day it isn't because you haven't done your best! G.o.d only knows why I didn't leave you in the woods where you belong!”
”I'm going out to find her,” insisted his grandson. ”This is my own business from now on.”
”You try to leave this room in the shape you're in and I'll have you committed to the insane asylum across the river. The girl has more sense than you've got.”
While he was speaking Presson came in. He pulled the House bill from his pocket.
”Thornton,” he said, walking up to Harlan, ”I didn't think there could be anything more important just now than the d.a.m.nable performance you've just been through and the part my family plays in it. But here's something I propose to take while it's hot!” He shook the doc.u.ment at the young man. Harlan swept it out of his grasp before he could prevent, and b.u.t.toned it in his breast-pocket.
”That is mine,” he stated, not flinching under the indignant protest.
”If it's yours will you inform me what you intend to do with it?”
”I intend to introduce it in the House at to-morrow's session and work for its pa.s.sage.”
”He's got a bill there,” roared the chairman, turning to the Duke, ”that's written by the Devil himself! It makes old Waymouth archfiend of all the ramrodders in this State! Our sheriffs are made his deputies and the Russian Tsar becomes a hog-reeve beside him.” He blurted out the purport of the measure, garnis.h.i.+ng the recital with good, round oaths.
”So you're loaded with that, are you?” inquired the elder Thornton. He was as careless of the presence of the listeners as the chairman had been. He began invective, but the young man broke in.
”Grandfather,” he said, firmly, ”I've listened long enough to that kind of talk from you and Mr. Presson--I've listened to all kinds of reasons why a man should come here and sell his soul for the sake of getting ahead in politics.” He was thinking of the temptation that had come to him in the form of Madeleine Presson. ”I don't want any more of it. I don't know of any reason why this State shouldn't obey its laws so long as they remain laws. As to my private business, I suggest that the two of you keep still.”
They had no appet.i.te for further discourse with this young madman just then.
The Duke turned on his heel and walked out. Presson followed.
”Gentlemen,” said the young man to those who remained, ”I have no quarrel with you. I do not want any. Do you understand?” He wiped his hands with his handkerchief, smoothed his hair, and walked past them.