Part 44 (2/2)
When I reached here to tarry with my brother until I am called to move I observed you, also a stranger to the frontier. I observed other things which you will not consider prying curiosity, I hope. There was a connection, a logical connection, between you two strangers: were it not for subsequent events this observation would have remained in my heart. So far it has, but now I must reveal it to you.
”You are the only individual who stands between d.i.c.k Hilton and the ruin of Bobby Cole!”
He stopped talking and rattled his pens again. The apprehension which had possessed Jane pa.s.sed and she experienced a sharp abhorrence.
”You mean that he ...” she began and let the question trail off.
The Reverend nodded.
”Exactly. He has charmed her. He speaks with the cunning of a serpent and she, under his influence, is as guileless as a quail.
”He cannot be driven off by threats because he is not that sort. The girl cannot be convinced of his wicked purpose because she trusts no man but him. If the affair proceeds she will pay the price of a broken heart because, in spirit, she is pure gold.
”He might protest his sincerity to men of this country and force them into belief, but with you it is different. There is in every man, no matter how far he may have fallen, a sense of shame. He can bury it deeply from those who do not know him but to his own kind it is ever near the surface.
”I beg of you, ma'am, to join me in this holy cause and dissuade him from his black purpose, if not by an appeal to honor, then by an appeal to his shame.”
Jane rose.
”You mean that he has been making ... making love to this girl? And that you think I can save her?”
”It's the only way. She will not listen to men, she will not listen to you because she considers you her enemy. He may be so far sunk in sin that he will not heed the advice of one he has known and respected and, excuse me, loved ... after his manner of loving.” Jane flushed but he gave no notice. ”But unless I attempt to bring your influence to bear upon him I will feel that I have not answered the call to duty.”
He blinked again and looked at her with an appeal that wiped out any impression of charlatanry, of preposterousness that she might have had; he was wholly sincere.
”Why ... I don't know what I could say ... what I could do.”
”Nor I. But you know Hilton; you know the girl; I have made you familiar with the situation. I rely on your resourcefulness. May I bring him to you?”
”Why, he wouldn't come here!”
The Reverend rattled his pens and said:
”I think I might persuade him. Have I, as your employee, your permission, I might say, your _order_, to bring him here?”
”Of course. If there is anything I can do.... Ugh!” She shuddered and pressed a wrist against her eyes. ”It's beastly! Beastly!”
The Reverend departed and throughout the day Jane Hunter could think of little other than the situation which he had outlined to her. Her wrath was roused, replacing the disgust she had felt at first, and her heart went out to Bobby Cole with a tenderness that only woman can know for woman.
She tried to think ahead, to consider what she could say or do, to speculate on what the results of this next meeting with d.i.c.k Hilton might be.
Evening was well into dusk with the first stars p.r.i.c.king through the failing daylight when two riders came through the HC gate. d.i.c.k Hilton rode first and behind him, one hand in a deep pocket of his frock coat, rode the Reverend.
”You can get down and open the gate,” the Reverend said and Hilton, sulkily obeying, led his horse through.
”Now what?” he asked in surly submission.
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