Part 45 (1/2)
”Please, it's very important.”
”Who are you?”
”It's Panhandle Smith,” replied Pan.
”That cowboy's drunk and I--no--I'm sorry.”
”Louise I'm not drunk, but I am in bad temper. I ask as a friend.
Don't cross me here. I can easy shove in this door.”
He heard soft steps, a breathless exclamation, then a key turned in the lock, and the door opened. The lamplight was not bright, Louise stood there half dressed, her bare arms and bosom gleaming. Pan entered, dragging Blinky with him, and closed the door all but tight.
”Louise, it wasn't kind of you to do that,” said Pan reproachfully.
”Have you any better friends than Blinky or me?”
”G.o.d knows--I haven't,” faltered the girl. ”But I've been ill--in bed--and am just getting out. I--I--heard about you--today--and Blink being with you--drunk.”
Pan stepped to the red-shaded lamp on a small table beside the bed, and turned up the light. The room had more comfort and color than any Pan had seen for many a day.
He bent searching eyes upon Louise. She did look ill--white, with great dark shadows under her eyes, but she seemed really beautiful.
What a tragic face it was, betrayed now by lack of paint! Pan had never seen her like this. If he had needed it, this would have warmed his heart to her.
”What do you want of me?” she asked, with a nervous twisting of hands she tried to hide.
Pan took her hands and pulled her a little toward him.
”Louise, you like me, don't you, as a friend or brother?” he asked gently.
”Yes, when I'm sober,” she replied wanly.
”And you like Blinky, here, don't you--like him a lot?”
”I did. I couldn't help it, the d.a.m.n faithful little cowboy,” she returned. ”But I hate him when he's drunk, and he hates me when I'm drunk.”
”Blink, go out and fetch back a bottle--presently. We'll all get drunk.”
The cowboy stared like a solemn owl, then very quietly went out.
”Louise, put something over your shoulders. You'll catch cold. Here,”
said Pan and he picked a robe off the bed and wrapped it round her. ”I didn't know you were so pretty. No wonder poor Blink wors.h.i.+ps you.”
She drew away from him and sat upon the bed, dark eyes questioning, suspicious. Yet she seemed fascinated. Pan caught a slight quivering of her frame. Where was the audacity, the boldness of this girl? But he did not know her, and he had her word that drink alone enabled her to carry on. He had surprised her. Yet could that account for something different, something quite beyond his power to grasp? Surely this girl could not fear him. Suddenly he remembered that Hardman had fled to this house--was hidden there now. Pan's nerves tautened.
”Louise,” he began, taking her hand again, and launching directly into the reason for this interview he had sought, ”we've had a great drive.
Blink and I have had luck. Oh, such luck! We sold over fifteen hundred horses.... Well, we're going to Arizona, to a sunny open country, not like this.... Now Blink and I want you to go with us.”
”What! Go away with you? How, in G.o.d's name?” she gasped in utter amaze.