John T. McIntyre

“ KENYON SHOWS HIS METAL “He is a young man of quick observation and sure judgment.
And once he has made up his mind, he acts like lightning.”
—Extract from a letter of Nunez.
For a moment Dallas Gilbert and Steele Kenyon stood looking into each other’s face in silence; each was reading a suspicion akin to their own.
“I’m inclined to think that Anna has the packet,” stated Kenyon, slowly.
“I am sure of it,” cried the girl. “Oh, I have always hated myself for not believing in her! She seemed so child-like in some things, and she is so clinging and pretty.” ”

“ Forrester smiled, confidently. The fresh, boyish candor which had so struck Kenyon, at first sight of him, was perfect.
“Oh, I think you will,” said he. “I don’t see how you can very well refuse.”
“And why?”
Hong Yo had drawn nearer, and Kenyon noted the yellow claw once more stealing toward the breast of his blouse. But Forrester did not give way; he only smiled, quietly.
“You see,” he answered, “you are hardly in a position to refuse me. I have dropped my connection with your plot for good and all. With these securities I disappear never to be heard of again. ”

“ I think I’d back the latter to win.”
“But in spite of all our good luck,” said Anna, after a time, “I cannot help dreading the coming of Hong Yo and Mr. Farbush. Oh, my dear, why did we not continue on. We could have left the country, and they would never have known where we had gone.”
“But think of the continuous suspense that we should have been in; we should forever be fearing pursuit. No, no; trust me! The way I have selected is the best. They can do us no harm.”
“No harm? They may murder you! You know what they are. And you cannot even defend yourself.” ”

“ In my experience I have found that the man who consistently denies having special knowledge never betrays himself.”
Kenyon was suddenly called upon to struggle against an almost irresistible desire to laugh; it was a difficult task, but he succeeded in retaining his gravity. The thing was really absurd!
“Has he said anything about what his plans are, now that the old man is dead?” inquired Farbush, eagerly.
Kenyon never quite understood what prompted him to do it, but under a sudden impulse, he answered:
“He does not know that the old man is dead.” ”

“ Kenyon did not reply, but sat staring moodily before him. He had maintained this attitude for some time before Webster noticed it; and then the latter grew suddenly silent.
“It’s the girl,” he told himself. “Poor chap! She’s got him, whoever she is. He’ll never see a woman in the distance again without thinking it’s she; nor he’ll never see another sun arise without thinking that it’s going to witness his meeting with her. ”

“ And Hong Yo laughed, his teeth showing hideously, as he did so.
Farbush echoed the laugh.
“That’s so,” said he. “She would be most anxious, indeed. For somehow, Kenyon, she doesn’t seem to have taken a fancy to you—that is, not the sort of fancy a girl should take to the man whom her friends have selected as her husband.”
“It is not news to me,” replied Kenyon, without a trace of feeling in his voice or manner. “She dislikes me, in fact, and is at no pains to conceal it.”
Hong Yo bent forward across the table, his narrow eyes fixed upon the young adventurer. ”

“ An impulsive answer seemed to tremble upon her lips; her eyes shone through the gathering tears. But she held herself in check.
“I can tell you nothing now,” she said, and her voice faltered a little. “Because it would seem so strange and unconvincing. I am but a girl, and for months have been circumstanced as a girl has never been before. When one is constantly surrounded by hidden dangers and secret foes, one fears to trust—anyone.”
“I wish I could do something to make you trust me,” he said. “It is not enough for a man to have a girl tell him that she thinks him brave. ”

“ Webster so laughed and choked and shook over this ideal if exaggerated prospect, that Kenyon, also laughing, was forced to pound him upon the back.
“You haven’t changed much, Garry,” remarked Kenyon. “You still like to slap your own choice of color on the future.”
“Well, there is no use in letting them put up some other shade for me, you know. They’d only turn out a job that wouldn’t suit. Paint the future in a good, cheerful hue, Ken, and she’ll never come to you in mourning. ”

“ Steele Kenyon found the Girls’ Club without a great deal of trouble. It was a new and solid-looking building and from top to bottom every window gleamed with lights. He made inquiries of a sergeant of police who happened along upon his round of inspection. The sergeant was a ruddy-faced, white-haired man with the hale look of that type of old New Yorker whose reminiscences never went above Canal Street.
“That club,” said the silver-haired sergeant, “is one of the finest things in the city; and the women who carry it on deserve every kind of credit. ”

“ The November mist had settled heavily upon the East River; and when they ran out into it, they could hear the foghorns and bells being tooted and rung all about them.
“A bad night for making out any craft,” remarked the owner of the power-boat. “We can’t see more than a dozen feet on any side of us.”
The man who attended to the engine suddenly lifted his head.
“There goes the Piedmont,” said he.
“Well, if you can see her, you’ve got mighty good sight,” laughed Webster.
“I sure would,” returned the man. “But I don’t see her. I hear her. Listen!” ”

“ Kenyon sat upon the edge of a table and listened to the mutterings of the hag, for she had continued in her reviling, still keeping her eyes bent downward.
“Fatherless worm!” she proclaimed. “Your pale eyes are like the fish, and your soul is as narrow as my thumb-nail.”
From somewhere in the distance came a fit of coughing, weak, ominous, rattling.
“Yo has the mind of an infant to trust to [105] the white devils. The more he coughs the more he trusts.” She held her fat, lumpy hands over the coals and spat contemptuously upon the floor. “He should keep his eyes and his knife sharp. ”

“ In the faces of Forrester and Anna, Kenyon read amazement at these words. But the face of the other girl did not change.
“Here is a man,” and the old man indicated Forrester, “who knows every step I would have taken to safeguard him of whom you all know. And here,” indicating Kenyon, “is one of unquestioned courage, of ready resource, of coolness in the face of danger. Combined they will form a defence which even the most secret and deadly machinations would find difficult in breaking down. You, Griscom, have asked Anna of me in marriage; and you,” to Kenyon, “have asked for her.” ”

“ The weak old man exercised the same effect upon him as the check. He felt that he could not undertake another step in the matter until all had been made clear to him. To go groping forward in this way was distasteful, dishonest, criminal! Turning an irresolute look upon the others, he caught the dark, steadfast eyes of the girl of the hansom cab. ”

“ He must not allow such fancies to get possession of him. Soldiering in South America is not very profitable employment, but it, at least, teaches a man to avoid ways that are perilous; and in the way to this beautiful unknown’s love lay pain and heart-burning. He could read that in each glance of her eye and each movement of her supple, exquisite figure.
These thoughts occupied but a few seconds’ time, and Kenyon was about following where they led when he was arrested by a gesture which the old man made to the two girls. ”

“ Kenyon as he looked at her gathered some of this, and his heart beat swiftly. It was the sort of thing that tells heavily with a woman; and he had progressed.
“If I can succeed,” was his thrilling thought, “there will be no one stand higher than I! And I will succeed!”
He heard the gruff grunting of the car’s signal outside; and he turned to Dallas, catching up his hat.
“I must go; the men whom I have engaged will be waiting for me; and then Forrester must not be given too much time.”
She pinned on her hat and took her long coat from a chair where it had been thrown. ”

“ THE GIRL IN THE HANSOM CAB “Mysteries, my boy, are always things of the night.”
—A Saying of Garry Webster.
Kenyon ate the good little German dinner which the Berlin always served, and looked amusedly out upon Broadway.
“Apparently it’s the same old town,” said he. “A little more light, a few more people; but the same cocksureness, the same air of being the goal of all human effort.” ”

“ Farbush is quite carried away by your success; but your, as he calls it, boldness, has about taken his breath. He would prefer less spectacular effects. You see, these old money-squeezing fellows are like moles; they get their victories by digging underground; and to do things as openly as you have done, frightens them.”
“He’ll have to steady his nerves. There is no telling what sort of moves are on their way, you know.”
“You can’t frighten me,” replied Forrester. “As the matter stands it can’t progress too rapidly to please me. ”

“ But the frequenters of the “Far East” were accustomed to strange night sights and the newcomers got scarcely a glance save from the slumming party.
They had barely got seated when Kenyon heard a step behind him, and, turning, found Forrester just closing the door.
“Ah, you’ve been surveying the outer circle,” smiled the giant, good-naturedly. “You have nothing quite like it in South America, I think.”
“Not exactly. But there are strange sights there, also. The low coffee houses at Rio are as picturesque; and even the Chinese have little the advantage of the Latin when it comes to vice.” ”

“ He waited for an answer; but as none came he proceeded: “But more seldom still, when it does occur, is the right girl selected.”
Again he paused, and still there was silence.
“I would not have allowed this man to select a sword blade for me. I would not have had sufficient confidence in him. And yet he has selected for me the one woman in the world whom I would make my wife.” One step took him to her side, and he looked down into her face. “Will you?” asked he.
“Are you—are you sure that you want me?” she whispered.
And the next instant she was in his arms and his first kiss was upon her lips. ”

“ It’s the suspense that does it.” There was a short pause, during which Kenyon heard the rustling of papers; then Forrester proceeded: “I don’t fear Hong Yo in the least; and as for Farbush, well, you know how I classed him long ago. It’s the other—that close mouthed, swift-eyed Kenyon that I really dread.”
“And I,” echoed Anna. “He is so secretive, he seems to know so much that we thought no one knew; and he is so cold and observing; he appears to be weighing one’s thoughts, continually, and casting about for some means of profiting by the result.” ”

“ Kenyon turned. A pale-eyed young man with a budding mustache had drawn a chair up close to him, and was in the act of lighting a cigarette. There was a friendly, inconsequential look upon his chubby face, and the adventurer’s eyes snapped.
“Yes, they are rather a good sort,” replied Kenyon, inspecting his cigarette critically. “But I haven’t tried the champagne.”
The other made a wry face.
“Then you may consider yourself lucky,” said he. “These old fellows like Farbush [154] should really leave their cellars for someone else to select. They do make a most dreadful mess of it sometimes. ”

“ You must not be guided altogether by appearances. Neither should you heed what others might say. She is an odd girl in some ways. And proud!” with a pretty gesture of dismay. “I never saw such pride before.”
It was the girl that she referred to! Kenyon drew a long breath and then said:
“I agree with you as to the pride. Her attitude toward me, so far, has been rather—ah—distant to say the least.”
“Then she has not treated you well to-night?”
“Is she here?” exclaimed Kenyon, caught by surprise.
“To be sure. Mr. Farbush always insists upon our being present at affairs like this. ”

“ KENYON IN A NEW RÔLE “Take plenty of time. Keep cool. Don’t make a sound.”
—The Advice of Big Slim.
For a moment Kenyon literally held his breath. There was no movement, though his ears were strained to catch any sound.
“Whoever it is,” he thought, “they are standing, listening, the same as I am.”
With the greatest possible caution he drew back a step; the soft felt creepers prevented any noise and he exercised the greatest care that there should be no rustling of his clothing. He had retreated three or four steps when he touched the opposite wall ”

“ He coughed hollowly and the handkerchief went to his lips; that he had difficulty in breathing was evident, but for all that, a look of marked satisfaction was upon his face. “We have made no mistake, my son,” addressing his companion, “in selecting Mr. Kenyon, it seems. He pleases me. It is not often that one meets with a person quite so much to one’s liking.”
The other man smiled cheerfully. “I never saw the time, Hong, that you were not right,” said he. “It takes you to pick the winners.” There was unquestioned admiration in his eyes as he turned to Kenyon. “You are the man for the job. ”

“ He is a practical sort of a person, and takes very little for granted.”
“And the old man thought him a dreamer!” cried Farbush, opening his eyes.
“Did the old man really know him very well?” asked Kenyon, meaningly.
Farbush seemed struck by this.
“Well, no, perhaps not. But outside all else, yours is a splendid piece of news. It gives us so much more time; and time was the one thing which we sadly lacked.”
“What did you and he talk about?” asked Hong Yo.
[126] “About many things, but nothing of much importance. I was satisfied to hold him safe.” ”

“ In his thirty years of life he had gone through many strange experiences, but for sheer uniqueness this present adventure surpassed them all. As he sat there in the semi-darkness he began to marshal the facts together.
After Nunez had been killed in that last desperate stand in Montevideo, Kenyon had fled north through Uruguay with Balmacenso, and crossed the frontier into Rio Grande du Sol. Then they made their way to Rio.
“And Balmacenso,” silently argued Kenyon, “was the only man in Rio who knew my identity; and Balmacenso died of a fever a good two weeks before the Blenheim entered port. ”

“ When Kenyon had finished he lay back in his chair and fairly rocked with delight.
“Adventures to the adventurous!” cried he. “Why, old chap, it’s like a night of our ancient friend, Haroun Al Raschid.” He bent forward and continued with great interest, [61] “And so the dark-eyed girl was beautiful, was she?”
“Charming! Superb! I never saw anything just like her before.”
“And the indications are,” said Webster, carefully inspecting his friend, “that you never will again. It’s the sort of thing that only hits one once in a lifetime.” ”

“ The girl of the hansom cab! The young man’s heart leaped. Then a fierce anger swept over him, and his hand went swiftly to the long, smooth-barreled revolver.
“You don’t dare to let her speak,” proceeded the man from Butte, defiantly. “Because you know you lie. You’ve double crossed me for some reason, and I’m going to get square. I’ll fix you all; you, you dying devil,” pointing to Hong Yo, “and you, my respectable Mr. Farbush; for all your pull and high pretensions, I’m on to your game, and I’ll open it wide for this whole town of New York to see.”
Kenyon saw Hong Yo rise. ”

“ But there was not a scrap of writing to be found.”
“He had been at pains to secrete carefully anything of the kind, I suppose,” remarked Austin. “The villain!”
“Why, he had been a very decent sort all along,” said Kenyon, beginning to resume his things. “It was being moneyless in a strange country that broke his nerve and drove him to rascality, like as not. There are types of men who cannot bear up under poverty, you know.” He drew on his gloves and took up his stick and hat. “At any rate, I prefer to look at it so, for as I told you some time ago, Garry, he once saved my life.” ”

“ Farbush has gibed at me for the past week for that mistake, and though Hong says little, I know he holds it over my head.”
Then Kenyon heard a sudden rustling of skirts, an ejaculation; a succession of kisses and a smothered flood of endearments. Finally Anna’s voice was heard, saying:
“But let them plot and struggle! What do we care? We have what we want—what we have always wanted. It does not make any difference to us who succeeds to Stephen Austin’s business, now.” There was a great rustling of paper, as though someone had plunged eager hands among a heap of loose sheets. ”

“ Now, I have no doubt but that a man so inoculated with the poison of commercial life as Farbush would have his home office in the most conspicuous room in the house.”
“Oh, but he hasn’t, I assure you,” the other hastened to say. “His apartment for the transaction of his own private affairs is just at the head of the first flight of stairs—a large room, but quite out of the way.”
“Well, I should have thought differently,” replied Kenyon, grudgingly. ”

“ For the third time within a week, Kenyon related his experiences to his attentive friend. He began with their talk at dinner some nights before and the idea that he had conceived from Webster’s laughing remark. Then he went on to his hunt for Gypsy Brady, his meeting with the cracksman, Big Slim, then until he reached the scene in the lower hall of Farbush’s mansion. Webster brought his fist down upon the table.
“That settles it!” exclaimed he. “This is the end of it. Never again will I permit you out of my sight. You are without mental poise or a shadow of forethought. ”