Norcross

“ Norcross is a college man, and not used to our ways—”
“Mister Norcross—what’s his front name?”
“Wayland.”
He snorted. “Wayland! If he gets past us 44 without being called ‘pasty’ he’s in luck. He’s a ‘lunger’ if there ever was one.”
The girl was shrewd enough to see that the more she sought to soften the wind to her Eastern tenderfoot the more surely he was to be shorn, so she gave over her effort in that direction, and turned to the old folks. To Mrs. Meeker she privately said: “Mr. Norcross ain’t used to rough ways, and he’s not very rugged, you ought ’o kind o’ favor him for a while.” ”

“ Professor Norcross was conscious of a growing distrust of Julian Barclay—what made him so laggard a lover, for that he worshiped Ethel was plain to the observant professor, unless undesirable entanglements prevented open courtship? Suddenly aware that his stare at Barclay had become a glare of indignation, Norcross roused himself.
“Speaking of Calhoun,” he remarked. “I hear he is on his way to Washington.”
“The devil he is!” Ogden set down his coffee cup with a bang which imperiled the Dresden china and drew a protest from his wife. ”

“ I’ve always gone with daddy before, and this trip isn’t going to spoil me. The boys all know me, and they will treat me fair.”
“Yes, but Mr. Norcross is an outsider—a city man. They will all think evil of him on that account.” ”

“ Every man has his sore spot, if you can only find it, Clanahan—just as you have yours. What if I should tell you that Norcross is wanted in another State—for a crime?"
"Nobody would believe ut," was the prompt rejoinder. "If he's wanted he c'u'd be had."
"Wait," Hatch went on. "Before he came here he was chief of construction on the Oregon Midland. There was a right-of-way fight back in the mountains—fifty miles from the nearest sheriff—with the P. & S. F. Norcross armed his track-layers, and in the bluffing there was a man killed." ”

“ Without waiting for another word, Caleb Norcross turned around his bony steed and urged him forward. In less than a minute he had disappeared in the direction whence he had come. With sinking hearts the boys watched him out of sight. ”

“ Norcross was strongly drawn to this forester, whose tone was that of a highly trained specialist. “I rode up on the stage yesterday with Miss Berrie McFarlane.”
“The Supervisor’s daughter?”
“She seemed a fine Western type.”
“She’s not a type; she’s an individual. She hasn’t her like anywhere I’ve gone. She cuts a wide swath up here. Being an only child she’s both son and daughter to McFarlane. She knows more about forestry than her father. In fact, half the time he depends on her judgment.” ”

“ Norcross, he’s very intelligent—and very considerate.”
“Too considerate,” said Berrie, shortly; “he makes other men seem like bears or pigs.”
Mrs. McFarlane said no more, but she knew that Cliff was, for the time, among the bears.
82 V THE GOLDEN PATHWAY
Young Norcross soon became vitally engaged with the problems which confronted McFarlane, and his possible enrolment as a guard filled him with a sense of proprietorship in the forest, which made him quite content with Bear Tooth. He set to work at once to acquire a better knowledge of the extent and boundaries of the reservation. ”

“ Come in and sit down. Mother’s gone to town, and I’m playing her part,” she explained, ignoring his sullen displeasure. “Cliff, this is Mr. 64 Norcross, who is visiting Uncle Joe. Mr. Norcross, shake hands with Mr. Belden.” She made this introduction with some awkwardness, for her lover’s failure to even say, “Howdy,” informed her that his jealous heart was aflame, and she went on, quickly: “Mr. Norcross dropped in on his way to the post-office, and I’m collecting a snack for him.”
Recognizing Belden’s claims upon the girl, Wayland rose. “I must be going. It’s a long ride over the hill.” ”

“ Mrs. Ogden sighed again; Barclay was undeniably handsome, but so was James Patterson in a big, fine way, and she infinitely preferred the dogged will power and driving force indicated in his rugged features, to Barclay’s sensitive, high-strung temperament.
Mrs. Ogden liked to have good-looking people [Pg 128] about her, and her gaze rested on her husband and Professor Norcross with satisfaction; in their way each was a credit to her box party. Ethel, seated in the farther corner of the box, was unaware of her cousin’s scrutiny as she kept up an animated conversation with Professor Norcross. ”

“ You’ve no call to get wire-edged about Mr. Norcross. He’s not very strong. He’s just getting well of a long sickness. I knew a chill would finish him, that’s why I gave him my slicker. It didn’t hurt me, and maybe it saved his life. I’d do it again if necessary.”
“Since when did you start a hospital for Eastern tenderfeet?” he sneered; then his tone changed to one of downright command. “You want to cut this all out, I tell you! I won’t have any more of it! The boys up at the mill are all talkin’ about your interest in this little whelp, and I’m getting the branding-iron from every one I meet. ”

“ The fact that extremely high stakes were the rule at the Bristol, it being a more pretentious joint than Johnny's, made him think as I did; that is, that it would help some in getting Findley into the game.
In the afternoon Norcross took me to meet Miss Rankine. She lived with an older, married sister; and they were obviously refined, comfortably wealthy, attractive people.
With my first glance at her I understood why the boy wanted to marry her though she did have a husband, and whether or not she got a divorce. I sympathized with him, too. ”

“ Bones—I mean Miss Norcross, of course—what are the advantages of society?"
He stood against the mantel, his feet spread wide, his hands deep in his pockets, staring down at her with a challenging grin.
Mary became confused. Her soul was crying out in protest at the unfairness of it. What did she know about the advantages of society? And yet she must know. Was it possible he suspected her? Any social secretary ought to have the advantages of society at the tip of her tongue. ”

“ There he was in his wig, whiskers, glasses, ulster, and slouch hat; and the next moment, presto, valeted by Mr. Inspector, there he was in his fur coat—the elegant gentleman who had invaded Burton and Norcross' jewelry store!
Hollings recognized him in a twinkling and without a shade of hesitation singled him out from twelve other men; so, also, did Mr. Rhinehart and Christopher.
Poor Stuart! He was too genuine a sport to whine when he saw the game was up. On the contrary he assumed a good-natured, almost humorous stoicism, as if his capture were nothing more than a feature of the day's work. ”

“ He glanced about the deck and saw nobody but a couple of hands.
"Where's Miss Norcross?" he asked.
"She went swimming," said Aunt Caroline.
"Swimming!"
"Right off the yacht, William. Do you know that she's a very remarkable swimmer. I was completely astonished."
William went to the rail and surveyed the harbor. He saw no sign of a swimmer.
"Where is she?" he demanded.
"Oh, somewhere out there," said Aunt Caroline, with an easy gesture. "She's perfectly safe. Peter is with her." ”

“ I had planned to meet him in Atlanta and missed the train.”
“Was he the man murdered on your train, Professor?” inquired Mrs. Ogden.
“Yes,” Norcross sipped his black coffee meditatively. “A very mysterious case. Hasn’t Mr. Barclay discussed it with you, Miss Ogden?”
“He has spoken of it,” she amended.
“And what is his opinion?” asked Patterson, with his usual abruptness. “Whom does he think poisoned Tilghman?”
“Why, the Japanese—what was his name?” Ethel looked at Norcross.
“Yoshida Ito,” he responded. “Strange the police cannot trace the Jap’s whereabouts.”
“They will, they will ”

“ Norcross," went on Earl. "The suspension of the lumber company has left us in the lurch."
The face of the tall, lean man darkened. "How much did they stick you for?" he asked abruptly.
"Two hundred dollars."
"Two hundred dollars! You were fools to trust 'em that much. I wouldn't have trusted 'em a cent—not a penny."
"They were well recommended," put in Randy. "Even Squire Dobson trusted them."
"That don't make no difference. I don't trust folks unless I know what I'm doing. Although I did trust you boys," added Caleb Norcross, hastily. "Your father was always a straight man." ”

“ Mary Wayne, however, read the thought.
"You don't mean that valet who brought you home from the party?" she demanded suddenly.
"Oh, I didn't mean anybody particularly," answered Nell, guiltily. "But of course even he would be better than nobody."
"Nell Norcross, don't let that young man get into your head. There's something mysterious about him. He may be only a valet, but I'm not certain. I'm suspicious of him. He has a habit of forgetting himself." ”

“ At Basco, Earl met a number of workmen of the district, among whom was Tom Roland, the brother of the lumberman who intended to buy the timber land from Caleb Norcross. Roland was a man whom nobody liked, and Earl passed him without a word, although it was evident from Roland's manner that the latter desired to stop for a talk. With Tom Roland was a fellow named Guardley, a ne'er-do-well, who had been up before the squire on more than one occasion for drinking and stealing. ”

“ They were up before daybreak, and at breakfast Earl announced his intention to go to Basco and see what could be done.
"You might as well stay at home," he continued. "It may be Norcross will come back and reconsider matters."
"Not he!" exclaimed Randy; nevertheless, he promised to remain and look over some clothing which needed mending, for these sturdy lads were in the habit of doing everything for themselves, even to sewing up rents and darning socks. Such are the necessities of real life in the backwoods. ”

“ When I think of the amount of creative work that's falling on your shoulders I stagger in sympathy, Miss Norcross. Honestly I do. No; I'm not joshing you again. I'm serious. Where do you begin to get a guy [Pg 53] like me into society? How do I pry in? What have I got to do to be saved?"
Mary smiled in spite of a determination to maintain a dignified view-point.
"It will not be so difficult as you think. I'm quite sure of that, Mr. Marshall. If I may suggest——"
As she stopped she was looking in the direction of the door. Bill turned and beheld his valet, standing well inside the threshold. ”

“ I've just had a wonderful piece of luck and it doesn't seem right that somebody else should be unhappy."
[Pg 8]
"But you had ref—ref—references. I heard."
"Yes, my dear; I had references. They're good things to have. Come—cheer up. I've simply got to celebrate. Please come and have lunch with me. Honestly, I insist."
Mary looked wonderingly at the girl with the magic key. She wiped her eyes bravely, then shook her head.
"I'll—I'll be all right. Thank you."
"You'll be better for lunch; so will I. Please come. I want somebody to talk to. My name is Norcross—Nell Norcross." ”

“ She’s a noble girl. No one will dare to criticize her for what she could not prevent.”
“You don’t know the Beldens. My girl’s character will be on trial in every house in the county to-morrow. The Belden side of it will appear in the city papers. Sympathy will be with Clifford. Berrie will be made an issue by my enemies. They’ll get me through her.”
“Good Lord!” exclaimed Norcross, in sudden realization of the gravity of the case. “What beasts they are!”
“Moore’s gang will seize upon it and work it hard,” McFarlane went on, with calm insistence. ”

“ Part of this intense interest was due, naturally, to the scarcity of desirable women, but a larger part was called out by Berea’s frank freedom of manner. Her ready camaraderie was taken for carelessness, and the candid grip of her hand was often misunderstood; and yet most of the men respected her, and some feared her. After her avowed choice of Clifford Belden they all kept aloof, for he was hot-tempered and formidably swift to avenge an insult.
At the end of a week Norcross found himself restless and discontented with the Meekers. ”

“ There isn't anybody better. I'll ask him if it's contagious and——"
Mary pushed her out of the room and turned to the patient, who was lying on the bed.
"Don't be a bit frightened," said Mary. "I don't believe you're very sick. Keep still and I'll undress you."
She felt quite composed and wholly in command of herself; it was as if she were doing something entirely commonplace and all planned in advance.
"It—it isn't just being sick," said Miss Norcross weakly. "I'm not afraid of that. It's the job—the money. I need it so. Oh, please—don't bother. I can take off my own shoes." ”

“ The strange young woman chattered all the way, but Mary had no very clear notion of what she talked about. It was not until they were seated on opposite sides of a table that she began to pay close attention.
"You must always have references," Miss Norcross was saying with an energy that was strangely in contrast [Pg 9] with the pale, drawn cheeks and very bright eyes. "You must find a way to get some. People are so silly about them; they think more of references than of what you can really do." ”

“ Mary experienced a pang of dismay.
"Then I'm afraid there's some mistake," she faltered. "I'm sorry."
"Wait a minute," said Bill, drawing up a chair for himself and facing her. "Don't worry, now. Let's get this straightened out. I'll explain. My aunt wants me to go into society. I want to stay out. She's got a lot of ideas about keeping up the family reputation. I'd sooner go get a new one. So she hires a social secretary for me—and take it from me, Miss Norcross, I don't need a social secretary any more than I need crutches. I don't need any kind of a secretary." ”