"I must. I"ve just received a telegram from my--my agent. About the purchase of a well. It is a matter that can"t wait."
"I can"t thank you for all you done for us. We was in bad shape till you come. Now--"
"Now everything is straight again. That"s my job, Gus--to do little odd favors for those I love. You must stay here, for Ma is happy, and this place is making a girl of her. Allie is doing wonders with herself, too. By the way, she needn"t be lonely any more; I"ve talked to some of the guests, and they want to make friends with her. She"ll find them nice people, and you must make her meet them halfway. Perhaps she"ll become interested in some decent young fellow. I"d like that, wouldn"t you?"
"Would ye?"
The tone of this inquiry caused Gray to glance more keenly at the speaker, but Briskow"s bright eyes told him nothing.
"Why, naturally. Allie is becoming more attractive every day, and she is going to make something of herself. She is going to "do us all proud.""
As soon as he was alone Gray eagerly reread his telegram from Wichita Falls. It was from Barbara Parker--the first, by the way, that he had ever received--and he smiled at the girl"s effort to be thoroughly businesslike, and at the same time to convey the full urgency of her message. Why had she economized on words when every one was precious to him? Buy that well? Of course he would, if she so earnestly desired it.
But what was better by far than the prospect of a profitable purchase was the fact of her personal interest in him. When it came to the last line of her message, "Bob" had plunged into a ten-word riot of extravagance.
"The bird is darling. I have named him after you."
Gray wondered if these words really meant what they seemed to imply, or if it was merely her bubbling, enthusiasm that spoke. Well, he would soon find out. Already he had wasted too much time on the Briskows--a man"s duty ever lies in the way of his desire--but once he had rounded up Buddy perhaps the family would be able to take care of itself. He hoped so, for it was a.s.suming the character of a liability.
It was late that night. The southbound flyer had gone through. The Briskows were sitting in the pleasant parlor of their handsome suite, but they were like three mourners. Ma and Pa were soberly discussing the news about Buddy, Allegheny was staring in somber meditation at nothing. The girl was bitter, rebellious, for never had she felt so utterly alone as at this moment. To that question which monotonously repeated itself, she could form no answer. Did he care, or was it all pity--just his way?
She heard his name and her own mentioned, and she became attentive.
"What"s that? He wants me to meet these people halfway?" she inquired.
"What for? I don"t like "em."
"He says you"ll git to like "em, an" they"ll git to like you. He says you"re goin" ahead tremendous, and we"ll all be proud of you. Mebbe you"ll meet some nice young feller--"
"He said that, did he?" Allie"s voice was sharp.
"N-not exactly, but--"
"He asked "em to be nice to me--he fixed it all up. Is that it? I got lots of money; some man "ll make love to me and I"ll--I"ll fall in love with him. Is that what he said?"
"He didn"t put it that way. What he said was more--"
Allegheny rose with an exclamation of anger. "Well, I won"t meet "em.
He"d better mind his own business."
"Why, _Allie_!" the mother exclaimed, in mild reproach.
"I won"t! I hate "em. I hate everybody. Him, with his high an" fancy ways--" the girl choked. "He looks down on us the same as other folks does, an" I don"t blame him. He acts like we was cattle, an" we are."
Her own scorn appeared to whip the speaker into a higher frenzy. "Now he"s gone off to spoil Buddy"s doin"s. b.u.t.tin" in, that"s what it is.
If I knew where Buddy is, I"d warn him. I"d tell him to look out. I"d tell him to grab his chance when it comes along, if it takes all the Briskow money, all the Briskow wells. He"s lucky, Buddy is. It don"t make any difference _who_ he took up with, if he loves her."
Never but once before had the Briskows seen their daughter in a mood like this, and that was on the occasion of their first visit to Dallas.
Now they sat numb and speechless as she raved on:
"Playin" with us to amuse himself! It"s a game with him. He "ain"t got anything better to do. Why, he even shows us how to dress! "With a touch," he says, "I work miracles. I transfer--transform you from something dark an"--an" common into a thing of pa.s.sion." _Pa.s.sion!_ What the h.e.l.l does he know about pa.s.sion? He"s a doctor, he is, cuttin"
up a live dog to see what ails it. A live dog that"s tied down! Cuttin"
it up--Oh, my G.o.d, I wish I was Buddy!" It was several moments after the door of Allie"s room had slammed behind her before Gus Briskow spoke, and then it was with a deep sigh.
"I been afraid of something like this, Ma. I reckon we"re goin" to pay dear for our money before we get through."
"An" him with a princess in Wichita Falls!" the mother quavered.
CHAPTER XVIII
There are many arguments against industry; much is to be said against its wholesale practice. For one thing, habitual diligence, of whatever sort, begets other habits hard to break, habits that persist in plaguing a man during his periods of indolence and perhaps during his whole life. Early rising is one of the most annoying of these habits.
While it cannot be said that Tom Parker had ever labored arduously at anything, nevertheless he had followed his calling faithfully, and the peculiar exigencies of that calling had made of him a light and fitful sleeper. He had so often used the earth as a mattress and his saddle as a pillow, that sunup invariably roused him, and as a consequence he liked to tell people that he could do with less sleep than any man in Texas. That was, in fact, one of his pet complaints.
It was true that Old Tom never slept long, but it was also true that he slept oftener than any man in Texas. He was up and dressed by daylight, and until breakfast time he engaged himself in purposeless and noisy pursuits. This futile energy, however, diminished steadily until about nine-thirty, after which his day was punctuated by a series of cat naps, as a broken sentence is punctuated by dots and dashes.
That small room at the rear of his office Barbara had cleared of its dusty acc.u.mulations--of its saddles and saddle-bags, its rusty Winchesters, its old newspapers and disorderly files--and had transformed into a retreat for him. She had overcome his inherent prejudice against innovations of any sort by arguing gravely that the head of every firm should, nay must, have a private sanctum.
Tom approved of the change after he became accustomed to it, for he was subjected to fewer irritating distractions there than elsewhere. Before long, in fact, he acquired the ability to doze placidly through almost any sort of business conference in the outer office. It was his practice to sleep from nine-thirty until eleven, when "Bob" fetched him a gla.s.s of orange juice with a "spike" in it. This refreshing beverage filled him with new energy to tackle the issues of the day, and thereupon began a routine as fixed as some religious ritual. First, he smacked his lips, then he cleared his throat loudly several times, after which his chair creaked as he ma.s.saged his rheumatic leg.
Promptly upon the count of twenty he emerged from the inner office, slamming the door energetically behind him.
Whether "Bob" was alone or engaged with clients, Old Tom"s air was always the same; it was that of a busy man weighted with grave responsibilities. He frowned; he muttered, hurriedly:
"Got to see a man; back in an hour. Anybody calls, tell "em to wait."
This took him to the front door, which he also slammed behind him--there being a certain force and determination to the sound of a slamming door. Then he limped down the street to Judge Halloran"s office. The judge usually had the checkerboard out and set when Tom arrived.
Afternoons pa.s.sed in much the same manner, and night found Tom, if not actually exhausted from the unceasing grind, at least pleasurably fatigued thereby and ready for an after-dinner doze. He considered himself seriously overworked.
This morning "Bob" was alone at her desk when he came out, and something about her appearance caused the old warrior to look twice. He was exactly on time, but the judge could wait. He was a cranky old scoundrel anyhow, was Judge Halloran, and it would do him good to cool his heels for a few minutes. Tom paused with his hand upon the door k.n.o.b.
"My goodness! son, you"re all dressed up!" he said, as he noted "Bob"s"
crisp white dress, the rose upon her bosom, the floppy hat that framed her face. "Church sociable som"er"s?"
"No, dad."
"What"s going on?"
"Nothing in particular."
"You certainly are sweet." Tom"s bleak, gray face softened, then some vague regret peered forth from his eyes. "Certainly are sweet, but--"
"But what?" The girl smiled up at him.
"Oh, I don"t know--seems like you ain"t quite the same boy you was.
You"re changing lately, somehow. Getting more like your mother every week. I like that, of course," he said, quickly, "but--I"d like awful well to see you in your ranch clothes again. I bet you"ve clean forgot how to ride and rope and--"
"You know very well I haven"t. I"m a little bit rusty, perhaps, but remember I"m a pretty busy girl these days."
"I know." Tom sighed. "I"m wore out, too. What d"you say we close up the ol" factory and take a rest? Let"s get us a couple of broncs and go up to the Territory for a spell. Used to be a lot of wild turkeys in a place I know. It"d do us a lot of good."