Pinkey listened, with the disciplined patience of the army, to the recital of the exploit that had won the War Cross for him, but there was a peculiar glint in his light eyes. As Smith drew to a conclusion, Pinkey slowly lifted his leg, stiffened by a machine-gun bullet, over the horse"s neck and sat sideways.
The applause was so vociferous, so spontaneous and hearty, that nothing approaching it ever had been heard at The Colonial. But it stopped as suddenly, for in the middle of it Pinkey gathered himself and sprang through the air like a flying-squirrel, to bowl the Smith boy over. "You said you wouldn"t tell about that "Craw de gare," ner call me a hero, an" you"ve gone and done it!" he said, accusingly, as he sat astride of him. "I got feelin"s jest like grown-up folks, and I don"t like to be laughed at. Sorry, Big Boy, but you got this comin"!" Thereupon, with a grin, Pinkey banged his host"s head on the gravel.
The two were surrounded when this astonishing incident was over and it was found that not only was the Smith boy not injured but seemed to be used to it and bore no malice. The guests shook hands with the boys and congratulated them; they examined the War Cross that Pinkey produced reluctantly from the bottom of the flour-sack in which he carried his clothing, and finally Mr. Appel presented the purse in a speech to which n.o.body listened--and the Smith boy shocked everybody by his extravagance when he gave five of it to the driver of the laundry wagon.
"I was sh.o.r.e pinin" to step in the middle of a horse," was Pinkey"s explanation of their eccentric arrival. "It kinda rests me."
While all this was happening Wallie stood holding his lemonade tray.
When he could get close, he welcomed the Smith boy and was introduced to Pinkey, and stood around long enough to learn that the latter and Helene Spenceley knew each other.
n.o.body, however, was interested in seeing his roses. Even Miss Mattie Gaskett, who always clung like a burr to woollen clothing with the least encouragement, said carelessly when he showed her the lemonade tray:
"As good as your best, Wallie," and edged over to hear what Pinkey was saying.
There was nothing to do but withdraw un.o.btrusively, though Wallie realized with chagrin that he could have gone upstairs on his hands and knees without attracting the least attention. For the first time he regretted deeply that his eyesight had kept him out of the army, for he, too, might have been winning war crosses in the trenches instead of rolling bandages and knitting socks and sweaters.
Wallie almost hated the lemonade tray as he slammed it on the table, for in his utter disgust with everything and everybody the design seemed to look more like cabbages than roses.
CHAPTER IV
THE BRAND OF CAIN
There never was a nose so completely out of joint as Wallie"s nor an owner more thoroughly humiliated and embittered by the fickleness and ingrat.i.tude of human nature. The sacrifices he had made in escorting dull ladies to duller movies were wasted. The unfailing courtesy with which he had retrieved their yarn and handkerchiefs, the sympathy and attention with which he had listened to their symptoms, his solicitude when they were ailing--all were forgotten now that Pinkey was in the vicinity.
The ladies swarmed around that person, quoted his sayings delightedly, and declared a million times in Wallie"s hearing that "he was a character!" And the worst of it was that Helene Spenceley did not seem sufficiently aware of Wallie"s existence even to laugh at him.
As the displaced cynosure sat brooding in his room the third morning after Pinkey"s arrival he wished that he could think of some perfectly well-bred way to attract attention.
He believed in the psychology of clothes. Perhaps if he appeared on the veranda in something to emphasize his personality, something suggesting strength and virility, like tennis flannels, he could regain his hold on his audience.
With this thought in mind Wallie opened his capacious closet filled with wearing apparel, and the moment his eyes fell upon his riding breeches he had his inspiration. If "the girl from Wyoming" thought her friend Pinkey was the only person who could ride a horse, he would show her!
It took Wallie only so long to order a horse as it required to get the Riding Academy on the telephone.
"I want a good-looking mount--something spirited," he instructed the person who answered.
"We"ve just bought some new horses," the voice replied. "I"ll send you the pick of them."
Wallie hung up the receiver, fairly trembling with eagerness to dress himself and get down on the veranda. He looked well in riding togs--everyone mentioned it--and if he could walk out swinging his crop nonchalantly, well, they would at least _notice_ him! And when he would spring lightly into the saddle and gallop away--he saw it as plainly as if it were happening.
Although Wallie actually broke his record he seemed to himself an unconscionable time in dressing, but when he gave himself a final survey in the mirror, he had every reason to feel satisfied with the result. He was correct in every detail and he thought complacently that he could not but contrast favourably with the appearance of that "roughneck" from Montana--or was it Wyoming?
"What you taking such a hot day to ride for?" Mrs. Appel called when she caught sight of Wallie.
The question jarred on him and he replied coolly:
"I had not observed that it was warmer than usual, Mrs. Appel."
"It"s ninety, with the humidity goodness knows how much!" she retorted.
Without seeming to look, Wallie could see that both Miss Spenceley and Pinkey were on the veranda and regarding him with interest. His pose became a little theatrical while he waited for his mount, striking his riding boot smartly with his crop as he stood in full view of them.
Everyone was interested when they saw the horse coming, and a few sauntered over to have a look at him, Miss Spenceley and Pinkey among the others.
"Is that the horse you always ride, Wallie?" inquired Miss Gaskett.
"No; it"s a new one I"m going to try out for them," Wallie replied, indifferently.
"Wallie, _do_ be careful!" his aunt admonished him. "I don"t like you to ride strange horses."
Wallie laughed lightly, and as he went down to meet the groom who was now at the foot of the steps with the horses he a.s.sured her that there was not the least cause for anxiety.
"Why, that"s a Western horse!" Miss Spenceley exclaimed. "Isn"t that a brand on the shoulder?"
"It looks like it," Pinkey answered, ruffing the hair then smoothing it.
"Sh.o.r.e it"s a brand." He stepped off a pace to look at it.
"Pardon me, but I think you"re mistaken," Wallie said, politely but positively. "The Academy buys only thoroughbreds."
"If that ain"t a bronc, I"ll eat it," Pinkey declared, bluntly.
"Can you make out the brand?" asked Miss Spenceley.
Pinkey ruffed the hair again and stepped back and squinted. Then his cracked lips stretched in a grin that threatened to start them bleeding: ""88" is the way I read it."
She nodded: "The brand of Cain."
Then they both laughed immoderately.
Wallie could see no occasion for merriment and it nettled him.
"Nevertheless, I maintain that you are in error," he declared, obstinately.
"I doubt if I could set one of them hen-skin saddles," observed Pinkey, changing the subject.
Wallie replied airily:
"Oh, it"s very easy if you"ve been taught properly."
"Taught? You mean," wonderingly, "that somebody _learnt_ you to ride horseback?"
Wallie smiled patronizingly:
"How else would I know?"