Pratt appeared at the head of the stairs. "What is it now, Jenkins?"
"The gentleman insists on seeing you, sir; it"s Mr. Lambert."
"Stay where you are," commanded Pratt, "I"ll come down and see what"s wanted."
Lambert, with quiet, upturned face, watched the master of the house descend slowly step by step, and Morton, contrasting the two men, awaited the collision with rising apprehension. The Western man seemed so small, so inoffensive in manner, in contrast with the grizzled, insolent face of the sullen old man approaching with heavy jaw set at a bull-dog angle. "Well, sir, what is it?" he contemptuously inquired.
Lambert waited so long that his questioner began to wonder, and then remarked, quietly: "So you"re Pratt!"
"I am."
"Well, I"m Joe Lambert, of Fremont, and I"ve come to relieve you of the keep of my wife and daughter." Nothing could have been more telling, more admirable, than his tone. Every word told, and as Pratt stood in a daze of surprise Lambert turned to the servant. "Now, George, you try again. You tell Mrs. Lambert her husband wants to see her, and you may ask Clarke to come along. I want a word or two with him."
"Wait!" called Pratt. "I want to know--"
Lambert pointed a finger like a pistol. "You _go_!" and the man went.
The Westerner then turned to the owner of the house and said: "Out where I live a husband has some rights which he can enforce if he is minded to do so. I haven"t looked after my family as closely as I might, but I"m going to do better hereafter. I believe my wife and daughter are in this house, and I intend to see them, and your wishes don"t count in the matter. I"d advise you not to interfere."
Pratt began to retreat. "I didn"t know--"
"But suppose you didn"t--what right have you to supervise my wife"s affairs? Why didn"t you send Professor Serviss"s card to her? What business had you to say she was out?"
Pratt came down from his lofty pose. "So many strangers insist on seeing the psychic--"
"But Professor Serviss is not a stranger, and, furthermore, unless my wife"s mind has weakened, she"s quite competent to turn down any one she don"t want to see. I can"t understand why she is here, but I intend to find out. So long as she bears my name I don"t want her to be under any obligation to a man of your stamp."
There was power and a quiet dignity in the little man, and Pratt began to plead his case. "I"ve tried to make it comfortable for them, and help on their work--"
Lambert looked up and down the splendid hall, and in a softer tone replied: "So far I"m in your debt, but I don"t like it. I am able to provide for my family and I don"t intend to share their supervision with you nor any other man. So far as I know, my wife still considers me the head of the family--anyhow, that"s what I"m here to find out."
Mrs. Lambert appeared at the head of the stairs and called, in a tremulous voice: "Is that you, Joe?"
"It is, Julia. Come down."
Viola, with a cry of joy, left her mother"s side and running down the steps, flung herself into Lambert"s arms like a frightened child. "Oh, Papa-Joe--I"m so glad to see you!"
Lambert was astonished by the warmth of her greeting, and while she hid her face on his shoulder patted her awkwardly with soothing words of endearment until at last she lifted her pale and tear-wet face and whispered:
"Oh, it"s been a terrible day--take me away, quick!"
Lambert looked up at his wife. "Julia, what"s been going on here? You both look like the dead."
Mrs. Lambert"s face was wrinkled and haggard and wan like that of one grown suddenly old, and Morton was aware that her serenity was utterly gone before she spoke. Her voice was weak and piteous. "I thought it was all for the best, Joe. I followed the "guides"--"
"Follow them a little longer and you"ll all land in the mad-house," he replied. Then to Viola he tenderly said: "Don"t you worry any more, girlie. Old Papa-Joe"s going to take you home."
Serviss spoke. "You"re to come to us to-night. Kate expects you both."
At the sound of his voice Viola turned with an impulsive reaching of the hands. "Oh, Dr. Serviss, that would be heavenly! I love your sister and her beautiful home."
Lambert issued his command. "Get your outfits together. I don"t understand how you got here, but you"re going to get out with me within the next half-hour."
Viola"s spirit rose like flame. "We"re all ready--this moment. I sent our trunks away this morning. They went to the West Park. I"ll be down instantly," and she turned to run up the stairs, just as Clarke appeared at their head. His face was white and wild and his voice hoa.r.s.e with fear and reproach as he intercepted her.
"What has happened? Who is below?"
"My step-father," she answered, curtly, and fled away to her room.
Mrs. Lambert was about to follow when she saw Clarke descending, and drew back with a look of appeal at her husband. It was evident to Serviss that her confidence in Clarke had given place to fear.
During all this time Pratt had been standing meditatively swaying to and fro on his feet, chewing upon something which he held far back in his cheek. He resembled a sullen, chained, and vindictive elephant meditating murder. He watched Clarke descend the stairs with very little change of expression; but Lambert"s face darkened as the minister called out:
"What are you going to do?"
"That does not concern you," he replied, and his voice cut. "Your control of my household stops right here! Julia, go get your things."
He laid an imperative hand on Clarke"s arm. "Clear the way for her!"
With a look of alarm Mrs. Lambert started to follow her daughter.
"Don"t be harsh, Joe." Then to Clarke she said, pleadingly: "It"s best, Anthony, for a little while. Viola is so nervous and morbid."
"I know what it means," he pa.s.sionately answered. "It means the wreck of all my hopes. It means ruin to all my plans--"
Lambert again interfered. "Julia! get dressed. I will attend to Mr.
Clarke." As she hurried up the stairs he turned to Morton in apology.
"I"ve been to blame for this separation. I should have a.s.serted my rights before. No man has the right to shirk his family duty. My duty was to look after the welfare of my wife and daughter, and now see their faces! This year has made Julia an old woman." His voice choked. When he could speak he addressed himself to Clarke. "You promised me that you wouldn"t use the girl"s name in any way, and yet I"m told you"re about to publish it broadcast."
"The control consents--"
Here Lambert"s wrath broke bonds. "d.a.m.n the control! I don"t consent.
And I serve notice on you, and on you too"--he directed a menacing look upon Pratt--"to respect the name of my wife as well as that of my daughter. Clarke has lived long enough in the West to know what I mean, but I"ll explain to you." He faced Pratt, and with easy, almost gentle utterance, continued: "I"ve spent some thirty-five years on the border, where a man is called upon now and then to serve as his own judge, jury, and hangman. Perhaps we"re a little p.r.o.ne to take matters into our own hands; but be that as it may, the professor here has posted me about you and your ways, and I merely want to state, once for all, that if you utter one word public or private against my wife or daughter I"ll kill you as I would a wolf."
The slow pulsing flow of the miner"s voice, the absence of all oaths or justifying gesture, froze Pratt into immobility and thrilled Serviss with joy, for he, too, perceived that every word came from the heart of a very determined and very dangerous man.
Clarke started forward. "You wrong me! Everything I have done has been for their good--for the good of the world."
Lambert stopped him with a gesture. "Right here you quit, my friend.
I don"t question your good intentions, but I"m sick of the whole crazy business, and so is Julia. Why, good G.o.d, man! she looks ten years older since she left the valley. You"ve been nothing but a curse to her and the girl from the very start, and here is where your trail forks."
The preacher"s hollow cheeks were ashen gray and his throat thick with pa.s.sion as he cried: "You can"t do that! You must not separate us. I love her--she is mine! The spirit forces have promised her to me. They will resent your interference, they will over-ride your puny opposition."
"I take the consequences. They go and you stay!"
Clarke turned to Morton in a frenzy, his eyes flaming, his lips dry and contorted. "I see your hand in this! You stand there silent, but you are the machinator of this plot. You are stealing her away--"
"Be quiet!" commanded Morton, with a gesture towards the stairway.
"Don"t you see them coming?"
Viola, fully dressed, and breathless with eagerness to flee, was hurriedly descending.