按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
（Barker） had forgotten all about it。 〃I thought of knocking at
your door； as I passed；〃 he said； with sympathetic apology； 〃but I
was afraid I might disturb you。 Isn't it glorious here？ Quite
like the old hill。 Look at that lizard； he hasn't moved since he
first saw me。 Do you remember the one who used to steal our sugar；
and then stiffen himself into stone on the edge of the bowl until
he looked like an ornamental handle to it？〃 he continued；
rebounding again into spirits。
〃Barker；〃 said Demorest abruptly； 〃what sort of woman is this Mrs。
Van Loo； whose rooms I occupy？〃
〃Oh；〃 said Barker； with optimistic innocence； 〃a most proper woman；
old chap。 White…haired； well…dressed； with a little foreign accent
and a still more foreign courtesy。 Why； you don't suppose we'd〃
〃But what is she like？〃 said Demorest impatiently。
〃Well；〃 said Barker thoughtfully； 〃she's the kind of woman who
might be Van Loo's mother； I suppose。〃
〃You mean the mother of a forger and a swindler？〃 asked Demorest
sharply。
〃There are no mothers of swindlers and forgers；〃 said Barker
gravely； 〃in the way you mean。 It's only those poor devils；〃 he
said； pointing； nevertheless； with a certain admiration to a
circling sparrow…hawk above him； 〃who have inherited instincts。
What I mean is that she might be Van Loo's mother； because he
didn't SELECT her。〃
〃Where did she come from？ and how long has she been here？〃 asked
Demorest。
〃She came from abroad； I believe。 And she came here just after you
left。 Van Loo； after he became secretary of the Ditch Company；
sent for her and her daughter to keep house for him。 But you'll
see her to…day or to…morrow probably； when she returns。 I'll
introduce you； she'll be rather glad to meet some one from abroad；
and all the more if he happens to be rich and distinguished； and
eligible for her daughter。〃 He stopped suddenly in his smile；
remembering Demorest's lifelong secret。 But to his surprise his
companion's face； instead of darkening as it was wont to do at any
such allusion； brightened suddenly with a singular excitement as he
answered dryly； 〃Ah well； if the girl is pretty； who knows！〃
Indeed； his spirits seemed to have returned with strange vivacity
as they walked back to the hotel； and he asked many other questions
regarding Mrs。 Van Loo and her daughter； and particularly if the
daughter had also been abroad。 When they reached the veranda they
found a few early risers eagerly reading the Sacramento papers；
which had just arrived； or； in little knots； discussing the news。
Indeed； they would probably have stopped Barker and his companion
had not Barker； anxious to relieve his friend's curiosity； hurried
with him at once to the manager's office。
〃Can you tell me exactly when you expect Mrs。 Van Loo to return？〃
asked Barker quickly。
The manager with difficulty detached himself from the newspaper
which he； too； was anxiously perusing； and said； with a peculiar
smile； 〃Well no！ she WAS to return to…day； but if you're wanting
to keep her rooms； I should say there wouldn't be any trouble about
it； as she'll hardly be coming back here NOW。 She's rather high
and mighty in style； I know； and a determined sort of critter； but
I reckon she and her daughter wouldn't care much to be waltzing
round in public after what has happened。〃
〃I don't understand you；〃 said Demorest impatiently。 〃WHAT has
happened？〃
〃Haven't you heard the news？〃 said the manager in surprise。 〃It's
in all the Sacramento papers。 Van Loo is a defaulterhas
hypothecated everything he had and skedaddled。〃
Barker started。 He was not thinking of the loss of his wife's
moneyonly of HER disappointment and mortification over it。 Poor
girl！ Perhaps she was also worrying over his resentment；as if
she did not know him！ He would go to her at once at Boomville。
Then he remembered that she was coming with Mrs。 Horncastle； and
might be already on her way here by rail or coach； and he would
miss her。 Demorest in the meantime had seized a paper； and was
intently reading it。
〃There's bad news； too； for your friend； your old partner；〃 said
the manager half sympathetically； half interrogatively。 〃There has
been a drop out in everything the bank is carrying； and everybody
is unloading。 Two firms failed in 'Frisco yesterday that were
carrying things for the bank； and have thrown everything back on
it。 There was an awful panic last night； and they say none of the
big speculators know where they stand。 Three of our best customers
in the hotel rushed off to the bay this morning； but Stacy himself
started before daylight； and got the through night express to stop
for him on the Divide on signal。 Shall I send any telegrams that
may come to your room？〃
Demorest knew that the manager suspected him of being interested in
the bank； and understood the purport of the question。 He answered；
with calm surprise； that he was expecting no telegrams； and added；
〃But if Mrs。 Van Loo returns I beg you to at once let me know；〃 and
taking Barker's arm he went in to breakfast。 Seated by themselves；
Demorest looked at his companion。 〃I'm afraid； Barker boy； that
this thing is more serious to Jim than we expected last night； or
than he cared to tell us。 And you； old man； I fear are hurt a
little by Van Loo's flight。 He had some money of your wife's；
hadn't he？〃
Barker； who knew that the bulk of Demorest's fortune was in Stacy's
hands； was touched at this proof of his unselfish thought； and
answered with equal unselfishness that he was concerned only by the
fear of Mrs。 Barker's disappointment。 〃Why； Lord！ Phil； whether
she's lost or saved her money it's nothing to me。 I gave it to her
to do what she liked with it； but I'm afraid she'll be worrying
over what I think of it；as if she did not know me！ And I'm half
a mind； if it were not for missing her； to go over to Boomville；
where she's stopping。〃
〃I thought you said she was in San Francisco？〃 said Demorest
abstractedly。
Barker colored。 〃Yes；〃 he answered quickly。 〃But I've heard since
that she stopped at Boomville on the way。〃
〃Then don't let ME keep you here；〃 returned Demorest。 〃For if Jim
telegraphs to me I shall start for San Francisco at once； and I
rather think he will。 I did not like to say so before those panic…
mongers outside who are stampeding everything； so run along； Barker
boy； and ease your mind about the wife。 We may have other things
to think about soon。〃
Thus adjured； Barker rose from his half…finished breakfast and
slipped away。 Yet he was not quite certain what to do。 His wife
must have heard the news at Boomville as quickly as he had； and； if
so； would be on her way with Mrs。 Horncastle； or she might be
waiting for himknowing； too； that he had heard the newsin fear
and trembling。 For it was Barker's custom to endow all those he
cared for with his own sensitiveness； and it was not like