The Apple of Discord. Earle Ashley Walcott

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      "Yes," I replied. "I must say I do not fully approve of what I am going to do. But it is not on account of your ward. Nothing could be better for her than what I have to offer."

      Then I explained with some detail the plans that had been approved by Miss Kendrick. He listened with studious attention.

      "Miss Kendrick is too kind," said Big Sam diplomatically. "She is young, I believe?"

      I bowed.

      "And Miss Fillmore also?"

      I bowed again.

      "And you do not approve?"

      "I do not."

      "I see your reasons. Perhaps you are right. Do you wish to abandon the girl to her fate?"

      "Oh, not at all. But with more time–"

      "There is no more time."

      "Not to-morrow?"

      "The tongs are even now in session. I have word that before morning there will be a demand for the girl, and if she is not surrendered there will be the reward of blood."

      "You are more powerful than they," said I, remembering the scene of the morning.

      "I have passed the limits of my power," said Big Sam placidly. "What is it you say of Russia? 'Despotism tempered by assassination?' Well, I am but little of a despot, and the assassin has so much the better opportunity."

      "And by to-morrow you would give her up?" I asked.

      "To be frank with you, I would give her up to-night, Mr. Hampden, if it would purchase peace and safety."

      I looked sharply at Big Sam, but the oriental mask gave back the record of nothing but bland and child-like simplicity.

      "Then why not?" I asked.

      "There is but one girl. There are two tongs," said Big Sam.

      "That makes a difficulty," I admitted. "Yet only one tong owns the girl."

      "I fear I could not explain to you the attitude and customs of the tongs in this matter," said Big Sam with a smile. "One tong demands the delivery of the girl, or five thousand dollars. That is the one you would perhaps call the owner of the girl. The other demands the girl, or twenty-five hundred dollars."

      "Seventy-five hundred dollars for a girl–that is a little expensive."

      "I believe some of your countrymen have paid more. Though the bargain has not been made in so simple a fashion."

      Big Sam allowed himself to smile.

      "I don't see how we are to help you then," I said. "But if you think it will put the tongs in better humor to have the girl in our custody, we are at your service."

      "This evening," said Big Sam, "I saw three dogs quarreling over a bone. A fourth dog much larger came by and snatched it. The three dogs ceased to quarrel and started in chase of the fourth."

      "A cheerful augury," I said. "I wish no quarrel with assassins, and least of all would I wish to bring them upon Mr. Kendrick's household."

      "The fourth dog," continued Big Sam, "was larger–much larger–than the three put together. They ceased the chase before it was fairly begun, and joined in mourning their loss."

      "You put me in doubt," said I. "I must not bring danger to others."

      "I can guarantee their safety, Mr. Hampden," said Big Sam. "Your police have impressed it thoroughly on the minds of our people that the white race is not to be meddled with by any but white men."

      I hesitated, still fearful of the dangers that might follow the custody of the girl.

      "There is then no resource but to turn the girl into the street," said Big Sam decisively. "I can not risk my plans merely to secure her safety."

      "Nor your life," I retorted.

      "Oh, a man will die when he dies. Life, death, riches, poverty–they are man's fate. But my plans–they are much to me and my people."

      Big Sam then pulled a cord that swung behind him. The door opened and the Chinese girl, frightened and tearful, was pushed in.

      "The decision is for you, Mr. Hampden," he said.

      I looked upon her and thought what the decision meant to her.

      "Does she go with you, or with the tongs?" he asked.

      "I have decided. I will take her," I said with sudden resolution.

      "On the conditions I mentioned this morning?"

      "It is late to bargain," said I.

      "On the contrary," he said, "it is necessary. It is only with these conditions of compromise that I can hope to make my peace with the tongs."

      "You have my promise," I said, rising.

      "One moment," said Big Sam. "I believe you are a brave man, Mr. Hampden."

      "I really don't know," I replied.

      "At least you do not mind hearing a few revolver shots?"

      "Not at all."

      "They will serve to amuse some of our friends who are on the watch."

      The implied information that we were spied upon by sentinels of the tongs startled me for a moment, though I might have known that they would not neglect so obvious a precaution.

      "If you and your friend wouldn't mind breaking a window and smashing something and firing a shot or two yourselves and making a good deal of noise before you carry off the girl, it would oblige me."

      "Why should we attract so much attention? Is it not better to slip out quietly?"

      "Do you think to avoid the eyes that are watching?" said Big Sain. "The bold course is the best. We make sound as of a fight. The watchers of the two tongs will each believe that the other has made an attack. They will hasten to the meeting places to summon help. For a minute the road will be clear. Then you must run for it."

      This was more of an enterprise than I had bargained for, and if I had had time to think I should have got out of Big Sam's net and left him to carry out his plans through some other agency. But I did not stop to reflect and acted at the urging of the wily Oriental.

      "Take the girl," he said, and spoke to her in brief command. "My men will assist you to disturb things down-stairs."

      I picked my way down the steps, and the soft clack of the Chinese shoe sounded behind me as the girl followed. Big Sam accompanied me to the lower floor, and, after making sure that our hack was where we had left it, he gave orders to his men. I hastily explained the situation to Mr. Baldwin.

      "Ah–a comedy performance," he said with affected carelessness. But I could see that he cursed himself for a fool for being drawn into the affair.

      "Draw your revolver, but don't fire more than one shot," I said.

      Big Sam gave a shout, and in an instant the place was filled СКАЧАТЬ