[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.But Stewart held forth his hands to be manacled.Then Madeline heard her ownvoice burst out in a ringing, imperious "Wait!"In the time it took her to make the few steps to the edge of the porch, facingthe men, she not only felt her anger and justice and pride summoning forces toher command, but there wassomething else calling--a deep, passionate, mysterious thing not born of themoment.Sneed dropped the manacles.Stewart's face took on a chalky whiteness.Hawe,in a slow, stupid embarrassment beyond his control, removed his sombrero in arespect that seemed wrenched from him."Mr.Hawe, I can prove to you that Stewart was not concerned in any waywhatever with the crime for which you want to arrest him."The sheriff's stare underwent a blinking change.He coughed, stammered, andtried to speak.Manifestly, he had been thrown completely off his balance.Astonishment slowly merged into discomfiture."It was absolutely impossible for Stewart to have been connected with thatassault," went on Madeline, swiftly, "for he was with me in the waiting-roomof the station at the moment the assault was made outside.I assure you Ihave a distinct and vivid recollection.The door was open.I heard thevoices of quarreling men.They grew louder.The language was Spanish.Evidently these men had left the dance-hall opposite and were approaching thestation.I heard a woman's voice mingling with the others.It, too, wasSpanish, and I could not understand.But the tone was beseeching.Then I heard footsteps on the gravel.I knewStewart heard them.I could see from his face that something dreadful wasabout to happen.Just outside the door then there were hoarse, furious voices,a scuffle, a muffled shot, a woman's cry, the thud of a falling body, andrapid footsteps of a man running away.Next, the girl Bonita staggered intothe door.She was white, trembling, terror-stricken.She recognized Stewart,appealed to him.Stewart supported her and endeavored to calm her.He wasexcited.He asked her if DannyMains had been shot, or if he had done the shooting.The girl said no.Shetold Stewart that she had danced a little, flirted a little with vaqueros, andthey had quarreled over her.ThenStewart took her outside and put her upon his horse.I saw the girl ride thatPage 196ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlhorse down the street to disappear in the darkness."While Madeline spoke another change appeared to be working in the man Hawe.He was not long disconcerted, but his discomfiture wore to a sullen fury, andhis sharp features fixed in an expression of craft."Thet's mighty interestin', Miss Hammond, 'most as interestin' as astory-book," he sald."Now, since you're so obligin' a witness, I'd sure liketo put a question or two.What time did you arrive at El Cajon thet night?""It was after eleven o'clock," replied Madeline."Nobody there to meet you?""No.""The station agent an' operator both gone?""Yes.""Wal, how soon did this feller Stewart show up?" Hawe continued, with a wrysmile."Very soon after my arrival.I think--perhaps fifteen minutes, possibly alittle more.""Some dark an' lonesome around thet station, wasn't it?""Indeed yes.""An' what time was the Greaser shot?" queried Hawe, with his little eyesgleaming like coals."Probably close to half past one.It was two o'clock when Ilooked at my watch at Florence Kingsley's house.Directly afterStewart sent Bonita away he took me to Miss Kingsley's.So, allowing for thewalk and a few minutes' conversation with her, Ican pretty definitely say the shooting took place at about half past one."Stillwell heaved his big frame a step closer to the sheriff."What 're you drivin' at?" he roared, his face black again."Evidence," snapped Hawe.Madeline marveled at this interruption; and as Stewart irresistibly drew herglance she saw him gray-faced as ashes, shaking, utterly unnerved."I thank you, Miss Hammond," he said, huskily."But you needn't answer anymore of Hawe's questions.He's--he's-- It's not necessary.I'll go with himnow, under arrest.Bonita will corroborate your testimony in court, and thatwill save me from this--this man's spite."Madeline, looking at Stewart, seeing a humility she at first took forcowardice, suddenly divined that it was not fear for himself which made himdread further disclosures of that night, but fear for her--fear of shame shemight suffer through him.Pat Hawe cocked his head to one side, like a vulture about to strike with hisPage 197ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlbeak, and cunningly eyed Madeline."Considered as testimony, what you've said is sure important an'conclusive.But I'm calculatin' thet the court will want to hev explained whyyou stayed from eleven-thirty till one-thirty in thet waitin'-room alone withStewart."His deliberate speech met with what Madeline imagined a remarkable receptionfrom Stewart, who gave a tigerish start;from Stillwell, whose big hands tore at the neck of his shirt, as if he waschoking; from Alfred, who now strode hotly forward, to be stopped by the coldand silent Nels; from Monty Price, who uttered a violent "Aw!" which was botha hiss and a roar.In the rush of her thought Madeline could not interpret the meaning of thesethings which seemed so strange at that moment.But they were portentous.Even as she was forming a reply toHawe's speech she felt a chill creep over her."Stewart detained me in the waiting-room," she said, clear-voiced as a bell."But we were not alone--all the time."For a moment the only sound following her words was a gasp fromStewart.Hawe's face became transformed with a hideous amaze and joy."Detained?" he whispered, craning his lean and corded neck."How's thet?""Stewart was drunk [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]