TALKING-TALBOT-Chapter-04

One day not long before they expected to reach Havre, Talbot was taking his customary look at the horses when Harry Furness came to him and said: “May I speak with you, Mr. Talbot?”

“Certainly.”

“I want to explain why I went out in the boat with you.”

“The truth, Harry ?”

Harry flushed. “Yes, sir. The fact that I didn’t try to deceive you when you asked me ought to show that I’m not a liar.”

“I don’t think you’re a liar; but on the other hand it would have been hard, on the spur of the moment, to make up a story then. You expected me to accept your action as a part of your readiness to serve me, didn’t you ?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, go ahead ! What do you want to say?”

“1 — I started on this voyage for the sake of adventure.”

“I can understand that.”

“When you were put in charge the men talked about you and I learned that you were the Talking Talbot I had heard so much about out in Montana. Then I learned what you were going over for.”

‘How did you learn that?”

“You must have told somebody, for the men knew about it.”

“Yes, I believe I’ve been Talking Talbot with a vengeance.”

Harry smiled. “About that, maybe; not about anything else. Well, when I learned what you were going to do, I was crazy to go with you, and I made up my mind to compel you to like me by showing you how serviceable I could be.”

“You made a success of that.”

“Thank you, sir. Then we discovevered the bomb ”

“When you discovered it,” interposed Talbot quietly..

“I only suspected until you came. You seemed to know it must be a bomb, and it was the most natural thing to think under the circumstances, anyhow. It would have made the Germans very happy to have the vessel blow up with all these horses on board.”
“But they reckoned without us, didn’t they?”

“Without you. I wouldn’t have thought of going out in the boat.”

“You might have been more sensible and thrown it overboard. But that brings us to the time you went out in the boat with me at the risk of your life. Why did you do it?”

“It came over me, while I was running for the tools, that if I went with you you would know I was one to be depended on in a tight place.”

‘”You mean,” said Talbot, eying him keenly, “that you risked your life for the sake of inducing me to take you with me?”

“Yes, sir.”

Talbot studied him for a brief while. “All right! I believe you.”

Harry sighed as if a mountain of doubt had been lifted from his shoulders. “And you will let me go with you?”

“That’s another matter. What use can you be to me?”

“I can help you in a lot of ways,” was the eager response. “I understand French and German ”

“So do I ; as well as I do English. I spent my childhood over here.”

“Still I can help you a great deal. There are sure to be times when you will need help. I can’t exactly be valet to you because I don’t know how, but I’ll do anything you tell me to. I wish you’d let me go with you.”

There was an intensity of desire in his voice and manner that told of an inexpressible eagerness. Talbot smiled as he listened to him.

“Very well,” he said. “I may be able to use you. Anyhow, I’m glad you told me the truth.”

As a result of this conversation, friendly relations were reestablished between the two, and Harry showed his happiness in the way in which he went about his work.

The last day on the boat. Talbot and

Mrs. Parker were standing together by the rail. They had stood there for many minutes without exchanging a word. Suddenly Mrs. Parker laughed softly. He looked at her.

“Why do I laugh ?” she said. “I was thinking how you had changed — or seemed to — since the first day on board.”

“How?”

“You were so distant and forbidding then ; now you and I are almost good friends. I wonder why?”

The last day on board is always a crucial time with acquaintances made on a short voyage. It is a question whether or not they shall even nod to each other if chance brings them together on land.

Talbot looked down into the beautiful face, a faint smile on his lips. He knew that she was perfectly well aware of the boldness of her words.

“I always meet subtleties by plain truth. Mrs. Parker,” he answered. “With you, anyhow, I know that I would be thoroughly worsted if I tried to meet your subtleties with efforts of my own in that line.”

“Was I guilty of a subtlety?” she asked. “Perhaps I was. I believe it is supposed to be a woman’s way. My question shotdd have been, why did you try to avoid my acquaintance when I wanted yours? Time has shown thai we are suited to be friends.”

“I avoided you at first because you attracted me by your very great beauty. I have distrusted myself ever since I fell in love with a girl and believed in her until she threw me over when I lost my money.”

“What an odd man you are!” she said, flushing beautifully, but studying his face frankly. “Now. having said that, don’t you think you could go on and satisfy the curiosity you have roused by saying the rest? I attracted you at first. Did I cease to attract you?”
She wasn’t in the least coquettish, but was amusedly interested, as he could plainly see.

“You are more attractive than ever,” he answered, his amusement as great as her own ; “but I soon saw that your beauty was the least of your attractions. I liked the quality of your mind, and I knew that as a possible husband 1 had no interest for you. That is why I even made opportunities of seeing you.”

“Am I blushing?” she asked.

“You are.”

“I feel as if I were blushing from my toes up,” she said. “I feel as if I had been laid on a marble slab and been dissected.”

“That only shows that you understand all I didn’t say from the little I did say. If you did, you will also understand that if the female of you blushed, the brain of you was complimented.”

“And you don’t deal in subtleties !”

“The truth sometimes seems subtle because it is unusual.”

“Maybe. And now to return to our subject. My object in asking my first question was to lead up to another. Before I ask it, however, I must assure you that I shall never, never try to induce you to marry me.”

“I am relieved,” he laughed. “My opinion of you is such that I would be afraid you would win out if you undertook even my capture. Ask your question with the assurance of a fully truthful answer.”

She looked at him quizzically. “I like to be successful in my undertakings.” she said, “so that is one of the things I would never try to do with you. My question is, shall we plan to meet again ? I am bold enough to say that I would like to know you. You see, being a widow, I dare to say things any other kind of woman would not.”

“I should be sorry not to see you again, Mrs. Parker,” he answered.

2

“You are a personality as well as a woman. You have a quality of positive force new to me in your sex. I feel honored. Do you know where you will be?”

“I shall go to Paris at once. I have engaged an apartment in a very quiet part of the old St. Germain quarter. I will give you the address before we go ashore. I am glad I am not to lose sight of you. Besides, I may be of service to you in your quest.”

“Really? Why do you think so?”

“I know many persons of importance and power. It is true that you carry introductions, but you know these are peculiar times, and it is possible that ordinary influence will not suffice. Be sure to let me know if you have trouble.”

He did not see her to speak to again after that. She sent him her Paris address by one of the stewards, and they waved their adieus to each other when she went away.

His first care was to see that the unloading of the horses was well started ; then from the subordinate who had come to take delivery of them he procured the address of the commissary general, and went there with his introduction. .

“The simplest thing in the world,” he was told heartily when he had stated his wish to get to the front to interview the members of Donald’s company. “Come to-morrow and we’ll have everything read}’ for you.”

General Allenby was so positive that Talbot never doubted. When he went for his permit, however, the general had a long face.

“I’ve just had word from General French that no one, with emphasis on the no, is to be permitted to go to the front; so I can’t do anything f(y you. But you say you have good introductions to important persons in Paris. Go there ! It’s better, anyhow, for we couldn’t have promised anything for the French lines.”

Not greatly chagrined by this, since it seemed of little importance, Talbot waited until the horses were all safely landed and handed over to the proper persons, and then went to Paris, followed by Furness, who did not fail to make himself very useful.

He put up at a hotel near the Louvre, and as early in the morning as any one was likely to be in evidence at the government offices started out with his letters.

At the American embassy everybody was very cordial and very willing;

everywhere e ‘ se ‘ ie was me * with extreme courtesy, but many excuses. He spent several days in going about, and then, one day, sat down in the garden of the Tuileries to think it out.

It was perfectly plain that he was not to be allowed to conduct his search for Donald at the front. Something was working against him. It wasn’t that he was asking for something impossible, for he knew of two cases, at least, of permission to do the very thing he wished to do.

Suddenly he remembered what Mrs. Parker had said to him about the possibility of his meeting with difficulties.

“I had almost forgotten her,” he murmured ; “and I shouldn’t have done that.”

He sat there silent, motionless for a long time; then with a grim look on his face got up and went home. Harry was waiting for him.

“Any better luck?” he asked, seeing a smile on Talbot’s face.

“I think it’s coming out all right at last,” was the response. “It occurred to me that I hadn’t tried the department for foreign affairs, so I went there and think I shall win through now. I’m to see the minister at three o’clock this afternoon.” He looked at his watch. “And I must be

off. Get everything ready for a quick start.”

He hurried out, but when he reached the street stopped behind a kiosk and waited. “I may be mistaken,” he thought, “but it is worth trying.”

He had not been there ten minutes when Harry came swiftly out of the hotel, went to the Rue de Rivoli, turned to the right, and disappeared. Talbot went in pursuit.

Harry went on to the Place de la Concorde, turned there, and crossed to the other side of the river.

“The old St. Germain quarter,” muttered Talbot.

Harry passed the Chamber of Deputies, and turned away from the river. All his movements were assured and unhesitating like those of one who has done the same thing before.

A few blocks from the river he turned into an obscure street, walked a short distance, and entered the open gate of a courtyard. Talbot followed cautiously and peered in. The courtyard was large and quite empty. The office of the concierge was at the left in a small lodge.

“I wish to see Madame Parker,” said Talbot to a stout matron who was engaged in preparing vegetables for dinner.

She went to the door and pointed. “The first door on the left. She has the entresol.”

“Those are her windows just above the door?” demanded Talbot.

“Yes, monsieur.”

Talbot walked close to the building and entered the door indicated. He went up one flight with the least possible noise, and stood listening for a moment. There was a murmur of voices, and he recognized both of them. He knocked at the door.

It was opened by Mrs. Parker, who uttered a cry of surprise, but did not move to let him pass her. She did putout her hand to him, however, and say in a loud voice: “Why, Mr. Talbot!”

“Yes,” he said, advancing his foot over the threshold as he took her hand, “I had something I wanted to say to Harry, so 1 came right here.”

An odd expression flashed into her brown eyes; then she laughed in the gayest possible manner, and bade him enter, standing aside to enable him to do so.

The room was empty save for the two of them. Mrs. Parker closed the door and watched Talbot as he searched the room and looked at two doors that opened out on the farther side of it.

“Come back. Harry,” she called out, raising her voice slightly, and seemingly greatly amused. “He knows you’re here.”

One of the doors opened slowly, and Harry, very white and shamed looking, entered the room. He looked tirst at the stern and slightly contemptuous face of Talbot and then at the mirthful one of the young woman. Then he stood with his eyes cast down.

“Sit down, Mr. Talbot,” said Mrs. Parker.

“It is unnecessary,” he said coldly. “I only came to ask Harry what it means.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Talbot ” Harry

began.

Mrs. Parker frowned, and interrupted haughtily: “Why do you say that? There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

“Yes. there is,”‘ Harry said in a low tone; “I have lost the good opinion of a man whose respect is worth having. I am sorry. Elsa.”

At that note of intimacy. Talbot turned his eyes quickly on her and then back at liim.

“My brother,” laughed she. “Yes, there’s been a deep and terrible plot, Mr. Talbot. I knew you would be difficult.”

“Ah!” he murmured, with a smile that was most cynical. “Whatever you

do you do admirably. I fancied it would be so. But isn’t it time to enlighten me and let me go my way in peace? Why have you taken all this trouble with one who has no concern with your lives?”

“Ah.” she cried gayly, “but it is because we wish to have that concern that we have meddled.”

“It is due to your meddling, then, that I have been unable to advance a step since coming here?”

“Entirely.”

“And the plot is working as you intended?” he demanded.

“Not at all,” she responded lightly. “I expected you to remember my suggestion that I might be able to help you when others failed.”

“I did remember.”

“But not as I wished. I wanted you to come to me and use my influence and be very, very grateful.”

“In order that ” he questioned.

“In order that you would in exchange do something for me.”

“Just a woman, after all,” he said, with quiet scorn. “You prefer indirection for its own sake.”

“No,” she answered, without any loss of her smiling insouciance; “really, Mr. Talbot, you are unjust to me. But do sit down. You must see that we have much to say to each other, and if I sit I shall be at a disadvantage, with you towering, not to say glowering, at me. So sit down and be your eminently reasonable self.”

She looked more seductively beautiful than he had ever seen her. The negligee she wore showed liberal portions of her white throat and bosom and draped in revealing lines about her rounded figure.

He did not believe there was any premeditation in this, and yet he had come to feel that nothing was altogether impossible with this very clever woman. Even her gentle mockery of him added to her piquant charm and might be a part of her plan to win him.

He was very suspicions, but he sat down and crossed his legs in the manner of one who is prepared to be patient. He was hoping to lind out the meaning of the attempt to force him into an uudesired association.

-W ell?” he queried.

She seated herself, laughing softly. “I never saw such an interesting man in my life,” she said.

“You’ll not need me now,” interposed her brother somewhat sullenly. “I’ll go get my things if Mr. Talbot doesn’t mind.”

“But I mind,” she cried quickly. “Why do you give up so soon? I am still hoping that Mr. Talbot will give us voluntarily the assistance I had intended he should give involuntarily. Sit down ! Anyhow, I should have a chaperon.” She laughed again in her soft, musical way.

The young man sat down, shrugging his shoulders. Talbot watched, wondering how much of this was acting, how much real. He looked inquiringly at the smiling woman.

“You want an explanation,” she said.

“I have no other reason for remaining here. You are very charming, but you don’t interest me,” he answered, with studied rudeness.

“Oh, truthful Talbot!” she laughed. “But you shall have your explanation. Will you first tell me when you began to suspect me of wicked designs on you ?”

“Willingly. It was when we were boarded by the cruiser. I noticed then that you and your brother received similar treatment, and peculiar treatment. I couldn’t guess then any more than I can now what your object was, but I decided to take your brother into my employment so that I might find out.”

“Curiosity is a womanish trait, Mr. Talbot.”

“Tarn indifferent excepting as my mission is affected.”

‘Tf I could help you find your friend.” she said, with a sudden alteration of manner, “would you help me?”

“1 should need to have evidence of your power to help me, and I should need to know exactly what you wished me to do for you.” was his cool response.

“You have had evidence of my power to hinder,” she returned quickly.

“And I have discovered the source of hindrance. Come, Mrs. Parker — if that is your name — this game of hide and seek is as childish for you as it is for me. Be as frank as you can. If I can help you and further my own interests at the same time, I will do so; but I will not be a puppet, and I will determine my own course. Your silly interference hasn’t done anything but weary me.”

“You speak almost as if you wished to make me an enemy,” she said in a soft tone.

“No; I only wish to make it clear to you that I am not afraid of anything you can do. If you can help me. well and good; if you are only meaning to withdraw your malign influence I may as well tell you that I don’t value it in the least.”

His tone was very icy, very sarcastic, and it had its effect. The soft brown eyes darted a flame, and the full red lips closed tightly. But that was only for a moment; when she spoke her voice was as soft and caressing as ever.

“The more you say the more I want your help. This, then, is what I can do for you : I can see that you have every facility for making inquiries about your friend ; or” — she paused and smiled with a faint air of triumph — “I will tell you at once what has become of your missing friend.”

“Y’ou know?”

“Yes, he is ”
“Stop! Please understand that I shall feel under no obligations to you if you tell me. T must see to the end of your skein before I touch any part of it.”

“O monument of suspicion I O most cautious Talbot !”

“As you say.” he responded calmly.

A slight frown came and went slowly. The astute woman felt, as never before, that she was dealing with a man adamant to blandishments or cunning. She smiled and took a long breath as if entering on a new course.

“Your friend — don*t be afraid; I am committing you to nothing — I have been able to locate your friend exactly. Won’t you be grateful for the information ?” She laughed mockingly.

“Grateful, certainly; but not indebted.”

“Incurable! Well, he was taken prisoner by one of the Austrian regiments then in Alsace; really by a Hungarian regiment. He is now in a prison camp not very far from Budapest.”

“Thank you.”

“You see, I have sources of information.”

“I hope they are reliable.”

“Incorrigible !” She laughed again. “But I will put you in the way of obtaining assurance of the reliability of this. I can do more; I can make it possible for you to obtain the freedom of your friend.”

“Now you are most interesting. I suppose it is this that I am to pay for in some way.”

“Yes, and a small price.”

“You are not to be the judge of my estimate of the cost. What am I to do?”

The brother and sister exchanged glances, betraying that they felt they had come to the crucial spot in the negotiations.

“It is essential that we get to Budapest. All we ask of you is to take us there with you.”

Talbot knew he was being watched now with anxious scrutiny. His face was like a mask in its impassivity. He realized that in some way this was a game of wits. Why or wherefore he could not gue’ss.

“And why do you ask me to take you there? I have no influence. I am an American as you are Americans; you can enter Austria and Hungary as easily as I.”

•Ye are not Americans; we are Hungarians.”

“You have American passpoi-ts; they brought you safely to Paris.”

“By themselves they would not get us into Hungary except to put us behind iron doors.”

“How could I get you in?”

“As your servant my brother could

get in, and I ” She hesitated, and

her brother got up and went to the window.

“And you?” Talbot prompted.

She lifted her lovely head with haughty pride. “I would ask you .to take me in as your wife.”

The ghost of a smile passed over Talbot’s face. Hers went white as she noted it. He shook his head slowly.

“It would be too much honor,” he said.

“You mean you refuse?” she snapped, a new note of passion in her wonderful

voice.

“You are conspirators, are you not?” he asked.

“What we are is not your concern. Once we are in Budapest you will see us no more.”

Talbot rose to his feet. “You are so far right,” he said coldly, “that who or what you are is no concern of mine ; therefore I wish to have nothing to do with your enterprises. I have set out to find and i f possible to take home with me Donald Brookfield. I am interested in nothing else.” He moved toward the door.

“One moment,” she snapped, her eyes flaming, her whole attitude threatening. “I have told you I could help you to free your friend. – ‘

“Yes, you have said so ; also you have said things that convince me that I don’t wish to associate with you. I will work alone.”

“You fool! You fool! You selfsufficient fool !” she hroke out in a rage that was all the more impressive hecause it was so deadly quiet. “Because you have been a successful bully and gun fighter you think you can stalk through Europe in the same way.”

He smiled, this time in sheer amusement. He studied her in her passion of anger, and thought her more than ever beautiful.

“Why didn’t you pick out a more susceptible man ?” he asked carelessly. “You certainly are marvelously beautiful.”

The young man at the window had turned ; now he spoke for the first time. His face was livid. “I think you’d better go. Mr. Talbot,” he said in a tone hoarse with suppressed emotion. “I wouldn’t like you to insult my sister.”

“I have no intention of doing so,” Talbot answered quickly but evenly ; “but I dare you to deny that it was her intention to win my acquiescence through her beauty.”

“Go!” said the angry beauty. ”And I warn you to beware how you cross my path. Keep what you know or suspect to yourself. Your life will be blown out like a used match at the first suggestion of loose talk from you.”

“Highly melodramatic,” Talbot said, with a smile, and passed out of the room.