第91章

But you're the only thing that does make a difference.

We've got a fine place and a mint of money I suppose--and I'm proud of it.But I don't know....If they'd let me be and put us two--just you and me--back in the old house with the bare floors and the rawhide chairs and the shuck beds, I guess we'd manage.If you're happy, you're happy; that's about the size of it.And sometimes I think that we'd be happier--you and I--chumming along shoulder to shoulder, poor an' working hard, than making big money an' spending big money, why--oh, I don't know...if you're happy, that's the thing that counts, and if all this stuff," he kicked out a careless foot at the pictures, the heavy hangings, the glass cabinets of bibelots, "if all this stuff stood in the way of it--well--it could go to the devil! That's not poetry maybe, but it's the truth."Laura came over to where her husband lay, and sat by him, and took his head in her lap, smoothing his forehead with her long white hands.

"Oh, if I could only keep you like this always," she murmured."Keep you untroubled, and kind, and true.

This is my husband again.Oh, you are a man, Curtis; a great, strong, kind-hearted man, with no little graces, nor petty culture, nor trivial fine speeches, nor false sham, imitation polish.I love you.Ah, I love you, love you, dear!""Old girl!" said Jadwin, stroking her hand.

"Do you want me to read to you now?" she asked.

"Just this is pretty good, it seems to me."As he spoke, there came a step in the hall and a knock.

Laura sat up, frowning.

"I told them I was not to be disturbed," she exclaimed under her breath.Then, "Come in," she called.

"Mr.Gretry, sir," announced the servant."Said he wished to see you at once, sir.""Tell him," cried Laura, turning quickly to Jadwin, "tell him you're not at home--that you can't see him.""I've got to see him," answered Jadwin, sitting up.

"He wouldn't come here himself unless it was for something important.""Can I come in, J.?" spoke the broker, from the hall.

And even through the thick curtains they could hear how his voice rang with excitement and anxiety.

"Can I come in? I followed the servant right up, you see.I know----""Yes, yes.Come in," answered Jadwin.Laura, her face flushing, threw a fold of the couch cover over her costume as Gretry, his hat still on his head, stepped quickly into the room.

Jadwin met him half way, and Laura from her place on the couch heard the rapidly spoken words between the general and his lieutenant.

"Now we're in for it!" Gretry exclaimed.

"Yes--well?" Jadwin's voice was as incisive and quick as the fall of an axe.

"I've just found out," said Gretry, "that Crookes and his crowd are going to take hold to-morrow.There'll be hell to pay in the morning.They are going to attack us the minute the gong goes.""Who's with them?"

"I don't know; nobody does.Sweeny, of course.But he has a gang back of him--besides, he's got good credit with the banks.I told you you'd have to fight him sooner or later.""Well, we'll fight him then.Don't get scared.

Crookes ain't the Great Mogul."