rs.undertheandes-第3章

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　Harry　was　captivated；　and　I　can　scarcely　blame　him。　But　the　poor　lad　betrayed　himself　so　frankly！　Though　I　suppose　Le　Mire　was　more　or　less　accustomed　to　immediate　surrender。
　On　that　day；　at　least；　she　had　reason　to　expect　it。　She　satisfied　the　eye；　which　is　saying　a　great　deal　and　is　the　highest　praise　possible　for　a　woman's　beauty；　when　you　consider　the　full　strength　of　the　word。
　She　was　radiant；　adorable；　irresistible；　I　had　to　own　that　my　first　impression　of　her　had　been　far　too　weak。
　We　talked　for　an　hour。　Harry　had　little　to　say　as　he　sat　devouring　Le　Mire　with　his　eyes；　and　whenever　she　turned　to　him　for　an　answer　to　a　question　or　confirmation　of　an　opinion　he　stammered　and　kept　his　posure　with　difficulty。　Never；　I　suppose；　did　woman　have　clearer　evidence　of　her　power；　nor　sweeter；　for　Harry　was　by　no　means　a　fool　to　be　carried　away　by　the　first　pretty　face　that　came　in　his　way。
　She　simply　overwhelmed　him；　and　I　repeat　that　I　do　not　wonder　at　it；　for　my　own　pulse　was　not　exactly　steady。　She　asked　us　to　dine　with　her。
　I　pleaded　an　engagement　at　the　club　and　signed　to　Harry　to　do　likewise；　but　he　was　pletely　gone　and　paid　no　attention　to　me。
　He　accepted　the　invitation　gratefully；　with　frank　delight；　and　I　left　them　together。
　It　was　about　ten　o'clock　when　he　came　home　that　evening。　I　was　seated　in　the　library　and；　hearing　him　enter　the　hall；　called　to　him。
　What　a　face　was　his！　His　lips　trembled　with　nervous　feeling；　his　eyes　glowed　like　the　eyes　of　a　madman。　I　half　started　from　my　chair　in　amazement。
　〃I　have　no　time；〃　said　he　in　answer　to　my　invitation　to　join　me　with　a　bottle。　〃I　have　a　letter　or　two　to　write；　and…and　I　must　get　some　sleep。〃
　〃Did　you　just　leave　Le　Mire？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　I　looked　at　my　watch。
　〃What　under　the　sun　did　you　find　to　talk　about？〃
　〃Oh；　anything…nothing。　I　say；　she's　charming。〃
　His　essay　at　indifference　was　amusing。
　〃You　find　her　so？〃
　〃Rather。〃
　〃She　seems　to　have　taken　a　fancy　to　you。〃
　Harry　actually　grew　red。
　〃Hardly；〃　he　said；　but　there　was　hope　in　the　word。
　〃She　is　hardly　your　kind；　Harry。　You　know　that。　You　aren't　going　in　for　this　sort　of　thing？〃
　〃This　sort…I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃
　〃Yes；　you　do；　Hal。　You　know　exactly　what　I　mean。　To　put　the　thing　plainly；　Le　Mire　is　a　dangerous　woman…none　more　so　in　all　the　world；　and；　Harry　boy；　be　sure　you　keep　your　head　and　watch　your　step。〃
　He　stood　for　a　moment　looking　at　me　in　silence　with　a　half…angry　frown；　then　opened　his　mouth　as　though　to　speak；　and　finally　turned；　without　a　word；　and　started　for　the　door。　There　he　turned　again　uncertainly；　hesitating。
　〃I　am　to　ride　with　Desiree　in　the　morning；〃　said　he；　and　the　next　moment　was　gone。
　〃Desiree！〃
　He　called　her　Desiree！
　I　think　I　smiled　for　an　hour　over　that；　and；　though　my　reflections　were　not　free　from　apprehension；　I　really　felt　but　little　anxiety。　Not　that　I　underrated　Le　Mire's　fascination　and　power；　to　confess　the　truth；　my　ease　of　mind　was　the　result　of　my　own　vanity。　Le　Mire　had　flattered　me　into　the　belief　that　she　was　my　friend。
　A　week　passed…a　dull　week；　during　which　I　saw　little　of　Harry　and　Le　Mire　not　at　all。　At　the　time；　I　remember；　I　was　interested　in　some　chemical　experiments…I　am　a　dabbler　with　the　tubes…and　went　out　but　little。　Then…this　was　on　Friday…Harry　sought　me　out　in　the　laboratory　to　tell　me　he　was　going　away。　In　answer　to　my　question；　〃Where？〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃How　long　will　you　be　gone？〃
　〃Oh；　a　week…perhaps　a　month。〃
　I　looked　at　him　keenly；　but　said　nothing。　It　would　have　done　no　good　to　force　him　into　an　equivocation　by　questions。　Early　the　next　morning　he　departed；　with　three　trunks；　and　with　no　further　word　to　me　save　a　farewell。　No　sooner　was　he　gone　than　I　started　for　the　telephone　to　call　up　Le　Mire；　but　thought　better　of　it　and　with　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders　returned　to　the　laboratory。
　It　was　the　following　Monday　that　was　to　see　the　first　appearance　of　Le　Mire　at　the　Stuyvesant。　I　had　not　thought　of　going；　but　on　Monday　afternoon　Billy　Du　Mont　telephoned　me　that　he　had　an　extra　ticket　and　would　like　to　have　me　join　him。　I　was　really　a　little　curious　to　see　Le　Mire　perform　and　accepted。
　We　dined　at　the　club　and　arrived　at　the　theater　rather　late。
　The　audience　was　brilliant；　indeed；　though　I　had　been　an　ardent　first…nighter　for　a　year　or　two　in　my　callow　youth；　I　think　I　have　never　seen　such　a　representation　of　fashion　and　genius　in　America；　except　at　the　opera。
　Billy　and　I　sat　in　the　orchestra…about　the　twelfth　row…and　half　the　faces　in　sight　were　well　known　to　me。　Whether　Le　Mire　could　dance　or　not；　she　most　assuredly　was；　or　had；　a　good　press…agent。　We　were　soon　to　receive　an　exemplification　of　at　least　a　portion　of　the　reputation　that　had　preceded　her。
　Many　were　the　angry　adjectives　heaped　on　the　head　of　the　dancer　on　that　memorable　evening。　Mrs。　Frederick　Marston；　I　remember；　called　her　an　insolent　hussy；　but　then　Mrs。　Frederick　Marston　was　never　original。　Others：　rash；　impudent；　saucy；　impertinent；　in　each　instance　acpanied　by　threats。
　Indeed；　it　is　little　wonder　if　those　people　of　fashion　and　wealth　and　position　were　indignant　and　sore。　For　they　had　dressed　and　dined　hastily　and　e　all　the　way　down…town　to　see　Le　Mire；　they　waited　for　her　for　two　hours　and　a　half　in　stuffy　theater　seats；　and　Le　Mire　did　not　appear。
　The　announcement　was　finally　made　by　the　manager　of　the　theater　at　a　little　before　eleven…o'clock。　He　could　not　understand；　he　said…the　poor　fellow　was　on　the　point　of　wringing　his　hands　with　agitation　and　despair…he　could　not　understand　why　the　dancer　did　not　arrive。
　She　had　rehearsed　in　the　theater　on　the　previous　Thursday　afternoon；　and　had　then　seemed　to　have　every　intention　of　fulfilling　her　engagement。　No　one　connected　with　the　theater　had　seen　her　since　that　time；　but　everything　had　gone　smoothly；　they　had　had　no　reason　to　fear　such　a　contretemps　as　her　nonappearance。
　They　had　sent　to　her　hotel；　she　was　gone；　bag　and　baggage。
　She　had　departed　on　Friday；　leaving　no　word　as　to　her　destination。
　They　had　asked　the　police；　the　hotels；　the　railroads；　the　steamship　panies…and　could　find　no　trace　of　her。
　The　manager　only　hoped…he　hoped　with　all　his　heart…that　his　frank　and　unreserved　explanation　would　appease　his　kind　patrons　and　prevent　their　resentment；　that　they　would　understand…　I　made　my　way　out　of　the　theater　as　rapidly　as　possible；　with　Billy　Du　Mont　at　my　side；　and　started　north　on　Broadway。
　My　panion　was　laughing　unrestrainedly。
　〃What　a　joke！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃And　gad；　what　a　woman！　She　es　in　and　turns　the　town　upside　down　and　then　leaves　it　standing　on　its　head。　What　wouldn't　I　give　to　know　her！〃
　I　nodded；　but　said　nothing。　At　Forty…Second　Street　we　turned　east　to　Fifth　Avenue；　and　a　few　minutes　later　were　at　the　club。
　I　took　Du　Mont　to　a　secluded　corner　of　the　grill；　and　there；　with　a　bottle　of　wine　between　us；　I　spoke。
　〃Billy；〃　said　I；　〃there's　the　deuce　to　pay。　You're　an　old　friend　of　mine；　and　you　possess　a　share　of　discretion；　and　you've　got　to　help　me。　Le　Mire　is　gone。　I　must　find　her。〃
　〃Find　Le　Mire？〃　He　stared　at　me　in　amazement。　〃What　for？〃
　〃Because　my　brother　Harry　is　with　her。〃
　Then　I　explained　in　as　few　words　as　possible；　and　I　ended；　I　think；　with　something　like　this：
　〃You　know；　Billy；　there　are　very　few　things　in　the　world　I　consider　of　any　value。　She　can　have　the　lad's　money；　and；　if　necessary；　my　own　into　the　bargain。　But　the　name　of　Lamar　must　remain　clean；　and　I　tell　you　there　is　more　than　a　name　in　danger。
　Whoever　that　woman　touches　she　kills。　And　Harry　is　only　a　boy。〃
　Billy　helped　me；　as　I　knew　he　would；　nor　did　he　insist　on　unnecessary　details。　I　didn't　need　his　assistance　in　the　search；　for　I　felt　that　I　could　acplish　that　as　well　alone。
　But　it　was　certainly　known　that　Harry　had　been　calling　on　Le　Mire　at　her　hotel；　conjectures　were　sure　to　be　made；　leading　to　the　assertions　of　busy　tongues；　and　it　was　the　part　of　my　friend　to　counteract　and　smother　the　inevitable　gossip。　This　he　promised　to　do；　and　I　knew　Billy。　As　for　finding　Harry；　it　was　too　late　to　do　anything　that　night；　and　I　went　home　and　to　bed。
　The　next　morning　I　began　by　calling　at　her　hotel。　But　though　the　manager　of　the　theater　had　gotten　no　information　from　them；　he　had　pumped　them　dry。　They　knew　nothing。
　I　dared　not　go　to　the　police；　and　probably　they　would　have　been　unable　to　give　me　any　assistance　if　I　had　sought　it。　The　only　other　possible　source　of　information　I　disliked　to　use；　but　after　racking　my　brain　for　the　better　part　of　the　day　I　decided　that　there　was　nothing　else　for　it；　and　started　on　a　round　of　the　ticket　offices　of　the　railroads　and　steamship　panies。
　I　had　immediate　success。　My　first　call　was　at　the　office　where　Harry　and　I　were　accustomed　to　arrange　our　transportation。
　As　I　entered　the　head　clerk…or　whatever　they　call　him…advanced　to　greet　me　with　a　smile。
　〃Yes；〃　said　he　in　response　to　my　question；　〃Mr。　Lamar　got　his　tickets　from　me。　Let's　see…Thursday；　wasn't　it？　No；　Friday。　That's　right…Friday。〃
　〃Tickets！〃　I　muttered　to　myself。　And　in　my　preoccupation　I　really　neglected　to　listen　to　him。　Then　aloud：　〃Where　were　the…tickets　for？〃
　〃Denver。〃
　〃For　Friday's　train？〃
　〃Yes。　The　Western　Express。〃
　That　was　all　I　wanted　to　know。　I　hurried　home；　procured　a　couple　of　hastily　packed　bags；　and　took　the　afternoon　train　for　the　West。
　
　Chapter　III。
　A　MODERN　MARANA。
　
　My　journey　westward　was　an　eventful　one；　but　this　is　not　a　〃History　of　Tom　Jones；〃　and　I　shall　refrain　from　detail。　Denver　I　reached　at　last；　after　a　week's　stop…over　in　Kansas　City。　It　was　a　delightful　adventure…but　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　story。
　I　left　the　train　at　the　Rocky　Mountain　city　about　the　middle　of　the　afternoon。　And　now；　what　to　do？　I　think　I　am　not　a　fool；　but　I　certainly　lack　the　training　of　a　detective；　and　I　felt　perfectly　rudderless　and　helpless　as　I　ordered　the　taxi…driver　to　take　me　to　the　Alcazar　Hotel。
　I　was　by　no　means　sure　that　Harry　had　e　to　Denver。　He　was　traveling　with　a　bundle　of　animated　caprice；　a　creature　who　would　have　hauled　him　off　the　train　at　Rahway；　New　Jersey；　if　she　had　happened　to　take　a　fancy　to　the　place。　At　the　moment；　I　reflected；　they　might　be　driving　along　Michigan　Boulevard；　or　attending　a　matinee　at　the　Willis　Wood；　or　sipping　mint　juleps　at　the　Planters'。
　Even　if　they　were　in　Denver；　how　was　I　to　find　them？　I　keenly　regretted　the　week　I　had　lost。　I　was　sure　that　Harry　would　avoid　any　chance　of　publicity　and　would　probably　shun　the　big　hotels。
　And　Denver　is　not　a　village。
　It　was　the　beauty　of　Le　Mire　that　saved　me。　Indeed；　I　might　have　foreseen　that；　and　I　have　but　poorly　portrayed　the　force　of　her　unmatchable　fascination　unless　you　have　realized　that　she　was　a　woman　who　could　pass　nowhere　without　being　seen；　and；　seen；　remembered。
　I　made　inquiries　of　the　manager　of　the　hotel；　of　course；　but　was　brought　up　sharply　when　he　asked　me　the　names　of　my　friends　for　whom　I　was　asking。　I　got　out　of　it　somehow；　some　foolish　evasion　or　other；　and　regarded　my　task　as　more　difficult　than　ever。
　That　same　evening　I　dined　at　the　home　of　my　cousin；　Hovey　Stafford；　who　had　e　West　some　years　before　on　account　of　weak　lungs；　and　stayed　because　he