The Man Who Forgot Christmas by Max Brand

Author:Max Brand [Brand, Max]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Western
Publisher: Roy Glashan's Library
Published: 2015-12-24T23:00:00+00:00

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VII. — ENTER MARSHAL GAINES

THE rush of air from the opened door passed like a solemn sighing through the big room, but it did not need that sound to send the chill through Alp and Jack Chapel. The face of the girl was enough. She went straight to Chapel.

“Have you done anything wrong?” she whispered.

Why was all the concern for Jack Chapel? Was there not another man in the room? Through a haze of jealous agony Lou heard Jack answer: “In my time… things bad enough, I guess. Why?”

It was the grave and perfectly controlled voice which Alp envied. He was almost glad that the girl had not come so directly to him with that whispered alarm, for he knew that a sudden blanching of the face would have answered her. But Jack Chapel was quite controlled.

“I don’t mean what you’ve done long ago, but lately… I haven’t any time… a robbery…”

There was a little pause—a heart-breaking little pause—and during that space of a second or so Alp stared intensely at the girl. She was without color. There seemed a cold film of blue shadow around her mouth, and her eyes were unnaturally dark and deep. There was accusation in the glance she fixed upon Chapel. It was rather a prayer for his good. It seemed impossible that Jack Chapel could lie to that face.

Then he heard Chapel’s voice, rather stifled. “Robbery? I’ll say this: that I’ve never taken a penny that I didn’t feel was owing to me!”

Lou Alp sighed with relief. After all, had not the queer fool said something like this when he was about to commit the robbery? Had he not actually left part of the money behind, and the greater part at that? But he had no time for his own thoughts. There was a sobbing, small breath of relief from the girl.

“I knew… oh, I knew,” she said. “But I had to ask you. And I had to… to tell you that Marshal Gaines is here, and that he’s coming up to see you.”

“Who?”

Lou could see that the name shook his companion.

“Marshal Gaines. But I’m so glad… so happy… that there’s no trouble.”

She was gone like a shadow and, as she went through the door, she looked back as she had looked at Lou once before, only this time the look was for Jack Chapel. And what a look it was! What a flash of eyes! What a tremulous smile! Bitterly Alp remembered that not once had she glanced at him this time. Her whole care was for Jack Chapel, and he, the wounded man, could fend for himself as best he might. His companion turned slowly toward the bed, smiling faintly.

“Who’s Marshal Gaines?” asked Alp, leaning forward.

“She’s got eyes like a man,” was the singular answer of Chapel. “Eyes like a man’s eyes. But her smiles! That’s all woman. Have you noticed her smile, Lou?”

“Forget her smile,” groaned the sneak thief. “Who’s Marshal Gaines?”

“Marshal Gaines?” echoed Chapel carelessly. “Oh, he’s just a gent that I know.

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